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[ "PRIORITY CLAIM [0001] This application claims priority to European Patent Application No. 12305590.7, filed May 29, 2012, and all the benefits accruing therefrom under 35 U.S.C. §119, the contents of which in its entirety are herein incorporated by reference.", "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates to propellers and, in particular, to propeller blades that include a rib in the spar core of the propeller blade.", "[0003] Modern propeller blades typically include root portions which extend into the hub arm of the hub of the propeller system and which are secured to and rotatable relative to the hub arm via a retention assembly.", "Typically the retention assembly includes one or a plurality of ball bearing assemblies which permit the rotation of the blade in the hub arm for accomplishing pitch change of the blade for altering the speed of the propeller and accordingly, the aircraft.", "[0004] The blades are typically formed by surrounding a foam spar core with a resin impregnated fabric.", "Leading and trailing edges of the blade are then formed over the fabric and surrounded by, for example, a Kevlar sock.", "Such blades are light and effective for their intended purposes.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [0005] According to one embodiment, a propeller blade that includes a foam core having a groove formed therein, a fibrous material filling at least a portion of the groove and a structural layer that surrounds the fibrous material and at least a portion of the foam core is disclosed.", "[0006] In another embodiment, a method of forming a propeller blade that includes: forming a foam core, the form core including a groove formed therein;", "disposing a fibrous material in the groove;", "and forming a structural layer that surrounds fibrous material and a portion of the foam core is disclosed.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0007] The subject matter which is regarded as the invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the claims at the conclusion of the specification.", "The foregoing and other features, and advantages of the invention are apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: [0008] FIG. 1 is a plan-view of a propeller blade according to one embodiment of the present invention;", "[0009] FIG. 2 is a cross-section of the propeller blade shown in FIG. 1 ;", "[0010] FIG. 3 is a plan-view of a spar core having a groove formed therein;", "and [0011] FIG. 4 is a plan-view of the spar core of FIG. 3 with the groove filled with a fibrous material.", "DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [0012] Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2 , plan and cross-section views of a propeller blade 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention are illustrated.", "For simplicity, the direction shown by arrow X shall be referred to as the span wise direction herein, the direction shown by arrow Y shall be referred to as the chord wise direction herein and the direction shown by arrow Z shall be referred to as the thickness direction or simply, the thickness.", "The cross-section shown in FIG. 2 is taken along line A-A.", "[0013] The blade 100 is formed by first forming a spar 102 .", "The spar 102 includes a spar foam core 104 (core) surrounded by a structural layer 106 .", "The core 104 is typically formed of a foam material that is injected into a mold to form a particular shape.", "In other embodiments, the core 104 could be machined to define the desired shape.", "The mold can include a layer of fiberglass or carbon (pre-preg) on the walls thereof to which the foam of the core 104 adheres.", "As such, the core 104 can be surrounded by a layer (not shown) of fiberglass or carbon in one embodiment but this is not required.", "The foam that forms the core 104 can be selected from one of: polyurethane (PU), polyisocyanurate, or polymethacrylimide (PMI).", "[0014] According to one embodiment, the blade 100 includes one or more ribs 105 formed in the spar foam core 104 .", "A more detailed explanation of the ribs 105 is provided below but, in general, the ribs 105 serve to provide stiffness in the thickness direction (e.g., from the camber 160 to the face 162 sides) of the propeller blade 100 .", "In more detail, a propeller blade with high activity factor and large chord wise lengths, has a lower ratio of stiffness in the chord wise direction as compared to stiffness in the span wise direction.", "When the curvatures of the camber 160 and face 162 sides of the blade 100 are high, secondary bending moments may be generated.", "The consequences of these secondary bending moments are larges deformations and loadings in the direction perpendicular to the chord (e.g., in direction Z in FIG. 2 ).", "The ribs 105 can provide structure to reduce or avoid these deformations by locally raising inertia and stiffness of the chord wise direction Y of the spar 104 .", "[0015] The structural layer 106 is typically formed of a dry braided carbon fiber which is subsequently resin injected or a resin-impregnated fabric material (e.g. resin impregnated carbon fiber fabric) and disposed such that it surrounds the core 104 and the ribs 105 (and the fiberglass layer if it is included) by, for example, a braiding process.", "In one embodiment, the structural layer 106 is impregnated with a resin.", "In some cases, the spar 102 is heated to set the resin in the structural layer 106 .", "With the inclusion of the ribs 105 , the respective leading and trailing edges 115 , 116 of the spar 102 are kept in a fixed relation to one another.", "As such, the possibility of the core 104 cracking may be reduced.", "[0016] In some instances, the spar 102 is formed such that a portion of it surrounds a root portion 108 that allows the blade 100 to be connected to a hub (not shown).", "Rotation of the hub causes the blade 100 to rotate and, consequently, causes the generation of thrust to propel an aircraft.", "In the following discussion, it shall be assumed that the blade 100 rotates in the clockwise direction.", "The root portion 108 is sometimes referred to as a “tulip”", "in the industry and is typically formed of a metal.", "[0017] After the spar 102 is formed, leading edge foam 112 and trailing edge foam 114 are formed on the leading and trailing edges 115 , 116 respectively of the spar 102 .", "The leading edge foam 112 , trailing edge foam 114 and the spar 102 can then be encased in an outer layer 118 .", "The outer layer 118 can be formed of Kevlar and be in the form of a sock that is pulled over the assembly that includes the leading edge foam 112 , trailing edge foam 114 and the spar 102 .", "Of course, the outer layer 118 could be formed in other manners as well.", "[0018] FIG. 3 is a plan view of the camber side 160 of the spar core 104 that forms blade 100 .", "The spar core 104 includes a groove 300 formed therein.", "The groove 300 includes a width (w) and a depth (d) that extends into the page.", "The groove 300 can be formed in a many different manners.", "For instance, the groove 300 could be part of the mold into which the foam forming the spar core 104 is formed.", "In another embodiment, the spar core 104 is initially formed without the groove 300 and then the groove 300 is machined or otherwise formed in the core 104 .", "As illustrated, the groove 300 causes depressions in the leading and trailing edges 301 , 303 of the core 104 .", "Of course, the groove could be formed such that depressions are only formed in the camber 160 and face 162 sides.", "[0019] Referring now to FIG. 4 , the groove 300 has had one or more layers of a fibrous material 302 disposed therein.", "In one embodiment, the fibrous material 302 is a carbon fiber cloth.", "In one embodiment, the fibrous material 302 is formed of the same material as is used to form the structural layer 106 (e.g., a resin impregnated cloth or dry braided carbon fiber or cloth).", "The resin in the fibrous material 302 is eventually cured and the cured combination of the resin and the fibrous material 302 defines the ribs 105 shown in FIG. 1 .", "[0020] The fibrous material 302 could be placed in the groove 300 such that the camber 160 and face 162 sides (including the fibrous material 302 ) are substantially smooth.", "That is, the fibrous material 302 can fill the depth (d) of the groove 300 in one embodiment.", "It shall be understood, that the fibrous material 302 could be formed, for example, by braiding of dry carbon fibers in one embodiment.", "In another embodiment, the fibrous material 302 is a fibrous cloth and may include resin in it or not.", "[0021] Only one groove 300 has been shown in FIGS. 3-4 but that is by way of example, not limitation.", "The number and location of the grooves 300 is a matter of design choice that may be decided by the skill artisan after examination of this disclosure.", "[0022] In the manner described above, after the fibrous material 302 has been placed, the spar core 104 shown in FIG. 4 can have the structural layer 106 formed over it by first braiding a dry carbon fiber over the spar core 104 and fibrous material 302 .", "A resin can then be injected into the structural layer 106 and the fibrous material 302 .", "In this manner, the material can be made rigid and become the spar ribs 105 described above.", "[0023] While the invention has been described in detail in connection with only a limited number of embodiments, it should be readily understood that the invention is not limited to such disclosed embodiments.", "Rather, the invention can be modified to incorporate any number of variations, alterations, substitutions or equivalent arrangements not heretofore described, but which are commensurate with the spirit and scope of the invention.", "Additionally, while the various embodiments of the invention have been described, it is to be understood that aspects of the invention may include only some of the described embodiments.", "Accordingly, the invention is not to be seen as limited by the foregoing description, but is only limited by the scope of the appended claims." ]

[ "CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This patent claims priority of German Patent Application No. 10 2004 007 101.2, filed Feb. 13, 2004, which application is incorporated herein by reference.", "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] The invention relates to a method and a device for controlling a gear change, especially a pulling upshift, in a parallel-shift transmission of a vehicle.", "[0003] In recent times, parallel-shift transmissions for use in passenger vehicles have been of increasing interest, especially because they enable fuel-consumption advantages over traditional automatic planetary transmissions.", "BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0004] FIG. 5 shows the drive train of a conventional vehicle.", "A driving engine 10 is connected via a clutch device 12 to a transmission whose output shaft 16 is connected via a cardan shaft 18 and a differential 20 to rear wheels 22 of a motor vehicle.", "[0005] A clutch actuator 24 is provided for operation of clutch device 12 .", "Actuators 26 and 28 are provided for the operation of transmission 14 .", "Actuators 24 , 26 , 28 are controlled by an electronic control device 30 having a microprocessor and accompanying memories.", "Inputs of electronic control device 30 are connected to position sensors contained in the actuators and speed sensors 32 and 34 for detecting, for example, a speed of a transmission shaft and a speed of cardan shaft 34 or output shaft 16 .", "Furthermore, an input of control device 30 is connected to position sensor 36 of selector lever 38 for the activation of various programs of control device 30 .", "[0006] To control driving engine 10 , engine control unit 40 is used, whose inputs are connected to position sensor 42 for detecting the position of an accelerator pedal, speed sensor 46 for detecting the speed of the crankshaft of the internal combustion engine, temperature sensor 48 for detecting an engine temperature, sensors 50 for detecting additional operating parameters of the engine and a position sensor for detecting the position of actuator 52 for load actuator 53 of driving engine 10 .", "Furthermore, sensors 54 connected to engine control unit 40 may be provided for detecting the speeds of front wheels 56 and rear wheels 22 .", "Engine control unit 40 is connected to transmission control device 30 via a data line, for example CAN data bus 58 , through which data is communicated.", "[0007] FIG. 6 diagrammatically shows the structure of clutch device 12 and transmission 14 .", "Output shaft 58 of driving motor 10 is rotationally fixedly connected to two parallel transmission branches 60 and 62 , each of which is rotationally fixedly connected via transmission unit 64 or 66 to drive shaft 16 .", "Transmission units 64 and 66 may be conventional shift transmissions whose gears are each rotationally fixedly connected in a known way via actuation device 68 or 70 .", "Clutches K 1 or K 2 are operable via actuators 24 1 or 24 2 .", "[0008] FIG. 7 shows the structure of a twin-clutch or parallel-shift transmission having a total of three shafts, namely, two input shafts 72 or 74 , which may be rotationally fixedly connected via different gear sets to common output shaft 16 .", "The gear sets are in continuous contact with each other.", "The gears of input shafts 72 or 74 may be synchronized in a known way via coupling members 76 , which are axially displaceable on the shafts, with the shafts and brought into rotationally fixed engagement with them.", "To move coupling members 76 and thereby shift the gears, actuation device 78 is provided with selector element 80 and shift element 82 , the selector element being operable, for example, by actuator 26 ( FIG. 4 ) and the shift element being operable by actuator 28 in a known way to shift the individual gears.", "At the input end, clutches K 1 and K 2 are in rotationally fixed engagement with output shaft 58 of the driving engine.", "Clutches K 1 and K 2 are operated by clutch actuators 241 and 242 ( FIG. 6 ).", "[0009] If, for example, clutch K 1 is engaged and a ratio defined by transmission branch 60 is accordingly present between output shaft 58 and output shaft 16 in the illustrated example in first, third or fifth gear, one of the gears of transmission branch 62 is shifted when clutch K 2 is disengaged so that just by disengaging clutch K 1 and simultaneously engaging clutch K 2 a pulling-force-free ratio change from a gear of transmission branch 60 to a gear of transmission branch 62 can occur.", "[0010] This gear or ratio change must be accomplished as comfortably as possible for the driver of a vehicle, whereby, depending on the position of selector lever 38 , different programs may be activated in control device 30 according to which the gear change takes place in as quick, sporty, soft and comfortable a way as possible or otherwise in an optimized manner.", "[0011] The actuation of clutches K 1 and K 2 and of the load actuator of driving engine 10 therefore occurs according to programs that are stored, for example, in control device 30 from whence actuator 52 of load actuator 53 is also operable via BUS 58 and control unit 40 .", "[0012] Lowering the torque of the first engaged clutch somewhat and increasing the engine torque briefly via the reduced clutch torque in a gear or ratio change so that the clutch slips is known from DE 101 60 308 A1.", "The slipping speed of, for example, 10 to 20 rpm is maintained via regulation of the clutch actuator during a gear change.", "The clutch transmitting the new gear ratio is engaged by controlled drive of its actuator, whereupon the disengagement of the clutch that transmits the torque at the beginning occurs in a controlled manner, because its slipping speed is kept constant.", "As soon as the “hold”", "clutch is completely disengaged, the “new”", "clutch transmits the entire engine torque and then for the time being is engaged no further.", "However, because the engine and thus also the engine-side half of the new clutch rotates at the speed of the transmission input shaft plus the slipping speed, but the transmission-side half of the new clutch rotates at the speed of the transmission input shaft, the engine speed is pulled down to the speed of the newly active transmission input shaft by a subsequent lowering of the engine torque to below the clutch torque of the new clutch.", "The deceleration of the engine brings an additional torque that stems from the energy stored in the flywheel of the engine and acts via the transmission input shaft on the transmission output shaft.", "The lowering of the engine torque corresponds to the torque contribution based on the deceleration of the engine so that no additional torque is applied to the transmission output shaft due to the deceleration of the engine.", "The new clutch is then completely engaged and the engine torque is reduced to its original value.", "[0013] Running the clutch that first transmits torque to its slip limit and briefly increasing the engine torque in a pulling-force-free gear ratio change of a parallel-shift or twin-clutch transmission so that the torque-transmitting clutch slips with a reserve and the new clutch does not stick in the transition from the old clutch to the new clutch is known from DE 103 08 700 A1.", "[0014] The object of the invention is to specify a method and a device for carrying it out in which a gear change of a parallel-shift transmission, especially a pulling upshift, may be as comfortably configured as possible under all conditions.", "[0015] The portion of the task concerning the method is achieved using a method for the control of a gear change, especially a pulling upshift in a parallel-shift transmission of a vehicle, the transmission having two transmission branches situated between an output shaft of a driving engine of the vehicle and a transmission output shaft, whereby an input shaft of each transmission branch is coupleable to the output shaft via a clutch assigned thereto and the input shaft of each transmission branch can be brought into rotationally fixed engagement with the output shaft having at least one prescribed ratio so that by disengaging the one clutch and engaging the other clutch a pulling-force-interruption-free change of the gear ratio between the engine output shaft and the transmission output shaft is possible, in which method during a gear ratio change the torque transmissible by the clutches is changed in controlled, prescribed manner and the load of the driving engine is controlled in such a manner that a prescribed slip of the clutches is maintained.", "[0016] Therefore, in the method of the invention, the torque transmissible by the clutches during a gear ratio change is controlled, i.e., changed according to a set, prescribed program, whereas the engine torque during the transmission ratio change is changed in a controlled manner such that a prescribed clutch slip is maintained.", "This has the advantage that the clutch torque which is decisive for the quality of the torque that is active on the output shaft of the transmission may be controlled independently and therefore optimally in relation to the desired output torque of the transmission.", "One objective of this adjustment lies in maintaining the slip that was set immediately before the beginning of the gear ratio change.", "The increase of the slip would be unpleasantly perceived by the driver as a turning away of the engine speed.", "A sign change of the slip is likewise unpleasant, because it would become noticeable via a torque jump at the output of the transmission.", "[0017] Therefore, an embodiment of the method of the invention is preferable in which a prescribed slip that is maintained during the gear ratio change is set before the beginning of the gear ratio change on the clutch transmitting the old gear ratio.", "[0018] An implementation of the method of the invention is preferred such that the torque of the clutch transmitting the old gear ratio is changed continually during the gear change to approximately zero and the torque of the clutch transmitting the new gear ratio is changed continually from approximately zero to a prescribed value.", "[0019] Preferably, the sum of the torques transmissible by both clutches changes during the gear ratio change from a starting value to a final value and the starting value is related to the final value somewhat as the old gear ratio is related to the new gear ratio.", "[0020] To maintain the clutch slip, the load of the driving engine is advantageously pre-controlled corresponding to the sum of the instantaneous torque values transmissible by the clutches.", "[0021] Advantageously, the pre-control of the load of the driving engine is also controlled corresponding to an additional parameter, which includes at least one of the following parameters: dynamic portion from the acceleration of the input shaft transmitting the old gear ratio;", "torque that results from the difference between the acceleration of the speed of the driving engine and the input shaft transmitting the old gear ratio at the beginning of the gear ratio change;", "and, clutch torque error on the clutch transmitting the old gear ratio at the beginning of the gear ratio change.", "[0025] To keep the slip of the clutches constant, the load of the driving engine is advantageously controlled via a D-controller to which the time derivative of the current slip is supplied as an input value.", "[0026] Preferably, the load of the driving engine is regulated to hold constant the slip of the clutches alternatively or additionally using a P-controller, to which the difference of the instantaneous slip and the slip at the beginning of the gear ratio change is supplied as an input value.", "[0027] The object of the invention directed to a device is achieved using a device for controlling a gear change, especially a pulling upshift in a parallel-shift transmission of a vehicle that has two transmission branches situated parallel to each other between an output shaft of a driving engine and a transmission output shaft, whereby an input shaft of each transmission branch is coupleable via a clutch assigned thereto to the output shaft, and the input shaft of each transmission branch may be brought into rotationally fixed engagement with the output shaft using at least one prescribed gear ratio, so that by disengaging the one clutch and engaging the other clutch a pulling-force-free change of the ratio between the engine output shaft and the transmission output shaft is possible, which device includes: an actuation device for the clutch of the first transmission branch;", "an actuation device for the clutch of the second transmission branch;", "an actuation device for a load actuator of the driving engine;", "sensor devices for detecting the slip of the first clutch and the second clutch;", "and a control device connected to the actuation devices and the sensor devices for controlling the operation of the actuation devices in such a manner that a method is implemented as described in any of claims 1 to 8 .", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0033] The invention is explained below in reference to exemplary diagrammatic drawings and with additional details.", "[0034] Shown are: [0035] FIG. 1 shows diagrams for the explanation of parameters that are relevant for the pre-control of the driving engine;", "[0036] FIG. 2 shows a flow diagram for the explanation of the regulation of the engine torque;", "[0037] FIG. 3 shows diagrams for the explanation of a transmission ratio change with change of a driver's desired torque;", "[0038] FIG. 4 shows diagrams similar to those of FIG. 3 ;", "[0039] FIG. 5 is a known vehicle drive train in which the invention may be implemented;", "[0040] FIG. 6 is a schematic illustration of a known parallel-shift transmission;", "and, [0041] FIG. 7 is an exemplary design of a 3-shaft parallel-shift transmission.", "DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [0042] In the following description of the invention, reference is made to an exemplary vehicle drive train as shown in FIG. 5 , in which clutch actuator 24 includes two actuators that are controllable independently of each other by control device 30 according to programs stored there and with which the two clutches K 1 and K 2 ( FIGS. 5 and 6 ) are operable independently of each other in such a manner that a defined clutch torque is transmissible at each clutch.", "The slip of the clutches may be calculated via their input speed (detected by speed sensor 46 ) and the speeds of output shafts 72 and 74 ( FIG. 6 ), detected by sensors 32 , or from the speed of output shaft 16 (detected by sensor 34 ) and the gears that are active at the time (recognized by control device 30 ).", "[0043] During a gear shift or a gear ratio change, the clutch of the old gear (old clutch) is disengaged and the clutch of the target gear (new clutch) is engaged at a specified torque.", "In this context the actual gear ratio change or gear shifting that is in effect on the vehicle occurs.", "By disengaging the old clutch and engaging the new one, the torque acting on output shaft 16 changes according to the gear ratio.", "The prerequisite for a transition without jerking is that both clutches slip in the overall course of operation.", "The clutch torques are controlled, whereas the engine torque is regulated.", "The regulation occurs in such a way that driving engine 10 , by changing the position of its load actuator 53 at engine output shaft 58 , outputs a torque that leads to a slip of the clutches, which are actuated in a controlled manner.", "The regulation of the position of load actuator 53 or of the torque of engine output shaft 58 occurs in the context of a pre-control on which that actual regulation is superimposed.", "[0044] The pre-control is explained below in reference to FIG. 1 , whereby the time is indicated on the abscissa, different torques are indicated in the top part of FIG. 1 and different speeds are indicated in the bottom part.", "t phase is used to indicate a prescribable time period during which a gear ratio change occurs and which is determined, for example, by the program activated using the selector lever.", "[0045] Dashed line I of FIG. 1 indicates the pre-controlled torque on the output shaft of the driving engine;", "dotted and dashed curve II indicates the torque that is transmissible by the old clutch.", "Dashed and double-dotted curve III indicates the torque that is transmissible by the new clutch.", "[0046] As is evident, before the beginning of a gear ratio change, the torque of the old clutch is lowered slightly so that the old clutch slips.", "The initial slip of the old clutch, which is prescribable in the program, is held to a constant value during the entire gear ratio change by modifying the engine torque, this slip being valid both for the old clutch as well as for the new clutch.", "The torque transmissible by the old clutch is reduced to a very small value in a linear manner beginning with the beginning of the gear ratio change until the end of the gear ratio change corresponding to the prescribed period t Phase of the gear ratio change.", "The torque that is transmissible by the new clutch is preferably increased in a controlled, linear manner according to line III up to a final value at the end of the gear ratio change, whereby the torque transmissible by the new clutch at the end preferably relates to the torque transmissible by the old clutch at the beginning of the gear ratio change as the beginning gear ratio relates to the final gear ratio;", "that is, in a pulling upshift, for example, the final torque is much larger than the beginning torque, just as, at the same speed of the driving engine, the output shaft in the lower gear turns faster than in the higher gear.", "Precontrol line IV results, which equals the sum of the instantaneous clutch torques that are transmissible at a given time, namely M Cl,Alt +M Cl,Neu .", "[0047] Overlapping the pre-control torque according to line IV is a torque M Dyn,Alt,Begin , which corresponds to the dynamic portion from the acceleration of the old transmission input shaft, i.e., M Dyn, Alt =J Eng ·ω Alt .", "This dynamic portion abates slightly during the gear ratio change.", "[0048] In addition a term M Err is added, which is the clutch torque error on the old clutch at the beginning of the overlap, which includes the friction value and contact point error and naturally drops off to zero at the end of the gear ratio change.", "[0049] The following applies for M Err : M Err =M Eng −M Cl, Alt −M Cl, Neu −M Dyn, Alt, Begin −M Acc .", "[0050] M Dyn, Alt Begin is determined at the beginning of the gear ratio change.", "M Err is a torque that applies only for the old clutch and is not transmissible to the new one.", "Thus, M Err is reduced during the gear change to zero.", "[0051] M Acc is a torque that results from the difference between the accelerations of the engine speed and the old transmission input shaft, measured at the beginning of the gear ratio change, and amounts to: M Acc =J Eng *ω Acc [0052] Therefore, the following results for the pre-control engine torque: M Eng , precontrol = M Cl , Alt ′ + M Cl .", "Neu + M Err · t Phase - t t Phase + M Dyn , Alt If one uses the aforementioned formula in the present formula for M Err , the following results for the time t=0: M Eng,precontrol =M Eng −M Acc , as illustrated in FIG. 1 .", "[0053] Also added to the pre-control engine torque M Eng,precontrol is the torque M Acc , which decreases in a linear manner during the gear ratio change.", "[0054] The period t Phase may be set in advance and remains constant during a gear ratio change.", "[0055] The period t Phase may be set in advance and remains constant during a gear ratio change.", "[0056] In the curves associated with the speeds, dashed curve VI shows the course of engine speed ω Eng , single-dotted line VI the speed ω alt of the “old”", "input shaft and double-dotted line VII the speed ω neu of the “new”", "input shaft.", "[0057] ω Acc represents the part of the acceleration of the engine speed that exceeds acceleration ω Alt , that is: ω Acc =ω Eng −ω alt [0058] One goal of the shift strategy is to achieve an acceleration of engine speed ω Eng that is equal to the acceleration of the old transmission input shaft, that is ω Acc =0.", "[0059] Superimposed on the pre-control of the torque that is output by the driving engine, which is explained with reference to FIG. 1 , is a control that includes a D-controller, which uses as an input value the time derivative of the slip Δω Act at a given time.", "Parallel to this, a P-controller is switched whose input includes the difference between the current slip Δω Act and the slip at the phase start or the start of the gear ratio change Δω Anf .", "The task of the P-controller is to prevent the slip from phasing out completely.", "The P-controller is only switched on if the absolute value of the slip becomes smaller than the slip that was determined at the beginning of the gear ratio change.", "[0060] Using the flow diagram according to FIG. 2 , a control routine is explained below.", "[0061] A control routine is triggered by control device 30 , which indicates a forthcoming gear ratio change.", "If the beginning of the gear ratio change is present (t=0;", "step 90 ), then the starting slip Δω Anf is set equal to the current or instantaneous slip Δω Act .", "The program proceeds to step 92 in which a check is made of whether the absolute value of Δω Act is less than or equal to the absolute value of Δω Anf .", "If so, then in step 93 a proportional engine torque M P is determined by the proportional controller in the following equation: M P = Δ ⁢ ⁢ ω Act - Δ ⁢ ⁢ ω Anf sgn ⁡ ( Δ ⁢ ⁢ ω Anf ) · Δ ⁢ ⁢ ω Anf · K_SEngTrqEngPThres K being a stored proportionality constant.", "[0062] Next, the program proceeds to step 94 , in which an engine torque M D =Δω Act J Eng is calculated by the differential controller, so that in step 95 an engine torque M Eng =M precontrol −M D −M P is set.", "[0063] In the event that the condition of step 92 is not present, the proportional engine torque is set to 0 in step 96 and the program proceeds directly to step 94 .", "[0064] It should be pointed out that other types of controls are possible and that both the D-controller and the P-controller do not inevitably have to be present.", "[0065] In the following, the control of the clutch torques is explained: [0066] As is depicted in FIG. 1 , the clutch torque of the old clutch (curve II) declines in a linear manner until it is completely disengaged.", "The overlap time or the period of the gear ratio change is prescribed and is a function of, for example, the shifting program that is selected at a given time.", "[0067] The clutch torque of the new clutch is kept at 0 before a gear ratio change, whereupon it is ensured that the clutch may react as quickly as possible to the torque demand during the gear ratio change, and any possible slack in the transmission is overcome.", "[0068] In order to be able to take into account a possible change of the driver's desired torque M FB during a gear ratio change, the torque of new clutch M Cl, Neu is recalculated in each interrupt according to the following formula (see FIG. 3 ): M Cl , Neu ′ = M Cl , Neu ′ + M FW - M Cl , Neu ′ t Phase - t · t step t Phase being the overlap or gear ratio change period, t designating the current time and t step designating the length of the step.", "[0069] Shown in FIG. 3 are: curve a) driver's desired torque M FW ;", "curve b) the target torque M Cl, Alt, Soll of the old clutch;", "curve c) actual torque Cl, Alt, Ist of the old clutch;", "curve d) target torque M Cl, Alt, Soll of the new clutch;", "and curve e) actual torque M Cl, Neu, Ist of the new clutch.", "[0075] In order for the clutch to “respond”", "faster at the beginning of a gear ratio change, another clutch torque is calculated parallel to the previous clutch torque as follows: M Cl , Neu ″ = min ⁢ M FW 3 , 820.0 · K ⁢ : ⁢ _JENG The parameters of the min-function are experimentally determined and adapted to the particular vehicle.", "The greater of the two torques M′ Cl, Neu and M″ Cl, Neu is always used.", "[0076] In reference to FIG. 4 , the calculation of torque MCI is explained again using the formula M Cl , Neu ′ = M Cl , Neu ′ + M FW - M Cl , Neu ′ t Phase - t · t step [0077] Overlap period t Phase in this context is 50 ms, step length t step is 10 ms and driver's desired torque M FM at the beginning is 100 Nm and after 30 ms drops to 0.", "Before the overlap, the clutch torque of new clutch M Cl is again 0.", "For new clutch torque M Cl,Neu the following values are attained: At ⁢ ⁢ instant ⁢ ⁢ t = 0 ⁢ : M Cl , Neu = 0 ⁢ ⁢ Nm + 100 ⁢ ⁢ Nm - 0 ⁢ ⁢ Nm 50 ⁢ ⁢ ms - 0 ⁢ ⁢ ms · 10 ⁢ ⁢ ms = 20 ⁢ ⁢ Nm At ⁢ ⁢ instant ⁢ ⁢ t = 10 ⁢ ⁢ ms ⁢ : M Cl , Neu = 20 ⁢ ⁢ Nm + 100 ⁢ ⁢ Nm - 20 ⁢ ⁢ Nm 50 ⁢ ⁢ ms - 10 ⁢ ⁢ ms · 10 ⁢ ⁢ ms = 40 ⁢ ⁢ Nm At ⁢ ⁢ instant ⁢ ⁢ t = 20 ⁢ ⁢ ms ⁢ : M Cl , Neu = 40 ⁢ ⁢ Nm + 100 ⁢ ⁢ Nm - 40 ⁢ ⁢ Nm 50 ⁢ ⁢ ms - 20 ⁢ ⁢ ms · 10 ⁢ ⁢ ms = 60 ⁢ ⁢ Nm At ⁢ ⁢ instant ⁢ ⁢ t = 30 ⁢ ⁢ ms ⁢ ⁢ ( M FWM = 0 ⁢ ⁢ Nm ) ⁢ : M Cl , Neu = 60 ⁢ ⁢ Nm + 0 ⁢ ⁢ Nm - 60 ⁢ ⁢ Nm 50 ⁢ ⁢ ms - 30 ⁢ ⁢ ms · 10 ⁢ ⁢ ms = 30 ⁢ ⁢ Nm At ⁢ ⁢ instant ⁢ ⁢ t = 40 ⁢ ⁢ ms ⁢ ⁢ ( M FWM = 0 ⁢ ⁢ Nm ) ⁢ : M Cl , Neu = 30 ⁢ ⁢ Nm + 0 ⁢ ⁢ Nm - 30 ⁢ ⁢ Nm 50 ⁢ ⁢ ms - 40 ⁢ ⁢ ms · 10 ⁢ ⁢ ms = 0 ⁢ ⁢ Nm As emerges from the preceding description, the calculation ensures that at the end of the overlap phase the torque of the new clutch corresponds to the value of the driver's desired torque.", "[0078] In full load shifts, in which no further increase of the engine torque is possible and the new clutch transmits substantially more than assumed, it may occur that the regulation of the engine torque that overlaps the pre-control is insufficient to prevent too sharp a decline in slip.", "In this case, a reaction via the clutches is necessary.", "Upon detection of such a situation, a bit is set and the “ramp-up”", "or torque increase of the new clutch is stopped.", "Parts List [0000] 10 Driving engine 12 Clutch device 14 Transmission 16 Transmission output shaft 18 Cardan shaft 20 Differential 22 Rear wheel 24 Clutch actuator 26 Actuator 28 Actuator 30 Control device 32 Speed sensor 34 Speed sensor 36 Position sensor 38 Selector lever 40 Engine control unit 42 Position sensor 44 Accelerator pedal 46 Speed sensor 48 Temperature sensor 50 Sensors 52 Actuator 53 Load actuator 54 Sensor 56 Front wheel 58 Engine output shaft 60 Transmission branch 62 Transmission branch 64 Transmission unit 66 Transmission unit 68 Actuation device 70 Actuation device 72 Input shaft 74 Input shaft 76 Clutch member 78 Actuation device 80 Selector element 82 Shift element" ]

[ "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to novel and improved systems and apparatus for detecting an attempt to tamper with or remove the housing of a condition detecting apparatus.", "More particularly, the present invention relates to tamper-proof apparatus and systems for generating a detectable alarm in the presence of an unauthorized attempt to remove a condition detecting device from its normal mounting position.", "The present invention as will be described in detail in conjunction with a smoke detector is particularly useful for discouraging tampering or pilferage of smoke detectors or other self-containing alarm generating devices from their normal mounting environment.", "The use of devices for sensing an abnormal condition such as smoke, intruders or the like for various environments including residential, commercial and other applications has come into increasing demand.", "This is especially true of smoke detectors as a result of the number of lives saved by generation of an audible warning alarm in the presence of a fire.", "Still further, the art of such smoke detectors has advanced to the point that self-contained and self-powered units are now generally available which devices do not require separate wiring to power sources or remote detector stations.", "Further, the mounting of such self-contained units in transient public facilities, such as motels, hotels and the like has become extensive in recent years.", "Unfortunately, the self-contained nature of these devices has rendered it relatively easy for theft or tampering with such devices without any means of detecting that such unauthorized efforts are in progress.", "Obviously such activities significantly reduce the life/safety protection available to occupants if allowed to go undetected.", "Various efforts have been undertaken to provide warning signals when unauthorized removal of housings for different apparatus has occured.", "For instance, Whalen et al.", "U.S. Pat. No. 3,710,371 shows a mercury switch arrangement for triggering a silicon-controlled rectifier latching circuit to generate an alarm when an unauthorized removal attempt is made.", "Such mounting orientation dependent devices are not acceptable since devices such as smoke detectors may be mounted in any vertical or horizontal position.", "Various other arrangements wherein plunger-type switches are actuated so as to generate an alarm have been suggested in the past.", "For instance, Kaplan U.S. Pat. No. 3,110,892 employs a plunger switch under the locking hasp of an enclosure so that any tampering with these hasps closes the plunger switches and actuates an alarm with the enclosure via powering from a battery pack likewise within the enclosure.", "Somewhat similar teachings are present in Bennett et al.", "U.S. Pat. No. 3,685,037 which suggests use of a separate box intended for placement beneath an item to be protected such as a typewriter or the like with an outwardly biased plunger so that removal of the weight of the typewriter or lifting of the box will close an alarm switch to actuate a buzzer contained within the housing.", "Yet another apparatus is shown in Bach U.S. Pat. No. 3,858,193 which generates an alarm for detection at a remote location by using a plunger switch arranged to abut an adjacent wall when the housing is screwed into the wall or mounting plate.", "That is, removal of the housing from the wall releases the plunger and closes an alarm switch.", "Unfortunately, the plunger type of alarm switch mechanism is defeated by relatively simple efforts such as by merely sliding a stiff ruler, card or the like between the wall or surface so that the device can be removed without detecting that it is not longer in its intended position.", "Therefore there has been a continuing need for a pilferage or tamper-proof detector apparatus and system which will reliably generate an alarm in a manner which cannot be easily defeated as is possible with the existing prior art devices.", "SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In the present invention a switch is incorporated within an enclosure in such a manner that an alarm voltage will be reliably generated when the enclosure is removed from its intended mounting.", "Although not necessarily limited thereto, the present invention is particularly useful for supplying an internal switch function within a self-contained alarm detector so as to energize the alarm contained within the enclosure.", "Condition detector devices such as smoke detectors are typically mounted on a wall or on a mounting plate attached to a wall or ceiling.", "The present invention activates the mechanism for alarm generation when the apparatus for attachment to the wall or mounting plate is removed or loosened.", "Thus the self-contained alarm provides the dual function of indicating an audible alarm when the abnormal condition being sensed, such as smoke, intrusion or the like, is generated or when efforts to pilfer the device are made.", "The preferred device of the present invention contains an alarm generator within a housing which is removably securable by a movable fastener either to a plate fixed to a surface or directly to the surface itself.", "A switch is capable of producing first and second electrical states, generally binary in nature, the switch being attached within the housing in an orientation for engagement by the movable fastener to cause the switch to produce a first output state when the positioning of the fastener is such as to secure the housing to the surface or the surface plate and to cause the switch to produce the second output state when the positioning of the fastener is such as to release the housing from the surface plate.", "The switch output is coupled to enable the alarm generator whenever the switch is allowed by the fastener to be in its second output state.", "As described in the exemplary preferred embodiment, the switch output can be used to couple into the alarm generator circuit so as to simulate the presence of the condition for which the alarm generator is actually designed thereby effecting a detectable alarm which is preferably audible in nature.", "Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a novel and improved structure and system for generating detectable alarms in the presence of unauthorized attempts to remove enclosures from their intended mounting.", "A further object of the present invention is to provide a novel and improved apparatus and system for generating an audible alarm whenever an unauthorized attempt is made to remove an enclosure from its normal mounting on a wall, ceiling or other surface.", "Another object of the present invention is to provide novel and improved apparatus and systems for generating a detectable alarm by simulating the existence of an alarm condition associated with the intended operation of a condition sensing device so that any attempt to remove the condition detector apparatus from its normal mountings is signaled to others.", "A still further object of the present invention is to provide a novel and improved apparatus and method for causing a self-contained and self-powered alarm generator to produce an audible output signal whenever any attempt is made to remove the mounting hardware of the enclosure for this device from its intended mounting position.", "The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more readily apparent in view of the subsequent detailed description of exemplary embodiments of the present invention taken in conjunction with the drawings.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a self-contained alarm detector housing showing its interrelationship with a typical mounting plate.", "FIG. 2 is an exploded and sectioned view of the elements shown generally in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 shows a section view illustrating the interrelationship of the apparatus of FIGS. 1 and 2 in a normal wall mounted position.", "FIG. 4 illustrates the structure of FIG. 3 when the mounting hardware has been loosened so as to generate an alarm signal.", "FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of the elements contained within a self-contained alarm detector showing the interrelationship of the alarm switch;", "and FIG. 6 shows a second embodiment of the switch mounting hardware useful in conjunction with the device shown generally in FIG. 1. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT There is shown by way of illustrative example in FIG. 1 a perspective view of a self-contained smoke detector unit 10 and a surface mounting plate 12 releasably attached thereto.", "The self-contained detector unit 10 typically may include a model 800A or 900A condition detector device produced by the Statitrol Corporation of Lakewood, Colorado, although other condition-sensing apparatus may be used such as the models 700 and 770 of the same manufacturer.", "Typically, such devices are either directly screw-mounted onto walls, ceilings or other surfaces or are fastened through the intermediary of mounting plates such as 12.", "As is well known, such mounting plates broadly include various screw-mounting slots such as 14 which when directly attached to another surface are covered by the housing of the detector assembly 10.", "Condition detector devices which are self-contained for generating an audible alarm typically have their own internal power supplies and for this purpose the device 10 includes a bay or mounting arrangement for batteries as represented at cavity 15.", "The structure of FIG. 1 is shown in greater detail in the exploded section view of FIG. 2 wherein downwardly directed, inwardly inclined hooks 16 and 17 of mounting plate 12 are shown as being attachable to an intermediate connecting plate 18 wherein the hook 16 is inserted into slot 19 on one side of plate 18 and the hook 17 is then passed downwardly until screw 20 can be advanced into a slot 21 on the opposite sidewall of plate 18.", "Unit 10 is formed with an outer generally cup-shaped housing 25 molded as a single part with a pair of upstanding posts 26 and 27 having upper pins 28 and 29 adapted to pass through aligned bores in a printed circuit board 30 and further through aligned bores 31 and 32 in the plate 18 so as to fasten the entire assembly together as a unit.", "Particularly when employed as a smoke detector, various slots or recesses such as at 33 can be included throughout the sidewalls of the housing, and a center opening 35 extends through the bottom surface 34 of housing 25 to allow smoke to enter into the smoke detecting apparatus contained therein.", "A decorative and protective cover 36 is disposed in spaced relation beneath the housing to provide a gap for uninterrupted passage of smoke through the center opening 35 as is the case with the Statitrol Corporation manufactured models 800A and 900A mentioned above.", "It will be understood that printed circuit board 30 includes all of the internal circuitry associated with the condition detecting apparatus including the smoke detector device itself and the alarm or horn type device with the powering thereof being provided by batteries inserted within compartment 15.", "These elements are well-known and thus have not been shown in detail in FIG. 2. However, a switch 40 is preferably attached to board 30 along one edge thereof as shown, the switch being aligned so as to be engaged by the attaching screw 20 in a manner hereinafter described.", "More particularly, FIG. 3 shows the positioning of switch unit 40 including a spring contact arm 41 attached to the side edge of board 30 by a flat plate 42 so as to incline outwardly as at 42 from the edge of the board 30 then to incline or return inwardly in the form of an angled extension 43 substantially at 90° to the arm 42.", "The outer extension 43 of arm 41 is arranged so as to normally be out of electrical conductive contact with a fixed contact defined by upstanding post 45 when screw 20 is fully inserted as shown in FIG. 3. Thus, when the mounting screw 20 is even slightly withdrawn from its normal position for attaching the housing enclosure 10 on the mounting plate 12, as shown in FIG. 4, arm portion 43 is biased to move into electrical contact with post 45 thereby simulating the existence of the alarm condition for the detector structure contained within housing 10 whereby to generate an audible alarm even before it is possible to remove enclosure 10 from plate 12.", "The interrelationship of the pilferage detecting switch with the self-contained alarm system of enclosure 10 is shown in the electrical schematic of FIG. 5. A conventional smoke detector element 50 is enabled by voltage applied to the terminals indicated at V+ and V- as enabled by a conventional voltage regulator transistor 51.", "In turn, regulator transistor 51 is enabled by zener diode 52 coupled through resistors 53 and 54 between the DC input at the voltage terminals V supplied by the battery [not shown].", "Resistors 55, 56 and 57 define a voltage divider for the emitter follower transistor 58.", "Transistor 58 sets the voltage applied to the emitter of the voltage switch transistor 59.", "With the regulated voltage applied to the uni-junction transistor type device 60 which might typically be a 40468A or SFE616, the ion chamber detector 50 biases semiconductor device 60 "on"", "enough to reverse bias transistor 59 into the "off"", "state.", "In normal operation, smoke entering the chamber 50 causes semiconductor 60 to be biased "off"", "enough to turn semiconductor 59 "on"", "and therefore bias silicon-controlled rectifier 61 into conduction.", "This energizes the audible horn 62 to generate an alarm.", "The switch arm 41 and contact 45 associated with the mounting hardware is shown in its normally open position when enclosure 10 is fully mounted on plate 12 thus causing an open space to exist.", "Under these circumstances, the normal smoke operation as discussed above is effected.", "However, once the screw 20 is partially released, switch arm 41 closes thus shorting resistors 55 and 56 and causing semi-conductor 59 to gate SCR 61 "on"", "thereby energizing alarm horn 62.", "Note that alarm horn 62 will continue to sound after an initial contact has been made by the switch arm 41 since the only effective means of removing the conductive state from SCR 61 is by removal of operating power thereto.", "Thus, alarm 62 will continue to sound until intervention as by removal of the operating batteries.", "Various means of attaching the switch arm 41 so that it will be actuated by the enclosure mounting hardware can be employed.", "For instance, an alternate configuration is shown in FIG. 6 wherein upper plate 18 of enclosure 10 includes a switch assembly 70 attached to a post 71 as by swaging or the like.", "This switch assembly is formed of an insulating insert 72 between two electrical contact elements 73 and 74.", "Elements 73 and 74 are positioned such that screw 20 normally clears contact 73 but engages contact 74 so as to move it into the nonelectrical conductive contact position as shown in FIG. 6. Thus, when removal of screw 20 is even slightly effected, contacts 73 and 74 will electrically communicate so as to produce the same warning signal caused by the switch contacts 41, 45 discussed hereinbefore.", "In a typical installation, the batteries which were described previously as incorporated within compartment 15 include an insulator between the electrical contacts which is flexible and accessible externally to housing 10 so that the assembly can be mounted without generating the alarm.", "The enclosure 10 is first engaged with plate 12 attached to the surface via hook 16 and pivoted into place.", "That is, housing 10 is pivoted over plate 12 so that screw 20 will be moved into slot 11 and hook or ear 17 moved downwardly until screw 20 can be inserted into the slot 21 of upper plate 18 in enclosure 10.", "When screw 20 has been completely secured, the warning switch will be opened as shown so that no alarm condition simulation will result.", "At that point, the insulating tab associated with the batteries within compartment 15 is removed and the entire system is enabled.", "Thereafter, any attempt to remove the enclosure 10 even by partially loosening screw 20 will result in generation of the alarm via horn 62 which cannot be stopped until the batteries have been removed.", "As anyone who has ever heard the audible alarm produced by horn such as 62 can verify the noise produced will require the attention of anyone in the general area and an investigation as to the circumstances of the removal.", "Of course, authorized removal of the enclosure 10 can be effected since the resultant alarm will not cause investigation or at least will be recognized as an authorized condition.", "Although the present invention has been described with particularity relative to the foregoing detailed description of the exemplary preferred embodiments, various modifications, improvements, additions and applications other than those specifically mentioned herein will be readily apparent to those having normal skill in the art without departing from the spirit of this invention." ]

