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[ "CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION [0001] This patent application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser.", "No. 11/540,251, filed Sep. 29, 2006, pending, which is a divisional of U.S. Pat. No. 7,144,369, issued Dec. 5, 2006, which is a continuation of U.S. Pat. No. 6,312,378, issued Nov. 6, 2001, the priority filing dates of which are claimed and the disclosures of which are incorporated by reference.", "FIELD [0002] The present invention relates in general to heart failure assessment, and, in particular, to a system and method for evaluating a patient status for use in heart failure assessment.", "BACKGROUND [0003] Implantable pulse generators (IPGs) are medical devices commonly used to treat irregular heartbeats, known as arrhythmias.", "There are two basic types.", "Cardiac pacemakers are used to manage bradycardia, an abnormally slow or irregular heartbeat.", "Left untreated, bradycardia can cause symptoms such as fatigue, dizziness, and fainting.", "Implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) are used to treat tachycardia, heart rhythms that are abnormally fast and life threatening.", "Tachycardia can result in sudden cardiac death (SCD).", "[0004] Pacemakers and ICDs are increasingly being equipped with an on-board, volatile memory in which telemetered signals can be stored for later retrieval and analysis.", "Typically, the telemetered signals provide patient device information regarding atrial electrical activity, ventricular electrical activity, time of day, activity level, cardiac output, oxygen level, cardiovascular pressure measures, pulmonary measures, and any interventions made on a per heartbeat or binned average basis.", "In addition, a growing class of cardiac medical devices, including implantable heart failure monitors, implantable event monitors, cardiovascular monitors, and therapy devices, are being used to provide similar stored device information.", "These devices are able to store approximately thirty minutes of per heartbeat data.", "Telemetered signals are also stored in a broader class of monitors and therapeutic devices for other areas of medicine, including metabolism, endocrinology, hematology, neurology, muscular, gastrointestinal, genital-urology, ocular, auditory, and the like.", "[0005] Presently, stored device information is retrieved using a proprietary interrogator or programmer, often during a clinic visit or following a device event.", "The volume of data retrieved from a single device interrogation “snapshot”", "can be large and proper interpretation and analysis can require significant physician time and detailed subspecialty knowledge, particularly by cardiologists and cardiac electrophysiologists.", "The sequential logging and analysis of regularly scheduled interrogations can create an opportunity for recognizing subtle and incremental changes in patient condition otherwise undetectable by inspection of a single “snapshot.”", "However, present approaches to data interpretation and understanding and practical limitations on time and physician availability make such analysis impracticable.", "[0006] A prior art system for collecting and analyzing pacemaker and ICD telemetered signals in a clinical or office setting is the Model 9790 Programmer, manufactured by Medtronic, Inc., Minneapolis, Minn.", "This programmer can be used to retrieve data, such as patient electrocardiogram and any measured physiological conditions, collected by the IPG for recordation, display and printing.", "The retrieved data is displayed in chronological order and analyzed by a physician.", "Comparable prior art systems are available from other IPG manufacturers, such as the Model 2901 Programmer Recorder Monitor, manufactured by Guidant Corporation, Indianapolis, Ind.", ", which includes a removable floppy diskette mechanism for patient data storage.", "These prior art systems lack remote communications facilities and must be operated with the patient present.", "These systems present a limited analysis of the collected data based on a single device interrogation and lack the capability to recognize trends in the data spanning multiple episodes over time or relative to a disease specific peer group.", "[0007] A prior art system for locating and communicating with a remote medical device implanted in an ambulatory patient is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,752,976 ('976).", "The implanted device includes a telemetry transceiver for communicating data and operating instructions between the implanted device and an external patient communications device.", "The communications device includes a communication link to a remote medical support network, a global positioning satellite receiver, and a patient activated link for permitting patient initiated communication with the medical support network.", "[0008] Related prior art systems for remotely communicating with and receiving telemetered signals from a medical device are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,113,869 ('869) and 5,336,245 ('245).", "In the '869 patent, an implanted AECG monitor can be automatically interrogated at preset times of day to telemeter out accumulated data to a telephonic communicator or a full disclosure recorder.", "The communicator can be automatically triggered to establish a telephonic communication link and transmit the accumulated data to an office or clinic through a modem.", "In the '245 patent, telemetered data is downloaded to a larger capacity, external data recorder and is forwarded to a clinic using an auto-dialer and fax modem operating in a personal computer-based programmer/interrogator.", "However, the '976 telemetry transceiver, '869 communicator, and '245 programmer/interrogator are limited to facilitating communication and transferal of downloaded patient data and do not include an ability to automatically track, recognize, and analyze trends in the data itself.", "[0009] Thus, there is a need for a system and method for providing continuous retrieval, transferal, and automated analysis of retrieved implantable medical device information, such as telemetered signals, retrieved in general from a broad class of implantable medical devices and, in particular, from IPGs and cardiovascular monitors.", "Preferably, the automated analysis would include recognizing a trend and determining whether medical intervention is necessary.", "[0010] There is a further need for a system and method that would allow consideration of sets of collected measures, both actual and derived, from multiple device interrogations.", "These collected measures sets could then be compared and analyzed against short and long term periods of observation.", "[0011] There is a further need for a system and method that would enable the measures sets for an individual patient to be self-referenced and cross-referenced to similar or dissimilar patients and to the general patient population.", "Preferably, the historical collected measures sets of an individual patient could be compared and analyzed against those of other patients in general or of a disease specific peer group in particular.", "SUMMARY [0012] The present invention provides a system and method for providing collection and analysis of patient information for use in automated patient care.", "The patient device information relates to individual measures recorded by and retrieved from implantable medical devices, such as IPGs and monitors.", "The patient device information is received on a regular, e.g., daily, basis as sets of collected measures which are stored along with other patient records in a database.", "The information can be analyzed in an automated fashion and feedback provided to the patient at any time and in any location.", "[0013] An embodiment provides a system and method for evaluating a patient status for use in heart failure assessment.", "Physiological measures are assembled, which were directly recorded as data on a substantially continuous basis by an implantable medical device for a patient or indirectly derived from the data.", "A status for the patient is determined through sampling and analysis of the physiological measures over a plurality of data assembly points.", "Trends that are indicated by the patient status are identified and each trend is compared to worsening heart failure indications.", "[0014] A further embodiment provides a system and method for evaluating a patient status from sampled physiometry for use in heart failure assessment.", "Physiological measures are stored, including at least one of direct measures regularly recorded on a substantially continuous basis by an implantable medical device for a patient and measures derived from the direct measures.", "At least one of those of the physiological measures, which each relate to a same type of physiometry, and those of the physiological measures, which each relate to a different type of physiometry are sampled.", "A status for the patient is determined through analysis of the sampled physiological measures assembled from a plurality of recordation points.", "The sampled physiological measures are evaluated.", "Any trends that are indicated by the patient status, which might affect cardiac performance of the patient, are identified.", "Each trend is compared to worsening heart failure indications to generate a notification of parameter violations.", "[0015] The present invention facilitates the gathering, storage, and analysis of critical patient information obtained on a routine basis and analyzed in an automated manner.", "Thus, the burden on physicians and trained personnel to evaluate the volumes of information is significantly minimized while the benefits to patients are greatly enhanced.", "[0016] Still other embodiments of the present invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, wherein is described embodiments of the invention by way of illustrating the best mode contemplated for carrying out the invention.", "As will be realized, the invention is capable of other and different embodiments and its several details are capable of modifications in various obvious respects, all without departing from the spirit and the scope of the present invention.", "Accordingly, the drawings and detailed description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not as restrictive.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0017] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a system for providing collection and analysis of patient information for use in automated patient care in accordance with the present invention;", "[0018] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the hardware components of the server system of the system of FIG. 1 ;", "[0019] FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the software modules of the server system of the system of FIG. 1 ;", "[0020] FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the analysis module of the server system of FIG. 3 ;", "[0021] FIG. 5 is a database schema showing, by way of example, the organization of a cardiac patient care record stored in the database of the system of FIG. 1 ;", "[0022] FIG. 6 is a record view showing, by way of example, a set of partial cardiac patient care records stored in the database of the system of FIG. 1 ;", "[0023] FIG. 7 is a flow diagram showing a method for providing collection and analysis of patient information for use in automated patient care in accordance with the present invention;", "[0024] FIG. 8 is a flow diagram showing a routine for analyzing collected measures sets for use in the method of FIG. 7 ;", "[0025] FIG. 9 is a flow diagram showing a routine for comparing sibling collected measures sets for use in the routine of FIG. 8 ;", "[0026] FIGS. 10A and 10B are flow diagrams showing a routine for comparing peer collected measures sets for use in the routine of FIG. 8 ;", "and [0027] FIG. 11 is a flow diagram showing a routine for providing feedback for use in the method of FIG. 7 .", "DETAILED DESCRIPTION [0028] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a system 10 for providing collection and analysis of patient information for use in automated patient care in accordance with the present invention.", "A patient 11 is a recipient of an implantable medical device 12 , such as, by way of example, an IPG or a heart failure or event monitor, with a set of leads extending into his or her heart.", "The implantable medical device 12 includes circuitry for recording into a short-term, volatile memory telemetered signals, which are stored as a set of collected measures for later retrieval.", "[0029] For an exemplary cardiac implantable medical device, the telemetered signals non-exclusively present patient information relating to: atrial electrical activity, ventricular electrical activity, time of day, activity level, cardiac output, oxygen level, cardiovascular pressure measures, the number and types of interventions made, and the relative success of any interventions made on a per heartbeat or binned average basis, plus the status of the batteries and programmed settings.", "Examples of pacemakers suitable for use in the present invention include the Discovery line of pacemakers, manufactured by Guidant Corporation, Indianapolis, Ind.", "Examples of ICDs suitable for use in the present invention include the Ventak line of ICDs, also manufactured by Guidant Corporation, Indianapolis, Ind.", "[0030] In the described embodiment, the patient 11 has a cardiac implantable medical device.", "However, a wide range of related implantable medical devices are used in other areas of medicine and a growing number of these devices are also capable of measuring and recording patient information for later retrieval.", "These implantable medical devices include monitoring and therapeutic devices for use in metabolism, endocrinology, hematology, neurology, muscularology, gastro-intestinalogy, genital-urology, ocular, auditory, and similar medical subspecialties.", "One skilled in the art would readily recognize the applicability of the present invention to these related implantable medical devices.", "[0031] On a regular basis, the telemetered signals stored in the implantable medical device 12 are retrieved.", "By way of example, a programmer 14 can be used to retrieve the telemetered signals.", "However, any form of programmer, interrogator, recorder, monitor, or telemetered signals transceiver suitable for communicating with an implantable medical device 12 could be used, as is known in the art.", "In addition, a personal computer or digital data processor could be interfaced to the implantable medical device 12 , either directly or via a telemetered signals transceiver configured to communicate with the implantable medical device 12 .", "[0032] Using the programmer 14 , a magnetized reed switch (not shown) within the implantable medical device 12 closes in response to the placement of a wand 13 over the location of the implantable medical device 12 .", "The programmer 14 communicates with the implantable medical device 12 via RF signals exchanged through the wand 14 .", "Programming or interrogating instructions are sent to the implantable medical device 12 and the stored telemetered signals are downloaded into the programmer 14 .", "Once downloaded, the telemetered signals are sent via an internetwork 15 , such as the Internet, to a server system 16 which periodically receives and stores the telemetered signals in a database 17 , as further described below with reference to FIG. 2 .", "[0033] An example of a programmer 14 suitable for use in the present invention is the Model 2901 Programmer Recorder Monitor, manufactured by Guidant Corporation, Indianapolis, Ind.", ", which includes the capability to store retrieved telemetered signals on a proprietary removable floppy diskette.", "The telemetered signals could later be electronically transferred using a personal computer or similar processing device to the internetwork 15 , as is known in the art.", "[0034] Other alternate telemetered signals transfer means could also be employed.", "For instance, the stored telemetered signals could be retrieved from the implantable medical device 12 and electronically transferred to the internetwork 15 using the combination of a remote external programmer and analyzer and a remote telephonic communicator, such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,113,869, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.", "Similarly, the stored telemetered signals could be retrieved and remotely downloaded to the server system 16 using a world-wide patient location and data telemetry system, such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,752,976, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.", "[0035] The received telemetered signals are analyzed by the server system 16 , which generates a patient status indicator.", "The feedback is then provided back to the patient 11 through a variety of means.", "By way of example, the feedback can be sent as an electronic mail message generated automatically by the server system 16 for transmission over the internetwork 15 .", "The electronic mail message is received by personal computer 18 (PC) situated for local access by the patient 11 .", "Alternatively, the feedback can be sent through a telephone interface device 19 as an automated voice mail message to a telephone 21 or as an automated facsimile message to a facsimile machine 22 , both also situated for local access by the patient 11 .", "In addition to a personal computer 18 , telephone 21 , and facsimile machine 22 , feedback could be sent to other related devices, including a network computer, wireless computer, personal data assistant, television, or digital data processor.", "Preferably, the feedback is provided in a tiered fashion, as further described below with reference to FIG. 3 .", "[0036] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the hardware components of the server system 16 of the system 10 of FIG. 1 .", "The server system 16 consists of three individual servers: network server 31 , database server 34 , and application server 35 .", "These servers are interconnected via an intranetwork 33 .", "In the described embodiment, the functionality of the server system 16 is distributed among these three servers for efficiency and processing speed, although the functionality could also be performed by a single server or cluster of servers.", "The network server 31 is the primary interface of the server system 16 onto the internetwork 15 .", "The network server 31 periodically receives the collected telemetered signals sent by remote implantable medical devices over the internetwork 15 .", "The network server 31 is interfaced to the internetwork 15 through a router 32 .", "To ensure reliable data exchange, the network server 31 implements a TCP/IP protocol stack, although other forms of network protocol stacks are suitable.", "[0037] The database server 34 organizes the patient care records in the database 17 and provides storage of and access to information held in those records.", "A high volume of data in the form of collected measures sets from individual patients is received.", "The database server 34 frees the network server 31 from having to categorize and store the individual collected measures sets in the appropriate patient care record.", "[0038] The application server 35 operates management applications and performs data analysis of the patient care records, as further described below with reference to FIG. 3 .", "The application server 35 communicates feedback to the individual patients either through electronic mail sent back over the internetwork 15 via the network server 31 or as automated voice mail or facsimile messages through the telephone interface device 19 .", "[0039] The server system 16 also includes a plurality of individual workstations 36 (WS) interconnected to the intranetwork 33 , some of which can include peripheral devices, such as a printer 37 .", "The workstations 36 are for use by the data management and programming staff, nursing staff, office staff, and other consultants and authorized personnel.", "[0040] The database 17 consists of a high-capacity storage medium configured to store individual patient care records and related health care information.", "Preferably, the database 17 is configured as a set of high-speed, high capacity hard drives, such as organized into a Redundant Array of Inexpensive Disks (RAID) volume.", "However, any form of volatile storage, non-volatile storage, removable storage, fixed storage, random access storage, sequential access storage, permanent storage, erasable storage, and the like would be equally suitable.", "The organization of the database 17 is further described below with reference to FIG. 3 .", "[0041] The individual servers and workstations are general purpose, programmed digital computing devices consisting of a central processing unit (CPU), random access memory (RAM), non-volatile secondary storage, such as a hard drive or CD ROM drive, network interfaces, and peripheral devices, including user interfacing means, such as a keyboard and display.", "Program code, including software programs, and data are loaded into the RAM for execution and processing by the CPU and results are generated for display, output, transmittal, or storage.", "In the described embodiment, the individual servers are Intel Pentium-based server systems, such as available from Dell Computers, Austin, Tex.", ", or Compaq Computers, Houston, Tex.", "Each system is preferably equipped with 128 MB RAM, 100 GB hard drive capacity, data backup facilities, and related hardware for interconnection to the intranetwork 33 and internetwork 15 .", "In addition, the workstations 36 are also Intel Pentium-based personal computer or workstation systems, also available from Dell Computers, Austin, Tex.", ", or Compaq Computers, Houston, Tex.", "Each workstation is preferably equipped with 64 MB RAM, 10 GB hard drive capacity, and related hardware for interconnection to the intranetwork 33 .", "Other types of server and workstation systems, including personal computers, minicomputers, mainframe computers, supercomputers, parallel computers, workstations, digital data processors and the like would be equally suitable, as is known in the art.", "[0042] The telemetered signals are communicated over an internetwork 15 , such as the Internet.", "However, any type of electronic communications link could be used, including an intranetwork link, serial link, data telephone link, satellite link, radio-frequency link, infrared link, fiber optic link, coaxial cable link, television link, and the like, as is known in the art.", "Also, the network server 31 is interfaced to the internetwork 15 using a T-1 network router 32 , such as manufactured by Cisco Systems, Inc., San Jose, Calif.", "However, any type of interfacing device suitable for interconnecting a server to a network could be used, including a data modem, cable modem, network interface, serial connection, data port, hub, frame relay, digital PBX, and the like, as is known in the art.", "[0043] FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the software modules of the server system 16 of the system 10 of FIG. 1 .", "Each module is a computer program written as source code in a conventional programming language, such as the C or Java programming languages, and is presented for execution by the CPU as object or byte code, as is known in the arts.", "The various implementations of the source code and object and byte codes can be held on a computer-readable storage medium or embodied on a transmission medium in a carrier wave.", "There are three basic software modules, which functionally define the primary operations performed by the server system 16 : database module 51 , analysis module 53 , and feedback module 55 .", "In the described embodiment, these modules are executed in a distributed computing environment, although a single server or a cluster of servers could also perform the functionality of the modules.", "The module functions are further described below in more detail beginning with reference to FIG. 7 .", "[0044] For each patient being provided remote patient care, the server system 16 periodically receives a collected measures set 50 which is forwarded to the database module 51 for processing.", "The database module 51 organizes the individual patent care records stored in the database 52 and provides the facilities for efficiently storing and accessing the collected measures sets 50 and patient data maintained in those records.", "An exemplary database schema for use in storing collected measures sets 50 in a patient care record is described below, by way of example, with reference to FIG. 5 .", "The database server 34 (shown in FIG. 2 ) performs the functionality of the database module 51 .", "Any type of database organization could be utilized, including a flat file system, hierarchical database, relational database, or distributed database, such as provided by database vendors, such as Oracle Corporation, Redwood Shores, Calif.", "[0045] The analysis module 53 analyzes the collected measures sets 50 stored in the patient care records in the database 52 .", "The analysis module 53 makes an automated determination of patient wellness in the form of a patient status indicator 54 .", "Collected measures sets 50 are periodically received from implantable medical devices and maintained by the database module 51 in the database 52 .", "Through the use of this collected information, the analysis module 53 can continuously follow the medical well being of a patient and can recognize any trends in the collected information that might warrant medical intervention.", "The analysis module 53 compares individual measures and derived measures obtained from both the care records for the individual patient and the care records for a disease specific group of patients or the patient population in general.", "The analytic operations performed by the analysis module 53 are further described below with reference to FIG. 4 .", "The application server 35 (shown in FIG. 2 ) performs the functionality of the analysis module 53 .", "[0046] The feedback module 55 provides automated feedback to the individual patient based, in part, on the patient status indicator 54 .", "As described above, the feedback could be by electronic mail or by automated voice mail or facsimile.", "Preferably, the feedback is provided in a tiered manner.", "In the described embodiment, four levels of automated feedback are provided.", "At a first level, an interpretation of the patient status indicator 54 is provided.", "At a second level, a notification of potential medical concern based on the patient status indicator 54 is provided.", "This feedback level could also be coupled with human contact by specially trained technicians or medical personnel.", "At a third level, the notification of potential medical concern is forwarded to medical practitioners located in the patient's geographic area.", "Finally, at a fourth level, a set of reprogramming instructions based on the patient status indicator 54 could be transmitted directly to the implantable medical device to modify the programming instructions contained therein.", "As is customary in the medical arts, the basic tiered feedback scheme would be modified in the event of bona fide medical emergency.", "The application server 35 (shown in FIG. 2 ) performs the functionality of the feedback module 55 .", "[0047] FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the analysis module 53 of the server system 16 of FIG. 3 .", "The analysis module 53 contains two functional submodules: comparison module 62 and derivation module 63 .", "The purpose of the comparison module 62 is to compare two or more individual measures, either collected or derived.", "The purpose of the derivation module 63 is to determine a derived measure based on one or more collected measures which is then used by the comparison module 62 .", "For instance, a new and improved indicator of impending heart failure could be derived based on the exemplary cardiac collected measures set described with reference to FIG. 5 .", "The analysis module 53 can operate either in a batch mode of operation wherein patient status indicators are generated for a set of individual patients or in a dynamic mode wherein a patient status indicator is generated on the fly for an individual patient.", "[0048] The comparison module 62 receives as inputs from the database 17 two input sets functionally defined as peer collected measures sets 60 and sibling collected measures sets 61 , although in practice, the collected measures sets are stored on a per sampling basis.", "Peer collected measures sets 60 contain individual collected measures sets that all relate to the same type of patient information, for instance, atrial electrical activity, but which have been periodically collected over time.", "Sibling collected measures sets 61 contain individual collected measures sets that relate to different types of patient information, but which may have been collected at the same time or different times.", "In practice, the collected measures sets are not separately stored as “peer”", "and “sibling”", "measures.", "Rather, each individual patient care record stores multiple sets of sibling collected measures.", "The distinction between peer collected measures sets 60 and sibling collected measures sets 61 is further described below with reference to FIG. 6 .", "[0049] The derivation module 63 determines derived measures sets 64 on an as-needed basis in response to requests from the comparison module 62 .", "The derived measures 64 are determined by performing linear and non-linear mathematical operations on selected peer measures 60 and sibling measures 61 , as is known in the art.", "[0050] FIG. 5 is a database schema showing, by way of example, the organization of a cardiac patient care record stored 70 in the database 17 of the system 10 of FIG. 1 .", "Only the information pertaining to collected measures sets are shown.", "Each patient care record would also contain normal identifying and treatment profile information, as well as medical history and other pertinent data (not shown).", "Each patient care record stores a multitude of collected measures sets for an individual patient.", "Each individual set represents a recorded snapshot of telemetered signals data which was recorded, for instance, per heartbeat or binned average basis by the implantable medical device 12 .", "For example, for a cardiac patient, the following information would be recorded as a collected measures set: atrial electrical activity 71 , ventricular electrical activity 72 , time of day 73 , activity level 74 , cardiac output 75 , oxygen level 76 , cardiovascular pressure measures 77 , pulmonary measures 78 , interventions made by the implantable medical device 78 , and the relative success of any interventions made 80 .", "In addition, the implantable medical device 12 would also communicate device specific information, including battery status 81 and program settings 82 .", "Other types of collected measures are possible.", "In addition, a well-documented set of derived measures can be determined based on the collected measures, as is known in the art.", "[0051] FIG. 6 is a record view showing, by way of example, a set of partial cardiac patient care records stored in the database 17 of the system 10 of FIG. 1 .", "Three patient care records are shown for Patient 1, Patient 2, and Patient 3.", "For each patent, three sets of measures are shown, X, Y, and Z. The measures are organized into sets with Set 0 representing sibling measures made at a reference time t=0.", "Similarly, Set n−2, Set n−1 and Set n each represent sibling measures made at later reference times t=n=2, t=n−1 and t=n, respectively.", "[0052] For a given patient, for instance, Patient 1, all measures representing the same type of patient information, such as measure X, are peer measures.", "These are measures, which are monitored over time in a disease-matched peer group.", "All measures representing different types of patient information, such as measures X, Y, and Z, are sibling measures.", "These are measures which are also measured over time, but which might have medically significant meaning when compared to each other within a single set.", "Each of the measures, X, Y, and Z could be either collected or derived measures.", "[0053] The analysis module 53 (shown in FIG. 4 ) performs two basic forms of comparison.", "First, individual measures for a given patient can be compared to other individual measures for that same patient.", "These comparisons might be peer-to-peer measures projected over time, for instance, X n , X n-1 , X n-2 , .", "X 0 , or sibling-to-sibling measures for a single snapshot, for instance, X n , Y n , and Z n , or projected over time, for instance, X n , Y n , Z n , X n-1 , Y n-1 , Z n-1 , X n-2 , Y n-2 , Z n-2 , .", "X 0 , Y 0 , Z 0 .", "Second, individual measures for a given patient can be compared to other individual measures for a group of other patients sharing the same disease-specific characteristics or to the patient population in general.", "Again, these comparisons might be peer-to-peer measures projected over time, for instance, X n , X n′ , X n″ , X n-1 , X n-1′ , X n-1″ , X n-2 , X n-2′ , X n-2″ .", "X 0 , X 0′ , X 0″ , or comparing the individual patient's measures to an average from the group.", "Similarly, these comparisons might be sibling-to-sibling measures for single snapshots, for instance, X n , X n′ , X n″ , Y n , Y n′ , Y n″ , and Z n , Z n′ , Z n″ , or projected over time, for instance, X n , X n′ , X n″ , Y n , Y n′ , Y n″ , Z n , Z n′ , Z n″ , X n-1 , X n-1′ , X n-1″ , Y n-1 , Y n-1′ , Y n-1″ , Z n-1 , Z n-1′ , Z n-1″ , X n-2 , X n-2′ , X n-2″ , Y n-2 , Y n-2′ , Y n-2″ , Z n-2 , Z n-2′ , Z n-2″ .", "X 0 , X 0′ , X 0″ , Y 0 , Y 0′ , Y 0″ , and Z 0 , Z 0′ , Z 0″ .", "Other forms of comparisons are feasible.", "[0054] FIG. 7 is a flow diagram showing a method 90 for automated collection and analysis of patient information retrieved from an implantable medical device 12 for remote patient care in accordance with the present invention.", "The method 90 is implemented as a conventional computer program for execution by the server system 16 (shown in FIG. 1 ).", "As a preparatory step, the patient care records are organized in the database 17 with a unique patient care record assigned to each individual patient (block 91 ).", "Next, the collected measures sets for an individual patient are retrieved from the implantable medical device 12 (block 92 ) using a programmer, interrogator, telemetered signals transceiver, and the like.", "The retrieved collected measures sets are sent, on a substantially regular basis, over the internetwork 15 or similar communications link (block 93 ) and periodically received by the server system 16 (block 94 ).", "The collected measures sets are stored into the patient care record in the database 17 for that individual patient (block 95 ).", "One or more of the collected measures sets for that patient are analyzed (block 96 ), as further described below with reference to FIG. 8 .", "Finally, feedback based on the analysis is sent to that patient over the internetwork 15 as an email message, via telephone line as an automated voice mail or facsimile message, or by similar feedback communications link (block 97 ), as further described below with reference to FIG. 11 .", "[0055] FIG. 8 is a flow diagram showing the routine for analyzing collected measures sets 96 for use in the method of FIG. 7 .", "The purpose of this routine is to make a determination of general patient wellness based on comparisons and heuristic trends analyses of the measures, both collected and derived, in the patient care records in the database 17 .", "A first collected measures set is selected from a patient care record in the database 17 (block 100 ).", "If the measures comparison is to be made to other measures originating from the patient care record for the same individual patient (block 101 ), a second collected measures set is selected from that patient care record (block 102 ).", "Otherwise, a group measures comparison is being made (block 101 ) and a second collected measures set is selected from another patient care record in the database 17 (block 103 ).", "Note the second collected measures set could also contain averaged measures for a group of disease specific patients or for the patient population in general.", "[0056] Next, if a sibling measures comparison is to be made (block 104 ), a routine for comparing sibling collected measures sets is performed (block 105 ), as further described below with reference to FIG. 9 .", "Similarly, if a peer measures comparison is to be made (block 106 ), a routine for comparing sibling collected measures sets is performed (block 107 ), as further described below with reference to FIGS. 10A and 10B .", "[0057] Finally, a patient status indicator is generated (block 108 ).", "By way of example, cardiac output could ordinarily be approximately 5.0 liters per minute with a standard deviation of ±1.0.", "An actionable medical phenomenon could occur when the cardiac output of a patient is ±3.0-4.0 standard deviations out of the norm.", "A comparison of the cardiac output measures 75 (shown in FIG. 5 ) for an individual patient against previous cardiac output measures 75 would establish the presence of any type of downward health trend as to the particular patient.", "A comparison of the cardiac output measures 75 of the particular patient to the cardiac output measures 75 of a group of patients would establish whether the patient is trending out of the norm.", "From this type of analysis, the analysis module 53 generates a patient status indicator 54 and other metrics of patient wellness, as is known in the art.", "[0058] FIG. 9 is a flow diagram showing the routine for comparing sibling collected measures sets 105 for use in the routine of FIG. 8 .", "Sibling measures originate from the patient care records for an individual patient.", "The purpose of this routine is either to compare sibling derived measures to sibling derived measures (blocks 111 - 113 ) or sibling collected measures to sibling collected measures (blocks 115 - 117 ).", "Thus, if derived measures are being compared (block 110 ), measures are selected from each collected measures set (block 111 ).", "First and second derived measures are derived from the selected measures (block 112 ) using the derivation module 63 (shown in FIG. 4 ).", "The first and second derived measures are then compared (block 113 ) using the comparison module 62 (also shown in FIG. 4 ).", "The steps of selecting, determining, and comparing (blocks 111 - 113 ) are repeated until no further comparisons are required (block 114 ), whereupon the routine returns.", "[0059] If collected measures are being compared (block 110 ), measures are selected from each collected measures set (block 115 ).", "The first and second collected measures are then compared (block 116 ) using the comparison module 62 (also shown in FIG. 4 ).", "The steps of selecting and comparing (blocks 115 - 116 ) are repeated until no further comparisons are required (block 117 ), whereupon the routine returns.", "[0060] FIGS. 10A and 10B are a flow diagram showing the routine for comparing peer collected measures sets 107 for use in the routine of FIG. 8 .", "Peer measures originate from patient care records for different patients, including groups of disease specific patients or the patient population in general.", "The purpose of this routine is to compare peer derived measures to peer derived measures (blocks 122 - 125 ), peer derived measures to peer collected measures (blocks 126 - 129 ), peer collected measures to peer derived measures (block 131 - 134 ), or peer collected measures to peer collected measures (blocks 135 - 137 ).", "Thus, if the first measure being compared is a derived measure (block 120 ) and the second measure being compared is also a derived measure (block 121 ), measures are selected from each collected measures set (block 122 ).", "First and second derived measures are derived from the selected measures (block 123 ) using the derivation module 63 (shown in FIG. 4 ).", "The first and second derived measures are then compared (block 124 ) using the comparison module 62 (also shown in FIG. 4 ).", "The steps of selecting, determining, and comparing (blocks 122 - 124 ) are repeated until no further comparisons are required (block 115 ), whereupon the routine returns.", "[0061] If the first measure being compared is a derived measure (block 120 ) but the second measure being compared is a collected measure (block 121 ), a first measure is selected from the first collected measures set (block 126 ).", "A first derived measure is derived from the first selected measure (block 127 ) using the derivation module 63 (shown in FIG. 4 ).", "The first derived and second collected measures are then compared (block 128 ) using the comparison module 62 (also shown in FIG. 4 ).", "The steps of selecting, determining, and comparing (blocks 126 - 128 ) are repeated until no further comparisons are required (block 129 ), whereupon the routine returns.", "[0062] If the first measure being compared is a collected measure (block 120 ) but the second measure being compared is a derived measure (block 130 ), a second measure is selected from the second collected measures set (block 131 ).", "A second derived measure is derived from the second selected measure (block 132 ) using the derivation module 63 (shown in FIG. 4 ).", "The first collected and second derived measures are then compared (block 133 ) using the comparison module 62 (also shown in FIG. 4 ).", "The steps of selecting, determining, and comparing (blocks 131 - 133 ) are repeated until no further comparisons are required (block 134 ), whereupon the routine returns.", "[0063] If the first measure being compared is a collected measure (block 120 ) and the second measure being compared is also a collected measure (block 130 ), measures are selected from each collected measures set (block 135 ).", "The first and second collected measures are then compared (block 136 ) using the comparison module 62 (also shown in FIG. 4 ).", "The steps of selecting and comparing (blocks 135 - 136 ) are repeated until no further comparisons are required (block 137 ), whereupon the routine returns.", "[0064] FIG. 11 is a flow diagram showing the routine for providing feedback 97 for use in the method of FIG. 7 .", "The purpose of this routine is to provide tiered feedback based on the patient status indicator.", "Four levels of feedback are provided with increasing levels of patient involvement and medical care intervention.", "At a first level (block 150 ), an interpretation of the patient status indicator 54 , preferably phrased in lay terminology, and related health care information is sent to the individual patient (block 151 ) using the feedback module 55 (shown in FIG. 3 ).", "At a second level (block 152 ), a notification of potential medical concern, based on the analysis and heuristic trends analysis, is sent to the individual patient (block 153 ) using the feedback module 55 .", "At a third level (block 154 ), the notification of potential medical concern is forwarded to the physician responsible for the individual patient or similar health care professionals (block 155 ) using the feedback module 55 .", "Finally, at a fourth level (block 156 ), reprogramming instructions are sent to the implantable medical device 12 (block 157 ) using the feedback module 55 .", "[0065] Therefore, through the use of the collected measures sets, the present invention makes possible immediate access to expert medical care at any time and in any place.", "For example, after establishing and registering for each patient an appropriate baseline set of measures, the database server could contain a virtually up-to-date patient history, which is available to medical providers for the remote diagnosis and prevention of serious illness regardless of the relative location of the patient or time of day.", "[0066] Moreover, the gathering and storage of multiple sets of critical patient information obtained on a routine basis makes possible treatment methodologies based on an algorithmic analysis of the collected data sets.", "Each successive introduction of a new collected measures set into the database server would help to continually improve the accuracy and effectiveness of the algorithms used.", "In addition, the present invention potentially enables the detection, prevention, and cure of previously unknown forms of disorders based on a trends analysis and by a cross-referencing approach to create continuously improving peer-group reference databases.", "[0067] Finally, the present invention makes possible the provision of tiered patient feedback based on the automated analysis of the collected measures sets.", "This type of feedback system is suitable for use in, for example, a subscription based health care service.", "At a basic level, informational feedback can be provided by way of a simple interpretation of the collected data.", "The feedback could be built up to provide a gradated response to the patient, for example, to notify the patient that he or she is trending into a potential trouble zone.", "Human interaction could be introduced, both by remotely situated and local medical practitioners.", "Finally, the feedback could include direct interventive measures, such as remotely reprogramming a patient's IPG.", "[0068] While the invention has been particularly shown and described as referenced to the embodiments thereof, those skilled in the art will understand that the foregoing and other changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention." ]

[ "CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS The present application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser.", "No. 11/460,088, filed Jul. 26, 2006, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,490,557, which is a continuing application of U.S. patent application Ser.", "No. 10/950,949, filed Sep. 27, 2004, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,137,343, and further claims the benefit of 35 U.S.C.(b) U.S. Provisional Application Ser.", "No. 60/506,896, filed Sep. 29, 2003, all hereby incorporated herein by reference.", "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1.", "Field of the Invention The present invention relates generally to the field of transportation systems and, more particularly, to a mass-transit system including a plurality of pedestal mounted rings to guide and propel an elongated vehicle carrying passengers, cargo, and the like.", "Background of the Invention Transportation of people and cargo has become increasingly important in our modern lives.", "In the United States, modes of travel between cities offer few options, typically by air, bus, personal automobile, and to a limited extent by conventional rail.", "Other countries in the world, most notably Japan and France, have developed high speed rail systems between major destinations, but these systems rely for the most part on conventional rail infrastructure with some technological improvements in the rails and the locomotives.", "A major drawback in such conventional rail systems lies in the exorbitant costs of building, maintaining, and operating such systems.", "The initial cost of building a high-speed, conventional rail system can run into literally billions of U.S. dollars, depending on the size of the rail system, the geographical obstacles that have to be overcome, and many other factors.", "In fact, there is a real need for mass transit between cities, where the initial cost is the overriding barrier to the installation of such a system.", "Another drawback to conventional rail systems is the problem of the environmental impact of such systems.", "Typically, rail systems include a right of way which must be cleared and on which the rails and various support systems are installed.", "Also, the locomotives are most often diesel powered, which contributes to air born pollution.", "For electric systems, the amount of electrical power that is consumed must be provided by power generation systems, which throughout the world are principally hydrocarbon fueled, again contributing to the pollution loading of the world's environment.", "The environmental impact of such systems also includes the man-made barriers of the rails and the right of ways.", "Another important innovation in recent times was the magnetic levitation (MagLev) system.", "While such systems have improved the speed of travel, such systems also rely on continuous rail, whether on the ground or suspended in the air.", "Thus, there remains a need for a transportation system for which rails are not required.", "Such a system should be relatively inexpensive to build and operate, and should not create the man-made barriers so common in conventional rail systems.", "The present invention is directed to such a system.", "SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention solves these and other needs in the art by providing a plurality of pedestal mounted rings through which a vehicle travels.", "The pedestals are spaced apart on the ground, but no rail or connecting structure on or above ground is required.", "Power is made available from a source which may be an underground conduit carrying electrical and communications cable that connects the pedestals together.", "The rings include a plurality of rollers to guide and stabilize the vehicle.", "The rollers in the rings engage the rails and also provide motive force to move the vehicle at lower speed levels.", "The rollers are driven by electrical motors for lower speed transportation systems.", "Also, mounted on each pedestal is a flywheel, preferably driven by an electrical motor, which engages a friction plate on the vehicle.", "The friction plate or linear clutch is lowered to engage and disengage the flywheel on the pedestal.", "The flywheel is also mounted on a shock absorber to smooth the travel of the vehicle.", "For lower speed transportation systems, the friction plate serves as a friction clutch and is used for vehicle braking purposes.", "For higher speed transportation systems, the flywheel transfers motive force to the friction plate to propel the vehicle through the supports of the system, while the action of the rollers and rails is used primarily for steering or guidance purposes.", "The rings are large enough to enclose the diameter of the vehicle, about 20 feet in diameter in the preferred embodiment.", "The pedestal is preferably about 16 feet high, or more, to provide adequate clearance for any automobile or other wheeled vehicle traveling on a roadway underneath the line of travel of the vehicle of the present invention.", "The pedestal is mounted to a robust base structure, which may extend, for example, 30 feet below the surface of the ground, in order to provide sufficient margin for the strength of the support system.", "The present invention also includes an energy saving feature which provides support rails along the vehicle to engage the rollers on the rings.", "The vehicle rails are preferably hollow rectangular conduits which carry liquid nitrogen or other suitably cold fluids.", "The nitrogen is carried on board the vehicle and vented or circulated to the vehicle rails.", "The nitrogen rapidly cools the rails, and thereby creates an ice layer on the rails by condensing atmospheric moisture on the rail.", "The ice layer substantially reduces the drag that the vehicle experiences as it travels by limiting the ability of the rail and rollers to bond together.", "These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from a review of the following detailed description along with the accompanying drawing figures.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view of the transportation system of this invention.", "FIG. 2 a is a side elevation view of the vehicle of this invention, and FIG. 2 b is a side elevation view of the vehicle deployed in a set of rings.", "FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of one end of a vehicle, illustrating an air resistance braking system which assists in stopping a vehicle.", "FIG. 4 and 4 a are front elevation views of a ring of this invention, including pedestal base, and vehicle guide rollers.", "FIGS. 4 b and 4 c are isometric views of other alternate rings according to the present invention.", "FIGS. 5 a and 5 b are top and side view of a side rail joint respectively.", "FIGS. 6 a and 6 b are side and end views of a vehicle guide roller, respectively.", "FIG. 7 is a side detail view illustrating certain features of a vehicle of this invention.", "FIGS. 8 a and 8 b are side elevation views of the vehicle illustrating clutch engagement and disengagement of the flywheel, in accordance with this invention.", "FIGS. 9 a and 9 b are front and side view of a flywheel assembly of this invention.", "FIG. 10 is an isometric view of rings arranged in vertical multiples according to the present invention.", "FIG. 11 is an isometric view of rings arranged in horizontal tandem according to the present invention.", "FIG. 12 is a plan view of an arrangement for moving a vehicle according to the present invention to a different path of travel.", "FIG. 13 is a top view of a modification of a vehicle according to the present invention.", "FIG. 14 is a side elevation view of the modified vehicle of FIG. 13 .", "FIG. 15 is a front view of a portion of the vehicle of FIGS. 13 and 14 .", "DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 depicts an overall schematic of a transportation system 10 constructed in accordance with this invention.", "The system 10 comprises an elongated car or vehicle 12 and a plurality of supports 14 .", "The car or vehicle 12 may have suitable number of appropriately located windows 12 a and doors 12 b , and a cockpit 12 c for an operator.", "If the vehicle is to be fully automated, the cockpit 12 c may serve as an observation area for safety or emergency control purposes.", "The vehicle body 12 is presently contemplated to be a unitary structure or it may be an articulated body, if desired.", "The supports 14 are arranged to define a route of travel along a desired course at an elevated height for transport of passengers and cargo.", "In a contemplated embodiment, the vehicle 12 is about 500 feet long, and the supports are about 200 feet apart, so that there are typically at least two, and optionally three or mores supports 14 in contact with a vehicle 12 at any time.", "The spacing of the supports 14 and the length of the vehicle 12 are interrelated and may be adjusted based on travel speed, load capacity and other requirements.", "To the extent that support of the moving vehicle is to be increased, the spacing between the supports 14 can be adjusted so that the vehicle 12 is supported at all times by at least three sets of supports 14 and intermittently by four or more supports 14 .", "It is presently contemplated that the spacing of supports 14 should not exceed fifty percent of the length of the vehicle 12 , and in practice it may be less.", "The support 14 includes a ring 16 , preferably formed of a hard and strong metal, such as steel.", "The supports 14 are not shown in certain figures in the drawings so that other structures such as rings 16 may be more clearly seem As contemplated by the present invention, the term ring is intended to encompass a variety of shapes in vertical cross-section in addition to those of generally circular or elliptical shape.", "A ring according to the present invention is a support body mounted at an elevated or overhead position with one or more portals or passages through which the body 40 of the vehicle 12 passes.", "The vehicle 12 , as will be set forth below, receives motive force from structure in the rings 16 as it passes through the series of rings 16 .", "The ring 16 has one or more portals or passages 17 formed in it.", "The portals or passages 17 may be circular ( FIGS. 4 and 4 a ), elliptical, generally rectangular ( FIG. 4B ) or other shape in vertical cross section.", "In some instances, the rings 16 need not include top portions, but may be generally U-shaped with a bottom portion and upwardly extending arms and rollers 18 to retain, power and guide the vehicle 12 .", "The arms could be either vertically oriented or inwardly or outwardly inclined.", "The shape of the portals 17 is established in conformity to the general outer shape of the body 40 of the vehicle 12 used in the system 10 .", "As will be set forth, the rings 16 may have portals 17 in horizontal tandems ( FIG. 4 c ) for parallel, same direction travel of vehicle 12 during peak travel time, or two-way travel along the route of travel during routine travel times, or for storage of vehicles 12 ( FIG. 11 ) when not in use.", "Further, the rings 16 can be arranged in vertical multiples ( FIG. 10 ) for parallel, same direction travel, two-way travel or for storage of vehicles 12 when not in use.", "The vehicles 12 may be of different shapes based on travel speed, load requirements, the course of travel and other factors, with the form of the rings 16 and portals 17 conforming to the shape and function of the vehicle 12 .", "In urban applications, double or parallel travel ( FIG. 4 c ) in congested areas is likely, therefore the vehicle 12 is narrower in width than a high-speed intercity version.", "The narrower body version allows the vehicle 12 to negotiate a smaller radius curve than would a high-speed version having a greater width.", "For urban and other high traffic volume applications, the rings 16 may be double portals 17 , or more, and the shape of the portals 17 altered to a more rectangular shape due to lower speed and higher passenger or cargo capacity.", "A plurality or rollers 18 are mounted on the inside surface of the ring 16 in the portals 17 .", "The rollers 18 serve to support and guide tie vehicle 12 through the ring 16 .", "For vehicles 12 traveling at lower travel speeds, at least some of the rollers 18 are driven by motors to move the vehicle 12 along its travel path through the rings 16 .", "If desire, all of the rollers 18 may be motor driven for this purpose.", "Mounted on the vehicle 12 at suitable points about its periphery to engage the rollers 18 are a like number of rails 20 .", "The rails 20 which are in contact with rollers 18 and driven by a suitable power source thus receive motive force to move the vehicle 12 at lower ranges of speed through the transportation system 10 .", "The rails 20 may be longitudinally continuous along the body of the vehicle 12 , or they may be either articulated or provided in segments, if desired.", "Mounted at one or more positions about the periphery of the vehicle 12 and separate from the weight-carrying rails 20 are one or more longitudinally extending motive force transfer plates 21 .", "The plates 21 serve as part of a friction clutch or linear clutch.", "At lease one such plate 21 is provided, although it should be understood that there may be two or more such motive force transfer plates on the vehicle 12 based on load and travel speed requirements, if desired.", "The friction clutch or clutches 21 may be longitudinally continuous or segmented along the length of the vehicle 12 .", "The rollers 18 and the rails 20 are shown in greater detail in FIGS. 5 a , 5 b , 6 a , and 6 b .", "The rails 20 and rollers 18 not driven by motors are passive elements, producing no motive force to move the vehicle 12 .", "Rather, as noted, for lower speed operation one or more of the rails 20 receive motive force from drive mechanisms or motors for some or all of the rollers 18 mounted with the support 14 .", "Thus, the present invention permits the shape of the vehicle 12 to be of a design to accommodate a variety of capacity ranges and travel routes.", "Much like railroads, overhead systems according to the present invention may have areas of single ( FIGS. 4 , 4 a and 4 b ), double ( FIG. 4 c ) and even triple ( FIG. 11 ) travel paths.", "The main function of the rings 16 is to act as a support structure for the rollers 18 .", "The rollers 18 are designed to match with the alignment of the rails 20 on the car 12 .", "Again, as noted the final shape of the rings 16 is a function of the shape of the car 12 .", "A secondary function of the rings 16 is a safety feature.", "Since each ring 16 completely encircles the body 40 of the car 12 along a circumferential portion of its length, the car 12 is guided to move through the series of rings 16 in its direction of travel.", "Unlike railroads where possible disastrous consequences may occur if there is a derailment, the tubular overhead guide design of the present invention means that in the unlikely event of a roller failure, the clutch plates 21 and rails 20 on the car 12 then come in contact with the reinforced body of the rings 16 and the car 12 would then slide to a stop.", "The fact that the rings 16 enclose the car 12 in a 360° manner while the car 12 is supported by at least three rings 16 means that the car 12 may proceed to the next ring along the travel path under its own momentum in the event of power loss or roller failure.", "Another benefit of the circumferentially enclosing ring 16 as opposed to an open top is that this enclosing structure provides greater structural strength to the ring 16 .", "Turning to FIG. 4 a , an example ring 16 and related components are illustrated.", "Mounted on the inside of the ring 16 are the rollers 18 , with at least one roller 18 mounted on the top and at least one roller 18 mounted on each side.", "There are preferably two such rollers 18 on the bottom, to provide greater vertical support of the vehicle 12 and to provide greater lateral stability.", "The number of rollers 18 provided in the ring 16 below the vehicle 12 may be increased, if desired, for load and weight distribution purposes.", "The ring 16 is mounted in a support member 22 , which may preferably be reinforced concrete.", "The support member 22 may of course be made of steel or of other suitable structural material if desired.", "The support member 22 is mounted on top of a pedestal 24 , which may for example be about sixteen feet high, three feet wide, and tree feet thick.", "The pedestal 24 may be of concrete, steel or other suitable structural materials.", "Those of skill in the art will recognize that the height of the pedestal may vary with the topography of the land over which the system 10 is installed in order to make the travel path of the vehicle 12 substantially level, so that movement of the car 12 is as even and smooth as possible.", "The pedestal 24 is mounted to and formed contiguously with a base 26 , which preferably extends about thirty feet into the ground, and is ten feet wide, and three feet thick.", "The base 26 as shown is intended as illustrative only, and will vary depending on the subterranean structure of the subsoil, climate and weather factors and other such considerations.", "Unlike traditional railways that carry their power generating capacity with them in the form of a locomotive (the French TGV system having about 12,000 hp) that generates power and transmits it to stationary rails, the present invention has a power source (motors) on the rings 16 that impart motive force to the moving vehicle 12 .", "An advantage of this is that power demand for moving the vehicle 12 is matched to localized need.", "In other words additional power is supplied for rings located in areas along the route of travel where acceleration of the vehicle 12 is required and less power is provided where the need is for power in maintaining momentum of the vehicle 12 .", "Direct drive of the moving vehicle 12 is, as noted, furnished by stationary electric motors for the rollers 18 at lower speeds such as in urban areas.", "This allows systems to have increased size of motors and a greater number of motors for areas of acceleration or hill climbing.", "Further, with the present invention, once design speed has been achieved for a given section of route by the vehicle 12 , as the vehicle 12 enters the next ring 16 along the route of travel it encounters the rollers 18 of that next ring 16 at a time when those rollers have been brought up to a speed by their drive motors slightly higher than the design speed of the vehicle 12 for that section of the route.", "The motors are preset as to speed and timing and the vehicle operator serves mainly in a safety capacity role.", "If in low speed urban systems where frequent stops and starts can be expected, it will be possible in some cases to slightly elevate the line of travel going into and out of the stations.", "This serves two purposes.", "The first is to aid in acceleration as the vehicle 12 leaves a station, i.e., it begins to move from a ring 16 at a slightly elevated position.", "The second is to assist at the next station in braking as the vehicle 12 approaches a station or stop to a slightly elevated ring 16 , i.e., the vehicle 12 is essentially climbing and thus decelerating as it comes to a stop at that station.", "This technique captures the kinetic energy of the vehicle 12 and stores it in the vehicle 12 as potential energy and its use may be made available as needed on a case-by-case basis.", "The present invention also allows the rollers 18 to transfer the kinetic energy of the moving vehicle 12 as it is entering a station back into the system in the braking mode.", "The kinetic energy may be converted to another form as it is received then used to drive the motors and regenerate power and feed it back to move the vehicle as it departs.", "This is an optional feature which may or may not be used, based on cost effectiveness conservations.", "It is also contemplated that power sources such as linear induction motors can also be used to drive the vehicle 12 and provide braking, if desired.", "For provision of power for higher speed systems, usually above 55 mph, other sources are presently contemplated to provide motive forces to the vehicle 12 .", "Returning now to FIG. 1 , the pedestals 24 as spaced apart along the path of travel of the vehicle 12 .", "On each pedestal 24 is mounted a support platform 28 , each of which retains a flywheel assembly 30 , shown and described below with regard to FIGS. 9 a and 9 b. The flywheel assemblies are used to provide motive power to the vehicle 12 , preferably for higher speeds.", "Each flywheel assembly 30 includes a flywheel 72 ( FIGS. 9 a and 9 b ), driven by an electric motor 80 , which is supplied with electrical power from an electrical power supply bus 32 , ( FIG. 1 ) typically under ground.", "A conductor 34 taps off the bus 32 to provide power to the motor 80 .", "The bus 32 includes redundant power mains, and is supplied from redundant sources for safety and reliability purposes.", "Thus, in operation, the vehicle 12 is driven by a minimum of two and preferably at least three flywheels 72 as the vehicle 12 moves along its path of travel through a succession of supports 14 and rings 16 in the system 10 .", "On the bottom of the vehicle 12 are one or more transfer plates or linear friction clutch plates 21 , shown and described below with regard to FIGS. 8 a and 8 b .", "As the vehicle 12 moves along at higher speeds, the flywheel 72 frictionally engages the linear clutch plate 21 , moving the vehicle in the direction of movement of the flywheel 72 .", "The linear clutch plate 21 forms with the flywheel 72 a linear friction clutch which can be used for a number of purposes according to the present invention.", "The clutch plate 21 and flywheel 72 may be used to provide momentum to move the vehicle 12 through the system 10 with the flywheel 72 rotating in a direction corresponding to desired movement of the vehicle 12 .", "The direction of rotation of the flywheel 72 may be reverse and through contact with the plate 21 provide braking to the vehicle 12 .", "The plates 21 may also be located at positions corresponding to rest or support pads on the structure of rings 16 for braking purposes or to support the vehicle 12 at a stationary or storage position.", "The vehicle 12 is bi-directional in its movement, governed by the direction of rotation of the flywheel 72 .", "There are no active drive components on the vehicle 12 ;", "its direction of travel is governed on these external components.", "To assist in slowing the vehicle, a cowling 15 actuated by air cylinders 19 is provided, as shown in FIG. 3 .", "The friction clutch plate or plates 21 are typically located beneath the body 40 of the vehicle 12 for higher speed operations.", "If desired, the clutch plates 21 may be located on the sides or top of the vehicle 12 to be engaged by correspondingly positioned flywheels 72 .", "If the flywheel assembly 30 , as shown in FIG. 9 a and 9 b , has a set of oppositely driven flywheels 72 , two clutch plates 21 of like construction to that shown in FIG. 7 are mounted with the vehicle 12 at locations corresponding to the place and spacing of the flywheels 72 .", "The clutch plate or plates 21 provide friction engagement with the flywheel 72 of the flywheel assembly 30 .", "To engage the flywheel 72 with the clutch plate 21 , an air bag or other suitable reciprocating movement mechanism 74 is inflated, forcing the clutch plate 21 downward until it contacts the flywheel 72 .", "A spring 76 or other energy and impact absorbing mechanism is provided to reduce possible shock transmitted from the flywheel assembly 30 to the vehicle 12 .", "The clutch plate 21 may also be used at appropriately low speeds of the vehicle 12 as motion retarder and as a form of emergency brake by being brought into contact with oppositely rotating flywheels 72 or the rails 20 .", "Further details of the flywheel assembly 30 are shown in FIGS. 9 a and 9 b .", "The flywheel 72 is driven by the electric motor 80 through a shaft 86 .", "The electric motor 80 is driven by power through a suitable connection to the conductor 34 ( FIG. 1 ).", "The electric motor 80 is mounted at a suitable position such as a platform 81 mounted with the pedestal 24 .", "The flywheel 72 is also supported on a set of shock absorbers 84 .", "The shaft 86 which drives a pinion 88 may if desired be provided with a rotary coupling 82 , as shown.", "The pinion 88 driven by motor 80 in turn engages a pinion gear 90 , such that the flywheels 72 provide rotary motion in either direction as indicated by movement arrows.", "Thus, in order to drive the vehicle in one direction, the air bag 74 associated with the desired drive rail 70 is inflated, and to drive the vehicle in the opposite direction, the air bag 74 of the other drive rail 70 is inflated, thereby engaging the opposite spinning flywheel 72 .", "For high-speed systems such as those shown, power demands are greater as the vehicle 12 accelerates.", "Once a desired speed for the vehicle 12 is achieved, power consumption stabilizes as a function of speed (maintaining desired speed plus overcoming aerodynamic drag and rolling friction).", "In order to minimize the size and cost of the motors for high-speed versions of the present invention, the energy-storing flywheel 72 is incorporated into the rings 16 .", "This allows a smaller motor (separate from the rollers motor) to use the time between the passage of the vehicle 12 to bring the flywheel 72 up to a desired speed prior to the arrival of the next vehicle 12 .", "This is a cost saving design feature as it allows sufficient power to be brought to bear and avoids the high costs of high-speed locomotives.", "However it should be understood that alternative drive mechanisms for the vehicles 12 might be used.", "They include, for example, magnetic propulsion, or onboard power generation for developing thrust, such as jet-propelled, or propeller driven motive force generators.", "FIGS. 2 a and 2 b depict additional features and details of the vehicle 12 .", "The vehicle includes a central, cylindrical fuselage or body 40 , the length of which must be at least the distance between three sequentially located or disposed rings 16 .", "The vehicle 12 also includes a tapered cabin 42 on each end, which may serve as a cockpit, if desired.", "Mounted within the vehicle is a diesel or other power driven generator 44 to supply electrical power to the vehicle's service, hotel and passenger convenience loads, such as lights, heating and air conditioning, galley services, ventilation, and the like.", "The diesel generator 44 is supplied with energy from a suitable source, such as fuel from an on-board fuel tank 46 in the conventional manner.", "For greater strength and structural integrity, the body 40 of vehicle 12 may be designed to be in a state of compression, such as through the use of tensioning cables.", "The vehicle 12 also houses one or more nitrogen tanks 48 .", "The tanks 48 provide nitrogen to the inside of the rails 20 to develop a thin ice layer on the rails to reduce drag and rolling friction, as herein described.", "This feature of the invention is shown in more detail in FIGS. 5 a , 5 b 6 a , and 6 b .", "FIG. 5 a shows a top view and FIG. 5 b shows a side view, and together these figures depict details of a rail 20 .", "Each rail 20 includes at least one joint 50 which provides for flexing of the rail and the vehicle 12 , and accounts for thermal expansion and retraction.", "The joint 50 includes an overlap area 52 having curved ends to accommodate back and forth flexing of the joint.", "The rail 20 preferably defines a curved contact surface 54 which provides stable retention of the vehicle 12 within the five rails 20 , as shown in FIG. 4 .", "The surface 54 contacts a complementary curved surface 56 of the roller 18 , and a surface layer of cold condensation or ice is formed between them by the nitrogen system, provided by a nitrogen tube 58 .", "An insulation sleeve 60 along each rail 20 conserves thermal energy.", "As shown in FIG. 6 b , as the vehicle travels in the direction shown by a directional arrow, a suitably thin layer of condensate is produced as the leading contact point between the rail 20 and the roller 18 , creating a low friction lift between them and reducing drag.", "This feature substantially reduces the energy required for operation of the system 10 .", "FIGS. 7 , 8 a , and 8 b show further details of the undercarriage of the system 10 .", "The storage tank 48 supplies chilled or liquid nitrogen or some other suitably cold fluid through a delivery line 62 into the tube 58 , which is deployed within and along the length of the rail 20 .", "The nitrogen in delivery line 62 may be recycled through a continuous loop, or delivery line 62 may be configured so that the cold fluid vents out through an outlet vent valve or outlet 64 .", "The linear clutch plate 21 is flexibly mounted to the vehicle 40 with a set of air bags or other shock absorbers 66 , which absorb shock and provide a smooth ride of the vehicle.", "For more extreme motions of the clutch plates 21 against the flywheel 72 , a set of rubber stoppers or bodies 68 act as bumpers to absorb the impact.", "The system 10 according to the present invention may be provided at suitable locations along its route with a vertical lift system S as shown in FIG. 10 .", "The vertical lift system S would operate in similar engineering principles to lift bridges or floodgates, and allows passage of another vehicle through the lift systems while others have been moved out of the path of travel into a vertically disposed rack 90 to an out of service position.", "The vehicles 12 in the rack 90 are retained there for a variety of reasons, such as: allowing passage of another vehicle;", "storage of vehicles for later use of at times of higher traffic volume;", "repair;", "cleaning;", "maintenance;", "service and the like.", "The vertical lift system S could also function as a boarding/loading station on point of departure.", "Passengers could enter a vehicle 12 on the rack which would then be moved into the travel path at time of departure.", "The system 10 according to the present invention may also be provided with a lateral or horizontal transfer/storage system L ( FIG. 11 ) at suitable locations along its route.", "The lateral system L has a suitable number of rings 16 which are laterally movable in a direction perpendicular to the path of travel within a pedestal supported larger ring housing 94 .", "As with the vertical system S, the lateral system L permits vehicles to be moved away from the main path of travel for storage, retention and other reasons mentioned above in connection with the vertical system S. It should be understood that a system combining both vertical and horizontal transfer might also be used.", "Further, the system 10 of the present invention is provided with a rotary station or table R ( FIG. 12 ), operating on principles like those of a railroad round house.", "Pedestal mounted supports 100 and 102 are movable in circular, arcuate paths 101 and 103 respectively about a centrally located, rotatable support 104 .", "The supports 100 , 102 and 104 are otherwise of like structure and operation to the supports 14 with rings 16 of the types shown in FIGS. 4 , 4 a or 4 b .", "The supports 100 , 102 and 104 are moved into an aligned position to receive a vehicle 12 entering the table R in a first direction, as shown in FIG. 12 .", "After the vehicle 12 moves to a position supported by the supports 100 , 102 and 104 , the supports 100 and 102 are moved along their arcuate paths about the rotatable support 104 until the vehicle 12 is aligned with a different set of rings as shown at 116 or 118 along a new direction of travel.", "Energy is lost to two main factors in any rail system.", "The first is rolling friction caused by interactions between the rail and the wheel, while the other is aerodynamic drag.", "Rolling function is virtually constant and varies little with changes in speed or weight of the train.", "Unlike rolling friction, aerodynamic drag varies greatly with speed and increases as the square of speed.", "Thus, a doubling of speed leads to a quadrupling of aerodynamic drag.", "In general, aerodynamic drag energy losses begin to exceed that of rolling friction in the speed range of 55 mph to 70 mph.", "As has been noted, to the shape of the car 12 may be varied based on the intended design speed.", "For trains, energy consumed in overcoming rolling friction shows little increase as speed increases.", "For high-speed, such as greater than 150 mph, aerodynamic related issues are a far greater concern in terms of energy losses.", "For this reason, as shown in FIGS. 13 , 14 and 15 , rails 20 may be configured to extend forward past the ends of the vehicle body 40 to form a rearwardly tapering lead surface in an air drag reducing configuration 121 and airfoil members 122 attached to the vehicle 40 for air drag reduction and steering purposes, and countering gravity deflection.", "The reason the rails 120 in FIG. 13 extend fore and aft of the body 12 is to lower the weight that becomes cantilevered thus decreasing the amount of deflection.", "The extended rails 120 come in contact with the next set of rollers 18 and the weight of the body 12 begins to transfer to the next set of rollers 18 .", "The opposite occurs at the rear of the car body 12 as it leaves the rollers 18 .", "The instantaneous weight on the rollers 18 decreases gradually as the car leaves the rollers 18 thus preventing a snapping action.", "The rails 120 are also tapered to counteract what remains of the deflection effect thus providing a smooth transition.", "The airfoil 122 is movable and may be pivoted as indicated in FIG. 15 about an axis corresponding to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle 12 .", "The airfoil 122 is thus rotatably mounted on a structure that extends from the nose of the taped cabin 42 of vehicle 12 to a point 124 where the rails 120 come together.", "The airfoil 122 is capable of some rotational movement that, at speed will produce lift perpendicular to the airfoil surface.", "This small amount of lift, at higher speeds, will tend to move the rails 120 in the direction of the induced lift.", "This also counteracts the deflection effect and can be used to assist in a turn to provide gradual turning to the vehicle 12 .", "Also, the cooling of the rails below the local dew point and then below the freezing point of water will induce atmospheric moisture to condense on the rails and form a barrier to the formation of molecular bonding between the steel of the wheels and the steel rail.", "Since the cost of cooling is relatively inexpensive to do with liquid nitrogen (although other methods could be used) this method is proposed.", "For higher speed operation when the motive force is supplied by the frictional transference of energy from the flywheel assembly 30 reduction of energy lost to rolling friction can greatly lower energy consumed.", "As the moisture condenses on the rails it typically freezes, then turns to liquid as the rail nears the roller and pressure rises.", "This should produce a boundary layer of water under higher pressure between two surfaces, thus the hydroplaning effect.", "This can also be thought of as a form of viscous hydroplaning.", "This can be enhanced by the addition of a fine mist of water vapor moving with the rails and containing surface tension increasing chemical additives in the vapor.", "The overall purpose is to reduce the ability of the rail and roller to form molecular and/or metallic bonds thus reducing the energy needed to then break these bonds.", "Rail cooling techniques, if used at all, will find their best applications for operations at higher speed.", "In addition to energy savings the effect should also produce lower noise levels emanating from the rail/roller interface.", "Also it will have a lubricating effect when it is necessary to force the car into a turn.", "The principles, preferred embodiment, and mode of operation of the present invention have been described in the foregoing specification.", "This invention is not to be construed as limited to the particular forms disclosed, since these are regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive.", "Moreover, variations and changes may be made by those skilled in the at without departing from the spirit of the invention." ]

[ "TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] The present disclosure relates to the mobile terminal field, and more particularly, to a quick-charging control method and system.", "BACKGROUND [0002] With the time goes on, the Internet and mobile communication networks provide a large number of function applications.", "A user cannot only use the mobile terminal to perform a conventional application, such as answering the phone or making a call, but can also use the mobile terminal to browse webpages, transmit pictures and play games, etc.", "[0003] With the increasing use of the mobile terminal, the mobile terminal requires frequent charging.", "In addition, according to charging requirements of users, some terminals can accept high-current charging without monitoring the charging current (for example, the charging current is 2A).", "Moreover, many charging adapters are developed, via which the high-current charging can be performed constantly.", "Although the charging time is reduced to some extent, the high charging current can cause some safety risks, for example, a damage to the cell and the charging circuit in the mobile terminal, or even a fire, if the charging adapter is not disconnected in time when the cell is fully charged.", "Thus, there is a need to control the whole charging process of the cell.", "DISCLOSURE Technical Problem [0004] An objective of the present disclosure is to provide a quick-charging control method and a charging device, so as to avoid problems in the related art that the cell and the charging circuit is easily damaged, if there is no charging control when the charging adapter charges the cell of the mobile terminal using a constant, single and high charging current.", "Technical Solution [0005] In one aspect, a quick-charging control method is provided to be applied to a charging system including a charging adapter and a mobile terminal.", "The quick-charging control method includes: [0006] with a first controller, obtaining a voltage value of a cell via a cell connector, and sending the voltage value of the cell to a second controller, in which the mobile terminal includes the first controller, the cell connector and the cell, the charging adapter includes the second controller;", "[0007] with the second controller, searching a threshold segment table to find a current regulation instruction matched with a threshold segment containing the voltage value of the cell, and sending the current regulation instruction to a regulation circuit, in which the charging adapter includes the regulation circuit, and the threshold segment table records one or more threshold segments and current regulation instructions having a mapping relation with the threshold segments;", "[0008] with the regulation circuit, performing a current regulation according to the current regulation instruction, and outputting a power signal after the current regulation, such that the charging adapter outputs the power signal after the current regulation;", "[0009] with the second controller, sending a second switch-off instruction to the first controller and a second switch circuit respectively if second abnormal charging information is detected, in which the charging adapter includes the second switch circuit;", "[0010] with the second switch circuit, controlling the charging adapter to stop sending the power signal after the current regulation if the second switch circuit receives the second switch-off instruction.", "[0011] In another aspect, a quick-charging control system is provide to include a charging adapter including a second controller, a regulation circuit and a second switch circuit and a mobile terminal including a cell connector, a first controller and a cell;", "[0012] the first controller is configured to obtain a voltage value of the cell via the cell connector, and to send the voltage value of the cell to the second controller;", "[0013] the second controller is configured to search a threshold segment table to find a current regulation instruction matched with a threshold segment containing the voltage value of the cell, to send the current regulation instruction to the regulation circuit, and to send a second switch-off instruction to the first controller and the second switch circuit respectively if second abnormal charging information is detected;", "[0014] the regulation circuit is configured to perform a current regulation according to the current regulation instruction, to output a power signal after the current regulation, such that the charging adapter outputs the power signal after the current regulation;", "[0015] the second switch circuit is configured to control the charging adapter to stop sending the power signal after the current regulation if the second switch-off instruction is received.", "Technical Effects [0016] The present disclosure has the following benefits.", "The second controller in the charging adapter obtains the voltage value of the cell in mobile terminal in real time, and determines whether there is a need to regulate the current value of the power signal outputted from the charging adapter (the power signal outputted from the regulation circuit after the current regulation) according to the threshold segment table and the voltage value of the cell.", "Moreover, during the charging process, if the second controller detects the second abnormal charging information, the second switch circuit is switched off timely, such that the charging adapter stops charging the cell of the mobile terminal.", "Thus, the charging current flowing into the cell can be adjusted in time so as to avoid over-charging the cell, and the charging adapter can be prevented from charging the cell of the mobile terminal if an abnormal charging occurs, such that the charging circuit in the mobile terminal and the charging circuit in the charging adapter can be protected effectively.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0017] In order to make the technical solutions of embodiments of the present disclosure more clearly, the accompanying drawings used in the description of embodiments of the present disclosure are briefly described hereunder.", "Obviously, the described drawings are merely some embodiments of present disclosure.", "For persons skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without any creative work.", "[0018] FIG. 1 is a first flow chart of a quick-charging control method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.", "[0019] FIG. 2 is a flow chart of step S 3 in a quick-charging control method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.", "[0020] FIG. 3 is a second flow chart of a quick-charging control method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.", "[0021] FIG. 4 is a third flow chart of a quick-charging control method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.", "[0022] FIG. 5 is a first block diagram of a quick-charging control system according to embodiment of the present disclosure.", "[0023] FIG. 6 is a second block diagram of a quick-charging control system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.", "[0024] FIG. 7 is a third block diagram of a quick-charging control system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.", "[0025] FIG. 8 is a fourth block diagram of a quick-charging control system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.", "DETAILED DESCRIPTION [0026] To make the objectives, the technical solutions, and the advantages of embodiments of the present disclosure clearer, the technical solutions in embodiments of the present disclosure are hereinafter described clearly and completely with reference to the accompanying drawings in embodiments of the present disclosure.", "It should be understood that, specific embodiments described herein are merely used to explain the present disclosure, but not used to limit the present disclosure.", "In order to illustrate the technical solutions of the present disclosure, specific embodiments are described in the following.", "[0027] In embodiments of the present disclosure, “first”", "in “first charging interface”, “first power wire”, “first switch circuit”, “first ground wire”", "and “first controller”", "is used for reference, and “second”", "in “second charging interface”, “second switch circuit”, “second power wire”, “second ground wire”", "and “second controller”", "is also used for reference.", "[0028] It should be noted that, the charging adapter in embodiments of the present disclosure includes a power adapter, a charger, a terminal such as an IPAD and a smart phone which can output a power signal for charge a cell (a cell of a mobile terminal), or the like.", "[0029] In an embodiment of the present disclosure, a second controller is added in the charging adapter, and a first controller is added in the mobile terminal.", "When the charging adapter charges the cell of the mobile terminal, the first controller communicates with the second controller, such that a quick-charging coordination is performed with respect to whether the charging adapter is needed (for example, the second controller asks the first controller whether there is a need to quick-charge the cell of the mobile terminal), and the charging current is regulated during the whole charging process, thus avoiding overcharging the cell effectively and ensuring a safe quick-charging.", "[0030] FIG. 1 illustrates a first flow chart of a quick-charging control method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.", "For illustration purposes, only the parts related to embodiments of the present disclosure are shown, which will be described in detail as follows.", "[0031] The quick-charging control method provided by embodiments of the present disclosure is applied to a charging system including the charging adapter and the mobile terminal, and includes the followings.", "[0032] In step S 1 , the first controller obtains a voltage value of the cell via a cell connector, and sends the voltage value of the cell obtained to the second controller, in which the mobile terminal includes the first controller, the cell connector and the cell, and the charging adapter includes the second controller.", "[0033] In step S 2 , the second controller searches a threshold segment table to find a current regulation instruction matched with a threshold segment containing the voltage value of the cell, and sends the current regulation instruction to the regulation circuit, in which the charging adapter includes the regulation circuit, and the threshold segment table records one or more threshold segments and current regulation instructions have a mapping relation with the threshold segments.", "[0034] In step S 3 , the regulation circuit performs a current regulation according to the current regulation instruction, and outputs a power signal after the current regulation, such that the charging adapter outputs the power signal after the current regulation.", "[0035] In step S 4 , the second controller sends a second switch-off instruction to the first controller and a second switch circuit respectively if second abnormal charging information is detected, in which the charging adapter includes the second switch circuit.", "[0036] In step S 5 , the second switch circuit controls the charging adapter to stop outputting the power signal after the current regulation if the second switch circuit receives the second switch-off instruction.", "[0037] It should be noted that, in general cases, electronic components capable of supporting high current (charging current larger than or equal to 3A) and/or charging circuits (including the charging circuit in the charging adapter (for example, a rectifier and filter circuit and a voltage and current regulation circuit) and the charging circuit in the mobile terminal) capable of supporting high current can be used to realize high-current charging for the cell.", "However, if the cell of the mobile terminal is charged with a constant high-current, additional impedances such as an internal resistance, a parasitic resistance and a coupling resistance can be introduced into the charging loop (including the charging circuit in the mobile terminal and the charging circuit in the charging adapter), and thus a larger heat dissipation (i.e., more heat energy) can be generated.", "[0038] Thus, in embodiments of the present disclosure, in order to reduce the charging time, to reduce the heat dissipation, and to perform an overcharge protection on the cell, the second controller regulates the current value of the power signal outputted from the regulation circuit according to the threshold segment table and the voltage value of the cell received in real time when the first charging interface of the mobile terminal is plugged with the second charging interface of the charging adapter, so as to regulate the current value of the power signal flowing into the cell.", "Thus, through steps S 1 , S 2 and S 3 , the charging adapter can perform a high-current charging on the cell of the mobile terminal with adjustable charging current.", "[0039] It should be noted that, the threshold segment table is stored in the second controller, and the threshold segment table can be preset according to control requirements on the charging time and the charging current of charging the cell.", "The threshold segment table records one or more threshold segments, and for each threshold segment (a numerical interval), there is a voltage upper limit and a voltage lower limit.", "Moreover, the threshold segment table records one or more current regulation instructions, each of which has one corresponding threshold segment.", "Preferably, the voltage threshold segment consisting of all the threshold segments in the threshold segment table is continuous on the numerical.", "In this way, for each voltage value (the voltage value of the cell) detected, a corresponding current regulation instruction can be found.", "[0040] Further, if the voltage value of the cell received subsequently jumps to another threshold segment from one threshold segment, the second controller will send a current regulation instruction matched with the other threshold segment to the regulation circuit.", "[0041] When receiving the current regulation instruction, the regulation circuit outputs the power signal after the current regulation, in which the current value of the power signal outputted from the regulation circuit is equal to the current value specified by the current regulation instruction.", "Thus, the charging adapter sends the power signal outputted from the regulation circuit to the mobile terminal.", "[0042] It should be noted that, if the second controller identifies second abnormal charging information according to data received, during a process in which the charging adapter charges the cell of the mobile terminal, the second controller sends a second switch-off instruction to the second switch circuit, such that via the second switch circuit, sending the power signal (the power signal is outputted by the regulation circuit) to the mobile terminal is stopped timely.", "Preferably, the second abnormal charging information includes abnormal information such as information indicating an abnormal temperature of the charging adapter, information indicating that the charging adapter has been pulled out, and information indicating that the current or voltage value of the power signal outputted by the charging adapter is too high.", "Further, once the second abnormal charging information is detected, the second switch circuit is switched off timely, so as to prevent the charging adapter from sending the power signal to the mobile terminal.", "[0043] In addition, when the second abnormal charging information is detected, the second controller also sends the second switch-off instruction to the first controller in addition to the second switch circuit, so as to notify the mobile terminal of a need to switch off the charging.", "Further, the first controller of the mobile terminal can execute corresponding operations according to the second switch-off instruction received.", "For example, when receiving the second switch-off instruction, the first controller also controls the first switch circuit to switch off, so as to switch off the charging to the cell via the first switch circuit.", "[0044] Preferably, the threshold segment table is edited by a terminal having an editing function, and downloaded to the second controller after being edited.", "Preferably, when the voltage value of the cell is lower, the charging adapter outputs the power signal with high current (for example, 4A) for charging the cell.", "As the voltage value of the cell increases, the voltage value received by the second controller continuously jumps to a threshold segment with higher values from a threshold segment with lower values, and the second controller sends the current regulation instruction matched with the threshold segment with higher values to the regulation circuit according to the threshold segment table.", "The regulation circuit performs a current regulation according to the current regulation instruction, and outputs the power signal with lower current (for example, 3A) for charging the cell.", "Accordingly, based on the threshold segment table, the current value of the power signal outputted by the regulation circuit is gradually reduced as the voltage value of the cell increases, thus reducing the charging time and avoiding overcharging the cell.", "[0045] In a specific implementation of the present disclosure, when the detected voltage value of the cell is in a range from 0V to 4.3V, the charging adapter outputs the power signal with 4A for charging the cell;", "when the detected voltage value of the cell is in a range from 4.3V to 4.32V, the charging adapter outputs the power signal with 3A for charging the cell;", "when the detected voltage value of the cell is in a range from 4.32V to 4.35V, the charging adapter outputs the power signal with 2A for charging the cell;", "when the detected voltage value of the cell exceeds 4.35V, the charging adapter outputs the power signal with just hundreds of milliamps for charging the cell.", "Thus, by monitoring the voltage of the cell in real time, the charging adapter outputs high current (charging current with larger than 3A) to the cell for performing the high-current charging on the cell, when the voltage of the cell is lower.", "Further, when the voltage of the cell reaches a turn-off voltage threshold (i.e., when the cell is to be fully charged), the charging adapter outputs low current (charging current with hundreds of milliamps) to the cell for performing the low-current charging on the cell.", "In this way, not only overcharging the cell is avoided, the charging time is also reduced.", "[0046] In another embodiment of the present disclosure, since additional impedances such as an internal resistance, a parasitic resistance and a coupling resistance will be introduced into the charging loop (including the charging circuit in the mobile terminal and the charging circuit in the charging adapter), and these impedances will consume part of current (this part of current will not flow into the cell of the mobile terminal), the current value specified by the current regulation instruction will be larger than the current value of the power signal input into the cell (considering the part of current consumed by the introduced impedances), so as to ensure that the current value flowing into the cell reaches the preset current value.", "Preferably, the current value specified by the current regulation instruction equals to a sum of the preset current value flowing into the cell and the current value of the part of current consumed by the introduced impedances.", "For example, if the desired current value of the power signal flowing into the cell is 3.2A, and the current value of the part of current consumed by the introduced impedances is 0.8A, then the current value specified by the current regulation instruction (i.e., the current value of the power signal outputted from the charging adapter) is set to 4A.", "[0047] In an embodiment of the present disclosure, before step S 1 , the second controller sends a quick-charging request to the first controller.", "The first controller responds to the quick-charging request of the second controller, and feeds back a quick-charging permission instruction to the second controller.", "The second controller sends a notification request for obtaining the voltage value of the cell to the first controller, via which the first controller is instructed to feed back the voltage value of the cell to the second controller in real time.", "[0048] Specifically, in the present embodiment, if a conventional charging adapter is used to charge the cell of the mobile terminal, the conventional charging adapter does not have the second controller, and thus will not send the quick-charging request to the first controller for asking whether there is a quick-charging need.", "However, in embodiments of the present disclosure, the charging adapter is provided with the second controller, and the mobile terminal is provided with the first controller, such that the whole charging process can be monitored in real time through the communication between the first controller and the second controller.", "[0049] Further, if the charging adapter has the capability of outputting high current, the first controller and the second controller will perform communication as to whether there is a quick-charging need.", "Specifically, the second controller sends the quick-charging request to the first controller, for asking the first controller whether to accept the high-current charging of the charging adapter on the cell of the mobile terminal.", "If it is allowed to perform the high-current charging on the cell of the mobile terminal, the first controller sends the quick-charging permission instruction to the second controller, and then the second controller determines that the high-current charging for the cell of the mobile can be performed after receiving the quick-charging permission instruction.", "[0050] Further, the second controller sends the notification request to the first controller, and asks the first controller about the voltage value of the cell via the notification request.", "During the whole charging process, the cell connector connected with the cell always obtains the voltage value of the cell in real time, and sends the obtained voltage value of the cell to the first controller in real time.", "Once the first controller receives the notification request, the first controller sends the voltage value of the cell to the second controller in response to the notification request.", "[0051] In another embodiment of the present disclosure, the charging adapter further includes a current and voltage detection circuit.", "[0052] Moreover, the second controller sends the second switch-off instruction to the first controller and the second switch circuit respectively if the second abnormal charging information is detected as follows.", "[0053] The second controller obtains a current value and a voltage value of the power signal after the current regulation via the current and voltage detection circuit, and sends the second switch-off instruction to the first controller and the second switch circuit respectively if the current value of the power signal after the current regulation is greater than an overcurrent threshold and/or if the voltage value of the power signal after the current regulation is greater than an overvoltage threshold.", "[0054] In the present embodiment, the current and voltage detection circuit is connected in series between the regulation circuit and the second charging interface of the charging adapter, and the current value and the voltage value of the power signal outputted from the regulation circuit (the power signal after the current regulation) can be detected in real time via the current and voltage detection circuit.", "Meanwhile, the second controller receives the detected current value and voltage value in real time.", "[0055] Then, the second controller determines whether the obtained current value is larger than the overcurrent threshold (set according to the charging requirements of the charging adapter and the mobile terminal) and whether the obtained voltage value is larger than the overvoltage threshold (set according to the charging requirements of the charging adapter and the mobile terminal), and sends the second switch-off instruction to the first controller and the second switch circuit respectively if the obtained current value (the current value of the power signal after the current regulation) is larger than the overcurrent threshold and/or if the obtained voltage value (the voltage value of the power signal after the current regulation) is larger than the overvoltage threshold.", "[0056] Further, the second switch circuit is switched off, and the charging adapter is prevented from charging the cell of the mobile terminal.", "Meanwhile, the first controller can also decide whether there is a need to execute corresponding operations, such as controlling the first switch circuit to switch off for stopping charging the cell via the first switch circuit, according to the received second switch-off instruction.", "[0057] FIG. 2 illustrates a specific flow chart of step S 3 in the quick-charging control method provided by embodiments of the present disclosure.", "For illustration purposes, only the parts related to embodiments of the present disclosure are shown, which will be described in detail in the following.", "[0058] In another embodiment of the present disclosure, in order to ensure that the power signal outputted from the regulation circuit has a high current (the high current has the current value specified by the current regulation instruction), there is a need to monitor in real time whether the power signal outputted from the charging adapter has the current value specified by the current regulation instruction.", "Thus, the regulation circuit includes a current detection circuit.", "[0059] Moreover, the regulation circuit performs the current regulation according to the current regulation instruction and outputs the power signal after the current regulation as follows.", "[0060] In step S 31 , the current detection circuit detects a current value of the power signal outputted from the regulation circuit, and sends the detected current value to the second controller.", "[0061] In step S 32 , the second controller calculates a difference between the detected current value and the current value specified by the current regulation instruction, and send a calibration instruction to the regulation circuit if an absolute value of the calculated difference is larger than a difference threshold.", "[0062] In step S 33 , the regulation circuit calibrates the power signal according to the current difference specified by the calibration instruction, outputs the power signal after the calibration, in which the current value of the power signal after the calibration is equal to the current value specified by the current regulation instruction.", "[0063] In the present embodiment, the regulation circuit has the current detection circuit, via which the current value of the power signal outputted by the regulation circuit (i.e., the current value of the power signal outputted by the charging adapter) can be detected in real time.", "Preferably, the current detection circuit has a current detection resistor, via which the current value of the power signal outputted by the regulation circuit is detected in real time and converted to the voltage value, which is sent to the second controller.", "Then, the second controller determines the current value of the power signal outputted by the regulation circuit according to the received voltage value and the resistance of the current detection resistor.", "[0064] Further, the second controller calculates the difference between the detected current value and the current value specified by the current regulation instruction, calculates the absolute value of the difference, and determines whether the absolute value is larger than the difference threshold.", "If the absolute value is larger than the difference threshold, the second controller feeds back the calibration instruction to the regulation circuit, such that the regulation circuit regulates the current value of the power signal outputted timely according to the calibration instruction.", "It should be noted that, the difference threshold can be pre-adjusted according to the actual working environment of the regulation circuit.", "[0065] Further, if the regulation circuit receives the calibration instruction, it indicates that the current value of the power signal outputted by the regulation circuit has a higher deviation from the current value specified by the current regulation instruction, and the regulation circuit needs to perform the current regulation again, specifically, performs the current regulation according to the current difference specified by the calibration instruction, for ensuring that the current value of the power signal outputted by the regulation circuit is equal to the current value specified by the current regulation instruction.", "[0066] In a specific embodiment of the present disclosure, the regulation circuit further includes a voltage and current regulation circuit, which obtains the original power signal after performing the rectification and filter on the commercial power.", "In order to calibrate the power signal outputted by the regulation circuit according to the calibration instruction, the regulation circuit will determine a voltage regulation instruction according to the current difference specified by the calibration instruction during regulating the voltage of the original power signal, and sends the voltage regulation instruction to the voltage and current regulation circuit.", "The voltage and current regulation circuit performs the voltage regulation according to the voltage regulation instruction, and outputs the power signal after the voltage regulation.", "Since the power signal after the voltage regulation will flow through the current detection resistor, it is possible to re-detect by the current detection resistor whether the current value of the power signal after the voltage regulation is equal to the current value specified by the current regulation instruction.", "When the current value of the power signal flowing through the current detection resistor (the power signal after the voltage regulation) is equal to the current value specified by the current regulation instruction, the regulation circuit stops determining the voltage regulation instruction according to the received calibration instruction, and the voltage and current regulation circuit stops performing the voltage regulation.", "[0067] Thus, in order to ensure in real time that the current value of the power signal outputted by the regulation circuit is equal to the current value specified by the current regulation instruction, a real-time detection is performed by the current detection circuit, and if the current is too high or too low, the current value is fed back to the second controller.", "The second controller generates the calibration instruction according to the feedback current value and sends the calibration instruction to the regulation circuit.", "The regulation circuit determines the voltage regulation instruction according to the calibration instruction and sends the voltage regulation instruction to the voltage and current regulation circuit.", "Further, the voltage and current regulation circuit performs the voltage regulation according to the voltage regulation instruction, and outputs the power signal after the voltage regulation.", "Then, whether the current value of the power signal after the voltage regulation is equal to the current signal specified by the current regulation instruction is detected again by the current detection resistor.", "[0068] FIG. 3 is a second flow chart of a quick-charging control method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.", "For illustration purposes, only the parts related to embodiments of the present disclosure are shown, which will be described in detail in the following.", "[0069] In another embodiment of the present disclosure, after the regulation circuit performs the current regulation and outputs the power signal after the current regulation, the quick-charging control method further includes following steps.", "[0070] In step S 6 , the charging adaptor sends the power signal to a first charging interface of the mobile terminal via a second charging interface, such that the charging adapter charges the cell of the mobile terminal, in which the first power wires of the first charging interface is coupled to the second power wires of the second charging interface, the first ground wires of the first charging interface is coupled to the second ground wires of the second charging interface, and there are P first power wires, Q first ground wires, where P is greater than or equal to 2, and Q is greater than or equal to 2.", "[0071] Specifically, in the present embodiment, the existing MICRO USB interface (including the MICRO USB plug of the charging adapter and the MICRO USB socket of the mobile terminal) merely includes one power wire and one ground wire, such that the charging loop can be formed only by the power wire and the ground wire, and thus the charging current is generally hundreds of milliamps and generally less than 3A.", "[0072] For this, the present embodiment provides the first charging interface capable of supporting the high-current charging (the charging current above 3A).", "Since the first charging interface has at least two first power wires and at least two first ground wires, the mobile terminal can support the high-current charging when being charged via the first charging interface.", "[0073] In addition, if the charging adapter plugged with the first charging interface is the conventional charging adapter (for example, the charging adapter which uses the existing MICRO USB interface to charge), only the conventional charging can be performed (the only one power wire of the MICRO USB interface is plugged with the one first power wire of the first charging interface, the only one ground wire of the MICRO USB interface is plugged with the one first ground wire of the first charging interface, and the cell is charged using the only one power wire and the only one ground wire).", "[0074] Preferably, there are P second power wires, and Q second ground wires.", "[0075] The P first power wires of the first charging interface are coupled to the P second power wires of the second charging interface correspondingly, and the Q first ground wires of the first charging interface are coupled to the Q second ground wires of the second charging interface correspondingly.", "[0076] In the present embodiment, when the first charging interface is plugged with the second charging interface, at least two charging loops can be formed (the number of the charging loops is the minimum value of P and Q).", "Thus, by plugging the first charging interface with the second charging interface, the high-current charging (the charging current above 3A) can be supported.", "Further, the charging adapter can output the power signal with high current (e.g. the power signal of 4A) when the voltage value of the cell is lower (for example, the voltage value of the cell is lower than 4.3V), so as to charge the cell of the mobile terminal with the high-current.", "[0077] Preferably, the power wire and the ground wire of the existing MICRO USB interface are made of metal copper foil whose electric conductivity is less than 20%, but the first power wires and the first ground wires included in the first charging interface provided by the present embodiment and the second power wires and the second ground wires included in the second charging interface provided by the present embodiment are made of phosphor bronze C7025 whose electric conductivity reaches 50%.", "Thus, the charging current can be further enhanced base on the case that at least two charging loops (including at least two first power wires, at least first ground wires, at least two second power wires and at least two ground wires) are used to charge.", "More preferably, the first power wires and the first ground wires included in the first charging interface provided by the present embodiment and the second power wires and the second ground wires included in the second charging interface provided by the present embodiment are made of chromium bronze C18400 whose electric conductivity reaches 70%, which can further enhance the charging current.", "[0078] In another embodiment of the present disclosure, the mobile terminal further includes a first switch circuit, which is controlled to switch on or off by the first controller.", "Thus, in the present embodiment, the first switch circuit is added in the mobile terminal based on the existing charging circuit in the mobile terminal.", "When the second charging interface is plugged with the first charging interface, the cell can be charged via the existing charging circuit in the mobile terminal, and the first controller can also control the first switch circuit to switch on, such that the charging adapter can charge the cell via the existing circuit as well as via the switched-on first switch circuit.", "[0079] As a specific implementation of the present disclosure, when the first controller receives the quick-charging request sent by the second controller and the first controller detects that there is a first switch circuit, it indicates that the cell can be charged via the existing charging circuit in the mobile terminal as well as via the first switch circuit, thus realizing charging the cell with high current.", "[0080] Further, the first controller feeds back the quick-charging permission instruction to the second controller, i.e., notifies the second controller that it is possible to charge the cell with high current.", "Meanwhile, the first controller sends the switch-on instruction to the first switch circuit.", "[0081] When the first switch circuit receives the switch-on instruction, the first switch circuit is switched on, and the charging adapter can also charge the cell via the switched-on first switch circuit when charging the cell via the existing charging circuit in the mobile terminal.", "[0082] FIG. 4 illustrates a third flow chart of a quick-charging control method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.", "For illustration purposes, only the parts related to embodiments of the present disclosure are shown, which will be described in detail in the following.", "[0083] In another embodiment of the present disclosure, the quick-charging control method can include following steps.", "[0084] In step S 7 , the first controller sends a switch-off instruction to the second controller and the first switch circuit respectively if first abnormal charging information is detected, in which the first abnormal charging information includes an anode contact signal generated when an anode of the cell is not in good contact, a cathode contact signal generated when a cathode of the cell is not in good contact, and a temperature signal generated when a temperature of the cell is higher than a temperature threshold.", "[0085] In step S 8 , if the first switch circuit receives the switch-off instruction, the charging loop for the charging adapter to charge the cell via the first switch circuit is switched off [0086] In the present embodiment, the first controller receives the charging information in real time and analyzes whether the received charging information is the first abnormal charging information.", "Preferably, the charging information is received via the cell connector.", "For example, the cell connector generates the anode contact signal when detecting whether the anode of the cell is in contact, generates the cathode contact signal when detecting whether the cathode of the cell is in contact, and generates the temperature signal when detecting the temperature of the cell, and sends the charging information such as the anode contact signal, the cathode contact signal and the temperature signal to the first controller.", "[0087] Further, if the first controller determines that the received charging information is the first abnormal charging information, the first controller sends the switch-off instruction to the first switch circuit.", "For example, the first controller determines that the first abnormal charging information is detected and sends the switch-off instruction to the first switch circuit, if determining that the anode charging contact is not in contact with the anode of the cell well according to the anode contact signal received, or if determining that the cathode charging contact is not in contact with the cathode of the cell well according to the cathode contact signal received, or if determining that the temperature of the cell exceeds the temperature threshold according to the temperature signal.", "Further, the first switch circuit is switched off, so as to stop charging the mobile terminal via the first switch circuit.", "[0088] If the first controller determines that the received charging information is the first abnormal charging information, the first controller also sends the switch-off instruction to the second controller while sending the switch-off instruction to the first switch circuit.", "The second controller can execute corresponding operations according to the received switch-off instruction, for example, can control the second switch circuit to switch off for preventing the charging adapter from sending the power signal to the mobile terminal.", "[0089] As a specific implementation of the present disclosure, the first controller determines whether the obtained voltage value of the cell is greater than the turn-off voltage threshold, and sends the switch-off instruction to the first switch circuit if the obtained voltage value of the cell is greater than the turn-off voltage threshold.", "When the first switch circuit receives the switch-off instruction, the charging loop for the charging adapter to charge the cell via the first switch circuit is switched off [0090] Specifically, during the whole charging process for the cell, the cell connector always obtains the voltage value of the cell in real time, and sends the voltage value of the cell to the first controller.", "When the cell is charged via the first switch circuit, the first controller determines whether the obtained voltage value of the cell is greater than the turn-off voltage threshold in real time.", "If the obtained voltage value of the cell is greater than the turn-off voltage threshold, the first controller sends the switch-off instruction to the first switch circuit.", "When the first switch circuit receives the switch-off instruction, the first switch circuit is switched off.", "Further, the charging adapter can charge the cell of the mobile merely via the existing charging circuit in the mobile terminal, but cannot charge the cell via the switched-off first switch circuit.", "[0091] Preferably, when the obtained voltage value of the cell is greater than the turn-off voltage threshold, the second controller can also send the current regulation instruction to the regulation circuit, and the power signal with lower current (for example, hundreds of milliamps) outputted by the regulation circuit is specified by the current regulation instruction.", "[0092] In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the first controller can be a controller existing in the mobile terminal.", "[0093] In another embodiment of the present disclosure, the mobile terminal not only has a third controller (already existed in the mobile terminal) used for handling applications, but also has the first controller which controls the first switch circuit and controls charging the cell of the mobile terminal.", "[0094] Further, the first controller can forward the voltage value of the cell received in real time to the third controller, and the third controller determines whether the obtained voltage value of the cell is greater than the turn-off voltage threshold.", "If the obtained voltage value of the cell is greater than the turn-off voltage threshold, the third controller sends a first switch-off instruction to the first controller, and then the first controller sends the switch-off instruction to the first switch circuit.", "Preferably, if the obtained voltage value of the cell is greater than the turn-off voltage threshold, the third controller directly sends the switch-off instruction to the first switch circuit.", "When the first switch circuit receives the switch-off instruction, the charging loop for the charging adapter to charge the cell via the first switch circuit is switched off [0095] In another specific implementation of the present disclosure, the first controller receives the charging information (including the anode contact signal, the cathode contact signal and the temperature signal) sent by the cell connector in real time, and forwards the charging information to the third controller.", "[0096] Further, the third controller determines whether the charging information received is the first abnormal charging information, for example, determines whether the anode charging contact of the first switch circuit and the charging circuit in the mobile terminal is in good contact with the anode of the cell well according to the anode contact signal, determines whether the cathode charging contact of the first switch circuit and the charging circuit in the mobile terminal is in good contact with the cathode of the cell according to the cathode contact signal, and determines whether the temperature of the cell exceeds the temperature threshold according to the temperature signal.", "[0097] Further, if the third controller determines that the charging information received is the first abnormal charging information, the third controller sends the switch-off instruction to the first switch circuit and the second controller, such that the first switch circuit is switched off, and the charging adapter is prevented from charging the cell via the first switch circuit.", "For example, if it is determined that the anode charging contact is not in good contact with the anode of the cell according to the anode contact signal, or if it is determined that the cathode charging contact is not in good contact with the cathode of the cell according to the cathode contact signal, or if it is determined that the temperature of the cell exceeds the temperature threshold according to the temperature signal, the charging information received is determined as the first abnormal charging information.", "[0098] In another specific implementation of the present disclosure, when the MICRO USB interface of the existing charging adapter is plugged with the first charging interface of the mobile terminal, the charging is performed via the existing charging circuit in the mobile terminal.", "Based on the existing charging circuit in the mobile terminal, the mobile terminal of the present embodiment is also added with a first switch circuit.", "Further, when the second charging interface is plugged with the first charging interface, not only the charging is performed via the existing charging circuit in the mobile terminal, but also the first controller controls the first switch circuit to switch on, such that the charging adapter can charge the cell via the switched-on first switch circuit while charging the cell via the existing charging circuit.", "Thus, when the second charging interface is plugged with the first charging interface, the first controller controls to charge the cell via the existing charging circuit in the mobile terminal and/or via the first switch circuit in the mobile terminal according to charging requirements.", "[0099] FIG. 5 illustrates a first structure of a quick-charging control system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.", "For illustration purposes, only the parts related to embodiments of the present disclosure is provided, which will be described in detail in the following.", "[0100] It should be noted that, the quick-charging control system provided by embodiments of the present disclosure can use the quick-charging control method provided by embodiments of the present disclosure, and the quick-charging control method provided by embodiments of the present disclosure can be applied to the quick-control system provided by embodiments of the present disclosure.", "[0101] Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a quick-charging control system, and the quick-charging control system includes a charging adapter 2 including a second controller 21 , a regulation circuit 22 and a second switch circuit 23 and a mobile terminal 1 including a cell connector, a first controller 11 and a cell.", "[0102] The first controller 11 is configured to obtain a voltage value of the cell via the cell connector, and sends the voltage value of the cell obtained to the second controller 21 .", "[0103] The second controller 21 is configured to search a threshold segment table to find a current regulation instruction matched with a threshold segment containing the voltage value of the cell, to send the current regulation instruction to the regulation circuit 22 , and to send a second switch-off instruction to the first controller 11 and the second switch circuit 23 respectively if second abnormal charging information is detected.", "[0104] The regulation circuit 22 is configured to perform a current regulation according to the current regulation instruction, and to output a power signal after the current regulation, such that the charging adapter 2 outputs the power signal after the current regulation.", "[0105] The second switch circuit 23 is configured to control the charging adapter 2 to stop outputting the power signal after the current regulation if the second switch-off instruction is received.", "[0106] FIG. 6 illustrates a second structure of a quick-charging control system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.", "For illustration purposes, only parts related to embodiments of the present disclosure are shown, which will be described in detail in the following.", "[0107] In another embodiment of the present disclosure, the regulation circuit 22 includes a current detection circuit 221 .", "[0108] The current detection circuit 221 is configured to detect a current value of the power signal outputted by the regulation circuit 22 and to sends the current value detected to the second controller 21 .", "[0109] The second controller 21 is further configured to calculate a difference between the current value detected and the current value specified by the current regulation instruction, and to send a calibration instruction to the regulation circuit 22 if an absolute value of the difference calculated is greater than a difference threshold.", "[0110] The regulation circuit 22 is further configured to calibrate the power signal according to the current difference specified by the calibration instruction, and to output the power signal after the calibration, in which the current value of the power signal after the calibration is equal to the current value specified by the current regulation instruction.", "[0111] FIG. 7 illustrates a third structure of a quick-charging control system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.", "For illustration purposes, only parts related to embodiments of the present disclosure are shown, which will be described in detail in the following.", "[0112] In another embodiment of the present disclosure, the charging adapter further includes a current and voltage detection circuit 24 .", "[0113] The second controller 21 is further configured to obtain a current value and a voltage value of the power signal after the current regulation via the current and voltage detection circuit 24 , and to send a second switch-off instruction to the second switch circuit 23 if the current value of the power signal after the current regulation is higher than an overcurrent threshold and/or the voltage value of the power signal after the current regulation is higher than an overvoltage threshold.", "[0114] In another embodiment of the present disclosure, the charging adapter 2 is further configured to send the power signal to the first charging interface of the mobile terminal 1 via the second charging interface, such that the charging adapter 2 charges the cell of the mobile terminal 1 .", "There are P first power wires and Q first ground wires in the first charging interface, there are P second power wires and Q second ground wires in the second charging interface, the P first power wires are coupled to the P second power wires correspondingly, and the Q first ground wires are coupled to the Q second ground wires corresponding, where P is greater than or equal to 2, and Q is greater than or equal to 2.", "[0115] FIG. 8 illustrates a fourth structure of a quick-charging control system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.", "For illustration purposes, only parts related to embodiments of the present disclosure are shown, which will be described in detail in the following.", "[0116] In another embodiment of the present disclosure, the mobile terminal 1 further includes a first switch circuit 12 .", "[0117] The first controller 11 is further configured to send a switch-off instruction to the second controller 21 and the first switch circuit 12 when first abnormal charging information is detected, in which the first abnormal charging information includes an anode contact signal generated when an anode of the cell is not in good contact, a cathode contact signal generated when a cathode of the cell is not in good contact, and a temperature signal generated when a temperature of the cell is greater than a temperature threshold.", "[0118] The first switch circuit 12 is configured to switch off the charging loop for the charging adapter to charge the cell via the first switch circuit 12 if the switch-off instruction is received.", "[0119] The foregoing description is further explanation for the present disclosure with reference to preferred embodiments, and cannot be used to limit the present disclosure.", "For those ordinary skilled in the art, equivalents, alternatives and obvious variants can be made without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure, can have same functions or usages, and can belong to the protection scope determined by the claims submitted in the present disclosure." ]

[ "TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] This disclosure is directed to a pillowcase, more particularly an improved pillowcase having an interior pouch in which to secure a pillow, methods of manufacturing pillowcases, and methods for efficiently loading and unloading a pillow from a pillowcase.", "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] Various devices are known in the art for the covering or enclosing of a pillow such as in a pillowcase.", "Conventional pillowcases are generally rectangular in shape with a length and width.", "Such pillowcases are generally closed along each of the length edges and one of the width edges, and generally open along one of the width edges.", "Placing a pillow into a conventional pillowcase requires the entire length of the pillow to be positioned in the case without bunching or folding;", "removing a pillow from a conventional pillowcase requires the entire length of the pillow to travel through the entire length of the pillowcase.", "This can be a time-consuming and arduous task particularly in the hospitality industry where dozens, hundreds, or even thousands of pillowcases must be changed each day.", "[0003] One possible solution of using a pillowcase that is sized much larger than the pillow has disadvantages: conventional pillowcases with an entire wide edge open may not resist inadvertent displacement of the pillow from the pillowcase.", "Furthermore, oversized pillowcases may tend to appear wrinkled or floppy due to excess fabric.", "[0004] It would be advantageous to have a pillowcase that can be loaded (and unloaded) quickly and efficiently.", "It would be further advantageous to have such a pillowcase resist edge wrinkling.", "It would be advantageous to have a method of making such a pillowcase with a minimum of processing steps.", "SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0005] The invention is a pillowcase that may be loaded with a pillow quickly and efficiently.", "It is an object of the invention to provide an opening in the pillowcase along an edge of the pillowcase, preferably the length of the case, to facilitate ingress and egress of a pillow.", "It is an object of the invention to provide an internal pouch within the interior of the pillowcase to receive the pillow and secure the pillow from inadvertent displacement from the pillowcase.", "[0006] It is an object of the invention to provide a method for making an inventive pillowcase with a minimum number of steps and from a minimum number of component materials.", "It is an object of the invention to provide a method of making an inventive pillowcase from a single sheet of fabric.", "[0007] A pillow may be easily loaded into the pillowcase by an inventive method of inserting the pillow into the pillowcase and subsequently securing the pillow within the interior of the pillowcase by ensuring the pillow engages the internal pillowcase pouch.", "A pillow may be easily removed from the pillowcase by disengaging the pillow from the internal pillowcase pouch and then removing the pillow from the pillowcase.", "[0008] The inventive methods of loading and unloading a pillow from the pillowcase is useful in the home or in an environment in which pillowcases are change frequently such as in hotels and hospitals.", "[0009] The inventive pillowcase may consist entirely of machine-washable fabrics and materials.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0010] FIG. 1 depicts an obverse view of a pillowcase of the invention.", "[0011] FIG. 2 depicts an obverse view of a pillowcase of the invention with a cut-away section revealing the interior of the pillowcase.", "[0012] FIG. 3A depicts a reverse view of a finished pillowcase of the invention.", "[0013] FIG. 3B depicts an unsewn pillowcase of the invention.", "[0014] FIG. 3C depicts a method of making a pillowcase of the invention.", "[0015] FIG. 3D depicts a pillowcase of the invention, fully inside-out to reveal stitching.", "[0016] FIG. 4 depicts an obverse view of a pillowcase of the invention, with cords.", "[0017] FIG. 5 depicts an obverse view of a pillowcase of the invention, with cords, with a cut-away section revealing the interior of the pillowcase.", "[0018] FIG. 6 depicts a reverse view of a finished pillowcase of the invention.", "[0019] FIG. 7 depicts a pillow being inserted into a pillowcase of the invention.", "[0020] FIG. 8 depicts a pillow being inserted into a pillowcase of the invention.", "[0021] FIG. 9 depicts a pillow inserted in a pillowcase of the invention with a portion of the pillowcase top lifted up to show the pillow and internal pouch.", "[0022] FIG. 10 depicts a pillow inserted in a pillowcase of the invention with a portion of the pillowcase top pushed aside to show the pillow and internal pouch.", "[0023] FIG. 11 depicts a pillow inserted in a pillowcase of the invention.", "DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [0024] As shown in FIG. 1 , a pillowcase of the invention 100 is shown as generally rectangular in shape, having an overall external length “L 1 ”", "and an overall external width “W.”", "The pillowcase has a closed top edge 110 , a closed left edge 130 and a closed right edge 140 .", "Bottom edge 120 is open to allow ingress and egress of a pillow.", "Located at the bottom edge 120 , the pillowcase has a bottom edge on the top side 121 which may be hemmed (hem at 180 ), and a bottom edge on the bottom side 122 which may be folded in towards the interior of the pillowcase to form the internal pouch 150 .", "Internal pouch depth is shown as “L 2 ”", "with the top of the pouch depicted as a dashed horizontal line.", "Internal pouch 150 may be completely covered by the top side of the pillowcase or may have a small portion (at a fold at bottom edge 122 ) extend beyond the top side of the pillowcase (with a span of “L 3 ”), and visible from above.", "The obverse of the pillowcase has a span of “L 3 ”", "and the reverse of the pillowcase has a span of “L 1 .”", "Internal pouch 150 is secured along the sides 130 and 140 , for example with stitching that is not visible from the exterior.", "[0025] As further shown in FIG. 1 , internal pouch span “L 2 ”", "is less than the span of “L 1 .”", "Preferably “L 2 ”", "is about half the span or less of “L 1 .”", "More preferably “L 2 ”", "is about a third or a quarter the span of “L 1 .”", "In one embodiment, the span of “L 2 ”", "is between about a third the span of “L 1 ”", "and a quarter the span of “L 1 .”", "In one embodiment, the span of “L 2 ”", "is about one third the span of “L 1 ”;", "in another embodiment, the span of “L 2 ”", "is about one quarter the span of “L 1 .”", "In one embodiment the span of “L 2 ”", "is less than about one third the span of “L 1 .”", "When the top surface of the pillow is lifted up, the interior of the pillowcase is revealed which is sized to receive a pillow and internal pouch 150 is lifted to secure the pillow within the interior of the pillowcase.", "[0026] As further shown in FIG. 1 , internal pouch span “L 2 ”", "is less than the span of each of “L 1 ”", "and “L 3 .”", "Preferably “L 2 ”", "is about half the span or less of each of “L 1 ”", "and “L 3 .”", "More preferably “L 2 ”", "is about a third or a quarter the span of each of “L 1 ”", "and “L 3 .”", "In one embodiment, the span of “L 2 ”", "is between about a third the span of each of “L 1 ”", "and “L 3 ”", "and a quarter the span of each of “L 1 ”", "and “L 3 .”", "In one embodiment, the span of “L 2 ”", "is about one third the span of each of “L 1 ”", "and “L 3 ”;", "in another embodiment, the span of “L 2 ”", "is about one quarter the span of each of “L 1 ”", "and “L 3 .”", "In one embodiment the span of “L 2 ”", "is less than about one third the span of each of “L 1 ”", "and “L 3 .”", "[0027] As further shown in FIG. 1 , pillowcase obverse has a span of “L 3 ”", "and the reverse has a span of “L 1 .”", "In FIG. 1 , the span of “L 1 ”", "is slightly longer than the span of “L 3 .”", "In another embodiment the span of “L 1 ”", "is approximately the same as the span of “L 3 .”", "[0028] In a preferred embodiment, the span of “L 1 ”", "is longer than the span of “W”", "so that the pillowcase of the invention 100 is generally rectangular with opening 120 along the longer edge of the pillowcase.", "In one embodiment the span of “L 1 ”", "is about the same as the span of “W”", "for a generally square shape.", "In an alternative embodiment, the span of “L 1 ”", "is shorter than the span of “W”", "so that the opening at edge 120 is on the shorter edge of generally rectangular pillowcase 100 .", "[0029] FIG. 2 depicts a cutaway of the pillowcase shown in FIG. 1 and reveals a portion of the inside of the pillowcase 100 .", "The cutaway reveals a portion of the internal pouch 150 with a span of “L 2 .”", "The top edge of the pouch is hemmed 185 , and edges of the pillowcase and internal pouch are shown stitched along 190 .", "[0030] FIG. 3A depicts the reverse of a finished pillowcase 100 of the invention with a span of L 1 .", "FIG. 3B depicts a schematic of one embodiment of an unfolded and unsewn pillowcase.", "The pillowcase 100 is formed of a single sheet of overall length “L 4 ”", "which may be divided into three segments—segment 1 with span “L 1 ”, segment 2 with span “L 2 ”, and segment 3 with span “L 3 .”", "Preferably “L 1 ”", "is about the same span as “L 3 .”", "Preferably, the span of “L 1 ”", "is slightly longer than the span of “L 3 .”", "Segment 2 with span “L 2 ”", "will form part of the pouch in the finished pillowcase;", "segment 1 with span “L 1 ”", "will form the reverse surface of the finished pillowcase;", "segment 3 with span “L 3 ”", "will form the obverse surface of the finished pillowcase.", "[0031] FIG. 3C depicts one method of forming inventive pillowcase 100 from a single sheet of material.", "In a first step (arrow 1), segment 3 with span “L 3 ”", "is folded down towards segment 1 with span “L 1 ”", "so that segment 3 lies on top of segment 1.", "In a second step (arrow 2), segment 2 with span L 2 is folded up towards segment 3 so that segment 2 lies on top of segment 3.", "In a third step, each side of the pillowcase is sewn.", "In a fourth step, the entire pillowcase is then inverted so that the stitching is on the interior of the pillowcase and so that the exterior of the pillowcase may be generally seamless.", "[0032] FIG. 3D depicts a schematic of a fully inverted finished pillowcase 100 of the invention.", "Side stitching is shown at 190 securing the edges of pouch 150 to the pillowcase edges, and ensuring the edges of the pillowcase remain sealed.", "FIG. 3D shows edge stitching 190 which accounts for slightly more width to width “W”", "of the finished pillowcase when the pouch is placed on the inside of the pillowcase and ready for use.", "The stitching is visible when the pillowcase is inverted as shown in FIG. 3D but is not visible when the pillowcase is turned right-side out as shown in FIG. 1 .", "[0033] FIG. 4 shows a different embodiment of the inventive pillowcase 200 .", "The pillowcase is as constructed in FIG. 1 and further includes internal piping cords 295 along left edge 230 and right edge 240 .", "In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 1 , there are zero cords;", "in the embodiment in FIG. 4 , there are two cords;", "in another embodiment there may be three cords (for example along left edge 230 , top edge 210 , and right edge 240 );", "in yet another embodiment there may be four cords (for example along left edge 230 , top edge 210 , right edge 240 , and bottom edge 222 ).", "Pillowcase 200 is comprised of segment 1 with span “L 1 ′”, segment 2 with span “L 2 ′”, and segment 3 with span “L 3 ′”", "and has an overall external width of “W′.”", "Edge piping cords 295 account for slightly extra width beyond the external width “W”", "of the finished pillowcase material.", "[0034] FIG. 5 depicts a cutaway of the pillowcase shown in FIG. 4 and reveals a portion of the inside of the pillowcase 200 .", "Piping cord 295 is shown sewn into the edge along 290 .", "[0035] FIG. 6 depicts the reverse of a finished pillowcase 200 of the invention depicted in FIG. 4 with a span of L 1 ′.", "[0036] FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 each depict a pillow 300 being inserted into a pillowcase of the invention 200 of FIG. 4 .", "The pillowcase 200 is shown open at opening 220 with the pillow at various stages of insertion.", "Pillow 300 enters generally rectangular pillowcase 200 along the widest edge at the bottom of the pillowcase.", "Internal pouch 250 is partially visible in FIG. 7 as the top portion of the pillowcase is lifted.", "[0037] In one embodiment, a method of loading pillow 300 into pillowcase 200 is provided.", "In a first step, pillow 300 is inserted into pillowcase 200 and subsequently in a second step pillow 300 is secured within the interior of pillowcase 200 by ensuring pillow 300 engages internal pouch 250 .", "In one embodiment, a method of removing pillow 300 from pillowcase 200 is provided.", "In a first step, pillow 300 is removed from the pillowcase 200 by disengaging pillow 300 from internal pouch 250 , and subsequently in a second step pillow 300 is removed entirely from pillowcase 200 .", "[0038] In another embodiment, a generally rectangular pillowcase has an opening along its longest edge.", "The pillow-less pillowcase may be opened at its opening to allow a pillow to be inserted into the pillowcase.", "The top side of a pillowcase may be separated to a distance from the back side of the pillowcase and from an internal pouch to reveal the interior of the pillowcase.", "A pillow is then inserted into the interior of the pillowcase through the pillowcase opening.", "After the pillow is placed into the interior of the pillowcase, the internal pouch of the pillowcase is separated to a distance from the back side of the pillowcase.", "The pillow may be slid or tucked into the open interior pouch so that a portion of the pillow is engaged with and secured by the pouch.", "The pillowcase may then be closed—the top side of the pillowcase is brought into contact with a portion of the pillow and the internal pouch to completely cover the pillow.", "In an embodiment where the pillowcase is non-permanently closable using fasteners (such as snaps or a zipper) the fastener may be engaged to securely retain the pillow within the pillow case.", "[0039] To remove a pillow from a pillowcase, the steps described may be generally performed in reverse order.", "In an embodiment where the pillowcase is non-permanently closable using fasteners (such as snaps or a zipper) the fastener may be disengaged to permit access to the pillow within the pillow case.", "The pillowcase may be opened at its opening—the top side of the pillowcase may be separated to a distance from the pillow and from the internal pouch.", "The pillow may then be untucked from the pouch, slid out, or otherwise disengaged and removed from the pouch, thereafter removed from the interior of the pillowcase through the pillowcase opening.", "The emptied pillowcase is now ready for laundering or may then be closed by bringing the top side of the pillowcase into contact with a portion of the back side of the pillowcase and into contact with the interior pouch.", "[0040] FIG. 9 depicts a pillow 300 fully inserted into a pillowcase 200 of FIG. 4 .", "A portion of the pillowcase top is lifted up at opening 220 to show the pillow 300 is secured in the pillowcase 200 as it engages internal pouch 250 .", "[0041] FIG. 10 depicts another view of a pillow 300 fully inserted into a pillowcase 200 of FIG. 4 .", "Pillowcase 200 has piping along the short edges 230 and 240 .", "A portion of the pillowcase top pushed up at opening 220 to show the pillow 300 and internal pouch 250 .", "Pillow 300 engages internal pouch 250 and is thus secured within pillowcase 200 .", "[0042] FIG. 11 depicts a pillow 300 fully inserted into a pillowcase 200 of FIG. 4 .", "Pillow 300 engages internal pouch 250 and is secured within pillowcase 200 .", "The covered pillow is ready for use.", "FURTHER EMBODIMENTS [0043] In a preferred embodiment, the Width of the finished pillowcase is approximately 40 inches, the Length is approximately 20 inches, and the pouch length is approximately 6 inches.", "In another embodiment, the Width of the finished pillowcase is approximately 40 inches, the Length is approximately 20 inches, and the pouch length is approximately 10 inches.", "In another embodiment, the Width of the finished pillowcase is approximately 40 inches, the Length is approximately 20 inches, and the pouch length is between approximately 5 inches and approximately 7 inches.", "With reference to FIG. 1 , the span of each of “L 1 ”", "and “L 3 ”", "in one embodiment may each be approximately 24 inches and “L 2 ”", "may be approximately 6 inches (about one quarter the length of each of “L 1 ”", "and “L 3 ”) or “L 2 ”", "may be approximately 7 inches (between about one third and one quarter the length of each of “L 1 ”", "and “L 3 ”), or “L 2 ”", "may be approximately 8 inches (about one third the length of each of “L 1 ”", "and “L 3 ”), or “L 2 ”", "may be approximately 11.5 inches (less than about half the length of each of “L 1 ”", "and “L 3 ”).", "° These dimensions are exemplary and it should be recognized that the pillowcase can be made in smaller or larger sizes as desired.", "[0044] In a one embodiment, the Width of the finished pillowcase is approximately the same size as a conventional pillowcase designed to hold a pillow of a given size;", "in a preferred embodiment, the Width of the finished pillowcase is about 33% larger than the width of a conventional pillowcase designed to hold a pillow of a given size.", "[0045] In one embodiment, cuffs are sewn along the left and right edges.", "[0046] In one embodiment the pillowcase opening is freely openable and closable and may optionally be non-permanently closeable using fasteners such as snaps, buttons, zipper, hooks, or hook and loop fastener, or other convenient fasteners.", "In a preferred embodiment the pillowcase opening is freely openable and closable;", "in another embodiment the pillowcase opening is openable and closable using a zipper.", "[0047] The pillowcase is formed preferably using traditional stitching, for example, with a sewing machine.", "In a preferred embodiment the edges of the pillowcase and internal pouch are joined with stitching.", "In other embodiments the edges may be joined my other methods such as glue, heat sealing, or may be seamless (that is, the exterior pillowcase may be formed as a tube).", "In one embodiment the finished pillowcase has no piping and no external seams.", "[0048] In a preferred embodiment the pillowcase is made of a single piece of material or fabric.", "Examples of materials include cotton, polyester, satin, wool, brushed polyester microfiber, silk, spandex, linen, bamboo, rayon, nylon, cellulose acetate, carbon fiber, aramid, fleece, flannel, denim, velvet, hemp, plastic, acrylic, rubber or paper.", "In one embodiment the pillowcase may be 100% cotton;", "in one embodiment the pillowcase may be about 100% cotton;", "in one embodiment the pillowcase may be 100% polyester;", "in one embodiment the pillowcase may be about 100% polyester.", "In one embodiment the pillowcase may be 100% silk;", "in one embodiment the pillowcase may be about 100% silk.", "[0049] In another embodiment the pillowcase material may be made of blends or combinations of materials or fabrics such as those identified herein.", "Examples of such combinations include a cotton/polyester blend, a silk/cotton blend, and a bamboo/cotton blend.", "In one embodiment the pillowcase material is about 60% cotton and about 40% polyester;", "in another embodiment the pillowcase material is about 50% cotton and about 50% polyester;", "in another embodiment the pillowcase material is about 35% cotton and about 65% polyester.", "The material may be formed in a variety of colors and textures as desired.", "[0050] In another embodiment the pillowcase is made of two or more materials.", "Choice of materials may be based on considerations such as cost, ease of manufacture, material weight, or other material properties.", "In one embodiment a pillowcase is formed of a first fabric comprising segment 1 of span “L 1 ”", "and segment 3 of span “L 3 ”", "and a second fabric comprising segment 2 of span “L 2 ”", "joined to the first fabric at an edge of segment L 1 .", "In one embodiment segment 2 (of a second fabric) is stitched to segment 1 (of a first fabric).", "In this embodiment segment 3 folded down towards segment 1 so that segment 3 lies on top of segment 1;", "segment 2 is folded up towards segment 3 so that segment 2 lies on top of segment 3.", "Subsequently each side of the pillowcase is sewn.", "EXAMPLES Example 1 [0051] The following example is meant to be illustrative and prophetic only.", "In this example, a pillowcase is constructed from a single sheet of cotton.", "The cotton sheet has a width of about 41 inches.", "The top and bottom edges are hemmed along the width resulting in an overall length of about 45.75 inches.", "The length is divided into 3 segments—lowermost segment 2 is about 6 inches long, middlemost segment 1 is about 20 inches, and topmost segment 3 is about 19.75 inches long.", "Topmost segment 3 is folded down onto segment 1 so that segment 3 lies on top of segment 1 with edges aligned.", "Next segment 2 is folded up towards segment 3 so that segment 2 lies on top of segment 3 with edges aligned.", "Now each of the left and right edges of the pillowcase is sewn to secure segment 1 to segment 3 and to secure segment 2 to segment 3—the stitching along the right edge is about 0.5 inches, and the stitching along the left edge is about 0.5 inches.", "Finally, the entire pillowcase is inverted so that the stitching is on the interior of the pillowcase and so that the exterior of the pillowcase appears seamless.", "Example 2 [0052] The following example is meant to be illustrative and prophetic only.", "In this example a finished pillowcase is described.", "A pillowcase is constructed as described in Example 1.", "The finished pillowcase is generally rectangular in shape having four edges—a top edge, bottom edge, right edge and left edge.", "The final width of the finished pillowcase is about 40 inches—this accounts for the about 0.5 inches of stitching for the left edge and about 0.5 inches of stitching for the right edge which are now on the inside of the pillowcase and thus do not add to the overall width of the finished pillow case.", "The final length of the finished pillow case is about 20 inches.", "The interior pouch has a depth of about 6 inches and has a span of about 40 inches running from the left edge to the right edge.", "The pillowcase has an opening running the entire span of the bottom edge of the pillowcase and sized to receive a pillow.", "Example 3 [0053] The following example is meant to be illustrative and prophetic only.", "In this example a pillow is removed from an inventive pillowcase described in Example 2, and a pillow is inserted into an inventive pillowcase described in Example 2.", "A pillow positioned within the pillowcase is secured by the interior pouch of the pillowcase.", "In a first step the pillow is disengaged from the internal pouch and in a second step the pillow is entirely removed from the pillowcase.", "Next a pillow is loaded into the pillowcase by opening the bottom edge of the pillowcase and inserting the pillow into the pillowcase.", "In a subsequent step the pillow is secured within the interior of the pillowcase by engaging the internal pillowcase pouch with the pillow." ]

[ "FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] This invention relates generally to a low profile enclosure constructed of plastic structural panels.", "More specifically, the present invention relates to a low profile enclosure which includes telescoping roof panels.", "BACKGROUND INFORMATION [0002] Storage sheds are a necessity for lawn and garden care, as well as general all-around home storage space.", "Typically, garden tools and equipment are found either stacked into a corner of the garage, or bundled together and covered with a tarpaulin to protect them from the elements.", "During the off-seasons, lawn mowers, tillers and snow equipment often consume the available floor space of a garage, forcing the homeowner to park his/her automobile outside.", "[0003] The prior art has proposed a number of different panel systems, or kits comprising blow molded or extruded panels and connector members for forming a wide variety of structures.", "Typically such systems are assembled into structures having a height sufficient to allow the owner to walk into the structure.", "Generally, such systems require extruded metal or plastic connector members having a specific cross-sectional geometry that facilitate an engagement between such members and one or more blow molded plastic panels having a complimentary edge configuration.", "Due to the nature of the manufacturing process, blow molded plastic components cannot be formed with the intricate shapes and/or sharp corners required for integrated connectors.", "In addition, blow molded plastic components are hollow and cannot be formed with the integral strengthening ribs and gussets possible with injection molding.", "[0004] A particularly common structure for the connector members is the I-beam cross section.", "The I-beam defines free edge portions of the connector member which fit within appropriately dimensioned and located slots in the panel members.", "U.S. Pat. No. D-371,208 teaches a corner extrusion for a building sidewall that is representative of the state of the art I-beam connector members.", "The I-beam sides of the connector engage with the peripheral edge channels of a respective wall panel and thereby serve to join such panels together at right angles.", "Straight or in-line versions of the connector members are also included in the kits to join panels in a coplanar relationship to create walls of varying length.", "[0005] The aforementioned systems can also incorporate roof and floor panels to form a freestanding enclosed structure such as a utility shed.", "U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,866,381;", "5,036,634;", "and 4,557,091 disclose various systems having interfitting panel and connector components.", "[0006] Such prior art enclosure systems, while functional, nevertheless fail to meet longfelt needs of consumers to provide structural integrity combined with modularity and aesthetic appearance.", "The walk-in structures may be undesirable or unsightly where the roofs are visible over neighborhood fences or hedges.", "In some areas homeowner associations may not permit structures having an adequate height to allow the owner to walk into the enclosure due to the unsightly nature of the visible roof tops.", "[0007] Paramount among such needs is a telescoping roof and pivoting door combination which allows items such as lawn tractors to be driven into the enclosure.", "Telescoping roof panels allow a low profile enclosure while still allowing an owner to walk into the enclosure for easy access to the contents.", "From a structural standpoint, the telescoping roof should be capable of easy installation after assembly of the wall and floor components, and be compatible with the walls.", "The wall and floor components should utilize a panel system which eliminates the need for panel connectors creating enclosure walls which resist panel separation, buckling, racking and weather infiltration.", "[0008] There are also commercial considerations that must be satisfied by any viable low profile enclosure system or kit;", "considerations which are not entirely satisfied by state of the art products.", "The enclosure must be formed of relatively few component parts that are inexpensive to manufacture by conventional techniques.", "The enclosure must also be capable of being packaged and shipped in a knocked-down state.", "In addition, the system must be modular and facilitate the creation of a family of enclosures that vary in size but which share common, interchangeable components.", "[0009] Finally, there are ergonomic needs that an enclosure system must satisfy in order to achieve acceptance by the end user.", "The system must be easily and quickly assembled using minimal hardware and requiring a minimal number of tools.", "Further, the system must not require excessive strength to assemble or operate.", "Moreover, the system must assemble together in such a way so as not to detract from the internal storage volume of the resulting enclosure, or otherwise negatively affect the utility of the structure.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE INVENTION [0010] The present invention provides a system, or kit, of injection molded panels having integrated connectors which combine to form an enclosure, commonly in the form of a low profile utility enclosure.", "The enclosure is provided with a telescoping roof panel and pivoting doors which allow easy and dependable access to the interior of the enclosure.", "The system incorporates a minimum number of components to construct a low profile enclosure by integrally forming connectors into injection molded panels.", "The panels utilized to construct the low profile enclosure are formed of injection molded plastic and include sockets which accept both roof and floor locking posts for interlocking cooperative engagement which serves to rigidly connect the components together.", "[0011] This minimizes the need for separate extruded or molded connectors to assemble the low profile enclosure.", "The symmetry of the wall, roof, floor and door components also minimizes component shapes and simplifies enclosure construction.", "Injection molding the wall panels allows them to be formed with adequate height to eliminate the need for stacking panels to achieve the desired height.", "Injection molding also allows the panels to be formed with integral cross-bracing, ribs and gussets for increased rigidity when compared to blow molded or extruded panels.", "[0012] In one embodiment the enclosure system utilizes three types of wall panel construction for the side walls, expansion of the side walls, and the rear wall assembly.", "The embodiment also utilizes one construction of fixed roof panel, one construction of sliding roof panel, and one construction of floor panel.", "The system further includes a door assembly which utilizes two types of panels and slides into place after the walls and roof have been fully assembled.", "The floor of the system is constructed to allow optional wooden or plastic floor joists to be added to the plastic floor panels further increasing the structural integrity of the enclosure.", "The same components are used to create sheds of varying size and the assembly of the system requires minimal hardware and a minimum number of hand tools.", "[0013] Accordingly, it is an objective of the present invention to provide a modular panel system having integrated connectors for creating low profile enclosures of varying dimension using common components.", "[0014] A further objective is to provide a modular panel system for creating low profile enclosures wherein the panels include integrated connectors which accommodate injection molding plastic formation of the panel components for increased structural integrity.", "[0015] Yet a further objective is to provide a low profile enclosure constructed from modular panels in which the side walls, roof, and floor are integrally interlocked without I-beam connectors.", "[0016] Another objective is to provide a low profile enclosure constructed of modular panels having a roof assembly which allows a portion of the roof to be telescopically retracted and extended.", "[0017] Other objectives and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein are set forth, by way of illustration and example, certain embodiments of this invention.", "The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments of the present invention and illustrate various objects and features thereof.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES [0018] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a low profile enclosure constructed using the instant enclosure system;", "[0019] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the enclosure shown in FIG. 1 ;", "[0020] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the floor assembly utilized in the instant invention;", "[0021] FIG. 4A is a perspective view of the floor assembly illustrating the optional wooden floor joists;", "[0022] FIG. 4B is a perspective view of the floor assembly illustrating the sliding engagement of the floor panels;", "[0023] FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the floor assembly illustrating the cross-bracing;", "[0024] FIG. 6 is a partial perspective view illustrating assembly of the first left side wall panel to the floor assembly;", "[0025] FIG. 7 is a partial perspective view further illustrating assembly of the left side wall panels;", "[0026] FIG. 8 is a partial cross sectional view illustrating the locking engagement between the dowel and adjacent wall panels;", "[0027] FIG. 9 is a partial perspective view illustrating assembly of the rear wall panels;", "[0028] FIG. 10 is a partial perspective view further illustrating assembly of the rear wall panels;", "[0029] FIG. 11 is a partial perspective view illustrating assembly of the right side wall panels;", "[0030] FIG. 12 is a partial perspective view further illustrating assembly of the right side wall panels;", "[0031] FIG. 13 is a perspective partially exploded view of the roof panels utilized in the instant invention;", "[0032] FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the bottom surface of the telescoping roof panel utilized in the instant invention;", "[0033] FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the bottom surface of the fixed roof panel utilized in the instant invention;", "[0034] FIG. 16 is a front view illustrating the door assembly utilized in the instant invention;", "[0035] FIG. 17 is a perspective view illustrating the installation of one of the doors;", "[0036] FIG. 18 is a partial perspective view of the enclosure with enlarged partial views illustrating assembly of the door hinges utilized in the instant invention;", "[0037] FIG. 19 is a partial perspective view of the enclosure with enlarged partial views illustrating assembly of the door hinges utilized in the instant invention;", "[0038] FIG. 20 is a partial view illustrating assembly of one of the door latch housings utilized in the instant invention;", "[0039] FIG. 21 is a partial view illustrating assembly of one of the door latch pins utilized in the instant invention;", "DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [0040] While the present invention is susceptible of embodiment in various forms, there is shown in the drawings and will hereinafter be described a presently preferred embodiment with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered an exemplification of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments illustrated.", "[0041] FIGS. 1 and 2 which are now referenced show an isometric and exploded view of the low profile enclosure, generally referenced as 10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.", "The enclosure is made up of a floor assembly 100 , left and right side wall assemblies 200 , rear wall assembly 300 ( FIG. 2 ), roof assembly 400 and door assembly 500 .", "In the preferred embodiment, the panels comprising the assemblies are formed of, but not limited to, a suitable polymeric material through the process of injection molding.", "The result is that the panels comprising the floor 100 , walls 200 - 300 , roof 400 , and doors 500 of the enclosure 10 are formed as unitary panels with integral connectors and cross bracing.", "Strengthening ribs 204 and gussets 206 ( FIG. 2 ) are formed within the inner surfaces of the wall panels 202 , 203 , 302 and 502 in order to enhance rigidity of the panels while leaving the external surface in a generally smooth condition for aesthetic purposes, as shown in FIG. 1 .", "The panels are utilized to construct the floor assembly 100 , left and right wall assemblies 200 , rear wall assembly 300 , door assembly 500 , and roof assembly 400 using a minimal number of components.", "[0042] Referring to FIGS. 3-5 , the enclosure includes a pair of like-constructed floor panels 102 .", "Each panel has a top surface 104 , bottom surface 106 , locking edge 108 , ramp edge 110 , and two closed edges 112 and 114 .", "Adjacent to each of the closed edges is a means of attaching the floor assembly to the wall assemblies illustrated as a plurality of locking posts 116 extending upwardly from the top surface 104 .", "The locking posts 116 are constructed and arranged to cooperate with sockets 210 ( FIG. 7 ) located at each longitudinal end of the first, second, and third structural wall panels 202 , 302 and 203 respectively.", "Adjacent to each of the ramp edges 110 is a pair of generally cylindrical hinge pins 128 extending upwardly.", "The hinge pins 128 cooperate with the door panels 502 to allow pivotal movement.", "A series of spaced apart tubes 118 extend through each floor panel 102 under the top surface 104 and between the locking edge 108 and the ramp edge 110 .", "The tubes 118 are sized to accept optional wooden floor joists 120 ( FIGS. 4A,4B ) adding increased weight capacity and stability to the enclosure 10 .", "Along the locking edge 108 of each bottom panel 102 is a series of spaced apart fingers 122 and recesses 124 for attaching the panels together into a floor assembly 100 ;", "each of the fingers being provided with at least one countersank aperture for receiving a fastener (not shown).", "The fingers 122 and recesses 124 are constructed and arranged so that the fingers 122 overlap and mateably engage the recesses 124 and the fasteners secure the panels together in an inter-fitting engagement with their respective top surfaces 104 in a co-planar arrangement.", "The bottom surface 106 ( FIG. 5 ) illustrates the cross-bracing 128 facilitated by injection molding of panels.", "Injection molding offers significant strength and stability advantages over blow-molding as utilized in the prior art.", "In this manner the enclosure of the instant invention is capable of handling a significant amount of weight as compared to blow molded enclosures.", "[0043] Referring to FIGS. 6-7 a first structural side wall panel is shown.", "The first structural wall panel 202 constitutes one of a plurality of like-configured panels in the system used to construct the left and right side wall assemblies 200 .", "The first structural wall panels 202 are each configured having a first longitudinal end 208 including an integrally formed attachment means illustrated as a plurality of sockets 210 .", "A second longitudinal end 212 also including an integrally formed attachment means also illustrated as a plurality of sockets 210 .", "The sockets 210 are generally constructed and arranged to cooperate with either a floor assembly 100 or a roof assembly 400 .", "The first horizontal edge 222 is constructed generally flat extending inwardly to a depending semi-circular conduit 224 , the semi-circular conduit 224 extending from the second horizontal end 212 toward the mid-portion of the edge 222 .", "The conduit 224 is arranged to cooperate with a structural wall panel member 302 having a complimentary semi-circular conduit in a perpendicular relationship.", "To facilitate mechanical connection with structural second wall panel members 302 in a co-planar relationship the panels are provided a second horizontal edge 214 constructed with an attachment means illustrated as a semi-circular conduit 216 extending from about the first longitudinal end 208 past the middle portion of the edge 214 .", "Centrally located within the semi-circular conduit 216 is a generally circular aperture 218 for accepting a dowel 220 .", "[0044] Continuing with regard to FIGS. 6-8 , a third structural side wall panel is shown.", "The third structural wall panel 203 constitutes one of a plurality of like-configured panels in the system used to construct the left and right side wall assemblies 200 .", "The third structural wall panels 203 are each configured having a first longitudinal end 209 including an integrally formed attachment means illustrated as a plurality of sockets 210 .", "A second longitudinal end 213 also including an integrally formed attachment means also illustrated as a plurality of sockets 210 .", "The sockets 210 are generally constructed and arranged to cooperate with either a floor assembly 100 or a roof assembly 400 .", "To facilitate mechanical connection with structural second wall panel members 302 in a co-planar relationship the panels are provided a first horizontal edge 215 constructed with an attachment means illustrated as a semi-circular conduit 217 extending from about the second longitudinal end 213 toward the middle portion of the edge 215 .", "Centrally located within the semi-circular conduit 217 is a generally circular aperture 218 for accepting a dowel 220 .", "The second horizontal edge 223 is constructed generally flat extending inwardly to a depending semi-circular conduit 224 , the semi-circular conduit 224 extending from the first horizontal end 209 toward the mid-portion of the edge 223 .", "The conduit 224 is arranged to cooperate with a structural wall panel member 302 having a complimentary semi-circular conduit in a perpendicular relationship.", "[0045] Continuing with regard to FIGS. 6-8 , the outer surface 228 ( FIG. 2 ) of the panels 202 and 203 are constructed generally smooth having a plurality of inwardly bowed surfaces 230 for added strength and aesthetic appearance.", "The inside of the panels 232 are constructed with a plurality of ribs 204 extending from the first edge 222 , 223 across the panel 202 , 203 to the second edge 214 , 215 respectively.", "Each of the ribs 204 being provided with a plurality of gussets 206 to further strengthen the panels.", "The ribs 204 and gussets 206 increase the structural integrity of the enclosure 10 by preventing the panels 202 , 203 from bowing or bending inwardly or outwardly, and thus, adversely affecting the appearance or operation of the enclosure 10 .", "The reinforced ribs also provide support for optional shelves (not shown).", "The construction of the ribs 204 allow shelving to extend across the span of the shed thereby dividing the load between two walls and eliminating the cantilever effect of attaching a shelf to a single wall surface.", "[0046] Assembly of the left side wall 200 of the shed is completed by attaching the first wall panel 202 , second wall panel 302 , and third wall panel 203 to the interconnected floor-panels 102 by sliding the first longitudinal ends 208 , 308 , 209 respectively over a plurality of the locking posts 116 .", "Thereafter, each corresponding panel being slid into place in an adjacent relationship to the prior panel.", "The sockets 210 in each end of the panels 202 , 302 , 203 correspond in shape and size to that of the posts 116 .", "Spring tabs 126 ( FIG. 3 ) integrally formed into the posts 116 align with apertures 234 in the sockets 210 to engage the side wall panels 202 , 302 and 203 .", "The result is a positive mechanical connection between the wall-panels 200 and the floor assembly 100 .", "The first wall panel 202 being assembled to the floor assembly 100 with the first longitudinal end 208 downward.", "The second panel 302 is thereafter assembled adjacent to the first with its first longitudinal end 308 downward ( FIG. 7 ).", "The third wall panel 203 is assembled adjacent to the second panel with its first longitudinal end 209 downward.", "Secured to the first longitudinal end 209 of the conduit 224 of the third assembled wall panel 203 is a hinge pin connector 238 constructed and arranged to cooperate with a floor assembly hinge pin 128 ( FIG. 3 ) and the rear wall assembly 300 .", "[0047] It will be appreciated that the purpose of the semi-circular conduits 216 , 224 are to align two panels in a co-planar or perpendicular relationship and to facilitate their mechanical connection via the dowel 220 .", "The semi-circular conduits 216 , 224 are brought into an overlapping relationship wherein a dowel pin 220 enters the corresponding aperture 218 in each conduit ( FIG. 6 ).", "The result is a mechanically secure connection between the two panels (FIG.", "[0048] 8).", "The overlapping edges between the panels as described above provides a secure connection and offers several advantages.", "First, the design allows the panels to be connected without the need for I-beam connectors.", "Second, the design creates a positive lock that prevents separation of the panels.", "Third, the design maintains alignment of the panels in the same plane and prevents bowing or bending of either panel relative to one another.", "The resultant wall created by the combination of the interlocking wall-panels benefits from high structural integrity and reliable operation.", "[0049] Referring to FIGS. 9-10 , assembly of the structural rear wall is shown.", "The second wall panel 302 constitutes one of a plurality of like-configured panels in the system used to construct the rear wall assembly 300 .", "The second wall panels 302 are each configured having a first longitudinal end 308 including an integrally formed attachment means illustrated as a plurality of sockets 210 .", "A second longitudinal end 312 includes an integrally formed attachment means also illustrated as a plurality of sockets 210 .", "The sockets are generally constructed and arranged to cooperate with either a floor assembly 100 or a roof assembly 400 .", "To facilitate mechanical connection with first, second, or third wall panel members 202 , 302 , 203 respectively in a co-planar or perpendicular relationship, the panels are provided a first horizontal edge 314 constructed with a semi-circular conduit 316 extending from about the second longitudinal end 312 toward the middle portion of the edge.", "Centrally located within the semi-circular conduit 316 is a generally circular aperture 318 for accepting a dowel 220 .", "The second horizontal edge 322 is constructed generally the same as the first horizontal edge 314 with the exception that the semi-circular conduit 324 extends from the first horizontal end 308 past the mid-portion of the panel.", "The conduits 316 , 324 are arranged to cooperate with a other panel members having a complimentary semi-circular conduit in a co-planar or a perpendicular relationship.", "Hinge cap 336 is constructed and arranged to cooperate with the first longitudinal end of the semi-circular conduit and a floor assembly hinge pin 128 .", "[0050] Continuing with regard to FIGS. 9-10 , the outer surface 328 ( FIG. 2 ) of the panels 302 are constructed generally smooth having a plurality of inwardly bowed surfaces 330 ( FIG. 2 ) for added strength and aesthetic appearance.", "The inside of the panel 332 is constructed with a plurality of ribs 304 extending from the first edge 314 across the panel to the second edge 322 .", "Each of the ribs 304 being provided with a plurality of gussets 306 to further strengthen the panel 302 .", "The ribs 304 and gussets 306 increase the structural integrity of the enclosure 10 by preventing the panels 302 from bowing or bending, inwardly or outwardly and thus, adversely affecting the appearance or operation of the enclosure 10 .", "[0051] The panels 302 are attached to the interconnected floor panels 102 and the installed left side panels 202 , 203 by sliding the first longitudinal end 308 of a second wall panel downward over a dowel 220 aligning the semi-circular conduits.", "The second assembled rear panel 302 being adjacent in relation to the first and slid downward engaging the inserted post 338 and the hinge pin in the floor assembly via a hinge cap 336 inserted into the semi-circular conduit and engaging the first assembled rear panel via the dowel 220 .", "Spring tabs 126 integrally formed into the inserted post 338 and hinge caps 336 align with apertures 234 in the second wall panels 302 for engagement.", "The result is a positive mechanical connection between the left wall assembly 200 , rear wall assembly 300 and the floor assembly 100 .", "[0052] Referring to FIGS. 11-12 the right side wall panels are attached to the interconnected floor-panels 102 and the assembled rear wall assembly 300 by sliding the first longitudinal end 208 of a first wall panel 202 over a plurality of the locking posts 116 .", "The second wall panel 302 is thereafter assembled adjacent to the first with its first longitudinal end 308 downward ( FIG. 7 ).", "The third wall panel 203 is assembled adjacent to the second panel with its first longitudinal end 209 downward.", "Secured to the first longitudinal end 209 of the conduit 224 of the third assembled wall panel 203 is a hinge pin connector 238 constructed and arranged to cooperate with a floor assembly hinge pin 128 ( FIG. 12 ) to allow rotational movement of the door assembly 500 .", "The sockets 210 in the ends of the panels 202 , 203 and 302 correspond in shape and size to that of the posts 116 , and spring tabs 126 ( FIG. 3 ) integrally formed into the posts 116 align with apertures 234 in the sockets 210 to engage the side wall panel 202 , 203 or 302 .", "The result is a positive mechanical connection between the wall panels 200 and the floor assembly 100 .", "[0053] Referring to FIGS. 13-15 the enclosure 10 includes a fixed roof panel 402 and a sliding roof panel 403 .", "The fixed roof panel includes a top surface 404 , bottom surface 406 , and four closed edges 408 , 410 , 412 and 414 .", "The bottom surface of the fixed roof panel is constructed generally smooth and may include a securely attached steel reinforcement tube 480 to add additional structural integrity to the roof assembly.", "( FIG. 15 ) Adjacent to the two side closed edges 410 , 414 and the rear closed edge 412 are a plurality of locking posts 416 extending outwardly from the bottom surface 406 .", "The locking posts 416 are constructed and arranged to cooperate with sockets 210 located at the second longitudinal end of the structural wall panels 202 , 203 and 302 .", "The fixed roof panel 402 is placed over the assembled left, right, and rear walls and lowered into place.", "The locking posts 416 are lined up with the corresponding sockets 210 in the wall panels 202 , 203 , and 302 .", "The fixed roof panel 402 is secured in place by pulling downward on the panel until the spring tabs 446 integrally formed into the locking posts 416 engage corresponding apertures 234 formed in the sockets 210 .", "The result is a positive mechanical connection between the wall panels 202 and 302 and the fixed roof panel 402 .", "[0054] The fixed roof panel 402 includes an upper track groove 418 adjacent to each of the two side closed edges 410 , 414 and extending along the top surface 404 .", "The upper track groove 418 extends inwardly into the fixed roof panel and is constructed generally having a V-shaped cross section, and is arranged to cooperate with the tracks 430 which extend outwardly from the bottom surface 422 of the telescoping roof panel 403 .", "The fixed roof panel also includes a outer track groove 488 adjacent to each of the two side closed edges 410 , 414 extending along the bottom surface 406 .", "The outer track groove 488 extends inwardly into the fixed roof panel 402 and is constructed having a generally U-shaped cross section.", "[0055] Continuing with regard to FIGS. 13-15 , the roof assembly 400 also includes a right wall cap 450 and a left wall cap 470 .", "The right wall cap includes a top surface 452 , a bottom surface 454 , an inner closed edge 456 , and an outer closed edge 458 .", "The lower surface 454 is constructed with a plurality of outwardly extending locking posts 416 which are arranged to cooperate with sockets 210 located at each longitudinal end of the structural wall panels 202 , 302 , and 203 .", "Along the lower surface 454 and adjacent to the inner closed edge 456 is an inner track groove 482 having a generally U-shaped cross section.", "The top surface 452 is constructed generally smooth having an upper track groove 460 with a generally V-shaped cross section extending along a longitudinal centerline.", "[0056] The right wall cap 450 is placed over the assembled right wall and lowered into place.", "The locking posts 416 are lined up with the corresponding sockets 210 in the wall panels 202 , 203 , and 302 .", "The right wall cap 450 is secured in place by pulling downward on the cap until the spring tabs 446 integrally formed into the locking posts 416 engage corresponding apertures 234 formed in the sockets 210 .", "The result is a positive mechanical connection between the wall panels 202 , 203 and 302 and the wall cap 450 .", "[0057] The left wall cap 470 includes a top surface 472 , a bottom surface 474 , an inner closed edge 476 , and an outer closed edge 478 .", "The bottom surface 474 is constructed and arranged with a plurality of outwardly extending locking posts 416 which cooperate with sockets 210 located at the second longitudinal end of the structural wall panels 202 , 203 and 302 .", "Along the bottom surface 474 and adjacent to the inner closed edge 476 is a generally U-shaped inner track groove 482 .", "The top surface 472 is constructed generally smooth having an upper track groove 460 with a generally V-shaped cross section extending along a longitudinal centerline.", "[0058] The left wall cap 470 is placed over the assembled left wall and lowered into place.", "The locking posts 416 are lined up with the corresponding sockets 210 in the wall panels 202 and 302 .", "The left wall cap 470 is secured in place by pulling downward on the cap until the spring tabs 446 integrally formed into the locking posts 416 engage corresponding apertures 234 formed in the sockets 210 .", "The result is a positive mechanical connection between the wall panels 202 and 302 and the left wall cap 470 .", "[0059] Continuing with regard to FIGS. 13-15 , the telescoping roof panel 403 includes a top surface 420 , bottom surface 422 , and four closed edges 424 , 426 , 428 and 430 .", "The top surface is constructed generally smooth and includes a pair of integrally formed sockets 484 which are constructed and arranged to slidingly cooperate with outer track guides 490 .", "The outer track guides 490 are generally C-shaped and constructed and arranged to be secured to the telescoping roof panel 403 and to slidingly cooperate with the outer track groove 488 in the fixed roof panel 402 .", "The upper surface also includes an integrally formed handle 492 .", "The bottom surface includes a plurality of strengthening ribs 482 .", "The strengthening ribs add structural rigidity and load capacity to the roof assembly 400 .", "The bottom surface 422 also includes a pair of integrally formed sockets 484 which are constructed and arranged to cooperate with inner track guides 486 .", "The inner track guides 486 are constructed and arranged to slidingly cooperate with their respective inner track grooves 482 in wall caps 450 , 470 .", "Adjacent to each of the two side closed edges 424 , 428 and depending downwardly from the bottom surface 422 are tracks 430 .", "The tracks 430 have a generally V-shaped cross section to cooperate with the upper track grooves 418 of the fixed roof panel 402 and the wall caps 450 and 470 .", "[0060] The telescoping roof panel 403 is placed over the assembled fixed roof panel 402 , and the assembled first and second wall caps 450 , 470 and lowered into place aligning the tracks 430 with their respective upper track grooves 418 .", "The inner track guides 486 are secured in place by pushing upward on each of the inner track guides until the spring tabs 446 integrally formed into the inner track guides 486 engage corresponding apertures 234 formed in the sockets 484 .", "The result is a positive mechanical connection between the inner track guides 486 and the telescoping roof panel 403 .", "The outer track guides are secured in place by pushing downward on the outer track guide until the spring tabs 446 engage corresponding apertures 234 formed in the sockets 484 .", "The result is a positive mechanical connection between the inner track guides 486 and the telescoping roof panel 403 .", "The cooperative sliding engagement between the upper, inner, and outer track guides allow the telescoping roof panel to be easily and reliably retracted and extended to allow easy access to the enclosure contents.", "The construction of the inner and outer track guides provide anti-lift protection and security to the contents of the enclosure.", "[0061] Referring to FIGS. 16-19 , the enclosure includes a door assembly including a left and a right door panel, a hinge means, a left and a right door header, and a latch assembly.", "The left door panel 502 and right door panel 503 constitute the panels in the system used to construct the door assembly.", "The left door panel 502 is configured having a first longitudinal end 508 including at least one integrally formed socket 210 .", "The socket 210 is generally constructed and arranged to cooperate with a hinge cap 336 having a C-shaped annular portion.", "The second longitudinal end 512 includes a plurality of integrally formed sockets 510 .", "The sockets are generally constructed and arranged to cooperate with the left header 550 .", "The left header 550 is constructed with a plurality of outwardly extending locking posts 416 which are constructed and arranged to cooperate with sockets 210 located at the second longitudinal end 512 of the left door panel 502 .", "To facilitate mechanical connection with other side wall panel members 202 in a pivoting relationship the left side panel is provided with a first horizontal edge 514 constructed with a semi-circular conduit 516 extending from about the first longitudinal end 508 past the middle portion of the edge.", "The hinge cap 336 , and the semi-circular conduit 516 each containing at least one hinge means illustrated as a C-shaped annular portion 518 having an open side 520 constructed and arranged to accept a hinge pin 128 , or a dowel pin 220 and to cooperate with a hinge clip 540 to close the annular cavity 518 and allow pivoting movement of the left door panel 502 .", "The second horizontal edge 522 is constructed generally flat.", "[0062] The right door panel 503 is configured having a first longitudinal end 509 which includes an integrally formed C-shaped annular hinge portion 524 .", "The second longitudinal end 513 includes a plurality of integrally formed sockets 510 .", "The sockets are generally constructed and arranged to cooperate with the right header 552 .", "The right header 552 is constructed with a plurality of outwardly extending locking posts 416 which are constructed and arranged to cooperate with sockets 210 located at the second longitudinal end 513 of the left door panel 503 .", "To facilitate mechanical connection with other side wall panel members 202 in a pivoting relationship the right door panel is provided with a first horizontal edge 515 constructed with a semi-circular conduit 517 extending from about the second longitudinal end 513 toward the middle portion of the edge.", "The integrally formed hinge portion 524 , and the semi-circular conduit 517 each containing at least one hinge means illustrated as a C-shaped annular portion 518 having an open side 520 constructed and arranged to accept a hinge pin 128 , or a dowel pin 220 and to cooperate with a hinge clip 540 to close the annular cavity 518 and allow pivoting movement of the right door panel 503 .", "The second horizontal edge 523 is constructed generally flat with the exception of a optional ledge 532 extending the full length of the panel.", "The optional ledge 532 may be attached by any suitable fastening means well known in the art or may be integrally formed with the panel.", "The right door panel 503 is also provided with a lower sliding latch mechanism 534 .", "[0063] Continuing with regard to FIGS. 16-19 , the outer surface 528 of the panels 502 , 503 are constructed generally smooth having a plurality of inwardly bowed surfaces 530 for added strength and aesthetic appearance.", "The inside surface of the left and right door panels 502 and 503 are constructed with a plurality of ribs 504 extending from the first edge 514 across the panel 502 to the second edge 522 .", "Each of the ribs 504 may be provided with a plurality of gussets (not shown) to further strengthen the panel 502 .", "The ribs 504 increase the structural integrity of the enclosure 10 by preventing the panels 502 from bowing or bending, inwardly or outwardly and thus, adversely affecting the appearance or operation of the enclosure 10 .", "[0064] Referring to FIG. 17-19 , the door panels 502 , 503 are attached to the interconnected floor panels 100 , and the left and right side wall assemblies 200 by aligning the hinge pins and sliding the panel horizontally into place over the respective pins and engaging the hinge clips 540 .", "The body of the hinge clip 540 is generally concave and rectangular and includes spring tabs 542 located at each end adapted to fit within the respective hinge caps to secure the door panels to the hinge pins and facilitate independent rotational movement of each door.", "It should be appreciated that this construction allows the doors to be installed or removed without disassembling or partially disassembling other components from the enclosure 10 .", "The construction also provides economic advantage allowing inexpensive hinge components to be easily removed and replaced in the event they become damaged.", "The right door panel is also provided with removable and replaceable door latching mechanism 534 .", "[0065] Referring to FIGS. 20-21 , installation of the lower door latch is illustrated.", "The door latch is constructed and arranged to allow simple push-in installation.", "The latch housings 552 are merely pushed into apertures 546 located adjacent to edge 523 in the door panel 503 until the spring clips 548 engage the panel 503 .", "Thereafter the one end of the door latch pin 554 is inserted through the housing 552 and downwardly until spring clip 550 is snapped into place.", "In this manner the door latches can be installed and removed as need without the need for tools or screw type fasteners.", "By sliding the latch pin 554 to extend it outwardly to engage the floor assembly 100 the contents contained within the enclosure 10 are secured.", "[0066] All patents and publications mentioned in this specification are indicative of the levels of those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains.", "All patents and publications are herein incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each individual publication was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference.", "[0067] It is to be understood that while a certain form of the invention is illustrated, it is not to be limited to the specific form or arrangement herein described and shown.", "It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention and the invention is not to be considered limited to what is shown and described in the specification.", "[0068] One skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the present invention is well adapted to carry out the objectives and obtain the ends and advantages mentioned, as well as those inherent therein.", "The embodiments, methods, procedures and techniques described herein are presently representative of the preferred embodiments, are intended to be exemplary and are not intended as limitations on the scope.", "Changes therein and other uses will occur to those skilled in the art which are encompassed within the spirit of the invention and are defined by the scope of the appended claims.", "Although the invention has been described in connection with specific preferred embodiments, it should be understood that the invention as claimed should not be unduly limited to such specific embodiments.", "Indeed, various modifications of the described modes for carrying out the invention which are obvious to those skilled in the art are intended to be within the scope of the following claims." ]

[ "[0001] This patent application is based on and claims priority to Taiwanese Patent Application No. 098118275, filed Jun. 2, 2009.", "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1.", "Field of Invention [0003] The invention relates to tongue depressors and more particularly to a tongue depressor and throat viewing mechanism for inserting into the tongue of a patient and taking a digital video image of the larynx in the throat for further examination.", "[0004] 2.", "Description of Related Art [0005] Medical devices for examining the mouth including the larynx are well known.", "For example, a tongue depressor having a flat blade is used to depress the tongue of a patient in order to fully expose the larynx so that it can be inspected by a physician.", "In some tongue depressor, a camera is provided behind or in the rear end of the flat blade.", "The camera may be attached to the tongue depressor by means of an adapter or a bracket.", "It is a natural response to bite the tongue depressor when the tongue depressor is placed in the open mouth of a′ patient (e.g., a baby or a child).", "As such, the tongue may block the view of the camera and render the camera not useful for its intended purposes.", "The physician may take a prolonged period of time to yield of an image of the larynx.", "Furthermore, it may not be possible to yield a complete image of the larynx by the rear camera.", "Additionally, the typical lens is too large to dispose at a front end of the tongue depressor.", "This can compromise the desired function of inspecting the larynx for diagnosis.", "[0006] It is thus advantageous to provide a tongue depressor that is easier to use.", "SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0007] It is therefore one object of the invention to provide a tongue depressor and throat viewing mechanism having a forward camera which is proximate to the larynx after inserting a blade into the mouth so that the camera may yield a clear digital image of the larynx.", "As such, even the tongue blocks the blade, there is no disruption or view blocking of the normal operation of the camera.", "[0008] To achieve above and other objects of the invention, there is provided a tongue depressor and throat viewing mechanism adapted to facilitate inspection of the larynx of a subject and a medical diagnosis of its condition.", "The tongue depressor and throat viewing mechanism comprises a flat blade insertable into the mouth of the subject to depress the tongue so as to cause the throat to expose the larynx;", "a power source disposed on the blade;", "a sleeve disposed on the blade;", "an elongated insert comprising a rear enlargement and being adapted to insert into the sleeve to be frictionally retained by the sleeve when the enlargement is stopped at a rear end of the sleeve;", "a miniature, digital video camera disposed in a front end of the insert;", "a light emitting unit disposed in the front end of the insert;", "a transmitter disposed in the blade;", "and a switch disposed on the blade and being proximate to the power source, the switch being electrically connecting the power source to each of the camera, the transmitter, and the light emitting unit, wherein in response to inserting the blade into the mouth, activating the light emitting unit to project a light beam to illuminate the exposed larynx, activating the transmitter, and activating the camera by manually activating the switch, an image of the larynx is yielded by the camera and the image can be sent by the transmitter for exhibit.", "[0009] The above and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken with the accompanying drawings.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0010] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a tongue depressor and throat viewing mechanism according to a first preferred embodiment of the invention;", "[0011] FIG. 1A is a greatly enlarged view of a front end of FIG. 1 ;", "[0012] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 1 ;", "[0013] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a tongue depressor and throat viewing mechanism according to a second preferred embodiment of the invention;", "[0014] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a tongue depressor and throat viewing mechanism according to a third preferred embodiment of the invention;", "[0015] FIG. 4A is a greatly enlarged view of a front end of FIG. 4 ;", "[0016] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 4 ;", "[0017] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a tongue depressor and throat viewing mechanism according to a fourth preferred embodiment of the invention;", "[0018] FIG. 7 is an exploded view of a tongue depressor and throat viewing mechanism according to a fifth preferred embodiment of the invention;", "[0019] FIG. 8 is a block diagram of the tongue depressor and throat viewing mechanism, a channel indicator, and a computer system in cooperation therewith;", "[0020] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a tongue depressor and throat viewing mechanism according to a sixth preferred embodiment of the invention;", "and [0021] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a tongue depressor and throat viewing mechanism according to a seventh preferred embodiment of the invention.", "DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [0022] Referring to FIGS. 1 , 1 A and 2 , a tongue depressor and throat viewing mechanism 1 in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the invention comprises the following components as discussed in detail below.", "[0023] A flat blade 10 has a front end 101 and a rear end 102 .", "A miniature, digital video camera 12 is provided in a cylinder 121 which is mounted on top of the front end 101 .", "A lens 122 is provided on an opening of the cylinder 121 above a curved edge 101 A on the front end 101 .", "A light emitting unit 14 is provided in the camera 12 .", "Power and cable 123 are interconnected to the camera 12 and a printed circuit board (PCB) (not shown) is within the blade 10 .", "A power source (e.g., battery) 104 is provided on a top position proximate to the rear end 102 .", "A switch (e.g., push button switch) 103 is provided between the power source 104 and a center of the blade 10 .", "The switch 103 is electrically interconnected to the power source 104 and the PCB for permitting a power supply from the power source 104 to the PCB or not.", "Moreover, power can be supplied from the PCB to the camera 12 and the light emitting unit 14 .", "Preferably, the light emitting unit 14 comprises a plurality of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) 14 .", "[0024] In use, a physician may press the switch 103 to activate both the camera 12 and the light emitting unit 14 which thus can project a light beam.", "Next, insert the blade 10 into the mouth of a patient (e.g., baby or child) to press down the tongue for inducing a gag reflex.", "Naturally, the throat may dilate to fully expose the larynx for viewing.", "The camera 12 , provided on the front end 101 of the blade 10 , is proximate to the larynx.", "Thus, the camera 12 may yield a clear digital image of the larynx which is being illuminated by the light emitting unit 14 since, even the tongue or the lips of the patient block the blade 10 , there would be no disruption or view blocking of the normal operation of the camera 12 .", "The image of the larynx is then wirelessly sent by a transmitter 18 to a display (not shown) of a computer (not shown) in a magnified scale.", "Note that details of the wireless transmission will be discussed later.", "Therefore, the physician may clearly see the larynx from the display and a correct diagnosis can be made.", "The camera has a diameter about 5 mm, but it can be larger or smaller.", "[0025] Referring to FIG. 3 , a tongue depressor and throat viewing mechanism in accordance with a second preferred embodiment of the invention is characterized below.", "The cylinder 16 is integrally formed with the top of the front end 101 .", "Both the camera 12 and the light emitting unit 14 are provided in the cylinder 16 .", "[0026] Referring to FIGS. 4 , 4 A and 5 , a tongue depressor and throat viewing mechanism in accordance with a third preferred embodiment of the invention is characterized below.", "The light emitting unit 14 comprises a plurality of LEDs 14 which are provided on the curved edge 101 A on the front end 101 .", "[0027] Referring to FIG. 6 , a tongue depressor and throat viewing mechanism in accordance with a fourth preferred embodiment of the invention is characterized below.", "The cylinder 16 A is integrally formed with the top of the front end 101 .", "The camera 12 is provided in the cylinder 16 A. The light emitting unit 14 comprises a plurality of LEDs 14 which are provided on the curved edge 101 A on the front end 101 .", "[0028] The cylinder 16 A is integrally formed with the top of the front end 101 .", "The camera 12 is provided in the cylinder 16 A. The light emitting unit 14 comprises a plurality of LEDs 14 which are provided on the curved edge 101 A on the front end 101 .", "A transmitter 18 is provided on top of the rear end 102 .", "The transmitter 18 is electrically connected to the power source 104 and is in signal communication with the camera 12 .", "Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8 , a tongue depressor and throat viewing mechanism in accordance with a fifth preferred embodiment of the invention is characterized below.", "A lengthwise sleeve 26 of circular section is provided on top of the blade 10 .", "A cylindrical insert 28 has a front end provided with a camera 12 and a light emitting unit 14 and a rear end provided with an enlargement 30 .", "The insert 28 can be inserted into the sleeve 26 until the enlargement 30 contacts the sleeve 26 .", "At this position, the insert 28 is frictionally retained in the sleeve 26 and the camera 12 is disposed at the front end of the sleeve 26 (i.e., on top of the front end 101 ).", "Switch 103 , transmitter 18 , and power source 104 are provided proximate to the rear end 102 .", "This embodiment facilitates a replacement of the camera 12 if such need arises.", "[0029] As shown in FIG. 8 , image signals can be sent from the camera 12 to the transmitter 18 which, in turn, wirelessly transmits the image signals to a personal computer (PC) 24 or the like.", "The transmitter 18 may also transmit the image signals to a channel indicator 19 by wire or by a wireless means (such as IR or Bluetooth signals).", "The channel indicator 19 is provided proximate to where the physician performs the examination so that the physician may see the operating channel of the transmitter 18 .", "Moreover, the PC 24 is equipped with a display 20 for showing the magnified examination image of the larynx, and a keyboard 22 .", "[0030] Referring to FIG. 9 , a tongue depressor and throat viewing mechanism in accordance with a sixth preferred embodiment of the invention is characterized below.", "The blade 10 is wrapped around by a flexible sheath 40 having an oval depression 41 for ease of manual pushing of the blade 10 into the tongue.", "Also, the switch 103 and the channel indicator 19 are provided proximate to the rear end 102 .", "The camera 12 is provided in the cylinder 16 which is integrally formed on top of the front end 101 .", "[0031] Referring to FIG. 10 , a tongue depressor and throat viewing mechanism in accordance with a seventh preferred embodiment of the invention is characterized below.", "An additional transparent, flexible, disposable enclosure 50 made of plastic is put on the sheath 40 .", "After a single use, the enclosure 50 can be discarded for hygienic purposes.", "[0032] The invention has the following advantages: In use, after inserting the blade into the mouth of a patient to press down the tongue, the throat may dilate to fully expose the larynx for viewing.", "The forwardly located camera is relatively small (e.g., about or less than 5 mm in diameter) so as to enable it to dispose on a front end of the tongue depressor in the throat proximate to the larynx.", "As such, the camera can yield a clear digital image of the larynx.", "Even when the tongue or other part of the mouth blocks the blade, there is no disruption or view blocking of the normal operation of the camera.", "Moreover, the image of the larynx can be sent to a display for showing in a magnified scale by wireless transmission.", "Thus, a correct diagnosis can be made.", "[0033] In summary, the present invention provides a tongue depressor and throat viewing apparatus adapted to facilitate inspection of larynx of a subject, such as a person.", "The apparatus has a blade ( 10 ) with a front end ( 101 ) and a rear end ( 102 ).", "Thee blade is configured to be inserted into the mouth of the subject so that at least the front end depresses the subject's tongue for exposing the larynx.", "At the front end, a camera ( 12 ) is used to take images of the larynx and it surrounding area.", "A light emitting unit located in relationship to the camera is used to provide lighting to the camera.", "The camera can send images to a transmitter ( 18 ) which is configured for transmitting the image signals for display.", "Transmitter can be located in the rear end of the blade, but it can be a separate unit.", "The apparatus also has a switch for electrically connecting the light emitting unit and the camera to a power source.", "The switch is manually operated when needed.", "The power source can be a battery of a small size so it can be attached to the rear end of the blade.", "[0034] The camera can be mounted on a mount located in the front end.", "The light emitting unit can have one or more light emitting diodes located on a front-curved edge of the blade.", "Alternatively, the light emitting unit has a plurality of light emitting diodes mounted around the circumference of the camera lens.", "In one embodiment of the present invention, a flexible sheath ( 40 ) is provided around the blade to facilitate pushing of the blade into the mouth.", "In another embodiment of the present invention, a disposable wrap is for wrapping around the blade, with or without the flexible sheath.", "The disposable wrap ( 50 ) can be made of transparent and flexible material.", "In yet another embodiment, an elongated insert ( 28 ) having a first end is used for mounting the camera, and a lengthwise sleeve ( 26 ) is located on the blade, wherein the elongated insert is dimensioned for inserting through the sleeve so that the camera can be located in the front end of the blade.", "Preferably, the elongated insert ( 28 ) has an opposing second end with an enlarged portion for preventing the elongated insert from further inserting into the sleeve.", "According to the present invention, the transmitter is configured to provide an electrical signal to a channel indicator ( 19 ) for indicating an operating channel of the transmitter.", "[0035] Thus, while the invention has been described in terms of preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention can be practiced with modifications within the scope of the appended claims." ]

[ "FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to a method and composition for evenly applying water soluble actives.", "More particularly, the invention is directed to a method whereby an end use composition comprising a high internal phase emulsion (HIPE) with a water soluble active is applied to dry skin so that such active may be evenly distributed.", "The end use composition used in the method of this invention has a contact angle against water which is greater than about 90° before application and less than about 70° immediately after application with shear.", "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Skin conditioning methods that provide, for example, moisturizing, lightening or sunless tanning benefits are known.", "Typically, such conditioning compositions are in the form of lotions meant to be applied to the skin subsequent to bathing and throughout the day, if necessary.", "Many consumers find it desirable to deliver skin benefits via methods that rely on the application of topical compositions after showering.", "Unfortunately, however, such methods comprise actives that often are not uniformly distributed after application, thus leaving uneven and/or blotchy results after topically applying compositions to skin.", "Consumers try to prevent such uneven results by over applying composition, resulting in waste of composition in an attempt to achieve desired benefits.", "Moreover, many consumers are unsatisfied with the topical compositions they use since the same often yield ineffective results;", "leave a wet-feeling sensation after use or both.", "This can be true when conventional compositions are over applied to dry skin.", "It is of increasing interest to develop a method and composition suitable to deliver a water soluble active, especially on dry skin, whereby the method and composition are effective for evenly distributing active and do not result in skin having a wet-feeling sensation.", "This invention, therefore, is directed to a method whereby topical composition comprising a HIPE and a water soluble active is applied to dry skin, resulting in water-soluble active that is evenly distributed.", "The topical composition employed in the method of this invention has a contact angle against water which is greater than about 90° before application and less than about 70° immediately after application with shear.", "Additional Information Efforts have been disclosed for making insoluble skin conditioning compositions.", "In U.S. Pat. No. 6,699,488, rinseable compositions with high internal phase emulsions are described.", "Other efforts have been disclosed for making skin care compositions.", "In U.S. Pat. No. 6,696,049, cosmetic compositions with emulsifying cross-linked siloxane elastomer are described.", "Still other efforts have been disclosed for making skin care compositions.", "In U.S. Pat. No. 5,908,707, cleaning articles having a high internal phase inverse emulsion are described.", "Even other efforts have been disclosed for making skin care compositions.", "In U.S. Pat. No. 5,833,973, skin treatment compositions with a cross-linked non-emulsifying siloxane elastomer are described.", "None of the additional information above describes a method whereby water soluble active is evenly applied to dry skin in the absence of generating a wet-feeling sensation.", "SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In a first aspect, the present invention is directed to a method for evenly applying a water soluble active, the method comprising the steps of: (a) applying to dry skin a topical composition comprising a water-in-oil HIPE, the HIPE comprising: 1) water;", "2) emulsifier;", "3) steric stabilizer;", "4) depletion stabilizer;", "5) oil;", "6) non-emulsifying elastomer;", "and 7) water soluble active;", "and (b) shearing the topical composition during application onto skin resulting in free water creating a hydrophilic surface on the topical composition applied while simultaneously maintaining water in the HIPE for the water soluble active wherein the topical composition, prior to applying, has a contact angle against water which is greater than about 90° and less than about 70° immediately after topically applying with shear.", "In a second aspect, the present invention is directed to a hydrophobic composition comprising a water-in-oil HIPE, the composition suitable for topical application with shear to ensure even distribution of active in the absence of generating a wet-feeling sensation.", "All other aspects of the present invention will readily become apparent upon considering the detailed description and examples which follow.", "HIPE, as used herein, means a high internal phase, water-in-oil emulsion where the emulsion is hydrophobic and at least about 73% by weight water when deplete of active.", "Topical composition, as used herein, means a hydrophobic end use composition comprising the HIPE with an active (or skin benefit agent) in the water phase of the HIPE, whereby the same is externally hydrophobic and is suitable for use on humans to result in a skin benefit like, for example, sunless tanning.", "Such a composition is meant to include product that may be applied, and preferably, is applied to skin which is dry.", "The HIPE used in the method of this invention (when comprising active) preferably makes up at least about 70% by weight of the total weight of the topical composition.", "It is, however, within the scope of the invention for the HIPE to make up to 100% of the cosmetically acceptable carrier used in the topical composition.", "Free water to create a hydrophilic surface means typically from about 20 to about 90%, and preferably, from about 35 to about 80% of the water, (based on total amount of water), in the topical composition exits to the surface to create a hydrophilic surface.", "Skin, as used herein, is meant to include skin on the face, neck, chest, back, arms, hands, legs, buttocks and scalp (including hair).", "Steric stabilizer, as used herein, means an ingredient like a polymer (including elastomer) that prevents coalescence of water thereby stabilizing the HIPE.", "Active and skin benefit agent are meant to mean the same, and thus, may be used interchangeably, where the same include an ingredient that improves a skin characteristic, including a sunless tanning agent like dihydroxyacetone.", "Depletion stabilizer is meant to mean an agent that stabilizes the topical composition by surrounding water droplets.", "Non-emulsifying elastomer is defined to mean a siloxane from which polyoxyalkylene units are absent.", "Contact angle, as used herein, means the angle a water droplet makes on the surface of the topical composition taken before and immediately after shearing as determined with a Kruss OCA-20 Ganiometer.", "Unless explicitly stated otherwise, all ranges described herein are meant to include all ranges subsumed therein.", "The term comprises is meant to encompass the terms consisting essentially of and consisting of: Furthermore, unless defined otherwise, the amount of polymer or elastomer used means the amount of cross-linked polymer and carrier oil added as a mixture whereby the cross-linked polymer typically makes up from about 10 to about 35% by weight of the mixture, including all ranges subsumed therein.", "Viscosity, as used herein, means a fluid's internal resistance to flow taken, unless stated otherwise, at a shear rate of 1 S −1 at ambient temperature with a strain controlled parallel plate rheometer (like those sold by T.A. Instruments under the Ares name).", "Results described herein are based on applying topical composition, with shear, to create a film of composition that is from about 20 to about 45 microns thick.", "Applying with shear (i.e., shearing) means rubbing on an identified area of skin at a rate from about 100 to about 10,000 1/second, and preferably, from about 300 to about 8,000 1/second.", "Wet-feeling sensation means feeling as if towel drying is necessary at a point after application is complete.", "DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT There is no limitation with respect to the type of emulsifier that may be used in this invention other than that the emulsifier is suitable for use in a HIPE which may be used in an end use composition suitable for topical application.", "Such emulsifier often has an HLB of less than about 9, preferably less than about 7, and most preferably, less than about 5.", "Illustrative examples of the type of emulsifier that may be used in this invention include those generally classified as polyether modified silicone surfactants like PEG/PPG-20/22 butyl ether dimethicone, PEG-3 dimethicone, PEG-9 methyl ether dimethicone, PEG-10 dimethicone, mixtures thereof or the like.", "The emulsifiers are made available from suppliers like Shin-Etsu and sold under the names KF-6012, KF-6015, KF-6016, and KF-6017, respectively.", "Another emulsifier suitable for use is DC5225C made commercially available by Dow Corning.", "In an often preferred embodiment, the emulsifier used in this invention is PEG-10 dimethicone, KF-6017, DC5225C or a mixture thereof.", "Typically, the emulsifier makes up from about 0.5 to about 12%, and preferably, from about 0.8 to about 10%, and most preferably, from about 1 to about 5% by weight of the HIPE, based on total weight of HIPE and including all ranges subsumed therein.", "The steric stabilizer that may be used in this invention to prevent coalescence of water and to stabilize the HIPE used in the composition and method of this invention is preferably an elastomer.", "Such a steric stabilizer is one which preferably has a refractive index of greater than about 1.4 at 25° C. Moreover, the steric stabilizer is often a cross-linked elastomer (such as a polyether and/or polyglycerine cross-linked silicone elastomer) where the cross-linking group preferably has a chain length from about 8 to about 26 carbon atoms.", "Often preferred steric stabilizers suitable for use in this invention are cross-linked dimethicone elastomers like Dimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer in Dimethicone (KSG-210 or KSG-240), Dimethicone Polyglycerin-3 Crosspolymer in Dimethicone (KSG-710), mixtures thereof or the like.", "Such steric stabilizers are made commercially available, and especially, from suppliers like Shin-Etsu.", "Typically, the amount of steric stabilizer (i.e., including carrier) employed is from about 0.1 to about 25%, and preferably, from about 0.5 to about 15%, and most preferably, from about 2.5 to 6%, based on total weight of the HIPE and including all ranges subsumed therein.", "In a preferred embodiment, the steric stabilizer used in this invention is KSG-210 or a derivative or mimic thereof.", "The HIPE used in the method and composition of the present invention further comprises a depletion stabilizer which often is an alkyl modified cross-linked silicone elastomer (such as a polyether and/or polyglycerine cross-linked silicone elastomer) where the cross-linking group preferably has a chain length from about 8 to about 26 carbon atoms.", "Illustrative examples of the types of depletion stabilizer suitable for use in this invention include PEG-15/Lauryl Dimethicone Crosspolymer in Mineral Oil (KSG-310), PEG-15/Lauryl Dimethicone Crosspolymer and Isododecane (KSG-320), PEG-15/Lauryl Dimethicone Crosspolymer in Triethylhexanoin (KSG-330), PEG-10/Lauryl Dimethicone Crosspolymer and PEG 15/Lauryl Dimethicone Crosspolymer in Squalane (KSG-340), Lauryl/Dimethicone/Polyglycerine-3 Crosspolymer in Triethylhexanoin (KSG-830), Lauryl Dimethicone/Polyglycerine-3 Crosspolymer in Squalene (KSG-840), mixtures thereof or the like.", "When used, the amount of depletion stabilizer (including carrier) employed is typically from about 0.25 to about 20%, and preferably, from about 0.5 to about 15%, and most preferably, from about 2 to about 5% by weight, based on total weight of HIPE and including all ranges subsumed therein.", "In a preferred embodiment, the weight ratio of depletion stabilizer to stearic stabilizer in the HIPE used in the method of this invention is from about 1:3 to about 3:1, and most preferably, from about 1:2 to about 2:1.", "In a most especially preferred embodiment, the amount of steric stabilizer used is equal to from about 1.1 to about 1.7, and preferably, from about 1.2 to about 1.5 times the amount by weight of depletion stabilizer used in the HIPE, including all ranges subsumed therein.", "Oil suitable for use in the HIPE used in this invention is limited only to the extent that the same can be used in a composition that may be topically applied.", "The oil used in the HIPE is preferably silicon-based, and particularly, one classified as dimethicone (DMF-A6cs), a cyclodimethicone such as a D4, D5, or D6 or a mixture thereof whereby such oils are commercially available from suppliers like Shin-etsu.", "Other preferred oils suitable for use include dimethicone-based oils having a viscosity from about 3 cps to about 100 cps at ambient temperature and as determined on a Ubbelohde Viscometer.", "Such oils may be used alone or in combination with other oils suitable for use in topical compositions, like mineral oil and/or paraffin oil.", "The oil within the HIPE used in the method and composition of this invention typically makes up from about 0.5 to about 23%, and preferably, from about 5 to about 18%, and most preferably, from about 10 to about 15% by weight of the HIPE, based on total weight of the HIPE and including all ranges subsumed therein.", "In an especially preferred embodiment, less than about 60%, and preferably, less than about 50%, and most preferably, from about 2 to about 35% by weight of the total oil in the HIPE used in this invention is provided as carrier with elastomer.", "The non-emulsifying elastomer that may be used in this invention is one which is suitable for use in a composition that may be applied topically.", "Illustrative non-limiting examples of the types of non-emulsifying elastomers that may be used in this invention include those that have an average number (Mn) molecular weight in excess of 2,000, preferably, in excess of 5,000, and most preferably, in the range from about 10,000 to about 20 million, including all ranges subsumed therein.", "The term “non-emulsifying”", "defines a siloxane from which polyoxyalkylene units are absent.", "Often, the elastomers are formed from a divinyl compound which has at least two free vinyl groups, reacting with Si—H linkages of a polysiloxane backbone.", "Such elastomer compositions are commercially available under the proposed CTFA name of Cyclomethicone and Vinyl Dimethicone Methicone Cross Polymer, delivered as 20-35% elastomer in a cyclomethicone carrier.", "A related elastomer composition under the CTFA name of Crosslinked Stearyl Methyl Dimethyl Siloxane Copolymer is available as Gransil SR-CYC (25-35% elastomer in a cyclomethicone carrier) from Grant Industries, Inc., Elmwood Park, N.J. The commercial products are typically further processed by subjecting them to a high pressure (approximately 5,000 psi) treatment in a Sonolator with recycling in 10 to 60 passes.", "Sonolation achieves a resultant fluid with elastomer average particle size ranging from 0.2 to 10 micron, preferably 0.5 to 5 micron.", "Viscosity is preferred often when ranging between 300 and 20,000 cps at 25° C., as measured by a Brookfield LV Viscometer (size 4 bar, 60 rpm, 15 sec).", "In an especially preferred embodiment, a most desired non-emulsifying elastomer is a cyclomethicone/dimethicone cross-polymer made commercially available by suppliers like Dow Chemical under the name DC9045, and Shin-Etsu under the name KSG-15 elastomer (with about 5-12% by weight cross-linked polymer in a cyclomethicone carrier).", "Typically, the amount of non-emulsifying elastomer (including carrier), used in the HIPE of this invention is from about 1.5 to about 18%, and preferably, from about 2 to about 10%, and most preferably, from about 3 to about 8% by weight, based on total weight of the HIPE and including all ranges subsumed therein.", "The topical composition comprising the HIPE and used in the method of the present invention typically further comprises actives or skin benefit agents suitable for addition to the water phase of the HIPE (i.e., water soluble actives).", "Such actives include self-tanning compounds like dihydroxyacetone (DHA), vitamins (especially, niacinamide), vitamin C and its water soluble derivatives, ammonium salts such as those classified as hydroxypropyltri(C 1 -C 3 alkyl)ammonium salts, substituted ureas, water soluble resorcinols (including those esterified with, for example, ferulic acid, vanillic acid or the like), 12-hydroxystearic acid, moisturizers like sugar derivatives, natural extracts, mixtures thereof or the like.", "Illustrative sugar derivatives that may be used include alkylated versions of glucose, sucrose, galactose, xylose, ribose, fructose or mannose, or the like or a mixture thereof.", "The often preferred sugar derivative is methylglucose.", "The natural extracts that may be used include, for example, extract of pea, kudzu, yarrow, cucumber, comfrey, chamomile, or a mixture thereof.", "The ammonium salts which may be used can be obtained from a variety of synthetic procedures, most particularly by hydrolysis of chlorohydroxypropyl tri(C 1 -C 3 alkyl)ammonium salts.", "A most preferred species of ammonium salt is 1,2-dihydroxypropyltrimonium chloride, wherein the C 1 -C 3 alkyl is a methyl group.", "Ordinarily the C 1 -C 3 alkyl constituent on the quaternized ammonium group used will be methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl or hydroxethyl and mixtures thereof.", "Particularly preferred is a trimethyl ammonium group known through INCI nomenclature as a “trimonium”", "group.", "Any anion can be used in the quat salt.", "The anion may be organic or inorganic with proviso that the material is cosmetically acceptable.", "Typical inorganic anions are halides, sulfates, phosphates, nitrates and borates.", "Most preferred are the halides, especially chloride.", "Organic anionic counter ions include methosulfate, tolyoyl sulfate, acetate, citrate, tartrate, lactate, gluconate, and benzenesulfonate.", "Illustrative examples of the types of substituted ureas that may be used in this invention include hydroxymethyl urea, hydroxyethyl urea, hydroxypropyl urea;", "bis(hydroxymethyl)urea;", "bis(hydroxyethyl)urea;", "bis(hydroxypropyl)urea;", "N,N′-di-hydroxymethyl urea;", "N,N′-di-hydroxyethyl urea;", "N,N′-di-hydroxypropyl urea;", "N,N,N′-tri-hydroxyethyl urea;", "tetra(hydroxymethyl)urea;", "tetra(hydroxyethyl)urea;", "tetra(hydroxypropyl)urea;", "N-methyl-N′-hydroxyethyl urea;", "N-ethyl-N′-hydroxyethyl urea;", "N-hydroxypropyl-N′-hydroxyethyl urea and N,N′-dimethyl-N-hydroxyethyl urea.", "Where the term hydroxypropyl appears, the meaning is generic for either 3-hydroxy-n-propyl, 2-hydroxy-n-propyl, 3-hydroxy-i-propyl or 2-hydroxy-i-propyl radicals.", "Most preferred is hydroxyethyl urea.", "The latter is available as a 50% aqueous liquid from the National Starch &", "Chemical Division of ICI under the trademark Hydrovance.", "Other actives suitable for use in the water phase of the HIPE used in the method of this invention include alpha- and/or beta-hydroxycarboxylic acids, as well as antioxidants.", "When hydroxycarboxylic acids are employed, they preferably include α-hydroxyethanoic acid, α-hydroxypropanoic acid, α-hydroxyhexanoic acid, α-hydroxyoctanoic acid, α-hydroxydecanoic acid, α-hydroxydodecanoic acid, α-hydroxytetradecanoic acid, α-hydroxyhexadecanoic acid, γ-hydroxyoctadecanoic acid, α-hydroxyeicosanoic acid, α-hydroxydocosanoic acid, α-hydroxyhexacosanoic acid, α-hydroxyoctacosanoic acid, salts thereof, mixtures thereof or the like.", "Antioxidants suitable for use include diadzein, genistein, gallic acid, epicatechin, epigallacatechin, epicatechin-3-gallate, epigallocatechin-3-gallate, mixtures thereof or the like.", "Even other actives may be combined in the topical compositions with the HIPE of the present invention (as actives or co-actives within the water phase and/or oil phase).", "For example, the topical compositions prepared with the HIPE used in the method of this invention may optionally contain a humectant.", "Suitable humectants are polyhydric alcohols intended for moisturizing, reducing scaling and stimulating removal of built-up scale from the skin.", "Typical polyhydric alcohols include polyalkylene glycols and more preferably glycerol (or glycerine), alkylene polyols and their derivatives.", "Illustrative are propylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, polypropylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, sorbitol, hydroxypropyl sorbitol, hexylene glycol, 1,3-butylene glycol, 1,2,6-hexanetriol, ethoxylated glycerin, propoxylated glycerin and mixtures thereof.", "Most preferably the humectant is glycerin.", "Amounts of humectant may range (if used) anywhere from about 0.01 to 20%, preferably from about 0.01 to about 15%, optimally from about 0.75 to about 12% by weight of the end use composition.", "In yet another preferred embodiment, glycerin is used in the HIPE, either alone or in a mixture with DHA.", "Still other illustrative additives suitable for use in the compositions used in the method of this invention include resorcinols, retinoids, including retinoic acid, retinal and retinyl esters as well as conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) and/or petroselinic acid, including derivatives thereof.", "CLA isomers of the greatest interest in the present invention are cis 9, trans 11-linoleic acid and trans 10, cis 12-linoleic acid.", "Hereinafter the term “9,11-linoleic”", "or “10,12-linoleic”", "shall mean preferentially these two main isomers, but will include lesser amounts of the remaining isomers, particularly when obtained or derived from a natural source.", "In accordance with the present invention, 9,11-linoleic acid and 10,12-linoleic acid may be formulated into the HIPE of this invention either as the free acid, as individual chemical derivatives, or as combinations of the free acid and derivative.", "By “c9, t11, and 10, c12 isomer enriched CLA”", "is meant that at least 30% by weight of the total CLA (and/or CLA moieties) that may be present in the HIPE is in the form of the cis 9, trans 11 and trans 10, c is 12 isomers.", "Preferably, and when used, at least 40%, most preferably at least 50%, by weight of the total CLA and/or CLA moieties present in the HIPE, is in the form of the aforementioned isomers.", "Commercially, CLA is available as Clarinol® A-80 and A-95 from Loders-Croklaan, Channahon, Ill.", "and Neobee® CLA 80 and 90 from Stepan, North Field, Ill.", "Typically, the amount of active or skin benefit agent used in the water phase of the HIPE of this invention is, collectively, from about 0.5 to less than about 30%, and preferably, from about 1 to about 25%, and most preferably, from about 1.5 to about 7%, based on total weight of the HIPE and including all ranges subsumed therein.", "An often preferred active used in the method of this invention is DHA.", "Water will typically make up the balance of the HIPE, and should make up at least about 73% (when no active is present) to typically no more than about 96% by weight of the HIPE, including all ranges subsumed therein.", "Preservatives may also be incorporated into the topical compositions used in this invention to protect against the growth of potentially harmful microorganisms.", "While it is in the aqueous phase that microorganisms tend to grow, microorganisms can also reside in the oil phase.", "As such, preservatives which have solubility in both water and oil are preferably employed in the end use compositions described herein.", "Suitable traditional preservatives are alkyl esters of para-hydroxybenzoic acid.", "Other preservatives which have more recently come into use include hydantoin derivatives, propionate salts, and a variety of quaternary ammonium compounds.", "Cosmetic chemists are familiar with appropriate preservatives and routinely choose them to satisfy the preservative challenge test and to provide product stability.", "Particularly preferred preservatives are methyl paraben, propyl paraben, imidazolidinyl urea, sodium dehydroxyacetate and benzyl alcohol.", "The preservatives should be selected having regard for the use of the HIPE and possible incompatibilities between the preservatives and other ingredients in the emulsion.", "Preservatives are preferably employed in amounts ranging from 0.01% to 2% by weight of the topical composition.", "Conventional thickeners may optionally be used in the topical compositions used in the method of this invention.", "Illustrative examples include those commercially sold under the names Aristoflex® AVC (acryloyl dimethyltaurate/vinyl pyrrolidone copolymer), Sepigel®305 (polyacrylaamide/C 13-14 isoparrafin/laureth-7), Simulgel®EG (sodium acrylate/sodium acryloyidimethyl taurate copolymer/isohexadecane/polysorbate 80), Carbopol 934 (crosslinked polyacrylate), Stabylen®30 (acrylates/vinyl isodecanoate crosspolymer) mixtures thereof or the like.", "The preferred thickener is Aristoflex®AVC made commercially available by Clairiant Corporation.", "Typically, when employed, the thickener makes up from about 0.01 to about 5.0% by weight of the topical composition, including all ranges subsumed therein.", "Sunscreens may be used (in any desirable combination) in the compositions used in the method of this invention and they include those materials commonly employed to block ultraviolet light.", "Illustrative compounds Avobenzene, available as Parsol 1789®, ethylhexyl-p-methoxycinnamate, available as Parsol MCX®, and benzophenone-3, also known as Oxybenzone.", "Inorganic sunscreen actives may be employed such as microfine titanium dioxides, polyethylene and various other polymers.", "The exact amount of sunscreen employed in the compositions can vary depending upon the degree of protection desired from the sun's UV radiation.", "Even other optional actives may be used with the topical compositions used in this invention and they include physical scatterers (like TiO 2 and/or ZnO), chelators (like EDTA), microspheres (e.g., polyethylene based spheroids sold under the name CL-2080;", "ethylene and methacrylate based spheroids sold under the names SPCAT-12 and DSPCS-12, respectively, made available by Kobo Industries), anti-inflammatory agents (including the standard steroidal and non-steroidal types), and dispersants (e.g., PEG-100 stearate and/or NaCl).", "When cosmetically acceptable carriers are desired in the topical compositions used in this invention (acting as co-carriers with the HIPE) such carriers may be selected from hydrocarbons, fatty acids, fatty alcohols and esters.", "Petrolatum is the most preferred hydrocarbon type of emollient conditioning agent.", "Other hydrocarbons that may be employed include mineral oil, polyolefins such as polydecene, and paraffins such as isohexadecane (e.g., Permethyl 99® and Permethyl 101®).", "Fatty acids and alcohols suitable for use as carriers often have from 10 to 30 carbon atoms.", "Illustrative of this category are pelargonic, lauric, myristic, palmitic, steric, isosteric, hydroxysteric, oleic, linoleic, ricinoleic, arachidic, behenic and erucic acids and alcohols.", "Oily ester emollients suitable for use as cosmetically acceptable carriers in topical compositions used in the method of this invention can be those selected from one or more of the following classes: 1.", "Triglyceride esters such as vegetable and animal fats and oils.", "Examples include castor oil, cocoa butter, safflower oil, cottonseed oil, corn oil, olive oil, cod liver oil, almond oil, avocado oil, palm oil, sesame oil, squalene, Kikui oil and soybean oil.", "Acetoglyceride esters, such as acetylated monoglycerides.", "Ethoxylated glycerides, such as ethoxylated glyceryl monostearate.", "Alkyl esters of fatty acids having 10 to 20 carbon atoms.", "Methyl, isopropyl, and butyl esters of fatty acids are useful herein.", "Examples include hexyl laurate, isohexyl laurate, isohexyl palmitate, isopropyl palmitate, decyl oleate, isodecyl oleate, hexadecyl stearate, decyl stearate, isopropyl isostearate, diisopropyl adipate, diisohexyl adipate, dihexyldecyl adipate, diisopropyl sebacate, lauryl lactate, myristyl lactate, and cetyl lactate.", "Alkenyl esters of fatty acids having 10 to 20 carbon atoms.", "Examples thereof include oleyl myristate, oleyl stearate, and oleyl oleate.", "Ether-esters such as fatty acid esters of ethoxylated fatty alcohols.", "Polyhydric alcohol esters.", "Ethylene glycol mono and di-fatty acid esters, diethylene glycol mono- and di-fatty acid esters, polyethylene glycol (200-6000) mono- and di-fatty acid esters, propylene glycol mono- and di-fatty acid esters, polypropylene glycol 2000 monooleate, polypropylene glycol 2000 monostearate, ethoxylated propylene glycol monostearate, glyceryl mono- and di-fatty acid esters, polyglycerol polyfatty esters, ethoxylated glyceryl monostearate, 1,2-butylene glycol monostearate, 1,2-butylene glycol distearate, polyoxyethylene polyol fatty acid ester, sorbitan fatty acid esters, and polyoxyethylene sorbitan fatty acid esters are satisfactory polyhydric alcohol esters.", "Wax esters such as beeswax, spermaceti, myristyl myristate, stearyl stearate.", "In a preferred embodiment the HIPE of this invention makes up at least about 70% by weight of the topical composition used, and most preferably, at least about 85 to about 96% by weight of the topical composition, including all ranges subsumed therein.", "Minor adjunct ingredients may also be included such as fragrances, antifoam agents, and colorants, each in their effective amounts to accomplish their respective functions.", "In a preferred embodiment, the topical compositions used in the present invention are substantially free (i.e., less than about 1.0% by weight) of non-emulsifying elastomer, and most preferably, free of non-emulsifying elastomer.", "When making the topical compositions used in the method of the present invention, the desired ingredients can be mixed in no particular order and usually at temperatures from about ambient to about 65° C. and under atmospheric pressure.", "In a preferred embodiment, however, water with water soluble active dissolved therein is added to oil, and the HIPE is made prior to adding cosmetically acceptable carriers (i.e., co-carriers).", "Typically mixing occurs at about moderate shear.", "The topical compositions prepared with the HIPE and used in the method of this invention preferably have an initial viscosity of less than about 6000 cps, and most preferably, from about 10 to about 4000 cps, including all ranges subsumed therein.", "The compositions used in the present invention typically have an initial (i.e., before application) water droplet diameter size from about 10 to about 100 microns (preferably from about 15 to about 65 microns) whereby after application to dry skin the same will unexpectedly have a water droplet diameter size reduction such that the final water droplet diameter size (i.e., the diameter of water droplets in the HIPE forming a portion of the topical compositions and during application) is unexpectedly from about 5 to about 20, and preferably, from about 8 to about 15 times smaller than the initial water droplet diameter size.", "Water droplet size may be measured, for example, by using confocal microscopy.", "In a most especially preferred embodiment, the topical compositions used in the method of the present invention have a Capillary Number greater than 1 and less than about 1.6.", "Such compositions have a contact angle of greater than about 90° before application.", "Immediately after application with shear and according to the method of this invention, the topical compositions employed will comprise a contact angle of less than about 70°, and preferably, between about 55 to about 70° as determined using a Kruss OCA-20 Ganiometer.", "The method of this invention unexpectedly results in compositions with a hydrophobic exterior having a hydrophilic surface during application to dry skin.", "The same is surprisingly achieved as water exits the HIPE of the topical composition during application and rests or congregates on the surface of the composition applied to skin.", "Surprisingly, therefore, the subsequent addition of composition to dry skin having topical composition applied thereon causes new composition with a hydrophic exterior to slide or slip over composition already having been applied and with a hydrophilic surface.", "Such an unexpected result allows for even application of water soluble actives as well as homogeneous results on skin and less topical composition being used since over application is prevented.", "Moreover, the compositions of the present invention lose (e.g., via evaporation/drying) from about 45 to about 75% by weight of their total water within about 200 seconds from application yet retain from about 15 to about 50% by weight of their total water after about 600 seconds from application.", "Such a result (i.e., rapid drying with water retention) allows for excellent distribution of active in the absence of a wet-feeling sensation.", "The packaging for the compositions used in the method of this invention is not limited and often is a bottle, tube, roll-ball applicator, squeeze container or lidded jar.", "The following examples are provided to facilitate an understanding of the present invention.", "The examples are not intended to limit the scope of the claims.", "EXAMPLE 1 Topical compositions comprising HIPE and suitable for sunless tanning were prepared by combining the following ingredients under moderate shear.", "Ingredient Percent by Weight Glycerin 4-12 Dihydroxyacetone 2.5 Thickener (Aristoflex AVC) 0-3 Dimethicone (Cyclic D5) 3-10 Silicone oil (DMF A-6cs) 1-4 Emulsifier (DC5225C) 1-3 Steric stabilizer (KSG 210) 1-3 Depletion stabilizer (KSG 340) 1-2 Non-emulsifying elastomer (KSG 15) 2-6 Microspheres (CL 2080) 2-5 Water Balance EXAMPLE 2 The compositions prepared in Example 1 were topically applied to forearms of panelists.", "Commercially available sunless tanning products (controls comprising oil-in-water emulsion) were also applied for bilateral comparisons.", "All panelists concluded that the topical composition applied and made according to this invention perceptually dried faster and overall resulted in a better skin feel when compared to the controls.", "EXAMPLE 3 The compositions prepared in Example 1 were topically applied to the forearms of panelists as were commercially available sunless tanning products similar to those described in Example 2.", "Assessment of usage revealed that about 10 to about 20% less product made according to this invention was needed to adequately cover skin, a result of the hydrophilic surface created during application of the product of this invention and the slip affect created by applying additional composition having an oil-based (i.e., hydrophobic) exterior.", "EXAMPLE 4 The drying profile of the topical compositions made in Example 1 (applied according to this invention) were compared to commercially available sunless tanning products as described in Example 1.", "The profile was determined by spreading and shearing, with a doctor blade, composition on a slide (about 25 microns thick) and weighing the slide over time.", "The results in the table demonstrate that the topical compositions comprising HIPE and applied according to this invention dried faster yet retained more water than commercially available sunless tanning products.", "The data shows that water remains in the composition of this invention for effective active functioning notwithstanding the fact that the composition dries faster to prevent a consumer perceived wet-feeling sensation.", "TABLE Percent reduction in composition weight over time (seconds) Composition 0 100 sec 200 sec 400 sec 600 sec 1* — 51% 65% 68% 71% 2* — 37% 54% 59% 61% 3* — 31% 46% 53% 55% Control** — 13% 24% 40% 51% Control*** — 16% 29% 48% 71% *Compositions made consistent with this invention.", "**Olay ® water-in-oil sunless tanning product with DHA.", "***Olay ® oil-in-water sunless tanning product with DHA." ]

[ "This is a continuation of application Ser.", "No. 07/804,739, filed Dec. 11, 1991, which is a continuation of application Ser.", "No. 07/183,401, filed Apr. 8, 1988, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,148,526, which is a continuation of application Ser.", "No. 06/694,126, filed Jan. 23, 1985, now abandoned.", "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a data processing system having a buffer memory, and particularly to a system which is suited for a microprocessor which supports a memory mapped I/O system, a multi-processor having a common memory, and the like.", "In microcomputers, a memory mapped I/O system has heretofore been widely used to control the input/output device by accessing an input/output control register in the same address space as the main memory using general instructions, without providing special instructions to control the input/output device.", "FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a memory mapped I/O system, wherein a processor 1 controls a main memory 2 and input/output control circuits 3, 5 for respective I/O devices 4, 6 via a system bus 100.", "Inherent addresses are assigned to the main memory 2, and to the input/output control circuits 3, 5 respectively.", "Values stored in control registers (not shown) in the input/output control circuits 3, 5 are rewritten by the processor 1, and input/output devices 4, 6 are controlled by the new value in the control registers.", "Further, when their own statuses are changed, the input/output devices 4, 6 rewrite the values stored in the status registers (not shown) in the input/output control circuits 3, 5.", "When the contents of the main memory 2 are to be rewritten in response to a store instruction, the processor 1 applies to the system bus 100 a write address assigned to the main memory 2, data to be written and a write command.", "When the contents of the main memory are to be read out in response to a load instruction, a read address assigned to the main memory 2 and a read command are applied to the system bus 100, and the data sent from the main memory 2 to the system bus 100 is received by the processor 1 as read data.", "The input/output device 4 starts to operate when a start bit in a control register (not shown) in the input/output control circuit 3 is turned on.", "For instance, when the store instruction is to be executed for the control register and an inherent address for the control register is used as the write address of the store instruction, the input/output device 4 starts to operate.", "On the other hand, to detect the completion of operation of the input/output device 4, the status register (not shown) in the input/output control circuit 3 is read out by the above-mentioned load instruction, and the operation completion bit of the status register is checked to see whether it is on or off.", "When the operation completion bit is on, other bits of the status register are checked to detect the condition of completion, such as normal completion or abnormal completion.", "Using the memory mapped I/O system, as mentioned above, the input/output device can be controlled in a sophisticated manner using general instructions, without the need of providing special input/output instructions, The microprocessor is often provided with a cache (buffer memory) to improve performance.", "However, a problem arises, as described below with reference to FIG. 2, if use is made of a system in which a cache is incorporated into the aforementioned memory mapped I/O system.", "FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a system using a cache (buffer memory) in a memory mapped I/O system.", "In FIG. 2, the processor 1 consists of a central processing unit (CPU) 10 for executing instructions, and a cache 11 which stores addresses for referring to the main memory 2 as well as data stored in the regions of the main memory indicated by the addresses.", "If now it is requested by the CPU 10 to refer to the data in regions of the main memory 2 to effect instruction fetching or data reading, the cache 11 is first checked.", "When the desired data is found in the cache 11, the data of the cache 11 is sent to the CPU 10 thereby to complete the reading of the data or instruction.", "However, when the data is not found in the cache 11, the corresponding data is read from the main memory 2 via the system bus 100.", "The data which is read out is sent to the CPU 10, and at the same time is stored in the cache 11 along with the read addresses thereof.", "When data is to be written into the main memory 2 from the CPU 10, the write data and the write addresses produced from the CPU 10 are sent to the main memory 2 via the system bus 100, and the corresponding write data is written into the main memory 2.", "At the same time, the write data and the write addresses are also stored in the cache 11.", "The cache 11 has an access speed which is faster than that of the main memory 2.", "Therefore, since the data in the main memory 2 that is once read out or written also has been stored in the cache 11, the access time for such data can be reduced when reference is made again to the same data by obtaining the data from the cache 11.", "However, we recently noticed that a problem will arise as described below when reference is made to the status register (not shown) in the input/output control circuit 3 or 5 in a system of the memory mapped I/O type when a cache is added to the processor.", "It is assumed that the processor 1 executes a program which checks the status register (not shown), and waits for the completion of operation of the input/output device 4.", "As the CPU 10 makes reference to the status register in the input/output control circuit 3, the value stored in the status register is sent to the CPU 10 and is also stored in the cache 11.", "The CPU 10 checks the completion bit of the status register.", "When the completion bit is on, the operation should proceed to the next program instructions.", "When the completion bit is off, the status register should be read repetitively and the completion bit checked repetitively.", "When an instruction to read the status register is executed for the second and subsequent times, however, the value stored in the cache 11 is sent back to CPU 10 as the data of the status register.", "Therefore, even when the input/output operation of the input/output device 4 is completed, and the completion bit of the status register in the input/output control circuit 3 is turned on, the processor 1 is not capable of detecting this fact, because it is looking at old data stored in the cache 11.", "We further noticed that there also arises a problem that when it is attempted to read out the contents of the status register, the value of the control register is read out instead, in the case when the control register and the status register are allocated to different bits of the same register with the same address, or in the case when the control register and the status register are allocated to the same address, the control register is accessed at the time of writing the data, and the status register is accessed at the time of reading the data.", "This is because the value written into the control register has been stored in the cache 11 and, when an instruction to read the status register is executed, the data stored in the cache 11 for the control register is read out.", "Described below is a problem which we noticed is apt to develop in transferring a message between the buffer memory and the processors in a multiprocessor system in which a plurality of processors are coupled to disperse the load.", "A system which performs the processing by transferring messages between two processors is described below with reference to the block diagrams of FIGS. 3 and 4.", "FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a system which consists of processors 1 and 7, local memories 2 and 2'", "provided exclusively for these processors, and a main memory 8 for communicating the message between processors via the buses 100 and 101.", "Usually, each of the processors 1 and 7 performs processing using its own local memory 2 or 2'.", "When the processor 1 requests the processor 7 to perform processing, however, the processor 1 writes the processing to be done and data necessary for the processing into predetermined regions of the main memory 8, and then interrupts the processor 7.", "Wnen interrupted, the processor 7 reads the contents of the memory 8, and performs the processing that is requested.", "When the processing is finished, the processor 7 writes the results into the memory 8 to inform the processor 1, and interrupts the processor 1.", "Then, the processor 7 resumes the previous processing.", "Being interrupted by the processor 7, the processor 1 takes out the processed results from the memory 8, and continues processing.", "When the processing requested to the processor 7 is being executed, the processor 1 carries out other processing using the local memory 2.", "FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a system in which the two processors 1 and 7 are connected to a common system bus 100 to commonly use the main memory 2.", "These processors access the main memory 2 independently from each other.", "However, when one processor is accessing the main memory 2, the other processor is so controlled that its request for access remains on standby.", "According to this system, messages between the processors are communicated using a particular region of the main memory 2.", "Namely, this system is the same as the system shown in FIG. 3, except that the region for writing the message is a particular region in the main memory 2.", "In these two systems, if the processors 1 and 7 are provided with general buffer memories 11 and 71, a problem arises as described below.", "That is, when, for example, the processor 1 writes the data in a region for communicating the message, the value of the cache 11 possessed by the processor 1 is renewed as the data is written.", "However, the value of the same address is not renewed even when it has been stored in the buffer memory 71 of the processor 7.", "Accordingly, even when the processor 7 accessses the message region, the data of the buffer memory 71 is read out, and the message of the processor 1 is not correctly received.", "SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention was accomplished to solve the above-mentioned problems, and its object is to provide a data processing system such as a system having microprocessors in a memory mapped I/O system, multiprocessor system, or the like systems, which is capable of accessing the data without inconsistency even when cache memories are provided to improve performance.", "In order to attain this purpose, a detect circuit is provided in a system such as an I/O mapped microcomputer system in order to detect whether or not an access address for a read accesss request generated by a central processing unit (CPU) corresponds to an area (such as a status register in the above-mentioned microcomputer system) which is accesible by another processing device, such as an I/O device, within the entire storage area (such as a main storage and the status register) which is accessible by the central processing system.", "If data to be fetched from an instruction executed by the central processing unit is not found in a cache memory, the data is fetched from the entire storage area.", "A write circuit is provided which writes the fetched data into the cache memory when the detect circuit shows that the access address does not correspond to the area accesible by the other processing device within the entire storage area, but otherwise the write circuit does not write the fetched data into the cache memory.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a prior art system based upon the memory mapped I/O system;", "FIG. 2 is a block diagram which illustrates a problem which arises in a memory mapped I/O system in which a cache memory is employed;", "FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a prior art system based upon the multiprocessor system having a common memory;", "FIG. 4 is a block diagram of another prior art system based upon the multiprocessor system having a common memory;", "FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a system according to an embodiment of the present invention;", "FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram of a cache memory shown in FIG. 5;", "FIG. 7 is a diagram of a cache memory control circuit of FIG. 5;", "FIG. 8 is a diagram of a read/write control circuit of FIG. 5;", "FIG. 9 is a diagram of an input/output control circuit of FIG. 5;", "FIG. 10 is a diagram of a common memory control circuit shown in FIG. 5;", "FIG. 11 is a diagram of a main memory control circuit shown in FIG. 5;", "FIG. 12 is a diagram of a memory management unit of FIG. 5;", "FIG. 13 is an address map used in the system of FIG. 5;", "and FIG. 14 is a diagram showing another system according to another embodiment of the present system.", "DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT An embodiment of the present invention will be described below in detail in conjunction with FIGS. 5 to 13.", "FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the structure of the whole system according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 6 to 12 are circuit diagrams of the blocks of FIG. 5. In FIG. 5, the system according to the present invention consists of a microprocessor 1 (hereinafter abbreviated as MPU), a memory management unit 9 (hereinafter abbreviated as MMU), a main memory 2, a common memory 8, an input/output control circuit 3, an input/output device 4, a system bus 100, another microprocessor 1A (hereinafter abbreviated as MPUX) that is connected to the system bus and a related memory management unit 9A.", "The MPU 1 consists of a central processing unit (CPU) 10 which executes instructions, a cache memory 11, a cache memory control circuit 13, a read/write control circuit 14, and an OR gate 15.", "The MPU 1 is connected to the MMU 9 through an address signal line 116, a data signal line 122, a read signal line 125, a write signal line 110, a PURGE signal line 126, an ACK signal line 128, and an RMA signal line 127, and is further connectd to the system bus 100 through the data signal line 122, the read signal line 125, the write signal line 110, the ACK signal line 128 and the RMA signal line 127.", "Here, the ACK signal indicates the completion of an operation, and the RMA signal indicates whether the data can be written into the cache 11 or not.", "The MMU, which is an address translator for supporting a virtual storage system, converts a logical address provided by CPU 10 on line 116 into a physical address based upon an address translation table 90 which contains logical and physical address tables 901 and 902 and sends the physical address to the system bus 100 via an address signal line 129.", "The main memory 2 consists of a main memory control circuit 21 and a main memory unit 22, and is connected to the system bus 100 through a data signal line 152, an address signal line 159, a read signal line 155, a write signal line 154 and an ACK signal line 158.", "It is to be noted that an RMA signal line is not connected to the main memory 2.", "The main memory 2 stores instructions and data that are to be processed by the MPU1.", "The common memory 8 consists of a common memory control circuit 81 and a common memory unit 82, and is connected to the system bus 100 through a data signal line 142, an address signal line 149, a read signal line 145, a write signal line 144, an ACK signal line 148 and an RMA signal line 147.", "The common memory 8 stores data for communicating between the MPU 1 and the MPUX 1A, as well as instructions and data to be processed by the MPUX 1A.", "The input/output control circuit 3 is connected to the system bus 100 through a data signal line 132, an address signal line 139, a read signal line 135, a write signal line 134, an ACK signal line 138, and an RMA signal line 137, and controls the input/output device 4 via a signal line 130 to transfer the input/output data provided from or to said input/output device 4.", "In the system bus 100, all lines for the same signals such as the ACK signal lines 138, 148, 158 and the RMA signal line 137, 147 from various devices are provided with a wired OR connection, respectively.", "The ACK signal line 128 or the RMA signal line 127 connected to the MPU 1 is enabled when the ACK signal or RMA signal are turned on by either one of the MMU 9, the main memory 2, the common memory 8 or the input/output control circuit 3.", "Conversely, the ACK signal line 128 or the RMA signal line 127 is turned off when all of the ACK signals or RMA signals from the above-mentioned devices are turned off.", "FIG. 13 shows an address map of the system of FIG. 5. The main memory 2 is assigned addresses from zero to a 1 -1, and the common memory 8 is assigned addresses a 1 to a 3 -1.", "The area of the addresses from a 2 to a 3 -1 with the common memory 8 is an area for communicating messages between the MPU 1 and the MPUX 1A.", "The status register 67, the control register 75, and the data register 77 are respectively assigned the addresses a 4 , a 5 and a 6 .", "The logical address table 901 and the physical address table 902 of the address translation table 90 within the MMU 9 are respectively assigned addresses a 7 to a 8 -1 and a 8 to a 9 -1.", "The general idea of the memory mapped I/O system will be explained briefly hereinafter, in case of an input/output device 4 comprised of a card reader.", "When card data is read, the input/output control circuit 3 writes data identifying an interrupt factor and interrupts the MPU 1.", "The line for providing the interrupt signal to MPU 1 is not shown in FIG. 5 for simplicity.", "MPU 1 starts a program to read the status register 67 and to analyze the interruption factor.", "When MPU 1 knows that the interrupt is due to reading of card data, it performs a program which reads the card data by way of the data register 77 and stores the data into the main memory 2.", "After all of the card data is written into the main memory 2, the MPU1 executes an instruction which writes a read OK bit into the control register 75 to allow reading of the next card by the card reader.", "Thereafter, the operation given above is repeated.", "It is to be noted that read-out of the status register 67 and writing into the control register 75 is performed in a quite similar way to the reading or writing in connection with the main memory 2, except for the difference in the associated addresses.", "Now explanation of the system in FIG. 5 is given.", "When the power supply is turned on and the circuit in FIG. 5 is reset, CPU 10 turns a reset signal line 113 on and instructs the cache control circuit 13 to clear the cache 11.", "The cache control circuit 13 turns the clear signal line 117 on to invalidate all of the contents stored in the cache 11.", "To read the data, the address for the data is produced by CPU 10 on the address signal line 116, and the read request signal line 111 is turned on.", "The data is read out onto the data line 115 from either one of the cache 11, the main memory 2, the common memory 8, or the control circuit 3.", "As will be explained in more detail below, the signal line 112 is turned on upon completion of reading or writing of the data.", "In response to this signal 112, CPU 10 receives the data on the signal line 115 as the read data, and discontinues the address signal on the line 116.", "Therefore, the read request signal line 111 is turned off, and the reading operation is completed.", "The cache 11 checks to see whether data for the read address produced on the address signal line 116 is held by the cache 11 or not, and turns the valid signal line 121 on when valid data is held and reads out the data from an associative memory 16 (FIG.", "6) inside the cache 11 onto an internal line 160 (FIG.", "6).", "In parallel with this, the cache control circuit 13 turns a switch control signal line 119 on when the read request signal line 111 and the valid signal line 121 are on, and controls switch 19 (FIG.", "6) inside the cache 11 so that the read out data is transferred from the the internal associative memory 16 to the data signal line 115 by way of the internal switch 19 (FIG.", "6).", "Meanwhile, when the read request signal line 111 is on and the valid signal line 121 is on, the read/write control circuit 14 renders the decision that the data is to be read from the cache 11, and turns the completion signal line 114 on thereby to turn on the completion signal line 112 by way of the OR gate 15, and informs the CPU 10 that the data read operation has been completed.", "Upon receipt of this completion signal 112, CPU 10 receives the data on the line 115, and finishes the reading operation.", "On the other hand, the valid signal 121 stays turned off when the corresponding data is not held by the cache 11.", "When the read request signal line 111 is on and the valid bit signal line 121 is off, the read/write control circuit 14 turns the read request signal line 125 on and provides the read request to the system bus 100, to read the data from outside MPU1.", "The logical address produced from the MPU 1 is converted by the MMU 9 into a physical address and the physical address is sent to the system bus 100 by way of the line 129.", "Responsive to the address signal and the read request signal, respectively, on the lines 159 and 155 connected to the system bus 100, the main memory control circuit 21 detects whether or not the address on the address line 159 connected to the system bus 100 is for the main memory 2, and when the detection result is affirmative, that is, when the address is within 0 to a 1 -1, the main memory control circuit 21 reads the corresponding data from the main memory unit 22 by sending the address and control signals by way of lines 900 and 920, and provides control so that the data is produced onto the data signal line 152, thereby to provide the data onto the line 122 by way of the bus 100.", "When the reading of data is completed, the main memory control circuit 21 turns the ACK signal line 158 on, thereby to turn on the ACK signal line 128 by way of the bus 100.", "Since the main memory control circuit 21 is constructed so as not to provide the RMA signal, the RMA signal line 127 remains off.", "The ACK signal line 128 is connected to the CPU 10 via OR gate 15 to provide to it the completion signal 112.", "At this moment, the cache control circuit 13 turns the switch signal line 119 off in response to the valid bit signal 121, and instructs the internal switch 19 (FIG.", "6) of the cache 11 that the data signal line 122 and the data signal line 115 are to be connected together, whereby the data which is read from the main memory unit 22 is transferred to the CPU 10.", "Under the condition that the ACK signal line 128 is turned on and the RMA signal line 127 is turned off, the cache control circuit 13 turns the write enable signal line 118 on and in response to the absence of the valid bit signal on line 121, the cache control circuit 13 turns on the signal line 120, and so indicates that the data which is read be stored in a new entry of the cache 11.", "Responsive to these two signals, the cache 11 erases one of the data that has been stored already, and stores the data that is read on the line 115 and an address thereof provided on the line 116 by CPU 10.", "Therefore, if it is requested to read the data based upon the same address later on, the data stored just now in the cache 11 is read out, instead of the data stored in the main memory 2.", "The input/output control circuit 3 also receives the read request signal on the line 125 and the address on the line 129, respectively, by way of lines 135 and 139, both connected to the system bus 100.", "The input/output control 3 detects whether or not the control register 75, the data register 77 or the status register 67 in the input/output control circuit 3 is to be read out, based upon the address signal 139 and the read request signal 135, and when the detection result is affirmative, that is, when the address is either one of a 4 , a 5 or a 6 , the data in the control register 75 or the status register 67 is sent to the data signal line 132, thereby to send the read out data to the data signal line 122 by way of the bus 100.", "At the same time, the input/output control circuit 3 turns the ACK signal line 138 and the RMA signal line 137 on, thereby it turns on the ACK signal line 128 and the RMA signal line 127, respectively, which are connected to the lines 138 and 137 by way of the system bus 100.", "Even if the read request signal line 111 is on and the ACK signal line 128 is on, the cache control circuit 13 does not turn the write enable signal 118 on if the RMA signal line 127 is on, and the data on the line 122 is not written into the cache 11.", "Since the valid signal 121 is off, the cache control circuit 13 keeps the switch control signal 119 turned off.", "Therefore, the internal switch 19 (FIG.", "6) of the cache 11 connects the data signal lines 122 and 115, thereby to allow the data read out of the control register 75 or the status register 67 to be transferrd to the CPU 10.", "As with the case of read-out from the main memory 2, the ACK signal 128 is transferred to the OR gate 15, thereby to provide the CPU 10 with the completion signal 112.", "A similar operation to that of the input/output control circuit 3 is performed by the common storage control circuit 81, which receives the address signal 129 and the read request signal 125, respectively, by way of the bus 100 and the line 149 and by way of the bus 100 and the line 145.", "The common memory 8 is divided into two regions, i.e., a region of addresses from a 2 to a 3 -1 for communicating messages between the MPU 1 and the MPUX 1A and a region of addresses a 1 to a 2 -1 for storing instructions and data that are to be processed by the MPUX 1A.", "The MPU 1 accesses only the region for communicating messages.", "When the common storage control 81 detects, based upon the address signal on the line 149 and the read request signal on the line 145, that the data is to be read from the region for communicating messages within the common memory 82, the common memory control circuit 81 performs the read operation to send the read out data onto the line 132, and turns the RMA signal line 147 and the ACK signal line 148 on.", "Like the aforementioned control register and the status register in the input/output control circuit 3, the data in the region for communicating messages is sent to CPU 10 but not stored in the cache 11 of MPU 1.", "If the MPUX 1A has been constructed in the same manner as the MPU 1, the data of the region for communicating messages can be accessed by MPUX 1A by way of the bus 100 in a similar way, and the accessed data is also not stored in the cache (not shown) of MPUX 1A.", "On the other hand, when the data in a region that stores instructions and data for the MPUX 1A is accessed by MPUX 1A, the common memory control circuit 81 turns the RMA signal 147 off.", "Therefore, the MPUX 1A writes the accessed data of that region into the cache (not shown) thereof, to execute the processing in the same manner as the main memory of MPU 1.", "This control operation is realized by providing the common memory control circuit 81 with a circuit which judges whether the address on the line 149 belongs to the region of the MPU 1 or to the region of the MPUX.", "In the multiprocessor system, therefore, the message can be communicated without developing an inconsistency between the cache 11 and the common memory 82.", "The above description has dealt with a multi-processor system employing two processors.", "It will, however, be easily understood that the same effects are obtained even when three or more processors are employed.", "Next, the access to the address translation table 90 in the MMU 9 will be explained.", "The read request signal 125 or the write request signal 110 is also provided to the MMU 9, as well as the logical address 116 and the data 122.", "The MMU 9 responds to the read or write request signals 125, 110 when the logical address 116 is within the address region assigned to the logical address table 901 or the region assigned to the physical address table 902, that is, in case of FIG. 13, the region of addresses from a 7 to a 8 -1 or from a 8 to a 9 -1.", "In this case, no address translation is performed by the MMU 9.", "In the case when the read request signal 125 is provided to the MMU 9, the data in either one of the two tables 901, 902 is read out onto the line 122, and the MMU 9 provides the ACK signal and the RMA signal, respectively, onto the lines 128 and 127.", "The ACK signal is transferred to the OR gate 15, to provide the completion signal 112 to the CPU 10.", "The cache control circuit 13 does not write the data on the line 122, because the signal RMA is provided to the control circuit 13, as was explained, for example, in connection with reading of data from the input/output control circuit 3.", "The cache 11 is controlled so as not to write any data within the table 90, as will be clear from the explanation below.", "Therefore, the valid bit signal 121 remains turned off even if the address 116 is applied to the cache 11.", "Therefore, the switch 19 (FIG.", "6) inside the cache 11 connects the line 115 to the line 122, thereby to enable the CPU 10 to receive the data read out of the address table 90.", "There will now be given an explanation of the operation which occurs when CPU 10 executes an instruction which requires writing of data into the main memory 2, the common memory 8, or the input/output control circuit 3.", "To write the data, the CPU 10 produces an address for writing the data on the address signal line 116, produces the write data on the data signal line 115, and turns the write request signal line 110 on.", "The data is written into the cache 11 and one of the main memory 2, the common memory 8 or the input/output control circuit 3.", "Upon completion of writing, the completion signal line 112 is turned on, as was done with the case of reading of data, the CPU 10 discontinues use of the address signal line 116 or the data signal line 115, and further turns the write request signal line 110 off.", "The operation for writing data will now be described in more detail.", "When the read signal 111 is not turned on, the cache control circuit 13 keeps the switch control signal 119 turned off, and so instructs the cache 11 that the data signal lines 115 and 122 are to be connected.", "Due to this instruction, the write data is transferred from CPU 10 to the system bus 100 by way of the lines 115 and 122 and to MMU 9.", "When the write request signal 110 is turned on, the read/write control circuit 14 sends the write request signal 110 to MMU 9 and to the system bus 100.", "Further, the address on the address signal line 116 is converted by the MMU 9, and is sent to the system bus 100.", "The main memory 2 is connected to the system bus 100 by way of the write request signal line 154.", "Responsive to the address signal 159 and the write request signal 154, the main memory control circuit 21 performs the same operation as the case of reading data except that it controls the main memory unit 22 in such a way that the data signal 152 is written into the corresponding address location of the main memory unit 22.", "That is, it turns the ACK signal 158 on when the write operation of data is completed.", "Therefore, the ACK signal 128 is turned on, and the completion signal 112 is provided to CPU 10 via the OR gate 15.", "The RMA signal 127 remains turned off.", "Even at the time of writing the data, the cache 11 checks to see whether or not the data of the logical address on the line 116 has been stored, and if the check result is affirmative, a valid bit signal is produced on the valid bit signal line 121.", "As the ACK signal 128 is turned on, the RMA signal line 127 is off, and the write request signal 110 is on, the cache control circuit 13 turns the write enable signal 118 on irrespective of the presence of the valid bit signal on the line 121.", "When the valid bit signal 121 is turned on, the cache control circuit 13 turns the signal 120 off, and operates to replace the data within the cache 11, at a location designated by the address on the line 116, by the data on the line 115.", "When the signal 121 remains turned off, however, the cache control circuit 13 turns the new entry write signal 120 on, and operates to erase one of the data that have been stored already, and to store the write address on the line 116 and the data on the line 115 at a location where the erased data was stored.", "When the data provided by CPU 10 is to be written into the control register 75, the data register 77 or the status register 67 in the input/output control circuit 3, the input/output control circuit 3 detects the presence of the request from the address signal 139 and the write signal 134 which is transferred from the line 125 by way of the bus 100.", "Then, the input/output control circuit 3 writes the data signal 132 into a designated register, and turns the ACK signal 138 and the RMA signal 137 on.", "Even when signal 110 becomes on and the ACK signal 128 is on, the cache control circuit 13 does not turn the write enable signal 118 on when the RMA signal 127 is on.", "Therefore, the address and data of the control register 75, the data register 77 or status register 67 in the input/output control circuit 3 are not written into the cache 11.", "In reading the data from or writing the data into the control register 75, the data register 77 or status register 67 in the input/output control circuit 3, the cache 11 checks to see whether the data has been stored therein.", "However, since no data of the three registers has been stored, the valid bit signal 121 is always turned off.", "When the data is to be read out, therefore, the data is read from the three registers and not from the cache 11.", "Accordingly, even when the cache is provided, the input and output of data can be controlled without developing an inconsistency in the memory mapped I/O system.", "When the data provided by the CPU is to be written into the region of the common memory unit 22 for communicating messages between the MPU 1 and the MPUX 1A, the common memory control circuit 81 responds to the address on the line 149 and the write request on the line 144, which is connected to the write request signal line 110 by way of the bus 100, and performs a similar operation to that for reading data from the common memory unit 8, except that the common memory control circuit 81 controls the common memory unit 82 so that the latter stores the data on the line 142.", "The operation of the cache 11 is the same as the case of writing of data into the input/output control circuit 3.", "Next will be explained the write operation to the MMU 9.", "In the case where the write request signal 110 is provided to the MMU 9, the data is written in either one of the two tables 901, 902, when the address on the line 116 falls within a region of a 7 to a 9 -1.", "Even in this case, the ACK signal and the RMA signal are generated as in the case of reading of the address translation table 90, so no writing is done to the cache 11.", "MMU 9 further generates a purge signal onto the line 126.", "Upon receipt of the purge signal 126, the cache control circuit 13 turns the clear signal 117 on, and invalidates all of the cache memories 11.", "Due to this invalidation, the relationship between the data at logical addresses in the cache 11 and the data at physical addresses in the memory is maintained.", "For instance, if it is presumed that the data at a logic address 100 is stored in the cache 11, and if this data which is read out and which corresponds to data at the physical address 1000 due to address conversion is caused to correspond to address 500 by rewriting the address conversion table, the data of physical address 1000 in the cache 11 is read out when the processor reads the data of address 100, resulting in the occurrence of an inconsistency.", "When the address conversion table is rewritten, the purge signal is produced to invalidate the cache 11, to prevent this problem.", "Internal circuits of major blocks of FIG. 5 will be described below in conjunction with FIGS. 6 to 10.", "FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram of the cache 11 which consists of an associative memory 16, a counter 17, an AND gate 18, and a switch 19.", "The associative memory 16 has plural entries each storing an address, data and a valid bit.", "When the clear signal 117 is turned on at an initial stage of the operation of the system, effective bits of the associative memory 16 are all turned off, and the memory is invalidated.", "When the presence of data within the cache 11 is to be checked, the associative memory 16 reads out a group of data and a valid bit of an entry storing an address that coincides with the address signal 116 on the internal signal lines 160 and 121, respectively.", "When there is no address that coincides, the signal 121 is turned off.", "When a write enable signal 118 is on, the associative memory 16 performs a write operation.", "If the new entry write signal 120 is off, the data signal 115 is written into a data field of an entry having an address stored that coincides with the address signal 116, and the valid bit of this entry is turned on.", "When the new entry signal 120 is on, the output of the AND gate 18 which responds to the write enable signal 118 and the new entry write signal 120 is turned on, and the counter 17 is incremented by +1.", "That is, when an address signal, data and a valid bit are to be stored in the associative memory 16, the counter 17 changes sequentially the entry that should be used for writing of that data.", "The switch 19 is a bidirectional one which connects the data signal line 160 and the data signal line 115 together when the switch control signal 119 is on, and which connects the data signal line 122 and the data signal line 115 together when the switch control signal 119 is off.", "FIG. 7 is a diagram of the cache control circuit 13 which consists of OR gates 51, 53, AND gates 52, 54, inverters 50, 220 and a latch circuit 55.", "The AND gates 52, the OR gate 53 and the inverter 50 produce the write enable signal 118 in response to the read request signal 111 or the write request signal 110, and in response to the ACK signal 128 and an inverted signal of the RMA signal 127, to instruct the cache 11 to perform a write operation.", "It is to be noted that the write enable signal 118 is not generated when the RMA signal 127 is on.", "The OR gate 51 responds to the reset signal 113 or the purge signal 126 and generates the clear signal 117, to invalidate the cache 11.", "The AND gate 54 responds to the read request signal 11 and a delayed signal of the valid bit signal 121 delayed by the latch circuit 55, which delays the valid bit signal 121 until data read out of the main memory 2 arrives at the cache 11.", "The new entry write signal 120 is provided by the inverters which respond to the delayed signal of the valid bit signal 121, to indicate to the cache 11 to write a new entry of data, an address and a valid bit signal therein.", "FIG. 8 is a diagram of the read/write control circuit 14 which consists of a delay circuit 56, AND gates 57, 58 and an inverter 59.", "The write request signal 110 is passed through the read/write control circuit 14 to provide the write request signal 110 to the bus 100 (FIG.", "5).", "The AND gate 58 generates the read request signal 125 in response to the read request signal 111 delayed by the delay circuit 56 and an inverted form of the valid bit signal 121 inverted by the inverter 59.", "The AND gate 57 provides the completion signal 114 in response to the valid bit signal 121 and the delayed signal of the read request signal 111.", "The delay circuit 56 is provided so that reference is not made to the valid bit signal 121 by the AND gates 57, 58 until the valid bit signal 121 is determined as a result of the address check by the cache 11.", "FIG. 9 is a diagram of the input/output control circuit 3 which consists of a decoder 60, AND gates 63, 65, 66, 76, 78, 79, OR gates 64, 90, a tristate buffer 68, 88, open emitter buffers 61, 62 a status register 67, the control register 75 and the data register 77.", "The status register 67 receives status data from the input/output device by way of the line 400.", "The control register 75 sends its content to the input/output device 4 by way of the line 410 to control it.", "The data register 77 receives data from the MPU 1 by way of the line 132 and sends it to the input/output device 4 by way of the line 420, or vice versa.", "The decoder 60 decodes the address signal 139, discriminates whether the input/output control circuit 3 is selected or not, and further discriminates which register is selected.", "When the addresss 139 is equal to a 4 , a 5 or a 6 , as shown in FIG. 13, it means that the status register 67, the control register 75 or the data register 77 is a selected register.", "When the decoder 60 detects that the address 139 is equal to a 4 , it turns on the line 300A.", "When the data is to be written into the status register 67, that is, when the write request is provided on the line 134, the output of the AND gate 65 is turned on to write the data on the line 132.", "When the data is to be read from the status register 67, that is, when the read request is provided on the line 135, the output of the AND gate 66 is turned on, and the tristate buffer 68 is turned on, thereby to transfer the data of the status register 67 to the data signal line 132.", "The OR gate 90 sends the RMA signal on the line 300D in response to the signal on the line 300A, thereby to transmit the RMA signal onto the line 137 by way of an open emitter buffer 61.", "The AND gate 63 receives the outputs of the OR gate 64 which receives either the read request signal 135 or the write request signal 134.", "Thus, the ACK signal is generated by the gates 63 and 64 in response to the RMA signal on the line 300D and the read request signal 135, thereby to allow the open emitter buffer 62 to drive the ACK signal on the line 138.", "When the address on the line 139 is equal to a 5 , the decoder 60 turns on the lines 300B.", "The AND gate 76 is enabled by the signal on the line 300B, when the write request is provided on the line 134.", "When the AND gate 76 is enabled, the control register 75 receives the data on the line 132 in response to the output of the AND gate 76.", "The RMA signal 137 and the ACK signal 138 are generated in response to the signal on the line 300B and the write request on the line 134, as in the case of the selection of the status register 76.", "When the address 139 is equal to a 6 , the decoder 60 enables the line 300C, thereby to enable the AND gates 78 or 79, respectively, when the write request signal 134 or the read request signal 135 is provided.", "The tristate buffer 88 is enabled in response to an enabled output of the AND gate 79 when the read request signal 135 is provided to the AND gate 79, thereby to allow read-out of the data of the data register 77 onto the line 132.", "The enabled output of the AND gate 78 enables the data register 77 to store data on the line 132, when the write request signal 134 is provided to the AND gate 78.", "The generation of the ACK signal 138 and the RMA signal 137 is effected in response to an output of the OR gate 90 which is enabled when the line 300C is enabled.", "FIG. 10 is a diagram of the common memory control circuit 81 which consists of decoder 69, 80, open-emitter buffers 86, 87, an OR gate 83, an AND gate 84, and a timing control circuit 85.", "The decoder 69 detects whether the common memory 8 is selected or not, that is, whether or not the address on the line 149 belongs to a 1 to a 3 -1, and turns on the line 810 and sends the address on the line 149 to the common memory unit 82 by way of the line 800, both when the detection result by the decoder 69 is affirmative.", "The decoder 80 detects whether the location which is to be accessed by the address on the line 149 is in a region of addresses a 2 to a 3 -1, for communicating messages.", "When this particular region is selected, the decoder 80 sends the RMA signal.", "The open-emitter buffers 86 drive the RMA signal onto the line 147.", "The output of the OR gate 83 is turned on only when there is a read request signal 145 or a write request signal 144.", "The AND gate 84 responds to the signal on the line 810 and the output of the OR gate 83, thereby to activate the timing control circuit 85 only when there is an access to the common memory 8.", "The timing control circuit 85 responds to the write request signal 144 and the read request signal 145 when an enabled output of the AND gate 84 is provided thereto, and produces control signals on the line 820 which is necessary for accessing the common memory unit 82, and further produces the ACK signal when the operation is completed.", "The ACK signal is applied onto the line 148 by the open-emitter buffer 87.", "FIG. 11 shows a diagram of the main memory control circuit 21, wherein the reference numeral with a prime indicates the same circuit or the same circuit element as one with the same reference numeral in FIG. 10.", "It is clear that the main memory control circuit 21 differs from the common memory control circuit 81 in that the decoder 80 in FIG. 10 which generates the RMA signal is not provided in the main memory control circuit 21.", "FIG. 12 is a diagram of the MMU 9, wherein the address translation table 90 responds to the logical address 116 to generate the physical address 129 by means of the logical address table 901 and the physical address table 902.", "The decoder 91 responds to the logical address 116 and turns on the line 163 or 161, respectively, depending upon whether the address 116 belongs to a region of addresses a 7 to a 8 -1 or a region of addresses a 8 to a 9 -1.", "The decoder 91 further provides a row selection signal 162 when either one of the two tables 901, 902 is to be accessed by the address 116.", "In case of a write request to the logical address table 901, the AND gate 92 is enabled, because the write request signal 124 and the logical address table selection signal 163 are provided to the AND gate 92.", "Therefore, the data 122 is written onto a row of the logical address table 901 designated by the signal 162.", "Similarly, in case of a write request to the physical address table 902, the AND gate 93 is turned on, and the data 122 is written into the physical address table 902.", "When either one of the AND gates 92, 93 is turned on, the OR gate 94 generates the purge signal on the line 126.", "Furthermore, the output of the OR gate 94 is transferred to the respective lines 128, 127 as the ACK signal and the RMA signal, respectively, by way of the OR gate 98 and the open-emitter buffer 89 and by way of the OR gate 98 and the open-emitter buffer 99.", "In case of a read request to the logical address table 901, the logical address and the physical address in a row accessed by the row signal 162 respectively within the logical address table 901 and the physical address table 902 are read out onto the tristate buffers 73 and 74, respectively.", "When the address 116 is for the logical address table 901, the AND gate 96 is turned on, and the read out logical address is transferred to the data signal line 122 by way of the enabled tristate buffer 73.", "Similarly, in case of the read request to the physical address table 902, the AND gate 95 is turned on, and and the read-out physical address is read out onto the data signal line 122.", "When the AND gate 95 or 96 is turned on, the outputs of these two AND gates provide the ACK signal and the RMA signal, on the lines 127 and 128, respectively, by way of the OR gates 97, 98 and the open-emitter buffer 89, and by way of the OR gates 97, 98 and the open-emitter buffer 99.", "According to the present invention, as will be obvious from the foregoing description, when the processor accesses memory which includes a particular region in which the stored content undergoes a change depending upon particular factors, such as in the memory mapped I/O system and in the multiprocessor system, the data at the time of accessing the particular region is inhibited from being held in the cache memory, so that inconsistency will not develop in the accessed data.", "Therefore, it is possible to improve the performance of the system using a cache memory, while maintaining the advantages of the memory mapped I/O system that precisely controls input/output devices in response to general instructions as well as advantages of the multiprocessor system which is effective to disperse the load.", "According to the disclosed embodiment, the microprocessor 1 includes the cache 11 and the cache control circuit 13.", "Further, the cache control circuit 13 in the microprocessor 1 receives the RMA signal that inhibits the data from being written into the cache 11.", "Therefore, the cache memory can be constituted independently of the microprocessor 1 provided the data that represents a particular region is not written therein.", "Accordingly, it is possible to provide a microprocessor which can be used for general purposes.", "The prior art common memory control circuit or I/O control does not have a circuit portion which generates the RMA signal as shown by lines 137 and 147.", "This means that the prior art common memory control circuit and so on cannot be combined with the microprocessor 1 shown in FIG. 5 without modification.", "FIG. 14 shows another embodiment of a data processing system according to the present invention wherein the prior art common memory control circuit and so on can be connected to the microprocessing unit 1A according to the present invention.", "FIG. 14 shows an internal structure of only the microprocessing unit 1A.", "The microprocessing unit 1A is connected to the main memory 2, common memory 8 and the I/O control 3 with slight modifications of the latter two circuits.", "The same reference numerals in FIG. 14 as those in FIGS. 5-8 designates the same circuit elements.", "The microprocessing unit 1A in FIG. 14 differs from the microprocessing unit 1 in FIG. 5 only in that the microprocessing unit 1A has a circuit portion to generate the RMA signal used in the embodiment of FIG. 5. In FIG. 14, the circuit portion relating to clearing of the cache memory 11 or to purging of the cache is not shown for sake of simplicity.", "The registers 302 to 307, decoders 314 to 316, and OR gate 320 produce the RMA signal on the line 127, as will be explained later on in more detail.", "Therefore, the microprocessing unit 1A does not need to receive the RMA signal from outside.", "Therefore, the main memory control circuit, the common memory control circuit and the I/O control (all not shown in FIG. 14) which are to be connected to the microprocessing unit 1A can be those which do not have any circuit portions to generate the RMA signal.", "At the initial stage of operation of the system, CPU 10 sets the lower limit address a 2 and the upper limit address a 3 -1 of the message communication region of the logical address region shown in FIG. 13 into the registers 302 and 303, respectively.", "Similarly, CPU sets the addresses a 4 and a 6 shown in FIG. 13 into the registers 304 and 305.", "CPU further sets the addresses a 7 and a 9 -1 into the registers 306 and 307.", "FIG. 13 should be regarded as depicting a memory map for logical addresses regarding the embodiment of FIG. 14.", "When CPU issues a read request signal 111 or write request signal 110, it issues the logical address associated with the issued request signal onto the line 116.", "The decoder 314 generates the RMA signal when the issued logical address on the line 116 falls within the address region from a 2 to a 3 -1 shown by the registers 304, 305.", "The decoder 315 generates the RMA signal when the issued logical address on the line 116 falls within the address region from a 4 to a 6 shown by the registers 306, 307.", "The decoder 316 generates the RMA signal when the issued logical address on the line 116 falls within an address region from a 7 to a 9 -1 shown by the registers 306, 307.", "The RMA signal provided from any of the decoders 314 to 316 is transferred to the inverter 50 by way of an OR gate 320.", "When the RMA signal exists on the line 127, the data is not written, quite in the same way as explained in connection with the embodiment of FIG. 5. As the operation of the microprocessing unit 1A is the same as that of the microprocessing unit 1 of FIG. 5, no further detailed explanation of the operation of the former will be given for sake of simplicity.", "According to the embodiment shown in FIG. 14, CPU 10 can set the addresses in the registers 302 to 307 by executing program instructions.", "Therefore, this embodiment can be applied to any system which has arbitrary address regions, the data for which should not be written in the cache memory, and the prior art common memory control circuit or I/O control which has no circuit portion to generate the RMA signal.", "As no signal line is required for the microprocessing unit 1A to receive the RMA signal from outside, this reduces the number of pins required for the microprocessing unit 1A to exchange signals with outside.", "The number of external circuits which can be connected to the microprocessing unit 1A is, however, limited by the number of the registers 302 to 307 and the decoders 314 to 316, which does not occur in case of the embodiment of FIG. 5." ]

[ "CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This is a division of copending application Ser.", "No. 09/536,564, filed Mar. 28, 2000, which is a division of application Ser.", "No. 09/082,205, filed May 20, 1998, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,066,861, which was a continuation of international application PCT/DE97/02139, filed Sep. 22, 1997, which designated the United States.", "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1.", "Field of the Invention The invention relates to a wavelength-converting casting composition based on a transparent epoxy casting resin which is mixed with a luminous substance, for an electroluminescent component having a body that emits ultraviolet, blue or green light.", "Description of the Related Art A component of that type has become known, for instance, from German published, non-prosecuted patent application DE 38 04 293.", "The reference describes an arrangement with an electroluminescent diode or laser diode, in which the emissions spectrum emitted by the diode is shifted toward longer wavelengths, by means of a plastic element mixed with a fluorescing, light-converting, organic colorant.", "The light emitted by the arrangement as a result has a different color from what the light emitting diode emitted.", "Depending on the type of colorant added to the plastic, it is possible to produce LED arrays that light up in different colors with one and the same type of light-emitting diode (LED).", "In many potential applications for LEDs, such as in display elements in motor vehicle dashboards, illumination in aircraft and automobiles, and in LED displays capable of showing full color, there is an increasing demand for LED arrays with which mixed color light and in particular white light can be generated.", "However, the prior art casting compositions of the type referred to at the outset with organic luminous substances exhibit a shift in the color location, that is, the color of the light emitted by the electroluminescent component, under temperature and temperature/humidity stresses.", "Japanese patent disclosure JP-07 176 794-A describes a white-light-emitting planar light source, in which two diodes that emit blue light are disposed on one face end of a transparent plate and emit light into the transparent plate.", "The transparent plate is coated on one of the two opposed main sides with a fluorescing substance that emits light when it is excited with the blue light of the diodes.", "The light emitted by the fluorescing substance has a different wavelength from the blue light emitted by the diodes.", "In this known component, it is especially difficult to apply the fluorescing substance in such a way that the light source emits homogeneous white light.", "Moreover, replicability and mass production presents major problems, because even slight fluctuations in the layer thickness of the fluorescing layer, for instance from irregularities of the surface of the transparent plate, cause a change in the white of the light emitted.", "SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a wavelength-converting casting mass, which overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages of the prior art devices and methods of this general type and with which electroluminescent components can be produced that emit homogeneous mixed-colored light, and which enables mass production at reasonable engineering effort and expense and with maximally replicable component characteristics.", "The emitted light should be color-stable even under temperature and temperature/humidity stresses.", "It is a further object to specify a use for the casting mass and a method for producing the composition.", "With the foregoing and other objects in view there is provided, in accordance with the invention, a wavelength-converting casting composition, for converting a wavelength of ultraviolet, blue or green light emitted by an electro-luminescent component, comprising: a transparent epoxy casting resin;", "an inorganic luminous substance pigment powder dispersed in the transparent epoxy resin, the pigment powder comprising luminous substance pigments from a phosphorous group having the general formula A 3 B 5 X 12 :M;", "the luminous substance pigments having grain sizes ≦20 μm and a mean grain diameter d 50 ≦5 μm.", "In accordance with an added feature of the invention, the mean grain diameter d 50 of the luminous substance pigments is between one and two micrometers.", "Inorganic/mineral luminous substances are extremely stable with regard to temperature and temperature/humidity stresses.", "In accordance with an additional feature of the invention, the composition includes the following parts: a) epoxy casting resin ≧60% by weight;", "b) luminous substance pigments >0 and ≦25% by weight;", "c) thixotropic agent >0 and ≦10% by weight;", "d) mineral diffusor >0 and ≦10% by weight;", "e) processing adjuvant >0 and ≦3% by weight;", "f) hydrophobic agent >0 and ≦3% by weight;", "and g) adhesion promoters >0 and ≦2% by weight.", "Suitable epoxy casting resins are described for instance in German published, non-prosecuted patent application 26 42 465 (pp.", "4-9, in particular examples 1-4), and in European patent disclosure EP 0 039 017 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,365,052 (pp.", "2-5, in particular examples 1-8 appearing in both the EP and U.S. patents).", "The disclosures of those documents are hereby expressly incorporated by reference.", "Pyrogenic silicic acid is for instance used as the thixotropic agent.", "The thixotropic agent is used to thicken the epoxy casting resin, so as to reduce the sedimentation of the luminous substance pigment powder.", "The flow and wetting properties are also adjusted for processing the casting resin CaF 2 is preferably used as a mineral diffusor for optimizing the luminous pattern of the component.", "Glycol ether is for instance suitable as a processing adjuvant.", "It improves the compatibility between the epoxy casting resin and the luminous substance pigment powder and is thus used to stabilize the dispersion of luminous substance pigment powder and epoxy casting resin.", "To that end, surface modifiers based on silicone can also be employed.", "The hydrophobic agent, such as liquid silicone wax, is also used to modify the pigment surface;", "in particular, the compatibility and wettability of the inorganic pigment surface is improved with the organic resin.", "The adhesion promoter, such as functional alkoxysiloxane, improves the adhesion between the pigments and the epoxy resin in the cured state of the casting composition.", "As a result it is attained that the boundary face between the epoxy resin and the pigments will not rupture, for instance in response to temperature fluctuations.", "Gaps between the epoxy resin and the pigments would cause light losses in the component.", "The epoxy casting resin, preferably with a reactive triple oxiran ring, preferably includes a monofunctional and/or multifunctional epoxy casting resin system (≧80% by weight, such as bisphenol-A-diglycidyl ether), a reactive diluent (≦10% by weight, such as aromatic monoglycidyl ether), a multifunctional alcohol (≦5% by weight), a degassing agent based on silicone (≦1% by weight), and a decolorizing component to adjust the color number (≦1% by weight).", "In accordance with another feature of the invention, the luminous substance pigments are substantially spherical particles or flakelike particles.", "The tendency to clumping of such pigments is advantageously very slight.", "The H 2 O content is below 2%.", "In the production and processing of epoxy casting resin components with inorganic luminous substance pigment powders, in general not only wetting but also sedimentation problems occur.", "Especially luminous substance pigment powders with d 50 ≦5 μm have a strong tendency to clumping.", "In the last-named composition of the casting composition, the luminous substance pigments, with the above-indicated particle size, can advantageously be substantially free of clumps and can be dispersed homogeneously in the epoxy casting resin.", "This dispersion is stable even under long-term storage of the casting composition.", "Essentially no problems of wetting and/or sedimentation occur.", "In accordance with a further feature of the invention, the luminous substance pigments are particles of Ce-doped garnets, such as, particularly, YAG:Ce particles.", "An advantageous dopant concentration is 1%, for example, and an advantageous luminous substance concentration is 12%, for example.", "The preferred high-purity luminous substance pigment powder also advantageously has an iron content of ≦5 ppm.", "A high iron content leads to high light losses in the component.", "The luminous substance pigment powder is highly abrasive.", "The iron content in the casting composition can therefore rise considerably during production.", "Iron contents in the casting composition <20 ppm are advantageous.", "The inorganic luminous substance YAG:Ce has the particular advantage, among others, that this involves insoluble color pigments with an index of refraction of approximately 1.84.", "As a result, along with the wavelength conversion, dispersion and scattering effects occur that lead to good mixing of blue diode emissions with yellow converter radiation.", "It is also especially advantageous that the luminous substance concentration in the epoxy resin when inorganic luminous substance pigments are used is not limited by the solubility, as is the case for organic colorants.", "For further reduction of clumping, the luminous substance pigments may advantageously be provided with a silicone coating.", "With the above and other objects in view there is also provided, in accordance with the invention, a method of producing a wavelength-converting casting composition, for converting a wavelength of ultraviolet, blue or green light emitted by an electroluminescent component, the method which comprises: providing a base of transparent epoxy casting resin;", "providing a luminous substance pigment powder of luminous substance pigments from a phosphorous group having the general formula A 3 B 5 X 12 :M;", "tempering the luminous substance pigment powder at a temperature of ≧200° C. and subsequently mixing the tempered pigment powder with the epoxy casting resin.", "Tempering is preferably effected for approximately ten hours.", "As a result, again the tendency to clumping can be reduced.", "As an alternative or in addition for this purpose, the luminous substance pigment powder, before being mixed with the epoxy casting resin, can be slurried in a high-boiling alcohol and subsequently dried.", "A further possibility for reducing clumping is to add a hydrophobic silicone wax to the luminous substance pigment powder before the powder is mixed with the epoxy casting resin.", "Surface stabilization of the phosphors by heating the pigments in the presence of glycol ethers, for instance for 16 hours at T>60° C., is especially advantageous.", "To avoid problematic contamination upon dispersal of the luminous substance pigments, caused by abrasion, reaction vessels, agitators and dispersing devices as well as rolling mechanisms of glass, corundum, carbide and nitride materials as well as especially hardened types of steel are used.", "Clump-free luminous substance dispersions are also obtained by ultrasonic methods or by the use of screens and glass ceramic frits.", "An especially preferred inorganic luminous substance for producing optoelectronic components that light up white is the phosphorous YAG:Ce (Y 3 Al 5 O 12 :Ce 3+ ).", "This phosphorous can be especially simply mixed with transparent epoxy casting resins conventionally used in LED technology.", "Also conceivable as luminous substances are other garnets, doped with rare earths, such as Y 3 Ga 5 O 12 :Ce 3+ , Y(Al,Ga) 5 O 12 :Ce 3+ , and Y(Al,Ga) 5 O 12 :Tb 3+ .", "To generate mixed-colored light, the thiogallates doped with rare earths are moreover especially suitable, examples being CaGa 2 S 4 :Ce 3+ and SrGa 2 S 5 :Ce 3+ .", "Once again, the use of aluminates doped with rare earths, such as YAlO 3 :Ce 3+ , YGaO 3 :Ce 3+ , Y(Al,Ga)O 3 :Ce 3+ , and orthosilicates doped with rare earths, M 2 SiO 5 :Ce 3+ (M:Sc,Y,Sc), such as Y 2 SiO 5 :Ce 3+ is conceivable.", "In all the yttrium compounds, the yttrium can in principle also be replaced with scandium or lanthanum.", "Therefore, in the phosphorous group A 3 B 5 X 12 :M, the variables may stand for the following exemplary elements: A=Y, Ca, Sr;", "B=Al, Ga, Si;", "X=O, S;", "and M=Ce 3+ , Tb 3+ .", "The variables can represent a single one of the listed exemplary elements.", "Alternatively, the variables can represent a mixture of two or more of the listed exemplary elements.", "Preferably, the casting composition according to the invention is used in a radiation-emitting semiconductor body, in particular with an active semiconductor layer or semiconductor layer sequence of Ga x In 1-x N or Ga x Al 1-x N, which in operation emits an electromagnetic radiation of the ultraviolet, blue and/or green spectral range.", "The luminous substance particles in the casting composition convert some of the radiation originating in this spectral range into radiation with a longer wavelength, in such a way that the semiconductor component emits mixed radiation, and in particular mixed-colored light comprising this radiation as well as radiation from the ultraviolet, blue and/or green spectral range.", "This means for instance that the luminous substance particles spectrally selectively absorb some of the radiation emitted by the semiconductor body and emit in the longer-wave range.", "Preferably, the radiation emitted by the semiconductor body has a relative maximum intensity at a wavelength lambda λ≦520 nm, and the wavelength range spectrally selectively absorbed by the luminous substance particles is outside this maximum intensity.", "It is also advantageously possible for a plurality of different kinds of luminous substance particles, which emit at different wavelengths, to be dispersed in the casting composition.", "This is preferably achieved by means of different doping in different host lattices.", "This advantageously makes it possible to generate manifold color mixtures and color temperatures of the light emitted by the component.", "This is especially of interest for LEDs capable of emitting full color.", "In a preferred use of the casting composition of the invention, a radiation-emitting semiconductor body (such as an LED chip) is at least partly enclosed by the casting composition.", "The casting composition is preferably simultaneously used as a component envelope (housing).", "The advantage of a semiconductor component in accordance with this embodiment is essentially that conventional production lines used to make conventional LEDs (such as radial LEDs) can be used to produce it.", "For the component envelope, instead of the transparent plastic used for this purpose in conventional LEDs, the casting composition can simply be employed.", "With the casting composition of the invention, it is possible in a simple way, with a single colored light source, particularly an LED with a single semiconductor body that emits blue light, to create mixed-colored and in particular white light.", "For instance to generate white light with a semiconductor body that emits blue light, some of the radiation emitted by the semiconductor body is converted out of the blue spectral range into the yellow spectral range, which is complementary in color to blue, by means of inorganic luminous substance particles.", "The color temperature or color location of the white light can be varied by a suitable choice of the luminous substance, its particle size, and its concentration.", "In addition, luminous substance mixtures can also be employed, and as a result advantageously the desired tonality of the color of the emitted light can be adjusted very precisely.", "Especially preferably, the casting composition is used in a radiation-emitting semiconductor body in which the emitted radiation spectrum has a maximum intensity at a wavelength between 420 nm and 460 nm, and in particular at 430 nm (examples being semiconductor bodies based on Ga x Al 1-x N) or 450 nm (such as semiconductor bodies based on Ga x In 1-x N).", "With such a semiconductor component, nearly all the colors and mixed colors in the CIE chromaticity diagram can advantageously be generated.", "Instead of the radiation-emitting semiconductor body of electroluminescing semiconductor material, however, some other electroluminescing material may be used, such as polymer material.", "With the objects of the invention is view there is further provided, in accordance with the invention, a light-emitting semiconductor component, comprising: a semiconductor body formed of a semiconductor layer sequence and being capable, during an operation of the semiconductor component, of emitting electromagnetic radiation in at least one of an ultraviolet, blue, and green spectral range;", "a wavelength-converting casting composition disposed in a vicinity of the semiconductor body, the casting composition being formed of a transparent epoxy casting resin and an inorganic luminous substance pigment powder dispersed in the transparent epoxy resin, the pigment powder comprising luminous substance pigments from a phosphorous group having the general formula A 3 B 5 X 12 :M and having grain sizes ≦20 μm and a mean grain diameter d 50 ≦5 μm;", "the luminous substance pigments converting a portion of the radiation originating from the ultraviolet, blue and green spectral range into radiation of a higher wavelength, such that the semiconductor component emits mixed radiation including the higher-wavelength radiation and radiation from at least one of the ultraviolet, blue and green spectral range.", "In other words, the casting composition is especially suitable for a light-emitting semiconductor component (for instance an LED), in which the electroluminescing semiconductor body is disposed in a recess of a prefabricated housing, optionally already provided with a leadframe, and the recess is provided with the casting composition.", "This kind of semiconductor component can be produced in great numbers on conventional production lines.", "All that is needed, after mounting of the semiconductor body in the housing, is to fill the recess with the casting composition.", "A semiconductor component that emits white light can be produced with the casting composition according to the invention advantageously by choosing the luminous substance in such a way that a blue radiation emitted by the semiconductor body is converted into complementary wavelength ranges, in particular blue and yellow, or additive color triads, such as blue, green and red.", "The yellow or green and red light is generated via the luminous substances.", "The color tonality (color location in the CIE chromaticity diagram) of the white light thus produced can then be varied by means of a suitable choice of the luminous substance or luminous substances in terms of their mixture and concentration.", "To improve the mixing of the radiation emitted by an electroluminescing semiconductor body with the radiation converted by the luminous substance and thus to improve the homogeneity of color of the light emitted by the component, in an advantageous feature of the casting composition according to the invention a blue-luminescing colorant, which attenuates a so-called directional characteristic of the radiation emitted by the semiconductor body.", "The term “directional characteristic”", "is understood to mean that the radiation emitted by the semiconductor body has a preferential emission direction.", "A semiconductor component according to the invention that emits white light, with an electroluminescing semiconductor body emitting blue light, can be especially preferably achieved by admixing the inorganic luminous substance YAG:Ce (Y 3 Al 5 O 12 :Ce 3+ ) with the epoxy resin used for the casting composition.", "Some of the blue radiation emitted by the semiconductor body is shifted by the inorganic luminous substance (Y 3 Al 5 O 12 :Ce 3+ ) into the yellow spectral range and thus into a wavelength range that is complementary in color to the color blue.", "The color tonality (color location in the CIE chromaticity diagram) of the white light can then be varied by means of a suitable choice of the colorant concentration.", "In addition, light-scattering particles, so-called diffusers, can be added to the casting composition.", "As a result, the color impression and the emission characteristics of the semiconductor component can advantageously be still further optimized.", "With the casting composition of the invention, advantageously an ultraviolet radiation emitted by an electroluminescing semiconductor body along with the visible radiation can advantageously be converted into visible light.", "This markedly increases the brightness of the light emitted by the semiconductor body.", "A particular advantage of semiconductor components according to the invention that emit white light, and in which YAG:Ce is used in particular as the luminescence-converting colorant, is that this luminous substance on excitation with blue light causes a spectral shift of approximately 100 nm between absorption and emission.", "This leads to a substantial reduction and reabsorption of the light emitted by the luminous substance and thus to a higher light yield.", "Moreover, YAG:Ce advantageously has high thermal and photochemical (such as UV) stability (substantially higher than organic luminous substances) so that even white-emitting diodes for outdoor use and/or high temperature ranges can be produced.", "YAG:Ce has by now proved itself to be the best-suitable luminous substance in terms of reabsorption, light yield, thermal and photochemical stability, and processability.", "However, the use of other Ce-doped phosphors, in particular Ce-doped types of garnet, is also conceivable.", "The wavelength conversion of the primary radiation is determined by the crystal field cleavage of the active transition metal centers in the host lattice.", "By substituting Gd and/or Lu for Y, or Ga for Al in the Y 3 Al 5 O 12 garnet lattice, the emission wavelengths can be shifted in various ways, and this can also be done by the type of doping.", "By substituting Eu 3+ and/or Cr 3+ for Ce 3+ centers, corresponding shifts can be brought about.", "Corresponding dopings with Nd 3+ and Er 3+ even make it possible, because of the greater ion radii and thus reduced crystal field cleavage, to make components that emit infrared (IR) light.", "Other features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in the appended claims.", "Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in a wavelength-converting casting composition, its use, and method for its production, it is nevertheless not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims.", "The construction and method of operation of the invention, however, together with additional objects and advantages thereof will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of a first semiconductor component with a casting composition according to the invention;", "FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view of a second semiconductor component with a casting composition according to the invention;", "FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional view of a third semiconductor component with a casting composition according to the invention;", "FIG. 4 is a schematic sectional view of a fourth semiconductor component with a casting composition according to the invention;", "FIG. 5 is a schematic sectional view of a fifth semiconductor component with a casting composition according to the invention;", "FIG. 6 is a graph of an emission spectrum of a semiconductor body that emits blue light, with a layer sequence on the basis of GaN;", "FIG. 7 is a graph of the emissions spectra of two semiconductor components with a casting composition according to the invention, which emit white light;", "and FIG. 8 is a graph of the emissions spectra of further semiconductor components that emit white light.", "DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Reference is now had to the figures of the drawing in which elements that are identical or that function identically are identified by the same reference numerals throughout.", "In the light-emitting semiconductor component of FIG. 1, the semiconductor body 1 is secured by its back-side contact 11 to a first electrical terminal 2 by means of an electrically conductive joining means such as a metal solder or an adhesive.", "The front-side contact 12 is joined to a second electrical terminal 3 by means of a bond wire 14 .", "The free surfaces of the semiconductor body 1 and portions of the electrical terminals 2 and 3 are enclosed directly by a hardened, wavelength-converting casting or potting composition 5 .", "The casting composition preferably has the following: epoxy casting resin 80 to 90% by weight, luminous substance pigments (YAG:Ce) ≦15% by weight, diethylene glycol monomethyl ether ≦2% by weight, Tegopren a processing adjuvant (additive for keeping the surface of the resin free from bubbles, craters and similar faults) 6875-45≦2% by weight, Aerosil a thixotropic agent 200≦5% by weight.", "The exemplary embodiment of a semiconductor component according to the invention shown in FIG. 2 differs from that of FIG. 1 in that the semiconductor body 1 in portions of the electrical terminals 2 and 3 are enclosed not by a wavelength-converting potting mass but by a transparent envelope 15 .", "The transparent envelope 15 does not cause any change in the wavelength of the radiation emitted by the semiconductor body 1 and for instance comprises an epoxy, silicone or acrylate resin conventionally used in LED technology, or some other suitable radiation-permeable material, such as inorganic glass.", "A layer 4 is applied to the transparent envelope 15 .", "The layer 4 comprises a wavelength-converting casting composition and, as shown in FIG. 2, covers the entire surface of the envelope 15 .", "It is equally conceivable for the layer 4 to cover only a portion of the surface.", "The layer 4 for instance comprises a transparent epoxy resin which is mixed with luminous substance particles 6 .", "Once again, for a semiconductor component that emits white light, YAG:Ce is preferred as the luminous substance.", "FIG. 3 illustrates a particularly advantageous and preferred embodiment of the invention.", "The first and second electrical terminals 2 , 3 are embedded in an opaque, and optionally prefabricated, basic housing 8 that has a recess 9 .", "The term “prefabricated”", "is understood to mean that the basic housing 8 is already finished at the terminals 2 , 3 , for instance by means of injection molding, before the semiconductor body is mounted on the terminal 2 .", "The basic housing 8 , by way of example, is formed of opaque plastic, and in terms of its form the recess 9 is embodied as a reflector 17 for the radiation emitted by the semiconductor body in operation (the reflection optionally being achieved by means of suitable coating of the inside walls of the recess 9 ).", "Such basic housings 8 are used in particular for LEDs that are surface-mounted on printed circuit boards.", "They are applied, before mounting of the semiconductor body, to a conductor strip (lead frame) that has the electrical terminals 2 , 3 , the application for instance being done by injection molding.", "The recess 9 is filled with a casting composition 5 , whose composition is equivalent to that given above in conjunction with the description of FIG. 1 .", "FIG. 4 shows a so-called radial diode.", "Here, the electroluminescing semiconductor body 1 is secured, for instance by soldering or adhesive bonding, in a part 16 , embodied as a reflector, of the first electrical terminal 2 .", "Such housing constructions are known in LED technology and therefore require no further description here.", "The free surfaces of the semiconductor body 1 are covered directly by a is casting composition 5 containing luminous substance particles 6 , and the casting composition in turn is surrounded by a further transparent housing envelope 10 .", "It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that, in the construction of FIG. 4 as well, analogously to the component of FIG. 1, an integral envelope comprising hardened casting composition 5 with luminous substance particles 6 , may also be used.", "In the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 5, a layer 4 (see the list of materials given above) is coated directly on the semiconductor body 1 .", "The semiconductor body 1 and portions of the electrical terminals 2 , 3 are enclosed by a further transparent housing envelope 10 .", "The latter causes no change in wavelength of the radiation that has passed through the layer 4 , and it is made for instance from a transparent epoxy resin that is usable in LED technology, or from glass.", "Such semiconductor bodies 1 provided with a layer 4 and without an envelope can naturally advantageously be used in all the housing constructions known from LED technology (such as SMD housings, and radial housings;", "see FIG. 4 ).", "In all the components described above, in order to optimize the color impression of the light emitted and to adapt the emission characteristics, the casting composition 5 , optionally the transparent envelope 15 , and/or optionally the further transparent envelope 10 may have light-scattering particles, advantageously so-called diffusers.", "Examples of such diffusers are mineral fillers, in particular CaF 2 , TiO 2 , SiO 2 , CaCO 3 , or BaSO 4 , or organic pigments.", "These materials can easily be added to epoxy resins.", "FIGS. 6-8 illustrate emissions spectra.", "FIG. 6 refers to a semiconductor body that emits blue light (luminescence maximum at λ˜430 nm) and FIGS. 7 and 8 refer to semiconductor components that emit white light..", "In each case, the wavelength λ is plotted in nm on the abscissa, and a relative electroluminescence (EL) intensity is plotted on the ordinate.", "Of the radiation emitted by the semiconductor body in FIG. 6, only some is converted into a longer-wavelength range, so that white light is created as the mixed color.", "The dashed line 30 in FIG. 7 represents an emissions spectrum of a semiconductor component which emits radiation comprising two complementary wavelength ranges (blue and yellow) and thus emits combined white light.", "The emissions spectrum here has one maximum each at wavelengths between approximately 400 and approximately 430 nm (blue) and between approximately 550 and 580 nm (yellow).", "The solid line 31 represents the emissions spectrum of a semiconductor component that mixes the color white from three wavelength ranges (additive color triad comprising blue, green and red).", "The emissions spectrum here has one maximum each for the wavelengths of approximately 430 nm (blue), approximately 500 nm (green) and approximately 615 nm (red).", "FIG. 8 shows an emissions spectrum of a white-emitting semiconductor component, which is provided with a semiconductor body that transmits an emissions spectrum as shown in FIG. 6 and in which YAG:Ce is used as the luminous substance.", "Of the radiation shown in FIG. 6 emitted by the semiconductor body, only some is converted into a longer-wavelength range, so that white light is created as a mixed color.", "The variously dashed lines 32 - 33 of FIG. 8 represent emissions spectra of semiconductor components according to the invention, in which the epoxy resin of the casting composition 5 has different YAG:Ce concentrations.", "Each emissions spectrum has one maximum intensity between lambda=420 nm and lambda=430 nm (i.e., in the blue spectrum), and between lambda=520 nm and lambda=545 nm (i.e., in the green spectrum).", "The emission bands having the longer-wavelength maximum intensity are predominantly located in the yellow spectral range.", "The graph of FIG. 8 shows that in the semiconductor component of the invention, the CIE color location of the white light can be varied in a simple way by varying the luminous substance concentration in the epoxy resin.", "While the foregoing specification refers specifically to a semiconductor body, for example LED chips or laser diode chips, the invention is not in the least restricted to these embodiments.", "The term may also be understood to mean a polymer LED, for instance, that emits an equivalent radiation spectrum." ]

[ "This invention relates to a mounting for an excavating implement and method and, more particularly, to a mounting wherein the excavating implement is adapted to be positioned in a variety of attitudes relative to the earth being worked.", "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The idea of changing the attitude or orientation of earth working teeth is not new--see, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,091,044 and 3,117,386.", "However, these have not been widely used because of the limited amount of change in attitude possible because of the structures involved.", "SUMMARY OF INVENTION According to the instant invention, a mounting and method of using the same is described wherein an adapter is equipped with a spherical zonal exterior wall positioned intermediate the ends of the adapter for mounting in a recess in the excavator or other earth working equipment.", "Further, the shank or mounting end of the adapter is sized smaller than the cooperating part of the excavator recess to permit the introduction of thermoplastic material which facilitates reorientation and also develops an advantageous, stress transmitting bit.", "Although the idea of introducing conformable material into the socket of an excavating tooth is old--see U.S. Pat. No. 1,399,337, this did not facilitate repositioning.", "Other objects and advantages of the invention may be seen in the ensuring specification.", "The invention is described in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a dredge cutter head which utilizes the teachings of the instant invention with one tooth in exploded form;", "FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of the recess portion of an excavator such as would be provided at various locations on the arms of the dredge cutterhead of FIG. 1;", "FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a modified form adapter embodying teachings of the invention;", "FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of the mounting portion of FIG. 2 into which the preferred form of adapter is about to be inserted;", "FIG. 5 is a fragmentary elevational view, partially in section of an assembled tooth mounted on the cutterhead;", "FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along the sight line 6--6 of FIG. 5;", "FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along the sight line 7--7 of FIG. 5;", "and FIG. 8 is another fragmentary sectional view of the assembly of the assembled tooth but taken at right angles to that seen in FIG. 5, i.e., a top view as contrasted to a side view.", "DETAILED DESCRIPTION In the illustrated given and with reference first to FIG. 1, the numeral 10 designates generally a dredge cutterhead which, in accordance with convention design, is equipped with a plurality of spiral arms 11 and with each arm being equipped with a plurality of teeth 12 thereon.", "As illustrated, the cutterhead 10 has five arms 11 and each arm is equipped with seven teeth 12.", "It will be appreciated that different designs of cutterheads may have fewer or more arms and varying number of teeth on each arm according to the particular design.", "As can be appreciated from the lower right hand portion of FIG. 1, each tooth 12 includes an adapter 13 releasably fixed to the arm by mounting in an integral socket 14.", "The adapter 13 is equipped with a nose 15 to be received within the socket 16 (see FIG. 5) of the point 17.", "Further details of the preferred form of locking mechanism may be seen in co-owned U.S. Pat. No. 4,335,532.", "Turning now to FIG. 2, a portion of the cutterhead arm 11 is seen in enlarged condition.", "For the purpose of locating each adapter 13, the arm is provided with a plurality of openings, one of which is designated 14 in FIG. 2 (also see FIG. 4).", "The adapter 13 of FIG. 4 is the preferred version having a polygonally shaped shank as at 18.", "On the other hand, in some instances, the adapter 113 of FIG. 3 may be employed which is equipped with a cylindrical shank as at 118.", "The details of the inventive structure and the operation thereof constituting the inventive method may be better appreciated from a consideration of FIG. 5. In FIG. 5, the portion of the arm 11 is again seen in fragmentary form.", "Here it will be appreciated that the invention is not limited to dredge cutterheads and the like, but may be employed advantageously with a wide variety of excavating or earth moving implements.", "However, the invention is especially advantageous in connection with the dredge cutterhead because of the need of orienting the excavating implements, i.e., the teeth 12 in a variety of attitudes.", "In FIG. 5, the recess or socket is again designated 14 and is seen to be outwardly facing.", "Immediately adjacent the outer ends of the recess 14, the recess wall 19 is shaped in the form of a spherical zone, i.e., a shape defined by passing spaced apart planes through a sphere parallel to the equator thereof.", "Inwardly of the spherical zonal wall 19 the recess 14 is defined by a generally frusto-conical wall 20.", "Lastly, the apex of the recess 14 is defined by a spherical segmental interior wall 21.", "Spherical segments have been employed before on excavating teeth bearing surfaces as can be seen from co-owned U.S. Pat. No. 3,012,346.", "Mounted within the recess 14 is the shank portion 22 of the adapter 13.", "Here it will be appreciated that, in conventional fashion, the adapter 13 has a mounting end including the shank 22 and a working end 22a, but which carries the point 17.", "The illustrated embodiment is particularly advantageous but it will be appreciated that a variety of working ends also may be employed advantageously in connection with the practice of the invention, viz.", ", different forms of securing the replaceable point, solid teeth, etc.", "The shank 22 (still referring to FIG. 5) has a spherical zonal exterior wall 23 which is arranged in bearing engagement with the spherical zonal interior wall 19 of the recess 14.", "Rearwardly of the spherical zonal wall 23, i.e., in the direction away from the working end of the adapter 13, the shank 22 is equipped with an integral reduced cross sectional area portion 18.", "Lastly, the extreme end of the shank 22, i.e., the mounting end, terminates in an end wall 24 which again is a spherical segment like the interior end wall 21 of the recess 14.", "The shank portion 18 can be seen in cross section in FIG. 6 and has the shape of a regular polygon.", "Twelve sides are depicted and these are seen to be in spaced relation from the interior wall 20 of the mounting part 11.", "It will be appreciated that the number of sides in the polygonal shank 18 can be varied.", "OPERATION In operation, the shank 22 of the adapter 13 is introduced into the recess 14 of the mounting part 11.", "By virtue of the confronting walls 19 and 23, the adapter 13 can be rotated both about longitudinal and transverse axes to a desired attitude.", "In the illustration given, movement about transverse axes is of the order of about 6°--as determimned by the rearward divergence of the frusto-conical wall 20.", "Thereafter, a thermoplastic material such as epoxy resin in liquid form is introduced into the port 25 (see also FIG. 6) so as to fill the generally annular shaped space 26 between the polygonal walls of the shank portion 18 and the frusto-conical interior wall 20.", "I have found it advantageous to condition the steel surface of 22 beforehand through the use of grease, vaseline or some other material that will create a film on the surface of the steel.", "Once the thermoplastic material hardens, a polygonal socket is formed within the recess 14 so that should additional repositioning be indicated so as to dispose the adapter 13 in a different attitude, it merely has to be removed from the recess and then indexed to proper position, i.e., in 30° increments in the twelve sided polygon as illustrated.", "The adapter 13 just forward of the shank 22 is advantageously spherically shaped as at 23 so as to provide a surface normal to the forwardly facing wall 27 of the mounting part 11.", "The junction of the surfaces 23 and 27 are advantageously employed for the location of simple low cost fillet weld 28 so as to secure the adapter immovably in place within the recess 14.", "The weld can be easily introduced by fully automatic welding equipment due to the full circle weld area.", "When a replacement adapter is required, such as due to inadvertent breakage of the nose element, the weld is removed and a new adapter is installed quickly in the receiving thermoplastic cavity.", "If it is desired to change the attitude of the adapter so as to optimize the wear pattern of the point 17, as by indexing in increments, the weld can be readily removed.", "For that matter, should a different adapter nose angle be desired, the mounting part 11 can be heated to cause the thermoplastic material to melt and run out so that the installation procedure can be repeated.", "Thus it can be seen that only a matter of minutes are involved with changing an adapter rather than the existing art which involves the work of an operator to position the adapter with a sweep gauge and weld the legs of the adapter to the cutter arms.", "In the illustration given, the point 14 is secured to the adapter 13 by means of a mechanical lock 29 of the form described in greater detail in the above-identified co-owned U.S. Pat. No. 4,335,532.", "For example, the point 17 is equipped with rearwardly extending tongues 30 (compare FIGS. 8 and 1).", "These are shaped to receive the mechanical lock 29 and, in the illustration given, perform a further function in retaining the socket wear shield 31--see particularly FIG. 7. The shield 31 is slipped over the adapter nose 15 and protects the fillet weld 28 between the adapter and socket wall and also serves to deflect or throw material over the top face of the socket to eliminate or at least greatly reduce wear on the outside surface of the socket-providing arm or other mounting.", "The shield 31 is essentially circular and has a central aperture 32 (see FIG. 7) which conforms to the shape of the adapter nose just forward of the adapter shank 22.", "The aperture is shaped to provide opposed, inwardly extending lug portions 33 which are aligned with the ears 30 (see FIG. 8).", "Also, in the illustration given, an O-ring seal 34--see the central portions of FIGS. 5 and 8--is employed to prevent abrasive fines from entering the point socket 16.", "This greatly reduces the wear of the bearing between the point socket and nose, thereby lenghtening the life of the nose.", "For this purpose, the tongues 30 adjacent the socket 16 are each equipped with a groove 35 (see FIG. 8) which serves to conveniently support the O-ring 34 during installation.", "The remainder of the O-ring is supported between the confronting portion of the nose and a champfer 36 on the point adjacent the rear of the socket--see FIG. 5. Thereafter, the O-ring is somewhat deformed--from a circular to an oval or semi-oval configuration by virtue of the point being seated against the segmented rib 37 of the adapter.", "This rib 37, as brought out in U.S. Pat. No. 4,335,532 also serves to support and maintain the lock 29 (see FIG. 5).", "As indicated previously, the thermoplastic material not only develops a sure and superior fit between the recess 14 and the shank 22 but also can serve as a stress transmitting medium.", "Its use converts the tension and bending normally encountered by the shank 18 to essentially compression loads--thus greatly increasing the strength of the system without weight penalty.", "For example, it is not usually possible to obtain a bearing fit (even with new castings or forgings) between both the spherical zonal walls 19 and 23 and the spherical segmental walls 21 and 24.", "Therefore, the spherical zonal walls are normally cast for a bearing fit with a slight clearance between the spherical segmental walls 24 and 21.", "This gap (not shown) is filled with the thermoplastic material so as to transmit stresses and the epoxy resin employed has been found to have ability to carry compressive stress.", "More particularly, the provision of the spherical zonal bearing surfaces 19 and 23 permits positions of the adapter 13 by rotation either about a longitudinally extending axis (360°) or about a transverse axis.", "This insures that the optimum digging angle is achieved.", "These spherical zonal bearing surfaces 19 and 23 are advantageously generated about a center of revolution C located forwardly of the polygonal cross-section portion of said shank, viz.", ", in the plane of the forwardly facing wall 28.", "After the desired nose angle has been achieved--normally but not limited to plus or minus 6° movement as determined by the rearward divergence of the frusto-conical wall 20--epoxy resin or similar thermoplastic material is added to fill the void area 26.", "The resultant assembly converts the external bending, shearing and tensive loads to essentially compressive loads.", "The result is higher strength to weight ratios, lower manufacturing and field maintenance costs which greatly improve the economic advantage of the product.", "The polygonal shaped shank provides additional angular flexibility by index rotation to improve the tooth penetration and/or wear life.", "Field replacement of a broken, worn or deformed nose is thus accomplished in minutes rather than hours with much less damage to the base material from the heat associated with burning and welding.", "In the event changes in individual tooth position or all positions longitudinally and/or transverse angles are required to change the digging characteristics, a few hundred degrees of torch-applied heat will melt out all of the thermoplastic material very easily.", "A new adapter position can then be established in the manner previously described.", "While in the foregoing specification a detailed description of the invention has been set forth for the purpose of explanation, many variations in the details hereingiven may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention." ]

[ "FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The invention pertains to the art of packaging and, more particularly, to packaging solid and semi-solid products between upper and lower plastic films in a horizontal form, fill and seal (HFFS) system utilizing a positive pressure differential to minimize headspace.", "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] Certainly, there exists various known packaging systems employed to package a wide range of products.", "Cardboard containers are commonly employed, mainly due to their overall structure which protects stored products from damage.", "By way of example, it is known to store a refrigerated dough product in a canister of a fixed volume formed from composite paperboard which is spirally wound into a cylinder so the refrigerated dough product proofs while in the canister.", "However, packaging products in cardboard is actually, relatively expensive and, at least in connection with products having a small profit margin, can be cost prohibitive.", "[0003] Although other types of packaging exist, at least a majority of these types of packages are simply not suited for certain products, such as refrigerated dough-based food products which require the control of headspace volume and composition.", "[0004] Mainly because of cost efficiencies and packaging versatility, vertical and horizontal form, fill and seal packaging systems have become increasingly popular, particularly in the food industry.", "While vertical form, fill and seal systems have mainly been limited in connection with making sealed bags, such as potato chip and other types of snack bags, horizontal form, fill and seal packaging systems are considered to be much more versatile.", "By way of example, it is known to employ a horizontal form, fill and seal (HFFS) system to form product cavities or pouches in a lower film, fill the pouches with frozen dough products and seal the products in the pouches with an upper film.", "Prior to fully sealing the pouches, a vacuum is typically drawn in order to reduce the available headspace of the package.", "Although evacuating the headspace is appropriate for frozen dough products, employing a vacuum on a refrigerated dough product would destroy nucleation sites for leavener in the dough and, consequently, the overall product.", "However, if no vacuum is drawn, the headspace will fill with carbon dioxide which will chemically react with deplete the dough of leavening gas and swell the package.", "[0005] Although the above discussion exemplifies disadvantages with utilizing an HFFS system with refrigerated dough products, numerous other products can be similarly affected.", "Certainly, the many advantages of utilizing HFFS systems make them enticing to employ.", "However, these advantages have mostly been outweighed by their disadvantages, at least with respect to particular products.", "To this end, there is seen to still exist a need for new ways of packaging various types of products, including refrigerated dough products, that can take advantage of the benefits of HFFS systems while avoiding known system drawbacks.", "SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0006] The invention is directed to a method for packaging products, such as any solid or semi-solid product, utilizing a horizontal form, fill and seal (HFFS) system wherein packaged products are subjected to a pressure differential, without applying a vacuum, prior to sealing.", "According to the invention, the packaging method includes creating product receiving cavities in a lower film, loading product in the product receiving cavities and introducing the loaded product receiving cavities into a sealing unit of the horizontal form, fill and seal assembly with an upper film above the loaded product receiving cavities within the sealing unit.", "Thereafter, the sealing unit is closed about the loaded product receiving cavities and a lower sealing chamber of the sealing unit is pressurized to minimize a headspace between the product and the upper film.", "This stage includes forcing the product against standoffs positioned in the sealing unit while maintaining a gap between the upper and lower films to allow the gas in the headspace to escape into an upper, vented cavity.", "After removing the headspace, a sealing head is activated to seal the upper film to the lower film about the loaded product receiving cavities.", "After releasing pressure in the lower sealing chamber, the sealing unit is opened in order to allow the packaged product to be conveyed to another system station, such as a cutting station.", "[0007] With the above method, the problems associated with vacuum-based HFFS packaging systems are avoided and the range of products which can be packaged in accordance with the invention significantly increases.", "The invention is particularly adapted for use in packaging, refrigerated dough products as these products would actually be destroyed if a vacuum-based system were employed.", "When a relatively soft material, such as a refrigerated dough, is packaged with the system, the use of a positive pressure, without vacuum, advantageously enables the product to deform so as to take-up some headspace, a result which would be not be possible with a vacuum-based system.", "[0008] Additional objects, features and advantages of the invention will become more readily apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the drawings wherein like reference numerals refer to corresponding parts in the several views.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0009] FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a horizontal form, fill and seal (HFFS) system which functions in accordance with the method of the invention.", "[0010] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the sealing unit incorporated in the HFFS system of FIG. 1 , with the sealing chamber being in a partially open condition.", "[0011] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the sealing unit of FIG. 2 in a closed state.", "[0012] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the sealing unit following pressurizing of a lower chamber of the sealing unit.", "[0013] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the sealing unit with heat seals being activated.", "[0014] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the sealing unit with the lower chamber pressure being released.", "[0015] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the sealing unit in a fully open condition.", "[0016] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a dough product packaged in accordance with the invention.", "DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS [0017] With initial reference to FIG. 1 , a horizontal form, fill and seal (HFFS) system employed in connection with the packaging method of the present invention is generally indicated at 2 .", "As shown, system 2 has associated therewith a first or lower film 5 which runs from a payout reel 7 in the direction of arrow A to a take-up reel 8 .", "As will become more fully evident below, the majority of film 5 is used in connection with packaging products in accordance with the invention and take-up reel 8 receives the left over or scrap film.", "In a preferred form of the invention, take-up reel 8 merely receives lateral edge portions of lower film 5 , such as an inch (approximately 2.54 cm) of either side of film 5 while the remainder of the film 5 is employed in the final package.", "In any case, lower film 5 is first directed to a heating station 10 and is directed between upper and lower heating units 12 and 13 .", "In general, heating station 10 can employ various types of heater units 12 , 13 known in the art, such as radiant and/or convection heaters.", "Basically, it is simply desired to heat lower film 5 for delivery to forming station 18 .", "In forming station 18 , a thermoforming unit 19 is employed to produce product cavities 20 in lower film 5 .", "To this end, thermoforming unit 19 includes a lower cavity mold 21 having a main body 22 formed with recessed cavities 23 .", "A linear actuator 24 is connected to main body 22 and designed to vertically shift main body 22 during the forming of product cavities 20 .", "For use in connection with the forming process, fluid communication lines, such as that indicated at 25 , extend through main body 22 to recessed cavities 23 .", "In conjunction with lower cavity mold 21 , thermoforming unit 19 includes an upper cavity mold 30 which also includes a main body 31 from which extend various projection molds 32 that conform to recessed cavities 23 .", "In a manner similar to lower cavity mold 21 , upper cavity mold 30 is connected to a linear actuator 33 used to vertically shift upper cavity mold 30 during a thermoforming operation.", "[0018] In general, thermoforming devices such as that employed in connection with forming station 18 are widely known in the art and do not form part of the present invention.", "However, for the sake of completeness, it should at least be understood that the function of forming station 18 is to receive heated lower film 5 between lower cavity mold 21 and upper cavity mold 30 at which time the movement of lower film 5 is temporarily stopped, projection molds 32 are mated with recessed cavities 23 in order to reshape lower film 5 to include product cavities 20 .", "To aid in this shaping operation, fluid communication lines 25 can be hooked to a vacuum source in order to draw lower film 5 against recessed cavities 23 as well as to subsequently apply a positive pressure to aid in removing the formed product cavities 20 from lower cavity mold 21 after the thermoforming process is complete.", "[0019] Once product cavities 20 are formed in lower film 5 , lower film 5 advances to a loading or filling station generally indicated at 40 .", "At this point, it should be recognized that filling station 40 can take various forms without departing from the invention.", "As illustrated, filling station 40 includes a vertical loading unit 42 including a platform 43 from which extend various loading arms 44 used to transport products, such as that indicated at 46 , into the individual product cavities 20 .", "[0020] After products 46 are loaded into product cavities 20 , lower film 5 is advanced to a sealing station 52 .", "The present invention is particularly concerned with the manner in which products 46 are sealed within product cavities 20 such that details of sealing station 52 will be more fully described below.", "However, as is widely known in connection with standard 14FFS systems, a second or upper film 56 is drawn from a payout reel 57 .", "After following various guide rollers 63 to sealing station 52 , the remainder of upper film 56 is directed to a take-up reel 65 .", "At sealing station 52 , upper film 56 is sealed to lower film 5 across product cavities 20 in order to create an overall product package indicated at 68 .", "Thereafter, package 68 is directed to a cutter station 72 wherein a blade element 73 is shifted vertically through the use of a linear actuator 74 against an anvil member 75 in order to cut each package 68 from the overall web defined by the mated lower film 5 and upper film 56 .", "[0021] Reference will be now made to FIG. 2 in detailing an embodiment of sealing station 52 in accordance with the invention.", "As shown, sealing station 52 employs a sealing unit 78 defined by a housing 80 including an upper housing portion 81 and a lower housing portion 82 .", "Housing 80 has associated therewith an inlet opening 85 and an exit opening 86 , each of which is only shown to be partially open in this figure.", "Basically, upper and lower housing portions 81 and 82 are adapted to be vertically shifted relative to each other by linear actuators (not shown) in order to vary the size of inlet and exit openings 85 and 86 in order to enable housing 80 to receive or discharge both lower film 5 with products 46 in product cavities 20 and upper film 56 as illustrated.", "Above upper film 56 within housing 80 is defined a vented, upper cavity 90 .", "Upper cavity 90 can be vented in various ways, such as with one or more vent ports (not shown) or forming upper housing portion 81 as an open framework.", "Below lower film 5 within housing 80 is defined a lower sealing chamber 91 .", "At least lower sealing chamber 91 in accordance with the invention is connected to a compressed fluid supply unit 93 , such as an air compressor, through a line 94 .", "[0022] Also arranged within housing 80 is a plurality of spaced standoffs 97 .", "In the embodiment shown, standoffs 97 are fixed relative to upper housing portion 81 and include plate members 98 , having substantially flat lower surfaces 99 , suspended within upper housing portion 81 through respective rods 100 .", "As clearly evident from viewing this figure, the number of standoffs 97 is commensurate with the number of product cavities 20 which are accommodated within sealing unit 78 for a given sealing cycle of HFFS system 2 .", "Also arranged within housing 80 is an upper sealing element 104 and a lower sealing element 105 .", "Upper and lower sealing elements 104 and 105 are vertically shiftable within upper and lower housing portions 81 and 82 respectively.", "However, for sake of clarity of the drawings, the linear actuators employed in connection with shifting upper and lower sealing elements 104 and 105 have not been depicted.", "In any case, upper and lower sealing elements 104 and 105 include various spaced, mating sealing arms, such as that indicated at 109 and 110 .", "As clearly evident, each set of sealing arms 109 , 110 are positioned along a respective portion of each package 68 .", "Although not clearly shown in this figure due to the cross-section depicted, mating sealing arms 109 and 110 would extend around the entire periphery of each respective product cavity 20 and, as will be described further below, are used in sealing upper film 56 to lower film 5 and, consequently, a given product 46 in a respective cavity 20 .", "[0023] Reference will now be made to FIGS. 2-7 in describing the operation of sealing unit 78 in connection with the present invention.", "As indicated above, FIG. 2 depicts sealing unit 78 with inlet and exit openings 85 and 86 exposed.", "Correspondingly, housing 80 is partially open in FIG. 2 .", "In FIG. 3 , upper and lower housing portions 81 and 82 have been brought together such that inlet and exit openings 85 and 86 are fully closed, along with lower sealing chamber 91 .", "At this time, it should be at least noted that upper and lower sealing elements 104 and 105 are spaced from both upper film 56 and lower film 5 .", "Thereafter, the sealing operation proceeds to FIG. 4 wherein compressed fluid supply unit 93 is activated to pressurize lower sealing chamber 91 .", "At this time, lower film 5 is forced upward within housing 81 which actually causes both upper film 56 and product 46 to be forced against a respective standoff 97 .", "This action is perhaps best depicted from seeing the manner in which product 46 converts from the rounded upper configuration shown in FIG. 3 to a flat upper configuration in FIG. 4 , while lower film 5 defining product cavity 24 is drawn about product 46 .", "At this point, it should be recognized that this deformation occurred in connection with the packaging of soft dough and relatively high pressure in sealing unit 78 .", "Therefore, dough deformation need not occur, such as when packing flat biscuits in a pouch.", "In any case, at the same time, the head space 116 (see FIG. 3 ) within each product cavity 20 is minimized.", "Although both product 46 and upper film 56 are forced against a standoff 97 , the gas within headspace 116 is forced to flow between lower film 5 and upper film 56 .", "This gas flow can be enhanced in various ways, such as by pre-forming upper film 56 with various slits in the regions between product cavities 20 or by making upper film 56 narrower than upper cavity 90 such that the gas from headspace 116 will be free to flow into upper cavity 90 .", "As upper cavity 90 is vented, the gas is readily released.", "As the pressure within lower sealing chamber 91 is increased, lower film 5 is further forced against product 46 and the air in headspace 116 in between films 5 and 56 is expelled.", "[0024] In one form of the invention wherein product 46 constitutes a refrigerated dough product, lower sealing chamber 91 is preferably pressurized between 0.5 and 50 psi, more preferably, in the order of 25 psi for a large package and 2 psi for a small package.", "When a soft material is being packaged, such as a refrigerated dough, product 46 can actually deform as discussed above to take up some of the headspace 116 .", "At this point, it should be clearly noted that the pressure differential arrangement employed in connection with sealing unit 78 is done without a vacuum.", "In any case, after headspace 116 is minimized, the sealing operation proceeds to that shown in FIG. 5 wherein upper and lower sealing elements 104 and 105 are brought together about product cavities 20 to seal lower and upper films 5 and 56 .", "Thereafter, the pressure within lower chamber 91 is released as shown in FIG. 6 .", "At this point, products 46 are sealed inside the low volume product cavities 20 , upper and lower housing portions 81 and 82 are shifted relative to each other to expose inlet and outlet openings 85 and 86 as shown in FIG. 7 , then the packaging operation proceeds to cutter station 72 .", "In accordance with a variant of the invention, package 68 can be further wrapped in a film (not shown) which is shrunk about the package 68 , such as by heating, thereby developing an applied force which is essentially transferred to static pressure within package 68 .", "[0025] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of package 68 following cutter station 72 .", "In the embodiment shown, the soft, low temperature dough product has generally taken a D-shape with a flat top due to the application of the pressure in connection with sealing unit 78 .", "Because of the use of the pressure method of the invention, the invention is only applicable for use in packaging relatively rigid objects, i.e., any solid or semi-solid object.", "That is, the invention can be employed in connection with any solid or rigid product, semi-solid product such as jello, but not liquids.", "However, it should be recognized that the invention could be employed in connection with the combination of a liquid with a solid so long as the liquid had a high enough viscosity and associated properties to prevent it from being squirted out between the upper and lower films during the pressurization phase.", "Therefore, in connection with at least the food art, other exemplary products can include jello, vegetables, overall meals and frozen products, while the use of the invention with rigid products can take various forms including medical products, toys, electronics and the like.", "Still, given the unique problems associated with refrigerated dough products, the fact that the present sealing arrangement of the present invention does not employ a vacuum provides significant advantages over a HFFS system which would either employ a vacuum or even a combination of a vacuum and positive pressure.", "In any case, although described with reference to embodiments of the invention, it should be readily understood that various changes and/or modifications can be made to the invention without departing from the spirit thereof.", "Instead, the invention is only intended to be limited by the scope of the following claims." ]