[ "TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an electron microscope, and particularly provides an electron microscope having a function to calculate orthogonality and reflect the calculated result in a deflection control circuit to thereby perform automatic orthogonal correction.", "BACKGROUND ART A scanning electron microscope is a device which obtains an observation image of a target specimen in such a manner that a specimen to be observed is two-dimensionally scanned with a primary electron beam within an X-Y plane, and a secondary electron which is generated in a scan position or a reflection electron which is backscattered is detected, thereby imaging an output signal from a detector.", "The secondary electron or the reflection electron is generated along a trajectory of the scanning with the primary electron beam.", "Therefore, when an X scanning direction and a Y scanning direction are not orthogonal to each other, an obtained image is, of course, distorted.", "FIG. 1 illustrates a relationship between orthogonality of scanning lines with respect to a scanning area and distortion of an image.", "When the scanning area in an X direction and a Y direction is not appropriate, an image is observed as a distorted image as shown in FIG. 1 .", "In an example illustrated in FIG. 1 , an object for observation is a circular specimen.", "For example, when the scanning area is distorted into a rhombus, an image is observed as being distorted into an ellipse.", "When the scanning area is an appropriate square area, the circular object is correctly observed as a circular image.", "The orthogonal degree between an X scanning line and a Y scanning line is generally called “orthogonality.”", "In an actual scanning electron microscope, the orthogonality is, required to be adjusted to the extent with which the X scanning line and the Y scanning line can be regarded as being orthogonal to each other.", "In a conventional electron microscope, a lattice specimen which is manufactured independently from an electron microscope has been used, and adjustment has been performed by applying correction to a control circuit of a scanning deflector of the electron microscope so that an image of the lattice specimen is observed as being orthogonal on a display screen, assuming that the lattice specimen is orthogonal.", "For example, PTL 1 discloses an invention in which a SEM image is divided into a lattice, and a lattice sheet is stuck on a monitor to thereby adjust deflection distortion of respective divided areas by visual observation.", "However, in the conventional technique, since there is manufacturing variation in the accuracy of a lattice specimen, and the adjustment is performed by visual observation, there has been a problem in that adjusted orthogonality may vary between electron microscopes.", "Further, since a correction value for the control circuit is manually input, there has been a problem of variation in the correction accuracy.", "In addition, when a single user uses a plurality of electron microscopes, there has sometimes been a problem caused by an apparent difference in orthogonality between the electron microscopes.", "CITATION LIST Patent Literature PTL 1: JP 63-150842 A SUMMARY OF INVENTION Technical Problem It is an object of the present invention to achieve an adjustment method of an electron microscope with less orthogonality variation than a conventional one, and an electron microscope provided with a function to perform the adjustment method.", "Solution to Problem In order to solve the above problems, in the present invention, a spherical specimen which is considered as having less manufacturing variation than a lattice specimen is used, and an algorithm which defines orthogonality from an image of the spherical specimen is employed.", "A correction value for a control circuit of an electron microscope is calculated using the algorithm, and automatically set to a control sequencer of a deflector.", "Advantageous Effects of Invention The present invention makes it possible to eliminate the necessity of manufacturing a lattice specimen, and easily reduce variation in orthogonality by defining the orthogonality from a spherical specimen.", "Further, it is possible to reduce variation in orthogonality caused by defining the orthogonality by a human operator by incorporating a function capable of performing automatic determination.", "As a result, effects such as reducing variation between devices and improving the performance of a device can be obtained.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between orthogonality of scanning lines with respect to a scanning area and distortion of an image.", "FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a scanning electron microscope of the present embodiment.", "FIGS. 3(A) and 3(B) are diagrams illustrating an adjustment principle of an adjustment algorithm of a scanning deflector of a first embodiment.", "FIG. 4 is a chart illustrating an adjustment flow of the scanning deflector of the first embodiment.", "FIGS. 5(A) and 5(B) are diagrams illustrating operation windows used in adjustment of the scanning deflector of the first embodiment.", "FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an adjustment principle of an adjustment algorithm of a scanning deflector of a second embodiment.", "FIG. 7 is a chart illustrating an adjustment flow of the scanning deflector of the second embodiment.", "DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments will be described.", "In the following embodiments, a particulate sample is used in a device for observing a SEM image, and the accuracy in orthogonality measurement by the device is defined by utilizing the spherical characteristics of the sample.", "First Embodiment FIG. 2 illustrates the configuration of a scanning electron microscope of a first embodiment.", "An electron is accelerated and withdrawn from an electron gun 1 , an electron probe is focused by a condenser lens 2 , and the focus thereof is then adjusted by an electron lens 4 , thereby applying the electron to a specimen on a specimen stub 5 .", "The electron probe is positioned between the condenser lens 2 and the electron lens 4 , and has a structure in which a position thereof is changed by a scanning coil 3 (a scanning deflector).", "The scanning coil 3 is provided with an X deflection coil which adjusts distortion of an observation image in a horizontal direction (X direction) and a Y deflection coil which adjusts distortion of the observation image in a vertical direction (Y direction), and achieves an undistorted image by adjusting a value of current to be applied to each of the X deflection coil and the Y deflection coil.", "The specimen stub 5 is conveyed and placed on a specimen stage 6 by a conveyance mechanism (not shown).", "The specimen stub 5 , the specimen stage 6 and the like are housed in a chamber 7 .", "The inside of the chamber 7 is maintained in a vacuum state by a vacuum pumping system (not shown).", "A secondary electron is emitted from the specimen on the specimen stub 5 by the electron applied to the specimen.", "The secondary electron is detected by a secondary electron detector 8 , and the detected signal is displayed on an image monitor 10 through an image memory 9 , thereby observing the detected signal as a secondary electron image.", "The image monitor 10 is connected to a device control unit 11 .", "The device control unit 11 is often realized by a personal computer-based arithmetic unit.", "The device control unit 11 performs calculation of a correction value of orthogonality to be set in a scanning coil control unit 12 , and also serves as a host device in controlling the entire scanning electron microscope.", "Further, input devices such as a mouse and a keyboard are connected to the device control unit 11 .", "When the orthogonality is adjusted, a spherical specimen is placed on the specimen stub 5 , and a secondary electron image of the spherical specimen is observed to thereby obtain a SEM image of the spherical specimen in the scanning electron microscope shown in FIG. 1 .", "The device control unit 11 calculates a current correction value for the scanning coil 3 by using the SEM image of the spherical specimen.", "The scanning coil control unit 12 (a deflection control sequencer) is provided with a storage element such as a latch circuit and a register, and stores the calculated current correction value in the storage element.", "The scanning coil control unit 12 adjusts an orthogonal relationship between an X scanning line and a Y scanning line using the current correction value.", "This makes it possible to provide a scanning electron microscope in which the orthogonality is ensured, and observe a spherical specimen as a perfect circle.", "FIG. 3 illustrates a principle of an adjustment algorithm of orthogonality in the present embodiment.", "Consideration will be made with regard to a case where the orthogonality is not appropriate, and a distorted image of a spherical specimen as shown in FIG. 3(A) is therefore obtained.", "When an image of a spherical specimen is distorted, an elliptical image is obtained.", "In this case, a quadrangle including this ellipse as an inscribed circle becomes a rectangle.", "On the other hand, when the orthogonality is appropriately adjusted, an image having a shape close to a perfect circle as shown in FIG. 3(B) can be obtained as an image of the spherical specimen.", "More specifically, when the length of one side of a quadrangle which is composed of tangents in four points on the outline of an actual image of the spherical specimen is not equal to the length of each of the other sides, an observation image of the spherical specimen is not observed as a circle.", "On the other hand, when the length of one side of the quadrangle is equal to the length of each of the other sides, the observation image of the spherical specimen is observed as a circle, which means that a scanning area of the X deflection coil and the Y deflection coil is appropriate.", "Therefore, it is possible to appropriately adjust the orthogonality by adjusting the scanning coil control unit 12 so that the length of one side of a quadrangle which is composed of tangents in four points on the outline of an actual image of the spherical specimen becomes equal to the length of each of the other sides.", "FIG. 4 illustrates an adjustment flow of a scanning deflector of the present embodiment.", "As described above, conventionally, the orthogonality of the Y direction with respect to the X direction has been adjusted by using a lattice specimen for defining orthogonality.", "In the present embodiment, the orthogonality is defined by using a spherical specimen instead of a lattice specimen.", "First, a spherical specimen is placed on the specimen stub of the scanning electron microscope, and then conveyed into a specimen chamber by using the specimen stage.", "An example of the spherical specimen includes a polystyrene latex particle (normally, a PSL particle).", "A polystyrene latex particle is known as a perfectly spherical particle having an extremely uniform diameter.", "However, a spherical specimen that can be used is not limited to a polystyrene latex particle.", "After the specimen is conveyed, a secondary electron image or a reflection electron image of the spherical specimen is obtained, and then displayed on an orthogonal adjust operation window which is displayed on the image monitor 10 .", "A selection button for displaying the operation window is displayed on a normal observation window on which the SEM image is displayed.", "When a user of the device presses the selection button, an orthogonal adjust select block shown in FIG. 5(A) is displayed.", "The orthogonality adjustment operation can be performed automatically by the device control unit 11 and can also be performed manually by a user of the device.", "By selecting either a radio button “Auto ADJ.”", "or a radio button “Manual ADJ.”, and then clicking a “START”", "button shown in FIG. 5(A) , the orthogonal adjust operation window shown in FIG. 5(B) is displayed, and the adjustment flow is thereafter started.", "Hereinafter, a case where the manual operation is selected will be described.", "After the orthogonality adjustment flow is started, an obtained image whose orthogonality is in an initial state is displayed on the orthogonal adjust operation window shown in FIG. 5(B) .", "At the same time, X cross cursors and Y cross cursors indicated by four straight lines in FIG. 3(A) are displayed on the orthogonal adjust operation window.", "Usually, the orthogonality is not appropriate in the initial state.", "Therefore, even when a spherical specimen is used, an elliptical image as shown in FIG. 3(A) is observed.", "On the other hand, since the X and Y cross cursors are straight lines which are generated by the device control unit 11 , each of the X and Y cross cursors can be regarded as two straight lines which perfectly intersect at 90° on the window.", "First, an operator finds a position in which a straight line in the X direction of an X cross cursor is in contact with the lower side of the elliptical observation image, and stores a Y position coordinate Y 1 of the cursor at this point.", "In the same manner, the operator finds a position in which a straight line in the X direction of a second X cross cursor is in contact with the upper side of the elliptical observation image, a position in which a straight line in the Y direction of a first Y cross cursor is in contact with the left side of the elliptical observation image, and a position in which a straight line in the Y direction of a second Y cross cursor is in contact with the right side of the elliptical observation image, and then stores position coordinates of the respective cursors, namely, a Y position coordinate Y 2 , an X position coordinate X 1 , and an X position coordinate X 2 .", "The position coordinates are automatically stored in the device control unit 11 by, for example, double-click-action of a mouth.", "After the contact position coordinates X 1 , X 2 , Y 1 and Y 2 between the X and Y cross cursors and the elliptical image are set, the device control unit 11 calculates a distance A of the ellipse in the X direction “A=X 2 −X 1 ”", "and, a distance B of the ellipse in the Y direction “B=Y 2 −Y 1 ”", "from the respective coordinates.", "Next, the device control unit 11 executes a determination step for comparing the distance A with the distance B. In a case where A≠B, an operation for calculating the distance A and the distance B is performed after current values of the X deflection coil and the Y deflection coil are changed, and comparison of the distance A with the distance B is then performed.", "The same operation is continuously performed until A=B is satisfied.", "A pitch (increment) when changing the current values of the X deflection coil and the Y deflection coil is stored in the device (main body) control unit 11 or the scanning coil control unit 12 .", "Further, the operator may set information on the pitch through an appropriate setting window.", "When A=B is determined, the device control unit 11 transfers the current values of the X deflection coil and the Y deflection coil at this point to the scanning coil control unit 12 as correction values.", "The scanning coil control unit 12 stores the transferred correction values in the storage element inside thereof.", "Accordingly, the orthogonality adjustment flow is completed.", "Although the setting of the coordinates X 1 , X 2 , Y 1 and Y 2 is manually performed in the above description, the adjustment flow shown in FIG. 4 can be easily automated.", "However, it is better that a final adjustment result can be confirmed by a human operator.", "Therefore, even when the automatic execution is selected in the select block shown in FIG. 5(A) , the final result is displayed on the window shown in FIG. 5(B) , and visually confirmed by a user of the device.", "Orthogonality obtained as a result of the automatic execution can be measured on the basis of the cross cursors on the window.", "When a displayed image can be observed as a circle, the orthogonality adjustment can be determined to be completed.", "Second Embodiment In a second embodiment, a description will be made with regard to a scanning electron microscope that adjusts the orthogonality by using an adjustment algorithm that is different from the adjustment algorithm in the embodiment 1.", "The overall configuration of the device is the same as that shown in FIG. 1 , and a description thereof will therefore be omitted.", "FIG. 6 illustrates a principle of an adjustment algorithm in the present embodiment.", "In a case where there are an observation image C 0 of a spherical specimen and a perfect circle Cz having the same area as the observation image C 0 , when the orthogonality is smaller than a prescribed value, the observation image C 0 and the perfect circle Cz should coincide with each other.", "In the adjustment algorithm in the present embodiment, a correction value of orthogonality is obtained by obtaining current values, of an X deflection coil and a Y deflection coil with which the observation image C 0 and the perfect circle Cz coincide with each other.", "FIG. 7 illustrates an adjustment flow of a scanning deflector of the second embodiment.", "Steps from a first step of the flow through a step for displaying an observation image in an initial state on the orthogonal adjust operation window in FIG. 5(B) are the same as those in the embodiment 1, and a description thereof will therefore be omitted.", "Next, the center of the perfect circle Cz and the center of the outline of the observation image C 0 are brought to generally coincide with each other on the operation window.", "This operation can be manually or automatically performed.", "Next, a plurality of straight lines (n straight lines, for example) passing through the center of the perfect circle Cz are arranged so as to divide the perfect circle Cz into n equal parts.", "These straight lines are defined as straight lines Dn.", "A sum of squares of differences dni each between a distance between two intersection points between the outline of the observation image C 0 of the spherical specimen and each of the straight lines Dn and the diameter of the perfect circle Cz is calculated to thereby obtain a sum total D. A reason for employing the sum of squares is that deviation of the observation image C 0 from the perfect circle Cz cannot be accurately represented due to the plus and minus signs when employing a simple sum of the differences.", "Next, a determination is made as to whether the calculated sum total D which is a sum of squares is smaller than a predetermined threshold value D 0 .", "When the sum total D is larger than the threshold value D 0 , the current values of the X deflection coil and the Y deflection coil are changed by an appropriate pitch.", "Thereafter, the step for calculating the sum total D and the step for comparing the sum total D with the threshold value D 0 described above are performed.", "By continuously performing the above steps until the sum total D becomes smaller than the threshold value D 0 , a correction value of orthogonality can be obtained.", "In the same manner as in the embodiment 1, the threshold value D 0 and the pitch when changing the current values of the X deflection coil and the Y deflection coil are stored in the device (main body) control unit 11 or the scanning coil control unit 12 .", "Further, an operator may set the above information through an appropriate setting window.", "REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 electron gun 2 condenser lens 3 scanning coil 4 electron lens 5 specimen stub 6 specimen stage 7 chamber 8 secondary electron detector 9 image memory 10 image monitor 11 device control unit 12 scanning coil control unit 13 orthogonal adjust select block 14 orthogonal adjust operation window C 0 SEM observation image of spherical specimen Cz perfect circle set on SEM image observation window Dn straight line passing through center of perfect circle dni difference between diameter of perfect circle and distance between two intersection points between straight line Dn and outline of SEM observation image of C 0" ]

[ "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1.", "Field of the Invention The present invention pertains to apparatus and methods for fastening two or more objects together.", "In particular, it concerns apparatus and methods for fastening such objects together with fastener devices having shafts and cooperating members for holding the shafts in tension, i.e. bolts, studs and the like.", "Description of the Prior Art One of the problems associated with connecting objects together, such as flange-type connections, is the assurance that the connection is properly made up by placing the desired tension on the flange bolts or studs.", "Due to the friction involved with tightening a nut, it is difficult to assure that proper and equal tension is applied to all of the bolts or studs of the connection.", "Furthermore, it is physically difficult to apply the proper tension with an ordinary wrench.", "Even a torque wrench may not ensure proper and equal application of tension to the bolts and studs of the connections.", "To overcome some of the problems associated with ordinary wrench and torque wrench application of tension, various bolt or stud tensioning apparatus have been developed.", "Examples of such apparatus may be seen in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,866,370;", "3,015,975;", "3,158,052;", "3,230,799;", "and 3,749,362.", "There are several problems associated with such stuc or bolt stretchers or tensioners.", "For one, they are relatively expensive to manufacture and use.", "To assure equal application of tension may require several pieces of equipment.", "Since the bolt and stud tensioning apparatus of the prior art are expensive, they are naturally designed for reuse.", "As a result, most, if not all, of the bolt and stud tensioners of the prior art require attachment to the end of the stud for application of the tensioning force.", "This means that tension must be applied with the stud nut already engaged with the stud and that some means must be provided for internal access to the tensioning unit to tighten the stud nut upon application of the desired tensioning force.", "Although various mechanical devices have been developed to improve this feature, they make the unit more expensive, complex and difficult to apply.", "SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides stud or bolt tensioning apparatus and method which eliminate many of the problems of the prior art.", "The apparatus is both less complex and less expensive to manufacture and operate.", "The apparatus may comprise: a housing for surrounding the stud in a fixed relationship;", "a piston member disposed within and sealingly engaging the housing, a passageway centrally disposed in the housing and piston through which the stud shaft may extend and be attached to the piston member;", "at least one annular chamber defined by the housing and piston member;", "and at least one port communicating with the chamber through which pressure may be applied to the piston member for movement thereof to place the stud in tension.", "In its method of use, the tensioning apparatus is placed around the stud shaft, with the stud nut removed, and the piston member attached to the shaft so that the shaft extends through the central passageway exposing one of its ends externally of the housing.", "Then pressure is applied to the chamber and against the piston so as to place a predetermined tension on the stud shaft.", "Then the exposed end of the stud shaft is engaged by a cooperating nut which is threaded thereon until it bears against the housing for holding the stud shaft in tension after removal of the pressure.", "If it is desired to subsequently release the attached objects or remove the studs therefrom, pressure may be reapplied to the chamber and against the piston to allow manual disengagement of the stud nut from the stud shaft.", "Since this type of tensioning unit is simple and cheap to manufacture, it may be left in place as an expendable item at a cost less than that required when using removable stud tensioners of the prior art.", "One distinctive advantage of the stud tensioner of the present invention is that the stud is not gripped from the end, as in the prior art, allowing the nut to be placed on the end of the stud, after tensioning, for easy installation and manipulation.", "Furthermore, the design of the present invention lends itself to remote operation, and to usage where other methods and apparatus are unusable.", "Many other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from a reading of the description which follows in conjunction with the accompanying drawing.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an elevation view, in section, of a preferred embodiment of the tensioning apparatus of the present invention, showing the apparatus in its initially installd position for placing a stud in tension;", "FIG. 2 is an elevation view, in section, showing the preferred embodiment of the tensioning apparatus of FIG. 1, illustrating the apparatus in its final tensioning position;", "and FIG. 3 is an elevation view, in section, illustrating an alternate embodiment of the tensioning apparatus of the present invention utilizing a multi-piston assembly.", "DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring first to FIGS. 1 and 2, the tension apparatus T of the present invention is shown for use in placing and holding tension on a fastener device, such as a stud S. The stud S is shown for fastening two objects such as a body B and flange F of a flange type connection.", "An annular seal ring or gasket R is shown between the flange F and body B for establishing a fluidtight seal upon proper connection.", "The body B is tapped and threaded at 1 to threadedly receive one end of a fastener device such as the stud S. The flange F is provided with holes 2 through which the stud S may extend for eventual engagement by nut N (see FIG. 2).", "The tensioning apparatus T comprises a cylindrical housing 3 having inwardly directed projections 4 and 5 forming the ends of the housing but leaving openings 6 and 7 therein.", "For assembly purposes, one or more of the projections 4 and 5, 5 in the present case, may be conveniently formed as a ring for threaded engagement at 8 with the remainder of the cylindrical housing 3.", "The housing may also have one or more ports 9 for providing fluid communication between the exterior and interior of the housing 3.", "Centrally disposed within the housing 3 for relatie movement therein between a first position, as shown in FIG. 1, and a second position, as shown in FIG. 2, is a piston member 10.", "The piston member 10 is centrally bored and threaded at 11 and together with the openings 6 and 7 of the housing 3 provide a passageway through which the shaft of the stud S may extend for exposure of one of its ends externally of the tensioning apparatus T. The threaded bore 11 of the piston member 10 is threaded for cooperative engagement with the stud S. Although the piston member 10 is free to move, within limits, in an axial direction relative to the housng 3, rotation relative thereto is prevented by a key and keyway assembly 12.", "Such as assembly may be provided by boring a hole whose axis lies at the interface between the housing projection 4 and the piston 10 and inserting a cylindrical key therein.", "The piston member 10 comprises a cylindrical body portion 13 and a larger diameter head portion 14.", "The body portion 13 slidingly and sealingly engages the housing extension 4 and an annular seal 15 is provided therebetween.", "The piston head 14 slidingly and sealingly engages the interior wall of housing 3 and an annulr seal 16 is provided therebetween.", "The piston member 10 can be designed for any length of stroke necessary.", "A variable annular chamber 17 is defined by the piston 10 and housing 3.", "The chamber 17 may be placed in fluid communication, through ports 9, with an external pressure source (not shown) for operation of the tensioning apparatus T. In operation, the tensioning apparatus T is placed on the end of stud S, with the nut N removed.", "The tensioning apparatus may then be manually rotated causing the piston member 10 to threadedly engage the stud S and to be drawn toward the flange F. Rotation is continued until the housing 3 and possibly the piston member 10 rest firmly against the flange F as a supporting surface, leaving the end of stud S projecting externally of the housing 3, as shown in FIG. 1. Then pressure may be applied from the external pressure source (not shown) to the chamber 17 through ports 9.", "This pressure is applied to the annular surface A 1 of the piston 10 causing the piston to move from its first or initial position of FIG. 1 to a second position, such as in FIG. 2. In the process, the stud S is stretched or tensioned.", "Since the annular area A 1 and the pressure applied thereto are easily determinable, the amount of tension placed on the stud S is easily controllable and measurable.", "Upon application of a proper tensioning force through the stud S, the nut N may be placed on its exposed end and manually threaded or run onto the stud S until the nut N snugly rests against the housing projection 5.", "At this point, the pressure may be relieved from the chamber 17 and the stud S held in proper tension simply by the nut N and its engagement with the tensioning apparatus T. Ordinarily, the pressure source may then be removed for other uses.", "If it is desired, at some subsequent time, to disconnect the body B and flange F, the pressure source may be again connected to the tension apparatus T for applying to the chamber 17 and piston member 10.", "Upon application of a sufficient force, the nut N may be manually disengaged and removed from the stud S leaving the tensioning apparatus T free for removal and consequently leaving the flange F free for disconnection from the body B. If desired, simple manual disengagement of the nut may be accomplished without use of pressure.", "An alternate embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG. 3 by which a greater amount of tensioning force may be applied to a stud S 1 .", "The alternate tensioning apparatus T 1 is shown in a similar use for fastening a flange F 1 to a flange body (not shown).", "Like in the previously described embodiment, the tensioning apparatus T 1 includes a cylindrical housing 20 having inwardly projecting ends 21 and 22 with openings 23 and 24 therein.", "However, in this embodiment, the housing may include two or more sections 25 and 26 threadedly connected at 27.", "Although it is not necessary, a seal 28 may be used to make this connection fluidtight.", "One of the sections 26 may provide an annular inwardly projecting shoulder 29 for dividing the housing into two piston areas, as will be more fully seen hereafter.", "The piston assembly 30 of the embodiment of FIG. 3 may be made up of two pistons, the first having a body and head 31 and 32, respectively, and the second having a body and head 33 and 34, respectively.", "The pistons may be threadedly connected as at 35 to make up the piston assembly 30.", "One or both of the pistons, the upper one in FIG. 3, may be threaded, as at 36 for engagement with the stud S 1 .", "The lower piston and lower housing section 25 define a lower annular chamber 37.", "The upper piston and housing section 26 define an upper annular chamber 38.", "These chambers 37 and 38 may be placed in fluid communication with an external pressure source (not shown) through ports 39 and 40 in the housing 20.", "Sealing of the pistons and chambers are provided by annular seals 41, 42, 43, 44.", "It is therefore clear that the piston assembly 30 is free to move, within limits, in an axial direction within the housing 20.", "Like in the previous embodiment, a key and keyway assembly 45 may be provided to prevent relative rotation of the piston assembly 30 within the housing 20.", "Operation of the tensioning apparatus T 1 of FIG. 3 is similar to that of the previously described embodiment.", "Initially, the tensioning apparatus T 1 is placed around the exposed end of stud S 1 with the nut N 1 removed.", "Rotation of the tensioning apparatus T 1 , through the threaded engagement 36 of the piston assembly 30 causes the housing 20 and piston assembly 30 to be drawn down snugly against the flange F 1 .", "Then pressure is applied through the chambers 37 and 38 forcing the piston assembly 30 to move from its first position to the second position of FIG. 3, placing the studs S 1 in tension.", "Since the piston assembly 30 has two annular surfaces, A 2 and A 3 , against which this pressure is applied, a greater amount of tensioning force can be applied to the stud S 1 than in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2.", "Again, since the areas A 2 and A 3 and the pressure applied thereto may be easily determined, a precisely measured and controlable force may be applied to the stud S 1 .", "After the proper force is applied, the nut N 1 may be engaged with the stud S 1 and manually run down until it rests against the housing projection 22.", "Then the external pressure source may be removed, the tension being permanently held on the stud by the engagement of nut N 1 with the tensioning apparatus T 1 .", "As in the previously described embodiment, the external pressure source can be reapplied to the piston assembly 30 for subsequent removal of the nut N 1 and disconnection of the object being held by the stud S 1 .", "From the foregoing, it can be seen that the stud or bolt tensioner of the present invention is a definite improvement over those of the prior art.", "It is less expensive to manufacture and use.", "Due to its low cost and ease of operation, it may be left in place as an expendable item at a cost less than that required when using removable stud tensioners of the prior art.", "Although the tensioning apparatus of the present invention has been described as single units for use on a single stud, it is to be clearly understood that several such units may be simultaneously utilized on a plurality of studs or other fasteners being used to connect two objects.", "In fact, a plurality of such units may be connected to a single pressure source so as to make up a unified assembly.", "Furthermore, although only two embodiments of the invention have been described herein, many variations thereof can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention.", "Therefore, it is intended that the scope of the invention be limited only by the claims which follow." ]

[ "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1.", "Field of the Invention The invention is relative to a method of producing racemic amino alcohols of general formula I ##STR1## in which R1 can be a straight-chain, branched or cyclic alkyl-, arylalkyl- or aryl group with up to 20C atoms, which group can, in addition, contain heteroatoms such as O, N or S, by means of the reduction of α-oximino carboxylic acids or their esters of general formula III ##STR2## in which R1 has the meaning indicated above and R2 stands for hydrogen or an alkyl group with up to four C atoms.", "Background Information Racemic amino alcohols of general formula I are important intermediate products in the production of optically active amino alcohols obtainable from the racemic compounds by resolutions of racemates.", "The latter can be carried out either enzymatically (F.", "Francalani, P. Cesti, W. Cabri, D. Bianchi, T. Martinengo, M. Foa, J. Org.", "Chem.", "1987, 52, 5079;", "S. Fernandez, R. Brieva, F. Rebolledo, V. Gotor, J. Chem.", "Soc.", "Perkin Trans.", "I 1992, 2885;", "H. S. Bevinakatti, R. V. Newadkar, Tetrahedron: Asymmetry 1990, 1, 583), by preferred crystallization of the one enantiomer (K.", "Saigo, H. Miura, K. Ishizaki, H. Nohira, Bull.", "Chem.", "Soc.", "Jpn.", "1982, 55, 1188) or classically by reacting with an optically active acid and fractionated crystallization of the diastereomeric salt pairs (DE 35 17 108 A1).", "The optically active amino alcohols obtained in this manner find many applications, e.g. in medicine or pharmacy as active substances or intermediate products as well as chiral inductors or catalysts in asymmetric synthesis.", "products as well as chiral inductors or catalysts in asymmetric synthesis.", "The required racemic amino alcohols of general formula I can be obtained in various ways.", "Thus, racemic amino acids or their esters can be reduced with diverse hydridic reagents to the corresponding amino alcohols (A.", "Abiko, S. Masamune, Tetrahedron Lett.", "1992, 33, 5517;", "M. J. McKennon, A. I. Meyers, K. Drauz, M. Schwarm, J. Org.", "Chem.", "1993, 58, 3568 and the literature cited there).", "In some instances, however, these compounds are not obtainable or not readily obtainable, e.g. in the case of (RS)-tert-leucine.", "It can then be advantageous to react α-keto carboxylic acids or their esters of general formula II, in which R1 has the meaning indicated above and R2 stands for hydrogen or a lower alkyl group with up to four C atoms, with hydroxylamine or one of its salts to form the α-oximino derivative of general formula III, in which R1 and R2 have the meanings indicated above, and ##STR3## then reduce the latter hydridically to a racemic amino alcohol of general formula I (R.", "Schroter in: Houben-Weyl, Methoden der Organischen Chemie German--"Methods of Organic Chemistry"!", ", volume XI/1 (editor--E.", "Muller), p. 495 ff, Georg Thieme Verlag, Stuttgart 1957;", "R. Hemmer, W. Lurken in: Houben-Weyl, Methoden der Organischen Chemie, volume E16d (editor--D.", "Klamann), p. 878 ff, Georg Thieme Verlag, Stuttgart 1992).", "However, only lithium aluminum hydride is known as a reducing agent for this.", "This is not only expensive but also problematic with respect to safety regulations because of its ready flammability.", "In a similar reaction sequence α-keto carboxylic acid esters were converted into the corresponding α-(N-trimethylsilyl) imino esters, which were then likewise 2reduced with lithium aluminum hydride to the racemic amino alcohols (Y.", "Matsuda, S. Tanimoto, T. Okamoto, S. M. Ali, J. Chem.", "Soc.", "Perkin Trans.", "I 1989, 279).", "SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A means was therefore sought of carrying out the reduction of readily producible α-oximino carboxylic acids or -esters of general formula III with a reduction agent which would be more advantageous in terms of expense and safety in order to be able to make available in this manner the racemic amino alcohols of general formula I in an easy, clean manner and with a good yield.", "This problem is solved by a method of the initially mentioned type with the features detailed in claim 1.", "Further advantageous embodiments of the invention are recited in the dependent claims.", "According to this method, the α-oximino carboxylic acids or -esters of general formula III are reduced easily, cleanly and in a good yield by means of reduction with an alkali boron hydride and sulfuric acid or also hydrogen chloride as activator in a solvent, to the racemic amino alcohols of general formula I. In an especially preferred variant of the reaction, the α-oximino carboxylic acid derivative is placed in a receiver with the alkali boron hydride and then hydrogen chloride or sulfuric acid is added in order to activate the reduction reaction.", "In particular, economical sodium boron hydride, but also lithium boron hydride can be considered as alkali boron hydride in this connection.", "2-5 (preferably 3-4) moles of the alkali boron hydride per mole of the α-oximino compound of general formula III are used for the reduction.", "It is advantageous to use 1 mole hydrogen chloride or 1/2 mole sulfuric acid for each mole alkali boron hydride for activation.", "The preferred solvents are ethers, especially those with a boiling point of below 90° C., especially 1,2-dimethoxyethane or tetrahydrofurane.", "These reagents are already known for the reduction of amino acids (Abiko, Masumune 1992).", "It advantageously happened that they are also very well suited for the reduction of α-oximino carboxylic acids or -esters of general formula III to racemic amino alcohols of general formula I;", "the reaction takes place in principle within a broad temperature range from approximately -20° C. to the boiling temperature of the solvent used, but preferably in such a manner that the reagents are brought together approximately at room temperature under optional cooling and the reaction is then completed by heating to temperatures of up to approximately 75° C. This was especially surprising for the reason that the agent with the reducing action is obviously diborane produced in situ (Abiko, Masamune, 1992) because it has been pointed out elsewhere (H.", "Feuer, D. M. Braunstein, J. Org.", "Chem.", "1969, 34, 1817) that oximes were able to be reduced to the corresponding amines by diborane only at an elevated temperature of 105°-110° C. in diethylene glycol dimethyl ether-THF whereas at 25°-65° C. no reaction or at 85°-90° C. only reduction to the corresponding hydroxyl amine was observed.", "In contrast thereto, for the reduction of α-oximino carboxylic acids or -esters of general formula III to racemic amino alcohols of general formula I carried out in accordance with the invention, such high temperatures and the use of the expensive solvent diethylene glycol dimethyl ether, which renders the workup difficult, can be surprisingly eliminated.", "On the contrary, it is even advantageous to use ethers with a boiling point of below 90° C. since (1) they are more economical, (2) the reduction can be carried out under relatively mild and protective conditions and (3) the solvent can be readily separated from the product by distillation within the framework of the workup.", "After the end of the reaction the reaction mixture is hydrolyzed with an alcohol and/or water, the organic solvent distilled off, the residue taken up in water and rendered acidic with hydrochloric acid or another acid, agitated for a time and then rendered alkaline, preferably with sodium hydroxide solution.", "The racemic amino alcohol of general formula I is extracted with a suitable organic solvent and purified further after evaporation to low bulk, if necessary by distillation, chromatography or recrystallization, optionally of a salt.", "On the whole, the method of the invention opens up a novel, especially simple access to racemic amino alcohols of general formula I by the reduction of α-oximino carboxylic acids or -esters of general formula III, which, for their part, can be readily produced from the corresponding α-keto acids or -esters of general formula II.", "The racemic amino alcohols of general formula I produced in accordance with the invention serve, among other things, as starting materials for resolutions of racemates which result in optically active amino alcohols.", "DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The invention is explained further in the following examples: EXAMPLE 1 Production of trimethylpyruvic acid oxime 163 g (1 mole) 93.5% trimethylpyruvic acid sodium salt and 69.5 g (1 mole) hydroxylamine hydrochloride were dissolved at 40° C. in 450 ml water.", "The product crystallized out during slow cooling off under agitation.", "After 1.5 h agitation in an ice bath the crystals were filtered off, washed with 150 ml ice water and at first pre-dried in a vacuum at 60° C. and then post-dried in a vacuum desiccator over phosphorus pentoxide to constant weight.", "117.8 g (yield 81%) trimethylpyruvic acid oxime in the form of colorless crystals were obtained.", "Melting range: 120°-122° C. (decomposition) (lit.", ": 121° C. (F.", "Knoop, G. Landmann, Z. physiol.", "Chem.", "1914, 89, 157)) C 6 H 11 NO 3 calc.", "C 49.64 H 7.64 N 9.65 (145.16) obs.", "C 49.75 H 7.89 N 9.71 EXAMPLE 2 Production of (RS)-tert-leucinol First, 120 ml (2.25 moles) conc.", "sulfuric acid were added dropwise under agitation at a maximum of 15° C. to 480 ml 1,2-dimethoxyethane (DME).", "218 g (1.5 moles) trimethylpyruvic acid oxime were added in portions to an agitated suspension of 171 g (4.5 moles) sodium boron hydride in 1500 ml DME at 10°-30° C., during which a vigorous development of gas began.", "Then the sulfuric acid-DME solution was added dropwise under ice cooling within 2.5 h, during which the temperature rose from 10° C. to 40° C. and, after removal of the cooling, to 55° C. The mixture was then heated to 70° C., cooled, and the batch allowed to stand for 2 days at room temperature.", "In order to destroy excess boron hydride, first 200 ml methanol were added dropwise at 20°-55° C. and then 100 ml water, during which the temperature rose to 60° C. A vigorous development of gas was observed during the entire hydrolysis procedure.", "The mixture was then evaporated in a vacuum to a thin pulp and the organic solvent mixture distilled off after the addition of a further 500 ml ice water.", "After the addition of a further 600 ml water, 200 ml conc.", "hydrochloric acid were added dropwise at 25° C., during which the temperature rose to 35° C. and a vigorous development of gas began again.", "After 15 min of post-agitation the suspension was compounded with 1500 ml toluene and alkalinized with 300 ml 50% sodium hydroxide solution.", "The temperature, which rose during this procedure to 55° C., was elevated further to 70° C., whereupon the toluene phase was separated.", "The aqueous phase was extracted twice again with 1 l toluene, each time at 70° C. The combined toluene phases were then treated with Celite, filtered and evaporated to dryness in a vacuum, yielding 158 g of a yellowish oil which crystallized in the cold.", "Distillation yielded 125.1 g (yield 71%) (RS)-tert-leucinol as a colorless liquid which solidified at room temperature.", "A 1 H-NMR spectrum corroborated the suggested structure.", "Boiling range: 86°-95° C./13 mbar Melting range: 34°-35° C. C 6 H 15 NO calc.", "C 61.49 H 12.90 N 11.95 117.19 obs.", "C 61.10 H 13.15 N 11.88 EXAMPLE 3 Production of 2-hydroxyimino-4-phenyl butyric acid ethyl ester 103.14 g (0.5 mole) 2-oxo-4-phenyl butyric acid ethyl ester, 34.75 g (0.5 mole) hydroxylamine hydrochloride, 104 ml (0.75 mole) triethylamine and 500 ml ethanol were agitated overnight at room temperature.", "The batch was then evaporated to dryness and the residue taken up in 700 ml methyl-tert-butyl ether.", "After washing with 200 ml water, 200 ml 0.2N hydrochloric acid and 100 ml water, the organic phase was evaporated to dryness and the residue recrystallized after filtration from 170 ml toluene.", "52.9 g (48%) 2-hydroxyimino-4-phenyl butyric acid ethyl ester were isolated in the form of colorless crystals.", "A 1 H-NMR spectrum corroborated the suggested structure.", "Melting range: 84°-85° C. EXAMPLE 4 Production of (RS)-2-amino-4-phenyl-1-butanol ((RS)-homophenyl alaninol) 33.2 g (0.15 mole) 2-hydroxyimino-4-phenyl butyric acid ethyl ester were steadily introduced under agitation into a suspension of 24.15 g (0.64 mole) sodium boron hydride in 200 ml 1,2-dimethoxyethane (DME).", "Within 1 h a solution of 17.2 ml (0.32 mole) conc.", "sulfuric acid in 60 ml DME was added dropwise thereto, during which the temperature was maintained at 20°-30° C. The mixture was subsequently heated slowly to 62° C., then agitated 5 h at this temperature and cooled overnight under agitation to room temperature.", "After a careful addition of 50 ml methanol the batch was evaporated to dryness, the residue taken up in 120 ml water and compounded with 25 ml conc.", "hydrochloric acid, during which a vigorous development of gas began.", "After the addition of 150 ml toluene the mixture was agitated until the end of the development of gas, then alkalinized with 35 ml 50% sodium hydroxide solution and heated to 60° C. The organic phase was separated and the aqueous phase extracted again with 80 ml toluene at this temperature.", "The combined organic phases were dried over sodium sulfate and evaporated.", "25.0 g raw (RS)-2-amino-4-phenyl-1-butanol remained as residue in the form of a brownish, viscous oil.", "The structure was corroborated by a 1 H-NMR spectrum.", "References cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference.", "Further advantages and embodiments of the invention result from the following claims." ]

[ "CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION [0001] This application claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/799,965 filed May 11, 2006, and entitled “FUNCTIONALIZED LANTHANIDE RICH NANOPARTICLES AND USE THEREOF”", "which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.", "FIELD [0002] The technology relates to nanoparticles that are prepared from lanthanide rich nanoparticles and a coating to provide a product nanoparticle, which in turn can be conjugated to a selected material.", "The technology also relates to methods of using functionalized nanoparticles.", "BACKGROUND [0003] There is a large interest in the development of highly luminescent biomaterials for biological applications such as biolabeling, drug delivery, diagnostics of infectious and genetic diseases, etc.", "[1] Materials such as traditional organic dyes [2] , quantum dots [3] , and metal nanoparticles [4] are widely applied in biological analyses but have some limitations.", "Organic dyes have a number of known drawbacks such as weak photostability, broad absorption and emission band, and toxicity.", "[2] Various semiconductor quantum dots display high photostability, size dependant emission, high quantum yields, and narrow emission bandwidth and have successfully been applied in biological applications.", "[3] However, they are still controversial because of their inherent toxicity and chemical instability.", "[5] Moreover, their inherent short-lived luminescent lifetime may overlap with the spontaneous background emission sources (natural fluorescence of biomolecules such as proteins is within 1-10 ns).", "Noble metal nanoparticles (e.g. gold nanoparticles) which are known to scatter and absorb visible light make them potentially suitable candidates for biosensors.", "[4] Though these noble metal nanoparticles posses biocompatibility, their optical properties in the visible region may overlap with natural proteins.", "Halas et al.", "[6] have addressed this issue in a different way by developing a gold nanoshell over a silica sphere of sub-micron size for bio-applications such as the integration of cancer imaging and therapy.", "Notwithstanding this progress, there is still a need for more efficient biolabels with high photostability, biocompatibility, optical properties, and ultrasensitivity to bioassays.", "[0004] In order to address these key issues, the development of an alternative biomaterial via lanthanide-doped nanoparticle is gaining popularity due to their unique luminescent properties such as sharp absorption and emission lines, high quantum yield, long lifetimes and superior photostability.", "[7] In particular, lanthanide ions are known to exhibit both efficient energy down- and up-conversion emission properties, where the down-conversion process is the conversion of higher energy photons into lower energy photons, which is also widely exploited in quantum dots as well as in organic dyes.", "[8] In contrast, the up-conversion process converts lower energy photons via multiphoton processes into higher energy photons, and is, in general, based on sequential absorption and energy transfer steps.", "[9] One has to bear in mind that this event is different from multiphoton absorption processes, which typically require high excitation densities.", "[9] [0005] At present, there are only a select number of reports on the use of lanthanide-based nanoparticles as potential biolabels that emit in the visible region, by either up-conversion or down-conversion processes.", "[5] Examples include the bioconjugation of Ln 3+ -doped LaF 3 nanoparticle to avidin by our group [10] , and work done by Caruso and co-workers [11] with the functionalization of LaPO 4 :Ce/Tb nanoparticles with streptavidin for biotin-streptavidin binding studies.", "In addition, a recent contribution from Li and co-workers [12] demonstrate that an Er 3+ /Yb 3+ up-converting nanoparticle label can be used in FRET type analysis, whereby the emission of the up-converting nanoparticle is quenched by the energy accepting gold nanoparticle that are functionalized with biotin for biotin-avidin detection and quantification.", "Although these articles prove the principle of bioconjugation, they have three main drawbacks.", "The first is long term stability where it has been reported that ionic bound stabilizing ligands can be protonated off the surface of the nanoparticles in pH-dependent solutions.", "[10] The second is toxicity due to exposure of lanthanide ions to the body, and finally they emit only in the visible region.", "Only a few reports have dealt with these issues by developing a silica shell over the lanthanide-doped materials, such as, silica-coated YVO 4 :Eu 3+ nanoparticles functionalized with guanidinium for sodium channel targeting by Beaurepaire et al.", "[13] , and silica-coated Gd 2 O 3 :Tb 3+ nanoparticle functionalized with streptavidin by Louis et al.", "[14] Additionally Niedbala and co-workers have done up-converting, silica-coated, lanthanide-doped submicron-sized ceramic particles for DNA assays.", "[15] The use of a silica coating over lanthanide-doped nanoparticles is an attractive alternative because the surface chemistry of silica spheres is well documented and silica is known to have benign effects in biological systems.", "[16] Up-converting and near-infrared (NIR) emitting biolabels with silica coating would be beneficial because up-converting materials can be excited with NIR light, which is outside the luminescent absorption range of biomolecules, thus minimizing loss of excitation energy to the surrounding material as compared to exciting with UV light.", "[5] Furthermore, excitation and emission in the NIR region can minimize interferences from the autofluorescence of proteins.", "However, these reports only show emission in the visible region by a down-conversion process, and to the best of our knowledge, there are no reports available on silica-coated lanthanide-doped nanoparticles, which have near-infrared emission (750-2000 nm) and up-converted emission.", "[0006] There are other disadvantages of the existing biolabels.", "First they suffer from quenching.", "Second they have a low range of emission lines.", "Third they suffer losses of excitation energy to the surrounding material because they are excited with UV light.", "Fourth, skin and other biological materials are not very transparent to UV-Vis light, thus deep penetration of light is difficult.", "Fifth there is interference from auto-fluorescence of proteins, nucleic acids and others cellular components.", "Sixth, some biolabels are not easily removed from the body for example by secretion through the kidneys.", "Seventh, low luminescent lifetimes, size-dependent emission (as in quantum dots), and instable photocycle.", "[0007] Turning to telecommunications, in recent years, advances in Tm 3+ -doped materials for telecommunication devices have been used to expand the transmission bandwidth of optical fibers beyond the range available from Er 3+ -doped fiber amplifiers, by taking advantage of the 1.4 μm emission wavelength from Tm 3+ [i] .", "This need is a result of a surge of interest in increasing the traffic on wavelength-division multiplexing optical communication networks offered by installed silica-glass fibers.", "However, until recently the OH content in most fiber-optics prevented engineers from taking advantage of the S-band due to the sensitivity of Tm 3+ to quenching.", "Now, the development of low-loss fibers has allowed Tm 3+ -doped fluoride or silica fiber amplifiers to produce effective amplifications from 1450 to 1520 nm [ii].", "In addition to the 1.4 μm emission band, a large amount of research is also being carried out to develop the 1.8 μm emission band of thulium, which has become of interest for light detection and ranging (LIDAR), remote sensing, and potential medical laser applications [iii] .", "[0008] Other important applications of Tm 3+ -doped materials have occurred in the field of nanoparticle up-conversion technology [iv,v,vi,vii,viii,ix] , where excitation with low energy (e.g. near-infrared light) results in higher energy emission (e.g. visible region), and are being developed for, among others, display technology (flat screen display) iv,x , blue laser diodes [xi] and biolabel technology [xii,xiii,xiv,xv,xvi,xvii] .", "Limited work has been published on the development of Tm 3+ -doped nanoparticles for near-infrared applications such as telecommunications and laser-diode technology.", "Work done by Higuchi et al.", "[xi] have reported the preparation of LuVO 4 nanoparticles doped with Tm 3+ by means of a floating zone method under pure oxygen, resulting in elongated crystals that exhibited emission at 1.8 μm.", "Other work by Lai et al.", "[xviii] and Zhang et al.", "[x] have developed Tm 3+ -doped (Y,Gd)P 0.5 V 0.5 O 4 and Tm 3+ -doped YVO 4 nanoparticles by co-precipitation and polymerizable complex methods, respectively, but they have only reported emission bands in the visible region.", "Work done by Riman et al.", "[xix] have reported the development of LaCl 3 particles doped with Tm 3+ at various concentrations and observed 1.47 μm emission, but no particle-size analysis was presented.", "To the best of our knowledge, there are no reports in the literature describing the preparation and spectral properties of processable Tm 3+ -doped nanoparticles that exhibit photoluminescence at 1.47 μm, and allow for easy surface modification to fine-tune their properties.", "[0009] It is an object of the present technology to overcome the deficiencies in the prior art.", "SUMMARY [0010] The preparation and bioconjugation of nearly monodisperse (approximately 40 nm) silica-coated LaF 3 :Ln 3+ nanoparticles is provided by this technology.", "Doping of the LaF 3 core with selected luminescent Ln 3+ ions allows the particles to display a range of emission lines from the visible to the near-infrared region (450-1650 nm).", "First, the use of Tb 3+ and Eu 3+ ions resulted in green (541 nm), and red (591 and 612 nm), respectively, by energy down-conversion processes.", "Second, the use of Nd 3+ gave 870, 1070 and 1350 nm emission lines, and Er 3+ ion gave 1540 nm emission lines, respectively, by energy down-conversion processes.", "Additionally, the Er 3+ ions gave green and red emission and Tm 3+ ion gave 800 nm emission, via up-conversion processes when co-doped with Yb 3+ (λ ex =980 nm).", "Bioconjugation of avidin, which is bound to fluorophore FITC as the reporter, was first done by surface modification of the silica particles with 3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane, followed by the reaction of the biotin-N-hydroxysuccinimide activated ester to form an amide bond, imparting biological activity to the particles.", "A 25-fold increase in the FITC signal over the non-biotinylated silica particles indicates that there is minimal non-specific binding of FITC-avidin to the silica particles.", "[0011] Also described is a general procedure for the synthesis of dispersible silica-coated, core-shell (LaF 3 :Tm)LaF 3 nanoparticles with an average diameter of 40 nm and emission at 1.47 and 1.87 μm.", "Measurement of the citrate-stabilized precursor nanoparticles in D 2 O exhibited 1.47 μm emission with an effective lifetime of 9 μs and an estimated quantum yield of <1%.", "Drastic improvements of the emission properties was done by forming a silica shell around the nanoparticles via a modified Stöber method, then curing at 900° C. for 24 hr.", "Excitation with a 785 nm CW diode laser resulted in the luminescence of the 3 H 4 - 3 F 4 transition at 1.47 μm with an effective lifetime of 151 μs and an increase in the estimated quantum yield to 10%.", "High-resolution measurements at 77 K were carried out in order to improve the resolution of the crystal field splitting observed from the 3 F 4 level.", "Finally, 1.87 μm emission from the 3 F 4 - 3 H 6 transition was observed upon cooling to 77 K. [0012] In one embodiment, a lanthanide rich product nanoparticle is provided.", "The product nanoparticle comprises: [0000] a lanthanide rich precursor nanoparticle synthesized from a mixture comprising lanthanide ions;", "and a coating comprising one or more of silica, alumina, zirconia, titania, hafnia, tantalum pentoxide, niobium pentoxide, germanium dioxide, Ln 2 O 3 (Ln=La to Lu, Y, Sc), and MO2 (M=Be, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba), wherein the product nanoparticle is less than about 350 nm in diameter.", "[0013] In one aspect, the lanthanide ions are selected from the group consisting of Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, La, Lu, Y and Sc.", "[0014] In another aspect, the mixture comprises at least two lanthanide ions.", "[0015] In another aspect, the precursor nanoparticles are core-shell nanoparticles.", "[0016] In another aspect, the precursor nanoparticles comprise a metal halide salt.", "[0017] In another aspect, the precursor nanoparticles comprise a metal fluoride salt.", "[0018] In another aspect, the shell comprises LaF 3 .", "[0019] In another aspect, the precursor nanoparticles comprise LaF 3 :Ln (Ln=Er, Tb, Eu, Nd, or Tm).", "[0020] In another aspect, the coating is silica.", "[0021] In another aspect, the precursor nanoparticles comprise MF 2 :Ln (M=Be, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba;", "Ln=Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb).", "[0022] In another aspect, the precursor nanoparticles comprise M 1 M 2 F 4 :Ln (M 1 =Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs;", "M 2 =La, Gd, Lu, Y, Sc;", "Ln=Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb).", "[0023] In another aspect, the lanthanide rich product nanoparticles range in size from about 5 to about 150 nm in diameter.", "[0024] In another aspect, the lanthanide rich product nanoparticles range in size from about 5 to about 100 nm in diameter.", "[0025] In another embodiment, a functionalized nanoparticle is provided.", "The functionalized nanoparticle comprises: [0026] a product nanoparticle comprising: [0027] a precursor nanoparticle synthesized from a mixture comprising lanthanide ions;", "[0028] a coating comprising one or more of silica, alumina, zirconia, titania, hafnia, tantalum pentoxide, niobium pentoxide, germanium dioxide, Ln 2 O 3 (Ln=La to Lu, Y, Sc), and MO2 (M=Be, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba), to produce a product nanoparticle;", "and [0029] a presenting substrate, the presenting substrate conjugated to the product nanoparticle for functionalizing the product nanoparticle, wherein the functionalized nanoparticle is less than about 350 nm in diameter.", "[0030] In one aspect of the functionalized nanoparticle, the lanthanide ions are selected from the group consisting of Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, La, Lu, Y and Sc.", "[0031] In another aspect of functionalized nanoparticle, the mixture comprises at least two lanthanide ions.", "[0032] In another aspect of functionalized nanoparticle, the precursor nanoparticles are core-shell nanoparticles.", "[0033] In another aspect of functionalized nanoparticle, the precursor nanoparticles comprise a metal halide salt.", "[0034] In another aspect of functionalized nanoparticle, the precursor nanoparticles comprise a metal fluoride salt.", "[0035] In another aspect of functionalized nanoparticle, the shell comprises LaF 3 .", "[0036] In another aspect of functionalized nanoparticle, the precursor nanoparticles comprise LaF 3 :Ln (Ln=Er, Tb, Eu, Nd, or Tm).", "[0037] In another aspect of functionalized nanoparticle, the coating is silica.", "[0038] In another aspect of functionalized nanoparticle the presenting substrate is selected from the group consisting of avidin, streptavidin, biotin, antibody, polynucleotide, lectin, protein A, polypeptides and ligands selected from the group consisting of carboxylic acids and their esters, organo phosphorous compounds and their esters, phosphonates and phosphine oxides, alcohols, thiols, sulfoxides, sulfones, ketones, aldehydes, the group consisting of polymers of carboxylic acids and their esters, organo phosphorous compounds and their esters, phosphonates and phosphine oxides, alcohols, thiols, sulfoxides, sulfones, ketones, aldehydes the group consisting of and alkyl ammonium compounds (RNH 3+ , R 1 R 2 NH 2 + , R 1 R 2 R 3 NH + , R 1 R 2 R 3 R 4 N + , where R is independently selected from alkyl and aromatic groups.", "[0039] In another aspect of functionalized nanoparticle, the presenting substrate is avidin.", "[0040] In another aspect of functionalized nanoparticle the presenting substrate is surface modified.", "[0041] In another aspect of functionalized nanoparticle the precursor nanoparticles comprise MF 2 :Ln (M=Be, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba;", "Ln=Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb).", "[0042] In another aspect of functionalized nanoparticle the precursor nanoparticles comprise M 1 M 2 F 4 :Ln (M 1 =Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs;", "M 2 =La, Gd, Lu, Y, Sc;", "Ln=Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb).", "[0043] In another aspect of functionalized nanoparticle the functionalized nanoparticle range in size from about 5 to about 150 nm in diameter.", "[0044] In another aspect of functionalized nanoparticle the functionalized nanoparticles range in size from about 5 to about 100 nm in diameter.", "FIGURES [0045] Scheme 1.", "Schematic illustration of preparation and bio-conjugation of silica-coated LaF 3 :Ln 3+ nanoparticles.", "[0046] FIG. 1 .", "TEM image of as-prepared silica-coated LaF 3 :Nd nanoparticles.", "[0047] FIG. 2 .", "Emission spectra of as-prepared silica-coated a) LaF 3 :Eu nanoparticles (λ ex =464 nm), b) LaF 3 :Tb nanoparticles (λ ex =485 nm).", "[0048] FIG. 3 .", "Decay curve for silica-coated LaF 3 :Eu nanoparticles before surface modification.", "(λ ex =464 nm, λ em =591 nm, excitation source—OPO).", "[0049] FIG. 4 .", "Decay curve for silica-coated LaF 3 :Tb nanoparticles before surface modification (λ ex =485 nm, λ em =542 nm, excitation source—OPO).", "[0050] FIG. 5 .", "TEM image of as 800° C. heated silica-coated LaF 3 :Nd nanoparticles before surface modification.", "[0051] FIG. 6 .", "Emission spectra of 800° C. heated silica-coated a) LaF 3 :Nd nanoparticles (λ ex =514 nm), b) LaF 3 :Yb,Er nanoparticle (λ ex =980 nm).", "[0052] FIG. 7 .", "Decay curve for 800° C. heated silica-coated LaF 3 :Nd nanoparticles before surface modification.", "(λ ex =514 nm, λ em =1070 nm, excitation source—OPO).", "[0053] FIG. 8 .", "Decay curve for 800° C. heated silica-coated LaF 3 :Yb,Er nanoparticles before surface modification.", "(λ ex =488 nm, λ em =1540 nm, excitation source—OPO).", "[0054] FIG. 9 .", "Up-conversion emission spectra 800° C. heated silica-coated a) LaF 3 :Yb,Er nanoparticles (λ ex =980 nm), b) LaF 3 :Yb,Tm nanoparticles (λ ex =980 nm).", "[0055] FIG. 10 .", "Up-converted blue emission spectrum of 800° C. heated silica-coated LaF 3 :Yb,Tm nanoparticles before surface modification (λ ex =980 nm, excitation source −980 nm CW laser).", "[0056] FIG. 11 .", "Emission spectra of silica-coated LaF 3 :Tb nanoparticle after bioconjugation with FITC-avidin beads a) specific binding, b) non-specific binding (λ ex =485 nm).", "[0057] FIG. 12 .", "The emission spectra of FITC-avidin bound silica-coated LaF 3 :Tb nanoparticles in 10 mM phosphate-buffered saline solution.", "(λ ex =485 nm, excitation source—OPO).", "Inset shows the decay curve of Tb 3+ ion (λ ex =485 nm, λ em =542 nm, excitation source—OPO).", "The effective lifetime was calculated by neglecting the initial part of the decay curve (0-0.8 ms), which is from FITC.", "[0058] FIG. 13 .", "Emission spectra of silica-coated LaF 3 :Nd nanoparticle after bioconjugation with FITC-avidin beads in 10 mM phosphate-buffered saline solution a) specific binding, b) non-specific binding (λ ex =485 nm, excitation source—Xe lamp).", "[0059] FIG. 14 .", "The emission spectra of FITC-avidin bound silica-coated LaF 3 :Nd nanoparticles in 10 mM phosphate-buffered saline solution.", "(λ ex =514 nm, excitation source—OPO).", "Inset shows the decay curve of Nd 3+ ion (λ ex =514 nm, λ em =1070 nm, excitation source—OPO).", "[0060] FIG. 15 .", "A schematic diagram of the synthesis of the silica-coated, core-shell (LaF 3 :Tm)LaF 3 nanoparticles.", "Core and shell thicknesses are not to scale.", "[0061] FIG. 16 .", "A prior art schematic diagram of the relevant Tm 3+ levels and transitions.", "[0062] FIG. 17 .", "Emission spectrum of citrate-stabilized (LaF 3 :Tm(2%))LaF 3 in D 2 O. λ ex 785 nm.", "Inset shows the luminescent decay curve of citrate-stabilized (LaF 3 :Tm(2%))LaF 3 in D 2 O. λ ex 785 nm, λ em 1450 nm.", "[0063] FIG. 18 .", "Emission spectrum of silica-coated (LaF 3 :Tm(2%))LaF 3 as a KBr pellet.", "λ ex 785 nm.", "[0064] FIG. 19 .", "A. Overlaid emission spectra of silica-coated (LaF 3 :Tm(2%))LaF 3 at (a) 294 K and (b) 77 K. λ ex 785 nm.", "Deconvolution of the 3 H 4 - 3 F 4 transition measured at 77 K fitted with six Gaussian peaks.", "B. The overlaid lifetime analysis of silica-coated (LaF 3 :Tm(2%))LaF 3 at (a) 294 K and (b) 77 K. λ ex 785 nm, λ em 1450 nm.", "[0065] FIG. 20 .", "Emission spectrum of the 3 H 4 - 3 H 6 transition at 1.85 μm.", "λ ex 785 nm.", "DETAILED DESCRIPTION [0066] Herein, we report a general and easy method for the preparation and bioconjugation of silica-coated LaF 3 :Ln 3+ nanoparticles that display several non-overlapping emission lines that cover the visible to near-infrared region (450-1900 nm) through down-conversion as well as up-conversion processes, which can for instance be exploited in multiplexing applications.", "[xx] LaF 3 material has second lowest phonon energy of the commonly used Ln 3+ -doping matrices (Table 1 [xix,xxi,xxii] ) thus minimizing the quenching of the excited state lanthanide ions from lattice vibrations.", "Also the La 3+ ions are easily substituted within the LaF 3 matrix upon doping, without the problems associated with either a significant lattice mismatch of two different ions or lanthanide ion clustering.", "[0000] TABLE 1 Table of selected lattice phonon energies of commonly used matrices for Ln 3+ doping.", "Highest Phonon Material energy (cm −1 ) Phosphate glass 1200 Silica glass 1100 Fluoride glass 550 Chalcogenide glass 400 LaPO 4 1050 YAG 860 YVO 4 600 LaF 3 300 LaCl 3 240 DEFINITIONS [0067] Nanoparticles: The term “nanoparticles”", "as used herein, can also refer to nanoclusters, clusters, particles, dots, quantum dots, small particles, and nanostructured materials.", "When the term “nanoparticle”", "is used, one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that this term encompasses all materials with small size and often associated with quantum size effects, generally the size is less than 100 nm.", "Nanoparticles can comprise a core or a core and a shell, as in core-shell nanoparticles.", "All nanoparticles may have one or more Ln independently selected from the list below and comprise at least one of: LnX 3 (X=F, Cl, Br, I) LnOX (X=F, Cl, Br, I) Ln 2 X 3 (X=O, S, Se, Te) Ln 2 XxYy (X=O, S, Se, Te;", "Y=O, S, Se, Te) Ln 2 X 3 (X=CO 3 , C 2 O 4 , SO 4 , SO 3 ) LnX (X=PO 4 , PO 3 , VO 4 ) Borates Aluminates Gallates Silicates Germanates Niobates Tantalates Wolframates Molybdates Nitrides XO 2 (X=Ti, Zr, Hf, Ge, Sn, Pb) XO (X=Ge, Sn, Zn, Pb, Cd, Hg) X 2 O 5 (X=V, Nb, Ta) X 2 O 3 (X=Al, Ga, In) [0068] Precursor nanoparticle: A nanoparticle that is used for making a product nanoparticle.", "The resulting product nanoparticle may or may not be comprised of the precursor nanoparticle.", "Product nanoparticle: A nanoparticle prepared from a precursor nanoparticle and a coating comprising one or more of silica, alumina, zirconia, titania, hafnia, tantalum pentoxide, niobium pentoxide, germanium dioxide, yttrium oxide (Y 2 O 3 ), and gadolinium oxide (Gd 2 O 3 ).", "The product nanoparticle may or may not comprise precursor nanoparticle.", "The product nanoparticle can be a core-shell nanoparticle or it may only comprise the core.", "Lanthanides: The term “lanthanide”", "as used herein refers to Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, La, Lu, Y, Sc combinations thereof, compounds containing Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, La, Lu, Y, Sc and combinations thereof, and ions of Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, La, Lu, Y, Sc and combinations thereof.", "Ionic states ranging from +2 to +4 are contemplated.", "Presenting substrate: Any material that can interact with the silica coating by adhesion, or chemical bonding, including hydrophobic interactions, hydrogen bonding, ionic bonding and covalent bonding, for example, but not to be limiting.", "Presenting materials include, for example, but not limited to avidin, streptavidin, biotin, antibody, polynucleotide, lectin, protein A, polypeptides and any ligands.", "These can in turn can interact with, for example, but not limited to drugs, antigens, toxins antibodies, streptavidin, protein A, polypeptides, and polynucleotides.", "Functionalized nanoparticle: Any combination of a product nanoparticle and a presenting material.", "Reporters: fluoresceins, cyanines, xanthenes, rhodamines, acridines and oxazines.", "Ligands: All ligands may have one or more functional group independently selected from the following: Carboxylic acids and their esters;", "Organo phosphorous compounds (phosphonic and phosphinic acids and their esters), phosphonates, phosphine oxides;", "Alcohols;", "Thiols;", "Sulfoxides;", "Sulfones;", "Ketones;", "Aldehydes;", "[0069] Polymers of the above listed ligands;", "and Alkyl ammonium compounds (RNH 3+ , R 1 R 2 NH 2 + , R 1 R 2 R 3 NH + , R 1 R 2 R 3 R 4 N + , with Rx=alkyl or aromatic substituent).", "EXAMPLES [0070] Chemicals of the highest purity were obtained from Aldrich and used without further purification.", "The FITC-avidin was obtained from Invitrogen and used as received.", "All water used was distilled.", "All nanoparticles were made with LaF 3 at were doped at the respective % atom doping on the total Ln 3+ amount.", "Synthesis of Nanoparticles [0071] The synthesis is based on our earlier reported procedure to prepare the citrate-stabilized core-shell (LaF 3 :Tm 3+ )LaF 3 nanoparticles [ix,xxiii] .", "Around 2 g of citric acid was dissolved in 35 mL of water and the pH adjusted to 5 by adding NH 4 OH, then followed by the addition of NaF (0.1 g, 1.33 mmol).", "The solution was heated to 75° C. followed by the addition of La(NO 3 ) 3 [.", "].6H 2 O (0.54 g, 1.26 mmol) and Tm(NO 3 ) 3 [.", "].5H 2 O (0.02 g, 0.05 mmol) dissolved in 2 ml of methanol.", "After 10 min, the shell was formed by the addition of 10 drops at a time of La(NO 3 ) 3 [.", "].6H 2 O (0.6 g, 1.33 mmol) in 2 mL of methanol, and NaF (0.1 g, 1.33 mmol) in 2 ml of water, in sequential order.", "The reaction was allowed to continue for 2 h and finally the nanoparticles were precipitated by the addition of excess of ethanol to the reaction mixture.", "They were collected by centrifuge and dried for 24 h. Synthesis of Silica-Coated LaF 3 :Ln 3+ Nanoparticle [0072] 50 mg of citrate stabilized LaF 3 :Ln 3+ nanoparticles dissolved in 1.44 mL of distilled water was added to ethanol (20 mL) and 30% NH 4 OH (0.4 mL) mixture.", "1.2 mL of tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) was added to the above mixture.", "The mixture was stirred for 60 min.", "White coloured silica beads were centrifuged and washed with ethanol for several times.", "Silica beads were dried under vacuum.", "Silica-coated LaF 3 :Nd, LaF 3 :Yb,Er, and LaF 3 :Yb,Tm nanoparticles were heated at 800° C. for 12 hr in air.", "[0000] Surface Modification of the Silica-Coated LaF 3 :Ln 3+ Nanoparticles with 3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilanes (APTMS) [0073] 10 mg of silica-coated LaF 3 :Ln 3+ nanoparticles were suspended in 10 ml of ethanol, followed by the addition of 0.5 ml (2 mmol) of APTMS and stirred for 24 hr at room temperature.", "The particles were isolated and purified by centrifugation, washed 3 times with ethanol and dried under reduced pressure.", "Biotinylation of Silica-coated LaF 3 :Ln 3+ Nanoparticles [0074] 10 mg of APTMS modified silica-coated LaF 3 :Ln 3+ nanoparticles were suspended in 2 ml of DMSO, followed by the addition of 10 mg (0.03 mmol) of (+)-biotin N-hydroxysuccinimide ester and stirred for 1.5 hr at room temperature.", "The particles were isolated and washed by centrifugation, washed once with water and three times with ethanol, and dried under reduced pressure.", "[0000] Biotin-FITC-avidin binding: 10 mg of amine-modified silica-coated LaF 3 :Ln 3+ nanoparticles were suspended in 10 ml of 10 mM phosphate-buffered saline, pH 7.4, followed by the addition of 0.4 ml of FITC-avidin (final avidin concentration of 0.1 mg/ml) and stirred for 2.5 hr at room temperature.", "The particles were isolated and purified by centrifugation, washed 5 times with 10 mM phosphate-buffered saline solution and resuspended in 10 ml of 10 mM phosphate-buffered saline solution.", "Characterization of Silica-Coated LaF 3 :Ln 3+ Nanoparticle Luminescence Studies [0075] Down-conversion luminescence analyses were done using an Edinburgh Instruments FLS 920 fluorescence system, which was equipped a CW 450W xenon arc lamp via an M300 single grating monochromator and a 10 Hz Q-Switched Quantel Brilliant, pumped by a Nd:YAG laser, attached with an optical parametric oscillator (OPO) with an optical range from 410 to 2400 nm.", "The excitation source used for up-conversion was a Coherent 2-pin 980 nm CW semiconductor diode laser with P max =800 mW at 1000 mA.", "The fiber is coupled to 100 μm (core) fiber.", "A red-sensitive Peltier-cooled Hamamatsu R955 photomultiplier tube (PMT), with a photon-counting interface, was used for analyses between 200 and 850 nm, and a N 2 -cooled (−80° C.) Hamamatsu R5509PMT was used for analyses between 800 and 1700 nm.", "All emission analyses in the visible region were measured with a 1 nm resolution.", "All emission analyses in the near-infrared region were measured with a 10 nm resolution.", "All spectra were corrected for detector sensitivity.", "Lifetime analyses for all nanoparticles were done by exciting the solution with a 10 Hz Q-Switched Quantel Brilliant, pumped by a Nd:YAG laser, with an optical range from 410 to 2400 nm, and collecting the emission using the respective detector mentioned above.", "Decay curves were measured with a 0.01 ms lamp trigger delay for the R955PMT.", "Effective lifetimes were calculated using origin 7 software.", "The effective lifetimes were calculated using origin 7 software based on the equation [1], [0000] τ eff = ∫ 0 ∞  t / ( t )   t ∫ 0 ∞  / ( t )   t [0076] All luminescence studies were carried out as dry powders for unmodified 800° C. heated silica-coated LaF 3 :Nd, LaF 3 :Er, LaF 3 :Yb, Er and LaF 3 :Yb, Tm nanoparticles.", "Other samples were carried as buffer solutions.", "Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM) [0077] TEM of the silica-coated LaF 3 :Ln 3+ nanoparticles was carried out using a Hitachi H-7000 microscope, operated at 100 kV.", "Around 1-2 mg of sample was dispersed in 5 mL of ethanol and a drop of this mixture was evaporated on a carbon-coated 300 mesh copper grids.", "Around 45 images were recorded from different region of the same sample and an average particle size was obtained based on a minimum of 100 particles.", "Results [0078] The transmission electron microscopy (TEM) image shown in FIG. 1 is of the as-prepared silica-coated LaF 3 :Nd nanoparticles, which clearly shows that almost all the silica beads have a single core LaF 3 :Nd nanoparticle (˜5 nm) in the center with an average shell thickness of ˜17 nm.", "The LaF 3 :Nd core has a slightly higher contrast than the SiO 2 shell.", "FIG. 2 a shows the emission spectrum of the as-prepared silica-coated LaF 3 :Eu nanoparticles, in which the major emission bands of the Eu 3+ ions at 590 nm and 612 nm are assigned to the 5 D 0 to 7 F 1 and 5 D 0 to 7 F 2 transitions, and an effective lifetime of 5.9 ms is assigned to the 5 D 0 level ( FIG. 3 ).", "Additionally, the emission spectrum of the as-prepared silica-coated LaF 3 :Tb 3+ nanoparticles is shown in FIG. 2 b , in which the most intense peak at 545 nm corresponds to 5 D 4 to 7 F 5 transition, and the peaks at 586 and 623 nm correspond to the 5 D 4 to 7 F 4 and 7 F 3 transitions, respectively.", "An effective lifetime of 3.7 ms is attributed to the 5 D 4 level ( FIG. 4 ).", "[0079] FIG. 5 shows the TEM image of silica-coated LaF 3 :Nd nanoparticle heated at 800° C. for 12 hr, resulting the beads to contract to an average shell thickness of ˜15 nm.", "FIG. 6 a shows the emission spectrum of the silica-coated LaF 3 :Nd nanoparticles, where the emission peaks at 870 nm, 1070 nm, and 1330 nm are from 4 F 3/2 transitions to 4 I 13/2 , 4 I 11/2 , and 4 I 9/2 , respectively, with a effective luminescent lifetime of 170 μs ( FIG. 7 ).", "Due to the ability of lanthanide ions to be excited indirectly through the sensitized emission of another lanthanide ion, FIG. 6 b shows the emission spectrum of silica-coated LaF 3 :Yb,Er nanoparticles, via sensitized emission from Yb 3+ to the Er 3+ ions, by direct excitation of the Yb 3+ ions at 940 nm.", "The importance of this spectrum demonstrates that though Er 3+ has no absorption lines at this wavelength, this process results in the simultaneous very weak emission of Yb 3+ at 980 nm (attributed to the 2 F 5/2 to 2 F 7/2 transition), and the shown sensitized emission of the Er 3+ ions at 1540 nm ( 4 I 13/2 to 4 I 15/2 transition), with an effective lifetime of 1.8 ms from the 4 I 13/2 level ( FIG. 8 ).", "[0080] The up-conversion emission spectrum of the 800° C. heated silica-coated LaF 3 :Yb,Er nanoparticles, FIG. 9 a shows the emission spectrum of the Er 3+ ions by up-conversion, with the peaks at 515, 540 nm, and 660 nm being assigned to the 2 H 11/2 to 4 I 15/2 , 4 S 3/2 to 4 I 15/2 , and 4 F 9/2 to 4 I 15/2 transitions, respectively.", "Furthermore, FIG. 9 b demonstrates the up-conversion emission spectrum of heated silica-coated LaF 3 :Yb,Tm nanoparticles, in which the emission band around 800 nm is a result of the 3 H 4 to 3 H 6 transition of Tm 3+ ions.", "Moreover, a weak Tm 3+ emission band at 475 nm was observed and assigned to the 1 G 4 to 3 H 6 transition ( FIG. 10 ), and is also a result of the up-conversion process.", "Preliminary results into the mechanism of the up-conversion process involving Tm 3+ suggest that it is occurring via energy transfer (ET) rather than an excited state absorption (ESA) or photoavalanche (PA) process.", "[ix] Some evidence has been gathered that the up-conversion involving Er 3+ likely proceeds via a photo-avalanche mechanism, if certain conditions are met.", "[0081] To test the ability for the core-shell silica nanoparticles to be bound to a biological system, surface modification of the silica shell with biotin was used as a model for nanoparticle binding with FITC-avidin, and the extent of binding monitored by the FITC emission intensity.", "Due to the biologically inert nature of silica, the shell had to be modified first in a two-step process in order to impart biotin activity, as shown in Scheme 1.", "[0082] The emission spectra of bioconjugation of silica-coated LaF 3 :Tb nanoparticles to FITC-avidin, which is overlaid along with non-biotinylated particles as control particles, is shown in the FIG. 11 .", "The emission spectra show an approximate 25-fold increase in FITC signal over the control particles, clearly proving that specific binding of avidin to the silica particles has been achieved, and that the signal from the control particles is likely a result of some physical adsorption of avidin onto the particles in a negligible amount.", "Our previous work has shown that coating the surface of LaF 3 :Ln 3+ nanoparticles with poly(ethylene glycol)-based ligands minimized the effects of non-specific binding, and we expect the same result with our current silica-coated particles.", "[10] FIG. 12 shows the Tb 3+ emission spectrum of the particles excited with high excitation power, in which the dominant 544 nm peak of Tb 3+ is visible on top of the FITC signal with an effective luminescent lifetime of 3.2 ms (inset in FIG. 12 ), which is in agreement with that of the unmodified and APTMS modified particles.", "The reason for the low Tb 3+ signal is due to the fact that lanthanide ions have a very low absorption coefficient when compared to FITC and with an excitation wavelength of 485 nm that excites both the FITC and the Tb 3+ ions, the emission spectrum of the FITC will dominate.", "[0083] The same binding experiments were carried on silica-coated LaF 3 :Nd nanoparticles resulting in a similar increase in FITC emission over the control particles ( FIG. 13 ).", "FIG. 14 shows the emission spectrum of the silica-coated LaF 3 :Nd nanoparticles, showing the characteristic peaks at 870 nm, 1064 nm and 1330 nm, with an effective luminescent lifetimes of 178 μs (inset in FIG. 14 ), which is in agreement with that of the unmodified particles.", "The formation of the silica coating over the LaF 3 :Nd and LaF 3 :Yb,Er nanoparticles improved the NIR luminescence significantly by minimizing the solvent quenching effect as compared to our previously reported citrate and 2-aminoethylphosphate stabilized LaF 3 :Nd nanoparticles.", "[10] [0084] The preparation of the (LaF 3 :Tm)LaF 3 citrate-stabilized nanoparticles followed established procedures resulting in an average particle diameter of 7-10 nm.", "[ix,xxiii,xxiv] [0085] Synthesis of the nanoparticles is outlined in FIG. 15 , which starts from citrate-stabilized LaF 3 :Ln 3+ precursor nanoparticles as the core matrix, followed by the formation of a LaF 3 shell, which is then coated with a silica shell via a modified Stöber process.", "[xxv] The resulting particles are fairly monodisperse with an average diameter of 40±5 nm (TEM).", "Energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis of the core-shell particles confirmed the presence of the Tm 3+ at 1% relative to La 3+ , meaning the core itself is doped at 2%, and gave a F to Ln ratio of ca.", "2.8:1 confirming that the surface is stabilized with citrate ions.", "[0086] FIG. 16 shows a schematic diagram of the excitation and emission levels of interest from Tm 3+ , where excitation of the nanoparticles into the 3 H 4 level at 785 nm result in two emission bands at 1470 nm ( 3 H 4 - 3 F 4 transition) and 1870 nm ( 3 F 4 - 3 H 6 transition).", "The emission and luminescent lifetime spectra of the particles, in D 2 O, are shown in FIG. 17 .", "The peak intensity of the emission band in FIG. 17 is centered at ca.", "1470 nm and is assigned to the 3 H 4 - 3 F 4 transition.", "The inset in FIG. 17 shows the decay curve of the particles with an effective lifetime of 9 μs.", "In comparison to a radiative lifetime of 1513 μs for Tm 3+ -doped LiYF 4 nanoparticles by Walsh et al.", "[xxvi] , the short luminescent lifetime of our particles is a result of high level of quenching, and is primarily attributed to the coordination of OD groups from the citrate molecules and D 2 O to the nanoparticle surface.", "Additionally, the short lifetime suggests that the LaF 3 shell does not completely shield the Tm 3+ ions from quenching effects.", "An estimation of the quantum yield (Φ) using the formula below [0000] Φ = τ obs τ rad [0000] results in a value less than 1%.", "Other reports of Tm 3+ -doped systems [xxvii,xxviii] such as glasses, silica fibers and ceramics have radiative lifetimes that are within ±0.2 ms of that referenced above, showing that the radiative lifetime (τ rad ) is not very sensitive to the crystal field.", "[0087] In order to improve the luminescent properties of the nanoparticles, reduction of the non-radiative decay processes was done by the formation of a silica-coating over the particles followed by curing at 900° C. for 24 hours.", "The curing process was found to improve the luminescent properties for two reasons: first, the high temperature removes most surface bound OH groups, such as water and Si—OH groups, which are known to quench luminescence.", "[ix,xxiii,xxiv] Moreover, the elevated temperatures convert a large portion of the Si—OH into SiO x groups, further minimizing the number of OH groups in contract with the LaF 3 shell.", "Secondly, the heating process also causes the silica shell to contract in diameter, densifying the shell and making it less porous to solvent, which also reduces quenching effects as reported elsewhere.", "[xxiv] [0088] FIG. 18 shows the emission spectrum of the particles at 294 K upon excitation at 785 nm, and exhibits a broad set of overlapping peaks centered around 1450 nm, and is attributed to the 3 H 4 - 3 F 4 transition.", "The broadness of the transition, which has some barely resolved fine structure, is in agreement with other reports [xxvi] and is a result of crystal field splitting of the 3 H 4 and 3 F 4 levels.", "To study further the crystal field splitting, the sample was cooled to 77 K and the emission spectrum was measured at a high resolution (2 nm).", "Shown in FIG. 19A are the overlaid emission spectra of the 3 H 4 - 3 F 4 transition at (a) 294 K and (b) 77 K, in which a reduction in the width of the emission band is seen indicating that the 3 H 4 levels are thermally populated at room temperature.", "An estimation of six crystal field levels by Gaussian deconvolution of the overlapped peaks of the 77 K emission was observed, which is similar to studies done by Ryba-Romanowski et al.", "[xxix] on Tm 3+ -doped SrGdGa 3 O 7 single crystals grown by the Czochralski method [xxx] , who also observed six of the nine theoretical crystal field levels for the 3 F 4 level.", "The nine crystal field levels of the 3 F 4 level are derived from the formula 2J+1, which is based on the Russell-Saunders assignment of 2S+1 L j , where J is the total angular momentum.", "The decay curves of the samples at 294 K and at 77 K are shown overlaid in FIG. 19B , with an effective lifetime of 151±10 μs and 188±10 μs, respectively.", "The difference in the two values suggests that there is a reduction in non-radiative processes for the cooled sample, as its lifetime is slightly longer.", "[0089] Finally, the low temperature analysis of the nanoparticles in FIG. 20 shows the emission spectrum of the 3 F 4 - 3 H 6 transition around 1.85 μm.", "Luminescent lifetime analysis could not be done due to the low luminescent output at that emission wavelength.", "[0090] In conclusion, a general and facile method for the production of bioconjugated silica-coated LaF 3 :Ln 3+ nanoparticles with a uniform size distribution has successfully been demonstrated.", "A wide range of emission lines (450-1650 nm) by up- and down-conversion processes have been achieved by doping with different lanthanide ions.", "In particular, the excitation with 980 nm light on co-doped silica-coated LaF 3 :Yb,Tm nanoparticles resulted in 800 nm emission by up-conversion processes, which is of potential to biological applications.", "The surface modification of silica-coated nanoparticles with APTMS, followed by biotin for biotin-avidin binding, resulted in a 25-fold increase in the FITC signal over non-biotin functionalized silica-coated nanoparticles.", "We have also successfully prepared silica-coated, core-shell (LaF 3 :Tm)LaF 3 nanoparticles that exhibited 1.47 μm and 1.87 μm emission.", "Use of the silica shell drastically improved the luminescence of the particles with an estimated quantum yield of 10% for the 3 H 4 - 3 F 4 transition, and is the highest reported value for any lanthanum trihalide nanoparticle.", "Finally, the 3 F 4 - 3 H 6 transition at 1.85 μm was measured at 77 K. 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[ "This application is a continuation of application Ser.", "No. 598,987, filed Apr. 11, 1984, and now abandoned.", "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The subject matter of the present invention is a method for the isolation of pollutants in permeable soils by the installation of sealing material around the endangering zone.", "It is known that the penetration of pollutants into soils, especially sandy, permeable soils, contaminates the ground water and thus can constitute a threat to potable water supplies.", "The penetration of such water-polluting liquids is often the unavoidable consequence of accidents, but may also be due to improper dumping done in times past, so that measures must be taken to stop further penetration.", "Particularly great is the threat of ground water contamination by nonaqueous liquids of greater specific weight, such as chlorinated hydrocarbons, for example, which sink all the way to the bottom of the aquifer, and by soluble substances, such as phenols and aqueous pollutant solutions which immediately dissolve upon entering the ground water and result in high pollutant concentrations.", "The technical and economic shortcomings of the remedial measures commonly taken heretofore--such as excavating and removing soil layers, lowering the ground water level by installing barriers in the ground and pumping out the pollutant solutions--as well as their risks, have led to the development of various methods which are based mostly on fixing the pollutants in place.", "This is intended to prevent the propagation of pollutants into the subsoil and ground water.", "These methods include, for example: 1.", "The transformation of soluble pollutants to insoluble substances by injecting a reactive substance into the area of the pollution.", "The application of this method, which was developed for the fixation of radioactive and highly toxic substances, to less dangerous pollutants is opposed on the grounds that it adds still another reactive chemical to the ground water.", "The injection of solidifying agents and sealing agents into the polluted zone for the purpose of fixing the pollutants in place (microencapsulation).", "Closing off the polluted zone with an impermeable vertical barrier containing bentonite or clay (sealing barrier) which is bonded at the bottom with the bottom of the aquifer, which is usually a dense clay lever (macroencapsulation) (cf.", "Spooner, Wetzel, Grube, Proc.", "3rd Nat.", "Conf.", "on Management of Uncontrolled Waste Sites, Washington, 1982, page 195).", "To fix the pollutants in place, the two last-named methods use injections and sealing barrier compositions, which provide a sufficient seal against water, but do not have the capacity to seal aqueous pollutant solutions or various organic liquids, such as chlorinated hydrocarbons and their aqueous solutions, and do not have sufficient stability (cf.", "loc.", "cit.", "page 167).", "SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The problem was therefore to develop a sealing system suitable for the containment of pollutants in permeable soils, which will be virtually impermeable not only to water but also to liquid, nonaqueous pollutants and aqueous pollutant solutions.", "As a solution to this problem, a method has now been discovered for the isolation of water supply endangering pollutants in permeable soils by the installation of sealing material around the endangering area, which is characterized in that the barriers surrounding the polluted area and extending all the way into the aquiferous soil strata, largely preventing the entry of ground water, are joined by a bottom-sealing injected floor which blocks off not only water but also liquid pollutants.", "This method is of special advantage in the treatment of sandy alluvial soils.", "The term "injected floor,"", "as used in connection with the invention, is to be understood to means a stratum of about 1 m in thickness installed by known methods, which consists essentially of alkali silicates which contain admixed alkyl alkoxysilanes.", "The term, "alkali silicates,"", "is to be understood in this case as the potassium silicates, and especially sodium silicates, known as water glasses.", "Depending on how they are manufactured, they are aqueous solutions with varying contents of alkali oxide and silica.", "They are therefore used as such aqueous solutions, it being preferred to use concentrated solutions of a density d 4 20 of about 1.25 to 1.40 (corresponding to 30° to 43° Baume).", "It is alsso possible, however, depending on the desired gelling time, to use more dilute solutions.", "The alkali silicate solutions contain as gelling agents trialkoxysilanes of the formula R-Si (OR') 3 , R representing an aliphatic moiety of 1 to 6 carbon atoms and R'", "identical or different alkyl moieties of 1 to 4 carbon atoms, which can be interrupted, if desired, by an oxygen atom, for example R 1 =--(CH 2 ) 2 --O--C 2 H 5 .", "Preferred trialkoxysilanes are n-propyl, isopropyl and isobutyl alkoxysilanes.", "Some of the alkoxy groups, if desired, can also be in hydrolyzed form as hydroxyl groups.", "The amount of silane in the mixture forming the injected floor depends on the molecular weight of the silane, on the silica content of the water glass solution, and on the desired setting time of the mixture.", "For mixtures containing 10 to 90% water glass solution by volume, of 30° to 40° Baume (d 4 20 =1.25 to 1.4), and having setting times of 30 to 50 minutes, it amounts to 10 to 140 grams per liter of mixture, corresponding to a molar ratio of silane to silica of (0.05 to 0.28):1.", "Generally, a higher silica content of the water glass solution requires a higher amount of the trialkoxysilane and a higher molecular weight of the silane requires a longer setting time.", "The installation of the setting mixture of water glass and alkyl alkoxysilanes in soils is performed in a known manner with the aid of known apparatus for soil injection and established techniques in sealing barrier construction.", "These procedures can be carried out from the ground surface.", "The injections must be performed such that a horizontal, or approximately horizontal, layer of the injection material is formed below the site of the damage and seals tightly to the vertical sealing barriers previously installed.", "These vertical walls can consist of sealing material known in itself, which has a sufficient sealing action against ground water, but has no adequate sealing action against various organic liquids or aqueous pollutant solutions, or has insufficient stability against such liquids and solutions, respectively.", "When the procedure of the invention is used, no ground water can, to any appreciable extent, penetrate in the horizontal direction into the area containing the pollutant, and the pollutant, or a solution containing the pollutant, is unable to escape downwardly into the ground water.", "It is therefore also possible, in accordance with the invention, to extend the vertical walls, not all the way down into the bottom of the aquifer, but only to the same depth as the zone of pollution, and then at this depth to establish the horizontal connection to the injected floor of the invention.", "In accordance with the invention, furthermore, it is also possible to veil the vertical walls on the inside and, if desired, the outside, with the mixture of water glass and alkyl alkoxysilanes, in order to seal the vertical walls, too, against the escape of pollutant solutions or liquids.", "In this case, dilute water glass solutions can also be used, having lower silane contents, accordingly.", "The usual thickness of the so-called curtain produced by this method is between 30 and 100 cm measured from the vertical wall.", "The process of the invention is suitable for use in cases of accidents caused by nonaqueous liquids of low specific gravity, such as mineral oils or tar oils, or their distillation products and residues, or by seepage from surface deposits including dumps, and in cases of accidents caused by pollutants of high specific gravity or water-soluble pollutants which might penetrate, for example, through the bottom of an upper aquifer into secondary aquifers.", "In the last-mentioned case, the injected floor is produced on the bottom surface of the upper aquifer.", "The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification.", "For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and specific objects obtained by its use, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 shows an arrangement of laboratory apparatus suitable for testing of the invention;", "and FIG. 2 shows the grain size distribution of the permeable soil used in testing of the invention.", "DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT From the results of the permeability tests to be described below, it is apparent that, by the injection of substances containing alkali metal silicates (water glass) and trialkoxysilanes, a seal against water is achieved, as well as resistance to pollutants, while by the injection of known sealing agents, however, only one or the other of these two objectives is achieved.", "A laboratory apparatus suitable for the requirements, which is shown in FIG. 1, was used in performing the tests.", "The injection substance 2 and water 4, respectively, are forced into the sand fill 1 from the bottom under light pressure;", "sand as such or mixed with the bentonite suspension is poured in from the top.", "After 24 hours of letting the gels solidify or soaking the bentonite, the sealed sand is loaded with the pollutant 3 or water 4, filtered through a sand layer 5.", "The loading was performed under a hydraulic gradient I=approximately 16, which was produced, not by positive pressure, but by negative aspiration from a water column, in order to be able also to test pollutants of low specific gravity floating on water in the same apparatus.", "The experimental arrangement corresponded to a case in which the pollutant has already penetrated to the surface of the injected floor.", "All of the experiments were performed with the same medium sand, grain-size distribution as in FIG. 2, using approximately the same hydraulic gradient (I=16±0.5) in order to obtain comparable test results.", "Measurement was made of the drop of the liquid level in the pollutant tube 6, which corresponds to the amount that has escaped.", "The permeability coefficient k given in the examples was calculated on the basis of the simplified Darcy equation, k=(Q/F.", "I) cm/sec, wherein: Q=rate of seepage in cubic cm per sec.", "F=filter area in sq cm;", "Δh=height of water column in cm=124 to 132 cm;", "D=thickness of permeated layer in cm=8 cm;", "and I=hydraulic gradient=Δh/D.", "Δh and D can be seen in FIG. 1. Since the cross section of the sealed sand increases from the entry to the exit of the liquid, the average filter surface F was reckoned at 33.2 square centimeters.", "EXAMPLE 1 The measuring apparatus was filled with sand 1 as represented in FIG. 1, and an injection solution 2 was forced into it from the bottom.", "The injection solution 2 was prepared by mixing 300 ml of sodium silicate solution of 37/40°Be, 1600 ml of water, and 100 ml (93 g) of n-propyltrimethoxysilane, and stirring for 15 minutes.", "After the solution has hardened, the gel was removed from the bottom fourth of the apparatus and replaced by water.", "After 24 hours, the pollutant tube was filled with water or the pollutant in question, and the lowering of its level was recorded daily over a period of about 5 to 8 weeks, while the hydraulic gradient was kept constant by liquid level control.", "The average rates of flow and permeability coefficients k given in the following table show a very good seal against water and aqueous pollutant solutions, and a virtually complete impermeability to nonaqueous pollutants.", "______________________________________Permeability of sand sealed with silane-silicate solution Length Seepage of test ratePollutant Gradient I (days) (avg.", "ml/day) -k (cm/sec)______________________________________Water 16 55 0.57 1.25 × 10.", "sup.", "-8Phenol, 8.4% 16.5 33 0.39 8.5 × 10.", "sup.", "-9in water0.1N sulfuric 16.5 48 0.21 4.4 × 10.", "sup.", "-9acidDiesel oil 16 40 0* 0Trichloro- 16 41 0* 0ethylenePerchloro- 16 56 0* 0ethylene______________________________________ *Only in the first 1 to 4 days did small amounts of the liquid penetrate superficially into the sealed sand, but no more after that.", "EXAMPLE 2 Performed as in Example 1, but with the use of an injection solution 1 which was prepared by mixing 300 ml of sodium silicate solution of 37/40° Be, 17 ml of water and 60 g (65 ml) of isobutyltrimethoxysilane, and stirring for 20 minutes.", "The sand layer sealed with this solution was loaded with perchloroethylene for 76 days under a hydraulic gradient of I=16.", "During the first 2 days, 4.3 ml of perchloroethylene penetrated into the sand layer, but no more thereafter.", "COMPARATIVE EXAMPLE 1 Under the same conditions, barriers were produced with known injection mixtures on a basis of water glass, and were tested.", "For these tests the following injection solutions were prepared: (A) Sodium aluminate-water glass mixture containing 15% water glass by volume, by mixing 300 ml of sodium silicate solution of 37/40° Be with 1670 ml of water and 30 ml (46.2 g) of sodium aluminate solution (25% alumina, 19% sodium oxide), (B) Sodium aluminate-water glass mixture containing 20% water glass by volume, by mixing 400 ml of water glass solution with 1565 ml of water and 35 ml (54 g) of sodium aluminate solution, (C) Ester-water glass mixture containing 40% water glass by volume, by mixing 800 ml of water glass solution with 1120 ml of water and 80 ml (96 g) of a commercial mixture of the dimethyl esters of adipic, glutaric, and succinic acid, and stirring for 15 minutes, with the addition of 2 g of an anionic emulsifier (alkylbenzene sulfonate).", "______________________________________Sub- Duration Seepagestance Gradi- of Test (avg.", "Injected Pollutant ent I (days) ml/day) -k (cm/sec)______________________________________A water 16 43 10.2 2.2 × 10.", "sup.", "-7 perchloro- 16 3 166.6* (break- ethylene through)B water 16 61 3.4 7.4 × 10.", "sup.", "-8 perchloro- 16.5 3 163.3* (break- ethylene through)C water 16 54.4 h 734.9 1.6 × 10.", "sup.", "-5 trichloro- 16 63.6 h 5.5 1.2 × 10.", "sup.", "-7 ethylene______________________________________ *Initially the seepage was slight, but increased sharply after 1 to 2 day until breakthrough (more than 100 ml/h) occurred.", "COMPARATIVE EXAMPLE II To test the sealing action of bentonite, the bentonite, together with the sand and an amount of water sufficient for filling the pores, was poured down into the test vessel.", "The injection of a bentonite suspension from the bottom was not possible in this case on account of the pressure that was required.", "The ratio of the dry weights of bentonite to sand was selected at a very high level in order to achieve sufficient sealing against water.", "The measurements, which were performed after soaking the bentonite for 2 days, at a gradient I=16, were as follows: water: seepage averaging 25.8 ml/day, corresponding to k=5.6×10 -7 ;", "trichloroethylene: seepage averaging 356 ml/day, corresponding to k=7.8×10 -6 .", "While the permeability to water slightly diminished in the course of the test, it increased considerably for trichloroethylene, and after only 85 hours, reached a k of 1.1×10 -5 .", "The requirements of a sufficient and lasting seal were thus not satisfied.", "It will be understood that the specification and examples are illustrative but not limitative of the present invention and that other embodiments within the spirit and scope of the invention will suggest themselves to those skill in the art." ]