[ "This application is a continuation of application Ser.", "No. 698,623, filed Feb. 6, 1985, now abandoned.", "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a method for the determination of enzyme activity and a composition suitable therefor.", "In the present specification, the enzymes to be determined are leucine aminopeptidase (hereinafter referred to as LAP) and γ-glutamyltranspeptidase (hereinafter referred to as γ-GTP).", "Heretofore, as a method for measuring the enzyme activities, it has been known that a substrate for enzymes obtained by binding leucine or glutamic acid with a chromogen is decomposed by the action of the enzyme in a sample to form a colored compound which is determined.", "As the chromogen, p-nitroanilide, β-naphthylamide, 4-hydroxy-3-carboxyanilide, p-hydroxyanilide, 4-N,N-dialkylamino-3-carboxyanilide, 4-N,N-dialkylaminoanilide and the like are used.", "The solubility of these compounds is, at most, 6.5 mg/ml and the rate of enzymatic reaction is controlled by the rate of solubility.", "Further, in the determination of the pigment formed by using these substrates, the results are likely to be influenced by the other components in the sample.", "Because the determination is made by measuring the absorbancy in the ultraviolet region, a enzymatic reaction must be carried out under the strong alkaline condition which is a dangerous condition.", "The sensitivity is low because the molecular extinction coefficient of the formed pigments is low a long period of time is required to complete the enzymatic reaction, and thus the accuracy of the results by the method is low.", "As a result of studies of substrates having few faults, it has been found that p-aminoanilide compounds wherein an alkyl or hydroxyalkyl group containing a sulfo group is bonded to the amino group in the para-position, have excellent solubility and stability of the pigment formed by the enzymatic reaction.", "It is possible to measure in the visible region because the chromogen has a high molecular extinction coefficient.", "SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, LAP or γ-GTP can be determined by converting the substrate for the enzyme to be determined represented by the general formula (I) ##STR3## wherein Z represents (CH 3 ) 2 CHCH 2 CH(NH 2 )-- (hereinafter referred to as Z 1 ) or (NH 2 )(COOH)CHCH 2 CH 2 -- (hereinafter referred to as Z 2 ), R 1 represents hydrogen, alkyl or substituted alkyl, R 2 represents alkylene or hydroxyalkylene, R 3 and R 4 are the same or different and represents hydrogen, halogen, nitro, hydroxyl, sulfo, carboxyl, alkyl, and alkoxy, and salts thereof into the compound represented by the general formula (II) [hereinafter referred to as compound (II)] ##STR4## wherein R 1 , R 2 , R 3 and R 4 have the same meaning as described above by the action of LAP or γ-GTP, (a) reacting the compound (II) with a chromogen to form a pigment or (b) converting the compound (II) into a diazonium salt and reacting the diazonium salt with a coupling agent to form an azo dye, and measuring the absorbancy of the colored reaction solution.", "DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In the definition of R 1 -R 4 , alkyl includes alkyl having 1-5 carbon atoms such as methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl and amyl, halogen includes chloro, iodo and bromo groups, the alkyl moiety in alkoxy has the same meaning as those of alkyl defined above, alkylene includes alkylene having 1-5 carbon atoms such as methylene, ethylene, tetramethylene and pentamethylene, the alkylene moiety in hydroxyalkylene has the same meaning as those of alkylene defined above, and the substituent of substituted alkyl includes sulfo, hydroxyaryl, nitro, carboxyl, halogen such as chloro and bromo.", "Compound (I) can be synthesized by the following method.", "##STR5## Z'", "represents the group where the amino group in Z is protected with an amino protecting group and/or the carboxyl group in Z is protected with a carboxyl protecting group.", "Examples of the protecting group include amino protecting groups such as benzyloxycarbonyl group, tert-butoxycarbonyl (BOC) groups and carboxyl protecting group such as benzyl group and acyl group (acetyl).", "Examples of compound (III) include N-BOC-L-leucine, N-BOC-L-glutamic acid-α-benzylester.", "As compound (IV), phenylenediamine or phenylenediamines having substituents corresponding to R 3 or R 4 of the substituents of desired compound may be used.", "As condensing agent, for example, DCC may be used.", "The reaction is carried out at room temperature to 60° C. for 1 to 10 hours in an organic solvent.", "The reaction mixture per se or compound V isolated therefrom is dissolved in an organic solvent such as chloroform and compound VI is added thereto.", "The reaction is carried out at room temperature to 60° C. for 15-30 hours.", "As a compound VI, compound corresponding to substituent R 2 of the desired compound is used and examples are shown in reference example 2 described later.", "The desired compound is obtained by isolating compound VII after completion of the reaction and removing the amino and/or carboxyl protecting group by methods known per se.", "Examples of the chromogen include amines such as N,N-diethyl-m-toluidine, N-ethyl-N-hydroxyethyl-m-toluidine, N-ethyl-N-3-methylphenyl-N'-acetylethylenediamine (EMAE), N-ethyl-N-(3-methylphenyl)-N'-succinylethylenediamine (EMSE), N,N-di-3-sulfopropyl-m-toluidine, N-ethyl-N-2-hydroxy-3-sulfopropyl-m-toluidine (TOOS), N,N-dimethyl-m-toluidine, N-ethyl-N-2-cyanoethyl-m-toluidine, N-(2-hydroxy-3-sulphopropyl)-m-toluidine, aniline derivatives such as N-ethyl-N-(3-sulfopropyl)-3,5-dimethoxyaniline, N-ethyl-N-(2-hydroxy)-3-sulfopropyl-3,5-dimethoxyaniline, N-ethyl-N-(3-sulfopropyl)-3-methoxyaniline, N-ethyl-N-2-cyanoethyl-aniline, N,N-dimethylaniline and N,N-diethylaniline, phenols such as α-naphthol, β-naphthol, o- or p-bromophenol, o- or m-anisole, 2,6-xylenol, 3,5-xylenol, 2,5-xylenol, 2,3-xylenol and o- or m-cresol.", "These chromogens are used in a concentration of 0.01-5 mg/ml with surfactant such as Triton X-100, Brij-35 and Brij-80 in a concentration of 0.01-2% for chromogens having low solubility.", "As a chromogen, cinnamaldehydes such as p-N,N-dimethylamino cinnamaldehyde, p-N,N-diethylamino cinnamaldehyde may also be used in a concentration of 0.01-100 mg/ml.", "In this case, an azo dye is formed as the pigment.", "As diazonization agent used in the conversion of compound (II) into a diazonium salt, sodium, potassium or ammonium nitrites may be used in a concentration of 0.1-100 mg/ml.", "As coupling agent, phenols described above such as phenol and 3,5-xylenol may be used in a concentration of 0.01-100 mg/ml.", "When the formed pigment is not an azo dye, the reaction of compound (II) with a chromogen is usually carried out in the presence of an oxidizing agent including oxidase.", "Examples of oxidizing agents include inorganic compounds such as hydrogen peroxide, sodium or potassium metaperiodate, sodium or potassium permanganate, sodium or potassium dichromate, sodium or potassium metavanadate, pentacyanoiron complex, peroxides of acids such as peracetic acid, hydrogen peroxide-peroxidase (HRP), and oxidases such as ceruloplasmin and laccase (E C. 1.", "10.", "2).", "They may be used in a concentration of 0.01-10 mg/ml for inorganic compounds, 0.1-100 U/ml for oxidases.", "Tables 1 and 2 show the solubility, maximum wavelength, sensitivity and stability of the formed pigment.", "TABLE__________________________________________________________________________ ##STR6##CompoundNo.", "Z R.sub[.", "].3 R.sub[.", "].4 R.sub[.", "].1 R.sub[.", "].2__________________________________________________________________________1 Z.sub[.", "].2 H H (CH.", "sub[.", "].2).", "sub[.", "].3 SO.", "sub[.", "].3 H (CH.", "sub[.", "].2).", "sub[.", "].32 Z.sub[.", "].1 "", """, """, ""3 Z.sub[.", "].2 "", """, "CH.", "sub[.", "].3 "4 Z.sub[.", "].1 "", """, """, ""5 Z.sub[.", "].2 "", """, "C.sub[.", "].2 H.sub[.", "].5 CH.", "sub[.", "].2 CHCH.", "sub[.", "].2OH6 Z.sub[.", "].1 "", """, """, ""7 Z.sub[.", "].2 SO.", "sub[.", "].3 H(2) "", "(CH.", "sub[.", "].2).", "sub[.", "].3 SO.", "sub[.", "].3 H (CH.", "sub[.", "].2).", "sub[.", "].38 Z.sub[.", "].1 "", """, """, ""9 Z.sub[.", "].2 Cl(2) "", """, ""10 Z.sub[.", "].1 "", """, """, ""11 Z.sub[.", "].1 CN(2) "", "(CH.", "sub[.", "].2).", "sub[.", "].2 SO.", "sub[.", "].3 H (CH.", "sub[.", "].2).", "sub[.", "].212 Z.sub[.", "].1 CH.", "sub[.", "].3 (2) "", """, ""13 Z.sub[.", "].1 COOCH.", "sub[.", "].3 (2) "", "(CH.", "sub[.", "].2).", "sub[.", "].4 SO.", "sub[.", "].3 H (CH.", "sub[.", "].2).", "sub[.", "].414 Z.sub[.", "].1 OCH.", "sub[.", "].3 (4) CH.", "sub[.", "].3 (2) "", ""Control ##STR7##__________________________________________________________________________ Numbers in parenthesis of R.sub[.", "].3 or R.sub[.", "].4 show the position of the R.sub[.", "].3 or R.sub[.", "].4 group on the benzenenucleus.", "TABLE 2______________________________________λ.", "sub.", "max (nm) SE ST(%) S (mg/ml)______________________________________1 745 >500 98 <", ">2002 745 >500 98<", "1303 750 >500 96<", "804 750 >500 96<", "655 740 >500 98<", "1706 740 >500 98<", "907 680 237 93 >208 680 237 93 >2009 685 315 98<", ">20010 685 315 98<", "12511 640 177 95 >20012 715 >500 >98 >20013 705 312 >98 >20014 720 406 >98 >200Control 615 100 90 <20______________________________________ λ.", "sub.", "max : Maximum wavelength SE: Sensitivity of pigment ST: Stability of pigment S: Solubility Sensitivity 50 μl of 1 mM each free compound was added to 3 ml of 0.1M phosphate buffer containing 0.5 mg/ml EMSE and 1 U/ml laccase and the mixture was incubated at 37° C. for 5 minutes.", "The absorption of the reaction solution at λmax was measured.", "As a control, 5-aminosalicylic acid was used and the reaction of the compound with 2,6-xylenol was carried out in the presence of metaperiodate under strong alkaline conditions.", "The results are shown, defining the sensitivity of 5-aminosalicylic acid as 100.", "The enzymatic reaction is usually carried out in a buffer solution having a pH of 6 to 10 preferably around 8.", "As the buffer, good buffer, phosphate buffer, acetate buffer, etc.", "may be used.", "The present method is very simple and excellent.", "For example, the solubility of the present substrate is very high and therefor it is not necessary to add a surfactant or organic solvent to increase the solubility.", "The measurement of absorption is carried out at a wavelength of 560 nm or more and therefore the results are not influenced by the component in the serum.", "Since the sensitivity and stability of the present substrate are excellent, it is expected that more accurate results will be obtained.", "Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a test composition for the determination of LAP activity or γ-GTP activity which comprises the substrate represented by the general formula (I) and a chromogen.", "The composition may also contain an oxidizing agent, an oxidase, a diazonizing agent, a coupling agent or a buffer.", "Certain specific embodiments of the invention are illustrated by the following representative examples.", "EXAMPLE 1 ______________________________________Reagent solution (pH 7.3)______________________________________Compound No. 2 0.03 g/mlEMSE 0.5 mg/mlMagnesium nitrate 1 mg/mlGood buffer 8 mg/mlLaccase 1 U/ml______________________________________ 3 ml of the reagent solution was incubated at 37° C. for ten minutes.", "To the solution was added 0.05 ml of a serum sample and the mixture was immediately stirred and the change in absorption of the solution at 745 nm was measured for one minute.", "LAP activity in the sample can be calculated using the following equation: ##EQU1## ΔE means the amount of absorption change per minute.", "The same procedures as described above were repeated except that the following materials were used.", "______________________________________(a) Substrate L-leucil-3-carboxy-4-hydroxyanilideOxidizing agent sodium metaperiodateCoupling agent p-xylenolWavelength for 635 nmmeasurement(b) Substrate L-leucil-p-nitroanilideCoupling agent p-dimethylaminocinnamaldehydeWavelength for 565 nmmeasurement(c) Substrate L-leucil-p-N,N-- diethylaminoanilideOxidizing agent m-periodateCoupling agent 1-naphtol-2-sulfonic acidWavelength for 675 nmmeasurement______________________________________ The amounts of absorption change per minute were measured for ten samples and the results are shown in Table 3.", "TABLE 3______________________________________ The method accord- ing to the present(a) (b) (c) invention______________________________________Serum(1) 0.0188 0.0071 0.0158 0.0454(2) 0.0127 0.0054 0.0095 0.0395(3) 0.0198 0.0090 0.0150 0.0543(4) 0.0203 0.0089 0.0145 0.0541(5) 0.0148 0.0071 0.0116 0.0382(6) 0.0158 0.0071 0.0126 0.0437(7) 0.0153 0.0074 0.0113 0.0400(8) 0.0191 0.0086 0.0150 0.0532(9) 0.0190 0.0082 0.0138 0.0537(10) 0.01840 0.0079 0.0133 0.0476______________________________________ EXAMPLE 2 The reagent solution wherein laccase was excluded from the reagent solution of Example 1 was used.", "3 ml of the reagent solution was incubated at 37° C. for 10 minutes and to the mixture was added 0.05 ml of a serum sample.", "The mixture was immediately stirred and incubated at 37° C. for 10 minutes.", "After ten minutes passed, (a) 0.03 ml of 10 mg/ml α-naphthol methanol solution and 0.1 ml of 1N-NaOH solution containing 50 mg/ml sodium salt of meta-periodate were added to the solution.", "The mixture was incubated at 37° C. for 10 minutes and the absorption of the reaction solution at 600 nm was measured.", "(b) 1 ml of 10 mg/ml p-N,N-dimethylamino cinnamaldehyde ethanol solution and 1 ml of 0.4N-HCl solution were added to the solution and the mixture was incubated at 37° C. for 10 minutes.", "The absorption of the reaction solution at 570 nm was measured.", "(c) 0.5 ml of 1N-HCl and 0.5 ml of 1 mg/ml sodium nitrite were added to the solution and the mixture was incubated at 37° C. for 10 minutes.", "Then 0.1 ml of 1 mg/ml 3,5-xylenol ethanol solution was added thereto and the absorption of the reaction solution at 650 nm was measured.", "The results are shown in Table 4 Table 4______________________________________ (a) (b) (c) Example 1______________________________________Serum 1 0.331 0.386 0.277 0.04542 0.291 0.336 0.241 0.03953 0.389 0.466 0.330 0.05434 0.395 0.460 0.325 0.05415 0.277 0.320 0.230 0.03826 0.322 0.372 0.270 0.04377 0.291 0.333 0.244 0.04008 0.386 0.453 0.325 0.05329 0.392 0.460 0.331 0.053710 0.346 0.405 0.292 0.0476Ratio of 73 85 61 100sensitivity______________________________________ EXAMPLE 3 In this example, 500 mg of compound Nos. 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9 each and 500 mg of glycylglycine were dissolved in 100 ml (pH=7.7) and 0.1M phosphate buffer.", "The resultant solutions were designated A-1, A-3, A-5, A-7 and A-9, respectively.", "50 mg of 3-{N-(m-tolyl)-N-ethyl}amino-2-hydroxypropane sulfonic acid was dissolved in 100 ml of phosphate buffer solution to obtain solution B. 50 mg/ml sodium meta-periodate containing 1N-HCl solution was prepared as solution C. 6 ml of solution A-1, A-3, A-5, A-7 or A-9 was equally poured to 3 test tubes.", "The samples were incubated at 37° C. and to the solution was added 20 μg of (a) serum sample (b) standard serum or (c) water.", "The mixtures were stirred and heated for 5 minutes.", "After 5 minutes had passed, 1 ml of solution B and 1 ml of solution C were added to each of the mixtures and the mixtures were incubated for 10 minutes after stirring.", "The absorption of the reaction solutions were measured at the wavelength indicated in Table 2.", "As the standard serum, a serum having 235 mU/ml of γ-GTP was used.", "The γ-GTP activity of the serum sample can be calculated by the following equation.", "##EQU2## The results are 231, 228, 236, 240, and 242 mU/ml respectively.", "REFERENCE EXAMPLE 1 Production of the hydrobromide of L-leucyl-p-N,N-disulfopropyl aminoanilide.", "2.49 g of N-BOC-L-leucine (hereinafter referred to as BLL) was dissolved in 100 ml of dioxane.", "To the solution were added 4.12 g of DCC and 2.16 g of p-phenylenediamine (hereinafter referred to as PDD), and the mixture was incubated at room temperature for 4 hours.", "The mixture was filtered and the filtrate was concentrated to dryness under reduced pressure.", "The product was redissolved in methanol/water=80/20 (vol/vol) and the solution was subjected to chromatography using Diaion HP-20 (Produced by Mitsubishi Chemical Industries Ltd.) and methanol/water=80/20 was used as eluting agent.", "Methanol was removed from the eluate under reduced pressure to obtain N-BOC-L-leucine-p-aminoanilide in the yield of 1.25 g. 1 g of the product was dissolved in 50 ml of chloroform.", "To the mixture were added 2 ml of triethylamine and 5 g of 1,3-propanesultone and the mixture was incubated at 50° for one day.", "50 ml of ethyl ether was added to the mixture which was separated into two layers.", "To the lower layer were added 5 ml of acetic acid and 20 ml of 25% hydrogen bromide-acetic acid and the mixture was allowed to stand at room temperature.", "To the mixture was added 50 ml of ethyl ether to remove the BOC group and to form L-leucine-p-N,N-disulfopropyl aminoanilide.", "HBr as a precipitate.", "After filtration with a glass filter, the precipitate was dissolved in 50 ml of methanol and the solution was neutralized with 6N-NaOH.", "After removal of formed NaCl by filtration, ethyl ether was added to form a precipitate.", "The precipitate was separated by filtration to obtain 0.63 g of desired compound having a melting point of 221°-223° C. ______________________________________Elemental analysis C H N______________________________________Found (%) 46.29 6.58 9.07Calculated(%) 46.45 6.67 9.03______________________________________ REFERENCE EXAMPLE 2 The similar procedures as described in Reference example 1 were repeated except that N-BOC-L-glutamic acid-α-benzylester (BLGB) instead of BLL, or chloro-PPD (CLPPD), sulfo-PPD (SPPD), N-methyl-PPD (NMPPD), N-ethyl-PPD (NEPPD), N-cyano-PPD (CYPPD), methyl-PPD (MPPD), methyloxycarbonyl-PPD (MCPPC) or 2-methyl-5-methoxy-PPD (MOMPPD) instead of PPD and propanesultone (PS), 2-chloroethanesulfonic acid (CESA), 1,4-butanesultone (BS) or 3-chloro-2-hydroxy-propanesulfonic acid (CHPSA) as sulfonizing agent were used to obtain compounds indicated in Table 5.", "TABLE 5______________________________________Com- Sulfo-pound Compound Compound nizing R.sub.", "f ofNo.", "III IV agent m.p. TLC______________________________________1 BLGB PPD PS 201-205° C. 0.192 BLL PPD PS 221-223° C. 0.383 BLGB NMPPD PS 173-178° C. 0.624 BLL NMPPD PS 169-172° C. 0.805 BLGB NEPPD CHPSA 194-197° C. 0.446 BLL NEPPD CHPSA 180-185° C. 0.517 BLGB SPPD PS 228-230° C. 0.088 BLL SPPD PS 217-222° C. 0.129 BLGB CLPPD PS 225-228° C. 0.4510 BLL CLPPD PS 201-207° C. 0.5211 BLL CYPPD CESA 210-215° C. 0.4712 BLL MOMPPD CESA 153-157° C. 0.7013 BLL MCPPD BS 169-175° C. 0.7714 BLL MOMPPD BS 150-153° C. 0.63______________________________________" ]

[ "CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims the priority of Korean Patent Application No. 2003-44341, filed on Jul. 1, 2003, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.", "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1.", "Field of the Invention The present general inventive concept relates to power factor correction, and more particularly, to a power factor correction method and apparatus adapted for used in a power supply which provides a direct-current (DC) power using a capacitive input type smoothing circuit, and an improved power supply using the same.", "Description of the Related Art Recently, power supplies which can be stable, compact and light have been developed to be applied to factory automation devices, office automation devices, communications devices, and power systems.", "In addition, power factor correction and harmonics reduction become important issues in developing the power supply.", "For example, European Union forcibly restricts use of current of harmonics causing an electromagnetic interference in order to enhance quality of power supplies and heighten a trade barrier to protect products made in the European countries.", "Japan also restricts a general voltage distortion ratio of a power system via its suppression guide line based on the IEC standards, in order to maintain a harmonics environmental target level, in which all devices generating harmonics are regulated.", "Accordingly, devices which generate current of harmonics more than a restricted value recommended by an importing country cannot be exported to the importing country.", "In Korea, the radio wave law amended in 1992 stipulates that a person who manufactures or imports electromagnetic interference (EMI) devices is required to obtain an official approval of EMI with respect to the devices.", "In general, a power supply includes a rectifier which converts an AC voltage into a DC voltage, and a DC-DC converter which stabilizes an output from the rectifier in correspondence to variation of loads and an input voltage.", "A capacitive input type rectifier which is widely used as a DC power supply for various electronic equipment needs a capacitor having a large amount of capacity to correspond to an instantaneous power failure or reduce a burden of the DC-DC converter by suppressing variation of an output voltage.", "However, as the capacity of the capacitor becomes larger, a pulse-shaped large current is required to flow in order to store a large amount of energy in the capacitor in a short period of time.", "In this case, a peak value becomes five to ten times as many as an effective value.", "A waveform of an input current of the rectifier becomes discontinuous due to the pulse-shaped large current.", "The pulse-shaped large current influences EMI upon peripheral devices due to distortion of the input voltage and a harmonics component of the input current.", "Many efforts have been made on a method of adding a power factor correction circuit (PFC) to a DC-DC converter in a switching power supply.", "A conventional power factor correction circuit for use in a power supply is divided into a passive PFC and an active PFC.", "FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a power supply to which a conventional passive power factor correction circuit is applied.", "In FIG. 1 , an inductor L is interposed between a rectifier 102 and a smoothing capacitor C or a DC-DC converter 130 to widen a conducting angle of a charging current of a capacitor C using impedance of the inductor L, thereby enhancing power factor correction.", "FIGS. 2A and 2B are graphs schematically showing a waveform of operations in the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 .", "FIG. 2A illustrates a charging current Ic in a case that there is no inductor, and FIG. 2B illustrates a charging current Ic′ in a case that there is an inductor.", "In the case that there is no inductor, the charging current Ic flows only when a voltage Vr applied to the smoothing capacitor C exceeds a charging voltage Vac of the smoothing capacitor C. As shown in FIG. 2A , a pulse-shaped large current flows only near a peak value of an input voltage, that is, near phases of π/2 to 3π/2 of the input voltage.", "A power factor is lowered and, many kinds of current of harmonics are induced by the pulse-shaped large current.", "Such a passive power factor correction circuit is widely used in a field of handling a low-band frequency, a low EMI, and a high power.", "FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a power supply to which a conventional active power factor correction circuit is applied.", "In the power supply shown in FIG. 3 , a waveform of an input current rectified by a rectifier 302 is changed to be similar to a sinusoidal waveform by using a semiconductor switch Q 2 , thereby making a phase of the rectified input current equal to a phase of an input voltage.", "A two-stage power factor correction circuit is chiefly used as an active power factor correction circuit.", "Here, a rectifying portion of an existing switching power supply is replaced by a power factor correction circuit 304 as a pre-regulator, and DC-DC conversion is performed by using a post-stage regulator 306 .", "That is, since the active power factor correction circuit maintains a high power factor within a broad input voltage range, the active power function correction circuit is appropriate for devices which form a multiple output, require insulation, and need high precision.", "The conventional power factor correction devices shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 , use an inductor L to enhance power factor correction.", "Thus, such an inductor L used in the power supplies should be an inductor having a large inductance to enhance the power factor correction since the inductor should be designed to correspond to a frequency of an input AC voltage, such as a frequency of a commercial AC voltage which is 50 Hz or 60 Hz.", "Accordingly, the inductor used in a power factor correction device becomes large in shape and weight and high in price.", "Also, the power factor correction devices which use the inductor L has a power factor correction effect which is greatly influenced by variation of an input voltage and current and variation of an output voltage and current, and a very large power is consumed in a linear regulator corresponding to a post stage of the power factor correction stage.", "SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the foregoing and/or other problems, it is an aspect of the present general inventive concept to provide a power factor correction method of correcting a power factor in a power supply which rectifies an input alternating-current (AC) voltage and smoothes the same using a capacitive input type smoothing circuit in order to supply a direct-current (DC) voltage the power factor correction method including providing the rectified voltage to a smoothing circuit in synchronization with the input AC voltage in a switching manner, so that power factor correction and characteristics of harmonics are enhanced.", "It is another aspect of the present general inventive concept to provide a power factor correction apparatus appropriate for the above power factor correction method.", "Additional aspects and advantages of the present general inventive concept will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the general inventive concept.", "The foregoing and/or other aspects of the present general inventive concept may be achieved by providing a power factor correction apparatus to correct a power factor in a power supply which smoothes an input alternating-current (AC) voltage via a capacitive input type smoothing circuit and stabilizes the smoothed direct-current (DC) voltage via a linear regulator, the power factor correction apparatus providing the rectified voltage to a smoothing circuit in a switching manner, so that power factor correction and characteristics of harmonics are enhanced.", "The foregoing and/or other aspects of the present general inventive concept may be achieved by providing a power factor correction method of correcting a power factor in a power supply which rectifies an input alternating-current (AC) voltage and smoothes the same via a capacitive input type smoothing circuit in order to supply a direct-current (DC) voltage, the power factor correction method including rectifying the input AC voltage, cutting off a pulsating current generated in the rectifying operation at phases of about π/2 and, 3π/2 of the input AC voltage so that the pulsating current is not transferred to a smoothing circuit, and smoothing the pulsating current generated in the cutting-off operation.", "The foregoing and/or other aspects of the present general inventive concept may be achieved by providing a power factor correction apparatus to correct a power factor in a power supply which smoothes an input alternating-current (AC) voltage via a capacitive input type smoothing circuit and stabilizes the smoothed direct-current (DC) voltage, the power factor correction apparatus including an AC voltage transformer which transforms the input AC voltage and outputs the transformed result, a rectifier which rectifies the AC voltage provided from the AC voltage transformer, a switch which is inserted between the rectifier and the smoothing circuit, a pulse generator which generates a pulse signal in synchronization with the input AC voltage applied to the AC voltage transformer, and a switching controller which generates a switching control signal to control the switch, so that a pulsating current output from the rectifier is not transferred to the smoothing circuit in response to the pulse signal applied from the pulse generator at phases of about π/2 and 3π/2 of the input AC voltage.", "The foregoing and/or other aspects of the present general inventive concept may also be achieved by providing a power factor correction apparatus to correct a power factor in a power supply which smoothes an input alternating-current (AC) voltage via a capacitive input type smoothing circuit and stabilizes the smoothed direct-current (DC) voltage, the power factor correction apparatus including an AC voltage transformer which transforms the input AC voltage and outputs the transformed result, a rectifier which rectifies the AC voltage provided from the AC voltage transformer, a switch which is inserted between the rectifier and the smoothing circuit, a pulse generator which generates a pulse signal in synchronization with the input AC voltage applied to the AC voltage transformer, and a switching controller which generates a switching control signal to control the switch, so that a pulsating current output from the rectifier is not transferred to the smoothing circuit at phases of about π/2 and 3π/2 of the input AC voltage in response to the pulse signal applied from the pulse generator.", "The foregoing and/or other aspects of the present general inventive concept may also be achieved by providing a power supply which smoothes an input alternating-current (AC) voltage via a capacitive input type smoothing circuit and stabilizes the smoothed direct-current (DC) voltage via a linear regulator, the power supply including an AC voltage transformer which transforms the input AC voltage and outputs the transformed result, a rectifier which rectifies the AC voltage provided from the AC voltage transformer, a switch which is inserted between the rectifier and the smoothing circuit, a pulse generator which generates a pulse signal in synchronization with the input AC voltage applied to the AC voltage transformer;", "and a switching controller which generates a switching control signal to control the switch, so that a pulsating current output from the rectifier is not transferred to the smoothing circuit at phases of about π/2 and 3π/2 of the input AC voltage, and a drop-out detector which detects a voltage difference between both ends of the linear regulator and supplies a drop-out signal as the detected result to the switching controller, wherein the switching controller generates the switching control signal which controls the switch in response to the pulse signal applied from the pulse generator and the drop-out signal provided from the drop-out detector.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS These and/or other aspects and advantages of the present general inventive concept will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which: FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a power supply to which a conventional passive power factor correction circuit is applied;", "FIGS. 2A and 2B are graphs schematically showing waveforms of operations in the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 ;", "FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a power supply to which a conventional active power factor correction circuit is applied;", "FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a power factor correction method according to an embodiment of the present general inventive concept;", "FIG. 5 a view schematically showing sections of Class A and Class D;", "FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a power factor correction apparatus according to another embodiment of the present general inventive concept;", "FIGS. 7A through 7F are graphs schematically showing waveforms generated during operations in the apparatus shown in FIG. 6 ;", "FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a direct-current power supply according to another embodiment of the present general inventive concept;", "FIG. 9 is a graph showing a waveform which indicates a power factor correction effect in the apparatus shown in FIG. 8 ;", "and FIG. 10 is a graph showing a waveform which indicates a harmonic enhancement effect in the apparatus shown in FIG. 8 .", "DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of the present general inventive concept, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to the like elements throughout.", "The embodiments are described below in order to explain the present general inventive concept by referring to the figures.", "FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a power factor correction method according to an embodiment of the present general inventive concept.", "The power factor correction method shown in FIG. 4 may include a rectification process S 402 , a cut-off process S 404 , and a smoothing process S 406 .", "In the rectification process S 402 , an alternating-current (AC) voltage provided from an AC voltage transformer can be rectified.", "The rectification process S 402 can be performed by a conventional bridge rectifier, such as a rectifier 302 of FIG. 3 .", "Meanwhile, when the AC voltage is transformed via an AC voltage transformer, a leakage inductance of the AC voltage transformer can be controlled to reduce harmonics of an input current of the AC voltage.", "Power factor correction and reduction of harmonics can be achieved by current phase delay and energy charging characteristics of the leakage inductance in the AC voltage transformer.", "As described above, an excellent power factor correction effect can be obtained without using a separate inductor by using a leakage inductance characteristic of the AC voltage transformer.", "In the cut-off process S 404 , the pulsating current obtained in the rectification process S 402 can be cut off from the rectified voltage at phases of about π/2 and 3π/2 of the input AC voltage.", "That is, the pulsating current having a phase only in the range between 2π/3 and 4π/3 and between 6π/3 and π/3 can pass through the switching unit, so that the pulsating current obtained in the rectification process S 402 is cut off from the rectified voltage at phases of about π/2 and 3π/2 of the input AC voltage.", "In the cut-off process S 404 , a switch of the switching unit can be inserted between the rectifier and the smoothing circuit.", "The switch can be electrically conducted only when the phase of the pulsating current is in the range between 2π/3 and 4π/3 and between 6π/3 and π/3 of the input AC voltage.", "In the smoothing process S 406 , the pulsating current cut off in the cut-off process S 404 can be smoothed.", "The smoothing process S 406 can be performed by a capacitive input type smoothing circuit.", "EMI (Electromagnetic Interference) can occur from all electromagnetic signals which radiate at a place having no obstacles and conduct along power or signal lead wires, or other things which radiate.", "This EMI can obstruct wired or wireless navigation or other safety service functions, and can impede radio communications services severely or interrupts them continuously.", "Recently, in Europe and Japan, regulations for restricting noise of harmonics generated from power supplies are established in effect as a part of an administrative action which suppresses an electromagnetic wave environmental pollution which may cause harm to humans.", "Such an electromagnetic wave pollution prevention act tends to be further extended.", "For example, EN 61000-3-2 which is a protective regulation for EMC (Electromagnetic Compatibility) which means a capability representing whether a number of electronic devices operate well together in European Union, restricts inflow and variation of a voltage in a power supply for use in an apparatus whose maximum rating current is equal to or less than 16 A. Here, devices are classified into Class A, Class B, Class C and Class D, respectively, according to an input power, the kind of the device used, and a waveform of an input current.", "General information equipment is classified into Class D. FIG. 5 schematically shows sections of Class A and Class D. In FIG. 5 , a half wave of an input AC voltage, that is, only a wave of the input AC voltage in a range of 0 to π, is illustrated.", "Here, another half wave of the input AC voltage in a range of π to 2π can be determined based on the half wave shown in FIG. 5 .", "As shown in FIG. 5 , Class D is applied in a case that a peak envelop of the input rent exists near the phase of π/2, that is, within π/3 to 2π/3.", "Otherwise, Class A is applied.", "Table 1 illustrates restrictions on standard Class A and Class D defined in EN 61000-3-2.", "TABLE 1 EN61000-3-2 Class A Class D Harmonics Number mA/W mA/W 3 2300 3.4 5 1140 1.9 7 770 1.0 9 400 0.5 11 330 0.35 In Table 1, the left column indicates the number of orders of harmonics, the middle column indicates a fixed value as a standard value of Class A, and the right column indicates a variable value, which varies proportionally according to an input power as a standard value of Class D. For example, in a case of the third harmonics, Class A needs to 2300 mA at maximum per Watt irrespective of the input power, but Class D should meet 3.4 mA at maximum per Watt.", "In a case that the input power is 600 W, which is a maximum applied value, since Class A is less than 2300 mA but Class D is 2040 mA, it can be seen that Class A has more advantages than Class D when being applied to the device used as the power supply.", "In the power factor correction method according to an aspect of the present general inventive concept, the peak envelop of the input current cannot be formed at phases of about π/3 and 2π/3 of the input AC voltage, but is formed in a range of 2π/3 to 4π/3 and 6π/3 to π/3.", "Accordingly, class D can be applied to the power supplies which adopt the power factor correction method according to this embodiment the present general inventive concept, since Class D of EN 61000-3-2 is not more restrictive than Class A. In the power factor correction method according to another aspect of the present general inventive concept, a charging current applied to the smoothing circuit by the leakage inductance in the AC voltage transformer can continuously flow even at a zero crossing point of the input AC voltage.", "Here, a peak envelop of the charging current may not be formed at phases of π/2 and 3π/2 of the input AC voltage, but is formed at phases of about π/3, 2π/3, 4π/3 and 6π/3.", "Accordingly, a power factor can be corrected and then a current of harmonics can be reduced.", "Also, the power factor correction method according to another aspect of the present general inventive concept may not use an inductor which has been used in the conventional power factor correction apparatus, but may use a leakage inductance characteristic in the AC voltage transformer.", "Accordingly, a power supply whose price burden is small and whose power factor is corrected can be implemented.", "FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a power factor correction apparatus according to another embodiment of the present general inventive concept.", "The power factor correction apparatus of FIG. 6 may include an AC voltage transformer 602 , a rectifier 604 , a switch 606 , a pulse generator 608 , a switching controller 610 , and a smoothing circuit 612 .", "The AC voltage transformer 602 can transform an input AC voltage and outputs the transformed result.", "The AC voltage transformer 602 can be designed to have a leakage inductance so that a peak envelop of a waveform of current provided to the smoothing circuit 612 is not generated at phases of about π/2 and 3π/2 of the input AC voltage, but is formed at phases within a range of 2π/3 to 4π/'and 6π/3 to π/3.", "Here, the leakage inductance can be selected according to conditions of an input voltage and current and an output voltage and current.", "The rectifier 604 can rectify an AC voltage provided from the AC voltage transformer 602 .", "The switch 606 can be inserted between the rectifier 604 and the smoothing circuit 612 , and a switching operation of the switch 606 can be controlled by the switching controller 610 .", "The pulse generator 608 can detect a zero crossing point of the input AC voltage applied to the AC voltage transformer 602 , can generate a pulse signal in synchronization with the detected zero crossing point, and can supply the generated pulse signal to the switching controller 610 .", "The switching controller 610 can generate a switching control signal to control the switch 606 , so that a pulsating current output from the rectifier 604 is not transferred to the smoothing circuit 612 at phases of about π/2 and 3π/2 of the input AC voltage in response to the pulse signal applied from the pulse generator 608 , that is, the pulse signal generated at the detected zero crossing point of the transformed input AC voltage, but is transferred to the smoothing circuit 612 at phases only in the range of 2π/3 to 4π/3 and 6π/3 to π/3.", "According to an aspect of this embodiment, the switching control signal may be a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal which can regulate a voltage applied to the smoothing circuit 612 .", "FIGS. 7A to 7F are graphs schematically showing waveforms generated during operations of the apparatus shown in FIG. 6 .", "FIG. 7A shows the transformed input AC voltage supplied from the AC voltage transformer 602 at an ‘A’ point of FIG. 6 .", "FIG. 7B shows a full-wave rectified signal output from the rectifier 604 at a ‘B’ point of FIG. 6 .", "FIG. 7C shows the pulse signal generated from the pulse generator 608 at the zero crossing point of the transformed input AC voltage.", "FIG. 7D shows the switching control signal (switch turn-on/off signal) generated from the switching controller 610 .", "FIG. 7E shows variation of a voltage applied across the switch 606 .", "FIG. 7F shows a current flowing through the switch 606 .", "In FIG. 7F , the current flowing at the zero crossing point of the transformed input AC voltage, that is, at the phase of π of the input AC voltage, can be caused by the leakage inductance of the AC voltage transformer 602 .", "Referring to FIGS. 7A to 7F , the current applied to the smoothing circuit 612 can continuously flow even at the zero crossing point of the transformed input AC voltage.", "Here, the peak envelop of the current cannot be formed at phases of π/2 and 3π/2 of the input AC voltage, but is formed within a range of 2π/3 to 4π/3 and 6π/3 to π/3.", "Accordingly, it can be seen that a power factor can corrected and then current of harmonics can be reduced.", "FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a direct-current (DC) power supply according to another embodiment of the present general inventive concept.", "The power supply of FIG. 8 may include an AC voltage transformer 802 , a rectifier 804 , a switch 806 , a pulse generator 808 , a switching controller 810 , a smoothing circuit 812 , a linear regulator 814 , and a drop-out detector 816 .", "Since operations of the AC voltage transformer 802 , the rectifier 804 , the switch 806 , the pulse generator 808 , and the smoothing circuit 812 of FIG. 8 are same as those of FIG. 6 , the detailed description thereof will be omitted.", "The linear regulator 814 can regulate an unstable voltage and current generated from the rectifier 804 to be maintained constant irrespective of change of the input voltage and current or the output loads.", "The linear regulator 814 , applied to the DC power supply of FIG. 8 and connected to the switch 806 in series, can absorb a difference between the input voltage and the output voltage.", "As a result, the voltage difference, called a drop-out, can exist at both ends of the linear regulator 814 .", "The drop-out varies according to variation of the input AC voltage and variation of the load current.", "However, the drop-out should be minimized.", "This power supply shown in FIG. 8 can detect a size of the drop-out and can output the detected drop-out back to the switching controller 810 to thereby control a voltage to be applied to the smoothing circuit 812 .", "The size of the drop-out can be detected by the drop-out detector 816 .", "The drop-out detector 816 can detect a difference between the voltage difference between both ends of the linear regulator 814 and a reference voltage (Vref) 817 to provide the detected difference to the switching controller 810 .", "Here, the reference voltage Vref can be determined as a value appropriate to be absorbed in the linear regulator 814 and can be smaller than a maximum drop-out.", "The switching controller 810 can generate a switching control signal whose pulse width can vary according to a size of an error provided from the drop-out detector 816 , and can provide the generated switching control signal to the switch 806 .", "The switching controller 810 can control a conducting range (timing) of the switch 806 so that a period of time of a voltage to be applied to the smoothing circuit 812 becomes extended or shortened according to the size of the error provided from the drop-out detector 816 .", "The voltage output from the smoothing circuit 812 can be maintained as a value similar to the voltage output from the linear regulator 814 , that is, a value obtained by adding the reference voltage to the output voltage of the linear regulator 814 , under a switching control operation of the switching controller 810 .", "Accordingly, a power consumption of the linear regulator 814 can be maintained minimum.", "FIG. 9 is a graph showing a waveform which indicates a power factor correction effect in the apparatus shown in FIG. 8 .", "As shown in FIG. 9 , the peak envelop of the current can not be formed at phases of π/2 and 3π/2 of the input AC voltage, but is formed at phases within a range of 2π/3 to 4π/3 and 6π/3 to π/3.", "Accordingly, it can be seen that a power factor can be corrected and then current of harmonics can be reduced.", "FIG. 10 is a graph showing a waveform which indicates a harmonics enhancement effect in the apparatus shown in FIG. 8 .", "In the graphs of FIG. 10 , a vertical axis indicates current values, and a horizontal axis indicates harmonics.", "As shown in FIG. 10 , it can be seen that harmonics can be suppressed sufficiently to meet a standard limited value of Class A which is indicated as a solid curve.", "The power supply according an aspect of to the present general inventive concept may not use any inductor but may use a leakage inductance characteristic of an AC voltage transformer to provide an inexpensive power supply.", "Also, the power supply according to another aspect of the present general inventive concept can minimize the drop-out of the linear regulator to reduce a size of a heat radiating plate and a size of a transistor which is used in the linear regulator.", "Accordingly, the embodiments of the present general inventive concept can provide a high integration power supply.", "The present general inventive concept is not limited to the above-described embodiments.", "It is apparent to one who has an ordinary skill in the art that there may be many modifications and variations of the power supplies within the same technical spirit of the general inventive concept.", "As described above, the power factor correction apparatus according to the present general inventive concept may not make the peak envelop of the current formed at phases of π/2 and 3π/2 of the input AC voltage, thereby correcting a power factor and reducing a harmonics current.", "Also, the present general inventive concept can use a leakage inductance of an AC voltage transformer at maximum to provide an inexpensive power supply.", "Although a few embodiments of the present general inventive concept have been shown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the general inventive concept, the scope of which is defined in the appended claims and their equivalents." ]

[ "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to electric current generation devices.", "More particularly, the invention relates to improvements in stator construction for use in conjunction with a fly wheel providing a magnetic field to coils on the stator.", "Small pull-start engines, such as are typically used in residential lawn mowers, generally include one or more spark plugs powered by an ignition mechanism in which current is generated by rotation of a magnet-carrying fly wheel.", "The fly wheel is integrally mounted to the crank shaft, which may be rotated by a pull cord.", "Thus, pulling the cord turns the crank shaft, thereby turning the fly wheel and activating the ignition mechanism.", "Thereafter, the motor drives the crank shaft so that the ignition continues to operate.", "Smaller lawn mowers include a single rotary blade directly attached to the crank shaft.", "Although this requires the operator to overcome the inertia of the blade in rotating the crank shaft by the pull-cord to start the engine, the extra load is typically acceptable.", "Larger commercial mowers, however, may have multiple rotary blades driven by the crank shaft via belts extending from the shaft.", "The increased inertia caused by the multiple blades may make pull starting impractical.", "Thus, an electric clutch may be used to selectively engage the fly wheel to the loaded portion of the crank shaft.", "With the clutch disengaged, the fly wheel may be easily rotated by the pull-cord to start the engine.", "The clutch may then be engaged to turn the blades.", "The clutch is an electric device run by DC current.", "To provide this current, the fly wheel is constructed in an alternator configuration.", "Typically, the fly wheel includes an inner diameter having magnets disposed thereabout.", "A stator concentric with the fly wheel rotor includes a series of windings, or coils.", "The rotor rotates at engine speed and provides a moving magnetic field which causes current flow in the windings.", "Accordingly, the stator output current depends on engine speed.", "That is, when the engine is running at low rpm's, the fly wheel is rotating slowly, and the current output is relatively low.", "As engine speed increases, however, so does the alternator current output.", "If the alternator output is too low at low engine speed, the clutch will not engage, and the mower is not operable.", "One way to resolve this problem is to increase alternator output at low rpm's.", "This may be done in various ways.", "Unfortunately, increasing current output at low rpm's in conventional systems also increases the output at high rpm's.", "If the current output is too high, the clutch may fail.", "SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention recognizes and addresses the foregoing disadvantages, and others, of prior art constructions and methods.", "Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved electric current generation device.", "More particularly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved alternator assembly exhibiting an output current profile such that downstream devices are operable as engine speed increases through the engine's operative speed range.", "It is a still further object of the present invention to provide an improved alternator assembly having a rectified output signal.", "Some of these objects are achieved by an electric current generation device comprising a rotatable rotor including a magnet assembly establishing a magnetic field proximate the rotor.", "A stator includes at least one set of coils disposed with respect to the rotor so that rotation of the rotor moves the magnetic field with respect to the coils of the coil set to generate electric current flow in the coil set.", "The coil set includes an impedance component in communication with the electric current flow to limit the rate of increase of electric current flow generated by the coil set as the rotational speed of the rotor increases.", "In a preferred embodiment, the rotor has an inner annular surface and includes a plurality of magnets arranged in a spaced apart relationship and in alternating polarity about the inner annular surface to establish the magnetic field.", "The stator has an annular outer surface concentric with and opposing the rotor inner annular surface and includes a plurality of poles extending from the annular outer surface.", "Each coil of the coil set is wound about a pole and is connected in series with its adjacent coil(s).", "A plurality of adjacent coils within the set are wound in alternating opposite directions with respect to each other so that the coils of this first coil group are electrically in phase with each other.", "The remaining coil or coils comprise a second coil group and are wound in an opposite direction to the first group with respect to the magnetic field so that the second group is electrically out of phase with the first group.", "In another preferred embodiment, the stator includes at least two coil sets disposed with respect to the rotor so that rotation of the rotor moves the magnetic field with respect to the coils of the coil sets to generate electric current flow in the coil sets.", "The coils of a first coil set are wound so that the output of the first set is out of phase with respect to the output of a second coil set.", "A rectifier mechanism is in operative communication with the first coil set and the second coil set to rectify and combine the output of the first coil set and the second coil set.", "The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate one or more embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A full and enabling disclosure of the present invention, including the best mode thereof, directed to one of ordinary skill in the art, is set forth in the specification, which makes reference to the appended drawings, in which: FIG. 1 is a partial schematic illustration of an electric current generation device constructed in accordance with the present invention;", "FIG. 2 is an electric diagrammatic representation of a stator of an electric current generation device constructed in accordance with the present invention;", "FIG. 3 is a graphical representation of voltage output of an electric current generation device constructed in accordance with the present invention compared to reference voltage outputs;", "FIG. 4 is a graphical representation of electric current output of an electric current generation device constructed in accordance with the present invention compared to reference current outputs;", "FIG. 5 is a graphical representation of electric current output of an electric current generation device constructed in accordance with the present invention compared to reference current outputs;", "FIG. 6A is a graphical representation of an unrectified AC voltage output signal from one coil set of an electric current generation device constructed in accordance with the present invention;", "FIG. 6B is a graphical representation of an unrectified voltage output signal of one coil set of an electric current generation device constructed in accordance with the present invention;", "FIG. 6C is a graphical representation of a rectified voltage output signal of two coil sets of an electric current generation device constructed in accordance with the present invention;", "FIG. 7 is a graphical representation of power output of an electric current generation device constructed in accordance with the present invention compared to reference power outputs;", "FIG. 8 is a graphical representation of power output of an electric current generation device constructed in accordance with the present invention compared to reference power outputs;", "FIG. 9 is an electric diagrammatic representation of a stator of an electric current generation device constructed in accordance with the present invention;", "FIG. 10 is an electric diagrammatic representation of a stator of an electric current generation device constructed in accordance with the present invention;", "FIG. 11 is an electric diagrammatic representation of a stator of an electric current generation device constructed in accordance with the present invention;", "and FIG. 12 is an electric diagrammatic representation of a stator of an electric current generation device constructed in accordance with the present invention.", "Repeat use of reference characters in the present specification and drawings is intended to represent same or analogous features or elements of the invention.", "DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Reference will now be made in detail to presently preferred embodiments of the invention, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.", "Each example is provided by way of explanation of the invention, not limitation of the invention.", "In fact, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit thereof.", "For instance, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment may be used on another embodiment to yield a still further embodiment.", "Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers such modifications and variations as come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.", "The present invention is concerned with an improved electric current generation device.", "Accordingly, FIG. 1 depicts a presently preferred embodiment of an alternator, shown generally at 10.", "A rotor 12 is part of a fly wheel connected to a crank shaft (not shown).", "Rotor 12 has an inner annular surface 14 and includes a plurality of magnets 16 arranged about inner diameter 14 in alternating polarity.", "That is, if one of the magnets 16 is arranged so that its positive pole is exposed at annular surface 14, the two magnets 16 adjacent to and on either side of the first magnet are arranged so that their negative poles are exposed at inner annular surface 14.", "In a preferred embodiment, the rotor includes six magnets, each having three poles in alternating polarity.", "Thus, eighteen poles, alternatingly positive and negative, are presented at the rotor's inner diameter.", "As described herein, this arrangement is considered to be eighteen magnets arranged in spaced apart relationship and in alternating polarity.", "It should be understood, however, that eighteen discrete magnets could be used.", "Stator 18 employs a lamination stack with eighteen poles 20 extending from an outer annular surface 22.", "A plastic insulating tray is used to electrically isolate the copper windings, or coils, 24 from the steel laminations.", "The rotor rotates at engine speed and provides the magnetic flux reversals which cause current flow in the windings.", "Assuming that the rotor illustrated in FIG. 1 includes eighteen magnets with the same angular spacing as poles 20, magnets 16 periodically align with the poles as the rotor rotates.", "When the magnets radially align with the poles, the magnets radially opposite any two adjacent poles are of opposite polarity.", "This is an example of magnets arranged in alternating polarity with respect to the coils.", "As should be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art, however, various suitable magnet arrangements may be used.", "For example, one or more of the magnets 16 may be eliminated, leaving a number less than eighteen.", "Although the two magnets on either side of a gap created by a missing magnet have the same polarity, the magnet pattern of alternating polarity remains, and the rotor magnets are still considered to be arranged in alternating polarity, in this case with respect to the coils.", "A first winding set includes the seven coils wound about the poles on the upper half of stator 18.", "These coils include forty-eight turns per pole of #22 AWG copper wire.", "Those of ordinary skill in this art should understand that the number of windings, and their construction, may depend on the use to which the alternator is to be put, the conditions under which it is to be operated, and other possible factors.", "Thus, the above-described dimensions are provided for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.", "Beginning with pole 26 and moving counterclockwise to pole 28, the respective winding direction of each coil 24 is clockwise, counter clockwise, clockwise, counter clockwise, clockwise, clockwise and counter clockwise.", "That is, a first group of these coils, extending in the counter clockwise direction along stator 18 from pole 26 to pole 30, includes coils wound in alternating opposite directions with respect to each other.", "Because the permanent magnets 16 exhibit alternating polarity, however, these coils are electrically in phase with respect to each other.", "That is, the responses of these coils with respect to the magnetic field generated by the moving rotor magnets are in phase with each other.", "A second group of coils within the first coil set includes the coils wound about poles 32 and 28.", "These poles are also wound in alternating opposite directions but break the pattern of the first group.", "With respect to the magnetic field, the winding direction of the coils of the second group is opposite to the winding direction of the coils in the first group.", "The coils of the second group are electrically out of phase with respect to the coils of the first group.", "The coils of the first coil set are connected in series and are grounded to stator 18 at 34.", "Stator 18 is connected to the engine block.", "The reverse winding of the two "reverse wound"", "coils limits current from the five "forward wound"", "coils by reducing the voltage across the coil set and by increasing the coil set's impedance.", "That is, the reverse wound coils limit the current from what it would have been had the coil set consisted of the forward wound coils alone.", "Often, the resulting current is less than what it would have been had the coil set been comprised solely of a number of forward wound coils equal to the difference between the number of forward wound coils and the number of reverse wound coils in the actual coil set.", "The reverse wound coils are designed with sufficient inductance to oppose high-speed current without negatively affecting low speed performance.", "A second coil set, beginning at pole 36 and extending counter clockwise to pole 38, is wound similarly to the first coil set.", "Beginning at pole 36, winding directions are counter clockwise, clockwise, counter clockwise, clockwise, counter clockwise, counter clockwise and clockwise.", "Given the orientation of the first and second coil sets with respect to the moving magnetic field and between ground 34 and the stator output at diodes 40, the winding direction of the coils of the coil sets causes the output the coil sets to be out of phase.", "Specifically, with respect to the magnetic field generated by the permanent magnets 16, the winding direction of the coils of the first coil set is opposite to the winding direction of the coils of the second coil set.", "As described in more detail below, this causes the output of the first coil set to be 180° out of phase with respect to the output of the second coil set.", "The output of each coil set is electrically connected to a respective diode 40.", "Rectifier 40 adds a DC component to the output of the coil sets.", "As used herein, a rectifier is a mechanism which adds a DC component to an AC signal.", "The diode outputs are spliced at 42.", "The output of connection 42 is connected to a powered device, such as electric clutch 44, for example through a manual switch and/or safety switches (not shown).", "Although the output of the stator 18 is described as powering an electric clutch, it should be understood that device 44 may include or consist of other devices, for example an ignition mechanism, fuel pump, fuel injector or head light.", "FIG. 2 provides an electric schematic illustration of stator 18.", "The first coil group (the windings from poles 26-30) of the first set are represented by coil 46.", "The second group (the windings on poles 32 and 28) is represented by coil 48.", "The first group (the windings on poles 36-24) of the second coil set are represented by coil 50, and the second coil group (the windings on pole 38 and the adjacent pole) is represented by coil 52.", "Diodes 40 are connected between the output of coils 46 and 52, respectively, and connection 53.", "In another preferred embodiment, however, diodes 40 are connected, in the same biasing direction as illustrated in FIG. 2, between the coils on poles 48 and 50, respectively, and ground.", "Thus, referring to FIG. 1, one diode 40 may be connected between the coil on pole 36 and ground connection 34, while the other diode is connected between the coil on pole 28 and ground connection 34.", "The diodes in this arrangement half-wave rectify the output of their respective coil sets.", "Connection 53 (FIG.", "2), which should be understood to be part of the rectifier mechanism of this embodiment, combines the output of the coil sets.", "Moreover, any suitable arrangement of the diodes, or other rectifying mechanism, with one or more of the coil sets should be understood to be within the scope and spirit of the present invention.", "FIG. 3, at line 54, describes the AC voltage output of one of the coil sets of stator 18 (FIG.", "1) as a function of engine speed.", "Line 56 describes the AC voltage output of the five forward wound coils of the first coil group alone.", "Line 58 describes the AC voltage output of two forward wound coils alone.", "As can be seen from the graph, the effect of the two reverse wound coils of the second coil group on the total coil set output is approximately equal to the aggregate voltage across the five forward wound coils less the aggregate voltage across two coils.", "FIG. 4, at line 60, illustrates the electric current output of one of the coil sets shown in FIG. 1 across a 2 ohm resistor.", "Line 62 illustrates the current output of the five forward wound coils of the first group alone.", "Line 64 illustrates the current output of three forward wound coils alone, and line 66 illustrates the current output of two forward wound coils alone.", "As can be seen from FIG. 4, the profile of the current output of the total coil set (line 60) is much flatter than the output profile of the other coil combinations.", "Assuming that the current output of the coil set at 1000 rpm's is sufficient to activate a device such as an electric clutch, the output current increase over the illustrated engine speed range is relatively low.", "Thus, the coil set can provide current at low engine speeds sufficient to activate the electric clutch without danger of providing too much current at higher engine speed.", "In contrast, the construction illustrated by lines 64 and 66, while apparently providing sufficient and safe current at low engine speeds, may provide excessive current at higher engine speeds.", "The construction illustrated by line 62 may provide excessive current relatively early in the engine speed range.", "In another preferred embodiment, each coil set includes a first coil group with six forward wound poles and a second group of two reverse wound poles.", "The current output of this configuration is illustrated in FIG. 5. Line 68 illustrates the current output of one coil set constructed in such a manner.", "Line 70 illustrates the current output of six forward wound poles alone.", "Line 72 illustrates the current output of four forward wound poles alone, and line 74 illustrates the output of two forward wound poles alone.", "Again, current is measured where the coil set output is shorted across a two ohm resistor.", "FIGS. 6A, 6B, and 6C illustrate voltage signal responses of each coil set and the resulting output of diodes 40 (FIG.", "1).", "FIG. 6A is an approximate illustration of the unrectified voltage response of one coil set at a given engine speed, for example approximately 2000 rpm's.", "FIG. 6B approximately illustrates the unrectified voltage response of the other coil set at the same instant.", "It should be understood, however, that the actual voltage responses will deviate from these curves due to real world conditions.", "Because diodes 40 half-wave rectify the output of each coil set, the total stator output is a full-wave rectified signal, as illustrated in FIG. 6C.", "Thus, the use of a pair of half-wave rectified coil sets provides a full-wave rectified output without the use of a full-wave rectifier.", "It should be understood, however, that a full-wave rectifier mechanism, for example comprising four diodes constructed in the well-understood manner, could be used to produce an output similar to that shown in FIG. 6C from the output of a single coil set.", "For example, FIG. 12 illustrates a diode bridge circuit 75 connected across a first coil group 46 and a second coil group 48.", "Referring now to FIG. 7, line 76 illustrates the output power of one coil set comprised of five forward and two reverse-wound coils (shorted across a 2 ohm resistor) as a function of engine speed.", "Line 78 illustrates the output power of five forward wound coils alone, while line 80 illustrates the output power of two forward wound poles alone.", "As can be seen from FIG. 7, the winding arrangement of the present invention provides significantly improved current regulation.", "Similarly, FIG. 8 illustrates power output 82 of a coil set having six forward wound coils and two reverse wound coils, as compared to power output 84, 86, and 88 of six, four, and two forward wound coils respectively.", "With the coil winding configuration shown, for example, in FIG. 1, the total voltage across a coil set is less than the aggregate voltage across the forward wound coils, and the total impedance of the coil set is greater than the total impedance of the forward wound coils.", "First, the reverse wound coils cause a straight subtractive reduction of the voltage across the forward wound coils.", "For example, line 54 of FIG. 3 is approximately equal to the difference between lines 56 and 58.", "Thus, with respect to voltage, the reverse wound coils cause a simple subtraction, and the coil set behaves as if it were comprised of only three forward wound coils.", "Second, in general, the total impedance of the coil set increases as coils are added.", "Also, the current in the coil set is decreased by an increased coil set impedance and is increased by increased coil set voltage.", "Referring to lines 62 and 66 of FIG. 4, the positive effect of the greater voltage across the five windings relative to the two windings overcomes the negative effect of the greater relative impedance, and the current output of the five windings is greater than that of the two windings.", "Similarly, the current output of three forward windings is between lines 62 and 66.", "Finally, the interaction of multiple coils affects current increase at high rotor speeds.", "Although current through an ideal inductor may increase indefinitely, in reality current will be limited.", "Specifically, as rotor speed increases, current output from the coils increases up to a maximum value, at which point the coils may be considered saturated, and then begins to drop.", "Although none of lines 62, 64, 66 and 60 of FIG. 4 extend to a maximum value, the reduction in the rate of current increase prior to reaching the maximum current is illustrated.", "As rotor speed increases from 1000 rpm's, the four output currents increase at a relatively high rate.", "As rotor speed continues to increase, however, the rate of current increase tends to drop.", "The effect is most dramatic in line 60.", "From the beginning, the slope of line 60 is less than that of lines 62, 64 and 66.", "The slope drops significantly, however, between approximately 1750 and 2250 rpm's and approaches zero before 3000 rpm's.", "The slopes of lines 62, 64 and 66 are approximately the same from 1000 rpm's to about 2000 rpm's, approximately at which point the slope of line 62 begins to significantly drop.", "Lines 64 and 66 do not flatten to the degree of line 62 within the engine speed range illustrated in FIG. 4. Although the current increase of lines 64 and 66 is much lower at the higher speeds than at lower speeds, current is still noticeably increasing at 4000 rpm's.", "Line 66 is the least affected within the figure's engine speed range.", "A change in a coil set's total impedance has a greater affect on stator current at high engine speeds than at low engine speeds.", "Thus, if the voltage across two coil sets is the same throughout the engine speed range, the coil set having the higher impedance will have the lower current maximum.", "It will also have a lower current output at lower engine speeds, but the difference is less.", "Therefore, the output current of the higher impedance coil set increases more slowly as engine speed increases.", "This is illustrated in FIG. 4 by lines 64 and 60, which, as described above, represent current output for coil sets having approximately the same voltage response.", "The output current of the coil set of line 60, which has the greater impedance, varies between about 2.2 amps and about 3.4 amps.", "The output current of the coil set of line 64 varies between about 3 amps and about 6.6 amps.", "As long as the current output is high enough to operatively drive the device to which the stator is connected, for example an electric clutch on a commercial lawn mower, the current response of line 60 is preferable to that of line 64 since there is less risk of damage to the device from excessive current at higher rpm's.", "As illustrated in FIG. 4, increasing the number of coils increases impedance.", "Thus, line 62, which represents the current output of the set of five forward wound coils, runs through a smaller current range than does either of lines 64 or 66, which represent the output of coil sets having three and two forward wound coils, respectively.", "The resulting voltage increase caused by the additional coils, however, overcomes the impedance increase so that the output current level may be undesirable.", "Various suitable modifications may be employed with the circuitry described above within the scope of the present invention.", "Referring to FIG. 9, for example, each coil set includes a capacitor 90 connected across each coil set to boost output at a certain frequency, depending on the capacitor value.", "Thus, the capacitors may be used to increase output where needed to further flatten the output.", "Other arrangements are possible.", "For example, in FIG. 10 the capacitors are connected across the forward wound coils, whereas in FIG. 11 they are connected across the reverse wound coils.", "Additionally, or alternatively, a capacitor may be connected across one or more individual coil groups 46, 48, 50 and 52 in various combinations.", "In a still further arrangement, a capacitor may be connected across all, or a combination of some, of the coils shown in FIG. 1. While preferred embodiments of the invention have been described above, it should be understood that any and all equivalent realizations of the present invention are included within the scope and spirit thereof.", "For example, a stator may include two coil sets wherein the output of each is full-wave rectified and added to the output of the other.", "In another embodiment, the stator may include two coil sets wound so that they are electrically in phase with each other.", "The outputs may then be added and rectified by a single full-wave rectifier.", "In yet another embodiment, the stator may include a single half-wave rectified coil set and a capacitor to improve the output.", "Still further, the stator may include a single full-wave rectified coil set or more than two independently half-wave rectified coil sets.", "Thus, the embodiments depicted are presented by way of example only and are not intended as limitations upon the present invention.", "Thus, it should be understood by those of ordinary skill in this art that the present invention is not limited to these embodiments since modifications can be made.", "Therefore, it is contemplated that any and all such embodiments are included in the present invention as may fall within the literal or equivalent scope of the appended claims." ]

[ "PRIORITY [0001] This application is a Continuation of U.S. patent application Ser.", "This application is a Continuation of U.S. patent application Ser.", "No. 12/482,305, filed Jun. 10, 2009, which is a Continuation of U.S. patent application Ser.", "No. 11/024,046, filed Dec. 27, 2004, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,565,030, which is a Continuation-in-Part of U.S. patent application Ser.", "No. 10/608,772, filed Jun. 26, 2003, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,440,593, which are hereby incorporated by reference.", "BACKGROUND [0002] 1.", "Field of the Invention [0003] The invention relates to automatic suggesting or processing of enhancements of a digital image using information gained from identifying and analyzing faces appearing within the image, and in particular method of detection the image orientation using face detection.", "The invention provides automated orientation detection for photographs taken and/or images detected, acquired or captured in digital form or converted to digital form, by using information about the faces in the photographs and/or images.", "[0004] 2.", "Description of the Related Art [0005] Viola and Jones in the paper entitled “Robust Real Time Object Detection”", "as presented in the 2 nd international workshop on Statistical and Computational theories of Vision, in Vancouver, Canada, Jul. 31, 2001, describe a visual object detection framework that is capable of processing images extremely rapidly while achieving high detection rates.", "The paper demonstrates this framework by the task of face detection.", "The technique is based on a learning technique where a small number of critical visual features yield a set of classifiers.", "[0006] Yang et al.", ", IEEE Transactions on Pattern Analysis and Machine Intelligence, Vol. 24, No. 1, pages 34-58, give a useful and comprehensive review of face detection techniques January 2002.", "These authors discuss various methods of face detection which may be divided into four main categories: (i) knowledge-based methods;", "(ii) feature-invariant approaches, including the identification of facial features, texture and skin color;", "(iii) template matching methods, both fixed and deformable and (iv) appearance based methods, including eigenface techniques, statistical distribution based methods and neural network approaches.", "They also discuss a number of the main applications for face detections technology.", "It is recognized in the present invention that none of the prior art describes or suggests using detection and knowledge of faces in images to create and/or use tools for the enhancement or correction of the images according to the invention as set forth in the claims below, nor as described in detail below as preferred and alternative embodiments.", "[0007] Blluja, 1997 describes methods of extending the upright, frontal template based face detection system to efficiently handle all in plane rotations, this achieving a rotation invariant face detection system.", "[0008] a. Faces as Subject Matter [0009] It is well known that human faces are the most photographed subject matter for the amateur and professional photographer.", "Thus it is possible to assume a high starting percentage for algorithms based on the existence of faces in them.", "[0010] b. Orientation [0011] The camera is usually held horizontally or vertically, in counter clockwise or clockwise in relations to the horizontal position when the picture is taken, creating what is referred to as a landscape mode or portrait mode, respectively.", "Thus most images are taken in either one of the three orientations, namely landscape, clockwise portrait and counterclockwise portrait.", "When viewing images, it is preferable to determine ahead of time the orientation of the camera at acquisition, thus eliminating a step of rotating the image and automatically orienting the image.", "The system may try to determine if the image was shot horizontally, which is also referred to as landscape format, where the width is larger than the height of an image, or vertically, also referred to as portrait mode, where the height of the image is larger than the width.", "Techniques may be used to determine an orientation of an image.", "Primarily these techniques include either recording the camera orientation at an acquisition time using an in camera mechanical indicator or attempting to analyze image content post-acquisition.", "In-camera methods, although providing precision, use additional hardware and sometimes movable hardware components which can increase the price of the camera and add a potential maintenance challenge.", "However, post-acquisition analysis may not generally provide sufficient precision.", "Knowledge of location, size and orientation of faces in a photograph, a computerized system can offer powerful automatic tools to enhance and correct such images or to provide options for enhancing and correcting images.", "[0012] c. Face Recognition as a Function of Orientation [0013] It is a well known fact for one familiar in the art of face recognition that the human visual system is very sensitive to the orientation of the faces.", "As a matter of fact, experiments indicated that the way the human mind stores faces is different for upright and inverted faces, as described in Endo, 1982.", "In particular, recognition of inverted faces is known to be a difficult perceptual task.", "While the human visual system performs well in recognizing different faces, performing the same task with inverted faces is significantly worse.", "Such results are illustrated for example in Moses, 1994, where face memory and face recognition is determined to be highly orientation dependent.", "A detailed review of face recognition of inverted faces is available in Valentine, 1988.", "[0014] It is therefore only natural that artificial intelligence detection algorithms based on face related classifiers may have the same features of being orientation variant.", "[0015] d. Image Classifiers for Scene Analysis: SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0016] Even though human beings have no problem to interpret images semantically, the challenge to do so using artificial intelligence is not that straight forward.", "A few methods are available to those familiar in the art of image and pattern recognition that separate images using a learning based descriptor space.", "Such methods are using a training set and a maximization methods of likelihood.", "Examples of such methods includes the Adatron (1989) method as described by Analauf et.", "al incorporated herein by reference.", "Other work includes scene analysis such as the work by Le Saux Bertrand et al (2004).", "[0017] In view of the above, a method of analyzing and processing a digital image using the results of face detection algorithms within said image to determine the correct orientation of the image is provided.", "[0018] A face detection algorithm with classifiers that are orientation sensitive, or otherwise referred to as rotation variant, is applied to an image, or a subsampled resolution of an image.", "The image is then rotated, or the classifiers are rotated, and the search is repeated for the orientations that are under question.", "Based on the results of the detection, the image with the highest amount of faces detected, and or the orientation with the highest face detection confidence level, is the one estimated to be the correct orientation of the image.", "[0019] The digital image may be digitally-acquired and/or may be digitally-captured.", "Decisions for processing the digital image based on said face detection, selecting one or more parameters and/or for adjusting values of one or more parameters within the digital image may be automatically, semi-automatically or manually performed.", "[0020] Values of orientation may be adjusted arbitrarily or in known intervals, e.g., of 90 degrees, such that a rotation value for the digital image may be determined.", "[0021] The method may be performed within a digital acquisition device or an external device or a combination thereof.", "Rotation can also be applied as part of the transfer process between devices.", "[0022] The face pixels may be identified, a false indication of another face within the image may be removed.", "The face pixels identifying may be automatically performed by an image processing apparatus, and a manual verification of a correct detection of at least one face within the image may be provided.", "[0023] A method is further provided for detecting an orientation of a digital image using statistical classifier techniques.", "A set of classifiers are applied to a digital image in a first orientation and a first level of match between the digital image at the first orientation and the classifiers is determined.", "The digital image is rotated to a second orientation, and the classifiers are applied to the rotated digital image at the second orientation.", "A second level of match is determined between the rotated digital image at the second orientation and the classifiers.", "The first and second levels of match are compared.", "It is determined which of the first orientation and the second orientations has a greater probability of being a correct orientation based on which of the first and second levels of match, respectively, comprises a higher level of match.", "[0024] The method may further include rotating the digital image to a third orientation, applying the classifiers to the rotated digital image at the third orientation, and determining a third level of match between the rotated digital image at the third orientation and the classifiers.", "The third level of match is compared with the first level of match or the second level of match, or both.", "It is determined which of two or more of the first orientation, the second orientation and the third orientation has a greater probability of being a correct orientation based on which of the corresponding levels of match is greater.", "[0025] A method is also provided for detecting an orientation of a digital image using statistical classifier techniques.", "The method includes applying a set of classifiers to a digital image in a first orientation and determining a first level of match between the digital image at the first orientation and the classifiers.", "The set of classifiers is rotated a first predetermined amount, the classifiers rotated the first amount are applied to the digital image at the first orientation.", "A second level of match is determined between the digital image at the first orientation and the classifiers rotated the first amount.", "The first and second levels of match are compared, and it is determined which of the first and second levels of match is greater in order to determine whether the first orientation is a correct orientation of the digital image.", "A rotation of the classifiers by a second amount my be performed and the method performed with three relatively rotated sets of classifiers, and so on.", "[0026] One or more processor readable storage devices are also provided having processor readable code embodied thereon.", "The processor readable code programs one or more processors to perform any of the methods for detecting an orientation of a digital image using statistical classifier techniques briefly summarized above.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0027] FIG. 1 a is a flow diagram that illustrates a main orientation workflow based on rotation of a digital image that includes one or more faces.", "[0028] FIG. 1 b is a flow diagram that illustrates a main orientation workflow based on rotation of classifiers relative to an orientation of a digital image that includes one or more faces.", "[0029] FIG. 1 c describes an exemplary implementation of the process illustrated at FIG. 1 a and/or FIG. 1 b. [0030] FIG. 2 a illustrates an ellipse-based orientation classifier that may be used in a process in accordance with a preferred embodiment.", "[0031] FIG. 2 b illustrates an ellipse-based classifier system applied to a facial image.", "[0032] FIG. 3 a illustrates four different potential orientations of a single image.", "[0033] FIG. 3 b illustrates different orientations of classifiers applied to a same image.", "[0034] FIG. 4 a illustrates a matching of ellipse-based classifiers within images.", "[0035] FIG. 4 b illustrates a matching of complex classifiers with an image.", "INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE [0036] What follows is a cite list of references each of which is, in addition to those references otherwise cited in this application, and that which is described as background, the invention summary, the abstract, the brief description of the drawings and the drawings themselves, hereby incorporated by reference into the detailed description of the preferred embodiments below, as disclosing alternative embodiments of elements or features of the preferred embodiments not otherwise set forth in detail below.", "A single one or a combination of two or more of these references may be consulted to obtain a variation of the preferred embodiments described in the detailed description herein: U.S. Pat. Nos. RE33682, RE31370, 4,047,187, 4,317,991, 4,367,027, 4,638,364, 5,291,234, 5,488,429, 5,638,136, 5,710,833, 5,724,456, 5,781,650, 5,812,193, 5,818,975, 5,835,616, 5,870,138, 5,900,909, 5,978,519, 5,991,456, 6,097,470, 6,101,271, 6,128,397, 6,148,092, 6,151,073, 6,188,777, 6,192,149, 6,249,315, 6,263,113, 6,268,939, 6,282,317, 6,301,370, 6,332,033, 6,393,148, 6,404,900, 6,407,777, 6,421,468, 6,438,264, 6,456,732, 6,459,436, 6,473,199, 6,501,857, 6,504,942, 6,504,951, 6,516,154, and 6,526,161;", "United States published patent applications no. 2004/40013304, 2004/0223063, 2004/0013286.", "2003/0071908, 2003/0052991, 2003/0025812, 2002/20102024, 2002/0172419, 2002/0114535, 2002/0105662, and 2001/0031142;", "Japanese patent application no. JP5260360A2;", "British patent application no. GB0031423.7;", "and Anlauf, J. K. and Biehl, M.: “The adatron: and adaptive perception algorithm.”", "Neurophysics Letters, 10:687-692, 1989.", "Baluja &", "Rowley, “Neural Network-Based Face Detection,” IEEE Transactions on Pattern Analysis and Machine Intelligence, Vol. 20, No. 1, pages 23-28, January 1998 Baluja, Shumeet in “Face Detection with In-Plane rotation: Early Concepts and Preliminary Results”, Technical Report JPRC-TR-97-001 Endo, M., “Perception of upside-down faces: and analysis form the viewpoint of cue saliency”, in Ellis, H. Jeeves, M., Newcombe, F,.", "and Young, A., editors, Aspects of Face Processing, 53-58, 1986, Manus Nijhoff Publishers Moses, Yael and Ullman, Shimon and Shimon Edelman in “Generalization to Novel Images in Upright and Inverted Faces”, 1994.", "Le Saux, Bertrand and Amato, Giuseppe: “Image Classifiers for Scene Analysis”, International Conference on Computer Vision and Graphics (ICCVG'04), Warsaw, Poland, September 2004 Valentine, T., Upside Down Faces: A review of the effect of inversion and encoding activity upon face recognition”, 1988, Acta Psychologica, 61:259-273.", "Viola and Jones “Robust Real Time Object Detection”, 2 nd international workshop on Statistical and Computational theories of Vision, in Vancouver, Canada, Jul. 31, 2001, Yang et al.", ", IEEE Transactions on Pattern Analysis and Machine Intelligence, Vol. 24, no. 1, pp 34-58 (January 2002).", "ILLUSTRATIVE DEFINITIONS [0049] “Face Detection”", "involves the art of detecting faces in a digital image.", "One or more faces may be first isolated and/or identified within a larger digital image prior to further processing based at least in part on the detection of the faces.", "Face detection includes a process of determining whether a human face is present in an input image, and may include or is preferably used in combination with determining a position and/or other features, properties, parameters or values of parameters of the face within the input image;", "[0050] “Image-enhancement”", "or “image correction”", "involves the art of modifying a digital image to improve its quality or according to another selected manual or automatic input criteria.", "A “global”", "modification is one that is applied to an entire image or substantially the entire image, while a “selective”", "modification is applied differently to different portions of the image or to only a selected portion of the image.", "[0051] A “pixel”", "is a picture element or a basic unit of the composition of a digital image or any of the small discrete elements that together constitute an image;", "[0052] A “digitally-captured image”", "includes an image that is digitally located and held in a detector, preferably of a portable digital camera or other digital image acquisition device.", "[0053] A “digitally-acquired image”", "includes an image that is digitally recorded in a permanent file and/or preserved in a more or less permanent digital form.", "[0054] “A digitally-detected image”", "is an image comprising digitally detected electromagnetic waves.", "[0055] “Classifiers”", "are generally reference parameters selectively or automatically correlated or calibrated to some framework or absolute reference criteria.", "For example, one or more orientation classifiers in a 2-dimensional image may be configured according to a proper and/or selected orientation of a detected face within a digital image.", "Such classifiers may be calibrated or correlated with a detected facial orientation such that an overall digital image containing a face may be oriented according to these calibrated or correlated classifiers.", "[0056] Classifiers may be statistical or absolute: Statistical classifiers assign a class ω i so that given a pattern ŷ, the most probable P(ω i |ŷ) is the largest.", "In many cases, it is not desired to actually calculate P(ω i |ŷ), but rather to find (i) so that ω i will provide the largest P(ω i |ŷ).", "The accuracy of a statistical classifier generally depends on the quality of training data and of the algorithm used for classification.", "The selected populations of pixels used for training should be statistically significant.", "This means that a minimum number of observations are generally required to characterize a particular site to some selected or acceptable threshold level of error.", "[0057] FIG. 2 a and FIG. 2 b illustrate in a graphical form non-exhaustive examples of classifiers.", "Objects 210 , 212 , and 214 in FIG. 2 a represent a simple ellipse classifier, in varying sizes.", "FIG. 2 b illustrates a complex classifier of a face, which is made of simpler classifiers.", "In this case, the mouth, 224 and the eyes 226 , 228 correspond to ellipse classifiers 210 and 214 as defined in FIG. 2 a. [0058] The classifiers may not necessarily be only of certain shape.", "More complex classifiers can be of a more abstract physical nature.", "Alternatively, a classifier can be of color data.", "For example, a color classifier may be a classifier with higher content of blue towards the top and higher content of green or brown towards the bottom.", "[0059] An “image orientation”", "is a rotational position of an image relative to a selected or permanent coordinate or coordinate system that may itself be determined relative to an absolute spatial system, such as the earth, or a system determined or selected within a frame of a digital image.", "Generally herein, an image orientation is identified relative to an orientation of one or more classifiers, such as the elliptical classifiers illustrated at 2 a - 2 b , 3 b and 4 a - 4 b. [0060] As another example, an image orientation may identified relative to a horizontal/vertical system, such as illustrated in FIG. 3 a .", "The image 310 may be rotated relative to this coordinate system or to an orientation of one or more elliptical classifiers by 90° counter clockwise 320 or clock wise 330 .", "A fourth orientation 340 is a 180° degree rotation which is also illustrated in FIG. 3 a .", "For most practical reasons, a 180 degree orientation is typically not a desired or viable situation for hand held pictures.", "However, technically and theoretically, the up-side-down orientation can be included in the algorithm Rotational positions may be defined relative to absolute or image-based coordinates, and rotations of the image and/or of the classifiers may be of arbitrary angular extent, e.g., 1° or finer, 5°, 10°, 15°, 30°, 45°, or others, may be selected in accordance with embodiments of the invention.", "[0061] Classifier orientation is illustrated in FIG. 3 b .", "The classifiers of FIG. 3 b are oriented in three orientations corresponding to the image orientations shown.", "Object 360 represents a “correctly”", "oriented image, as selected or built-in to the digital system, block 350 represents a counter clockwise orientation, and block 370 represents a clockwise orientation.", "A “correct”", "orientation may be determined based on a combined level of match of multiple classifiers and/or on relative positions of the classifiers once matched to their respective facial regions.", "These regions may include the two eyes and mouth of a detected face, and may also include an outline of a person's head or entire face.", "The arrow labeled “N”", "in the example of FIG. 3 b points in a direction that is selected or determined to be the “correct”", "vertical axis of the image.", "The orientations illustrated at FIG. 3 b correspond to illustrative images 310 , 320 and 330 in FIG. 3 a. [0062] “Matching image classifiers to images”", "involves correlating or assigning classifier constructs to actual digital images or portions or sub-samplings of digital images.", "Such matching is illustrated at FIGS. 4 a and 4 b .", "According to FIG. 4 a different sized ellipses, as already described as being examples of classifiers, e.g., ellipses 210 , 212 and 214 of FIG. 2 a , are matched to various objects, e.g., eyes and mouth regions, in facial images.", "The matching is preferably performed for different image and/or facial region orientations, e.g., 400 and 410 of FIG. 4 a , to determine a correct or selected orientation of the digital image.", "[0063] A correctly oriented ellipse may, however, match different objects in two orientations of an image or may match different objects than desired in images regardless of orientation.", "Referring to FIG. 4 a , e.g., ellipse 214 matches correctly the lips 414 in image 410 but also the nose bridge 404 when the image is “incorrectly”", "oriented or not in the desired orientation.", "The smaller ellipse 410 matches both instances of eyes 412 and 413 in the correctly oriented image 410 .", "This example illustrates an instance wherein it is not sufficient to use a single classifier, as there may be cases of false detection.", "This illustrates an advantage of the process of determining the orientation of faces based on statistical classifiers in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.", "[0064] Concatenation is generally used herein to describe a technique wherein classifiers, objects, axes, or parameters are connected, linked, correlated, matched, compared or otherwise related according to a selected or built-in set of criteria, and/or to describe sequential performance of operation or processes in methods in accordance with embodiments of the invention.", "For example, an image may be determined to be properly aligned when axes of a pair of eye ellipses are determined to be collinear or the image is oriented or re-oriented such that they are made to be collinear, or when an image and/or classifiers are rotated to cause the foci of eye ellipses to form an isosceles triangle with a center of a mouth ellipse, etc.", "DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [0065] Preferred embodiments are described below including methods and devices for providing or suggesting options for determining image orientation automatically using face detection.", "A preferred embodiment includes an image processing application whether implemented in software or in firmware, as part of the image capture process, such as in a digital camera, or as part of post processing, such as a desktop, in the camera as a post processing background process or on a server application.", "This system receives images in digital form, where the images can be translated into a grid representation including multiple pixels.", "[0066] The preferred embodiment describes a method of re-using face detection information in different orientations of the image to determine the orientation with the highest probability to be the correct one.", "The information regarding the location and size of faces in an image assist in determining correct orientation.", "[0067] Advantages of the preferred embodiments include the ability to automatically perform or suggest or assist in the determination of the correct orientation of an image.", "Another advantage is that the processing may be automatically performed and/or suggested based on this information.", "Such automatic processing is fast enough and efficient enough to handle multiple images in close to real time, or be used for a single image as part of the image processing in the acquisition device.", "Many advantageous techniques are provided in accordance with preferred and alternative embodiments set forth herein.", "For example, this method of detection the image orientation can be combined with other methods of face detection, thus improving the functionality, and re-purposing the process for future applications.", "[0068] Two or more methods of detecting faces in different orientations may be combined to achieve better accuracy and parameters of a single algorithm may be concatenated into a single parameter.", "The digital image may be transformed to speed up the process, such as subsampling or reducing the color depth.", "The digital image may be transformed to enhance the accuracy such as preprocessing stage for improving the color balance, exposure or sharpness.", "The digital image may post processed to enhance the accuracy such as removal of false positives as a post processing process, based on parameters and criteria outside of the face detection algorithm.", "Values of orientation may be adjusted such that a rotation value for the digital image is determined.", "This technique may be implemented for supporting arbitrary rotation or fixed interval rotation such as 90 degree rotation.", "[0069] The method may be performed within any digital image capture device, which as, but not limited to digital still camera, phone handset with built in camera, web camera or digital video camera.", "Determining which of the sub-group of pixels belong to which of the group of face pixels may be performed.", "The determining of the initial values of one or more parameters of pixels may be calculated based on the spatial orientation of the one or more sub-groups that correspond to one or more facial features.", "The spatial orientation of the one or more sub-groups that correspond to one or more facial features may be calculated based on an axis of an ellipse fit to the sub-group.", "The adjusted values of pixels within the digital image may be rounded to a closest multiple of 90 degrees.", "The initial values may be adjusted to adjusted values for re-orienting the image to an adjusted orientation.", "The one or more facial features may include an eye, two eyes, two eyes and a mouth, an eye, a mouth, hairline, ears, nostrils, nose bridge, eyebrows or a nose, or combinations thereof.", "On a more abstract level the features used for the detection of objects in general in the image, or faces specifically may be determined through a mathematical classifiers that are either deduced via a learning process or inserted into the system.", "One example of such classifiers are described by Viola Jones in the paper incorporated herein by reference.", "Other classifiers can be the eigenfaces, which are the basis functions that define images with faces.", "[0070] Each of the methods provided are preferably implemented within software and/or firmware either in the camera or with external processing equipment.", "The software may also be downloaded into the camera or image processing equipment.", "In this sense, one or more processor readable storage devices having processor readable code embodied thereon are provided.", "The processor readable code programs one or more processors to perform any of the above or below described methods.", "[0071] FIG. 1 a illustrates a process flow according to a preferred embodiment.", "The input is an image which can come from various sources.", "According to this exemplary procedure, an image may be opened by a software, firmware or other program application in block 102 .", "The process may be initiated when a photographer takes a picture at block 103 , or as an automatic background process for an application or acquisition device at block 104 .", "[0072] The classifiers are preferably pre-determined for the specific image classification.", "A detailed description of the learning process to create the appropriate classifiers can be found in the paper by Viola and Jones that has been cited and incorporated by reference hereinabove.", "The classifiers are loaded, at step 108 , into the application.", "[0073] The image is preferably rotated into three orientations at block 110 .", "Only two or more than three orientation may alternatively be used: The preferred orientations are counter clockwise 112 , no rotation 114 and clockwise, 116 .", "Note that a fourth orientation which is the upside down 118 is technically and theoretically plausible but is not preferred due to the statistical improbability of such images.", "One or more images rotated by 1°, or a few seconds or minutes, or by 3° or 45°, or an arbitrary amount, may also be used.", "[0074] The three images are then provided to the face detection software at block 120 and the results are analyzed at block 130 .", "The image with the highest probability of detection of faces is determined at block 140 to be most likely the one with the right orientation.", "[0075] FIG. 1 b is an alternative embodiment, wherein the classifiers are rotated as opposed to the images.", "By doing so, even if the results are similar, the execution time is highly optimized because the process is preferably not repeated over three images, and is instead performed over only a single image with two, three or more times the number of classifiers.", "Preferably, two sets of rotated classifiers are used along with an unrotated set.", "According to FIG. 1 b , the classifiers loaded at block 108 are rotated at block 160 to create counter clockwise classifiers 162 , original classifiers 164 and clockwise classifiers 166 .", "As explained above, if desired, a fourth set of classifiers 168 of 180 degree rotation can be generated, and in fact, any number of classifier sets may be generated according to rotations of arbitrary or selected amounts in accordance with alternative embodiments of this invention.", "In a third embodiment, both the image and the classifiers may be rotated.", "[0076] The classifiers are preferably combined into a single set of classifiers at block 170 .", "The concatenation of the classifiers is preferably performed in such a manner that an false eliminating process would still be optimized.", "Note that these operations need not be executed at the time of analysis, but can be prepared prior to running the process on an image, as a preparatory step.", "Also note that the two approaches may be combined, where some classifiers may or may not be used depending on the results of the previous classifies.", "It may be possible to merge the preferred three sets, or an arbitrary number of two or more sets, of rotated classifiers.", "[0077] Part-way through, the common classifiers one would branch into the specific classifiers for each orientation.", "This would speed up the algorithm because the first part of the classification would be common to the three orientations.", "[0078] In another embodiment, where the classifier set contains rotation invariant classifiers it is possible to reduce the number of classifiers which must be applied to an image from 3N to 3N−2M where N is the number of classifiers in the original classifier set and M is the number of rotation invariant classifiers.", "The image is then prepared at block 158 to run the face detection algorithm at block 122 .", "Such preparation varies on the algorithm and can include different operations such as converting the image format, the color depth, the pixel representation etc.", "In some cases the image is converted, such as described by Viola and Jones, to form a pixel based representation from an integral one.", "In other cases the image may be subsampled to reduce computation, converted to a gray scale representation, or various image enhancement algorithms such as edge enhancement, sharpening, blurring, noise reduction etc.", "may be applied to the image.", "Numerous operations on the image in preparation may also be concatenated.", "The face detection algorithm is run once on the image at block 122 , using the multiple set of classifiers 170 .", "The results are then collated at block 128 , according to each of the three orientations of the preferred classifier set.", "The number of surviving face regions for each orientation of the classifier set are next compared at block 130 .", "The orientation with the highest number of surviving face regions is determined at block 140 - to be the one with the highest likelihood orientation.", "[0079] In an additional embodiment, the algorithm handles may handle cases of false detection of faces.", "The problem occurs where in some cases regions that are not faces are marked as potential faces.", "In such cases, it is not enough to count the occurrence of faces, but the probability of false detection and missed faces needs to be accounted for.", "[0080] Such algorithm which is an expansion of Block 140 of FIGS. 1 a and 1 b is described with reference to the flow diagram illustrated at FIG. 1 c: Some representations used in the algorithm include the following: DIR: the most populated direction and the maximal number of detected faces on any direction (DIR is on of CCW, O, CW).", "M: the minimal non-zero number of detected faces on any direction (m).", "NZ: the number of populated directions (directions for which we have detection).", "N: the total number of detected faces.", "CONST: probability factor, which is based on empirical results can be from 0.6 to 0.9.", "An exemplary orientation decision may be determined as follows: 1410 NZ==0, no faces are found in the image, image orientation is, 1490 DEFAULT (keep image as it is) 1420 NZ==1 there is as single face in the image, image orientation is DIR 1421 If NZ>1 1430 if NZ*m/N<=CONST there are multiple faces, multiple orientations with a predominant orientation, image orientation is Dir Therefore 1431 NZ*m/N>CONST there are multiple faces, multiple orientations without a predominant orientation, image orientation is, 1490 DEFAULT (no decision can be taken).", "(keep image as it is) [0093] Automatic Orientation detection and in particular orientation detection using faces, particularly for digital image processing applications according to preferred and alternative embodiments set forth herein, are further advantageous in accordance with various modifications of the systems and methods of the above description as may be understood by those skilled in the art, as set forth in the references cited and incorporated by reference herein and as may be otherwise described below.", "[0094] For example, an apparatus according to another embodiment may be provided for detection and recognition of specific features in an image using an eigenvector approach to face detection (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,710,833 to Moghaddam et al.", ", incorporated by reference).", "Additional eigenvectors may be used in addition to or alternatively to the principal eigenvector components, e.g., all eigenvectors may be used.", "The use of all eigenvectors may be intended to increase the accuracy of the apparatus to detect complex multi-featured objects.", "Such eigenvectors are orientation sensitive, a feature that can be utilized according to this invention.", "[0095] Faces may be detected in complex visual scenes and/or in a neural network based face detection system, particularly for digital image processing in accordance with preferred or alternative embodiments herein (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 6,128,397 to Baluja &", "Rowley;", "and “Neural Network-Based Face Detection,” IEEE Transactions on Pattern Analysis and Machine Intelligence, Vol. 20, No. 1, pages 23-28, January 1998 by the same authors, each reference being hereby incorporated by reference.", "An image may be rotated prior to the application of the neural network analysis in order to optimize the success rate of the neural-network based detection (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 6,128,397, incorporated by reference).", "This technique is particularly advantageous when faces are oriented vertically.", "Face detection in accordance with preferred and alternative embodiments, and which are particularly advantageous when a complex background is involved, may use one or more of skin color detection, spanning tree minimization and/or heuristic elimination of false positives (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 6,263,113 to Abdel-Mottaleb et al.", ", incorporated by reference).", "Alternatively, according to this invention, the neural-network classifiers may be rotated, to determine the match based the image orientation, as described by this invention.", "[0096] In the context of automatic image rotation, and determining image orientation, an embodiment including electrical, software and/or firmware components that detect blue sky within images may be included (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 6,504,951 to Luo et al.", ", incorporated by reference) This feature allows image orientation to be determined once the blue-sky region(s) are located and analyzed in an image.", "In accordance with an alternative embodiment, other image aspects are also used in combination with blue sky detection and analysis, and in particular the existence of facial regions in the image, to determine the correct orientation of an image.", "In accordance with this invention, such filters, including color based filters with specific orientation characteristics to them can be introduced into the system as added classifiers, this expanding the scope of the invention form face detection to generic automatic orientation detection using generic image object analysis.", "[0097] Another embodiment includes scene recognition method and a system using brightness and ranging mapping (see, e.g., US published patent application 2001/0031142 to Whiteside, incorporated by reference).", "Auto-ranging and/or brightness measurement may be used as orientation specific features for this invention.", "[0098] In further preferred and alternative embodiments, the orientation may be suggested to a user in the acquisition device after the image has been acquired or captured by a camera (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 6,516,154 to Parulski et al.", ", incorporated by reference).", "According to these embodiments, a user may confirm the new orientation before saving a picture or before deciding to re-save or delete the picture.", "The user may choose to re-take a picture using different settings on the camera.", "Suggestion for improvements may be made by the camera user-interface.", "[0099] In preferred embodiments herein, automatically or semi-automatically improving the appearance of faces in images based on automatically and/or manually detecting such facial images in the digital image is an advantageous feature (see also US published patent application 20020172419, to Lin et al.", ", incorporated by reference) Lightness contrast and color level modification of an image may be performed to produce better results.", "Moreover, using such information for detecting orientation, may provide assistance as part of an in-camera acquisition process to perform other face related operations such as composition or a slide show as may be recited at U.S. patent application Ser.", "No. 10/608,772, filed Jun. 26, 2003, hereby incorporated by reference.", "[0100] Based on the detection of the correct orientation, Image enhancement according to preferred and alternative embodiment herein may be applied to a face region or face regions only, or the enhancement may be applied to the entire image, or selective and distinct corrections may be applied to both background and foreground regions, particularly facial regions, based on knowledge of the presence of faces in the image and/or other image regions such as blue sky or other detectable features.", "[0101] In further embodiments, various schemes may be used for selecting an area or areas of interest from an electronically captured image, most preferably areas including faces or facial regions (see also UK patent application number GB0031423.7 entitled “automatic cropping of electronic images”, incorporated by reference).", "Regions of interest may be automatically or semi-automatically selected within an image in response to a selection signal (see, e.g., US published patent application 2003/0025812, incorporated by reference).", "[0102] While an exemplary drawings and specific embodiments of the present invention have been described and illustrated, it is to be understood that that the scope of the present invention is not to be limited to the particular embodiments discussed.", "Thus, the embodiments shall be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive, and it should be understood that variations may be made in those embodiments by workers skilled in the arts without departing from the scope of the present invention as set forth in the claims that follow and their structural and functional equivalents.", "[0103] In addition, in methods that may be performed according to preferred embodiments herein, the operations have been described in selected typographical sequences.", "However, the sequences have been selected and so ordered for typographical convenience and are not intended to imply any particular order for performing the operations, unless a particular ordering is expressly provided or understood by those skilled in the art as being necessary." ]

[ "BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 1.", "Field of the Invention The present invention relates generally to a detachable holder for storing tools or accessories on an appliance and, more particularly to a holder storing accessories on a wet/dry vacuum and being securably attachable to and readily detachable from the vacuum.", "Description of the Related Art Vacuums may include holders for storing accessories, such as brushes, crevice tools, extension wands, end fitting, etc.", "In some examples, the holders are permanently secured to the vacuum and cannot be readily removed.", "In other examples, the holders are portable and detachable members that are independent of the vacuum.", "Detachable holders are especially desirable, for example, when an operator empties debris from a drum of a wet/dry vacuum.", "Unfortunately, existing detachable holders for accessories on wet/dry vacuums have some disadvantages.", "Some existing detachable holders slip fit onto the vacuum and do not positively latch or attach to a feature on the vacuum.", "With such a slip fit, the detachable holder can work loose and possibly fall off during use or movement of the vacuum.", "In addition, some existing detachable holders hang on posts or tabs attached to the vacuum.", "These detachable holders are not fully supported by the posts or tabs and may spill the accessories or catch on stairs when the vacuum is hauled or moved.", "For example, a detachable holder 30 for accessories as exemplified in the prior art is illustrated in FIG. 1 .", "The holder 30 is shown in relation to a wet/dry vacuum 10 .", "The vacuum 10 has a drum 12 and a handle 14 .", "A bracket 20 mounts to the back of the vacuum 10 adjacent the handle 14 .", "Two tabs 22 a and 22 b having a T-shape are located on the handle bracket 20 .", "Two slots 34 a and 34 b are positioned on the holder 30 .", "The holder 30 is placed adjacent the bracket 20 .", "To attach the holder 30 to the bracket 20 , the tabs 22 a and 22 b position through the slots 34 a and 34 b , and the holder 30 hangs from the tabs 22 a and 22 b .", "The holder 30 is designed for easy removal.", "Unfortunately, being held only with the tabs 22 a and 22 b , the holder 30 may tip when the vacuum is moved.", "Furthermore, the holder 30 may catch on stairs when the vacuum is tilted and moved on a staircase.", "To permanently attach the holder 30 to the vacuum 10 , an operator may strap the bottom of the holder 30 to the vacuum 10 , which does not allow for easy detachment.", "The present invention is directed to overcoming, or at least reducing the effects of, one or more of the problems set forth above.", "SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In one embodiment, among others, the present invention provides a holder for storing accessories on a wet/dry vacuum.", "The holder securely attaches to the vacuum and readily detaches therefrom.", "The accessory holder detachably couples to a pivot location on the vacuum and secures to the vacuum.", "The secure attachment prevents the holder from falling off or tipping on the vacuum.", "To attach the holder to the vacuum, grooves on the holder are pivotably coupled to an axle of the vacuum.", "The holder is then pivoted about the axle.", "Tabs on the holder engage slots on a bracket attached to the vacuum.", "A flexible latch on the holder aligns with a step on the bracket.", "To remove the holder, the operator presses on the latch to disengage it from the step, and the operator lifts the holder from the bracket and the vacuum.", "The foregoing summary is not intended to summarize each potential embodiment or every aspect of the invention disclosed herein, but merely to summarize some aspects of the present invention, among other aspects.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS The foregoing summary, a preferred embodiment, and other aspects of the present invention will be best understood with reference to a detailed description of specific embodiments of the invention, which follows, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. 1 illustrates an accessory holder according to the prior art in relation to a wet/dry vacuum.", "FIGS. 2A–B illustrates a side view and a back view of a detachable accessory holder and an appliance in accordance with the present invention;", "FIGS. 3A–B illustrate a frontal view and a side view of an embodiment of a detachable accessory holder in accordance with the present invention.", "FIG. 4A illustrates a top view of the detachable accessory holder in a stage of attachment to the bracket and vacuum.", "FIG. 4B illustrates a cross-sectional view of FIG. 4A .", "FIG. 4C illustrates another embodiment of a pivot point on the accessory holder and a pivot location on the vacuum for FIG. 4B .", "FIGS. 5A–B illustrate a top view and frontal view of an embodiment of a bracket in accordance with the present invention.", "FIG. 6 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the detachable accessory holder in another stage of attachment to the bracket and vacuum.", "FIG. 7 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the detachable accessory holder in yet another stage of attachment to the bracket and vacuum.", "FIG. 8 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the detachable accessory holder completely attached to the bracket and vacuum.", "While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail herein.", "However, it should be understood that the invention is not intended to be limited to the particular forms disclosed.", "Rather, the invention is to cover all modifications, equivalents and alternatives failing within the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.", "DETAILED DESCRIPTION Illustrative embodiments of the invention are described below.", "In the interest of clarity, not all features of an actual implementation are described in this specification.", "It will of course be appreciated that in the development of any such actual implementation, numerous implementation-specific decisions must be made to achieve the developers″ specific goals, such as compliance with system-related and business-related constraints, which will vary from one implementation to another.", "Moreover, it will be appreciated that such a development effort might be complex and time-consuming, but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking for those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of this disclosure.", "Referring to FIGS. 2A and 2B , an embodiment of an accessory holder 50 for holding accessories is illustrated attached to an appliance 100 in accordance with the present invention.", "In FIG. 2A , the accessory holder 50 and appliance 100 are illustrated in a side view.", "In FIG. 2B , the accessory holder 50 and appliance 100 are illustrated in a back view.", "In the present embodiment of the invention, the appliance 100 for use with the accessory holder 50 is a wet/dry vacuum.", "The vacuum includes a drum 112 , a handle 114 , wheels 116 a and 116 b , and an axle 118 .", "For convenience, the motor portion of the vacuum 100 is not shown.", "Although the present embodiment of the accessory holder 50 is illustrated for use with the wet/dry vacuum 100 , it is understood that the present invention is applicable to, but not limited to, standard vacuums, carpet cleaning machines, or other appliances having accessories.", "Having a detachable accessory holder 50 for such appliances may be beneficial when they require movement, maintenance, cleaning, or storage.", "The accessory holder 50 stores accessories or tools (not shown) for use with the vacuum 100 .", "The holder 50 may be composed of a lightweight and sturdy material, such as polypropylene.", "The accessory holder 50 includes a compartment 52 for storing accessories (not shown).", "The holder 50 securely attaches to the appliance 100 and easily detaches therefrom.", "To attach the holder 50 to the vacuum 100 , a pivot portion 57 situated at a lower end of the holder 50 removably and rotatably couples to a pivot portion 107 on the vacuum 100 .", "In the present embodiment, the pivot location 107 is the axle 118 of the vacuum 100 .", "It is understood, however, that the pivot location 107 can include any fixed location on the vacuum 100 allowing for the holder 50 to pivot thereon.", "In one example, the pivot location 107 can be one or more pegs (not shown) extending from the drum 112 of the vacuum 100 .", "Once coupled to the axle 118 , the holder 50 is rotated on the axle 118 towards the vacuum 100 .", "A connection portion 53 situated at an upper end of the holder 50 is positioned adjacent the vacuum 100 and is positively coupled to a connection portion 103 of the vacuum 100 .", "The positive coupling of the holder 50 at least restricts the holder 50 from being pivoted away from the vacuum 100 .", "The holder 50 is held onto the vacuum 100 by the coupling of the pivot portion 57 with the axle 118 and the coupling of the connection portion 53 with the connection portion 103 of the vacuum 100 .", "In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the holder 50 is restricted from being moved away from the vacuum 100 in at least two directions.", "Preferably, the holder 50 is restricted from being pivoted or rotated away from the vacuum 100 in a first or rotational direction P and from being lifted off the vacuum 100 in a second or radial direction L. Referring to FIGS. 3A–B , an embodiment of the accessory holder 50 is illustrated in front and side views.", "The accessory holder 50 includes a sidewall 51 , which defines a compartment 52 for holding or storing the accessories.", "Although the present embodiment of the holder 50 includes the compartment 52 for storing the accessories, it is understood that other arrangements for holding accessories known in the art are also applicable to the present invention.", "For example, the holder 50 can include a system of racks (not shown) to which the accessories mount.", "For the pivot portion 57 situated at the lower end of the holder 50 , the holder 50 includes one or more pivot points or grooves 58 a and 58 b .", "In the present embodiment, the compartment 52 does not fully extend along the entire backside of the vacuum 100 so that the holder 50 includes extensions or legs 56 a and 56 b .", "Each leg 56 a and 56 b includes one of the pivot points or grooves 58 a and 58 b on its distal end.", "The pivot points or grooves 58 a and 58 b detachably couple with the pivot location or axle of the vacuum, as best shown and described below with reference to FIGS. 4–8 .", "Preferably, the holder 50 includes two pivot points or grooves 58 a and 58 b distanced to extreme sides of the compartment 52 for better stability when the holder 50 is coupled to the axle and pivoted thereabout as described below.", "For the connection portion 53 situated at the upper end of the holder 50 , the holder 50 includes one or more first or male members 54 a and 54 b projecting from the side of the holder 50 .", "The first members 54 a and 54 b include tabs 55 a and 55 b having ends facing towards the pivot points or grooves 58 a and 58 b .", "The first or male members 54 a and 54 b positively couple to the vacuum 100 , as described below.", "When positively coupled, the first members 54 a and 54 b restrict the holder 50 from being detached from the vacuum in at least one direction, i.e., pivoted away from the vacuum.", "Preferably, the holder includes two members 54 a and 54 b distanced to extreme sides of the compartment 52 for better stability when the holder 50 is attached to the vacuum 100 as described below.", "The accessory holder 50 also includes a movable or retractable member 60 disposed on the holder 50 .", "The movable or retractable member 60 is a latch flexibly attached to the side of holder 50 .", "The latch 60 is preferably positioned between the members 54 a and 54 b .", "In this way, the latch 60 is accessible by an operator from the upper end 53 of the holder 50 .", "The latch 60 includes the first positive stopping surface or shoulder 62 , an operator surface 64 , and a flexible portion 66 .", "The first positive stopping surface or shoulder 62 faces away from the pivot or grooves 58 a and 58 b and engages another stopping surface on the vacuum, as described below.", "Once engaged with the vacuum, the latch 60 selectively permits or restricts detachment of the holder 50 from the vacuum in the second or radial direction away from the pivot location or axle, as described below.", "The operator surface 64 may be corrugated, permitting easy recognition and use of the latch 60 by the operator.", "The flexible portion 66 enables the latch 60 to be selectively engaged or disengaged as described below.", "The secure attachment and easy detachment of the preferred embodiment of the accessory holder 50 will now be discussed with reference to FIGS. 4–8 .", "Referring to FIGS. 4A–B , the accessory holder 50 is shown in a first stage of attachment to the vacuum 100 .", "In FIG. 4A , the accessory holder 50 and the vacuum 100 are illustrated in a top view.", "In FIG. 4B , the accessory holder 50 and the vacuum 100 are illustrated in cross-section.", "For convenience, the accessory holder 50 in FIG. 4B is illustrated in an uneven cross-section 1 — 1 shown in FIG. 3 .", "The uneven cross-section 1 — 1 permits a view of tab 54 a and latch 60 , which are not axially aligned on the holder 50 .", "The accessory holder 50 mounts to the vacuum 100 by first positioning or detachably connecting the grooves, such as the groove 58 a shown, on the pivot location or axle 118 of the vacuum 100 .", "The holder 50 is rotatable relative to the vacuum 100 in a first or rotational direction P about the axle 118 .", "In an alternative embodiment shown in FIG. 4C , the pivot portion 57 at the lower end of the holder 50 , such as the leg 56 a shown, can include a rounded protrusion or knuckle 59 a .", "In this instance, the pivot portion or pivot location on the vacuum 100 is a rounded indentation or notch 117 attached to the drum 112 .", "This reversed pivot configuration works similarly to the groove and axle configuration discussed herein.", "Accordingly, a number of detachably coupling and rotatable configurations known in the art are applicable to the present invention.", "For example, the configuration can include a ball and socket or other configuration allowing for a detachable and rotatable coupling or joint.", "In one embodiment of the present invention, the vacuum 100 includes a bracket 80 for the connection portion of the appliance.", "The bracket 80 is attached to an upper portion of the appliance 100 for positively coupling with the connection portion 53 at the upper end of the accessory holder 50 .", "As best shown in FIG. 4A , the bracket 80 is attached to the back of the vacuum 100 adjacent the handle 114 .", "For convenience, the bracket 80 in FIG. 4B is illustrated in an uneven cross-section 2 — 2 shown in FIG. 5B .", "The uneven cross-section 2 — 2 permits a view of components, which are not axially aligned on the bracket 80 .", "Although the embodiment disclosed herein includes the bracket 80 attached to the vacuum 100 , it will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art that having the bracket 80 as a separately attached component to the vacuum 100 facilitates manufacture of the vacuum 100 .", "Therefore, it is understood that elements and features of the bracket 80 may be integral to the vacuum 100 in other embodiments of the present invention.", "Referring to FIGS. 5A–B , the bracket 80 is illustrated in an isolated top view and a frontal view.", "The bracket 80 may be composed of a lightweight and sturdy material, such as polypropylene.", "In an upper surface 81 , the bracket 80 defines openings 82 a and 82 b for the handle.", "The bracket 80 includes one or more second or female members 84 a and 84 b , which are slots in the present embodiment.", "The slots 84 a and 84 b are defined in the upper surface 81 at opposite ends of the bracket 80 .", "The slots 84 a and 84 b are distanced equivalent to the first members 54 a and 54 b on the holder 50 to which they positively couple (See FIG. 4A ).", "In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the bracket 80 also includes inclined structures or ramps 86 a and 86 b facilitating the attachment of the holder to the bracket 80 .", "The ramps 86 a and 86 b are disposed adjacent the slots 84 a and 84 b .", "As best shown in FIG. 5B , the ramps 86 a and 86 b extend from an edge 83 of the bracket 80 and incline towards the slots 84 a and 84 b. As will be discussed in more detail below, the ramps 86 a and 86 b engage or interact with the first members 54 a and 54 b of the holder 50 when attaching to the bracket 80 .", "Advantageously, the ramps 86 a and 86 b allow the operator to attach or secure the holder 50 to the bracket 80 in a single pivoting motion.", "In addition, the ramps 86 a and 86 b may further include guides 87 to direct the first members 54 a and 54 b to the slots 84 a and 84 b. The bracket 80 also includes a second positive stopping surface or retaining step 90 .", "The second positive stopping surface 90 is intended to engage or align with the first positive stopping surface 62 of the latch 60 , as best shown and described below.", "The first and second positive stopping surfaces 62 and 90 at least restricts the holder 50 from being lifted off the vacuum.", "Referring now to FIG. 6 , the accessory holder 50 is illustrated in a further stage of attachment to the vacuum 100 .", "The accessory holder 50 is further rotated about the axle 118 towards the vacuum 100 in the first or rotational direction P. The two first members 54 a and 54 b of the accessory holder 50 engage the ramps 86 a and 86 b of the bracket 80 .", "The first members 54 a and 54 b are moved towards the adjacent slots 84 a and 84 b defined in the bracket 80 .", "As the first members 54 a and 54 b ride on the ramps 86 a and 86 b , the accessory holder 50 is raised upward or displaced in a second or radial direction L away from the axle 118 .", "The displacement of the holder 50 eventually allows the first members 54 a and 54 b to insert into the slots 84 a and 84 b , as detailed below.", "The grooves 58 a and 58 b slightly separate from or rise off the axle 118 , as the holder 50 is moved in the second or radial direction L. Therefore, the grooves 58 a and 58 b are preferably deep enough to remain coupled to the axle 118 .", "Referring now to FIG. 7 , the accessory holder 50 is illustrated in yet a further stage of attachment to the vacuum 100 .", "As pivoting of the holder 50 is continued in the first or rotational direction P, the first members 54 a and 54 b position to a point of nearly inserting or dropping into the slots 84 a and 84 b .", "The latch 60 of the holder 50 contacts the retaining step 90 of the bracket 80 and flexes at the flexible portion 66 .", "Referring to FIG. 8 , the accessory holder 50 is shown in a completed stage of attachment to the vacuum 100 .", "With the continued pivot of the holder 50 in the first or rotational direction P from that illustrated in FIG. 7 , the first members 54 a and 54 b position over the slots 84 a and 84 b .", "The slots 84 a and 84 b receive the first members 54 a and 54 b therein, as the holder 50 moves in the second or radial direction L towards the axle 118 .", "With the tabs 55 a and 55 b disposed in the slots 84 a and 84 b , detachment of the holder 50 is restricted from the bracket 80 in the first direction P. As the holder 50 drops or moves towards the axle 118 , the shoulder 62 of the latch 60 surpasses or moves past the retaining step 90 of the bracket 80 .", "The latch 60 flexes back to its equilibrium position, and the shoulder 62 and step 90 align or engage with one another, as illustrated in FIG. 8 .", "The alignment or engagement of the shoulder 62 with the step 90 restricts detachment of the holder 50 from the bracket 80 in the second or radial direction L away from the axle 118 .", "Thus, the shoulder 62 and step 90 prevent the holder 50 from inadvertently being lifted up and off its mounted or attached position.", "Continuous engagement or contact between the shoulder 62 and the step 90 is not necessary to prevent detachment or removal of the holder 50 .", "In general, the holder 50 is constrained from moving in the second direction L by the force of gravity.", "Accordingly, the shoulder 62 and step 90 need only be aligned for potential engagement with one another if the vacuum 100 is tilted or moved.", "Overall, the holder 50 is constrained by the engagement or coupling of the grooves 58 a and 58 b with the axle 118 , by the engagement or coupling of the first members 54 a and 54 b with the slots 84 a and 84 b , and by the alignment or engagement of the shoulder 62 with the step 90 .", "To remove the accessory holder 50 , the shoulder 62 of the latch 60 can be selectively disengaged from or unaligned with the step 90 on the bracket 80 .", "The latch 60 is simply pressed or flexed back by the operator until the shoulder 62 clears the step 90 .", "The accessory holder 50 is then unrestricted and is permitted to move in the second or radial direction L. The holder 50 can be lifted, removing the first members 54 a and 54 b from the slots 84 a and 84 b and uncoupling the grooves 58 a and 58 b from the axle 118 .", "The holder 50 is then free of the bracket 80 and the vacuum 100 .", "As evidenced above in the preferred embodiment, the first members 54 a and 54 b and the slots 84 a and 84 b act together to restrict detachment of the holder 50 from the bracket 80 in the first or rotational direction P. It is considered an equivalent structure if the connection portion of the holder 50 includes female members, such as slots defined in the holder 50 , and if the connection portion of the appliance 100 includes male members, such as tabs disposed on the bracket 80 or upper end of the appliance 100 .", "For example, such tabs may project from the bracket 80 and may have ends pointing upwards.", "The slots defined in the holder 50 may face down and lift over and onto the up-turned tabs during the pivoting action.", "Furthermore, ramps on the connection portion of the holder 50 may be disposed adjacent slots defined in the holder 50 .", "These ramps may have an inverted inclination so that they lift the holder 50 or move the holder 50 away from axle 118 when engaging the up-turned tabs on the bracket 80 .", "This opposite tab/slot arrangement performs the same functions as other embodiments described herein.", "For brevity, this alternative embodiment of the present invention is not illustrated, as one of ordinary skilled in the art may readily make and use the opposite tab/slot arrangement with the benefit of the present disclosure.", "The first members 54 a and 54 b and slots 84 a and 84 b in the embodiment illustrated in the FIGS. 5–8 offer one structure to restrict movement of the holder 50 in the first or rotational direction P. Other equivalent structures for restricting movement of the holder 50 in the first or rotational direction P can include, but are not limited to, other suitable male and female members, such as hooks and slots, T-shaped structures and respective apertures, or catches and nooks.", "The design and implementation of such equivalent structures for restricting movement of the holder 50 in the first or rotational direction P fall within the ordinary skill of one in the art with the benefit of the present disclosure.", "As also evidenced above in the preferred embodiment, the shoulder 62 and the step 90 act together to restrict detachment of the holder 50 from the bracket 80 in the second or radial direction L away from the axle 118 .", "It is considered an equivalent structure if a latch having a shoulder is flexibly attached on the bracket 80 and a retaining step disposed on the holder 50 .", "The shoulder on the latch may face downward or towards the pivot location 118 , and the step on the holder 50 may face upwards or away from the pivot points 58 a and 58 b on the holder 50 .", "This reversed shoulder/step arrangement performs the same functions as other embodiments described herein.", "For brevity, this alternative embodiment of the present invention is not illustrated, as one of ordinary skilled in the art may readily make and use this reversed shoulder/step arrangement with the benefit of the present disclosure.", "As evidenced above in the preferred embodiment of the invention, the ramps 86 a and 86 b advantageously allow the operator to attach or secure the holder 50 to the bracket 80 in a single pivoting motion.", "Although not preferred, the bracket 80 may not include these ramps 86 a and 86 b , thereby requiring the operator to slightly lift the holder 50 to insert the first members 54 a and 54 b into the slots 84 a and 84 b .", "Alternatively, the first members 54 a and 54 b on the holder 50 can themselves include an inclined structure on the end to contact the edge 83 of the bracket 80 and displace the holder 50 in the second or radial direction L. Moreover, to displace the holder 50 in the second direction L during pivoting in the first direction P, an inclined structure or ramp can be disposed on the holder 50 or bracket 80 independently located from the tabs 55 a , 55 b and slots 84 a , 84 b .", "Such an independent structure can be used to displace the holder 50 and mate the tabs 55 a and 55 b and slots 84 a and 84 b in the second or radial direction L. Such alternative inclined structures for displacing the holder 50 in the second or radial direction L fall within the ordinary skill of one in the art with the benefit of the present disclosure.", "While the invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments, obvious modifications and alterations are possible by those skilled in the related art.", "Therefore, it is intended that the invention include all such modifications and alterations to the full extent that they come within the scope of the following claims or the equivalents thereof." ]

[ "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1.", "Field of the Invention The invention in general relates to oceanographic instrumentation, and more particularly to a meter for obtaining current velocity and direction.", "Description of the Prior Art In oceanographic studies, various sensors are utilized for obtaining oceanographic data.", "One such sensor or instrument is a fluid current meter which is placed at a fixed geographical point and measures the flow past the point as a function of time.", "The measurements obtained are utilized, in conjunction with other data to develop an understanding of the kinematics and dynamics which control the circulation in a section of an ocean, river or estuary, for example.", "A variety of sensors exists for performing such measurements however many oceanographic studies require a high probability of successful performance over a relatively long deployment, thus ruling out current meters with moving parts exposed to the water environment.", "Moving parts are eliminated in acoustic type current meters wherein acoustic transducers are provided for transmitting acoustic pulses toward one another and the difference in the travel time of acoustic pulses due to current, is obtained thereby providing an indication of fluid velocity.", "Generally two pairs of transducers are utilized with each being contained within a probe, or post.", "When current flow is in line with two of the posts, an error is introduced into the reading however the error is correctable for that current direction.", "In reality however the current direction may vary within 360° and unless the current direction is known, proper correction cannot be made to the output reading.", "Proper correction could be made if a separate sensor which weathervaned with the current were provided but as previously stated one requirement for such meter is that it have no moving parts exposed to the water environment.", "SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a fluid flow velocity measuring instrument which requires no moving parts exposed to the ambient water medium and which provides a highly accurate output indication of current velocity even in the presence of variable current directions.", "The current meter includes a plurality of pairs of acoustic transducers mounted in a support means which is in the form of a ring.", "The transducers of each pair are in acoustic communication with one another along an acoustic path and in a preferred embodiment two pairs of transducers are utilized with the acoustic paths within the center of the ring defining a measurement plane.", "The ring structure preferably extends for 360° in the measurement plane to offer an obstruction to current flow regardless of current direction.", "This controlled obstruction modifies the resultant output readings in a manner to provide for a constant error which can be easily corrected.", "In one embodiment the cross section of the ring is in the form of a hydrofoil which results in a low magnitude of flow error and which aids in reducing error when the ring is tilted, within certain limits, relative to current flow.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 illustrates an acoustic fluid current meter of the prior art;", "FIGS. 2 and 2A illustrate one embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2A being a cross-sectional view along lines AA of FIG. 2;", "FIGS. 3 and 3A are another embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 3A being a cross-sectional view along line AA of FIG. 3;", "FIG. 4 is a plan view of two of the support posts of FIG. 1, and FIGS. 4A and 4C illustrate curves of instantaneous fluid velocity between the posts for various relative angles of current direction;", "FIG. 5 is a plan view of an embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 5A through 5C are velocity curves for various angles of current direction, as in FIGS. 4A through 4C;", "FIG. 6 are curves illustrating a true cosine response and the actual response of the prior art and present invention, as a function of flow direction;", "FIG. 7 are curves illustrating relative errors as a function of current direction for the prior art and the present invention;", "FIG. 8 illustrates the curves of FIG. 6 with correction applied to the readouts of the present invention;", "FIG. 9 illustrates a portion of the ring of FIG. 5 and serves to illustrate certain distances;", "FIG. 10 illustrates a cross-section of the embodiment as illustrated in FIG. 3, at a certain tilt angle with respect to current direction;", "FIG. 11 is a curve illustrating error as a function of tilt angle;", "FIG. 12 is a block diagram illustrating an electronic section for obtaining velocity measurements;", "and FIG. 13 is a view looking up at the support ring coupled to a housing for the electronic portion of FIG. 11.", "DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to FIG. 1, there is illustrated a fluid current meter of the prior art.", "The meter, which may be constructed without moving parts, includes four transducer support posts 10 to 13 carried by a base member 16 and including at their upper end four acoustic transducers 18 to 21 respectively.", "Transducers 18 and 19 are arranged to transmit acoustic energy toward one another along an acoustic path 24, and similarly acoustic transducers 20 and 21 transmit acoustic energy toward one another along a second acoustic path 25 perpendicular to acoustic path 24.", "When positioned in the water environment, any fluid flow causes relative speeding up or slowing down of the acoustic energy transmitted, depending upon current direction, and the difference in time travel over paths 24 and 25 may be utilized to compute fluid flow parameters.", "When the current flow is along the line of one of the perpendicular acoustic paths, the wake behind the leading post and ahead of the trailing post slows the water reducing the average speed along the path and this velocity defect within the wake along the acoustic path is considered to be an important factor that affects the accuracy of the system.", "If the current direction were always parallel to one of the acoustic paths, then the error introduced by the wake flow could be calculated and the output reading properly scaled to give an accurate indication.", "In actuality however and particularly when deployed in the ocean, the current varies its direction so that any error correction applied for current from one direction would not be applicable for other directions.", "The present invention provides for a controlled constant error regardless of current direction and one embodiment is illustrated in FIG. 2. A plurality of pairs of transducers, for example transducers 30 and 31 constituting a first pair and 32 and 33 a second pair are provided, as in the prior art, for transmitting acoustic energy toward one another along respective acoustic paths 35 and 36.", "A support means 40 contains the pairs of transducers and is constructed and arranged to extend along a generally circular path from one transducer to a next so as to provide an obstruction to fluid flow at angles ±θ relative to an acoustic axis.", "In the preferred embodiment the support means takes a form of a continuous ring so as to provide structural rigidity and to be interposed in the path of the current for 360°.", "Although each transducer has an associated beam pattern, acoustic energy transmitted from one transducer to an opposing transducer may be considered to travel along an acoustic path.", "For explanatory purposes, the crossed acoustic paths will be considered to be coplanar with the plane being termed herein the measurement plane, although it is to be understood that the actual relative positioning of the acoustic paths may vary, depending upon the thickness of the ring.", "FIG. 2A illustrates a cross-section along lines AA of FIG. 2 and it is seen that the ring which for example may be stainless steel, has a circular cross section of diameter d. The transducer 30 is positioned within a notch 47 of the ring and is covered with a potting material 50 having the same, or similar transmission characteristics as the ambient water medium, polyurethane being one example and shaped to conform with the cross sectional shape of the ring 40.", "The transducer 30 may be of a variety of conventional designs and in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2A the transducer includes an active crystal 54 such as lead zirconate titanate (PZT) coupled to a backing member 55 such a syntactic foam.", "Wires (not illustrated) may be conducted to the transducer 30 for signal conduction by way of a groove 58 machined or otherwise formed into the ring 40.", "In order to preserve the cross-sectional shape, the polyurethane material conforming to the circular shape of the ring in the notch 47 may be also placed in the groove 58 as indicated at 59.", "FIG. 3 illustrates another embodiment of the invention which includes a plurality of transducers 60 to 63 oriented as illustrated for transmitting acoustic energy along respective acoustic paths 66 and 67 and carried by a support ring 70.", "In order to reduce turbulence the cross section of the ring 70 is in the shape of a hydrofoil (airfoil) as illustrated in FIG. 3A showing a cross section along the lines AA of FIG. 3. The ring 70 has a rounded leading edge 72 and a tapered trailing edge 73 with an overall length l and a maximum thickness t. The transducer 60, similar to transducers 30, includes an active crystal 78 with a backing member 79 located in a notch 80 of the ring 70.", "As was the case with respect to FIG. 2A, the transducer 60 is potted in a polyurethane material 82 formed to the hydrofoil shape.", "A groove 85 is provided for the signal communicating wires which are conducted to the transducer 60 through a channel or groove 87, both grooves 85 and 87 being filled in with a potting material 89.", "The particular dimensions will depend upon various factors such as maximum current to be encountered.", "By way of example, the ring illustrated in FIG. 2 has been constructed with the dimension d equal to 0.25 inches (0.635 centimeters).", "The outside diameter of the ring was 12.5 inches (31.75 cm.) with the inside diameter being 12.0 inches (30.48 cm.).", "The ring of FIG. 3 was constructed with an overall length l of 1.25 inches (3.175 centimeters) and a thickness t equal to 0.25 inches (0.635 centimeters).", "The outside diameter of the ring was 14.00 inches (35.56 cm.) with the inside diameter being 11.50 inches (29.21 cm.).", "Distance between transducer pairs as measured from their front surface, was 12 inches (30.48 centimeters).", "FIG. 4 illustrates a plan view of two transducer support posts 92 and 93 of the prior art.", "The acoustic path in the water between these posts is assumed to be between points 94 and 95 with the distance between these points being equal to x n .", "Thus in FIGS. 4A through 4C, the distance x n is plotted on the horizontal axis from x o to x n in increments.", "In FIG. 4, arrow 97 represents current in line with the acoustic path between the transducers, and posts 92 and 93, and arrow 98 represents current at any angle θ with respect to the acoustic path.", "In FIG. 4A, curve 100 represents the instantaneous velocity of the current in the acoustic path between the two posts as a function of distance behind the leading post.", "The velocity curves illustrated herein are generalized approximations for illustrative purposes since the actual plot is a function of a number of different variables such as post diameter, path length, drag coefficient, and Reynolds No., for example.", "In FIGS. 4A through 4C, the vertical scale representing instantaneous velocity has a maximum value designated v A which represents the component of fluid flow along the acoustic path 96 in the absence of any obstruction, that is from points 94 to 95 and as though the posts and transducers were not there.", "FIG. 4A illustrates the velocity plot for current having the same direction as arrow 97.", "With the current in line with the acoustic path, that is θ equals 0°, the velocity just past the post is 0 with the value increasing as the distance x increases up until some leveling off value.", "This value is below v A since the velocity can never reach a true maximum with this limited distance because of the presence of the posts.", "An average velocity however is obtained and this average velocity is the actual velocity measured and is designated v m with the difference between the measured velocity v m and the maximum possible velocity v A being equal to Δv.", "v m is located at a position such that the area 102 between curve 100 and the dotted line level v m is equal to the area 103 between the dotted line level v m and the remainder of curve 100.", "FIG. 4B illustrates the situation for a current direction θ of 15°.", "If it is assumed, for the purposes of explanation, that the current has a magnitude of unity (1), the magnitude of v A in FIG. 4B would be 0.966 (1×cosine 15°).", "Since the flow is less obstructed by the post the velocity curve 105 levels out at a distance closer to the post than that of curve 100 of FIG. 4A.", "The actual measured value v m is located at a position where the area 107 is equal to the area 108, with the difference between the measured value v m and the maximum actual value v A being designated Δv.", "Curve 4C illustrates the situation for θ equal to 45° and since the posts have less effect on current flow than in the previous two cases, the velocity curve 109 is seen to reach a leveling out portion fairly rapidly with the measured velocity level being at a position where area 112 is equal to area 113.", "For the 45° example v A would be equal to 0.707, with the difference between the measured value v m and the maximum actual value v A being designated Δv.", "It is seen that as the angle θ increases, the effect of the posts become less and less such that Δ v's decrease in magnitude as does the ratio of Δv to v A .", "FIG. 5 illustrates a plan view of the present invention, with FIGS. 5A through 5C illustrating the velocity curves for the same respective angles of FIGS. 4A through 4C.", "For the 0° situation, velocity curve 116 is very similar to curve 100 of FIG. 4A, and the measured value v m is that value where the areas 117 and 118 are equal above and below the v m level.", "The difference between v A and v m is designated Δv.", "For the 15° flow in FIG. 5B, curve 120 is dissimilar to its counterpart curve 105 in FIG. 4B due to the fact that the ring presents an obstruction to flow even at the 15° angle.", "Again equal areas 122 and 123 define the measured value v m with the difference Δv between v A and v m being greater than the corresponding Δv in FIG. 4B.", "In FIG. 5C for the 45° case, curve 125 is quite different from its counterpart in FIG. 4C due to the presence of the ring obstruction in the flow path.", "Equal areas 126 and 127 define the value of v m and it is seen that Δ to v is much more than its counterpart in FIG. 4C.", "Only one acoustic path is analyzed since the results obtained for the second path would be similar to that obtained with the first.", "In actual tests, the ratio of Δv to v A varied significantly whereas that same ratio with the present invention remained substantially constant.", "Test results may be illustrated with respect to FIG. 6 wherein θ is plotted on the horizontal axis and relative velocity on the vertical axis.", "Curve 130 is a true cosine response curve illustrating what the actual velocity v A should be as a function of θ, in the absence of any obstructions.", "Curve 131 represents the velocity measurements obtained with the prior art post apparatus and curve 132 represents the velocity measurements obtained with the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG. 2A.", "The vertical distance between the true cosine curve 130 and the curve 131 at any angle represents the Δv's plotted for example in FIGS. 4A through 4C.", "Similarly, the vertical distance between the true cosine curve 130 and curve 132 at any angle represents the Δv's plotted for example in FIGS. 5A through 5C.", "The Δv's in the present invention get smaller in proportion the values of curve 130 as a function of θ whereas the same is not true of the prior art.", "This is illustrated in FIG. 7 wherein θ in degrees is plotted on the horizontal axis and the ratio of Δv to v actual (v A ) representing a percentage error, is plotted on the vertical axis.", "The curve 134 represents the percentage error for the case of 0.375 inch (0.952 cm.) cylindrical probes spaced at a distance of 16 inches (40.64 cm.).", "It is seen that when the current is in line with the acoustic path the error is approximately 13% with the error decreasing to 0° at approximately 50°.", "With this curve the measured readings could be corrected, however this would require a knowledge of flow direction and moving parts to obtain such flow direction are undesirable especially for long deployment periods.", "The percentage error with the present invention is illustrated by curve 135, plotted for the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 2A with the previously given dimensions, and curve 136 plotted for the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 3A with the previously given dimensions.", "It is seen that for the hydrofoil design, the percentage error is relatively constant at about 6%, and with the tubular design the percentage error is relatively constant at about 15%, over the whole range of θ equals 0° to 90°.", "FIG. 7 therefore illustrates that with the present invention errors in the measurement as a function of angle of incidence of the current is substantially a constant independent of the angle and it is therefore possible to correct the velocity readings to the actual readings by a simple scaling factor in the computation circuitry.", "By applying a scaling factor of for example 15% the resulting curve 132 of FIG. 6 would closely approximate the true cosine curve 130, as illustrated in FIG. 8 wherein scaled curve 132 is designated 132'.", "Similar results obtain with the hyrofoil design by applying a scaling factor of approximately 6%.", "The mechanism by which the circular support accomplishes this constant flow velocity error for any incident current direction is illustrated in FIG. 9. Very basically, and with additional reference to FIGS. 4A through C and 5A through C, current incident on the ring at some angle θ has an obstruction interposed in its path due to the ring configuration.", "For example the instantaneous current at some point x i along the acoustic path would be the same as that at some distance x j in FIG. 4A which equals d i (FIG.", "9) as though the current were in line with an imaginary post 92'.", "For any incident current angle, the actual hydrodynamic analysis involves determining the elemental distances d 1 , d 2 , .", "d i etc.", "from the circular section of the ring to the points x 1 , x 2 .", "x i etc.", "and then arithmetically integrating the obtained magnitudes.", "While a ring with a circular cross section, as in FIG. 2A, effectively eliminates measurement errors in the measurement plane, it does little to modify the current which flows at an angle to the measurement plane.", "This condition can exist if the meter is mounted such that it can tilt with respect to the horizontal, or if the current has a vertical component.", "The hydrofoil cross section illustrated in FIG. 3A, however, does solve this problem within a selected tilt range.", "For example, a portion of a ring 150 is illustrated in FIG. 10, showing the hydrofoil cross section and tilted such that it and the measurement plane p are at an angle α with respect to current flow.", "With the orientation illustrated, and in the absence of the ring 150, the component of current velocity along the measurement plane p would be reduced from its actual value by a factor of cosine α.", "However, with the hydrofoil design, the flow over the trailing edge of the hydrofoil is increased due to the angle of attack and the effect, within certain limits, is inversely proportional to the cosine of α thus resulting in a substantially self-compensating arrangement.", "FIG. 11 illustrates the effect of varying tilt angles.", "Tilt angle α is plotted on the horizontal scale and relative percentage error is plotted on the vertical scale.", "Results illustrate that between tilt angles ±15°, the error is no more than 2%.", "Various electronic implementations are available for obtaining fluid velocity indications, and FIG. 12 illustrates one such arrangement.", "The electronic section 152 which is in signal communication with the support ring 153 containing the transducers, includes a sing around circuitry portion 155 which triggers a transmitter 158 which, in turn, provides proper transmitting signals to the transducers in the ring 153 by way of switch 159.", "Signals produced by the transducers as a result of acoustic impingement, are provided through switch 159 to the receiver 161 in signal communication with the sing around circuitry 155.", "Basically, the electronic section measures that part of the current component along mutually orthogonal acoustic paths with the two resulting outputs defining two components of the current referenced to the housing.", "These two components v x and v y are in the form of numerical representations which are placed into respective v x and v y registers in circuit 163 for outputting so as to obtain current velocity with direction.", "This calculation may be made either at the meter site or at a remote location.", "One such electronic measuring system is more fully described and claimed in copending application Ser.", "No. 574,671 filed May 5, 1975 by C. E. Hardies and assigned to the assignee of the present invention and hereby incorporated by reference.", "The output v x and v y define the two components of the current referenced to the meter.", "If the meter is in a fixed position with reference to the earth's coordinates, v x and v y can also define the magnetic vectors v n (north-south) and v e (east-west).", "Where the meter is free to rotate a compass must be added to measure the orientation of the meter with respect to the earth's coordinate system.", "In order to accomplish this, there may be provided a compass 165 for providing an orientation output signal to a transformation computer 167 so that the meter output v x and v y may be rotated to the earth's coordinate system.", "The transformation computer 167 is merely a circuit which multiplies the v x and v y readings by the sin or cosine of the angular deviation θ as indicated by the compass 165 and performs an arithmetic operation as follows: v.sub.", "n =v.", "sub.", "x cosine θ-v.", "sub.", "y sin θ and v.sub.", "e =v.", "sub.", "x sin θ+v.", "sub.", "y cosine θ The entire electronic section 152 may be placed into a housing 170 as illustrated in FIG. 13 connected to the ring 70 previously illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 3A, by means of relatively narrow support struts 173 to 176.", "The underside of the ring 70 is illustrated in the absence of transducers and polyurethane material to show the groove undersurface and notches for transducers.", "At least one and preferably all of the support struts 173 to 176 are hollow so that wires may be inserted therein for signal communication between the transducers and the electronic section in housing 170." ]

[ "CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This Non-Provisional patent application is a Continuation of U.S. patent application Ser.", "No. 14/209,055 filed Mar. 13, 2014, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,033,175, issued May 19, 2015, which claims the benefit of priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/800,373 filed Mar. 15, 2013, the entire disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.", "FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to containers and container end closures, specifically container end closures with controlled opening characteristics.", "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] Containers, and more specifically metallic beverage containers, generally have a neck on an upper portion of a container body that is adapted for interconnection to an end closure.", "The end closure is typically formed from a flat sheet of metallic material and generally includes a pull tab or other form of stay on tab (“SOT”).", "Beverage containers commonly store carbonated beverages, thus, both the container body and the end closure are required to withhold internal pressures up to 90 psi without catastrophic failure or permanent deformation.", "Further, the end closure must be manufactured, stacked, shipped, and sent to a filler prior to being seamed onto a container body filled with a carbonated beverage.", "Therefore, the container body and end closure must be designed to resist deformation and failure while utilizing thin metallic materials and allowing compact stacking during shipping and manufacturing.", "[0004] Food and beverage containers with pull tabs or SOTs are generally known.", "Various SOTs and related features are disclosed, by way of example, in U.S. Pat. No. 7,926,675 to Rieck et al.", ", the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.", "Known devices typically contain a score and an anti-fracture score that defines a tear panel.", "A user may pivot the pull tab into the tear panel to dispense the contents of the container.", "Such an arrangement, particularly where can contents are placed under pressure, pose various complications and challenges with opening the container.", "Such complications include, but are not limited to, rapid score flexure or breakage, which may result in the tear panel disconnecting from the end closure and shooting outward from the end closure and thus becoming a “missile.”", "[0005] Previous attempts have been made to manufacture end closures with controlled opening characteristics.", "One such feature is a check slot, which is generally a portion of the score that is cut shallower than the rest of the score, or in other words, the check slot has a larger residual of material underneath the score.", "A check slot is disclosed in U.S. Patent Publication No. 2011/0303672 to Fields at al.", ", the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.", "The additional material underneath the check slot inhibits propagation of the fracture that occurs when a user pivots a pull tab into the tear panel.", "However, more score residual can make the end closure difficult to open, and a score with a non-uniform depth adds complexity to the manufacturing process of the end closure, and thus expense.", "[0006] Other attempts to provide an end closure with a tear panel that will not detach and turn into a missile include an end closure with one anti-missile feature that is an indention or depression crossing the anti-fracture score but not crossing the main score and a check slot portion of the main score.", "However, each of these features require different tooling and machinery, and thus, manufacturing can be expensive.", "[0007] Due to the numerous limitations associated with the prior art described above, the following disclosure describes an improved end closure that is adapted for interconnection to a container body and that employs anti-missile features, which eliminate the missiling effect of the tear panel without increasing the difficulty of opening the container.", "SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0008] These and other needs are addressed by the various embodiments and configurations of the present invention.", "This disclosure relates to novel systems, devices, and methods for providing a food and beverage end closure with anti-missile features.", "The novel end closure provided herein allows the user to open the end closure without the tear panel inadvertently detaching and thus becoming a missile, which may harm the user.", "Note that the term “score”", "may be used herein interchangeably with “score line”", "or sometimes “main score.”", "Additionally, the term “anti-missile”", "may be used herein interchangeably with “anti-missile feature.”", "[0009] It is one aspect of the present invention to provide an end closure that controls the release of pressure from a container when a user opens said container.", "After the user pivots the pull tab into the tear panel (i.e., initially flexes the score), the score begins to fracture.", "Initially, the start of the fracture allows the interior pressure of the container to equalize with the atmospheric pressure.", "In some embodiments of the present invention, a double anti-missile feature slows down the propagation of the fracture along the score to prevent the tear panel from inadvertently detaching and becoming a missile.", "[0010] It is another aspect of the present invention to provide an end closure that reduces or eliminates the need for a check slot.", "Containers store different contents at different pressures.", "For example, soda or pop is generally stored at a higher pressure than beer.", "Thus, some lower pressure containers do not require a check slot to control opening characteristics of the end closure.", "When the check slot is reduced or eliminated, the machinery and manufacturing methods used to create score lines on end closures may be standardized across containers with varying pressures, which reduces the cost of manufacturing.", "[0011] It is an another aspect of the present invention to provide an end closure with anti-missile features in combination with a check slot to more robustly control the opening of a tear panel.", "The check slot portion of a score has a larger residual of material underneath the check slot, and an anti-missile feature disposed proximate to the check slot may inhibit propagation of a fracture along the score to an even greater degree.", "This combination may allow the end closure and the container to store beverages or contents at even greater pressures.", "[0012] It is another aspect of the present invention to provide different opening characteristics of an end closure.", "To provide these characteristics, anti-missile features may be disposed in a variety of locations, orientations, shapes, and numbers.", "For example, anti-missile features positioned on either side of the score at the same location on the score may provide an abrupt slowdown in the propagation of the fracture down the score.", "In other embodiments, anti-missile features may be adjacent on the same side of the score but spaced far apart or set off of the score by a distance, which may produce a more gradual slowdown in the propagation of the fracture down the score.", "Further yet, in some embodiments combinations of anti-missile features can provide a series of opening effects such as a gradual slow down in the propagation of the fracture down the score followed by an abrupt slow down.", "The various opening characteristics provided herein not only improve the safety of the end closure but also provide also provide the user with a comfortable opening motion that is not overly cumbersome or difficult.", "[0013] It is yet another aspect of the present invention to provide controllable opening features for a wide range of food and beverage containers including, but not limited to, pressurized beverage containers with SOTs secured by a rivet, food containers with tear away lids, and full panel easy-open end tabs.", "The present invention may enjoy implementation in these containers because end closures and containers are designed to be as thin as reasonably possible to save on material costs and to improve openability of the container.", "In addition, although some embodiments of the present invention generally relate to end closures and containers made from metal, other embodiments of the present invention and features described herein may be implemented using plastic or any other type of material commonly used in end closures and containers.", "[0014] It is another aspect of the present invention to provide an end closure with anti-missile features that is manufactured with conventional manufacturing equipment.", "In some embodiments, the anti-missile feature is formed using an insert, a knife, forms, or coins, to push the metal material toward the score.", "In a preferred embodiment, the anti-missile feature is formed using an insert to create an indentation in the end closure and move metal toward the main score.", "The insert may comprise shaped features that protrude from the insert and correspond to anti-missile features described herein.", "Further, devices and methods of the present disclosure contemplate forming an anti-missile feature on an end closure at various stages of manufacture.", "For example, an anti-missile feature may be formed on an end panel before, during, or after formation of features such as debossed features, rivets, frangible score lines defining opening areas, etc.", "In preferred embodiments, the anti-missile features are added after the score or scores are created on the end panel.", "[0015] It is another aspect of the present invention to provide an end closure with anti-missile features that do not decrease tab access or increase the difficulty in opening the end closure.", "Embodiments of the present disclosure allow the stacking and conveying of multiple end closures during production and shipping because these embodiments do not affect the position of the tab or other features of the end closure.", "[0016] Various embodiments of the present invention provide an end closure with anti-missile features in a variety of locations.", "In some embodiments, the anti-missile features are located proximate a rivet, a score loop, a content side of the end closure, a public side of the end closure, and/or over an anti-fracture score.", "Further, the anti-missile feature may be positioned at a number of distances from the score line.", "In a preferred embodiment, the anti-missile feature does not cross the main score, which reduces pop and push numbers, thereby making the end closure easier to open.", "Locating anti-missile features in these locations, or combination of locations, provides a variety of different opening characteristics of the end closure.", "[0017] In a similar vein, in some embodiments of the present invention, anti-missile features are disposed in a variety of orientations.", "Some anti-missile features have a longitudinal axis, which may be substantially perpendicular to the main score.", "In other embodiments the anti-missile feature's longitudinal axis may be disposed substantially parallel to the score to provide a deformation or distortion to a greater portion of the score.", "In yet further embodiments the anti-missile feature is oriented an angle relative to the score, and in some embodiments a bottom surface of the anti-missile feature does not lie in a common plane with the end closure.", "These various orientations, and others, provide varying opening characteristics of the end closure.", "[0018] In some embodiments of the present invention, anti-missile features have various shapes to provide different opening characteristics of the end closure.", "Shapes of anti-missile features when viewed from a top plan view include, but are not limited to, a rectangle, an ovoid, any polygon such as a hexagon, a trapezium, and a “U”", "shape.", "When viewed from a cross-sectional perspective, the anti-missile feature also has a variety of shapes and orientations.", "The bottom surface of the anti-missile feature may be flat, curved, or asymmetrical with chamfered or radiused edges.", "Further yet, the anti-missile feature may come in a variety of sizes as well.", "The physical characteristics of the anti-missile feature help determine the deformation or distortion in the material of the main score, which provides different opening characteristics of the end closure.", "[0019] In various embodiments of the present invention, an end closure comprises a double anti-missile feature.", "In one embodiment, the end closure comprises two anti-missile features that are the same size and angle.", "These anti-missile features may be disposed proximate the rivet, proximate the main score, and over the anti-fracture score.", "The double anti-missile feature provides a deformation or distortion of the metal of the main score at two locations along the score and another deformation or distortion of the main score between the two anti-missile features.", "This double anti-missile feature slows the opening of the tear panel in this section of the main score.", "[0020] One embodiment of the present invention is a metallic end closure with controlled opening characteristics comprising a peripheral curl which is adapted for interconnection to a neck of a container body;", "a central panel;", "a countersink positioned between the peripheral curl and the central panel;", "a pull tab having a nose end and a tail end, wherein the pull tab is operably interconnected to the central panel;", "a first score line in the central panel which defines a tear panel;", "and at least one anti-missile feature positioned proximate to the first score line which deforms at least a portion of the first score line to affect the rate at which the tear panel opens along the first score line when a user pivots the nose end of the pull tab into the tear panel.", "[0021] Another embodiment of the present invention is a method of forming a metallic end closure with an anti-missile feature comprising providing a blank metallic material;", "forming an end closure comprising a peripheral curl, a central panel, and a countersink positioned there between;", "forming a first score line on the central panel, wherein the first score line substantially defines a tear panel;", "providing an insert tool with at least one shaped feature disposed on a distal end of the insert tool;", "pressing the insert tool into at least one of the central panel and the tear panel such that the at least one shaped feature contacts the at least one of the central panel and the tear panel at a location proximate the first score line, wherein the at least one shaped feature creates at least one anti-missile feature in the end closure;", "and interconnecting a pull tab to the central panel of the end closure, wherein a nose of the pull tab is positioned over the tear panel.", "[0022] Yet another embodiment of the present invention is a metallic end closure with controlled opening characteristics comprising a peripheral curl which is adapted for interconnection to a neck of a container body;", "a central panel having a rivet disposed in a central location on a public side of the central panel;", "a countersink positioned between the peripheral curl and the central panel;", "a pull tab having a nose end and a tail end, wherein the pull tab is operably interconnected to the central panel;", "a first score line on the central panel defining a tear panel;", "a second score line on the tear panel oriented substantially parallel to the first score line, wherein the second score line is shallower than the first score line;", "and a first anti-missile feature and a second anti-missile feature, wherein the first and second anti-missile features are disposed over the second score line, proximate the first score line, and proximate a rivet which interconnects the pull tab to the central panel, wherein the first and second anti-missile features deform at least a portion of the first score line to inhibit propagation of a fracture along the first score line when a user engages the pull tab and forces the nose end into the tear panel.", "[0023] The Summary of the Invention is neither intended nor should it be construed as being representative of the full extent and scope of the present invention.", "Moreover, references made herein to “the present invention”", "or aspects thereof should be understood to mean certain embodiments of the present invention and should not necessarily be construed as limiting all embodiments to a particular description.", "The present invention is set forth in various levels of detail in the Summary of the Invention as well as in the attached drawings and the Detailed Description of the Invention and no limitation as to the scope of the present invention is intended by either the inclusion or non-inclusion of elements, components, etc.", "in this Summary of the Invention.", "Additional aspects of the present invention will become more readily apparent from the Detailed Description, particularly when taken together with the drawings.", "[0024] These and other advantages will be apparent from the disclosure of the invention(s) contained herein.", "The above-described embodiments, objectives, and configurations are neither complete nor exhaustive.", "As will be appreciated, other embodiments of the invention are possible using, alone or in combination, one or more of the features set forth above or described in detail below.", "Furthermore, the Summary of the Invention is neither intended nor should it be construed as being representative of the full extent and scope of the present invention.", "The present invention is set forth in various levels of detail in the Summary of the Invention, as well as in the attached drawings, the Detailed Description of the invention, and the Claims.", "No limitation as to the scope of the present invention is intended to either the inclusion or non-inclusion of elements, components, etc.", "in this Summary of the Invention.", "Additional aspects of the present invention will become more readily apparent from the Detailed Description, particularly when taken together with the drawings.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0025] Those of skill in the art will recognize that the following description is merely illustrative of the principles of the present invention, which may be applied in various ways to provide many different alternative embodiments.", "This description is made for illustrating the general principles of the teachings of this invention and is not meant to limit the inventive concepts disclosed herein.", "[0026] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the general description of the invention given above and the detailed description of the drawings given below, serve to explain the principles of the invention.", "[0027] FIG. 1 is a top plan view of one embodiment of an end closure with anti-missile features;", "[0028] FIG. 2 is an enlarged top plan view of the anti-missile features shown in FIG. 1 ;", "[0029] FIG. 3 is a top plan view of an alternative embodiment of an end closure with a dimple-shaped anti-missile feature;", "[0030] FIG. 4 is a top plan view of an alternative embodiment of an end closure with a trapezium-shaped anti-missile feature;", "[0031] FIG. 5 is a top plan view of an alternative embodiment of an end closure with a U-shaped anti-missile feature;", "[0032] FIG. 6A is a top plan view of an alternative embodiment of an end closure with a single, wide anti-missile feature;", "[0033] FIG. 6B is another top plan view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 6A where reference lines “C”, “D”, and “E”", "are visible;", "[0034] FIG. 6C is a cross-sectional elevation view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 6B taken at line “C-C”;", "[0035] FIG. 6D is a cross-sectional elevation view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 6B taken at line “D-D”;", "[0036] FIG. 6E is a cross-sectional elevation view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 6B taken at line “E-E”;", "[0037] FIG. 7 is an isometric view of an embodiment of an insert tool;", "[0038] FIG. 8 is front elevation view of the insert tool of FIG. 7 ;", "[0039] FIG. 9 is a side elevation view of the insert tool of FIG. 7 ;", "and [0040] FIG. 10 is an enlarged side elevation view showing shaped features of the insert tool of FIG. 7 .", "[0041] To assist in the understanding of the embodiments of the present invention the following list of components and associated numbering found in the drawings is provided herein: [0000] Number Component 96 Container Body 100 End Closure 104 Central Panel 108 Panel Radius 112 Peripheral Curl 116 Countersink 120 Rivet 124 Deboss Area 128 Main Score 130 Main Score Depth 132 Anti-Fracture Score 134 Anti-Fracture Score Depth 136 Score Loop 140 Pour Opening 144 Check Slot 145 First Check Slot End 146 Second Check Slot End 148 First Anti-Missile 149 First Anti-Missile Length 150 Missile-Fracture Intersection 151 First Anti-Missile Depth 152 Second Anti-Missile 156 Main Score Residual 160 Anti-Fracture Score Residual 200 Insert Tool 204 Body 208 First End 212 Second End 216 Flange 220 First Shaped Feature 224 Second Shaped Feature 228 Body Outer Diameter 232 Flange Outer Diameter 236 Flat Side Dimension 238 Shaped Feature Width 240 First Horizontal Offset 244 Second Horizontal Offset 248 Overall Length 252 Flange Length 256 Shaped Feature Length 260 First Body Radius 264 Second Body Radius 268 Shaped Feature Height 272 Angle 276 First Transition 280 Second Transition 284 First Centerline 288 Second Centerline 292 First Transition Distance 296 Second Transition Distance [0042] It should be understood that the drawings are not necessarily to scale, and various dimensions may be altered.", "In certain instances, details that are not necessary for an understanding of the invention or that render other details difficult to perceive may have been omitted.", "It should be understood, of course, that the invention is not necessarily limited to the particular embodiments illustrated herein.", "DETAILED DESCRIPTION [0043] Those of skill in the art will recognize that the following description is merely illustrative of the principles of the disclosure, which may be applied in various ways to provide many different alternative embodiments.", "This description is made for illustrating the general principles of the teachings of this disclosure invention and is not meant to limit the inventive concepts disclosed herein.", "[0044] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the disclosure and together with the general description of the disclosure given above and the detailed description of the drawings given below, serve to explain the principles of the disclosures.", "[0045] It should be understood that the drawings are not necessarily to scale, and various dimensions may be altered.", "In certain instances, details that are not necessary for an understanding of the invention or that render other details difficult to perceive may have been omitted.", "It should be understood, of course, that the invention is not necessarily limited to the particular embodiments illustrated herein.", "[0046] FIG. 1 shows a top plan view of the public side of an end closure 100 which is interconnected to the neck of container body 96 .", "The end closure 100 in this embodiment generally comprises a central panel 104 that represents the central area of the end closure 100 in FIG. 1 .", "A panel radius 108 defines the outer edge of the central panel 104 .", "Moving outward from the panel radius 108 is a countersink 116 that leads from the central panel 104 to a chuckwall, which is interconnected to peripheral curl 112 , and the peripheral curl 112 allows for interconnection to the container body 96 .", "The central panel 104 , the panel radius 108 , the countersink 116 , the chuckwall, and the peripheral curl 112 are generally circular in shape as depicted in FIG. 1 .", "One skilled in the art will appreciate that any one of these features may have general modifications in shape or dimensions without deviating from the scope of the invention.", "[0047] Also shown in FIG. 1 are two lines that pass through the center of a rivet 120 , wherein the two lines may be used to reference the location of other features disposed on the end closure 100 .", "One line passes vertically through the rivet 120 , and one line passes horizontally through the rivet 120 .", "These lines provide reference to planes that pass through the longitudinal axis of the container 96 .", "In this embodiment, the rivet 120 is centered on the end closure 100 , but in other embodiments, the rivet 120 may be off center and the reference lines will not necessarily partition the enclosure 100 into halves.", "[0048] The rivet 120 provides a location for a pull tab (not shown) to be disposed.", "A user may engage the rear portion of the pull tab to provide a force on the nose portion to a tear panel defined by a main score 128 .", "As the user continues to engage and pivot the pull tab, the main score 128 fractures and the tear panel is disposed into the container 96 to define a pour opening 140 .", "In FIG. 1 , the tear panel is located proximate the rivet 120 and is defined by two score lines.", "The outer score line is the main score 128 , and the inner score line is the anti-fracture score 132 .", "Typically, the anti-fracture score 132 has a shallower depth than the main score 128 .", "In other words, the anti-fracture score 132 has a larger score residual, or larger amount of material underneath the score, than the main score 128 .", "The anti-fracture score 132 is located proximate to the main score 128 to relieve stress areas around the main score 132 and prevent accidental opening of the main score 128 .", "[0049] The two score lines 128 , 132 may join together at a score loop 136 , which is located proximate to the rivet 120 .", "In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 1 , the score loop 136 is located to the lower left of the rivet 120 , and the score loop 136 is where the end closure 100 begins to fracture as a user engages the pull tab.", "As the user continues to engage and pivot the pull tab, the fracture propagates down the main score 128 , defining the tear panel.", "As the main score 128 continues to fracture around the perimeter of the tear panel, the main score 128 may simply terminate at a location proximate to the score loop 136 such that a small portion of the end closure 100 does not fracture, and thus the tear panel that passes through the pour opening 140 remains attached to the end closure 100 via a hinge.", "One skilled in the art will appreciate a variety of configurations of the terminus of the main score 128 including, but not limited to, a second score loop.", "[0050] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 , the rivet 120 , the score lines 128 , 132 , and the pour opening 140 are disposed on a deboss area 124 , which is an area of the central panel 104 that is slightly depressed or lower than the rest of the central panel 104 .", "The deboss area 124 aids in the prevention of interference with the pull tab during production, storage, or stacking of the containers 96 , where such interference may lead to accidental opening of the container 96 .", "One skilled in the art will appreciate a deboss area 124 of varying depths, sizes, shapes, and locations, or end closure which are void of a deboss area 124 .", "[0051] As mentioned above, complications can arise during opening of the end closure 100 such as rapid fracture of the main score 128 that results in the tear panel becoming a missile or inadvertently detached.", "One feature that aids in mitigation of this problem is the check slot 144 .", "The check slot 144 in FIG. 1 is located on the main score 128 on the opposite side of the rivet 120 from the score loop 136 .", "Typically, the check slot 144 is cut to a shallower depth than the main score 128 .", "In other words, the check slot 144 has a larger score residual.", "The purpose of the check slot 144 is to inhibit propagation of the fracture along the main score 128 .", "The fracture begins in the score loop 136 , then travels to the check slot 144 where the fracture is temporarily stopped or slowed down.", "This configuration allows the pressure inside the container 96 to equalize with the pressure of the atmosphere before the fracture continues to propagate past the check slot 144 .", "One skilled in the art will appreciate check slots 144 of varying depths, lengths, and locations that may prove advantageous.", "[0052] Also disposed on the central panel 104 are a first anti-missile feature 148 and a second anti-missile feature 152 .", "The anti-missile features 148 , 152 “push”", "material of the central panel towards the main score 128 , which deforms a portion of the main score 128 .", "In some embodiments this deformation is the pinching together of the two sides of the main score 128 .", "When the two sides of the main score 128 are pinched, the propagation of the fracture is inhibited, temporarily stopped, or otherwise impeded.", "In some embodiments, the anti-missile features 148 , 152 allow for the reduction in size of the check slot 144 , and in some embodiments the anti-missile features 148 , 152 allow for the complete elimination of the check slot 144 .", "[0053] FIG. 2 depicts a top plan view of the end closure 100 shown in FIG. 1 , and wherein the anti-missile features 148 , 152 are enlarged for clarity.", "In this embodiment, the anti-missile features 148 , 152 are both oriented at an angle of approximately 45 degrees from a horizontal plane.", "The second anti-missile feature 152 is offset from the first anti-missile feature 148 by approximately 0.026 inches in the horizontal direction, and approximately 0.030 inches in the vertical direction.", "The anti-missile features 148 , 152 are disposed proximate the check slot 144 portion of the main score 128 .", "The inclusion of the second anti-missile feature 152 provides a second location of deformation or distortion of the material of the main score 128 .", "Further, there is deformation or distortion of the material along the main score 128 between the first anti-missile feature 148 and the second anti-missile feature 152 .", "[0054] One skilled in the art will appreciate various angles and configurations of anti-missile features 148 , 152 that provide various benefits.", "In some embodiments, anti-missile features 148 , 152 are disposed on either side of the main score 128 at a common point on the main score 128 .", "If the anti-missile features 148 , 152 are oriented substantially perpendicular to the main score 128 , then the main score 128 is deformed from both sides instead of only one side.", "This anti-missile configuration results in a more thorough deformation of the end closure 100 and the main score 128 .", "In some embodiments, the deformation is a more complete and robust deformation or distortion of the two sides of the main score 128 .", "Therefore, as the fracture propagates down the main score 128 the fracture will more abruptly slow down before resuming down the main score 128 .", "This produces a different feel for the user and a different venting response for the end closure 100 , all while reducing the risk of the tear panel turning into a missile.", "[0055] In a further embodiment, the anti-missile features are substantially parallel to the main score 128 .", "This exposes a greater length of the main score 128 to the deformations in the end closure 100 produced by the anti-missile features 148 , 152 .", "In this parallel orientation, anti-missile features 148 , 152 may be disposed in series along the main score 128 .", "This configuration will produce a deformation that has a less pronounced effect on the main score 128 but affects a greater length of the score 128 .", "Therefore, this configuration will provide a smoother feel to the user as he or she opens the container and will provide a different venting response for the end closure 100 , again, all while reducing the risk of the tear panel turning into a projectile or missile.", "[0056] In other embodiments, two anti-missile features 148 , 152 are substantially parallel with one feature disposed on each side of the main score 128 at a common location on the main score 128 .", "This configuration will produce a more robust deformation of the main score 128 since the anti-missile features 148 , 152 are disposed on either side, and the deformation is along a length of the main score 128 .", "As mentioned above, this provides a different feel to the user and a different venting response.", "[0057] Further, the anti-missile features 148 , 152 need not be disposed proximate to a common point on the main score 128 .", "Other embodiments of the present invention have anti-missile features 148 , 152 that are disposed on either side of the main score 128 but at different locations along the main score 128 .", "Depending on the offset between the anti-missile features 148 , 152 , the deformation of the end closure 100 and the resulting effect may be a twisting or similar distortion of the main score 128 , which provides yet another feel for the user and a difference in performance of the end closure 100 .", "[0058] Embodiments of the present invention may comprise any number of anti-missile features.", "Some embodiments of the present invention utilize one anti-missile feature, while other embodiments utilize two or more anti-missile features.", "In the embodiment where the two anti-missile features 148 , 152 are disposed on either side of the main score 128 , substantially perpendicular to the main score 128 , and located at a common point on the main score 128 ;", "a series of these pairs of anti-missile features may be disposed along the length of the main score 128 to provide a series of abrupt slow-downs in the propagation of the fracture along the main score 128 .", "Alternatively, some embodiments may have asymmetric combinations of anti-missile features 148 , 152 wherein the anti-missile features 148 , 152 are disposed on either side of the main score 128 but never at a common location on the main score 128 .", "This configuration of the main score 128 may provide a deformation that is a twisting or distortion of the main score 128 that produces a particular effect on the propagation of the main score 128 .", "[0059] In some embodiments, the shape of the main score 128 drives the location, shape, orientation, and number of anti-missile features 148 , 152 .", "When viewed in cross-section, the main score 128 may be shaped as a “V”", "or a “U.”", "Further, the main score 128 may have a bottom surface that is substantially perpendicular to the two side walls of the main score 128 .", "The main score 128 may have any number of profiles that are commonly known in the art.", "The profiles that have a large distance between the two sides may necessitate a more aggressive or robust anti-missile 148 , 152 configuration.", "Whereas a narrow “V”", "with relatively close sides may require a less aggressive or robust anti-missile 148 , 152 configuration.", "[0060] FIGS. 3-6E show examples of the various shapes of the anti-missile features 148 , 152 .", "These are only exemplary in nature and are not meant to be limiting.", "The various shapes provide different deformations or distortions to the main score 128 , and thus varying opening characteristics of the end closure 100 .", "FIG. 3 shows a top plan view of an end closure 100 where the first anti-missile feature 148 is circular or dimple-shaped.", "In this embodiment, the first anti-missile feature 148 pushes material radially from the center of the first anti-missile feature 148 .", "This allows for a greater length of the main score 128 to be deformed or distorted.", "[0061] FIG. 4 shows a top plan view of an end closure 100 where the first anti-missile feature 148 is trapezium-shaped.", "In other words, the first anti-missile feature 148 has four sides, and no two sides are parallel.", "The side of the first anti-missile feature 148 proximate the main score 128 is substantially parallel to the main score 128 .", "This allows the first anti-missile feature 148 to deform or distort as much of the main score 128 as possible while retaining a similar angle from horizontal as the first anti-missile feature 148 depicted in FIG. 2 .", "Further, the trapezium shape of the first anti-missile feature 148 allows for a greater area of the central panel 104 to be “pushed”", "toward the main score 128 , which provides a more through deformation or distortion of the main score 128 .", "[0062] FIG. 5 shows a top plan view of an end closure 100 where the first anti-missile feature 148 has an arcuate shape and wherein the ends of the legs of the “U”", "are pointing away from the main score 128 .", "This orientation of the “U”", "allows a greater portion of the first anti-missile feature 148 to be located proximate the main score 128 .", "In turn, a greater portion of the main score 128 is deformed or distorted, and the propagation of the fracture during opening of the end closure 100 is slowed down or temporarily stopped.", "The two legs of the first anti-missile feature 148 in FIG. 5 are not substantially parallel.", "Rather, the two legs are offset at an angle from a plane that traverses the anti-missile feature 148 in the longitudinal direction.", "One skilled in the art will appreciate other embodiments of the present invention that have an offset angle between approximately 180 degrees and approximately −15 degrees.", "[0063] FIG. 6A shows a top plan view of an end closure 100 that has a relatively wide first anti-missile feature 148 .", "In this embodiment, the width of the first anti-missile feature 148 is approximately twice the width of the first anti-missile feature 148 depicted in FIG. 2 .", "The double width means there is twice as much area of the central panel 104 that is being “pushed.”", "This allows for a more thorough deformation or distortion of the main score 128 , which results in a slow down or temporary stop in the propagation of the fracture of the main score 128 .", "[0064] FIG. 6B shows an enlarged plan view of the end closure 100 of FIG. 6A including a first check slot end 145 that is disposed proximate the rivet 120 and a second check slot end 146 that is disposed on the end of the check slot 144 opposite the first check slot end 145 .", "Also shown in FIG. 6B is reference line “C-C”, reference line “D-D”, and reference line “E-E.”", "Reference line “C-C”", "traverses the longitudinal length of the first anti-missile feature 148 and is perpendicular to the central panel 104 .", "reference line “D-D”", "traverses the lateral dimension of the first anti-missile feature 148 at the end of the first anti-missile feature 148 that is proximate the anti-fracture score 132 .", "Reference line “D-D”", "is also oriented perpendicular to the central panel 104 .", "Reference line “E-E”", "is substantially perpendicular to the main score 128 and the anti-fracture score 132 , and the reference line “E-E”", "is oriented perpendicular to the central panel 104 .", "[0065] FIG. 6C shows a cross-sectional view of the end closure 100 at reference line “C-C.”", "In the background of this view is the rivet 120 .", "The anti-fracture score 132 intersects the first anti-missile feature 148 at the missile-fracture intersection 150 , and the anti-fracture score 132 continues to travel to the left in FIG. 6C as shown by a dashed line.", "Similarly the check slot 144 is shown on the right side of FIG. 6C .", "Traveling leftward, the check slot 144 terminates at the first check slot end 145 .", "The main score 128 continues to travel to the left of the check slot 144 in FIG. 6C as shown by a dashed line.", "[0066] Finally, the first anti-missile feature 148 is shown in FIG. 6C , which is disposed across the anti-fracture score 132 but not the main score 128 .", "The first anti-missile feature 148 has a first anti-missile feature length 149 , which is 0.1 inches in this embodiment.", "[0067] FIG. 6D shows a cross-sectional view of the end closure 100 at reference line “D-D.”", "The main score 128 is disposed on the left side of FIG. 6D , and the main score 128 has a main score depth 130 .", "In this embodiment, the main score depth 130 is approximately 0.0045 inches.", "Next, FIG. 6D shows a view down the longitudinal direction of the first anti-missile feature 148 .", "The first ant-missile feature 148 has a first anti-missile depth 151 .", "In preferred embodiments, the first anti-missile depth 151 is between approximately 0.0070 inches and 0.0010 inches.", "In more preferred embodiments, the first anti-missile depth 151 is between approximately 0.0030 inches and 0.0050 inches.", "In a most preferred embodiment, the first anti-missile feature depth 151 is approximately 0.0040 inches.", "Lastly, the anti-fracture score 132 is disposed to the right of the first anti-missile feature 148 in FIG. 6 .", "The anti-fracture score 132 has an anti-fracture score depth 134 , which is approximately 0.0035 inches in this embodiment of the present invention.", "[0068] FIG. 6E shows a cross-sectional view of the main score 128 and the anti-fracture score 132 at reference line “E-E.”", "From this view, the anti-fracture score 132 is located on the left and the main score 128 is located on the right.", "The top side of the end closure is the public side of the container and the bottom side of the end closure is the content side of the container.", "An anti-fracture score residual 160 is measured from the bottom of the end closure to the bottom of the anti-fracture score 132 .", "Likewise, a main score residual 156 is measured from the bottom of the end closure to the bottom of the main score 128 .", "Thus, while the anti-fracture score 132 has a shallower depth than the main score 128 , the anti-fracture score residual 160 is larger than the main score residual 156 by approximately 0.002 inches.", "[0069] FIG. 7 shows an isometric front perspective view of an insert tool 200 used to make an anti-missile feature.", "In one embodiment, the insert tool 200 has a cylinder-shaped body 204 with a first end 208 and a second end 212 .", "The first end 208 comprises a flange 216 such that the insert tool 200 may be secured during the manufacturing process of the anti-missile features.", "The flange 216 in this embodiment is shaped like a flat cylinder.", "The second end 212 of the insert tool 200 comprises a first shaped feature 220 and a second shaped feature 224 .", "The shaped features 220 , 224 are what form the anti-missile features, and the shaped feature 220 , 224 may be configured to generate any anti-missile features described elsewhere herein.", "[0070] FIG. 8 shows a front elevation view of the insert tool 200 where the working end of the insert tool is visible.", "In this embodiment, an outer diameter 228 of the body 204 is between approximately 0.1700 and 0.1698 inches, with a position tolerance of approximately 0.0004 inches.", "An outer diameter 232 of the flange 216 is approximately 0.25 inches with a position tolerance of approximately 0.1 inches.", "Further, the outer diameter 232 of the flange 216 has a flat side.", "The flat side dimension 236 can be referenced from a central plane of the flange 216 .", "In this embodiment, the flat side dimension 236 is between approximately 0.0853 and 0.0855 inches.", "[0071] FIG. 8 also shows the two shaped features 220 , 224 , which are substantially the same size in this embodiment.", "The shaped features 220 , 224 have a rectangular shape in FIG. 8 , where the longer, width dimension 238 of the shaped features 220 , 224 is between approximately 0.101 and 0.099 inches.", "Further, this longer dimension is substantially parallel with the flat side of the flange 216 .", "[0072] The shaped features'", "220 , 224 horizontal position, as shown in FIG. 8 , can be expressed in terms of offset from a vertical plane through the center of the body 204 .", "The first horizontal offset 240 is measured from the left edge of the first shaped feature 220 to the vertical plane.", "In this embodiment, the first horizontal offset 240 is between approximately 0.027 and 0.025 inches.", "The second horizontal offset 244 is measured from the left edge of the second shaped feature 224 to the vertical plane.", "In this embodiment, the second horizontal offset 244 is between approximately 0.051 and 0.049 inches.", "[0073] FIG. 9 shows a side elevation view of the insert tool 200 .", "The insert tool 200 has an overall length 248 measured from the top of the flange 216 down to the working edge of the shaped features 220 , 224 .", "In this embodiment, the overall length 248 is approximately 0.688 inches.", "The flange 216 also has a length 252 in FIG. 9 , which is between approximately 0.065 and 0.063 inches.", "Finally, the shaped features 220 , 224 have a length 256 measured from the end of the tool body 204 to the tip of the shaped features 220 , 224 .", "The shaped feature length 256 is between approximately 0.0095 and 0.0085 inches.", "[0074] Also shown in FIG. 9 are two radiuses of the body 204 of the tool insert 200 .", "The first radius 260 of the body 204 extends from the body 204 at the first end 208 and blends into the bottom surface of the flange 216 .", "The first body radius 260 in this embodiment has a radius of curvature of approximately 0.03 inches.", "The second radius 264 of the body 204 is a radiused edge located at the second end 212 of the body 204 .", "The second radius 264 in this embodiment has a radius of curvature of approximately 0.005 inches.", "[0075] The surface of the flange 216 in this embodiment comprises a burrless etch to remove any leftover burrs from previous manufacturing.", "In other embodiments of the present invention, the flange 216 does not comprise a burrless etch.", "In further embodiments, other components of the insert tool 200 may also comprise a burrless etch.", "One skilled in the art will appreciate which components to apply a burrless etch to in order to enhance the performance of the present invention.", "[0076] FIG. 10 shows an enlarged detailed view of the second end 212 of the tool insert 200 .", "The detailed view is at a scale of approximately 20:1.", "FIG. 10 shows the size of the shaped features 220 , 224 .", "As shown in FIG. 9 , the shaped feature length 256 is between approximately 0.0095 and 0.0085 inches.", "The shaped features 220 , 224 are flat at the end of the shaped feature length 256 , and this flat surface may be defined as a shaped feature height 268 .", "In this embodiment, the shaped feature height 268 is between approximately 0.0125 and 0.0115 inches, with a position tolerance of approximately 0.0005 inches.", "[0077] The shaped features 220 , 224 taper from the flat surface to the second end 212 of the body 204 at an angle 272 , which is measured between the edge that tapers from the above the shaped features 220 , 224 and the edge that tapers from below the shaped features 220 , 224 .", "The angle 272 in this embodiment is approximately 50 degrees.", "Further, there is a first transition 276 between the flat surface and the two edges that taper away from the flat surface.", "In this embodiment, the first transition 276 is a radiused edge that has a radius of curvature between approximately 0.003 and 0.001 inches.", "There is also a second transition 280 between the two edges that taper away from the flat surface and the second end 212 of the body 204 .", "In this embodiment, the second transition 280 is a radiused edge that has a radius of curvature between approximately 0.003 and 0.001 inches.", "[0078] FIG. 10 also shows the positions of the shaped features 220 , 224 expressed in terms of offset from a horizontal plane through the center of the body 204 .", "The first shaped feature 220 has a first centerline dimension 284 between the centerline of the first shaped feature 220 and the horizontal plane.", "In this embodiment, the first centerline dimension 284 is approximately 0.033 inches.", "Likewise, the second shaped feature 224 has a second centerline dimension 288 between the centerline of the second shaped feature 224 and the horizontal plane.", "In this embodiment, the second centerline dimension 288 is approximately 0.062 inches.", "[0079] The positions of the shaped features 220 , 224 may also be expressed in terms of the first transitions 276 .", "The distance between the uppermost first transition 276 of the first shaped feature 220 and the horizontal plane may be identified as the first transition distance 292 , which is 0.0264 inches in this embodiment.", "Similarly, the distance between the uppermost first transition 276 of the second shaped feature 220 and the horizontal plane may be identified as the second transition distance 296 , which is approximately 0.0554 inches in this embodiment.", "As mentioned above, the dimensions of the shaped features 220 , 224 , the spatial relationship among shaped features 220 , 224 can vary to produce any of the anti-missile features described herein.", "[0080] The material of the insert tool 200 in this embodiment is CPM REX M4 tool steel that has been hardened and grinded.", "The finish of the tool insert 200 is a titanium nitride coating that is 2 microns thick, or 0.00008 inches.", "When coating the tool insert 200 , the temperature must not exceed 800 degrees Fahrenheit.", "One skilled in the art will appreciate that not all components of the insert tool 200 —or any—necessarily have to be the above tool steel or titanium nitride coating.", "Different combinations of materials and coatings will provide different attributes to the insert tool 200 that one skilled in the art may find advantageous.", "[0081] The phrases “at least one”, “one or more”, and “and/or”, as used herein, are open-ended expressions that are both conjunctive and disjunctive in operation.", "For example, each of the expressions “at least one of A, B, and C”, “at least one of A, B, or C”, “one or more of A, B, and C”, “one or more of A, B, or C,” and “A, B, and/or C”", "means A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, or A, B, and C together.", "Further, the term “anti-missile features”", "as used herein may also refer to a single anti-missile feature or at least one anti-missile feature.", "[0082] Unless otherwise indicated, all numbers expressing quantities, dimensions, conditions, and so forth used in the specification, drawings, and claims are to be understood as being modified in all instances by the term “about”", "or “approximately.”", "[0083] The term “a”", "or “an”", "entity, as used herein, refers to one or more of that entity.", "As such, the terms “a”", "(or “an”), “one or more”", "and “at least one”", "can be used interchangeably herein.", "[0084] The use of “including,” “comprising,” or “having,” and variations thereof, is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items.", "Accordingly, the terms “including,” “comprising,” or “having”", "and variations thereof can be used interchangeably herein.", "[0085] It shall be understood that the term “means”", "as used herein shall be given its broadest possible interpretation in accordance with 35 U.S.C., Section 112(f).", "Accordingly, a claim incorporating the term “means”", "shall cover all structures, materials, or acts set forth herein, and all of the equivalents thereof.", "Further, the structures, materials, or acts, and the equivalents thereof, shall include all those described in the summary of the invention, brief description of the drawings, detailed description, abstract, and claims themselves.", "[0086] The foregoing description of the present invention has been presented for illustration and description purposes.", "However, the description is not intended to limit the invention to only the forms disclosed herein.", "In the foregoing Detailed Description for example, various features of the invention are grouped together in one or more embodiments for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure.", "This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed invention requires more features than are expressly recited in each claim.", "Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive aspects lie in less than all features of a single foregoing disclosed embodiment.", "Thus, the following claims are hereby incorporated into this Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as a separate preferred embodiment of the invention.", "[0087] Consequently, variations and modifications commensurate with the above teachings and skill and knowledge of the relevant art are within the scope of the present invention.", "The embodiments described herein above are further intended to explain best modes of practicing the invention and to enable others skilled in the art to utilize the invention in such a manner, or include other embodiments with various modifications as required by the particular application(s) or use(s) of the present invention.", "Thus, it is intended that the claims be construed to include alternative embodiments to the extent permitted by the prior art." ]

[ "This application is a continuation of application Ser.", "No. 08/953,137, filed Oct. 17, 1997, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,816,253.", "TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to surgical aprons for use by doctors when operating on or examining the perineal regions of patients, while the patients are in a lithotomy position on surgical tables.", "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Gynecological and general surgical procedures are often performed on patients by doctors who sit adjacent and between the legs of the patients.", "While this close proximity facilitates performing the examinations and procedures, this position also presents logistical problems for doctors.", "The problems include storage and retrieval of both clean and used surgical instruments as well as maintaining sterile operating surfaces.", "Typically, doctors use scrub nurses to pass instruments and sutures from a back table during these types of surgical procedures.", "The doctor must therefore either hold out their outstretched arm to receive an instrument or turn from the site to face the scrub nurse to receive the instrument.", "If a scrub nurse is not available, the doctor must physically turn and in some instances stand to reach an instrument.", "The instruments must be placed in collection bins after use.", "Furthermore, these types of medical procedures often release fluids from a patient, which, because of the doctor's location, can be communicated to the doctor.", "These fluids include bodily fluids and blood released by the patient as well as irrigation and injection fluids used during the procedure.", "The current garments worn by doctors during these types of procedures do not offer complete protection from contamination by these fluids.", "The fluids also make the surgical instruments slippery, and therefore difficult to handle.", "In the event a surgical instrument falls to the floor, the instrument cannot be re-used in that procedure without cleaning and sterilization.", "Patient drapes have been developed to address these problems of surgical procedures.", "For instance, disposable obstetrical abdominal drapes have been developed to aid physicians during surgical and examination procedures performed on the genital regions of patients.", "One type of drape overlies the abdominal and thoracic portions of patients during surgery.", "These drapes maintain the surgical instruments in close proximity to the patient and surgeon.", "For instance, such surgical drapes are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. Re.", "27,710 and 4,476,860 to Melges and Collins respectively.", "Such drapes typically are tailored to provide coverage of patients during procedures while maintaining sterile environments around the patients.", "In addition, such drapes provide liquid barriers that prevent fluids from passing through the drapes to the patients or to the doctors and prevent the saturation of surgical drapes during procedures.", "These drapes however are not practical for perineal procedures.", "The abdominal and thoracic drapes include openings appropriate for such surgeries.", "Further, the doctor typically stands during such surgeries lateral of the patient.", "The pockets accordingly are lateral of the drape in close proximity to the doctor.", "In contrast, with the patient in the lithotomy position, the doctor sits between the legs of the patient for perineal surgeries.", "Abdominal and thoracic drapes would not provide satisfactory protection from contamination of instruments which fall from the hands of the doctor.", "Further, such drapes used for perineal surgeries would unsatisfactorily provide work surfaces convenient to the doctor, and the doctor would be continually standing up to obtain instruments and store them.", "The inventor of the present invention previously developed a drape for perineal surgeries.", "The drape creates a continuous sterile surface between a physician and a patient undergoing perineal procedures.", "The surgical drape includes draw strings on one of its sides for attachment of the drape around the waist of the physician.", "Clips attach the opposing edge of the drape to the drape on the patient.", "The drape defines a trough-shaped surgical surface.", "Doctors using the drape can control the shape of the surface and the distance between themselves and their patients by moving a seat such as a rollable stool towards or away from the patient.", "A side pocket is formed along each of the side edges.", "The side pockets are to receive a surgical instrument, should one fall from the hands of the doctor during a procedure.", "While the drape provides a sterile environment during perineal procedures, the drape still suffers from several disadvantages.", "It has been found that instruments which slip from the hand of the doctor during procedures are not caught satisfactorily in the side pockets.", "The elongate, flexible nature of the pockets allow the instrument to often slide out and fall to the floor.", "Such fallen instruments cannot be re-used in the procedure without breaching the sterile field.", "Further, while providing a trough-like surface of protection between a patient and doctor, the surgical drape does not provide a work space appropriate for surgical procedures for conducting the operation.", "Particularly, the drape is not able to assuredly isolate used surgical instruments or fluids.", "The impermeable sheet defining the surgical drape does not allow for absorption of excess fluids typically released during perineal procedures.", "The surgical drape also uses clips for fastening the drape to the garments covering the patient.", "The clips may slippingly release engagement, and the surgical trough at least partially collapses.", "It thus is seen that a need remains for a surgical drape which provides a sterile surgical operating surface conveniently disposed between a patient and a doctor which drape provides pockets for holding surgical instruments while more reliably receiving dropped instruments and absorbing fluids therefrom for subsequent continued use during surgical procedures.", "It is to such that the present invention is directed.", "SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention meets the needs of the art by providing a perineal surgical apron for use in obstetrics and surgical procedures.", "The apron provides a fluid impermeable sheet-like drape, having an upper surface and a lower surface.", "The drape defines a patient edge and an opposing doctor edge, and two opposing side edges.", "An adhesive strip is attached on the patient edge for connecting the edge of the drape to a covering on the patient.", "A second adhesive strip secures the doctor edge of the drape to the medical garb worn by the doctor.", "The drape also includes a fabric strip on the doctor's edge having free distal ends for tying the drape around the waist of the doctor using the drape.", "In a first embodiment, an absorbent pad attaches to a central portion of the upper surface and defines a receiving area on the drape for absorbing fluids from surgical instruments used during the surgical procedures.", "In a second embodiment, at least two side pockets are defined on portions of the drape near each opposing side edge.", "The pockets open towards the opposing side edge, for receiving instruments that drop to the drape during the surgical procedure.", "The side pockets on each side are coaxially aligned and separated by a connector which attaches the pockets to the drape intermediate the opposing patient and doctor edges of the drape.", "In a third embodiment, a plurality of open-ended instrument pockets are attached to a portion of the upper surface of the drape near the patient edge, for holding instruments for use during the surgical procedure.", "The openings of the instrument pockets face the patient.", "Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description of the disclosed embodiment of the present invention, in conjunction with the appended drawings and claims.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a top view of a preferred embodiment of a perineal surgical apron according to the present invention.", "FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the perineal surgical apron shown in FIG. 1 taken along line 2--2.", "FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the perineal surgical apron of FIG. 1 in use during a surgical procedure.", "FIG. 4 is a cutaway top view of the perineal surgical apron of FIG. 1 illustrating attachment devices for securing the apron to a patient covering.", "DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION With reference to the drawings, in which like numerals refer to like parts, FIG. 1 illustrates a top view of a perineal surgical apron 10 according to the present invention, for use in gynecological and general examinations and surgical procedures.", "The perineal surgical apron 10 comprises a rectangular sheet-like drape 11 having an upper surface 12 and a lower surface 13.", "The drape 11 defines a patient edge 14 and an opposing doctor edge 16 and a pair of opposing side edges 18.", "The drape 11 is preferably made of a fluid-impermeable material.", "Double-sided adhesive tape strips 15 and 15'", "are positioned on the lower surface 13 of the drape 11, along the patient and doctor edges 14, 16, respectively.", "A first adhesive side secures the tapes 15 and 15'", "to the drape 11.", "A second adhesive side of the tapes 15 and 15'", "includes a tear-away covering, for use during a surgical procedure as discussed below.", "A flexible fabric strip 17 attaches to the doctor edge 16 of the drape 11 and extends laterally from the opposing side edges 18.", "The side portions of the drape 11 adjacent the opposing edges 18 have a pair of side pockets 20.", "Each of the side pockets 20 are separated by a connector seam 22 located intermediate the patient edge 14 and the doctor edge 16.", "As best illustrated in FIG. 2, which shows a cross-sectional view of the apron of FIG. 1 along line 2--2, the opposing side pockets 20 open towards the pockets 20 on the opposite side.", "The pockets 20 are preferably defined by folding a portion of the side of the drape 11 over the drape itself, so that the upper surface 12 of the portion faces the upper surface 12 of the drape 11 adjacent to that portion.", "The edges of the folded portions are attached to the drape by sewing seams along the patient and doctor edges 14, 16, and by sewing the intermediate seam 22.", "Alternatively the seams can be created by adhesive or heat sealing techniques.", "It should be appreciated that the opposing side pockets can also be separate pockets formed of sheet materials, which are affixed to the upper surface 12 of the drape 11 during the manufacturing process.", "In the illustrated embodiment, the side pockets 20 are aligned and extend substantially the full length of the drape 11 between the patient edge 14 and the doctor edge 16.", "An absorbent pad 24 attaches by either adhesive or stitching on the upper surface 12 of the drape 11.", "The absorbent pad 24 is preferably disposed generally centrally and coaxially along a longitudinal axis of the drape.", "The absorbent pad 24 is comprised of several layered absorbent fabric sheets.", "The upper surface 12 further includes pockets 26 and 28 for receiving the examination and surgical instruments used during the procedure.", "The pockets 26 and 28 are positioned between the patient edge 14 and the absorbent pad 24 with their openings facing the patient edge 14.", "The pockets 26 and 28 have side edges and a bottom edge that are secured to the drape 11, whereby the instruments may be received into the pockets through an opening which faces the patient side edge 14, as best illustrated in FIG. 3. FIG. 3 illustrates in perspective view the perineal surgical apron 10 attached to a patient lying in a lithotomy position on an operating table 35.", "The patient is covered by a patient covering 30, such as a conventional sheet-like drape or a lithotomy sheet with leggings produced by Kimberly-Clark.", "The doctor wears a protective medical garb 36.", "The doctor is seated between the legs of the patient.", "The patient edge 14 of the apron 10 is attached to the patient covering 30 by affixing the second side of the adhesive tape 15 to the patient covering 30.", "This is accomplished by removing a tear-away covering, exposing the adhesive layer, and pressing the exposed face of the adhesive tape 15 to the covering 30.", "The adhesive tape 15 is positioned on the patient covering below the fenestration site 32.", "The doctor edge 16 of the drape 11 is then attached to the doctor's medical garb 36.", "The adhesive surface of the tape 15'", "is exposed and pressed onto the doctor's medical garb 36.", "The free ends of the fabric strip 17 are then tied around the doctor's waist by the circulating nurse.", "The drape 11 thereby defines a sheet-like operating surface between the patient and the doctor.", "The drape 11 defines a shallow U-shaped surface for receiving and holding instruments and fluids, and provides a surgical surface for the procedure.", "The doctor moves towards and away from the patient as necessary, without interfering with the surgical surface, and having access to the fenestration site 32 and the instruments 29.", "Surgical instruments 29 are stored in the instrument pockets 26 and 28 and are removed for use.", "The absorbent pad 24, centrally disposed along the upper surface of the drape, facilitates use of the instruments 29 and the drape 11 during surgery.", "Excessive fluid released from the fenestration site can accumulate on the instruments 29.", "During the procedure, the instruments 29 are placed on the absorbent pad 24 for subsequent re-use during the procedure.", "The absorbent pad 24 removes some of the excess fluid from the instruments 29 when they are placed on the pad.", "Also, surgical instruments that fall from the doctor's hands are received in the U-shaped valley created by the drape 11 between the doctor and the patient.", "Instruments falling to the side of the drape 11 are received by the opposing side pockets 20 and thereby prevented from falling to the floor.", "This preserves the sterile environment and the instrument for subsequent use during the procedure.", "The size of the valley between the patient and the doctor may be adjusted by the doctor's movement, according to the comfort level of the doctor.", "FIG. 4 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the perineal surgical apron 10, in which mating patches of hook and loop fasteners, such as VELCRO® brand strips 31 are used instead of adhesive tape along the lower surface 13 of the drape 11 for securing the apron to the patient and doctor.", "FIG. 4 also shows a second alternate embodiment having clips 33 that provide additional support between the drape 11 and the cover 30.", "The present invention therefore provides perineal surgical aprons which create adjustable surgical work surfaces for doctors during gynecological or general surgical procedures.", "The aprons reduce doctor exposure to fluid and blood contact and eliminate the need for the doctor to turn or to stand in order to receive or replace surgical instruments from remote tables during such procedures.", "The apron also prevents a suture from being dragged across a surgeon's lap or knees and then becoming contaminated.", "Furthermore, the risk of breach of the sterile environment or the presence of excessive fluid and blood during a surgical procedure is reduced by pockets that receive dropped instruments and by absorbent padding centrally disposed on the surgical surface.", "While the invention has been described in detail with particular references to the preferred embodiments thereof, it should be understood that many modifications and additions may be made thereto, in addition to those expressly recited, without departure from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims." ]

[ "[0001] This application claims priority to provisional application Serial No. 60/260,080, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference.", "[0002] This invention was made with government support under Grant Number NS36326 awarded by The National Institutes of Health.", "The U.S. government has certain rights in the invention.", "FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0003] This invention relates generally to the gene, and mutations thereto, that are responsible for the disease familial dysautonomia (FD).", "More particularly, the invention relates to the identification, isolation and cloning of the DNA sequence corresponding to the normal and mutant FD genes, as well as characterization of their transcripts and gene products.", "This invention also relates to genetic screening methods and kits for identifying FD mutant and wild-type alleles, and further relates to FD diagnosis, prenatal screening and diagnosis, and therapies of FD, including gene therapeutics and protein/antibody based therapeutics.", "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0004] Familial Dysautonomia (FD, Riley-Day Syndrome, Hereditary Sensory and Autonomic Neuropathy Type III) [OMIM 223900] is an autosomal recessive disorder present in 1 in 3,600 live births in the Ashkenazi Jewish population.", "This debilitating disorder is due to the poor development, survival, and progressive degeneration of the sensory and autonomic nervous system (Axelrod et al.", ", 1974).", "FD was first described in 1949 based on five children who presented with defective lacrimation, excessive sweating, skin blotching, and hypertension (Riley et al.", ", 1949 ).", "The following cardinal criteria have evolved for diagnosis of FD: absence of fungiform papillae on the tongue, absence of flare after injection of intradermal histamine, decreased or absent deep tendon reflexes, absence of overflow emotional tears, and Ashkenazi Jewish descent (Axelrod and Pearson, 1984, Axelrod 1984).", "[0005] The loss of neuronal function in FD has many repercussions, with patients displaying gastrointestinal dysfunction, abnormal respiratory responses to hypoxic and hypercarbic states, scoliosis, gastroesophageal reflux, vomiting crises, lack of overflow tears, inappropriate sweating, and postural hypotension (Riley et al[.", "].1949;", "Axelrod et al.", "1974, Axelrod 1996).", "Despite recent advances in the management of FD, the disorder is inevitably fatal with only 50% of patients reaching 30 years of age.", "The clinical features of FD are due to a genetic defect that causes a striking, progressive depletion of unmyelinated sensory and autonomic neurons (Pearson and Pytel 1978a;", "Pearson and Pytel 1978b;", "Pearson et al.", "1978;", "Axelrod 1995).", "This neuronal deficiency begins during development, as extensive pathology is evident even in the youngest subjects.", "Fetal development and postnatal maintenance of dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons is abnormal, significantly decreasing their numbers and resulting in DRG of grossly reduced size.", "Slow progressive degeneration is evidenced by continued neuronal depletion with increasing age.", "In the autonomic nervous system, superior cervical sympathetic ganglia are also reduced in size due to a severe decrease in the neuronal population.", "[0006] Previously, the FD gene, DYS, was mapped to an 11-cM region of chromosome 9q31 (Blumenfeld et al.", "1993) which was then narrowed by haplotype analysis to <0.5 cM or 471 kb (Blumenfeld et al.", "1999).", "There is a single major haplotype that accounts for >99.5% of all FD chromosomes in the Ashkenazi Jewish (AJ) population.", "The recent identification of several single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the candidate interval has allowed for further reduction of the candidate region to 177 kb by revealing a common core haplotype shared by the major and one previously described minor haplotype (Blumenfeld et al.", "1999).", "SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0007] This invention relates to mutations in the IKBK 4 P gene which the inventors of this invention discovered and found to be associated with Familial Dysautonomia.", "The mutation associated with the major haplotype of FD is a base pair mutation, wherein the thymine nucleotide located at bp 6 of intron 20 in the IKBKAP gene is replaced with a cytosine nucleotide (T C ) (hereinafter “FD1 mutation”).", "The mutation associated with the minor haplotype is a base pair mutation wherein the guanine nucleotide at bp 2397 (bp 73 of exon 19) is replaced with a cysteine nucleotide (G C) (hereinafter “FD2 mutation”", "This base pair mutation causes an arginine to proline missense mutation (R696P) in the amino acid sequence of the IKBKAP gene that is predicted to disrupt a potential phosphorylation site [0008] In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an isolated nucleic acid comprising a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of: [0009] nucleic acid sequences corresponding to the genomic sequence of the FD gene including introns and exons as shown in FIG. 6;", "[0010] nucleic acid sequences corresponding to the nucleic acid sequence of the FD gene as shown in FIG. 6, wherein the thymine nucleotide at position 34,201 is replaced by a cytosine nucleotide;", "[0011] nucleic acid sequences corresponding to the nucleic acid sequence of the FD gene as shown in FIG. 6, wherein the guanine nucleotide at position 33,714 is replaced by a cytosine nucleotide;", "[0012] nucleic acid sequences corresponding to the nucleic acid sequence of the FD gene as shown in FIG. 6, wherein the thymine nucleotide at position 34,201 is replaced by a cytosine nucleotide and the guanine nucleotide at position 33,714 is replaced by a cyto sine nucleotide;", "[0013] nucleic acid sequences corresponding to the cDNA sequence including the coding seqeunce of the FD gene as shown in FIG. 7;", "[0014] nucleic acid sequences corresponding to the cDNA sequence shown in FIG. 7, wherein the arginine at position 696 is replaced by a proline;", "[0015] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a nucleic acid probe, comprising a nucleotide sequence corresponding to a portion of a nucleic acid as set forth in any one of the foregoing nucleic acid sequences [0016] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cloning vector comprising a coding sequence of a nucleic acid as set forth above and a replicon operative in a host cell for the vector.", "[0017] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an expression vector comprising a coding sequence of a nucleic acid set forth above operably linked with a promoter sequence capable of directing expression of the coding sequence in host cells for the vector.", "[0018] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided host cells transformed with a vector as set forth above.", "[0019] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of producing a mutant FD polypeptide comprising: transforming host cells with a vector capable of expressing a polypeptide from a nucleic acid sequence as set forth above;", "culturing the cells under conditions suitable for production of the polypeptide;", "and recovering the polypeptide.", "[0020] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a peptide product selected from the group consisting of: a polypeptide having an amino acid sequence corresponding to the amino acid sequence shown in FIG. 8;", "a polypeptide containing a mutation in the amino acid sequence shown in FIG. 8, wherein the arginine at position 696 is replaced with a proline;", "a peptide comprising at least 6 amino acid residues corresponding to the amino acid sequence shown in FIG. 8, and a peptide comprising at least 6 amino acid residues corresponding to a mutated form of the amino acid sequence shown in FIG. 8. In one embodiment, the peptide is labeled.", "In another embodiment, the peptide is a fusion protein.", "[0021] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a use of a peptide as set forth above as an immunogen for the production of antibodies.", "In one embodiment, there is provided an antibody produced in such application.", "In one embodiment, the antibody is labeled.", "In another embodiment, the antibody is bound to a solid support.", "In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method to determine the presence or absence of the familial dysautonomia (FD) gene mutation in an individual, comprising: isolating genomic DNA, cDNA, or RNA from a potential FD disease carrier or patient;", "and assessing the DNA for the presence or absence of an FD-associated allele, wherein said FD-associated allele is the FD1 and/or FD2 mutation wherein, the absence of either FD-associated allele indicates the absence of the FD gene mutation in the genome of the individual and the presence of the allele indicates that the individual is either affected with FD or a heterozygote carrier.", "[0022] In one embodiment, the assessing step is performed by a process which comprises subjecting the DNA to amplification using oligonucleotide primers flanking the FD1 mutation and the FD2 mutation.", "In another embodiment, the assessing step further comprises an allele-specific oligonucleotide hybridization assay.", "[0023] In another embodiment, DNA is amplified using the following oligonucleotide primers: 5′-GCCAGTGTTTTTGCCTGAG-3′;", "5′-CGGATTGTCACTGTTGTGC-3′;", "5′-GACTGCTCTCATAGCATCGC-3′.", "In another embodiment, the assessing step further comprises an allele-specific oligonucleotide hybridization assay.", "In another embodiment, the allele-specific oligonucleotide hybridization assay is accomplished using the following oligonucleotides: 5′-AAGTAAG(T/C)GCCATTG-3′ and 5′-GGTTCAC(G/C)GATTGTC.", "In yet another embodiment, neuronal tissue from an individual is screened for the presence of truncated IKBKAP mRNA or peptides, wherein the presence of said truncated mRNA or peptides indicates that said individual possesses the FD1 and/or FD2 mutation in the IKBKAP gene.", "[0024] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an animal model for familial dysautonomia (FD), comprising a mammal possessing a mutant or knock-out or knock-in FD gene.", "In another emodiment, there is provided a method of producing a transgenic animal expressing a mutant IKAP mRNA comprising: [0025] (a) introducing into an embryonal cell of an animal a promoter operably linked to the nucleotide sequence containing a mutation associated with FD;", "[0026] (b) transplanting the transgenic embryonal target cell formed thereby into a recipient female parent;", "and [0027] (c) identifying at least one offspring containing said nucleotide sequence in said offspring's genome.", "[0028] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for screening potential therapeutic agents for activity, in connection with FD, comprising: providing a screening tool selected from the group consisting of a cell line, and a mammal containing or expressing a defective FD gene or gene product;", "contacting the screening tool with the potential therapeutic agent;", "and assaying the screening tool for an activity.", "[0029] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for treating familial dysautonomia (FD) by gene therapy using recombinant DNA technology to deliver the normal form of the FD gene into patient cells or vectors which will supply the patient with gene product in vivo.", "[0030] In another embodiment, there is provided a method for treating familial dysautonomia (FD), comprising: providing an antibody directed against an FD protein sequence or peptide product;", "and delivering the antibody to affected tissues or cells in a patient having FD.", "[0031] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided kits for carrying out the methods of the invention.", "These kits include nucleic acids, polypeptides and antibodies of the present invention.", "In another embodiment the kit for detecting FD mutations will also contain genetic tests for diagnosing additional genetic diseases, such as Canavan's disease, Tay-Sachs disease, Goucher disease, Cystic Fibrosis, Fanconi anemia, and Bloom syndrome.", "[0032] It will be appreciated by a skilled worker in the art that the identification of the genetic defect in a genetic disease, coupled with the provision of the DNA sequences of both normal and disease-causing alleles, provides the full scope of diagnostic and therapeutic aspects of such an invention as can be envisaged using current technology.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0033] [0033 ]FIG. 1.", "Genomic structure of IKBKAP.", "The figure illustrates the orientation and placement of the 37 exons within a 68 kb genomic region of chromosome 9q31.", "The primers used for analysis of the splice defect are indicated as 18F (exon 18), 19F (exon 19) and 23R (exon 23).", "Asterick indicates the locations of the two mutations identified;", "the mutation associated with the major AJ haplotype is located at bp 6 of intron 20, whereas the mutation association with the minor AJ haplotype is located at bp 73 of exon 19.", "The 4.8 and 5.9 designations at exon 37 indicate the lengths of the two IKBKAP messages that differ only in the length of their 3′ UTRs.", "[0034] FIGS. 2 A- 2 C. Demonstration of mutations in IKBKAP.", "FIG. 2A shows the antisense sequence of the T-C mutation (shown by arrows adjacent to the G and A lanes) at bp 6 of intron 20 that is associated with the major FD haplotype.", "Lanes 1 and 2 are FD patients homozygous for the major haplotype (homozygous GG), lane 3 is an FD patient heterozygous for the major haplotype and minor haplotype 2 (heterozygous GA), lane 4 is an FD patient heterozygous for the major haplotype and minor haplotype 3 (heterozygous GA), and lanes 5 and 6 are non-FD controls (homozygous AA).", "FIG. 2 b shows heterozygosity for the G-C mutation (shown by arrows adjacent to the G and C lanes) at bp 73 of exon 19.", "Lane 1 is an FD homozygous for the major haplotype (homozygous GG), lanes 2-4 are three patients heterozygous for the major haplotype and minor haplotype 2 (heterozygous GC), lane 5 is a patient heterozygous for the major haplotype and minor haplotype 3 (homozygous GG), and lane 6 is a non-FD control (homozygous GG).", "FIG. 2 c shows the sequence of the cDNA generated from the RT-PCR of a patient heterozygous for the major and minor 2 haplotypes.", "The arrow points to the heterozygous G-C mutation in exon 19.", "The boundary of exons 19 and 20 is also indicated, illustrating that this patient expresses wild-type message that includes exon 20, despite the presence of the major mutation on one allele.", "[0035] FIGS. 3 A- 3 B. Northern blot analysis of IKBKAP.", "FIG. 3A is a human multiple tissue northern blot that was hybridized with IKBKAP exon 2 and shows the presence of two messages of 4.8 and 5.9 kb (northern blots hybridized with other IKBKAP probes yielded similar patterns).", "FIG. 3 b is a northern blot generated using mRNA isolated from lymphoblast cell lines: lanes 1, 2, and 5 FD patients homozygous for the major haplotype;", "lane 3 individual carrying two definitively non-FD chromososomes, lane 4 FD patient heterozygous for the major haplotype and minor haplotype 2;", "lane 6 control brain RNA (Clontech).", "The level of expression of IKBKAP MRNA relative to P-actin MRNA is quite variable in lymphoblasts.", "We observed no consistent increase or decrease in mRNA levels between FD patients homozygous for the major haplotype, those heterozyous for the major haplotype and minor haplotype 2, and non-FD individuals.", "[0036] FIGS. 4 A- 4 B: RT-PCR analysis of the exon 20 region of IKBKAP showing expression of the wild-type message and protein in patients.", "FIG. 4A was generated using primers 18F (exon 18) and 23R (exon 23).", "Lanes 1 and 2 are FD patients homozygous for the major haplotype, lane 3 is an FD patient heterozygous for the major haplotype and minor haplotype 2, lanes 4 and 5 are non-FD controls, lane 6 is a water control.", "FIG. 4 b is a western blot generated using cytoplasmic protein isolated from patient lymphoblast cell lines and detected with a carboxyl-terminal antibody.", "Lanes 2, 4, 6, and 8 are patients homozygous for the major haplotype, lanes 3, 5, 7, and 9 are non-FD controls, lane 1 is a patient heterozygous for the major and minor haplotype 3, and lane 10 is a patient heterozygous for the major and minor haplotype 2 and lane 10 is a Hela cell line sample.", "[0037] [0037 ]FIG. 5.", "RT-PCR analysis of the exon 20 region of IKBKAP showing variable expression of the mutant message in FD patients.", "The analysis was done using primers 19F (exon 19) and 23F (exon 23).", "Lanes 1 and 2, control fibroblasts;", "lanes 3, 4, and 5, FD fibroblasts homozygous for the major mutation;", "lanes 6 and 7 FD lymphoblasts homozygous for the major mutation, lanes 8 and 9 non-FD lymphoblasts, lane 10 FD patient brain stem, lane 11 FD patient temporal lobe (showing a faint 319 bp band and no 393 bp band), lane 12 water control.", "RT-PCR of control brain RNA (Clontech) showed only the 393 bp band (data not shown).", "[0038] [0038 ]FIG. 6.", "The genomic sequence for IKBKAP.", "[0039] [0039 ]FIG. 7- The cDNA sequence for IKBKAP [0040] [0040 ]FIG. 8- the amino acid sequence of the IKBKAP gene [0041] [0041 ]FIG. 9- Comparison of the amino acid sequence of Ikap across several species.", "Alignment of the amino acid sequence of Ikap (M_musculus) with that of Homo sapiens (H_sapiens), Drosophila melanogaster (D_melanogaster), Saccharomyces cerevisiae (S_celvisiae), Arabidopsis thaliana (A_thaliana), and Caenorhabditis elegans (C_elegans).", "[0042] [0042 ]FIG. 10- Comparison of the Novel Mouse Ikbkap Gene with Multiple Species Homologs [0043] [0043 ]FIG. 11- Mouse Ikbkap Exon and Intron Boundaries [0044] [0044 ]FIG. 12- Comparison of the synthetic regions of mouse chromosome 4 (MMU4) and human chromosome 9 (HSA9q31).", "This diagram on the left shows the location of Ikbkap in relation to mapped and genetic markers (boldface).", "Distances are given in centimorgans.", "The positions of the homologous genes that map to human chromosome 9q31 are shown on the right.", "DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [0045] This invention relates to mutations in the IKBKAP gene, which the inventors of the instant application discovered are associated with Familial Dysautonomia.", "More specifically, the mutation associated with the major haplotype of FD is a T-C change located at bp 6 of intron 20 in the IKBKAP gene as shown in FIG. 1. This mutation can result in skipping of exon 20 in the mRNA from FD patients, although they continue to express varying levels of wild-type message in a tissue specific manner.", "The mutation associated with the minor haplotype is a single G-C change at bp 2397 (bp 73 of exon 19) that causes an arginine to proline missense mutation (R696P) that is predicted to disrupt a potential phosphorylation site.", "[0046] These findings have direct implications for understanding the clinical manifestations of FD, for preventing it and potentially for treating it.", "The IKAP protein produced from IKBKAP gene was originally isolated as part of a large interleukin-1-inducible IKK complex and described as a regulator of kinases involved in pro-inflammatory cytokine signaling (Cohen et al.", "1998).", "However, a recent report questioned this conclusion, by reporting that cellular IKK complexes do not contain IKAP based on various protein-protein interaction and functional assays.", "Rather, IKAP appears to be a member of a novel complex containing additional unidentified proteins of 100, 70, 45, and 39 kDa (Krappmann et al.", "2000).", "[0047] IKAP is homologous to the Elp1 protein of S. cerevisiae, which is encoded by the IKI3 locus and is required for sensitivity to pGKL killer toxin.", "The human and yeast proteins exhibit 29% identity and 46% similarity over their entire lengths.", "Yeast Elp1 protein is part of the RNA polymerase II-associated elongator complex, which also contains Elp2, a WD-40 repeat protein, and Elp3, a histone acetyltransferase (Otero et al.", "1999).", "The human ELP3 gene encodes a 60 kDa histone acetyltransferase that shows more than 75% identity with yeast Elp3 protein, but no 60 kDa protein has been found in the human IKAP-containing protein complex.", "Consequently, it is considered unlikely that IKAP is a member of a functionally conserved mammalian elongator complex (Krappmann et al.", "2000).", "Instead, it has been reported that the protein may play a role in general gene activation mechanisms, as overexpression of IKAP interferes with the activity of both NF-κB-dependent and independent reporter genes (Krappmann et al.", "2000).", "Therefore, the FD phenotype may be caused by aberrant expression of genes crucial to the development of the sensory and autonomic nervous systems, secondary to the loss of a functional IKAP protein in specific tissues.", "[0048] FD is unique among Ashkenazi Jewish disorders in that one mutation accounts for >99.5% of the disease chromosomes.", "As in other autosomal recessive diseases with no phenotype in heterozygous carriers, one might have expected to find several different types of mutations producing complete inactivation of the DYS gene in the AJ population.", "The fact that the major FD mutation does not produce complete inactivation, but rather allows variable tissue-specific expression of IKAP, may explain this lack of mutational diversity.", "Mutations causing complete inactivation of IKAP in all tissues might cause a more severe or even lethal phenotype.", "Indeed, CG10535, the apparent Drosophila melanogaster homologue of IKBKAP, maps coincident with a larval recessive lethal mutation (l(3)04629) supporting the essential nature of the protein (FlyBase).", "Thus, the array of mutations that can produce the FD phenotype may be limited if they must also allow expression of functional or partially functional IKAP in some tissues to permit survival.", "With the identification of IKBKAP as DYS, it will now be possible to test this inactivation hypothesis in a mammalian model system.", "[0049] Despite the overwhelming predominance of a single mutation in FD patients, the disease phenotype is remarkably variable both within and between families.", "The nature of the major FD mutation makes it tempting to consider that this phenotypic variability might relate to the frequency of exon 20 skipping in specific tissues and at specific developmental stages, which may be governed by variations in many factors involved in RNA splicing.", "Even a small amount of normal IKAP protein expressed in critical tissues might permit sufficient neuronal survival to alleviate the most severe phenotypes.", "This possibility is supported by the relatively mild phenotype associated with the presence of the R696P mutation, which is predicted to permit expression of an altered full-length IKAP protein that may retain some functional capacity.", "To date, this minor FD mutation has only been seen in four patients heterozygous for the major mutation.", "Consequently, it is uncertain whether homozygotes for the R696P mutation would display any phenotypic abnormality characteristic of FD.", "The single patient with minor haplotype 3 and mixed ancestry, whose mutation has yet to be found, is also a compound heterozygote with the major haplotype.", "The existence of minor haplotype 3 indicates that IKBKAP mutations will be found outside the AJ population, but like the R696P mutation, it is difficult to predict the severity of phenotype that would result from homozygosity.", "[0050] Since FD affects the development and maintenance of the sensory and autonomic nervous systems, the identification of IKBKAP as the DYS gene allows for further investigation of the role of IKAP and associated proteins in the sensory and autonomic nervous systems.", "Of more immediate practical importance, however, the discovery of the single base mutation that characterizes >99.5% of FD chromosomes will permit efficient, inexpensive carrier testing in the AJ population, to guide reproductive choices and reduce the incidence of FD.", "The nature of the major mutation also offers some hope for new approaches to treatment of FD.", "Despite the presence of this mutation, lymphoblastoid cells from patients are capable of producing full-length wild-type mRNA and normal IKAP protein, while in neuronal tissue exon 20 is skipped, presumably leading to a truncated product.", "Investigation of the mechanism that permits lymphoblasts to be relatively insensitive to the potential effect of the mutation on splicing may suggest strategies to prevent skipping of exon 20 in other cell types.", "An effective treatment to prevent the progressive neuronal loss of FD may be one aimed at facilitating the production of wild-type mRNA from the mutant gene rather than exogenous administration of the missing IKAP protein via gene therapy.", "[0051] FD Screening [0052] With knowledge of the primary mutation and secondary mutation of the FD gene as disclosed herein, screening for presymptomatic homozygotes, including prenatal diagnosis, and screening for heterozygous carriers can be readily carried out.", "[0053] 1.", "Nucleic Acid Based Screening [0054] Individuals carrying mutations in the FD gene may be detected at either the DNA or RNA level using a variety of techniques that are well known in the art.", "The genomic DNA used for the diagnosis may be obtained from an individual's cells, such as those present in peripheral blood, urine, saliva, bucca, surgical specimen, and autopsy specimens.", "The DNA may be used directly or may be amplified enzymatically in vitro through use of PCR (Saiki et al.", "Science 23 9: 4 87 491 (1988)) or other in vitro amplification methods such as the ligase chain reaction (LCR) (Wu and Wallace Genomics 4:560-569 (1989)), strand displacement amplification (SDA) (Walker et al.", "PNAS USA 89:392-396 (1992)), self-sustained sequence replication (3SR) (Fahy et al.", "PCR Methods Appl.", "125-33 (1992)), prior to mutation analysis.", "in situ hybridization may also be used to detect the FD gene.", "[0055] The methodology for preparing nucleic acids in a form that is suitable for mutation detection is well known in the art.", "For example, suitable probes for detecting a given mutation include the nucleotide sequence at the mutation site and encompass a sufficient number of nucleotides to provide a means of differentiating a normal from a mutant allele.", "Any probe or combination of probes capable of detecting any one of the FD mutations herein described are suitable for use in this invention.", "Examples of suitable probes include those complementary to either the coding or noncoding strand of the DNA.", "Similarly, suitable PCR primers are complementary to sequences flanking the mutation site.", "Production of these primers and probes can be carried out in accordance with any one of the many routine methods, e.g., as disclosed in Sambrook et al.", "sup[.", "].45, and those disclosed in WO 93/06244 for assays for Goucher disease.", "[0056] Probes for use with this invention should be long enough to specifically identify or amplify the relevant FD mutations with sufficient accuracy to be useful in evaluating the risk of an individual to be a carrier or having the FD disorder.", "In general, suitable probes and primers will comprise, preferably at a minimum, an oligomer of at least 16 nucleotides in length.", "Since calculations for mammalian genomes indicate that for an oligonucleotide 16 nucleotides in length, there is only one chance in ten that a typical cDNA library will fortuitously contain a sequence that exactly matches the sequence of the nucleotide.", "Therefore, suitable probes and primers are preferably 18 nucleotides long, which is the next larger oligonucleotide fully encoding an amino acid sequence (i.e., 6 amino acids in length).", "[0057] By use of nucleotide and polypeptide sequences provided by this invention, safe, effective and accurate testing procedures are also made available to identify carriers of mutant alleles of IKBKAP, as well as pre- and postnatal diagnosis of fetuses and live born patients carrying either one or two mutant alleles.", "This affords potential parents the opportunity to make reproductive decisions prior to pregnancy, as well as afterwards, e.g., if chorionic villi sampling or amniocentesis is performed early in pregnancy.", "Thus, prospective parents who know that they are both carriers may wish to determine if their fetus will have the disease, and may wish to terminate such a pregnancy, or to provide the physician with the opportunity to begin treatment as soon as possible, including prenatally.", "In the case where such screening has not been performed, and therefore the carrier status of the patient is not known, and where FD disease is part of the differential diagnosis, the present invention also provides a method for making the diagnosis genetically.", "[0058] Many versions of conventional genetic screening tests are known in the art.", "Several are disclosed in detail in WO 91/02796 for cystic fibrosis, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,217,865 for Tay-Sachs disease, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,227,292 for neurofibromatosis and in WO 93/06244 for Goucher disease.", "Thus, in accordance with the state of the art regarding assays for such genetic disorders, several types of assays are conventionally prepared using the nucleotides, polypeptides and antibodies of the present invention.", "For example: the detection of mutations in specific DNA sequences, such as the FD gene, can be accomplished by a variety of methods including, but not limited to, restriction-fragment-length-polymorphism detection based on allele-specific restriction-endonuclease cleavage (Kan and Dozy Lancet ii:910-912 (1978)), hybridization with allele-specific oligonucleotide probes (Wallace et al.", "Nucl Acids Res 6:3543-3557 (1978)), including immobilized oligonucleotides (Saiki et al.", "PNAS USA 86:6230-6234 (1989)) or oligonucleotide arrays (Maskos and Southern Nucl Acids Res 21:2269-2270 (1993)), allele-specific PCR (Newton et al.", "Nucl Acids Res 17:2503-25 16 (1989)), mismatch-repair detection (MRD) (Faham and Cox Genome Res 5:474-482 (1995)), binding of MutS protein (Wagner et al.", "Nucl Acids Res 23:3944-3948 (1995), denaturing-gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) (Fisher and Lerman et al.", "PNAS USA 80:1579-1583 (1983)), single-strand-conformation-polymorphism detection (Orita et al.", "Genomics 5:874-879 (1983)), RNAase cleavage at mismatched base-pairs (Myers et al.", "Science 230:1242 (1985)), chemical (Cotton et al.", "PNAS USA 8:4397-4401 (1988)) or enzymatic (Youil et al.", "PNAS USA 92:87-91 (1995)) cleavage of heteroduplex DNA, methods based on allele specific primer extension (Syvanen et al.", "Genomics 8:684-692 (1990)), genetic bit analysis (GBA) (Nikiforov et al.", "Nuci Acids Res 22:4167-4175 (1994)), the oligonucleotide-ligation assay (OLA) (Landegren et al.", "Science 241:1077 (1988)), the allele-specific ligation chain reaction (LCR) (Barrany PNAS USA 88:189-193 (1991)), gap-LCR (Abravaya et al.", "Nucl Acids Res 23:675-682 (1995)), and radioactive and/or fluorescent DNA sequencing using standard procedures well known in the art.", "[0059] As will be appreciated, the mutation analysis may also be performed on samples of RNA by reverse transcription into cDNA therefrom.", "Furthermore, mutations may also be detected at the protein level using, for example, antibodies specific for the mutant and normal FD protein, respectively.", "It may also be possible to base an FD mutation assay on altered cellular or subcellular localization of the mutant form of the FD protein.", "[0060] 2.", "Antibodies [0061] Antibodies can also be used for the screening of the presence of the FD gene, the mutant FD gene, and the protein products therefrom.", "In addition, antibodies are useful in a variety of other contexts in accordance with this invention.", "As will be appreciated, antibodies can be raised against various epitopes of the FD protein.", "Such antibodies can be utilized for the diagnosis of FD and, in certain applications, targeting of affected tissues.", "[0062] For example, antibodies can be used to detect truncated FD protein in neuronal cells, the detection of which indicates that an individual possesses a mutation in the IKBKAP gene.", "[0063] Thus, in accordance with another aspect of the present invention a kit is provided that is suitable for use in screening and assaying for the presence of the FD gene by an immunoassay through use of an antibody which specifically binds to a gene product of the FD gene in combination with a reagent for detecting the binding of the antibody to the gene product.", "[0064] Antibodies raised in accordance with the invention can also be utilized to provide extensive information on the characteristics of the protein and of the disease process and other valuable information which includes but is not limited to: [0065] 1.", "Antibodies can be used for the immunostaining of cells and tissues to determine the precise localization of the FD protein.", "Immunofluorescence and immuno-electron microscopy techniques which are well known in the art can be used for this purpose.", "Defects in the FD gene or in other genes which cause an altered localization of the FD protein are expected to be localizable by this method.", "[0066] 2.", "Antibodies to distinct isoforms of the FD protein (i.e., wild-type or mutant-specific antibodies) can be raised and used to detect the presence or absence of the wild-type or mutant gene products by immunoblotting (Western blotting) or other immunostaining methods.", "Such antibodies can also be utilized for therapeutic applications where, for example, binding to a mutant form of the FD protein reduces the consequences of the mutation.", "[0067] 3.", "Antibodies can also be used as tools for affinity purification of FD protein.", "Methods such as immunoprecipitation or column chromatography using immobilized antibodies are well known in the art and are further described in Section (II)(B)(3), entitled “Protein Purification”", "herein.", "[0068] 4.", "Immunoprecipitation with specific antibodies is useful in characterizing the biochemical properties of the FD protein.", "Modifications of the FD protein (i.e., phosphorylation, glycosylation, ubiquitization, and the like) can be detected through use of this method.", "Immunoprecipitation and Western blotting are also useful for the identification of associating molecules that may be involved in the mammalian elongation complex.", "[0069] 5.", "Antibodies can also be utilized in connection with the isolation and characterization of tissues and cells which express FD protein.", "For example, FD protein expressing cells can be isolated from peripheral blood, bone marrow, liver, and other tissues, or from cultured cells by fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS) Harlow et al.", ", eds.", ", Antibodies: A Laboratory Manual, pp. 394-395, Cold Spring Harbor Press, N.Y. (1988).", "Cells can be mixed with antibodies (primary antibodies) with or without conjugated dyes.", "If nonconjugated antibodies are used, a second dye-conjugated antibody (secondary antibody) which binds to the primary antibody can be added.", "This process allows the specific staining of cells or tissues which express the FD protein.", "[0070] Antibodies against the FD protein are prepared by several methods which include, but are not limited to: [0071] 1.", "The potentially immunogenic domains of the protein are predicted from hydropathy and surface probability profiles.", "Then oligopeptides which span the predicted immunogenic sites are chemically synthesized.", "These oligopeptides can also be designed to contain the specific mutant amino acids to allow the detection of and discrimination between the mutant versus wild-type gene products.", "Rabbits or other animals are immunized with the synthesized oligopeptides coupled to a carrier such as KLH to produce anti-FD protein polyclonal antibodies.", "Alternatively, monoclonal antibodies can be produced against the synthesized oligopeptides using conventional techniques that are well known in the art Harlow et al.", ", eds.", ", Antibodies: A Laboratory Manual, pp. 151-154, Cold Spring Harbor Press, N.Y. (1988).", "Both in vivo and in vitro immunization techniques can be used.", "For therapeutic applications, “humanized”", "monoclonal antibodies having human constant and variable regions are often preferred so as to minimize the immune response of a patient against the antibody.", "Such antibodies can be generated by immunizing transgenic animals which contain human immunoglobulin genes.", "See Jakobovits et al.", "Ann NY Acad Sci 764:525-535 (1995).", "[0072] 2.", "Antibodies can also be raised against expressed FD protein products from cells.", "Such expression products can include the full length expression product or parts or fragments thereof.", "Expression can be accomplished using conventional expression systems, such as bacterial, baculovirus, yeast, mammalian, and other overexpression systems using conventional recombinant DNA techniques.", "The proteins can be expressed as fusion proteins with a histidine tag, glutathione-S-transferase, or other moieties, or as nonfused proteins.", "Expressed proteins can be purified using conventional protein purification methods or affinity purification methods that are well known in the art.", "Purified proteins are used as immunogens to generate polyclonal or monoclonal antibodies using methods similar to those described above for the generation of antipeptide antibodies.", "[0073] In each of the techniques described above, once hybridoma cell lines are prepared, monoclonal antibodies can be made through conventional techniques of, for example, priming mice with pristane and interperitoneally injecting such mice with the hybrid cells to enable harvesting of the monoclonal antibodies from ascites fluid.", "[0074] In connection with synthetic and semi-synthetic antibodies, such terms are intended to cover antibody fragments, isotype switched antibodies, humanized antibodies (mouse-human, human-mouse, and the like), hybrids, antibodies having plural specificities, fully synthetic antibody-like molecules, and the like.", "[0075] 3.", "Expression Systems [0076] Expression systems for the FD gene product allow for the study of the function of the FD gene product, in either normal or wild-type form and/or mutated form.", "Such analyses are useful in providing insight into the disease causing process that is derived from mutations in the gene.", "[0077] “Expression systems”", "refer to DNA sequences containing a desired coding sequence and control sequences in operable linkage, so that hosts transformed with these sequences are capable of producing the encoded proteins.", "In order to effect transformation, the expression system may be included on a vector;", "however, the relevant DNA may then also be integrated into the host chromosome.", "[0078] In general terms, the production of a recombinant form of FD gene product typically involves the following: [0079] First a DNA encoding the mature (used here to include all normal and mutant forms of the proteins) protein, the preprotein, or a fusion of the FD protein to an additional sequence cleavable under controlled conditions such as treatment with peptidase to give an active protein, is obtained.", "If the sequence is uninterrupted by introns it is suitable for expression in any host.", "If there are introns, expression is obtainable in mammalian or other eukaryotic systems capable of processing them.", "This sequence should be in excisable and recoverable form.", "The excised or recovered coding sequence is then placed in operable linkage with suitable control sequences in an expression vector.", "The construct is used to transform a suitable host, and the transformed host is cultured under selective conditions to effect the production of the recombinant FD protein.", "Optionally the FD protein is isolated from the medium or from the cells and purified as described in Section entitled “Protein Purification.”", "[0080] Each of the foregoing steps can be done in a variety of ways.", "For example, the desired coding sequences can be obtained by preparing suitable cDNA from cellular mRNA and manipulating the cDNA to obtain the complete sequence.", "Alternatively, genomic fragments may be obtained and used directly in appropriate hosts.", "The construction of expression vectors operable in a variety of hosts are made using appropriate replicons and control sequences, as set forth below.", "Suitable restriction sites can, if not normally available, be added to the ends of the coding sequence so as to provide an excisable gene to insert into these vectors.", "[0081] The control sequences, expression vectors, and transformation methods are dependent on the type of host cell used to express the gene.", "Generally, prokaryotic, yeast, insect, or mammalian cells are presently useful as hosts.", "Prokaryotic hosts are in general the most efficient and convenient for the production of recombinant proteins.", "However, eukaryotic cells, and, in particular, yeast and mammalian cells, are often preferable because of their processing capacity and post-translational processing of human proteins.", "[0082] Prokaryotes most frequently are represented by various strains of E. coli.", "However, other microbial strains may also be used, such as Bacillus subtilis and various species of Pseudomonas or other bacterial strains.", "In such prokaryotic systems, plasmid or bacteriophage vectors which contain origins of replication and control sequences compatible with the host are used.", "A wide variety of vectors for many prokaryotes are known (Maniatis et al.", "Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual pp. 1.3-1.11, 2.3-2.125, 3.2-3.48, 2-4.64 (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y. (1982));", "Sambrook et al.", "Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual pp. 1-54 (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y. (1989));", "Meth.", "Enzymology 68: 357-375 (1979);", "101: 307-325 (1983);", "152: 673-864 (1987) (Academic Press, Orlando, Fla.", "Pouwells et al.", "Cloning Vectors: A Laboratory Manual (Elsevier, Amsterdam (1987))).", "Commonly used prokaryotic control sequences which are defined herein to include promoters for transcription initiation, optionally with an operator, along with ribosome binding site sequences, include such commonly used promoters as the beta-lactamase (penicillinase) and lactose (lac) promoter systems, the tryptophan (trp) promoter system and the lambda derived PL promoter and N-gene ribosome binding, site, which has become useful as a portable control cassette (U.S. Pat. No. 4,711,845).", "However, any available promoter system compatible with prokaryotes can be used (Sambrook et al.", "supra.", "(1989);", "Meth.", "Enzymology supra.", "(1979, 1983, 1987);", "John et al.", "Gene 61: 207-215 (1987).", "[0083] In addition to bacteria, eukaryotic microbes, such as yeast, may also be used as hosts.", "Laboratory strain Saccharomyces cerevisiae or Baker's yeast, is most often used although other strains are commonly available.", "[0084] Vectors employing the 2 micron origin of replication and other plasmid vectors suitable for yeast expression are known (Sambrook et al.", "supra.", "(1989);", "Meth.", "Enzymology supra.", "(1979, 1983, 1987);", "John et al.", "supra.", "(1987).", "Control sequences for yeast vectors include promoters for the synthesis of glycolytic enzymes.", "Additional promoters known in the art include the promoters for 3-phosphoglycerate kinase, and those for other glycolytic enzymes, such as glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, hexokinase, pyruvate decarboxylase, phosphofructokinase, glucose-6-phosphate isomerase, 3-phosphoglycerate mutase, pyruvate kinase, triosephosphate isomerase, phosphoglucose isomerase, and glucokinase.", "Other promoters, which have the additional advantage of transcription controlled by growth conditions, are the promoter regions for alcohol dehydrogenase 2, isocytochrome C, acid phosphatase, degradative enzymes associated with nitrogen metabolism, and enzymes responsible for maltose and galactose utilization.", "See Sambrook et al.", "supra.", "(1989);", "Meth.", "Enzymology supra.", "John et al.", "supra.", "(1987).", "It is also believed that terminator sequences at the 3′ end of the coding sequences are desirable.", "Such terminators are found in the 3′ untranslated region following the coding sequences in yeast-derived genes.", "Many of the useful vectors contain control sequences derived from the enolase gene containing plasmid peno46 or the LEU2 gene obtained from Yep13, however, any vector containing a yeast compatible promoter, origin of replication, and other control sequences is suitable (Sambrook et al.", "supra.", "(1989);", "Meth.", "Enzymology supra.", "(1979, 1983, 1987);", "John et al.", "supra.", "[0085] It is also, of course, possible to express genes encoding polypeptides in eukaryotic host cell cultures derived from multicellular organisms (Kruse and Patterson Tissue Culture pp. 475-500 (Academic Press, Orlando (1973));", "Meth.", "Enzymology 68: 357-375 (1979);", "Freshney Culture of Animal Cells;", "A Manual of Basic Techniques pp. 329-334 (2d ed.", ", Alan R. Liss, N.Y. (1987))).", "Useful host cell lines include murine myelomas N51, VERO and HeT cells, SF9 or other insect cell lines, and Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells.", "Expression vectors for such cells ordinarily include promoters and control sequences compatible with mammalian cells such as, for example, the commonly used early and later promoters from Simian Virus 40 (SV 40), or other viral promoters such as those from polyoma, adenovirus 2, bovine papilloma virus, or avian sarcoma viruses, herpes virus family (such as cytomegalovirus, herpes simplex virus, or Epstein-Barr virus), or immunoglobulin promoters and heat shock promoters (Sambrook et al.", "supra.", "pp. 16.3-16.74 (1989);", "Meth.", "Enzymology 152: 684-704 (1987);", "John et al.", "supra.", "In addition, regulated promoters, such as metallothionine (i.e., MT-1 and MT-2), glucocorticoid, or antibiotic gene “switches”", "can be used.", "[0086] General aspects of mammalian cell host system transformations have been described by Axel (U.S. Pat. No. 4,399,216).", "Plant cells are also now available as hosts, and control sequences compatible with plant cells such as the nopaline synthase promoter and polyadenylation signal sequences are available (Pouwells et al.", "supra.", "(1987);", "Meth Enzymology 118: 627-639(Academic Press, Orlando (1986);", "Gelvin et al.", "J. Bact.", "172: 1600-1608.", "[0087] Depending on the host cell used, transformation is done using standard techniques appropriate to such cells (Sambrook et al.", "supra.", "pp. 16.30-16.5 (1989);", "Meth.", "Enzymology supra 68:357-375 (1979);", "101: 307-325 (1983);", "152: 673-864 (1987).", "U.S. Pat. No. 4,399,216;", "Meth Enzymology supra 118: 627-639 (1986);", "Gelvin et al.", "J. Bact.", "172: 1600-1608 (1990).", "Such techniques include, without limitation, calcium treatment employing calcium chloride for prokaryotes or other cells which contain substantial cell wall barriers;", "infection with Agrobacterium tumefaciens for certain plant cells;", "calcium phosphate precipitation, DEAE, lipid transfection systems (such as LIPOFECTIN.", "TM.", "and LIPOFFECTAMINE.", "TM.), and electroporation methods for mammalian cells without cell walls, and, microprojectile bombardment for many cells including, plant cells.", "In addition, DNA may be delivered by viral delivery systems such as retroviruses or the herpes family, adenoviruses, baculoviruses, or semliki forest virus, as appropriate for the species of cell line chosen.", "[0088] C. Therapeutics [0089] Identification of the FD gene and its gene product also has therapeutic implications.", "Indeed, one of the major aims of this invention is the development of therapies to circumvent or overcome the defect leading to FD disease.", "Envisioned are pharmacological, protein replacement, antibody therapy, and gene therapy approaches.", "In addition the development of animal models useful for developing therapies and for understanding the molecular mechanisms of FD disease are envisioned.", "[0090] 1.", "Pharmacological [0091] In the pharmacological approach, drugs which circumvent or overcome the defective FD gene function are sought.", "In this approach, modulation of FD gene function can be accomplished by agents or drugs which are designed to interact with different aspects of the FD protein structure or function.", "[0092] Efficacy of a drug or agent, can be identified in a screening program in which modulation is monitored in vitro cell systems.", "Indeed, the present invention provides for host cell systems which express various mutant FD proteis (especially the T-C and G-C mutations noted in this application) and are suited for use as primary screening systems.", "[0093] In vivo testing of FD disease-modifying compounds is also required as a confirmation of activity observed in the in vitro assays.", "Animal models of FD disease are envisioned and discussed in the section entitled “Animal Models”, below, in the present application.", "[0094] Drugs can be designed to modulate FD gene and FD protein activity from knowledge of the structure and function correlations of FD protein and from knowledge of the specific defect in various FD mutant proteins.", "For this, rational drug design by use of X-ray crystallography, computer-aided molecular modeling (CAMM), quantitative or qualitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR), and similar technologies can further focus drug discovery efforts.", "Rational design allows prediction of protein or synthetic structures which can interact with and modify the FD protein activity.", "Such structures may be synthesized chemically or expressed in biological systems.", "This approach has been reviewed in Capsey et al.", ", Genetically Engineered Human Therapeutic Drugs, Stockton Press, New York (1988).", "Further, combinatorial libraries can be designed, synthesized and used in screening programs.", "[0095] The present invention also envisions that the treatment of FD disease can take the form of modulation of another protein or step in the pathway in which the FD gene or its protein product participates in order to correct the physiological abnormality.", "[0096] In order to administer therapeutic agents based on, or derived from, the present invention, it will be appreciated that suitable carriers, excipients, and other agents may be incorporated into the formulations to provide improved transfer, delivery, tolerance, and the like.", "[0097] A multitude of appropriate formulations can be found in the formulary known to all pharmaceutical chemists: Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences, (15th Edition, Mack Publishing Company, Easton, Pa.", "(1975)), particularly Chapter 87 , by Blaug, Seymour, therein.", "These formulations include for example, powders, pastes, ointments, jelly, waxes, oils, lipids, anhydrous absorption bases, oil-in-water or water-in-oil emulsions, emulsions carbowax (polyethylene glycols of a variety of molecular weights), semi-solid gels, and semi-solid mixtures containing carbowax.", "[0098] Any of the foregoing formulations may be appropriate in treatments and therapies in accordance with the present invention, provided that the active agent in the formulation is not inactivated by the formulation and the formulation is physiologically compatible.", "[0099] 2.", "Protein Replacement Therapy [0100] The present invention also relates to the use of polypeptide or protein replacement therapy for those individuals determined to have a defective FD gene.", "Treatment of FD disease could be performed by replacing the defective FD protein with normal protein or its functional equivalent in therapeutic amounts.", "[0101] FD polypeptide can be prepared for therapy by any of several conventional procedures.", "First, FD protein can be produced by cloning the FD cDNA into an appropriate expression vector, expressing the FD gene product from this vector in an in vitro expression system (cell-free or cell-based) and isolating the FD protein from the medium or cells of the expression system.", "General expression vectors and systems are well known in the art.", "In addition, the invention envisions the potential need to express a stable form of the FD protein in order to obtain high yields and obtain a form readily amenable to intravenous administration.", "Stable high yield expression of proteins have been achieved through systems utilizing lipid-linked forms of proteins as described in Wettstein et al.", "J Exp Med 17:4219-228 (1991) and Lin et al.", "Science 249:677-679(1990).", "[0102] FD protein can be prepared synthetically.", "Alternatively, the FD protein can be prepared from total protein samples by affinity chromatography.", "Sources would include tissues expressing normal FD protein, in vitro systems (outlined above), or synthetic materials.", "The affinity matrix would consist of antibodies (polyclonal or monoclonal) coupled to an inert matrix.", "In addition, various ligands which specifically interact with the FD protein could be immobilized on an inert matrix.", "General methods for preparation and use of affinity matrices are well known in the art.", "[0103] Protein replacement therapy requires that FD protein be administered in an appropriate formulation.", "The FD protein can be formulated in conventional ways standard to the art for the administration of protein substances.", "Delivery may require packaging in lipid-containing vesicles (such as LIPOFECTIN.", "TM.", "or other cationic or anionic lipid or certain surfactant proteins) that facilitate incorporation into the cell membrane.", "The FD protein formulations can be delivered to affected tissues by different methods depending on the affected tissue.", "[0104] 3.", "Gene Therapy [0105] Gene therapy utilizing recombinant DNA technology to deliver the normal form, of the FD gene into patient cells or vectors which will supply the patient with gene product in vivo is also contemplated within the scope of the present invention.", "In gene therapy of FD disease, a normal version of the FD gene is delivered to affected tissue(s) in a form and amount such that the correct gene is expressed and will prepare sufficient quantities of FD protein to reverse the effects of the mutated FD gene.", "Current approaches to gene therapy include viral vectors, cell-based delivery systems and delivery agents.", "Further, ex vivo gene therapy could also be useful.", "In ex vivo gene therapy, cells (either autologous or otherwise) are transfected with the normal FD gene or a portion thereof and implanted or otherwise delivered into the patient.", "Such cells thereafter express the normal FD gene product in vivo and would be expected to assist a patient with FD disease in avoiding iron overload normally associated with FD disease.", "Ex vivo gene therapy is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,399,346 to Anderson et al.", ", the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.", "Approaches to gene therapy are discussed below: [0106] a. Viral Vectors [0107] Retroviruses are often considered the preferred vector for somatic gene therapy.", "They provide high efficiency infection, stable integration and stable expression (Friedman, T. Progress Toward Human Gene Therapy.", "Science 244:1275 (1989)).", "The full length FD gene cDNA can be cloned into a retroviral vector driven by its endogenous promoter or from the retroviral LTR.", "Delivery of the virus could be accomplished by direct implantation of virus directly into the affected tissue.", "[0108] Other delivery systems which can be utilized include adenovirus, adenoassociated virus (AAV), vaccinia virus, bovine papilloma virus or members of the herpes virus group such as Epstein-Barr virus.", "Viruses can be, and preferably are, replication deficient.", "[0109] b. Non-viral Gene Transfer [0110] Other methods of inserting the FD gene into the appropriate tissues may also be productive.", "Many of these agents, however, are of lower efficiency than viral vectors and would potentially require infection in vitro, selection of transfectants, and reimplantation.", "This would include calcium phosphate, DEAE dextran, electroporation, and protoplast fusion.", "A particularly attractive idea is the use of liposomes (i.e., LIPOFECTIN.", "TM.), which might be possible to carry out in vivo.", "Synthetic cationic lipids and DNA conjugates also appear to show some promise and may increase the efficiency and ease of carrying out this approach.", "[0111] 4.", "Animal Models [0112] The generation of a mouse or other animal model of FD disease is important for both an understanding the biology of the disease but also for testing of potential therapies.", "[0113] The present invention envisions the creation of an animal model of FD disease by introduction of the FD disease causing mutations in a number of species including mice, rats, pigs, and primates.", "[0114] Techniques for specifically inactivating or mutating genes by homologous recombination in embryonic stem cells (ES cells) have been described (Capecci Science 244:1288 (1989)).", "Animals with the inactivated homologous FD gene can then be used to introduce the mutant or normal human FD gene or for introduction of the homologous gene to that species and containing the T-C, G-C or other FD disease-causing mutations.", "Methods for these transgenic procedures are well known to those versed in the art and have been described by Murphy and Carter, Curr.", "Opin.", "Cell Biol.", "4:273-279(1992) ILLUSTRATIVE EXAMPLES [0115] The following examples are provided to illustrate certain aspects of the present invention and not intended as limiting the subject matter thereof.", "Example 1 [0116] Identification of the IKBKAP gene and the mutations associated with FD were obtained as follows: [0117] Patient Samples [0118] Blood samples were collected from two major sources, the Dysautonomia Diagnostic and Treatment Center at New York University Medical Center and the Israeli Center for Familial Dysautonomia at Hadassah University Hospital, with approval from the institutional review boards at these institutions, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School.", "Either F. A. or C. M. diagnosed all patients using established criteria.", "Epstein Barr virus transformed lymphoblast lines using standard conditions.", "Fibroblast cell lines were obtained from the Coriell Cell Repositories, Camden, N.J. RNA isolated from post-mortem FD brain was obtained from the Dysautonomia Diagnostic and Treatment Center at NYU.", "Genomic DNA, total RNA, and mRNA were prepared using commercial kits (Invitrogen and Molecular Research Center, Inc.).", "Cytoplasmic protein was extracted from lymphoblasts as previously described (Krappmann et al.", "2000).", "[0119] Identification of IKBKAP and Mutation Analysis [0120] Exon trapping experiments of cosmids from a physical map of the candidate region yielded 5 exons that were used to screen a human frontal cortex cDNA library.", "Several cDNA clones were isolated and assembled into a novel transcript encoding a 1332 AA protein that was later identified as IKBKAP (Cohen et al.", "1998).", "The complete 5.9 kb cDNA sequence of IKBKAP has been submitted to GenBank under accession number AF153419.", "In order to screen for mutations in FD patients, total lymphoblast RNA was reverse transcribed and overlapping sections of IKBKAP were amplified by PCR and sequenced.", "Evaluation of the splicing defect was performed using the following primers: 18F: [0121] GCCAGTGTTTTTGCCTGAG;", "19F: CGGATTGTCACTGTTGTGC;", "23R: GACTGCTCTCATAGCATCGC (FIG.", "1).", "[0122] DNA Sequencing [0123] Sequencing was performed using the AmpliCycle sequencing kit (Applied Biosystems) or on an ABI 377 automated DNA sequencer using the BigDye terminator cycle sequencing kit (Applied Biosystems).", "The control sequence of the candidate region was obtained by constructing subclone libraries from BACs and sequencing using vector specific primers.", "The FD sequence was generated by sequencing cosmids from a patient homozygous for the major FD haplotype using sequence specific primers.", "[0124] Expression Studies [0125] Several human multiple tissue northern blots (Clontech) were hybridized using the following radioactively labeled probes: IKBKAP exon 2, IKBKAP exons 18/19/20, IKBKAP exon 23, and a 400 bp fragment of the IKBKAP 3′UTR immediately following the stop codon.", "Poly (A) + RNA was isolated from patient and control lymphoblast lines, northern blotted, and hybridized using a probe representing the full coding sequence of IKBKAP.", "Cytoplasmic protein extracted from lymphoblast cell lines was western blotted and detected using ECL (Amersham) with an antibody raised against a peptide comprising the extreme carboxyl terminus (AA 1313-1332) of human IKAP, the protein encoded by IKBKAP (Krappmann et al.", "2000).", "[0126] To identify DYS, exon trapping and cDNA selection were used to clone and characterize all of the genes in the 471 kb candidate region: EPB41L8 (unpublished data) or EHM2 (Shimizu et al.", "2000), C9ORF4 (Chadwick et al.", "1999a), C9ORF5 (Chadwick et al.", "2000), CTNNAL1 (Zhang et al[.", "].1998), a novel gene with homology to the glycine cleavage system H proteins (CG-8) (unpublished data), IKBKAP (Cohen et al.", "1998), and ACTL7A and ACTL7B (Chadwick et al.", "1999b).", "As FD is a recessive disorder, the a priori expectation for the mutation was inactivation of one of these genes.", "Consequently, each of these were screened for mutations by RT-PCR of patient lymphoblast RNA and direct sequencing of all coding regions.", "Although many SNPs were identified, there was no evidence for a homozygous inactivating mutation.", "Thus, it was concluded that the mutation would be found in non-coding sequence and the control genomic sequence of the entire 471 kb candidate region was generated using BACs from a physical map.", "Direct sequence prediction using GENSCAN and comprehensive searches of the public databases did not reveal any additional genes in the candidate region beyond those found by cloning methods.", "However, SNPs identified during sequence analysis enabled us to refine the haplotype analysis and narrow the candidate interval to 177 kb shared by the major haplotype and the previously described minor haplotype 1 (Blumenfeld et al.", "1999).", "This reduced interval contains 5 genes, CTNNAL1, CG-8, IKBKAP, ACTL7A and ACTL7B, all previously screened by RT-PCR without yielding a coding sequence mutation.", "A cosmid library was constructed from a patient homozygous for the major haplotype, assembled the minimal coverage contig for the now reduced candidate interval, and generated the sequence of the mutant chromosome.", "[0127] Comparison of the FD and control sequences revealed 152 differences (excluding simple sequence repeat markers), which include 26 variations in the length of dT n tracts, 1 VNTR, and 125 base pair changes.", "Each of the 125 base pair changes was tested in a panel of 50 individuals known to carry two non-FD chromosomes by segregation in FD families.", "Of the 125 changes tested, only 1 was unique to patients carrying the major FD haplotype.", "This T-C change is located at bp 6 of intron 20 in the IKBKAP gene depicted in FIG. 1, and is demonstrated in FIG. 2A.", "IKAP was originally identified as an IκB kinase (IKK) complex-associated protein that can bind both NF-κB inducing kinase (MK) and IKKs through separate domains and assemble them into an active kinase complex (Cohen et al.", "1998).", "Recent work, however, has shown that IKAP is not associated with IKKs and plays no specific role in cytokine-induced NF-κB signaling (Krappmann et al.", "2000).", "Rather, IKAP was shown to be part of a novel multi-protein complex hypothesized to play a role in general transcriptional regulation.", "[0128] The IKBKAP gene contains 37 exons and encodes a 1332 amino acid protein.", "The full-length 5.9 kb cDNA (GenBank accession number AF153419) covers 68 kb of genomic sequence, with the start methionine encoded in exon 2.", "IKBKAP was previously assigned to chromosome 9q34 (GenBank accession number AF044195), but it clearly maps within the FD candidate region of 9q31.", "Northern analysis of IKBKAP revealed two mRNAs of 4.8 and 5.9 kb (FIGS.", "3 a and b).", "The wild-type 4.8 kb mRNA has been reported previously (Cohen et al.", "1998), while the second 5.9 kb message differs only in the length of the 3′ UTR and is predicted to encode an identical 150 kDa protein.", "As seen in FIG. 3 b, the putative FD mutation does not eliminate expression of the IKBKAP mRNA in patient lymphoblasts.", "[0129] A base pair change at position 6 of the splice donor site might be expected to result in skipping of exon 20 (74 bp), causing a frameshift and therefore producing a truncated protein.", "However, initial inspection of our RT-PCR experiments in patient lymphoblast RNA using primers located in exons 18 and 23 (FIG.", "1) showed a normal length 500 bp fragment that contained exon 20 (FIG.", "4A), indicating that patient lymphoblasts express normal IKBKAP message.", "The Western blot shown in FIG. 4B demonstrates that full-length IKAP protein is expressed in these patient lymphoblasts.", "However, as the antibody used was directed against the carboxyl-terminus of IKAP it would not be expected to detect any truncated protein should it be present.", "The presence of apparently normal IKAP in patient cells is at odds with the expectation of an inactivating mutation in this recessive disease.", "[0130] In the absence of any evidence for a functional consequence of the intron 20 sequence change, the only alteration unique to FD chromosomes, additional genetic evidence was sought to support the view that it represents the FD mutation.", "The 658 FD chromosomes that carry the major haplotype all show the T-C change.", "In toto, 887 chromosomes have been tested that are definitively non-FD due to their failure to cause the disorder when present in individuals heterozygous for the major FD haplotype.", "None of these non-FD chromosomes exhibits the T-C mutation, strongly indicating that it is not a rare polymorphism.", "The frequency of the mutation in random AJ chromosomes was 14/1012 (gene frequency 1/72;", "carrier frequency 1/36), close to the expected carrier frequency of 1/32 (Maayan et al.", "1987).", "[0131] In view of the strong genetic evidence that this mutation must be pathogenic, it was postulated that its effect might be tissue-specific.", "RNA extracted from the brain stem and temporal lobe of a post-mortem FD brain sample was therefore examined.", "In contrast to FD lymphoblasts, RT-PCR of the FD brain tissue RNA using primers in exons 19 and 23 (expected to produce a normal product of 393 bp) revealed a 319 bp mutant product, indicating virtually complete absence of exon 20 from the IKBKAP mRNA (FIG.", "5, lanes 10-11).", "As additional FD autopsy material could not be obtained, intensive analyses of additional lymphoblast and fibroblast cell lines were performed to determine whether exon-skipping could be detected.", "Fibroblast lines from homozygous FD patients yielded variable results.", "Some primary fibroblast lines displayed approximately equal expression of the mutant and wild-type mRNAs while others displayed primarily wild-type mRNA.", "In addition, extensive examination of additional patient lymphoblast lines indicated that the mutant message could sometimes be detected at low levels.", "An example of the variability seen in FD fibroblasts and the presence of the mutant message in some FD lymphoblasts is shown in FIG. 5. In fact, close re-examination of FIG. 4 a shows a trace of the mutant band in 2 (lanes 1 and 2) of the 3 FD samples.", "The absence of exon 20 in the FD brain RNA and the preponderance of wild-type mRNA in fibroblasts and lymphoblasts indicate that the major FD mutation acts by altering splicing of IKBKAP in a tissue-specific manner.", "[0132] To identify the mutations associated with minor haplotypes 2 and 3, (Blumenfeld et al.", "1999) we amplified each IKBKAP exon, including adjacent intron sequence, from genomic DNA.", "A single G-C change at bp 2397 (bp 73 of exon 19) that causes an arginine to proline missense mutation (R696P) was identified in all 4 patients with minor haplotype 2 (FIG.", "2 b ).", "This was subsequently confirmed by RT-PCR in lymphoblast RNA as shown in FIG. 2 c for a region that crosses the exon 19-20 border.", "The PCR product, generated from an FD patient who is a compound heterozygote with minor haplotype 2 and the major haplotype, clearly shows that RNA is being expressed equally from both alleles based on heterozygosity of the G-C point mutation in exon 19.", "However, the RNA from the major haplotype allele shows no evidence for skipping of exon 20 which would be expected to produce a mixture of exon 20 and 21 sequence beginning at the end of exon 19.", "This confirms our previous observation that lymphoblasts with the major FD mutation produce a predominance of normal IKBKAP transcript.", "[0133] The R696P mutation is absent from 500 non-FD chromosomes, and it has been seen only once in 706 random AJ chromosomes in an individual who also carries the minor haplotype.", "This mutation is predicted to disrupt a potential threonine phosphorylation site at residue 699 identified by Netphos 2.0 (Blom et al.", "1999), suggesting that it may affect regulation of IKAP.", "Interestingly, the presence of this minor mutation is associated with a relatively mild disease phenotype, suggesting that a partially functional IKAP protein may be expressed from this allele.", "No mutation has been identified for minor haplotype 3, which represents the only non-AJ putative FD chromosome.", "Example 2 [0134] FD Diagnostic Assays [0135] As discussed above, the allele-specific oligonucleotide (ASO) hybridization assay is highly effective for detecting single nucleotide changes in DNA and RNA, such as the T-C or G-C mutations or sequence variations, especially when used in conjunction with allele-specific PCR amplification.", "Thus, in accordance with the present invention, there is provided an assay kit to detect mutations in the FD gene through use of a PCR/ASO hybridization assay.", "[0136] PCR Amplification [0137] Genomic DNA samples are placed into a reaction vessel(s) with appropriate primers, nucleotides, buffers, and salts and subjected to PCR amplification.", "[0138] Suitable genomic DNA-containing samples from patients can be readily obtained and the DNA extracted therefrom using conventional techniques.", "For example, DNA can be isolated and prepared in accordance with the method described in Dracopoli, N. et al.", "eds.", "Current Protocols in Human Genetics pp. 7.1[.", "].1-7.1[.", "].7 (J.", "Wiley &", "Sons, New York (1994)), the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.", "Most typically, a blood sample, a buccal swab, a hair follicle preparation, or a nasal aspirate is used as a source of cells to provide the DNA.", "[0139] Alternatively, RNA from an individual (i.e., freshly transcribed or messenger RNA) can be easily utilized in accordance with the present invention for the detection of the FD2 mutation.", "Total RNA from an individual can be isolated according to the procedure outlined in Sambrook, J. et al.", "Molecular Cloning—A Laboratory Manual pp. 7.3-7.76 (2nd Ed.", ", Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, New York (1989)) the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.", "[0140] In a preferred embodiment, the DNA-containing sample is a blood sample from a patient being screened for FD.", "[0141] In amplification, a solution containing the DNA sample (obtained either directly or through reverse transcription of RNA) is mixed with an aliquot of each of dATP, dCTP, dGTP and dTTP (i.e., Pharmacia LKB Biotechnology, N.J.), an aliquot of each of the DNA specific PCR primers, an aliquot of Taq polymerase (i.e., Promega, Wis.), and an aliquot of PCR buffer, including MgCl.", "sub[.", "].2 (i.e., Promega) to a final volume.", "Followed by pre-denaturation (i.e., at 95.", "degree.", "C. for 7 minutes), PCR is carried out in a DNA thermal cycler (i.e., Perkin-Elmer Cetus, Conn.) with repetitive cycles of annealing, extension, and denaturation.", "As will be appreciated, such steps can be modified to optimize the PCR amplification for any particular reaction, however, exemplary conditions utilized include denaturation at 95.", "degree.", "C. for 1 minute, annealing at 55.", "degree.", "C. for 1 minute, and extension at 72.", "degree.", "C. for 4 minutes, respectively, for 30 cycles.", "Further details of the PCR technique can be found in Erlich, “PCR Technology,” Stockton Press (1989) and U.S. Pat. No. 4,683,202, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.", "[0142] In a preferred embodiment, the amplification primers used for detecting the T-C mutation and the G-C mutation in the FD gene are 5′-GCCAGTGTTTTTGCCTGAG-3′/5′-GACTGCTCTCATAGCATCGC-3′ and 5′-CGGATTGTCACTGTTGTGC-3′/5′-GACTGCTCTCATAGCATCGC-3, respectively.", "[0143] Hybridization [0144] Following PCR amplification, the PCR products are subjected to a hybridization assay using allele-specific oligonucleotides.", "In a preferred embodiment, the allele-specific oligonucleotides used to detect the mutatons in the FD gene are as follows: [0145] 5′-AAGTAAG(T/C)GCCATTG-3′ and 5′-GGTTCAC(G/C)GATTGTC.", "[0146] In the ASO assay, when carried out in microtiter plates, for example, one well is used for the determination of the presence of the normal allele and a second well is used for the determination of the presence of the mutated allele.", "Thus, the results for an individual who is heterozygous for the T-C mutation (i.e. a carrier of FD) will show a signal in each of the wells, an individual who is homozygous for the T-C allele (i.e., affected with FD) will show a signal in only the C well, and an individual who does not have the FD mutation will show only one signal in the T well.", "[0147] In another embodiment, a kit for detecting the FD mutation by ASO assay is provided.", "In the kit, amplification primers for DNA or RNA (or generally primers for amplifying a sequence of genomic DNA, reverse transcription products, complementary products) including the T-C mutated and normal alleles are provided.", "Allele-specific oligonucleotides are also preferably provided.", "The kit further includes separate reaction wells and reagents for detecting the presence of homozygosity or heterozygosity for the T-C mutation.", "[0148] Within the same kit, or in separate kits, oligonucleotides for amplification and detection of other differences (such as the G-C mutation) can also be provided.", "If in the same kit as that used for detection of the T-C mutation, separate wells and reagents are provided, and homozygosity and heterozygosity can similarly be determined.", "[0149] In another embodiment a kit combining other diseases (i.e., Canavan's).", "Example 3 [0150] FD Diagnostic: Other Nucleotide Based Assays [0151] As will be appreciated, a variety of other nucleotide based detection techniques are available for the detection of mutations in samples of RNA or DNA from patients.", "See, for example, the section, above, entitled “Nucleic Acid Based Screening.”", "Any one or any combination of such techniques can be used in accordance with the invention for the design of a diagnostic device and method for the screening of samples of DNA or RNA for FD gene mutations in accordance with the invention, such as the mutations and sequence variants identified herein.", "Further, other techniques, currently available, or developed in the future, which allow for the specific detection of mutations and sequence variants in the FD gene are contemplated in accordance with the invention.", "[0152] Through use of any such techniques, it will be appreciated that devices and methods can be readily developed by those of ordinary skill in art to rapidly and accurately screen for mutations and sequence variants in the FD gene in accordance with the invention.", "[0153] Thus, in accordance with the invention, there is provided a nucleic acid based test for FD gene mutations and sequence variants which comprises providing a sample of a patient's DNA or RNA and assessing the DNA or RNA for the presence of one or more FD gene mutations or sequence variants.", "Samples of patient DNA or RNA (or genomic, transcribed, reverse transcribed, and/or complementary sequences to the FD gene) can be readily obtained as described in Example 2.", "Through the identification and characterization of the FD gene as taught and disclosed in the present invention, one of ordinary skill in the art can readily identify the genomic, transcribed, reverse transcribed, and/or complementary sequences to the FD gene sequence in a sample and readily detect differences therein.", "Such differences in accordance with the present invention can be the T-C or G-C mutations or sequence variations identified and characterized in accordance herewith.", "Alternatively, other differences might similarly be detectable.", "[0154] Kits for conducting and/or substantially automating the process of identification and detection of selected changes, as well as reagents utilized in connection therewith, are therefore envisioned in accordance with the invention of the present invention.", "[0155] As discussed above, through knowledge of the gene-associated mutations responsible for FD disease, it is now possible to prepare transgenic animals as models of the FD disease.", "Such animals are useful in both understanding the mechanisms of FD disease as well as use in drug discovery efforts.", "The animals can be used in combination with cell-based or cell-free assays for drug screening programs.", "Example 4 [0156] Creating Animal Models of FD [0157] The first step in creating an animal model of FD is the identification and cloning of homologs of the IKBKAP gene in other species.", "[0158] Isolation of Mouse cDNA Clones [0159] The human IKBKAP sequence (GenBank Accession No. AF153419) was used to search the mouse expressed sequence tag database (dbEST) using the BLAST program (www.", "ncbi.", "nlm.", "nih.gov/BLAST).", "A single 5′ EST from a mouse brain library (GenBank Association No. AU079160) was identified that showed marked similarity to the 5′ end of IKBKAP.", "The corresponding cDNA clone, MNCB-3931, was obtained from the Japanese Collection of the Research Bioresource/National Institute of Infectious Disease.", "In addition, eight EST's that were similar to the 3′ end of the ORF were found to belong to UniGene cluster Mn[.", "].46573 (www.", "ncbi.", "nlm.", "nih.gov/Unigene).", "Examination of this cluster yielded several poly (A+)-containing clones, and we obtained the clone UI-M-CG0p-bhb-g-07-0-U1 (GenBank Accession No. BE994893) from Research Genetics.", "[0160] RT-PCR Analysis [0161] RNA (1 ug/ml from BALB/c mouse brain was obtained commercially (Clontech).", "Oligo-dT 15 and random hexamer primers were annealed to the template at 65 20 C. for 10 min in the presence of 1× first-strand buffer, 2 mM dNTP mix, and 4 mM DTT.", "The reaction mixture was incubated at 42° C. for 90 min after addition of Suuperscript TM II RT (200 U/ul) and Rnase inhibitor (80 U/ul) (GIBCO).", "[0162] DNA Sequencing and Analysis [0163] DNA sequencing was performed using the AmpliCycle sequencing kit (Applied Biosystems) for the 33 [P]-labeled dideoxynucleotide chain termination reaction, using the following conditions: 30 sec at 94° C., 30 sec at 60° C., and 30 sec at 72° C. for 30 cycles.", "The radioactively labeled sequence reaction product was denatured at 95° C. for 10 min and run on a denaturing 6% polyacrylamide gel for autoradiography.", "Basic sequencing manipulations and aligments were carried out using a program from Genetics Computer Group (GCC;", "Madison, Wis.).", "The cDNA sequence generated throughout the experiments were aligned and assembled into a 4799-bp cDNA named Ikbkap.", "[0164] Isolation of Full-Length cDNA [0165] To obtain the full-length cDNA sequence, PCR was performed on the mouse cDNA template using primers designed from the sequence of the 5′- and 3′-cDNA clones.", "The PCR conditions were as follows: 15 sec at 95° C., 30 sec at 54° C. to 60° C., and 3 min at 68° C. for 9 cycles;", "then 15 sec at 95° C., 30 sec at 54° C. to 60° C., and 3 min with increment of 5 sec for each succeeding cycle at 68 C. for 19 cycles, followed by 7 min at 72° C. The PCR products were electrophoresed on a 1% agarose gel stained with ethidium bromide and were cleaner using a Qiaquick PCR cleaning kit (Qiagen) in the preparation for cycle sequencing.", "Successive primers were designed in order to obtain the full-length Ikbkap sequence, which was deposited in GenBank under Accession No. AF367244.", "[0166] Northern Blot Analysis [0167] Expression of Ikbkap was examined using both mouse embryo and adult mouse multiple tissue Northern blots (Clontech).", "The blots were probed with a 1045-bp PCR fragment that contains exons 2 through 11, which was generated using primer 1.", "(5 ′-GGCGTCGTAGAAATTGC-3′) and primer 2 (5′-GTGGTGCTGAAGGGGCAGGC-3′).", "The probe was radiolabeled (Sambrook et al.", ", 1989) and was hybridized according to the manufacturer's instructions.", "[0168] Chromosome Mapping of the Mouse Ikbkap Gene [0169] Several of the mouse Ikbkap ESTs belogned to the Unigene cluster Mn[.", "].46573, which has been mapped to chromosome 4 (UniSTS entry: 253051) between D4 Mit287and D4 Mit197.", "To assess synteny between mouse chromosome 4 and human chromosome 9, we used several resources available at NCBI (www.", "nbei.", "nlm.", "nih.gov/Homology).", "[0170] Determination of Genomic Structure of the Mouse Ikbkap [0171] The 37 human IKBKAP exons were searched against the Celera database to obtain homologous mouse sequences.", "Approximately 130 mouse genomic fragements (500-700 bp) were obtained using the Celera Discovery System and Celera's associated database, and these fragements were assembled into seven contigs.", "In order to assemble the complete genomic sequence, we obtained six mouse bacterial artificial chromosomes (BACs) from Researcg Genetics after they screened an RPCI-23 mouse library using 4300 bp human probe that contained exon 2.", "To verify that these BAC clones contained the entire Tkbkap gene, we amplified fragments from the 5′ and 3′ ends of the gene, as well as a fragment from the 3′ flanking gene Act17b (Slaugenhaupt et al.", ", 2001).", "We designed primers at the ends of each of the seven contigs constructed from the Celera data and generated PCR products from the BACs.", "Subsequently, we sequenced and closed five of the gaps, with the resulting two contigs assembled and deposited to Celera (Accession No. CSN009).", "[0172] Creating a Targeting Vector [0173] After cloning and sequencing the mouse homolog of the human IKBKAP gene, a targeting vector can then be constructed from the mouse genomic DNA.", "The targeting vector would consist of two approximately 3 kb genomic fragments from the mouse FD gene as 5′ and 3′ homologous arms.", "These arms would be chosen to flank a region critical to the function of the FD gene product (for example, exon 20).", "[0174] In place of exon 20, negative and positive selectable markers can be placed, for example, to abolish the activity of the FD gene.", "As a positive selectable marker a neo gene under control of phosphoglycerate kinase (pgk-1) promoter may be used and as a negative selectable marker the 5′ arm of the vector can be flanked by a pgk-1 promoted herpes simplex thymidine kinase (HSV-TK) gene can be used.", "[0175] The vector is then transfected into R1 ES cells and the transfectants are subjected to positive and negative selection (i.e., G418and gancyclovir, respectively, where neo and HSV-TK are used).", "PCR is then used to screen for surviving colonies for the desired homologous recombination events.", "These are confirmed by Southern blot analysis.", "[0176] Subsequently, several mutant clones are picked and injected into C57BL/6 blastocytes to produce high-percentage chimeric animals.", "The animals are then mated to C57BL/6 females.", "Heterozygous offspring are then mated to produce homozygous mutants.", "Such mutant offspring can then be tested for the FD gene mutation by Southern blot analysis.", "In addition, these animals are tested by RT-PCR to assess whether the targeted homologous recombination results in the ablation of the FD gene MRNA.", "These results are confirmed by Northern blot analysis and RNase protection assays.", "[0177] Once established, the FD gene-/-mice can be studied for the development of FD-like disease and can also be utilized to examine which cells and tissue-types are involved in the FD disease process.", "The animals can also be used to introduce the mutant or normal FD gene or for the introduction of the homologous gene to that species (i.e., mouse) and containing the T-C or G-C mutations, or other disease causing mutations.", "Methods for the above-described transgenic procedures are well known to those versed in the art and are described in detail by Murphy and Carter supra (1993).", "[0178] The techniques described above, can also be used to introduce the T-C or G-C mutations, or other homologous mutations in the animal, into the homologous animal gene.", "As will be appreciated, similar techniques to those described above, can be utilized for the creation of many transgenic animal lines.", "[0179] To the extent that any reference (including books, articles, papers, patents, and patent applications) cited herein is not already incorporated by reference, they are hereby expressly incorporated by reference in their entirety.", "[0180] While the invention has been described in connection with specific embodiments thereof, it will be understood that it is capable of further modification, and this application is intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention following, in general, the principles of the invention and including such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which the invention pertains and as may be applied to the essential features hereinbefore set forth, and as fall within the scope of the invention and the limits of the appended claims." ]

[ "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1.", "Field of the Invention This invention relates to a stabilizing mechanism for a line trimmer device.", "More specifically, it relates to a stabilizer for trimming devices that utilize a rapidly rotating monofilament line.", "Hereinafter, said trimming devices are collectively referred to as "line trimmer devices"", "or "line trimmers.", """, "Line trimmer devices are widely used both privately and commercially for lawn care.", "Generally, these devices use a rapidly rotating monofilament line to cut and remove vegetation or debris.", "Cutting and dispersement of the vegetation and debris is accomplished by the whipping action of a rapidly rotating line.", "The line first strikes the vegetation severing it at or near the point of impact and then clears the cuttings from their original position with the whipping action of the line.", "One commonly known commercial embodiment of such trimmers is a "WEEDEATER.", """, "In most commercial embodiments of line trimmers, the monofilament line is deployed from within a line compartment or hub in which the line is spooled.", "The hub serves as a means for rotating an extension of the line that protrudes from the hub.", "In most cases, the hub is rotated by either an electric or gasoline motor.", "An operator using the trimmer controls the cutting path by way of a handle shaft with spaced handle grips.", "Also, in most commercial embodiments of the line trimmers, the cutting head is located at a distal end of the extension handle shaft away from the handle grips.", "To perform the desired cutting, the cutting head is held and manipulated above, but proximate to the ground at a distance from the user's body.", "As a result of the cantilevered weight of the line trimmer devices, the user may suffer fatigue and muscle strain in a relatively short time.", "In addition, vibration of the motor contributes to the fatigue and muscle strain.", "Another problem associated with the instability of line trimmer devices is the difficulty in obtaining a uniform cut.", "People spend a great deal of time and money caring for their lawn.", "Line trimmer devices have become one of the most important pieces of lawn care equipment because of their versatility and ability to reach places that ordinary lawnmowers cannot gain access.", "However, due to the vibration and unwieldiness of the line trimmer devices, ordinary people have difficulty maintaining a constant cutting height and uniform cutting path resulting in an unevenly cut lawn.", "Thus, there is a need for a device to stabilize and support the line trimmer device thereby minimizing fatigue and muscle strain and promoting a more uniform cut.", "Also, the stabilizer should provide freedom of movement in all directions.", "Related Art Numerous efforts have been made to design stabilizing devices for trimming devices.", "These efforts include U.S. Pat. No. 4,756,146 which issued to Rouse on Jul. 12, 1988.", "This device includes a string trimmer head with a bulbous extension on the bottom of the head.", "The bulbous extension is used to guide the head during use, but does not include any rolling means.", "Another effort is U.S. Pat. No. 5,095,687 which issued to Andrew, et al.", "on Mar. 17, 1992.", "This device consists of a castor wheel attached to the line trimmer device handle shaft using a frame assembly and a clamp.", "An additional effort is U.S. Pat. No. 4,981,012 which issued to Claborn on Jan. 1, 1991.", "This device uses a wheel, frame, and clamp to allow operation of the line trimmer device in a vertical plane.", "A fourth prior effort is U.S. Pat. No. 4,873,819 which issued to Shivers, et al.", "on Oct. 17, 1989.", "This invention is a grass trimmer that includes a castor wheel assembly integrally attached at the head of the cutter.", "Another prior effort is U.S. Pat. No. 4,845,929 which issued to Kawasaki, et al.", "on Jul. 11, 1989.", "Like Shivers, this device includes a castor wheel at the head of the cutter.", "Other prior efforts include U.S. Pat. No. 4,922,694 which issued to Emoto on May 8, 1990, U.S. Pat. No. 4,829,755 which issued to Nance on May 16, 1989, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,092,112 which issued to Buckendorf, Jr. on Mar. 3, 1992.", "Each of these devices uses a frame and clamp to attach a two wheeled axis to a line trimmer device.", "Finally, U.S. Pat. No. 2,775,857 which issued to Holmes, et al.", "on Jan. 1, 1957 includes a stabilizing roller attached to the handle of an oscillating blade edger.", "In view of the known stabilizing devices, this invention represents an improvement for stabilizing line trimmers and provides a simple, compact, low cost design that permits truly free movement in all directions along the ground's surface.", "The simple wheel designs do not permit the side-to-side movements typically used in trimming with a line trimmer device.", "Likewise, the castor wheel designs do not readily maneuver in all directions due to the uneven lawn terrain.", "Finally, the bulbous extension does not provide for smooth, low-friction movement over the lawn.", "A modification is the use of a free rolling ball support that allows easy movement in all directions.", "Consequently, this modification goes beyond the teachings of the prior efforts.", "SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION To achieve such improvements, this invention includes a ball roller encased and held in a housing bore.", "The ball is exposed to contact the ground and is free to roll in all directions.", "The ball is held in the housing at the lower end using a retaining plate that can be either permanently or removably attached.", "The stabilizer may be attached to a line trimmer device in a variety of ways and in a variety of locations.", "In one embodiment, the stabilizer housing is connected directly to the line trimmer device head.", "In another embodiment, the housing is attached to the line trimmer device's handle shaft using a mounting arm.", "Accordingly, the objectives of this invention are to provide, inter alia, a stabilizing device that: 1.", "is low cost both in manufacture and application;", "offers smooth, low-friction rolling in all directions;", "supports the weight of the line trimmer device to relieve the user from fatigue and muscle strain;", "and 4.", "maintains the cutting line at a constant height to provide a uniform cut.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the line trimmer device stabilizer assembly attached to a mounting arm where said arm is connected to a handle shaft of an operating, gasoline powered line trimmer device.", "FIG. 2 is a cut-away view showing a partial section of the line trimmer device stabilizer with the ball in its lowest operating position.", "FIG. 3 is a cut-away view showing a partial section of a second embodiment of the line trimmer device stabilizer and its attachment to the head of the line trimmer device and with the ball in its lowest operating position.", "FIG. 4 is a cut-away view showing a partial section of the line trimmer stabilizer and its attachment to the head of the line trimmer device using a threaded female connector and a housing design that uses an upper and lower housing component connected by pins and mating slots.", "FIG. 5 is a sectioned view taken along lines 5--5 in FIG. 4 of the line trimmer stabilizer.", "In the this figure, the stabilizer is shown disassembled to more clearly demonstrate how the parts fit together.", "FIG. 6 is a section view taken along lines 6--6 in FIG. 4 of the lower portion of the line trimmer stabilizer to further show the relation of the pins and the slots.", "DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional line trimmer 34.", "A cutting head 50 is connected upon a distal end of a handle shaft 30.", "Handle grips 70 employed by a user to operate and control the trimmer 34 are positioned along the length of the shaft 30.", "At an upper end of the shaft 30 opposite the cutting head 50, a rotating motor 75 provides the rotation for the cutting head 50.", "Alternate embodiments of this invention are shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4.", "In FIG. 1, a stabilizer assembly 10 is shown attached to a stabilized line trimmer 34 by mounting arm 26.", "The stabilizer assembly 10 comprises a ball housing 11 that serves as a partial enclosure of a rotatable ball 19.", "In the preferred embodiment, the housing 11 includes a cylindrical bore 12.", "It should be understood, however, that the bore 12 may have any cross-sectional shape without departing from the scope of this invention.", "At a top end 13 of the housing 11 is a top housing cover 16.", "The top housing cover may be either permanently attached, as in FIG. 2, or removably attached, as in FIG. 3. At a bottom end 14 of the housing 11 is a retaining means in the form of a retaining plate 33, as shown in FIG. 2. A round ball retaining orifice is located substantially at a center of the retaining plate 33 giving the plate 33 a ring shape.", "An interior edge of the orifice creates a retaining seat 31 upon which the ball 19 rests in the relaxed condition of FIG. 2. It is contemplated that the retaining plate 33 may be connected to the bore 12 in a variety of ways or may be constructed integrally therewith.", "Three connections are illustrated in the drawings.", "In FIG. 2, a circular receiving groove 32 is recessed into an interior surface 15 of the bore 12.", "The retaining plate 33 is installed into the groove 32 and retained therein.", "In FIG. 3, the plate 33 is bolted to a bottom edge of the housing 11 with small bolts 35.", "Finally, in FIGS. 4 and 5, the retaining plate 33 is integrally connected to the housing 11.", "FIG. 4 illustrates one possible alternative housing 11 design in which the housing 11 is made up of an upper housing 38 and a lower housing 39.", "The lower housing 39 has an inner diameter slightly greater than the upper housing 38 outer diameter so that the upper housing 38 can be removably disposed in the lower housing 39.", "The upper housing 38 contains coaxial, radial pin receiving holes 42 positioned substantially near the bottom of the upper housing 38.", "The lower housing 39 contains receiving slots 44 positioned and designed to receive and mate with pins 40 securably maintained in the upper housing pin receiving holes 42.", "However, the pins 40 may also be integral with the housing 11.", "The receiving slots 44 and pins 42 are designed to hold the upper housing 38 and lower housing 39 together during operation of the stabilizer 10.", "During operation of the stabilized trimmer 34, the bore 12 is substantially vertically oriented, with a longitudinal centerline of the bore 12 providing a vertical axis for the housing 11.", "The interior surface 15 of the bore 12 and the lower surface 18 of the cover 16 define an axial cavity within which the substantially spherical ball 19 is retained.", "The axial cavity is preferably constructed to conform to the shape of the ball 19 when installed therein and accommodate free rotation of the ball 19 within the housing 11.", "To that end, in the preferred embodiment, the lower surface 18 of the top housing cover 16 has a substantially concave spherical design with a radius similar to, but slightly greater than a radius of the ball 19.", "In a like manner, a minimum interior diameter of the bore 12 is just greater than the diameter of the ball 19.", "This configuration provides a clearance between the ball 19 and the interior 15 when said ball 19 is in the relaxed position and resting upon the retaining seat 31 as shown in FIG. 2. As shown therein, said retaining seat 31 has an interior diameter less than the diameter of the ball 19.", "By this configuration, the stabilizer assembly 10 provides for free rotation of the ball 19, even when said ball 19 is in contact with the interior surface of the housing 11.", "In order for the stabilizer assembly 10 to operate properly, the ball 19 must stay in contact with the surface of the ground.", "Therefore, the ball 19 may not recede completely into the axial cavity.", "To the contrary, the ball 19 must protrude below the retaining plate 33.", "This is assured by selecting a ball 19 having a size in which the diameter of the ball 19 is greater than the length or depth of the axial cavity measured along the vertical axis of the housing 11.", "For the stabilizer assembly 10 to function as intended, said stabilizer 10 must be properly positioned and oriented relative to the cutting head 50 of the trimmer 34.", "In an operative configuration, proper orientation requires that the stabilizer assembly 10 be substantially vertical so that the ball 19 rests upon the ground's surface when the cutting head 50 is at an appropriate cutting height.", "Three securing means for achieving the operational configuration are illustrated.", "FIGS. 3 and 4 show the stabilizer assembly 10 attached directly to the cutting head 50 using a cooperating cam means.", "In FIG. 3, attachment is accomplished by bolting the stabilizer assembly 10 to a bottom cap 25 of the cutting head 50.", "Above the cap 25 is a monofilament compartment 55 in which a supply of monofilament line 52 is contained for radial deployment during rotatable operation of the head 50.", "An interior of the line compartment 55 contains a monofilament spool upon which monofilament line is wound.", "Extending from the compartment 55 is cutting line 60 which provides the desired cutting and removal of vegetation and debris.", "The compartment 55 is conventionally rotated by a rotating means taking the form of either an electric or gasoline motor 75.", "A flying debris shield 67 will typically be provided to protect the user during operation.", "In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the top housing cover 16 has a bore 20 therethrough with an enlarged recess 36 at a lower end of said bore 20.", "The recess 36 may have any cross-sectional shape including circular, elliptical, and rectangular, among others.", "A noncircular recess 36 has an advantage if the attachment means is designed to mate with the recess in order to prevent relative rotation of the attachment means and the stabilizer assembly 10.", "Reducing the relative rotation of the parts, reduces the part wear.", "The attachment means of FIG. 3 is a threaded male connector, or bolt 21, designed to mate with a threaded bore 24 in the bottom cap 25 of the line trimmer head 50.", "Threaded bore 24 extends into the center of the spool of the compartment 55 through the bottom cap 25.", "To accomplish attachment of the stabilizer assembly 10 to the cutting head 50, an upper surface 17 of the housing cover 16 is placed adjacent to a lower surface of the bottom cap 25 of the line compartment 55.", "Each of the adjacent surfaces are constructed for face-to-face abutment.", "When properly positioned, the bore 20 through the top housing cover 16 of the stabilizer 10 is co-axially aligned with the threaded bore 24 of the line compartment 55.", "Connection is established by inserting a threaded bolt 21 up through the bore 20 and threadably securing a threaded bolt body 23 of the bolt 21 in the threaded bore 24.", "In FIG. 3, a head 22 of the bolt 21, or threaded male connector, is contained within the recess 36 and mates with a land surface 37 such that it is completely retained out of the interior cavity of the stabilizer assembly 10.", "With the bolted connection tightened, the stabilizer assembly 10 rotates together with the line compartment 55 during operation.", "As a result of the constant rotation of the stabilizer assembly 10 during use in this configuration, a floating action of the ball 19 within the housing 11 is assisted.", "The attachment means of FIG. 4 is a threaded female connector 45 designed to mate with a line trimmer cutting head bolt 48.", "A cutting head bolt 48 extends from the center of the bottom cap 25.", "To attach the stabilizer assembly 10 to the cutting head 50, the upper surface 17 of the housing cover 16 is pressed against the bottom cap 25 of the line compartment 55.", "With the stabilizer assembly 10 in the proper position, the cutting head bolt 48 passes through and is substantially coaxial with the top housing cover bore 20.", "The threaded female connector 45 having a threaded bore 46 threadably engages the cutting head bolt 48 and secures the stabilizer assembly 10 to the cutting head 50.", "A connector head 47 of the female connector 45 is completely contained within the recess 36 and mates with the land surface 37.", "In an alternative embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the stabilizer assembly 10 is attached to the line trimmer 34 using a mounting arm 26.", "The stabilizer assembly 10 is connected to the arm 26 at a stabilizer end 27.", "The arm 26 is connected to the handle shaft 30 at a shaft end 28 which is distally located to the stabilizer end 27.", "The connections at both ends 27 and 28 of the arm 26 may be accomplished by any suitable connecting means.", "It is specifically contemplated that such connecting means may include, inter alia, clamps, brackets, screws, bolts, welds, adhesives, and integral construction.", "Proper orientation of the stabilizer assembly in this configuration depends upon the shape and length of both the shaft 30 and arm 26, the connection points of the cutting head 50 and the arm 26 to the shaft 30, and the desired cutting height.", "Proper orientation is easily achieved through design in which these variables are considered.", "It will become obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art to substitute other materials and parts for those disclosed herein.", "Thus, various modifications are possible without departing from the scope of the invention.", "For example, features of one embodiment may be employed in other embodiments of the invention" ]

[ "FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates, in general, to a device, filtration media, used to purify water and a method of using the same.", "More particularly, the present invention relates to a filtration media which removes pollutants from water and treats stormwater runoff or other grey water.", "This filtration media and method can be used in conjunction with many existing filtration systems and devices.", "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] Water treatment systems have been in existence for many years.", "These systems treat stormwater surface run-off or other polluted water.", "Stormwater surface runoff is of concern for two main reasons: one because of the effects of its volume and flow rate, and two, because of the pollution and contamination it can carry.", "The volume and flow rate of stormwater is important because high volumes and high flow rates can cause erosion and flooding.", "Pollution and contamination are important because stormwater is carried into our rivers and streams, from there into our lakes and wetlands, and furthermore because it can eventually reach our oceans.", "Pollution and contamination that is carried by stormwater can have adverse affects on the health and ecological balance of the environment.", "[0003] Devices, systems and methods that remove or reduce the pollutants and contaminates and/or control peak flows and volumes are often referred to as best management practices or BMPs.", "BMPs utilize natural means, artificial or man-made means, and even combinations of either and/or both.", "Some examples of these BMPs include trash filters, sedimentation basins, retention and detention ponds, wetlands, infiltration trenches, grass swales, various types of media filters, and various types of natural filter systems including sand filters, and aggregate filters including natural and artificial wetlands.", "These BMPs typically use one or more mechanisms to remove the pollutants and contaminates.", "These mechanisms include sedimentation, filtration, absorption, adsorption, flocculation, stripping, leaching, bioremediation, and chemical process including oxidation reduction, ion exchange, and precipitation.", "[0004] Furthermore, stormwater treatment systems can also be classified in relationship to the treatment level in which they are being used.", "In this respect the term treatment is generally used to describe the unit processes that that are used to reduce the quantities of pollutants and containments in stormwater runoff.", "For example, basic or pre-treatment typically refers to the removal of gross solids, sediments and larger debris through the processes of settling and screening, while enhanced or advanced treatment typically refers to processes for reducing targeted pollutants;", "filtration being the main form of enhanced treatment for stormwater.", "Filtration utilizes a combination of physical, chemical, and biological processes.", "Types of filtration greatly vary dependent on the media use.", "Medias can be both inert and/or sorbent and are also strongly linked to natural biological processes that thrive in and/or around the media environment.", "[0005] There is, thus, a need for a device which is a filtration media which can clean water on its own or be incorporated into existing filtration systems.", "A device which can treat both wastewater and stormwater.", "A filtration media which can treat high levels of specific pollutants and contaminants.", "SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0006] This invention has overcome the downfalls of prior art.", "It is related to unique and novel method and device for treating polluted water flows, specifically point and non-point source stormwater and wastewater flows.", "Such flows contain various pollutants in various concentrations that have detrimental effects on the environment and human health.", "These pollutants/substances include, but are not limited to: sediments, gross debris, construction material, Total Suspended Solids, trash and litter, chemicals, grease and oil, hydrocarbons including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and total petroleum hydrocarbons, particulate and dissolved heavy metals, Total Dissolved Solids, turbidity, conductivity, inappropriate pH, color, total phosphorous, ortho-phosphate, total nitrogen, total kjeldahl nitrogen, nitrate, bacteria/pathogens, herbicides, and pesticides.", "[0007] These pollutants have various physical, chemical, and biological characteristics such as size, specific gravity, charge, form.", "Because of these varying characteristics, different filtering and capture processes and techniques have traditionally been implemented, in series, to remove specific pollutants.", "These existing processes and techniques have proven effective in wastewater treatment where flows are generally low and consistent, however not effective in stormwater conditions because flows are inconsistent and highly variable in flow and volume.", "The device disclosed in this application, the filtration media, and method have proven to be successful and feasible strategies for both wastewater treatment (sewage) and stormwater treatment, where flows are low and consistent, or, in the alternative, inconsistent and highly variable.", "[0008] This device is a passive filter method and filtration media that has a specific and engineered combination of physical, chemical, and biological characteristics that will allow it to effectively address most or all of the above pollutants of concern in the quickest time possible.", "Depending on flow or volume based design, the time range for contact time with a filter media is from 1 seconds to a few hours and therefore requires an innovative and unique method and device that will effectively treat the various pollutants of concern in a very short time.", "[0009] This invention uses a combination of fibers consisting of high-alumina low silica (HT) wool as filter material.", "This synthetic vitreous fiber is made of inorganic material and contains alumina and/or calcium silicates.", "This filtration media consists of inert vitreous silicate mineral wool bonded with a thermosetting phenolic resin which has been urea extended.", "Only high-alumina low-silica fiber is well suited for stormwater applications because it is one of only a few fibers that are proven not to have adverse affects on the environment or health of humans, animals, and plants.", "These fibers have a mean diameter of 4 microns and a mean length of 3 mm.", "The fibers are bonded together and can be shaped in to sheets, granules or blocks of filtration media.", "This filtration media, sometimes referred to as wool, is beneficial due to its specific chemical composition.", "This device has a high content of aluminum oxide, giving the material an inherent ability to carry a slightly positive charge.", "This positive charge can be enhanced with the addition of an aluminum-oxide coating on the surface of the fibers.", "This positive change assists in the binding, and thus removal of organic, inorganic and microbiological contaminants.", "Electrostatic attraction generated by the positively charged filter media surface increases removal of the negatively charged pollutants such as phosphates, viruses and bacteria.", "[0010] This filtration media allows for both perpendicular and parallel flow.", "This characteristic gives it great advantages over prior materials in that it can be used in the perimeter or a round or rectangular structure such as, but not limited, to catch basins.", "In this configuration the material of the effluent end of the media can be mounted, placed, or set between the wall of the structure, thus, allowing the water to flow through the media coming from one direction and allowing it to make a 90 degree turn and flow in a different direction.", "In one embodiment, the media undergoes a pre-treatment process which can further assist in its filtration functions.", "This filtration media and method can be used as a complete stormwater and waste water treatment system, or combined with existing treatment systems to provide added treatment.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0011] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the objects, advantages, and principles of the invention.", "In the drawings: [0012] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a device for purifying water;", "[0013] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a device for purifying water which has been modified to increase its surface area by the addition of channels;", "[0014] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a device for purifying water which has been modified to increase its surface area by the addition of holes that do not penetrate the media;", "[0015] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a device and method for purifying water wherein it has been placed between a porous flow-through matrix and an influent shield;", "[0016] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a device and method for purifying water wherein multiple devices shaped as blocks of filtration media have been bonded together and placed between a influent shield and a porous flow through matrix;", "[0017] FIG. 6 is a end cross sectional view of a catch basin with a device to increase the filtration capabilities.", "DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [0018] After reading this description it will become apparent to one skilled in the art how to implement the invention in various alternative embodiments and alternative applications.", "However, all the various embodiments of the present invention will not be described herein.", "It is understood that the embodiments presented here are presented by way of an example only, and not limitation.", "As such, this detailed description of various alternative embodiments should not be construed to limit the scope or breadth of the present invention as set forth below.", "[0019] With reference to FIG. 1 , a device for filtering water (“device”) 100 is shown and displayed.", "This device 100 is made up of filtration media composed of numerous intertwined fibers 102 which have been bonded together.", "The fibers 102 are bonded together with a thermosetting phenolic resin which has been urea extended.", "The fibers 102 have a diameter of 1 to 40 microns and a length of 1 to 20 mm each.", "These fibers 102 are derived from a melt of 30 to 60% of silicon dioxide, 10 to 40% of aluminum oxide, 10 to 20% of calcium oxide, 5 to 20% of magnesium oxide, and 1 to 20% of one or more other types of oxides.", "The filtration media can be formed in blocks, sheets, or granulets of various thicknesses and lengths depending on the use.", "The fiber density ranges between 5 to 35% of the volume of each device 100 while the open space between the fibers 102 which allows for water or air to pass through ranges from 65 to 95% of the total volume.", "One benefit to this device 100 is that it allows for water flow from both perpendicular and parallel directions, thus enabling it to be used in multiple applications.", "It can be used as a complete stormwater treatment or wastewater treatment system, or in combination with existing treatment systems, as shown below in FIG. 4 through 6 , to provide added treatment.", "[0020] Stormwater or other water is passed through the device 100 .", "The influent water enters the filtration media of the device 100 and flows through the fibers 102 where the pollutants, including but not limited to bacteria, phosphorus, and viruses, and other materials are removed.", "This device 100 functions to remove pollutants, bacteria, viruses and phosphorus from the water which is passed through it.", "The surface of the filtration media of the device 100 creates electrostatic attraction generated by the positively charged surface and fibers 102 within the device 100 ;", "this positive charge assists the removal efficiencies as it attracts and binds the negatively charged pollutants.", "[0021] A process of coating the surface of the filtration media with aluminum oxide can be used to further increases the pollutant removal capabilities of the fibers 102 by increasing the electrostatic attraction.", "To accomplish this, aluminum-based substances can be added, mixed or bonded to the fibers 102 .", "While there are many substances which can be used, the preferred substance is an aluminum nitrate solution.", "The preferred method is saturating the filtration media of the device 100 .", "Once the material is saturated, the device 100 is allowed to dry.", "The treated material can be cured by exposure to high temperatures or can be used without the curing process.", "[0022] With reference to FIGS. 2 and 3 , a surface area increasing mechanism will be described.", "These mechanisms allow for the device 100 to be further modified to increase its surface area, thereby increasing its loading capacity for pollutants and prolonging the individual density materials clogging rate.", "An increase in the surface area by this mechanism will allow for more pollutants to be removed from the water passing through the device 100 .", "These modifications are made to the surface of the device 100 on the influent side where the water enters the device 100 .", "FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a device 100 which has been modified by adding channels 204 to the surface.", "There can be one or more channels 204 drilled either horizontally, vertically or both horizontally and vertically into the surface of the media.", "The depth of these channels 204 can vary depending on the thickness of the media;", "however, they never extend all the way through the filtration media of the device 100 .", "FIG. 2 shows a device 100 where there have been numerous channels machined into its surface.", "[0023] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a device 100 which has been modified by the machining of holes 206 into its surface.", "These holes 206 can be machined at various sizes, depths, and diameters.", "The only restriction on the depth of the holes 206 is that they must be less than the thickness of the media.", "There can be one or more holes 206 drilled into the surface of the device 100 .", "In general, the more holes, the greater the surface area of the device 100 .", "The surface of the device 100 can also be agitated by various hand tools and mechanical devices to create an inconsistent rough texture to the media, which will increase the surface area of the device 100 .", "The above listed alterations of the device 100 are only a few of the alterations which can be made to increase the surface area and the efficiency of the device 100 .", "[0024] With reference to FIG. 4 , an embodiment of the device 100 is shown being placed between an influent shield 400 and a porous flow-through matrix 300 .", "This combination results in a method to further clean the polluted water.", "The influent shield 400 protects high velocity water currents from making direct contact with the surface of the device 100 and harming the surface.", "The influent shield 400 also conveys the water to the surface in a controlled manner, in order to provide uniform flow to the filtration media surface.", "The influent shield 400 will also provide support of the vertical, angled, or horizontal media column.", "To provide structural support of the media both between and during stormwater and wastewater flow, the effluent side of the device is supported by a flow-through matrix 300 .", "The flow-through matrix 300 is a ridged structure equipped with multiple holes so the effluent water flowing out of the device 100 , which has been treated by the device 100 , can flow through the flow-through matrix 300 .", "In an alternate embodiment, the flow-through matrix 300 does not have holes but is just a porous, ridged material.", "The flow through matrix 300 directs the water flowing out of the device to allow discharge of the treated water as can be seen at arrows 310 and 320 .", "Here the matrix 300 allows for both perpendicular and parallel discharge of the water.", "In this configuration the device 100 can be used as a perimeter filter for round or rectangular structures, such as, but not limited, to catch basins.", "In FIG. 4 , a cross section of the outer wall of the catch basin is shown as 200 .", "[0025] With reference to FIG. 5 , multiple devices ( 100 ( a ), 100 ( b ) and 100 ( c )) shaped as blocks of filtration media have been bonded together and placed between an influent shield 400 and a porous flow-through matrix 300 .", "The use of multiple combined devices 100 ( a ), 100 ( b ) and 100 ( c ) creates a long lasting and highly effective system.", "The multiple devices 100 ( a ), 100 ( b ) and 100 ( c ) can be of varying densities.", "In FIG. 5 , the first device 100 ( a ) on the influent side is the least dense, the device 100 ( b ) in the middle is more dense, and the device 100 ( c ) on the effluent end is the most dense.", "This multi-density media device creates multiple levels of treatment.", "Each device 100 of a different density protects the next device from coarser particles, therefore, extending the life of the system.", "The devices 100 will encounter a wider range of particles ranging from 0.1 to 5000 microns.", "The devices 100 ( a ), 100 ( b ), 100 ( c ) layered together can be of varying thicknesses.", "This system of multiple devices 100 ( a ), 100 ( b ), 100 ( c ) has a higher capacity for pollutant removal and has prolonged clogging rates.", "[0026] In the configuration shown at FIG. 5 , the effluent end of the device 100 can be mounted, placed, or set against the wall 200 of an existing structure, thus, allowing water to flow through the media in one direction and then making a 90 degree turn and flow in another direction to the end of the catch basin structure.", "The material used on the effluent end of the device 100 can be attached to the wall with mounts.", "[0027] With reference to FIG. 6 an existing stormwater catch basin 600 is shown where a device 100 have been added to increase the filtration capabilities.", "FIG. 6 shows an end cross sectional view of a catch basin where the device 100 is shown on either side of the chamber 600 .", "The device 100 in this embodiment is formed into a sheet and has been wrapped around the interior surface of the catch basin 600 .", "Wastewater or stormwater flows into the grate 610 which sits at ground level, commonly on the street or curb.", "The contaminated water then flows through the first filter 650 of the catch basin 600 and into the interior chamber 660 .", "The contaminated water then flows through the device 100 where it is further filtered and out the pipes located at the catch basin's wall 640 .", "The device 100 can be inserted into many existing filtration devices such as this catch basin 600 to further enhance the removal of pollutants.", "[0028] This invention discloses a method for treating wastewater or stormwater whereby fibers 102 from a melt of oxides are bonded together with a thermosetting phenolic resin which has been urea extended.", "The bonded fibers are shaped into rolls, granulates, sheets or blocks.", "Contaminated or polluted water is passed through the bonded fibers 102 where the pollutants are captured.", "The surface of the bonded fibers 102 can be modified to increase the surface area as disclosed above.", "The fibers 102 can be made in various densities as disclosed above.", "Multiple blocks of the fibers 102 can be attached together to increase the pollutant capturing ability of the fibers 102 .", "In order to further increase the treatment of the water, aluminum oxide can be added to the fibers 102 .", "[0029] The above description of disclosed embodiments is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make or use the invention.", "Various modifications to the embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, the generic principals defined herein can be applied to other embodiments without departing from spirit or scope of the invention.", "Thus, the invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown herein but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principals and novel features disclosed herein." ]

[ "CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application is a continuation of Ser.", "No. 09/038,465, filed Mar. 11, 1998 now abandoned, which claims priority to provisional application Ser.", "No. 60/040,678, filed Mar. 11, 1997.", "TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to medical catheters, and more particularly to catheters used to remove substances from, or introduce substances into, the pulmonary system or gastrointestinal tract of a patient.", "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In certain medical treatment situations, catheters must be precisely introduced into a patient's pulmonary system or gastrointestinal tract for various functions.", "For example, a patient may require involuntary aspiration of secretions from the patient's lungs.", "In this situation, a suction catheter can be introduced into the patient's airway and lungs to remove the secretions via suction through the catheter.", "In addition, a patient may require introduction of various substances into the body through such catheters.", "For example, a patient may require the introduction of a lavage solution into the lungs to loosen secretions without interfering with ventilation.", "Respiratory distress frequently occurs in infants and small children, especially prematurely born infants.", "Premature infants may require repeated pulmonary intervention.", "When an infant or small child is unable to effectively breathe on their own, intubation and involuntary ventilation is provided via an endotracheal tube.", "In caring for infant patients, it is necessary to periodically suction out secretions that would otherwise accumulate in the infant's lungs.", "This requires periodic involuntary removal of secretions from the lungs via a small suction catheter tube without injury to the lungs.", "Suctioning and/or introduction of therapeutic substances may take place intermittently during ventilation.", "Suctioning is generally accomplished by introducing and advancing one end of a flexible suction catheter tube into the endotracheal tube and applying suction to the other end of the catheter tube.", "To reduce the extent of airway occlusion, the catheter tube is typically withdrawn from the endotracheal tube when the catheter is not in use.", "Before the catheter tube is advanced through the endotracheal tube, the catheter tube may be “exposed”", "within the catheter assembly.", "However, many catheters include a flexible sleeve that covers the span of tubing between the fittings of a catheter to avoid the introduction of microbial pathogens during intubation.", "The sleeve encloses the catheter tube and preserves the sterility of the tube in a closed system.", "The sleeve remains fixed to the fittings of the catheter.", "The sleeve is flexible so that the catheter can be advanced by manipulating the catheter from the outside of the sleeve.", "Thus, the catheter may be intermittently introduced without breaking the sterile field created by the sleeve around the catheter.", "Precise control over the placement of the catheter tube is also required to reduce the risk of injury during placement.", "The catheter must be advanced far enough to effectively reach the lungs without damaging tissue by overextension of the catheter.", "The use of a catheter having a protective sleeve further impacts control over the catheter during placement.", "As the catheter is fully advanced, the sleeve may bunch, making precise control more difficult.", "Thus, there is a need for a catheter having a mechanism for controlling insertion depth while preventing bunching of the protective sleeve as the catheter is inserted.", "SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is a catheter having a tube and including mechanisms that provide precision control over insertion and retraction of the catheter tube.", "The catheter is particularly adapted for introduction into the pulmonary system.", "The catheter includes an insertion depth control mechanism that acts as a stop and provides a tactile indication to the person inserting the catheter tube that a predetermined position has been reached.", "The catheter also includes an anti-bunching mechanism to prevent bunching of a protective sleeve disposed around the catheter tube, thereby reducing interference from the sleeve during insertion of the catheter tube.", "In one embodiment, the insertion depth control mechanism comprises an insertion control member that is adjustable positioned on the catheter tube.", "The insertion control member includes a releasably catch to permit adjustment of its position along the catheter tube.", "When placed in a predetermined position that corresponds to a predetermined insertion depth, the insertion control member acts as a stop against a connector or other form attached to the tube.", "When the insertion control member reaches the connector or form during insertion of the tube, it bumps against the connector or form and stops the advancement of the catheter tube at a predetermined length.", "This resistance provides a tactile response, or feel, to a person inserting the catheter, which indicates that the catheter tube has been inserted to the predetermined depth.", "The insertion control member can comprise a number of different shape.", "In one embodiment, the anti-bunching mechanism comprises a sleeve spreader including an outer surface concentrically disposed around the catheter tube and adjacent a tube opening of a distal connector attached to the catheter.", "The sleeve spreader deflects the sleeve away from the tube opening of the distal connector and prevents it from bunching at the tube opening, thereby avoiding interference with advancement of the catheter tube.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a catheter of the present invention including a connector for a ventilation apparatus.", "FIG. 2A is a perspective view of a first embodiment of an insertion control member of the present invention.", "FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view of the insertion control member shown in FIG. 2A taken transversely through the center of the insertion control member.", "FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional side view of a second embodiment of an insertion control member of the present invention.", "FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a sleeve spreader of the catheter shown in FIG. 1 .", "FIG. 5A is an elevational view of a second embodiment of a sleeve spreader of the present invention.", "FIG. 5B is a cross-sectional view of the sleeve spreader shown in FIG. 5 A. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS While the present invention will be described fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which a particular embodiment is shown, it is to be understood at the outset that persons skilled in the art may modify the invention herein described while still achieving the desired result of this invention.", "Accordingly, the description which follows is to be understood as a broad informative disclosure directed to persons skilled in the appropriate arts and not as limitations of the present invention.", "FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a suction catheter 20 and associated attachments for use in a typical ventilator circuit.", "The suction catheter 20 incorporates an insertion depth control mechanism and an anti-bunching mechanism as described herein.", "The suction catheter 20 includes a catheter tube 21 , aproximal end 22 having a proximal connector assembly 24 , and a distal end 26 having a distal spreader connector 28 .", "The proximal connector assembly 24 includes a sleeve collar 30 , a vacuum valve 32 , and a terminal connector 34 .", "The distal spreader connector 28 includes a sleeve collar 35 and a generally cone-shaped extension 36 that extends toward the proximal end 22 of the catheter 20 .", "The cone-shaped extension includes a tube aperture 37 .", "The catheter tube 21 passes through the tube aperture 37 .", "The distal spreader connector 28 has a fitting 38 that can be connected to an adapter device 39 .", "To complete the ventilation circuit, the adapter device 39 is connected to a conventional ventilation adapter 40 that includes an endotracheal tube 42 having an end opening 44 .", "Other components may be used in connection with the suction catheter 20 without departing from the present invention, such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,642,726, which is incorporated herein by reference.", "The catheter tube 21 of the suction catheter 20 is surrounded by a flexible external sleeve 46 that spans from the proximal connector assembly 24 to the distal spreader connector 28 , as shown in FIG. 1 .", "The external sleeve 46 is attached to the proximal connector assembly 24 within the sleeve collar 30 and the distal spreader connector 28 within the sleeve collar 35 .", "The sleeve 46 may be banded to the sleeve collars 30 and 35 or adhered thereto.", "The external sleeve 46 encloses the catheter tube 21 to preserve its sterility during use in a closed system.", "During intubation, the catheter tube 21 of the suction catheter 20 is introduced into the endotracheal tube 42 through the distal spreader connector 28 and the adapter device 39 and advanced to a predetermined depth.", "The depth of insertion is controlled by an insertion control member 50 .", "During insertion of the catheter tube 21 , the insertion control member 50 acts as a stop against the cone-shaped extension 36 of the distal spreader connector 28 , thus stopping the advancement of the catheter at a predetermined depth.", "The insertion control member 50 also provides a tactile feel to the operator when it bumps against the extension 36 , thereby signaling to the operator that the proper depth has been reached.", "In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 1, the insertion control member 50 has a generally barreled shape as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B.", "The insertion control member 50 includes two flattened grip portions 52 and a tube passage 54 .", "As shown in FIG. 2B, the tube passage 54 has an elongated cross-section near the center of the insertion control member 50 .", "The catheter tube 21 passes through the tube passage 54 and the elongated configuration of the tube passage 54 grips the catheter tube 21 to hold the insertion control member 50 at a predetermined position along the catheter tube 21 .", "The catheter tube 21 may include indicia to help facilitate depth adjustment of the catheter tube 21 via the insertion control member 50 .", "The position of the insertion control member 50 can be adjusted by an operator pinching the insertion control member 50 at the flattened grip portions 52 to flex the elongated cross-section of the of the tube passage 54 to form a relatively wider cross-section.", "The wider cross-section allows the operator to slide the insertion control member 50 to a new position on the catheter tube 21 .", "When the insertion control member 50 is repositioned, the operator releases the flattened grip portions 52 so that the cross-section of the tube passage 54 returns to its elongated configuration.", "Alternatively, the cross-section of the tube passage 54 may include other features to help grip the catheter tube 21 , such as teeth or other projections.", "FIG. 3 shows an alternate embodiment in the form of an insertion control assembly 60 .", "The insertion control assembly 60 includes a threaded sleeve 62 having a thru-hole 64 and external threads 66 on one end of the sleeve 62 .", "The thru-hole 64 has a tapered surface 68 that accepts a tapered collet 70 , as shown in FIG. 3 .", "The tapered collet 70 includes a channel 72 therethrough.", "A mating nut 74 includes a thru-hole 76 and internal threads 78 that are adapted to engage the external threads 66 of the threaded sleeve 62 .", "The catheter tube 21 passes through the thru-hole 64 of the threaded sleeve 62 , the channel 72 of the tapered collet 70 , and the thru-hole 76 of the mating nut 74 .", "When the threaded sleeve 62 and the mating nut 74 are engaged and tightened, the threaded sleeve 62 deflects and compresses the tapered collet 70 around the catheter tube 21 , thereby securing the insertion control assembly 60 to the catheter tube 21 .", "FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the distal spreader connector 28 shown in FIG. 1 .", "As the catheter tube 21 is advanced through the distal spreader connector 28 and the adapter device 38 , the external sleeve 46 begins to bunch up near the distal spreader connector 28 .", "The cone-shaped extension 36 of the distal spreader connector 28 acts to spread or deflect the sleeve 46 as the catheter tube 21 is advanced and prevent the sleeve 46 from interfering with the tube opening or aperture 37 of the extension 36 of the distal spreader connector 28 .", "The sleeve 46 is attached to the distal spreader connector 28 between the collar 35 and the extension 36 , as shown in FIG. 4 .", "FIGS. 5A and 5B show an alternate embodiment in the form of a distal spreader connector 80 .", "In this embodiment, the distal spreader connector 80 includes a set of four tapered ribs 82 that extend from an extension 84 .", "The tapered ribs 82 provide further deflection and spreading of the sleeve 46 as the catheter tube 21 is advanced.", "Accordingly, the distal spreader connector 80 deflects the sleeve adjacent to the tube opening of the distal catheter connector.", "While the specific embodiments have been illustrated and described, numerous modifications come to mind without significantly departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of protection is only limited by the scope of the accompanying Claims." ]