[ "TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] The present invention relates to an art of a fuel injection pump provided in a diesel engine.", "BACKGROUND ART [0002] Conventionally, a fuel injection pump provided in a large diesel engine is known in which timing of fuel injection and number of fuel injection are controlled corresponding to driving state of the engine so as to improve fuel efficiency and to reduce exhaust gas emission.", "In the fuel injection pump, an electromagnetic spill valve is opened and closed in optional timing so as to perform fuel injection with high accuracy.", "[0003] In the fuel injection pump, a spill valve body of the electromagnetic spill valve is opened and closed corresponding to driving state of the engine intricately and rapidly, whereby large shock and big friction are caused continuously when a sealing surface of the spill valve body is seated on a valve seat formed in a housing of the electromagnetic spill valve.", "Accordingly, for improving wear resistance of the sealing surface and the valve seat, the whole spill valve body and housing must be configured by materials with high intensity, thereby increasing a production cost.", "[0004] Then, an art is proposed that a valve seat sleeve (insert piece) having a spill valve body (valve body) and a valve seat (valve seat part) is formed by materials with high intensity and press-inserted into a housing formed by normal materials so as to improve wear resistance and suppress increase of a production cost.", "For example, an art of the Patent Literature 1 is so.", "[0005] However, in the art disclosed in the Patent Literature 1, when the insert piece is not press-inserted at a suitable position, or when processing accuracy of the housing or the insert piece is not suitable so that the insert piece is moved in the housing, a fuel path formed in the housing may not be communicated with a fuel path formed in the insert piece, thereby cutting off the fuel paths.", "PRIOR ART REFERENCE Patent Literature [0000] Patent Literature 1: the Japanese Patent Laid Open Gazette Hei.", "11-294297 DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION Problems to Be Solved by the Invention [0007] The present invention is provided in consideration of the conditions as mentioned above, and the purpose of the invention is to provide a fuel injection pump in which a position of a fuel path of a housing can be matched easily to a position of a fuel path of an insert piece and the insert piece can be secured in the housing so as not to be rotatable.", "Means for Solving the Problems [0008] According to the present invention, in a fuel injection pump having an electromagnetic spill valve, the electromagnetic spill valve includes a housing in which an insert piece hole is formed, an insert piece formed substantially like a cylinder whose inner peripheral surface is provided therein with a valve seat and inserted detachably into the insert piece hole, a spill valve body formed substantially like a cylinder whose outer peripheral surface is provided therein with a seal surface which can be seated on the valve seat and inserted slidably into the insert piece, and a securing means securing a position of the insert piece concerning the insert piece hole around an axis.", "[0009] According to the present invention, the securing means includes a securing hole communicated with the insert piece hole from a side surface of the housing, a notched part formed in an outer peripheral surface of the insert piece facing the securing hole, and a securing member inserted into the securing hole and the notched part.", "[0010] According to the present invention, the securing means includes a housing side notched part formed in an inner peripheral surface of the insert piece hole, an insert piece side notched part formed in an outer peripheral surface of the insert piece facing the housing side notched part, a securing member inserted into the housing side notched part and the insert piece side notched part, and a sealing member sealing the insert piece and the securing member to an inside of the housing.", "[0011] According to the present invention, the securing means includes a housing side flat surface part formed in an inner peripheral surface of the insert piece hole, and an insert piece side flat surface part formed in an outer peripheral surface of the insert piece facing the housing side flat surface part.", "Effect of the Invention [0012] The present invention configured as the above brings the following effects.", "[0013] According to the present invention, the insert piece can be attached to the housing while being rotatable in the insert piece hole.", "Accordingly, a position of the fuel path of the housing can be matched easily to a position of the fuel path of the insert piece, and the insert piece can be secured in the housing by the securing means so as not to be rotatable.", "[0014] According to the present invention, the insert piece is secured to a predetermined position of the housing by the securing member.", "Accordingly, a position of the fuel path of the housing can be matched easily to a position of the fuel path of the insert piece, and the insert piece can be secured in the housing by the securing means so as not to be rotatable.", "[0015] According to the present invention, the insert piece is secured by the securing means configured between the insert piece hole and the insert piece.", "Accordingly, the securing means is sealed in an inside of the housing and is not exposed outside, whereby oil leak from the securing means can be prevented.", "A position of the fuel path of the housing can be matched easily to a position of the fuel path of the insert piece, and the insert piece can be secured in the housing by the securing means so as not to be rotatable.", "[0016] According to the present invention, the insert piece is secured to a predetermined position of the housing without any securing member.", "Accordingly, it is not necessary to provide the securing member, whereby number of assembly processes can be reduced.", "A position of the fuel path of the housing can be matched easily to a position of the fuel path of the insert piece, and the insert piece can be secured in the housing by the securing means so as not to be rotatable.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS [0017] FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a part of a fuel injection pump according to a first embodiment of the present invention.", "[0018] FIG. 2( a ) is an enlarged sectional view of an electromagnetic spill valve part of a fuel injection pump according to a second embodiment of the present invention.", "FIG. 2( b ) is an arrow sectional view of the line C-C in FIG. 2( a ).", "[0019] FIG. 3( a ) is an enlarged sectional view of an electromagnetic spill valve part of the fuel injection pump according to the first embodiment of the present invention which shows flow of fuel when the electromagnetic spill valve is closed.", "FIG. 3( b ) is an enlarged sectional view of the electromagnetic spill valve part of the fuel injection pump according to the first embodiment of the present invention which shows the flow of fuel when the electromagnetic spill valve is opened.", "[0020] FIG. 4( a ) is an enlarged sectional view of the electromagnetic spill valve part of the fuel injection pump according to the second embodiment of the present invention.", "FIG. 4( b ) is an arrow sectional view of the line D-D in FIG. 4( a ).", "[0021] FIG. 5( a ) is an enlarged sectional view of an electromagnetic spill valve part of a fuel injection pump according to a third embodiment of the present invention.", "FIG. 5( b ) is a perspective view of an insert piece according to the third embodiment of the present invention.", "FIG. 5( c ) is an arrow sectional view of the line E-E in FIG. 5( a ).", "[0022] FIG. 6( a ) is an enlarged sectional view of an electromagnetic spill valve part of a fuel injection pump of another embodiment.", "FIG. 6( b ) is perspective view of an insert piece of this embodiment.", "FIG. 6( c ) is an arrow sectional view of the line F-F in FIG. 6( a ).", "DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [0023] Next, an explanation will be given on a fuel injection pump 1 which is a first embodiment of the present invention referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 .", "Herein, a direction of an arrow A is regarded as an upward direction so as to define the vertical direction, and a direction of an arrow B is regarded as a rightward direction so as to define the lateral direction.", "[0024] As shown in FIG. 1 , the fuel injection pump 1 is connected to a low pressure pump (feed pump) (not shown), and pressurizes fuel from the low pressure pump and supplies the fuel to a fuel injection nozzle (not shown).", "The fuel injection pump 1 has a pump body part 10 , an electromagnetic spill valve 20 and a two-way delivery valve part 30 .", "[0025] The pump body part 10 includes a pump body upper part 11 , a barrel 12 , a plunger 13 , a plunger spring 14 , a tappet 15 , a cam (not shown) and the like.", "[0026] The pump body upper part 11 is formed substantially cylindrical and is secured to an upper part of a pump body lower part (not shown).", "In an axial part of a lower end surface of the pump body upper part 11 , a plunger spring chamber 11 a is formed in which the plunger spring 14 and the tappet 15 are provided and whose lower side is opened.", "In an axial part of an upper end surface of the pump body upper part 11 , a barrel holding hole 11 b is formed which holds the barrel 12 and whose upper side is opened.", "The barrel holding hole 11 b is communicated with the plunger spring chamber 11 a in the pump body upper part 11 .", "In a vertical middle part of the barrel holding hole 11 b of the pump body upper part 11 , a circular diameter-expanded part is formed.", "The circular diameter-expanded part constitutes an outer side surface of a fuel supply/exhaust chamber 11 c .", "In an outer peripheral surface of the pump body upper part 11 , a fuel supply port 11 d is formed so as to be communicated with the fuel supply/exhaust chamber 11 c .", "The fuel supply port 11 d is connected to the low pressure pump (not shown).", "[0027] In the barrel 12 , the plunger 13 is provided so as to be slidable along an axial direction, that is, along the vertical direction.", "The barrel 12 is formed substantially cylindrical and inserted into the barrel holding hole 11 b of the pump body upper part 11 snugly so that upper and lower ends of the barrel 12 are projected vertically from the barrel holding hole 11 b .", "In an axial part of the barrel 12 , a plunger hole 12 a is formed in which the plunger 13 is provided and whose lower end is opened.", "In the axial part of the barrel 12 , at a side upper than the plunger hole 12 a , a first fuel supply path 12 b is formed so as to be extended vertically.", "The first fuel supply path 12 b is communicated with the plunger hole 12 a .", "At the upper end of the barrel 12 , a flange is formed so as to be projected radially.", "[0028] The barrel 12 is secured via the flange to an upper end of the pump body upper part 11 by bolts or the like while being inserted in the barrel holding hole 11 b .", "Accordingly, the circular diameter-expanded part of the barrel holding hole 11 b and an outer peripheral surface of the barrel 12 constitute the fuel supply/exhaust chamber 11 c .", "In a side of the barrel 12 outer than the first fuel supply path 12 b in a radial direction, a first spill oil exhaust path 12 c is formed substantially vertically.", "The first spill oil exhaust path 12 c is communicated with the fuel supply/exhaust chamber 11 c of the pump body upper part 11 .", "[0029] The plunger 13 pressurizes the fuel.", "The plunger 13 is formed substantially cylindrical and inserted into the plunger hole 12 a snugly so as to be slidable vertically.", "A pressurizing chamber 16 is formed by an upper end surface of the plunger 13 and the plunger hole 12 a .", "The pressurizing chamber 16 is communicated with the fuel supply/exhaust chamber 11 c via a suction path 12 d formed in the barrel 12 .", "[0030] The plunger spring 14 is a compression spring and biases the plunger 13 downward.", "The plunger spring 14 is arranged in a lower part of the plunger 13 while an expansion/contraction direction of the plunger spring 14 is in agreement with the vertical direction.", "A lower end of the plunger spring 14 is supported by the plunger 13 via a plunger spring receiver 14 a , and an upper end of the plunger spring 14 contacts the pump body upper part 11 via a plunger spring receiver 14 b .", "Namely, the plunger spring 14 biases the plunger 13 downward from the pump body upper part 11 .", "[0031] The tappet 15 transmits pressing force from the cam (not shown) to the plunger 13 .", "The tappet 15 is formed like a bottomed cylinder and inserted into the plunger spring chamber 11 a snugly so as to be slidable vertically.", "Inside the tappet 15 , the lower part of the plunger 13 , a lower part of the plunger spring 14 , and the plunger spring receiver 14 a are arranged.", "A roller (not shown) is supported rotatably at a bottom of the tappet 15 so as to face the cam arranged below.", "The tappet 15 contacts the cam via the roller by biasing force of the plunger spring 14 .", "The tappet 15 receives the pressing force from the cam via the roller and transmits it to the plunger 13 .", "Accordingly, the plunger 13 is moved vertically following rotation of the cam.", "[0032] The electromagnetic spill valve 20 adjusts fuel injection amount and injection timing of the fuel injection pump 1 .", "The electromagnetic spill valve 20 has a housing 21 , an insert piece 22 , a spill valve body 23 , a stopper 24 , a solenoid 25 and the like.", "[0033] The housing 21 is a structure constituting a body part of the electromagnetic spill valve 20 .", "The housing 21 is formed in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape.", "In an upper part of the housing 21 , a two-way delivery valve spring chamber 21 a is formed vertically.", "The two-way delivery valve spring chamber 21 a is expanded radially upward from a middle part of the two-way delivery valve spring chamber 21 a so as to form a discharge valve chamber 21 f .", "In a lower part of the housing 21 , a second fuel supply path 21 b is formed vertically.", "The second fuel supply path 21 b is formed so as to be communicated with the two-way delivery valve spring chamber 21 a via a lower surface of the housing 21 .", "A diameter of the two-way delivery valve spring chamber 21 a is larger than that of the second fuel supply path 21 b. [0034] As shown in FIG. 2 , in a vertical middle part of the housing 21 , an insert piece hole 21 d is formed so as to penetrate the housing 21 laterally.", "The insert piece hole 21 d crosses and is communicated with the second fuel supply path 21 b .", "Accordingly, the insert piece hole 21 d is communicated with the two-way delivery valve spring chamber 21 a via the second fuel supply path 21 b .", "A part of the insert piece hole 21 d on the right of a middle part thereof, which is on the left of the second fuel supply path 21 b , is contracted radially so as to form a stepped part 21 g .", "A female thread part is formed in a left end of the insert piece hole 21 d. [0035] In a part on the left of the second fuel supply path 21 b of the housing 21 , a second spill oil exhaust path 21 c is formed vertically.", "The second spill oil exhaust path 21 c is communicated with the insert piece hole 21 d .", "The housing 21 is secured to the barrel 12 by bolts or the like while a lower end surface of the housing 21 touches closely an upper end surface of the barrel 12 .", "The second fuel supply path 21 b is communicated with the first fuel supply path 12 b of the barrel 12 , and the second spill oil exhaust path 21 c is communicated with the first spill oil exhaust path 12 c of the barrel 12 .", "[0036] In the housing 21 , a securing hole 21 h is formed which constitutes a securing means securing the insert piece 22 .", "The securing hole 21 h is communicated with the insert piece hole 21 d via a part of an upper surface of the housing 21 on the left of the second fuel supply path 21 b .", "A female thread part is formed in a lower part of the securing hole 21 h .", "A securing screw 26 which is a securing member constituting the securing means is inserted into the securing hole 21 h and arranged in the female thread part.", "The position at which the securing hole 21 h is not limited to that of this embodiment and may be another position which is communicated with the insert piece hole 21 d. [0037] The insert piece 22 is a member on which the spill valve body 23 is seated.", "The insert piece 22 is formed substantially like a cylinder whose total length is shorter than the insert piece hole 21 d .", "A part of the insert piece 22 from a middle part thereof is contracted radially so as to form a stepped part 22 f .", "The insert piece 22 is inserted into the insert piece hole 21 d snugly and detachably so that the stepped part 22 f contacts the stepped part 21 g of the insert piece hole 21 d .", "A left end of the insert piece 22 is biased by the stopper 24 and is provided inside the insert piece hole 21 d .", "A fuel supply hole 22 a is formed in a part of the insert piece 22 , which faces the second fuel supply path 21 b when the insert piece 22 is provided inside the insert piece hole 21 d , so as to penetrate an inner perimeter of the insert piece 22 .", "[0038] In an outer peripheral part of a diameter-expanded side (left side) of the stepped part 22 f of the insert piece 22 , a notched part 22 h constituting the securing means is formed at a position facing the securing hole 21 h of the housing 21 .", "The notched part 22 h is formed at a depth not communicated with the inner perimeter of the insert piece 22 with a width substantially the same as a diameter of the securing screw 26 .", "The securing screw 26 secured to the female thread part of the securing hole 21 h is inserted into the notched part 22 h .", "Namely, the insert piece 22 is secured to an inside of the insert piece hole 21 d by the securing means (the securing hole 21 h , the securing screw 26 and the notched part 22 h ).", "Accordingly, it is not necessary to press-inserting the insert piece 22 into the insert piece hole 21 d for securing.", "[0039] The inner perimeter of the insert piece 22 is diameter-expanded at the left of the fuel supply hole 22 a so as to form a first diameter-expanded part 22 d .", "In an inner peripheral surface of the insert piece 22 , a valve seat 22 b is provided at a right end of the first diameter-expanded part 22 d which is tapered so as to be diameter-expanded leftward continuously.", "Furthermore, the inner perimeter of the insert piece 22 is diameter-contracted at the left of the first diameter-expanded part 22 d so as to form a second diameter-expanded part 22 e .", "The inner diameter of the first diameter-expanded part 22 d is larger than that of the second diameter-expanded part 22 e .", "In a part of the first diameter-expanded part 22 d of the insert piece 22 facing the second spill oil exhaust path 21 c of the housing 21 , a spill oil exhaust port 22 c is formed so as to penetrate the inner perimeter of the insert piece 22 .", "[0040] The spill valve body 23 switches a passage of fuel pressingly sent in the second fuel supply path 21 b .", "The spill valve body 23 is slidably inserted into the insert piece 22 .", "A diameter-contracted part 23 a whose diameter is smaller than that of the spill valve body 23 is provided in a part of the spill valve body 23 crossing the fuel supply hole 22 a of the insert piece 22 when the spill valve body 23 is inserted into the insert piece 22 .", "Accordingly, a space is formed between the spill valve body 23 and the insert piece 22 , whereby a flow of fuel in the second fuel supply path 21 b over the insert piece 22 is not blocked.", "In the spill valve body 23 , at a left end of the diameter-contracted part 23 a , a seal surface 23 b is provided which is tapered so as to be diameter-expanded leftward.", "The seal surface 23 b can be seated snugly on the valve seat 22 b of the insert piece 22 .", "[0041] A part of the spill valve body 23 between a left end surface thereof and the seal surface 23 b is diameter-expanded so as to form a diameter-expanded part 23 c whose diameter is substantially the same as the inner diameter of the second diameter-expanded part 22 e of the insert piece 22 .", "A part of the spill valve body 23 at the right of the diameter-contracted part 23 a is inserted slidably into the insert piece 22 , and the diameter-expanded part 23 c is inserted slidably into the second diameter-expanded part 22 e of the insert piece 22 .", "Namely, more than half of a length in an axial direction of the spill valve body 23 is inserted into only the insert piece 22 provided inside the housing 21 , and the spill valve body 23 is guided by only the insert piece 22 when the spill valve body 23 is slid.", "The spill valve body 23 is biased leftward by a spill valve spring 23 e provided inside a right end of the insert piece hole 21 d .", "In a right end of the spill valve body 23 , an armature 23 d including a magnetic body is disposed.", "[0042] The stopper 24 restricts sliding of the spill valve body 23 .", "The stopper 24 has a contact surface 24 a at a right end surface thereof and is formed substantially cylindrical so as to be able to be secured to the insert piece hole 21 d of the housing 21 .", "The stopper 24 is inserted rightward into the insert piece hole 21 d of the housing 21 so that the contact surface 24 a contacts a left end surface of the insert piece 22 provided inside the insert piece hole 21 d .", "Accordingly, the stopper 24 secures the insert piece 22 so that the insert piece 22 cannot be moved in the insert piece hole 21 d along an axial direction.", "The stopper 24 is configured so that a left end of the spill valve body 23 touches the contact surface 24 a when the spill valve body 23 is slid leftward.", "Accordingly, the stopper 24 can restrict a sliding amount of the spill valve body 23 .", "[0043] The solenoid 25 generates magnetic force.", "The solenoid 25 is secured to the housing 21 so that an adsorption surface faces the armature 23 d disposed in the spill valve body 23 .", "By receiving a signal from a control device (not shown), the solenoid 25 generates the magnetic force so as to adsorb the armature 23 d disposed in the spill valve body 23 .", "Accordingly, the solenoid 25 slides the spill valve body 23 rightward based on the signal from the control device (not shown).", "[0044] According to the above, in the electromagnetic spill valve 20 , when the spill valve body 23 is slid leftward by the spill valve spring 23 e , the seal surface 23 b of the spill valve body 23 is separated from the valve seat 22 b of the insert piece 22 .", "As a result, the second fuel supply path 21 b is communicated with the second spill oil exhaust path 21 c via the fuel supply hole 22 a , an inside of the first diameter-expanded part 22 d and the spill oil exhaust port 22 c of the insert piece 22 .", "[0045] On the other hand, when the spill valve body 23 is slid rightward by the solenoid 25 oppositely to biasing force of the spill valve spring 23 e , the seal surface 23 b of the spill valve body 23 is seated on the valve seat 22 b of the insert piece 22 .", "As a result, the communication of the second fuel supply path 21 b and the second spill oil exhaust path 21 c is cut off.", "[0046] As shown in FIG. 1 , the two-way delivery valve part 30 discharges fuel and maintains pressure of fuel in a high pressure pipe joint 35 after finishing the injection to a predetermined value.", "The two-way delivery valve part 30 has a two-way delivery valve body 32 , a discharge valve 33 , a two-way delivery valve 34 and the like.", "The two-way delivery valve part 30 is connected to the high pressure pipe joint 35 .", "[0047] The two-way delivery valve body 32 is formed like a cylinder whose lower end surface has substantially the same shape as an upper end surface of the housing 21 .", "The two-way delivery valve body 32 is secured to the housing 21 by bolts or the like while the lower end surface of the two-way delivery valve body 32 contacts snugly the upper end surface of the housing 21 .", "In a lower part of the two-way delivery valve body 32 , a discharge valve spring chamber 32 a is formed vertically and arranged oppositely to the discharge valve chamber 21 f .", "The discharge valve spring chamber 32 a is communicated with the two-way delivery valve spring chamber 21 a and the discharge valve chamber 21 f .", "In an inner peripheral surface of an upper part of the two-way delivery valve body 32 , a circular seal surface 32 c is formed which is shaped like a funnel diameter-contracted downward continuously so as to fasten the high pressure pipe joint 35 tightly.", "In a vertical middle part of the two-way delivery valve body 32 , a discharge port 32 b is opened.", "The discharge valve spring chamber 32 a is communicated with the outside via the discharge port 32 b. [0048] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 , the discharge valve 33 discharges fuel via the discharge port 32 b .", "The discharge valve 33 includes a discharge valve body 33 a and a discharge valve spring 33 c .", "The discharge valve body 33 a is formed substantially cylindrical and provided inside the discharge valve chamber 21 f so that a space through which fuel with high pressure can pass is formed between the discharge valve body 31 and an inner peripheral surface of the discharge valve chamber 21 f .", "The discharge valve spring 33 c is provided inside the discharge valve chamber 21 f above the discharge valve body 33 a .", "The discharge valve body 33 a is biased downward by the discharge valve spring 33 c so that a lower end surface of the discharge valve body 33 a is seated on a lower end surface of the discharge valve chamber 21 f .", "In a lower part of the discharge valve body 33 a , a recess opened downward is formed.", "An inside of the recess is a two-way delivery valve chamber 33 d .", "In an upper part of the discharge valve body 33 a , a two-way delivery valve path 33 b is formed vertically.", "A lower side of the two-way delivery valve path 33 b is communicated with the two-way delivery valve chamber 33 d , and an upper side thereof is communicated with the discharge valve spring chamber 32 a. [0049] The two-way delivery valve 34 opens and closes the two-way delivery valve path 33 b .", "The two-way delivery valve 34 includes a two-way delivery valve body 34 a and a two-way delivery valve spring 34 b .", "The two-way delivery valve body 34 a includes a ball and a receiver.", "The receiver is provided inside the two-way delivery valve chamber 33 d so that a space through which fuel can pass is formed between the receiver and an inner peripheral surface of the two-way delivery valve chamber 33 d .", "The ball is arranged on the receiver so as to be seated on an opening of the two-way delivery valve path 33 b opened in an upper surface of the two-way delivery valve chamber 33 d .", "The two-way delivery valve body 34 a contacts the two-way delivery valve spring 34 b , provided inside the two-way delivery valve spring chamber 21 a , with a lower end surface of the receiver, and is biased upward by the two-way delivery valve spring 34 b .", "Accordingly, in the two-way delivery valve 34 , by biasing force of the two-way delivery valve spring 34 b , the two-way delivery valve body 34 a cuts off the communication of the two-way delivery valve chamber 33 d and the two-way delivery valve path 33 b. [0050] The high pressure pipe joint 35 supplies fuel with high pressure to the fuel injection nozzle (not shown).", "In an outer peripheral surface of one of sides (a side of the discharge port 32 b ) of the high pressure pipe joint 35 , a circular seal surface 35 a is formed which is tapered so as to be diameter-contracted downward continuously.", "The high pressure pipe joint 35 is attached to the two-way delivery valve body 32 while being pressed so that the seal surface 35 a contacts snugly the seal surface 32 c of the two-way delivery valve body 32 .", "Inside the high pressure pipe joint 35 , a fuel supply path 35 b is formed.", "The fuel supply path 35 b is communicated with the discharge port 32 b. [0051] The fuel injection pump 1 according to the present invention is a PF type fuel injection pump in which a tappet is provided in an engine.", "However, the fuel injection pump is not limited thereto and may alternatively be a PFR type fuel injection pump in which a tappet is provided in a fuel injection pump body part, for example.", "[0052] Next, an explanation will be given on an operation mode of the electromagnetic spill valve 20 in the fuel injection pump 1 referring to FIG. 3 .", "[0053] Fuel is supplied to the fuel supply/exhaust chamber 11 c via the fuel supply port 11 d of the pump body upper part 11 by the low pressure pump (not shown).", "The fuel supplied into the fuel supply/exhaust chamber 11 c is supplied to the pressurizing chamber 16 via the first spill oil exhaust path 12 c of the barrel 12 when the plunger 13 falls down.", "The fuel in the pressurizing chamber 16 is pressurized by the plunger 13 slid upward following rotation of the cam (not shown), and supplied to the pressurizing chamber 16 , the first fuel supply path 12 b and the second fuel supply path 21 b of the housing 21 in this order.", "[0054] When the fuel injection pump 1 discharges fuel, as shown in FIG. 3( a ), the solenoid 25 of the electromagnetic spill valve 20 is excited based on a signal from the control device (not shown).", "The spill valve body 23 of the electromagnetic spill valve 20 is slid rightward (along a direction of a void arrow) by attracting force of the solenoid 25 .", "Then, the seal surface 23 b of the spill valve body 23 is seated on the valve seat 22 b of the insert piece 22 .", "As a result, the communication of the second fuel supply path 21 b and the second spill oil exhaust path 21 c of the housing 21 is cut off, whereby fuel pressure in the second fuel supply path 21 b is not released via the second spill oil exhaust path 21 c and is maintained.", "Accordingly, pressurized fuel flows along a direction of a black arrow and the two-way delivery valve spring chamber 21 a is filled up with the fuel from the pressurizing chamber 16 (see FIG. 1) via the first fuel supply path 12 b and the second fuel supply path 21 b .", "Namely, the electromagnetic spill valve 20 is closed and fuel is enabled to be supplied.", "[0055] When power applied to the discharge valve body 33 a of the discharge valve 33 (the two-way delivery valve body 34 a of the two-way delivery valve 34 ) by fuel pressure in the two-way delivery valve spring chamber 21 a becomes larger than biasing force of the discharge valve spring 33 c biasing downward the discharge valve body 33 a , the discharge valve body 33 a is moved upward and separated from the lower end surface of the discharge valve chamber 21 f , whereby the discharge valve 33 is opened.", "At this time, the two-way delivery valve 34 is closed.", "As a result, pressurized fuel flows from the two-way delivery valve spring chamber 21 a to the discharge valve spring chamber 32 a and discharged from the discharge valve spring chamber 32 a via the discharge port 32 b to the fuel supply path 35 b of the high pressure pipe joint 35 (see FIG. 1 ).", "[0056] When the fuel pressure in the two-way delivery valve spring chamber 21 a is released as the above, by the biasing force of the discharge valve spring 33 c biasing downward the discharge valve body 33 a , the discharge valve body 33 a is moved downward and seated on the lower end surface of the discharge valve chamber 21 f , whereby the discharge valve 33 is closed.", "As a result, the fuel is not discharged from the discharge valve spring chamber 32 a via the discharge port 32 b to the fuel supply path 35 b .", "At this time, pulsation is generated in the fuel pressure remaining between the fuel supply path 35 b , positioned downstream the discharge valve 33 , and the fuel injection nozzle (not shown).", "When power applied to the two-way delivery valve body 34 a by the generated pulsation of the fuel pressure is larger than the biasing force of the two-way delivery valve spring 34 b biasing the two-way delivery valve body 34 a upward (toward the discharge port 32 b ), the two-way delivery valve body 34 a is moved downward (oppositely to the discharge port 32 b ), whereby the two-way delivery valve 34 is opened.", "Accordingly, the fuel pressure increased by the pulsation is released and reduced to a predetermined value.", "[0057] When the fuel injection pump 1 stops discharge of fuel, as shown in FIG. 3( b ), the solenoid 25 of the electromagnetic spill valve 20 is demagnetized based on a signal from the control device (not shown).", "By biasing force of the spill valve spring 23 e , the spill valve body 23 of the electromagnetic spill valve 20 is slid leftward (along a direction of a void arrow) until the spill valve body 23 contacts the contact surface 24 a of the stopper 24 .", "Then, the seal surface 23 b of the spill valve body 23 is separated from the valve seat 22 b of the insert piece 22 .", "As a result, the second fuel supply path 21 b and the second spill oil exhaust path 21 c of the housing 21 are communicated with each other, whereby fuel pressure in the second fuel supply path 21 b is released via the second spill oil exhaust path 21 c .", "Accordingly, fuel flows from the second fuel supply path 21 b to the fuel supply hole 22 a , the inside of the first diameter-expanded part 22 d and the spill oil exhaust port 22 c of the insert piece 22 , and the second spill oil exhaust path 21 c in this order along a black arrow, and then discharged via the first spill oil exhaust path 12 c to the fuel supply/exhaust chamber 11 c , and is not discharged to the fuel supply path 35 b of the high pressure pipe joint 35 .", "Namely, the electromagnetic spill valve 20 is opened and fuel cannot be supplied.", "[0058] At this time, the insert piece 22 is secured to the inside of the insert piece hole 21 d of the housing 21 by the securing means (the securing hole 21 h , the securing screw 26 and the notched part 22 h ) so as not to be rotatable around an axis in the insert piece hole 21 d .", "Accordingly, the second fuel supply path 21 b is not blocked by the insert piece 22 .", "[0059] As the above, the fuel injection pump 1 , which is the first embodiment of the fuel injection pump according to the present invention, has the electromagnetic spill valve 20 .", "The electromagnetic spill valve 20 has the housing 21 in which the insert piece hole 21 d is formed, the insert piece 22 formed substantially like a cylinder whose inner peripheral surface is provided therein with the valve seat 22 b and inserted detachably into the insert piece hole 21 d , the spill valve body 23 formed substantially like a cylinder whose outer peripheral surface is provided therein with the seal surface 23 b which can be seated on the valve seat 22 b and inserted slidably into the insert piece 22 , and the securing means securing the position of the insert piece 22 around the axis concerning the insert piece hole 21 d. [0060] According to the configuration, the insert piece 22 can be attached to the housing 21 while being rotatable in the insert piece hole 21 d .", "Accordingly, a position of the second fuel supply path 21 b of the housing 21 can be matched easily to a position of the fuel supply hole 22 a which is a fuel path of the insert piece 22 , and the insert piece 22 can be secured in the housing 21 by the securing means so as not to be rotatable.", "[0061] The securing means includes the securing hole 21 h communicated with the insert piece hole 21 d from a side surface of the housing 21 , the notched part 22 h formed in the outer peripheral surface of the insert piece 22 facing the securing hole 21 h , and the securing screw 26 which is the securing member inserted into the securing hole 21 h and the notched part 22 h. [0062] According to the configuration, the insert piece 22 is secured to a predetermined position of the housing 21 by the securing screw 26 which is the securing member.", "Accordingly, a position of the second fuel supply path 21 b of the housing 21 can be matched easily to a position of the fuel supply hole 22 a which is a fuel path of the insert piece 22 , and the insert piece 22 can be secured in the housing 21 by the securing means so as not to be rotatable.", "[0063] An explanation will be given on an electromagnetic spill valve 40 of the fuel injection pump 1 which is a second embodiment of the fuel injection pump according to the present invention referring to FIG. 4 .", "In below embodiment, concrete explanations of points the same as the first embodiment explained above are omitted, and points different from the first embodiment are mainly explained.", "[0064] The electromagnetic spill valve 40 opens and closes the first spill oil exhaust path 12 c and a second spill oil exhaust path 41 c for releasing fuel compressed in the pressurizing chamber 16 to the fuel supply/exhaust chamber 11 c of a low pressure side so as to control fuel injection of the fuel injection pump 1 .", "The electromagnetic spill valve 40 has a housing 41 , an insert piece 42 , a spill valve body 43 , the stopper 24 , the solenoid 25 and the like.", "[0065] The housing 41 is a structure constituting a body part of the electromagnetic spill valve 40 .", "The housing 41 is formed in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape.", "In a vertical middle part of the housing 41 , an insert piece hole 41 d is formed so as to penetrate the housing 41 laterally.", "A part of the insert piece hole 41 d on the left of a middle part thereof, which is on the left of a second fuel supply path 41 b , is contracted radially so as to form a middle stepped part 41 g .", "A left stepped part 41 j is formed by contracting radially the insert piece hole 41 d rightward from a left end thereof.", "A female thread part is formed in the diameter-expanded part.", "[0066] Furthermore, in the housing 41 , as shown in FIG. 4( b ), a housing side notched part 41 h is formed which constitutes a securing means securing the insert piece 42 .", "The housing side notched part 41 h is formed rightward from the left stepped part 41 j of the insert piece hole 41 d at a depth not communicated with the second fuel supply path 41 b so that a section in an axial direction of the insert piece hole 41 d is formed substantially like a semicircle.", "[0067] The insert piece 42 is a member on which the spill valve body 43 is seated.", "A part of the insert piece 42 from a middle part thereof is contracted radially so as to form a stepped part 42 f .", "The insert piece 42 is inserted into the insert piece hole 41 d snugly and detachably so that the stepped part 42 f contacts the middle stepped part 41 g of the insert piece hole 41 d. [0068] In an outer perimeter of a diameter-expanded side (left side) of the stepped part 42 f of the insert piece 42 , at a position facing the housing side notched part 41 h of the housing 41 , an insert piece side notched part 42 h is formed which constitutes the securing means.", "The insert piece side notched part 42 h is formed at a depth not communicated with the inner perimeter thereof so that a section in an axial direction of the insert piece 42 is formed substantially like a semicircle.", "Namely, the insert piece side notched part 42 h is formed so that the housing side notched part 41 h and the insert piece side notched part 42 h constitute a pin hole part whose section in an axial direction is formed circularly.", "The securing means is not limited to that having a securing pin 46 whose section is circular shaped, and any securing means is available if the insert piece 42 is secured to an inside of the insert piece hole 41 d (for example, a securing key whose section is rectangular shaped).", "[0069] The securing pin 46 which is a securing member constituting the securing means is inserted into the housing side notched part 41 h and the insert piece side notched part 42 h .", "Namely, the insert piece 42 is secured to the inside of the insert piece hole 41 d by the securing means (the housing side notched part 41 h , the insert piece side notched part 42 h and the securing pin 46 ).", "Then, the stopper 24 is attached to the diameter-expanded part of the housing 41 in which the left stepped part 41 j is formed.", "[0070] Accordingly, the insert piece 42 can be secured without being press-inserted into the insert piece hole 41 d .", "Since the insert piece 42 is secured to the inside of the insert piece hole 41 d of the housing 41 by the securing means (the housing side notched part 41 h , the insert piece side notched part 42 h and the securing pin 46 ), the insert piece 42 is not rotated around an axis in the insert piece hole 41 d .", "Furthermore, by the stopper 24 , the insert piece 42 and the securing pin 46 are secured to the inside of the housing 41 while being sealed.", "[0071] As the above, the securing means of the electromagnetic spill valve 40 of the fuel injection pump 1 , which is the second embodiment of the fuel injection pump according to the present invention, includes the housing side notched part 41 h formed in an inner peripheral surface of the insert piece hole 41 d , the insert piece side notched part 42 h formed in an outer peripheral surface of the insert piece 42 facing the housing side notched part 41 h , the securing pin 46 which is the securing member inserted into the housing side notched part 41 h and the insert piece side notched part 42 h , and the stopper 24 which is a sealing member sealing the insert piece 42 and the securing pin 46 to the inside of the housing 41 .", "[0072] According to the configuration, the insert piece 42 is secured by the securing pin 46 which is the securing means configured between the insert piece hole 41 d and the insert piece 42 .", "Accordingly, the securing pin 46 is sealed in an inside of the housing 41 by the stopper 24 and is not exposed outside, whereby oil leak from the securing pin 46 can be prevented.", "A position of the second fuel supply path 41 b of the housing 41 can be matched easily to a position of a fuel supply hole 42 a which is a fuel path of the insert piece 42 , and the insert piece 42 can be secured in the housing 41 by the securing means so as not to be rotatable.", "[0073] An explanation will be given on an electromagnetic spill valve 50 of the fuel injection pump 1 which is a third embodiment of the fuel injection pump according to the present invention referring to FIG. 5 .", "In below embodiment, concrete explanations of points the same as the first embodiment explained above are omitted, and points different from the first embodiment are mainly explained.", "[0074] The electromagnetic spill valve 50 opens and closes the first spill oil exhaust path 12 c and a second spill oil exhaust path 51 c for releasing fuel compressed in the pressurizing chamber 16 to the fuel supply/exhaust chamber 11 c of a low pressure side so as to control fuel injection of the fuel injection pump 1 .", "The electromagnetic spill valve 50 has a housing 51 , an insert piece 52 , a spill valve body 53 , the stopper 24 , the solenoid 25 and the like.", "[0075] The housing 51 is a structure constituting a body part of the electromagnetic spill valve 50 .", "The housing 51 is formed in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape.", "In a vertical middle part of the housing 51 , an insert piece hole 51 d is formed so as to penetrate the housing 51 laterally.", "In the insert piece hole 51 d , on the left of a second fuel supply path 51 b , housing side flat surface parts 51 h are formed which constitute a securing means securing the insert piece 52 .", "The housing side flat surface parts 51 h are formed by shaping parts of an inner side surface of the insert piece hole 51 d facing each other to be flat surfaces.", "At this time, a distance between the housing side flat surface parts 51 h facing each other is smaller than a diameter of the insert piece hole 51 d (see FIG. 5( c )).", "[0076] The insert piece 52 is a member on which the spill valve body 53 is seated.", "A part of the insert piece 52 from a middle part thereof is contracted radially so as to form a stepped part 52 f .", "The insert piece 52 is inserted into the insert piece hole 51 d snugly and detachably so that the stepped part 52 f contacts the stepped part 51 g of the insert piece hole 51 d .", "In an outer perimeter of a diameter-expanded side (left side) of the stepped part 52 f of the insert piece 52 , at positions facing the housing side flat surface parts 51 h of the housing 51 , insert piece side flat surface parts 52 h are formed respectively which constitute the securing means.", "[0077] The insert piece 52 is inserted into the insert piece hole 51 d so that the insert piece side flat surface parts 52 h contact the housing side flat surface parts 51 h snugly.", "Namely, the insert piece 52 is secured to the inside of the insert piece hole 51 d by the securing means (the housing side flat surface parts 51 h and the insert piece side flat surface parts 52 h ).", "Accordingly, the insert piece 52 can be secured without being press-inserted into the insert piece hole 51 d .", "In this embodiment, the two insert piece side flat surface parts 52 h are provided at positions whose phases are different for 180°.", "However, the number of the insert piece side flat surface parts 52 h may alternatively be one, or three or more.", "[0078] Since the insert piece 52 is secured to the inside of the insert piece hole 51 d of the housing 51 by the securing means (the housing side flat surface parts 51 h and the insert piece side flat surface parts 52 h ), the insert piece 52 is not rotated around an axis in the insert piece hole 51 d. [0079] As the above, the securing means of the electromagnetic spill valve 50 of the fuel injection pump 1 , which is the second embodiment of the fuel injection pump according to the present invention, includes the housing side flat surface parts 51 h formed in the inner peripheral surface of the insert piece hole 51 d , and the insert piece side flat surface parts 52 h formed in the outer peripheral surface of the insert piece 52 facing the housing side flat surface parts 51 h. [0080] According to the configuration, the insert piece 52 is secured to a predetermined position of the housing 51 without any securing member.", "Accordingly, it is not necessary to provide the securing member, whereby number of assembly processes can be reduced.", "A position of the second fuel supply path 51 b of the housing 51 can be matched easily to a position of a fuel supply hole 52 a which is a fuel path of the insert piece 52 , and the insert piece 52 can be secured in the housing 51 so as not to be rotatable.", "[0081] An explanation will be given on an electromagnetic spill valve 60 of the fuel injection pump 1 which is another embodiment of the fuel injection pump according to the present invention referring to FIG. 6 .", "In the electromagnetic spill valve 60 of this embodiment, it is not necessary to secure rotation of an insert piece around an axis and to adjust a position of the insert piece.", "In below embodiment, concrete explanations of points the same as the first embodiment explained above are omitted, and points different from the first embodiment are mainly explained.", "[0082] The electromagnetic spill valve 60 opens and closes the first spill oil exhaust path 12 c and a second spill oil exhaust path 61 c for releasing fuel compressed in the pressurizing chamber 16 to the fuel supply/exhaust chamber 11 c of a low pressure side so as to control fuel injection of the fuel injection pump 1 .", "The electromagnetic spill valve 60 has a housing 61 , an insert piece 62 , a spill valve body 63 , the stopper 24 , the solenoid 25 and the like.", "[0083] The housing 61 is a structure constituting a body part of the electromagnetic spill valve 60 .", "The housing 61 is formed in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape.", "In a vertical middle part of the housing 61 , an insert piece hole 61 d is formed so as to penetrate the housing 61 laterally.", "[0084] The insert piece 62 is a member on which the spill valve body 63 is seated.", "A part of the insert piece 62 from a middle part thereof is contracted radially so as to form a stepped part 62 f .", "The insert piece 62 is inserted into the insert piece hole 61 d snugly and detachably so that the stepped part 62 f contacts the stepped part 61 g of the insert piece hole 61 d. [0085] In an outer peripheral surface of the insert piece 62 facing a second fuel supply path 61 b in the insert piece hole 61 d , a fuel supply groove 62 h is formed along the whole circumference.", "In the fuel supply groove 62 h , a fuel supply hole 62 a is formed at a position which faces the second fuel supply path 61 b so as to penetrate an inner perimeter of the insert piece 62 .", "Namely, the second fuel supply path 61 b is communicated via the fuel supply hole 62 a with a two-way delivery valve spring chamber 61 a and communicated via the fuel supply groove 62 h with the two-way delivery valve spring chamber 61 a. [0086] Similarly, in the outer peripheral surface of the insert piece 62 facing the second spill oil exhaust path 61 c , a spill oil exhaust groove 62 j is formed along the whole circumference.", "In the spill oil exhaust groove 62 j , a spill oil exhaust port 62 c is formed at a position which faces the second spill oil exhaust path 61 c so as to penetrate the inner perimeter of the insert piece 62 .", "Namely, the second spill oil exhaust path 61 c is communicated via the spill oil exhaust port 62 c with an inside of the insert piece 62 and communicated via the spill oil exhaust groove 62 j and the spill oil exhaust port 62 c with the inside of the insert piece 62 .", "[0087] When the fuel injection pump 1 discharges fuel, by the electromagnetic spill valve 60 operated based on a signal from the control device (not shown), the communication of the second fuel supply path 61 b and the second spill oil exhaust path 61 c of the housing 61 is cut off.", "Accordingly, fuel pressure in the second fuel supply path 61 b is not released via the second spill oil exhaust path 61 c and is maintained.", "Then, an inside of the two-way delivery valve spring chamber 61 a is filled up with pressurized fuel flowing via an inside of the pressurizing chamber 16 (see FIG. 1 ), an inside of the first fuel supply path 12 b , an inside of the second fuel supply path 61 b , and the fuel supply hole 62 a of the insert piece 62 .", "[0088] At this time, even if the insert piece 62 is rotated in the insert piece hole 61 d so that the second fuel supply path 61 b does not face the fuel supply hole 62 a , the pressurized fuel reaches the inside of the two-way delivery valve spring chamber 61 a via the fuel supply groove 62 h of the insert piece 62 .", "Namely, even if the insert piece 62 is rotated in the insert piece hole 61 d , fuel supply is not prevented.", "[0089] When the fuel injection pump 1 stops discharge of fuel, based on a signal from the control device (not shown), the second fuel supply path 61 b is communicated with the second spill oil exhaust path 61 c by the electromagnetic spill valve 20 .", "Accordingly, fuel pressure in the second fuel supply path 61 b is released via the second spill oil exhaust path 61 c .", "Then, fuel is discharged from the second fuel supply path 61 b via the fuel supply hole 62 a of the insert piece 62 , the inside of the insert piece 62 , the spill oil exhaust port 62 c of the insert piece 62 and the second spill oil exhaust path 61 c to the fuel supply/exhaust chamber 11 c. [0090] At this time, even if the insert piece 62 is rotated in the insert piece hole 61 d so that the second fuel supply path 61 b does not face the fuel supply hole 62 a and the second spill oil exhaust path 61 c does not face the spill oil exhaust port 62 c , fuel in the second fuel supply path 61 b reaches the inside of the insert piece 62 via the fuel supply groove 62 h and the fuel supply hole 62 a .", "Then, the fuel reaching the inside of the insert piece 62 is discharged via the spill oil exhaust groove 62 j and the spill oil exhaust port 62 c into the fuel supply/exhaust chamber 11 c .", "Namely, even if the insert piece 62 is rotated in the insert piece hole 61 d , fuel supply is not prevented.", "[0091] According to the configuration, it is not necessary to make the position of the fuel path of the housing 61 in agreement with the position of the fuel path of the insert piece 62 and to secure the insert piece 62 so as not to be rotatable in the housing 61 .", "INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY [0092] The present invention can be used for a fuel injection pump provided in a diesel engine.", "DESCRIPTION OF NOTATIONS [0000] 1 fuel injection pump 20 electromagnetic spill valve 21 housing 21 d insert piece hole 22 insert piece 22 b valve seat 23 spill valve body" ]

[ "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] The use of microporous membranes as battery separators is known.", "For example, microporous membranes are used as battery separators in lithium-ion batteries.", "Such separators may be single layered or multi-layered thin films made of polyolefins.", "These separators often have a ‘shut-down’ property such that when the temperature of the battery reaches a predetermined temperature, the pores of the membrane close and thereby prevent the flow of ions between the electrodes of the battery.", "Increasing temperature in the battery may be caused by internal shorting, i.e., physical contact of the anode and cathode.", "The physical contact may be caused by, for example, physical damage to the battery, damage to the separator during battery manufacture, dendrite growth, excessive charging, and the like.", "As such, the separator, a thin (e.g., typically about 8-25 microns thickness) microporous membrane, must have good dimensional stability.", "[0002] Dimensional stability, as it applies to battery separators, refers to the ability of the separator not to shrink or not to excessively shrink as a result of exposure to elevated temperatures.", "This shrinkage is observed in the X and Y axes of the planar film.", "This term has not, to date, referred to the Z-direction dimensional stability.", "[0003] Puncture strength, as it applies to battery separators, is the film's ability to resist puncture in the Z-direction.", "Puncture strength is measured by observing the force necessary to pierce a membrane with a moving needle of known physical dimensions.", "[0004] To date, nothing has been done to improve the Z-direction dimensional stability of these battery separators.", "Z-direction refers to the thickness of the separator.", "A battery is tightly wound to maximize its energy density.", "Tightly winding means, for a cylindrically wound battery, that forces are directed radially inward, causing a compressive force on the separator across its thickness dimension.", "In the increasing temperature situation, as the material of the separator starts to flow and blind the pores, the electrodes of the battery may move toward one another.", "As they move closer to one another, the risk of physical contact increases.", "The contact of the electrodes must be avoided.", "[0005] Accordingly, there is a need for a battery separator, particularly a battery separator for a lithium-ion battery, having improved Z-direction stability.", "[0006] In the prior art, it is known to mix filler into a separator for a lithium battery.", "In U.S. Pat. No. 4,650,730, a multi-layered battery separator is disclosed.", "The first layer, the ‘shut down’ layer, is an unfilled microporous membrane.", "The second layer, the dimensionally stable layer, is a particulate filled microporous layer.", "The second layer, in final form (i.e., after extraction of the plasticizer), has a composition weight ratio of 7-35/50-93/0-15 for polymer/filler/plasticizer.", "There is no mention of Z-direction dimensional stability;", "instead, dimensional stability refers to the length and breadth dimensions of the separator.", "The filler is used as a processing aid so that the high molecular weight polymer can be efficiently extruded into a film.", "In U.S. Pat. No. 6,432,586, a multi-layered battery separator for a high-energy lithium battery is disclosed.", "The separator has a first microporous membrane and a second nonporous ceramic composite layer.", "The ceramic composite layer consists of a matrix material and inorganic particles.", "The matrix material may be selected from the group of polyethylene oxide (PEO), polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), polyurethane, polyarcylonitrile (PAN), polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), polytetraethylene glycol diacrylate, copolymers thereof and mixtures thereof.", "The inorganic particles may be selected from the group of silicon dioxide (SiO 2 ), aluminum oxide (Al 2 O 3 ), calcium carbonate (CaCO 3 ), titanium dioxide (TiO 2 ), SiS 2 , SiPO 4 , and the like.", "The particulate makes up about 5-80% by weight of the ceramic composite layer, but most preferably 40-60%.", "There is no mention of Z-direction stability, and the particulate is chosen for its conductive properties.", "SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0007] A battery separator is a microporous membrane.", "The membrane has a major volume of a thermoplastic polymer and a minor volume of an inert particulate filler.", "The filler is dispersed throughout the polymer.", "The membrane exhibits a maximum Z-direction compression of 95% of the original membrane thickness.", "Alternatively, the battery separator is a microporous membrane having a TMA compression curve with a first substantially horizontal slope between ambient temperature and 125° C., a second substantially horizontal slope at greater than 225° C. The curve of the first slope has a lower % compression than the curve of the second slope.", "The curve of the second slope is not less than 10% compression.", "The TMA compression curve is graphed so that the Y-axis represents % compression from original thickness and the X-axis represents temperature.", "DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0008] For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawing information about the preferred embodiment of the invention;", "it being understood, however, that this invention is not limited to the precise information shown.", "[0009] FIG. 1 is a graphical illustration of TMA compression curves for several differing membranes.", "[0010] FIG. 2 is a graphical illustration of TMA compression curves for several differing membranes.", "DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [0011] A battery separator, as used herein, refers to a thin, microporous membrane that is placed between the electrodes of a battery.", "It physically separates the electrodes to prevent their contact, allows ions to pass through the pores between the electrodes during discharging and charging, acts as a reservoir for the electrolyte, and may have a ‘shut down’ function.", "Hereinafter, discussion of the battery separator shall be made with reference to lithium-ion batteries, it being understood, however, that the separator is not so limited.", "[0012] Microporous membranes typically have porosities in the range of 20-80%, alternatively in the range of 28-60%.", "The average pores size is in the range of 0.02 to 2.0 microns, alternatively in the range of 0.04 to 0.25 microns.", "The membrane has a Gurley Number in the range of 5 to 150 sec, alternatively 20 to 80 sec (Gurley Numbers refers to the time it takes for 10 cc of air at 12.2 inches of water to pass through one square inch of membrane).", "The membrane may range in thickness from about 0.1 to 75 microns, alternatively 8 to 25 microns.", "Membranes may be single layered or multi-layered.", "In multi-layered membranes, at least one of the membranes will included the filler discussed in greater detail below.", "A multi-layered separator may have three layers where the filled layer is sandwiched between two other layers or two-filled layer may sandwich another membrane.", "Other layer, as used herein, refers to any layer, including coatings, other than the inventive layer.", "Other configurations are readily apparent to one of ordinary skill.", "[0013] Thermoplastic polymer generally refers to any synthetic thermoplastic polymer that softens when heated and returns to its original condition when cooled.", "Such thermoplastic polymers include: polyolefins, polyvinyl chlorides, nylons, fluorocarbons, polystyrenes, and the like.", "Of the thermoplastics, polyolefins are the most interesting.", "Polyolefins include, but are not limited to, polyethylene, ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (not considered a thermoplastic by some, but included herein nevertheless), polypropylene, polybutene, polymethylpentene, polyisoprene, copolymers thereof, and blends thereof.", "Exemplary blends include, but are not limited to, blends containing two or more of the following polyethylene, ultra high molecular weight polyethylene, and polypropylene, as well as, blends of the foregoing with copolymers such as ethylene-butene copolymer and ethylene-hexene copolymer.", "[0014] A major volume of thermoplastic polymer refers to a majority by volume of the membrane being the polymer.", "A majority is greater than 50%, alternatively, 50 to 90%.", "[0015] Inert particulate filler refers to any material that when uniformly blended into the foregoing thermoplastic polymer does not interact nor chemically react with the thermoplastic polymer to substantially alter its fundamental nature and will not, when used as a component of the membrane of a battery separator, have an adverse impact upon the chemistry of the battery.", "This filler may be any material that is thermally stable, i.e., maintains or substantially maintains its physical shape at temperatures above, for example, 200° C. Particulate most often refers to a small bead or grain, but may also describe a flat or planar object or a rod or fiber like object.", "The filler is small, and by small is meant an average particle size in the submicron (less than 1 micron) range with a maximum particle size no larger than 40% of the membrane layer thickness, alternatively no larger than 10% of the layer's thickness.", "In some applications (e.g., when making membranes with a thickness of about 1 micron or less), filler with nano-sized average particle sizes is beneficial.", "[0016] Inert particulate filler may be selected from the following group of materials: carbon based materials, metal oxides and hydroxides, metal carbonates, minerals, synthetic and natural zeolites, cements, silicates, glass particles, sulfur-containing salts, synthetic polymers, and mixtures thereof.", "Exemplary carbon based materials include: carbon black, coal dust, and graphite.", "Exemplary metal oxides and hydroxides include those having such materials as silicon, aluminum, calcium, magnesium, barium, titanium, iron, zinc, and tin.", "Specific examples include: TiO 2 , MgO, SiO 2 , Al 2 O 3 , SiS 2 , SiPO 4 .", "Exemplary metal carbonates include those having such materials as: calcium and magnesium.", "Specific examples include: CaCO 3 .", "Exemplary minerals include: mica, montmorillonite, kaolinite, attapulgite, asbestos, talc, diatomaceous earth, and vermiculite.", "Exemplary cements include: portland cement.", "Exemplary silicates include: precipitated metal silicates (e.g., calcium silicate and aluminum polysilicate), fumed silica, and alumina silica gels.", "Exemplary sulfur-containing salts include: molybdenum disulfide, zinc sulfide, and barium sulfate.", "Exemplary synthetic polymers include: polytetrafluoro ethylene (PTFE), polyimide (PIM), polyesters (e.g., polyethylene terephtalate (PET)).", "[0017] A minor volume of inert particulate filler refers to a minority by volume of the membrane being the filler.", "A minority is less than 50%, alternatively 1-50%, or 5-45%.", "[0018] The foregoing membranes may be made by any conventional process.", "The two most widely used processes for making microporous membranes for battery separators are know as the dry-stretch (or Celgard) process and the wet (or extraction or TIPS) process.", "The major difference between these processes is the method by which the microporous structure is formed.", "In the dry-stretch process, the pore structure is formed by stretching.", "In the wet process, the pore structure is formed by the extraction of a component.", "Both processes are similar in that the material components are mixed, typically in an extruder or via master-batching, and then formed into a thin film precursor before pore formation.", "[0019] The present invention may be manufactured by either process, so long as the inert particulate filler is uniformly mixed into the thermoplastic polymer prior to extrusion of the precursor.", "[0020] In addition to the above combination of thermoplastic polymer and particulate filler, the mixture may include conventional stabilizers, antioxidants, additives and processing aids as known to those skilled in the art.", "[0021] TMA (thermal mechanical analysis) measures the mechanical response of a polymer system as the temperature changes.", "The compression TMA measures the loss of thickness of a film when a constant force is applied in the Z-direction to the film as a function of increasing temperature.", "In this test, a mechanical probe is used to apply a controlled force to a constant area of the sample as the temperature is increased.", "The movement of the probe is measured as a function of temperature.", "The compression TMA is used to measure the mechanical integrity of the film.", "[0022] A standard TMA machine (Model No. TMA/SS/150C, Seiko Instruments Inc., Paramus, N.J.) with a probe (quartz cylindrical probe, 3 mm diameter) is used.", "The load on the probe is 125 g. The temperature is increased at the rate of 5° C./min.", "The film sample size is a single film with the dimensions of 5×5 mm.", "[0023] In FIGS. 1 and 2 , the X-axis represents temperature and the Y-axis represents % TMA.", "% TMA is percentage reduction in thickness of the membrane as a result of increasing temperature.", "For example, at 0° C., the membrane's thickness is 100% under the specified load.", "In the instant membrane, a maximum compression of 95% (or 5% of the original thickness) is suitable to prevent electrode contact.", "[0024] Referring to FIG. 1 , there is shown four (4) TMA compression curves of four different membranes.", "Each membrane is a microporous membrane of polypropylene.", "Curve A is the control (i.e., no filler).", "Curve B has 4% by volume talc.", "Curve C has 8% talc.", "Curve D has 12% talc.", "Note that the control has a maximum compression of 100% at 250° C., whereas Curves C and D never cross the 80% compression lines.", "[0025] Referring to FIG. 2 , there is shown four (4) TMA compression curves of four different membranes.", "Each membrane is a microporous membrane of polypropylene.", "Curve A is the control (i.e., no filler).", "Curve B has 2.5% by volume TiO 2 .", "Curve C has 5% TiO 2 .", "Curve D has 8.5% TiO 2 .", "Note that the control has a maximum compression of 100% at 250° C., whereas Curve B has a maximum compression of about 95% and Curves C and D have a maximum compression of about 90%.", "[0026] The present invention may be embodied in other forms without departing from the spirit and the essential attributes thereof, and, accordingly, reference should be made to the appended claims, rather than to the foregoing specification, as indicated the scope of the invention." ]

[ "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention broadly relates to fuel systems and, more particularly relates to a fuel system and method of forming and dispersing liquid ammonia/fuel oil emulsified droplets within a combustion volume of a conventional diesel engine, e.g., 5 hp to 35,000 hp, boiler or gas turbine to produce efficient and rapid combustion of the ammonia/fuel oil mixture comprising the fuel emulsion.", "[0002] At present, internal combustion engines, boilers and gas turbines, which power our cars, planes, trains and ships, and generate steam and electricity at institutional, commercial facilities and utilities, rely substantially on fossil fuels.", "The global supply of fossil fuels is known to be finite and experts predict that they will run dry at some time about the end of this century.", "It is obviously crucial to develop renewable energy sources to fuel the internal combustion engines, boilers and gas turbines to power our transportation and also the commercial and industrial facilities and utilities.", "[0003] While alternate forms of energy exist that can be adapted to supply short term needs, some of these are not environmentally friendly and their long term use may have an effect of poisoning our planet.", "Moreover, because our planet is comprised of air, water and earth, any fuels derived there from to replace non-renewable fossil fuels should be returnable to, or near their physical and chemical state after combustion.", "If we start with air and water to manufacture a renewable fuel, then the above objective can be achieved.", "The family of possible fuels that can be derived or formed directly from air and water are those containing hydrogen, nitrogen and oxygen.", "It is recognized that hydrogen, (H 2 ), is an excellent fuel, but it is known to be volatile and dangerous, and if mishandled, its use as a common fuel would put the average layperson in harm's way.", "In addition, as yet the technology for storing, handling and distributing hydrogen is not fully developed.", "[0004] It has nevertheless been proposed to set up a hydrogen economy where hydrogen fuel cells would be substituted in the place of engines, to supply power for transportation, commercial and industrial facilities and utilities.", "While this may be a long term objective, in all likelihood, for example, it would take about twenty years to develop a viable hydrogen-fueled propulsion system and another twenty years to substitute/introduce it to replace existing fossil fuel driven engines.", "The projected costs for such a program are estimated to be very high, which would stress both government and corporate finances.", "[0005] At this time ammonia, (NH 3 ), is an efficient hydrogen carrier, capable of implementation to render available hydrogen as a common fuel or fuel supplement.", "Ammonia is readily available as an infinite renewable energy source, and can be introduced within a few years as a secondary fuel source for existing combustion engines, thus eliminating both time delay and excessive costs associated with hydrogen.", "Technology for the utilization of gaseous ammonia as a fuel or fuel component in energy devices is already in progress, but combustion technology is not as yet available for the combustion of ammonia in high speed engines.", "That is, because of its high ignition temperature and slow flame speed, ammonia is a poor fuel for use in high-speed internal combustion engines.", "However, it is proposed to overcome these difficulties for internal combustion engines by using liquid ammonia emulsified into a non-miscible liquid with low ignition temperature.", "These latter fuel components can be identified as fossil or bio-fuels.", "SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0006] The present invention provides a means for overcoming the present shortcomings of the combustion of ammonia.", "[0007] It is an object of this invention to provide a novel ammonia-based fuel preparation process that can be applied to conventional combustion devices.", "[0008] It is a further object of this invention to provide a means of preventing cavitation that can otherwise occur in fuel system components.", "[0009] It is another object of this invention to provide a novel ammonia-based fuel preparation process and system that can be incorporated into conventional combustion devices with a minimum down time and expense.", "[0010] It is another object of this invention to provide a novel ammonia-based fuel preparation and system that overcomes combustion problems of fuels such as ammonia that display such characteristics as high ignition temperatures and low flame speeds.", "[0011] It is another object of this invention to provide a fuel system and method that produces an ammonia/diesel fuel oil gaseous cellular structure after injection into the combustion volume of the energy device and said fuel cellular structure functions as a combustible unit.", "[0012] It is a further object of this invention to provide a fuel system and method that produces a diverse dispersion of ignition kernels in an ammonia/diesel oil fuel distribution within a combustion volume of the energy device.", "[0013] It is a further object of this invention to provide a fuel system and method that produces small gaseous cell sizes such that, upon ignition of the diesel oil, the flame within the cell travels a small distance in a short interval of time thus obtaining complete chemical reaction quickly throughout the cell combustion volume.", "[0014] It is still another objective of this invention to provide an ammonia/diesel oil fuel system that operates a fuel mixing and delivering control system that is scalable for variable sized engines and boilers.", "[0015] In one embodiment, the invention provides a fuel system and method for forming and delivering an ammonia/diesel oil emulsion to a conventional combustion chamber such that the ammonia is easily ignited and the ensuing flame need only travel a short distance by confining an ignition kernel within a small combustion cell.", "[0016] A method of preparing a mixture of ammonia and fuel oil for use in an internal combustion engine comprising first providing a supply of ammonia, liquid or vapor, at a predetermined pressure, temperature and flow rate to a metering-mixing module, second providing a supply of fuel oil at a predetermined pressure, temperature and flow rate to the metering- mixing module, mixing a predetermined ratio of the supplies of fuel oil the ammonia, liquid or vapor, in the metering-mixing module and supplying the predetermined ratio of these fuels at a specified temperature and pressure into a fuel control loop for use by the internal combustion engine.", "[0017] The step of supplying includes a) using a jet pump, first channelling the predetermined ratio into an emulsifier sub-system to generate an emulsified fuel mixture flow, b) injecting a portion of the emulsified fuel mixture flow into a combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine to generate a disperse distribution of liquid fuel droplets therein to facilitate the formation of small combustion cells and thus produce efficient burning of both the ammonia and fuel oil components to provide a desired power;", "c) where necessary a second channelling of the remaining portion of the emulsified fuel mixture flow through the combustion engine head to cool the engine and d) recirculating the remaining portion exiting the combustion engine head to the jet pump while regulating its temperature and pressure and combining it with the incoming predetermined ratio from the mixing-metering module in the step of first channelling.", "[0018] The method can include a step of implementing a heat exchange process on the predetermined ratio prior to first channelling in the fuel control loop.", "The step of first providing the supply of ammonia at the predetermined temperature can include applying temperature control using at least one heat exchanger and wherein the step of second providing the supply of fuel oil at the predetermined temperature includes applying temperature control using at least one heat exchanger.", "The components of the fuel droplets in the disperse distribution generated in the step b) of injecting the portion of the emulsified fuel mixture flow are characterized by different evaporative characteristics.", "The different evaporative characteristics cause the fuel droplet components to evaporate and shatter, thereby facilitating efficient combusting the ammonia component.", "The step can include that one component is in a liquid state comprising a liquid kernel, i.e., core, and the other component is in a gaseous state surrounding the liquid kernel to form a cell.", "In this manner, the cell's liquid core functions as an ignition kernel to the cell's gaseous volume surrounding the liquid core.", "[0019] The method may include that the sub-steps of a) channelling and recirculating the predetermined ratio and remaining portion exiting the combustion engine head, respectively, allows for scaling the predetermined ratio for a large range of internal combustion engine sizes, wherein the large range comprises combustion engines in sizes extending from 5 hp to 3500 hp.", "The present combustion engine is a 400 HP Waukesha diesel engine.", "For this engine, the step d) of recirculating the remaining portion exiting the combustion engine head and combining it with the first channelled predetermined ration includes facilitates mixing fluid components characterized by different pressures to insure smooth interacting flows that avoid or prevent slug flow.", "For that matter, a step of selecting of the liquid region of thermodynamic pressure-temperature space so that the temperate and pressure are maintained in cooperating ranges in order that the liquid ammonia component is not susceptible to vapor lock or cavitation.", "[0020] In the method, the fuel droplet components with the different evaporative characteristics are formed with a liquid particle at injection into the combustion chamber of one of: a diesel engine, a gas turbine and a boiler.", "Alternatively, the fuel droplet components with the different evaporative characteristics are formed with a solid particle at injection into the combustion chamber of one of: a diesel engine, a gas turbine and a boiler.", "The step b) injecting the portion of the emulsified fuel mixture flow includes fuel droplet components characterized with different ignition characteristics, and wherein one of the fuel droplet components ignites the remaining fuel droplet components in the combustion chamber.", "The step of mixing may include the use of fuel additives in order to enhance the ignition and combustion characteristics of the fuel mixture.", "The fuel additives reduce the cycle pressure deviation thus producing smoother running engines and thus decrease engine hunting.", "[0021] The step of providing a supply of ammonia includes sensing a pressure of ammonia as it is pumped to the metering-mixing module, and based on the sensing, regulating the pumping to avoid vapour lock and cavitation.", "The step of first channelling includes sensing a pressure of the predetermined ratio as it is pumped to the metering-mixing module, and based on the sensing, regulating the pumping to avoid vapour lock and cavitation.", "The regulating includes utilizing a look-up table comprising saturation pressure verses temperature for the ammonia and fuel oil components, and controlling the respective temperatures and pressures based thereon.", "Preferably, the step of providing further includes using an ammonia pump motor that generates pumping power as a function of motor RPM, and controlling motor RPM as a function of a pressure difference between the local pressure and a vapour pressure of ammonia being pumped, where the steps of first channelling and second channelling includes cooling the predetermined ratio and remaining portions respectively in a bypass controllable as function of detected pressure and temperature [0022] The invention also includes a fuel system for mixing a renewable fuel that is normally slow burning with a fuel oil, emulsifying the mixture and supplying the emulsified mixture to a combustion engine while avoiding vapour lock and cavitation.", "The system comprises an ammonia supply system for holding ammonia at its vapour pressure in order to supply the ammonia in its liquid state, the ammonia system comprising a fluid conduit connected to a heat exchanger and pump, a fuel oil supply system comprising a fuel oil reservoir, a fuel oil pump and a fuel oil pressure control device, a metering-mixing system in fluid communication with the ammonia and fuel oil supply systems, to mix the ammonia and fuel oil in a predetermined ratio, the metering mixing system comprising a heat exchange means and pressure control means to maintain the predetermined ratio at a temperature and pressure that avoids cavitation and vapour lock and a fuel emulsifier loop comprising a jet pump, a fuel mixture pump, a heat exchanger and a fuel emulsifier interconnected to enable a flow to a combustion engine, wherein the jet pump channels the predetermined ratio into the fuel mixture pump and emulsifier sub-system to generate an emulsified fuel mixture flow, and one portion of the emulsified fuel mixture flow is injected into a combustion chamber as a disperse distribution of liquid fuel droplets, a remaining portion of the emulsified fuel mixture flow through the combustion engine head to cool the engine and a remaining portion exiting the combustion engine head is recirculated to the jet pump and combined with the incoming predetermined ratio from the mixing-metering module.", "[0023] The fuel system preferably further comprises a heat exchanger to prevent cavitation in the fuel control loop, and a pressure and temperature detection and control means.", "The heat exchangers are connected to a refrigeration system.", "The fuel control loop includes a heat exchanger forming a bypass together with a three way solenoid valve to open and shut off the flow of ammonia and refrigerant in that bypass section.", "The fuel control loop further includes a pressure sensor and motive devices to control a local pressure based on detected ammonia saturation pressure determined as a function of temperature.", "A pressure sensor disposed at the entrance of the ammonia pump detects if pressure falls below the saturation pressure of the ammonia, and responds by slowing a motor driving the pump, while operating the heat exchanger to lower the ammonia temperature.", "For that matter, the invention includes a combustion engine comprising such a fuel system, and a combustion engine in which a fuel system with which the motor vehicle is initially constructed is replaced with such a fuel system.", "[0024] The invention includes a method of obtaining rapid combustion of a mixture comprising a fuel characterized by a low ignition temperature and high flame speed, and a volatile fuel comprising a high ignition temperature and low flame speed.", "The method comprises acts of producing a liquid fuel emulsion comprising the volatile and non-volatile fuels;", "compressing air in a compression stroke of an engine in order that the air temperature is greater than the ignition temperature of a component of the fuel emulsion, injecting the liquid fuel emulsion into the combustion volume in the form of a disperse distribution of droplets, wherein back heat transfer from the compressed air heats the fuel emulsion droplets thereby shattering the droplets and causing a component of the fuel to ignite and bum and thereby igniting the remaining volatile fuel-air mixture.", "[0025] The method includes a step of maintaining the volatile fuel at a pressure and temperature at which it is always in a liquid state until the droplets shatter.", "Preferably, the step of injecting produces a droplet size that is sufficiently small in order that the non-volatile gas flame progresses through the droplet gaseous cell in a time short enough to completely combust.", "The method may include a step of adding fuel additives to enhance the ignition and combustion characteristics of the fuel mixture, wherein the step of adding fuel additives reduces a cycle pressure deviation to minimize engine hunting.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES [0026] Aspects of the invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description and upon reference to the accompanying drawings in which, like references, may indicate similar elements: [0027] FIG. 1 is system level diagram depicting one embodiment of liquid ammonia fuel system of the invention.", "[0028] FIG. 2 is a system level diagram embodiment that can be substituted within the liquid ammonia fuel system depicted in FIG. 1 .", "[0029] FIG. 3A is a plot on pressure-temperature plane of the [0030] Clausius-Clapeyron locus, (C-C);", "[0031] FIG. 3B a plot is shown of the thermodynamic process on the pressure-temperature plane, (C-C), occurring in a pressure regulating valve for a volatile substance corresponding to FIG. 2 .", "[0032] FIG. 3C a plot is shown of the thermodynamic process on the pressure-temperature plane, (C-C), occurring at the pump entrance for a volatile substance.", "[0033] FIG. 4 is a system level diagram depicting a 3-part solenoid valve which can be utilized by the inventive system and method.", "DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [0034] The following is a detailed description of example embodiments of the invention depicted in the accompanying drawings.", "The invention may take the various forms of a fuel system, a method, an energy generating device deploying the system and/or methods, which produce and deliver an ammonia/fuel oil emulsion to a conventional combustion chamber such that the ammonia is easily ignited and the ensuing flame need only travel a short distance by confining the ignition kernel within the cell.", "[0035] The example embodiments are described in such detail as to clearly communicate the invention.", "However, the amount of detail offered is not intended to limit the anticipated variations of embodiments;", "on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present invention, as defined by the appended claims.", "The descriptions below are designed to make such embodiments obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art.", "[0036] For example, while the particular examples used and described herein are directed to the use of ammonia (NH 3 ) as an exemplary sustainable fuel for mixture (emulsification) with fuel oil, the invention is not limited to use with ammonia.", "As known to those skilled in the art, ammonia (NH 3 ) displays a high ignition temperature and low flame speed, which as such it is not compatible with modern high-speed combustion engines.", "The combustion model, fuel system and method described with the use of ammonia should be understood to be adaptable for beneficial application with any renewable hydrogen-based fuel normally displaying low flame speed and high ignition temperature, not just ammonia.", "[0037] For that matter, the hydrogen-based fuel is meant to be emulsified with a renewable fuel oil.", "While the examples used and described herein are directed to diesel oil specifically, which is non-renewable fossil fuel oil, it should be understood that the description's diesel fuel oil-based description is made for simplicity of explanation only.", "The invention is not meant to be limited to use with diesel oil or other fossil-based fuel oils, but will be most valuable in an environmental sense when used with fuel oils derived from plants and naturally occurring substances.", "[0038] In a Venturi cavitation device a sequence of phases occurs for one or more of the components of the fuel mixture, namely the phases change from liquid to vapor to liquid.", "In diesel engines the liquid fuel usually circulates through cooling passages in the cylinder head thus heating the fuel and possibly vaporizing part of it.", "A particular problem occurs when one or more of the liquids are highly volatile in that vapor lock occurs in the fuel lines or devices and renders them inoperable.", "We encounter a dichotomy;", "namely, we purposefully produce a vapor/gas in a local part of the fuel emulsifier system, whether it is in the cavitating Venturi or the heated fuel lines.", "However, ultimately we require that the fuel be in the liquid state for injection into the diesel engine cylinder.", "[0039] In the course of designing fuel systems for burners and engines, a particular design was generated which has great merit.", "The very essence of the design of the fuel system includes of a fluid loop with an inlet to the loop and an exit from the loop to the engine or burner.", "Although the design has been applied to both engines and burners, I shall restrict this discussion and application to engines.", "The fuel loop offers many advantages.", "[0040] The fuel loop allows for fuel storage which circulates in the loop.", "The range of engine sizes that can operate from a single loop is dependent on the amount of fuel withdrawn from the loop.", "Theoretically from a large loop the engine sizes can range from 1 hp to 50,000 hp.", "This is feasible but not practical.", "For example, the fuel emulsifier unit designed for the 400 hp Waukesha diesel engine can run engines from about 5 hp to 700 hp;", "and this is accomplished automatically without any modification to the fuel system or engine.", "[0041] The fuel loop contains the emulsifier, and this is placed adjacent to the inlet of the diesel fuel manifold.", "The real time interval between the fuel emulsion formation and fuel injection is short preventing fuel ‘creaming’, i.e., separation.", "[0042] In many diesel engines the fuel is used to cool parts of the engine.", "If the fuel contains volatile components, then vapor lock can occur.", "It is most probable that the fuel returning from the engine fuel manifold also contains vapors causing vapor lock.", "Two solutions become apparent to this problem.", "The first solution is to increase the local fluid pressure in the loop segment up to its maximum value.", "This procedure alone may not be sufficient to prevent vapor lock.", "The second solution is to cool the fuel in that portion of the loop.", "The parametric combination of these two solutions can be observed by plotting the thermodynamic states in the vicinity of the Clausius-Clapeyron locus in thermodynamic pressure-temperature space.", "The occurrence of vapor states then becomes obvious and can be prevented.", "[0043] In our case liquid ammonia is the secondary component of the fuel mixture that is emulsified into the fossil fuel.", "The vapor pressure of ammonia varies widely with temperature.", "Of interest is the effect of local ambient temperature on the ammonia vapor pressure.", "Military and commercial specifications may vary from −50 F to 110 F;", "and the concomitant vapor pressures vary from 7.7 psia to 248 psia.", "The fuel loop described herein will operate at these extreme temperatures without modification.", "[0044] The emulsified fuel is immediately led into the diesel engine.", "A portion of the fuel is used by the engine to generate power.", "The excess fuel emulsion is used by this engine to cool the diesel head, thus we additionally use a cooler to prevent vapor lock in the lines.", "It is recognized that vapor lock can also be prevented by increasing the line pressure.", "The pressure in the line is maintained by a back pressure regulator valve.", "[0045] Care must be taken for the selection of the liquid region of thermodynamic space to develop processes for the liquid ammonia such that vapor lock is prevented in the ammonia fuel pump and other components of the fuel system.", "If the pressure of the liquid ammonia is at its boiling point, then at the entrance to the ammonia pump, due to the negative suction head, cavitation will occur.", "The fuel system component designs that accrue from the aforesaid criteria will suggest the following designs.", "[0046] Turning now to FIG. 1 , a fuel system ( 1 ) for mixing a renewable fuel (e.g., ammonia) with a fuel oil (e.g., diesel), and emulsifying and supplying the mixture to a engine combustion chamber (e.g., a diesel engine), constructed in accordance with the inventive principles in order to avoid vapour lock and cavitation while effectively burning the emulsion will now be described.", "While the FIG. 1 system is intended for use with a diesel engine, and is scalable for use with diesel engines with varied power generating capacity, e.g., automobiles, trucks, ships, physical plants, etc.", ", the fuel system is not limited to diesel engines.", "The FIG. 1 system ( 1 ) as shown comprises five sub-systems or functional parts, namely: an ammonia supply system ( 10 );", "a fuel oil supply system ( 20 ), a metering module or system ( 30 ), a fuel emulsifier loop ( 40 ) and a refrigeration sub-system ( 50 ).", "[0047] Ammonia supply system ( 10 ) includes ammonia reservoir ( 11 ), which holds ammonia at its vapour pressure in order that it is maintained in its liquid state.", "The ammonia is caused to flow in a fluid flow path from the ammonia reservoir ( 11 ) within a fluid conduit ( 9 ) to a heat exchanger ( 12 ) in order to cools the ammonia.", "The flow is controlled by an ammonia pump ( 13 ) in cooperation with a back pressure regulator valve ( 14 ;", "BPRV).", "The ammonia is pumped through a second heat exchanger ( 15 ), through ammonia flow meter ( 16 ) to a metering-mixing module ( 31 ), which is part of mixing-metering module system, ( 30 ).", "Pressure gage ( 17 ) and shut off valve ( 18 ) are included for obvious reasons, and back flow preventer ( 19 ) prevent any backflow of the liquid ammonia.", "[0048] During the fuel system operation, the ammonia pump ( 13 ) enables the flow from the ammonia reservoir ( 11 ) in a liquid saturation state.", "The liquid ammonia is sub-cooled by the heat exchanger ( 12 ).", "Heat exchanger ( 12 ) is attached to a refrigerator ( 50 ), as shown.", "The pressure of the liquid ammonia is increased by pump ( 13 ), and limited by the BPRV ( 14 ).", "The liquid ammonia is again cooled by heat exchanger ( 15 ).", "The available ammonia is at the liquid state as it enters the fuel line or conduit ( 9 ) of FIG. 1 .", "As the liquid ammonia reaches pump ( 13 ), normally a negative suction pressure develops producing cavitation, which without compensation is likely to cause the liquid to boil and damage or destroy the pump.", "[0049] The liquid ammonia flow rate is measured by the flow meter ( 16 ).", "Back flow preventer ( 19 ) maintains the flow lines and pump free from contamination.", "The pressure of the “in-line”", "liquid ammonia is detected and communicated to an observer via pressure gage ( 17 ).", "The shut-off valve, which may be either mechanically or solenoid operated, controls stop/start the liquid ammonia flow to a first entry port E 1 of the metering-mixing unit ( 31 ) in the metering system or module ( 30 ).", "[0050] Before discussing the mixing-metering module or system ( 30 ), fuel oil supply system ( 20 ) will be described in detail.", "That is, fuel oil supply system ( 20 ) comprises a standard fuel oil reservoir ( 21 ), for holding and supplying fossil or non-fossil derived fuel oil.", "A conduit ( 19 ) in communication with the fuel oil within the fuel oil reservoir ( 21 ) provides for a fuel oil flow through a filter ( 22 ) to a pump ( 24 ), the flow controlled by a BPRV ( 23 ).", "A pressure gage ( 25 ) and a back flow preventer ( 26 ) are included to monitor and maintain the fuel-oil flow into a second entry port E 2 of the metering-mixing unit ( 31 ).", "[0051] The metering-mixing unit ( 31 ) is part of a metering-mixing system ( 30 ), which receives liquid ammonia in first entry port El from ammonia supply system ( 10 ), and fuel oil in second entry port E 2 from fuel oil supply system ( 20 ).", "The metering-mixing unit ( 31 ) meters and mixes the ammonia and fuel oil, passing it along conduit ( 39 ) though a heat exchangers ( 32 and ( 33 ), and into fuel emulsifier loop ( 40 ).", "Operation of the metering-mixing module is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,468,127 to Vito Agosta, incorporated in whole by reference herein.", "The aforesaid U.S. Pat. No. 4,468,127, teaches how to design the module such that it varies the fluid mixture ratio as a function of fluid volume flowing through the module.", "i.e., to vary the mixture ratio as a function of engine or boiler load so that the combustion characteristics of the fuel mixture can match those of the engine or boiler.", "The above said behaviour occurs automatically and is dependent on the thermo-fluid dynamics occurring in the device.", "The heat exchanger ( 32 ) is used to cool the fuel mixture.", "[0052] FIGS. 2 depicts an alternative embodiment of the ammonia supply system ( 10 ), operating in cooperation with fuel oil supply system ( 20 ).", "That is, FIG. 2 depicts an ammonia supply system ( 10 ′) and fuel oil system ( 20 ).", "No ammonia fuel pump is employed in the FIG. 2 ammonia supply system ( 10 ′).", "As such, fuel oil is injected into the ammonia stream within metering-mixing unit ( 31 ).", "[0053] Operation of fuel emulsifier loop or system ( 40 ) is instrumental to the novel and non-obvious operation of the ammonia fuel system ( 1 ), the method and power consuming devices that operate in accordance with the inventive principles.", "Fuel emulsifier system ( 40 ) comprises a jet pump ( 41 ), a fuel mixture pump ( 46 ), a BPRV ( 45 ), a pressure gage ( 47 ), a fuel emulsifier ( 48 ), all connected by a conduit ( 49 ) as a fluid flow path to an entry port ( 51 ) of a engine manifold ( 52 ), e.g., diesel, of a conventional engine system.", "Excess fuel from the fuel manifold ( 52 ) is carried out of exit port ( 53 ) via a conduit ( 49 ) back to the jet pump ( 41 ) through heat exchanger ( 44 ), the back pressure regulated by BPRV ( 43 ), and is monitored via pressure gage ( 42 ).", "Engine manifold ( 52 ) comprises fuel injectors and diesel head cooling passages, as known to those skilled in the art.", "[0054] The inventive system and method are unique in their ability to provide a for effectively mixing ammonia and fuel oil in order that it flow and burn in a conventional combusting chamber efficiently, and in a way that scales readily for implementing relatively minimal fuel flow needs, e.g., for a van or passenger vehicle, to relatively large fuel flow needs, e.g., for a large fuel-oil powered electrical generating plant or system.", "A significant feature inherent in the system's construction for configuration and cooperation with an engine manifold, in its operating state, allowing the capture and re-circulating of the fuel emulsion in controlled fluid-flow loop that serves as well as a variable fuel emulsion storage means;", "this variable storage means, i.e., fuel loop, is not attained by varying the volume of the flow lines in the system but by varying the fuel flow flux in the lines.", "[0055] Operation of the fuel emulsifier loop or system ( 40 ) begins as the mixed fuel oil and ammonia entry into jet pump ( 41 ).", "The jet pump ( 41 ) essentially merges the fresh fuel charge with the re-circulated fuel smoothly together without generating undesirable non-homogeneities such as slug flow;", "and when properly designed, combines streams of different pressures.", "The fuel mixture pump ( 46 ) together with the BPRV ( 45 ) prepares the fuel mixture for the operation of the fuel emulsifier ( 48 ).", "The operation of the fuel emulsifier is covered by U.S. Pat. No. 3,937,445 to Vito Agosta, incorporated in whole by reference herein.", "The diesel engine fuel manifold is not part of the inventive fuel system as such, and it is shown to complete the flow passage circuit of the fuel.", "In this case, as occurs with the Waukesha diesel engine, there is an excess of fuel which is employed to cool the diesel engine head and circulates through fuel conduit ( 49 ).", "[0056] The heat exchanger ( 44 ) follows to prevent cavitation of the fuel stream due to the heat picked up in the diesel head.", "The BPRV ( 43 ) maintains a pressure in line ( 49 ).", "It is recognized that both pressure and temperature are parameters that can be modified to prevent vaporization of any of the components of the fuel mixture or emulsion, i.e., cavitation.", "Thus for the case where excess fuel, i.e., a fuel return exists, and where it is used to cool parts of the diesel engine, both pressure and temperature are varied in order to prevent cavitation.", "This control is accomplished directly in cooperation with the heat exchanger ( 44 ) and the BPRV ( 43 ), and indirectly by the fuel pump sub-system comprising pump ( 45 ) and valve ( 46 ).", "The fuel conduit, ( 49 ), is made as short as possible, and cavitation is prevented there and through the jet pump and line ( 49 ) by determining both pressure and temperature history in lines ( 39 ) and ( 49 ), and fuel outlet temperature from heater exchanger ( 32 ).", "[0057] The refrigeration system ( 50 ) is employed to cool the fuel system ( 1 ) so that cavitation is prevented.", "Together with the fuel pumps, refrigeration system ( 50 ) maintains the ammonia in the liquid state, both in and out of emulsion.", "That is, emulsifier ( 48 ;", "FIG. 1 ) operates based on the principle of evaporation at the “throat”", "of its Venturi design and subsequent cavitation in the outlet diffuser.", "If the pressure is not recovered sufficiently downstream of the throat, then vapor lock will persist in the fuel lines causing the diesel engine to “hunt.”, i.e., variation in engine speed.", "For proper operation, this unwanted vaporization must be overcome, and it is overcome by proper Venturi design and operating conditions.", "[0058] To eliminate the problem, it must be first understood.", "To do so, the Clausius-Clapeyron locus for any volatile component of the fuel mixture must be determined or calculated, and plotted in thermodynamic pressure-temperature space.", "In this case, the first task in solving the problem of cavitation and vapor lock is to determine the Clausius-Clapeyron locus for ammonia.", "The data can be deduced from enthalpy-entropy charts and plotted on the pressure-temperature plane.", "The temperature is the abscissa and the pressure is the ordinate, as shown in FIGS. 3A , 3 B and 3 C. [0059] Where data does not exist for this locus, it can be obtained in several ways.", "One way includes obtaining the critical point and the triple point or the normal boiling point, and then using the thermodynamic law of corresponding states to develop the curve.", "Once the locus is developed, it is seen that an increase in pressure is represented by a vertical line, and a change in temperature is represented by a horizontal line (see FIG. 3A ).", "While the real world is not ideal, the slope of these lines can be obtained by modifying the pressure or temperature as a function of pump efficiency and heat transfer effectiveness, using normal thermo-fluid dynamic procedures.", "[0060] As an example, referring to FIG. 1 , if the heat exchanger, 12 , were not placed before the pump, 13 , the incoming ammonia, being at its saturation state and subject to the negative suction head would follow a decrease in pressure causing it to vaporize, destroying the pump.", "By placing a heat exchanger before the pump, the ammonia is cooled, driving the process to the left into the liquid region (see FIG. 3C ).", "The vertical distance between the end of that process and the C-C locus must be numerically greater than the suction head at the entrance to the pump ( 13 ).", "[0061] The analysis of the emulsifier is more complicated in that the fluid dynamics must be combined with thermodynamics.", "Suffice it to say that the evaporation produced at the throat of the cavitating Venturi (at emulsifier ( 48 )), must be suppressed by increasing the fuel mixture pressure in the Venturi exit.", "The increased pressure is maintained by the BPRV ( 43 ) in the fuel emulsion loop.", "But the invention does not rely on high pressure alone in order to prevent the unwanted evaporation, but controls the pressure in combination with a cooling process concurrently and in cooperation with the pressure recovery process in the emulsifier ( 48 ) Venturi.", "[0062] An actual liquid ammonia fuel system ( 1 ) was constructed according the FIGS. 1 and 3 , operating in accordance with the fuel emulsion combustion model and used to fuel/power a 400 horsepower (hp) Waukesha diesel engine at 1800 rpm and 250 hp with 19% ammonia by mass.", "In this example ammonia was used, but the operation applies equally well to any highly volatile substance.", "[0063] Consider the circuits in FIG. 1 to be modified by adding a pressure sensor at the entrance to the ammonia fuel pump, ( 13 ), and another pressure sensor at the exit from the heat exchanger, ( 44 ).", "The purpose of these pressure sensors is to propose a control system to sense and prevent the vaporization of ammonia.", "[0064] Let us place a thermometer in the room or site where the fuel system is located.", "A thermodynamic table is set up relating the temperature to the saturation pressure of the ammonia, values for which are provided in a look-up table that is accessible by a controller ( 60 ).", "Whenever the pressure at the aforesaid stations, ( 13 ) and/or ( 44 ), approaches the vaporization pressure of the ammonia, the following actions may occur.", "Consider first the fluid line ( 1 ), ( 39 ) and ( 49 ).", "[0065] At the exit from the heat exchanger, ( 44 ), the pressure is increased by a valve to a value above the vapor pressure by activating the BPRV, ( 43 ).", "Several devices are already on the market to move an activating arm attached to the BPRV, ( 43 ).", "The motion of the arm is made proportional to the signal voltage, (read pressure difference between the ammonia saturation pressure and a preset pressure difference above the saturation pressure.", "This is determined automatically by the controller ( 60 ) and adjusted in cooperation with the look-up table values [0066] A similar procedure can be followed for the case when the local pressure at the ammonia pump entrance, ( 13 ), falls below the saturation pressure of ammonia.", "A signal can be generated and sent by controller ( 60 ) to the motor speed control means to slow down the motor rpm thus decreasing the negative suction pressure at the pump inlet.", "Alternately, an additional signal can be sent to open a solenoid valve, ( 90 ), to allow the ammonia pass through a sectional heat exchanger, ( 91 ), FIG. 4 ).", "If analysed on a C-C plot, it is seen that these coolers move the thermodynamic processes away from the vapor state.", "It is also seen that vapor lock can be thus prevented by either slowing down the motor rpm, or extending the heat transfer from the ammonia.", "[0067] Controller, ( 60 ) is connected to each of the subsystems ( 10 ), ( 20 ), ( 30 ), ( 40 ), and ( 50 ), FIG. 1 .", "By thereby monitoring the pressure and temperature of the ammonia, or indeed any of the volatile components of a mixture, cavitation and vapour lock can be prevented.", "Alternatively, the heat exchangers and pumps are preset so that during operating conditions, the maximum and minimum pressures and temperatures, and ranges allowed are such that evaporation of the liquid ammonic in lines ( 9 ), ( 39 ) and ( 49 ) does not occur.", "[0068] Although examples of the present invention have been shown and described, it would 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 invention, the scope of which is defined in the following claims and their equivalents." ]