[ "CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser.", "No. 09/794,4206 filed Feb. 27, 2001 now abandoned.", "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to wear resistant overlays for use in decorative laminates and floorings and to laminates and flooring prepared therefrom.", "Decorative laminates have been conventionally made by stacking a plurality of layers of paper impregnated with synthetic thermosetting resins.", "Normally, the assembly consists of a plurality (for example, three to eight) core sheets made from phenolic resin impregnated Kraft paper, above which lies a decor sheet, usually a print or solid color, impregnated with melamine resin.", "An overlay sheet is often provided on top of the decor sheet which, in the laminate, is made to be as transparent and as wear-resistant as possible thereby allowing the decor sheet to be seen through the overlay while providing protection for the decor sheet from being damaged by scratches and scuffs.", "This additional decor sheet, while adding the desired decorative aspects, of course adds to the complexity and cost of the finished laminate.", "The overlay sheet, also known as a WROL, can be formed in a multitude of different ways.", "One conventional manner for forming a suitable WROL comprises forming a sheet of cellulose fibers having a very low basis weight which carries therein and thereon abrasion resistant particles.", "Conventionally, the cellulose fibers are deposited on the papermachine wire from a first headbox and overcoated with a slurry of mineral particles, such as aluminum oxide, which are deposited from a secondary headbox located relatively closely thereto.", "The slurry of mineral particles cascades over and through the cellulose fibers thereby causing many of the mineral particles to become embedded in the overlay, as opposed to concentrated near the top of the overlay, where they would be more effective in preventing abrasion to the decor sheet.", "Additionally, much of the mineral particle slurry does not adhere to the paper and falls to the floor resulting in a waste of materials as well as presenting a cleanliness issue.", "Addition of the mineral particles in a slurry in this manner is fairly conventional and is generally considered to be a “wet end”", "addition since the grit is applied on the end of the wire prior to the paper being dried.", "There have, however, been recent improvements in this method.", "For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,820,937 to Crabtree et al.", ", herein incorporated by reference, discloses a similar method except that instead of just dumping the slurry on the paper web using a headbox, the particle slurry is deposited more efficiently using a slot orifice coater such as a curtain coater.", "But while this method has solved some of the prior art problems (conservation of water, cleanliness issues, waste of materials), some other problems remain unresolved.", "In particular, while the addition of grit directly to the top of the paper while it is on the wire has been found to improve the abrasion and scuff resistant properties of the end-product laminates, problems have been encountered in attempting to keep the grit particles attached to the top of the paper.", "Of course, any grit “fall-off”", "that occurs during processing generally results in the decreased abrasion resistance of the overall product.", "Furthermore, while the addition of a single layer of grit to the WROLs produces improved abrasion resistance over prior art laminates not utilizing grit addition at all, additional abrasion resistance is always desired, especially for laminates to be used in flooring, countertops, etc.", "The “fall-off”", "problem discussed herein has been addressed to a certain extent in the past.", "Specifically, U.S. Pat. No. 4,263,081 to Scher et al.", "discloses adding microcrystalline cellulose either over the top or underneath the grit to “bind”", "the grit to the paper fibers.", "The use of microcrystalline cellulose as disclosed in the Scher et al.", "patent helps to prevent grit migration and fall-off.", "And while the method described in Scher et al.", "has proved to be somewhat successful in alleviating some of the above note problems, the use of microcrystalline cellulose by itself has not completely eliminated fall-off problems.", "Additionally, the extra abrasion resistance provided by the use of microcrystalline cellulose as a binder is relatively negligible.", "Accordingly, it would be desirable to have a process for producing wear resistant papers useful for incorporation into decorative laminates that reduce “fall-off”", "problems associated with the addition of grit particles to a negligible level such that decreased abrasion resistance of the finished paper and loss of grit particles are alleviated.", "Additionally, it would be desirable to have such a process which accomplished this goal while increasing the overall abrasion resistance of the finished papers.", "Furthermore, it would be desirable to have such a process which produces finished papers relatively cheaply and efficiently and wherein papers produced using such a process would do minimal damage to the process equipment by which such papers were made.", "Additionally, it would be desirable to have such a process which produces wear resistant papers having the capability of being printed or coated on one side thereof, such capability allowing for the elimination of unnecessary and expensive decor sheets from laminates made incorporating the wear resistant papers.", "Finally, it would be desirable to produce improved wear resistant papers as described herein that are capable of being directly printed on at least one side thereof, wherein the abrasion resistance of the finished laminate is improved, and wherein the visual properties of the papers, and the finished laminates incorporating the wear resistant papers, such as streaking and clarity are improved or not significantly detrimentally affected.", "SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the present invention, an improved wear resistant overlay paper is provided for incorporation into a decorative laminate that may be printed on directly, wherein the overall abrasion resistance of the finished laminate is improved and the visual properties (streaking and clarity) are improved or not significantly detrimentally affected.", "More specifically, the present invention provides a heretofore unknown wear resistant paper composition comprising multiple paper fiber layers with a mineral particle, or grit, rich interior layer.", "In one embodiment, the additional fiber layer may be added to the paper by mixing fiber directly with grit slurry and adding the mixture to the base paper layer through a secondary headbox.", "In a preferred embodiment, the “top”", "or “felt-side”", "fiber layer is a discrete layer that is added over the top of a particle rich interior layer after the grit slurry has been applied to the base paper.", "In this embodiment, the grit is preferably applied using a curtain or slot orifice coater and the secondary fiber layer is added using a secondary headbox.", "The addition of the discrete feltside fiber layer provides a smooth surface that may be printed or coated on directly after the forming and drying of the paper and that helps prevent grit migration or “fall off”", "from the wear resistant paper while maintaining or improving the visual properties of the finished laminate incorporating the improved wear resistant paper of the present invention.", "As mentioned above, in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the grit is added to the paper using a curtain or slot orifice coater to improve the retention of the grit on the paper, lower processing costs, and improve the overall quality of the produced wear resistant paper.", "The addition of grit to wear resistant paper in a manner consistent with a preferred embodiment of the present invention is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,820,937, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference.", "In yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention, standard aluminum oxide grit is mixed with or replaced by grit, such as aluminum oxide particles, that have been encapsulated in a phenoplast or aminoplast resin.", "The use of such encapsulated grit provides a finished laminate having the desired abrasion resistant properties while helping to prevent unnecessary wear and tear on papermaking process machinery.", "The production of suitable encapsulated particles that would be operable for incorporation in the present invention are discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,962,134, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference.", "Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description, the drawings and the appended claims.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a papermaking process for use in accordance with an embodiment of the method of the present invention wherein a grit/fiber slurry is deposited on the base paper web through a secondary headbox;", "FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a wear resistant overlay paper made using the method shown in FIG. 1;", "FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a papermaking process for use in accordance with an embodiment of the method of the present invention wherein the grit is deposited on the base paper web through a slot orifice coater and a discrete fiber layer is deposited over the grit through a secondary headbox;", "FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a wear resistant overlay paper made using the method shown in FIG. 3;", "and FIG. 5 is a chart showing the improved properties of a laminate made incorporating the wear resistant overlay papers of the present invention.", "DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Initially, it is noted with respect to the advantageous printing and coating aspects provided by the present invention that while although most known contact and non-contact printing and coating methods could potentially be employed to achieve the desired image on the paper disclosed herein, non-contact methods (such as ink jet printing, curtain coating, spray coating, electrostatic coating, etc.) are deemed to give the best results.", "This is because the high degree of inorganic particulate matter present in the middle layer of the paper claimed and disclosed herein results in relatively rough, uneven paper surfaces.", "As such, contact coating and printing methods (such as letter press) sometimes have difficulties producing a desired decor.", "Furthermore, the inorganic particulate matter from the paper can be attracted to or attached to the physical components of the contact printer or coater thereby fouling the components and degrading print quality.", "For these reasons, contact printing and coating methods are not considered to be the most desirable methods for use in connection with the paper of the present invention.", "It is noted, however, that despite the undesirable characteristics of contact printing methods discussed herein, in some instances the decor created by the use thereof or for other production reasons, the use of contact printing or coating methods may be deemed necessary or even desirable.", "As such the use of contact and non-contact coating and printing methods, as well as any other coating or printing methods currently in use or yet to be developed, with the paper disclosed herein are all considered to be within the scope of the present invention.", "With respect to all of the embodiments of the invention disclosed herein, the grit employed in the present invention can be a mineral particle such as silica, alumina, alundum, corundum, emery, spinel, as well as other materials such as tungsten carbide, zirconium boride, titanium nitride, tantalum carbide, beryllium carbide, silicon carbide, aluminum boride, boron carbide, diamond dust, and mixtures thereof.", "The suitability of the particular grit will depend on several factors such as availability, cost, particle size distribution and even the color of the particles.", "Considering cost availability, hardness, particle size availability and lack of color, aluminum oxide is generally the preferred grit for most applications.", "End use performance dictates the basis weight, ash loading, size and type of grit particles.", "The grit preferably has an average particle size of about 10 to 100 microns and a particle size distribution of about 10 to 150 microns.", "Further, if micro-encapsulated grit is to be used in accordance with the present invention as disclosed above, the micro-encapsulation coating may be any suitable polymeric coating but is preferably an aminoplast or phenoplast resin.", "Furthermore, the micro-encapsulation of the particles may be accomplished by many of the micro-encapsulation methods known in the art including the following: injection treatment coating wherein particles in a shear zone are spray-coated;", "fluid bed coating, including Wurster &", "related coating processes, wherein the grit is spray coated in a fluid bed of particles;", "conventional spray drying wherein the coating particles are mixed and atomized under heat;", "dry-on-dry coating wherein an impact mill is used to mix a ratio of 10× size core with 1× size coating particles;", "MAIC coating process wherein a magnetic field is used to assist the impaction coating process using vibrating screens that impact and screen particles during dry-on-dry coating thereby separating out coated from uncoated particles in a tower;", "vapor deposition coating wherein the particles to be coated are tumbled in a free radical pyrolysis zone;", "spinning-disc coating wherein the particles are released from the edges of a spinning film coater with polymer solution into a drying tower;", "spray chilling coating wherein a PEO/Wax melt coating is applied to particles at 100% solids;", "extrusion encapsulation wherein the coating is pumped through concentric tubes (outer) and particle (inner) through a concentric nozzle into a curing bath;", "spray congealing coating wherein the particles and coating are sprayed into in a hardening bath;", "interfacial condensation wherein the particles are activated with a coupling agent and are slurried in a reactive polymer or monomer;", "and coacervation coating wherein the polymer and particles are mixed in a slurry, after which the liquid is evaporated wherein the process is improved by coacervate precipitation with polymer of opposite charge or other insolubilization method.", "Additionally, as mentioned above, the micro-encapsulation method described fully in U.S. Pat. No. 5,962,134 to Shah et al.", "would be operative in the present invention.", "Of course other micro-encapsulation methods known in the art and not specifically discussed herein would also be operable and are considered within the scope of the present invention.", "For the slot orifice coater addition embodiment disclosed herein, the grit slurry employed in accordance with the present invention will typically include a binder material.", "The binder material may be any of the commonly used binders such as melamine resins, polyvinyl alcohol, acrylic latex, starch, casein, styrene-butadiene latex, carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), microcrystalline cellulose, sodium alginate, etc.", ", or mixtures thereof which are used in coating compositions where the coating material is to be bonded to a substrate such as a decor sheet or overlay sheet.", "Melamine resins such as melamine-formaldehyde are advantageously used as the binder material in the present invention since the melamine-formaldehyde resin is also commonly used to saturate the decor sheet.", "The binder is usually employed in an amount of about 1 to 10% by weight of coating solids.", "It is noted that when the micro-encapsulated grit coating is from a headbox, either primary or secondary, no binder is usually used.", "When the grit, either standard or micro-encapsulated, is added through the primary or secondary headbox, solid composition (by weight) of the slurry is preferably between 0.5 and 5%, and more specifically, generally between 1 and 2%.", "When the grit is added using a slot orifice coater, the grit slurry medium can contain about 5 to 95% and, preferably, about 10 to 80% grit by weight.", "As such, the slurry preferably has a viscosity of about 50 to 150 cps when coating from a bead-type slot orifice coater and about 50 to 500 cps when coating form a curtain-type slot orifice coater.", "For curtain coating, the slurry preferably also includes a small amount of a surfactant (0.05 to 0.5%).", "For all embodiments of the invention disclosed herein wherein the finished product is an overlay sheet, the base sheet is preferably formed from fibers conventionally used for such purpose and, preferably, is a bleached kraft pulp.", "The pulp may consist of hardwoods or softwoods or a mixture of hardwoods and softwoods which is normally preferred.", "Higher alpha cellulose such as cotton may be added to enhance certain characteristics such as post-formability.", "The basis weight of the uncoated overlay sheet may range from about 10 to 40 pounds per 3000 square feet, and preferably about 15 to 40 pounds per 3000 square feet.", "As mentioned above, microcrystalline cellulose may be added to either the grit slurry or the paper slurry to operate as a binder as is known in the art.", "Further, a layer of microcrystalline cellulose may be added as a discrete layer in between any of the layers disclosed herein to improve the clarity and abrasion resistant properties of the completed wear resistant overlay papers disclosed herein.", "In the embodiment described herein where a slurry of grit and fiber is added to the base paper through a secondary headbox, the composition of the slurry may be any operable composition and may be as follows: about 4.7 grams/liter fiber, about 3.8 grams/liter aluminum oxide, and about 991.5/grams/liter water.", "In the embodiment described herein wherein a discrete top or “felt-side”", "fiber layer is deposited over grit that has previously been applied to the base paper, the composition of the fiber slurry be any operable composition and may be as follows: about 4.7 grams/liter fiber and about 995 grams/liter water.", "If a slot orifice coater is used to deposit the grit slurry onto the paper web, the composition of the slurry may be any operable composition and may be as follows (in weight percentages): about 83.4% water, about 15% grit particles, about 1.5% microcrystalline cellulose, about 0.15% carboxymethylcellulose wherein the target solids mixture may be about 15% and may range from about 1% to 50%.", "In any of these embodiments, the grit may be encapsulated, non-encapsulated or a mixture of both.", "It is generally desired that the finished laminate made using an overlay or decor sheet made by the methods of the present invention have abrasion values of between 1,500 to 20,000 cycles (NEMA: LD3.13).", "These desired abrasion values can be achieved by selecting the grit, the micro-encapsulation resin (if such is used), the base stock, the saturation resin, etc.", "as is known in the art.", "As best shown in FIG. 1, one preferred method for producing paper for use in wear-resistant laminates in accordance with the present invention involves using only two headboxes, a primary headbox 12 and a secondary headbox 14 .", "In this embodiment, the paper slurry 10 is initially deposited on the wire 16 through the primary headbox 12 to form the base paper 18 as is known in the art.", "Next, a slurry of grit and fiber 20 of a composition as described above is deposited on the base paper 10 to form a wear resistant overlay paper 22 in accordance with the present invention.", "It is noted that while this addition occurs at the “wet end”", "of the paper machine before the dryers, it is preferred that the secondary headbox 14 be positioned as far from the primary headbox 12 as possible in order to help insure that the grit/fiber slurry 20 forms a discrete layer on top of the base paper 18 .", "After the grit/fiber slurry 20 is deposited on the base paper 18 , the wear resistant overlay 22 is dried and prepared for shipping as is known in the art.", "At this point in time, if desired, the wear resistant overlay 22 may be subjected to an otherwise standard printing or coating process (not shown) to print a desired decor on the paper thereby eliminating the need for the decor sheet in the finished laminate.", "As best shown in FIG. 2, the wear resistant overlay 22 as produced above may have a top side 21 , representing the top of the dried felt-side grit and fiber slurry 20 , and a bottom side 23 , representing the bottom of the wire side fiber-only base paper 18 .", "In a wear resistant paper 22 produced by this process, the bottom side 23 is the one that is preferred for printing on due to the smooth and flat nature of that side of the overlay 22 .", "As best shown in FIG. 3, an alternate preferred method for producing paper for use in wear-resistant laminates in accordance with the present invention involves using two headboxes, a primary headbox 12 and a secondary headbox 14 , and a grit deposition coater 24 .", "While the grit deposition coater could be a headbox or other coating method as known in the art, the grit deposition coater is preferably a slot orifice coater.", "The term “slot orifice coater”", "as used herein is used in the same manner it is used in the art, namely, to designate a coater having a central cavity which opens on and feeds a slot through which the coating is forced under pressure.", "Examples of slot orifice coaters useful in the present invention include curtain coaters in which the overlay is coated as it passes through a falling curtain of the coating composition and coaters in which the overlay is coated as it contacts a bead of the coating composition as it is extruded from a slot orifice.", "The latter type coaters can be oriented to coat the substrate as it passes directly above the coater, directly below the coater or to the side of the coater.", "The slot width of the slot orifice coaters used in the process typically range from 0.4 to 0.8 mm.", "The gap height (i.e., the distance between the edge of the slot orifice and the substrate surface) is about 0.5 to 1.55 mm when coating form a bead and about 2.5 to 25 mm when coating form a curtain.", "The coating head pressure is about 5 to 25 psig when coating form a bead and about 5 to 150 psig when coating from a curtain.", "A slot orifice coater useful in the present invention is sold by Liberty Tool Corp.", "under the trade name Technikote.", "Other manufacturers also make slot orifice coaters useful herein.", "In this embodiment, the paper slurry 10 is initially deposited on the wire 16 through the primary headbox 12 to form the base paper 18 as is known in the art.", "Next, a slurry of grit 26 of a composition as described above is deposited on the base paper 10 through grit deposition coater 24 to form an intermediate wear resistant overlay paper 28 .", "Finally, a slurry of fiber 30 of a composition as described above is deposited over the grit 26 to form a discrete “top”", "or “felt-side”", "fiber layer thereby forming the complete composition of the final wear resistant overlay 32 in accordance with the present invention.", "As with the embodiment described above, it is preferred that the secondary headbox 14 be positioned as far from the primary headbox 12 as possible and that the grit deposition coater 24 be positioned equidistant from the headboxes 12 , 14 in order to help insure that all three layers of the wear resistant overlay paper 32 are separated and intermix as little as possible.", "After the felt-side fiber slurry 30 is deposited over the grit 26 , the wear resistant overlay 32 is dried and prepared for shipping as is known in the art.", "At this point in time, if desired, the wear resistant overlay 32 may be subjected to an otherwise standard printing or coating process (not shown) to print a desired decor on the paper thereby eliminating the need for the decor sheet in the finished laminate.", "As shown best in FIG. 4, the wear resistant overlay 32 as produced above may have a top side 40 , representing the top of the dried felt-side fiber-only slurry 30 and a bottom side 42 , representing the bottom of the wire side fiber-only base paper 18 .", "In this embodiment, either one of the top side 40 or the bottom side 42 of the wear resistant overlay 32 produced by the process described above may be printed or coated on in accordance with the present invention.", "As mentioned above, other embodiments of the present invention involve the addition of a discrete layer of microcrystalline cellulose over either the base sheet, the grit slurry (or grit slurry/fiber combination) or over the second fibrous layer.", "In yet another embodiment of the present invention, a three layer wear resistant overlay paper may be made by using a specially designed single headbox that applies the discrete layers on an inclined wire.", "In this single headbox addition method, each of the three slurries (first and second cellulosic fiber slurries and the grit slurry) are deposited on the inclined web separately in discrete layers from separate holding areas using a single headbox.", "The improved characteristics of wear resistant overlay papers made by the process described herein can best be seen in FIG. 5 .", "Specifically, the chart in FIG. 5 shows the results of clarity and abrasion resistance tests performed on the wire (or bottom) side, the side which would be facing up in a finished wear resistant decorative laminate, of three different wear resistant papers.", "The tested control paper was a wear resistant overlay paper made using the prior art process wherein the grit was added to the base paper at the wet end and no additional fiber was used.", "The tested embodiment 1 paper was a wear resistant overlay paper made in accordance with the present invention wherein additional paper fiber was added to the grit to form a slurry that was added to the base paper using a secondary headbox.", "The tested embodiment 2 paper was a wear resistant overlay paper made in accordance with the present invention wherein discreet layers of grit slurry and paper fiber were added over the base paper.", "The layer of grit slurry was added using a secondary headbox and a layer of fiber was deposited over the grit slurry using a third headbox.", "For all papers tested, results for clarity are presented as the average L value from a spectrophotometer (in this case an Applied Color Systems spectrophotometer, Model No. CS-5) from four readings times a multiplier of 10.", "The abrasion efficiency was evaluated using abrasion cycles divided by pounds of grit in the paper per 3000 square feet.", "As can be seen from the chart, all three embodiments showed similar numbers for clarity, with the control paper exhibiting the best clarity and the embodiment 1 paper exhibiting the worst.", "However, all three clarity readings were deemed “acceptable”", "for use in wear resistant decorative laminates.", "With respect to abrasion efficiency, both embodiments as disclosed in the present invention exhibited greatly improved abrasion efficiency when compared to the prior art control paper.", "Having described the invention in detail, it will be apparent that modifications and variations are possible without departing from the scope of the invention defined in the appended claims:" ]

[ "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1.", "Field of the Invention This invention relates to integrated circuit packaging technology, and more particularly, to a method of fabricating a TFBGA (Thin &", "Fine Ball-Grid Array) package with embedded heat spreader.", "Description of Related Art BGA (Ball-Grid Array) is an advanced type of integrated circuit packaging technology which is characterized in the package configuration of a two-dimensional array of solder balls on the bottom surface of the substrate where the semiconductor chip is mounted.", "These solder balls allow the entire package body to be mechanically bonded and electrically coupled to a printed circuit board (PCB).", "TFBGA (Thin &", "Fine Ball-Grid Array) is a downsized type of BGA technology that provides integrated circuit packages in very small sizes, which are customarily fabricated in batch from a single chip carrier, such as a substrate, predefined with a matrix of package sites, from each of which a single TFBGA package unit is fabricated.", "Conventionally, however, it would be highly difficult to incorporate an embedded heat spreader in each individual TFBGA package since each individual TFBGA package is quite small in size, typically from 5 mm×5 mm to 15 mm×15 mm (millimeter), and the specification between neighboring package sites on the substrate is only from 0.2 mm to 0.3 mm.", "Related patents include, for example, the U.S. Pat. No. 5,977,626 entitled “THERMALLY AND ELECTRICALLY ENHANCED PBGA PACKAGE”, THE U.S. Pat. No. 5,216,278 entitled “SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE HAVING A PAD ARRAY CARRIER PACKAGE”, AND THE U.S. Pat. No. 5,776,798 entitled “SEMICONDUCTOR PACKAGE AND METHOD THEREOF”, to name just a few.", "The U.S. Pat. No. 5,977,626 teaches the embedding of a heat spreader in a BGA package, while the U.S. Pat. No. 5,216,278 teaches the mounting of a heat spreader over the semiconductor chip to facilitate heat dissipation from the encapsulated chip.", "The U.S. Pat. No. 5,776,798 teaches a novel TFBGA package structure and fabrication thereof.", "However, none of these patented technologies teach the embedding of a heat spreader in each TFBGA package.", "Therefore, there still exists a need in the semiconductor industry for a new integrated circuit packaging technology that can incorporate a heat spreader in a TFBGA package.", "SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an objective of this invention to provide a new integrated circuit packaging technology that can provide each TFBGA package with an embedded heat spreader to facilitate heat dissipation from the encapsulation chip.", "In accordance with the foregoing and other objectives, the invention proposes a new method for fabricating a TFBGA package with embedded heat spreader.", "Broadly defined, the method of the invention comprises the following procedural steps: (1) preparing a substrate having a front surface and a back surface, and which is predefined with a plurality of package sites;", "(2) preparing a heat-spreader frame including an integrally-formed matrix of heat spreaders having a front surface and a back surface, each heat spreader corresponding to one of the predefined package sites on the substrate;", "(3) bonding and electrically-coupling a plurality of semiconductor chips to respective package sites on the front surface of the substrate;", "(4) assembling the heat-spreader frame to the substrate in such a manner that each heat spreader is positioned proximate to one of the semiconductor chips on the substrate (5) performing an encapsulation process to form an encapsulation body which encapsulates the semiconductor chips and the heat-spreader frame;", "(6) performing a ball-implantation process to implant a plurality of solder balls on the back surface of the substrate;", "and (7) singulating through the encapsulation body to cut apart the plurality of package sites on the substrate into individual package units, each serving as the intended integrated circuit package.", "The foregoing method of the invention is characterized in the use of the heat-spreader frame including an integrally-formed matrix of heat spreaders.", "Since the entire heat-spreader frame is relatively large in size as compared to the size of an individual TFBGA package, it would be as a whole significantly easier to handle during the fabrication process than a single piece of heat spreader, making embedding of a single piece of heat spreader in each TFBGA package easy to implement.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS The invention can be more fully understood by reading the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments, with reference made to accompanying drawings, wherein: FIGS. 1A-1F are schematic diagrams used to depict a first preferred embodiment of the method of invention of TFBGA fabrication;", "FIGS. 2A-2E are schematic diagrams used to depict a second preferred embodiment of the method of the invention for TFBGA fabrication;", "FIGS. 3A-3C are schematic diagrams used to depict a third preferred embodiment of the method of the invention for TFBGA fabrication;", "FIGS. 4A-4B are schematic diagrams used to depict a fourth preferred embodiment of the method of the invention for TFBGA fabrication;", "FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view of a variety to the legged type of heat-spreader frame utilized by the invention;", "FIGS. 6A-6C are schematic diagrams of another variety to the legged type of heat-spreader frame utilized by the invention;", "FIGS. 7A-7C are schematic diagrams of still another variety to the legged type of heat-spreader frame utilized by the invention;", "FIGS. 8A-8C are schematic diagrams of yet another variety to the legged type of heat-spreader frame utilized by the invention;", "FIGS. 9A-9C are schematic diagrams of still yet another variety to the legged type of heat-spreader frame utilized by the invention;", "and FIGS. 10A-10C are schematic diagrams of another additional variety to the legged type of heat-spreader frame utilized by the invention;", "DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In accordance with the invention, various preferred embodiments are disclosed in full details in the following with reference to the accompanying drawings.", "First Preferred Embodiment (FIGS.", "1 A- 1 F) FIGS. 1A-1F are schematic section diagrams used to depict the procedural steps involved in the first preferred embodiment of the method of the invention for fabricating a TFBGA package with embedded heat spreader.", "It is to be noted that, by the invention, each TFBGA package is fabricated in batch, and not individually, from a single chip carrier.", "Referring to FIG. 1A, by the method of the invention, the first step is to prepare a substrate 10 (or chip carrier), which can be a BT substrate, or an FR4 substrate, or a polyimide tape, and which is predefined with an array of package sites (in the example of FIG. 1A, a total of six (6) package sites, respectively designated by the reference numerals “ 11 ”, “ 12 ”, “ 13 ”, “ 14 ”, “ 15 ”, and “ 16 ”, are predefined;", "but it is to be noted that the number of package sites is an arbitrary design choice depending on the size of the substrate 10 ).", "Each of the package sites 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 on the substrate 10 will be used as a base for the fabrication of a single unit of TFBGA package.", "Referring further to FIG. 1B, the next step is to prepare a heat-spreader frame 20 including an integrally-formed matrix of heat spreaders (in the example of FIG. 1B, the heat-spreader frame 20 includes a total of six (6) heat spreaders, respectively designated by the reference numerals “ 21 ”, “ 22 ”, “ 23 ”, “ 24 ”, “ 25 ”, and “ 26 ”, which are provided in conjunction with the respective package sites 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 on the substrate 10 .", "It is to be noted that the number of heat spreaders on the heat-spreader frame 20 is an arbitrary design choice depending on the number of predefined package sites on the substrate 10 .", "The heat-spreader frame 20 can be a legged type or a non-legged type.", "In this first preferred embodiment, the heat-spreader frame 20 is a legged type having a plurality of legs 20 a arranged on the peripheral edges thereof and bent down in perpendicular to the heat spreaders 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 (the non-legged type is used in the second preferred embodiment, which will be described later in this specification).", "Referring further to FIG. 1C, in the next step, a die-bounding process is performed to mount a batch of semiconductor chips (only three are shown in the sectional view of FIG. 1C, which are designated by the reference numerals 31 , 32 , 33 respectively) respectively on the package sites 11 , 12 , 13 on the front surface 10 a of the substrate 10 (note that only three of the six package sites 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 shown in FIG. 1A are seen in the sectional view of FIG. 1 C).", "Subsequently, a wire-bounding process is performed to electrically couple the semiconductor chips 31 , 32 , 33 to the substrate 10 by means of bonding wires 40 , such as gold wires.", "After that, the next step is to perform an encapsulation process using an encapsulation mold 50 having a downward-recessed cavity 50 a. First, the heat-spreader frame 20 is dropped in an upside-down manner into the cavity 50 a of the encapsulation mold 50 , with its legs 20 a pointing upwards;", "and next, the substrate 10 , together with the semiconductor chips 31 , 32 , 33 mounted thereon, is turned upside down (i.e., with the back surface 10 b of the substrate 10 facing upwards) and then placed on the heat-spreader frame 20 , with the edge of its front surface 10 a being adhered to the tips of the upward-pointing legs 20 a of the heat-spreader frame 20 .", "Referring further to FIG. 1D, when the heat-spreader frame 20 and the substrate 10 are readily set in position in the cavity 50 a of the encapsulation mold 50 , the encapsulating material, such as resin, is injected into the cavity 50 a of the encapsulation mold 50 to form a single continuous encapsulation body 60 which encapsulates all the semiconductor chips 31 , 32 , 33 and the heat-spreader frame 20 .", "Referring further to FIG. 1E, as the encapsulation process is completed, the entire encapsulation body 60 is taken out of the encapsulation mold 50 .", "Next, a ball-implantation process is performed to implant a plurality of solder balls 70 on the back surface 10 b of the substrate 10 .", "Referring further to FIG. 1F, in the next step, a singulation process is performed to saw through the encapsulation body 60 (along the dashed lines shown in FIG. 1E that delimit the predefined package sites 11 , 12 , 13 on the substrate 10 ), so as to cut apart the entire package body into individual package units as indicated by the reference numerals “ 81 ”, “ 82 ”, and “ 83 ”", "in FIG. 1 F. Each of the package units 81 , 82 , 83 , includes one of the package sites 11 , 12 , 13 , one of the chips 31 , 32 , 33 and one of the heat spreaders 21 , 22 , 23 .", "This completes the fabrication of a batch of TFBGA packages.", "In the foregoing method of the invention, since the entire heat-spreader frame 20 is relatively large in size as compared to the size of an individual TFBGA package, it would be as a whole significantly easier to handle during the fabrication process than a single piece of heat spreader, making embedding of a single piece of heat spreader in each TFBGA package easy to implement.", "Second Preferred Embodiment (FIGS.", "2 A- 2 E) The second preferred embodiment of the method of the invention is described in the following with reference to FIGS. 2A-2E.", "In FIGS. 2A-2E, the same parts as the previous embodiment shown in FIGS. 1A-1F are labeled with the same reference numerals.", "As shown in FIG. 2A, the second preferred embodiment differs from the previous one in that the heat-spreader frame 20 utilized here is a non-legged type (i.e., the legs 20 a shown in FIG. 1B of the previous embodiment are here not provided).", "Except this, the heat-spreader frame 20 used here is substantially the same in shape as the previous embodiment, which also includes in integrally-formed matrix of heat spreaders 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 .", "Beside the heat-spreader frame 20 , all the other constituents parts of the second preferred embodiment are identical in structure as the previous embodiment, so description thereof will not be repeated here.", "Referring next to FIG. 2B, during the encapsulation process, in order to prevent resin flash on the bottom surface of the heat-spreader frame 20 , a flash-masking structure 20 b is formed over the bottom surface of the heat-spreader frame 20 .", "The flash-masking structure 20 b can be, for example, a polyimide tape or an epoxy coating.", "The heat-spreader frame 20 and the substrate 10 are then placed set in the cavity 50 a of the encapsulation mold 50 in the same manner as the previous embodiment (except in this case, the heat-spreader frame 20 has no legs to support the substrate 10 ).", "Referring further to FIG. 2C, when the heat-spreader frame 20 and the substrate 10 are readily set in position in the cavity 50 a of the encapsulation mold 50 , an encapsulating material, such as resin, is injected into the cavity 50 a of the encapsulation mold 50 to form a single continuous encapsulation body 60 which encapsulates all the semiconductor chips 31 , 32 , 33 and the heat-spreader frame 20 .", "During this process, however, part of the injected resin may be flashed onto the bottom surface of the flash-masking structure 20 b that comes in touch with the bottom surface of the cavity 50 a. Referring further to FIG. 2D, as the encapsulation process is completed, the entire encapsulation body 60 is taken out of the encapsulation mold 50 .", "From the encapsulation process, however, a small amount of flashed resin 20 c might be left over the exposed surface of the flash-masking structure 20 b over the heat-spreader frame 20 .", "Referring further to FIG. 2E, in the next step, the flash-masking structure 20 b, together with the flashed resin 20 c thereon, are removed by using a special solvent or other suitable etching means.", "This allows no flashed resin to be left over the exposed surface of the heat-spreader frame 20 .", "If the flash-masking structure 20 b were not provided, the flashed resin 20 c would be left directly over the exposed surface of the heat-spreader frame 20 , which would then be very difficult to remove.", "The subsequent steps of ball implantation and singulation are all the same as the previous embodiment, so description thereof will not be repeated.", "The foregoing method of the invention allows the embedding of a flash-free heat spreader in each TFBGA package.", "Third Preferred Embodiment (FIGS.", "3 A- 3 C) The third preferred embodiment of the method of the invention is disclosed in the following with reference to FIGS. 3A-3C.", "In FIGS. 3A-3C, the same parts as the previous embodiments are labeled with the same reference numerals.", "This embodiment is largely the same as the first embodiment except that the substrate 10 needs not be turned upside down during the encapsulation process.", "Details are described below.", "Referring first to FIG. 3A, as the substrate 10 is readily mounted with the semi-conductor chips 31 , 32 , 33 , the tips of the legs 20 a of the heat-spreader frame 20 are adhered by means of an adhesive agent (not shown) onto the front surface 10 a of the substrate 10 .", "Referring further to FIG. 3B, the next step is to perform an encapsulation process, in which the substrate 10 together with the semiconductor chips 31 , 32 , 33 mounted thereon are placed in an encapsulation mold 51 having a bottom-side upward-recessed cavity 51 a, without being turned upside down as in the case of the first embodiment, for the purpose of forming an encapsulation body 60 which encapsulates all the semiconductor chips 31 , 32 , 33 and the heat-spreader frame 20 .", "Referring further to FIG. 3C, as the encapsulation process is completed, the entire encapsulation body 60 is taken out of the encapsulation mold 51 .", "Next, a ball-implementation process is performed to implant a plurality of solder balls 70 on the back surface 10 b of the substrate 10 .", "After this, a singulation process is performed to saw through the encapsulation body 60 along the dashed lines shown in FIG. 3C that delimit the predefined package sites 11 , 12 , 13 on the substrate 10 .", "The subsequent steps are all the same as the first embodiment, so description thereof will not be repeated herein.", "Fourth Preferred Embodiment (FIGS.", "4 A- 4 B) The fourth preferred embodiment of the method of the invention is disclosed in the following with reference to FIGS. 4A-4B.", "In FIGS. 4A-4B, the same parts as the previous embodiments are labeled with the same reference numerals.", "Referring to FIG. 4A, this embodiment differs from the previous ones only in that the semiconductor chips 31 , 32 , 33 are electrically coupled to the substrate 10 through the flip-chip technology by means of solder bumps 41 instead of the wire-bonding technology utilized in the previous embodiments.", "FIG. 4B shows a singulated TFBGA package unit.", "Beside the use of the flip-chip technology, all the other process steps are same as the previous embodiments, so description thereof will not be repeated herein.", "Various Other Modifications to the Legged Type of Heat-Spreader Frame Beside the design shown in FIG. 1B, the legged type of heat-spreader frame can have various other modifications, as respectively shown in FIG. 5, FIGS. 6A-6C, FIGS. 7A-7C, FIGS. 8A-8C, FIGS. 9A-9C, and FIGS. 10A-10C.", "In these figures, similar parts are labeled with the same reference numerals.", "FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view of a variety to the legged type of heat-spreader frame 20 utilized by the invention.", "As shown, in this embodiment, the heat spreaders 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 are integrally formed into a flat piece having a plurality of legs 20 a around the edge thereof.", "FIGS. 6A-6C are schematic diagrams of another variety to the legged type of heat-spreader frame 20 utilized by the invention;", "wherein FIG. 6A shows a top view of this heat-spreader frame 20 ;", "FIG. 6B shows a side view of the same, and FIG. 6C shows a singulated TFBGA package unit with an embedded heat spreader 21 cutting apart from the heat-spreader frame 20 shown in FIGS. 6A-6B.", "This heat-spreader frame 20 is characterized in that the heat spreaders 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 are flatly shaped both in front surface and in back surface.", "FIGS. 7A-7C are schematic diagrams of still another variety to the legged type of heat-spreader frame 20 utilized by the invention;", "wherein FIG. 7A shows a bottom view of this heat-spreader frame 20 ;", "FIG. 7B shows a side view of the same;", "and FIG. 7C shows a singulated TFBGA package unit with an embedded heat spreader 21 cutting apart from the heat-spreader frame 20 shown in FIGS. 7A-7B.", "This heat-spreader frame 20 is characterized in that the heat spreaders 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 are flatly shaped in front surface, and are each formed with a protruded block 20 d in the back surface.", "As shown in FIG. 7C, the provision of the protruded block 20 d can help reduce the heat path from the semiconductor chip 31 to the heat spreader 21 , so that the heat-dissipation efficiency can be increased.", "FIGS. 8A-8C are schematic diagrams of still yet another variety to the legged type of heat-spreader frame 20 utilized by the invention;", "wherein FIG. 8A shows a bottom view of this heat-spreader frame 20 ;", "FIG. 8B shows a side view of the same;", "and FIG. 8C shows a singulated TFBGA package unit with an embedded heat spreader 21 cutting apart from the heat-spreader frame 20 shown in FIGS. 8A-8B.", "This heat-spreader frame 20 is characterized in that the heat spreaders 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 are flatly shaped in front surface, and are each formed with a plurality of dimples 20 e in back surface.", "As shown in FIG. 8C, the provision of these dimples 20 e can help increase the contact area between the heat spreader 21 and the encapsulation body 60 , thus further strengthening the bonding between the heat spreader 21 and the encapsulation body 60 .", "FIGS. 9A-9C are schematic diagrams of yet another variety to the legged type of heat-spreader frame 20 utilized by the invention;", "wherein FIG. 9A shows a bottom view of this heat-spreader frame 20 ;", "FIG. 9B shows a side view of the same;", "and FIG. 9C shows a singulated TFBGA package unit with an embedded heat spreader 21 cutting apart from the heat-spreader frame 20 shown in FIGS. 9A-9B.", "The heat-spreader frame 20 is characterized in that the heat spreaders 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 are flatly shaped in front surface, and are each formed with a plurality of crosswise and lengthwise interleaved grooves 20 f in back surface.", "As shown in FIG. 9C, the provision of these grooves 20 f can help increase the contact area between the heat spreader 21 and the encapsulation body 60 , thus further strengthening the bonding between the heat spreader 21 and the encapsulation body 60 .", "FIGS. 10A-10C are schematic diagrams of another additional variety to the legged type of heat-spreader frame 20 utilizing by the invention;", "wherein FIG. 10A shows a top view of this heat-spreader frame 20 ;", "FIG. 10B shows a side view of the same;", "and FIG. 10C shows a singulated TFBGA package unit with an embedded heat spreader 21 cutting apart from the heat-spreader frame 20 shown in FIGS. 10A-10B.", "This heat-spreader frame 20 is characterized in that the heat spreaders 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 26 are each formed with a protruded block 20 g in front surface and a plurality of through holes 20 h around each protruded block 20 g. As shown in FIG. 10C, the provision of the protruded block 20 g can help reduce the heat path from the semiconductor chip 31 to the heat spreader 21 , while the through holes 20 h can act as bolting means that can help secure the heat spreader 21 firmly to the encapsulation body 60 , so that the heat spreader 21 would hardly break away from the encapsulation body 60 .", "The invention has been described using exemplary preferred embodiment.", "However, it is to be understood that the scope of the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments.", "On the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements.", "The scope of the claims, therefore, should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar arrangements." ]

[ "CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a Continuation of U.S. application Ser.", "No. 13/554,536 filed Jul. 20, 2012, published as US Patent Application Publication No. 20130085180 on Apr. 4, 2013, which claims priority to European Patent Application No. 11175252.3, filed Jul. 25, 2011.", "This application is also a Continuation-in-Part patent application of U.S. application Ser.", "No. 14/455,272 filed Aug. 8, 2014, published as US Patent Application Publication No. US20140350293 on Nov. 27, 2014, which is a Division of U.S. application Ser.", "No[.", "].12/847,415 (now abandoned), published as US Patent Application Publication No. 20110028756 on Feb. 3, 2011, which is a Continuation of PCT/EP2009/051132 filed Feb. 2, 2009, claiming priority to German Patent Application No. 10 2008 007 381.4 filed on Feb. 1, 2008.", "The entire disclosure of each of the above referenced applications is incorporated herein by reference.", "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates to prodrug derivatives of pentamidine, their use for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of diseases, in particular tumor and cancer diseases, as well as leishmaniasis, trypanosomiasis, pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PcP), as well as malaria.", "Pentamidine is an antiparasitically and antimicrobially active compound the use of which is established in the treatment of trypanosomiasis, leishmaniasis, as well as pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PcP).", "Due to the two strongly basic amidine functions, the compound is charged under physiological conditions and will not be absorbed by the organism after oral application.", "This is the reason why the compound needs to be administered parenterally, e.g. by intramuscular, intravenous or inhalation routes.", "It must be borne in mind in this context that most of the infections caused by the pathogens mentioned above occur in tropical and subtropical countries where medical care is often insufficient.", "Complicated application forms as represented by intravenous and inhalation applications hence make safe drug therapy particularly difficult in these countries.", "For this reason, the developing of an orally bioavailable pentamidine prodrug is of enormous importance in order to improve the treatment options decisively.", "A further negative aspect is the non existing ability of pentamidine to pass into the CNS resulting in pentamidine being only effective in the early stage of trypanosomiasis (African sleeping sickness) rather than in the meningo-encephalitic phase in which pathogens penetrate into the CNS.", "[0003] A further possible field of pentamidine application is cancer therapy.", "The inhibiting action of pentamidine to endo-exonuclease has been studied thoroughly during the past years.", "1, 2 First clinical studies already showed promising results in the treatment of breast and colon carcinoma.", "3 Here as well, the use of an orally bioavailable pentamidine prodrug is of great importance.", "[0004] For these reasons, numerous tests have been conducted in order to improve both bioavailability and CNS passage.", "In previous studies, pentamidine was transferred into the pentamidine diamidoxime of lower basicity leading to a strong increase of lipophilicity.", "Since amidoximes are uncharged under physiological conditions, the absorption of these compounds from the gastrointestinal tract is drastically increased.", "4 The marked reduction of the amidoximes into the pharmacologically active amidines could be shown for the first time in the year 1988 based on the model compound benzamidoxime.", "5 The principle was transferred later to the pentamidine, whereby the pentamidine-monoamidoxime and pentamidine-diamidoxime (3) were obtained.", "In animal studies, both compounds showed low bioavailability and good ability to be activated into the active form pentamidine.", "6 The enzyme system responsible for the reduction could in the meantime be identified as a hitherto unknown molybdenum-containing system which was called mARC (mitochondrial Amidoxime Reducing Component).", "7, 8 [0005] To optimize both the pharmacokinetic profile for improving bioavailability and the ability to pass into the CNS, further prodrugs have been developed.", "With the N,N-bis(acetoxy)pentamidine, a compound was obtained which has a clearly increased lipophilicity as compared to other pentamidine prodrugs.", "This prodrug as well could demonstrate oral bioavailability in animal studies on rats as well as pigs.", "A disadvantage of the N,N-bis(acetoxy)pentamidine is very low water solubility, on the one hand, the ascertained bioavailability, on the other, was very low and passage into the CNS, could not be confirmed.", "9 Similar approaches led to the development of the N,N′-bis(methoxy)pentamidine which, similar to the N,N′-bis(acetoxy)pentamidine, had very low water solubility.", "Further prodrug principles which were transferred to pentamidine are the hydroxylating into the N,N′-bis(dihydroxy)pentamidine and the conjugation with amino acids (especially valine) into N,N′-bis(valoxy)pentamidine.", "10-12 It must be stated in summary that a pentamidine prodrug could not be developed to date which meets the required criteria (good oral bioavailability, passage into the CNS, and good solubility) in an optimum manner.", "BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0006] In the light of the above, the present invention was based on the task of providing pentamidine prodrugs which exhibit improved properties as compared to the known prodrugs of pentamidine.", "[0007] The cited task is solved according to the invention by a compound of formula (I) [0000] [0000] in which n represents 1 to 10, as well as pharmaceutically acceptable derivatives thereof.", "[0008] In a preferred embodiment, n represents 2 in Formula (I).", "[0009] In a further preferred embodiment, n represents 3 in Formula (I).", "In a further preferred embodiment, n represents 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10 in Formula (I).", "[0010] Especially, N,N′-bis(succinyloxy)pentamidine (1) is clearly superior to the hitherto described pentamidine prodrugs.", "A considerable improvement of solubility was particularly stated which represents a very critical parameter of other pentamidine prodrugs.", "Due to this improved solubility, the pharmacokinetic behavior of the substance is positively influenced since good solubility properties constitute an important parameter in the absorbing of medicinal substances.", "[0011] The present invention furthermore also relates to salts, solvates and solvates of the salts of the cited formula (I) compounds.", "[0012] The present invention furthermore relates to the cited formula (I) compounds for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of diseases.", "[0013] In a preferred embodiment, the present invention relates to the cited compounds for use in the treatment and/or prophylaxis of oncological diseases and tumor diseases of any pathogenesis.", "[0014] In a further preferred embodiment, the present invention relates to the cited compounds for use in the treatment and/or prophylaxis of leishmaniasis, trypanosomiasis and/or pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PcP).", "[0015] In a further preferred embodiment, the present invention relates to the cited compounds for use in the treatment and/or prophylaxis of malaria.", "[0016] The present invention furthermore relates to a drug comprising at least one of the cited formula (I) compounds, if appropriate in combination with one or more of inert, non-toxic, pharmaceutically suited excipients.", "[0017] The present invention moreover also relates to a drug comprising at least one of the cited formula (I) compounds in combination with one or more further active agent(s).", "[0018] The present invention moreover also relates to a drug for oral or parenteral application.", "[0019] The present invention furthermore relates to a drug for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of oncological diseases and tumor diseases.", "[0020] The present invention also further relates to a drug as described above which is of enteric formulation.", "[0021] The present invention furthermore relates to a method for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of tumor diseases in humans or animals using at least one of the cited formula (I) compounds or one of the cited drugs.", "[0022] Further, the present invention relates to a method for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of leishmaniasis, trypanosomiasis and pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PcP).", "[0023] The present invention also relates to a method for preparing a compound such as described above, in which the amidoxime of formula (A) [0000] [0000] is converted by reacting with a dicarboxylic acid anhydride of formula (B) [0000] [0000] in which n represents 1 to 10, into a compound of formula (C) [0000] [0024] A further developed prodrug principle is the coupling of amidoximes to dicarboxylic acids such as described in the patent applications WO2009095499 and DE102008007381.11 Corresponding pentamidine prodrugs were developed with reference to these studies.", "The obtained compounds were characterized in detail and examined with respect to their bioavailability.", "Our studies showed that the pentamidine dicarboxylic acid derivatives are particularly suited pentamidine prodrugs which apart from excellent solubility also possess good oral bioavailability after oral application.", "Comparative analyses using other pentamidine prodrugs showed in this case the superiority of N,N′-bis(succinyloxy)pentamidine (1) to the hitherto described pentamidine prodrugs.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS [0025] The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of the invention, will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings.", "For the purpose of illustrating, the invention, there are shown in the drawings embodiments which are presently preferred.", "It should be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.", "[0026] In the drawings: [0027] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of the synthesis of the pentamidine prodrugs;", "[0028] FIG. 2 is a stability of N,N′-bis(succinyloxy)pentamidine (1) at various pH values and in murine respectively human plasma, as well as at incubation with esterase;", "[0029] FIGS. 3A -3C are all a stability of N,N′-bis(succinyloxy)pentamidine (1) at various pH values and in murine respectively human plasma;", "[0030] FIG. 4 is a activation of N,N′-bis(succinyloxy)pentamidine (1) by esterases;", "[0031] FIG. 5 is a content of pentamidine after p.o. application (50 mg/kg) of pentamidine and N,N′-bis(succinyloxy)pentamidine (1) in organs.", "Illustrated are the mean values of all tested rats;", "and [0032] FIGS. 6 and 7 are the results of the storage stability illustrated in tables 4 and 5 are shown in graphical form in FIGS. 6 and 7 .", "DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [0033] The therapeutic use of pentamidine is hitherto very limited due to insufficient oral bioavailability.", "Particularly in the structurally weak Third World countries the development of an orally bioavailable medicinal substance constitutes a considerable progress in pharmacotherapy since it allows complicated and risky intravenous applications to be avoided.", "In addition are today's treatment options particularly in trypanosome, pneumocystis carinii, pneumocystis jirovecii and leihmania infections not satisfactory.", "For this reason, the main focus of this invention is the developing of an orally bioavailable prodrug of pentamidine.", "[0034] In addition, an orally applicable pentamidine prodrug could gain considerable importance in cancer therapy.", "Pentamidine is presently examined in clinical studies against various kinds of cancer (breast and colon carcinoma).", "First clinical studies already showed promising results.", "3 Here, as well, the novel pentamidine prodrugs could find application and improve therapy, even in combination with other oncological active agents.", "[0035] Novel pentamidine prodrugs were developed within the framework of the present invention by linking the pentamidine diamidoxime (3) to dicarboxylic acids.", "The obtained compounds were comprehensively characterized in vitro and in vivo, wherein they showed excellent solubility as well as good bioavailability.", "Comparative analyses using different pentamidine prodrugs moreover showed the superiority of the newly developed N,N′-bis(succinyloxy)pentamidine (1) to pentamidine prodrugs described thus far.", "[0036] Synthesis [0037] The preparing of the prodrugs (1, 2) ensued from pentamidine diamidoxime (3) and the respective acid anhydride (succinic acid respectively glutaric acid anhydride).", "The starting compound was heated under reflux for 4 hours in dried acetone by adding succinic acid anhydride (see FIG. 1 ).", "The subsequent boiling up in toluene and direct filtering off allowed the substances 1 and 2 to be separated and the desired compounds to be prepared in an analytically pure form.", "[0038] Stability [0039] The analyses showed that compound 1 is stable in the neutral and slightly alkaline pH range, hence from pH 7.4 to pH 9.9.", "In acidic medium at pH 2.0, the compounds are rapidly hydrolytically cleaved ( FIGS. 2 , 3 ).", "[0040] It showed during the analyses that the N,N′-bis(succinyloxy)pentamidine (1) hydrolized in aqueous medium into monosuccinyl pentamidine and pentamidine diamidoxime (3).", "While this hydrolysis proceeds at pH 7.4 and pH 9.0 only to a minor extent, it proceeds markedly at pH 2.0 in human as well as murine plasma.", "The rapid hydrolysis of the N,N′-bis(succinyloxy)pentamidine (1) at pH 2.0 (see FIGS. 2 , 3 ) must be classified as being problematic with respect to the use as a prodrug.", "The N,N′-bis(succinyloxy)pentamidine (1) would lead to a rapid hydrolysis of the prodrug to pentamidine diamidoxime (3) in the acidic stomach medium after oral application.", "Since the major portion of the gastrointestinal absorption, however, only takes place in the upper small intestine sections, an enteric formulation of this prodrug should be aimed for.", "In this manner, the prodrug would withstand the acidic environment in the stomach undamaged and could be absorbed later in the small intestine.", "The instability at pH 2.0 hence is to be classified as being unproblematic for the later use as a medicinal substance.", "[0041] Solubility [0042] N,N′-bis(succinyloxy)pentamidine (1) possesses very good solubility in the pH range from 7.4 to 9.0 (see table 1).", "The solubility in acidic medium (pH 2.0) could not be exactly characterized due to the hydrolysis in this medium described before.", "Experiments, however, showed here, too, that the solubility is in the mM range.", "[0043] Table 1 shows the solubility of N,N′-bis(succinyloxy)pentamidine (1) in comparison to other developed pentamidine prodrugs.", "It becomes clear from this data that the dicarboxylic acid derivative (1) is the compound with the best solubility.", "Solely the pentamidine monoamidoxime is also soluble in the mM range at a neutral and slightly alkaline pH value.", "Yet, this compound still possesses a free amidine function which has a very disadvantageous effect on the oral bioavailability.", "These excellent solubility properties promote a later use as a medicinal substance since sufficient solubility is a basic prerequisite for sufficient oral absorption.", "In addition, the good solubility of the N,N′-bis(succinyloxy)pentamidine (1) also enables parenteral application forms such as injections or infusions.", "[0044] Protein Binding [0045] The analyses as to protein binding showed that this compound having a plasma protein binding of 97% disposes of a quite pronounced protein binding.", "The ascertained protein binding is in a range which is also described for other pentamidine prodrugs, and thus does not represent a disadvantage as compared to the other prodrugs.", "9 [0046] Prodrug Concept [0047] The prodrug concept itself, on which the inventive compounds are based, was described in the patent applications WO2009095499 and DE102008007381.", "[0048] The activation of the inventive prodrug proceeds via esterases and the mARC enzyme system and is hence independent of cytochrome P450 enzymes.", "The participation of P450 enzymes always involves the risk of interactions which are not described in our selected activation mechanism.", "Cytochrome P450 enzymes participate in metabolizing numerous medicinal substances.", "If several medicinal substances are taken which are metabolized via this enzyme system, a delay of the decomposition of the medicinal substances may ensue with clinically relevant side effects.", "[0049] In Vitro Activation [0050] The in vitro activation studies conducted the N,N′-bis(succinyloxy)pentamidine (1) activation takes place to good extent (table 2).", "The incubation with carboxyl esterases from porcine liver resulted in a rapid activation of the N,N′-bis(succinyloxy)pentamidine (1) (see FIG. 4 ).", "About 90% of the employed substrate was activated as early as after an incubation time of 60 min.", "This result shows that the first step of activating N,N′-bis(succinyloxy)pentamidine (1) to diamidoxime proceeds at an excellent speed.", "[0051] The reduction to pentamidine could be detected in the incubations with subcellular enzyme preparations (table 2).", "In general, enzyme sources of porcine origin are more active than human ones, a fact which can be explained by the manner of obtaining the enzyme preparations.", "It should be taken into account that the processing of human organs is more problematic because of the very low initial amounts.", "In addition, porcine organs, as a rule, originate from healthy animals, whereas human tissue samples are in most cases taken from carcinoma patients after organ resection which constitutes an explanation for the comparably low conversion rates in using human enzyme preparations.", "[0052] It can be stated in summary that the N,N′-bis(succinyloxy)pentamidine (1) is a suited prodrug of pentamidine.", "This study generally proves that the bioactivation of the prodrugs into the active compound takes place.", "The in vivo conversion rates can be expected to be clearly higher since the required enzymes are available in higher amounts.", "[0053] Oral Bioavailability [0054] The oral bioavailability of N,N′-bis(succinyloxy)pentamidine (1) could be demonstrated in the animal studies conducted.", "After orally administering the prodrug, pentamidine plasma levels could not be detected, a fact which can be explained by the known high pentamidine accumulation tendency in organs.", "The analysis of organ samples showed that N,N′-bis(succinyloxy)pentamidine (1) is orally bioavailable.", "After orally administering the prodrug, relevant concentrations could be identified in all examined organs (liver, kidney, lung, heart, brain and spleen).", "The highest concentrations were in this case detected in the kidney and liver ( FIG. 5 ).", "The concentrations in spleen, heart, brain and lung were clearly lower.", "The relative oral bioavailability could be determined depending on the organ to be up to 98% (table 3).", "[0055] In summary, the data proves the excellent suitability of the inventive prodrug principle for pentamidine.", "The pentamidine concentrations detected in the organs are in a range which enables the therapy of infections with trypanosomes (IC 50 : 0.8-3.2 nM), leishmania (IC 50 : 820-2590 nM), as well as plasmodia (IC 50 : 35-129 nM).", "13-16 [0056] Summary [0057] The newly developed prodrugs are orally bioavailable prodrugs of pentamidine.", "The prodrug principle used results in a considerable improvement of solubility which constitutes a very critical parameter of other pentamidine prodrugs.", "This improved solubility positively influences the pharmacokinetic behaviour of the substance since good solubility properties represent an important parameter in the absorption of medicinal substances, in particular in the gastrointestinal tract.", "[0058] Except for the acidic pH range, compound 1 possesses good chemical stability.", "The marked hydrolysis in acidic medium is a condition for the prodrug to be administered as an enteric formulation when administered orally so as to preclude hydrolysis in the stomach.", "[0059] The in vitro bioactivation assays could evidence a rapid and extensive activation of the prodrug into pentamidine.", "The activation proceeds independently of cytochrome P450 enzymes and hence does not involve the risk of interactions.", "[0060] The good oral bioavailability could also be proven experimentally in the animal studies finally conducted.", "The pentamidine contents detected in the organs are in a range which enables efficiency with respect to infections by trypanosomes, leishmania and plasmodia.", "[0061] In summary, the pentamidine dicarboxylic acid derivatives are excellent prodrugs which dispose of excellent physicochemical parameters and possess good oral bioavailability.", "Due to these properties, they are clearly superior to other pentamidine prodrugs.", "A use is possible both in cancer therapy and in the treatment of trypanosome, leishmania and pneumocystis carinii infections.", "[0062] Material and Methods: Exemplary Embodiments [0063] Syntheses [0000] [0064] 4,4′-Pentamethylendioxy-bis-[N-(carboxypropionyloxy)]benzamidine (N,N′-bis(succinyloxy)pentamidine) (1): [0065] 1 g pentamidine diamidoxime is dissolved in 250 ml acetone, and 540 mg succinic acid anhydride is added.", "The batch is stirred under reflux for 4 h. Subsequently, the solvent is removed under vacuum and the residue crystallized from toluene.", "[0066] Yield: 68% [0067] Melting point: 141° C. [0068] IR (KBr): [0069] v{tilde over ( )}=3478, 3348, 2940, 2870, 1732, 1698, 1612, 1472, 1250 cm-1 [0070] 1H NMR (DMSO-d6): δ/ppm (TMS)=1.59 (m, 2H, CH2), 1.79 (qn, 4H, 3J=6.7 Hz, CH2), 2.52 (t, 4H, 3J=6.6 Hz, CH2), 2.68 (t, 4H, 3J=6.6 Hz, CH2), 4.04 (t, 4H, 3J=6.5 Hz, O—CH2), 6.63 (s, 4H, NH2), 6.99 (mc, 4H, AA′BB′, Ar—H), 7.65 (mc, 4H, AA′BB′, Ar—H), 12.18 (brs, 2H, COOH) [0071] 13C-NMR (DMSO-d6): δ/ppm (TMS)=22.1 (CH2), 27.9 (CH2), 28.3 (CH2), 28.8 (CH2), 67.5 (O—CH2), 113.9 (ArCH), 123.5 (ArC), 128.1 (ArCH), 156.2 (ArC), 160.3 (C-NH2), 170.2 (COOR), 173.5 (COOH) [0072] MS (ESI) m/z: 573 [M+H]+, 555 [M−H2O+H]+, 473 [M−C4H4O3+H]+, 455 [M−C4H4O3−H2O+H]+, 373 [DAO+H]+, 178 [0073] Elementary analysis C27H32N4O10 (molecular mass: 572.56): Calculated: C 56.64, H 5.63, N 9.79 Found: C 56.85, H 6.01, N 9.60 [0074] Syntheses [0000] [0075] 4,4′-Pentarnethylendioxy-bis-[N-(carboxybutionyloxy)]benzamidine (N,N′-bis(glutaryloxy)pentamidine)(2): [0076] 1 g pentamidine diamidoxime is dissolved in 250 ml acetone, and 616 mg glutaric acid anhydride is added.", "The batch is stirred under reflux for 4 h. Subsequently, the solvent is removed under vacuum and the residue crystallized from toluene.", "[0077] Yield: 80% Melting point: 155° C. [0078] IR (KBr): v{tilde over ( )}=3495, 3350, 2950, 2874, 1747, 1700, 1619, 1520, 14225, 1258 cm-1 [0079] 1H NMR (DMSO-d6): δ/ppm (TMS)=1.59 (m, 2H, CH2), 1.81 (m, 8H, CH2), 2.29 (t, 4H, 3J=7.4 Hz, CH2), 2.49 (t, 4H, 3J=7.1 Hz, CH2), 4.04 (t, 4H, 3J=6.4 Hz, O—CH2), 6.63 (s, 4H, NH2), 6.98 (m, 4H, AA′BB′, Ar—H), 7.65 (m, 4H, AA′BB′, Ar—H), 12.05 (s, 2H, COOH) [0080] 13C-NMR (DMSO-d6): δ/ppm (TMS)=19.9 (CH2), 22.1 (CH2), 28.3 (CH2), 31.6 (CH2), 32.8 (CH2), 67.5 (O—CH2), 114.1 (ArCH), 123.5 (ArC), 128.1 (ArCH), 156.1 (ArC), 160.3 (C-NH2), 170.6 (COOR), 173.9 (COOH) [0081] MS (ESI) m/z: 601 [M+H]+, 169 [0082] Elementary analysis C29H36N4O10 (molecular mass: 600.62): Calculated: C 57.99, H 6.04, N 9.33 Found: C 58.05, H 6.24, N 9.72 [0083] Alternative synthesis of N,N′-bis(succinyloxy)pentamidine (1) and N,N′-bis(glutaryloxy)pentamidine (2) [0084] The preparing of the prodrugs (1, 2) ensued from pentamidine diamidoxime (3) and the respective acid anhydride (succinic acid respectively glutaric acid anhydride).", "[0085] For producing the prodrug (1), the pentamidine diamidoxime (3) was dissolved in ethanol, and a tenfold excess of succinic acid anhydride, dissolved in dichloromethane, was added to the solution by drops.", "The mixture was heated for four hours under reflux, allowed to cool down to room temperature, the formed precipitate was filtered off and subsequently rinsed several times with dichloromethane.", "Compound (1) could be prepared analytically pure at a very good yield.", "For producing the prodrug (2), the starting compound was heated for 4 h under reflux in dried acetone while adding glutaric acid anhydride (see FIG. 1 ).", "By subsequently boiling up in toluene and directly filtering off, substance 2 could be separated and prepared analytically pure.", "[0000] [0086] Characterization of the Pentamidine Prodrugs [0087] Stability analyses of the N,N′-bis(succinyloxy)pentatnidine (1) [0088] For the stability analyses, a 0.1 mM solution of N,N′-bis(succinyloxy)pentamidine (1) was prepared in a 50 mM potassium phosphate buffer/DMSO (90/10, vol/vol).", "The analysis took place at pH values of 2.0, 7.4 and 9.0.", "One sample was taken and immediately analyzed by HPLC every 15 min over a period of 150 min.", "[0089] Further analyses were conducted with human and murine plasma.", "900 μl of the plasma was mixed with 100 μl of a 2 mM solution of N,N′-bis(succinyloxy)pentamidine (1).", "The final concentration of N,N′-bis(succinyloxy)pentamidine (1) was thus 0.2 mM.", "The samples were incubated at 37° C. in a shaking water bath and samples were taken after 0, 15, 30, 45, 60, 75, 90, 105 and 120 min.", "For this purpose, 100 μl was drawn in each case and mixed with 100 μl acetonitrile.", "The samples were shaken, centrifuged for 5 min and the supernatant was measured by HPLC.", "[0090] In addition, incubations with carboxyl esterase from pig liver were conducted.", "For this purpose, N,N′-bis(succinyloxy)pentamidine (1) was incubated in a concentration of 0.1 mM with 1 U esterase in 250 μl 50 mM phosphate buffer, pH 7.4, at 37° C. over a period of 60 min.", "At intervals of 15 min each, the samples were analyzed via HPLC.", "[0091] The stability analyses were evaluated by means of the following HPLC method: [0000] HPLC system Waters Alliance ™ HPLC system with Waters e2695 XC Separations Modul, Waters 2998 Photodiode Array Detector and Empower ™ 2 imaging and evaluation software Stationary phase Synergi Max-RP 80A (Phenomenex, 250 × 4.6 mm;", "4 μm) with a Phenomenex C18 (4 × 3.0 mm) precolumn Mobile phase A 45% 20 mM phosphate buffer pH 7.0 B 55% Methanol Detection 210-400 nm (260 nm) Flow rate 1.0 ml/min Run time 12 min Column 25° C. temperature Injection volume 10 μl Retention times N,N′-bis(succinyloxy)pentamidine (1): 3.2 ± 0.1 min succinyloxypentamidine: 4.8 ± 0.1 min pentamidine diamidoxime (3): 8.1 ± 0.2 min [0092] Solubility of N,N′-bis(succinyloxy)pentamidine (1) [0093] An amount of the compound which is insoluble in 100 μl was suspended in 50 mM of a phosphate buffer (pH 7.4, respectively pH 9.0) and shaken for 20 min.", "Subsequently, the undissolved part was removed by centrifugation (12,000 rpm) and the samples were immediately measured by HPLC.", "The evaluation of the solubility ensued via a calibration of N,N′-bis(succinyloxy)pentamidine (1) in DMSO.", "The compound dissolves well (7.5 mM) at a physiological pH value of 7.4.", "The solubility is further improved when the pH value is increased (see table 1).", "[0094] Various other pentamidine prodrugs were examined by comparison so as to be able to better judge the solubility as compared to previously described derivatives.", "[0095] Solubilities were determined analogously to the method described for compound 1.", "[0000] TABLE 1 Solubility of the N,N′-bis(succinyloxy)pentamidine (1) and other pentamidine prodrugs at various pH values Solubility [μM] Pentamidine prodrug pH 2.0 pH 7.4 pH 9.0 N,N′- hydrolysis 7500 ± 340 10780 ± 70 bis(succinyloxy)pentamidine (1) Pentamidine monoamidoxime 22285 ± 1244 1370 ± 291 1257 ± 40 Pentamidine diamidoxime (3) 4211 ± 231 12 ± 1 4 ± 1 N,N′-bis(acetoxy)pentamidine 14 ± 8 2 ± 1 3 ± 2 N,N′-bis(methoxy)pentamidine 1304 ± 28 8 ± 1 10 ± 2 N,N′-bis(dihydroxy)pentamidine >35000 95 ± 8 21 ± 3 N,N′-bis(valoxy)pentamidine >35000 157 ± 19 84 ± 18 [0096] Determination of the protein binding of the N,N′-bis(succinyloxy)-pentamidine (1) [0097] The plasma protein binding was determined at three different concentrations (10, 20 and 50 μM).", "A 4% albumin solution was used as the protein solutions.", "50 μl of a 10 times concentrated substance solution were in each case pipetted to 450 μl of the protein solution.", "Incubation ensued over 15 min in a shaking water bath at 37° C. Subsequently, the samples were transferred into ultrafiltration units (Vivaspin 500, 10 kDa cut off) and centrifuged for 15 min at 10,000 RPM.", "The filtrate was analyzed by HPLC.", "Additionally, a control which was not mixed with protein nor centrifuged was carried out for each concentration.", "A further control without protein addition which, however, was centrifuged by the filtration unit showed that the prodrugs had not been retained by the diaphragm and served to validate the methodology.", "[0098] The analysis of the sample identified a compound 1 protein binding of 97.1±1.2%.", "[0099] Analysis of the N,N′-bis(succinyloxy)pentamidine (1) bioactivation [0100] Ascertaining prodrug activation using various subcellular enzyme systems [0101] The activation of the prodrug was determined in vitro by means of subcellular enzyme preparations.", "9000×g of supernatants, microsomes and mitochondria of human and porcine liver and kidney tissues were used as the enzyme preparations.", "The incubation batches were composed of 500 mM prodrug, 1 mM NADH, 1 U esterase and 0.3 mg enzyme preparation dissolved in 150 μ100 mM phosphate buffer, pH 6.3.", "The incubation took place over 20 min in a shaking water bath at 37° C. The incubation was terminated by adding 150 μl of acetonitrile.", "The samples were subsequently shaken for 10 min and the precipitated protein was removed by centrifuging at 10,000 RPM for 15 min.", "The supernatant was measured by means of HPLC.", "The identified conversion rates are indicated in table 2.", "[0000] TABLE 2 Activation of the N,N′-bis(succinyloxy)pentamidine (1) into the active form using subcellular enzyme preparations, HL = human liver, HN = human kidney, SL = pig liver, SN = pig kidney, 9000 g = 9000 g supernatant, MS = microsomes, Mt = mitochondria Pentamidine Enzyme source [nmol * min −1 * mg −1 ] HL 9000 g 0.04 ± 0.01 HL Ms 0.02 ± 0.02 HL Mt 0.56 ± 0.43 HN Mt 0.08 ± 0.02 SL 9000 g 0.00 ± 0.00 SN 9000 g 0.49 ± 0.03 SL Ms 0.69 ± 0.13 SN Ms 2.25 ± 0.58 SL Mt 1.44 ± 0.22 SN Mt 0.41 ± 0.09 [0102] In addition, incubations were performed using 1 U carboxyl esterase from pig liver.", "For this purpose, the compound was incubated over 60 min in a concentration of 500 μM with 1 U esterase in 250 μl 50 mM phosphate buffer, pH 7.4.", "The incubations were terminated by adding 250 μl of acetonitrile.", "The incubations using carboxyl esterases from pig liver led to a rapid activation of the N,N′-bis(succinyloxy)pentamidine (1) (see FIG. 4 ).", "About 90% of the substrate employed was activated already after an incubation time of 60 min.", "This result shows that the first step of the N,N′-bis(succinyloxy)pentamidine (1) activation into diamidoxime proceeds at high speed.", "[0103] HPLC Method for Determining the Pentamidine [0104] HPLC system Waters Alliance HPLC system with Waters e2695 XC Separations Modul, Waters 2998 Photodiode Array Detector and Empower 2 Software [0105] Column: LiChroCart LiChrospher 60 RP-select B, 125×4 mm, 5 μm [0106] Flow: 1 ml/min [0107] Flow agent: 52% 20 mM tetramethyl ammonium chloride/10 mM octyl sulfonate pH 3.0 48% MeOH [0108] Run time: 15 min [0109] Detection: 260 nm [0110] Injection volume: 20 μl [0111] Retention time: pentamidine 10.7±0.4 min [0112] Oral bioavailability (animal study) [0113] Pentamidine was administered intravenously to 10 rats in a concentration of 10 mg/kg.", "N, N′-bis(succinyloxy)pentamidine (1) was administered to 10 rats each in a concentration of 50 mg/kg as a suspension with Arabic gum (10% m/V) per gavage.", "100 mM of potassium phosphate buffer of pH 9.0 was used in preparing the suspension so as to prevent premature cleavage of the succinyl ester in the acidic environment of the stomach.", "[0114] In addition, 3 rats were given pentamidine at a dosage of 50 mg/kg per gavage in order to determine the oral bioavailability of the active form itself.", "[0115] After the intravenous administration, plasma samples were taken after 5, 10, 40, 75, 150 and 300 min, respectively 20, 40, 60, 90, 120, 240 and 360 min after oral administration.", "For this purpose, 300 μl of whole blood was drawn using an insulin syringe and transferred into EDTA-coated CB 300 microvettes (Sarstedt, Nümbrecht).", "After each withdrawal, the sample was rinsed with 100 μl of 0.9% saline solution respectively with heparin solution (250 I.E./ml) at an interval of 60 min.", "The blood sample was briefly shaken and placed on ice until centrifugation (4° C.;", "14,000 RPM;", "10 min).", "The samples were stored further at −80° C. [0116] Slaughter ensued by guillotine decapitation 6 hours after the drug administration.", "The organs were subsequently removed.", "All organs were cleaned and frozen in 2-methylbutane cooled in dry ice.", "Liver, kidney, lung, spleen, heart and brain were removed.", "[0117] Sample Preparation [0118] 1.", "Plasma samples: [0119] The plasma samples were defrosted at room temperature.", "65 μl of acetonitrile was prepared in each case and 65 μl of the plasma samples added by pipetting.", "The samples were subsequently shaken for 45 min.", "The samples were centrifuged at 10,000 RPM for 15 min and the supernatant was transferred into HPLC vials.", "35 μl was used in each case for the HPCL determinations.", "[0120] Calibrations and analyses for recovering the pentamidine were performed in a phosphate buffer of pH 7.4, murine plasma respectively, so as to quantitatively evaluate the plasma samples.", "[0121] 2.", "Organ Samples [0122] The organs were defrosted at room temperature and weighed.", "Depending on the respective organ, differing amounts of the tissues were prepared.", "About 1000 mg were used in case of the liver samples;", "about 500 mg in case of all of the other organs.", "The organs were minced by means of a potter.", "For this purpose, each of the weighed tissues were minced with 1 ml aqua bidest for 5 min.", "The potter vessel was subsequently rinsed in each case with 1 ml of aqua bidest.", "The samples were transferred into reaction vessels and the same volume of acetonitrile was added in order to precipitate proteins.", "The samples were shaken for 45 min and subsequently centrifuged at 12,000 RPM for 15 min.", "The supernatant was transferred into glass bottles and concentrated under compressed air.", "The residue was washed with 500 μl of acetonitrile, re-centrifuged, and the supernatant added to the remaining samples.", "The residue was discarded.", "After concentrating under compressed air, the samples were freeze-dried overnight.", "[0123] The solubilizing of the samples ensued with 400 μl of a mixture of methanol/aqua bidest (50/50).", "The samples were shaken at room temperature for 1.5 hours and the residue subsequently removed by centrifugation (15,000 RPM, 15 min).", "The concentration of pentamidine was determined from the supernatant by means of HPLC.", "[0124] Results of the Animal Study [0125] The analysis of the plasma samples after intravenous administration of the pentamidine rendered detectable plasma levels over a period of 300 min.", "After oral administration of the prodrug, plasma concentrations of pentamidine could not be detected.", "This phenomen is known for pentamidine derivatives since they tend to accumulate in the tissues to a very pronounced extent.", "Consequently, a direct calculation of the bioavailability across plasma concentrations could not be performed.", "The pentamidine concentrations in the examined organs were therefore used for determining the relative bioavailability.", "[0126] Evaluation of the Organ Samples and Bioavailability [0127] The analysis of the processed samples yielded detectable contents of pentamidine in all of the examined organs—with the highest concentrations in the liver and kidney.", "The concentrations in lung, spleen and heart are clearly lower.", "The lowest concentrations of pentamidine were detected in the brains.", "The results are summarized in FIG. 5 .", "[0128] The oral bioavailability of a compound is in general determined via the plasma concentrations after oral and intravenous application of the compound.", "Due to the high protein binding of pentamidine and its pronounced tendency to accumulate in tissues, however, plasma concentrations could not be determined after oral application of the pentamidine prodrug.", "Rather the detected contents than the plasma concentrations in the examined organs (liver, kidney, lung, spleen, heart, brain) are therefore used for calculating the relative bioavailability.", "Relative bioavailability of the pentamidine prodrug could be calculated via the comparison after intravenous application of the active form and oral application of the prodrug.", "The different dosages were taken into account in the calculation.", "The relative bioavailabilities are illustrated in table 3.", "The highest bioavailability of 98% was identified in the liver.", "The bioavailability in the other tissues is clearly reduced.", "The high bioavailability in the liver may be explained by the bioactivation of the prodrug.", "Same takes place preponderantly in the liver which explains the comparably high concentrations in this organ.", "The concentration in the brain is very low which is indicative of the prodrug passing the blood-brain-barrier only to a very low extent.", "[0000] TABLE 3 Relative bioavailability of pentamidine derivatives Pentamidine concentration [μg/g organ] and relative bioavailability [%] Pentamidine Pentamidine N,N′-bis(succinyloxy)-pentamidine i.v. p.o. rBV p.o. rBV (10 mg/kg) (50 mg/kg) [%] (50 mg/kg) [%] Liver 0.53 ± 0.33 0.12 ± 0.03 4.5 ± 1.1 2.68 ± 2.02 97.8 ± 73.7 Kidney 22.03 ± 4.16 1.24 ± 0.96 1.1 ± 0.9 7.07 ± 3.15 6.2 ± 2.8 Lung 3.03 ± 1.04 n.d. — 0.76 ± 0.42 4.9 ± 2.7 Spleen 1.97 ± 1.00 n.d. — 0.10 ± 0.16 1.0 ± 1.6 Heart 2.41 ± 0.74 n.d. — 0.43 ± 0.16 3.5 ± 1.3 Brain 0.22 ± 0.12 n.d. — 0.06 ± 0.05 5.3 ± 4.4 rBV = relative bioavailability [0129] HPLC Analytics [0130] The following HPLC analytics was used for analyzing the organ and plasma samples after intravenous application of pentamidine: [0000] HPLC system Waters Autosampler 717plus, Waters 600 Controller, Waters 600 Pump, Waters 2487 Dual λ Absorbance Detector and EZChrom Elite Client/Server imaging and evaluation software (Version 2.8[.", "].3) Stationary phase Superspher 60 RP-select B (250 × 3 mm);", "precolumn: Merck LiChrospher 60 RP-select B (4 × 4 mm, 5 μm) Mobile phase 40% methanol 60% TFA 0.1% pH 2.5 Detection λ Ex = 275 nm;", "λ Em = 340 nm Flow rate 0.32 ml/min Run time 35 min Injection volume 35 μl Retention time pentamidine: 22.4 ± 1.2 min [0131] The following HPLC analytics was used for analyzing the organ and plasma samples after oral application of the pentamidine prodrug: [0000] HPLC-System Waters Alliance ™ HPLC-System with Waters e2695 XC Separations Modul, Waters 2998 Photodiode Array Detector and Empower ™ 2 imaging and evaluation software Stationary phase Superspher 60 RP-select B (250 × 3 mm);", "precolumn: Merck LiChrospher 60 RP-select B (4 × 4 mm, 5 μm) Mobile phase 40% methanol 60% TFA 0.1% pH 2.5 Detection 210-300 nm (260 nm) Flow rate 0.32 ml/min Run time 35 min Injection volume 35 μl Retention time diamidoxime 20.0 ± 0.3 min monoamidoxime: 22.5 ± 0.4 min pentamidine: 24.7 ± 0.5 min [0132] Storage Stability: [0133] Samples were stored at room temperature and 70° C. over a defined period and examined for analyzing the prodrug (1) storage stability.", "The storage period was 6 months for the room temperature samples, 7 days for the 70° C. samples.", "The prodrug (1) content was determined by means of HPLC.", "For this purpose, the samples were dissolved in a mixture of equal parts of methanol and phosphate buffer (20 mM, pH 7.4) and immediately measured.", "The HPLC method corresponds to the method described under “Characterization of the prodrugs.”", "[0134] It could be shown that prodrug (1) exhibited a very high stability within the examined period both at room temperature and 70° C. (see tables 3, 4, and FIGS. 6 , 7 ).", "Apart from prodrug (1), succinyloxypentamidine and pentamidine diamidoxime (3) were found.", "[0000] TABLE 4 Storage stability of N,N′-bis(succinyloxy)pentamidine (1) at room temperature content [HPLC, area % ] pentamidine time [months] prodrug (1) succinyloxypentamidine diamidoxime(3) 0 months 98.4 ± 1.0 ± 0.02% 0.4 ± 0.01% 0.01% 0.5 months 98.4 ± 1.0 ± 0.03% 0.5 ± 0.01% 0.03% 1 month 98.6 ± 1.2 ± 0.16% 0.2 ± 0.02% 0.14% 2 months 97.5 ± 1.8 ± 0.02% 0.6 ± 0.16% 0.02% 3 months 97.5 ± 1.8 ± 0.04% 0.6 ± 0.01% 0.04% 6 months 97.8 ± 1.5 ± 0.19% 0.5 ± 0.01% 0.19% [0000] TABLE 5 Storage stability of N,N′-bis(succinyloxy)pentamidine (1) at 70° C. content [HPLC, area %] Pentamidine Diamidoxime time [days] prodrug (1) succinyloxypentamidin (3) 0 days 98.4 ± 1.0 ± 0.02% 0.4 ± 0.01% 0.01% 1 day 98.0 ± 1.1 ± 0.03% 0.9 ± 0.01% 0.02% 2 days 97.6 ± 1.3 ± 0.20% 1.0 ± 0.01% 0.19% 4 days 97.9 ± 0.9 ± 0.01% 1.1 ± 0.01% 0.01% 7 days 97.4 ± 1.1 ± 0.26% 1.5 ± 0.13% 0.39% [0135] It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes could be made to the embodiments described above without departing from the broad inventive concept thereof.", "It is understood, therefore, that this invention is not limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, but it is intended to cover modifications within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.", "REFERENCE LIST [0136] 1.", "Chow, T. Y.;", "Alaoui-Jamali, M. A.;", "Yeh, C.;", "Yuen, L.;", "Griller, D. The DNA double-stranded break repair protein endo-exonuclease as a therapeutic target for cancer.", "Mol Cancer Ther 2004, 3, 911-9.", "[0137] 2.", "Pharma, O. Inhibitors of Endo-Exonuclease activity for treating cancer.", "2001.", "[0138] 3.", "Pharma, O. Pentamidine Combinations for Treating Cancer.", "2010.", "[0139] 4.", "Clement, B. Reduction of N-hydroxylated compounds: amidoximes (N-hydroxyamidines) as pro-drugs of amidines.", "Drug Metab Rev 2002, 34, 565-79.", "[0140] 5.", "Clement, B.;", "Schmitt, S.;", "Zimmermann, M. Enzymatic reduction of benzamidoxime to benzamidine.", "Arch Pharm (Weinheim) 1988, 321, 955-6.", "[0141] 6.", "Clement, B.;", "Immel, M.;", "Terlinden, R.;", "Wingen, F. J. Reduction of amidoxime derivatives to pentamidine in vivo.", "Arch Pharm (Weinheim) 1992, 325, 61-2.", "[0142] 7.", "Havemeyer, A.;", "Bittner, F.;", "Wollers, S.;", "Mendel, R.;", "Kunze, T.;", "Clement, B. Identification of the missing component in the mitochondrial benzamidoxime prodrug-converting system as a novel molybdenum enzyme.", "J Biol Chem 2006, 281, 34796-802.", "[0143] 8.", "Gruenewald, S.;", "Wahl, B.;", "Bittner, F.;", "Hungeling, H.;", "Kanzow, S.;", "Kotthaus, J.;", "Schwering, U.;", "Mendel, R. R.;", "Clement, B. The fourth molybdenum containing enzyme mARC: cloning and involvement in the activation of N-hydroxylated prodrugs.", "J Med Chem 2008, 51, 8173-7.", "[0144] 9.", "Clement, B.;", "Burenheide, A.;", "Rieckert, W.;", "Schwarz, J. Diacetyldiamidoximeester of pentamidine, a prodrug for treatment of protozoal diseases: synthesis, in vitro and in vivo biotransformation.", "ChemMedChem 2006, 1, 1260-7.", "[0145] 10.", "Clement, B. R., C. Improvement of the bioavailability of active substances having an amidine function in medicaments.", "2008.", "[0146] 11.", "Clement, B. R., C.;", "Hungeling, H. Use of amidoxime carboxylic acid esters and N-hydroxyguanidine carboxylic acid esters for producing prodrugs.", "2009.", "[0147] 12.", "Reeh, C.;", "Wundt, J.;", "Clement, B. N,N′-dihydroxyamidines: a new prodrug principle to improve the oral bioavailability of amidines.", "J Med Chem 2007, 50, 6730-4.", "[0148] 13.", "Arafa, R. K.;", "Brun, R.;", "Wenzler, T.;", "Tanious, F. A.;", "Wilson, W. D.;", "Stephens, C. E.;", "Boykin, D. W. Synthesis, DNA affinity, and antiprotozoal activity of fused ring dicationic compounds and their prodrugs.", "J Med Chem 2005, 48, 5480-8.", "[0149] 14.", "Brendle, J. J.;", "Outlaw, A.;", "Kumar, A.;", "Boykin, D. W.;", "Patrick, D. A.;", "Tidwell, R. R.;", "Werbovetz, K. A. Antileishmanial activities of several classes of aromatic dications.", "Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2002, 46, 797-807.", "[0150] 15.", "Donkor, I. 0.", "Huang, T. L.;", "Tao, B.;", "Rattendi, D.;", "Lane, S.;", "Vargas, M.;", "Goldberg, B.;", "Bacchi, C. Trypanocidal activity of conformationally restricted pentamidine congeners.", "J Med Chem 2003, 46, 1041-8.", "[0151] 16.", "Ismail, M. A.;", "Brun, R.;", "Wenzler, T.;", "Tanious, F. A.;", "Wilson, W. D.;", "Boykin, D. W. Dicationic biphenyl benzimidazole derivatives as antiprotozoal agents.", "Bioorg Med Chem 2004, 12, 5405-13." ]

[ "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a process for fabricating channel recess structures in silicon wafers having variable cross-sectional areas, and more particularly to a single side, two step anisotropic etching process which uses etch mask patterns that cause controlled undercutting by the anisotropic etchant to produce channel recesses having predetermined variable cross-sectional areas useful, for example, in the production of ink jet printheads.", "In the semiconductor industry, it is frequently desirable to generate large recesses or holes in association with relatively shallow recesses, which may or may not interconnect.", "For example, an ink jet printhead may be made of a silicon channel plate and a heater plate.", "Each channel plate has a relatively large ink reservoir with an open bottom, such as a recess etched entirely through the silicon substrate or wafer, and a set of parallel, shallow, elongated channel recesses.", "One end of the channel recesses are placed into communication with the reservoir and the other ends are opened to serve as droplet ejecting nozzles.", "When aligned and bonded to a heater plate containing selectively addressable heating elements, the recesses in the channel plate become the ink reservoir and ink flow-directing channels, as described more thoroughly in U.S. Pat. No. Re.", "32,572 to Hawkins et al.", "As recognized by the Hawkins reference, a fundamental physical limitation of anisotropic etching of silicon or orientation dependent etching (ODE), as it is sometimes referred to, is that {111} crystal planes etch very slowly, while all other crystal planes etch rapidly.", "Consequently, only rectangles can be etched in ( 100) silicon material or wafers with a high degree of precision.", "U.S. Pat. No. 4,774,530 to Hawkins discloses a two-part ink jet printhead comprising a mated channel plate and a heater plate, which sandwiches a thick film insulative layer that was previously deposited on the heater plate and patterned to provide an ink bypass recess for ink flow from the reservoir to the channels and recesses or pits over each heating element for placement of the heating elements in pits to prevent the vapor bubbles from blowing out the nozzles and causing ingestion of air.", "This is a typical ink jet printhead configuration and is discussed later with respect to FIG. 1 U.S. Pat. No. 4,863,560 to Hawkins discloses a three dimensional silicon structure, such as an ink jet printhead, fabricated from (100) silicon wafers by a single side, multiple step ODE etching process.", "All etching masks are formed one on top of the other prior to the initiation of etching, with the coarsest mask formed last and used first.", "Once the coarse anisotropic etching is completed, the coarse etch mask is removed and the finer anisotropic etching is done.", "The same anisotropic etchant of KOH is used for both coarse and fine etching.", "Since the coarse etch mask material is silicon nitride and the fine etch mask material is thermally grown silicon dioxide, erosion of the silicon dioxide in KOH must be taken into account and the silicon dioxide mask made appropriately thick.", "U.S. Pat. No. 5,096,535 to Hawkins et al.", "discloses the fabrication of a printhead, wherein each of the ink channels is formed by segmenting the channel mask into a series of closely adjacent vias, such that during the subsequent anisotropic etching of the silicon wafer, the thin walls between the segments are eroded away before the completion of the etching step to produce the channels from the connected segments.", "Thus, mask alignment errors that would cause the channels to be greatly widened when the channel are one long recess are greatly reduced.", "As is well known, the geometrical parameters and/or configurations of the ink flow paths in ink jet printheads determine the frequency of the droplet ejection and thus the printing speed.", "For example, some of the important geometrical parameters are the size of the nozzles relative the cross-sectional areas of the channels, and size of the ink flow area at the entrance to the channel relative to the nozzles, for these dimensions influence capillary refill times from the ink supply in printhead reservoir.", "However, because of the constraints on the anisotropic etching of silicon, the channels in printheads generally have substantially uniform cross-sectional areas.", "Therefore, there is a need for more flexibility in the design and fabrication of silicon channel structures in ink jet printheads.", "SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is the object of this invention to provide a method for forming three dimensional structures in planar silicon substrates during a single fine anisotropic etching step by controlled undercutting of the mask subsequent to a coarse anisotropic etching step on a single side of the silicon substrate.", "In the present invention, a three-dimensional structure is fabricated from a (100) silicon wafer having a predetermined thickness and two opposing substantially parallel surfaces.", "The fabricating method comprises the steps of forming a first layer of etch resistant material, such as, thermally grown silicon dioxide on both surfaces of the wafer.", "Patterning the first layer of etch resistant material on one of the wafer surfaces to delineate a plurality of sets of parallel elongated channel vias and at least one reservoir via for each set of channels.", "Each channel via has opposing ends and sides and has opposing via extensions of predetermined size extending in opposite directions from each channel side at a predetermined location.", "The reservoir via is located adjacent one end of a set of channel vias.", "Each of the vias expose the surface of the wafer for subsequent fine or tightly toleranced etching of recesses in the wafer surface.", "A second layer of etch resistant material, such as silicon nitride, is deposited on both sides of the wafer and over the first layer of etch resistant materials and the vias therein.", "The second layer of etch resistant material is patterned on the same wafer surface as that of the first layer.", "The patterning of the second layer of etch resistant material produces at least one reservoir via within the boundary of each of the reservoir vias in the first layer of etch resistant material.", "Thus, the vias in the second layer of etch resistant material are each within respective boundaries of the vias in the first layer, so as to protect the first etch resistant material from the first etchant.", "The wafer is then placed into an anisotropic etchant, such as KOH, to etch coarsely through the wafer to produce reservoir recesses in the wafer.", "The second layer of etch resistant material is then removed from both sides of the wafer to expose the first layer of etch resistant material and the vias therein.", "The wafer is next placed in a second anisotropic etchant, such as KOH or EDP, for a predetermined time period, to produce relatively shallow, fine channel recesses in the exposed wafer surface through the vias in the first layer of the etch resistant material.", "The extensions on the opposing sides of each channel recess causes the second etchant to etch along the {111} crystal planes, so that the second etchant etches under the etch resistant material in opposing directions towards the channel recess ends.", "Thus, the extensions in the vias enable the channel cross-sectional area intermediate the channel ends to be enlarged, and the wafer is removed within a predetermined time period to stop the etching under the first layer of etch resistant material and produce the desired shape of the channel recesses.", "In an alternate embodiment, the enlarged channel portion and the opposing channel ends is etched concurrently with the reservoir recess.", "Thus, the channels will be formed by a series of three vias in the first layer of etch resistant material with the center via being larger.", "The second layer of etch resistant material will also have a center channel via within the boundary of the via in the first layer of etch resistant material.", "After the coarse etch, the enlarged portion of the channels are etched concurrently with the reservoir, and the second layer of etch resistant material is removed.", "The other channel vias on opposing ends of the coarsely etched center portion are spaced closely adjacent thereto, so that the thin wall segment separating the two opposing end channel recesses from the previously etched center channel recess are eroded away to cause the last finely etched channel recesses to become connected to and continuous with the previously etched center portion.", "In another embodiment, the enlarged channel central portion intermediate the opposing channel end portions are concurrently etched with the reservoir recess by a first coarse etching step.", "The channels remain segmented into separate center and end portion recesses after the first coarse etching.", "The walls separating the channel portion recesses are etched away by the second fine etching step.", "Thus, each of the channels will be formed by a single channel via in the first layer of etch resistant material, and each channel via will have opposing ends and sides with opposing via extensions of predetermined size attending in opposite directions from each channel side at a predetermined location.", "The second layer of etch resistant material will have a series of three vias within the boundary of each channel via in the first layer of etch resistant material and a reservoir via within the boundary of the reservoir via in the first layer of etch resistant material.", "As in the other embodiments, the boundaries between the vias in the respective layers of etch resistant material protect the first etch resistant material from the first etchant.", "After coarsely anisotropically etching the wafer to produce the reservoir recesses and the segment channel recesses, the second etch resistant mask is removed from both sides of the wafer to expose the first layer of etch resistant material and the vias therein.", "The wafer is next placed in a second anisotropic etchant for a predetermined time period to remove the segmented channel walls and finish etching the fine or tightly toleranced channels.", "The extensions on the opposing sides of each channel recess causes the second etchant to etch along the {111} crystal planes and thereby undercutting the etch resistant material in opposing directions towards the channel recess ends.", "The wafer is removed within a predetermined time period to stop the undercutting and produce the desired shape of the channel recesses.", "The foregoing features and other objects will become apparent from a reading of the following specification in conjunction with the drawings, wherein like parts have the same index numerals.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an enlarged, cross-sectional view of a typical ink jet printhead showing the electrode passivation and ink flow path between the ink reservoir and the ink channels.", "FIG. 2 is a partially shown plan view of the wafer after completion of the coarse etching of the reservoir recess and removal of the coarse etch mask in accordance with fabrication process of the present invention.", "FIG. 3 is a partially shown plan view of FIG. 2 after the fine etching of the channel recesses and removal of most of the fine etch mask.", "FIG. 4 is an enlarged, cross-sectional view of a printhead fabricated in accordance with the present invention.", "FIG. 5 is a partially shown plan view of the wafer after the coarse etching step and removal of the coarse etch mask snowing an alternate embodiment of a fine etch mask.", "FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 showing the etched channel recesses after the fine etching and removal of the fine etch mask.", "FIG. 7 is an enlarged, cross-sectional view of an ink jet printhead showing an alternate embodiment produced by the fine etch mask pattern of FIGS. 5 and 6.", "FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the channel wafer as viewed along view line 8--8 in FIG. 2. FIG. 9 is a partially shown plan view of the wafer showing the vias in the coarse mask of an alternate embodiment of the present invention prior to etching and showing the vias in the underlying fine mask in dashed line.", "FIG. 10 is a partially shown plan view of FIG. 9 after the coarse etching and removal of the coarse mask, so that the fine mask and vias therein are shown, together with the coarsely etched recesses.", "FIG. 11 is a partially shown, cross-sectional view of the wafer as viewed along view line 11--11 in FIG. 10.", "FIG. 12 is a partially shown plan view of the wafer after the coarse etching and removal of the coarse mask, in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, so that fine mask and vias therein are shown as well as the coarsely etched recesses.", "FIG. 13 is a partially shown plan view of the wafer showing the vias in the coarse mask of another embodiment of the present invention prior to etching and showing the vias in the underlying fine mask in dashed line.", "FIG. 14 is a partially shown plan view of FIG. 13 after the coarse etching and removal of the coarse mask, so that the fine mask and vias therein are shown, together with the coarsely etched recesses.", "FIG. 15 is a partially shown, cross-sectional view of the wafer as viewed along view line 15--15 in FIG. 14.", "DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the typical prior art printhead shown in FIG. 1, a heating element plate 28 has the heating elements 34 and addressing electrodes 33 patterned on the surface 30 thereof (with integral driver circuitry not shown), while the channel plate 31 has parallel grooves 20 which extend in one direction and penetrate through the front face or edge 29.", "The other end of the grooves terminate at a slanted wall 21 which is adjacent recess 24 that is etched through the channel plate and is used as the ink supply reservoir for the capillary filled ink channels 20.", "The open bottom 25 of the reservoir recess serves as an ink fill hole.", "The surface of the channel plate with the grooves are aligned and bonded to the heater plate 28, so that a respective one of the plurality of heating elements 34 is positioned in each channel formed by the grooves and the heater plate.", "Ink enters the reservoir formed by the recess 24 and the heater plate 28 through the filled hole 25, and by capillary action fills the channels 20 by flowing through either an elongated recess or bypass pit 38 formed in a thick film insulative layer 18 sandwiched between the heating element plate and the channel plate.", "The ink (not shown) at each nozzle forms a meniscus, the surface tension of which, together with the slightly negative ink pressure, prevents the ink from weeping from the nozzles.", "The addressing electrodes and circuitry (not shown) on the heater plate 28 have terminals 32 for the attachment of wire bonds 19 that connect to the printer circuit boards (not shown).", "The plurality of sets of heating elements 34, their addressing electrodes 33, driver circuitry (not shown), and common return 35 are patterned on an underglaze layer 39, such as silicon dioxide.", "After the fabricating of the heating elements, addressing electrodes 33, and driver circuitry, and common return 35, they are passivated by a typical passivation layer 16.", "The passivation layer is removed from the heating elements 34 and electrode terminals 32, and a thick film layer 18 is deposited and patterned to provide the bypass trench or pits 38, and to place the heaters in pits 26.", "For a more detailed discussion of the prior art printhead in FIG. 1, refer to U.S. Pat. No. 4,774,530 to Hawkins, incorporated herein by reference.", "In accordance with U.S. Pat. No. 4,863,560 to Hawkins, also incorporated herein by reference, the three-dimensional silicon structure of the present invention incorporates both large, coarse features and small, precise features.", "Using a channel wafer as a typical three dimensional silicon structure to be fabricated by the present invention process, the channel wafer is a (100) silicon wafer fabricated by a two step sequential anisotropic etching process, wherein all lithography is conducted prior to the first etch step.", "In FIG. 2, a simplified schematical plan view of a portion of a silicon wafer 40 is shown having two sequentially formed etch masks 42, 44 formed on surface 41 thereof.", "Precise three-dimensional structures in silicon, having both shallow and deep recesses, may be formed by sequential anisotropic etching processes.", "The two masks are respectively deposited on both sides of wafer 40 and patterned on one side or surface 41 of the silicon wafer.", "The top mask is for the deeper or coarser anisotropic etching.", "The first etching is followed by stripping of the outer coarse, etch mask, and then a next anisotropic, fine etching step is performed.", "The sequential etching is accomplished by conducting the deepest or coarsest etch first, and then proceeding successively from the coarsest to the finest etched features of the structure.", "After the coarse etch, the coarse mask is stripped exposing the next fine mask, followed by the fine anisotropic etch.", "The tightly toleranced, fine or precise features are better preserved and protected by the coarser etch mask.", "Referring to FIGS. 2 and 8, where FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view as viewed along section line 8--8 in FIG. 2, a (100) silicon wafer 40 is partially shown with a thermally grown oxide layer (SiO 2 ) 42 on both sides, which is about 5000-7500 angstroms thick.", "It is lithographically processed to form a reservoir via 48 and channel vias 46 therein, both shown in dashed line in FIG. 2. Via 48 enables the production of the final shape and dimension of the reservoir 24 by the second anisotropic etching step, and a plurality of channel vias 46 enables the production of the ink channels.", "The border 45 of silicon wafer surface 41 is etched by the second etchant to produce shelf 36.", "The time period in the second anisotropic etchant is determined to complete the channel recesses and this time period is short enough to prevent the etching of the reservoir border from etching through the wafer, thereby producing shelf 36.", "Referring to FIG. 3., each channel has opposing ends 54, 56 and sides 55, and have opposing via extensions 50 of predetermined size extending in opposite directions from each channel side 55 at a predetermined location therealong.", "Channel end 56 is adjacent the reservoir via 48.", "Although FIGS. 2 and 3 show only five (5) channel vias 46 with extensions 50, there are 300 or more per inch in an actual printhead.", "The small number of channel vias shown is for ease of explanation, it being understood that the same principles apply for an actual printhead.", "A second mask layer 44 of silicon nitride (Si 3 N 4 ) is then deposited over the patterned silicon dioxide (SiO 2 ) layer and exposed silicon wafer surface 41.", "The thickness of the silicon nitride layer is sufficient to assure adequate robustness to prevent handling damage during subsequent processing steps, such as, for example, 0.1-0.2 micrometers.", "The silicon nitride layer 44 is then lithographically processed to produce via 47, so that the via 47 exposes the bare silicon surface 41 of wafer 40.", "Note that a border 45 of silicon nitride (See FIG. 8) is left about 8-25 μm wide inside of the silicon dioxide via 48, both for protection of erodable SiO 2 mask and of such dimension as to prevent the slight undercutting of the silicon nitride layer by the coarse etchant from reaching the SiO 2 mask.", "When the wafer is placed in a first or coarse anisotropic etchant, the silicon is etched where exposed by via 47 to form reservoir recesses 24.", "Because of the size of the via 47 and the time period in the etchant, the reservoir recess is etched through the wafer.", "FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 2, as viewed along view line 8--8 thereof, and shows the wafer after the first, coarse anisotropic etching step.", "The wafer 40, the surface 41 of which is exposed by via 47 in the coarse etch mask or silicon nitride layer 44, is completely etched therethrough to form the reservoirs.", "Via 46 in silicon dioxide layer 42 is shown covered by the silicon nitride layer.", "The slanted wall 43 of anisotropically etched reservoir recess 24 lie in the {111} crystal planes of the wafer and undercut the coarse mask 44 slightly, generally about 6 to 8 μm, as indicated at 37.", "A border 45 of silicon nitride over the via 48 in the fine etch mask or silicon dioxide layer 42 prevents undercutting of the coarse mask from reaching the tighter toleranced, fine etch mask during the coarser etching of the reservoir recesses 24.", "After the coarse etching of the reservoir 24, the coarse etch mask of silicon nitride is removed exposing the first silicon dioxide layer 42, and this is the condition of the wafer shown in FIG. 2. The wafer 40 is then placed in a second anisotropic etch of, for example, KOH or EDP.", "The wafer is then etched for a predetermined time, and the surface of the wafer exposed through the silicon dioxide layer 42 is etched to produce channels 52 with varying cross-sectional areas and the shelf 36 in the reservoir 24, as shown in FIG. 3. Each channel has opposing ends 54, 56 and an enlarged portion 58 intermediate the opposing ends.", "The via extensions 50 of the vias 46 enable the anisotropic etchant to etch along the {111} planes, thus etching under the mask 42 toward the opposing ends of the channel vias 46, as shown in the portion of FIG. 3 having the silicon dioxide mask 42 thereon.", "The fine etch mask of silicon dioxide layer 42 has been removed from the remainder of the wafer exposing surface 41 thereof to show the fully etched channels recesses 52.", "As soon as the appropriate undercutting of the mask has been achieved at the extensions 50, as defined by the time the wafer is in the second or fine etchant, the wafer 40 is removed from the second anisotropic etchant, and the silicon dioxide mask layer is removed.", "The wafer is then aligned and bonded to a heater plate with patterned, thick film layer 18, and diced to PG,12 produce a plurality of individual printheads, as shown in FIG. 4. FIG. 4 is identical with FIG. 1, except for the channels 52 which have enlarged portion 58 and the shelf 36 in the reservoir.", "The enlarged channel portions 58 also have a triangular cross-sectional shape.", "An alternate embodiment is shown in FIGS. 5-7.", "FIG. 5 is a partially shown plan view of a wafer in which the coarsely etched reservoir recess 24 has been completed, and the coarse etch mask removed exposing the fine etch mask 42 with vias 59 therein and the border 45 of silicon wafer surface 41.", "Vias 59 are patterned for the fine etching of the channel recesses in wafer surface 41.", "The channel vias 59 in FIG. 5 are similar to the vias in FIG. 2, except that via end adjacent the reservoir recesses 24 have second opposing extensions 57 which extend out further than the extensions 50.", "After the coarse etching of the reservoir recess 24 and removal of the coarse etch mask, the wafer 40 is placed into a second anisotropic etchant, and the channels 62 are etched, as shown in FIG. 6. The extensions 50, 57, which extend from opposite sides of the via 59, permit planned undercutting of the mask to produce channel recess portions 51, 53, as shown in dashed line in FIG. 5. The spacing between via extensions 50 and 57 are designed so that the thin wall 61, initially formed between extensions 50, 57 during the fine anisotropic etching step, break down and are etched away before completion of the fine etching step to produce the channel recesses 62 shown in FIG. 6. When the desired etched recesses for the channels have been completed, the wafer is removed from the second anisotropic etchant, and the fine etch mask 42 is removed as shown in FIG. 6. Each channel recess 62 is similar to the channel recesses in FIG. 3., except that the channel recess portion 60 adjacent the reservoir recess 24 is larger.", "Thus, the channel recess portion 60 has the largest triangular cross-sectional area, the center channel recess portion 58 has a triangular cross-sectional area less than portion 60, and the end portion 54 has the smallest triangular cross-sectional area.", "The wafer with the plurality of sets of etched channel recesses 62 and associated reservoir recesses 24, as shown in FIG. 6, is aligned and bonded to the heater wafer in the same manner as discussed in FIG. 4, and the plurality of printheads are obtained by dicing the bonded wafers.", "FIG. 7 shows a cross-sectional view of a printhead according to the alternate embodiment, which is similar to that of FIG. 4 except that the varying shape of each ink channel 62 has a larger cross-sectional area 60 adjacent the reservoir recess 24, which is larger than intermediate recess portion 58.", "This configuration enables a faster refill time, thereby improving the frequency of firing the printhead.", "Another embodiment is shown in FIGS. 9-11.", "FIG. 9 is a partially shown plan view of a silicon wafer 40, showing the coarse mask 44 with the vias 47 for the reservoirs 24 (FIG.", "10) and the vias 79 for the enlarged central portions 77 of the subsequently etched channels 52 (shown in FIG. 4).", "FIG. 9 is similar to FIG. 2., except that the enlarged central portions of the channels are concurrently etched with the reservoir recesses during the coarse etch step.", "The fine mask 42 was deposited and patterned first.", "The via 47 in coarse mask 44 is within the boundary of via 48 in the fine mask 42 and also has the border 45 of coarse mask material to protect the fine mask from being reached by the undercutting of the coarse mask by the coarse etchant.", "A similar border 72 of coarse mask protects the via 73 in the fine mask for the enlarged central portion of the channels.", "Vias 80 in the fine mask on opposing sides of via 73 are spaced therefrom a predetermined distance "t"", "of about 6-12 μm to assure that the thin wall of silicon produced during the fine etching through vias 80 and 73 will erode away to connect the recesses etched during the fine etching step and produce the channels substantially identical to channels 52 of FIG. 4. The vias 80 adjacent the reservoir via 48 are spaced therefrom a predetermined distance to assure that the channels do not connect to the reservoir during the fine etching step.", "FIGS. 10 and 11 show the wafer 40 after completion of the coarse etching step and with the coarse mask removed to show the fine mask 42 with vias 80 exposing the surface 41 of the silicon wafer and to show vias 48 and 73 with borders 45 and 72, respectively, exposing wafer surface 41.", "The coarse etching step produced reservoir recesses 24 and channel portion recesses 77, which will be slightly enlarged because of the silicon borders 45 and 72 when exposed to the fine etchant.", "FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the wafer shown in FIG. 10 as viewed along view line 11--11 thereof, and more clearly shows the spacing t between vias 80 and 73 which will permit undercutting by the fine etching step to produce the channels 52 show in dashed line and in the channel plate 31 of FIG. 4, but obtained by the above described alternate technique.", "The etching of shelves 36 in the reservoirs 24 by the fine etchant is also shown in FIG. 11 in dashed line.", "Another embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 12 which is similar to the embodiment disclosed with respect to FIGS. 9-11.", "The difference is that the channel vias in the fine mask 42 is a single via 70 with opposing extensions 71 instead of a series of separate vias 80, 73.", "In FIG. 12, a partially shown plan view of a (100) silicon wafer is shown after the reservoir recess 24 and central enlarged portion 77 of the channel 52 (see FIG. 4) are concurrently coarsely etched and the coarse mask 44 is removed to expose the underlying fine etch mask 42 having channel vias 70 and reservoir recess 48 therein.", "Reservoir recess 48 in the fine mask 42 exposes a border 45 of wafer surface 41 and the channel vias 70 expose the wafer surface 41 therethrough, including a border 72 which surrounds the previously etched portion of the enlarged central portion 77 of the channels.", "The wafer of FIG. 12 is placed in a fine, anisotropic etchant and etched for a predetermined time.", "The extensions 71 of via 70 will provide a planned undercutting of the fine mask 42 as disclosed in FIG. 3 and will achieve a similar etched channel wafer, so that the mating, bonding, and dicing of the channel of FIG. 12 with a heater wafer (not shown) will produce a plurality of printheads substantially identical to those shown in FIG. 4. Another embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 13-15.", "FIG. 13 is a partially shown plan view of a (100) silicon wafer 40 having the patterned second coarse mask on the wafer surface 41, which shows reservoir via 47 and a series of at least three separated vias 74, 79 therein, which represent the opposing channel end portions and the enlarged center channel portion, respectively.", "This embodiment of the fabrication method is similar to that of FIG. 12.", ", except vias 74 are formed in the second or coarse mask 44 surrounded by via 70 in the first or fine mask 42, so that the opposing end portions 78 of the channels are concurrently coarsely etched with the center portion 77 and the reservoir recess 24.", "The vias 74 and 79 in the coarse mask 44 are surrounded by a border 72 for reasons discussed above.", "Thus, when the coarse mask is removed, a border 72 of silicon wafer surface 41 surrounds the coarsely etched channel portion recesses 77, 78.", "In this embodiment, less time in the fine or second anisotropic etchant will be required than in the embodiment of FIG. 12, since most of the channel recess etching was accomplished with the first or coarse etching step.", "FIG. 15 is a partially shown, cross-sectional view of the wafer as viewed along view line 15--15 in FIG. 14 and shows the coarsely etched reservoirs 24 as segmented channel recesses which include the equal, opposing end portion recesses 78 and the larger center channel portion recess 77.", "With the coarse mask removed, the coarsely etched channel recesses 77, 78 and the silicon wafer 41 which provides the border 72 therearound are exposed through via 70 in the fine mask 42.", "Accordingly, there will be no delay in etching the exposed surfaces of the wafer or exposed recesses, and the second, fine anisotropic etchant will quickly etch the channels 52 into channels having a variable cross-sectional area substantially as shown in FIG. 4 and in dashed line in FIG. 15.", "The border 45 of wafer surface 41 will also etch to form a shelf 36, also shown in dashed line in FIG. 15.", "As in FIG. 12, the via extensions 71 will permit undercutting along the {111} crystal planes in directions towards the opposing channel ends.", "Removing the wafer 40 from the fine anisotropic etchant within a predetermined time stops the etching of the enlarged central channel portion 77 in the directions of the opposing channel ends, thereby defining the variable cross-sectional area of the channels 52.", "Although the foregoing description illustrates the preferred embodiment as a thermal ink jet channel plate, other variations and other three-dimensional silicon structures are possible.", "All such variations and other structures as will be obvious to one skilled int the art, are intended to be included within the scope of this invention as defined by the following claims." ]

[ "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to devices for cutting cloth and other similar sheet material spread on a supporting surface, and deals more particularly with improvements in a cutter head of the type employing as the cutting element an elongated knife reciprocated along an axis generally normal to the sheet material being cut and with improvements in the knife itself.", "The general object of the invention is to provide a cutter head for cutting sheet material which is relatively inexpensive to manufacture and to maintain and which can operate reliably over long periods of service.", "A further object of the invention is to provide a cutter head of the foregoing character which is particularly well adapted for use in cutting single plies of fabric or low layups of fabric at relatively high cutting speeds, but which may also be designed for cutting higher layups of fabric, the head being capable of being constructed so as to have a relatively low mass enabling it to be rapidly accelerated and decelerated with minimum power, and the head also being capable of driving the knife at a continuous high stroking speed on the order of 10,000 strokes per minute or more.", "A more particular object of the invention is to provide a cutter head wherein the knife is rotatable about a theta axis to maintain it tangent to the line of cut yet wherein the motor used for driving or reciprocating the knife does not rotate about the theta axis and is drivingly connected with the knife through a differential drive eliminating the need for the conventional swivel link which is relatively massive and of complicated construction presenting maintenance problems, the elimination of the swivel mass reducing the mass driven by the knife drive motor and therefore permitting the use of a lower horsepower, less massive motor than used in previous cutter heads.", "A further object of the invention is to provide a cutter head of the foregoing character using an eccentric mechanism for reciprocating the knife, the knife having a leaf spring portion which is directly connected to the eccentric member eliminating the conventional massive and failure prone connecting link and bearings joining the eccentric member to the knife.", "In keeping with the foregoing object a further object of the invention is to provide such a cutter head including simple means for inhibiting fatigue failure of the leaf spring portion of the knife, such means including design of the leaf spring portion so to eliminate an area of stress concentration and parts for reducing the amplitude of vibration of the leaf spring portion.", "Another object of the invention is to provide a cutter of the foregoing character wherein the knife along its lower end portion has a sharpened forward edge and the cutter head includes a simple sharpening mechanism capable, without change, of sharpening the knife by grinding the knife on the same side face during every sharpening cycle or to sharpen the knife on opposite side faces by grinding it on one side face during some sharpening cycles and on the other face during other sharpening cycles, and which sharpening mechanism also allows the angle of the ground surface or surfaces relative to the side faces of the knife to be varied, if desired.", "Another object is to provide a cutter head having a guide engageable with the knife to restrain it, with minimal frictional loss, to reciprocation along a given axis.", "Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment and from the accompanying drawings and claims.", "A cutter head incorporating most or all of the features of the invention is particularly well adapted for use in an automatic cutting machine wherein the cutter head is carried by a tool carriage movable in two coordinate directions over the surface of the material being cut, and the invention is therefore hereinafter described in association with such a cutting machine.", "However, most of the features of the invention may be used to advantage in other cutter heads, such as the heads of hand-guided cutters, and there is accordingly no intention to limit the scope of the invention cutter heads for automatic cutting machines.", "SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention resides in a cutter head, and a related knife, for cutting cloth or similar sheet material spread on a supporting surface, the cutter head having a base frame and a knife frame rotatable relative to the base frame about a theta axis.", "The knife frame supports both a guide for restraining the lower portion of the blade to reciprocating motion along the theta axis and a reciprocating mechanism connectible to the upper end of the blade.", "Therefore, when the knife frame, guide and knife rotate about the theta axis the reciprocating mechanism rotates with them.", "The knife drive motor, however, is fixed to the base frame, and a differential type drive is provided between the output shaft of the motor and the input shaft of the reciprocating mechanism enabling the motor to drive the reciprocating mechanism while at the same time permitting the knife frame to rotate relative to the base frame and motor.", "The invention also resides in various other features related to the knife, these including the knife having an upper leaf spring portion which is directly connected to the eccentric of the reciprocating mechanism, the leaf spring portion of the knife along at least a part of its length having a tapered cross section providing a lowered bending stress and avoiding a concentration of stress at the root of the leaf spring portion, the combination with the leaf spring portion of two spaced stops which engage the leaf spring portion momentarily during its phases of maximum lateral deflection to prevent the build up of large amplitudes of resonant vibration, the knife guide having a plurality of pairs of rollers at different vertical levels for restraining the blade to the theta axis, and the combination with the lower end of the blade of a sharpener wheel movable from a retracted position to a sharpening position at which it can grind one or the other of the side faces of the knife depending on the angular position relative to the theta axis to which the knife is moved before the sharpening wheel is brought into contact with it.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a cloth cutting machine embodying the present invention.", "FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the cutter head of the machine of FIG. 1, the base frame being shown in its raised or noncutting position relative to the tool carriage.", "FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the cutter head of FIG. 2, the base frame being shown in its lowered or cutting position relative to the tool carriage.", "FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the cutter head of FIG. 4, part of the tool carriage, being shown broken away for clarity and part of the knife frame being shown in vertical section.", "FIGS. 5A, 5B, 5C and 5D are similar vertical views taken on a vertical plane passing through the roller guide of FIG. 3 and showing, respectively, the eccentric pin of the reciprocating mechanism at four diferent positions spaced ninety degrees from each other about the axis of the eccentric drive shaft.", "FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view through the knife guide showing the two rollers which engage the front and rear edges of the knife.", "FIG. 7 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 7--7 of FIG. 6. FIG. 8 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 8--8 of FIG. 3, but with the base frame raised to its noncutting position and sharpener arm moved to its sharpening position.", "FIG. 9 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 9--9 of FIG. 8. FIG. 10 is a view looking toward the rear edge of the knife of the cutter of FIG. 2. FIG. 11 is a side view of the knife taken on the line 11--11 of FIG. 10.", "FIG. 12 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 12--12 of FIG. 11.", "FIG. 13 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 13--13 of FIG. 11.", "FIG. 14 is a fragmentary view in enlarged scale of a portion of the knife as seen in FIG. 10.", "FIG. 15 is a view similar to FIG. 12, but showing an alternate way of sharpening the knife.", "DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT FIG. 1 shows a cloth cutting machine, indicated generally at 10, having a cutter head, indicated generally at 12, embodying the present invention.", "In addition to the cutting head 12, the machine by way of major components is comprised of a cutting table 14 and a numerical controller 16.", "Preferably, the table 14 has associated with it a vacuum system for holding in place and compacting the material to be cut.", "Such vacuum system may, for example, be similar to that shown in copending application Ser.", "No. 736,838, filed May 22, 1985, in the name of the same inventor as this application, but such system is not necessary to the present invention and has been omitted in FIG. 1 for clarity.", "The table 14 has an elongated, rectangular, horizontal and upwardly facing work support surface 18 for supporting the material to be cut in a spread condition.", "One sheet of such material is shown at 20.", "The machine 10 is intended to be a low cost, light-weight high speed machine particularly adapted to the cutting of a single layer of sheet material spread on the supporting surface 18, or to the cutting of a single web of sheet material which is folded upon itself to create two layers (such cutting being referred to as "cutting on the fold") or to the cutting of layups of sheet material consisting of relatively few layers.", "The invention is not however necessarily limited to the cutting of single layers or low height layup and may be incorporated into cutting systems for cutting layups of any height or number of layers.", "The material forming the work support surface 18 of the table 14 may vary widely, but in any event it is one which allows the knife of the cutter head 12 to penetrate into it during a cutting operation.", "Preferably the support surface is formed by a plurality of bristle elements or blocks fitted together to form a continuous bristle bed, as in the aforementioned application Ser.", "No. 736,838, with the bristles extending vertically and preferably being substantially longer than the vertical stroke of the knife so that the lower end of the knife can remain constantly within the bristle bed throughout the full extent of each of its strokes during a cutting operation.", "The particular construction of the penetrable bed forming the support surface 18 is not, however, important to the present invention and need therefore not be described in more detail.", "A part of the cutter head 12 is a tool carriage 22 which is supported on an X-carriage 24, by two guide bars 26, 26, for movement in the illustrated Y-coordinate direction.", "Such movement is effected by a drive belt 28 fastened to the tool carriage 22 and passing over pulleys at opposite ends of the carriage 24, one of which pulleys is powered by a motor contained in a service module 38 attached to the carriage 24, the motor in turn being controlled by the numerical controller 16.", "At each of its opposite ends the X-carriage 24 is guided for movement relative to the table 14 by a combined guide rail and rack 40 extending along the associated side edge of the table, the carriage 24 having pinions (not shown) at its opposite ends engaging the racks and powered by another motor in the service module 38 controlled by the controller 16.", "Thus, by combined movement of the X-carriage 24 in the X-coordinate direction and the tool carriage 22 in the Y-coordinate direction the cutter head 12 may be made to follow any desired line of cut on the sheet 20 to cut pattern parts or other similar components from the sheet, one such line of cut being indicated at 42 and one such pattern piece being indicated at 44.", "The present invention resides primarily in the construction of the cutter head 12 and its associated knife whereby the cutter head may be made to have a relatively low weight allowing it to be rapidly accelerated and decelerated by reasonably sized motors while being of a rugged nature having low maintenance requirements and otherwise making it adaptable to low-cost, high-speed cutting of the material spread on the supporting surface 18.", "For an understanding of the construction of the cutter head 12 reference may first be made to FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 for a description of its major parts and their arrangement.", "As seen from these figures, the cutter head 12 includes a base frame 46 which is supported for vertical movement relative to the tool carriage 22, by two vertical guide rods 48, 48 fixed to the tool carriage and by slide bearings 50, 50 fixed to the base frame and slidably receiving the rods 48, 48.", "FIG. 2 shows the base frame 46 in its raised or noncutting position relative to the tool carriage 22 and FIGS. 3 and 4 show it in its lowered or cutting position relative to the tool carriage 22.", "A pneumatic actuator (not shown) or similar motor is used to move the base frame between these two positions.", "As seen from the side in FIG. 4 the base frame 46 is basically a U-shaped member having an upper horizontal wall 52, a lower horizontal wall 54 and a vertical wall 56.", "A knife frame 58 is carried by the base frame 46 for rotation relative to the base frame about a vertical theta axis 60.", "The knife frame 58 in turn carries a guide 60 for a vertically elongated knife 62, a reciprocating mechanism 64 and the major part of a drive mechanism 66 for the reciprocating mechanism 64.", "Also carried by the base frame 46 is a presser foot 68 attached to the lower ends of two vertical rods 70, 70.", "The rods 70, 70 are vertically slidable relative to the two horizontal walls 52 and 54 of the base frame and are limited in their downward movement relative to the base frame by a spring clip 72 at the upper end of each rod.", "A helical compression spring 74 surrounds the lower portion of each rod 70 and urges the rods and the presser foot 68 downwardly relative to the base frame.", "When the base frame 46 is in its raised position, as shown in FIG. 2, the presser foot 68 and the rods 70, 70 are in their lowermost positions with the presser foot 68 nevertheless being raised above the surface of the underlying sheet material 20 to be cut.", "As the base frame is moved from its raised position to its lowered cutting position the presser foot 62 is brought into engagement with the surface of the material 20 before the base frame reaches the lowermost limit of its movement and thereafter continued downward movement of the base frame causes the springs 74, 74 to be compressed causing the presser foot 62 to exert a pressing force on the material 20.", "For sharpening the knife 62 the tool carriage 22 has a horizontally extending wall portion 76 located below the bottom wall at 54 of the base frame and supporting a sharpening mechanism, indicated generally at 78, operable to sharpen the blade 62, as explained in more detail hereinafter, when the base frame 46 is in its raised noncutting position as shown in FIG. 2. The motor for driving the knife 62 in its reciprocating motion is indicated at 80.", "In accordance with the invention this motor is fixed to the base frame 46 while the reciprocating mechanism 64 rotates with the knife 62 about the theta axis 59, the arrangement of the motor 80 and the drive means 66 being such as to allow the motor 80 to drive the reciprocating mechanism 5S while nevertheless permitting the knife frame with the reciprocating mechanism 64 and knife guide 60 to rotate about the theta axis.", "This arrangement may be achieved in various different ways without departing from the broader aspects of the invention, but in the illustrated case the motor 80 is fixedly mounted to the top wall 52 of the base frame 46 and has an output shaft 82 aligned with the theta axis 59.", "The means for mounting the knife frame 58 to the base frame 46 for rotation about the theta axis 59 comprises, as best seen in FIG. 4, a main ball bearing unit 84 between the knife frame 58 and the lower wall 54 of the base frame, and a smaller bearing unit 86 interposed between the upper end of the knife frame 58 and the output shaft 82 of the motor 80.", "As to the bearing 86 it will be understood that the motor 80 has its own internal bearing or bearings supporting the output shaft 82 for rotation about, and restraining it against lateral deflection away from, the theta axis 59.", "Therefore, the bearing 86 in cooperation with the output shaft 82 of the motor provides additional radial support for the upper portion of the knife frame 58 while permitting it to rotate about the theta axis 59.", "Attached to the knife frame 58 below the main bearing 52 is a gear wheel 88 driven through a suitable gear train by a theta motor 90 (FIG.", "3) to control the positioning of the knife frame and knife about the theta axis.", "A conventional resolver (not shown) associated with the motor 90 provides a feedback signal to the controller 16, and during a cutting operation the controller controls the theta motor in such as way as to maintain the knife 62 tangent to the line of cut.", "Also, as explained hereinafter, during a sharpening operation the theta motor rotates the knife to the proper position about the theta axis for cooperation with the sharpening wheel of the sharpening mechanism 78.", "The reciprocating mechanism 64 has an input or eccentric shaft 92 (FIG.", "4) supported by the knife frame 58 for rotation relative to the knife frame about a horizontal axis 94 intersecting the vertical theta axis 59, the support means for the shaft 92 including a ball bearing unit 96 and a roller bearing unit 98.", "The drive means 66 for drivingly connecting the output shaft 82 of the motor 80 to the input shaft 92 of the reciprocating mechanism comprises a first pulley 100 fixed to the motor shaft 82, a second pulley 102 fixed to the reciprocating mechanism input shaft 92 and two idler pulleys 104 and 106 (best seen in FIG. 3) carried by the knife frame 58 for rotation about a common horizontal axis 108 perpendicular to the plane containing the axes 59 and 94, the two rollers 104 and 106 being located on opposite sides of that plane.", "A drive belt 110 passes over the pulleys 100, 102, 104 and 106 to complete the drive mechanism which it will be observed a type of differential drive allowing the rotation of the motor shaft 82 to be transmitted to the shaft 92 while also permitting the knife frame 58 with the shaft 92 to rotate about the theta axis.", "In addition to the input or eccentric shaft 92, the reciprocating mechanism 64 also includes an eccentric member in the form of a pin spaced radially from the axis 94 and fixed to the shaft 92 along with a counterweight 114.", "Pivotally received on the eccentric pin 112 is a chuck 116 which grips the upper end of the blade 64, the blade being fixed to the chuck by means of a screw 118.", "A counterweight 120 is included in the chuck 118 to counterbalance the weight of the screw 118 and the associated portions of the chuck.", "The blade 62 is made of a metal, such as M-2 high speed steel.", "As mentioned, it is connected directly to the chuck 116 and because of this includes not only a lower cutting portion 122 but also an upper leaf spring portion 124 which resiliently deflects laterally of the theta axis 59 to accommodate the lateral component of the motion of the eccentric pin 112, the leaf spring portion 124 therefore eliminating the rigid connecting link and bearings often used to connect an eccentric member to a knife in prior cutter head constructions.", "The particular construction of the knife 62 is described in more detail hereinafter in connection with FIGS. 10 to 15.", "For the moment, however, it can be noted that the guide 60 engages the lower portion 122 of the knife to restrain it to reciprocating motion along the theta axis 59.", "For this restraining action the guide 60 employs a plurality of rollers which engage the knife and hold it laterally in place with minimum frictional loss.", "Referring for example to FIG. 5A, the guide 60 includes three pairs of rollers which engage the side faces 126 and 128 of the knife at three different vertical levels to prevent it from deflecting at those levels away from the theta axis 59.", "The two uppermost pairs of rollers are provided by four bearings 130, 130 the outer races of which engage the knife.", "The lowermost pair of rollers is comprised of two rollers 132, 132.", "Each of these rollers 132, 132 is preferably fixed to its supporting shaft so that the shaft rotates with the roller and relative to the body of the guide 60 which supports the shaft on opposite sides of each roller to provide better stability for each roller and increased bearing surface between the rotating parts.", "In addition to the three pairs of rollers engaging the side faces 126 and 128 of the knife, the guide 60 also includes one pair of rollers 134, 134, as best seen in FIGS. 6 and 7 for engaging the forward edge 136 and rear edge 138 of the knife 62.", "The rollers 134, 134 are are each fixed to an associated shaft 140, each shaft 140 on each side of its roller being rotatably supported by an insert 142 carried by the body of the guide 60.", "Similarly to the case with the rollers 132, 132 the fixing of each roller 134 to its shaft 140 provides stability for the roller and also provides a maximum bearing surface between the rotating parts, the rotating parts being the shaft 140 and the two associated inserts 142.", "The leaf spring portion 124 of the knife 62, as seen for example in FIG. 5A, is essentially unsupported between the upper set of rollers 130, 130 of the guide 60 and the chuck 116 of the reciprocating mechanism.", "Because of this absence of support, standing waves and other vibrations may be set up in the leaf spring portion as the knife is reciprocated.", "Such vibrations, particularly those occurring at or near the resonant frequency of the leaf spring portion, tend to increase in amplitude from one reciprocation cycle to the next as the knife is reciprocated from an at rest condition with the leaf spring portion quickly developing high amplitudes of vibrations detrimental to its life.", "To inhibit the development of such high amplitudes of vibration the knife frame includes at least one antivibration stop, and preferably as shown two such stops, for engaging the leaf spring portion of the blade momentarily during each cycle of reciprocation to prevent or restrict vibration of the leaf spring portion at the point of contact and to thereby prevent high amplitudes of vibration from developing.", "In the illustrated case the antivibration stop means comprises two spaced rollers 144, 144 carried by the knife frame 58 for rotation about horizontal axes parallel to the side faces 126, 128 of the knife 62.", "The two rollers 144, 144 are so spaced from the theta axis 59 as to each momentarily engage the leaf spring portion 124 of the knife as the leaf spring portion passes through a position of maximum flexure.", "This operation is explained by FIGS. 5A, 5B, 5C and 5D showing the eccentric pin 112 in successive positions spaced ninety degrees from one another as the eccentric pin travels through one revolution.", "The position of the eccentric pin 112 shown in FIG. 5A may be taken as the zero degree position and the pin may be taken to orbit clockwise about the axis 94 as indicated by the arrow.", "In this zero degree position the pin 112 is located on the theta axis 59 and the leaf spring portion 124 is spaced from both of the rollers 144, 144.", "As the pin 112 moves from the FIG. 5A position the leaf spring portion of the blade 124 reaches a position of maximum flexure to one side of the theta axis 59 as the eccentric pin 112 comes to or near the ninety degree position of FIG. 5B.", "In this flexed position of the leaf spring portion 124 it engages, or at least comes very close to, the left roller 144 to limit the amplitude of vibration of the leaf spring portion at the point adjacent the roller to zero or some small value.", "Shortly after the pin 112 leaves the ninety degree position of FIG. 5 the leaf spring portion 154 loses contact with the left roller 144 and moves toward the 180 degree position shown in FIG. 5C at which the knife 62 is raised to its uppermost position with the leaf spring portion 124 being free from contact with each of the rollers 144, 144.", "Then as the eccentric pin 112 moves to or near the 270 degree position shown by FIG. 5D, the leaf spring portion is moved to a position of maximum flexure to the right of the theta axis 59 and is brought into momentary contact with or proximity to the right roller 144 to again create an amplitude limiting condition.", "Thereafter, the pin 112 returns to the zero degree position of FIG. 5A to complete the revolution and to begin a new one.", "Referring to FIGS. 5B and 5D it will be noted that except for the brief moments during each revolution of the eccentric pin 112 that the leaf spring portion 124, is brought into contact with or proximity to one or the other of the antiresonance rollers 144, 144 the leaf spring portion 124 is flexed essentially as a cantilever beam with the rollers of the guide 60 holding the lower portion of the blade to the theta axis and with the chuck of the reciprocating mechanism applying a lateral force to the upper end of the leaf spring portion deflecting it laterally to one side or the other of the theta axis.", "In a beam of uniform cross section such cantilever bending creates an area of maximum bending stress at the root of the beam, and the bending stress decreases linearly in going from the root of the beam to the free end at which the bending force is applied.", "In the case of the the knife 62 such bending stress concentration would occur at the root of the leaf spring portion 124 in the vicinity of the upper pair of rollers 130, 130 of the guide 60.", "To lower the bending stress in the leaf spring portion and to avoid a stress concentration at its root, the leaf spring portion 124 along at least a part of its length and starting at its root is shaped to provide a variable cross section causing the upper end of the leaf spring portion to be more flexible than it would be without such variable cross section, thereby requiring a smaller force to deflect it to the maximum deflected positions achieved by the reciprocating mechanism.", "Since smaller forces are required to achieve the maximum deflections, smaller bending stresses are obviously set up in the leaf spring portion.", "Also, the variable cross section causes the bending stress to be more uniform along that part of the length of the knife, thereby eliminating or reducing any concentration of bending stress at the root of the leaf spring portion.", "The variation in cross section used to make the upper end of the leaf spring portion more flexible (i.e. deflectable to a given position by a smaller force) and to achieve a more uniform bending stress may be obtained in different ways, but preferably and as shown in FIGS. 10, 11 and 14 it is achieved by varying the thickness of the knife while keeping the width of the knife substantially constant, the thickness being the dimension between the side faces 126 and 128 and the width being the dimension between the forward and rear edges 136 and 138.", "Referring to FIGS. 10 through 15, the dividing line between the lower portion 122 of the knife and the upper leaf spring portion 124 of the knife occurs at the point A which when the knife is in its lowermost position is located only a very short distance above the nip of the upper pair of rollers 130, 130 of the guide.", "Immediately below the point A the lower portion 122 of the blade has a constant thickness so that the associated rollers of the guide 60 will remain in contact with the side faces of the knife throughout the full extent of each cycle of reciprocation.", "Between the point A and the point C the leaf spring portion 124 of the blade is tapered in such a direction that the thickness decreases in proceeding upwardly from the point A toward the point B, and the rate of change of thickness is so chosen that the bending stress created in the laterally outer fibers of the knife by deflection of the upper end of the leaf spring portion away from the theta axis will be substantially uniform at all points along the length of the leaf spring portion between the points A and B. Between the points B and C the leaf spring portion 124 has a constant thickness, and above the point C the thickness widens to create an upper end portion 146 suitable for gripping by the chuck 116.", "The change in thickness in the illustrated case is achieved by starting with a knife blank of uniform thickness and by grinding one side face.", "If desired, both side faces may be ground to produce a more symmetrical shape.", "The lower part of the lower portion 122 of the knife is sharpened along the forward edge of the knife 136 as indicated at l48.", "The forward edge 136 proceeds downwardly to a point 150, and a sharpened bottom edge 152 inclines upwardly from the point 150 to the rear edge 138.", "The bottom edge 152 is sharpened prior to installation of the knife in the cutter head and is not thereafter sharpened by the sharpening mechanism 78.", "The sharpened edge 148 performs the major portion of the cutting during a cutting operation and is periodically sharpened by the sharpening mechanism 78.", "A feature of the sharpening mechanism 78 is that the knife 62 as to the sharpened portion 148 may be sharpened either as shown in FIG. 12 by grinding both side faces 126 and 128 of the knife or may be sharpened as shown in FIG. 15 by grinding only one of the side faces.", "Turning to FIGS. 8 and 9, the sharpening mechanism 78 includes a sharpener arm 148 rigidly fixed to a hub 150 supported for rotation relative to the tool carriage wall 76 about a first vertical axis 152.", "Supported on the outer end of the arm 148 for rotation relative to it about a second vertical axis 154 is a sharpening wheel 156 consisting of a body having a drive groove 158 intermediate its ends and an abrasive grit 161 bonded to the outer surface of the body.", "The sharpening wheel is driven in rotation about the second vertical axis 154 by a motor 160 through a pulley 162 and an O-ring drive belt 164 engaging the wheel's groove 158.", "A tension spring 166 normally holds the arm 148 in a retracted position against a stop 168 as shown by the broken lines of FIG. 8. From this position the arm is movable to an active sharpening position, as shown by the solid lines of FIG. 8, at which the sharpening wheel 156 is brought into engagement with the knife 62.", "For effecting this movement of the arm 148 the sharpening mechanism 78 includes a rotary electrical solenoid actuator 170 having an output member rotatable about a vertical axis 172 and carrying a vertically extending pin 174.", "When the actuator 170 is deenergized the pin 174 is biased by an internal spring to the position shown by the broken lines in FIG. 8. When the solenoid is energized the pin 174 rotates counterclockwise about the axis 172, as seen in FIG. 8, from the broken line position to the full line position and in the course of this movement engages a horizontal pin 176 fixed to the hub 150 thereby rotating the sharpener arm 148 from its retracted to its active position.", "In the course of a sharpening cycle the base frame 46 is first raised relative to the tool carriage 22 to its noncutting position to bring the part of the blade which projects downwardly out of the guide 60 to the vertical level of the sharpening wheel 156.", "The knife is then rotated to the proper position about the theta axis for sharpening and the sharpening wheel is then brought into contact with it by swinging of its arm 148.", "During the sharpening the blade is reciprocated, preferably at a lower stroking speed than used for cutting cloth, so that the sharpening wheel engages and sharpens the full extent of the sharpened portion 148.", "The body of the wheel is slightly conical, the upper end being of slightly smaller diameter than the bottom end, to accommodate the bending of the knife which occurs as the wheel is pressed against it and to thereby cause the wheel to exert a substantially uniform sharpening effect on the knife along the length of the knife engaged by the wheel.", "The cone angle a indicated in FIG. 9 is in the order of a few degrees and is exaggerated in FIG. 9 for clarity.", "The same effect can also be achieved by making the body of the wheel 56 cylindrical and by tilting its axis 154 relative to the theta axis 59.", "From the foregoing, and from FIG. 8, it will also be understood that through the positioning of the knife 62 about the theta axis 59 the sharpening wheel 56 during alternate sharpening cycles may be made to sometimes sharpen one side and some other times the other side of the blade to create a sharpened edge such as shown in FIG. 12.", "That is, as shown in FIG. 8, during one sharpening cycle the blade 62 is positioned as shown by the broken lines and during another sharpening cycle it is positioned as shown by the solid lines.", "Alternatively, every time the blade 62 is sharpened it may be rotated to the same position about the theta axis so that only one side of it is sharpened to create a sharpened edge such as shown by FIG. 15.", "Also, the angle of the knife about the theta axis may be varied to control the bluntness of the sharpened edge, that is the angle the ground surface or surfaces make with the side faces of the knife.", "For example, it may be desirable to change the bluntness with decreases in the width of the knife occurring as a result of repeated sharpening, and this can be done under control of the controller 16." ]

[ "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1.", "Field of the Invention The present invention is a self contained, trailer mounted system with condenser for cooling and condensing those oil well gases that can be condensed and with a separator for separating the condensed portion from the non-condensable portion of the gas stream so that they can be recovered as liquid hydrocarbons.", "The system is powered by the gas pressure from the well and operates without any outside utilities so that it can be used at new well sites where infrastructure has not been built to support the well.", "Description of the Related Art In today's era of oil and gas well drilling, often wells will be drilled in remote locations where there are no utilities and no gas gathering pipelines.", "In shale areas such as the Baaken, Marcellus, Utica, and Eagle Ford areas, the wells are known to produce significant quantities of very light gravity crude oil, condensate (also known as natural gas liquids or NGLs) and natural gas in abundance.", "Since the completion technologies are relatively new, and these fields are quite large in geographical area, they lack the infrastructure necessary to bring all of the hydrocarbons into the commercial stream.", "At these wells, it has not been feasible to condense those hydrocarbons that exit the wellhead in gaseous state that might otherwise have been condensed to a liquid state and pumped to an oil tank.", "Therefore, large quantities of valuable hydrocarbon liquid rich natural gas are being released into the atmosphere, either directly or through venting or flaring.", "Often the condensable hydrocarbons are being burned with the non-condensable gases in flares at the wellhead, resulting in the loss of a large amount of recoverable hydrocarbons.", "With the high price of petroleum, this loss can add up to a considerable loss of revenue.", "Also, the state and locate EPA offices in North Dakota, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Texas are now requiring that all wellhead gas be conditioned to remove as much of the valuable natural gas liquids as possible.", "This adds to the need for a new technology to remove the natural gas liquids prior to venting or flaring.", "At the majority of these new wells, all gas and valuable natural gas liquids are being flared and completely destroyed by burning.", "The present system condenses and captures a portion of the valuable hydrocarbon liquids before they are sent to the flare, increasing the amount of hydrocarbon liquids entering the economic stream, and minimizing the waste and pollution associated with burning these valuable and much-needed products.", "Also, burning hydrocarbon liquids generates considerable air pollution.", "This sort of air pollution was targeted in the Clean Air Act of 1970 as a known carcinogen.", "The present invention not only returns valuable hydrocarbons to the economic stream, it also generates a “green”", "benefit by reducing smog and the health hazards associated with it.", "The present invention addresses this problem by providing a trailer mounted condensate collection system that is capable of using the pressure from the well to operate the system without the need for outside utilities.", "The system is a trailer mounted condensate optimization system designed to capture otherwise flared or lost hydrocarbon liquids.", "The system includes a trailer mounted condenser and a trailer mounted separator.", "It is specifically designed to be rugged enough for transportation to any well site on what are typically rough lease roads.", "The present system treats the gases flowing from the well to condense, separate, and recover those gases that are capable of being condensed to a liquid from those gases that are non-condensable.", "Once on site, the system is connected to the well's flow line on the inlet end of the system and to the oil storage tank.", "The system is also connected on its outlet end to a flare, a vent stack or a gas pipeline when a gas pipeline is available.", "The system uses pressure from the well to operate a fan that blows ambient air across a heat exchanger where those hydrocarbons from the wellhead that can be condensed will cool sufficiently to condense to a liquid state.", "From the heat exchanger, the mixed gaseous and liquid effluent then flows through a separator where the effluent is initially used to heat the separator and then the effluent is introduced into the separator where the liquid portion is separated from the gaseous portion.", "The separated liquid portion is discharged to an oil storage tank where the liquids that flowed from the well are stored, and the separated gaseous portion is discharged to a flare to be burned or to a gas pipeline when one is available.", "As any oil and gas producing area matures, the infrastructure grows to accommodate the need to gather, refine, and process the hydrocarbons to the greatest benefits of the owners.", "As this infrastructure is put in place the need for wellhead gas liquids condensation systems will shift to areas still outside the influence of infrastructure systems.", "Wells still remote to new gas gathering pipeline systems and gas plants will still need mobile condensation collection systems like the present invention, at least until the entire field is blanketed by the necessary pipeline networks.", "In the known shale oil areas of the United States, these plays are so large it may be a century or more before the infrastructure development is truly complete.", "That assures the present invention a full and fertile future for many decades ahead.", "With over 160 drilling rigs currently running in the Baaken within a 50 mile radius of Williston, N. Dak.", ", and with the price of crude oil still rising steadily, the opportunities for the present system continue to grow.", "And the Baaken is just one basin and one area.", "The same conditions exist in other shale reserves.", "Rigs are completing wells at a rate of about one per month from spud to completion of fracturing.", "Therefore, in the Baaken alone, nearly 2000 new wells were completed and brought on line in 2012.", "The extrapolation of this into a nationwide new shale oil and gas well development makes it clear that there is a great need for the present invention.", "SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is a trailer mounted condensate collection system that is capable of using the pressure from the well to operate the system without the need for outside utilities.", "The system is a trailer mounted condensate optimization system designed to capture otherwise flared or lost hydrocarbon liquids.", "The system includes a trailer mounted condenser and a trailer mounted separator.", "It is specifically designed to be rugged enough for transportation to any well site on what are typically rough lease roads.", "The present system treats the gases flowing from the well to condense, separate, and recover those gases that are capable of being condensed to a liquid from those gases that are non-condensable.", "Once on site, the system is connected to the well's flow line on the inlet end of the system and to the oil storage tank.", "The system is also connected on its outlet end to a flare, a vent stack or a gas pipeline when a gas pipeline is available.", "As the gaseous stream from the well enters the system, the pressure is first reduced through a gas operated back pressure regulator valve to control the inlet pressure to the system.", "The system uses a stream of gas from the well to operate a gas powered fan that blows ambient air across an air heat exchanger where those hydrocarbons from the wellhead that can be condensed will cool sufficiently to condense to a liquid state.", "Once the pressure of the gaseous stream has been reduced, the gaseous stream then enters the air heat exchanger where the inlet gas is cooled to a temperature within 5-10 degrees from ambient air temperature.", "The air exchanger is a specially designed industrial horizontal in-fan with an under-mounted large diameter multi-blade fan below several horizontal passes of small diameter high pressure finned process gas/fluid containing tubes.", "The fan driven cooler moves ambient air across the various layers of finned tubes, cooling the tubes and thus the gases/liquids within the tubes, causing the once gaseous stream that entered the heat exchanger to condense to liquid and forming a mixture of gas and liquid within the tubes.", "This typically produces a temperature reduction of from 50-100 degrees Fahrenheit, depending on ambient conditions.", "The air exchanger is unique to this application in that its fan is driven by an air powered (or in this case gas powered) motor, eliminating the need for a conventional electric motor, since more often than not, electricity is not available on the target new well sites.", "The cooled liquids and gases exit the exchanger and then enter into a horizontal chiller-separator mounted on the trailer.", "This specially designed separator has a finned process cooling coil in the lower liquid phase portion of the separator tank.", "The Jules Thompson cooling effect of the upstream components creates a rain-like environment inside the separator allowing otherwise lost hydrocarbon fractions to condense out of the gas phase into the liquid phase within the separator tank.", "The finned process cooling coil in the bottom of the separator maintains the cool liquid temperature, stabilizing the liquid temperature to prevent re-evaporation.", "The result is a dramatic increase in recoverable hydrocarbon liquids.", "As the stable hydrocarbon liquid volume grows inside the separator, a gas operated liquid level controller senses the liquid level and sends a signal to a special freeze-proof oil valve to open, allowing the recovered liquid oil to move on to storage.", "The much enhanced volume of recovered hydrocarbon liquid then flows through a long-life battery powered and highly accurate turbine flow meter that counts each barrel of oil in increments of 1/1000ths of a barrel and electronically totalizes the flow on a continuously readable LCD display.", "The oil then exits the trailer mounted system and the separated liquid oil portion is discharged to an oil storage tank where the liquids that flowed from the well are stored and is ready for sale as crude oil.", "The remaining well stream or separated gaseous portion is now lean gas, free of condensable hydrocarbons.", "It is released or discharged from the trailer mounted system through a second gas operated back pressure valve from which it flows on to the lease flare stack to be burned, or alternately, to a gas pipeline when one is available.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the component parts of the present invention in relationship to an oil well and in relationship to a gas flare, an oil tank and a waste water tank that are located at the well site.", "FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the area within dashed line 10 of FIG. 1 .", "DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2 , there is illustrated a trailer mounted condensate collection system 10 constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.", "FIG. 1 is a diagram of the component parts of the system 10 that are mounted on a trailer 11 , with the components of the system 10 shown within the dashed line enclosure associated with numeral 10 .", "FIG. 1 shows the trailer mounted system 10 in relationship to an oil and gas producing well 12 and in relationship to a gas flare 14 , an oil storage tank 16 and a waste water tank 18 that are located at the well site.", "The trailer mounted condensate collection system 10 is capable of using the gas pressure from the well 12 to operate the system 10 without the need for outside utilities.", "The trailer mounted condensate optimization system 10 is designed to capture otherwise flared or lost hydrocarbon liquids that would be exiting from the well 12 in the gas stream.", "The system 10 includes a trailer 11 on which is mounted a condenser 20 and a separator 22 and associated valves and equipment as will be described hereafter.", "It is specifically designed to be rugged enough for transportation to any well site over rough lease roads.", "Referring now to the drawing, the system 10 will be described.", "The present system 10 treats the gases flowing from the well 12 to condense those gases that are capable of being condensed to a liquid, to separate the condensed liquids from those gases that are not condensed, and to recover those condensed liquids.", "Once on site, the system 10 is connected to the well's gas flow line 24 on the inlet end 26 of the system 10 .", "On the outlet end 26 of the system 10 , connections are made to an oil storage tank 16 , to a waste water tank 18 and to either a flare 14 , a vent stack (not illustrated) or a gas pipeline (also not illustrated), if a gas pipeline is available at the well site.", "As the gaseous stream from the well 12 enters the system 10 , the pressure is first reduced through a gas operated inlet back pressure regulator valve 30 to control the inlet pressure to the system 10 .", "The system 10 uses a stream of gas from the well 12 to operate a pneumatic powered fan 32 that blows ambient air across an air heat exchanger 34 of the condenser 20 .", "The air heat exchanger 34 is where those gaseous hydrocarbons from the well 12 that can be condensed will be cooled sufficiently to condense to a liquid state.", "Once the pressure of the gaseous stream has been reduced, the gaseous stream then enters the air heat exchanger 34 of the condenser 20 where the inlet gas is cooled to a temperature that is within approximately 5-10 degrees from ambient air temperature.", "The condenser 20 is a specially designed industrial horizontal fin-fan air exchanger 34 with an under-mounted large diameter multi-blade fan 32 located below several horizontal passes of small diameter high pressure finned process gas containing heat exchanger tubes 36 containing the gaseous stream from the well 12 .", "The fan driven cooler or condenser 20 moves ambient air across the various layers of finned tubes 36 , cooling the tubes 36 and thus the gas within the tubes 36 , causing a portion of the gaseous stream that entered the heat exchanger 34 to condense to liquid and forming a mixture of gas and liquid within the tubes 36 .", "This typically produces a temperature reduction of the gas and liquid stream from 50-100 degrees Fahrenheit, depending on ambient conditions.", "The air heat exchanger 34 is unique to this application in that its fan 32 is driven by an air powered fan motor 38 .", "In this case the gas that powers the motor 38 is not air, but is instead the pressurized gas from the well 12 .", "Use of this type of fan motor eliminates the need for a conventional electric motor, since more often than not, electricity is not available on the target new well sites.", "The cooled mixture of liquids and gases exits the exchanger 34 and then enters into a horizontal chiller-separator 22 that is also mounted on the trailer 11 along with the air exchanger 34 .", "This specially designed separator 22 has a finned process cooling coil 40 contained in the lower liquid phase portion of the separator 22 .", "The Jules Thompson cooling effect of the upstream components creates a rain-like environment inside the separator 22 allowing otherwise lost hydrocarbon fractions to condense out of the gas phase into the liquid phase within the separator 22 .", "The finned process cooling coil 40 in the bottom of the separator 22 maintains the cool liquid temperature, stabilizing the liquid temperature to prevent re-evaporation.", "The result is a dramatic increase in recoverable hydrocarbon liquids.", "The temperature within the separator 22 is monitored by a temperature controller 42 that opens a separate bypass control valve 44 to bypass the system 10 with the well's gas stream if the temperature within the separator 22 approaches temperatures low enough that the entrained water that was contained in the gas and liquid stream and is separated from the hydrocarbons in the separator 22 might be in danger of freezing within the separator 22 before it can be discharged to the waste water tank 18 .", "The separator 22 is provided with a gas operated water level controller 46 that senses the level of water within the separator 22 and sends a signal to activate a freeze-proof water dump valve 48 to open, allowing water to be discharged from the bottom of the separator 22 to maintain the proper water level in the separator 22 .", "The discharged water flows from the system 10 and into the waste water tank 18 .", "As the stable hydrocarbon liquid volume grows inside the separator 22 , a gas operated liquid level controller 50 senses the liquid level and sends a signal to a special freeze-proof oil valve 52 to open, allowing the recovered liquid oil to exit the separator 22 .", "The much enhanced volume of recovered hydrocarbon liquid then flows through a long-life battery powered and highly accurate turbine flow meter 54 that counts each barrel of oil passing through the meter 54 in increments of 1/1000ths of a barrel and electronically totalizes the flow on a continuously readable LCD display 56 .", "The separated liquid oil portion then exits the trailer mounted system 10 and flows to the oil storage tank 16 where the liquid hydrocarbons that initially flowed from the well 12 are stored and ready for sale as crude oil.", "Referring back to the separator 22 , a drip trap 58 is provided in-line on the gas line 60 that supplies control gas to the separator's temperature controller 42 , to the oil liquid level controller 50 and to the water level controller 46 to protect these instruments by preventing liquids from reaching them in the control gas.", "The remaining well stream or separated gaseous portion is now lean gas that is free of condensable hydrocarbons.", "It is released or discharged from the trailer mounted system 10 through a second gas operated back pressure valve 62 from which it flows on to the lease flare 14 to be burned, or alternately, to a gas pipeline when one is available at the well site.", "FIG. 1 shows the gaseous portion being conducted to a gas flare 14 .", "While the invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is manifest that many changes may be made in the details of construction and the arrangement of components without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure.", "It is understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiments set forth herein for the purposes of exemplification, but is to be limited only by the scope of the attached claim or claims, including the full range of equivalency to which each element thereof is entitled." ]

[ "CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This U.S. non-provisional patent application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2015-0006866, filed on Jan. 14, 2015, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.", "BACKGROUND The present disclosure herein relates to an electro-absorption optical modulation device, and more particularly to, a silicon semiconductor electro-absorption optical modulation device and a method of fabricating the same.", "In order to deal with a continuous increase in bandwidth according to a recent sharp increase in data communication, the miniaturization and stabilization of core optical parts are needed.", "As a technology that may monolithically integrate an electronic circuit and an optical device by the application of a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) process technology, a silicon photonics technology is significantly receiving attention.", "Thus, silicon or silicon on insulator (SOI) wafer based optical devices are being widely researched and developed and a technology that monolithically fabricates an active optical device and an electronic integrated circuit is being developed.", "The silicon photonics technology shows a high use value in optical interconnection and typical optical communication.", "However, a generally used SOI wafer has constraints in the aspect of cost and technology.", "For example, it is expensive in comparison to a silicon wafer, and even when a CMOS IC is fabricated, it is difficult to apply a library for the silicon wafer.", "The silicon photonics technology fabricating an SOI region locally on the silicon wafer is also receiving attention but it is true that integration is attempted by using an expensive SOI substrate for optical devices requiring an optical waveguide such as an optical modulator.", "SUMMARY The present disclosure provides an electro-absorption optical modulation device integrated on a bulk silicon wafer.", "Tasks to be performed by the inventive concept are not limited to the above-mentioned tasks and other tasks not mentioned may be clearly understood by a person skilled in the art from the following descriptions.", "An embodiment of the inventive concept provides an electro-absorption optical modulation device includes a semiconductor substrate, a first clad layer in a trench region formed in the semiconductor substrate, an optical waveguide core layer disposed spaced apart from sides of the trench region on the first clad layer and extended in a first direction, an optical modulation part disposed on the optical waveguide core layer and having an island shape, and a second clad layer covering the optical modulation part and the optical waveguide core layer.", "In an embodiment, the semiconductor substrate may include a bulk silicon wafer.", "In an embodiment, the optical modulation part may include a first contact layer, a depletion layer on the first contact layer, and a second contact layer on the depletion layer.", "The first contact layer may be extended to an outside of the depletion layer.", "The first contact layer may include a first semiconductor pattern, and the second contact layer may include a second semiconductor pattern.", "The depletion layer may include silicon (Si), germanium (Ge) or silicon germanium (SiGe).", "In an embodiment, the optical waveguide core layer may be extended in a first direction.", "The first clad layer and the second clad layer may cover the optical modulation part and the optical waveguide core layer.", "The optical modulation part may have an island shape.", "A width of a second direction intersecting the first direction of the optical modulation part may be smaller than that of the second direction of the first clad layer.", "In an embodiment, the first clad layer and the second clad layer may include silicon oxide or silicon nitride.", "In an embodiment, the optical waveguide core layer may include single crystal silicon.", "In an embodiments of the inventive concept, a method of fabricating an electro-absorption optical modulation device includes forming a first clad layer and an optical waveguide core layer on a surface of a semiconductor substrate, forming an optical modulation part on the optical waveguide core layer, and forming a second clad layer on the optical modulation part and the optical waveguide core layer, wherein the forming of the first clad layer and the optical waveguide core layer includes: filing a pair of first trenches with oxide, the first trenches being formed in a surface of the semiconductor substrate and extended in a first direction, and forming a second trench under the first trenches, the second trench being filled with oxide and connecting the first trenches.", "In an embodiment, the forming of the first clad layer and the optical waveguide core layer may include forming a pair of the first trenches in a surface of the semiconductor substrate through an etching process, the first trenches being formed spaced apart from each other, forming oxide in the lower portion of the first trenches, forming poly silicon films on sidewalls of the first trenches, removing the oxide, forming an oxide film by performing thermal oxidation on the semiconductor substrate, and performing planarization on the oxide film.", "In an embodiment, the forming of the optical modulation part may include forming a first contact layer by implanting impurities into an upper surface of the optical waveguide core layer, forming a depletion layer on the first contact layer by an epitaxial thin film growth process, and forming a second contact layer by implanting impurities into an upper surface of the depletion layer.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the inventive concept, and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification.", "The drawings illustrate exemplary embodiments of the inventive concept and, together with the description, serve to explain principles of the inventive concept.", "In the drawings: FIG. 1 is a plan view of an electro-absorption optical modulation device according to an embodiment of the inventive concept;", "FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line I-I′ in FIG. 1 ;", "FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II-II′ in FIG. 1 ;", "FIGS. 4 and 5 represent an electro-absorption optical modulation device according to another embodiment of the inventive concept and are cross-sectional views corresponding to line I-I′ in FIG. 1 ;", "FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram of an electro-absorption optical modulation device according to an embodiment of the inventive concept;", "and FIGS. 7 to 13 represent the process of forming an optical waveguide on bulk silicon wafer according to an embodiment of the inventive concept.", "DETAILED DESCRIPTION In order for readers to sufficiently understand the configuration and effect of the inventive concept, exemplary embodiments of the inventive concept are described with reference to the accompanying drawings.", "The inventive concept may, however, be embodied in different forms and make various changes and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein.", "The embodiments are provided to make the disclosure of the inventive concept complete and completely inform a person skilled in the art of the scope of the inventive concept.", "A person skilled in the art will be able to understand that the concepts of the inventive concept may be performed in any suitable environments.", "The same reference numerals throughout the disclosure refer to the same components.", "The terms used herein are only for explaining embodiments and not intended to limit the inventive concept.", "The terms in a singular form in the disclosure also includes plural forms unless otherwise specified.", "The terms used herein “comprises”", "and/or “comprising”", "do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more additional components, steps, operations and/or devices other than the components, steps, operations and/or devices that are mentioned.", "In the present disclosure, when a surface (or layer) is referred to as being ‘on’ another surface (or layer) or substrate, it can be directly on the other surface (or layer) or substrate, or a third surface (or layer) may also be present therebetween.", "Though terms such as first, second, and third are used to describe various regions and surfaces (or layers) in various embodiments of the present disclosure, the regions and the surfaces are not limited to these terms.", "These terms are used only to distinguish a certain region or surface (or layer) from another region or surface (or layer).", "Thus, a surface referred to as a first surface in an embodiment may also be referred to as a second surface in another embodiment.", "Each embodiment described and illustrated herein also includes its complementary embodiment.", "Parts indicated by the same reference numerals represent the same components throughout the disclosure.", "Also, embodiments in the present disclosure are described with reference to ideal, exemplary cross sectional views and/or plan views of the inventive concept.", "The thicknesses of layers and regions in the drawings are exaggerated for the effective description of technical content.", "Thus, the forms of exemplary views may vary depending on fabrication technologies and/or tolerances.", "Thus, embodiments of the inventive concept are not limited to shown specific forms and also include variations in form produced according to fabrication processes.", "For example, an etched region shown in a rectangular shape may have a round shape or a shape having a certain curvature.", "Thus, regions illustrated in the drawings are exemplary, and the shapes of the regions illustrated in the drawings are intended to illustrate the specific shapes of the regions of devices and not to limit the scope of the inventive concept.", "Terms used in embodiments of the inventive concept may be construed as meanings typically known to a person skilled in the art unless being defined otherwise.", "Exemplary embodiments of the inventive concept are described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.", "The idea of the inventive concept relates to an electro-absorption optical modulation device.", "More particularly, it relates to an electro-absorption optical modulation device integrated on a bulk silicon wafer and a method of fabricating the same.", "FIG. 1 is a plan view of an electro-absorption optical modulation device according to an embodiment of the inventive concept.", "FIGS. 2 and 3 are cross-sectional views taken along lines I-I′ and II-II′, respectively in FIG. 1 .", "FIGS. 4 and 5 represent an electro-absorption optical modulation device according to another embodiment of the inventive concept and are cross-sectional views corresponding to line I-I′ in FIG. 1 .", "Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3 , a substrate 100 is provided.", "The substrate 100 may be a bulk substrate formed of a semiconductor material.", "For example, the substrate 100 may be a bulk silicon wafer.", "The substrate 100 may be a single crystal silicon wafer.", "A first clad layer 110 may be disposed in first trenches 101 and a second trench 103 that are provided on the substrate 100 .", "The first trenches 101 and the second trench 103 may be extended in a first direction D 1 .", "The first trenches 101 may be extended from the upper part of the substrate 100 to the inside of the substrate 100 and the second trench 103 may be formed in the substrate 100 .", "The second trench 103 may connect the first trenches 101 .", "The first clad layer 110 may include silicon oxide.", "An optical waveguide core layer 210 may be disposed on the first clad layer 110 .", "The first clad layer 110 may cover the lower surface and sides of the optical waveguide core layer 210 .", "The optical waveguide core layer 210 may be disposed spaced apart from the sides 101 a of the first trenches 101 .", "The optical waveguide core layer 210 may be extended in the first direction D 1 .", "The refractive index of the optical waveguide core layer 210 may be higher than that of the first clad layer 110 .", "For example, the optical waveguide core layer 210 may be single crystal silicon.", "An optical modulation part 200 may be disposed on the optical waveguide core layer 210 .", "The optical modulation part 200 may have an island shape.", "The width of the optical modulation part 200 may be the same as that of the optical waveguide core layer 210 .", "Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5 , the width of the second direction D 2 of the optical modulation part 200 may be alternatively smaller or larger than that of the optical waveguide core layer 210 .", "The optical modulation part 200 may include a first contact layer 201 , a depletion layer 202 , and a second contact layer 203 that are sequentially stacked.", "The first contact layer 201 may be extended to the outside of the depletion layer 202 .", "The first contact layer 201 may have a first semiconductor pattern.", "For example, the first semiconductor pattern may be an n type semiconductor pattern.", "The second contact layer 203 may have a second semiconductor pattern.", "For example, the second semiconductor pattern may be a p type semiconductor pattern.", "The depletion layer 202 may be germanium (Ge) or silicon germanium (SiGe).", "The second clad layer 120 may be formed on the optical modulation part 200 to cover the optical waveguide core layer 210 and the optical modulation part 200 .", "For example, the first clad layer 110 and the second clad layer 120 may cover the optical modulation part 200 and the optical waveguide core layer 210 .", "The second clad layer 120 may have the same material as the first clad layer 110 .", "For example, the second clad layer 120 may include silicon oxide or silicon nitride.", "The refractive index of the second clad layer 120 should be smaller than that of the optical waveguide core layer 210 .", "A first electrode 240 a may be disposed on the second contact layer 203 .", "For example, the first electrode 240 a may be electrically connected to the second contact layer 203 .", "A second electrode 240 b may be disposed on the first contact layer 201 .", "For example, the second electrode 240 b may be electrically connected to the first contact layer 201 .", "FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram of an electro-absorption optical modulation device according to an embodiment of the inventive concept.", "The operating principle of the electro-absorption optical modulation device according to an embodiment is described with reference to FIG. 6 .", "An optical signal travelling along the optical waveguide core layer 210 reaches the depletion layer 202 of the optical modulation part 200 .", "In this case, optical coupling is performed by evanescent coupling.", "The intensity of the electric field of a reference signal in the depletion layer 202 is adjusted by a voltage applied to the first contact layer 201 and the second contact layer 203 and due to Franz-Keldysh effect, absorptance varies according to the intensity of an electric field applied to the depletion layer 202 .", "The electro-absorption optical modulation device according to an embodiment of the inventive concept may be fabricated as follows.", "FIGS. 7 to 13 represent the process of forming an optical waveguide on bulk silicon wafer according to an embodiment of the inventive concept.", "Referring to FIGS. 1 and 7 , it is possible to form a pair of first trenches 101 on a surface of the substrate 100 (e.g., bulk silicon wafer).", "For example, the first trenches 101 may be formed by the etching of the substrate 100 through an anisotropic etching process using a mask 130 .", "The first trenches 101 may be formed at an interval in the second direction D 2 intersecting the first direction D 1 .", "The first trenches 101 may be extended in the first direction D 1 .", "Referring to FIG. 8 , it is possible to form oxide 111 in the lower portions of the first trenches 101 .", "For example, by performing an etching process after the deposition of oxide in the first trenches 101 , it is possible to remain the oxide 111 only in the lower portions of the first trenches 101 .", "Referring to FIGS. 9 and 10 , it is possible to form poly silicon 112 on the sidewalls of the first trenches 101 .", "For example, the poly silicon 112 may be deposited by a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) process and formed by an etching process.", "By the deposition thickness of the poly silicon 112 , the shapes and sizes of the first clad layer 110 and the optical waveguide core layer 210 may be determined.", "Referring to FIG. 11 , it is possible to remove the oxide 111 .", "For example, it is possible to remove the oxide 111 by performing a wet etching process.", "Referring to FIGS. 12 and 13 , it is possible to form an oxide film by performing an oxidation process on the substrate 100 .", "For example, the oxidation process may be a thermal oxidation process.", "For example, the second trench 103 connecting the first trenches 101 may be formed in the substrate 100 during the oxidation process.", "It is possible to perform planarization on the oxide film.", "Thus, an oxide film that fills the first trenches 101 and the second trench 103 may be formed to work as the first clad layer 110 .", "The substrate on the first trenches 101 and the second trench 103 may become the optical waveguide core layer 210 .", "Referring back to FIGS. 2 and 3 , the optical modulation part 200 is formed on the optical waveguide core layer 210 .", "It is possible to form the first contact layer 201 by implanting impurities into the upper surface of the optical waveguide core layer 210 .", "For example, the impurities implanted into the upper surface of the optical waveguide core layer 210 may be an n type semiconductor dopant.", "The depletion layer 202 is deposited on the first contact layer 201 .", "For example, it is possible to form the depletion layer 202 on the first contact layer 201 by an epitaxial thin film growth process.", "It is possible to form the second contact layer 203 by implanting impurities into the upper surface of the depletion layer 202 .", "For example, the impurities implanted into the upper surface of the depletion layer 202 may be a p type semiconductor dopant.", "The second clad layer 120 is formed on the optical modulation part 200 and the optical waveguide core layer 210 .", "For example, the second clad layer 120 may deposit and form silicon oxide by the CVD process.", "By etching some regions of the second clad layer 120 , openings that expose the first contact layer 201 and the second contact layer 203 are formed.", "The first electrode 240 a may be formed by the opening that exposes the first contact layer 201 .", "The second electrode 240 b may be formed by the opening that exposes the second contact layer 203 .", "For example, the first electrode 240 a may be in electrical contact with the second contact layer 203 through the opening.", "For example, the second electrode 240 b may be in electrical contact with the first contact layer through the opening.", "It is possible to form the electro-absorption optical modulation device on a bulk silicon wafer only with a fundamental semiconductor device fabrication process and a thermal oxide film formation process, without using an expensive SOI wafer.", "By fabricating an SOI structure locally in a required region only, it is possible to achieve the high integration of various devices on an IC and secure the stability of a structure, without using the expensive SOI wafer.", "While embodiments of the inventive concept are described with reference to the accompanying drawings, a person skilled in the art may understand that the inventive concept may be practiced in other particular forms without changing technical spirits or essential characteristics.", "Therefore, embodiments described above should be understood as illustrative and not limitative in every aspect." ]

[ "FIELD OF APPLICATION OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention concerns a grinding element for mounting in a recess in a surface of a cylindric drum and including a retainer means designed with outer sidewalls that are complementary to sidewalls of the recess, where a squeezing force on the sidewalls of the retainer means arises in a situation of use by rotation of the cylindric drum, where the retainer means includes at least one groove for securing a grinding means, the groove extending from an outwards facing side of the retainer means and inwards and forming at least one elastic, pliable flap which is disposed between the said groove and at least one of the outer sidewalls.", "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] By surface treatment, as e.g. grinding or polishing, of diverse elements, grinding and polishing tools are used, provided with a cylindric drum in which is mounted a number of grinding elements that include abrasive paper and support brushes and/or retainer brushes.", "[0003] These grinding elements are typically made of a plastic material in which abrasive paper and brushes are often moulded.", "Experience shows that abrasive paper and support brushes/retainer brushes are not worn at the same rate.", "This implies waste of material as it is necessary to discard the entire grinding element even though typically it is only the abrasive paper that is worn out.", "[0004] Since on a circumferential face of a cylindric drum on an average there are between 30 and 60 grinding elements with abrasive paper and brushes, which by industrial use of the grinding or polishing tool is to be replaced regularly, the amount of grinding elements discarded constitutes a problem.", "[0005] Furthermore, the shape of the element to be ground as well as the control of the cylindric drum during the grinding may imply uneven wear of the abrasive paper on the cylindric drum, so that some of the mounted grinding elements are to be exchanged more often.", "[0006] There are different types of cylindric drums by which this problem is desired to be solved by mounting grinding elements which can be dismounted after which it is possible to replace the abrasive paper and/or brushes.", "[0007] The disadvantage of the type of cylindric drums where the grinding element is mounted replaceable in rails which are mounted at the circumferential edge of the cylindric drum is that the rails may destroy the surface of the item to be ground if the rails accidentally touch the surface.", "[0008] In a previously filed application, PCT/DK03/00238, the above problems are attempted to be solved by indicating different types of grinding elements that are adapted for accommodation in a recess in a surface of a cylindric drum, and where the abrasive paper and/or brushes are mounted directly in grooves in the retainer means of the grinding element, and where the abrasive paper and/or brushes are retained in the grooves by wedge action between the sidewalls of the recesses and the outer sidewalls of the retainer means of the grinding element, produced by the centrifugal force during rotation of the cylindric drum.", "[0009] It has appeared to be a good idea to have grinding elements with replaceable abrasive paper and/or brushes since there is achieved great flexibility when using the cylindric drum when abrasive paper and/or brushes may readily be replaced according to need or according to the type of surface treatment.", "[0010] However, a problem has arisen about the abrasive paper.", "It has been cumbersome to dispose a side part of the abrasive paper down into the groove in the desired position even if the grinding element has been dismounted from the cylindric drum.", "This is due to the abrasive paper not having sufficient rigidity so that it can be passed/drawn through the groove without bending, whereby the side part of the sandpaper e.g. forms a bead and jams in the groove.", "[0011] This entails that the abrasive paper on succeeding grinding elements around a cylindric drum does not necessarily have the same length.", "With a fixed rotational speed on the cylindric drum, different peripheral speeds of the free ends of abrasive paper mounted in succeeding grinding elements are therefore attained, causing uneven grinding of an item.", "PURPOSE OF THE INVENTION [0012] It is therefore the purpose of the present invention to indicate a grinding element where the abrasive paper is easy to replace simultaneously with having a well-defined length from the centre of the cylindric drum to its free end.", "[0013] This is achieved with a grinding element as described in the introduction of claim 1 , and where the said grinding means, for accommodation in the groove, has a bottom part with a shape complementary to the groove.", "DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [0014] In an embodiment of the present invention, the grinding element is provided with a grinding means constituted by a mounting means and sandpaper, where the mounting means has a connecting section to which the sandpaper is joined, and a socket section constituting the bottom part.", "[0015] In order not to make the grinding system more expensive than previously or to necessitate investments in new types of cylindric drums and/or grinding elements, the mounting means is made so that it can be used together with grinding elements from existing grinding systems which are purchased from the same firm.", "[0016] A permanent and secure retention of the mounting means in the groove for securing the sandpaper is achieved by the mounting means being made with a bottom part having a shape complementary to the groove for retaining the sandpaper.", "[0017] In order to achieve a well-defined length of the abrasive paper from the centre of the cylindric drum to its free end, it is important that the mounting part fills out the groove and thereby provides that no outwards directed displacement of the mounting means can occur, or that the mounting means can move laterally in the groove.", "The only possibility of moving is the longitudinal displacement of the mounting means in the groove when the abrasive paper is to be replaced.", "[0018] The abrasive paper is mounted on the connecting part of the mounting means before mounting the socket section of the mounting means in the groove, entailing that it is possible to fasten the abrasive paper in a desired position.", "[0019] As the socket section of the mounting part is securely anchored in the retainer means of the grinding element, it is possible to retain the abrasive paper at a certain position on all mounting parts of the grinding elements of cylindric drum, implying that the length of the abrasive paper has a well-defined length from the centre of the cylindric drum to its free end, and that an optimal grinding of an item is achieved.", "[0020] The length from the centre of a cylindric drum to the free end of the abrasive paper is therefore determined by the length of the abrasive paper only.", "This implies that if a cylindric drum with a large grinding diameter is desired, abrasive paper with great length is attached, or abrasive paper is attached farther out on the connecting section of the mounting means.", "[0021] In the previously filed application PCT/DK03/00238 there is described a cylindric drum where the groove in the retainer means is made up of one or more parts, where a first part is a preferably straight groove, and where the second part either includes a cavetto or a preferably straight groove which is joined at an angle relative to the first part of the groove of the retainer means.", "[0022] For mounting a abrasive paper with mounting means attached in the retainer means of existing grinding elements, the socket section of the mounting means is to be complementary with the shape of the groove for retaining sandpaper, and therefore the said socket section is designed with a first approximately straight part and a second part including one or more of the following parts: a straight second part angled in relation to the first straight part;", "a bead;", "and/or a number of projections.", "[0023] This implies that mounting means with a socket section including a second part with an approximately straight part joined at one angle in relation to the first part fits a groove where the second part of the groove is joined at the same, previously mentioned angle in relation to the first part of the groove of the retainer means;", "mounting means with a socket section including a second part in the form of a bead fitting into the groove which ends in a cavetto;", "mounting means with a socket section including a second part with a number of projections that fit into groove with an approximately straight first part.", "[0027] In one embodiment, projections on the socket section are designed so that they form wedges that are turned so as to allow to the socket section of the mounting means to be pressed down into the groove, but these projections will form retainers if pulling is performed on the mounting means before the grinding element is removed from the cylindric drum.", "[0028] In the previously filed application PCT/DK03/00238 it is described how projections are disposed at the sides of the groove in the fastening means, which e.g. will imply that a mounting means with a number of projections may be mounted in such a groove, whereby the projections will engage and thereby prevent the mounting means from being pressed out of the groove.", "[0029] In order to press the socket section of the mounting means down into the groove and simultaneously allow a certain bending of the mounting means when the abrasive paper is brought in contact with a surface, the mounting means is made of a flexible material, e.g. plastic or aluminium.", "[0030] Particularly if the mounting means has projections, it is important that the socket section of the mounting means can yield without being deformed destructively at the mounting and dismounting of the mounting means in the groove of the retainer means.", "By making the mounting means of e.g. plastic or aluminium it becomes possible to e.g. mass produce it by moulding or extrusion, whereby it is ensured that the mounting means are approximately identical.", "[0031] In an embodiment of the invention, the sandpaper is secured to the mounting means with glue and/or staples.", "The fastening is of high quality so that the sandpaper can endure to the blows and jerks arising when the grinding elements of the cylindric drum are brought in contact with the surface of an item, without being torn off the mounting element.", "[0032] The sandpaper may furthermore be laid double so that the grinding means has two grinding sides implying that the grinding element may be mounted arbitrarily, or that the cylindric drum can rotate in both directions, and a grinding effect can still be achieved.", "[0033] In an embodiment of the invention, the said fastening means in the outwards facing side furthermore includes a number of cutouts which are preferably designed as holes which are adapted for accommodating support brushes and/or retainer brushes, which the sandpaper then leans on at rotation of the cylindric drum, and thereby is achieved a greater rigidity of the sandpaper and a better dust removal.", "[0034] These support brushes and/or retainer brushes are mounted exchangeably, and there is achieved a great flexibility in use of the cylindric drum when abrasive paper as well as support brushes and/or retainer brushes can be changed according to need or type of surface treatment.", "[0035] The abrasive paper can e.g. be sandpaper for buffing wood, metal and the like, canvas and/or fabric polishing, or leather.", "[0036] Support brushes and/or retainer brushes may e.g. be steel brushes, ondolon brushes or plastic brushes.", "[0037] In order to ensure uniform fastening of the abrasive paper on the mounting means and thereby to achieve a well-defined length of the abrasive paper from the centre of the cylindric drum to the free end of the abrasive paper, the connecting part of the mounting means is provided with a marking, and the connecting part of the mounting means has one definite length.", "[0038] The marking is used for rapid and easy marking during the production process to where the abrasive paper is to be placed during the fastening.", "This marking may be a transverse projection or cutout on the mounting means, a number of projections that are disposed transversely of the mounting means, a dimensional transition between the connecting part and the socket section of the mounting means and/or a coloured line.", "[0039] Since the connecting part of the mounting means has one definite length, it is possible to automatically produce the marking during production at a certain spot, e.g. at the transition between the connecting part and socket section of the mounting means, since there will always be a connecting member of required length for fastening the abrasive paper.", "[0040] In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the said fastening means is constituted by a centre fillet and an outer filled that encloses at least a lower part of the said centre fillet, and which at a side is designed with a longitudinal recess for accommodating a complementary longitudinal part of the said centre filled and a side member extending upwards in a cutout in a side of the centre fillet.", "[0041] Since the outer fillet has a side member extending upwards in a cutout in a side of the said centre fillet, the outer fillet will be kept in position laterally, and together with the side member of the centre fillet, the side member will constitute the first of the outer sidewalls of the retainer means.", "[0042] The outer fillet encloses the lower part of the said centre fillet and extends up along a side of the centre fillet and constitutes wholly or partly the second of the outer sidewalls of the retainer means.", "[0043] The interspace between the outer fillet and the centre fillet constitutes the groove in the fastening means in which the bottom part of the grinding means can be mounted, implying that the grinding means may easily be exchanged without the fastening means being removed from the cylindric drum.", "[0044] The bottom part of the grinding means may easily be fitted down into the outer fillet, so that it follows the shape of the outer fillet, after which the centre fillet can be pressed down into the outer fillet so that the longitudinal recess receives the complementary longitudinal part of the centre fillet, whereby the outer sidewalls of the fastening means are formed simultaneously with the grinding means is retained in the groove.", "[0045] Alternatively, instead of a grinding means, which is constituted by a mounting means and a sandpaper, a grinding means is used which is constituted by a sandpaper with bent edge part that constitutes the said bottom part, whereby the sandpaper may be mounted in the grooved of the fastening means and thereby be retained during rotation of the cylindric drum by means of the squeezing force on the sidewalls of the fastening means.", "[0046] This embodiment of the grinding means is particularly suited for use with a fastening means which is constituted by a centre fillet and an outer fillet, since it is possible to place the bent edge part of the sandpaper down into the outer fillet and subsequently to press the centre fillet in position down in the outer fillet.", "[0047] The abrading side of the sandpaper will furthermore counteract the risk of the sandpaper becoming torn out of the groove in the fastening means.", "[0048] The grinding element described above may be designed with either a fillet or a block that fits into the grinding system produced and sold by the firm Flex Trim A/S.", "SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES [0049] The invention is explained more closely in the following with reference to the drawings, where: [0050] FIG. 1 shows a grinding element with a mounting means incl.", "abrasive paper and a fastening means according to the invention;", "[0051] FIG. 2 shows an alternative grinding element with a mounting means including abrasive paper and a fastening means according to the invention;", "[0052] FIG. 3 shows a mounting means with abrasive paper according to the invention;", "[0053] FIG. 4 shows a grinding element mounted in a cylindric drum;", "[0054] FIG. 5 shows parts for an alternative grinding element according to the invention;", "and [0055] FIG. 6 shows the assembled alternative grinding element.", "DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [0056] On FIG. 1 is show a grinding element including a grinding means 1 and a retainer means 2 in which is provided a groove 5 that includes a first straight groove section 5 a and a second straight groove section 5 b which is connected at an angle 8 in relation to the first straight groove section 5 a .", "Grinding means 1 is constituted by a sandpaper 4 and a mounting means 3 including a connecting section 3 a and a socket section 3 b which is made with a first straight part 6 and a second straight part 7 that are mutually connected at an angle 8 .", "The socket section 3 b of the mounting means 3 is complementary in shape with the groove 5 of the retainer means 2 and will therefore be entirely secured in the fastening means 2 when inserting the socket section 3 b of the mounting means 3 in the groove 5 of the retainer means 2 .", "At one side of the connecting section 3 a of the mounting means 3 the abrasive paper 4 is secured with glue 10 .", "[0057] On FIG. 2 a grinding element is shown, including a mounting means 20 and a retainer means 21 in which is provided a groove 22 that includes a first straight groove part 22 a and a cavetto 22 b .", "Grinding means 20 is constituted by sandpaper 4 and a mounting means 25 that includes a connecting section 3 a and a socket section 26 which is made with a first straight part 24 and a bead 23 .", "As the socket section 26 of the mounting means 25 has a shape complementing the groove 22 of the retainer mans 21 , the mounting means 25 will be completely fixed in the retainer means 21 when inserting the socket section 26 of the mounting means 25 into the groove 22 of the retainer means 21 .", "The sandpaper 4 is fastened on one side of the connecting section 3 a of the mounting means 25 by staples 9 and glue 10 .", "[0058] On FIG. 3 is shown an alternative grinding means 30 including a mounting means with a connecting section 3 a and a socket section 31 on which are provided a number of projections 32 shaped as triangles which are turned so that they allow socket section 31 to be pressed down into a groove (not shown).", "Projections 32 will form retainers if the grinding means 30 is attempted to be pulled out of the groove (not shown).", "On one side of the connecting section 3 a of the mounting means there is fastened an abrasive paper 4 with staples 9 and glue 10 .", "[0059] On FIG. 4 is shown a grinding element 40 where the fastening means 2 is mounted in recess 41 in the cylindric drum 42 .", "Due to the inclining sidewalls of both the fastening means 2 and the groove 41 , by mounting and during rotation the mounting means 3 will be retained in the groove 5 in the fastening means 2 by means of a squeezing force F that presses the groove 5 together about the socket section of the mounting means 3 .", "[0060] On FIG. 5 is shown a grinding element 50 that includes a grinding means 51 and a fastening means constituted by a centre fillet 51 and an outer fillet 52 .", "Centre fillet 51 has a side recess 53 and a longitudinal part 53 which is complementary to a longitudinal recess 55 in the outer fillet 52 .", "The outer fillet 52 has a side member 56 which is arranged to extend upwards in side recess 53 .", "[0061] On FIG. 6 the grinding element 50 is shown assembled where grinding means 51 is fitted in the groove 60 which is provided between the outer fillet 52 and the centre fillet 51 .", "It is seen that the longitudinal recess 55 accommodates the longitudinal part 53 and thereby forms bottom in the groove 60 .", "Furthermore, side member 56 is received in side cutout 53 whereby one outer sidewall of the fastening means 61 is constituted by the outer fillet 52 , and the second outer sidewall is constituted by side member 56 /centre fillet 51 ." ]

[ "CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] Applicant claims priority based on provisional patent application Ser.", "No. 60/745,584 filed Apr. 25, 2006, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference.", "TECHNICAL FIELD [0002] This invention relates generally to the treatment of morbid obesity by means of adjustable gastric bands, and more particularly to a method of and apparatus for preventing gastric band slips during the treatment procedure.", "BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0003] Referring to the Drawings, and particularly to FIG. 1 thereof, there is shown a human stomach 10 having an adjustable gastric band 12 secured therearound.", "As is well known to those skilled in the art, the adjustable gastric band 12 typically includes an outer flexible, substantially non-extendable layer 14 and an inner expandable layer which is secured to the outer layer 14 .", "[0004] In use, the adjustable gastric band 12 is extended around the stomach 10 at the location shown in FIG. 1 .", "The adjustable gastric band 12 is then secured in place by joining the opposite ends of the flexible, substantially non-extendable layer 14 utilizing a latch.", "When the adjustable gastric band 12 is thus secured in place the stomach is divided into a relatively small upper portion 16 and a relatively larger lower portion 18 .", "[0005] The adjustable gastric band 12 is provided with a tube 20 which extends through an incision made in the abdominal wall of the patient to a location outside of the abdominal cavity.", "Sterile saline is directed through the tube 20 , through a valve, and into the expandable inner layer of the adjustable gastric band 12 thereby causing the expandable inner layer to balloon inwardly.", "In this manner the passage of food from the upper portion 16 to the lower portion 18 of the stomach 10 is restricted.", "[0006] It is theorized that the upper portion 16 of the stomach 10 and/or the adjacent lower region of the esophagus contains nerve endings which trigger a “full”", "feeling when the stomach 10 is full.", "When the adjustable gastric band 12 is positioned as illustrated in FIG. 1 and when the flexible inner wall of the adjustable gastric band is inflated, food accumulates in the upper portion 16 and in the adjacent lower region of the esophagus.", "This causes the patient to experience a “full”", "feeling even though the lower portion 18 of the stomach 10 is in fact not full.", "Because the patient experiences a “full”", "feeling after consuming a relatively small amount of food the patient's total caloric intake is reduced thereby facilitating control of the patient's obesity.", "As is understood by those skilled in the art, the inner flexible layer of the adjustable gastric band 12 is further expanded as the obesity treatment progresses thereby further restricting the passage of food from the upper portion 16 to the lower portion 18 of the stomach 10 .", "[0007] In between about 3% and about 5% of the 40,000+ cases annually in which an adjustable gastric band is used in the treatment of morbid obesity the adjustable gastric band 12 moves downwardly relative to the stomach 10 , an occurrence known as a slip.", "When an anterior slip occurs the adjustable gastric band moves into the improper vertical orientation illustrated in FIG. 2 as opposed to the proper angular orientation illustrated in FIG. 1 .", "A slip of the type illustrated in FIG. 2 is dangerous because it results in food accumulating in the upper portion 16 of the stomach 10 rather than flowing smoothly from the upper portion 16 to the lower portion 18 of the stomach 10 albeit at a slower than normal rate.", "Accumulation of food in the upper portion 16 of the stomach 10 can cause the patient to experienced frequent vomiting.", "More importantly, a slip directly restricts blood flow to the herniated portion of the stomach which can cause necrosis thereof which can lead to a surgical emergency and possibly death.", "[0008] As is also well known to those skilled in the art a posterior slip of the adjustable gastric band 12 relative to the stomach 10 can also occur.", "The undesirable results of a posterior slip are substantially the same as those described above in conjunction with the slip illustrated in FIG. 2 .", "[0009] FIG. 3 illustrates a prior art technique for preventing movement of the adjustable gastric band 12 relative to the stomach 10 .", "A flap comprising part of the lower portion 18 of the stomach 10 is secured to the upper portion 16 by a plurality of sutures 22 .", "So long as the flap remains sutured to the upper portion 16 of the stomach 10 the adjustable gastric band 12 is secured against significant movement relative to the stomach.", "However, as is well known to those skilled in the art, various occurrences can cause the flap to become disengaged from the upper portion 16 of the stomach 10 .", "For example, the sutures 22 can simply tear loose.", "It is also possible that the knots which secure the sutures 22 in place will fail either by becoming untied or due to breakage.", "It is also possible that the sutures will deteriorate under the action of fluids contained within the stomach 10 and/or within the body cavity.", "[0010] The present invention comprises a method of and apparatus for preventing movement of an adjustable gastric band relative to the stomach upon which the adjustable gastric is installed.", "In accordance with the broader aspects of the invention, an adjustable gastric band is positioned on a stomach in the conventional manner and is thereafter sutured to the stomach thereby eliminating the possibility of movement of the adjustable gastric band relative to the stomach.", "[0011] In accordance with a first embodiment of the invention a plurality of tabs are formed integrally with the flexible, substantially non-extendable layer of an adjustable gastric band and are provided with suture receiving holes to facilitate suturing of the adjustable gastric band to the stomach.", "In accordance with a second embodiment of the invention, lengths of suture material secured to the flexible, substantially non-extendable outer layer of an adjustable gastric band to facilitate suturing of the adjustable gastric band to the stomach.", "[0012] In accordance with a third embodiment of the invention, the flexible, substantially non-extendable layer of an adjustable gastric band is provided with a plurality of tabs each having a suture receiving hole formed therein and with a plurality of loops formed from suture material for facilitating suturing of the adjustable gastric band to the stomach.", "In accordance with a fourth embodiment of the invention a plurality of tabs are secured to the flexible, substantially non-extendable layer of an adjustable gastric band and are provided with suture receiving apertures thereby facilitating suturing of the adjustable gastric band to the stomach.", "In accordance with a fifth embodiment of the invention a length of fabric is secured to the flexible, substantially non-extendable layer of an adjustable gastric band and is provided with a plurality of apertures extending therethrough for facilitating suturing of the adjustable gastric band to the stomach.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0013] A more complete understanding of the present invention may be had by reference to the following Detailed Description when taken in connection with the accompanying Drawings, wherein: [0014] FIG. 1 is an illustration of an adjustable gastric band properly installed on a stomach;", "[0015] FIG. 2 is an illustration of an adjustable gastric band slip;", "[0016] FIG. 3 is an illustration of the use of a stomach flap to secure an adjustable gastric band against movement relative to the stomach;", "[0017] FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a first embodiment of the invention;", "[0018] FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a second embodiment of the invention;", "[0019] FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a third embodiment of the invention;", "[0020] FIG. 7 is perspective view illustrating a fourth embodiment of the invention;", "[0021] FIG. 8 is perspective view illustrating the use of the first, second, third, and fourth embodiments of the invention in conjunction with a stomach;", "[0022] FIG. 9 is perspective view illustrating a fifth embodiment of the invention;", "and [0023] FIG. 10 is perspective view illustrating the use of a fifth embodiment of the invention in conjunction with a stomach.", "DETAILED DESCRIPTION [0024] Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to FIG. 4 thereof, there is shown an adjustable gastric band 30 comprising a first embodiment of the invention.", "Although a particular gastric band construction is illustrated in the drawings, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention is applicable to all gastric restrictive devices including but not limited to the Lap Band® adjustable gastric band distributed by INAMDED®, the Swedish Adjustable Gastric Band (SAGB) distributed by Obtech, the MIDBAND adjustable gastric band distributed by Medical Innovation Developpement, and the AMI Soft Gastric Band distributed by C.J. Medical.", "[0025] The adjustable gastric band 30 comprises a flexible, substantially non-extendable outer layer 32 and an inner flexible layer 34 .", "A tube 36 is connected to the inner flexible layer 34 of the adjustable gastric band 30 through a one way valve for use in inflating the flexible layer 34 thereby causing the layer 34 to balloon inwardly.", "The adjustable gastric band 30 further includes a latching mechanism 38 which is employed to initially secure the adjustable gastric band 30 around the stomach of a patient.", "[0026] In accordance with the present invention, the flexible, substantially non-extendable layer 32 has a plurality of tabs 40 formed integrally therewith.", "Each of the tabs 40 has a suture receiving aperture 42 formed therethrough.", "After the adjustable gastric band 30 has been properly positioned on a stomach and secured in place by the locking mechanism 38 , the tabs 40 are utilized to prevent movement of the adjustable gastric band 30 relative to the stomach.", "This is accomplished by suturing the adjustable gastric band 30 to the stomach utilizing the apertures 42 extending through the tabs 40 .", "[0027] Referring to FIG. 5 , there is shown an adjustable gastric band 50 comprising a second embodiment of the invention.", "The adjustable gastric band 50 comprises a flexible, substantially non-extendable outer layer 52 and an inner flexible layer 54 .", "A tube 56 is connected to the inner flexible layer 54 of the adjustable gastric band 50 through a one way valve for use in inflating the flexible layer 54 thereby causing the layer 54 to balloon inwardly.", "The adjustable gastric band 50 further includes a latching mechanism 58 which is employed to initially secure the adjustable gastric band 50 around the stomach of a patient.", "[0028] In accordance with the present invention, the flexible, substantially non-extendable layer 52 has a plurality of loops 60 secured thereto.", "Each of the loops 60 comprises a length of suture material which is secured to the outer layer 52 by conventional means such as the use of a suitable adhesive, welding, sewing, stapling, etc.", "After the adjustable gastric band 50 has been properly positioned on a stomach and secured in place by the locking mechanism 58 , the loops 60 are utilized to prevent movement of the adjustable gastric band 50 relative to the stomach.", "This is accomplished by suturing the adjustable gastric band 50 to the stomach utilizing the loop 60 .", "[0029] Referring to FIG. 6 , there is shown an adjustable gastric band 70 comprising a third embodiment of the invention.", "The adjustable gastric band 70 comprises a flexible, substantially non-extendable outer layer 72 and an inner flexible layer 74 .", "A tube 76 is connected to the inner flexible layer 74 of the adjustable gastric band 70 through a one way valve for use in inflating the flexible layer 74 thereby causing the layer 34 to balloon inwardly.", "The adjustable gastric band 70 further includes a latching mechanism 78 which is employed to initially secure the adjustable gastric band 70 around the stomach of a patient.", "[0030] The adjustable gastric band 70 comprises the tabs 40 of the adjustable gastric band 30 of FIG. 4 and the loops 60 of the adjustable gastric band 50 of FIG. 5 .", "It is theorized that the use of the loops 60 on the posterior side of the adjustable gastric band 70 will lessen the drag that would otherwise be experienced in positioning the band 70 around the stomach of a patient.", "[0031] Referring to FIG. 7 thereof, there is shown an adjustable gastric band 80 comprising a fourth embodiment of the invention.", "The adjustable gastric band 80 comprises a flexible, substantially non-extendable outer layer 82 and an inner flexible layer 84 .", "A tube 86 is connected to the inner flexible layer 84 of the adjustable gastric band 80 through a one way valve for use in inflating the flexible layer 84 thereby causing the layer 84 to balloon inwardly.", "The adjustable gastric band 80 further includes a latching mechanism 88 which is employed to initially secure the adjustable gastric band 80 around the stomach of a patient.", "[0032] In accordance with the present invention the flexible, substantially non-extendable layer 32 is provided with a plurality of tabs 90 .", "The tabs 90 are secured to the flexible, substantially non-extendable outer layer of the adjustable gastric band 80 by means of a suitable adhesive, welding, sewing, stapling, etc.", "Each of the tabs 90 has a suture receiving aperture 92 formed therethrough.", "After the adjustable gastric band 80 has been properly positioned on a stomach and secured in place by a locking mechanism 88 , the tabs 90 are utilized to prevent movement of the adjustable gastric band 80 relative to the stomach.", "This is accomplished by suturing the adjustable gastric band 80 to the stomach utilizing the apertures 92 extending through the tabs 90 .", "[0033] FIG. 8 illustrates the utilization of the embodiments of the invention shown in FIGS. 4 , 5 , 6 , and 7 and described hereinabove in conjunction therewith.", "After the adjustable gastric band 100 is secured around the stomach 10 , it is secured in place by means of tabs or loops 102 secured to the flexible, substantially non-extendable outer layer 104 of the adjustable gastric band 100 and sutures 106 which secure the bands or loops 102 to the wall of the stomach 10 .", "Subsequently a flap comprising part of the lower portion 18 of the stomach 10 may be secured to the upper portion 16 thereof utilizing sutures 108 .", "Use of the present invention provides an added safeguard against slippage of the adjustable gastric band 100 in the event that the flap becomes disengaged from the upper portion 16 of the stomach 10 for any reason.", "[0034] Referring to FIG. 9 , there is shown an adjustable gastric band 110 comprising a fifth embodiment of the invention.", "The adjustable gastric band 110 comprises a flexible, substantially non-extendable outer layer 112 and an inner flexible layer 114 .", "A tube 116 is connected to the inner flexible layer 114 of the adjustable gastric band 110 through a valve for use in inflating the flexible layer 114 thereby causing the layer 114 to balloon outwardly.", "The adjustable gastric band 110 further includes a latching mechanism 118 which is employed to initially secure the adjustable gastric band 110 around the stomach of a patient.", "[0035] In accordance with the present invention a fabric layer 120 is secured to the flexible, substantially non-extendable layer 112 of the adjustable gastric band 110 .", "The layer 120 is preferably pleated as illustrated in FIG. 9 .", "The layer 120 may be secured to the flexible, substantially non-extendable layer 112 by any of a variety of conventional techniques such as utilizing a suitable adhesive, welding, sewing, stapling, etc.", "A plurality of suture receiving aperture 122 extend through the layer 120 adjacent the lower edge thereof.", "[0036] FIG. 10 illustrates the utilization of the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 9 and described hereinabove in conjunction therewith.", "After the adjustable gastric band is secured around the stomach 10 it is secured in place by means of the layer 120 and sutures 124 and into engagement with the stomach wall to secure the adjustable gastric band 110 against movement relative to the stomach 10 .", "[0037] Although preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustrated in the accompanying Drawings and described in the foregoing Detailed Description, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed, but is capable of numerous rearrangements, modifications, and substitutions of parts and elements without departing from the spirit of the invention." ]

[ "[0001] The invention relates to an apparatus for continually skimming off a top layer of a body of liquid, comprising: a self-adjusting container for collecting said top layer, said container being adapted to seek an effective balanced position dependent on the liquid level for collecting the top layer, and discharge means for discharging the top layer collected by said container, wherein said container is tiltably coupled to said discharge means.", "BACKGROUND [0002] Surface weirs have long had widespread use as a means of controlling or measuring liquid flow rates.", "They are used in devices to skim liquid surfaces of unwanted materials and also in apparatus for separation of liquids having different densities.", "Chemical manufacturing processes, water treatment process, waste treatment processes and water pollution cleanup operations all use separating, flow regulating or skimming devices.", "[0003] There is a variety of skimming devices in the prior art.", "One such skimmer is a weir skimmer, which typically comprises a barrier wall of adjustable height which allows oil floating on water to flow over the wall and into a collection trough while excluding water.", "Recovered oil is then continuously pumped from the collection trough to a storage or transport means.", "Weir skimmers operate well in calm water with large or contained spills which produce a relatively thick oil layer.", "[0004] Disc skimmers ordinarily include a plurality of discs spaced apart coaxially along a rotating shaft which may be supported by floats to position the lower portion of the discs in the water.", "Oil contacts and adheres to the rotating discs and is removed by blades or wipers which direct the collected oil into a sump or other collection means.", "[0005] Drum skimmers have also been used for removal of oil and other hydrocarbons from water surfaces.", "A drum skimmer consists of one or more large rollers, or drums, which rotate partly submerged in water.", "Oil attaches to the drum surface as the drum rotates through the oil-water interface.", "The attached oil is then removed by squeezing or scraping the oil from the drum surface.", "[0006] Most of the weir devices in use as separating, regulating or skimming apparatus are somewhat limited in operation and applications.", "One such device is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,405,458 to McHugh, Jr. which can be mounted in a fixed installation, such as a connection to a standpipe or as a floating unit.", "The unit utilizes a float supported weir that is unattached to the apparatus, except for contact with an adjustable retainer, which sets the weir elevation and flow rate.", "[0007] The pivoting weir is mounted within a close fitting guide collar which guides weir movement and provides a practical or liquid seal between these members.", "The liquid seal provides a lubricating film to insure free vertical movement.", "The unit responds to flow interruptions caused by disturbances or variations in the flow rate of the piping system connected to the unit.", "Flow rate fluctuations result in the lowering of the inside liquid level and a corresponding lowering of the weir edge.", "[0008] U.S. Pat. No. 5,498,348 to Plink et al.", "discloses a mobile floating surface skimmer comprising a vessel having an inlet through which liquid from the surface of the body of liquid can flow into the vessel together with the debris and/or contaminants.", "An outlet is connected to a pump for removing liquid, together with the debris and/or contaminants from the vessel.", "A valve controls the flow of liquid into the vessel in response to the level of the liquid to maintain the inlet near the surface of body of the liquid wherein the valve is provided with a delayed response to cause the skimmer to oscillate vertically in the body of liquid so the debris is prevented from becoming lodged at the inlet.", "German patent DE 19512279 A1 to Becker discloses a device which is constructed such that the device rotates about an axis of rotation, however, the discharge means is connected rigidly to the collecting container.", "The discharge means is a hose which significantly influences the position of the container itself, relative to the top floating layer that is to be removed.", "Since the force exercised on the collecting container by the discharge hose is not only dependent on the weight of the hose, but also on the contents of the hose, the operation of the device is problematic in many applications.", "In addition, the German patent device functions discontinuously, in that it rocks back and forth, filling up with fluid in the forward position and discharging at the backward position.", "Further, this device can only be used in conjunction with floating elements, while the present invention can be used without the use of floating elements, that is, the discharge pipe can be mounted into the side of a tank containing the liquid media.", "The device described in the German patent can not be used in this manner.", "[0009] None of the above prior art devices are as effective in skimming off thin top layers as the instant invention or they are more complex devices which are more expensive to manufacture and to maintain.", "More importantly, none of the above prior art devices are structured such that the discharge or suction line acts as an axis about which the collecting container rotates and self-adjust.", "[0010] U.S. Pat. No. 6,287,460 discloses an improved skimmer or collecting container adapted to rotate over or about an effluent pipe.", "In operation, the collecting container will swivel back and forth about the axis through its asymmetrical tilting self-adjustment evolutions.", "The direction, and the angle of the swiveling movement results from the difference between the incoming flow into the vessel and the flow out through the effluent pipe.", "The construction provides a more or less self-adjusting system which is sensitive to limited flow and liquid level variations.", "However, the known skimmer also has multiple drawbacks.", "A major drawback of the known skimmer is that it has been found that there is always a certain degree of friction between the collecting container and the pipe, as a result of which the capacity of self-adjustment of the collecting container is merely present in cases where the driving force applying on the collecting container, required for making the container rotate in case of liquid level differentials, exceeds the frictional force applying between the collecting container and the pipe.", "In particular in an extreme substantially horizontal or lying position of the collecting container, it frequently occurs that the frictional momentum exceeds the driving moment, as a result of which the self-adjusting capacity is no longer present.", "In this latter case the collecting container will not tilt on its own power in case of increasing liquid level, but an external (manual) force is required to tilt the collecting container such, that the driving force will exceed the frictional force again, and hence to recover the self-adjusting capacity of the collecting container.", "[0011] It is an object of the invention to provide an apparatus for continuously skimming off a top layer of a body of liquid having an improved self-adjusting capacity.", "SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0012] The object of the invention can be achieved by providing an apparatus characterized in that the container is designed such, that the tilting moment of the container caused by a buoyancy of the container, the buoyancy being a result of a liquid level differential, exceeds a frictional moment independent of the orientation of the container, the frictional moment being a result of the mutual cooperation of the container and the discharge means.", "By retaining a relatively high tilting moment with respect to the frictional moment in any orientation of the container, the container is given (under normal operating conditions) a permanent self-adjusting capacity.", "In this manner, jamming of the container and hence loss of the self-adjusting capacity due to a relatively high degree of friction with respect to the driving force can be prevented.", "Even in situations with relatively low liquid levels, the tilting moment, preferably largely, exceeds the frictional moment of the apparatus.", "To secure a permanent self-adjusting capacity of the tiltable container, the center of buoyancy of the container, and eventually a part of the body of liquid, is preferably positioned at a (large) distance of the rotatable connection of the container and the discharge means.", "[0013] To optimize the degree of freedom of design of the container, it is advantageous that the apparatus further comprises a feeding inlet coupled to said container for skimming the top layer of said body of liquid and feeding the container with the skimmed top layer.", "In this manner, both the container and the feeding inlet can be designed in an optimal way to realize the permanent self-adjusting capacity of the container, and in particular of the assembly of the container and the feeding inlet.", "Said feeding inlet preferably comprises a skimming mouth, wherein said mouth is positioned at a distance of the container.", "By positioning the skimming mouth at a distance of the container, the design of the container and the feeding inlet can further be optimized.", "Besides a permanent self-adjusting capacity of the apparatus, a further advantage of the apparatus is that the apparatus, in particular the skimming mouth, can be tilted over a relatively large distance with respect to the displacement of the skimming mouth of a conventional skimming apparatus having an identical internal collecting and storage volume.", "In particular the vertical displacement of the skimming mouth can be increased significantly, as a result of which the apparatus according to the invention is adapted to function in a normal manner in a relatively broad range of liquid levels.", "[0014] In a preferred embodiment, a container encloses a collecting volume connected to a feeding inlet, wherein a volume extends to and beyond a side of the discharge means opposite to the mouth.", "In this manner, an improved distribution of available collecting volume can be realized to secure the self-adjusting property of the apparatus.", "The feeding inlet preferably comprises opposite side walls, an upper wall, and a lower wall opposite to said upper wall, the edges of which walls defining the mouth, wherein the upper wall and a lower wall are, more preferably, oriented tapered in direction of the mouth.", "[0015] The container may have an arbitrary shape and geometry, provided that the container will have a permanent self-adjusting capacity.", "However, preferably, the container is substantially scroll-shaped (generally 6-shaped) or voluted, wherein the container can be formed by a scroll case.", "In this latter embodiment the discharge means is preferably coupled to an eccentric position of a lower part of the apparatus in order to optimize to an advantageous self-adjusting property on one side, and to maximize the possible vertical displacement of the skimming mouth on the other side.", "[0016] To avoid tilting down of the container and the feeding inlet, the tilting moment of the assembly of the container and the feeding inlet is preferably compensated partially.", "In this manner an effective balance can be given to the assembly, wherein the tilting moment is adapted to try to make the assembly to tilt toward an initial substantially standing orientation.", "Compensation of the tilting moment can be realized in different manners.", "Preferably the compensation is realized by means of one or multiple counterweights and/or by means of a spring, for example a coiled spring.", "[0017] To avoid generation of an underpressure or an overpressure within the container during tilting, which may disturb the skimming process, the container is preferably provided with at least one air passage for aeration and/or de-aeration of the container.", "The air passage can be formed by a (tubed) connection between the container and the feeding inlet.", "Alternatively, an open end of the air passage can be in permanent contact with the atmosphere.", "[0018] In a preferred embodiment, the discharge means comprises at least one pipe, about which the container is mounted tiltably, said pipe aligning with and coinciding with an axis of rotation of the container.", "In operation, the container will swivel back and forth about the axis through its asymmetrical tilting self-adjustment evolutions.", "The direction, and the angle of the swiveling movement result from the difference between the incoming flow into the container and the flow out through the effluent pipe.", "The construction provides a permanent self-adjusting, reliable and stable system, independent on the orientation of the container, which is sensitive to considerable flow and liquid level variations.", "Conventional prior art devices use discharge means which are not connected to the container such as a hose inserted into the container or the discharge means is connected to the container in such a way that it restricts movement of the container, that is, the discharge means, which can be a pipe or hose, is not in operational engagement with the container such that they act independently.", "Therefore these dated prior art devices incorporating known discharge means are inefficient.", "The axial alignment of the discharge pipe, which is independently operationally engaged with the container of the present invention eliminates this restriction of movement.", "[0019] In another preferred embodiment, the apparatus comprises bearing means at the point of entry of the discharge pipe into the sidewall of the container that allows a circumferential tolerance gap or clearance between the bearing means, which can be a suitable friction reducing bearing, made from suitable polymeric material, such as a TEFLON® material, nylon material, etc.", ", and the discharge pipe.", "The bearing may be in the form of an annular coupling attached to the sidewall of the container such that the aperture in the sidewall of the container is larger than the inside diameter of the bearing.", "In turn, it is preferred that the outside diameter of the discharge pipe entering the sidewall also be slightly less than the inside diameter of the bearing to provide for a circumferential gap that allows the liquid media to penetrate the gap into the container, thereby promoting the relative frictionless movement or uninhibited rotation of the container about the discharge pipe acting as the axis of rotation.", "In order to maintain its generally longitudinal orientation within the container and at the same time preventing the discharge pipe from axially displacing itself by coming out of the sidewall of the container, the opposite end of the discharge pipe is loosely and axially connected to the opposite sidewall of the container in a manner that also allows for free rotation of the opposite sidewall about the discharge pipe and further allows for a circumferential tolerance gap or predetermined clearance to allow liquid media to enter the container.", "This gap is preferably sufficiently large to allow contaminants suspended in the fluid media to enter the container through the gap spacing between the bearing and the discharge pipe.", "This feature prevents contaminants from settling around the joint area and inhibiting the free movement of the container about the discharge pipe.", "[0020] Next to the aforementioned technical balancing, by using an adjustable counterweight mass, which may be angularly mounted in relation to the axis of the container for pumping or displacing, the balancing system may also be provided with sensor means.", "The latter are meant to maintain the fixedly adjusted position of the edge in order to guarantee an efficient discharge.", "[0021] With conventional known devices, the problem occurs that a complete and controlled discharge of the floating top layer cannot be achieved in a single skimming off operation without carrying along with it substantial quantities of waste water.", "The invention now may overcome this problem by the application of a device in which a container for skimming off, which mainly consists of a flat bottom part, directing to the layer to be skimmed off, having connecting side walls, and a rear wall in which the container for skimming off at its bottom side merges into a recessed part, in which a discharge pipe is mounted, provided with an aperture, in such a way that the container is tiltable around the pipe, in which the direction of and the extent of tilt is determined by the difference between the quantity of the inflowing (skimmed off) layer into the container and the quantity, which is discharged through the pipe.", "By doing so, the device provides for a self adjusting stabilized system which automatically adapts itself to considerable fluctuations in the height level of the liquid or the delivered volume.", "[0022] In a preferable embodiment, which guarantees the automatic adaptation of the device, a discharge pipe is supported in the side walls of the recessed part of the container for skimming off and the aperture, which is provided in the discharge pipe extends longitudinally between these side walls.", "For achieving optimal tilting movements of the container, in a favorable embodiment according to the invention, the container for skimming off is on one side wall provided with a bearing and sealing ring to which also the discharge pipe is made attachable.", "This makes it now possible that, in relation to the container, a protruding portion of the discharge pipe serves as a connecting sleeve e.g. to be coupled to a flexible discharge pipe of which the end portion may be mounted in a button end against the sliding ring without any friction, so as not to hinder the tilting movement of the skimming off container thereby.", "Another favorable embodiment of the device according to the invention is characterized in that one or more additional weight masses may be mounted to the skimming off container by which the extent of tilting movements may be altered.", "[0023] Another embodiment of the invention is a device for continuously skimming off a floating top layer, e.g. a layer of oil or grease upon a flow of waste water, by means of a movable and floating skimming off container, characterized in that one or several skimming off containers are tiltably connected to a floating element.", "A favorable characteristic is that on either side of a floating element skimming off containers are tiltably connected to their discharge pipes with the floating element.", "Advantageous is the embodiment according to the invention which is characterized in that a floating element has a regular shape with a junction contact underneath for connecting a pipe or hose for discharging inflowing skimmed layers in the floating element from the containers.", "[0024] In another preferred embodiment according to the invention is a device for continuously skimming off a floating top layer, e.g. a layer of oil or grease upon a flow of waste water, by means of a movable and floating skimming off container, characterized in that on either side of a skimming off container, several floating elements are attached to the skimming off container.", "Thereby, it is advantageous that the skimming off container is adjustably mounted to the floating elements.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0025] The invention can further be illustrated by way of the following non-limitative drawings, depicting various embodiments, wherein: [0026] FIG. 1A shows a cross-section of an apparatus according to the invention in an substantially standing state;", "[0027] FIG. 1B shows a cross-section of the apparatus according to FIG. 1A in an intermediate state;", "[0028] FIG. 1C shows a cross-section of the apparatus according to FIGS. 1A and 1B in an substantially lying state;", "[0029] FIG. 2 shows a conceptual detailed view of an example of the apparatus according to FIG. 1A-1C ;", "[0030] FIG. 3 shows a conceptual detailed view of an example of another apparatus according to the invention;", "[0031] FIG. 4 shows a comparative view of the apparatus according to FIG. 3 and a conventional apparatus known from the prior art;", "and [0032] FIG. 5 shows a cross-section of an alternative apparatus according to the invention.", "DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [0033] FIG. 1A shows a cross section of an apparatus 1 according to the invention in an substantially standing state.", "The apparatus 1 is suitable for skimming off a top layer 2 , e.g. oil or grease, of a body of liquid 3 , e.g. waste water.", "The apparatus 1 comprises a container 4 , and a feeding inlet 5 coupled to said container 4 .", "The feeding inlet 5 comprises a skimming mouth 6 for skimming off the top layer 2 .", "The container 4 is mounted tiltable on a hollow discharge pipe 7 serving as discharge for the skimmed off top layer 2 .", "The container 4 and the pipe 7 are mutually coupled in a sealingly, e.g. by means of a TEFLON threaded ring nut, and rotatably manner, wherein the container 4 and the feeding inlet 5 coupled thereto are adapted to have a self-adjusting capacity to seek an effective balanced position dependent on the liquid level.", "For this purpose, the container 4 has a substantially cylindrical geometry, and the pipe 7 is attached to an eccentric position of the container 4 , such that the tilting moment of the container 4 caused by a buoyancy of the container 4 , the buoyancy being a result of a liquid level differential, exceeds a frictional moment independent of the orientation of the container 4 , the frictional moment being a result of the mutual cooperation of the container 4 and the discharge pipe 7 .", "In this manner, jamming or blocking of the apparatus 1 can be prevented and a permanent self-adjusting capacity can be secured independent of the orientation of the container 4 and the feeding inlet 5 coupled thereto.", "In the embodiment shown, the apparatus 1 and in particular the container 4 and the discharge pipe 7 are oriented in a substantially standing state.", "In FIGS. 1B and 1C the container 4 and the feeding inlet 5 have been tilted clockwise due to a decrease of the level liquid.", "In the substantially lying state of the container 4 and the feeding inlet 5 , (see FIG. 1C ) the volume of the top layer 2 (and eventually a fraction of liquid 3 ) skimmed off and contained in the container 4 is minimized, resulting in a minimized tilting moment, wherein the tilting moment is caused by the buoyancy of the container 4 in case of a rise of the liquid level causing flow from the body of liquid 3 and the top layer 2 into the container 4 .", "However, under normal operating conditions, this generated minimized tilting moment always exceeds the frictional moment independent of the orientation of the container 4 , thereby securing a permanent self-adjusting capacity of the apparatus 1 .", "[0034] FIG. 2 shows a detailed view of the apparatus 1 according to FIGS. 1A-1C .", "As shown in FIG. 2 , the feeding inlet 5 is formed by an elongated spout or nozzle, which is connected to the container 4 , such that the feeding inlet 5 and the container 4 together enclose a joint collecting volume for collecting the skimmed off substance.", "This substance can subsequently be discharged by the discharge pipe 7 .", "The discharge pipe 7 thereby also functions as suspension element for the container 4 .", "Commonly, an open inlet of the pipe 7 is directly coupled to said container 2 .", "However, it is also conceivable that the open inlet of the pipe 7 is connected to a (flexible) hose which is in fluid communication with the volume enclosed by the container 4 .", "The hose can thereby even be brought into the feeding inlet 5 to suction the skimmed off substance out of the container 4 .", "In the embodiment shown, the axis of rotation (A) is positioned at the center of the pipe 7 .", "The axis of rotation (A) is thereby situated eccentrically, wherein horizontal position (“X”-coordinate) of the axis of rotation (A) measures at least ⅔ times the diameter (D) of the container 4 , and wherein the vertical position (“Y”-coordinate) measures at the most ⅓ times the diameter (D) of the container.", "Reference for these co-ordinates is formed by the center of the cross-section of the container 4 .", "Since the container is mounted tiltably on the pipe 7 , the gravitational force applied on the container 4 and the feeding inlet 5 results in a tilting moment to forcing the container 4 to tilt in a counter clockwise direction.", "Commonly, this tilting moment needs to be compensated by means of a counter weight and/or by means of a bias (not shown).", "However, this compensation force needs to be of such magnitude that the container 4 and the feeding inlet 5 will have a permanent tilting moment forcing to make the container 4 and the feeding inlet 5 to tilt in a counter-clockwise direction, wherein said (partially compensated) tilting moment must be sufficiently large to allow the container 4 and the feeding inlet 5 to return to the initial (substantially standing) state as shown, independent on the state of the container 4 and the feeding inlet 5 .", "Alternatively, the tilting moment could be completely compensated by counterweights, wherein a bias means, such as spiral spring or coiled spring, is applied to generate a desired counter compensation of the counterweights.", "[0035] FIG. 3 shows a detailed view of another apparatus 8 according to the invention.", "The operation and functionality of the apparatus 8 have been elucidated already above in a comprehensive manner.", "In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 , the apparatus 8 comprises a container 9 and a feeding inlet 10 coupled to said container 9 .", "The feeding inlet 10 is provided with a skimming mouth 11 for skimming off a top layer of a body of liquid.", "The assembly of the container 9 and the feeding inlet 10 thereby has a substantially scroll-shaped or voluted geometry.", "In a peripheral part of the container 9 , the container 9 is attached to a discharge pipe 11 in a sealing and rotatable manner.", "The center of rotation is indicated by character B. In the illustrative embodiment the feeding inlet 10 is relatively wide, which is commonly advantageous during cleaning and unclogging activities.", "The feeding inlet 10 is connected to the container 9 in a gradual manner, thereby facilitating manufacturing of the apparatus 8 .", "[0036] FIG. 4 shows a comparative view of the apparatus 8 according to FIG. 3 and a conventional apparatus 12 known from the prior art.", "In this comparative view the apparatus 8 according to the invention and the known apparatus 12 have an identical collecting volume.", "Both apparatus 8 , 12 are shown in three states;", "a substantially standing state, an intermediate state, and a substantially lying state, which states are successively indicated by characters s (standing), i (intermediate), and l (lying).", "The known apparatus 12 has an angular geometry, and comprises a collecting container 13 provided with a skimming edge 14 , wherein said collecting container 13 is mounted tiltably on a discharge pipe 15 (like the apparatus 8 according to the invention).", "In this figure the discharge pipes 7 , 15 are projected in line.", "The tilting moment M 8 ( s ), M 8 (I), M 12 ( s ), M 12 (I) caused by the center of the driving volume (situated at a distance of the axis of rotation R) is indicated in this figure for both apparatus 8 , 12 and for both the substantially standing state and the substantially lying state.", "As can be seen in FIG. 4 , the tilting moment M 8 ( s ), M 8 (I) of the apparatus 8 according to the invention slightly changes by going from one extreme state to an opposite extreme state (see d 1 ), while the tilting moment M 12 ( s ), M 12 (I) of the known apparatus 12 changes considerably by going from one extreme state to an opposite extreme state (see d 2 ).", "It may be clear these changes are inherently coupled to the design of the apparatus 8 , 12 , and that the tilting moment of the improved apparatus 8 according to the invention is more stable.", "This more stable tilting moment leads on one side to a reliable apparatus 8 with a permanent self-adjusting capacity, wherein the risk of blocking or jamming due to an insufficient tilting moment can be prevented.", "Moreover, the improved apparatus 8 incorporates another major advantage.", "As can be seen in FIG. 4 , the maximum displacement h 1 of the skimming mouth 11 of the apparatus 8 according to the invention is significant larger than the maximum displacement h 2 of the skimming edge 14 of the known apparatus 12 , while the internal collecting volumes of both apparatus 8 , 12 are identical.", "For this reason, the apparatus 8 according to the invention is sensitive to considerable flow and liquid level variations, in contrary with the known apparatus 8 which is merely sensitive for limited flow and liquid variations.", "[0037] FIG. 5 shows a cross-section of an alternative apparatus 16 according to the invention.", "The apparatus 16 comprises a self-adjusting cylindrical container 17 , and a feeding inlet 18 coupled to said container 17 .", "The feeding inlet 18 is provided with a skimming mouth 19 for skimming off a top layer (not shown) of a body of liquid 20 .", "An air passage 21 is provided between the container 17 and the feeding inlet 18 for (de)aeration of the container 17 to prevent generation of the overpressure and/or underpressure within the container 17 which may disturb the skimming process.", "The container 17 is eccentrically rotatable about a rotation axis 22 (see arrow) around which a discharge means 23 , like for example a pipe, is positioned.", "The container 17 is provided with multiple counterweights 24 to partially compensate the tilting moment of the container 17 to prevent tilting down of the container 17 and to force the container 17 to move to the standing state as shown.", "[0038] The apparatus 16 shown in this FIG. 5 is particularly advantageous for its sensitivity for relatively large flow and liquid level variations compared to this sensitivity of the apparatus 1 shown in FIGS. 1A-1C and 2 .", "[0039] It should be noted that the above-mentioned description and drawings are mainly conceptual examples of various embodiments of the invention and are not intended to limit the invention, and that those skilled in the art will be able to design many alternative embodiments without departing from the scope of the appended claims.", "In the claims, any reference signs placed between parentheses shall not be construed as limiting the claim.", "Use of the verb “comprise”", "and its conjugations does not exclude the presence of elements or steps other than those stated in a claim.", "The article “a”", "or “an”", "preceding an element does not exclude the presence of a plurality of such elements.", "The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage." ]

[ "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1.", "Field of the Invention This invention relates to a solid state imaging device manufacturing process and a solid state imaging device, and, more particularly, the present invention relates to a solid state imaging device manufacturing process by which a solid state imaging device which is capable of outputting a mirror image can be manufactured and a solid resultant state imaging device manufactured by the solid state imaging device manufacturing method.", "Description of the Related Art Various solid state imaging devices are conventionally known, and one of such conventional solid state imaging devices is shown in FIG. 11(a).", "Referring to FIG. 11(a), the conventional solid state imaging device shown includes an imaging section 30, a horizontal charge transfer section 31 formed as a ring for horizontally transferring signal charge transferred thereto from the imaging section 30, a charge detection section 32 provided for the horizontal charge transfer section 31, and an output circuit section 33 provided for the horizontal charge transfer section 31.", "The transferring direction of the horizontal charge transfer section 31 is changed to lead out a regular image output or a mirror image output from a common output terminal 34.", "Another conventional solid state imaging device is shown in FIG. 11(b).", "Referring to FIG. 11(b), the conventional solid state imaging device shown includes a horizontal charge transfer section 41, a pair of charge detection sections 42 and 43 provided at the opposite ends of the horizontal charge transfer section 41, and a pair of output circuit sections 44 and 45 provided on the opposite sides of the charge detection sections 42 and 43 remote from the horizontal charge transfer section 41.", "The solid state imaging device has a pair of output terminals 46 and 47 for a regular image and a mirror image.", "With the conventional solid state imaging device described above with reference to FIG. 11(a), however, the length of the transfer route of signal charge upon outputting of a mirror image is equal to or greater than twice that upon outputting of a regular image, and consequently, the conventional solid state imaging device is disadvantageous in that transfer degradation upon outputting of a mirror image cannot be avoided.", "Besides, since two outputs of a regular image and a mirror image are allowed, a driving system for exclusive use is necessary for each of a regular image and a mirror image.", "Consequently, the solid state imaging device is disadvantageous also in that adjustment in phase of driving waveforms for horizontal transfer is very difficult.", "Also with the conventional solid state imaging device described above with reference to FIG. 11(b), since outputs of a regular image and a mirror image are allowed, there is a drawback in that, similarly to the solid state imaging device of FIG. 11(a), driving systems for exclusive use for a regular image and a mirror image are necessitated.", "Here, the construction and the transferring operation of the horizontal charge transfer section 41 of the solid state imaging device shown in FIG. 11(b) will be described.", "The construction will first be described with reference to FIGS. 12(a) and 12(b).", "Four first to fourth electrodes H1 to H4 are formed successively and repetitively in one direction for each transfer section 51 for one bit on an upper face of a semiconductor substrate 51 with a gate insulating film 53 interposed therebetween.", "It is to be noted that each slanting line area in FIG. 12(a) denotes a channel stop.", "The thickness of the gate insulating film 53 or the impurity concentration of the front face side of the substrate 51 is varied so that, when an equal potential is applied to the electrodes H1 to H4, potential wells formed below the first electrode H1 and the third electrode H3 may be deeper than potential wells formed below the second electrode H2 and the fourth electrode H4.", "Four horizontal transfer clocks HΦ1 to HΦ4 generated from a timing generator not shown are supplied to the first to fourth electrodes H1 to H4, respectively.", "The four horizontal transfer clocks HΦ1 to HΦ4 are a combination of clocks of two phases.", "Accordingly, the horizontal charge transfer section 41 is driven by two phases to horizontally transfer signal charge.", "Subsequently, the transferring operation in horizontal transfer of the horizontal charge transfer section 41 having the construction described above will be described.", "First, transferring operation for obtaining a regular image signal will be described.", "In this instance, four horizontal transfer clocks HΦ1 to HΦ4 having such waveforms as shown in FIG. 13 are applied to the first to fourth electrodes H1 to H4, respectively.", "When the time t is t=t 0 , the horizontal transfer clocks HΦ1 and HΦ2 exhibit a high (H) level while the horizontal transfer clocks HΦ3 and HΦ4 exhibit a low (L) level.", "Consequently, the potentials below the electrodes exhibit such a distribution as seen in FIG. 14(a).", "In particular, referring to waveform in FIG. 14(a), the potentials exhibit a staircase distribution wherein the level decreases from the fourth electrode H4 in the leftward direction in FIGS. 14(a) to 14(c) toward the first electrode H1, and the potential well formed below the first electrode H1 is deepest.", "Consequently, signal charge e transferred from the imaging section 30 is accumulated below the first electrode H1.", "When the time t is t=t 1 , the horizontal transfer clocks HΦ1 and HΦ2 exhibit a low level while the horizontal transfer clocks HΦ3 and HΦ4 exhibit a high level.", "Consequently, the potentials below the electrodes exhibit such a staircase distribution as seen from the waveform in FIG. 14(b) wherein the level decreases from the second electrode H2 in the leftward direction in FIGS. 14(a) to 14(c) toward the third electrode H3, and the potential well formed below the third electrode H3 is deepest.", "Consequently, signal charge e is transferred from below the first electrode H1 to below the third electrode H3.", "When the time t is t=t 2 , the horizontal transfer clocks HΦ1 and HΦ2 exhibit a high level while the horizontal transfer clocks HΦ3 and HΦ4 exhibit a low level.", "Consequently, the potentials below the electrodes exhibit such a staircase distribution as seen from the waveform in FIG. 14(c) wherein the level decreases from the fourth electrode H4 in the leftward direction in FIGS. 14(a) to 14(c) toward the first electrode H1 again, and the potential well formed below the first electrode H1 is deepest.", "Consequently, signal charge e is transferred from below the third electrode H3 to below the first electrode H1.", "In this manner, transfer of signal charge e takes place in the leftward direction in FIGS. 12(a) and 12(b) in the horizontal charge transfer section 41, and as a result, a regular image signal is led out.", "Subsequently, operation for leading out a mirror image will be described.", "In this instance, four horizontal transfer clocks HΦ1 to HΦ4 having such waveforms as shown in FIG. 15 are applied to the first to fourth electrodes H1 to H4, respectively.", "When the time t is t=t 0 , the horizontal transfer clocks HΦ1 and HΦ4 exhibit a low level while the horizontal transfer clocks HΦ2 and HΦ3 exhibit a high level.", "Consequently, the potentials below the electrodes exhibit such a staircase distribution as seen from the waveform in FIG. 16(a) wherein the level decreases from the fourth electrode H4 in the right direction in FIGS. 16(a) to 16(c) toward the third electrode H3, and the potential well formed below the third electrode H3 is deepest.", "Consequently, signal charge e transferred from the imaging section 30 is accumulated below the third electrode H3.", "When the time t is t=t 1 , the horizontal transfer clocks HΦ1 and HΦ4 exhibit a high level while the horizontal transfer clocks HΦ2 and HΦ3 exhibit a low level.", "Consequently, the potentials below the electrodes exhibit such a staircase distribution as seen from the waveform in FIG. 16(b) wherein the level decreases from the second electrode H2 in the rightward direction in FIGS. 16(a) to 16(c) toward the first electrode H1, and the potential well formed below the first electrode H1 is deepest.", "Consequently, signal charge e is transferred from below the third electrode H3 to below the first electrode H1.", "When the time t is t=t 2 , the horizontal transfer clocks HΦ1 and HΦ4 exhibit a low level while the horizontal transfer clocks HΦ2 and HΦ3 exhibit a high level.", "Consequently, the potentials below the electrodes exhibit such a staircase distribution as seen from the waveform in FIG. 16(c) wherein the level decreases from the fourth electrode H4 in the rightward direction in FIGS. 16(a) to 16(c) toward the third electrode H3 again, and the potential well formed below the third electrode H3 is deepest.", "Consequently, signal charge e is transferred from below the first electrode H1 to below the third electrode H3.", "In this manner, transfer of signal charge e takes place in the rightward direction in FIGS. 12(a) and 12(b) in the horizontal charge transfer section 41, and as a result, a mirror image signal is led out.", "As described above, with the conventional solid state imaging device shown in FIG. 11(b), the phases of the horizontal transfer clocks HΦ1 to HΦ4 to be applied to the first to fourth electrodes Hi to H4 are changed to reverse the transferring direction in the horizontal charge transfer section 41 to lead out either one of a regular image output and a mirror image output.", "Accordingly, although the horizontal charge transfer section 41 is driven in two phases, a timing generator which can generate four horizontal transfer clocks HΦ1 to HΦ4 is necessitated.", "Consequently, an existing driving circuit cannot be employed as it is as a driving circuit which includes such timing generator.", "Besides, driving systems for exclusive use for a regular image and a mirror image must be provided separately.", "SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a solid state imaging device manufacturing process by which a solid state imaging device for a regular image and a solid state imaging device for a mirror image can be manufactured alternatively by a simple operation.", "It is another object of the present invention to provide a solid state imaging device which allows employment of an existing driving system as a driving system which includes a timing generator.", "In order to attain the objects described above, according to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a process of manufacturing a solid state imaging device, which comprises the steps of preparing a solid state imaging device including an image section having a photoelectric transducer section in which a plurality of photoelectric transducer elements are arranged linearly, a horizontal charge transfer section formed from a plurality of transfer electrodes having a fixed number of phases for horizontally transferring signal charge transferred thereto from the imaging section, and first and second charge detection sections provided at the opposite ends of the horizontal charge transfer section for detecting signal charge horizontally transferred in the horizontal charge transfer section to output a regular image signal and a mirror image signal, respectively, and wiring the transfer electrodes so that signal charge is transferred to one of the first and second charge detection sections in response to a clock signal for driving the horizontal charge transfer section thereby to manufacture one of a solid state imaging device for a regular image and another solid state imaging device for a mirror image.", "In the manufacturing process, at the first preparing step, intermediate products can be prepared commonly for solid state imaging devices for a regular image and solid state imaging devices for a mirror image.", "Such intermediate products are advantageous in stock control.", "Then, at the wiring step, the transfer electrodes are connected differently between solid state imaging devices for a regular image and solid state imaging devices for a mirror image.", "Consequently, solid state imaging devices for a regular image and solid state imaging devices for a mirror image can be alternatively manufactured only by changing the wiring pattern for the transfer electrodes.", "With a solid state imaging device for a regular image and another solid state imaging device for a mirror image manufactured in accordance with the manufacturing process, a regular image output and a mirror image output can be led out as signals of a same format.", "Accordingly, charge transfer of the horizontal charge transfer section is performed in response to same two-phase horizontal transfer clocks whether a regular image or a mirror image is to be outputted.", "Consequently, an existing driving system including a timing generator can be used as it is as a driving system for the horizontal charge transfer section whether the horizontal charge transfer section is used to output a regular image or mirror image.", "According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a solid state imaging device, which comprises an imaging section including a plurality of photoelectric transducer devices arranged in a matrix, and a plurality of vertical charge transfer sections disposed between adjacent columns of the photoelectric transducer devices, a horizontal charge transfer section for horizontally transferring signal charge transferred thereto from the imaging section, first and second charge detection sections provided at the opposite ends of the horizontal charge transfer section for detecting signal charge to output a regular image and a mirror image, respectively, and a plurality of pad elements for inputting, to the horizontal charge transfer section, horizontal transfer clock signals for driving the horizontal charge transfer section, the pad elements being connected so as to output signal charge to one of the first and second charge detection sections.", "The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent the following description and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like parts or elements are denoted by like reference characters.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view of a solid state imaging device showing a preferred embodiment of the present invention;", "FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view showing the structure of a horizontal charge transfer section of the solid state imaging device shown in FIG. 1;", "FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic view illustrating a potential profile of the horizontal charge transfer section shown in FIG. 2 when an equal potential is applied to electrodes of the same;", "FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram showing an exemplary circuit construction of an output circuit section of the solid state imaging device shown in FIG. 1;", "FIG. 5 is a waveform diagram showing waveforms of two-phase horizontal transfer clocks to the horizontal charge transfer section shown in FIG. 2;", "FIG. 6 is a wiring diagram of the electrodes of the horizontal charge transfer section shown in FIG. 2 when a regular image is to be outputted;", "FIGS. 7(a) to 7(c) are potential diagrams illustrating a transferring operation of the horizontal charge transfer section shown in FIG. 2 when a regular image is to be outputted;", "FIG. 8 is a wiring diagram of the electrodes of the horizontal charge transfer section shown in FIG. 2 when a mirror image is to be outputted;", "FIGS. 9(a) to 9(c) are potential diagrams illustrating a transferring operation of the horizontal charge transfer section shown in FIG. 2 when a mirror image is to be outputted;", "FIG. 10(a) is a diagrammatic view of another solid state imaging device constructed so as to output a regular image showing a second preferred embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 10(b) is a similar view but showing a modification to the solid stage imaging device of FIG. 10(a) constructed so as to output a mirror image;", "FIGS. 11(a) and 11(b) are diagrammatic views showing different conventional solid state imaging device;", "FIG. 12(a) is a diagrammatic view showing a pattern in plan of a horizontall charge transfer section of the conventional solid state imaging device shown in FIG. 11(b), and FIG. 12(b) is a diagrammatic view showing a sectional structure of the horizontal charge transfer section shown in FIG. 12(a);", "FIG. 13 is a waveform diagram showing waveforms of four horizontal transfer clocks in the conventional solid state imaging device shown in FIG. 11(b) when a regular image is to be outputted;", "FIGS. 14(a) to 14(c) are potential diagrams illustrating transferring operation of the conventional solid state imaging device shown in FIG. 11(b) when a regular image is to be outputted;", "FIG. 15 is a waveform diagram showing waveforms of four horizontal transfer clocks in the conventional solid state imaging device shown in FIG. 11(b) when a mirror image is to be outputted;", "and FIGS. 16(a) to 16(c) are potential diagrams illustrating transferring operation of the conventional solid state imaging device shown in FIG. 11(b) when a mirror image is to be outputted.", "DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring first to FIG. 1, there is shown a general construction of a solid state imaging device to which the present invention is applied.", "In the present embodiment, the present invention is applied to a CCD (charge coupled device) solid state imaging device for obtaining a regular image output.", "The solid state imaging device includes an imaging section 3 which includes a large number of photosensors (photoelectric transducer section) 1 arranged two-dimensionally in a matrix to construct picture elements for converting incident light into signal charge and accumulating the signal charge and a plurality of vertical charge transfer sections 2 disposed corresponding to the columns of the photosensors 1.", "The vertical charge transfer sections 2 are driven by four-phase vertical transfer clocks VΦ1 to VΦ4 to vertically transfer signal charge read out in units of a picture element from the photosensors 1.", "The imaging section 3 is constructed such that predetermined areas at peripheral portions thereof serve as OPB (optical black) areas in which light to the photosensors 1 is intercepted while the other area except the OPB areas serves as an effective picture element area and signal charge of picture elements (indicated by slanting lines in FIG. 1) within the effective picture element area is used as imaging information.", "Accordingly, the resolutions in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction depend upon the numbers of picture elements in the effective picture element area in the directions.", "It is to be noted that, while only first and second OPB areas 4 and 5 on the opposite left and right sides of the imaging section 3 are shown for convenience of illustration and description, OPB areas are present also on the upper side and the lower side of the imaging section 3 as described above.", "When it is tried to lead out a regular image output, the black signal level of picture element information, for example, of the second OPB area 5 on the right side from among the OPB areas of the imaging section 3 is used as a reference level for signal processing for each picture element signal of the effective picture element area.", "Since the black signal level of the second OPB area 5 is used as a reference level in order to obtain a regular image output, the black signal level information is outputted subsequently on the time base to each picture element signal of the effective picture element area.", "Further, since black signal levels for a particular fixed number of picture elements are necessary in order to obtain the reference level, the number N1 of picture elements of the second OPB area 5 in the horizontal direction is set greater than the number N1 of picture elements N1 of the first OPB area 4.", "It is to be noted that the device wherein N1=1 and N2=2 is shown in FIG. 1 for convenience of illustration and description.", "A horizontal charge transfer section 6 for horizontally transferring signal charge transferred thereto from the vertical charge transfer sections 2 is provided on the output sides of the vertical charge transfer sections 2.", "Referring now to FIG. 2, the horizontal charge transfer section 6 includes, in units of one bit, first to fourth (H1 to H4) electrodes 9 to 12 made of polycrystalline silicon and formed in a two-layer structure on an upper face of a semiconductor substrate 7 with a gate insulating film 8 interposed therebetween.", "In addition to a charge transfer well section 13, transfer barrier portions 14 are formed by varying the impurity concentration on the front surface of the substrate 7 below the second and fourth electrodes 10 and 12 of the second layer from among the first to fourth electrodes 9 to 12.", "The transfer barrier portions 14 are constructed such that potential wells formed below the second and fourth electrodes 10 and 12 when an equal potential is applied to the first to fourth electrodes 9 to 12 are shallower than potential wells formed below the first and third electrodes 9 and 11.", "FIG. 3 illustrates a potential profile when an equal potential is applied to the first to fourth electrodes 9 to 12 in the horizontal charge potential section 6.", "As apparently seen from FIG. 3, the potentials at the second and fourth electrodes 10 and 12 are lower than those at the first and third electrodes 9 and 11.", "It is to be noted that, while, in the solid state imaging device shown, the impurity concentration of the front face side of the substrate 7 is varied in order to make potential wells formed below the second and fourth electrodes 10 and 12 shallower than potential wells formed below the first and third electrodes 9 and 11, a similar potential distribution can be obtained alternatively by varying the thickness of the gate insulating film 8.", "The first to fourth electrodes 9 to 12 are connected in a corresponding relationship to four bus lines 151 to 154 each formed, for example, in a loop.", "The four bus lines 15 1 to 15 4 are connected in a corresponding relationship to four pads 16 1 to 16 4 .", "The pads 16 1 and 16 2 and the pads 16 3 and 16 4 are individually paired with each other and electrically connected to each other by way of a pair of wiring patters 19a and 19b, respectively.", "As two-phase horizontal transfer clocks HΦ1 and HΦ2 are individually applied to the two pad pairs, the horizontal charge transfer section 6 horizontally transfers signal charge in the leftward direction in FIG. 1 by two-phase driving.", "A first charge detection section 17, for example, of a floating diffusion amplification construction is provided at the left end of the horizontal charge transfer section 6 and detects signal charge transferred thereto by the horizontal charge transfer section 6.", "A CCD solid state transfer section 20 which can output a regular image is constituted from those elements described above.", "The CCD solid state imaging device 20 is of an ordinary type wherein the horizontal charge transfer section 6 is driven by two-phase horizontal transfer clocks HΦ1 and HΦ2.", "Accordingly, an existing driving system can be used as it is as a driving system which includes a timing generator 26, which will be hereinafter described, which generates such two-phase horizontal transfer clocks HΦ1 and HΦ2.", "The CCD solid state imaging device 20 further includes a second charge detection section 18, for example, of a floating diffusion amplifier construction similarly provided on the right side of the horizontal transfer section 6 so that a mirror image output may be obtained.", "In order to obtain a mirror image output, signal charge must be transferred horizontally in the rightward direction in FIG. 1. In order for the CCD solid state imaging device 20 to act as a solid state imaging device for a mirror image, the pads 16 1 and 16 4 and the pads 162 and 163 are individually paired with each other and are electrically connected to each other by way of a pair of wiring patterns 19c and 19d, respectively, as indicated by broken lines in FIG. 1 and two-phase horizontal transfer clocks HΦ1 and HΦ2 are applied to the two pad pairs.", "By the way, as described hereinabove, in order to obtain a regular image output, the black signal level of the second OPB area 5 on the right side of the imaging section 3 is used as a reference level.", "For symmetry, in order to obtain a mirror image output, the black signal level of the first OPB area 4 on the left side of the imaging section 3 must be used as a reference level.", "Accordingly, in order to obtain a mirror image output, the number N1 of picture elements of the first OPB area 4 in the horizontal direction is set greater than the number N2 of picture elements of the second OPB area 5.", "Consequently, also when a mirror image output is obtained, black signal level information of the first OPB area 4 is outputted subsequently on the time base to each picture element signal of the effective picture element area.", "In other words, a regular image output and a mirror image output are outputted as signals having a same format.", "Thus, in the present invention, a solid state imaging device for a regular image and another solid state imaging device for a mirror image are designed as a same solid state imaging device, and at an intermediate stage of the manufacturing process, the combination of connections of the four pads 16 1 to 16 4 is changed to change the connection condition corresponding to two-phase driving of the first to fourth electrodes 9 to 12 and change the numbers of picture elements of the first and second OPB areas 4 and 5 in the horizontal direction to the opposite relationship to each other.", "In particular, when it is intended to manufacture a solid state imaging device for a regular image, the wiring patters 19a and 19b are formed such that the pads 16 1 and 16 2 and the pads 16 3 and 16 4 of the four pads 16 1 to 16 4 are individually connected to each other, and the light interception film (not shown) is formed such that the number of picture elements of the second OPB area 5 in the horizontal direction is greater than that of the first OPB area 4.", "On the other hand, when it is intended to manufacture a solid state imaging device for a mirror image, the wiring patterns 19c and 19d are formed such that the pads 16 1 and 16 4 and the pads 16 2 and 16 3 of the four pads 16 1 to 16 4 are individually connected to each other, and the light interception film (not shown) is formed such that the number of picture elements of the first OPB area 4 in the horizontal direction is greater than that of the second OPB area 5.", "It is to be noted that, since the wiring patterns 19a to 19d which interconnect the four pads 16 1 to 16 4 and the light interception film of the first and second OPB areas 4 and 5 are formed as a same layer from aluminum, the change of the combination of connections of the four pads 16 1 to 16 4 and the change of the number of picture elements in the horizontal direction of the first and second OPB areas 4 and 5 can be realized at a time at a same step in the manufacturing process.", "Since the wiring patterns 19a to 19d which interconnect the four pads 16 1 to 16 4 are changed and the numbers of picture elements of the first and second OPB areas 4 and 5 in the horizontal direction are changed during an intermediate stage of the process of manufacturing a solid state imaging device in this manner to select between the manufacture of an article for a regular image output and another article for a mirror image output, intermediate products up to the step preceding to the changing step can be manufactured as same articles in advance.", "This is very advantageous in terms of stock control.", "Further, since the change of the wiring patterns 19a to 19d and the change of the numbers of picture elements of the OPB areas 4 and 5 can be realized at a time at a same step, the number of masks to be used can be reduced to one half compared with that where solid state imaging devices for a regular image and solid state imaging devices for a mirror image are manufactured quite separately from each other.", "It is to be noted that, in order to obtain a solid state imaging device for imaging a color image, also arrays of color filters arranged in units of a picture element should be made different between an article for a regular image output and another article for a mirror image output.", "Referring back to FIG. 1, detection outputs of the first and second charge detection sections 17 and 18 are amplified by first and second output circuit sections 21 and 22, respectively, disposed as external circuits on the opposite sides of the horizontal charge transfer section 6, and are led out as a regular image output OUT1 and a mirror image output OUT2.", "Referring now to FIG. 4, the first and second output circuit sections 21 and 22 are each constituted, for example, from three stages of source follower circuits 24 to 26 constituted from driving side MOS transistors QnD and load side MOS transistors Q nL .", "In each of the first and second output circuit sections 21 and 22, signal charge detected by the first or second charge detection section 17 or 18 is applied to the gate of the driving side MOS transistor Q 1D of the source follower circuit 23 at the first stage.", "Meanwhile, the gates of the load side MOS transistors Q 1L , Q 2L and Q 3L at the three stages are biased commonly by a dc power source E. In order to drive the vertical charge transfer sections 2, the horizontal charge transfer section 6 and so forth of the solid state imaging device 20, a timing generator 26 for generating various timing signals such as the four-phase vertical transfer clocks VΦ1 to VΦ4 and the two-phase horizontal transfer clocks HΦ1 and HΦ2 is provided as an external circuit.", "By the way, since a regular image output and a mirror image output are led out as signals of a same format by changing the combination of connections of the four pads 16 1 to 16 4 and the numbers of picture elements of the first and second OPB areas 4 and 5 and changing the charge transferring direction of the horizontal charge transfer section 6 as described hereinabove, horizontal transfer clocks HΦ1 and HΦ2 of quite same timings can be used for both of a regular image output and a mirror image output.", "Accordingly, the single timing generator 26 can be used commonly for a solid state imaging device for a regular image and another solid state imaging device for a mirror image, and besides, an existing timing generator can be used for the timing generator 26.", "Subsequently, transferring operations of the horizontal charge transfer section 6 upon regular image outputting and mirror image outputting when the horizontal transfer clocks HΦ1 and HΦ2 of such waveforms as shown in FIG. 5 are applied will be described.", "In order to lead out a regular image Output, the horizontal transfer clock HΦ1 is applied to the first and second electrodes (H1, H2) 9 and 10 while the horizontal transfer clock HΦ2 is applied to the third and fourth electrodes (H3, H4) 11 and 12 as seen from FIG. 6. When the time t is t=t 0 , the horizontal transfer clock HΦ1 exhibits a low level while the horizontal transfer clock HΦ2 exhibits a high level.", "Consequently, the potentials below the electrodes exhibit such a staircase distribution as seen from the waveform in FIG. 7(a) wherein the level decreases from the second electrode (H2) 10 in the leftward direction in FIGS. 7(a) to 7(c) toward the third (H3) electrode 11, and the potential well formed below the third electrode (H3) 11 is deepest.", "Consequently, signal charge e transferred from the imaging section 3 is accumulated below the third electrode (H3) 11.", "When the time t is t=t 1 , the horizontal transfer clock HΦ1 exhibits a high level while the horizontal transfer clock HΦ2 exhibits a low level.", "Consequently, the potentials below the electrodes exhibit such a staircase distribution as seen from the waveform in FIG. 7(b) wherein the level decreases from the fourth electrode (H4) 12 in the leftward direction in FIGS. 7(a) to 7(c) toward the first (H1) electrode 9, and the potential well formed below the first electrode (H1) 9 is deepest.", "Consequently, signal charge e is transferred from below the third electrode (H3) 11 to below the first electrode (H1) 9.", "When the time t is t=t 2 , the horizontal transfer clock HΦ1 exhibits a low level while the horizontal transfer clock HΦ2 exhibits a high level.", "Consequently, the potentials below the electrodes exhibit such a staircase distribution as seen from the waveform in FIG. 7(c) again wherein the level decreases from the second electrode (H2) 10 in the leftward direction in FIGS. 7(a) to 7(c) toward the third electrode (H3) 11 again, and the potential well formed below the third electrode (H3) 11 is deepest.", "Consequently, signal charge e is transferred from below the first electrode (H1) 9 to below the third electrode (H3) 11.", "In this manner, transfer of signal charge e takes place in the leftward direction in FIG. 1 in the horizontal charge transfer section 6, and as a result, a regular image signal is led out.", "On the other hand, in order to obtain a mirror image output, the horizontal transfer clock HΦ1 is applied to the first and fourth electrodes (H1, H4) 9 and 12 while the horizontal transfer clock HΦ2 is applied to the second and third electrodes (H2, H3) 10 and 11 as seen from FIG. 8. When the time t is t=t 0 , the potentials of the charge transfer well section 13 exhibit such a staircase distribution as seen from the waveform in FIG. 9(a) wherein the level decreases from the fourth electrode (H4) 12 in the rightward direction in FIGS. 9(a) to 9(c) toward the third electrode (H3) 11, and the potential well formed below the third electrode (H3) 11 is deepest.", "Consequently, signal charge e transferred from the imaging section 3 is accumulated below the third electrode (H3) 11.", "When the time t is t=t 1 , the potentials of the charge transfer well section 13 exhibit such a staircase distribution as seen from the waveform in FIG. 9(b) wherein the level decreases from the second electrode (H2) 10 in the rightward direction in FIGS. 9(a) to 9(c) toward the first electrode (H1) 9, and the potential well formed below the first electrode (H1) 9 is deepest.", "Consequently, signal charge e is transferred from below the third electrode (H3) 11 to below the first electrode (H1) 9.", "Then, when the time t is t=t 2 , the potentials of the charge transfer well section 13 exhibit such a staircase distribution as seen from the waveform in FIG. 9(c) again wherein the level decreases from the fourth electrode (H4) 10 in the rightward direction in FIGS. 9(a) to 9(c) toward the third electrode (H3) 11 again, and the potential well formed below the third electrode (H3) 11 is deepest.", "Consequently, signal charge e is transferred from below the first electrode (H1) 9 to below the third electrode (H3) 11.", "In this manner, transfer of signal charge e takes place in the rightward direction in FIG. 1, and as a result, a mirror image signal is led out.", "FIG. 10(a) shows another solid state imaging device to which the present invention is applied upon outputting of a regular image, and FIG. 10(b) shows the solid state imaging device of FIG. 10(a) but upon outputting of a mirror image.", "The solid state imaging device of the present embodiment is a modification to the solid state imaging device of the first embodiment described hereinabove with reference to FIG. 1 in that, in each of the first and second output circuit sections 21 and 22 shown in FIG. 4, for example, the source follower circuit 25 at the third stage is used commonly for outputting a regular image and for outputting a mirror image.", "In particular, when a regular image is to be outputted as seen in FIG. 10(a), the common source follower circuit 25 at the third stage is connected to the output terminal of the first charge detection section 17 by way of the source follower circuits 23 and 24 of the first and second stages of the first output circuit section 21 using an aluminum wiring line, and the output terminal of the source follower circuit 25 is connected to the output terminal 27 using another aluminum wiring line.", "On the other hand, when a mirror image is to be outputted as seen in FIG. 10(b), the common source follower circuit 25 at the third stage is connected to the output terminal of the second charge detection section 18 by way of the source follower circuits 23 and 24 at the first and second stages of the second output circuit section 22 using an aluminum wiring line, and the output terminal of the source follower circuit 25 is connected to the output terminal 27 using another aluminum wiring line.", "Since the last stage portions of the circuitry of the first and second output circuit sections 21 and 22 are made a common circuit, output circuit sections having a comparatively large circuit configuration can be employed for the first and second output circuit sections 21 and 22, and also the output terminals can be formed as a common terminal.", "Further, where the output terminal 27 is disposed in the proximity of the source follower circuit 25 of the last stage, occurrence of a propagation delay or production of a parasitic capacitance can be prevented.", "It is to be noted that, while, in the present embodiment, the source follower circuits at the third stage of the first and second circuit sections 21 and 22 which are each constituted from source followers of three stages are formed as the common source follower circuit 25, it is otherwise possible to form the source follower circuits 24 at the second stage as a common circuit.", "Further, where each of the first and second output circuit sections 21 and 22 is constituted from source followers of two stages, the source follower circuits at the second stage should be formed as a common circuit.", "Further, where each of the first and second output circuit sections 21 and 22 is constituted from source followers of four or more stages, the source follower circuits should be formed as a common circuit suitably from the last stage side.", "Having now fully described the invention, it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that many changes and modifications can be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth herein." ]

[ "FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates to phage display LLG peptide derivatives as tumor targeting agents and as imaging agents for diagnostic purposes, and to a method for targeting and imaging tumors and infections/inflammation.", "A diagnostic composition comprising said peptide derivatives is also disclosed.", "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] Despite of important advantages in the therapy of acute myeloid leukemia (AML), the majority of patients will die from their disease.", "Approximately half of the children with AML can be cured, but little progress has led to gradual improvement in long-term survival of older adults with AML.", "Treatments in AML are hard, including high doses of cytotoxic agents and allogenic stem cell transplants, but still majority of adults relapse.", "In a few years new strategies have arisen to improve the cure of AML, such as unmodified antibody or cell based immunotherapies.", "However, diseases such as AML, for which the outcome remains poor, should be treated on clinical trials whenever possible.", "[0003] The integrin CD11 has been correlated with a poor prognosis of the AML.", "A bioactive peptide obtained recently by phage display is a specific ligand to the leukocyte β 2 integrins.", "By panning on purified α M β 2 integrin (CD11/CD18) a novel nonapeptide CPCFLLGCC (LLG) was isolated, which is dependent on two disulfide bridges that constrain the peptide structure (see WO 02/072618, which is incorporated herein by reference).", "[0004] A variety of peptide based radioligands are currently under development for in vivo therapeutic and diagnostic strategies, including bombesin, gastrin/cholecystokinin, and neurotensin, which are receptors expressed on common cancers, and Arg-Gly-Asp peptides, which, because they bind to receptors expressed on newly formed blood vessels, can be targeted to many common tumors.", "[0005] Inflammation is a defence mechanism, which consists of release of proinflammatory mediators, selectin mediated leukocyte adhesion to the endothelial cells of surrounding blood vessels, activation of specific leukocyte integrins, firmer adhesion by interaction of integrin and intercellular adhesion molecules (ICAMs) and leukocyte extravasation.", "[0006] Integrins are involved in a wide range of activities concerning the intercellular communication, and they are grouped into sub-families according to distinct β subunits.", "Leukocytes express only β 2 integrins.", "Four members of the β 2 integrin family are α L β 2 or CD11a/CD18, α M β 2 or CD11b/CD18 or Mac-1, α X β 2 or CD11c/CD18 and α D β 2 or CD11d/CD18.", "ICAMs are the major ligands of the β 2 integrin family, and they have a common recognition sequence LLG, which is favored by α M β 2 integrin.", "α M β 2 integrin is involved in immune reactions by binding iC3b-coated erythrocytes, mediating the adherence and phagocytosis of myeloid cell, enhancing NK cell activity.", "α M β 2 integrin is involved in macrophage-microorganism interactions and it also mediates cell adhesive interactions on myeloid cells.", "α M β 2 has other ligands including factor X and fibrinogen.", "[0007] As stated above, a bioactive peptide obtained recently by phage display is a specific ligand to the leukocyte β 2 integrins.", "By panning on purified α M β 2 integrin (CD11/CD18) a novel nonapeptide CPCFLLGCC (LLG) was isolated which is dependent on two disulfide bridges that constrain the peptide structure.", "Studies with differentially cyclized peptides indicated that a particular disulfide configuration is more active than another one.", "The preferred peptide for the use according to the present invention is the peptide with one disulfide bond between the C1 and C8 cysteines, and a second disulfide bond between the C3 and C9 cysteines.", "The peptide inhibits the α M β 2 integrin-mediated leukocyte cell adhesion and binds to the cation-sensitive I-domain of the integrin a subunit.", "The NMR structures of the two LLG conformers were determined and the more active conformer serves as a lead for development of potential anti-inflammatory agents and leukemia cell-targeting compounds.", "Here, we explore the possibilities to use LLG as an inflammation and tumor targeting and imaging agent.", "LLG can also be pegylated to improve its therapeutic effect.", "We will also have a project in which the LLG is crystallized with the complex with I-domain and design an organic analogue of the peptide.", "We will also evaluate the potential of the analogue with these animal models described here.", "The LLG can also function as a therapeutic agent on surface of liposome.", "Using liposome we can modify the pharmacokinetics and dynamics of the peptide.", "[0008] The use of LLG or LLG-PEG as an imaging agent for diagnostic purposes is described.", "This work describes also a new strategy to target AML cells with a peptide based method which could be utilized in a targeted therapy.", "SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0009] In this invention we demonstrate the tumor and infection targeting properties of LLG peptide derivatives.", "LLG is also pegylated to improve its biokinetic properties.", "Anesthetized animals bearing xenografts have been imaged to study tumor uptake at different time points.", "Biodistribution has been studied in animals with tumors and inflammatory lesions.", "[0010] Consequently, the invention is directed to the use of a peptide comprising the structure CXCXLLGCC, wherein X is any amino acid residue, or its derivative in tumor and inflammation targeting.", "[0011] Further objects of the invention are the corresponding methods, i.e. a method for imaging tumor cells or infections/inflammation of a patient, and a method for targeting cytotoxic or cytostatic agents to tumor cells.", "[0012] Another object of the invention is a diagnostic composition comprising at least one peptide comprising the structure CXCXLLGCC, wherein X is any amino acid residue, or its derivative.", "[0013] In a preferred embodiment the peptide used in the invention is a peptide comprising the structure CPCPLLGCC or its derivative.", "[0014] In a method for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML), an effective amount of a pharmaceutical composition comprising a) a therapeutical agent, preferably an anthracycline;", "b) a peptide comprising the structure CXCXLLGCC, wherein X is any amino acid residue, or its derivative;", "and optionally c) conventional pharmaceutically acceptable carriers, excipients and auxiliary agents;", "is administered to a patient in need of such a treatment.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES [0015] FIG. 1 demonstrates tumor targeting in human myelomonocytic leukemia in a mouse model.", "Using metal chelation, example In-111.", "[0016] FIG. 2 demonstrates tumor targeting at 24 hrs after intravenous I-125-YADGA LLG peptide injection.", "[0017] FIG. 3 shows tumor targeting at 24 hrs after intravenous PEGylated I-125-YADGA LLG peptide injection.", "[0018] FIGS. 2-3 .", "[0019] Tumor targeting is shown by halogenated LLG-derivatives, left naked peptide, right pegylated peptide.", "I-125 label, mouse model of human myelomonocytic leukemia.", "Planar gamma image.", "In these figures animals have been injected with radiolabelled peptide and anesthesized animals have been imaged under gamma camera (pinhole collimator, Picker SX-300 gamma camera).", "[0020] FIG. 4 shows the biodistribution study of I-125-YADGA LLG-peptide.", "The in vivo biodistribution of the 125 I-labeled-peptide was assessed in NMRI/nude mice at three time points after injections.", "The biodistribution of the 125 I-labeled peptide in mice 2 h, 6 h and 24 h p.i. corrected for weight.", "Results are expressed as percentage of injected dose per 0.1 g tissue (% ID/0.1 g).", "All values are indicated as mean±SD of 5 mice.", "[0021] FIGS. 5A-5E show accumulation of the In-111 radiolabeled peptide CPCFLLGCC to an E. coli abscess in the left tight muscle of New Zealand White rabbits.", "[0022] FIGS. 6A-6C show accumulation of the In-111 radiolabeled peptide CPCFLLGCC to an S. aureus abscess in the left tight muscle of Wistar rats.", "[0023] FIG. 7A shows biodistribution of In-111-cDTPA-CPCFLLGCC for certain tissues of rabbits, corrected for weight.", "[0024] FIG. 7B shows biodistribution of In-111-cTPA-CPCFLLGCC for certain tissues of rats, corrected for weight.", "[0025] FIG. 8 shows accumulation of I-125-GST-LLG in infected mouse ear.", "[0026] FIG. 9 shows inhibition of leukocyte migration in inflammation by using LLG-peptide.", "[0027] FIG. 10 shows stability of I-125-LLG conjugates in blood at 3 h p.i. [0028] FIG. 11 shows biodistribution of LLG peptide in mice.", "[0029] FIG. 12 shows YLLGs capability of blocking LLG-GFPs binding to THP-1 cell line.", "DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [0000] Abbreviations: [0000] AML acute myeloid leukaemia [0000] cDTPA cyclic diethylene triamine pentaacetic acid [0000] EDC-NHS ethyldimethylaminopropylcarbodiimide-N-hydroxysuccinimidyl [0000] HPLC high pressure liquid chromatography [0000] HYNIC 6-hydrazopyridine-3-carboxylic acid [0000] LLG CPCFLLGCC [0000] LLG-PEG pegylated CPCFLLGCC [0000] MRI magnetic resonance imaging [0000] NMR nuclear magnetic resonance [0000] PEG polyethylene glycol [0000] PEG-NHS polyethylene glycol-N-hydroxysuccinimidyl [0030] At first, YADGA derivative of LLG peptide was studied for tumor targeting in U937 cell line.", "The peptide was labelled using In-111 label and direct iodination and cDTPA.", "Because tumor targeting was successful, further derivatives were developed for further imaging characterization.", "They were expanded to include Tc-99m and further chelating agents, such as HYNIC.", "This peptide was also coupled to PEG-NHS with successful imaging.", "[0031] The inventors found with an animal leukemic model that the LLG can be used as a targeting agent as such, and that it can be modified with PEG-molecule.", "This is highly important, because these agents are thought to be nontoxic to humans and are easily tested and produced.", "The invention is also directed to the use of LLG as a targeting agent of cytotoxic or cytostatic agents in liposomes.", "Further, LLG can improve to control the effect of cytotoxins with less side-effects.", "This was evaluated in AML with the leukemic animal model.", "In this form of leukemia the treatment outcome is at the moment unacceptable and new treatment modalities are needed.", "[0032] LLG is a peptide binding to leukocyte integrins (J Biol Chem 2001;", "153:905-15).", "A YADGACPCFLLGCC derivative was developed for further imaging characterization.", "Radiolabeling methods for In-111 and I-125 derivatives were developed.", "The LLG peptide was also coupled to PEG-NHS.", "Further radionuclide modifications were developed to include also phospholipid linked PEG and liposomal constructs.", "[0033] The radiolabelled peptide derivatives were imaged at different time points using gamma camera in order to study tumor uptake in vivo as a function of time.", "After last imaging, tumor tissue were extirpated and counted for radioactivity.", "Detailed microdistribution was studied using quantitative autoradiography.", "[0034] YADGA LLG peptide was studied for tumor targeting in human myelomonocytic leukemia U937 cell line.", "The peptide was labelled using In-111 label and direct iodination, as well as cDTPA.", "[0035] Peptidoliposomes used for therapeutic approaches could additionally be imaged.", "Liposomes can be encapsulated with gaseous particles for sonography, paramagnetic compounds for MRI and fluorescein label for fluorescence imaging and e.g. luciferase enzyme system for chemiluminescence imaging.", "[0036] Later, a liposomal construct which contains anthracycline called idarubicin which is currently most effective treatment of AML, but has toxic effects, as a therapeutic agent and LLG as targeting agent will be developed.", "The LLG can also function as a therapeutic agent on surface of liposome.", "Using this labelled liposome we can study the pharmacokinetics and dynamics of idarubicin.", "[0037] Testing of the LLG constructs in animals provides a background for the clinical development of the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML).", "An understanding of the cellular pharmacology, cytokinetics and pharmacokinetics of LLG constructs in leukemic mice will show substantial schedule and dose dependency.", "[0000] Pegylated LLG-Peptide and Liposomes Bearing LLG-Peptide [0038] Pegylation of peptides usually makes them more stabile in serum and therefore more effective.", "This simple and fast modification of a peptide can make the peptide so stabile in a serum that it can be used as a therapeutic agent and as an imaging agent.", "To the N-terminus of the LLG-peptide YADGA sequence is added for the labeling procedure, and to have a linkage between the peptide and PEG-molecule.", "This peptide is coupled to PEG-NHS with different molecular weights with EDC-NHS reaction.", "To find out the best molecule this construct is tested on cell culture and biodistribution is evaluated on mice bearing xenografts.", "[0000] Thioglycolate Incubation [0039] Initially, incubation of thioglycolate has been tested in animals after injecting the substance intraperitoneally.", "Animals are studied for biodistribution at 10 min.", "Intraperitoneal fluid is collected and cells are stained for integrin expression.", "Highest uptake is used for further studies.", "Cytological samples are collected for characterization of neutrophil recruitment at inflammatory sites.", "[0000] LLG-Peptide Targeting after Thioglycolate Incubation [0040] At one of the selected incubation time points of thioglycolate to develop relevant inflammation, detailed biodistribution study of labelled LLG-peptide construct was performed.", "Peptide uptake was studied at different time points: 5 min, 30 min, 3 hr, 18 hr after injection.", "Special attention was paid to intraperitoneal fluid collections.", "Cytological samples were collected for evaluating neutrophil recruitment at inflammatory sites.", "[0000] LPS Incubation [0041] Initially, incubation of LPS is tested in animals.", "Incubation times of 72 hours, 24 hours and 3 hours were tested.", "Animals were studied for biodistribution at 3 hours.", "Highest uptake at 24 hrs was used for further studies.", "[0000] LLG-Peptide Targeting after LPS Incubation [0042] At one of the selected incubation time points of LPS to develop relevant inflammation, detailed biodistribution study of labelled LLG-peptide construct was done.", "Histological samples were collected for evaluating neutrophil recruitment at inflammatory sites.", "Normal biodistribution data using iodinated peptide is shown in FIG. 4 [0000] Results [0043] YADGA LLG peptide was studied for tumor targeting in U937 cell line.", "The peptide was labelled using In-111 label and direct iodination and cDTPA.", "FIG. 1 demonstrates clearly tumor targeting at 3 hrs after intravenous In-111-YADGA LLG injection.", "In this model absolute tumor-to-blood ratio was 4.7 at 24 hrs.", "[0044] We have demonstrated radiohalogenation of LLG and pegylated LLG.", "Halogenation can be performed similarly using radionuclides I-123, this isotope can also be used for gamma images, and I-124 which could be utilized for positron emission tomography, (images), and I-125 (Auger-therapy, gamma probe, operation techniques), and I-131 (gamma images, radionuclide therapy, beta radiation).", "Furthermore possible useful radionuclides are Br-76, Br-77, At-211.", "Bromine is a positron emitter and astatine an alpha-emitter (radionuclide therapy).", "[0045] In-111 is a transition metal.", "The same method could be used for radiolabelling of numerous radiometals.", "[0046] Metallic radionuclides with cDTPA chelation described are In-111, other examples In-110 (PET), In-114m (Auger, gamma) etc.", "Other similar are Y-90 and other nuclides, Co, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, basically all transition metals and their radionuclides.", "Gd is the metal used for paramagnetic contrast agents, and it can be coupled with cDTPA chelation.", "Most of lanthanides have characteristics useful for paramagnetic imaging and cDTPA chelation can be utilized.", "[0047] We have also used peptidoliposomes for imaging.", "Liposomes can be encapsulated with gaseous particles for ultrasonography, paramagnetic compounds for MRI and fluorescein label for fluorescence imaging and e.g. luciferase enzyme system for chemiluminescence imaging.", "[0048] In the following experiments, in radiolabeling either the longer construct of the peptide (YADGACPCFLLGCC), shorter version (CPCFLLGCC) or fusion protein GST-LLG was used, depending on the labelling method.", "[0000] LLG Targeting to Abscess [0049] In this experiment, the targeting of LLG to sites of inflammation was examined in Wistar rats and New Zealand White rabbits, by inducing an abscess with approximately 1×10 9 colony-forming units of Staphylococcus aureus or Escherichia coli injected into the left tight muscle.", "During the procedure, the animals were anesthetized.", "After 24 hours, when swelling of the muscle was apparent, the In-111 radiolabeled peptide CPCFLLGCC was injected i.v. and accumulation of the peptide was followed with gamma camera imaging.", "The peptide was tested using 3 animals in both animal species.", "[0050] Although the method was not optimized, the LLG imaging (gamma camera) of the E. coli abscess in rabbits demonstrated specific targeting into tight muscle, which was clearly visible within one hour (see FIG. 5 A-E).", "The animals were followed-up for 4 hours.", "In late images urinary excretion disturbed the imaging, but signal-to-background ratio remained high.", "No other targets than abscess could be detected.", "Imaging would have been even more successful, if the rabbits would have been catheterized (or bladder emptied) before imaging session.", "This peptide is highly hydrophilic but easy to label, and it showed rapid clearance through kidneys.", "[0051] In rats assay, animals were followed-up for 2 hours after peptide injection.", "LLG imaging using gamma camera of the S. aureus abscess demonstrated also specific targeting ( FIG. 6 A-C), but in late images urinary excretion disturbed the imaging.", "Similarly, in rats the demonstration of targeting would have been more effective if the bladders had been emptied before imaging.", "However, signal-to-background ratio remained high, and as in rabbits, no other targets than abscess could be detected.", "[0052] After the imaging period, animals were sacrificed, various tissues were collected and the accumulated radioactivity was measured using a gamma-counter.", "In FIG. 7A , the amount of accumulated peptide (expressed as percentage of injected dose/weight of the tissue measured;", "% ID/g) is shown for certain tissues of rabbits (mean of 3 animals).", "No organ (except kidney, data not shown) showed as high accumulation as the abscess, in which the accumulation was 21.7-fold when compared to muscle, and 2.3-fold when compared to blood.", "FIG. 7B shows the same accumulation measured from rats.", "In these animals, the corresponding ratios were 4.5 and 2.0 for muscle and blood, respectively.", "These experiments clearly show that radioactively labelled LLG is an efficient means of imaging infection sites, but due to its fast clearance, no urinary tract infections can be detected with this construct.", "[0000] LLG Targeting to Sites of Inflammation (Ear) [0053] In this experiment, six Balb/c mice were injected in their left ear with 10 μg of E. coli LPS.", "Inflammation was developing for 24 h, then 20 μg (75 kBq) of radiolabeled GST-LLG was injected into tail vein of the mice.", "At 3 h after peptide injection the mice were sacrificed and the left ears (infected) and right ears (control) were collected to measure the accumulated radioactivity.", "Results are expressed as percentage of injected dose per 1.0 g tissue (% ID/g) ( FIG. 8 ).", "All values are indicated as the mean±SD of 3 mice.", "[0000] LLG Induced Inhibition [0054] In our previous studies (supra), we have shown that the administration of LLG-GST fusion protein intravenously into mice inhibited the migration of neutrophils into thioglycolate inflamed peritoneal cavity.", "The number of migrating neutrophils was reduced to 40% of control.", "This effect was time dependent and visible in time points 1 h and 2 h, decaying with time and not visible at 4 hours and later.", "[0055] The study was repeated as follows: [0056] To induce inflammation, female Balb/c mice were injected intraperitoneally with 1 ml of 3% Thioglycolate Broth (TG), three animals/group.", "Mice in the control group were injected iv with plain vehicle PBS-10% DMSO, and mice in the peptide group were injected iv with 1 mg/kg YADGACPCFLLGCC in PBS-10% DMSO.", "After 60 or 120 minutes, the mice were sacrificed.", "Cells in peritoneal cavity were collected by lavage with 5 ml PBS-5 mM EDTA, and counted with a hemocytometer.", "[0057] The local injection of TG has been shown to cause a significant extravasation of polymorphonuclear leukocytes into the cavity.", "In this experiment different cell populations were not distinguished.", "However, once again, YADGACPCFLLGCC reduced the accumulation of cells in experimental inflammation in vivo by 78% after 60 minutes and 52% after 120 minutes ( FIG. 9 ).", "[0000] The Stability of LLG [0058] In order to find out the most stable form of the LLG peptide (CPCFLLGCC), the peptide was labelled with I-125.", "The purified peptide was coupled to PEG (10000) or to DSPE-PEG (3400) .", "In water solutions DSPE-PEG (3400) -LLG forms micelles, that were incorporated into commercially available stealth liposomes.", "I-125-LLG (LLG), pegylated LLG (Peg-LLG), micellar LLG (M-LLG) and liposomal LLG (L-LLG) were injected into the tail vein of Balb/c mice.", "At 3 h after peptide injection, the mice were sacrificed, blood samples were collected and measured for radioactivity.", "Results are expressed as percentage of injected dose per 1.0 g blood (% ID/g).", "All values are indicated as mean±SD of 5 mice.", "[0059] As shown in FIG. 10 , coupling of the peptide to a higher molecular weight molecule or to a stealth liposome, increases the stability of the peptide in circulation up to 7-fold.", "[0000] Biodistribution of LLG [0060] LLG (YADGACPCFLLGCC) was labelled with I-125, and the purified peptide (40 μg;", "˜500 kBq) was injected into the tail vein of mice in the volume of 100 μg.", "At 30 min and 180 min after peptide injection, the mice were sacrificed and their blood and tissues were collected to measure the radioactivity.", "Results are expressed as percentage of injected dose per 1.0 g tissue (% D/g) ( FIG. 11 ).", "All values are indicated as the mean±SD of 3 mice.", "[0061] As shown in FIG. 11 , the peptide did not accumulate in any tissue, and a rapid clearance through kidneys could be seen.", "[0000] The Affinity of LLG [0062] We examined the affinity of LLG to integrin using BIACORE.", "In this method, purified integrin I-domain was immobilized on the gold coated carboxymethylated dextran chip.", "The immobilization succeeded, and in various channels a RU between 2000-4000 was obtained.", "Various concentrations (3.3 nM-33 μM) of LLG-GST or GST were tested for their ability to bind to the I-domain.", "Reaction buffer was 10 mM HEPES (pH 7.4)-150 mM NaCl, with or without 1 mM MgCl 2 .", "Unfortunately, no specific binding could be detected for LLG, because GST protein caused a very high background binding.", "Addition of detergent P20 0.05% could not diminish the background.", "[0063] In another set of experiment, plain LLG peptide was used for affinity testing.", "The concentration of the tested peptide varied between 134 nM-134 μM.", "Under the above described set up, no specific binding could be detected, due to the small size of the peptide.", "The BIACORE method is currently under development, and we intend to study the affinity again with a peptide coupled to a higher molecular weight, inert carrier molecule.", "[0064] FIG. 12 shows YLLGs capability of blocking LLG-GFPs binding to THP-1 cell line.", "What has been observed is that at 50 μM YLLG concentration 95% of LLG-GFPs binding is been blocked.", "When concentrations are been lowered to 20 μM still 70% inhibition occurs.", "Based on the FIG. 12 it is evident that the IC 50 is on nanomolar scale.", "However, due to the unspecific binding of peptide to the plastic walls of the container and the relative high concentrations of LLG-GFP needed for signal nanomolar scale, experiments can not been performed with this setup on its current already un-optimized state.", "Although these experiments do not give binding constant directly they actually tell from peptides capability to bind in biological systems which is more relevant in in vivo systems." ]