[ "This is a continuation of application Ser.", "No. 102,009, filed 9/28/87, now abandoned.", "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1.", "Field of the Invention This invention relates to a recording apparatus for forming a track onto an optical disk and a recording method for forming the same and, more particularly, to an apparatus for recording an absolute time code, for instance, as a pregroove in the case of pregroove formation.", "Description of the Prior Art As a tracking error detection system for optical disk reproduction, a three-spot system, a push-pull system, a wobbling system, etc.", "have been proposed.", "The three-spot system maintains a relationship in which two subbeam spots are positioned on both sides of a track and a main beam spot is positioned at the center of the track.", "Reflection light from the two subbeams is led to a pair of optical sensors arranged on both sides of a main sensor so that a tracking error can be detected from a difference output of the pair of optical sensors.", "In the push pull system, a beam is irradiated at the center of the track, light reflected therefrom is detected at a two-division optical sensor, and a difference output of two optical sensor elements due to deviation of diffracted light is detected as a tracking error.", "For the wobbling system, there are a system for detecting a tracking error from an output of coherent detection of a reproduced signal and a signal for oscillating a reproduced beam by giving a meander to the reproduced beam and a system for wobbling the track side at a predetermined frequency.", "The wobbling is done by a sinewave signal of 22.05 [kHz], for instance.", "Further, as a rotation system of an optical disk, there are a CAV (constant angular velocity system) and a CLV (constant linear velocity system).", "The CLV can improve the density of data recording as compared with the CAV, while a CLV servo for controlling the rotation speed depending on the position in the radial direction of the optical disk is needed.", "The position in the radial direction of the disk is detected by a position detector such as a potentiometer cooperating with an optical head.", "For the detection of the position of the optical head, the use of a position detector such as a potentiometer results in a cost increase and does not necessarily attain correct position detection.", "It is desirable that the position of the optical head on the optical disk can be detected from a reproduced signal without separately providing the position detector.", "As one method for this approach, it is conceivable to record a time code.", "However, the recording of the time code in a data track itself tends to decrease the amount of data that can be recorded on a single disk.", "Also, in the case where the recording is made by the modulation of the time code, the use of a PSK modulation can be considered.", "The PSK modulation develops a modulated signal shown at B of FIG. 12 and having phases corresponding to "1"", "and "0"", "respectively of data shown at A of FIG. 12.", "However, there is a disadvantage that the phases of the modulated signal become discontinuous.", "SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the invention is, therefore, to provide a recording apparatus and a recording method capable of providing position information by applying a signal containing another information signal such as a time code as a deflection control signal for forming a wobbling track for tracking error detection without employing any position detector and increasing data redundancy.", "In this invention, in a recording apparatus for forming a track of a disk-shape recording medium capable of optical information reproduction, the recording apparatus comprises a deflection device for deviating a recording beam from a light source in a radial direction of said disk-shape recording medium;", "and a deflection-control signal generating device.", "The deflection control signal is a combined signal composed of the superimposition of a first signal having a predetermined frequency and a second signal having a lower frequency than said predetermined frequency.", "More specifically, the first signal is a wobbling signal, the second signal is absolute time information, and the track is a pregroove.", "A combination signal, which is the superimposition of the first signal and the second signal, is used as a deflection control signal.", "The first signal is employed for the detection of tracking error.", "For example, the signal is a signal of 22.05 [kHz].", "The second signal is an absolute time code of a CD format varying at a lower frequency, for instance, at 75 [Hz] rather than 22.05 [kHz].", "Since the frequency of the second signal is very low as compared with the first signal, the deflection control signal has a predetermined frequency of the first signal as a whole even if the second signal is superimposed.", "As a result, when a disk-shape recording medium is reproduced, a signal of a predetermined frequency component can be separated, and the second signal can be taken out from the signal of the predetermined frequency component.", "In this way, since the deflection control signal has information on the absolute time code, the position of a head on the disk-shape recording medium can be detected.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the drawings in which: FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a modulation circuit for modulating an absolute time code into a pulse sequence;", "FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a counter for generating the absolute time code;", "FIGS. 3A through K are a time chart for describing the operation of the modulation circuit;", "FIGS. 4A and B and 5A and B are waveform diagrams for describing a modulation rule and a modulation method;", "FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram for showing a structure of a cutting system;", "FIGS. 7 and 8 are schematic diagrams for showing an example of a manufacturing method of an optical disk and for showing a pregroove;", "FIG. 9 is a block diagram of one example of a wobbling signal generator;", "FIG. 10 is a diagram of a frequency spectrum for describing the band restriction in the wobbling signal generator;", "FIG. 11 is a block diagram of an example of a recording/reproducing circuit of an optical disk;", "and FIGS. 12A and B are a waveform diagram for explaining conventional PSK modulation.", "DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT An embodiment of the invention will be described hereunder.", "This description will be given in the order mentioned below.", "a. Time code and modulation rule b. Modulation circuit c. Formation of pregroove d. Wobbling signal generator e. Disk recording/reproducing circuit f. Modification a. Time code and modulation rule In this embodiment, when a spiral pregroove is provided in an optical disk by wobbling to carry out a tracking operation, a time code is recorded in the pregroove itself.", "For the time information, an absolute time code as adopted in CDs (compact disks) is employed.", "The absolute time code is in one-to-one correspondence to a scanning position of a head (pickup) of the optical disk and gives not only information of a disk diameter at the time of rotating the optical disk by a CLV (constant linear velocity) system but also address information at the time of data access.", "In the CD, a signal of 588 bits is recorded as a frame in channel bits, and a frame frequency at a predetermined linear velocity is 7.35 [kHz].", "In the CD, spaces (user's bits or subcodes) are provided for recording information other than a music signal.", "The subcode is made up of eight independent bits (called "PQRSTUVW"), and two channels of P and Q are presently employed.", "Said eight independent bits are inserted into one frame by EFM modulation.", "Each channel of the subcode is composed of 98 bits contained in 98 frames, respectively, of one block.", "In the music signal and data of the channel Q of a read-out track, an absolute time code "AMIN", "ASEC", and "AFRAME"", "is inserted.", "The absolute time code is brought to 00 minute 00 second 00 frame and varies depending on the running time of the disk, and it is assumed that (one second=75 frames) is established in the CD based on the above-mentioned frame frequency.", "Each of the minute, second and frame of the absolute time code can be represented by two digits of the BCD code.", "In other words, the minute and second vary between (00˜59), and the frame changes between (0˜74) using a total of six characters of the BCD code.", "EFM (Eight to Fourteen Modulation) for channel coding converts a signal of 8 bits per symbol into a 14-bit signal according to a predetermined rule.", "With the EFM, the occupied frequency band becomes narrow, and clock components increase to reduce direct current components.", "On the other hand, in a tracking system for wobbling a pregroove, a 22.05 [kHz] sinewave is employed.", "For this reason, in the case of recording the absolute time code of the CD format as a wobbled pregroove, it is necessary to reproduce the sinewave signal of the above-mentioned frequency with a stable phase.", "In this one embodiment, the modulation of the absolute time code is made on the basis of a sampling frequency of (22.05×2=44.1 [kHz]).", "Since the frequency of change in the absolute time code is 75 [Hz], 588 samples are contained in one period in the case of a 44.1 [kHz] sampling frequency.", "A predetermined number of samples, for example, 24 samples (2×12 modulation bits) are allotted for one bit of absolute time code data of six BCD characters (a total of 24 bits), each of which has four bits.", "As shown at A of FIG. 4, a preamble having a 12-sample length is added at the head of the 588 samples (=1/75 second) and data of (24×24=576) samples follow thereafter.", ""0"", "and "1"", "of one data bit and the preamble are modulated, respectively as shown at B of FIG. 4. The data bits "0"", "are modulated into a sequence ("0"", "sequence) in which 24 samples take a high level and a low level alternately.", "For the data bits "1", the 12-th sample of the 24 samples has a high level changed from a low level, the 13-th sample has a low level changed from a high level, and the other samples are modulated into a sequence ("1"", "sequence) similar to the data bits "0".", "Also, the preamble is made to a pattern having a high level and a low level alternately every three samples.", "The data bits "0"", "are modulated into a DC-free sequence This sequence has a repetition frequency of 21.05 [kHz] and contains a sinewave component for tracking control.", "The "1"", "sequence corresponding to the data bits "1"", "is a DC-free sequence similarly and its run length is limited to two samples.", "The "0"", "sequence corresponding to the data bits "0"", "is desirable as compared with the "1"", "sequence in terms of the sinewave component for tracking control.", "With respect to the absolute time code, the "0"", "sequence is a more desirable pattern than the "1"", "sequence, since the length of "0"", "continuation is long as compared with "1".", "The sequence corresponding to the preamble is DC-free and is generated once every (1/75) second.", "A method for actually producing the "1"", "sequence and the preamble sequence will be described with reference to FIG. 5. 24 samples of the "1"", "sequence are developed by the addition of a ternary signal, which is (+1) at the 12-th sample and (-1) at the 13-th sample to the "0"", "sequence as shown at A of FIG. 5. A 12-sample sequence corresponding to the preamble is developed by the addition of a signal, which is (+1) at the 8-th sample and the 14-th sample, respectively and (-1) at the 11-th sample and the 17-th sample, respectively, to the "0"", "sequence as shown at B of FIG. 5. b. Modulation circuit As described above, one example of the modulation circuit, which modulates "0"", "or "1"", "of data bits into a 24-sample sequence of a predetermined pattern, is shown in FIG. 1. In FIG. 1, 1 is an input terminal to which a frame pulse A of a frame frequency 75 [Hz] is given.", "2 is an input terminal to which a clock pulse B of 44.1 [kHz] is given.", "The period of the clock pulse B is indicated by T. A and B of FIG. 3 show the frame pulse A and the clock pulse B, respectively.", "The clock pulse B is used as inputs of a T flip-flop 3 and a duodecimal counter 4.", "A "0"", "sequence C with the period 2T shown at C of FIG. 3 is generated from the T flip-flop 3.", "To the T flip-flop 3 and the duodecimal counter 4 is supplied the frame pulse A as a clear input.", "The frame pulse A is supplied as a set input of the SR flip-flop 5, and as its reset input the carry output of the duodecimal counter 4 is given.", "For this reason, a pulse signal D, which takes a low level for a period from the frame pulse A to 12T, is produced at an output terminal Q of the SR flip-flop 5 as shown at D of FIG. 3. The pulse signal D is supplied to an AND gate 6 and an edge detector 7.", "The clock pulse B is given to the AND gate 6 and to the 24-notated counter 8 via the AND gate 6.", "The 24-notated counter 8 is cleared by a carry output E of the 24-notated counter 8, and the carry output E is given to an adder 9.", "The carry output E of the 24-notated counter 8 is generated every 24T after the pulse signal D takes a high level as shown at E of FIG. 3. Also, a pulse signal, which is in synchronism with a leading edge of the pulse signal D, is produced from the edge detector 7 and supplied to the adder 9.", "A pulse signal I from the adder 9 is generated every 24T after the 12T-period of the preamble as shown at I of FIG. 3. The parallel output data of the 24-notated counter 8 is supplied to a decoder 10.", "The output signal of the decoder 10 produced when the content of the 24-notated counter 8 is 12, is given to a (1) generator 11, while the output signal of the decoder 10 produced when the content of the 24-notated counter 8 is 13, is given to a (-1) generator 12.", "As a result, as shown at F of FIG. 3, a pulse signal F with a "1"", "level is generated from the (1) generator 11, whereas a pulse signal G with a (-1) level is generated from the (-1) generator 12 as shown at G of FIG. 3. These pulse signals F and G are added up at an adder 13.", "The output signal of the adder 13 is given to an adder 14.", "Since the "0"", "sequence C from the T flip-flop 3 is supplied to the adder 14, the output signal of the adder 14 becomes a "1"", "sequence.", "These "0"", "sequence and "1"", "sequence are supplied to two input terminals of a switch circuit 15, respectively.", "The switch circuit 15 is controlled by a switch signal K from a switch signal generator 18, and data from the switch circuit 15 is supplied to a combination circuit 20.", "The combination circuit 20 adds a preamble of 12 samples every 588 samples.", "The preamble is developed by a ternary logical signal generator 16 and an adder 17.", "The ternary logical signal generator 16 generates a ternary pulse signal H of (0100-100100-10) in synchronism with the frame pulse A as shown at H of FIG. 3. The pulse signal H and the "0"", "sequence C are given to the adder 17, and the preamble is produced from the adder 17.", "A modulated sequence is obtained at an output terminal 21 of the combination circuit 20.", "19 is an absolute time counter for producing an absolute time code of a CD format on the basis of the frame pulse A. FIG. 2 shows a construction of the absolute time counter 19, and each of the frame, second and minute is made up of two BCD.", "FIG. 2 illustrates the example of 28 minutes 34 seconds 63 frames.", "In this case, six B (0010) (1000) (0011) (0100) (0110) (0011) are generated.", "The absolute time code from the absolute time counter 19 is sent to the switching signal generator 18.", "Each data bit of the absolute time code is taken into the switching signal generator 18 in synchronism with a pulse signal I as shown at J of FIG. 3. A switching signal K (K of FIG. 3), which takes a high level in response to a data bit "1"", "and a low level in response to a data bit "0", is developed.", "By the low level of the switching signal K, the "0"", "sequence is selected by the switch circuit 15, while the "1"", "sequence is selected by the switch circuit 15 with the high level of the switching signal K. c. Formation of pregroove A cutting system for forming a pregroove on an optical disk is shown in FIG. 6. In FIG. 6, 25 shows a glass disk, and a photoresist 26 is coated on the glass disk 25.", "The glass disk 25 is rotated by a spindle motor 27 at CLV.", "28 is a recording laser, for instance, an argon-ion laser.", "A laser beam from the recording laser 28 is reflected from a galvanomirror 30 of an optical head 29 circled by a broken line and irradiated into the photoresist 26 through an object lens 31.", "The rotation of the galvanomirror 30 by a galvanomotor 32 wobbles the laser beam in the diameter direction.", "A drive signal from a mirror driver 33 is given to the galvanometer 32.", "To the mirror driver is supplied a wobbling signal from a wobbling signal generator 34.", "The wobbling generator 34 is composed of the above-mentioned modulation circuit and a filter for band restriction.", "A spiral and wobbled pregroove is exposed onto the photoresist 26 by the laser beam.", "In FIG. 7, ○1 shows a glass master optically cut, and a concave portion corresponding to the pregroove is formed onto the photoresist 26 through development as shown by ○2 .", "An aluminum film 35 is then vapor-deposited on the photoresist 26 ( ○3 ).", "Further, nickel plating 36 is applied ( ○4 ), and a metal master is formed by removing the nickel plating 36 ( ○5 ).", "A stamper is made by the metal master.", "An optical disk 41 is made through steps of the injection molding by the stamper, the formation of a recording layer and the addition of a protective film ○6 ).", "The optical disk 41 has a polycarbonate substrate 37, a recording layer 38, and a transparent protective film 39, and a pregroove 40 is formed on the recording layer 38.", "The optical disk 41 may have a pasted structure to enable the recording of both surfaces.", "The recording layer 38 is composed of a material of SbSe, BiTe, etc.", ", in the case of a WORM optical disk, while in the case of an erasable optical disk, for instance, in the case of an optical magnetic disk, it is made up of a material such as TbFeCo.", "Also, the present invention can be applied to a phase change type optical disk utilizing a crystal-amorphism phase change.", "The pregroove 40 is made to a U groove or a V groove, and pits are formed on the pregroove 40 or in a region between the pregrooves.", "FIG. 8 shows a part of the pregroove 40 formed on the optical disk 41.", "The diameter of the optical disk 41 is the same as that of the CD.", "d. Wobbling signal generator FIG. 9 shows the wobbling signal generator, and 45 is the above-mentioned modulation circuit shown in FIG. 1. A pulse sequence modulated with an absolute time code of the CD format is generated from the modulation circuit 45.", "The pulse sequence basically has a repetition frequency of 22.05 [kHz] and is subjected to band restriction by passing through a filter.", "The band restriction toward the low pass is necessary for suppressing the disturbance related to a tracking error signal, while the band restriction toward the high pass is needed to suppress the disturbance related to an EFM modulation signal (reproduced data).", "A digital high-pass filter 46 connected to the modulation circuit 45 is provided for carrying out the band restriction with respect to the low pass and has a frequency characteristic shown at 50 in FIG. 10.", "In FIG. 10, f n denotes 22.05 [kHz], and f s depicts 44.1 [kHz], respectively.", "The output signal of the digital high-pass filter 46 is supplied to a digital low-pass filter 47.", "The digital low-pass filter 47 has a frequency characteristic shown at 51 in FIG. 10.", "For the digital low-pass filter 47, a structure using over-sampling is employed The output signal of the digital low-pass filter 47 is given to a D/A converter 48.", "The D/A converter 48 converts the high level and the low level of a pulse signal into respective direct current voltages with adequate values.", "The output signal of the D/A converter 48 is supplied to an analog low-pass filter 49.", "A wobbling signal is generated from the analog low-pass filter 49.", "The wobbling signal is given to the mirror driver 33 (refer to FIG. 6).", "e. Disk recording/reproducing circuit FIG. 11 shows an example of the disk recording/ reproducing circuit The optical disk 41 of the same size as CD is rotated at CLV by a spindle motor 55.", "Although various kinds of structures for an optical head have been known, an optical head in which both a focus adjustment unit and a tracking control unit are incorporated, is employed in this example.", "The optical head is composed of a semiconductor laser 56, a collimating lens 57, a beam splitter 58, a 1/4 wave plate 59, an object lens 60, an actuator 61 consisting of a coil and a magnet for moving the object lens 60, and an optical sensor 63 given a laser beam from the beam splitter 58 through a cylindrical lens 62.", "A drive signal is supplied to the semiconductor laser 56 through a recording/reproduction switching switch 64.", "Recording data from a terminal 65 is given to a recording circuit 66.", "A recording signal from the recording circuit 66 is fed to the semiconductor laser 56 via a terminal r on the recording side of the recording/ reproduction switching switch 64.", "A circuit for adding a redundancy code of an error correction code, an EFM modulation circuit, a recording timing controller, etc.", "are provided at the recording circuit 66.", "At the time of reproduction of the optical disk 41, a predetermined direct current 67 is given to the semiconductor laser 56 through a terminal p on the reproduction side of the recording/reproduction switching switch 64.", "A returning beam from the optical disk 41 is irradiated into the optical sensor 63 through the beam splitter 58 and the cylindrical lens 62.", "The optical sensor 63 has a detector construction of four divisions.", "Assuming that the output signals of each sensor of the optical sensor 63 are A, B, C and D, a main reproduction signal represented by [(A+B)+(C+D)] is developed by an adder 68, and a focus error signal represented by [(A+B)-(C+D)] is developed by a subtractor 69.", "The focus error signal is supplied to a focus servo circuit 70, and a control signal for focus servo is given to the actuator 61.", "The main reproduction signal from the adder 68 is fed to a waveform-shaping circuit 71 and a band-pass filter 72.", "In the waveform-shaping circuit 71, the reproduction signal is converted into a pulse signal, and the pulse signal is given to an EMF demodulation circuit 73.", "A reproduction signal from the EMF demodulation circuit 73 is supplied to a data processing circuit 74.", "Reproduction data from the data processing circuit 74 is given to an optical disk control circuit provided between an optical disk drive unit and a computer.", "The band-pass filter 72 has a pass band of (22.05 [kHz]±900 [Hz]) to separate a component of a reproduction signal corresponding to the pregroove.", "The output signal of the band-pass filter 72 is supplied to a coherent detector 75 and a wave-shaping circuit 79.", "A sinewave signal of 22.05 [kHz] is given from a terminal 76 to the coherent detector 75.", "The output signal of the coherent detector 75 is fed to a low-pass filter 77.", "A tracking error signal is taken out of the low-pass filter 77.", "The tracking error signal is supplied to a tracking servo circuit 78, and a tracking control signal is given to the actuator 61 from the tracking servo circuit 78.", "A pulse sequence modulated with the absolute time code of the CD format is obtained by a waveform-shaping circuit 79.", "The pulse sequence is supplied to a demodulation circuit 80.", "In the demodulation circuit 80, the pulse sequence is demodulated into data bits of the absolute time code.", "The absolute time code given from the demodulation circuit 80 is supplied to a system controller (not shown) of the optical disk drive unit and used for control etc.", "of a CLV servo of the spindle motor 55 and a scanning position of the optical head at the time of the seek operation.", "f. Modification The invention is not limited to the case of the recording through the modulation of the time code of the CD format and can be applied to those cases of the recording through the modulation of a time code such as other SMPTE and digital data other than the time code.", "In addition, in the invention, information such as the time code can be superimposed on a signal other than the signal of a pregroove of the optical disk.", "The present invention allows the superimposition of other information such as the time code on a deflection control signal for developing a wobbling track for detection of a tracking error.", "As a result, the time code, etc.", "can be recorded without increasing the redundancy of a data track.", "Although the invention has been described by way of one embodiment, various alternatives and modifications thereto can readily be made within the scope of the invention defined by the appended claims." ]

[ "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] This invention relates generally to ultrasound systems that image anatomical structures, and more particularly, to a method and apparatus for displaying computer-coordinated markers simultaneously on dual ultrasound images of different modes in “real time.”", "[0002] Ultrasound contrast imaging is used for tumor detection and characterization in some parts of the world.", "Microbubbles are used today as contrast agents.", "A physician will generally inject the contrast agent into the patient.", "The contrast agent is used to isolate and identify where in an organ, for example, in a liver, to perform a biopsy.", "Generally, there will be a biopsy bracket on the ultrasound probe.", "A display will provide a centerline and two guidelines giving a range within which a biopsy needle will be guided.", "In addition, a depth marker may also appear on the screen and the lesion may be measured.", "[0003] The contrast agents are able to enter blood microcirculation for several minutes without breaking under a low mechanic index acoustic field.", "Contrast agents increase blood backscattering signal strength and make blood flow from small vessels visible in images in which they would be masked by a surrounding tissue echo.", "Because of differences in vascularity, enhancement patterns are different between normal tissue and tumors, as well as between different tumor types.", "The differences in enhancement patterns are used for tumor detection and characterization.", "[0004] To obtain improved contrast performance, contrast imaging suppresses the tissue background to increase the contrast to tissue ratio.", "When a tissue background is perfectly suppressed, a target becomes difficult to see before contrast injection.", "A dark tissue background causes difficulty in maintaining the small lesion in an image plane due to movement from patient breath, patient motion and probe motion.", "For diagnosis, it is important to know the exact location of the lesion in the image and to see the contrast enhancement dynamic pattern over a period of time.", "Thus, a B mode image is often used as reference for monitoring the lesion position and a contrast image is displayed alongside the B mode image in real time in a dual imaging mode.", "The dual image mode makes it simpler to monitor the target image, but it is sometimes still difficult to know the exact position of the lesion in the contrast mode image when the lesion is small.", "Moreover, contrast agents do not remain in the body for an extended time.", "Hence, contrast examinations have a limited viewing time.", "In the meantime, the user (e.g., the physician) is busy storing images and clips to a hard drive in the ultrasound machine and has to concentrate on what he or she is doing during the relatively limited examination time.", "[0005] Ultrasound systems may use recording systems to store a series of images.", "Video recorders or a digital memory are incorporated into many conventional ultrasound systems.", "The information stored by and played back from a digital memory is generally limited by the analysis being performed during recording.", "The reason for this limitation is that a conventional digital memory receives data produced after the echo signals have been processed and prepared for display.", "Therefore, the digital memory stores only the data resulting from a particular processing operation carried out upon the echo signals at the time the patient was examined.", "The processing operation is determined by the present mode of operation and parameter settings.", "Thus, processed data that is stored may ignore and/or eliminate certain information from the echo signals.", "This ignored or eliminated information cannot be recovered.", "For example, an abnormality recognized in a recorded image after the patient has left cannot be analyzed in greater detail unless the patient returns for a new scanning session and then only if the abnormality present during the original scanning session is again detected.", "Accordingly, images that are recorded while inaccurate or less than optimal parameters are set may be useless.", "Thus, increases in the length or number of ultrasound scanning sessions may result, thereby increasing patient exposure time, patient discomfort and procedure costs.", "Furthermore, studies employing contrast agents are limited in the number of different analyses that can be performed during the rapid decay of the contrast agent.", "SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0006] In one embodiment of the present invention, a method is provided for monitoring a target in a medical display in a medical imaging apparatus.", "The method includes receiving echo signals from an area of interest of a patient, extracting raw data from the received echo signals, processing the extracted raw data to display a dual mode image on the medical display, and setting a location and displaying a first marker/cursor in a first image of the dual mode image.", "In addition, the method further includes determining a corresponding location of the marker/cursor in a second image of the dual mode image, and displaying a second marker/cursor in the second image of the dual mode image at the corresponding location simultaneously with the displaying of the first marker/cursor in the first image.", "[0007] In another embodiment of the present invention a method is provided for analyzing raw data generated by a medical imaging apparatus.", "The method includes processing stored raw data to generate a displayable dual mode image, determining whether or not to display markers/cursors at a saved location, and displaying the displayable dual mode image with or without the markers/cursors at the saved location, depending upon results of said determining whether or not to display markers/cursors at the saved location.", "[0008] In yet another embodiment of the present invention a medical imaging apparatus is provided that includes a probe having transducers configured to transmit and receive a signal to and from a patient, a signal processor configured to process raw data resulting from signals received from the patient into a displayable image, a marker/cursor generator configured to place markers/cursors into the displayable image, and a display configured to display the displayable image.", "The medical imaging apparatus is configured to receive echo signals from an area of interest of a patient, extract raw data from the received echo signals, and process the extracted raw data to display a dual mode image on the medical display.", "The medical imaging apparatus is further configured to set a location and displaying a first marker/cursor in a first image of the dual mode image, determine a corresponding location of the marker/cursor in a second image of the dual mode image, and display a second marker/cursor in the second image of the dual mode image at the corresponding location simultaneously with the displaying of the first marker/cursor in the first image.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0009] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an ultrasound imaging system constructed in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.", "[0010] FIG. 2 illustrates a flow chart of a procedure for accumulating and storing ultrasound information in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.", "[0011] FIG. 3 illustrates a flow chart of a procedure for displaying and analyzing off-line ultrasound information in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.", "[0012] FIG. 4 illustrates an image displayed in dual contrast imaging mode by the apparatus of FIG. 1 , wherein the left image is a B mode image and the right image is a contrast image.", "[0013] FIG. 5 illustrates an image generated by processing raw data stored by the apparatus of FIG. 1 and showing a complete image without the arrows shown in FIG. 4 .", "[0014] FIG. 6 illustrates an image generated by processing raw data stored by the apparatus of FIG. 1 and showing an image with an arrow displayed in corresponding locations in the B mode image and the contrast image, but moved relative to the position of the arrow in FIG. 4 .", "[0015] FIG. 7 illustrates a portable ultrasound system formed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.", "[0016] FIG. 8 illustrates an example of a pocket-sized ultrasound system formed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.", "DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [0017] The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of certain embodiments of the present invention will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings.", "To the extent that the figures illustrate diagrams of the functional blocks of various embodiments, the functional blocks are not necessarily indicative of the division between hardware circuitry.", "Thus, for example, one or more of the functional blocks (e.g., processors or memories) may be implemented in a single piece of hardware (e.g., a general purpose signal processor or a block of random access memory, hard disk, or the like).", "Similarly, the programs may be stand alone programs, may be incorporated as subroutines in an operating system, may be functions in an installed software package, and the like.", "It should be understood that the various embodiments are not limited to the arrangements and instrumentality shown in the drawings.", "[0018] As used herein, an element or step recited in the singular and proceeded with the word “a”", "or “an”", "should be understood as not excluding plural said elements or steps, unless such exclusion is explicitly stated.", "Furthermore, references to “one embodiment”", "of the present invention are not intended to be interpreted as excluding the existence of additional embodiments that also incorporate the recited features.", "Moreover, unless explicitly stated to the contrary, embodiments “comprising”", "or “having”", "an element or a plurality of elements having a particular property may include additional such elements not having that property.", "[0019] Contrast images obtained via ultrasound have a weak tissue background.", "To provide a more positive identification of significant features such as, for example, tumors, some embodiments of the present invention provide a dual contrast imaging display having a B mode image side-by-side with a contrast image.", "The B mode image serves as a reference, for example, to help the user find the target position (e.g., the tumor position) in the contrast image.", "Various configurations of the present invention provide a dual marker/cursor display to synchronize the indicated target positions in the contrast image and the B mode image when an ultrasound imaging apparatus is in dual image mode.", "[0020] When a lesion appears on the B mode image, a user is able to position a marker/cursor (e.g., an arrow) on the B mode image to indicate the lesion position.", "At the same time, the ultrasound imaging apparatus positions a marker/cursor (e.g., another arrow) at a corresponding position on the contrast image.", "With the help of the marker/cursor on the contrast image, a user can focus his or her attention on the contrast enhancement dynamic change of the lesion.", "In some embodiments of the present invention, the user is also able to activate/deactivate the dual marker/cursor display by a key or a button.", "The user can also select to always display the marker/cursor by default on both the B mode image and the contrast mode image.", "[0021] In some embodiments of the present invention, medical image data is stored in raw form.", "The marker/cursor is not stored in a manner that interferes with storing an entire image.", "However, the marker/cursor can be stored in a separate file or a separate section of the raw image data so as to retain integrity of the raw data.", "(Hereinafter, either storage method shall be referred to as having the marker/cursor stored “separately from the raw data.”) The stored raw data can thus be processed and viewed later with or without the marker or cursor, thereby allowing a user to view anything that might have been hidden underneath the cursor.", "In embodiments in which the marker/cursor is separately stored, the marker/cursor can be restored during this later processing and viewing using supplied software, firmware, and/or special purpose hardware (hereinafter referred to as “software”", "or “special purpose hardware”", "for economy of description).", "Also, in some embodiments, data can be transferred from the imaging apparatus to a workstation where the marker/cursor can be displayed if desired.", "[0022] By separating markers/cursors that are placed on a displayed image in real time during a procedure from stored raw data, a user who finds the marker in a inconvenient location (e.g., obscuring an object of interest) can move or remove the marker, or make measurements after the examination of the patient in the case where measurements were not made during the examination.", "[0023] A block diagram of one embodiment of an ultrasound system (generally indicated at 10 ) is shown in FIG. 1 .", "Ultrasound system 10 includes a transmitter 12 that drives transducers 14 within a probe 16 to emit pulsed ultrasonic signals into a body.", "The ultrasonic signals emitted by transducers 14 are backscattered from structures in the body, like blood cells, muscular tissue, organ tissue, and/or tumors to produce echoes which return to the transducers 14 .", "The echoes are detected by a receiver 18 .", "The received echoes are passed through a beamformer 19 that performs beam forming and outputs an RF signal.", "The RF signal emitted by beamformer 19 passes through an RF processor 20 .", "In one embodiment of the present invention, the RF signal data (raw data) may then be routed directly to a raw data memory 22 for storage.", "In another embodiment, RF processor 20 may include a complex demodulator (not shown) that demodulates the RF signal to form I, Q data pairs (also considered raw data) representative of the echo signals prior to storage in raw data memory 22 .", "In some embodiments, RF processor 20 may provide both raw RF signal data or raw 1 , Q data pairs, or a choice of either source of raw data to store in raw data memory 22 .", "[0024] Ultrasound system 10 also includes a signal processor 24 to process the received echo signal data (i.e., RF signal data or I, Q data pairs) and prepare an image for display on display 30 .", "Signal processor 24 may receive raw data either directly from RF processor 20 or from raw data memory 22 in one embodiment of the present invention.", "Signal processor 24 is adapted, either through software or special purpose hardware, to perform one or more processing operations from a plurality of selectable processing operations on the received echo signal data.", "Echo signal data may be processed and displayed in real-time during a scanning session as the echo signals are received.", "Additionally or alternatively, the echo signal data may be stored in raw data memory 22 during a scanning session and then, in a post-storage (off-line) operation, retrieved from raw data memory 22 , processed by signal processor 24 and displayed on display 30 .", "[0025] Also in one embodiment of the present invention, raw data memory 22 is of sufficient capacity to store at least several seconds of echo signal data for multiple range positions along multiple scan lines.", "Raw data memory 22 may comprise any known data storage medium, such as magnetic storage, flash memory, RAM, and/or optical memory.", "Raw data memory 22 may also allow the archiving of raw data from multiple scanning sessions and/or multiple patients.", "[0026] Signal processor 24 may employ any known signal processing and data manipulation techniques to provide any known ultrasound mode or analysis that has conventionally been carried out in real-time during a scanning session.", "In one embodiment of the present invention, signal processor 24 is configured to display a dual-mode, side-by-side image comprising a B mode image and a contrast image.", "Also in one embodiment, these signal processing and data manipulation techniques may be carried out in a post-storage (off-line) operation on stored raw data.", "Furthermore the various known parameters of signal processing and data manipulation may be selectably modified during off-line playback to optimize the displayed output.", "[0027] FIG. 2 illustrates a flow chart 100 of a procedure for accumulating and storing ultrasound information in one embodiment of the present invention, and that is suitable for use with ultrasound imaging apparatus 10 of FIG. 1 .", "Starting at 102 , a physician (or other individual permitted to do so) injects a contrast agent into blood circulation at or near an area of interest of a patient, such as a liver.", "At 104 , transmitter 12 , transducers 14 , probe 16 , receiver 18 , and beam former 19 are operated to transmit and receive ultrasound echo signals (raw RF data) from an area of interest (e.g., the liver) of the patient.", "At 106 , RF processor 20 extracts raw data, for example, in the form of raw RF data or I and Q data pairs.", "[0028] Some embodiments allow the user to make a choice as to whether the raw data is stored in memory 22 , as shown at 108 .", "If the choice is to store raw data, or if an embodiment is used that always stores raw data, the raw data is stored in raw data memory 22 at 110 , and the raw data is processed next (or simultaneously) at 112 .", "Otherwise, the process continues at 112 by processing the raw data.", "For economy of explanation, it will be assumed hereafter that raw data is stored at 110 .", "It will be understood that the sequence represented by 108 and 110 may occur at one or more other places in the procedure represented by flow chart 100 , either as an alternative or in addition to the location in the procedure shown in flow chart 100 .", "For example, it may be desirable in some embodiments to make a decision after step 114 (after the image is viewed) regarding whether the raw data is stored.", "As another example, the decision to save raw data could be made in some embodiments either before or after the decision is made to save the marker cursor location at 122 .", "[0029] Next, at 114 , side-by-side images of the area of interest operated by signal processor 24 are displayed on display 30 .", "In embodiments represented in FIG. 1 , for example, these images can be generated either by signal processor 24 , as indicated by a dashed connector, and/or by marker/cursor generator 28 , without displaying a marker/cursor.", "Marker/cursor generator 24 may, in some embodiments, be part of signal processor 24 .", "For purposes of economy of explanation, it will henceforth be assumed that the side-by-side images comprise a B mode image and a contrast image.", "[0030] Next, at 116 , if the dual marker/cursor display mode is not activated by the user by manipulating user interface 26 , the procedure ends at 126 .", "It should be understood that, rather than ending, the procedure may enter a loop or an interrupt routine, or an equivalent, to continue to display and update the display and/or allow the dual marker/cursor display mode to be activated at a later time during the current medical procedure.", "For example, in some embodiments of procedure 100 , if the dual marker/cursor display mode is not activated at 116 , the procedure may loop back to 104 to update the display.", "Locations can be correlated between two images because the same raw data is used to produce both of the images.", "Thus, pixels in 2-D images that correspond to the same physical location can be readily located.", "Moreover, each image has the same number of horizontal pixels and the same number of vertical pixels.", "Thus, because the images represent the same projection of the same physical plane, it is enough in some embodiments to indicate the same pixel pair location in both images.", "[0031] If the dual marker/display mode is activated at 116 , then at 118 , the marker/cursor is set and displayed in the B mode image, and at 120 , a corresponding location of the marker/cursor is determined and the marker/cursor is simultaneously displayed at the determined location in the contrast image.", "More generally, either image in the dual display mode could be used as the image on which the marker/cursor is initially set and the other as the image on which the corresponding location is determined.", "[0032] Next, at 122 , if the user has selected an option to save the marker/cursor location along with the raw data, the marker/cursor location is saved separately from (or in a separate section) of the raw data file corresponding to the displayed image at 124 .", "(An image comprises information in the form of vectors representing an angle and an echo time, the latter, in combination with the speed of sound, representing a depth of the image.", "Each vector lasts for a certain period of time, which is mapped to the depth of the image.", "Thus, the saved marker/cursor location can be stored as an image ID to identify to which image the saved location relates, an angle, and an echo depth.) Otherwise, the procedure ends at 126 (or loops, as described above).", "The end at 126 is also reached directly from 122 if the user has not selected to save the marker/cursor location.", "[0033] FIG. 3 illustrates a flow chart 200 of a procedure for displaying and analyzing off-line ultrasound information in one embodiment of the present invention.", "An off-line signal analysis is initiated at 202 , either on apparatus 10 or on a computer or workstation or other suitable computer platform.", "To use a computer or workstation, it is presumed that stored raw data in memory 22 has either been downloaded into the memory of the computer or workstation or made available via a wired or wireless network or direct connection.", "Next, a stored data set is selected from the stored raw data at 204 and an analysis and display mode is selected at 206 .", "For economy of explanation, it will be assumed that a dual mode of B mode and contrast mode is selected, so at 208 , the stored data set is processed and displayed on a dual mode display.", "[0034] Next, at 210 , if there is a stored marker/cursor location associated with the raw data set, the marker/cursor is displayed in corresponding locations on both portions of the dual mode image at 214 .", "Otherwise, the operation at 214 is skipped.", "Some embodiments of the present invention also allow a user to toggle the display of the marker/cursor, which allows the user to see undisturbed any features obscured by the marker/cursor.", "Thus, at 212 , if the marker/cursor display has been toggled by the user, the display of the marker/cursor is toggled on or off at 218 as appropriate.", "In some embodiments, the user is able to specify whether the marker/cursor display is on or off, rather than toggled.", "In either case, at 216 , the next check is to determine whether the marker/cursor display is on.", "If not, the procedure loops back to 212 to wait for the marker/cursor to be toggled on.", "Otherwise, a check is performed to determine whether, in the current display, the marker/cursor has been manually moved by the user.", "If not, the procedure loops back to 212 .", "Otherwise, the marker/cursors displayed in both portions of the dual mode display are moved to the correct positions that each correspond to the movement specified by the user before the procedure loops back to 212 .", "Thus, a user is able to display the dual mode display with or without the marker/cursor placed during a medical procedure, allowing the user to see what might have been obscured by the marker/cursor.", "The user is also able to display a different marker/cursor on both halves of the dual mode display, to allow measurements to be made and/or allow a different location in the region of interest to be highlighted.", "[0035] FIG. 4 illustrates a region of interest displayed on display 30 in dual contrast imaging mode by apparatus 10 of FIG. 1 , wherein left image 302 is a B mode image and right image 304 is a contrast image.", "An arrow 310 placed by the user during an examination points to a suspected tumor 306 shown on B mode image 302 .", "FIG. 4 could represent a display 30 during an examination or raw image data stored by apparatus 10 and processed after the examination.", "In the case of the display during an examination, the user may place arrow 310 on B mode image 302 and have apparatus 10 calculate and determine the corresponding location for arrow 312 on contrast image 304 .", "In the case of raw image data stored by apparatus 10 and processed after examination, the location of arrows 310 and 312 are stored separately from the raw data (i.e., in a separate location from the raw data file or record, or in a separate section of the raw data file or record) and restored to images 302 and 304 after these images are processed from the raw data.", "Thus, it is possible to display a complete B mode image 302 and a complete contrast image 304 by turning the marker/cursor display off, as shown in FIG. 5 , to reveal any features 318 , 320 that may have been obscured by arrows 310 and 312 .", "It is also possible to change the location of the marker/cursor to have an arrow 310 highlight a different object or structure 314 in image 302 and have apparatus 10 (or a computer or other suitable workstation) compute a location and place arrow 312 at a corresponding location to highlight the same location 316 in contrast image 304 as object or structure 314 in B mode image 302 .", "[0036] FIG. 7 illustrates a miniaturized ultrasound system 400 in which various embodiments may be implemented.", "As used herein, “miniaturized”", "means that the ultrasound system is a handheld or hand-carried device or is configured to be carried in a person's hand, briefcase-sized case, or backpack.", "For example, ultrasound system 400 may be a hand-carried device having a size of a typical laptop computer, for instance, having dimensions of approximately 2.5 inches in depth, approximately 14 inches in width, and approximately 12 inches in height.", "Ultrasound system 400 may weigh about ten pounds [0037] An ultrasound probe 402 has a connector end 404 that interfaces with ultrasound system 400 through an I/O port 406 on ultrasound system 400 .", "Probe 402 has a cable 408 that connects a connector end 404 and a scanning end 410 that is used to scan a patient.", "Ultrasound system 400 also has a display 412 and a user interface 414 .", "[0038] FIG. 8 shows an example of a pocket-sized ultrasound system 460 in which various embodiments may be implemented.", "By way of example, pocket-sized ultrasound system 460 may be approximately 2 inches wide, approximately 4 inches in length, and approximately 0.5 inches in depth and weigh less than 3 ounces.", "Pocket-sized ultrasound system 460 generally includes a display 462 , a user interface 464 (e.g., a keyboard, which may include soft keys such as soft key 461 ) and an input/output (I/O) port 466 for connection to probe 402 .", "It should be noted that the various embodiments may be implemented in connection with a miniaturized ultrasound system having different dimensions, weights, and power consumption.", "In some embodiments, the pocket-sized ultrasound system 460 may provide the same functionality as ultrasound system 400 of FIG. 7 .", "[0039] A technical effect of at least one embodiment of the present invention is the processing of stored raw data and the display of the processed data after the ultrasound procedure.", "The later processing and display of the raw data permits images to be displayed with or without a marker or cursor that may have been displayed during the ultrasound procedure, thereby allowing a user to see anything that might have been hidden underneath the marker or cursor.", "Also, a marker/cursor can be restored in some embodiments during this later processing and displaying by using supplied software, firmware, and/or special purpose hardware (hereinafter referred to as “software or special purpose hardware”", "for economy of description).", "Also, in some embodiments, a technical effect is the communication of raw data from the imaging apparatus to a workstation by the imaging apparatus.", "In these embodiments, the marker/cursor can be displayed or not, as the user chooses.", "Furthermore, a user who finds the marker in an inconvenient location (e.g., obscuring an object of interest) can move or remove the marker, or make measurements after the examination of the patient in case such measurements were not made during the examination.", "[0040] Also, it will be appreciated that, in some embodiments of the present invention, the real time dual mode display of an imaging apparatus can be used by a user to place a marker/cursor on one side of the dual mode display (e.g., the B mode image) to indicate a lesion position.", "At the same time, the imaging apparatus can place a marker/cursor at the same position on the other side of the dual mode display (e.g., a contrast image).", "With the help of the marker/cursor on the other side of the dual mode display, it can be much easier for a user to focus his or her attention (e.g., on the contrast enhancement dynamic change of a lesion).", "[0041] While the invention has been described in terms of various specific embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the claims." ]

[ "CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser.", "No. 12/746,528, which is a U.S. National Phase Application under 35 U.S.C. 371 of PCT International Application No. PCT/IL2008/001599, which has an international filing date of Dec. 10, 2008, and which claims benefit from Israel Patent Application No. 188029, filed Dec. 10, 2007, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety.", "FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to the field of measurement techniques, and particularly to an optical system and method for measurement of parameters of so-called Through-Silicon Vias (TSV).", "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Packaging technology for Integrated Circuits (IC) in the semiconductor industry undergoes increased development in order to satisfy a need for miniaturization and/or mounting reliability.", "Wafer level processing (WLP) techniques have been developed to allow various features of IC packages to be formed within a wafer before the wafer is diced.", "For instance, certain WLP techniques are used to form device interconnection features together with other wafer processing steps, thereby avoiding the need to form wire bonding after IC chips are diced.", "In general, such WLP techniques allow IC package manufacturing processes to be streamlined and consolidated.", "Moreover, WLP techniques can generally be performed in parallel on a plurality of IC chips arranged in a matrix on the wafer, thereby allowing a plurality of IC chips to be formed and tested while still in a wafer stage.", "By performing WLP techniques in parallel across a plurality of IC chips, IC package manufacturing throughput is increased and the total time and cost required to fabricate and test IC packages is decreased accordingly.", "In addition, by forming features such as device interconnections at the wafer level, the overall size of IC packages can be reduced.", "One of the WLP techniques used to form device interconnections involves the formation of a through silicon via.", "A through silicon via (TSV) is usually formed by creating a hole (via-hole) through a semiconductor substrate and/or various material layers formed on the substrate, and then forming a penetration electrode in the hole.", "The penetration electrode may be connected to internal features of an IC chip such as signal terminals, data transmission lines, transistors, buffers, and so on.", "In addition, the penetration electrode may be connected to features external to the IC chip, such as a PCB, via an external terminal.", "Depending on the type of process in use, via-holes could be formed in different layered stacks of materials in wafers and other substrates.", "The holes are typically formed by etching based on Reactive Ion Etching (RIE) or laser drilling by ablation.", "The ion etching can be performed by a variety of processes optimized for materials, etch rate, sidewall slope, smoothness and other parameters.", "A well known method of etching is the Bosch method which is based on alternating steps of semi-isotropic etching and deposition.", "In the so-called “via-first approach”, the holes are first formed in silicon, by etching using an etch mask and photoresist and/or other harder mask materials.", "The mask materials layers are relatively thin layers on thick silicon.", "If the via-holes are formed by laser-drilling, no etch mask material is used, the holes being formed only in the thick silicon.", "Via-hole diameters can range from the one micron scale up to tens of microns, with depth to diameter aspect-ratios going from 5 or less up to 30 or more.", "The minimum pitch that can be implemented between the holes is a critical parameter for minimizing the distance that electrical signals have to cover between the vertically stacked ICs.", "The minimum pitch is usually a small multiple of the minimum hole diameter.", "In the so-called “via-last approach”, the holes are formed in the wafer backside through the silicon, until coming up to the conductive material on the wafer frontside.", "In this case, in addition to the possible etch mask materials on the silicon as in the via-first, the bottom of the hole (i.e. near to the wafer frontside) is formed in a different, possibly conducting, material such as copper.", "The layered stack can thus include possible masking layers, silicon sidewalls and a conductive bottom.", "An additional option for the via-last approach is based on etching or laser drilling through the full stack of materials on the wafer frontside including dielectric insulating materials.", "The bottom of the hole is deep in the silicon substrate.", "The layered stack can include in this case, possible masking layers, sidewalls of various dielectric materials, sidewalls of silicon and bottom of silicon.", "In via-last, the holes are usually formed with dimensions and pitch (e.g. tens of microns) larger than in the via-first, usually targeted to be connected with the underside of previously formed copper pads on the front surface of the wafer.", "GENERAL DESCRIPTION The present invention provides a novel optical system and method for obtaining at least one of a cross-section profile, depth, width, slope, undercut and other parameters of via-holes by non-destructive technique.", "It should be understood that to control etch processes and subsequent coating processes, via-holes profile has to be determined.", "For example, controlling the depth of the holes is critical for reaching a correct vertical location.", "The ability to effectively coat the inside of the holes, usually with barrier layers, and subsequently fill them with a conductive material, depends on the geometrical profile of the holes.", "To control the profile cross-section of the holes, a physically destructive cleavage or etch is usually performed.", "The cross-section is then exposed to imaging by optical-microscope, scanning-electron-microscope or scanning-ion-microscope.", "The present invention enables determining one or more parameters of at least one via-hole in a structure by providing an optical system comprising inter alia an illumination system for producing at least one light beam and directing it on a sample in a region of the structure containing at least one via-hole.", "The light reflected from the via-hole (or holes), is collected by a detection system comprising a detector.", "The detection system is configured and operable to collect a pattern of light reflected from the illuminated region, the light pattern being indicative of one or more parameters of the via-hole.", "The pattern of the reflected light incident on the detector is analyzed by a control system connected to the detection system and one or more parameters of the hole(s) are found.", "The control system comprises a memory utility for storing a predetermined theoretical model comprising data representative of a set of parameters describing via-holes reflected pattern, and a data processing and analyzing utility configured and operable to receive and analyze image data indicative of the detected light pattern and determine one or more parameters of the via-hole.", "It should be noted that all the subsequent description relating to the measurement of a single hole is applicable to multiple holes whether placed in arbitrary locations or in a repetitive array structure.", "In some embodiments, the detection system comprises a light sensitive surface located in a far field relation or in a Fourier relation with respect to a sample surface.", "It should be understood that the incident light beam on the sample undergoes different reflections in the hole depending on at least some of the following parameters: the incident-beam's tilt from normal, hole opening shape, aspect-ratio, sidewall slope, sidewall slope variation, bottom rounding, surface roughness, surface absorption, surface coating etc.", "The light pattern reflected from the sidewalls effectively describes the shape and parameters of the sidewalls and enables their analysis.", "For example, if the bottom of the hole has a high degree of rounding, the light beam reflected from the bottom effectively spreads into a two-dimensional fan which can probe the sidewalls, even when the incident beam is normal to the surface of the sample.", "If the bottom of the hole is essentially flat, controlled tilt of the incident beam is required to obtain information on the sidewalls.", "In some embodiments, the illumination system comprises a plurality of light sources.", "The light sources may emit at different angles of incidence on a sample surface, the detection system collecting a plurality of light patterns corresponding to different angular positions.", "At least two of the plurality of light sources can produce light beams at different wavelengths.", "The illumination system may comprise a light source associated with an aperture configured to shape the angle incident on a sample surface.", "In some embodiments, the illumination system comprises an array of LEDs or lasers.", "The illumination system may comprise an objective lens configured to focus a plurality of beams on the sample, the array being located in the back-focal plane of the objective lens, the back-focal plane having a Fourier relation or a far field relation with the sample surface plane.", "The array may also be located at a plane having a Fourier relationship or far field relationship with the sample surface plane.", "The array may be imaged to a plane having a Fourier relationship or far field relationship with the sample surface plane.", "The array may be arranged in a grid-like pattern.", "The one or more parameters of the via-holes may be selected from the followings: geometrical profile, cross-section profile, depth, width, slope, undercut, hole opening shape, aspect-ratio, sidewall slope, sidewall slope variation, bottom rounding, surface roughness, surface absorption, surface coating of the via-holes.", "In some embodiments, the system is configured and operable for determining parameters of multiple holes distributed in a sample in arbitrary locations or in a repetitive array arrangement.", "The detection system may comprise a lens configured to collect the pattern of the reflected light and to image the pattern onto the detector.", "The system may comprise at least one of polarizer or spatial filter configured to block a portion of the light pattern reflected from the region surrounding the via-hole.", "According to another broad aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for determining parameters of at least one via-hole.", "The method comprises providing data indicative of an initial theoretical profile of at least one via-hole having a set of parameters and a model image based on the theoretical profile;", "the set of parameters describing via-holes reflected pattern and being based on morphological to characteristics of an image of a sample to be analyzed;", "illuminating a region of a sample containing at least one via-hole;", "collecting a pattern of light reflected from the region and being indicative of one or more parameters of the via-hole;", "receiving and comparing an image data indicative of the detected light pattern and the model image and determining at least one parameter of the via-hole in the sample.", "In some embodiments, the method comprises determining a degree of correlation between the image data indicative of the detected light pattern and the model image and when the degree of correlation is beyond a predefined range, generating as new set of parameters based on the differences between the images.", "The method may comprise varying at least one illuminating parameter and collecting a plurality of patterns of reflected light corresponding to the variation and comparing each image data indicative of the detected light patterns with a corresponding model image.", "The illumination parameter(s) is/are selected from the followings: angle of incidence of a light beam on the sample surface, wavelength of incident light beam, divergence angle of incident light beam, rotation angle between an illumination source illuminating the region of the sample and the sample surface, polarization of the incident light beam.", "The method may comprise varying the angle of incidence of the light beam on the sample surface and detecting the reflected light pattern as function of different incident angles, being indicative of the morphology of the shape of the hole.", "In other embodiments, the method comprises varying the divergence angle of incident light beam and detecting the reflected light pattern as function of different divergence angles, varying the resolution of the reflected light patterns and the accuracy of the parameters of the via-holes.", "In other embodiments, the method comprises varying the wavelength of incident light beam and detecting the reflected light pattern as function of different wavelengths, being indicative of the depth and the pitch of scalloping profile of the walls'", "hole.", "The parameters of the theoretical profile may be selected from at least one of the following parameters: hole opening shape, aspect-ratio, sidewall slope, sidewall slope variation, bottom rounding, surface roughness, surface absorption, surface coating.", "The method may comprise rotating the plane of incidence of the light beam in relation with the plane of the sample surface by rotating at least one of a sample, a light source and an aperture located in front of the light source and a polarizer.", "The method may comprise characterizing thickness distribution and geometrical profile of a coating layer deposited in the via-hole by performing measurements before and after the coating, and by analyzing the differences between the measurements.", "In some embodiments, the method comprises segmenting the image data indicative of the detected light pattern into different profiles using the morphological characteristics of the image.", "The morphological characteristics are selected from symmetry of the image in relation to at least one incidence angle, narrow-angle spread of reflection angles around the incident angle indicative of side-wall angles, number of rings in the reflected pattern of light indicative of the aspect ratio of the hole, portion of the reflected pattern of light at high angles indicative of a slight bottom rounding, reduced or hazy light pattern as indicator of surface roughness.", "The method may comprise collecting a pattern of light scattered from the region and analyzing an image data indicative of the scattered light pattern indicative of the shape and the aspect ratio of the holes.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In order to understand the invention and to see how it may be carried out in practice, embodiments will now be described, by way of non-limiting example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. 1 schematically represents the reflection of a light beam from via-hole before ( 1 A) and after coating ( 1 B);", "FIGS. 2A-2B schematically represents two examples of the configuration of the optical system of the present invention;", "FIG. 3 schematically represents a flowchart of the measurement analysis according to the teachings of the present invention;", "FIGS. 4A-4D represent simulated reflected patterns from cylindrical holes having different aspect-ratios;", "FIGS. 5A-5C represents simulated reflected patterns from conic holes having different sidewall angles;", "FIGS. 6A-6C represent a cylindrical hole having a partially rounded bottom and simulated reflected patterns therefrom for rays reflected at large incident angles (in the range of about 14-30°) and at small incident angles (about 2°);", "FIGS. 7A-7F represent simulated reflected patterns from a slightly conic hole and mask layer illustrated in FIG. 7E with different bottom rounding radius;", "FIGS. 8A-8C represent simulated reflected patterns from slightly conic holes with different portions of flat bottom;", "FIG. 9 schematically represents a typical cross-section of hole with scalloping;", "and;", "FIG. 10 represents simulated reflected patterns from a hole having a square opening and a rounded bottom.", "DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Reference is made to FIGS. 1A-1B illustrating an example how the principles of the invention can be used for analyzing the hole profile.", "In this specific example, the reflection of a light beam from a via-hole before ( 1 A) and after coating ( 1 B) is shown, which can be made with diffusion-barrier, insulating or conducting material layer (e.g. semi-transparent).", "The present invention enables measuring the thickness and profile of such coating layers.", "For non-transparent coating layers, their thickness distribution can be characterized by performing measurements before and after the coating step, and by analyzing the difference between the measurements.", "For transparent coating layers, their thickness distribution can be characterized similarly, analyzing the difference between the measurements, or by a single measurement after the coating step.", "It should be noted that, in certain cases, especially with complex structures, the measurement results from the pre-coating step can be set into the analysis calculation of the post-coating measurement in order to simplify the calculations or increase the accuracy of the results.", "Reference is made to FIG. 2A generally illustrating the optical system 100 of the present invention.", "The optical system 100 comprises an illumination system 102 emitting a light beam on a sample 106 in a region containing at least one hole.", "The light pattern reflected from the hole (or holes), is collected on a detector 104 (e.g. area detector located in a far field relation to the sample surface).", "The optical paths of incident and reflected light beams are spatially separated by a beam splitter/combiner 110 , thus allowing the reflected light propagation to the detector.", "The output of the detector 104 is connected to a control unit 108 , which is configured and operable for receiving data indicative of the pattern of the reflected light incident on the detector 104 and analyzing the data and determining the parameters of the hole(s).", "The incident light beam on the sample undergoes different reflections from interfaces in the hole depending on at least some of the following parameters: the incident-beam's tilt from normal, hole opening shape, aspect-ratio, sidewall slope, sidewall slope variation, bottom rounding, surface roughness, surface absorption, surface coating etc.", "In some embodiments, to enable the analysis of at least one of the parameters of the via-holes, measurements have to be performed by varying at least one parameter of the above list, and the difference between the measurements is used to determine the value of at least one corresponding parameter.", "In one embodiment, the angle of the incident light beam is varied and the measurements are performed at different angles.", "The illumination system 102 may comprise multiple light sources (e.g. small-area sources) at various off-axis angles enhancing parameter sensitivity and/or simplifying the analysis.", "The range of off-axis angles for obtaining optimal information content depends on the shape of the hole and especially on the aspect-ratio of the hole.", "The larger the tilt from normal incidence, the larger the number of reflections the light rays undergo within the structure.", "The multiple light sources can be operable simultaneously or separately.", "The multiple light sources can be of the same wavelength or of different wavelengths.", "For example, in order to collect the information from different angles simultaneously, the illumination system may comprise multiple light sources of different colors associated with a color CCD camera.", "The shaping of the incidence angles on the sample may also be produced by a large area source associated with an aperture.", "This aperture can be static, scanned or switchable.", "The light source can thus be scanned through a range of angles, and a series of images can be captured at successive angular positions.", "This configuration can be useful inter alia if the examined structure has sharp angular variations in wall angle, especially re-entrant profiles, resulting in sharp variations in the reflected light pattern versus the incidence angle.", "Alternatively, the scanning can be achieved by using an extended wide-band light source, placing a spatially graded spectral filter in front of it, and capturing images through a time variable spectral filter, such as a filter wheel, synchronized with image capture on the detector.", "The illumination system 102 can also be implemented by an array of small sources e.g. an individually addressable Light Emitting Diode (LED) array, illuminating a relatively large region of the structure.", "For simplifying the determination of the parameters of the via-holes, such array can be placed in a plane having a far-field or Fourier relation to the sample surface and conjugates with the light sensitive detector surface.", "Reference is made to FIG. 2B , illustrating another configuration of the optical system of the present invention.", "In this specific example, the optical system 200 comprises a illumination system 202 including an array of light sources (LEDs or lasers) located in a back-focal plane of an objective lens 208 focused on the sample 106 , where the back-focal plane exhibits a Fourier relation with the sample plane.", "The array can also be located at a plane which is imaged onto a plane with a Fourier relationship with the sample.", "LEDs of different wavelengths can be arranged in a grid-like pattern to provide degrees of freedom in setting up a measurement with an optimal incidence angle and wavelength for each hole shape.", "The density of the array is operable to enable sufficient angular resolution of the measurement based on the required resolution of the calculated theoretical model.", "The divergence angle of the incident beam on the sample can also be varied.", "A relatively small divergence angle can result in sharper, more distinguishable features on the detector to the detriment of reduced light pattern intensity and thus increased measurement integration time.", "A larger divergence angle reduces the measurement time but can degrade the resolution of features in the image on the detector and thus reduce the ability to accurately differentiate parameters of the hole profile.", "The divergence angle can be optimized during the measurement set-up process by varying the divergence angle to the largest possible where the resolution in the image is limited by small scale scattering effects and/or the resolution of the optical system.", "As described above, the detector 104 is located in the optical system 100 at a position which enables capturing the light pattern reflected and scattered from the sample surface.", "The detector 104 can be placed at a distance from the sample in order to capture a far-field image of the light pattern.", "Alternatively, an optical element can be placed in front of the detector 104 to enable more flexibility in locating the detector.", "This can preferably enable construction of a better optimized or more compact optical system.", "A lens 210 can be used to collect the reflected light pattern and image it onto the light sensitive surface of the detector 104 .", "Optionally the lens may be configured so that the image on the detector is of a Fourier relation to the sample.", "In some embodiments, a polarizer can be located in the optical path before or after the light beam interaction with the sample.", "A polarizing beam splitter/combiner can be used.", "Alternatively, two crossed polarizers can be located in the optical path before and after the sample to enable blocking of the light pattern reflected directly from the region of the structure surrounding the hole.", "In other embodiments, the plane of incidence can be rotated in relation to the axis of the sample (azimuth).", "For non-circular holes, e.g. holes with rectangular openings, the rotated plane of incidence can be used to obtain information on the via-hole(s) shape.", "The rotation can be achieved by rotating the sample, and/or the source and/or an aperture in front of the source.", "The rotation can be combined with possible rotation of a polarizer(s).", "For holes having a substantially circular opening, the rotated plane of incidence can be used if the holes are closely spaced in a grid-like arrangement and the orientation of the diffraction pattern of the holes arrangement can give additional information for the analysis.", "In some embodiments, a spatial filter (e.g. field stop) is included in the optical path at a position which is optically conjugated to the sample surface to enable limiting the lateral extent of the measured light beam interaction with the sample, the spatial filter being located either in the incident beam path or in the optical path between the sample and the detector.", "In some embodiments, an additional imaging detector can be added to the optical system at a location conjugate to the plane of the sample surface to enable verification of the measurement location.", "For example, a CCD camera can be added to provide an image of the sample surface to enable alignment on a preferred measurement site by means of pattern recognition.", "The illumination for the pattern recognition can be performed by separate means or by utilizing the incident light beam used for the hole measurements.", "Due to the large scale size of the hole dimension (diameter), e.g. multi-micron range, with respect to the wavelength of the light beam, the incident light beam can be incoherent.", "This depends on the coherence length of the light source used and the numerical aperture and other parameters of the illumination system.", "A system using incoherent illumination is not sensitive to the arrangement of holes whether in a random or in a grid-like pattern and is not subject to speckle effects.", "Low coherence or incoherence can simplify the modeling of the reflection from the sample due to the absence of interference effects.", "On the other hand, coherence can provide additional information on the structure due to such interference effects.", "Additionally, using a highly collimated light source with small extent in the Fourier-plane or far-field relation, reduces the possible smearing of the reflection pattern.", "Moreover, the reflected pattern of an incoherent beam, with wavelength considerably smaller than the measured structure, provides only angle-based information, which is scale invariant, thus enabling the determination of the shape of the hole but not of its absolute size.", "If the lateral coherence length is larger than the diameter of the hole and/or the longitudinal coherence length is larger than the depth of the hole, then the reflected pattern can contain diffraction and interference effects.", "Based on knowledge of the wavelength and materials of the structure, these effects can enable determination of absolute geometrical values and not just relative ones.", "If the illumination system produces at least two incoherent light beams at different wavelengths (e.g. using at least two different light sources), the pattern of the reflected light collected from each wavelength does not provide any additional information, except for the wavelength dispersion of reflectivity.", "When coherence effects appear, they are stronger for longer wavelengths of dimensions closer to the dimensions of the hole.", "To reduce the effect of the coherence on the reflection pattern, a light source with broader wavelength range can be used.", "A wideband coherent light source such as a super continuum light source (e.g. fiber-laser) can also be used if high intensity is required.", "Alternatively or additionally, in the absence of absolute hole size information in the reflected pattern, an additional channel can be implemented as part of the system to measure the width of the opening of the hole, for example using a high magnification imaging channel.", "Thus the combination of the information from the two channels can provide both the shape and size information.", "To determine the depth of the hole, coherent illumination at normal incidence can be used and the interferences between the bottom reflection and the surrounding region of the hole can be measured.", "Combining absolute measurements of certain parameters, (e.g. hole dimensions such as depth, diameter, etc.) with relative measurements of the full hole cross-section (e.g. determination of the shape/geometry/profile, etc.", "of the hole), enables providing of the full cross-section measurement in absolute terms.", "Moreover, phase measurement of the reflection can provide additional information on the hole profile (e.g. depth profile).", "This can be performed by splitting off a part of the incident beam prior to the interaction with the sample and causing interference of the split-off incident beam with the reflected beam.", "The split-off beam could be expanded in order to cover the whole detector light sensitive surface and thus produce phase sensitive intensity measurements.", "For all types of light sources, a calibration procedure might to be performed to characterize the light pattern collected on the detector when reflected from a known reflectivity sample such as a single-crystal silicon wafer.", "This calibration can be performed on a periodic basis depending on the stability of the illumination system source and the optical system construction.", "Reference is made to FIG. 3 illustrating a general flowchart of the technique of the present invention.", "According to the teachings of the present invention, in step 302 , a control system connected to the detection system comprises inter alia a data processing utility configured to determine data representative of an initial hypothetical profile of at least one via-hole, characterized by a finite set of parameters.", "The initial theoretical (e.g. hypothetical) profile is stored in a memory utility.", "In step 304 , the data processing utility generates a theoretical model image using the theoretical profile.", "In step 306 , a measurement image of at least one hole profile is captured by a detection system and is compared to the model image in 308 by the data analyzing utility.", "A predefined metric 310 (i.e. profile adjustment of the general morphology of the images) is used to quantify the quality of the correlation between the model and measurement images.", "If the fit between the images is not within a predefined range, a new profile (i.e. a new set of parameters) is generated based on the difference between the images and the known dependence of the profile on the parameters.", "Once a fit is achieved, the parameters of the relevant theoretical model are considered as the output of the optical system as illustrated in 312 and this information is provided to the user for controlling the process of the hole formation.", "If the analysis is carried out as part of an ongoing measurement flow, the initial theoretical profile can be based on the output result of a previous measurement.", "This can reduce the number of iterations required to obtain the desired fit.", "The generation of a set of parameters can be based on analyzing the general morphology of the measured image.", "The morphological characteristics of the measured image can be selected from at least one of the following: the symmetry of image in relation to the incidence angle(s);", "the narrow-angle spread of reflection angles around the incident angle indicative of side-wall angles, the number of rings in the reflected image which is indicative of the aspect-ratio of the hole, the portion of the reflected light pattern at relatively high angles which is indicative of a slight bottom rounding, the reduced or hazy light pattern as indicator of surface roughness and others.", "In some embodiments, multiple measured images are obtained, for example from multiple incidence angles of light sources.", "The multiple measured images induce the creation of a corresponding multiplicity of model images generated from the theoretical profile and a comparison metric is defined accordingly.", "The fit is then carried out in parallel for all the images.", "It should be noted that the image produced from the theoretical profile can be based on geometrical ray tracing calculations or diffraction based calculations based on physical optics or on a combination of both.", "In order to reduce the calculation time, a series of theoretical profiles can be pre-calculated and stored in the memory utility.", "The profiles can be generated on the basis of a theoretical range of process conditions or based on characterization of actual samples.", "The theoretical range of process conditions can be the input of the control system, together with the parameters of measurement conditions of the optical system.", "The control system thus provides a range of possible theoretical profiles.", "These theoretical profiles are subsequently used to generate images and the images are stored in a database as illustrated in the figure.", "The calculation time can also be reduced by recognizing morphological characteristics of the image (i.e. pattern recognition) and segmenting the image into specific profile families.", "The segmentation can be performed using at least one the morphological characteristic.", "These morphological characteristics can also be used to recognize process excursions, e.g. reduced intensity of the light pattern in the image could be an indicator of enhanced scalloping formed for example by a Bosch-type etching process.", "A process alarm illustrated in 314 can be raised based on such a parameter.", "An adaptive mode of measurement can be implemented, especially when the analyzing of samples of unknown hole profile is performed.", "In this adaptive mode of measurement the illumination system parameters are varied while successively capturing measurement images until a sharp image with strongly recognizable features is found.", "The parameters which can be varied include, but are not limited to: angle of incidence, rotation angle, wavelength, divergence angle.", "The recognizable features include, but are not limited to: under-filled rings, spots, high-angle signal rings, rings with cusps, bands dependent on the number of sidewall reflections.", "Reference is made to FIGS. 4A-4D illustrating modeled reflected patterns from cylindrical holes having different aspect-ratios.", "The reflection effects caused by various parameters can be separated.", "For a substantially cylindrical hole with a flat bottom, the number of reflections via sidewalls and via the bottom is a direct function of the incidence angle and the aspect ratio.", "The number of the rings in the reflected image is indicative of the aspect-ratio of the hole.", "The larger the number of the rings is, the larger the aspect-ratio of the holes.", "Moreover, the tangential filling of rings increases with additional multiple reflections.", "The larger the incidence angle is, the more homogeneous the filling of the rings.", "Reference is made to FIGS. 5A-5C illustrating modeled reflected patterns from conic holes having different sidewall angles (SWA).", "It has been observed that the reflected patterns vary differently when the hole has a non-perpendicular sidewall angle (SWA).", "For positive slopes, the rings begin to fold onto themselves as the SWA increases and cusps i.e. singular points appear.", "Increasing the SWA and/or incidence angle causes the cusps to split into multiple rings.", "For negative (re-entrant) slopes, the rings shorten and start to turn outwards into wing-like shapes.", "At higher aspect ratios and/or incidence angles, multiple reflections between the walls fill the rings and form double rings.", "Bottom rounding, due to its more varied angle content, causes rays to reflect in a much larger angle range than a flat bottom.", "The larger the area of non-flat bottom (e.g. bottom rounding), the larger the percentage of rays reflected out of the above described rings.", "The rays are reflected into a range of angles of order tens of degrees.", "The full reflection angular range can be analyzed or the reduced angular range image of the main sidewall and bottom reflections can be analyzed separately.", "Reference is made to FIGS. 6A-6C in which the incidence angle is 2 degrees from normal on an aspect ratio (AR) of 14 and +1 degree SWA.", "FIG. 6A shows a wide angular range (about 14-30°) of reflection caused by the rounding at the outer edges of the bottom.", "FIG. 6B shows the reflection from the flat portion of the bottom into small angles (2°), where the partial filling of the rings is due to the portion of rays reflected out to higher angles.", "As illustrated in FIG. 6C , the bottom rounding covers more than a half of the bottom area.", "Reference is made to FIGS. 7A-7E illustrating different reflections patterns for a slightly conic hole (illustrated in FIG. 7F ) coated with a mask layer and having different bottom radius varying from 9 microns to 2 microns ( FIG. 7A has bottom radius of 9 microns, FIG. 7B of 7 microns, FIG. 7C of 5 microns, FIG. 7D of 3 microns, FIG. 7E of 2 microns).", "In this specific example, the depth of the hole is 30 microns, the top diameter 2.7 microns, the bottom diameter 2.5 microns, and the mask thickness 2 microns.", "It should be noted that the integration time increases with the decreasing of the bottom radius.", "For a nominal integration time of N in FIG. 7A , in FIG. 7B the time integration is 1.5N, in FIG. 7C 3N, in FIG. 7D 6N, and in FIG. 7E 11N.", "When the bottom of the hole is rounded, normal incidence light can be used.", "The light reflected from the rounded bottom spreads into a two-dimensional fan emanating from the bottom of the hole, which can probe the sidewalls.", "The number of sidewall reflections depends on the radius of the bottom rounding and on the aspect ratio of the hole profile.", "Any sidewall slope induces a change of angle of the reflected fan and the resultant measured image contains bands dependent on the number of sidewall slope reflections.", "Therefore, the reflected light pattern collected on the detector, is spread out over a larger spatial range.", "These reflections can also probe re-entrant sidewall profile.", "Due to the increasing spread of angles coupled to shrinking of the bottom radius, an increased measurement integration time or increased light source intensity are required because of the loss caused by the multiple reflections.", "It should be understood that in comparison with flat bottom hole, for holes having a rounded bottom each ray undergoes a larger number of reflections inside the hole and that the angles of incidence on the sidewalls are lower than for a flat bottom.", "The separation of effects due to the bottom rounding from those due to the sidewall slopes can be achieved by fitting the image to an image based on a theoretical model.", "If the parameter separation is difficult, measurements can be carried out at additional angles of incidence.", "It should be noted that the reflected light beam from the sample surface outside the hole, which is essentially the specular reflection, is much stronger and more spatially concentrated than the reflected light beam from the hole.", "Moreover, the reflected light beam signal from the hole is much stronger and more spatially concentrated than the scattered light beam signal from the hole.", "A large dynamic range is therefore required from the detector to enable capture and measurement of all the reflected information simultaneously.", "Additionally, it can be useful to insert a spatial filter (e.g. mask) into the reflected beam that blocks only the region of the specular beam to eliminate the specular reflection or the region of the near-axis specular beam to eliminate the scattered light beam signal, reflected from flat areas outside the hole, thus enabling sufficient detector integration time without suffering from saturation of the reflected beam.", "If the weaker high angle reflections and scatter need to be analyzed, it is possible to block the near-axis reflections e.g. by providing appropriate blocking aperture stop.", "In order to filter out the light reflected from the flat areas outside the hole, it is also possible to polarize the incident light and to provide a polarizer rotated at 90 degrees in the path to the detector.", "This can reduce the dynamic range required from the detector.", "The light collected by the detector will then only be skew rays undergoing reflections in the hole, having a direction out of the polarized plane of incidence.", "It should be noted that if the hole has a non-flat bottom, the reflected light pattern becomes more complex owing to the continuous gradient of the reflection angle at the bottom.", "Then, the image has to be collected and analyzed with a large dynamic range, blocking the specular reflection from outside the hole.", "Therefore, for non-flat bottom hole, larger detector integration times or higher intensity incident light are then required.", "Reference is made to FIG. 8 illustrating reflected patterns from slightly conic holes having different portions of flat bottom.", "As it can be observed from the figure, when the portion of flat bottom area increases, the rings are filled out.", "An angular spread of +/−0.3 degrees has been added to the 2 degrees of normal incidence light.", "It should be noted that the shape of the hole opening is usually circular but the present invention can be used to characterize profiles of holes with various openings including square, elliptical, square with rounded corners as well as holes with a square opening tapering into a circle or rounded square at the bottom.", "Moreover, due to the shallow incidence angle on the sidewalls, the reflected light from the hole can be at least partially polarized.", "Intentionally polarizing the incident light beam can enable extraction of ellipsometric effects of the sidewall reflections.", "The ellipsometric effects can be utilized for measurement of coatings on the sidewalls including both transparent and thin metallic coatings.", "The absorption of multiple reflections on the sidewalls by the substrate or coating materials causes a stepwise reduction of the intensity of some of the reflected light pattern depending on the number of reflections the rays undergo.", "This stepwise reduction of intensity is an additional parameter that can be modeled and used for obtaining information on the hole profile.", "It should be noted that relatively small sharp features within the hole add diffraction effects to the reflected light pattern.", "This can affect the required angular divergence of the incident beam.", "Scanning the incident beam angle can enable more detailed sensing of such diffraction effects and determination of their size and location within the cross-section.", "Increased background noise and loss of light patterns intensity or contrast are due to scattering induced by roughness of the sidewalls and of the bottom of the hole.", "Due to the fact that the scattered beam emanates, at least partially, from the bottom of the hole, the intensity of the scattered beam is higher close to the vertical axis of the hole.", "Therefore, the spatial profile of the scattered beam contains information on the shape of the hole opening and the aspect-ratio.", "It should be noted that certain techniques typically used for the formation of the etched holes can cause systematic sidewall roughness, e.g. scalloping caused by the well known Bosch etch process as illustrated in FIG. 9 .", "The depth and pitch of the scalloping can be analyzed by varying the wavelength of the incident light beam.", "Wavelengths longer than the scalloping cycle will be less affected by this effect.", "For small hole-openings in the range of the wavelength dimension, the reflected light pattern contains diffraction effects.", "The theoretical model is then based on the convolution of the geometrical reflection from the sample surface outside the hole with the diffracted light from the shape of a single hole-opening.", "A light beam having large lateral coherence relative to the diameter of the hole can be used and a far field pattern of the reflection from the region of hole-opening can be analyzed to obtain the absolute size.", "If the holes are arranged in dense periodic array, additional diffraction effects could appear depending on the effective lateral coherence length.", "The diffraction image can be analyzed and the absolute size of the hole-opening can be obtained based on the knowledge of geometry of the system and the wavelength of the light beam.", "Reference is made to FIG. 10 illustrating the reflection from a hole having an intermediate shape, e.g. a square hole with rounded corners.", "As it can be observed from the figure, the reflected pattern comprises a combination of spots and partial rings.", "For a hole having a substantially rectangular shaped opening and flat walls, the reflection retains the spot shape and no spreading into rings occurs.", "This is the case also for sloped flat walls.", "The number and location of spots depends on the aspect ratio, sidewall slope and incident angle." ]