[ "TECHNICAL FIELD The following description relates generally to voltage sensors, and more particularly to an on-chip sensor for detecting dynamic power supply noise, such as voltage droop, encountered during operation of a semiconductor chip.", "BACKGROUND Power supply noise in integrated circuits (ICs) (wherein the terms “IC,” “chips,” “semiconductor chips”", "are used synonymously throughout this specification) has emerged as a critical issue, particularly in sub-100 nanometer (nm) technology.", "Power supply noise causes fluctuations in the voltage differences between power supply and ground rails within ICs resulting in unpredictable timing violations or logical event failures.", "Certain design flows that manage power supply noise rely on power analysis tools based on highly capable, fast transistor-level or abstracted gate-level simulations.", "How accurately such simulations can predict noises in terms of amplitudes, timings, and locations within a circuit, however, is largely unknown to designers.", "On-chip measurements of power supply and ground noise waveforms within ICs can provide valuable knowledge for establishing reliable design guides of power supply systems.", "Chip designs are becoming increasingly complex as the number of devices implemented on a single chip are increasing.", "For example, IC designs commonly implement multi-core processors and system-on-chip (SoC) packages.", "Power supply noise can significantly alter the performance of these ICs.", "For instance, parasitic effects, such as interconnect resistance, increasingly impact the performance of ICs as technology sizes shrink.", "Parasitic effects have greatly increased design complexity due to ad hoc work arounds.", "Power supply integrity is an important consideration for achieving higher performance of ICs.", "Degradation of the power integrity causes a voltage droop, which in turn causes unpredictable timing violations or logical event failures.", "As higher performing ICs are operating in ever lower power thresholds, highly-accurate analysis of a chip's power supply network is desired to improve power integrity.", "One type of power supply noise is voltage droop.", "Transistors in the IC switch on and off millions of times each second.", "Turning on many transistors simultaneously uses a significant amount of current.", "When a large current is drawn from the power source, the voltage of the power source falls.", "This “voltage droop”", "occurs momentarily until the power source compensates or some of the transistors turn off.", "A droop of only tenths of a volt can have drastic effects on the operation of transistors in the IC.", "Monitoring the voltage droop is desirable because effects of voltage droop may be compensated for to prevent a negative impact on IC performance.", "Various techniques for monitoring or measuring power supply noise, such as voltage droop, have been developed.", "Conventionally, these techniques have been analog in nature.", "That is, the techniques generally require use of analog circuits such as op-amps.", "Other proposed measurement techniques are off-chip techniques that employ measurement logic implemented external to the chip.", "Such measurement techniques that are undesirable because of their inaccuracy.", "For example, potential changes or additional capacitances introduced by coupling the off-chip measurement circuitry to the portions of the chip being measured may alter the measurement.", "One conventional on-chip technique employs a ring oscillator for measuring power supply noise.", "Ring oscillator speed varies with IC conditions, but the ring oscillator is unable to detect whether the change is due to voltage variation or some other IC condition, such as temperature variation.", "BRIEF SUMMARY The present disclosure is directed to systems and methods which employ an on-chip sensor for measuring dynamic power supply noise for the chip.", "That is, embodiments of an on-chip sensor are provided for measuring dynamic power supply noise, such as voltage droop, on the chip.", "As discussed further herein, embodiments of the disclosure employ in-situ logic that is sensitive to noise present on a power supply of functional logic of the chip, such as a microprocessor, adder, and/or other functional logic of the chip.", "For instance, in certain embodiments, the in-situ logic shares a common power supply with the chip's functional logic.", "The in-situ logic performs some operation, and the amount of time required for performing that operation (i.e., the operational delay) is sensitive to noise present on the power supply.", "Thus, by evaluating the operational delay of the in-situ logic, the amount of noise present on the power supply can be measured.", "Further, as discussed below, the operation of the in-situ logic can be controllably triggered at different times (e.g., using a delayed clock signal) relative to operation of the functional logic, thereby determining a power supply noise profile that is experienced at different points of the functional logic's operation.", "The functional logic of the chip operates with reference to a reference clock signal.", "A delayed clock signal is generated, which is delayed by a predefined “delta”", "amount relative to the reference clock signal, and the delayed clock signal is supplied to the in-situ logic.", "While the functional logic of the chip performs its normal operation with reference to the reference clock signal, the in-situ logic performs some operation with reference to the delayed clock signal, wherein the operation of the in-situ logic generates an output signal.", "In one embodiment, the in-situ logic (which may be referred to herein as a “probe”) comprises a series of inverters, which perform a series of inversion operations, such as inverting the received delayed clock signal, to produce an output signal.", "The output signal from the in-situ logic is used to evaluate the delay of the operation of the in-situ logic.", "For instance, in one embodiment the delayed clock signal and the output signal from the in-situ logic are input to a pulse generator, which generates a pulse having a width that reflects the length of operational delay of the in-situ logic.", "Because the operation of the in-situ logic shares the power of the functional logic and is based on a delayed clock that has a predefined delay relative to the reference clock, the operational delay of the in-situ logic (e.g., the width of the pulse generated by the pulse generator) contains information regarding dynamic power supply noise on the power rail supplied to the functional logic, such as voltage droop information.", "As discussed below, certain embodiments employ a statistical approach for evaluating this information in order to determine a behavioral profile for dynamic power supply noise encountered during normal operation of the functional logic.", "As is well known, many operations of digital circuits are triggered based on a reference clock signal.", "For instance, many gates/logic perform some operation based on a rising edge or falling edge of a cycle of a reference clock signal.", "Accordingly, dynamic power supply noise for the circuitry is often present around the rising or falling edges of the reference clock signal.", "It becomes desirable to capture the periodic repeatable behavior of the noise for the circuitry.", "Once this dynamic power supply noise behavioral profile is known, certain actions may be implemented for compensating for the noise (e.g., detected voltage droop), such as by throttling the clock frequency or increasing the regulator voltage to compensate for the associated droop, in order to prevent the noise from negatively impacting the chip's performance.", "According to embodiments of the present disclosure, an on-chip sensor is proposed for capturing the dynamic power supply noise behavior for the chip.", "The chip has functional logic for performing the operations for the target application of the chip, and sensor logic that is added on the chip for monitoring the dynamic power supply noise of the chip.", "In this way, the on-chip sensor logic can monitor the dynamic power supply noise of the chip to determine a behavioral profile for the power supply noise that can be used for maintaining accurate performance of the functional logic.", "In certain embodiments, the on-chip solution includes a clean power portion and a noisy power portion.", "The noisy power portion is a portion that includes the functional logic of the chip for which the sensor is implemented to monitor the dynamic power supply noise behavior.", "Such functional logic may be a microprocessor, an adder, and/or other functional logic of a given chip.", "Also, an in-situ logic (or “probe”) portion is included in the noisy power portion of the chip, and thus shares the power supply of the functional logic of the noisy power portion.", "The clean power portion may provide a separate power supply (clean power and ground lines) for use by certain logic of the on-chip sensor solution, such as a delayed clock generator, a pulse generator, and a sensor for sensing/evaluating the pulses from the pulse generator.", "That is, the clean power supply is disconnected from the noisy power supply of the chip's functional logic.", "The clean power portion provides a separate power signal from the noisy power signal supplied to the functional logic of the chip such that the added logic to which the clean power supply is provided does not effect the behavior of the functional logic's noisy power supply and vice-versa.", "In certain implementations, to avoid incurring extra pin overhead, power lines of other power islands may be utilized for the clean power supply.", "During operation, the functional logic functions as normal, such as it would for an intended application.", "For instance, a microprocessor in the noisy power portion may execute instructions of a given software application.", "As is normal, the functional logic (e.g., microprocessor) performs its operations with reference to a reference clock signal.", "A separate delayed clock signal, having some controlled delay amount (or “delta”) relative to the reference clock signal, is supplied to the in-situ probe portion.", "The in-situ probe portion performs some operation based on the delayed clock signal, and returns an output signal.", "In one embodiment, the in-situ probe portion has a series of inverters to generate an inverted delay signal.", "As is discussed further herein, in one embodiment stacked inverters are employed to improve the sensitivity of the in-situ probe's operational delay to voltage fluctuation.", "In one exemplary embodiment, five stacked inverters are employed for the in-situ probe.", "Since the probing portion implemented in this manner consumes a small area, it can be efficiently embedded into standard library cell logic blocks.", "In one embodiment, the delayed clock signal and the output signal from the in-situ probe portion are input to a pulse generator, which generates a pulse signal having a width equivalent to the delay of the in-situ probing portion (i.e., the delay for performing the operation, such as the series of inversions).", "Because the in-situ probe portion shares the noisy power supply of the functional logic and is operating at some delayed point relative to the reference clock signal of the functional logic, the operational delay of the in-situ probe portion has information regarding dynamic power supply noise (e.g., voltage droop) that is experienced by the functional logic.", "Thus, the dynamic power supply noise (e.g., voltage droop) can be sensed by measuring the generated pulse width information.", "In one embodiment, a comparison delay block is used for comparison with the generated pulse for evaluating the width of the pulse.", "The comparison delay block may generate a signal representing a predefined amount of delay, wherein the amount of delay may, in certain embodiments, be controllable (e.g., via settings of control registers).", "In one embodiment, the total delay of the comparison delay block includes multiple variable delay blocks.", "In one embodiment, the total delay block is three variable delay blocks, which are referred to as “window selection,” “coarse variable delay,” and “fine variable delay”", "windows.", "Each of these parts of the delay may be controlled by control signals.", "According to one embodiment, the output of the total delay block is used as a “D”", "signal of a D flip-flop, and the generated pulse signal is employed as the flip-flop's clock signal (“PLS_CLK”).", "When the delay of the total delay block is shorter than the generated pulse width, a “low”", "is captured at the rising edge of the flip-flop's clock signal.", "At the moment that the delay of the total delay block exceeds the generated pulse width, a “high”", "value is sensed in the flip-flop.", "Of course, while this implementation captures a low value (i.e., a logic 0) when the total delay block is shorter than the pulse width and captures a high value (i.e., a logic 1) when the total delay block exceeds the pulse width, other implementations may be configured in an opposite manner (i.e., to capture a 1 when the total delay block is shorter than the pulse width and a 0 when the total delay block exceeds the pulse width).", "In either implementation, different values are employed to distinguish between instances in which the total delay block is shorter than the pulse width and instances in which the total delay block exceeds the pulse width.", "In an ideal situation, the captured value is always the same when the generated pulse width and the comparison delay is constant.", "However, this cannot be guaranteed in a real silicon operational environment due to circuit uncertainty, such as jitter.", "Moreover, pulse width cannot be constant since voltage droop generally changes every clock cycle.", "To cope with these issues, a statistical method is employed in certain embodiments.", "For instance, in certain embodiments, by counting the “high”", "value of the flip-flop output over multiple clock cycles, a cumulative distribution function (CDF) of voltage droop (rather than real voltage droop value) is obtained.", "If desired to differentiate with respect to delay, the CDF can be used to derive a probabilistic distribution function (PDF) of the dynamic power supply noise encountered by the functional logic of the chip.", "As discussed further herein, in one embodiment, an on-chip voltage sensor for measuring voltage fluctuation in dynamic power supply of the chip is provided.", "The on-chip voltage sensor includes an offset delay element that generates a delayed clock signal that is delayed by an amount of time relative to an internal reference clock signal of the chip.", "The on-chip voltage sensor further includes a probe circuit that receives the delayed clock signal and generates an output signal.", "An amount of operational delay of the probe circuit in generating the output signal corresponds to voltage fluctuations on a power supply rail of the chip.", "Further, the on-chip voltage sensor includes a sensor that compares the operational delay of the probe circuit in generating the output signal with a reference signal to determine voltage fluctuation present on the power supply rail during performance of the operation to generate the output signal.", "In one embodiment, an integrated circuit (IC) has functional logic that performs operations with reference to a reference clock signal (CLK).", "The IC also has an in-situ probe that receives a delayed clock signal.", "The delayed clock signal is delayed by an amount of time relative to the reference clock signal.", "The in-situ probe performs an operation (e.g., inversion of the received delayed clock signal) to generate an output signal.", "Also, the in-situ probe shares a common power supply with the functional logic of the chip.", "The IC also includes a pulse generator that receives the delayed clock signal and the output signal of the in-situ probe.", "The pulse generator generates a pulse signal that corresponds to operational delay of the in-situ probe in generating the output signal.", "And, the IC has a sensor that receives the pulse signal and evaluates width of the received pulse signal for determining a corresponding dynamic power supply noise fluctuation that was experienced by the functional logic during performance of the operation of the in-situ probe.", "In one embodiment, a method includes receiving, by a digital probe arranged on an integrated circuit, a delayed clock signal.", "The delayed clock signal is delayed by an amount of time relative to a reference clock signal that is referenced for operation of functional logic included on the integrated circuit.", "And, the digital probe shares a common power supply with the functional logic.", "Responsive to the received delayed clock signal, the digital generates an output signal.", "Logic (e.g., a pulse generator) on the integrated circuit forms a signal that corresponds to operational delay of the digital probe in performing the operation to generate the output signal.", "And, logic (e.g., a sensor) on the integrated circuit evaluates the formed signal for measuring a corresponding dynamic power supply noise fluctuation that was experienced by the functional logic during performance of the operation by the digital probe.", "As described above, the in-situ probing portion of certain embodiments contains voltage droop information.", "To use only digital input/output (I/O), this delay is to be converted to a digital signal.", "In certain embodiments, the delay is changed to a control signal of the variable delay block.", "Variable delay is increased with control signal incrementally.", "When the probing portion delay is matched to the delay of the variable delay, the control signal can be read.", "In this way, the probing delay can be converted to a digital signal efficiently.", "Also, although clean power is used for the proposed sensor, jitter is unavoidable.", "In certain embodiments, statistical values are used instead of actual voltage drop.", "Inside the sensor, counters are embedded, which count the sensed number during a certain period.", "By dividing the sensed number by the clock cycle of the measurement period, the probability is obtained.", "According to certain embodiments, a sensor is provided that can be implemented in a relatively small area such that it can be efficiently embedded in a standard cell logic block.", "Also, in certain embodiments, a sensor is provided that employs fully digital signals as I/O signals, which means that the sensor is robust to aliasing noise of the output pad.", "Further, in certain embodiments, statistical methods are employed to overcome jitter and circuit uncertainty.", "According to one aspect of the disclosure, an on-chip voltage sensor for measuring voltage fluctuation in dynamic power supply of a chip includes an offset delay element that generates a delayed clock signal that is delayed by an amount of time relative to an internal reference clock signal of the chip.", "The voltage sensor also includes a probe circuit that receives the delayed clock signal and generates an output signal.", "An amount of operational delay of the probe circuit in generating the output signal corresponds to voltage fluctuations on a power supply rail of the chip.", "The voltage sensor further includes a sensor that compares the operational delay of the probe circuit in generating the output signal with a reference signal to determine voltage fluctuation present on the power supply rail during performance of the operation to generate the output signal.", "According to another aspect of the disclosure, an integrated circuit includes functional logic that performs operations with reference to a reference clock signal.", "The integrated circuit also includes an in-situ probe that receives a delayed clock signal.", "The delayed clock signal delayed by an amount of time relative to the reference clock signal.", "The in-situ probe generates an output signal, wherein the in-situ probe shares a power supply with said functional logic.", "The integrated circuit further includes a pulse generator that receives the delayed clock signal and the output signal of the in-situ probe.", "The pulse generator generates a pulse signal that corresponds to operational delay of the in-situ probe in generating the output signal.", "The integrated circuit yet further includes a sensor that receives the pulse signal and evaluates width of the pulse signal for determining a corresponding dynamic power supply noise fluctuation that was experienced by the functional logic during performance of the operation of the in-situ probe.", "According to yet another aspect of the disclosure, a method includes receiving, by a digital probe arranged on an integrated circuit, a delayed clock signal.", "The delayed clock signal delayed by an amount of time relative to a reference clock signal that is referenced for operation of functional logic included on the integrated circuit.", "The method also includes responsive to the delayed clock signal, performing an operation, by the digital probe, to generate an output signal.", "The operational delay of the digital probe in performing the operation to generate the output signal is sensitive to voltage fluctuation in a power supply of the functional logic included on the integrated circuit.", "The method further includes forming, by logic on the integrated circuit, a signal that corresponds to the operational delay of the digital probe in performing the operation to generate the output signal.", "The method also includes evaluating, by logic on the integrated circuit, a formed signal for measuring a corresponding voltage fluctuation that was experienced by the functional logic during performance of the operation by the digital probe.", "According to a further aspect of the disclosure, a method includes the steps of receiving, by a digital probe arranged on an integrated circuit, a delayed clock signal.", "The delayed clock signal delayed by an amount of time relative to a reference clock signal that is referenced for operation of functional logic included on the integrated circuit.", "The method also includes the step of responsive to the delayed clock signal, performing an operation, by the digital probe, to generate an output signal.", "The operational delay of the digital probe in performing the operation to generate the output signal is sensitive to voltage fluctuation in a power supply of the functional logic included on the integrated circuit.", "The method further includes the step of forming, by logic on the integrated circuit, a signal that corresponds to the operational delay of the digital probe in performing the operation to generate the output signal.", "The method also includes evaluating, by logic on the integrated circuit, a formed signal for measuring a corresponding voltage fluctuation that was experienced by the functional logic during performance of the operation by the digital probe.", "According to another aspect of the disclosure, an on-chip voltage sensor includes means for generating a delayed clock signal.", "The voltage sensor also includes means for probing the delayed clock signal coupled to a power supply rail.", "The voltage sensor further includes means for determining voltage fluctuation present on the power supply rail.", "The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and technical advantages of the present disclosure in order that the detailed description of the disclosure that follows may be better understood.", "Additional features and advantages of the disclosure will be described hereinafter which form the subject of the claims of the disclosure.", "It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conception and specific embodiments disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present disclosure.", "It should also be realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the disclosure as set forth in the appended claims.", "The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the disclosure, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages will be better understood from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying figures.", "It is to be expressly understood, however, that each of the figures is provided for the purpose of illustration and description only and is not intended as a definition of the limits of the present disclosure.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS For a more complete understanding of the present disclosure, reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.", "FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary on-chip sensor according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.", "FIG. 1A is a table representing non-periodic data collected from an on-chip noise sensor according to one embodiment.", "FIG. 2 is a schematic illustrating an exemplary implementation of a variable delay generator and a pulse generator according to one embodiment.", "FIG. 3A is a schematic illustrating an exemplary implementation of a sensor according to one embodiment.", "FIG. 3B is a timing diagram illustrating waveforms for the data signal, D, and the pulse clock buffer signal, PLS_CLK, for two different scenarios.", "FIG. 3C is a timing diagram illustrating signals in the circuit of FIG. 3A according to one embodiment.", "FIG. 4A is a schematic illustrating an exemplary embodiment of a fine variable delay.", "FIG. 4B is a schematic illustrating an exemplary embodiment of a coarse variable delay.", "FIG. 4C is a schematic illustrating an exemplary embodiment of a window delay.", "FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating one embodiment of an arrangement of counters for counting sensor outputs.", "FIGS. 6A-6C are timing diagrams illustrating exemplary interaction waveforms for various signals, according to one embodiment of the on-chip voltage sensor.", "FIG. 7A is a table of outputs, obtained from a data collector during calibration, having broken proportionality.", "FIG. 7B is a final measurement table, according to one embodiment.", "FIG. 8 is a timing diagram illustrating an example of a table set up process according to one embodiment.", "FIG. 9 is a table that shows data in overlapping regions in more detail.", "FIG. 10A is a chart illustrating one exemplary implementation of a voting process.", "FIG. 10B is a chart illustrating another exemplary implementation of a voting process.", "FIG. 11 shows an exemplary schematic of an implementation of the on-chip voltage sensor via system on chip (SOC) integration, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.", "FIG. 12 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary top level architecture of a non-periodic noise measurement circuit.", "FIG. 13 is a circuit schematic illustrating a parallel measurement option.", "DETAILED DESCRIPTION FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary on-chip sensor according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.", "In this example, an on-chip architecture 100 includes a clean power area 10 and a noisy power area 11 .", "The noisy power area 11 includes the functional logic 107 of an integrated circuit.", "This may be, for example, a processor core or other logic circuitry in which dynamic power supply noise is measured by the on-chip sensor 100 .", "The functional logic 107 introduces noise into the noisy power area 11 when transistors switch on and off causing voltage droop as described above.", "A variable delay generator 106 is included in the noisy power area 11 of the chip and shares power with the functional logic 107 .", "As a result, the variable delay generator 106 is subject to the same power noise as the functional logic 107 .", "The clean power area 10 includes separate power and ground lines (not shown) for use by a variable offset generator 103 , a pulse generator 104 , and a sensor 105 .", "By providing separate ground and power lines for the clean power area 10 , the noise introduced by the functional logic 107 is reduced or eliminated at the variable offset generator 103 , the pulse generator 104 , and the sensor 105 .", "A clock signal input, CLK, is coupled to the variable offset generator 103 and the functional logic 107 .", "The clock signal, CLK, is offset by the variable offset generator 103 and output as an offset clock signal, d_prob_out.", "The offset clock signal, d_prob_out, has clock edges that occur after clock edges of the clock signal, CLK, by an offset amount, delta.", "In one embodiment, the amount of delta may be controlled by control registers 102 through a control signal having N number of bits, OFF[N:0].", "The delayed clock signal, d_prob_out, is input to the variable delay generator 106 .", "In one embodiment, the variable delay generator 106 includes a series of inverters to generate a delayed clock signal, d_prob_in.", "Clock edges of the delayed clock signal, d_prob_in, are delayed from the offset clock signal, d_prob_out, by a number of clock cycles proportional to the number of buffers in the variable delay generator 106 and the noise in the power supplied to the variable delay generator 106 .", "In additional embodiments, the variable delay generator 106 may be used to generate multiple delays.", "The offset clock signal, d_prob_out, from the variable offset generator 103 and the delayed clock signal, d_prob_in, from the variable delay generator 106 are input to the pulse generator 104 , which generates a pulse signal, PLS, having a width proportional to the delay of the variable delay generator 106 .", "The delayed clock signal, d-prob-in, is delayed by both a generated delay by inverters in the variable delay generator 106 and dynamic power noise occurring in the noisy power area 11 .", "Therefore, the pulse signal, PLS, contains information regarding dynamic power noise present in the noisy power area 11 .", "The pulse signal, PLS, is input to the sensor 105 , which evaluates the width of the pulse signal, PLS, for measuring the corresponding dynamic power supply noise (e.g., voltage droop) in the noisy power area 11 .", "For instance, in one embodiment, the sensor 105 compares the pulse signal, PLS, width against a predefined table to correlate width to dynamic power supply noise (e.g., voltage droop).", "The width of the delay sensed by the sensor 105 (i.e., sensitivity of the sensor 105 ) may be controlled, in one embodiment, by the control registers 102 , through delay lines having M number of bits, delay[M:0].", "The sensor 105 outputs a first value (e.g., a 0) for each instance (e.g., each clock cycle) in which a comparison delay specified by the control registers 102 is shorter than the width of the pulse signal, PLS, and the sensor 105 outputs a second value (e.g., a 1) for each instance in which the comparison delay exceeds the width of the pulse signal, PLS.", "Two embodiments for collecting data from the sensor 105 are shown, and either one or both may be included in the on-chip sensor 100 .", "In the first embodiment, a first data collector 12 includes counters 108 , 109 .", "The width of the pulse signal, PLS, may be evaluated (e.g., compared against a comparison delay block) over multiple clock cycles.", "The counter 109 counts the number of clock cycles in a clock signal, pre_counter_clk, to determine when a desired sampling has been reached (e.g., a sampling of 63 cycles).", "The counter 108 counts the output of the sensor 105 to determine the number of instances in which the comparison delay exceeds the width of the pulse signal, PLS.", "Exemplary implementations of the counters 108 and 109 that may be employed are discussed in further detail below with reference to FIGS. 5A-5B .", "Although in certain implementations the sensor 105 and the counters 108 , 109 may have significant overhead (e.g., 50 micrometers×70 micrometers), adjacent white space of the functional logic 107 may be used for their footprint.", "In the case of a chip having multiple noisy power areas such as the noisy power area 11 , one or more variable delay generators such as the variable delay generator 106 may be included in each noisy power area.", "This may allow for evaluating dynamic power supply noise at different locations and/or for different functional logic elements on a chip.", "Each of the variable delay generators may, according to one embodiment, share certain elements of the on-chip sensor 100 .", "For example, the first data collector 12 may only appear once in a chip but be coupled to multiple sensors such as the sensor 105 .", "Additionally, according to one embodiment, a sensor such as the sensor 105 may couple to multiple variable delay generators.", "Hence, the overall area penalty for implementing the on-chip sensor 100 may be reduced.", "The first data collector 12 may be useful for recording quasi-periodic voltage fluctuations because it records fixed sampling cycles defined by the counter 109 .", "In the event that non-periodic voltage fluctuation measurements are desired, an alternative collector may be implemented in addition to or instead of the first data collector 12 of the on-chip sensor 100 .", "A second data collector 13 may be useful for recording non-periodic voltage fluctuations.", "The second data collector 13 uses shift registers 111 , a data compressor 112 , and a memory 113 to measure and store power supply noise not synchronized with the clock signal, CLK.", "Operation of the on-chip sensor 100 with the second data collector 13 includes setting a pulse width level in the control registers 102 .", "This level is used by the sensor 105 to determine if an input pulse signal, PLS, is more or less wide than the pulse width level set in the control registers 102 .", "A first or second level (e.g., 0 or 1) is output on a measurement signal line, meas_data.", "The measurement signal, meas_data, indicates whether the power supply noise occurring in the noisy power area 11 dipped below a preset threshold.", "The measurements are stored in the shift registers 111 .", "The measurement may then be compressed by a data compressor 112 and stored in the memory 113 .", "The memory 113 may be read out for analysis of the power supply noise, recorded, or used to compensate the noise.", "The second data collector 13 may be used to collect a large array of data by scanning multiple pulse width levels.", "For example, a first pulse width level may be set in the control registers 102 and measurements stored in the memory 113 .", "Then, a second pulse width may be set in the control registers 102 and additional measurements stored in the memory 113 .", "A reconstruction of this data will now be described below with reference to FIG. 1A .", "FIG. 1A is a table representing non-periodic data collected from an on-chip noise sensor according to one embodiment.", "A data table 190 may be collected by the second data collector 13 and stored in the memory 113 .", "An axis 192 represents increasing delay offsets provided to the variable offset generator 103 .", "An axis 194 represents a measured voltage that corresponds to a delay value used in the pulse variable delay 301 discussed below with respect to FIG. 3A .", "A time 193 is a time corresponding to a noise trigger event.", "As the time offset increases from the time 193 , noise is being measured at times after the noise trigger event.", "As voltage increases along the axis 192 , longer delays are tested that represent higher voltage values.", "By scanning offset values along the axis 192 and delay values corresponding to voltage values of the axis 194 in the on-chip sensor 100 , a noise voltage waveform 196 may be generated.", "The noise voltage waveform 196 represents the dynamic power noise (e.g., voltage droop) experienced in the noisy power area 11 .", "Each value in the data table 190 is shown as a 1 or 0;", "however, these values may alternatively be probabilistic values that are real numbers between 0 and 1 to increase accuracy.", "In the case that the values are probabilistic values, the values may be obtained from the first data collector 12 .", "The resolution of voltage sampling in FIG. 1A is ΔV, which is determined by the variable delay generator 106 .", "The resolution of the sampling ΔT is determined by the frequency of a sampling clock.", "The resolution of sampling may be adjusted using a frequency divider as described below with reference to FIG. 12 .", "A voltage range of the on-chip sensor 100 may be V 1 to V N and an observation window of the on-chip sensor 100 may be T 1 to T M .", "The sampling rate in the observation window may be configurable in the on-chip sensor 100 or the observation window may be fixed.", "Also shown is a data table 198 representing another set of non-periodic data.", "Ideally, the measurements stored in the memory 113 accurately represent measurements of the sensor 105 .", "Uncertainty in the measurements, such as jitter, causes noise.", "Therefore, a statistical data collection method may be employed.", "For instance, in certain embodiments, the counters 108 , 109 are used to count the instances of captured high values and/or low values over multiple clock cycles.", "By counting the values of the sensor 105 output over multiple clock cycles, a cumulative distribution function (CDF) of the dynamic power noise is obtained.", "If desired to differentiate with respect to delay, the CDF can be used to derive a probabilistic distribution function (PDF) of the dynamic power supply noise encountered by the functional logic 107 of the chip.", "With either a periodic noise event or a non-periodic noise event, a noise event triggered in the noisy power area 11 should be synchronous with the clock signal, CLK.", "If a random noise event occurs at the beginning of each sweep through delay values DELAY[M:0], neither the first data collector 12 nor the second data collector 13 will correctly record the triggered noise event.", "As will be shown below with FIG. 11 , the on-chip sensor 100 is not limited to probing a single noisy power area 11 .", "For example, multiple on-chip sensors 100 may be built on a chip and used to probe multiple areas.", "According to one embodiment, the first data collector 12 and the second data collector 13 are shared across multiple probes on the same chip.", "FIG. 2 is a schematic illustrating an exemplary implementation of a variable delay generator and a pulse generator according to one embodiment.", "A circuit 200 includes a variable delay generator 204 and a pulse generator 201 .", "The variable delay generator 204 in one embodiment may be a number of inverters 206 , 207 , 209 , 210 coupled in a series fashion.", "Input to the inverter 206 is the offset clock signal, d_prob_out.", "Although only four inverters are shown, the variable delay generator 204 may include more or less inverters.", "The delayed clock signal, d_prob_in, is extracted from the variable delay generator 204 through a multiplexer 211 .", "The multiplexer 211 is coupled to the output of each of the inverters 206 , 207 , 209 , 210 and selects one for output onto the delayed clock signal, d_prob_in.", "The multiplexer 211 selects the amount of delay based on an input delay signal having D P bits, prb_variable_delay[D P :0].", "For example if the multiplexer selects output from the inverter 206 , the delayed clock signal, d_prob_in, is delayed by one clock cycle from the offset clock signal, d_prob_out.", "Alternatively, if the multiplexer selects output from the inverter 207 , the delayed clock signal, d_prob_in, is delayed by two clock cycles from the offset clock signal, d_prob_out.", "The inverters 206 , 207 , 209 , 210 may be implemented according to one embodiment as a stacked inverter 205 .", "The stacked inverter 205 includes two pMOS transistors 215 , 216 and two nMOS transistors 213 , 214 .", "The pulse generator 201 in one embodiment may include a AND gate 202 in series with a buffer 203 .", "The AND gate 202 is coupled to the offset clock signal, d_prob_out, and the delayed clock signal, d_prob_in.", "For example, the AND gate 202 produces a “1”", "output when both the offset clock signal, d_prob_out, and the delayed clock signal, d_prob_in, are “1.”", "The output from the pulse generator 201 is the pulse signal, PLS.", "In the exemplary implementation of FIG. 2 , the offset clock signal, d_prob_out, is inverted by the variable delay generator 204 and fed to the pulse generator 201 as the delayed clock signal, d_prob_in.", "The pulse generator 201 outputs a pulse signal, PLS, whose width is equivalent to the delay of the variable delay generator 204 .", "Because the variable delay generator 204 experiences power supply noise (e.g., voltage droop) when positioned inside a noisy power area such as noisy power area 11 , If the variable delay generator 204 includes many inverters to generate a long delay, fast variations in the noisy power are filtered out because they are on the same order of length as the delay generated by the variable delay generator 204 .", "If measurement of short and fast fluctuations in the noise power is desired, the variable delay generator 204 may contain fewer number of inverters to generate a short delay.", "The length of the delay in the variable delay generator 204 may be chosen by the multiplexer 211 .", "Thus, the circuit 200 may include capability to measure both short and long fluctuations in the noisy power.", "FIG. 3A is a schematic illustrating an exemplary implementation of a sensor according to one embodiment.", "In this example, a pulse variable delay 301 is employed by a sensor 300 for use in determining a width of the pulse signal, PLS.", "In this exemplary embodiment, the pulse variable delay 301 includes three variable delay blocks, which are window selection 311 , coarse variable delay 313 , and fine variable delay 314 .", "Each part of the delay is determined by control signals.", "The control signals may be provided by the control registers 102 of FIG. 1 .", "According to one embodiment, the control register bits are divided into three values.", "The control register bits delay[M:M i ] determines the window selection 311 .", "The control register bits delay[M i-1 :M j ] determines the coarse variable delay 313 .", "The control register bits delay[M j-1 :0] determines the fine variable delay 314 .", "For example, if the control register bits delay[M:0], are eight bits long (M=8), the first three bits of the control register bits delay [7:5] may be used by the window selection 311 .", "The fourth and fifth bits of the control register bits delay [4:3] may be used by the coarse variable delay 313 .", "Further, the last three bits of the control register bits delay[2:0] may be used by the fine variable delay 314 .", "The pulse signal, PLS, is received by the pulse variable delay 301 and a pulse buffer 302 .", "The output of the pulse variable delay 301 is a data signal, D, which is the pulse signal, PLS, delayed by an amount D 1 .", "The pulse buffer 302 , which also accepts as input the pulse signal, PLS, outputs a pulse clock signal, PLS_CLK.", "The pulse clock signal, PLS_CLK, is the PLS signal, PLS, delayed by an amount D 2 .", "The data signal, D, and the pulse clock signal, PLS_CLK, are input to a D flip-flop 303 .", "The pulse variable delay 301 may be implemented as described below, and the pulse buffer 302 may be implemented, according to one embodiment, as inverters connected in series.", "The D flip-flop 303 functions to compare the data signal, D, and the pulse clock signal, PLS_CLK.", "The D flip-flop 303 outputs a comparison signal, sensor-pre-q, that is the last value input on the data line, D, at the time the pulse clock signal, PLS_CLK, experiences a rising edge.", "For example, when the difference between D 1 and D 2 is shorter than the pulse width, Δ, a low value is present on the data line, D, when the pulse clock, PLS_CLK, goes high.", "Thus, comparison signal, sensor_pre_q, is low.", "Alternately, when the difference between D 1 and D 2 is greater than the pulse width, Δ, a high value is present on the data line, D, when the pulse clock, PLS_CLK, goes high.", "Thus, the comparison signal, sensor_pre_q, is high.", "According to one embodiment, the pulse width, Δ, of the pulse signal, PLS, may be determined by cycling through different D 1 values of the pulse variable delay 301 and determining at which delay value the comparison signal, sensor_pre_q, goes high.", "The pulse width, Δ, is correlated to a corresponding delay[M i :0] signal.", "Thus, the comparison signal, sensor_pre_q, should be returned to low after each cycle of the pulse clock buffer, PLS_CLK.", "A matched delay 304 accepts as input the pulse clock buffer, PLS_CLK, and outputs an asynchronous clock, pre_counter_clk.", "The asynchronous clock, pre_counter_clk, is a stretched representation of the pulse clock buffer, PLS_CLK, such that the width of the pulse is larger.", "The asynchronous clock, pre_counter_clk, and the comparison signal, sensor_pre_q, are input to an AND gate 305 .", "The output of the AND gate 305 , pre_q, is high only when the comparison signal, sensor_pre_q, and the asynchronous clock, pre_counter_clk, are high.", "The asynchronous clock, pre_counter_clk, is stretched such that it is high during any possible arrival times of a high signal on the comparison signal, sensor_pre_q, but returns to low between cycles of the pulsed clock buffer, PLS_CLK.", "According to one embodiment, the stretching of cycles in the asynchronous clock, pre_counter_clk, is accomplished by skewing the pulse clock buffer, PLS_CLK.", "In such an embodiment the falling delay of the matched delay 304 should be smaller than the pulse width, Δ, of the pulse signal, PLS.", "Additionally, the rising delay should be larger than the worst delay of the D flip-flop 303 for latching output onto the comparison signal, sensor_pre_q, from the data signal, D, at a rising edge of the pulse clock buffer, PLS_CLK.", "FIG. 3B is a timing diagram illustrating waveforms for the data signal, D, and the pulse clock buffer signal, PLS_CLK, for two different scenarios.", "In a first scenario 321 , the falling edge 323 of the data signal, D, arrives before a rising edge 325 of the pulse clock buffer, PLS_CLK.", "A difference (D 1 −D 2 ) between a falling edge 323 of the data signal, D, and a falling edge 324 of the pulse clock buffer, PLS_CLK, is thus less than the width, A, of the pulse clock buffer signal, PLS_CLK.", "Accordingly, in the first scenario 321 , the comparison signal, sensor_pre_q, is low.", "In a second scenario 322 , the falling edge 323 of the data signal, D, arrives after the rising edge 325 of the pulse clock buffer, PLS_CLK.", "A difference (D 1 −D 2 ) between the falling edge 323 of the data signal, D, and the falling edge 324 of the pulse clock buffer, PLS_CLK, is thus greater than the width of the pulse clock buffer, PLS_CLK.", "Accordingly, in the second scenario 322 , the output of comparison signal, sensor_pre_q, is high.", "FIG. 3C is a timing diagram illustrating signals in the circuit of FIG. 3A according to one embodiment.", "A timing diagram 350 includes the buffered pulse signal, PLS_CLK, the flip flop output, sensor_pre_q, the sensor clock signal, pre_counter_clk, and the sensor output, pre_q.", "At a time 352 the buffered pulse signal, PLS_CLK, goes low.", "Shortly afterwards, the counter clock signal, pre_counter_clk, goes low.", "After a time period, Δ, at time 354 the buffered pulse signal, PLS_CLK, returns to high.", "At a rising edge of the buffered pulse signal, PLS_CLK, the output, pre_q, latches onto a new value provided at the D flip-flop 303 .", "The output signal, pre_q, is the result of the AND gate 305 performed on the output signal, sensor_pre_q, and the counter clock signal, pre_counter_clk.", "At a time 356 the counter clock signal, pre_counter_clk, goes high.", "As a result, the output signal, pre_q, goes high because both inputs to the AND gate 305 are high.", "FIGS. 4A-4C are schematics illustrating exemplary embodiments of the fine variable delay, the coarse variable delay, and the window selection, respectively.", "FIG. 4A is a schematic illustrating an exemplary embodiment of a fine variable delay.", "A circuit 400 includes a decoder 402 , which receives delay bits, DELAY[M j-1 :0], and outputs M j-1 number of signals that selectively turn on and off FETs 410 .", "The FETs 410 are used to select the number of inverters 404 that are selected.", "The more inverters 404 added to the path of the pulse signal the longer the delay generated.", "The inverters 404 are coupled in series, in one embodiment, and in even numbers such that an output signal is not inverted.", "Although only three sets of the inverters 404 and the FETs 410 are illustrated, the circuit 400 may include many more depending on the desired adjustable delays.", "According to one embodiment, the delays achievable by the circuit 400 are 1-10 picoseconds.", "FIG. 4B is a schematic illustrating an exemplary embodiment of a coarse variable delay.", "A circuit 420 includes a multiplexer 429 , which receives delay bits, DELAY[M i-1 :M j ] to control delay through inverters 422 .", "According to one embodiment the delays achievable by the circuit 420 are 10-30 picoseconds.", "The combination of the circuit 400 and the circuit 420 produces a linearly increasable delay, according to one embodiment.", "FIG. 4C is a schematic illustrating an exemplary embodiment of a window delay.", "The circuit 430 includes a multiplexer 435 , which receives delay bits, DELAY[M:M 1 ] to control delay through window delays 432 .", "The multiplexer 435 selects how many of the window delays 432 will control the amount of delay.", "Design of the size of window delays 432 , according to one embodiment, may include overlap to ensure that no delay range is unavailable.", "As discussed above, the delay[M j : 0 ] signal that generates a high at the output signal, pre_q, can be mapped using a table to determine the width, Δ, of the pulse signal, PLS.", "Thus, the width, Δ, includes the desired voltage droop information.", "Determining the width, Δ, with absolute certainty in an on-chip environment is challenging due to various noise factors, including jitter.", "As a result, the measured widths, Δ, have an associated error.", "According to one embodiment, a cumulative distribution function may instead be measured by determining the probability of a certain width, Δ, for a given delay[M j :0] signal.", "Counters are employed to enable the collection of cumulative distribution functions as described below.", "FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating one embodiment of an arrangement of counters for counting sensor outputs.", "A circuit 500 includes q-bit scannable counters 508 , 509 .", "The counter 508 accepts an input signal, q, and a reset signal, reset.", "The counter 508 outputs a counter signal, c<0:Q-1>.", "The counter signal, c<0:Q-1>, is a value representing the number of ones that have been provided to the input signal, q, since the last reset signal, reset.", "The counter 509 accepts as input a clock signal, counter_clk, and the reset signal, reset.", "The counter 509 outputs a not full signal, /full.", "The not full signal, /FULL, is high when the number of clock cycles that have passed since the last reset signal, reset, is below a defined number.", "When a defined number of clock cycles is reached, the not full signal, /FULL, goes low.", "The not full signal, /full, is coupled to AND gates 501 , 502 .", "The AND gate 501 is coupled to the output, pre_q, and the not full signal, /full.", "The output of the AND gate 501 is the output, pre_q, anytime the not full signal, /full, is high.", "Thus, when the counter 508 is filled with data, the not full signal, /full, prevents additional data from the output, pre_q, from arriving at the counter 508 .", "Likewise, the AND gate 502 is coupled to the clock signal, pre_counter_clk, and the not full signal, /full.", "The output of the AND gate 502 is the clock signal, pre_counter_clk, anytime the not full signal, /full, is high.", "Thus, when the counter 509 is full of data, the AND gate 502 prevents additional data from reaching the counter 509 .", "For example, after the reset signal, reset, is activated, the counter 508 begins at zero and counts the number of times a high value on input signal, q, is obtained.", "Simultaneously, the counter 509 begins at zero and counts the number of clock cycles on the clock signal, counter_clk.", "After a specified number of cycles is reached, which may be 63 according to one embodiment, the not full signal, /full, goes low and prevents additional data from reaching the counters 508 , 509 .", "The counted number of times a high value on input signal, q, is recorded may be read from the counter signal, c<0:Q-1>.", "A probability may be calculated by dividing the count read at the counter output, c<0:Q-1>, by the number of clock cycles.", "According to one embodiment, the clock signal, pre_counter_clk, is asynchronous to the clock signal, CLK.", "Thus, the circuit 500 may include pipe-lined delay at internal nodes to increase performance.", "FIGS. 6A-6C are timing diagrams illustrating exemplary interaction waveforms for various signals for one embodiment of the on-chip voltage sensor.", "Offset delay determines the phase alignment between the rising edges of clock CLK and d_prob_out (of FIG. 1 ).", "As shown in FIG. 1 , the d_prob_out node is utilized as the input of the probing variable delay generator 106 .", "Hence, in this exemplary embodiment, the delay of d_prob_out to d_prob_in is determined by voltage droop of the standard cell block (e.g., the noisy power area 11 of FIG. 1 ).", "The output PLS of the pulse generator 104 has the same width as the delay of d_prob_out to d_prob_in.", "By employing the variable delay of the “pulse variable delay”", "301 (of FIG. 3A ), the pulse width, A, is converted to a digital control signal.", "As discussed above, skewed delay elements are used in certain embodiments for the pulse variable delay 301 .", "FIG. 6B shows that the rising delay of PLS to D is significantly larger than the falling delay.", "For correct function, the node D needs to fall before the next rising.", "In other words, T 1 in FIG. 6B should be positive at the worst case.", "In a normal situation, T 1 would be the same as half clock cycle.", "However, the skew of the pulse variable delay 301 results in reduction of T 1 in this exemplary embodiment.", "In other words, the skew of the pulse variable delay 301 of FIG. 3A can degrade the performance of the proposed voltage sensor.", "For instance, in certain implementations, the maximum operating frequency is 200 MHz.", "FIG. 6C illustrates the operating principle of the counters 508 , 509 (of FIG. 5 ) according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.", "Because the output signal, pre_q, is AND gated with the delayed signal D_PLS_CLK, the output (pre_q) has “return to zero”", "for every clock cycle.", "By counting the rising edges of pre_q, a statistical value is obtained.", "The counter 509 raises its “full”", "signal whenever it accepts a preset number (e.g., 63) clock rising edges.", "At this moment, both counter inputs are shadowed to “low”", "and hence, any transition of the signals pre_q and D_PLS_CLK does not affect the counter outputs.", "This time region is named as “undefined region”", "in FIG. 6C .", "A reading process is employed to read the counter output during the “undefined region”", "of FIG. 6C .", "As discussed above, in certain embodiments the pulse width PLS is converted to a control signal delay[M:0] to obtain relative voltage droop.", "However, absolute voltage droop is still unknown.", "In certain embodiments, a table technique addresses this issue.", "Before measurement, in one embodiment, a table is made which maps the delay[M:0] signal to effective voltage droop.", "Since the power of the sensor is disconnected from the power of the probing part, the power of the probing part can be swept and the sensor power fixed to normal V DD (e.g., 1.125V).", "The swept power of the probing part affects the generated pulse width (Δ), and the Δ can be converted to the delay[M:0] signal employing the above-described techniques.", "An exemplary technique for setting up this table according to one embodiment is now discussed.", "In order to exclude impact of temperature variation, the exemplary table techniques provided herein are used in certain embodiments.", "It should be noted that process variation is shared commonly during measurement.", "Hence, the impact of process variation is removed.", "However, temperature variation may still exist, which may lead to inaccurate results.", "Because one table is created for every An exemplary process that may be employed is as follows: For T = −30° C. to 130° C. (by 10° C.) For vdd_prb = 1.125V to 0.845V (−10mV) For delay[M:0] 0 to 255 enable (c_rst) and disable clk (2.5 cycle);", "while (full=0) Measurement;", "scan-out c_sout during 6 cycle;", "End delay End vdd_prob End T The above exemplary process can be summarized as three dimensional for-loops.", "To cope with temperature variation, one table is created for one temperature grid (from −30° C. to 130° C. in this example).", "FIG. 8 is a timing diagram illustrating an example of a calibration process according to one embodiment.", "In a timing diagram 800 at a time 802 , a reset signal, c_rst, goes high.", "During reset, an external clock, Sclk, is not replicated on an internal clock, clk.", "Also during reset, a full signal, full, goes low.", "At a time 804 , the reset signal, reset, goes low indicating the start of a new counting cycle.", "The external clock signal, Sclk, is then replicated on the internal clock signal, clk, and counting beings until a fixed number of clock cycles completes indicated by the full signal, full, at a time 806 .", "Either parallel or serial read out may occur.", "In the case of parallel read out, at a time 808 , parallel readout is accomplished by reading the value from parallel output lines, c<Q:0>.", "In the case of serial read out (for example due to a pin limitation), at a time 809 a shift enable signal, c_shift, goes high indicating the start of the series read-out.", "At a time 810 , serial readout is accomplished by reading the value from a serial output line, c_out, in synchronization with the internal clock signal, clk.", "At a time 812 , the shift enable signal, c_shift, goes low indicating read-out of the counter value is complete and the reset signal, c_rst, goes high indicating the start of a new counting cycle for the next delay value.", "When the full signal goes high, the threshold delay value at that time is marked.", "The process repeats for all delay, voltage, and temperature values to create per temperature calibration tables with marked delay, an example of which is shown in FIG. 7A .", "The table of FIG. 7A includes data in overlapping regions that should be removed.", "FIG. 9 is a table that shows data in overlapping regions in more detail.", "These overlapping regions prevent making a one-to-one mapping between voltage droop and the delay signal because of broken proportionality.", "To make one-to-one mapping between voltage droop and the delay[M:0] signal, the delay of the pulse variable delay 301 (of FIG. 3A ) needs to be proportional to the delay[M:0] signal in this exemplary embodiment.", "However, this proportionality is broken due to overlapped regions between adjacent windows (as illustrated in FIG. 9 ) employed in this exemplary embodiment.", "For example, a saturated delay line 902 for a window 922 is illustrated with a maximum value larger than a minimum of a saturated delay line 904 of a neighboring window 924 .", "This results in an overlapping region 912 between the window 922 and the window 924 .", "A series continues M times through a window 928 having a saturated delay line 908 and a final overlapping region 918 .", "Hence, several calibration processes are proposed below to remove the issue caused by such overlapped regions.", "The window overlap happens at the border of window delay (delay[M:0]) and can be removed, as described with respect to FIG. 7A .", "FIG. 7A is a table of outputs, obtained from a data collector during calibration, having broken proportionality.", "For each temperature value, the calibration process is performed and an initial measurement table may be constructed.", "In a table 700 , overlap removal is needed for the voltage 0.995.", "At the border of the window delay there may be an overlap region due to mismatch of the coarse and fine delay tuning against each unit of the delay window.", "For each voltage level, at the border of the window delay, values are removed from the table 700 which do not follow a monotonically increasing relation of the delay versus counter output for the lower delay value.", "After this process the final table has a monotonic increase in the delay and output.", "For each row, the value(m+1) should be greater than or equal to the value(m).", "If value(m) is greater than value(m+1), then the entire row of value(m) is removed from the table.", "For example, in the table 700 the rows 61 , 62 , and 63 contain values higher than row 64 .", "In this case, rows 61 , 62 , and 63 are removed from the table.", "That is, after processing the value of the counts increase or stay the same as delay increases (going down the column).", "Also the voltage value is decreasing or the same (going across the row) in one embodiment.", "FIG. 7B shows a final measurement table, according to one embodiment.", "From the measurement setup table 700 , a final measurement table 720 may be populated having assigned to each voltage level a border threshold delay value.", "Each column of the measurement setup table 700 after overlap removal is scanned down until a threshold value is exceeded.", "The delay[M:0] value that exceeds the selected threshold is placed in the final measurement table 720 .", "For example, value n is the delay[M:0] value that exceeded the threshold for V DD of 1.125, and value m is the delay[M:0] value that exceeded the threshold value for V DD of 1.115.", "The threshold value may be, for example, Q/2.", "After final measurement tables are created, a voting process is employed to remove small glitches.", "One exemplary implementation of this voting process is illustrated in FIGS. 10A-10B .", "The voting process assigns specific DELAY[M:0] signals to quantized voltage levels (e.g., a level of voltage droop).", "Thus, this exemplary implementation is used during calibration of the voltage sensor.", "In a chart 1010 , a window 1002 starts from the left side.", "The window 1002 continues to slide right until the majority element is not “0”", "as in a chart 1020 .", "The window 1002 is stopped and whole numbers before the final “0”", "inside the window 1002 are set to “0,” as seen in a chart 1030 .", "All the glitches before the last “0”", "are converted to “0.”", "In a similar way, glitches may be removed from the maximum values as shown in FIG. 10B .", "FIG. 10B is a chart illustrating another exemplary implementation of a voting process.", "In FIG. 10B , the process of the backward masking to 2 Q is described.", "A window 1052 of M bits moves backwards from the end of the calibration table in FIG. 10B , as seen in a chart 1060 .", "The window 1052 slides left and stops when the majority of the bits are not 2 Q as seen in a chart 1070 .", "Then, all higher counter values in the chart 1060 are masked to the 2 Q to remove the glitch and preserve the monotonic increase as in a chart 1080 .", "After voting processes, measurement table set up is started.", "It should be noted that no mapping occurs between effective V DD and delay[M:0] in this exemplary embodiment.", "In current tables, the count output numbers are listed depending on effective V DD and delay[M:0].", "The numbers represent the probability that the V DD can be mapped to delay[M:0].", "Hence, the delay[M:0] signal at which the probability becomes larger than half is chosen (the number is 32 in this exemplary embodiment).", "With this policy, one measurement table is obtained for every temperature grid.", "The obtained measurement table may then be verified by confirming values decrease as the voltages decrease down the table, and confirming the values increase as the delay increases across the table.", "The delay of the pulse variable delay 301 increases with delay[M:0] incrementally.", "Pulse width becomes larger as voltage droop increases.", "In the table technique, the matched value between the delay and pulse width is sought.", "This means that the mapped delay[M:0] should be increased with low effective V DD .", "When this requirement is not satisfied, the obtained measurement table can be regarded as wrong data, in which case the total table set up process may be performed again for debugging.", "FIG. 11 shows an exemplary schematic of an implementation of the on-chip voltage sensor via system on chip (SOC) integration, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.", "The probing scheme could be enhanced as seen in FIG. 11 with multiple distributed probes.", "On a chip 1100 , a voltage sensor 1104 is implemented, and is in communication with one or more probes 1106 .", "The voltage sensor 1104 may be the clean power area 10 (of FIG. 1 ) combined with one or both of the first data collector 12 and the second data collector 13 .", "The voltage sensor 1104 is powered by a power supply 1108 that is passed through a power supply noise filter 1102 before reaching the voltage sensor 1104 .", "Coupled to the voltage sensor 1104 are probes 1106 .", "The probes 1106 may be the variable delay generator 106 (of FIG. 1 ).", "The probes are coupled to power supplies 1110 that are to be measured for dynamic power noise (e.g., voltage droop).", "The power supply noise filter 1102 ensures that measurements taken by the voltage sensor 1104 are not influenced by noise in the power supply 1108 .", "If the voltage sensor 1104 is operated with noisy power it would be difficult to remove the noise caused by the power supply 1108 from the noise caused by power supplies 1110 .", "FIG. 12 is a block diagram illustrating a top level architecture of a non-periodic noise measurement circuit.", "A frequency divider 1212 adjusts the resolution of sampling.", "A probe circuit 1214 is coupled to the frequency divider 1212 .", "A control unit 1216 adjusts a sampling clock signal, sampling_clock, through a control signal, sampling_control, coupled to the frequency divider 1212 .", "The control unit 1216 also controls offset of the probe circuit 1214 through a control signal, probe_control, and the variable delay of a delay measurement circuit 1222 through a control signal, delay_line_control.", "A measured data signal, data, may be streamed out to a shift register 1230 coupled to a compression unit 1240 coupled to a memory device 1250 .", "The measured data may then be read out through a read-out signal, scan_out.", "The read-out signal, scan_out, may be a parallel data stream or a serial data stream.", "FIG. 13 is a circuit schematic illustrating a parallel measurement option.", "For multiple measurements, multiple instances of the delay[M:0] are generated which enables measurement of more than one sampling point at a given time.", "The measurement may be clustered in groups according to voltage level.", "For example, [v N , v N+1 , v N+2 ][v N+3 , v N+4 , v N+5 ][v N+6 , v N+7 , v N+8 ] may represent three different groups, each group of voltages being measured substantially simultaneously.", "In another embodiment, the groupings are arranged by an interdigitated method as in, for example, [v N , v N+3 , v N+6 ][v N+1 , v N+4 , v N+7 ][v N+2 , v N+5 , v N+8 ].", "Additionally, the measurements may be made in groups defined randomly.", "Generating multiple delays in parallel increases the measurement speed.", "In addition, parallel measurement eliminates the need for a triggerable noise event.", "Moreover, parallel measurements enables measurement of multiple sampling points on the desired resolution.", "A circuit to enable multiple measurements is now described with respect to FIG. 13 .", "A circuit 1300 includes a noisy power area 1310 and a clean power area 1320 .", "Inside the noisy power area 1310 is a probe 1312 .", "The probe 1312 is coupled to a received clock signal, sampling_clock.", "Inside the clean power area 1320 is a delay line 1322 , which may be controlled digitally.", "The delay line 1322 may include a number of inverters acting to delay the signal.", "The output of the delay line 1322 is coupled to a latch 1330 , such as a flip-flop.", "Also coupled to the latches 1330 is the probe 1312 .", "The number of latches 1330 , according to one embodiment, matches the number of inverters in the delay line 1322 .", "For meta-stability, additional latches 1340 may be coupled to the latches 1330 and the clock signal, sampling_clock.", "Although specific circuitry has been set forth, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that not all of the disclosed circuitry is required to practice the disclosure.", "Moreover, certain well known circuits have not been described, to maintain focus on the disclosure.", "Similarly, although the description refers to logical “0”", "or “low”", "and logical “1”", "or “high”", "in certain locations, one skilled in the art appreciates that the logical values can be switched, with the remainder of the circuit adjusted accordingly, without affecting operation of the present disclosure.", "Although the present disclosure and its advantages have been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure as defined by the appended claims.", "Moreover, the scope of the present application is not intended to be limited to the particular embodiments of the process, machine, manufacture, and composition of matter, means, methods and steps described in the specification.", "As one of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate from the disclosure of the present disclosure, processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps, presently existing or later to be developed that perform substantially the same function or achieve substantially the same result as the corresponding embodiments described herein may be utilized according to the present disclosure.", "Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to include within their scope such processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps." ]

[ "CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED U.S. PATENT APPLICATION This U.S. Patent Application is a continuation-in-part patent application of U.S. patent application having Ser.", "No. 09/914,275, filed on 15 Jan. 2002, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,648,362 entitled SKI GUIDE PRESSURE INTENSIFIER PLATE (SNOW-SPEED).", "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1.", "Field of the Invention This invention relates to a ski sport apparatus, snowboards or likewise, in the following generally called “skis.”", "The ski according to this invention has extremely good curve dynamics, has an extraordinary ski guiding and excels with an incomparable smooth running.", "The ski according to this invention can maintain tight radii of curvature even with relative tall skiers, with a high stability and a high speed.", "Discussion of Related Art A typical conventional ski 3 according to the state of the art is shown in FIG. 1 .", "With a conventional ski 3 the force introduction F 1 through the snow sportsman is in the middle 7 of the ski where the ski is at its thickest and/or has a high bending stiffness.", "To the front and to the rear the ski flex 1 , 1 ′ becomes increasingly weaker.", "A ski 3 which in the binding region 5 has a high bending stiffness and is thick has a good ski guiding and a great smoothness of running.", "In the curve the bending line of the ski 3 should adapt to the radius of the travelled curve 4 .", "The stabilizing high bending stiffness in the middle of the ski 7 due to the stiffness prevents the formation of a free bending line 6 , and lets the ski 3 bend only to a certain radius of the curve to be travelled and thus prevents good curve dynamics.", "The resulting force, composed of the intrinsic weight of the snow sportsman and the centrifugal force in the curve 4 counteracts a counter force F 8 from the ground or snow such that the bending line 6 of the ski 3 in the binding region 5 during the curve 4 is negatively compromised.", "The ski 3 does not permit the travel of tight radii.", "A ski which were to have a lower bending stiffness in the binding region 5 , for example were to be designed soft and/or thinly constructed, would have very good curve dynamics.", "The bending line of such a ski would be optimal.", "The ski would be able to bend easily and one would be able to travel very tight curves.", "This direction was followed in the broadest sense in the U.S. Patent Publication 2001/0,035,630 (Cuzzit et al.) and the U.S. Pat. No. 6,325,404 (Liard et al.) because the bending stiffness or the bending in the longitudinal axis of the ski together with the ski binding device is redefined as a unit because the force of the bending stiffness which the ski binding creates was eliminated in the ski.", "However, the two newly defined bending stiffness of the ski and of the ski binding plate again correspond to the usual standards of current conventional skis.", "If one reduces the bending stiffness in the middle of the ski, the front and rear contact pressure Fp (see FIG. 1 ) is reduced.", "This means that the ski guiding is poor at the front and at the rear on the ski.", "The ski is unstable, the running smoothness is considerably worsened.", "In order to prevent a fluttering, the ski is constructed shorter which again leads to a poor guiding of the ski at a high speed.", "The positive characteristics, specifically good ski guiding and good curve dynamics apparently cannot be unified.", "Longer skis have a good ski guiding and worse curve characteristics, while shorter skis have good curve dynamics and worse ski guiding.", "One may only optimize a good setting by weighing up the positive properties such as good curve dynamics and a good ski guiding.", "SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is one object of this invention to provide a ski which unifies good ski guiding with good curve dynamics and optimizes these without inhibiting these positive characteristics.", "With a longer ski with a high stability, tighter radii of curvature are to be able to be travelled at a high speed.", "The ski according to this invention is defined in this specification and in the claims and achieves these and other objects.", "The force introduction of the user or snow sportsman by an interface device which may be integrated above the ski, on the ski or in the ski, is accomplished via at least two outer force introduction regions outside the ski-binding region further to the front or rear, on the ski.", "The ski in the middle is thinner and/or softer and/or has a lower bending stiffness than a conventional ski.", "Thus it may bend to a greater extent and more easily, which contributes to good curve dynamics.", "The ski is thus designed for an active action means for interactive force transmission from the front and rear ski flex to the middle of the ski and vice versa.", "The ski at the force introduction regions is thick and/or here has a high bending stiffness.", "Proceeding from the force introduction regions the bending stiffness in both directions of the longitudinal axis of the ski is normally again gradually reduced according to the type of ski.", "The bending line of the ski is thus actively optimized under the variously acting forces during the travelled curve.", "The force introduction of the user or snow sportsman onto the ski is effected via the following different variations.", "Via a ski guide pressure reinforcement plate with/without length compensation, by which the ski may extend out below the plate.", "Via a ski guide pressure reinforcement plate with/without length compensation and one or more wedge functions, by which the ski may extend out below the plate.", "Via a ski guide pressure reinforcement plate with/without length compensation, which may bend and thus act as a leaf spring for springiness and/or damping.", "Directly via the ski shoe and the ski binding, which permits a length compensation.", "Via an interface plate with/without length compensation which is integrated on or in the ski.", "Via a ski guide pressure reinforcement plate which in its bending stiffness is computed such that during the curve it may bend just as much during so that it corresponds to the predefined radius of the ski, specifically such that during the travelled curve in the middle of the ski it slightly contacts the ski.", "This embodiment ensures that the main force introduction is effected via the corresponding force introduction regions.", "This plate is firmly assembled on the ski or forms a unit with the ski, for example because it is adhered to the ski.", "The ski guide pressure reinforcement plate is computed with a bending stiffness as in point 6, but integrated in the ski.", "One makes do without a ski guide pressure reinforcement plate.", "Instead the bending stiffness of the plate computed according to point 6 is implemented or calculated into the thickness or bending stiffness of the ski, so that it is ensured that the main force introduction is effected via the force introduction regions.", "The above mentioned embodiments of the ski guide pressure reinforcement plate may be provided with the fastening means and/or the compensation means and/or the active means as one piece and/or with resilience means and/or shock absorbing means at the force introduction regions.", "The resilience means and/or shock absorbing means preferably comprise a compression or tension spring and/or an air or oil cylinder or another elastic or damping element.", "The ski guide pressure reinforcement plate is manufactured in the form of at least one plate, at least one rail, at least one tube and/or other elements, and accommodates a ski binding or is integrated into a ski binding, or the ski binding is integrated on or in the ski or on or in the ski guide pressure reinforcement plate or plate, rail, tube or other element.", "The ski, the ski guide pressure reinforcement plate, the rail, the tube or the other elements may be designed such that a ski binding may be pushed on and/or the ski binding is displaceable in the longitudinal direction and/or the length compensation of the ski binding is ensured in or on the ski or in or on the plate or rail, the tube or the other elements.", "With the cited force introduction possibilities, on the one hand a larger pressure is produced at the front and rear on the ski, by which an extraordinarily direct ski guiding and a revolutionary grip are produced, and vibrations are better absorbed which provides the ski with an incomparably good running smoothness.", "The bending stiffness of the ski is reduced in the middle of the ski compared to a conventional ski, by which the ski may bend better.", "The radius of the curve is thus determined not only by the setting, but also by the bending line of the ski.", "The more pressure is given, the more the ski is bent and accordingly the radius to be travelled becomes tighter.", "If the ski guide pressure reinforcement plate is not a unit with the ski, for example is not adhered to the ski or integrated in the ski, the ski, the tighter the curve travelled does not become increasingly harder and does not reach a bending limit.", "It is thus easy to travel, having extreme curve dynamics which has a positive effect in the carving region.", "The ski sport apparatus according to this invention has a ski defining a longitudinal direction with a middle section and two outer sections and an interface device with a binding region for accommodating a ski binding, the interface device is arranged in the middle section and connected to the ski, at least two force introduction regions are distanced to one another in the longitudinal direction for introducing forces from the interface device into the ski.", "The ski comprises several regions with a higher and lower flexibility alternating in the longitudinal direction.", "The middle section of the ski comprises a region with a higher flexibility.", "A frontmost force introduction region is allocated to a region with a lower flexibility of the ski and in the longitudinal direction is arranged further to the front than the binding region, and/or a rearmost force introduction region is allocated to a region with lower flexibility of the ski and in the longitudinal direction is arranged further to the rear than the binding region.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Preferred embodiments of this invention and, for comparison, of the state of the art are described in detail by the attached drawings.", "FIG. 1 shows a ski according to the state of the art in a lateral view.", "FIGS. 2-14 show various embodiments of the ski according to this invention, in lateral views.", "FIG. 15 shows a shock absorber device for the ski according to this invention: (a) in a cross section;", "and (b) in a longitudinal section.", "FIG. 16 shows a further embodiment form of the ski according to this invention in a lateral view.", "FIGS. 17-21 show schematic flexibility regions of the ski according to this invention, in longitudinal sections.", "DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 2 shows a preferred embodiment form of a ski 3 according to this invention.", "The force introduction of the unrepresented user or snow sportsman into the ski 3 is effected via a ski guide pressure reinforcement plate 14 which is fastened on the ski 3 , at least two or more force introduction regions F 2 and F 3 further to the front and rear on the ski.", "For the sake of simplicity only two force introductions are shown in FIG. 2 but there may be more of these (cf.", "FIGS. 9 , 10 , and 12 ).", "The ski guide pressure reinforcement plate 14 is assembled onto the ski 3 such that the ski 3 may deflect below the plate 14 and may be easily bent so that the plate 14 acts as a leaf spring.", "The plate 14 may alternatively also be constructed onto the ski 3 such that the ski 3 and the plate 14 form a unit, or the plate 14 may be integrated in the ski 3 , or the plate 14 may be implemented or calculated into the bending stiffness of the ski 3 in the form of a computed force which corresponds to the bending stiffness of the plate 14 .", "The ski guide pressure reinforcement plate 14 comprises a binding region 5 for accommodating a ski binding, for example with a binding head 11 and a heel automatic device 12 .", "The binding region 5 typically has an extension in the longitudinal direction of maximally 600 mm.", "Since the front force introduction region F 2 is to be arranged further to the front than the binding region 5 and the rear force introduction region F 3 further to the rear than the binding region 5 , the distance in the longitudinal direction between the front force introduction region F 2 and the rear force introduction region F 3 is typically at least 650 mm.", "Preferably a distance of approximately 800 to 900 mm is selected, and maximally approximately 1300 mm.", "The middle of the ski 7 without the plate 14 is thinner than with a conventional ski and/or has a lower bending stiffness than a conventional ski and thus may be bent to a greater extent and more easily.", "The loss of stabilization in the front and rear ski flex 1 , 1 ′ which thus arises is more than compensated by the stabilizing ski guide pressure reinforcement plate 14 .", "The ski 3 is an active means of a force transmission system 2 because the ski 3 in the region 2 of the force introduction F 2 and F 3 is constructed so thick and/or so strongly and/or has such a high bending stiffness, that an acting force F 10 according to the travelled curve 4 to the front and rear on the ski 3 is converted into an active force F 11 by a lever principle which becomes active in combination with the ski guide pressure reinforcement plate 14 .", "The active force F 1 overcomes the counter pressure F 8 from the ground or the snow and ensures an optimal bending line 20 according to the curve 4 to be travelled on the whole length of the ski 3 .", "In order to ensure an optimal force transmission F 10 from the front or rear part of the ski 3 to the middle of the ski 3 and to actively optimize the bending line 20 of the ski 3 under the variously acting forces during the travelled curve 4 , the ski 3 proceeding from the front force introduction region F 2 to the front 1 , and from the rear force introduction region F 3 to the rear 1 ′ becomes gradually thinner and/or is reduced in bending stiffness so that an optimal swing introduction phase or swing ending phase is possible.", "Between the force introduction regions F 2 and F 3 , the ski 3 proceeding from the force introduction regions normally is gradually thinner or reduced in bending stiffness in the direction of the middle 7 of the ski, depending on the type of ski, so that the ski 3 serves as an active acting means because the ski 3 while taking account of all acting forces during the travelled curve 4 bends according to the desired radius of the ski manufacturer and actively optimizes the bending line.", "The thicknesses and/or bending stiffnesses of the individual regions of the ski 3 are made individually according to the desired ski characteristics and ski types as well as according to the various construction types of the ski manufacturer.", "The front ski flex 1 is now constructed stronger and longer.", "The construction types of the various skis 3 are varied and are not cited in detail.", "This document however includes all ski construction types, monocoque and shell design or sandwich, box and injection construction type or tube or hollow systems or other construction types, and is applied in all ski sport apparatuses, such as alpine skis, mono-skis, carving skis, free-skis, sqwals, snowboards, etc.", "As FIG. 3 shows, in the reverse manner the ski 3 according to this invention acts as an active acting means of the force transmission system 2 because the force introduction regions F 2 and F 3 in combination with the ski guide pressure reinforcement plate 14 activate lever principles which transmit the counter force F 8 from the ground or the snow into a stabilizing contact pressure F 9 onto the ski flex at the front 1 and rear 1 ′.", "With this there results an excellent ski flex damping which excellently absorbs vibrations and gives the ski an incomparable smooth running, a phenomenal ski guiding and an enormous grip.", "The user or snow sportsman has an increased safety and an incomparable positive travelling comfort.", "FIG. 4 illustrates that according to the manner of the desired ski type, the extent of the thickness and/or bending stiffness proceeding from the force introduction regions F 2 and F 3 reduces in the direction of the middle of the ski and may become greater 9 again in the ski middle.", "FIG. 5 shows an embodiment form of the ski 3 according to this invention in which the simple arrangement shown in FIG. 4 of various bending stiffness regions 8 , 9 , 8 between the force introduction regions F 2 and F 3 is repeated several times, wherein the various bending stiffness regions 8 , 9 may also be distanced differently.", "Thus in comparison to FIG. 4 one achieves an even more efficient force transmission from the front 1 or the rear ski flex 1 ′ according to the acting lever principle 2 via the force introduction regions F 2 and F 3 of the ski guide pressure reinforcement plate 14 in the direction of the ski middle.", "Thus under the differently acting forces in the travelled curve one obtains an even more optimally balanced bending line 20 of the ski 3 .", "In order to achieve an even more efficient ski flex damping and an even better ski guiding than described in FIG. 3 , proceeding from the force introduction regions F 2 and F 3 the thickness and/or bending stiffness of the ski in the direction of the ski flex, the front 1 or to the rear 1 ′, is reduced and then increases again.", "This arrangement of various bending stiffness regions 10 may be repeated several times, wherein the various bending stiffness regions may be differently distanced.", "With this one achieves a better force transmission from the ski middle 7 in the direction of the ski flex 1 , 1 ′.", "Such an arrangement of regions with a lower 10 or higher flexibility alternating in the longitudinal direction is not only advantageous for the ski 3 according to this invention but also for other skis.", "This arrangement effects a damping of the ski 3 by which means a fluttering of the ski 3 is prevented.", "FIG. 6 shows a possible construction type of a ski 3 according to this invention with one or more tabs 10 which for example are manufactured of carbon fiber or are reinforced with carbon fiber and/or may contain other materials.", "The tabs 10 are attached so that they prevent a length compensation.", "They fulfill an analogous function as the various bending stiffness regions 10 in FIG. 5 .", "The tabs 10 too may not only be applied to the ski 3 according to this invention but also to other skis with an advantageous effect.", "They effect a damping of the ski 3 and prevent a fluttering of the ski 3 .", "Such tabs or thickenings 10 may even be applied outside ski construction such as for mechanically damping an elongate structure, for example in engineering, airplane construction or cable-car construction or in other industrial applications.", "FIG. 7 shows a further embodiment of the ski 3 according to this invention with a plate 14 and with a wedge function 16 .", "The ski 3 has three force introductions F 1 , F 2 and F 3 .", "According to the type of the desired ski the extent of the thickness and/or bending stiffness is gradually reduced proceeding from the force introduction regions F 1 , F 2 and F 3 in the direction of the middle 8 of the individual force introduction regions.", "FIG. 8 shows a further embodiment form of the ski 3 according to this invention with a plate 14 in combination with a wedge function 16 , as FIG. 7 but provided with the principle of force transmission as in FIG. 5 .", "The thickness and/or bending stiffness thus proceeding from the force introduction regions F 2 and F 1 , or F 3 and F 1 reduces 8 in the direction of the middle of the individual force introduction regions, and in the middle between the force introduction regions increases 9 again.", "FIG. 9 shows a ski 3 according to this invention with two arranged force transmission tabs 13 which are to assist the forces of the force transmission system 2 as described in view, of FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 .", "The force transmission tabs 13 may be an integral component of the ski 3 , assembled on the ski 3 and/or integrated in the ski 3 and may have one or no length compensation and/or at least one joint or elastic connection means 17 to the ski 3 (cf.", "elements 15 , 17 in FIG. 11 , 12 , elements 17 , 19 , 21 in FIG. 15 ;", "elements 17 , 18 in FIG. 16 ).", "The force transmission tabs 13 may be arranged as a leaf spring and/or between the tab 13 and the ski 3 may have a resilience and/or damping (cf.", "elements 15 , 17 in FIG. 11 , 12 ;", "elements 17 , 19 , 21 in FIG. 15 , element 17 , 18 in FIG. 16 ), with a spring, with an elastic or damping element or other elements, by which knocks are damped and absorbed and a rebound is produced.", "Thus in the curve a restoring force is produced under pressure which causes the ski 3 to return into its original position as quick as possible.", "The force introduction of the user or snow sportsman is thus effected via force introduction regions F 4 , F 5 , F 6 , F 7 wherein the ski 3 has a large bending stiffness 9 .", "Between the force introduction regions F 4 , F 5 and F 6 , F 7 the bending stiffness of the ski 3 is reduced 8 .", "As shown in FIG. 5 the arrangement of various bending stiffness regions may be repeated several times proceeding from the force introduction regions in the direction of the ski middle 7 or in the direction of the ski flex 1 , 1 ′, wherein the force introduction regions may be differently distanced.", "The arrangement of the tabs 13 may be supplemented at the force introduction regions F 4 and/or F 5 and/or F 6 and/or F 7 so that e.g. eight or any greater number of force introduction regions may be arranged on the ski 3 .", "FIG. 10 shows a ski 3 according to this invention with two force transmission tabs 13 , similar to that described in FIG. 9 .", "The force introduction of the user or snow sportsman is however effected merely via three force introduction regions F 1 , F 4 , F 5 where the ski 3 is thick and/or has a large bending stiffness 9 .", "Between the force introduction regions F 4 , F 1 and F 1 , F 5 the bending stiffness of the ski is reduced 8 .", "As shown in FIG. 5 the arrangement of various bending stiffness regions may be repeated several times proceeding from the force introduction regions in the direction of the ski middle 7 or in the direction of the ski flex 1 , 1 ′, wherein the force introduction regions maybe differently distanced.", "The arrangement of the force transmission tabs 13 on the force introduction regions F 4 and/or F 1 and/or F 5 may be infinitely supplemented according to the same principle so that several force introduction regions may be arranged on the ski 3 .", "FIG. 11 shows a ski 3 according to this invention described by way of FIGS. 2 and 3 which in the region of the force introduction regions F 2 and F 3 comprises means for resilience and/or shock absorbing between the ski guide pressure reinforcement plate 14 and the ski 3 .", "The resilience means and/or shock absorbing means 15 preferably contain a compression or tension spring and/or an air or oil cylinder or another elastic or damping element.", "FIG. 12 shows a ski 3 according to this invention as described by FIG. 9 but which in the region of the force introduction regions F 2 and F 3 comprises means 15 for resilience and/or shock absorbing between the ski guide pressure reinforcement plate 14 and the force transmission tabs 13 , and/or in the region of the force introduction regions F 4 , F 5 , F 6 , F 7 comprises means for resilience and/or shock absorbing between the force transmission tabs 13 and the ski 3 .", "The resilience means and/or the shock absorbing means 15 preferably contain a compression or tension spring and/or an air cylinder or oil cylinder or another elastic or damping element.", "FIG. 13 shows a ski 3 according to this invention as described in view of FIGS. 2 and 3 , equipped with a ski guide pressure reinforcement plate 14 which in its bending stiffness is computed so that during the travelled curve it bends so that it just corresponds to the radius for the ski 3 predefined by the ski manufacturer.", "In other words the main load of the intrinsic weight and the centrifugal force of the user or snow sportsman in the travelled curve is mainly introduced into the ski 3 at the force introduction regions F 2 and F 3 into the ski 3 , while the ski guide pressure reinforcement plate 14 in the middle of the ski 7 only slightly contacts the ski 3 .", "The ski guide pressure reinforcement plate 14 is assembled onto the ski 3 in the form of one or more plates, rails, tubes or other elements, or by various materials forms a unit with the ski 3 , for example it is adhered to the ski 3 .", "FIG. 14 shows a ski 3 according to this invention as described by way of FIGS. 2 , 3 , equipped with a specifically computed ski guide pressure reinforcement plate 14 as described in view of FIG. 13 .", "The ski guide pressure reinforcement plate 14 or rail, tube or other elements are integrated in the ski 3 or are e.g. in the form of carbon fiber strips.", "Alternatively the force and/or bending stiffness for the bending of the specifically computed ski guide pressure reinforcement plate 14 , in order to correspond to the predefined radius of the ski 3 , may also be calculated into the thickness or bending stiffness of the ski 3 so that the force introduction of the user or snow sportsman is effected mainly via the force introduction regions F 2 and F 3 .", "The materials of the ski guide pressure reinforcement plate 14 , rails, tubes or other elements and/or the materials of the ski or the materials which are integrated into the ski are e.g. connected to one another so that they permit a length compensation between the various materials (see FIG. 16 ).", "This may e.g. be achieved by one or more layers of elastic elements which in the longitudinal direction are installed onto or into the ski 3 and permit a length compensation between the individual layers of the various materials, or by other specific construction types which permit a length compensation.", "In FIG. 15 there is shown one embodiment for the resilience and damping at the force introduction regions F 2 and F 3 .", "Such a resilience and damping comprises a spring element 17 , for example a helical spring or an elastic element (cf.", "element 18 in FIG. 16 ), and/or a damping element 21 , for example an air or oil cylinder.", "The strength of the damping may be set by a setting mechanism 19 by which means the stiffness of the ski 3 may also be indirectly varied.", "The resilience and damping may be incorporated between the ski guide pressure reinforcement plate 14 and the ski 3 , or in the ski guide pressure reinforcement plate 14 .", "It may be integrated in the ski 3 or (as in FIG. 12 ) may be attached at the force introduction regions F 4 , F 5 , F 6 , F 7 between the force transmission tabs 13 and the ski 3 .", "The ski guide pressure reinforcement plate 14 or the force transmission tab 13 is fastened on the ski 3 by a fastening element 22 .", "With the resilience and damping, shocks are absorbed by way of the bending of the ski 3 and in the reverse manner a recoil is produced.", "On bending of the ski 3 a potential force is produced which with the return to the natural position of the ski 3 is reduced again because the ski 3 is forced to return into the initial position.", "FIG. 16 shows an alternative arrangement with resilience and damping on a ski 3 according to this invention.", "At least one elastic and/or damping material 17 is installed between the ski guide pressure reinforcement plate 14 and the ski 3 .", "It also assists the length compensation between the ski guide pressure reinforcement plate 14 and the ski 3 .", "It may be attached at the same locations as in FIG. 15 and produces a recoil in an analogous manner to that described by FIG. 15 .", "The ski guide pressure reinforcement plate 14 is fastened on the ski 3 by an elastic and/or damping fastening element 18 .", "FIGS. 17-21 show various construction types, by which the ski according to this invention may be realized with various reinforced or reduced regions of stiffness.", "Without reinforcement in the region X the ski in the curve would bend uniformly in the region X+Y.", "With attached reinforcements the ski in the curve is forced to bend in the region Y between the attached reinforcements just as the ski would normally bend in the region X+Y.", "The region Y is loaded more for an equal bending.", "The material reaches its upper elasticity limit quicker which permits a higher force transmission while maintaining the good bending characteristics.", "The ski is stabilized in a more efficient manner and vibrations are better absorbed.", "FIG. 17 shows cut-outs of a ski according to this invention with reinforced or reduced regions of bending stiffness, wherein the ski e.g. has thick or thin regions.", "Alternatively, the various bending stiffness regions may be realized with materials whose bending stiffnesses are different or with mixtures of different materials or specific construction types, which change the bending stiffness of the ski.", "FIG. 18 shows cut-outs of a ski according to this invention with reinforced or reduced regions of bending stiffness, wherein on the ski or integrated into the ski there is attached a reinforcement in the form of a tab, a plate, of rails or tubes, of carbon fibers or of other elements which are attached in the longitudinal axis as one piece or as several pieces distanced to one another.", "FIG. 19 shows cut-outs of a ski according to this invention with reinforced or reduced regions of bending stiffness, wherein on the ski or integrated in the ski a reinforcement in the form of several tabs, plates, rails, tubes, carbon fibers or other elements are attached in a layered manner, possibly different in length, in the longitudinal axis as one piece or several pieces distanced to one another.", "FIG. 20 shows cut-outs of a ski according to this invention with reinforced or reduced regions of bending stiffness, wherein on the ski or integrated in the ski a reinforcement in the form of several tabs, plates, rails, tubes, carbon fibers or other elements are attached in a layered manner, possibly different in length, in one or several blocks, possibly in different lengths and differently distanced to one another.", "Finally, FIG. 21 shows a ski 3 according to this invention in the region of the force transmission system 2 in that the ski comprises a reinforcement/reduction of the bending stiffness as explained in view of FIGS. 17-20 and/or on the ski or in the ski there is attached a force transmission tab 13 as described by way of FIG. 9 , or a plate 14 as described by way of FIG. 16 .", "Other combinations of the above-cited embodiment forms are possible.", "With the knowledge of this invention it is also possible for the man skilled in the art to design further embodiment forms which accomplish the same or similar results as the subject matter of this invention.", "INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE The entire disclosure including the specification, the drawings and the claims of the parent co-pending U.S. patent application, having Ser.", "No. 09/914,275, filed on 15 Jan. 2002, entitled SKI GUIDE INTENSIFIER PRESSURE PLATE, is incorporated, by reference thereto, into this specification." ]

[ "TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to training devices for practicing soccer skills.", "More specifically, the present invention relates to a training device used in teaching and practicing kicking and passing techniques when a soccer ball is passed to the student in such a manner as to require an immediate response.", "BACKGROUND Kicking a soccer ball improperly is common among inexperienced or young soccer students.", "Early in the development of the sport, kicking and passing techniques were taught almost exclusively by explanation and demonstration in which the teacher or the coach kicks or throws a ball at a practicing student who then attempts to kick or throw the ball back to the coach.", "This method tends to be intimidating (perhaps because of the instinctive defense reaction that is triggered when a person, such as the coach, intentionally and suddenly throws a ball at the student) and can reinforce improper techniques such as kicking the ball incorrectly (i.e. with wrong portion of the foot).", "This method further necessitates at least two persons, and a large area in which to train, but without doubt it provides the most realistic and skill-oriented training to the student.", "However, because two persons and sufficient training space are not always available, various training devices have been developed to enable self-training in smaller training areas.", "Such devices are designed with the goals of (1) assisting in the development of effective techniques, (2) minimizing unproductive time, (3) maximizing the number of students which may practice in a given playing or practice field, and/or (4) improving ease of transport, setup, use and disassembly of such devices.", "The training devices most relevant to the present invention comprise portable rebounding nets which prevent the user from having to chase and retrieve the ball every time he or she kicks it.", "These devices focus on addressing the second and third design goals listed above.", "An example of such a device which is used by pitchers in training for baseball is the "CANVAS CATCHER"", "(™).", "This invention is described in U.S. Pat. No. 2,944,816 (the '816 patent) to Dixon.", "The '816 patent describes a device having a substantially vertical frame to which netting is attached and a buttress-like support fixable to the ground.", "In training for soccer, football, baseball, and basketball, the "PRACTICE PARTNER"", "(™), described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,650,189 (the '189 patent) to Rajachich, may be used.", "The '189 patent describes an apparatus constructed of three net planes arranged in an inverted Y (or lambda) configuration such that two students may simultaneously use the apparatus by playing on opposite sides thereof.", "However, none of the rebound devices described above deal effectively with design goal one above, a significant consideration of which is to provide a means for the student to practice his quick return response thus helping sharpen the student's reflex or reaction time to a ball approaching him within a very short time interval from his last kick and at relatively high speed.", "Another species of kick training device are those which provide some sort of attachment to the ball such that the ball may not leave the immediate vicinity of the student after it has been kicked.", "This sort of training device is described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,280,922 to Jones, 4,616,834 to Davis, 5,083,797 to Vartija et al and 4,516,769 to Kopp.", "The most significant disadvantage to this species of training device is the interference which the attachment means has on the reaction of the ball to the student's kick.", "This interference causes the balls reaction to be unnatural and often unpredictable.", "Because, generally speaking, training devices are judged on their ability to simulate actual play, such devices which attach to the ball are not preferred and do not effectively address design goal one listed above.", "However, to their credit, these inventions do address design goals two through four effectively.", "A need therefore exists for an improved training device which provides a means for a student to practice his quick return response thus helping the student sharpen his reflex or reaction time to a ball approaching suddenly and at relatively high speed, while at the same time eliminating attachments which interfere with the reaction of the ball to the student's kick, thus meeting the remaining design goals listed above.", "SUMMARY The present invention is directed to an improved soccer training device that satisfies the needs identified above.", "The present invention comprises a tubular frame structure which attaches to the ground along one end and provides support for a rigid substantially vertical rebound surface on the other.", "Netting may be hung on the frame such that repositioning of the device (reorienting the device between 90 and 150 degrees with respect a horizontal axis perpendicular to the student's line of sight to the device, and then rotating the device 180 degrees with respect to the vertical axis) provides a small target goal into which a soccer ball may be kicked.", "Further, the rebound surface may be reoriented such that a rebounding ball returns on an upward trajectory--this is accomplished simply by turning the invention over and fastening it to the ground in this new orientation.", "In either orientation, the rebound surface acts to rebound the soccer ball upon impact, thereby providing a means to practice the quick return response of a soccer student to the ball in order to help sharpen the student's reflex or shorten reaction time to the ball which may be approaching him at relatively high speed.", "At the same time, the invention eliminates attachments to the soccer ball which interfere with the reaction of the ball to the student's kick.", "The principal objective of the present invention is to provide a device for use in training soccer students in effective and safe kicking techniques.", "In line with this objective, the present invention provides a means to increase students'", "confidence levels and potential for advanced skill development by providing three distinct practice modes in a single invention.", "These practice modes are attainable by simple reorientation or outfitting of the invention in any of three setups.", "When oriented in a first and second mode, the student is able to determine the type of kick that he or she must respond to--whether the ball returns along the ground or returns on a parabolic trajectory (respectively).", "When oriented in the second position (the device turned upside down), the student can learn how to trap a soccer ball when it is kicked to him.", "Learning the fundamentals of trapping a soccer ball is basic to successful team play.", "For example, a child using the device learns to prepare himself almost instantly so that he can control the ball quickly and with confidence, trapping the soccer ball with the foot, thigh, chest and head.", "When reoriented in a third position, this soccer practice device can be used as a miniature soccer goal with a net attached to its frame.", "Because of this feature, a soccer student may kick the soccer ball into the goal and net without the frustration of having to chase and retrieve the soccer ball.", "A second objective of the present invention is to provide a device which minimizes unproductive time, such as that normally expended in chasing down and retrieving a soccer ball after a practice kick.", "A third objective of the present invention is to maximize the number of students which may practice in a given playing or practice field or conversely, minimize the space required for effective practice for a single student.", "A fourth objective of the present invention is to improve ease of transport, setup, use and disassembly of such devices.", "Therefore, a device of lightweight, portable form is provided.", "It can be carried easily to a training site or placed in the trunk of a car for transportation to another location.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Other objects and advantages of this invention will become readily apparent as the same is better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein: FIG. 1 is a left-side elevation view of a soccer practice device in accordance with the present invention;", "FIG. 2 is a front elevation view of a soccer practice device in accordance with the present invention;", "FIG. 3 is a top elevation view of a soccer practice device in accordance with the present invention;", "FIG. 4 is the back elevation view of a soccer practice device in accordance with the present invention;", "FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 are the front and right-side elevation views of the soccer practice device when reoriented as compared to FIGS. 1 through 4 and incorporating a soccer net in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;", "FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 are side views showing the invention in use in three different setups;", "and FIG. 10 is the back elevation view of a soccer practice device in accordance with the present invention wherein a collapsable frame is shown.", "DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring now to FIGS. 1 through 4 wherein is shown a preferred embodiment and wherein like reference numerals designate like elements throughout the several views, there is shown in FIG. 1 a frame 12 constructed of preferably strong lightweight tubular material and a rigid structure 32 attached thereto.", "In the most preferred embodiment, the frame 12 is generally comprised of opposite portions 22a and 22b and 29a and 29b, two intermediate portions 27a and 27b and at least one crossmember 31 which spans the distance between portions 29a and 29b (shown most clearly in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5), such portions together forming a single unitary frame structure of lightweight tubular material (any of a variety of crosssections would function adequately, whether square, oval, round, or dog-bone shaped).", "In an alternate embodiment to a single unitary frame structure as shown in FIG. 10, the frame is comprised of first and second supports 100 and 102, each comprised respectively of first opposite portions 22a, 29a and first intermediate portion 27a, and of second opposite portions 22b, 29b and second intermediate portion 27b.", "Each support 100 and 102 is fastened to the rigid structure 32 along the length of upper portions 22a and 22b.", "In this alternate embodiment, the cross member 31 is either eliminated or separately attachable.", "U-bolts or pipe-hanging straps 104 (which wrap around the circumference of the two supports 100 and 102 in the area of portions 22a and 22b) are advantageously used to fasten each of the first and second supports 100 and 102 to the rigid structure 32 yet permit each support 100 and 102 to fold back against the rear surface 33 of the rigid structure 31 for compact storage or carrying.", "Optionally, a resilient clip 106 as typically used in the art to removeably fasten tubular material to a surface may be utilized to hold the first and second supports 100 and 102 to the rigid structure 31 against rear surface 33 during storage and transportation.", "A strap 108 having VELCRO or clasp-type snaps is shown which may optionally be used to restrain the ends 29a or 29b after folding toward the surface 33.", "Protrusions 110 such as screw heads are provided at the ends of portions 22a and 22b in order to restrict axial movement of first and second supports 100 and 102 beyond the amount necessary to allow either support 100 or 102 to extend beyond the other support to permit either portion 29a or 29b to lay flat with respect to the plane of surface 33.", "In either the preferred or alternate embodiment, a spike or anchor 14 may be forced into the ground 16 through holes 18 in frame 12 to secure the device against movement when impacted by a soccer ball 20.", "The frame 12 is bent in the region of the intermediate portions 27a and 27b at an angle 24, measured between portions 22a and 22b and opposite portions 29a and 29b, most clearly shown in FIG. 1. This angle 24 is preferably chosen to fall within a range between 40 and 80 degrees so that when the device is reoriented with respect to the surface 26, it may be positioned at approximately 90 degrees or alternatively 120 degrees with respect to the surface 26 on which the device is used (in this case, the ground 16 and considering opposite portions 22a and 22b and 29a and 29b of approximately 18 inches in length).", "In the preferred embodiment as depicted in the drawings, the upper portion 28 of arms 22a and 22b of the frame 12 are fastened to the board or rigid planar structure 32 by means of a fastener such as a bolt or screw 36 which passes through the frame 12 and into the rigid planar structure 32 as most clearly shown in FIG. 1. The rigid planar structure 32 of the practice device is comprised of a solid piece of preferably wood, metal, plastic or fiberglass material about 1.5 inch thick, 11.5 inches wide, and 24 inches long.", "Its size of course may increase or decrease without departing from the spirit of the invention.", "In addition, a decal or graphic of a target 54, or company or team logo may be affixed to the exposed surfaces of this rigid planar structure 32.", "The tubular construction of the soccer practice device allows it to be lightweight and easily carried by a young soccer student 52.", "It can also be built of a size and shape which can be easily placed into the trunk of an automobile for transportation, or used indoors at a home or gymnasium.", "Such is a significant intent of the preferred embodiment described above.", "When used in a gymnasium it is necessary to protect the wooden floor 38 from damage by the frame 12.", "In addition, because it is undesirable to attempt to hammer spikes or stakes 14 into the polished wooden floor 38 of the gymnasium, the spikes, stakes or anchors 14 described in the preferred embodiment above cannot be used.", "Alternatively, resistance to displacement upon the impact of a moving soccer ball 20 can be accomplished by attaching frictional padding 40 to the portion of the frame 12 which would otherwise contact the floor 38.", "Such pads are shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.", "Suction cups 42 (shown in FIG. 4) or alternative fastening or stabilizing means can be used to further enhance the invention's resistance to displacement upon the impact of a soccer ball 20.", "For example, additional weight may be placed on the frame structure itself or the frame may be wedged underneath any suitable fixed structure (e.g. bleachers) in the gymnasium.", "Operation--Method of Use The following description is best understood in reference to FIGS. 7, 8 and 9.", "For an inexperienced student, the soccer ball 20 may be positioned at about 2 to 3 feet from the soccer practice device 50.", "More experienced students can play the ball 20 against the board 32 from a greater distance.", "Because the device 50 is stationary and the board 32 rigid, the resilient ball 20 readily deflects off the board 32 and returns to the student 52.", "Thus, the student 52 can be instructed in proper kicking techniques and then can practice such techniques without chasing a soccer ball 20 every time it has been kicked.", "As the student 52 gains more confidence, the ball 20 can be kicked at the device 50 from greater distances.", "An accurate kick results in the ball 20 bouncing back to the student 52.", "In addition, the student 52 can use this device 50 to learn to kick a soccer ball 20 with either his right or left foot and thereby increase his skill and confidence.", "The optional decal or graphic of a bullseye target 54 (as shown in FIG. 2) or company or team logo may be affixed to the exposed surface 56 of this rigid planar structure 32 thereby serving as a target on which the student 52 may direct his focus or as a marketing tool for companies who wish to associate themselves with the sport of soccer.", "In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, FIG. 7 illustrates the ordinary use of the invention with the board 32 substantially perpendicular to the ground 16.", "The ball returns on a substantially straight trajectory.", "In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, FIG. 8 illustrates the use of the device 50 with the board 32 angled off a perpendicular plane to the ground such that the ball 20 is deflected upward when it impacts the board 32.", "This setup is attained merely by reorienting the device 50 with respect to the ground 16 as shown.", "In accordance with still another aspect of the present invention, FIG. 9 illustrates use of the device 50 as a practice goal with the optional feature of netting 51 connected via straps 53 to the frame 12.", "As compared to its orientation in FIGS. 1-4, here the device is shown reoriented between 90 and 150 degrees with respect a horizontal axis perpendicular to the student's line of sight to the device, and then rotated 180 degrees with respect to the vertical axis.", "The previously described embodiments of the invention have many advantages, primary among them are multifunctional versatility in a compact, light weight design of a simple and inexpensive construction.", "It should be understood that the foregoing disclosure relates to only a preferred embodiment of the invention and that it is intended to cover all changes and modifications of the example of the invention herein chosen for the purposes of the disclosure which do not constitute departures from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the claims.", "For example, the frame structure herein described may be designed in a variety of shapes and may be replaced with telescoping or other deployable supports without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention." ]

[ "RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims priority and is entitled to the filing date of United Kingdom Patent Application GB 1305482.0 filed on Mar. 26, 2013, entitled “Improvements in or relating to Public-Key Certificate Management.”", "The contents of the aforementioned application are incorporated by reference herein.", "INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE Applicant(s) hereby incorporate herein by reference any and all patents and published patent applications cited or referred to in this application.", "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention Aspects of this invention relate generally to public key cryptography, and more particularly to a method for authenticating a digital certificate and corresponding system, apparatus and computer program products.", "Description of Related Art Public-key cryptography is a well-known technique for securing electronic communications.", "Each user holds a private key and a public key, which are related to each other.", "The public key is used for encryption of data and is freely shared, while the private key is used for decryption and is not shared.", "When one entity wishes to send data to a recipient entity, they can encrypt the data with the recipient's public key, so that only the recipient can decrypt it upon receipt, using their private key.", "Public-key cryptography relies on entities being able to obtain authentic copies of other entities'", "public keys.", "For example, suppose a user wishes to login to their bank account through their web browser.", "If the user's web browser uses the wrong public key for the bank, then the traffic (including log-in credentials) can be intercepted and manipulated by an attacker.", "One way to provide assurance to one entity about the public key of another entity is via a Certificate Authority (CA).", "In the example given, the browser is presented with a public key certificate for the bank, which is intended to be unforgeable evidence that the given public key is the correct one for the bank.", "The certificate is digitally signed by a CA.", "The browser is pre-configured to accept certificates from certain known CAs.", "A typical installation of Firefox has about 100 CAs in its database.", "CAs must be assumed to be honest.", "If a CA is dishonest, it may issue certificates asserting the authenticity of fake keys;", "they could be keys created by an attacker or by the CA itself.", "Unfortunately, the assumption of honesty does not scale up very well.", "A user has hundreds of CAs registered in their browser, and cannot be expected to have evaluated the trustworthiness of all of them.", "This fact has been exploited by attackers.", "If an attacker manages to insert a malicious CA into the user's browser, the attacker can get the browser to accept fake keys for standard services (such as bank web sites and webmail sites).", "Then the attacker can intercept and manipulate the user's traffic with those sites.", "Inserting a malicious CA can be done in a number of ways, such as: shipping malicious software, and social engineering attacks.", "There is therefore a need for proving the authenticity of public keys in a way that cannot be compromised by a dishonest CA.", "For some applications, providing authentication of public keys via a CA is not realistic.", "For example, the Pretty Good Privacy (PGP) encryption standard is used for e-mails and is targeted at individual e-mail users rather than corporate users.", "In that context, there are no entities that naturally fulfil the requirements to function as a CA, and so authentication of public keys is achieved on the basis of a peer-to-peer web of trust.", "The certifying role is spread amongst a set of users, each of whom are somewhat trusted and somewhat known to the sender and receiver with the expectation that, taken together, this comprises enough evidence of the authenticity of the public key.", "However, e-mail encryption has not been widely adopted due to the burden that is placed on users.", "The model is either too complex or too time-consuming for the general public to understand and implement.", "There is a need for proving the authenticity of public keys in a way that is “user-friendly”—in other words, can be provided in a form that users can adopt without needing to understand anything of how it works.", "Aspects of the present invention fulfill these needs and provide further related advantages as described in the following summary.", "SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Aspects of the present invention teach certain benefits in construction and use which give rise to the exemplary advantages described below.", "According to a first aspect of the disclosure there is provided a method for authenticating a digital certificate comprising the steps of: providing a database of digital certificates wherein each of the digital certificates are stored using both a first data structure in which items are stored in chronological order and a second data structure which is ordered by certificate identifier;", "querying the first data structure to establish a proof that a later snapshot of the database is an extension of an earlier snapshot of the database;", "and querying the second data structure to establish a proof that a given digital certificate is currently valid.", "The digital certificates may be stored in the first and second data structures, or the first and second data structures may comprise pointers to another database containing the certificates.", "The digital certificates in the database may for example be those issued by a certificate authority (CA), or any other certificate issuing party.", "The term “snapshot”", "simply means a copy or a representation of the database at a given point in time, either in whole or in part.", "The disclosure is not limited to any particular form of versioning technique for comparing these different versions of the database.", "The step of querying the first data structure to establish a proof that a later snapshot of the database is an extension of an earlier snapshot of the database may comprise establishing a proof that the later snapshot is a properly formed extension of the earlier snapshot.", "The test for whether an extension is properly formed or not may involve checking that the difference between the earlier and later snapshots represents a modification of the earlier snapshot according to one or more required rules in order to arrive at the later snapshot.", "Optionally, the first and/or second data structures comprise tree data structures.", "Optionally, said first data structure is append-only, and said proof that a later snapshot of the database is an extension of an earlier snapshot of the database comprises a proof that the later snapshot is an append-only extension of the earlier snapshot.", "Optionally, said first data structure is arranged such that proofs of chronological extension of the data structure can be furnished in a time of the order of the logarithm of its size.", "Optionally, said first data structure comprises a Merkle tree.", "Optionally, items in said first data structure are stored only at leaf nodes.", "Optionally, the items stored in the first data structure comprise one or more pairs of a certificate identifier and a public key for that certificate.", "Optionally, the second data structure is arranged such that proofs of a set of keys in the data structure corresponding to a given certificate identifier can be furnished in a time of the order of the logarithm of its size.", "Optionally, said second data structure comprises a Merkle tree.", "Optionally, said second data structure is organized as a binary search tree.", "Optionally, the items stored in the second data structure comprise a certificate identifier together with a list of public keys associated with the certificate identifier.", "Optionally, the items in the second structure are stored at leaf and non-leaf nodes.", "Optionally, in the second data structure, a list of keys is stored for each certificate, of which only the last one is the current one, the others being revoked.", "Optionally, the database may be updated by inserting a new digital certificate.", "Optionally, the database may be updated by marking a certificate as revoked.", "Optionally, the step of marking a certificate as revoked may comprise inserting a new key for a certificate.", "Optionally, the new key may be a null key.", "Optionally, the new key may be inserted as an extension to the first data structure, and as an addition to a list of keys associated with a certificate identifier in the second data structure.", "Optionally, the method may comprise publishing a hash of the database.", "This may be made available on demand to any third party.", "Optionally, the method comprises providing to a third party a proof that a later snapshot of the database is an extension of an earlier snapshot of the database;", "and/or a proof that a given digital certificate is currently valid.", "The providing of a proof to a third party means the serving of the proof data in response to a request made by a software application or component.", "That software application or component may be activated intentionally by a user, or may be operated automatically in response to some other set of requests.", "In other words, the “third party”", "does not have to be a human, but can be a software application or component, or hardware device executing appropriate code.", "Optionally, the step of providing a database of digital certificates is carried out by a certificate prover (CP) who is independent of a party who issues the digital certificates.", "Optionally, the method comprises the step of verifying consistency between the data stored in the first and second data structures.", "Optionally, the step of verifying consistency between the data stored in the first and second data structures is carried out by an auditor who is independent of users whose digital certificates are stored in the database, of the CP and of a party who issues the digital certificates.", "Alternatively, the step of verifying consistency between the data stored in the first and second data structures may be carried out by a user whose digital certificates are stored in the database.", "Optionally, the step of verifying consistency between the data stored in the first and second data structures may comprise querying a randomly chosen portion or portions of the data structures.", "Optionally, a result of the consistency check and/or the proof that a later snapshot of the database is an extension of an earlier snapshot of the database and/or the proof that a given digital certificate is currently valid is represented as one or more graphical elements which are displayed to a user.", "Optionally, the graphical elements are displayed by a browser application, for example as icons in a toolbar area.", "Optionally, the graphical elements comprise a series of traffic light icons, which are selectively colored according to the status of the consistency check.", "Optionally, the certificate identifier comprises an electronic messaging service address;", "and the steps of querying the first data structure to establish a proof that a later snapshot of the database is an extension of an earlier snapshot of the database and querying the second data structure to establish a proof that a given digital certificate is currently valid are performed by a message sender to authenticate a digital certificate of a message recipient before sending an electronic message encrypted with the recipient's public key.", "Optionally, one or more pairs of users'", "public and symmetric keys are stored by a third party remotely from users'", "workstations, in an encrypted form.", "The third party may be the same party that provides a database of digital certificates.", "Optionally, the electronic messaging service address is an e-mail address and the electronic message sent from a sender to a recipient is an e-mail.", "Optionally, the message sender is provided with an e-mail client application that performs the steps of querying the first data structure to establish a proof that a later snapshot of the database is an extension of an earlier snapshot of the database and querying the second data structure to establish a proof that a given digital certificate is currently valid.", "Optionally, the e-mail client application comprises a plug-in or an extension to an existing e-mail client application.", "Optionally, the e-mail client application is provided as a web application.", "Optionally, the stored messages can be accompanied by list of hashes of the words of the message.", "Optionally, said list of hashes of the words of the message is lexicographically ordered.", "Optionally, the logs and accompanying proofs comprise hashes of addresses.", "Optionally, the method comprises the step of verifying consistency between the data stored in the first and second data structures.", "Optionally, a result of the consistency check and/or the proof that a later snapshot of the database is an extension of an earlier snapshot of the database and/or the proof that a given digital certificate is currently valid is represented as one or more graphical elements and/or graphical effects which are displayed to a user.", "Optionally, the graphical effects comprise selectively coloring an electronic messaging service address according to the status of the one or more of the consistency check, proof that a later snapshot of the database is an extension of an earlier snapshot of the database and proof that a given digital certificate is currently valid.", "Optionally, the selective coloring applied to the electronic messaging service address comprises traffic light style color scheme.", "According to a second aspect of the disclosure there is provided a system for authenticating a digital certificate comprising: a database of digital certificates wherein each of the digital certificates are stored using both a first data structure in which items are stored in chronological order and a second data structure which is ordered by certificate identifier;", "and executable functionality that queries said first data structure to establish a proof that a later snapshot of the database is an extension of an earlier snapshot of the database;", "and that queries the second data structure to establish a proof that a given digital certificate is currently valid.", "The executable functionality may comprise a computer language functionality for manipulating or retrieving data such as structured query language (SQL) or other equivalents.", "Optionally, the system also comprises executable functionality that inserts a new digital certificate into the database.", "Optionally, the system also comprises executable functionality that marks a certificate as revoked.", "Optionally, said database and said executable functionality that queries said database are hosted by a certificate prover (CP);", "who also provides an interface for third parties to request and receive the proof that a later snapshot of the database is an extension of an earlier snapshot of the database;", "and the proof that a given digital certificate is currently valid.", "Optionally, said interface also enables third parties to insert or revoke digital certificates.", "Optionally, said interface provides a hash of the database to any third party that requests it.", "According to a third aspect of the present disclosure there is provided a computer program product comprising: a database comprising: a first data structure in which items are stored in chronological order;", "a second data structure which is ordered by user identifier;", "and executable functionality that queries said first data structure to establish a proof that a later snapshot of the database is an extension of an earlier snapshot of the database;", "and that queries the second data structure to establish a proof that a given datum is currently valid.", "Optionally, said database is populated with certificates that are issued by a certificate authority (CA) wherein each of the digital certificates are stored in both the first data structure and the second data structure.", "Optionally, the computer program product comprises executable functionality that inserts a new digital certificate into the database.", "Optionally, the computer program product also comprises executable functionality that marks a certificate as revoked.", "Optionally, the computer program product also comprises an interface third parties to request and receive said proofs that a later snapshot of the database is an extension of an earlier snapshot of the database and that a given digital certificate is currently valid;", "insert or revoke digital certificates;", "and receive a hash of the database.", "Optionally, the computer program product is hosted by a certificate prover (CP) who is independent of a certificate authority (CA).", "According to a fourth aspect of the present disclosure there is provided an electronic messaging client computer program product comprising: executable functionality that enables a user to register their username and public key with a database of digital certificates wherein each of the digital certificates are stored using both a first data structure in which items are stored in chronological order and a second data structure which is ordered by user identifier;", "and executable functionality that enables a user to authenticate the public key of an intended message recipient by querying said first data structure to establish a proof that a later snapshot of the database is an extension of an earlier snapshot of the database;", "and executable functionality that queries the second data structure to establish a proof that the intended recipient's public key is currently valid.", "Optionally, said computer program product is a standalone application.", "Alternatively, it may be an extension to an e-mail client application, or a web application.", "According to a fifth aspect of the disclosure there is provided a method for authenticating a digital certificate issued by a certificate authority (CA) by providing an objectively verifiable proof that a CA can be trusted concerning certificate issuance and certificate revocation.", "Optionally, said step of providing an objectively verifiable proof comprises providing a log of certificates issued by the CA and providing proof that a later snapshot of the log is an extension of an earlier snapshot of the log;", "and that a given digital certificate is currently valid.", "The computer program products of the third and fourth aspects may be stored on or transmitted over as one or more instructions or code on a computer-readable medium.", "Computer-readable media includes both computer storage media and communication media including any medium that facilitates transfer of a computer program from one place to another.", "A storage media may be any available media that can be accessed by a computer.", "By way of example such computer-readable media can comprise RAM, ROM, EEPROM, CD-ROM or other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium that can be used to carry or store desired program code in the form of instructions or data structures and that can be accessed by a computer.", "Also, any connection is properly termed a computer-readable medium.", "For example, if the software is transmitted from a website, server, or other remote source using a coaxial cable, fibre optic cable, twisted pair, digital subscriber line (DSL), or wireless technologies such as infra-red, radio, and microwave, then the coaxial cable, fibre optic cable, twisted pair, DSL, or wireless technologies such as infra-red, radio, and microwave are included in the definition of medium.", "Disk and disc, as used herein, includes compact disc (CD), laser disc, optical disc, digital versatile disc (DVD), floppy disk and Blu-ray disc where disks usually reproduce data magnetically, while discs reproduce data optically with lasers.", "Combinations of the above should also be included within the scope of computer-readable media.", "The instructions or code associated with a computer-readable medium of the computer program product may be executed by a computer, e.g., by one or more processors, such as one or more digital signal processors (DSPs), general purpose microprocessors, ASICs, FPGAs, or other equivalent integrated or discrete logic circuitry.", "Other features and advantages of aspects of the present invention will become apparent from the following more detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of aspects of the invention.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The accompanying drawings illustrate aspects of the present invention.", "In such drawings: FIG. 1 shows a first data structure forming part of a certificate log database, in accordance with at least one embodiment;", "and FIG. 2 shows a second data structure forming part of a certificate log database, in accordance with at least one embodiment.", "The above described drawing figures illustrate aspects of the invention in at least one of its exemplary embodiments, which are further defined in detail in the following description.", "Features, elements, and aspects of the invention that are referenced by the same numerals in different figures represent the same, equivalent, or similar features, elements, or aspects, in accordance with one or more embodiments.", "DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The above described drawing figures illustrate aspects of the invention in at least one of its exemplary embodiments, which are further defined in detail in the following description.", "A technique termed certificate transparency has been proposed by Google, that aims to prevent certificate authorities from issuing public key certificates for a domain without being visible to the owner of the domain.", "It is aimed at website certificates, and the technology is being built into Google's Chrome™ browser product.", "The core idea is that a public log is maintained, showing all the certificates that have been issued.", "The log is append-only.", "Anyone can append a certificate to the log.", "Auditors can obtain two types of proof: (a) a proof that the log contains a given certificate, and (b) a proof that a snapshot of the log is an extension of another snapshot (i.e., only appends have taken place between the two snapshots).", "In certificate transparency, one can prove that a certificate is in the log, but there is no notion of whether it is still current.", "Certificate transparency does not handle certificate revocation efficiently.", "Existing ideas to handle certificate revocation in this context include using a sparse Merkle Tree which stores the status of every possible certificate, but in which it is recognized that non-zero nodes are sparse, and so nodes that are known to lead to a zero leaf value need not be computed individually, so that a certificate can be shown to be unrevoked by following a path to the root in the Merkle tree.", "Another option is to list all the revoked certificates and sort them into order, and a tree is constructed where each leaf is a pair of consecutive entries from this sorted list.", "Non-revocation is shown by showing the pair in the tree that brackets the unrevoked certificate.", "However both of these techniques for dealing with certificate revocation involve proofs that are of a size of the order (for example proportional to) the number of certificates being revoked.", "This means that the efficiency of computation is not practical, especially for larger scale systems.", "Public key encryption can be used for e-mail.", "There are two main standards in use for public key encryption of e-mail, called Secure Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions (S/MIME) and Pretty Good Privacy (PGP).", "They both require the user's client software to maintain the user's private key, and the public keys of the people she exchanges e-mail with.", "The sender encrypts messages with the public key of the receiver.", "To do that, she needs to be sure to have an authentic copy of that public key.", "The receiver decrypts with his private key.", "The sender signs messages with her private key.", "The receiver verifies the signature with the sender's public key.", "To do that, he needs to have an authentic copy of that public key.", "The main conceptual difference between S/MIME and PGP is the way in which a user verifies that he has an authentic copy of another user's public key.", "Suppose Alice wants to send e-mail to Bob.", "She needs to know his public key.", "She can find it on a key server, or on his web page, or in an e-mail message he or someone else has sent to her, but these are non-authoritative sources.", "They could contain fake keys, generated by an attacker.", "If Alice encrypted the message with a fake key, then the attacker could decrypt her message.", "To solve this, the authenticity of public keys has to be certified, by one or more trusted parties.", "S/MIME and PGP differ about how this is done.", "In S/MIME, public keys come with a certificate from a certificate authority (CA).", "The CA can be any entity, but it has to be trusted by both the sender and the receiver (if the CA issues a false certificate corresponding to its own private key, it is able to decrypt the mail).", "S/MIME works best in a large corporate environment, where the corporation can act as a CA for all its employees.", "It is natural for both employees and external users that correspond with employees to trust the corporation for e-mail related to its business.", "S/MIME works less well for small organizations, because they may not wish to take on the complexities of being a CA.", "Outsourcing the CA task is a possibility, but it relies on having to trust the outsourced CA.", "S/MIME hardly works at all for individuals, because they don't want to have to pay for a certificate and don't want to trust companies offering CA services.", "A problem with CAs is that they have to be trusted by the sender and the receiver.", "This problem is made worse by the fact that there are typically multiple (perhaps hundreds) of CAs installed in e-mail browsers (and web browsers), and any CA can certify any key.", "That means that a single malicious CA can launch fake-key attacks on any e-mail address, not just the ones the user had in mind when it accepted to use that CA.", "PGP is targeted at individual e-mail users rather than corporate users, and aims to avoid the requirement of “authorities”", "that certify public keys.", "This recognizes that, in the case of individuals, there are no entities that can fulfil the requirements of being a CA (namely: well-known, trusted by all users, and free to use).", "To solve this, PGP spreads the certifying role across a set of users, each of whom are somewhat trusted and somewhat known to the sender and receiver, with the expectation that, taken together, this comprises enough evidence of the authenticity of the public key.", "By signing each other's keys in a peer-to-peer fashion, PGP users create a “web of trust”", "that works not because of some highly trusted pillars like CAs, but because all the users support the trust web in a small way.", "For example: Alice wants to send e-mail to Bob, so she needs to know his public key.", "She already has Charlie's public key, perhaps because he gave it to her physically when they met, and Charlie has signed a certificate for Bob's public key.", "That is some evidence, but not quite enough, because she doesn't know Charlie very well and is not sure if she can trust him (“trusting”", "Charlie means being assured not only that he has no malicious intent, but also that he is competent to judge whether the given key is Bob's).", "Fortunately, as well as Charlie, there is Dave, Eliza and Frederica.", "Alice has all their public keys already, and they have also signed Bob's key.", "Each one of them provides thus further evidence of the authenticity of that key.", "Putting that evidence together, Alice is assured that the given public key is Bob's.", "In summary, PGP offers two ways to securely obtain a public key: 1.", "In person.", "Charlie gave to Alice unforgeable face-to-face evidence of the authenticity of his key.", "We assume that Alice uses normal means to identify Charlie (she may recognize him, or rely on his photo id, or whatever).", "To facilitate this direct way of exchanging public keys, PGP enthusiasts can organize “key signing parties.”", "From an unauthenticated source, but accompanied by signatures by people whose public key is already known and who are trusted.", "PGP includes mechanisms to quantify trust levels and to add together the trust from several key signers.", "In spite of support on all major client software and significant efforts at supporting take-up, very few people use either S/MIME, PGP or indeed any other standard for encrypting their e-mail.", "Yet, there are substantial motivations, including compliance requirements as well as confidentiality requirements.", "End-to-end encrypted mail seems to have a dedicated following among a small number of people in very specific sectors.", "However, encrypted e-mail is not routinely used, for a number of reasons.", "First of all, it is too complicated for users to understand the model.", "S/MIME is presented to users in a way that asks them to understand public and private keys, key servers, certificates, certificate authorities, etc.", "Even if mathematically capable enough, most users are not willing to invest the time and effort required to grasp these concepts.", "They feel that the pain outweighs the gain.", "S/MIME assumes a hierarchical certificate-authority system for certifying keys which is expensive and cumbersome even for companies, and it appears to be prohibitive for SMEs and individuals.", "PGP is aimed more at individuals, having a peer-to-peer certifying arrangement, but this also has proved impossible for any but the most determined users to master.", "Furthermore, even when set up on one platform (e.g., work desktop), the set-up has to be done again on other platforms (laptop, phone) and is different each time.", "Again, users have to copy keys around between devices, and the set-up is different in different contexts (desktop, mobile, webmail, etc.).", "In short, it has proved impossible to “package”", "e-mail cryptography in a usable form that users can obtain the benefits without understanding how it works.", "This is in marked contract with cryptography on the web, which is used by billions of users every day.", "The present disclosure presents a method which allows users of public keys to be able to rely on certificate authorities without having to trust them.", "To put this another way, the method allows CAs to prove to users that they have behaved correctly.", "This solves the core problem related to certificate authorities, namely, that some assumption has to be made that a CA is honest.", "The method makes use of a data structure known as a Merkle tree, which may also be known as a hash tree.", "A Merkle tree is a tree in which every node is labelled with the hash of the labels of its children nodes, and possibly some other values.", "Suppose a node has children with hash values v 1 , .", ", v n and has data d. Then the hash value of the node is the hash of v 1 , .", ", v n ,d.", "Merkle trees allow efficient proofs that they contain certain data.", "Proving that a certain datum d is part of a Merkle tree requires an amount of data of the order of (for example, proportional to) the logarithm of the number of nodes of the tree.", "This contrasts with hash lists, where the amount is of the order of the number of nodes.", "A public append-only log is maintained of the certificates issued by given certificate authority.", "The maintainer of the log can offer a proof that a certain certificate is current in the log, i.e., it has not been replaced or revoked.", "This is in contrast with certificate transparency, where proofs are that a certain certificate is present in the log, but not necessarily current.", "A certificate prover (CP) is an entity that maintains a public log of certificates issued by a certificate authority.", "CP is able to issue proofs of monotonicity of the log(that is, that the log is only ever appended to), and proofs of currency of a given certificate.", "Suppose that CP's log consists of a collection of certificates: db=[cert(Alice, pk Alice ), cert(Bob, pk Bob ), .", "] Where “Alice”", "and “Bob”", "are examples of user identifiers, and pk user is the public key of a given user.", "The CP publishes a hash h(db) of the database to anyone who asks.", "To demonstrate its correct behavior, CP must offer the following services: Input Result — h(db): the hash of the current database.", "(user, pk user ) Insertion: the certificate cert(user, pk user ) is inserted into the database.", "(user, pk user ) Revocation: the certificate cert(user, pk user ) is marked as revoked by database.", "h(db), h(db′) Monotonicity proof: a proof that db′ is an append-only extension of db.", "We write this as db′ db.", "h(db), user Currency proof: a proof that cert(user, pk user ) is current according to db.", "It is important that these operations are done efficiently.", "In order to achieve this, the disclosure stores the certificates in or using two data structures.", "The first data structure is a Merkle tree in which items are stored in chronological order, and stored only at leaf nodes.", "Items are added chronologically, by extending the tree.", "As a short hand notation, this type of Merkle tree will be referred to herein as a “ChronTree.”", "The stored items may comprise pairs of a user identifier and a public key for that user.", "Revocation of a user's key may be recorded by adding a new key for the user, with the older key then being considered revoked.", "If a key was to be revoked without being replaced by a new one, then a null value can be added.", "Thus, a key for a user is considered current only if there is no later item for the user.", "Storing revocations in the same data structure as current certificates in this way represents a departure from existing methods.", "The second data structure is a Merkle tree which is also organized as a binary search tree ordered by user identifier, such that a traversal of the tree yields the data in lexicographic order of user identifier.", "This data structure can be referred to as a “lexicographically ordered binary search Merkle tree”, or as a more useful short hand notation, a “LexTree.”", "The stored items may comprise a user identifier together with a list of public keys associated with the user identifier: (user, pk user,1 , pk user,2 , .", "These items are stored at leaf and non-leaf nodes such that a traversal yields the data in lexicographic order of user identifier (for example, e-mail address).", "A list of keys is stored for each user, of which only the last one is the current one (the others are revoked).", "Using the ChronTree alone, insertion, revocation and the monotonicity proof are O(log n), by exploiting the properties of Merkle trees (we use standard “big O”", "notation herein to refer to the computation power required to run an algorithm).", "Insertion may be done by the standard method of extending a Merkle tree.", "Revocation for a user may be done by insertion of a null key for the user.", "Monotonicity proof may be done using a technique of proving that one Merkle tree extends another.", "However, the currency proof is O(n) because one has to show that a given key has not been revoked;", "this involves enumerating all the transactions that took place after the key was inserted.", "Using the LexTree alone, insertion, revocation and the currency proof are O(log n).", "Insertion and revocation may be done by the standard method of insertion, substitution and deletion of data in a binary search tree, additionally taking care to update the hash values of the Merkle tree.", "Currency proof may be done by a technique of proving presence of data in a Merkle tree.", "However, the proof of monotonicity between db 1 and db 2 is now O(n) because one has to consider each item that has been added between db 1 and db 2 .", "However, when ChronTree and LexTree are used together, all required proofs can be carried out in time and space O(log n).", "Monotonicity proofs are performed using ChronTree, while currency proofs are performed using LexTree.", "Insertion and revocation can be done on both trees together, to ensure consistency.", "Both these operations are O(log n) for both data structures.", "Computation of insertion and revocation can be performed in parallel.", "Because the log of certificates has been stored in two data structures, it is desirable to verify that the two data structures are maintained consistently with each other.", "This verification requires O(n) time and space.", "It will in most cases be inefficient for the users'", "client software to perform the full verification.", "However, there are some efficiencies that can be achieved.", "According to a first alternative, users'", "client software can perform a randomly chosen partial check on the consistency of the two data structures.", "The client software randomly chooses and specifies two adjacent branches of ChronTree.", "Branches of ChronTree terminate in leaves which include data comprising the root hash of the LexTree current at the time the ChronTree leaf was inserted.", "The client software requires the server to furnish proof that the hash of the LexTree in the leaf of the second specified branch is correctly constructed by taking the LexTree whose hash is in the leaf of the first specified branch and performing the insertion or deletion or other operation which resulted in the insertion of the second leaf into the ChronTree.", "According to a second alternative, the consistency verification is not done by users'", "client software, but rather it is performed in batch mode by public auditors.", "Anyone can be an auditor.", "The two alternatives can be also used in combination.", "To illustrate these concepts, FIG. 1 shows an example ChronTree and FIG. 2 shows the corresponding LexTree, for an example scenario, in which users with names A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K sign up and some perform key revocations, in the following order: 1.", "D, B, J sign up;", "B revokes his key and replaces it with another;", "G, E, A, I sign up;", "J and A revoke their keys and replace them with others;", "K, H, F, C sign up.", "Note that the hash values stored at the leaf and non-leaf nodes are not shown in FIG. 1 or 2 .", "The resulting ChronTree is shown in FIG. 1 .", "Certificates are stored at the nodes only.", "The nodes comprise data that may include the User, the public key pk User n where n is an index of the public key that increments for each entry, and the root tree hash of the LexTree current at the time the node was inserted into ChronTree.", "The corresponding LexTree is show in FIG. 2 .", "It will be appreciated that the tree has been rotated after user “E”", "signs up in step (3) above and after K and H sign up in step (5) above, leading to the LexTree of FIG. 2 .", "There will be an element of choice involved in deciding when to rotate a tree and how to rotate it, so the LexTree of FIG. 2 is not a unique representation of the events shown in the illustrative example.", "However the concept in all cases will be the same—the LexTree will yield the data in lexicographic order of user identifier.", "Even if the tree rotation is carried out sub-optimally, the currency proof using the LexTree will still be O(log n).", "The simple example with a small number of certificates shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 serves to illustrate the concept.", "Of course, in the real world the requirements will be much different.", "However the techniques of the disclosure are readily scalable.", "For instance, suppose the database is required to store keys for one billion (10 9 ) users, who register with the service over a ten year period.", "We also suppose that, on average, 5% of the keys are revoked each year.", "This amounts to 270,000 sign-ups per day and 140,000 revocations per day, a total of 410,000 transactions per day.", "Insertion and revocation each involve in the order of log 2 10 9 ≈30 operations on each tree.", "This will take negligible time.", "As for a monotonicity proof;", "suppose a user has accessed the certificate log and cached h(db 1 ), and ten days later accesses the certificate log again and obtains h(db 2 ).", "The user's software requests a proof that h(db 1 ) h(db 2 ).", "This proof may be provided by the CP by comparing ChronTree 1 and ChronTree 2 corresponding to the two hashes.", "Because the data structures are Merkle trees, the size of proof that CP provides is independent of the number of transactions that have taken place between db 1 and db 2 (in our example, it is about 1.4 million transactions).", "The proof consists of about 30 hash values, together with 30 other values.", "This is about 2 kB of data.", "As for a currency proof;", "suppose a user wishes to obtain the current key, with proof, for a particular user, [email protected].", "This proof is provided by the CP using LexTree, which is also a Merkle tree.", "Because this tree is organized in order of user identities, all the information about the user “joeblogs”", "is in the same place.", "The CP merely has to prove the presence of the list of keys stored for joeblogs.", "Exploiting the properties of Merkle trees, the proof again consists of about 30 hashes and 30 other values, again 2 kB of data.", "It is important to check the consistency of the database represented by h(db 2 ).", "This consistency check can be carried out by an independent auditor.", "A naïve approach would be to request a full account of all the sign-ups and revocations, and recompute (ChronTree, LexTree).", "This requires downloading all 10 9 certificates (which is in the order of 10 9 ×60 bytes, or 60 GB).", "This can be improved considerably, but it is still O(m) where m is the number of transactions that have taken place since the last audit.", "This is achieved as follows.", "Suppose the auditor has previously conducted an audit for h(db 1 ) done the previous day.", "The auditor now requests the transactions that have taken place in the last day, i.e., between h(db 1 ) and h(db 2 ).", "As mentioned, there are 410,000 transactions per day.", "He also requests the necessary parts of the Merkle trees to verify each transaction, one by one.", "As above, about 2 kB of data is required per transaction.", "So the auditor needs to download 800 MB per day.", "If he chooses to audit every hour instead, it is 30 MB of data for each audit.", "As mentioned, a randomized partial consistency check can be performed by the user's client software.", "The coverage of the consistency (as determined by the number of branches checked) check can be greater or smaller according to the available time and bandwidth.", "These scenarios can be compared with the use of a single Merkle tree data structure to perform both monotonicity and currency proofs.", "To illustrate this, we consider the use of a LexTree in isolation.", "Consider again the user that previously stored h(db 1 ), and ten days later accesses the certificate log again and obtains h(db 2 ).", "The user's software requests a proof that h(db 1 ) h(db 2 ).", "The proof is provided by the CP by comparing LexTree 1 and LexTree 2 for each of the hashes.", "Because the 4.1 million transactions that took place in the last 10 days are scattered throughout the tree, CP has to provide each transaction in turn along with the data required to verify it.", "This amount of data is 4.1 million times 2 kB, or about 10 GB.", "The time taken for a user's software to process this amount of data makes this method impractical.", "Similarly, a monotonicity proof performed with ChronTree would be prohibitively expensive.", "Having efficient currency and monotonicity proofs means users can efficiently verify short proofs that the certificate prover is honest in respect of the data concerned to the user (her own certificate and those of her associates).", "This means that the method of the disclosure can scale.", "The ability to scale can be further enhanced by having a third party auditor (rather than the users themselves) perform consistency checks, which have larger proofs, between the two data structures, to prove that a certificate prover is maintaining data structures consistently.", "An example application area which benefits from this scalability is electronic messaging services, the most prominent of which is e-mail.", "Other examples include instant messaging, text messaging (SMS), messages sent via smartphone applications, BlackBerry messaging, Yahoo messaging, Skype, and messaging through social networks such as Facebook and LinkedIn.", "The present disclosure provides the means to provide a fully usable end-to-end encrypted service without the requirement to trust certificate authorities.", "Because of this, the whole process of end-to-end encryption for electronic messaging can be made significantly more “user-friendly”, and indeed can be as user-friendly as ordinary electronic messaging is today.", "An electronic messaging system according to the disclosure is based on public-key encryption, where the sender encrypts messages with the public key of the receiver.", "To do that, the sender needs to be sure to have an authentic copy of that public key.", "The receiver decrypts with his private key.", "We consider the example of e-mail.", "The problem of certifying the authenticity of keys is a significant usability problem of public key cryptography, and is also the conceptual point on which S/MIME and PGP differ.", "In short, S/MIME relies on a hierarchy of trustworthy certificate authorities while PGP relies on a peer-to-peer web of trust of key signatories.", "Both techniques involve assuming trusted parties that vouch for the authenticity of keys.", "However, it is possible to have a single entity, the certificate prover (CP), to vouch for the authenticity of users'", "keys.", "To achieve this, the disclosure provides a technique that allows the correctness of the behavior of this service provider to be verified by users'", "client software.", "In this way, we do not require the service provider to be trustworthy.", "That frees users from having to be involved in the evaluation of trust.", "It allows key management to become fully automatic.", "E-mail client software verifies the correctness of the service provider;", "users have to be alerted only if a problem is detected during the verification.", "It is also possible to store a user's keys remotely, in other words, in the cloud.", "A user's keys are held (in encrypted form) on cloud servers and transparently fetched, updated and stored as required, by the user's software.", "This, together with the maintenance of a certificate log by a CP, means that users do not need to be manually involved in the process of procuring, managing, and storing the relevant keys on their various devices.", "To explain further, a user is assumed to have a mail provider (MP) and to have access to certificate logs maintained by a certificate prover (CP).", "MP can be any existing provider offering IMAP/SMTP, POP/SMTP services, or services according to other protocols.", "Users have private and public keys which may be created and managed by the client mail application, and certified by the CP.", "The CP maintains a database certifying link between public key and E-mail address (which functions as a user identifier): db=[cert([email protected], 0x8F42D75E .", "), .", "] This database is monotonic: the CP is allowed only to append to it.", "The CP is not allowed to modify or delete any part of the database.", "To demonstrate that it is respecting this monotonicity requirement, CP publishes hashes of its database on demand: h(db 1 ), h(db 2 ), .", "where h is a secure hash function.", "An example secure hash function is SHA-2, although the present disclosure is not limited to any particular hash function.", "Given h(db i ) and h(db j ) with i<j, CP can prove that db j is an extension of db i .", "We write this as h(db i ) h(db j ).", "Given db i and user-name u, CP can look up u's public key pk and prove that cert(u, pk) is the most recent entry for u in db i .", "The format of the proofs is as described above.", "Because users'", "software automatically requests the database hashes and requests and validates these proofs, the CP provides a tamper-evident certification service for the users'", "public keys.", "Then, users send e-mail encrypted with each other's public keys.", "So, say a user, Alice, wishes to sign up to an encrypted e-mail service.", "At sign-up time, Alice's client software registers with the CP her existing e-mail address that she has with MP, creates her secret and public keys, and stores them in encrypted form with the CP.", "The “client software”", "referred to here may take various forms.", "It may comprise a standalone application, or it may comprise an extension or plug-in to an existing mail client program (for example, Outlook or Thunderbird), or it may comprise an appropriately configured web-based application.", "For simplicity, we refer to Alice's client program as the application.", "At sign-up time, the application fetches the current h(db) from CP, and stores it.", "Alice enters a user-name, say “[email protected]”, and chooses a new password pw.", "The software chooses an encryption key k. Alternatively, the authentication password pw and key k could be derived from a strong passphrase chosen by the user.", "The CP then creates an account for Alice, with user name “[email protected]”", "and password pw.", "The application creates public key pair pk Alice , sk Alice (where sk Alice is Alice's secret key).", "The application then stores (Alice, {h(db), pk Alice , sk Alice , .", "} k ) with the CP, where {m1, m2, .", "} k means the encryption by key k of the messages m1, m2, .", "The key k may be a symmetric key or a public key.", "Then, Alice wants to send an e-mail message to Bob.", "Prior to authenticating Alice to the CP, Alice's application fetches the current h(db) from the CP.", "Application retrieves its locally stored h(db s ) and optionally requests proof that h(db s ) h(db′), and verifies the proof.", "This proof is optional at this stage.", "However if it is carried out here, it provides an opportunity for the process to be terminated without having to go through further steps.", "Alice requests and verifies proof that cert(Alice, pk Alice ) is current in db′.", "Application authenticates Alice and fetches (Alice, {h(db), pk Alice , sk Alice , .", "} k ) from the CP.", "Application requests and verifies proof that h(db) h(db′) and h(db s ) h(db), and replaces its locally stored h(db s ) with h(db′).", "Application finds pk Bob in db′ and requests and verifies currency proof.", "Application encrypts message for Bob with pk Bob and sends to him.", "When Bob receives mail from Alice, a similar process is followed.", "Bob's application retrieves his versions of h(db s ), h(db) and h(db′), and: checks h(db s ) h(db) h(db′) h(db s ).", "checks (Bob, pk Bob ) is correct in db′.", "gets pk Alice from db′, and requests currency proof.", "decrypts Alice's message and checks Alice's signature, if present.", "It is possible for sender and recipient to have signed up to different CPs, in which case the CPs can exchange data between each other in order to fulfil the various requests and perform the relevant proofs.", "These technical details of how the system functions can be made largely invisible to a user.", "An example user experience will now be described.", "First of all, client software is obtained.", "As mentioned above, this may be downloaded as a standalone application, or may be an extension to a browser or a mail client.", "As with any software, users download it from a trusted source.", "The software is launched and configured to access an existing mail account.", "This step is the same as configuring any mail software.", "When the e-mail browser is started, it may display one or more graphical elements representing the status of the CP.", "The graphical elements may for example take the form of “lights”, and may for example be of variable colors, with different colors corresponding to different CP statuses, indicating the result of a consistency check of the CP.", "As an example, the light can be green or red, indicating “healthy”", "or “problem.”", "It will always be green if the provider behaves properly.", "Multiple graphical elements may be provided, each of which may correspond to the result of a check made by an auditor;", "there may be as many elements as auditors.", "The user can sign up to whatever auditor he likes, by appropriately configuring the browser.", "The user can be his own auditor if he likes.", "When sending a message, further graphical elements and/or graphical effects may be employed to provide feedback regarding the security status of the intended message.", "For example, the recipient's e-mail address can be entered (optionally using an auto-complete function).", "The e-mail address may start to appear in black (or alternative default color) font;", "and then change to another color once its entry is complete.", "This other color can represent the encryption status of the message.", "In one implementation, a “traffic light”", "system can be used.", "If the e-mail address turns green, this represents a confirmation that the message will automatically be encrypted so that only the owner of the e-mail address (and anyone else the message is sent to) can read it.", "However if it turns red, this means that the message will not be encrypted.", "This may be if the recipient has not signed up to the certificate logging service.", "Alternatively, the address may turn amber.", "This intermediate state may occur while the software is checking the proofs.", "The address will then usually turn green once the checks are successfully completed;", "or if the CP misbehaves, it may turn red.", "The user then composes their message, and then sends it, saves it, and so on, as usual.", "There is no explicit separate encryption operation, and no requirement to select keys.", "It will be appreciated that alternative colors could be used for the e-mail address formatting.", "Also, it is possible to provide one or more separate graphical elements indicating the encryption status without (or as well as) highlighting the e-mail addresses.", "These elements may have similar color themes to those of the highlighted e-mail addresses, in other words, may employ a “traffic light”", "color scheme with red, amber and green;", "or similar.", "Interaction with the elements could cause a dialogue to be displayed giving more information about the encryption status.", "For receiving messages, users take the usual steps to receive mail.", "Graphical elements and/or effects can be used to indicate the encryption status of the received mail, in similar fashion to that outlined above for sending e-mail—in other words, the “From”", "line may be color coded;", "or one or more separate graphical elements may be provided.", "Again, there is no need for an explicit decryption operation, and no discussion about keys.", "It is possible to provide various further features to an e-mail system.", "For example, to facilitate cloud-side search, a stored message can be accompanied by a lexicographically ordered list of k-keyed hashes of the words of the message.", "Also, to avoid other users and auditors downloading all the e-mail addresses in the proofs, the logs and accompanying proofs can have hashes of addresses instead of real addresses.", "The present disclosure invention described in this document solves problems of establishing trustworthiness of a CA.", "In the case of web browsing, the disclosure provides solutions that enable a public log of certificates to work effectively with certificate revocation.", "The disclosure also provides solutions that enable mass uptake of end-to-end encrypted e-mail in a form that is as user-friendly as ordinary e-mail is today and which does not require users to trust CAs.", "It also allows companies of any size to provide end-to-end encrypted e-mail.", "The disclosure provides a much improved method to handle currency of certificates (i.e., revocation).", "Proofs according to the disclosure are of a size of the order of (for example, proportional to) the log of the number of certificates being revoked, which ensures scalability for application areas such as e-mail and web-browser security.", "The data structures used according to the disclosure allow insertion, revocation, and currency and monotonicity proofs to be performed so that the time and transferred data is of the order O(log n) or better, where n is the number of certificates stored.", "Various improvements and modifications can be made to the above without departing from the scope of the disclosure.", "It should be understood that the logic code, programs, modules, processes, methods, and the order in which the respective elements of each method are performed are purely exemplary.", "Depending on the implementation, they may be performed in any order or in parallel, unless indicated otherwise in the present disclosure.", "Further, the logic code is not related, or limited to any particular programming language, and may comprise one or more modules that execute on one or more processors in a distributed, non-distributed, or multiprocessing environment.", "While aspects of the invention have been described with reference to at least one exemplary embodiment, it is to be clearly understood by those skilled in the art that the invention is not limited thereto.", "Rather, the scope of the invention is to be interpreted only in conjunction with the appended claims and it is made clear, here, that the inventor(s) believe that the claimed subject matter is the invention." ]

[ "CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims priority under 35 USC §119 to German Patent Application No. 10 2012 210 470.4 filed on Jun. 21, 2012, which application is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.", "TECHNICAL FIELD The invention relates to a MEMS device and a method for measuring the viscosity of extremely small fluid volumes using a micro-viscometer.", "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Micro-viscometers of this type are used, inter alia, in affinity viscometry for determining the glucose content of an analyte, for example of blood.", "For this purpose, a separating membrane that allows a selective exchange of molecules is arranged between analyte and a measuring fluid, whereby the viscosity of the measuring fluid is directly related to the glucose content of the analyte.", "The operating principle of the measuring fluid is based, for example, on the exchange of dextran molecules occupying the sugar-binding sites of a lectin molecule with glucose molecules that diffuse through the separating membrane.", "Other versions use a polymer solution containing boric acid functional groups as the measuring fluid, as described in WO 2010/0123521.", "Micro-viscometers that are particularly suitable for use in affinity viscometry are known in the widest range of embodiments.", "Basically these embodiments can measure the viscosity by measuring the flow resistance of a moved measuring fluid in a capillary tube (e.g. DE 100 10 539 A1) or by a measuring body moved in the measuring fluid.", "For miniaturization, micro-electromechanical actuators are used, for example in the form of flexible tabs (cantilevers), which are moved in the measuring fluid and the dynamic response of these cantilevers is measured for a defined drive force.", "Measuring devices of this type based on a micro-viscometer therefore necessarily contain a drive and a system for measuring the cantilever deflection.", "For a known geometry and assuming a laminar fluid flow, the viscosity can be determined from the curve of the speed at which such an actuator moves through the measuring fluid for a defined drive force.", "U.S. Pat. No. 5,955,659 describes an electrostatically driven cantilever for determining fluid properties.", "FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of this micro-viscometer according to the prior art.", "Under an electrode 106 of an actuator in the form of an elastically deformable cantilever 105 is located a counter electrode 104 in the form of a ground electrode on a silicon substrate 101 that has an electrically insulating coating 103 .", "Switching on a voltage V in between electrode 106 and counter electrode 104 produces a force of attraction between the electrode 106 and the counter electrode 104 that deforms the cantilever 105 .", "The cantilever is regarded here as a spring/mass system, the movement of which is damped by the viscosity of the fluid to be measured.", "A simple embodiment of a measuring device comprises a contact which is closed as a result of a predetermined deflection of the cantilever.", "The time from switching on a drive voltage between cantilever and the ground electrode in the measuring chamber until the contact closes is hence used as a measure for the viscosity.", "If the drive voltage is then switched off, the elastic cantilever returns to its initial position, and the measurement process can be started again.", "In a conductive fluid, e.g. in an isotonic saline solution, this form of electrostatic drive cannot be used because the electrodes become polarized within fractions of microseconds, which reduces or eliminates the E-field in the fluid that is required for the drive, or additionally at higher voltages, electrolysis starts, releasing hydrogen.", "Documents DE 100 27 684 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,955,659 do not discuss these problems.", "DE 100 27 684 A1 describes, according to one embodiment of the actuator, an electrical conductor to which a radio-frequency (RF) alternating current is applied and which interacts with another conductor, wherein at least one of these conductors is elastically deformable.", "A measuring device, which is not described in greater detail, performs a capacitance measurement or an impedance measurement between the movable conductor and a fixed conductor.", "It recommends choosing the excitation frequency and the frequency used for the impedance measurement to be so high that the force acting on the actuator and the impedance measurement are largely independent of the electrical conductivity of the measuring fluid.", "In fact it is advantageous to use for driving the cantilever or a differently designed, elastically movable actuator, an alternating voltage having a frequency that is chosen to be so high that the effects of ion movement and electrode polarization in the measuring fluid on the force moving the actuator are small.", "The conductance and the frequency dependency of the permittivity of the measuring fluid must be taken into account both for the drive and for the measuring system.", "Using a DC voltage or a low-frequency voltage is not only unsuitable for the actuator drive in a conductive fluid but also, owing to an ion current and polarization effects on the electrodes, will result in an incorrect capacitive distance measurement, for example.", "SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the invention, a device, referred to below as a MEMS device, is proposed for measuring the viscosity of a fluid, i.e. of a liquid or gas, which device comprises: a measuring chamber comprising a micromechanical actuator, which is arranged in the manner of a cantilever above a metallically conductive counter electrode and is elastically deformable towards the counter electrode, and which during operation of the device must be surrounded by the fluid to be measured and is made of a metallically conductive material, a two-terminal RF voltage source that can be switched off, the first output terminal of which is connected or can be connected to the actuator, and the second output terminal of which is connected or can be connected to the counter electrode, and which is designed to output an RF voltage signal having an RMS voltage that is suitable for deflecting the actuator out of its rest position, preferably so far that a laminar flow can develop temporarily in the fluid to be measured.", "a measuring device, which is designed to detect a change in the frequency, the amplitude or the phase of the RF signal generated by the RF voltage source in order to determine therefrom a measurement value for the viscosity-dependent speed at which the actuator is deformed.", "The MEMS device according to the invention has the advantage over the known prior art of being capable of extreme miniaturization and being suitable for measuring the viscosity in extremely small volumes of the fluid to be measured.", "In addition, it is particularly suitable for measuring high viscosities in strong electrolytes.", "In the MEMS device according to the invention, the RF voltage source used to generate the force to move the actuator towards the counter electrode through the viscous fluid, is the same RF voltage source which provides the measurement signal according to an impedance change of the actuator/counter-electrode system in the form of a frequency change, amplitude change or phase shift of the RF voltage moving the actuator, which signal is detected by the measuring device.", "Thus there is no need for a separate device, such as e.g. a piezoelectric crystal having a suitable high-voltage source, to drive the actuator, which facilitates a small design, and, in preferred embodiments, in particular facilitates monolithic integration of the actuator system with the electronic circuitry of the RF voltage source and the measuring device.", "In medical applications of the MEMS device according to the invention, such as for example in blood-sugar monitoring, the combined advantages of small design and high long-term stability of the biochemical measuring principle mean that the MEMS device can even be implanted permanently.", "This enables, for instance, continuous monitoring of the blood sugar level and hence individualized adjustment of drug delivery that is always exactly right for the patient concerned.", "Exemplary embodiments of the MEMS device according to the invention are described below.", "In one embodiment of the MEMS device according to the invention, during operation a variable impedance formed by actuator, measuring fluid and counter electrode is integrated as a frequency-controlling element in an RF oscillator.", "After switching on the oscillator during operation of the MEMS device, the RF voltage applied between actuator and counter electrode produces an actuator movement, which causes a change in the impedance between actuator and counter electrode and hence changes the frequency of the RF oscillator, which is detected by the measuring device of the MEMS device according to the invention.", "This frequency change is used to determine a viscosity-dependent speed of the actuator movement.", "A preferred exemplary embodiment of the invention is based on the knowledge that using a voltage to drive the actuator can cause a current through the measuring fluid that has a non-negligible effect on the overall measuring arrangement.", "It is therefore advantageous to use for driving the actuator an alternating voltage having a frequency that is so high that an ion movement in the measuring fluid caused by the alternating voltage only has a small effect on the electrical force moving the actuator and on the impedance of the actuator/counter-electrode system.", "An RF voltage source having a frequency between 1 GHz and 5 GHz for instance is therefore advantageously used in a physiological (isotonic) saline solution or in salt water.", "In this frequency range, in an isotonic saline solution at 40° C., the capacitive impedance 1/ωC F (ω,x) between the actuator and counter electrode is less than, preferably half the size of, the ohmic resistance Ro(x) given by the electrical conductivity of the fluid to be measured.", "Here ω denotes the angular frequency and x is a measure of the deflection of the actuator.", "Such a specification for the frequency of the RF voltage source can be guaranteed in the design stage by dimensioning the relevant circuit parameters according to the particular application.", "This is because a typical range of values of the electrical conductivity of the fluid to be measured is usually known in advance or can be determined from simple tests.", "In addition to this, a certain adjustability of the frequency during operation can be provided, for example by means of a controllable capacitance.", "This is discussed in greater detail in exemplary embodiments described later.", "In a preferred exemplary embodiment, the RF voltage source is designed to generate an RF voltage between actuator and counter electrode that has an RMS value such that after switching on the RF voltage, the electrical force of attraction between upper actuator and the counter electrode results in a sufficiently large, reversible elastic deflection of the actuator towards the counter electrode in order to produce temporarily a laminar flow field in the immediate vicinity of the actuator.", "In this case, the speed of the actuator movement at every instant is inversely proportional to the viscosity, provided external acceleration forces and gravitational forces have a negligible effect on the actuator movement and provided this movement is damped by the viscosity of the medium to such an extent that natural resonances do not occur (overdamped condition).", "If the orientation of the actuator in the gravitational field is variable (the case for portable devices), according to the above provisos it must additionally be ensured that the intrinsic weight of the actuator is negligible compared with the electrical force of attraction between actuator and counter electrode, because otherwise the measurement result depends on the orientation of the MEMS device in the gravitational field.", "In an embodiment of the MEMS device, the measuring device for determining the viscosity-dependent timespan is designed to switch on the RF voltage source, to switch off the RF voltage source when the predefined deformation of the actuator is reached (which is detected, for instance, in the form of a predefined magnitude of a frequency change, amplitude change or phase shift), and to determine the timespan between switching on and switching off the RF voltage source and to output a measurement signal that is dependent on the timespan as a measure of the viscosity of the fluid to be measured.", "“Switching off”", "shall be understood to mean any form of interrupting the RF voltage across the actuator.", "In this context, switching off is, for example, a switching process in which a supply of power from the RF voltage source is reversibly interrupted using a switch.", "Alternatively, an RF voltage supply to the actuator can also be reversibly interrupted without switching off the RF voltage source.", "If a frequency change of the RF voltage source is used as a measurement signal for monitoring the actuator movement, then this voltage source can be designed as a ring oscillator comprising an odd number of CMOS inverter stages, wherein an output from one of the CMOS inverter stages can be connected or is connected to the actuator either directly or via a coupling capacitor, and an RF ground terminal of the ring oscillator can be connected or is connected to the counter electrode.", "In a preferred embodiment, the actuator is here connected directly or via a coupling capacitor to the connecting line between the output of one CMOS inverter stage and the input of the subsequent inverter stage of the ring oscillator.", "In a further embodiment, the actuator/counter-electrode system is integrated in the ring oscillator circuit as a two-port network.", "For this purpose, the actuator has two spaced-apart electrical terminals, wherein the first terminal is connected to the output of a first inverter stage, the second electrical terminal of the actuator is connected to the input of a second ring-oscillator inverter stage following the first stage.", "In both cases, the impedance change of the actuator/counter-electrode system caused by the actuator movement affects the speed of the signal transfer between two successive inverter stages and hence affects the ring oscillator frequency.", "The oscillator can also be implemented as an LC oscillator, however, wherein the impedance formed between actuator and counter electrode is integrated in the LC resonant circuit.", "In order to implement a particularly accurate measuring device, the MEMS device in preferred exemplary embodiments additionally comprises a reference oscillator, which is designed to generate an RF reference signal having a reference frequency that is relatively constant over time and does not depend on the actuator movement.", "The reference frequency can be used in various ways in different variants of the measuring device.", "In a first variant, the measuring device is designed to switch on the reference oscillator at the same time as the measurement oscillator, and to generate a switch-off signal when the difference between the frequency of the RF reference signal output by the reference oscillator and the frequency of the measurement oscillator reaches a predefined value.", "A second variant, however, in which the measuring device is designed to compare the frequency of the measurement oscillator with the reference frequency, and to generate a switch-off signal at that instant at which the frequency of the measurement oscillator has reached the reference frequency, has simpler circuitry and is therefore preferred.", "In this second variant, the reference frequency is thus used as a “target frequency”, the attainment of which by the measurement oscillator terminates the measurement process.", "A lock detector, frequency detector or a phase-frequency detector can be provided as part of the measuring device to compare the frequencies of reference oscillator and measurement oscillator.", "Using a lock detector or frequency detector means less circuit complexity compared with a phase-frequency detector without substantial loss of accuracy and is therefore preferred.", "The lock detector, frequency detector or the phase-frequency detector is designed to compare the frequency of the RF voltage signal output by the measurement oscillator with the reference frequency, and, at the instant at which the frequency of the measurement oscillator has reached the reference frequency, to generate the switch-off signal, which causes the measurement oscillator and the reference oscillator to switch off.", "The reference oscillator is preferably connected to a reference structure that is similar to the actuator system and which during operation of the device, like the actuator system, must be surrounded by the fluid to be measured.", "In this embodiment, the measurement oscillator and the reference oscillator have substantially or almost exactly the same dimensions, wherein the reference structure has a reference impedance that is identical or almost identical to the impedance value that exists between the actuator and the counter electrode of the actuator system at the instant in time of switching off.", "The reference oscillator comprises e.g. a reference chamber, which in order to form the reference capacitance has a micromechanical, non-deformable reference actuator that has the same dimensions as the actuator and is arranged in the manner of a cantilever above a metallically conductive reference counter electrode made with the same dimensions as the counter electrode, which reference actuator must be surrounded by the fluid to be measured during operation of the device, and is made of the same metallically conductive material.", "It is important that under operating conditions of the MEMS device, the reference actuator, unlike the actuator of the measurement oscillator, cannot be deformed, i.e. in particular does not move when an RF signal is applied.", "To enable fine adjustment of an initial frequency difference between the measurement oscillator and the reference oscillator that exists immediately after switching on the voltage supply, in an advantageous embodiment the reference oscillator or the measurement oscillator additionally contains as a frequency-setting component a capacitance that can be controlled externally by a control voltage, for example in the form of a varicap diode or a MOS varactor.", "The additional controllable capacitance is connected in parallel with the capacitance formed by actuator and counter electrode.", "The voltage-controlled capacitance is preferably dimensioned so that based on an initial frequency difference that can be set by said capacitance, at the time of switching off the supply voltage at the limit of travel of the actuator movement, no mechanical contact is made between counter electrode and actuator.", "In principle, any known cantilever structures can be used as the actuator.", "In a preferred embodiment, however, the actuator is fixed to an edge of the measuring chamber at at least two opposite points of the measuring chamber and comprises an elastic element.", "Such an elastic element increases the elastic flexibility of the actuator.", "Any reference actuator there may be is also in this exemplary embodiment fixed to the edge of the reference chamber at at least two opposite points of the reference chamber, but does not contain an elastic element in order to prevent the reference actuator being deformable, which as explained is unwanted.", "The actuator is preferably made of conductive TiN for the purpose of measuring the viscosity in a medium containing constituents of an animal bodily fluid and having high salinity.", "The geometry of the actuator can be tailored, i.e. the shape and dimensions can be correlated for operation of the MEMS device such that, for the given frequency of the RF voltage source (ignoring small dielectric losses in the fluid to be measured), a real part of the complex RF impedance between actuator and counter electrode, which real part is attributable to a sheet resistance of the actuator, is comparable to or greater than the magnitude of the capacitive reactance (imaginary part) 1/ωC when the RF voltage source is switched on.", "In a specific embodiment, the RF voltage source is designed as a ring oscillator and coupled to the actuator impedance such that, because of the high real part of the impedance, the frequency of the RF voltage signal paradoxically rises as the capacitive reactance 1/ωC drops during movement of the actuator towards the ground plate.", "A design having such dimensions can be useful, for example, if for a frequency of several GHz, very thin and relatively long TiN strips having a relatively high sheet resistance (e.g. >20 Ohms) are arranged in the actuator at a very short separation from the counter electrode (e.g. several μm) in order to improve the elasticity of the actuator and to reduce the RMS voltage required for moving the actuator.", "In this case, the phase shift between voltage and current measured across the actuator/counter-electrode system connected as a two-terminal device may reduce as the capacitance, which is related to surface area, increases, because then for a very high frequency, the ohmic resistance of the actuator material increasingly determines the impedance between actuator and counter electrode.", "The resultant reduced signal delay between two inverter stages of a ring oscillator results in the apparently paradoxical frequency rise mentioned above.", "This frequency rise can then be used, just like the case in which a frequency drop is observed for a low-resistance actuator material, to switch off the operating voltage when a defined frequency, e.g. a suitably set reference frequency, is reached, and to determine the corresponding viscosity-dependent switch-off time.", "The MEMS device according to the invention can advantageously be used in medical or biological applications, for instance as a sensor for determining the blood sugar content based on the principle of affinity viscosity.", "A viscosity sensor according to the present invention can also be used for monitoring and controlling industrial chemical or biotechnology production processes.", "A method for measuring the viscosity of a fluid forms a second aspect of the present invention and comprises: providing a MEMS device having a preferably particle-protected measuring chamber comprising a micromechanical actuator, which is arranged in the manner of a cantilever above a metallically conductive ground plate and is elastically deformable towards the ground plate, and which is made of a metallically conductive, elastic material.", "surrounding the actuator with a fluid to be measured;", "connecting to the actuator a first output terminal of a two-terminal RF voltage source that can be switched off, and connecting to the counter electrode a second output terminal of the two-terminal RF voltage source that can be switched off;", "switching on the RF voltage source;", "detecting a change in the frequency, an amplitude or a phase of an RF signal measured at the RF voltage source or at a terminal of the actuator system comprising actuator and base plate determining a change in the frequency, amplitude or phase of the RF signal generated by the RF voltage source in order to determine therefrom a measurement value for the viscosity-dependent speed at which the actuator is deformed.", "The method shares the advantages of the MEMS device according to the invention.", "It is particularly suitable for measuring the viscosity in extremely small fluid volumes.", "Exemplary embodiments of the method according to the invention arise from the exemplary embodiments described above for the MEMS device according to the invention.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention is described below using further exemplary embodiments with reference to the drawings, in which: FIG. 1 shows an example of a micro-viscometer according to the prior art;", "FIG. 2 shows in a plan view and side view an embodiment of an actuator in the form of a cantilever;", "FIG. 3 shows a schematic diagram of the curve of the permittivity of a measuring fluid as a function of the frequency;", "FIG. 4 a shows an equivalent circuit of the actuator arrangement according to FIG. 5 a (two-terminal device variant);", "FIG. 4 b , 4 c show diagrams of an oscillator circuit that can be switched off having a two-terminal device and measuring instrument;", "FIG. 5 a shows a diagram of an actuator arrangement having a reference structure (two-terminal device variant);", "FIG. 5 b shows a diagram of an actuator arrangement having a reference structure (two-port network variant);", "FIG. 5 c shows an equivalent circuit of the actuator arrangement according to FIG. 5 b (two-port network variant);", "FIG. 6 shows a diagram of a two-terminal device variant having ring oscillator;", "FIG. 7 shows a diagram of a two-port network variant having ring oscillator;", "FIG. 8 shows a block diagram of a circuit arrangement having phase-frequency detector and switch-off device;", "and FIG. 9 shows a block diagram of a circuit arrangement having phase detector and switch-off device.", "DETAILED DESCRIPTION For the purpose of explaining an exemplary embodiment described below, FIG. 2 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a measuring chamber 118 of a MEMS micro-viscometer.", "When an RF voltage is applied between an actuator in the form of an elastically deformable cantilever 115 and the counter electrode thereto, a ground electrode 114 , a voltage is dropped between the electrode of the cantilever 115 and the ground electrode 114 across the fluid to be measured (measuring fluid) 111 .", "As a result of the force of attraction between the electrodes, the cantilever 115 moves at a viscosity-dependent speed towards the counter electrode until the RF voltage is switched off by a measuring device which evaluates the frequency, an amplitude or a phase of the RF voltage.", "The electrical properties of the fluid must not be ignored even when using an RF voltage to drive the actuator.", "The alternating current flowing through the fluid loads the RF voltage source according to the deflection of the actuator.", "In addition to the conductance, the permittivity, and hence the capacitance that is formed between the electrodes 114 , 115 , are determining factors.", "The permittivity of a fluid to be measured is frequency dependent.", "It is composed of a real and imaginary part ∈ r =∈ r ′−j∈ r ″ (2) FIG. 3 shows as an example of a measuring fluid in the form of a measuring liquid a curve of the real part ∈ r ′ (continuous line) and the imaginary part ∈ r ″ (dashed line) of the permittivity ∈ r as a function of the frequency.", "It can be seen from the typical curves shown that for this fluid a frequency of the drive voltage of approximately 1 to 2 GHz is advantageous in order to minimize the effect of the iron movement on the measurement process.", "Moreover, in this frequency range both the real part and the imaginary part of the permittivity have only a low frequency dependency.", "In addition, the imaginary part is relatively small.", "This has the advantageous effect that heating of the measuring fluid as a result of dielectric losses is low.", "Heating of the measuring fluid would have an undesirable effect on the dielectric constants ∈ r ′ and ∈ r ″.", "The total conductance, which is frequency dependent and related to the permittivity, can be found from the permittivity and the DC conductance: σ AC (ω)=σ 0 +σ′(ω) (3), where σ 0 denotes the DC conductance, ω the angular frequency, σ′(ω) the AC conductance, and σ AC (ω) the frequency dependent total conductance.", "The electrical properties of measuring fluid, actuator, electrodes and supply lines can be summarized in the form of an equivalent circuit, which is shown in a simplified form in FIG. 4 a .", "As an approximation, in this equivalent circuit, the properties of the measuring fluid are modelled as a parallel circuit of a resistor R 0 ( x ) and a lossy capacitor CF, RF, the values of which capacitor depend on the frequency and on the deformation of the actuator.", "It can also be seen from FIG. 4 a that under realistic conditions the amplitude of a voltage Ua measurable between actuator and counter electrode (ground) is not equal to the amplitude of the RF alternating voltage (U G ) applied to the supply lines to the actuator and the counter electrode.", "This is caused by the electrical properties of the supply line, which are represented in a simplified form in FIG. 4 a by a line resistance R L , a line inductance L L and a line capacitance C L .", "These elements shown in FIG. 4 a are combined to produce a two-terminal device, the impedance of which depends on the frequency ω and a deformation measure x of the actuator 115 .", "In one embodiment, as shown in a simplified form in FIG. 4 b , this two-terminal device Z m (ω,x) is inserted in an oscillator circuit as a frequency-determining component.", "This oscillator circuit is formed by an inverting feedback amplifier, at the output of which can already be a further frequency-determining component Z o (ω).", "On switching the RF voltage lying at the output of the inverting amplifier 121 across the two-terminal device, in the MEMS device of this exemplary embodiment, not only is a drive voltage for the actuator generated but simultaneously the frequency of the RF oscillator is also measured in order to infer therefrom the deformation (e.g. deflection) of the actuator.", "The RF oscillator is therefore composed of the inverting amplifier 121 having its frequency-determining two-terminal device Z o (ω) and the switched-across two-terminal device Z m (ω,x).", "A movement of the actuator towards the metallically conducting counter electrode, which is grounded with respect to the RF voltage, changes the impedance between these electrodes and therefore also causes a change in the oscillator frequency.", "The movement continues until a defined frequency detuning Δf of the RF oscillator with respect to an initial frequency f 0 , which occurs immediately after switching on, is reached, which is determined by the measuring device 120 .", "This can be done e.g. using a frequency detector, phase-frequency detector or lock detector.", "A suitable reference frequency that is relatively constant over time is required at least for the two last variants, as explained below.", "If the frequency detuning Δf is reached, in the present example, the power supply of the RF oscillator or the connection of the RF oscillator to the actuator is disconnected.", "Here Ueff and Δf are selected so that the force of attraction acting on the actuator is sufficient to deflect same as far as mechanical contact with the counter electrode, while selecting Δf so that switching-off the power supply takes place at a distance between actuator and ground plate at which there is still no mechanical contact with the counter electrode.", "The time Δt that is required for the thus-defined deflection of the actuator is proportional to the viscosity and is recorded as a measure thereof.", "After switching off the power supply, the actuator returns to the initial position owing to its elastic restoring force, and the measurement process just described can be repeated cyclically at short time intervals by repeatedly switching on the power supply, and therefore a quasi continuous measurement of the viscosity is possible.", "Switching-off the RF voltage is symbolized by way of example in FIG. 4 b by a simple switching device, which can be used to close and open the connection between the RF oscillator and the two-terminal device Z m (ω,x).", "Alternatively, however, switching on and off a supply of power to the measurement oscillator can be provided as shown in FIG. 4 c. Since the impedance of the two-terminal device Zm is not only determined by the deflection of the actuator but also by other parameters, some of which can vary during the measurement, a reference chamber which is assigned a second ring oscillator is provided in addition to the measuring chamber, as explained with reference to FIG. 5 a. FIG. 5 a and FIG. 5 b described below show diagrams of an actuator arrangement having a reference structure in a two-terminal device variant and in a two-pole network variant.", "FIG. 5 a shows a plan view of an arrangement of a measuring chamber 14 and a reference chamber 24 on a chip 10 , as an exemplary embodiment of a MEMS device.", "Owing to the chosen perspective, the diagram in FIG. 5 a does not show the MEMS device in full in the respect that, for example, it does not show counter electrodes in the measuring chamber 14 and the reference chamber 24 and connecting circuit elements.", "Both chambers 14 and 24 are also connected so as to allow fluid flow therebetween and hence contain the same measuring fluid during operation of the MEMS device.", "Contact can be made to an actuator 11 in the measuring chamber 14 via a terminal 15 and track elements 16 and 17 .", "The actuator 11 has two leaf springs 11 a and 11 b , which are connected by two elastic elements in the form of elastic U-pieces 12 a and 12 b .", "This arrangement forms together with a counter electrode (not shown here) and the measuring fluid a deformation-dependent capacitance.", "The actuator 11 is fixed at the two longitudinal ends thereof to an edge of the measuring chamber 14 .", "The reference chamber 24 contains a reference capacitance, which is structurally substantially identical to the capacitance in the measuring chamber 14 .", "Contact can be made to a reference-actuator structure 21 in the reference chamber 14 via a terminal 25 and track elements 26 and 27 .", "The reference-actuator structure likewise has two leaf springs 21 a and 21 b , which have the same shape and the same geometrical dimensions as the leaf springs 11 a and 11 b .", "The actuator 21 is also likewise fixed at the two longitudinal ends thereof to an edge of the reference chamber 24 .", "In addition, the counter electrode in the reference chamber 24 is structurally identical to the counter electrode of the measuring chamber 14 , although this is not apparent in the plan view of FIG. 5 a .", "Unlike the situation for the actuator 11 in the measuring chamber 14 , however, the U-pieces 22 a and 22 b are fixed by a rigid connecting link 21 c .", "The reference actuator 21 therefore does not contain an elastic element.", "The reference actuator 21 is thereby substantially stiffer than the actuator 11 .", "On applying an identical drive voltage to both actuators, the actuator 21 is deformed far less than the actuator 11 , with the deformation equalling at most approximately 1% of the deformation of the actuator 11 .", "FIG. 6 shows as an exemplary embodiment a circuit diagram of the ring oscillators connected to the two measuring chambers described above.", "A CMOS ring oscillator 41 oscillating at approximately 3 GHz is used as the oscillator in this embodiment, as shown in the upper part of FIG. 6 .", "The actuator is connected to a node between the output of one inverter stage of the ring oscillator and the input of the following stage of the ring oscillator.", "The impedance Zm of the two-terminal device in the measuring chamber affects the charge-transfer process of the base capacitance between two stages of the ring oscillator.", "An identically designed ring oscillator 42 shown in the bottom part of FIG. 6 is connected to the reference actuator structure 21 of FIG. 5 a .", "A variable trimmer capacitor Cm, for example in the form of a MOS varactor, can be used to set the frequency of this reference ring oscillator so that it matches the frequency of the upper oscillator at the desired maximum deflection of the actuator.", "The initial frequency difference set in this way can be used to ensure that at the limit of travel of the actuator movement there is still no mechanical contact between counter electrode and actuator at the instant in time when the RF voltage source 116 switches off (instant when the frequencies are equal).", "In a further embodiment of the invention, as shown in FIG. 5 b , the actuator has a further electrical terminal from which an output signal 19 can be detected.", "The corresponding simplified electrical equivalent circuit can be represented as a two-port network, as illustrated in FIG. 5 c .", "The resistors Rc 1 and Rc 2 here correspond to the intrinsic resistances of the actuator made of TiN.", "A deflection-dependent phase shift can be ascertained between the RF voltage at the terminals 15 and the RF voltage detected at the terminal 19 according to FIG. 6 c or between the input E and the output A of the equivalent circuit in FIG. 5 c .", "This two-port network is inserted between two inverter stages of the ring oscillator, as shown in FIG. 7 .", "The frequency fm of the measurement oscillator 41 , which contains the two-terminal device Zm as a frequency-determining component, can be measured at the ring oscillator 41 in the present exemplary embodiment.", "The same applies to the frequency fr of the reference oscillator 42 .", "For this purpose, in this embodiment the measuring device 120 is connected to outputs provided for this reason of the two ring oscillators, and compares fm and fr during the measurement.", "FIG. 8 shows a possible implementation in circuitry of the frequency comparison in the measuring device 120 .", "A phase-frequency detector PFD, the output of which is connected to a differential amplifier, provides when the frequencies are equal the signal for switching off the internal voltage supply.", "The thereby reduced power consumption is recorded by a monitoring circuit (not shown).", "This monitoring circuit is connected to a timer circuit, which records the time Δt between switching on (which is periodic in a preferred embodiment) the external power supply of the sensor chip and switching off the chip-internal power supply.", "A transceiver (not shown) can be used to communicate wirelessly the measurement values to an external analysis and display unit (not shown).", "In another circuit variant using the actuator shown in FIG. 5 b as a two-port network ( FIG. 5 c ) in conjunction with a similarly designed reference structure without elastic element (lower part of FIG. 5 b ) it is also advantageously possible to use a phase detector (PD) instead of a PFD to monitor the U-piece movement.", "In this case, only one RF voltage source is required, which is connected both to the actuator and to the reference structure ( FIG. 9 ).", "Here, during the actuator movement initiated by the RF voltage, the changed impedance of the two-port network does not alter the frequency of the RF voltage source but the phase of the voltage lying at the output 19 of the actuator structure (output A of the actuator two-port network.", "FIG. 5 c ).", "This phase is compared with the corresponding phase at the output of the reference structure that is not elastically flexible.", "Since in this measurement arrangement, the actuator is not part of a resonant circuit, the frequency of which is modified by the actuator impedance, the RF-generating oscillator can be decoupled from the output of the RF voltage source e.g. by a high-gain amplifier.", "LIST OF REFERENCES 10 chip 11 actuator 11 a , 11 b leaf springs 12 a , 12 b elastic U-piece 14 measuring chamber 15 terminal 16 , 17 track elements 19 two-port network output 21 reference actuator 21 a , 21 b leaf springs 21 c connecting link 22 a , 22 b U-pieces 24 reference chamber 25 terminal 26 , 27 track elements 31 a - d leaf springs, actuator two-port network structure, reference two-port network structure 31 e connecting link, two-port network structure 32 a , 32 b elastic elements (elastic U-piece), two-port network structure 36 track element, two-port network structure 41 RF voltage source/ring oscillator 42 reference voltage source/second ring oscillator 101 silicon substrate 102 series resistor 103 nitride layer 104 ground electrode 105 cantilever 106 counter electrode 110 capacitance measuring instrument 111 semipermeable membrane 112 measuring fluid 114 counter electrode 115 actuator 116 RF voltage source 117 connecting leads 118 measuring chamber 120 measuring device" ]

[ "RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/920,717 entitled “Composition for Cleaning Beverage Containers”", "filed Dec. 24, 2013, the aforementioned priority application being hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.", "TECHNICAL FIELD [0002] The invention relates to cleaning compositions and more particularly, the invention relates to a composition for cleaning beverage containers.", "BACKGROUND ART [0003] Nutritional or protein shakes are often prepared in a beverage container such as a shaker.", "In this process a protein powder is typically placed in the shaker with a liquid, typically water or milk.", "Then, the container is shook until the protein powder is incorporated into the liquid.", "The preparation of nutritional shakes in shakers may result after use in a foul smelling shaker especially since in heat protein tends to rot.", "[0004] Unfortunately, there is no efficient way to clean protein shakers after use to remove their odor.", "Accordingly, there exists a need for a simple quick and easy method of removing the odor from a protein shaker bottle when it becomes smelly and starts to stink.", "The present invention solves this problem and more in a unique and novel fashion.", "SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0005] A composition for cleaning a beverage container is disclosed.", "The composition first comprises mixing predetermined amounts of D-Limonene with a surfactant wherein this mixture is then added to an amount of water and dissolved.", "The resulting dissolved mixture of these three ingredients is used to clean an empty rinsed out beverage container for removing odor from the beverage container for reuse.", "[0006] In accordance with these and other objects, which will become apparent hereinafter, the instant invention will now be described with particular reference to the accompanying drawings.", "DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0007] In the accompanying drawings: [0008] FIG. 1 is a flowchart illustrating one method for using a composition in accordance with the present invention for cleaning a beverage container.", "DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS [0009] Embodiments of the invention are discussed below with reference to FIG. 1 .", "However, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the detailed description given herein with respect to this FIGURE is for explanatory purposes as the invention extends beyond this limited embodiment.", "For example, it should be appreciated that those skilled in the art will, in light of the teachings of the present invention, recognize a multiplicity of alternate and suitable approaches, depending upon the needs of the particular application, to implement the functionality of any given detail described herein, beyond the particular implementation choices in the following embodiment described and shown.", "That is, there are numerous modifications and variations of the invention that are too numerous to be listed but that all fit within the scope of the invention.", "[0010] It is to be further understood that the present invention is not limited to the particular methodology, compounds, materials, manufacturing techniques, uses, and applications, described herein, as these may vary.", "It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is used for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only, and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.", "It must be noted that as used herein and in the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the”", "include the plural reference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.", "Thus, for example, a reference to “an element”", "is a reference to one or more elements and includes equivalents thereof known to those skilled in the art.", "Similarly, for another example, a reference to “a step”", "or “a means”", "is a reference to one or more steps or means and may include sub-steps and subservient means.", "All conjunctions used are to be understood in the most inclusive sense possible.", "Thus, the word “or”", "should be understood as having the definition of a logical “or”", "rather than that of a logical “exclusive or”", "unless the context clearly necessitates otherwise.", "Structures described herein are to be understood also to refer to functional equivalents of such structures.", "Language that may be construed to express approximation should be so understood unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.", "[0011] Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meanings as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs.", "Preferred methods, techniques, devices, and materials are described, although any methods, techniques, devices, or materials similar or equivalent to those described herein may be used in the practice or testing of the present invention.", "Structures described herein are to be understood also to refer to functional equivalents of such structures.", "The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to embodiments thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.", "[0012] A practical embodiment of the present invention provides a solution that removes odor from beverage containers such as protein shakers.", "Shakers that are used to make protein shakes often become dirty and foul smelling.", "Many practical embodiments provide a powder that is added to water in a shaker to remove this odor.", "Some alternate embodiments may be implemented to clean other types of shakers which by way of example but not of limitation may be powdered drink mix shakers, cocktail shakers and shakers for various different types of nutritional shakes, etc.", "[0013] Referring now to FIG. 1 there is shown a flowchart illustrating one method for using the composition in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.", "In this embodiment, the method starts 10 after a user uses a shaker or beverage container to make a protein shake or another type of shake.", "First, the user rinses the shaker or beverage container 12 .", "Next, the user adds the cleaning composition to the shaker or beverage in step 14 .", "In step 16 , the user adds water to the shaker or beverage container.", "Alternatively, the user may reverse the order of steps 14 and 16 by adding water to the shaker then adding the cleansing composition to the shaker or beverage container.", "In step 18 and 20 , the user secures the lid to the shaker or beverage container and shakes.", "The user empties the shaker or beverage container in step 22 and rinses the shaker or beverage container and allows it to dry.", "In the present embodiment, if the shaker or beverage container still has an odor in step 24 , the user may return to step 14 to repeat the method.", "The method ends 26 when the odor is removed from the shaker or beverage container.", "[0014] In accordance with the present invention, the cleaning composition is a mixture of D-Limonene with a surfactant.", "In one preferred embodiment the surfactant is polysorbate 20 wherein D-Limonene is mixed with polysorbate 20 and added to water with the following combination: 1 fl oz D-Limonene, 1 fl oz polysorbate 20 and 6 fl oz water that produces eight ounces of the cleaning composition.", "Those skilled in the art will appreciate that other quantities of the composition may be prepared as long as substantially the same proportions of D-Limonene, polysorbate 20, and water are used.", "Additionally, using the method described above the shaker or cleaning beverage is filled halfway with water wherein a teaspoon of this cleaning composition is then added.", "As described in the method above the shaker or container is then shook 15 seconds or longer and then emptied, rinsed out and allowed to dry.", "[0015] In one preferred embodiment the surfactant is Cocamidopropyl Betaine wherein D-Limonene is mixed with Cocamidopropyl Betaine and added to water with the following combination in percentages: 12 percent in fl oz of D-Limonene, 5 percent in fl oz of Cocamidopropyl Betaine and 83 percent in fl oz of water that will totally produce eight ounces of the cleaning composition.", "Those skilled in the art will appreciate that other quantities of the composition may be prepared as long as substantially the same percentage proportions of D-Limonene, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, and water are used.", "Additionally, using the method described above the shaker or cleaning beverage is filled halfway with water wherein a teaspoon of this cleaning composition is then added.", "As described in the method above the shaker or container is then shook 15 seconds or longer and then emptied, rinsed out and allowed to dry.", "[0016] In another preferred embodiment the mixture of D-Limonene and the surfactant, which by way of example and not of limitation may be either polysorbate 20 or Cocamidopropyl Betaine may be implemented as a powder placed in a packet.", "Dispensing a powder from packets is simple, fast and easy to use and generally leaves no watery soap aftertaste.", "Packets are also desirable if the user would like to use the powder outside of their home, for example, at the gym immediately after a workout or at work.", "Shakers that are cleaned by a powder are typically germ free, odor free and sanitary.", "Thoroughly cleaning a shaker typically enables the shaker to be used repeatedly and for an extended time so that a user generally does not waste shakers by discarding shakers that have a foul smell.", "[0017] In some alternate embodiments, the composition may be implemented as a pre-mixed solution rather than a powder.", "Those skilled in the art will readily recognize, in light of and in accordance with the teachings of the present invention, that odor removing compositions in some alternate embodiments may be implemented in a multiplicity of suitable forms such as, but not limited to, packets, dissolving capsules, sprays, etc.", "Furthermore, it is contemplated that odor removing compositions in accordance with some alternate embodiments may be used to clean various different types of devices and containers including, blenders, glasses, reusable bottles, etc.", "and that the process of removing the odor from these items may vary from the method described above.", "[0018] Having fully described at least one embodiment of the present invention, other equivalent or alternative methods of providing a composition for odor removal according to the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art.", "The invention has been described above by way of illustration, and the specific embodiments disclosed are not intended to limit the invention to the particular forms disclosed.", "The invention is thus to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the following claims." ]

[ "FIELD OF INVENTION This invention relates to a system and method for numerically controlled cutting of pieces from sheet material, and more specifically for accurately cutting pieces from a closely packed marker.", "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION—DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART Numerically controlled cutting machines are widely used in various industries for cutting various limp sheet materials such as woven and non-woven fabrics, vinyl and other plastics, paper, cardboard, leather, etc.", ", as well as solid materials like sheet metal, lumber, glass, etc.", "The cutting tool cuts either a single sheet of material or a stack of multiple sheets (multi-ply layups) under the control of a microprocessor, which is called a numerical controller.", "An example of such a system for cutting limp sheet material, as disclosed in the U.S. Pat. No. 4,327,615 to Heinz Gerber et al is discussed in the preferred embodiment section of the current invention (see FIG. 1 ).", "The numerical controller converts data, written in a specific format, into signals that moves the cutting tool with the given speed along the given tool path, defined by the X, Y and Z coordinates of some reference point of the cutting tool.", "The numeric control (NC) data define the so-called nesting or layout of pattern pieces, that is the shape and location of the pattern pieces in a marker, the marker being a set of pattern pieces, or templates.", "In order to save material, pieces in the marker are routinely positioned closely to each other;", "frequently touching or even slightly overlapping each other, as shown in FIG. 2 .", "Referring now to FIG. 2, a number of templates 7 are nested together to form a marker 8 , which represents the pieces to be cut out of the sheet material.", "It is well known in the art that closely nested pieces are much more difficult to cut compared with loosely packed pieces.", "Situations that create problems when cutting are called “critical”", "situations;", "regions within the marker that give rise to critical situations are called “critical”, or “sensible”", "regions;", "and portions of the tool path (straight line segments and/or points) that are difficult to cut properly are called “critical”", "or “sensitive”", "lines, or portions, or segments, or points.", "It is well known in the art that cutting problems are most profound near the points of tangency or close approach (FIGS.", "3A-3C) and near common lines (FIGS.", "4 A- 4 D).", "The major difference between these two “critical”", "situations is the magnitude of the angle between the “critical”", "lines and the length of the portion of a “critical”", "line that is so close to another “critical”", "line that cutting this portion of the first line after the previous line has been cut presents a problem (FIG.", "5 ).", "To be classified as common lines, the angle between “critical lines”", "should generally be small, no more than several degrees, while according the U.S. Pat. No. 4,327,615 the angle between tangent lines can be as great as 30 degrees.", "The “critical”", "portion of each common line must be, as a rule, much longer, typically several inches or more, while for two tangent lines lengths in the order of tenths of an inch might be enough.", "It should be mentioned that the common lines geometry could vary from “external”", "common lines between neighboring pieces, as shown in FIG. 4A to “internal”", "common lines between overlapping pieces, as shown in FIG. 4 B. Referring to FIG. 4A, two templates, 41 and 43 , have two sides, 42 and 44 , which are in proximity to each other, but do not actually touch.", "If these sides are within a few tenths of an inch from each other, they may be treated in the same way as if they were common sides.", "Referring to FIG. 4 b , two templates, 51 and 53 , contain sides 52 and 54 , which overlap.", "Side 52 may be considered internal to template 51 , but if the overlap is within the order of a tenth of an inch, this situation may be treated as if the two sides were common.", "There may exist similar varieties in between these conditions, as shown in FIG. 4C, in which template 61 has side 62 which is actually common with side 63 of template 64 for most of its length.", "Referring now to FIG. 4D, template 71 contains side 72 which is common with side 74 of template 73 , except that in this case the length of commonality is only about one half the length of the longer side 74 .", "The tangency geometry could vary as well: it can be an “unidirectional”", "(“one-sided”) “tangent”", "point (FIG.", "3 A), or a “bi-directional”", "(“two-sided”) “tangent”", "point (FIG.", "3 B), both considered in U.S. Pat. No. 3,864,997 to Pearl and Robison, or a point of close approach (not a classical tangent point at all, but in spite of that usually called a “tangent”", "point anyway), discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,327,615 to Gerber (FIG.", "3 C).", "In further discussion we usually use the terms “common line”", "and “tangency”", "to describe all those varieties, though sometimes, when confusion is possible, we call them “generic common line”", "and “generic tangent point”", "(“generic”", "meaning any variety).", "Cutting “critical”", "lines may result in reduced cut quality and/or even in damaging the cutter.", "For example, when cutting a limp sheet material a cutting blade severs the limp material as it advances along the cutting path but does not remove the material.", "As a result, the material is pushed aside by the advancing blade and generally flows around the cutting blade in pressing engagement.", "This pressure, combined with the ability of the layers of limp material to move against each other, forces the blade to deviate from the programmed line of cut toward the direction of “less resistance.”", "According to Heinz Gerber (U.S. Pat. No. 4,327,615), “when a cutting blade passes in close proximity to an adjacent pattern piece that was cut at an earlier stage in the operation, the kerf created by the previous cut interrupts the continuity of the limp sheet material and allows the material at one side of the knife blade to yield more easily to the blade than at the opposite side. As a result, the blade experiences unbalanced lateral loading.”", "Apparently, the closer the cutting path approaches the previous cut, the greater the unbalanced loading and the blade bending will be.", "The blade may eventually break up or jump completely into the kerf of the previous cut.", "Inaccuracies or damage to the machine are the ultimate consequences.", "It is believed that the above-described condition arises for tangent points (including points of close approach) as well as for common lines.", "That is why it is difficult to cut all of them properly.", "Cutting one of common lines after the other common line has been cut can also result in frying of the material along the cut, thus resulting in a more severe cutting problem than in the tangency situation, especially when the two common lines are strictly coincident.", "Similar problems, though for different reasons, arise when cutting solid materials.", "For example, cutting a sheet metal may produce extra internal tension, create extra defects, change the planar form of the sheet, and/or modify its elastic properties, etc.", ", depending on the given type of the metal and the chosen cutting tool.", "All these changes may (and usually do) propagate within some region around the cut.", "Therefore cutting the metal within this area second time may (and does) result in various cutting problems, specific for each material type/cutting tool combination.", "Several approaches have been suggested to overcome the difficulties associated with tangencies and/or points of close approach (FIG.", "3) between closely packed pieces.", "In U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,855,887 and 3,864,997 Gerber reveals that in such a “critical”", "cutting area a reciprocal knife blade may be slowed down with reduced feed rate signals and/or rotated out of tangent position with yaw signals, the signals being introduced manually by the cutter operator.", "In U.S. Pat. No. 4,327,615 Gerber proposes to add slow down and/or yaw command(s) to the NC data with the so-called preprocessing means that is with the help of a computer before feeding the data into the cutter.", "In addition, the above-mentioned patent suggests adding translation commands to NC data that guide the cutting blade along a path offset slightly from (away) the path at a pattern piece periphery, thus increasing the buffer between pieces within the “critical”", "region by changing the “critical”", "portion of the tool path.", "This approach works well for “critical”", "regions created by points of tangency or close approach, although changing the direction of the cut, as explained in the U.S. Pat. No. 3,864,997, produces better results when it is applicable.", "The current invention resolves a problem which none of the three approaches by Gerber (slowdown, yaw signal or buffer increasing translation) solves, in regard to the cutting of common lines.", "Slowing the blade down results in diminished throughput, and while slowing down the knife along a short path near the tangent point is acceptable, systematic slowing down along all common line paths is not desirable.", "Besides, slowing down the knife moderately along the long common line is usually just not enough to avoid complications caused by the accumulation of the unbalanced lateral loading effect during a long path.", "The application of the yaw signal for a long enough period of time is usually insufficient.", "Increasing buffers between pieces by decreasing the piece area (buffer increasing translation) may be acceptable for point-like critical situation, where the spatial dimensions of a critical region are small compared with the piece dimensions.", "However, substantial reduction of the piece area by changing the piece border along the common line when the typical dimensions of the critical region are the same as the dimensions of the piece itself is usually unacceptable (otherwise the piece would have the smaller area from the very beginning).", "The inventions revealed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,495,492, U.S. Pat. No. 3,855,887, U.S. Pat. No. 3,864,997, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,327,615, all to Gerber et al.", ", deal with the cutting of pieces that are positioned outside of each other.", "The boundaries of those pieces can closely approach each other in a critical region of a relatively small size, or even touch each other in a tangent point, but they never overlap each other, the overlapping problem being outside the scope of those inventions.", "The tool path problems in all those cases are essentially solved by either changing the operation mode of the blade (slowdown, blade spatial orientation, cut direction, etc.), or by changing direction of the cut, or by increasing the buffers by reshaping pieces.", "There is another vast area of prior art that is concerned with the cutting of overlapped pieces but does not deal with other tool path problems like cutting a line in a close proximity of a previously cut line.", "As mentioned by Loriot in U.S. Pat. No. 4,819,529, “in some particular applications it may be acceptable, or indeed desirable, to allow pieces to overlap during placing so long as the overlaps do not significantly spoil the quality of the finished product. For example, this may save raw material. Also, pieces overlaps may be the result of inaccurate placing or of an error in the system for inputting the positions of the pieces when such a system is used in the cutting process.”", "The U.S. Pat. No. 5,703,781 presents a case where overlapping results from inaccurate placement of the pieces during the first phase of the nesting process and is corrected in the second phase of the said nesting procedure.", "In the U.S. Pat. No. 5,703,781 Charles Martell et al.", "reveal an automatic marker making system and method in which the creation of a new marker is facilitated through the use of already existing marker designs.", "A computer database of existing markers is searched for markers that are “similar”", "to the marker being created.", "Initially, position and orientation data from pattern pieces in the “similar”", "marker are used to position and orient corresponding pieces in the new marker.", "The new marker is then “compacted”", "using a software routine to nest all of the new pieces.", "The compacting routine corrects the overlaps between pieces by moving pieces in the marker without changing the shapes (boundaries, etc.) of the pieces.", "New positions of pieces are determined by solving a non-linear combinatorial optimization problem with restrictions.", "The U.S. Pat. No. 3,596,068 to Doyle reveals a system for optimizing material utilization, where he is using data processing means “to simulate a non-interfering translation of the piece in tangential contact with the marker boundary.”", "Similar to U.S. Pat. No. 5,703,781, he uses translations in order to avoid overlapping, thus reducing the overlapping problem to the problem of nesting.", "It is evident that prior art discussed previously strives to remove overlap between pieces by moving pieces, thus reducing the overlap problem to the so-called nesting problem (described, for example, in the U.S. Pat. No. 5,703,781 to Martell et al.", "and references therein).", "At the current level of computer technology, any known computer-software solution to the nesting problem, in particular, a solution by Milenkovic et al.", ", cited in the U.S. Pat. No. 5,703,781 appears to produce inferior results compared to the results manually obtained by experienced human operators.", "Moreover, even if translation successfully corrects overlaps between pieces, it rarely space between pieces and creates “tangencies”, “common lines”", "and all other critical conditions that Gerber et al.", "were trying to solve in their patents.", "On the other hand, if translation does create buffers, it wastes the material, which is extremely undesirable, since the cost of the material is the major part of the overall cost of the production.", "All prior art discussed so far is devoted to cutting multi-ply layups of sheet material with an automatic and numerically controlled cutter.", "The problem of nesting of overlapping pieces is important in many other cutting processes utilizing various cutting machines, including manual cutting of one sheet of a material with a knife by a human worker.", "It is especially true for cutting hides and leather with natural defects, where overlaps may be acceptable, or indeed desirable, in order to save precious raw material.", "For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,819,529, Loriot reveals a method, and in particular an automatic method, of cutting parts out from sheet or plate material.", "The method comprises cutting out parts from sheet or plate material along outlines defined by piece templates;", "it includes an improvement in which any overlaps between templates are detected and the lines of cut where the templates overlap are modified either by cutting along a straight line interconnecting the points of intersection between the outlines of the overlapping templates, or by cutting along an average line equidistant from the outlines of the templates between the points of intersection of the outlines of the overlapping templates, or else by cutting along the outline of one or other of the overlapping templates, with the type of cut being selected for each overlap zone as a function of the types of the overlapping templates and of the portions of template outlines concerned, the said selections being suitable for storage in a list of possible types of cut, which list may be consulted immediately after detecting and identifying a given overlap.", "These overlap operations may be performed by a computer.", "U.S. Pat. No. 4,819,529, similar to the previously discussed U.S. Pat. No. 5,703,781 to Charles Martell et al.", ", does not deal with situations like tangencies or (at least, external or strictly coincident) common lines, probably because those cases are not crucial for manual cutting of one layer of a material.", "Besides, Loriot's solution results in an undesirable cutting path as soon as overlapping geometry becomes even moderately complex, for example when a line intersects a saw-like boundary.", "Moreover, Loriot does not even consider the cut sequence in which a new equidistant line must be cut with respect to other lines of the intersecting pieces, thus avoiding the dry haul (moving the blade in the air without actual cutting) and similar optimization problems at all, probably, once more, because the cutting protocol is not important for manual cutting.", "In U.S. Pat. No. 3,864,997, Pearl and Robison reveal a system and method for cutting multiple pattern pieces from a layup of sheet material in which contour segments of individual pieces are cut in different directions (clockwise and counterclockwise).", "The point on any given pattern piece toward which a cutting blade is advanced from different directions is generally the point of closest approach to an adjacent or contiguous pattern piece in the marker.", "The program generated by the above-identified system also permits certain contour segments to be cut before others.", "As a result, it allows the tool to approach “sensitive”", "points, such as a point of tangency or a point closest to the contour of an adjacent piece, from two directions and to alleviate difficulties by making certain cuts before others.", "The feed rate and tangency of the cutting blade are also regulated at sensitive cutting points such as the points of closest approach to an adjacent pattern piece.", "When revealing the preferred embodiment of their invention, Pearl and Robison also consider a special cutting situation of strictly coincident common lines, which is illustrated in FIG. 4D where pattern pieces D and E are contiguous between points 78 and 79 .", "In order to save time during the cutting operation and to avoid fraying of the fabric material along the previously cut segment, they discuss two possible solutions: either the “first-takes-all”", "approach, when the common line segment is omitted entirely from the piece that is cut second;", "or the “nobody-wins”", "approach, when the combined profile of pattern pieces D and E is cut in its entirety and then the common contours of the pattern pieces are cut with a single pass.", "Unfortunately for the industry, these simple and well-known approaches (see, for example, a similar technique mentioned in the U.S. Pat. No. 4,819,529 to Loriot in connection with overlapping) cannot be easily extended to more complex and realistic situations, for example, when common line segments do not strictly coincide, or when more than two pieces have common lines.", "It must also be mentioned that in the above-discussed case of a “strict common line between two pieces”, as a rule, the common line must be cut first, in contrary to the version of “nobody wins”", "cutting protocol suggested by Pearl and Robison.", "Nevertheless, despite all of the above improvements in the prior art, there still remain a number of situations in which the commonly used technique requires manual intervention in the numerical control program.", "These problem situations typically involve adjacent templates within the marker in which there are points of tangency, and in which there are common lines between adjacent markers.", "It is necessary to first detect such circumstances and then to “fix”", "the detected tool path problems.", "This detection is generally done in the prior art by a visual inspection of the marker by skilled operators.", "The operator will then identify portions of the NC program where these problem situations occur, and try to solve the detected tool path problem by manually (interactively) changing the knife path, or manually (interactively) changing the speed of the knife.", "It is, accordingly, a major objective of the present invention to provide a system and method to automatically identify and classify critical cutting conditions called generic tangencies (including points of closest approach) and/or generic common lines (internal and/or external, strictly or approximately coincident), and to then automatically guide a cutting blade past such critical cutting conditions without damaging the cutter or substantially sacrificing quality or throughput by automatic preprocessing of data defining a marker.", "In accordance with the present invention, whenever a marker consists of pieces that have one or more generic tangencies or generic common lines, the marker is pre-processed as follows: (1) tangencies and common lines are detected and classified;", "(2) tangencies are resolved using well known algorithms of prior art;", "(3) common line segments are eliminated using algorithms of the current invention: pieces with common line segments are reshaped so that the largest possible portions of the tool path become strictly coincident while buffer between pieces is eliminated;", "after that coincident portions of the tool path created at the previous step are replaced by a newly created portion of the tool path, so that each common line path is cut once instead of twice;", "(4) the new tool path is generated so that the best possible quality and highest possible throughput are achieved.", "Note that the highest quality requirement usually means that the newly created common line portions of the tool path are cut continuously, as a whole, without lifting and then reinserting the cutting tool, and before all other portions of the tool path.", "The ability to automatically resolve generic tangency and common line critical situations results in following advantages: (a) higher operator productivity because manual solution of these critical problems is very time consuming;", "(b) better accuracy of the cut, by removing tool path deviation along the path of “less resistance”;", "(c ) better quality of the produced pieces because of better accuracy and absence of frying and other damage to the material;", "and (d) reducing the material waste, since pieces in a marker are intentionally packed more closely than in the prior art practice, with intentionally created critical problems to be resolved by post-processing of the NC data.", "SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is a general object of the current invention to provide an automatic method of cutting sheet material from a closely-packed marker containing tangency points and common lines.", "It is a specific object of the invention to provide such a method that minimizes cutting time.", "In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a method of cutting parts out from sheet by means of a numerically-controlled cutting system having a cutting tool which cuts along a path, includes placing a plurality of templates, each having a plurality of segments, having the shapes and sizes of the parts upon the sheet into a closely-packed marker, minimizing the spaces between the templates, then inputting the marker into a pre-processor.", "Within the processor are the steps of detecting tangencies and common lines between templates, and then changing the tool path and speed to solve the detected tangency and common line problems.", "In accordance with a second aspect of the invention, the common line detection further includes the steps of detecting all proximate pair of segments, and then, for each proximate pair of segments, checking if said pair has an angle between segments smaller than a threshold angle, β cr , and if so, then clipping each segment of the pair by the belt rectangle of the other segment and calculating the clipped length.", "Finally, if the clipped length is greater than a maximum allowable “threshold”", "distance, D cr , then the segments are marked as common line segments.", "According to a third aspect of the invention, the segments are marked as tangent segments: (1) if the angle between segments is less than the maximum allowable angle, α cr , (which may and usually is different from the maximum allowable angle, β cr , used in the common line detection algorithm);", "(2) if the segments are not common line segments;", "and (3) if the clipped length is greater than the maximum allowable “threshold”", "distance L cr (which may and usually is different from the maximum allowable “threshold”", "distance, D cr , used for detection of common lines).", "According to a fourth aspect of the invention, the path and speed of said cutting tool are determined by a numerical control program.", "According to fifth aspect of the invention, the changing of the tool path is done by a cutting operator, by printing the marker out to a drawing or by viewing and measuring the marker on the screen, then cutting pieces manually.", "According to a sixth aspect of the invention, each common line is cut in one pass.", "According to a seventh aspect of the invention, each common line may be cut manually in one pass.", "According to a eighth aspect of the invention, each common line may be cut as one tool path segment, that is the cutting tool cuts the common line continuously without any dry haul and without lifting and reinserting the cutting tool.", "According to a ninth aspect of the invention, at least one of common lines can be approximated by a straight line.", "According to a tenth aspect of the invention, at least one of common lines can be approximated by a curved line.", "According to an eleventh aspect of the invention, each curved common line is approximated by a sequence of a straight line segments.", "According to a twelfth aspect of the invention, the creation of the closely-packed marker is done by a marker generation software.", "According to a thirteenth aspect of the invention, the creation of the closely-packed marker is done by video scanning of a physical model of templates arranged within the area of a sheet of material.", "According to a fourteenth aspect of the invention, all the templates are sorted into one or more subsets such that templates in each subset contain common segments with the templates of that subset only, and then each subset is sorted into sub-subsets of common lines segments such that each common line segment belongs to one sub-subset only.", "Then, for each sub-subset, a common line is created that approximates all the common line segments therein.", "Finally, the optimal tool path is calculated for each template containing a common line.", "According to a fifteenth aspect of the invention, an optimum tool path is selected that minimizes intra-piece dry haul time.", "According to a sixteenth aspect of the invention, an optimum tool path is selected which maximizes intra-piece quality by imposing additional constraints, like cutting common lines before the perimeter of the piece.", "According to a final aspect of the invention, each common line is generated by a number of different methods, including straight line approximation, polynomial interpolation, least squares fitting, B-Spline interpolation, cubic spline interpolation, and a user-selected non-linear curve.", "DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS These, and further features of the invention, may be better understood with reference to the accompanying specification and drawings depicting the preferred embodiment, in which: FIG. 1 depicts a block diagram showing the components of the cutting system in the preferred embodiment of the current invention.", "FIG. 2 depicts a marker of pattern pieces showing typical positional relationships of various pieces, represented by templates, as they are cut from sheet material.", "FIG. 3 a depicts a pair of pieces with one-sided tangent points.", "FIG. 3 b depicts a pair of pieces with a tangent point.", "FIG. 3 c depicts a pair of pieces with a two-sided tangent point of close approach.", "FIG. 4 a depicts a pair of pieces with a “generic”", "common line segments.", "FIG. 4 b depicts a pair of pieces with an intersecting common line segments between several pieces.", "FIG. 4 c depicts a pair of pieces with a nearly coincident common line segments between the pieces.", "FIG. 4 d depicts a pair of pieces with a strictly coincident common line segments between the pieces.", "FIG. 5 depicts a belt rectangle at the intersection of two templates, showing how the angle between critical lines and the length of the lines within the critical region are defined in the preferred embodiment of the current invention FIG. 6 depicts a block-diagram of the “generic tangency detection”", "algorithm.", "FIG. 7 a depicts a block-diagram of the “common line resolution”", "algorithm.", "FIG. 7 b depicts a block-diagram of the optimization step of the common line resolution algorithm.", "FIG. 7 c depicts a block-diagram of the “common line generation”", "step of the common line resolution algorithm that replaces “common line subset”", "of segments with a common line.", "FIG. 7 d depicts a block-diagram of the “common line piece generation”", "step of the common line resolution algorithm that replaces “common line subset”", "of pieces with a single (“common line”) piece.", "FIG. 8 a depicts standard packing of pieces in a raw marker with large buffer space between pieces.", "FIG. 8 b depicts packing of pieces in a raw marker without buffer space between pieces;", "FIG. 8 c depicts sample results of the common line processing, revealing a marker, presented in FIG. 8 b after the common line problem has been resolved.", "FIG. 9 a depicts three templates having two common lines among them.", "FIG. 9 b depicts one of the common lines of FIG. 9 a , showing the three segments that make up the common line.", "FIG. 9 c depicts the other of the common lines of FIG. 9 a , showing the two segments that make up the common line.", "FIG. 9 d depicts a straight line approximation of the common line of FIG. 9 c. FIG. 10 depicts a belt rectangle, showing its various components.", "DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In the preferred embodiment of the present invention presented at FIG. 1, a numerically controlled cutting machine 1 is used to cut a multi-ply layup of sheet material including woven and non-woven fabrics, paper, cardboard, leather, rubber and synthetic materials, among others.", "The machine 1 is numerically controlled, and for that purpose is connected to a numerical controller 2 —a microprocessor that may physically reside within the cutting machine or within a separate computer externally connected to the cutter.", "The numerical controller communicates with the numeric control (NC) data pre-processor—another computer 3 .", "The cutting machine, the numerical controller, the NC data pre-processing computer and their interaction are fully disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,855,887 and 3,864,997 to Gerber at el.", "and therefore will not be repeated here.", "In the preferred embodiment of this invention the NC data pre-processor receives raw NC data from yet another computer 4 , which stores the data 5 generated beforehand by a CAD program in CAD processor 6 and transfers the processed NC data to the numerical controller 3 .", "The CAD processor generates a computer representation of the marker, shown in FIG. 2, and stores this information in the NC database 3 .", "The automatic pre-processing of raw NC data in the current invention consists of two phases: (1) detection and classification of possible problems in the location of the templates within the marker which require changes in the tool paths and/or cutting speeds;", "and (2) solution of the detected problems by changing the NC data that controls tool paths and cutting speeds as required.", "The detection and classification is performed in the current invention within the NC pre-processor 3 .", "The solution is also performed within the NC pre-processor 3 by automatically altering the NC data driving the numerical controller 2 so that the cutting tool cuts along the altered path in the vicinity of such critical cuts and/or is slowed down when critical cuts are to be made.", "The detection algorithm uses the notion of the “belt rectangle”, which is defined as a rectangle with a pair of sides parallel and equal to the given straight line segment and located on opposite sides of the given segment.", "Referring now to FIG. 5, two templates A and B are shown, representing two pieces of materials.", "These templates may be considered to be made up of a number of interconnected straight line segments.", "The left-hand piece, A, contains segments 516 , 526 , 518 , and 524 , while the right-hand piece B contains the segments 512 , 528 , 514 , and 522 .", "The belt rectangle in FIG. 5 contains the sides 510 .", "The height of the rectangle is equal to segment 522 , while the width 520 is a constant chosen by trial and error for this algorithm.", "The line segment 522 is midway between the long sides of the belt rectangle.", "Referring now to FIG. 10 the belt rectangle 103 has a long side 105 , which becomes the path of the cutting tool.", "The width of the belt rectangle has a left semi-width 101 , and a right semi-width 102 which, when added, equal the belt width 104 .", "In the simplest form, the belt rectangle is generated with the left and right semi-widths equal.", "Referring again to FIG. 5, it is seen that segment 524 , belonging to template A, falls within this belt rectangle for the most part, with a small portion of segment 524 outside of the belt rectangle.", "When the smallest angle β_between segment 522 and 524 is small enough (less then some user-defined threshold angle, as discussed below), and at least part of the segment 524 is contained within the belt rectangle, and this part is large enough (more than some user-defined threshold value, as discussed below) then segments 522 and 524 will be considered to be common line segments or tangent segments.", "Under such circumstances, these common line segments must be treated by changing the path of the cutting tool, while tangent segments must be treated by modifying the subsequent cutting of the material, either by slowing down the speed of the cutting tool, or by changing the direction of the cut, or both, or by changing the path of the cutting tool.", "The latter techniques for treating tangencies are all well known in the prior art, and will not be discussed further herein.", "In the case that either of the segments 522 and 524 of the above example are quite small, in the order of tenths of an inch, the geometry is one containing tangent points, rather than common lines.", "Whichever of these critical situations is detected, the use of the belt rectangle allows common lines to be treated the same, whether they are external, internal, or mixtures of each.", "The same is true of tangent points, and points of close approach, in that the detection process treats these various cases of tangencies in the same way.", "The “belt width”", "W characterizes the so-called “critical distance”, that is a lower bound of distances at which two given tool path segments can be cut without problems.", "It should be evident that “belt width”", "value depends on the material and cutting tool at hand.", "A typical value of the “belt width”", "for cutting a multi-ply layup of limp sheet material is about tenths of an inch.", "The ratio, ρ=W left /W, characterizes the relative importance of “critical problems”", "to the left of the given segment, for example, inside or outside the given piece.", "If ρ is zero, then, by convention, critical situations inside the piece can be neglected (problems inside the piece are not important);", "if ρ approaches one, then critical situations outside the piece can be omitted (problems outside the piece are not important).", "For simplicity, in further discussion we assume that this ratio equals one, and the given segment is the median of the “belt rectangle”", "(FIG.", "5 ), so that critical situations both inside and outside the piece are equally important.", "Given the notion of the “belt rectangle”, we can define “generic”", "“tangent segments”", "and “common line segments.”", "A pair of straight line segments makes generic common line segments”", "if the absolute value of the smallest angle, β, between segments is less than some predefined critical value, β cr — and the length, D, of the portion of the given segment inside the “belt rectangle”", "of the other segment is greater that some predefined value, D cr .", "Though evidently problem dependent, typical values of the common line critical parameters, β cr and D cr.", ", are about 1° and 2.5″ correspondingly.", "A pair of straight line segments makes “tangent segments”", "if they are not “common line segments”", "and the absolute value of the smallest angle, α, between segments is less than some predefined critical value, α cr and the length, L, of the portion of the segment inside the belt rectangle of the other segment, is greater that some predefined value, L cr .", "Though evidently marker dependent, typical values of the tangent critical parameters, α cr and L cr .", ", are about 10° and 0.25″ correspondingly.", "For brevity, we will refer to both “tangent line segments”", "and “common line segments”", "as “critical segments.”", "Given the definition of the critical segments, the common line detection algorithm can be described as follows: 1.", "Iterate through pairs of segments that are suspicious for being “common line segments.”", "At each step of iteration check if the given pair makes “common tine segments”: if the absolute value of the smallest angle between segments is smaller than the maximum allowable angle, β cr .", ", then clip each segment of the pair by the “belt rectangle”", "of the other segment and calculate the.", "clipped length;", "if it is greater than the maximum allowable distance, D cr then mark the segments as “common line segments.”", "Clipping algorithms are well known in the art and described in a number of textbooks for undergraduate and graduate students.", "For a description of the Cohen-Sutherland line-clipping algorithm and its implementation in “C”", "see L. Ammeraal, “Programming principles in computer graphics”, John Wiley and Sons, 1992, which is incorporated herein by reference.", "For a description of the parametric line clipping algorithm by Cyrus and Beck and its implementation in “C”", "see “Computer Graphics Principles and practice, Second edition in C. Eds.: James D. Foley, Andries van Dam, Steven K. Feiner, and John F. Hughes. Addison-Wesley, 1996, which is incorporated herein by reference. The tangency detection algorithm works similar to the common line detection, except that it checks for common line conditions before checking for tangency and excludes common lines segments from the set of tangent segments. Detected generic tangent points are classified as one-sided (FIG. 3 A), or two-sided (FIG. 3 B). Referring first to FIG. 3 a , two templates, 11 , 12 are disposed in proximity to each other, with two tangent points 13 , 14 . The points of tangency 14 results from the proximity of line 16 which forms the lower boundary of template 12 , and line 17 which forms the upper-boundary of template 11 . Tangent point 14 is one sided, because the angle between line 15 and line 16 (which is the right-hand boundary of template 11 ) exceeds the critical value, while angle between lines 17 and the line 16 is less than the critical value. Referring to FIG. 3 b , the two templates, 21 , 22 , have a tangent point 23 , which results from the proximity of line 24 of template 21 , and line 25 of template 22 . Unlike the case of FIG. 3 a , the lines of both templates are more-or-less parallel in the vicinity of the tangent point. Referring now to FIG. 3 c , templates 31 , 32 do not actually touch, but come close to touching at point 35 , which is called a “point of close approach.”", "This is a two-sided point of close approach, since lines 33 of template 31 , and line 34 of template 32 , are more-or-less parallel in the vicinity of the point of close approach.", "Practically, the point of close approach is treated in the same way as a point of tangency.", "Detected and classified tangent problems are resolved using algorithms that are fully disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,864,997 to Pearl and Robison and in U.S. Pat. No. 4,327,615 to Heinz Gerber, and therefore need only few comments here.", "In general, the tangency resolution algorithm tries either to change the direction of the cut by moving the cutting tool towards the tangent point instead of away from it.", "Special attention is paid to one-sided tangencies, which sometimes can be resolved just by reversing the cut of a piece as whole, from clockwise to counterclockwise direction, for example, or vice versa, or by swapping the cutting sequence of two “problem”", "pieces.", "If this technique suggested by Pearl and Robison cannot be used (for example, if a two-sided tangent point requires a smooth high quality cut which can be achieved by continuous cutting only, or two pieces has two different one-sided tangent points, so that swapping of the pieces in the cutting sequence does not help), then the mode of the cutting tool operation is changed as proposed by Gerber (see prior art discussion).", "Detected common line segments are classified as either external or internal or mixed (strictly coincident or not) for statistical purposes used in the reports (marker with many internal common lines are considered “bad”", "markers, and may require special attention).", "Detected and classified common line problems are resolved using the “common line resolution”", "algorithm, which can be understood by first referring to FIG. 7 a. (1) First, in accordance with block 110 , if any common line exists, all the templates of the marker are partitioned into subsets such that templates in any given subset contain common segments with the pieces of that subset only.", "Starting with the first subset 120 , the common line problems within this subset are resolved.", "The next subset is fetched 140 , and the process repeated at block 130 , and the process repeated for each subset until a test 150 detects the last subset, at which time the process stops 160 .", "As an example of this partitioning, and referring now to FIG. 9 a , templates T 1 and T 2 share common line 81 , while templates T 2 and T 3 share common line 82 .", "The segments that make up templates T 1 , T 2 , and T 3 , together with the segments making up the common lines 81 and 82 will belong to a single subset, S n .", "(2) Still referring to FIG. 7 a , each subset of pieces defined above is partitioned 210 into sub-subsets of common lines segments such that each common line segment belongs to one sub-subset only.", "As an example of this subset partitioning, refer now to FIG. 9 b , which depicts a close-up view of the common lines 81 , showing that it is made up of segments 83 , 84 , and 85 , which form a sub-subset SS n1 of the Set S n .", "FIG. 9 c depicts a close-up view of common line 82 , which is made up of segments 86 and 87 , which make up sub-set SS n2 of the Set S n .", "Next, the desirable mode of the common line approximation is selected 300 , as shown in FIG. 7 c , where the common line approximation mode being defined as a combination of the approximation type and order: 3.1.", "Select an approximation order, with first order corresponding to a straight-line approximation.", "As an example, and referring to FIG. 9 d , the first order approximation of the common line made up of segments 83 , 84 , and 85 is straight line 88 ;", "3.2.", "Approximation types are selected from the following available choices: Polynomial interpolation, Rational Function interpolation, Cubic Spline interpolation, B-Spline interpolation, or Least Squares Fitting.", "12 1 Each approximation algorithm and the corresponding implementation exist in many versions that are described in numerous textbooks on interpolation techniques for undergraduate and graduate students (for example, M. Mortenson, “Geometric Modeling”, John Wiley &", "Sons, 1985, pp[.", "].30-147;", "T. H. Cormen, C. E. Leiserson, R. L. Rivest, “Introduction to algorithms”, MIT press, Cambridge, 1999, pp[.", "].766-75;) 2 The optimal choice of the common line approximation mode is problem and cutter dependent and therefore is user-defined.", "For those cutters that do not support curved path segments the simplest choice is to use a linear approximation, to avoid subsequent linear interpolation of a higher order approximation 4.", "Create a common line that approximates all common line segments of a given “common line subset”", "using the approximation mode selected in step 3 (FIG.", "7C) 5.", "Replace all common line segments of a given “common line subset”", "with a single common line created in step 4 (FIG.", "7 C).", "Unite all pieces of each subset, defined in step 1 of this algorithm, into one piece, called a “common line piece”", "(FIG.", "7 D).", "Algorithms for calculating union and intersection of polygons are well known in the art.", "See, for example, M. Mortenson, “Geometric Modeling”, John Wiley &", "Sons, 1985, which is incorporated herein by reference;", "K. Weiler, “SIGGRAPH 80, V. 14, No 3, pp. 10-18, 1981;", "Milenkovic, “Robust Polygon Modeling”, Computer-Aided Design, 1993, v. 25, no 9, pp. 546-566, also incorporated herein by reference.", "Calculate the optimal tool path for each newly created “common line piece”, taking into account all relevant optimization constraints (FIG.", "7 D).", "The tool path optimization algorithm for a “common line piece”", "(optimization step 7 of the above-given “common line resolution algorithm”) is as follows.", "A “common line piece”", "has an optimal tool path if the intra-piece dry haul time (i.e. the time for the non-cutting portion of the tool path when the cutting tool is extracted from the material and moves in the air) is minimized under the given constraints.", "Thus the objective function, Eo, of the said minimization problem is: Eo = S / V , S = ∑ i  L i , i + 1 , ( 1 ) where L i,i+1 ={square root over ([( X i+1 −X i ) 2 +( Y i+1 −Y i ) 2 ])} (2) is the dry haul distance between the starting point (X i+1 , Y i+1 ) of the (i+1)-th tool path segment and the last point (X i , Y i ) of the previous i-th tool path segment, and V is the dry haul speed (i.e. the speed of the cutting tool in the air).", "Optimization constraints might be different for different markers.", "One example of an optimization requirement is to cut all internal portions of the tool path, newly created common lines in particular, first, before the perimeter of a piece.", "Another requirement, for example, is to cut segments in tiers, i.e. on column-by-column basis.", "Note that the number of the optimization requirements and their contents might be different for different markers, so the above mentioned examples do not exhaust the list of possibilities in any way.", "All extra optimization requirements can be easily formulated as nonlinear constraints, and any of the constraint-handling techniques can be applied to take them into account.", "Constraint-handling methods are well known in the art.", "See, for example, Optimization in Operations Research.", "Ronald L. Rardin, Prentice Hall, 1998, incorporated herein by reference.", "According to one preferred embodiment, constraints are taken into account by generating a trial solution without considering the constraints and then to penalize it by adding a penalty contribution to the objective function, E, defined by equations (1)-(2).", "Of course, it is usually beneficial to use penalty contributions that increase with the degree of the violation of a constraint, though constant penalties are often acceptable as well.", "For example, a requirement to cut all internal portions of the tool path, newly created common lines in particular, before the perimeter of a piece, can be expressed by adding a value (penalty), E1, to the objective function proportional to the length of the internal portion of the tool path that is cut after the perimeter: E = Eo + E1 , E1 = ∑ i  P j , ( 3 ) where index j enumerates all internal straight line segments that are cut after the perimeter, and P j =P*L j , (4) where L j is the length of the j-th tool path segment, defined similar to equation (2), and P is the constant coefficient.", "Magnitude of the coefficient, P, defines the importance of the given constraint and is marker-dependent: the value P<<1/V (in particular, P=0) means that the given requirement is not important in comparison with the dry haul minimization, while the value P>>1/V means the opposite;", "typical values are about tents of 1/V.", "Another way to deal with constraints is to exclude non-feasible (i.e. violating constraints) configuration from consideration as soon it has been generated, in other words, to impose maximum (death) penalty.", "For example, a requirement to cut all internal portions of the tool path, newly created common lines in particular, before the perimeter of a piece, can be taken into account by throwing away any trial configuration that has any internal segment cut after the perimeter.", "Still another way to handle constraints is to correct any infeasible solution by the domain-specific “repair”", "algorithm.", "For example, it is possible to directly re-sequence the segments in order to satisfy the above-discussed constraint after calculating solution of the optimization problem without that constraint.", "The piece tool path optimization problem belongs to the class of combinatorial optimization problems with constraints.", "Though NP-hard and computationally very intensive, this particular optimization problem can be solved with a number of combinatorial optimization techniques described in the textbooks for undergraduate and graduate students and in scientific journals (see, for example, T. H. Cormen, C. E. Leiserson, R. L. Rivest, “Introduction to algorithms”, MIT press, Cambridge, 1999;", "C. H. Papadimitriou, K. Steiglitz, “Combinatorial optimization”, Dive Publications, Inc., Mineola, N.Y., 1998;", "M. Pirlot, “General Local Search Methods”, in: European journal of Operational Research, 92, 1996, pp. 493-511).", "This is possible because the total number of segments in a “common line piece”", "is moderate, often less than 1000 (compare it with a VLSI chip layout problem, where the number of components can be as large as 1,000,000).", "The present invention contributes nothing to the said optimization techniques;", "therefore, it is not necessary to review them in this application.", "Additional Embodiments In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the NC data processing CAM software generates NC data to be used by an automatic cutter to cut various limp sheet materials.", "Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the technique of eliminating common line segments by replacing it with one common line to be cut once, disclosed in the present invention, is quite general and can be used in many cases.", "For example, it can be used to cut leather (even manually), to cut sheet metal (if the cutting precision is less than the changes in the size of the pieces induced by replacing common line segments with one common line), to cut paper, etc.", "Preferred Mode of Operation of Invention One of the modes of operation of the invention is as follows.", "A CAD operator generates raw NC data using CAD software by manually placing the pieces in the marker.", "While doing that she tries to pack pieces in the marker as tightly as possible.", "However, instead of following the standard (as of today) nesting rules, which would result in a marker shown at FIG. 8 a , she decreases buffers, or spaces between templates 91 and 92 , thus intentionally creating common lines, without paying much attention to possible common lines or tangencies.", "The raw marker with pieces nested according these new strategy is shown at FIG. 8 b .", "Referring to FIG. 8 b reveals the changes in the buffering strategy;", "as might be implemented by a CAD operator, with usual deviations from the ideal “common line”", "packing, with templates 91 and 92 having a common line between them.", "The NC data, defining this raw marker with little or no buffer space between pieces, are written to the file.", "After that the NC data pre-processor, running at another computer, reads that same file over the network.", "The CAM operator instructs the NC data pre-processor to detect and resolve tangencies and/or common lines.", "The NC data pre-processor does that, following the algorithm outlined in the description of the preferred embodiment of the current invention.", "An example of this “common line preprocessing”", "is shown in FIG. 8 c , showing how templates 91 and 92 have been changed.", "Then the NC data pre-processor estimates the resulting extra gain or loss in the productivity of the cutter, and, may be, quality of the marker, as a result of the tool path changes.", "If satisfied with the results, the CAM operator instructs the NC data pre-processor to write down the modified NC data into a new file.", "The cutter operator then instructs the numeric controller to read the new file, after which a cutting tool cuts the material under the control of the controller, following the modified tool path as recorded in the new file.", "It is evident from the above-given description that various modes of the operation of the invention are possible, which will be different, for example, in different packaging of the software involved, number of operators involved and their level of expertise and/or authority, and, last but not least, the degree of the automation assumed.", "Conclusion The current invention provides a way to cut closely packed pieces from sheet material by intelligently pre-processing NC data before feeding them into the numerical controller.", "The closely packed pieces are cut without loss of accuracy or damaging the cutter, or frying the material, or substantially decreasing the cutter productivity, while drastically increasing the productivity of the operator and reducing the material waste.", "The current invention turns the difficulties of cutting of common lines to an advantage.", "While the preferred embodiment of the present assumes that an automatic cutting machine with a knife as a cutting tool is used to cut pieces form limp sheet material, the present invention can also be used for cutting limp material with any other tool, including, but not limited to laser cutting.", "It can be also used for manual cutting, if a drawing, or a detailed computer image of the improved marker is used instead of numeric control data.", "The present invention can be also used for cutting solid materials with various cutting tools appropriate for the given material.", "While the present invention has been described in several different embodiments, it should be understood that further modifications and substitutions could be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.", "Accordingly, the present invention has been described in several preferred forms merely by way of illustration rather than limitation.", "Though the description of the present invention contains many specifics, they should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the invention, but rather as an exemplification, many other variations being possible.", "Therefore, the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents rather than any examples given." ]

[ "CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/328,959, filed Oct. 11, 2001, the disclosure of which application is incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein.", "STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT Not Applicable BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to apparatus and methods for ventilating mines and other tunnels.", "In particular, the invention relates to a telescopic ventline and its use.", "Underground mines and other tunnel projects hang ventilation duct (ventline) to convey fresh air to areas that are being excavated.", "Ventline typically ranges in diameter from twelve to sixty inches.", "A large fan or blower located in fresh air is connected to the ventline and pushes or pulls fresh air through the ventline.", "Ventline is typically fabricated from either metal or glass-reinforced plastic (fiberglass).", "Fiberglass ventline is lighter and more resistant to denting and other damage.", "Ventline is commonly shipped and installed in ten- or twenty-foot sections.", "As a tunnel advances, the ventline must be advanced as well.", "When a mine purchases ventline from a manufacturer, the mine is required to pay shipping costs to the mine site, which can be located a great distance from the manufacturer.", "Because ventline is large in diameter, only a limited amount can be loaded onto a semi trailer.", "This means that many truckloads of ventline have to be hauled to provide the mine with an adequate supply.", "This results in a high shipping cost per section of ventline.", "Once the ventline is on site, it must be hauled underground on low-profile delivery trucks or by rail, often to the most remote areas of the mine.", "Because a tunnel is a confined area, delivery trucks and rail cars are limited in the amount of ventline they can carry.", "This means that many trips are required to a supply mine headings with ventline.", "Each conventionally-mined heading can advance as much as thirty linear feet a day.", "A tunnel boring machine (TBM) can advance over one hundred linear feet per day.", "This means that a lot of ventline is required to keep pace.", "The background art is characterized by U.S. Pat. Nos. 183,315;", "228,883;", "613,229;", "667,149;", "721,985;", "1,045,400;", "1,889,711;", "1,948,909;", "2,810,591;", "3,872,894;", "4,223,702;", "4,357,860;", "4,543,677;", "6,003,814;", "and 6,131,960;", "the disclosure of which patents are incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein.", "Mainer in U.S. Pat. No. 183,315 discloses a stove pipe joint.", "This invention is limited in that it requires that a pipe end have studs in one pipe section that fit into slots in another pipe section.", "Freeman in U.S. Pat. No. 228,883 discloses a stove pipe.", "This invention is limited in that it requires that a projection on a tongue fit into one of a plurality of slots in another pipe section.", "Becker in U.S. Pat. No. 613,229 discloses a stove pipe coupling.", "This invention is limited in that it requires that a hook with a bowed shank be used to hold sections of stove pipe together.", "Kenney in U.S. Pat. No. 667,149 discloses an apparatus for withdrawing smoke from a burning building.", "This invention is limited in that no means are provided for establishing a seal between the telescoping sections of the draft tube of the invention.", "Wells in U.S. Pat. No. 721,985 discloses a detachable hose coupling.", "This invention is limited in that incorporation of a substantially U-shaped bail into the coupling is required.", "Hayden in U.S. Pat. No. 1,045,400 discloses a stove pipe joint.", "This invention is limited in that a locking device having a cam and a handle is required.", "Talley et al.", "in U.S. Pat. No. 1,889,711 disclose an extension joint for stove pipes.", "This invention is limited in that strips having a plurality of tongues are required.", "Evans in U.S. Pat. No. 1,948,909 discloses a flexible ventilation tubing.", "This invention is limited in that a tapered flexible sleeve is required to streamline the airflow in the tubing over the projection of the coupling that holds sections of the tubing together.", "Jacoby in U.S. Pat. No. 2,810,591 discloses a quick coupler for sections of irrigation pipe.", "This invention is limited in that a pivoted latch interlock is required.", "Streit in U.S. Pat. No. 3,872,894 discloses a light weight cable housing.", "This invention is limited in that a complex labyrinth seal is required.", "Cook in U.S. Pat. No. 4,223,702 discloses a drain line for recreational vehicles.", "This invention is limited in that a flexible hose must extend through telescoping rigid wall drain pipe sections.", "Krzak in U.S. Pat. No. 4,357,860 discloses a telescoping conduit for pressurized air.", "This invention is limited in that a roller cage and a wiper seal are required in addition to an O-ring seal.", "Haglund et al.", "in U.S. Pat. No. 4,543,677 disclose an airtight telescoping rigid conduit.", "This invention is limited in that three ring-shaped bearings and a seal ring having a V-shaped cross section are required.", "Pike et al.", "in U.S. Pat. No. 6,003,814 disclose a double-walled duct assembly.", "This invention is limited in that double-walled construction and flow-facilitating members are required.", "McHughs in U.S. Pat. No. 6,131,960 discloses a packing seal expansion joint comprising first and second tube sections.", "This invention is limited in that packing material disposed between the tube sections is required.", "BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The purpose of the invention is to provide a cost-effective solution to the problem of ventilating mines and other tunnel projects.", "One advantage of the invention is that the effective length of a ventline assembly is doubled or tripled, resulting in lower shipping cost per linear foot of ventline.", "Both the cost of delivering the ventline to the mine site and the cost of delivering it to the mine heading are significantly reduced.", "Another advantage of the invention is that less time is required to install each foot of ventline.", "Currently, a worker typically uses a utility truck to lift each section of conventional ventline to the back (roof) of the tunnel and hang it.", "He then drives back to an underground storage area to retrieve another section of ventline.", "When a worker installs a ten-foot section of conventional ventline, he gains ten feet of advance.", "When the invention is used, twenty or thirty feet of advance is achieved for each ten-foot length of telescopic ventline assembly installed.", "Each time a section of telescopic ventline is pulled ahead, it must be chained up, but the worker saves time by loading, hauling and hoisting fewer individual sections when telescopic ventline is used.", "The invention is an apparatus and method for ventilating tunnels and other confined spaces.", "The apparatus comprises a telescopic ventline assembly as disclosed herein.", "The telescopic ventline of the present invention comprises a plurality of tubes wherein each inner tube or first intermediate tube is slidably disposed within a second intermediate tube or an outer tube, in a telescoping-type arrangement.", "The methods comprise installing the the telescopic ventline and using it to ventilate a tunnel or other confined space, e.g., a mine.", "A preferred embodiment of the invention is an apparatus for venting a confined space comprising: an outer tube with a first end upon which a first pair of connectors (e.g., transport connectors) is mounted on the exterior thereof and upon which an inside stop is provided on the inside thereof and a second end which is belled (e.g., belled out) and upon which a second pair of connectors (e.g., installation connectors) is mounted;", "and an inner tube with a first terminus upon which an outside stop is provided on the outside thereof and a second terminus which is belled (e.g., belled out) and upon which a third pair of connectors (e.g., hooking connectors) is mounted on the outside thereof;", "wherein said inner tube is slidably mounted within said outer tube.", "In another preferred embodiment, the apparatus further comprises: an intermediate tube with a first ending upon which an interior stop is provided on the interior thereof and a second ending upon which exterior stop is provided on the exterior thereof;", "wherein the intermediate tube is slidably mounted between the inner tube and the outer tube.", "In yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, the belled out end of the outer tube of a first ventline assembly is configured to fit over the belled out terminus of the inner tube of a second ventline assembly.", "Preferably, an elastomeric molding or gasket is fastened to the outside stop.", "In a preferred embodiment, the tubes are fabricated from glass reinforced plastic (fiberglass) and the stops are attached to said tubes by any conventional technique, e.g., by gluing the stops onto the tubes, by riveting the stops onto the tubes or by molding the stops into the tubes.", "In a preferred embodiment, the invention is a system for venting a tunnel comprising: a fan or blower for producing an airflow;", "a conduit for said airflow extending from the fan or blower into or out of the tunnel;", "and a plurality of ventline assemblies connected together and at one end connected to the conduit for carrying the airflow into or out of the tunnel;", "wherein each ventline assembly comprises an embodiment of the apparatus disclosed herein.", "Preferably, the system further comprises: one or more elbow components connected to at least one of said ventline assemblies and/or one or more tee components connected to at least one of said ventline assemblies.", "Another preferred embodiment of the invention is an apparatus for venting a confined space comprising: an outer tube with a first end upon which a first plurality of connectors is mounted on the exterior thereof and upon which an inside stop is provided on the inside thereof and a second end which is necked down and upon which a second plurality of connectors is mounted;", "and an inner tube with a first terminus upon which an outside stop is provided on the outside thereof and a second terminus upon which a third plurality of connectors is mounted on the outside thereof;", "wherein said inner tube is slidably mounted within said outer tube.", "Yet another preferred embodiment of the invention is an apparatus for venting a confined space comprising: a first ventline assembly comprising a first outer tube with a first end upon which a first plurality of connectors is mounted on the exterior thereof and upon which an inside stop is provided on the inside thereof and a second end which is belled and upon which a second plurality of connectors are mounted, and a first inner tube with a first terminus upon which an outside stop is provided on the outside thereof and a second terminus which is belled and upon which a third plurality of connectors are mounted on the outside thereof, wherein said first inner tube is slidably mounted within said first outer tube;", "and a second ventline assembly comprising a second outer tube with another first end upon which another first plurality of connectors is mounted on the exterior thereof and upon which another inside stop is provided on the inside thereof and another second end which is belled and upon which another second plurality of connectors are mounted, and a second inner tube with another first terminus upon which another outside stop is provided on the outside thereof and another second terminus which is belled and upon which a third plurality of connectors are mounted on the outside thereof, wherein said second inner tube is slidably mounted within said second outer tube;", "wherein the first end of the second ventline is configured to mate with the second terminus of the first ventline.", "Another preferred embodiment of the invention is an apparatus for venting a confined space comprising a ventline assembly comprising: an outer tube having a first inside diameter with a first end upon which an inside stop is provided on the inside thereof and a second end which has a second inside diameter upon which a first connector is mounted;", "an intermediate tube with a first ending upon which an interior stop is provided on the interior thereof and a second ending upon which exterior stop is provided on the exterior thereof;", "an inner tube having a first outside diameter with a first terminus upon which an outside stop is provided on the outside thereof and a second terminus which has a second outside diameter that is less than the second inside diameter and upon which a second connector is mounted on the outside thereof;", "wherein the inner tube is slidably mounted within the intermediate tube, the intermediate tube is slidably mounted between the inner tube and the outer tube and within the outer tube.", "Preferably, at least one gasket is attached to said outer tube and said inside stop is mounted on said outer tube at a greater distance from said first end than said at least one gasket is attached to said outer tube.", "Preferably, said outside stop comprises of a slotted ring that retains an O-ring that essentially fills the annual space between said inner tube and said outer tube.", "Yet another preferred embodiment of the invention is an apparatus for venting a confined space comprising: an outer tube having a first inside diameter with a first end upon which an inside stop is provided on the inside thereof and a second end which has a second inside diameter and upon which a first connector is mounted;", "and an inner tube having a first outside diameter with a first terminus upon which an outside stop is provided on the outside thereof and a second terminus which has a second outside diameter and upon which a second connector is mounted on the outside thereof;", "wherein said inner tube is slidably mounted within said outer tube and said second inside diameter is greater than said second outside diameter.", "Preferably, the apparatus further comprises: an intermediate tube with a first ending upon which an interior stop is provided on the interior thereof and a second ending upon which exterior stop is provided on the exterior thereof;", "wherein the intermediate tube is slidably mounted between the inner tube and the outer tube.", "Preferably, the second end of the outer tube of a first ventline assembly is configured to mate with the second terminus of the inner tube of a second ventline assembly.", "Preferably, at least one gasket is attached to said outer tube said inside stop is mounted on said outer tube at a greater distance from said first end than said at least one gasket is attached to said outer tube.", "Preferably, said outside stop comprises of a slotted ring that retains an O-ring that essentially fills the annual space between said inner tube and said outer tube.", "In a further preferred embodiment, the invention is a method of extending a ventilation system in a tunnel, the method comprising: providing a ventilation system, the ventilation system including a first ventline assembly comprising an outer tube with a first end upon which a pair of transport D-rings is mounted on the exterior thereof and upon which an inside stop is provided on the inside thereof and a second end which is belled (out or in) and upon which a pair of installation D-rings are mounted and an inner tube with a first terminus upon which an outside stop is provided on the outside thereof and a second terminus which is belled (in or out) and upon which a pair of straps with hooks are mounted on the outside thereof;", "connecting the belled end of the outer tube of the first ventline assembly to a source of fresh air and attaching the outer tube of the first ventline assembly to a structural support in the tunnel;", "releasing the hooks on the outside of the inner tube of the first ventline assembly from the transport D-rings on the first end of the outer tube of the first ventline assembly;", "telescoping said first ventline assembly until the interior stop on the inside of the outer tube of the first ventline assembly and the exterior stop on the outside of the inner tube of the first ventline assembly abut or do not abut;", "and attaching the inner tube of the first ventline assembly to a structural support in the tunnel.", "In preferred embodiments, it is not necessary to telescope the tubes until the stops abut because the tubes are provided with a seal that blocks the annual space between the tubes along their entire lengths.", "This embodiment provides for flexibility when different lengths of ducting are needed, e.g., adjacent to corners or tees in the ducting.", "In yet another preferred embodiment, the above method further comprises: connecting the belled (out or in) end of the outer tube of a second ventline assembly that is configured generally the same as (similar to) the first ventline assembly to the belled (in or out) terminus of the inner tube of the first ventline assembly (e.g., by means of the installation D-rings and straps with hooks) and attaching the outer tube of the second ventline assembly to a structural support in the tunnel (e.g., with a chain);", "releasing the hooks on the inner tube of the second assembly from the transport D-rings on the first end of said outer tube of the second ventline assembly;", "telescoping the second ventline assembly until the interior stop on the inside of the outer tube of the second ventline assembly and the exterior stop on the outside of the inner tube of the second ventline assembly abut or do not abut;", "and attaching the inner tube of the second ventline assembly to a structural support in the tunnel (e.g., with a chain).", "In another preferred embodiment, the invention is a method of ventilating a tunnel or confined space, the method comprising installing an apparatus or system described herein in a tunnel or other confined space and using an apparatus or system described herein to deliver fresh air to a location in a tunnel or other confined space.", "The invention may be used in the development and production areas of underground mines as well as in service tunnels and tunnel boring machine projects.", "Any operation that uses ventilation duct to supply fresh air to work areas would realize cost and labor savings with the shipping and handling of telescopic ventline rather than conventional ventline.", "Further aspects of the invention will become apparent from consideration of the drawings and the ensuing description of preferred embodiments of the invention.", "A person skilled in the art will realize that other embodiments of the invention are possible and that the details of the invention can be modified in a number of respects, all without departing from the inventive concept.", "Thus, the following drawings and description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not restrictive.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS The features of the invention will be better understood by reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate presently preferred embodiments of the invention.", "In the drawings: FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the invention.", "FIG. 2 is a side (elevation) view of a two-section telescopic ventline assembly of a preferred embodiment of the invention.", "FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of an extended, two-section telescopic ventline assembly of a preferred embodiment of the invention.", "FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of an extended, three-section telescopic ventline assembly of a preferred embodiment of the invention.", "FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the stops on the inner tube and the outer tube of a preferred embodiment of the invention.", "FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the stop on the outer tube of a preferred embodiment of the invention.", "FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the stop on the inner tube of a preferred embodiment of the.", "invention.", "FIG. 8 is an exploded side view of the stop subassembly on the inner tube of a preferred embodiment of the invention.", "FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of the stop subassembly on the outer tube of a preferred embodiment of the invention.", "FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the stops on the inner tube and the outer tube of a more preferred embodiment of the invention.", "FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the stop on the outer tube of a more preferred embodiment of the invention.", "FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the gasket formed on the outer surface of the inner tube of a preferred embodiment of the invention.", "FIG. 13 is a partial cross-sectional view of the stops on the inner tube and the outer tube of an alternative embodiment of the invention.", "FIG. 14 is a partial cross-sectional view of the stops on the inner tube and the outer tube of another alternative embodiment of the invention.", "FIG. 15 is a partial cross-sectional view of the stops on the inner tube and the outer tube of another alternative embodiment of the invention.", "FIG. 16 is a partial cross-sectional view of the stops on the inner tube and the outer tube of another alternative embodiment of the invention.", "FIG. 17 is a partial cross-sectional view of the stop on the inner tube of the alternative embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG. 16 .", "FIG. 18 is a partial cross-sectional view of the ends of the inner tube and the outer tube of another preferred embodiment of the invention.", "FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional view of the ends of the inner tube and the outer tube of another preferred embodiment of the invention.", "FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of a ventline assembly comprising three tubes.", "The following reference numerals are used to indicate the parts and environment of the invention on the drawings: 1 telescopic ventline assembly, ventline assembly, assembly 3 inner tube section, inner tube 5 outer tube section, outer tube 7 female end, belled out end, second end 8 arrow 9 male end, belled out terminus, first terminus 10 installation D-rings, installation connectors 11 transport D-rings, transport connectors 13 rubber straps with hooks, hooking connectors, straps with hooks 14 conduit 15 inside stop 16 fan or blower 17 outside stop 18 chain 19 elastomeric molding or gasket, molding 20 structural support 21 intermediate tube section, intermediate tube 23 first ending 25 interior stop 27 second ending 29 exterior stop 35 first plurality of rivets 37 second plurality of rivets 43 inside end 45 soft rubber or fabric gasket, gasket 47 beveled rubber stop 51 face 55 first rubber seal 57 second rubber seal 59 rubber flap 61 U-shaped rubber seal 63 first end 65 first fabric or rubber gasket 67 second fabric or rubber gasket 69 inner surface 71 slotted ring 73 outer surface 75 first terminus 77 shoulder stop 79 slot 81 O-ring DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring to FIG. 1, a perspective (not to scale) view of a preferred embodiment of telescopic ventline assembly 1 is presented.", "Telescopic ventline assembly 1 comprises inner tube section 3 and outer tube section 5 .", "Preferably, both inner tube section 3 and outer tube section are made of fiberglass.", "Preferably, the length of each section is about ten or twenty feet.", "Tube sections 3 and 5 may have any cross sectional shape, but are preferably circular in cross section.", "With ventline having a nominal diameter of thirty-six inches, for example, outer tube section 5 preferably has an outside diameter of about thirty-six inches and an inner diameter of about thirty-five and one half inches over most of its length, but female end 7 is belled out to an outer diameter of about thirty-six and one half inches and an inner diameter of a little over thirty-six inches.", "Inner tube section 3 preferably has an outside diameter of a little less than thirty-five and one half inches and an inner diameter of about thirty-five inches over most of its length, but male end 9 is belled out to an outer diameter of about thirty-six inches and an inner diameter of a about thirty-five and one half inches.", "With this embodiment, when one telescopic ventline assembly 1 is connected to another telescopic ventline assembly 1 , male end 9 of one assembly 1 is inserted into female end 7 of the other assembly 1 .", "Preferably, the wall thickness of both tube sections is about one-quarter inch and the tolerance between the outer diameter of inner tube section 3 and the inner diameter of outer tube section 5 are kept as tight as feasible.", "In general, the larger that the inner diameter is on inner tube section 3 , the less restriction is imposed on the airflow through it.", "This minimizes the reduction in the flow rate of the airflow.", "With this embodiment, a plurality (preferably a pair) of installation D-rings 10 and a plurality (preferably a pair) of transport D-rings 11 are attached to the outside surface of outer tube section 5 and a plurality (preferably a pair) of rubber straps with hooks 13 are attached to the outside surface of inner tube section 3 .", "During transport, rubber straps with hooks 13 are connected to transport D-rings 11 to prevent inner tube section 3 from sliding out of outer tube section 5 .", "During installation, rubber straps with hooks 13 on one telescopic ventline assembly 1 are connected to installation D-rings 10 on another telescopic ventline assembly 1 to ensure that male end 9 is held in female end 7 of another telescopic ventline assembly 1 .", "One having ordinary skill in the art will realize that there are other fastening means that may be used instead of D-rings 10 and 11 and rubber straps with hooks 13 .", "For example, any conventional fastening means, such as an industrial hook and loop (e.g., Velcro®) fastening system, bolts connecting flanges or brackets, or metal hooks connecting with metal eyes, may be used.", "One having ordinary skill in the art will realize that there are many ways to form the belled ends of the tube sections.", "For example, belled female end 7 may be formed on the same mold that the rest of outer tube 5 was formed during a fiberglass lay-up or spray fabrication process.", "Alternatively, female end 7 may be formed by gluing a larger-diameter segment of tube onto one end of outer tube 5 .", "Belled male end 9 may be formed in the same ways.", "One having ordinary skill in the art will also realize that there are many ways of configuring tube sections to allow one end of one assembly 1 to be connected to or inserted into an end of another assembly 1 .", "For example, male end 9 may be fabricated with the same outer and inner diameter as the remainder of inner tube section 3 and female end 7 of outer tube section 5 may be fabricated with a slightly larger inner diameter than the outer diameter of inner tube section 3 .", "Alternatively, female end 7 may be fabricated with the same outer and inner diameter as the remainder of outer tube section 5 and all of inner tube section 3 or just male end 9 of inner tube section 3 may be fabricated with a slightly smaller outer diameter than the inner diameter of female end 7 .", "If the entire length of inner tube section 3 is slidably insertable into outer tube section 5 , belling out one end of both tube sections is unnecessary.", "One having ordinary skill in the art will also realize that there are many ways to configure the ends of the inner and outer tube sections that allow one end of one assembly 1 to be connected to one end of another assembly 1 .", "For example, in alternative embodiments, a screw connection, a conventional flanged connection or a locking snap connection is used.", "Referring to FIG. 2, a side (elevation) view of a two-section telescopic ventline assembly of a preferred embodiment of the invention is presented.", "In this view, a first telescopic ventline assembly 1 is show on the right with first rubber straps with hooks 13 on inner tube section 3 in a transport configuration with first rubber straps with hooks 13 on inner tube section 3 connected to transport D-rings 11 on outer tube section 4 .", "Fan or blower 16 and a conduit 14 are shown on the left with second rubber straps with hooks 13 in an installed configuration with second rubber straps with hooks 13 on conduit 14 connected to installation D-rings 10 on outer tube 5 .", "Referring to FIG. 3, a cross-sectional view of an extended, two-section telescopic ventline assembly of a preferred embodiment of the invention is presented.", "In this view, female end 7 is of first telescopic ventline 1 is connected to male end 9 of second telescopic ventline 1 .", "The airflow is moving in the direction of arrow 8 .", "Inner tube section 3 of first telescopic ventline 1 is pulled out of outer tube section 5 of first telescopic ventline 1 until inside stop 15 abuts outside stop 17 .", "The presence of inside stop 15 and outside stop 17 prevent inner tube section 3 from sliding all of the way out of outer tube section 5 .", "Elastomeric molding or gasket 19 held in place by outside stop 17 prevents air from passing through the annular space between the exterior surface inner tube section 3 and the interior surface of outer tube section 5 .", "Preferably, elastomeric molding or rubber gasket 19 is held against the interior surface of outer tube section 5 by the airflow.", "In fabricating the elastomeric molding, any conventional elastomer may be used, including neoprene, nitrile, Hypalon®, natural rubber, Santoprene®, silicone, Tygon® or Viton®t, etc.", "Rubber straps and hooks 13 are used to secure another telescopic ventline assembly 1 to this one.", "Chain 18 is used to secure inner tube section 3 to structural support 20 .", "Referring to FIG. 4, a cross-sectional view of extended, three- section telescopic ventline assembly 1 of a preferred embodiment of the invention is presented.", "In this view, intermediate tube section 21 is shown disposed between outer tube section 5 and inner tube section 3 .", "Intermediate tube section 21 comprises first ending 23 upon which interior stop 25 is provided on the interior thereof and second ending 27 upon which exterior stop 29 is provided on the exterior thereof.", "Intermediate tube section 21 is slidably mounted between inner tube 3 and outer tube 5 .", "Referring to FIG. 5, a cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of outside stop 17 on inner tube 3 and inside stop 15 on outer tube 5 of a preferred embodiment of the invention is presented.", "Elastomeric molding or gasket 19 is shown sealing the gap between the inner tube 3 and outer tube 5 , even when inside stop 15 is not abutting outside stop 17 .", "Referring to FIG. 6, a perspective view of inside stop 15 on outer tube 5 of a preferred embodiment of the invention is presented.", "In this embodiment, inside stop 15 is riveted to the inside of outer tube 5 by first plurality of rivets 35 .", "Referring to FIG. 7, a perspective view of outside stop 17 on inner tube 3 of a preferred embodiment of the invention is presented.", "In this embodiment, outside stop 17 is riveted to the outside of outer tube 3 with second plurality of rivets 37 .", "A portion of elastomeric molding or gasket 19 is held in place between outer tube 3 and outside stop 17 by the same type of rivets that fasten outside stop 17 to inner tube 3 .", "Referring to FIG. 8 is an exploded side view of the outside stop subassembly that attaches to inner tube 3 of a preferred embodiment of the invention is presented.", "Second plurality of rivets 37 pass through outside stop 17 , through elastomeric molding or gasket 19 and then through the wall of inner tube 3 .", "Referring to FIG. 9, an exploded perspective view of the inside stop subassembly that attaches to outer tube 5 of a preferred embodiment of the invention is presented.", "First plurality of rivets 35 first pass through the wall of outer tube 5 and then through inside stop 15 .", "Referring to FIG. 10, a cross-sectional view of outside stop 17 on inner tube 3 and beveled rubber stop 47 on outer tube 5 of a more preferred embodiment of the invention is presented.", "Airflow is in the direction of arrow 8 .", "In this embodiment, inside end 43 of inner tube 3 is belled out so that the outside diameter of inside end 43 is a slightly less than the inside diameter of outer tube 5 .", "Soft rubber or fabric gasket 45 is attached to inside end 43 and is pushed against the interior of outer tube 5 by the pressure caused by the airflow.", "Beveled rubber stop 47 is fastened to the interior of outer tube 5 adjacent the end of outer tube 5 .", "Beveled rubber stop 47 is fastened to outer tube 5 by gluing or riveting or other conventional means after inside end 43 is inserted into outer tube 5 during manufacture of assembly 1 .", "More preferably beveled rubber stop 47 is fastened to outer tube 5 by gluing.", "Referring to FIG. 11, a cross-sectional view of beveled rubber stop 47 on the inside surface of outer tube 5 of a more preferred embodiment of the invention is presented.", "The angle of face 51 of beveled rubber stop 47 is chosen to achieve an optimal seal with the outside surface of inside end 43 .", "Referring to FIG. 12, a perspective view of soft rubber or fabric gasket 45 attached to the outer surface of inside end 43 of inner tube 3 of a preferred embodiment of the invention is presented.", "Gasket 45 is attached to inside end 43 with fiberglass when inner tube 3 is formed.", "Referring to FIG. 13, a partial cross-sectional view of the stops on inner tube 3 and outer tube 5 of an alternative embodiment of the invention is presented.", "With this embodiment, inside stop 15 , which may be constructed of plastic or metal, is faced with first rubber seal 55 and outside stop 17 , which also may be constructed of plastic or metal, is faced with second rubber seal 57 .", "Rubber seals 55 and 57 abut when stops 15 and 17 are pushed together.", "Referring to FIG. 14, a partial cross-sectional view of the stops on inner tube 3 and outer tube 5 of another alternative embodiment of the invention is presented.", "With this embodiment, inside stop 15 and outside stop 17 are both beveled and made of rubber.", "When the stops abut, an air-tight seal is produced.", "Referring to FIG. 15, a partial cross-sectional view of the stops on inner tube 3 and outer tube 5 of another alternative embodiment of the invention is presented.", "With this embodiment, inside stop 15 is faced with first rubber seal 55 and outside stop 17 has a sloping face that is faced with second rubber seal 57 .", "Rubber seals 55 and 57 abut when stops 15 and 17 are pushed together.", "Even when stops 15 and 17 are not pushed together, air pressure pushes rubber flap 59 against the interior surface of outer tube 5 , forming a seal.", "This feature allows the union between the sections of telescopic ventline assembly 1 to seal when assembly 1 is not fully telescoped and may be used in conjunction with more preferred stop designs.", "Referring to FIG. 16, a partial cross-sectional view of the stops on inner tube 3 and outer tube 5 of another alternative embodiment of the invention is presented.", "FIG. 17 is a partial cross-sectional view of the stop on inner tube 3 of the alternative embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG. 16 .", "With this embodiment, outside stop 17 is faced with U-shaped rubber seal 61 .", "When the airflow applies air pressure to U-shaped rubber seal 61 , the seal deforms to prevent air from flowing between inner tube 3 and outer tube 5 in the same way that oil seals prevent oil flow past pistons in engines.", "Referring to FIG. 18, a partial cross-sectional view of the ends of inner tube 3 and outer tube 5 of another preferred embodiment of the invention is presented.", "In this embodiment, inside stop 15 is located a relatively greater distance from first end 63 than first fabric or rubber gasket 65 and second fabric or rubber gasket 67 are located from first end 63 .", "In this embodiment, stops 15 and 17 abut when inner tube 3 and outer tube 5 are telescoped to the maximum possible extent.", "In an alternative embodiment, inside stop 15 is located a relatively lesser distance from first end 63 than first fabric or rubber gasket 65 and second fabric or rubber gasket 67 are located from first end 63 .", "In this alternative embodiment, stop 17 would be spaced from first terminus 75 of inner tube 3 allowing first fabric or rubber gasket 65 and second fabric or rubber gasket 67 to seal against the outside surface of inner tube 3 .", "Preferably, during manufacture, the fabric or rubber material used to form fabric or rubber gaskets 65 and 67 is folded in half lengthwise before it is taped to the mandrill upon which outer tube 5 is formed.", "The resin in the fiberglass applied to the mandrill to form outer tube 5 effectively glues fabric or rubber gaskets 65 and 67 to inner surface 69 of outer tube 5 .", "In a preferred embodiment, the process of making the embodiment of FIG. 18 comprises: wrapping a four-inch wide fiber gasket around the mandrill;", "applying tape to two inches (half or one side) of the gasket all the way around the mandrill;", "folding the untaped half of the gasket over on the taped side;", "applying resin and fiber strands to form outer tube 5 ;", "and pulling the finished outer tube 5 off of the mandrill.", "Referring to FIG. 19, a cross-sectional view of the ends of inner tube 3 and outer tube 5 of another preferred embodiment of the invention is presented.", "In this embodiment, slotted ring 71 is attached to outer surface 73 of first terminus 75 of inner tube 3 .", "Slotted ring 71 has shoulder stop 77 which abuts with inside stop 15 when inner tube 3 and outer tube 5 are telescoped to the maximum possible extent.", "Slotted ring 71 has slot 79 into which O-ring 81 is installed.", "O-ring 81 presses against inner surface 69 of outer tube 5 both when shoulder stop 77 abuts inside stop 15 and when should stop 77 does not abut inside stop 15 .", "This embodiment is particularly advantageous in applications in which inner tube 3 and outer tube 5 are not telescoped to the maximum possible extent, e.g., when inner tube 3 is temporarily retracted away from a blast area.", "It is also advantageous in negative pressure applications which occur when air is being sucked through inner tube 3 and outer tube 5 instead of being blown through inner tube 3 and outer tube 5 .", "Referring to FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of a ventline assembly comprising three tubes is presented.", "In this embodiment, male end 9 of one ventline assembly is not increased in diameter (belled out) but is still configured to mate with (fit inside) female end 7 of another ventline assembly.", "In this embodiment, female end 7 is necked down (belled in) instead of being belled out as is the case in other embodiments.", "The belled in portion at female end 7 provides a female portion of outer tube 5 that couples (mates) with a male portion of inner tube 3 at male end 9 .", "In another alternative embodiment, the belled portion at second end 7 provides a male portion of outer tube 5 that couples (mates) with a female portion of inner tube 3 at first terminus 9 .", "Operation of a preferred embodiment of the invention involves a first step of providing a ventilation system, the ventilation system including first ventline assembly 1 comprising outer tube 5 with a first end upon which a pair of transport D-rings 11 is mounted on the exterior thereof and upon which inside stop 15 is provided on the inside thereof and second end 7 which is belled out and upon which a pair of installation D-rings 10 are mounted and inner tube 3 with a first terminus upon which outside stop 17 is provided on the outside thereof and a second terminus which is belled out and upon which a pair of straps with hooks 13 are mounted on the outside thereof.", "A second step involves connecting belled out end 7 of outer tube 5 of the first ventline assembly to a source of fresh air (e.g., fan or blower 16 or conduit 14 from fan or blower 16 ) and attaching outer tube 5 of first ventline assembly 1 to structural support 20 in the tunnel;", "releasing straps with hooks 13 on the outside of inner tube 3 of first ventline assembly 1 from transport D-rings 11 on the first end of outer tube 5 of first ventline assembly 1 .", "A third step involves telescoping first ventline assembly 1 until inside stop 15 on the inside of outer tube 5 of first ventline assembly 1 and outside stop 17 on the outside of inner tube 3 of first ventline assembly 1 abut.", "A fourth step involves attaching inner tube 3 of first ventline assembly 1 to structural support 20 in the tunnel.", "In yet another preferred embodiment, the above method further comprises the fifth step of connecting belled out end 7 of outer tube 5 of second ventline assembly 1 that is configured generally the same as first ventline assembly 1 to the belled out terminus 9 of inner tube 3 of the first ventline assembly i and attaching outer tube 5 of second ventline assembly 1 to structural support 20 in the tunnel.", "The method also involves a sixth step of releasing rubber straps with hooks 13 on inner tube 3 of second assembly 1 from transport D-rings 11 on the first end of outer tube 5 of second ventline assembly 1 .", "The method also involves a sixth step of telescoping second ventline assembly 1 until inside stop 15 on the inside of outer tube 5 of second ventline assembly 1 and outside stop 17 on the outside of inner tube 3 of second ventline assembly 1 abut.", "The method also involves the step of attaching inner tube 3 of second ventline assembly 1 to structural support 20 in the tunnel.", "In another preferred embodiment, the invention is a method of ventilating a tunnel or confined space.", "The method comprises using assembly 1 or a system comprising assembly 1 to deliver fresh air to a location in a tunnel or other confined space.", "Many variations of the invention will occur to those skilled in the art.", "Some variations include a telescopic ventline having two or three sections.", "Other variations call for a telescopic ventlines having more than three sections.", "Yet others involve ventlines having other than circular cross sections.", "All such variations are intended to be within the scope and spirit of the invention." ]

[ "CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] Priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser.", "No. 61/915,228, filed 12 Dec. 2013, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser.", "No. 61/980,435, filed 16 Apr. 2014, each of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference, is hereby claimed.", "[0002] Incorporated herein by reference is U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/915,228, filed 12 Dec. 2013, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser.", "No. 61/980,435, filed 16 Apr. 2014, priority of each of which is hereby claimed.", "STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT [0003] Not applicable REFERENCE TO A “MICROFICHE APPENDIX”", "[0004] Not applicable BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0005] 1.", "Field of the Invention [0006] The present invention relates to a method and a device for releasing fish into the water at a desired water depth.", "More particularly, the present invention relates to an improved release device designed to counter the effects of barotrauma by more effectively and safely returning a caught fish back to the depth at which it was hooked.", "[0007] 2.", "General Background of the Invention [0008] The present invention is intended to provide a means of which to release illegal, undersized or unwanted fish in a manner which will increase their chances of survival.", "National Marine Fisheries and other organizations, such as Florida Sea Grant, have been searching for means to accomplish this for several years and there are some devices on the market currently.", "There has been at least one event in which organizations have tested devices and encouraged ideas to come forward.", "There does not appear to be a device that uses the physics that this present device relies on to make the release.", "[0009] There are several devices currently available, including several possibly relevant patents that have issued that are directed generally to releasing fish back into the water.", "The existing devices fall primarily into two groups.", "The patented ones tend to be complex and expensive.", "There are also a number of devices in a second group that are very simple and more of homemade types.", "The present invention falls in between the two groups.", "The complex group may not likely be affordable enough for all anglers and also may be subject to difficulty in use and possible malfunction.", "The simple group for the most part is very cheap, but most fail to have some method of keeping the fish secure while returning it to the water.", "Also, most of the available devices are fairly obvious and probably would not be advantageous or profitable to manufacture.", "Some of the current designs are intended for use where the actual fishing occurs on the bottom and will only release fish upon impact with the ocean bottom.", "In the Gulf of Mexico and some other areas, fish may be suspended around oil rigs and the ocean bottom is not an option for release as it may be several thousand feet deep.", "[0010] The following US patents and Publications are incorporated herein by reference: [0011] U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,648,399;", "4,481,666;", "4,905,402;", "5,628,139;", "7,140,146;", "7,874,094;", "7,874,096;", "8,201,358;", "and U.S. Pat. D534,237;", "US Publication Document No.: 2013/0048487.", "[0012] The following other references are incorporated herein by reference: [0013] PCT Publication Nos.: WO 2001/00018, WO1998/07312;", "Foreign Publication No.: JP2003/102337;", "Publications: Shelton Fish Descender Webpage (http://www.", "sheltonproducts.com/SFD.", "html);", "SeaQualizer Webpage (http://www.", "seaqualizer.com/Standard-Striper-SeaQualizer-20-40-70 ft-STPRSQL-20-40-70.", "htm);", "Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Rockfish Conservation and Deepwater Release (http://www.", "adfg.", "alaska.gov/index.", "cfm?", "adfg=fishingSportFishingInfo.", "rockfishconservation);", "Hoggy, Best Seller: Tarpon Lures (http://www.", "hogylures.com/best-tarpon-lures);", "Google Image Search for “bait keeper screw lock”;", "www.", "ifish.net forum, China Tiger (no meat just pics), (See page 8).", "BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0014] The present invention includes a device for releasing fish into water, comprising a central member that can have an upper end portion and a lower end portion, each said end portion having an eyelet, a spiral member circling around the central member, the spiral member being spaced away from the central member and having a free end.", "The device has a plurality of swivels, wherein a swivel can be connected to each of the eyelets.", "A weight can be connected to the swivel located at the lower end portion.", "[0015] In one embodiment the central member can be straight or linear.", "[0016] In one embodiment, the central member and the spiral member can be about the same length.", "[0017] In one embodiment, one fish can be attached to the spiral member.", "[0018] In one embodiment, multiple fish can be attached to the spiral member.", "[0019] In one embodiment, the central member and the spiral member are made of rigid wire.", "[0020] In one embodiment, a fishing line can be connected to the swivel of the upper end portion.", "[0021] In one embodiment, the swivels can allow the spiral member to spin on an axis.", "[0022] In one embodiment, the central member, the spiral member and the eyelets can be formed from one continuous piece of wire.", "[0023] In one embodiment, the spiral member can be held in place by the central member.", "[0024] In one embodiment, the spiral member can circle several times around the length of the central member.", "[0025] In one embodiment, the weight can be of different sizes.", "[0026] In one embodiment, the present invention further comprises baited hooks that can be attached to the upper end portion and the lower end portion.", "[0027] In one embodiment, the apparatus of the invention comprises a single thread/rod forming both a spiral member and a central member.", "[0028] In one embodiment, the apparatus of the invention comprises a separate spiral member that can be attached to a separate central member.", "[0029] In one embodiment, a plurality of spiral members can be attached to the central member.", "[0030] In one embodiment, the spiral member can be removably attached to the central member.", "[0031] In one embodiment, a plurality of fish can be attached to the spiral member.", "[0032] In one embodiment, the central member can further comprise an internal channel for threading a line through the length of the central member.", "[0033] The present invention includes an apparatus for releasing a fish into deep water.", "The apparatus provides a central member having an upper end portion and a lower end portion, each end portion having an eyelet, a spiral member can be attached to the central member, and the spiral member can be spaced away from the central member and can have a free end.", "The apparatus further provides upper and lower swivels, wherein each swivel can be connected to a said eyelet, and a weight can be connected to the lower swivel.", "[0034] The present invention includes a device for releasing a fish having a buoyancy into deep water.", "The device of the present invention provides a central member that can have an upper end portion and a lower end portion, a spiral member that can be connected to the central member at the upper end portion of the central member and circling around the central member, the spiral member being spaced away from the central member and having a free end.", "The device can further provide a plurality of swivels, wherein one of the swivels can be connected the upper end portion of the central member and another of said swivels can be connected to the lower end portion of the central member.", "The device can further provide a weight on the central member that overcomes buoyancy of the fish.", "[0035] In one embodiment, the line can be attached to the swivels.", "[0036] In one embodiment, the present invention further comprises a plurality of beads, wherein one of the beads can be placed on the line at the upper end portion and another of the beads can be placed at the lower end portion.", "[0037] In one embodiment, the spiral member can be attached to the central member by a gusset.", "[0038] In one embodiment, the spiral member can be attached to the central member by encapsulation in some liquefied metal or plastic.", "[0039] In one embodiment, the spiral member can be attached to the central member by a collar.", "[0040] In one embodiment, the collar can be a moving collar.", "[0041] The present invention includes a method for releasing a fish having a buoyancy into deep water, comprising the steps of utilizing the fish releasing device by threading the free end of the spiral member through the jaw of a fish, lowering the device and the fish into the water to a desired depth, pulling up on the device thereby causing the device to spin on an axis and release the fish at the desired depth.", "[0042] In one embodiment, the spiral member is threaded through the gills of the fish.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS [0043] For a further understanding of the nature, objects, and advantages of the present invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description, read in conjunction with the following drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote like elements and wherein: [0044] FIG. 1 is a side view of a preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention;", "[0045] FIG. 2 is a top view of a preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention as shown in FIG. 1 ;", "[0046] FIG. 3 is a top perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention with a weight attached to the center member;", "[0047] FIG. 4 is a side view of a preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention with a fish attached to the spiral member and a weight attached to the center member;", "[0048] FIG. 5 is a side perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention with multiple fish attached to the spiral member and a weight attached to the center member;", "[0049] FIG. 6 is a side view of a first alternate embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention showing an alternate means of attaching a spiral member to a center member;", "[0050] FIG. 7 is a top view of a first alternate embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention as shown in FIG. 6 ;", "[0051] FIG. 8 is a top sectional view of the center member of a first alternate embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention as shown in FIG. 6 ;", "[0052] FIG. 9 is a side sectional view of the center member of a first alternate embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention as shown in FIG. 6 ;", "[0053] FIG. 10 is a side exploded view of the center member and spiral member of a first alternate embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention as shown in FIG. 6 ;", "[0054] FIG. 11 is a side view of a second alternate embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention showing an alternate means of attaching a spiral member to a center member;", "[0055] FIG. 12 is a top view of a second alternate embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention as shown in FIG. 11 ;", "[0056] FIG. 13 is a top sectional view of the center member of a second alternate embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention as shown in FIG. 11 ;", "[0057] FIG. 14 is a side sectional view of the center member of a second alternate embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention as shown in FIG. 11 ;", "[0058] FIG. 15 is a side exploded view of the center member and spiral member of a second alternate embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention as shown in FIG. 11 ;", "[0059] FIG. 16 is a side view of a third alternate embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention showing an alternate means of attaching the spiral member to the center member;", "[0060] FIG. 17 is a top view of a third alternate embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention as shown in FIG. 16 ;", "[0061] FIG. 18 is a top sectional view of the center member of a third alternate embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention as shown in FIG. 16 ;", "[0062] FIG. 19 is a side sectional view of the center member of a third alternate embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention as shown in FIG. 16 ;", "[0063] FIG. 20 is a side exploded view of the center member and spiral member of a third alternate embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention as shown in FIG. 16 ;", "[0064] FIG. 21 is a side view of a fourth alternate embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention showing an alternate means of attaching a spiral member to a center member;", "[0065] FIG. 22 is a top view of a fourth alternate embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention as shown in FIG. 21 ;", "[0066] FIG. 23 is a side view of a fifth alternate embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention showing multiple spiral members;", "[0067] FIG. 24 is a side view of a sixth alternate embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention attached to fishing lines on both end and with multiple fish attached to the spiral member;", "[0068] FIG. 25 is a side view of a seventh alternate embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention with multiple fish attached to the spiral member;", "[0069] FIG. 26 is a side view of an eighth alternate embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention showing an alternate means of attaching a spiral member to a center member;", "[0070] FIG. 27 is a side view of a ninth alternate embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention showing a line threaded through the center member, beads, and a first swivel attached to a weight and a second swivel attached to a line;", "[0071] FIG. 28 is a detailed view of a ninth alternate embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention showing a line threaded through the center member, a bead, and a swivel attached to a fishing line;", "[0072] FIG. 29 is a side view of a tenth alternate embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention including a gusset;", "[0073] FIG. 30 is a top view of a tenth alternate embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention as shown in FIG. 29 ;", "[0074] FIG. 31 is a side view of an eleventh alternate embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention;", "[0075] FIG. 32 is a top view of an eleventh alternate embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention as shown in FIG. 31 ;", "[0076] FIG. 33 is a side view of a twelfth alternate embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention including a collar;", "[0077] FIG. 34 is a top view of a twelfth alternate embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention as shown in FIG. 33 ;", "and [0078] FIG. 35 is a top view of a twelfth alternate embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention as shown in FIG. 33 .", "DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [0079] The apparatus of the present invention is seen in FIGS. 1-35 and can include a center member 11 with an eye, eyelet or hole 12 , 13 on each end.", "The center member 11 can connect between a fishing line 14 on top portion 20 and a weight 15 on bottom portion 21 .", "Member 11 can be linear or straight.", "Fishing line 14 can attach to eyelet or hole 12 on member 11 .", "Weight 15 can be used to descend device 10 and a buoyant, injured fish 16 .", "[0080] Around the center member 11 can be a spiral member 17 that preferably twists around the central member 11 .", "Spiral member 17 has free end 41 and an end joined to center member 11 .", "A single thread/rod can form both spiral member 17 and center member 11 (see FIGS. 1-5 ).", "Alternatively, spiral member 17 can be attached/supported on center member 11 by a number of different ways, as seen in at least FIGS. 6-21 , 29 - 35 .", "[0081] Spiral member 17 free end 41 can be threaded through the bottom jaw 35 of one or more fish 16 to secure the fish to device 10 .", "Preferably, spiral member 17 can be inserted from the lower exterior of the fish's mouth and exit through the fish's mouth to orient the fish facing downward on descent (see FIGS. 4 , 5 and 24 ).", "Spiral member 17 can also be fed through the fish's gills and out of the mouth with the same result.", "Other attachments of fish 16 to spiral member 17 could be used.", "[0082] Swivels 18 can be used at each end 20 , 21 of device 10 and which allow the entire member sections, including the spiral member 17 and the center member 11 , to spin on axis 19 (see FIG. 1 ).", "Fishing line 14 can be attached to swivel 18 located on the upper end portion 20 and weight 15 can be attached to swivel 18 located on the lower end portion 21 .", "[0083] Device 10 with one or more fish 16 attached can be used to return the fish to a desired depth by a mark on the fishing line 14 , line counter, or just an estimation.", "As the device 10 with fish 16 attached is going down or lowered into the water, the spiral wire 17 holds the fish at top portion 20 of device 10 as the fish is still buoyant from barotrauma.", "When the desired depth is reached and the line 14 is reeled upward, the device 10 will spin on axis 19 and allow the fish 16 to simply slide off downward and off of free end 41 .", "Member sections 11 , 17 can spin on axis 19 when ascending to the water surface.", "Member sections 11 , 17 generally do not spin when descending to the desired depth.", "[0084] For all embodiments, the single thread/rod can be made of a wire.", "The wire of the apparatus is preferably made of stainless wire, carbon steel, monel, polymer, or fiberglass reinforced polymer.", "For example, 316 stainless can preferably be used as it is the most cost effective and sensible material at present.", "[0085] For all embodiments, the length of device 10 can be preferably 6 inches to 3 feet (15.24 cm to 91.44 cm).", "More preferably, the length can be 1 feet to 2 feet (30.48 cm to 60.96 cm).", "Most preferably, the length of device 10 can be 6 to 18 inches (15.24 cm to 45.72 cm).", "The length of device 10 can be for example 6 inches (15.24 cm).", "For example, in California and other areas, anglers commonly release rockfish which are often less than 1 lb.", "(0.45 kg), making it desirable to have device 10 be about 6″ (15.24 cm) in total length.", "[0086] For all embodiments, the width of the center member and spiral member of the apparatus can be preferably 3/32 inch to ½ inch (0.24 cm to 1.27 cm).", "Most preferably, the width can be ⅛ inch to 5/16 inch (0.32 cm to 0.8 cm).", "To mitigate the harm to fish when attaching fish to the spiral member 17 , it is preferable to use a single thread/rod with a smaller width.", "[0087] For all embodiments, the number of turns of the spiral member 17 around the center member 11 of the apparatus can be preferably 1 to 10.", "More preferably, the number of turns of the spiral member 17 around the center member 11 of the apparatus can be 1 to 5.", "Most preferably, the number of turns of the spiral member 17 around the center member 11 of the apparatus can be 2 to 4.", "The number of turns can be for example 3.", "[0088] For all embodiments, the radius of the spiral member 17 from the center member 11 of the apparatus can be preferably ⅜″ to 1½″ (0.95 cm to 3.81 cm).", "More preferably, the radius of the spiral member 17 from the center member 11 of the apparatus can be ½″ to 1¼″ (1.27 cm to 3.18 cm).", "Most preferably, the radius of the spiral member 17 from the center member 11 of the apparatus can be ⅝″ to 1″ (1.59 cm to 2.54 cm).", "The radius of the spiral member 17 from the center member can be for example ¾″ (1.91 cm).", "[0089] For all embodiments, the apparatus can preferably accommodate at least one fish weighing less than 1 pound to 500 lbs (0.45 kg to 226.8 kg).", "More preferably, the apparatus can accommodate fish weighing 2 to 50 pounds (0.91 kg to 22.7 kg).", "Most preferably, the apparatus can accommodate fish weighing 3 to 25 pounds (1.36 kg to 11.4 kg).", "[0090] For all embodiments, the apparatus preferably can accommodate a plurality of fish weighing less than 1 pound to 500 lbs (0.45 kg to 226.8 kg) combined.", "More preferably, the apparatus can accommodate a plurality of fish weighing 5 to 100 pounds (2.27 kg to 45.36 kg) combined.", "Most preferably, the apparatus can accommodate a plurality of fish weighing 10 to 50 (4.54 kg to 22.7 kg) combined.", "The larger the fish, the more weight required to descend the fish to the desired depth.", "[0091] For all embodiments, the device can be injection molded or manufactured with other materials or by other processes.", "Single Construction [0092] In one embodiment as seen in FIGS. 1-5 and 25 , device 10 of the invention comprises a single thread/rod forming both a spiral member 17 and a center member 11 .", "The length of this embodiment can be, for example, 12 inches (30.48 cm).", "Alternatively, the length can be, for example, 18 inches (45.72 cm).", "The most preferred width of the single thread/rod of the apparatus of this embodiment is the apparatus is ⅛ inch (0.32 cm).", "Eyes 12 , 13 are also made of the single thread/rod wire, as seen in FIGS. 1-5 and 25 .", "Joined Construction [0093] In one embodiment, the apparatus of the invention comprises a separate spiral member 17 that can be attached to a separate central member 11 .", "In this embodiment, the spiral member 17 can be preferably a twisted spiral wire.", "The twisted spiral wire of the apparatus can be preferably made of stainless wire.", "In this embodiment, the center member 11 can be preferably of a shape allowing rotation along an axis 19 .", "Center member 11 can have eyes 12 , 13 made into the rod, as seen for example in FIGS. 21 , 23 .", "The center member 11 preferably comprises a heavy rod center to add strength to the apparatus for accommodating larger fish or for multiple fish 16 .", "The apparatus of this embodiment is preferably capable of releasing possibly tens of fish on each descent.", "The center member is preferably made of stainless steel.", "The heavy rod is preferably made of stainless steel.", "[0094] In this embodiment, the length can be preferably 1 foot to 4 feet (30.48 cm to 121.92 cm).", "More preferably, the length of this embodiment can be less than 2 feet (60.96 cm).", "Most preferably, the length of this embodiment can be about 15 inches to 20 inches (38.1 cm to 50.8 cm).", "In one alternative, the length of the apparatus of this embodiment can be for example 20 inches (50.8 cm).", "In another alternative, the length of the apparatus of this embodiment can be for example 36 inches (91.44 cm).", "The length is based on fish size and ease of storage.", "[0095] In this embodiment, the width of the spiral member 17 of the apparatus is preferably 3/32 inch to ¼ inch (0.24 cm to 0.64 cm).", "More preferably, the width of the spiral member 17 is 18 inch to ¼ inch.", "Most preferably, the width of the spiral member 17 can be for example ⅛ inch (0.32 cm).", "Most preferably, the width of the spiral member 17 of the apparatus can be ⅛ inch to 3/16 inch (0.48 cm) for larger fish.", "[0096] In this embodiment, the width of the center member 11 of the apparatus is preferably 3/16 inch to ½ inch (0.48 cm to 1.27 cm).", "More preferably, the width of the center member 11 of the apparatus is 3/16 inch to 5/16 inch (0.48 cm to 0.8 cm).", "A preferred width of the center member 11 of the apparatus of this embodiment is 5/16 inch (0.8 cm).", "Alternatively, a preferred width of the center member 11 can be 3/16 inch (0.48).", "Various Attachments of the Spiral Member to the Center Member [0097] In one embodiment, a plurality of separate spiral members 17 can be attached to central member 11 .", "More preferably, two twisted spiral members 17 can be attached to the central member 11 as seen in FIG. 23 .", "In this embodiment, each spiral member of the apparatus is preferably a twisted spiral wire.", "Each twisted spiral wire of the apparatus is preferably made of stainless wire.", "Preferably, the multiple spiral members 17 can allow for multiple releases with more fish.", "In one embodiment, the length of the apparatus of this embodiment is 20 inches (50.8 cm).", "In one embodiment, the length of the apparatus of this embodiment is most preferably 36 inches (91.44 cm).", "[0098] FIGS. 6-21 , 29 - 35 show alternate ways of attaching member 17 to center member 11 .", "[0099] In FIGS. 6-10 , spiral member 17 can be inserted in opening 26 in center member 11 and secured to center member 11 with screws 23 that are inserted into holes 24 , 25 in center member.", "[0100] In FIGS. 11-15 , spiral member 17 can be inserted in opening 27 in center member 11 and secured to center member 11 by a weld or welding.", "Spiral member 17 can be welded to center member 11 at weld/attachment points 32 , as seen in FIGS. 14 , 15 .", "[0101] In FIGS. 16-20 , spiral member 17 can be inserted in opening 28 in center member 11 and secured to center member 11 by welding or with a sleeve.", "Spiral member 17 can be welded to center member 11 at attachment point 33 where spiral member 17 contacts the inner surface of center member 11 , as seen in FIG. 20 .", "[0102] Spiral member 17 can also be attached/supported on center member 11 by the following ways as seen in at least FIGS. 29-35 , including but not limited to the following: [0103] 1.", "A gusset 36 can be used to support the intersection of central member 11 and spiral member 17 , as seen in FIGS. 29 , 30 .", "A stainless or other metal gusset 36 can be welded in place or possibly a plastic, composite or other material brace can be put near the intersection to give additional support by being fitted and snapped in.", "Use of a gusset 36 may also help to prevent a fish from getting pinched into the tapering intersection.", "[0104] 2.", "The entire intersection of central 11 and spiral 17 members can be encapsulated in some liquefied metal or plastic 37 and allowed to harden in order to support that area, as seen in FIGS. 31 , 32 .", "This can provide additional support if long term durability is an issue.", "[0105] 3.", "A collar 38 can be used to support or construct the central 11 and spiral 17 member intersection, as seen in FIGS. 33-35 .", "Set screws 39 can be used.", "A collar 38 can be made and fitted at the intersection for additional support.", "It can be made from stainless or other material and can include holes 40 bored for the central member 11 and spiral member 17 with set screws 39 to hold in place.", "Spiral member 17 can be secured in a straight or possibly an angled bore.", "The device can be constructed in three (3) pieces using such a collar.", "[0106] 4.", "A moving collar supporting spiral member 17 can be used.", "The same or similar collar 38 described above can be fitted and allowed or rotated to move up and down both members 11 , 17 .", "It can serve to preserve the integrity of the device 10 but may add a complexity that may not be of benefit in the execution of fish release.", "Unless constructed perfectly this addition would likely hang up without some slack or curve in the bore for the spiral member.", "It can be made of Teflon or similar material to allow free motion.", "The necessary bore would likely be costly to manufacture if possible at all.", "Hollow Center Member [0107] In one embodiment, center member 11 can have a hole 34 bored completely through the main member center 11 , as seen in FIGS. 27 and 28 .", "A fishing line 31 can be attached to top swivel 18 and threaded through center member 11 hole 34 , and then the same fishing line 31 can be attached to bottom swivel 18 .", "Beads 30 can be placed on fishing line 31 at each end of the center member 11 (see for example FIG. 28 ) and can be used for spacing and chafe protection.", "Hole 34 replaces the need for eyes 12 and 13 .", "Boring hole 34 or buying tubing as opposed to having a solid rod is significantly more expensive and possibly cost prohibitive, however, it does provide the user with more options that may work better with various fishing gear.", "It does still have the same function and result as the other embodiments of this invention.", "Advantages [0108] This device has several advantages over other attempts made to accomplish the same task.", "[0109] 1.", "The present invention can return more than one fish 16 at a time with little chance of malfunction and could be built longer, if desired, to hold possibly any number of fish.", "This would be more suitable for commercial fishing interests.", "Deepwater fish are often caught several at a time.", "[0110] 2.", "The spiraled wire 17 of the present invention is an advantage as it is captured or held in place by the center wire member 11 as so not to bend or snag anything.", "This wire 17 going around the center member 11 several times over the length of the device 10 is a preferred embodiment of the design.", "[0111] 3.", "The present invention securely holds a fish 16 for return without complex mechanisms and will release fish at any depth.", "Some other devices only release upon hitting bottom which may be much deeper than the depth of catch.", "This is the case when fishing near oil rigs where depth can be thousands of feet.", "Still others have set depths based on pressure, which again may not correspond with catch depth.", "[0112] 4.", "The present invention can accommodate different sinker weight sizes as some fish will be more buoyant than others.", "[0113] 5.", "The present invention can be made of larger and stronger wire in order to accommodate larger fish.", "Deepwater fish can range from ounces to over 500 lbs.", "(226.8 kg).", "[0114] 6.", "The present invention can be connected to a fishing line with baited hooks above or below whereby the angler could release fish and also catch fish on the same drop with a minimum chance of malfunction.", "This may be more suitable for commercial fishing interests.", "[0115] 7.", "The present invention is simple and durable enough to be affordable and practical, thereby making its use more likely by all anglers.", "[0116] 8.", "The device is more streamlined as opposed to bulky and descends very quickly.", "[0117] 9.", "The device holds fish with mouth forward and aerates gills, aids in swimming motion and rejuvenating the fish.", "[0118] 10.", "The device handles fish with greater trauma very effectively.", "At the surface they want to float while the device wants to sink thereby aiding the ability of the device to hold them.", "As the fish descend, compress and become less buoyant, separation is made much easier as it was designed to be.", "[0119] 11.", "Once the device is set in motion upward, natural release occurs and has little chance of malfunction.", "[0120] 12.", "The figures demonstrate the necessity of the encircling wire being “captured”", "around the center member.", "It allows it to hold weight and resist over stress while at the same time being flexible enough as so not to hinder release.", "It is essentially floating around the center member.", "It also does not need to be a uniform spiral and can be bent and reshaped very easily if damaged.", "[0121] 13.", "The device could be made more complex, possibly with replaceable parts, but simple and inexpensive will probably be the best option.", "So far, testing has been perfect, as well as sending cameras down to show the function.", "[0122] One very important fact to consider as any release devices are put to use is the notion that you are sending potential food back down to other fishes and at any point the whole device and fishes for release could very easily be eaten whole or thrashed and destroyed by any number of species.", "PARTS LIST [0123] The following is a list of parts and materials suitable for use in the present invention: [0000] Parts Number Description 10 fish release apparatus 11 center member 12 eye/eyelet/hole 13 eye/eyelet/hole 14 fishing line 15 weight 16 fish 17 spiral member 18 swivels 19 axis 20 top portion 21 bottom portion 22 turns 23 screw 24 hole 25 hole 26 opening 27 opening 28 opening 29 welded joint 30 bead 31 line 32 attachment point 33 attachment point 34 hole 35 jaw 36 gusset 37 liquified metal or plastic 38 collar 39 screw 40 hole 41 free end [0124] All measurements disclosed herein are at standard temperature and pressure, at sea level on Earth, unless indicated otherwise.", "[0125] The foregoing embodiments are presented by way of example only;", "the scope of the present invention is to be limited only by the following claims." ]

[ "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1.", "Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a process for the production of a laminated, enamelled glazing comprising at least two glass sheets, whereof at least one is at least partly coated with at least one enamel coating on its face directed towards the interior of the laminate.", "The invention also relates to an enamel composition advantageously usable in the aforementioned process, as well as to the products obtained according to said process.", "Description of the Prior Art Enamels are well known in the art and are in particular used on glass substrates such as glazings for vehicles or buildings.", "Inter alia they make it possible to form borders, decorative layers or protective layers.", "Thus, in car glazings, enamels are used for hiding the collective strips of heating systems or for hiding and protecting the actual heating systems.", "They are more particularly used for protecting adhesive beads used for the installation of the glazings in the vehicle body openings against light radiation and in particular UV radiation, whilst at the same time as masking the said beads.", "The enamel used for such applications is generally formed from a powder incorporating a glass frit including pigments and a medium, also known as a vehicle or vector generally comprising a binder ensuring the cohesion of the enamel and the temporary adhesion of said enamel to the glass at the time of deposition, and an organic diluent or solvent making it possible to give the necessary viscosity for applying the enamel to the substrate.", "In general terms, the enamel is deposited by screen printing.", "Thus, using this procedure, it is known to deposit the enamel on the substrate, dry the thus obtained layer in order to permit the elimination of the diluents in the enamel, optionally deposit other layers which also undergo drying, prior to the heat treatment of all the enamelled layers at a high temperature in order to vitrify the enamel and obtain the final covering.", "In the case of laminated glazings comprising at least two glass sheets, it is known to deposit the enamel by screen printing on the face of one glass sheet which is to be turned towards the outside of the glazing, prior to the drying and then firing of said enamel, the firing of the enamel taking place during the simultaneous bending of the glass sheets of the glazing for bent, laminated glazings.", "A simultaneous bending of the glass sheets of a laminated glazing superimposed in their final order and with simultaneous firing of the enamel layer or layers located on at least one of the sheets is only possible when the enamel is intended to be located on the outside of the laminated glass.", "However, in the opposite case, where it is wished to provide a laminated glazing with an enamel layer on a substrate face to be in contact with another substrate of the laminated glazing, i.e. a face of the substrate turned towards the inside of a laminated glazing, the firing of the enamel during the simultaneous bending of the superimposed substrates in their final order causes numerous problems.", "Thus, the enamel incorporates components, particularly organic components, which, at the firing temperature, give off reaction products in gaseous form, which cannot be evacuated out of the space between the substrates.", "There is also a considerable risk of the substrates sticking to one another by means of the enamel during the melting of the latter.", "In order to obviate these problems, it is known to bake the enamel on the planar substrate prior to bending.", "Thus, DE-A3,920,573 proposes subjecting the still planar, enamelled substrate to firing at a high temperature (approximately 600° C.), then allowing the substrate to cool before superimposing a second substrate and simultaneously bending the two substrates.", "This process makes it possible to solve the problems associated with the reaction gases, sticking being avoided by the use of separating or parting agents between the two substrates, but this involves the complying with several requirements.", "Thus, the enamelled substrate must remain flat and must have no internal stress liable to cause deformations during bending.", "The transportation of the substrates on conveying rollers can lead, for example, to minor deformations which are still adequate to ensure that the resulting glazings have inadequate optical properties.", "Moreover, a high temperature treatment prior to bending is expensive and may give rise to irreversible optical faults.", "Another process described in application DE 4,201,275.9 proposes carrying out a prebending and a simultaneous baking of the enamel, but reversing the order of the substrates, so that the enamel-covered face is directed towards the outside.", "Following the cooling of the thus prebent substrates, the position of the substrates is reversed and said substrates are bent on their final shape, the enamelled substrate on this occasion having its enamel-covered face directed towards the inside of the laminated glazing.", "However, this process makes it necessary to have a supplementary bending stage, as well as a supplementary cooling stage, accompanied by a reversal of the substrates, so that costs are raised.", "Therefore a first object of the invention is to obviate the problems of enamelling within a laminated glazing by proposing a simple and effective solution making it possible to obtain products of adequate quality at a lower cost and with improved productivity.", "More particularly, the object of the invention is to develop a process for the production of a laminated, enamelled glazing, in combination with an appropriate composition, said process making it possible to simultaneously bend the substrates of the laminated glazing superimposed in their final order and a firing, during the bending, of the enamel used, when said enamel is located on one face of at least one of the substrates to be turned towards the inside of the laminated glazing, said process being simpler and having better performance characteristics than the aforementioned, known processes.", "SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION These objects are firstly achieved by means of a process for the production of a laminated glazing comprising at least two glass sheets and a "spacer", said laminated glazing being coated with at least one enamel layer over at least one part of the inner face of at least one of its glass sheets, in which deposition takes place of at least one layer of an enamel composition comprising a frit having anti-stick properties, a medium which is able to be eliminated at low temperature and optionally a low melting point frit, on at least one part of the inner face of at least one glass sheet, the enamelled glass sheet undergoes a heat treatment at a temperature between 150° C. and the deformation temperature of the glass in order to release the gaseous reaction products of the components of the enamel, making said enamel non-stick with respect to another glass sheet and optionally performing a preattachment of the enamel to the glass, and then on the enamelled face of the glass sheet is placed a second glass sheet prior to the simultaneous bending of the two sheets, the final firing of the enamel taking place during the bending, the glass sheets then being separated and assembled with the other elements of the glazings, such as the spacer or spacers.", "The invention also covers an enamel composition for a glass substrate, said composition being usable with advantage for performing the aforementioned process, said composition including a frit having anti-stick properties, a medium which is able to be eliminated at low temperatures for application to the substrate and optionally a low melting point frit, said composition being also able to be used with advantage in other enamelling processes.", "The invention also relates to a glazing comprising at least two glass sheets and a spacer, said glazing being obtained according to the process of the invention and being coated, on at least one part of the inner face of at least one of its glass sheets, with at least one enamel layer according to the invention.", "DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The term "heat treatment"", "is subsequently understood to mean, according to the invention, the particular heat treatment performed at a temperature between 150° C. and the deformation temperature of the glass, as indicated in the definition of the invention.", "The term "inner face of a glass sheet"", "in a laminated glazing means, according to the invention, the face of the glass sheet turned or intended to be turned towards the inside of the laminated glazing, i.e. the face which is to be in contact with another element of the laminated glazing, such as a spacer.", "The spacer of the laminated glazing produced according to the invention can be any type of spacer used at present in laminated glazings such as a thermoplastic spacing sheet, a gel, or an air sheet.", "In the latter case, the term multiple glazing is more appropriate than laminated glazing.", "The term "frit"", "is understood to mean, according to the invention, a vitrifiable powder also containing pigments based on metal oxides.", "The term "anti-stick"", "properties means, according to the invention, a non-sticking of the enamel layer deposited on a substrate with respect to an element coming into contact therewith during the bending operation.", "The fact of using, in the process according to the invention, a frit having anti-stick properties makes it possible to avoid, following the heat treatment of the laminated sheets, enamel sticking problems during the bending stage.", "The frits having anti-stick properties according to the invention can in particular consist of frits containing elements forming crystalline phases, such as those described in EP 370,683 and in particular titanium dioxide or zirconium dioxide.", "They can also consist of frits containing oxidizable metals more particularly in powder form, like those described in EP 362,136 and EP 466,343 and in particular zinc in powder form, or refractory products having melting points above 650° C. The expression "medium able to be eliminated at low temperature"", "is understood to mean, according to the invention, a medium also known as a vector which can incorporate solvents and/or diluents and/or oils and/or resins having a low molecular weight, the constituents of the medium being eliminatable, particularly by evaporation or carbonization, at a temperature below that giving rise to deformations of the glass and preferably at a temperature below 450° C. This medium or vector has in particular the function of making the enamel composition suitable for application to the substrate by screen printing and maintains said composition on the substrate up to the heat treatment preceding the assembly of the glass sheets before the simultaneous bending of said glass sheets.", "The medium or vector according to the invention inter alia makes it possible to perform the aforementioned heat treatment at low temperatures, the costs decreasing with the temperatures, and without any risk of the enamel-covered glass substrate undergoing deformation.", "When only a single enamel layer is to be deposited on the substrate, the medium or vector according to the invention may be free from resin and in particular consist of terpene derivatives such as gamma-terpineol or beta-terpineol.", "The absence of resin makes it possible, in most cases, to lower the temperature of the aforementioned heat treatment and is without any prejudicial consequences with respect to the process according to the invention in the case where a single enamel layer is deposited on the substrate, particularly when said enamel incorporates a low melting point frit according to the invention.", "However, the presence of resin is indispensable in certain cases when several enamel layers are deposited on the substrate, as explained hereafter.", "The media used are in most cases organic media reacting with infrared radiation, but can also, if appropriate, be aqueous media and/or media reacting to other radiation types or treatments, particularly ultraviolet radiation.", "According to the invention, the term "low melting point frit"", "means a frit whose melting point is below approximately 450° C. and preferably below approximately 400° C., said frit improving the adhesion of the enamelled layer prior to the final firing.", "Such a frit is in particular necessary for depositing another enamel layer on the first layer, said second enamel layer generally having to fulfil different functions.", "This is in particular the case with conductive enamelled layers based on silver paste which it is wished to deposit on a glazing in order to form heating systems or networks and which will be hidden from view by the first enamel layer.", "The presence of a low melting point frit in the composition of the first enamel layer then makes it possible to avoid delamination problems of the enamel layers prior to the final firing.", "In the case where a single enamel layer is deposited on the substrate, the use of a low melting point frit in the enamel composition is not indispensable, delamination problems not occurring in the same way or with the same intensity as previously, but is still desirable, because the frit in question maintains the composition on the substrate and the cohesion of the enamel following the heat treatment stage according to the invention.", "The low melting point frit according to the invention is used in proportions such that the anti-stick properties are not affected.", "These proportions are in general, approximately 2 to 30% by weight and preferably, in the case where use is made of a low melting point frit with a melting point between 300° and 450° C., approximately 5 to 15% by weight.", "The low melting point frits according to the invention can in particular consist of lead silicates, lead oxides or boric derivatives.", "Among the low melting point frits, it can be desirable to use "very low melting point"", "frits, i.e. frits with a melting point below approximately 300° C., said frits e.g. consisting of boric acid derivatives.", "Very low melting point frit compositions are in particular illustrated by the following examples 2 and 3.", "Advantageously, the deposition of the enamel layer according to the invention takes place by screen printing.", "Heat treatment preferably takes place at temperatures below approximately 450° C. and said temperatures can descend to approximately 150° to 200° C. when the medium or vector contains no resin.", "When the enamel composition used comprises a low melting point frit, the heat treatment temperature is preferably above the Littleton point of the low melting point frit and is advantageously close to the melting point of said frit.", "The low temperature heat treatment according to the invention is in particular made possible by the choice of the components of the enamel and mainly makes it possible to release the gaseous reaction products of the enamel components, whilst at the same time making the enamel non-stick with respect to another glass sheet and, when the enamel comprises a low melting point frit, whilst carrying out a preattachment of the enamel by melting said low melting point frit, without any risk of deformation of the glass substrates due to the relatively low operating temperature.", "The bending according to the invention takes place at around 600° C., particularly by gravity and in accordance with a known process.", "The separation of the bent substrates and their reassembly following the addition of a spacer between said substrates also takes place in accordance with known processes.", "The process according to the invention, as defined hereinbefore, permits the performance of an enamelling of the faces of the substrates in the interior of the bent, laminated glazings in a manner which is as simple and effective as the conventional enamelling processes on faces of glass substrates to be located to the exterior of bent, laminated glazings without encountering the sticking problems or the problems of removing gaseous reaction products referred to hereinbefore.", "According to an embodiment of the invention, at least one second enamel layer is deposited on the first enamel layer having a composition according to the invention prior to the heat treatment of the two deposited layers, said second layer being able to have the composition explained in the definition of the invention, but usually being a layer of a conductive enamel such as a silver paste-based enamel, the enamel according to the invention being compatible with such enamels.", "This deposition of a second layer, preferably by screen printing, requires beforehand a thermal pretreatment also referred to as "drying"", "of the deposited, first layer.", "Moreover, the enamel used for producing said first layer necessarily incorporates in this embodiment of the invention, a low melting point frit, as defined hereinbefore.", "In the case where the low melting point frit used in this embodiment of the invention has a melting point between approximately 300° and approximately 450° C., the medium or vector used in combination with said frit and the frit having anti-stick properties, necessarily incorporates at least one resin, more particularly serving as a film forming agent for the second layer, and the second deposited layer also undergoes a thermal pretreatment or drying before the heat treatment of the two layers.", "The resins used in this embodiment of the invention can in particular consist of an acrylic acid ester such as a polyalkylacrylate, particularly polybutyl methacrylate or polymethyl methacrylate, in this case the medium also incorporating an oil, a diluent or a solvent such as a terpene derivative.", "It is also possible to use media or vectors essentially based on resins reacting to UV rays, such as the media described in FR 2,512,434 and in particular media based on resins chosen from among acrylic monomers and unsaturated polyesters in the presence of photoinitiators such as benzoin alkyl either and it is possible for said media reacting to UV to be free from solvents.", "It is also possible to use aqueous media incorporating resins such as cellulose acetates.", "In the aforementioned embodiment using as the composition of the first enamel layer deposited a low melting point frit, whose melting point is between approximately 300° and 450° C., a medium incorporating a resin and a frit having anti-stick properties, the first and second enamel layers are thus subject to a thermal pretreatment or drying, each following the respective deposition and prior to the heat treatment of the assembly.", "The thermal pretreatment or drying corresponds, according to the invention, to the elimination of the diluents from the enamel, said diluents only being necessary for giving the desired viscosity to the enamel with a view to the deposition of said enamel, and/or make it possible to carry out the polymerization and/or crosslinking of certain compounds of the medium, the polymerized or crosslinked compounds being subsequently burnt during the heat treatment according to the invention.", "The thermal pre-treatment or drying according to the invention can take place, as a function of the particular case and the constituents of the medium, by infrared radiation, ultraviolet radiation, microwaves, hot air, etc.", "It is necessary to distinguish the thermal pretreatment or drying referred to hereinbefore and the heat treatment according to the invention.", "The thermal pretreatment or drying carried out on the first, deposited enamel layer makes the latter suitable for receiving a second layer by giving it a sufficient cohesion and in more general terms, with respect to each deposited enamel, permits the temporary fixing of said enamels by the elimination of diluents and/or polymerization and/or crosslinking of certain components of the medium.", "Afterwards, the heat treatment stage eliminates, by carbonization or evaporation, the remaining parts, which may or may not be polymerized and may or may not be crosslinked, from the medium, said parts being able to give rise to gas leaks, and permits, in this embodiment of the invention where the enamel used comprises a low melting point frit, to maintain the adhesion of the enamel layers to the substrate and to one another by the melting of the low melting point frit, the medium burnt by the heat treatment no longer providing said adhesion.", "The heat treatment also reveals the anti-stick properties of the second frits used in the enamel composition according to the invention and thus prevents the subsequent sticking of the enamels to the glass sheet coming into contact therewith during bending.", "It is also pointed out that in the aforementioned embodiment, where two enamel layers are deposited and where a low melting point frit, whose melting point is between 300° and 450° C. is used, the pretreatment or drying takes place at temperatures below 100° C., whereas the heat treatment takes place at more unusual temperatures between 150° C. and the deformation temperature of the glass and preferably between 150°/200° C. and 450° C., as indicated hereinbefore.", "It is also pointed out that in the case where a single enamel layer is deposited in accordance with the invention, the heat treatment has, in the same way as when several layers are deposited, the function of eliminating those parts of the medium which can give rise to gas leaks, prevents the subsequent sticking of the enamel to the glass sheet coming into contact therewith during bending and optionally ensures the adhesion or preattachment of the enamel to the glass by melting the low melting point frit when the latter is present in the enamel composition.", "Thus, the heat treatment according to the invention differs from the conventional drying operations which can be carried out on enamelled substrates, said operations only making it possible to eliminate the diluents from the enamel and only permitting a temporary fixing of the enamels by the medium prior to the final fixing of the enamels by the melting of the frits forming them.", "As a variant of the embodiment according to the invention according to which at least one second enamel layer is deposited on the first enamel layer according to the invention, it is possible to use an enamel composition incorporating a very low melting point frit, whose melting point is below 300° C., in place of a low melting point frit, whose melting point is between 300° and 450° C. In this case, the presence of resin within the medium of the composition of the first enamel layer is not necessary (the medium then preferably consists of solvents and/or diluents and/or oils such a terpene derivatives), unlike in the case where the low melting point frit used is a frit with a melting point between 300° and 450° C. Here also, the thermal pretreatment or drying of the second enamel layer can be eliminated, whereas the thermal pretreatment or drying of the first layer is optionally performed at temperatures higher than those mentioned hereinbefore and which can extend up to 350° C. The second enamel layer is deposited in this way on the first enamel layer following the thermal pretreatment or drying of said first layer and then the enamelled glass sheet is directly exposed to the heat treatment according to the invention.", "Although the enamel compositions used in the process according to the invention are particularly appropriate for said process, they can also be used with advantage in other enamelled glazing production processes and for coating any glass substrate type not necessarily belonging to a laminated glazing.", "The enamel compositions according to the invention comprise a frit having anti-stick properties, a medium able to be eliminated at low temperature for application to the substrate and optionally a low melting point frit.", "The characteristics of the components of the enamel are those referred to in the process according to the invention.", "The frit having anti-stick properties is that described in the process, the medium is also that described hereinbefore, with or without resin, and the low melting point frit is as described hereinbefore.", "The enamel composition according to the invention incorporating a low melting point frit is particularly interesting for the covering of glass substrates, no matter what the substrate and process used.", "The process according to the invention can be used for producing any type of laminated glazing covered by enamel on one substrate face located on the interior of said laminated glazing.", "The process according to the invention can in particular be used for producing laminated glazings for vehicles enamelled on face 2, i.e. enamelled on a glass sheet face oriented towards the spacer, the face 1 being the face oriented towards the outside of the vehicle.", "An example of application of the process according to the invention relates to the production of a laminated car glazing provided with a heating system constituted by fine, electrical resistance wires embedded in a spacer of the laminated glazing and connected to collecting strips, particularly made from conductive enamel or of metallic elements, which are themselves connected to power supplies.", "In this case, the enamel deposited according to the process of the invention on one face of a glass substrate of a laminated glazing directed towards the spacer, particularly face 2 of the laminated glazing, can be used for masking the collecting strips.", "Another exemplified application relates to the production of a laminated car glazing provided with a heating system consisting of a conductive enamel on one part of the face of the external or outer substrate, said face being located on the interior of the laminated glazing, as described in U.S. Pat. No. A4,373,130.", "This heating system is used for deicing or thawing windscreen wipers located on the other face of the aforementioned outer substrate and it is deposited as a second enamel layer on a first enamel layer according to the invention used for masking it.", "It should be noted in this connection that the second layer deposited, when conductive, can also extend beyond the first enamel layer, e.g. in order to come into contact with another conductive layer of the glazing.", "It is also pointed out that glazings which can be produced according to the invention can also comprise a second or several other layers of a conductive enamel or a random enamel without the same necessarily being deposited on the first layer of an enamel according to the invention.", "A second enamel layer can thus be located at a point of the laminated glazing different from the carrying at least one enamel layer according to the invention.", "The glazings obtained according to the invention comprise at least two glass sheets and a spacer, said glazings being covered, on at least one part of the inner face of at least one of their glass sheets by at least one enamel layer according to the invention and these glazings have their optical properties maintained.", "The following examples illustrate in a non-limitative manner enamel compositions according to the invention and processes for enamelling the associated laminated glazings.", "EXAMPLE 1 In this example, the enamel compositions produced comprises a frit having anti-stick properties, a low melting point frit and a medium or vector with resin in the following weight proportions: 80 parts of a frit having anti-stick properties and the following composition: ______________________________________ PbO 38% Cr.", "sub[.", "].2 O.sub[.", "].3 20% CuO 19% SiO.", "sub[.", "].2 6% MnO 4% TiO.", "sub[.", "].2 9% B.sub[.", "].2 O.sub[.", "].3 1% Al.", "sub[.", "].2 O.sub[.", "].3 0.5% ZrO.", "sub[.", "].2 2.5%______________________________________ 10 parts of a low melting point frit having the following composition: ______________________________________ Pb.", "sub[.", "].3 O.sub[.", "].4 60% PbSiO.", "sub[.", "].3 22% H.sub[.", "].3 BO.", "sub[.", "].3 18%______________________________________ 20 parts of a medium formed from 18 parts of terpene derivatives of the gamma-terpineol type (1-methyl-cyclohexan-1-ol-4-isopropylene) and beta-tarpineol and 2 parts of a polybutyl methacrylate resin.", "This enamel is deposited by screen printing on the face of a glass sheet intended to be face 2 of a laminated glazing for a vehicle, said face being oriented towards the spacer, face 1 being the face oriented towards the outside of the vehicle.", "The enamel is then dried at about 80° to 100° C. and then a silver paste-based conductive enamel layer is deposited on the first enamel layer before in turn undergoing drying at around 100° C. The enamelled glass substrate then undergoes a heat treatment at around 400° C. before associating it with a second glass sheet which is placed above the enamelled face and the stack then undergoes bending in accordance with conventional procedures by gravity, prior to the separation of the glass sheets and assembly with a plastics material spacer.", "EXAMPLE 2 In this example, the enamel composition according to the invention comprises, apart from a frit having anti-stick properties and a resin-free vector or medium, a very low melting point frit, whose Littleton point is 260° C. and having the following composition: ______________________________________ B.sub[.", "].2 O.sub[.", "].3 100%______________________________________ The process associated with the use of this composition is as follows.", "The enamel is deposited by screen printing on the face of a glass sheet which is to be face 2 of a laminated glazing, as in Example 1.", "The enamel is then dried by infrared at approximately 300° C. and then a silver paste-based conductive enamel layer is deposited on the first enamel layer and the thus enamelled substrate undergoes a heat treatment at around 300° C. before being associated with a second glass sheet which is placed above the enamelled face.", "The stack then undergoes bending in accordance with conventional gravity methods prior to the separation of the glass sheets and assembly with a plastics material spacer.", "EXAMPLE 3 In this example, the enamel composition according to the invention comprises a frit having anti-adhesive properties, a resin-free vector or medium and a very low melting point frit, whose Littleton point is 135° C. and having the following composition: ______________________________________ Na.", "sub[.", "].2 O 20.8% P.sub[.", "].2 O.sub[.", "].5 62.5% H.sub[.", "].2 O 16.7%______________________________________ The process associated with the use of this composition is similar to that of Example 2, the drying temperature and the heat treatment temperature being in this case approximately 200° C." ]

[ "RELATED APPLICATION DATA [0001] This application claims priority of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/917,097 filed on May 10, 2007, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.", "FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The invention relates to a patient lateral positioning device for pelvic treatments.", "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] In pelvic treatments, in particular hip replacement operations, patients typically are operated on while lying on their side, and this requires the patient to be fixed such that their pelvis is positioned at rest.", "This is conventionally achieved using patient positioners, which comprise supporting means for the lower region of the patient's body.", "In this position, however, it is often difficult to ascertain navigation information by tapping body landmarks (ASIS and pubic points) within the framework of medical navigation, because these characteristic pelvic landmarks are in most cases difficult to access, at least in the lower region.", "X-ray or fluoroscopic registration is therefore often employed.", "[0004] Many conventional patient positioners use pads or poles that are fixed to an arm system of the operating table or to similar fixed means.", "Such a mechanical positioner is known, for example, from U.S. Pat. No. 6,311,349.", "[0005] In addition to mechanical positioners, there are also positioners that comprise navigation reference means for medical navigation;", "such a positioner is known, for example, from WO 2004/089192 A2.", "The reference means are used to indirectly localize the ASIS and pubic points, which can be used to register the front pelvic plane.", "[0006] When registering the ASIS points and pubic points by manually tapping the points and access to these points is impeded by the presence of a positioning means, it is necessary to fall back on fluoroscopic registration.", "There are positioning means for this purpose that are made of a material that is as radiolucent as possible and comprise the supporting devices already mentioned above, e.g., poles and pads, which are fixed to a carrier system (on a guiding rail) of the operating table.", "A problem with these existing positioning means for navigation software arises when both fluoroscopic images are to be recorded for registration and image-free registration is to be performed (e.g., by moving a navigation pointer to said points).", "Despite the at least largely radiolucent material used in the positioning means, it still can cause shadows and edges on the images.", "On the x-ray recording 60 in FIG. 7 , for example, a region 61 is marked that shows the shadow of a patient positioner, which is hiding the left-hand os pubis structure.", "FIG. 8 shows a fluoroscopic recording 62 obtained using a “radiolucent”", "positioner, which also shows how the shadow 63 of a part of the positioner hides the content of the image and weakens the contrast.", "[0007] Another problem with the known positioning devices for lateral positioning arises when adipose patient tissue overlaps the pelvic rim marks.", "This makes it difficult or impossible to tap these points with a navigation pointer.", "Moving a pointer to the pelvic landmarks in this way also is often obstructed by the poles and pads.", "For this reason, the patient is initially positioned supine, registration is performed and the patient is then repositioned laterally.", "This is not only time-consuming but also critical with regard to sterility, which may be lost as result of repositioning.", "[0008] All the aforementioned disruptions to the registration procedure, e.g., a lack of or incorrect image-free tapping with a pointer or a misinterpretation of fluoroscopic images due to shadows or a lack of contrast, can lead to incorrect registration and therefore errors in navigation, which can in turn have a negative effect on the treatment result.", "SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0009] A patient lateral positioning device in accordance with the invention for pelvic treatments, by means of which the patient is supported in a defined lateral position, comprises a vacuum mattress that includes an upper body supporting part and a lower body supporting part, and substantially omits the pelvic region on the front side and on the upper side of the positioned patient.", "In other words, the positioning device in accordance with the invention provides a lateral positioning device comprising a vacuum mattress that allows access to and/or substantially leaves free the locations on the patient that are to be freely accessible for the treatment and for fluoroscopic registration or image-free registration.", "[0010] Reference markers or arrays can be attached to the positioning device and detected by a medical tracking or navigation system so as to enable image guided surgery.", "For example, the medical tracking or navigation system may include infrared cameras or the like that can detect three-dimensional spatial positions of the reference markers attached to the positioning device as well as to markers attached to medical instruments.", "This position data can be used in conjunction with previously obtained image data, which can be stored in the navigation system, so as to provide guidance to the surgeon.", "[0011] It should be noted here that using the lateral positioning device in accordance with the invention, it is already possible to perform optimum image-free registration, e.g., tapping landmark points on the pelvis with a navigation pointer, if the vacuum mattress in the pelvic region omits the front side and upper side of the patient.", "For said image-free registration, the vacuum mattress still can be easily provided on the rear side of the patient, in order to exercise an additional supporting function.", "[0012] In one embodiment in accordance with the invention, the vacuum mattress also substantially omits the pelvic region on the rear side of the patient.", "In this embodiment, the radiation path for fluoroscopic registration is then completely free of any supporting means, and the images obtained contain high-contrast representations that enable landmarks to be unambiguously assigned in a computer-assisted way.", "It is thus possible to optimally perform both an image-free registration and an image-assisted registration.", "[0013] The vacuum mattress can be embodied as a single piece and comprise a narrow connecting part between the upper body supporting part and the lower body supporting part, wherein when the patient is in the lateral position, the connecting part comes to rest substantially beneath the patient.", "In accordance with such an embodiment, the vacuum mattress can have a wide upper body supporting part, a narrower lower body supporting part and an even narrower connecting part between the upper and lower parts.", "In particular, the upper body supporting part is the widest part of the vacuum mattress so as to support the patient's upper body from beneath while in the lateral position and from both sides over a substantial part of the upper body.", "The lower body supporting part is narrower than the upper body supporting part so as to at least partly encompass at least one of the patient's legs, wherein the connecting part is the narrowest part and is narrower than the lower body supporting part.", "[0014] In another embodiment in accordance with the invention, the vacuum mattress can be embodied in two parts and individually comprise an upper body supporting part and a lower body supporting part, respectively.", "[0015] In accordance with another embodiment in accordance with the invention, the device also comprises a support base for the vacuum mattress or its parts, which can be tilted into predefined angular positions.", "The support base can be formed from a rigid material as a plate, and it is possible to provide a support base for the upper body supporting part and the lower body supporting part that is in particular formed in two parts, e.g., comprises one support base part for the upper body supporting part and one support base part of the lower body supporting part.", "[0016] In accordance with another embodiment, the support base or its parts have two plate portions that are at a predefined angle to each other and can be tilted via a tilting edge in their connecting region.", "In this case, an angle of about 45 degrees can be selected.", "It is advantageous if a tilting aid is provided in the region of the tilting edge, in particular a tilting roller along the tilting edge.", "In order to make tilting easier for the user, a manipulating device for lifting or tilting the support base can be provided on the support base and can comprise grip portions on the plate rims and/or supporting portions beneath the plate portions.", "[0017] The patient positioning device (lateral positioning device) in accordance with the invention is capable of fixing the patient in a lateral position on the treatment table, for example during a hip joint replacement operation and while recording fluoroscopic images, without creating shadows or edges in the fluoroscopic image.", "In addition to the fact that the radiation of the fluoroscopic image is not obstructed, it is also advantageously possible to reposition the patient from a lateral position into a position tilted by about 45 degrees (and vice versa), in order to be able to register the anatomical structures, such as for example pelvic landmarks (ASIS and pubic points) with a navigation pointer.", "The specially shaped vacuum mattress covers the entire body except for the main part of the pelvic region to be treated (pelvic joint region) and provides a stable fixation for the patient.", "Important anatomical structures, such as the os pubis, for example, are not covered by fixation material.", "This is advantageous because such structures of the pelvis are required in order to automatically detect the position of the patient's pelvis via software.", "The operating environment is also freely accessible for the surgeon.", "The fluoroscopic images will not exhibit any disrupting shadows and edges, which could lead to incorrect registrations when using the software.", "[0018] FIG. 9 shows an exemplary fluoroscopic image 64 that has been produced using the lateral positioning device in accordance with the invention.", "The image does not exhibit any disrupting shadows and edges, and the contrast is strong enough to enable image-assisted registration.", "[0019] A second advantage of the device in accordance with the invention as compared to known positioning devices is provided by the repositioning mechanism (tilting mechanism).", "Using this integrated mechanism, it is possible to move a patient from the lateral position into a position tilted by about 45 degrees.", "This feature enables the surgeon to move the patient in a simple and defined way into a 45 degree tilted lateral position, before or after the sterile environment is created.", "When the patient is positioned in this way, it is easier to register the anatomical landmarks because any adipose tissue that may be present does not overlap the regions that the pointing apparatus (navigation pointer) is positioned.", "After registration, the patient can be quickly and easily repositioned, without any loss of sterility.", "[0020] The device in accordance with the invention is flexible and can be adapted to any human build and any operating table environment.", "It is suitable for slim and adipose patients, and the soft material of the vacuum mattress avoids injuries or bedsores on the patient's body.", "[0021] The positioning device in accordance with the invention is explained below in more detail on the basis of an example embodiment and by referring to the enclosed drawings.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0022] The forgoing and other features of the invention are hereinafter discussed with reference to the drawings.", "[0023] FIG. 1 is an outline of an exemplary vacuum mattress for a lateral positioning device in accordance with the invention.", "[0024] FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate a patient positioned on an operating table with the aid of the lateral positioning device in accordance with the invention from the front and rear sides.", "[0025] FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate an exemplary repositioning and/or tilting mechanism for laterally positioning a patient in accordance with the invention.", "[0026] FIG. 6 illustrates a positioned patient in the tilted position.", "[0027] FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate unsuitable fluoroscopic images of the pelvic region, as created using lateral positioning in accordance with the prior art.", "[0028] FIG. 9 illustrate an optimum fluoroscopic image recording of the pelvic region, as created using a lateral positioning device in accordance with the present invention.", "DETAILED DESCRIPTION [0029] FIG. 1 shows a view from above (outline) onto an exemplary vacuum mattress 10 for a patient lateral positioning device in accordance with the invention.", "The exemplary mattress 10 has the basic shape of a Roman numeral I and includes an upper body supporting part 11 , a lower body supporting part 13 and a connecting part 12 between said two parts 11 and 13 .", "The patient is laterally positioned onto the central longitudinal axis 10 a of the vacuum mattress 10 , such that the two wings 11 a and 11 b of the upper body supporting part 11 can be bent upwards around the upper body, and the two wings 13 a and 13 b of the lower body supporting part 13 can partly encompass the lower leg from beneath.", "The air is then removed from the vacuum mattress, and a filler material 11 c , such as polystyrene balls, contained in the mattress adapt to the shape of the patient's body and fix the body.", "The patient is then lying laterally on the operating table as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 .", "FIG. 2 shows the patient from the front side, FIG. 3 shows the patient from the rear side.", "The patient 20 is fixed in the mattress 10 , such that the two parts 11 and 13 protrude upwards in the region of the upper body and at the leg, respectively, and fix the body and the leg.", "The connecting part 12 lies flat beneath the patient's pelvis.", "[0030] The patient is laterally positioned on an operating table 40 , namely on its upper plate 41 .", "In the embodiment shown, a tilting mechanism 30 is also provided between the vacuum mattress 10 and the table plate 41 , and includes a support base including two separate angled plates 31 and 32 , as well as grips 34 , 35 , 36 and straps 33 , 37 ( FIGS. 2-4 ).", "The function of the tilting mechanism is explained below in more detail on the basis of FIGS. 4 and 5 .", "It also follows from FIGS. 2 and 3 that when the patient is laterally positioned via the positioning device in accordance with the invention, the operating area 21 is completely accessible to the surgeon.", "Further, no parts of the patient fixation device are provided on the front side or rear side of the pelvis, which would obstruct fluoroscopic recordings or the tapping of registration points (pelvic landmarks) using navigation pointers.", "[0031] Referring now to FIG. 4 , the patient 20 is lying in the linear lateral position in which the operation can be performed.", "The position in FIG. 5 is the position tilted by 45 degrees, which is also shown as a whole in FIG. 6 , wherein the front side of the patient points obliquely upwards.", "The plane of intersection runs centrally through the grip 33 on the upper body (see FIG. 2 ).", "[0032] The tilting mechanism lies on top of the table plate 41 and comprises an angled plate 32 made of a rigid material and comprising two plate portions 32 a , 32 b , which are connected to each other such that they form an angle of 135 degrees (interior angle) with respect to each other.", "Straps 37 run beneath the plate portions 32 a , 32 b and end in grips 34 , 35 , 36 at the rims of the plate portions.", "A tilting roller 38 runs along the tilting edge and comprises attaching appendages (not indicated) for the straps 33 and 37 .", "The lower end of the upper body supporting part 11 lies flat and conformed on the plate 32 .", "[0033] If one then wishes to move the patient 20 from the position shown in FIG. 2 into the position shown in FIG. 6 , such that he is lying inclined by 45 degrees and his front side points obliquely upwards, the support base 30 , i.e., the plates 31 and 32 , respectively, can very easily be tilted with the aid of the grips 34 , 35 , 36 , wherein an angle between plates 31 and 32 can be altered via the tilting roller 38 and can easily be moved into the position shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 , respectively.", "The support base part 31 ( FIG. 2 ) is simultaneously tilted accordingly, wherein the patient is still fixedly positioned, because the conformed vacuum mattress rests on the plate portion 32 b. [0034] When the patient has then been moved by the tilting procedure just described into the position shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 , the pelvic landmark points (ASIS and pubic points 51 , 52 , 53 and 54 ) are easily accessible and can easily be tapped using a navigated pointer.", "Image-free registration thus can be performed unobstructed and reliably.", "After registration, the patient 20 can easily be returned again to his original position (90 degree lateral position) with the aid of the tilting mechanism, without creating any sterility problems.", "Because the support base (the two plates 31 , 32 of the tilting mechanism) are attached next to the hip region, they also do not obstruct the fluoroscopic image recordings.", "[0035] One possible workflow using the patient lateral positioning device in accordance with the invention is as follows: [0036] 1.", "positioning the patient in the lateral position in the vacuum mattress;", "[0037] 2.", "repositioning the patient into the position tilted by 45 degrees;", "[0038] 3.", "creating the sterile environment;", "[0039] 4.", "attaching reference arrays to the patient;", "[0040] 5.", "registering the anatomical landmarks using a navigation pointer;", "[0041] 6.", "repositioning the patient back into the lateral position;", "[0042] 7.", "beginning the operation.", "[0043] Although the invention has been shown and described with respect to a certain preferred embodiment or embodiments, it is obvious that equivalent alterations and modifications will occur to others skilled in the art upon the reading and understanding of this specification and the annexed drawings.", "In particular regard to the various functions performed by the above described elements (components, assemblies, devices, compositions, etc.), the terms (including a reference to a “means”) used to describe such elements are intended to correspond, unless otherwise indicated, to any element which performs the specified function of the described element (i.e., that is functionally equivalent), even though not structurally equivalent to the disclosed structure which performs the function in the herein illustrated exemplary embodiment or embodiments of the invention.", "In addition, while a particular feature of the invention may have been described above with respect to only one or more of several illustrated embodiments, such feature may be combined with one or more other features of the other embodiments, as may be desired and advantageous for any given or particular application." ]

[ "FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to analyzers that detect suspended particulates in molten metals such as aluminum, gallium, lead, zinc, steel, iron etc.", "These particulates, also called inclusions are solid, liquid or gaseous particles that have a low electrical conductivity compare to the molten metals.", "DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART Molten metals, particularly molten aluminum and steel, are frequently contaminated to some extent by entrained inclusions that give rise to a variety of shortcomings or defects in the resulting finished products.", "Such inclusions can arise from a number of sources, for example, in aluminum through the entrainment of surface oxide films, from the formation of insoluble impurities such as coarse or clustered boride particles, or fine or coarse carbides and nitrides, from the oxidation of alloying elements such as magnesium, and from the erosion of the refractory linings of vessels used to hold or transport the liquid metal.", "Problems that are caused by the presence of inclusions include the tearing of the metal during mechanical working operations, the presence of pin-holes and streaks in foils, surface defects and blisters in sheet, and increased rates of breakage during production of wire.", "These problems are becoming more acute as customers demand thinner, lighter products and better surface appearance, and as the proportion of recycled metal that is used in the production of some sheet metal products rises, with attendant increases in inclusion formation during remelting.", "There are liquid metal cleanliness analyzers (“LiMCAs”) such as ABB's LiMCA II and LiMCA CM that provide a relatively rapid detection and measurement of the concentration and size distribution of suspended particulates in molten metal.", "These analyzers both use the same measurement principle, however the LiMCA II uses batteries to accumulate the energy for the direct current used in the measurement and the LiMCA CM uses ultra-capacitors to accumulate the energy for that current.", "The analyzers can be employed during a processing operation on the molten metal.", "U.S. Pat. No. 4,600,880 (“the '880 Patent”) describes one embodiment for a LiMCA.", "SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Apparatus for separately detecting and measuring suspended particles in a molten metal where the measuring of the suspended particles has an associated predominant noise frequency range, the apparatus having: an electrically non-conductive barrier having opposed sides and having an orifice of predetermined hydrodynamic diameter, the barrier being suitable for immersion in a molten metal with the orifice below a surface of the metal;", "a device for moving molten metal through the orifice in a direction from one side of the barrier to the other;", "electrodes, suitable for immersion in the molten metal, positioned on opposite sides of the barrier for establishing a current path in the molten metal passing through the orifice;", "and a time varying excitation source for generating an AC current at a predetermined range of excitation frequency which is out of predominant noise's frequency range, the time varying excitation source connectable to the electrodes when the barrier and the electrodes are immersed in the molten metal to use the AC current to measure the suspended particles and generate an AC signal representative of the measurement of the suspended particles.", "Apparatus for separately detecting and measuring suspended particles in a molten metal where the measuring of the suspended particles has a predominant noise frequency range and the apparatus has: an electrically non-conductive barrier having opposed sides and having an orifice of predetermined hydrodynamic diameter with the barrier being suitable for immersion in a molten metal with the orifice below a surface of the metal;", "a device for moving molten metal through the orifice in a direction from one side of the barrier to the other;", "electrodes, suitable for immersion in the molten metal, positioned on opposite sides of the barrier for establishing a current path in the molten metal passing through the orifice;", "a time varying excitation source for generating an AC current at a predetermined range of excitation frequency which is higher than the predominant noise frequency range, the time varying excitation source connectable to the electrodes when the barrier and the electrodes are immersed in the molten metal to use the AC current to measure the suspended particles, wherein the measurement is an AC signal having the excitation source predetermined frequency range;", "and a detector to detect and quantify from the measurement AC signal the suspended particles in the molten metal.", "A system for use in an apparatus that is for separately detecting and measuring suspended particles in a molten metal.", "The measuring of the suspended particles having a predominant noise frequency range.", "The apparatus has an electrically non-conductive barrier having an orifice.", "The barrier is suitable for immersion in a molten metal with the orifice below a surface of the metal.", "The apparatus also has electrodes that are suitable for immersion in the molten metal.", "The electrodes are positioned on both sides of the barrier for establishing a current path in the molten metal passing through the orifice.", "The system has a time varying excitation source for generating an AC current at a predetermined range of excitation frequency which is out of predominant noise frequency range.", "The time varying excitation source is for connection to the electrodes so that when the barrier and the electrodes are immersed in the molten metal the AC current can be used to measure the suspended particles.", "The measurement is an AC signal that has the excitation source predetermined frequency range.", "The system has a detector that is connected to the source and is for connection to the apparatus to detect and quantify from the measurement AC signal the suspended particles in the molten metal.", "DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of a prior art liquid metal cleanliness analyzer.", "FIG. 2-4 show cross-sections through a sample-receiving vessel of the analyzer of FIG. 1 and show preferred forms of the flow aperture.", "FIG. 5 shows the changes in resistivity when aluminum includes inclusions.", "FIG. 6 shows examples of excitation sources for use in the LiMCA described herein.", "FIG. 7 shows the excitation frequency, the inclusion and noise spectral density.", "FIG. 8 a shows an embodiment for the resonant tank circuit used in the apparatus described herein.", "FIG. 8 b shows a low pass impedance match circuit as one of the excitation source.", "FIG. 8 c shows a high pass impedance match circuit as one of the excitation source.", "FIGS. 9 a and 9 b show examples of embodiment of the detector that are used in the LiMCA measurement.", "FIG. 10 shows a block diagram of an experimental setup for the apparatus described herein.", "FIG. 11 shows one embodiment for the AC current source generator described herein.", "FIG. 12 shows one embodiment for the added amplification in the ADC evaluation board shown in FIG. 10 .", "FIG. 13 shows the results of inclusions measurement in the apparatus described herein for an AC source connected to a 12 V battery.", "FIG. 14 shows the results of inclusions measurement in the apparatus described herein for an AC source and analog to digital converter connected to a 12 V battery.", "FIG. 15 shows the result of measuring the four simulated inclusions when the resonant circuit is fed from a 120 V AC source.", "FIG. 16 shows a schematic representation for the LiMCA described herein.", "DETAILED DESCRIPTION FIGS. 1-4 herein are identical to FIGS. 1-4 of the '880 Patent.", "As is described in the '880 Patent, a sample-receiving container or vessel 14 (see FIG. 1 ) is dipped into the flowing stream 12 of molted metal that is to be analyzed.", "Container 14 has as is shown in FIGS. 1-4 , an orifice 26 in the order of 300 um to obtain in vessel 14 a sample of the molted metal when a vacuum is created inside vessel 14 .", "The technique for creating the vacuum is described in the '880 Patent.", "The vessel 14 is removably mounted by any suitable means in an end cap 16 .", "The end cap 16 is mounted by a standard 18 for vertical up and down movement, so that the vessel 14 can be dipped at will into the flowing stream 12 and withdrawn therefrom.", "The end cap 16 has four electrodes 20 , 28 , 50 and 54 protruding downwardly therefrom.", "Electrodes 20 , 50 and 54 are inside the container 14 and electrode 28 is outside of the container.", "The LiMCA inclusions measurement is based on Ohms law, namely that current I through a conductor between two points is directly proportional to the potential difference V across the two points and inversely proportional to the resistance R between them.", "The first of three electrodes inside container 14 is a current-carrying electrode 20 consisting of a metal rod the upper part of which is encased in an insulating material 22 , so that only the exposed lower tip 24 immediately adjacent to a passage 26 in the container wall is in electrical contact with molten metal that enters the container.", "A similar current-carrying electrode 28 is mounted by the end cap so as to extend outside the container parallel to the first electrode 20 with its bare lower tip also immediately adjacent to the passage 26 .", "In the LiMCA of FIG. 1 , the resultant current path between the electrodes 20 and 28 and through the passage 26 is supplied with a current normally about 60 A from a battery 30 via a ballast resistor 32 that can be shunted when required by a switch 33 , with one of the leads in the path including a switch 31 and an ammeter 34 .", "The short circuiting of resistor 32 allows a current in the range of 120 to 600 A to be applied to a newly formed passage 26 for a specific minimum period of time, at least 1 to 5 seconds, to precondition the passage.", "The nominal resistance of a LiMCA, that is, the resistance with no inclusions, is about 2 mΩ.", "FIG. 5 shows the resistivity changes when aluminum includes inclusions.", "The changes are in the order of ˜10 −4 to 10 −7 Ω corresponding to inclusion sizes from about 20 to 300 μm.", "Applying Ohms law to a LiMCA with a normal current of about 60 A, the measured voltage variation is then between ˜10 −3 to 10 −6 V. While FIG. 1 shows a battery 30 as the source of the non-periodic or direct current, as described in patent '880, it is well known to use ultra-capacitance for that source.", "Either of such sources isolates the generated DC source signal from the noise generated in the plant environment in which the LiMCA is used for the inclusions measurement but they are massive weighing from about 60 kg to 100 kg which substantially reduces the portability of the prior art LiMCA and increases its complexity and maintenance requirements as the batteries will have to be replaced.", "Noise influencing the LimCA measurement include but are not limited to: pink noise and coupled industrial environment noise.", "As is well known, pink noise or 1/f noise (sometimes also called flicker noise) is a signal or process with a frequency spectrum such that the power spectral density (energy or power per Hz) is inversely proportional to the frequency.", "Noise from the industrial environment can be coupled in several ways and can come from many sources, such as: power line, motors, electromagnetic fields.", "FIG. 7 shows typical noise influencing the LiMCA measurement.", "The prior art LiMCA also uses an AC coupling to read the resistivity variations due to the inclusions compared to the nominal probe aperture resistivity.", "As is described in more detail below, the apparatus described herein combines a periodic excitation source with detection methods to perform the quantification of the inclusions in various liquid metals.", "This combination of a periodic excitation source and detection method is used in the detection of the entrained inclusions in molten metals such as aluminum, gallium, zinc, lead, steel, iron etc.", "The excitation sources include all periodic based generators such as: high current amplifiers for direct electric sensing zone drive, indirect drive via transformers, indirect drive via tuned impedance transformation networks and circuits such as “L, T, n, SP”, tank circuits (LC parallel) resonators.", "The detection methods include analog demodulation techniques such as: envelop detector, product detector (synchronous detection, analog or digital lock-in) and digital demodulation techniques such as: digital down converter Examples of the excitation sources for use in the apparatus described herein are shown in the chart attached as FIG. 6 .", "The two major categories of excitation sources are: Low to medium power (<50 W) AC amplifier driver: indirect excitation electrical sensing zone;", "and High power 50 W) AC amplifier driver: direct excitation electrical sensing zone.", "As is shown in FIG. 6 , these categories each have either direct impedance matching through a broadband transformer or a tuned circuit that has impedance matching through an impedance transformation network that can be one of either the “L, T, n, SP”", "impedance matching network or a resonant circuit.", "The use of demodulation techniques to measure very small variations of resistivity helps to immunize the apparatus against those industrial environments that are electromagnetically noisy, for example, those environments that have noise from electromagnetic casting.", "The use of periodic excitation combined with demodulation techniques greatly reduces the effect of pink noise or 1/f noise at a frequency below 1 kHz, since the signal is than out of the predominant noise's spectral region.", "Noise as used herein includes pink noise, electromagnetic casting noise and electromagnetic noise arising from other sources in the environment in which the LiMCA described herein is used to detect and measure suspended particles in a molten metal.", "Eliminating the batteries and power supply needed to operate the prior art DC excitation version of the LiMCA substantially reduces the overall size and weight of the analyzer and the use of the impedance adaptation and tuned resonating circuits described below allows the efficient generation of high currents in the order of 60 A while greatly reducing the average power dissipated by the circuit.", "The apparatus described herein uses a resonant tank circuit to generate the current in the order of 60 A with a frequency of between about 10 kHz to 100 kHz.", "FIG. 8 a shows an embodiment for such a circuit.", "As is shown in FIG. 8 a, the circuit has the series combination of a capacitor C and resistor Ra in parallel with the series combination of an inductor L and a resistor Rb.", "As is shown in the chart of FIG. 6 , the excitation source may also either be a low pass impedance match circuit one example of which is shown in FIG. 8 b or a high pass impedance match circuit one example of which is shown in FIG. 8 c. Both circuits have an AC source that provides a voltage Vi.", "In both circuits, a resistor Rs is connected between the source and a first junction that has a voltage Va.", "In the low pass circuit of FIG. 8 b, an inductor L connects the first junction to a circuit junction at which appears the output voltage Vo.", "In the high pass circuit of FIG. 8 c, a capacitor C connects the first junction to a circuit junction at which appears the output voltage Vo.", "In the low pass circuit a capacitor C connects the first junction to ground whereas in the high pass circuit an inductor L connects that junction to ground.", "In both circuits, the second junction is connected to ground through resistor R 1 .", "FIG. 9 a and FIG. 9 b show embodiments of a detector 900 that can be used in the apparatus measurement.", "The apparatus uses a time varying current source such as any periodic wave as the excitation source 902 .", "The measurement between the electrodes gives a change of resistivity when an inclusion 904 passes through the probe orifice.", "The change of resistivity translates to a change in voltage 906 .", "In FIG. 9 a, the voltage is digitalized using an analog to digital converter (ADC) 908 .", "The digitalized signal is then demodulated by demodulator 910 to retrieve low frequency signal generate by inclusions.", "In FIG. 9 b, the demodulation is performed first by demodulator 910 and then the voltage is digitalized using an analog to digital converter (ADC) 908 .", "Appropriate analog or digital filtering is performed before and after digitalization or demodulation.", "The number of inclusions as a function of time is then quantified by counter 912 and shown on a histogram 916 .", "In quantifying the inclusions, counter 912 uses the known non-linear relationship between the height of the signal for each detected inclusion and the size of the inclusion, that is, the suspend particle.", "The particles that have a size that falls within a predetermined range of inclusion size are grouped together.", "The histogram 914 shows the number of particles in each group.", "Referring now to FIG. 10 , there is shown a block diagram of an experimental setup 1000 for the apparatus described herein.", "Setup 1000 has an AC current source generator 1002 , one embodiment for which is shown in the block diagram of FIG. 11 .", "Referring now to FIG. 11 , the AC current source generator 1002 has a square wave generator 1102 the output of which is connected to optocoupler 1104 .", "Generator 1002 also has an AC excitation source 1106 having inputs from optocoupler 1104 and DC to DC converter 1108 .", "A Micrel MIC4102 half bridge MOSFET driver can be used to embody source 1106 .", "The output of source 1106 is connected to calibrator 1110 .", "The experimental setup 1000 of FIG. 10 has a calibrator 1004 .", "Calibrator 1110 of FIG. 11 is identical to calibrator 1004 to simulate various sizes of the inclusions so that setup 1000 does not have to be used on a live process.", "Experimental setup 1000 also has an ADC evaluation board 1006 .", "The output of the calibrator 1110 of FIG. 11 is connected to the input of ADC 908 in FIGS. 9 a and 9 b. Thus the calibrator replaces the functions of the inclusion flow 904 and probe orifice voltage 906 in FIGS. 9 a and 9 b. The input to board 1006 has an added ultra-low noise amplification front end.", "One embodiment for the added amplification is shown in FIG. 12 as amplifier 1200 .", "The amplifier is the combination of a pre-amplifier 1202 having an input from calibrator 1004 and a differential amplifier 1204 that can be embodied using a Texas Instruments THS4503 wideband low distortion fully differential amplifier.", "The output of differential amplifier 1204 is the input to the analog to digital converter.", "The differential amplifier 1204 allows the use of most of the ADC's dynamic range.", "Referring now to FIGS. 13 and 14 , there is shown the results acquired using setup 1000 .", "The smallest inclusions of the calibrator 1004 , which are 20 microns, can be measured with a signal to noise ratio (SNR) of up to 25:1.", "The other inclusions of the calibrator 1004 which are larger in size can be measured with a SNR better than 25:1.", "FIG. 13 shows the results for an AC source connected to a 12 V battery and FIG. 14 shows the results for the AC source and ADC connected to a 12 V battery.", "Therefore the results in FIGS. 13 and 14 show that the apparatus described herein will give good results as compared to the prior art LiMCA's even when a 12 V battery is used as the source of power for the AC current generator.", "Referring now to FIG. 15 , there is shown the result of measuring the four simulated inclusions when the resonant circuit is fed from a 120 V AC source.", "As FIG. 15 shows when compared to FIGS. 13 and 14 , the results when the resonant circuit is fed from the 120 V AC source are similar to the results of using an AC source connected to a 12 V battery or an AC source and ADC connected to a 12 V battery.", "Referring now to FIG. 16 , there is shown diagram of the LiMCA described herein in use to measure inclusions.", "A closed sample receiving container or vessel 1614 having an outer wall 1614 a is dipped in the flowing stream 1611 of molten metal.", "The arrow 1612 shows the direction of flow of stream 1611 in delivery trough 1610 .", "Container 1614 has an orifice 1617 that has a passage 1621 to obtain a sample of the molten metal when a vacuum is created inside vessel 1614 .", "The vessel 1614 is suitably mounted in a retaining head 1613 .", "The mechanism that provides up and down movement of the vessel 1614 is not shown in FIG. 16 .", "The retaining head 1613 has four electrodes 1623 , 1624 , 1637 and 1638 protruding downwardly from the head.", "Electrodes 1623 , 1637 and 1638 are inside vessel 1614 and electrode 1624 is outside of the vessel.", "Electrodes 1623 and 1624 are the current carrying electrodes and their lower tips are adjacent orifice 1617 when a measurement is made.", "The current is supplied by AC current source 1626 which can be embodied by any one of the excitation sources described herein.", "The two electrodes 1623 and 1624 are connected to a differential amplifier 1631 embodied as described herein.", "The output of the amplifier 1631 is connected to peak detector 1634 embodied as described herein and then to an analyzer/recorder 1635 and a metal level detector 1636 to head 1613 .", "The head 1613 also provides a fluid connection from the interior of the container 1614 to a three-way valve 1616 , which permits the interior to be connected alternatively to a source of reduced pressure, or to a source of a suitable shielding inert gas, such as argon, or to the atmosphere.", "The reduced pressure source consists of a vacuum source 1615 which is exhausted as required in between measures through valve by a pump.", "The pump is shut off while the measures are underway, so that any electrical noise produced by its electric motor does not hinder electrical signal processing, and so that any pulsations in flow of the evacuating gas are not transmitted to the entering molten metal.", "The interior of the container 1614 is flushed before use with argon gas supplied by gas line 1640 to avoid as much as possible contamination of the metal by air.", "The container 1614 is then lowered into the stream, and the valve 1616 is operated to connect the container interior to the reduced pressure reservoir, whereupon the molten metal is drawn smoothly and rapidly through the passage orifice 1617 .", "As soon as enough metal has entered the container to touch the tip of the electrode 1623 a current path is established between the two electrodes 1623 and 1624 and through the orifice.", "It should be appreciated that the time varying excitation source and detector described herein can be used in an apparatus that has the barrier and electrodes that are described herein for detecting and measuring suspended particles in a molten metal as a replacement for the current source and associated detection circuitry now used in that apparatus.", "It is to be understood that the description of the foregoing exemplary embodiment(s) is (are) intended to be only illustrative, rather than exhaustive, of the present invention.", "Those of ordinary skill will be able to make certain additions, deletions, and/or modifications to the embodiment(s) of the disclosed subject matter without departing from the spirit of the invention or its scope, as defined by the appended claims." ]

[ "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION (1) Field of the Invention The present invention pertains to a manually operated reciprocating liquid pump dispenser that is removably connectable to a bottle containing a liquid.", "Manual operation of the dispenser simultaneously pumps the liquid from the bottle and pumps air from the exterior environment of the dispenser, mixes the liquid with the air to produce a foam, and dispenses the foam from the dispenser.", "More specifically, the pump dispenser of the invention includes a closure connector and a rotatable collar on the connector that provide a mechanism for venting the interior of the bottle to the exterior environment of the pump dispenser while avoiding leakage of the liquid from the bottle, and also incorporate a mechanism for locking the pump dispenser to prevent unintended pumping of the liquid from the bottle.", "(2) Description of the Related Art Manually operated, vertically reciprocated pump dispensers are those types of dispensers that are typically oriented vertically in use, and have a plunger at the top of the dispenser that is manually pressed downwardly to dispense the liquid contents of a bottle connected to the dispenser.", "The typical construction of such a dispenser includes an elongate pump housing and an elongate plunger that is received inside the pump housing for reciprocating movements between charge and discharge positions of the pump plunger in the pump housing.", "The pump housing is inserted into the bottle neck opening of the bottle.", "A closure connector at the top of the pump housing removably secures the pump housing to the bottle neck.", "A dip tube connected at the bottom of the pump housing extends downwardly into the liquid in the bottle.", "The pump housing contains a liquid pump chamber and a check valve.", "The check valve controls the flow of liquid through the dip tube and into the pump chamber, and prevents the reverse flow of liquid.", "The pump plunger has a tubular length with a liquid discharge passage extending through the center of the plunger.", "A liquid piston is mounted on the plunger and is received in the pump chamber for reciprocating movements.", "A dispensing head is provided at the top of the plunger.", "The dispensing head has a discharge outlet that communicates with the discharge passage of the plunger.", "A check valve in the liquid discharge passage controls the flow of liquid from the pump chamber and out through the dispensing head, and prevents the reverse flow of liquid.", "A spring is positioned in the pump chamber.", "The spring biases the plunger upwardly to a charge position of the plunger relative to the pump housing.", "The upward movement of the plunger moves the piston upwardly in the pump chamber, which creates a vacuum in the pump chamber that draws liquid through the dip tube and into the pump chamber.", "The pump plunger is manually depressed downwardly against the bias of the spring to a discharge position of the plunger relative to the pump housing.", "The downward movement of the plunger moves the piston downwardly in the pump chamber.", "The downward piston movement forces the liquid in the pump chamber through the liquid discharge passage of the plunger and out of the dispenser through the dispensing head.", "In addition to the basic component parts of the manually operated, vertically reciprocated pump dispenser described above, many prior art pump dispensers are provided with a venting feature.", "The venting feature includes a vent opening that communicates the exterior environment of the dispenser with the interior of the bottle when the pump plunger is reciprocated in the pump housing.", "Air from the exterior environment of the dispenser is allowed to pass through the vent opening and enter the bottle interior to fill the volume in the bottle interior left vacant by the liquid being dispensed by the operation of the pump.", "Without such a vent opening, as liquid is dispensed from the bottle, a vacuum would be created in the bottle interior.", "The vacuum would eventually overcome the vacuum created by the pump piston moving to its charge position in the pump chamber, and prevent the pump from drawing liquid into the pump chamber.", "The increasing vacuum in the interior of the bottle could also possibly result in the inwardly collapsing of the bottle side walls.", "To overcome this problem, many prior art manually operated, vertically reciprocated pump dispensers are provided with constructions that allow air to vent into the interior of the bottle connected to the dispenser, while preventing liquid in the bottle from leaking out of the dispenser through the vent feature.", "In addition to the above, many prior art manually operated, vertically reciprocated pump dispensers are provided with a locking feature.", "The locking feature would lock the plunger in its upward charge position relative to the pump housing or its downward discharge position relative to the pump housing.", "The locking feature would also close the liquid flow path through the pump.", "The locking feature thus prevents the unintended pumping of liquid from the bottle caused by unintended reciprocating movements of the pump plunger in the pump housing.", "All of the above-described features that are often included in the typical construction of a manually operated, vertically reciprocated pump dispenser add to the number of component parts of the dispenser and add to the complexity of the assembly of the dispenser.", "Manually operated, vertically reciprocated liquid pump dispensers have been developed that not only pump liquid from a bottle through the dispenser, but also pump air from the exterior environment of the dispenser through the dispenser, mixing the air with the liquid to generate a foam that is dispensed from the dispenser.", "These types of dispensers not only include all of the component parts of a dispenser required to draw liquid from the bottle connected to the dispenser and pump the liquid from the dispenser, but also include the additional component parts required to draw air from the exterior environment of the dispenser into the dispenser, mix the air with the liquid being pumped through the dispenser to generate the foam, and dispense the foam from the dispenser.", "Dispensers of this type that pump both liquid and air have even more component parts and an even more complex assembly than dispensers that pump only liquid.", "To provide a dispenser of this type with a venting feature and a locking feature would even further increase the number of component parts and the complexity of the assembly of the dispenser.", "To manufacture such a dispenser economically, it is necessary to provide a unique design of the dispenser that reduces the number of separate component parts of the dispenser and simplifies the dispenser construction.", "SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The manually operated, vertically reciprocating air foaming pump dispenser of the invention provides a unique dispenser construction that includes both liquid and air pumps and also provides a venting features and a locking feature while minimizing the number of component parts and the complexity of the dispenser assembly.", "The construction of the pump dispenser of the invention is basically comprised of a pump housing that contains a liquid pump chamber, a closure connector that incorporates the venting feature and the locking feature with an air pump chamber of the dispenser, a pump plunger that is received in the pump housing for reciprocating movements and supports both a liquid pump piston and an air pump piston, a dispenser head that is mounted on the top of the pump plunger, and a collar mounted for rotation on the connector and operatively connected to the dispenser head where rotation of the collar locks the pump dispenser and seals the venting feature.", "All of the component parts of the dispenser are constructed of a plastic typically used in the construction of dispensers of this type, except for a coil spring and a pair of ball valves that could be constructed of metal or plastic.", "In the description of the pump dispenser provided herein, terms such as “upward”", "and “downward”", "are used to describe the dispenser in a vertically upright orientation shown in the drawing figures.", "This is the typical orientation of the dispenser when operated, but the dispenser could be operated in other orientations.", "Therefore, the terms “upward”", "and “downward,” and related terms should not be interpreted as limiting.", "The pump housing of the dispenser has a tubular configuration that contains the liquid pump chamber.", "A top opening in the pump housing provides access to the pump chamber.", "A flat, annular ring is provided around a top portion of the pump housing.", "The ring is dimensioned to rest on the top of the neck of the bottle to which the pump dispenser is attached.", "A vent hole passes through the ring and forms a portion of the vent passage to the bottle interior.", "A dip tube extends downwardly from the bottom of the pump housing and communicates the dispenser with liquid in a bottle to which the dispenser is attached.", "A ball check valve is positioned in the pump housing between the dip tube and pump chamber.", "The ball valve controls the flow of liquid into the pump chamber, and prevents the reverse flow of liquid.", "The closure connector is attached to the top of the pump housing.", "The connector has a flat, circular base that extends over the top of the pump housing annular ring.", "A center hole through the base aligns with the top opening of the pump housing.", "A cylindrical side wall extends downwardly from the outer periphery of the base.", "The side wall has internal screw threading, a bayonet fitment, or other equivalent means of removably attaching the connector to the neck of the bottle, and thereby removably attaching the dispenser to the bottle.", "A cylindrical air pump chamber wall extends upwardly from the connector base.", "A vent opening passes through the connector base below the air pump chamber wall.", "The vent opening through the connector base communicates with the hole through the pump housing annular ring.", "Thus, an air venting passage is provided from the exterior environment of the pump dispenser through the vent opening in the connector base, and through the hole in the pump housing annular ring to the interior of the bottle connected to the pump dispenser.", "A plurality of lock columns are provided on the closure connector on the exterior of the air pump chamber wall.", "The plurality of columns project upwardly from the connector base and have connector lock surfaces at the upper distal ends of the columns.", "The pump plunger has a tubular length that extends downwardly through the center hole of the connector base and through the top opening of the pump housing.", "A liquid discharge passage of the pump dispenser extends through the center of the plunger.", "The pump plunger is received in the pump housing for reciprocating movements of the pump plunger in the pump housing.", "The pump plunger is moved downwardly through the pump housing to a discharge position of the pump plunger relative to the pump housing, and is moved upwardly through the pump housing to a charge position of the pump plunger relative to the pump housing.", "A ball check valve is positioned in the liquid discharge passage adjacent the top of the plunger.", "The ball valve controls the flow of liquid from the pump chamber through the plunger, and prevent the reverse flow of liquid.", "A liquid piston is mounted to the lower end of the plunger.", "The liquid piston engages in a sealed, sliding engagement in the liquid pump chamber of the pump housing.", "An air piston is also mounted on the plunger above the liquid piston.", "The air piston engages in a sealed, sliding engagement in the air pump chamber on the closure connector.", "A dispenser head is mounted on the top of the pump plunger.", "The dispenser head contains a spout having an outlet passage that communicates with the liquid discharge passage of the plunger.", "A cylindrical sleeve of the pump dispenser extends downwardly from the spout.", "The sleeve is coaxial with the pump plunger and extends around the exterior of the closure connector air pump chamber wall.", "The dispenser head has a plurality of pairs of posts that extend downwardly in the interior of the dispenser sleeve.", "Each pair of posts has an axial groove at the center of the pair of posts.", "The bottom distal ends of the posts have lock surfaces of the dispenser head.", "A cylindrical collar is mounted on the closure connector for rotation of the collar relative to the connector.", "The collar has an interior surface with a plurality of narrow ridges or tongues extending axially across the interior surface.", "The plurality of tongues are spacially arranged around the collar interior surface and engage in sliding contact in the grooves between the pairs of posts on the dispenser head.", "In this manner the dispenser head is operatively connected to the collar for rotation of the dispenser head together with the collar around the center axis of the pump dispenser, and for axial reciprocating movement of the dispenser head relative to the collar.", "The exterior dimension of the collar is slightly smaller than the interior dimension of the dispenser head sleeve, whereby the dispenser head sleeve telescopes over the collar when the dispenser head is reciprocated axially relative to the collar.", "The collar also has a plurality of tabs spacially arranged around the interior of the collar.", "Each of the tabs has a sealing surface positioned to cover over and close one of the plurality of vent openings of the closure connector.", "The collar is mounted on the closure connector for rotation between a closed position of the collar on the connector where the collar sealing surfaces engage over and close the connector vent openings, and an opened position of the collar on the connector where the collar sealing surfaces are displaced from the connector vent openings and the bottle interior communicates through the connector vent openings with the exterior environment of the pump dispenser.", "The operative connection between the collar and the dispenser head also causes the dispenser head to rotate on the pump dispenser when the collar is rotated on the pump dispenser.", "The dispenser head rotates with the collar between a locked position and an unlocked position of the dispenser head relative to the closure connector that correspond respectively to the closed and opened positions of the collar.", "In the locked position of the dispenser head and the closed position of the collar, the lock surfaces at the distal ends of the dispenser head posts are axially aligned opposite the lock surfaces at the ends of the connector columns.", "The axial alignment of the dispenser head lock surfaces and the connector lock surfaces prevents the dispenser head from being reciprocated relative to the collar, and thereby prevents the pump plunger from being reciprocated in the pump housing.", "Thus, the collar and closure connector of the invention close the air venting passageway through the pump dispenser and lock the pump plunger in the first, charge position of the pump plunger relative to the pump housing when the collar and dispenser head are rotated together to the vent closed position of the collar and the locked position of the dispenser head.", "Rotating the collar away from the closed position toward the opened position of the collar relative to the pump dispenser causes the collar sealing surfaces to move away from the connector vent openings, thereby opening communication between the bottle interior and the exterior environment of the pump dispenser.", "Simultaneously, the dispenser head rotates relative to the closure connector and the dispenser head lock surfaces move away from their axially aligned positions opposite the connector lock surfaces.", "With the dispenser lock surfaces axially misaligned from the connector lock surfaces, the dispenser head is free to be reciprocated relative to the collar and the closure connector, thereby allowing reciprocating movements of the pump plunger in the pump housing.", "Thus, the pump dispenser of the invention comprises both a liquid pump and an air pump that mix liquid and air pumped through the dispenser to create a foam dispensed by the dispenser.", "In addition, the novel construction of the pump dispenser provides a collar and dispenser head that are rotatable together relative to a closure connector of the pump dispenser to provide a venting feature and a lock feature of the dispenser, thereby reducing the number of component parts of the dispenser and simplifying the dispenser construction.", "DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES Further features of the air foaming pump dispenser of the invention are set forth in the following detailed description of the pump dispenser and in the drawing figures of the pump dispenser.", "FIG. 1 is a side-sectioned view of the air foaming pump dispenser connected to a bottle and with the pump plunger in the upward, charge position of the pump plunger relative to the pump housing.", "FIG. 2 is a front-sectioned view of the air foaming pump dispenser of FIG. 1 .", "FIG. 3 is an enlarged partial view of the pump dispenser shown in FIG. 2 .", "FIG. 4 is a top-sectioned view of the air foaming pump dispenser along the line 4 - 4 of FIG. 3 .", "FIG. 5 is a top perspective view of the closure connector removed from the pump dispenser.", "FIG. 6 is a bottom perspective view of the collar removed from the pump dispenser.", "DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The basic component parts of the pump dispenser that comprise the novel features of the invention are the pump housing 12 , the closure connector 14 , the pump plunger 16 , the dispenser head 18 and a locking and venting collar 20 .", "These five basic component parts, as well as most of the other component parts of the dispenser to be described, are constructed of a plastic material typically used in the construction of pump dispensers of this type.", "The exceptions are the coil spring of the dispenser and a pair of ball valves of the dispenser, which could be constructed of plastic, but are usually constructed of metal.", "The pump housing 12 has a tubular length with a hollow center bore having a center axis 22 .", "The length of the pump housing 12 extends from a dip tube connector 24 at the bottom of the pump housing to an opposite top end 28 of the pump housing that surrounds a top opening into the pump housing.", "The dip tube connector 24 connects to a dip tube (not shown) that extends into the interior of a bottle 26 .", "The pump housing 12 contains a liquid pump chamber 32 having a cylindrical liquid pump chamber wall 34 .", "A valve seat 36 is provided at the bottom of the pump housing 12 between the dip tube connector 24 and the liquid pump chamber 32 .", "The valve seat 36 supports a ball valve 38 .", "The ball valve 38 controls the flow of liquid through the dip tube and the dip tube connector 24 into the liquid pump chamber 32 , and prevents the reverse flow of liquid.", "A sealing plug retainer 44 extends axially upwardly from the bottom of the liquid pump chamber 32 .", "The sealing plug retainer 42 retains an elongate stem 44 of a sealing plug 46 in the pump housing 12 .", "The engagement of the retainer 42 with the stem 44 allows for some limited axial movement of the sealing plug 46 in the pump housing 12 .", "A radially enlarged portion 48 of the pump housing 12 extends axially upwardly from the liquid pump chamber wall 34 .", "This portion 48 of the housing extends upwardly to the top end 28 of the pump housing surrounding the top opening.", "An annular lip 52 is formed on the exterior surface of the pump housing 12 around the top opening.", "Spaced below the annular lip 52 is a flat annular ring 54 that projects radially outwardly from the pump housing 12 .", "A vent hole 58 (shown in FIG. 2 ) passes through the annular ring 54 and functions as a portion of the air vent path.", "The closure connector 14 has a general cylindrical configuration that is coaxial with the pump housing 12 .", "A center tubular stem 62 of the connector 14 is inserted into the opening at the pump housing top end 28 .", "A circular rim 64 projects inwardly from the interior of the stem 62 .", "An annular shoulder 66 of the connector extends over the pump housing top 28 and downwardly over the pump housing annular lip 52 securing the closure connector 14 to the pump housing 12 .", "A flat circular base 68 extends radially outwardly from the closure connector shoulder 66 .", "A cylindrical wall 72 extends upwardly from the outer peripheral edge of the connector base 68 .", "The wall 72 forms an air pump chamber wall that surrounds the air pump chamber of the dispenser.", "An axial groove 74 is formed in the exterior surface of a lower portion of the air pump chamber wall 72 .", "The axial groove 74 intersects an annular trough 76 formed into the bottom surface of the connector base 68 .", "The trough 74 extends radially inwardly from the outer peripheral edge of the connector base 68 to a position over the vent hole 58 in the pump housing annular ring 54 .", "Thus, the groove 74 in the air pump chamber wall 72 and the trough 76 in the bottom of the closure connector base 68 form a portion of the air venting flow path through the pump dispenser.", "Portions of the air pump chamber wall 72 are thicker than the remainder of the wall.", "These portions form lock columns 78 that extend axially upwardly over the exterior surface of the air pump chamber wall 72 .", "FIG. 5 shows three lock columns 78 on the exterior surface of the air pump chamber wall.", "In the embodiment shown, there are three lock columns 78 spacially arranged around the air pump chamber wall 72 .", "Each lock column 78 extends axially upwardly to the top edge of the air pump chamber wall 72 where a lock surface 82 is provided on the top distal end of each lock column 78 .", "Positioned adjacent the bottom of each lock column 78 is a vent opening 84 into the air pump chamber wall 72 .", "Each vent opening 84 communicates with one of the axial grooves 74 formed in the exterior surface of the air pump chamber wall 72 .", "In the embodiment of the pump dispenser shown in the drawing figures, there are three such vent openings 84 spacially arranged around the air pump chamber wall 72 .", "Together the vent openings 84 , the axial grooves 74 , and the radial trough 76 form a vent air flow path from the exterior of the air pump chamber wall 72 through the pump dispenser to the interior of the bottle 26 connected to the pump dispenser.", "An annular flange 86 projects radially outwardly from the air pump chamber wall 72 just below the plurality of vent openings 84 .", "The flange 86 extends outwardly to an outer peripheral edge of the flange that joins with a cylindrical side wall 88 of the closure connector.", "A portion of the side wall 88 extends axially downwardly from the outer peripheral edge of the annular flange 86 .", "This lower portion of the side wall 88 has internal screw threading 92 that is used to removably attach the pump dispenser to the neck of the bottle 26 .", "Other equivalent connectors, for example a bayonet connector, could be used.", "A cylindrical upper portion of the side wall 88 extends axially upwardly from the outer peripheral edge of the annular flange 86 .", "The annular flange 86 spaces the upper portion of the side wall 88 radially outwardly from the air pump chamber wall 74 and forms an annular groove 94 between the upper portion of the connector side wall 88 and the air pump chamber wall 72 .", "As seen in the drawing figures and in particular in FIG. 5 , each of the vent openings 84 open through the air pump chamber wall 72 in the annular groove 94 .", "Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5 , three stop surfaces 96 extend across the annular groove 94 adjacent the three vent openings 84 .", "Three tab locks 98 project into the annular groove 94 on the opposite sides of the vent openings 84 from the lock surfaces.", "The pump plunger 16 is mounted in the interior of the pump housing 12 for reciprocating movements between an upward, first charge position of the pump plunger 16 relative to the pump housing 12 , and a downward second discharge position of the pump plunger 16 relative to the pump housing 12 .", "The pump plunger 16 is also rotatable in the pump housing 12 .", "The pump plunger 16 has an elongate tubular length with a center bore 102 that is coaxial with the center axis 22 of the pump housing.", "The plunger center bore 102 forms a liquid discharge passage through the pump plunger.", "A liquid piston 104 is formed at the bottom end of the pump plunger 16 .", "The liquid piston 104 engages in a sliding sealing engagement with the liquid pump chamber wall 34 .", "A sealing plug seat 106 is formed on an intermediate portion of the pump plunger 16 .", "The sealing plug seat 106 is positioned to engage in a sealing engagement with the sealing plug 46 when the pump plunger 16 is moved to its upward, charge position relative to the pump housing 12 .", "An annular retainer ring 108 extends radially outwardly from the pump plunger 16 just below the sealing ring 106 and below the interior rim 64 of the closure connector 14 .", "The engagement of the pump plunger retainer ring 108 with the closure connector rim 64 prevents the pump plunger 16 from being removed from the pump housing 12 , and positions the pump plunger 16 in the charge position relative to the pump housing 12 .", "From the retainer ring 108 , the pump plunger 16 extends axially upwardly to a top end 112 of the plunger that surrounds a top opening of the plunger.", "A coil spring 114 is positioned over the pump plunger 16 and engages on top of the closure connector interior rim 64 .", "The spring 114 biases the pump plunger 16 toward its upward, first charge position relative to the pump housing 12 .", "A tubular spring holder 116 is inserted into the top end 112 of the pump plunger 12 and is held firmly in the plunger.", "The spring holder 116 has an annular ring 118 that projects radially outwardly from the spring holder 116 and engages against the top end 112 of the plunger and the top of the coil spring 114 .", "The coil spring 114 acts against the spring holder ring 118 in biasing the pump plunger 16 upwardly to the first, charge position of the plunger 16 relative to the pump housing 12 .", "An air seal ring 124 projects axially upwardly from the top of the spring holder ring 118 .", "Radially inside the air seal ring 124 , a plurality of air path grooves 126 are formed in the exterior surface of the spring holder 116 .", "The grooves 126 extend axially upwardly from the annular ring 118 to the top end of the spring holder 116 .", "A valve seat 128 is provided inside the tubular spring holder 116 adjacent the top end of the spring holder.", "A ball valve 132 is positioned on the valve seat 128 .", "The ball valve 132 controls the flow of fluid upwardly through the spring holder 116 as part of the liquid discharge passage 102 of the pump plunger, and prevents the reverse flow of liquid.", "The dispenser head 18 is mounted on the pump plunger 16 by being mounted onto the top end of the spring holder 116 .", "The dispenser head 18 has a center tube 134 inside the dispenser head that is press fit over the top end of the spring holder 116 .", "The engagement of the dispenser head center tube 134 with the spring holder 116 securely holds the dispenser head to the pump plunger 16 .", "The air path grooves 126 in the spring holder 116 provide an air path between the spring holder 116 and the dispenser head center tube 134 .", "A discharge nozzle 136 projects radially outwardly from the dispenser head center tube 134 , and an outlet passage 138 in the discharge nozzle 136 communicates with the interior of the center tube 134 and forms a portion of the discharge passage of the pump dispenser.", "A circular air seal rim 142 is formed in an interior surface of the dispenser head 18 and extends around the dispenser head center tube 134 .", "A cylindrical sleeve 144 extends axially downwardly from the dispenser head 18 and is spaced radially outwardly from the center tube 134 and the air seal rim 142 .", "Pairs of posts 146 extend downwardly in the interior of the dispenser head 18 .", "In the illustrated embodiment of the pump dispenser, there are three pairs of posts 146 spacially arranged around the pump dispenser center axis 22 inside the dispenser head 18 .", "Each of the pairs of posts 146 are spaced radially inwardly from the dispenser head sleeve 144 .", "An axial groove 148 is formed between each of the pairs of posts 146 .", "Each of the grooves 148 extends axially downwardly for the entire length of its associated pair of posts 146 .", "Each of the pairs of posts 146 also has radial lock surfaces 150 formed at the bottom ends of the posts.", "These lock surfaces 150 of the dispenser head 18 are positioned adjacent the top end of the air pump chamber wall 72 on the closure connector 14 .", "With the dispenser head 18 being rotatable with the pump plunger 16 relative to the connector closure 14 and the pump housing 12 , in a first rotated position of the dispenser head 18 relative to the connector 14 , the dispenser head lock surfaces 150 are axially aligned opposite the lock surfaces 82 at the tops of the lock columns 78 on the air pump chamber wall 72 .", "Rotating the dispenser head 18 and the pump plunger 16 relative to the closure connector 14 and the pump housing 12 to a second, unlocked position of the dispenser head 18 relative to the closure connector 14 axially misaligns the dispenser head lock surfaces 150 and the closure connector lock surfaces 82 .", "When rotated to the first, locked position, the dispenser head lock surfaces 150 are axially aligned opposite the closure connector lock surfaces 78 and the opposed lock surfaces will engage with each other when the dispenser head 18 is manually pressed downwardly.", "The engagement of the dispenser head lock surfaces 150 with the closure connector lock surfaces 82 prevents the pump plunger 16 from being reciprocated relative to the pump housing 12 when the dispenser head 18 is manually pressed toward the pump housing.", "To unlock the pump plunger 16 , the plunger 16 and the dispenser head 18 are rotated relative to the pump housing 12 and the closure connector 14 to the second, unlocked position of the dispenser head 18 relative to the closure connector 14 .", "In the unlocked position the dispenser head lock surfaces 150 are misaligned with the closure connector lock surfaces 82 , and the pump plunger 16 can be manually pressed downwardly into the pump housing 12 by manually pressing the dispenser head 18 downwardly.", "This allows the pump plunger 16 to be reciprocated in the pump housing 12 .", "An air pump piston 152 is mounted on the pump plunger 16 and engages in a sliding sealing engagement in the air pump chamber wall 72 .", "The air piston 152 has a cylindrical center portion 156 that extends from the outer sealing portion of the air piston 152 axially upwardly and then radially inwardly toward the pump plunger 16 .", "A cylindrical upper end 158 of the air piston cylindrical portion 156 is dimensioned to engage in a sealing engagement in the air seal rim 142 of the dispenser head 18 .", "The air piston upper end 158 is joined by a plurality of radial spokes 162 to a center tubular column 164 of the air piston.", "The spacings between the radial spokes 162 provide air flow paths between the air piston upper end 158 and the air piston center column 164 .", "The air piston column 164 is mounted for limited axial sliding movement on the dispenser head center tube 134 .", "When the air piston column 164 moves downwardly relative to the dispenser head center tube 134 , a bottom annular edge 166 of the column engages in a sealing engagement inside the spring holder air seal ring 124 .", "This closes an air flow path from the interior of the air pump chamber inside the air pump chamber wall 72 through the air path grooves 126 between the spring holder 116 and the dispenser head center tube 134 to the dispenser head outlet passage 138 .", "The downward movement of the air piston 152 on the dispenser head center tube 134 causes the upper end 158 of the air piston to disengage from the air seal rim 142 of the dispenser head.", "This opens an air flow path from the exterior of the dispenser head through the spacing between the dispenser head sealing rim 142 and the air piston upper end 158 allowing air from the exterior environment of the dispenser pump to enter the air pump chamber inside the air pump chamber wall 72 .", "The cylindrical locking and venting collar 20 is mounted on the closure connector 14 for rotation of the collar on the connector.", "The collar 20 has a lower cylindrical rim portion 172 that snaps over the upper portion of the connector side wall 88 in mounting the collar 20 on the connector 14 for rotation.", "From the rim 172 , the collar 20 extends axially upwardly over the exterior surface of the connector air pump chamber wall 72 .", "A radial spacing 174 is left between the collar 20 and the air pump chamber wall 72 .", "This radial spacing 174 forms a portion of the air vent flow path through the pump dispenser.", "A plurality of sealing tabs 176 are spaced radially inwardly from the collar rim 172 and extend axially downwardly from the collar 20 into the annular groove 94 of the closure connector.", "A narrow tongue or ridge 178 extends axially upwardly from each sealing tab 176 across the interior surface of the collar 20 .", "The collar tongues 178 engage in sliding engagement in the grooves 148 between the dispenser head posts 146 in operatively connecting the collar 20 to the dispenser head 18 .", "The connection between the collar 20 and the dispenser head 18 provided by the sliding engagement of the collar tongues 178 in the dispenser head grooves 148 allows the dispenser head 18 to be reciprocated axially relative to the collar 20 , and connects the collar 20 to the dispenser head 18 for rotation with the dispenser head.", "The collar 20 is rotatable between a locked, vent closed position and an unlocked, vent opened positioned of the collar 20 relative to the closure connector 14 .", "In the locked, vent closed position, the collar 20 is rotated in a clockwise direction when looking at the top of the pump dispenser.", "The collar 20 is rotated to where each of the collar sealing tabs 176 engages against a stop surface 96 in the annular groove 94 of the closure connector 14 .", "This positions a surface of each sealing tab 176 over each vent opening 84 of the closure connector, closing the air vent passage through the pump dispenser.", "The engagement of the closure connector tab locks 98 on the opposite sides of the collar tabs 176 from the connector stop surfaces 96 securely holds the collar 20 in the locked, vent closed position relative to the connector 14 .", "In this position also, the operative connection between the collar 20 and the dispenser head 18 provided by the engagement of the collar tongues 178 in the dispenser head grooves 148 positions the dispenser head 18 relative to the connector air pump chamber wall 72 where the dispenser head lock surfaces 150 are aligned axially opposite the connector lock surfaces 82 .", "This prevents the dispenser head 18 from being reciprocated relative to the closure connector 14 , and thereby prevents reciprocating movements of the pump plunger 16 in the pump housing 12 .", "Rotating the locking/venting collar 20 counterclockwise relative to the closure connector 14 moves the collar 20 from the locked, vent closed position to an unlocked, vent opened position of the collar.", "This rotation of the collar 20 requires sufficient manual force to disengage each of the collar sealing tabs 176 form its engaging tab lock 98 of the closure connector 14 .", "As each sealing tab 176 is moved over its engaging tab lock 98 , the surface of the sealing tab 176 closing over the vent opening 84 of the closure connector 14 is moved away from the vent opening.", "This opens an air vent path from the exterior of the pump dispenser through the radial spacing 174 between the collar 20 and the closure connector air pump chamber wall 72 , through the connector vent openings 84 , through the axial grooves 74 in the air pump chamber wall 72 and the annular trough 76 on the bottom of the connector base 68 and through the vent hole 58 in the pump dispenser annular ring 54 to the interior of the bottle 26 .", "This rotation of the collar 20 also causes the dispenser head 18 to rotate relative to the closure connector 66 due to the operative engagement between the collar tongues 178 in the dispenser head grooves 148 .", "The movement of the dispenser head 18 relative to the connector closure 14 moves the dispenser head lock surfaces 150 away from axial alignment with the closure connector lock surfaces 82 .", "This allows the dispenser head 18 to be reciprocated over the collar 20 , and thereby allows the pump plunger 16 to be reciprocated in the pump housing 12 .", "As the pump plunger 16 is moved downwardly into the pump housing 12 , an air flow path is established through the spacing between the dispenser head air seal rim 142 and the air pump piston upper end 158 providing air into the air pump chamber surrounded by the air pump chamber wall 72 .", "This air flow path exists for the short period of time before the air piston 152 moves upwardly relative to the dispenser head center tube 134 and the air piston upper end 158 engages in a sealing engagement with the dispenser head air seal rim 142 .", "Simultaneously, the bottom edge 166 of the air pump piston tubular column 164 disengages from the air seal ring 124 of the spring holder 116 .", "This opens an air flow path from the air pump chamber through the grooves 126 in the spring holder 116 to the dispenser head outlet passage 134 .", "Further downward movement of the pump plunger 16 into the pump housing 12 causes downward movement of the air piston 152 in the air pump chamber surrounded by the air pump chamber wall 72 , which causes air to be forced from the air pump chamber through the spring holder grooves 126 to the dispenser head outlet passage 138 .", "Additionally, as the pump plunger 16 moves downward through the pump housing 12 , liquid in the liquid pump chamber 32 is pumped out of the chamber by the downward movement of the liquid piston 104 through the liquid pump chamber.", "The liquid is forced upwardly through the pump plunger liquid discharge passage 102 and mixes with the air pumped from the air pump chamber, generating a foam.", "The foam is dispensed through the dispenser head outlet passage 138 from the dispenser.", "After the pump plunger 16 has been moved downwardly to its second, discharge position relative to the pump housing 12 , the manual pressure on the pump plunger 16 is removed and the coil spring 114 pushes the pump plunger 16 upwardly in the pump housing 12 .", "The spring pushes the plunger 16 upwardly in the housing 12 to the first, charge position of the pump plunger 16 relative to the pump housing 12 .", "This causes the liquid piston 104 to move upwardly through the liquid pump chamber 32 drawing liquid into the liquid pump chamber, and causes the air piston 152 to first be stationary as the plunger moves upwardly and the dispenser head air seal rim 142 disengages from the air piston upper end 158 , and then moves upwardly with the plunger through the air pump chamber surrounded by the air pump chamber wall 72 drawing air into the air pump chamber.", "With the pump plunger 16 in its first, charge position relative to the pump housing 12 , the plunger is ready for additional manual reciprocating movements relative to the pump housing 12 , or is in position to be rotated clockwise relative to the pump housing 12 back to the lock position of the plunger 16 .", "As described above, the pump dispenser of the invention comprises both a liquid pump and an air pump that mix liquid and air pumped through the dispenser to create a foam dispensed by the dispenser.", "In addition, the novel construction of the pump dispenser incorporates a collar rotatably mounted on the closure connector with a venting feature and a lock feature of the dispenser, thereby reducing the number of component parts of the dispenser and simplifying the dispenser construction.", "Although the air foaming pump dispenser of the invention has been described above by reference to a specific embodiment shown in the drawing figures, it should be understood that modifications and variations could be made to the air foaming pump dispenser without departing from the intended scope of the following claims." ]

[ "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1.", "Field of the Invention This invention is generally directed to fasteners having opposing and spreadable shank portions that diverge outwardly relative to one another in order to trap a plug of material there between as the fasteners are driven into a base material.", "More specifically, the invention is directed to such fasteners that are particularly well suited for use to securing roofing felts, insulations and membranes to cementitious and/or composite materials.", "Brief Description of the Related Art In the commercial roofing industry, cast in-place roofing decks are formed using gypsum, light weight concrete, Zonolite®, perlite, vermiculite and other cementitious materials.", "After being poured, such materials are sealed against the weather by covering with felts, plastics and other types of membranes that are secured using various types of fasteners.", "The fasteners are thereafter covered with asphalt, adhesive or other plastic sealants, often followed by additional layers of membrane, thereby forming a waterproof assembly.", "In U.S. Pat. No. 3,710,672 to Hallock an early form of spreadable fastener is disclosed having particular utility for securing roofing felt or roofing papers to poured lightweight materials such as insulating concrete used in the roofing industry.", "The fastener included a pair of legs or shank segments that spread apart when driven into cementitious material to thereby trap a plug of the poured lightweight material there between.", "The plug of material serves as an anchor to retain the fastener locked to the roof deck.", "An improvement on this patent was issued as U.S. Pat. No. 4,032,802, also to Hallock.", "The improved fastener provided beveled cutting edges along the penetrating tip of the spreadable legs or shank segments for the purpose of permitting the fastener to easily and cleanly penetrate roofing felts, papers, plastics or other membranes without tearing or ripping the membranes which would result in failure of the integrity of the seal provided by the membrane system.", "One of the major problems associated with cementitious roofing systems is that the sealing membranes can be damaged under high wind conditions such as encountered during hurricanes and tornadoes.", "Pressure changes across the surface of the sealing membranes can create uplifting forces that can pull anchoring fasteners from the cementitious material or rip the membranes around the heads of the fasteners used to secure the membranes in place.", "In view of the foregoing, there is a need to provide fasteners for poured roof deck systems that provide not only an increased resistance to withdrawal forces but also increase the surface engagement with the sealing membranes to thereby reduce the possibility of membrane tearing about the head of a fastener.", "SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to a sheet metal fastener having an enlarged head portion from which extend two or more hollow shanks wherein each shank includes a pair of opposing legs that are generally unshaped in cross section.", "The legs are constructed to interfit in opposing relationship with one another to define a hollow volume or space there between.", "The legs are pivotally movable relative to the head such that, as the fastener is driven into cementitious material, the legs spread apart to thereby trap a plug of the cementitious material there between.", "Further, as the legs penetrate the cementitious material, opposing side walls of the legs of adjacent shanks bulge laterally outwardly such that a side wall of one leg extends toward a side wall of a leg of an adjacent shank so that the distance between adjacent shanks is reduced.", "This bulging of the side walls of the legs of the adjacent shanks not only compacts the cementitious material between the adjacent shanks but also grasps an additional plug of material between the shanks.", "This grasping of an additional plug of material functions to increase the overall holding capacity of the fastener when compared to prior art fasteners having single shank spreadable legs.", "The opposing end wall portions of each of the legs are slightly convexly curved along their inner surface to thereby promote deflection and spreading of the legs relative to one another as the shanks penetrate a cementitious material.", "The lower edges of each wall of the legs are beveled or tapered to facilitate cutting through and penetrating a membrane through which the fastener is driven.", "The enlarged heads of the fasteners of the present invention may also be provided with reinforcing ribs which resist any bending of the heads by forces which tend to lift a secured membrane relative to the head brought about by severe climatic conditions.", "Further, the provision of a single head for driving two spaced shanks is advantageous because the number of force imparting impacts that are necessary to secure a membrane to a newly poured cementitious substrate is effectively reduced.", "It is the primary object of the present invention to provide a new and improved sheet metal fastener for use in securing papers, felts, plastics and other roofing membranes to poured cementitious roof decking materials wherein the fastener resistance to failure or separation from the decking material is increased by providing multiple shanks each having opposing spreadable legs that extend from a common driving head and wherein the resistance to failure is created not only by each shank having unshaped legs for trapping or grasping material plugs there between but wherein an additional plug of material is also grasped laterally between adjacent shanks.", "It is a further object of the present invention to provide sheet metal fasteners for cementitious material roofing deck systems wherein the resistance to membrane tearing is enhanced over prior art fasteners by effectively increasing the area of contact between the head of the fastener and the sealing membrane and wherein the head of the fastener may be reinforced to resist bending of the head that can result in fastener failure.", "It is another object of the present invention to provide multiple shank fasteners which can be installed more quickly to a roofing deck system as the number of individual fasteners which must be handled for each deck is decreased, thereby not only increasing installation efficiency but potentially saving in labor costs while reducing forceful impacts toward the material substrate.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A better understanding of the invention will be had with respect to the accompanying drawings wherein: FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of one embodiment of a sheet metal fastener of the present invention;", "FIG. 2 is a side view of the fastener of FIG. 1 ;", "FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the fastener of FIG. 1 ;", "FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of the fastener of FIG. 1 ;", "FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view taken along line 5 - 5 of FIG. 3 ;", "FIG. 6 is a side illustrational view showing the fastener penetrating a membrane being secured to underlying cementitious material;", "FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6 showing how each of the shanks of the fasteners of the present invention trap a plug of cementitious material to resist fastener withdrawal;", "FIG. 8 is a front illustrational view of the fastener of the invention driven into a cementitious roofing deck material showing the further creation of a compressed plug of material that is grasped between bulging side walls of the adjacent shanks of the fastener which additional plug increases the fasteners resistance to withdrawal;", "FIG. 9 is a top plan view of a sheet of metal showing the metal being stamped, punched or cut to form a blank from which the embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings may be made;", "FIG. 10 is a cross sectional view taken along line 10 - 10 of Fig.", "showing a configuration of the opposing u-shaped legs of one of the shanks of the fastener of the invention before being driven into a cementitious material;", "and FIG. 11 is a cross sectional view taken along line 11 - 11 of FIG. 8 showing the lateral spreading of the side walls of the legs of one of the shanks of the fastener of the invention after being driven into cementitious material to thereby grasp a secondary plug of material between adjacent shanks.", "DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS With continued reference to the drawing figures, a hollow sheet metal nail or fastener 10 is shown that is preferably integrally formed from a single piece or blank of metal 12 , see FIG. 9 , that has been stamped, punched or cut from a larger sheet of the metal.", "However, the inventive features of the present invention could also be embodied in a sheet metal fastener form of several blanks that are crimped or otherwise secured to one another.", "The nail or fastener 10 includes at least two hollow shanks 14 and 15 that extend from a common enlarged head 16 .", "The head of the fastener has upper and lower surfaces and is preferably reinforced by a plurality of raised ribs 13 along the upper surface so as to resist bending.", "The ribs are shown in FIG. 3 as extending across the length and width of the head.", "Each shank 14 and 15 is formed of opposing legs 17 and 18 that are generally unshaped in cross section as shown in the cross section in FIG. 10 which is a cross section of leg 17 before the fastener is driven into a cementitious material.", "The legs have opposing side walls 19 , 20 and 21 , 22 , respectively, that are connected by an end wall or web 23 , 24 , respectively.", "Each end wall 23 , 24 is preferably formed to promote a relative spreading of the legs when the fastener is driven into a cementitious material.", "In the embodiment shown, each end wall has an inner surface 26 , 27 that is convexly arcuately curved so as to facilitate spreading of the opposing legs as the fastener is driven into cementitious material.", "As manufactured, one leg of each shank seats within the opposing leg such that the side walls of the two legs of each shank are adjacent to one another and thereby define a hollow area “H”", "there between.", "In the drawings, legs 18 are shown as being seated within legs 17 .", "As the fastener is driven into cementitious material the opposing legs trap a first material plug “P 1 ”", "there between that also results in the opposing legs being forced to spread apart relative to one another, see FIG. 7 .", "Because the legs spread apart, and due to the trapped internal plug of cementitious material, a resistance to fastener withdrawal is created.", "A further resistance to fastener withdrawal is created by the structure of the present invention due to an additional compacted plug “P 2 ”", "of cementitious material that is formed and grasped between the spaced shanks 14 and 15 and beneath the enlarged head 16 as the fastener is driven.", "As the shanks are driven into the cementitious material, the side walls of the legs of the shanks bulge laterally toward the adjacent shank, as shown by the arrows in FIG. 8 , under the influence of the first plugs “P 1 ”", "of material within the hollow shanks.", "The bulging shank side walls that grasp the additional plug “P 2 ”", "of material there between provide additional resistance to fastener withdrawal.", "Therefore, as the shanks penetrate the material, the side walls of each of the legs 17 and 18 will spread or open laterally as shown in FIG. 11 which is a cross section of the leg 17 after the fastener is driven.", "With reference to FIG. 8 , the shanks are spaced at a distance relative to one another that is sufficiently close to cause the cementitious material to become compressed there between as the side walls of the opposing legs of each shank laterally expand when the fastener is driven into the material.", "If the shanks are spaced at too great a distance, little or no effective compression will be created there between.", "The spacing will depend upon the cross sectional dimensions of the shanks.", "Thus, with the embodiment shown, resistance to fastener withdrawal is created by the internal material plugs “P 1 ”", "and spread legs of each shank 14 and 15 of the fastener as well as the plug “P 2 ”", "of compacted material grasped between the shanks.", "As previously described, the opposing legs of each shank spread relative to one another as the fastener is driven into cementitious material.", "Such spreading is possible as the end wall of each leg is connected to the head 16 by an integral hinge portion 30 , see FIG. 5 .", "During manufacture, and with reference to FIGS. 3 , 5 and 9 , a sheet metal blank 12 is formed having at least four leg sections 33 , a head portion 34 and connected hinge forming portions 35 .", "The legs are created by folding the blank 32 along the dotted lines 36 and 37 , shown in FIG. 9 , to form the side walls of each leg.", "Thereafter the hinge forming portions 35 are folded beneath the head along the dotted lines 38 and subsequently folded about the lines 39 so that the legs extend generally perpendicular to the head, as shown in FIG. 5 .", "The hinge forming portions are retained by punching and bending retaining clips 40 from the material from the head portion 34 and bending or folding the clips over the edges of the hinge forming portions 35 , also as shown in FIG. 5 .", "To facilitate the penetration of the fasteners 10 through a roofing membrane “M”, as shown in FIG. 6 , without tearing the membrane, the lower edges of the side walls of each leg are beveled or tapered at an angle of between approximately 20° to 45° as shown at 42 in the drawings.", "Further, the lower edges 44 of the ends walls of each leg are cut or punched to create an inverted “V”", "structure to facilitate a clean penetration of the end walls through the membrane “M”", "as the fastener is driven into the cementitious material “C.”", "In the use of the fastener 10 of the invention, the fastener is positioned with lower edges of the shanks 14 and 15 against the membrane “M.”", "Force is thereafter applied to cut through the membrane and drive the fastener into the cementitious material “C”", "until the head 16 securely engages the membrane as shown in FIG. 7 .", "The cementitious material may be substantially any lightweight insulating base material such as set forth above.", "As the fastener penetrates the cementitious material, the opposing legs of each shank will spread to capture and grasp the plugs “P 1 ”", "of material there between while the expansion of the side walls of the legs of adjacent shanks compress and grasp the additional material plug “P 2 ”", "there between, as shown in FIG. 8 .", "In this manner, the fastener will be securely engaged with the cementitious material with increased resistance to premature or accidental withdrawal, thereby maintaining the integrity of the roof covering materials.", "As previously noted, in some embodiments, more than two shanks may be associated with the fasteners of the invention.", "The foregoing description of the preferred embodiments of the invention has been presented to illustrate the principles of the invention and not to limit the invention to the particular embodiments illustrated and described.", "It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the following claims and their equivalents." ]

[ "CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is: a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser.", "No. 11/491,626, filed on Jul. 24, 2006, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,579,176 (which application claims the priority, under 35 U.S.C. §119, of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/702,643, filed on Jul. 26, 2005, U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/760,000, filed on Jan. 18, 2006, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/811,950, filed on Jun. 8, 2006);", "a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser.", "No. 11/540,255, filed on Sep. 29, 2006, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,404,508;", "a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser.", "No. 11/541,105, filed on Sep. 29, 2006;", "a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser.", "No. 11/844,406, filed on Aug. 24, 2007, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,419,080;", "a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser.", "No. 12/139,142, filed on Jun. 13, 2008, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,245,898;", "a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser.", "No. 12/633,292, filed on Dec. 8, 2009, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,034,077;", "a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser.", "No. 13/228,933, filed on Sep. 9, 2011, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,920,435;", "a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser.", "No. 13/547,968, filed on Jul. 12, 2012, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,695,865;", "and a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser.", "No. 13/654,073, filed on Oct. 17, 2012, the entire disclosures of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.", "FIELD OF INVENTION [0011] The present invention lies in the field of medical devices, in particular, in the field of surgical stapling instruments and methods for use thereof that are capable of applying lines of staples to tissue while cutting the tissue between those staple lines and, more particularly, to improvements relating to stapler instruments and improvements in processes for forming various components of such stapler instruments that include an articulating shaft.", "The device and methods can be used, particularly, for stapling and cutting tissue during endoscopic or laparoscopic surgical procedures.", "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0012] Endoscopic surgical instruments are often preferred over traditional open surgical devices because a smaller incision tends to reduce the post-operative recovery time and complications.", "Consequently, significant development has gone into a range of endoscopic surgical instruments that are suitable for precise placement of a distal end effector at a desired surgical site through a cannula of a trocar.", "These distal end effectors engage the tissue in a number of ways to achieve a diagnostic or therapeutic effect (e.g., endocutter, grasper, cutter, staplers, clip applier, access device, drug/gene therapy delivery device, and energy device using ultrasound, RF, laser, etc.).", "[0013] Positioning the end effector is constrained by the trocar.", "Generally, these endoscopic surgical instruments include a long shaft between the end effector and a handle portion manipulated by the clinician.", "This long shaft enables insertion to a desired depth and rotation about the longitudinal axis of the shaft, thereby positioning the end effector to a degree.", "With judicious placement of the trocar and use of graspers, for instance, through another trocar, often this amount of positioning is sufficient.", "Surgical stapling and severing instruments, such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,465,895 to Knodel et al.", ", are an example of an endoscopic surgical instrument that successfully positions an end effector by insertion and rotation.", "[0014] One stapler manufactured by United States Surgical Corporation and described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,644,532 and 6,250,532 to Green et al.", "have an end effector that pivotally moves along a single plane in steps dependent upon activation of a lever that correspondingly moves along a single plane in similar steps.", "See FIGS. 31 and 32 therein.", "The U.S. Surgical Corp.", "stapler, however, is limited by the predetermined angles that it can achieve and by the limited side to side pivoting (−45 degrees to +45 degrees) that requires two hands for operation.", "[0015] Depending upon the nature of the operation, it may be desirable to further adjust the positioning of the end effector of an endoscopic surgical instrument rather than being limited to insertion and rotation.", "In particular, it is often desirable to orient the end effector at an axis transverse to the longitudinal axis of the shaft of the instrument.", "The transverse movement of the end effector relative to the instrument shaft is conventionally referred to as “articulation.”", "This articulated positioning permits the clinician to more easily engage tissue in some instances.", "In addition, articulated positioning advantageously allows an endoscope to be positioned behind the end effector without being blocked by the instrument shaft.", "[0016] While the aforementioned non-articulating stapling and severing instruments have great utility and may be successfully employed in many surgical procedures, it is desirable to enhance their operation with the ability to articulate the end effector, thereby giving greater clinical flexibility in their use.", "Articulating surgical instruments generally use one or more firing bars that move longitudinally within the instrument shaft and through the articulation joint to fire the staples from the cartridge and to cut the tissue between the innermost staple lines.", "One common problem with these surgical instruments is control of the firing bar through the articulation joint.", "At the articulation joint, the end effector is longitudinally spaced away from the shaft so that the edges of the shaft and end effector do not collide during articulation.", "This gap must be filled with support material or structure to prevent the firing bar from buckling out of the joint when the single or multiple firing bars is subjected to longitudinal firing loads.", "What is needed is a support structure that guides and supports the single or multiple firing bars through the articulation joint and bends or curves as the end effector is articulated.", "[0017] U.S. Pat. No. 5,673,840 to Schulze et al.", "describes a flexible articulation joint that is formed from an elastomeric or plastic material that bends at the flexible joint or “flex neck.”", "The firing bars are supported and guided through a hollow tube within the flex neck.", "The flex neck is a portion of the jaw closure mechanism and moves longitudinally relative to the end effector, shaft, and firing bars when the jaws are closed on tissue.", "The firing bars then move longitudinally within the flex neck as the staples are fired and tissue is cut.", "[0018] U.S. Pat. No. 5,797,537 to Oberlin et al.", "(owned by Richard-Allan Medical Industries, Inc.) describes an articulation joint that pivots around a pin, rather than bends around a flex joint.", "In this instrument, firing bars are supported between a pair of spaced support plates connected at one end to the shaft and at another end to the end effector.", "At least one of those connections is a slidable connection.", "The support plates extend through the articulation joint adjacent to the flexible drive member in the plane of articulation such that the support plates bend through the gap in the plane of articulation and the flexible firing bar bends against the support when the tip is articulated in one direction from its aligned position.", "U.S. Pat. No. 6,330,965 to Milliman et al.", "from U.S. Surgical teaches the use of support plates that are fixedly attached to the shaft and slidably attached to the end effector.", "[0019] Although these known support plates guide a firing bar through an articulation joint, it is believed that performance may be enhanced.", "For instance, it is often desirable for the firing bar to be rapidly accelerated during firing to ensure sufficient momentum for severing tissue effectively.", "Rigidly attached support plates may tend to dislodge in response, allowing the firing bar to blow out from the articulation joint.", "As a further example, it is desirable for the instrument to operate in the same manner whether articulated or not.", "Increased friction when articulated would be inconvenient and distracting to the clinician if required to exert a varying amount of firing force.", "[0020] Consequently, a significant need exists for an improved articulation mechanism for a surgical instrument mechanism that provides enhanced support to a firing bar through the articulation joint.", "[0021] As mentioned above, as used in the art and as used herein, transverse movement of a medical end effector relative to an instrument shaft is conventionally referred to as “articulation.”", "In prior art medical devices having articulation control, the articulation movement is directed actively from the device handle.", "This active control can be mechanical and/or electrical.", "For example, some prior art devices have levers at the top of the control handle and, when pivoted left the end effector articulates left and when pivoted right the end effector articulates right.", "Some operate with opposite movement.", "To effect this articulation, it is very difficult for the operator to use only one hand.", "Thus, often, the operator must hold the handle with one hand and pivot the articulation lever with the other hand.", "As is known, the trend for laparoscopic and other similar medical devices is to make them operable with a single hand because surgeons often lose control of the device held in the second hand when it is necessary to remove their second hand from that device in order to operate the articulation lever.", "Loss of device control is undesirable and extends the surgical procedure if the device falls outside the view of the operating surgeon.", "One prior art device uses electrical measures to actively control articulation.", "In U.S. Pat. No. 7,213,736 to Wales et al.", ", electrical power is supplied to an electrically actuated polymer to articulate the end effector actively in the desired direction.", "These prior art devices can be characterized by referring to them as “active articulation”", "devices, in which an articulation control device is present on the handle and extends through the articulation joint to force the articulation in either articulation direction.", "In other words, the forces required to perform articulation are generated internally in the device.", "[0022] Thus, a significant need also exists for an improved articulation mechanism for a surgical instrument mechanism that is operable with only a single hand.", "The articulation assembly of the present invention has no mechanical control device in the handle to effect direct control of articulating movement of the end effector.", "There is no articulation control device present on the handle that extends through the articulation joint to force the end effector to articulate in a direction.", "Instead, articulation of the end effector is dependent upon pressure between a surface of the environment in which the end effector exists and an exterior surface of the end effector, for example, at a location distal of the articulation joint.", "A torque to pivot the inventive end effector about the articulation axis arises from forces external to the device.", "One force is present by the user holding the handle.", "The other force acts distal of the articulation joint and imparted by the environment in which the end effector is present and against which the end effector is being held.", "In other words, the forces required to perform articulation are external to the device.", "This motion can be referred to herein as “passive articulation”", "and the “articulation joint”", "of the present invention operates with passive articulation—it requires a torque external to the device to articulate the end effector about the axis of the passive articulation joint.", "BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0023] It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a surgical stapling and cutting device that overcomes the hereinafore-mentioned disadvantages of the heretofore-known devices of this general type.", "[0024] With the foregoing and other objects in view, there is provided, in accordance with the invention, a medical device, comprising a laparoscopic shaft having proximal and distal ends and defining a shaft axis.", "A surgical end effector is at the distal end of the shaft.", "A surgical procedure actuator carries out a surgical procedure on tissue at the end effector when actuated.", "A rotating knob is at the proximal end of the shaft.", "The rotating knob rotates the end effector with respect to the shaft about the shaft axis when rotated and actuates the procedure actuator when slid in a proximal direction.", "[0025] In accordance with a further feature, there is provided a pistol-shaped handle connected at the proximal end of the shaft and having a distal end at which is disposed the rotating knob.", "[0026] In accordance with an added feature, the end effector is rotationally fixedly connected to the rotating knob and rotates the end effector when rotated about the shaft axis.", "[0027] In accordance with an additional feature, the procedure actuator is a locking device of the end effector and actuation of the procedure actuator by proximal movement of the rotating knob unlocks the locking device.", "[0028] In accordance with yet another feature, the procedure actuator has an unactuated state and an actuated state, the locking device has a locked state and an unlocked state, and the procedure actuator: in the actuated state when the rotating knob is moved proximally, changes the locking device from the locked state to the unlocked state, and changes the locking device from the unlocked state to the locked state when the rotating knob is released after being moved proximally.", "[0029] In accordance with yet a further feature, the pistol-shaped handle has a stapler-closing device and the end effector is a surgical stapling end effector having a pair of opposing stapling surfaces, at least one of the stapling surfaces being operable to move with respect to the other of the stapling surfaces upon actuation of the stapler-closing device to apply a compressive force to tissue therebetween.", "[0030] In accordance with yet an added feature, the end effector further comprises a knife assembly disposed to cut tissue at the end effector.", "[0031] In accordance with yet an additional feature, the end effector comprises one of a circular surgical staple head and a linear surgical staple head.", "[0032] In accordance with again another feature, the rotating knob permits both: a rotation of the end effector when rotated about the shaft axis, and an actuation of the procedure actuator when slid proximally.", "[0033] In accordance with again a further feature, the rotating knob permits simultaneous rotation of the end effector and actuation of the surgical procedure actuator when rotated about the shaft axis and slid proximally.", "[0034] In accordance with again an added feature, the end effector is a surgical stapling end effector having a stapling device with staples and a cutting device with a blade.", "The handle has: a stapler closing actuator closing the stapling device when actuated and a firing actuator that, when actuated: staples with the stapling device;", "and cuts with the cutting device.", "The stapler closing actuator and the staple firing actuator are different from the rotating knob.", "[0035] In accordance with again an additional feature, the end effector is a surgical stapling end effector having a stapling device with staples and a cutting device with a blade.", "The handle has: a stapler closing actuator closing the stapling device when actuated, and a firing actuator that, when actuated: staples with the stapling device and cuts with the cutting device.", "The stapler closing actuator and the staple firing actuator are actuators that are different from the rotating knob.", "[0036] With the foregoing and other objects in view, there is provided, in accordance with the invention, a medical device, comprising a pistol-shaped handle having a distal portion.", "A laparoscopic shaft has proximal end at the distal portion, a distal end, and defines a shaft axis.", "A surgical end effector is at the distal end of the shaft.", "A surgical procedure actuator carries out a surgical procedure on tissue at the end effector when actuated.", "A rotating knob is at the distal portion.", "The rotating knob rotates the end effector with respect to the shaft about the shaft axis when rotated and actuates the procedure actuator when slid in a direction towards the handle.", "[0037] In accordance with a further feature, the end effector is rotationally fixedly connected to the rotating knob and rotates the end effector when rotated about the shaft axis.", "[0038] In accordance with an added feature, the procedure actuator is a locking device of the end effector and actuation of the procedure actuator by proximal movement of the rotating knob unlocks the locking device.", "[0039] In accordance with an additional feature, the pistol-shaped handle has a stapler-closing device and the end effector is a surgical stapling end effector having a pair of opposing stapling surfaces, at least one of the stapling surfaces being operable to move with respect to the other of the stapling surfaces upon actuation of the stapler-closing device to apply a compressive force to tissue therebetween.", "[0040] In accordance with yet another feature, the end effector further comprises a knife assembly disposed to cut tissue at the end effector.", "[0041] In accordance with yet a further feature, the end effector comprises one of a circular surgical staple head and a linear surgical staple head.", "[0042] In accordance with yet an added feature, the rotating knob permits simultaneous rotation of the end effector and actuation of the surgical procedure actuator when rotated about the shaft axis and slid proximally.", "[0043] In accordance with a concomitant feature, the end effector is a surgical stapling end effector having a stapling device with staples and a cutting device with a blade.", "The handle has: a stapler closing actuator closing the stapling device when actuated and a firing actuator that, when actuated: staples with the stapling device, and cuts with the cutting device.", "The stapler closing actuator and the staple firing actuator are different from the rotating knob.", "[0044] Additional advantages and other features characteristic of the present invention will be set forth in the detailed description which follows and may be apparent from the detailed description or may be learned by practice of exemplary embodiments of the present invention.", "Still other advantages of the present invention may be realized by any of the instrumentalities, methods, or combinations particularly pointed out in the claims.", "[0045] Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in a surgical stapling and cutting device and methods of use thereof, it is, nevertheless, not intended to be limited to the details shown because various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims.", "Additionally, well-known elements of exemplary embodiments of the invention will not be described in detail or will be omitted so as not to obscure the relevant details of the invention.", "[0046] Other features that are considered as characteristic for the present invention are set forth in the appended claims.", "As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein;", "however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which can be embodied in various forms.", "Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one of ordinary skill in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure.", "Further, the terms and phrases used herein are not intended to be limiting, but rather, to provide an understandable description of the invention.", "While the specification concludes with claims defining the features of the invention that are regarded as novel, it is believed that the present invention will be better understood from a consideration of the following description in conjunction with the drawing figures, in which like reference numerals are carried forward.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0047] Advantages of embodiments the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments thereof, which description should be considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: [0048] FIG. 1 is an enlarged, fragmentary, perspective view of a first embodiment of a distal stapling and cutting end effector and a portion of a shaft connected thereto according to the invention viewed from a distal end thereof with a staple cartridge approximately pulled out half-way from a staple cartridge jaw of the end effector and with an anvil of the stapler separated from a staple-actuating and tissue-cutting slide;", "[0049] FIG. 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary, side elevational view of the end effector of FIG. 1 with the distal cowling, the proximal castellation axial movement part, and the cartridge removed for clarity, and with the anvil of the stapler connected to the slide;", "[0050] FIG. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary, perspective view of the end effector of FIG. 1 with the staple-actuating and tissue-cutting slide in a distal position but with the anvil of the stapler separated from the slide;", "[0051] FIG. 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary, perspective view of the end effector of FIG. 1 with the staple cartridge removed from the lower jaw/staple cartridge holder and with the clevis rotated in an approximately 45 degree angle with respect to center;", "[0052] FIG. 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary, wireframe side elevational view of a distal portion of the end effector of FIG. 1 ;", "[0053] FIG. 6 is an enlarged, fragmentary, wireframe perspective view of a castellation axial movement assembly of the end effector of FIG. 1 rotated approximately 90 degrees and with an end effector lateral movement locking pin and a proximal screw removed for clarity;", "[0054] FIG. 7 is an enlarged, fragmentary, wireframe perspective view of the end effector of FIG. 6 viewed from a bottom thereof with an end effector lateral movement locking pin engaging a tooth of the lateral movement sprocket, and with springs and the proximal screw removed for clarity;", "[0055] FIG. 8 is an enlarged, fragmentary, wireframe bottom plan view of the end effector of FIG. 7 with an end effector lateral movement locking pin engaging a tooth of the lateral movement sprocket;", "[0056] FIG. 9 is an enlarged, fragmentary, longitudinal cross-sectional view of the end effector of FIG. 8 viewed from a bottom thereof with the end effector lateral movement locking pin engaging a tooth of the lateral movement sprocket and with the springs removed for clarity;", "[0057] FIG. 10 is an enlarged, fragmentary, perspective view of the end effector of FIG. 2 rotated about the longitudinal axis with the clevis, the screw, and the distal castellation sleeve axial movement and spring parts removed for clarity;", "[0058] FIG. 11 is an enlarged, fragmentary, bottom plan view of a distal portion of the end effector of FIG. 1 with the staple-actuating and tissue-cutting slide in a proximal position;", "[0059] FIG. 12 is an enlarged, fragmentary, bottom plan view of the distal portion of the end effector of FIG. 11 with the staple-actuating and tissue-cutting slide in an intermediate position;", "[0060] FIG. 13 is an enlarged, fragmentary, radially cross-sectional view through the stapling actuating and tissue-cutting slide of the end effector of FIG. 2 ;", "[0061] FIG. 14 is an enlarged, fragmentary, horizontal longitudinal cross-sectional view through a lower half of the end effector of FIG. 1 ;", "[0062] FIG. 15 is an enlarged, fragmentary, horizontal longitudinal cross-sectional view through an upper half of a proximal portion of the end effector of FIG. 1 ;", "[0063] FIG. 16 is an enlarged, fragmentary, vertical longitudinal cross-sectional view approximately through a longitudinal axis of a proximal portion of the end effector of FIG. 1 ;", "[0064] FIG. 17 is an enlarged, fragmentary, vertical longitudinal cross-sectional view through a right half of the proximal portion of the end effector of FIG. 1 ;", "[0065] FIG. 18 is an illustration of a left side of the surgical stapler according to the invention with the jaws of the end effector open in an at-rest position of an actuator handle;", "[0066] FIG. 19 is an illustration of a left side of the surgical stapler of FIG. 18 with the jaws of the end effector closed in an actuated position of a thumb trigger of the actuator handle;", "[0067] FIG. 20 is an illustration of a left side from above the surgical stapler of FIG. 18 with the lateral movement trigger depressed, with the distal end effector in a laterally free movement state position-dependent upon contact with the environment, such as a surface, and with the jaws of the end effector open in the at-rest position of the actuator handle and laterally positioned at an approximately 45 degree angle;", "[0068] FIG. 21 is an illustration of a left side from above the surgical stapler of FIG. 18 with the lateral movement trigger in an at-rest state, with the distal end effector in a laterally captured movement state, and with the jaws of the end effector open in the at-rest position of the actuator handle and laterally positioned at an approximately 30 degree angle;", "[0069] FIG. 22 is a fragmentary illustration of a left side of the end effector of FIG. 18 with the jaws open in the at-rest position and laterally positioned at an approximately 75 degree angle;", "[0070] FIG. 23 is a fragmentary illustration of a left side of the end effector of the stapler of FIG. 18 with the jaws open in the at-rest position and in a rotated first axial position;", "[0071] FIG. 24 is a fragmentary illustration of a left side of the end effector of FIG. 23 with the jaws open in the at-rest position and in a normal position rotated counter-clockwise with respect to FIG. 23 ;", "[0072] FIG. 25 is a perspective view from a distal end of a second embodiment of a surgical stapling device according to the invention with a removable end effector having a self-contained stapling motor, with the stapling jaws in an at-rest open position and at a right lateral position of approximately 45 degrees, with the ball release lever in an at-rest ball-capture position, and with the motor actuator button in an at-rest motor-off position;", "[0073] FIG. 26 is an enlarged, perspective view of the removable end effector of FIG. 25 with the jaws in an at-rest open position and with the slide removed for clarity;", "[0074] FIG. 27 is a perspective view from a distal end of a third embodiment of a surgical stapling device according to the invention with a removable end effector having two ball-connection ends and a self-contained stapling motor, with the stapling jaws in an at-rest open position and at a right lateral position of approximately 45 degrees with staple jaws reversed and facing proximally, with the ball release lever in an actuated ball-released position, and with the motor actuator button in an at-rest motor-off position;", "[0075] FIG. 28 is an enlarged, perspective view of the removable end effector of FIG. 27 viewed from a right side and a distal end thereof with the jaws in an at-rest open position and with the slide removed for clarity;", "[0076] FIG. 29 is a fragmentary, enlarged side cross-sectional wireframe view of a distal-most end of an actuating handle of the surgical stapling and cutting device of FIGS. 25 and 26 and of a ball-joint of the removable stapling end effector of FIGS. 25 and 26 in a captured and aligned state;", "[0077] FIG. 30 is a fragmentary, enlarged side cross-sectional view of a distal-most end of opposite side of the actuating of FIG. 29 with the ball-joint in an un-aligned and released state but still captured in between clamps of the actuating handle;", "[0078] FIG. 31 is a perspective view from a proximal end of the stapling and cutting device according to the invention with an anvil removed;", "[0079] FIG. 32 is a fragmentary, perspective view from a proximal end of the device of FIG. 31 with the handle removed to show a proximal portion of an articulation release device with a pushrod therein;", "[0080] FIG. 33 is an illustration an enlarged, exploded view of parts of the proximal end of an inner tube of the device of FIG. 31 ;", "[0081] FIG. 34 is a fragmentary, perspective view from a distal end of interior parts connecting the articulation release device to the articulation joint of the end effector with an outer tube removed;", "[0082] FIG. 35 is a fragmentary, enlarged, vertically longitudinal cross-sectional view of the parts of FIG. 34 ;", "[0083] FIG. 36 is a fragmentary, enlarged, perspective view of a knife guide assembly of the device of FIG. 31 from proximal of a knife guide to distal of a knife blade with outer and inner tubes removed;", "[0084] FIG. 37 is a fragmentary, enlarged, vertically longitudinal cross-sectional view of a portion of the parts of FIG. 35 at a proximal end of a pullband;", "[0085] FIG. 38 is a fragmentary, enlarged, vertically longitudinal cross-sectional view of a portion of the parts of FIG. 35 at a distal end of the pullband;", "[0086] FIG. 39 is a fragmentary, enlarged, side elevational view of a stapler assembly, a drum sleeve, the articulation joint, and a clevis of the device of FIG. 31 with an anvil in an open position;", "[0087] FIG. 40 is a fragmentary, enlarged, side elevational view of the stapler assembly, the drum sleeve, the articulation joint, and the clevis of the device of FIG. 31 moved distally with respect to FIG. 39 and with the anvil in a closed, firing position;", "[0088] FIG. 41 is a fragmentary, enlarged, perspective view of a knife guide sub-assembly from proximal of the knife guide to the knife blade with the knife guide, the clevis, the left hammock, the drum sleeve, and the cartridge holder removed;", "[0089] FIG. 42 is a fragmentary, enlarged, vertically transverse cross-sectional view of the knife-pushrod pin joint of the device of FIG. 31 ;", "[0090] FIG. 43 is a fragmentary, enlarged, vertically transverse cross-sectional view of the pullband-aluminum tube pin joint of the device of FIG. 31 ;", "[0091] FIG. 44 is a fragmentary, enlarged, vertically transverse cross-sectional view of a proximal face of the clevis of the device of FIG. 31 ;", "[0092] FIG. 45 is a fragmentary, enlarged, vertically transverse cross-sectional view of plunger pin spring pockets and an articulation release pin of the device of FIG. 31 ;", "[0093] FIG. 46 is a fragmentary, enlarged, vertically transverse cross-sectional view of a plunger pin cam surface and an articulation locking sprocket of the device of FIG. 31 ;", "[0094] FIG. 47 is a fragmentary, enlarged, vertically transverse cross-sectional view of the end effector articulation joint of the device of FIG. 31 ;", "[0095] FIG. 48 is a fragmentary, enlarged, vertically transverse cross-sectional view of a distal pullband pin joint of the device of FIG. 31 ;", "[0096] FIG. 49 is a fragmentary, enlarged, vertically transverse cross-sectional view of an anvil/upper jaw pivot slot of the device of FIG. 31 ;", "[0097] FIG. 50 is a fragmentary, enlarged, horizontally longitudinal cross-sectional view of the articulation joint portion of the device of FIG. 31 through spring rods;", "[0098] FIG. 51 is an illustration of a test bed for knife guiding blades and hammocks of the device of FIG. 31 ;", "[0099] FIG. 52 is a fragmentary, enlarged, horizontally longitudinal cross-sectional view of the articulation joint portion of the device of FIG. 31 through an articulation lock release slide;", "[0100] FIG. 53 is an exploded perspective view of distal components of the device of FIG. 31 viewed from the distal end thereof and without the anvil;", "[0101] FIG. 54 is a perspective view of an articulating distal portion of a fourth embodiment of the end effector according to the invention with the inner and outer tubes removed;", "[0102] FIG. 55 is a fragmentary, enlarged, and exploded perspective view of an articulating portion of the end effector of FIG. 54 rotated with the top inward towards the viewer with the outer tube removed;", "[0103] FIG. 56 is a fragmentary, enlarged, bottom plan view of the articulating portion of the end effector of FIG. 54 with the lower clevis and the closure ring removed;", "[0104] FIG. 57 is a fragmentary, horizontally longitudinal, cross-sectional view of the articulating portion of the end effector of FIG. 54 through a lower end of the dogbone guide;", "[0105] FIG. 58 is a fragmentary, vertically longitudinal, cross-sectional view of the articulating portion of the end effector of FIG. 54 through the spring rods with the inner tube and the pushrod-blade support removed;", "[0106] FIG. 59 is a fragmentary, vertically transverse, cross-sectional view of the articulating portion of the end effector of FIG. 54 through a distal end of the dogbone guide;", "[0107] FIG. 60 is a fragmentary, vertically transverse, cross-sectional view of the articulating portion of the end effector of FIG. 54 through a proximal end of a dogbone guide chamber of the lower clevis with the dogbone guide removed;", "[0108] FIG. 61 is a fragmentary, horizontally longitudinal, cross-sectional view of the articulating portion of the end effector of FIG. 54 through a low intermediate portion of the dogbone guide;", "[0109] FIG. 62 is a fragmentary, horizontally longitudinal, cross-sectional view of the articulating portion of the end effector of FIG. 54 through a high intermediate portion of the dogbone guide;", "[0110] FIG. 63 is a fragmentary, vertically longitudinal, cross-sectional view of the articulating portion of the end effector of FIG. 54 through a spring rod with the inner tube, the pushrod-blade support, an anvil, and a near half of the staple sled removed;", "[0111] FIG. 64 is a fragmentary, vertically longitudinal, cross-sectional view of the articulating portion of the end effector of FIG. 54 through the dogbone guide with a spring plate, the anvil, and the near half of the staple sled removed;", "[0112] FIG. 65 is a fragmentary, vertically longitudinal, cross-sectional view of a distal end of the articulating portion of the end effector of FIG. 54 with the inner tube, the pushrod-blade support, the anvil, the closure ring, and the near half of the staple sled removed;", "[0113] FIG. 66 is a perspective view of the lower clevis, the lower dogbone clevis, the dogbone guide, and three adjacent knife blades of the end effector of FIG. 54 ;", "[0114] FIG. 67 is a fragmentary, wireframe, vertically transverse cross-sectional view of the end effector of FIG. 54 ;", "[0115] FIG. 68 is a fragmentary, wireframe, perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a distal connection of the pullbands of the end effector of FIG. 54 ;", "[0116] FIG. 69 is a fragmentary, vertically transverse cross-sectional view of the distal connection of FIG. 68 ;", "and [0117] FIG. 70 is a fragmentary perspective view from below of a portion of the distal connection of FIG. 68 .", "DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [0118] As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein;", "however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which can be embodied in various forms.", "Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure.", "Further, the terms and phrases used herein are not intended to be limiting;", "but rather, to provide an understandable description of the invention.", "While the specification concludes with claims defining the features of the invention that are regarded as novel, it is believed that the invention will be better understood from a consideration of the following description in conjunction with the drawing figures, in which like reference numerals are carried forward.", "The figures of the drawings are not drawn to scale.", "[0119] Alternate embodiments may be devised without departing from the spirit or the scope of the invention.", "Additionally, well-known elements of exemplary embodiments of the invention will not be described in detail or will be omitted so as not to obscure the relevant details of the invention.", "[0120] Before the present invention is disclosed and described, it is to be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting.", "The terms “a”", "or “an,” as used herein, are defined as one or more than one.", "The term “plurality,” as used herein, is defined as two or more than two.", "The term “another,” as used herein, is defined as at least a second or more.", "The terms “including”", "and/or “having,” as used herein, are defined as comprising (i.e., open language).", "The term “coupled,” as used herein, is defined as connected, although not necessarily directly, and not necessarily mechanically.", "[0121] Referring now to the figures of the drawings in detail and first, particularly to FIG. 1 thereof, there is shown a first exemplary embodiment of a stapling and cutting end effector 1 according to the present invention.", "The major parts of the end effector 1 include a clevis 10 , an anvil 20 , a cartridge holder 30 for receiving a staple cartridge 100 , an adapter sleeve 40 , and a lateral translation or articulation device 50 .", "FIG. 1 illustrates the removability of the staple cartridge 100 from the cartridge holder 30 .", "[0122] Connecting the anvil 20 to the cartridge holder 30 and the staple cartridge 100 is a staple-actuating and tissue-cutting slide 60 .", "This slide 60 operative engages both the anvil 20 and the cartridge holder 30 to keep the two parts 20 , 30 in proper alignment so that the actuated staples inside the cartridge 100 hit their respective stapler anvils within the anvil 20 and secure the staples around tissue disposed between the anvil 20 and the cartridge 100 .", "The distal facing surface of the slide 60 contains a blade 62 for cutting the tissue disposed in the jaws 20 , 30 as the tissue is being stapled together.", "Proximal movement of the slide is shown, diagrammatically, in FIGS. 1 to 3 .", "So that the slide 60 can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 3 , the anvil 20 is uncoupled from the top end of the slide 60 .", "In operation, however, the slide 60 must be coupled to the anvil 20 as shown in FIG. 2 and, especially, in FIG. 13 .", "[0123] FIG. 2 illustrates the end effector 1 with the adapter sleeve 40 removed to make visible various features of the translation therein.", "[0124] A first of two primary parts of the lateral translation device 50 are apparent in FIGS. 1 to 3 .", "A proximal part 52 includes a proximal sprocket 522 , an intermediate castellated connector 524 , and a distal rod 526 .", "In the exemplary embodiment, the intermediate castellated connector 524 has four distally projecting teeth 5242 , clearly shown in FIG. 2 .", "[0125] Also visible in FIG. 2 is a pull cable adapter 70 .", "The pull cable adapter 70 is connected to a pull cable 110 (dashed lines) at a proximal side and to the cartridge holder 30 at a distal side thereof.", "The pull cable adapter 70 , therefore, is used to pull or push the cartridge holder 30 with respect to the anvil 20 and, thereby, pivot the anvil 20 from an open position to a closed position, or vice-versa, dependent upon movement of the cartridge holder 30 .", "The proximal end of the anvil 20 has a cam follower 22 on either side thereof.", "The proximal end of the cartridge holder 30 defines two cam surfaces 32 on either side thereof and aligned to receive a respective one of the cam followers 22 .", "Accordingly, movement of the cartridge holder in a distal or proximal direction results in a corresponding opening or closing pivoting movement of the anvil 20 .", "[0126] FIG. 4 shows the lateral articulating movement of the stapler 20 , 30 with respect to the clevis 10 .", "[0127] In FIGS. 5 to 8 , all parts, including the adapter sleeve 40 and the clevis 10 are shown in wire frame, thereby, revealing features therein.", "The clevis 10 contains four lumens, two of which are shown in FIG. 5 and all four are shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 .", "A first 12 of the lumens is formed to contain a non-illustrated shaft for controlling distal and proximal movement of an end effector lateral movement locking pin 120 , which pin 120 is first shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 .", "The two lateral lumens 14 are shaped to receive the pull-wire that moves the pull cable adapter 70 proximally (distal movement of the pull cable adapter 70 is caused by a spring).", "The other of the two lumens 14 is extra and can receive any number of possible additional instrumentation.", "The drive cable lumen 16 is the last of the four lumens and is shaped to receive the flexible drive cable that turns the drive screw 34 (see FIG. 1 ), which controls movement of the slide 60 .", "[0128] At the distal end of the drive cable lumen 16 , the clevis 20 defines an oblong cavity 18 for receiving therein the lateral movement locking pin 120 .", "FIGS. 6 to 9 , in particular, show an exemplary shape of this cavity 18 .", "Because the lateral movement locking pin 120 is oblong in circumferential shape, the pin 120 does not rotate away from an aligned position with the teeth of the sprocket 522 .", "[0129] Also visible under the top side of the clevis 10 in FIG. 5 are two centering springs 130 .", "These springs 130 are also shown in FIGS. 6 to 9 and, in particular, FIG. 10 .", "To prevent undesired interaction between the springs 130 , a dividing plate 140 is sandwiched between the springs 130 .", "FIG. 10 illustrates the two springs 130 with the dividing plate 140 therebetween.", "[0130] The features underneath the transparent sleeve 40 are better explained with respect to FIGS. 7 to 10 .", "The sleeve 40 defines two exterior structures and two internal bores.", "The first exterior structure is a proximal cylinder 42 .", "The proximal cylinder 42 defines castellations 422 at a proximal end thereof.", "These castellations 422 match and interact with the intermediate castellated connector 524 of the proximal part 52 .", "The proximal cylinder 42 also defines a first bore 44 that is shaped to receive the distal rod 526 of the proximal part 52 .", "There is a cylindrical, tubular radial clearance between the rod 526 and the interior surface of the first bore 44 and a longitudinal clearance between the proximal end of the cable adapter 70 and the proximal inside surface of the first bore 44 .", "This tubular-shaped clearance can receive a first tubular biasing device (e.g., a coil spring), which is not illustrated for clarity.", "The first biasing device is positioned to apply a proximally directed force on the proximal-most end of the adapter sleeve 40 .", "In such a configuration, the force applied by the first biasing device presses the distal castellations 422 towards and against the proximal castellations 5242 .", "[0131] The second exterior structure of the sleeve 40 is a distal cylinder 46 .", "The distal cylinder 46 defines a second bore 48 that is shaped to receive therein the pull cable adapter 70 .", "The pull cable adapter 70 also defines an interior bore 72 that is shaped to receive the distal rod 526 of the proximal part 52 .", "For clarity in the figures, the rod 526 is shown extending entirely into the interior bore 72 only by the dashed lines in FIG. 9 .", "In operation, the rod 526 extends entirely into the interior bore 72 .", "The interior bore 72 is coaxial and, in an exemplary embodiment, has the same interior diameter of the first bore 44 .", "Accordingly, there exists a cylindrical, tubular radial clearance between the rod 526 and the interior surface of the interior bore 72 and a longitudinal clearance between the distal surface of the cable adapter 70 and the inside distal surface of the interior bore 72 .", "This is because it is also shaped to house a second tubular biasing device (e.g., a coiled spring), also not illustrated for clarity.", "The second biasing device is provided to impart a distally directed biasing force against the pull cable adapter 70 .", "Such a force keeps the jaws 20 , 30 in an open position.", "Accordingly, the jaws 20 , 30 have an at-rest open position.", "[0132] Without providing an intermediate part, the two non-illustrated biasing devices connect and, therefore, form a single spring.", "However, it is desirable to not have the two biasing devices interact because separation of the castellated parts causes an unwanted force to be applied to the cartridge holder 30 and movement of the cartridge holder 30 may loosen the connection of the castellated parts.", "Accordingly, a non-illustrated washer is disposed between the two biasing devices in the cylindrical cavity 74 defined by the proximal end surface of the pull cable adapter 70 and the distal end surface of the second bore 48 .", "FIG. 7 particularly illustrates the proximal side for holding this washer, which is shaped to only receive the distal rod 526 therethrough.", "Accordingly, because the washer is trapped between the pull cable adapter 70 and the sleeve 40 , the two springs are decoupled and provide their respective biasing forces independent of one another.", "[0133] The underside view of FIGS. 11 and 12 illustrate the drive shaft 34 of the slide 60 and the proximal idler bushing 36 that holds the drive shaft 34 in place within the cartridge holder 30 .", "At the position of the idler bushing 36 , the drive shaft 34 does not have threads.", "However, distal to the idler bushing 36 , the drive shaft 34 has threads (which are not illustrated) extending towards the distal end of the drive shaft 34 .", "FIGS. 11 and 12 do not show the thrust bearing 38 on the opposite end of the drive shaft 34 , but FIG. 1 clearly illustrates this bearing 38 .", "Also illustrated in FIGS. 11 , 12 , and 13 is the bottom of the slide 60 in the form of a drive nut 64 .", "In an exemplary embodiment, this drive nut 64 is a part that is separate from the blade 62 of the slide 60 but is fixedly connected at the bottom of the blade 62 .", "The illustrated shape of the drive nut 64 has a dumbbell-shaped cross-section to relieve some of the forces exerted upon the threads.", "In FIG. 11 , the drive nut 64 is in a proximal position where the anvil 20 is in an opened position.", "FIGS. 12 and 13 , in contrast, show the drive nut 64 in intermediate positions where the anvil 20 is in a partially closed position.", "[0134] FIG. 13 is especially useful in illustrating the shape and configuration of the slide 60 , including the blade 62 and the drive nut 64 .", "[0135] The horizontal cross-section along approximately the longitudinal axis of the end effector in FIGS. 14 and 15 is particularly useful in viewing the bores around the distal rod 526 .", "Again, for clarity, the rod 526 is not shown extending all the way to the distal surface of the bore 72 in the pull cable adapter 70 even though it does extend all the way to this surface.", "Around the proximal end of the rod 526 is the first bore 44 in the adapter sleeve 46 .", "Just distal of the first bore 44 is the cavity 74 for receiving the washer therein and, just distal of the cavity 74 , is the interior bore 72 of the pull cable adapter 70 for receiving the second biasing device.", "[0136] The vertical cross-section along approximately the longitudinal axis of the end effector in FIG. 16 is particularly useful in viewing the connection between the drive nut 64 and the drive shaft 34 .", "Again, for clarity, the rod 526 is not shown extending all the way to the proximal surface of the bore 72 in the pull cable adapter 70 .", "[0137] The vertical cross-section along approximately the longitudinal axis of the end effector in FIG. 17 is particularly useful in viewing the connection between the slide 60 and both the anvil 20 and the cartridge holder 30 .", "Two upper wings 66 are disposed in a groove inside the anvil 20 and two lower wings 68 form an upper holding surface of the I-shape formed by the lower wings 68 and the drive nut 64 .", "[0138] FIGS. 18 to 24 are illustrations of the entire longitudinal extent of the stapling device according to the invention with the distal end effector 1 and a first exemplary embodiment of the actuating handle 2 .", "As shown in FIG. 60 , the jaws 20 , 30 are at rest in an open position.", "[0139] The thumb trigger is connected to the proximal end of the pull cable that ends at the pull cable adapter 70 .", "Thus, when the thumb trigger 3 is actuated (see FIG. 19 ), the cartridge holder 30 is pulled in a proximal direction.", "Due to the shape of the cam surfaces 32 , the cam followers 22 are caused to move and, thereby, pivot the anvil 20 approximately into its stapling position.", "As set forth above, it is not the thumb trigger 3 that insures correct parallel orientation of the anvil 20 with respect to the cartridge holder 30 and, thereby, the staple cartridge 100 .", "Rather, it is the slide 60 that insures the proper parallel orientation.", "[0140] FIGS. 20 to 22 illustrate how the end effector 1 is passively articulated in a lateral direction.", "When the index finger trigger 4 is depressed, the lateral movement locking pin 120 is moved rearward to disengage from the sprocket 522 .", "If no force is applied to the end effector 1 , then, due to the two centering springs 130 , the end effector 1 remains in the axial aligned orientation shown in FIGS. 18 and 19 .", "However, when an external force is applied to the end effector 1 (as shown in FIG. 20 ), the laterally free end effector 1 can be moved about the axis of the sprocket 522 into any position, e.g., an approximately 45 degree left position shown in FIG. 20 , or into any other orientation.", "See, e.g., FIG. 22 .", "When the index finger trigger 4 is released, the lateral movement is prevented by returning the distal end of the locking pin 120 in between two teeth of the sprocket 522 .", "Thus, as shown for example in FIGS. 21 and 22 , the end effector can be locked into a significant number of laterally articulated positions.", "It is noted that the staple cartridge 100 is not illustrated in FIGS. 18 to 24 for clarity.", "[0141] FIGS. 23 and 24 illustrate the axial rotational control of the end effector.", "Such axial control is provided by the two respective castellated features 422 , 5242 of the adapter sleeve 40 and the lateral translation device 50 , respectively.", "In FIG. 23 , the castellations are engaged and the anvil is in the 90 degree position with respect to the handle.", "To disengage the castellations, a force sufficient to overcome the first biasing device is exerted on the end effector 1 and the castellation features 422 , 5242 separate.", "Then, the end effector 1 can be rotated clockwise or counter-clockwise.", "FIG. 68 shows, for example, the anvil 20 rotated counter-clockwise into an approximately 9 o'clock position.", "[0142] FIGS. 1 to 3 can be used to illustrate the operation of the motorized stapling function of the stapling device of the present invention.", "In FIG. 1 , the slide 60 is in a proximal position.", "A reversible motor is housed inside the handle.", "A three-way switch is connected to the motor.", "When in a middle position, for example, the motor is off.", "When in a proximal position, the motor is turned on and will rotate the drive shaft 34 so that the slide 60 moves in a proximal direction.", "In contrast, when the switch is in a distal position, the motor is turned on and will rotate the drive shaft 34 so that the slide 60 moves in a distal direction.", "Of course, the switch can be merely a two-way switch without an off position.", "[0143] FIGS. 25 and 26 illustrate a second exemplary embodiment of the stapling and cutting system 200 according to the invention.", "This system 200 is different than the first embodiment in that the motorized stapling assembly is entirely contained in the end effector 210 .", "Therefore, the handle 220 only needs to have two actuating devices.", "The first actuating device 222 is a ball joint releasing lever and the second actuating device is the stapling/cutting motor on/off button 224 .", "[0144] The end effector 210 is connected to the distal end of the actuation shaft 226 of the handle 220 at a ball-joint connector 228 .", "The end effector 210 has, at its distal-most end, a ball joint 212 .", "The ball joint 212 has two opposing cup-shaped clamps 2122 , 2124 .", "The interior surfaces of the clamps 2122 , 2124 are shaped to correspond to the outer shape of the ball joint 212 .", "The clamps 2122 , 2124 translate towards or away from one another based upon an actuation of the lever 222 .", "[0145] The clamps 2122 , 2124 are biased towards one another in a closed position such that, when the ball joint 212 is disposed therein, the two clamps 2122 , 2124 tightly grip the ball joint 212 .", "Actuation of the lever 222 causes the clamps 2122 , 2124 to separate and, thereby, allow the ball joint 212 to rotate freely in between the two clamps 2122 , 2124 .", "Thus, when the lever 222 is actuated, the end effector 210 is “free”", "to move based upon pressure against structures in the environment, such as tissue near a stapling/cutting site.", "The lever 222 can be pushed down sufficiently far to allow the ball joint 212 to move entirely out of the clamps 2122 , 2124 .", "Therefore, if a first end effector 210 is clamped at a first site and a second end effector 210 is desired to clasp and cut a second site, the first end effector 210 can be left clamped at the first site, the shaft 226 can be removed from the body and loaded with a second end effector 210 , and the second end effector 210 can be guided to the second site.", "[0146] The second actuating device 224 is needed when the user desires to effect the stapling and cutting with the end effector 210 .", "When the end effector 210 is at the desired position for stapling/cutting, the actuator 224 (e.g., button) is depressed.", "This actuation, preferably, completes (or interrupts) a circuit that connects power to the motor inside the end effector 210 , thereby causing the slide 60 to move distally and effect the stapling and cutting functions of the jaws.", "[0147] FIG. 25 illustrates the complete freedom for orienting the end effector 210 in any position with respect to the ball joint 212 .", "In FIG. 25 , the end effector 210 is shown in a right lateral orientation of approximately 45 degrees and with an anvil orientation of approximately 90 degrees.", "[0148] FIGS. 27 and 28 illustrate a variation of the second embodiment of the end effector shown in FIGS. 25 and 26 .", "In particular, the handle 220 is the same as in FIGS. 25 and 26 .", "However, the end effector 310 is different.", "Specifically, the end effector 310 has a proximal ball joint 312 similar to the ball joint 212 in FIGS. 25 and 26 , but also has a second, distal ball joint 314 , having a shape virtually identical to the proximal ball joint 312 .", "Therefore, when the lever 222 is pressed down to release the ball joint 312 , 314 , the end effector 310 can be allowed to rest within the body and the opposite end can be grasped between the clamps 2122 , 2124 .", "In such an orientation, shown in FIG. 27 , the stapling/cutting can be actuated when the jaw opening is facing the user.", "[0149] It is also noted that placement of an end effector 210 , 310 at a surgical site sometimes requires the access to the surgical site to be rather small in comparison to the opened jaws of the end effector 210 , 310 .", "With the ability to reverse the end effector 310 , some difficult-to-reach sites may be accessed that are not reachable with the single ball joint end effector 210 .", "[0150] FIGS. 29 and 30 show the clamps 2122 , 2124 at the distal-most end of the actuating shaft 226 of the surgical stapling and cutting device 200 , 300 of FIGS. 25 to 28 holding a ball-joint 212 , 312 , 314 of the end effector 210 , 310 of FIGS. 25 to 28 .", "These figures illustrate that the lever 222 is connected to a push rod 230 having at its distal end a plunger 232 .", "This plunger 232 has a cup-shaped surface 234 at its distal-most end with a shape corresponding to the outer shape of the ball joint 212 , 312 , 314 .", "Thus, when the plunger 232 is in its distal-most position in contact with the ball joint 212 , 312 , 314 , the ball is captured and does not move or rotate.", "In contrast, when the plunger 232 is moved proximally as shown in FIG. 30 , the ball of the ball joint 212 , 312 , 314 is free to rotate between the clamps 2122 , 2124 .", "[0151] The endostapler illustrated in FIGS. 31 to 70 add various different alternative and/or additional features to the endostapler illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 30 .", "[0152] In all of FIGS. 31 to 70 , the top jaw or anvil 1020 is only shown in FIGS. 39 and 40 for the sake of clarity.", "Further, the anvil 20 is described above in detail with regard to FIGS. 1 to 30 and, therefore, any repetitive description is avoided hereinafter.", "[0153] The exemplary handle shown in FIG. 31 is manufactured by Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc., and can be found, for example, on Ethicon's linear cutter model ECHELON 60 Endopath Stapler.", "Description of this handle is, therefore, believed to be redundant as parts and functional descriptions of this handle are published in the art.", "Such description is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.", "[0154] As set forth above, the distal end of the endostapler of the present invention is configured to house a standard staple cartridge 100 .", "This cartridge 100 , too, is described in prior publications and does not need to be repeated here.", "The publications are, therefore, hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.", "[0155] FIG. 31 illustrates portions of an alternative embodiment of the endostapler 1000 of the present invention.", "It is noted that two distal actuation levers on the handle 1200 of the endostapler 1000 are hidden from view in FIG. 31 for the sake of clarity.", "[0156] The distal end of the handle 1200 includes a bell-shaped actuator 1100 , which provides two degrees of control for the articulating portions of the endostapler 1000 .", "First, the bell actuator 1100 freely rotates about the central axis of the endostapler 1000 on distal end of the handle 1200 .", "Because the bell actuator 1100 is rotationally fixedly connected to the outer tube 1110 , when the bell actuator 1100 is rotated clockwise or counterclockwise, the entire distal end of the endostapler 1000 rotates correspondingly.", "Second, the bell actuator 1100 can be displaced over a given distance in a proximal direction on the distal end of the handle 1200 .", "As will be described below in further detail, proximal displacement of the bell actuator 1100 causes a corresponding movement of the articulation lock release slide 120 , 1120 to allow the distal end effector 1002 to articulate at the translation device 50 , 1050 .", "A non-illustrated bias device (i.e., a compression spring) located, for example, in the distal portion of the bell actuator 1100 is used to bias the bell actuator 1100 and the articulation lock release slide 1120 in a distal direction so that the articulation lock release slide 120 , 1120 remains in the actuated or locked position while the bell actuator 1100 is in an un-actuated state.", "See, i.e., FIGS. 8 and 9 .", "This bias device is housed inside the bell actuator 1100 but is not shown in FIG. 32 for clarity.", "Also not shown is a snap ring that fits into a groove 1139 around the inner tube 1130 .", "The bias device is delimited on the proximal side of the rod pullblock 1105 (see FIG. 34 ) and the distal side of the snap ring.", "In such a configuration, when the bell actuator 1100 is pulled proximally, the actuator 1100 forces the rod pullblock 1105 proximally to, thereby, move the articulation lock release slide 120 , 1120 into an unlocked position.", "A keyhole on the interior surface of the bell actuator 1100 form-lockingly surrounds the rod pullblock 1105 so that rotation of bell actuator 1100 about the longitudinal axis of the inner tube 1130 forces the rod pullblock 1105 into a corresponding rotation.", "A form-locking or form-fitting connection is one that connects two elements together due to the shape of the elements themselves, as opposed to a force-locking connection, which locks the elements together by force external to the elements.", "As such, the inner tube and the entire distal assemblies of the device 1000 rotates as well.", "In an alternative configuration, the longitudinal movement of the bell actuator 1100 can function similar to a standard ball point pen by a first actuation placing the slide 120 , 1120 in an unlocked state and a second actuation placing the slide 120 , 1120 in a locked state.", "[0157] With the bell actuator 1100 of the present invention, a physician is able to operate every function of the endostapler 1000 with one hand.", "[0158] FIG. 32 illustrates the proximal end of the endostapler 1000 without the handle 1200 .", "Coaxially disposed inside the bell actuator 1100 is a pushrod 1102 that will be used to move the cutting blade 1060 when the stapler is in the firing orientation.", "[0159] FIG. 33 is an illustration of the parts at the proximal end of endostapler 1000 that axially fixedly and rotationally freely connect the distal assembly to the bell actuator 1100 .", "More specifically, an inner tube 1130 (to be disposed inside the outer tube 1110 ) has a proximal extension 1132 defining an inner tube coupling chamber 1134 .", "A clam-shell bushing 1131 has a length substantially equal to the extension 1132 of the inner tube 1130 and a bushing coupling chamber 1133 corresponding to the coupling chamber 1134 of the proximal extension 1132 .", "A rotational couple 1141 has a distal T-shaped rotation link 1143 having an outer shape corresponding to both of the coupling chambers 1133 and 1134 so that, when the link 1143 is disposed between the extension 1132 and the bushing 1131 , the link 1143 is free to rotate therein.", "This couple 1141 is fixed inside the handle 1200 through a proximal port 1145 on a proximal end of the couple 1141 .", "[0160] When placed together, the inner tube 1130 is axially held with respect to the couple 1141 but is rotationally independent of the couple 1141 .", "Because the three coupling parts 1130 , 1131 , 1141 are sized to fit inside the outer tube 1110 , when the parts are placed inside the outer tube 1110 , the outer tube 1110 becomes a form-locking connection that prevents any separation of the inner tube 1130 and the bushing 1131 (so long as the outer tube 1110 sufficiently covers this area).", "Thus, when the bell actuator 1100 is rotated about the longitudinal axis of the inner tube 1130 , the inner and outer tubes 1110 , 1130 are able to rotate about the coaxial axis of the tubes 1110 , 1130 but remain longitudinally stable with respect to the couple 1141 , which is longitudinally fixed inside the handle 1200 .", "[0161] FIG. 34 illustrates the proximal end of the endostapler 1000 without the handle 1200 , the bell actuator 1100 , and the outer tube 1110 .", "As can be seen, the inner tube 1130 is hollow and receives therethrough the pushrod 1102 , which will be described in further detail below.", "Also shown in these figures are the clevis 1010 and the drum sleeve 1040 , which, together, form the articulating connection or joint 1050 of the endostapler 1000 .", "[0162] It is noted at this point that the lower jaw/staple cartridge holder 1030 is longitudinally fixed with respect to the handle 1200 .", "This fixation contrasts with the upper anvil 1020 , which can be pivoted and be moved somewhat longitudinally when sliding through the keyhole shaped cam surfaces 32 to close and/or open the jaws (described in further detail below/above with respect to cam surfaces 1032 ).", "[0163] To form the longitudinally fixed connection of the staple cartridge holder 1030 and the handle 1200 , the inner tube 1130 must be connected to the staple cartridge holder 1030 .", "But, at the same time, the staple cartridge holder 1030 must be able to articulate with respect to the longitudinal extent of the inner tube 1130 .", "Thus, an axially fixed but laterally articulating connection must exist between the two parts 1030 , 1130 .", "[0164] To provide such a connection, the present invention includes at least one pullband 1140 , shown, for example, in FIGS. 35 to 38 .", "In an exemplary configuration, multiple pullbands 1140 are provided, one next to the other.", "Three or four bands form two possible configurations.", "With two pullbands 1140 as opposed to one, the longitudinal strength remains approximately the same but the force needed to laterally bend the pullbands 1140 is reduced.", "The same is true for three or four pullbands 1140 .", "FIG. 37 illustrates the proximal end of the pullband 1140 , which is longitudinally pinned to the distal end of the inner tube 1130 with a proximal pullband pin 1142 .", "To provide a strong connection between the pullband 1140 and the inner tube 1130 , a proximal guide block 1150 , for example, made of brass, is disposed between the distal end of the inner tube 1130 and the pullband 1140 .", "[0165] The pullband 1140 spans the entire extent of the articulation joint 1050 , as shown in FIG. 35 , and is connected, as shown in FIG. 38 , to a distal guide block 1160 .", "The distal guide block 1160 (also, e.g., made of brass) has at least one projection that fits into at least one recess on the proximal end of the staple cartridge holder 1030 .", "Later figures illustrate the measures by which the distal guide block 1160 is connected to the staple cartridge holder 1030 so that, finally, the staple cartridge holder 1030 is axially fixedly connected to the handle 1200 while being able to articulate with respect to the inner tube 1130 .", "As shown in FIG. 38 , a distal pullband pin 1144 axially locks the distal end of the pullband 1140 to the distal guide block 1160 .", "[0166] A first embodiment of jaw 20 , 30 movement is described in the text above.", "There, the staple cartridge 30 moves axially and the anvil 20 is relatively stationary.", "In the configuration of the endostapler 1000 shown in FIG. 31 et seq.", ", movement is operationally opposite.", "[0167] Noting that the staple cartridge holder 1030 is longitudinally fixed with respect to the handle 1200 , there still must be an assembly that permits closure of the two jaws 20 , 30 ;", "1020 , 1030 .", "Closure is, therefore, accomplished by movement of the upper jaw/anvil 1020 as set forth in the following text.", "[0168] A first of the two levers of the handle 1200 (e.g., a proximal handle) is operatively connected to the outer tube 1110 to move the outer tube 1110 distally when the first lever is compressed/actuated.", "Because the clevis 1010 , the articulation joint 1050 , and the drum sleeve 1040 are axially fixedly connected to the outer tube 1110 (and because the outer tube 1110 can slide longitudinally along the inner tube 1130 ), an actuation of the first lever moves the drum sleeve 1040 distally.", "[0169] FIG. 39 illustrates the anvil 1020 in an open state.", "As can be seen therein, a gap 1031 exists between the distal end of the drum sleeve 1040 and a proximal shelf at the bottom of the staple cartridge holder 1030 .", "In such an orientation, the drum sleeve 1040 , the clevis 1010 , and the outer tube 1110 are proximally disposed at a distance from the shelf.", "[0170] FIG. 40 illustrates the anvil 1020 in a closed state.", "As can be seen therein, no gap 1031 exists between the distal end of the drum sleeve 1040 and the proximal shelf of the staple cartridge holder 1030 .", "In such an orientation, the drum sleeve 1040 , the clevis 1010 , and the outer tube 1110 are in a position where the drum sleeve 1040 contacts the shelf.", "[0171] In contrast to the axially fixed position of the staple cartridge holder 1030 with respect to the handle 1200 , and similar to the movement of the drum sleeve 1040 , the knife 60 , 1060 must translate with respect to the handle 1200 along the longitudinal axis.", "FIGS. 35 , 36 , and 38 to 41 illustrate the axially displaceable connection of the knife 1060 to the knife-moving features of the handle 1200 .", "[0172] With regard to FIG. 35 , a pushrod 1102 extends from the handle 1200 and is connected to a second non-illustrated lever (e.g., a distal lever) of the handle 1200 .", "The distal end of the pushrod 1102 is connected to at least one flexible knife blade 1062 through a pushrod pin 1122 .", "The distal end of the knife blade 1062 is connected to the proximal side of the cutting blade 1060 such that the cutting blade 1060 moves distally or proximally to follow corresponding movement of the pushrod 1102 .", "It is noted that the knife blade 1062 has a proximal, upwardly extending flange 1064 that houses a bore for receiving the pushrod pin 1122 .", "This off-axis connection between the pushrod 1102 and the knife blade 1062 causes the distal end of the knife blade 1062 to be forced downwardly when pushed in the distal direction and, therefore, to stay in position inside a pushrod-blade support 1070 shown, for example, in FIGS. 36 and 42 .", "[0173] The knife blade 1062 is flexible enough to bend in any way that the articulation joint 1050 bends.", "Therefore, the knife blade 1062 is also flexible enough to possibly kink if it was not supported.", "The present invention, therefore, provides a pushrod-blade support 1070 , which is shown in FIGS. 36 and 42 .", "Therein, the proximal end of the pushrod-blade support 1070 clearly reveals the rectangular blade channel 1072 for supporting slidably the rectangular knife blade 1062 .", "Also shown therein is a curved pushrod channel 1074 for supporting slidably the curved (e.g., cylindrical) exterior of the pushrod 1102 .", "Thus, the pushrod-blade support 1070 supports the pushrod 1102 at locations where the pushrod 1102 is inside the support 1070 and also supports the knife blade 1062 where the knife blade 1062 is inside the support 1070 .", "[0174] FIG. 36 shows the connection of the support 1070 and its relation to the proximal guide block 1150 .", "[0175] Like the pullbands 1140 , more than one knife blade 1062 can be next to one another.", "In such a configuration, the multiple blades 1062 have the same longitudinal stiffness but provide greater flexibility when there is a bend in the articulation joint 1050 .", "[0176] Revealed in FIG. 41 is the articulation lock release slide 1120 that locks the articulation of the jaws 1020 , 1030 .", "[0177] FIGS. 42 to 50 illustrate a vertical cross-section of the tube portion distal of the handle 1200 along planes that are orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the endostapler 1000 .", "[0178] FIG. 42 shows the cross-section of the connection junction of the knife blade 1062 and the pushrod pin 1122 .", "The pushrod pin 1122 passes through the entirety of two adjacent blades 1062 and the pushrod 1102 but does not extend outside the pushrod's outer surface.", "This figure also illustrates the relationship of the inner and outer tubes 1130 , 1110 and the pushrod-blade support 1070 .", "Also apparent in this figure is an unlock pullrod 1104 used for unlocking the lock release slide 1120 .", "The longitudinal extent of the unlock pullrod 1104 is first shown in FIG. 35 and is also shown in FIGS. 36 , 37 , 41 , and 52 and 53 .", "Most particularly, with exterior parts hidden, FIG. 41 shows how the pullrod 1104 connects the bell actuator 1100 to the articulation lock release slide 1120 .", "With the distal end of the pullrod 1104 passed through and wrapped around the distal end of the articulation lock release slide 1120 as shown in FIG. 37 , the unlock pullrod 1104 establishes a longitudinally fixed connection between the bell actuator 1100 and the articulation lock release slide 1120 .", "As such, when the bell actuator 1100 is moved proximally, the articulation lock release slide 1120 moves in a corresponding proximal direction to separate the distal teeth 1121 of the articulation lock release slide 1120 and the spokes 1041 of the sprocket 1522 .", "See, in particular, FIGS. 46 and 52 .", "It is noted that the wrapped connection between the pullrod 1104 and the articulation lock release slide 1120 is only an exemplary embodiment.", "Other form-locking or force-locking connections are possible as well.", "[0179] FIG. 43 shows the connection through the pullband 1140 and inner tube 1130 pin joint.", "As set forth above, the proximal pullband pin 1142 passes entirely through the blades 1062 , the proximal guide block 1150 , and the inner tube 1130 but not through the outer tube 1110 .", "[0180] FIG. 44 shows the area immediately proximal of the proximal end of the articulation lock release slide 1120 .", "In this exemplary embodiment, two pullbands 1140 are disposed above two blades 1062 .", "To provide support to at least one of the pullbands 1140 and the blades 1062 , a pair of hammocks 1066 is placed along sides of the articulating portions of the pullbands 1140 and blades 1062 .", "Each of the hammocks 1066 has a U-shape (along a longitudinal cross-section) so that the proximal arm of each hammock 1066 bends around the proximal surface of the clevis 1010 and the distal arm of each hammock 1066 bends around a catching surface within the drum sleeve 1040 , as shown in FIG. 50 , for example.", "[0181] Inside the clevis 1010 are disposed two spring rods 1012 about which are respective spring rod collars 1014 , the function of which is to bias laterally the entire assembly distal of the articulation joint 1050 towards and along the longitudinal axis.", "The spring rods and collars 1012 , 1014 will be described in further detail below.", "[0182] FIG. 45 illustrates the open area in the center of the articulation lock release slide 1120 that receives the bend portion of the pullrod 1104 (not illustrated in this figure).", "Also shown are the cavities 1016 in which the non-illustrated bias springs of the spring rods 1012 rest.", "This cross-sectional area also includes portions of the two pullbands 1140 disposed above the two knife blades 1062 .", "[0183] FIG. 46 illustrates the open area in which the distal end of spring rods 1012 acts against cam surfaces 1018 .", "It is noted that the cam surfaces 1018 are arcuate in shape so that contact between the spring rods 1012 and the cam surfaces 1018 always act in an axial direction normal to the surface at the distal-most end of the spring rods 1012 .", "See, for example, FIG. 56 .", "In such a configuration, the force that is applied by the spring rods 1012 against the cam surfaces 1018 to bias the distal articulating assembly (e.g., anvil 1020 , staple cartridge holder 1030 , drum sleeve 1040 ) towards the longitudinal axis of the inner and outer tubes 1130 , 1110 is always at the same radius about the articulation axis of the articulating staple cartridge holder 1030 .", "One advantage of such a configuration lies in the fact that the spring rods 1012 are not forced laterally in any way, in which case, the distal-most end of the spring rods 1012 could catch and lock on the cam surface 1018 .", "[0184] FIG. 47 illustrates, in cross-section, the area within the endostapler articulation joint 1050 .", "Again, this area includes portions of the two pullbands 1140 , of the two blades 1062 , and of the two hammocks 1066 .", "Upper and lower axle pucks 1152 are inserted in orifices 1042 above and below on surfaces of the drum sleeve 1040 .", "Connection of the clevis 1010 to the drum sleeve 1040 at the articulation joint 1050 is symmetrical on the top and bottom.", "The pucks 1152 are inserted into the orifices 1042 in the top and bottom of the proximal end of the drum sleeve 1040 .", "In this orientation, the assembly is inserted into the distal end of the clevis 1040 to align screw holes 1011 with center threaded bores 1153 of the pucks 1152 .", "When aligned, screws 1013 are threaded respectively into the pucks 1152 to axially secure the drum sleeve 1040 into the clevis 1010 while allowing the drum sleeve 1040 to articulate about the axis defined by the longitudinal axis of the two screws 1013 .", "[0185] FIG. 48 illustrates the area of the distal pullband pin joint.", "In this area, the distal ends of the pullbands 1140 are secured by the distal pullband pin 1144 disposed inside the bore of the distal guide block 1160 .", "The distal guide block 1160 is disposed in the staple cartridge holder 1030 and secured thereto as set forth above.", "[0186] FIG. 49 illustrates the area just proximal of the cutting blade 1060 and the fixed connection of the two knife blades 1062 inside a proximal orifice of the cutting blade 1060 .", "This view also clearly shows the cam surfaces 1032 that allow the anvil 1020 to pivot and translate with respect to the staple cartridge holder 1030 .", "[0187] FIG. 50 shows a longitudinal cross-section through the spring rods 1012 .", "Visible in this view is the entire longitudinal extent of the hammocks 1066 .", "The distal sections of the hammocks 1066 articulate about a vertical axis near the distal end of the hammocks 1066 .", "In FIG. 50 , there exists a substantial gap between the spring rods 1012 and the hammocks 1066 .", "If the hammocks 1066 were not present, there exists the possibility that the thin knife blades 1062 could bend and warp or kink into these gaps.", "By placing the hammocks 1066 therebetween, any possibility of impermissible bending of the knife blades 1062 is prevented.", "FIG. 51 is provided to show the extreme bending extent of the hammocks 1066 and the blades 1062 therebetween in a test bed made for such a purpose.", "It is noted that the upper hammock 1066 is not utilized in an upward bend with respect to FIG. 51 because it tracks the inside surface of the curve at the critical bending area.", "In contrast, the lower hammock 1066 is utilized to substantially prevent the knife blades 1062 therebetween (two in this exemplary embodiment) from impermissibly bending into the gap of the test bed.", "Because each hammock 1066 is held rigidly at either end and is made out of a substantially non-elastic material (e.g., of stainless steel), it forms a sling or “hammock”", "that supports the bent knife blade(s) 1062 therebetween.", "[0188] FIG. 52 illustrates a cross-section through the articulation lock release slide 1120 and clearly shows the distal connection bend of the unlock pullrod 1104 inside the slide 1120 .", "In such a configuration, proximal displacement of the unlock pullrod 1104 causes a corresponding proximal displacement of the slide 1120 to unlock the teeth 1121 of the slide 1120 from between the corresponding teeth 1041 on the proximal side of the drum sleeve 1040 .", "A distal bias is imparted upon the articulation lock release slide 1120 by a non-illustrated bias device that resides in a hollow 1123 and presses against the distal end of the hollow 1123 and a block 1124 that is fixed with respect to the clevis 1010 .", "[0189] FIG. 35 shows the connection between the unlock pullrod 1104 and the handle 1200 .", "A rod pullblock 1105 has a longitudinal bore 1107 for receiving therein the pullrod 1104 .", "The rod pullblock 1105 also has transverse bores 1109 for receiving non-illustrated set screws therein for securing the pullrod 1104 inside the rod pullblock 1105 .", "An interior portion of the bell actuator 1100 is shaped to engage the rod pullblock 1105 (for example, in a form-fitting connection such as a keyhole) and displace the rod pullblock 1105 proximally when the bell actuator 1100 is moved proximally.", "[0190] FIG. 53 is an exploded perspective view of the distal parts of the endostapler as viewed from the distal end thereof.", "[0191] It is noted that the clevis 1010 in FIGS. 34 to 53 is a one-piece part.", "Alternatively, the clevis 1010 can be molded in two halves.", "In such a case, the pucks 1152 can be eliminated and, instead, form parts of each of the two clevis halves, thereby eliminating the need for the screws 1013 because the outer tube 1110 will hold the two halves together when attached to the proximal end of the clevis 1010 .", "Such a configuration is illustrated in the endostapler embodiment of FIG. 54 et seq.", "[0192] FIG. 54 shows some internal parts of this fourth embodiment of the end effector.", "The anvil 1020 is disposed opposite the staple cartridge holder 1030 and a closure ring 1040 surrounds the proximal end of the staple cartridge holder 1030 .", "The inner and outer tubes 1130 , 1110 are removed so that the articulation lock release slide 1120 , the pushrod 1102 , and the pushrod-blade support 1070 can be seen clearly.", "A screen door 1103 is mounted around the pushrod 1102 and inside the inner and outer tubes 1130 , 1110 and the bell actuator 1100 .", "The handle 1200 and bell actuator 1100 are removed for clarity.", "The screen door 1103 restricts movement of the pushrod 1102 to only one direction—distal—because the knife/cutting blade 1060 only moves in the distal direction.", "[0193] The two-part clevis is best illustrated in the views of FIGS. 55 and 56 .", "These figures show various internal features of the end effector of FIG. 54 with the outer tube 1110 removed.", "In the exploded view of FIG. 55 , connection of the pullband(s) 1140 to the staple cartridge holder 1030 is apparent.", "A non-illustrated pin (see also FIG. 59 ) passes through a first proximal flange of the holder 1030 , a first spacer 1170 , a distal flange of the pullband 1140 , a second spacer 1170 , and a second opposing proximal flange of the holder 1030 , respectively.", "The closure ring 1040 , as shown in FIG. 59 , holds the pin therein to provide the longitudinal connection of these components.", "[0194] Various features of the knife/cutting blade 1060 are also revealed in FIG. 55 .", "The blade 1060 has a proximal recess 1061 for connecting a distal end of the knife blade 1062 thereto.", "In the exemplary embodiment, the recess 1061 and distal end form a keyhole-shaped lock.", "The upper half of the blade 1060 has two opposing guide wings 1063 having an exterior shape that fits into a corresponding groove inside the bottom surface of the upper anvil 1020 .", "The lower half of the blade 1060 also has two opposing guide wings 1065 .", "The holder 1030 has a groove inside the top surface thereof for receiving the lower wings 1065 therein.", "These two pairs of wings 1063 , 1065 ensure that the anvil 1020 and the holder 1030 are at a fixed parallel position when the blade 1060 is traversing there along in the cutting and stapling process.", "Also disposed on the lower half of the blade 1060 is a proximally extending flange 1067 .", "A plate spring 1090 is attached to the staple cartridge holder 1030 by rivets 1036 .", "The plate spring 1090 and other features of the blade 1060 will be described in greater detail below.", "[0195] FIGS. 55 and 56 also show various portions of the two-part clevis 2010 , 2020 .", "As can be seen in FIGS. 56 and 58 , the interior surface of the upper clevis half 2010 defines two cavities 2011 that each house a respective spring rod 1012 and the non-illustrated bias device for that spring rod 1012 .", "In the exemplary embodiment shown, the upper clevis half 2010 defines the entire cavity 2011 for the spring rods 1012 and the lower clevis half 2020 defines the bottom cavity portion 2021 for accommodating only the bias device.", "The clevis halves 2010 , 2020 also define articulation ports 2012 , 2022 for receiving therein articulation bosses 2031 , 2041 on each of the two dogbone clevis parts 2030 , 2040 .", "[0196] FIGS. 56 and 57 illustrate the longitudinal connectivity of the features within the outer tube 1110 .", "The pushrod-blade support 1070 is disposed inside a lower channel of the inner tube 1130 .", "This pushrod-blade support 1070 also has a distal extension 1071 with a narrow proximal neck 1074 and a relatively wider distal head 1075 .", "With a corresponding recess 2023 in the bottom of the lower clevis half 2020 , the distal extension 1071 can be longitudinally fixed to the clevis half 2020 and, therefore, the remainder of the clevis.", "[0197] The outer tube 1110 and the lower clevis half 2020 are removed in FIG. 56 to illustrate the configuration of the spring rods 1012 inside the spring rod cavities 2011 .", "Again, the spring rod bias devices (e.g., coil springs) are not shown in the cavities 2011 for clarity.", "With various parts removed, the articulating extent of the pullbands 1140 is clearly shown in FIG. 56 .", "The supporting surfaces for the pullbands 1140 inside the upper clevis half 2010 are visible at the cross-section plane of FIG. 58 .", "The upper dogbone clevis 2030 has two opposing supporting surfaces 2032 each at a similar acute angle with respect to the centerline of the un-articulated pullbands 1140 .", "Likewise, the upper clevis half 2010 has two opposing supporting surfaces 2013 each at an acute angle with respect to the centerline of the un-articulated pullbands 1140 .", "[0198] The opposite viewing direction towards the interior of the lower clevis half 2020 is illustrated in FIGS. 55 and 58 .", "The articulation section for the knife blades 1062 is illustrated along with the supporting surfaces 2042 for the dogbone 1080 inside the lower dogbone clevis 2040 and the supporting surfaces 2024 for the dogbone 1080 inside the lower clevis half 2010 .", "Also visible in this orientation are guiding and supporting surfaces for the dogbone guide 1080 .", "In FIG. 57 , it is seen that the lower dogbone clevis has a kidney-shaped distal dogbone depression 2043 and the lower clevis half 2010 has a kidney-shaped proximal dogbone depression 2025 .", "These depressions 2025 , 2043 and surfaces 2024 , 2042 are also illustrated in FIG. 66 and will be described in detail below.", "A further feature visible in FIGS. 59 , 62 , and 66 is the interior passage of the dogbone guide 1080 having left and right surfaces 1082 and will be describe in further detail below.", "[0199] The distal end of the dogbone guide 1080 is shown in the vertical cross-section of FIG. 59 .", "The distal dogbone depression 2043 houses the distal end of the dogbone guide 1080 and, when unarticulated, the dogbone guide 1080 does not touch the supporting surfaces 2042 of the lower dogbone clevis 2040 .", "[0200] The proximal housing for the distal end of the dogbone guide 1080 is illustrated in FIG. 60 .", "To better reveal the features of the proximal dogbone depression 2025 , the dogbone guide 1080 is removed from these figures.", "[0201] Both of the depressions 2025 , 2043 with the lower extending portions of the dogbone guide 1080 disposed therein are shown in horizontal, longitudinally transverse cross-section of FIG. 57 .", "Also shown therein are the lower features of the pushrod-blade support 1070 , the cutting blade 1060 , and the staple sled 102 (which is a part of the removable staple cartridge 100 ).", "These features are enlarged in FIGS. 61 and 62 .", "[0202] FIGS. 63 , 64 , and 65 illustrate the knife blade 1060 lock-out feature.", "In other words, the safety that prevents the knife blade 1060 from advancing when there is no staple cartridge 100 or a previously fired staple cartridge 100 in the staple cartridge holder 1030 .", "For ease of understanding, the only part of the staple cartridge 100 shown in these figures is the staple sled 102 .", "[0203] The knife blade 1060 should be allowed to move distally only when the staple sled 102 is present at the firing-ready position, i.e., when the sled 102 is in the position illustrated in FIG. 65 .", "If the sled 102 is not present in this position, this can mean one of two things, either there is no staple cartridge 100 in the holder 1030 or the sled 102 has already been moved distally—in other words, a partial or full firing has already occurred with the loaded staple cartridge 100 .", "Thus, the blade 1060 should not be allowed to move, or should be restricted in its movement.", "Accordingly, the sled 102 is provided with a lock-out contact surface 104 and the blade 1060 is provided with a correspondingly shaped contact nose 1069 .", "It is noted at this point that, the lower guide wings 1065 do not rest against a floor 1034 in the cartridge holder 1030 until the blade 1060 has moved distally past an edge 1035 .", "With such a configuration, if the sled 102 is not present at the distal end of the blade 1060 to prop up the nose 1069 , then the lower guide wings 1065 will follow the depression 1037 just proximal of the edge 1035 and, instead of advancing on the floor 1034 , will hit the edge 1035 and stop further forward movement of the blade 1060 .", "To assist with such contact when the sled 102 is not present, the staple cartridge 1030 has a plate spring 1090 (attached thereto by rivets 1036 ).", "With the plate spring 1090 flexed upward and pressing downward against the flange 1067 (at least until the flange 1067 is distal of the distal end of the plate spring 1090 ), a downwardly directed force is imparted against the blade 1060 to press the wings 1065 down into the depression 1037 .", "Thus, as the blade 1060 advances distally without the sled 102 being present, the wings 1065 follow the lower curve of the depression 1037 and are stopped from further distal movement when the distal edge of the wings 1065 hit the edge 1035 .", "FIG. 63 , for example, shows the distal edge 1035 and two raised bosses 1038 that extend the height of the edge 1035 to insure that the wings 1065 cannot be forced over the edge 1035 when the sled 102 is not present.", "[0204] FIG. 66 illustrates an exemplary movement of the dogbone 1080 within the lower clevis half 2020 and the lower dogbone clevis 2040 .", "In the fully left articulated position of FIG. 66 , the distal bottom projection of the dogbone 1080 is in a rotated position within the distal dogbone depression 2043 and the proximal bottom projection is in a rotated position within the proximal dogbone depression 2025 .", "Importantly, the left vertical surface of the dogbone 1080 is almost fully supported on the left dogbone supporting surfaces 2024 , 2042 .", "The shapes of the depressions 2025 , 2043 and the bottom projections of the dogbone 1080 are selected such that there is no elongation or compression of the dogbone 1080 but, merely, a rocking left to right when articulation of the end effector occurs.", "[0205] Three side-by-side knife blades 1062 are diagrammatically illustrated in FIG. 66 within a left articulated position of the lower clevis halves 2020 , 2040 .", "When bent to the left, the knife blades 1062 are pressed against the right interior surface 1082 of the dogbone 1080 .", "Accordingly, the interior surfaces 1082 are shaped dependent upon the extent that the end effector will be articulated.", "Due to the limitations of drafting the features of the invention, the blades 1062 are only shown in a diagrammatic, approximate curved orientation.", "[0206] To better understand some features of the knife blades 1062 , enlarged views of the proximal connection to the pushrod 1102 and the pushrod-blade support 1070 are shown in FIG. 67 .", "While a configuration having co-axially aligned knife blades 1062 and the pushrod 1102 is envisioned and possible, an offset connection shown, for example, in FIGS. 41 and 67 , is used.", "As set forth above, the length of the knife blades 1062 make it desirable for the knife blades 1062 to be pressed down fully into the blade channel 1072 within the pushrod-blade support 1070 .", "FIG. 41 shows a first embodiment for an offset connection that biases the blades 1062 into the channel 1072 .", "FIG. 67 shows a second embodiment for this offset connection.", "In this second embodiment, the blades 1062 are not fixedly connected to the pushrod 1102 as in the first embodiment (connected by transverse pushrod pin 1122 ).", "Instead, the pushrod 1102 is formed with a chamber 1108 into which is inserted the proximal end of the blades 1062 .", "By forming the chamber 1108 in a shape that axially longitudinally holds the blades 1062 (e.g., with a transverse offset), there is no need for a fixed connection.", "In this embodiment, the chamber 1108 is approximately L-shaped in vertical cross-section to provide such a transverse offset, but it can be any number of different shapes.", "[0207] The distal connection of the pullbands 1140 is shown particularly well in FIG. 59 .", "It is noted that, in such a configuration, left or right articulation imparts a bend on each of the two, three, four, or more adjacent pullbands 1140 .", "Because each pullband 1140 has a fixed length, and because the pullbands 1140 are stacked alongside one another, articulation in a given direction bends each of the pullbands 1140 differently, even if the difference is very slight.", "To compensate for such differences in bending, an alternative embodiment of the distal connection is provided and is shown in FIGS. 68 to 70 .", "For clarity and simplicity, only a portion of the upper dogbone clevis 2030 is shown diagrammatically in these figures.", "[0208] This alternative embodiment replaces the spacers 1170 in the first embodiment.", "Here, five pullbands 1140 are disposed alongside one another.", "The upper dogbone clevis 2030 defines an interior bore 2033 (e.g., a circular bore) into which is inserted a piston 2050 having an exterior shape corresponding to the interior shape of the bore 2033 .", "The bore 2033 has a proximal window 2034 through which the pullbands 1140 project into the bore 2033 .", "The window 2034 has a width approximately equal (but just slightly larger than) the total width of the pullbands 1140 .", "[0209] The piston 2050 has a transverse bore into which is threaded a proximal pullband pin 2060 that functions as an axle when threaded through the piston 2050 and through the distal pullband bore 1145 of each of the pullbands 1140 .", "See FIG. 70 .", "The interior 2051 of the piston 2050 does not have a shape corresponding to the width of the stacked pullbands 1140 .", "Instead, the interior opening for receiving the distal end of the pullbands 1140 has a winged horizontally cross-sectional shape.", "[0210] As the end effector articulates, the distal end of the pullbands 1140 are bent into a curve.", "When adjacent parallel plates such as the pullbands 1140 are bent together, the outside plates move differently than the middle or inner plates.", "This non-homogeneous movement is compensated for by the winged opening 2051 and the oval-shaped distal pullband bores 1145 .", "As the end effector is articulated, the bending forces imparted upon the pullbands 1140 cause the piston 2050 to rotate within the bore 2033 of the upper dogbone clevis 2030 .", "The more that the end effector articulates, the more the piston 2050 rotates, until full articulation presses the outside pullband 1140 against the inner surface of the winged opening 2051 .", "At this point, the proximal ends of each pullband 1140 are aligned but the distal ends shown in FIGS. 68 to 70 are not.", "The presence of the ovular openings 1145 allow the pullbands 1140 to move slightly with respect to one another.", "[0211] The foregoing description and accompanying drawings illustrate the principles, preferred embodiments and modes of operation of the invention.", "However, the invention should not be construed as being limited to the particular embodiments discussed above.", "Additional variations of the embodiments discussed above will be appreciated by those skilled in the art.", "[0212] Therefore, the above-described embodiments should be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive.", "Accordingly, it should be appreciated that variations to those embodiments can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims." ]

[ "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1.", "Field of the Invention This invention relates to the art of steelmaking equipment.", "More particularly it relates to an improved oxygen injection lance for introducing oxygen into a steekmaking furnace without the intermixture of oxygen anywhere in the lance.", "Description of the Prior Art The prior art is exemplified in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,827,632, 4,083,540, and others wherein the O'rings are in many instances positioned in the interior walls of the tubes as well as in the T-shaped heads.", "With this type of construction, placing the O'rings in the interior walls creates a blind assembly and the O'rings have a tendancy to slip and move out of position with resultant possible leakage of the pipes in relation to one another.", "O'rings that are used as seals thus not only are difficult to position, and difficult to see during assembly, but also cause serious problems in assembly because of leakage or damage.", "SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present lance invention is of a type which is easily and quickly disconnected from a top support or head member carried by a lance carriage adjacent to a steelmaking vessel.", "The top head or support member is provided with a central oxygen pipe and water-inlet and outlet pipes which are connected to a suitable supply source.", "The gist of the present invention lies in a T-shaped connector assembly which includes the top plate having a central opening with an extending perpendicular tubular barrel.", "The central tubular barrel which depends from the transversely positioned top head is provided with O'rings.", "The O'rings are contained, in vertical spaced relation, on the outer cylindrical surface of the tubular barrel of the top plate.", "They engage in sliding and sealing relation the inner surfaces of the central tube which provides for the flow of oxygen to the lance nozzle.", "The T-shaped top head is also provided with a central downwardly projecting tube portion, encircling and laterally spaced from the oxygen pipe and having O'rings provided in its outer peripheral surface to effectively seal the oxygen pipe from the water circulating pipes.", "Essentially, therefore, the invention resides in the T-shaped connector which can easily be replaced and which contains the O'rings forming the positive sealing relationship between the oxygen and the water circulation pipes.", "Thus it provides for effective sealing between the pipes as well as permitting quick and rapid replacement of a single part which positively functions to seal the assembly.", "Thus the T-shaped connector with the O'rings positioned therein provide an effective quick change lance design wherein change-over with a minimum of effort and cost can be achieved.", "These and other advances of the present invention will be described as follows: BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a schematic drawing disclosing a B.O.F. vessel and an oxygen lance positioned for entry into the vessel in a steel making process;", "FIG. 2 is an oxygen lance, in cross section disclosing a generally T-shaped connector plate adapted to seal the interior passages of an oxygen lance assembly;", "FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view disclosing a modified lance having a T-shaped connector plate;", "FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of another modified lance design having a T-shaped connector plate;", "FIG. 5 is another cross sectional view of a lance structure having another modified arrangement;", "FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view of a T-shaped connector plate embodying the invention;", "and FIG. 7 is a view disclosing a modification of the connector plate disclosed in FIG. 6. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now particularly to FIG. 1, a steelmaking vessel 10 includes a vertical wall structure 11 which contains materials to be refined in the process of steel making.", "The vessel 10 is provided with an opening 12 which permits the insertion and removal of an oxygen lance 13, and specifically the oxygen lance bottom assembly 56.", "The lance 13 is supported on a fixed carriage 14 and is moved into the vessel 10 by means of a power unit 15 and driven assembly 16 adapted to reciprocate the lance to and from the bath to be refined in the process.", "A pipe structure 17 is connected to a coolant water supply comprising hoses 17 and 18 for circulating coolant through the lance.", "The oxygen source 19 is provided from the pipe structure and communicates with an oxygen lance structure 20 for delivering oxygen to the interior of the vessel.", "The arrangements disclosed in FIGS. 2,3,4, and 5 have identical structures which are substantially identical in function and which will be generally described.", "The lances include water (coolant) inlet pipes 23 and water outlet pipes 24.", "In FIGS. 2, 3, and 4 the oxygen pipe 20 is rigidly connected to a main connector plate 25 which includes a central opening 26 providing for the passage of oxygen through the lance from the oxygen source.", "A concentric water pipe 27 is in communication with pipe 23 and water is permitted to flow through one or more openings 28 to an elongated coolant chamber 29, communicating with the nozzle tip 30 and providing a lower chamber 31 communicating with an elongated outlet chamber 32 communicating with outlet pipe 24.", "The connector plate 25 disclosed in FIG. 2 is provided with a coolant flow opening 34 for directing coolant liquid outwardly of the coolant chamber.", "The invention resides in the self contained double "O"", "ring slip joint which in the present disclosure is designated by reference characters 36 in FIG. 4, 36 in FIG. 5, 37 in FIG. 2, and 38 in FIG. 3. Referring now particularly to FIG. 2 the embodiment of the invention includes a T-shaped member 37 which is formed of a flat plate 39 and a depending tubular barrel 40 having an oxygen passage 41.", "The oxygen pipe 20 connected to connector plate 25 which at its upper surface is provided with an annular recess 42.", "The T-shaped plate member 37 is provided with a reduced diameter extension 43 in which are secured O'rings 53 for effectively sealing the assembly.", "The T-shaped connector plate, or member 37 also is provided with a second barrel or tubular extension 45 projecting with the barrel 40 and being radially spaced therefrom.", "The depending barrel 40 of the T-shaped plate is also provided at its lower end and outer surfaces with O'rings 46 for slidingly sealing the upper slidable end of the oxygen pipe 47 having at its lower end a nozzle tip 48.", "It will be readily apparent that O'rings are provided in all surfaces of the T-shaped plate member where sealing is mandatory and where elongated contraction and expansion of the various pipes takes place during operation relative to the T-shaped member 37.", "The T-shaped connector plate or member 37 is also provided with vent passages 50 for venting leaks of oxygen or water to the atmosphere, the same being contained in the T-shaped member.", "The bottom assembly 56 includes the T-shaped connector plate 37, lance tip 48, upper intermediate slip joint 57, lower intermediate slip joint 55, upper flanged connector 60, upper oxygen slip joint 61, central oxygen tube 62, intermediate water baffle 63, outer barrel 64, locating pin 65 and spacers 66.", "The T-shaped member 38 disclosed in FIG. 3 is similar to the aforementioned embodiment of FIG. 2, with some differences in the vent passages 50.", "In FIG. 3, the tubular barrel 40 at its upper end is provided with and undercut or annular recess 52 and the plate 25 is provided with annular extension which contains the O'rings.", "With this exception all of the other O'rings are contained entirely in the T-shaped member.", "The T-shaped connector assembly is of course connected together by suitable fasteners 54 as is conventional in the art.", "FIG. 4 discloses another modification in that the T-shaped plate 35 has a somewhat different configuration for the vent openings 50 as well as the disposition of the O'rings in the surface of the T-shaped plate.", "The modification 36 disclosed in FIG. 5 is essentially similar to the aforedescribed embodiments with the exception that the T-shaped plate is welded to the pipe and passage structure of the lance and stays in this position during disassembly.", "The structure of the O'ring placement is essentially the same and the features above mentioned remain.", "OPERATION AND ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION In the prior art double O'ring slip joints have always consisted of several pieces to make up the assembly.", "The purpose of this invention is to produce a self-contained double O'ring slip joint of one piece construction and totally contained in the bottom assembly 56 and to provide a complete disconnect of the bottom assembly at the T-shaped plate member 37 so that all O'rings are returned for an inspection or replacement.", "When O'rings are used as seals, it is most essential that they be placed on the outside circumference so that they are easily held in place in the grooves and cannot slip or move out of their position when the part containing them is assembled into the main body of the lance and so they can be easily observed being compressed into their respective cylinders.", "O'rings that are located on the inside diameter are difficult to position and can slip out of position;", "creates a blind assembly into their cylinders, and cause serious problems on assembly.", "Many of the prior art patents disclose O'rings on the inside diameter.", "In the present invention the T-shaped plate or head contains all major O'ring seals in the central and outer barrels.", "Thus quick interchange of new plates and most effective sealing and assembly is achieved.", "This new self-contained assembly is also designed so that when installed in a lance, it will be easily repairable.", "The lance top adapter may be permanently installed in the furnace carriage and the lance bottom assembly can be repaired and O'rings inspected or replaced by quick disconnection from the lance and simply plugging in a new repaired bottom assembly containing the self-contained double O'ring slip joint.", "Since only the T-shaped barrel assembly is replaced it is no longer necessary for the customer to have completed spare lances in inventory at all times.", "The design of the new self-contained double O'ring slip joint and the lance in which it is contained allows removal and replacement of a plug-in assembly with a minimum of clearance requirements.", "In the present invention expensive and costly parts are mostly contained in the top adapter and the recoverable and repairable self-contained double O'ring slip joint assembly.", "These parts can be re-used and the bottom assembly of the lance when consumed can be discarded with a minimum loss.", "In the present design the bottom assembly can also be returned over great distances to the factory with the self contained O'ring assembly intact and protected by the bottom assembly 56.", "The T-shaped adapter plates 35,36,37,38, can be repaired cleaned and inspected and returned to the steel mills in a new bottom assembly.", "Another advantage of the double O'ring slip joint is to prevent interchangeable leakage between oxygen and water by providing a 100% safety factor through the use of two O'rings on each side of the vent to atmosphere.", "If oxygen should leak past the first two O'rings, it will be vented to the atmosphere away from the furnace, rather than being forced to the water cooling system.", "If water leaks past the two O'rings on the water side, it will be vented to atmosphere through the same channel, rather than into the oxygen, and therefore interchangeable leakage between water and oxygen is prevented.", "Prior art double O'ring slip joints accomplished the same purpose but they were not self-contained in a single unit and they did not provide for quick disconnect of the lance barrel from the top adapter with a minimum clearance and did not allow for changing of the lance barrel while the lance is in the lance carriage on the furnace, nor did it provide an indexing feature to assure proper assembly of the lance barrel onto the top adapter;", "nor could they be changed in the field.", "The self-contained double O'ring slip joint assembly is vented internally within and is therefore re-useable and has no dependence on other parts of the lance and is interchangeable with all lances designed to accept the self-contained double O'ring slip joint assembly.", "In order to reduce costs of welding and assembly, the intermediate pipe separating the water-in from the water-out is not welded onto the bottom assembly of the lance, and therefore is easily removable and can be re-used.", "Its design provides for an automatic verification that the working length of the lance is correct.", "If the working length of the lance is too short, the floating intermediate pipe prevents re-assembly of the lance.", "If the working length of the lance is too long, the intermediate slip joint 57 will not visually engage the top O'ring 67 or the lower slip joint 55 and the oxygen tube will not visually engage the top O'rings 46.", "The lance design incorporating the self-contained double O'ring slip joint allows for field repair by steel plant personnel with no welding experience because no welding is required to repair the lance if the T-shaped plug-in assembly is used.", "The present invention allows the top adapter to remain at the plant of operation and reduces the cost of having to ship the entire lance back to the lance maker.", "When the lance is disassembled, all critical O'ring seals are visable and easily inspected, replaced, and degreased.", "The quick disconnect flange and the flange on the top adapter are sealed with O'rings rather than gaskets.", "This procedure also provides an immediate visual check of any leakage because water leaking past these O'rings will be visible either at the vent or at the interface of the flanges.", "By use of concentric reducers or by eliminating them, the lance can be made in virtually any diameter required for a steel-making furnace.", "The steel-making operation of lances 13 is well described in the reference U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,620,455, 3,827,632, 4,083,539, 4,083,540, 4,083,541, 4,083,542, 4,083,543 and 4,083,540.", "The present invention basically discloses the advantages of a single top plate design which provides for the effective and positive seal quick disconnect and ease of repair of a lance utilized in the steel-making operation.", "All of the seal elements are so disposed that all the supplier has to do is order the T-shaped top adapter assembly with replaced O'rings and by a quick and simple operation the lance can be repaired with all of the O'rings in proper position to effectuate repair.", "Thus the advantages of the invention are fully set forth." ]

[ "CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION [0001] This application claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2012-144405 filed on Jun. 27, 2012, the entire subject matter of which is incorporated herein by reference TECHNICAL FIELD [0002] This disclosure relates to a technique for managing a device driver program.", "BACKGROUND [0003] A device driver program for controlling devices such as a printer or a facsimile (referred to as FAX) may be provided for each type of operating systems (referred to as OS).", "[0004] In the case where the device driver program is provided for each type of OS, there is a device which, when a request is received from a client PC, distinguishes the OS used for the client PC and notifies, as a response, a location address of the device driver program corresponding to the distinguished OS to the client PC.", "SUMMARY [0005] There is the OS, in which a first-type device driver program interpreting a first-format process data to control the device and a second-type device driver program interpreting a second-format process data to control the device is to be installed.", "[0006] In such an OS, when the device driver program being an output destination of the process data is the first-type device driver program, the first-format process data is output to the device driver program.", "On the other hand, when the device driver program being an output destination of the process data is the second-type device driver program, the first-format process data is converted into the second-format process data, and it is output to the device driver program.", "[0007] However, when the format of the process data is converted, the process data may be deteriorated in the converting process, and thus the process quality by the device may be deteriorated.", "[0008] This disclosure provides at least a technique for suppressing the deterioration of process quality due to using of the device driver program required for the conversion of the process data.", "[0009] A non-transitory computer-readable medium of this disclosure stores instructions to control a information processing device, in which an operating system is executed, wherein the operating system outputs process data to a device driver program, in which, when the device driver program being an output destination of the process data is a first-type device driver program interpreting a first-format process data, the first-format process data is output, and in which, when the device driver program being an output destination of the process data is a second-type device driver program interpreting a second-format process data different from the first-format process data, the first-format process data is converted into the second-format process data to output the second-format process data.", "The instructions, when executed by a processor, cause the information processing device to perform: inquiring of the operating system about the device driver installed in the information processing device;", "receiving a inquiry result from the operating system;", "judging whether the device driver program installed in the information processing device is the second-type device driver program based on the inquiry result;", "and performing, when it is judged that the device driver program is the second-type device driver program, a process for installing the first-type device driver program.", "[0010] This disclosure will be applied to various aspects, such as an information process device, an information processing system, a driver control method, and a driver control program.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0011] The foregoing and additional features and characteristics of this disclosure will become more apparent from the following detailed descriptions considered with the reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: [0012] FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically illustrating the electrical configuration of an information processing device according to the first illustrative embodiment;", "[0013] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a Desktop-style and a Metro-style;", "[0014] FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the flow of printing in the Desktop-style;", "[0015] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the flow of printing in the Metro-style;", "[0016] FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating the flow of a prompt to install an XPS printer driver;", "[0017] FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating one example of a message of a prompt to install the XPS printer driver;", "[0018] FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating the flow of a prompt to install an XPS printer driver according to the second illustrative embodiment;", "[0019] FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating the flow of a prompt to install an XPS printer driver according to the third illustrative embodiment;", "[0020] FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating the flow of a prompt to install an XPS printer driver according to the fourth illustrative embodiment;", "and [0021] FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating the flow of a prompt to install an XPS printer driver according to the fifth illustrative embodiment.", "DETAILED DESCRIPTION Illustrative Embodiment 1 [0022] The first illustrative embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6 .", "(1) Configuration of Information Processing Device [0023] First, an electrical configuration of an information processing device 1 (referred to as PC) will be described with reference to FIG. 1 .", "The PC 1 is a so-called tablet-shaped computer, and is generally operated using a touch panel.", "[0024] The PC 1 includes a processor 11 , a display unit 12 , an operation unit 13 , a memory 14 , a communication interface 15 , and a USB host interface 16 .", "[0025] The processor 11 includes a CPU 11 a , a ROM 11 b , and a RAM 11 c .", "The CPU 11 a controls all units of the PC 1 by executing a program stored in the ROM 11 b or the memory 14 .", "A program or data executed by the CPU 11 a stored in the ROM 11 b .", "The RAM 11 c is used as a main memory for the CPU 11 a to execute various processing.", "[0026] The display unit 12 includes a display such as a liquid crystal display, and a display driving circuit for driving the display.", "[0027] The operation unit 13 includes a substantially transparent touch panel covering a display surface of the display device, and a control circuit for controlling the touch panel.", "Further, the operation unit 13 may include an interface to which an input device, such as a keyboard or a mouse, is connected.", "[0028] The memory 14 is a device for memorizing various programs and data using a hard disc or a nonvolatile memory such as a flash memory.", "[0029] The memory 14 memories an OS 21 , a Win32 application 22 , a WPF (Windows (registered trademark) Presentation Foundation) application 23 for a Desktop-style, a WPF application 24 for a Metro-style, a GDI printer driver 25 , an XPS printer driver 26 , and a driver managing program 27 .", "[0030] Hereinafter, Windows 8 of Microsoft Corporation will be described as the OS 21 .", "However, the OS 21 is not limited to Windows 8.", "[0031] The WPF applications 23 and 24 are an application requiring for a library called as “.Net Framework”", "for execution thereof.", "The Win32 application 22 is a native application which does not require for that library.", "[0032] The communication interface 15 is configured to connect the PC 1 and peripheral devices, such as a printer or a server, to communicate them via a communication network such as an LAN (Local Area Network) or Internet.", "The communication interface 15 may be connected to the communication network via a cable, or may be wirelessly connected thereto.", "[0033] The USB (Universal step Serial Bus) host interface 16 includes a USB host controller or a connection port.", "The USB device interface 16 is connected to a USB device such as a printer 2 .", "[0034] That is, the PC 1 may control the printer 2 to carry out the printing via a communication network, and may control the printer 2 connected to the USB host interface 16 to carry out the printing.", "(2) Operation Style [0035] Next, the operation style of Windows 8 will be described with reference to FIG. 2 .", "In the following description, the operation style will be described with just a style.", "[0036] In Windows 8, a style referred to as a Desktop-style and a style referred to as a Metro-style can be switched.", "In other words, the style is a program execution environment which is a base for executing the application.", "[0037] The Metro-style is a newly developed style, and is a style developed assuming that it is generally operated using the touch panel.", "In the Metro-style, the WPF application works, but the Win32 application does not work.", "The Metro-style is one example of the first operation style.", "[0038] The Desktop-style is a well-known style, and is a style developed assuming that it is generally operated using a mouse or a keyboard.", "In the Desktop-style, both the WPF application and the Win32 application work.", "The Desktop-style is one example of the second operation style.", "[0039] However, the Metro-style and the Desktop-style are incompatible even in the WPF application.", "Therefore, for example, the WPF application 24 for the Metro-style does not work in the Desktop-style, and the WPF application 23 for the Desktop-style does not work in the Metro-style.", "[0040] When switching into the Desktop-style, the WPF application 24 for the Metro-style is stopped, and then when it is switched in the Metro-style, the WPF application 24 restarts.", "[0041] More specifically, when a user operates to switch it into the Desktop-style, the WPF application 24 for the Metro-style executes a withdrawal process to store information for returning the current state when it is in a subsequent Metro-style, in the RAM 11 c (otherwise, the memory 14 ) before the operation is stopped.", "[0042] Then, when the Desktop-style is switched in the Metro-style, the WPF application 24 for the Metro-style reads the stored information of the withdrawal process, and then executes a return process to return to the previous state.", "[0043] On the other hand, the WPF application 23 for the Desktop-style continuously works in a background while it is being in the Metro-style.", "(3) Flow of Printing in Each Style [0044] Next, the flow of the printing in each style will be described.", "(3-1) Flow of Printing in Desktop-Style [0045] First, the flow of the printing in the Desktop-style will be described with reference to FIG. 3 .", "[0046] The WPF application 23 for the Desktop-style outputs a print command to an XPS print system 29 through an API (Application Programming Interface) provided by the XPS print system 29 .", "The print command output to the XPS print system 29 is one example of the first-type data process command [0047] The XPS print system 29 is a print subsystem provided as a part of the OS 21 .", "When the XPS print system 29 receives the print command from the WPF application 23 , the XPS print system generates a spool file (referred to as an XPS file) of an XPS (XML Paper step Specification) format based on the received print command.", "The XPS print system 29 outputs the generated XPS file to the XPS printer driver 26 corresponding to the printer designated by the WPF application 23 .", "The XPS file is one example of the first-format process data.", "Additionally, the WPF application 23 may generate the XPS file and output it to the XPS print system 29 .", "[0048] The XPS printer driver 26 is a device driver program capable of interpreting the XPS file and converting it into a control command of the printer to control the printer to carry out the printing.", "The XPS printer driver 26 is one example of a first-type device driver program.", "[0049] The Win32 application 22 outputs a print command to the GDI print system 28 via an API referred to as a GDI (Graphics Device Interface) provided by the GDI print system 28 .", "The print command output to the GDI print system 28 is one example of a second-type data process command.", "[0050] The GDI print system 28 is also a print subsystem provided as a part of the OS 21 .", "When the GDI print system 28 receives a print command from the Win32 application 22 , the GDI print system generates a spool file (referred to as an EMF file) of EMF (Enhanced Metafile Format) based on the print command received.", "The GDI print system 28 outputs the generated EMF file to the GDI printer driver 25 corresponding to the printer designated by the Win32 application 22 .", "The EMF file is one example of a second-format process data.", "[0051] The GDI printer driver 25 is a device driver program capable of interpreting the EMF file and converting it into a control command of the printer to control the printer to carry out the printing.", "The GDI printer driver 25 is one example of a second-type device driver program.", "[0052] As described above, the WPF application 23 and the Win32 application 22 are executed in the Desktop-style.", "However, only one printer driver is usually used for one printer.", "Therefore, the printer driver corresponding to the printer executing the printing may be the GDI printer driver 25 , while the application is the WPF application 23 .", "[0053] In this case, the OS 21 converts the XPS file into the EMF file to output it to the GDI printer driver 25 by executing an XPS-to-GDI process 30 .", "On the other hand, the reverse case is similar, that is, the OS 21 converts the EMF file into the XPS file to output it to the XPS printer driver 26 by executing a GDI-to-XPS processing 31 .", "[0054] However, when the XPS is converted into the EMF file, or the EMF file is converted into the XPS file, the print data may be deteriorated in the process, and thus the print quality with the printer is decreased.", "(3-2) Flow of Printing in Metro-Style [0055] Hereinafter, the flow of the printing in the Metro-style will now be described with reference to FIG. 4 .", "[0056] The WPF application 24 for the Metro-style outputs the print command to the XPS print system 29 via the API provided by the XPS print system 29 .", "Since the following flow is equal to that in FIG. 3 , its description will be omitted.", "[0057] In the Metro-style, the XPS print system 29 works, but the GDI print system 28 does not work.", "[0058] Additionally, the GDI printer driver 25 may be used in the Metro-style.", "However, the conversion from the XPS file to the EMF file is performed, so that the print quality is decreased.", "(4) Installation of Printer Driver [0059] When the printer is connected to the USB host interface 16 , the OS 21 automatically downloads the printer driver for controlling the printer by a plug and play (PnP) function, and then installs it in the PC 1 .", "[0060] In this case, when a provider of the printer driver provides both the GDI printer driver 25 and the XPS printer driver 26 for the same model printer, it may be set whether any of both drivers is given priority in download.", "At present, since the Win32 application is mainly used, the GDI printer driver 25 is set to have a priority.", "[0061] When the GDI printer driver 25 is set to have a priority, the GDI printer driver is installed when the style at present is the Metro-style.", "[0062] In addition, the user may install the printer driver by manual operation.", "In this instance, the user may install the XPS printer driver 26 by selecting the XPS printer driver 26 .", "[0063] The installed printer driver is shared with the Desktop-style and the Metro-style.", "For this reason, for example, when the GDI printer driver 25 is installed in the Desktop-style, the GDI printer driver 25 is used in the Metro-style.", "(5) Process of Prompting Installation of XPS Printer Driver [0064] Since the Win32 application 22 is not executed in the Metro-style, it is preferable to use the XPS printer driver 26 so as to reduce the deterioration of the print quality when the number of printing in the Metro-style is larger than the number of printing in the Desktop-style.", "[0065] On the other hand, it is preferable to use the GDI printer driver 25 so as to reduce the deterioration of the print quality when the number of printing using the Win32 application 22 in the Metro-style is larger than the number of printing in the Desktop-style.", "Further, since the GDI printer driver 25 has many functions than the XPS printer driver 26 , the GDI printer driver 25 is preferable in this view of the user who frequently uses the Win32 application 22 .", "[0066] Accordingly, it may be not preferable to install the XPS printer driver 26 .", "However, some of users who frequently print in Metro-style may use the installed GDI printer driver 25 without knowing that the print quality is deteriorated than the XPS printer driver 26 when the GDI printer driver 25 is used.", "[0067] Therefore, the PC 1 according to the first illustrative embodiment prompts a user to install the XPS printer driver 26 when the GDI printer driver 25 is installed when it is being switched in the Metro-style, in order to reduce a case that user who prints in the Metro-style rather than the Desktop-style uses the GDI printer driver 25 .", "[0068] The process of prompting installation of the XPS printer driver 26 will be described with reference to FIG. 5 .", "[0069] The process is executed by executing the driver managing program 27 illustrated in FIG. 1 .", "The driver managing program 27 according to the first illustrative embodiment is an application for the Desktop-style (Win32 application 22 or WPF application 23 ).", "The driver managing program 27 is started as a resident program when the OS 21 starts, and the process is repeated at predetermined time intervals, such as intervals for one minute, irrespective of the current style.", "[0070] In step S 101 , the CPU 11 a (hereinafter, referred to as a driver managing program 27 ) for executing the driver managing program 27 inquires of the OS 21 about the printer driver installed in the PC 1 .", "[0071] In step S 102 , the driver managing program 27 judges whether a new printer driver is installed after the previous process is executed.", "Step S 102 is one example of a process of judging the installation.", "[0072] Specifically, for example, the driver managing program 27 compares the inquiry result in step S 101 and the previous inquiry result that stored in the memory 14 in step S 107 , which will be described later, when the previous process is executed.", "When a printer driver is not included in the inquire result of the previous process, but is included in the current inquire result, the driver managing program 27 judges that a new printer drive is installed.", "[0073] When the new printer driver is installed, the driver managing program 27 proceeds to step S 103 .", "When now new printer driver is installed, it proceeds to step S 107 .", "[0074] In step S 103 , the driver managing program 27 judges whether the current style is the Metro-style or not.", "This judgment can be implemented by various methods.", "[0075] For example, when the OS 21 includes an API for returning the information displaying the current style to the application, it may be judged by inquiring of the OS 21 about the current style using the API.", "[0076] When the OS 21 does not include an API, it may be judged by executing the application for the Metro-style.", "Specifically, for example, an application, which stores the information to indicate the Desktop-style when the withdrawal process is executed, and stores the information to indicate the Metro-style when the return process is executed, may be executed as the application for the Metro-style.", "In this way, the driver managing program 27 can judge the current style by referring to the information.", "In this case, it is necessary to execute the application as a resident program in the Metro-style.", "[0077] The driver managing program 27 proceeds to step S 104 , when the current style is not the Metro-style, that is, when the current style is the Desktop-style, and proceeds to step S 105 when the current style is the Metro-style.", "[0078] In step S 104 , the driver managing program 27 displays a message recommending the use of the GDI printer driver 25 on the display unit 12 .", "[0079] The reason why the use of the GDI printer driver 25 is recommended is that the user will frequently prints by using the Win32 application 22 in the Desktop-style in view of that the current style is being in the Desktop-style.", "[0080] However, there is a possibility that user who frequently prints in the Metro-style temporarily uses the Desktop-style.", "In this case, it may be not preferable to recommend the use of the GDI printer driver 25 .", "Therefore, it does not necessarily carry out step S 104 .", "[0081] In step S 105 , the driver managing program 27 acquires information about the printer driver including a type of the installed printer driver from the OS 21 .", "The driver managing program 27 judges whether the installed printer driver is the GDI printer driver 25 , based on the acquired information.", "Step S 105 is one example of a process of judging the type of the driver.", "[0082] When the installed printer driver is the GDI printer driver 25 , the driver managing program 27 proceeds to step S 106 , and when the installed printer driver is the step SPS printer driver, it proceeds to step S 107 .", "[0083] In step S 106 , the driver managing program 27 displays the message on the display unit 12 to prompt the user to install the XPS printer driver 26 .", "Step S 106 is one example of a process of controlling the information processing to manage the first-type device driver program.", "[0084] FIG. 6 illustrates one example of the above-described message.", "The message 35 illustrated in FIG. 6 guides the user about a possibility that the image quality may be deteriorated when the installed printer driver is used and an URL of a website from which a recommended printer driver can be downloaded.", "[0085] The recommended printer driver is the XPS printer driver 26 for controlling the same model printer, which is controlled by the installed GDI printer driver 25 .", "[0086] Incidentally, when it is being switched in the Metro-style, it is not possible that the driver managing program 27 , which is the application for the Desktop-style, displays a message on the display unit 12 .", "For this reason, the driver managing program 27 displays the message indirectly.", "[0087] For example, in the case where the OS 21 includes the API receiving the request to display the message from the application, the driver managing program 27 may request the OS 21 to display the message using the API.", "[0088] Further, for example, the driver managing program 27 may store the message in the file, and enable the application for the Metro-style to display the message stored in the file.", "However, it is necessary to start the application as a resident program in the Metro-style.", "[0089] In step S 107 , the driver managing program 27 stores the result inquired of the OS 21 in step S 101 in the memory 14 .", "(6) Effect of Illustrative Embodiment [0090] According to the above-described driver managing program 27 , in the case where the GDI printer driver 25 is installed when it is being switched in the Metro-style, it prompts the user for installation of the XPS printer driver 26 .", "[0091] Thus, according to the driver managing program 27 , it is possible to suppress the print quality from being deteriorated due to the use of the GDI printer driver 25 .", "[0092] Furthermore, according to the driver managing program 27 , since the installation of the XPS printer driver 26 is only prompted to the user, the user can select whether to install the XPS printer driver 26 .", "[0093] Accordingly, user who frequently prints by using the Win32 application may not install the XPS printer driver 26 even though the installation of the XPS printer driver 26 is prompted.", "Additionally, the message in step S 106 may be displayed together with another message that the installation of the XPS printer driver 26 may be not recommended to the user who frequently prints by using the Win32 application.", "[0094] Further, according to the driver managing program 27 , when the new printer driver is installed, the type of the printer driver is judged.", "Therefore, the installation of the XPS printer driver 26 may be prompted when the GDI printer driver 25 is installed.", "[0095] Further, according to the driver managing program 27 , when it is being switched in the Desktop-style, if a new printer driver is installed, the type of the printer driver may be not judged.", "When it is being switched in the Metro-style, if a new printer driver is installed, the type of the printer driver may be judged.", "[0096] For example, when it is being switched in the Desktop-style, the type of the printer driver may be judged.", "However, the using of the Desktop-style indicates a possibility that the user does not use the Metro-style usually.", "When the Metro-style is not used, it is not desirable to install the XPS printer driver 26 .", "[0097] On the other hand, the using of the Metro-style indicates that the user is using the Metro-style, and the user may use the installed GDI printer driver 25 without knowing that the print quality is deteriorated.", "[0098] According to the driver managing program 27 , if the user may not use the Metro-style, it does not prompt the installation of the XPS printer driver 26 , and also it is possible to suppress the deterioration of the print quality due to that the user uses the GDI printer driver 25 without knowing that the print quality is deteriorated in the Metro-style.", "Illustrative Embodiment 2 [0099] Next, the second illustrative embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 7 .", "[0100] The first illustrative embodiment has been described with reference to the case where the driver managing program 27 is the application for the Desktop-style.", "On the other hand, the driver managing program 27 according to the second illustrative embodiment is the application for the Metro-style.", "[0101] With reference to FIG. 7 , the process of prompting the installation of the XPS printer driver 26 according to the second illustrative embodiment will be described.", "The process is repeatedly performed at predetermined time intervals, such as one minute intervals, while it is being in the Metro-style.", "[0102] The process according to the second illustrative embodiment is substantially equal to the process according to the first illustrative embodiment, except for that step S 103 and step S 104 of the first illustrative embodiment are not executed.", "Therefore, the same processes as the first illustrative embodiment are denoted by the same reference numeral, and the description thereof will be omitted.", "[0103] The reason why step S 103 and step S 104 are not performed is that the process is executed only when it is in the Metro-style.", "In this embodiment, the current style is the Metro-style without such judgment.", "[0104] Additionally, the driver managing program 27 according to the second illustrative embodiment is executed as the WPF application 24 for the Metro-style, so that the driver managing program 27 can display the message on the display unit 12 directly in step S 106 .", "[0105] According to the above-described driver managing program 27 of the second illustrative embodiment, it is possible to suppress the deterioration in print quality due to the use of the GDI printer driver 25 .", "Illustrative Embodiment 3 [0106] Next, the third illustrative embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 8 .", "[0107] The driver managing program 27 according to the third illustrative embodiment is the application for the Desktop-style, similar to the first illustrative embodiment.", "[0108] In the first illustrative embodiment, it is judged whether the printer driver is installed in the PC 1 , and when the printer driver is installed, it is judged whether the installed printer driver is the GDI printer driver 25 .", "[0109] In contrast, the driver managing program 27 according to the third illustrative embodiment does not judge whether the printer driver is installed or not.", "Instead, the driver managing program 27 according to the third illustrative embodiment judges whether the GDI printer driver 25 is installed, when it is switched into the Metro-style, and when the GDI printer driver 25 is installed, it is prompted to install the XPS printer driver 26 .", "[0110] The process of prompting the installation of the XPS printer driver 26 according to the third illustrative embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 8 .", "The process is repeatedly performed at predetermined time intervals, such as one minute intervals, irrespective of the Desktop-style or the Metro-style.", "[0111] In step S 201 , the driver managing program 27 judges the current style.", "This judgment can be performed similarly to step S 103 .", "[0112] In step S 202 , the driver managing program 27 judges whether the style was switched.", "[0113] Specifically, for example, the driver managing program 27 compares the judged result in step S 201 and the judged result which stored in the memory 14 in step S 207 when the previous process is executed.", "When the judged result of the previous process is different from the judged result of the current process, it is judged that the style is changed.", "[0114] The driver managing program 27 proceeds to step S 203 when the style is switched or proceeds to 207 when the style is not switched.", "[0115] In step S 203 , the driver managing program 27 judges whether the current style judged in step S 201 is the Metro-style.", "When it is the Metro-style, it proceeds to step S 204 , and when it is the Desktop-style, it proceeds to step S 207 .", "[0116] The above-described step S 201 to step S 203 are one example of a process of judging the switching.", "[0117] In step S 204 , the driver managing program 27 inquires of the OS 21 for the printer driver installed in PC 1 .", "[0118] In step S 205 , the driver managing program 27 judges whether even one GDI printer driver 25 is included in the printer drivers installed in the PC 1 .", "When even one GDI printer driver 25 is included, it proceeds to step S 206 , and when no GDI printer driver 25 is included, it proceeds to step S 207 .", "[0119] Instead of the judgment in step S 205 , for example, it may be judged whether the printer driver corresponding to the printer set in the PC 1 as a default printer at present is the GDI printer driver.", "Since the default printer is controlled by the OS 21 , the driver managing program 27 can judge whether the printer driver corresponding to the printer set as the default printer by inquiring of the OS 21 .", "[0120] In this case, when the printer driver corresponding to the printer set in the PC 1 as a default printer is the GDI printer driver 25 , the driver managing program 27 proceeds to step S 206 , and when it is not the GDI printer driver 25 , it proceeds to step S 207 .", "[0121] Instead of step S 205 described above, for example, it may be judged whether the printer driver capable of controlling a printer connected to the PC 1 is only the GDI printer.", "[0122] Specifically, the driver managing program 27 acquires the information about the printer connected to the PC 1 by broadcasting the printer connected via the LAN or acquiring information from the printer connected via the USB.", "[0123] Based on the information about the printer and the information about the printer driver installed in the PC 1 , it is judged whether the controllable printer driver is only the GDI printer driver 25 .", "When the controllable printer driver is only the GDI printer driver 25 , the driver managing program proceeds to step S 206 , and when he controllable printer driver is not only the GDI printer driver 25 , it proceeds to step S 207 .", "[0124] In step S 206 , the driver managing program 27 displays the message on the display unit 12 to prompt the user for the installation of the XPS printer driver 26 .", "[0125] In step S 207 , the driver managing program 27 stores the current style judged in step S 201 in the memory 14 .", "[0126] According to the above-described driver managing program 27 according to the third illustrative embodiment, when the Desktop-style is switched into the Metro-style, it is judged whether the GDI printer driver 25 is installed.", "[0127] For example, there is a case where the GDI printer driver 25 is installed before the driver managing program 27 is installed.", "In this case, if it is judged whether the printer driver is the GDI printer driver 25 or not when the printer drive is installed, the GDI printer driver 25 installed earlier than the driver managing program 27 is not subjected to the judgment.", "[0128] According to the driver managing program 27 of the third illustrative embodiment, when the Desktop-style is switched into the Metro-style, it is judged whether the GDI printer driver 25 is installed.", "Therefore, it is judged whether the printer drive installed earlier than the driver managing program 27 is the GDI printer driver 25 .", "Illustrative Embodiment 4 [0129] Next, the fourth illustrative embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 9 [0130] The driver managing program 27 according to the fourth illustrative embodiment is the application for the Metro-style, similar to the second illustrative embodiment.", "[0131] However, the driver managing program 27 according to the fourth illustrative embodiment does not judge whether the printer drive is installed or not, similar to the third illustrative embodiment.", "Instead, the driver managing program 27 according to the fourth illustrative embodiment periodically judges whether the GDI printer driver 25 is installed while it is being in the Metro-style.", "When the GDI printer driver 25 is installed, the installation of the XPS printer driver 26 is prompted.", "[0132] The process of prompting the installation of the XPS printer driver 25 according to the fourth illustrative embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 9 .", "The process is repeatedly performed at predetermined time intervals, such as one minute intervals, while it is being in the Metro-style.", "[0133] The process of the fourth illustrative embodiment is substantially equal to the process of the third illustrative embodiment, except for that step S 201 to step S 203 , and step S 207 of the third illustrative embodiment are not performed.", "The processes substantially equal to the third illustrative embodiment are denoted by the same reference numeral, and its description will be omitted.", "[0134] In the above-described driver managing program 27 according to the fourth illustrative embodiment, it can be judged whether the printer driver installed earlier than the driver managing program 27 is the GDI printer driver 25 .", "[0135] In the driver managing program 27 according to the fourth illustrative embodiment, it is periodically judged whether the GDI printer driver 25 is installed, not when the Desktop-style is switched into the Metro-style, but while it is being in the Metro-style.", "Accordingly, in the case where the printer driver is installed while it is being in the Metro-style, it can be judged whether the GDI printer driver 25 is installed without waiting for the switching of the Metro-style after it is switched into the Desktop-style.", "Illustrative Embodiment 5 [0136] Next, the fifth illustrative embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 10 .", "[0137] In the first to fourth illustrative embodiments described above, the case of prompting the installation of the XPS printer driver 26 has been described, in the case where the GDI printer driver 25 is installed when it is being switched in the Metro-style.", "[0138] However, there is, for example, there is a case where the user who frequently prints by using the Win32 application 22 in the Desktop-style use the Metro-style temporarily.", "In this case, it may be not preferable to prompt the installation of the XPS printer driver 26 even when it is being switched in the Metro-style.", "The reason is that the printing by using GDI printer driver 25 is preferable for the user who frequently prints by using the Win32 application 22 .", "[0139] Accordingly, in the fifth illustrative embodiment 5, a switching history of the style is referenced, and then in the case where the style used most in the past is the Metro-style, the installation of the XPS printer driver 26 is prompted.", "In contrast, in the case where the style used most in the past is the Desktop-style, the installation of the XPS printer driver 26 is not prompted.", "[0140] Here, the driver managing program 27 is the application for the Metro-style similar to the second illustrative embodiment, and it will be described the case where it is judged whether the installation of the XPS printer driver 26 is prompted or not when the printer driver is installed, as one example.", "(1) Storing the Switching History of Style [0141] The storing of the switching history of the style may be performed by executing a switching history storing application for storing a switching time of the style in a history file, as a resident program.", "[0142] Whether to execute the switching history storing application as the application for the Desktop-style or the application for the Metro-style depends on whether the OS 21 includes the API for returning the information to indicate the current style to the application.", "[0143] When the OS 21 includes the API for returning the information to indicate the current style to the application, the switching history storing application may be executed as the application for the Desktop-style.", "[0144] Additionally, the switching history storing application inquires of the OS 21 for the current style periodically.", "When the style inquired at the pervious process is different from the style inquired at the current process, it is judges that the style is switched, and thus the time at that time is stored in the history file.", "[0145] On the other hand, when the OS 21 does not include the API for returning the information to indicate the current style to the application, the history may be stored by executing the switching history storing application as the application for the Metro-style.", "Specifically, for example, application may be executed as the application for the Metro-style, and in the withdrawal process, the time at that time is stored in the history file as the time when the Metro-style is switched into the Desktop-style, and in the return process, the time at that time is stored in the history file as the time when the Desktop-style is switched into the Metro-style.", "However, the application should be executed as a resident program in the Metro-style.", "[0146] Incidentally, operation of turning off a power supply of the PC 1 may be performed.", "When the operation of turning off the power source is performed, the times before the power source is turned off and when the power source is turned on are stored in the history file.", "In this case, for example, the sum of the time from when it is switched into the Desktop-style to when the power source is turned off and the time from when the power source is turned on to when it is switched into the Metro-style becomes the time being switched in the Desktop-style.", "[0147] In the case of the second illustrative embodiment and the fourth illustrative embodiment, since the driver managing program 27 is executed as the application for the Metro-style, the driver managing program 27 may also serve as the switching history storing application.", "(2) Process of Driver Control Program [0148] Next, the process of the driver managing program 27 according to the fifth illustrative embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 10 .", "In the process of the driver managing program 27 according to the fifth illustrative embodiment, step S 301 and step S 302 are performed, in addition to the process of the second illustrative embodiment.", "The same processes as the second illustrative embodiment are denoted by the same reference numeral, and its description will be omitted.", "[0149] In step S 301 , the driver managing program 27 obtains the total use times of each style by going back for a predetermined time from the current time with reference to the history file.", "[0150] Incidentally, a utilization rate may be obtained by dividing the total use times by the predetermined time.", "Further, instead of the total use time or the utilization rate within the predetermined time, a total use time or a utilization rate may be obtained from the time when the store is started in the history file.", "[0151] In step S 302 , the driver managing program 27 judges whether the total use time of the Metro-style is longer than the total use time of the Desktop-style.", "When the total use time of the Metro-style is longer than the total use time of the Desktop-style, the driver managing program 27 proceeds to step S 106 , and when the total use time of the Desktop-style is longer than the total use time of the Metro-style, it proceeds to step S 107 .", "Step S 302 is one example of a process of judging the styles.", "(3) Effect of Illustrative Embodiment [0152] According to the above-described driver managing program 27 of the fifth illustrative embodiment, when the most-used style is not the Metro-style, the installation of the XPS printer driver 26 may not be prompted.", "Other Illustrative Embodiments [0153] This disclosure is not limited to the illustrative embodiments described in the above description and the drawings.", "For example, the following illustrative embodiments are included in the technical scope of this disclosure.", "[0154] (1) In the above illustrative embodiment, the OS 21 capable of switching the styles has been described as one example.", "However, it is not limited to the OS 21 capable of switching the styles.", "For example, only the Metro-style is operated, or an only style corresponding to the Metro-style is operated.", "[0155] (2) In the above illustrative embodiment, a case of prompting the installation of the XPS printer driver 26 when the GDI printer driver 25 is installed has been described as one example.", "[0156] On the other hand, the installed GDI printer driver 25 may be uninstalled.", "Specifically, for example, only the Metro-style is operated, or it is judged that the total use time of the Metro-style is long in the fifth illustrative embodiment, the installed GDI printer driver 25 may be uninstalled.", "Accordingly, it is prompted the user for the installation of the XPS printer driver 26 .", "[0157] Similarly, the XPS printer driver 26 capable of controlling the same model printer, which is controlled by the installed GDI printer driver 25 may be installed.", "Accordingly, it is possible to reduce trouble that the user installs the XPS printer driver 26 .", "[0158] (3) The driver managing program 27 may execute both the process of the driver managing program 27 according to the first illustrative embodiment and the process of the driver managing program 27 according to the third illustrative embodiment.", "Specifically, when is judged in step S 102 of FIG. 5 that the new printer driver is not installed, it may proceed to step S 201 of FIG. 8 .", "[0159] Similarly, the driver managing program 27 may execute both the process of the driver managing program 27 according to the second illustrative embodiment and the process of the driver managing program 27 according to the fourth illustrative embodiment.", "[0160] (4) In the above illustrative embodiment, the case of prompting the installation of the XPS printer driver 26 when the GDI printer driver 25 is installed has been described as one example.", "On the other hand, the driver managing program 27 may judge whether the XPS printer driver 26 controlling the same model printer, which is controlled by the GDI printer driver 25 , is provided by printer makers.", "The driver managing program 27 may not prompt the installation of the XPS printer driver 26 when the XPS printer driver 26 is not provided.", "[0161] (5) In the above fifth illustrative embodiment, it is described the case where whether to prompt the installation of the XPS printer driver 26 is judged based on the total use time of each style, as one example.", "[0162] On the other hand, it may be judged based on the number of times that the printing is instructed from the Win32 application 22 and the number of times that the printing is instructed from the WPF applications 23 and 24 .", "When the number of times that the printing is instructed from the Win32 application 22 is larger than the other, it is preferable to install the GDI printer driver.", "When the number of times that the printing is instructed from the WPF applications 23 and 24 is larger than the other, it is preferable to install the XPS printer driver 26 .", "[0163] (6) In the third illustrative embodiment, it has been described the case where it is judged whether the GDI printer driver 25 is installed, when the Desktop-style is being switched in the Metro-style, as one example.", "On the other hand, similar to the fourth illustrative embodiment, while it is being in the Metro-style, it may be periodically judged whether the GDI printer driver 25 is installed.", "That is, the process of step S 202 may be skipped.", "[0164] (7) In the above illustrative embodiment, the device driver program has been described as the printer driver.", "On the other hand, the device driver program may be a facsimile (FAX) driver.", "[0165] (8) In the above illustrative embodiment, the information processing device has been described as a tablet-shaped computer.", "On the other hand, the information processing device may be a computer of a desktop type or a notebook type, or a cell-phone." ]

[ "CONTINUING APPLICATION INFORMATION [0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of International Application No. PCT/JP2009/068322, filed on Oct. 26, 2009.", "This application also claims priority to Japanese application No. 2008-279647, filed on Oct. 30, 2008.", "Each of those applications is incorporated herein by reference.", "TECHNICAL FIELD [0002] This invention relates to a liquid crystal compound and its production method.", "This invention also relates to a liquid crystal composition and a liquid crystal display element containing the liquid crystal compound.", "BACKGROUND ART [0003] Liquid crystal elements are used in mobile equipment such as mobile phone and PDA, display for OA equipment such as copying machine and PC monitor, display for home appliance such as TV, as well as clock, calculator, measuring instrument, automobile instruments, camera, and the like, and the liquid crystal elements are required to fulfill various performances including wide operating temperature range, low operating voltage, high-speed responsivity, and chemical stability.", "[0004] A material exhibiting liquid crystal phase is used in these liquid crystal elements.", "Until now, however, the required performances are not realized by one single compound fulfilling all required properties but by way of a liquid crystal composition prepared by mixing two or more liquid crystal compounds or non-liquid crystal compounds each exhibiting one or more excellent properties.", "[0005] Of the many properties required for the liquid crystal compound used in the liquid crystal composition in the field of the liquid crystal element, it is an important issue to provide a liquid crystal compound or a liquid crystal composition which has excellent compatibility with other liquid crystal material or non-liquid crystal material and improved chemical stability, and which also enables operation of the liquid crystal element at a low voltage with a high-speed responsivity in a wide operating temperature range when used for a liquid crystal element.", "[0006] As a measure for solving such problem, a compound containing CF═CF linkage group and a compound containing CF 2 O linkage group have been used (Patent Literatures 1 and 2).", "[0007] However, the compound containing CF═CF linkage group has the problem of the lack of photostability while the compound containing CF 2 O linkage group has the problem that the CF 2 O is decomposed when the compound has particular structures.", "CITATIONS [0000] Patent Literature 1: JP 03-041037 A Patent Literature 2: JP 05-112778 A SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0010] An object of the present invention is to provide a liquid crystal compound which has an excellent compatibility with other liquid crystal material or non-liquid crystal material and an improved chemical stability.", "Another object of the present invention is to provide its production method.", "Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a liquid crystal compound which has, in addition to the above-described properties, a large dielectric anisotropy by selecting the respective groups contained in the liquid crystal compound.", "Another object of the present invention is to provide compounds having a dielectric anisotropy near zero or a highly negative dielectric anisotropy.", "[0011] A further object of the present invention is to provide a liquid crystal composition containing such liquid crystal compound which is well adapted for use in producing a liquid crystal electrooptical element which can be operated at a low voltage in a wide operating temperature range with high display quality.", "A still further object of the present invention is to provide a liquid crystal electrooptical element produced by using such liquid crystal composition.", "[0012] In view of the situation as described above, the inventors of the present invention conducted an intensive study, and found that a compound having a particular structure having CF═CFCF 2 O linkage group is a compound useful for realizing various performances such as wide operating temperature range, low operating voltage, high-speed responsivity, chemical stability, and the like required for the liquid crystal electrooptical element when such compound is incorporated in the liquid crystal composition and the liquid crystal composition is used in the liquid crystal electrooptical element.", "[0013] Accordingly, the present invention provides a liquid crystal compound represented by the following formula (1): [0000] R 1 -(A 1 ) a -Z 1 -(A 2 ) b -Z 2 -(A 7 ) e -Z 5 -A 3 -CF═CFCF 2 O-A 4 -Z 3 -(A 5 ) c -Z 4 -(A 6 ) d -R 2 (1) [0014] As noted above, the compounds of the present invention may have a dielectric anisotropy near zero or a highly negative dielectric anisotropy.", "[0015] The symbols of the formula (1) indicate following meaning.", "[0000] R 1 and R 2 : They independently represent hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, —CN, —NCS, —SF 5 , or an alkyl group containing 1 to 18 carbon atoms.", "At least one hydrogen atom in the group is optionally substituted with fluorine atom.", "At least one —CH 2 — in the group is optionally substituted with ethereal oxygen atom or thioethereal sulfur atom.", "At least one —CH 2 CH 2 — in the group is optionally substituted with —CH═CH— or —C≡C—.", "A 1 , A 2 , A 3 , A 4 , A 5 , A 6 and A 7 : They independently represent trans-1,4-cyclohexylene group, 1,4-cyclohexenylene group, 1,3-cyclobutylene group, 1,2-cyclopropylene group, naphthalene-2,6-diyl group, 1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalene-2,6-diyl group, decahydronaphthalene-2,6-diyl group, or 1,4-phenylene group.", "At least one hydrogen atom in the group is optionally substituted with a halogen atom.", "One or two ═CH— in the group is optionally substituted with nitrogen atom.", "One or two —CH 2 — in the group is optionally substituted with ethereal oxygen atom or thioethereal sulfur atom.", "Z 1 , Z 2 , Z 3 , Z 4 , and Z 5 : They independently represent single bond, an alkylene group containing 1 to 4 carbon atoms.", "At least one hydrogen atom in the group is optionally substituted with fluorine atom.", "At least one —CH 2 — in the group is optionally substituted with ethereal oxygen atom or thioethereal sulfur atom.", "At least one —CH 2 CH 2 — in the group is optionally substituted with —CH═CH— or —C≡C—.", "a, b, c, d, and e: They independently represent 0 or 1 with the proviso that 0≦a+b+c+d+e≦3.", "[0016] A preferred liquid crystal compound represented by the formula (1) is the compound represented by the following formula (1-0): [0000] R 1 -(A 1 ) a -Z 1 -(A 2 ) b -Z 2 -A 3 -CF═CFCF 2 O-A 4 -Z 3 -(A 5 ) c -Z 4 -(A 6 ) d -R 2 (1-0) [0017] The symbols of the formula (1-0) indicate following meaning.", "[0018] In the compound (1-0), R 1 , R 2 , Z 1 , Z 2 , Z 3 , Z 4 , a, b and C are as defined above, with the proviso that 0≦a+b+c+d≦3.", "[0019] A preferred liquid crystal compound represented by the formula (1-0) is the compound represented by the following formula (1-1): [0000] formula (1-1): [0000] R 11 -(A 11 ) a -Z 11 -(A 21 ) b -Z 21 -A 31 -CF═CFCF 2 O-A 41 -Z 31 -(A 51 ) c -Z 41 -(A 61 ) d -R 21 (1-1) [0020] The symbols of the formula (1-1) indicate following meaning.", "[0000] R 11 and R 21 : They independently represent hydrogen atom, fluorine atom, —SF 5 , or an alkyl group containing 1 to 18 carbon atoms.", "At least one hydrogen atom in the group is optionally substituted with fluorine atom.", "At least one —CH 2 — in the group is optionally substituted with ethereal oxygen atom or thioethereal sulfur atom.", "At least one —CH 2 CH 2 — in the group is optionally substituted with —CH═CH—.", "A 11 , A 21 , A 31 , A 41 , A 51 , and A 61 : They independently represent trans-1,4-cyclohexylene group or 1,4-phenylene group.", "At least one hydrogen atom in the group is optionally substituted with a halogen atom.", "One or two ═CH— in the group is optionally substituted with nitrogen atom.", "One or two —CH 2 — in the group is optionally substituted with ethereal oxygen atom or thioethereal sulfur atom.", "Z 11 , Z 21 , Z 31 , and Z 41 : They independently represent single bond, an alkylene group containing 1 to 4 carbon atoms.", "At least one hydrogen atom in the group is optionally substituted with fluorine atom.", "At least one —CH 2 — in the group is optionally substituted with ethereal oxygen atom.", "[0021] a, b, c, and d are as defined above.", "[0022] A preferred liquid crystal compound represented by the formula (1-0) is the compound represented by the following formula (1-2): [0000] R 12 -(A 12 ) a -Z 12 -(A 22 ) b -Z 22 -A 32 -CF═CFCF 2 O-A 42 -Z 32 -(A 52 ) c -Z 42 -(A 62 ) d -R 22 (1-2) [0023] The symbols of the formula (1-2) indicate following meaning.", "[0000] R 12 : represents hydrogen atom or an alkyl group containing 1 to 10 carbon atoms, wherein at least one hydrogen atom in the group is optionally substituted with fluorine atom, wherein at least one —CH 2 — in the group is optionally substituted with ethereal oxygen atom, R 22 : represents hydrogen atom, fluorine atom, —SF 5 , or an alkyl group containing 1 to 18 carbon atoms, wherein at least one hydrogen atom in the group is optionally substituted with fluorine atom, and at least one —CH 2 — in the group is optionally substituted with ethereal oxygen atom, A 12 , A 22 , A 32 , A 42 , A 52 and A 62 : independently represent trans-1,4-cyclohexylene group, 1,4-phenylene group, or 1,4-phenylene group wherein one or two hydrogen atoms in the group is substituted with fluorine atom, Z 12 , Z 22 , Z 32 and Z 42 : independently represent single bond or an alkylene group containing 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and [0024] a, b, c, and d are as defined above.", "[0025] A preferred method for producing the liquid crystal compound represented by the formula (1) comprises the step of reacting the compound represented by the following formula (2): [0000] CF 2 ═CFCF 2 O-A 4 -Z 3 -(A 5 ) c -Z 4 -(A 6 ) d -R 2 (2) [0000] with the compound represented by the following formula (3): [0000] R 1 -(A 1 ) a -Z 1 -(A 2 ) b -Z 2 -(A 7 ) e -Z 5 -A 3 -M (3).", "[0026] The symbols of the formulae (2) and (3) are as defined above.", "[0027] M of the formula (3) is a metal atom or a group containing a metal atom.", "[0028] The present invention provides a liquid crystal composition containing the liquid crystal compound represented by the formula (1).", "[0029] The present invention provides a liquid crystal electrooptical element having the liquid crystal composition introduced between two substrates each having an electrode provided thereon.", "[0030] The liquid crystal compound represented by the formula (1) of the present invention has high compatibility with other liquid crystal material or non-liquid crystal material as well as high chemical stability.", "The compound of the present invention can be used in preparing a liquid crystal composition which fulfills various performances such as wide operating temperature range, low operating voltage, high-speed responsivity, chemical stability, and the like required for the liquid crystal element by adequately selecting the cyclic group, the substituent, and the linkage group constituting the compound.", "In addition, when this liquid crystal composition is used in the liquid crystal electrooptical element, the element shows improved high-speed responsivity in a wide temperature range and it can be operated at a low voltage.", "[0031] According to the production method of the present invention, a compound having CF═CFCF 2 O linkage group can be readily and efficiently produced in commercial scale in versatile and convenient manner.", "DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [0032] Next, the present invention is described in detail.", "[0033] In the present invention, the liquid crystal compound represented by the formula (1) is referred to as the compound (1), and compounds represented by other formulae are also referred in the same manner.", "[0034] In the present invention, in the formulae (1) and (3), the position near R 1 is always referred to as the position 4 unless otherwise noted, and in the formula (2), the position near R 2 is always referred to as the position 1 unless otherwise noted.", "[0035] Also, in the present invention, “liquid crystal electrooptical element”", "is not limited to display elements but also includes various functional elements using the electric or optical properties of the liquid crystal, for example, liquid crystal display element, and elements used in application such as smart window, optical shutter, polarization converting element, and varifocal lens.", "[0036] In the compound (1) having the CF═CFCF 2 O linkage group of the present invention, R 1 and R 2 are as defined above.", "[0037] It is to be noted that the substitution of the hydrogen atom with the fluorine atom, the substitution of the —CH 2 — with the ethereal oxygen atom or the thioethereal sulfur atom, and the substitution of the —CH 2 CH 2 — with the —CH═CH— or the —C≡C— may take place at once at the same alkyl group.", "[0038] The alkyl group substituted with at least one member selected from fluorine atom, ethereal oxygen atom, and thioethereal sulfur atom is hereinafter referred to as the “substituted alkyl group.”", "[0039] The alkenyl group which is the alkyl group substituted with “—CH═CH—”", "further substituted with at least one member selected from fluorine atom, ethereal oxygen atom, and thioethereal sulfur atom is hereinafter referred to as the “substituted alkenyl group.”", "[0040] Exemplary substituted alkyl groups include alkoxy group, alkoxyalkyl group, alkylthio group, alkylthioalkyl group, fluoroalkyl group, and fluoroalkoxy group.", "[0041] Exemplary substituted alkenyl groups include alkenyloxy group, alkenyloxyalkyl group, alkenylthio group, alkenylthioalkyl group, fluoroalkenyl group, and fluoroalkenyloxy group.", "[0042] R 1 and R 2 are preferably hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, —CN, —NCS, —SF 5 , an alkyl group, an alkoxy group, an alkoxyalkyl group, an alkylthio group, an alkylthioalkyl group, an alkenyl group, an alkenyloxy group, an alkenylthio group, a fluoroalkyl group, a fluoroalkoxy group, a fluoroalkoxyalkyl group, a fluoroalkenyl group, or a fluoroalkenylthio group.", "[0043] Exemplary alkyl groups include methyl group, ethyl group, propyl group, isopropyl group, butyl group, pentyl group, hexyl group, heptyl group, octyl group, nonyl group, and decyl group.", "[0044] Exemplary alkoxy groups include methoxy group, ethoxy group, propoxy group, butoxy group, pentoxy group, heptyloxy group, and octyloxy group.", "[0045] Exemplary alkoxyalkyl groups include methoxymethyl group, ethoxymethyl group, propoxymethyl group, propoxyethyl group, methoxypropyl group, ethoxypropyl group, and propoxypropyl group.", "[0046] Exemplary alkylthio groups include methylthio group, ethylthio group, propylthio group, butylthio group, pentylthio group, hexylthio group, hepthylthio group, and octylthio group.", "[0047] Exemplary alkylthioalkyl groups include methylthiomethyl group, ethylthiomethyl group, propylthiomethyl group, butylthiomethyl group, methylthioethyl group, ethylthioethyl group, propylthioethyl group, methylthiopropyl group, ethylthiopropyl group, and propylthiopropyl group.", "[0048] Exemplary alkenyl groups include vinyl group, 1-propenyl group, 1-butenyl group, 1-pentenyl group, 3-butenyl group, and 3-pentenyl group.", "[0049] Exemplary alkenyloxy groups include allyloxy group.", "[0050] Exemplary fluoroalkyl groups include trifluoromethyl group, fluoromethyl group, 2-fluoroethyl group, difluoromethyl group, 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl group, 1,1,2,2-tetra fluoroethyl group, 2-fluoroethyl group, 3-fluoropropyl group, 4-fluorobutyl group, and 5-fluoropentyl group.", "[0051] Exemplary fluoroalkoxy groups include fluoromethoxy group, trifluoromethoxy group, difluoromethoxy group, pentafluoroethoxy group, 1,1,2,2-tetrafluoroethoxy group, heptafluoropropoxy group, and 1,1,2,3,3,3-hexafluoropropoxy group.", "[0052] Exemplary fluoroalkoxyalkyl groups include trifluoromethoxymethyl group.", "[0053] Exemplary fluoroalkenyl groups include 2-fluoroethenyl group, 2,2-difluoroethenyl group, 1,2,2-trifluoroethenyl group, 3-fluoro-1-butenyl group, and 4-fluoro-1-butenyl group.", "[0054] Exemplary fluoroalkenylthio groups include trifluoromethylthio group, difluoromethylthiogroup, 1,1,2,2-tetrafluoroethylthio group, and 2,2,2-trifluoroethylthio group.", "[0055] R 1 and R 2 are preferably hydrogen atom, fluorine atom, —SF 5 , an alkyl group containing 1 to 18 carbon atoms, an alkenyl group containing 2 to 18 carbon atoms, a substituted alkyl group containing 1 to 18 carbon atoms, or a substituted alkenyl group containing 2 to 18 carbon atoms in view of the reactivity and the reduced side reaction.", "[0056] R 1 is most preferably hydrogen atom, an alkyl group containing 10 carbon atoms, or a substituted alkyl group containing 10 carbon atoms.", "[0057] R 2 is most preferably fluorine atom, —SF 5 , hydrogen atom, an alkyl group containing 10 carbon atoms, or a substituted alkyl group containing 10 carbon atoms.", "[0058] In the compound (1), A 1 , A 2 , A 3 , A 4 , A 5 , A 6 , and A 7 are as defined above.", "[0059] It is to be noted that the substitution of the hydrogen atom with the halogen atom, the substitution of the ═CH— with the nitrogen atom, and the substitution of the —CH 2 — with the ethereal oxygen atom or the thioethereal sulfur atom may take place at once at the same group.", "The halogen atom that may substitute the hydrogen atom in the group is preferably chlorine atom or fluorine atom.", "[0060] When A 1 , A 2 , A 3 , A 4 , A 5 , A 6 , and A 7 are 1,4-phenylene group, the number of halogen atom substituted is 1 to 4, and preferably 1 or 2.", "When A 1 , A 2 , A 3 , A 4 , A 5 , A 6 , and A 7 are trans-1,4-cyclohexylene group, the number of halogen atom substituted is 1 to 4.", "The halogen atom may also be bonded to the carbon atom at position 1 or 4 of the cyclohexylene group.", "[0061] Examples of the 1,4-phenylene group having 1 or 2 ═CH— substituted with nitrogen atom include 2,5-pyrimidinylene group and 2,5-pyridinylene group.", "[0062] Examples of the trans-1,4-cyclohexylene group having 1 or 2 —CH 2 — substituted with ethereal oxygen atom or thioethereal sulfur atom include 1,3-dioxane-2,5-diyl group and 1,3-dithian-2,5-diyl group.", "[0063] The 1,4-phenylene group substituted with at least one member selected from halogen atom and nitrogen atom is hereinafter referred to as the “substituted 1,4-phenylene group”", "and the 1,4-cyclohexylene group substituted with at least one member selected from halogen atom, ethereal oxygen atom, and thioethereal sulfur atom is hereinafter referred to as the “substituted trans-1,4-cyclohexylene group.”", "[0064] A 1 , A 2 , A 3 , A 4 , A 5 , A 6 , and A 7 are preferably trans-1,4-cyclohexylene group, 1,4-phenylene group, substituted trans-1,4-cyclohexylene group, or substituted 1,4-phenylene group in view of the reactivity and availability of the starting material.", "[0065] Among these, the preferred are trans-1,4-cyclohexylene group, 1,4-phenylene group, and 1,4-phenylene group having 1 or 2 hydrogen atoms substituted with fluorine atom.", "[0066] In the compound (1), Z 1 , Z 2 , Z 3 , Z 4 , and Z 5 are as defined above.", "[0067] It is to be noted that the substitution of the hydrogen atom with the fluorine atom and the substitution of the —CH 2 — with the ethereal oxygen atom or the thioethereal sulfur atom may take place at once at the same group.", "[0068] Exemplary alkylene groups having at least one hydrogen atom in the group substituted with fluorine atom include —CF 2 CF 2 —, —CF 2 CH 2 —, —CH 2 CF 2 —, —CHFCH 2 —, —CH 2 CHF—, —CF 2 CHF—, and —CHFCF 2 —.", "[0069] Exemplary alkylene group having at least one —CH 2 — in the group substituted with ethereal oxygen atom or thioethereal sulfur atom include —CH 2 O—, —OCH 2 —, —CH 2 S—, and —SCH 2 —.", "[0070] Exemplary group having the hydrogen atom in the group substituted with the fluorine atom and the —CH 2 — in the group substituted with the ethereal oxygen atom at once include —CF 2 O— and —OCF 2 —.", "[0071] When the Z 1 , Z 2 , Z 3 , Z 4 , or Z 5 is single bond, it means that the groups on both sides of the Z 1 , Z 2 , Z 3 , Z 4 , or Z 5 are directly bonded to each other.", "For example, when Z 1 is single bond and a and b are 1, A 1 and A 2 are directly bonded to each other, and when Z 1 , Z 2 , and Z 5 are single bond and a, b, and e are 0, R 1 and A 3 are directly bonded to each other.", "[0072] Z 1 , Z 2 , Z 3 , Z 4 , and Z 5 are preferably single bond, an alkylene group containing 1 to 4 carbon atoms, an alkylene group containing 1 to 4 carbon atoms having at least one hydrogen atom substituted with fluorine atom, or an alkylene group containing 1 to 4 carbon atoms having at least one —CH 2 — substituted with ethereal oxygen atom, in view of the ease of the synthesis and other reasons.", "[0073] Among these, the most preferred is the single bond or the alkylene group containing 1 to 4 carbon atoms.", "[0074] In the compound (1) of the present invention, a, b, c, d, and e are as defined above.", "[0075] a, b, c, d, and e, however, may be adequately selected depending on the properties required for the compound.", "[0076] For example, when it is important that the compound (1) has low viscosity or the compound (1) has high compatibility with other liquid crystal material or non-liquid crystal material, it is preferable that 0≦a+b+c+d+e≦1.", "On the other hand, when the high liquid crystal temperature range of the compound (1) is important, it is preferable that 1≦a+b+c+d+e≦3.", "[0077] In order to have a high positive Δ∈ of the compound (1), it is believed that the “-A 4 -Z 3 -(A 5 ) c -Z 4 -(A 6 ) d -R 2 ”", "on the oxygen side of the CF═CF—CF 2 O is preferably an electron-withdrawing group.", "The electron-withdrawing property of this “-A 4 -Z 3 -(A 5 ) c -Z 4 -(A 6 ) d -R 2 ”", "means that, in the compound (1), “-A 4 -Z 3 -(A 5 ) c -Z 4 -(A 6 ) d -R 2 ”", "has an electron-withdrawing property higher than that of the “-A 4 -Z 3 -(A 5 ) c -Z 4 -(A 6 ) d -R 2 ”", "wherein c=d=0, R 2 in the “-A 4 -R 2 ”", "is hydrogen atom, and A 4 is unsubstituted phenylene group or cyclohexylene group.", "[0078] The “-A 4 -Z 3 -(A 5 ) c -Z 4 -(A 6 ) d -R 2 ”", "will be an electron withdrawing group when each group is as follows: [0079] R 2 is fluorine atom, —OCF 2 , —OCF 2 H, —CN, —NCS, or —SF 5 , A 4 , A 5 , and A 6 are independently 1,4-phenylene group, 2-fluoro-1,4-phenylene group, or 2,6-difluoro-1,4-phenylene group, [0080] Z 3 and Z 4 are single bond, and [0081] c and d are independently 0 or 1.", "[0082] In the conventional compound containing CF 2 O linkage group, there was the risk that the unstable CF 2 O linkage group would convert into COO when the carbon side of the CF 2 O is substituted with 1,4-phenylene group unless the 1,4-phenylene group is substituted with fluorine atom.", "[0083] In addition, the compound containing the CF═CF linkage group suffered from the problem that cis-trans isomerization is likely to take place by ultraviolet or visible light when the CF═CF linkage group is substituted with 1,4-phenylene group.", "[0084] In contrast, the compound having the CF═CFCF 2 O linkage group of the present invention has a characteristic feature that, even if this linkage group is substituted with 1,4-phenylene group which is not substituted with fluorine atom, it is substantially free of decomposition or isomerization of the linkage group, and therefore, the compound has markedly improved stability.", "[0085] This in turn means that the compound having the CF═CFCF 2 O linkage group of the present invention has the feature that the compound can be stably produced even if the structure of the cyclic group at both ends of the linkage group is not limited to the fluorine-substituted 1,4-phenylene group or the like.", "[0086] The compound (1) of the present invention is preferably compound (1-0): [0000] R 1 -(A 1 ) a -Z 1 -(A 2 ) b -Z 2 -A 3 -CF═CFCF 2 O-A 4 -Z 3 -(A 5 ) c -Z 4 -(A 6 ) d -R 2 (1-0) [0000] wherein notations in the formula are as defined above.", "[0087] The compound (1-0) of the present invention is preferably the compound (1-1): [0000] R 11 -(A 11 ) a -Z 11 -(A 21 ) b -Z 21 -A 31 -CF═CFCF 2 O-A 41 -Z 31 -(A 51 ) c -Z 41 -(A 61 ) d -R 21 (1-1) [0000] wherein notations in the formula are as defined above.", "[0088] The compound (1-1) of the present invention is preferably the compound (1-2): [0000] R 12 -(A 12 ) a -Z 12 -(A 22 ) b -Z 22 -A 32 -CF═CFCF 2 O-A 42 -Z 32 -(A 52 ) c -Z 42 -(A 62 ) d -R 22 (1-2) [0000] wherein notations in the formula are as defined above.", "[0089] The method for producing the compound (1) of the present invention preferably includes the step of reacting the compound (2) with the compound (3).", "[0090] In the compound (2) and compound (3), R 1 , R 2 , A 1 , A 2 , A 3 , A 4 , A 5 , A 6 , A 7 , Z 1 , Z 2 , Z 3 , Z 4 , Z 5 , a, b, c, d, and e and preferable embodiments thereof are as described above for the compound (1).", "[0091] In compound (3), M represents a metal atom or a group containing a metal atom.", "[0092] The compound (2) which is the starting material of the present invention may be prepared by the process described, for example, in WO 2004-058676.", "[0093] The compound (3) can be easily obtained by using a commercially available product, by the production described in books on organic synthesis such as Shin Jikken Kagaku Koza [New Lectures on Experimental Chemistry] (Maruzen Company, Limited), or by the method described in articles such as J. Org.", "Chem.", ", (2001), 66, 4333-4339 or J. Org.", "Chem.", "2008, 73, 522-528.", "[0094] It is to be noted that the compound (3) may be reacted with the compound (2) after isolation of the compound (3), or alternatively, the compound (3) may be reacted continuously with the compound (2) without isolating the compound (3).", "[0095] M is a metal atom or a group containing a metal atom.", "M is not particularly limited as long as it undergoes addition and leaving reaction with the perfluoroallyloxy group of the compound (2), and the preferred are MgI, MgBr, MgCl, and Li.", "[0096] The compound (3) is preferably used at an amount of 0.9 to 2.0 moles, and more preferably at 1 to 1.5 moles per mole of the compound (2).", "[0097] The production method of the present invention is preferably conducted in a solvent.", "Exemplary solvents include aromatic hydrocarbon solvents such as benzene, toluene, xylene, and ethylbenzene;", "aliphatic hydrocarbon solvents such as pentane, hexane, heptane, and octane;", "ether solvents such as tetrahydrofuran, diethyl ether, diisopropyl ether, dibutyl ether, t-butylmethyl ether, and dimethoxyethane;", "petroleum ethers;", "and adequate mixtures thereof.", "Among these, the preferred are ether solvents such as diethylether and t-butylmethyl ether;", "and mixed solvent of an ether solvent and an aliphatic hydrocarbon solvent.", "[0098] The solvent is preferably used at an amount of 0.1 to 100 times, and more preferably at 0.5 to 20 times more than the molar amount of the compound (2).", "For example, when the compound (2) is used at 1 mmol, the solvent is preferably used at 0.1 to 100 ml, and more preferably at 0.5 to 20 ml.", "[0099] The reaction is preferably conducted at −70 to 50° C., and more preferably at −10 to 30° C. [0100] The reaction is preferably conducted for a period of 0.1 to 24 hours, and more preferably 0.1 to 3 hours.", "[0101] The production method of the present invention is preferably the one in which the compound (2) is the following compound (2-0): [0000] CF 2 ═CFCF 2 O-A 4 -Z 3 -(A 5 ) c -Z 4 -(A 6 ) d -R 2 (2-0) [0000] the compound (3) the following compound (3-0): [0000] R 1 -(A 1 ) a -Z 1 -(A 2 ) b -Z 2 -A 3 -M (3-0), and [0000] the compound (1) is the compound (1-0) as described above, wherein notations in the formula are as defined above.", "[0102] The production method of the present invention is more preferably the one in which the compound (2-0) is the following compound (2-1): [0000] CF 2 ═CFCF 2 O-A 41 -Z 31 -(A 51 ) c -Z 41 -(A 61 ) d -R 21 (2-1) [0000] the compound (3-0) the following compound (3-1): [0000] R 11 -(A 11 ) a -Z 11 -(A 21 ) b -Z 21 -(A 31 )-M (3-1), and [0000] the compound (1-0) is the compound (1-1) as described above, wherein notations in the formula are as defined above.", "[0103] The production method of the present invention is most preferably the one in which the compound (2-0) is the following compound (2-2): [0000] CF 2 ═CFCF 2 O-A 42 -Z 32 -(A 52 ) c -Z 42 -(A 62 ) d -R 22 (2-2), [0000] the compound (3-0) is the following compound (3-2): [0000] R 12 -(A 12 ) a -Z 12 -(A 22 ) b -Z 22 -(A 31 )-M (3-2), and [0000] the compound (1-0) is the compound (1-2) as described above, wherein notations in the formula are as defined above.", "[0104] The present invention also provides a liquid crystal composition containing the compound (1) as described above.", "This liquid crystal composition comprises a mixture of the compound (1) of the present invention with additional liquid crystal compound or non-liquid crystal compound (which is generally referred to as “additional compound”).", "[0105] Content of the compound (1) in the liquid crystal composition of the present invention may be adequately determined depending on the application, purpose of the use, types of other compounds, and the like.", "However, the compound (1) is preferably used at an amount of 0.5 to 50% by weight, and more preferably, at 2 to 20% by weight in relation to the entire amount of the liquid crystal composition.", "In addition, in the present invention, two or more type of the compound (1) may be included in the liquid crystal composition, and in such a case, sum of the amount of the compounds (1) is preferably in the range of 0.5 to 80% by weight, and more preferably 2 to 50% by weight in relation to the entire amount of the liquid crystal composition.", "[0106] Examples of the additional compound used by mixing with the compound (1) include a component for adjusting the level of refractive anisotropy, a component for reducing viscosity, a component which shows liquid crystallinity at low temperature, a component for improving other dielectric anisotropy, a component for imparting cholesteric property, a component exhibiting dichroism, a component for imparting electroconductive property, and other additives.", "These may be adequately selected depending on the application, performance required, and the like.", "However, those generally preferred are those comprising a main component which is a liquid crystal compound or a compound having a structure similar to the liquid crystal compound and other additional components which have been added as required.", "[0107] In the liquid crystal composition of the present invention, examples of the additional compound include the compounds represented by the following formulae.", "In the following formulae, R 3 and R 4 which may be the same or different represent groups such as alkyl group, alkenyl group, alkynyl group, alkoxy group, halogen atom, or cyano group.", "In addition, Cy represents trans-1,4-cyclohexylene group, Ph represents 1,4-phenylene group, and PhFF represents difluorophenylene group.", "R 3 -Cy-Cy-R 4 R 3 -Cy-Ph-R 4 R 3 -Cy-PhFF—CN R 3 -Ph-Ph-R 4 R 3 -Ph-CC-Ph-R 4 R 3 -Cy-COO-Ph-R 4 R 3 -Cy-COO-PhFF—CN R 3 -Ph-COO-Ph-R 4 R 3 -Ph-COO-PhFF—CN R 3 -Cy-CH═CH-Ph-R 4 R 3 -Ph-CH═CH-Ph-R 4 R 3 -Ph-CF═CF-Ph-R 4 R 3 -Cy-CF═CF-Ph-R 4 R 3 -Cy-CF═CF-Cy-R 4 R 3 -Cy-Ph-CF═CF-Ph-R 4 R 3 -Cy-Ph-CF═CF-Cy-R 4 R 3 -Ph-Cy-CF═CF-Cy-R 4 R 3 -Cy-Cy-CF═CF-Ph-R 4 R 3 -Ph-Ph-CF═CF-Ph-R 4 R 3 -Cy-CH 2 CH 2 -Ph-R 4 R 3 -Cy-Ph-CH 2 CH 2 -Ph-R 4 R 3 -Cy-Ph-CH 2 CH 2 -Cy-R 4 R 3 -Cy-Cy-CH 2 CH 2 -Ph-R 4 R 3 -Ph-CH 2 CH 2 -Ph-R 4 R 3 -Ph-Ph-CH 2 CH 2 -Ph-R 4 R 3 -Ph-Ph-CH 2 CH 2 -Cy-R 4 R 3 -Cy-Ph-Ph-R 4 R 3 -Cy-Ph-PhFF—CN R 3 -Cy-Ph-C≡C-Ph-R 4 R 3 -Cy-Ph-C≡C-PhFF—CN R 3 -Cy-Ph-C≡C-Ph-Cy-R 4 R 3 -Cy-CH 2 CH 2 -Ph-C≡C-Ph-R 4 R 3 -Cy-CH 2 CH 2 -Ph-C≡C-Ph-Cy-R 4 R 3 -Cy-Ph-Ph-Cy-R 4 R 3 -Ph-Ph-Ph-R 4 R 3 -Ph-Ph-CC-Ph-R 4 R 3 -Ph-CH 2 CH 2 -Ph-C≡C-Ph-R 4 R 3 -Ph-CH 2 CH 2 -Ph-C≡C-Ph-Cy-R 4 R 3 -Cy-COO-Ph-Ph-R 4 R 3 -Cy-COO-Ph-PhFF—CN R 3 -Cy-Ph-COO-Ph-R 4 R 3 -Cy-Ph-COO-PhFF—CN R 3 -Cy-COO-Ph-COO-Ph-R R 3 -Cy-COO-Ph-COO-PhFF—CN R 3 -Ph-COO-Ph-COO-Ph-R 4 R 3 -Ph-COO-Ph-OCO-Ph-R 4 R 3 -Ph-CF 2 O-Ph-R 4 R 3 -Cy-CF 2 O-Ph-R 4 R 3 -Ph-CF 2 O-Cy-R 4 R 3 -Cy-Ph-CF 2 O-Ph-R 4 R 3 -Cy-Ph-CF 2 O-Cy-R 4 R 3 -Cy-Cy-CF 2 O-Ph-R 4 R 3 -Ph-Ph-CF 2 O-Ph-R 4 R 3 -Ph-Ph-CF 2 O-Cy-R 4 R 3 -Cy-Ph-CF 2 O-PhFF—R 4 R 3 -Cy-PhFF—CF 2 O-PhFF—R 4 R 3 -Ph-Ph-CF 2 O-PhFF—R 4 R 3 -Ph-PhFF—CF 2 O-PhFF—R 4 R 3 -Ph-CF 2 CF 2 -Ph-R 4 R 3 -Cy-CF 2 CF 2 -Ph-R 4 R 3 -Cy-CF 2 CF 2 -Cy-R 4 R 3 -Cy-Ph-CF 2 CF 2 -Ph-R 4 R 3 -Cy-Ph-CF 2 CF 2 -Cy-R 4 R 3 -Cy-Cy-CF 2 CF 2 -Ph-R 4 R 3 -Ph-Ph-CF 2 CF 2 -Ph-R 4 R 3 -Ph-Ph-CF 2 CF 2 -Cy-R 4 [0174] The compounds as mentioned above are merely typical examples, other examples include these compounds having the hydrogen atom in its ring structure or in its terminal group substituted with a halogen atom, cyano group, methyl group, or the like.", "Other examples include those wherein the cyclohexane ring or the benzene ring is substituted with other six membered ring or five membered ring, for example, pyrimidine ring or dioxane ring;", "and those wherein the linkage groups between the rings are independently replaced with other divalent linkage bonds, for example, —CH 2 O—, —CH═CH—, —N═N—, —CH═N—, —COOCH 2 —, —OCOCH 2 —, or —COCH 2 —.", "These compounds may also be selected depending on the desired performance.", "[0175] The present invention also provides a liquid crystal electrooptical element prepared by using the liquid crystal composition as described above as its constitutional material.", "For example, the present invention provides a liquid crystal electrooptical element having an electrooptical element section prepared by sandwiching the liquid crystal phase formed, for example, by introducing the liquid crystal composition of the present invention in a liquid crystal cell between two substrates each equipped with an electrode.", "Exemplary liquid crystal electrooptical elements include those driven by various modes including twisted nematic mode, guest-host mode, dynamic scattering mode, phase change mode, DAP mode, dual frequency driven mode, and ferroelectric liquid crystal display mode.", "[0176] A typical liquid crystal electrooptical element is twisted nematic (TN) liquid crystal display element.", "In producing the twisted nematic (TN) liquid crystal element, a substrate of plastic, glass, or other material is overlaid with an undercoat layer of SiO 2 , Al 2 O 3 , or the like or a color filter layer, and a coating comprising In 2 O 3 —SnO 2 (ITO), SnO 2 , or the like is formed.", "An electrode of the required pattern is then formed by photolithography or the like, and after forming an optional overcoat layer of polyimide, polyamide, SiO 2 , Al 2 O 3 , or the like, orientation treatment is conducted, and a sealing material is then printed.", "After arranging the substrates so that the electrode surface oppose to each other, the periphery is sealed and the sealing material is cured to produce an empty cell.", "[0177] To this empty cell, the composition of the present invention is introduced, and the inlet is closed by a sealant to constitute the liquid crystal cell.", "This liquid crystal cell is then overlaid as desired with a polarizing plate, a color polarizing plate, a light source, a color filter, a semi-transparent reflective plate, a reflective plate, a light guide plate, a UV cut filter, or the like, and after printing necessary characters or figures, and the like, non-glare treatment or other necessary treatment is conducted to thereby produce the liquid crystal electrooptical element.", "[0178] It is to be noted that the above description is the basic constitution and method for producing a liquid crystal electrooptical element, and various other constitution is also acceptable.", "Exemplary such other constitutions include a substrate prepared by using a dual-layer electrode, a dual layer liquid crystal cell having two liquid crystal layers, a substrate prepared by using a reflective electrode, and an active matrix element using an active matrix substrate formed with a TFT, MIM, or other active element.", "[0179] In addition, the composition of the present invention may also be used in a mode other than the TN liquid crystal electrooptical element as described above, and exemplary such other modes include super-twisted nematic (STN) liquid crystal electrooptical element using a greater twist angle;", "guest-host (GH) liquid crystal electrooptical element using a multichroic dye;", "in plane switching (IPS) liquid crystal electrooptical element wherein the liquid crystal molecules are driven in parallel direction to the substrate by applying transverse electric field;", "VA liquid crystal electrooptical element wherein the liquid crystal molecules are oriented in vertical direction to the substrate;", "and ferroelectric liquid crystal electrooptical element.", "The composition of the present invention may also be used in a mode to be written by heat and not by electricity.", "EXAMPLES [0180] Next, the present invention is described in further detail by referring to the Examples which by no means limit the scope of the present invention.", "Reference Example 1 Synthesis Compound (2A) [0181] [0182] To a mixed solution of N,N-dimethylimidazolidinone (140 g), trifluorophenol (20 g), and triethylamine (93.6 g), perfluoroallyl fluorosulfate (5.6 g) was added dropwise at a temperature of up to 10° C. After stirring at a temperature of up to 10° C. for 2 hours, ethyl acetate (30 g) was added, and the mixture was washed with water (50 g).", "After removing the solvent by distillation, the residue was purified by silica gel column chromatography to produce a compound (2A) (2.5 g).", "Example 1 Synthesis Compound (1A) [0183] [0184] Tetrahydrofuran (THF) (5 ml) and iodine (1 particle) were added to magnesium (286 mg), and the mixture was fully stirred.", "To this mixture, a solution of 4-n-propyl(4-cyclohexyl)bromobenzene (2.71 g) in THF (5.42 ml) was added dropwise at room temperature.", "After stirring at 30 to 40° C. for 4 hours, the reaction solution was cooled to a temperature of up to 10° C., and to this solution, a solution of compound (2A) (2.0 g) in THF (2 ml) was added dropwise.", "The solution was stirred at room temperature, and after 15 hours, hexane (30 ml) was added, and the mixture was washed with 1N aqueous hydrochloric acid solution, aqueous solution of sodium bicarbonate, and water in this order.", "The solvent was removed by distillation, and the residue was purified by silica gel column chromatography and recrystallization to obtain compound (1A) (0.68 g).", "[0185] 19 F-NMR and GC-MS data of the resulting compound (1A) are as shown below.", "[0186] 19 F-NMR (282.6 MHz, solvent: CDCl 3 , standard: CFCl 3 ) δ (ppm): −70.5 (dd, 2F), −132.6 (m, 2F), −146.5 (dt, 1F), −163.3 (m, 1F), −167.6 (dt, 1F) [0187] GC-MS M + =460 [0188] Compound (1A) had a clearing temperature (Tc) of 68.8° C. and a refractive anisotropy (Δn) of 0.116 when determined by extrapolation from liquid crystal composition ZLI-1565 manufactured by Merck &", "Co., Inc. Reference Example 2 [0189] Synthesis and purification was conducted by repeating the procedure of Reference Example 1 except that the trifluorophenol was replaced with difluorophenol (17.6 g).", "Compound (2B) (27.3 g) was thereby obtained.", "[0000] Example 2 [0190] Synthesis and purification was conducted by repeating the procedure of Example 1 except that compound (2A) of Example 1 was replaced with compound (2B) (1.87 g) obtained in Reference Example 2.", "Compound (1B) (0.47 g) was thereby obtained.", "[0191] 19 F-NMR and GC-MS data of the resulting compound (2A) are as shown below.", "[0192] 19 F-NMR (282.6 MHz, solvent: CDCl 3 , standard: CFCl 3 ) δ (ppm): −70.2 (dd, 2F), −134.5 (m, 1F), −140.6 (m, 1F), −146.8 (dt, 1F), −167.2 (dt, 1F) [0193] GC-MS M + =442 [0194] Tc and Δn were determined by repeating the procedure of Example 1.", "Compound (1B) had a Tc of 82.8° C., and a Δn of 0.135.", "[0000] Example 3 Synthesis Compound (1C) [0195] [0196] Tetrahydrofuran (THF) (400 ml) was added to 4-n-propyl-3′-5′-difluorobiphenyl (50.1 g), and the mixture was fully stirred.", "The solution was cooled to −78° C., and a solution of n-butyl lithium in n-hexane (1.6 mol/L) (135 ml) was added dropwise.", "The solution was stirred at −78° C., and after 1 hour, the compound (2A) (50.0 g) was added dropwise, and stirred at −78° C. After 2 hours, the mixture was washed with 1N aqueous hydrochloric acid solution, aqueous solution of sodium bicarbonate, and water in this order.", "The solvent was removed by distillation, and the residue was purified by silica gel column chromatography and recrystallization to obtain compound (1C) (7.24 g).", "[0197] 19 F-NMR and GC-MS data of the resulting compound (1C) are as shown below.", "[0198] 19 F-NMR (282.6 MHz, solvent: CDCl 3 , standard: CFCl 3 ) δ (ppm): −71.3 (dd, 2F), −109.0 (dd, 2F), −132.4 (m, 2F), −135.6 (m, 1F), −159.3 (m, 1F), −162.8 (m, 1F) [0199] GC-MS M + =490 [0200] Compound (10) had a clearing temperature (Tc) of −3.9° C. and a refractive anisotropy (Δn) of 0.136 when determined by extrapolation from liquid crystal composition ZLI-1565 manufactured by Merck &", "Co., Inc. Reference Example 3 [0201] Synthesis and purification was conducted by repeating the procedure of Reference Example 1 except that the trifluorophenol was replaced with monofluorophenol (50.0 g).", "Compound (2C) (87.9 g) was thereby obtained.", "[0000] Example 4 Synthesis Compound (10) [0202] [0203] Tetrahydrofuran (THF) (450 ml) was added to lithium (3.87 g) and 4,4′-di-tertiary butyl biphenyl (123.6 g), and the mixture was stirred at 15° C. for 1 hour.", "Next, hexane (450 ml) was added dropwise, and the mixture was stirred at 15° C. for 2 hours.", "The reaction mixture was cooled to −65° C., and a solution of 4-(4′-n-pentyl cyclohexyl)chlorocyclohexane (93.48 g) in THF (120 ml) was added dropwise to this solution, and the mixture was stirred at −65° C. for 1 hour.", "Next, a solution of the compound (2C) (42.2 g) in THF (60 ml) was added dropwise, and after stirring the solution overnight, the mixture was washed with 1N aqueous hydrochloric acid solution, aqueous solution of sodium bicarbonate, and water in this order.", "The solvent was removed by distillation, and the residue was purified by silica gel column chromatography and recrystallization to obtain compound (10) (4.42 g).", "[0204] 19 F-NMR and GC-MS data of the resulting compound (10) are as shown below.", "[0205] 19 F-NMR (282.6 MHz, solvent: CDCl 3 , standard: CFCl 3 ) δ (ppm): −70.7 (dd, 2F), −116.8 (d, 1F), −149.7 (dq, 1F), −172.7 (m, 1F) [0206] GC-MS M + =458 [0207] Compound (1D) had a clearing temperature (Tc) of 93.0° C. and a refractive anisotropy (Δn) of 0.061 when determined by extrapolation from liquid crystal composition ZLI-1565 manufactured by Merck &", "Co., Inc. Reference Example 4 [0208] Synthesis and purification was conducted by repeating the procedure of Reference Example 1 except that the trifluorophenol was replaced with 2,3-difluoro-4-methoxyphenol (160.1 g).", "Compound (2D) (87.0 g) was thereby obtained.", "[0000] Example 5 Synthesis Compound (1E) [0209] The procedure of Example 1 was repeated except that the p-(n-propyl-4-cyclohexyl)bromobenzene was replaced with p-n-propyl bromobenzene (17.2 g) to obtain compound (1E) (16.7 g).", "[0210] 19 F-NMR and GC-MS data of the resulting compound (1E) are as shown below.", "[0211] 19 F-NMR (282.6 MHz, solvent: CDCl 3 , standard: CFCl 3 ) δ (ppm): −70.6 (dd, 2F), −132.6 (m, 2F), −146.5 (dt, 1F), −163.3 (m, 1F), −167.6 (m, 1F) [0212] GC-MS M + =378 [0213] Compound (1E) had a clearing temperature (Tc) of −67.8° C. and a refractive anisotropy (Δn) of 0.075 when determined by extrapolation from liquid crystal composition ZLI-1565 manufactured by Merck &", "Co., Inc. [0000] Reference Example 5 [0214] Synthesis and purification was conducted by repeating the procedure of Reference Example 1 except that the trifluorophenol was replaced with p-n-propylphenol (50.0 g).", "Compound (2E) (76.4 g) was thereby obtained.", "[0000] Example 6 Synthesis Compound (1F) [0215] The procedure of Example 1 was repeated except that the p-(n-propyl-4-cyclohexyl)bromobenzene was replaced with 4-n-propyl-4′-bromobiphenyl (11.9 g) to obtain compound (1F) (5.00 g).", "[0216] 19 F-NMR and GC-MS data of the resulting compound (1F) are as shown below.", "[0217] 19 F-NMR (282.6 MHz, solvent: CDCl 3 , standard: CFCl 3 ) δ (ppm): −70.6 (dd, 2F), −132.6 (m, 2F), −147.0 (dt, 1F), −163.2 (m, 1F), −166.5 (m, 1F) [0218] GC-MS M + =454 [0219] Compound (1F) had a clearing temperature (Tc) of 85.7° C. and a refractive anisotropy (Δn) of 0.1989 when determined by extrapolation from liquid crystal composition ZLI-1565 manufactured by Merck &", "Co., Inc. [0000] Example 7 Synthesis of Compound (1G) [0220] The procedure of Example 1 was repeated except that the p-(n-propyl-4-cyclohexyl)bromobenzene was replaced with 4-(4-n-propylcyclohexyl)-4′-bromobiphenyl (15.4 g) to obtain compound (1G) (5.00 g).", "[0221] 19 F-NMR and GC-MS data of the resulting compound (1G) are as shown below.", "[0222] 19 F-NMR (282.6 MHz, solvent: CDCl 3 , standard: CFCl 3 ) δ (ppm): −70.5 (dd, 2F), −132.6 (m, 2F), −147.0 (dt, 1F), −163.2 (m, 1F), −166.6 (m, 1F) [0223] GC-MS M + =536 [0224] Compound (1G) had a clearing temperature (Tc) of 192.1° C. and a refractive anisotropy (Δn) of 0.2209 when determined by extrapolation from liquid crystal composition ZLI-1565 manufactured by Merck &", "Co., Inc. [0000] Example 8 Synthesis Compound (1H) [0225] [0226] A solution (86 ml) of isopropyl magnesium bromide (1.0 mol/L) in THF was added to THF (450 ml) which had been cooled to −78° C., and the mixture was thoroughly stirred.", "A solution (105 ml) of n-butyl lithium (1.6 mol/L) in n-hexane was added dropwise to this solution, and the mixture was stirred at −78° C. After 1 hour, a solution (45 ml) of 4-n-propyl-3′-fluoro-4′-bromobiphenyl (25.3 g) in THF was added, and the mixture was stirred at −78° C. After 2 hours, compound (2A) (30.0 g) was added dropwise, and the mixture was stirred at −78° C. After 2 hours, the mixture was washed with 1N aqueous hydrochloric acid solution, aqueous solution of sodium bicarbonate, and water in this order.", "The solvent was removed by distillation, and the residue was purified by silica gel column chromatography and recrystallization to obtain compound (1H) (3.54 g).", "[0227] 19 F-NMR and GC-MS data of the resulting compound (1H) are as shown below.", "[0228] 19 F-NMR (282.6 MHz, solvent: CDCl 3 , standard: CFCl 3 ) δ (ppm): −71.1 (dd, 2F), −110.2 (m, 1F), −132.5 (m, 2F), −136.7 (m, 1F), −162.7 (m, 1F), −163.1 (m, 1F) [0229] GC-MS M + =472 [0230] Compound (1H) had a clearing temperature (Tc) of 32.6° C. and a refractive anisotropy (Δn) of 0.171 when determined by extrapolation from liquid crystal composition ZLI-1565 manufactured by Merck &", "Co., Inc. Example 9 Synthesis Compound (1I) [0231] [0232] THF (1 ml) and iodine (1 particle) were added to magnesium (1.30 g), and the mixture was thoroughly stirred.", "Next, bromoethane (0.90 g) was added dropwise at 40° C., and the mixture was stirred.", "After 1 hour, a solution of 4-n-propyl(4-cyclohexyl)chlorocyclohexane (10.0 g) in THF (10.0 ml) was added dropwise at 40° C., and the mixture was stirred at 30 to 40° C. for 3 hours.", "Compound (2A) (11.5 g), THF (20 ml), and cuprous bromide (1.2 g) were added to another reaction vessel, and the mixture was cooled to −20° C., and to this mixture, the solution as described above was added dropwise at −20° C., and the mixture was stirred at room temperature.", "After 3 hours, the mixture was washed with 1N aqueous hydrochloric acid solution, aqueous solution of sodium bicarbonate, and water in this order.", "The solvent was removed by distillation, and the residue was purified by silica gel column chromatography and recrystallization to obtain compound (1I) (0.95 g).", "[0233] 19 F-NMR and GC-MS data of the resulting compound (1I) are as shown below.", "[0234] 19 F-NMR (282.6 MHz, solvent: CDCl 3 , standard: CFCl 3 ) δ (ppm): −71.4 (dd, 2F), −132.8 (m, 2F), −148.6 (m, 1F), −163.4 (m, 1F), −173.3 (dt, 1F) [0235] GC-MS M + =466 [0236] Compound (1A) had a clearing temperature (Tc) of 58.3° C. and a refractive anisotropy (Δn) of 0.0912 when determined by extrapolation from liquid crystal composition ZLI-1565 manufactured by Merck &", "Co., Inc. Example 10 Synthesis and purification was conducted by repeating the procedure of Example 1 except that the compound (2A) was replaced with the compound (2D) (10.0 g) obtained by Reference Example 4.", "Compound (1J) (7.80 g) was thereby obtained.", "[0237] 19F-NMR and GC-MS data of the resulting compound (1J) are shown below.", "[0238] 19F-NMR (282.6 MHz, solvent: CDCl3, standard: CFCl3) ▪ (ppm): −70.9 (m, 2F), −146.5 (dt, 1F), −149.9 (t, 1F), −156.4 (m, 1F), −167.6 (dt, 1F) [0239] GC-MS M + =472 [0240] Compound (1J) had a clearing temperature (Tc) of 126.5° C. and a refractive anisotropy (▪n) of 0.162 when determine d by extrapolation from liquid crystal composition ZLI-4792 manufactured by Merck &", "Co., Inc. [0000] Example 11 [0241] Synthesis and purification was conducted by repeating the procedure of Example 10 except that p-(4-n-propyl cyclohexyl)bromobenzene was replaced with 4-(4-n-propyl cyclohexyl)cyclohexyl bromobenzene (10.0 g).", "Compound (1K) (7.05 g) was thereby obtained.", "[0242] 19F-NMR and GC-MS data of the resulting compound (1K) are shown below.", "[0243] 19F-NMR (282.6 MHz, solvent: CDCl3, standard: CFCl3) ▪ (ppm): −70.9 (m, 2F), −146.6 (dt, 1F), −149.9 (t, 1F), −156.4 (m, 1F), −167.6 (dt, 1F) [0244] GC-MS M + =554 [0245] Compound (1K) had a clearing temperature (Tc) of 248.1° C. and a refractive anisotropy (▪n) of 0.183 when determine d by extrapolation from liquid crystal composition ZLI-4792 manufactured by Merck &", "Co., Inc. [0000] Example 12 Synthesis Compound (1L) [0246] [0247] To (4-n-propylcyclohexyl)-2,3-difluorobenzene (11.7 g), tetrahydrofuran (THF) (64 ml) was added and fully stirred.", "The mixture was cooled to −78° C., and to this mixture, a solution of n-hexane/cyclohexane (49 ml) containing sec-butyllithium (1.0 mol/L) was added dropwise and stirred at −78° C. One hour later, the compound (2E) (13.8 g) was added dropwise to the mixture and stirred at −78° C. Two hours later, the mixture was washed with 1N aqueous hydrochloric acid solution, aqueous solution of sodium bicarbonate, and water in this order, and then the solvent was removed from the mixture.", "The residue was purified by silica gel column chromatography and recrystallization to obtain compound (1L) (1.9 g).", "[0248] 19F-NMR and GC-MS data of the resulting compound (1L) are shown below.", "[0249] 19F-NMR (282.6 MHz, solvent: CDCl3, standard: CFCl3) ▪ (ppm): −70.0 (m, 2F), −135.5 (m, 1F), −138.0 (m, 1F), −143.2 (t, 1F), −161.6 (m, 1F) [0250] GC-MS M + =484 [0251] Compound (1L) had a clearing temperature (Tc) of 65.3° C. and a refractive anisotropy (▪n) of 0.136 when determine d by extrapolation from liquid crystal composition ZLI-4792 manufactured by Merck &", "Co., Inc. [0000] [0252] The following compounds may also be produced based on the description of Examples 1 to 12 and the other aspects of the description above.", "[0253] Examples of the two ring compound (those wherein all of a to e are 0) include: C 3 H 7 -Ph-CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph-C 2 H 5 C 3 H 7 -Ph-CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph-F C 3 H 7 -Ph-CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph(2F)—F C 3 H 7 -Ph-CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph(2F,6F)—F C 3 H 7 -Ph-CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph(2F,6F)—CN C 3 H 7 -Ph-CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph(2F,6F)—NCS C 3 H 7 -Ph-CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph(2F,6F)—SF 5 C 3 H 7 -Ph-CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph(2F)—OCF 3 C 3 H 7 O-Ph-CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph(2F)—OCF 3 C 2 H 5 -Ph-CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph(2F,3F)—OCH 3 C 5 H 11 -Ph-CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph(2F,6F)—OCF 2 H CH 3 CH═CH—C 2 H 4 -Ph-CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph(2F,6F)—F CH 3 OCH 2 -Ph-CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph(2F,3F)—F C 3 H 7 O-Ph(2F,3F)—CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph(2F,3F)—F C 3 H 7 -Cy-CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph-C 2 H 5 C 3 H 7 -Cy-CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph(2F,6F)—F C 3 H 7 -Cy-CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph(2F,6F)—CN C 3 H 7 O-Cy-CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph(2F)—OCF 3 C 2 H 5 -Cy-CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph(2F,3F)—OCH 3 CH 3 CH═CH—C 2 H 4 -Cy-CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph(2F,6F)—F CH 2 ═CH-Cy-CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph (F,F)—F C 5 H 11 -Cy-CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph(2F,6F)—OCF 2 H. [0276] Examples of the three ring compound (those wherein 1 of a to e is 1 and other 4 are 0) include: C 3 H 7 -Cy-Ph-CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph-C 2 H 5 C 3 H 7 -Cy-Ph-CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph-F C 3 H 7 -Cy-Ph-CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph(2F)—F C 3 H 7 -Cy-Ph-CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph(2F,6F)—F C 3 H 7 -Cy-Ph-CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph(2F,6F)—CN C 2 H 5 -Cy-Ph-CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph(2F,6F)—NCS C 3 H 7 -Cy-Ph-CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph(2F,6F)—SF 5 C 5 H 11 -Cy-Ph-CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph(2F,6F)—OCF 3 C 3 H 7 -Cy-Ph-CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph(2F,3F)—OC 2 H 5 C 2 H 5 -Cy-Ph(2F,3F)—CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph(2F,3F)—OC 2 H 5 C 3 H 7 -Cy-Ph(2F)—CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph(2F,6F)—F C 3 H 7 -Cy-Ph(2F,6F)—CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph(2F,6F)—F C 3 H 7 -Cy-Ph(2F,6F)—CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph(2F,6F)—OCF 3 C 3 H 7 -Cy-Ph(2F,6F)—CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph(2F,6F)—CN C 2 H 5 -Ph-Ph-CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph-F C 3 H 7 -Ph-Ph-CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph(2F)—F C 3 H 7 -Ph-Ph-CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph(2F,6F)—F C 5 H 11 -Ph-Ph-CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph(2F,6F)—CN C 3 H 7 -Ph-Ph-CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph(2F,6F)—NCS C 3 H 7 -Ph-Ph-CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph(2F,6F)—SF 5 C 3 H 7 -Ph-Ph-CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph(2F,6F)—OCF 3 C 2 H 5 -Ph-Ph-CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph(2F,3F)—OC 2 H 5 C 3 H 7 -Ph-Ph(2F,3F)—CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph(2F,3F)—OC 2 H 5 C 3 H 7 -Ph-Ph(2F)—CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph(2F,6F)—F C 5 H 11 -Ph-Ph(2F,6F)—CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph(2F,6F)—F C 3 H 7 -Cy-Cy-CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph-F CH 2 ═CH-Cy-Cy-CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph(2F)—F C 3 H 7 -Cy-Cy-CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph(2F)—OCF 3 C 3 H 7 -Cy-Cy-CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph(2F,6F)—F C 3 H 7 -Cy-Cy-CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph(2F,6F)—CN C 5 H 11 -Cy-Cy-CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph(2F,3F)—OC 2 H 5 C 5 H 11 -Cy-Cy-CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph(2F,6F)—OCF 2 H C 2 H 5 -Ph-CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph-Ph(2F)—F C 3 H 7 -Ph-CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph-Ph(2F,6F)—F C 3 H 7 -Ph-CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph(2F,6F)-Ph(2F,6F)—F C 5 H 11 -Ph-CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph(2F,6F)-Ph(2F,6F)—CN CH 3 CH═CHC 2 H 4 -Ph-CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph-Ph(2F)—F C 3 H 7 -Ph-CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph-Ph(2F,3F)—OCH 3 C 3 H 7 -Ph(2F)—CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph-Ph(2F,6F)—F C 2 H 5 -Ph-CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph-Cy-C 5 H 11 C 2 H 5 -Ph-CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph(2F)-Cy-C 5 H 11 C 3 H 7 -Ph-CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph(2F,6F)-Cy-C 5 H 11 C 3 H 7 -Ph(2F,3F)—CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph-Cy-OC 2 H 5 C 2 H 5 -Cy-CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph-Ph(2F)—F C 5 H 11 -Cy-CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph-Ph(2F,6F)—F C 3 H 7 -Cy-CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph(2F,6F)-Ph(2F)—OCF 3 C 3 H 7 -Cy-CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph(2F,6F)-Ph(2F,6F)—F C 5 H 11 -Cy-CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph(2F,6F)-Ph(2F,6F)—CN C 3 H 7 -Cy-CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph-Ph(2F,3F)—OC 2 H 5 C 3 H 7 -Cy-C 2 H 4 -Ph-CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph(2F)—F C 3 H 7 -Cy-C 2 H 4 -Ph(2F)—CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph(2F,6F)—F C 3 H 7 -Cy-C 2 H 4 -Ph(2F)—CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph(2F,6F)—OCF 3 CH 3 CH═CHC 2 H 4 -Cy-C 2 H 4 -Ph-CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph(2F)—C 3 H 7 CH 2 ═CH-Cy-CH 2 O-Ph-CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph(2F)—F C 3 H 7 -Cy-CH 2 O-Ph(2F,3F)—CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph(2F,3F)—OC 2 H 5 .", "[0332] Examples of the four ring compounds (those wherein 2 of a to e are 1 and other 3 are 0) include: C 3 H 7 -Ph-CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph-Ph-Ph-C 2 H 5 C 3 H 7 -Ph-CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph-Ph-Ph(2F,6F)—F C 2 H 5 -Ph-CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph-Ph(2F,6F)-Ph(2F)—F C 5 H 11 -Ph-CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph(2F)-Ph(2F)-Ph(2F)—CN C 5 H 11 -Ph-CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph(2F)-Ph(2F,6F)-Ph(2F)—OCF 3 C 3 H 7 -Ph-CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph(2F,6F)-Ph(2F,6F)-Ph(2F,6F)—F C 2 H 5 -Ph(2F)—CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph-Ph(2F,6F)-Ph(2F)—CN C 2 H 5 -Ph(2F,3F)—CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph-Ph-Ph(2F)—F C 3 H 7 -Cy-CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph-Ph-Ph-C 2 H 5 C 3 H 7 -Cy-CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph-Ph-Ph(2F,6F)—F C 2 H 5 -Cy-CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph-Ph(2F,3F)-Ph(2F,3F)—OC 2 H 5 C 5 H 11 -Cy-CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph(2F)-Ph(2F)-Ph(2F)—CN C 5 H 11 -Cy-CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph(2F)-Ph(2F,6F)-Ph(2F)—OCF 3 C 3 H 7 -Cy-CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph(2F,6F)-Ph(2F,6F)-Ph(2F,6F)—F C 2 H 5 -Cy-CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph-Ph(2F,6F)-Ph(2F)—CN C 3 H 7 -Ph-CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph(2F,3F)-Ph(2F,3F)-Cy-C 2 H 5 C 3 H 7 -Ph-CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph(2F,6F)-Ph(2F,6F)-Cy-CH═CH 2 C 3 H 7 -Ph(2F,3F)—CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph(2F,3F)-Ph(2F,3F)-Cy-CH 3 C 3 H 7 -Ph-CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph(2F,3F)-Cy-Cy-C 2 H 5 C 3 H 7 -Ph-CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph(2F,6F)-Cy-Cy-OCH 3 C 3 H 7 -Cy-Ph-CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph-Ph-C 2 H 5 C 3 H 7 -Cy-Ph-CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph(2F)-Ph(2F,6F)—F C 5 H 11 -Cy-Ph-CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph(2F,6F)-Ph(2F,6F)—OCF 3 C 3 H 7 -Cy-Ph-CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph-Cy-CH═CH 2 C 5 H 11 -Cy-Ph-CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph(2F,3F)-Cy-C 2 H 5 C 3 H 7 -Cy-Ph(2F,3F)—CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph(2F,3F)-Cy-C 2 H 5 C 3 H 7 -Cy-Cy-CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph-Ph(2F)—F C 5 H 11 -Cy-Cy-CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph(2F)-Ph(2F,6F)—CN C 5 H 11 -Cy-Cy-CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph(2F,3F)-Ph(2F,3F)—OC 2 H 5 C 5 H 11 -Cy-Cy-CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph(2F)-Cy-C 3 H 7 C 3 H 7 -Cy-Cy-CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph(2F,6F)-Cy-OC 2 H 5 C 3 H 7 -Cy-Cy-CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph(2F,3F)-Cy-OCH 3 C 3 H 7 -Ph-Ph-Ph-CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph(2F)—OCF 3 C 3 H 7 -Ph-Ph-Ph(2F,6F)—CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph(2F,6F)—F C 3 H 7 -Ph-Ph(2F)-Ph(2F,6F)—CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph(2F,6F)—CN C 2 H 5 -Ph-Ph(2F,6F)-Ph-CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph(2F)—CN CH 3 —CH═CH—C 2 H 4 -Ph-Ph-Ph-CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph(2F)—F CH 2 ═CH-Cy-Cy-Cy-CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph(2F)—OCF 3 C 3 H 7 -Cy-Cy-Cy-CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph(2F,6F)—F C 3 H 7 -Cy-Cy-Cy-CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph(2F,3F)—OC 2 H 5 C 2 H 5 O-Cy-Cy-Ph-CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph(2F)—OCF 3 C 3 H 7 -Cy-Cy-Ph-CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph(2F,6F)—F C 3 H 7 -Cy-Cy-Ph(2F)—CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph(2F,6F)—CN C 3 H 7 -Cy-Cy-Ph-CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph(2F,3F)—OC 2 H 5 C 3 H 7 -Cy-Ph-Ph-CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph(2F)—OCF 3 C 3 H 7 -Cy-Ph-Ph(2F,6F)—CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph(2F,6F)—F C 3 H 7 -Cy-Ph(2F)-Ph(2F,6F)—CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph(2F,6F)—CN C 2 H 5 -Cy-Ph(2F,6F)-Ph-CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph(2F)—CN CH 2 ═CH-Cy-Ph-Ph-CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph(2F)—F.", "[0382] Examples of the 5 ring compound (those wherein 3 of a to e are 1 and other 2 are 0) include: C 3 H 7 -Ph-Ph-Ph-Ph-CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph(2F)—F C 3 H 7 -Ph-Ph-Ph-Ph(2F,6F)—CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph(2F,6F)—F C 3 H 7 -Ph-Ph-Ph(2F)-Ph(2F,6F)—CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph(2F,6F)—CN C 2 H 5 -Ph-Ph-Ph(2F,6F)-Ph-CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph(2F)—CN CH 3 —CH═CH—C 2 H 4 -Ph-Ph-Ph-Ph-CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph(2F)—F CH 2 ═CH-Cy-Cy-Cy-Ph-CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph(2F)—OCF 3 C 3 H 7 -Cy-Cy-Cy-Ph-CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph(2F,6F)—F C 3 H 7 -Cy-Cy-Cy-Ph-CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph(2F,3F)—OC 2 H 5 C 2 H 5 O-Cy-Cy-Ph-Ph-CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph(2F)—OCF 3 C 3 H 7 -Cy-Cy-Ph-Ph-CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph(2F,6F)—F C 3 H 7 -Cy-Cy-Ph-Ph(2F)—CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph(2F,6F)—CN C 3 H 7 -Cy-Cy-Ph-Ph-CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph(2F,3F)—OC 2 H 5 C 3 H 7 -Cy-Ph-Ph-Ph-CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph(2F)—OCF 3 C 3 H 7 -Cy-Ph-Ph-Ph(2F,6F)—CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph(2F,6F)—F C 3 H 7 -Cy-Ph-Ph(2F)-Ph(2F,6F)—CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph(2F,6F)—CN C 2 H 5 -Cy-Ph-Ph(2F,6F)-Ph-CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph(2F)—CN C 3 H 7 -Cy-Ph-Ph-Ph-CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph(2F,6F)—F CH 2 ═CH-Cy-Ph-Ph-Ph-CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph(2F)—F C 3 H 7 -Ph-Ph-Ph-CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph-Ph(2F)—F C 3 H 7 -Ph-Ph-Ph(2F,6F)—CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph-Ph(2F,6F)—F C 3 H 7 -Ph-Ph(2F)-Ph(2F,6F)—CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph-Ph(2F,6F)—CN C 2 H 5 -Ph-Ph(2F,6F)-Ph-CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph-Ph(2F)—CN CH 3 —CH═CH—C 2 H 4 -Ph-Ph-Ph-CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph-Ph(2F)—F CH 2 ═CH-Cy-Cy-Cy-CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph-Ph(2F)—OCF 3 C 3 H 7 -Cy-Cy-Cy-CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph-Ph(2F,6F)—F C 3 H 7 -Cy-Cy-Cy-CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph-Ph(2F,3F)—OC 2 H 5 C 2 H 5 O-Cy-Cy-Ph-CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph-Ph(2F)—OCF 3 C 3 H 7 -Cy-Cy-Ph-CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph-Ph(2F,6F)—F C 3 H 7 -Cy-Cy-Ph(2F)—CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph-Ph(2F,6F)—CN C 3 H 7 -Cy-Cy-Ph-CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph-Ph(2F,3F)—OC 2 H 5 C 3 H 7 -Cy-Ph-Ph-CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph-Ph(2F)—OCF 3 C 3 H 7 -Cy-Ph-Ph(2F,6F)—CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph-Ph(2F,6F)—F C 3 H 7 -Cy-Ph(2F)-Ph(2F,6F)—CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph-Ph(2F,6F)—CN C 2 H 5 -Cy-Ph(2F,6F)-Ph-CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph-Ph(2F)—CN C 3 H 7 -Cy-Ph-Ph-CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph-Ph(2F,6F)—F CH 2 ═CH-Cy-Ph-Ph-CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph-Ph(2F)—F C 3 H 7 -Ph-Ph-CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph-Ph-Ph(2F)—F C 3 H 7 -Ph-Ph(2F,6F)—CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph-Ph-Ph(2F,6F)—F C 3 H 7 -Ph(2F)-Ph(2F,6F)—CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph-Ph-Ph(2F,6F)—CN C 2 H 5 -Ph(2F,6F)-Ph-CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph-Ph-Ph(2F)—CN CH 3 —CH═CH—C 2 H 4 -Ph-Ph-CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph-Ph-Ph(2F)—F CH 2 ═CH-Cy-Cy-CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph-Cy-Ph(2F)—OCF 3 C 3 H 7 -Cy-Cy-CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph-Cy-Ph(2F,6F)—F C 3 H 7 -Cy-Cy-CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph-Cy-Ph(2F,3F)—OC 2 H 5 C 2 H 5 O-Cy-Cy-CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph-Ph-Ph(2F)—OCF 3 C 3 H 7 -Cy-Cy-CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph-Ph-Ph(2F,6F)—F C 3 H 7 -Cy-Cy-CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph-Ph(2F)-Ph(2F,6F)—CN C 3 H 7 -Cy-Cy-CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph-Ph-Ph(2F,3F)—OC 2 H 5 C 3 H 7 -Cy-Ph-CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph-Ph-Ph(2F)—OCF 3 C 3 H 7 -Cy-Ph(2F,6F)—CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph-Ph-Ph(2F,6F)—F C 3 H 7 -Cy-Ph(2F)—CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph-Ph(2F,6F)-Ph(2F,6F)—CN O 2 H 5 -Cy-Ph(2F,6F)—CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph-Ph-Ph(2F)—CN C 3 H 7 -Cy-Ph-CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph-Ph-Ph(2F,6F)—F CH 2 ═CH-Cy-Ph-CF═CFCF 2 O-Ph-Ph-Ph(2F)—F.", "[0436] In the formulae as mentioned above, Cy represents trans-1,4-cyclohexylene group, Ph represents 1,4-phenylene group, Ph(2F) represents 2-fluoro-1,4-phenylene group, Ph(2F,6F) represents 2,6-difluoro-1,4-phenylene group, and Ph(2F,3F) represents 2,3-difluoro-1,4-phenylene group.", "Comparative Example 1 [0442] The following compound (C1) was synthesized by using p-(trans-4-n-propylcyclohexyl)iodobenzene for the iodobenzene derivative of Example 3 in JP A 06-329566.", "[0000] [0443] The resulting compound (C1) had the 19 F-NMR as described below.", "[0444] 19 F-NMR (282.6 MHz, solvent: CDCl 3 , standard: CFCl 3 ) δ (ppm): −134.1 (m, 2F), −148.5 (d, 1F), −154.6 (d, 1F), −159.2 (m, 1F) Comparative Example 2 [0445] The following compound (C1) was synthesized by using p-(trans-4-n-propylcyclohexyl)iodobenzene for the iodobenzene derivative of Example 2 in JP A 06-329566.", "[0000] Observation of Compatibility [0446] To a liquid crystal composition “ZLI-1565”", "manufactured by Merck &", "Co., Inc., the compound (1A) of the present invention produced in Example 1 and the compound (C1) produced in Comparative Example 1 were added at an amount shown in Table 1, below, and after the dissolution, the mixture was stored at 0° C. After 72 hours, the state of the composition was visually observed.", "[0447] The procedure as described above was repeated by using the compound (1B) produced in Example 2 and the compound (C2) produced in Comparative Example 2.", "The results of the observation are shown in Table 2, below.", "[0448] The case with no solid precipitation is indicated by “A”, and the case with solid precipitation is indicated by “B.”", "The results are shown in the Tables, below.", "[0000] TABLE 1 Content 5% by 10% by 20% by 30% by weight weight weight weight Compound A A A A (1A) Compound A B B B (C1) [0000] TABLE 2 Content 5% by 10% by 20% by 30% by weight weight weight weight Compound A A A A (1B) Compound A A A B (C2) Measurement of Bulk Viscosity [0449] A liquid crystal composition comprising 80% by weight of the liquid crystal composition “ZLI-1565”", "manufactured by Merck &", "Co., Inc. and 20% by weight of the compound (1A) of the present invention 20% by weight;", "and a liquid crystal composition comprising 90% by weight of the liquid crystal composition “ZLI-1565”", "manufactured by Merck &", "Co., Inc. and 10% by weight of the compound (1C) of the present invention were prepared.", "As a Comparative Example, a liquid crystal composition comprising 95% by weight of the liquid crystal composition “ZLI-1565”", "manufactured by Merck &", "Co., Inc. and 5% by weight of the compound (C1) was also prepared.", "These liquid crystal compositions were measured for their viscosity at 25° C. and 0° C. using Model E viscometer, and the viscosity was calculated by extrapolation.", "The results are shown in Table 3.", "[0450] For the compounds (1B) and (C2), a liquid crystal composition comprising 80% by weight of the liquid crystal composition “ZLI-1565”", "manufactured by Merck &", "Co., Inc. and 20% by weight of the compound (1B) or the compound (C2) was prepared, and the viscosity was measured and calculated by the same procedure.", "The results are shown in Table 4.", "[0000] TABLE 3 25° C. 0° C. Compound 28.81 211.14 (1A) Compound 62.2 325.5 (1C) Compound 114.3 795.7 (C1) [0000] TABLE 4 25° C. 0° C. Compound 20.6 85.1 (1B) Compound 22.6 92.4 (C2) Measurement of Dielectric Anisotropy (Δ∈) [0451] Dielectric anisotropy was measured by using a liquid crystal composition prepared by mixing the compound of the present invention with the liquid crystal composition “ZLI-1565”", "manufactured by Merck &", "Co., Inc. More specifically, 20% by mole of the compound (1A), the compound (1B), or the compound (C2) was mixed with 80% by mole of the “ZLI-1565”, while 10% by mole of the compound (1C), the compound (1E), the compound (1F), the compound (1H), or the compound (1I) was mixed with 90% by mole of the “ZLI-1565”", "90% by mole.", "5% by mole of the compound (C1) was mixed with 95% by mole of the “ZLI-1565.”", "[0452] The mixture was encapsulated in a glass cell comprising two horizontal glass plate placed at an interval of 8 μm.", "A voltage of 100 mV was applied to this cell to measure dielectric constant in minor axis direction (∈⊥), and a voltage of 88 V was applied to this cell to measure dielectric constant in major axis direction (∈∥).", "The dielectric anisotropy (Δ∈) of the compound was determined by calculating Δ∈ of the composition by the formula: Δ∈=∈∥−∈⊥, and extrapolation.", "[0453] The value of Δ∈ at 0.85Tc is shown in Table 5, below.", "It is to be noted that 0.85Tc is the temperature (K) which is Tc (in terms of absolute temperature (K)) of each liquid crystal composition multiplied by 0.85.", "[0000] TABLE 5 Δε(0.85Tc) Compound 21.75 (1A) Compound 40.35 (1C) Compound 18.5 (1E) Compound 21.52 (1F) Compound 27.3 (1H) Compound 14.8 (1I) Compound 11.24 (C1) [0000] TABLE 6 Δε(0.85Tc) Compound 11.4 (1B) Compound 8.8 (C2) [0454] As described above, the compound of the present invention was found to have a high Δ∈ value, especially when compared with the comparative compound having CF═CF structure.", "This means that use of the compound of the present invention for the liquid crystal composition enables operation at a low voltage of the liquid crystal electrooptical element when the liquid crystal electrooptical element is prepared by using such liquid crystal composition.", "Measurement of Photostability [0455] A composition comprising the liquid crystal composition ZLI-1565 manufactured by Merck &", "Co., Inc. and 20% by weight of the compound (1A) was prepared.", "A composition comprising the liquid crystal composition ZLI-1565 manufactured by Merck &", "Co., Inc. and 10% by weight of the compound (C1) was also prepared by the same manner.", "[0456] Each composition was encapsulated in a glass cell, and irradiated with a xenon lamp.", "[0457] Degree of the cis-isomerization and the decomposition of the sample was determined by measuring the Tc at a time interval of 30 minutes.", "The measurement was conducted 3 times for each composition, and the results are shown in Table 6.", "For comparison purpose, a sample solely comprising the ZLI-1565 was also prepared for the measurement.", "[0000] TABLE 7 Irradiation time Change in Tc (min.) (percentage 0 30 60 90 of the change) Composition (1) 85.8 85.7 85.6 85.5 −0.3 (0.3%) solely (2) 85.7 85.6 85.7 85.5 −0.2 (0.2%) comprising (3) 85.7 85.7 85.7 85.5 −0.2 (0.2%) ZLI-1565 Composition (1) 82.4 82.3 82.2 82.0 −0.4 (0.5%) containing 20% (2) 82.4 82.3 82.2 82.0 −0.4 (0.5%) by weight of (3) 82.3 82.3 82.2 82.0 −0.3 (0.4%) Compound (1A) Composition (1) 91.2 88.3 85.", "9 83.7 −7.5 (8.2%) containing 10% (2) 91.3 88.3 85.8 83.6 −7.7 (8.4%) by weight of (3) 91.4 88.5 85.8 83.8 −7.6 (8.3%) Compound (C1) [0458] Tc of the composition containing the compound (1A) exhibited no substantial change while Tc of the composition containing the compound (C1) showed great decrease.", "Since change of the Tc of the composition increases with the increase in the degree of the cis-isomerization and the decomposition of the compound, the results indicates that the compound (1A) of the present invention has an improved photostability over that of the compound (C1) of the Comparative Example.", "[0459] As described above, the fluorine-containing liquid crystal compound of the present invention was demonstrated to have a low bulk viscosity, a high Δ∈, high photostability, and good compatibility.", "The fluorine-containing liquid crystal compound of the present invention was also found to have sufficient Tc and Δn values sufficient for use as the component of the liquid crystal composition.", "[0460] As demonstrated above, use of such compound of the present invention in the liquid crystal composition enables production of a composition simultaneously enjoying a high dielectric anisotropy and a low bulk viscosity.", "[0461] In order to have a high negative Δ∈ of the compound (1), at least one of A1, A2, A3, A4, A5, A6 and A7 is preferably a 2,3-difluoro-1,4-phenylene group.", "In addition, R1 and R2 directly bonded to the 2,3-difluoro-1,4-phenylene group are preferably alkoxy group.", "[0462] In order to have a near zero Δ∈ of the compound (1), A1, A2, A3, A4, A5, A6 and A7 are preferably trans-1,4-cyclohexylene group or 1,4-phenylene.", "In addition, R 1 and R 2 are preferably an alkyl group, alkenyl group or alkoxy group.", "Preparation of Liquid Crystal Composition [0463] Liquid crystal composition (Liquid crystal X) used in measurement was prepared from the following components at the shown proportion.", "Note that Cy and Ph in the following formulae refer to those previously described.", "[0000] C 3 H 7 —Cy—COO—Ph—OC 2 H 5 17 wt % C 3 H 7 —Cy—COO—Ph—OC 4 H 9 27 wt % C 4 H 9 —Cy—COO—Ph—OC 2 H 5 21 wt % C 5 H 11 —Cy—COO—Ph—OCH 3 21 wt % C 5 H 11 —Cy—COO—Ph—OC 2 H 5 14 wt % [0464] 10 mol % of the compound (1J), compound (1K) and compound (1L) were respectively mixed with 90 mol % of “Liquid Crystal X,” and each of the resulting mixtures was encapsulated in a glass cell comprising two horizontal glass plates placed at an interval of 8 μm.", "A voltage of 100 mV was applied to the cells to measure dielectric constant in minor axis direction (∈⊥).", "Moreover, each of the mixtures was encapsulated in a glass cell comprising two vertical glass plates placed at an interval of 8 μm.", "A voltage of 100 mV was applied to the cells to measure dielectric constant in major axis direction cc II).", "[0465] The dielectric anisotropy (Δ∈) of each compound was determined by calculating Δ∈ of the composition by the formula: Δ∈=∈∥−∈⊥, and extrapolation.", "The value of Δ∈ at 0.85Tc is shown in Table 8 below.", "[0000] TABLE 8 Δε(0.85Tc) Compound −3.25 (1J) Compound −2.60 (1K) Compound −1.43 (1L) [0466] As described above, the compound of the present invention may have a negative Δ∈ by selecting each group, and it is expected that the compound of the present invention may be used in the operating mode making use of vertical orientation.", "[0467] The compounds of the present invention may have a dielectric anisotropy of from −8 to 2.", "This range includes all values and subranges therebetween, including −7, −6, −5, −4, −3, −2, −1, 0.5, 0, 0.5, 1 and 1.5.", "The range of from −4 to 0 is one preferred embodiment of the present invention." ]

[ "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention pertains to a method for strengthening a structural steel channel member and, more particularly, to a method of forming strengthening lips on the end flanges of a channel member after the member has been heat treated.", "High strength, low carbon steel channel members, sometimes referred to as C-channels, are widely used as the longitudinal side rails in the fabrication of truck frames.", "A typical C-channel includes a central web and a pair of parallel flanges extending perpendicularly from the opposite edges of the web.", "C-channels are typically cold rolled from a low carbon steel and then initially heated to develop a desired austenite grain structure which is converted to a martensite structure by rapid quenching in water, and then tempered to create a desired toughness.", "The foregoing process is particularly desirable for C-channel members used as side rails in heavy truck frames where steel having a tensile strength well in excess of 50,000 psi is required.", "The rapid, high volume water quench used to convert the austenite grain structure to martensite is known to cause extreme distortion of the C-channel member.", "Such distortions may be removed after quenching, but the preferable method has been to utilize quenching dies that restrain the member from distortion while a high volume flow of water is directed through the die to all surfaces of the member.", "However, quenching dies are extremely costly and are only practical for use in very high volume standard steel sections.", "It is also known that the stiffness and strength of a C-channel can be increased by forming a small lip on the free edge of each of the flanges.", "Such lips are formed by rolling or otherwise turning the edges of the flanges toward one another such that the lips extend generally perpendicular to the flanges.", "Although it would be possible to form strengthening lips on a C-channel in the initial cold rolling process from which the member is formed, such preformed sections would require even more complex and costly quenching tooling than a C-channel without preformed strengthening lips.", "This is because a typical quenching die utilizes a collapsible configuration that necessarily becomes even more complex when it must be constructed to accommodate the presence of in turned lips.", "Furthermore, because heavy truck manufacturers have varying size and gauge requirements for C-channels used as frame side rails, customized quenching dies would be required for each different size and gauge, a situation that would be completely cost-prohibitive.", "SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the present invention, a method is provided for forming strengthening lips on flanges of a channel member after heat treating.", "The preliminary heat treating comprises the steps of heating the member to an austenitizing temperature of at least about 1400° F.;", "quenching the member in a quenching die;", "and reheating the member to a tempering temperature of at least about 800° F., followed by the step of forming lips along the edges of the flanges while the member is still hot, preferably at or close to the tempering temperature.", "The method of the present invention is particularly well suited for channel sections made from low carbon steels (having a carbon content in the range of about 0.20 to 0.30 weight percent).", "Such steels are amenable to heat treating as described above to tensile strengths in excess of 100,000 psi.", "The preliminary austenitizing step is preferably performed at a temperature in the range of about 1400-1700° F. After quenching, the tempering step is preferably performed at a temperature in the range of about 800-1000° F. The final lip forming step is preferably performed at a temperature in the range of about 500-900° F., more preferably in the range of about 800-900° F. The strengthening lips are preferably formed by rolling.", "The rolling step is preferably performed with a series of progressive rollers.", "The formed strengthening lips may extend from the flanges inwardly at an angle of about 90°, but an angle in the range of about 80° to 100° is satisfactory.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a cross sectional view through a conventional C-channel member.", "FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view through a lipped C-channel formed in accordance with the method of the present invention.", "DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A C-channel 10 of the prior art is shown in FIG. 1 and comprises a central web that interconnects a pair of end flanges 12 at radiused corners 13 .", "As is well known in the art, a C-channel is formed by cold rolling a steel sheet with rollers to progressively form the finished cross section.", "The flanges 12 extend generally perpendicularly from the web 11 and the dimensions and thickness or gauge of the material may vary considerably depending on its final use.", "However, when used as a side rail in a heavy duty truck, the gauge of the material may be in the range of about 6 to 12 mm, the length of the side rails may be as great as 30-40 feet, and the section may have an overall height in the range of about 8 to 14 inches.", "Although the C-channel could be used as initially formed, it is preferable particularly for heavy truck applications, to first heat treat the steel to increase its strength and to enhance other properties.", "Thus, the section is typically first heated to produce an austenite grain structure which, in low carbon steels, is preferably performed at a temperature in the range of about 1400-1700° F. The section is then rapidly quenched in a high volume water quenching die to convert the austenite grain structure to the preferred fine grained martensite structure.", "To minimize distortion during quenching, quenching dies have been developed to hold the section during quenching while accommodating normal shrinkage.", "Such a quenching die has a fairly complex construction, one such die being shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,252,695, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein.", "After quenching, the section is reheated to a tempering temperature, preferably in the range of about 800-1000° F., to reduce the brittleness and increase the ductility and toughness of the steel.", "It is known that, for the same size and gauge of a section, a C-channel can be strengthened considerably by forming, as shown in FIG. 2, a lipped C-channel 14 .", "The lipped C-channel 14 has a substantially greater stiffness and rigidity as compared to the simple C-channel 10 of FIG. 1 .", "Thus, the use of a lipped C-channel 14 can provide a desired increase in side rail rigidity and, at the same time, provide the possibility of reducing the material gauge and therefore the weight of the member.", "Although the conventional C-channel 10 of FIG. 1 may be quenched and simultaneously restrained against distortion utilizing quenching tooling of the type described in the above identified patent, the use of such tooling is impractical and/or prohibitively costly for a lipped C-channel 14 because of the increased complexity of the tooling and the wide range of dimensions utilized by the various heavy truck manufacturers.", "It is with this in mind that the method of the present invention forms the lips 15 on the C-channel 14 after heat treating has been completed using a conventional C-channel 10 and conventional quenching dies.", "As indicated above, the final step in the conventional C-channel heat treating process is to temper the member by reheating it to a temperature of at least about 800° F. and, preferably, somewhere in the range of about 800-1100° F. In accordance with the present invention, the strengthening lips 15 are formed as the heat treated member exits the tempering furnace.", "At this point, the steel will be in a significantly softer state, making the formation of the strengthening lips 15 much easier with less chance of cracks occurring in the formed radii 16 .", "Although the temperature of the C-channel 10 as it exits the tempering furnace will be greater than or close to at least 800° F., it is believed that strengthening lips 15 could be successfully formed at a temperature as low as about 500° F. It is a significant feature of the method of this invention that no separate heating step is required for forming the strengthening lips since they are formed immediately after tempering.", "Conventional progressive rolling dies are used in the presently preferred method of forming the lips 15 .", "As shown in FIG. 2, the lips are generally parallel to the web 11 and perpendicular to the flanges 12 on which they are formed.", "However, the lips 15 may be formed within a range of up to plus or minus 10° from a true perpendicular orientation of 90°.", "Thus, the strengthening lips 15 may have an angle with respect to the flange 12 in the range of about 80-100°.", "After the strengthening lips have been formed, the modified C-channel 14 is then allowed to air cool to ambient temperature.", "Not only is the rigidity and strength of the lipped C-channel 14 substantially increased over the conventional C-channel 10 from which it is formed, the radiused comers 16 provide protection against potential edge breakout when the flanges 12 are punched for the connection of frame cross members or other frame attachments.", "Indeed, it is well known in the heavy truck industry that there is a reluctance to make connections of any kind through the flanges 12 of conventional C-channel side rails 10 .", "Thus, the opportunity is provided to have a side rail of substantially increased strength without changing the material size or gauge and to adapt the improved channel to the use of improved connections and attachments not previously possible.", "For example, instead of attaching a frame cross member with two spaced connections through the web 11 , two additional connections could be provided for the same cross member, one through each of the flanges 12 ." ]

[ "CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) [0001] This present non-provisional patent application claims priority to continuation of copending U.K. Patent Application No. GB1320092.8, filed on Nov. 14, 2013, and entitled, “A SUPPORT STRUCTURE”", "and of which the application cited above is incorporated in-full by reference herein.", "FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates to a continuous track system for tracked vehicles.", "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] Continuous tracks have been known for many years.", "They are extremely useful in situations where the ground is uneven and/or soft.", "The purpose of a continuous track is to spread the weight of the vehicle over a large surface area.", "This reduces the pressure exerted on the ground to a fraction of what the equivalent pressure would be if the vehicle had tyres instead of tracks.", "By reducing the pressure exerted on the ground the vehicle is less likely to become immobilised by poor ground conditions.", "As a consequence of this, the types of vehicles fitted with continuous tracks are often found on construction sites, mines, forests and other such areas where hard-surfaced, such as “metalled”, constructed roads are not present.", "[0004] Continuous tracks are traditionally made up of several track segments connected together to allow, at least partial, relative movement therebetween.", "Alternatively, continuous tracks are known which are made from a continuous length of flexible material such as heavy-duty plastics and/or rubbers.", "These tracks may include gripping formations on their outer surface (these are sometimes known as “grousers”", "in the industry).", "These gripping formations may be chevron in shape, or be a series of ribs running perpendicular to the length of the track.", "Other patterns and shapes are also possible.", "[0005] The tracks typically include engagement members on their inner surface for engaging with at least one drive wheel or sprocket.", "The continuous track runs partially around at least two wheels, at least one of which is a drive sprocket.", "Typically, for heavy-duty plant such as bulldozers or tippers, the track runs around three principal wheels such that the track forms an approximate triangular shape when viewed from the side.", "In this formation, the drive sprocket is typically upper most with the two lower wheels serving to define the shape but not necessarily being driven to drive the track.", "These vehicles are often referred to as “high-drives.”", "[0006] It is also typical to have idler or jockey wheels associated with the continuous track.", "These help prevent the track from being pushed inwardly by uneven ground.", "In other words, they help to maintain the shape of the continuous track, especially along the lower, ground contacting, portion of the continuous track.", "Idler wheels may also be used at other points around the perimeter of the continuous track to maintain its shape for various reasons which will be discussed below.", "[0007] With reference to FIG. 1 , which depicts a known continuous track system 70 , the continuous track 10 is held in an approximate triangular shape when viewed from the side by three wheels 20 , 30 , 40 .", "The upper wheel 20 is the drive sprocket which drives the continuous track around the three wheels 20 , 30 , 40 .", "The wheels 30 , 40 are not driven in this case but merely act to maintain the shape of the overall continuous track 10 .", "The three wheels 20 , 30 , 40 are maintained in approximate position to one another by means of sub-structure 50 which in this case is appropriately shaped steel work which maintains the centre points of each of the three wheels 20 , 30 , 40 relative to one another.", "The three wheels 20 , 30 , 40 all rotate about their centre points.", "[0008] Idler or jockey wheels 60 are shown situated between the lower wheels 30 , 40 .", "These wheels 60 typically are provided in pairs.", "They help to maintain the track at the lower portion between lower wheels 30 , 40 in contact with the ground.", "[0009] For effective use and to prolong the life of the continuous track and its associated structure it is known that the tension in the track must be managed.", "In other words, a track with a reasonable degree of tension within it is better than one which is too slack.", "This is because a slack track increases the likelihood of slippage between the track and the drive sprocket.", "By contrast, a track which has too much tension in it is also undesirable since it can increase wear on the system and is inefficient in that there is more friction in the system which has to be overcome by the drive sprocket.", "With regard to the former undesirable position, namely too much slack in the track, it is known that continuous tracks may elongate over time due to wear.", "Accordingly, it is known to manage the tension in continuous tracks by the provision of a tensioner.", "Such tensioners may take the form of a spring urging one of the wheels away from the others.", "Other forms of tensioners are known such as hydraulic rams made up of a barrel, or cylinder, and a piston or piston rod.", "Such prior track tensioning systems are known from GB-A-2393696, JP-A-09240526, U.S. Pat. No. 4,874,052, EP2150458A and JP-A-61191982.", "[0010] In FIG. 1 the axis about which wheel 40 may rotate is not fixed relative to the structure 50 about which wheels 20 and 30 rotate.", "Rather, its axis is linked via a tensioner 70 comprising a barrel 80 and a piston 90 .", "By this arrangement, and by careful control of the hydraulic fluid within the barrel 80 , the relative position of the axle for wheel 40 relative to the structure 50 may be adjusted so that in turn the tension within the track 10 is adjusted.", "This is because the piston may be extended or retracted relative to the barrel 80 .", "In this way, the tension in the track may be increased or decreased as appropriate.", "However, it is typical for these tensioners to be set at a predetermined setting and for the settings to be only manually changed as and when necessary, for instance at times of servicing.", "[0011] A disadvantage of the known system is that if an external force is applied to the continuous track 10 in the region of the tensioned wheel 40 the tensioner 70 may be overcome such that the piston 90 is pushed back in towards the barrel 80 thus making the track slack.", "In such circumstances it is known for the track 10 to become disengaged with either or both the drive sprocket 20 and forward guide wheel 30 .", "Even when the external force is removed, the track may not re-engage with the wheels 20 , 30 such that the vehicle is substantially immobilised until the track has been repositioned correctly.", "An example of an external force could be provided by the vehicle approaching an object on the ground surface such a rock.", "[0012] Such tracked vehicles have a structure for supporting the tracks, the idler and jockey wheels.", "It is usually important to allow this structure to pivot relative to the vehicle body to allow for better maneuverability and to cope with uneven ground conditions.", "This structure is typically pivotably attached to the drive axle of the vehicle.", "This introduces stresses and strain on the axle which leads to premature wear and possible failure.", "[0013] Accordingly, it is desirable to have an alternative continuous track system which provides a way of supporting it to reduce the stress and strain on the vehicle's drive axle and to maintain tension in the track.", "BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0014] In a first aspect, the invention provides a continuous track system for tracked vehicles, the system comprising: [0015] a support structure supporting at least one jockey wheel and at least two substantially freely rotatable tensioner wheels for supporting a continuous track;", "[0016] at least two tensioners, one end of each tensioner being pivotably connected to the support structure, the at least two tensioner wheels being rotatably connected to an opposite end of each tensioner for applying a force to the track to induce tension therein, wherein an axle of each tensioner wheel is pivotably connected by a link member to an axle of an adjacent jockey wheel;", "[0017] a controller for adjustably controlling the at least two tensioners, wherein if the force applied by at least one of the tensioners is overcome by a force external to the system the controller maintains the tension in the track by controlling at least one other of the tensioners;", "[0018] a drive sprocket for rotation of the continuous track;", "and [0019] a slew ring for attaching the support structure to a chassis of the vehicle, the slew ring including an aperture for receiving a drive axle of the vehicle, the drive axle for rotating the drive sprocket.", "[0020] In this way, the continuous track may have tension induced within it at two or more points around the perimeter of the track.", "These two points are preferably located at separate places around the perimeter of the track.", "Accordingly, if a force external to the track presses against the track at one of the points at which tension is induced in the track the tensioner may be overcome.", "However, since the other tensioner may apply tension to the track at a point removed from the tensioner in contact with the external force it will still be able to provide tension in the track and indeed will be able to compensate for the lack of tension being provided by the tensioner in contact with the external force.", "[0021] Furthermore, all of the weight of the vehicle is carried by the support structure because the support structure is attached to the chassis by means of the slew rings, and the chassis is elevated above the ground on which it travels.", "In a similar manner, all of the weight of the vehicle is carried by the slew rings.", "In other words, the support structure or slew rings may be said to support the weight of the vehicle.", "The drive axle and drive sprocket merely provide the torque to rotate the track.", "[0022] This combination of slew ring and tensioners provides an improved continuous track system.", "[0023] At least one of the at least two tensioners may be arranged to be able to apply force to the track in a direction substantially downwards (towards the surface on which the vehicle may travel).", "In other words, the tensioners may be arranged to apply force in a direction even slightly towards an imaginary plane parallel with the base of the triangular shape of the track.", "More preferably, the tensioners are able to apply force onto the inside of the track wherein the direction of the force has an angle to the imaginary horizontal plane passing through the length of track in contact with the ground surface which lies in the range of 45° plus or minus 20°.", "In one embodiment, the force may be directed perpendicularly downwards towards the imaginary horizontal plane/ground surface.", "[0024] In one embodiment, there are only two tensioners.", "[0025] The link member may have a predetermined length.", "[0026] The tensioners may be provided in the form of hydraulic or pneumatic cylinders and pistons (rams).", "Alternatively, or additionally, the tensioners may be provided in the form of electromagnetic solenoids, cams, or actuators which may be displaced towards and away from the insides of the track by means of rotational movement.", "Other forms are of course possible and are contemplated herein.", "[0027] If the tensioners are provided in the form of hydraulic or pneumatic cylinders and pistons then the system may comprise a fluid supply for supplying each tensioner.", "The fluid supply for each tensioner may be interconnected.", "In one embodiment, the controller may be the inter-connected fluid supply.", "In other words, the controller may be pipes which allow pressurised fluid to flow from one tensioner to the other.", "[0028] The controller may comprise valves, solenoids, relays, switches, a CPU, and/or other types of typical control hardware and/or software.", "The controller may control each tensioner independently.", "[0029] The phrase “jockey wheel”", "should be understood to mean an object which may guide and/or support a continuous track so as to maintain its shape.", "Typically, they are wheels but the phrase also encompasses the possibility of suitably shaped objects over which the track may slide.", "In this form the “wheels”", "may not rotate but may pivot.", "[0030] In one embodiment, more than one tensioner wheel may be freely and rotatably connected to each tensioner.", "For example, two tensioner wheels may be connected with which to apply force to the track, and in another embodiment there may be four tensioner wheels for providing tension in the track.", "In these cases the tensioner wheels may be arranged substantially adjacent one another and may have coincident centres so that the wheels lie across the width of the track.", "[0031] The tension induced in the track may be adjustable.", "The adjustability of the tension may be controlled by the controller.", "[0032] If each of the tensioners is provided in the form of hydraulic or pneumatic pistons and cylinders then they may be interconnected in such a way that when one piston is displaced relative to its barrel the other piston is displaced relative to its barrel in a proportional manner.", "For instance, if both pistons are at rest projecting approximately 50% of their length out of their respective barrels and a force is applied to one piston such that it is moved in towards its barrel by 25% of the length of the piston then the other piston may be moved out of its respective barrel by 25% of its length.", "This assumes that both barrels and pistons have the same dimensions.", "If the respective barrels and pistons have different dimensions then the displacement of one will only induce proportional displacement in the other.", "[0033] The interconnection between the two tensioners may be direct or may be made via the controller.", "If they are made via the controller then the controller may, in one embodiment, allow direct connection between the two tensioners but, in another embodiment may intervene such that the displacement in one tensioner does not automatically result in proportionate displacement in the other tensioner.", "Nonetheless, a basic embodiment of the invention does allow direct connection between the two tensioners such that displacement in one results in displacement in the other tensioner.", "This provides a simple and economic means of maintaining tension in the track at all times.", "[0034] When the track is first fitted to the system the tensioners may be adjusted so as to provide a pre-defined tension within the track.", "This may be affected by introducing fluid into the system to a particular pressure level.", "[0035] In one embodiment the system may comprise a sensitivity mechanism for adjusting the sensitivity of the tensioners to external forces.", "This sensitivity mechanism may be controlled by, or may be, the controller.", "[0036] This means that it may be possible to increase the stiffness of each of the tensioner independently from one another.", "By increasing the stiffness, the magnitude of the force which must be applied to the tensioner in order to overcome its resistance to movement, which may be provided by the hydraulic or pneumatic fluid in the system or the electrical current in the system, may be increased or decreased or adjusted as necessary.", "This may allow the tensioner to act as a suspension member.", "[0037] The system may further comprise a safety valve for relieving pressure above a threshold value in the fluid supply.", "A safety valve having a typical construction and well known in the field could be used for this.", "The safety valve may be necessary in situations where a sharp impact to one of the tensioners increases the pressure within the fluid supply above a safe threshold value.", "This may also occur with the ingress of foreign objects inside the track (for example, between the track and tensioner and/or jockey wheels).", "The safety valve may then relieve the excess pressure.", "Furthermore, the safety valve may guard against undue pressure in the supply due to a failure in the controller and/or the hydraulic/pneumatic supply power pack.", "[0038] If the tensioners are hydraulic or pneumatic then a source of pressurised fluid is required.", "Typically heavy duty plant already have so-called “power packs”", "which provide pressurised fluid for the operation of hydraulic or pneumatic rams for the operation of tools such as rippers, blades, buckets, arms etc.", "Accordingly, in such cases it is relatively easy to use the existing power pack to also provide the pressurised fluid for the tensioners necessary for the operation of the tensioning system.", "However, if the vehicle to which the tensioning system is to be used does not already have its own power pack then an independent power pack may be provided as part of this system, or as part of the vehicle, for providing the necessary pressurised fluid.", "[0039] It is contemplated that the tensioner system and associated continuous track and track assembly may be fitted to either side of a vehicle.", "In this case, it is possible that the tensioners on either side of the vehicle are interconnected.", "This may allow automatic or controlled management of both tensioners in response to ground conditions and/or other such external factors.", "For instance, this interconnection may be used to aid damping of any vibration induced in the vehicle and/or track assemblies.", "[0040] In one embodiment, the tensioners are, and/or act as, shock absorbers.", "[0041] The term “slew ring”", "may mean a bearing including at least one rotational rolling-element bearing, often including two rows of rolling elements.", "These often use three race elements, such as an inner ring and two outer ring “halves”", "that clamp together.", "Slew rings are typically used to support relatively heavy but slow-turning objects or machinery such as cranes.", "[0042] Compared to other rolling-element bearings, slew rings are comparably thin in section.", "[0043] The support structure may include an attachment member unitary with the slew ring.", "For instance there may be holes through which bolts may be placed.", "In this case, the slew ring may be said to be directly attached to the chassis of the vehicle.", "However, the attachment member may be affixed to the slew ring and positionable, in use, between the slew ring and the chassis of the vehicle.", "In this case, the attachment member may be a separate, yet attachable, element as described below.", "For instance, the attachment member may comprise a plate with an aperture therethrough for receiving the drive axle of the vehicle.", "[0044] The slew ring is not supported by the drive axle of the vehicle.", "[0045] The slew ring may be configured to allow 360 degree rotation of the support structure relative to the chassis of the vehicle.", "However, the support structure may further comprise rotation limiters for limiting the angle through which the support structure may rotate relative to the chassis of the vehicle/about the drive sprocket.", "For instance, the rotation limiters may limit the rotation of the support structure relative to the chassis of the vehicle to 20 degrees, more preferably 10-15 degrees, in either direction.", "The limiters may comprise bars attached to the support structure which extend underneath the chassis of the vehicle such that in use they may move a certain amount but are prevented from moving too much by the chassis.", "[0046] The rotation limiting device may be connected, in use, at one end to the body of the vehicle and at the other end to the support structure.", "For instance, the rotation limiters may be straps attached from the support structure to the chassis of the vehicle.", "[0047] The support structure may further comprise a first plate attached to one side of the slew ring, the plate being attachable in use to the chassis of the vehicle, the first plate extending radially in a first plane parallel to the plane of the circumference of the slew ring.", "[0048] The slew ring may be oriented such that the first plane is substantially vertical in use, such that rotation of the slew ring relative to the chassis of the vehicle occurs in a vertical plane.", "[0049] The support structure may further comprise at least one second plate unitary with, and extending away from, the first plate in a second plane perpendicular to the first plane.", "[0050] The at least one second plate may be curved having a centre of radius position approximately equal to the position of the centre of radius of the drive axle of the vehicle, in use.", "[0051] The continuous track system may be initially separate from the vehicle such that the system is pre-assembled ready for fitting, or retro-fitting, onto a vehicle.", "[0052] In one embodiment, the drive axle may be used for turning tired wheels for movement of the vehicle such that the vehicle is converted to track usage by removing the tired wheels and attaching the drive sprocket of the system to the drive axle.", "[0053] In one embodiment, the system may be in a high drive configuration.", "This may be similar to, or the same as, the arrangement shown in FIG. 1 discussed above.", "The term “high drive”", "is well known to the skilled person and means a system which is approximately triangular in shape when viewed from the side of the vehicle whereby the drive sprocket is located at the vertex of the triangle so that it is as far away as possible from sources of contamination or foreign material which might cause damage.", "Two other wheels or guides are located at the lower corners of the triangle.", "Accordingly, in one embodiment, the system may include wheels for maintaining the shape of the track, in a plane substantially parallel to a length of the track and oriented substantially vertically in use, in a substantially triangular shape.", "The wheels maintain each corner of the substantially triangular shape.", "The drive sprocket may be located substantially equidistant between the wheels at each lower corner of the substantially triangular shape.", "The wheel at each lower corner of the substantially triangular shape may be a tensioner wheel.", "[0054] Even if not in a high drive configuration it may be preferable to locate one of the tensioner wheels at each of the two lower corners of the track (when viewed from the side).", "For example, if the track is triangular in shape or trapezoidal in shape it will have two corners adjacent the surface on which the vehicle travels.", "Having the tensioner wheels located in these positions may provide a certain amount of shock absorbency to the track as these will be the points at which it may contact objects in or on the surface which may otherwise cause damage to the system.", "[0055] The controller may be used to increase the tension in, and/or the shape of, the continuous track which may be useful at certain times.", "For instance, a tipper is more stable if the area of the tracks which are in contact with the ground surface is as large as possible.", "Additionally or alternatively, during tipping, a tipper is more stable if its centre of gravity is located underneath, or as close as possible to being underneath, the point at which the load rotates during tipping.", "Accordingly, by adjusting the contact area between the continuous track and the ground the centre of gravity of the tipper may be affected.", "This may be achieved not only by increasing the surface area of the tracks in contact with the ground but also by moving the area which is in contact towards the point at which the load is rotated about during tipping.", "In other words, by extending the tensioners towards the front of the vehicle (if it is the front of the vehicle from where the load is tipped) or towards the rear of the vehicle (if it is the rear of the vehicle from where the load is tipped) the area of the tracks in contact with the ground will be closer to being directly underneath the tipping point.", "This will also provide a greater reactive force resisting the inherent overturning moment induced in the system due to the act of tipping.", "[0056] When a tracked vehicle fitted with the system needs to pass over an object on an otherwise relatively planar surface (for instance a log lying across a road) the front tensioners may be pressed inwards, by the object, towards the rear of the vehicle and the rear tensioners may compensate for the induced slack in the track by extending further outwardly from the vehicle, as described above.", "However, it has been surprisingly found that by altering the shape of the overall perimeter of the continuous track in this way the vehicle may be lifted at its front end so that it more easily climbs up and over the obstacle.", "[0057] When a vehicle fitted with continuous tracks travels in one direction it is known that the forces induced in the track by the drive sprocket and the contact with the surface over which it travels, may change the shape of the overall continuous track.", "For instance, when the vehicle is travelling, the tensioners located towards the rear of the track will be pulled upwards and inwards by the force of the drive sprocket pulling the track “upwards.”", "The front tensioners will compensate for the slack induced in the track by the movement of the rear tensioners by being displaced away and outwardly from the centre of the track system.", "The greater the torque applied by the drive sprocket the greater the pull on the track and consequently the further the rear tensioners will move upwardly and inwardly and the further the front tensioners will move downwardly and outwardly.", "[0058] The system may, in one embodiment, be symmetrically in use about a vertical axis so that a vehicle having a system installed on both sides is symmetrical about a vertical plane passing through the length of the vehicle parallel to the length of the tracks.", "This allows for a system to be fitted to the right or left side of a vehicle.", "In other words there may be no “right”", "and “left”", "systems, there may only be one system which may be fitted to either side.", "[0059] The symmetry of the system may be about a vertical plane passing through the system transverse to the length of the track and through the centre of the drive wheel.", "[0060] The system may have a bi-directional configuration such that it may be used to move a vehicle easily in either direction.", "[0061] In a second aspect, the invention provides a tracked vehicle comprising the continuous track system according to the first aspect.", "[0062] The tracked vehicle may include a drive axle for driving the drive sprocket, and may include a continuous track for being driven by the drive sprocket.", "[0063] In a third aspect, the invention provides an articulated tracked vehicle including an articulation joint, comprising at least four continuous track systems according to the first aspect, wherein two systems are located on one side of the articulation joint, and two systems are located on the other side of the articulation joint.", "[0064] One part of the vehicle on one side of the joint may have means for carrying a tippable load.", "For instance the vehicle may be a site dumper having two articulated parts.", "One part may have a tippable skip for carrying a load and the other part may include the engine and power pack and carry the driver.", "Both, or either, of the two parts may have systems according to the first aspect, having any combination of the features described above, on both sides.", "[0065] The tensioner and/or jockey/idler wheels may comprise plastics.", "They may be made of plastics.", "The tensioner wheels may be larger in diameter than the jockey/idler wheels.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0066] The above and other characteristics, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention.", "This description is given for the sake of example only, without limiting the scope of the invention.", "The reference figures quoted below refer to the attached drawings.", "[0067] FIG. 1 is a side view of a known continuous track and tensioning system;", "[0068] FIG. 2 is a side view of a continuous track tensioning system according to the first aspect of the invention in a first position;", "[0069] FIG. 3 is a side view of the track tensioning system of FIG. 2 in a second position;", "[0070] FIG. 4 is side view of the track tensioning system of FIG. 2 in a third position;", "[0071] FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the means of connection and control of the elements of one embodiment of the invention;", "[0072] FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of a vehicle including continuous track units;", "[0073] FIG. 7 is an elevational schematic view of part of a continuous track unit;", "[0074] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of part of a continuous track unit without the drive sprocket;", "[0075] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of part of a continuous track unit including the drive sprocket;", "and [0076] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of part of a continuous track unit including the continuous track.", "DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [0077] The present invention will be described with respect to certain drawings but the invention is not limited thereto but only by the claims.", "The drawings described are only schematic and are non-limiting.", "Each drawing may not include all of the features of the invention and therefore should not necessarily be considered to be an embodiment of the invention.", "In the drawings, the size of some of the elements may be exaggerated and not drawn to scale for illustrative purposes.", "The dimensions and the relative dimensions do not correspond to actual reductions to practice of the invention.", "[0078] Furthermore, the terms first, second, third and the like in the description and in the claims, are used for distinguishing between similar elements and not necessarily for describing a sequence, either temporally, spatially, in ranking or in any other manner.", "It is to be understood that the terms so used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances and that operation is capable in other sequences than described or illustrated herein.", "[0079] Moreover, the terms top, bottom, over, under and the like in the description and the claims are used for descriptive purposes and not necessarily for describing relative positions.", "It is to be understood that the terms so used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances and that operation is capable in other orientations than described or illustrated herein.", "[0080] It is to be noticed that the term “comprising”, used in the claims, should not be interpreted as being restricted to the means listed thereafter;", "it does not exclude other elements or steps.", "It is thus to be interpreted as specifying the presence of the stated features, integers, steps or components as referred to, but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps or components, or groups thereof.", "Thus, the scope of the expression “a device comprising means A and B”", "should not be limited to devices consisting only of components A and B. It means that with respect to the present invention, the only relevant components of the device are A and B. [0081] Similarly, it is to be noticed that the term “connected”, used in the description, should not be interpreted as being restricted to direct connections only.", "Thus, the scope of the expression “a device A connected to a device B”", "should not be limited to devices or systems wherein an output of device A is directly connected to an input of device B. It means that there exists a path between an output of A and an input of B which may be a path including other devices or means.", "“Connected”", "may mean that two or more elements are either in direct physical or electrical contact, or that two or more elements are not in direct contact with each other but yet still co-operate or interact with each other.", "[0082] Reference throughout this specification to “an embodiment”", "or “an aspect”", "means that a particular feature, structure or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment or aspect is included in at least one embodiment or aspect of the present invention.", "Thus, appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment”, “in an embodiment”, or “in an aspect”", "in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment or aspect, but may refer to different embodiments or aspects.", "Furthermore, the particular features, structures or characteristics of any embodiment or aspect of the invention may be combined in any suitable manner, as would be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art from this disclosure, in one or more embodiments or aspects.", "[0083] Similarly, it should be appreciated that in the description various features of the invention are sometimes grouped together in a single embodiment, figure, or description thereof for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure and aiding in the understanding of one or more of the various inventive aspects.", "This method of disclosure, however, is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed invention requires more features than are expressly recited in each claim.", "Moreover, the description of any individual drawing or aspect should not necessarily be considered to be an embodiment of the invention.", "Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive aspects lie in fewer than all features of a single foregoing disclosed embodiment.", "Thus, the claims following the detailed description are hereby expressly incorporated into this detailed description, with each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment of this invention.", "[0084] Furthermore, while some embodiments described herein include some features included in other embodiments, combinations of features of different embodiments are meant to be within the scope of the invention, and form yet further embodiments, as will be understood by those skilled in the art.", "For example, in the following claims, any of the claimed embodiments can be used in any combination.", "[0085] In the description provided herein, numerous specific details are set forth.", "However, it is understood that embodiments of the invention may be practised without these specific details.", "In other instances, well-known methods, structures and techniques have not been shown in detail in order not to obscure an understanding of this description.", "[0086] In the discussion of the invention, unless stated to the contrary, the disclosure of alternative values for the upper or lower limit of the permitted range of a parameter, coupled with an indication that one of said values is more highly preferred than the other, is to be construed as an implied statement that each intermediate value of said parameter, lying between the more preferred and the less preferred of said alternatives, is itself preferred to said less preferred value and also to each value lying between said less preferred value and said intermediate value.", "[0087] The use of the term “at least one”", "may mean only one in certain circumstances.", "[0088] The principles of the invention will now be described by a detailed description of at least one drawing relating to exemplary features of the invention.", "It is clear that other arrangements can be configured according to the knowledge of persons skilled in the art without departing from the underlying concept or technical teaching of the invention, the invention being limited only by the terms of the appended claims.", "[0089] FIG. 1 is described above.", "[0090] In FIG. 2 the reference 100 refers to a continuous track tensioning system including a continuous track 110 and a drive wheel 120 .", "A rotation limiting device 200 is also shown.", "The track 110 passes over and is engaged with at least some of the circumferential surfaces of the drive wheel or sprocket 120 , idler, or jockey, wheels 130 and tension wheels 140 , 150 .", "The whole system 100 is attached to the drive shaft or axle 125 which is typically arranged on the side of a vehicle.", "Further, it is typical for one of these systems 100 to be provided on either side of the vehicle.", "In some cases, it is possible to have more than one of these systems 100 on either side of the vehicle.", "[0091] The drive shaft 125 rotates thus rotating the drive wheel 120 and thus turning the track 110 .", "The idler wheels 130 are fixed in position relative to the drive wheel 120 by means of support structure 115 .", "This support structure may take the form of sheet steel or other suitable material.", "Its shape is for illustrative purposes only.", "Tension in the continuous track 110 is provided by tensioners.", "There are two tensioners shown in FIG. 2 .", "The first tensioner is shown on the right and the second is shown on the left.", "The tensioners are provided between the idler wheels 130 and the drive wheel 120 .", "In one embodiment, only one tensioner is provided at each end of the unit.", "In another embodiment more than one tensioner is provided at each end.", "The overall approximate shape of the continuous track 110 is triangular, when viewed from the side, with the tension wheels 140 , 150 provided at each of the two lower corners of the triangle.", "Tension wheel 140 presses against the inside of the track 110 .", "It is urged against the track by means of a barrel 180 and piston 182 .", "The distal end of the piston 182 is connected to the axle 141 about which tension wheel 140 rotates.", "The distal end of the barrel 180 is fixed to the support structure 115 at point 185 about which it may rotate.", "The rotation of the tension wheel 140 about point 185 is limited by means of a link member 160 which connects the axle 141 of the tension wheel 140 with the axle 145 of the nearest jockey wheel 130 .", "The same is repeated on the left hand side of the structure 100 in that there is a barrel 190 and an associated piston 192 .", "The distal end of the barrel is pivoted at point 195 to the support structure 115 .", "The distal end of the piston 192 is connected to the centre 151 of tension wheel 150 about which this jockey wheel rotates.", "The axle 151 is linked to the axle 146 of the nearest jockey wheel 130 by means of a link member 170 .", "This link member limits the, and defines a predetermined radius of, rotation of the tension wheel 150 about point 146 .", "[0092] FIG. 2 also illustrates the rotation limiting device 200 .", "This device 200 comprises a barrel 210 and a piston 220 .", "The distal end of the piston 220 is connected to the support structure 115 at point 230 .", "The distal end 240 of the barrel 210 is connected to the side of vehicle (not shown).", "[0093] When a vehicle fitted with such a continuous track tensioning system 100 travels the rear tensioner will be pulled upwards and inwards relative to the surface over which the vehicle is travelling.", "This is due to the force of the drive means pulling the track upwardly as discussed above.", "The front tensioner will compensate for this by extending further outwards thus taking up any slack in the track.", "This situation is not shown in the attached drawings.", "[0094] In FIG. 3 the vehicle to which the system 100 is associated is travelling in the direction referenced “Q”", "(i.e. towards the left hand side of the drawing).", "The surface 305 on which the track 110 is running has an object 300 present on its surface.", "An example of such an object could be a rock.", "The leading edge of the system 100 has met with this object 300 .", "This object 300 provides an external force onto the track 110 such that the left hand tensioner is moved.", "The piston 192 has been pushed inside the barrel 190 so that tensioner wheel 150 has rotated about fixed point 195 .", "[0095] To compensate for the slack induced in the track 110 by the front tensioner having moved, the rear tensioner has displaced the piston 182 relative to the barrel 180 such that tensioner wheel 140 has been moved outwardly relative to the axis 125 of the drive wheel 120 .", "The tension within the continuous track has thus been maintained.", "The movement of the two tensioners may have been automatic in that the fluid system connecting the two tensioners is a closed system such that the movement of the piston 192 relative to the barrel 190 moves fluid through the system from the front tensioner to the rear tensioner so that the rear piston 182 is pushed outwardly relative to the barrel 180 .", "Alternatively, or additionally, the movement of the two tensioners may also be partially or fully controlled by the controller (not shown).", "[0096] With the front tensioner in the retracted position the vehicle will be able to begin “climbing over”", "the rock more easily.", "Additionally, or alternatively, to overcome the force being applied by the rock onto the track the torque in the drive sprocket 120 may be increased (automatically or under driver control).", "This increase in torque will pull the track upwardly at the rear of the system 100 thus retracting piston 182 into barrel 180 .", "Accordingly, to compensate for the subsequent increase in slack in the track the front tensioner will extend outwardly pushing the front tension wheel 150 forwardly and/or downwardly.", "This action will lift the front of the vehicle over the rock 300 thus assisting in the vehicle's journey.", "[0097] Once the vehicle has passed over the object 300 then it is expected that the tension wheels 140 , 150 would return to their stable position as shown in FIG. 2 if the vehicle is stationary.", "However, as discussed above, it has been found that if the vehicle moves at a speed greater than a predetermined value the shape of the continuous track 110 will naturally assume a shape wherein the rear tensioner is retracted by comparison with the front tensioner.", "Alternatively, or additionally, it may be desired to employ the controller to affect the shape of the continuous track 110 to improve efficiency or to achieve a particularly desired result based on the ground conditions or use of the vehicle.", "[0098] In FIG. 4 , the front tensioner has been adjusted so that the area of the continuous track 110 which is in contact with the ground surface is located more towards the front of the vehicle than the rear of the vehicle.", "This is because in this example the vehicle which has a body 500 A and 500 B includes a tipping part 400 , towards the front of the vehicle, which is carrying a load 405 .", "The tipping part 400 may rotate about axis 410 in a direction 420 .", "During the tipping manoeuvre, the centre of gravity of the load will move to the left as the bucket holding the load is tipped to the left, or front of the vehicle.", "Accordingly, by moving the area of the tracks 110 which is in contact with the ground surface and thus shifting the centre of gravity of the vehicle there is less likelihood that the vehicle will overturn during tipping operation.", "As well as moving the centre of gravity of the vehicle towards the front, the act of altering the shape of the track to move the area in contact with the ground also provides a greater reactive force resisting the overturning moment induced in the vehicle during tipping.", "[0099] To compensate for the front tensioner being extended, the rear tensioner has retracted such that the tension wheel 140 has been lifted away from the ground and in towards the axis 125 of the drive wheel 120 .", "This has been achieved by the piston 182 retracted inside the barrel 180 .", "This operation may be affected by the controller.", "The tension in the track is therefore effectively maintained constant.", "However, it may be possible to simultaneously extend both tensioners outwardly to thus provide greater tension in the track and an even greater area of contact between the track and ground surface.", "[0100] Although not shown, it is possible to have other tensioners located within the perimeter of the track which are typically extended in normal operation but which may be retracted as necessary so as to introduce greater slack into the track which may be taken up by the front and rear tensioners so as to provide the track with as great an area of contact with the ground as possible.", "[0101] The rotation limiting device 200 is shown rotatably fixed at the upper part 240 to the vehicle body 500 A. [0102] The vehicle body 500 A and 500 B may be articulated such that body 500 A is separated from body 500 B by an articulation joint.", "Each body 500 A, 500 B may have systems 100 provided on each side.", "[0103] In FIG. 5 , the two tensioners 600 , 610 are shown.", "They are connected by hydraulic lines, pipes or conduits 615 , to the power pack 620 .", "The power pack 620 is controlled by the controller 630 by means of control links 631 .", "The rotation limiter 640 is also connected to the power pack by means of hydraulic lines or pipes.", "In each of the hydraulic lines safety valves 650 are provided.", "These prevent over pressure in the system from damaging any of the elements.", "[0104] Each of the hydraulic lines 615 also includes a control valve 660 .", "These control valves are 660 controlled by the controller 630 by means of control lines 635 .", "The control valves 660 may regulate the supply of fluid through the supply lines 615 and thus from reaching or leaving any one, or all of the elements 600 , 610 , 640 .", "This may “lock”", "the tensioners and rotation limiters in their current positions for greater stability of the vehicle.", "[0105] The control lines 635 may be electronic, electrical, hydraulic, pneumatic, or wireless.", "The power pack 620 may already be part of the vehicle or may be additionally provided.", "[0106] In FIG. 6 an elevational side view of another simplified tracked vehicle 710 is shown.", "The vehicle 710 comprises an operator cab 720 , a vehicle body 730 and two continuous track units 740 provided on each side (only the ones on the facing side are shown).", "The continuous track units will be described in more detail below, however, a general arrangement is shown in FIG. 7 .", "[0107] In FIG. 7 , the unit 740 comprises a continuous track 830 extending around a drive sprocket 780 , two jockey wheels 800 and three intermediate bottom rollers 820 .", "The unit 740 is a high drive unit with the drive sprocket 780 provide towards the upper apex of the approximate triangular shape of the unit.", "[0108] The drive sprocket 780 is mounted on, and rotated by, a drive bearing 770 .", "The bottom rollers 820 are mounted on two parallel plates 810 located beneath the drive sprocket 780 and between the two jockey wheels 800 .", "A jockey wheel 800 is located at each of the lower two apexes of the approximate triangular shape of the unit 740 .", "There may be more than one jockey wheel 800 arranged in a row at each of the two lower apexes.", "There may be four at each apex.", "There may also be more than the three bottom rollers 820 shown.", "There may be three rows of bottom rollers 820 , each row comprising four rollers.", "There may be more or less than three rows of bottom rollers 820 .", "[0109] The axles of the two outer most axial bottom rollers 820 in each of the rows nearest the jockey wheels 800 may be connected to the axles of the jockey wheels 800 by a linkage 805 .", "This linkage may have a fixed length but allow the two connected axles to move relative to one another and to the unit 740 overall.", "[0110] A support structure is partially shown in FIG. 7 .", "It comprises two plates 792 each having an arcuate shape located between the plates 810 and the drive sprocket 780 .", "[0111] Each of the axles of the two rows of jockey wheels 800 may be connected to one of these plates 810 with a hydraulic ram (not shown).", "In this manner, the distance between each of the axles of the two rows of jockey wheels 800 and the support structure plates 792 may be variable to adjust the tension in the continuous track.", "[0112] The support structure is better understood from FIG. 8 in which the same view as FIG. 7 is shown but without the continuous track 830 and drive sprocket 780 .", "[0113] A back plate 790 is shown to which at the base the two plates 792 are connected.", "It is to be understood that the support structure may be a single piece of shaped metal (such as steel) or that it could comprise more than two pieces affixed to one another such as by welding or bolting.", "[0114] In one possibility each of the two plates 792 are formed from curved steel and are then welded to the base of the back plate 790 such that there are only two lines of welds, one for each plate 792 .", "[0115] The support structure back plate 790 includes a hole through which the drive axle 760 of the vehicle (not shown) projects.", "The drive sprocket is attached to the drive axle 760 via drive bearing 770 .", "[0116] The back plate 790 is indirectly bolted to the body 730 of the vehicle (a portion only of which is shown) by the use of bolts 800 , although other ways of connection are contemplated.", "In this regard, the term body 730 may also include the chassis of the vehicle.", "[0117] The two plates 792 add strength to the support structure and may act to prevent stones and rocks from reaching the drive sprocket 780 in use.", "[0118] FIG. 9 shows the unit from the same direction as FIGS. 7 and 8 but include the drive sprocket 780 but not the continuous track 830 .", "The other referenced features in FIG. 4 are the same as has already been described with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8 .", "[0119] In FIG. 10 the unit 740 is shown viewed in the direction of rotation of the drive sprocket 780 .", "[0120] The drive axle 760 of the vehicle (not shown) is visible to the right.", "The drive bearing 770 at its left hand end is shown together with the drive sprocket 780 .", "The continuous track is omitted to improve the clarity.", "[0121] Between the back plate 790 of the support structure and the chassis or vehicle body 730 a slew ring is arranged.", "This has a fixed outer ring 750 A and a rotatable inner ring 750 B. The outer ring 750 A is bolted to the chassis 730 .", "The inner ring 750 B is bolted to the back plate 790 .", "In one possibility (not shown), an intermediary plate is provided between the chassis 730 and the back plate 790 .", "In this case, the outer fixed ring 750 A would be affixed to this intermediary plate and the intermediary plate itself affixed to the chassis 730 .", "[0122] In the lower portion of FIG. 10 the four jockey wheels 800 are visible and the one row of four bottom rollers 820 is partially visible behind these jockey wheels 800 .", "Furthermore, the two plates 810 to which the bottom rollers are affixed are visible.", "In this regard, the two plates 810 may comprise two bottom rollers 820 therebetween and one bottom roller on the axially outer side of each of the two plates 810 , such that each plate 810 is sandwiched between two bottom rollers 820 on each of the three axles (corresponding to the three rows of bottom rollers 820 ).", "[0123] In use the drive axle 760 drives the drive bearing 770 which in turn drives the drive sprocket 80 which thus rotates the continuous track 830 around the perimeter of the unit 740 .", "The continuous track 830 is supported by the drive sprocket 830 , the two jockey wheels 800 and the bottom rollers 820 .", "[0124] The unit 740 may pivot relative to the chassis or vehicle body 730 due to the slew ring 750 A, 750 B. The weight of the unit 740 is carried by the chassis or vehicle body 730 and not by the drive axle 760 or drive bearing 770 .", "[0125] Although not shown, it is possible to have other tensioners located within the perimeter of the continuous track 830 which are typically extended in normal operation but which may be retracted as necessary so as to introduce greater slack into the track which may be taken up by the front and rear jock wheels 800 so as to provide the track with as great an area of contact with the ground as possible.", "[0126] The vehicle body 730 may be articulated such that there are two bodies (not shown) separated but connected by an articulation joint.", "Each body may have units 740 provided on each side." ]

[ "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1.", "Field of the Invention This invention relates to a railway vehicle with a vehicle body having a streamlined terminal portion.", "Description of the Prior Art On railway vehicles designed for high-speed travel, it is very generally known that the leading and the trailing terminal portions of the vehicle in the direction of travel can be realized in a streamlined fashion, whereby the cross section of the respective vehicle bodies tapers toward the free end.", "The remaining portions of the vehicle body, on the other hand, have an essentially uniform cross section over their remaining length.", "Railway vehicles realized in this manner can be operated with the same dynamic characteristics in either direction of travel.", "In operation, it has been found that unstable running conditions can occur on the rear portion of the vehicle, which are related to unsteady aerodynamic forces.", "SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The object of the invention is to adopt measures on a railway vehicle with a vehicle body having a streamlined terminal portion where the slip conditions of the air flow on the end of the train can be favorably influenced to improve the riding qualities.", "In one embodiment of a railway vehicle with a spoiler device on the rear end of the train, an unsteady flow of air over and around the stern of the vehicle is prevented.", "In particular, the spoiler device creates a breakaway of the air flow over the stern of the vehicle along a defined line.", "On a slender, smooth vehicle stern, the fluctuation in the breakaway point that otherwise occurs leads to an asymmetrical shedding of vortices that varies over time, and that in turn can lead to fluctuating lateral forces on the vehicle stern and thus to the excitation of vibrations.", "To keep the breakaway edge as low as possible, it is advisable to place the breakaway edge slightly ahead (upstream) of or even in the vicinity of the point on the stern where, on average, the breakaway occurs without a breakaway edge.", "In this manner, as a result of a relatively small modification of the boundary layer flow over the surface of the stern, the chronological behavior of large flow areas can be controlled.", "If, for structural reasons, the breakaway device must be placed farther forward (upstream), the height of the breakaway edge must be correspondingly greater.", "However, the height of the flow breakaway edge can also be variable, for example as a function of the speed of travel.", "The spoiler device is preferably provided directly on the shell surface of the terminal portion, so that it can be integrated into the vehicle body.", "The spoiler device can thereby extend in the manner of a band in a peripheral direction of the terminal portion at least over a portion of the shell surface.", "In particular, the spoiler device is oriented symmetrically on the side wall segments and in the vicinity of the roof of the terminal portion.", "The airflow breakaway device can lie in a plane that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle.", "Preferably, however, the plane is inclined so that the beginning of the desired air flow breakaway begins in different longitudinal areas of the vehicle body.", "As the active element, the airflow breakaway device preferably has a band-shaped spoiler web, which can also consist of a plurality of individual parts and can be connected on its longitudinal side edge that is directed toward the central portion of the vehicle housing flush with the adjacent shell surface wall of the vehicle body.", "In its functional position longitudinal lateral edge that is oriented parallel to the longitudinal side edge, and points essentially toward the end of the terminal portion extends radially outside beyond the neighboring shell surface wall, so that the required elevated breakaway edge is formed.", "To make it possible to operate the railway vehicle in either of the two directions of travel, the airflow breakaway device can be deactivated when the terminal portion which is equipped with the breakaway device is used as the leading end of the train.", "For this purpose, the spoiler device is equipped with a drive device which is coupled with the spoiler web and, when necessary, retracts the spoiler web flush into the shell surface of the vehicle body.", "For this purpose, a suitable groove can be provided in the shell surface of the vehicle body, in which not only can the spoiler web be retracted flush, but which also holds the drive device.", "The drive device is preferably a flexible hose which is firmly connected on one hand in the groove and on the other hand with the spoiler web, and is connected to a controllable hydraulic source.", "By inflating the hose, the flexible spoiler web which is held on one hand on the vehicle body and is provided in particular with a hinge, can be extended to perform its function as a spoiler, or when a vacuum is applied to the hose, the spoiler edge can be retracted flush into the body contour.", "This position is used in particular when the direction of travel of the train is reversed (that is, the portion that was previously the trailing end of the train now becomes the leading end).", "The smooth streamlined shape of the vehicle body required in the direction of travel is then guaranteed.", "To achieve a flush transition between the shell surface wall and the spoiler web, the longitudinal edges of the groove that is provided to house the drive mechanism are stepped back, as a function of the thickness of the material of the spoiler web.", "When the spoiler web is manufactured from inflexible material, it is appropriate to form the spoiler web from a plurality of individual parts.", "The individual parts thereby do not need to be connected directly to one another, because even the premature excitation of small eddies for the desired promotion of the airflow breakaway on the terminal portion can lead to sufficient results over portions of the shell surface.", "As a result of the attachment of a controllable airflow breakaway device that is integrated directly into the body surface of the vehicle housing, the flow conditions can thereby be optimized as a function of the direction of travel of the train using simple means.", "At high speeds, it thereby becomes possible to prevent unstable riding characteristics on the respective train end, because such instabilities could otherwise result from an unsteady shedding of vortices on the tapering terminal portion of the vehicle.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention is explained in greater detail below with reference to the two exemplary embodiments that are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. 1 is a sectional sideview of a railway vehicle having a terminal portion, with an integrated airflow breakaway or spoiler device, FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of a first embodiment of the airflow breakaway device, FIG. 3 illustrates the airflow breakaway device of FIG. 2 in a deactivated position breakaway device, FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of the airflow breakaway device, and FIG. 5 illustrates the airflow breakaway device of FIG. 4 in a deactivated position.", "DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to FIG. 1, on a railway vehicle, a vehicle body 1 tapers in a streamlined fashion toward an end 9 of the train in the vicinity of the terminal portion 2 .", "The terminal portion 2 is equipped with a driver's control compartment which is provided with windows 3 in the top front portion.", "The remaining center portion 4 of the vehicle body that points toward the center of the train has an essentially uniform cross section surface over its entire length.", "The vehicle body 1 is supported by rail wheels 5 .", "If a railway vehicle built in this manner is used on the end of a train that travels at high speed, there is a risk that the airflow during travel, on account of the aerodynamic design of the terminal portion 2 , will remain in contact with the tapering contour for a very long time and will only break away from its shell surface very late.", "Furthermore, the breakaway will be concentrated at different points of the shell surface of the sharply tapered cross section area of the terminal portion 2 .", "To prevent the very strong turbulence of the air flow that can occur and is distributed alternatingly and asymmetrically over the shell surface of the terminal portion, there is an airflow breakaway device or spoiler 6 in the transitional area between the center part 4 and the terminal portion 2 with the tapering cross section.", "In this case, the spoiler 6 extends in a symmetrical configuration beyond the two ascending side walls and above the area of the roof 7 that lies between them.", "The spoiler 6 is attached directly to the shell surface of the terminal portion 2 .", "The spoiler 6 has an airflow breakaway edge 8 which is elevated with respect to the neighboring shell surface of the terminal portion 2 .", "The spoiler 6 , which is realized in the shape of a band, thereby lies on the outer edge of a cross sectional plane of the vehicle housing 1 , which cross sectional plane is inclined from bottom to top toward the middle portion 4 of the vehicle body 1 , so that the lower segments lie closer to the free end 9 of the terminal portion 2 than the central segment that is associated with the roof 7 .", "Referring now to FIGS. 1-5, spoiler 6 has a spoiler web 10 which is realized in the form of a sufficiently elastic strip and which extends over the side walls and the roof area 7 of the terminal portion 2 in the above mentioned inclined cross sectional plane.", "On its side edge 11 that is directed toward the center portion 4 of the vehicle body 1 , the spoiler web 10 is connected in a flush manner with the neighboring shell surfaces of the vehicle body 1 or its terminal portion 2 .", "The opposite lateral edge of the spoiler web that is directed toward the end 9 and forms the breakaway edge 8 , in its functional position as illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4 , is at a specified distance perpendicular to the respective neighboring shell surface segment, which is shown for the roof area 7 in FIGS. 2 to 5 .", "When the train is travelling at a high speed, the spoiler edge 8 , illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4 , is radially extended with respect to the shell surface 7 .", "2 and causes a turbulence in the airflow, which has up to then been largely laminar, as early as at the transition from the normally configured center portion of the train to the tapering terminal portion 2 .", "A height of the spoiler edge 8 that is sufficient to excite turbulence in the layer closest to the shell surface is sufficient, and contributes to the formation of turbulence in the air layers that are farther outside.", "The breakaway of the air flow from the terminal portion is therefore distributed as uniformly as possible over the entire length of the terminal portion 2 .", "The step height of the spoiler 8 with respect to the shell surface 7 .", "2 can be variable, for example as a function of the speed or the direction of travel of the vehicle.", "For this purpose, the spoiler device 6 is equipped with a drive device 12 , for example an inflatable hose.", "For this purpose, a groove 13 is formed in the shell surface of the vehicle 1 of of the terminal portion 2 , and this groove 13 holds the drive device 12 .", "The hose which is the drive device 12 is thereby on one hand supported in the groove and on the other hand is connected with the inside of the spoiler web 10 .", "The spoiler web 10 is fixed on its longitudinal lateral edge 11 that lies against the spoiler edge 8 with respect to the neighboring shell surface of the vehicle body 1 , and is elastic, at least in the neighboring area, or is provided with a hinge device.", "By inflating the hose of the drive device 12 , the spoiler web 10 can be inclined as required, and thus varies the step height of the spoiler edge 8 .", "If the pressure in the hose of the drive device 12 is thereby reduced or if a vacuum is applied to the hose, then the spoiler web 10 is retracted into the contour of the vehicle body, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5.", "In this deactivated position, the spoiler 6 does not have any effect.", "The railway vehicle can accordingly be operated in the reverse direction of travel, with the terminal portion 2 as the leading end of the train (in front in the direction of travel), without the spoiler thereby generating any undesirable flow conditions.", "To thereby achieve the continuous transition, the shell wall 7 .", "2 is recessed in a step 14 which is analogous to the groove 13 , whereby the height of the step 14 is adapted to the material thickness of the spoiler edge 8 .", "In a corresponding manner, the opposite longitudinal lateral edge 11 of the spoiler web 10 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 is inserted in a corresponding step 15 , because this longitudinal lateral edge 11 overlaps the neighboring shell wall segment 7 .", "1 .", "In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, on the other hand, the spoiler web 10 is an integral component of the hose of the drive device 12 and is integrated with the hose, and is made of the same material, to form a one-piece unit.", "The portion of the hose that is connected with the longitudinal lateral edge thereby has an increased wall thickness that decreases continuously toward the spoiler edge 8 .", "It thereby becomes possible to achieve a sufficient rigidity of the spoiler web 10 and a continuous extension by pumping up the hose.", "The overlap between the spoiler web 10 and the neighboring shell wall 7 .", "1 is therefore unnecessary." ]

[ "This application is a division of application Ser.", "No. 07/955,196 filed Oct. 2, 1992, now abandoned.", "TECHNICAL FIELD OF INVENTION The present invention relates to a process for hydrogenation of aromatic nitro or nitroso (nitrosated) compounds.", "It relates more particularly to the preparation of halogenated amines from halogenated aromatic nitro compounds and especially to amines para-substituted by OH, Cl, Br, F, alkoxy or acyloxy on the hydroxylamine intermediate by Bamberger rearrangement.", "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION When a hydrogenation process is applied to an aromatic nitro compound carrying halogen atoms bonded to the aromatic nucleus, the conversion of the nitro group to an amino group is invariably followed by hydrogenolysis of the carbon-halogen bond to give, on the one hand, the dehalogenated nucleus and, on the other hand, hydrogen halide acids.", "This phenomenon has been known for a very long time, since it was described by P. Sabatier and A. Mailhe in 1904.", "Many studies have been conducted to avoid this secondary reaction while allowing the catalyst to remain properly active.", "These studies have led to various solutions which can be classified into two groups: those employing platinum or palladium and those employing Raney nickel as the hydrogenation catalyst.", "All these studies involve the use of a modified catalyst.", "In the first group of techniques, those employing metals of the platinum group, are processes in which the hydrogenation catalyst employed is platinum deposited on carbon, optionally inhibited by the presence of an adjuvant referred to by the neologism "selectivity agent", such as thioethers and disulfides.", "Although the degree of dehalogenation is very low, this technique still presents numerous disadvantages, including the formation of highly toxic byproducts such as diazo derivatives, and the very high cost of the catalyst.", "In the second group of techniques, those which employ the metals of the first row of group VIII and especially nickel in the form of Raney nickel, the manufacture of diazo derivatives is avoided, but the formation of other interfering products remains very high, especially the products resulting from hydrodehalogenation (hydrogenolysis of carbon-halogen bonds).", "Hydrogenolysis products are particularly troublesome in the manufacture of fluorinated anilines as it is not possible to separate fluorinated anilines from unsubstituted anilines at costs which are reasonable relative to the selling price of the said fluorinated anilines.", "Thus, attempts have been made to make the hydrogenation reaction more selective by employing selective catalyst poisons, poisons which are referred to in this context as selectivity agents.", "Thus, the use of Raney nickel to which a calcium or magnesium hydroxide is added as a selectivity agent has been recommended.", "In order to avoid dehalogenation, the reaction temperatures must be very moderate, and this does not allow these processes to be employed on an industrial scale.", "It has also been proposed to employ Raney nickel in combination with thiocyanate, alkylamine, alkanolamine, a heterocyclic base, trialkyl phosphite, cyanamide or dicyandiamide.", "None of these improvements has neatly solved the problem, especially since it is easier to use a material which intrinsically offers the required qualities as a catalyst rather than a catalyst which has to be poisoned with sufficient adroitness so that it will catalyze only certain reactions and will do so, moreover, without losing most of its catalyst effectiveness in these reactions.", "These difficulties are also encountered during the synthesis of anilides, especially of acylated amino compounds from the corresponding nitro derivatives (or, in a broader sense, in the synthesis of intermediates between the nitro derivatives and the anilines, whether identified or not).", "In fact, during conventional syntheses of anilides it is often necessary to carry out the reduction and the amidation in several stages and it is necessary to employ powerful reactants such as anhydrides, or mixed anhydrides.", "SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Thus, one of the objectives of the present invention is to provide a new process for the hydrogenation of a compound selected from the group consisting of nitro compounds and nitroso compounds, which process comprises subjecting said compound to a partial pressure of hydrogen equal to at least two atmospheres in the presence of tungsten carbide.", "A further objective of the present invention is to provide a new process for the hydrogenation of halogenated aromatic nitro compounds, especially for the synthesis of halogenated anilines.", "The halogenated, and more particularly fluorinated, nitro compounds are very sensitive to hydrolysis during hydrogenation, which releases two molecules of water per nitro functional group.", "Thus, another objective of the present invention is to provide a new process for hydrogenation of halogenated aromatic nitro compounds, especially for the synthesis of halogenated anilines, which avoids the hydrogenolysis of the carbon-halogen bonds.", "A further objective of the present invention is to provide a new process for hydrogenation and amidation of nitrogenous, generally nitrosated, aromatic compounds, especially for the synthesis of anilides, which permits an amidation which is virtually simultaneous with the formation of the aniline functional group (aniline is intended to mean any amine in which the amine functional group is directly bonded via the nitrogen to an aromatic nucleus) in the presence of the acid whose anilide is desired.", "These objectives and others which will appear hereinafter are attained by means of a process which can be used for hydrogenation, especially in liquid phase, of compounds, nitroaromatic compounds in particular, where the said compound is hydrogenated in the presence of activated tungsten carbide, the partial pressure of hydrogen being equal to at least about two atmospheres (2×10 pascals).", "Several decades ago, tungsten carbide stirred some hope in the field of hydrogenation catalysis because its utility range seemed different from that of other catalysts, especially those based on metals of group VIII.", "However, the results have not been equal to the hopes to which it gave rise.", "In fact, especially in liquid phase, the reaction is slow and sluggish and is not suited for industrial application.", "The various measures recommended in order to overcome this disadvantage, such as the use of high specific surfaces or doping with a metal of the platinum group have not given the expected results, while at the same time limiting the advantages of tungsten carbide, namely an activity range differing from that of the metals of the platinum group.", "Following this lack of success, the catalytic properties of tungsten carbide were no longer considered useful, except as laboratory curiosities.", "Because of this low catalytic activity in liquid phase, the studies have been restricted to the reactions employed in petrochemistry for modifying hydrocarbons;", "especially to dehydrogenation reactions or to the synthesis of hydrocarbons from water gas.", "Completely surprisingly, a study conducted by the present inventors, contrary to prejudices concerning the usability of tungsten carbide, has led to the conclusion that it is possible to obtain hydrogenation kinetics which are highly acceptable, provided that the work is done at sufficient partial pressures of hydrogen.", "In fact, above a hydrogen partial pressure threshold situated between 1.5 and 2 atmospheres, the reaction kinetics suddenly accelerate.", "(In the present description, one atmosphere is considered to be equivalent to the metric system unit of 10 5 pascals.) At these pressures, the activation occurs very rapidly and the induction period is barely detectable.", "The phenomenon is general and has been verified for numerous grades of tungsten carbide and for numerous reactions.", "As the term is used in this application, tungsten carbide is considered to be activated tungsten carbide as explained hereinafter.", "As stated, the hydrogen partial pressure threshold is always above a value of between 1.5 and 2 atmospheres;", "clearly this threshold depends on the working conditions.", "When work is performed at temperatures greater than or equal to 150° C., the threshold is situated within the vicinity of 2 atmospheres.", "When work is performed in a liquid medium that is acidic and reactive (said medium being homogeneous or heterogeneous and having an acid titre equalling at least 0.1N and preferably 1N), it is not necessary to increase the pressure much above 2 atmospheres in order to reach the threshold, and this can be done at a relatively low temperature (about 50° C.).", "In other situations, there is always a threshold, although its value is more difficult to determine.", "It is preferred that activation occur either at pressures higher than 10 (and preferably 20) atmospheres, and at a temperature higher than 100° C. (and preferably 150° C.);", "or at a temperature of at least 100° C. and at a pressure higher than 10 atmospheres.", "It is possible, of course, to work at a pressure and/or temperature different from that of the activation.", "It is preferable, though, for work to be performed under conditions at which activation occurs.", "In addition, the reaction can be conducted over a wide range of pressures and temperatures and according to numerous methods of implementation.", "It can also be carried out batchwise, semicontinuously, or continuously, in a stirred reactor or in a fixed trickle bed or even in vapor phase.", "In all cases there is a possibility of recovering and reusing the catalyst, and this adds to the advantage of the process.", "Bearing in mind that the work is done under heterogeneous catalysis conditions, the subsequent recovery of the catalyst is very easy, since it can be performed by simple means such as filtration or decantation.", "The quantity of catalyst to be employed is not critical and can vary within wide limits;", "from 0.01% to 50% by weight of catalyst is generally employed in relation to the quantity of substrate.", "According to one of the preferred embodiments of the invention, the reaction is conducted in a solvent medium.", "It can also be conducted without any solvent, with the reactants acting as a solvent.", "One of the advantages associated with the use of tungsten carbide lies in the remarkable chemical inertness of this material, especially towards protic reactants and especially strong protic acids.", "This characteristic is particularly advantageous in so-called Bamberger reactions.", "By way of example, some characteristics of this reaction can be recalled and can be exemplified in the following manner, by taking the case of nitrobenzene or nitrosobenzene ##STR1## where Nu-H is a nucleophilic protic molecule (directly or through the intermediacy of its anion);", "Nu-H may be an acid or a protic compound such an alcohol or phenol or it may be water.", "The reaction takes place essentially at the para position to the nitro or nitroso functional group except when this position is occupied by a substituent whose nucleophilicity is substantially higher than that of Nu-H.", "In the case of other aromatic nuclei, Nu is grafted on positions which are equivalent to the ortho position and more generally to the para position.", "For further details on the Bamberger reaction, reference may be had to the abundant literature on this subject.", "The reaction is proportionately better the more acidic the reaction mixture, and, especially, the more acidic the solvent.", "Bronsted, or even Lewis, acids can be employed.", "To date, the catalysts employed have been chosen from those based on metals of the platinum group and hence, are expensive and liable to produce numerous toxic by-products such as azo compounds.", "They also exhibit an excessive sensitivity to sulfur, which is particularly troublesome in the case of nitro derivatives, which are generally obtained by reaction of nitric acid in a sulfuric acid medium and which are stabilized by addition of sulfur compounds.", "Examples of acidic groups which can be employed for the reductions which are characteristic of a "Bamberger rearrangement", are the first acidic functional group of phosphoric acids, of sulphuric acid, and those of hydrogen halide acids and their mixtures, although these are generally employed pure.", "Besides their character of teaching by example, the above acids are generally those most commonly utilized for Bamberger rearrangements.", "The solvents which can be employed for the Bamberger reaction are the usual solvents for this purpose.", "It will be recalled in particular that protic or aprotic organic solvents can be employed, which can consist at least partially of Nu-H, containing at least organic or inorganic acid.", "In general, the reaction is carried out in the absence of solvent or in a solvent chosen from water, alcohols, aromatic compounds and mixtures thereof.", "The solvent is advantageously chosen from protic solvents and preferably from water and alcohols, advantageously methanol and mixtures containing methanol.", "The same considerations apply to the hydrogenation reaction without Bamberger rearrangement, the only difference being the presence of strong acid.", "The temperatures used to conduct the reaction can vary within very wide limits.", "It is thus possible to operate from room temperature, theoretically up to the boiling temperature of the solvent employed, care being taken nevertheless not to exceed temperatures at which the substrate and/or the product to be obtained could decompose.", "In practice, the work is generally done at temperatures between room temperature and 400° C., advantageously between 20° and 250° C., and preferably between 50° and 150° C. In the liquid phase, the work is generally done at temperatures between room temperature and the boiling temperature of the reaction mixture under the operating conditions, advantageously between 20° C. and 200° C., and preferably between 50° and 150° C. The reaction can be conducted preferably at autogenous pressure in a closed reactor of the autoclave type containing a hydrogen atmosphere.", "In the latter case, the partial pressure of hydrogen may range from 2 to 100 atmospheres and preferably from 5 to 20 atmospheres.", "The reaction is preferably conducted with stirring, this being generally continued until the substrate has completely or virtually completely disappeared.", "At the end of the reaction, the catalyst is separated from the reaction mixture by any physical means of separation known per se, such as, for example, filtration, decantation, elutriation or centrifugation.", "The catalysts and/or the solvents thus recovered can then be recycled to the beginning of the process, either directly or following purification.", "Another objective of the present invention is to provide a new tungsten carbide-based catalyst whose kinetic characteristics are significantly improved in relation to tungsten carbide.", "This objective is obtained by subjecting tungsten carbide or a composite containing it to a treatment with hydrogen, or a compound that generates hydrogen under the conditions of the reaction, advantageously in liquid medium, at a temperature of at least 50° C., advantageously 100° C. and at a pressure of at least about 2 atmospheres, advantageously about 5 atmospheres, and preferably at about 10 atmospheres.", "More specifically, the activation is preferably carried out by subjecting the tungsten carbide, or composite containing tungsten carbide, to a hydrogenation treatment at a temperature of at least 60° C. at a pressure of at least 20 atmospheres or a temperature of 100° C. at a pressure of at least 10 atmospheres or a temperature of 150° C. at a pressure of at least 2 atmospheres.", "The upper values of pressure correspond to constraints of a practical nature.", "Purely by way of example, 100 atmospheres can be given as a practical upper limit of pressure.", "A rounded off value of 300° C., preferably of approximately 250° C., can be given as an upper value of temperature.", "This material can be employed especially as a hydrogenation catalyst for the reduction of nitroaromatic and nitrosoaromatic compounds.", "When the substitutions lend themselves to it, they permit the various Bamberger reactions and do so all the more easily since the catalyst according to the invention withstands acidic conditions very well.", "The catalyst can take the form of a monolithic substrate (honeycomb or the like) made of tungsten carbide, or of a monolithic substrate coated with a layer of tungsten carbide, or can also take the form of divided products made of, or coated with, tungsten carbide.", "A divided form is intended to mean pulverulent products (powders) and also the articles obtained by forming these products (beads, tablets, pellets, granulates, extrudates, agglomerates, and others, of circular, oval, trilobar or multilobar section, solid or hollow).", "Catalysts of bead, tablet and other type offer the advantage of being capable of subsequently being very rapidly separated from the reaction mixture merely by decanting.", "Catalysts of pulverulent type generally require a filtration for their separation.", "The above mentioned catalyst forms are chosen with a specific surface which is appropriate for the application being considered.", "In practice, it is possible to use a tungsten carbide whose specific surface as measured by the BET (Brunauer, Emmett and Teller) method, can vary from a tenth to several hundred or even one thousand or several thousand square meters per gram and in general from 1 to 500 m 2 /g.", "It will be possible to use for this purpose either tungsten carbides available commercially or tungsten carbides which will have been synthesized by any process known per se.", "By way of example, tungsten carbides with high specific surfaces can be manufactured by the process described in Patent Application PCT/FR90/00204.", "DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Tungsten carbides in which the tungsten/carbon ratio is in the region of 1, denoted by WC, are preferred.", "Advantageously, the process applies to the nitro compounds corresponding to the formula (I): (Z) q (Y) p (X) n --Ar--(NO m )x in which Ar denotes a mono- or polycyclic, homo or heterocyclic, aromatic radical optionally substituted by an alkyl group containing 1 to 4 carbon atoms, an aralkyl or alkenyl group, or a functional group such as hydroxyl, trifluoromethyl, nitrile, acid, ester, ketone, an unsaturated acid, ether, or heterocyclic ring;", "X, Y and Z denote a halogen chosen from fluorine, chlorine and bromine;", "x denotes an integer from 1 to 3;", "n, p and q denote an integer from 0 to 5 it being possible for the sum n+p+q to be equal to or greater than 0;", "and m is 1 or 2.", "Ar preferably denotes a monocyclic aromatic radical, X and Y represent chlorine or fluorine, q is 0 and the sum of n+p is from zero to 3.", "Most preferably, Ar denotes a monocyclic, homocyclic aromatic radical, X and Y represent chlorine or fluorine, q is 0 and the sum n+p is from 1 to 3.", "When employed for an at least partial amidation of the aniline which is being formed, the process is directed, in addition to those specified above, to those compounds of the following formula where Ar is Ed r Ar': (Ed) r --Ar'-(NO m ) x formula (II) where Ed denotes one or a number of similar or different groups, such as, e.g., alkyl groups containing 1 to 4 carbon atoms, an aralkyl or an alkenyl group, or a functional group such as hydroxyl, trifluoromethyl, nitrile, acid, ester, ketone, unsaturated acid, ether, or heterocyclic ring, and where r is an integer from 0 to 3, advantageously chosen from 0, 1 or 2.", "Where m is 1 or 2, Ar'", "and x have the values shown above.", "Thus, Ar'", "is a mono or polycyclic aromatic radical, either homo or heterocyclic, which is optionally substituted.", "For both Ar and Ar', the number of rings is preferably equal to 5 at most, and more preferably 3.", "The reaction is particularly interesting for molecules wherein Ed is alcoxyl, acyloxyl, and hydroxyl.", "In fact, the different Ed do not significantly alter the operability of the reaction.", "Yet these groups are of interest since the tungsten carbides make possible a surprising selectivity of the hydrogenation of the nitro group in relation to the Ed group.", "It should also be pointed out that when the groups are electro-donors, the reactivity of the aniline function is increased.", "In the majority of situations, this results in many high molecular weight by-products.", "The same can be said of polynitro compounds having multiple nitro groups on the same nucleus, which result in well-known, extremely active polyanilines.", "Finally, the hydrogenation of compounds carrying more than three nitro functions is also included in this invention, provided there are at most three nitro functions per ring.", "Although the scope of derivatives that can be treated in this manner is extremely broad, it is best that these compositions be liquid in working conditions, or else be soluble in the reaction medium.", "It is thus easier to manipulate compositions wherein the total carbon number equals 50 at most, and preferably 30.", "When it is desired to run the amidation reaction, a mixture containing the acid whose amide it is desired to make is employed as a solvent.", "Besides this acid, it may contain water and an inert, preferably polar, solvent.", "Sulfuric, sulfonic, phosphoric and, above all, carboxylic acids may be mentioned among the acids.", "It is preferable that the boiling point of these acids be higher than approximately 150° C.;", "if this is not the case, it will be necessary to accept working at a partial pressure of the said acid of more than one atmosphere (10 5 pascals).", "The reaction is well-suited to carboxylic acids, preferably monoacids, in which the number of carbons is from 1 to 30, preferably 2 to 20.", "This reaction is particularly advantageous for acids of low molecular weight, especially acetic acid.", "This reaction runs particularly well when the para or para-like positions are occupied by a substituent which is especially an electron donor.", "In particular, this substituent may be a phenol functional group or a derived functional group, ester or ether.", "By way of guidance, the amidation reaction can in principle be used at a temperature of about 0° to 300° C. or more.", "This amidation reaction generally takes place at high temperature, that is to say at a temperature significantly higher than 100° C. The temperature at which the amidation reaction commences depends on the substrate, the acid and the acid concentration.", "It can be easily determined by a person skilled in the art using routine tests, as long as the practitioner is aware of the existence of this amidation under nonconcomitant conditions of hydrogenation.", "This amidation is generally virtually complete in the case of temperatures higher than or equal to 150° C. A reaction temperature of 150° C. to 250° C. is therefore preferably chosen.", "This reaction is at the same time 1) very advantageous from the viewpoint of economy, because it makes it possible to employ relatively inexpensive reactants such as acids instead of various anhydrides (including the mixed anhydrides obtained by elimination of water between hydrogen halide acids and oxygen-containing acids which are, in fact, acid chlorides) and 2) very surprising from the scientific viewpoint.", "In fact, during the hydrogenations using tungsten carbide which were conducted previously, the work was restricted to relatively low temperatures, generally not exceeding 100° C., to avoid the formation of numerous by-products which were difficult to separate subsequently from the desired product.", "Instead of the free acid, it is possible to employ reactants (symmetrical or mixed anhydride or esters) which under the operating conditions liberate the acid whose anilide it is desired to make.", "It is a complete surprise that the presence of tungsten carbide, on the one hand, prevents the formation of these by-products and, on the other hand, appears to promote the amidation reaction.", "To obtain a satisfactory yield of anilide, it is desirable to employ acid in a stoichiometric excess.", "There is no upper limit, save an economical one, but it can be mentioned that, in the case of a noncontinuous process, an excess at the beginning of reaction of 0.1 to 4 times, preferably of 0.5 to 3 times the stoichiometric quantity gives a good result;", "whereas, in the case of a continuous process, an excess which is higher than the lowest of the above values is preferred.", "The quantity of water may vary from 0, preferably 10, to 50% by volume of the acid employed.", "Another objective of the present invention is to provide a new tungsten carbide-based hydrogenation reaction mixture whose kinetic characteristics are sufficiently improved in comparison to tungsten carbide.", "This objective is attained by a reaction mixture characterized in that it comprises: tungsten carbide treated with hydrogen;", "a liquid phase comprising a nitro or nitroso compound as described above;", "and hydrogen at a pressure of at least approximately 2 atmospheres, advantageously approximately 5 atmospheres, preferably approximately 10 atmospheres.", "The following nonlimiting examples illustrate the invention.", "In the following examples, the tungsten carbide has a specific surface of approximately 1 m 2 /g.", "Insofar as the partial pressure of hydrogen is concerned, it should be noted that the practice has been to follow the techniques which are conventional in this context, that is to say that the reactor in which the reaction is carried out is connected to a hydrogen bottle by means of a check valve device which controls the pressure in the reactor at the value which is displayed.", "The partial pressure of hydrogen at the reaction temperature is therefore the displayed pressure minus the autogenous pressure of the reaction mixture.", "It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the use of pure hydrogen;", "this may be employed in the form of a gas mixture so long as the gases with which it is mixed are substantially inert under the reaction conditions.", "Its surprising low sensitivity to sulfur-containing poisons predisposes the reaction mixture according to the invention to the use of gases originating from the gasification of inorganic carbon derivatives such as coals.", "Water gas, in particular, should be mentioned.", "With regard to the yields, the following abbreviations apply: ##EQU1## EXAMPLE 1 Hydrogenation of Nitrobenzene 0.5 g of nitrobenzene was introduced into a 35-ml glass bulb and 15 ml of EtOH (ethyl alcohol) and 0.45 g of tungsten carbide was added.", "The bulb was introduced into a 125-ml stainless steel autoclave.", "Purging was carried out twice with 10 atmospheres of nitrogen, then twice with 20 atmospheres of hydrogen.", "A hydrogen pressure of 20 atmospheres was applied and the mixture was heated to 100° C. with agitation.", "These conditions were maintained for 4 hours.", "The autoclave was cooled in a water bath.", "The organic phase was drawn off.", "Analysis by gas phase chromatography (GPC) of the product gave a DC of 100% and a selectivity for aniline of 95%.", "The catalyst system was recycled without loss of activity.", "EXAMPLE 2 Hydrogenation of Nitrobenzene with Bamberger Rearrangement 1.0 g of nitrobenzene and 9 ml of 40% Sulfuric acid were introduced into a 35-ml glass bulb.", "0.97 g of tungsten carbide was added.", "The glass bulb was introduced into a 125-ml autoclave.", "Purging was carried out twice with 5 atmospheres of nitrogen, then three times with 5 atmospheres of hydrogen.", "5 atmospheres of hydrogen were applied.", "The pressure was kept constant throughout the reaction period.", "The mixture was heated to 115° C. with agitation.", "After 5 h and 45 min of reaction, the autoclave was cooled with a water bath.", "GPC analysis of the reaction mixture after treatment gave a DC of 99.8% and 58% of p-aminophenol.", "The catalyst system was recycled without loss of activity.", "EXAMPLE 3 Hydrogenation of 3,4-dichloronitrobenzene 10 g of 3,4-dichloronitrobenzene were charged into a 125-ml autoclave and 5.1 g of tungsten carbide and 40 ml of methanol were added.", "Purging was carried out twice with 5 atmospheres of nitrogen and twice with 20 atmospheres of hydrogen.", "Twenty atmospheres of hydrogen were applied and the mixture was heated to 110° C. with agitation.", "The pressure was kept constant.", "After 4 hours'", "reaction, the autoclave was purged twice with 10 atmospheres of nitrogen after it had cooled.", "The reaction mixture was filtered.", "The DC, which is 100, was determined by GPC (gas phase chromatography) analysis.", "Its selectivity for 3,4-dichloroaniline was higher than 99%.", "The presence of chloride, which corresponds to a molar DC not exceeding 0.05%, was detected by polarographic determination.", "EXAMPLE 4 Hydrogenation of p-nitrophenol 0.55 g of p-nitrophenol, 15 ml of methanol and 0.45 g of tungsten carbide were introduced into a 35-ml glass bulb.", "The glass bulb was introduced into the 125-ml stainless steel autoclave.", "Purging was carried out twice with 10 atmospheres of nitrogen, then twice with 20 atmospheres of hydrogen.", "A hydrogen pressure of 20 atmospheres was applied and the mixture was heated to 100° C. while agitating.", "These conditions were maintained for 4 hours.", "Cooling was carried out in a water bath.", "The organic phase was drawn off and was determined by GPC.", "A 59% DC and a 99% selectivity for p-aminophenol were obtained.", "The catalyst system was recycled without loss of activity.", "EXAMPLE 5 Role of the Solvent in the Hydrogenation of p-nitrophenol 0.55 g of p-nitrophenol and 0.39 g of tungsten carbide were charged into a 30-ml autoclave.", "10 ml of water-acetic acid solvent in varying proportions were added.", "Purging was carried out twice with 5 atmospheres of nitrogen then twice with 20 atmospheres of hydrogen.", "A pressure of 20 atmospheres of hydrogen was applied and the mixture was heated to a temperature of 100° C., while agitating and maintaining the pressure at 20 atmospheres.", "After 4 hours'", "reaction, the reaction products were analyzed by GPC.", "The results are given in the table below.", "______________________________________ YIELD OF P-AMINOPHENOL RELATIVE TO PARA-NITRO-SOLVENTS PHENOL (RY)ACOH ml H.sub[.", "].2 O ml DC RY______________________________________10 0 8 6%9 1 39 39%8 2 69 69%6 4 87 85%5 5 98 98%2 8 99 98%______________________________________ EXAMPLE 6 Role of the Solvent in the Hydrogenation Of p-nitrophenol Using A Palladium-Based Catalyst This is a comparison example which used a palladium-based catalyst (9 mg 3% Pd/C) but which otherwise employed the conditions of Example 5.", "The result is: ______________________________________ YIELD OF P-AMINOPHENOL RELATIVE TO PARA-NITRO-SOLVENTS PHENOL (RY)AcOH ml H.sub[.", "].2 O ml DC RY______________________________________10 0 100% 54%______________________________________ EXAMPLE 7 Reaction in Vapor Phase 5 ml of quartz, 1 ml of tungsten carbide and 5 ml of quartz were introduced into a 20-mm glass reactor.", "The reactor was heated by an electric oven at 450° C. for 1 hour while the catalyst bed was swept with a stream of hydrogen at 2 liters per hour.", "The temperature was then reduced to 240° C. and while maintaining a stream of 2 liters per hour of hydrogen, nitrobenzene was introduced at a rate of 0.5 ml per hour with the aid of a syringe drive.", "After 3 hours'", "reaction, GPC analysis gave the degree of conversion (DC) and the real yield (RY) of p-aminophenol were: DC=48% RY=39% EXAMPLE 8 Preparation of Aceto-p-aminophenol (APAP) by Hydrogenation/Acylation Coreaction in Acetic Acid, Catalyzed by Pd/C 7.5 g of p-nitrophenol and 15 ml of an acetic acid-water mixture in the ratio of 80%/20% respectively, by weight, were introduced into a 35-ml glass bulb.", "15 mg of 3% Pd/C were introduced.", "The glass bulb was introduced into a 125-ml autoclave.", "The autoclave was closed.", "Purging was carried out twice with 10 atmospheres of nitrogen, then twice with 10 atmospheres of hydrogen.", "A pressure of 20 atmospheres was then applied to the autoclave and the mixture was heated to 150° C. with agitation.", "After the end of hydrogen absorption, the autoclave was cooled to room temperature.", "The reaction mixture was analyzed by HPLC.", "The conversion was 17% and the catalyst was poisoned.", "EXAMPLE 9 Preparation of APAP by Hydrogenation/Acylation Coreaction in Acetic Acid Catalyzed by Tungsten Carbide 7.5 g of p-nitrophenol, 15 ml of an acetic acid/water mixture containing 80% of acetic acid and 20% of water were introduced into a 35-ml glass bulb.", "3 g of tungsten carbide were introduced.", "The glass bulb was introduced into a 125-ml autoclave.", "The latter was closed and purged twice with 10 atmospheres of nitrogen, then twice with 10 atmospheres of hydrogen.", "The autoclave was then placed under 20 atmospheres of hydrogen and heated to 150° C. with agitation.", "The autoclave pressure was maintained at 20 atmospheres throughout the reaction period.", "After the hydrogen absorption ended, the autoclave was cooled to room temperature.", "The conversion was complete and 99.5% of APAP was determined by HPLC.", "The tungsten carbide was recycled without loss of activity.", "EXAMPLE 10 Hydrogenation of 5-Chloro-2-fluoronitrobenzene 10 g of 5-chloro-2-fluoronitrobenzene and 10 ml of water-methanol mixture in the ratio 2/8 were introduced into a 35-ml glass bulb.", "2.5 g of tungsten carbide were then introduced.", "The glass bulb was charged into a 125-ml autoclave.", "The latter was purged twice with 10 atmospheres of nitrogen, then twice with 10 atmospheres of hydrogen.", "The reactor was then placed under 20 atmospheres of hydrogen, agitated and heated to 120° C. The pressure of 10 atmospheres in the autoclave was maintained throughout the reaction period.", "After 4 hours'", "reaction, the hydrogen consumption ceased.", "These conditions were further maintained for 1 hour.", "GPC analysis showed that the conversion was complete and that the yield of 5-chloro-2-fluoroaniline was higher than 99.8%.", "The hydrodehalogenation was lower than 0.2%, measured by ionometry.", "EXAMPLE 11 Hydrogenation of 2,3-dichloronitrobenzene 10 g of 2,3-dichloronitrobenzene and 10 ml of a water/methanol mixture in the ratio of 2/8 were introduced into a 35-ml glass bulb.", "2.5 g of tungsten carbide were added.", "The glass bulb was introduced into a 125-ml autoclave.", "The autoclave was closed and purged twice with 10 atmospheres of nitrogen, then twice with 10 atmospheres of hydrogen.", "The autoclave was then placed under 20 atmospheres of hydrogen and heated to 120° C. with agitation.", "The pressure of 20 atmospheres was maintained in the autoclave.", "After 3 hours'", "reaction, the hydrogen consumption ceased.", "These temperature and pressure conditions were further maintained for 1 hour.", "By GPC determination it was shown that the conversion was complete and the yield of 2,3-dichloroaniline was higher than 99.5%.", "The hydrodechlorination was lower than 0.2%.", "The catalyst was recycled without loss of activity.", "EXAMPLE 12 Hydrogenation/Acylation of 3-chloro-4-fluoronitrobenzene in Acetic Acid 10 g of 3-chloro-4-fluoronitrobenzene and 10 ml of a 90/10 by weight acetic acid/water mixture were introduced into a 35-ml glass bulb.", "2.5 g. of tungsten carbide were added.", "The glass bulb was introduced into a 125-ml autoclave.", "The latter was closed and purged twice with 10 atmospheres of N 2 and then twice with 10 atmospheres of hydrogen.", "The autoclave was then placed under 30 atmospheres of hydrogen and heated to 150° C. with agitation.", "The hydrogen pressure was maintained at 20 atmospheres throughout the reaction period.", "After the hydrogen absorption has ended, cooling was applied.", "The conversion was complete and the yield of 3-chloro-4-fluoroacetanilide was 97%.", "EXAMPLE 13 Hydrogenation/Acylation of 3,4-dichloronitrobenzene in Acetic Acid 10 g of 3,4-dichloronitrobenzene and 10 ml of a 90/10 by weight acetic acid/water mixture were introduced into a 35-ml glass bulb.", "2.5 g of tungsten carbide were added.", "The glass bulb was introduced into a 125-ml autoclave.", "The latter was closed and purged twice with 10 atmospheres of nitrogen, then twice with 10 atmospheres of hydrogen.", "The autoclave was then placed under 20 atmospheres of hydrogen and heated to 150° C. with agitation.", "The autoclave pressure was maintained at 20 atmospheres throughout the reaction period.", "After the hydrogen absorption ended, cooling was applied.", "The conversion was complete and the yield of N-acetyl-3,4-dichloroaniline was 98%.", "EXAMPLE 14 Hydrogenation of 2,4-dinitrotoluene in a semicontinuous process 200 ml of water and 2.5 gram of tungsten carbide were introduced into a 750 ml SOTOLEM™ reactor.", "The glass bulb reactor was introduced into a 125 ml.", "closed autoclave.", "The reactor was purged twice with 10 atmospheres of nitrogen and twice with 10 atmospheres of hydrogen.", "20 atmospheres of hydrogen were charged to the autoclave and the pressure quickly rose to 90 atmospheres when the mixture was heated to 185° C. with agitation.", "Over a period of 70 minutes, a solution of 26 grams of 2,4-dinitrotoluene and 100 ml of diglyme was injected.", "The total pressure was maintained at 90 atmospheres for the duration of the reaction.", "The consumption of hydrogen was measured by pressure difference in a reservoir of known volume.", "Immediately following the end of the injection of the 2,4-dinitrotoluene, the consumption of hydrogen stopped.", "Gas chromatography of the reaction medium showed that the DC was 100% and the yield based on the material converted (RY) was 99% 2,4-diaminotoluene." ]

[ "This invention was made with Government support under MDA972-97-C-0012 contract no. awarded by DARPA.", "The Government has certain rights in this invention.", "FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to speech recognition and to methods and apparatus for facilitating the same.", "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Modern speech recognition systems use cepstral features characterizing the short-term spectrum of the speech signal for classifying frames into phonetic classes.", "Cepstral features are features that are typically obtained through an orthogonal transformation (such as a discrete cosine transform) of short-term spectral features.", "These cepstral features are augmented with dynamic information from the adjacent frames to capture transient spectral events in the signal.", "What is commonly referred to as MFCC+Δ+ΔΔ features include “static”", "mel-frequency cepstral coefficients (usually 13) plus their first and second order derivatives computed over a sliding window of typically 9 consecutive frames yielding 39-dimensional feature vectors every IOms.", "One major drawback of this front-end scheme is that the same computation is performed regardless of the application, channel conditions, speaker variability, etc.", "In recent years, an alternative feature extraction procedure based on discriminant techniques has emerged, wherein the consecutive cepstral frames are spliced together forming a supervector which is then projected down to a manageable dimension.", "One of the better known objective functions for designing the feature space projection is linear discriminant analysis (LDA).", "LDA, as discussed in Duda et al.", ", “Pattern classification and scene analysis”", "(Wiley, New York, 1973) and Fukunaga, “Introduction to statistical pattern recognition”", "(Academic Press, New York, 1973), is a standard technique in statistical pattern classification for dimensionality reduction with a minimal loss in discrimination.", "Its application to speech recognition has shown consistent gains for small vocabulary tasks and mixed results for large vocabulary applications (see Haeb-Umbach et al.", ", “Linear Discriminant Analysis for improved large vocabulary continuous speech recognition”, Proceedings of ICASSP '92, and Kumar et al.", ", “Heteroscedastic discriminant analysis and reduced rank HMM's (Hidden Markov Models) for improved speech recognition”, Speech Communication, 26:283-297, 1998).", "Recently, there has been an interest in extending LDA to heteroscedastic discriminant analysis (HDA) by incorporating the individual class covariances in the objective function (see Kumar et al.", ", supra, and Saon et al.", ", “Maximum likelihood discriminant feature spaces”, Proceedings of ICASSP '2000, Istanbul, 2000).", "Indeed, the equal class covariance assumption made by LDA does not always hold true in practice making the LDA solution highly suboptimal for specific cases (see Saon et al.", ", supra).", "However, since both LDA and HDA are heuristics, they do not guarantee an optimal projection in the sense of a minimum Bayes classification error (i.e., a minimum probability of misclassification).", "A need has thus been recognized in connection with selecting features on the basis of a minimum probability of misclassification.", "SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the foregoing, the present invention, in accordance with at least one presently preferred embodiment, broadly contemplates employing feature space projections according to objective functions which are more intimately linked to the probability of misclassification.", "More specifically, the probability of misclassification in the original space, ε, will be defined, as well as in the projected space, ε θ , while conditions will be given under which ε θ =ε.", "Since after a projection y=θx discrimination information is usually lost, the Bayes error in the projected space will always increase, that is ε θ ≧ε.", "Therefore, minimizing ε θ amounts to finding θ for which the equality case holds.", "An alternative approach is to define an upper bound on ε θ and to directly minimize this bound.", "In summary, one aspect of the present invention provides a method of providing pattern recognition, the method comprising the steps of: inputting a pattern;", "transforming the input pattern to provide a set of at least one feature for a classifier;", "the transforming step comprising the step of minimizing the probability of subsequent misclassification of the at least one feature in the classifier;", "the minimizing step comprising: developing an objective function;", "and optimizing the objective function through gradient descent.", "Another aspect of the invention provides apparatus for providing pattern recognition, the apparatus comprising: an input interface for inputting a pattern;", "a transformer for transforming the input pattern to provide a set of at least one feature for a classifier;", "the transformer being adapted to minimize the probability of subsequent misclassification of the at least one feature in the classifier;", "the transformer further being adapted to: develop an objective function;", "and optimize the objective function through gradient descent.", "Furthermore, an additional aspect of the present invention provides a program storage device readable by machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform method steps for providing pattern recognition, the method comprising the steps of: inputting a pattern;", "transforming the input pattern to provide a set of at least one feature for a classifier;", "the transforming step comprising the step of minimizing the probability of subsequent misclassification of the at least one feature in the classifier;", "the minimizing step comprising: developing an objective function, and optimizing the objective function through gradient descent.", "For a better understanding of the present invention, together with other and further features and advantages thereof, reference is made to the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, and the scope of the invention will be pointed out in the appended claims.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a general pattern recognition arrangement.", "FIG. 2 schematically sets forth a method of minimum Bayes error feature selection.", "FIG. 3 illustrates the evolution of objective functions for divergence.", "FIG. 4 illustrates the evolution of objective functions for the Bhattacharyya bound.", "DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 illustrates a general arrangement 100 , such as a speech recognition arrangement, in which an input pattern 102 , such as a spoken utterance, enters a feature extractor 104 , from which features 106 will progress to a classifier 108 .", "The output 110 of classifier 108 will go into a post-processor 112 , from which the final output 114 emerges.", "The makeup and function of a feature extractor, classifier and post-processor are generally well-known to those of ordinary skill in the art.", "Duda et al.", ", supra, provides a good background discussion of these and other general concepts that may be employed in accordance with at least one presently preferred embodiment of the present invention.", "Towards extracting features from extractor 104 , the present invention broadly contemplates the use of minimum Bayes error feature selection, indicated schematically at 117 , and as will be elucidated upon herebelow.", "Reference is made immediately herebelow and throughout to FIG. 2 , which schematically illustrates a method for providing minimum Bayes error feature selection.", "With regard to Bayes error, one may first consider the general problem of classifying an n-dimensional vector x (input 102 ) into one of C distinct classes.", "Records ( 120 ) are input and a full-covariance Gaussian clustering of the records is undertaken for every class ( 122 ).", "By way of means, covariances and priors ( 124 ), an objective function is formed ( 126 ), and the objective function is preferably optimized through gradient descent ( 130 ).", "If the optimization converges ( 132 ), then all of the records x are transformed into y=qx, and the resulting output ( 134 ) represents the final features for the classifier 108 (see FIG. 1 ).", "This portion of the disclosure first addresses the Bayes error rate and its link to the divergence and the Bhattacharyya bound, as well as general considerations relating to minimum Bayes error feature selection.", "Let each class i be characterized by its own “prior”", "(i.e., prior probability) λ i and probability density function p i , i=1, .", ", C. Assume that x is classified as belonging to class j through the Bayes assignment: j =argmax 1≦i≦C λ i p i ( x ) dx.", "The expected error for this classifier is called Bayes error (see Fukunaga, supra), or probability of misclassification, and is defined as ɛ = 1 - ∫ R n ⁢ max 1 ≤ i ≤ Cq ⁢ λ i ⁢ p i ⁡ ( x ) ⁢ ⅆ x ( 1 ) Suppose next that the linear transformation f: n → p , y=f(x)=θx is performed, with θ being a p×n matrix of rank p≦n.", "Moreover, one may denote by p i θ the transformed density for class i. The Bayes error in the range of θ now becomes ɛ = 1 - ∫ R p ⁢ max 1 ≤ i ≤ C ⁢ λ i ⁢ p i θ ⁡ ( y ) ⁢ ⅆ y ( 2 ) Since the transformation y=θx produces a vector whose coefficients are linear combinations of the input vector x, it can be shown (see Decell et al.", ", “An iterative approach to the feature selection problem”, Proc.", "Purdue Univ.", "Conf.", "On Machine Processing of Remotely Sensed Data, 3B1-3B12, 1972) that, in general, information is lost and ε θ ≧ε.", "For a fixed p, the feature selection problem can be stated as finding {circumflex over (θ)} such that θ ^ = arg ⁢ ⁢ min θε ⁢ ⁢ R p × n , rank ⁡ ( θ ) = p ⁢ ɛ θ ( 3 ) However, an indirect approach to equation (3) is now contemplated: by maximizing the average pairwise divergence and relating it to ε θ and by minimizing the union Bhattacharyya bound on ε θ .", "In Kullback, “Information theory and statistics”", "(Wiley, New York, 1968), the symmetric divergence between class i and j is given by D ⁡ ( i , j ) = ∫ ℝ n ⁢ p i ⁡ ( x ) ⁢ log ⁢ p i ⁡ ( x ) p j ⁡ ( x ) + p j ⁡ ( x ) ⁢ log ⁢ p j ⁡ ( x ) p i ⁡ ( x ) ⁢ ⅆ x ( 4 ) D(i,j) represents a measure of the degree of difficulty of discriminating between the classes (the larger the divergence, the greater the separability between the classes).", "Similarly, one can define D θ (i,j), the pairwise divergence in the range of θ.", "Kullback, supra, showed that D θ (i,j)|D(i,j).", "If the equality case holds, then θ is called a “sufficient statistic for discrimination.”", "The average pairwise divergence is defined as D = 2 c ⁡ ( c - 1 ) ⁢ ∑ 1 ≤ i ≤ j ≤ C ⁢ D ⁡ ( i , j ) and respectively D θ = 2 c ⁡ ( c - 1 ) ⁢ ∑ 1 ≤ i ≤ j ≤ C ⁢ D θ ⁡ ( i , j ) .", "It follows that D θ ≦D.", "The following theorem, from Decell et al.", ", supra, provides a link between Bayes error and divergence for classes with uniform priors λ 1 = .", "=λ c (=1/C): Theorem: If D θ =D then ε θ =ε.", "The main idea of the proof of the above theorem is to show that if the divergences are the same then the Bayes assignment is preserved because the likelihood ratios are preserved almost everywhere: p i ⁡ ( x ) p i ⁡ ( x ) = p i θ ⁡ ( x ) p i θ ⁡ ( x ) , i ≠ j .", "The result follows by noting that for any measurable set A⊂ p ∫ A p i θ ( y ) dy=∫ θ −1 (A) p i ( x ) dx (5) where θ −1 (A)={xε n |θxεA} The previous theorem provides a basis for selecting θ such as to maximize D θ .", "The assumption may now be made that each class i is normally distributed with mean μ i and covariance Σ i , that is, p i (x)=N(x;", "μ i , Σ i ) and p i θ (y)=N(y;", "θμ i , θΣ i θ T ), i=1, .", ", C. It is straightforward to show that, in this case, the divergence is given by D ⁢ ( i , j ) = 1 2 ⁢ trace ⁢ { ∑ i - 1 ⁢ [ ∑ j ⁢ + ( μ i - μ j ) ⁢ ( μ i - μ j ) T ] + ∑ j - 1 ⁢ [ ∑ i ⁢ + ( μ i - μ j ) ⁢ ( μ i - μ j ) T ] } - n ( 6 ) Thus, the objective function to be maximized becomes D θ = 1 C ⁡ ( C - 1 ) ⁢ trace ⁢ { ∑ i = 1 C ⁢ ⁢ ( θ ⁢ ∑ i ⁢ θ T ) - 1 ⁢ θ ⁢ ⁢ S i ⁢ θ T } - p ( 7 ) where S i = ∑ j ≠ i ⁢ ∑ j ⁢ + ( μ i - μ j ) ⁢ ( μ i - μ j ) T , i = 1 , … , C .", "Following matrix differentiation results from Searle, “Matrix algebra useful for statistics”", "(Wiley Series in Probability and Mathematical Statistics, New York, 1982), D θ (indicated at 128 in FIG. 2 ) has a gradient with respect to θ and has the expression ∂ D θ ∂ θ = 1 C ⁡ ( C - 1 ) ⁢ ∑ i = 1 C ⁢ ⁢ ( θ ⁢ ∑ i ⁢ θ T ) - 1 ⁡ [ θ ⁢ ⁢ S i ⁢ θ T ⁡ ( θ ⁢ ∑ i ⁢ θ T ) - 1 ⁢ θ ⁢ ∑ i ⁢ - θ ⁢ ⁢ S i ] ( 8 ) The use of equation (8) is indicated in FIG. 2 at 130 .", "Unfortunately, it turns out that ∂ D θ ∂ θ = 0 has no analytical solutions for the stationary points.", "Instead, one has to use numerical optimization routines for the maximization of D θ .", "An alternative way of minimizing the Bayes error is to minimize an upper bound on this quantity.", "First, the following statement will be proven: ɛ ≤ ∑ 1 ≤ i ≤ j ≤ C ⁢ λ i ⁢ λ j ⁢ ∫ ℝ n ⁢ p i ⁡ ( x ) ⁢ p j ⁡ ( x ) ⁢ ⅆ x ( 9 ) Indeed, from Decell et al.", ", supra, the Bayes error can be rewritten as ɛ = ⁢ ∫ ℝ n ⁢ ∑ i = 1 C ⁢ ⁢ λ i ⁢ p i ⁡ ( x ) ⁢ ⅆ x - ∫ ℝ n ⁢ max 1 ≤ i ≤ C ⁢ λ i ⁢ p i ⁡ ( x ) ⁢ ⅆ x = ⁢ ∫ ℝ n ⁢ min 1 ≤ i ≤ C ⁢ ∑ j ≠ i ⁢ λ j ⁢ p j ⁡ ( x ) ⁢ ⅆ x ( 10 ) and for every x, there exists a permutation of the indices σ x : {1, .", ", C}→{1, .", ", C} such that the terms λ i p i (x), .", ", λ C p C (x) are sorted in increasing order, i.e. λ σ x (1) p σ x (1) (x)≦ .", "≦λ σ x (C) p σ x (C) (x).", "Moreover, for 1≦k≦C−1 λ σ x ⁡ ( k ) ⁢ p σ x ⁡ ( k ) ⁡ ( x ) ≤ λ σ x ⁡ ( k ) ⁢ p σ x ⁡ ( k ) ⁡ ( x ) ⁢ λ σ x ⁡ ( k + 1 ) ⁢ p σ x ⁡ ( k + 1 ) ⁡ ( x ) ( 11 ) from which it follows that min 1 ≤ i ≤ C ⁢ ∑ j ≠ i ⁢ λ i ⁢ p j ⁡ ( x ) = ⁢ ∑ k = 1 C - 1 ⁢ ⁢ λ σ x ⁡ ( k ) ⁢ p σ x ⁡ ( k ) ⁢ ( x ) ≤ ⁢ λ σ x ⁡ ( k ) ⁢ p σ x ⁡ ( k ) ⁡ ( x ) ⁢ λ σ x ⁡ ( k + 1 ) ⁢ p σ x ⁡ ( k + 1 ) ⁡ ( x ) ≤ ⁢ ∑ 1 ≤ i ≤ j ≤ C ⁢ λ i ⁢ p i ⁡ ( x ) ⁢ λ j ⁢ p j ⁡ ( x ) ( 12 ) which, when integrated over n , leads to equation (9).", "As previously, if it is assumed that the p i 's are normal distributions with means μ i and covariances Σ i , the bound given by the right-hand side of equation (9) has the closed form expression ∑ 1 ≤ i ≤ j ≤ C ⁢ λ i ⁢ λ j ⁢ ⅇ - p ⁡ ( i , j ) ( 13 ) where p ⁡ ( i , j ) = 1 8 ⁢ ( μ i - μ j ) T ⁡ [ ∑ i ⁢ + ∑ j 2 ] - 1 ⁢ ( μ i - μ j ) + 1 2 ⁢ log ⁢  ∑ i ⁢ + ∑ j 2   ∑ i  ⁢  ∑ j  ( 14 ) is called the Bhattacharyya distance between the normal distributions p i and p j (see Fukunaga, supra).", "Similarly, one can define ρ θ (i,j), the Bhattacharyya distance between the projected densities p i θ and p j θ .", "Combining equations (9) and (13), one obtains the following inequality (indicated in FIG. 2 at 126 ) involving the Bayes error rate in the projected space: ɛ θ ≤ ∑ 1 ≤ i ≤ j ≤ C ⁢ λ i ⁢ λ j ⁢ ⅇ - p θ ⁡ ( i , j ) ⁡ ( = B θ ) ( 15 ) The following simplifying notations will now be introduced: B ij = 1 4 ⁢ ( μ i - μ j ) ⁢ ( μ i - μ j ) T ⁢ ⁢ and W ij = 1 2 ⁢ ( ∑ i ⁢ + ∑ j ) , 1 ≤ i ≤ j ≤ C .", "From equation (14), it follows that: p θ ⁡ ( i , j ) = 1 2 ⁢ trace ⁢ { ( θ ⁢ ⁢ W ij ⁢ θ T ) - 1 ⁢ θ ⁢ ⁢ B ij ⁢ θ T } + 1 2 ⁢ log ⁢  θ ⁢ ⁢ W ij ⁢ θ T   θ ⁢ ∑ i ⁢ θ T  ⁢  θ ⁢ ∑ j ⁢ θ T  ( 16 ) (indicated in FIG. 2 at 126 ) and the gradient of B θ (indicated in FIG. 2 at 128 ) with respect to θ is ∂ B θ ∂ θ = - ∑ 1 ≤ i ≤ j ≤ C ⁢ λ i ⁢ λ j ⁢ ⅇ - p θ ⁡ ( i , j ) ⁢ ∂ p θ ⁡ ( i , j ) ∂ θ ( 17 ) (indicated in FIG. 2 at 130 ) with, again by making use of differentiation results from Searle, supra ∂ p θ ⁡ ( i , j ) ∂ θ = 1 2 ⁢ ( θ ⁢ ⁢ W ij ⁢ θ T ) - 1 ⁡ [ θ ⁢ ⁢ B ij ⁢ θ T ⁡ ( θ ⁢ ⁢ W ij ⁢ θ T ) - 1 ⁢ θ ⁢ ⁢ W ij - θ ⁢ ⁢ B ij ] + ( θ ⁢ ⁢ W ij ⁢ θ T ) - 1 ⁢ θ ⁢ ⁢ W ij - 1 2 ⁡ [ ( θ ⁢ ∑ i ⁢ θ T ) - 1 ⁢ θ ⁢ ∑ i ⁢ + ( θ ⁢ ∑ j ⁢ θ T ) - 1 ⁢ θ ⁢ ∑ j ] ( 18 ) The use of equation (18) is indicated in FIG. 2 at 130 .", "In connection with the foregoing discussion, speech recognition experiments were conducted on a voicemail transcription task (see Padmanabhan et al.", ", “Recent improvements in voicemail transcription”, Proceedings of EUROSPEECH '99, Budapest, Hungary, 1999).", "The baseline system had 2.3 K context dependent HMM states and 134K diagonal Gaussian mixture components and was trained on approximately 70 hours of data.", "The test set consisted of 86 messages (approximately 7000 words).", "The baseline system used 39-dimensional frames (13 cepstral coefficients plus deltas and double deltas computed from 9 consecutive frames).", "For the divergence and Bhattacharyya projections, every 9 consecutive 24-dimensional cepstral vectors were spliced together forming 216-dimensional feature vectors which were then clustered to estimate one full covariance Gaussian density for each state.", "Subsequently, a 39×216 transformation θ was computed using the objective functions for the divergence (equation [7]) and the Bhattacharyya bound (equation [15]), which projected the models and feature space down to 39 dimensions.", "As mentioned in Haeb-Umbach et al, supra, it is not clear what the most appropriate class definition for the projections should be.", "The best results were obtained by considering each individual HMM state as a separate class, with the priors of the Gaussians summing up to one across states.", "Both optimizations were initialized with the LDA matrix and carried out using a conjugate gradient descent routine with user supplied analytic gradient from the NAG (Numerical Algebra Group) Fortran library.", "(The NAG Fortran library is a collection of mathematical subroutines—or subprograms—for performing various scientific/mathematical computations such as: solving systems of linear or non-linear equations, function integration, differentiation, matrix operations, eigensystem analysis, constrained or unconstrained function optimization, etc.) The routine performs an iterative update of the inverse of the Hessian of the objective function by accumulating curvature information during the optimization.", "FIG. 3 illustrates the evolution of objective functions for divergence, while FIG. 4 illustrates the evolution of objective functions for the B Bhattacharyya bound.", "The parameters of the baseline system (with 134K Gaussians) were then re-estimated in the transformed spaces using the EM algorithm.", "Table 1 summarizes the improvements in the word error rates for the different systems.", "TABLE 1 System Word Error Rate Baseline (MFCC + Δ + ΔΔ) 39.61% LDA 37.39% Interclass divergence 36.32% Bhattacharyya bound 35.73% In recapitulation, two methods for performing discriminant feature space projections have been presented.", "Unlike LDA, they both aim to directly minimize the probability of misclassification in the projected space by either maximizing the interclass divergence and relating it to the Bayes error or by directly minimizing an upper bound on the classification error.", "Both methods lead to defining smooth objective functions which have as argument projection matrices and which can be numerically optimized.", "Experimental results on large vocabulary continuous speech recognition over the telephone show the superiority of the resulting features over their LDA or cepstral counterparts.", "Some primary applications of the methods and arrangements discussed herein relate to pattern recognition, including speech recognition.", "Other examples of pattern recognition, which may make use of the embodiments of the present invention, include but are not limited to: handwriting and optical character recognition (OCR), speaker identification and verification, signature verification (for security applications), object recognition and scene analysis (such as aircraft identification based on aerial photographs), crops monitoring, submarine identification based on acoustic signature, and several others.", "It is to be understood that the present invention, in accordance with at least one presently preferred embodiment, includes an input interface for inputting a pattern and a transformer for transforming the input pattern to provide a set of at least one feature for a classifier.", "Together, the input interface and transformer may be implemented on at least one general-purpose computer running suitable software programs.", "These may also be implemented on at least one Integrated Circuit or part of at least one Integrated Circuit.", "Thus, it is to be understood that the invention may be implemented in hardware, software, or a combination of both.", "If not otherwise stated herein, it is to be assumed that all patents, patent applications, patent publications and other publications (including web-based publications) mentioned and cited herein are hereby fully incorporated by reference herein as if set forth in their entirety herein.", "Although illustrative embodiments of the present invention have been described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to those precise embodiments, and that various other changes and modifications may be affected therein by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention." ]

[ "This is a divisional application of application Ser.", "No. 07/860,409, filed Mar. 30, 1992, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,329,329.", "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a zoom lens barrel unit of a zoom lens camera or other similar device and a viewfinder of a zoom lens camera.", "More specifically, the present invention relates to a zoom lens barrel unit which is more compact in the retracted position and a viewfinder of a zoom lens camera in which a zoom lens barrel unit is made more compact through the provision of a smaller cam ring for detecting the degree of zooming.", "One example of a conventional zoom lens of the prior art is disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication Laid-Open No. 306808/1989.", "The structure and operation of that conventional zoom lens is bulky both in length and diameter than is desired.", "This result exists because the inside of the barrel unit in this disclosure has cam grooves required for operation.", "Also, a moving mechanism is made of several pieces, at least one of which that is required for zoom operation.", "A further conventional zoom lens camera which conducts a zooming operation interlockingly with the zooming of a photographic optical system is described, for example, in Japanese Patent Publication Laid-Open No. 207731/1989.", "A viewfinder of such a conventional zoom lens camera sits on the cam in the barrel so that the viewfinder will move with the cam.", "This requires that the cam groove be extended to have a length corresponding to the maximum axial movement of the viewfinder.", "This requires a longer barrel member than is desired.", "The present invention seeks to remedy these drawbacks of the prior art, allowing for the manufacture of a zoom lens which is more compact in the retracted position and a viewfinder of a zoom lens camera in which the zoom lens barrel unit is made more compact through the provision of a smaller cam ring used for detecting the degree of zooming.", "OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a zoom lens barrel unit for a zoom lens camera, and more particularly, to a more compact zoom lens barrel unit.", "It is a further object of the invention to provide a viewfinder of a zoom lens camera having a more compact zoom lens barrel unit formed with a smaller cam ring used for detecting the degree of zooming during viewfinder operation.", "Briefly stated, the present invention provides a lens barrel unit for a zoom lens camera which is more compact in the axial optical direction in the retracted state because the lens group moving means and linear movement guiding means are juxtaposed along the optical axis.", "The lens barrel unit also has a reduced outer diameter due to a reduction in the need for a separate outer helicoid portion of the moving means and elimination of guiding grooves on the inside of the fixed barrel unit.", "According to an embodiment of the invention, there is provided a zoom lens barrel unit comprising: a fixed barrel member, at least first and second lens groups, a cam ring concentrically disposed inside the fixed barrel member, a plurality of cam grooves in the cam ring for guiding at least two lens groups, moving means positioned between the fixed barrel member and the cam ring for moving the cam ring in a first direction along the optical axis when the cam ring is rotated about the optical axis inside the barrel member, a linear movement guiding plate disposed within the cam ring parallel to the optical axis and affixed at one of its ends to the fixed barrel member, a rear lens group moving member concentrically disposed inside the cam ring and supporting a rear lens group, the rear lens group moving member including a plurality of guide pins insertable through a set of rear lens group cam grooves of the cam ring, a catching portion insertable into and attachable with the linear movement guiding plate in the optical axial direction through the rear lens group moving member and a plurality of linear movement guiding grooves formed in the rear lens group moving member in the optical axial direction, and a front lens group moving member concentrically disposed inside the rear lens group moving member and supporting a front lens group, the front lens group moving member including a plurality of guide pins insertable through the plurality of linear movement guiding grooves of the rear lens group moving member and a set of front lens group cam grooves in the cam ring.", "The rear lens group comprises a plurality of guide pins insertable through a set of rear lens group cam grooves of the cam ring, a catching portion insertable into and attachable with the linear movement guiding plate in the optical axial direction through the rear lens group moving member and a plurality of linear movement guiding grooves formed in the rear lens group moving member in the optical axial direction.", "Also, a front lens group moving member concentrically disposed inside said rear lens group moving member and supporting a front lens group is provided.", "The front lens group comprises a plurality of guide pins insertable through the plurality of linear movement guiding grooves of the rear lens group moving member and a set of front lens group cam grooves of the cam ring.", "According to a feature of the invention, there is provided a viewfinder of a zoom lens camera, comprising: a camera body, a fixed barrel member, a cam ring concentrically disposed inside the fixed barrel member and moveable in a first direction along an optical axis pursuant to the rotation of the cam ring about the optical axis, a photographic optical system concentrically disposed inside the cam ring and moveable in the first direction interlockingly with the cam ring pursuant to the rotation of the cam ring about the optical axis, and a viewfinder optical system, the viewfinder optical system including an interlocking ring concentrically disposed around an outer surface of the cam ring with a ridge on an outer surface thereof, the interlocking ring being moved interlockingly in a direction of the optical axis with the cam ring, a guiding recess in the fixed barrel member extending generally in an optical axial direction for receiving and guiding the ridge of the interlocking ring, and interlocking means for moving the viewfinder optical system parallel to the optical axis interlockingly with movement of the ridge.", "Also, a viewfinder optical system is provided comprising an interlocking ring concentrically disposed around an outer surface of the cam ring with a ridge on an outer surface thereof, whereby the interlocking ring is moved interlockingly in the optical axial direction with the cam ring, a guiding recess formed in the fixed barrel member in an optical axial direction for receiving and guiding the ridge of the interlocking ring and interlocking means for moving the viewfinder optical system in parallel with the optical axis interlockingly with movement of the ridge.", "The above, and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals designate the same elements.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a zoom lens camera having a zoom lens barrel unit and a viewfinder according to an embodiment of the present invention.", "FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the zoom lens barrel unit depicted in FIG. 1 in the retracted state.", "FIG. 3 is a sectional view of another zoom lens barrel unit of the present invention in the retracted state.", "FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the zoom lens barrel unit, taken along IV--IV of FIG. 3. FIG. 5 depicts a development of the inner helicoid ring of the present invention.", "FIG. 6 is a development of the cam ring of the present invention.", "FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the zoom lens barrel unit of the present invention depicted in an extended wide-angle state.", "FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the zoom lens barrel unit of the present invention depicted in an extended telephoto state.", "FIG. 9a and FIG. 9b depict an embodiment of the present invention for use with an explanation and comparison of dimensions of a conventional zoom lens camera device of the prior art, depicted in FIG. 9c and FIG. 9d.", "FIG. 9c and FIG. 9d depict a conventional zoom lens camera device of the prior art for use with an explanation and comparison of dimensions of an embodiment of the present invention, depicted in FIG. 9a and FIG. 9b.", "FIG. 10 is a sectional view of a conventional zoom lens barrel of the prior art.", "FIG. 11 is a front view of a conventional viewfinder of the prior art.", "FIG. 12 is a sectional view of a conventional viewfinder of the prior art.", "DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to FIG. 10, Japanese Patent Publication Laid-Open No. 306808/1989 discloses a cam ring 2 installed in a fixed barrel 1 of a prior-art zoom lens.", "A moving means 3 for rotationally revolving cam ring 2 is disposed near the front end of fixed barrel 1.", "Linear motion of moving means 3 causes concomitant movement of the cam ring in the optical axial direction.", "Moving means 3 consists of an outer helicoid 3a at the fixed barrel side engaging an inner helicoid 3b adjacent cam ring 2.", "A guide ring 4 that moves together with cam ring 2 in the optical axial direction is disposed inside cam ring 2.", "A linear movement guide plate 5 at the rear end of guide ring 4 hooks onto a guiding groove 1a formed in the inner surface of fixed barrel 1 in the optical axial direction thereby preventing rotation of guide ring 4.", "Guide ring 4 also includes a linear movement guiding groove 4a that is formed therein in the optical axial direction.", "A rear group moving frame 7 and a front group moving frame 9, defining the photographic optical system, hold a rear lens group 6 and a front lens group 8, respectively, are installed inside guide ring 4.", "The rear group moving frame 7 and front group moving frame 9 include guide pins 7a and 9a, respectively, inserted into a cam groove 2a and a cam 2b of cam ring 2, respectively, through linear movement guiding groove 4a.", "When cam ring 2 is rotated by a driving means (not shown), it moves in the optical axial direction together with guide ring 4, guide ring 4 being restrained from revolving.", "Rear group moving frame 7 and front group moving frame 9 also move in the optical direction along cam grooves 2a and 2b of cam ring 2, while being restrained from revolving.", "In this manner, rear lens 6 and front lens 8, of rear group moving frame 7 and front group moving frame 9, respectively, are extended or retracted.", "Referring now to FIGS. 11 and 12, a prior-art device disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication Laid-Open No. 207731/1989 has a viewfinder including a cam portion 2c on the outer surface of a cam ring 2.", "Rotation of cam ring 2 moves the photographic optical system of the camera in the optical axial direction thereby effecting zooming as was described in the example of a conventional zoom lens of the prior art as described above.", "An interlocking lever 10a installed in a viewfinder optical system 10 attached to the camera body contacts cam portion 2c.", "This prior-art device operates as follows.", "When cam ring 2 is rotated, the photographic optical system moves along the optical axial direction thereby conducting zooming.", "At the same time, interlocking lever 10a moves along cam portion 2c causing viewfinder optical system 10 to move in the optical axial direction, thereby effecting zooming of the lenses of the viewfinder optical system.", "In this manner, viewfinder optical system zooming follows photographic optical system zooming.", "Zoom lens type cameras are extremely popular today due to their wide ranging viewing capability.", "There is a need however, to make zoom lens cameras more compact.", "Compactness in camera construction is a very desireable quality, greatly lending itself to camera marketability.", "Concomitantly, there is great demand to reduce the outer barrel diameter of the zoom lens barrel unit and the barrel depth of the zoom lens barrel unit in its collapsed state.", "A conventional zoom lens barrel of the prior art described above, however, has inherent physical characteristics of the design which limit the ability of the designer to improve compactness.", "This is because their structure requires guide ring 4 for movement in the optical axial direction, linear movement guiding plate 5 and guide groove 1a of fixed barrel 1 in order to restrain the rotation of rear group moving frame 7 and front group moving frame 9.", "More precisely, because fixed barrel 1 requires guiding groove 1a to prevent the rotation of guide ring 4, the outer diameter of fixed barrel 1 must be as large as the space taken by guiding groove 1a therein.", "Therefore, because moving means 3, guiding groove 1a and linear movement guiding plate 5 are positioned in a straight line, the length of zoom lens barrel unit is quite large in its retracted state.", "Conventional viewfinders of zoom lens cameras, like the zoom lens barrel units of the prior art described above, are difficult to make more compact because they too require zoom lens barrel units which extend in the optical axial direction.", "Such conventional viewfinders require that cam portion 2c (shown in FIG. 12) on the outer surface of cam ring 2 contain an angle, α, which produces the desired linear motion in the moving range Y in the optical axial direction.", "For this reason, it is difficult to reduce the dimension of cam ring 2.", "Compactness of zoom lens cameras of the prior art having collapsible mount structures is especially difficult to achieve.", "Collapsible mount structures require retracting the zoom lens barrel in order to shorten the barrel's length in the optical axial direction when not in use.", "In such a design, cam ring 2 must be moved a greater distance in the optical direction when zooming (extending) or retracting the lens.", "Therefore, the moving range Y of cam portion 2c formed on cam ring 2 becomes even larger than is required in the embodiments described above.", "This further increases the difficulty in improving the compactness of a lens barrel.", "Referring to FIG. 2, the zoom lens barrel unit construction of the present invention is now described.", "A camera body 11 includes a fixed barrel member 13 fastened at its front end.", "An outer helicoid portion 15 on the inner surface of a fixed barrel member 13 serves as a moving means 14 for moving a cam ring 26 in the optical axial direction.", "A window 17 in the middle of fixed barrel member 13 permits contact of pinion gear 16 with outer helicoid portion 15.", "Pinion gear 16 is rotatable about its axis by a motor (not shown) for zooming motion, i.e., extension and retraction of lens moving groups.", "Fixed barrel member 13 also has a front end portion that includes a guiding edge 18 with a guiding recess 19 (shown also in FIG. 1) open in the frontward direction.", "A supporting block 20 and a cylindrical stud 21 (shown in FIG. 1 view only) are integrally formed behind guiding recess 19 on the outer surface of fixed barrel member 13.", "A cylindrical stud 21 is disposed on the top of supporting block 20.", "An inner helicoid ring 22 inside fixed barrel member 13 (shown also in FIG. 1 and in FIG. 5 as a development view) is in moving contact with moving means 14.", "An inner helicoid portion 23 is screwed into outer helicoid portion 15.", "A gear portion 24 on inner helicoid ring 22 faces the inside of window 17 where it is engaged with pinion gear 16.", "Gear portion 24 always faces the inside of window 17 and is inclined at the same angle as inner helicoid portion 23 thereby continuing to engage pinion gear 16.", "In addition, a flexible printed board 25 having patterns thereon to enable detection of a zooming position is attached to the outer surface of inner helicoid ring 22.", "Also fastened to the inside of inner helicoid ring 22 is cam ring 26, shown in greater detail in FIGS. 3 and 6, with a cam groove 27 and a cam groove 28.", "Cam grooves 27 and 28 are formed at two places respectively, each within the circumferential surface of cam ring 26.", "Cam ring 26 revolves together with inner helicoid 22.", "A rear lens group moving member 29 (part of the photographic optical system) is attached to the inside of cam ring 26 in such a manner as to allow movement parallel to the optical axis in conjunction with the rotation of cam ring 26.", "Rear lens group moving member 29 consists of a base 30 slidably abutting the inner surface of cam ring 26.", "A barrel portion 31 projects forward from base 30, thereby supporting rear lens group 32 positioned therein.", "Base 30 consists of a catching portion 33, consisting of two openings bored through base 30 in the optical axial direction.", "The surfaces of catching portion 33 are defined by the inner surface of barrel portion 31.", "A linear movement guiding plate 34 is inserted through each of the surfaces of catching portions 33 of base 30, consisting of a fixed plate portion 35, at the rear end thereof, and a long, narrow guiding plate portion 36.", "Fixed plate portion 35 is non-movably affixed to fixed barrel member 13 at the rear end thereof.", "A guiding plate portion 36 is positioned inside and parallel to the optical axis of rear lens group moving member 29.", "Base 30 (of rear lens group moving member 29) also includes a guide pin 37, positioned at two places on the outer surface thereof, and insertable through cam grooves 27 and 28 of cam ring 26, respectively.", "Therefore, rear lens group moving member 29 is restrained by linear movement guiding plate 34 (non-movably affixed to fixed barrel member from revolving and, as cam ring 26 revolves, is moved along cam grooves 28 parallel to the optical axis.", "Two linear movement guiding grooves 38 (shown in FIG. 3 and 4) are positioned at different places along the optical axis of rear lens group moving member 29.", "These linear movement guiding grooves 38 extend from a section of base 30 into barrel portion 31, analogous to and performing an analogous function of cam grooves 28 of cam ring 26.", "A front lens group moving member 39, supporting a front lens group 42, is positioned inside rear lens group moving member 29.", "Attached inside front lens group 42 is a lens frame 41 and a shutter unit 40.", "An internally threaded ring 43 inside shutter unit 40 engages mating threads on lens frame 41.", "These characteristics of front lens group moving member 39 permit front lens group moving member 39 to move along the optical axis.", "Two guide pins 44 on the rear outer surface of front lens group moving member 39 (seen more clearly in FIG. 4) are insertable through linear movement guiding grooves 38 of rear lens group moving member 29 into cam grooves 28 of cam ring 26.", "Front lens group moving member 39 includes a clearance groove 45 for preventing interference with guiding plate portion 36 of linear movement guiding plate 34.", "Accordingly, front lens group moving member 39 is restrained from rotational movement by rear lens group moving member 29, which is itself restrained from revolving with cam ring 26 by linear movement guiding plate 34.", "Rotational movement of cam ring 26, therefore, causes front lens group moving member 39 to move along cam grooves 28 parallel to the optical axis, thereby effecting extension and retraction of front lens group 42.", "The above-described structure and operation makes it unnecessary to form guiding grooves on the inside of a fixed barrel member, unlike the structure of a conventional zoom lens barrel unit.", "Without a need for inner barrel guiding grooves, the present invention permits reducing the outer dimension of the barrel by the amount of space normally allotted for the guiding grooves.", "A further reduction in size is realized because outer helicoid 15 is not a separate part of fixed barrel member 13 but is formed inside the barrel as distinguished from a conventional zoom lens barrel member.", "This unified design provides a one piece barrel structure which reduces the number of parts.", "The number of parts is further reduced because the present invention makes operation possible without a guiding ring (denoted by numeral 4 in FIG. 10), required for operation of a conventional lens barrel.", "The overall length of the lens barrel in the fully retracted state is further reduced in the present invention because moving means 14 for moving cam ring 26 and linear movement guiding plate 34 are disposed parallel to each other along the optical axis, not end to end along the optical axis as in the barrel members of the prior art.", "Referring now to FIG. 9a, 9b, 9c and 9d, a detailed explanation of the reduction of the length of the zoom lens barrel unit in the retracted state will now be explained.", "FIG. 9a and 9b depict a lens barrel unit of the present invention in both its retracted and extended telephoto state.", "FIG. 9c and 9d illustrate the conventional lens of the prior art in its retracted and extended telephoto state.", "In FIG. 9d, a conventional lens barrel of the prior art shows outer helicoid 3a of moving means 3 and guiding groove 1a positioned in a straight line along the optical axis.", "The length of the lens barrel is the sum of the length of cam ring 2 and the length of guiding groove 1a.", "In contrast, the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 9b, with the lens barrel unit of the present invention in its extended state (FIG.", "9b), moving means 14 and linear movement guiding means 34 (not shown) are juxtaposed along the optical axis.", "The length of outer helicoid 15 and cam ring 26 define the length of the lens barrel in its fully extended state.", "FIG. 9c shows a conventional lens barrel of the prior art in its retracted state wherein outer helicoid 3a of moving means 3 and guiding groove 1a are positioned in a straight line along the optical axis.", "Therefore, the minimum lens barrel length W is the sum of the respective lengths of outer helicoid 3a and guiding groove 1a in the retracted state.", "In contrast, in the present invention, shown in FIG. 9a, when the lens barrel unit of the present invention in its retracted state, moving means 14 and linear movement guiding means 34 (not shown) are juxtaposed along the optical axis.", "Therefore, the length of either outer helicoid 15 or cam ring 26 is sufficient for a lens barrel of length X in the retracted state, without requiring a length equal to the sum of these elements.", "Consequently, a conventional lens barrel of the prior art and the lens barrel unit of the present invention have the same length in the extended telephoto state but differ in the lens length in the retracted state, i.e. W is much greater than X. The present invention makes it possible to reduce the length of the lens in the retracted state by the difference between W and X. A viewfinder optical system of a zoom lens camera of the present invention will now be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.", "Rear lens group 32 and front lens group 42 comprise a photographic optical system 46.", "Therein, an outer lens frame cover 47 and an inner lens frame cover 48 are fastened to the front end of the respective outer surfaces of cam ring 26 and front lens group moving member 39.", "A packing holder 50 having a packing 49 stuck thereto is positioned revolvably between outer lens frame cover 47 and outer lens frame cover 48, whereby packing 49 abuts against the outer circumferential surface of inner lens frame cover 48 to prevent leakage of light.", "An interlocking ring 51 is fitted revolvably between inner helicoid ring 22 and outer lens frame cover 47.", "A projecting ridge 52 of interlocking ring 51 fits into guiding recess 19 of fixed barrel member 13 in such a manner as to be movable in the optical axial direction.", "Referring to FIG. 1, viewfinder body 62 is attached to camera body 11, facing in the direction of the optical axis of the lens barrel of the zoom lens.", "A viewfinder optical system 61 consists essentially of viewfinder body 62, having a generally expandable section, a lens 63 non-movably affixed to the front end of viewfinder body 62, and a lens frame 65 behind lens 63 in a rearward optical axial direction fixedly holding a lens 64.", "Lens frame 65 is movable in the optical axial direction.", "A stud portion 66 on the bottom of lens frame 65 projects downward through an elongated hole bored along the optical axis in viewfinder body 62 (not shown in FIG. 1).", "An interlocking means 67 moves lens frame 65 of viewfinder optical system 61 in the optical axial direction interlocked with the optical axial movement of ridge 52 of interlocking ring 51.", "Interlocking means 67 consists of a lever 68, a lever 69 and a spring 70.", "Lever 68 (also shown in FIG. 2) is supported on holder 20, with stud 21 of fixed barrel member 13 inserted through an elongated hole 71 thereof, and movable in the optical axial direction.", "The front end of lever 68 is bent downward, forming a catching portion 72.", "Catching portion 72 hooks onto the front end of ridge 52 of interlocking ring 51.", "The rear end of lever 68 is bent upward, forming catching portion 73.", "Lever 69 is attachable at one end to shaft 74.", "At the other end of lever 69 is a catching portion 75, for hooking onto the front end of a catching portion 73 of lever 68.", "A slot 76 in the middle of lever 69 permits the passage therethrough of stud portion 66 of lens frame 65.", "Operation of the zoom lens barrel unit of the present invention will now be described with reference to FIG. 2, 3 and 4.", "With reference to FIG. 2, cam ring 26 is in an extended rearward position, with ridge 52 of interlocking ring 51 (also retracted) positioned behind and separated from catching portion 72 of lever 68.", "Viewfinder optical system 61 (FIG.", "1) is in its extended wide-angle state.", "If pinion gear 16 is rotated, cam ring 26 revolves and is moved forward in the optical axial direction by outer helicoid portion 15 of moving means 14.", "As a result of this forward movement of cam ring 26, ridge 52 of interlocking ring 51 concurrently moves forward in guiding recess 19.", "The rotational movement of cam ring 26 also causes rear lens group moving member 29 to move in the optical axial direction.", "FIG. 4 depicts a view useful in describing the operational forward movement of rear lens group moving member 29.", "As cam ring 26 revolves, guide pins 37 are inserted from rear lens group moving member 29 into cam grooves 27 of cam ring 26.", "Concurrently, rear lens group moving member 29, rotation of which is restrained by linear movement guiding plate 34, moves in the optical axial direction along cam grooves 27.", "As rear lens group moving member 29 moves foreword, guide pins 44 of front lens group moving member 39 follow linear movement guiding grooves 38 of rear lens group moving member 29 into respective cam grooves 28 of cam ring 26.", "Because front lens group moving member 39 is restrained from revolving by guide pins 44, front lens group moving member 39 moves in the optical axial direction, along cam grooves 28.", "The present invention makes it is possible to restrain rear lens group moving member 29 from revolving using linear movement guiding plate 34 fixed to fixed barrel 1 and to restrain front lens group moving member 39 by means of linear movement guiding grooves 38 of the rear lens group moving member 29.", "Therefore, unlike a conventional zoom lens barrel, it is not necessary to form guiding grooves inside the fixed barrel member and consequently, it is possible to reduce the outer dimension of the barrel by the space otherwise taken by the grooves.", "Referring now to FIG. 7, the zooming operation of viewfinder optical system 61 will now be described.", "When cam ring 26 is moved forward to the extended wide-angle state, ridge 52 of interlocking ring 51 abuts against catching portion 72.", "Then (as shown also in both FIG. 1 and 8), lever 68 moves forward concurrently with the forward movement of interlocking ring 51.", "As lever 68 moves forward, lever 69 advances in the forward direction, thereby advancing lens 64.", "In order to retract lens 64, the above process is operated in the reverse direction.", "Cam ring 26 is rotated in the reverse direction to that causing advancement in the optical axial direction.", "Rear lens group moving member 29 and front lens group moving member 39 are thereby caused to move rearwardly respectively along cam grooves 27 and 28.", "Consequently, interlocking ring 51, lever 68, lens 64, and lever 69 (being pushed rearward by spring 70) are also retracted.", "When the zoom lens is in its extended wide-angle state (shown in FIG. 7), the back portion of elongated hole 71 of lever 68 abuts against stud 21 thereby preventing further movement thereof.", "Consequently, ridge 52 of interlocking ring 51 is removed from catching portion 72 of lever 68.", "Operation of the viewfinder optical system in conjunction with operation of the zoom lens barrel unit is as follows.", "Spring 70 attaches to the end of lever 69, pulling levers 68, 69 and lens frame 65 rearward.", "When lens 64 is retracted, stud 21 abuts against the front end of elongated hole 71 of lever 68 thereby restraining levers 68, 69 and lens frame 65 from further rearward motion.", "Levers 68, 69 and lens frame 65 are thereby released from engagement with interlocking ring 51, consequently breaking interlock with viewfinder optical system 61.", "In such an arrangement, when rearward movement is restrained, viewfinder optical system 61 is held at a position corresponding to the extended wide-angle position of the zoom lens.", "As described, viewfinder optical system 61 is moved in the optical axial direction interlockingly with the optical axial directional movement of interlocking ring 51.", "Therefore, since there is no need to provide a bulky cam portion on the outer surface of the cam ring, a more compact zoom lens barrel unit is provided.", "This is especially the case of a zoom lens camera using a collapsible mount structure, which calls for retracting the zoom lens barrel unit to reduce its length in the optical axial direction when the camera is not in use.", "Retraction and extension in such a zoom lens camera design requires that the cam ring 26 be moved extensively in both optical axial directions when zooming or collapsing the lens.", "Consequently, zoom lens barrels of conventional cameras are unavoidably large in the optical axial direction.", "A zoom lens camera according to the present invention, however, makes possible a compact zoom lens barrel unit using interlocking ring 51.", "Also, when retracting the lens of a collapsible barrel of a barrel unit made in accordance with the present invention, it becomes possible to break interlock between interlocking ring 51 and interlocking means 67.", "Viewfinder optical system 61 may thereby be maintained at the extended wide-angle state without using any special mechanism.", "Further, the present invention makes available a more compact zoom lens barrel unit by juxtaposing in the optical axial direction the moving means that move the cam ring and the linear movement guiding plate.", "Still further a revolvable interlocking ring on the outer surface of the cam ring provides for interlocking movement in the optical axial direction interlocking with the rotational movement of the interlocking ring.", "The viewfinder optical system is thereby moved in the optical axial direction through interlocking means that operate together with the movement of the interlocking ring in the optical axial direction.", "This allows for a more compact zoom lens barrel unit due to the elimination of the need to provide a bulky cam portion on the outer surface of the cam ring.", "Having described preferred embodiments of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to those precise embodiments, and that various changes and modifications may be effected therein by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims." ]

[ "RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a continuation of and claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser.", "No. 09/944,280 entitled “Implementation Of Electronic Muscles In A Portable Computer As User Input/Output Devices,” by Gettemy et al.", ", filed on Aug. 30, 2001, which is incorporated herein by reference.", "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1.", "Field of the Invention The present invention relates to the field of portable computer systems, such as personal digital assistants or palmtop computer systems.", "Specifically, embodiments of the present invention relate to a portable computer system equipped with a dielectric elastomer actuator (e.g., an electronic muscle material) for navigating, vibrating, generating audio output and sensing a plurality of actions for which accommodations can be provided.", "Related Art A portable computer system, such as a personal digital assistant (PDA) or palmtop, is an electronic device that is small enough to be held in the hand of a user and is thus “palm-sized.”", "By virtue of their size, portable computer systems are lightweight and so are exceptionally portable and convenient.", "These portable computer systems are generally contained in a housing constructed of conventional materials such as rigid plastics or metals.", "Portable computer systems are generally powered using either rechargeable or disposable batteries.", "Because of the desire to reduce the size and weight of the portable computer system to the extent practical, smaller batteries are used.", "Thus, power conservation in portable computer systems is an important consideration in order to reduce the frequency at which the batteries either need to be recharged or replaced.", "Consequently, the portable computer system is placed into a low power mode (e.g., a sleep mode or deep sleep mode) when it is not actively performing a particular function or operation.", "There are many other similar types of intelligent devices (having a processor and a memory, for example) that are sized in the range of laptops and palmtops, but have different capabilities and applications.", "Video game systems, cell phones, pagers and other such devices are examples of other types of portable or hand-held systems and devices in common use.", "These systems, and others like them, have in common some type of screen for displaying images as part of a user interface.", "Many different kinds of screens can be used, such as liquid crystal displays, and field emission displays or other types of flat screen displays.", "These systems also have in common some type of user interface allowing a user to input commands and information and to navigate either within an application or from one application to another.", "In the case of laptops and some of the other hand-held devices, an optional alphanumeric input device including alphanumeric and function keys (e.g., a keyboard) can be provided.", "The keyboard can also be used to control a cursor on the display device, or an optional cursor control device (e.g., a mouse, trackball, joystick, stylus, or touchpad) can be used.", "It is well known how a cursor can be used to select various functions, commands and applications, and how a cursor can be used to navigate within applications.", "In the case of palmtops and other such devices, the display device is typically covered by a touch sensor (touchpad) which is able to register contact between the screen and the tip of a stylus element.", "The user can input commands and move between applications by touching the stylus to various parts of the screen or to virtual buttons rendered on the screen.", "Many palmtops are also equipped with a handwriting recognition pad (e.g., a graffiti area, digitizer or digitizer tablet) that can recognize characters traced on the pad by a user.", "Palmtops and many other hand-held devices also have built-in dedicated or programmable buttons or keys that can be used to implement various functions and to navigate among and within different applications (see FIG. 1 ).", "Some portable computers contain speakers for audible alarms or for playing recorded messages.", "Likewise, they may contain microphones for recording information.", "Some also contain mechanisms that cause the device to vibrate when the audible alarm is turned off.", "Thus, there are various well-known mechanisms that are used in the prior art to provide a user interface for hand-held and/or portable computer systems and the like, including laptops and palmtops.", "These mechanisms tend to work well with the different types of display devices and other mechanisms currently in use.", "However, the paradigm of applying conventional user interface mechanisms to hand-held, portable devices does not take full advantage of the user's capability to control and manipulate such devices.", "The built-in dedicated buttons are not always located in a convenient place on the housing and are subject to mechanical failure, as are the speakers and microphones.", "Thus, it is desirable to provide a user-friendly interface that more fully utilizes the advantages afforded by the portability of hand-held devices.", "An improved interface can facilitate the user's experience and thus provide an advantage over other devices that employ conventional user interfaces.", "A material called a dielectric elastomer has recently been introduced by Ron Pelrine, et.", "al.", "of SRI International.", "Information on this material is published in Proceedings of SPIE Vol. 4329 (Electroactive Polymer Actuators and Devices, 2001) from Smart Structures and Materials Symposium 2001 Mar. 4-8, Newport Beach, Calif.", "This information is hereby incorporated by reference as background material.", "SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, what is needed is a system and/or method that can provide a user interface to perform many functions of the portable computer systems and other like devices using a technology such as a dielectric elastomer material as part of the user interface with the device.", "What is also needed is a system and/or method that can accomplish the above and that can also be used to enhance other functions or generate new functions of the device using existing material technologies.", "Furthermore, what is needed is a system and/or method that can accomplish the above and that can provide these functions for smaller hand-held devices.", "The present invention provides these advantages and others not specifically mentioned above but described in the sections to follow.", "The preferred embodiment of the present invention pertains to a system and/or method that can provide a user interface to perform many functions of the computer systems and other like devices using a dielectric elastomer, hereafter referred to as “electronic muscle”, material as part of the user interface with the device.", "Other functions of the device can be enhanced or new functions generated using existing material technologies.", "Furthermore, the present invention can achieve all the above and can provide these functions for smaller (e.g., hand-held) devices.", "A portable computer system contained within a housing, which comprises an electronic muscle material for performing a plurality of functions, is disclosed.", "The electronic muscle material can be used as external buttons or keys to invoke PDA functions.", "In one embodiment the movement of the electronic muscle material can charge the battery.", "When handled, the electronic muscle material can further detect the left- or right-handedness of the user and, based on the handedness, can automatically generate function buttons, the placement of which may accommodate the user's hand preference and finger placement.", "The electronic muscle can change shape to accommodate the user's hand for comfort and, further, as a security function to identify and authorize the user.", "Additionally, the electronic muscle material in the housing can be caused to vibrate at given frequencies so that it can generate an alarm and can function as a speaker or a dynamically directional microphone.", "The portable computer system that is described has a housing comprising an electronic muscle material which, when moved, causes the housing to behave in a prescribed manner.", "The housing contains a bus and there is a battery within the housing coupled to the bus.", "There is a processor coupled to the bus along with a display device for providing a visual display and a user interface for controlling the display.", "In one embodiment, the movement of the electronic muscle material in the housing of the portable computer system can be used to charge the battery.", "In another embodiment, the movement of the electronic muscle material can also sense the handling by a user and can determine if the user is right-handed or left-handed.", "Once the location of the user's fingers, and thus the user's handedness, is sensed, function buttons for scrolling and/or selecting menu items can be generated in the proximity of the user's fingers from the electronic muscle material.", "Additionally, graphical user interface tools, e.g., a scroll bar, can be displayed along the side of the display module that best suits the user's handedness.", "In one embodiment, the function buttons generated from the electronic muscle material can be caused to vibrate as an alarm to apprise the user of a relevant message being displayed.", "Similarly, the function buttons can be caused to protrude from the housing to apprise the user of a relevant message being displayed.", "Also, the entire electronic muscle material can be caused to vibrate as an alarm for apprising the user of a message being displayed.", "In yet another embodiment, the electronic muscle material of the portable computer system can conform to the shape of user's hand for improved ergonomics.", "This conformance to the shape of the user's hand can identify the user for authorization purposes.", "In another embodiment of this portable computer system, the electronic muscle material can be caused to vibrate at the frequency of external sound for use as a microphone.", "The electronic muscle material can, similarly, be caused to vibrate at the frequency of an analog or digital signal for use as a speaker.", "Another feature of this vibration is that the location of the vibration can move spatially about the housing for tracking the strongest signal.", "Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, illustrating by way of example the principles of the invention.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention: FIG. 1 illustrates a prior art electronic device with built-in dedicated buttons for scrolling or for selecting among menu items.", "FIG. 2 is a topside perspective view of a portable computer system in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.", "FIG. 3 is a bottom side perspective view of the portable computer system of FIG. 2 .", "FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an exemplary portable computer system upon which embodiments of the present invention may be practiced.", "FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating the generation of customized features based on the user's left- or right-handedness.", "FIG. 6 illustrates the electronic muscle material sensing the contour of finger placement according to one embodiment of the present invention.", "FIG. 7 illustrates an exemplary configuration for function button placement.", "FIG. 8 is a figure illustrating the generation of function buttons in three embodiments of the present invention.", "FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating the process followed for generating alarms in one embodiment of the present invention.", "FIG. 10 illustrates the conformance of the housing to the contour of the user's hand in one embodiment of the present invention FIG. 11 is a block diagram illustrating the validation of the user utilizing the contour of the user's hand.", "FIG. 12 illustrates one embodiment of the present invention in which the electronic muscle material functions as a speaker.", "FIG. 13 illustrates one embodiment of the present invention in which the electronic material functions as a dynamically directional microphone.", "DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In the following detailed description of the present invention, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention.", "However, it will be recognized by one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details or with equivalents thereof.", "In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, components, and circuits have not been described in detail as not to unnecessarily obscure aspects of the present invention.", "Notation and Nomenclature Some portions of the detailed descriptions, which follow, are presented in terms of procedures, steps, logic blocks, processing, and other symbolic representations of operations on data bits that can be performed on computer memory.", "These descriptions and representations are the means used by those skilled in the data processing arts to most effectively convey the substance of their work to others skilled in the art.", "A procedure, computer executed step, logic block, process, etc.", ", is here, and generally, conceived to be a self-consistent sequence of steps or instructions leading to a desired result.", "The steps are those requiring physical manipulations of physical quantities.", "Usually, though not necessarily, these quantities take the form of electrical or magnetic signals capable of being stored, transferred, combined, compared, and otherwise manipulated in a computer system.", "It has proven convenient at times, principally for reasons of common usage, to refer to these signals as bits, values, elements, symbols, characters, terms, numbers, or the like.", "It should be borne in mind, however, that all of these and similar terms are to be associated with the appropriate physical quantities and are merely convenient labels applied to these quantities.", "Unless specifically stated otherwise, as apparent from the following discussions, it is appreciated that throughout the present invention, discussions utilizing the following terms refer to the actions and processes of a computer system or similar electronic computing device.", "These devices manipulate and transform data that is represented as physical (electronic) quantities within the computer system's registers and memories or other such information storage, transmission or display devices.", "The aforementioned terms include, but are not limited to, “scanning”", "or “determining”", "or “generating”", "or “identifying”", "or “comparing”", "or “sorting”", "or “selecting”", "or “establishing”", "or “displaying”", "or “initiating”", "or the like.", "Exemplary Palmtop Platform FIG. 2 is a perspective illustration of the top face 100 a of one embodiment of the portable computer system 100 of the present invention.", "The housing 102 is layered with an electronic muscle material that is a gel-like polymer that can convert electrical energy to mechanical energy and, conversely, mechanical energy to electrical energy as it is expanded and contracted.", "By sensing the charge distribution across the material, one can determine the material's surface profile or contour.", "Vice-versa, by altering the charge distribution of the material, its surface profile can be altered.", "Alterations can be performed on localized portions of the material.", "The top face 100 a contains a display module 107 surrounded by a bezel or cover which is a portion of the housing and is layered with the electronic muscle material 102 .", "The display module 107 comprises a display device 105 and touch sensors, 106 a , 106 b and 106 c which are able to register contact between the screen and the tip of a stylus or other similar input device.", "The stylus can be of any material to make contact with the touch sensors 106 a , 106 b , or 106 c .", "In one embodiment icons 103 are silk-screened on the area of the bezel or cover, indicating locations where function buttons can be generated.", "FIG. 2 also illustrates a handwriting recognition pad or “digitizer”", "containing two touch sensor regions 106 a and 106 b .", "Region 106 a is for the drawing of alphabetic characters therein (and not for numeric characters) for automatic recognition, and region 106 b is for the drawing of numeric characters therein (and not for alphabetic characters) for automatic recognition.", "A stylus or similar input device, is used for stroking a character within one of the regions 106 a and 106 b .", "The stroked information is then fed to an internal processor for automatic character recognition.", "Once characters are recognized, they are typically displayed on the display device 105 for verification and/or modification.", "FIG. 3 illustrates the bottom side 100 b of one embodiment of the palmtop computer system that can be used in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention.", "A battery storage compartment door 90 is shown.", "A serial port 180 and an infrared port 64 are also shown.", "In one embodiment, infrared communication mechanism 64 is compliant with the IrDA (Infrared Data Association) standard and protocol.", "FIG. 4 is a block diagram of one embodiment of a portable computer system 100 upon which embodiments of the present invention may be implemented.", "Portable computer system 100 is also often referred to as a PDA, a PID, a palmtop, or a hand-held computer system.", "Portable computer system 100 includes an address/data bus 300 for communicating information, a central (main) processor 410 coupled with the bus 300 for processing information and instructions, a volatile memory 420 (e.g., random access memory, RAM) coupled with the bus 300 for storing information and instructions for the main processor 410 , and a non-volatile memory 430 (e.g., read only memory, ROM) coupled with the bus 300 for storing static information and instructions for the main processor 410 .", "Portable computer system 100 also includes an optional data storage device 440 (e.g., a memory card) coupled with the bus 300 for storing information and instructions.", "Device 440 may be removable.", "Portable computer system 100 also contains a display device 105 coupled to the bus 300 for displaying information to the computer user.", "In the present embodiment, portable computer system 100 includes a transceiver 480 providing it with the capability for wireless communication.", "The transceiver 480 provides a wireless radio frequency (RF) or infrared (IR) communication link between computer system 100 and other devices, using any of the various RF or IR protocols and standards.", "In one embodiment, the Mobitex wireless communication specification is used.", "It is appreciated that transceiver 480 may be integrated into portable computer system 100 , or that transceiver 480 may be a separate component coupled to portable computer system using, for example, serial port 180 .", "It is appreciated that, in another embodiment, portable computer system 100 may also include a telephony chipset or the like providing it with the functionality of a cellular phone, in particular the capability to transmit and receive cellular communications.", "In one embodiment, the telephony chipset is compatible with the standards for GSM and GPRS (Global System for Mobile Communications and General Packet Radio Service, respectively).", "It is appreciated that other telephony protocols and standards may also be used with the present invention.", "In the present embodiment, portable computer system 100 of FIG. 3 includes communication circuitry 450 coupled to bus 300 .", "In one embodiment, communication circuitry 450 is a universal asynchronous receiver-transmitter (UART) module that provides the receiving and transmitting circuits required for serial communication for both the serial port 180 and the infrared port 64 .", "Communication circuitry 450 also includes digital signal processor (DSP) 460 for processing data to be transmitted or data that are received via transceiver 480 .", "Also included in computer system 100 is an optional alphanumeric input device 106 that, in one implementation, is a handwriting recognition pad (“digitizer”).", "Alphanumeric input device 106 can communicate information and command selections to main processor 410 via bus 300 .", "In one implementation, alphanumeric input device 106 is a touch sensor device.", "Alphanumeric input device 106 is capable of registering a position where a stylus element (not shown) makes contact.", "Portable computer system 100 also includes an optional cursor control or directing device (on-screen cursor control 470 ) coupled to bus 300 for communicating user input information and command selections to main processor 410 .", "In one implementation, on-screen cursor control device 470 is a touch sensor device incorporated with display device 105 .", "On-screen cursor control device 470 is capable of registering a position on display device 105 where a stylus element makes contact.", "The display device 105 utilized with portable computer system 100 may be a liquid crystal display (LCD) device, or other flat panel display device suitable for generating graphic images and alphanumeric characters recognizable to the user.", "In the preferred embodiment, display device 105 is a flat panel display.", "The portable computer system 100 also includes a battery 40 coupled to bus 300 for powering the system when the computer is being used in the portable mode.", "The electronic muscle material 490 that is comprised in the housing of the device is coupled such that it can be controlled by signals that are on bus 300 for interfacing with processor 410 , communication circuitry 450 , DSP 460 , and/or battery 40 .", "In the present embodiment this electronic muscle material 490 is the dielectric elastomer material described herein.", "When this electronic muscle material 490 is stretched and then allowed to contract, the elastic stresses work against electric field pressure and increase electrical energy.", "Thus, in one embodiment, as pressure is applied to the housing comprising this material, an electric charge is created which can then charge the battery 40 , eliminating the need for external charging devices.", "As the PDA is handled daily, the battery can thus be recharged.", "FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating the process 500 of generating customized features by the electronic muscle material in one embodiment of the invention.", "Block 510 indicates the sensing, by the electronic muscle material comprised in the device, of the device being picked up by a user up and handled along the sides.", "Block 520 includes the determination by the processor, based on the profile of the electrical charge distribution on the electronic muscle material, of the location of hand and/or finger placement on the housing of the device and, thus the handedness of the user.", "FIG. 6 further illustrates how the pressing 610 of the electronic muscle redistributes the charges 620 .", "The strength of the charge and its distribution can then be interpreted to determine the hand and/or finger placement.", "Block 530 of FIG. 5 represents the performance of some customization feature, based on the known handedness of the user, with respect to the user interface of the electronic device.", "In one embodiment of the present invention this customization feature is the generation of function buttons in closest proximity to the user's fingers, once the hand and finger placements are sensed.", "These buttons could be scroll buttons 710 or menu selection buttons 720 , as illustrated by FIG. 7 .", "Referring now to FIG. 8 a , in one embodiment the top surface of the housing 810 is comprised of a layer of rigid or semi-rigid material (e.g., plastic) covering the electronic muscle material 80 .", "In this embodiment there would be openings in the top surface 820 at designated locations along the sides of the housing.", "Depending on the handedness of the user, the electronic muscle material 80 would grow buttons 830 through the openings in the housing along the side corresponding to the determined handedness of the user.", "In the embodiment of the present invention illustrated by FIG. 8 b , the top surface of the housing 840 is comprised of a layer of rigid or semi-rigid material covering the electronic muscle material.", "Icons 850 representing the functions of the user interface are silk-screened on the top layer of the housing 840 .", "When the icon 850 is pressed by the user, the electronic muscle material 80 beneath the top layer becomes the button 860 to send a signal to the processor to perform the designated function.", "FIG. 8 c illustrates one embodiment of the present invention in which the electronic muscle 80 forms the outer layer of the housing.", "The function buttons are created by the electronic muscle material in any of a plurality of variable positions 870 .", "The positions for the buttons would be in the proximity of the user's fingers, depending on the determined handedness and finger position of the user.", "This determination of handedness and finger placement followed by the generation of buttons in the proximity of the fingers improves the user interface.", "In the prior art, a left-handed person with large fingers needing to operate the device with a single hand could find it difficult to manipulate the buttons, and their hand could obscure portions of the screen.", "The present invention would facilitate single-handed use of the portable computer or device.", "FIG. 9 is a block diagram 900 illustrating alarming and messaging using the electronic muscle material of the present invention.", "In one embodiment, the processor receives an alarm message from a source such as an appointment calendar, low battery sensor, etc.", "as shown in block 910 .", "The processor then issues a signal to the electronic muscle and to the display device.", "The display device displays, as shown in block 930 , a relevant message to inform the user of the source of the alarm.", "Still referring to FIG. 9 , the electronic muscle senses 920 if the user is holding 940 the device.", "If not, the entire electronic muscle vibrates 980 , thereby vibrating the portable computer for apprising the user that an alarm message is being displayed.", "If the device is being held 940 , the alarm configuration is checked 950 to determine the alarm configuration setting.", "If the configuration is set to vibrate 960 a button, then the electronic muscle will vibrate at the appropriate button location.", "If the configuration is set to protrude 970 a button, the electronic muscle will expand at the location of the appropriate button to cause it to protrude.", "If the device is configured to alarm by vibrating the entire device, then that mode is employed 980 .", "In another embodiment, the alarm configuration could require an audible alarm in which case the electronic muscle material can function as a speaker to issue said alarm.", "This function is covered in more detail below with reference to FIG. 12 .", "Referring now to FIG. 10 , one embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in which the exterior or peripheral placed electronic muscle material comprised in the housing conforms to the shape of the user's hand.", "The electronic muscle material has a high elastic modulus and is capable of easily molding to the hand's contour.", "This characteristic functions to create a more comfortable device for the user.", "The user can alternately squeeze and release the housing of the device containing the gel-like electronic muscle material, thus exercising the user's hand and wrist while simultaneously charging the battery 40 in the device per FIG. 4 .", "Referring now to FIG. 11 , when a user picks up and handles the electronic device 111 , the electronic muscle material changes shape to conform to the users hand.", "Based on the profile of the charge distribution in the electronic muscle material, e.g., along the left and right sides, the surface contour is checked 112 against a pre-stored contour map of the conformance to the authorized user's hand to identify the user and to authorize 113 his/her access to the device, in one embodiment of the present invention.", "FIG. 12 illustrates the use of the device housing 120 , comprising the electronic muscle material, as a speaker.", "The characteristics of this material include good impedance matching to many energy sources.", "Thus, the electronic muscle material can be caused to vibrate 121 at prescribed frequencies, modulating the surrounding air and producing sound 122 .", "This eliminates the need to include within the present invention separate speaker devices for producing sound.", "Additionally, the speaker can be localized at any position along the electronic muscle material and can therefore be spatially adjusted to an optimum position for the best user experience.", "Likewise, as shown in FIG. 13 , the electronic muscle can vibrate in response to signals from external sources.", "The electronic muscle of the device can sense the direction from which the sound emanates.", "The vibration can move dynamically around the housing 130 to receive the greatest signal strength.", "This allows for the provision of a variable position microphone.", "At a meeting in a conference room, for example, the sound from an attendee speaking from location 131 would set up a vibration in the electronic muscle of the housing of device 130 at location 132 .", "Likewise, the sound from someone speaking at location 133 would set up a vibration at location 134 .", "These signals can then be stored and later regenerated by the speaker function discussed with FIG. 12 .", "In summary, embodiments of the present invention provide the user of portable computer devices with interfaces for performing a plurality of tasks.", "The housing of the device in the present invention comprises a dielectric elastomer material known as an electronic muscle material.", "This housing provides an automatic battery-charging interface.", "It provides the capability of adapting the scroll and menu function button locations to ones most convenient to the user.", "It provides said buttons as an integral part of the housing, eliminating the potential failures that can occur in mechanical buttons of the prior art.", "The housing can vibrate in part or entirety to apprise the user of an alarm message.", "The housing can also conform to the contour of the user's hand for improved ergonomics and can use this conformation for identification and authorization of the user.", "Further, the electronic muscle material of the housing of the device can vibrate to modulate the air so as to function as a speaker and a microphone integral with the device.", "The present invention has been described in the context of a portable computer system;", "however, the present invention may also be implemented in other types of devices having, for example, a housing and a processor, such that the device performs certain functions on behalf of the processor.", "Furthermore, it is appreciated that these certain functions may include functions other than those associated with navigating, vibrating, sensing and generating audio output.", "The preferred embodiment of the present invention, implementation of electronic muscles in a portable computer for navigation, vibration, audio output and as a general sensor, is thus described.", "While the present invention has been described in particular embodiments, it should be appreciated that the present invention should not be construed as limited by such embodiments, but rather construed according to the below claims." ]

[ "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates to a vocal sound digital recording and more particularly, to voice digital recording in which there is no usage of A/D and D/A and further more, a substantial reduction in memory utilization.", "At present, there are several digital recording methods.", "This process, which varies due to hardware and designers, usually consists of several subsystems.", "The most common and general case of this process is called Pulse-Code Modulation (PCM).", "The system consists of several main components.", "Dither Generator, which generates random numbers for amplitudes to be added to the signal.", "There are many types of number generators which are mostly based on mathematical probability functions such as Gaussian, triangular, and rectangular functions.", "The produced numbers pass through a D/A converter and are added to the analog waveform to lessen distortion effects due to quantization of low level waves.", "The Anti-aliasing Filter which cuts off frequencies above the Nyquist frequency (half the sampling frequency) so that we do not get aliased frequencies.", "Sample-and-Hold Circuit samples the analog signal periodically, and holds the sampled value until the next sampling.", "The sampling theory is put into effect during the held period, and the A/D converter reads the value of the voltage, and converts it to a corresponding binary number, which is later, stored.", "Analog to Digital Converter converts the signal from an analog state to a digital state;", "the held input level representing the amplitude of the waveform is converted into a proportional binary quantization level.", "The Multiplexer simply combines audio streams from different channels into one stream.", "It takes digital words from each channel and interleaves them into a combined, alternating-stereo signal.", "The Processing and Error Correction unit add parity bits so that in the future we may see if the signal in fact has an odd or even number of ones.", "Interleaving is also introduced, whereby the bits are scattered about so that if a section does become corrupt, it will not affect an entire, solitary chunk of sound.", "Then the bits are being recorded on memory.", "[0002] various measures have been taken for reducing the amount of digital data or information of original input sound signal waveform so that storage of the digital data can be effectively performed at low cost.", "[0003] Another modulation that is being used mainly as a method of controlling power, but also in converting analog signal to digital signal (such as audio signals) without (significant) loss is called PWM.", "Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) refers to a method of carrying information on a train of pulses, the information being encoded it the width of the pulses.", "[0004] A pulse-width modulated (PWM) signal or pulse duration modulated (PDM) signal is a square wave whose duty cycle is proportional to the instantaneous value of some continuous source signal.", "The PWM signal effectively applies discrete “on”", "and “off”", "signals for varying amounts of time.", "Pulse width modulation allows certain continuous time systems, such as a motor, to be controlled by a discrete signal.", "Many digital controllers have pulse width modulated outputs, so it would be cheaper to amplify the PWM signal from the controller than to use a D/A converter to convert this signal to a linear signal.", "Pulse width modulation works because many systems act as low pass filters, so as long as the period of the pulse width modulated signal is sufficiently small, only the DC component of the pulse width modulated signal will be seen at the output.", "Since most systems act as low-pass filters, we can drive a system with a PWM signal and expect the high frequency harmonics in the square wave to be filtered out while the lower frequencies (representing the modulated control signal) pass through as desired.", "[0005] The simplest analog form of generating fixed frequency PWM is by comparison with a linear slope waveform such as a sawtooth.", "The output signal receives a high value when the sine wave is higher than the sawtooth.", "This is implemented using a comparator whose output voltage goes to HIGH (“ 1 ”) when the negative input is greater than the positive.", "[0006] Regular sampled PWM makes the width of the pulse proportional to the value of the modulating signal at the beginning of the carrier period.", "For a sawtooth wave of frequency fs the samples are at 2 fs.", "[0007] U.S Pat. No. 5,189,701 by Jain, disclose a method and apparatus for Voice coder/decoder.", "The pitch frequency of voice signals in successive time frames at a voice coder may be determined as by (1) Cepstrum analysis (time between successive peak amplitudes in each time frame), (2) harmonic gap analysis (amplitude differences between peaks and troughs of the peak amplitude signals in the frequency spectrum) (3) harmonic matching, (4) filtering of the frequency signals in successive pairs of time frames and the performance of (1)-(3) on the filtered signals to provide pitch interpolation on the first frame in the pair and (5) pitch matching.", "The amplitude and phase of the pitch frequency and harmonic signals are determined by refined techniques to provide amplitude and phase signals with enhanced resolution.", "Such amplitudes are simplified digitally by (a) taking the logarithm of the frequency signals, (b) selecting the signal with the peak amplitude, (c) offsetting the amplitudes of the logarithmic signals relative to such peak amplitude, (d) companding the offset signals, (e) reducing the number of harmonics to a particular limit by eliminating selective harmonics, (D taking a discrete cosine transform of the remaining signals and (g) digitizing the transformed signals.", "If the pitch frequency has a continuity within particular limits in successive time frames, the phase difference of the signals between successive time frames is provided.", "At a displaced voice decoder, the signal amplitudes are determined by performing, in order, the inverse of steps (g) through (a).", "These signals and the signals representing pitch frequency and phase are processed to recover the voice signals.", "[0008] The present invention discloses a different and unique technique for coding/decoding voice signal without the use of A/D or D/A and without the need to code the signal's amplitude.", "The present invention also reduce the amount of memory bits, used to store the signal (8 times less than PWM), since the input signal's amplitude is not being sampled.", "[0009] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a simple, effective and low-cost solution for digital recording of voice by reducing the amount of digital data of original input sound signal waveform and thus storing the digital data more effectively and at lower cost.", "THE OBJECT OF THE INVENTION [0010] The object of the present invention is to provide a new method for recording vocal sound digitally.", "The proposed solution is simple, low cost and do not require conventional A/D, D/A, processor and compression software algorithm.", "This technique will significantly decrease the amount of memory needed to store the digital data of the recorded voice as well as other electrical components such as A/D and thus lowering the overall cost of the system.", "SUMMARY [0011] The present invention discloses a method for converting vocal sounds into digital data format.", "Said method includes the following steps: amplifying and filtering the electrical signals, comparing the analog signal to pre-defined values by a comparator, sampling by clock the output signal of the comparator and representing the sampled signal by a digital data.", "[0012] The digital data represents analog alternating signal that includes the vocal sounds harmonics.", "The method is further comprising of storing said digital data, wherein the vocal sounds are reconstructed from the stored digital data by applying the following steps: filtering alternating analog signal for reducing the signal higher harmonics, amplifying the filtered signals and transducing the electrical amplifying signals to vocal sound signal.", "[0013] The present invention discloses a system for converting vocal sounds into digital data format, wherein the vocal sound signals are converted into electrical signal by the microphone.", "Said system comprised of amplifying and filtering module for analyzing the electrical signals, a comparator module for comparing the analog signal to pre-defined value and sampling by clock edge module for representing the output signal of the comparator as a digital data format.", "The system is further comprising of memory module for storing said digital data, filtering module for reducing the alternating the analog signal higher harmonics, amplifying module increasing the filtered signals amplitude and transducer module for converting the electrical amplifying signals into vocal sound signal.", "[0014] The vocal sounds can be received from external memory sources, wherein said source stores a pre-recorded vocal sound on digital media.", "The system modules can also be software modules.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0015] These and further features and advantages of the invention will become more clearly understood in the light of the ensuing description of a preferred embodiment thereof, given by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein- [0016] FIG. 1 illustrates the spectrum of the glottal airflow.", "[0017] FIG. 2 illustrates the use of an A/D (or D/A) converter to convert a continuous function (time-amplitude) to a discrete function (discrete time—discrete amplitude).", "[0018] FIG. 3 illustrates the spectrum analysis of a square wave.", "[0019] FIG. 4 illustrates the block diagram of the present invention.", "DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [0020] The present invention proposes new configuration and method for digital voice recording in a simple, easy and economic way.", "Introduction [0021] The vocal cords, the primary source of vocalized sounds, produce a tone with a fundamental frequency and a harmonic spectrum with many harmonics.", "The pressure level (amplitude) for the harmonics falls off 12 dB per octave.", "The spectrum of the glottal airflow, which has energy at the fundamental frequency and at the harmonics, is plotted at the top left of FIG. 1 .", "The amplitude of the harmonics, which for the purposes of this figure combines the effects of both the source spectrum and radiation, decreases by approximately 6 dB per octave.", "At the top right of the figure is shown the spectrum that results from filtering the laryngeal source spectrum at the top left with the idealized filter function shown in the center of the figure.", "The laryngeal source has been “shaped”", "by the filter function.", "Energy is present at all harmonics of the fundamental frequency of the glottal source, but both the source amplitudes and the filter function determine the amplitudes of individual harmonics.", "The bottom half of FIG. 1 shows the effect of using a different source function, while retaining the same filter functions.", "In this case, the fundamental frequency of the glottal source is 200 Hz, with harmonics at integer multiples of the fundamental (400 Hz, 600 Hz, etc.).", "The effect of applying a filter to a signal is to modify the shape of the signal's spectrum.", "In the frequency domain, the effect of applying a filter to a signal is to multiply the spectrum of the signal by that of the filter.", "The result is a spectrum that combines the features of those of the input signal and the filter.", "[0022] The spectrum of the glottal source is made up of a number of frequency spikes corresponding to the harmonics of the fundamental frequency of vibration of the vocal folds.", "The spectrum decreases in amplitude with increasing frequency at a rate of around 12 dB per octave that is for each doubling in frequency, the amplitude of the spectrum decreases by around 12 dB.", "Digital Recording Principles [0023] Sound is converted to electrical current using a microphone.", "Continuous oscillations of air pressure become continuous oscillations of voltage in an electrical circuit.", "[0024] If we represent the intensity of a sound by numbers proportionally related to the intensity, the analog value of the intensity has been represented digitally.", "The accuracy of the digital conversion depends upon the number of discrete numerical values that can be assigned and the rate at which these numerical measurements are made.", "For example, four numerical levels will represent changes in the amplitude of sound less accurately than 256 numerical levels and a rate of 8 conversions per second will be less accurate than a rate of 10,000 conversions per second.", "This number is called a sample and the whole conversion of sound to a series of numbers is called sampling.", "[0025] During digital recording of the analog signal, analog to digital (A/D) conversion takes place from continuous time-amplitude coordinates to discrete time-amplitude coordinates as illustrated in FIG. 2 .", "The difference between the instantaneous analog signal and the digital representation is digital error.", "[0026] The Nyquist theorem states that if a signal V (t) does not contain frequencies higher than f S /2 (where f S =1/T S ), then it can be fully recovered from its sampled values V (nTs) at discrete times t n =nT S where n=.", "−1, 0, 1, 2, 3.", "The recovered signal will have all the frequencies in the range from 0 to f S /2 Hz.", "The sampling rate or frequency per one second is 8000 for vocal sounds, and 44000 for music.", "It is required to provide 7 to 8 bits for vocal sounds, and 12 to 16 bits for music.", "[0027] The Fourier transform transforms a time domain signal into a frequency domain representation of that signal.", "This means that it generates a description of the distribution of the energy in the signal as a function of frequency.", "This is normally displayed as a plot of frequency (x-axis) against amplitude (y-axis) called a spectrum.", "[0028] FIG. 3 displays the spectrum analysis of a square wave.", "According to the spectrum analysis, this waveform does not contain even harmonics, only infinitude of odd harmonics.", "Although this display does not show frequencies past the sixth harmonic, the pattern of odd-only harmonics in descending amplitude continues indefinitely.", "[0029] The usual method of bringing analog inputs into a microprocessor is to use an analog to digital converter (A/D).", "Analog to digital converter (A/D) accepts an analog input, a voltage or a current, and converts it to a digital value that can be read by a microprocessor.", "A/D come in various speeds, uses different interfaces, and provide differing degrees of accuracy.", "The most common types of voice sampling A/D are successive approximation and sigma-delta.", "A successive approximation converter uses a comparator and counting logic to perform a conversion.", "The first step in the conversion is to see if the input is greater than half the reference voltage.", "If it is, the most significant bit (MSB) of the output is set.", "This value is then subtracted from the input, and the result is checked for one quarter of the reference voltage.", "This process continues until all the output bits have been set or reset.", "[0030] A sigma-delta A/D uses a 1-bit D/A, filtering, and over sampling to achieve very accurate conversions.", "The conversion accuracy is controlled by the input reference and the input clock rate.", "[0031] The primary advantage of a sigma-delta converter is high resolution.", "The flash and successive approximation A/Ds use a resistor ladder or resistor string.", "The primary disadvantage of the sigma-delta converter is speed.", "Because the converter works by over sampling the input, the conversion takes many clock cycles.", "[0032] A/D operation is straightforward when a DC signal is being converted.", "But if the input signal varies by more than one least significant bit (LSB) during the conversion time, the A/D will produce an incorrect (or at least inaccurate) result.", "One way to reduce these errors is to place a low pass filter ahead of the A/D.", "The filter parameters are selected to ensure that the A/D input does not change by more than one LSB within a conversion cycle.", "[0033] Another way to handle changing inputs is to add a sample-and-hold (S/H) circuit ahead of the A/D.", "The S/H circuit has an analog (solid state) switch with a control input, when the switch is closed, the input signal is connected to the hold capacitor and the output of the buffer follows the input.", "When the switch is open, the input is disconnected from the capacitor.", "[0034] The ability of an S/H circuit to maintain the output in hold mode is dependent on the quality of the hold capacitor, the characteristics of the buffer amplifier (primarily input impedance), and the quality of the sample/hold switch (real electronic switches have some leakage when open).", "The amount of drift exhibited by the output when in hold mode is called the droop rate, and is specified in mill volt per second, mill volt per microsecond, or microvolt per microsecond.", "[0035] Over the past decade, huge advances have been made in the area of audio coding for bit reduced transmission.", "Fast, effective perceptual audio coders like MPEG Layer 3 and MPEG-2 AAC (Advanced Audio Coding) have been proven to deliver studio quality audio with little or no perceptual loss, at bit rates as low as 64 Kbps (over digital transmission paths such as satellite and ISDN networks).", "Advanced Perceptual Audio Coding techniques (like MPEG Layer-3 or MPEG-2 MC) exploit the properties of the human perceptual system by eliminating audio frequencies and tones that are “masked”", "by other tones to achieve transmission of audio with almost perceptible loss of quality, often reducing the size of transmitted audio data by as much as 12 times.", "This makes such schemes perfect for high quality low bit-rate applications, like remote ISDN broadcasting, soundtracks for CD-ROM games, solid-state sound memories, Internet audio, digital audio broadcasting systems, and other similar applications.", "The Present Invention [0036] The present invention differs from other digital recorders in the components, coding and the reconstruction method.", "The present invention does not require A/D, D/A, processor and compression algorithm.", "It also does not measure or code the amplitude level of the input signal samples.", "The system is comprised of a microphone, which converts the acoustic signal to an electronic one, an amplifier that amplifies the electrical signal, a filter (Low pass filter or Band pass filter), a logic comparator, sampling, control hardware and a memory (FIFO register).", "[0037] FIG. 5 illustrates the signal path from the vocal (sound) signal to the digital storage in the memory (FIFO) and up to the retrieval of stored sound information and output audio The vocal (sound) signal ( 1 ) enters the microphone and is converted to electrical analog signal.", "The electrical signal ( 2 ) is then amplified, filtered and compared to predefined level (can be zero) by the comparator amplifier (or other type of comparing device).", "The comparator produces in its output a signal alternating between “0”", "and “1”", "levels (this signal include original voice signal harmonics) ( 3 ) according to its input.", "The alternating signal is being sampled by clock at a rate higher then twice the maximum frequency of the vocal sound signal (Nyquist theorem) and is now represented ( 4 ) as a digital signal (0's and 1's), thus eliminating the need for compressing algorithm.", "The system reduces the amount of memory bits, used to store the signal (8 times less than PWM), since the input signal's amplitude is not being sampled.", "The digital data is stored in the memory ( 5 ) in a more efficient and less consuming manner.", "The digital data stored represents the alternating signal that comprises of the original voice signal harmonics.", "In the process of retrieving the stored digital data ( 5 ) from the memory (FIFO), the data is being retrieved one bit at a time in a serial manner.", "The collection of bits retrieved, construct a pulse signal similar to the output of the comparator found at the beginning of the process chain.", "The data is being filtered by a Low pass or Band pass filter to extract the original signal harmonics.", "The filter reduces the amplitude of the high frequency components and creates the spectrums shape of the glottal airflow, which has energy at the fundamental frequency and the harmonics falls off 12 dB per octave ( 6 ).", "[0038] The electrical analog signal is now being represented as a column of harmonics while the amplitudes of the harmonics are descending as their frequencies are ascending (This process eliminate the need for measuring and preserving the amplitude of the harmonies of the analog signals).", "The electrical analog signal is being amplified ( 7 ) and converted back to sound signal by electronic transducer (e.g. speaker) ( 8 ).", "[0039] The present invention can connect to different types of input interfaces for receiving vocal sound signal from different sources.", "The source can be a pre-recorded vocal sound, found on digital media such as a memory bank, a computer and any other source that uses a digital representation of data.", "The present invention includes two main devices.", "The first device is comprised of a microphone, an amplifier, a filter (Low pass filter or Band pass filter), a logic comparator and sampling.", "The main function of this device is to represent the vocal signal as a digital one.", "This device (coding) can also be implemented as a software algorithm.", "The second device is comprised of a memory device, a filter (Low pass filter or Band pass filter), an amplifier and a transducer (speaker).", "This device is responsible for storing the digital data, decoding it and reproduces the vocal signal.", "[0040] Both devices are capable of functioning as separate and stand alone hardware or software units.", "The first device can function as a coding and compressing unit and the second one as a storing and reconstructing system (e.g. an electronic greeting card).", "[0041] While the above description contains many specifities, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the invention, but rather as exemplifications of the preferred embodiments.", "Those skilled in the art will envision other possible variations that are within its scope.", "Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be determined not by the embodiment illustrated, but by the appended claims and their legal equivalents." ]

[ "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1.", "Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method of and apparatus for printing a photograph and more particularly, to a photograph printing method and apparatus in which a film image is printed on photographic by automatically determining a printing light quantity on the basis of film image density.", "Description of the Related Art The light of three colors, i.e., blue (B), green (G) and red (R), transmits a color negative film.", "It is a known rule of thumb that transmitting ratios of these three color components are typically equal or constant.", "For this reason, in an automatic printer a printing light quantity (an exposure quantity) is determined in accordance with the following formula.", "logFj=Kj+Dj (1) where logF is the logarithm of the printing light quantity, K is the constant, D is the image density of the negative film, e.g., typically a Large Area Transmittance Density (LATD), measured by a photometer system and j is any one of the color beams B, G and R. When controlling the printing light quantity by the automatic printer in accordance with the formula (1), however the following defects are caused.", "A print from a overexposure negative film when photographing a gray subject exhibits a higher density on the whole than a print from a properly exposed negative film.", "Whereas in a print from an overexposed negative film, the density decreases.", "Hence, the exposure quantity is determined by correcting Dj of the formula (1) under slope control.", "On the other hand, even in an automatic printer incorporating a slope control function, an ill-color-blanched defective print tends to be produced from a negative (a heterogeneous light source negative) obtained by photographing with a light source (a fluorescent lamp, a tungsten lamp or the like) remarkably different from the day light or from a color failure negative.", "For this reason, the exposure quantity is determined by further correcting Dj (color correction) of the formula (1).", "In this case, an excessive correction with respect to a standard correction (normal correction) is referred to as a high correction, while an extremely small correction is referred to as a lower correction.", "In addition to a normal negative (a negative film requiring 3-9 months from film manufacturing to photographing and 1-2 weeks from photographing to film developing), however, there are negatives substantially varied with a passage of time.", "FIG. 3 shows variations ΔD in print density versus elapsed days (unit is a year: the numeral 1 represents 365 days, and 2 indicates 730 days) from film manufacturing with respect to a certain printing light quantity.", "Film characteristics change with a passage of time, i.e., with an elapse of days.", "The variations ΔD in the print density thereby become large.", "Hence, a degree of the color correction has hitherto been determined on the average of the normal negative and the negative remarkably changed with a passage of time.", "Therefore, the degree of correction becomes increased for the normal negative, whereby color and density failures tend to take place.", "Whereas for the negative, substantially varied with an elapse of time, the degree of correction decreases.", "The problem is that it is difficult to determine an optimum printing light quantity for all the negatives.", "The following is an explanation of one known printing method.", "When manufacturing a film, a reference density is printed on a portion other than a photographic region of the film.", "The reference density is read during printing to judge the characteristics of the film.", "Based on this judgment, printing is effected.", "During a period from film manufacturing to its developing, however, a retrograde of a latent image proceeds.", "This results in such a problem that the film characteristics can not be obtained with a high degree of accuracy.", "The reference density and information on the light source are printed during photographing.", "The density and information are read during printing, thereby judging the film characteristics (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos. 51-117632, 52-13333 and 59-214023).", "However, the film characteristics can not, as in the previous case, be accurately obtained because of the retrograde of the latent image from photographing to film developing.", "SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention, which has been devised to obviate the foregoing problems, to provide a photograph printing method and apparatus that are capable of printing a photograph by determining an optimum printing light quantity for all negatives, while variations in film characteristics both from film manufacturing to photographing and from photographing to film developing are caused to reflect the printing light quantity.", "To accomplish this object, according to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a photograph printing method of printing a film image on photographic paper by correcting a printing light quantity determined based on a film image density, comprising the step of changing a degree of correction in accordance with a length of at least one of periods ranging from film manufacturing to photographing and from photographing to film developing.", "By this photograph printing method, the degree of correction can be incremented with an increasing extension of at least one of the periods from film manufacturing to photographing and from photographing to film developing on the basis of correction of a standard (normal) film.", "According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a photograph printing apparatus comprising: reading means for reading pieces of information representing a film manufacturing time and a photographing time from a film incorporating such information;", "period computing means for computing periods from film manufacturing to photographing and from photographing to film developiing on the basis of the read information and the information representing the film developing time;", "measuring means for measuring an image density of the film;", "and printing light quantity computing means for computing a printing light quantity by correcting the image density to degree corresponding to a length of at least one of the periods from manufacturing to photographing and from photographing to film developing.", "Based on the photograph printing method of this invention, the degree to correct the printing light quantity determined based on the image density of the film is changed in accordance with the length of at least one of the periods from film manufacturing to photographing and from photographing to film developing.", "The film image is then printed on the photographic paper.", "This makes the printing light quantity correctable in accordance with a degree of time-elapsed variations in the film characteristics.", "It is therefore possible to print the photograph by determining an optimum printing light quantity irrespective of the degree of the time-elapsed variations in the film characteristics.", "When correcting the printing light quantity, the degree of correction can be increased with an increasing extension of at least one of the periods from film manufacturing to photographing and from photographing to film developing on the basis of correction of the normal film.", "Reversely, the degree of correction may be reduced as one of the periods becomes shorter on the basis of correction of the film with the time-elapsed variations.", "In the photograph printing apparatus of this invention, the reading means reads the information incorporated in the film, the information representing the film manufacturing time nad the photographing time.", "The incorporation of information in the film involves recording the information representing the film manfacturing time and the photographing time on the film or storing the information representing the same into a storage means provided in the film or a film case.", "Two pieces of time information described above may be itemized either by year, month and data or by year and month.", "The period computing means computes the periods from film manufacturing to photographing and from photographing to film developing on the basis of the read information and the information representing the developing time.", "The time information may similarly be itemized either by year, month and data or by year and month.", "Such information may manually be inputted via a keyboard to the period computing means.", "The information may also be recorded on the film or, after storing it in a storage means, read from this storage means by a reading means.", "Manual inputting of the information indicating the film developing time is suited to simultaneous printing (printing is effected immediately after finishing the film development).", "Reading of this information is suited to reprinting (printing is performed again because of defective printing or by a reorder after previous printing has been done).", "The measuring means measures the image density of the film.", "The printing light quantity computing means computes the printing light quantity by correcting the image density to a degree corresponding to a length of at least one of the periods from film manufacturing to photographing and from photographing to film developing.", "The method discussed in connection with the photograph printing method is applicable to this correction.", "As described above, the present invention exhibits the following advantages.", "The time-elapsed variations in the film characteristics can accurately be reflected in the printing light quantity.", "It is therefore possible to optimize the printing light quantity to all the films.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent during the following discussion taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing a printing control routine in a first embodiment of the present invention;", "FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram depicting and auto-color-printer to which this invention is applicable;", "FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating density variations versus time-elapsed variations;", "FIG. 4 is a plan view illustrating a film to record pieces of information indicating film manufacturing photographing years, months and dates;", "FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a table of color correction values corresponding to the numbers of elapsed days;", "FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a table of weighting coefficients corresponding to the days elapsed;", "and FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a control routine in a second embodiment of the invention.", "DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of this invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.", "There will be described an embodiment in which this invention is applied to a color photograph printing apparatus.", "A mirror box 18 and lamp house 10 encasing a halogen lamp are, as shown in FIG. 2, disposed downwardly of a negative film carrier 12 for carrying a negative film 20 to a printing unit.", "A dimming filter 60 is interposed between the mirror box 18 and the lamp house 10.", "The dimming filter 60 is, as broadly known, composed of three cut filter such as a filter Y (yellow), a filter M (magenta) and a filter C (cyan).", "A lens 228 a black shutter 24 and a sheet of a color paper 26 are sequentially disposed above the negative film carrier 12.", "Beams of light emerging from the lamp house 10 transmit the diming filter 60, the mirror box 18 and the negative film 20.", "The transmitted light falls on the color paper 26 to thereby form an image thereon.", "A two-dimensional image sensor 30 measures an image density by splitting a negative image into a multiplicity of sub-images.", "In a direction inclined to the optical axis of an image forming optical system, the image sensor 60 is placed in such a position that the sensor 60 is able to measure an image density of the negative film 20.", "Recorded on the negative film 20 in FIG. 4 is information as a bar code 34 indicating a year, a month and a data of film manufacturing.", "Information as a numeral 36 indicating a year, a month and a date of photographing is also printed on the film 20.", "The information indicating the film manufacturing year, month and data may be printed on the film when manufacturing the film.", "The information indicating the photographing year, month and date may be printed on the film when photographing by utilizing a date copying mechanism incorporated into a camera.", "Note that the information indicating the film manufacturing year, month and date may be recorded on one appropriate portion of a single film.", "This recording manner suffices.", "However, as shown in FIG. 4, the information is recorded on each frame of the film 20.", "This arrangement offers easy-to-read information when being cut into pieces of negatives.", "In the case of the information indicating the photographing year, month and date, these items are in many cases different according to the frames and preferably recorded on each frame.", "In FIG. 4, the information indicating the photographing year, month and date is expressed by the numeral 36.", "The information may, however, be recorded by use of a bar code.", "Recording of the film manufacturing/photographing year, month and date information may involve the use of optical marks indicated by light emitting diodes or the like in addition to the bar codes.", "The position to record the information on the film is not limited to the one shown in FIG. 4. For instance, between the film image frames, one-side perforations are eliminated.", "Instead, an information recording area is provided, and the information may be recorded in this area.", "On the upper stream side of the negative film carrier 12, first and second sensors 14 and 16 are disposed in such positions that the sensors are allowed to read the information recorded on the film.", "The first sensor 14 optically reads the information showing the film manufacturing year, month and date.", "The second sensor 16 optically reads the imformation showing the photographing sensor 16 and the two dimensional image sensor 30 are connected to a microcomputer-based control circuit 28.", "A keyboard 32 for inputting the data is connected to the control circuit 28.", "The control circuit 28 is connected to the dimming filter 60 to control this filter.", "The following is a description of a printing control routine executed by the microcomputer in the first embodiment.", "In this enbodiment, printing is carried out by controlling the dimming filter in accordance with the following formula.", "logEj=Sj·Cj (dj-dwj)+dwj+Kj (2) wherein, dj=Dj-NDj (3) ##EQU1## where j: any one of numerals 1 to 3 representing R, G and B Dj: the image density (e.g., a whole picture mean desity) of each film image frame NDj: the mean image density of a standard (normal) negative film or of a multiplicity of film frame (e.g., a mean whole picture density) Sj: the slope control value Cj: the color correction value Kj: the constant dependent on characteristics of a printer, a film and photographic paper, and Ej: the exposure control value corresponding to the printing light quantity.", "In the formula (2), the exposure control value Ej is obtained by use of the mean image density NDj of the standard negative film or of the multiplicity of film frames.", "Hence, a degree of correction of the standard negative film can be reduced by decreasing the color correction value of the standard negative film.", "This makes it possible to prevent a color failure of the standard negative film.", "FIG. 1 shows a control routine in this embodiment.", "At a step 100, the first and second sensors 14 and 16 read pieces of information 34 and 36 which indicate the film manufacturing/photographing years, months and dates.", "The negative film 20 is carrried in an arrowed direction A of FIG. 2. The sensors 14 and 16 are, because of being disposed on the upper stream side of the negative carrier 12, able to read the film manufacturing/photographing year, month and date information before the film stops in a printing position.", "An execution of simultaneous printing requires a step of previously inputting the information indicating the film developing year, month and date by operating the keyboard 32.", "It is to be noted that the film developing year, month and date information may be recorded on the negative film 20 when developing the film.", "A storage means such as a magnetic tape or an IC is connected to the negative film.", "Stored in this storage means are the information indicating the film manufacturing/photographing years, months and dates.", "In general, the film manufacturing year, month and date information is previously stored as a DX code in the film.", "Therefore, only the information showing the years, months and dates of film manufacturing and of photographing may be stored in the storage means.", "Employing the storage means requires provision of a unit for reading the information by a magnetic means in place of the optical sensors.", "At a subsequent step 102, the sensor computes the number of elapsed days (the first number of elapsed days) from the manufacturing year, month and date to the photographing year, month and date and also the number of elapsed days (the second number of elapsed days) from the photograping year, month and date to the film developing year, month and date.", "This computation is based on the read information and the information inputted from the keyboard.", "At a step 104, the color correction values Cj corresponding to the first and second number of elapsed days are calculated by an interpolation method from a table of the color correction values Cj corresponding to the numbers of elapsed days.", "In the table of the color correction values Cj, as shown in FIG. 5, a straight line CA represents the color correction value corresponding to the first number of elapsed days, while a straight line CB represents the color correction corresponding to the second number of elapsed days.", "In this table, when the number of elapsed days is 0, the color correction value of the standard negative film is given by Cj=1.0.", "The reason why a slope of the straight line CB is larger than that of the straight line CA will be elucidated as follows.", "A retrograde of a latent image takes place during a period from photographing to film developing.", "The degree of correction is required to increase as compared with a case where no latent image exists.", "The color correction value Cj of the formula (2) is a value given by adding color correction values obtained from the straight lines CA and CD or any one of these color correction values or an arithmetic mean value of the two color correction values.", "In the next step 106, the exposure control value Ej is calculated in accordance with the formula (2).", "The dimming filter is controlled to thereby effect printing at a step 108.", "Note that Dj of the formula (2) is given in a photometric value of the two-dimensional image sensor 30.", "Next, a second embodiment of the invention will be explained.", "In the second embodiment, the exposure control value Ej corresponding to the printing light quantity is obtained by the following formula.", "logEj=Sj{α·Dj+(1-α)ADj-NDj}+Kj (5) where α is the weighting coefficient and ADj is the means density of a multiplicity of frames.", "A control routine in the second embodiment is substantially the same as that shown in FIG 1, and the illustration is omitted.", "The weighting coefficient corresponding to the elapsed days is computed from the table of FIG. 6 at a step 104.", "The exposure control value Ej is computed on the basis of the formula (5) at a step 106.", "Shown in the table of the weighting coefficients α of FIG. 6 are a broken line αA representing the weighting coefficient corresponding to the first number of elapsed days and a straight line αB representing the weighting coefficient corresponding to the second number of elapsed days.", "When the number of elapsed days is 0, it implies a weighting coefficient of the standard negative film.", "The exposure control value is arithmetically given by substituting any one of the two weighting coefficients obtained from the table or a sum of the two coefficients or an arithmetic means value thereof.", "In this embodiment, the degree of correction is incremented with a larger value of weighting coefficient α.", "In the embodiments discussed above, the coefficient Kj dependent on the characteristics of the printer, film and photoghraphic paper is obtained by the following formula (6).", "The degree of correction may be varied in accordance with the number of elapsed days.", "Kj=K1j+K2j (6) where K1j is the constant dependent on the characteristics of the printer, film and photographic paper and K2j is the correction quantity corresponding to the time-elapsed variations.", "The correction quantity K2j is correctable in the following manner.", "Prescribed in the table are a first correction quantity corresponding to the first number of elapsed days and a second correction quantity corresponding to the second number of elapsed days.", "The correction of the quantity K2j can be done by employing a sum of the first and second correction quantities or any one of the first and second correction quantities or an arithmetic value thereof.", "Note that the color correction coefficients and the weighting coefficients are expressed as continuously-varied-quantities but may be discretely-varied quantities.", "The values to change the degree of correction may the correction value kj and the slope control value Sj of the formula (1) and (5) in addition to the color correction coefficients and the weighting coefficients.", "A third embodiment of the invention will next be described referring to FIG. 7. In the third embodiment, both of the formulae (2) and (5) are usable.", "Therefore, the description is made, wherein the color correction value and the weighting coefficient are used as correction coefficients.", "Incidentally, the components, shown in FIG. 7, corresponding to those of FIG. 1 are marked with the like symbols, and the explanation thereof is omitted.", "In the third embodiment, the degree of correction is further varied according to seasons.", "At a step 114, the correction coefficients corresponding to the first and second numbers of elapsed days are computed, respectively.", "Judged at a step 116 are seasons from film manufacturing to photographing and from photographing to film developing.", "If the seasons judged at the step 116 is the summer (e.g., June to September), the correction coefficient computed at the step 114 is multiplied by a first predetermined value (e.g., 2.0) at a step 120.", "Whereas if the season judged at the step 116 is the winter (e.g., December to March), at a step 118 the correction coefficient is multiplied by a second predetermined value (e.g., 0.5) smaller than the first predetermined value of step 120.", "If the seasons is one other than the above-mentioned, the operation proceeds directly to a step 122.", "Computed at the step 122 is a sum of the correction coefficients multiplied by the foregoing predetermined values and corresponding to the first and second numbers of elapsed days.", "An arithmetic means value thereof is also computed.", "As a result, the correction values employed in the formulae (5) and (6) are calculated.", "If a film used for photographing in the summer is to be developed in the winter, the correction coefficient corresponding to the first number of elapsed days is multiplied by the first predetermined value.", "Then, the correction coefficient corresponding to the second number of elapsed days is multiplied by the second predetermined value.", "The predetermined value for the summer is set large.", "It is because the summer exhibits larger variations in property than in the winter due to higher temperatures.", "In the embodiment given above, the correction coefficients are changed depending on the seasons.", "The printing light quantity may be controlled by setting an arithmetic formula for the exposure control value according to the photographing time, i.e., the seasons.", "This arrangement makes it possible to increase an exposure accuracy of a negative of a low contrast as seen in a snowscape.", "In a printing system using an added value of the photometric data of the multiplicity of frames or a mean value thereof, a film or frames showing a large number of elapsed days are inhibited from being employed as data;", "or alternatively a part of them may be used.", "In the embodiment discussed above, pieces of information itemized by year, month and date are employed as the information representing the film manufacturing time, the photographing time and the developing time.", "However, the information itemized by year and month may also be usable.", "In this case, the periods from film manufacturing to photographing from photographing to film developing may be expressed as the number of elapsed days.", "Although the illustrative embodiment have been described in detail, it is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to those embodiments.", "Various changes or modifications may be effected therein by one skilled in the art without departing from a scope or spirit of the invention." ]

[ "CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION [0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Serial No. 60/442,622, filed Jan. 27, 2003, entitled “Grilling Oven.”", "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] This invention relates to an improved grilling station having a plurality of identical improved grilling ovens particularly adapted for use in a food preparation environment, such as, a commercial restaurant or the like.", "[0003] A problem frequently encountered in the operation of a commercial food preparation facility, such as a restaurant revolves around grilling foods.", "In a typical restaurant environment, a grill or broiler is used to cook foods such as steak, fish and chops.", "The steak is placed on the grill and the grilling person turns the steak after a period of time.", "The steak is then removed after a time to produce the steak with the desired amount of cooking, such as, rare, medium rare, medium, medium well, or well done.", "The degree of cooking of the steak is in great part dependant upon the experience, skill, ability, mood and judgment in particular of the grilling person.", "[0004] As a further example, should an order come into the kitchen for several steaks, one or more of which is to be well done, one or more of which is to be rare, one or more of which is to be medium, and one or more of which is to be medium well, the grilling person must place the steaks on the grill at different times, stagger the times that the steaks are on the grill for turning and for removal from the grill.", "Failure of the grilling person to monitor the cooking time of each of the steaks may result in one or more of the steaks being overcooked or undercooked.", "In the event that a steak is overcooked or undercooked and delivered at a temperature that is not desired when the steak is overcooked or undercooked, the customer is dissatisfied and the steak is sent back to the kitchen which disrupts the operation of the kitchen.", "Service is disrupted at the table.", "In addition, the restaurant may have steaks which may not be readily sold and a dissatisfied customer.", "[0005] It is an object of the present invention to provide a grilling station having a plurality of individual locations to grill individual foods, such as, steaks, to produce food which is cooked a proper amount of time.", "In addition, the food is grilled on the top and the bottom at the same time to eliminate the need for turning of the food.", "Furthermore, an indicator light is provided with each unit which indicates that the cooking for a particular unit has been completed.", "It follows that if it is not necessary for a grilling person to watch food on a grill.", "Thus, an experienced grilling person is not required, thereby effecting an economy in the labor rate.", "It is a further object to provide an improved grilling oven heated electrically so that the electricity may be interrupted when the oven is not is use to effect economy in operation.", "An additional object of the present invention is to provide a grilling oven wherein food may be easily loaded onto the grill and easily removed therefrom.", "The unit will also operate with the upper grill raised for use of cooking fish or melting cheese or other foods above burgers, steaks, or the like.", "Other objects and uses of the present invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon perusal of the following specification in light of the accompanying drawing.", "BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0006] The present invention is an improved grilling station for grilling a variety of foods simultaneously.", "The station includes a plurality of individual grilling ovens.", "Each of the ovens has a housing with an opening in the housing for loading food into the respective housing.", "Each oven has a first grilling unit for supporting food in the respective housing.", "Each grilling oven also includes a second grilling unit positionable above the respective first grilling unit and being movable relative to the first grilling unit.", "A control assembly is connected to the grilling units to determine selectively the length of time energy is supplied to the grilling units in each of the individual ovens to provide a separate grilling time in each of the grilling ovens.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING [0007] [0007 ]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a grilling station embodying this invention, in this instance, the station having six individual grilling ovens with a control assembly connected to the grilling ovens for regulating the grilling time in each of the ovens;", "[0008] [0008 ]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a portion of one of the grilling ovens of FIG. 1 with a top removed and shown in an open attitude for loading or unloading food in the oven, and a fillet positioned on a first grilling unit;", "[0009] [0009 ]FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of a portion of the grilling oven of FIG. 2 showing the door in an open attitude and a fillet resting on a first grilling unit, a portion of a regulator is shown broken away to show the interconnection between a slotted link and a stud on a lower platen;", "[0010] [0010 ]FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the grilling oven of FIG. 3 but with the door shown in a closed attitude with a fish on the first grilling unit and a regulator holds a second grilling unit spaced away from the fillet;", "[0011] [0011 ]FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the grilling oven of FIG. 2 with the door closed, but the regulator not connected to the second grilling unit, but rather the second grilling unit resting on a fillet;", "and [0012] [0012 ]FIG. 6 is a front elevational view of the control assembly in FIG. 1. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [0013] Referring now to the drawings, and especially FIG. 1, a grilling station 8 is shown therein including six improved individual grilling ovens 10 , 12 , 14 , 16 , 18 and 20 enclosed in a cabinet 21 .", "The construction of each of the grilling ovens is identical to each other grilling oven.", "The station includes a control assembly 24 which is electrically connected to each of the grilling ovens to deliver electrical energy to each of the individual grilling ovens and to regulate the time of heating of each of the grilling ovens.", "[0014] Grilling ovens 10 and 12 have a common grease tray 26 , and grilling ovens 16 and 18 have a common grease tray 28 .", "Grilling ovens 14 and 20 have individual grease trays 30 and 32 , respectively.", "The grease trays collect grease generated by cooking in the ovens and are connected to the troughs to receive grease from the troughs.", "[0015] Referring now to FIG. 2, grilling oven 18 is shown therein with the top removed in order to show better the construction of the oven.", "Grilling oven 18 includes a housing 34 with an opening 36 on one side.", "A hinged door 38 is pivotally connected to the housing for selectively closing opening 36 .", "Hinged door 38 includes a face portion 40 with a handle 42 connected thereto.", "Face portion 40 is hingedly connected to yolk 44 , which is an integral portion of housing 36 .", "Door 38 has a inner panel 46 with elongated ears 48 and 50 formed integral therewith.", "[0016] Referring now to FIG. 3, one side of a mechanism interconnecting door 38 with an upper grilling unit 52 and a lower grilling unit 54 is shown therein.", "Upper grilling unit 52 includes a grooved platen 56 with a serpentine electric heating unit 58 in thermal engagement with the platen.", "The electrical heating unit 58 is electrically connected by cables 59 to a source of electric power through the control assembly 24 .", "In like manner, the lower grilling unit 54 includes a grooved platen 60 with a serpentine electric heating unit mounted on the lower side of the platen and having its construction identical to electrical heating unit 58 .", "The electrical heating unit connected to platen 60 is thermally connected thereto and is electrically connected to the control assembly through cables 61 .", "[0017] Ear 50 has an elongated link 62 connected at one end through a pin 64 .", "The other end of link 62 is connected to a bowed lever 66 through a pin 68 on one end of the bowed lever.", "Lever 66 pivots on an axle 70 which axle is mounted on housing 34 .", "As may be seen in FIG. 3, lever 66 has a roller 72 mounted on a roller axle 74 at the end opposite to the end connected to link 62 .", "Roller 72 is rotatably mounted in a track 78 connected to one side of platen 56 .", "A slotted link 80 has one end connected to ear 50 through a pin 82 .", "Slotted link 80 includes a slot 84 at the opposite end.", "A stud 86 connected to platen 60 is slidably mounted in slot 84 .", "The lower platen 60 is mounted on a support 88 which is rotatably supported on a rail 90 .", "[0018] It may be appreciated that only one side of the interconnected linkage between the door and the platens has been described in detail above.", "The linkage on the other side of the door and the platens is a mirror image of the linkage described above.", "[0019] Brackets 92 and 94 are secured to platen 56 .", "Each of the brackets 92 and 94 has an identical roller 96 rotatably mounted thereon.", "Rails 98 and 100 which are parallel to each other and mounted on the housing, as seen in FIG. 2. A second pair of rails 102 and 104 identical to rails 98 and 100 is mounted on the housing opposite to respective rails 98 and 100 .", "[0020] A manual control regulator 106 includes a lever 108 which is mounted on a pivot 110 supported by the housing.", "The regulator has a handle 112 for moving lever 108 about pivot 110 .", "Lever 108 includes an ear 114 which is engageable with a control flange 116 mounted on platen 56 .", "It may be appreciated that the position of regulator 106 determines the amount that platen 56 may move toward the lower grilling unit 54 thereby determining the spacing between the upper and lower grilling units.", "[0021] The control assembly 24 is a well known and conventional control assembly for controlling the length of time that electricity flows to the heating elements of each of the grilling ovens.", "The face of the control assembly is shown in FIG. 6. The controls for each grilling oven are in line.", "Each of grilling ovens 10 , 12 , 14 , 16 , 18 and 20 is identified by number in tags 118 , 120 , 122 , 124 , 126 and 128 , respectively.", "Readout windows 130 , 132 , 134 , 136 , 138 and 140 are positioned adjacent to tags 118 , 120 , 122 , 124 , 126 and 128 , respectively.", "Set time switches 142 , 144 , 146 , 148 , 150 and 152 are positioned adjacent to respective readout windows 130 , 132 , 134 , 136 , 138 and 140 .", "Stop clear switches 154 , 156 , 158 , 160 , 162 and 164 are positioned adjacent to respective set time switches 142 , 144 , 146 , 148 , 150 and 152 .", "Start switches 166 , 168 , 170 , 172 , 174 and 176 are positioned adjacent to the stop clear switches 154 , 156 , 158 , 160 , 162 and 164 , respectively.", "A well-known and conventional keypad 178 is positioned below the switches for entering cooking times for each of the individual ovens.", "[0022] Signal lights 180 , 182 , 184 , 186 , 188 and 190 are mounted in each housing for grilling ovens 10 , 12 , 14 , 16 , 18 and 20 , respectively.", "Each of the signal lights is connected to the control assembly for its respective oven.", "[0023] When a selected oven is put into use, the stop clear switch for that oven is actuated, which clears the circuit and extinguishes the signal light for the oven.", "Next, that oven's set time switch is actuated to allow acceptance of a time from the keypad.", "Keypad 178 is used to set the numerical number of minutes that electrical energy is to be supplied to the grilling units for the selected oven.", "The selected time in minutes is displayed on the respective readout window to allow the grilling person to determine whether the proper time for grilling has been keyed into the times through a conventional time circuit.", "The start switch is actuated so that a conventional timer in the timer circuit for the oven closes the circuit to allow energy to flow to the grilling units in the oven.", "Upon expiration of the selected time, the flow of energy to the grilling units is interrupted by the timer circuit and the respective signal light is actuated to indicate that the grilling is complete.", "[0024] The use of grilling oven 18 is described below, however each of the other ovens operates in a like manner.", "Hinge door 38 is pulled down to open the grilling oven.", "Downward pivoting of the hinge door moves the slotted link 80 .", "The initial movement of the slotted link causes the slot 84 to slide on stud 86 until the stud engages the oven end 192 of the slot.", "Then, the stud firmly engages the link to move the lower grilling unit partially into the opening for the grilling oven.", "Simultaneous with the movement of the lower grilling unit, pivoting of door 38 pulls elongated link 62 into the opening which causes lever 66 to pivot about axle 70 and swing roller 74 upward thereby pushing the upper grilling unit upward away from the lower grilling unit.", "It may be appreciated that initial movement of the hinge door has no effect on the movement of the lower grilling unit in view of the fact that the length of slot 84 must slide past stud 86 before there is any movement of the lower grilling unit.", "Thus, there is an initial vertical movement of the upper grilling unit away from the lower grilling unit before there is horizontal movement of the lower grilling unit.", "[0025] Once door 38 is open, the grilling oven may be loaded.", "Referring now to FIG. 2 by way of example, a beef fillet 194 is positioned on platen 60 of lower grilling unit.", "Door 38 is pivoted upward to close the door.", "The upward pivoting of door 38 moves the slotted link 80 causing slot 84 to slide on stud 86 until the stud engages the door end 196 of slot 84 .", "Further pivoting of the door with the stud in engagement with the door end of the slot causes the lower grilling unit to move into the housing.", "The upward pivoting of door 38 pushes elongated link 62 into the housing pivoting lever 66 about axle 70 to lower roller 74 which allows the upper grilling unit to drop down by the force of gravity.", "The upper grilling unit drops down until it rests on top of fillet 192 as shown in FIG. 5. [0026] It may be appreciated that it is desirable for the upper grilling unit to engage the upper surface of certain foods, such as, a beef fillet.", "However, other foods, such as, fish, may not withstand the weight of the upper grilling unit.", "A fish 198 is shown in FIG. 4 resting on the lower grilling unit.", "The descent of the upper grilling unit toward the lower grilling unit is controlled by regulator 102 .", "The cook or grilling person simply moves regulator 102 until the ear of the regulator is in a position to engage flange 78 and thereby prevent the upper grilling unit from coming into engagement with fish 198 .", "[0027] Irrespective of whether the upper grilling unit comes in contact with the food to be cooked or not, it is only necessary for the grilling person to first press the stop clear switch 162 to clear the time circuit, then press the set time switch 150 to activate the time.", "The grilling person then punches the numerical time on the keypad 178 which is displayed in the window 138 .", "Once the appropriate numerical time is set, start switch 174 is pressed to start the timer and connect the upper and lower grilling units to the source of electrical energy to be heated by their respective heating elements.", "Upon expiration of the time selected, the timer interrupts the flow of electricity to the heating elements and energizes signal lamp 188 to indicate that the cooking cycle is completed.", "Door 38 is opened and the food is removed from the grilling oven.", "Any grease that is generated by the cooking operation flows from the platen to a grease trough 200 positioned below and adjacent to the oven end of the platen.", "The grease flows from the trough to the grease tray 28 which may be readily removed for cleaning.", "[0028] It may be appreciated that with the instant station six different grilling times may be utilized, and it is not necessary for the grilling person to keep in mind which grilling oven is used for what purpose.", "The present arrangement reduces the opportunity for making an error by leaving the food too long on a grill, inasmuch as a time is selected and the grilling is interrupted upon the expiration of the selected time.", "[0029] Although a grilling station is shown with six grilling ovens, it is readily apparent that a grilling station may contain more or fewer grilling ovens to effect the required cooking in the amount which may be required for an establishment, such as, a restaurant.", "[0030] Although a detailed description of the present invention has been described in detail above, it is readily apparent that those skilled in the art may make various modifications and changes in the instant invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.", "It is to be expressly understood that the instant invention is limited only by the appended claims." ]

[ "DOMESTIC BENEFIT/NATIONAL STAGE INFORMATION This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser.", "No. 14/288,885 filed May 28, 2014, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.", "BACKGROUND The present invention relates generally to the routing phase of integrated circuit design, and more specifically, to congestion aware layer promotion.", "Typically, integrated circuit (chip) design includes synthesis, placement, and routing stages that may be performed iteratively to develop the final design for fabrication of the integrated circuit.", "The design may be organized into equal-sized grids that each include a number of components such as transistors.", "The routing stage places interconnects between transistors within and among the various grids.", "These interconnects are placed in layers with the lowest (and generally slowest) layer being closest to the device and the highest (and generally fastest) layer being closest to the packaging of the chip.", "One of the important design considerations is timing constraints.", "That is, the signals carried by the various interconnects must reach their intended destinations within specified timing requirements for the integrated circuit to function properly.", "The iterative process is undertaken in integrated circuit design in large part to ensure that the timing constraints are adhered to.", "During that process, one of the techniques that may be used to improve the timing of some interconnects is layer promotion.", "Layer promotion refers to moving or “promoting”", "an interconnect to a higher (and faster) level to improve timing.", "SUMMARY According to an embodiment, a system to manage layer promotion in a routing phase of integrated circuit design includes a memory device configured to store instructions;", "and a processor configured to execute the instructions to identify a set of candidate interconnects for layer promotion, score and sort the set of candidate interconnects according to a respective score to establish a respective rank, assess routing demand and resource availability based on layer promotion of the set of candidate interconnects, and manage the set of candidate interconnects based on the respective rank and the resource availability, the processor assessing the routing demand and resource availability and managing the set of candidate interconnects iteratively, wherein the processor, in at least one iteration, generates a second set of candidate interconnects by reducing the set of candidate interconnects.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS The subject matter which is regarded as embodiments is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the claims at the conclusion of the specification.", "The forgoing and other features, and advantages of the embodiments are apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a system to synthesize a design for an integrated circuit according to an embodiment of the invention;", "FIG. 2 is an exemplary design block of a physical implementation of the integrated circuit;", "FIG. 3 is a process flow of a method of managing layer promotion according to embodiments of the invention;", "and FIG. 4 illustrates placement effect on timing.", "DETAILED DESCRIPTION Embodiments described herein relate to congestion aware layer promotion.", "Specifically, the degree of deficiency in meeting timing requirements and the degree to which decisions in the placement stage affect timing are considered in determining which interconnects to promote to a higher layer.", "As noted above, layer promotion increases the speed of the promoted interconnects.", "However, other considerations may prevent the application of layer promotion to every interconnect whose timing may suggest that layer promotion is needed.", "One of these considerations is congestion.", "Thus, if every interconnect seemingly requiring layer promotion is moved to a higher layer, that higher layer may become congested to the detriment of timing and other parameters in that layer.", "As a result, layer promotion may be regarded as a limited resource.", "Current routing and layer promotion methodologies may promote interconnects based on the amount of timing improvement expected based on the layer promotion.", "This approach fails to address issues such as, for example, those in the placement stage that may be responsible for the timing.", "That is, in the case of some interconnects, modifying placement in a subsequent iteration of the placement stage may partly or entirely mitigate the timing deficiency.", "These interconnects may then be removed from the set of candidate interconnects that indicate a need for layer promotion.", "On the other hand, as the design of the integrated circuit progresses and there is less flexibility for placement changes in consideration of all the other design objectives, more of the interconnects that may benefit from timing improvement based on placement changes may instead rely on layer promotion.", "Embodiments detailed below facilitate consideration of not only the need for layer promotion, with regard to timing, but also the possibility that layer promotion may be avoided by instead mitigating placement-based timing issues.", "FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a system to synthesize a design for an integrated circuit according to an embodiment of the invention.", "A processing system 110 (e.g., computer or computer system) may implement the synthesis engine (to perform the synthesis, placement, and routing stages) in one or more processors 116 .", "An input interface 112 (e.g., keyboard, mouse) may be used to develop the logic design (from a register transfer level or RTL description of the design) which is stored in one or more memory devices 114 of the processing system 110 .", "An output interface 118 (e.g., display, output port) may be used to display a netlist resulting from the synthesis or provide the information to place and route components of the physical implementation 120 (e.g., chip).", "The physical implementation 120 includes creating components (e.g., transistors, resistors, capacitors) and interconnections (interconnect 310 , FIG. 3 ) there between on a semiconductor (e.g., silicon wafer).", "The embodiments described below may be implemented by the processor 116 executing instructions stored in the memory device 114 .", "FIG. 2 is an exemplary design block 230 of a physical implementation 120 of the integrated circuit.", "The design block 230 is organized into tiles or grids 220 that each includes multiple components.", "Interconnects 210 are routed among the components to carry signals within or among grids 220 .", "The example shown in FIG. 2 is of interconnects 210 from component a (signal source) to component f (signal sink) that go through components b, c, d, and e. The Steiner placement length indicated by the dashed line represents the shortest possible connection between the source and sink.", "That is, if the components b, c, d, and e were placed (in the placement stage) along the dashed line instead of as shown in FIG. 2 , then the sum of the lengths of the interconnects 210 between component a (source) and component f (sink) would be as small as possible.", "Thus, as noted above, the ability to modify placement may mitigate the deficiencies of some interconnects 210 in meeting timing requirements.", "Placement is a consideration in deciding which interconnects 210 to move (through layer promotion) according to embodiments discussed further below.", "FIG. 3 is a process flow of a method of managing layer promotion according to embodiments of the invention.", "It should be noted that the processes shown in FIG. 3 are in the routing phase of design which itself is iterative with the synthesis and placement phases to develop the final design for fabrication of the physical implementation 120 or chip.", "At block 310 , identifying a set of candidate interconnects 210 includes identifying interconnects 210 that meet a specified slack improvement threshold.", "The slack improvement threshold is a minimum amount of timing improvement that must result from layer promotion (at a minimum) for a given interconnect 210 in order for that interconnect 210 to be considered a candidate for layer promotion.", "By using the slack improvement threshold to select the candidate interconnects 210 , interconnects 210 that are not expected to exhibit a (sufficient) timing improvement as a result of layer promotion are prevented from using up the limited resource that layer promotion represents.", "At block 320 , scoring and sorting the candidate interconnects 210 is further detailed below.", "The scoring involves two factors, a timing improvement factor and a placement factor, and the two factors are weighted differently based on the development stage of design in which the routing phase is being performed.", "The sorting is according to the score such that a ranking based on the score is established for the candidate interconnects 210 .", "At block 330 , assessing the routing demand and resource availability based on the initial (current) layer promotion candidate list is done on a per grid 220 basis.", "This process involves determining the congestion and other effects resulting from promoting every interconnect 210 among the candidate interconnects 210 for layer promotion.", "This analysis does not involve actually moving or upgrading any of the routing but provides information about demand and availability trade-off through what can be thought of as a hypothetical promotion of all the candidate interconnects 210 .", "To be clear, in view of the fact that the routing phase is still part of the design stage and not the physical fabrication, “actually moving”", "interconnects 210 or promoting interconnects 210 as opposed to hypothetically promoting interconnects 210 for analysis still refers to moving interconnects in an iteration of the design.", "The assessment at block 330 indicates whether all the candidate interconnects 210 may, in fact, be promoted to a higher layer or if some number of interconnects 210 fewer than all the candidate interconnects 210 may be promoted instead.", "This assessment is on a per-grid 220 basis, because congestion and resource availability are best addressed in a localized context rather than over a full path from source to sink traversing multiple grids 220 .", "At block 340 , the process includes managing layer promotion of the candidate interconnects 210 based on the sorting (done at block 320 ) and resource availability (determined at block 330 ).", "The managing at block 340 involves pruning interconnects 210 from the candidate interconnects 210 for layer promotion when the process at block 330 indicates that there are insufficient resources to facilitate layer promotion for all candidate interconnects 210 .", "The pruning is according to the ranking established by the process at block 320 .", "As indicated in FIG. 3 , the processes at blocks 330 and 340 are performed iteratively.", "Thus, after a pruned (smaller) set of candidate interconnects 210 is generated at block 340 , the assessment is performed again at block 330 to determine if the pruned set of candidate interconnects 210 may all be promoted or if additional (or less) pruning is required by performing the process at block 340 again.", "Less pruning (the recovery of some of the previously discarded candidate interconnects 210 ) may be warranted based on an assessment that resources are left over after accommodating the pruned set of candidate interconnects 210 .", "The scoring and sorting to rank the candidate interconnects is further detailed below.", "The score given to a given candidate interconnect 210 is as follows: score=scaling t *t _metric+scaling p *p _metric [EQ.", "1] The t_metric refers to a metric reflecting the timing deficiency associated with the candidate interconnect 210 .", "The timing deficiency is the amount of time by which the candidate interconnect 210 fails its timing requirement (failure_amount).", "The t_metric is given by: failure_amount highest_failure ⁢ _amount [ EQ .", "⁢ 2 ] The highest_failure_amount refers to the largest failure_amount among candidate interconnects 210 within the grid 220 of the candidate interconnect 210 .", "As EQ.", "2 indicates, when the candidate interconnect 210 failure_amount is the highest_failure_amount in the grid 220 , then the result of EQ.", "2 would be equal to 1.", "That is, t_metric for the candidate interconnect 210 that has the failure_amount that is the highest_failure_amount in the grid 220 is 1.", "The result of EQ.", "2 for every other candidate interconnect 210 in that grid 220 would be some number less than 1.", "The p_metric refers to a metric reflecting the placement issues that affect timing of a candidate interconnect 210 .", "Like t_metric, p_metric is based on a per-grid perspective.", "The value of p_metric is given by: placement_ratio maximum_placement ⁢ _ratio [ EQ .", "⁢ 3 ] The placement_ratio is explained with reference to FIG. 4 .", "FIG. 4 illustrates placement effect on timing.", "The interconnects 210 a , 210 b , 210 c between component w and component z depict a path (or subset of a path centered around the interconnect 210 for which p_metric is being computed) within a given grid 220 and are shown under two different scenarios A and B. In scenario A, because of the placement of components x and y, the length of interconnect 210 b is longer than in scenario B. Thus, a modification in placement from the one shown as scenario A to the one shown as scenario B would lead to a decrease in the length of interconnect 210 b and, consequently, an improvement in the timing required for the interconnect 210 b .", "The effect of placement on the timing is expressed through the placement_ratio given by: ∑ ( length ⁡ ( 210 ⁢ a , 210 ⁢ b , 210 ⁢ c ) ) Steiner_placement ⁢ _length [ EQ .", "⁢ 4 ] As FIG. 4 illustrates, the sum of the path or the sum of the lengths of the interconnects 210 a , 210 b , 210 c is longer in scenario A than in scenario B. The Steiner_placement length is the shortest length between components w and z. If components x and y were placed (during the placement phase) along the dotted line indicating the Steiner placement length in FIG. 4 , then placement_ratio would have a value of 1.", "When the components do not line up along the dotted line marked as the Steiner placement length (as in both scenarios A and B), then the placement_ratio is greater than 1.", "The more the path strays from the Steiner placement length dashed line shown in FIG. 4 , the greater the value of placement_ratio.", "The maximum_placement_ratio is the largest placement_ratio within a grid 220 among the paths including candidate interconnects 210 .", "As EQ.", "3 indicates, when the placement_ratio is the maximum_placement_ratio (for a given path in a grid 220 ), the corresponding p_metric is 1.", "When the placement_ratio is not the maximum_placement_ratio (and is, therefore, necessarily a value smaller than the maximum_placement_ratio), then the corresponding p_metric is less than 1.", "Thus, like t_metric, p_metric is a value of 1 or less.", "As detailed above, by using the highest_failure_amount and maximum_placement_ratio in the calculation of t_metric and p_metric, respectively, t_metric and p_metric are normalized values.", "As EQ.", "1 indicates, t_metric is associated with scaling factor scaling t , and p_metric is associated with scaling factor scaling p .", "The scaling factors are given by: scaling t +scaling p =1 [EQ.", "5] The scaling factors are used to weight t_metric and p_metric independently.", "The scaling factors may be changed as the integrated circuit design moves from the early stages to later stages close to finalization of the design.", "This is because the scaling factors affect the score of a given candidate interconnect 210 , and the influence of the possibility of improving timing through placement modifications may diminish over the design life.", "That is, for example, early in the design process, the placement of components may be more fluid and scaling p may be smaller than scaling t to reflect that the score should not be high for a candidate interconnect 210 that is affected by placement issues and may, therefore, benefit from placement modification rather than layer promotion.", "In that early period, the t_metric would be weighted more heavily.", "Later in the design process, the placement of components may be relatively more fixed based on meeting all the other requirements of the design.", "In this case, the value of scaling p relative to scaling t may be increased (e.g., to be equal to scaling t ) in recognition of the fact that timing deficiencies of candidate interconnects 210 resulting from poor placement may no longer be addressable through placement changes and may warrant layer promotion instead.", "While the specific embodiments for defining and calculating t_metric, p_metric, and the scaling factors may be changed, the underlying considerations are to limit the number of interconnects 210 that are promoted based on congestion and to limit according to a ranking among the candidate interconnects 210 identified for layer promotion.", "Technical effects and benefits include congestion aware layer promotion that manages candidate interconnects 210 according to their relative need and expected benefit from layer promotion.", "The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention.", "As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an”", "and “the”", "are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.", "It will be further understood that the terms “comprises”", "and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, element components, and/or groups thereof.", "The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and equivalents of all means or step plus function elements in the claims below are intended to include any structure, material, or act for performing the function in combination with other claimed elements as specifically claimed.", "The description of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the invention in the form disclosed.", "Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.", "The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and the practical application, and to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.", "The descriptions of the various embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration, but are not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the embodiments disclosed.", "Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the described embodiments.", "The terminology used herein was chosen to best explain the principles of the embodiments, the practical application or technical improvement over technologies found in the marketplace, or to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the embodiments disclosed herein.", "The present invention may be a system, a method, and/or a computer program product.", "The computer program product may include a computer readable storage medium (or media) having computer readable program instructions thereon for causing a processor to carry out aspects of the present invention.", "The computer readable storage medium can be a tangible device that can retain and store instructions for use by an instruction execution device.", "The computer readable storage medium may be, for example, but is not limited to, an electronic storage device, a magnetic storage device, an optical storage device, an electromagnetic storage device, a semiconductor storage device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing.", "A non-exhaustive list of more specific examples of the computer readable storage medium includes the following: a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), a static random access memory (SRAM), a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), a digital versatile disk (DVD), a memory stick, a floppy disk, a mechanically encoded device such as punch-cards or raised structures in a groove having instructions recorded thereon, and any suitable combination of the foregoing.", "A computer readable storage medium, as used herein, is not to be construed as being transitory signals per se, such as radio waves or other freely propagating electromagnetic waves, electromagnetic waves propagating through a waveguide or other transmission media (e.g., light pulses passing through a fiber-optic cable), or electrical signals transmitted through a wire.", "Computer readable program instructions described herein can be downloaded to respective computing/processing devices from a computer readable storage medium or to an external computer or external storage device via a network, for example, the Internet, a local area network, a wide area network and/or a wireless network.", "The network may comprise copper transmission cables, optical transmission fibers, wireless transmission, routers, firewalls, switches, gateway computers and/or edge servers.", "A network adapter card or network interface in each computing/processing device receives computer readable program instructions from the network and forwards the computer readable program instructions for storage in a computer readable storage medium within the respective computing/processing device.", "Computer readable program instructions for carrying out operations of the present invention may be assembler instructions, instruction-set-architecture (ISA) instructions, machine instructions, machine dependent instructions, microcode, firmware instructions, state-setting data, or either source code or object code written in any combination of one or more programming languages, including an object oriented programming language such as Smalltalk, C++ or the like, and conventional procedural programming languages, such as the “C”", "programming language or similar programming languages.", "The computer readable program instructions may execute entirely on the user's computer, partly on the user's computer, as a stand-alone software package, partly on the user's computer and partly on a remote computer or entirely on the remote computer or server.", "In the latter scenario, the remote computer may be connected to the user's computer through any type of network, including a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), or the connection may be made to an external computer (for example, through the Internet using an Internet Service Provider).", "In some embodiments, electronic circuitry including, for example, programmable logic circuitry, field-programmable gate arrays (FPGA), or programmable logic arrays (PLA) may execute the computer readable program instructions by utilizing state information of the computer readable program instructions to personalize the electronic circuitry, in order to perform aspects of the present invention Aspects of the present invention are described herein with reference to flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus (systems), and computer program products according to embodiments of the invention.", "It will be understood that each block of the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented by computer readable program instructions.", "These computer readable program instructions may be provided to a processor of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing apparatus, create means for implementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.", "These computer readable program instructions may also be stored in a computer readable storage medium that can direct a computer, a programmable data processing apparatus, and/or other devices to function in a particular manner, such that the computer readable storage medium having instructions stored therein comprises an article of manufacture including instructions which implement aspects of the function/act specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.", "The computer readable program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other device to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer, other programmable apparatus or other device to produce a computer implemented process, such that the instructions which execute on the computer, other programmable apparatus, or other device implement the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.", "The flowchart and block diagrams in the Figures illustrate the architecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementations of systems, methods, and computer program products according to various embodiments of the present invention.", "In this regard, each block in the flowchart or block diagrams may represent a module, segment, or portion of instructions, which comprises one or more executable instructions for implementing the specified logical function(s).", "In some alternative implementations, the functions noted in the block may occur out of the order noted in the figures.", "For example, two blocks shown in succession may, in fact, be executed substantially concurrently, or the blocks may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality involved.", "It will also be noted that each block of the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, and combinations of blocks in the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, can be implemented by special purpose hardware-based systems that perform the specified functions or acts or carry out combinations of special purpose hardware and computer instructions." ]

[ "CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a continuation of U.S. Ser.", "No. 07/978,697, filed Feb. 2, 1993, now abandoned, which is a national stage application of PCT/GB91/01325, filed Aug. 2, 1991 under 35 U.S.C. §371, published as WO92/02625 Feb. 20, 1992.", "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1.", "Field of the Invention This invention relates to a process for producing enzymes having superoxide dismutase activity, novel superoxide dismutase enzymes and novel pharmaceutical compositions comprising enzymes having superoxide dismutase activity.", "Description of Related Art One consequence of oxidative metabolism is the generation of superoxide radicals (O 2 - ) which mediate extensive damage to the cellular components of living organisms.", "The molecular dismutation of O 2 - to hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) and oxygen (O 2 ) is catalysed by a ubiquitous class of metalloenzymes termed superoxide dismutases (SODs).", "Other abbreviations appear in the appendix preceding the figure legends.", "The prevalence of SODs in all living organisms which tolerate exposure to molecular O 2 has led to the compelling suggestion that these enzymes form the first line of the cell's defence against oxygen damage (Fridovich, 1975).", "On the basis of their metal ion content, three classes of SOD are recognised: Cu/Zn--, Fe--, and Mn-containing enzymes.", "While all three forms catalyse the same reaction, the Fe-containing SODs (FeSOD) are largely confined to prokaryotes and the Cu/Zn enzymes (Cu/ZnSOD) predominantly to eukaryotes.", "Mn-containing SODs (MnSOD) are universally present.", "In eukaryotes MnSODs are localised to the mitochondria, while the Cu/ZnSODs reside in the cytosol (Geller and Winge, 1984).", "Escherichia coli contains three isoenzymatic forms of SOD: a MnSOD (sodA), a FeSOD (sodB) and a hybrid enzyme containing both manganese and iron (Hassan and Fridovich, 1977).", "SODs from various sources are currently of great interest as potential therapeutic treatments for oxidative damage.", "Their use in a clinical setting for the treatment of a wide variety of disorders has been proposed (see Beck et al.", ", 1988).", "These include: (i) prevention of oncogenesis, tumour promotion and invasiveness, and UV-induced damage;", "(ii) protection of cardiac tissue against post-ischemia reperfusion damage;", "(iii) as an antiinflamatory agent;", "(iv) to reduce the cytotoxic and cardiotoxic effects of anticancer drugs, and;", "(v) to improve the longevity of living cells.", "Indeed, currently bovine Cu/ZnSOD is being utilised for the treatment of inflamed tendons in horses and for treating osteoarthritis in man (Puhl et al.", ", 1984).", "SODs currently proposed for therapy suffer the severe disadvantage of being highly immunogenic and consequently, as a result of the antibody response produced on administration, have proved to be of low clinical utility.", "Further available SODs, particularly those from mammalian sources, are difficult to obtain in large amounts in view of their low concentration in mammalian cells and the tedious isolation procedures required to produce them in satisfactory levels of purity.", "Thus for example EP-A-O 172 577 (Takeda) describes the pharmaceutical use of the MnSOD of Serratia marcescens as an antiinflammatory agent, but the only dosage forms described are enteric capsules and tablets.", "Similarly JP-A-63245671 (Shobo K. K. and Unichika K. K.) suggests the pharmaceutical use of a modified MnSOD of Bacillus stearothermophilus in the cosmetic and pharmaceutical fields.", "The unmodified enzyme is stated to be unsuitable for use due to its antigenicity and the specification prescribes a modification using a polyalkylene glycol.", "GB-A-2183658 describes the expression of human MnSOD in E.coli and proposes various pharmacological uses for the resulting product.", "Also the pharmaceutical use of the SOD of Streptococcus lactis is described in EP-A-0 289 667.", "Available SOD enzymes suffer disadvantages limiting their clinical utility, including a relatively short half-life in solution, loss of activity at pHs below pH7 and high antigenicity.", "Hitherto it has consequently not been possible to produce effective pharmaceutical compositions for countering the adverse effects associated with the presence in tissues of superoxide radicals.", "It has now been surprisingly found that the MnSOD enzymes of B.stearothermophilus (BS) and B.caldotenax (BC) when in native, i.e. chemically unmodified form, have a significantly lower antigenicity than those derived from eukaryotic cells and can be used with greater therapeutic effect.", "Contrary to the teaching of JP-A-63245671 the BS and BC MnSOD enzymes used for producing pharmaceutical compositions according to the invention have been found to be essentially non-antigenic in native form.", "The suggestion in JP-A-63245671 that BS MnSOD is highly antigenic may be a result of the highly impure nature of the enzyme used in the described procedures.", "According to our findings, both the BS and BC enzyme, either when subjected to purification procedures so as to remove pyrogenic impurities associated with cell components of the BS and BC organisms, or if produced by recombinant techniques which necessarily avoid the presence of such impurities, are essentially non-antigenic (to the limits of available immunoassay techniques).", "SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Thus according to one aspect of the invention, there are provided pharmaceutical compositions for use in the prophylaxis and/or treatment of pathological conditions resulting from the presence of superoxide radicals, comprising an MnSOD enzyme and a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient, characterised in that the MnSOD enzyme is in native form and has substantially the amino acid sequence of BS or BC MnSOD (SEQ ID NO: 17 or SEQ ID NO: 29).", "Preferably the MnSOD enzyme is obtained in native-form by (a) culturing an MnSOD enzyme-producing microorganism so as to produce an MnSOD enzyme-containing culture (b) isolating MnSOD enzyme from the culture, and (c) purifying the isolated MnSOD enzyme so as to produce purified enzyme which is essentially unmodified, chemically, compared to the MnSOD enzyme present in the MnSOD-containing culture produced in step (a).", "The culture medium is desirably supplemented with manganese.", "In order to achieve high levels of expression of MnSOD>0.01 mM manganese is generally required.", "Thus to obtain levels of expression of around 10% MnSOD (expressed as a percentage of total soluble protein), 0.01 mM of manganese salt should be included.", "It is preferred that pharmaceutical compositions according to the invention are substantially free of pyrogens consisting of macromolecular substances native to B stearothermophilus or B caldotenax.", "This may be achieved for example by producing the MnSOD enzyme by culturing a transformed microorganism being of Et species other than B stearothermophilus or B caldotenax.", "The MnSOD enzymes preferably have an amino acid sequence selected from (i) the amino acid sequence depicted in FIG. 3 (SEQ ID NO: 17) for BS MnSOD, (ii) the amino acid sequence depicted in FIG. 12 (SEQ ID NO: 29) for BC MnSOD, and (iii) amino acid sequences which differ from the sequences (i) and (ii) by from 1 to 30 amino acid insertions, deletions and/or substitutions.", "Sequences (iii) may for example differ from the sequences (i) and (ii) by from 1 to 20, preferably from 1 to 10 amino acid insertions, deletions and/or substitutions.", "Most preferably amino acid sequences (iii) differ from the sequences (i) and (ii) by from 1 to 5, e.g. 1, 2 or 3 amino acid insertions, deletions and/or substitutions.", "Pharmaceutical compositions according to, the invention may be prepared in the form (a) of an injectable solution, or (b) a solution suitable for perfusing tissues during surgical or transplantation procedures.", "Such compositions typically contain from 0.001 to 1.0, preferably from 0.01 to 1.0 mg/l of said MnSOD enzyme, preferably from 0.01 to 1.0 mg/l of said MnSOD enzyme, most preferably from 0.05 to 0.5 mg/l of said MnSOD enzyme.", "According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided a process for producing a pharmaceutical composition which comprises the steps of (a) culturing an MnSOD enzyme-producing microorganism so as to produce an MnSOD enzyme-containing culture, (b) isolating MnSOD enzyme from the culture, (c) purifying the isolated MnSOD enzyme so as to produce purified enzyme which is essentially unmodified, chemically, compared to the MnSOD enzyme present in the MnSOD-containing culture produced in step (a), and (d) mixing the chemically unmodified MnSOD enzyme with a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient, characterised in that said MnSOD enzyme has substantially the amino acid sequence of BS or BC MnSOD.", "As indicated, it is preferred that the transformed microorganism referred to in step (a) is a transformed microorganism of a species other than B stearothermophilus or B caldotenax.", "Further in accordance with the invention there is provided the use of an MnSOD enzyme in the manufacture of a pharmaceutical composition for the prophylaxis and/or treatment of pathological conditions resulting from the presence of superoxide radicals, characterised in that the MnSOD enzyme is in native form and has substantially the amino acid sequence of BS or BC MnSOD.", "BS and BC MnSOD enzymes have been found to be particularly useful in the manufacture of infusing solutions for organs undergoing surgery or transplantation.", "Thus a more specific use in accordance with the invention comprises using of an MnSOD enzyme in the manufacture of an infusing solution for organs undergoing surgery or transplantation, especially such organs which are isolated from normal blood supply, the MnSOD enzyme being in native form and having substantially the amino acid sequence of BS or BC MnSOD.", "The BC and BS MnSOD enzymes used in accordance with the invention have properties which provide distinct advantages compared to previously used SODs.", "Particularly (a) Both BS and BC MnSODs have a half life in solution: of >2 hrs at 60° C. of >30 mins at 65° C. at least 10 mins at 70° C. at least 2 mins at 75° C. at pH7.5 and an MnSOD protein concentration of 0.5 mg/ml (b) Both BC and BS MnSOD retain at least 10% of their full catalytic activity at pHs below 7 and above pH6.", "(c) The antigenicity of both enzymes is so low as to be impossible to quantify.", "Thus whereas enzymes such as S.lactis and S.marcescens SODs have antigenicities which can be determined by assessing antibody titres in rabbits, normal protocols fail to elicit any antibody response for native BC or BS MnSODs either when produced by recombinant procedures or extracted from BC or BS, followed by purification to remove pyrogens.", "(d) Both BC and BS MnSOD have a half life in sterile solution at pH7.5 and a protein concentration of 0.5 mg/ml of >1 year at 4° C. and >3 months at ambient (15°-20° C.).", "In 50% glycerol at -20° C. (both enzymes still being in liquid state under these conditions) their half lives are in excess of 5 years.", "In addition to the specific pharmacological uses described herein, the BS and BC MnSOD enzymes of the invention may be used industrially as follows: (i) The generation of hydrogen peroxide in diagnostic assays.", "Many enzymes and reagents are available for estimating/monitoring hydrogen peroxide.", "(ii) Removal of superoxide in industrial systems.", "Many superoxide scavengers are used in industry including perfumes, anaerobic processing etc.", "(iii) Removal of superoxide (a taste destroyer and spoiler) in foods etc.", "The MnSOD enzyme of Bacillus caldotenax has never been isolated or described hitherto and is a novel substance forming a further aspect of the present invention.", "Thus the invention further provides an MnSOD enzyme being in substantially pure form and having essentially the amino acid sequence of B caldotenax, said amino acid sequence being selected from (i) the amino acid sequence depicted in FIG. 12 (SEQ ID NO: 24), (ii) amino acid sequences which differ from the sequence (i) by from 1 to 30 amino acid insertions, deletions and/or substitutions, with the proviso that said amino acid sequences (ii) have Glu in the location marked 103 and/or have Ile in the location marked 188.", "Sequences (ii) may for example differ from the sequence (i) by from 1 to 20, preferably from 1 to 10 amino acid insertions, deletions and/or substitutions.", "To date the structural genes encoding various SODs have been cloned from a number of different eukaryotic and prokaryotic sources, including the Cu/ZnSODs of man (Sherman et al.", ", 1983), Saccharomyces cerevisiae (Bermingham et al.", ", 1988), and Drosophila (Seto et al.", ", 1989), the human MnSOD (McCord et al.", ", 1977), the FeSOD of Anacystis nidulans (Laudenbach et al.", ", 1989), and the MnSOD (Touati et al.", ", 1983) and FeSOD (Sakamoto and Touati, 1984) of E.coli .", "The cloning of the MnSOD of BS and its expression in yeast has also been described (Bowler et al.", ", 1990).", "The present application further describes the cloning of the MnSOD of the Gram-positive thermophile Bacillus caldotenax, the determination of the entire nucleotide sequences of the MnSOD enzymes of both Bacillus stearothermophilus and Bacillus caldotenax and the over-expression of both enzymes in E.coli.", "Thus the invention further provides a recombinant DNA molecule comprising a DNA sequence coding for a BC MnSOD enzyme as defined above.", "Such recombinant DNA molecules may be selected from (a) the DNA coding sequence depicted in FIG. 12 (SEQ ID NO: 29) and (b) DNA sequences which are degenerate according to the genetic code to said sequence.", "As indicated, we have-now developed a procedure for overexpressing the MnSOD of BC and BS in E.coli which forms a further aspect of the present invention.", "Thus according to a further aspect of the invention there is provided a process for producing an MnSOD enzyme which comprises culturing a transformed strain of E.coli containing a recombinant plasmid comprising at least one structural gene coding for an MnSOD enzyme operatively linked to a promoter, characterised in that said promoter is the native trp promoter of E.coli , or a related promoter having a base sequence related thereto, and differing therefrom only to such an extent that activity as a promoter is substantially retained.", "Examples of specific promotor sequences are as follows: (i) the sequence TTGACAATTAATCATCGAACTAGTTAACT (I) (ii) a DNA sequence related to that of SEQ ID NO: 1, said related sequence differing from SEQ ID NO: 1 only to such an extent that activity as a promoter is essentially retained.", "(iii) a DNA sequence having at least a 50% sequence homology, preferably at least 75% sequence homology, most preferably at least a 95% sequence homology with SEQ ID NO: 1.", "(iv) sequences which differ from SEQ ID NO: 1 by not more than 10 deletions, preferably not more than 5 and most preferably not more than 2 insertions and/or substitutions.", "(v) sequences as defined in (i)-(iv) composed of from between 12 to 50 bases, preferably between 20 to 35 bases, most preferably about 29 bases.", "(vi) sequences as defined in (i)-(v) having a base sequence comprising the sequence TTGACA (SEQ ID NO: 2) at the 5'", "end and the sequence TTAACT (SEQ ID NO: 30) at the 3'", "end.", "(vii) sequences as defined in (i)-(vi) having a base sequence comprising the sequence TCAATT (SEQ ID NO: 4) at the 5'", "end and the sequence ACAGTT (SEQ ID NO: 5) at the 3'", "end.", "(viii) sequences as defined in (i)-(vii) having an intervening sequence located between said 3'", "and 5'", "sequences, said intervening sequence being selected from: ATTAATCATCGAACTAG (SEQ ID NO: 6) and related intervening sequences differing from the aforementioned sequence only to such an extent that activity as a promoter is essentially retained.", "(ix) sequences as defined in (i)-(vii) having an intervening sequence which differs from the sequence ATTAATCATCGAACTAG (SEQ ID NO: 6) by not more than 10, preferably not more than 5 and most preferably not more than 2 deletions, insertions and/or substitutions.", "The sequence TTGACAATTAATCATCGAACTAGTTAACT (SEQ ID NO: 1) may be preceded by the sequence GCTTACTCCCCATCCCCCCAGTGAATTCCCCTG (SEQ ID NO: 7) and followed by the sequence AGTACGCAGCTTGGC (SEQ ID NO: 8).", "Appendix Abbreviations: aa, amino acid(s);", "Ap, ampicillin;", "BCMnSOD, Bacillus caldotenax MnSOD;", "bp, base pair(s);", "BSMnSOD, Bacillus stearothermophilus MnSOD;", "CuSOD, copper-containing SOD;", "dal, daltons;", "FeSOD, iron-containing SOD;", "kb, kilobase(s) or 1000 bp;", "kcal, kilocalories;", "lacZ', gene encoding the b-galactosidase a-peptide;", "MnSOD, manganese-containing SOD;", "nt, nucleotide(s);", "oligo(s), oligodeoxynucleotide(s);", "ORF, open reading frame;", "ORI, origin of replication;", "02-, superoxide radical;", "PAGE, polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis;", "par, plasmid pSC101 partition function;po, promoter operator region;", "PolIk, Klenow (large) fragment of E.coli DNA polymerase I;", "R, resistance;", "S, sensitive;", "SDS, sodium dodecyl sulfate;", "SOD, superoxide dismutase;", "sod, gene encoding for SOD;", "Tc, Tetracycline;", "vvm, volumetric volume per minute;", "wt, wild type;", "XGal, 5-bromo-4-chloro-3-indolyl-b-D-galactoside;", "ZnSOD, zinc-containing SOD.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1. Oligonucleotide probe used to detect the B. stearothermophilus sod gene.", "The indicated amino acids (single letter code, upper line) (SEQ ID NO: 14) are residues 17 through 34 of t he sequence determined by Brock and Walker (1980).", "The 50 mer oligonucleotide synthesised (SEQ ID NO: 15) is labelled "probe", and was designed to complement the DNA strand encoding the targeted amino acid sequence.", "The actual sequence of the DNA encoding amino acids 17 through 34 is indicated above the oligonucleotide sequence (labelled "nt sequence") (SEQ ID NO: 13).", "Complementarity between the actual sequence and the probe is indicated by |, and neutral base pairing by a colon.", "FIG. 2. Restriction enzyme map of pBCM1 and pBCM2.", "Restriction enzyme sites are as indicated.", "DNA derived from pAT153 is represented by the thick line, the thin line representing the B. stearothermophilus-derived DNA insert.", "The positions and orientation of transcription of the sod (SOD) and bla (ApR) genes, and the ColE1 origin of replication (ORI) are marked by appropriate arrows.", "The indicated 3.0 kb HindIII fragment and the 1.6 kb EcoRI-SstI fragment were isolated for sequencing puposes as outlined in the text.", "Restriction enzyme sites are: C, ClaI;", "H, HindIII;", "N, NruI;", "P, PvuI;", "R1, EcoRI;", "Sa, SalI;", "S1, SstI;", "S2, SstII, and;", "X, XhoI.", "FIG. 3. Nucleotide sequence of the B. stearothermophilus gene encoding MnSOD.", "The illustrated region is a 1294 bp HindIII-NruI restriction fragment (SEQ ID NO: 16) derived from pBCM2 (see FIG. 2).", "Of the two ORFs, ORF A (SEQ ID NO: 17) corresponds to the sod gene and ORF B (SEQ ID NO: 18) to the unidentified putative gene.", "Possible ribosome binding sites preceding both ORFs are underlined and labelled S.D. The region of dyad symmetry, which may correspond to the transcriptional terminator of sod, is indicated by facing arrows above the sequence.", "FIG. 4. Construction of pMTL10.", "Details on the individual steps involved in the construction of pMTL4 are given in the text.", "Restriction enzyme sites are :-Sc, ScaI;", "Hd, HindIII;", "P, PstI;", "S, SalI;", "B, BamHI;", "Sm, SmaI;", "RV, EcoRV;", "E7, Eco47;", "R1, EcoRI;", "T, TaqI, and;", "Ha, HaelI.", "Other plasmid specified elements are: the ColE1 replication specific transcripts, RNA I and RNA II;", "the pSC101 partition function, PAR;", "the E.coli trp promoter, trp;", "the b-galactosidase a-peptide, lacZ';, the E.coli rrnB operon transcriptional terminator signals, T1 and T2 and;", "the bla and tet genes, Ap and Tc.", "FIG. 5. Restriction enzyme map of pMTL1003.", "Plasmid pMTL1003 was derived from pMTL10 (see FIG. 4) by the insertion of a 388 bp HaeIl fragment carrying trp/lacZ'/polylinker into the HaeII site of pMTL10 immediately adjacent to the pSC101 par element (see text for details).", "Labelled elements are: the ColE1 replication origin, ORI;", "the pSC101 partition function, PAR;", "the E. coli trp promoter, trp;", "the b-galactosidase a-peptide, lacZ';", "the ampicillin resistance gene (bla), ApR, and;", "the E.coli rrnB operon transcriptional terminator signals, T1 and T2.", "FIG. 6. Nucleotide sequence of the polylinker cloning region of pMTL28 The indicated polylinker regions (SEQ ID NO.", "s: 19, 20 and 22-27) correspond to those available in the pMTL20 cloning vector series (Chambers et al.", ", 1988).", "The five amino acid sequence MTMIT is SEQ ID NO: 21.", "pMTL28 was derived by chemically synthesising the appropriate oligos (5'-TCGAGATCTCCCGGGATCCGATATCTGATCAGTTAACAG- ATCTG-3'", "(SEQ ID NO: 11) and 5'-AATTCAGATCTGTTAACTCATCAGATATCGGATCCCGG- GAGATC-3'", "(SEQ ID NO: 12)), annealing them and inserting them between the XhoI and EcoRI sites of pMTL23.", "FIG. 7. Restriction enzyme map of pMTL1013 Plasmid pMTL1013 was constructed from pMTL1003 by substituting the bla gene with the tet gene (see text for details).", "Labelled elements are: the ColE1 replication origin, ORI;", "the pSC101 partition function, PAR;", "the E.coli trp promoter, trp;", "the b-galactosidase a-peptide, lacZ';", "the tetracycline resistance gene (tet), TcR, and;", "the E.coli rrnB operon transcriptional terminator signals, T1 and T2.", "FIG. 8. Restriction enzyme map of pBCM3 Plasmid pBCM3 was constructed by isolating the sod gene pBCM2 as a 1.3 kb NruI-HindIII fragment (FIG.", "3), cloning it between the SmaI and HindIII restriction sites of pUC9 and then re-excised as a similarly sized EcoRI-HindIII fragment.", "This fragment was then inserted, following blunt-ending by treatment with PolIk, into SmaI site of the pMTL1003, such that transcriptional readthrough of sod could occur from the vector trp promoter.", "The B.stearothermopilus-derived DNA insert is represented by the thick line.", "Other features are: ColE1 origin of replication, ORI;", "pSC101 partition function, PAR;", "trp promoter, trp;", "rrnB transcriptional terminators, T1 and T2;", "ampicillin resistance marker and;", "the B. stearothermophilus MnSOD gene, SOD.", "FIG. 9. Production of recombinant MnSOD in Escherichia coli carrying pBCM3 Cells harbouring pBCM3 were grown in complex media (2XYT), supplemented with 100 1M MnSO 4 , and transcription from the vector trp promoter induced in late exponential phase (indicated by an arrow) by the addition of indole acrylic acid (20 lg/ml).", "Cells were removed from the cultures at hourly intervals, disrupted by sonication and the SOD activity of the extract determined following removal of cell debris by centrifugation.", "FIG. 10.", "SDS-PAGE of total cell extracts of TG1 cells carrying pBCM3 Total cell extracts were derived from the 10 h sample of the experiment oultined in FIG. 9, and subjected to SDS-PAGE.", "Lane 1, purified B. stearothermophilus MnSOD;", "lane 2, molecular weight markers, and;", "lane 3, soluble cell lysate of TG1 carrying pBCM3.", "FIG. 11.", "The ability of pBCM3 to complement an E.coli sodA mutant.", "Strain QC781 was grown in the presence of 10-5 methyl viologen, either containing (+) or not containing (o) plasmid pBCM3.", "A growth curve of plasmid-free QC781 ( ) is also included for comparative purposes.", "FIG. 12.", "Nucleotide sequence of the B. caldotenax gene encoding BCMnSOD (SEQ ID NO: 29) The illustrated region (SEQ ID NO: 28) is a 780 bp portion of the 1.9 kb AccI fragment carried by pBCM8.", "Nucleotide sequence differences which occur in the B. stearothermophilus sequence are shown above the sequence in lower case (the `-` indicates the absence of a nucleotide in the B. stearothermophilus DNA).", "The two amino acid differences between BSMnSOD (SEQ ID NO: 17) and BCMnSOD (SEQ ID NO: 29) are illustrated by including the BSMnSOD (SEQ ID NO: 17) amino acids below the BCMnSOD (SEQ ID NO: 29) sequence at the appropriate positions (103, Asp instead of Glu;", "188 Val in place of Ile).", "The ribosome binding site preceding the sod gene is underlined and labelled S.D. The region of dyad symmetry, which may correspond to the transcriptional terminator of sod, is indicated by facing arrows above the sequence.", "FIG. 13.", "Restriction enzyme map of pBCM8 Plasmid pBCM8 was constructed by isolating the B. caldotenax sod gene from pBCM7 as a 1.9 kb AccI-fragment and cloning it into the AccI restriction site of the pMTL1003, such that transcriptional readthrough of sod could occur from the vector trp promoter.", "The B. caldotenax-derived DNA insert is represented by the thick line.", "Other features are: ColE1origin of replication, ORI;", "pSC101 partition function, PAR;", "trp promoter, trp;", "rrnB transcriptional terminators, T1 and T2;", "ampicillin resistance marker and;", "the B. caldotenax MnSOD gene, SOD.", "DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The following protocol was adopted for the molecular cloning of the B. stearothermophilus sod gene.", "The first step in the cloning of the encoding gene was to design an oligonucleotide which demonstrated sufficient homology to the structural gene to allow its detection by DNA/DNA hybridisation experiments.", "Analysis of the amino acid sequence indicated that amino acids 17 through 34 represented a peptide exhibiting minimal translational degeneracy.", "Accordingly, a 50 mer antisense oligonucleotide was synthesised (FIG.", "1) in which nucleotide bases used in positions of codon degeneracy corresponded to those most frequently used in B. stearothermophilus genes.", "To test that the synthesised oligonucleotide hybridised to a specific sequence in the B.stearothermophilus genome, Southern blot experiments were undertaken.", "The oligonucleotide was radiolabelled and used in DNA/DNA hybridisation reactions against B. stearothermophilus NCA1503 genomic DNA cleaved with various restriction enzymes.", "Under the conditions employed (see the Examples below) the probe was shown to hybridise strongly to the following discrete restriction fragments;", "a 2.45 kb BclI, 5.1 kb ClaI, 6.8 kb EcoRI, 3.4 kb HindIII, 20 kb PstI, 3.2 kb SalI, 3.5 kb SstI and a 17 kb XhoI fragment.", "Having demonstrated the specificity of the oligonucleotide probe, a plasmid library of the B. stearothermophilus genome was constructed by ligating sized (approx.", "8 kb), partially digested (Sau3a) chromosomal DNA with BamHI-cleaved pAT153 DNA.", "The resultant ligation mixtures were transformed into E.coli W5445 and transformants selected on L-agar containing ampicillin.", "Of the 6,000 ApR transformants obtained, 4,125 proved to be TcS.", "Upon analysis of the plasmids of 50 random representatives of the 4,125 presumptive recombinant clones, 46 were shown to contain inserts.", "Each ApR TcS recombinant clone was individually screened by in situ colony hybridisation, using the radiolabelled oligonucleotide as a probe.", "The probe was shown to hybridise strongly to two different recombinant clones.", "Plasmid DNA was isolated from each clone and designated pBCM1 and pBCM2.", "A restriction map of these two plasmids is illustrated in FIG. 2. These maps demonstrate that the insert of pBCM1 was 4.7 kb, while that of pBCM2 was 6.85 kb in size.", "Comparative analysis of DNA fragments generated by digestion (singularly or in double combinations) with various restriction enzymes indicated that the insert of pBCM2 entirely encompassed that of pBCM1, and furthermore, that the insert of pBCM1 was in the opposite orientation, relative to the vector, to that of pBCM2.", "In order to localise the position of the sod structural gene within cloned DNA present in pBCM1 and pBCM2, each plasmid was restricted with various endonucleases and the resultant fragments subjected to Southern blot analysis.", "One of the smallest restriction fragment which hybridised to the oligo probe was shown to be a 1.6 kb EcoRISs tI fragment common to both plasmids.", "Accordingly this fragment was gel purified from pBCM2 DNA and ligated to M13mp18 and M13mp19 similarly cleaved with EcoRI and SstI.", "The ligation mixes were transformed into E.coli TG1 and plated on 2XYT agar in H-top agar overlays containing XGal and IPTG.", "Recombinant plaques, identified by their colourless appearance, were utilised to prepare template DNA.", "Representative templates derived from each M13 vector were than subjected to nucleotide sequence analysis using universal primer.", "Translation of the DNA sequence obtained from both templates into amino acid sequence failed to yield an ORF encoding a polypeptide homologous to the published MnSOD sequence.", "This suggested that sod resided within the central portion of this fragment.", "Thereafter, the complete sequence of the insert was determined using two different strategies: (i) oligonucleotides specific to the sequence derived from the above two templates were synthesised and used to extend the previously determined sequence;", "(ii) the 3.0 kb HindIII fragment of pBCM2 which encompasses the cloned 1.6 kb EcoRI-SstI fragment was isolated by electroelution, circularised by self-ligation, fragmented by sonication, the staggered ends generated blunt-ended by treatment with T4 polymerase, and gel purified fragments of 500 to 1000 bp inserted into-the SmaI site of M13mp8.", "Template DNA was prepared from 100 of the recombinant clones obtained.", "The nucleotide sequence data obtained was assembled into one contiguous sequence using the computer software of DNASTAR Inc. The sequence illustrated in FIG. 3 represents a 1294 bp portion of the sequence obtained which encompasses the sod structural gene, and was determined on both DNA strands.", "Translation of the nucleotide sequence illustrated in FIG. 3 revealed the presence of an ORF of 615 bp beginning with an AUG codon (nt 387) and terminating with a UAA codon (nt 1001).", "The deduced polypeptide was 204 aa in length and, with the exception of the N-terminal Met, exhibited perfect conformity to the experimentally determined aa sequence of MnSOD (Brock and Walker, 1980).", "A sequence beginning at 438 and ending at 488 exhibited near perfect complimentarity to the oligo probe utilised to identify the gene.", "The three positions at which mismatch occurred (nt[.", "].465, 477 and 483) all resulted in neutral G.T pairing, accounting for efficient binding of the oligo to B.stearothermophilus-derived DNA encoding sod.", "The translational initiation codon was preceded by a sequence (5'-CAAAAGGAGGAGA-3') (SEQ ID NO: 9) exhibiting strong complimentarity to the 3'-termini of the Bacillus subtilis 16S rRNA (3'-UCUUUCCUCCACU-5') (SEQ ID NO: 10).", "A sequence exhibiting dyad symmetry occurs immediately 3'", "to the translational stop codon (nt 1007 to 1036), and probably represents a Rho-independent transcriptional terminator.", "The putative RNA stem-loop structure formed would have a DG of -22.2 kcal.", "A second putative ORF was identified 3'", "to sod, initiating with an AUG codon at nt 1133 and preceded by a sequence exhibiting reasonable complimentarity to the B.subtilis 16S rRNA.", "The encoded putative polypeptide exhibits no homology to any protein currently found in the PIR database.", "The sod structural gene exhibits a G+C content of 53.1%, and its codon usage is illustrated in Table 2.", "To elicit the overexpression of sod in E.coli use was made of the plasmids pMTL1003 and pMTL1013, part of a series of expression vectors recently constructed in this laboratory.", "Derived from pMTL4 (Chambers et al.", ", 1988), pMTL1003 replicates from a mutant ColE1 replicon (600 copies per cell;", "Minton et al.", ", 1988), encodes pUC8-derived bla and lacZ'", "(Messing and Vieria, 1982), and incorporates the pSC101 partition function (par;", "Miller et al.", ", 1983), the E.coli rrnB double terminator (Brosius et al.", ", 1981) and the pMTL20 polylinker cloning region (Chambers et al.", ", 1988).", "Transcription of lacZ'", "is under the control of a synthetic trp promoter.", "pMTL1013 differs from pMTL1003 only in that the bla gene (ApR) has been replaced with the tet (TcR) gene.", "These expression vectors were derived in the following manner (see FIG. 4 for details).", "The 5'", "end of the bla gene (ApR) was isolated, together with the double transcriptional termination signals (T1 and T2) of the rrnB operon, from the plasmid pKK223-3 as a 831 bp ScaI/SmaI fragment, and inserted between the EcoRV and ScaI sites of pMTL4, to give pMTL7.", "A 385 bp TaqI fragment carrying the pSC101 par stability determinant (Miller et al.", ", 1983) was then inserted between the EcoRV and ScaI sites to yield pMTL8.", "The remaining manipulations were designed to both reduce the size and remove unwanted restriction sites from the final vector.", "pMTL8 was cleaved with SalI and Eco47, blunt-ended with S1 nuclease and self-ligated to give pMTL9.", "This 58 bp deletion removed the unique SalI, Eco47, and BamHI sites and a number of TaqI and HaeII sites.", "A 322 bp HaelI fragment was then deleted from pMTL9, reducing the number of HaeII and TaqI sites in the final vector, pMTL10, by one, and removing the unique PstI and HindIII sites.", "Although this deletion removed part of the pSC101 par fragment, pMTL10 was shown experimentally to exhibit 100% segregationally stability in cells grown in the absence of antibiotic selection.", "The final modification made to the basic vector backbone was to employ site-directed mutagenesis to introduce a unique EcoRV site between par and the ColE1 origin of replication.", "This was achieved by first cloning the 530 kb TaqI fragment of pMTL10 encompassing this region into the AccI site of M13mp8.", "A mutagenic oligonucleotide was then employed to introduce the desired EcoRV restriction site using site-directed mutagenesis.", "The mutated TaqI fragment was then reisolated and ligated to the 1.44 kb and 430 kb TaqI fragments of pMTL10.", "The modified vector obtained was designated pMTL100.", "In order to place the expression of a heterologous gene under the transcriptional control of an extraneous promoter it is necessary to insert the structural gene in the correct orientation adjacent to the appropriate transcriptional signals.", "Such manipulative procedures are enhanced by the facility for directional cloning and by the existence of a means of detecting the insertion of the foreign DNA.", "One of the simplest systems, exemplified by the pUC and M13 series of vectors (Vieira and Messing, 1982) is that involving inactivation of the b-galactosidase a-peptide encoded by lacZ'.", "Vectors carrying a functional lacZ'", "confer a blue colouration to the colonies or plaques of appropriate E.coli hosts in the presence of the chromogenic substrate XGal.", "Inactivation of the gene (ie.", ", by the insertion of heterologous DNA) results in the colourless (white) colonies/plaques.", "In the pUC and M13 vectors, the lacZ'", "gene is proceeded by its natural lac po promoter region.", "In the vectors pMTL1003 and pMTL1013, we wished to retain the utility of the lacZ'", "selection system but replace the lac promoter with that of the trp promoter.", "To achieve this site-directed mutagenesis of M13mt120 DNA was used to remove a PvuII site within the 3'", "end of lacZ'", "(leaving the PvuII site 5'", "to the lac po unique) and to create a unique HpaI site 3'", "to the +1 of the lac po at the same time an NdeI site was created at the start of the lacZ'", "gene, such that the ATG of the NdeI recognition sequence (CATATG) corresponded to the AUG translational initiation codon of lacZ'.", "Although not relevant to the expression of SOD, its presence will aid in the future expression of other genes.", "eg.", ", an NdeI site may be created at the equivalent position in any heterologous gene to be expressed, and then used to insert the gene at the NdeI site of the modified lacZ'.", "This places the AUG start codon of the gene to be expressed at the optimum distance from the Shine-Dalgarno of the lacZ'", "gene, maximising subsequent translational of RNA transcripts.", "A 830 bp HindIII-PstI restriction fragment carrying a synthetic E. coli trp promoter was isolated from plasmid pDR720 (Russell and Bennett 1982), blunt-ended by treatment with PolIk and inserted between the PvuII and HpaI sites of the modified M13mtl120 vector.", "This manipulation effectively substituted the natural lac promoter with that of trp NB.", "the same strategy may be employed to replace lac po with any other promoter element!", "The trp promoter/lacZ'/polylinker region was then removed from the M13 vector as a 388 bp HaeII fragment and cloned into one of the two HaeII sites of pMTL100, in the indicated orientation (FIG.", "5) to give pMTL1003.", "The vector pMTL1013 is analogous to pMTL1003, except that the bla gene has been replaced with the pBR322 tet gene.", "The tet gene was isolated from pBR322 as a 1.43 kb EcoRI-AvaI fragment (Balbas et al.", ", 1986), blunt-ended with PolIk and inserted into the SmaI site of M13mp10.", "Site-directed mutagenesis was then employed.", "to remove restriction enzyme sites for ClaI, HindIII, EcoRV, BamHI, SphI, and SalI.", "The respective nucleotide substitutions were: A to T, nt 27;", "T to A, nt 28;", "T to C, nt 187;", "C to T, nt 379;", "T to C, nt 565, and;", "C to T, nt 656 (nucleotide positions correspond to the pBR322 sequence, Balbas et al.", ", 1986).", "The modified tet gene was then excised as a approx.", "1.43 kb EcoRI-BamHI fragment inserted into the HpaI site of pMTL28 (see FIG. 6), re-isolated as a BamHI-BclI fragment and ligated to a 1.85 kb fragment of pMTL1003 generated by cleavage of pMTL1003 with SspI and DraI.", "The final plasmid obtained was designated pMTL1013 (FIG.", "7).", "The sod gene was isolated from pBCM2 as a 1.3 kb NruI-HindIII fragment (FIG.", "3), cloned between the SmaI and HindIII restriction sites of pUC9 and then re-excised as a similarly sized EcoRI-HindIII fragment.", "This fragment was then inserted, following blunt-ending by treatment with PolIk, into SmaI site of the pMTL1003.", "Two recombinant plasmids (pBCM3 and pBCM4), representing the two possible orientations of insertion of the cloned fragment, were chosen for further study.", "In the case of pBCM3 (FIG.", "8), sod was orientated such that its expression could be enhanced by transcriptional read-through from the vector trp promoter.", "Two analogous plasmids pBCM5 (equivalent to pBCM3) and pBCM6 (equivalent to pBCM4) were generated by using pMTL1013 in place of pMTL1003.", "Cells harbouring pBCM3 and pBCM4 were grown in complex media (2XYT), supplemented with 100 1M MnSO 4 , and transcription from the vector trp promoter induced in late exponential phase by the addition of indole acrylic acid (20 lg/ml).", "Cells were removed from the cultures at hourly intervals, disrupted by sonication and the SOD activity of the extract determined following removal of cell debris by centrifugation.", "The maximum level of MnSOD produced by cells carrying pBCM3, 62,275 units per ml of culture (equivalent to 12,210 u/mg soluble protein), was attained after 10 h (FIG.", "9).", "By reference to the specific activity of pure MnSOD (25,000 u/mg), this equated to 47% of the cells soluble protein.", "Confirmation of these levels was obtained by densiometric scanning of Coomassie blue stained gels following SDS-PAGE of total cell extracts (see FIG. 10).", "That high expression was due to the vector trp promoter was indicated by the low level of SOD produced (10.9 units per ml of culture) by cells harbouring pBCM4.", "The surprising ability of E.coli to support high level of expression of the B.stearothermophilus sod gene is consistent with the observation that its encoding region makes little use of modulator codons (a single CGG and a GGA codon are used), exhibits a codon bias characteristic of highly expressed E.coli genes and is preceded by a near to consensus ribosome binding site.", "The levels of sod expression directed by pBCM3 were examined in a range of E.coli hosts with varying degrees of native SOD activity (Table 3).", "In this case transcription from the trp promoter was induced late in their exponential phase following tryptophan depletion from the minmal salts medium described in the Examples.", "Inexplicably, hosts carrying a mutant sodB locus produced significantly lower levels of recombinant SOD than either a soda or wt host.", "Previous studies have shown that sod mutants exhibit enhanced sensitivity to methyl viologen (Carlioz and Touati, 1986), a commercial weed killer known to generate superoxide free radicals in E.coli .", "It was therefore of interest to see whether the B. stearothermophilus enzyme was capable of complementing the enhanced sensitivity of the E.coli strain QC781 to methyl viologen.", "Strain QC781 with and without pBCM3 was therefore grown in the presence of 10-5M methyl viologen and the effect on growth rate quantified.", "The results are illustrated in FIG. 11.", "Expression of recombinant SOD was seen to alleviate the growth inhibitory effect of the drug, but did not completely restore growth rates to those attained by QC781 in the absence of methyl viologen.", "This is in contrast to similar experiments undertaken with a cloned yeast MnSOD (Schrank et al.", ", 1988).", "The production of the MnSOD gene of B stearothermophilus and B. caldotenax will be described in more detail in the following examples.", "The bacterial strains and recombinant vectors utilised are listed in Table I. EXAMPLE 1 (a) Media and Culture Conditions B. stearothermophilus was grown at 58° C. and pH of 7.0 with an air flow rate of 1 vvm in the following medium;", "sucrose (4%), yeast extract (5%), KH 2 PO 4 (1%), MgSO 4 [.", "].7H 2 O (0.054%), MnCl 2 [.", "].4H 2 O (0.003%), FeCl 3 .", "H 2 O (0.0014%), citric acid monohydrate (0.064%), polypropylene glycol P-2000 (0.01%).", "E.coli was routinely cultured in L-broth (1% tryptone, 0.5% yeast extract, 0.5% NaCl).", "Solidified medium (L-agar) consisted of L-broth with the addition of 2% (w/v) agar (Bacto-Difco).", "Antibiotic concentrations used for the maintenance and the selection of transformants were 50 lg/ml ampicillin, 15 lg/ml tetracycline, 30 lg/ml kanamycin and 5 lg/ml chloramphenicol.", "Repression of the trp promoter, when necessary, was obtained by the presence of an excess of tryptophan in the media (100 lg/ml).", "The medium used in the pilot scale production of recombinant SOD in E.coli contained glucose (1.4%), NH 4 SO 4 (0.25%), KH 2 P 4 (0.3%), K 2 HPO 4 (0.2%), Na.", "citrate (0.005%), yeast extract-Difco (0.5%), MgSO 4 (1%) and trace elements (1.0%).", "Stock solution of trace elements EDTA.", "Na 2 (0.5%), FeCl 3 [.", "].6H 2 O (0.05%), ZnO (0.005%), CuCl 2 .", "H 2 O (0.001%), CoNO3.6H 2 O (0.001%) and NH 4 Mo 7 O 24 (0.001%).", "The culture was grown at 37° C. at a pH 7.0 +0.1 with an air flow rate of 1 vvm.", "Under these conditions exponential growth ceased after about 8 hours at which time the culture was harvested.", "(b) Purification of DNA Plasmids were purified from cleared lysates prepared using a Brij-lysis procedure (Clewell et al.", ", 1969) and subsequent caesium chloride-ethidium bromide density gradient centrifugation (Colman et al.", ", 1978).", "A rapid, small scale plasmid purification technique (Holmes and Quigley, 1981) was also employed for screening purposes.", "Chromosomal DNA from the donor B.stearothermophilus was prepared essentially as described by Marmur (1961).", "(c) Restriction, Ligation and Transformation Methods Restriction endonucleases and DNA ligase were purchased from Bethesda Research Laboratories (BRL) and used in the buffers and under the conditions recommended by the supplier.", "Transformation of E.coli was essentially as described by Cohen et al.", "(1972).", "(d) Agarose Gel Electrophoresis Digests were electrophoresed in 1% agarose slab gels on a standard horizontal system (BRL Model H4), employing Tris-borate-EDTA buffer.", "Electrophoresis of undigested DNA was at 125 V, 50 mA for 3 h, while digested DNA was-electrophoresed at 15 V, 10 mA for 16 h. Fragment sizes were estimated by comparison with fragments of phage k DNA cut with both HindIII and EcoRI.", "Fragments were isolated from gels using electroelution (McDonnell et al.", ", 1977).", "(e) Nucleotide Sequencing M13 bacteriophage clones were sequenced by the dideoxynucleotide method of Sanger et al (1977) using a modified version of bacteriophage T7 DNA polymerase, "sequenaseR"", "(Tabor and Richardson, 1987).", "Experimental conditions used were as stated by the supplier (USB Corp.).", "Sequencing of double-stranded plasmid DNA was by a modification of the Klenow polymerase-dideoxynucleotide method developed by Chen and Seeburg (1985).", "Experimental conditions used were as stated by the supplier (BCL).", "(f) Southern Transfer of DNA DNA restriction fragments were transferred from agarose gels to "zeta probe"", "nylon membrane by the method of Reed and Mann (1985).", "Gels were partially depurinated with 0.25M HCL (15 min) prior to transfer in 0.4M NaOH transfer solution.", "Transfer was carried out for 4-16 h by capillary elution prior to hybridisation.", "(g) In Situ Colony Hybridisations Bacterial colonies were screened for desired recombinant plasmids by in situ colony hybridisation as described by Grunstein and Hogness (1977), using nitrocellulose filter disks (Schleicher and Schull, 0.22 lm).", "(h) Radiolabelling of Oligonucleotides Oligonucleotide probes were end-labelled by the addition of c-32P!", "dATP to the 5'-hydroxyl terminal with T4 polynucleotide kinase (Maxam and Gilbert, 1977).", "Unincorporated nucleotides were removed by chromatography through sephadex G-25 disposable columns as specified by the manufacturer (Pharmacia).", "(i) Hybridisation Conditions Hybridisations using the 5'-end-labelled 50 mer oligonucleotide probe were carried as described by Sambrook et al (1989) at a temperature of 55° C. for 2 or more h. Filter washes were carried out at 45° C., several times of 5 min duration.", "(j) Site-directed Mutagenesis Coupled priming oligonucleotide-directed mutagenesis was carried out using the suppressor selection protocol of Carter et al (1985).", "Mutants were identified by the differential temperature hybridisation method described by Carter et al (1984) using radiolabelled oligonucleotide as probe.", "(k) Segregational Stability The segregational stability of plasmid vectors was analysed using continuous culture.", "Cells were grown in a LH500 series fermenter and control package in a 1 litre continuous culture vessel in a working volume of 600 ml.", "The growth medium employed was the simple salts medium of Tempest (1969).", "Cultures were maintained at 37° C., pH 7.0 and with an aeration rate of 1 vvm.", "Following inoculation, cultures were allowed to grow batchwise for 4 to 5 h before the flow of fresh medium was initiated.", "Samples were removed periodically and serially diluted onto isosensitest agar and colonies, screened for plasmid encoded b-lactamase production.", "(1) Determination of Superoxide Dismutase Activity Bacteria were grown in 1 liter batch culture and 100 ml samples taken at various stages in the growth phase.", "Samples were cooled on ice, centrifuged 13,000 g for 120 minutes and resuspended and frozen in 5 ml 50mM Phosphate buffer (pH 7.8).", "The cells were disrupted using a MSE Ultrasonic Disintegrator (150 W) at medium frequency, amplitude 2, for three [.", "].30 second intervals on ice.", "Cell debris was removed by centrifugation at 10,000 g for 5 minutes.", "SOD activity was measured by monitoring the inhibition of reduction of ferric cytochrome C, as described by McCord and Fridovich (1979).", "Protein concentration was determined by the method of Bradford (1976).", "SOD activity was also visualised following PAGE, the gel was soaked in a solution of nitro-blue tetrazolium reagent before adding riboflavin.", "This procedure was fully described by Beauchamp and Fridovich (1971).", "(m) Small-scale Fermentation of E.coli TG1 Containing pBCM3 Although the level of expression of recombinant SOD obtained in batch culture was of a high order of magnitude, it was of interest to see whether high production rates could be translated to conditions more closely resembling those employed for commercial production of recombinant proteins.", "Accordingly, an 8 l pilot-scale culture was carried out using the minimal salts medium described herein.", "The inoculum for the seed was provided by freshly transformed cells plated out onto L-agar supplemented with tryptophan (100 lg/ml) and ampicillin (100 lg/ml) for promoter repression and selection, respectively.", "The seed was provided by a 500 ml 2×LB culture supplemented with MnSO 4 , ampicillin and tryptophan.", "The seed was grown at 37° C. at 200 rpm for 7 h. Once inoculated the culture was allowed to go its full course before harvesting, relying on tryptophan starvation to switch on the trp promoter late in the cultures exponential phase of growth, when cell densities will be at their highest.", "Cells were harvested by centrifugation, and the cell paste bagged, flash frozen and stored at -80° C. until extracted.", "The level of SOD expression obtained from the pilot scale cultures were consistent with those obtained in shake flask experiments.", "Following purification characterisation of the purified recombinant SOD identified the protein as a dimer, with each subunit having a molecular weight of approximately 21,000 dal and an isoelectric point of 5.5.", "From the above results it can be seen that the gene (sod) encoding Bacillus stearothermophilusMn-superoxide dismutase has been cloned in Escherichia coli and its entire nucleotide sequence determined.", "With the exception of the post-translationally cleaved N-terminal methionine residue, the predicted amino acid sequence exhibits 100% similarity to the previously determined amino acid sequence.", "The recombinant MnSOD was shown to be functionally active in E. coli, both in vitro and in vivo, and was expressed to 47% of the cells soluble protein by coupling its transcription to the E. coli trp promoter.", "EXAMPLE 2 (a) Molecular Cloning of the B. caldotenax sod gene The oligonucleotide probe utilised to clone the B.caldotenax gene was radiolabelled and used in DNA/DNA hybridisation reactions against B. caldotenax YT1 genomic DNA cleaved with various restriction enzymes.", "Under the conditions employed (see below) the probe was shown to hybridise strongly to various discrete restriction fragments, including a 4.1 kb HindIII fragment.", "Accordingly, HindIII-cleaved genomic DNA of approximately this size was isolated from agaorose gels and ligated to HindIII cut pUC19 plasmid DNA.", "The resultant ligation mixtures were transformed into E.coli TG1 and transformants selected on L-agar containing.", "ampicillin and XGal.", "A total of 1100 recombinants (white colonies) were individually screened by in situ colony hybridisation, using the radiolabelled oligonucleotide as a probe.", "The probe was shown to hybridise strongly to 4 different recombinant clones.", "Plasmid DNA from one of these clones was isolated and designated pBCM7.", "(b) Determination of the B. caldotenax Sod Nucleotide Sequence In order to localise the position of the sod structural gene within cloned DNA present in pBCM7, plasmid DNA was restricted with various endonucleases and the resultant fragments subjected to Southern blot analysis.", "One of the smallest restriction fragments which hybridised to the oligo probe was shown to be a 1.9 kb AccI fragment.", "This fragment was gel purified from pBCM7 DNA circularised by self-ligation, fragmented by sonication, the staggered ends generated blunt-ended by treatment with T4 polymerase, and gel purified fragments of 500 to 1000 bp inserted into the SmaI site of M13mp8.", "Template DNA was prepared from 100 of the recombinant clones obtained.", "The nucleotide sequence data obtained was assembled into one contiguous sequence using the computer software of DNASTAR Inc. The sequence illustrated in FIG. 12 represents a 780 bp portion of the sequence obtained which encompasses the sod structural gene, and was determined on both DNA strands.", "Translation of the nucleotide sequence illustrated in FIG. 12 revealed the presence of an ORF of 615 bp beginning with an AUG codon (nt 30) and terminating with a UAA codon (nt 643).", "Over the region illustrated in FIG. 12 there were 35 nucleotide differences to the equivalent region of the B.stearothermophilus genome.", "Of these, 21 occurred in the coding region of the gene, resulting in two amino acid differences between the two encoded polypeptides.", "Thus the BCMnSOD contains Glu and Ile amino acid residues at positions 103 and 188, respectively, whereas the BSMnSOD contains Asp and Val amino acids at the equivalent respective positions.", "As with the B.stearothermophilus gene, the translational initiation codon-was preceded by a sequence (5'-CAAAAGGAGGAGA-3') (SEQ ID NO: 9) exhibiting strong complimentarity to the 3'-termini of the Bacillus subtilis 16S rRNA (3'-UCUUUCCUCCACU-5') (SEQ ID NO: 10).", "Similarly, a sequence-exhibiting dyad symmetry occurs immediately 3'", "to the translational stop codon (nt 654 to 677), and probably represents a Rho-independent transcriptional terminator.", "In this case, however, the putative RNA stem-loop structure formed would have a higher DG (-26.4 kcal) than the equivalent structure found downstream of the B.stearothermophilus gene (DG -22.2 kcal) due to a single difference in the nucleotide sequence, viz.", "a `T` to `C` substitution.", "The sod structural gene exhibits a G+C content of 52.8%, and its codon usage is illustrated in Table 2.", "(c) Overexpression of BCMnSOD To elicit the high expression of the BCMnSOD gene, equivalent plasmids were constructed to those described above.", "In this case the 1.9 kb AccI fragment was inserted into the AccI site of pMTL1003, to give the recombinant plasmids pBCM8 (see FIG. 13) and pBCM9.", "In the case of pBCM8 (FIG.", "13), sod was orientated such that its expression could be enhanced by transcriptional read-through from the vector trp promoter.", "Two analogous plasmids pBCM10 (equivalent to pBCM8) and pBCM11 (equivalent to pBCM9) were generated by using pMTL1013 in place of pMTL1003.", "Cells harbouring pBCM8 and pBCM9 were grown in complex media (2XYT), supplemented with 100 μM MnSO 4 , and transcription from the vector trp promoter induced in late exponential phase by the addition of indole acrylic acid (20 lg/ml).", "Cells were removed from the cultures at hourly intervals, disrupted by sonication and the SOD activity of the extract determined following removal of cell debris by centrifugation.", "The levels of expression attained mirrored those observed with the B. stearothermophilus recombinant clones.", "Thus the maximum level of MnSOD produced by cells carrying pBCM8, 90,710 units per ml of culture (equivalent to 9,913 u/mg soluble protein), was attained after 10 h (FIG.", "9).", "By reference to the specific activity of pure MnSOD (25,000 u/mg), this equated to 40% of the cells soluble protein.", "Confirmation of these levels was obtained by densiometric scanning of Coomassie blue stained gels following SDS-PAGE of total cell extracts (see FIG. 10).", "That high expression was due to the vector trp promoter was indicated by the low level of SOD produced (8.9 units per ml of culture) by cells harbouring pBCM9.", "The ability of E.coli to support high level of expression of the B. caldotenax sod gene was consistent with the observation that its encoding region makes little use of modulator codons (a single CGG and a GGG codon are used), exhibits a codon bias characteristic of highly expressed E.coli genes (Grosjean and Friers, 1982), and is preceded by a near to consensus ribosome binding site.", "EXAMPLE 3 Purified, pyrogen-free BS MnSOD was produced from a culture of BS by the following procedure.", "After harvesting, cells of BS were broken by high pressure homogenisation and the crude extract batch purified by fractional elution on DE-23 cellulose.", "The 0.4 m fraction containing MnSOD was chromatographed sequentially as follows: (i) DEAE-Sepharose by ion exchange gradient chromatography at pH 8.0 (ii) Hydroxylapatite chromatography using phosphate gradient at pH 6.8.", "The 30% pure enzyme was depyrogenated and purified to homogeneity by ion exchange gradient chromatography on Q-sepharose at pH 7.5 and by gel filtration on sephaenyl S-200.", "Pharmacological Tests (a) Serum Half-life The half life of BS MnSOD was assessed using a guinea-pig model.", "The effect of endogenous Cu/ZnSOD interference due to erythrocyte haemolysis was negated by the addition of 5 mM cyanide to the assay system.", "A half-life of approximately 6 hours was observed.", "(b) Antigenicity No adverse antigenicity was observed in groups of guinea-pigs (n=12) receiving 1, 2 and 10 mg/kg body weight/6 hrs (4 animals/group) respectively via the intra-peritoneal route.", "Post-mortem investigation of animals sacrificed at 48 and 96 hours respectively (2 animals/dose/time) revealed no deleterious effect on internal organs and gross pathology was normal.", "(c) Protective Effect During Cardiac Perfusion A standard (Ringers) solution for cardiac perfusion was supplemented with 0.1 mg/l of BS MnSOD provided in vials containing 5 mg enzyme, 10 mg lactose and 5μmoles tris HCL.", "Six mini-pigs were divided into two groups of 3 animals per group and subjected to procedure which mimicked human open-heart surgery.", "Specifically, the animals were maintained for 2n hours with clamped aortas while infusing with the test solutions.", "At the end of the test period the aortic clamps were removed, normal blood supplies reconnected and standard methods used to restore normal sinus rhythm.", "The animals were monitored in the post-operative period and the test animals (those infused with BS MnSOD-containing solutions) exhibited near normal cardiac function, and survived for one month at which time they were sacrificed for pathological examination.", "No signs of myocardial infarction or other abnormal cardiac tissue pathology was evident.", "The animals in the control group exhibited cardiac malfunctions and were all dead after one week.", "TABLE I__________________________________________________________________________Bacterial Strains and Plasmid/Phage VectorsStrain/plasmid Relevant Characteristics Source__________________________________________________________________________Strains:B.", "stearothermophilus NCA1503B.", "caldotenax YT1E.", "coli TG1 K12 D(lac-pro) supE thi hsdD5/ Carter et al.", ", F'traD36 proA+ B+ lacIQZ M15 1985E.", "coli W5445 pro leu thi thr supE44 lacY tonA hsdM Minton et al.", ",1983 hsdR rpsLE.", "coli QC781 F-, lac-4169 U(sodA::MudIIPR13)23 D. Touati, Institut Institut Jacques Monod, CNRS Paris, FranceE.", "coli QC773 GC4468 U(sodB-kan) 1-D2 KmR D. TouatiE.", "coli QC799 sodA sodB, CmR KmR D TouatiE.", "coli BMH71-18 K-12, D(lac-pro) supE thi mutL::Tn10 Kramer et al.", ",mutL F'-pro A+ B+ lacIQZ DM15 1984Plasmids:pBR322 ApR, TcR Bolivar et al.", ", 1977pAT153 ApR, TcR Twigg &", "Sherratt, 1980pUC8/9 ApR, lacZ'", "Vieira &", "Messing, 1982pSC101 TcR, apr Cohen and Chang, 1978pKK223-3 ApR, trp po Adman &", "Brosius, 1985pDR720 ApR, trp po Russell &", "Bennett, 1982pMTL4 ApR, Chamber et al.", ", 1988pMTL20/23 ApR, lacZ'", "Chambers et al.", ", 1988pMTL7 ApR, This studypMTL8-10 ApR, par This studypMTL100 ApR, par This studypMTL1013 ApR, par trp po::lacZ'", "This studypMTL1013 TcR, par trp po::lacZ'", "This studypBCM1 pAT153 + BSMnSOD, ApR, TcS This studypBCM2 pAT153 + BSMnSOD, ApR, TcS This studypBCM3 pMTL1003 + BSMnSOD, ApR This studypBCM4 pMTL1003 + BSMnSOD, ApR This studypBCM5 pMTL1013 + BSMnSOD, TcR This studypBCM6 pMTL1013 + BSMnSOD, TcR This studypBCM7 pMTLUC19 + BSMnSOD, ApR This studypBCM8 pMTL1003 + BSMnSOD, ApR This studypBCM9 pMTL1003 + BSMnSOD, ApR This studypBCM10 pMTL1013 + BSMnSOD, TcR This studypBCM11 pMTl1013 + BSMnSOD, TcR This studypMTL28 ApR, lacZ'", "This studyM13 phage:mp8, 18 &", "19 lacZ'", "Messing &", "Vieira, 1982mtl20 lacZ'", "Chambers et al.", ", 1982__________________________________________________________________________ TABLE 2__________________________________________________________________________Codon usage of the BSMnSOD and BCMnSOD genesBS BC BS BC BS BC BS BC__________________________________________________________________________UUU Phe2 3 UCU 0 1 UAU Tyr 2 2 UGU Cys 0 0UUC 6 5 UCC Ser 1 0 UAC 6 6 UGC 0 0UUA Leu0 0 UCA 0 0 UAA Ter 1 1 UGA Ter 0 0UUG 8 9 UCG 5 5 UAG 0 0 UGG Trp 6 6CUU 4 5 CCU 0 0 CAU His 4 4 CGU 2 2CUC Leu3 3 CCC Pro 0 0 CAC 5 5 CGC Arg 3 3CUA 0 0 CCA 3 3 CAA Gln 3 3 CGA 0 0CUG 4 2 CCG 10 10 CAG 0 0 CGG 1 1AUU 5 7 ACU 0 0 AAU Asn 4 4 AGU Ser 0 0AUC Ile4 3 ACC Thr 1 1 AAC 13 13 AGC 5 5AUA 0 0 ACA 3 2 AAA Lys 11 10 AGA Arg 0 0AUG Met3 3 ACG 7 8 AAG 1 2 AGG 0 0GUU 3 2 GCU 2 1 GAU Asp 3 2 GGU 3 4GUC Val2 2 GCC Ala 4 3 GAC 5 5 GGC Gly 11 10GUA 0 0 GCA 5 5 GAA Glu 12 12 GGA 1 0GUG 3 3 GCG 9 11 GAG 6 7 GGG 0 1__________________________________________________________________________ Ter corresponds to translational termination codon.", "BC corresponds to the B. caldotenax gene.", "BS corresponds to the B. stearothermophilus gene.", "embolden codons correspond to those codons recognised as modulators of translation in E. coli.", "TABLE 3______________________________________Levels of Expression of native and recombinant SOD in E. coli.", "SOD specific.", "sup.", "bHost Phenotype.", "sup.", "a Plasmid activity (U/mg)______________________________________TG1 A+, B+ -- 55.5QC781 A-, B+ -- 36QC773 A+, B- -- 1.9QC799 A-, B- -- 1.6TG1 A+, B+ pBCM3 12,000QC781 A-, B+ "", "12,000QC773 A+, B- "", "5,000QC799 A-, B- "", "4,000TG1 A+, B+ pBCM8 9,913QC781 A-, B+ "", "3,650QC773 A+, B- "", "2,581QC799 A-, B- "", "1,944______________________________________ .", "sup.", "a Phenotypes A and B refer to the sodA and sodB gene, respectively, or - indicating whether the gene is functional (+) or defective (-).", "sup.", "b The levels of sod expression directed by pBCM3/8 in a range of E. coli hosts, exhibiting varying degrees of native SOD activity, were estimated by assaying SOD levels in cell extracts (Table 3).", "In this case transcription froj the trp promoter was induced late in their exponential phase following tryptophan depletion from the media (2XYT).", "__________________________________________________________________________SEQUENCE LISTING(1) GENERAL INFORMATION:(iii) NUMBER OF SEQUENCES: 29(2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 1:(i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:(A) LENGTH: 29 base pairs(B) TYPE: nucleic acid(C) STRANDEDNESS: double(D) TOPOLOGY: linear(ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (genomic)(iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO(iii) ANTI-SENSE: NO(vi) ORIGINAL SOURCE:(A) ORGANISM: Escherichia coli(xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO: 1:TTGACAATTAATCATCGAACTAGTTAACT29(2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 2:(i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:(A) LENGTH: 6 base pairs(B) TYPE: nucleic acid(C) STRANDEDNESS: double(D) TOPOLOGY: linear(ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (genomic)(xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO: 2:TTGACA6(2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 3:(i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:(A) LENGTH: 6 base pairs(B) TYPE: nucleic acid(C) STRANDEDNESS: double(D) TOPOLOGY: linear(ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (genomic)(xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO: 3:TTAACT6(2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 4:(i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:(A) LENGTH: 6 base pairs(B) TYPE: nucleic acid(C) STRANDEDNESS: double(D) TOPOLOGY: linear(ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (genomic)(xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO: 4:TCAATT6(2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 5:(i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:(A) LENGTH: 6 base pairs(B) TYPE: nucleic acid(C) STRANDEDNESS: double(D) TOPOLOGY: linear(ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (genomic)(xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO: 5:ACAGTT6(2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 6:(i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:(A) LENGTH: 17 base pairs(B) TYPE: nucleic acid(C) STRANDEDNESS: double(D) TOPOLOGY: linear(ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (genomic)(xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO: 6:ATTAATCATCGAACTAG17(2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 7:(i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:(A) LENGTH: 33 base pairs(B) TYPE: nucleic acid(C) STRANDEDNESS: double(D) TOPOLOGY: linear(ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (genomic)(xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO: 7:GCTTACTCCCCATCCCCCCAGTGAATTCCCCTG33(2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 8:(i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:(A) LENGTH: 15 base pairs(B) TYPE: nucleic acid(C) STRANDEDNESS: double(D) TOPOLOGY: linear(ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (genomic)(xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO: 8:AGTACGCAGCTTGGC15(2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 9:(i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:(A) LENGTH: 13 base pairs(B) TYPE: nucleic acid(C) STRANDEDNESS: single(D) TOPOLOGY: linear(ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (genomic)(iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO(iii) ANTI-SENSE: NO(vi) ORIGINAL SOURCE:(A) ORGANISM: Bacillus stearothermophilus(xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO: 9:CAAAAGGAGGAGA13(2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 10:(i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:(A) LENGTH: 13 base pairs(B) TYPE: nucleic acid(C) STRANDEDNESS: single(D) TOPOLOGY: linear(ii) MOLECULE TYPE: rRNA(iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO(iii) ANTI-SENSE: NO(vi) ORIGINAL SOURCE:(A) ORGANISM: Bacillus subtilis(xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO: 10:UCUUUCCUCCACU13(2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 11:(i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:(A) LENGTH: 44 base pairs(B) TYPE: nucleic acid(C) STRANDEDNESS: single(D) TOPOLOGY: linear(ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (genomic)(xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO: 11:TCGAGATCTCCCGGGATCCGATATCTGATCAGTTAACAGATCTG44(2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 12:(i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:(A) LENGTH: 44 base pairs(B) TYPE: nucleic acid(C) STRANDEDNESS: single(D) TOPOLOGY: linear(ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (genomic)(xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO: 12:AATTCAGATCTGTTAACTGATCAGATATCGGATCCCGGGAGATC44(2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 13:(i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:(A) LENGTH: 50 base pairs(B) TYPE: nucleic acid(C) STRANDEDNESS: double(D) TOPOLOGY: linear(ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (genomic)(xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO: 13:CACATCGACAAAGAAACGATGAACATTCACCACACGAAGCACCATAACAC50(2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 14:(i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:(A) LENGTH: 17 amino acids(B) TYPE: amino acid(C) STRANDEDNESS: single(D) TOPOLOGY: linear(ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide(xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO: 14:HisIleAspLysGluThrMetAsnIleHisHisThrLysHisHisAsn151015Thr(2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 15:(i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:(A) LENGTH: 50 base pairs(B) TYPE: nucleic acid(C) STRANDEDNESS: single(D) TOPOLOGY: linear(ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (genomic)(xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO: 15:GTGTAGCTGTTTCTTTGCTACTTGTAGGTGGTGTGCTTTGTGGTGTTGTG50(2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 16:(i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:(A) LENGTH: 1294 base pairs(B) TYPE: nucleic acid(C) STRANDEDNESS: double(D) TOPOLOGY: linear(ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (genomic)(ix) FEATURE:(A) NAME/KEY: CDS(B) LOCATION: 387.", "].1001(xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO: 16:AAGCTTTTCCACAGCTGGACGAATACGTTCATCGCAGACACACCTTTCTTTATCTCCTTT60TCCATTGTAGCCGGGAAAGAGGAAGAATTCAACTTGAGACAAAGAAAAAGCGGGCATCTT120CCCGCTTTAGTCAGAAGGCAAATGAAAGGTTTCAAGCAAGGCGCGCCATTGCAACACCCG180TTCATTTAGTGCATCGGCTTCGGAACGAATGGCAGCCATATACTATAGCTTGTCATTATG240AAGAAACGGTCAACGGTGTGTTGAAAATATGTAAACAAAAACCGAGGACAAGCAAGTCGA300TTGAAACATTGTGCCAAGTTTGGTAAGCTAATCTCAAGCGAACGCTTTGGCGTTCGTGTA360CATAAATCAAAAAGGAGGAGATCGGTATGCCATTTGAATTGCCAGCATTGCCG413MetProPheGluLeuProAlaLeuPro15TATCCGTATGATGCTCTGGAGCCGCACATCGACAAAGAAACGATGAAC461TyrProTyrAspAlaLeuGluProHisIleAspLysGluThrMetAsn10152025ATTCACCACACGAAGCACCATAACACATACGTTACAAATTTGAATGCG509IleHisHisThrLysHisHisAsnThrTyrValThrAsnLeuAsnAla303540GCGCTTGAAGGACATCCGGATTTGCAAAACAAATCGCTCGAAGAACTG557AlaLeuGluGlyHisProAspLeuGlnAsnLysSerLeuGluGluLeu455055CTCAGCAATTTGGAAGCCCTTCCGGAAAGCATCCGCACGGCGGTGCGC605LeuSerAsnLeuGluAlaLeuProGluSerIleArgThrAlaValArg606570AACAACGGCGGCGGCCATGCGAACCACTCGCTTTTCTGGACGATTTTG653AsnAsnGlyGlyGlyHisAlaAsnHisSerLeuPheTrpThrIleLeu758085TCGCCAAATGGCGGCGGCGAGCCGACGGGTGAGCTGGCTGACGCCATC701SerProAsnGlyGlyGlyGluProThrGlyGluLeuAlaAspAlaIle9095100105AACAAAAAATTCGGCAGCTTCACCGCGTTCAAAGACGAGTTTTCGAAA749AsnLysLysPheGlySerPheThrAlaPheLysAspGluPheSerLys110115120GCAGCGGCCGGCCGTTTCGGTTCCGGTTGGGCATGGCTTGTTGTGAAC797AlaAlaAlaGlyArgPheGlySerGlyTrpAlaTrpLeuValValAsn125130135AACGGCGAGCTGGAAATCACAAGCACGCCGAACCAAGATTCGCCGATT845AsnGlyGluLeuGluIleThrSerThrProAsnGlnAspSerProIle140145150ATGGAAGGCAAAACGCCGATTCTCGGCTTGGACGTTTGGGAGCATCGC893MetGluGlyLysThrProIleLeuGlyLeuAspValTrpGluHisArg155160165TACTACTTGAAATACCAAAACCGCCGTCCGGAATACATTGCCGCATTC941TyrTyrLeuLysTyrGlnAsnArgArgProGluTyrIleAlaAlaPhe170175180185TGGAACGTCGTCAACTGGGACGAAGTGGCGAAACGGTACAGCGAAGCG989TrpAsnValValAsnTrpAspGluValAlaLysArgTyrSerGluAla190195200AAAGCAAAATAATGAACAAAGCGGGGCGAAACACAACGCTCCGCTTTTT1038LysAlaLys205TTTCGACGAAGGGGGCAGGCAAAGGGAGCGGTTTTCGTTGCGCCGGGTGCATAGAGGCGG1098CAGAAATGGCCACACTACCCGATAGATGAAAAGGGGAGTTTGCAATGGCATTTTTCCAAA1158AACTAACCGGCCAAGAACAAGTGAACCGCGACCTGTTGCTTTTGCTTTGCATCGGCGGGT1218TTTACGCGCTCGGTGTTTCCCTGTCGAACACGTTTGTCAACATTTATTTGTGGAAACAGA1278CCGGCGATTTTCGCGA1294(2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 17:(i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:(A) LENGTH: 204 amino acids(B) TYPE: amino acid(D) TOPOLOGY: linear(ii) MOLECULE TYPE: protein(xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO: 17:MetProPheGluLeuProAlaLeuProTyrProTyrAspAlaLeuGlu151015ProHisIleAspLysGluThrMetAsnIleHisHisThrLysHisHis202530AsnThrTyrValThrAsnLeuAsnAlaAlaLeuGluGlyHisProAsp354045LeuGlnAsnLysSerLeuGluGluLeuLeuSerAsnLeuGluAlaLeu505560ProGluSerIleArgThrAlaValArgAsnAsnGlyGlyGlyHisAla65707580AsnHisSerLeuPheTrpThrIleLeuSerProAsnGlyGlyGlyGlu859095ProThrGlyGluLeuAlaAspAlaIleAsnLysLysPheGlySerPhe100105110ThrAlaPheLysAspGluPheSerLysAlaAlaAlaGlyArgPheGly115120125SerGlyTrpAlaTrpLeuValValAsnAsnGlyGluLeuGluIleThr130135140SerThrProAsnGlnAspSerProIleMetGluGlyLysThrProIle145150155160LeuGlyLeuAspValTrpGluHisAlaTyrTyrLeuLysTyrGlnAsn165170175ArgArgProGluTyrIleAlaAlaPheTrpAsnValValAsnTrpAsp180185190GluValAlaLysArgTyrSerGluAlaLysAlaLys195200(2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 18:(i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:(A) LENGTH: 51 amino acids(B) TYPE: amino acid(C) STRANDEDNESS: single(D) TOPOLOGY: linear(ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide(xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO: 18:MetAlaPhePheGlnLysLeuThrGlyGlnGluGlnValAsnArgAsp151015LeuLeuLeuLeuLeuCysIleGlyGlyPheTyrAlaLeuGlyValSer202530LeuSerAsnThrPheValAsnIleTyrLeuTrpLysGlnThrGlyAsp354045PheArgGlu50(2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 19:(i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:(A) LENGTH: 108 base pairs(B) TYPE: nucleic acid(C) STRANDEDNESS: double(D) TOPOLOGY: linear(ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (genomic)(xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO: 19:ATGACCATGATTACGAATTCGAGCTCGGTACCCGGGGATCCTCTAGAGTCGACGTCACGC60GTCCATGGAGATCTCGAGGCCTGCAGGCATGCAAGCTTGGCACTGGCC108(2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 20:(i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:(A) LENGTH: 108 base pairs(B) TYPE: nucleic acid(C) STRANDEDNESS: double(D) TOPOLOGY: linear(ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (genomic)(xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO: 20:ATGACCATGATTACGCCAAGCTTGCATGCGTGCAGGCCTCGAGATCTCCATGGACGCGTG60ACGTCGACTCTAGAGGATCCCCGGGTACCGAGCTCGAATTCACTGGCC108(2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 21:(i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:(A) LENGTH: 138 base pairs(B) TYPE: nucleic acid(C) STRANDEDNESS: double(D) TOPOLOGY: linear(ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (genomic)(ix) FEATURE:(A) NAME/KEY: CDS(B) LOCATION: 1.", "].15(xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO: 21:ATGACCATGATTACGAATTGCCGGCGATATCGGATCCATATGACGTCGACGCGTC55MetThrMetIleThr15TGCAGAAGCTTCTAGAATTCGAGCTCCCGGGTACCATGGCATGCATCGATAGATCTCGAG115GCCTCGCGAGCTTGGCACTGGCC138(2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 22:(i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:(A) LENGTH: 5 amino acids(B) TYPE: amino acid(D) TOPOLOGY: linear(ii) MOLECULE TYPE: protein(xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO: 22:MetThrMetIleThr15(2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 23:(i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:(A) LENGTH: 138 base pairs(B) TYPE: nucleic acid(C) STRANDEDNESS: double(D) TOPOLOGY: linear(ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (genomic)(xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO: 23:ATGACCATGATTACGCCAAGCTCGCGAGGCCTCGAGATCTATCGATGCATGCCATGGTAC60CCGGGAGCTCGAATTCTAGAAGCTTCTGCAGACGCGTCGACGTCATATGGATCCGATATC120GCCGGCAATTCACTGGCC138(2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 24:(i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:(A) LENGTH: 155 base pairs(B) TYPE: nucleic acid(C) STRANDEDNESS: double(D) TOPOLOGY: linear(ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (genomic)(xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO: 24:ATGACCATGATTACGCCAAGGAGCTCGGTACCCCGGGATCCTCAGAGTCGACGTCACGCG60TCCATGGAGATCTCGAGGCCTGCAGGCATGCAAGCTTGCATGCCTGCAGGTCGACTCTAG120AGGATCCCCGGGTACCGAGCTCGAATTCACTGGCC155(2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 25:(i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:(A) LENGTH: 162 base pairs(B) TYPE: nucleic acid(C) STRANDEDNESS: double(D) TOPOLOGY: linear(ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (genomic)(xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO: 25:ATGACCATGATTACGCCAAGCTTGCATGCCTGCAGGCCTCGAGATCTCCATGGACGCGTG60ACGTCGACTCTAGAGGATCCCCGGGTACCGAGCTCGAATTCGAGCTCGGTACCCGGGGAT120CCTCTAGAGTCGACCTGCAGGCATGCAAGCTTGGCACTGGCC162(2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 26:(i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:(A) LENGTH: 138 base pairs(B) TYPE: nucleic acid(C) STRANDEDNESS: double(D) TOPOLOGY: linear(ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (genomic)(xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO: 26:ATGACCATGATTACGAATTCTAGAAGCTTCTGCAGACGCGTCGACGTCATATGGATCCGA60TATCGCCGGCAATTCGAGCTCCCGGGTACCATGGCATGCATCGATAGATCTCGAGGCCTC120GCGAGCTTGGCACTGGCC138(2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 27:(i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:(A) LENGTH: 142 base pairs(B) TYPE: nucleic acid(C) STRANDEDNESS: double(D) TOPOLOGY: linear(ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (genomic)(xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO: 27:ATGACCATGATTACGCCAAGCTCGCGAGGCCTCGAGATCTCCCGGGATCCGATATCTGAT60CAGTTAACAGATCTGAATTCTAGAAGCTTCTGCAGACGCGTCGACGTCATATGGATCCGA120TATCGCCGGCAATTCACTGGCC142(2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 28:(i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:(A) LENGTH: 780 base pairs(B) TYPE: nucleic acid(C) STRANDEDNESS: double(D) TOPOLOGY: linear(ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (genomic)(ix) FEATURE:(A) NAME/KEY: CDS(B) LOCATION: 31.", "].645(xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO: 28:TGTACATAAATCAAAAAGGAGGAGATCGGTATGCCATTTGAATTGCCAGCATTG54MetProPheGluLeuProAlaLeu15CCGTATCCGTATGATGCGCTTGAGCCGCACATCGACAAAGAAACGATG102ProTyrProTyrAspAlaLeuGluProHisIleAspLysGluThrMet101520AACATTCACCACACGAAGCACCATAACACATACGTTACAAATTTGAAT150AsnIleHisHisThrLysHisHisAsnThrTyrValThrAsnLeuAsn25303540GCGGCGCTTGAAGGGCATCCGGATTTGCAAAACAAATCGCTCGAAGAA198AlaAlaLeuGluGlyHisProAspLeuGlnAsnLysSerLeuGluGlu455055TTGCTCAGCAATTTGGAAGCCCTTCCGGAAAGCATTCGCACGGCGGTG246LeuLeuSerAsnLeuGluAlaLeuProGluSerIleArgThrAlaVal606570CGCAACAACGGCGGCGGTCATGCAAACCACTCGCTTTTCTGGACGATT294ArgAsnAsnGlyGlyGlyHisAlaAsnHisSerLeuPheTrpThrIle758085TTGTCGCCAAATGGCGGCGGTGAGCCGACGGGTGAGCTGGCTGAGGCG342LeuSerProAsnGlyGlyGlyGluProThrGlyGluLeuAlaGluAla9095100ATCAACAAAAAATTCGGCAGCTTCACCGCGTTTAAAGACGAGTTTTCG390IleAsnLysLysPheGlySerPheThrAlaPheLysAspGluPheSer105110115120AAAGCAGCGGCCGGCCGTTTCGGTTCTGGCTGGGCATGGCTTGTCGTG438LysAlaAlaAlaGlyArgPheGlySerGlyTrpAlaTrpLeuValVal125130135AACAACGGCGAGCTGGAAATTACGAGCACGCCGAACCAAGACTCGCCG486AsnAsnGlyGluLeuGluIleThrSerThrProAsnGlnAspSerPro140145150ATCATGGAAGGCAAAACGCCGATTCTCGGCTTGGACGTTTGGGAGCAT534IleMetGluGlyLysThrProIleLeuGlyLeuAspValTrpGluHis155160165GCGTACTACTTGCCCTACCAAAACCGCCGTCCGGAATACATTGCCGCA582AlaTyrTyrLeuLysTyrGlnAsnArgArgProGluTyrIleAlaAla170175180TTCTGGAACATTGTCAACTGGGACGAAGTGGCGAAACGGTACAGCGAA630PheTrpAsnIleValAsnTrpAspGluValAlaLysArgTyrSerGlu185190195200GCGAAAGCGAAGTAATCAACAAAGCGGGGCGAAACAAAACGCCCCGCTTTTT682AlaLysAlaLys205TTAGCGACGGAGGGTGCAGGCAAAGGAAGCGGTTTTCTTCGCGCCGGGTGCATAGAGGCT742GCGGAAATGGCCACACTACCGGATAGATGAAAAGGGGA780(2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 29:(i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:(A) LENGTH: 204 amino acids(B) TYPE: amino acid(D) TOPOLOGY: linear(ii) MOLECULE TYPE: protein(xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO: 29:MetProPheGluLeuProAlaLeuProTyrProTyrAspAlaLeuGlu151015ProHisIleAspLysGluThrMetAsnIleHisHisThrLysHisHis202530AsnThrTyrValThrAsnLeuAsnAlaAlaLeuGluGlyHisProAsp354045LeuGlnAsnLysSerLeuGluGluLeuLeuSerAsnLeuGluAlaLeu505560ProGluSerIleArgThrAlaValArgAsnAsnGlyGlyGlyHisAla65707580AsnHisSerLeuPheTrpThrIleLeuSerProAsnGlyGlyGlyGlu859095ProThrGlyGluLeuAlaGluAlaIleAsnLysLysPheGlySerPhe100105110ThrAlaPheLysAspGluPheSerLysAlaAlaAlaGlyArgPheGly115120125SerGlyTrpAlaTrpLeuValValAsnAsnGlyGluLeuGluIleThr130135140SerThrProAsnGlnAspSerProIleMetGluGlyLysThrProIle145150155160LeuGlyLeuAspValTrpGluHisAlaTyrTyrLeuLysTyrGlnAsn165170175ArgArgProGluTyrIleAlaAlaPheTrpAsnIleValAsnTrpAsp180185190GluValAlaLysArgTyrSerGluAlaLysAlaLys195200__________________________________________________________________________" ]

[ "This is a division of application Ser.", "No. 09/106,305, filed on Jun. 29, 1998, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,988,051 which is incorporated herein by reference.", "This application is based on patent application No. 173,935/1997 filed Jun. 30, 1997 in Japan, all of the content of which is incorporated hereinto by reference.", "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for processing an object to be processed in a vacuum container under a reduced pressure therein by using a processing liquid and also to a method of manufacturing a dry food by processing a material in a reduced-pressure vacuum container and by removing oil from and drying the processed material.", "The present invention, though most suited for the manufacture of a dry food, also has a wide range of applications, including the one of heating and drying wastes such as kitchen garbage to form compost.", "Commonly used dry food making methods include a vacuum frying method.", "For example, Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 28865/1977 discloses an apparatus for making confectionery-like foods which has a frying area and a cooling area in a vacuum tank, and which fries a food material in the frying area and cools and hardens the fried material on a cooling table in the cooling area.", "Other apparatuses, disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos. 183048/1983 and 92718/1985, place the material in contact with heated oil under a reduced pressure and remove the oil from the material under a reduced pressure to make dry foods continuously.", "A continuous vacuum fryer apparatus, disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 59230/1995, seals the vacuum container from the outside by operating rotary valves installed in a liquid container and a transport passage, carries the food material into the vacuum container, and continuously heats the material with oil at a predetermined temperature in the vacuum container.", "In the above-mentioned conventional apparatuses, the vacuum frying apparatus described in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 28865/1977 is an apparatus for making a raised food which fries the material in the frying area and hardens the fried material in the cooling area while maintaining the raised state of the fried material.", "In this apparatus, because the fried material which is carried in the cooling area raises and hardens with the oil soaked in the fried material, it is not only impossible to remove the excessive oil in the food but also to obtain a good dry food which maintains an ideal porous state with the minimum oil soaked.", "Because both the dry food making apparatuses described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos. 183048/1983 and 92718/1985 directly expose the material to heated oil under a negative pressure thereafter removing the oil from and drying the material, the rapid change in the pressure and the high temperature of the oil cause rapid evaporation to the surface of the material, make it impossible to maintain an ideal porous state, and degrade the quality as a dry food.", "An infrared generator and a microwave generator, though their use may be effective, are expensive and, considering the service lives of the microwave generator and the cyclotron, they are not practical.", "As for the continuous vacuum fryer apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 59230/1995, the speed governing between the transport chain to which the processing container accommodating the material to be processed is secured and the rotary valves installed in the liquid container and the transport passage is complicated, rendering the high productivity not expectable.", "This prior art does not mention to the oil removing operation under a negative pressure, which is most effective in removing oil soaked in the material.", "Because the material is brought into contact with the oil at once, the quality as the dry food is degraded.", "Furthermore, because a plurality of oil tanks are arranged in series, the liquid container is elongate increasing the size of the apparatus as a whole.", "SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A first object of the present invention is to provide a vacuum-heat processing method capable of rationally heating a material to be processed to maintain a high quality state of the material.", "A second object of the present invention is to provide a vacuum-heat processing method capable of heating a material with a cooking oil to rationally make a high quality dry food.", "A third object of the present invention is to provide a compact vacuum-heat processing apparatus capable of realizing the above-mentioned vacuum-heat processing method.", "The first aspect of the present invention is in a vacuum-heat processing method comprising the steps of: performing a first processing for an object to be processed by immersing the object in a processing liquid adjusted to a first temperature;", "dropping the object subjected to the first processing onto a transport conveyor in a vacuum chamber;", "performing a second processing for the object on the transport conveyor by showering it with a processing liquid adjusted to a second temperature;", "and performing a third processing for the objet subjected to the second processing by throwing it from the transport conveyor into a processing liquid adjusted to a third temperature, the processing liquid being contained in a processing liquid tank installed in the vacuum chamber.", "According to the present invention, the method performs a first processing for an object to be processed by immersing the object in a processing liquid adjusted to a first temperature, drops the object onto a transport conveyor in a vacuum chamber, performs a second processing for the object on the transport conveyor by showering it with a processing liquid adjusted to a second temperature, and then performs a third processing for the object by dropping it into a processing liquid in a processing liquid tank adjusted to a third temperature.", "In the vacuum-heat processing method by the first aspect of the present invention, the processing liquid used in the first processing may be dropped onto the transport conveyor in the vacuum chamber together with the object subjected to the first processing.", "The vacuum-heat processing method may further comprise a step of transferring the object subjected to the third processing from the processing liquid tank to a second vacuum chamber provided below and communicating with the vacuum chamber and therein removing the processing liquid from the object.", "A vacuum level in the second vacuum chamber may be set equal to or higher than that of the vacuum chamber.", "The second aspect of the present invention is in a method of manufacturing a dry food comprising the steps of: performing a first processing for a material to be made a dry food by immersing the material in a processing oil adjusted to a first temperature;", "dropping the material subjected to the first processing onto a transport conveyor in a vacuum chamber;", "performing a second processing for the material on the transport conveyor by showering it with a processing oil adjusted to a second temperature;", "performing a third processing for the material subjected to the second processing by dropping it from the transport conveyor into a processing oil adjusted to a third temperature, the processing oil being contained in a processing oil tank installed in the vacuum chamber;", "and transferring the material subjected to the third processing from the processing oil tank to an oil removing means provided below and communicating with the vacuum chamber and then removing the processing oil from the material to produce a dry food.", "According to the present invention, the method involves the following sequence of operations: performing a first processing for a material by immersing the material in a processing oil adjusted to a first temperature;", "dropping the material onto a transport conveyor in a vacuum chamber;", "performing a second processing for the material on the transport conveyor by showering it with a processing oil adjusted to a second temperature;", "performing a third processing for the material by dropping it into a processing oil in a processing oil tank adjusted to a third temperature;", "and transferring the material to an oil removing means and removing the oil from the material to produce a dry food.", "In the dry food manufacturing method by the second aspect of the present invention, the processing oil used in the first processing may be dropped onto the transport conveyor in the vacuum chamber together with the material subjected to the first processing.", "The second temperature is higher than the first temperature and the third temperature is higher than the second temperature.", "The third aspect of the present invention is in a vacuum-heat processing apparatus comprising: a vacuum container forming a vacuum chamber;", "a hopper into which an object to be processed and a processing liquid adjusted to a first temperature are thrown, the hopper being arranged above and communicating with an intake port formed in an upper end portion of the vacuum container;", "a sealing means arranged between the hopper and the intake port of the vacuum container to keep the vacuum chamber airtight;", "a transport conveyor installed in the vacuum chamber below the intake port to receive at one end side thereof the object flowing down the hopper from the intake port through the sealing means and carry it to the other end side;", "a processing liquid showering means installed in the vacuum chamber immediately above the transport conveyor to shower a processing liquid adjusted to a second temperature over the object on the transport conveyor;", "and a processing liquid tank containing a processing liquid adjusted to a third temperature and installed in the vacuum chamber immediately below the transport conveyor to receive the object dropped from the transport conveyor.", "According to the present invention, an object to be processed and a processing liquid adjusted to a first temperature are thrown into a hopper to perform a first processing for the object, and these are dropped onto one end side of the transport conveyor in the vacuum chamber from an intake port of the vacuum container through a sealing means.", "Then, while being carried by the transport conveyor, the object is showered with a processing liquid adjusted to a second temperature to perform a second processing for the object.", "The object that has undergone the second processing while on the transport conveyor is then dropped from the other end portion of the transport conveyor into a processing liquid in the processing liquid tank adjusted to a third temperature to perform a third processing for the object.", "In the vacuum-heat processing apparatus by the third aspect of the present invention, the sealing means may have at least one rotary valve.", "The vacuum-heat processing apparatus may further comprise an auxiliary conveyor arranged between the intake port and the transport conveyor to carry the object to one end side of the transport conveyor.", "The transport conveyor may have an endless meshlike belt having projecting partition members arranged at predetermined intervals along a transport direction, the processing liquid tank extends along the transport direction of the transport conveyor, and the object is dropped from the other end side of the transport conveyor into the processing liquid tank.", "In this case, the partition members may have a function of scooping out the object in the processing liquid tank from one end side of the processing liquid tank.", "Alternatively, the vacuum-heat processing apparatus may further comprise: at least one liquid removing means provided immediately below and communicating with a discharge port formed in a lower end portion of the vacuum container to remove the processing liquid from the object, the liquid removing means forming a second vacuum chamber;", "and a transport means installed in the vacuum chamber to carry the object in the processing liquid tank to the liquid removing means.", "In this case, the transport means may include the partition members, and the partition members may scoop the object in the processing liquid tank from the one end side of the processing liquid tank.", "The vacuum container may have a cylindrical body and an end plate removably joined to the body, and wherein a platform car mounting the transport conveyor and the processing liquid tank and movable on a floor of the vacuum chamber in the direction of the end plate is further provided.", "The vacuum-heat processing apparatus may further comprise: at least one liquid removing means provided immediately below and communicating with a discharge port formed in a lower end portion of the vacuum container to remove the processing liquid from the object, the liquid removing means forming a second vacuum chamber;", "and a transport means installed in the vacuum chamber to carry the object in the processing liquid tank to the liquid removing means.", "In this case, the vacuum-heat processing apparatus may further comprise: a sealing means arranged between the discharge port and the liquid removing means to keep the vacuum chamber airtight;", "and an open-close means provided to the liquid removing means to allow the object removed of the liquid by the liquid removing means to be taken out.", "Alternatively, a vacuum level in the second vacuum chamber may be set equal to or higher than that of the vacuum chamber.", "The object to be processed may be a food and the processing liquid may be a cooking oil.", "In this case, the second temperature may be higher than the first temperature and the third temperature may be higher than the second temperature.", "According to the present invention, because the object is introduced into the vacuum chamber from the top of the vacuum container by gravity, the processing liquid itself can be used as a sealing material and the sealing structure simplified.", "Further, because the transport conveyor is disposed above the processing liquid tank and the processing liquid showering means is arranged above the transport conveyor, the installation floor area of the vacuum container can be made smaller than that of the conventional vacuum container, reducing the size of the apparatus as a whole.", "Before submerging the object in the processing liquid tank, this invention performs the first heating processing for the object under the atmospheric pressure and then showers the processing liquid over the object in the vacuum chamber to perform the second heating processing.", "In making a dry food, this sequence of steps can process the material to have an ideal porous state, producing a high quality dry food.", "When the processing liquid tank and the transport conveyor are mounted on the platform car, they can be drawn out together with the platform car by removing the end plate of the vacuum container from the container body.", "Hence, inspection and maintenance such as repair and cleaning can be performed easily.", "This invention can not only transform meats, vegetables or fruits into dry foods but also be used for heating and drying a variety of materials.", "For example, kitchen garbage can be processed with waste oil to transform it into compost continuously.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The above and other objects, effects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description of an embodiment thereof taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an outline structure of one embodiment of a vacuum-heat processing apparatus of the present invention as applied to a dry food making equipment;", "FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross section of an oilremover of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1;", "and FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram showing how the embodiment of FIG. 1 is maintained.", "DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the vacuum-heat processing apparatus of this invention that can realize the vacuum-heat processing method of the present invention will be described in detail for a case applied to a dry food making process by referring to FIGS. 1 to 3.", "However, the present invention can also be applied to technologies in other fields involving the similar problems, such as heating and drying of kitchen garbage for making compost.", "As shown in FIG. 1 representing the concept of the vacuum heating and drying apparatus of this embodiment and FIG. 2 representing the structure of its oil remover, the vacuum heating and drying apparatus of this embodiment performs a series of processes, which involves throwing a material to be processed to make dry food, together with cooking oil preheated to about 60° C., into a hopper 3 communicating with a vacuum container 1 evacuated to a predetermined vacuum pressure of, for example, 20 Torr;", "transferring them on a transport conveyor 12 installed in the vacuum container 1;", "showering cooking oil heated to a predetermined temperature, for example 60-100° C., (preferably 80° C. when the material is potato), over the material being carried by the transport conveyor 12 to perform preprocessing;", "feeding the material into a process tank 10 containing cooking oil heated to 70-130° C. (preferably 90° C. when the material is potato) to subject the material to a predetermined heating process;", "and then transporting the food product to an oil remover 51 where the food product is removed of oil soaked in the product and then dried, the oil remover 51 functioning as an oil removing means of the present invention evacuated to a pressure equal to or lower than that of the interior of the vacuum container 1.", "The cylindrical vacuum container 1 has a cylindrical body 1a and an end plate 1b removably and hermetically joined to the body 1a.", "An introducing pipe 2 communicates perpendicularly to an inlet opening 1c formed at the upper end portion of the vacuum container 1 on the front side.", "While in this embodiment the introducing pipe 2 is connected perpendicular to the inlet opening 1c, it may be connected with inclination to the inlet opening 1c because the material passing through the introducing pipe 2 needs only to fall by gravity.", "The hopper 3 is connected to the inlet opening 1c of the vacuum container 1 via the introducing pipe 2.", "A material supply conveyor 4 is intended to carry the material to the hopper 3, and the front end of the material supply conveyor 4 is positioned immediately above the hopper 3.", "An oil supply port 30 for preheating formed at the side wall of the hopper 3 is connected with a preheating oil supply pump 31c through a preheating oil supply pipe 32c.", "Two rotary valves 5 rotated by a drive source (not shown) at the same speed in the same direction are arranged in series as a sealing means of the present invention.", "Although this embodiment uses two rotary valves 5, only one may be provided.", "Alternatively, the sealing means may use two shutters that open or close the introducing pipe 2 alternately.", "The material is carried in from the material supply conveyor 4 and the oil for preheating is supplied from the oil supply pipe 32c via the preheating oil supply port 30.", "In the hopper 3, the material is preheated by the preheating oil.", "The material and the oil together flow down through the hopper 3 by gravity toward the inlet opening 1c, guided by each blade of the two rotary valves 5 that rotate in the same direction, until they drop in the vacuum container 1 from the inlet opening 1c.", "A vacuum chamber 1d formed in the vacuum container 1 is connected through an exhaust pipe 40b to a vacuum pump 41 and evacuated to a predetermined pressure, for example 20 Torr.", "A sufficient amount of oil is supplied into the hopper 3 at all times to allow the material to easily flow down through the introducing pipe 2 along with the oil into the vacuum chamber 1d of the vacuum container 1.", "The blades of the rotary valves 5 are in slidably contact with the inner wall of the valve body and there is the oil between the blades and the valve body, so that the vacuum container 1 is completely sealed from the external atmosphere.", "Installed in the vacuum container 1 is a processing oil tank 10 shaped like a boat opening at the top which has formed in its bottom wall a plurality of processing oil supply ports 33 that are connected to one processing oil supply pump 31a through processing oil supply pipes 32a.", "A processing oil, heated to a predetermined temperature, for example 90° C., higher than the above preheating temperature and a preprocessing temperature described above, is delivered by the processing oil supply pump 31a through the processing oil supply pipes 32a and the processing oil supply ports 33 into the processing oil tank 10.", "In the processing oil tank 10 is laid a meshed dispersing plate 11 at some height from the bottom of the tank.", "Installed directly above the processing oil tank 10 is a transport conveyor 12 that carries the material dropped into the vacuum container 1 to the processing oil tank 10 and which extends longitudinally of the processing oil tank 10 (in the lateral direction in FIG. 1).", "The transport conveyor 12 has a drive roller 17a coupled to a driving source (not shown) fixedly secured to the outer wall of the vacuum container 1 with a known seal mechanism, a pair of auxiliary rollers 17b, and an endless transport belt 12c wound around these rollers 17a, 17b.", "The lower end portions of the auxiliary rollers 17b as well as a part of the endless transport belt 12c between these rollers 17b are positioned below a surface level 10a of the processing oil in the processing oil tank 10.", "In other words, they are submerged in the processing oil.", "The endless transport belt 12c is driven counterclockwise in FIG. 1 by the drive roller 17a.", "The endless transport belt 12c of the transport conveyor 12 is provided with partition plates 12a at predetermined intervals that project outwardly from its surface to form basket-shaped material holding portions 12b between the adjacent partition plates 12a.", "The material dropped in from the inlet opening 1c is distributed among the basket-like material holding portions 12b in predetermined amounts and carried to the processing oil tank 10.", "The endless transport belt 12c is made in the form of a mesh of a wire of, for example, SUS-304 to allow free passage of the processing oil therethrough.", "The material to be processed in the processing oil tank 10 floats in the upper layer of the processing oil by the specific gravity difference between the material and the processing oil and by its buoyancy.", "The material is subjected to a predetermined heating while being held in the material holding portions 12b by the partition plates 12a.", "At one end of the transport conveyor 12 a semi-circular guide plate 16 is arranged to encompass one of the auxiliary rollers 17b, with only a small clearance between the guide plate 16 and the distal ends of the partition plates 12a.", "The lower part of the guide plate 16 is submerged in the processing oil in the processing oil tank 10.", "As described above, the material is supplied onto the transport conveyor 12 at the other end above the surface level 10a of the processing oil in the processing oil tank 10 and transported along with the transport belt 12c toward the left in FIG. 1 while being held in the material holding portions 12b.", "When it reaches the left end of the transport conveyor 12 and is about to be thrown into the processing oil in the processing oil tank 10, the material is held in the material holding portions 12b by the guide plate 16 so that it will not scatter in the processing oil tank 10.", "As a result, the material in the basket-like material holding portions 12b of the transport conveyor 12 is carried in the processing oil tank 10, directly submerged in the processing oil in the processing oil tank 10.", "In the vacuum chamber 1d immediately below the inlet opening 1c there is arranged an auxiliary conveyor 18 that receives on one end side the material falling from the inlet opening 1c and carries it to the other end side of the transport conveyor 12.", "If the material falls in a lump from the inlet opening 1c onto the auxiliary conveyor 18 at one end, the operation of the auxiliary conveyor 18 can scatter the lumped material and supply it dispersedly onto the transport conveyor 12.", "Hence, where there is no possibility of the material forming into a lump, this auxiliary conveyor 18 may not be provided.", "Above the one end side of the transport conveyor 12 a shower nozzle 19 is arranged and directed downwardly to shower a processing liquid, heated to a predetermined temperature, for example 80° C., higher than the preheating temperature, over the material on the transport conveyor 12 for preprocessing.", "The shower nozzle 19 is connected to a preprocessing oil supply pump 31b through a preprocessing oil supply pipe 32b.", "The material is preprocessed by showering it with the processing oil lower in temperature than the processing oil in the processing oil tank 10 prior to the processing in the processing oil tank 10 for the following reason.", "If these preheating and preprocessing are not performed in sequential steps, evaporation occurs only at the surface of the material failing to make the whole material ideally porous, resulting in the material breaking into fine pieces or its shape being deformed.", "Hence, by performing the preprocessing and preheating on a step-by-step basis the entire material can be made to have an ideal porous state, offering dry food of good quality.", "Arranged below the auxiliary conveyor 18 and the shower nozzle 19 on the inner side of the endless transport belt 12c of the transport conveyor 12 at a position higher than the surface level 10a of the processing oil in the processing oil tank 10 is an oil receiving pan 13 which communicates with waste oil troughs 24 via a plurality of used oil pipes 13a communicating with the side walls of the pan.", "Thus, the processing oil dropped into the vacuum container 1 together with the material from the introducing pipe 2 and the processing oil showered from the shower nozzle 19 pass through the upper part of the transport belt 12c and are collected onto the oil receiving pan 13 thereafter being discharged into the waste oil troughs 24.", "This prevents the low-temperature processing oil dropped into the vacuum container 1 together with the material from the introducing pipe 2 and the low-temperature processing oil showered from the shower nozzle 19 from getting mixed with the high-temperature processing oil in the processing oil tank 10, thus facilitating the temperature control of the processing oil in the processing oil tank 10.", "Excess processing oil supplied from the processing oil supply ports 33 that flows out of the processing oil tank 10 through overflow ports (not shown) in the side walls of the processing oil tank 10 are received in the waste oil troughs 24 provided on each side of the processing oil tank 10 and then recovered to an oil tank 35 via an oil recovery pipe 34 communicating with the waste oil troughs 24.", "This oil tank 35 is connected through a filter 38 to an oil circulation pipe 32 which in turn is connected with the processing oil supply pump 31a and the oil supply pumps 31b, 31c.", "That is, these pumps 31a, 31b, 31c circulate oil from the oil tank 35 to the hopper 3, the shower nozzle 19 and the processing oil tank 10.", "The oil tank 35 is connected with a makeup virgin oil tank 37 to supplement the oil tank 35 as required.", "The each processing oil supply pipes 32a, 32b and the oil supply pipe 32c are provided with heaters 39a, 39b, 39c to heat the oil to predetermined temperatures and also with a flow meter, a thermometer and an automatic valve (none of these are shown).", "Predetermined flows of oil set at predetermined temperatures are supplied to the hopper 3, the shower nozzle 19 and the processing oil tank 10, respectively, thus optimumly setting the processing temperatures of the material in these areas.", "On the floor of the vacuum container 1 is laid rails 20 having legs 21.", "A platform car 22 having a plurality of wheels 23 rolling on the rails 20 mounts the processing oil tank 10, the transport conveyor 12, the auxiliary conveyor 18 and the shower nozzle 19 so that they can move along the rails 20.", "With the processing oil tank 10 and other associated devices mounted on the platform car 22 so that they can be moved on the rails 20, the regular maintenance, including cleaning and repair, of these devices can be performed easily by returning the pressure inside the vacuum chamber 1d to the atmosphere, removing the end plate 1b from the body 1a, disconnecting the pipes and drive mechanisms for the processing oil tank 10, transport conveyor 12, auxiliary conveyor 18 and shower nozzle 19, and then drawing the platform car 22 out of the body 1a.", "In this case, as shown in FIG. 3 representing the state of the apparatus during maintenance, the maintenance can further be facilitated by withdrawing the platform car 22 onto a substage 73 that has auxiliary rails 72 connectable to the rails 20.", "At the end portion of the vacuum container 1 opposite the end plate 1b there is installed a material takeup conveyor 50 that receives the heated material that was scooped up from the other end of the processing oil tank 10 by the partition plates 12a.", "The material takeup conveyor 50 rotates forward and backward intermittently to discharge the material downward from its both ends.", "A pair of oil removing devices 51a, 51b (these two may be referred to generally as an oil remover 51 hereinafter) with their upper ends open immediately below the ends of the material takeup conveyor 50 are of a centrifugal type in this embodiment as shown in FIG. 2. That is, the oil remover 51 has a construction in which its body 62a is arranged outside the vacuum container 1 and the upper part of its throat portion 62b with a funnel-like open top is positioned inside the vacuum container 1.", "In the throat portion 62b, a shutter 52 that is driven by an air cylinder 53 to open and close the throat portion 62b is provided.", "At the upper end of the body 62a an exhaust port 40 is formed which is connected to a vacuum pump 41 via an exhaust pipe 40a to keep the interior of the oil remover 51 at a vacuum pressure equal to or lower than that of the vacuum chamber 1d.", "The vacuum pump 41 also communicates with the vacuum container 1 via the exhaust pipe 40b to maintain the vacuum chamber id at a predetermined vacuum level.", "A rotary table 56 is rotatably installed with a bearing 57 in the lower end portion of the body 62a of the oil remover 51.", "An endless belt 56b driven by an oil removing motor 58 is wound around a pulley 56a provided at the lower end of the rotary table 56.", "The rotary table 56 is rotated at a predetermined speed.", "Removably mounted on the rotary table 56 is a cage body 54 that has its top portion open and its circumferential wall formed of a mesh.", "The cage body 54 has a core 55 secured immediately below the open portion of the cage body 54.", "The side wall of the body 62a is formed with an opening 61 through which the cage body 54 is taken in or out.", "The opening 61 is hermetically closed by a shutter 60 pressed against the opening 61.", "The shutter 60 is driven by an air cylinder 59 to open and close the opening 61.", "An open-close means according to the present invention comprises the shutter 60 and the air cylinder 59.", "At the side of the opening 61 there is provided a known transfer machine 70, which has a grip handle 71 activated by a driving source (not shown) to hold and move the cage body 54 mounted on the rotary table 56 out of the oil remover 51.", "The oil remover 51 with its construction described above performs the following sequence of operations: closing the throat portion 62b by the shutter 52, evacuating the interior of the body 62a via the exhaust port 40 by the vacuum pump 41 to the same vacuum pressure as the vacuum chamber 1d of the vacuum container 1, and then opening the shutter 52 to allow the processed material to be loaded from the material takeup conveyor 50 into the oil remover 51.", "At this time, the material dropped in from the throat portion 62b is evenly dispersed in the cage body 54 by the core 55 and, as the cage body 54 is rotated by operating the oil removing motor 58, the centrifugal force causes the oil soaked in the material to be removed and pass through the side wall of the cage body 54.", "The oil thus removed is discharged outside through a discharged oil pipe 36 communicating with the bottom of the body 62a.", "When a predetermined time period of the oil removing process is finished, the reduced pressure state in the oil remover 51 is canceled, followed by the stopping of the oil removing motor 58, the activation of the air cylinder 59 to retract the shutter 60 from the opening 61, and the transfer of the cage body 54 out of the oil remover 51 by the transfer machine 70.", "In this embodiment, two oil removers 51 may be used whereby while one of the oil removers is operated to remove oil the other is evacuated to the same negative pressure as the vacuum container 1 to permit continuous processing.", "That is, the material vacuum-heated in the processing oil tank 10 falls from the transport conveyor 12 onto the material takeup conveyor 50 located below the rear end side of the transport conveyor 12.", "The material takeup conveyor 50 is operated in the forward direction to drop the material into one oil remover 51a for oil removing processing.", "This is followed by the operation of the material takeup conveyor 50 in the reverse direction to subsequently throw the material that has undergone the vacuum heating process into the other oil remover 51b to perform the oil removing process on the material.", "It is of course possible to provide only one oil remover 51.", "Because to obtain the material in a good dry state requires extracting the oil soaked in the heated material as early as possible under the same negative pressure as the vacuum container without returning the negative pressure to normal, it is preferable to install two or more oil removers 51.", "As explained above, because the top portion of the oil remover 51 is positioned inside the vacuum container 1 whose inner pressure is reduced to a predetermined negative pressure and because the interior of the oil remover 51 is also evacuated to the same negative pressure, excess oil soaked in the material that has undergone the vacuum-heating process in the processing oil tank 10 can be efficiently removed in the oil remover 51 whose inner pressure is set to the same negative pressure as the vacuum chamber 1d, thus producing a good quality processed material with minimum oil remaining therein.", "Next, the overall operation of this embodiment will be explained.", "The material packed in a corrugated cardboard box is unpacked and then carried by the material supply conveyor 4 thereafter being dropped into the hopper 3.", "Since the hopper 3 is supplied with oil preheated to less than 60° C. from the oil supply port 30, the material dropped in mixes with the oil and falls down through the introducing pipe 2 by gravity.", "The clearance between the distal end of the each blade of the rotary valve 5 provided in the introducing pipe 2 and the inner wall of the valve casing is very small and the oil is sticking to the clearance, respectively.", "Thus, as the blades of the each rotary valves 5 rotate, the material and the oil are fed to the vacuum container 1 located below which is kept at a reduced pressure, for example, 20 Torr.", "At the same time, the vacuum chamber 1d of the vacuum container 1 is kept isolated from the atmosphere at all times.", "The dispersing conveyor 18 is provided immediately below the inlet opening 1c.", "Furthermore, the transport conveyor 12 is positioned below the dispersing conveyor 18.", "Hence, the material supplied together with the preheating oil is dispersed on the dispersing conveyor 18 and then dropped in a predetermined amount at a time onto the transport conveyor 12.", "The material on the transport conveyor 12 is showered with processing oil, heated to 60-100° C., from the shower nozzle 19.", "If, under the reduced pressure, the material is brought into contact with the high-temperature processing oil at once, the material will normally be heated rapidly, evaporating water from its surface quickly, failing to maintain the ideal porous state, which in turn deforms the shape of the material or breaks it into small pieces.", "With this invention, however, the preheating and the preprocessing are performed in sequential steps so that the material as a whole can be processed into an ideal porous state.", "The processing oil flowing down from the introducing pipe 2 and the processing oil showered from the shower nozzle 19 are received by the oil receiving pan 13 and then collected, along with the processing oil overflowing from the processing oil tank 10, to the waste oil troughs 24, from which the oil is recovered via the oil recovery pipe 34 to the oil tank 35 and then recirculated.", "The material, which was preprocessed by the processing oil showered from the shower nozzle 19 while being carried on the transport conveyor 12, is submerged in the processing oil in the tank 10 at 90-130° C. for a predetermined period of time thus undergoing a predetermined heating process.", "In this embodiment, a predetermined flow of processing oil heated to a predetermined temperature is supplied from a plurality of processing oil supply pipes 32a to the processing oil tank 10 through the processing oil supply ports 33.", "It is also possible to regulate the temperature and flow of the processing oil, as required, to set zones in the processing oil tank 10 with different vacuum heating conditions in which to process the material.", "Hence, the processing oil in the processing oil tank 10 can be given a temperature gradient such that the temperature of oil decreases toward one end of the processing oil tank 10 (for example, right side in FIG. 1).", "The material that was heated for a predetermined time by the processing oil in the tank 10 heated to a predetermined temperature is carried onto the material takeup conveyor 50, from which it is dropped into the throat portion 62b of the oil remover 51 whose top portion is wide open and located inside the vacuum container 1.", "The interior of the oil remover 51 is set to the same negative pressure as the vacuum container 1 so that the oil soaked in the material dropped into the cage body 54 can be efficiently removed by the centrifugal action produced by rotating the cage body 54.", "After the oil removing operation has been performed for a predetermined period, the shutter 52 is operated to close the throat portion 62b, the interior of the oil remover 51 is returned to the normal pressure, and the cage body 54 unlocked from the rotary table 56 is then transferred by the transfer machine 70 out of the oil remover 51 through the opening 61 of the oil remover 51, which was opened by the retracted shutter 60.", "While this embodiment sets the interior of the oil remover 51 at the same negative pressure as the interior of the vacuum container 1, it is possible to further reduce the inner pressure of the oil remover 51 below the negative pressure of the vacuum container 1 to utilize the pressure difference to increase the oil removing effect.", "The present invention has been described in detail with respect to a preferred embodiment, and it will now be apparent from the foregoing to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the invention in its broader aspects, and it is the intention, therefore, in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit of the invention." ]

[ "FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to eavestroughing systems and, particularly, eavestrouoghing systems where the hooks for hanging of the eavestrough are hidden.", "A number of eavestrough systems are now known which use what is referred to as a hidden hook for suspending of the eavestrough below the roof eave.", "Examples of such systems can be appreciated from the following references: U.S. Pat. No. 4,581,857, U.S. Pat. No. 4,632,342 and U.S. Pat. No. 3,022,029.", "An eavestrough system is also known according to U.S. Pat. No. 4,257,716 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,553,356 which use an eavestrough of an outer configuration similar to that disclosed in the present application, however, the eavestrough of these patents use a hook which is designed to be placed about the exterior of the eavestrough.", "The following Canadian patents also disclose prior art eavestroughing systems: 1,194,672, 1,071,377, 834,590 and 956,775.", "SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An eavestrough, according to the present invention, is of an extruded plastic and comprises a generally symmetrical cross section with a flat base having outwardly angled walls either side of the base with a vertical section secured to each outwardly angled wall at the upper edge of these walls.", "The vertical section to each side of the eavestrough includes inwardly directed locking flanges below an upper edge of the vertical section.", "Each flange at a free end thereof includes one part of a two-part locking arrangement by means of which the eavestrough may be suspended.", "According to an aspect of the invention, the eavestrough includes a downwardly directed lip forming one part of the locking arrangement on each locking flange which are used to assist in locking of the eavestrough in a suitable eavestrough hanger.", "According to a further aspect of the invention, the flange and the associated vertical section cooperate to provide an `L` shaped ledge about the flange.", "This `L` shaped flange is used to provide an abutment like support for receiving an eavestrough accessory or one edge of an eavestrough accessory, such as a leaf guard.", "According to yet a further aspect of the invention, the eavestrough is fully symmetrical either side of the base and can be installed in either orientation.", "An eavestrough hanger, according to the present invention, comprises a cored base and a forwardly extending cantilevered arm extending from the base.", "The arm is of an inverted `T` shape in cross section and includes a front opening locking slot at a free end of the arm.", "An opposite opening slot is provided at the lower edge of the arm spaced from, but adjacent the base.", "The base and the arm join at a flange perpendicular to the inverted `T` shaped section and generally centered thereon.", "This flange closes the inverted `T` section at one end of the arm and is used to assist in securing of the arm to the base.", "According to an aspect of the invention, the hanger includes a rectangular extension joining the flange and the base.", "According to a further aspect of the invention, the eavestrough hanger is adapted with the base extending above the inverted `T` shaped section and including in this extension portion a securing port therein for fastening of the hanger.", "According to a further aspect of the invention, the eavestrough hanger is adapted by including a forwardly opening slot in the base, across the base intermediate the inverted `T` shaped section and the securing port.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Preferred embodiments of the invention are shown in the drawings, wherein: FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view showing one hanger and a portion of a building to which the hanger and eavestrough have been secured;", "FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view illustrating how the eavestrough section can slide within a hanger;", "and FIG. 3 is a side view showing the securement of the eavestrough section in the eavestrough hanger.", "DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The eavestrough section 2 is preferably of a symmetrical section having a generally flat base 4 and outwardly angled walls 6, each of which terminate in a short vertical section 8.", "The vertical sections 8 each include a locking flange 10 having a downwardly directed lip 12 at the free end of the locking flange.", "This downwardly directed lip will cooperate with the locking slots provided in the eavestrough hanger.", "Above the upper surface of each locking flange 10 and the inside wall of the associated vertical section 8, is an `L` shaped ledge 14.", "This ledge can be used for restraining one side of a leaf guard while also serving to further hide the hook.", "The eavestrough hanger 30 has a cored base 32 which is essentially a rectangular box with certain interior partitions and open at the sides.", "The hanger 30 includes a forwardly extending cantilevered arm 34 of an inverted `T` shaped section.", "This arm 34 at the free end thereof includes a front opening slot 36 for receiving one of the locking flanges 10 by means of which the eavestrough is partially hung below the eavestrough hanger 30.", "Front opening slot 36 includes an angled camming surface 56 and a lip 58 sized to provide an interference fit with the locking flange 10 and the downwardly directed lip 12.", "This type of interference fit is shown in FIG. 3 and the eavestrough section may be forced as indicated by arrow 60 into the front opening slot 36.", "There is a similar jam type fit provided at the opposite opening slot 38 provided at the lower edge of the arm 34, but spaced from the base 32.", "Again, the eavestrough is forced through a slot, in this case through slot 38, such that the vertical section extends into the upwardly extending portion 50 of slot 38, which is eventually limited by the rectangular section 42 with the appropriate locking flange located in the horizontal extending portion 52 of slot 38.", "This horizontal extending portion 52 includes a lip 54 at the entrance thereof to provide a lock with the cooperating lip 12 of the locking flange 10.", "These parts coopeate to provide a two-part interference locking arrangement.", "The front opening locking slot 36 and the opposite opening slot 38 are sized to allow free movement of the eavestrough section within the slots to accommodate longitudinal expansion of the eavestrough section, however, the eavestrough is firmly locked withineach slot due to the cooperation of the locking flanges 10 and slots 36 and 38.", "The cored base 32 extends above the cantilevered arm 34 and defines in an upper region a securing port 44 through which a screw may be inserted to effect securement of the eavestrough hanger.", "The hanger also includes alignment recesses 60 provided at the rear surface of the base which are used in properly placing the eavestrough hanger the required distance below the eave of the roof.", "For example, a line could be drawn on the fascia board, with this line appropriately sloped according to the requirements, and then the eavestrough hangers are located on the fascia board with the aid of alignment recesses 60 being placed on that line.", "In this way, each of the hangers will ensure that the eavestrough is properly sloped to drain in a predetermined manner.", "Both the eavestrough 2 and the eavestrough hanger 30 are made of a suitable ultraviolet stabilized plastic material, as is known in the art.", "The particular eavestrough hanger 30, and the manner of coring the same, ensures there are minimal problems due to shrinkage of material during cooling of the hanger after the injection molding thereof.", "The various cavities are interconnected by partitions to add structural integrity and each of the cavities terminate generally at a vertical plane through the base, centered on the base, such that there is a solid core of plastic extending from the rear of the base into the forwardly extending arm and therebelow.", "This vertical reinforcing adjacent the arm increases the strength of the hanger.", "The forwardly extending cantilevered arm 34 terminates at the flange 40 which is generally perpendicular to the `T` shaped section of arm 34.", "This flange is the same size as the base and stiffens the arm and provides effective load transfer between the arm 34 and the forwardly extending rectangular section 42.", "This forwardly extending section 42 is cored, however, rather than being vertically cored, it is cored in a generally horizontal manner to increase the structural strength thereof.", "The cored base 32 of the eavestrough hanger 30 has a lower elongate box-like section 32a with a number of reinforcing partitions 33 extending therethrough.", "This elongate box-like section increases the stiffness of this lower base portion and thus stiffens the relationship between the lower portion of the forwardingly extending arm and the base.", "The cored box-like area 35 provided above the forwardly extending rectangular section 42 also provides additional stiffening and this stiffening is reinforced by the bushing about the securing port 44.", "By coring of the base to provide a backwall and a forward wall, interconnected by a central partition running generally vertically and various horizontal partititions, less material is required and the configuration provides additional strength.", "In molding of hangers of this type, there is difficulty in just adding more material, as after molding, shrinkage can cause distortion and flaws in the hanger.", "Thus, by coring the hanger in the manner described and configuring it, the benefits in reduction of material are achieved while still providing a rigid configuration.", "Also, the molding of this article allows various configurations to be used, for example, the forwardly extending section 42 is perpendicular to the cored lower elongate box-like section 32a while the material is integral as the product has been molded.", "This overlapping relationship of the various cored areas results in a strong base portion which also allows effective connection of the forwardly extending cantilevered arm 34 with the base.", "When load is applied to the hanger by the eavestrough, it is opposed by the screw which is passed through securing port 44 and it is also opposed by the lower elongate box-like section 32a which will contact the facia and distribute the load thereto.", "As can be appreciated, the hanger or the forces on the hanger will tend to be downwardly directed causing a moment generally about the facia board and this is partially opposed by the reaction force acting on lower elongate box-like section 32a.", "Therefore, this section must be stiff but also the connection of this section to the upper cored area 35 must also be stiff.", "Similarly, it is important that the connection of the arm to the base is as stiff as possible to avoid flexing of the structure.", "The strength of the arm is further improved by the flange 40 which is in a stepped wall configuration to partially define a locking slot while also connecting the lower flange of the forwardly extending cantilevered arm 34.", "In effect, the base is of a cellular type structure which not only allows convenient molding thereof, but also positions the material of the base in a configuration to improve the structural integrity of the base while allowing effective connection of the forwardly extending cantilevered arm to the base by means of the forwardly extending rectangular bridge section 42.", "Thus, the present design recognizes the need to not only limit the material used in the hanger, but to position this material in a manner to avoid problems often caused by shrinkage during cooling of the product after molding while effectively positioning the material to improve the strength of the resulting structure.", "The eavestroughing system, according to the present invention, uses a force fit of the eavestrough section into the hanger, avoiding problems which can occur when spring deformation is associated with the locking.", "Plastic typically creeps during heat and a spring bias type arrangement for locking does not provide the same structural strength as a locking interfit, where problems associated with creep are reduced.", "Furthermore, this positive locking of the eavestrough within the eavestrough hanger avoids problems which can occur due to improper loading such as by placing a ladder on the eavestrough section.", "Such a load would tend to increase the securement of the locking flange within the forwardly opening slot 36 while the slot provides some support against buckling.", "The vertical section of the wall also strikes the end of the arm and further distributes the load.", "An eavestrough under normal operating conditions is not subject to particularly high loads, however, it is subject to extreme temperature ranges from the coldest day in winter to the hottest day in summer and is also subject to ice loads and must at least withstand these loads which can greatly exceed the actual volume of the eavestrough.", "Although various preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described herein in detail, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, that variations may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims." ]

[ "BACKGROUND [0001] This relates to media systems which play audio and video.", "[0002] A variety of consumer electronic devices play both audio and video.", "Examples of such devices include set-top boxes, DVD players, and audio/video receivers.", "In many cases, relatively elaborate systems may be used to play audio and video.", "For example, a display in the form of a television, may be coupled to an audio/video receiver which, in turn, may be coupled to DVD players, set-top boxes, satellite receivers, and the like.", "As a result of processing by these various devices, the audio and video may appear to be out of synchronization to the end user.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0003] FIG. 1 is a system depiction for one embodiment;", "[0004] FIG. 2 is a flow chart for one embodiment;", "and [0005] FIG. 3 is an audio and video time line for one embodiment.", "DETAILED DESCRIPTION [0006] In accordance with some embodiments, an audio/video system may generate synchronized signals to flash a light on a display and to produce a sound.", "The sound and the light may be detected and the system determines whether they were issued in synchronization.", "If not, the circuit that produced the synchronized signals may have an adjustable delay to synchronize audio and video signals based on the time difference between the time when the sound and the light were actually detected.", "[0007] Referring to FIG. 1 , in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention, a media playing device 10 , such as a DVD player, a satellite receiver, a set-top box, or an audio/video receiver may be coupled through video processing devices 12 to a video display 14 .", "Video processing devices 12 may be a variety of media processing or playback devices.", "The audio processing devices 18 may be coupled to speakers 20 .", "[0008] For example, an audio/video receiver, implementing the device 10 , may be coupled to a television that functions both as the video processing device 12 and the display 14 .", "In such case, audio may be output directly from the audio/video receiver, while video is further processed by the television.", "Thus, audio and video signals that were synchronized in the audio/video receiver may no longer be synchronized after separate processing of the video by the television.", "Because of the intervening processing by video processing devices 12 or audio processing devices 12 , originally synchronized audio and video may no longer be synchronized.", "[0009] Similarly, the audio output from the device 10 may be subject to subsequent audio processing.", "As an example, an audio source from a satellite receiver, implementing the device 10 , may be further processed by an audio/video receiver, implementing the audio processing devices 18 .", "[0010] The device 10 may include an audio/video synchronization calibration circuit 24 , coupled to video output 26 and audio output 28 .", "It may provide a signal that ultimately produces a timed light flash to a video output 26 .", "The flash is synchronized with a signal that ultimately produces a sound on speakers 20 .", "In one example, the video may be a series of black frames, followed by a white frame, followed by a series of black frames.", "The audio may be a sound such as a beep.", "Thus, absent subsequent processing, the sound and light would occur at the same time.", "But because of the intervening video and/or audio processing device 12 and/or 18 , audio/video synchronization may be disrupted.", "[0011] The time when the light flash occurs may be detected by a light sensor 16 and, similarly, the time when the sound is produced may be detected by a sound sensor 22 .", "As one example, the light sensor may be a light sensitive diode.", "The sound sensor 22 may be a microphone.", "The output from the light sensor and the sound sensor may be provided back to the device 10 .", "Specifically, an input 30 receives a sound input signal from a sound sensor 22 and an input 31 receives a light input signal from the light sensor 16 .", "[0012] A beep detection status is outputted from the input 30 and a flash detection status is outputted from the input 31 .", "The calibration circuit 24 then compares a time when the sound (e.g. a beep) actually occurred and the time when the light flash actually occurred and determines a time difference between the sound and light generation.", "This time difference may then be correlated to a delay adjustment provided at 3 .", "The delay adjustment may be done by determining the time difference and using a lookup table to get a value to adjust the timing of the audio output.", "Alternatively, the timing of the video output can be adjusted instead, in another embodiment.", "In some cases, it may be desirable to retest the synchronization to be sure that it is correct after such an adjustment.", "[0013] Referring to FIG. 2 , in some embodiments, a series of black frames may be triggered on the display, as indicated in block 34 .", "Then, a white frame and sound may be triggered at the same time, as indicated in block 36 .", "The light and sound are detected, as indicated in block 38 .", "[0014] A time delay between the actual light and sound generation is then determined in block 40 .", "Based on that time delay, an adjustment is determined, for example, using a lookup table at block 42 .", "The adjustment may then be provided to the device 10 which outputs the sound or light information to delay one or the other of the audio or video signals to compensate for the subsequent audio and/or video processing and to create better audio and video synchronization.", "[0015] Referring to FIG. 3 , the video may be a series of black frames (BF).", "In one embodiment, three black frames may be followed by a white frame (WF), followed by three black frames.", "The system attempts to produce a sound at the same time as the white frame is produced, as indicated by the timeline marked “audio.”", "The sound should be produced at the time indicated by the solid arrow.", "But the sound may be produced early, as indicated by the dotted line arrow A or late, as indicated by the dotted line arrow B. Thus, a time difference C or D may be measured, which is the difference between the time when the sound should have been produced and the time when the sound was actually detected.", "This time difference may then be used to determine an appropriate delay.", "For example, in the case of the sound being produced early, as indicated at A, a delay may be provided for sound signals and, in the case of the sound being produced late, as indicated in B, a delay may be reduced to cause the sound to be produced earlier.", "[0016] In some embodiments, the sequence depicted in FIG. 2 may be implemented in hardware.", "In other embodiments, it may be implemented in software, executed by the calibration circuit 24 , for example.", "In some embodiments, the calibration circuit 24 may include a controller or microprocessor.", "The sequence depicted in FIG. 2 may be stored in a computer readable medium, such as a semiconductor memory, which, in one embodiment, may be part of the calibration circuit 24 .", "In a software embodiment, the sequence depicted in FIG. 2 may be represented by a series of instructions which may be stored in such a computer readable medium.", "[0017] The detection of the time differences may be done in a variety of conventional fashions.", "For example, a count may be initiated when the video and audio outputs are triggered.", "The time when the light and sound is detected may be marked or the count may be stopped.", "The marked times may be developed by timers that count up or down from the triggering of the video and audio information until such time as the light and sound information is detected.", "Since the timers started at the same time, their values may be differenced in order to determine the difference in time between the occurrence of the light and sound indications.", "[0018] This time difference information may then be used in a variety of different ways.", "For example, a calculation may be done to determine the amount of time delay that would be appropriate to zero out the time difference.", "Alternatively, a lookup table may be used to correlate the time difference between the time when sound and light are detected and the amount of delay that needs to be added to a circuit, which delays at least one of the video or audio outputs.", "Those skilled in the art will appreciate a variety of other techniques to accomplish these same goals.", "[0019] The processing techniques described herein may be implemented in various hardware architectures.", "For example, the functionality may be integrated within a chipset.", "Alternatively, a discrete video processor may be used.", "As still another embodiment, the functions may be implemented by a general purpose processor, including a multicore processor.", "For example, a video processor integrated circuit may implement the calibration circuit 24 , video output 26 , audio output 28 , and inputs 30 and 31 .", "Then, the wiring and sensors may be supplied by the manufacturer of a media player that includes the video processor.", "[0020] References throughout this specification to “one embodiment”", "or “an embodiment”", "mean that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one implementation encompassed within the present invention.", "Thus, appearances of the phrase “one embodiment”", "or “in an embodiment”", "are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment.", "Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be instituted in other suitable forms other than the particular embodiment illustrated and all such forms may be encompassed within the claims of the present application.", "[0021] While the present invention has been described with respect to a limited number of embodiments, those skilled in the art will appreciate numerous modifications and variations therefrom.", "It is intended that the appended claims cover all such modifications and variations as fall within the true spirit and scope of this present invention." ]

[ "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1.", "Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an interface circuit which is capable of protecting a telephone set from transient overvoltage such as surge voltage, and from continuous inflow of overcurrent due to a fault contact between a commercial power line and a pair of subscriber lines.", "Description of the Related Art Since the subscriber lines being air-suspended have the possibility of getting transient lightning-induced voltage propagation thereto due to a lightning strike, or receiving continuous inflow of overcurrent for a somewhat long period of time due to a fault contact (or short circuit in connection) with the commercial power line, a protection circuit is often provided in the interface between the telephone set and the subscriber line.", "As counter measures to possible lightning surges, for example, a structure with a varistor element connected between two subscriber lines, a structure with a varistor element connected between the subscriber line and the grounding wire, etc.", "are known.", "When a transient surge voltage exceeding a varistor voltage is applied to the subscriber line, the varistor element will function to protect a speech circuit inside the telephone set by shifting to a conduction mode to absorb the surge voltage.", "Moreover, as a counter measure to possible heat generation and fires in the telephone set due to a fault contact between the commercial power line and the subscriber line, for example, a structure having a PTC (positive temperature coefficient) thermistor inserted to the interface between the subscriber line and the telephone set is known.", "When there is a continuous inflow of overcurrent at the PTC thermistor for a some period of time, an input impedance at the interface will increase along with a rise in the element temperature, whereby the inflow of overcurrent into the telephone set can be prevented.", "FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram showing a conventional telephone interface circuit 30 .", "The telephone interface circuit 30 is to perform interface control between a speech circuit 20 , which is to process audio signals, and a pair of subscriber lines L 1 and L 2 .", "The telephone interface circuit 30 mainly includes a diode bridge 40 which serves to rectify signals traveling inside the pair of the subscriber lines L 1 and L 2 to supply the signals to the speech circuit 20 , a transistor Tr 3 which functions as a hook switch for switch-controlling the connection between the pair of the subscriber lines L 1 and L 2 and the speech circuit 20 , a transistor Tr 4 which functions as a driver for switch-controlling the on/off state of the transistor Tr 3 , and a zener diode D 5 which serves to absorb possible overvoltage that could be applied to the subscriber lines L 1 and L 2 .", "The diode bridge 40 is composed of four diodes D 1 , D 2 , D 3 and D 4 .", "The transistor Tr 3 is to turn on at an off-the-hook state so as to connect the pair of the subscriber lines L 1 and L 2 to the speech circuit 20 , whereas it turns off at an on-the-hook state so as to disconnect the pair of the subscriber lines L 1 and L 2 from the speech circuit 20 .", "An emitter terminal E 3 of the transistor Tr 3 is connected to the subscriber line L 1 .", "A collector terminal C 3 of the transistor Tr 3 is connected to the speech circuit 20 through a resistor R 7 .", "A base terminal B 3 of the transistor Tr 3 is connected to a collector terminal C 4 of the transistor Tr 4 through a resistor R 4 .", "A resistor R 3 is connected between the emitter terminal E 3 of the transistor Tr 3 and the base terminal B 3 of the transistor Tr 3 .", "A base terminal B 4 of the transistor Tr 4 is divided into two lines, one connected to a terminal HC via a resistor R 5 and the other connected to the subscriber line L 2 via a resistor R 6 .", "The transistor Tr 3 is a PNP transistor whereas the transistor Tr 4 is an NPN transistor.", "The terminal HC is connected to a microcomputer (not shown).", "At the time when off-the-hook operation, on-the-hook operation, dial pulse transmitting operation or the like is to be carried out, this microcomputer serves to control a voltage V 4 at the terminal HC in order to control a base potential of the transistor Tr 4 .", "For instance, in the off-the-hook state, the microcomputer will control the voltage V 4 at the terminal HC such that the voltage V 4 will be at high voltage.", "Then the base potential of the transistor Tr 4 will rise as an electric potential of the terminal HC rises, whereby the transistor Tr 4 will turn on.", "Then, because a base potential of the transistor Tr 3 will drop, the transistor Tr 3 will turn on, and thus the pair of the subscriber lines L 1 and L 2 will be connected to the speech circuit 20 .", "In the off-the-hook state, in response to a dial input, the microcomputer will control the voltage V 4 at the terminal HC.", "Thereby, the transistor Tr 4 will transmit a dial pulse signal.", "In the on-the-hook state, the microcomputer will control the voltage V 4 at the terminal HC such that the voltage V 4 will be at low voltage.", "Then the base potential of the transistor Tr 4 will drop, whereby the transistor Tr 4 will be cut off.", "Then, because the base potential of the transistor Tr 3 will rise, the transistor Tr 3 will be cut off, and thus the pair of the subscriber lines L 1 and L 2 will be disconnected from the speech circuit 20 .", "With respect to the above-described telephone interface circuit 30 , however, transistors with high pressure resistance, which are quite expensive, are required to be used as the transistors Tr 3 and Tr 4 to be connected between the pair of the subscriber lines L 1 and L 2 , and this leads to increase in manufacturing costs.", "Moreover, as the above-described telephone interface circuit 30 has to have the resistor R 4 inserted in between the two transistors Tr 3 and Tr 4 , the telephone interface circuit 30 is left with little design flexibility.", "SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a telephone interface circuit which can adopt transistors with low pressure resistance, which are inexpensive, as a first transistor that switch-controls a connection between a pair of subscriber lines and a speech circuit, and a second transistor that drive-controls the first transistor.", "Furthermore, another object of the present invention is to provide a telephone interface circuit which does not require a resistor to be inserted in between the first and the second transistors, and which therefore is capable of having more design flexibility.", "For the purpose of achieving the above-mentioned objects, a telephone interface circuit according to the present invention comprises: a first transistor which switch-controls a connection between a speech circuit and a pair of subscriber lines;", "a second transistor which controls an on/off state of the first transistor;", "a positive feedback circuit which connects a collector terminal of the first transistor to a base terminal of the second transistor;", "and an internal power source which supplies current for driving the second transistor.", "A circuit constant is set such that the first transistor is to operate in a saturated region when a voltage in a range of voltage for normal use is applied in between the pair of the subscriber lines, and such that the first transistor is to operate in an unsaturated region when an overvoltage exceeding the range of voltage for normal use is applied in between the pair of the subscriber lines.", "Since the second transistor can operate by the current supplied by the internal power source, the second transistor does not need to have current supplied by the pair of the subscriber lines.", "Therefore, the first and the second transistors should be sufficient as long as they have pressure resistance based on the output voltage of the internal power source, and thus transistors with low pressure resistance which are available at low price can be used as the first and the second transistors.", "Moreover, with respect to the telephone interface circuit according to the present invention, since it is not necessary to have a resistor to be inserted in between the first and the second transistors, the telephone interface circuit is allowed to have more design flexibility.", "Furthermore, with respect to the telephone interface circuit according to the present invention, as the first transistor operates in the unsaturated region when an overvoltage is being applied to the pair of the subscriber lines, the first transistor, the second transistor and the positive feedback circuit will function as a self-propelled pulse generator.", "Accordingly, the first transistor and the second transistor will start oscillating while alternating between an on state and an off state, whereby the overcurrent flowing into the first transistor will be able to be cut off intermittently.", "In addition to that, it is possible to reduce the average value of overcurrent to a considerable extent, whereby the first transistor can be protected from the overcurrent.", "The circuit constant is supposed to determine the base current of the second transistor.", "A boundary between the saturated region and the unsaturated region of the second transistor can be set based on the value of the base current.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram illustrating a telephone interface circuit according to an embodiment of the present invention;", "FIG. 2 is a graphic representation showing a static characteristic of a transistor;", "and FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram illustrating a conventional telephone interface circuit.", "DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a circuit structure of a telephone interface circuit 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention.", "The telephone interface circuit 10 is to perform interface control in between a speech circuit 20 , which is to process audio signals, and a pair of subscriber lines L 1 and L 2 .", "The telephone interface circuit 10 mainly includes a transistor Tr 1 which functions as a hook switch for switch-controlling the connection between the pair of the subscriber lines L 1 and L 2 and the speech circuit 20 , and a transistor Tr 2 which functions as a driver for switch-controlling the on/off state of the transistor Tr 1 .", "The transistor Tr 1 is to turn on at an off-the-hook state so as to connect the pair of the subscriber lines L 1 and L 2 to the speech circuit 20 , whereas it turns off at an on-the-hook state so as to disconnect the pair of the subscriber lines L 1 and L 2 from the speech circuit 20 .", "A collector terminal C 1 of the transistor Tr 1 is connected to the subscriber line L 2 through a resistor R 2 , while an emitter terminal E 1 of the transistor Tr 1 is connected to the speech circuit 20 and a base terminal B 1 of the transistor Tr 1 is connected to a collector terminal C 2 of the transistor Tr 2 .", "Moreover, the emitter terminal E 1 of the transistor Tr 1 is grounded.", "A base terminal B 2 of the transistor Tr 2 is connected to a terminal HC through a resistor R 1 , while an emitter terminal E 2 of the transistor Tr 2 is connected to an internal power source V 2 .", "The internal power source V 2 is a source of power that can be obtained, for instance, by converting an alternate-current power supplied by a commercial power source into a predetermined direct-current power using a power conversion module.", "The transistor Tr 2 is to operate relying on the current supplied by the internal power source V 2 .", "The collector terminal C 1 of the transistor Tr 1 is also connected to the base terminal B 2 of the transistor Tr 2 through a capacitor C 1 .", "The transistor Tr 1 is an NPN transistor whereas the transistor Tr 2 is a PNP transistor.", "It is noted that in FIG. 1 , a zener diode which serves to absorb possible overvoltage that could be applied to the subscriber lines L 1 and L 2 , and a diode bridge which serves to rectify signals traveling inside the subscriber lines L 1 and L 2 in order to supply the signals to the speech circuit 20 are being omitted.", "The terminal HC is connected to a microcomputer 30 .", "At the time when off-the-hook operation, on-the-hook operation, dial pulse transmitting operation or the like is to be carried out, this microcomputer 30 serves to conduct negative logic-based control on a voltage V 1 at the terminal HC in order to control a base potential of the transistor Tr 2 .", "For instance, in the off-the-hook state, the microcomputer 30 will control the voltage V 1 at the terminal HC such that the voltage V 1 will be at low voltage.", "Then the base potential of the transistor Tr 2 will drop as an electric potential of the terminal HC drops, whereby the transistor Tr 2 will turn on.", "Consequently, a collector current of the transistor Tr 2 will start flowing.", "Since the collector current of the transistor Tr 2 is equivalent to a base current of the transistor Tr 1 , the transistor Tr 1 will turn on.", "The lowered base potential of the transistor Tr 2 will be positively fed back to the collector terminal C 1 of the transistor Tr 1 through the capacitor C 1 that functions as a positive feedback circuit.", "In a case when a line voltage V 3 in between the pair of the subscriber lines L 1 and L 2 stays within a range of voltage for normal use, the oscillation condition will not be met because a circuit constant, which is to determine the value of base current of the transistor Tr 1 , has been selected such that the transistor Tr 1 will operate in a saturated region.", "Therefore, under the off-the-hook state, as long as the line voltage V 3 in between the pair of the subscriber lines L 1 and L 2 is within the range of voltage for normal use, the transistor Tr 1 will keep itself at the state of being turned on.", "On the other hand, in a case when the line voltage V 3 in between the pair of the subscriber lines L 1 and L 2 exceeds the range of voltage for normal use under the off-the-hook state, the oscillation condition will be met because a circuit constant, which is to determine the value of base current of the transistor Tr 1 , has been selected such that the transistor Tr 1 will operate in an unsaturated region.", "As the oscillation condition is met, the transistors Tr 1 and Tr 2 as a pair will start oscillating according to the same oscillation principle as that of a multi-vibrator.", "Consequently, as a loop current flowing at the transistor Tr 1 will be cut off intermittently, the transistor Tr 1 will be able to be protected from the overcurrent.", "In the off-the-hook state, in response to a dial input, the microcomputer 30 will control the voltage V 1 at the terminal HC.", "Thereby, the transistor Tr 2 will transmit a dial pulse signal.", "In the on-the-hook state, the microcomputer 30 will control the voltage V 1 at the terminal HC such that the voltage V 1 will be at high voltage.", "Then the base potential of the transistor Tr 2 will rise, whereby the transistor Tr 2 will be cut off.", "Consequently, since the collector current of the transistor Tr 2 will not flow, the transistor Tr 1 will be cut off.", "Next, a principle on the basis of which the transistors Tr 1 and Tr 2 are to oscillate when an overvoltage is being applied in between the pair of the subscriber lines L 1 and L 2 will be described.", "As can be understood from the fact that a part of the base current of the transistor Tr 2 is to be positively fed back to the collector terminal C 1 of the transistor Tr 1 , as shown in FIG. 1 , the transistors Tr 1 and Tr 2 as a pair are composing an in-phase amplifier circuit.", "As mentioned above, when an overvoltage is applied in between the pair of the subscriber lines L 1 and L 2 , transistors Tr 1 and Tr 2 as a pair will start oscillating according to the same oscillation principle as that of a multi-vibrator (or a self-propelled pulse generator), because the circuit constant has been selected such that the transistor Tr 1 will operate in the unsaturated region.", "As the oscillation starts, the pair of the transistors Tr 1 and Tr 2 will alternate between an on state and an off state with a cycle period proportional to a time constant CIR 1 .", "For instance, when the transistor Tr 2 is at an off state at a certain moment, the transistor Tr 1 is also at an off state.", "At this moment, since the voltage V 1 of the HC terminal has been set at low voltage, a first electrode, among first and second electrodes composing the capacitor C 1 , which is connected to the base terminal B 2 of the transistor Tr 2 , will have its electric potential become lower than that of the second electrode, whereby the transistor Tr 2 will shift to an on state in due course, while the transistor Tr 1 will also shift to an on state.", "Due to charging and discharging by the capacitor C 1 , the pair of the transistor Tr 1 and Tr 2 will simultaneously alternate between an on state and an off state.", "A cycle period of alternation Tm is about “0.69×C 1 ×R 1 .”", "FIG. 2 shows a static characteristic of the transistor Tr 1 .", "A horizontal axis in a graph of FIG. 2 indicates a voltage difference between the collector and emitter of the transistor Tr 1 , that is, the line voltage V 3 , whereas a vertical axis indicates a collector current I C1 of the transistor Tr 1 .", "Reference numeral 40 shows one example of load profile at the time when the line voltage V 3 is within the range of voltage for normal use, while reference numeral 50 shows one example of load profile at the time when the line voltage V 3 exceeds the range of voltage for normal use.", "At this point, provided that a base current of the transistor Tr 1 is indicated by I B1 , a collector current of the transistor Tr 1 is indicted by I C1 , a direct current gain of the transistor Tr 1 is indicate by h FE1 , a base current of the transistor Tr 2 is indicated by I B2 , a collector current of the transistor Tr 2 is indicted by I C2 , a direct current gain of the transistor Tr 2 is indicate by h FE2 , and a voltage difference between the base and emitter of the transistor Tr 1 and a voltage difference between the collector and emitter of the transistor Tr 2 with respect to the line voltage V 3 are disregarded, the following expressions can be derived.", "I B2 =( V 1−0.6)/ R 1 (1) I B1 =I C2 =I B2 ×h FE2 (2) I C1 =V 3 /R 2 (3) I C1 =I B1 ×h FE1 (4) Based on expressions (1) to (4), the following expression can be derived.", "V 3=( V 1−0.6)× h FE1 ×h FE2 ×R 2 /R 1 (5) From expression (5), it can be understood that a value of the voltage V 3 at the time when the pair of the transistor Tr 1 and Tr 2 start oscillating (i.e. an oscillation start voltage) is inversely proportional to a resistance value of the resistor R 1 , and the oscillation start voltage can be adjusted arbitrarily with the resistance value of the resistor R 1 .", "For example, when the line voltage V 3 is 10 V (i.e. when the line voltage V 3 is within the range of voltage for normal use), the transistor Tr 1 will need a base current I B1 of 50 μA in order to enter the saturated region, as indicated by a point A of intersection between a static characteristic curve of the transistor Tr 1 and the load profile 40 .", "According to the present embodiment, the circuit constant, which is to determine the value of the base current I B1 of the transistor Tr 1 , has been selected such that the operating point of the transistor Tr 1 will enter the saturated region when the line voltage V 3 is within the range of voltage for normal use.", "Since the transistor Tr 1 will not have an amplifying function in the saturated region, the oscillation condition will not be met even when a part of the base current of the transistor Tr 2 is to be positively fed back to the collector terminal C 1 of the transistor Tr 1 through the capacitor C 1 .", "Meanwhile, when the line voltage V 3 is 50 V (i.e. when the line voltage V 3 is an overvoltage that exceeds the range of voltage for normal use), the transistor Tr 1 will need a base current I B1 of 200 μA in order to enter the saturated region, as indicated by a point B of intersection between a static characteristic curve of the transistor Tr 1 and the load profile 50 .", "According to the present embodiment, the circuit constant, which is to determine the value of the base current I B1 of the transistor Tr 1 , has been selected such that the operating point of the transistor Tr 1 will enter the unsaturated region when the line voltage V 3 is an overvoltage that exceeds the range of voltage for normal use.", "Since the transistor Tr 1 will have an amplifying function in the unsaturated region, the oscillation condition will be met, whereby the pair of the transistors Tr 1 and Tr 2 will start oscillating.", "Since such oscillation will start at the very instant when an overvoltage is applied in between the pair of the subscriber lines L 1 and L 2 , an overcurrent passing through the transistor Tr 1 will be cut off at the instant when the overvoltage is applied in between the pair of the subscriber lines L 1 and L 2 .", "Although the overcurrent will start flowing into the transistor Tr 1 again when the cycle period of alternation Tm elapses from the time the overcurrent has been cut off, the overcurrent will be cut off again at the very instant when the overcurrent starts flowing.", "In this way, the overcurrent flowing into the transistor Tr 1 will be cut off intermittently.", "By adjusting the value of time constant C 1 R 1 to an appropriate value, it is possible to set a ratio of the period, during which the overvoltage is being applied in between the pair of the subscriber lines L 1 and L 2 , to the period, during which the overcurrent is flowing into the transistor Tr 1 during the period when the overvoltage is being applied in between the pair of the subscriber lines L 1 and L 2 , to about 10:1, for instance.", "Accordingly, it is possible to reduce the average value of overcurrent of the transistor Tr 1 to a considerable extent.", "The oscillating behavior by the transistors Tr 1 and Tr 2 will continue during the time period when the overvoltage is being applied in between the pair of the subscriber lines L 1 and L 2 (i.e. during the time period when the oscillation condition is being met).", "After that, as the line voltage V 3 becomes lower to fall into the range of voltage for normal use, the operating point of the transistor Tr 1 will return to the saturated region again, whereby the oscillating behavior will stop, for the oscillating condition will no longer be met.", "In this way, since the protection function of the telephone interface circuit 10 for protecting the transistor Tr 1 has a self-recovery function, it will become available for normal use at the very moment when the overvoltage is stopped being applied to the pair of the subscriber lines L 1 and L 2 .", "As for the circuit constant which is to determine the value of the base current I B1 of the transistor Tr 1 , for example, the voltage V 1 of the terminal HC, the resistance value of the resistor R 1 , etc.", "can be considered.", "However, the circuit constant is not to be limited to these examples.", "With respect to the telephone interface circuit 10 according to the present embodiment of the invention, since the transistor Tr 2 can operate by the current supplied by the internal power source V 2 , the transistor Tr 2 does not need to have current supplied by the pair of the subscriber lines L 1 and L 2 .", "Therefore, the transistor Tr 2 should be sufficient as long as they have pressure resistance based on the output voltage of the internal power source V 2 , and thus transistors with low pressure resistance which are available at low price can be used as the transistor Tr 2 .", "Furthermore, with respect to the telephone interface circuit 10 according to the present embodiment of the invention, since it is not necessary to have a resistor to be inserted in between the two transistors Tr 1 and Tr 2 , the telephone interface circuit 10 is allowed to have more design flexibility.", "In case of power outage, the telephone interface circuit 10 should not be connected to the pair of the subscriber lines L 1 and L 2 .", "In the telephone interface circuit 10 according to the present embodiment of the invention, since the internal power source V 2 is to have power supplied by the commercial power source, the output voltage of the internal power source V 2 will become zero in the case of power outage.", "Therefore, the transistor Tr 2 will not turn on in the case of power outage.", "This means that it is guaranteed that the telephone interface circuit 10 will not be connected to the pair of the subscriber lines L 1 and L 2 in the case of power outage." ]

[ "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to an arrangement wherein a plurality of body members are positioned in precise relationship on a carrier body, and, more particularly, it relates to an arrangement wherein manipulators position these bodies at elevated temperatures and in an inert gas environment.", "The technical problem is one of positioning and bonding a solid body in a specific spatial relation to another object.", "It is often necessary to position a solid body relative to another object with a high degree of accuracy and to attach it at the respective positioned location in a manner that will provide long term stability, upon achieving this accuracy.", "A light beam wave-guide, for example a glass fibre or optical fibre, is to be affixed to a laser diode with a specified separation larger than or equal to zero or to some predetermined value.", "Through the use of proper optics a light beam wave-guide is to be attached to a laser diode with a specified separation greater than zero, whereby the light emitted by the diode is, for example, to be efficiently coupled by means of the proper optics to the beam wave-guide.", "A tapered lens arranged at the end of the glass fibre may, for example, be employed as the suitable optics.", "During the attachment of a light beam wave-guide to a laser diode with a specified separation, especially during the application of a single mode optical fibre as a beam wave-guide, particularly stringent requirements are posed with regard to the positional accuracy and to the long term stability of this positional accuracy during operating and storage conditions.", "The positional accuracy of a single mode optical fibre must then have a long term stability with a maximum tolerance of within or ±0.05 μm.", "This maximum tolerance must not be exceeded during operation and storage conditions over the range of -40° C. to +60° C. With regard to the respective light beam wave-guides employed, either smaller or greater accuracies must be maintained for positioning and bonding the light beam wave-guide in front of the respective laser diode.", "In the case of multi-mode optical fibres, for example, in the case of graded index fibres with a cone diameter of 50 μm, a position and long term location tolerance Δx, Δy on the order of ±1 μm must be maintained.", "In the application of a single mode optical fibre which may exhibit a core of 5 μm, for example, a position and long term location tolerance Δx, Δy on the order ±0.05 μm must be maintained.", "With presently available mechanical and electro-mechanical adjusting devices, for example, with a stepping motor, with a piezo-crystal etc.", ", the attainment of the previously mentioned adjustment accuracies for short periods, and the retaining of this accuracy for seconds, and even minutes, is relatively free of problems.", "It is however impossible, with presently available procedures and devices, to bond the beam wave-guides with the attained accuracy, while maintaining the respective location of the beam wave-guide, after positioning, in the long term.", "Previously, a number of different light beam wave-guide bonding methods were, or would be, applied in the construction of laser diode modules.", "In most of the laser modules on the market today, the laser diode is attached to its own mount assembly which is in turn attached through an intermediate fastening element to a light beam wave-guide bonding point.", "In this way the light beam wave-guide is either fastened in a capillary made of metal-quartz or similar materials, or directly attached at the point of bonding.", "The attachment of the light beam wave-guide is thus accomplished through the following different techniques or arrangements.", "In one technique, the beam wave-guide is directly cemented to the positioning point.", "In another technique, the beam wave-guide is cemented into a capillary and the capillary is in turn cemented, soldered, welded etc.", ", at the positioning point.", "In a third technique, the beam wave-guide is metalized, then soldered into the capillary and the capillary then soldered to the positioning point, etc.", "All of these conventional bonding techniques for a light beam wave-guide have to a greater or lesser extent disadvantages of various kinds, as for example: (I) During cementing of the beam wave-guide to the positioning point, the beam wave-guide must be held in position at the positioning point to an accuracy of ±0.05 μm during hardening of the cement, which is practically impossible in the present state of the art.", "(II) Too little is as yet known about the long term stability of the various cements.", "(III) During the soldering of the beam wave-guide at the bonding point with the assembly techniques employed until now for beam wave-guide module construction, a heat source is necessary for heating the solder, which to a large extent also heats the laser diode, so that operation of the laser diode during the positioning procedure is not possible in most cases, whereby adjustment by coupling to light and optical observation during photo-diode operation is impossible and accurate positioning is made substantially more difficult.", "(IV) During welding or soldering of a beam wave-guide mounted in a capillary, a considerable displacement of the beam wave-guide may occur, during the cooling process, especially in the case of welding, that is substantially greater than ±0.05 μm.", "(V) In all of the light beam wave-guide techniques mentioned in the foregoing, the light beam wave-guide is attached to the mount assembly on which the laser diode is mounted, through intermediate elements, such as through various metals, various materials, screwed and/or soldered and/or cemented.", "The stability of the beam wave-guide is thereby directly related to the mechanical and thermal behavior characteristics of these intermediate elements, this means, that a displacement or a thermal stress, which must of necessity arise, during temperature cycling between +60° C. and -40° C. with many of the intermediate elements used in the present arrangements of the prior art, are directly carried over into the light beam wave-guide laser coupling and make it practically impossible to maintain long-term stability.", "SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a technique and an arrangement of the type previously referred to including a fabricated component in which a solid body may be positioned with high accuracy and bonded with good long-term stability at the desired location established during positioning.", "The invention broadly includes an attachment method and a positioning and attachment procedure for solid bodies, particularly for light beam wave-guides, e.g. for glass fibres, which overcome the disadvantages of prior techniques and achieves substantial simplification over conventional techniques.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING Features of the invention and additional objects of the invention will be more readily appreciated and better understood by reference to the following detailed description which should be considered in conjunction with the drawing.", "FIG. 1 is a cross section-view of an illustrative embodiment for a component.", "FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of the illustrative embodiment of FIG. 1 along line A-B.", "FIG. 3 demonstrates an arrangement and a device according to the invention.", "FIG. 4 depicts another illustrative embodiment in accordance with the invention.", "DETAILED DESCRIPTION FIGS. 1 and 2 include an optical fibre attachment arrangement or mount 4, 5, 6, 7 and the diode laser chip 1 on a common base 3.", "By this arrangement the best possible attachment of the solid body 2 is obtained without resorting to intermediate parts or components.", "For bonding, the light beam wave-guide 2 is imbedded in solder 6, e.g. in SnPbAg or another solder composition with a specified separation from the laser diode 1.", "The solder 6, is itself enclosed in a further body 7, shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 in the form of a V-grooved-chip, in order to achieve a best possible mechanical solder stabiltiy.", "The further body 7 comprises semiconductor material, for example silicon.", "The V-groove of the body member 7 may be etched and may be metalized.", "The soldered attachment to the base 3 which is common to the laser diode 1 and to the light beam wave-guide 2 is achieved thereby through a low heat conducting fibre support base, solderable at its upper and lower sides.", "The support base 4 may also be metalized with a layer 5 on its upper and corresponding lower sides.", "With the combined beam wave-guide attachement 4, 5, 6, 7 a positioning of the light beam wave-guide 2 is possible during laser operation at a laser temperature of 25° C. Suitable materials having low heat conductivity that adapted for this purpose include metalized glasses, metalized ceramics (Porcelain), metallized quartz and also metals such as stainless steel or other metals.", "It is then possible, through the selection of suitable materials and through suitable geometry of the support base 4, to match the vertical thermal expansion (Δy) of the beam wave-guide support base 4 with the vertical thermal expansion of the laser diode base 3, in order to avoid beam wave-guide positional shifts, due to differential thermal expansion, in the range of ±0.05 μm.", "Traverse positional changes (Δx) due to thermal expansion, are fundamentally ruled out through the attachment of the laser diode 1 and the beam wave-guide 2 to a common base.", "FIG. 1 illustrates a lengthwise sectional view through a component according to the invention along the axis of the beam wave-guide 2.", "The axis of the light beam wave-guide 2 is considered to be the z-axis.", "FIG. 2 illustrates a cross sectional view taken approximately through the middle (line A-B) of the light beam wave-guide attachment 4, 5, 6, 7 of the embodiment of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 illustrates the light beam wave-guide positioning and bonding procedure.", "In principle the bonding, by soft soldering, of the light beam wave-guide with a specified spacing relative to the laser diode is demonstrated as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and indeed in the region of the beam wave-guide attachment 4, 5, 6, 7 through coating of the light beam wave-guide 2 in the x-direction and y-direction.", "The attachment of the light beam wave-guide in the z-direction may be accomplished through a capillary on the housing of the laser diode module, not shown in the Figure, or on base 4 itself, when the light beam wave-guide 2 is metallized in the area of the support base 4.", "Positioning of the beam wave-guide occurs in the fluidized molten solder 6.", "The light beam wave-guide 2 is held in place upon cooling and solidification of the solder 6, at the end of the positioning procedure.", "The height of the support base 4 presents the only limitation on the positioning play but this may be fixed in advance through correspondingly tighter tolerances.", "The upper body member 7 is employed as an attachment accessory, and simultaneously as a heat source for melting the solder 6, used in bonding the beam wave-guide.", "In this procedure it is not necessary to employ an external heat source to melt the solder i.e. a hot gas, an arc, a hot iron, etc.", ", with which the laser diode is frequently heated as well.", "More often it is possible with this procedure to heat only that region of the light beam wave-guide 2, relative to the z-axis, in which the solder 6 is present.", "Thereby the power dissipation of the semiconductor 7 during current flow is used for heating (Schottky-Contact and bulk resistance), that is, the semiconductor body 7 is clamped between two electrodes 11a and 11b of a current regulated power supply.", "These electrodes are constructed in the form of a clamp or tongs and fastened to an x, y, z manipulator.", "A thermal sensor 11c attached to the one leg of the "heating clamp"", "for temperature control.", "This thermal sensor may be soldered, welded, cemented, etc.", "on.", "The semiconductor body 7 may be a silicon chip or another type of semiconductor chip in this arrangement.", "If a voltage is now applied to the clamp formed electrodes 11a, 11b, a heating current Ih, will flow through the semiconductor body 7, after a defined breakdown voltage (Schottky-contact between the metal of the electrodes 11a 11b and the semiconductor body 7) is reached, which will raise the temperature of the semiconductor body 7 to soldering temperature.", "With the use of a silicon chip as the semiconductor body 7, the breakdown voltage is about 80 V and the heating current required to heat to soldering temperature is approximately 10 to 20 mA.", "It is important herewith, that the current required for heating is controlled through a current regulated voltage source.", "The desired temperature of the semiconductor body 7 can then be directly regulated and controlled with the thermal sensor 11c.", "The solder 6 necessary for the fastening or securing of the light beam wave-guide 2 can be applied through pre-tinning of the metallized semiconductor body 7 to the respective desired degree.", "The support base 4 is therewith also pre-tinned on its upper surface with the same solder.", "In order to immerse the beam wave-guide 2 into the positioning solder 6, the solder preform 6, on the semiconductor body 7, is melted with the "heating clamp"", "consisting essentially of the electrodes 11a, 11b, as described above, and the semiconductor body 7, which is attached to the "heating clamps", is then lowered, while in the heated condition, with the manipulator, to which the "heating clamp"", "is attached, over the optical wave-guide fiber 2.", "The melted solder 6 surrounded by the bare metallizing of the light beam wave-guide 2 envelops the beam wave-guide 2 and joins with the remaining solder on the upper surface of the support base 4, and with that around the light beam wave-guide 2, in the region of the bonding point, so that complete solder immersion of the beam wave-guide takes place.", "Meanwhile any oxidation of the solder can be prevented through the use of a protective inert gas, and a uniform distribution of the solder achieved by movement of the semiconductor body 7 in the combined x and y directions.", "It is then possible, while the solder is in the fluid condition, to optimally align the semiconductor body 7 with the V-groove, in the x, y, z direction on the beam wave-guide 2 by means of the heating clamp manipulator, of which the electrodes 11a and 11b are a part and/or the semiconductor body 7 may by positioning of the light beam wave-guide 2 may, by means of an additional light beam wave-guide manipulator 10, be re-positioned so the, for example, the most uniform and narrow gap between the light beam wave-guide 2, V-groove of the semiconductor body 7 and the support base 4 results, through which the long term stability may be favorably affected.", "Upon achievement of the desired position of the light beam wave-guide 2 the positioning solder 6 is allowed to cool down and solidify through a continuous controlled reduction of the heating current, and the light beam wave-guide 2 is bonded at the positioned location.", "The solder melting and positioning process can thereafter be repeated at will.", "Upon proper beam wave-guide bonding the heating clamp is opened without loading of the semiconductor body 7 and the light beam wave-guide component parts 4, 5, 6, 7 thus separated from the heating clamp manipulator.", "The same applies to the additional light beam wave-guide manipulator 10.", "When UV-curable and/or that heat curable adhesives or cements are employed instead of solder, the semiconductor body 7, with the V-groove may be substituted for measuring the cement quantity;", "for the absolute quantity, and the uniform distribution of the bonding agent 6, that is symmetrical about a plane which is normal to the base of the light beam wave-guide 2 and which contains the axis of the light beam wave-guide 2, around the light beam wave-guide 2, is of great importance.", "In general the described procedure can also be applied to other similar components.", "For example, an infrared-emitting diode (IRED) can be used as element 1.", "The procedure described can also be employed in other devices for positioning and bonding such as for the positioning and bonding of wires or other objects that must be positioned relative to another object with high accuracy and have great long-term stability.", "An important feature of the invention, is the use of another body 7, as an aid for positioning and bonding the solid body 2, and which simultaneously serves as a heat source for the melting of the attaching solder 6.", "When, therefore, the other element 7, provides these functions without itself adhering to the bonding agent 6, that has solidified at the end of the procedure, the other body 7, together with the heating clamp, can be removed again upon the solidification of the bonding agent 6.", "Therefore, the further element may in fact be a part of the heating clamp.", "The further body 7 need not necessarily be a semiconductor element in order to have these characteristics.", "For example, a carbon glass, already known from its use in hot cathode devices may be employed which, because of the spatial anisotrophy of its electronic transport characteristics, can provide a high heating capacity along with additional favorable mechanical and physical properties.", "With suitable treatment of the surface of the groove of such a further body 7, and with an additional surface coating is required, which makes the separation of the body 7 possible, after the solidification of the bonding agent, the further body 7 may again be separated from the solidified bonding agent.", "The nature of such coatings, for example a hard, smooth thin layer which may be evaporated, sputtered or otherwise applied is well known to those skilled in the art.", "Another important feature of the invention is, that in the application of a low thermally conducting support base 4, only region directly adjacent to the solid body 2, together with the bonding agent 6, need be brought to a higher temperature.", "If the support base 4 is itself a part of the base 3, this advantage can also be achieved by making the entire base 3 of a low thermal conductivity material.", "The support base 4 and the laser diode 1 may also be arranged on various substrates.", "In each case the bonding agent employed may be either solder or a cement.", "The heating of the bonding agent 6 need not necessarily result from current flow through the further body 7.", "The heating of the further body 7 can also be brought about through induction, with the aid of alternating electric field, aimed at said radiating in the direction of the further body 7.", "Therewith the requisite heating of the bonding agent 6 is generated in the interior of the further body 7.", "The heating of the bonding agent may also be brought about through heat radiation which is absorbed by the further body 7.", "A heat absorbing upper surface of the other body 7 is advantageous for this purpose.", "The heat radiation may be produced by a platinum heating resistance, and may additionally be reflected with suitable optics and aimed at the further body 7.", "The heating of the bonding agent 6 may also be produced through a heating device which is in direct thermal contact with the further body 7 and heats this further body 7 exclusively.", "For example, a device similar to the tip of a soldering iron may be applied to the further body 7.", "In each of these cases the further body 7 functions as a heating die that is not heated through the passage of current.", "FIG. 4 illustrates a longitudinal sectional view through an additional embodiment of the invention similar to the lengthwise section of FIG. 1. A further body 7 provided with a depression (cavity, groove) may also be employed as the further body, whereby this depression serves as a means of positioning and bonding of the solid element 2 and/or the solid element 12.", "FIG. 4 shows the depression of the further body 7 at the top and, as an example, is provided with a lens, in the case of FIG. 4, a spherical lens 12.", "Here the lens 12 may be firmly attached to the further body 7.", "The solid body 12 may, in this way, be indirectly bonded and positioned through the bonding and positioning of the further body 7 in FIG. 4. As an example, the solid element 12 in the depression of the further body 7 may be bonded with a type of bonding agent 6 having a higher melting point than the layer of bonding agent 6 between the support base 4 and the further body 7 in FIG. 4. An arrangement is thus provided to allow the layer of bonding agent 6 between the support base 4 and the further body 7 to melt and flow, upon the heating of the further body 7, without, however, the bonding agent 6, between the solid element 12 and the supplemental element 7, having melted and flowed at this temperature.", "The further body 7 of FIG. 4 may be heated in exactly the same way as described in FIGS. 1 through 3 above.", "The further body 7 may be positioned in both the directions x and z in space, shown in FIG. 4, which together define the mounting surface of the support base 4.", "The positioning in the different directions in space may be accomplished with the aid of a manipulator.", "Positioning in the y direction, that is positioning parallel to the normal of the mounting surface of the support base 4, can in practice follow, without the need for additional bonding agent 6, in that, upon lowering of the solid body 12, a part of the bonding agent 6, is forced out of the intermediate space between the support base 4 and the further body 7 and that, in the opposite case, upon lifting of the solid body 12, the bonding agent 6 will be pulled back into the intermediate space between the support base 4 and the further body 7.", "The further body 7 serves as an assisting body for transferring the thermal energy to the bonding agent 6 in order to cause this to melt and flow.", "The bonding agent 6 in the intermediate space between the support base 4 and the supplemental element 7 may have a thickness in the order of 0.1 to 0.2 mm.", "In the application of the spherical lens 12 as solid body, the diameter of this solid body may be 500 μm.", "If the solid body 12 is a spherical lens and if the center of the spherical lens lies on the optical axis of the emitted light bundle of the object 1, the divergent light bundle emitted can be formed into a parallel ray bundle by means of the spherical lens.", "There has thus been shown and described a novel mounting arrangement for an optical fibre coupled to a laser diode which fulfills all the objects and advantages sought therefor.", "Many changes, modifications, variations and other uses and applications of the subject invention will, however, become apparent to those skilled in the art after considering this specification which disclose preferred embodiments thereof.", "All such changes, modifications, variations and other uses and applications which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention are deemed to be covered by the invention which is limited only by the claims which follow." ]

[ "CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This US patent application is being concurrently with U.S. patent application Ser.", "No. 09/765,522, entitled OPTICAL CROSS-CONNECT SWITCH WITH MICRO-ELECTRO-MECHANICAL ACTUATOR CELLS, by Hichwa, et al.", ", (Attorney docket no. OC0101US);", "and patent application Ser.", "No. 10/866,123, entitled METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLING AN ARRAY OF MICRO-DEVICES, by Feierabend, et al.", "and U.S. patent application Ser.", "No. 09/765,520, entitled OPTICAL SWITCH WITH LOW-INERTIA MICROMIRROR, by Hichwa, et al.", "(Attorney docket no. OC0100US), the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated in their entirety for all purposes.", "GOVERNMENT RIGHTS IN THE INVENTION Not applicable.", "FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to micro electro-mechanical systems (MEMS).", "More particularly, this invention pertains to low inertia microactuators used to operate a switch, valve, piston, or other mechanism at high rates.", "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION High speed, high precision actuation devices are becoming required for a proliferating number of applications, in diverse fields.", "In industrial applications, very precise put-and-place actuators are required in printed circuit fabrication processes.", "Scientific applications may require sensors with very precise resolution, which implies fine motions.", "Deep space astronomical observations may use multifaceted mirrors, each facet independently controlled by a precision actuator.", "Digital projection cameras manipulate a plurality of reflectors, in order to cast an image onto a projection screen.", "Drug delivery systems in medical therapeutic treatment may require valves or pistons of high accuracy.", "Fault detection in vehicular safety systems require devices with precise, high speed motion.", "Computer disk drives require the alignment of the data heads over the sub-micron data track to a sub 0.1 um accuracy.", "In each case, the actuator drives the member of interest to a precise position or at a precise rate.", "In general, the device itself (e.g. plunger, shutter, piston) may be of arbitrarily small size and low inertia.", "However, the driving member, i.e. the actuator, is not.", "The actuator must provide the force, throw (or range), and bandwidth to accommodate the application.", "Particularly in the case of high speed devices, stringent design criteria are set on the physical and mechanical properties that the actuator must possess.", "It should have low inertia and low power requirements.", "For low cost applications, it should also be mechanically simple.", "These considerations have led to the miniaturization of familiar electromechanical devices, using photolithographic processing rather than machining bulk components.", "Formation of sub-millimeter scale electromechanical systems is now well known in the art, as Micro Electromechanical Systems, or MEMS.", "Among the simplest MEMS actuators that can be fabricated is the cantilevered beam, a device wherein a beam of substrate material is formed by patterning the dimensions of the beam and etching a void beneath it.", "This technique is described in examples “Microfabrication of cantilevers using sacrificial templates,” U.S. Pat. No. 6,016,693 by Viani, et al.", ", and “High vertical aspect ratio thin film structures,” U.S. Pat. No. 6,015,599 by Keller, et al.", "The beam has a finite stiffness determined by its shape and mechanical properties, and can thereby be deflected by application of force.", "The amount of deflection through small angles varies linearly with the applied force, that is, the beam deflection can be characterized by a spring constant.", "In most cases, the force applied is electrostatic: The beam, suspended over the void and substrate, forms a parallel plate capacitor with the substrate being the opposing electrode.", "Actuation, or movement of the beam, results from the application of a differential charge, or voltage, between the beam the substrate.", "The device to be actuated, for example a mirror, is then mounted upon the beam, and steered by the electrostatic force between the beam and the substrate.", "Cantilevered actuators, while relatively simple in concept and construction, are also limited in performance.", "Deflection must be perpendicular to the plane of the substrate, as this plane defines the parallel plate capacitor.", "Additional beams, gears and bearings can translate this motion out-of-plane, as in Ho et al.", ", in U.S. Pat. No. 5,629,918 (1997), “Electromagnetically actuated micromachined flap.”", "In this invention a flap, which is the moving member of the actuator, is coupled by one or more beams to a substrate and thereby cantilevered out of the plan of the substrate.", "While conceptually this invention allows larger motions in out-of-plane directions, the need for multiple beams and pivots seriously complicates the design and fabrication of the device, and deleteriously affects tolerances and rigidity.", "Another difficulty with cantilevered actuators is that precise motion and high bandwidths require relatively stiff cantilevers.", "But since deflection is linearly proportional to the spring constant, a stiffer beam requires more force to achieve a certain throw.", "The tradeoff between stiffness, throw and bandwidth relegates cantilevers to a narrow range of applications.", "They are suitable for small ranges of motion, or in situations where large supply voltages are available.", "Electrostatic forces are also relatively weak and provide actuation over small ranges, compared with, for example, magnetostatic forces.", "For this reason, magnetostatic devices are often preferred over electrostatic devices.", "Micromachined solenoidal magnetic actuators are known in the art, as micro-solenoid switches.", "Typically, a slug of magnetic material is affixed to a piston or plunger, and a coil is provided whose diameter is sufficient to admit the slug into its interior.", "The coil is then energized to repel or attract the slug, depending on the direction of current in the coil.", "The resulting linear mechanical motion is used to actuate various linear devices, such as opening and closing a switch or valve, or driving a piston.", "An embodiment of a linear, solenoidal microactuator is found for example, in Guckel, et al.", ", U.S. Pat. No. 5,644,177 (1997), “Micromechanical magnetically actuated devices.”", "The microactuator in this patent comprises a ferromagnetic mandrel around which a fine electrical wire conductor is wound, the mandrel further including pegs which locate and mate with corresponding receptacle holes in the stationary magnetic core.", "Linear magnetic actuators are capable of higher forces and larger ranges of motion at lower driving voltages than cantilevered electrostatic actuators.", "They are therefore capable of actuating relatively large loads or operating against large spring constants.", "However, their throw is limited to the characteristic dimensions of the solenoid.", "Also, they operate against a spring force, required to return the moving member to the home position.", "This spring force requires more force or less throw, for a given energy density in the device.", "The spring also imparts a vibration to the device being actuated, and in general, the device is not functional until the vibration has ceased.", "This can add significant settling time to the switching speed.", "A third design option is a rotary actuator.", "This device resembles a miniaturized electromagnetic motor, with a ferromagnetic material deposited on the substrate and wound with an electrical coil.", "Energizing of the coil induces magnetic flux in the permeable material.", "Generally the core is patterned with some arrangement of gaps, into each of which protrudes a driven member which interacts magnetostatically with the flux across the gap.", "A plurality of such elements, when driven in the proper sequence and timing, can produce a positive torque on a freely rotating member.", "A wide variety of designs for these magnetostatic micromotors can be found in the body of MEMS patents and publications, notably Garcia et al.", ", U.S. Pat. No. 5,917,260 (1999) “Electromechanical millimotor;”", "“Surface Micromachined Microengine,”-E.", "J. Garcia, J. J. Sniegowski, Sensors and Actuators , A 48, pp. 203-214 (1995);", "and U.S. Pat. No. 5,631,514 “Microfabricated microengine for use as a mechanical drive and power source in the microdomain and fabrication process.”", "Notwithstanding the details of the various designs, the micromotors are conceptually similar to the familiar large scale rotor/stator electromagnetic motors.", "Magnetostatic micromotors can be used as rotary actuators by mounting the device of interest onto the moving member, i.e. the rotor.", "This concept is clearly described in Mehregany, et al.", "in U.S. Pat. No. 6,029,337 (2000), “Methods of fabricating micromotors with utilitarian features.”", "This patent describes a micromotor fabricated using the same general principles as found in the MEMS art, but with additional material deposited on the rotor, constituting the utilitarian feature, such as fins, pump impellers, or optical elements.", "Energizing the stator induces rotary motion of the rotor bearing which rotates the affixed element into the desired position.", "Micromotors overcome some of the limitations of cantilevers and solenoids, by having a large range of motion.", "However the requirement of a stator and freely rotating bearing constitute a substantially more complex device to make via MEMS processing.", "Further difficulties arise with rotor/stator actuators.", "As is well known with macroscopic motors, the initial direction of rotation is ambiguous: it may be either clockwise or counterclockwise.", "In addition, the rotation direction cannot be determined until sufficient motion has allowed sensing of the rotation.", "A correlated difficulty is that there is no defined “home”", "position of the rotor when the device is not energized.", "Again direct measurement means must be provided to determine the degree of rotation from a specific home point.", "Therefore, a low inertia, high bandwidth, large throw, low power microactuator is a distinctly felt need in a wide variety of applications.", "However the prior art suffers from a number of disadvantages, including the following: a) Cantilevered devices must be energized to maintain a given position against the restoring force of the spring constant, and therefore require constant power;", "b) Cantilevers have limited throw, as the deflection is linearly related to the spring constant;", "c) Cantilevered devices are generally electrostatic, further limiting their practical operating range;", "d) Cantilevered devices which use additional beams or pivots to amplify or translate motion, suffer a loss of precision, repeatability and uniformity across devices, as well as complication of design and fabrication;", "e) Solenoidal or in-line linear devices have a range of motion limited to the characteristic dimension of the coil;", "f) Solenoidal devices operate against a fixed spring, and therefore dissipate power as does a cantilevered device;", "g) Rotary devices are complex to fabricate because of the plurality of driving structures and requirement of a freely rotating bearing;", "h) Rotary devices have an ambiguous direction of motion;", "i) Rotary devices have an undefined home or détente position.", "j) Other known actuators provide for motion but not braking of that motion, leaving the device in vibration after actuation.", "This lengthens the total switching time, which includes actuation time plus sufficient settling time.", "SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention overcomes the limitations of the prior art for low inertia, high bandwidth actuators.", "The invention is a hybrid device, incorporating one or more features of each of the basic types of microactuators: cantilevered, solenoidal, and rotary.", "The actuator comprises a magnetic core with a gap affixed to the substrate, and wound with an electrical coil, as in a micromotor.", "Energizing of the coil induces a magnetic flux through the core material and across the gap in the core.", "However the driven member is not a piston, plunger, or rotor, but rather a hinge-mounted member, which pivots about a stationary point.", "The driven member includes a tab of magnetic material, which interacts with the core gap field, to impel motion of the member about the pivot point.", "The pivoting motion is enabled by a flexible hinge structure, which connects the driven member to the stationary pivot point.", "Use of a hinge rather than a true bearing, results in a cantilever-like device with a range of motion substantially less than 360 degrees.", "This range is ample for most applications, which require simply an “on”", "and “off”", "position.", "Avoidance of a bearing structure significantly simplifies the design and fabrication of the device.", "The limited range of motion allows for the use of a single toroidal driving structure rather than a plurality of synchronized drivers as in a true rotary actuator.", "Another feature is the inclusion of a détente latching spring system, with two or more stable positions, such that the pivoting member may be latched in any one of the stable positions upon power-down.", "It thereby avoids the difficulties encountered with true rotor/stator micromotors, wherein no unique home position can generally be defined.", "Lastly, the invention includes an auxiliary magnetic circuit for unambiguously sensing the orientation of the pivoting member.", "The sensing circuit can distinguish between the plurality of stable positions, and can be equipped with a feedback loop to fine tune the driving circuit for optimum performance.", "The sensing apparatus and feedback loop make possible braking action, or even full servo control, to minimize vibration and settling time of the pivoting member.", "As a result of its novel design, this invention achieves the following objects and advantages over the prior art: a) To provide low inertia, high bandwidth actuation;", "b) To provide a large range of motion in the actuation;", "c) To provide an actuator with an unambiguous direction of motion;", "d) To provide an actuator whose position can be determined by a simple, on-board measurement circuit;", "and e) To provide a low loss actuator, which can maintain one of a plurality of stable positions in the quiescent (unenergized) state.", "f) To improve switching times by applying a braking force or full servo control of the pivoting motion.", "A further object of this invention is to use variations of known micromotor fabrication techniques, in order to avoid further process invention.", "A further object of the invention is to achieve the design using, where possible, known MEMS microcomponents, subassemblies, and electronic circuitry.", "Still a further object of the invention is a design sufficiently simple, that it can be practiced in various thin-film fabrication facilities, which use slightly different tools and procedures, to achieve a reproducible, uniform and predictable product, without undue experimentation or adaptation of the equipment.", "Still further objects and advantages will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the following detailed description of the invention or can be learned by practice of the present invention.", "It should be understood, however, that the detailed description and the specific examples being presented, while indicating certain embodiments of the invention, are provided for illustration purposes only.", "Various changes and modifications within the scope and spirit of the invention will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art from the detailed description of the invention and the claims that follow.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings, closely related figures have the same number but different alphabetic suffixes.", "FIG. 1 a is a simplified top-down view of the preferred embodiment, with the pivotably mounted member in the fully retracted position.", "FIG. 1 b is a simplified top-down view of the preferred embodiment with the pivotably mounted member in the fully extended position.", "FIG. 2 is a simplified diagram of the latching spring, showing detail of the pivot bearing and spring body.", "FIG. 3 a shows the arcs of travel of the driven member about the two points of rotation: the pivot point and the spring anchor.", "Two intersection points between the two arcs constitute stable positions for the driven member.", "FIG. 3 b is an energy level diagram, showing the local energy minima due to the latching spring.", "FIG. 4 is an alternative embodiment of the pivot bearing, using an accordion-shaped design.", "FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view through the actuator device and supporting substrate.", "FIG. 6 is the schematic diagram of the electronic circuit used to drive the microactuator and measure its resulting position.", "FIG. 7 a is a qualitative plot of current versus time, as the device is actuated from the retracted to the extended position.", "FIG. 7 b shows the velocity profile of the driven member, as a result of the current profile of FIG. 7 a. REFERENCE IS IN THE DRAWINGS 20 true pivot point 30 pivot bearing attachment post 40 hinge 50 rigid load beam 60 pivoting member 80 area for mounting utilitarian feature 100 radial spring 120 spring anchor point 130 spring attachment post 140 clam shell pivot bearing 160 magnetic protruding tab 190 pinch 200 actuator pole 210 sensing pole 220 adjacent actuator pole 230 adjacent sensing pole 240 input coil 250 intermediate coil 260 output coil 270 intermediate coil 280 magnetic bridge 1 290 magnetic bridge 2 300 magnetic bridge 3 320 superstrate 340 bonding pad 1 360 bonding pad 2 500 switch comparator 520 inductance comparator 540 frequency generator 560 resistor 580 capacitor 920 rigid link 940 c-spring 960 serpentine spring DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Actuator design: The design and functioning of the low inertia latching microatuator can be understood by consideration of FIGS. 1 a and 1 b .", "Referring first to FIG. 1 a , the top-down view shows the major structures of the device: A pivoting member 60 which supports the device to be actuated;", "a pivot point 20 and attachment post 30 , connecting the pivoting member to the pivot point 20 ;", "a second attachment point 120 with spring attachment post 130 , connecting the pivoting member 60 to the superstrate 320 through radial spring 100 ;", "a magnetic tab 160 affixed to the pivoting member 60 ;", "a magnetic core with poles 200 and 220 ;", "current carrying coils 240 and 260 ;", "magnetic bridges 280 , 290 , and 300 ;", "a second magnetic core with poles 210 and 230 .", "The pivoting member 60 is attached to the substrate at a fixed pivot point 20 , via attachment post 30 .", "Member 60 is adjoined to the attachment post by a simple hinge 40 , which is a narrow isthmus of material whose dimensions are such that the member can easily rotate approximately 30 degrees about the pivot point 20 .", "The hinge is flexible to angular motion but rigid in out-of-plane motion and radial compression or tension.", "The hinge is connected to the true pivot point by a pivot bearing attachment post 30 .", "These structures are created on the top surface of the wafer, the superstrate 320 , according to processes well known in the MEMS art.", "The substrate is a composite silicon-on-insulator (SOI), which is a commercially available thick sandwich of single crystal silicon substrate, 500 um thick, an insulating layer of SiO 2 , 2 um thick, and another layer of single crystal Si, 40 um thick.", "The upper layer of thin Si is the superstrate, 320 .", "The major mechanical features of the low inertia actuator are patterned in the superstrate by etching the silicon down to the SiO 2 layer.", "The features created are “released”", "by immersion in hydrofluoric acid, which etches away the SiO 2 , but leaves the single crystal Si substrate and superstrate intact.", ", as well as the portion of the SiO 2 layer forming the attachment posts 30 and 130 .", "The pivoting member further comprises a protruding tab 160 , which is either made of magnetic material or has magnetic material deposited on it.", "This feature, henceforth referred to as the magnetic tab 160 , may be made of ferromagnetic material or permanent magnetic material.", "In the preferred embodiment, a ferromagnetic nickel-iron alloy is chosen, with 45% nickel and 55% iron.", "This stoichiometry is known in the industry as permalloy.", "The rotating member further comprises an area 80 , which carries the device of interest to be actuated, such as a piston, switch, or optical element.", "A patterned core of magnetizable material is also deposited on the substrate surface, along with a set of energizing coils 240 and 260 .", "The material selected for the core is again nickel-iron permalloy, chosen for its outstanding permeability, and because its deposition processes are well known from application in magnetic recording heads and micromotors.", "All magnetic features in the preferred embodiment are made by deposition of this alloy, although it will be clear to those skilled in the art that any suitably permeable material can be used, such as other stoichiometries of nickel-iron.", "The coils are of an electrically conductive material, chosen in the preferred embodiment to be plated copper.", "It is understood by those skilled in the art that there are a variety of methods to generate the conductive windings, including the “pancake”", "style windings shown in FIGS. 1 a and 1 b , which are commonly used in the recording head industry.", "Additional methods include toroidal windings made using thin-film techniques and windings of insulated wire made by hand or machine.", "A gap, wide enough to admit the magnetic tab 160 , is patterned in the core and creates a pair of magnetic poles 200 and 220 .", "Flux existing in the core will travel to the poles and across the gap.", "The flux circuit is completed by the magnetic bridges 280 , 290 and 300 .", "If the slug moves in a path centered between the poles, then there is no net lateral force.", "If you offset the position of the slug toward one pole, then there is a lateral force that pulls the slug toward the “thinner gap”", "pole and away from the “thicker gap.”", "If the beams are not made sufficiently stiff;", "the slug can be drawn into contact with the nearer pole.", "An embodiment which guards against this occurrence is the “asymmetric gap”, in which the slug and armature are offset towards the outer core magnet.", "This offset deflects the hinge spring, which then exerts a restoring torque on the slug and armature.", "This is a stable configuration, since the hinge is quite stiff in this dimension.", "An additional gap and set of poles 210 and 230 is patterned in the core.", "This magnetic circuit will be used for sensing the orientation of the rotating member, and permit fine adjustment of the actuation forces.", "The functioning of the sensing poles will be described further below.", "Flux is induced in the core by energizing the coils 240 and 260 .", "The flux circulates through the core, to the poles and across the gap.", "The interaction of the gap field with the magnetic tab causes an attractive torque on the pivoting member.", "The torque draws the magnetic tab toward the centered position between the poles.", "The inertia of the rotating mass carries it through the centered position toward another stable position derived from the latching spring system.", "The pivoting member is rigid to radial compression by attachment to the true pivot point 20 through the rigid load beam 50 .", "A hinge 40 connects the load beam to the pivot point.", "The hinge, a narrowed isthmus of the substrate material, allows flexion in the angular direction about the true pivot point.", "The hinge, rigid load beam, and pivoting member with area 80 , are monolithic, that is they are all composed of single crystal silicon by selective removal of the surrounding substrate material.", "A distinguishing feature of this invention is the inclusion of a latching spring system, which restrains the pivoting member 60 in one of a plurality of stable positions.", "The member is driven between the positions, as described above, by the interaction of the gap field with the magnetic tab 160 affixed to the pivoting member.", "The spring may also be monolithic, that is, formed simultaneously with the pivoting members and its associated mechanisms.", "Examples of such systems are an “S”", "spring with and inflection point, or a set of springs suitably disposed so as their spring constants work in concert and in opposition to create multiple stable states.", "In the preferred embodiment described here, the latching system is formed by having two different attachment points for the pivoting member.", "The attachment points are the true pivot point 20 and the spring anchor point 120 .", "The pivoting member is adjoined to anchor point 120 by a radial compression spring 100 , shown in greater detail in FIG. 2 .", "The spring anchor point 120 is not collocated with the true pivot point 20 , and has a different radius of curvature.", "The radial spring further comprises the following structures: a “clam-shell”", "pivot bearing 140 , a stiff load beam 920 , a “c”-spring 940 , and a serpentine spring 960 .", "The function of these features will be described in detail.", "If the radial spring 100 and the rigid load beam 50 were uncoupled, their independent motions could be characterized by two arcs of rotation with different radii of curvature, as illustrated in FIG. 3 a .", "As can be seen from the diagram, the arcs of rotation have two intersection points.", "These are the two stable positions, wherein the pivoting member can stably reside with no driving force from the magnetic core.", "It is noted that the true stability points are a result of balanced forces on all the movable members in the system, and that depending on the details of the design, the stability points will not be exactly coincident with the intersection of the two arcs shown.", "Nevertheless, this approximation is useful in describing and understanding the function of the device.", "Since the true pivot point and the spring anchor point are not collocated, and the member is rigidly attached to the true pivot point, the angular trajectory about the true pivot must be accommodated by the radial spring.", "This is accomplished by the compliant c-spring portion 940 of radial spring structure 100 .", "The c-spring is a rectangular kink in the beam connecting the pivoting member to the spring pivot.", "This kink can compress and rarify in response to the arc of travel of the pivoting member.", "The upper intersection of the arcs in FIG. 3 a represents the as-manufactured state, wherein spring 100 has no compression and no strain from rotation.", "This situation corresponds to the fully retracted position shown in FIG. 1 a .", "As rotating member 60 begins to move, spring 100 will rotate and compress at the c-spring 940 , and the restoring force of the c-spring creates the energy barrier between the two stable positions.", "The energy level diagram is shown qualitatively in FIG. 3 b .", "As rotating member 60 moves farther, the c-spring 940 goes through the maximum compression and eventually decompresses, which gives rise to the secondary minimum in the energy profile of FIG. 3 b .", "These two stable positions correspond to the retracted orientation (FIG.", "1 a ) and extended orientation (FIG.", "1 b ).", "The detailed dimensioning of the c-spring determines the stiffness and therefore the energy barrier between the stable positions.", "The amount of compressive force can be manipulated by design, for example by moving the position of spring anchor 120 , or changing the aspect ratio or thicknesses of the c-spring 940 .", "It will be clear to one skilled in the art that many variations of this embodiment can be envisioned without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention, depending on the throw, torques, voltages and other design aspects of a particular application.", "The pivot/spring system forms the “latch”, which latches the utilitarian feature in either of the two stable positions, either extended or retracted.", "Upon cessation of the driving current, the pivoting member will remain in the chosen stable position.", "The spring is anchored to the substrate through a clam-shell pivot bearing.", "This bearing allows angular motion about the anchor point, but avoids a continuously rotating bearing which is far more complex to fabricate and is subject to stiction and wear.", "The restoring force of the pivot bearing is small, such that through the arc of travel between the extended and retracted positions, the restoring force is dominated by the radial spring rather than the pivot bearing.", "The beams of clam-shell pivot bearing 140 are arranged so that they wrap around spring anchor 120 and spring attachment post 130 .", "The bearing was shown in detail in FIG. 2 .", "As rotating member 60 is rotated, the beams above the anchor point bend in the opposite direction as the beams below the anchor point.", "This creates a circular rotation about the anchor point.", "Spring hinge 900 is very stiff to radial loads, due to the number of beams, their relatively small length, and the fact that the rotation of the mechanism is such that the majority of radial load on the hinge is in the direction to apply compressive or tensile load.", "A further component of spring 100 shown in FIG. 2, is rigid link 920 , which links clam-shell pivot bearing to the c-spring portion 940 .", "Rigid link 920 is designed to stiffen the spring in the radial direction.", "Radial compression of the spring takes place predominantly in the c-portion, which is designed to be stiff in bending but compliant in radial compression.", "Serpentine spring 960 is the final component of spring 100 , connecting c-spring 940 to rotating member 60 .", "Serpentine spring 960 has a torque applied to it by the changing of relative angles between rotating member 60 and spring 100 .", "This torque is significant and can cause spring 100 to rotate in a non-circular fashion.", "Serpentine spring 960 reduces the rotational stiffness by distributing the stress over an effectively large beam length, and yet maintains a very high radial stiffness, which is desirable.", "Compared to a simple flexing beam hinge, serpentine hinge 960 reduces the rotational stiffness of the entire system and allows spring 100 to rotate about the attachment point to pivoting member 60 .", "Again, alternative embodiments for pivot bearings with high radial stiffness will be clear to one skilled in the art, based on this concept of a monolithic bearing which allows essentially free rotation through an arc of travel substantially less than 360 degrees.", "For example, FIG. 4 shows an accordion-shaped pivot bearing, which also satisfies design requirements of high angular compliance and high radial stiffness, but is more complex in design.", "The full device includes supporting features such as bonding pads 340 and 360 for electrical connection to the coils from an external power supply.", "Various electronic support devices are also formed on the lower side of the substrate.", "Since these devices and their fabrication are well known in the semiconductor industry, they are not shown here.", "It would be clear for example, to one skilled in the art, that the electrical coils 240 and 260 are electrically connected to bonding pads 340 and 360 .", "Any number of intermediate posts, such as posts 250 and 270 , can be included to increase the number of current loops driving flux through the core.", "The posts bearing the current carrying coils are connected in series, that is the current enters (or exits) from bonding pad 340 , onto post 240 , which is connected in series to post 250 where the coil is wound again, to post 270 and 260 , whereupon it exits the device via a bonding pad 360 .", "FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view through the fabrication plane of the device.", "The view shows the true pivot point 20 , rigidly attached to the superstrate 320 by pivot attachment post 30 .", "The pivoting member is otherwise aloft of the substrate and free to move.", "The void between the member and the substrate is formed by standard MEMS photolithographic procedures used to form moveable features by the elimination of material directly beneath the moveable member.", "Sensing apparatus: The position of the magnetic tab, and therefore of the rotating member 60 , can be determined by measuring the inductance of the magnetic actuating circuit comprising poles 200 and 220 , and bridges 280 , 290 and 300 .", "However, a more precise measurement can be made by providing an independent, more sensitive magnetic circuit.", "Such a circuit is the preferred embodiment.", "It comprises a pair of auxiliary magnetic poles, 210 and 230 , that are provided as a magnetic sensing circuit, which measures the position of the rotating member.", "When current is applied to coils 240 and 260 , a magnetic flux path is established between sensor pole 210 , across the narrow gap to the magnetic tab, across the adjacent narrow gap between the tab and to the adjacent sensor pole 230 to bridges 280 , 290 and 300 , and back to the major core structure to complete the magnetic circuit.", "For convenience, the sensor pole material would generally be the same as that of the main poles, here being nickel-iron permalloy.", "It is noted however, that the sensor poles may be of a different material in order to optimize separately the magnetic properties and performance of the actuator magnetic circuit comprising poles 200 and 220 , and sensing magnetic circuit, comprising poles 210 and 230 .", "Each sensing pole is carefully shaped with a narrowed portion as shown in FIG. 1 a , designated the “pinch”", "region, shown as area 180 in FIGS. 1 a and 1 b .", "The function of the pinch is to limit the magnetic flux flowing through the sensor pole 210 .", "The pinch region 180 becomes magnetically saturated, at which point the reluctance of the magnetic circuit rises.", "Saturation of the sensor pole assures that most of the flux is carried by the major actuator poles, in order to maximize the torque of the actuator during operation.", "For the this embodiment, the width of the narrowed region is on the order of 10%-30% of the width of the sensor poles 210 and 230 .", "In general the width of the pinch will depend on the accuracy needed for the measurement.", "A narrower pinch provides a more sensitive measurement, but with a smaller dynamic range.", "The sensor poles also exert a force on the rotating member, and this additional force can be used to offset or fine-tune the behavior of the overall actuator.", "Tuning of this force is accomplished by adjusting the width of the pinch region 180 .", "Measurement of the position of the magnetic tab 160 , and therefore the orientation of the rotating member 60 , is also made possible by the sensor poles 210 and 230 .", "The inductance comparator performs the measurement by applying a small oscillatory signal from the frequency generator 540 to the magnetic sensing circuit, and measuring the difference in the inductance with the rotating member in the retracted versus the extended position.", "The measurement frequency is chosen to maximize the distinction between the two positions.", "High frequency measurement minimizes the contribution of the of the major actuator poles 200 and 220 , to the inductance in the sensor circuit.", "FIG. 6 is the schematic diagram of the electronic circuit used to drive the microactuator and measure its resulting position.", "Power is supplied through a resistor 560 and capacitor 580 network, to the coils of the actuator device 240 and 260 , as well as to the electronic functional blocks the switch comparator 500 , inductance comparator 520 and frequency generator 540 .", "Also supplied to the comparator is a reference signal, representing the desired state of the rotating member (retracted or extended).", "Comparison of the actual inductance of the magnetic sensing circuit, relative to this reference, unambiguously reveals the state of the device as being in the retracted or extended position.", "These units support the sensing function described above.", "The inductance comparator 520 monitors the inductance in the magnetic sensing circuit.", "The disposition of the comparator and supporting circuitry is shown in FIG. 6. A large inductance value is measured when the rotating member 60 and magnetic tab 160 are in the retracted position as shown in FIG. 1 a .", "However when the rotating member is in the extended position shown in FIG. 1 b , the magnetic tab is absent from the gap, creating a larger magnetic reluctance in the magnetic circuit, and a correspondingly low inductance as measured by the inductance comparator 520 .", "FIG. 7 a is a qualitative plot of current versus time, as the device is actuated from the retracted to the extended position.", "The step function shown is the energizing of the coils 240 and 260 with a steady current for the duration of the step function show.", "The current causes magnetic flux to flow through the actuator poles 200 and 220 and across the gap.", "In the region of the gap, the lines of flux interact with the magnetic tab 160 affixed to the rotating member.", "This interaction causes a positive torque to be produced on the member about the hinge 40 and pivot point 20 , and impels rotation of the member toward the extended state.", "The movement is shown in the velocity profile of FIG. 7 b , corresponding to the current step function in FIG. 7 a .", "Positive acceleration of the member is established at the application of the current.", "The velocity reaches a peak however, as the magnetic tab 160 is centered between actuator poles 200 and 220 .", "As the rotational deflection increases, the velocity is reduced by the magnetic force which now acts as a brake, pulling the magnetic tab 160 toward actuator poles 200 and 220 .", "The velocity slows and the member 60 comes to a stop at the second stable minimum of the spring 100 .", "The device remains in this position until a current is applied to the coils to retract the rotating member 60 by causing a reverse magnetic force to cause a negative torque on the rotating member and draw it back to the retracted position, where it is again stably held by the spring 100 .", "As can be seen from FIGS. 7 a and 7 b , little vibration occurs in this system because of the low mass of the pivoting member, and the relatively high viscosity of the surrounding air.", "The system is highly damped, and in the preferred embodiment, no servo control of the motion is required.", "However it will be clear to one skilled in the art, that for higher mass or less damped systems, the sensor signal may be used to position the member under closed servo loop control, by the inclusion of appropriate logic.", "The sensor signal is compared to a reference, and the voltage across the driving coils is adjusted until the error signal reaches a predetermined value.", "Standard proportional-integral-derivative (P-I-D) logic may be applied.", "Alternatively, the characteristic vibration can be “learned”, and a driving voltage profile can be calculated which minimizes vibration and settling time.", "A third alternative exists wherein the voltage induced in the coils by the motion of the magnetic tab through the gap field can be detected, and closed loop control applied.", "This avoids the need for an auxiliary magnetic sensing structure.", "Another alternative embodiment of the sensing magnetic circuit includes a center tap lead from coil 240 can be brought to a third bonding pad.", "Use of a center tap improves the signal-to-noise of the measurement by canceling DC contributions to the inductance measurement.", "Use of a center tap lead to improve inductance measurements is well known in magnetic recording data heads.", "The invention described here therefore serves a critical and long felt need to provide a high precision, high bandwidth, large throw, latching microactuator.", "It further accomplishes these functions a. with a device using a simple, integral hinge structure to allow rotational motion, rather than a more complex bearing;", "b. with a device that can stably remain in either of two positions, determined by a latching spring;", "c. with a device actuated by a simple electromagnetic coil and core combination, well known in the MEMS and data storage industry;", "d. with a device capable of a large (approximately 30 degree) range of motion;", "e. with a device whose status, retracted or extended, can be determined by an on-board sensing apparatus.", "f. in a small, rugged, micromachined package;", "g. with a device capable of braking (decelerating) the high-speed actuator using the incorporated motor.", "h. with a device capable of closed-loop servo control of the speed or position of the driven member.", "A further object of the invention is to achieve the low inertia latching microactuator using known lithographic batch processing methods, with known microcomponents and subassemblies.", "Still a further object is to embody the invention in a device sufficiently simple, that it can be practiced in different thin-film fabrication facilities, which use slightly different tools and procedures, to produce the reproducible, uniform and predictable product, without undue experimentation or adaptation of the equipment.", "It will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art, that these embodiments are given by example, and are primarily illustrative of the many possible configurations of the present invention, which are possible.", "For example any number of utilitarian features can be actuated using this device, for example fluid flow ailerons, valves and switches.", "Design tools such as finite element analysis will render many variations for the radially compressive spring and pivot.", "Springs which naturally have a plurality stable states, such as an “s”", "spring with an inflection point, may be employed without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention.", "Therefore, it is to be understood that the particular embodiments shown and described by way of illustration are in no way intended to be considered limiting.", "The present invention is limited only by the following claims:" ]

[ "CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This Nonprovisional application claims priority under 35 U.S.C.§119(a) on Patent Application No[.", "].2011-175309 filed in Japan on Aug. 10, 2011, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.", "FIELD [0002] The present invention relates to an electronic device provided with a USB connector and to an electronic device system provided with the electronic device.", "BACKGROUND [0003] Some electronic devices such as a notebook-sized personal computer or a tablet-type portable terminal are provided with a USB (Universal Serial Bus) interface, and it is possible to add functions to such an electronic device by connecting the electronic device with an external device, which is also provided with a USB interface.", "Such an external device may be selected from various devices including a printing device such as a printer, an imaging device such as a digital camera, a storage device such as a USB flash drive, a communication device such as a wireless LAN, and the like.", "[0004] Regarding a USB, a USB standard specifies a power supply method to an external device in addition to a data transfer method.", "Accordingly, a USB provides the advantage that it is possible to supply electric power from an electronic device via a USB interface to an external device when the external device is not provided with any power source, and there is no need to separately prepare a power source as long as the external device is a low-power-consumption device such as a USB flash drive.", "A standard for a USB interface is, for example, the USB 2.0 standard or the USB 3.0 standard (see Japanese Registered Utility Model No. 3151486).", "[0005] However, a USB standard limits a specification of current (electric power) available from an electronic device and therefore it is impossible to use an external device solely when an external device which needs current (electric power) exceeding the specification is connected with a USB interface of an electronic device for use.", "In such a case, there is a need to separately prepare a power source to supply necessary electric power to an external device.", "[0006] Moreover, although a standard is extended from the USB 2.0 standard to the USB 3.0 standard and a specification of current is increased from 500 mA to 900 mA, there is still a need to separately prepare a power source when an external device which needs high electric power, such as a display, is used.", "SUMMARY [0007] The present application has been made in view of such a situation, and the object thereof is to provide an electronic device, which can increase available electric power while being compliant with a USB standard, and an electronic device system provided with the electronic device.", "[0008] An electronic device disclosed in the present application includes a USB connector, a power supply unit for supplying electric power to an external device, which is connected via the USB connector, a judgment unit for judging whether the external device is a device being compliant with a USB 2.0 standard or a compatible device being compatible with a device complying with the USB 2.0 standard, and an acquisition unit for acquiring a value of voltage requested by a connected compatible device by communicating with the connected compatible device when the judgment unit judges that the external device is a compatible device, wherein the power supply unit supplies electric power corresponding to the value of voltage acquired by the acquisition unit to the compatible device when the judgment unit judges that the external device is the compatible device.", "[0009] The electronic device disclosed in the present application, wherein the USB connector is a connector for a USB 3.0 interface including first through ninth terminals, and the judgment unit judges an external device connected with the USB connector, using at most four terminals among five terminals of fifth through ninth terminals.", "[0010] The electronic device disclosed in the present application, wherein the judgment unit judges that the external device is the compatible device when communication with the external device is established in at most four terminals among the five terminals of the fifth through ninth terminals.", "[0011] The electronic device disclosed in the present application, wherein the power supply unit supplies electric power via at least one terminal among the five terminals of fifth the through ninth terminals, other than terminals used for judgment of the external device.", "[0012] An electronic device system disclosed in the present application includes the electronic device described above and any one of a device being compliant with a USB 2.0 standard and a compatible device being compatible with a device complying with the USB 2.0 standard.", "[0013] An electronic device according to the present invention is provided with: a power supply unit for supplying electric power to an external device which is connected via a USB connector;", "and a judgment unit for judging whether the external device is a USB 2.0 device or a USB compatible device.", "The USB connector is, for example, a USB connector of the USB 3.0 standard and has nine terminals: a terminal 1 through a terminal 9 .", "External devices to be connected with the USB connector are divided into two types: a USB 2.0 device being compliant with the USB 2.0 standard (a device having a specification of current being compliant with the USB 2.0 standard), and a compatible device being compatible with a device complying with the USB 2.0 standard (a device having a specification of current exceeding the USB 2.0 standard).", "[0014] The judgment unit judges that a compatible device has been connected when communication can be established.", "The fifth and sixth terminals of the compatible device, for example, are allocated to an interface for communication in advance.", "When a compatible device is connected with a USB connector, communication is started using the fifth and sixth terminals, which are not used for a USB 2.0 device, and therefore establishment of communication is detected and it is judged that a compatible device has been connected.", "[0015] Moreover, when communication with a compatible device is established, a voltage level requested by the compatible device is acquired via communication.", "[0016] When the judgment unit judges that an external device is a compatible device, the power supply unit supplies a plurality of electric powers to the compatible device.", "The terminals other than terminals 1 - 4 having a function set for a USB 2.0 can be used for supplying electric power to the compatible device.", "This allows the electronic device to carry out data transfer and power supply being compliant with the USB 2.0 standard when a USB 2.0 device is connected, and to supply electric power requested by a compatible device from the power supply unit when a compatible device is connected.", "[0017] Accordingly, the present invention makes it possible to increase electric power available to a compatible device while being compliant with a USB standard.", "[0018] The above and further objects and features of the invention will more fully be apparent from the following detailed description with accompanying drawings.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS [0019] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of an electronic device system according to the present embodiment;", "[0020] FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of an electronic device system according to the present embodiment;", "and [0021] FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating the process procedure of an electronic device according to the present embodiment.", "DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS [0022] The following description will explain the present invention in concrete terms with reference to the drawings illustrating an embodiment thereof.", "[0023] FIGS. 1 and 2 are block diagrams illustrating examples of an electronic device system according to the present embodiment.", "An electronic device system according to the present embodiment is provided with an electronic device 100 and a USB device, which is connected with the electronic device 100 via a USB connector.", "FIG. 1 illustrates an example wherein a USB compatible device 200 (an external device) is connected with the electronic device 100 , and FIG. 2 illustrates an example wherein a USB 2.0 device 300 (an external device) is connected with the electronic device 100 .", "[0024] The electronic device 100 and the USB compatible device 200 are connected with each other via a USB connector having a connector shape being compliant with the USB 3.0 standard including terminals 1 through 9 (first through ninth terminals), for example.", "It is to be noted that the electronic device 100 and the USB 2.0 device 300 are connected with each other via four terminals 1 through 4 among terminals 1 through 9 of the USB connector.", "[0025] It is to be noted that the USB 2.0 device 300 in the following explanation is a device, which can carry out data transfer being compliant with the USB 2.0 standard and operates below a current specification (500 mA) specified by the USB 2.0 standard.", "[0026] The USB compatible device 200 is a device, which can carry out data transfer being compliant with the USB 2.0 standard and requires current exceeding a current specification (500 mA) specified by the USB 2.0 standard or voltage other than a voltage specification (5 V) (a device being compatible with a device complying with the USB 2.0 standard).", "[0027] The electronic device 100 is provided with a USB bus switch 110 , a microcomputer 120 , DC-DC converters 131 - 133 , a USB 3.0 host connector (a USB connector) 140 and the like.", "[0028] The microcomputer 120 is constituted of an integrated circuit for controlling the electronic device 100 and is provided with a USB 2.0 interface 121 , an I2C (Inter-Integrated Circuit) interface 122 , a storage unit 123 , a device judgment unit 124 , an external control terminal 125 and the like.", "It is to be noted that the I2C interface 122 may be substituted by another interface, which can communicate using four or fewer signal lines, such as an SPI (Serial Peripheral Interface).", "[0029] The USB compatible device 200 is a device being compatible with a device complying with the USB 2.0 standard and is provided with a microcomputer 210 , a USB 3.0 device connector (a USB connector) 220 and the like.", "It is to be noted that the structure of the USB compatible device 200 for carrying out functions thereof is omitted here for simplicity.", "[0030] The USB 3.0 host connector 140 of the electronic device 100 is a USB connector provided with terminals 1 through 9 .", "Terminals 1 through 4 compose a USB 2.0 unit 141 , and terminals 5 through 9 compose a USB 3.0 extended unit 142 .", "The USB 3.0 device connector 220 of the USB compatible device 200 has a structure similar to the USB 3.0 host connector 140 .", "[0031] The USB 3.0 host connector 140 and the USB 3.0 device connector 220 are connected with each other via cables, for example.", "[0032] When the USB 2.0 device 300 is connected with the electronic device 100 , the electronic device 100 uses the terminals 1 through 4 for data transfer and power supply being compliant with the USB 2.0 standard.", "On the other hand, when the USB compatible device 200 is connected with the electronic device 100 , the electronic device 100 uses the terminals 1 through 9 for data transfer being compliant with the USB 2.0 standard and supply of current and voltage (electric power) exceeding specifications of the USB 2.0 standard.", "[0033] When the USB compatible device 200 is connected, the DC-DC converters 131 - 133 can supply current and voltage (electric power) exceeding specifications of the USB 2.0 standard to the USB compatible device 200 via terminals 7 through 9 , for example, under control of the microcomputer 120 .", "[0034] The present invention is not necessarily limited to the structure of the present embodiment wherein the I2C interface 122 connected with the terminals 5 and 6 of the USB 3.0 host connector 140 is used for connection judgment of an external device so that electric power is supplied via the terminals 7 - 9 .", "For example, the present invention may have a structure wherein one or two terminals among the terminals 7 - 9 are used for power supply.", "Moreover, when an SPI which uses four signal lines for communication is used for connection judgment of an external device, four terminals 5 - 9 , for example, are occupied, so that the present invention may have a structure wherein the other one terminal is used for power supply.", "[0035] The device judgment unit 124 judges whether the I2C interface 122 of the microcomputer 120 has established communication or not.", "When communication is started, the device judgment unit 124 judges that a USB compatible device 200 has been connected.", "[0036] When the USB 2.0 device 300 is connected, the terminals 1 through 4 are used, so that the terminals 5 through 9 are not connected, in other words, are in the open state.", "When the USB 2.0 device 300 is connected, communication via the terminals 5 and 6 is not started, so that it is possible to judge that an external device is the USB 2.0 device 300 .", "When the USB compatible device 200 is connected, communication is started, so that it is possible to judge that an external device is the USB compatible device 200 .", "[0037] When the USB compatible device 200 is connected, the microcomputer 120 starts communication with the USB compatible device 200 via the I2C interface 122 and acquires a voltage level requested by the USB compatible device 200 .", "The microcomputer 120 stores the voltage level requested by the USB compatible device 200 , which has been acquired via communication, in the storage unit 123 .", "[0038] The microcomputer 120 gives an instruction to start necessary operations of the DC-DC converters 131 - 133 via the external control terminal 125 on the basis of the voltage level stored in the storage unit 123 .", "For example, the microcomputer 120 compares the stored voltage level with two preset thresholds, and carries out control to cause only one of the DC-DC converters 131 - 133 to operate when the stored voltage level is low, to cause two of the DC-DC converters 131 - 133 to operate when the stored voltage level is middle, and to cause all of the DC-DC converters 131 - 133 to operate when the stored voltage level is high.", "[0039] The present invention is not limited to the structure of the example illustrated in FIG. 1 wherein the microcomputer 120 is mounted as a component having a USB host controller.", "The present invention can also be applied even when an SOC (System On a Chip), a southbridge chipset or the like is mounted as a component having a USB host controller.", "[0040] FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating the process procedure of the electronic device 100 according to the present embodiment.", "The following description will explain the microcomputer 120 as a main unit for processing.", "The microcomputer 120 judges whether communication is established in the I2C interface 122 (terminals 5 and 6 ) or not (S 11 ).", "[0041] When communication is established (S 11 : YES), the microcomputer 120 judges that a USB compatible device 200 has been connected (S 12 ), acquires a value of voltage requested by the USB compatible device 200 via communication (S 13 ) and stores the acquired value of voltage in the storage unit 123 .", "[0042] The microcomputer 120 then turns on the output of necessary DC-DC converter(s) 131 - 133 on the basis of the value of voltage stored in the storage unit 123 (S 14 ) and terminates the processing.", "[0043] On the other hand, when communication is not established (S 11 : NO), the microcomputer 120 judges that a USB 2.0 device 300 has been connected (S 15 ), maintains the output of each DC-DC converter in the off state (S 16 ) and terminates the processing.", "[0044] As this invention may be embodied in several forms without departing from the spirit of essential characteristics thereof, the present embodiment is therefore illustrative and not restrictive, since the scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims rather than by the description preceding them, and all changes that fall within metes and bounds of the claims, or equivalence of such metes and bounds thereof are therefore intended to be embraced by the claims." ]

[ "This application is a file wrapper continuation, of application Ser.", "No. 08/104,719, filed Aug. 11, 1993, now abandoned, which is a continuation-in-part of application Ser.", "No. 07/902,457, filed Jun. 19, 1992, now abandoned which is a continuation of Ser.", "No. 07/730,107, filed Jul. 15, 1991, now abandoned.", "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to the art of printing and more particularly to the art of transmitting tickets to remote locations.", "In the practice of a travel agency an airline ticket is printed through a process very strictly governed by the Airline Reporting Corporation (ARC).", "The ARC governs the licensing and bonding of ticket issuers (reservation systems) for airlines and all procedures associated with same.", "A typical airline ticket is originated by a customer telephoning a travel agency and advising the travel agency of a trip and details.", "The travel agency then through its computer terminals communicates with the reservation system to provide details of the client itinerary as well as the identifying codes of the travel agency.", "The reservation system upon receiving the Passenger Name Record (PNR), trip itinerary and travel agency details, then authorizes through electronic media the printing of a ticket at the agency location via mainframe computer communication to the travel agency computer modem connection to authorize the printing of a ticket on ticket stock at the agency location.", "The agency is simultaneously billed by the reservation system.", "The travel agency maintains an inventory of ticket stock which is pre-numbered and closely accounted for because of the inherent value of the ticket stock.", "It is largely for this reason that such industry is so closely regulated.", "Upon printing of a ticket, the travel agent then either mails or hand carries the ticket to the client, and, in the event the client has not paid for the ticket at the time of its printing, simultaneously bills the client for the ticket.", "Frequently such clients are large businesses where many such tickets are delivered on a daily basis.", "In the event of travel agency clients having extremely large volumes of business, a dedicated printer is maintained at the client location whereby upon authorization by the travel agency to the reservation system such dedicated printing apparatus is activated in the same way that the printer in the travel agent's office is activated.", "The vast majority, however, of travel agency clients are not of sufficient size to justify the expenses associated with a dedicated line and printer.", "For purposes of illustration, ticket printers are described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,381,705 to Rose, et al.", "and U.S. Pat. No. 3,351,052 Giori.", "While the procedures and apparatus described above have functioned well in the travel industry, a need exists to enhance the services provided by travel agents.", "SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is thus an object of this invention to enhance the services provided by a travel agency.", "It is a further object of this invention to make possible the printing of tickets at remote locations upon authorization by an agent without the necessity of a dedicated line to a reservation system.", "It is a more particular object of this invention to provide for airline ticket printing at remote locations to eliminate the need for hand delivery or mailing by a travel agency.", "These as well as other objects are accomplished by utilizing a normal facsimile or phone line at a remote client location and providing on such normal facsimile or phone line a switching apparatus having separate communication with a desired facsimile apparatus and a printing apparatus.", "The switching apparatus has the ability to receive incoming telephone lines signals and discern from such signals whether to access a printing apparatus for the printing of tickets or the facsimile apparatus.", "The process is thus carried out by generating a first signal to access the appropriate telephone line at the remote location, receiving the first signal at the remote location, generating a second signal directing the switching apparatus to connect with the printing apparatus and generating a third signal to control the printing apparatus to print a ticket coupon having the appropriate information thereon in accordance with the third signal.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 of the drawings illustrates in a perspective view standard ticket stock.", "FIG. 2 of the drawings is a perspective view illustrating the apparatus of this invention.", "FIG. 3 of the drawings illustrates in schematic form the process of this invention in one embodiment.", "FIG. 4 of the drawings illustrates in schematic form the process of this invention in another form.", "DETAILED DESCRIPTION In accordance with this invention it has been found that passenger tickets may be generated at remote locations so as to eliminate the need for hand delivery or mailing of such tickets.", "This is accomplished without the use of a dedicated line to a ticket printer and utilizes the normal facsimile line at the remote location.", "A switching apparatus is provided with this invention to discern whether to direct an incoming call to a signal receiving apparatus such as a facsimile machine or to a ticket printer in accordance with this invention.", "Further, the advantages and features will become apparent from a reading of the following description given with reference to the various figures of drawing.", "FIG. 1 of the drawings illustrates a section of ticket stock 1 having tractor feed edges 3 and 5 thereon for feeding through a ticket printing apparatus which will be further described.", "FIG. 2 of the drawings illustrates an inventory 7 of ticket stock being fed into printer 9 for the printing of individual tickets such as 11 thereon.", "Conventional printers such as 9 operate through a programmed modem which operates through secure language from the reservation system to print only when authorized information is transmitted into the modem.", "In accordance with invention it has been found that a printer such as 9 may be maintained at remote locations without the need for dedicated telephone lines.", "Thus, in accordance with this invention, a switching apparatus 13 is provided which receives an incoming telephone signal through line 15.", "Upon receipt of the signal, switching apparatus 13 discerns whether to direct the connection to printer 9 or facsimile apparatus 17.", "Switching apparatus is connected to printer 9 through connection 19 and to facsimile apparatus 17 through connection 21.", "A switch apparatus known in the art as a king switch is useful for use with this invention.", "An example of such is sold under the trademark "Selectone.", """, "Switching apparatus 13 in accordance with this invention once installed may be of a multiplex configuration so as to not only direct electronic communications to fax machines or ticket printers, but also other travel related information such as cruise documents, tour documents, etc.", "depending on the appropriate signal upon receipt of an initial signal.", "For purposes of illustration two forms of operation will now be described.", "Referring to FIG. 3 a form of operation will be described whereby the travel agent instructs the printing of a ticket at a client location.", "FIG. 3 illustrates a customer 31 contacting by telephone a travel agent 33 to provide the travel agent 33 with itinerary information.", "Agent 33 then via computer 35 contacts a reservation system represented by individual 38 who through transmission of secure information via mainframe 39 authorizes the printing of a ticket at the location of agent 33.", "Authorization transmitted by the mainframe 39 may consist of a code, such as a numeric code, known only to the individual 38.", "Alternatively, the code may be programmed into the mainframe 39.", "Only upon this authorization from the reservation system, the agent's computer terminal 35 causes ticket information to be printed by printer 37.", "Agent 33 then takes the information provided on the thus obtained ticket and digitizes it through known techniques for transmission through telephone line 41 to the location of the client 31.", "Transmission involves generating a first signal for receipt by switching apparatus 13 at client location 31.", "The first signal is discerned through generation of a second signal by the mainframe 39 to be for a ticket printer and is thus directed through line 19, where modem 21 is separately illustrated.", "Modem 21 then transforms the authorized ticket information, sent by the mainframe 39 in the form of a third signal, into printing instructions for printer 9, which thus prints an appropriate ticket at the client location 31.", "The agent 33 maintains a record of the transaction and thus bills the client in the normal course of business as well as being appropriately billed through the mainframe 39.", "If desired in a particular instance, the ticket transmitting system of the present invention may include means (not shown) for enabling a client to bypass the travel agent 33 and communicate directly with individual 38, as is conventionally done with dedicated lines for clients having large volumes of business.", "An additional mode of operation is illustrated in FIG. 4 of the drawings where a customer 51 initiates a ticket order through computer terminal 55.", "The ticket order is carried electronically through telephone lines 57 directly to mainframe 63 at the location of the reservation system represented by individual 59.", "The information is also provided to the travel agent 61 who authorizes the transaction and receives information of such via mainframe computer 63 in communication with the travel agent's terminal 65.", "Only upon authorization by agent 61 does mainframe 63 initiate a first signal through lines 57 which, upon receipt within switching apparatus 13, generates a second signal directing connection to ticket printer 9, whereupon a third signal is initiated for decoding within a modem contained within printer 9 for the printing of a ticket at 71.", "It is thus seen that the apparatus of this invention provides a novel improved method of conducting a travel agency.", "Additionally it is seen that the invention provides a method of ticket generation at remote locations which eliminates the need for hand delivery thereof.", "As various other advantages and features will become apparent to those of skill in the art through a reading of the foregoing description which exemplary in nature such modification are embodied within the spirit and scope of this invention as defined by the following appended claims." ]

[ "CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is the U.S. National Stage of International Application No. PCT/EP2014/000103,filed Jan. 16, 2014,which designated the United States and has been published as International Publication No. WO 2014/124722and which claims the priority of German Patent Application, Ser.", "No. 10 2013 002 714.4,filed Feb. 16, 2013,pursuant to 35 U.S.C. 119(a)-(d).", "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a torsion spring system for a wheel suspension of a motor vehicle.", "An example of such a suspension assembly is known from DE 10 2009 005 899A1.", "The suspension assembly includes a torsion spring bar which is actuatable by an actuator and extending in the vehicle transverse direction to about the vehicle transverse center and which on the wheel side acts on a driven lever that, in turn, is articulated to a wheel suspension element of the wheel suspension.", "The torsion spring bar is configured in the DE 10 2009 005 899A1 of several parts and in an interlaced arrangement in which two radially outer hollow bars and a radially inner solid bar are provided from spring steel, which are connected to one another in a force-transmitting manner via splines, for example.", "In the torsion spring bar system known from DE 10 2009 005 899 A1, spring work is picked up and released during interplay of a wheel compression and wheel rebound motion.", "At the same time, it is possible that the actuator superimposes moments, i.e., to tighten or relax the torsion spring bars depending on need.", "The presence of the support spring as a primary spring, renders it possible for the rotary actuator to proportionally provide actuating forces to change the wheel load.", "A superimposition of the spring forces of the primary spring and the torsion spring bar continuously takes place, depending on the requirement of the driving situation and the corresponding command from the control.", "At the output of the torsion spring bar system is a rocker having an end to which a coupler is articulated.", "The coupler connects the rocker to the trapezoidal link, which is connected to the vehicle wheel.", "Thus, the torques generated in the rotary actuator can be transmitted via the load path motor/gear/torsion spring bar/rocker/coupler/trapezoidal link/vehicle wheel ultimately as linear actuating forces upon the vehicle wheel.", "In the afore-described torsion spring bar system, the torsion spring bar is comprised of only two components, namely tube spring and solid bar spring.", "In contrast thereto, the remaining components are dimensioned absolutely rigid in the afore-mentioned load path without affecting the overall spring constant of the system.", "If there is need for example for realization of a softer torsion spring bar, as first measure the diameter of tube spring and/or solid bar spring would have to be reduced.", "However, by reducing the diameter, the operational capability of the torsion spring bar would decrease and at the same time stress would increase disproportionately, so that the tube spring and bar spring would have to be extended.", "Such a change in length is, however, not feasible in view of the extremely critical space conditions in the area of the wheel suspension.", "As a consequence, especially when smaller vehicle models are involved, which require a reduction in the total spring stiffness, such a rotary actuator cannot be installed because of the high packing tightness.", "EP 2 01 1674 A1 discloses a two-part stabilizer for a motor vehicle, having stabilizer sections which are able to execute a rotational relative movement and to apply in the presence of a twisting load in opposite directions a restoring force which is adjustable by an actuator in conjunction with a gear.", "A torsion damper is provided in the gear.", "With the assistance of the torsion damper, gear noise can be avoided that otherwise would develop as a result of a tooth gap between the gear elements.", "The torsion damper reduces such mechanical noise within the gear, with the torsion damper being dimensioned such that the spring rate of the stabilizer assembly remains unaffected.", "This means that the spring rate of the stabilizer assembly is not lowered by the torsion damper, SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The object of the invention is to propose a suspension assembly of the generic type, which enables additional influence of the spring rate of the torsion spring bars in a structurally and constructively simple manner.", "The solution of this object is set forth by a torsion spring system for a wheel suspension of a motor vehicle, including an actuator which variably maintains the torsion spring system under tension and is arranged on the vehicle body and which acts on a wheel suspension element of the wheel suspension with a biasing force via a torsion bar and an output lever, wherein the torsion bar is configured between the actuator and the output lever in two parts with a first bar part and a second bar part coupled thereto, with interposition of a spring element.", "Advantageous and particularly appropriate configurations of the invention are set forth in the dependent claims.", "In accordance with the present invention, the torsion bar is not formed from same material and/or in one piece between the actuator and the output lever, but rather of two parts with a first bar part and a second bar part coupled thereto.", "A spring element is placed between the first and second bar parts.", "In this way, there is no longer any need for the torsion bar to be provided with a predefined sufficiently large torsion length to lower the spring rate to a predefined value.", "Rather, the spring rate is defined solely by the interposed spring element.", "The torsion motion is therefore provided in a space-efficient manner by the spring element interposed between the first and second bar parts of the torsion bar.", "Preferably, the first bar part and the second bar part are arranged for rotation relative to each other from an initial position by a free movement range about a torsion angle.", "The rotation movement from the initial position is realized while building up a restoring force of the spring element.", "The first bar part and the second bar part may, preferably, be arranged in coaxial relationship and/or between the actuator and the output lever behind one another in series.", "Correspondingly, the coupling point of both bar parts is arranged between the output lever and the actuator.", "In one embodiment, the first bar part and the second bar part have at the coupling point support elements, which overlap each other in the axial direction.", "The at least one spring element may be arranged between the support elements of the first and second bar parts which support elements are nested within one another in the axial direction.", "In a further embodiment, the first bar part and the second bar part can be coupled with one another at the coupling point via a ball-ramp system.", "The ball-ramp system includes ramp-like guideways respectively extending in circumferential direction on the first bar part and the second bar part and at an incline to a rotation plane.", "Balls are provided between the guideways of the first and second bar parts to respectively roll thereon.", "The two bar parts can be moved apart by an axial stroke as they are rotated relative to one another.", "The axial stroke is established while the spring element builds up a restoring force.", "The particular advantage of the invention resides, compared to the prior art, in a much simpler construction of the motor-gear unit of the actuator in conjunction with a simplified design of the torsion spring bar that can be configured especially shorter.", "The required spring travel and the spring stiffness or spring rate is determined by the spring element arranged between the two bar parts.", "In order to achieve a structurally simple construction, it is advantageous when the first bar part and/or the second bar part are configured as solid bars.", "The actuator may, preferably, be supported with its housing rigidly and/or in fixed rotative engagement on the vehicle body.", "According to a particularly preferred arrangement on an axle of the motor vehicle, two torsion spring systems are provided which are aligned transversely to the vehicle longitudinal direction, with their motor-gear units of the actuators being rotatably supported in the area of the vertical vehicle longitudinal center plane.", "The torsion bars with the output levers can be positioned relative thereto on the outside.", "The advantageous configurations and/or refinements of the invention, as described above and set forth in the dependent claims, can—except for example in the cases of clear dependencies or incompatible alternatives—be used individually or also in any combination with each other.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The invention and its advantageous configurations and refinements and their advantages are explained in more detail with reference to drawings.", "It is shown in: FIG. 1 a plan view upon the lower plane of a left-side wheel suspension of a rear axle of a motor vehicle, with a lower transverse link, a shock absorber, and a torsion spring bar system;", "FIG. 2 an equivalent diagram of the suspension assembly according to FIG. 1 with illustration of individual spring rates c 1 and c 2 , which substantially determine an overall spring rate;", "FIG. 3 an enlarged sectional view of the coupling point between the two bar parts of the torsion spring bar;", "and FIG. 4 a planar illustration of the primary part of the first bar part and the secondary part of the second bar part of a torsion spring bar system according to a further exemplary embodiment, with the primary and secondary parts assuming a rest position;", "FIG. 5 a view corresponding to FIG. 4 , in which the primary and secondary parts are rotated from the rest position to a tightened state;", "and FIG. 6 a plan view of the guideway of the primary part of the first bar part of the torsion spring bar system.", "DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In FIG. 1, 10 designates the lower plane of a left-hand side wheel suspension for a motor vehicle, including a lower transverse link 12 which is articulated on one hand to an only partially illustrated subframe 14 and on the other hand to a not shown wheel carrier for a rear wheel 17 .", "The upper transverse link or control arm, guiding the wheel carrier, is not visible.", "The wheel suspension shown in FIG. 1 on the left-hand side has a shock absorber 24 and a separate support spring 20 (only indicated in FIG. 2 ).", "The suspension assembly according to the invention is comprised according to FIG. 1 of a torsion spring bar 22 , extending in the vehicle transverse direction y, as a storage spring of a construction still to be described.", "The shock absorber 24 is supported on the lower transverse link 12 and in a manner not shown at the top to the body 26 of the motor vehicle on which also the subframe 14 is mounted via vibration-isolating bearings.", "The torsion spring bar 22 is shown in FIG. 1 formed in two parts comprised of a first bar part 23 and a second bar part 25 .", "The bar parts 23 , 25 are made of solid material and joined to one another at a coupling point K. The coupling point K is comprised of a first primary part 27 of greater diameter, which is connected in fixed rotative engagement to the first bar part 23 , and a secondary part 32 , which is connected in fixed rotative engagement to the second bar part 25 .", "A spring element 16 is connected between the primary part 27 and secondary part 32 , as will be described further below.", "The torsion spring bar 22 extends, as shown in FIG. 1 , from a cylindrical actuator 28 , mounted to the subframe 14 , axially toward the vehicle outer side.", "The housing 31 of the actuator 28 is supported rigidly and/or in fixed rotative engagement at a bearing point 33 ( FIG. 1 ) to a vehicle-body-side subframe 14 .", "The second bar part 25 of the torsion spring bar 22 is extended at a bearing point 39 out of the actuator 28 , whereas the first bar part 23 has an outer end which carries an output lever 38 which projects forward in radial relation to the transverse link 12 in the travel direction F of the vehicle and which is hinged via bearing points 42 and a substantially vertically oriented connecting rod 40 to the transverse link 12 .", "The actuator 28 is a motor-gear unit, which is composed of a powering electric motor and a high ratio gear (for example, a harmonic drive or a cycloidal drive), indicated only roughly with reference numeral 29 , with the output member of the gear being in driving relationship with the second bar part 25 of the torsion spring bar 22 .", "The overall spring rate c F ( FIG. 2 ) of the torsion spring bar 22 is determined solely by the spring rate of the spring element 16 , but not by the rigid bar parts 23 , 25 and the other components which are arranged in the force path between the actuator 28 and the wheel suspension element 12 .", "FIG. 3 shows the primary part 27 of the first bar part 23 .", "The primary part 27 of the bar part 23 is configured as a hollow cylinder with support elements 34 which project inwards in radial direction and are dispersed about the circumference of the inner wall of the primary part 27 .", "Support elements 35 of the secondary part 32 are directed in a star shape outwards and project between the support elements 34 of the primary part 27 , so that the support elements 34 , 35 of the primary and secondary parts 27 , 32 overlap in axial direction.", "FIG. 3 shows the support elements 34 , 35 of the first bar part 23 and the second bar part 25 in an initial position I. Starting from the initial position I, the two bar parts 23 , 25 can be rotated in opposition to one another in circumferential direction by a free movement range s, i.e. about a predefined torsion angle.", "Such a rotation is accompanied by a buildup of a restoring force of the spring element 16 .", "In FIG. 3 , the spring element 16 has a plurality of helical compression springs which are respectively arranged between the support elements 34 , 35 of the primary and secondary parts 27 , 32 .", "FIGS. 4 to 6 merely roughly indicate a further exemplary embodiment of the invention.", "Accordingly, the primary part 27 of the first bar part 23 is coupled in FIG. 4 via a ball-ramp system 40 to the secondary part 32 of the second bar part 25 .", "The ball-ramp system 40 illustrated in FIG. 4 in a rest position I is shown for sake of clarity by way of a planar view.", "Provision is made for guideways 36 at the confronting sides of the primary and secondary parts 27 , 32 , as indicated in FIGS. 4 to 6 .", "The guideways 36 extend undulated in circumferential direction, i.e. with axially projecting wave peaks and intermediate recessed valleys.", "Balls 38 respectively run there along between the guideways 36 of the primary part 27 and the secondary part 32 .", "As the two bar parts 23 , 25 are rotated in opposite directions, the balls 38 roll on the flanks of the undulated guideways 36 .", "Both bar parts 23 , 25 are thereby moved apart from the rest position I ( FIG. 4 ) by an axial stroke Δh to a tightened state II ( FIG. 5 ), accompanied by a buildup of a restoring force which is effected by the spring element 16 .", "The spring element 16 is formed, according to FIGS. 4 and 5 , by two helical springs, with which the primary part 27 and the secondary part 32 are pressed against each other.", "FIG. 2 shows, by way of an equivalent diagram, the interaction of the spring assembly of a wheel suspension 10 , using the same reference signs.", "As is apparent, the parallel spring systems c 2 (support spring 20 ) and c 1 (the spring element 16 of the torsion spring bar 22 ) are effective between the body 26 of the motor vehicle and the wheel 17 or transverse link 12 and determine the overall spring rate (for sake of completeness, also the spring rate c Rei of the wheel 17 or tire thereof is identified).", "As a result of the spring element 16 , the spring rate c 1 , controlled by the actuator 28 as a storage spring and thus the associated overall spring rate c total (c 1 +c 2 ) can be reduced or advantageously suited to structural conditions at hand." ]

[ "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a weighting agent for flavoring oils and drinks concentrates and drinks produced therewith.", "Among nonalcoholic drinks, in addition to fruit juices, and in particular cola drinks, fruit juice drinks and lemonades have an outstanding position in the final consumer market.", "Lemonades especially are very frequently produced as citrus drinks without fruit juice content, which is why these drinks are sometimes clear.", "However, generally consumers prefer a cloudy drink to a clear product, since consumers consider cloudy drinks to be more nutritious and more easily digestible.", "There is therefore an increased requirement for cloudy drinks.", "Cloudy drinks containing citrus flavorants can comprise fruit juice or fruit juice concentrate, other flavoring components, sweeteners, acidulants and other constituents, for example colorings, cloud stabilizers, vitamins and other nutrients;", "also, in the case of carbonated products, carbon dioxide.", "In these drinks, the cloud is caused by cloud constituents from the juice.", "Drinks having a citrus flavor usually comprise flavoring oils which can deliver a significant contribution to the aroma and flavor of the drinks.", "In these drinks a cloud can be achieved even without juice addition, by emulsifying the flavoring oils.", "This type of cloud is of interest, not least for carbonated drinks, since carbon dioxide is more evenly released after opening, but is also of interest for non-carbonated products such as fitness drinks or sports drinks, where cloud from the fruit juice is more difficult to stabilize than in simple fruit juice drinks.", "In practice, however, it is not possible to produce storage-stable drinks solely by emulsifying the flavoring oils, since the flavoring oils and the water phase of the drinks differ significantly in density.", "Owing to the lower specific gravity, the flavoring oils, even when very finely distributed, have a tendency to cream and settle out on the surface of the liquid, which can even lead to the formation of a ring-shaped deposit in the bottleneck, the oil ring.", "Such deposits not only make the drink unsightly, but can even lead to flavor changes in the drink.", "To avoid such deposits, the emulsions must be stabilized.", "For this are used, firstly, water-soluble stabilizers, for example modified starches or gum arabic and sometimes additionally oil-in-water emulsifiers.", "Secondly, what are termed weighting agents are used.", "These weighting agents are not water-soluble, but oil-soluble, and must be miscible to the greatest possible extent with the flavoring oils.", "They have the task of setting the oil droplets to the same specific gravity as the water phase of the drinks.", "This prevents a creaming of the less dense oil droplets in the aqueous phase of the drink and a stable consumer product is thus achieved over a longer shelf life.", "Weighting agents, in addition to the greatest possible miscibility with the flavouring oils, must have a significantly higher density than the aqueous phase of the drinks, so that the required emulsion-stabilizing effect can occur at all.", "The density of the flavoring oils is customarily in the range of less than 0.9 g/ml, while the aqueous phase of soft drinks can have values of over 1.04 g/ml.", "In addition, weighting agents must be colorless, odorless and tasteless, be compatible with the constituents of the flavoring oils and be storage-stable under the conditions of the drinks, that is usually at a markedly acidic pH and in the light.", "Only a very small number of substances very largely comply with these preconditions and, in addition, are also suitable from the health aspect for use as weighting agents in drinks.", "These include dammar resin and glycerol esters of root resins.", "The brominated edible oils which are particularly highly suitable industrially as weighting agents owing to their high density are not very favorably rated from health aspects and are only permitted for use in foods in a few countries.", "A weighting agent which can be prepared synthetically and is thus readily and widely available is sucrose acetate isobutyrate (SAIB), sucrose esterified with acetic acid and isobutyric acid approximately in the ratio of 2:6.", "SAIB, compared with the other products, has the advantage that it is colorless, tasteless, is not subject to any changes, for example fatty acid oxidation or other oxidation reactions or other interfering reactions, and is permitted for use in foods in numerous countries (see EASTMAN SAIB-SG for beverage applications, Publication ZM-90C, July 1995 and EASTMAN Chemical Company, Vol[.", "].2 No. 4, November 1994 ‘Food for Thought’).", "However, the use in practice of SAIB in the pure form is difficult, since, at room temperature, it has a very high viscosity of approximately 20 000 Pa·s.", "Thus it is highly viscose at room temperature and, as such, can no longer be metered as a liquid.", "At higher temperatures the viscosity falls dramatically.", "If SAIB is heated to temperatures significantly above 60° C. during processing, a pumpable and meterable liquid is obtained.", "Such a heating, however, requires some time, so that the product is not overheated, suffering unwanted changes.", "Heating of this type may only be incorporated with difficulty into the customary processing sequences during drinks productions and is thus uneconomical.", "To eliminate the difficulties in use, attempts have been made to lower the viscosity of the SAIB by mixing with other substances.", "The substances used for this are in particular ethanol (for example Eastman SAIB-ET10) and citrus oils (for example Eastman SAIB-CO) (see EASTMAN SAIB-SG for beverage applications, Publication ZM-90C, July 1995).", "Addition of approximately 10% by volume of ethanol (for example Eastman SAIB-ET10) leads to a reduction in viscosity to approximately 1000 mPa·s.", "However, the use of ethanol is disadvantageous.", "Ethanol adversely affects the emulsion stability in the finished drink.", "It lowers the surface tension of the aqueous phase and, when gum arabic is used, can lead to denaturation of this stabilizer.", "In addition, ethanol must not be present in drinks in many countries of the near east and in particularly the arab countries.", "However, the per capita consumption of alcohol-free drinks is very high precisely in these countries.", "Therefore, a drink based on an SAIB-ethanol solution neither displays the optimum emulsion stability, nor can it be produced and sold in a large number of countries.", "As an alternative, a formulation based on terpene oils (for example Eastman SAIB-CO) is used.", "In this case terpene oils having a prominent citrus flavor are used.", "The intense aroma contribution of these terpene oils to the aroma of the finished drink, however, is not wanted in practice.", "The susceptibility of the terpene oils to oxidation and the difficulty of standardizing the aroma value of the terpene oils in the SAIB formulations make the use of these SAIB formulations in practice difficult, although they can be metered as a liquid.", "In addition there is the fact that these formulations are not usable for products having other than the citrus aromas.", "Although SAIB and the above described SAIB formulations based on terpene oil and alcohol are used in practice, the abovementioned disadvantages of the components used in these formulations, in particular the possible disadvantageous consequences for the quality and marketability of the finished drinks, stand in the way of widespread use of SAIB.", "The object was to provide an SAIB formulation of simple meterability without the described disadvantages.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION SAIB is imiscible with glycerol and 1,2-propanediol, the customary solvents for formulating food ingredients.", "It has now surprisingly been found that it is very readily miscible with compounds which are liquid (that is to say having a viscosity of ≦1000 Pa·s) at room temperature (=25° C.) of the formula (I) where R 1 , R 2 and R 3 are selected as desired from the group consisting of odd-numbered C 1 -C 17 -alkyl or C 3 -C 17 -alkenyl or C 5 -C 17 -alkadienyl, R 4 is H or OH and Y is —O—C(O)— or —C(O)—O— but that, surprisingly, the viscosity of mixtures is also so greatly reduced, even at low contents of these substances, that a product which is readily flowing and thus meterable as a liquid, results.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 graphically illustrates the dependence of the viscosity of SAIB-triglyceride mixtures on the triglyceride concentration.", "DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Preference is given to compounds of the formula (I) where R 1 ═R 2 ═R 3 ═ethyl, R 4 ═OH and Y═—C(O)—O— (triethylcitrate), R 1 ═R 2 ═R 3 ═methyl, R 4 ═H and Y═—O—C(O)— (triacetin) and R 1 ═R 2 ═R 3 ═ selected as desired from the group consisting of C 7 - and C 9 -alkyl, R 4 ═H and Y═—O—C(O)— (triglyceride).", "The compounds of the formula (I) also dissolve flavorants well.", "In particular, triacetin and triethyl citrate in addition have specific gravities of the order of magnitude of SAIB and are only water-soluble to a limited extent, therefore do not decrease the weighting effect of SAIB.", "Compounds of the formula (I) are commercially available;", "however, they are also available, for example, by reacting glycerol with the corresponding carboxylic acids (for Y═—O—C(O)—) or their C 1 -C 3 -alkyl esters or halides, in particular chlorides.", "Compounds of the formula (I) where Y═—C(O)—O— may be prepared, for example, by reacting citric acid with the corresponding saturated or unsaturated alcohols.", "SAIB is also commercially available.", "It can be obtained by reacting sucrose with acetic anhydride and isobutyric anhydride.", "Because of the good miscibility of SAIB with the compounds of the formula (I), in principle mixing ratios can be established in a broad range.", "In order to achieve the desired weighting effect, when fats are used (=compounds of the formula (I) where Y═—O—C(O)— and R 4 ═H), their contents are limited to a maximum of approximately 30% by weight.", "However, the viscosity falls drastically, even when small amounts of compounds of the formula (I) are added (see FIG. 1 ), so that metering as a liquid is possible in practice even in the case of additions of a few % by weight.", "The viscosity-decreasing substances of the formula (I) are used in weighting agents for flavoring oils in drinks according to the invention in amounts of 1-50% by weight, preferably 3-30% by weight, particularly preferably 5-20% by weight (based on the weight of the weighting agent).", "The resultant free-flowing SAIB solutions exhibit a neutral sensory behavior, even after relatively long storage times, which also correspond in drinks to at least the typically stated minimum shelf life.", "Owing to their neutral flavor, they can also be used for other than citrous flavors.", "Surprisingly, using the inventive formulations, even a higher optical density and thus the impression of a more intense cloud may be achieved with the currently used SAIB solutions or pure SAIB.", "The inventive weighting agents can be used directly in the production of drinks in combination with the flavoring oils.", "Together with the flavoring oils, after intensive mixing and, if appropriate, homogenization, they give storage-stable emulsions if the ratio of flavoring oil and weighting agent is matched to the density of the aqueous phase.", "This applies especially when, in addition, there are added to the aqueous phase food emulsifiers for oil-in-water emulsions or even non-emulsifying, but emulsion-stabilizing agents, such as gum arabic, modified starches, carob bean meal, guar gum or tragacanth in similar amounts as the weighting agents present in the oil phase.", "Methods for matching density are known from the literature: for example the Pearson Square Method.", "Furthermore, the weighting agents can also be incorporated into drinks concentrates together with other ingredients.", "Such concentrates can, in addition to the flavoring oils and weighting agents, contain the acid used in the drink, for example citric acid, malic acid, lactic acid, tartaric acid, fumaric acid or phosphoric acid, emulsion-stabilizing agents, preservatives, for example sorbic acid or benzoic acid and their salts, and if appropriate water and colorants.", "These concentrates, after mixing with the other drinks ingredients and water, after intensive mixing and, if appropriate homogenization, also give storage-stable emulsions.", "EXAMPLES The examples below describe the invention: Example 1 Production of Weighting Agent Formulations Containing Triglycerides: Pure SAIB is heated.", "Liquid triglyceride (Miglyol 812®, Condea, Witten, Germany;", "a compound of the formula (I) where R 1 , R 2 , R 3 are selected as desired from C 7 - and C 9 -alkyl, R 4 ═H, Y═—O—C(O)—) is then added in amounts of 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50% by weight (based on the weight of the weighting agent formulation) and intensively mixed.", "A homogeneous liquid results, the viscosity of which greatly decreases with increasing concentration of triglyceride.", "The viscosities shown in FIG. 1 occur as a function of the mixing ratios.", "Example 2 Preparation of Weighting Agent Formulations Containing Triacetin Pure SAIB is heated.", "Pure triacetin (compound of the formula (I) where R 1 ═R 2 ═R 3 ═methyl, R 4 ═H and Y═—O—C(O)—) is added in amounts of 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50% by weight (based on the weight of the weighting agent formulation) and intensively mixed.", "A homogeneous liquid results.", "With increasing triacetin concentration, the viscosity decreases in a steep manner comparable to the use of the triglyceride in Example 1.", "Example 3 Preparation of Weighting Agent Formulations Containing Triethyl Citrate Pure SAIB is heated.", "Pure triethyl citrate (compound of the formula (I) where R 1 ═R 2 ═R 3 ═ethyl, R 4 ═OH and Y═—C(O)—O—) is added in amounts of 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50% by weight (based on the weight of the weighting agent formulation) and intensively mixed.", "A homogeneous liquid results.", "With increasing triethyl citrate concentration, the viscosity decreases in a steep manner comparable to the use of the triglyceride in Example 1.", "Example 4 Use of the Weighting Agent 5 parts by weight of citrus flavoring oil and 10 parts by weight of weighting agent consisting of 9 parts by weight of SAIB and 1 part by weight of triglyceride (Miglyol 812) are mixed and added in an amount of 200 mg/l during mixing of the finished drink, and uniformly distributed by intensive stirring and, if appropriate, homogenization.", "A markedly cloudy drink with significant citrus aroma results.", "Example 5 Production of a Flavoring Concentrate 50 parts by weight of flavoring oil (Orange Terpene MC standard No. 2000.0769, MCI Miritz, Citrus Ingredients, Kirchgandern, Germany) and 100 parts by weight of weighting agent consisting of 90 parts by weight of SAIB and 10 parts by weight of triglyceride (Myglyol 812) are mixed.", "An aqueous phase of 700 parts by weight of water is prepared in parallel, in which 150 parts by weight of gum arabic are dissolved as emulsion-stabilizing agent, 1 part by weight of citric acid is dissolved and 1 part by weight of potassium sorbate is dissolved as preservative.", "The two phases are intensively mixed and homogenized.", "Example 6 Production of a Cloudy Drink from a Flavoring Concentrate 1 part by weight of the flavoring concentrate according to Example 5 is mixed with 64 parts by weight of cane sugar, 1 part by weight of citric acid and 34 parts by weight of water.", "The finished drink is mixed from 1 part by weight of this solution and 7 parts by weight of water.", "Example 7 Comparison Example A beverage corresponding to Example 4 is produced, but containing pure SAIB liquified by heating in an equivalent amount as weighting agent.", "The drink according to Example 4 is compared visually with this drink.", "The drink according to Example 4 gives the impression of markedly more intense cloud." ]

[ "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] 1.", "Technical Field [0002] The present invention relates generally to the field of integrated circuits, and, more specifically to an on-chip thermal sensing circuit for measuring the temperature of integrated circuit chips and particularly microprocessor chips.", "[0003] 2.", "Description of Related Art [0004] It is important to be able to monitor the temperature of an integrated circuit (IC), particularly those implemented using CMOS designs.", "At higher temperatures, the IC's characteristics change.", "Circuits get slower, and reliability decreases.", "Thus, it is important to monitor the temperature of integrated circuits, and in particular microprocessor chips.", "[0005] It is known in the art for a microprocessor to attempt to manage its temperature by regulating the speed at which it processes.", "In order to manage its temperature, both external sensors and on-chip sensors have been used.", "[0006] External sensors are those sensors that are not located on the integrated circuit itself.", "These sensors are not preferable, however, because they do not provide real-time results and are unable to measure the circuit temperature at the location on the chip of the highest power dissipating circuits.", "[0007] There have been a number of prior art proposals for on-chip temperature sensing.", "These proposals include the use of a pair of on-chip thermally response diodes coupled to an off-chip current source.", "The diode pair generates a differential voltage output that is proportional to temperature.", "This technique for sensing on-chip temperatures requires numerous connections between the chip and external circuitry for each temperature sensing circuit.", "Each connection to the chip increases the cost of the product.", "Small, self contained on-chip temperature sensors have a much lower cost than sensors requiring connections to circuitry external to the chip.", "[0008] Another prior art design utilizes an on-chip thermal sensor as part of a thermal assist unit.", "The thermal assist unit consists of three registers, a multiplexer, a latch, a decoder, an interrupt generator, and a thermal logic control block.", "The thermal sensor circuit utilizes the differential voltage change across two diodes biased at the same operating current, where one diode is larger than the other.", "For example, the voltage across the larger diode will decrease more quickly than the voltage across the smaller diode when the temperature increases.", "[0009] It would be desirable to be able to measure localized heating of the chip.", "Therefore, a need exists for an on-chip thermal sensing circuit that may be replicated throughout the chip.", "SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0010] An on-chip thermal sensing circuit is disclosed.", "The thermal sensing circuit including a detection circuit located on an integrated circuit (IC) for detecting a local temperature of the IC.", "The output of the thermal sensor has a frequency that is directly related to the local temperature.", "The detection circuit has an associated time constant that is used to produce the frequency.", "[0011] The above as well as additional objectives, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed written description.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0012] The novel features believed characteristic of the invention are set forth in the appended claims.", "The invention itself, however, as well as a preferred mode of use, further objectives and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: [0013] [0013 ]FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a microprocessor chip that includes multiple thermal sensors on the chip in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;", "and [0014] [0014 ]FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a circuit that is used as one of the thermal sensors of FIG. 1 in accordance with the present invention.", "DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT [0015] A preferred embodiment of the present invention and its advantages are better understood by referring to the figures, like numerals being used for like and corresponding parts of the accompanying figures.", "[0016] [0016 ]FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a microprocessor chip that includes multiple thermal sensors on the chip itself in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.", "Multiple thermal sensor circuits may be included on an integrated circuit, such as microprocessor chip 100 .", "For example, thermal sensing circuits 102 , 104 , and 106 may be included in various locations on chip 100 .", "Each thermal sensor will detect and monitor a local temperature of the chip.", "The thermal sensors are small and require little power and therefore may be included throughout the chip.", "[0017] [0017 ]FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a circuit 200 that is used as one of the thermal sensors 102 , 104 , or 106 of FIG. 1 in accordance with the present invention.", "Thermal sensing circuit 200 is based on the temperature coefficient of an on-chip resistor R sense which can be composed of metal wire resistance, poly-silicon resistance, silicon diffusion resistance, or a combination of all three resistances.", "The resistance change of R sense is converted to a frequency change through an RC time constant as described below.", "[0018] Circuit 200 is an astable multivibrator circuit which produces a logical output signal at a frequency determined by the RC time constant of (R sense )(C) and the voltages V 1 and V 2 established by the voltage divider circuit that includes R 1 , R 2 , and R 3 .", "Circuits A 1 and A 2 are analog comparator circuits that produce a logic high level when the voltage at the first input, labeled “+”, is greater than the voltage at the second input, labeled “−”, and provides a logic low level signal when the voltage at the first input is less than the voltage at the second input.", "Logic gates G 1 and G 2 are two input logical NAND gates wired together to form a simple set/reset latch L 1 .", "Logic gate G 3 is a buffer circuit which buffers logic high and logic low levels to an RC circuit R sense and C which are connected in series.", "[0019] Once circuit 200 has achieved its operating state, initially, the voltage across capacitor C will be a little higher than voltage V 2 with analog comparator circuits A 1 and A 2 providing a logic high level output signal.", "The output of logic gate G 2 is a logic high level, and the output of logic gate G 1 is a logic low level.", "The output of logic gate G 3 is thus a logic high level causing the voltage across capacitor C to increase at a rate determined by the (R sense )(C) time constant.", "[0020] When the voltage across capacitor C reaches or exceeds voltage V 1 , analog comparator circuit A 1 output changes from a logic high level to a logic low level causing logic gate G 1 output to change from a logic low level to a logic high level.", "This in turn causes the output of logic gate G 2 to change from a logic high level to a logic low level which in turn causes the output of logic gate G 3 to change from a logic high level to a logic low level.", "The logic low level on the output of G 3 causes the voltage to decrease on capacitor C at a rate determined by the (R sense )(C) time constant.", "As the voltage across capacitor C decreases to, or slightly below, voltage V 1 , analog comparator circuit A 1 changes output voltage from a logic low level to a logic high level.", "The outputs of logic gates G 1 , G 2 , and G 3 remain unchanged.", "[0021] When the voltage across capacitor C reaches or is slightly below voltage V 2 , analog comparator circuit A 2 changes from a logic high level to a logic low level which in turn changes the output of logic gate G 2 from a logic low level to a logic high level.", "The logic high level on the output of logic gate G 2 causes the output of logic gate G 1 to change from a logic high level to a logic low level and also causes the output of logic gate G 3 to change from a logic low level to a logic high level.", "The logic high level of the output of logic gate G 3 causes the voltage to increase on capacitor C at a rate determined by the (R sense )(C) time constant.", "When the voltage across capacitor C is equivalent to or exceeds voltage V 2 , the output of analog comparator circuit A 2 changes from a logical low level to a logical high level.", "The outputs of logic gates G 1 , G 2 , and G 3 remain unchanged.", "[0022] As the temperature on the chip changes, so will the resistance of resistor R sense which in turn causes the (R sense )(C) time constant of the circuit to change.", "The frequency output will change as the chip temperature changes.", "The frequency change will be directly proportional to the resistor change which is directly proportional to the local chip temperature change.", "[0023] The frequency output signal of logic gate G 1 may be used to regulate the chip temperature.", "This output signal may be provided as an input into a power management circuit, such as power management circuit 34 described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,485,127 which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.", "The present invention could be used as the temperature sensor 32 of U.S. Pat. No. 5,485,127.", "[0024] Circuit 200 is inherently self-starting.", "There are three possible initial conditions of circuit 200 prior to the circuit achieving its operating state.", "For example, if the initial condition is such that the voltage across capacitor C is less than V 2 , then comparator circuit A 2 will provide a logic low level to logic gate G 2 , while comparator circuit A 1 will provide a logic high level to logic gate G 1 .", "The logic low level at the input of logic gate G 2 results in a logic high level at the output of logic gate G 2 which in turn causes the output of logic gate G 3 to be a logic high level.", "The logic high level at the output of logic gate G 3 causes the voltage across capacitor C to increase at a rate determined by the (R sense ) (C) time constant.", "When the voltage across capacitor C reaches or exceeds voltage V 2 , analog comparator circuit A 2 output changes from a logic low level to a logic high level.", "The output of logic gate G 2 and G 3 does not change.", "When the voltage across capacitor C reaches or exceeds voltage V 1 , analog comparator circuit A 1 output changes from a logic high level to a logic low level causing logic gate G 1 output to change from a logic low level to a logic high level.", "The circuit has now achieved its operating state.", "It should be noted that the clock period for the initial clock cycle will not be equivalent to succeeding clock periods due to this initial voltage requiring addition time for capacitor C to charge to voltage V 1 .", "[0025] A second initialization case is when the initial voltage across capacitor C is greater than V 1 .", "For this start up case, comparator A 1 will provide a logic low level to logic gate G 1 , while comparator circuit A 2 will provide a logic high level to logic gate G 2 .", "The logic low level at the input of logic gate G 1 results in a logic high level at the output of logic gate G 1 , providing a logic high level at the input of logic gate G 2 .", "The two logic high level signals at the inputs of logic gate G 2 cause the output of logic gate G 2 to be a logic low level, which in turn causes the output of logic gate G 3 to be a logic low level.", "The logic low level on the output of G 3 causes the voltage to decrease across capacitor C at a rate determined by the (R sense )(C) time constant.", "The voltage across capacitor C will decrease.", "When the voltage across capacitor C is less than V 1 , the output voltage of comparator A 1 will change to a logic high level.", "The output of logic gates G 1 , G 2 and G 3 does not change.", "The voltage across capacitor C continues to decrease until the voltage becomes equal or slightly lower than V 2 , which causes the output of comparator A 2 to change to a logic low level.", "The circuit has now achieved its operating state.", "It should be noted that the clock period for the initial clock cycle will not be equivalent to succeeding clock periods due to this initial voltage requiring additional time for capacitor C to discharge to voltage V 2 .", "[0026] A third case to consider is when the voltage across capacitor C is between voltage V 1 and V 2 .", "For this case, the output logic level of G 2 determines whether the voltage across capacitor C will initially increase or decrease.", "The output voltage of both comparators A 1 and A 2 is a logic high level.", "If the output logic level of logic gate G 2 is a logic low level, the voltage across capacitor C will initially decrease until the voltage drops slightly below V 2 .", "This causes the output voltage of comparator A 2 to become a logic low level which in turn causes the output of logic gate G 2 to become a logic high level.", "This causes the output of logic gate G 3 to become a logic high level switch causes the voltage across capacitor C to increase.", "The circuit then operates as described above.", "If the initial condition is logic high level at the output of logic gate G 2 , the voltage across capacitor C initially increases until the voltage rises slightly above V 1 .", "This causes the output voltage of comparator A 1 to become a logic low level which in turn causes a logic high level at the output of logic gate G 2 .", "The logic high level of gate G 1 output and logic high level of comparator A 2 output causes the output of logic gate G 2 to switch to a logic low level which in turn causes the output of logic gate G 3 to switch to a logic low level.", "The logic low level output of G 3 causes the voltage across capacitor C to decrease at a rate determined by the (R sense )(C) time constant.", "The circuit then operates as described above.", "[0027] Those skilled in the art will recognize that this circuit can be modified by removing analog comparator circuit A 2 and logic gates G 1 and G 2 , and by replacing the connection between the first input of A 1 and V 1 with two orthogonally switched circuits, such that a first switch is connected between the first input of A 1 and V 1 and a second switch is connected between the first input of A 1 and V 2 .", "When the output of analog comparator A 1 is a logic high level, the first switch is closed and the second switch is open.", "When the output of analog comparator A 1 is a logic low level, the first switch is opened and the second switch is closed.", "The output of analog comparator A 1 is connected to the input of logic gate G 3 .", "The circuit of this embodiment will operate similarly as described above with the voltage across capacitor C alternately increasing and decreasing between voltages V 1 and V 2 .", "[0028] The description of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description, and is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the invention in the form disclosed.", "Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art.", "The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention, the practical application, and to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated." ]

[ "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to a dynamic magnetic information storage record medium and more specifically to a coating process wherein the substrate is treated for the magnetic layer.", "Field of the Invention Magnetic recording media having thin films of a magnetizable metal or alloys thereof have found a usage in the electronic data processing equipment as high storage capacity memories.", "Various forms of the substrate base such as films, drums, wires or disks are commonly used.", "The thin film metal plated magnetic recording media permits a higher storage capacity from the usual iron oxide recording media.", "Generally the magnetic layer is deposited onto a substrate that is easily machinable such as an aluminum disk.", "But aluminum contains impurities that hinder fabricating the perfectly smooth surface required for the magnetic layer and a low flying magnetic recording transducer.", "Further, a galvanic action can occur between the aluminum substrate and the thin film magnetizable layer if the magnetizable layer is deposited directly onto the substrate.", "The galvanic action causes a corrosion of a subsequent layer and thereby causes recording errors.", "A synthetic substance layer solves these problems but the synthetic materials are highly gas-evolving, with a consequence of an embrittlement of the subsequent layers.", "The function of the present invention is to solve the problem of the use of a synthetic substance as a magnetic record carrier.", "Description of the Prior Art It is well known to insert different film layers between a substrate and a magnetic material layer.", "U.S. Pat. No. 3,116,159 to R. D. Fisher et al discloses a heat curable adhesive layer formed on a non-metallic substrate such as a polyethylene terephthalate material.", "The heat curable adhesive layer is a resin coating that is chemically activated to enable the substrate to receive the subsequent magnetic layer.", "U.S. Pat. No. 3,414,430 issued to Charles Maho, discloses the vacuum evaporation of a magnetic coating directly to a subbing layer of a synthetic elastomer which is used as an adhesive layer.", "The adhesive is deposited over a polyethylene terephethalate substrate.", "The synthetic elastomer is modified with a diisocyanate for improved smoothness.", "It is also known to manufacturer a magnetic recording media by depositing an undercoat copper layer over the substrate treated by coating with an adhesive layer consisting of a dispersion of particulate iron or zinc in a binder as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,730,852 to A. Diebold et al.", "A ferromagnetic coating can then be deposited onto the copper undercoat layer.", "The copper deposition is made such that the copper exchanges the iron or zinc particles in the adhesive layer.", "It is well known to insert a metal film between a substrate and a magnetic material layer.", "In the U.S. Pat. No. 3,150,939 to J. W. Wenner, a bonded nuclei metallized layer is bonded to a dielectric resin substrate.", "The magnetic layer is then deposited over the metallic undercoat layer.", "It is also known, as shown in the U.S. Pat. No. 3,520,664, to D. P. York, that a plurality of layers can be deposited intermediate the substrate and the magnetic layer.", "In the York Patent, a metallic oxide is deposited as an adhesive layer over a substrate which may be a dielectric or a conductive material.", "A dielectric film is deposited over the adhesive layer as an insulating layer.", "A metallic nucleating layer is then deposited to enhance the magnetic properties of the magnetic layer deposited onto the nucleating layer.", "The prior art was sufficient for the undercoating of the magnetic layers used prior to present day technology.", "With the low flying transducers presently in usage, the magnetic layer must be ultra smooth.", "The use of a metallic undercoat to the magnetic layer for its enhancement is well known.", "However, this layer in itself is not sufficient to isolate the magnetic layer from the deficiencies of the synthetic substance layer.", "The intermediate layer to the nucleating metallic film of a York patent, for instance, does not present the resistivity required for the use in a data storage system, as the insulation layer as shown in the York patent is extremely brittle so that during processing or during use, there can appear surface fissures or cracks.", "Such deficiencies may not affect the magnetic thin film device as shown for use in York, but these deficiences in the magnetizable layer of a memory record can cause data errors during writing or reading the record carrier.", "It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a magnetic disk structure wherein a resin layer is provided as a protective layer for the substrate, with a layer of a getter metal as an insulation to a magnetic enhancing layer and a magnetic layer.", "SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the present invention, a record carrier comprises a synthetic substance layer deposited onto a substrate with a thin getter metallic layer deposited over the synthetic substance layer.", "A metallic undercoat layer is next deposited in preparation for the subsequent magnetic film layer.", "The synthetic substance layer is preferably a pigmented resin deposited on a metallic non-magnetic substrate of aluminum, for instance.", "The undercoat metallic layer may consist of chromium.", "An object of the present invention, therefore, is to provide an enhanced magnetic recording media.", "Another object of the present invention is to provide a magnetic media that eliminates or reduces a fissure causing embrittlement of a material applied onto a synthetic substance layer in a magnetic recording media.", "Yet another object of this invention is to provide a getter metal layer whose oxide pigments a synthetic substance layer to increase adhesion between the synthetic substance layer and subsequent metallic layers in a magnetic recording medium.", "These and other objects of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art as the description proceeds.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The various novel features of this invention, along with the foregoing and other objects, as well as the invention itself both as to its organization and method of operation may be fully understood from the following description of an illustrated embodiment when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing.", "The drawing is a diagrammatic-sectional view of a record carrier in accordance with this invention.", "DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The drawing shows schematically a record carrier in accordance with the invention.", "The record carrier comprises a substrate 1 which may be a dielectric such as glass or ceramic material, but preferably it is a conductive material such as a highly pure aluminum or an aluminum-magnesium alloy.", "These materials are often used as substrates for disk memory storage.", "The thickness of the substrate 1 is not critical.", "It should, however, be such that it guarantees sufficient mechanical assistance for self-supporting.", "For example, metal sheets with a thickness of approximately 2.0 mm are suitable.", "A synthetic substance layer 2 is deposited next onto the substrate 1.", "The synthetic substance may be an epoxy phenyl resin.", "According to the preferred embodiment, the resin can be pigmented with approximately 20% titanium dioxide TiO 2 and approximately 2% aluminum oxide Al 2 O 3 of a particle size of approximately 0.5 to 1.0 microns.", "The synthetic substance layer may be applied to the substrate 1 in fluid form and may be evenly dispersed onto the substrate 1 by the use of a well known spin coating process.", "The preferred thickness of the synthetic substance layer 2 is 12,500 angstroms.", "After the synthetic substance layer 2 has hardened, a thin layer of a getter material is deposited preferably by a vapor deposition process such as sputtering.", "The getter metal effectively absorbs the gases exiting from the synthetic substance layer 2 during the vapor deposition process.", "Since the exiting gases are absorbed, they cannot cause an embrittlement of the subsequent layers.", "A preferable getter layer metal is a thin titanium layer of approximately 250 angstroms thickness.", "The adhesion of the getter layer 3 is enhanced with the use of a pigmented resin in that the titanium layer forms a compound with the particles that are used to pigment the synthetic substance layer 2.", "The adhesion is much stronger that if the getter layer 3 is deposited onto the synthetic substance layer without pigmentation.", "Subsequently, a thicker undercoat layer 4 is vapor deposited onto the getter layer 3.", "A suitable undercoat layer has a thickness of approximately 5,000 angstroms and is preferably of chromium to enhance a subsequent magnetic layer.", "It is well known that an undercoat layer 4 beneath the magnetic layer 5 decreases the stresses developed in the deposited magnetic film.", "While no underlying theory is proposed as to why these stresses occur, it may be hypothecated that, because of the high surface mobilities required for the deposited material to nucleat and thus form a continuous film, large energies and nucleating times are needed for crystallization thereof.", "The undercoat layer 4 provides these properties for the magnetic layer 5.", "As disclosed in the above-mentioned U.S. Pat. No. 3,520,664, the undercoat layer 4 may be selected from a group of materials such as Ag, Cr, Co, Ta, Fe, Au, Cu, Ni, Vn and Ti.", "The preferred material in the present invention is chromium.", "A vacuum deposition process such as sputtering is preferred for the deposition of the undercoat layer 4.", "Superimposed next is the magnetic film layer 5.", "All of these previously deposited layers form the support for the actual magnetic film layer 5.", "The magnetic layer may comprise iron, cobalt or nickel or an alloy thereof preferably vacuum deposited.", "The magnetic properties of the magnetic film layer must be such that the thin film is suitable as a high density magnetic recording member.", "The magnetic properties of the magnetic film layer are a function of the materials, the film thickness, the angle of deposition and the underlying substrate material.", "The coercivity and squareness ratio magnetic properties are especially important in magnetic recording.", "The magnetic layer can be applied by a vapor deposition process or some other conventional process.", "As the magnetic layer 5 does not form a part of the present invention, no detailed reference is made to its particular composition.", "If desired, a protective layer of rhodium or an oxide of the magnetic layer may be formed to protect the magnetic layer from damage such as with a transcuer contact during a start and stop operation.", "The magnetic layer 5 can comprise a vacuum deposited chromium-chromium oxide material as taught in U.S. Pat. No. 3,498,837 to J. K. Alstead et al and assigned to the assignee of the present invention.", "In that patent, a suitable source of chromium is heated in a vacuum pressure of about 10 -4 Torr to cause evaporation.", "A coating of a 1,250 to 2,500 angstroms was found to be sufficient to impart excellent wear properties to the magnetic recording member.", "In that patent, a hard finish layer was formed by the chromium oxide obtained by using the soft vacuum of approximately 10 -4 Torr with oxygen in the vacuum to develop the chromium oxide hard finish layer.", "Thus a separate hard finish protective layer is not required using the magnetic coating as taught by the Alstead et al patent.", "The principles of the present invention have now been made clear in an illustrated embodiment.", "There will be immediately obvious to those skilled in the art, many modifications of structure, arrangement, proportions, elements, materials and components used in the practice of the invention.", "For instance, the selection of the substrate 1 as well as the synthetic substance layer 2, the undercoat layer 4 and the magnetic layer 5 is well within the ability of a person well skilled in the magnetic recording and deposition arts.", "It should be understood that the pigmentation of the synthetic substance layer 2 is not necessary for the prevention of outgassing, but is advantageous for better adhesion of the getter layer 3.", "Furthermore, although titanium is the preferred material for the getter layer 3, gadolinium or cerium are examples of other metals that are operable.", "A strong attraction to oxygen and water are necessary characteristics of the getter metal layer 3.", "Other oxides usable for the pigmentation of the synthetic substance layer 2 is ferro-oxide.", "The appended claims are, therefore, intended to cover and embrace any such modification, within the limits only of the true spirit and scope of the invention." ]

[ "CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims the benefits of provisional patent application Ser.", "No. 60/998,265, Filed 2007 Oct. 10 by the present inventors, which is incorporated by reference here in.", "FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH [0002] Not applicable SEQUENCE LISTINGS OR PROGRAMS [0003] Not applicable BACKGROUND [0004] 1.", "Field [0005] This application relates to the sparkplug of an internal combustion engine, and more particularly, to the efficiency of the spark ability, of that sparkplug.", "This application also relates to the manufacture and assembly, of that sparkplug.", "[0006] 2.", "Prior Art [0007] In a 4 cycle internal combustion engine, the cycles are, starting at top dead center;", "this means that the piston is all the way at the top of the cylinder at the start of the cycle.", "The piston moves downward and the intake valve opens letting the air fuel mixture into the firing chamber, this is the intake cycle.", "When the piston reaches bottom dead center, the intake valve closes, and the piston moves up compressing the air fuel mixture, this is the compression cycle, and this creates a very fast moving wind storm type environment.", "When the piston reaches top dead center, the sparkplug will fire causing the compressed air fuel mixture to explode and force the piston downward, this is the power cycle.", "This is where the fuel is actually turned to kinetic energy that causes the internal combustion engine to operate.", "When the piston reaches bottom dead center, the exhaust valve will open and the piston will move upward and force the burnt air fuel mixture out of the firing chamber, which is 1 revolution of the internal combustion engine.", "1 revolution happens, from 800 to over 10,000 times a minute this is called revolutions per minute or RPM'S.", "[0008] The sparkplug will receive an electric charge of energy from the coil of the distributor system;", "this is called electro motive force this will cause the positive electrode to be energized with tens of thousands of volts.", "At that moment it tries to ionize a pathway to ground so as to let the electrons, from the ground, flow to the positive electrode, that flow of electrons is the spark.", "[0009] Now do to the wind storm effect in the combustion chamber environment, the ionization of the pathway is impeded greatly do to the fact that the fast moving air fuel mixture blows the ionized path out and away from the ground.", "This happens several times before the pathway is finally established and the electrons can flow through the ionization path like electricity flows through a wire.", "This happens in less than 0.001 of a second.", "[0010] The standard sparkplugs generally have a relatively small positive electrode and very little ground area, or multiple points of spark potential area for the ionization of the pathway to choose from.", "The ground prong is generally welded to the shell and protrudes up and over the positive electrode.", "[0011] There have been many ideas to address these problems, ranging from good, but not complete, to poorly designed and manufactured.", "One idea is the U.S. Pat. No. 6,628,049 patent, and the U.S. Pat. No. 6,608,430 patent these are basically the same plug and are a variation of the U.S. Pat. No. 1,610,032 patent of 1926, there is the multiple, but small points of spark potential area, and extended reach with the ring but the spark is still happening under the cap between the points and ground ring, vertical to the center line of the sparkplug, and if all the points, or spark potential areas are not the exact physical distance apart, this will impede the establishment of the ionization path as well.", "There are many that address the rapidly moving air fuel mixture, by using port holes in the extension ring.", "[0012] Other ideas address the spark potential area like the U.S. Pat. No. 5,731,655 patent but have no way of guiding the flow of the air fuel mixture in the direction that the spark is, and the spark is under the disk vertical to the center line of the sparkplug, as well.", "[0013] The U.S. Pat. No. 3,958,144 patent of 1976 shows ground configurations, that have some variations of porting and have the spark at the top of the plug but some of these look arbitrary and would do little to direct the flow in the direction of the spark, and again if the distances of the spark potential area isn't exact it will impede the spark.", "[0014] It is therefore an object of the preferred embodiments to increase the spark ability of the sparkplug by giving it more spark potential area, and/or, points of spark, that are the exact physical distance.", "[0015] It is another object of the preferred embodiments to direct the rapidly moving air fuel mixture to flow in the direction away from the positive electrode so as to have greater possibility of ionization.", "The rapidly moving air fuel mixture will help push the ionization in the direction of the ground, instead of impeding it.", "[0016] It is an object of the application to disclose the method of manufacture and assembly to make the spark potential area, less than 0.0005 of an inch, respectively to one another, and to precisely set the gaps.", "This is to ensure that the spark gaps are equal in physical distance, and set to the size that is required for a specific application.", "SUMMARY [0017] In accordance with the preferred embodiments, there is provided multiple sparkplugs, to be used in various applications of the internal combustion engine, all with multiple points, and/or spark potential area, all with larger positive electrodes, all with unique structural, and construction element features, and will produce a spark horizontal to the center line of the sparkplug.", "These features will cause the spark to be at the very most top of the sparkplug, and in conjunction with the characteristics of the ground sleeves and the way they let the rapidly moving air fuel mixture flow in and around the spark potential area causes it to be faster.", "The thermo bonding of the positive electrode to the core electrode will create a positive charge, to add to the positive electrodes high voltage in the preferred embodiments of these inventions.", "These provisions in turn will cause the combustion to be faster and easier, this in turn will cause more torque and more house power for the internal combustion engine.", "[0018] Also in accordance with the present invention there are a multiple number of assembly and manufacturing procedures to be used to achieve the preferred embodiments that are used in various applications of the internal combustion engine.", "[0019] The multiple sparkplugs are different only in the fact that they are designed to perform with in the realms of a specific application but can still be used in an enormous number of applications.", "DRAWINGS Figures [0020] FIG. 1 is a perspective exploded view of the primary shell and insulator assembly and the electrode donut.", "[0021] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the primary shell and insulator assembly with electrode donut and weld.", "[0022] FIG. 3 is a front partial cross cut view of the ground sleeve.", "[0023] FIG. 4 is a perspective exploded view of the primary shell and insulator assembly and the ground sleeve.", "[0024] FIG. 5 is a front partial cross cut view of the primary shell and insulator assembly and the ground sleeve after assembly.", "[0025] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the assembled embodiment and the location of the body weld.", "[0026] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment in its final state.", "[0027] FIG. 8 is a front partial cross cut view of the ground sleeve.", "[0028] FIG. 9 is a front partial cross cut view of the primary shell and insulator assembly and the ground sleeve after assembly.", "[0029] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the assembled embodiment and the location of the body weld.", "[0030] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment in its final state.", "[0031] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the primary shell and insulator assembly and the primary sell variation.", "[0032] FIG. 13 is a front partial cross cut view of the ground sleeve.", "[0033] FIG. 14 is a front partial cross cut view of the primary shell and insulator assembly and the ground sleeve after assembly.", "[0034] FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment in its final state.", "[0035] FIG. 16 is a top view of the firing end configuration.", "[0036] FIG. 17 is a partial perspective view of the firing end configuration example of the preferred embodiments.", "[0037] FIG. 18 is a partial perspective view of the firing end configuration example 101 , of the preferred embodiments.", "[0038] FIG. 19 is a partial perspective view of the firing end configuration example 102 , of the preferred embodiments.", "[0039] FIG. 20 is a partial perspective view of the firing end configuration example 103 , of the preferred embodiments.", "[0040] FIG. 21 is a partial perspective view of the firing end configuration example 104 , of the preferred embodiments.", "[0041] FIG. 22 is a partial perspective view of the firing end configuration example 105 , of the preferred embodiments.", "[0042] FIG. 23 is a partial perspective view of the firing end configuration example 106 , of the preferred embodiments.", "[0043] FIG. 24 is a partial perspective view of the firing end configuration example 107 , of the preferred embodiments.", "[0044] FIG. 25 is a partial perspective view of the firing end configuration example 108 , of the preferred embodiments.", "[0045] FIG. 26 is a partial perspective view of the firing end configuration example 109 , of the preferred embodiments.", "[0046] FIG. 27 is a partial perspective view of the firing end configuration example 110 , of the preferred embodiments.", "[0047] FIG. 28 is a partial perspective view of the firing end configuration example 111 , of the preferred embodiments.", "[0048] FIG. 29 is a partial perspective view of the firing end configuration example 112 , of the preferred embodiments.", "[0049] FIG. 30 is a partial perspective view of the firing end configuration example 113 , of the preferred embodiments.", "[0050] FIG. 31 is a partial perspective view of the firing end configuration example 114 , of the preferred embodiments.", "[0051] FIG. 32 is a frontal view of the cylinder showing the piston in relation to the sparkplug and the compressing of the air fuel mixture.", "[0052] FIG. 33 is a frontal cut away view of the cylinder showing the intended flow of the air fuel mixture in and around the firing surfaces of the electrode and grounding prongs.", "[0000] DRAWINGS - Reference Numerals 10 Preferred embodiment 1 12 Preferred embodiment 2 14 Preferred embodiment 3 20 Electrode donut 201 Hole in the center of the electrode donut 203 Firing surface of the electrode donut 30 Primary shell and Insulator assembly 32 The core electrode 34 Insulator 36 Primary shell 361 Barrel portion of primary shell 363 Primary shoulder surface 365 Mounting nut 367 Surface area 38 Terminal 40 Ground sleeve 401 Surface area inside ground sleeve 403 Mating surface 405 Surface at head threshold 42 Ground prongs 44 The mounting threads 46 The base 48 The depth of the protrusion of the prongs 50 Ground sleeve of second embodiment 56 Base of ground sleeve second embodiment 60 Ground sleeve of third embodiment 66 Base of ground sleeve of third embodiment 601 Mounting nut of third embodiment 603 Flange 70 Type 1 cut out 72 Type 2 cut out 74 Type 3 cut out 80 Type 1 port hole 82 Type 2 port hole 84 Type 3 port hole 90 Head 92 Piston 94 Piston rod 100 Example 1 of the firing end configurations 101 Example 2 of the firing end configurations 102 Example 3 of the firing end configurations 103 Example 4 of the firing end configurations 104 Example 5 of the firing end configurations 105 Example 6 of the firing end configurations 106 Example 7 of the firing end configurations 107 Example 8 of the firing end configurations 108 Example 9 of the firing end configurations 109 Example 10 of the firing end configurations 110 Example 11 of the firing end configurations W1 Weld 1 W2 Weld 2 W3 Weld 3 G Spark potential area DETAILED DESCRIPTION First Embodiment [0053] FIG. 1 shows the primary shell and insulator assembly 30 , the primary shell 36 , which is made of a metallic material and houses the insulator 34 , which is made of a ceramic type material, and is used for the electrical isolation of the core electrode 32 and terminal 38 , from the primary shell 36 .", "The core electrode 32 , terminal 38 and the primary shell 36 , are assembled in the same fashion as a standard sparkplug.", "The terminal 38 is the high voltage connection to, the ignition coil.", "The mounting nut 365 is for tightening the sparkplug into the head of the internal combustion engine.", "The barrel portion surface 361 is a locating surface.", "At this stage, the diameter of the barrel portion surface 361 is at least 0.010″ larger than it will be at the time of assembly.", "Primary shoulder surface 363 is a locating surface and will be further machined as well.", "The electrode donut 20 is flat and disk shaped and is from 0.030″ to 0.065″ thick.", "The locating hole 201 is in the center of the electrode donut, and the diameter of the locating hole 201 is 0.002″ to 0.005″ larger than the diameter of the core electrode 32 .", "The surface 203 is the firing surface.", "This is the surface that the spark jumps to from the ground.", "The diameter of firing surface 203 will constitute the size of the spark potential area, but at this stage it is at least 0.010″ larger than it will be at the time of assembly.", "The electrode donut 20 fits on to the core electrode 32 in the direction shown by the arrows and is permanently bonded to the core electrode 32 as weld W 1 , shown in FIG. 2 .", "[0054] FIG. 3 shows the ground sleeve 40 , the mounting threads 44 , the base 46 , cylindrical surface 401 , the mating surface 403 , and the ground prongs 42 .", "The mounting threads 44 are used to screw the sparkplug into the head of the internal combustion engine.", "The ground prongs 42 protrude up from the threaded portion and in to the combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine.", "Cylindrical surface 401 is the inside diameter of the ground sleeve 40 and the inside surface of the ground prongs 42 .", "[0055] After the electrode donut 20 is bonded to the core electrode 32 it will be machined so as to smooth polish the top surface 205 shown in FIG. 4 .", "During this machining step firing surface 203 of the electrode donut 20 and barrel portion surface 361 of the primary shell 36 will be machined in the same step so as to make there diameters exactly concentric in respect to one another.", "Barrel portion surface 361 is machined so the diameter is from 0.001″ to 0.002″ larger than the diameter of cylindrical surface 401 of the ground sleeve 40 .", "The diameter of firing surface 203 of the electrode donut 20 will determine the spark gap of the finished sparkplug.", "For example if you want a 0.040″ spark gap, the formula is;", "the diameter of cylindrical surface 401 −(0.040″×2)=the diameter of the electrode donut 20 , firing surface 203 .", "Primary shoulder surface 363 will also be machined in this process so as to make it precisely perpendicular to the center line of those diameters and parallel with top surface 205 of the electrode donut 20 .", "[0056] After the primary shell and insulator assembly 30 , and the electrode donut 20 have been bonded, and machined, the ground sleeve 40 will be pressed on to the primary shell 36 in the direction shown by the arrows in FIG. 4 .", "The larger diameter of barrel portion surface 361 will make it a very tight fit, so for this process the ground sleeve 40 may be heated to temporarily expand diameter of cylindrical surface 401 and make the press easier.", "The ground sleeve 40 is pressed on until mating surface 403 comes in contact with mating surface 363 of the primary shell 36 , shown in FIG. 5 .", "That will put firing surface 203 of the electrode donut 20 directly across from surface area 401 of the ground prongs 42 .", "The area between these two surfaces is the spark potential area G, or the spark gap as it is more commonly called.", "These areas are where the spark can happen.", "[0057] After ground sleeve 40 is pressed into place it will be permanently attached around the base 46 so as to permanently bond it to the primary shell 36 , shown in FIG. 6 , as W 2 .", "After the ground sleeve 40 is welded to the primary shell 36 , the weld W 2 will be machined so as to be smooth and polished as shown in FIG. 7 as the preferred embodiment 10 in its final form.", "Second Embodiment [0058] Ground sleeve 50 , in FIG. 8 , is pressed on to the primary shell 36 in the same fashion as ground sleeve 40 , as shown and described in FIG. 4 .", "The variation of the base 56 extends down so as to come in close proximity with the surface area 367 of the primary shell 36 , as shown in FIG. 9 .", "After the ground sleeve 50 is pressed into place it is welded to the primary shell 36 at surface 367 filling the proximal area between base 56 and surface 367 and extending around the circumference, shown in FIG. 10 as W 3 .", "After the ground sleeve 50 is welded to the primary shell 36 , the weld W 3 will be machined so as to be smooth and polished as shown in FIG. 11 as the preferred embodiment 12 in its final form.", "Third Embodiment [0059] The mounting nut 365 of the primary shell 36 has been omitted as shown in FIG. 12 .", "The third embodiment uses ground sleeve 60 , shown in FIG. 13 .", "Ground sleeve 60 , is pressed on to the primary shell 36 in the same fashion as ground sleeve 40 , as shown and described in FIG. 4 .", "The variation of the base 66 extends down to include the mounting nut 601 and flange 603 .", "After ground sleeve 60 is pressed into place flange 603 will be bent in, up and around the bottom portion of primary shell 36 as shown in FIG. 14 .", "This method requires no welding.", "FIG. 15 shows preferred embodiment 14 in its final form.", "[0060] FIG. 16 shows a top view of the firing end, the little arrows show how the electromotive force from the ignition coil radiates out from firing surface 203 of the positive electrode 20 to establish an ionization path to ground, that is surface area 401 of the prongs 42 , so that the electrons can flow though the ionization path, and the compressed air fuel mixture like they would do though a solid wire.", "When the electrons flow, they are very hot so as to ignite the air fuel mixture.", "This happens in less than 0.001 of a second, the faster the better.", "The combustion chamber environment is very turbulent do to the compressing of the air fuel mixture, as shown by the little arrows in FIG. 32 , this happens inside the cylinder 90 .", "During the compression, the air fuel mixture is being smashed, and squeezed, by the piston 92 that connects to the piston rod 94 , in the direction of the sparkplugs firing end blowing the ionization path out several times before it can be established.", "So having multiple points, and more spark potential area G, is very beneficial, this is why the spark potential area G must be exactly the same physical distance as one another so as not to have any physical bias.", "This will give the ionization a path of least resistance based on the flow of the air fuel mixture at the precise time of the firing as seen in FIG. 33 .", "[0061] FIG. 17-FIG .", "31 shows prime examples of what we are trying to achieve with the flow of the air fuel mixture, to help establish the ionization path, by pushing it in the direction of the ground prongs 42 , but do to the fact that the environment is so turbulent it may only do this in one, two or three areas, but it only needs one at a time.", "This will greatly improve the performance of the sparkplug which in turn will improve the performance of the internal combustion engine.", "[0062] To determine the exact characteristics of the firing end we use formulas based on the diameter of the ground sleeve cylindrical surface 401 of FIG. 3 that is the distance across the top between the prongs 42 and is the base dimension to determine the characteristics of the spacing of the prongs 42 , with cut outs 70 , 72 , 74 , and the port holes 80 , 82 .", "[0063] For example purposes we use the standard size 14 mm, but can achieve the same characteristics for 18 mm, 12 mm and 10 mm applications these are also common sizes for sparkplugs but would have different base dimensions.", "[0064] FIG. 17 shows example 100 .", "This has no port holes and no cut outs.", "To determine the depth 48 that the firing end will protrude into the combustion chamber we use the base dimension for a 14 mm sparkplug which is 0.375″.", "The formula is 0.375/3=0.125″.", "If we need to go deeper we use a smaller divisor.", "The depth 48 is added to the reach of the sparkplug, which is the distance from the base 46 to surface 405 of the ground sleeve 40 as shown in FIG. 6 .", "Surface 405 is the threshold into the firing cylinder.", "[0065] FIG. 18 shows example 101 .", "This has 8 cut outs 70 and no port holes.", "The depth of the cut outs 70 in example 101 , go to the surface of 405 so that would make it 0.375/3-0.125″ deep, if we need to go shallower we use a smaller divisor.", "The formula for the width of the cut outs 70 are based on the 0.375″ diameter as well.", "This is 0.375/3=0.125″.", "The cut outs 70 are spaced evenly around the ground sleeve 40 in 8 places as shown in FIG. 18 .", "[0066] FIG. 19 shows example 102 .", "This has 6 cut outs 70 and no port holes.", "The cut outs are the same as example 102 except that there are 6.", "As you can see this changes the characteristics of the prongs 42 .", "[0067] FIG. 20 shows example 103 .", "This has 4 cut outs 70 and no port holes.", "[0068] FIG. 21 shows example 104 .", "This has 2 cut outs 70 and no port holes.", "[0069] FIG. 22 shows example 105 .", "This has 8 cut outs 72 and no port holes.", "The cut outs 72 are different so as to be completely round.", "The formula for this is, the base dimension which is 0.375″ is 0.375/3×0.5=0.0625″ radius.", "So the widths of the cut outs 72 are 0.125″ and is basically a half hole, with the center at the end of the prongs 42 so that the bottom of the radios is half of the depth 48 .", "These are spaced evenly around the ground sleeve 40 in 8 places as well.", "[0070] FIG. 23 shows example 106 , this has 6 cut outs 72 and no port holes.", "[0071] FIG. 24 shows example 107 , this has 8 cut outs 74 and no port holes.", "The cut outs 74 are different so as to be thinner and round at the bottom.", "The formula for this is, the base dimension which is 0.375″ is 0.375/6=0.0625″.", "So the widths of the cut outs 74 are 0.0625″.", "These are spaced evenly around the ground sleeve 40 in 8 places as well.", "[0072] FIG. 25 shows example 108 .", "This has 6 cut outs 74 and no port holes.", "[0073] FIG. 26 shows example 109 .", "This has 8 cut outs 72 and 8 port holes 80 .", "The port holes are located directly under the prongs 42 and are located so that the bottom of the port hole 80 is at the threshold of the depth 48 .", "The size of the port holes 80 are determined by the base dimension of 0.375″ as well.", "Which is 0.375/6=0.0625, the diameter of port hole 80 .", "These are spaced evenly around the ground sleeve 40 in 8 places as described as well.", "[0074] FIG. 27 shows example 110 .", "This has 6 cut outs 72 and 6 port holes 80 .", "The port holes are located directly in the center of the prongs and in the center of the depth 48 .", "These are spaced evenly around the ground sleeve 40 in 8 places as described as well.", "[0075] FIG. 28 shows example 111 .", "This has 6 cut outs 74 and 6 port holes 80 .", "[0076] FIG. 29 shows example 112 .", "This has 4 cut outs 70 and 4 port holes 82 .", "The port holes 82 are larger and are located in the center of the prongs 42 with the bottom at the threshold of the depth 48 .", "The size of the port holes 82 are determined by the base dimension of 0.375″ as well.", "Which is 0.375/4=0.0938, the diameter of port hole 82 .", "These are spaced evenly around the ground sleeve 40 in 4 places as described as well.", "[0077] FIG. 30 shows example 113 .", "This has 2 cut outs 70 and 6 port holes 82 .", "As shown.", "[0078] FIG. 31 shows example 114 .", "This has no cut outs and 8 port holes 82 .", "As shown.", "[0079] The multiple sparkplugs are different only in the fact that they are designed to perform with in the realms of a specific application but can still be used in an enormous number of applications and other modifications and changes varied to fit particular operating requirements and environments will be apparent to those skilled in the art, the invention is not considered limited to the example chosen for purposes of disclosure, and covers all changes and modifications which do not constitute departures from the true spirit and scope of this invention.", "[0080] Although they are different in appearance, and have variations of there design they are all, manufactured and assembled, to perform in the true spirit and scope of the invention.", "[0081] Having thus described the invention, what is desired to be protected by Letters Patent is presented in the subsequently appended claims." ]

[ "CLAIM OF PRIORITY [0001] This application claims priority to an application entitled “Plastic optical fiber, plastic optical fiber preform and method for manufacturing the preform,” filed in the Korean Intellectual Property Office on Nov. 27, 2003 and assigned Serial No. 2003-84849, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.", "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1.", "Field of the Invention [0003] The present invention relates to an optical fiber manufactured by drawing an optical fiber preform and, more particularly, to a plastic optical fiber that enables the distributions of refractive indices to be easily adjusted, a plastic optical fiber preform and a method for manufacturing the preform.", "[0004] 2.", "Description of the Related Art [0005] Optical fibers used for communication may be classified into single-mode optical fibers and multi-mode optical fibers.", "Most optical fibers used for long distance and high-speed communication are step-index single-mode optical fibers employing a quartz glass as a basic material.", "A glass optical fiber has a diameter of about 125 μm and includes a core, a transmission area of an optical signal, typically having a diameter of only 8 to 10 μm.", "Due to its size, it is very difficult and expensive to align and connect a glass optical fiber.", "[0006] In contrast, a multi-mode glass optical fiber having a core diameter larger than the single-mode optical fiber can be used for short distance communication such as in a local area network (hereinafter referred to as an LAN).", "However, the cost of manufacturing the multi-mode glass optical fiber is high and the multi-mode glass optical fiber is fragile.", "As such, the multi-mode glass optical fiber is not widely used.", "Instead, metal lines such as twisted pairs or coaxial cables are frequently used in short distance communication having a range within 200 m. However, since the metal lines have a maximum information transmission speed or a transmission bandwidth of 150 Mbps, it cannot meet the recent asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) standard, which requires a transmission speed of 625 Mbps.", "[0007] Accordingly, a focus has been shifted to develop an optical fiber made from a high molecule that can be used in short distance communication such as an LAN.", "For example, a plastic optical fiber has a diameter of 0.5 to 1.0 mm wider than the glass optical fiber, thus its alignment and connection are easy.", "Further, plastic connectors are made from a high molecule through an extrusion molding process and can be incorporated in the conventional alignment and connection methods.", "Therefore, it is anticipated that the plastic optical fiber can largely reduce the manufacturing cost.", "[0008] Meanwhile, the plastic optical fiber has a step-index (hereinafter referred to as an SI) structure in which a refractive index varies in step form in a radial direction, and a graded-index (hereinafter referred to as a GI) in the refractive index gradually varies in the radial direction.", "Since the plastic optical fiber having the SI structure has a large modal dispersion, a signal cannot have a transmission speed faster than that of the metal lines.", "However, the high molecule optical fiber having the GI structure has a high information transmission speed due to a small modal dispersion effect, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.", "Therefore, the high molecule optical fiber is very suitable for a communication medium of short distance and high speed.", "[0009] A conventional optical fiber having a general GI structure and a graph showing variation of refractive indices in the optical fiber are shown in FIGS. 1 a and 1 b .", "The optical fiber 10 includes a core 11 and a clad 12 surrounding the core 11 (see FIG. 1 a ), and a distribution of refractive indices in a direction “a”", "is the same as that of refractive indices in a direction “b”", "(see FIG. 1 b ).", "As shown, the distribution has the same refractive index at locations equally distanced from the center of the optical fiber regardless of circumferential positions.", "[0010] A manufacturing process involving the conventional plastic optical fiber with the GI structure may be classified into two types as follows.", "[0011] In the first process, a raw material of monomers or high molecule is injected into and polymerized in a rotating tube or reactor for manufacturing an optical fiber preform, while forming a clad having a constant refractive index in a central direction from the wall surface of the tube or reactor.", "In the same manner, a core material having a refractive index different from that of the clad is put into the tube or the reactor, thereby achieving a plastic optical fiber that has various distributions of refractive indices increasing or decreasing gradually from its periphery to a core center.", "[0012] In the second process, which involves a continuous extrusion, a material having a constant refractive index, which will become a clad, and a material having a refractive index different from that of the clad, which will become a core, are continuously provided to the tube or the reactor, so that diffusion can occur in an interface area between the core and the clad during the extrusion, thereby achieving gradual variation in a refractive index.", "[0013] However, during the polymerization process, it is not easy to selectively adjust the distributions of refractive indices for a desired distribution and to achieve distributions of refractive indices that continuously increase or decrease.", "Further, it is difficult to cause diffusion for changing refractive indices gradually in a short time during the actual extrusion.", "Therefore, it is difficult to manufacture an optical fiber which has distributions of refractive indices continuously increasing or decreasing from the clad to the core.", "SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0014] Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems occurring in the prior art and provides additional advantages, by providing a plastic optical fiber capable of adjusting the distributions of effective refractive indices, a plastic optical fiber perform, and a method for manufacturing the preform.", "[0015] In one embodiment, there is provided a plastic optical fiber preform comprising: a substrate having one or more holes, and one or more materials for refractive index adjustment, which are filled in the holes and are made from materials having refractive indices different from a refractive index of a material of constituting the substrate, wherein distributions of the refractive indices of the optical fiber preform are adjusted by arrangement types, distributions, and a number of holes formed in the substrate and refractive indices of the materials.", "[0016] Preferably, the materials for refractive index adjustment are inserted into the holes.", "[0017] More preferably, the plastic optical fiber perform has cross-sectional planes each including a center axis of the plastic optical fiber perform which have different distributions of refractive indices from each other.", "[0018] In another embodiment, there is provided a method for manufacturing a plastic optical fiber perform comprising the steps of: a) forming a clad substrate having one or more holes and a constant refractive index;", "b) forming a waveguide of light by means of materials for refractive index adjustment which have refractive indices different from that of the clad substrate and are inserted into the holes;", "c) inserting the materials for refractive index adjustment into the clad substrate;", "and d) removing gaps between the clad substrate and the materials for refractive index adjustment, wherein distributions of the refractive indices of the optical fiber preform are adjusted by arrangement types, distributions, and a number of the holes formed in the clad substrate and refractive indices of the materials.", "[0019] Preferably, the clad substrate is a base high molecule member having a constant refractive index polymerized from one or more monomers.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0020] The above features and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: [0021] FIG. 1 a is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of a conventional plastic optical fiber;", "[0022] FIG. 1 b is a graph showing the variation of refractive indices in FIG. 1 a;", "[0023] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of a plastic optical fiber preform according to one embodiment of the present invention;", "[0024] FIG. 3 is a graph showing the variation of refractive indices according to a direction “a”", "in FIG. 2 ;", "[0025] FIG. 4 is a graph showing the variation of refractive indices according to a direction “d”", "in FIG. 2 ;", "[0026] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of a plastic optical fiber preform according to another embodiment of the present invention;", "[0027] FIG. 6 is a graph showing the variation of refractive indices according to a direction “a”", "in FIG. 5 ;", "and, [0028] FIG. 7 is a graph showing the variation of refractive indices according to a direction “d”", "in FIG. 5 .", "DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT [0029] Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.", "The same reference numerals are used to designate the same elements as those shown in other drawings.", "For the purposes of clarity and simplicity, a detailed description of known functions and configuration incorporated herein will be omitted as it may make the subject matter of the present invention unclear.", "[0030] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the structure of a plastic optical fiber preform according to an embodiment of the present invention.", "[0031] The plastic optical fiber preform 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention includes one or more independent holes 111 having circular or polygonal shapes, a base high molecule member 110 having a constant refractive index polymerized from one or more monomers, and one or more high molecule members 120 having refractive indices different from that of the base high molecule member 110 , the high molecule member 120 being filled in the holes 111 for achieving the refractive index adjustment.", "[0032] According to the teachings of the present invention, each hole 111 defines a core portion through which light can be guided, and distribution types, distributions, and the number of the holes 111 can be variously adjusted in order to achieve desired distributions of the effective refractive indices.", "[0033] Each high molecule member 120 , which is shaped like a rod, has a refractive index different from that of the base high molecule member 110 forming the clad, and is inserted into and filled in the hole 111 , which is formed in the base high molecule member 110 .", "Herein, the refractive index of the plastic optical fiber preform 100 can be selectively adjusted by changing the refractive index of each high molecule member 120 .", "For instance, the refractive indices of the high molecule members 120 may gradually decrease in a direction from the center to a periphery of the preform 100 , or may gradually increase in a direction from the center to a pheriphery of the preform 100 , or may gradually decrease and then increase in a direction from the center to a periphery of the preform 100 , or may gradually increase and then decrease in a direction from the center to a periphery of the preform 100 .", "[0034] FIG. 3 is a graph showing the variation of refractive indices according to a direction “a”", "in FIG. 2 , and FIG. 4 is a graph showing the variation of refractive indices according to a direction “d”", "in FIG. 2 .", "In FIGS. 3 and 4 , a reference mark “X”", "represents the radius of the preform, a reference mark “c”", "represents the center of the preform, a reference mark “r”", "represents the distance from the center of the preform, and the reference mark “Δn”", "represents the variation of refractive indices.", "[0035] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 , distributions of the refractive indices in the direction “a”", "are not equal to those of the refractive indices in the direction “b.”", "The distributions of the refractive indices vary according to the distributions of the holes formed in the base high molecule member 110 and the refractive indices of the high molecule members 120 inserted into the holes.", "[0036] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a structure of a plastic optical fiber preform according to another embodiment of the present invention.", "FIG. 6 is a graph showing the variation of refractive indices according to a direction “a”", "in FIG. 5 , and FIG. 7 is a graph showing the variation of refractive indices according to a direction “d”", "in FIG. 5 .", "[0037] Referring to FIG. 5 , similarly to the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 , the plastic optical fiber preform 200 includes one or more independent holes 211 having circular or polygonal shapes, a base high molecule member 210 having a constant refractive index, and one or more high molecule members 220 having refractive indices different from that of the base high molecule member 210 , the high molecule members 220 being filled in the holes 211 , having rod shapes, for achieving the refractive index adjustment.", "[0038] As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 , distributions of the holes 211 gradually decrease in a direction going farther from the center “c”", "of the preform 200 , and the inserted high molecule members 220 for the refractive index adjustment have refractive indices different from each other.", "In the previous embodiment in FIG. 2 , the holes 111 have a constant distribution regardless of the distance from the center of the preform 100 , and the refractive indices of the high molecule members are different from each other.", "[0039] Now, a manufacturing method of the plastic optical fiber preform 200 having the construction according to the present invention will be described.", "[0040] First, each base high molecule member and each high molecule member used for refractive index adjustment are formed through a polymerization reactor and forming processes.", "The holes having circular or polygonal shapes are formed in the base high molecule member so that light can be guided therethrough, and the distribution and the distribution type of the holes are adjusted, as explained with reference to FIGS. 2-7 , to achieve the predetermined distributions of effective refractive indices.", "The high molecule members for refractive index adjustment are formed in such a manner that they can be inserted into the holes each having a circular or polygonal shape formed in the base high molecule member.", "Further, the high molecule members for refractive index adjustment have refractive indices different from that of the base high molecule member.", "Note that the high molecule members for refractive index adjustment may have refractive indices different from each other.", "[0041] Herein, table 1 shows suitable high molecule materials and their values for the refractive indices, and table 2 shows suitable materials used for refractive index adjustment and their refractive indices.", "Note that these materials shown in the table 1 and table 2 are for illustrative purposes;", "thus, they should not impose limitation on the scope of the invention.", "TABLE 1 usable high molecule materials and refractive indices High molecule Refractive index Poly-2,2,2-tryfluoroethyl ethacrylate 1.4200 Poly methacrylate 1.4920 Poly-4-methylcyclohexyl methacrylate 1.4975 Polycyclohexyl methacrylate 1.5066 Polyfurfuryl methacrylate 1.5381 Poly-1-phenylrthyl methacrylate 1.5487 Poly-1-phenylcyclohexyl methacrylate 1.5645 Polybezyl methacrylate 1.5680 Polyphenyl methacrylate 1.5706 [0042] TABLE 2 usable materials for refractive index adjustment (dopants) Materials for refractive index adjustment Refractive index Benzyl-n-butyl phthalate (BBP) 1.5400 Dibenzyl ether (DBE) 1.5620 Phenoxy toluene (PT) 1.5730 1,1 bis-(3,4, dimethyiphenyl) 1.5640 Diphenyl ether (DPS) 1.5790 Biphenyl (DP) 1.5870 Diphenyl sulfide (DPS) 1.6330 Diphenyl methane (DPM) 1.5770 1-methoxyphenyl-1-phenylethane 1.5710 Benzyl benzoate 1.5680 Bromobenzene 1.5570 o-dichlorobenzene 1.5510 m-dichlorobenzene 1.5430 1,2-dibromoethane 1.5380 3-phenyl-1-propanol 1.5320 Benzyl methacrylate (BzMA) 1.5670 Dioctyl phthalate (DOP) 1.4860 [0043] Next, the high molecule members use for refractive index adjustment are inserted into the base high molecule member and gaps, which may occur between the base high molecule member, and the high molecule members for refractive index adjustment are removed through an over-jacketing (OJ) or a drawing process.", "[0044] In the present invention as described above, an effective refractive index can be adjusted according to the distribution types, the distributions, and the number of the holes, which are formed in the base high molecule member to form the clad, and the refractive indices of the high molecule members used for refractive index adjustment to form the core.", "Further, according to the present invention, an optical fiber, which has a superior transmission characteristic (i.e., an optical loss and optical non-linearity are very low), can be easily manufactured compared to the prior art, and an optical fiber having various optical characteristics can be achieved.", "[0045] While the invention has been shown and described with reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims." ]

[ "This is a 371 of International Patent Application No. PCT/EP96/00397, with an international filing date of Jan. 30, 1996, now pending, which claims priority from United Kingdom Patent Application No. 9503866.7 with a filing date of Jan. 30, 1995.", "TECHNICAL FIELD This invention relates to the detection of variations in human histamine H 2 receptors, and more particularly to the development of new compounds useful in the sequencing and identification of a human histamine H 2 receptor and their use in the diagnosis and treatment of certain human disorders, for example, brain disorders.", "The invention also relates to new compounds and a method for detecting an allelic polymorphic variation within the human population for the gene encoding the histamine H 2 receptor and their use in the diagnosis and treatment of human disorders.", "BACKGROUND ART The human H 2 receptor was first identified by Black et al Nature (1972), 236, 385-390.", "This was followed by the demonstration of the receptor in the mammalian brain by Baudry et al (1975) Nature 253, 362-363, and Haas and Bucher (1975) Nature 255, 634-635.", "Gantz et al (1991) Biochem.", "Biophys.", "Res.", "Comm.", "178,3, 1386-1392 have recently identified the sequence of a human H 2 receptor cDNA from gastric parietal cells by using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and degenerated oligonucleotide primers whose sequence was obtained from the canine H 2 receptor previously cloned by this group, Gantz et al (1991) Proc.", "Nat.", "Acad.", "Sci.", "USA 88, 429-433.", "This sequence was characterised as an intronless gene encoding a typical seven transmembrane domain aminergic receptor protein.", "The receptor is coupled to heterotrimeric GTPases (G proteins), but differs from other monoamine receptors in this G protein coupled superfamily in several respects.", "The human gastric H 2 receptor is shorter than most other receptors in this class (359 amino acids) and lacks the two serine residues in the fifth transmembrane region (TM5).", "There exists instead an aspartate and a threonine residue, so far unique in this region.", "These two residues may be important for binding with the nitrogen atoms of the imidazole ring of histamine as suggested by Birdsall (1991) Trends in Pharmacological Sci.", "Jan, 12, 9-10.", "Histamine is a natural constituent of many organs and tissues including the gastrointestinal tract, the immune system and the brain, Green et al (1987) Agents and Actions 22, 1-15.", "It is a central neurotransmitter in the brain and is formed in the posterior hypothalamus from exogenous histidine by histidine decarboxylase (HDC).", "It is subsequently metabolised by histamine methyltransferase (HMT), Prell et al (1986) Ann.", "Rev. Neurosci.", "9, 209-254.", "The cell bodies and neuronal pathways for histamine have been mapped in the human brain using immunocytochemistry by Panula et al (1990) Neuroscience 34, 127-132.", "Its cells project from the tuberomamillary nucleus of the posterior hypothalamus to almost every region of the brain.", "There are three known histamine receptors;", "H 1 , H 2 and H 3 , the latter functioning as an autoreceptor.", "The H 2 receptor specifically has been localised in the human brain by Traiffort et al (1992) J. of Neurochem.", "59, 1, 290-299.", "using receptor autoradiography.", "Histamine is known to have significant effects in the central nervous system (CNS).", "It has been implicated in the CNS mediated mechanisms of arousal ever since the sedating effect of H 1 receptor antagonists (eg,.", "chlorpheniramine, chloropromazine) had been noticed clinically.", "The use of H 2 receptor antagonists in the human brain however, has shown, that these compounds, unlike those acting on the H 1 receptor, do not produce any effect on psychomotor functioning, or a subjective feeling of sedation or arousal in healthy subjects, White et al (1988) Psychopharmacology 95, 1-14.", "Some H 2 receptor antagonists (eg.", "cimetidine) are known to cause confusion in elderly or severely medically ill patients, perhaps in part due to a co-existing anti-cholinergic effect.", "H 1 and H 2 receptor antagonists in large doses have been reported to cause hallucinations, Csillag et al (1973) Med.", "J. Aust.", "1, 653-654, Argawal (1978) J. Am.", "Med.", "Assoc.", "240, 214.", "Animal studies have shown that histamine applied directly to the hippocampus, where there is the highest level of activity of the H 2 receptor, will induce psychomotor withdrawal and decreased exploratory behaviour.", "The above evidence has led to the conclusion that H 1 receptor systems are excitatory in the terms of arousal and motivated behaviour whilst H 2 receptor systems are inhibitory in this respect, Alvarez and Banzan (1985) Physiol.", "and Beh.", "34, 661-664 and (1986) Physiol.", "and Beh.", "37, 39-45, White et al (1988) supra.", "The H 2 receptor is a site of action of various compounds used in the treatment of psychiatric disorders eg.", "amitriptyline and mianserin, Traiffort et al (1992) supra.", "Kaminsky et al (1990) The Lancet 335, 1351-1352 and (1991) Schizophrenia Bull.", "4, 318-319 have reported the successful response of patients with chronic, predominantly negative type schizophrenia, to the highly specific H 2 receptor antagonist famotidine.", "For example in one patient there was a substantial amelioration of the deficit symptoms of schizophrenia (eg apathy, social withdrawal, and blunted affect) while on famotidine, relapse in these symptoms on withdrawal, and improvement on re-institution of this drug, Kaminski, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5070101 and 5177081.", "Prell et al (1992) Abstract, part 1, 199.6 Soc.", "for Neurosci.", "Annual Meeting, Anaheim Calif.", "have shown substantially raised levels of N-tele-methyl histamine, a metabolite of histamine in the cerebrospinal fluid of patients with schizophrenia which correlates with those patients with the occurrence of negative symptoms of this disorder assessed using the Psychiatric Symptoms Assessment Scale.", "These levels were not significantly different between patients free from medication and those on neuroleptic therapy.", "It is therefore postulated that there is an increase in histaminergic activity in patients with chronic schizophrenia.", "The disclosures of all the above mentioned publications are incorporated herein by reference for all purposes.", "Additionally, histamine, acting via its receptors, including the H 2 receptor, is believed to be critically involved in a number of diseases of organs other than the brain;", "these include peptic ulceration, allergic reactions, including asthma, immune-mediated disorders, and possibly some tumours.", "The histamine H 2 receptor is one of many receptors in the body.", "Compounds used to treat many diseases work by activating a receptor or inhibiting the action if its natural ligand.", "Variations in receptors amongst the population are known to be caused by allelic variation and this variation, can alter the response of a disease to a drug amongst patients.", "An example of this would be the response to clozapine, used to treat, schizophrenia associated with allelic variation in the 5-HT 2A receptor demonstrated by Arranz el al (1995) Lancet, 346(8970), 281-282.", "SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is concerned in one aspect with improvements in the diagnosis and/or treatment of human neurological and psychiatric disorders, and more particularly in the diagnosis and treatment of schizophrenia.", "In another aspect, the invention is concerned with improvements in the diagnosis and/or treatment of diseases of other systems or organs of the human body.", "As a first step to the present invention, the Applicants devised a new oligonucleotide probe to the human H 2 receptor mRNA in accordance with the published cDNA sequence available for the gastric parietal cell.", "Surprisingly, studies using this probe with in-situ hybridization histochemistry on human post-mortem brain tissue produced evidence of a mismatch in the nucleotide sequence for the brain H 2 receptor and the sequence for the gastric parietal cell H 2 receptor.", "This discovery was made by recording melt-curve estimations for the optimum hybridization incubation temperature using the method of Davis et al (1986) "Basic Methods in Molecular Biology"", "page 77 Elsevier Science Publishing Co", "It was found that the sequence mismatch is of the order of 10%.", "It was apparent, therefore, that there is a hitherto unrecognised allele or subtype of the human histamine H 2 receptor gene, which may be specific to the brain.", "In a first aspect, the invention provides a sequence for a novel allele of a human histamine H 2 receptor gene comprising up to six single base substitutions compared with the cDNA sequence published by Gantz et al (1991) Biochem Biophys Res Comm 178,3,1386-1392 as follows: ______________________________________site of change base change amino acid alteration______________________________________398 T - C Val - Gly525 A - T Lys - Asn620 A - G Lys - Asp649 A - G Asn - Asp692 A - G Lys - Arg802 G - A Val - Met______________________________________ In another aspect, the invention provides a nucleotide sequence coding for a region of a human histamine H 2 receptor, comprising one or more of the following base substitutions compared with the published sequence in Gantz et al (1991) supra, and from which the positional notation is taken: ______________________________________ site of change base______________________________________ 398 C 525 T 620 G 649 G 692 G 802 A______________________________________ The nucleotide sequence of the invention can, for example, comprise the following sequence (as also listed in SEQ ID NO: 1):5'CAGCTCGGGTCGCCATCTCTCTGGTCTTAATTTGGGTCATCTCCATTACCCTGTCCTTTCTGTCTATCCACCTGGGGTGGAACAGCAGGAACGAGACCAGCAAGGGCAATCATACCACCTCTAAGTGCAATGTCCAGGTCAATGAAGTGTACGGGCTGGTGGATGGGCTGGTCACCTTCTACCTCCCGCTACTGATCATGTGCATCACCTACTACCGCATCTTCAGGGTCGCCCGGGATCAGGCCAAGAGGATCGATCACATTAGCTCCTGGAAGGCAGCCACCATCAGGGAGCACAGAGCCACAGTGACACTGGCCGCCGTCATGGGGGCCTTCATCATCTGCTGGTTTCCCTACTTCACCGCGTTTGTGTACCGTGGGCTGAGAGGGGATGATGCCATCAATGAGATGTTA 3'", "As a specific exemplification, the nucleotide sequence of the invention can comprise the following sequence (as also listed in SEQ ID NO: 2):5'CCAATGGCACAGCCTCTTCCTTTTGCCTGGACTCTACCGCATGCAAGATCACCATCACCGTGGTCCTTGCGGTCCTCATCCTCATCACCGTTGCTGGCAATGTGGTCGTCTGTCTGGCCGTGGGCTTGAACCGCCGGCTCCGCAACCTGACCAATTGTTTCATCGTGTCCTTGGCTATCACTGACCTGCTCCTCGGCCTCCTGGTGCTGCCCTTCTCTGCCATCTACCAGCTGTCCTGCAAGTGGAGCTTTGGCAAGGTCTTCTGCAATATCTACACCAGCCTGGATGTGATGCTCTGCACAGCCTCCATTCTTAACCTCTTCATGATCAGCCTCGACCGGTACTGCGCTGTCATGGACCCACTGCGGTACCCTGTGCTGGTCACCCCAGCTCGGGTCGCCATCTCTCTGGTCTTAATTTGGGTCATCTCCATTACCCTGTCCTTTCTGTCTATCCACCTGGGGTGGAACAGCAGGAACGAGACCAGCAAGGGCAATCATACCACCTCTAAGTGCAATGTCCAGGTCAATGAAGTGTACGGGCTGGTGGATGGGCTGGTCACCTTCTACCTCCCGCTACTGATCATGTGCATCACCTACTACCGCATCTTCAGGGTCGCCCGGGATCAGGCCAAGAGGATCGATCACATTAGCTCCTGGAAGGCAGCCACCATCAGGGAGCACAGAGCCACAGTGACACTGGCCGCCGTCATGGGGGCCTTCATCATCTGCTGGTTTCCCTACTTCACCGCGTTTGTGTACCGTGGGCTGAGAGGGGATGATGCCATCAATGAGATGTTAGAAGCCATCGTTCTGTGGCTGGGCTATGCCAACTCAGCCCTGAACCCCATCCTGTATGCTGCGCTGAACAGAGACTTCCGCACCGGGTACCAACAGCTCTTCTGCTGCAGGCTGGCCAACCGCAACTCCCACAAAACTTCTCTGAGGTCCAACGCCTCTCAGCTGTCCAGGACCCAAAGCCGAGAACCCAGGCAACAGGAAGAGAAACCCCTGAAGCTCCAGGTGTGGAGTGGGACAGAAGTCACG3'", "In another aspect of the invention, a series of new oligonucleotide primers have been developed for the identification of sequences in a sample comprising a human histamine H 2 receptor DNA, cDNA or RNA originating from a tissue sample or body fluid.", "In this aspect, the invention provides new oligonucleotides, suitable for use as primers for the amplification of DNA corresponding to a region of a human histamine H 2 receptor, having nucleotide sequences selected from: 1) 5'", "CCAATGGCACAGCCTCTT 3'", "(as listed in SEQ ID NO: 3) 2) 5'", "CGTGACTTCTGTCCCACT 3'", "(as listed in SEQ ID NO: 4) 3) 5'", "CCAGGCAACAGGAAGAGA 3'", "(as listed in SEQ ID NO: 5) 4) 5'", "TCTCTTCCTGTTGCCTGG 3'", "(as listed in SEQ ID NO: 6) 5) 5'", "GCAGCAGAAGAGCTGTTG 3'", "(as listed in SEQ ID NO: 7) 6) 5'", "TCCAGGTCAATGAAGTGT 3'", "(as listed in SEQ ID NO: 8) 7) 5'", "ACACTTCATTGACCTGGA 3'", "(as listed in SEQ ID NO: 9) 8) 5'", "CCAAGAGGATCAATCACA 3'", "(as listed in SEQ ID NO: 10) 9) 5'", "TGTGATTGATCCTCTTGG 3'", "(as listed in SEQ ID NO: 11) and a diagnostic kit comprising one or more of the new oligonucleotides.", "The direction and base start numbers for the novel oligonucleotide primers are as follows: ______________________________________Primer Base Start No.______________________________________1) Upstream 82) Downstream 1036 and 10953) Upstream 9954) Downstream 1012 (no.", "3) in reverse)5) Downstream 898 and 11716) Upstream 5277) Downstream 544 (no.", "6) in reverse)8) Upstream 6389) Downstream 655 (no.", "8) in reverse)______________________________________ Information on the human histamine H 2 receptor was obtained from the MRC Daresbury database accessing "Genem 61"", "File no. M64799--Human histamine H 2 receptor gene.", "The above mentioned substitutions alter and in some instances introduce or remove new sites for cleavage by specific restriction endonucleases as follows: ______________________________________base change site alters restriction map of:______________________________________398 AluI, AvaI, BspWI, BsrI, CviJI525620 Eco57649 ClaI, Sau3A, TaqI692802 MnlI______________________________________ The invention further provides a diagnostic kit comprising one or more of the new oligonucleotide primers and, preferably, one or more of the above mentioned endonucleases, optionally with one or more buffers.", "A kit may be used to establish genotype or base variations.", "This information may be used in predicting an individuals disease susceptibility, disease course, prognosis and/or response to treatment as would be understood by those skilled in the art from the disclosure contained herein.", "The treatment response or efficacy which may be predicted may include drug treatment such as for example, use of H 2 receptor antagonist like famotidine or other forms of treatment such as social or psychological intervention.", "Eucaryotic expression vectors comprising a DNA sequence coding for a protein and or a peptide according to the invention are new materials and are also included in the invention.", "Host cells, for example, cloned human cell lines, such as NTera 2 c.d1, can be transformed using the new expression vectors and are also included in the invention.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a photograph of an agarose gel containing isolated nucleic acids of the invention.", "DETAILED DESCRIPTION Expression vectors and host cells transformed thereby, in accordance with the invention, can be prepared, for example, as detailed below, and the encoded protein studied, by one or more of the following exemplary methods: 1.", "Total RNA is extracted from homogenised human tissue, eg.", "brain, by the acid guanidine thiocyanate method (Chomczynski &", "Saach (1987), anal.", "Biochem.", "161, 156-159).", "Messenger RNA (mRNA) is purified from this by hybridisation of oligo(d)T to the polyadenylated tails present on the majority of mRNA's, for example, using the Promega PolyAttract® system.", "Reverse transcription of the mRNA using specific reverse transcriptase enzyme, eg.", "Superscipt II, Gibco BRL, is followed by PCR amplification of the resultant product using specific oligonucleotide primers, for example, those previously described.", "The resulting amplified cDNA is ligated into an expression vector, eg.", "pGEMEX®-1 vector available from Promega.", "Competent cells, eg.", "bacterial strain JM109(DE3), also available from Promega, are transformed using this vector, effective transforms selected and cultured.", "Expression of the encoded protein is then induced with a suitable promotor, eg.", "IPTG, and the expressed protein purified from the cell culture using standard biochemical procedures, eg.", "cell lysis and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.", "An alternative method for examining the functional protein encoded by the cDNA described above, is to induce transcription of the cloned cDNA, as above, and to purify the specific mRNA from the cell culture as described.", "The purified mRNA is introduced into competent cells, eg.", "frog oocytes or Chinese hamster ovary cells, and the function of the encoded protein studied by standard pharmacological and physiological techniques, eg.", "microelectrode recording and receptor binding techniques.", "As 1 above, but introducing the cDNA into a coupled transcription-translation system, eg.", "TNT, Promega with subsequent purification and analysis of the encoded protein as described.", "The invention is illustrated by the following Examples: EXAMPLE 1 This example describes the identification and sequencing of an allelic human H 2 receptor gene using certain novel oligonucleotide primers according to the invention.", "A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) product is prepared from human DNA.", "DNA was extracted from human brain tissue by first pulverizing approximately 1 g of tissue in liquid nitrogen then adding to 10 ml lysis buffer (0.32M sucrose, 10 mM Tris, 5 mM magnesium chloride 1% Triton X-100 pH8.0).", "This solution was centrifuged (9,000 rpm 15 mins) to pellet the tissue, the lysis buffer was drawn off and the pellet resuspended in 4.5 ml 75 mM sodium chloride, 24 mM EDTA.", "This solution was then incubated for 3 hours with 250 μl 10% SDS and 2 mg proteinase K at 56° C. This aqueous phase was then extracted twice with 5 ml of phenol:chloroform:isoamyl alcohol (25:24:1).", "Then sodium acetate to 0.3M pH7.5 and 2 volumes of ethanol (at -20° C.) were added to the aqueous phase and the DNA hooked out into TE buffer.", "The concentration of the DNA was determined by measuring the optical density of the sample, at a wavelength of 260 nm.", "The DNA was then amplified by the polymerase chain reaction using the oligonucleotide primers 1) and 2) (as hereinbefore described) for 36 cycles.", "The timing for each cycle was as follows;", "1 min at 94° C., 1.5 min at 56° C. and 2 mins at 72° C., this was then followed by a 10 min extension at 72° C. (Amplitaq DNA polymerase Perkin-Elmer Cetus).", "This reaction produced a DNA fragment of 1047 base pair when analyzed by gel electrophoresis.", "Following PCR amplification of the DNA, the PCR products were immediately ligated and cloned into the TA cloning system (InvitroGen).", "The transformed cells were plated onto Luria-Bertani plates containing 50 μl/ml amplicillin and 1.6 mg X-Gal.", "Plates were then incubated overnight at 37° C., then moved to 4° C. for 4 hours to allow for colour development.", "Positive (white colonies) were then analyzed by growing a 5 ml culture overnight at 37° C. extracting the plasmids (Qiaspin minipreps (Qiagen)) and performing an EcoRI digest to ensure the correct size product was contained in the plasmid.", "The plasmid used to clone the PCR product is the pCR™II Vector, which is transformed into One Shot™ INVαF'", "Competent cells.", "Both strands of the cloned PCR product were sequenced using the dideoxynucleotide chain-terminated method, carried out with Sequenase version 2.0 (Amersham/USB).", "Partial sequencing of short stretches of the cloned DNA utilised all the oligonucleotide primers 1) to 9) hereinbefore described.", "The cloned PCR product was shown to be identical to the gastric cDNA of Gantz et al except for the previously mentioned six single base changes.", "Results and discussions The sequence derived from the above described method is listed below and in SEQ ID NO: 2.5'CCAATGGCACAGCCTCTTCCTTTTGCCTGGACTCTACCGCATGCAAGATCACCATCACCGTGGTCCTTGCGGTCCTCATCCTCATCACCGTTGCTGGCAATGTGGTCGTCTGTCTGGCCGTGGGCTTGAACCGCCGGCTCCGCAACCTGACCAATTGTTTCATCGTGTCCTTGGCTATCACTGACCTGCTCCTCGGCCTCCTGGTGCTGCCCTTCTCTGCCATCTACCAGCTGTCCTGCAAGTGGAGCTTTGGCAAGGTCTTCTGCAATATCTACACCAGCCTGGATGTGATGCTCTGCACAGCCTCCATTCTTAACCTCTTCATGATCAGCCTCGACCGGTACTGCGCTGTCATGGACCCACTGCGGTACCCTGTGCTGGTCACCCCAGCTCGGGTCGCCATCTCTCTGGTCTTAATTTGGGTCATCTCCATTACCCTGTCCTTTCTGTCTATCCACCTGGGGTGGAACAGCAGGAACGAGACCAGCAAGGGCAATCATACCACCTCTAAGTGCAATGTCCAGGTCAATGAAGTGTACGGGCTGGTGGATGGGCTGGTCACCTTCTACCTCCCGCTACTGATCATGTGCATCACCTACTACCGCATCTTCAGGGTCGCCCGGGATCACGCCAAGAGGATCGATCACATTAGCTCCTGGAAGGCAGCCACCATCAGGGAGCACAGAGCCACAGTGACACTGGCCGCCGTCATGGGGGCCTTCATCATCTGCTGGTTTCCCTACTTCACCGCGTTTGTGTACCGTGGGCTGAGAGGGGATGATGCCATCAATGAGATGTTAGAAGCCATCGTTCTGTGGCTGGGCTATGCCAACTCAGCCCTGAACCCCATCCTGTATGCTGCGCTGAACAGAGACTTCCGCACCGGGTACCAACAGCTCTTCTGCTGCAGGCTGGCCAACCGCAACTCCCACAAAACTTCTCTGAGGTCCAACGCCTCTCAGCTGTCCAGGACCCAAAGCCGAGAACCCAGGCAACAGGAAGAGAAACCCCTGAAGCTCCAGGTGTGGAGTGGGACAGAAGTCACG3'", "EXAMPLE 2 This example describes the confirmation of the presence of the base changes in a larger population.", "This is made possible by an assay based upon PCR amplification of a 909 base pair fragment of the H 2 receptor gene from human DNA, followed by cleavage utilising specific restriction endonucleases.", "It will apparent to those skilled in the art that single base changes could be detected using other techniques known to those in the art which include single stranded confirmational polymorphisms (sscp), chemical cleavage, PCR thermoligase reactions etc.", "Samples of blood are collected from human volunteers into EDTA coated tube, 1 ml of this blood is heated to 100° C. for 15 minutes then spun in a microcentrifuge at 13,000Xg for 15 minutes.", "This supernatant is collected, and the cell debris is discarded.", "Then 0.5-3 μl of this supernatant is utilised as template DNA for a PCR reaction to amplify a portion of the receptor gene between bases 8 and 915.", "The conditions for this PCR reaction are 3 mM MgCl 2 (Gibco BRL),1X PCR buffer (Gibco BRL) 1 mM of each dATP, dGTP, dGTP and dTTP (Promega) 10 pmoles of each of oligonucleotide primers 1) and 5) (hereinbefore described) and 1 unit Taq DNA polymerase (Gibco BRL), in a total volume adjusted to 50 μl by sterile DNAse free water.", "This mix is then subjected to the following conditions;", "96° C. 5 minutes, then 35 cycles of 96° C. for 1 minute, 56° C. for 1 minute, 72° C. for 1 minute and 20 seconds.", "10 μl of the resultant products are then analysed on a 1% agarose gel to ensure that the above reaction is correctly amplifying the target DNA fragment.", "Then 11.5 μl of the PCR mix is added to 2 units Taq1 restriction endonuclease (Fermentas) and 1.5 μl of 10X buffer and incubated at 65° C. for 3-24 hours.", "The products of this reaction are then analysed on a 2.5% agarose gel.", "If the original sequence described by Gantz (nominated H 2 A) has been amplified, then bands of 574 and 335 base pairs are seen which indicates that the individual is an A/A homozygote.", "If the sequence described in Example 1 (nominated H 2 B) has been amplified, then following the TaqI cleavage of the PCR product, bands of 335, 306 and 268 base pairs can be seen, indicating that that individual is a B/B homozygote.", "If bands of 574, 335, 306 and 268 base pairs can be seen, then that individual is an A/B heterozygote.", "Typical results are illustrated in FIG. 1, which shows a 2.5% TBE Agarose gel stained with ethidium bromide, showing TαqI digestion patterns of a 909 base pair PCR fragment, from 4 separate individuals.", "Lanes A+G - 100 base pair DNA marker (Gibco BRL) Lanes B+F - Band pattern indicative of an A/B heterozygote Lanes C+E - Band pattern indicative of an B/B homozygote Lane D - Blank Arrows indicated the sizes of the DNA fragments in lanes B to F. Primers: Oswell DNA Services) 1) upstream: 5'", "CCAATGGCACAGCCTCTT 3'", "(as in SEQ ID NO:1) 2) upstream: 5'", "CCAGGCAACAGGAAGAGA 3'", "(as in SEQ ID NO:5) 5) downstream: 5'", "GCAGCAGAAGAGCTGTTG 3'", "(as in SEQ ID NO:7) EXAMPLE 3 A method as described in example 2 is applied to a series of DNA samples extracted from schizophrenic individuals, their first degree relatives, and normal controls.", "There is observed a statistically significant difference of P less than 0.01 the pattern seen in the genotype of these individuals, as described in the table below: ______________________________________ H.sub[.", "].2 GenotypeDiagnosis A/A A/B B/B______________________________________Controls 12.1% 48.5% 39.4%Schizophrenia 9.8% 26.8% 63.4%1st degree 6.1% 12.1% 81.8%relatives______________________________________ Discussion The variable sequence is explained by a polymorphic allelic variation within the human population for the gene encoding the H 2 receptor protein.", "This allelic polymorphism may lead to substantial variation in the effect of activation of the encoded receptor by histamine, either in the efficacy of histamine binding, the duration of activation, or the intracellular effects of such activation.", "It is envisaged that such variation resulting from allelic polymorphism may underline susceptibility to specific disorders, both affecting the brain and/or involving other systems or organs.", "In summary, this variation in the human H 2 receptor gene and its products, including, for example, mRNA and proteins, could be used as a method of establishing individual risk to a particular psychiatric or neurological or other illness eg.", "schizophrenia.", "Alternative embodiments of the invention can be envisaged by those skilled in the art from the information contained herein.", "All such alternative embodiments are intended to lie within the scope of this application.", "The reader's attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with this specification and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.", "All the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps or any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive.", "Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise.", "Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.", "The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiments.", "This invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.", "__________________________________________________________________________# SEQUENCE LISTING- <160>", "NUMBER OF SEQ ID NOS: 15- <210>", "SEQ ID NO 1<211>", "LENGTH: 413<212>", "TYPE: DNA<213>", "ORGANISM: Homo sapiens<220>", "FEATURE:<221>", "NAME/KEY: CDS<222>", "LOCATION: (3)...", "(413)- <400>", "SEQUENCE: 1- ca gct cgg gtc gcc atc tct ctg gtc tta att - # tgg gtc atc tcc att 47#Ile Trp Val Ile Ser Ileer Leu Val Leu# 15- acc ctg tcc ttt ctg tct atc cac ctg ggg tg - #g aac agc agg aac gag 95Thr Leu Ser Phe Leu Ser Ile His Leu Gly Tr - #p Asn Ser Arg Asn Glu# 30- acc agc aag ggc aat cat acc acc tct aag tg - #c aat gtc cag gtc aat 143Thr Ser Lys Gly Asn His Thr Thr Ser Lys Cy - #s Asn Val Gln Val Asn# 45- gaa gtg tac ggg ctg gtg gat ggg ctg gtc ac - #c ttc tac ctc ccg cta 191Glu Val Tyr Gly Leu Val Asp Gly Leu Val Th - #r Phe Tyr Leu Pro Leu# 60- ctg atc atg tgc atc acc tac tac cgc atc tt - #c agg gtc gcc cgg gat 239Leu Ile Met Cys Ile Thr Tyr Tyr Arg Ile Ph - #e Arg Val Ala Arg Asp# 75- cag gcc aag agg atc gat cac att agc tcc tg - #g aag gca gcc acc atc 287Gln Ala Lys Arg Ile Asp His Ile Ser Ser Tr - #p Lys Ala Ala Thr Ile# 95- agg gag cac aga gcc aca gtg aca ctg gcc gc - #c gtc atg ggg gcc ttc 335Arg Glu His Arg Ala Thr Val Thr Leu Ala Al - #a Val Met Gly Ala Phe# 110- atc atc tgc tgg ttt ccc tac ttc acc gcg tt - #t gtg tac cgt ggg ctg 383Ile Ile Cys Trp Phe Pro Tyr Phe Thr Ala Ph - #e Val Tyr Arg Gly Leu# 125# 413 cc atc aat gag atg ttaArg Gly Asp Asp Ala Ile Asn Glu Met Leu# 135- <210>", "SEQ ID NO 2<211>", "LENGTH: 1046<212>", "TYPE: DNA<213>", "ORGANISM: Homo sapiens<220>", "FEATURE:<221>", "NAME/KEY: CDS<222>", "LOCATION: (3)...", "(1046)- <400>", "SEQUENCE: 2- cc aat ggc aca gcc tct tcc ttt tgc ctg gac - # tct acc gca tgc aag 47#Asp Ser Thr Ala Cys Lyser Phe Cys Leu# 15- atc acc atc acc gtg gtc ctt gcg gtc ctc at - #c ctc atc acc gtt gct 95Ile Thr Ile Thr Val Val Leu Ala Val Leu Il - #e Leu Ile Thr Val Ala# 30- ggc aat gtg gtc gtc tgt ctg gcc gtg ggc tt - #g aac cgc cgg ctc cgc 143Gly Asn Val Val Val Cys Leu Ala Val Gly Le - #u Asn Arg Arg Leu Arg# 45- aac ctg acc aat tgt ttc atc gtg tcc ttg gc - #t atc act gac ctg ctc 191Asn Leu Thr Asn Cys Phe Ile Val Ser Leu Al - #a Ile Thr Asp Leu Leu# 60- ctc ggc ctc ctg gtg ctg ccc ttc tct gcc at - #c tac cag ctg tcc tgc 239Leu Gly Leu Leu Val Leu Pro Phe Ser Ala Il - #e Tyr Gln Leu Ser Cys# 75- aag tgg agc ttt ggc aag gtc ttc tgc aat at - #c tac acc agc ctg gat 287Lys Trp Ser Phe Gly Lys Val Phe Cys Asn Il - #e Tyr Thr Ser Leu Asp# 95- gtg atg ctc tgc aca gcc tcc att ctt aac ct - #c ttc atg atc agc ctc 335Val Met Leu Cys Thr Ala Ser Ile Leu Asn Le - #u Phe Met Ile Ser Leu# 110- gac cgg tac tgc gct gtc atg gac cca ctg cg - #g tac cct gtg ctg gtc 383Asp Arg Tyr Cys Ala Val Met Asp Pro Leu Ar - #g Tyr Pro Val Leu Val# 125- acc cca gct cgg gtc gcc atc tct ctg gtc tt - #a att tgg gtc atc tcc 431Thr Pro Ala Arg Val Ala Ile Ser Leu Val Le - #u Ile Trp Val Ile Ser# 140- att acc ctg tcc ttt ctg tct atc cac ctg gg - #g tgg aac agc agg aac 479Ile Thr Leu Ser Phe Leu Ser Ile His Leu Gl - #y Trp Asn Ser Arg Asn# 155- gag acc agc aag ggc aat cat acc acc tct aa - #g tgc aat gtc cag gtc 527Glu Thr Ser Lys Gly Asn His Thr Thr Ser Ly - #s Cys Asn Val Gln Val160 1 - #65 1 - #70 1 -#75- aat gaa gtg tac ggg ctg gtg gat ggg ctg gt - #c acc ttc tac ctc ccg 575Asn Glu Val Tyr Gly Leu Val Asp Gly Leu Va - #l Thr Phe Tyr Leu Pro# 190- cta ctg atc atg tgc atc acc tac tac cgc at - #c ttc agg gtc gcc cgg 623Leu Leu Ile Met Cys Ile Thr Tyr Tyr Arg Il - #e Phe Arg Val Ala Arg# 205- gat cag gcc aag agg atc gat cac att agc tc - #c tgg aag gca gcc acc 671Asp Gln Ala Lys Arg Ile Asp His Ile Ser Se - #r Trp Lys Ala Ala Thr# 220- atc agg gag cac aga gcc aca gtg aca ctg gc - #c gcc gtc atg ggg gcc 719Ile Arg Glu His Arg Ala Thr Val Thr Leu Al - #a Ala Val Met Gly Ala# 235- ttc atc atc tgc tgg ttt ccc tac ttc acc gc - #g ttt gtg tac cgt ggg 767Phe Ile Ile Cys Trp Phe Pro Tyr Phe Thr Al - #a Phe Val Tyr Arg Gly240 2 - #45 2 - #50 2 -#55- ctg aga ggg gat gat gcc atc aat gag atg tt - #a gaa gcc atc gtt ctg 815Leu Arg Gly Asp Asp Ala Ile Asn Glu Met Le - #u Glu Ala Ile Val Leu# 270- tgg ctg ggc tat gcc aac tca gcc ctg aac cc - #c atc ctg tat gct gcg 863Trp Leu Gly Tyr Ala Asn Ser Ala Leu Asn Pr - #o Ile Leu Tyr Ala Ala# 285- ctg aac aga gac ttc cgc acc ggg tac caa ca - #g ctc ttc tgc tgc agg 911Leu Asn Arg Asp Phe Arg Thr Gly Tyr Gln Gl - #n Leu Phe Cys Cys Arg# 300- ctg gcc aac cgc aac tcc cac aaa act tct ct - #g agg tcc aac gcc tct 959Leu Ala Asn Arg Asn Ser His Lys Thr Ser Le - #u Arg Ser Asn Ala Ser# 315- cag ctg tcc agg acc caa agc cga gaa ccc ag - #g caa cag gaa gag aaa1007Gln Leu Ser Arg Thr Gln Ser Arg Glu Pro Ar - #g Gln Gln Glu Glu Lys320 3 - #25 3 - #30 3 -#35# 1046g aag ctc cag gtg tgg agt ggg aca ga - #a gtc acgPro Leu Lys Leu Gln Val Trp Ser Gly Thr Gl - #u Val Thr# 345- <210>", "SEQ ID NO 3<211>", "LENGTH: 18<212>", "TYPE: DNA<213>", "ORGANISM: Artificial sequence<220>", "FEATURE:<221>", "NAME/KEY: Synthetic Oligonucleotide- <400>", "SEQUENCE: 3# 18 tt- <210>", "SEQ ID NO 4<211>", "LENGTH: 18<212>", "TYPE: DNA<213>", "ORGANISM: Artificial sequence<220>", "FEATURE:<221>", "NAME/KEY: Synthetic Oligonucleotide- <400>", "SEQUENCE: 4# 18 ct- <210>", "SEQ ID NO 5<211>", "LENGTH: 18<212>", "TYPE: DNA<213>", "ORGANISM: Artificial sequence<220>", "FEATURE:<221>", "NAME/KEY: Synthetic Oligonucleotide- <400>", "SEQUENCE: 5# 18 ga- <210>", "SEQ ID NO 6<211>", "LENGTH: 18<212>", "TYPE: DNA<213>", "ORGANISM: Artificial sequence<220>", "FEATURE:<221>", "NAME/KEY: Synthetic Oligonucleotide- <400>", "SEQUENCE: 6# 18 gg- <210>", "SEQ ID NO 7<211>", "LENGTH: 18<212>", "TYPE: DNA<213>", "ORGANISM: Artificial sequence<220>", "FEATURE:<221>", "NAME/KEY: Synthetic Oligonucleotide- <400>", "SEQUENCE: 7# 18 tg- <210>", "SEQ ID NO 8<211>", "LENGTH: 18<212>", "TYPE: DNA<213>", "ORGANISM: Artificial sequence<220>", "FEATURE:<221>", "NAME/KEY: Synthetic Oligonucleotide- <400>", "SEQUENCE: 8# 18 gt- <210>", "SEQ ID NO 9<211>", "LENGTH: 18<212>", "TYPE: DNA<213>", "ORGANISM: Artificial sequence<220>", "FEATURE:<221>", "NAME/KEY: Synthetic Oligonucleotide- <400>", "SEQUENCE: 9# 18 ga- <210>", "SEQ ID NO 10<211>", "LENGTH: 18<212>", "TYPE: DNA<213>", "ORGANISM: Artificial sequence<220>", "FEATURE:<221>", "NAME/KEY: Synthetic Oligonucleotide- <400>", "SEQUENCE: 10# 18 ca- <210>", "SEQ ID NO 11<211>", "LENGTH: 18<212>", "TYPE: DNA<213>", "ORGANISM: Artificial sequence<220>", "FEATURE:<221>", "NAME/KEY: Synthetic Oligonucleotide- <400>", "SEQUENCE: 11# 18 gg- <210>", "SEQ ID NO 12<211>", "LENGTH: 137<212>", "TYPE: PRT<213>", "ORGANISM: Homo sapiens- <400>", "SEQUENCE: 12- Ala Arg Val Ala Ile Ser Leu Val Leu Ile Tr - #p Val Ile Ser Ile Thr# 15- Leu Ser Phe Leu Ser Ile His Leu Gly Trp As - #n Ser Arg Asn Glu Thr# 30- Ser Lys Gly Asn His Thr Thr Ser Lys Cys As - #n Val Gln Val Asn Glu# 45- Val Tyr Gly Leu Val Asp Gly Leu Val Thr Ph - #e Tyr Leu Pro Leu Leu# 60- Ile Met Cys Ile Thr Tyr Tyr Arg Ile Phe Ar - #g Val Ala Arg Asp Gln# 80- Ala Lys Arg Ile Asp His Ile Ser Ser Trp Ly - #s Ala Ala Thr Ile Arg# 95- Glu His Arg Ala Thr Val Thr Leu Ala Ala Va - #l Met Gly Ala Phe Ile# 110- Ile Cys Trp Phe Pro Tyr Phe Thr Ala Phe Va - #l Tyr Arg Gly Leu Arg# 125- Gly Asp Asp Ala Ile Asn Glu Met Leu# 135- <210>", "SEQ ID NO 13<211>", "LENGTH: 348<212>", "TYPE: PRT<213>", "ORGANISM: Homo sapiens- <400>", "SEQUENCE: 13- Asn Gly Thr Ala Ser Ser Phe Cys Leu Asp Se - #r Thr Ala Cys Lys Ile# 15- Thr Ile Thr Val Val Leu Ala Val Leu Ile Le - #u Ile Thr Val Ala Gly# 30- Asn Val Val Val Cys Leu Ala Val Gly Leu As - #n Arg Arg Leu Arg Asn# 45- Leu Thr Asn Cys Phe Ile Val Ser Leu Ala Il - #e Thr Asp Leu Leu Leu# 60- Gly Leu Leu Val Leu Pro Phe Ser Ala Ile Ty - #r Gln Leu Ser Cys Lys# 80- Trp Ser Phe Gly Lys Val Phe Cys Asn Ile Ty - #r Thr Ser Leu Asp Val# 95- Met Leu Cys Thr Ala Ser Ile Leu Asn Leu Ph - #e Met Ile Ser Leu Asp# 110- Arg Tyr Cys Ala Val Met Asp Pro Leu Arg Ty - #r Pro Val Leu Val Thr# 125- Pro Ala Arg Val Ala Ile Ser Leu Val Leu Il - #e Trp Val Ile Ser Ile# 140- Thr Leu Ser Phe Leu Ser Ile His Leu Gly Tr - #p Asn Ser Arg Asn Glu145 1 - #50 1 - #55 1 -#60- Thr Ser Lys Gly Asn His Thr Thr Ser Lys Cy - #s Asn Val Gln Val Asn# 175- Glu Val Tyr Gly Leu Val Asp Gly Leu Val Th - #r Phe Tyr Leu Pro Leu# 190- Leu Ile Met Cys Ile Thr Tyr Tyr Arg Ile Ph - #e Arg Val Ala Arg Asp# 205- Gln Ala Lys Arg Ile Asp His Ile Ser Ser Tr - #p Lys Ala Ala Thr Ile# 220- Arg Glu His Arg Ala Thr Val Thr Leu Ala Al - #a Val Met Gly Ala Phe225 2 - #30 2 - #35 2 -#40- Ile Ile Cys Trp Phe Pro Tyr Phe Thr Ala Ph - #e Val Tyr Arg Gly Leu# 255- Arg Gly Asp Asp Ala Ile Asn Glu Met Leu Gl - #u Ala Ile Val Leu Trp# 270- Leu Gly Tyr Ala Asn Ser Ala Leu Asn Pro Il - #e Leu Tyr Ala Ala Leu# 285- Asn Arg Asp Phe Arg Thr Gly Tyr Gln Gln Le - #u Phe Cys Cys Arg Leu# 300- Ala Asn Arg Asn Ser His Lys Thr Ser Leu Ar - #g Ser Asn Ala Ser Gln305 3 - #10 3 - #15 3 -#20- Leu Ser Arg Thr Gln Ser Arg Glu Pro Arg Gl - #n Gln Glu Glu Lys Pro# 335- Leu Lys Leu Gln Val Trp Ser Gly Thr Glu Va - #l Thr# 345- <210>", "SEQ ID NO 14<211>", "LENGTH: 1080<212>", "TYPE: DNA<213>", "ORGANISM: Homo sapiens<220>", "FEATURE:<221>", "NAME/KEY: CDS<222>", "LOCATION: (1)...", "(1077)- <400>", "SEQUENCE: 14- atg gca ccc aat ggc aca gcc tct tcc ttt tg - #c ctg gac tct acc gca 48Met Ala Pro Asn Gly Thr Ala Ser Ser Phe Cy - #s Leu Asp Ser Thr Ala# 15- tgc aag atc acc atc acc gtg gtc ctt gcg gt - #c ctc atc ctc atc acc 96Cys Lys Ile Thr Ile Thr Val Val Leu Ala Va - #l Leu Ile Leu Ile Thr# 30- gtt gct ggc aat gtg gtc gtc tgt ctg gcc gt - #g ggc ttg aac cgc cgg 144Val Ala Gly Asn Val Val Val Cys Leu Ala Va - #l Gly Leu Asn Arg Arg# 45- ctc cgc aac ctg acc aat tgt ttc atc gtg tc - #c ttg gct atc act gac 192Leu Arg Asn Leu Thr Asn Cys Phe Ile Val Se - #r Leu Ala Ile Thr Asp# 60- ctg ctc ctc ggc ctc ctg gtg ctg ccc ttc tc - #t gcc atc tac cag ctg 240Leu Leu Leu Gly Leu Leu Val Leu Pro Phe Se - #r Ala Ile Tyr Gln Leu# 80- tcc tgc aag tgg agc ttt ggc aag gtc ttc tg - #c aat atc tac acc agc 288Ser Cys Lys Trp Ser Phe Gly Lys Val Phe Cy - #s Asn Ile Tyr Thr Ser# 95- ctg gat gtg atg ctc tgc aca gcc tcc att ct - #t aac ctc ttc atg atc 336Leu Asp Val Met Leu Cys Thr Ala Ser Ile Le - #u Asn Leu Phe Met Ile# 110- agc ctc gac cgg tac tgc gct gtc atg gac cc - #a ctg cgg tac cct gtg 384Ser Leu Asp Arg Tyr Cys Ala Val Met Asp Pr - #o Leu Arg Tyr Pro Val# 125- ctg gtc acc cca gtt cgg gtc gcc atc tct ct - #g gtc ata att tgg gtc 432Leu Val Thr Pro Val Arg Val Ala Ile Ser Le - #u Val Ile Ile Trp Val# 140- atc tcc att acc ctg tcc ttt ctg tct atc ca - #c ctg ggg tgg aac agc 480Ile Ser Ile Thr Leu Ser Phe Leu Ser Ile Hi - #s Leu Gly Trp Asn Ser145 1 - #50 1 - #55 1 -#60- agg aac gag acc agc aag ggc aat cat acc ac - #c tct aag tgc aaa gtc 528Arg Asn Glu Thr Ser Lys Gly Asn His Thr Th - #r Ser Lys Cys Lys Val# 175- cag gtc aat gaa gtg tac ggg ctg gtg gat gg - #g ctg gtc acc ttc tac 576Gln Val Asn Glu Val Tyr Gly Leu Val Asp Gl - #y Leu Val Thr Phe Tyr# 190- ctc ccg cta ctg atc atg tgc atc acc tac ta - #c cgc atc ttc aag gtc 624Leu Pro Leu Leu Ile Met Cys Ile Thr Tyr Ty - #r Arg Ile Phe Lys Val# 205- gcc cgg gat cag gcc aag agg atc aat cac at - #t agc tcc tgg aag gca 672Ala Arg Asp Gln Ala Lys Arg Ile Asn His Il - #e Ser Ser Trp Lys Ala# 220- gcc acc atc agg gag cac aaa gcc aca gtg ac - #a ctg gcc gcc gtc atg 720Ala Thr Ile Arg Glu His Lys Ala Thr Val Th - #r Leu Ala Ala Val Met225 2 - #30 2 - #35 2 -#40- ggg gcc ttc atc atc tgc tgg ttt ccc tac tt - #c acc gcg ttt gtg tac 768Gly Ala Phe Ile Ile Cys Trp Phe Pro Tyr Ph - #e Thr Ala Phe Val Tyr# 255- cgt ggg ctg aga ggg gat gat gcc atc aat ga - #g gtg tta gaa gcc atc 816Arg Gly Leu Arg Gly Asp Asp Ala Ile Asn Gl - #u Val Leu Glu Ala Ile# 270- gtt ctg tgg ctg ggc tat gcc aac tca gcc ct - #g aac ccc atc ctg tat 864Val Leu Trp Leu Gly Tyr Ala Asn Ser Ala Le - #u Asn Pro Ile Leu Tyr# 285- gct gcg ctg aac aga gac ttc cgc acc ggg ta - #c caa cag ctc ttc tgc 912Ala Ala Leu Asn Arg Asp Phe Arg Thr Gly Ty - #r Gln Gln Leu Phe Cys# 300- tgc agg ctg gcc aac cgc aac tcc cac aaa ac - #t tct ctg agg tcc aac 960Cys Arg Leu Ala Asn Arg Asn Ser His Lys Th - #r Ser Leu Arg Ser Asn305 3 - #10 3 - #15 3 -#20- gcc tct cag ctg tcc agg acc caa agc cga ga - #a ccc agg caa cag gaa1008Ala Ser Gln Leu Ser Arg Thr Gln Ser Arg Gl - #u Pro Arg Gln Gln Glu# 335- gag aaa ccc ctg aag ctc cag gtg tgg agt gg - #g aca gaa gtc acg gcc1056Glu Lys Pro Leu Lys Leu Gln Val Trp Ser Gl - #y Thr Glu Val Thr Ala# 350# 1080ca gac agg taaPro Gln Gly Ala Thr Asp Arg 355- <210>", "SEQ ID NO 15<211>", "LENGTH: 359<212>", "TYPE: PRT<213>", "ORGANISM: Homo sapiens- <400>", "SEQUENCE: 15- Met Ala Pro Asn Gly Thr Ala Ser Ser Phe Cy - #s Leu Asp Ser Thr Ala# 15- Cys Lys Ile Thr Ile Thr Val Val Leu Ala Va - #l Leu Ile Leu Ile Thr# 30- Val Ala Gly Asn Val Val Val Cys Leu Ala Va - #l Gly Leu Asn Arg Arg# 45- Leu Arg Asn Leu Thr Asn Cys Phe Ile Val Se - #r Leu Ala Ile Thr Asp# 60- Leu Leu Leu Gly Leu Leu Val Leu Pro Phe Se - #r Ala Ile Tyr Gln Leu# 80- Ser Cys Lys Trp Ser Phe Gly Lys Val Phe Cy - #s Asn Ile Tyr Thr Ser# 95- Leu Asp Val Met Leu Cys Thr Ala Ser Ile Le - #u Asn Leu Phe Met Ile# 110- Ser Leu Asp Arg Tyr Cys Ala Val Met Asp Pr - #o Leu Arg Tyr Pro Val# 125- Leu Val Thr Pro Val Arg Val Ala Ile Ser Le - #u Val Ile Ile Trp Val# 140- Ile Ser Ile Thr Leu Ser Phe Leu Ser Ile Hi - #s Leu Gly Trp Asn Ser145 1 - #50 1 - #55 1 -#60- Arg Asn Glu Thr Ser Lys Gly Asn His Thr Th - #r Ser Lys Cys Lys Val# 175- Gln Val Asn Glu Val Tyr Gly Leu Val Asp Gl - #y Leu Val Thr Phe Tyr# 190- Leu Pro Leu Leu Ile Met Cys Ile Thr Tyr Ty - #r Arg Ile Phe Lys Val# 205- Ala Arg Asp Gln Ala Lys Arg Ile Asn His Il - #e Ser Ser Trp Lys Ala# 220- Ala Thr Ile Arg Glu His Lys Ala Thr Val Th - #r Leu Ala Ala Val Met225 2 - #30 2 - #35 2 -#40- Gly Ala Phe Ile Ile Cys Trp Phe Pro Tyr Ph - #e Thr Ala Phe Val Tyr# 255- Arg Gly Leu Arg Gly Asp Asp Ala Ile Asn Gl - #u Val Leu Glu Ala Ile# 270- Val Leu Trp Leu Gly Tyr Ala Asn Ser Ala Le - #u Asn Pro Ile Leu Tyr# 285- Ala Ala Leu Asn Arg Asp Phe Arg Thr Gly Ty - #r Gln Gln Leu Phe Cys# 300- Cys Arg Leu Ala Asn Arg Asn Ser His Lys Th - #r Ser Leu Arg Ser Asn305 3 - #10 3 - #15 3 -#20- Ala Ser Gln Leu Ser Arg Thr Gln Ser Arg Gl - #u Pro Arg Gln Gln Glu# 335- Glu Lys Pro Leu Lys Leu Gln Val Trp Ser Gl - #y Thr Glu Val Thr Ala# 350- Pro Gln Gly Ala Thr Asp Arg 355__________________________________________________________________________" ]

[ "This is a continuation of co-pending application Ser.", "No. 07/057,332 filed on Jun. 1, 1987 now abandoned.", "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to text generating systems that generate text from a voice input and more particularly to a text generating system that generates text from a voice input and also accepts voice generated control commands with the ability to distinguish between the input and the commands.", "Voice controlled text generating systems generally include a microphone for detecting speech signals.", "A speech signal processor transforms the detected speech signals into a representation for recognition by a processor (e.g. short term spectral cross-sections).", "A speech signal processor transmits the processed signals to a speech event analyzer which generates a set of recognition candidates in response to each detected speech event.", "A recognition candidate is a vocabulary item which is stored in a system memory (not shown) that is similar to the detected speech event which represents the spoken word or phrase.", "The system creates a candidate set that includes all of the recognition candidates, or in other words, the candidate set includes all known vocabulary items which are sufficiently similar to the detected speech event that the speech event analyzer 16 decides that there is a high degree of probability that the speech event is an instance of the vocabulary item represented by the recognition candidate.", "In order to enable the system to choose the most appropriate candidate, the system assigns a recognition score to each candidate.", "The recognition score indicates the likelihood that the speech event is an instance of the candidate, and after processing is complete, the recognition candidate with the highest recognition score is designated the "Best Match".", "The system then selects the "Best Match"", "as the candidate representing the chosen vocabulary item.", "After the best match candidate has been selected, the system translates the candidate and transmits the translated candidate to the application.", "In other words, the translation is the input to the application that has been designated as the input to be sent when the candidate is chosen as best match for a particular state of the recognizer.", "As a result, in theory, there is a specified translation for each combination of best match vocabulary item and recognizer state.", "Often, of course, a translation is simply the spelling of the best match word or phrase, but it can be any legal input to the application.", "In addition to including the capability of accepting voice input and deriving the corresponding text to that voice input, it is also desirable to be able to control the system through the use of voice commands.", "In such a system, the voice commands actuate assigned tasks in response to the voice commands.", "This is especially important for a system designed for use by handicapped individuals or for a system designed for use by an individual who does not have free use of his/her hands because the hands are occupied with another task during use of the system.", "Moreover, when a text generating system is used for dictation, the person dictating usually can not efficiently use a keyboard, and voice operated commands would greatly facilitate use of the system.", "Known systems treat verbal input as typed input, or in other words, convert the speech into keystrokes.", "A speaker, however, supplies input to the system in word units, and verbal commands are more easily understood in terms of word units rather than characters.", "For this reason, known systems do not make effective usage of vocal commands, especially commands involving backtracking through documents.", "Another problem with known systems is that they assume that each input character is correct, and as a result the systems do not efficiently correct mistakenly translated verbal input.", "It is therefore a principal object of the present invention to provide a system and method for generating text from a voice input that organizes and records information about system state and verbal and non-verbal input.", "Another object of the present invention is to provide a system and method for generating text from a voice input that reliably and effectively implements system functions which make it possible for the user to inform the system of misrecognitions;", "for the system to undo the effects of said misrecognitions;", "for the user to control the application by referring directly to earlier events in the dictation process;", "and for the system to control and modify the recognition of speech, including the ability to learn from earlier misrecognitions.", "A still further object of the present invention is to provide a system and method for generating text from a voice input that organizes the process of speech dictation to computerized systems, and the response of those systems, into similar structures which can be used to effectively control and modify system operation.", "A further object of the present invention is to provide a system and method for generating text from a voice input that groups and organizes the various inputs in a manner that facilitates retrieval of any input.", "SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, the system and method for generating text from a voice input of the present invention divides the processing of each speech event into a dictation event and a text event.", "Each dictation event handles the processing of data relating to the input into the system, and each text event deals with the generation of text from the inputted voice signals.", "In order to easily distinguish the dictation events from each other and text events from each other the system and method creates a data structure for storing certain information relating to each individual event.", "Such data structures enable the system and method to process both simple spoken words as well as spoken commands and to provide the necessary text generation in response to the spoken words or to execute an appropriate function in response to a command.", "These and other objects and features of the present invention will be more fully understood from the following detailed description which should be read in light of the accompanying drawings in which corresponding reference numerals refer to corresponding parts throughout the several views.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the voice input-text generating system of the present invention;", "FIG. 2 is a diagram of a typical data structure utilized to represent each dictation event created by the system and method of the present invention;", "FIG. 3 is a diagram of a data structure used to represent each text event generated in response to a dictation event by the system and method of the present invention;", "FIG. 4a is a flow chart of the operation of the system and method of the present invention in processing speech events;", "FIG. 4b is a flow chart of the operation of the system and method of the present invention in processing input events;", "FIG. 5 is a flow chart of the operation of the system and method of the present invention in response to a "SCRATCH THAT"", "command;", "FIG. 6 is a flow chart of the operation of the system and method of the present invention in response to a "FORWARD N"", "command;", "FIG. 7 is a flow chart of the operation of the system and method of the present invention in response to a "BACK N"", "command;", "FIG. 8 is a flow chart of the operation of the system and method of the present invention in response to a "BACKTRACK"", "command;", "FIG. 9 is a flow chart of the operation of the system and method of the present invention in response to a "FILL IN FORM"", "command;", "FIG. 10 is a flow chart of the operation of the system and method of the present invention in response to a "TAKE N"", "command;", "FIG. 11 is a flow chart of the operation of the system and method of the present invention in response to a "TRY AGAIN"", "command.", "FIG. 12 is a block diagram of the components of the system of the present invention.", "DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to FIGS. 1 and 12 the system for generating text from voice input of the present invention includes a microphone 12 or other voice input means attached to a speech signal processor 14 which converts the speech signals into digital data that can be processed by processor 15.", "The processor 15 performs several distinct functions, including serving as the speech event analyzer 16, the dictation event subsystem 18, the text event subsystem 20, and the executor of the application program.", "The speech signal processor 14 generates speech event data and transmits this data to the processor 15 to be processed first by the speech event analyzer 16.", "The speech event analyzer 16 generates a list or set of possible candidates that represent the voice input processed by the speech signal processor 14.", "The speech event analyzer 16 transmits the candidate sets to a dictation event subsystem 18.", "The dictation event subsystem 18 analyzes the candidate sets and chooses the "BEST MATCH", i.e. the candidate with the highest degree of similarity.", "This candidate is then considered the correct translation, and the dictation event subsystem forwards the translation to text event subsystem 20 which in turn inputs the translated text to an application.", "During the execution of the application, text can be displayed on output display device 23, which can be a CRT, printer, etc.", "The recognition candidates that are included in the candidate sets transmitted from the speech event analyzer 16 to the dictation event subsystem 18 are vocabulary items similar to the detected speech event.", "The entire set includes all known vocabulary items which are sufficiently similar to the detected speech event that the speech event analyzer 16 decides there is an appreciable possibility that the speech event was an instance of the vocabulary item.", "Each candidate includes an associated recognition score which indicates the likelihood that the speech event is an instance of that candidate.", "The translation input to the application when a particular candidate is chosen as best match generally represents the spelling of that particular candidate word or phrase.", "As will be described below, the translation may also be any other legal input into a particular application, and the translation may in fact be used to control the application by voice.", "The translation may also include input to the recognizer whereby the operation of the recognizer can be controlled and its state changed.", "As mentioned above, a dictation event describes the operation of the system of the present invention at the input stage of the system.", "A dictation event record is a formal data object that describes the speech event, and the speech event is an occurrence in the speech signal of an event interpreted as a word or phrase by the recognizer.", "For each such speech event, the recognizer stores useful information in a dictation event database and provides techniques (commands, subroutine calls, macros, etc.) by which certain specified operations may be performed on the dictation event database.", "Before discussing these various operations the structure of each individual data element in each record of the dictation event database will be described.", "Referring now to FIG. 2, there is shown a dictation event record 30 of the dictation event database for a single dictation event.", "Each record includes a dictation event handle 32 which is generally an address in the database where this record is stored.", "The chronological relationship information element 34 includes addresses or pointers to other dictation event records created immediately before and immediately after the current dictation event record.", "The candidate set information element 36 contains information relating to each of the potential recognition candidates that is chosen by the speech event analyzer 16, and in one embodiment this information is a list of hash codes representing each one of the candidates.", "Element 36 of the dictation event record 30 will also frequently include the recognition scores representing the probability that each candidate is the best match for the speech event data transmitted to the speech event analyzer 16.", "The best match candidate element 38 indicates the candidate chosen as the best match and in one embodiment this element is an index into the candidate set contained in element 36.", "In other words, element 38 points to the best match candidate in the candidate set.", "The correct choice element 40 of the dictation event record is also an index into the candidate set that points to the correctly translated speech pattern.", "Of course, this record may point to the same candidate as the best match candidate element 38.", "The recognizer performance information element 42 is a rather large substructure of the dictation event record 30.", "This element 42 receives data from various modules in the recognizer, and this data represents a variety of information items regarding the performance of the recognizer.", "For example, in a preferred embodiment element 42 includes an internal representation of the waveform.", "By storing this internal representation, the system may playback the speech represented by the waveform.", "This element may also contain information concerning the acoustic characteristics of various spoken phrases and may also include thresholds used internally to choose candidates.", "The recognizer state information element 44 contains state variables that insure that the same input to the system 10 provides the same output.", "In addition, for each dictation event the recognizer state information element 44 stores information describing the state of the recognition program.", "This information enables all values to be exactly reset and avoids causing the system to re-learn correct translations for speech events.", "The final element shown in the dictation event record is implementation-dependent information element 46.", "Element 46 stores many different data items, including, for example, data that allows the updating of vocabulary recognition data as a result of the way a speaker says words.", "A dictation event and consequently a dictation event record 30 is created as part of the process of recognizing a word.", "The creation of a dictation event record includes the allocation or reservation of memory space in the dictation event database for the dictation event record which will store the information described above and shown in FIG. 2. The data record 30 is also initialized at the time it is created, and the system generates a dictation event handle 32 which uniquely specifies that dictation event record 30.", "Handle 32 is stored for each specific dictation event record by each facility within the recognizer or application which may later want to refer to a particular dictation event.", "Once the system creates a dictation event record 30 a dictation event can be selected as the active dictation event for any dictation event operation by specifying its dictation event handle.", "Alternatively, a dictation event can be selected by specifying another dictation event which stands in some relationship to the desired dictation event (such as chronologically following it) and specifying the relevant relationship.", "If no dictation event is currently active a "null dictation event"", "may be specified.", "As described above, a candidate set is associated with each dictation event.", "From this set, the system chooses a best match candidate.", "Several operations can be performed on a dictation event record that relates to the candidate set of the dictation event.", "In particular, a recognition candidate in the set can be marked as incorrect;", "a candidate can be marked as selected (i.e., can be specified by the user as a correct recognition for the speech event which the dictation event represents);", "candidates in the set can be reordered so that for any speech event a different candidate than the candidate originally determined by the system is produced as a best match candidate each time the speech event occurs.", "Finally, the entire candidate set can be retrieved for display to enable a user of the system to select the correct candidate or for further processing.", "Another important operation performed on the dictation event database is the resetting of the state of the recognizer to the recognizer state at the time of the occurrence of a speech event.", "A common example of this resetting is the re-analysis of an utterance which was incorrectly recognized.", "It is the recognizer state information 44 stored in the dictation event record 30 that is used to perform the reset operation, and as discussed above this information includes state variables that enable the system to provide the same output for the same input.", "The system 10 of the present invention generally maintains the dictation event database only within a given dictation session and not between sessions.", "However, as users of the system will frequently interrupt a dictation session and continue at a later time either the entire dictation event database or individual dictation event records can be permanently stored in files for use either in analyzing the performance of the recognizer or for recreating the dictation session at a later time.", "The system 10 also allows dictation event records to be deleted from the dictation event database in order to minimize the amount of storage required for the dictation event database.", "Dictation event records may also be deleted in order to reduce the time required to perform other dictation event operations thereby reducing the searching time as well as the time associated with other operations.", "Typically, dictation events corresponding to the least recent speech events are removed first.", "When the user, the recognizer or the application determines that the system correctly recognized a particular speech event or incorrectly recognized a speech event, a process of adapting the speech related data upon which the performance of the recognizer depends may be carried out.", "Information stored in the recognizer state information element 44 may be used in this process.", "A chronological relationship exists between any two records of the dictation event database as one record was created before the other record.", "The speech event of the dictation event record that was created earlier occurred before the speech event of the dictation event which was created later.", "This chronological order can also be determined from the structure of the dictation event database.", "As described above the chronological relationship information element 34 generally will include a pointer to and from chronologically adjacent dictation event records.", "After the system 10 of the present invention processes a dictation event, a text event is then created.", "Referring to FIG. 3, each text event record 50 is a formal data object which contains data describing an "input event".", "Such input events include the reception by an application of some input that can be treated as a single unit.", "One important class of input events are the reception of output from the recognizer and this output is generally in the form of translations.", "Other input events include typed input, input from pointing devices such as a mouse, etc.", "For each input event, the application stores useful information in a text event database that includes a number of text event records 50.", "The application also provides techniques (commands, subroutine calls, macros, etc.) by which certain specified operations may be performed on the text event database.", "The term "text event"", "has been chosen to describe all application events whether or not the input events involve the processing or creation of text, and therefore text event records are also used to record information about all types of input events.", "A text event record 50 of the text event database is created as part of the process of accepting input to the application.", "The creation includes the allocation or reservation of memory space in the text event database for the record which will store the information comprising the text event.", "The creation also involves the initialization of that data record, and the generation of a text event handle 52 which can be subsequently used to uniquely specify that text event.", "As in the case of the dictation event handle 32, the text event handle 52 generally represents a memory address of a particular text event in the text event database.", "This handle is stored for each application facility that may later want to reference that text event record, as the text event can be referenced by specifying its text event handle.", "Alternatively, a text event can be referenced by specifying another text event record which stands in some relationship to the desired text event (such as chronologically following) and specifying the relevant relationship.", "Each text event record contains data describing the input event which resulted in the creation of the text event.", "The actual input data itself may be stored in the text event record, and a code number is stored in the text event record that identifies the input event type.", "This data is stored in the input event information element 62.", "Examples of typical types of input events are: reception of a translation from a recognizer;", "keyboard input;", "input from a pointing device;", "and "input"", "from a preprogrammed application activity.", "Each text event record 50 also includes a data element that provides chronological relationship information with respect to other text event records.", "As in the case of the chronological relationship information element 34 in the dictation event records 30, the chronological relationship information element 54 in the text event records 50 includes links to and from text event records that were created immediately before and after each event record.", "Unlike dictation events, text events can have hierarchical relationships with respect to each other.", "Each text event record 50 contains a hierarchical relationship information element 56 identifying those text events which are either immediately superior or immediately inferior to itself.", "This superior and inferior relationship is created if a given text event is active when a new text event is created.", "In such a situation, the active text event is considered to be the superior of the next created text event.", "For any text event record in the text event database, it is possible to determine all superior text events (if they exist) and all of its inferior text events (if they exist).", "Of course this order is only a partial ordering since not all text events stand in a hierarchical relationship to each other.", "The data stored in the hierarchical relationship information element 56 may be either a list of addresses of the superior and inferior text event records or links and pointers to appropriate lists of superior and inferior text events.", "The text event record 50 also includes a data element that stores the textual relationship information so that actual text may be linked.", "In other words, any two consecutive items of text are identified as being consecutive so that the systems may jump around to different text events and still maintain the proper order of the outputting text.", "This textual relationship information element 58 of each text event record is generally a pointer to and from each text event record which indicates the relative textual position of any two text events that have text associated with them.", "This feature is especially important in a word processing program where text is added to a target document.", "In such a situation, for any two text events which result in such addition of text to the same document an ordering can be determined which specifies which text event corresponds to text closer to the beginning of the document and which text corresponds to text closer to the end of the document.", "This, of course, is only a partial ordering since not all text events are associated with text in the same document.", "Each text event record also contains an input event information element 62 describing the input which resulted in the creation of the text event.", "The actual input data itself may be stored in the text event record or a code number may be used and stored in the text event record that identifies the input event type.", "Examples of types of input events are: reception of a translation from the recognizer;", "keyboard input;", "input from a pointing device such as a mouse;", "and input from a preprogrammed application activity.", "Each text event record 50 may be linked to a dictation event through an associated dictation event handle 60 that is stored only for those text events that are created as the result of a translation generated by the recognizer reacting to a speech event.", "All translations are accompanied by the dictation event handle of the dictation event which describes that speech event.", "This data element enables the system, at a subsequent point in time, to retrieve a dictation event handle and instruct the recognizer to perform a dictation event operation such as resetting the recognizer state.", "The text event record 50 also includes an application state information element 64 that describes the relevant application system state at the time that the input event occurred.", "With this information it is possible, at a later time, to reset the application to its state at the time the input event occurred.", "Typical types of state information include the beginning and ending position of text in documents (for word processing applications), cursor positions, internal application mode information, etc.", "Finally, each text event record 50 includes an implementation-dependent information element 66.", "An example of an implementation-dependent application is a provision allowing text to be highlighted.", "In this situation, element 66 will include data indicating whether the text of the text event should be highlighted.", "The dividing up of the processing of speech events into dictation events and text events enables the system of the present invention to enhance the voice control of application programs.", "The utility of these data objects includes the effective deletion of text from incorrectly recognized words;", "the backtracking of the application (and the underlining recognizer) at the option of the user;", "the correction of recognition errors by voice;", "the organization of documents in word and phrase-level fields;", "the entry of data in structured reports by voice;", "the adaptation of recognizer performance to a particular speaker's voice by learning which words the speaker uses and how those words are pronounced;", "the effective communication of modules within the recognizer;", "and the post-hoc analysis of the recognizer performance.", "Before discussing any of these special features, a description of the operation of the system that results in the generation of text will be explained.", "As shown in FIG. 4a, operation of the system begins with the waiting for a speech event to occur in step 72.", "Once a speech event is input to the system through the microphone 12, the system initiates a new dictation event by creating a dictation event record in the dictation event database in step 74.", "At this time, recognizer state information is inserted in the appropriate locations in the created dictation event record in step 76, and in step 78 the best match is determined as being the valid candidate with the highest recognition probability score.", "Once the correct choice has been made, the system in step 80 will translate the best match into the appropriate text, and the dictation event subsystem 18 sends the translation in step 82 to the application through the text event subsystem 20.", "Prior to the translation being sent to the application by the text event subsystem 20, the text event subsystem 20 waits for a next input event to occur.", "When this input event occurs (such as when a translation is sent from the dictation event subsystem 18 to the text event subsystem 20) the system in step 94 creates a new text event record 50, and following this creation of the new record, inserts the proper chronological relationship information in element 54, the hierarchical relationship information in element 56, the textual relationship information in element 58 and the application state information in element 64.", "In step 98, the text event record 50 is associated with its dictation event record 30 if such association is appropriate.", "Finally, the input event is processed in step 100 by the text event subsystem by the forwarding of the translation to the application.", "At this point, the processing of the speech event as dictation and text events is concluded.", "As discussed above, a principal feature of the present invention is the ability of the system to effectively control and modify system operation through verbal commands that allow the user to refer directly to earlier events in the dictation process.", "In a preferred embodiment, the system includes several such spoken commands, and a description of the more important of these commands is provided below.", ""SCRATCH THAT"--The phrase "SCRATCH THAT"", "is identified by the recognizer as a special phrase.", "The intent of the phrase is to cause the effect of the previous voice command to be undone (specifically, in word processing situations, to cause the text entered as a result of the previous speech event to be removed from the document).", "In a preferred embodiment, the previously active dictation event is examined to determine the number of characters in the translation that were sent to the application.", "The identical number of rubout characters is then transmitted to the application, and the recognizer state is reset to its value at the time the previous speech event occurred.", "In other embodiments a command may be transmitted to the application, instructing the application to remove from the document the text associated with the previous text event.", "In order to erase several words or phrases the voice command is simply repeated.", "Referring to FIG. 5, in response to a "SCRATCH THAT"", "command, the system determines whether there is an active text event.", "If there is no active text event, then there is no input to be erased, and the system ceases processing of the "SCRATCH THAT"", "command.", "If there is a current text event the associated dictation event record is retrieved and the system removes the effects of the current text event in step 118 by using the information stored in the application state information element 64.", "For example, a word processing application will move the cursor position back to its position prior to the active text event and will recognize that the translated text is not valid and should be removed.", "The dictation state must also be corrected and the system in step 120 resets the dictation state to its state prior to the speech event using the information stored in the recognizer state information element 44.", "The final step 122 in the "SCRATCH THAT"", "command is to remove the current text event record from the text event database and the associated dictation event record from the dictation event database.", ""FORWARD N"--Referring to FIG. 6, the "FORWARD N"", "command causes the data entry position of the application to be moved forward to a position "N"", "text events from its current position.", "Again before processing this command, the system determines in step 126 whether there is a currently active text event.", "If an active text event exists the system in step 130 retrieves the text event record for the active text event.", "The system, in step 132, then retrieves the text event record of the text event which is chronologically positioned "N"", "positions after the active text event.", "This text event is then made the active text event in step 134 and the application state information element 64 is then corrected to reflect this change.", "Using the associated dictation event handle 60, in step 138 the dictation state is also updated in recognizer state information element 44.", ""BACK N"--The phrases "BACK TWO", "BACK THREE", etc.", ", are identified by the recognizer as special phrases.", "The intent of these phrases is to cause a data entry position of the application (typically called the cursor position) to move to where it was "N"", "speech events ago.", "Note that this command is different from the "SCRATCH THAT"", "command in that the effects of the latest speech events are not erased, although the cursor position is changed, and the application and recognizer context that existed previously are reestablished.", "Initially upon receiving the "BACK N"", "command, the system as shown in FIG. 7 determines in step 142 whether there is a current text event, and if a current text event exists the system fetches the text event record of the current text event in step 146.", "The text event record that is chronologically positioned "N"", "places before the active text event record is also fetched in step 148.", "The system then marks the text event record which was located "N"", "positions back from the active text record as the new active record in step 150.", "Then, in step 152 the application state is reset through the information stored in the application state element 64, and the state of the dictation event is changed by accessing the associated dictation event record by using the associated dictation event handle 60.", "At no time during the operation of this command is data removed from the dictation event data base or the text event data base.", ""BACKTRACKING"--There are many situations in which it is desirable to "undo"", "one or more voice commands.", "To effectively accomplish this task, both the recognizer and the application must be reset to a previous state, and selected data which has been entered into the recognizer or application database (such as text in documents being created by a word processing application) must be removed.", "In general, such goals are accomplished by specifying which dictation events are to be backtracked through.", "Sufficient information is stored in each dictation event record to identify which recognizer state variables were changed, what their previous values were, and which recognizer databases were changed and in what way.", "Since chronological relationships exist between dictation event records in the dictation event database, dictation event records can be selected in the proper sequence to undo all changes from the present moment back to the last dictation event to be backtracked through.", "Also, since text events are tied to dictation events and a chronological order exists among all text events, a similar backtracking procedure can be accomplished for the application.", "Referring to FIG. 8, upon receiving a "BACKTRACK"", "command, the system determines whether there is a current text event in step 158.", "If there is an active text event, the active text event record is fetched, and in step 164 the system determines whether the active text event is the desired event, and if they are the same, the system returns to normal operation in step 166.", "If the comparison performed in step 164 reveals that the active text event and the desired text event are not the same, the system will fetch the state information stored in the application state information element 64 of the active text event record and undo the effects of the active text event.", "The system then fetches the text event record of the text event chronologically previous to the active text event in step 170, and the previously active record is removed from the text event database in step 172.", "The text event that was chronologically prior to the now deleted text event record is then compared again in step 164 to the desired event.", "The system continues to go through this loop until the current text event record is the desired text event.", ""FILL IN FORM"--An important use of speech recognition is in the generation of structured reports, which include frame material (e.g., "name: --") surrounding fields to be filled in.", "Dictation and text events can be used to allow such forms to be invoked by voice;", "individual fields selected;", "data entered into those fields;", "corrections made, etc.", "These techniques may be implemented using the hierarchical characteristics of the text events.", "In implementing a "FILL IN FORM"", "command a single text event is associated with the entire form.", "Inferior text events are then associated with each field in the form and the textual relationship characteristics of these texts events are used to specify which text event records are associated with which logical field.", "The application dependent information elements in the text event record associate locations in the document text with logical fields.", "Fields can be filled in, erased and corrected using the other commands described herein.", "Referring to FIG. 9 after the system determines that there is an active dictation event in step 178, the system fetches the text event record associated with the active text event and the form corresponding to the active text event is pulled up from the input event information element 62 in step 182.", "The system then creates a text event record for each field in the form, and the system assigns the current text event as the first field in the form.", "The form is then filled in using other commands or by issuing other voice text input.", "As each field is filled in, the system progresses through the form to the next field until all the fields in the form have been filled in.", ""NEXT CHOICE"--A phrase "NEXT CHOICE"", "is identified by the recognizer as a special phrase, the intent of which is to cause the effect of the previous voice command to be undone (as with the "SCRATCH THAT"", "command), and to substitute for the previous best matched recognition candidate, the recognition candidate with the next highest recognition score.", "In a preferred embodiment the actions taken in response to a "NEXT CHOICE"", "command are identical to those that would be taken if the "SCRATCH THAT"", "command were recognized.", "The best matched recognition candidate is then marked as invalid, and the remaining valid candidate with the highest score is then designated the best match and its translation is sent to the application.", "Note that the "NEXT CHOICE"", "command may be issued repeatedly for the same speech event.", "As the operation of this command is identical to a "TAKE TWO"", "command, its operation will be described below with respect to the "TAKE N"", "command.", "TAKE N"--The phrases "TAKE TWO", "TAKE THREE", etc.", "are identified by the recognizer as special phrases.", "The intent of these phrases is to cause the effect of the previous voice command to be undone and to substitute for the previous best matched candidate a recognition candidate of position N in an "alternate list"", "which is displayed as a full or partial candidate list on a user's screen.", "The operation of this command is identical to the operation of the command "NEXT CHOICE", except the new best match recognition candidate is specified by the number "N"", "and by the order of candidates in the alternates lists.", "As shown in FIG. 10, upon receiving a "TAKE N"", "command, the system determines the current dictation event and the best matched candidate for that dictation event.", "In step 194, the effects of the translation of the best match are undone and in step 196 the system resets the dictation state using the recognizer state information element 44.", "In the candidates set, the original best match candidate is marked as invalid so that it will not be chosen as best match again for the particular speech event, and in step 200 the system assigns the Nth candidate in the displayed candidate list as the best match.", "The new best match is then translated in step 202, and the system is then ready to process a new speech event.", ""TRY AGAIN"--The phrase "TRY AGAIN"", "is identified by the recognizer as a special phrase.", "The intent of the phrase is to cause the effect of the previous voice command to be undone, as with the "SCRATCH THAT"", "command, and to prepare the recognizer to process another speech event, but in no case to allow the previous best matched candidate to be chosen as best match again.", "In a preferred embodiment actions are taken identical to those taken in response to a "SCRATCH THAT"", "command.", "The best matched recognition candidate is then marked as invalid and another speech event is processed.", "After a candidates list is prepared, all invalid candidates from the previous dictation event are marked invalid on the new list.", "The best matched candidate is then chosen form the remaining valid candidates in the new list.", "Referring to FIG. 11, the system initially determines in step 206 whether there is an active text event, and if there is an active text event, the associated dictation event record of the active text event is fetched in step 210.", "The system then removes the effects of the current text event in step 212 by using the information stored in the application state information element 64.", "The dictation state is reset using the recognition state information in element 44 in step 214, and the system notes all current invalid candidates in step 216.", "At that point, the system removes the active text event from the text event database and removes the associated dictation event record from the dictation database.", "The system then waits for the next speech event in step 220 which is the reissuing of the speech event which resulted in the incorrect translation.", "The invalid candidates are marked as invalid in step 222, and in step 224 the system assigns the valid candidate having the highest recognition score as the best match.", "This best matched candidate is then translated and sent on to the application.", "Use of dictation and text events enhance the voice control of application programs as described above.", "A number of these commands use different variations of the backtracking capabilities that are made possible by the dictation and the text event records to implement concise and powerful user commands for undoing the effects of incorrectly recognized speech events.", "The commands described above that fall into this category are the "SCRATCH THAT", "NEXT CHOICE", "TAKE N", "TRY AGAIN"", "commands.", "Many applications for which speech control is appropriate include the creation of documents of some sort.", "Word processing, database and spreadsheet programs are important examples.", "The use of dictation and text events imposes an important level of organization on the text in such documents, an organization in which the document is segmented into the speech events which created it.", "Boundary positions between text created by one speech event and text created by another can be reached efficiently using voice commands.", "Examples of these commands are the "BACK N", "FORWARD N"", "and "FORMS FILL IN"", "commands.", "An important technique for improving recognizer accuracy is to have the recognizer "learn"", "from an individual user's past behavior so that the recognizer will recognize a user's speech more accurately in the future.", "A crucial requirement for such learning is reliably identifying which speech events are correctly recognized, which speech events are incorrectly recognized, what the correct and incorrect recognitions were, and so forth.", "A particular problem in meeting these requirements is that in many dictation modes, the correctness of recognition of a speech event is not known until one or more following speech events are also recognized.", "The correct association of speech event data, candidate sets, best matched candidate, application response, subsequent correction or confirmation by the user, and other factors requires a combined use of both dictation and text events.", "The dictation event database is an efficient and effective way for modules within the recognizer to communicate.", "The formal definition of the characteristics of this database, the individual dictation event records, and the operations that can be carried out on them, allow the interfaces between the recognizer modules to be rigorously defined, effectively implemented, and reliably debugged.", "While the foregoing invention has been described with reference to its preferred embodiments, various alterations and modifications will occur to those skilled in the art.", "All such modifications and alterations are intended to fall within the scope of the appended claims." ]

[ "FIELD OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to fiber optics, in particular a fiber-optic mode scrambler.", "The invention also relates to a method of mixing or scrambling optical modes in multi-mode optical fibers.", "The invention can be used e.g. in connection with fiber-delivered high power laser sources, such as fiber lasers.", "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Present day high power laser sources exhibit high quality beams with very high brilliance in the multi-kW power range.", "For instance, commercial fiber lasers are available with single-mode power of 1 kW and above.", "Using such high brilliance laser sources in practical applications offers various benefits compared to older generation sources with lower beam quality, such as larger focusing depth and smaller spot size.", "However, high brilliance lasers may also give rise to new problems that are not encountered with sources having lower brilliance.", "A particular problem arises in optics, such as beam collimating and focusing lenses that are used at the output of the laser source to condition the beam for a practical application.", "The phenomenon behind this problem is called thermal lensing.", "Physically thermal lensing is caused by spatial and power density dependent variation of the refractive index of the glass material used to construct lenses and other optical elements.", "Thermal lensing may cause distortions to the output beam, such as power dependent spot size and focal depth variations.", "Such distortions sometimes make it difficult to control the particular application that the laser is being used for.", "One practical example of problems relating to thermal lensing relates to upgrading existing laser sources with new ones.", "As a manufacturer that uses the laser for an industrial application may exchange an older generation laser source to a higher brilliance new generation laser source, thermal lensing may become a serious issue.", "Sometimes changing the output optics to better adapt to the laser source is not a viable option due to technical or economical reasons.", "On the other hand, a laser manufacturer may not want to change the manufacturing chain for the high power laser source to adapt to customer's need for a lower brilliance source.", "It is known that optical modes of an optical fiber may be mixed, or to express it more accurately, optical power carried by the optical modes may be redistributed among the modes when a perturbation to the generally cylindrical symmetry of the fiber is produced.", "A perturbation may be such that the refractive index of the fiber is perturbed, while the geometry of the fiber is preserved.", "An example of such a perturbation is distributed Bragg reflector that causes mode coupling generally between counter-propagating modes.", "A localized external pressure may also couple modes with each other through the induced refractive index variation.", "Fiber bends achieved by e.g. coiling the fiber around a mandrel have been used to produce variation in the effective refractive index of the fiber.", "However, an efficient mode mixing in such geometries usually require tight coiling radii and/or long lengths of fiber to be used.", "It may also be that the coiling radius requirement to achieve efficient mode mixing is not practical due to mechanical strength limits of the fiber.", "Variations to the fiber geometry may also cause mode mixing.", "Examples of such variations include bulges or other longitudinal translational symmetry breaking features on the fiber.", "However, the amount of mode mixing by such features is difficult to control.", "For the above reasons, among others, there is a need for effective new ways of reducing the brilliance of laser sources in a controlled way to match various customer needs.", "In particular, such solutions would be needed which are not limited by the mechanical strength properties of the fiber and whose production can be well controlled.", "Without directly addressing the present problem in full, JP 59037503 discloses an optical mode scrambler comprising a fiber with three successive biconical taper parts.", "The biconical parts cause mode conversion and coupling by introducing sections where the core diameter decreases and increases gradually, resulting in a high-performance mode scrambler.", "A manufacturing method involving pulling of a fiber in heated state is also described.", "A problem in this kind of design and manufacturing method is that the degree of mode scrambling cannot be accurately controlled due to manufacturing tolerances.", "Thus, a problem still remains relating to the controllability and accurate manufacturing of the mode scrambling components.", "SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is a goal of the invention to solve at least some of the above-mentioned problems and to achieve an improved fiber-optic mode scrambler.", "A particular aim is to provide a mode scrambler which can be manufactured in a controlled way to produce the desired degree of mode scrambling.", "A secondary aim is to provide a scrambler which can be attached to the output of fiber of a high-brilliance fiber-delivered laser, such as a fiber laser in order to reduce its brilliance.", "A further secondary aim is to provide a scrambler component in which power losses are very low.", "It is also an aim to provide a method for manufacturing a fiber optic mode scrambler, which meet the requirements of controllability and accuracy.", "The invention is based on the idea of providing an optical mode scrambler comprising a modified fiber section with at least one non-adiabatic change of cross-sectional shape in a multi-mode optical fiber, the non-adiabatic shape change causing significant power redistribution between optical modes and therefore mode-scrambling in the fiber, and additionally bending the optical fiber to further adjust the mode-scrambling properties of the fiber.", "The fiber is “frozen”", "to a certain shape so that the final product has the desired optical characteristics.", "More specifically, the invention is characterized by what is stated in the independent claims.", "According to one embodiment, the fiber optic mode scrambler comprises a multi-mode optical fiber comprising a core and a cladding around the core, and at least one non-adiabatic narrowing in the optical fiber.", "The fiber further comprises a bending region extending over a length of the optical fiber, the optical fiber having a non-zero curvature at the bending region.", "Additionally, there are provided means for maintaining said curvature of the optical fiber at the bending region in order to “freeze”", "the configuration of the optical fiber to have desired optical characteristics.", "The present method of manufacturing an optical mode scrambler preferably comprises providing an optical fiber having a core and cladding around the core, and providing at least one non-adiabatic narrowing in the optical fiber.", "Additionally, the method comprises bending the optical fiber on at least one bending region.", "For achieving the right level of bending, there is provided laser light into the optical fiber simultaneously with said bending, and the characteristics of light passing the at least one bending region is measured.", "When predefined light characteristics criteria have been reached, the optical fiber is immobilized.", "As a result, an individually tuned optical mode scrambler is achieved.", "The present invention provides significant advantages.", "It provides a well controllable way of reducing the brilliance of the laser such that the brilliance meets desired level, for example the customer specifications of a laser manufacturer.", "The reduction in brilliance is achieved by inducing mixing or scrambling of the optical modes that carry the power in the output fiber using both the non-adiabatic changes in the cross section of the fiber and the controlled bending of the fiber.", "An advantage of the invention is that neither the non-adiabatic narrowings nor controlled bending cause significant power losses but only power redistribution among the optical modes provided that suitable parameters for the fiber are used.", "Typically the power losses are less than 1%.", "The invention is also suited for fibers designed to carry high power levels from tens of Watts to several kilowatts.", "Preferable embodiments are the subject of the dependent claims.", "According to one embodiment the at least one non-adiabatic shape-change zone comprises a narrowing.", "Preferably, there are two or more, for example three, successive narrowings, which together with each other and the bending of the fiber cause the desired level of mode-scrambling.", "Preferably, the bending region and the shape-change zone overlap.", "In other words, the shape-change zone, in particular the narrowing(s) are located at the bending region.", "Alternatively, the shape-change zone may be entirely or partly located outside the bending region, but this makes the total length of the component larger than if it were within the bending region.", "According to one embodiment, the radius of curvature of the optical fiber is at each point of the bending region is more than 50, in particular more than 100 times the diameter of the optical fiber outside the narrowing.", "Moderate bending ensures that the fiber is not subjected to high mechanical stress and that the cross-sectional shape of the fiber is not significantly deformed by the bending, which would potentially cause unexpected effects, in particular in combination with intentional shape-changes by non-adiabatic mode-scrambling features.", "Therefore, the main function of moderate or slight bending is to further reduce the translational symmetry of the fiber and thus increase the level of mode mixing in the fiber.", "The length of the bending zone can be, e.g. 100 times the outer diameter of the fiber or more, or in absolute terms typically 50 mm or more.", "The total angle of curvature may be e.g. 10-90 degrees, i.e., the fiber makes 0.03-0.25 turns in total.", "According to one embodiment, the radius of curvature of the optical fiber is constant over the whole bending region, i.e. the fiber follows a circular path.", "According to one embodiment, the means for maintaining the curvature comprise a rigid coating or sleeve on the optical fiber at the bending region.", "The coating or sleeve may be added after the bending or it may be there before that, but only cured or otherwise made rigid when the desired degree of bending has been reached in order to immobilize the bending zone.", "According to one embodiment the means for maintaining the curvature comprise an assembly element having shape-maintaining means adapted to receive and immobilize the bending region of the optical fiber.", "The assembly element by comprise, for example, a plastic support, metallic support or glass support.", "The shape-maintaining means may comprise a groove or protrusions on the assembly element that is/are capable of holding the fiber in the bent state.", "As briefly referred to above, the bending is preferably carried out with simultaneous inspection of the characteristics of light passing the mode scrambler.", "The characteristics may be indicative for example of the mode-scrambling efficiency of the scrambler and/or the brilliance of light passing the scrambler.", "According to one preferred embodiment, during bending the fiber is connected to or integral with a laser source, preferably fiber laser source, used for providing the inspection laser light into the optical fiber.", "The laser source is preferably the same or similar to that which be used by the end-user with the mode scrambler.", "In this case, the bending can be controlled in real environment and the resulting beam quality can be very accurately matched with the desired specifications.", "These and other embodiments and advantages of the invention will be more specifically discussed in the following detailed description with reference to the attached drawings.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS FIGS. 1 a and 1 b show in cross-sectional views the exemplary structures of a mode scrambler according to one embodiment of the invention in non-bent and bent state, respectively.", "FIG. 2 illustrates a measured thickness profile along a fiber according to one embodiment of the invention.", "FIG. 3 shows a schematic view of an immobilized mode scrambler fiber according to one embodiment of the invention.", "FIG. 4 shows a mode scrambler according to FIG. 3 connected to a laser source.", "FIG. 5 shows schematically an exemplary manufacturing setup.", "DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Definitions The term “multi-mode optical fiber”", "refers to an optical fiber capable of carrying simultaneously a plurality of optical modes to be at least partially scrambled by means of the invention.", "Thus, the multi-mode fiber is understood here in the conventional sense of having a core that supports multiple optical modes.", "In typical end-user applications, the multi-mode optical fiber according to the invention is coupled to a multi-mode optical source, such as a fiber-laser source.", "The number of modes guided by a core of a multi-mode fiber can be hundreds.", "The best performance for the mode scrambler component of the invention is achieved with fibers having a strongly multi-mode character, where the optical mode spacing in propagation constant space is relatively dense, preferably less than 1000 m −1 .", "A “narrowing”", "means the combination of two tapers in the optical fiber, namely a down-taper gradually (over a down-taper length) reducing the diameter of the fiber from the original diameter to a value which is less than the original diameter, and an up-taper gradually (over an up-taper length) increasing the diameter back to the original diameter or close to it.", "In a narrowing, both the core diameter and the cladding diameter are changed along the length of the fiber.", "The ratio of these diameters may be constant or non-constant over the length of the narrowing.", "The term “waist”", "refers to a section of mode scrambler where the diameter of the narrowing is at minimum.", "Typically, the narrowing is symmetrical with respect to its waist, i.e., the down-taper and up-taper occur have similar profiles and equal taper lengths.", "“Modulation depth”", "is used to describe how deep the minima or waist diameters in the mode scrambler are in relation to original fiber diameter.", "For example, modulation depth of 10% means that the waist diameters are 90% of the original fiber diameter.", "Modulation depth is one parameter experimentally observed to affect the mode scrambling magnitude of the component.", "“Non-adiabatic”", "cross-sectional shape change (e.g. taper) mean features in the outer shape and inner structure of the fiber that are able to cause mode mixing.", "This requires that the shape changes are steep enough.", "The criteria for such non-adiabatic tapers are discussed in text books of the art, such as A. W. Snyder and J. D. Love: Optical Waveguide Theory.", "In short, the adiabatic or slow variation condition is met when the variation of the refractive index profile happens within distance that is large compared to the average beat length between adjacent modes of the fiber.", "When the variation happens in a shorter distance than the beat length, coupling between the modes occurs, in other words power is redistributed or mixed among the optical modes of the fiber.", "Structure With reference to FIG. 1 a , showing a fiber optic mode scrambler according to the invention but in a still non-bent state, the multi-mode optical fiber 10 comprises a multi-mode core 12 and a cladding 14 .", "The multi-mode fiber has an input end 11 A and an output end 11 B. Between the input and output ends 11 A, 11 B, there is a processed section 16 , i.e. the non-adiabatic cross-sectional shape-change zone, that has at least one narrowing 17 formed by a down-taper 17 A from the original diameter D of the fiber and up-taper 17 B from the diminished diameter d back to the original diameter D of the fiber.", "The down and up-tapers 17 A, 17 B are applied to the diameter of the fiber 10 as a whole, meaning that the tapering is effected to the fiber core 12 and cladding 14 simultaneously.", "Between the tapers 17 A, 17 B, there is a waist 18 .", "The modulation depth may be e.g. 5-30%, in particular 5-15%.", "The degree of taperings and the number of narrowings 17 in the processed section of the component can be freely chosen in the non-adiabatic region to produce roughly the desired mode scrambling efficiency.", "The pitch, i.e. separation between successive waists, is typically 0.5-5 mm, in particular 1-3 mm.", "The number or waists may be e.g. 1-100, preferably 2-20.", "Now with reference to FIG. 1 b , the processed section is bent to an angle α, the radius of curvature being r. The radius of curvature r may be e.g. 100-1000 times the diameter D. Angle α may be e.g. 10-90 degrees.", "It should be noted that no steep curvatures are generally needed, since the bending functions as a “fine-tuning”", "of the optical characteristics of the already mode-scrambling fiber, and thus only a slight bending is generally effective in further reducing the brightness of radiation propagating through the fiber to a desired level.", "In a typical situations, the desired mode-scrambling efficiency is achieved with coarse tuning using a shape change zone having 2-20 narrowings each having a modulation depth of 5-30% and fine-tuning by bending the fiber at the region of the shape change zone by 10-90 degrees such that the radius of curvature at each point of the bending region remains 100 times the diameter D of the fiber or more.", "It should be noted that the shape of the bent fiber can vary.", "The curvature can be, but needs not be constant over the whole bending region.", "The bending region may take any symmetric or non-symmetric shape.", "Examples include circular, parabolic, elliptic and meandering shapes.", "It should also be noted that the non-adiabatic cross-sectional shape-change zone and the bending region can, but need not have similar lengths or overlap with each other.", "According to one embodiment, the bending region is longer than the cross-sectional shape-change zone.", "In an alternative embodiment, the bending region is shorter than the shape-change zone.", "FIG. 2 shows a measured thickness profile of one embodiment of the mode scrambler component, showing six waists of about 7.7% modulation depth and a pitch of about 2 mm.", "The mode scrambler component of FIG. 2 has been drawn into an optical fiber having 363 μm cladding diameter and 100 μm core diameter.", "According to one embodiment, the fiber is an all-glass fiber.", "Although a general term glass is used here, it usually refers to fused silica or doped forms thereof.", "In addition to the fiber described above, the present mode scrambler comprises means for immobilizing the fiber to the bent state.", "These may include a rigid coating 35 around the processed and bent fiber 30 , as disclosed in FIG. 3 .", "Examples of coating materials include epoxies, urethanes, silicones or acrylates.", "Instead of or in addition to of a coating, the fiber may be immobilized by various other ways.", "These include e.g. affixing the fiber to an assembly element having means for receiving and holding the fiber in the desired shape, embedding the fiber into a layer of material by casting or potting, and gluing the fiber to a suitable rigid base.", "FIG. 4 shows a scrambler fiber 40 immobilized with a coating 45 connected to a laser source 48 .", "Although illustrated herein as a rectangular box, it should be noted that the laser source 48 may also be a fiber laser seamlessly spliced to the input end of the scrambler fiber.", "The laser source 48 and the mode scrambler may be integrated into a single package or they may be packaged separately and optically connected with each other.", "Method of Manufacture The method of manufacturing according to one embodiment of the invention comprises providing a length of multi-mode fiber, stripping the potential original outer coating off from a section of the fiber, making the processed section inside the stripped section by a fiber drawing method, bending the processed section to a desired degree, and optionally re-coating or immobilizing with some other means the processed section.", "According to a further embodiment, the method comprises cleaving the input and output ends of the fiber, and, optionally, splicing the input end of the component to the output fiber of a laser source.", "The processed section, i.e. the non-adiabatic tapers, can be manufactured by a fiber drawing method comprising heating the fiber locally inside the stripped section to make the material of the fiber soft, and pulling the fiber to produce the tapers while simultaneously moving the heated zone along the longitudinal axis of the fiber.", "Such methods are known per se in the art.", "In drawing, both the fiber cladding and core experience the same relative reduction in their diameters within the taper profile when compared to their original diameters of the un-tapered fiber.", "In practice, a non-adiabatic narrowing can be achieved by fast acceleration and deceleration of fiber drawing while the heat zone is slowly moved along the fiber.", "The number of narrowings and the modulation depth can be easily controlled to good accuracy by adjusting fiber-drawing parameters.", "Generally speaking, the level of control, accuracy and reproducibility of fiber drawing are all very good.", "With reference to FIG. 5 , showing a processed fiber 50 to be bent, the bending can be carried out as follows.", "The fiber 50 is connected to a laser source 58 continuously providing preferably constant laser light to the input end of the fiber 50 and through the processed section thereof.", "At the other side of the processed section, there are provided bending means 54 , which are adapted to grab and move the fiber 50 to different bending angles.", "At the output end of the fiber 50 , there is a laser detector 56 adapted to measure the properties, such as brilliance, of the laser light exiting the fiber 50 .", "When the brilliance is at a desired level, i.e. desired amount of mode scrambling occurs inside the fiber 50 between its input and output end, the bending is stopped and the fiber is immobilized in corresponding geometrical configuration." ]

[ "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1.", "Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a glow plug controlling device for controlling the temperature of the glow plug of a diesel engine.", "Description of the Prior Art An exemplary conventional glow plug controlling device is illustrated in FIG. 1. Referring to FIG. 1, there are shown a key switch 1 and a control unit 2 comprising a constant current circuit 21, an inverting amplifier 22, a sensing timer 23, a temperature level detecting circuit 24, a chopping timer 25, a control circuit 26, a glow relay output circuit 27 and a water temperature detecting circuit 28.", "Also shown in FIG. 1 are a glow relay 3 which is controlled by the glow relay output circuit 27, glow plugs 4 of a positive resistance temperature characteristic each provided for a cylinder of the engine and connected in series to the glow relay 3, a battery 5, a water temperature sensor 6 of a negative resistance temperature characteristic provided in the water pipe of the engine to detect the temperature of the engine cooling water.", "The action of the glow plug controlling device of FIG. 1 thus constituted will be described hereunder in connection with FIG. 2 showing time charts.", "In a cold engine starting mode in which preheating is necessary, the key switch 1 is thrown to a preheating starting position G as indicated at (A) in FIG. 2(a) (water temperature: T 1 ° C. or below), then the control unit 2 is connected to a power source.", "At this time, the constant current circuit 21 functions as indicated at (B) in FIG. 2 to supply a fixed current to the glow plugs 4.", "A voltage drop corresponding to the resistance of the glow plugs 4 at the present temperature occurs in the glow plugs 4.", "The inverting amplifier 22 inverts and amplifies the voltage drop and gives the inverted and amplified voltage drop signal to the sensing timer 23 and the temperature level detecting circuit 24.", "The sensing timer 23 determines a current supply time for the glow relay 3 on the basis of the temperature-equivalent voltage signal and gives the signal of the current supply time to the control circuit 26.", "At the same time, the water temperature detecting circuit 28 detects that by means of the resistance that varies according to the temperature of the engine cooling water, it is lower than a temperature corresponding to a predetermined set temperature T 1 ° C., for example, 15° C., and gives a signal for supplying a current to the glow plugs 4 to the control circuit 26.", "On the other hand, the temperature level detecting circuit 24 decides whether the temperature equivalent voltage given thereto by the inverting amplifier 22 is greater than or less than a reference voltage corresponding to a lower limit temperature.", "If the temperature equivalent voltage is less than the reference voltage, the temperature level detecting circuit 24 gives an operation start signal to the chopping timer 25 and, if greater than the reference voltage, gives an operation stop signal to the chopping timer 25.", "At the moment of connection of the power source to the control unit 2, the control circuit 26 inhibits the chopping timer 25 to give an output signal.", "Accordingly, when the power source is connected to the control unit 2, the glow relay 3 is thrown to ON position as indicated at (C) in FIG. 2, through the glow relay output circuit 27 for a current supply time determined by the sensing timer 23.", "When the glow relay 3 is actuated, a current is supplied directly from the battery 5 to the glow plugs 4, so that the temperature of the glow plugs 4 rises gradually as indicated at (D) in FIG. 2. When a current is supplied to the glow plugs 4, the voltage drop at the glow plugs 4 is equivalent to the maximum voltage (battery voltage).", "Consequently, the output current of the constant current circuit 21 is interrupted as indicated as (B) in FIG. 2, and the output of the inverting amplifier 22 is reduced to the minimum value.", "After the time decided by the sensing timer 23 for keeping the glow relay 3 at ON position has passed, the control circuit 26 puts the glow relay 3 to OFF position through the glow relay output circuit 27 to interrupt the current supply to the glow plugs 4.", "Since the sensing timer 23 decides the duration of current supply to the glow relay 3 after the key switch 1 has been thrown to the preheating starting position G, in inverse proportion to the temperature (temperature equivalent resistance) of the glow plugs 4, the glow plugs 4 are heated approximately to an objective temperature regardless of the initial temperature of the glow plugs 4.", "Upon the interruption of current supply to the glow plugs 4, as indicated at (B) in FIG. 2, the constant current circuit 21 is actuated again to give a signal of voltage drop under the fixed current, corresponding to the lowering temperature of the glow plugs 4, to the inverting amplifier 22.", "The output of the inverting amplifier 22 increases as the temperature of the glow plugs 4 lowers.", "Upon the arrival of the output of the inverting amplifier 22 at the predetermined reference voltage of the temperature level detecting circuit 24 corresponding to the lower limit temperature, the temperature level detecting circuit 24 gives an operation starting signal to the chopping timer 25.", "This signal causes the chopping timer 25 to operate for a predetermined period of time.", "In this state, the control circuit 26 keeps the glow relay 3 through the glow relay output circuit 27 at ON position for a time decided by the chopping timer 25 to supply a current to the glow plugs 4.", "The same operation is repeated thereafter to control the temperature of the glow plugs 4 at a temperature slightly higher than the lower limit temperature.", "Then, the key switch 1 is thrown to ST position to supply a current to the starter motor in order to start the engine.", "After the engine has been started, the key switch 1 returns to ON position and the control operation is completed.", "The operation of the glow plug controlling device in a hot starting mode will be described hereinafter.", "As shown in FIG. 2(b), in which the water temperature is higher than T 1 ° C., since the water temperature is higher than the set temperature, the water temperature detecting circuit 28 generates a current supply stopping signal to stop current supply to the glow plugs 4.", "Upon the reception of the current supply stopping signal, the control circuit 26 controls the glow relay output circuit 27 so as to stop current supply to the glow relay 3.", "Generally, when the water temperature is T 1 ° C. or higher, the fuel is ignited readily without preheating and, as indicated at (E) in FIG. 2(b), the operating time of the starter motor is shorter than that in the cold starting mode, The temperature rise of the glow plugs 4 indicated at (D) in FIG. 2(b) is not due to electrical heating, but is due to the heat generated by the combustion of the fuel in the cylinders.", "Since the conventional glow plug controlling device is constituted as described hereinbefore, the power consumption of the constant current circuit is large in detecting the temperature of the glow plugs, because the constant current circuit continuously supplies the glow plugs with a constant current and hence the constant current circuit needs to be constituted of elements of large allowable power capacities, needs to be provided with a heat radiating plate to prevent the thermal breakdown of the component elements resulting from a high heat generation due to electric power consumption, and is subject to temperature rise due to heat generation, which is liable to cause the variation of the fixed current.", "SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a compact and highly precision glow plug controlling device for a diesel engine, eliminated of the disadvantages of the conventional glow plug controlling device.", "In a glow plug controlling device according to the present invention, the constant current circuit is pulse-driven to reduce fixed current supply time so that power consumption, heat generation and the size of the device are reduced, the heat radiating plate is eliminated and the temperaturedependence of fixed current is improved.", "A glow plug controlling device of the present invention comprises a glow relay connected directly to the power supply circuit of a diesel engine for supplying electric power to the glow plugs, detecting current supplying means to generate a temperature-equivalent voltage by supplying a current to the glow plugs while the glow relay is opened, and a water temperature sensor to detect the temperature of the engine cooling water.", "The analog values of the temperature-equivalent voltage and the output signal of the water temperature sensor are converted into digital values and the digital values are given to a computer.", "The computer decides whether or not the engine needs to be preheated, on the basis of the output signal of the water temperature sensor and when necessary, the computer calculates a current supply time which is necessary to heat the glow plugs to a predetermined temperature.", "Then, the computer generates a current supply time signal, to open the detection current supply means and a signal to close the glow relay.", "After the current supply time has passed, the computer generates signals to close and open the detection current supply means at fixed intervals until the temperature of the glow plugs drops below a predetermined temperature.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the circuit constitution of a conventional glow plug controlling device;", "FIGS. 2a) and 2(b) show time charts explaining the mode of glow plug temperature controlling operation of the glow plug controlling device of FIG. 1;", "FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the circuit constitution of a glow plug controlling device according to the present invention;", "FIGS. 4(a) and 4(b) show time charts explaining the mode of glow plug temperature controlling operation of the glow plug controlling device of FIG. 3;", "and FIGS. 5(I) and 5(II) are a flow chart for explaining the functions of the device of FIG. 3. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A preferred embodiment of a glow plug controlling device according to the present invention will be described hereinafter in connection with the accompanying drawings.", "FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the circuit constitution of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.", "In FIG. 3, the same parts as those of FIG. 1 are designated by the same reference characters and the explanation thereof is omitted.", "As shown in FIG. 3, the inverting amplifier 22, the sensing timer 23, the temperature level detecting circuit 24, the chopping timer 25, the control circuit 26 and the water temperature detecting circuit 28 of the conventional glow plug controlling device of FIG. 1 are replaced by a one-chip computer 2a provided in the control unit 2.", "The one-chip computer 2a comprises a read only mexory (abbreviated to "ROM"", "hereinafter) 41 for storing a fixed control procedure, a read-write memory (abbreviated to "RAM"", "hereinafter) 42 for storing information temporarily, an input buffer 43 for receiving signals, an output buffer 44 for sending out output signals, an oscillation circuit 45 of a fixed frequency for determining the operation period of the computer, and an arithmetic and logic unit (abbreviated to "ALU"", "hereinafter) 46 for executing the procedure decided by the ROM 41.", "The control unit 2 further comprises an input interface 2b for giving input signals to the one-chip computer 2a, an output interface 2c for giving the output signals of the one-chip computer 2a to the glow relay output circuit 27 and the constant current circuit 21, an amplifier 2d for amplifying a voltage drop caused by a resistance corresponding to the temperature of glow plugs 4, to a predetermined level, and an AD converter 2e for converting analog signals given by the amplifier 2d and the water temperature sensor 6 into digital signals and for applying the digital signals to the one-chip computer 2a.", "Other constitution of the present glow plug controlling device is the same as that of the glow plug controlling device of FIG. 1. The operating mode of the glow plug controlling device according to the present invention thus constituted will be described hereinafter in connection with the time charts shown in FIG. 4 and the flow chart shown in FIG. 5. First, in a cold engine starting mode, as indicated at (A) in FIG. 4(a) (for an engine starting condition where the water temperature is T 1 ° C. or below), a key switch 1 is thrown to a preheating starting position (G).", "Then, the one-chip computer 2a receives through the input interface 2b and the input buffer 43 a terminal G ON information and starts control operation according to the control procedure stored in the ROM 41.", "First, in Step 51, the one-chip computer 2a detects on the basis of the output signal of the water temperature sensor 6 encoded by the AD converter into a digital signal that the water temperature is lower than T 1 ° C. In this temperature condition where the water temperature is lower than T 1 ° C., preheating by means of glow plugs 4 is necessary, therefore, the one-chip computer 2a closes the constant current circuit 21 through the output buffer 44 and the output interface 2c to supply a predetermined current to the glow plugs 4 (Step 52).", "Then a voltage drop corresponding to a resistance which is equivalent to the temperature of the glow plugs 4 occurs.", "The amplifier 2d amplifies the voltage drop and applies the amplified voltage drop to the AD converter 2e.", "The AD converter converts the value of the voltage drop given thereto into a digital signal and sends the same to the one-chip computer 2a (Step 54).", "The one-chip computer 2a receives the plug-temperature equivalent digital signal through the input buffer 43 and stores the same in a plug temperature register allocated in the RAM 42 (Step 55).", "Then, the one-chip computer 2a calculates a current supply time Tp required to supply a current to the glow relay 3 to heat the glow plugs 4 to a predetermined temperature, on the basis of the stored plug-temperature equivalent digital value and stores the calculated result in the RAM 42 (Step 56).", "Then, a command is given to the output buffer 44 (Step 57) to open the constant current circuit 21 and to close the glow relay 3, as indicated at (B) and (C) in FIG. 4(a) (Step 58).", "When the glow relay 3 is closed, a current is supplied directly from the battery 5 to the glow plugs 4, and thereby the temperature of the glow plugs 4 rises gradually as indicated at (D) in FIG. 4(a).", "On the other hand, a preheating timing counter provided in the RAM 42 is cleared to zero and starts counting by counting up at each calculation cycle of the one-chip computer according to the output signal of the oscillation circuit 45.", "The time through which the glow relay 3 is kept closed is decided through the comparison between the count of the preheating timer counter provided in the RAM 42 and the previously decided current supply time Tp by the ALU 46.", "Upon the coincidence of the count with the current supply time Tp in Step 60, the one-chip computer 2a turns off the glow relay 2 (Step 61).", "Since the current supply time Tp through which the glow relay is kept closed is decided in inverse proportion to the temperature of the glow plugs 4, the glow plugs 4 are heated up approximately to an objective temperature regardless of the initial temperature of the glow plugs 4.", "When the glow relay 3 is opened, current supply to the glow plugs 4 is interrupted and the temperature of the glow plugs 4 starts dropping as indicated at (C) and (D) in FIG. 4(a).", "Then, the one-chip computer 2a clears a constant current OFF timing counter provided in the RAM 42 to zero, and thereby the counter starts counting and counts up at each operating cycle of the one-chip computer (Step 62).", "Upon the detection of the coincidence of the count of the counter with the value stored in the ROM 41 through comparison in Step 63, the constant current circuit is closed again (Step 64) as indicated at (B) in FIG. 4(a) and the temperature of the plug is measured by the agency of the amplifier 2d and the AD converter 2e, as indicated at (D) in FIG. 4(a) (Step 65).", "The temperature of the plug is compared with a set value stored in the ROM 41 in Step 66 and if the temperature of the plug is higher than the set value stored in the ROM 41, the constant current circuit 21 is opened (Step 67) and the constant current OFF timing counter is started again.", "After the count has reached the predetermined value, the constant current circuit 21 is closed again and the temperature of the plug is measured.", "Thus the constant current circuit 21 is closed and opened at fixed intervals until the temperature of the plug drops to the set value stored in the ROM 41.", "Upon the arrival of the temperature of the plug at the set value Steps 52 through 56 are repeated and the current supply time Tp is calculated again and the glow relay 3 is kept closed for the time Tp to supply a current to the glow plugs 4.", "Thereafter, the same control operations as described hereinbefore are repeated to control the temperature of the glow plug 4 at a temperature slightly higher than the objective lower limit temperature.", "Then, the key switch 1 is thrown to ST position to supply a current to the starter motor in order to start the engine.", "After the engine has been started, the key switch 1 returns to ON position to complete the control operation.", "The operation of the glow plug controlling device in a hot starting mode will be described hereinafter.", "Referring to FIG. 4(b), where the water temperature is T 1 ° C. or above, when the key switch 1 is thrown to the preheating starting position (G) as indicated at (A), the one-chip computer 2a detects on the basis of the output signal of the water temperature sensor 6 given thereto through the AD converter 2e that the water temperature is higher than T 1 ° C. Since preheating is unnecessary when the water temperature is about T 1 ° C., the one-chip computer 2a opens the constant current circuit 21 and the glow relay 3 as indicated at (B) and (C) in FIG. 4(b).", "Consequently, no current is supplied to the glow plugs 4, and hence the temperature of the glow plugs is raised only by the heat generated by the combustion of fuel in the cylinders as indicated at (D) in FIG. 4(b).", "In the above-mentioned embodiments, the control starting timing is when the key switch 1 is thrown to the preheating position (G), however, the control starting timing may be when the key switch is thrown to the position (ON).", "Furthermore, the software timing counter of count-up system employed in the above-mentioned embodiment may be substituted by a method of detecting zero by counting down from a predetermined number or a method employing a free running counter which reads the count at a necessary time and the count thereafter and decides a time by calculating the differential between the counts.", "Furthermore, the same result as the present embodiment is obtained by providing a timer of hardware type in the one-chip computer or by providing an external timer as a time counter for the device.", "Thus, the employment of the one-chip computer as the control unit of a glow plug controlling device enables the periodic ON-OFF driving of the constant current circuit which supplies a fixed current to the glow plugs to detect the temperature of the glow plugs and the remarkable reduction of heat generation through the reduction of the average power consumption.", "Accordingly, the heat radiating plate of the current control element of the constant current circuit, which is essential to the conventional glow plug controlling device, is eliminated, and thereby the size of the element is reduced to enable the formation of a compact device.", "Furthermore, improvement in the temperature dependence of the fixed current value contributes to the improvement of the accuracy of plug temperature measurement." ]

[ "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1.", "Field of the Invention This invention relates generally to a reed operating system for a loom, and more particularly to a mechanism for altering the advance position of a reed without largely altering the backdown position of the reed.", "Description of the Prior Art A variety of reed operating systems for weaving looms have been proposed and put into practical use.", "Typical one of them is schematically shown in FIG. 8. The reed operating system in FIG. 8 includes a driving cam 101 rotatably mounted to a frame of a loom.", "A swingable lever 102 is swingably driven through a cam follower 102a by the driving cam 101.", "The swingable lever 102 is pivotted at its pivot section 102b.", "A sley sword 103 is pivotted at the common pivot section 102b and provided with a reed 104.", "The sley sword 104 functions to beat up a picked weft yarn against a cloth fell 106 of a woven fabric 107 which is contiguous with shedded warp yarns 105.", "Additionally, links 108 and 109 are connected with each other by a connecting pin 110.", "The link 108 is connected at its free end section with the free end section 102c of the lever 102, while the link 109 is connected at its free end section with a middle projection 103a of the sley sword 103.", "With such a reed operating system, the advance (bearing-up) position of the reed 104 is suitably set by selecting the location of the connecting pin 110.", "However, the above-discussed conventional reed operating system is such configurated as to fundamentally alter the length of a connecting rod constituted of the links 108, 109 or an angle between the lever 102 and the sley sword 103 by selecting the location of the connection pin 110.", "Therefore, if the advance position of the reed 104 is altered from A 1 to B 1 in FIG. 8, the backdown position of the reed is also unavoidably altered from A 2 to B 2 .", "Such alteration of the advance and backdown positions of the reed determines that a time period in which weft picking is possible is within an angle θ corresponding to a region between B 2 and A 1 , thereby reducing the weft picking possible time period.", "In order to prevent the weft picking possible time period or angle θ from reducing, it is necessary that the altered backdown position B 2 is near the previous backdown position A 2 even in case the advance position of the reed is altered from A 1 to B 1 .", "Additionally, for the above arrangement in which the backdown position of the reed is altered, it is necessary to set the operation of a shedding motion in conformity with the backdown position of the reed at the time the length of the connecting rod becomes the smallest.", "This unavoidably enlarges the size of a warp shed.", "SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved reed operating system which is suitable for high speed loom operation and arranged such that the advance position of a reed can be altered without a considerable alteration of the backdown position of the reed.", "According to the present invention, the reed operating system for a loom comprised of a swingable link through which a sley sword is connected to a crank for driving a reed which is fixedly connected to the sley sword.", "The swingable link is rotatably mounted on and swingable around a pivot shaft.", "The location of the pivot shaft is altered in a predetermined distance in a predetermined direction in accordance with a predetermined pattern.", "Accordingly, the movement of the crank is transmitted through the swingable link to the sley sword thereby to make swinging motion of the reed.", "The advance position of the reed can be altered by selecting the location of the pivot shaft of the swingable link.", "In other words, the advance position of the reed is altered by changing the swinging center of the swingable link.", "In the reed operating system of the present invention, only the advance position of the reed is altered without a considerable alteration of the backdown position of the reed.", "Therefore, a weft picking possible angle θ is hardly altered even upon alteration of the reed advance position, thereby maintaining a larger weft picking possible angle θ.", "Thus, the loom equipped with the reed operating system of the present invention is suitable for high speed loom operation.", "Furthermore, since the reed backdown position is hardly altered, the size of a warp shed is not so enlarged.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings, the same reference numerals designate the corresponding elements and parts throughout all the figures, in which: FIG. 1 is a side elevation of an embodiment of a reed operating system for a loom, in accordance with the present invention;", "FIG. 2 is a fragmentary front elevation of an essential part of the reed operating system of FIG. 1;", "FIG. 3 is a schematic front elevation of a loom equipped with the reed oprating system of FIG. 1;", "FIGS. 4 and 5 are side elevations similar to FIG. 1 but illustrating the operation of the reed operating system of FIG. 1;", "FIG. 6 is a side elevation similar to FIG. 1 but showing another embodiment of the reed operating system in accordance with the present invention;", "FIG. 7 is a fragmentary front elevation of an essential part of the reed operating system of FIG. 6;", "and FIG. 8 is a schematic illustration of a conventional reed operating system for a loom.", "DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring now to FIGS. 1 to 5, there is shown an embodiment of a reed operating system for a weaving loom, in accordance with the present invention.", "The reed operating system is incorporated in the weaving loom having a frame F. The frame F includes a pair of opposite sections 1, 1 between which a stay 2 extends to connect the opposite sections 1, 1.", "A sley sword shaft 3 is rotatably supported by bearing members 4 which are fixed to the stay 2.", "Sley swords 5 are rotatably mounted on the sley sword shaft 3.", "A reed holder 6 is fixedly secured to the free ends of the sley swords 5 and securely holds a reed 7 in such a manner as to move with the reed holder 6.", "A crank 9 is fixedly mounted on a rotating shaft 8 which is rotatable in timed relation to a main shaft (not shown) of the loom.", "The crank 9 has a crank pin 9a which rotates around the rotating shaft 8.", "A pivot shaft 10 is rotatably supported to a fixed member (not shown) of the loom by means of bearing members 11 as shown in FIG. 2. The pivot shaft 10 is integrally formed with an eccentric shaft 12 which is eccentric relative to the pivot shaft 10.", "The pivot shaft 10 is integrally formed at its one end with an arm 13 which extends perpendicular to the axis of the pivot shaft 10.", "A pin 14 is projected from the free end of the arm 14 in such a manner as to be parallel with the axis of the pivot shaft 10.", "Pivotally connected to the pin 14 is the end section of a piston rod 15a of a hydraulic cylinder 15.", "The hydraulic cylinder 15 is secured to a fixed member (not shown) of the loom by means of a pin 16 in such a manner as to be slightly pivotable around the pin 16.", "A stopper 17 (in FIG. 1) for the arm 13 is provided to be secured to the loom frame F, so that the arm 13 can be brought into contact with the stopper 17.", "A swingable link 18 having a generally V-shaped cross-section (in FIG. 1) is pivotally mounted on the eccentric shaft 12.", "More specifically, the link 18 has a central section 18a which is pivotally mounted on the eccentric shaft 12.", "Two opposite lower arm sections 18b are integral with and extend from the central section 18a.", "Two opposite upper arm sections 18c are integral with and extend from the central section 18a.", "Each lower arm section 18b and each upper arm section 18c are so arranged that the axes of them intersects to form an acute angle.", "A pin 19 is secured to connect the lower arm sections 18b at the free end.", "A pin 21 is secured to connect the upper arm sections 18c at the free end.", "The pin 19 is connected through a connecting rod 20 with the crank pin 9a of the crank 9.", "The pin 21 is connected through a connecting rod 24 with a pin 23 secured to a lever 22 which is projected downwardly from the sley sword 5.", "The lever 22 projects generally in the opposite direction to the sley sword 5 with respect to the sley sword shaft 3.", "The manner of operation of the thus arranged reed operating system will be discussed.", "When the rotating shaft 8 rotates in the direction of an arrow C in FIG. 4, the crank 9 rotates together in the same direction, so that the swingable link 18 swings around the eccentric shaft 12 in the direction of an arrow D in FIG. 4 through the crank pin 9a, the connecting rod 20, and the pin 19.", "Accordingly, the sley sword 5 is rotated in the direction of an arrow E in FIG. 4 through the pin 21, the connecting rod 24, the pin 23 and the lever 22, so that the reed 7 also swings in the directions of a two-headed arrow F in FIG. 4. In such an operation, FIGS. 1 and 4 shows a state in which the reed 7 reaches its advance position for accomplishing beating-up, while FIG. 5 shows another state in which the reed 7 reaches its backdown position or rear-most position.", "The states indicated by solid lines in FIGS. 1, 4 and 5 are established by the hydraulic cylinder 15 in a state indicated by solid lines in FIG. 1. When the piston rod 15a of the hydraulic cylinder 15 is withdrawn as indicated in phantom (or by dash-dot-dot lines) from the above state, the arm 13 rotates around the pivot shaft 10 in the direction of an arrow G and therefore the eccentric shaft 12 rotates together.", "As a result, a link system of this reed operating system is changed from the state indicated by the solid lines to the state indicated in phantom.", "This operation of the state changing is the same also in FIGS. 4 and 5.", "Thus, the advance position of the reed 7 is changed to be further advanced as shown in FIG. 4 when the piston rod 15a of the hydraulic cylinder 15 is withdrawn as indicated in phantom in FIG. 1. However, the backdown position of the red 7 is not so changed as indicated in phantom in FIGS. 5. The operation of the hydraulic cylinder 15 to vertically move the piston rod 15a is carried out in accordance with a predetermined pattern.", "For example, in case of a pile fabric weaving loom, the predetermined pattern is such that two times beating-up are continuously made in the state of the solid lines and subsequently one time beating-up is made in the state shown in phantom.", "It will be understood that the hydraulic cylinder 15 is operated to accomplish the predetermined pattern under the action of a control device (not shown) which is known per se.", "In other words, the control device causes the hydraulic cylinder 15 to operate in accordance with the predetermined pattern.", "Otherwise in order to remove filling bar, the predetermined pattern may be such that beating-up is made in the state shown in phantom in a time period during loom starting and thereafter beating-up is made in the state of the solid lines.", "Conversely the predetermined pattern may be such that beating-up is made in the state of the solid lines in the time period during loom starting and thereafter beating-up is made in the state shown in phantom.", "It will be understood that the states indicated by solid lines and in phantom are adjustable by suitably selecting a rotating amount of the pivot shaft 10 and/or an eccentric degree of the eccentric shaft 12 relative to the pivot shaft 10.", "Next discussion will be made in case where the reed operating system of the present invention is applied to the pile fabric weaving loom which is operated in accordance with the above predetermined pattern.", "When the piston rod 15a of the hydraulic cylinder 15 projects as indicated by the solid lines in FIG. 1, the arm 13 rotates upwardly to come into contact with the stopper 17.", "In the state of the solid lines, the swingable link 18 swings around the eccentric shaft 12 under rotation of the crank 9, thereby causing the sley sword 5 and the reed 7 to swing forward and rearward.", "At this time, the pivot shaft 10 and the eccentric shaft 12 are located in the positions of the solid lines, and therefore the reed 7 swings between the advance position AF and the backdown position AB as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.", "Under this state, beating-up is made two times, and thereafter the piston rod 15a of the hydraulic cylinder 15 is withdrawn by a timing of the next beating-up thereby to shift the eccentric shaft 12 into the position shown in phantom.", "This moves the eccentric shaft 12 upwardly, so that the advance position BF largely shifts forward relative to the above-mentioned advance position AF, in which the backdown position BB only slightly shifts forward relative to the backdown position BB.", "Under this state, the reed 7 swings between the advance position BF and the backdown position BB.", "Accordingly at this time, beating-up is made at the advance position BF with two weft yarns beated up at the advance position AF.", "Thus, pile yarn projects in loop-shape as same as in known pile fabric weaving looms.", "During a time between this beating-up and the next beating-up, the piston rod 15a of the hydraulic cylinder 15 is projected thereby to restore the eccentric shaft 12 into the position of the solid lines.", "Accordingly in this case, weft picking is accomplished within a weft picking possible angle θ formed between the reed 7 at the advance position AF and the reed 7 at the backdown position BB.", "In this connection, according to the present invention, the shifting amount of the reed 7 from the backdown position AB to the backdown position BB is less and therefore a larger weft picking possible angle θ can be obtained than in case of conventional reed operating systems.", "As a result, weft picking can be securely accomplished even at a high loom operational speed.", "Furthermore, since the shifting amount between the backdown positions AB, BB is smaller, the size of warp shed is nearly the same in both cases of being decided in accordance with the backdown position AB and with the other backdown position BB.", "As a result, according to the present invention, the size of the warp shed cannot be enlarged over a desired size.", "FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate another embodiment of the reed operating system in accordance with the present invention, which is similar to the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 5 except for a mechanism for shifting the location of the pivot shaft 10.", "In this embodiment, a sector gear 26 serving as a worm wheel is fixedly mounted on the end portion of the pivot shaft 10 in such a manner as to be coaxial with the pivot shaft 10.", "A worm gear 27 fixedly mounted on an output shaft 25a of a servo-motor 25 is engaged with the sector gear 26.", "Accordingly, the pivot shaft 10 is rotated to shift the location of the eccentric shaft 12 by operating the servo-motor 25.", "The reference numerals 28, 29 denote stoppers which are brought into contact with the both side ends of the sector gear 26.", "In this connection, the servo-motor 25 is arranged such that its operation or rotation is stopped when the rotational resistance of the motor 25 increases upon the sector gear 26 comming into contact with the stopper 28, 29.", "Otherwise, an encoder (not shown) may be provided to detect the rotational amount of the servo-motor 25 so as to stop the servo-motor 25 upon reaching a predetermined rotational position.", "It will be appreciated that this embodiment can demonstrate the same advantageous effects as in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 5.", "While two mechanisms have been shown and described as rotating the pivot shaft 10, it will be understood that a lever may be fixedly mounted on the pivot shaft 10 and operated by a cam which rotates in timed relation to the main shaft of the loom.", "In addition, in the above-discussed embodiments, it is possible that the length of pile of a pile fabric is varied by suitably selecting the advance position BF of the reed 7 upon suitable selection of the location of the pivot shaft 10, thereby obtaining high decorative pile fabric having piles of different lengths." ]

[ "DISCUSSION OF THE PRIOR ART Shear wave vibrators are well known as exemplified by U.S. Pat. No. 4,135,599 issued Jan. 23, 1979, to Delbert W. Fair.", "Extendible hydraulically controlled apparatus for maintaining a shear wave with engagement with the surface of the earth is also illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 3,372,770 to Frank Clynch.", "In the patent to Franch Clynch the extendible device positioned by the hydraulic pistons essentially comprises a pair of plates which are forced into the ground as the vibrator operates.", "The plates, which are forced into the ground, are intended to maintain contact with the ground during the period of time the shear wave vibrator is operating.", "Such a system, however, would not be satisfactory in the sea environment since the nature of the seabed is generally unconsolidated for a portion of the seabed and consolidated under the unconsolidated material.", "The device shown in the U.S. Pat. No. 3,372,770 patent would not operate to properly engage the seabed during operation of the shear wave vibrator.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION This invention basically discloses a means for coupling a shear wave vibrator to a seabed where the seabed will normally encompass a portion which is unconsolidated prior to reaching the consolidated seabed portion.", "The unconsolidated portion may be several inches to several feet in depth.", "If, for example, the unconsolidated portion is several feet in depth the vibrator will sink into the unconsolidated material, causing difficulties not only in operating the vibrator, but also its removal from the seabed unconsolidated material.", "In order to maintain contact throughout the vibrational operation of the shear wave vibrator engaging means, such as pyramidal structures, are coupled to the vibrator housing by means of arms which are pivoted both at the attaching point on the pyramidal upper surfaces and the side or at a convenient location on the housing.", "Hydraulic piston means is connected between the housing and the arms so that, as the vibrator tends to sink as it is being vibrated through the unconsolidated material, sensing means in the vibrator indicates that the vibrator housing has sunk to a depth where it is about to engage the unconsolidated material.", "Once this occurs, the hydraulic pistons begin to force the pyramidal coupling members into the unconsolidated material in a manner to prevent settling of the housing further toward the unconsolidated material.", "The sensing means on the housing will also prevent the housing from settling into the unconsolidated material as the vibrator pyramidal coupling apparatus engages the consolidated material and begins to work into the consolidated seabed.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES FIG. 1 is an orthogonal view of a vibrator illustrating the seabed pyramidal engaging means and the pivotal attachment between the upper surface of the pyramidal engaging means and the vibrator housing;", "FIG. 2 shows a modified pyramidal engaging means;", "FIG. 3 illustrates a means of extending the arm pivotally coupling the upper side of the pyramidal engaging means to the housing;", "FIG. 4 shows the operation and position of the pyramidal engaging means in the unconsolidated material in a seabed and FIG. 5 shows the movement of the coupling arms as the pyramidal engaging means settles through the unconsolidated material and into the consolidated portion of the seabed.", "DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring to all of the FIGURES but in particular to FIG. 1, a housing generally referred to by the number 10 has sidewalls 11, end walls 12, and a top 13 which encloses the shear wave vibrator mass which is not illustrated in this application.", "Such a shear wave vibrator construction can be easily discerned by referring to the previously described U.S. Pat. No. 4,135,599 which illustrates the hydraulic arrangement coupled through the hold down apparatus to a pair of shafts spaced apart and through the mass.", "Proper operation of the hydraulic control causes the shafts to oscillate horizontally through the mass so that a shear wave is coupled to a ground engaging means and thereupon transmits a seismic shear wave to the earth.", "The system in this application works substantially the same as the system in that patent and will not be described in detail.", "Cover 14 is attached to the top of housing 10 by means of screws 9 or any suitable fastening device for enclosing the electronics for operating the vibrator, the electrical pump and hydraulic apparatus for generating the hydraulic pressure to cause the vibrator to function along with any other necessary pressure apparatus for maintaining the system within the cover and housing free of water.", "Accumulators 15 are shown on the outside of cover 14.", "The accumulators can be mounted at any location, even inside cover 14, if desired.", "A cable 16 carries the necessary electrical power to operate the electric motors useful in generating the hydraulic pressure for the vibrator and may be used for any necessary functions requiring electricity or control within the vibrator housing.", "Cable 16 may also contain air lines for pressurizing the housing and the cover so that water may be forced out of the vibrator environment, thereby preventing contamination by salt of the necessary control and other apparatus useful in making the vibrator function.", "It is obvious that sensors in the housing for determining pressure and hence the necessary air pressure needed to maintain the vibrators free of water can be maintained inside or outside of the housing and coupled through cable 16 to the surface.", "The vibrator is shown supported by a single wire rope 17 coupled through four additional wire ropes 18 to brackets 19 to each corner of vibrator housing 10.", "The system shown for supporting the vibrator through cables 17 and 18 is merely elected for one means of supporting the vibrator.", "Other means can easily be used.", "For example, several cables can be used to support the vibrator.", "The vibrator can also be made mobile so that it can function by moving itself rather than being supported by a cable means.", "The primary thrust of the invention is not in moving or supporting the vibrator but rather the method of coupling the vibrator to the seabed.", "In order to attach a plurality of pyramidal-shaped base plate earth coupling means to the vibrator, an attaching member 21 is formed on each corner of the housing 10.", "A pair of parallel-shaped arms 22a and 22b is attached at one end and to a pair of pivots 23a and 23b to attaching member 21.", "The other end of attaching member 22a and 22b is attached to the upper surface 24 of a pyramid-shaped earth coupling member 20 to a pair of brackets 25 and pivots 26a and 26b which are passed through brackets 25.", "Arms 22a and 22b are positioned through positioning apparatus comprising an arm 27 attached to attaching member 21 and a hydraulic cylinder 28 which has a piston rod 30 attached to pivotal connection 31 to arm 22b, for example.", "The other end of cylinder 28 is pivotally attached at 29 to arm 27.", "Hydraulic hoses 32 couple the hydraulic cylinder input and output to the interior of the housing 10 to the proper hydraulic control system for operation of hydraulic cylinder 28.", "A fluidized system is provided for ease in the removal of the pyramidal-shaped earth coupling means 20 and comprises a hydraulic hose 33 coupled to the upper surface 24 of base plate member 20 and is coupled internally to a plurality of holes 34 in the side of the base plate earth coupling means 20.", "The hose 33 is coupled at the housing side to a fluid pump (not shown) which can be actuated as described under the operation portion of this specification.", "It should be understood that only one particular mechanical arrangement for the arm attachment 21 and positioning apparatus 27 and 28 is illustrated.", "Any form of mechanical equivalents are within the scope of this invention.", "Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the position or pressure sensor is illustrated and is referred to generally by arrow 35 which is coupled through a communication means 36 such as an electrical signal through cover 14 to the cylinder control system for arms 22a and 22b.", "OPERATION The operation of the underwater vibrator shown in FIGS. 1 through 3 is better described by referring to FIGS. 4 and 5.", "In FIG. 4 the vibrator is shown with arms 22a and 22b in the fully retracted position with the wedge-shaped base plate earth coupling means 20 beneath a portion of the unconsolidated seabed 40.", "With operation of the vibrator accomplished by sending a signal down cable 16 along with the necessary electrical power, shear wave energy will be transmitted from the housing through arms 22a and 22b to the base plate earth coupling means 20.", "As the motion of the vibrators commences in the direction of the arrow 41, base plate coupling means 20 on each side of the vibrator will begin to settle into the unconsolidated material 40.", "Once the vibrator has settled to the point where the sensor 35 determines that it has reached the upper surface of the unconsolidated material, a signal will be sent up wire 36 to the control circuit contained under cover 14.", "These control circuits will transmit hydraulic fluid through pipe 32 to cylinder 28 causing the extension of rod 30 forcing pressure against parallelly spaced arms 22b.", "Pressure against arms 22b will cause the arms to rotate about pivots 23a and 23b and 26a and 26b in the direction of arrow 42 (see FIG. 5).", "Enough pressure will be applied to cause extension of the arms to the point where sensor 35 indicates that the vibrator is no longer settling into the unconsolidated material 40.", "Once the base plate members 20 engages the consolidated portion of the undersea bed 43, they will not sink as rapidly as they did through the unconsolidated material but will tend to sink some amount as the vibrator continues to oscillate.", "The size of the base plate earth coupling means 20 will be dimensioned to adequately support the coupling during a normal vibrational cycle of the vibrator.", "Once the vibrational cycle is complete, force will be generated down fluid communication means such as hoses 33 to a port or opening 34.", "The fluid will be forced out of ports 34 in the direction of arrows 44, causing fluidization of the sea bottom 43 in the vicinity of the base plate earth coupling means 20.", "Once the earth is fluidized around the sides of the base plate earth coupling means 20, a signal can be transmitted to pistons 28 commanding the shaft 30 to be retracted moving arms 22a and 22b into the original retracted position.", "Simultaneously with the retraction or just prior to the retraction command, tension can be applied to wire cable or rope 17 pulling the vibrator through the unconsolidated portion 40 of the seabed and into a new position where seismic energy is desired to be transmitted into the seabed.", "Referring to FIG. 3 a modification in the arms 22a and 22b is illustrated.", "In this embodiment a sliding portion 50a is attached to 22a and 50b is attached to 22b.", "Slots 51a and 52a are made through arms 50a and 50b and then secured to 22a and 22b by means of bolts 53a and 53b.", "This adjustment provides the extension of arms 22a in case the unconsolidated portion 40 has a much greater depth than anticipated, thus providing for additional depth for extending the base plate earth coupling means so that it can adequately reach consolidated material 43.", "A modified version of the pyramidal base plate earth coupling means is shown in FIG. 2. In that arrangement a continuous wedge-shaped base plate is connected between arms 22a and 22b on each side of the housing 10.", "This elongated or wedge-shaped earth coupling means will provide additional coupling area if needed.", "It is also noted in this embodiment that a single cylinder 28 can be used for coupling wedge position control through a bar 55 mounted between arms 22b and then attaching shaft 30 to pivotal arrangement 31 to bar 55.", "An L-shaped bracket 56 can be used to couple cylinder 28 to a pivot 29 such as disclosed in FIG. 1. A particular mechanical configuration has been illustrated having the base plate coupling means disclosed in this undersea vibrator.", "It is obvious that the invention is not so limited as to the particular mechanical configuration illustrated.", "For example, arms 22a and 22b can be connected directly to the to the sidewall 11 of housing 10 without the extension attaching member 21.", "Other means of attaching the base plate or wedge-shaped coupling means 20 can be utilized.", "The basic concept of the invention is the extendible base plate earth coupling means which are pivotally attached to the housing 10 in a manner to provide accommodation of the unconsolidated material while maintaining the vibrator housing out of the unconsolidated material during its operation.", "It is obvious that changes can be made in the application and still be within the spirit and scope of the invention as disclosed in the specification and appended claims." ]

[ "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to biochemistry and environmental protection.", "This invention is the result of a contract with the Department of Energy (Contract No. W-7405-ENG-36).", "Waste streams containing heavy metals, such as cadmium and copper, are generated in many industrial operations.", "The metals are toxic to animal and plant life and must be removed before the waste streams are discharged into the environment.", "Also, there are many sites where water containing heavy toxic metals has been dumped;", "these sites must be cleaned up or, at minimum, the sites must be stabilized to prevent the waste from migrating to contaminate more of the environment.", "Cadmium is an example of a toxic metal which must be excluded from the environment, it accumulates readily in living systems and, in humans, has been implicated as the cause of renal disturbances, lung insufficiency, bone lesions, hypertension, and cancer.", "The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency limits the amount of cadmium which may be present in drinking water to 10 parts per billion.", "Cadmium containing waste streams are generated in such industrial operations as zinc refining, battery manufacturing, electroplating, and pigment manufacturing.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION This invention is a method of removing heavy metals from aqueous solution, a composition of matter used in effecting said removal, and apparatus used in effecting said removal.", "One or more of the polypeptides, poly (γ-glutamylcysteinyl)glycines, is immobilized on an inert material in particulate form.", "Upon contact with an aqueous solution containing heavy metals, the polypeptides sequester the metals, removing them from the solution.", "There is selectivity of poly (γ-glutamylcysteinyl)glycines having a particular number of monomer repeat units for particular metals.", "The polypeptides are easily regenerated by contact with a small amount of an organic acid, so that they can be used again to remove heavy metals from solution.", "This also results in the removal of the metals from the column in a concentrated form.", "In a broad embodiment, the present invention is a method of removing heavy metals from an aqueous solution comprising contacting an aqueous solution with a solid substance comprised of water-insoluble polymeric material to which is attached molecules of poly (γ-glutamylcysteinyl)glycines for a time period effective for metals to become attached to said poly (γ-glutamylcysteinyl)glycines and separating said aqueous solutions, which is depleted of metals, from said solid substance.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The drawing shows the structural formula of a poly (γ-glutamylcysteinyl)glycine having two monomer repeat units.", "DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION A poly (γ-glutamylcysteinyl)glycine molecule of this invention is a polypeptide which consists of a chain of monomer repeat units having the amino acid glycine attached to it.", "Each monomer repeat unit consists of two amino acids, glutamate and cysteine, joined by a peptide, or gamma, bond.", "The poly (γ-glutamylcysteinyl)glycines are frequently represented by (Glu-Cys)nGl, where n is equal to the number of monomer repeat units.", "In experimentation associated with this invention, poly (γ-glutamylcysteinyl)glycines having 2, 3, 4, and 5 repeat units have been produced and it is expected that the number of repeat units which may be utilized in the practice of this invention will range up to 10 or more.", "The poly (γ-glutamylcysteinyl)glycines of this invention have an affinity for the heavy toxic metals cadmium, copper, and zinc and will combine with these metals in water solution.", "In addition to these three metals, which have been the subject of experimentation, it is expected that poly (γ-glutamylcysteinyl)glycines will also have an affinity for lead, mercury, and nickel.", "Certain poly (γ-glutamylcysteinyl)glycines are selective for particular metals.", "It has been demonstrated by experimentation that the poly (γ-glutamylcysteinyl)glycine having two repeat units will tend to sequester cadmium in preference to the other metals.", "Also, the compound having three repeat units favors copper.", "It is expected that additional selectivities exist, such that knowledge of the aqueous stream to be treated will allow a particular poly (γ-glutamylcysteinyl)glycine to be selected.", "If two metals are to be removed, two or more poly (γ-glutamylcysteinyl)glycines may be used.", "On the other hand, it may be desirable to remove only one metal from a stream containing two or more metals.", "In this case the poly (γ-glutamylcysteinyl)glycine which is selective for that metal would be used.", "Since the poly (γ-glutamylcysteinyl)glycines are soluble in water, they must be immobilized, or made insoluble.", "This is done by attaching the poly (γ-glutamylcysteinyl)glycine molecules to an inert polymeric material, which is usually in the form of beads, which may range from 0.01 to 20 mm or more in diameter.", "Any relatively inert polymer which has chemical sites to which will attach the free amino group of the glutamate group on one end of the chain may be used.", "A polysaccharide has been used in the experimentation.", "The solid substance consisting of the polymeric material with the poly (γ-glutamylcysteinyl)glycines attached is placed in a container, such as an elongated vertical cylindrical vessel, and the aqueous metal-containing solution is allowed to flow through the solid substance by gravity.", "When the solid substance has reached its capacity to absorb metals, it is regenerated, that is, prepared for reuse in removing metals, by passing a small quantity of a high molecular weight organic acid through it.", "For example, 3 ml of oxalic acid was sufficient to regenerate a column which had removed metals from 1000 ml of solution.", "Large organic oxides having a low pH and weak chelating properties, such as citric acid and maleic acid, may be used.", "The polypeptides of this invention may, conceivably, be prepared by chemical means, but are most advantageously prepared by culturing certain substances in the presence of a heavy metal.", "Though a particular metal is used to stimulate production of poly (γ-glutamylcysteinyl)glycines, the material produced has affinities for other metals, as described above.", "The following paragraphs describe a portion of the experimentation which was accomplished.", "Suspension cell cultures of Datura innoxia have been selected for resistance to different concentrations of CdCl 2 using a stepwise selection protocol.", "Variant cell lines retain the ability to grow in normally toxic concentrations of Cd after growth in its absence for more than seven hundred generations.", "Resistance to Cd correlates with synthesis of large amounts of small cysteine-rich Cd complexes.", "Cadmium tolerant Datura innoxia cell cultures are grown in a standard plant cell culture media containing 250 μm CdCl 2 for at least 48 hours, with shaking at 30° C. Growth under these conditions results in the synthesis of large amounts of poly(γ-glutamylcysteinyl)glycines, which accumulates within the cells.", "To extract the polypeptides, the cells are washed once in an ice-cold buffer containing 10 mM Tris-HCl, pH 7.4, 10 mM KCl, 1.5 mM MgCl 2 and 20 mM 2-mercaptoethanol.", "Cells are collected from the buffer by centrifugation at low speed for 10 minutes, resuspended in the same buffer, and broken open with a homogenizer.", "The resulting extract is centrifuged for 15 minutes at 15,000×g to remove insoluble material and the resulting supernatant is passed through a Sephadex G-50 (fine) column, which separates the polypeptides from the majority of the remaining cellular material.", "Fractions collected from the column which contain the polypeptides are identified by the presence of bound cadmium.", "These fractions are pooled and the polypeptides are washed and concentrated by ultrafiltration.", "The resulting preparation is used as a source of poly(γ-glutamylcysteinyl)glycines to be attached to Sepharose beads.", "The amount of polypeptide present is determined by assaying for the amount of sulthydryl groups present using an Ellman's reaction.", "Sepharose 4B (Sigman Chemical Co., St. Louis, Mo.) is washed in a large excess of triple distilled water.", "The hydrated Sepharose is then suspended in an equal volume of 5 M potassium phosphate solution and chilled on ice.", "0.4 volumes of a solution containing 100 mg/ml CNBr (cyanogen bromide) in distilled water is added dropwise over a period of two minutes.", "The suspension is shaken gently during the addition of the CNBr and is allowed to react for eight minutes on ice.", "The CNBr-activated Sepharose is then washed with five volumes of a solution containing 0.25 M NaHCO 3 pH 9.0.", "The CNBr-activated Sepharose is then mixed with a solution containing a known quantity of poly(γ-glutamylcysteinyl)glycine.", "This suspension is allowed to react overnight at room temperature.", "The above suspension is then poured into a glass or plastic column containing a glass frit in the bottom which allows passage of liquid but not the metal-binding matrix.", "As the liquid drips from the column (it can be removed using gravity flow or by pumping), the matrix is washed by addition of at least five volumes of solution containing 0.25 M NaHCO 3 , pH 9.0.", "This is followed by washing the column with five volumes of the same solution containing 1 M NaCl and five volumes of a solution containing 1 M ethanolamine, pH 9.0 (pH adjusted with HCl).", "The column can be stored in this latter solution, then washed again with 0.25 M NaHCO 3 , followed by distilled water.", "The column is then washed with five volumes of a solution containing 0.1 M oxalic acid.", "This removes the cadmium which was bound by the polypeptides while the polypeptides were still within the cell.", "It also frees the binding sites of the polypeptides for binding more metal ion.", "A stock solution containing 5 μM CdCl 2 containing a small amount of radioactive 109 Cd is passed through the column and fractions are collected from the bottom of the column and assayed for the presence of the radioactive cadmium.", "No radioactive cadmium can be detected until all of the metal-binding sites on the column are saturated.", "Knowledge of the specific gravity of the cadmium solution allows determination of the amount of cadmium bound by a specific batch of metal-binding matrix.", "Cadmium bound to the column is removed by again washing the column with a small volume of a solution containing 0.1 M oxalic acid.", "This wash releases the cadmium ion from the column in a concentrated solution and results in the regeneration of cadmium binding sites on the column.", "The end result is a significant concentration of the cadmium from the beginning aqueous solution.", "The polypeptides were first identified by their ability to bind radioactive cadmium.", "Extracts from Cd-tolerant Datura innoxia cells were passed through a Sephadex G-50 column which separates molecules based primarily on size.", "Fractions from the columns were assayed for cadmium and it was found that certain fractions contained greater than 90% of the cadmium known to be within the cells.", "These fractions were collected and further purified by affinity chromatography on Thiopropyl Sepharose 6B, which binds compounds which are rich in cystein (we knew from amino acid labeling experiments that cysteine was one of the major components of the cadmium binding fractions).", "It was found that the components of the fractions contained only three different amino acids (by amino acid analysis of the purified material);", "cysteine, glutamate and glycine in a ratio close to 3:3:1.", "We attempted to sequence the polypeptides using Edman degradation, but this did not result in the degradation of the polypeptides, suggesting that either the peptide bonds were blocked or were not linked to one another via the α-carboxyl group.", "We sequenced the polypeptides using a combination of enzymatic degradation of the polypeptides, starting from the carboxyl end.", "The presence of γ-carboxamide linkages was first suggested by the stability of the polypeptides to Edman degradation and was confirmed by 13 C NMR.", "Experimentation was conducted at ambient temperatures, but the polypeptides are stable over a temperature range of at least 4° to 85° C. Selectivity of the polypeptide may vary with temperature;", "this would be useful in designing a commercial process.", "The Sepharose used in the experiments had a hydrated size of from 60 to 140 microns.", "TABLE______________________________________Cd concentration, Bound Cd,micromolar moles Cd/mole polypeptide______________________________________1 0.25 1.4120 1.6647.5 1.91100 2.01______________________________________ The Table shows the results of a series of experiments in which aqueous solutions having varying Cd concentrations were passed through a column 2.5 cm I.D.×20 cm long containing an estimated 12.45 mg of poly (γ-glutamylcysteinyl)glycines on Sepharose.", "The column was regenerated after each of the 5 solutions was passed through it.", "A small amount of radioactive Cd was present in each solution in order to determine the total amount of Cd bound by the column.", "It can be seen that the Cd capacity of the column was dependent on the concentration of Cd in the solution." ]

[ "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to aircraft floor panel installation components and system and in particular to fastener inserts for honeycomb panels.", "Aircraft floor panels are generally a composition of two metal sheets separated by a honeycomb core structure.", "Recently, instead of metal sheets, composite materials, i.e., epoxy, graphite, etc.", ", have been utilized which provide for an even lighter and stronger floor panel structure.", "These honeycomb panel structures are fragile in the core area where fasteners are utilized to mount the panel.", "Accordingly, floor panel attachment methods used a separate insert and screw combination.", "The inserts were always bonded and potted to the floor panels during floor panel fabrication.", "The inserts used on honeycomb core floor panels were of two basic types, single piece and two piece.", "The single piece has a body and a lower flange.", "The lower flange is bonded to the lower facesheet of the panel, the body goes thru the panel and is swaged over onto the upper facesheet.", "The two piece inserts are two inter-locking pieces each with a flange.", "The pieces are inserted one from each side of the panel and the flanges are bonded onto the facesheets.", "During panel installation, screws are installed through the inserts in order to secure the panels.", "The herein disclosed dimpled washer system is an improvement which will save time and money in the fabrication and installation phase.", "In addition, the new installation concept is specifically designed to provide for a more effective moisture sealing arrangement, and a method which would not dimple the facesheets and crush the core, as well as void conventional manufacturing steps.", "SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is an improved installation system for floor panels and in particular to inserts for floor panels having a honeycomb type core matrix utilized in aircraft.", "The system involves using two alike dimpled washers and an optional rubber grommet under the screw head effectively sealing the installation from moisture.", "Further, electrolytic corrosion is inhibited by the application of an aluminum-pigmented coating to the washers and the screw before installation.", "The dimpled washers and screws are designed to secure aircraft floor panels to floor support members.", "These washers are easier, cheaper and lighter to install than conventional floor panel inserts.", "The dimpled washer consists of a thin upper flange and a cylindrical body.", "Two washers are used per hole, one washer inserted in the upper panel surface and the other in the lower panel surface.", "The washers are either fitted or may be bonded in place using a simple cold bonding process.", "A rubber grommet is used under the fastener head to insulate the fastener from the dimpled metal washer.", "Washers and fasteners may be made from titanium, steel, or aluminum.", "Upon installation of the washers on each side of the panel, no potting is used to the core structure and no squeezing action is needed for installing the washer inserts.", "These two manufacturing steps are completely deleted saving time and weight since potting compound is not used, which of course is more economical.", "Furthermore, this new installation system of two opposed dimpled washers presents a novel, unique feature because the dimpled washers abut one another as soon as the screw or fastener is tightened and thus automatically provides for a "stop"", "to the installation.", "In addition, each washer is slightly deformed upon fastening of the screw which offers a double biased spring force against the annula under surface of the screw head.", "Thus a non-corecrushing feature, a non-face-dimpling feature and an improved sealing feature is accomplished by the present installation system.", "In general, an aircraft floor installation apparatus and system is disclosed for floor panels having an upper and a lower face sheet separated by a core and provided with fastening holes, for mounting to an airplane floor beam structure provided with mounting holes.", "The system uses two washers, the first dimpled washer has its first washer surface positioned on the upper face sheet, and a first sleeve portion, a second washer surface and a second sleeve portion with a bottom edge surface, disposed inside the fastening hole.", "Then the second dimpled washer has its first washer surface positioned on the lower facesheet, and a first sleeve portion and a second sleeve portion with an upper edge surface, disposed inside the fastening hole in opposed relationship to the first dimpled washer.", "In addition, there is a fastener with a head portion, which provides for an annular bottom head surface, and a shank portion adapted to fasten the panel onto the floor beam structure through the fastening hole and the mounting hole.", "Upon installation of the fastener, the annular bottom head surface applies pressure on the second washer surface of the first dimpled washer causing therein a first spring biased force which result in a sealing arrangement.", "Also the bottom edge surface of the first dimpled washer engages against the upper edge surface of the second dimpled washer causing a second spring biased force and a controlled installation stop to the fastener so that a spring biased, sealed and controlled positioned sunken fastener installation is accomplished.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 illustrates two different inserts utilized conventionally for aircraft floor panel installations.", "FIG. 2 illustrates the preferred embodiment of two dimpled washer inserts prior to installation.", "FIG. 3 illustrates the washer/fastener arrangement when a panel is installed.", "FIG. 4 is a typical aircraft floor panel to floor beam installation.", "FIG. 5 is an isometric illustration of a seattrack floor panel installation system.", "FIG. 6 is a second insert embodiment.", "FIG. 7 is a third insert embodiment.", "DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION As discussed, the conventional system of mounting floor panels in aircraft is performed with the assistance of hole insert devices 10, 12 and 14 which are squeezed, cramped or swaged into a potted hole in a floor panel 16.", "As illustrated in FIG. 1, the double inserts 10 and 12 are also glued or bonded 18 to the panel 16.", "The swaged device 14 is bonded 20 at one side and swaged onto the panel 16 at the other side.", "It should be realized that the potting procedure utilizing potting compound 24 in the hole-core-area requires installation time and is essential when conventional floor panel installation systems are used.", "The potting material 24 hardens and reinforces the core 26 so that the inserts 10-12-14 can be squeezed and swaged onto the panel 16 without damage to the core 26 structure.", "The basic operation of the installing system of the present invention is disclosed in FIGS. 2 and 3.", "As illustrated, two dimpled washers 30 and 50 are utilized.", "The first washer 30 has a first washer surface 32 which is positioned at the fastener hole 60 and on contact with the upper facesheet 62 of the panel 64.", "The washer 30 has a first sleeve portion 34, which circumference fits inside the hole 60 circumference in the panel 64, and furthermore, extends into a second washer surface 36 which is parallel to the first washer surface 32 and terminates in a second sleeve portion 38 with an annular bottom edge surface 40.", "The second dimpled washer 50 is positioned at the opposite side or lower facesheet 66 of the panel 64 and is positioned with its first washer surface 52 against the lower facesheet 66 and optionally bonded thereto by glue 68 or the like.", "The second washer 50 is dimpled so that a first sleeve portion 54, a second washer surface 56, a second sleeve portion 58 with an upper annular surface 70 is formed.", "In order to assure a leakproof condition a rubber grommet 72 may be inserted on the first washer 30 second washer surface 36 and also a moisture sealing glue 68 may be provided between surfaces 62 and 32.", "An associated fastener or screw with a head 74 forming an annular bottom head surface 76 and a shank 78 is inserted in the opening 60 provided by the second sleeve portions 38 and 58 of the washers 30 and 50.", "In the typical installation illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5 a nut 80 and nut plate 82 are utilized at the aircraft floor beam structure 84 after the shank 78 is passed through the mounting hole 86 provided in the structure 84.", "When the installation of the floor panel 64 onto the floor beam 84 takes place, the fastener 74 will contact the second washer surface 36 of the first dimpled washer 30 and its resilient material will provide a spring biased seal.", "By the optional addition of a rubber grommet 72 an absolute moisture sealing is obtained.", "Upon further tightening of the fastener the bottom edge surface 40 will come in contact with the upper edge surface 70, the gap 44 disappears, and cause a second spring biased seal but also provides for a stop.", "The mechanic or installer will thus know that the correct fastening or installing is obtained.", "The offset of the second sleeve portions 38 and 58 and the second washer surfaces 36 and 56, are illustrated in an exaggerated fashion in FIG. 3, however the offset is in reality very slight.", "The installation in FIG. 5 relates to the floor panel installation system where a seattrack 90 is located.", "It will be noted that the illustration in FIG. 5 and the illustration in FIG. 4 show the existence of a rubber type sealing strip 92 and 94 respectively.", "These strips 92 and 94 are optional and are new proposed concepts which may be incorporated with the present conventional systems.", "In general, conventional systems utilize a narrow taped resilient seal at the panel edge locations.", "The basic and preferred embodiment of the present invention and its operational interactions are thus disclosed in FIGS. 2 and 3 and their typical equivalent overall installation shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.", "It should be understood that it would be preferable, for economic reasons, etc.", ", that the two dimpled washers 30 and 50 are identical and when stacked together equals almost the thickness of the floor panel but in such a way that a slight gap 44 is obtained between the facing bottom and upper edge surfaces 40 and 70 of the washers 30 and 50 respectively.", "As mentioned before, a significant saving in time and money is obtained because the panel 64 does not need potting material around the hole 60 or washers 30 and 50 in its core structure 46.", "Bonding of the second washer 50 between the first washer surface 52 and the lower face sheet 66 depends on the surface material that is utilized underneath the lower facesheet 66.", "In the present illustrations, bonding 68 is recommended because of the presence of the seaing strips 92 and 94.", "If no sealing strips are utilized or if the second washer rests on a flat, hard surface of the structural beam 84, then no bonding is needed since the fastener installation will not be able to dislodge or push out the second washer from the fastener hole 60.", "Because various modifications can be made, which basically present the same solutions as explained for the preferred embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 2 through 5, it is deemed necessary to disclose a second and third preferred embodiment, as illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7.", "In FIG. 6 the emphasis is directed to simpler washer constructions 100 and 102, which have sleeves 104 and 106 respectively.", "In the present illustration the sleeves have a tight fit with the hole 110, however a smaller diameter is also possible and would provide an adjustment feature in respect to the location of the mounting hole.", "During installation the second washer surface 120 of the washer 100 will be tightened in contact with the second washer surface 122 of washer 102 and create a biased seal and "stop"", "with the fastener head area (not shown).", "In FIG. 7 the configuration of the washers 130 and 132 is somewhat similar except for the provisions of a resilient seal material 124 and 136 on the inner surface portions of 138 and 140.", "A slight gap 150 is shown in both embodiments which as explained before will close when the fastener is tightened upon installation of the panel.", "The first embodiment provides for a definite secured "stop"", "situation upon tightening of the fastener while this situation is less apparent in the other embodiments." ]

[ "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates in general to the art of mechanical systems which utilize a fluid as a component part of its operation.", "In particular, the invention relates to a mechanical assembly for enabling an operator to properly and easily maintain the fluidic component of a mechanical system in accordance with known specifications.", "In mechanical systems which employ a fluid as an essential component of its operation, the prior art has utilized various arrangements to monitor and fill a reservoir which retains the fluid.", "In an automobile, for example, the fluid danger level in the crankcase is monitored by a warning light on the dashboard;", "on the other hand, the fluid level in the automatic transmission of an automobile is normally not monitored by a warning light and, therefore, it must be manually monitored periodically.", "Monitoring and maintaining a reservoir at a proper level is mandatory in mechanical systems which employ a fluidic component in order to enable certain performance levels to be achieved.", "This is evident in automotive automatic transmissions where fluidic pumping action is utilized to provide shifting between gears.", "When the fluid in the transmission is not maintained at a proper level, shifting becomes sluggish and acceleration performance standards of the automobile are compromised.", "The prevalence of self-service gasoline stations has made it almost mandatory for owners to monitor the fluid levels of their automobiles.", "However, when such monitoring must be done manually it is frequently not done at all.", "Similarly, when the operator is careless and is warned of impending engine overheating by the dashboard warning light, damage may have already occurred.", "Therefore, there is a need for an integral fluid monitoring and filling apparatus for a mechanical system that is easily observable and accessible to the operator.", "The present invention has been designed to monitor and maintain the reservoir of a mechanical system in a simplified and economical manner so that adequate performance characteristics can be maintained.", "SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The fluid level monitoring and filler assembly herein described utilizes a cylindrical filler which forms a passageway into the reservoir.", "A flotation device connected to a flexible and movable rod is positioned within the passageway in order to provide up and down movement in accordance with the fluid level in the reservoir.", "The rod rogether with the flotation device is attached to an indicator means for easy viewing.", "The indicator means comprises first and second members which are concentrically arranged such that the first member is connected to the flexible and movable rod, whereas, the second member is semi-permanently attached to the cylindrical filler.", "The indicator is designed to display a first color when the reservoir is in a filled condition, and the first color is contrastingly displayed with a second color when there is a partial depletion of fluid from the reservoir.", "The greater the first and second color contrast as shown by the indicator, the greater the depletion of fluid.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 shows an elevational view of an embodiment of the invention depicting the fluid reservoir in combination with the funnel-shaped monitor and filler assembly.", "FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of the monitor and filler assembly of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view along line 3--3 of FIG. 2. FIG. 4 is a plan view of the monitor and filler assembly of FIG. 1. FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view along line 5--5 of FIG. 4. FIG. 6 is another embodiment of the invention which is shown, in cross section.", "FIG. 7 illustrates another embodiment of the invention shown in cross section.", "FIG. 8 is a cross sectional enlargement of the monitor assembly of this invention as shown on the top of FIG. 7. FIG. 9 depicts a sectional view along line 9--9 of FIG. 8. FIG. 10 is a cross sectional view along lines 10--10 of FIG. 8. FIG. 11 is a cross sectional view along lines 11--11 FIG. 7. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown the filler 12 and monitor assemblies 14 of this invention being utilized to respectively maintain and ascertain the fluid level in a reservoir (not shown) within an automatic transmission 10 of an automobile.", "In its simplest form the transmission 10 is comprised of a longitudinal body 6 which contains various gears and pumps (not shown) for rotating a drive shaft 5 at one end, and for coupling to a crank shaft (not shown) of the automobile's engine through a bell housing 11.", "Fluid (not shown) within the transmission 10 enables shifting to occur between gears by means of pumping action, and maintaining a proper level within the reservoir is important to eliminate sluggish shifting performance which compromises automobile acceleration standards.", "The monitor assembly 14 is connected to the filler assembly 12 at its proximal end 8 and is located in the automobile's engine compartment (not shown) to a height that allows an operator to make easy eye contact when maintenance checks are being conducted;", "and, the filler assembly 12 is joined at the collar 26 of its distal end 7 to the transmission body 6 for allowing the fluidic component within the reservoir to be properly maintained in accordance with known specifications.", "In FIG. 1 the filler assembly 12 is designed with a curvature along its length dimension from the transmission connection at the distal end 7 to its proximal end 7 where the monitor assembly 14 is located to avoid certain components within the engine compartment, although it should be understood by those skilled in the art that the assembly 12 may be formed without such a curvature.", "In the cross sectional view of FIG. 2, component parts of the filler assembly 12 are shown which consist of a funnel member 28 which is integrally connected with a relatively small diameter, slightly curved, vertical pipe member 24 for connection to the transmission reservoir 10 (see FIG. 1).", "The pipe member 24 is positioned at its distal end 7 in a transmission opening (not shown) to a depth as determined by collar 26;", "and below the collar 26 the pipe member 24 is formed into a plurality of flexible fingers 27 in order to allow facile insertion into the transmission opening as well as to enable fluid to readily seek its own level for proper operation of a flotation member 17.", "The integral arrangement of the filler assembly 12 facilitates the addition of fluid to an automatic transmission when maintenance is being done by minimizing spillage due to the wide mouth opening of the funnel member 28 which leads into a small opening provided by the pipe member 24.", "Positioned upon the funnel member 28 is a two-piece lid 30 consisting of a stationary portion 29c and movable portion 29a where the lid ensures that no dirt within the engine compartment can enter the transmission reservoir.", "Any dirt or dust which would enter the reservoir would be deleterious to the operation of the automatic transmission and eventually might cause it to become inoperative.", "At a junction 29b of the stationary portion 29c and movable lid portion 29a a hinge 29 is located which allows the filler assembly 12 to be readily opened by grasping the lip 31 formed on the movable portion and thrusting upwardly.", "The two-piece hinged lid 30 including movable portion 29a, stationary portion 29c and hinge 29 located at junction 29b is more clearly seen in the plan view of FIG. 4, in combination with monitor assembly 14.", "The sectional view 5--5 of FIG. 5 illustrates how the monitor assembly 14, which consists essentially of a rotatable gauge 9 having indicia 15 in the form of fill markings 15 and a movable indicator 16 that rises or falls in accordance with the amount of fluid in the transmission reservoir, is attached to the stationary portion 29c of lid 30.", "The vertical travel of the indicator 16 with respect to the markings 15 is determined by a level/volume ratio of the reservoir and enables one to read whether the latter is full or partially depleted.", "The gauge 9 of the monitor assembly 14 is attached to the stationary lid portion 29c by a mating of a female slot t which is formed on an exterior surface of its semi-circular cross section and a male member p arranged in stationary lid 29c.", "The slot p is also circular in nature and provides a two-hundred and seventy degree arc for gauge 9 as depicted in FIG. 4. Upon the mating of the complementary slots p and t the gauge 9 is able to be rotated within the two hundred and seventy degree arc for improved viewing of the fill markings 15 with respect to the indicator 16 depending upon the operator or maintenance personnel's position within the engine compartment of the automobile.", "The indicator 16 is directly coupled into the reservoir by means of a long, flexible rod 22 and a member 17 (see FIG. 2) which floats upon the transmission fluid.", "The flexible rod 22 is maintained in proper alignment for unencumbered movement by means of variously oversized openings 18a, 19a, 20a, 21a in respective periodically positioned spacers 18, 19, 20, 21 within the pipe member 24, as well as by opening 23a provided in extension means 23.", "By referring to FIG. 3 which is a cross sectional view 3--3 through the pipe member 24 of FIG. 2, the flexible rod 22 is shown located within the oversized opening 20a of spacer 20.", "Additional openings A, B, C, D, E, F are located in spacer 20 to permit fluid to readily pass into the reservoir of transmission 10 when supplied through the funnel member 28 (see FIG. 2) for maintaining a proper operating level.", "Another embodiment of the invention is provided in FIG. 6 where a monitor assembly 14'", "is positioned upon a filler assembly 12'", "in the manner described with respect to the embodiment of FIGS. 2-5.", "However, the curved pipe member 32 of filler assembly 12'", "is designed with a constant diameter cross section from top to bottom unlike the embodiment of FIGS. 2-5 in order to accommodate a simpler design.", "The filler 12'", "and monitor assemblies 14'", "in all other respects however operate and function in the same manner as their respective counterparts in FIGS. 2-5.", "As previously described, the float 17'", "moves vertically in accordance with the fluid level in the reservoir and correspondingly causes indicator 16'", "to move with respect to fill markings 15'", "of rotatable gauge '", "for determining the status of the fluid.", "In addition, fingers 27'", "are formed at the distal end 7'", "for ease of insertion into an opening leading into the transmission reservoir as well as for ease in allowing fluid to seek its own level within pipe member 32.", "Reference is now made to FIG. 7 where still another embodiment of the invention incorporating differently operated monitor 34 and filler assemblies 36 are illustrated.", "The monitor assembly 34 as further seen in cross sectional detail in FIG. 8 consists of a flexible rod 46 which is attached at one end to a flotation member 59 (see FIG. 7) and at the other end to a cylindrically formed member 38, which is arranged within a second cylindrical and transparent member 40.", "The cylindrical member 38 incorporates on its topmost surface an additional larger cylindrical member 45 which is concentrically positioned within and for slidable engagement with the cylindrical member 40.", "An underside surface 45a of the larger cylindrical member 45 incorporates conductive material in order to allow passage of an electrical current for reasons that will become apparent in a later paragraph.", "The transparent cylindrical member 40 is subsequently formed so that a more than one-half portion 43 (see FIG. 8) as measured by its diameter retains its transparency, whereas, the remainder is made opaque by locating a colored material 42 on its inside surface.", "The relationship of the opaque material 42, which in a preferred embodiment is orange, with respect to the transparent portion 43 is readily seen in FIG. 9 which is a cross section view 9--9 taken through FIG. 8. In contrast, the exteriors of the cylindrical members 38, 45 are made of a second color which in the preferred embodiment is white.", "With reference again to FIG. 8, there is illustrated a positioning of two separated collars 80a, 80b upon an exterior surface of the cylindrical member 40.", "The collars 80a, 80b are sufficiently separated from one another so as to form a circular female opening X that mates with a male extension 80c attached to a wall 51 of the filler assembly 36 as well as to a male extension Y of stationary lid 53c.", "The complementary arrangement of the circular female opening X with the male extensions Y and 80c allow the cylindrical member 40 to be rotated through three hundred and sixty degrees with respect to the cylindrical members 38, 45.", "The monitor assembly 34 functions by providing a contrasting color arrangement between the white color displayed on the exterior surface of cylinders 38, 45 with the orange color 42 located within transparent cylindrical member 40.", "By way of example, when the reservoir being monitored is filled the cylinders 38, 45 move to the top of member 40 and a person doing automotive maintenance is prevented from seeing the opaque orange material 42 through the transparent portion 43 of cylinder 40.", "Therefore, the observance of the white color only in the assembly 34 indicates a safe fluid level in the reservoir being monitored.", "In contrast, if the cylinders 38, 45 are as shown in FIG. 8, there will be more orange than white color being observed through the transparent section 43 indicating that there is a partial depletion of fluid from the reservoir, and therefore serves as a warning of an existence of a condition that requires immediate attention.", "In an event that the fluid in the reservoir is dangerously depleted an electrical circuit has been devised for activating a warning light 47 to alert the operator.", "The warning circuit is comprised of two electrical conductors 39a, 39b that extend into an opening 25 encompassed by the cylindrical member 40 as may be seen in the sectional view 10--10 in FIG. 10;", "and wire leads 54a, 54b are respectively connected to contact 39a, 39b.", "A single pole, double throw switch 50 is connected to lead 54a and to a negative terminal of battery 49, whereas, light bulb 47 is connected to lead 54b as well as to a positive terminal of battery 49.", "Therefore, when the cylindrical member 38 is in a fully downward position the conductive surface 45a of cylindrical member 45 makes connection with the contacts 39a, 39b to complete the electrical circuit and cause bulb 47 to be energized through battery 49 and closed switch 50.", "The monitor assembly 34 using two contrasting colors is positioned upon the lid assembly 52 as previously described and as shown in FIG. 7. The filler assembly 36 consists of a funnel 33 combined with a vertical pipe 64 that is terminated with an enclosing member 90.", "The vertical pipe 64 is adapted for semi-permanent insertion into fixed pipe 64a and is attached at its collar 57a to an upper flat surface 57 of a reservoir or tank for retaining a fluid 75.", "The filler assembly 36 is firmly retained upon the fixed pipe 64a by means of a seating collar 55 that includes an annular slit 64b that fits upon the pipe opening 91.", "Flotation member 59 is attached to the flexible rod 46, which is aligned by guide 92, and to the cylindrical member 38 which floats within the reservoir fluid 75 through the expedient of using perforations 90a formed in the vertical pipe 64 and located in the vicinity of the closing member 90.", "The cross section view 11--11 of FIG. 7 as shown in FIG. 11 further illustrates how the fluid 75 (not shown) surrounding the vertical pipe 64 communicates through the perforations 90a with the flotation member 59.", "The member 59 is able to accurately represent the fluid level to the monitoring assembly 34 by readily floating within the volumetric space 99.", "This invention has been described by reference to precise embodiments but it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that this invention is subject to various modifications and to the extent that those modifications would be obvious to one of ordinary skill they are considered as being within the scope of the appended claims." ]

[ "FIELD This invention relates to the field of film measurement.", "More particularly, this invention relates to a system for improving the speed and accuracy of multi layered film stack thickness measurement and other property measurement, such as in the integrated circuit fabrication industry.", "BACKGROUND As the term is used herein, “integrated circuit”", "includes devices such as those formed on monolithic semiconducting substrates, such as those formed of group IV materials like silicon or germanium, or group III-V compounds like gallium arsenide, or mixtures of such materials.", "The term includes all types of devices formed, such as memory and logic, and all designs of such devices, such as MOS and bipolar.", "The term also comprehends applications such as flat panel displays, solar cells, and charge coupled devices.", "Integrated circuits are formed of many layers of different materials, which layers are patterned so as to form desired structures that interact with one another according to predetermined designs.", "Thus, it is of vital importance that many of these layers be formed to very exacting tolerances, such as in their shape, thickness, and composition.", "If the various structures so formed during the integrated circuit fabrication process are not precisely formed, then the integrated circuit tends to not function in the intended manner, and may not function at all.", "Because the layers of which integrated circuits are formed are so thin and patterned to be so small, they cannot be inspected without the aid of instrumentation.", "The precision of the instrumentation used is, therefore, vital to the successful production of integrated circuits.", "Thus, any improvement that can be made in the accuracy of such instrumentation is a boon to the integrated circuit fabrication industry.", "In addition, any improvement in the speed at which such instrumentation can take its readings is also of benefit to the industry, as such speed enhancements tend to reduce the production bottlenecks at inspection steps, or alternately allow for the inspection of a greater number of integrated circuits at such inspection steps.", "Spectral ellipsometers and dual beam spectrophotometers are typically used to measure properties such as thickness and refractive index of individual layers within a multilayered film stack.", "Such instruments work by directing one or more beams of light toward the surface of the film stack, and then sensing the properties of the light as it is variously reflected off of the different surfaces of the individual layers within the film stack.", "By adjusting the properties of the incident beam of light, and detecting the associated changes in the reflected beam of light, the properties of the film stack, such as the materials of which the various layers are formed and the thicknesses to which they are formed, can be determined.", "Such methods typically involve solving Maxwell's equations, which provide a model for such systems.", "This film measurement process can be broken down into two basic steps, being 1) the measurement of the properties of the reflected light beam, and 2) the mathematical fitting of reflectance property values from Maxwell's equations, which are solved or estimated, to the measured results attained in step 1.", "Step 2 typically consists of the iterated steps of computing one or more theoretical value by plugging estimates of the film stack parameters, such as thickness and refractive index, into the model film stack equations, comparing the theoretical values obtained to the actual measured property values of the reflected beam of light, and if the theoretical values and the measured values do not agree to within a desired tolerance, then adjusting the estimated film stack parameters and recomputing the theoretical values.", "This process is performed again and again, each time making some adjustment to the estimated film stack parameters that are fed into the model, until the theoretical values computed by the model agree with the actual measured values within the desired precision limits.", "When this agreement is attained, then there is some confidence that the estimated film stack parameters that were used to produce the theoretical values are very nearly the same as the actual film stack parameters.", "For film stacks containing non-isotropic, inhomogeneous layers, such as layers containing metal patterns or gratings, the theoretical values are commonly generated by mathematical models based on either the rigorous coupled wave analysis or modal method.", "In general, the modal method formulation has the potential to be more accurate than the rigorous coupled wave analysis formulation, because exact analytical expressions for the modes are used rather than spectral approximations for these modes.", "Other disadvantages of the rigorous coupled wave analysis method are 1) reduced measurement throughput caused by intensive matrix eigenvalue/eigenvector computation, and 2) empirically poor accuracy in the long wavelength regime.", "However, while there are some benefits to using a modal method, it is only used in very rare instances because it is notoriously difficult to determine the eigenvalues that mathematically characterize the modes.", "What is needed, therefore, is a spectral film stack measurement based on a modal method with an improved eigenvalue computation scheme that tends to reduce, at least in part, problems such as those described above.", "SUMMARY The above and other needs are met by a method of determining actual properties of layered media.", "An incident beam of light is directed towards the layered media, such that the incident beam of light is reflected from the layered media as a reflected beam of light.", "The actual properties of the reflected beam of light are measured, and properties of the layered media are estimated.", "A mathematical model of the layered media based on a modal function expansion is solved with the estimated properties of the layered media to yield theoretical properties of the reflected beam of light.", "The eigenvalues of the modal functions are computed recursively by recasting the eigenvalue equation in the following form: β n i+1 =F (β n i ) where β n i =the eigenvalue of the i th recursion and F is a function such that β n =F(β n ) is mathematically identical to the eigenvalue equation.", "With the aid of the recursive equation given above, exact eigenvalues can be robustly and reliably found.", "Using an approximation such as the rigorous coupled wave analysis method tends to yield a less exact solution.", "In various embodiments, the method is implemented in an ellipsometer or a scatterometer.", "The layered media may be layers of more than one material or more than one layer.", "The layered media in some embodiments includes a grating layer.", "The actual properties of the layered media preferably include at least one of layer thickness and layer refractive index.", "In some embodiments the layered media is a film stack on a semiconducting substrate.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING Further advantages of the invention are apparent by reference to the detailed description when considered in conjunction with the FIGURE, which is not to scale so as to more clearly show the details, wherein like reference numbers indicate like elements, and which depicts a one-dimensional grating structure to be measured according to the methods described herein, such as a film stack on a semiconducting substrate.", "DETAILED DESCRIPTION The preferred embodiments of the present invention differ from the previous measurement techniques in that the RCWA method is replaced with the modal method.", "The modal method described herein reduces the computational time required as compared to RCWA methods, by reducing the 0(N′) operations associated with the matrix equation based RCWP eigenvalue/eigenvector computation to 0(N) operations of the non-matrix modal method eigenvalue/eigenvector computation.", "This invention differs from previous modal method based techniques in that a new algorithm is used that computes more reliable and accurate eigenvalues of the characteristic electromagnetic field modes.", "The method is accomplished by first rewriting the characteristic scalar-eigenvalue equations of the modal method into various recursive forms so that complex valued eigenvalues can be computed according to branch cuts in a function.", "Empirically, this enables a very robust and accurate computation of about eighty-five of the about one hundred eiyenvalues that are desired.", "Second, the computed elgenvalues are ordered in such a way as to identify missing eigenvalues.", "For example, relatively large gaps can be identified in the eigenvalue spectrum, wherein it can be assumed additional eigenvalues reside, which were not computed in the first step.", "Third, the missing eigenvalues are computed using a root finding scheme, such as a Newton-Raphson method.", "In this manner, all of the desired eigenvalues are discovered.", "Relative to film measurements using matrix method reflectance computations, the preferred methods according to the present invention tend to reduce the computation time by up to a factor of about two.", "This reduction in the computational overhead can potentially be orders of magnitude greater in the low frequency regime where the number of RCWA modes must be increased to obtain acceptable accuracy.", "Relative to previous film measurements using the modal method, this invention improves the reliability and robustness of the measurement.", "One unique feature of the invention is the method used to compute the eigenvalues of the modal method, which uses the inverse trigonometric functions that can be made to appear in the eigenvalue equation.", "One property of the inverse trigonometric functions is that they are multivalued.", "For example, Arctangent(x)=y+N*Pi, when N=0, 1, 2, and so forth.", "Each value of N is called a branch of the function.", "Solving down each branch of a multivalued function has traditionally required extreme resources.", "However, by limiting a eigenvalue search to a specific branch of N, called a branch cut, all the eigenvalues of the function can be found very systematically and robustly.", "This is explained in more detail below.", "Derivation of Recursive Eigenvalue Computation The modal method is a method of computing the fields generated by an electromagnetic plane wave or waves incident on multi-layered films containing one or two dimensional periodic structures, as exemplified in the FIGURE.", "These periodic structures are interchangeably referred to as gratings or patterns.", "The modal method is a standard approach based on expanding the fields inside each layer as a superposition of mathematical functions called modes, for example φ n (r,t) where n=mode number, r=xx+yy+zz, and t equals time.", "Each mode satisfies the Maxwell's equations and boundary conditions for that layer.", "From the linearity of Maxwell's equations in each layer, any and all field distributions given by φ(r) can be expressed exactly as an appropriately weighted superposition of these modes, such as: ϕ ⁡ ( r , t ) = ∑ n = - ∞ ∞ ⁢ C n ⁢ ϕ n ⁡ ( r , t ) 1 where C n =weighting coefficient.", "Typically, the weighting coefficients are computed by solving a deterministic set of linear equations that are derived from matching the tangential field components at each film layer interface.", "For isotropic film layers, it is common practice to extract the time dependence using a Fourier transform and express these modes as time-harmonic plane waves, such as: ϕ ⁡ ( r ) = ∑ n = - ∞ ∞ ⁢ C n ⁢ ⅇ - j ⁢ ⁢ k n · r 2 where k n =k xn x+k yn y+k zn z and k xn , k yn , k zn are complex numbers corresponding to the n th mode.", "For the layers containing layers, the modes are considerably more complicated.", "As with the plane wave representation, a Fourier transform is used to simplify the time dependence to e jωt .", "For the one-dimensional grating shown in the FIGURE, with a plane wave e jk yo y+jk zo z incident on the grating, the modes inside the grating are given by: ϕ n ⁡ ( y , z ) = ( ψ n ⁡ ( b ) ⅇ j ⁢ ⁢ k yo ⁢ b - θ n ⁡ ( b ) ⁢ θ n ⁡ ( y ) + ψ n ⁡ ( y ) ) ⁢ ⅇ j ⁢ ⁢ k z ⁢ z 3 where θ n = { cos ⁡ ( β n ⁢ y ) 0 ≤ y ≤ a cos ⁡ ( β n ⁢ a ) ⁢ cos ⁡ ( γ n ⁡ ( y - a ) ) - r 2 r 1 ⁢ β n γ n ⁢ sin ⁡ ( β n ⁢ a ) ⁢ sin ⁡ ( γ n ⁢ ( y - a ) ) a ≤ y ≤ b 4 ψ n = { 1 β n ⁢ sin ⁡ ( β n ⁢ y ) 0 ≤ y ≤ a 1 β n ⁢ sin ⁡ ( β n ⁢ a ) ⁢ cos ⁡ ( γ n ⁡ ( y - a ) ) - r 2 r 1 ⁢ 1 γ n ⁢ cos ⁡ ( β n ⁢ a ) ⁢ sin ⁡ ( γ n ⁢ ( y - a ) ) a ≤ y ≤ b 5 r m = { ɛ m ⁢ ⁢ for ⁢ ⁢ x - dir ⁢ ⁢ electric ⁢ ⁢ field = 0 ⁢ ⁢ ( TM ⁢ ⁢ fields ) μ m ⁢ ⁢ for ⁢ ⁢ x - dir ⁢ ⁢ magnetic ⁢ ⁢ field = 0 ⁢ ⁢ ( TE ⁢ ⁢ fields ) 6 γ n 2 =β n 2 +ω 2 μ 2 ε 2 −ω 2 μ 1 ε 1 7 k z 2 =ω 2 μ 1 ε 1 −β n 2 8 All parameters except β n , or alternately γ n , are known either as physical descriptions of the grating geometry or the parameters of the incident plane wave or plane waves as the case may be.", "The details of incorporating the incident plane wave information with the grating modes is well known, and is not be discussed further herein.", "In contrast, β n or γ n is preferably computed from the following equation: cos ⁡ ( β n ⁢ a ) ⁢ cos ⁡ ( γ n ⁡ ( b - a ) ) - 1 2 ⁢ ( r 2 r 1 ⁢ β n γ n + r 1 r 2 ⁢ γ n β n ) ⁢ sin ⁡ ( β n ⁢ a ) ⁢ sin ⁡ ( γ n ⁡ ( b - a ) ) = cos ⁡ ( k yo ⁢ b ) 9 In practice, the computation of β n , or alternately γ n , from equation 9 is the main obstacle to using the modal method.", "The reason is that equation 9 is a transcendental equation, meaning that it is impossible to write an explicit expression for β n or γ n without inclusion of functions containing β n or γ n .", "β n or γ n must, therefore, be computed numerically using complex root finding algorithms.", "Although a variety of root finding algorithms exists, it is notoriously difficult to reliably compute complex roots for equation 9.", "In particular, it is difficult to verify whether a computed root is a true root rather than a false root whose error is less than computational precision, or whether roots are missing over a finite spectrum.", "Difficulties with the root finding process have been one of the primary reasons why the modal method is not commonly used in practice, despite the fact that it is, in principle, a more accurate and rigorous model than the rigorous coupled wave analysis method.", "To address these problems, a new method of computing β n , or alternately γ n , is presented, which has been empirically found to be a highly reliable and robust method.", "This improved eigenvalue computation, in turn, dramatically improves the robustness and reliability of the modal method approach.", "The originality of this method is to rewrite equation 9 into a recursive equation to compute β n or γ n from previous estimates of β n or γ n , i.e., β n i+1 =F (β n i ) where β n i =the eigenvalue of the i th recursion and F is a function such that β n =F(β n ) is mathematically identical to the eigenvalue equation.", "To illustrate the approach, one possible recursive relation for β n is first considered.", "Equation 9 is modified by cos(β n α) and rearranging terms, as given below: tan ⁡ ( β n ⁢ a ) = 2 sin ⁡ ( γ n ⁡ ( b - a ) ) ⁢ ( r 2 r 1 ⁢ β n γ n + r 1 r 2 ⁢ γ n β n ) - 1 ⁡ [ cos ⁡ ( k yo ⁢ b ) cos ⁡ ( β n ⁢ a ) + cos ⁡ ( γ n ⁡ ( b - a ) ) ] 10 or, equivalently, β n = 1 a ⁢ Arc ⁢ ⁢ Tan ( 2 sin ⁡ ( γ n ⁡ ( b - a ) ) ⁢ ⁢ ( r 2 r 1 ⁢ β n γ n + r 1 r 2 ⁢ γ n β n ) - 1 [ cos ⁡ ( k yo ⁢ b ) cos ⁡ ( β n ⁢ a ) + ⁢ cos ⁡ ( γ n ⁡ ( b - a ) ) ] + m ⁢ ⁢ π ) 11 where m=integer denoting the branch of the Arctangent function over which it is single-valued.", "A main feature of the invention is that equation 11 is converted into a recursive equation, whereby β n is iteratively computed from a previous estimate of β n , as given by: β n i + 1 = 1 a ⁢ Arc ⁢ ⁢ Tan ( 2 sin ⁡ ( γ n i ⁡ ( b - a ) ) ⁢ ⁢ ( r 2 r 1 ⁢ β n i γ n i + r 1 r 2 ⁢ γ n i β n i ) - 1 [ - cos ⁡ ( k yo ⁢ b ) cos ⁡ ( β n i ⁢ a ) + ⁢ cos ⁡ ( γ n i ⁡ ( b - a ) ) ] + m ⁢ ⁢ π ) 12 where the superscript i denotes the iteration number, and γ n is a function of β n given by equation 7.", "As an illustration of the non-uniqueness of the recursive relationship, it is noted that a different recursive relationship for β n can also be derived by dividing equation 9 by sin(β n α) instead of cos(β n α), as given below: β n i + 1 = 1 a ⁢ Arc ⁢ ⁢ Cot ( 1 cos ⁡ ( γ n i ⁡ ( b - a ) ) [ cos ⁡ ( k yo ⁢ b ) sin ⁡ ( β n i ⁢ a ) + ⁢ 1 2 ⁢ ( r 2 r 1 ⁢ β n i γ n i + r 1 r 2 ⁢ γ n i β n i ) ⁢ sin ⁡ ( γ n i ⁡ ( b - a ) ) ] + m ⁢ ⁢ π ) 13 Similarly, a recursive relationship for γ n rather than β n can be derived.", "Equation 9 is divided by cos(γ n (b−α)), as given below: γ n i + 1 = 1 ( b - a ) ⁢ Arc ⁢ ⁢ Tan ( ⁢ 2 sin ⁡ ( β n i ⁢ a ) ⁢ ( r 2 r 1 ⁢ β n i γ n i + ⁢ r 1 r 2 ⁢ γ n i β n i ) - 1 ⁡ [ - cos ⁡ ( k yo ⁢ b ) cos ⁡ ( γ n i ⁡ ( b - a ) ) + cos ⁡ ( β n i ⁢ a ) ] + m ⁢ ⁢ π ) 14 where β n is a function of γ n given by equation 7.", "As with β n , the recursive relationships for γ n are not unique.", "Practical Application The practical use of the recursion equations 12 and 14 were empirically studied to compute the eigenvalues β n and γ n by comparing the results with those computed using the standard rigorous coupled wave analysis.", "In particular, the relative differences between the two approaches were studied for the first fifty of the lowest-order positive and negative Floquet harmonics (101 modes harmonics total) of a grating with the following material parameters: (ε 1 , μ 1 ) of silicon oxide, (ε 2 , μ 2 ) of copper, a=0.89 micron, b=1.432 micron.", "The following items were determined in this analysis: (1) At least two explicit recursion relations, one for β n and one for γ n , are needed to find all the eigenvalues over a finite range.", "(2) For the TM case, the recursion relations at each branch cut supplemented with root polishing based on the Newton-Raphson scheme compute all eigenvalues to more that four decimal places of accuracy over a finite spectrum, except for a second eigenvalues in the m=0 branch of equation 10.", "The second missing eigenvalues is close to the value of the first eigenvalues and can be computed using Newton-Raphson or other root finding algorithms.", "(3) For the TE case, the recursion relations at each branch cut supplemented with root polishing based on the Newton-Raphson scheme compute more than eighty percent of the eigenvalues over a finite spectrum.", "The missing eigenvalues are readily identified and estimated by ordering the computed eigenvalues in terms of the real part of β n .", "Ordering of more than eighty percent of the eigenvalues readily reveals the approximate intervals of the eigenvalues, the existence of missing eigenvalues, and the approximate value of the missing eigenvalues.", "The exact value of the eigenvalues is then computed from these approximate values using standard root-finding algorithms to a high degree of accuracy.", "Results The differences between the eigenvalues computed using the recursion relation equations 11 and 14 and the eigenvalues computed using the standard rigorous coupled wave analysis are quite small.", "The recursion relations are supplemented with Newton-Raphson root polishing as well as computation of missing TE, TM roots described above.", "The methods are in excellent agreement with one another, with less than one percent disagreement over eighty-five modes and less than ten percent disagreement over all one hundred and one modes.", "It is noted that the difference in the results is most likely due to the errors in the rigorous coupled wave analysis approximation, rather than the proposed invention.", "This is because the rigorous coupled wave analysis method itself is based on the solution of inherently approximate matrix equation representations of Maxwell's equations, whereas the recursion relations from which the eigenvalues are solved are inherently exact solutions to Maxwell's equations.", "The foregoing description of preferred embodiments for this invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description.", "It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed.", "Obvious modifications or variations are possible in light of the above teachings.", "The embodiments are chosen and described in an effort to provide the best illustrations of the principles of the invention and its practical application, and to thereby enable one of ordinary skill in the art to utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.", "All such modifications and variations are within the scope of the invention as determined by the appended claims when interpreted in accordance with the breadth to which they are fairly, legally, and equitably entitled." ]

[ "RIGHTS OF THE GOVERNMENT The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States for all governmental purposes without the payment of any royalty.", "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In a series of three issued U.S. Patents we have heretofore described the environment incurred by military munitions devices during their ballistic termination encounter with a target, particularly a hardened target.", "We have also discussed in these patents the frequent need to study events attending this terminal encounter from of course a safely remote location.", "These three issued patents are identified as U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,380,906;", "6,453,790 and 6,456,240 all of which became known during the year 2002 and all of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein.", "It is believed helpful in appreciating these three patents as well as the present invention to recognize that the use of moderate power radio frequency communication apparatus in an environment calling for its shock hardening against large physical stresses represents a combination in the technical arts that has remained largely unexplored until recent years.", "It is possible to attribute this unexplored status to the fact that moderate power radio frequency communications, the use of class “C”", "nonlinear amplifier stages in such communications and the shock hardening aspects of such apparatus have each been considered to lie in the black art or empirical design arenas and therefore have either been avoided whenever possible or explored in secrecy.", "Our inventions are believed to represent part of an emergence of this technology.", "The occurrence of deceleration forces measuring in the tens of kilo-G or in excess of ten thousand times the force of gravity during a target encounter event i.e., during a probable time of remote study interest, is of course one of the major components of a target encounter environment to be expected in this technology.", "Another component of this environment is of present interest and concerns a need to limit the temperature excursion incurred in a power semiconductor device employed in communicating data from the moving munitions device to a safely remote location e.g. to limit temperature in a transistor or integrated circuit device included in a telemetry transmitter apparatus embedded in the munitions device.", "An additional aspect of this environment is the need to limit the physical size and weight of components associated with the invention in order to make them compatible with the space and weight limitations imposed on a ballistic munitions device and the incurred G forces at impact.", "A yet additional aspect of this environment is the frequent need for a low impedance electrical connection between one or more terminals of a mounted electrical device and a true ground node of the employed electrical circuit.", "The present invention is believed to contribute additional knowledge to the art of accomplishing data communication under these unusual environmental conditions and in fact provides a frequently needed component that can be beneficially used in such systems as the communication apparatus described in the incorporated by reference herein patents.", "The invention is not however limited to use in such environments and may in fact provide utility in other environments including for example routinely encountered static semiconductor device applications.", "The present invention therefore addresses the need to mount for example a semiconductor device in order to assure both its physical integrity and its safety from thermal damage during a brief but nevertheless high stress interval of usage.", "In a situation typical of the presently described military munitions study environment an involved semiconductor device can be for example of the field effect transistor type as is used in the final amplifier stage of a ultra high radio frequency or very high radio frequency transmitter apparatus that receives energization for one quarter of a second during an actual use event extending from before to during an impact of the munitions device with a target.", "This semiconductor device may also be of the integrated circuit, power diode or other types of semiconductor devices and the invention may in fact also find utility in the mounting of non-semiconductor devices such as power dissipating resistive components and heat dissipating electromechanical devices.", "SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a thermally effective G-force tolerant, space and weight conserving and low electrical impedance mounting for a semiconductor device or other energy-dissipating component of an electrical apparatus.", "It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an impact resistant mounting for a thermal energy dissipating electrical device.", "It is another object of the present invention to provide an impact resistant mounting for a thermal energy dissipating electrical device usable in the space and weight limited environment of a ballistic munitions device.", "It is another object of the invention to provide an impact resistant mounting for a thermal energy dissipating electrical device that also enables achievement of a low electrical impedance between the mounted electrical device and a true ground node of an attending electrical circuit.", "It is another object of the invention to provide a physically robust mounting for a plastic encapsulated semiconductor device.", "It is another object of the invention to provide a mounting arrangement for a semiconductor device that benefits from both heat absorbing and heat dissipating characteristics.", "It is another object of the invention to provide a physically robust mounting for a pulse operated semiconductor device, a mounting having thermal capacity to absorb pulse related energy before significant conduction to a dissipating surface can commence.", "It is another object of the invention to provide a physically robust mounting for a pulse operated semiconductor device that can in time conduct thermal energy to surrounding conductors such as an array of printed circuit board traces.", "It is another object of the invention to provide a physically robust mounting for a pulse operated semiconductor device that achieves physical shock immunity through use of relatively large mounting elements and surfaces.", "It is another object of the invention to provide a mounting arrangement for a relatively small semiconductor device of the SO-8 package size.", "It is another object of the invention to provide a small semiconductor device mounting arrangement that may be conveniently expanded, possibly in standard size increments, to accommodate larger semiconductor devices.", "It is another object of the invention to provide a heat sinking arrangement for a semiconductor device that also provides desirable electrical conductivity for electrical currents originating in said semiconductor device and in physically adjacent electrical circuits.", "It is another object of the invention to improve the state of the electrical art with respect to impact resistant radio frequency energy sources of higher operating frequency and moderate operating power capabilities.", "It is another object of the invention to provide a semiconductor device mounting arrangement that is readily fabricated from common materials.", "It is another object of the invention to provide a semiconductor device mounting arrangement that uses soldering techniques in achieving a combination of thermal conductivity, electrical conductivity and structural integrity.", "It is another object of the invention to provide a semiconductor device mounting arrangement that provides both intra surface and inter surface via electrical conductor functions for a printed circuit board.", "It is another object of the invention to provide a semiconductor device mounting arrangement that is comparable to a shirt cuff-link in both physical size and in mounting arrangement.", "These and other objects of the invention will become apparent as the description of the representative embodiments proceeds.", "These and other objects of the invention are achieved by impact resistant semiconductor device mounting and cooling apparatus comprising the combination of: a printed circuit board having electrical conductors arrayed on first and second surfaces thereof and having a shaped transverse opening located in a selected portion thereof;", "an integral metallic heat sink member of first cross section shape conforming with said printed circuit board shaped transverse opening and disposed within in said transverse opening;", "said integral metallic heat sink member having a second cross sectional shape orthogonal of said first cross sectional shape and inclusive of a wing element portion extending along said printed circuit board first surface;", "said integral metallic heat sink member having a third cross sectional shape orthogonal of both said first cross sectional shape and said second cross sectional shape and including a recessed saddle portion parallel with said printed circuit board along a first cross sectional extremity and a grooved recess parallel with and adjacent said printed circuit board second surface along a second cross sectional extremity.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The accompanying drawings incorporated in and forming a part of the specification, illustrate several aspects of the present invention and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention.", "In the drawings: FIG. 1 shows an enlarged perspective view of a miniature heat sink element for a semiconductor mounting arrangement in accordance with the present invention.", "FIG. 2 shows a dimensioned end view of a FIG. 1 heat sink element.", "FIG. 3 shows a mounting arrangement for a FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 depicted heat sink element.", "FIG. 4 shows a dimensioned elevation view of a FIG. 1 – FIG. 3 heat sink element.", "FIG. 5 shows a top view of a FIG. 1 – FIG. 4 heat sink element.", "FIG. 6 shows a top view of a FIG. 1 – FIG. 5 heat sink element with a mounted semiconductor device received thereon.", "DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION FIG. 1 in the drawings shows an enlarged perspective view of a miniature heat sink element 100 of a semiconductor mounting arrangement in accordance with the present invention.", "As shown in the FIG. 1 drawing the heat sink 100 may be considered to be of a generally Tee shaped cross sectional configuration (as viewed from its FIG. 1 right or left most ends), and to include the tee stem portion 102 , the tee stem depth portion or saddle—inclusive portion 104 and the pair of integral transverse wings or tee arms shown at 106 and 108 .", "The FIG. 1 heat sink is preferably composed of gold or copper or some other metal of good thermal and electrical conductivity.", "Although the metal aluminum is often considered to have such thermal and electrical characteristics, and is indeed a suitable material for some uses of the present invention heat sink, copper or some metal providing desirable soldering characteristics is preferable for incorporating the FIG. 1 heat sink into the circuit assemblies described in the ensuing paragraphs herein and most uses of the invention.", "FIG. 2 in the drawings shows an end view of the FIG. 1 heat sink element together with representative or typical dimensions for such a heat sink element as utilized in the pulsed low electrical duty cycle and high impact forces environment described herein.", "Notably the FIG. 3 heat sink element (herein simply “heat sink”) includes a pair of wing-like elements 201 that are received on top of a tee section heat sink tee stem or body element 202 to form a tee-like structure when viewed from an endmost viewpoint.", "The FIG. 3 heat sink also includes a slot-like cut 204 usable in holding the FIG. 2 structure securely in a printed circuit board in order to achieve an impact-resistant assembly.", "The preferred direction of the applied impact forces is indicated at 206 in the FIG. 2 drawing, the most preferred direction of this force being in the downward direction of FIG. 2 ;", "the FIG. 2 structure is also found to have substantial impact force tolerance in other directions appearing in the FIG. 2 and FIG. 4 drawings.", "As indicated by the dimensions appearing in the FIG. 2 drawing the heat sink element of the present invention is typically made to be of a rather small physical size, a size that is actually comparable with for example a naturally occurring individual peanut or cherry pit or shirt cuff-link.", "This small physical size and the attending relatively small physical mass are of course helpful in limiting the magnitude of the large physical force received by the heat sink during a target impact event, an event such as a smart munitions device encountering a hardened target.", "In this regard it may be recalled that the force F, generated during a physical deceleration of a moving physical mass M, at a rate A, is predicted by the familiar Newtonian physics mathematical relationship of F=M·A or that the generated force is directly proportional to the amount of mass and its rate of deceleration;", "the force F in the environment of the present invention is contemplated to be as great as that produced by an acceleration A, of some fourteen thousand (14,000) times the force of gravity.", "Equally important with respect to the present invention the small physical size of the FIG. 1 – FIG. 4 heat sink is compatible with the physical size of a family of semiconductor devices that are convenient for use in the electronic circuits embedded in a present day smart munitions device electronic circuits such as a radio frequency energy generating telemetry transmitter or a warhead fuse circuit such as a hard target penetrator fuse.", "In particular the FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 represented dimensions are compatible with the industry standard eight pin or SO-8 plastic package that is often used to contain a single field effect transistor semiconductor device or a small integrated circuit device.", "The SO-8 package may for example be conveniently used to contain the 30 watt-rated radio frequency field effect transistors made by Polyfet Devices of Camarillo, Calif.", "Such transistors have for example proven to be desirable for use in the class “C”", "final amplifier stage of a 300–500 megahertz telemetry transmitter used in the manner discussed in the above incorporated by reference herein patents in our smart munitions development work.", "When provided with the heat sink of the present invention this 30 watt transistor is found to be capable of generating a somewhat surprising 42 watt level of radio frequency energy with an overall power in to power out efficiency near seventy percent in the short duty cycle environment characterized by a munitions device telemetry transistor.", "(A munitions device telemetry transistor can for example be thought of as having an actual in-use operating life measurable in milliseconds of time up to about one quarter of a second;", "however transmitter tuning and other human interventions often extend the required operating time to at least an integral number of seconds.", "The heat sink and mounting arrangement of the present invention of course should preferably accommodate the full extent of such duty cycle possibilities.) Returning now to the description of the present invention heat sink as provided in the FIG. 1 through FIG. 4 drawings, FIG. 3 in these drawings shows how the FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 heat sink 100 may be mounted in a printed circuit board 302 during for example fabrication of the above-described telemetry transmitter.", "In the FIG. 3 cross sectional view drawing the wing 201 portions of the heat sink 100 are shown to be received on the top most surface of printed circuit board 302 while the body or tee leg portion 202 of the heat sink passes through an aperture 304 of appropriate rectangular configuration that has been pre disposed in the printed circuit board 302 .", "The relationship of the heat sink tee stem portion 202 with the aperture of the printed circuit board 302 may be, for discussion convenience, likened to the relationship of a cuff link with the shirt cuff it retains.", "As called-for by this analogy the heat sink tee stem 202 passes through the printed circuit board 302 and is retained in this position by an attached but movable orthogonal member engaged within slot 204 and soldered over all possible surfaces.", "The printed circuit board 302 may be made to have a thickness of 0.062 inch or 1/16 of an inch and may be made from the fiberglass—resin composite material identified as FR-4/G10 by its many manufacturers and also by Military Specification.", "This thickness dimension is compatible with and is actually an extension of a convenience concept by which dimensions for the FIG. 1 through FIG. 4 heat sink are assigned in one sixteenth of an inch-compatible measurement units;", "units that are a number of increments of printed circuit board thickness.", "Such units are in fact also compatible with the dimensions to be expected in a segment of transmission line of the fifty ohm characteristic impedance “strip line”", "type.", "Other measurement units may of course be used with the present invention, including measurements convenient to the metric system when appropriate.", "The FR4 printed circuit board material is generally said to be usable up to a frequency of some 500 megahertz and is therefore suited to the 300–500 megahertz band of operation of the herein often referred-to telemetry transmitter.", "For munitions telemetry usage the printed circuit board 302 may have some unusual lateral shape such as the shape of a crescent in order to for example be conveniently fitted into space available in the trailing end portion of a munitions device.", "A crescent space of some one inch by one inch cross sectional size and radius between five and 14 inches has, for example, been used to contain a telemetry transmitter printed circuit board of this configuration in some of our experimental work.", "Also appearing in the FIG. 3 drawing is an end view or cross sectional view of a locking plate or keeper member or flange member 300 used to retain the heat sink 100 captive in the printed circuit board 302 .", "The keeper or flange member 300 preferably engages the slot 204 of the body or tee leg 202 in a manually inserted but snug fit that is ultimately fixed into permanence by a flowing solder attachment to the heat sink 100 as is described in detail in paragraphs following herein.", "Two of the slots 204 are disposed in the heat sink body 202 as may be best appreciated in the FIG. 4 drawing view.", "These slots 204 may be cut to 0.025 inch top to bottom dimension in FIG. 3 (to mate with 0.250″×0.500″×0.024″ thick copper sheet material keepers) and to a depth of up to 0.030 inch into the heat sink body;", "desirably such cutting is accomplished by way of a saw cut.", "Preferably two of the keeper or flange members 300 , one at each end of the heat sink body portion 202 , are used with the slots 204 in order to retain the heat sink 100 captive in the printed circuit board 302 .", "The slots 204 may of course be extended around the total periphery of the heat sink body 202 and thus engaged by additional keeper or flange members of appropriate length in order to increase the engagement area of the slot or keeper members with the printed circuit board surface and achieve greater impact resistance tolerance when needed.", "The keeper or flange members 300 are preferably made of sufficient lateral surface size as to provide the heat sink 100 with a significant capability of resisting impact forces directed upwardly in the FIG. 3 drawing.", "Soldering of the keepers or flanges 300 as well as the wing-like elements 200 to printed circuit board conductors on each side of the printed circuit board 302 also adds to the impact resistance of the installed heat sink 100 and also to the heat conduction capability of the assembly.", "The keeper or flange members 300 may be made of the same material such as copper as the heat sink body portion 202 or alternately of some other, preferably solder-capable, material such as brass where greater hardness and resistance to impact force bending is needed.", "FIG. 4 in the drawings shows a dimensioned elevation view of the FIG. 1 heat sink element 100 as it is tailored to receive a semiconductor device contained in the above-described eight pin SO-8 size package.", "From the FIG. 4 view it may also be appreciated that the heat sink of the present invention need not be limited to this SO-8 package and may for example be easily extended to the sixteen pin SO-16 package or to other types and other sizes of package, including packages intended for non semiconductor device usage for example.", "For use with the SO-16 package for example the 0.2 inch saddle width dimension shown in FIG. 4 may be merely doubled to 0.40 inch and the overall width shown in FIG. 4 increased to 0.525 inch.", "Again other dimensions are entirely possible when attended by accommodation of the resulting changes in heat sink mass, thermal conductivity and other characteristics.", "The wings 201 used to retain the heat sink 100 on the top surface of printed circuit board 302 in the FIG. 3 drawing appear at the upper right and left in the FIG. 3 view.", "The wing dimensions as shown in FIG. 2 are compatible with the printed circuit board thickness dimension 0.062 inch units of measure already described herein.", "When made in accordance with these dimensions the heat sink tee leg portion lies ⅓ within the printed circuit board 302 in the FIG. 3 drawing and ⅔ extending below the printed circuit board.", "For space and mass conservation purposes it may be desirable to limit the extent of this ⅔ extension by either pre assembly or post assembly shortening of the tee leg portion.", "Similarly shortening may be applied to the wing dimensions shown in FIG. 2 where mass and size limitations are imposed and sufficient surface area contact remains with the printed circuit board to dissipate the encountered impact force.", "The overall heat sink depth dimension of 0.325 inch shown in the FIG. 4 drawing is also compatible with the 0.062 inch unit of measure arrangement and is selected in accordance with the SO-8 device package size usage of the illustrated heat sink.", "The space intermediate the wings 201 in the FIG. 4 drawing, i.e., the space 400 where the semiconductor device package is received, may be referred-to as the heat sink saddle area and is arranged to provide the lowest possible thermal resistance between a mounted semiconductor device and its ultimate thermal energy dissipation media.", "This lowest possible thermal resistance is achieved by way of the substantial surface area available in the saddle region area 400 for receiving heat from the semiconductor device and the contemplated low thermal resistance connection established in the saddle area with the semiconductor device i.e., the connection established at the surface 406 in FIG. 4 .", "Although silicone paste based heat conducting media as commonly used in the electronics industry may be used in the saddle area 400 to make an effective thermal connection with a semiconductor device the completely metal connection described below herein is preferred because of its lower thermal resistance.", "Indeed many of the characteristics of the present invention heat sink are arranged in contemplation of this all-metal connection.", "The substantial cross sectional area of the wings 201 and the resulting ability of these elements to conduct heat away from the saddle area 400 may be appreciated in both the FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 drawings.", "This substantial wing cross sectional area of course also contributes to the thermal mass of the heat sink 100 and is thereby of significant temperature limiting benefit in the short duration or pulse operated environment of the munitions device telemetry function contemplated in the referred-to application of the present invention heat sink.", "The substantial wing cross sectional area also is effective to communicate saddle area heat to the copper or other conductor material located on the upper surface of the printed circuit board 304 —especially in view of the preferred use of solder between the lower wing surface and the printed circuit board conductor.", "A top view of the saddle area 400 of a present invention heat sink and the adjoining wings 201 appears in the FIG. 5 drawing.", "The lines appearing at 408 and 410 in FIG. 4 may at first blush appear to be portions of or extensions of the saddle area 400 and the saddle surface 406 .", "Actually however these lines 406 and 408 represent the intersection of the lower surface of the wings 201 with the heat sink body portion 202 and thus merely happen to coincide with the elevation of the saddle surface 406 in the illustrated embodiment of the invention.", "A top view of a packaged semiconductor device 600 mounted in the saddle area 400 of a present invention heat sink appears in the FIG. 6 drawing.", "Also appearing in the FIG. 6 drawing are the leads 602 , 604 606 and 608 by which the semiconductor device 600 is later to be electrically interconnected with other elements of a telemetry transmitter or other circuit utilizing the present invention heat sink.", "In the case of a single transistor being contained in the saddle 400 -mounted semiconductor device, one pair of leads such as leads 604 and 606 on each side of the semiconductor device 600 may be commonly connected both within and external of the semiconductor device 600 .", "Actually SO-8 transistor packages normally include four leads on each side of the transistor package however in the case of one transistor used with the present invention heat sink, four of the resulting leads are also common to the transistor source electrode and the metal window area of the SO-8 package described in ensuing paragraphs herein and therefore may be removed before transistor mounting.", "Notably the direct connection of a transistor source element to the metal of the window area 610 as espoused herein, in addition to providing a good thermal path for transistor heat also provides a desirably low electrical inductance path for the transistor's source current to follow.", "Passing such current through the inductance of bond wires normally disposed within a transistor package can be quite detrimental to the operation of a transistor amplifier functioning in the 300–500 megahertz frequency region.", "Before departing from the saddle area 400 and its containment of the mounted semiconductor device 600 it is also desirable to consider that the arm or wing elements 201 as shown in the FIG. 6 drawing provide additional support and stabilization for the semiconductor device 600 in the saddle 400 by way of the physical abutment occurring at 612 and the other similar locations in FIG. 6 .", "By way of this physical abutment the semiconductor device 600 is restrained from motion in at least one direction even though the shock and shock excited vibration arising from a target impact event may be sufficient to stretch the metal located within the window area 610 or otherwise establish vibrations in the semiconductor device, the printed circuit board and the heat sink structures.", "This physical abutment restraint is usually solder filled, but may be assisted by adding other suitable filler materials such as an organic sealer or a hardenable substance such as an epoxy between the semiconductor device surface and the adjacent surface of the arm or wing elements 201 .", "The heretofore discussed drawings of FIG. 3 , FIG. 4 and FIG. 6 may also be though of as representing three different cross sectional views of the present invention heat sink, three cross sectional views that are each oriented mutually orthogonal with respect to the remaining two views of the heat sink.", "Cross sectional shading is omitted in all but the FIG. 3 of these potential cross sectional views for convenience and clarity purposes.", "The arrows at 110 , 112 and 114 in the FIG. 1 drawing show directions of viewing that are appropriate for these three different cross sectional views and are identified with one possible set of cross sectional view identification numbers.", "Other cross sectional view identification number ordering may of course be assigned as desired.", "A cross sectional interpretation of the FIG. 3 , FIG. 4 and FIG. 6 drawings is believed helpful in understanding the formal description language relating to the invention included in the attached claims.", "The enclosed dotted line window area at 610 in the FIG. 6 drawing of a SO-8 package-contained semiconductor device represents the outline of a lower face exposure metal panel window of the semiconductor device 600 .", "In some transistor types such as in the Lateral Drain Metal Oxide Silicon (LDMOS) transistor this metal window is in fact physically and electrically connected with one transistor element, such as the transistor source element, of a transistor received in the saddle-mounted device package 600 (i.e., the transistor layers are fabricated on the top surface of the metal window area 610 with for example the transistor source electrode being both formed on and connected with the window metal;", "package enclosure material is added to the transistor after this fabrication).", "This transistor fabrication arrangement enables the transistor within the dotted line 610 to be intimately connected electrically and thermally with the transistor package window metal.", "Notably such intimate connection also continues into the saddle area in the present invention heat sink and moreover allows for the transistor metal to heat sink connection to be accomplished by way of metallic soldering—in order to obtain the lowest possible thermal resistance in the transistor heat dissipation path.", "A metal to metal connection, even when accomplished by way of tin/lead solder, is of course far superior to an insulated connection (as often accomplished with a mica washer and silicone grease for example) in its low thermal resistance and heat transferring ability.", "Fabrication of transistor layers on the top surface of the window area defined by the dotted line 610 and direct connection of this window area to the heat sink 100 also of course provides the desired lowest possible electrical resistance and electrical impedance between a transistor electrode and the true ground node of the electrical circuit utilizing the transistor.", "The direct soldering connection of a metal transistor fabrication substrate to the heat sink of the present invention of course entails heating of the semiconductor layers of the transistor to solder flow-promoting temperatures for at least the short interval of a soldering event.", "The resulting semiconductor device temperatures, temperatures in the 500 to 600 degrees Fahrenheit or 260 to 315 degrees Centigrade range when eutectic-proximate tin/lead solder is used, appear to be satisfactorily tolerated by at least silicon semiconductor devices.", "Semiconductor devices made from gallium arsenide and germanium and other semiconductor materials may be threatened by temperatures of this range and thereby may call for the use of threaded fasteners or thermally conductive adhesives or other lower temperature attachment arrangements at the semiconductor device to heat sink interface in the present invention.", "Soldering may be used to electrically connect the wings 201 of the FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 heat sink 102 into the topside printed circuit board electrical circuit and thus enables use of the wings 201 as printed circuit board surface mounted conductors, i.e., as conductors communicating between other topside conductors of the printed circuit board or topside to bottom side communication conductors.", "This heat sink conductor concept thus enables the tee stem body 202 of the heat sink to communicate electrical currents and thermal energy through the printed circuit board 302 .", "The electrical conduction of these conductive attributes in fact represents a significant attribute of the present invention, i.e., such conduction may be attributed to the general principle that the present invention heat sink adds significant via conductor capability to a printed circuit board in which it is installed.", "This via conductor ability may especially be observed, by way of the large cross sectional areas involved, to be significantly more effective than the usual plated through or otherwise arranged circular via holes in connecting front side printed circuit board conductors with backside conductors.", "Good via conductors are of course of significant assistance in obtaining the desired performance from a circuit operating in the presently considered 300–500 megahertz frequency band.", "As has been stated in one corollary to the familiar Murphy's law, nothing is so effective in turning an amplifier circuit into an oscillator circuit as a small amount of inductance in a ground path.", "Fabrication of the FIG. 1 heat sink element 100 in the present semiconductor device mounting arrangement invention may be accomplished through use of an individual molding or casting sequence that is tailored for the preferred copper or copper inclusive material.", "Other materials such as brass or possibly aluminum may also be used for the heat sink and fabricated by these processes.", "Aluminum is however difficult or impossible to solder using at least conventional tin/lead processes and the electrical and thermal conductivity of both brass and aluminum is somewhat lower than that of the preferred copper metal.", "In addition use of such molding or casting processes can result in metal grain structures characterized by lower thermal and electrical conductivity than is achieved with other fabrication arrangements and can result in exterior heat sink surfaces that are sufficiently rough as to require smoothing for achieving effective thermal and electrical contact with a semiconductor device package.", "In view of these limitations therefore the preferred arrangement for fabrication of at least small quantities of the FIG. 1 heat sink is through use of machining commenced with conventional rolled soft copper bar stock.", "During such individual heat sink element machining it is possible to commence with a billet or blank or having the overall 0.25 by 0.25 by 0.325 inch dimensions shown in the FIG. 2 and FIG. 4 drawings and to then perform milling machine or other machine-tool cutting operations to remove metal from the areas 208 and 210 identified in the FIG. 2 drawing and from the saddle region 400 defined in the FIG. 4 drawing.", "Alternately it is also possible to commence fabrication of the heat sink 100 with a length of bar stock.", "Such stock may be first machined and then severed into individual heat sink element lengths or severed first and then machined to achieve the illustrated shapes.", "Notably a simple straight three-cut or four-cut straight line machining sequence is sufficient to achieve FIG. 1 represented shape using this individual heat sink element machine tool fabrication process.", "Moreover at least two of these machine cuts can be performed on a multiple heat sink blank wherein the individual heat sink elements are taken from the blank by segregation of adjacent heat sink surfaces 402 and 404 as are shown in the FIG. 4 drawing.", "A small milling machine such as a computer-controlled machine is convenient in performing these machining steps.", "In view of the well known chip-reattachment properties and chip pile difficulties encountered in machining metallic copper stock it is well to include a degree of patience or hesitation in the heat sink machining operations.", "It is also feasible to machine the FIG. 1 heat sink elements from a multi element blank or billet in which the individual heat sink elements are originally adjacent at the surfaces 212 and 214 in the FIG. 2 drawing—through use of a sawing or other cutting segregation procedure.", "Machining in this manner enables single cut formation of the slot like cuts 204 and the saddle regions 400 in a plurality of heat sink elements.", "Additionally it is of course also possible to machine the FIG. 1 heat sink elements from a multi element blank or billet in which the individual heat sink elements are originally adjacent at the surfaces 216 and 218 in the FIG. 2 drawing—by use of another sawing or cutting segregation sequence.", "As may be observed from this number of fabrication possibilities the optimum method of fabrication is perhaps best defined by available equipment rather than by limitations of the fabricated heat sink.", "The relatively small size and mass of the present invention heat sink element also lends to the use of a screw machine or punch press die fabrication process to meet larger quantity heat sink needs.", "Rearrangement of the described configuration of the heat sink can make use of such equipment easier while maintaining the underlying function of the device.", "The significance of a well considered heat sink in critical electrical circuitry, such as in many moderate power radio frequency circuits, may perhaps be better appreciated by recognizing that some of the large semiconductor manufacturers have recently adopted the practice of selling their moderate and large power radio frequency semiconductor devices with a factory installed heat sink already mounted in place.", "Although this practice limits a user's freedom to employ the semiconductor device in unusual physical arrangements it has doubtless been found helpful in assuring the achievement of adequate cooling and limiting heat-associated semiconductor device problems.", "The large and fixed shape of such semiconductor device plus heat sink combinations almost universally prohibits their use in our munitions related work;", "especially when the impact loading forces of our environment are considered.", "This is perhaps another illustration in support of our belief that the combination of impact loading and moderate radio frequency power in a single electrical circuit is a specialized area that has received little attention in the electronic art.", "The present semiconductor device mounting invention is therefore believed to improve the art of impact hardened and moderate radio frequency energy electrical circuits;", "some of the more significant advantages provided by the invention may be summarized as follows.", "Downward movement of the mounted semiconductor device is restricted by wing-bars received on top of the receiving printed circuit board;", "Upward movement of the mounted semiconductor device is restricted by plates received in semiconductor body slots;", "Bars and interlocking plates are soldered to an available 2-side plated printed circuit board;", "Heat transfer is above, through and below the preferably copper printed circuit board Low inductance grounding is above, through and below the preferably copper printed circuit board;", "Certain transistors such as LDMOS devices have the source element soldered-in a heat sink saddle area by way of a metal window located at the bottom of selected plastic packages.", "The heat sink retaining bars and plates are disposed at package ends and do not interfere with transistor heat sink center (source) and side-located (gate and drain) leads.", "The invention is believed to make a needed contribution to the art of relatively high powered semiconductor devices that must operate in a physically stressful and significant impact inclusive environment.", "The foregoing description of the preferred embodiment has been presented for purposes of illustration and description.", "It is not intended to be exhaustive nor to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed.", "Obvious modifications or variations are possible in light of the above teachings.", "The embodiment has been chosen and described to provide the best illustration of the principles of the invention and its practical application in order to thereby enable one of ordinary skill in the art to utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular scope of the invention as determined by the appended claims when interpreted in accordance with the breadth to which they are fairly, legally and equitably entitled." ]

[ "FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to a scroll compressor, and more particularly, to a scroll compressor with a gas releasing section.", "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A scroll compressor has been widely used as a compressor means for compressing gas and increasing the gas pressure.", "This is because the scroll compressor is superior to reciprocal compressors and rotary compressors in many ways, e.g., low gas leakage, high compressing efficiency, small torque change, low vibration, low noise, etc.", "For example, a conventional scroll compressor is constituted as shown in FIG. 1. In FIG. 1, the scroll compressor comprises a sealed case 11, a frame 12, a compressing unit 13 and a driving unit 14.", "The frame 12 divides the inside of the sealed case 11 into two spaces.", "The compressing unit 13 is mounted on the frame 12 at the upper space of the sealed case 11.", "The driving unit 14 is mounted on the frame 12 at the lower space of the sealed case 11.", "The driving unit 14 has a crank shaft 15 which rotatably penetrates the frame 12.", "The compressing unit 13 comprises an orbiting scroll member 16 and a stationary scroll member 17.", "The orbiting scroll member 16 includes a disc-plate 18 and a spiral wrap 19 formed primarily in an involute curve and attached to one surface of the disc-plate 18 in an upstanding position.", "The stationary scroll member 17 includes a disc-plate 20 and a spiral wrap 21 formed primarily in an involute curve and attached to one surface of the disc-plate 20 in an upstanding position.", "The orbiting scroll member 16 and the stationary scroll member 17 are arranged in juxtaposed relation, with the spiral wrap 19 and the spiral wrap 21 thereof being fitted closely together.", "The orbiting scroll member 16 is moved in orbiting motion by an eccentric shaft portion 22 of the crank shaft 15 while the rotation of the orbiting scroll member 16 on its own axis is inhibited by an Oldham's ring 23 interposed between the orbiting scroll member 16 and the frame 12.", "The orbiting movement of the orbiting scroll member 16 reduces the compressing space 13a in compressing unit 13 found between the orbiting scroll member 16 and the stationary scroll member 17 and compresses a gas contained therein to increase its pressure.", "The disc-plate 20 defines a discharge port 25 at its center O. The upper surface of the disc-plate 20 is covered with a muffler 26.", "Thus, the gas compressed by both the orbiting scroll member 16 and the stationary scroll member 17 are discharged into a muffler space 26a which is defined by the stationary scroll member 17 and the muffler 26.", "The muffler space 26a is connected to an outer facility through a discharge pipe 27.", "One end of the discharge pipe 27 extends into the muffler space 26a through the muffler 26.", "Another end of the discharge pipe 27 is connected to, e.g., a condenser (not shown) of the outer facility.", "Thus, the compressed gas is supplied to a condenser in the outer facility.", "The gas is then fed back to the scroll compressor from the outer facility through a suction pipe 28.", "One end of the suction pipe 28 extends into the lower space of the sealed case 11 through the cylindrical wall of the sealed case 11.", "Another end of the suction pipe 28 is connected to, e.g., an accumulator (not shown) of the outer facility.", "The fedback gas is sucked in the compressing unit 13 through suction ports (not shown) defined in the disc-plate 18 at its peripheral portion.", "Thus, the gas is compressed during the orbiting movement of the orbiting scroll member 16.", "The scroll compressor further comprises a release port 29 and a release pipe 30.", "The release port 29 and the release pipe 30 constitute a bypass system together with a control valve (not shown) provided in the outer facility.", "The release port 29 is defined in the disc-plate 20 at a position offset from the center O by a prescribed distance.", "One end of the release pipe 30 is coupled to the release port 29.", "Another end of the release pipe 30 extends outside the scroll compressor by penetrating both the muffler 26 and the sealed case 11 and communicates with the suction pipe 28 through the control valve.", "In the scroll compressor, the pressure of the gas in the compressing unit 13 becomes high as the portions of the spiral wrap 19 and the spiral wrap 21 of the orbiting scroll member 16 and the stationary scroll member 17 in contact with each other approach the center O of each the stationary scroll member 17 and the disc-plate 18.", "This increase in pressure occurs periodically during the orbiting movement of the orbiting scroll member 16.", "The gas pressure of the supply gas output from the scroll compresser is determined primarily by the rotation speed of the orbiting scroll member 16.", "Thus, the gas pressure is generally controlled by changing the rotation speed of the orbiting scroll member 16 through the driving unit 14.", "However, the scroll compressor exhibits its maximum efficiency at a prescribed range of rotation speeds.", "Thus, the rotation speed should be kept within the range.", "The bypass system is used for reducing the gas pressure of the supply gas output from the scroll compresser while keeping the rotation speed in the desired range when the demands of the outer facility are lowered.", "The conventional scroll compressor is constructed as above, and has some drawbacks, as described below.", "That is, the release pipe 30 penetrates both the muffler 26 and the sealed case 11, as described above.", "Further, the release pipe 30 is bent in the muffler space 26a for connecting to the release port 29.", "In the manufacturing of the actual products, it is very difficult to penetrate both the muffler 26 and the sealed case 11 and then bend the release pipe 30 in the muffler space 26a, or vice versa, without causing leaks.", "Thus, the conventional scroll compressor as shown in FIG. 1 is not practical for mass production.", "SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a scroll compressor with a gas releasing section which is easy to manufacture.", "Another object of the present invention to provide a scroll compressor with a gas releasing section which is able to widely change its ability to release gas.", "In order to achieve the above object, a scroll compressor with a gas releasing section according to one aspect of the present invention includes a stationary scroll member having a top surface, a movable scroll member orbiting about the stationary scroll member for compressing gases together with the stationary scroll member as it orbits about the stationary scroll member, a discharge port formed in the center of the stationary scroll member for discharging the compressed gases, a plurality of release ports which are offset different distances from the center of the stationary scroll member, a release cavity formed in the stationary scroll member and in communication with one of the plurality of release ports, a release guide passage passing through the stationary scroll member in parallel with the top surface of the stationary scroll member in communication with the release cavity, a sealed case for housing the stationary scroll member and the movable scroll member and a release pipe connected to the release guide passage through the sealed case.", "Additional objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to persons skilled in the art from a study of the following description and the accompanying drawings, which are hereby incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A more complete appreciation of the present invention and many of the attendant advantages thereof will be readily obtained as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein: FIG. 1 is a section showing a part of a conventional scroll compressor;", "FIG. 2 is a section showing a part of a first embodiment of the scroll compressor according to the present invention;", "FIG. 3 is a plan showing the stationary scroll member of FIG. 2;", "FIG. 4 is an enlarged section showing the stationary scroll member and the muffler taken along the line 4--4 in FIG. 3;", "FIG. 5 is a section showing a part of a second embodiment of the scroll compressor according to the present invention;", "FIG. 6 is a plan showing the stationary scroll member of FIG. 5;", "FIG. 7 is an enlarged section showing the stationary scroll member and the muffler taken along the line 7--7 in FIG. 6;", "and FIG. 8 is a plan showing the cover plate of FIGS. 5 and 7.", "DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described in detail with reference to the FIGS. 2 through 8.", "Throughout the drawings, reference numerals or letters used in FIG. 1 will be used to designate like or equivalent elements for simplicity of explanation.", "Referring now to FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, a first embodiment of the scroll compressor with a gas release section according to the present invention will be described in detail.", "In FIG. 2, the scroll compressor comprises a sealed case 11, a frame 12, a compressing unit 13 and a driving unit 14.", "The frame 12 divides the inside of the sealed case 11 into two spaces.", "The compressing unit 13 is mounted on the frame 12 at the upper space of the sealed case 11.", "The driving unit 14 is mounted on the frame 12 at the lower space of the sealed case 11.", "The driving unit 14 has a crank shaft 15 which rotatably penetrates the frame 12.", "The compressing unit 13 comprises an orbiting scroll member 16 and a stationary scroll member 17.", "The orbiting scroll member 16 includes a disc-plate 18 and a spiral wrap 19 formed primarily in an involute curve and attached to one surface of the disc-plate 18 in an upstanding position.", "The stationary scroll member 17 includes a disc-plate 20 and a spiral wrap 21 formed primarily in an involute curve and attached to one surface of the disc-plate 20 in an upstanding position.", "The orbiting scroll member 16 and the stationary scroll member 17 are arranged in juxtaposed relation with the spiral wrap 19 and the spiral wrap 21 thereof being fitted closely together, and the orbiting scroll member 16 is moved in orbiting motion by an eccentric shaft portion 22 of the crank shaft 15 while the rotation of the orbiting scroll member 16 on its own axis is inhibited by an Oldham's ring 23 interposed between the orbiting scroll member 16 and the frame 12.", "The orbiting movement of the orbiting scroll member 16 reduces compressing unit 13a defined between the orbiting scroll member 16 and the stationary scroll member 17 and compresses a gas therein to increase its pressure.", "The disc-plate 20 defines a discharge port 25 at its center O. The upper surface of the disc-plate 20 is covered with a muffler 26.", "Thus, the gas compressed by both the orbiting scroll member 16 and the stationary scroll member 17 are discharged in a muffler space 26a which is defined by the stationary scroll member 17 and the muffler 26.", "The muffler space 26a is connected to an outer facility through a discharge pipe 27.", "One end of the discharge pipe 27 extends into the muffler space 26a through the muffler 26.", "Another end of the discharge pipe 27 is connected to, e.g., a condenser (not shown) of the outer facility.", "Thus, the compressed gas is supplied to a condenser of the outer facility.", "The gas is then fed back to the scroll compressor from the outer facility through a suction pipe 28.", "One end of the suction pipe 28 extends into the lower space of the sealed case 11 through the cylindrical wall of the sealed case 11.", "Another end of the suction pipe 28 is connected to, e.g., an accumulator (not shown) of the outer facility.", "The fedback gas is sucked in the compressing unit 13 through suction ports (not shown) defined in the disc-plate 18 at its peripheral portion.", "Thus, the gas is compressed during the orbiting movement of the orbiting scroll member 16.", "The scroll compressor further comprises a release mechanism 31.", "The release mechanism 31 includes a plurality of release ports, e.g., four release ports 29a, 29b, 29c and 29d, a plurality of release cavities, e.g., four release cavities 32a, 32b, 32c and 32d, a plurality of release guide passages, e.g., four release guide passages 33a, 33b, 33c and 33d, a plurality of release pipes, e.g., four release pipes 30a, 30b, 30c and 30d and a cover plate 34 (see FIG. 3).", "The release mechanism 31 together with a control valve (not shown) constitutes a bypass system.", "Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, the release mechanism 31 will be described in detail below.", "As shown in FIG. 3, the release ports 29a, 29b, 29c and 29d are defined in the disc-plate 20 at positions offset from the center O by prescribed distances, respectively.", "As shown in FIG. 4, one end of the release ports 29a, 29b, 29c and 29d faces the compressing unit 13a of the compressing unit 13.", "The release ports 29a and 29d correspond to each other in reference to the discharge port 25, i.e., the center O of the disc-plate 20.", "The release ports 29a and 29d are positioned at the same distance from the center O, but relatively far from the center O. The release ports 29b and 29c correspond to each other in reference to the center O of the disc-plate 20.", "The release ports 29b and 29c are positioned at the same distance from the center O, but relatively close to the center O. The release ports 29a, 29b, 29c and 29d are arranged in rectangular relation with each other, in relation to the center O. The release cavities 32a, 32b, 32c and 32d are defined in the disc-plate 20 at positions the same as the release ports 29a, 29b, 29c and 29d.", "The release cavities 32a, 32b, 32c and 32d have larger diameters than the release ports 29a, 29b, 29c and 29d.", "Thus, the other ends of the release ports 29a, 29b, 29c and 29d face one end of the release cavities 32a, 32b, 32c and 32d as shown in FIG. 3, respectively.", "The other end of the release cavities 32a, 32b, 32c and 32d faces the upper surface of the disc-plate 20.", "The release guide passages 33a, 33b, 33c and 33d are defined in the disc-plate 20 in parallel to the plane of the disc-plate 20.", "One end of the release guide passages 33a, 33b, 33c and 33d is connected to the walls of the release cavities 32a, 32b, 32c and 32d as shown in FIG. 3, respectively.", "The other ends of the release guide passages 33a, 33b, 33c and 33d face the cylindrical wall of the disc-plate 20.", "The release guide passages 33a, 33b, 33c and 33d are arranged in rectangular relation with each other, in relation to the center O of the disc-plate 20.", "The cover plate 34 covers the upper surface of the disc-plate 20.", "Thus, the release cavities 32a, 32b, 32c and 32d are isolated from the muffler space 26a of the muffler 26.", "However, the cover plate 34 defines an opening corresponding to the discharge port 25.", "Thus, the cover plate 34 allows the discharge port 25 to communicate with the muffler space 26a of the muffler 26.", "One end of the release pipes 30a, 30b, 30c and 30d is coupled to each of the release guide passages 33a, 33b, 33c and 33d.", "The other end of the release pipes 30a, 30b, 30c and 30d extends outside the scroll compressor by penetrating the cylindrical wall of the sealed case 11 and then communicates with the suction pipe 28.", "According to the first embodiment of the scroll compressor, the release pipes 30a, 30b, 30c and 30d penetrate only the cylindrical wall of the sealed case 11.", "Further, the release pipes 30a, 30b, 30c and 30d are not bent inside the scroll compressor.", "Thus, the release mechanism 31 has a simple construction to manufacture the scroll compressor.", "Referring now to FIGS. 5 through 8, a second embodiment of the scroll compressor with a gas release section according to the present invention will be described in detail.", "The second embodiment of the scroll compressor is constructed similar to the first embodiment, except for release mechanism 31a and a muffler 26b.", "Accordingly, the second embodiment of the scroll compressor will be described primarily with reference to the release mechanism 31a and the muffler 26b.", "The release mechanism 31a of the scroll compressor includes a plurality of release ports, e.g., two release ports 29e and 29f, a release cavity 32e, a release guide passage 33e, a release pipe 30e and a cover plate 34b.", "The release mechanism 31a together with a control valve (not shown) provided in the outer facility constitutes a bypass system.", "Referring now to FIGS. 6 and 7, the release mechanism 31a will be described in detail below.", "As shown in FIG. 6, the release ports 29e and 29f are defined in the disc-plate 20 at positions offset from the center O by prescribed distances as shown in FIG. 7, respectively.", "As shown in FIG. 7, one end of the release ports 29e and 29f faces the compressing unit 13a of the compressing space 13.", "The release ports 29e and 29f correspond to each other in reference to the discharge port 25, i.e., the center O of the disc-plate 20.", "The release ports 29e and 29f are positioned at the same distance from the center O. The disc-plate 20 defines the release cavity 32e with a relatively large space volume so that the end of the release ports 29e and 29f faces the bottom of the release cavity 32e in common, as shown in FIG. 6. The upper end of the release cavity 32e faces the upper surface of the disc-plate 20.", "The release guide passage 33e is defined in the disc-plate 20 in parallel to the plane of the disc-plate 20.", "One end of the release guide passage 33e faces the wall of the release cavity 32e as shown in FIG. 7. Another end of the release guide passage 33e faces the cylindrical wall of the disc-plate 20.", "One end of the release pipe 30e is coupled to the release guide passage 33e.", "Another end of the release pipe 30e extends outside the scroll compressor by penetrating the cylindrical wall of the sealed case 11 and then communicates with the suction pipe 28.", "The disc-plate 20 further defines a muffler cavity 35 and a discharge guide passage 36.", "The upper end of the discharge port 25 faces the bottom of the muffler cavity 35, as shown in FIG. 6. The upper end of the muffler cavity 35 faces the upper surface of the disc-plate 20.", "The muffler cavity 35 and the release cavity 32e are divided from each other by a partition wall 37.", "The discharge guide passage 36 extends in parallel to the plane of the disc-plate 20.", "One end of the discharge guide passage 36 faces the wall of the muffler cavity 35.", "Another end of the discharge guide passage 36 faces the cylindrical wall of the disc-plate 20.", "Then, one end of the discharge pipe 27 is connected to the discharge guide passage 36, as shown in FIG. 5. Another end of the discharge pipe 27 extends outside the scroll compressor through the cylindrical wall of the sealed case 11.", "The other end of the discharge pipe 27 is then connected with, e.g., a condenser (not shown) of the outer facility.", "Thus, the compressed gas is supplied to the condenser of the outer facility.", "The cover plate 34b has an opening 38 which corresponds to the upper end of the muffler cavity 35 of the disc-plate 20, as shown in FIG. 8. The cover plate 34b is fixed on the disc-plate 20 so that the upper end of the release cavity 32e is closed by the cover plate 34b.", "However, the muffler cavity 35 communicates with the muffler space 26a of the muffler 26b through opening 38 of the cover plate 34b.", "According to the second embodiment of the scroll compressor, the release pipe 30e penetrates only the cylindrical wall of the sealed case 11.", "Further, the release pipe 30e is not needed to be bent inside the scroll compressor.", "Thus, the release mechanism 31 has a simple construction which aids the manufacture of the scroll compressor.", "Further, the second embodiment has an expanded volume of the muffler cavity due to the muffler cavity 35.", "The muffler cavity 35 and the release cavity 32e can be formed by a similar process of manufacturing.", "Further, the discharge pipe 27 is not required to be bent inside the scroll compressor.", "As described above, the present invention can provide an extremely preferable scroll compressor with a gas releasing section.", "While there have been illustrated and described what are at present considered to be preferred embodiments of the present invention, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made, and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the true scope of the present invention.", "In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teaching of the present invention without departing from the central scope thereof.", "Therefore, it is intended that the present invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out the present invention, but that the present invention include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims." ]

[ "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] 1.", "Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to device networking, and more particularly to a system and method for an interface for interacting with a composite device.", "[0003] 2.", "Discussion of Related Art [0004] The World Wide Web (WWW) continues to evolve, facilitating a digital society.", "Wireless technology is an important area in the evolution of the WWW.", "Wireless connections allow an increasingly peripatetic society to remain connected.", "As a consequence, mobile computing is a growth area and the focus of much energy.", "Mobile computing includes applications and services for information access, communication and collaboration across a diverse range of environments.", "[0005] Research activities in the field of situated computing consider factors such as a user's identity, profile, location, etc.", ", for imbuing applications and services with more personal and appropriate behavior.", "[0006] Contemporary wireless solutions for accessing Internet Protocol (IP) based resources include, inter alia, personal digital assistants (PDAs) and notebooks using cellular modems, connected to wireless networks.", "However, the devices, networks, protocols and content are likely to change as the technologies mature.", "Typically, popular mobile devices are sized to fit conveniently into a clothes pocket.", "Although screen resolution may improve, the desirability of a compact device will continue to limit the screen size.", "For example, to display information on palmtop devices, information can be tailored and shrunk to fit the device, which can result in information loss.", "[0007] Therefore, a need exists for a system and method for an interface for interacting with a composite device.", "SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0008] According to an embodiment of the present invention, a general interaction interface system comprises a composite device access point connected to a client device, wherein the composite device is adapted to receive a request from the client device.", "The system further comprises a composite device gateway connected to the composite device access point, wherein the composite device gateway determines content and delivery parameters based on interaction primitives of the composite device access point, and a composite device resource, selected by the composite device gateway, for servicing the request of the client device.", "[0009] The composite device resource is connected to a network comprising the composite device gateway and the composite device access point.", "The composite device resource is one of a personal computer, a monitor, a telephone and a printing device.", "[0010] The composite device access point comprises a system entry server connected to the client device, wherein the system entry server comprises a common resource repository comprising graphical user interaction resources, wherein the graphical user interaction resources are accessible by the client device, and a mapper for mapping input of the client device to an interaction primitive.", "[0011] The client device includes one of a personal digital assistant, an Internet capable telephone and a notebook computer.", "[0012] The client device comprises a graphical user interface, a communication means for interacting with the composite device access point through the connection and a means for controlling the operations of the composite device resource.", "The means for controlling the operations of the composite device is handled by an operating system of the client device.", "[0013] The composite device gateway further comprises, a composite device repository connected to the system entry server, and a service and content server in parallel with the composite device repository to the system entry server.", "[0014] The composite device gateway further comprises a media-composite device manager connected to a composite device repository and a service and content server, the media-composite device manager for controlling the composite device resource for the client device.", "[0015] The composite device gateway further comprises a content adaptation module connected to a media-composite device manager, a content delivery handler connected to a content adaptation module, and an application manager connected to the content delivery handler for controlling an invoked application on an output device, given an interaction primitive of a system entry server.", "[0016] According to an embodiment of the present invention, a general interaction interface comprises a system entry server for interacting with a mobile device through a network.", "The system entry server comprises, a server connected to the mobile device, a common resources repository connected to the server comprising graphical user interaction resources, wherein the graphical user interaction resources are accessible by the mobile device, and a mapper for mapping input from the mobile device to an interaction primitive.", "[0017] The general interaction interface is implemented in the system entry server providing an entry point to a composite device computing environment.", "[0018] The composite device computing environment further comprises a composite device repository connected to the system entry server, a service and content server in parallel with the composite device repository to the system entry server, and a media-composite device manager connected to the composite device repository and the service and content server.", "The composite device computing environment comprises a content adaptation module connected to the media-composite device manager, a content delivery handler connected to the content adaptation module, and an application manager connected to the content delivery handler for controlling an invoked application on an output device, given the interaction primitive of the system entry server.", "[0019] The composite device repository comprises information about a composite device computing environment.", "[0020] The service and content server serves content to a composite device computing environment available to service a request of the mobile device.", "[0021] The media-composite device manager receives information from the composite device repository and the service and content server, wherein the media-composite device manager controls a composite device computing environment for the mobile device.", "[0022] The content adaptation module prepares the content for a device of a composite device computing environment, wherein the device is selected by the media-composite device manager.", "[0023] The content delivery handler receives adapted content.", "[0024] The application manager receives the interaction primitives and controls an application invoked by the mobile device.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0025] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below in more detail, with reference to the accompanying drawings: [0026] [0026 ]FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a composite device computing environment according to an embodiment of the present invention;", "and [0027] [0027 ]FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a general interaction interface according to an embodiment of the present invention.", "DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [0028] Referring to FIG. 1, the composite device computing environment 101 comprises a system for accessing multimedia content and diverse services using a mobile device.", "[0029] It is to be understood that the present invention may be implemented in various forms of hardware, software, firmware, special purpose processors, or a combination thereof.", "In one embodiment, the present invention may be implemented in software as an application program tangibly embodied on a program storage device.", "The application program may be uploaded to, and executed by, a machine comprising any suitable architecture.", "Preferably, the machine is implemented on a computer platform having hardware such as one or more central processing units (CPU), a random access memory (RAM) and input/output (I/O) interface(s).", "The computer platform also includes an operating system and micro instruction code.", "The various processes and functions described herein may either be part of the micro instruction code or part of the application program (or a combination thereof), which is executed via the operating system.", "In addition, various other peripheral devices may be connected to the computer platform such as an additional data storage device and a printing device.", "[0030] It is to be further understood that, because some of the constituent system components and method steps depicted in the accompanying figures may be implemented in software, the actual connections between the system components (or the process steps) may differ depending upon the manner in which the present invention is programmed.", "Given the teachings of the present invention provided herein, one of ordinary skill in the related art will be able to contemplate these and similar implementations or configurations of the present invention.", "[0031] The composite device computing environment can utilize arbitrary computing and output devices 102 , such as personal computers, television sets, printers, etc.", ", that are available in the surrounding environment to perform information and/or service requests.", "Thus, a mobile device can serve as an interface to access services, such as electronic mail, video conferencing, media streaming services, etc.", "These services are made available on a server 103 .", "The mobile device can be used to determine suitable devices in the vicinity that can be exploited to redirect needed services to an appropriate output device.", "[0032] According to an embodiment of the present invention, one task of a general interaction interface is to provide a generic server side interface located in the System Entry Server 104 to control and to interact with the invoked services on the output devices 102 .", "This can be important for devices with only basic input capabilities, such as some televisions.", "The system and method support the use of different types of mobile devices with diverse capabilities and heterogeneous user interfaces ranging from cellular telephones including small displays and limited input capabilities to Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) devices/telephones including larger displays and WAP browser capabilities, to PDAs including larger displays and a wide range of software.", "[0033] The general interaction interface provides a way to use several devices and/or interfaces customized for each individual mobile device type to access the composite device computing environment functionally.", "Such a general interaction interface allows users to access the same range of deployed composite device computing environment services and interact with different output devices.", "A service request can be received at a system entry server 104 .", "The system entry server 104 parses the request into an input to a composite device repository 106 and a service and content server 103 .", "The composite device repository 106 includes information about the devices available to service the request.", "The service and content server 103 serves content to the devices available to service the request.", "A media-composite device manager 105 receives information from the composite device repository 106 and the service and content server 103 .", "The media-composite device manager 105 orchestrates the devices for each individual mobile device.", "A content adaptation module 107 prepares the content for one or more devices selected by the media-composite device manager 105 , for example, by scaling an image or converting a document to a format readable by a personal computer having certain software.", "A content delivery handler 108 can be connected to receive adapted content.", "The content delivery handler 108 can handle, for example, the timing of content delivery.", "An application manager 109 monitors the devices.", "The application manager 109 can build any-to-any configurations.", "The application manager 109 can start, stop and move applications among the devices 102 selected by the media-composite device manager.", "[0034] [0034 ]FIG. 2 illustrates a general interaction interface architecture according to an embodiment of the present invention.", "The System Entry Server 104 provides specific entry points for the different devices 201 that shall interact with the composite device computing environment 207 .", "The System Entry Server 104 can include, for example, a voice server 202 for interacting with cellular telephones, a WAP server 203 for interacting with WAP devices and a Web server 204 of interacting with PDA's, laptops, Web tablets and other devices that have a web browser.", "A common resource database 208 can be provided.", "The common resource database comprises, for example, ActiveX controls.", "The input from the interaction servers can be passed through a mapping component 205 , which maps the user input to the different interaction primitives 206 , like mouse input or keyboard input.", "These interactions primitives 206 work closely together with the Application Manager, which controls the invoked application on the output devices 207 .", "[0035] The Common Resources include specialized Graphical User Interface (GUI) resources, for example, domain adapted user interfaces for mobile Devices.", "An example of a GUI is a simplified mobile user interface, for example for the PalmPilot® operating system for, interacting with, e.g., a graphics program.", "The user interface can include, for example, buttons for “Start Slide Show”", "“Stop Slide Show”, “Forward”, “Backward”", "and a field for “Pointing”", "and “Annotation.”", "[0036] It is possible to offer the complete input and control functionality of an invoked application, for example, by providing controls from a common resources server 208 .", "The functionally can be mapped using an ActiveX control running with a web browser on the mobile device.", "Mouse pointing and annotation can be accomplished with, for example, a stylus.", "Textual input can be accomplished via a soft keyboard, a keystroke alphabet, or voice commands.", "[0037] The WAP interface can offer similar input and control capabilities as the Web interface.", "The GUI can be adapted to the specific display size of the WAP device.", "Input of letters can be accomplished using alpha mode of the WAP phone.", "The mouse pointer can be controlled using roller and select keys.", "Equivalent considerations apply for I-mode phones.", "[0038] Having described embodiments for a system and method for interacting with a composite device, it is noted that modifications and variations can be made by persons skilled in the art in light of the above teachings.", "It is therefore to be understood that changes may be made in the particular embodiments of the invention disclosed which are within the scope and spirit of the invention as defined by the appended claims.", "Having thus described the invention with the details and particularity required by the patent laws, what is claimed and desired protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims." ]

[ "FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates in general to data transfer systems and more specifically to a method for controlling data transfer into and out of a circular buffer so as to prevent buffer overflow and underflow.", "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION With the advent of Voice-Over-IP (VoIP) communication systems, specialized hardware has been developed to convert synchronous TDM streams of voice data to voice packets for transmission via IP (Internet Protocol) over a LAN (Local Area Network), and vice versa.", "In order to accommodate variations in transmission rates into and out of such E2T devices (Ethernet-to-TDM), software algorithms have been developed to prevent data loss where the receive and transmit data streams are not synchronized.", "Software solutions such as are known in the prior art contribute to system complexity and loss of speed for real time applications (such as the transmission of voice traffic).", "SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, a method is provided for avoiding data loss in a data packet switch which utilizes a circular data buffer.", "If the data is received at a faster rate than it is read out of the buffer, then the transmitter is running at a higher frequency than the receiver and the buffer will soon overflow.", "Therefore, according to one aspect of the invention the data read-out pointer is adjusted by incrementing it to skip, or drop, the next sample.", "If the data is received at a slower rate than it is read out of the buffer, then the transmitter is running at a lower frequency than the receiver and the buffer will soon underflow.", "Therefore, according to another aspect of the invention, the read-out pointer is adjusted by decrementing it to repeat the previous sample.", "The method of controlling the buffer read-out pointer according to the present invention, is implemented in hardware thereby reducing system complexity and improving speed relative to prior art software solutions.", "The method according to the present invention accommodates dynamically varying packet sizes and permits a reduction in the receive buffer size, thereby resulting in savings in buffer memory and delay and latency over prior art software implementations.", "Also, the method of the present invention is dynamically adjustable according to network jitter, as defined by the Real Time Protocol operations specified by the IETF's RFC1889.", "The algorithm of the present invention does not add significant distortion or inject appreciable noise into the voice data stream, and allows for packets containing silence to be suppressed (i.e., the packets are not transmitted, thereby allowing the TDM data to be continually read out of the buffer at the local sample rate).", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Various embodiments of the present invention are described below with reference to the drawings in which: FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a data packet transmission system according to the prior art;", "FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of a circular buffer for use in the data packet transmission system of FIG. 1;", "and FIG. 3 is a further schematic representation of the circular buffer of FIG. 2 with notations for illustrating the buffer control method according to the present invention.", "DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT FIG. 1 shows a device ( 1 ) that forms TDM data streams, normally voice streams, into packets and transmits them over a packet network.", "In operation, the device ( 1 ) receives transmitted data at a local sample rate, defined by a local frame pulse ( 2 ), places the TDM data into appropriate buffers (e.g. one buffer per voice stream), and transmits entire buffer contents as a data packet when a predetermined number of samples has been collected in the buffer(s).", "All transmitted voice streams are transmitted at the same, locally defined, rate.", "The device ( 1 ) also receives packets of TDM data streams from a multiplicity of external devices ( 4 ).", "These packets have data rates referenced to synchronous sources, defined by local sample clocks ( 5 ) which are independent and unrelated to each other and the local frame pulse ( 2 ), but have the same nominal frequency and data rate as their respective local references ( 5 ).", "When a packet from a particular one of the sources ( 4 ) is received, it is stored temporarily in a dedicated local memory buffer within the device ( 1 ).", "Single samples are extracted from this buffer at the local data rate (defined by the frame pulse ( 2 )), for transmission over the local TDM channel (i.e. the received data stream A, B &", "C in FIG. 1 ).", "The data streams from sources A, B and C have different data rates but are output on the received TDM data stream output of the device ( 1 ) at the same data rate, which is governed by the local frame pulse ( 2 ).", "Differences in the data rates into and out of each receive buffer within device ( 1 ) can result in the buffers running out of data or overfilling with data.", "FIG. 2 is a representation of a circular buffer and illustrates the various attributes of that buffer.", "The circular buffer of FIG. 2 is of a fixed size (B samples).", "Data packets are written into the buffer when received, starting at the location pointed to by the pointer NEXTADDR.", "Data is read out, one sample at a time, from the location pointed to by a TDMAOPADDR pointer, which is incremented after each sample is read so as to point to the next sample.", "Since the buffer is circular, the pointer NEXTADDR could have a value larger or smaller than TDMAOPADDR, as shown.", "The number of samples in the buffer to be transmitted is defined as the “front pool.”", "If data is received too slowly, then the front pool gradually shrinks until TDMAOPADDR equals NEXTADDR at which time there is no more data to transmit.", "The amount of space available in the buffer to receive new packets is defined as the “rear pool.”", "If this space becomes less than the size of a packet, then the new packet will overwrite data that has yet to be transmitted.", "The method according to the present invention prevents either of these two conditions from occurring, by adjusting the pointer TDMAOPADDR to ensure adequate front and rear pools.", "With reference to FIG. 3, data is read out of the buffer at the local receiver TDM sample rate, one sample at a time, with the result that the TDMAOPADDR pointer (T), is incremented so as to point to the next sample to be read.", "If the data is received at the same rate as it is read out of the buffer, then transmitter and receiver are operating at the same frequency.", "If the data is received at a faster rate than it is read out of the buffer, then the transmitter is running at a higher frequency than the receiver and the buffer will soon overflow, (i.e. when the rear pool becomes zero).", "To avoid this happening, according to the present invention the TDMAOPADDR pointer is adjusted by incrementing it to skip, or drop, the next sample.", "On the other hand, if the data is received at a slower rate than it is read out of the buffer, then the transmitter is running at a lower frequency than the receiver and the buffer will soon underflow, (i.e. when the front pool becomes zero).", "To avoid this happening, according to the present invention the TDMAOPADDR pointer is adjusted by decrementing it to repeat the previous sample.", "These additional adjustments to TDMAOPADDR are made each time a packet is received, thereby allowing for an adequate adjustment rate and the implementation of simple silence suppression schemes.", "In the latter case, if no packets are received due to silence, then TDMAOPADDR will continue being incremented at the local sample rate, (i.e. effectively free-running).", "A front pool watermark is defined as N—packet size—J(i) where N is the starting address for writing the next packet;", "“packet size”", "is the number of samples contained in the packet;", "and J(i) is the Real Time Protocol packet inter-arrival jitter as calculated according to the Internet Engineering Task Force's RFC1889, section 6.3[.", "].1.", "A rear pool watermark is defined as T—packet size—J(i) where T is the starting address of the next sample to be read out of the buffer, at the local receiver's sample rate;", "“packet size”", "is the number of samples contained in the packet;", "and J(i) is the Real Time Protocol packet inter-arrival jitter as calculated according to the Internet Engineering Task Force's RFC1889, section 6.3[.", "].1.", "For an arbitrary buffer size, the actual size of the front pool is calculated by the algorithm FP=N−T.", "If FP is negative, then FP=FP+B.", "For a buffer size which is a binary multiple and with N and T being integers of width equivalent to the minimum number of bits required to fully address the entire buffer, then, ignoring overflow, the equation reduces to FP=N−T.", "Similarly, for the rear pool, RP=T−N.", "The following is a section of verilog code for implementing the algorithm according to the present invention, for a buffer size of 1k samples: reg [ 9 : 0 ] FP, RP, N, T;", "FP=N−T;", "RP=T−N;", "//Increment TDMAOPADDR to point to next TDM data sample T=T+1;", "//test if TDMAOPADDR pointer adjustment is required if ((FP)<((J>>4)+packet_size)) T=T−1;", "if ((RP)<((J>>4)+packet_size)) T=T+1;", "It will be appreciated that, although a particular embodiment of the invention has been described and illustrated in detail, various changes and modifications may be made.", "For example, buffers can be of arbitrary sizes.", "Thus, for a buffer of arbitrary size (but no greater than 1K), the algorithm is described by the following verilog code: reg [ 10 : 0 ] FP, RP;", "reg [ 9 : 0 ] N, T, B;", "FP={ 1 b′ 0 ,N}−{ 1 b′ 0 ,T};", "if (FP[ 10 ]) FP=FP+B;", "RP={ 1 b′ 0 ,T}−{ 1 b′ 0 ,N};", "if (RP[ 10 ]) RP=RP+B;", "//Increment TDMAOPADDR to point to next TDM data sample T=T+1;", "//test if TDMAOPADDR pointer adjustment is required if ((FP[ 9 : 0 ])<((J>>4)+packet_size)) T=T−1;", "if ((RP[ 9 : 0 ])<((J>>4)+packet_size)) T=T+1;", "Also, packet size can be either a fixed quantity, with all packets containing the same number of samples, or the packet size can be dynamic, (i.e. varying from packet to packet.", "However, the value, packet_size, is provided by the packet reception circuitry in a well known manner.", "When the method of the present invention is used to control buffers for packets which are not RTP encapsulated, then the jitter variable, J, is not available.", "The variable storage element for J in the verilog code implementations above, can therefore be set to a predetermined value which remains constant for all packets.", "The value set will generally be larger than the maximum network jitter expected and can be larger or smaller than single, or multiple, packets.", "All such changes and modifications may be made without departing from the sphere and scope of the invention as defined by the claims appended hereto." ]

[ "BACKGROUND Air hockey tables have four sides wherein two opposite sides have goals.", "Such tables are usually limited to two players.", "Some tables have two goals on the same side which allow for four players.", "However, two players have to stand very close to each other in order to play.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of an embodiment of a three sided air hockey table.", "FIG. 2 is a partial, side cut away view of an embodiment of a side of the air hockey table of FIG. 1 .", "FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of an embodiment of the first goal of the air hockey table of FIG. 1 with a barricade extended.", "FIG. 4 is the view of FIG. 3 with the barricade recessed.", "FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of another embodiment of a barricade.", "FIG. 6 is a side cut away view of a goal showing another embodiment of a barricade in a first or extended position.", "FIG. 7 is the view of FIG. 6 with the barricade in a retracted or second position.", "FIG. 8 is a top plan view of an embodiment of a corner of the air hockey table of FIG. 1 .", "FIG. 9 is a top plan view of an embodiment of a four sided air hockey table.", "FIG. 10 is a top plan view of an embodiment of a six sided air hockey table.", "FIG. 11 is a top plan view of an embodiment of an eight sided air hockey table.", "FIG. 12 is a flow chart describing an embodiment of playing air hockey on the air hockey tables.", "DETAILED DESCRIPTION A top perspective view of an air hockey table 100 is shown in FIG. 1 .", "The air hockey table 100 is used to play the game of air hockey wherein the objective is to place a puck in an opposing goal or to prevent the puck from entering certain goals.", "Unlike conventional rectangular air hockey tables, the air hockey table 100 has more than two goals or more than two sides having goals associated therewith.", "Accordingly, several players may play each other.", "The air hockey table 100 and the other air hockey tables disclosed herein offer a different type of play in that there are many different sizes and shapes of air hockey tables.", "It is noted that the elements of the air hockey table 100 of FIG. 1 may be out of proportion in order to accurately show the elements.", "The air hockey table 100 of FIG. 1 is an embodiment of a three sided air hockey table in the shape of a triangle.", "More specifically, a playing surface 110 is in the shape of a triangle as defined by three sides.", "The sides are referred to individually as a first side 112 , a second side 114 , and a third side 116 .", "The sides 112 , 114 , 116 may extend substantially perpendicular from the playing surface 110 a distance 126 and serve to keep a puck 120 on the playing surface 110 during play.", "The distance 126 is large enough to keep the puck 120 on the playing surface 110 , but short enough so as not to impede play.", "The sides 112 , 114 , 116 have goals formed therein or associated with goals as described below.", "The term “side”", "as used herein refers to a side of an air hockey table that is able to accommodate or be associated with a goal.", "Therefore, a small corner section of an air hockey table does not constitute a side as used herein.", "A side cut away view of an embodiment of the air hockey table 100 and the first side 112 is shown in FIG. 2 .", "As shown in FIG. 2 , the side 112 has a recessed portion recessed portion 134 .", "A material 132 may be located within the recessed portion 134 .", "The material 132 may be an elastic material, such as rubber.", "The material 132 may be material that is replaceable on the first side 112 .", "Therefore, after considerable wear, the material 132 , and not the entire first side 112 , may be replaced.", "In some embodiments, there is no material 132 , but there may be a recessed portion 134 .", "In other embodiments, the recessed portion 134 may be eliminated.", "In other embodiments, the material 130 may protrude from the first side 112 .", "The playing surface 110 has a plurality of through holes 130 that are connected to an air source, such as a pressurized air source (not shown).", "In some embodiments, a fan or the like is used to force air under the playing surface 110 where it passes through a duct 136 and to the holes 130 .", "The pressure created by the air passing through the holes 130 at least partially counteracts gravitational force on the puck 120 so that the puck 120 at least partially floats on the air.", "This is sometimes referred to as an air cushion.", "At least two sides have at least one goal associated with them.", "In the embodiment of FIG. 1 , each of the sides 112 , 114 , 116 has a goal associated therewith.", "The goals are referred to individually as the first goal 140 , the second goal 142 , and the third goal 144 .", "The goals 140 , 142 , 144 are openings in the respective sides 112 , 114 , 116 of the air hockey table 100 .", "The openings are sized to receive the puck 120 .", "In other embodiments, the goals maybe recessed portions of the playing surface 110 .", "In summary, the goals may be any device or portion of the air hockey table 110 that captures or otherwise stops the puck 120 when the puck 120 passes a predetermined location.", "During play, players are located adjacent the sides 112 , 114 , 116 of the air hockey table 100 .", "An embodiment will be described in greater detail below where two players may play on the air hockey table 100 , but for this example, three players are present.", "Each player tries to prevent the puck 120 from entering his goal (the goal proximate the player) and tries to get the puck 120 into the goal of an opposing player.", "The players may use mallets or paddles commonly used in the game of air hockey to strike and/or guide the puck 120 .", "There may be several ways to win.", "In one embodiment, the player with the least number of goals scored against him after a predetermined period is deemed the winner.", "In another embodiment, players are removed after a predetermined number of goals are scored against them.", "The last remaining player is deemed the winner.", "Having described some of the basic embodiments of the air hockey table 100 , other embodiments will now be described.", "In some embodiments of the air hockey table 100 , barricades or the like may be moved into a position to block the puck 120 from entering a goal 140 , 142 , 144 .", "For example, if only two players want to play on the air hockey table 100 , the third goal may be barricaded or blocked.", "In other embodiments, during play, if a player has a predetermined number of goals scored against him, he may have been deemed to have lost and the barricade associated with his goal may close.", "In such a situation, the remaining players may play without the game being impeded by an open goal of the player that lost.", "In the embodiment of FIG. 1 , each of the goals 140 , 142 , 144 has a slot in front of it.", "The slots are referred to individually as the first slot 150 , the second slot 152 , and the third slot 154 .", "As described with reference to FIG. 3 , the barricades may be in the slots 150 , 152 , 154 and may be raised through the slots to deactivate their respective goals.", "FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of the proximity of the first goal 140 with a barricade 160 in an extended position, which blocks the puck 120 from entering the first goal 140 .", "When a barricade is in an extended position to block the puck 120 from entering a goal, the barricade is sometimes referred to as being in a first position.", "FIG. 4 is the same view as FIG. 3 , except the barricade 160 is recessed below or even with the playing surface 110 .", "When a barricade is in a position to enable the puck 120 to pass to the goal, the barricade is sometimes referred to as being in a second position.", "Although FIGS. 2 and 3 refer to the first goal 140 , they are applicable any of the other goals described herein.", "The barricade 160 of FIG. 2 has a front face 162 and a top surface 164 .", "The front face 162 serves to stop the puck 120 from entering the first goal 140 .", "In many circumstances, the puck 120 will be deflected off the front face 162 of the barricade 160 .", "In other circumstances, the puck 120 is deflected off either side of the barricade 160 .", "When the barricade 160 is recessed as shown in FIG. 3 , the puck 120 may enter the first goal 140 .", "In addition, the top surface 164 of the barricade 160 may be even with the playing surface 110 .", "When the surfaces 110 , 164 are even, the movement of the puck 120 over the first slot 150 is less likely to be impeded.", "In addition, the slot 150 may be narrow enough to as not to impede the movement of the puck 120 as the puck 120 passes over the slot 150 .", "The slot 150 has a perimeter 168 that may be tapered downward from the playing surface 110 .", "This taper reduces the interference that the puck 120 may encounter when it passes over the slot 150 .", "The above-described devices for enabling the puck 120 to pass unimpeded over the slot 150 also apply to mallets or paddles used by players to strike the puck 120 .", "Mallets and paddles may also pass over the slot 150 unimpeded.", "In other embodiments, air is forced out of the slot 150 .", "The air serves to keep the puck 120 elevated as it passes over the slot 150 .", "More specifically, as the puck 120 passes over the slot 150 , air emitted from the slot serves to elevate the puck 120 so that the puck travels unimpeded over the slot 150 .", "Another embodiment of a barricade system is shown in FIG. 5 which discloses a plurality of pins 170 that extend through a plurality of holes 172 from the playing surface 110 .", "The pins 170 have top surfaces 174 that may be substantially flat.", "When the pins 170 are extended as shown in FIG. 5 , the puck 120 is prevented from entering the first goal 140 .", "When the pins 170 are retracted into the holes 172 , the flat surfaces 174 of the pins 170 may be even with the playing surface 110 .", "Accordingly, neither the puck 120 nor mallets or paddles will interfere with the pins 170 as they travel across the holes 172 .", "Another embodiment of a barricade 180 is shown in FIG. 6 , which is a side cut away view of the first goal 140 .", "The first goal 140 and, in some embodiments, all the goals, have a puck receiver 178 that is used to hold the puck 120 after it passes through the goal.", "Depending on the status of the game, the puck 120 may be kept in the puck receiver 178 to end a game or returned to a player to continue game play.", "The barricade 180 extends into the first side 112 and, therefore, does not interfere or modify the playing surface 110 when it is extended.", "The barricade 180 has a front or first surface 182 that resembles the portion of the first side 112 that intersects the playing surface 110 .", "With additional reference to FIG. 2 , the barricade 180 has a recessed portion 184 and a material 182 that are substantially similar or identical to the recessed portion 134 and material 132 of the first side 112 as described with reference to FIG. 2 .", "Accordingly, when the barricade 180 is in the extended or first position as shown in FIG. 6 , the first side 112 is substantially uniform without any, or very few, inconsistencies and the first goal 140 is blocked.", "The barricade 180 has a top surface 185 that may be shaped to fit into a corresponding surface 187 within the first side.", "The top surface 185 as shown in FIG. 6 is curved and fits into an opposing curve in the surface 187 within the first side 112 .", "The curved, or otherwise slanted shape, of the top surface 185 serves to maintain the barricade 180 in a fixed position relative to the first side 112 even if the barricade 180 is struck by the puck 120 .", "Therefore, there will be little difference in the rebounding characteristics of the puck 120 between the first side 112 and the barricade 180 .", "When the barricade 180 is in the second or retracted position that allows the puck 120 to enter the puck receiver 178 , the curved top surface 185 facilitates the puck 120 entering the puck receiver 178 .", "The barricade 180 is connected to or otherwise coupled with an actuator 186 which moves the barricade 180 between the extended position shown in FIG. 6 and a retracted position shown in FIG. 7 .", "The actuator 186 may use electromagnetism, servos, hydraulics, or other systems to move the barricade 180 .", "Having described the barricades, embodiments of the corners of the air hockey table 100 will now be described.", "Reference is made to FIG. 8 , which is a top plan view of the intersection of the first side 112 and the third side 116 .", "It is noted that FIG. 8 shows the intersection of the first side 112 and the third side 116 , however, the description is applicable to all sides of the air hockey table 100 and its related embodiments, such as air hockey tables described below with more than three sides.", "The intersections of the sides form corners that may stop the puck 120 , which may temporarily stop game play.", "For example, the puck 120 may be wedged into the corner 190 at the intersection of the sides 112 , 116 where its speed is reduced or stopped.", "In order to prevent the puck 120 from becoming slowed by contacting the corner 190 , a corner piece 192 is placed in the corner 190 .", "The corner piece 192 may be any piece of material that is placed in the corner 190 and that is able to withstand being struck by the puck 120 .", "In some embodiments, the corner piece 192 has the same profile as the sides 112 , 116 as shown in FIG. 6 so as to prevent any inconsistencies in the sides.", "In some embodiments, the corner piece 192 is concave and has a radius 194 .", "The radius 194 is greater than the radius 196 of the puck 120 .", "Accordingly, the puck 120 will not get stuck in the corner 190 .", "With regard to the corner 190 , the air hockey table 100 may be manufactured in a manner where a corner section 208 is attached to two sides.", "In the embodiment of FIG. 8 , the first side ends at a location 200 and the third side ends at a location 202 .", "A corner section 208 that may include the corner piece 192 is attached to the sides 112 , 116 .", "During the manufacturing process, the corner section 208 may be manufactured separate from the sides 112 , 116 and attached during assembly of the air hockey table 100 .", "The air hockey table 100 shown in the figures above has three sides, but has been described as having virtually any number of sides.", "For example, the air hockey tables described herein may have between four and ten sides.", "Air hockey tables with numerous sides will now be described.", "A top plan view of an embodiment of four sided air hockey table 220 is shown in FIG. 9 .", "The air hockey table 220 may be rectangular, square, or any other shape with four sides.", "The air hockey table 220 has a first side 222 with a first goal 223 , a second side 224 with a second goal 225 , a third side 226 with a third goal 227 , and a fourth side 228 with a fourth goal 229 .", "The goals 223 , 225 , 227 , 229 may be substantially the same as the goals described above with reference to the air hockey table 100 .", "Likewise, the sides 222 , 224 , 226 , 228 may be substantially the same as described.", "The playing surface 110 may be the same as described above except for the shape.", "The sides 222 , 224 , 226 , 228 may be joined by four corner portions 229 .", "The corner portions 229 may be substantially similar to the corner portion 208 , FIG. 8 , except for the angle in which the sides join the corner portions.", "The air hockey table 220 enables up to four players to play simultaneously.", "Because the goals 223 , 225 , 227 , 229 may have barricades associated with them, fewer than four players may play because a goal will not be left open.", "When a player has a predetermined number of goals scored against him, the barricade associated with his goal may block the goal, so the player may not continue to play.", "The last remaining player may be deemed the winner.", "In another embodiment of a game, the players may play for a predetermined period.", "The player with the fewest goals scored against him at the end of the period may be deemed the winner.", "In yet another embodiment, the players may be on teams.", "For example, players on the first side 222 and the third side 226 may play players on the second side 224 and the fourth side 228 .", "Again, the team with the fewest goals scored against it after a predetermined period may be deemed the winner.", "A top plan view of a six sided air hockey table 250 is shown in FIG. 10 .", "As with the other tables, the air hockey table 250 may include goals that have barricades associated with them.", "The air hockey table 250 has six goals 252 wherein one goal is associated with each of the six sides 256 .", "It is noted that the air hockey table 250 need not have six goals 252 .", "Depending on the user requirements, the air hockey table 250 may be manufactured with fewer than six goals 252 .", "For example, the air hockey table 250 may be manufactured with three goals rather than six.", "Likewise, the sides do not have to have a single goal associated therewith.", "The playing surface 110 of the air hockey table 250 is defined by the six sides 256 , which are shown in FIG. 10 as being substantially uniform.", "It is noted that the sides 256 of the air hockey table 250 do not all have to be uniform in length.", "Varying the lengths of the sides 256 will vary the angles between the adjacent sides, which will vary the game play.", "The sides 256 are joined together by corner portions 258 .", "In the embodiments wherein all the sides 256 are all the same length, the corner portions are substantially similar to each other.", "In such an embodiment, the air hockey table 250 may be manufactured by fabricating six substantially similar sides 256 and six substantially similar corner portions 258 and then joining them together.", "A top plan view of an eight sided air hockey table 270 is shown in FIG. 11 .", "As with the other tables, the air hockey table 270 may include goals that have barricades associated with them.", "It is noted that the air hockey table 270 need not have eight goals.", "Depending on the user requirements, the air hockey table 270 may be manufactured with fewer than eight goals.", "For example, the air hockey table 270 may be manufactured with four goals rather than eight.", "In addition, the sides of the air hockey table 270 do not all have to be uniform in length.", "Other embodiments of air hockey tables may have two goals with more than five sides.", "In such embodiments, goals may be associated with two sides wherein the total number of sides is five or greater.", "In a six sided air hockey table, the goals may be opposite each other.", "The sides without goals may be facing each other.", "The intersections of these sides may be the same or different angles.", "As shown above, the air hockey tables may be made with any number of sides and goals.", "For example, in addition to the air hockey tables described above, air hockey tables may have five, seven, nine, or ten sides.", "With regard to the goals, they may be placed on any of the sides and, in some embodiments, at least one side may have more than one goal associated therewith.", "In some embodiments, the air hockey tables with fewer goals than sides may be configured so that the goals oppose each other.", "In other embodiments, the goals may be adjacent each other.", "For example, an eight sided air hockey table may be made with four goals all associated with adjacent sides.", "This configuration may also be achieved by an eight sided air hockey table with eight goals wherein only four goals are active or have their barricades in a position to allow the puck 120 to enter.", "Having described embodiments of air hockey tables, methods of manufacturing air hockey tables will now be described.", "Reference is made to FIGS. 8 , 9 , 10 , and 11 .", "All the air hockey tables 100 , 220 , 250 , 270 may be manufactured using similar components.", "In some embodiments, all the sides of the air hockey tables are the same size.", "Therefore, one size side will fit air hockey tables with three sides, four sides, five sides, and so on.", "The manufacturer only needs to put the correct corner portion on the air hockey table.", "In some embodiments, the sides may have slightly different sizes depending on the different shaped air hockey tables.", "However, the barricade mechanisms may be the same.", "In these situations, the sides only need to be cut to fit the specific air hockey table shape.", "Some embodiments of the air hockey tables have scoring mechanisms associated with them.", "The scoring mechanisms may be in the form of a score board located above the playing surface 110 or score indications associated with each goal, wherein each goal is associated with a specific player.", "Referring to FIG. 4 , a scoreboard 300 may be suspended above the playing surface 110 by a plurality of rods 304 .", "The rods 304 may extend between holes 310 in the corner portions 229 and the scoreboard 300 .", "The rods 304 may be used with all of the configurations of the air hockey tables.", "Although, their lengths may have to be modified slightly depending on the shape of the air hockey tables.", "The scoreboard 300 may have a plurality of sides that display score.", "The number of sides on the scoreboard may correspond to the number of goals or sides of the air hockey table.", "With regard to the four sided air hockey table 220 of FIG. 9 , the scoreboard has four sides, one for each player when the maximum of four players are playing.", "Each side of the scoreboard 300 may display the number of goals or points scored against the goal the side is facing.", "For example, the player at the first goal 223 can look at the scoreboard 300 and see the number of goals or points that have been scored in the first goal 223 .", "In addition, each side may display the number of goals or points scored against other players.", "The scoreboard 300 may also indicate the scores of teams during team play.", "The air hockey tables described above may have different numbers of players playing at any time.", "For example, the six sided air hockey table 250 may have four players starting the game.", "As the game progresses, players may be eliminated.", "In some embodiments, new players may join a game in progress.", "A computer or computer processor running a program on a computer-readable medium may control the game, including barricades, scoring, puck return, and air flow to the playing surface 110 as described below.", "One embodiment of playing a multiple player air hockey game is shown by the flowchart 400 of FIG. 12 .", "The flowchart 400 is applicable to many of the air hockey tables described above.", "The steps described in regard to the flowchart 400 may be performed by a computer or other electronic device.", "In some embodiments, the steps of the flowchart 400 are performed by software running on a computer.", "In step 404 , the air hockey table receives an input indicating that a player wants to play.", "The input is received at or in association with a goal.", "For example, the input may be in the form of money inserted into a money receiving device associated with the first goal.", "In other embodiments, buttons or the like may be depressed indicating that a player wants to play at the first goal.", "At step 406 , the air hockey table may wait a preselected period for other players to join the game.", "This joining may be accomplished by the players inserting more coins or providing other indications.", "The indications may also indicate which goal the players are to be associated with.", "At this time, the number of players and their positions are established.", "At step 408 , the barricades associated with these players are then removed or put in the second position that enables the puck 120 to pass past the barricades and into the goals.", "At the same time, the air may be turned on so that air passes to the playing surface 110 as described above and as shown at step 410 .", "A puck 120 may then be released as shown in the step 412 .", "The game may then commence.", "During the game, the players may try to eliminate other players by scoring goals or points against the other players.", "The number of goals scored against each player may be recorded as shown at step 414 .", "The game may be played in several different versions that are applicable to step 416 .", "In one version, the goals are counted.", "When a player has a preselected number of goals scored against him, his barricade is placed into the first position, which prevents the puck 120 from entering the goal.", "This player has been eliminated.", "A light or other indicator may also provide an indication that the player has been eliminated.", "The game may continue until there is one player remaining, who is deemed the winner.", "In another embodiment, the goals or points are counted for a specific period.", "The person with the least number of goals scored against him after the end of the period is deemed the winner.", "In yet another embodiment, teams may play.", "A keypad or other input device may be used to establish teams.", "For example, with the six sided air hockey table 250 of FIG. 10 , the players may be in teams, such as three teams of two players or two teams of three players.", "A keyboard or the like may be used to enter team information into the air hockey table or a computer operating the air hockey table.", "As with the previous versions of the games, a team may be eliminated when a preselected number of goals are scored against it.", "Alternatively, after a preselected period, the game may end and the team with the fewest goals scored against it is deemed the winner.", "In some embodiments, players may enter a game that is in play.", "For example, if three players are playing the six sided air hockey table 250 of FIG. 10 , a fourth player may enter the game.", "The fourth player may provide an input to the air hockey table 250 or the computer controlling the air hockey table 250 that he wants to enter the game.", "In some embodiments, the fourth player puts money into a money receiver associated with a goal.", "The barricade associated with the goals moves to the second position to allow the puck to enter the goal.", "The new player may commence playing with the greatest number of points or goals of any other player.", "As an example, if the second player is losing with two goals, the fourth player may start the game with two goals.", "The description above relates to many embodiments of air hockey tables and different methods to play air hockey.", "Further embodiments of air hockey tables will now be disclosed.", "Referring to FIG. 1 , lights 450 may be put on the sides 112 , 114 , 116 to indicate whether the goal or goals associated with a side are active.", "More specifically, the lights 450 may indicate the status of the barricade.", "For example, a first color light may indicate that the barricade is in the first position meaning that a player using the goal has been eliminated or has not yet entered a game.", "A second color light may indicate that the barricade is recessed or in the second position, which enables the player to play.", "This indication may inform the player of his status.", "For example, a player may not be able to see his goal because of his position relative to the air hockey table.", "The lights provide such an indication.", "In a similar embodiment, lights 460 may be placed on the sides 112 , 114 , 116 facing the playing surface 110 .", "The lights 460 may serve the same function as the lights 450 , but they may be seen better by the other players and may also illuminate the playing surface 110 proximate their respective goals.", "Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7 , lighting may also be used in the goals.", "For example, a light may be located in the puck receiver 178 , which causes light to be emitted from the associated goal when the barricade 180 is recessed or in the second position.", "In a related embodiment, at least a part of the barricade may be translucent and two different colored light sources may be located in the puck receiver 178 .", "The light emitted by the translucent portion of the barricade 180 indicates that the barricade is up and the player associated therewith should not be playing.", "The lights 450 , 460 may also be used for other purposes.", "For example, at the start of a game, the players need to obtain a puck 120 from a puck receiver 178 .", "Lights 450 , 460 may provide an indication as to the location of the puck.", "In addition, the lights 450 may indicate which player is in the lead during a game or which player is losing.", "At the end of a game, the lights 450 , 460 may indicate which player won.", "The lights may also indicate when a goal has been scored and against whom.", "The outer sides of the air hockey tables may contain ledges or the like that may hold beverages or other items.", "These ledges are on the outer sides in order to prevent the beverages or other items from being spilled or otherwise place on the playing surfaces 110 .", "The tops of the sides may be curved or otherwise shaped to prevent people from placing items on the tops of the sides.", "Accordingly, by preventing items from being so placed, the items are less likely to spill or otherwise be located on the playing surfaces 110 ." ]

[ "FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates to the field of exfoliated and delaminated layered inorganic materials and the use of these materials.", "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] The group of materials termed chalcogenides is characterized as being minerals with a predominantly two-dimensional structure i.e. materials with strong bindings in the individual layer and with weak Van der Waals forces between the layers.", "The minerals therefore appear as strongly layered.", "Under pressure shearing of the layers may as a consequence occur.", "This is the main argument for use of molybdenum sulphide as a lubricant since the layers slide easily.", "For these reasons it has been used by NASA in low friction materials for space applications.", "[0003] For many years it has been attempted to find methods whereby the layers may be separated creating a very large specific surface.", "This goal has successfully been achieved in the processing of clay minerals.", "These are typically phyllosilicates frequently with strongly hydrophilic properties due to the ionic charges in the layers.", "The exfoliation of clay may be performed using pressurized water and surfactants.", "The earliest examples are related to montmorillonite.", "Süd Chemie has produced this material in large quantities and it has successfully been incorporated in polymer materials used in the automotive industry.", "It has been found that the addition of some % of exfoliated clay result in better mechanical properties of the polymer, it increases the barrier properties towards gas diffusion and it retards fire.", "Notably the exfoliated clays have been incapable of performing well in non-polar polymer materials.", "This has initiated initiatives that circumvent this problem.", "One of theses has been to introduce new copolymers where one of the components is hydrophilic the other hydrophobic.", "This improves the dispersion of the clay but the micro-segregation in the materials is a serious drawback.", "Alternatively the clay platelets may be coated with amphiphilic layers.", "Again the dispersion is improved, but the clay becomes more expensive and has to be tailored to each application.", "[0004] The group of inorganic materials termed chalcogenides is characterized by a layered structure where a two-dimensional structure exists.", "The interaction in the layer is strong.", "Since the layers are uncharged the interaction between layers are weak Van der Waals forces.", "[0005] Within the group of chalcogenides it has been more difficult to perform the delamination/exfoliation process.", "In the literature two methods have been described.", "Both have been performed on laboratory scale but they have been too dangerous and too costly to be applied in industrial productions.", "[0006] The first method is a chemically based exfoliation as described in the literature.", "MoS 2 is treated in dry hexane with n-butyl-lithium for 48 hours under a protective argon atmosphere.", "Following a thorough washing with hexane and subsequent drying the material is transferred to an airtight container that is transferred into a reactor where it is opened under water.", "The violent reaction taking place between the water and the lithium compound being distributed between the layers develop hydrogen gas.", "The gas pressure lifts the layers apart.", "The layers may restack loosely or they may float separately in the water.", "The delaminated/exfoliated material may be collected by addition of a surfactant.", "[0007] The second method is described in US 2007/0158789 A1 and is a mechanical separation of the layers by exerting an attack from the end planes of the layered material.", "The attack may be mechanical in the form of a small knife or it may be electrical.", "Theoretically these methods may achieve a separation down to individual layers.", "Finally a single surface layer may be peeled off the stack by coating of the surface with an adhesive.", "[0008] Thus, there is a need in the art for new methods for delamination and/or exfoliation of materials, which method is amenable for industrial scale-up and associated with chemistry being of non-toxic and non-hazardous nature.", "SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0009] In order to overcome the above-mentioned limitations of the known method for delamination/exfoliation the present invention provides a new method for delamination/exfoliation of non-ionic inorganic materials.", "[0010] In one aspect the present invention provides a process for the preparation of a non-ionic inorganic layered material comprising the use of supercritical carbon dioxide for delaminating/exfoliating the material by a catastrophical fast release of the pressure.", "[0011] In one embodiment the process for the preparation of a non-ionic inorganic layered material comprises addition of at least one hydrophilic compound to said material prior to release of the pressure.", "In another embodiment said hydrophilic compound is glycerol.", "[0012] The invention consists of an efficient method for delamination/exfoliation of layered non-ionic materials suitable on an industrial scale and the use of the obtained materials.", "The delamination/exfoliation is obtained by first introducing supercritical carbon dioxide between the layers of the material and subsequently releasing the pressure catastrophically whereby the layers are blown apart by the gas pressure.", "Non-limiting examples of materials that may be treated by this process are WS 2 , MoS 2 , (Y-, Ba-, Cu-oxide) and other structurally similar superconductors, NbSe 2 , Bi 2 Sr 2 CaCu 2 O x , boron-nitride, dichalcogenides, trichalcogenides, tetrachalcogenides and pentachalcogenides.", "[0013] In another aspect the present invention provides a delaminated/exfoliated non-ionic inorganic material obtained by the process comprising the use of supercritical carbon dioxide for delaminating/exfoliating the material by a catastrophical fast release of the pressure.", "[0014] In another aspect the present invention provides a composition comprising a delaminated/exfoliated material incorporated into a chemical network structure such as a hydrogel or an aerogel, said composition obtained by the process comprising the use of supercritical carbon dioxide for delaminating/exfoliating the material by a catastrophical fast release of the pressure followed by incorporation of the delaminated/exfoliated material into the chemical network structure.", "[0015] In another aspect the present invention relates to the use of the delaminated/exfoliated inorganic material as: a gas barrier additive for hydrophobic polymer materials such as polyolefins, or a light barrier additive for hydrophobic polymer materials such as polyolefins, or an additive to hydrophobic polymeric material to improve the fire retarding properties and/or the mechanical properties of the hydrophobic polymeric material, or an additive in special paints primer in e.g. an epoxy binder, antifouling surface paints, heavy duty paints for tanks and tubes, or catalysts.", "DEFINITIONS [0020] Delamination of a layered material is processes whereby large stacks of layers are split apart in stacks having a small number of layers n, n being less than 500 more often less than 200.", "[0021] Exfoliation of a layered material is a process whereby large stacks of layers are split apart in single layers or in stacks have a small number of layers n, n being less than 100 more often less than 20.", "[0022] The critical point is the combination of pressure P c and temperature T c above which the compound no longer has a liquid and gaseous state.", "For combinations of P, T above this point the compound exists in the supercritical state.", "[0023] Carbon dioxide has a critical point P c =70 Bar and T c =31,5° C. When other compounds are present the mixed system may display supercritical behavior with limiting temperature and pressure different from the data found for the pure carbon dioxide.", "[0024] Van der Waals force is a universal type of interaction present in all materials.", "In the cases where electrostatic forces or forces between permanent dipoles are present Van der Waals forces are often neglected since they are much weaker.", "Only in cases where the other types of interactions are absent Van der Waals forces are of interest.", "They are distance dependant and their magnitude falls off very rapidly when the distance is increased.", "It is generally accepted that a distance dependence 1/r 6 is an appropriate description.", "[0025] Restacking is a phenomenon occurring after delamination/exfoliation has been attempted.", "The layers having been lifted apart by the catastrophical depressurization will fall back in top of each other.", "The Van der Waals forces will act to keep the loose stacks together as before the exfoliation.", "Since the layers are not properly stacked their distance is increased and the interaction energy is thus much smaller.", "The restacked material is therefore more readily dispersed in a solvent than the native material.", "[0026] Intercalation is the phenomena where a molecule is inserted between thee layers of a material.", "Intercalation can be useful to prevent restacking.", "If a molecule is present as a cosolvent in the supercritical carbon dioxide it may intercalate between the layers during depressurization.", "The intercalation prevents the restacking and makes it easier to disperse the delaminated/exfoliated material in another material in a subsequent process.", "[0027] The term catastrophical fast release of the pressure as used herein means an abrupt decrease in pressure so fast that the carbon dioxide found between the layers cannot slowly leak out.", "Instead the overpressure will try to expand its confinement layers blowing the stack apart.", "[0028] A co solvent is a chemical substance that has been added to carbon dioxide.", "The co solvent has to be soluble in carbon dioxide.", "Frequently it is used to increase the solubility in carbon dioxide of polar compounds.", "DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [0029] For a number of years CISMI has been developing the technologies based upon use of supercritical carbon dioxide.", "It has been demonstrated that it is a highly efficient technology for impregnation and extraction since the supercritical carbon dioxide penetrates the materials very efficiently.", "During this work it was surprisingly found that the technology could be used to obtain an efficient and cheap method for delamination/exfoliation of non-hydrophilic layered materials.", "The dichalcogenide MoS 2 is mentioned here as one example from this class.", "Subsequently we have performed many series of experiments demonstrating the efficiency of supercritical carbon dioxide in the delamination/exfoliation of the dichalogenides.", "Electron microscopy shows the difference between pristine and restacked materials.", "The process is highly efficient and the processing time is short.", "The process scales well from laboratory to factory.", "This opens the possibilities for optimization of the process for special adaptations to various demands.", "The supercritical carbon dioxide technology is environmentally and ecologically appealing since it is non-toxic and the CO 2 has been produced elsewhere.", "The use of CO 2 is minimizing the use of organic solvents and eliminates wastewater from the process.", "[0030] The materials to be delaminated/exfoliated will typically be present as particles of the size 1-50μ due to a previous grinding process.", "The particles are placed in a pressure reactor of the type used for treatment with supercritical carbon dioxide.", "The reactor is then pressurized with carbon dioxide.", "Often the conditions are chosen to bring carbon dioxide in the supercritical state.", "This corresponds to a pressure in the range 70-500 bar.", "The application of supercritical carbon dioxide to perform impregnation and extraction is well known and it is industrially used for impregnation of wood and extraction of coffeine from coffee beans and ginseng from the roots.", "The application for exfoliation/delamination of graphenes has recently been disclosed, US2007/0158789 A1.", "Supercritical carbon dioxide has a density similar to an organic solvent, but it has no surface tension and therefore it fills out the available space as a gas.", "The diffusion rates are similar to a gas.", "These properties make it easy for the CO 2 molecules to diffuse between the layers of the layered materials.", "This results in an initial swelling of the material.", "When the pressure subsequently is catastrophically reduced the gas pressure developed between the layers will outweigh the Van der Walls forces and blow the layers apart.", "The processing rate is limited by the time necessary to establish an equilibrium concentration of carbon dioxide between the layers.", "Depending on the material chosen it may take from minutes up to a few hours.", "The delaminated/exfoliated material is after the process present as a dry fluffy material in the reactor.", "[0031] The carbon dioxide is a non poisonous inactive gas and it is always present in the atmosphere in small concentrations.", "The process is therefore free from negative influence on the environment.", "[0032] In order to facilitate the dispersing of the delaminated/exfoliated material in a host material selected for a subsequent application it may be appropriate to add small amounts of additives to carbon dioxide during the process.", "This may result in a delaminated/exfoliated material with some intercalation more compatible with the host material.", "[0033] The method invented is the first commercially feasible process for delamination/exfoliation on a large scale and it will make it possible to develop a number of new materials [0034] Taking MoS 2 , as an example the exfoliated MoS 2 , will be characterized by: Non-toxic Strongly hydrophobic Film forming Thermally stable(350° C. in oxygen, 1200° C. in an inert atmosphere) Affinity for metal surfaces Change from semiconductor to semimetal by exfoliation Low friction coefficient (0,03-0,06) Chemically stable Light absorbing [0044] Potential applications for exfoliated material using MoS 2 as an example are : Barrier additive (gas) for hydrophobic polymer materials e.g. polyolefin's.", "Due to the large surface the delaminated/exfoliated particles will as an additive in the polymer reduce the gas permeability significantly.", "The mechanical properties may also be modified.", "In laboratory experiments non-polar polymers as polyethylene and polypropylene have been examined for permeability for Carbon dioxide.", "It was found that the permeability correlates with the amount of exfoliated MoS 2 which has been added.", "Barrier additive (light) in hydrophobic polymer materials the exfoliated/delaminated MoS 2 platelets will absorb light over a wide range of wavelength in the visible and UV range.", "Depending on the concentration it will provide full or partly protection against the light.", "Electrically conducting additive MoS 2 platelets as an additive will provide a high level of electrical shielding.", "This is a consequence of the semi metal properties of exfoliated MoS 2 .", "This property can be used in packaging materials for electronic components and to form polymer electrodes.", "Fire retarding additive for hydrophobic polymer materials.", "Additive for special paints Primer in e.g. an epoxy binder.", "Due to the high affinity for metal surfaces MoS 2 platelets will provide a good coverage of the surface and thereby also corrosion protection.", "Antifouling surface paints.", "The MoS 2 platelets will due to the hydrophobicity be present in the film surface forming a platelet layer.", "The MoS 2 is biologically inactive and the platelets are atomically flat.", "Fouling organisms will therefore have inadequate conditions for attachment to these surfaces.", "Here it is important that MoS 2 is non toxic and provide an alternative to the biocide antifouling materials.", "Heavy duty paints for tanks and tubes.", "Catalytic materials.", "MoS 2 finds today application as catalyst in the chemical process industry.", "Since the MoS 2 platelets are inactive the catalytic activities are linked to the defects and edges of the platelets.", "By exfoliation/delamination the accessible edges are increased significantly.", "The catalytic capacity will likewise be increased Stabilization of exfoliated/delaminated materials can be obtained by inclusion of these in network structures like hydrogels or aerogels.", "For this effect the exfoliated material is suspended in a solvent—typically an alcohol or supercritical CO 2 —used as solvent for the network precursor.", "The network then start to grow around the suspended platelets.", "If the process is controlled in such a manner that the pore sizes built up so that they will permit the useful reactants to be transported in the network then the catalytic effects of the exfoliated material will be used to its limits.", "At the same time the network will ensure that the platelets do not restack.", "Taking into account the minute size of the platelets, it is advantageous that the network can be subdivided to a mesh desired without having to handle the platelets directly.", "EXAMPLES Example 1 [0055] MoS 2 in the form of finely ground material is placed in a reactor.", "The particle size is in the range 0.5 to 10 micron depending on the application.", "The reactor is treated with CO 2 at 70° C. and 300 bar for 1 hour.", "The pressure is released in such a configuration that the suspension of MoS 2 in CO 2 is sprayed into a thermostated liquid.", "The liquid may be silicone oil or other suitable liquids chosen with regard to further processing.", "Example 2 [0056] MoS 2 is placed in a reactor and glycerol with purity 98% or higher is added as a co solvent.", "The reactor is treated with CO 2 at 70° C. and 300 Bar for 1 hour.", "The pressure is released catastrophically.", "The MoS 2 is found as a silvery looking paste.", "The suspension is stable over weeks.", "The compatibility between MoS 2 and glycerol is unexpected due to the hydrophobicity of MoS 2 and the known hydrophilicity of glycerol.", "Example 3 [0057] MoS 2 is placed in a reactor and silicone oil is added as a co solvent.", "The molar weight of the oil is selected in the range 10000-100000.", "The reactor is treated with CO 2 at 70° C. and 300 bar for 1 hour.", "The pressure is released catastrophically.", "The MoS 2 is found as a black viscous suspension of MoS 2 .", "The suspension is stable over weeks.", "The compatibility between MoS2 and silicone oil is expected due to the hydrophobicity of MoS 2 and the hydrophobicity of silicone.", "Example 4 [0058] Polyethylene LD is heated in an oven to 100° C. in order to obtain a highly viscous phase.", "The PE is mixed with exfoliated MoS 2 3% w/w.", "The mixed material is kept in a porcelain crucible for use.", "It is observed that the wetting of the porcelain is much better with the MoS 2 containing material.", "After cooling to ambient temperature the pure PE can easily be removed from the crucible whereas the MoS 2 containing material is inseparable from the crucible.", "Example 5 [0059] 102 mg MoS 2 particles smaller than 15 μm and with an average size of 6 μm is mixed with 1.74 g Glycerin (98%).", "The mixture is treated with carbon dioxide in a 20 ml reactor made of stainless steel at 40° C. at 300 bar pressure for 2 hours using magnetic stirring.", "Subsequently the pressure is released over a periode of 25 min.", "1.16 g is taken from the reactor and it is mixed with 3.82 g teramethylorthosilicate (TMOS) and 15.2 g methanol under stirring and under nitrogen atmosphere for 15 min.", "68 mg 28-30% ammonia dissolved in 2.00 g water under violent stirring.", "The stirring continues for 2 minutes after addition of water.", "The sample then is left for 5 min.", "Now an additional 80 mg ammonia (28-30%) dissolved in 1.00 g water is added under violent stirring.", "The stirring is continued for 2 minutes and after an additional 5-10 min.", "a gel is formed.", "(The sample does not distort if the glass is turned over).", "The gel is placed for ripening 24 hours at room temperature and finally ripened 3 weeks at +5° C. [0060] 15.5 g wet gel is placed in a 36 ml reactor made of 316 stainless steel.", "The gel is submerged in methanol and the reactor is closed.", "The reactor is now washed with 120 ml methanol at a rate of 1 ml/min.", "The pressure is increased to 100 bar at a rate of 3 bar/min, simultaneously the temperature is raised to 40° C. To replace the methanol 450 g carbon dioxide is pumped through the reactor at a rate of 1 g/min at a pressure of 100 bar.", "The pressure is released at a rate not exceeding 3 bar/min.", "The dry aerogel weighs 1.09 g containing approximately 6 percent w/w of MoS 2 ." ]

[ "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1.", "Field of the Invention The invention relates to a method of displaying an image on a display device in a plurality of sub-fields, each sub-field for outputting a respective illumination level by the display device, wherein the image includes a plurality of pixels each having a respective intensity value from a set of intensity values and wherein at least one of these intensity values can be generated by a plurality of combinations of the sub-fields, the method comprising the steps of selecting, for a particular pixel, a combination of sub-fields in conformance with its intensity value, and sending a representation of the selected combination to the display device for displaying the particular pixel.", "The invention further relates to an image display unit for displaying an image on a display device in a plurality of sub-fields, each sub-field for outputting a respective illumination level by the display device, wherein the image includes a plurality of pixels each having a respective intensity value from a set of intensity values and wherein at least one of these intensity values is generated by a plurality of combinations of the sub-fields, the image display unit comprising selection means for selecting for a particular pixel, a combination of sub-fields in conformance with its intensity value, and sending means for sending a representation of the selected combination to the display device for displaying the particular pixel.", "The invention further relates to an image display apparatus comprising such an image display unit.", "Description of the Related Art U.S. Pat. No. 5,841,413 describes a plasma display panel driven in a plurality of sub-fields.", "A plasma display panel is made up of a number of cells that can be switched on and switched off.", "A cell corresponds with a pixel (picture element) of the image that is to be displayed on the panel.", "In the operation of the plasma display panel, three phases can be distinguished.", "The first phase is the erasure phase in which the memories of all cells of the panel are erased.", "The second phase is the addressing phase, in which the cells of the panel that are to be switched on are conditioned by setting appropriate voltages on their electrodes.", "The third phase is the sustain phase, in which sustain pulses are applied to the cells which cause the addressed cells to emit light for the duration of the sustain phase.", "The plasma display panel only emits light during this sustain phase.", "The three phases together are called a sub-field period or simply a sub-field.", "A single image, or frame, is displayed on the panel in a number of successive sub-field periods.", "A cell may be switched on for one or more of the sub-field periods.", "The light emitted by a cell in the sub-field periods in which it was switched on, is integrated in the eye of the viewer who perceives a corresponding intensity for that cell.", "In a particular sub-field period, the sustain phase is maintained for a particular time resulting in a particular illumination level of the activated cells.", "Typically, different sub-fields have a different duration of their sustain phase.", "A sub-field is given a coefficient of weight to express its contribution to the light emitted by the panel during the whole frame period.", "An example is a plasma display panel with 6 sub-fields having coefficients of weight of 1, 2, 4, 8, 16 and 32, respectively.", "By selecting the appropriate sub-fields in which a cell is switched on, 64 different intensity levels can be realized in displaying an image on this panel.", "The plasma display panel is then driven by using binary code words of 6 bits each, whereby a code word indicates the intensity level of a pixel in binary form.", "In driving a plasma display panel, the frame period, i.e., the period between two successive images, is divided into a number of sub-field periods.", "During each of these sub-field periods, a cell may or may not be switched on, and the integration over the sub-field periods results in a perceived intensity level of the pixel corresponding with this cell.", "Instead of displaying a pixel integrally, on a plasma display panel, the pixel is displayed as a series of sub-pixels shifted in time with respect to each other.", "This may cause artifacts if the eyes of the viewer move.", "Then, it appears as if the sub-pixels do not originate from a single position and a blurring effect occurs.", "Furthermore, artifacts may occur in case the images show a moving object.", "The movement needs to be taken into account when displaying the object in a number of sub-fields.", "For each next sub-field, the object must be moved a little.", "Motion compensation techniques are used to calculate a corrected position for the sub-pixels in the sub-fields.", "In some circumstances, the motion compensation is not fully reliable and may produce erroneous results, e.g., in an area of the image with little detail.", "The erroneous results lead to motion compensation where this should not be done.", "This gives so-called motion artifacts which are very visible.", "An artifact is most noticeable if two neighboring pixels have a small difference in intensity level while, for one of the pixels, the sub-field with the largest coefficient of weight is on and, for the other of the pixels, this sub-field is off.", "In case of the example of the binary code above, the code word for one pixel has the most significant bit on and the code word for the other pixel has the most significant bit off.", "Any error in the calculated position of a sub-field, i.e., any motion artifact involving these pixels, will then give a relatively large artifact in the displayed image.", "The device described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,841,413 tries to mitigate these artifacts by restricting the code words that are used.", "This known device employs more sub-fields than necessary for realizing the required set of intensity values.", "The resulting set of code words for expressing the intensity value is redundant, i.e., for a given intensity value, more than one code word is avaiable.", "From this redundant set, a subset is created whereby those code words are selected that give the least differences in the most significant bit for expressing a difference between the intensity values.", "This subset is created by searching the original set and determining what the effect on the artifacts may be for a difference between a given code word and each of the other code words.", "SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the invention to provide a method as described in the preamble with an improved reduction of artifacts.", "This object is achieved, according to the invention, in a method which is characterized in that the combination of sub-fields for the particular pixel is selected on the basis of the combination of sub-fields selected for at least one other pixel of the image.", "This makes it possible to select, for the particular pixel, the best combination of sub-fields from among the possible combinations taking into account the actual content of the image to be displayed.", "The best combination of sub-fields is that one where any occurring artifact is as small as possible.", "The selection of sub-fields for the particular pixel on the basis of actual content is better than the selection made in the known method, where the combination is selected only on the basis of the comparison of the combinations themselves.", "An embodiment of the method according to the invention is characterized in that the combination of sub-fields for the particular pixel is selected to contain the same sub-fields as the combination of sub-fields for the at least one other pixel, such to the extent possible and with preference for the sub-field for outputting the highest illumination level.", "Hence, any difference between the intensity levels of the particular pixel and the other pixel will be realized as much as possible with sub-fields for the low illumination levels.", "Therefore, the two combinations will have the same sub-fields for the high illumination levels whenever possible.", "Or differently phrased, the result is that the most significant bits of the code words representing the pixel intensity values are identical to each other whenever possible.", "If the sub-fields for the higher values are identical to each other, then any artifact will be caused by a sub-field of lower intensity and will thus be less visible.", "An embodiment of the method according to the invention characterized in that the pixels of the image are received in a serial manner and wherein the combination of sub-fields for the particular pixel is selected on the basis of the combination of sub-fields selected for at least one other pixel received prior to the particular pixel.", "Since the selection of the combination of sub-fields is made on the basis of one or more earlier received and processed pixels, it is not necessary to store the image in a memory for determining the combination of sub-fields.", "Such a memory would be necessary if the combination of sub-fields for a particular pixel was determined on the basis of a pixel that was not yet received.", "An embodiment of the method according to the invention is characterized in that the pixels of the image are organized in a plurality of horizontal lines and wherein the combination of sub-fields for the particular pixel is selected on the basis of the combination of sub-fields selected for the pixel directly preceding the particular pixel on the same horizontal line.", "Now, only the combination of one pixel needs to be stored for determining the combination of sub-fields for the particular pixel.", "Furthermore, it is effective to determine the combination of sub-fields on the basis of the combination of the neighboring pixel since artifacts are often caused by errors between neighboring pixels.", "An embodiment of the method according to the invention is to characterized in that the pixels of the image are organized in a plurality of horizontal lines and wherein the combination of sub-fields for the particular pixel is selected on the basis of the combination of sub-fields selected for the pixel located at the same position as the particular pixel on the horizontal line directly preceding the horizontal line of the particular pixel.", "In this embodiment, one horizontal line of the image needs to be stored, making it possible to determine the combination of sub-fields on the basis of the combination of a neighboring pixel on the previous horizontal line.", "It is effective to determine the combination of sub-fields on the basis of the combination of the neighboring pixel since artifacts are often caused by errors between neighboring pixels.", "Storing one horizontal line of the image only requires a moderately sized memory.", "An embodiment of the method according to the invention is characterized in that the method comprises a step of determining edges of an area comprising the particular pixel and wherein the combination of sub-fields for the particular pixel is selected on the basis of the combination of sub-fields selected for at least one other pixel in that area.", "By analyzing the pixels of a certain area, it is possible to select that combination of sub-fields that will give the smallest chance on artifacts in that area.", "It is a further object of the invention to provide an image display unit as described in the preamble with an improved reduction of artifacts.", "This object is achieved, according to the invention, in an image display unit which is characterized in that the selection means is arranged to select the combination of sub-fields for the particular pixel on the basis of the combination of sub-fields selected for at least one other pixel of the image.", "This allows the selection of that combination of sub-fields from the available combinations of sub-fields, which is most suitable regarding the actual content of the current image.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention and its attendant advantages will be further elucidated with the aid of exemplary embodiments and the accompanying schematic drawings, wherein: FIG. 1 schematically shows a field period with 6 sub-fields;", "FIG. 2 shows the intensity levels of a series of pixels for a display device using 8 sub-fields;", "FIG. 3 shows the usage of the extended sub-field;", "FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating the method of selecting the sub-field combinations;", "FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an alternative method of selecting the sub-field combinations;", "and FIG. 6 shows the most important elements of an image display apparatus according to the invention.", "DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 schematically shows a field period with 6 sub-fields.", "The field period 102 , also called the frame period, is the period in which a single image or frame is displayed on the display panel.", "In this example, the field period 102 consists of 6 sub-fields indicated with references 104 - 114 .", "In a sub-field, a cell of the display panel may be switched on in order to produce an amount of light.", "Each sub-field starts with an erasure phase in which the memories of all cells are erased.", "The next phase in the sub-field is the addressing phase in which the cells that are to be switched on for emitting light in this particular sub-field are conditioned.", "Then, in a third phase of the sub-field which is called the sustain phase, sustain pulses are applied to the cells.", "This causes the cells that have been addressed to emit light during the sustain phase.", "The organization of these phases is shown in FIG. 1, where time runs from left to right.", "For example sub-field 108 has an erasure phase 116 , an addressing phase 118 and a sustain phase 120 .", "The perceived intensity of a pixel of a displayed image is determined by controlling during which of the sub-fields the cell corresponding to the pixel is switched on.", "The light emitted during the various sub-fields in which a cell is switched on is integrated in the eyes of the viewer, thus resulting in a certain intensity of the corresponding pixel.", "A sub-field has a coefficient of weight indicating its relative contribution to the emitted light.", "An example is a plasma display panel with 6 sub-fields having coefficients of weight of 1, 2, 4, 8, 16 and 32 respectively.", "By selecting the appropriate combination of sub-fields in which a cell is switched on, 64 different intensity levels can be realized in displaying an image on this panel.", "The plasma display panel is then driven by using binary code words of 6 bits each, whereby a code word indicates the intensity level of a pixel in binary form.", "FIG. 2 shows the intensity levels of a series of pixels for a display device using 8 sub-fields.", "The series of pixels can be the adjacent pixels on a horizontal or vertical line of the display.", "However, the series can also be the different intensity values over time of a single position on the display.", "Trace 202 indicates the intensity value expressed as a code word representing the combination of sub-fields as described above.", "The trace shows, for example, pixel 1 having an intensity of 126 and pixel 10 having an intensity of 129.", "The following Table I shows for this series of pixels in which sub-fields the corresponding cell or cells of the display are switched on.", "The sub-fields SF 1 , .", ", SF 8 have coefficients of weight of 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64 and 128, respectively.", "TABLE I Combinations of sub-fields for intensity levels of the series of pixels intensity SF1 SF2 SF3 SF4 SF5 SF6 SF7 SF8 1 126 x x x x x x 2 127 x x x x x x x 3 127 x x x x x x x 4 125 x x x x x x 5 129 x x 6 129 x x 7 127 x x x x x x x 8 128 x 9 127 x x x x x x x 10 129 x x This Table shows, for example that for pixel 2 with an intensity level of 127, all sub-fields but sub-field SF 8 are to be used.", "A transition from one intensity to a different intensity is realized by using a different combination of sub-fields.", "For some transitions, a small change in intensity has to be realized by a change in sub-field SF 8 , the sub-field generating the largest amount of light.", "These are transitions 204 , 206 , 208 , 210 and 212 in FIG. 2 .", "Artifacts related to the pixels involved in such transitions are more noticeable than others since they concern the sub-fields producing a relatively large part of the light.", "In an embodiment of the invention, the display device with originally 8 sub-fields is now operated with an extended 9 th sub-field.", "The organization of the original 8 sub-fields with their particular coefficients remains the same.", "The extended sub-field is given a relatively small coefficient of weight.", "The purpose of the extended sub-field is to provide for more than one combination of sub-fields for realizing a desired intensity level.", "Then, a suitable combination can be selected that avoids the problematic transitions described above.", "In this embodiment, the 9 th sub-field has a coefficient of weight of 12.", "Table II below shows how the intensity levels according to FIG. 2 can be realized using the 9 sub-fields.", "TABLE II Combinations for intensity levels of the series of pixels using 9 sub-fields intensity SF1 SF2 SF3 SF4 SF5 SF6 SF7 SF8 SF9 1 126 x x x x x x 2 127 x x x x x x x 3 127 x x x x x x x 4 125 x x x x x x 5 129 x x x x x x 6 129 x x x x x x 7 127 x x x x x x x 8 128 x x x x x 9 127 x x x x x x x 10 129 x x x x x x Now, all above intensity levels can be realized without activation of sub-field SF 8 , the sub-field with the highest contribution to the production of light.", "This can be done by instead using sub-field SF 9 instead, with a proper combination of lower sub-fields.", "Now, none of the transitions above involve switching between sub-field SF 8 since, for none of the intensity levels, sub-field SF 8 is necessary.", "In general, for realizing increasing intensity levels the usage of sub-field SF 8 is postponed as long as possible by first using the extended sub-field SF 9 , which has a smaller coefficient of weight.", "Only when the intensity level can no longer be realized without it, sub-field SF 8 is used in the combination of sub-fields.", "Once it has been used, switching it off is postponed as long as possible.", "So sub-field SF 8 will then be used for the subsequent pixel if this is possible.", "Maintaining the usage of sub-field SF 8 is done in order to minimize the number of critical transitions where sub-field SF 8 is on in one pixel and off in the next.", "FIG. 3 shows the usage of the extended sub-field.", "Trace 302 represents the intensity levels for a further series of pixels 11 to 20 .", "The intensity levels for pixels 11 , 12 and 13 are realized without the highest sub-field SF 8 .", "For all further pixels, sub-field SF 8 is used, including for further pixels which could be realized without sub-field SF 8 , like pixel 16 .", "The sub-field SF 8 is used for pixel 16 to avoid that transitions 304 and 306 become a critical transition involving a change in sub-field SF 8 .", "Table III below shows the realizations of the intensity levels for the series of pixels.", "TABLE III Combinations for intensity levels of the series of pixels using 9 sub-fields intensity SF1 SF2 SF3 SF4 SF5 SF6 SF7 SF8 SF9 11 138 x x x x x x x 12 138 x x x x x x x 13 139 x x x x x x x x 14 141 x x x x 15 140 x x x 16 139 x x x x 17 142 x x x x 18 138 x x x 19 139 x x x x 20 132 x x The sub-fields have been selected into such combinations that the number of critical transitions is minimal.", "Only transition 308 between pixel 13 and pixel 14 is critical because for pixel 13 , sub-field SF 8 is off, while for pixel 14 , sub-field SF 8 is on.", "In the examples shown above, the extended sub-field has a value of 12 and has been used to avoid unnecessary transitions of the sub-fields SF 8 which has a value of 128.", "As described earlier, for mitigating the visible artifacts it is better to switch between sub-fields with a small value than between sub-fields with a large value.", "Therefore, the extended sub-field can not only be used to avoid transitions of SF 8 but also for transitions of sub-fields that have a value larger than the value of the extended sub-fields, e.g., SF 7 and SF 6 .", "FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating the method of selecting the sub-field combinations.", "When selecting a sub-field combination, a choice must be made whether the original sub-field distribution with sub-fields SF 1 to SF 8 is used or whether the extended distribution using the extended sub-field SF 9 as well is used.", "In step 402 , the intensity level of the first pixel is obtained and, in step 404 the original sub-field distribution is used to determine the sub-field combination.", "Then, in step 406 the intensity level of the next pixel is obtained.", "The combination of sub-fields that should be selected for this pixel depends on whether or not the most significant sub-field SF 8 has been used for the previous pixel.", "Therefore, it is checked in, step 408 whether SF 8 has been used for the previous pixel.", "If this is the case, then it is checked in, step 410 whether the intensity value of the current pixel can be realized with a combination of sub-fields where SF 8 is also used.", "If this is the case, the a combination of sub-fields for the current pixel is determined in, step 412 using SF 8 .", "If this is not the case, the a combination of sub-fields for the current pixel is determined, in step 414 where SF 8 is not used.", "If it has been established, in step 408 that SF 8 has not been used for the previous pixel, then it is checked, in step 416 whether the intensity value of the current pixel can be realized with a combination of sub-fields where SF 8 is also not used.", "If this is the case, then execution continues at step 414 , where a combination of sub-fields for the current pixel is determined where SF 8 is not used, and otherwise execution continues at step 414 , where a combination of sub-fields for the current pixel is determined where SF 8 is used.", "Finally, after a combination of sub-fields for the current pixels has been determined, it is checked, in step 418 , whether the last pixel has been processed.", "If this is not the case, then execution continues at step 406 for the next pixel and otherwise the execution stops.", "FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an alternative method of selecting the sub-field combinations.", "In this embodiment, an entire line of pixels is evaluated for the presence of critical transitions and for extended critical transitions.", "If only critical transitions are present, then the extended sub-field is used.", "If only extended critical transitions are present, then the sub-field SF 8 is used without using the extended sub-field.", "If both types of critical transition are present, then the first one on the line is used for choosing the sub-field combination at that point.", "In step 502 , the intensity level for the first pixel is obtained and the sub-field combination for this pixel is determined using the original sub-field distribution.", "Then, in step 504 , the intensity level for the next pixel is obtained and, in step 506 it is determined whether a transition of SF 8 would necessary.", "If this is the case, then, in step 508 the sub-field combination for this pixel is determined using the extended sub-field and, in step 510 the sub-field combinations for the pixels determined so far are changed to using the extended sub-field as well.", "Then execution continues to process the remaining pixels of the line.", "If in step 506 it is determined that for this pixel no critical transition is involved, then it is determined, in step 514 , whether an extended critical transition is involved.", "If this is the case, then, in step 516 a sub-field combination for this pixel is determined using sub-field SF 8 and, in step 518 the sub-field combinations for the pixels determined so far are changed to using sub-field SF 8 as well.", "The execution continues to process the remaining pixels of the line.", "If no extended critical transition is determined, then it is checked, in step 520 whether the last pixel of the line has been processed and if this is not so, the next pixel is processed in a next loop of steps starting at step 504 .", "Processing the remaining pixels of the line continues in step 522 , where the intensity level of the next pixel is obtained.", "In step 524 , it is determined whether the sub-field combination for this next pixel would be critical, i.e., whether a transition of sub-field SF 8 would be necessary.", "If that is the case, then, in step 526 a sub-field combination for the next pixel is selected using the extended sub-field SF 9 .", "If, in step 524 , it is determined that there would be no transition of sub-field SF 8 , then in, step 528 it is determined whether there would be an extended critical transition.", "If this is the case, then, in step 530 a sub-field combination for the next pixel is selected using SF 8 .", "Finally, in step 532 , it is checked whether the last pixel has been processed.", "If this is not the case, then the execution is continued, at step 522 for the next pixel and otherwise the execution stops.", "The line of pixels in the alternative method may be a vertical line of the image or a horizontal line.", "If a horizontal line is used, then only a memory for the pixels of a single horizontal line would be necessary.", "A further alternative method is the combination of the two alternative methods described above.", "The method described in connection with FIG. 4 is used for the vertical direction and the method described in connection with FIG. 5 is used in the horizontal direction.", "A further alternative is to analyze the pixels of a complete area of the image.", "In a first step, the area is detected by means of an edge detection algorithm, and the pixels in that area are identified.", "Then, the combinations of sub-fields for these pixels are determined using the same technique as for the line of pixels above.", "The method of using an extended sub-field can advantageously be used for displaying an area of the image that contains few details.", "Artifacts can easily occur in such an area, e.g., when the motion estimator provides inaccurate results.", "The extended sub-field can then be used to avoid transition of the most significant sub-field, thus, mitigating the artifacts.", "The choice of the coefficient of weight for the extended sub-field is a compromise.", "A large coefficient of weight for the extended sub-field gives a large range over which critical transitions can be avoided.", "However, the application of the extended sub-field is limited to the transitions of sub-fields that have a larger coefficient of weight than the extended sub-fields.", "That makes it desirable to choose a small coefficient of weight.", "The coefficient of weight of 12 given in the examples above appeared a good compromise.", "Furthermore, it is possible to analyze the image and to adapt the coefficient of weights to the actual image.", "This is then done in such a way that as few critical transitions as possible occur, a critical transition beings a transition involving sub-fields with a larger coefficient of weight.", "Also the coefficient of weight of the extended sub-field can be chosen on the basis of this analysis of the image.", "FIG. 6 shows the most important elements of an image display apparatus according to the invention.", "The image display apparatus 600 has receiving means 602 for receiving a signal representing the image to be displayed.", "This signal may be a broadcast signal received via an antenna or cable but may also be a signal from a storage device like a VCR (Video Cassette Recorder).", "The image display apparatus 600 further has an image display unit 604 for processing the image, and a display device 606 for displaying the processed image.", "The display device 606 is of a type that is driven in sub-fields.", "The image display unit has selection means 608 for selecting the appropriate combination of sub-fields for each of the pixels of the image.", "The selection means uses a memory 610 where one or more pixels and their combinations of sub-fields are for carrying out those alternative methods described above that require storing one or more pixels.", "Furthermore, the image display unit has a sending means 612 for sending the representations of sub-field combinations of the pixels to the display device 606 .", "The invention has been described for an image composed of pixels each having a certain intensity level.", "The invention can be applied to black and white images and to color images.", "In a color image, a pixels has a separate intensity level for each color that is used.", "The determination of the combination of sub-fields according to the invention is then carried out for each of the colors.", "In case of the traditional RGB (Red, Green and Blue) representation of a color image, 3 combinations of sub-fields are determined according to the invention.", "It should be noted that the above-mentioned embodiments illustrate rather than limit the invention and that those skilled in the art will be able to design many alternative embodiments without departing from the scope of the appended claims.", "The word ‘comprising’ does not exclude the presence of elements or steps other a claim.", "The word “a”", "or “an”", "preceding an element does not exclude the presence of a plurality of such elements.", "The invention can be implemented by means of hardware comprising several distinct elements and by means of a suitably programmed computer.", "In the unit claims enumerating several means, several of these means can be embodied by one and the same item of hardware." ]

[ "BACKGROUND [0001] 1.", "Field of the Invention [0002] The invention relates to positive photoresist, and more specifically to an apparatus and method for the development of positive photoresist using vapor.", "[0003] 2.", "Description of Related Art [0004] The fabricating of semiconductor devices typically includes a deposition process of forming a target film on a semiconductor substrate, a photolithography process of forming and patterning a photoresist layer of the target film, an etching process of selectively removing the portions of the target film exposed by the photoresist pattern, and a cleaning process of removing the photoresist pattern and the residue resulting from the etching process using a cleaning solution so that only the portion of the target film which was not removed by the etching process is left.", "The photolithography process entails directing exposure light onto the photoresist layer through a mask of reticle having a pattern that is thereby transcribed onto the photoresist layer, and developing the exposed photoresist layer.", "As a result, selective portions of the photoresist layer are removed and the remaining portions constitute the photoresist pattern.", "The critical dimension of the photoresist pattern is dependent upon the energy level of the exposure light emitted onto the photoresist layer through the photomask.", "[0005] However, as semiconductor devices become more highly integrated, the design rules of the devices become smaller and smaller, i.e., patterns having very small critical dimensions must be formed.", "These patterns often include a series of contact holes or a series of lines and spaces.", "Techniques have been developed in photolithography so that a fine pattern can be formed.", "[0006] The semiconductor substrate having the photoresist film formed thereon is then immersed in a developer solution.", "At this time, either the exposed portion of the photoresist is removed by the developer solution (positive type of photoresist) or the non-exposed portion is removed by the developer solution (negative type of photoresist).", "Accordingly, the photoresist is patterned.", "The photoresist pattern will serve as an etch mask for the formation of lines or contact holes in a portion of the underlying layer located on the substrate.", "[0007] With the reduction of size in features in the photoresist film, another problem may occur.", "The developer solution may have difficulty working its way into the small scale features as they begin to form in the photoresist layer.", "This may be caused by the surface tension of the developer solution and by other causes.", "In addition, the use of solution developer can be costly, especially as a substrate is repeatedly layered and the photoresist process is repeated.", "[0008] What is needed is a method of developing photoresist that is compatible with the small features of modern photoresist patterns, as well as a less costly method of developing photoresist.", "SUMMARY [0009] An apparatus and method for the development of photoresist utilizing a vaporized developer.", "The substrate may be cooled such that the vaporized developer condenses on the substrate and in the features developing in the substrate.", "An ultrasonic vibrator may be used to vibrate the substrate to enhance the process and to dispel the condensed vapors in the features.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0010] FIG. 1A is a sketch of a substrate with a photoresist layer.", "[0011] FIG. 1B is a sketch of a substrate with a photoresist layer with features in various stages of development.", "[0012] FIG. 2A is a sketch of a substrate with a photoresist layer with finer features being developed.", "[0013] FIG. 2B is a sketch of a substrate with t a photoresist layer with finer features being developed showing process difficulties.", "[0014] FIG. 3 is a sketch of a photoresist developing apparatus according to some embodiments of the present invention.", "[0015] FIG. 4 is a sketch of a partial view of photoresist developing apparatus according to some embodiments of the present invention.", "DETAILED DESCRIPTION [0016] FIG. 1A is a sketch of a substrate 101 with an applied layer 102 of positive photoresist.", "Typically, prior to application, positive photoresist consists of three constituents.", "The first constituent is alcohols, and may be approximately 10% of the solution.", "The second constituent is the photosensitive constituent, such as a diazo-quinone, which may be approximately 40% of the solution.", "The third constituent is polymers, which may be approximately 50% of the solution.", "The diazo-quinone portion is sensitive to ultraviolet light and heat above 90 C. When exposed to light, the diazo-quinone breaks down into indene-carbo-oxylic acid.", "Because of the sensitivity of this constituent to ultraviolet light, which is present in normal light, the processing of the photoresist is typically done in a light that does not have an ultraviolet component.", "Other photoresist compositions may be used in accordance with this invention, and the photoresist chemical compositions above are used for example.", "[0017] The photoresist layer is typically applied to a wafer in a layer on the order of 10,000 Angstroms thick.", "The applied layer may then be heated to 90 C for 30 minutes to drive out a significant portion of the alcohol resulting in a consistent gel layer on the wafer.", "The photoresist layer is then exposed to ultraviolet light in a pattern desired by the user, typically using a glass mask.", "The areas below the holes in the mask are exposed to the ultraviolet light and break down into the acid.", "Washing this layer with a light basic solution will eat the acid areas relatively quickly, perhaps in 60 seconds.", "In this same time, the unexposed areas will be attacked by the basic solution but to a much lesser extent, perhaps 10%.", "This basic solution is the developer solution for the photoresist layer, and tetra-methyl-ammonium-hydroxide (TMAH) is widely used for this purpose.", "[0018] FIG. 1B illustrates the development process of a photoresist layer.", "A first hole 103 is shown at a first, earlier time in the development process and the bottom 103 a of the hole 103 is seen part way down into the photoresist layer 102 .", "A second hole 104 is used to illustrate the process at a slightly later time in the process, and one can see that the bottom 104 a of the hole 104 is further down into the photoresist layer 102 .", "A third hole 105 is used to illustrate the process at an even later time, and one can see that the bottom 105 a of the hole 105 has moved down to the top of the substrate 101 .", "Although the hole is shown with vertical walls, in actuality this is not the case.", "The top of the hole widens as the developer works its way down the hole, resulting in a tapered hole.", "[0019] FIG. 2A illustrates a substrate 201 with a photoresist layer 202 .", "The photoresist layer 202 is seen in the process of being developed and one can see a plurality of finer holes 203 , 204 , 205 , 206 being developed in the photoresist layer.", "The bottoms 203 a , 204 a , 205 a , 206 a , of the finer holes 203 , 204 , 205 , 206 are shown illustrating the progress of the process.", "With the increasingly smaller dimensions seen in modern devices, the holes being developed are becoming smaller and smaller.", "The current photoresist process of using a liquid solution developer cannot in all cases develop holes with these small features.", "A first problem is the surface tension of the liquid with regard to the dimensions of the holes.", "As seen in FIG. 2B , the liquid may not penetrate into the hole due to the small size of the hole.", "Areas 203 b , 204 b , 205 b , 206 b may exist where the developer has been unable to penetrate and thus there is not development, or sufficient development, of some features.", "[0020] FIG. 3 is a sketch of an apparatus 300 according to some embodiments of the present invention.", "The apparatus 300 utilizes a vaporized developer which condenses on the surface of the photoresist layer to develop the layer.", "The vapor is able to penetrate features that a liquid developer may not be able to penetrate, and also allows the user to realize significant chemical cost savings.", "A substrate 306 is mounted onto a thermally controllable fixture 303 .", "The substrate 306 may be attached to the fixture using mounting clips 304 , 305 , which may be three clips equally spread around a circular substrate in some embodiments.", "In some embodiments, the thermally controllable fixture 303 may have cooling tubes within it that cool the fixture by the circulation within the fixture of a cooled liquid.", "The thermally controllable fixture 303 may be mounted to a fixture arm 302 which is in turn fixed to a chamber 301 within which the fixture arm resides.", "[0021] A developer inlet 310 delivers a vaporized developer mixture 309 into the chamber 301 .", "In some embodiments, there may be a plurality of developer inlets, and different constituents of the vapor may be supplied via different inlets.", "In some embodiments, the developer is mixed prior to its introduction into the chamber.", "The vaporized developer mixture 309 condenses on the substrate 306 , which in the configuration seen in FIG. 3 will have its photoresist layer facing downwards and therefore fully exposed to the vaporized developer mixture.", "In some embodiments, the substrate 306 will be cooled by the thermally controllable fixture 303 , which will facilitate the condensation of the vaporized developer mixture 309 onto the photoresist layer.", "In this fashion, the vapor will penetrate the features forming as the development process goes along in a much more effective manner than with liquid developer solution, especially in the case of very small features.", "In some embodiments, the photoresist layer may not be horizontal and facing downwards, but may be in a different position.", "[0022] In some embodiments, one or more ultrasonic vibrators 307 , 308 may be mounted onto the back of the thermally controllable fixture 303 , or another location adapted to provide vibration to the substrate 306 .", "The vibration delivered by the ultrasonic vibrators 307 , 308 may assist in removing the condensed developer from the holes as it builds up allowing the repeated penetration of vapor up into the bottom of the developing holes.", "In some embodiments, just one, or another number of vibrators may used.", "In some embodiments, a single frequency vibrator may be used.", "In some embodiments, variable frequency vibrators may be used.", "[0023] FIG. 4 is a sketch of a section of the substrate and mounting fixture according to some embodiments of the present invention.", "A substrate 403 is shown with a photoresist layer 404 .", "The substrate is mounted to a thermally controllable fixture 401 .", "In some embodiments, coolant conduits 402 are routed into the thermally controllable fixture 401 .", "The substrate 403 is mounted on its back surface 410 to the thermally controllable fixture 410 .", "The photoresist layer 404 is cooled via conductive cooling through 411 the substrate 403 .", "[0024] The vaporized developer mixture 405 condenses on the surface 406 of the photoresist layer 404 , and is also seen condensing 409 on the bottom 408 of the hole 407 .", "As the hole 4057 deepens, the bottom 408 of the hole 407 should be colder than the surface 406 of the photoresist layer 404 , as the conductive path is longer to the cooled mounting fixture.", "Although FIG. 4 illustrates the case wherein the photoresist layer is horizontal and facing downwards, other physical positions may be used.", "For example, positions between the vertical and the horizontal plane may be used.", "[0025] In some embodiments of the present invention, the vaporized developer mixture is comprised of gaseous ammonia, steam, and gaseous hexamethyldisalizane.", "(HMDS), and also a neutral gas such as nitrogen.", "The gaseous ammonia and the steam can condense at the surface creating ammonium hydroxide.", "Because of the possibility of a fast attack on the photoresist layer resulting in cracking of the unexposed portion of the photoresist layer, the HMDS is used as a moderator to minimize this cracking problem.", "This can be considered Hexamethyl Ammonium Hydroxide (HMAH) development.", "[0026] An exemplary process according to some embodiments of the present invention uses the vaporized developer mixture at 100 C. The mixture is comprised approximately equally of nitrogen, ammonia, steam, and HMDS.", "A exemplary pressure would be 200-600 Torr, and the process would be run at 1 to 2.5 minutes.", "A substrate is mounted onto a thermally controllable fixture in a chamber.", "The chamber is sealed and the substrate is cooled, or may be maintained at room temperature.", "The vaporized developer mixture is delivered to the chamber.", "A return system may remove the liquefied vapor from the chamber during the process in some embodiments.", "[0027] Significant process cost savings may be realized when practicing the process according to embodiments of the present invention.", "For example, current processes do not efficiently develop to the bottom of features.", "Typically, the substrate is hard baked and the plasma descummed after photoresist development.", "With the efficient development according to embodiments of the present invention, some or all of these post-development processes can be eliminated.", "In addition, there is potentially and quite practically an order of magnitude savings in chemical cost compared to current wet developing methods.", "Using illustrative costs comparisons, a typical wet development process may cost 5 dollars per process.", "And a wafer may have 20 photoresist development cycles during its overall processing.", "The cost of vapor chemical per wafer may fall in to the 10 cents per process range.", "Savings may be in the range of 98 dollars per wafer.", "[0028] As evident from the above description a wide variety of embodiments may be configured from the description given herein and additional advantages and modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art.", "The invention in its broader aspects is, therefore, not limited to the specific details, representative apparatus and illustrative examples shown and described.", "Accordingly, departures from such details may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the applicant's general invention." ]

[ "CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application is a divisional of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser.", "No. 10/459,895, filed Jun. 12, 2003, which claims priority to and the benefit of provisional U.S. patent application Ser.", "No. 60/388,446, which was filed on Jun. 12, 2002, all of which are incorporated by reference in their entireties herein.", "TECHNICAL FIELD The invention relates generally to the treatment of mammalian tissue through the process of bulking, and more specifically to the injection of bulking particles into a treatment region of a mammal.", "BACKGROUND Urinary incontinence, vesicourethral reflux, fecal incontinence, and intrinsic sphincter deficiency (ISD), for example, are disorders that have responded to treatments with augmentative materials.", "Such disorders occur when the resistance to flow of bodily discharges decreases to the point where the resistance can no longer overcome the intra-abdominal pressure.", "Nearly all procedures developed to restore continence are based on restoring the lost resistance.", "Surgical implantation of artificial sphincters has often been employed to treat patients suffering from urinary incontinence.", "The surgical implantation of the artificial sphincter commonly requires hospitalization, is relatively complex and expensive, and will usually require six to eight weeks of recovery time.", "Moreover, the procedure may be unsuccessful if the artificial sphincter malfunctions.", "As a result, additional surgery is required to adjust, repair, or replace the implant.", "Urinary incontinence can also be treated using nonsurgical means.", "A common method to treat patients with urinary incontinence is periurethral injection of a bulking material.", "One such bulking composition is a Teflon® paste known commercially as “Polytef”", "or “Urethrin.”", "This paste is comprised of a fifty-fifty (50-50) by weight mixture of a glycerin liquid with Teflon® (polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)) brand particles sold by DuPont.", "The glycerin is biodegradable, however, and over a period of time the glycerin dissipates into the body and is then metabolized or eliminated leaving only about fitly percent (50%) of the injected mixture (i.e., the Teflon® particles) at the injection site.", "Consequently, to achieve the desired result, the surgeon typically overcompensate for the anticipated loss of bulking material by injecting a significantly larger amount of material than initially required.", "At the extreme, this overcompensation can lead to complete closure of the urethra, which could put the patient into temporary urinary retention.", "Additionally, the eventual dissipation of the glycerin complicates the surgeon's ability to visually gauge the appropriate amount of bulking material to inject.", "To avoid these over-bulking side effects, the surgeon may ultimately not inject enough bulking mixture, leading to the likelihood of a second or even a third procedure to inject additional material.", "Further, the particle size in the Teflon® paste bulking material if sufficiently small may allow the particles to migrate to other locations of the body, such as the lungs, brain, etc.", "Teflon® particles have been known to induce undesirable tissue reaction and form Teflon® induced granulomas in certain individuals.", "In addition, the Teflon® paste is typically highly viscous and can only be injected using a hypodermic needle held by an injection assist device.", "Use of an injection assist device may be required, because a surgeon would likely not have sufficient strength to force the highly viscous Teflon® paste through a needle of any acceptable size.", "Two alternatives to the Teflon® paste are a collagen gel and carbon coated zirconium beads.", "One such commercially available product includes Contigen®, available from CR Bard.", "The collagen gel is injected in the same manner as the Teflon® paste and forms a fibrous mass of tissue around the augmentation site.", "This fibrous mass created by the collagen injection, however, also dissipates over time and is eventually eliminated by the patient's body.", "As a result, additional injections are periodically required.", "Yet another bulking procedure includes the injection of swollen hydrogel particles.", "The swollen hydrogel particles exhibit relatively low injection forces by incorporating low molecular weight water-soluble organic compounds, along with water, in the particles.", "See, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,813,411 and 5,902,832 to Van Bladel et al.", ", and U.S. Pat. No. 5,855,615 to Bley et al.", ", the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.", "Another alternative to the Teflon paste is a hard particle suspension.", "One such commercially available product is Durasphere® available from Carbon Medical Technologies.", "These hard particles, for example carbon coated zirconium beads, are injected in a beta-glucan carrier.", "The beta-glucan is eliminated by the patient's body over time.", "As a result, additional injections may be required.", "Furthermore, hard particle suspensions, depending on the size of the particle, may tend not to be easily dispensed without clogging smaller gauge injection needles.", "Furthermore, available methods of injecting bulking agents require the placement of a needle at a treatment region, for example, peri-urethrally or transperenially.", "Assisted by visual aids, the bulking agent is injected into a plurality of locations, causing the urethral lining to coapt.", "In cases where additional applications of bulking agent are required (e.g., when bulking agents are dissipated within the body), the newly added bulking agent may need to be injected at a higher pressure than the pressure at which the initial bulking agent was injected.", "The higher pressure requirements for subsequent injections may result from the effect of closing off the treatment region by the initial bulking agent, thereby creating backpressure when attempting to insert additional bulking agent(s).", "Typically, the bulking agent is injected at multiple locations to cause the uretheral lining to coapt with a higher opening pressure than the patient had prior to injection of the bulking agent.", "Bulking agent delivery methods have attempted to address the issue of subsequent injection requirements.", "One method that has been employed is hydrodissection of tissue in the vicinity of the treatment region, thereby creating tissue voids designed to decrease the injection pressure required when adding additional bulking agent to the voids.", "Another method used to reduce injection pressures is the Urovive™ device available from American Medical Systems.", "Urovive™ utilizes a plurality of silicone balloons that are inserted into the treatment region, specifically, the periphery of the sphincter.", "The balloons are then filled with a hydrogel to effect tissue coaptation.", "SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention generally relates to an injectable bulking composition that does not degrade or dissipate in the body, has sufficiently low viscosity such that it is easily administered via injection, and will not migrate from the site of injection, thereby enabling the affected tissue to maintain the desired constriction without causing undesirable side effects.", "In addition, the invention generally relates to an injection method that reduces the injection pressure required to place the bulking agents.", "In one aspect the invention relates to the use of polymeric particles to facilitate bulking in a treatment region of a mammal's body through injection of the particles into the treatment region.", "The particles are compliant enough to be delivered through a relatively small gauge injection device.", "Generally, the invention is employed in the treatment of diseases requiring sphincter bulking, e.g., for treating urinary or fecal incontinence;", "however, the bulking method described herein can also be used for soft tissue bulking for use during, for example, plastic surgery.", "In another aspect the invention relates to a bulking agent for medical applications.", "The bulking agent includes a carrier and a plurality of substantially spherical polyvinyl alcohol particles dispersed within the carrier.", "The carrier aids the delivery of the substantially spherical polyvinyl alcohol particles to a site to be bulked.", "In yet another aspect, the invention relates to a method for bulking mammalian tissue.", "The method includes the steps of introducing a bulking agent to the mammalian tissue to coapt the mammalian tissue with the bulking agent.", "The bulking agent includes a carrier and a plurality of substantially spherical polyvinyl alcohol particles dispersed within the carrier.", "The carrier aids the delivery of the substantially spherical polyvinyl alcohol particles to a site to be bulked.", "In various embodiments of the foregoing aspects, the bulking agent comprises a volume.", "The volume could be, for example, from about 1 ml to about 30 ml, from about 20 ml to about 30 ml, or from about 2 ml to about 16 ml.", "In additional embodiments, the substantially spherical polyvinyl alcohol particles are sized from about 40 micron to about 1500 microns in diameter, preferably from about 150 micron to about 1100 microns in diameter, and more preferably from about 500 micron to about 900 microns in diameter.", "Further, the substantially spherical polyvinyl alcohol particles can comprise pores and/or bioreactive agents, such as drugs, proteins, genes, chemo-therapeutic agents, and growth factors.", "In other embodiments, the substantially spherical polyvinyl alcohol particles can be compressible and/or substantially dimensionally stable.", "In additional embodiments, the carrier can be a water-based solution, such as saline solution.", "In addition, the carrier can include at least one of a lubricant, a biocompatible thickening agent, or a color.", "Furthermore, the bulking agent can be delivered through a needle and/or a catheter.", "In one embodiment, the bulking agent is delivered transuretherally.", "In addition, the bulking agent can be delivered while viewing the tissue to be bulked with a cytoscope.", "In still another aspect, the invention relates to an apparatus for bulking mammalian tissue.", "The apparatus includes a needle defining a lumen, an inflation device adapted to advance through the lumen of the needle, and a bulking agent insertable via the lumen of the needle.", "The needle is adapted to penetrate the mammalian tissue.", "The inflation device is disposed adjacent to the mammalian tissue after being advanced through the needle.", "The inflation device is inflatable and subsequently deflatable to create a void in the mammalian tissue.", "The bulking agent is inserted to fill at least partially the void in the tissue, the bulking agent coapting the mammalian tissue.", "In various embodiments of the foregoing aspect of the invention, the inflation device can include a biocompatible balloon, and/or a color coating for visualization made from at least one of a silicone, an ethylene vinyl alcohol, a polypropylene, a latex rubber, a polyurethane, a polyester, a nylon, or a thermoplastic rubber.", "Additionally, the inflation device can have a shape selected from the group consisting of substantially round, oval, hemi spherical, spherical, or oblong.", "In one embodiment, the needle is sized from 16 gauge to 24 gauge, preferably from 18 gauge to 22 gauge.", "In additional embodiments, the bulking agent comprises a plurality of polymeric particles and can be injected into the void by a syringe.", "In one embodiment, the bulking agent includes a carrier and a plurality of substantially spherical polyvinyl alcohol particles dispersed within the carrier.", "The carrier aids the delivery of the substantially spherical polyvinyl alcohol particles to a site to be bulked.", "The bulking agent can further include a color.", "In yet another aspect, the invention relates to a method for bulking mammalian tissue.", "The method includes the steps of inserting an inflation device within a portion of a mammal, inflating the inflation device to compress the mammalian tissue surrounding the inflated inflation device, thereby creating a void in the tissue, deflating the inflation device, removing the inflation device from the mammal, and providing a bulking agent to at least partially fill the void, the bulking agent coapting the mammalian tissue.", "In various embodiments of this aspect of the invention, the method includes the steps of inserting a needle with a penetration device into the mammalian tissue, removing the penetration device while retaining the inserted needle, and advancing the inflation device through the needle.", "The needle can be sized from 16 gauge to 24 gauge, preferably 18 gauge to 22 gauge.", "The method can also include the step of viewing the tissue to be bulked with a cytoscope.", "In one embodiment, the inflation device can include a biocompatible balloon, and/or a color coating for visualization made from at least one of a silicone, an ethylene vinyl alcohol, a polypropylene, a latex rubber, a polyurethane, a polyester, a nylon and a thermoplastic rubber.", "Additionally, the inflation device can have a shape selected from the group consisting of substantially round, oval, hemi spherical, spherical, or oblong.", "In additional embodiments, the bulking agent comprises a plurality of polymeric particles and can be injected into the void by a syringe.", "In another embodiment, the substantially spherical polyvinyl alcohol particles are coated, embedded, or filled with a material that will aid the delivery of the particles to a site to be bulked.", "In one embodiment, the bulking agent includes a carrier and a plurality of substantially spherical polyvinyl alcohol particles dispersed within the carrier.", "The carrier aids the delivery of the substantially spherical polyvinyl alcohol particles to a site to be bulked.", "The bulking agent can further include a color.", "These and other objects, along with advantages and features of the present invention, will become apparent through reference to the following description, the accompanying drawings, and the claims.", "Furthermore, it is to be understood that the features of the various embodiments described herein are not mutually exclusive and can exist in various combinations and permutations.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings, like reference characters generally refer to the same parts throughout the different views.", "Also, the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis generally being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention.", "In the following description, various embodiments of the present invention are described with reference to the following drawings, in which: FIG. 1 depicts a side view of a tissue structure with an enlarged lumen surrounded by muscle tissue;", "FIG. 2 depicts the tissue structure of FIG. 1 immediately after a bulking agent in accordance with the invention has been injected around the enlarged lumen of the tissue;", "FIG. 3 depicts the tissue structure of FIG. 1 immediately after a bulking agent in accordance with the invention has been injected around the enlarged lumen of the tissue utilizing a cystoscope-aided injection method;", "FIG. 4 is a schematic plan view of a needle assembly in accordance with the invention;", "FIG. 5 is a schematic plan view of the needle assembly of FIG. 4 with the trocar/obtuator assembly being removed;", "FIG. 6 is a schematic plan view of the needle assembly of FIG. 4 with a balloon assembly being inserted into the needle assembly;", "FIG. 7 is a schematic plan view of the needle assembly of FIG. 4 with a syringe attached to the needle assembly for inflating the balloon;", "FIG. 8 is a schematic plan view of the assembly of FIG. 7 with the syringe and balloon assembly being removed;", "FIG. 9 is a schematic plan view of the assembly of FIG. 4 with another syringe attached to the needle assembly for injecting a bulking agent into tissue;", "FIG. 10 is a pictorial representation of a method of creating a void within a patient's tissue by inserting and inflating a balloon;", "and FIG. 11 is a pictorial representation of a method of filling the void within the patient's tissue with a bulking agent.", "DESCRIPTION Embodiments of the present invention are described below.", "The invention is not limited, however, to these embodiments.", "For example, various embodiments of the invention are described in terms of treating incontinence;", "however, embodiments of the invention may be used in other applications, such as cosmetic reconstruction.", "Referring to FIG. 1 , a tissue structure, more specifically a urethra/ureter 10 , having a wall 20 and an enlarged lumen 30 surrounded by muscle tissue 40 is shown in side view.", "Before the enlarged lumen 30 is constricted with the bulking composition, a cystoscope 50 comprising a fiberoptic light transmitting element 60 , a working channel 70 and a viewing element 80 encased in a sheath 90 may be inserted in the urethra/ureter 10 to a distance close to the enlarged lumen 30 .", "The close distance is selected to allow a clear view of the enlarged lumen 30 .", "Referring to FIG. 2 , the urethra/ureter 10 is shown immediately after a bulking agent in accordance with the invention has been injected around the enlarged lumen 30 of the tissue.", "Once the enlarged lumen 30 is readily in view, a hypodermic needle 100 is inserted through the tissue 40 , preferably over the enlarged lumen 30 , stopping near the wall 20 of the enlarged lumen 30 .", "Thereafter, a bulking agent 110 including polymeric particles 120 is injected via the hypodermic needle 100 into the tissue 40 adjacent the wall 20 .", "The result is a constricted region 130 located in the vicinity of the accumulation of the bulking agent 110 .", "Alternatively, referring to FIG. 3 , the urethra/ureter 10 is shown immediately after the bulking agent 110 of the present invention has been injected around the enlarged lumen 30 of the tissue 40 utilizing a cystoscope 50 aided injection method in accordance with another embodiment of the invention.", "An elongate needle 140 may be inserted through the working channel 70 into the urethra/ureter 10 and the surrounding tissue 40 and the injection can be completed operating solely through the cystoscope 50 .", "This is generally the preferred method of operation on male patients for the area surrounding the urethra/ureter and is the preferred method for female patients for the area surrounding the ureter.", "Furthermore, the present invention relates to a bulking agent including substantially spherical polyvinyl alcohol particles used to facilitate bulking in a region of the human body through injection of the particles into the treatment region.", "The particles are compliant enough to be delivered through a substantially small gauge injection device.", "In one embodiment, the particles are 50% compressible.", "This is accomplished through the use of particles that are adapted to compress as they pass through the small gauge injection device.", "In one embodiment, a 16 to 24 gauge needle is used to dispense the bulking composition without clogging.", "In other applications, other size needles may be preferred, for example 18-22 gauge.", "Filling the space surrounding the urethra/ureter allows the sphincter to be more readily coapted by the patient to maintain continence.", "Generally, the present invention is employed in the treatment of diseases requiring bulking, e.g., urinary or fecal incontinence.", "Some examples of conditions that can be treated by way of the present invention include urinary incontinence, vesicourethral reflux, fecal incontinence and intrinsic sphincter deficiency or ISD.", "However, the bulking method described herein can also be used for soil tissue bulking for use during, for example, plastic surgery.", "In greater detail, the method of providing a bulking agent to the human body includes using polymeric particles, such as polyvinyl alcohol, as a bulking agent and injecting the particles into the treatment region of the human body.", "An advantage of the present invention is that the particles are substantially non-biodegradable, thereby virtually eliminating the need for replenishing the particles to maintain efficacy.", "A further advantage of the present invention is that the substantially spherical size and shape of the particles allows for close packing of the particles in the treatment space.", "In one embodiment, the particles are made of a water and polyvinyl alcohol mixture.", "For a description of particles contemplated for use with the present invention, see U.S. patent application Ser.", "Nos. 10/232,265, 10/215,594, 10/116,330, 10/109,966, 10/231,664, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.", "Generally, water, polyvinyl alcohol, and alginate are combined and pumped through a nozzle under pressure, generating substantially spherically-shaped droplets.", "The substantially spherically-shaped droplets encounter a solution that promotes cross-linking of the polyvinyl alcohol.", "Subsequently, the alginate is removed from the outer surface.", "The result is a substantially spherically-shaped particle that is substantially all polyvinyl alcohol.", "To facilitate other treatments, dosages of bio-active agents can be added to the particles.", "For example, substances, such as drugs, growth factors, proteins, genes, and chemo-therapeutic agents can be added to the particles to enhance localized treatments while still providing significant bulking benefits.", "The particles themselves are substantially inert in that they do not tend to react with body fluids and/or tissue.", "For example, many other types of bulking particles swell in use.", "In contrast thereto, the substantially spherical polyvinyl alcohol particles are substantially dimensionally stable.", "Some tissue growth on, near, or around the particle surface may occur, but no biological interaction between the tissue and the particles is expected.", "In one embodiment, the particles are substantially solid.", "In a particular embodiment, the particles are substantially spherically-shaped and are sized in a range of about 40 microns to about 1500 microns in diameter, preferably about 150 microns to about 1100 microns in diameter, and more preferably about 500 microns to about 900 microns in diameter.", "The size of the particles chosen for a particular application will be determined by a number of factors.", "Smaller particles are easier to inject with a smaller gauge size needle;", "however, embolization due to migration of the particles is a concern with the smaller particle sizes.", "The size of the particles used in a particular procedure will include consideration of the procedure employed, disease progression, the degree of degradation of the affected region, patient size, the disposition of the patient, and the preferences and techniques of the doctor performing the procedure.", "Similarly, such factors must be considered when determining the proper volume of bulking agent to inject into a patient.", "In one embodiment of the invention, the volume of bulking composition is about 1 ml to about 30 ml, and preferably about 20 ml to about 30 ml.", "In another embodiment, the volume of bulking composition injected into a patient is about 2 ml to about 16 ml.", "However, these amounts can vary significantly based on the doctor's determination as to when the target region is sufficiently bulked up.", "To vary compressibility, provide for absorption of medications, or for the purpose of incorporating the particles into the surrounding tissue, the porosity of the particles may be modified.", "These effects, if desired, can be enhanced by increasing pore size.", "For example, tissue in-growth can be encouraged by increasing pore size.", "Preferably, pore sizes are within a range of about 4 microns to about 5 microns up to about 30 microns to about 50 microns.", "In one embodiment, the pores cover up to 80% of the surface area of the particle.", "In one embodiment, the bulking particles are injected through a needle.", "In other embodiments, a cystoscope is used to allow for viewing the injection area.", "The bulking particles can be supplemented with a contrast agent to enhance their appearance as an aid to the doctor performing the procedure.", "Other methods of visual enhancement to assist in viewing of the bulking agent can also be employed.", "Injection of the particles can also be accomplished transuretherally by, for example, using a catheter.", "In another embodiment, the method of providing the bulking agent to the human body further includes mixing the bulking particles with a carrier such that the particles are suspended in the carrier, and then injecting the particles-carrier mix into the treatment portion of the human body.", "The carrier serves as a lubricant for the particles thereby increasing the ease with which the particles move into the body.", "In another embodiment, the carrier is a saline solution.", "In other embodiments bio-compatible thickening agents such as alginate, beta-glucan, glycerin, cellulose, or collagen are added to the carrier or serve as the carrier themselves to modify the viscosity of the carrier.", "By varying the carrier viscosity, proper disbursement of the bulking particles can be accomplished;", "however, carriers must not be so viscous that their passage through an injection device is inhibited.", "In yet another embodiment, the carrier may be bio-active, that is the carrier includes an anti-microbial agent, or the like.", "The present invention also relates to a method used to dilate tissue within a treatment tissue region to facilitate injection of the bulking agent.", "The method includes: inserting a needle with a penetration device (e.g., a taper point obtuator or trocar) into the treatment region (e.g., the sphincter region) ( FIG. 4 );", "removing the penetration device while retaining the inserted needle ( FIG. 5 );", "advancing a balloon through the needle ( FIG. 6 );", "inflating the balloon, thereby creating a void in the treatment region ( FIG. 7 );", "deflating and removing the balloon from the treatment region ( FIG. 8 );", "affixing a syringe with a bulking agent to the needle and injecting the bulking agent into the tissue void ( FIG. 9 ).", "This procedure can be repeated as necessary in order to maximize the effectiveness of the bulking agent and to achieve the desired results.", "The method and apparatus for carrying out the method in a method to treat urinary incontinence by bulking the urethral tissue is described generally with reference to FIGS. 4-11 .", "A needle 400 , such as a blunt-end hypotube or hypodermic needle having a first end and a second end, is adapted to accept a penetration device 404 , such as a taper point obtuator or a trocar, at the first end of the needle 400 ( FIG. 4 ).", "The needle 400 may range in size from about 18 gauge to about 22 gauge, and preferably about 20 gauge to about 22 gauge.", "The penetration device 404 is attached to the needle 400 to enable penetration of the needle 400 into the tissue.", "The penetration device 404 may be adapted to the needle 400 by way of a luer hub or fitting, and in one embodiment, a male luer hub is used.", "The needle 400 is inserted with the penetration device 404 into the treatment region 420 (e.g., the sphincter region)( FIG. 10 ) to the desired depth.", "In one embodiment, desired penetration depth can be determined by striping 406 located on the penetration device 404 .", "In one embodiment, the amount of penetration of the penetration device 404 ranges from about 2 cm to about 2.5 cm ( FIG. 4 ).", "In one embodiment, the amount of tissue penetration of the needle 400 ranges from about 0.5 cm to about 1 cm beyond the tissue line.", "407 ( FIG. 5 ).", "The penetration device 404 is removed white retaining the inserted needle 400 ( FIG. 6 ).", "A luer hub 402 or fitting, or in one embodiment a female luer hub, may be adapted to the second end of the needle 400 , to which a syringe 412 , 418 ( FIGS. 7-9 ) is adapted.", "Referring to FIG. 4 , the luer hub 402 is depicted in its locked position, and in FIG. 5 the luer hub 402 is depicted in its unlocked position.", "In the locked position, the luer hub 402 can be positioned for inflating the balloon 408 or injecting a bulking agent 416 .", "In the unlocked position, the luer hub 402 can be positioned for accepting the balloon 408 for insertion or for removal of the balloon 408 after dilation.", "The balloon 408 is adapted to advance through a lumen of the needle 400 , and an adapter on the balloon 408 provides a means to lock the balloon 408 to the luer hub 402 , which in turn adapts to the syringe 412 ( FIG. 6 ).", "The balloon 408 may have no tip or, alternatively, the balloon 408 may have a small stump appendage, which may remain from processing of the balloon.", "In one embodiment, the balloon 408 is affixed to an end of a plastic tube 410 ( FIG. 6 ).", "In another embodiment, the tip for the balloon 408 is integral with a shaft.", "In yet another embodiment, balloon 408 includes at least one fill and/or evacuation port.", "In one embodiment, the balloon is a colored balloon (e.g., blue) to facilitate remote visualization of the procedure and proper placement of the balloon.", "Alternatively, the balloon could be clear to transparent and the inflation media could be colored, for example, a colored saline solution.", "The balloon may be semi-compliant or non-compliant.", "The balloon may be manufactured from any suitable material, for example, a polymer.", "Some examples of suitable balloon materials include: silicone, ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA), polypropylene, latex rubber, polyurethane, polyester, nylon and thermoplastic rubber.", "In one embodiment, the balloon is inflated to, for example, about 3 cm to about 5 cm in diameter.", "The balloon may assume a variety of shapes.", "Some shapes that may be considered, depending upon the attendant requirements of the procedure, include substantially round, oval, hemi spherical, and oblong.", "The length of the balloon may vary depending upon the procedure.", "In one embodiment, the inflated balloon may have a length in the range of, for example, about 3 cm to about 10 cm.", "Other balloon configurations may be employed, and the types and methods used to employ the most suitable balloon configurations for a particular application of this invention will be obvious to those skilled in the art.", "The balloon 408 is then inflated using an inflation device, such as the syringe 412 , creating a void in the treatment region ( FIGS. 7 and 8 ).", "The balloon may be colored (i.e. blue) to aid in visibility through the tissue.", "As the balloon 408 expands, the balloon 408 becomes visible to aid in proper balloon placement.", "For example, the expanding balloon 408 may become visible under the urethra as it thins.", "In one embodiment, the balloon 408 inflates to a volume of about 1 cc to about 1.5 cc, although such volumes may vary depending upon many factors inherent in the characteristics of the particular application, some of which were discussed previously.", "In another embodiment, saline is used to inflate the balloon 408 .", "In yet another embodiment, about 3 cc of saline is placed in the syringe 412 and injected into the balloon 408 for inflation.", "The balloon 408 is then deflated and removed from the treatment region, resulting in a tissue void 414 where the inflated balloon 408 previously resided ( FIGS. 8 and 10 ).", "The balloon 408 is removable through the lumen of the needle 400 .", "In one embodiment, a plastic tube or other tip 410 is used to aid in removal of the balloon 408 .", "A syringe or other injection device 418 containing the bulking agent 416 is then affixed to the needle 400 by way of the luer hub 402 .", "The plunger of the syringe 418 is then depressed, thereby injecting the bulking agent 416 into the tissue void 414 ( FIGS. 9 and 11 ).", "While the invention has been shown and described with reference to specific embodiments, it should 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.", "Having thus described certain embodiments of the present invention, various alterations, modifications, and improvements will be apparent to those of ordinary skill.", "Such alterations, modifications, and improvements are within the spirit and scope of the invention, and the foregoing description of certain embodiments is not exhaustive or limiting." ]

[ "This application is a continuation of International Application No. PCT/CN2003/001159, filed on Dec. 31, 2003, which claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 03145506.9, filed on Jun. 26, 2003, both of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties.", "FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to the field of network communication technology, particularly to a method and system for controlling the multicast source.", "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION As multimedia services, such as stream media, videoconference, Video On Demand, etc.", "in Internet develop, multicast technology has become a key technology in broadband multimedia applications, and more and more multicast data messages are transmitted over network.", "However, the existing multicast networks are poor in manageability and operability and can not meet the demand for future network development.", "In an existing multicast network, a valid unicast internet protocol (IP) address can be used as a multicast source to send multicast messages to the multicast network, with a multicast address as the destination address.", "At the same time, the terminals in the network declare to the multicast network their needs for multicast messages from a certain multicast address through Internet Group Management Protocol (IGMP);", "if the network supports multicast protocol, the multicast messages will reach the recipient via a route specified in the multicast protocol.", "In the above method of sending multicast messages from a multicast source, if a network terminal sends a great deal of multicast messages to the multicast network maliciously with a valid unicast IP address as the multicast source address, a large number of nonsensical multicast messages will be transmitted over the multicast network, and thereby occupy the network resources to a great extent, causing interference to normal operation of the multicast system, and even paralysis of the system.", "In order to protect the multicast system against attacks from malicious multicast messages, multicast sources shall be controlled strictly, so that only authorized multicast sources can send multicast messages to the multicast network.", "In existing multicast networks, Access Control Lists (ACLs) are usually used to restrict the address range of multicast sources that send multicast messages to specific multicast addresses, and thereby control the multicast messages sent from multicast sources.", "Information in the ACL includes the corresponding relationship between multicast source address and multicast address.", "The rules of ACL are as followings: 1.", "in default, multicast messages with a multicast address as the destination address are not permitted to enter into the multicast network;", "if a multicast address in ACL corresponds to a multicast source address, multicast messages with the multicast source address as the source address and the multicast address as the destination address are permitted to enter into the multicast network.", "Wherein, the priority of rule 2 is higher than that of rule 1.", "The detailed method of implementing control management of multicast source with ACL is as following: the ACL is configured in the router on access layer and the switch of the multicast network;", "the switch and the router support ACL rules and filter off multicast messages sent from multicast sources not permitted to send multicast messages to specific multicast addresses in accordance with the ACL, or the switch and the router only forward multicast messages sent from specific multicast sources to specific multicast groups.", "The above method is implemented as follows: when the switch or the router on the access layer receives a multicast message, judging, according to the configured ACL thereof, whether the source address of the received multicast message is within the range specified by the ACL;", "if the source address is within the range specified by the ACL, it indicates that the source unicast IP address of the multicast message is permitted to send multicast messages to the destination address of the multicast message, the switch or the router on the access layer permits the multicast message to enter into the multicast network by means of forwarding the multicast message;", "if the source address is not within the range specified by the ACL, it indicates that the source address of the multicast message is not permitted to send multicast messages to the destination address of the multicast message, the switch or the router on the access layer does not permit the multicast message to enter into the multicast network by means of discarding the multicast message, not creating forwarding route for it, etc.", "In this way, the multicast sources are controlled by implementing the above mentioned method.", "The ACLs configured in the routers on the access layer and the switches are static.", "When the restriction to multicast source or multicast address is to be modified, i.e., the content in the ACLs is to be modified, the ACLs in individual routers on the access layer and switches have to be modified manually.", "The fact that the change in ACL content being not flexible and requiring manual intervention is not fit for automatic real time management of multicast sources in the multicast network, resulting in high cost in management and maintenance and poor manageability and operability of the multicast network.", "SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a method for controlling the multicast source, which implements real time control management of multicast sources at the earliest time by configuring multicast source authentication servers hierarchically and distributedly, and dynamically updating multicast source authentication information in master and slave multicast source authentication servers, so as to reduce management and maintenance cost as well as improve manageability and operability of multicast network.", "In order to achieve the above object, the multicast source control method provided by an embodiment of the present invention comprises: a. creating multicast source authentication information;", "b. a management platform of the multicast source authentication information dynamically updating said multicast source authentication information in accordance with restriction on multicast source;", "c. controlling multicast message sent from the multicast source in accordance with said multicast source authentication information.", "Said step a comprises: creating multicast source authentication information in master multicast source authentication server and slave multicast source authentication server, respectively;", "wherein the management platform of the multicast source authentication information in said step b comprises a master multicast source authentication server.", "Said multicast source authentication information is recorded in a tabular form;", "said multicast source authentication information table contains a corresponding relationship between multicast source address and multicast address;", "said multicast address is a result of AND operation on multicast address and address mask.", "Said step b comprises: said slave multicast source authentication server, in accordance with the multicast source authentication information in the master multicast source authentication server, updating the multicast source authentication information stored therein at a predefined period;", "when the multicast source authentication information in said master multicast source authentication server is changed, notifying said slave multicast source authentication server to update the multicast source authentication information stored therein.", "Said Step c Comprises: c1.", "after receiving a multicast message sent from the multicast source, a predefined node initiating an authentication request to the preconfigured multicast source authentication server thereof;", "c2.", "said multicast source authentication server performing a longest prefix matching with the multicast address contained in the authentication request based on the multicast address in the multicast source authentication information table stored therein, and sending a response indicating whether the authentication request is successful to said predefined node according to the matching result;", "c21.", "if the multicast source address corresponding to the matched multicast address is identical to the multicast source address in said authentication request, sending a response indicating that the authentication request is successful to said predefined node;", "after receiving the response indicating that the authentication request is successful, said predefined node permitting said multicast message to enter into the multicast network;", "c22.", "if the multicast source address corresponding to the matched multicast address is different from the multicast source address in said authentication request, sending a response indicating that the authentication request has failed, to said predefined node;", "after receiving the response indicating that the authentication request has failed, said predefined node forbidding said multicast message to enter into the multicast network.", "Said multicast source authentication information table further contains records indicating that it is needed for authentication requests to continue to be initiated to other multicast source authentication servers, the records corresponding to addresses of said other multicast source authentication servers.", "Said Step c2 Further Comprises: c23.", "if the matched multicast address corresponds to an address of other multicast source authentication server, sending said predefined node information indicating that said predefined node information is needed to continue to request for authentication from other multicast source authentication servers, and information of the address of said other multicast source authentication servers;", "said predefined node reinitiating an authentication request for the multicast source of said multicast message according to the received information.", "The method described in an embodiment of the present invention also comprises: if the number of authentication request sent from said predefined node for the multicast source of said multicast message exceeds a predefined number, the authentication request for the multicast source being deemed as failed.", "The method described in an embodiment of the present invention also comprises: if said predefined node does not receive a response in predefined time after initiating the authentication request for the multicast source of said multicast message, the authentication request for said multicast source being deemed as failed.", "The present invention also provides a multicast source control system, comprising: a master multicast source authentication server;", "a group of slave multicast source authentication servers;", "and a predefined node;", "wherein, when multicast source authentication information stored in the master multicast source authentication server is changed, the master multicast source authentication server notifies the slave multicast source authentication servers;", "when the master multicast source authentication server receives an authentication request transmitted from the predefined node, it transmits a corresponding authentication response to said predefined node in accordance with the authentication information stored therein;", "the slave multicast source authentication servers update multicast source authentication information stored therein at a predefined period in accordance with the multicast source authentication information in the master multicast source authentication server;", "when the slave multicast source authentication servers receive an authentication message transmitted from the predefined node, they transmit a corresponding authentication response to said predefined node in accordance with the authentication information stored therein;", "when the predefined node receives a multicast message sent from the multicast source, it initiates an authentication request to the preconfigured multicast source authentication server thereof, and controls the multicast message sent from the multicast source in accordance with the response from the multicast source authentication server.", "Said predefined node is a router or a switch.", "With the present invention, through deploying hierarchical distributed multicast source authentication servers to manage different multicast address fields, with each multicast source authentication server responsible for authentication of multicast sources corresponding to its subordinate multicast address field, network terminal resources are saved;", "through deploying master and slave multicast source authentication servers, the multicast source authentication information stored in the slave multicast source authentication servers is updated at a predefined period in accordance with the multicast source authentication information in the master multicast source authentication server, the slave multicast source authentication servers being automatically notified to update the multicast source authentication information thereof when authentication information stored in the master multicast source authentication server is changed, and the multicast source authentication information can be updated dynamically without manual intervention, thereby implementing real time management of the multicast sources;", "when a predefined node in the network receives a multicast message, it initiates an authentication request for the multicast source having sent the multicast message to the multicast source authentication server, so as to implement control management of multicast messages from the multicast source earliest;", "and thereby attain the object of reducing management and maintenance cost as well as improving manageability and operability of the multicast network.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a flow diagram of a multicast source control method according to an embodiment of the present invention;", "FIG. 2 is a schematic view of configuration of master and slave multicast source authentication servers according to an embodiment of the present invention;", "FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a multicast source control system for PIM—SM multicast network according to an embodiment of the present invention;", "FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a multicast source control system for PIM—DM multicast network according to an embodiment of the present invention.", "DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS The present invention implements multicast source control management through creating multicast source authentication information, dynamically updating the multicast source authentication information by a management platform of the multicast source authentication information, and controlling multicast messages sent from multicast sources in accordance with the dynamically updated multicast source authentication information.", "The dynamic update of multicast source authentication information by the management platform of the multicast source authentication information can be implemented by deploying a master multicast source authentication server and a plurality of slave multicast source authentication servers, with the following method: creating a multicast source authentication information table in the master and slave multicast source authentication servers respectively, with the master multicast source authentication server as management platform of the multicast source authentication information;", "the slave multicast source authentication servers obtaining the multicast source authentication information stored in the master multicast source authentication server at a predefined period to update the multicast source authentication information stored therein periodically;", "when the user modifies the multicast source authentication information in the master multicast source authentication server in accordance with the restriction to multicast sources that send multicast messages to the multicast address, the master multicast source authentication server notifying the slave multicast source authentication servers that the multicast source authentication information needs to be updated.", "The multicast source authentication information comprises the corresponding relationship between multicast address and multicast source address, which can be a many-to-many relationship, i.e., allowing a plurality of multicast sources to send multicast messages to the same multicast address, and one multicast source to send multicast messages to different multicast addresses.", "For a multicast address, only the multicast sources predefined in the multicast source authentication information table and corresponding to the multicast address are permitted to send multicast messages to it;", "multicast messages sent to the multicast address from other multicast sources are not permitted to enter into the multicast network.", "The multicast source authentication servers can be deployed in a hierarchical distributed way.", "The so-called hierarchical deployment can be achieved by different ranges of multicast address field of the multicast source authentication information in different master multicast source authentication servers, and the multicast address field of the multicast source authentication information in the master multicast source authentication server on an upper level is wider than that in the master multicast source authentication server on a lower level.", "The so-called distributed deployment refers that a plurality of slave multicast source authentication servers corresponding to the master multicast source authentication server manage multicast source authentication requests corresponding to parts of multicast addresses of the multicast address field in the multicast source authentication information table which is in the master multicast source authentication server, respectively.", "By deploying multicast source authentication servers in a hierarchical distributed way, when a slave multicast source authentication server receives a multicast source authentication request transmitted from a predefined node in the network, if the multicast address in the authentication request is not within the range of multicast address field in the multicast source authentication information thereof, it sends the addresses of other multicast source authentication servers to the predefined node, so that the predefined node can initiate authentication requests to the other multicast source authentication servers.", "The hierarchical distributed deployment of master and slave multicast source authentication servers can be implemented by applying multicast address masks to multicast addresses, for example, the multicast source authentication information table can be created with multicast address+address mask as the index, as shown in Table 1: TABLE 1 Multicast address Attribute Unicast Address 238.1[.", "].3/16 HS 168.202.2[.", "].2 238.1[.", "].3.1/24 NS 122.2[.", "].2.9 238.1[.", "].3.1/24 S 122.2[.", "].3.10 238.1[.", "].3.1/24 S 122.2[.", "].4.20 238.1[.", "].3.1/32 A 202.2[.", "].2.1 A 202.2[.", "].2.3 A 202.2[.", "].2.4 In Table 1, HS indicates that the authentication request shall be initiated to the multicast source authentication server on the upper level, the unicast address corresponding to HS is the address of the multicast source authentication server on the upper level.", "NS indicates that the authentication request shall be initiated to the master multicast source authentication server in the multicast address field, the unicast address corresponding to NS is the address of the master multicast source authentication server in the multicast address field.", "S represents a slave multicast source authentication server in the multicast address field, the unicast address corresponding to S is the address of the slave multicast source authentication server;", "when the communication between a predefined node and the master multicast source authentication server fails, the predefined node initiates authentication requests to its corresponding slave multicast source authentication server.", "A represents a multicast source address having permission to send, which corresponds to the multicast address field.", "Hereunder, the present invention will be described with reference to the attached drawings, in order to make those skilled in the art understand the present invention more clearly.", "A flow diagram of the multicast source control method implemented in an embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 1 .", "As shown in FIG. 1 , in step 100 , set predefined time and predefined number of authentication requests;", "when a predefined node receives a multicast message sent from a multicast source to a multicast address, start counting of the predefined number.", "In step 110 , judge whether the count value is greater than the predefined number;", "if the count value is greater than the predefined number, go to step 181 , the authentication request for the multicast source are considered as failed, and the predefined node forbids multicast messages sent from the multicast source to enter into the multicast network.", "In step 110 , if the count value is not greater than the predefined number, go to step 120 , the predefined node initiates an authentication request for the multicast source to the preconfigured multicast source authentication server thereof and at the same time begins to time for the predefined time.", "The authentication request information contains the multicast source address and the destination address of the multicast message.", "In step 130 , judge whether the time value timed for the authentication request is greater than the predefined time.", "If not, go to step 140 to perform a longest prefix search on the multicast address in the multicast source authentication request and the multicast address in multicast source authentication information of the multicast source authentication server.", "If the searched record is of HS class, go to step 150 to return the searched record to the predefined node, increment the count value for the predefined number by 1, and stop timing for the predefined time, and then go to step 110 to judge whether the count value is greater than the predefined number.", "If the count value is not greater than the predefined number, go to step 120 , the predefined node initiates an authentication request for the multicast source to the unicast address corresponding to the HS class record.", "If the count value is greater than the predefined number, go to step 181 , the authentication request for the multicast source is considered as failed, and the predefined node forbids multicast messages sent from the multicast source to enter into the multicast network.", "In step 140 , if the searched record is of NS or S class, go to step 160 , to judge whether the address of the present authentication server is one of the unicast addresses corresponding to the searched record.", "For example, in Table 1, there are 3 entries that match the multicast address 238.1[.", "].3.1/24;", "if the address of the present authentication server is 122.2[.", "].3.10, which matches the unicast address in one of the records, go to step 180 , to return a response to the predefined node indicating that the authentication has failed, and stop counting for the predefined number and timing for the predefined time, then go to step 181 , the predefined node forbids multicast messages sent from the multicast source to enter into the multicast network.", "In step 160 , if the authentication server address is not one of the unicast addresses corresponding to the searched record, go to step 150 , to return the searched record to the predefined node, increment the count value for the predefined number by 1, and stop timing for the predefined time, then go to step 110 to judge whether the count value is greater than the predefined number.", "If the count value is not greater than the predefined number, go to step 120 , the predefined node initiates authentication requests for the multicast source in accordance with the sequence of the searched records.", "For example, in Table 1, there are 3 searched entries matching the multicast address 238.1[.", "].3.1/24, and their attributes are NS, S, and S, respectively;", "then in accordance with the sequence of the searched records, an authentication request is initiated for the multicast source first to the multicast source authentication server for unicast address 122.2[.", "].3.9 corresponding to NS;", "if the communication with the multicast source authentication server for said unicast address fails due to network interruption, etc.", ", an authentication request will be initiated for the multicast source to the multicast source authentication server for unicast address 122.2[.", "].3.10, in accordance with the sequence of the searched records.", "In step 140 , if the searched record is of A class, go to step 170 to judge whether the multicast source address of the authentication request matches the unicast address corresponding to the A class record.", "If it does, go to step 190 , to return a response indicating the authentication is successful to the predefined node, and stop timing for the predefined time and counting for the predefined number, then go to step 191 , the predefine node permits multicast messages to enter into the multicast network.", "If it does not match, go to step 180 , to return a response indicating the authentication request has failed to the predefined node, and stop timing for the predefined time and counting for the predefined number, then go to step 181 , the predefined node forbids multicast messages to enter into the multicast network.", "If, in step 130 , the predefined node does not receive any response when the time value for the present authentication request is greater than the predefined time, go to step 181 , the authentication request for the multicast source are considered as failed, and the predefined node forbids multicast messages sent from the multicast source to enter into the multicast network.", "The arrangement of the master and slave multicast source authentication servers according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 2 .", "In FIG. 2 , a master multicast source authentication server 200 and slave multicast source authentication servers 210 and 220 are deployed.", "Multicast source authentication information tables are stored in the master multicast source authentication server 200 and the slave multicast source authentication servers 210 and 220 , respectively.", "The slave multicast source authentication server 210 and 220 update the multicast source authentication information stored therein, in accordance with a predefined period and the multicast source authentication information in the master multicast source authentication server 200 , respectively.", "The content of a multicast source authentication information table includes multicast address, attribute of multicast address, and corresponding relationship between multicast address and multicast source address.", "The multicast source authentication information table specifies multicast sources permitted to send multicast messages to specific multicast network groups;", "when a multicast network group is to be restricted, i.e., no multicast source is permitted to send multicast messages to it, the address information of the multicast network group and the address information of the multicast sources that are permitted to send multicast messages to it are recorded in the multicast network authentication information table.", "For example, if a user needs to restrict multicast sources for a specific multicast network group, by updating the multicast source authentication information table in the master multicast source authentication server 200 , the multicast source authentication information table in the other multicast source authentication servers 210 and 220 will be updated automatically after a predefined time.", "When the multicast source authentication information table in the master multicast source authentication server 200 is changed, the slave multicast source authentication servers 210 and 220 are notified to update the multicast source authentication information table.", "In this way, when the authentication information is changed, only the authentication information table in the master multicast source authentication server needs to be modified, in such a way that all the authentication information stored in the slave multicast source authentication servers will be updated automatically, thereby real time control management of multicast sources is implemented.", "A system implementing multicast source control in a PIM—SM (Protocol Independent Mode—Sparse Mode) multicast network according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 3 .", "In FIG. 3 , a master multicast source authentication server 300 and slave multicast source authentication servers 310 and 320 are deployed.", "The slave multicast source authentication servers 310 and 320 update the multicast source authentication information stored therein, in accordance with a predefined period and the multicast source authentication information in the master multicast source authentication server 300 , respectively.", "When a user modifies the multicast source authentication information in the master multicast source authentication server 300 in accordance with the restriction on multicast address and multicast source, the master multicast source authentication server 300 notifies the slave multicast source authentication servers 310 and 320 that the multicast source authentication information needs to be updated.", "For a PIM—SM multicast network, a predefined Rendezvous Point (RP) may taken as a predefined node that initiates authentication requests in the PIM—SM multicast network, as the multicast messages from each multicast source should be registered in the RP.", "In FIG. 3 , RP 340 is the predefined node that initiates authentication requests.", "The slave multicast source authentication server nearest to RP 340 is selected as the multicast source authentication server for RP 340 ;", "in this embodiment, the multicast source authentication server configured for RP 340 is the slave multicast source authentication server 310 .", "After the router 330 in the multicast network receives a multicast message, it registers to RP 340 ;", "after receiving the register message, RP 340 initiates an authentication request to the slave multicast source authentication server 310 , and the salve multicast source authentication server 310 judges whether the multicast message is permitted to enter into the multicast network according to the content of the authentication request and the content of the multicast source authentication table stored therein.", "If the multicast address of the multicast message is within the range of multicast address field in the multicast source authentication information table of the slave multicast source authentication server 310 , judge whether the multicast source address of the multicast message matches a unicast address corresponding to the multicast address field in the multicast source authentication information table.", "If it does not match, send response information indicating the authentication request has failed to RP 340 ;", "and RP 340 does not register the multicast message and forbids it to enter into the multicast network.", "If it matches, send response information indicating the authentication request is successful to RP 340 ;", "and RP 340 registers the multicast message and permits it to enter into the multicast network.", "If the multicast address of the multicast message is not within the range of multicast address field in the multicast source authentication information table of the slave multicast source authentication server 310 , the slave multicast source authentication server 310 judges whether an authentication request is needed to be reinitiated for the multicast source.", "If it is not needed to reinitiate an authentication request, send response information indicating the authentication request has failed to RP 340 ;", "and RP 340 does not register the multicast message and forbids it to enter into the multicast network.", "If it is needed to reinitiate an authentication request, the slave multicast source authentication server 310 sends information obtained by inquiry to RP 340 ;", "in accordance with the unicast address in the received information, RP 340 continues to initiate an authentication request for the multicast source.", "The number of authentication request for a multicast message should not exceed a predefined number.", "If the number of authentication request is more than the predefined number but RP 340 still does not obtain a response indicating the authentication request is successful, it deems the authentication request for the multicast source of the multicast message as failed, and RP 340 does not register the multicast message and forbids it to enter into the multicast network.", "If RP 340 does not receive any response within predefined time after initiating the authentication request, it deems the authentication request for the multicast source of the multicast message as failed, and RP 340 does not register the multicast message and forbids it to enter into the multicast network.", "A real time automatic management of multicast sources is implemented by means of initiating authentication requests for multicast sources of multicast messages at the RP in the PIM—SM multicast network, restricting multicast sources from sending multicast messages to multicast groups to protect the PIM—SM multicast network against attacks of multicast messages from unauthorized nodes.", "A system implementing multicast source control in a PIM—DM (Protocol Independent Mode—Dense Mode) multicast network according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 4 .", "In FIG. 4 , a master multicast source authentication server 400 and slave multicast source authentication servers 410 and 420 are deployed.", "The slave multicast source authentication servers 410 and 420 dynamically update the multicast source authentication information table stored therein, in accordance with a predefined period and the multicast source authentication information table in the master multicast source authentication server 400 , respectively.", "When a user modifies the multicast source authentication information in master multicast source authentication server 400 in accordance with the restriction on multicast address and multicast source, the master multicast source authentication server 400 notifies the slave multicast source authentication servers 410 and 420 that the multicast source authentication information thereof needs to be updated.", "For a PIM—DM multicast network, the first-hop router in the PIM—DM multicast network upon entering can be taken as a predefined node.", "The first-hop router initiates authentication requests to the multicast source authentication server.", "In FIG. 4 , the first-hop router 430 is the predefined node that initiates authentication requests.", "The slave multicast source authentication server nearest to the first-hop router 430 is selected as the multicast source authentication server thereof;", "in this embodiment, the multicast source authentication server configured for the first-hop 430 is the slave multicast source authentication server 410 .", "After the first-hop router 430 receives a multicast message, it initiates an authentication request to the slave multicast source authentication server 410 , and the slave multicast source authentication server 410 judges whether the multicast message is permitted to enter into the multicast network according to the content of the authentication request and the content of the multicast source authentication table stored therein.", "If the multicast address of the multicast message is within the range of multicast address field in the multicast source authentication information of the slave multicast source authentication server 410 , judge whether the multicast source address of the multicast message matches a unicast address corresponding to the multicast address field in the multicast source authentication information table.", "If it does not match, send response information indicating the authentication request has failed to the first-hop router 430 ;", "and the first-hop router 430 does not create a forwarding table item for the multicast message and forbids it to enter into the multicast network.", "If it matches, send response information indicating the authentication request is successful to the first-hop router 430 ;", "the first-hop router 430 creates a forwarding table item for the multicast message and permits it to enter into the multicast network.", "If the multicast address of the multicast message is not within the range of multicast address field in multicast source authentication information of the slave multicast source authentication server 410 , judge whether it is needed to reinitiate an authentication request for the multicast source.", "If it is not needed to reinitiate an authentication request, send response information indicating the authentication request has failed to the first-hop router 430 ;", "the first-hop router 430 does not create a forwarding table item for the multicast message and forbids it to enter into the multicast network.", "If it is needed to reinitiate an authentication request, the slave multicast source authentication server 410 sends information obtained by inquiry to the first-hop router 430 ;", "the first-hop router 430 continues to reinitiate an authentication request for the multicast source in accordance with the unicast address in the received information.", "The number of authentication request for a multicast message should not exceed a predefined number.", "If the number of authentication request exceeds the predefined number but the first-hop router 430 still does not obtain a response indicating the authentication request is successful, it deems the authentication request for the multicast source of the multicast message as failed, and the first-hop router 430 does not create a forwarding table item for the multicast message and forbids the multicast message to enter into the multicast network.", "If the first-hop router 430 does not receive any response within predefined time after initiating the authentication request, it deems the authentication request for the multicast source of the multicast message as failed, and the first-hop router 430 does not create a forwarding table item for the multicast message and forbids the multicast message to enter into the multicast network.", "A real time automatic management of multicast sources is implemented by means of initiating authentication requests for the received multicast messages at the first-hop router in the PIM—DM multicast network and restricting multicast sources from sending multicast message to protect the PIM—DM multicast network from attacks of multicast messages from unauthorized sites.", "Though the present invention has been described with reference to embodiments, those skilled in the art shall understand that many variations and changes can be made to the embodiments without deviating from the spirit of the present invention.", "Such variations and changes are intended to fall into the scope of this invention, as defined in the attached claims." ]

[ "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to a variable pitch propeller for watercraft, which is mounted in rotary manner in an outboard-supported, pivotable support body and is driven by an engine via a drive connection, its propeller blades being mounted in rotary manner in a propeller hub fixed to the end of the drive connection of a drive shaft and can be set by an adjusting means with different pitch angles.", "Variable pitch propellers have long been known as drive means for watercraft.", "They substantially comprise propeller blades rotatably mounted in a propeller hub and on which the propeller blade pitch can be set.", "Normally for small drive powers there are two propeller blades and for higher drive powers three, four or more propeller blades.", "The different constructions of the variable pitch propellers, apart from the number of propeller blades, consequently only differ through the nature of the adjusting means for the propeller blade pitch setting.", "The adjusting means for the variable pitch propellers in the case of higher drive or input powers comprise hydrostatic thrust piston drives, which are housed in the interior of drive shaft and the propeller hub.", "In the case of smaller drive powers mechanical adjusting means are used, in which the propeller blades are adjusted by thrust rods, which act eccentrically on the root or foot of the propeller blade.", "The actual thrust rods are moved backwards and forwards in the direction of the propeller hub axis via a mechanical linkage.", "The adjusting force can be applied either manually or by a linear motor.", "These adjusting means have proved satisfactory in numerous use cases.", "However, they suffer from the disadvantage of being complicated to constructions, which are correspondingly expensive.", "As a result the variable pitch propeller has only been adopted in specific categories of watercraft, because even in the case of the simplest construction the price for certain watercraft categories is still too high.", "SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The problem of the present invention is to so further develop a variable pitch propeller of the aforementioned type, that this obstacle is overcome and the adjusting means is further simplified, so that the variable pitch propeller with its indisputable advantages compared with the fixed propellers can also be used in other watercraft categories, where it has hitherto been unusable for the aforementioned reasons.", "According to the invention this problem is solved in that the adjusting means is constructed as a mechanism rotating with the propeller hub and is integrated into the latter, the adjusting means having a manually operable, handle positioned on the outflow side and which is spaced from an adjusting linkage and with which the adjusting linkage acting on the root of the propeller blade can be set in accordance with the desired pitch of the propeller blades.", "Thus, the constructional effort or the adjusting means can be significantly reduced.", "However, this solution presupposes that the propeller hub is accessible in a simple manner.", "However, this is the case in the known outboard motor drives and in the so-called Z-drives, which are used in large numbers.", "The variable pitch propeller is rotatably mounted on an outboard-supported, pivotable support body and is driven by an engine which, as for the outboard motor drive, is fixed to the support body or, as for the Z-drive, is housed in the hull of the watercraft.", "The transmission of the power of the engine, normally a thermal engine, to the variable pitch propeller takes place by means of toothed gearings and shafts, the shaft arranged at the end of the transmission mechanism carrying the variable pitch propeller.", "Both in the case of outboard motor and Z-drives the support body can be pivoted to such an extent with the variable pitch propeller mounted thereon that the propeller wholly or at least partly is located above the water surface, so that it is easily accessible and can be set or adjusted without difficulty.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The invention is described in greater detail hereinafter relative to a non-limitative embodiment and the attached drawings, wherein show: FIG. 1 a side view of an outboard drive with a variable pitch propeller provided with the inventive adjusting means.", "FIG. 2 a diagrammatically represented longitudinal section of the hub of the variable pitch propeller for the outboard drive according to FIG. 1. FIG. 3 a variant of the adjusting means according to FIG. 2. FIG. 4 shows a Z-drive.", "DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The invention is based on the idea that for simplifying the adjusting drive, use must be made of the already existing pivotability of the outboard motor drive.", "Through pivoting the drive the variable pitch propeller connected to said drives is pivoted above the water level and is consequently readily accessible.", "The outboard motor drive 1 shown in FIG. 1 has a support body 2, on which is supported an engine, preferably a thermal engine, covered by a hood 3.", "At the lower end 4 of support body 2 is located a variable pitch propeller 5, which is fixed to a not shown drive shaft.", "The horizontal drive shaft is driven by the engine via a shaft mounted in the support body 2 and via a mitre gear.", "Such a mechanical power transmission from the engine to the variable pitch propeller 5 is generally known and will consequently not be described in detail.", "The outboard drive 1 is rotatably mounted on a fixing support 6, which is fixed at the point provided for the same on the rear wall 8 of the hull partly shown in broken line form.", "Support body 2 is pivotably mounted about an axis 9 and can be pivoted in the position shown in broken line form, so that the variable pitch propeller 5 projects out of the water.", "On the outflow side 10 of the variable pitch propeller an adjusting means 12 is fixed to its hub 11, cf.", "FIG. 2, which has a handle 15 projecting out of the hub 11.", "The adjusting means 12 will be described in greater detail with reference to FIG. 2. A propeller hub 17 is fixed to the drive shaft 16 connected to the drive of the engine by a drive connection.", "The propeller hub 17 comprises an inner hub 18 and an outer hub 19.", "The inner hub 18 is substantially an annular hollow body, which is mounted on the end of drive shaft 16 and locked with a nut 14.", "The inner hub 18 has a tubular hub extension 20 provided at its end with an external thread 21.", "The outer hub 19 is also a substantially closed ring, which is connected by webs 22 to the inner hub 18.", "Between the webs 22 are located passages or channels 50, through which flue gases of the engine are carried off.", "Propeller blades 25 are rotatably mounted in outer hub 19.", "Each propeller blade has a root 26 and is screwed by means of screws 24 to an adjusting plate 27, which is rotatably guided by a retaining ring 28 screwed into the outer hub 19.", "In the adjusting plate 27 is formed a guide groove 30, in which is guided a pivot pin 32 having a slide ring 31.", "Pivot pin 32 is part of a push rod 33, which is located in a bore 35 in the outer hub 19.", "The annular outer hub 19 has a corresponding material thickening at the mounting point of the propeller blade 25.", "The push rods 33, which are provided with seals 36, e.g. O-rings for sealing the bore 35 and the space around the adjusting plate 27, are interconnected at the end 37 projecting out of bore 35 by a synchronous flange 40, which is fixed by nuts 41 to the ends 37 of push rods 33.", "The synchronous flange 40 has an internal bore 42 with which said flange 40 is rotatably guided in a guide groove 43 of a spindle nut 45.", "In order that the synchronous flange 40 can be inserted in guide groove 43, the spindle nut has a screw ring 46, with which one side wall of the guide groove 43 is formed.", "Together with the hub extension 20 carrying the external thread 21, the spindle nut 45 forms a worm gear, which is rotatable by handle 15.", "For this purpose handle 15 is equipped with axially directed pins 47, which project through the spindle nut 45 into bores 48 of synchronous flange 40.", "The handle 15 is drawn by not shown spring tension against spindle nut 45.", "If the spindle nut is to be axially displaced for adjusting the pitch of the propeller blades 25, then the handle 15 is retracted to such an extent that the pins 47 are pulled from flange 40 to allow the spindle nut 45 to be rotated by handle 15.", "As a result of the rotation of spindle nut 45, the latter and therefore also the synchronous flange 40 with the push rod 33 are axially displaced, the displacement of the push rod 33 bringing about a rotation of adjusting plate 27 and consequently of propeller blade 25.", "Once the desired pitch of the propeller blade 25 has been set, the pins 47 of handle 15 are again locked in bores 48 synchronous flange 40.", "Thus, the worm gear is fixed, so that any undesired adjustment of the pitch of the propeller blade 25 is prevented.", "FIG. 3 shows a another embodiment of the adjusting means at the handle 15.", "The locking of the handle 15, which can be constructed as one piece with the spindle nut 45, takes place by means of a locking ball 49, which is located in a passage 51 of the hub extension 20 and several of the balls are distributed in axially displaced manner on the circumference of the hub extension 20.", "By loosening a support pin 52 located in a radial bore 54 of handle 15, it is possible to rotate the latter, so that synchronous flange 40 is moved and consequently the pitch of propeller blades 25 is adjusted.", "In place of the support pin 52 it is also possible to use a spring, which can remove the locking ball 49 from passage 51 on rotating handle 15.", "As the handle 15 is axially displaced with the spindle nut 45, the further passages 51 are to be arranged in axially displaced manner, so that it is possible to fix the handle 15 for any set pitch.", "An internally introduced leaf spring 53 ensures that the locking ball 49 cannot drop into the hub extension 20.", "As result of the described adjusting means, it is possible to adapt the pitch of the variable pitch propeller 25 to the particular travel conditions.", "Thus, if e.g. the watercraft is used in connection with water skiing, the propeller blades 25 are set to a lower pitch, which leads to a much better propulsive efficiency.", "For fast travel, a higher pitch of the propeller blades 25 is set by further turning of handle 15, so that once again a good propulsive efficiency is obtained.", "A detectable fuel saving results from this setting possibility.", "This saving is achieved by a simple and therefore inexpensive solution, which can also be operated without difficulty.", "It is important that the worm gear, which can be constructed in self-locking manner, does not require a significantly larger diameter than that of the inner hub 18, so that the carrying off of the engine flue gases taking place through the passage channels 50 is unimpeded.", "FIG. 4 shows a Z-drive 56 connected to the motor of watercraft 58." ]