[ "This application is a continuation of application Ser.", "No. 07/588,101 filed Sep. 25, 1990, now abandoned.", "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a display apparatus, and more particularly, to a display apparatus of a so-called head-up display system in which predetermined image information is superposed on the scene ahead of the apparatus by means of a beam combiner which has a semitransparent mirror, a hologram and other components, so as to put the image to be observed in a field of view of the observer.", "A display apparatus laving a beam combiner which has a hologram is disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,218,111.", "This apparatus is mounted, for example, in front of a driver's seat of a vehicle such as an automobile, pilot's seat of an aircraft, and so forth, so as to enable the driver or the pilot to simultaneously observe both the scene and the image information.", "FIG. 1 shows a system in which a display apparatus of the kind described is used on an automobile.", "The apparatus has a hologram 100 which functions as a beam combiner.", "The hologram 100 is formed on the glass of the front window of the automobile.", "In this Figure, hatched areas L and R represent, respectively, the regions which can be observed by the left and right eyes of the observer, i.e., the driver, when the hologram 100 is positioned 800 mm ahead of the center 51 of observation.", "Two elongated circles 51a and 51b show ellipses of the right and left eyes which represent statistical standard positions of the eyes.", "The ellipses 51a, 51b have sizes of 95 percentile in terms of the definition specified by JIS (Japanese Industrial Standards) D0021.", "The ellipses 51a, 51b in FIG. 1 are illustrated on the assumption that the driver's seat is shiftable back and forth by 140 mm.", "The most preferred condition for display in an automobile is that while area of the display is covered by the regions L and R, it is observable by the left and right eyes corresponding to 95 percentile.", "It is to be understood, however, that only a limited region where two hatched areas L and R overlap each other is observable by both eyes simultaneously.", "It is assumed here that the hologram 100 on the front window glass has a width of 100 mm.", "In such a case, the width of the region 101 observable by two eyes at a plane A which is 100 mm ahead of the hologram 100 is 93 mm.", "Thus, the width of the region 101 is substantially the same as that of the hologram 100.", "Thus, when the image information is displayed on the plane A, the driver can observe the image information without moving his head, so that the eclipse of image is avoided even when the hologram has a width which is as small as 100 mm.", "Hitherto, however, it was impossible to form an image on the plane A, since the known holograms are constructed to serve as a concaved mirror for the purpose of enlarging the image to be displayed.", "When such a known hologram is used,the image is formed on a plane B which is 400 mm ahead of the front window glass.", "In this case, the width of the region which can be observed by both eyes is as small as 67 mm.", "This narrow region can contain only a limited quantity of image information, e.g., three characters or letters.", "The above-described problems are caused not only by a lateral shift of the observing position but also by a vertical shift of the same.", "Namely, the observing position, i.e., the positions of the eyes, varies according to the sitting height of the driver and angle of inclination of the seat back.", "Therefore, in the conventional hologram which has only a limited region of observation in the vertical direction, the driver is often obliged to straighten his upper body or to crouch, in order to observe the image information formed on the plane B. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, a primary object of the present invention is to provide an improved display apparatus having an enlarged region of observation.", "To this end, according to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a display apparatus comprising an image generator, and a beam combiner having an optical power for displaying a reduced image by receiving a beam from the image generator.", "According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a display apparatus comprising an image generator, and a beam combiner having an optical power for reflectively diffracting a beam from the image generator to thereby display a reduced image.", "According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a display apparatus comprising an image generator, and a beam combiner having a hologram, the hologram being arranged to serve as a convex mirror so as to reflectively diffract a beam from the image and thereby displaying a reduced image.", "In each of the above-described aspects of the present invention, the beam combiner is constructed so as to materially transmit beams from the scene ahead of the display apparatus.", "Preferably, the beam combiner is constructed so as to serve as a convex mirror having a radius of curvature ranging between 100 mm and 1600 mm.", "In order to attain a brighter display, the beam combiner is preferably comprised by a hologram.", "Preferably, such a hologram is comprised by a volume phase type diffraction grating.", "Various types of devices can be used as the image generator, such as a CRT, a liquid crystal light valve,an LED array and a plasma display.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a conventional head-up display system;", "FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of a first embodiment of the display apparatus in accordance with the present invention;", "FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of a second embodiment of the display apparatus in accordance with the present invention;", "FIGS. 4A and 4B are illustrations of the images observed by eyes when the display apparatus shown in FIG. 3 is used;", "FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of a third embodiment of the display apparatus of the present invention, illustrating particularly an image generator;", "and FIGS. 6A and 6B are illustrations of lens arrays.", "DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to FIG. 2, which schematically shows a first embodiment of the present invention, a display means 9, serving as an image generator, has a self-light emitting type display portion 91 for displaying information images, a light-shield array 92 for preventing reduction of image contrast due to incidence of external light to the display portion 91, and a transparent protective plate 93 for protecting the display portion 91 against dust and other contaminants.", "The display portion 91 has an array of a plurality of light emitting elements such as LEDs.", "Numeral 35 designates a beam combined having an optical power.", "The beam combiner is composed of a light-transmitting reflection type hologram adhered to a transparent substrate 34, which in this case is the front window glass of an automobile.", "More specifically, the hologram 35 is composed of a volume phase type diffraction grating which functions as an optical element equivalent to a convex mirror having a radius of curvature of 400 mm.", "The light rays emitted from a light emitting element 910, which is on the center of the display portion 91, conceptually include three portions: namely, a central beam 2 (principal ray) and two marginal beams 2a and 2b.", "The central beam 2 is reflectively diffracted by the hologram 35 on the window glass 34 so as to form a beam 3 which impinges upon the pupil 51 of the observer.", "Similarly, marginal beams 2a and 2b are reflectively diffracted by the hologram 35 to form beams 3a and 3b which are also directed to the pupil 51.", "Light beams 21 and 22 from marginal light emitting elements of the display portion 91 are reflectively diffracted by the hologram 35 so as to form beams 31 and 32, which also are directed to the observer's pupil 51.", "The display portion 91 of the display means 9 is located at a position which is 250 mm apart from the hologram 35 so that a reduced virtual image 62 of an image 61 displayed by the display portion 91 is formed at a position which is about 110 mm apart from the hologram 35.", "That is, the virtual image 62 is formed at a position which is closer to the hologram 35 than the display portion 91 is.", "The position at which the virtual image 62 is formed can be substantially determined by a formula of geometric optics, although the position is preferably corrected slightly in accordance with the values of the incident angle and the diffraction angle of the hologram.", "In this embodiment, the light-shield array 92 has a plurality of light-shielding plates, and each light-shielding plate is so arranged with respect to the beam from each light-emitting element such that the wall surface of each light-shielding plate is disposed in the same direction as the beam which is directed to the observer's pupil through the position where oath light-shielding plate is located.", "In this way, the displayed information can be observed in good condition, without eclipse, from a sufficiently large region centered at the observer's pupil 51.", "The light shield array 92 has light-shielding plates 91 which are oriented in different directions according to the positions of the light emitting elements.", "This arrangement eliminates any difficulty in viewing the displayed image caused when the whole image area is uniformly illuminated by an external light such as solar light.", "In the described embodiment of the present invention, the display means 9 is disposed in, for example, an instrument panel of an automobile, while the hologram 35 is disposed on a suitable portion of the front window glass 34.", "In such a case, the distance between the display means 9 and the hologram 35 is restricted to a small value, e.g., about 350 mm.", "It is to be understood, however, that the virtual image 62 can be formed at a position which is spaced by a very small distance, e.g., 100 mm or so,from the hologram 35, even wheel the distance between the display means 9 and the hologram 35 is small as described above, provided that the focal distance of the hologram 35 serving as a convex mirror is determined to be -140 mm, i.e., 280 mm in terms of radius of curvature, so as to form and display a reduced virtual image 62 as the display image.", "It is thus possible to enlarge the region from which the observer's eyes can observe the displayed image.", "FIG. 3 schematically shows a second embodiment of the display apparatus of the present invention.", "In this Figure, the same reference numerals are used to denote the same elements or components as those shown in FIG. 2. In this embodiment, the display means 9 includes a self-light emitting display portion 91 and a light condensing portion 94 arranged in front of the display portion 91.", "The light condensing portion 94 includes a fly lens or a single or a plurality of lenticular lenses.", "The light rays emitted from the light emitting element 910 which is on the center of the display portion 91 conceptually include three portions: namely, a central beam 2 (principal ray) and two marginal beams 2a and 2b.", "The central beam 2 is made to impinge upon the hologram 35 through a lens element of the light condensing portion 94 and is reflectively diffracted by the hologram 35 on the window glass 34 so as to form a beam 3 which impinges upon the pupil 51 of the observer.", "Similarly, marginal beams 2a and 2b are substantially collimated or converged through the lens elements of the light condensing portion 94 and are reflectively diffracted by the hologram 35 to form beams 3a and 3b which are also directed to the pupil 51.", "In this embodiment, a reduced virtual image 95 of the light condensing portion 94 is formed in the close proximity of the hologram 35, while the information display image 62, formed by virtual images of dots of the light emitting elements of the display portion 91, is focused at a position relatively far from the hologram 35, e.g., 2 to 3 meters ahead of the hologram 35.", "The virtual image 95 is formed at a position which is closer to the hologram 35 than the light condensing portion 94.", "The positions of the lens elements of the lens array forming the light condensing portion 94 may be suitably offset to the center of the light condensing portion 94, provided that the number of the lens elements corresponds to that of the illuminating elements of the display means.", "It is also possible to arrange that the number of light-emitting elements is greater by a suitable number than the number of lens elements.", "The advantage of the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 4A and 4B.", "FIG. 4A shows an image seen by the observer's eyes when the eyes are focused on the virtual image 95 of the light condensing portion 94 from the position of the pupil 51, while FIG. 4B shows an image seen by the observer's eyes when the eyes are focused on the virtual image 62.", "The luminance of the image shown in FIG. 4A is comparatively low because the images of dots of the light emitting elements are in an out-of-focus state.", "In contrast, the image shown in FIG. 4B has much greater luminance than the image of FIG. 4A, although the size of each dot is much smaller.", "Therefore, image information can be presented with a sufficiently high brightness even against a background of road or outdoor scenery in the daylight, with ordinary LEDs such as of red or green color as the light emitting elements.", "In the conventional display apparatus in which the information image is simply formed at a position far from the hologram, the position where the image is displayed is moved a relatively long distance when the observer's pupil 51 is moved to the left .", "and right or up and down.", "In contrast, in the described embodiment of the display apparatus of the present invention,the image information is located at a position determined by the virtual image 95, i.e., in the close proximity of the front window glass 34, and is not moved a long distance even when the position of the observer's pupil 51 is moved.", "This prevents so-called sea-sickness which is often experienced with the conventional display apparatus due to unpleasant movement of the image caused by shaking of the automobile body or movement of the driver's body.", ""Sea-sickness"", "is almost inevitable when the information image is formed by conventional display apparatus which displays the enlarged image at a remote place by a hologram of a size smaller than 25 mm square.", "FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of a display means 9 and associated portions used in a third embodiment which is an improvement of the second embodiment.", "Referring to this Figure, a display portion 91 composed of an array of light emitting elements such as LEDs or plasma display elements is formed on a substrate 41.", "Numeral 94 denotes a light condensing portion composed of a lens array.", "A plurality of mirror members 950 are disposed between the light condensing portion 94 and the display portion 91.", "Each mirror member 950 is a parallelepiped member with both side surfaces constituting reflection surfaces corresponding to the light emitting elements.", "Each reflection surface extends substantially in parallel with the optical axis of each lens element of the lens array.", "The central beam 2 among the beams 2a, 2, 2b emitted from the light emitting element 910 is projected through a lens 941 while the marginal beams 2a, 2b are reflected by the reflection surfaces 951, 952 on both sides of the mirror members 950 and projected as beams 28 and 29 through the lens 941.", "These beams 2, 28, 29 are reflectively diffracted by the hologram so as to be directed to the pupil of the observer.", "In this embodiment, which employs mirror members 950, the effective number of the light emitting elements are increased two to three times by a suitable selection of the positions and angles of the reflective surfaces on both sides of the mirror members 950.", "When the number of the light-emitting elements is exactly the same as that of the lens elements, the beams may fail to impinge upon the observer's pupil when the observer's head is moved drastically.", "In the third embodiment as described, however, this problem is overcome because the effective number of the light emitting elements is increased by virtue of the use of the mirror members 950.", "FIGS. 6A and 6B show examples of the light condensing portion 94 used in the display means 9 in the second and third embodiments as described above.", "Referring first to FIG. 6A, a plurality of square or rectangular small lens elements are arranged regularly and two-dimensionally.", "Each of the elements has a refraction surface of positive refractive power which is spherical or aspherical.", "If necessary, the lens element may be designed to have different focal lengths in the lateral and vertical directions of the field of view.", "These lens elements may be arranged in various patterns.", "For instance, these elements may be arranged in the form of a parallelogram or a regular triangle.", "FIG. 6B shows a two-layered lenticular lens having cylindrical lenses of positive refractive power, e.g., lenses with a circular or oval cross-sections, arranged on the obverse and reverse sides of a transparent substrate such that the direction of the axes of these lenses are orthogonal to each other, thus forming a two-dimensional lens array.", "In the known head-up display apparatus of the type described before, the hologram serves as a flat mirror or a concave mirror which forms an image at a remote position.", "In contrast, in the embodiments of the invention described hereinbefore, the hologram is constructed so as to serve as a convex mirror having a radius of curvature ranging preferably between 100 mm and 2,000 mm, and more preferably between 100 mm and 1600 mm.", "With this arrangement, when the hologram is used as a beam combiner on a front window glass of an automobile, it is possible to display a reduced information image within a distance between 37,5 mm and 375 mm from the hologram, even when the hologram is disposed at a position which is spaced from the display means by a distance ranging between 150 mm and 600 mm.", "Therefore, according to the invention, a very wide region of observation can be obtained even when the hologram is a very small square hologram having a side length of 200 mm or smaller, thus enabling the whole display of information to a wider view area.", "It is thus possible to obtain a heat-up display apparatus which enables the observer, e.g., a driver of an automobile, to observe the whole image display with both eyes even when the positions of the eyes are moved a relatively large distance.", "Furthermore, according to the present invention, the hologram is used as an image reduction system so that the image contrast can be enhanced by a degree corresponding to the reduction rate, thus facilitating recognition of the image.", "The hologram 35 can be fabricated as a single sheet of film and adhered to the inner side of tile front window glass by means of, for example, a double-sided adhesive tape.", "When the conventional hologram is used, a blur or a distorted image is caused unless the hologram is adhered with a high degree of precision.", "In the present invention, however, any slight inferior adhesion of the hologram does not cause serious blur or distortion because the hologram functions as a convex mirror.", "Although a hologram is used as the beam combiner in each of the described embodiments, this is not exclusive and the beam combiner may be comprised of another diffraction grating which serves as a convex mirror.", "It is also possible to use, as the beam combiner, other types of holograms such as a relief hologram, or other types of diffraction grating structures.", "It will also be clear that the display apparatus of the invention can be used on various types of vehicles, including aircraft, although automotive display apparatuses have been specifically described." ]

[ "CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser.", "No. Ser.", "No. 10/739,845 (abandoned), filed Dec. 18, 2003, and also claims the benefit of priority from German Application Nos. 103 26 231.8, filed Jun. 11, 2003;", "103 57 827.7, filed Dec. 9, 2003;", "10 2004 004 202.0, filed Jan. 27, 2004;", "and 10 2004 008 020.8, filed Feb. 19, 2004, all of which are incorporated by reference herein as if fully set forth.", "BACKGROUND The invention relates to a method for producing enzyme granulates, the resulting enzyme granulates, and as well as their use for producing formulations containing these enzyme granulates, a method for producing enzyme granulates comprising inert materials.", "Enzymes are being used in many branches of industry in ever greater capacities.", "This concerns both the produced amounts and also the wide range of enzyme forms.", "As a rule, enzymes are provided in liquid form or also as a dry substance.", "In recent years, granulates in commercial form are becoming ever more preferred by users or by the post-processing industry.", "These granulates distinguish themselves through advantageous properties, such as easy dosing, very good flow properties, homogenous inner structure, high particle density, low dust content, as well as a uniform and closed surface.", "Because enzymes can be characterized, as a rule, by their particular properties, such as instability, e.g., in an aqueous environment, and the creation of allergic reactions, the granulate form has been proven as an advantageous commercial form.", "The stability of enzymes can be improved by transforming these into a dry form.", "This can be performed, e.g., through spray drying, various agglomeration processes (wet granulation in mixers or fluidized-bed agglomeration) or through build-up granulation in fluidized bed apparatuses (spray granulation).", "Disadvantages for spray drying is that very large apparatus volumes are needed and the powdery product contains a considerable dust content.", "In order to reduce this dust content, the spray drying is often performed by means of multi-stage drying systems.", "Disadvantages are that enzyme granulates produced with such a multi-stage drying system have a poor, i.e., high roundness factor (given by the ratio of the surface of a granule to the surface of a perfectly round granule) of more than 1.6.", "Due to the lower roundness and thus projecting sections that can easily break off, enzyme granulates with a roundness factor of 1.6 quickly lead to a high dust content under mechanical loading, such as during packing and transport, for example.", "This dust content requires special protection measures for the production personnel and users as well as significantly greater expense in system equipment for dedusting, ventilation, and for reuse of the dust.", "One possible method for producing enzyme granulates is represented by the build-up granulation in a fluidized bed, such as that published in WO 01/83727 A2.", "Here, a process is described, for which the liquid enzyme formulation is injected into a fluidized bed by means of spray nozzles.", "The dust resulting in the process is separated from the exhaust air and fed back to the granulation process as nuclei.", "The resulting granulates are removed from the process under the use of one or more gravity sifters mounted in the air distribution plate of the fluidized bed apparatus.", "The size of the discharged granulates can be adjusted by the amount of sifting gas.", "Optionally, the granulates can also be coated.", "The method uses the fluidized bed process from EP-A-0163836 and EP-A-0332929.", "The described fluidized bed process is distinguished in that for uniform distribution of the processing gas needed for fluidization and drying, an air distribution plate is mounted over the entire cross section of the fluidized bed apparatus.", "The spray nozzles used for injecting the liquid spray vertically upwards and are integrated directly in the air distribution plate (EP-A-0332929) or are encompassed by a sifter at the height of the air distribution plate (EP-A-0163836).", "The granulation nuclei required for the process are produced partially through spray drying of the injected liquid on the fluidized bed material through partial uncovering (through spraying) of the spray nozzles.", "The fluidized bed mass is formed by a state of equilibrium between the spray-dried nuclei and the fine particles supplied by the separating process, as well as the granulate discharge.", "There is no separation of granulates that are too large.", "Due to the injection of liquid, the particles contained in the fluidized bed are wetted with the liquid in the injected region and the liquid film is dried on the particle surface.", "In the remaining region of the fluidized bed, no drying of the particles with essentially wetted surfaces takes place outside of the nozzles.", "Instead, only a small portion of the moisture contained in the pores of the particles is evaporated, which leads to an increase of the (average) particle temperature.", "However, in conventional fluidized beds, a supply of heated processing gases is also necessary outside of the spray region of the nozzles in order to mix the particles in the apparatus and to constantly supply particles into the spraying region.", "Because the production of enzymes is sensitive to temperature, with these known methods, an optimum yield of enzyme activity cannot be achieved (low relative activity relative to the original enzyme activity, i.e., in addition to active enzyme, too large a percentage of inactive or destroyed enzyme is present, which means that for the same amount of total activity [absolute activity], more enzyme must be used).", "In addition, non-uniform temperature distributions in the conventional process cannot be prevented.", "For this processing guide in the described systems, the residence time can only be decreased by not drying the granulates up to the necessary end value and/or producing an enzyme granulate of lower grain size, which, however, negatively effects the quality of the enzyme granulate.", "The enzyme granulates known from the state of the art have a high percentage of inactive carrier material and thus a low absolute activity, a high percentage of inactivated enzyme (low relative activity), a low value for the average grain size D50 (grain size, for which 50 wt % of the particles have a diameter that is smaller and 50 wt % of the particles have a diameter that is greater than the average grain size D50) or a high moisture content, or usually two or more of these properties.", "For example, according to a method described in WO 01/83727 A2, a yield of enzyme activity of more than 85% (relative to the theoretically possible total enzyme activity) can be achieved only for small particles and/or a moisture content (residual humidity) of more than 5%.", "On the other hand, WO 98/55599 A2 describes a method for producing enzyme granulates under the use of an extrusion device and a bonding apparatus for the use of a carrier material (such as corn starch).", "This method is also described in Example 2 of WO 01/83727.", "Here, an enzyme activity yield of 95% (relative enzyme activity) and a granulate with an average grain size D50 of 600 μm, a moisture content of 5%, and a roundness factor of 1.4 are achieved.", "This method has the disadvantage that an enzyme apparatus with 27% dry substance starch must be mixed in a weight ratio of 1:2 in order to achieve an extrudable mixture.", "The enzyme granulate obtained through the extrusion process has an active enzyme material content of less than 13% (absolute enzyme activity) relative to the dry substance.", "The enzyme granulate that can be achieved with the spray-drying method according to WO 01/83727 does produce granulate with a roundness factor in the preferred range of 1-1.6 and even particles of an average grain size D50 of 620 μm (see Table 2, Experiment 2), but the inactive carrier material content is much lower, wherein the content of total enzymes (active and inactivated) is higher than that for the processing product described in WO 98/55599.", "However, a disadvantage for the enzyme granulate according to WO 98/55599, which can also be inferred from the mentioned Example 2 in WO 01/83727, is that the relative percentage of active enzyme, relative to the total amount of active and inactive enzyme, is at 85% significantly lower than for the extrusion method.", "According to the function described in WO 01/83727, the enzyme granulates are produced according to the method from EP 0 332 929.", "This method has the property that the bed contents adjust automatically (see EP 0 332 929, page 22, line 27).", "Therefore, for a certain granulation output, the residence time can no longer be controlled.", "Thus, in Example 1, the contents of the fluidized bed is 3 kg and the granulation output is at 1.5 kg/hour for granulation from an aqueous salt solution with contents of 23 wt % dry material.", "The residence time is thus fixed at 2 hours in this case.", "Thus, the residence time is determined by the ratio of bed content in kg to granulation output in kg/hour.", "SUMMARY The object of the invention is to create a method for producing enzyme granulates, especially with low dust content, for which the enzyme granulates can be produced in continuous or batch wise operation under the prevention as much as possible of non-uniform temperature distributions in the production process and with an increase of the yield of (relative) enzyme activity.", "Simultaneously, the controllability of the granulation should be improved for the production.", "In particular, the important object of the present invention is to create a granulation method, which enables a shorter residence time in comparison with the known fluidized bed methods under otherwise the same conditions, like composition of the enzyme concentrate, drying-air temperatures, average grain size D50 of the granulate, and roundness of the granulate.", "This object is achieved according to the invention, which in one preferred embodiment also provides an especially gentle method.", "According to the invention, the production of enzyme granulates is performed by linking the thermal conditions in the spray zone and the temperature conditions in the remaining region of the apparatus.", "In particular, relative to the method from the state of the art, lower material residence times can be achieved, which leads to a higher relative enzyme activity in the enzyme granulates obtained by the method of a preferred embodiment of the invention.", "In the process according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, this is achieved because the supply of heated process gas for drying is realized mainly, i.e., particularly at more than 80%, preferably exclusively, in the injection region.", "The secure supply of particles into the injection region is realized in particular through the special geometrical shape of the apparatus under the use of gravity, but it can also happen pneumatically or through a combination of geometrical shape under the use of gravity and pneumatic supply.", "The advantage of the solution according to the invention is provided in that the production conditions are adapted to the material properties to be produced.", "Non-uniform temperature distributions are prevented as much as possible, wherein also an increase of the output of enzyme granulates is achieved.", "The object of the present invention is also to provide an enzyme granulate with low dust content and higher (relative) percentage of active enzyme than in the state of the art in combination with an average grain size D50 of 60 (especially 100 μm) to 2000 μm, good storage stability, especially a small roundness factor, and/or low moisture content.", "The enzyme granulates according to a preferred embodiment of the invention and obtained from the method according to the invention exhibit these advantageous properties.", "These can be advantageous for the production of many interesting formulations, in particular by adding one or more suitable carrier materials and/or compression into suitable application forms.", "Additional advantageous configurations are described herein and are explained extensively in the description together with their effect.", "The enzyme granulates that can be produced according to the invention are highly concentrated and water-soluble or water-dispersible and have an average grain size D50 of 60-2000 μm and are further characterized especially by a dust content of <800, preferably less than 500 ppm according to the Heubach test, at a ratio of active enzyme content to the sum of active and inactive contents (relative enzyme activity) of 80% or greater, especially 88% or more.", "The compression strength of the enzyme granulates that can be produced is preferably 10 MPa or higher, in one possible, preferred embodiment of the invention 20-50 MPa, and the bulk density is 500 μl or more, in one possible, preferred embodiment 550-850 g/l.", "The grain size distribution, characterized by the ratio d 10 /d 90 (definition: d 10 is the grain diameter, at which 10% of the mass of the granulate is smaller than this diameter;", "d 90 is the grain diameter, at which 90% of the mass of the granulate is smaller than this diameter), is especially 0.4 or higher.", "The absolute phytase activity of an enzyme granulate that can be produced advantageously according to the invention (here containing phytase as an enzyme) is preferably equal to or greater than 15,000 FTU/g.", "Here, an FTU is the enzyme activity, which releases 1 micromole of phosphate per minute at 37° C. under assay conditions (0.25 M sodium acetate, pH value of 5.5;", "51 nM sodium phytate).", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The invention is explained in more detail in the following with reference to a preferred embodiment.", "In the associated drawing, a system for performing the method according to the invention is shown schematically.", "DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The amount of heated processing gas 10 (usually heated air) needed for drying the enzyme granulate to be produced is fed to an inlet air chamber 17 with a rectangular cross section 9 and bordering side walls 5 .", "In the inlet air chamber 17 , the processing gas 10 spreads and enters through gap openings 1 in the form of gas streams 2 into the processing space 8 .", "The processing gas stream, which preferably enters horizontally into the gap 1 , is deflected by the deflection part 3 preferably upwards into the processing space 8 and flows as a type of free stream into the apparatus.", "Furthermore, the apparatus cross section can optionally enlarge in the expansion zone 14 , so that the velocity of the processing gas flow constantly decreases upwards.", "The gas leaves the apparatus as exhaust gas 11 above the expansion zone 14 through the exhaust gas part 19 , in which a dedusting system (e.g., filter cartridges or textile-filter elements) can be optionally integrated.", "In the processing space 8 , a certain amount of particles is entrained upwards in the processing gas stream.", "In the upper region of the processing space 8 as well as in the expansion zone 14 located above this space, the gas velocity decreases, so that the particles flowing upwards exit laterally from the gas stream 23 and fall back into the processing space 8 .", "The processing space 8 is limited in the lower region by inclined side walls 29 .", "Due to these inclined sides, the particles are fed under the effect of gravity by the return zone 24 in the direction of the gas inlet gap 1 , where they are then entrained again by the processing gas and brought back into the processing space 8 .", "This mechanism forms a very large uniform solids circulation 15 consisting of an upwards flow and a return in the direction of the processing gas inlet.", "Therefore, even for very low amounts of particles in the processing space 8 in the core zone above the deflection part 3 there is a high particle density.", "In this region, one or more spray nozzles 7 are arranged, which spray upwards aligned with the processing gas stream and are used for feeding the liquid enzyme formulation.", "Through the high particle load in the core zone, very advantageous conditions for the heat and material transfer are produced in the injection zone 22 .", "Furthermore, it is achieved that the liquid is separated as much as possible from the particles and therefore this uniformly wets the particle surfaces.", "The uniform wetting with simultaneous high solids circulation between the injection region and return zone 24 has the effect that a very uniform liquid film is formed.", "Through the drying process, the liquid evaporates and leaves the apparatus with the exhaust gas 11 .", "The solids obtained in the formulation remain on the particle surface.", "Therefore, the granulates grow very uniformly and homogeneously, which leads to a very narrow grain-size distribution.", "Through the circular-like solids stream formed in the processing space 8 , a spray drying region and then a granulation region is formed in the region of the spray nozzles 7 and 6 .", "The processing gas can discharge a portion of the particles as well as fine material and dust from the processing space 8 as solids-bearing exhaust gas 20 .", "For separating these particles, the filter system optionally integrated in the discharge part 19 or dedusting systems connected downstream of the apparatus can be used.", "In the case of an integrated dedusting system 25 , e.g., compressed air pulses 18 can be used to feed the retained particles as separated solids 21 back into the processing space 8 .", "In comparison with fluidized bed apparatuses with integrated filter systems, the dust return is simplified in that the upwards directed processing gas stream is essentially locally limited and thus the returning particles can reliably sink outside of the gas stream.", "This mechanism is additionally supported by the suction effect in the vicinity of the gas inlet gap 1 .", "Alternatively, particles separated from the exhaust gas or enzyme-bearing particles obtained in some other way (see below) are returned into the processing space 8 .", "For this purpose, a wide range of feeds 26 is arranged in the lower region of the inclined side walls 29 .", "Due to the high velocity of the processing gas stream in the vicinity of the gas inlet gap 1 , the fine particles are suctioned and fed to the injection zone 22 , where the particles are wetted with liquid and participate in the growth process.", "Optionally installed baffle plates 16 support the gas stream, amplify the suction effect, and improve the supply of the solids into the injection zone 22 .", "Possibly occurring agglomeration effects are minimized, because in the injection region there are very high flow velocities and thus higher separating forces than occur in fluidized beds.", "Therefore, particles are separated and grow into very sphere-like granulates.", "The flow profile of the processing gas in the processing space 8 further has the effect that fine particles returned into the processing space from the optionally integrated filter system do not fall back into the injection zone 22 .", "Therefore, the adhesion of fine particles and resulting agglomeration processes are stopped.", "For continuous processing control, the apparatus can be equipped with various optional inlet systems 13 for solids.", "In this way, e.g., enzyme particles can be fed to the process, which, e.g., can be obtained through size reduction, e.g., of (too large) granulates, and/or consist of too small granulates or one or more enzyme particles or enzyme-bearing educts in the form of sufficiently fine dust and/or powder obtained in some other way.", "Such enzyme particles or enzyme-bearing educts (enzyme-bearing intermediate products) can be products of other processing stages and methods (e.g., spray drying of enzyme solutions).", "The percentage of these incoming enzyme-bearing intermediate products equals, in particular, 1 wt % or more, in one possible, preferred embodiment of the invention 5-20 wt %.", "Here, it is also possible and can be advantageous if the inlet enzyme particles are produced by a separate spray drying of an enzyme suspension.", "Here, it is also possible, in one possible, advantageous embodiment of the invention to supply enzyme particles already at the beginning.", "These particles are then used as granulation nuclei or as starter filling for shortening the startup time.", "In addition, here additives in solid form, which are to be embedded in the enzyme granulates, can be transferred into the process.", "In another preferred embodiment, preferably before or especially at the same time as or after step a., as mentioned above or in the following, at the beginning or during the granulation process, instead of enzyme particles other fine-grained up to granular particulate materials (preferred particle size less than 0.5 mm, preferably 0.1-0.2 mm), preferably inert (thus primarily enzymatically inactive) particulate materials can be supplied, e.g., for setting the enzymatic activity of the enzyme granulates, e.g., by inserting correspondingly inert grains, such as inert salt grains, as nuclei material.", "In this way, the weight percentage of inert grains can equal, e.g., between 0 and 95 wt % of the final enzyme granulate.", "As an alternative or a supplement to this embodiment, during the drying and granulation process or during one or more parts of these processes, one or more inert materials, such as, especially salts and/or binding agents, can be supplied not only as grain or nuclei material, but instead for diluting the enzyme or enzymes or especially the (absolute, thus active and inactive enzyme component-bearing) enzyme activity in the matrix of the enzyme granulates (thus distributed within parts or the entire matrix), which represents another especially preferred embodiment of the invention.", "Here, the inert material or materials can be supplied as solid material, e.g., by registration systems for solid materials, such as 13, within the enzyme solution(s) [=liquid enzyme formulation(s)] (dissolved and/or in suspension), and/or especially in one or more (preferably aqueous) solutions, suspensions, or melts separate from the enzyme solution, especially in the gas streams 2 , by means of feeds 26 and/or primarily by means of nozzles, e.g., in the injection zone 22 .", "In the latter case, the solution or suspension or further melts of the inert material or materials (e.g., of a salt, such as inorganic salt of a (e.g., alkali) metallic salt, such as sodium sulfate or common salt, preferably in the presence of a binding agent) by means of one or more separate nozzles in addition to the nozzle or nozzles for spraying the enzyme solution, especially in the region of the gas streams 2 , can be sprayed, or advantageously 3 or more material nozzles can be used.", "In this case, the liquids are given separately into the corresponding nozzle portions and atomized in a favorable embodiment of the invention with similarly supplied (preferably compressed) gas, such as compressed air.", "The nozzle advantageously has a number of concentric tubes, through which the liquids and the nozzle air are supplied.", "For example, a first fluid can be supplied through the inner tube, a second fluid through the next outer coaxial annular gap, and the gas for spraying through another coaxial annular gap lying even farther to the outside (a three material nozzle), or a first fluid is supplied through the inner tube, the gas for spraying through a coaxial annular gap to the outer side of the first, a second fluid through another coaxial annular gap lying outside of the last, and additional gas for spraying through a third coaxial annular gap on the outside (a four material nozzle).", "This supply of inert material (as nuclei in the core, as an additive in the matrix of the granulate or both) allows, for high relative activity of the used enzyme material (low inactivation), the desired absolute activities (activity for each weight amount of granulate) to be set very precisely and arbitrarily (i.e., between slightly over 0 to 100% of the maximum possible absolute activity), without changing the remaining parameters of the enzyme granulate, like the grain size or the freedom from dust.", "It can be realized in continuous operation or in batch operation.", "The percentage of additive to inert material can be 0 to nearly 100%, e.g., from 0.1 to 95 wt %, relative to the solids content of enzyme granulate.", "The grain size of the inert material can be arbitrary, as long as it is used in a dissolved state;", "for use as solid powder or as a suspension, the grain size is preferably at 200 μm or less, especially at 100 μm or less.", "Thus, the invention also relates to the use of inert materials in the previously and subsequently described method for setting a certain absolute enzyme activity of the enzyme granulates (enzyme activity per (weight) amount of enzyme granulate).", "Furthermore, the apparatus can be provided with discharge elements 4 in order to be able to remove particles from the processing space 8 .", "This can be realized, e.g., by an overflow port or by a volumetric discharge element (e.g., a rotary valve) or also by a gravity sifter (e.g., a zigzag sifter charged with sifting gas or a rising pipe separator).", "Optionally, mechanical aggregates 27 can be mounted in the processing space 8 , but preferably in the region of the return zone 24 at the inclined walls in order to generate through size reduction sufficiently fine material as nuclei for the granulate formation process.", "Furthermore, the return zone 24 can optionally be used for the position of heating systems or other heat-transfer devices 28 .", "For example, the apparatus wall can be a double-wall in order to use this apparatus for heating or cooling, e.g., under the use of liquid or gaseous heat carriers.", "Alternatively, microwave heaters could also be used in order to re-dry or preheat the particles in the return zone 24 .", "In the processing space 8 or in the apparatus parts lying above this space, e.g., in the expansion zone 14 and the discharge air part 19 , there can be optional spray nozzles 6 , which preferably spray downwards, but also partially upwards.", "Here, the liquid enzyme formulation can also be injected in order to generate granulation nuclei, e.g., through spray drying in the apparatus.", "Alternatively, a few of the spray devices 6 and 7 can inject additives or other components in fluid form, which can thus be embedded homogeneously in the granulate structure.", "If the spray nozzles 7 are adapted to the hot-gas charged supply air chamber 17 , optionally the liquid-guiding parts can be provided with insulation or different cooling systems 12 in order to prevent damage to the liquid formulation.", "To prevent water susceptibility and/or for controlling the water solubility of the enzyme granulates produced according to the invention, these can be provided with a protective layer through coating in a subsequent, separate process.", "As another advantage of the process according to the invention, the very simple construction should be mentioned, which is associated with high operation reliability and flow insensitivity with very good cleaning ability.", "This creates improved production conditions for exchanging products for biological materials, especially in terms of hygiene requirements.", "EXAMPLES The invention is illustrated with reference to the following concrete application examples without being restricted in any way to these examples.", "Example 1 Production of Enzyme Granulates An enzyme formulation, which contained, in addition to the enzyme solution, a stabilizer as well as binder components, and which had a final concentration of solids of approximately 22 mass percent, was injected into an apparatus, which is characterized by the previously described construction.", "The processing space is characterized by a rectangular cross section and has above the inclined side walls a cross-sectional area of 0.15×0.2=0.03 m 2 , and a height of approximately 1 m. The processing gas stream of approximately 180 kg/h heated to approximately 140° C. was supplied by 2 gas supply gaps running longitudinal through the apparatus.", "The liquid formulation was injected into the processing gas stream with a mass flow of approximately 50 g/min by means of a compressed-air charged dual nozzle spraying vertically upwards.", "In the processing space there was approximately 500 g of enzyme particles.", "Through the evaporation process, the processing gas cools and leaves the apparatus at approximately 45° C. The dedusting of the exhaust air was performed by a cyclone connected downstream to the apparatus and the separated solids were supplied by gravity back into the processing space near the gap as nuclei material.", "The removal of granulates from the processing space was performed at the end under the use of a sieve.", "The fine portion separated in the sifter was blown pneumatically back into the processing space.", "The removed granulate has a non-solids bulk density of 800 g/l and the following grain size distribution (sieve analysis): >400 μm: 0.8 mass % 315-400 μm: 6.8 mass % 250-315 μm: 15.3 mass % 160-250 μm: 42.3 mass % 100-160 μm: 24.9 mass % 0-100 μm: 9.9 mass % Example 2 Enzyme Granulate with Phytase Made from Aspergillus Niger Commercially available phytase (Natuphos 5000 L, BASF, Ludwigshafen, Germany) is diafiltered with demineralized water and an ultra-filtration system with a pore size, which does not let the enzymes pass in order to remove preservatives and salts.", "The enzymes are then ultra-filtered to obtain a highly concentrated liquid enzyme preparation.", "Polyvinyl alcohol as a binding agent is added to 25 wt % of this liquid enzyme preparation with a phytase activity of 24,000 FTU/g and a dry material content of 25 wt %.", "The remaining 75 wt % of the solution is spray dried at an air inlet temperature of 180° C. and an exhaust air temperature of 70° C. in the apparatus mentioned in Example 1.", "The spray-dried enzyme powder is collected in a dust-tight, covered container.", "It produces an enzyme powder with a phytase activity of 90,000 FTU and 95% dry substance.", "The container with the spray dried enzyme powder is covered with a dust-tight coupling on the inlet system 13 .", "The liquid enzyme preparation is sprayed with a dosing pump through a spray nozzle into the processing space 8 .", "Liquid enzyme preparation and enzyme powder are fed in a mass ratio of 4:1.", "The inlet temperature is at 120° C. and the exhaust air temperature at 60° C. It produces a phytase granulate with the properties shown in Table 1.", "The content of active and inactive phytase is determined under the use of the procedure described in EP 0 420 356 for characterizing Aspergillus ficuum phytase, which is here incorporated by reference.", "TABLE 1 Properties of the phytase granulate according to Example 2 Property Value Roundness factor 1.4 Residual moisture 5% Activity yield 97% Content of active enzyme/total 95% enzyme content Activity 83,000 FTU/g Average grain size D50 640 μm Grain size ratio d 10 /d 90 0.7 Bulk density 590 g/l Example 3 Use of Salt/Binding Solutions A pilot system with 4 supply chambers and 4 nozzles was used.", "A protease was used as the enzyme material.", "Inorganic alkali metallic salts and typical binding agents were used for the salt/binder components.", "The percentage of components is given in wt % (“%”).", "a) Pure enzyme solution and salt-binder solution are each fed to different nozzles, the diluted amount of water per nozzle is set to be as equal as possible: Salt − binder Enzyme suspension solution (cold) (65° C.) Chambers 3 1 Concentration % 18 50 Spray amount kg/h 22 12 Water per nozzle kg/h 6.0 6 Percentage in product % 39.8 60.2 Feed-air temperature ° C. 125 Discharge-air temperature ° C. 55 b) Enzyme solution and salt-binder solution are supplied mixed through all nozzles: Enzyme Salt + binder percentage percentage Chambers 4 Percentage in solution % 10 24 Spray amount kg/h 30 Water per nozzle kg/h 4.95 Percentage in product % 29.4 70.6 Supply-air temperature ° C. 115 Discharge-air temperature ° C. 50 c) Enzyme solution and salt-binder solution are supplied separately through three material nozzles: Enzyme Salt − binder solution suspension (cold) (65° C.) Chambers 4 Concentration % 15 50 Spray amount kg/h 15 20 Water per nozzle kg/h 5.7 Percentage in product % 18.4 81.6 Supply-air temperature ° C. 120 Discharge-air temperature ° C. 55 d) The enzyme-binder solution is sprayed and salt powder is supplied in solid form: Enzyme − binder Salt powder solution (cold) <30 μm Chambers 4 Concentration % 15 100 Spray amount kg/h 20 25 Water per nozzle kg/h 4.3 Percentage in product % 10.7 89.3 In conclusion, the following can be stated: The invention relates to a method for producing enzyme granulates.", "The object of the invention is to create a method for producing enzyme granulates, for which the enzyme granulates can be produced in continuous or batch wise operation under the prevention as much as possible of non-uniform temperature distributions in the production process and for an increase of the yield of enzyme activity.", "Simultaneously, the controllability of the granulation for the production should be improved.", "The enzyme granulate obtained with the method and its use are disclosed.", "According to the invention, the enzyme granulates were produced by linking the thermal conditions in the spray zone and the temperature conditions in the remaining region of the fluidized bed.", "In the process according to the invention, this is achieved such that the heated processing gas for drying is supplied exclusively in the injection region.", "The reliable supply of particles into the injection region is realized through the special geometrical shape of the apparatus under the use of gravity." ]

[ "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to paperboard processing equipment and more particularly to an apparatus for feeding paperboard sheets to printers, cutters, slotters, gluers and the like.", "Various types of processing equipment are used in the manufacture of paperboard packaging, including printers, cutters, slitters and gluers.", "The equipment is used to manufacture a wide variety of boxes and special packaging from sheets of paperboard.", "Generally, individual sheets of paperboard are fed into the processing equipment manually or by automatic sheet feeders.", "Heretofore, various sheet feeders have been proposed.", "Typically, these feed individual sheets from a stack to the feed rolls of the processing equipment.", "Problems experienced with prior proposals include excessive wear, complexity and difficulties with setup.", "It is important to minimize maintenance downtime in order to maintain production rates.", "An example of one prior approach is found in U.S. Pat. No. 4,045,015 entitled ROTARY FEEDER FOR PAPERBOARD BLANKS and issued on Aug. 30, 1977, to Sardella.", "The rotary feeder disclosed in this patent includes a plurality of configured feed wheels.", "Each wheel has an active portion and a relieved portion.", "A transmission brings the active portion of the feed wheels into contact with the underside of a sheet of paperboard.", "The sheet is accelerated to match the speed of the feed rolls of the processing equipment.", "As the sheet is pulled into the feed roll, the wheels move out of contact with the paperboard sheet.", "The transmission must transmit rotary input motion so that the feed wheels are initially accelerated, then decelerated and then held stationary.", "Another example of a sheet feeder is found in U.S. Pat. No. 4,494,745 entitled FEEDING APPARATUS FOR PAPERBOARD SHEETS and issued on Jan. 22, 1985, to Ward et al.", "The feeding apparatus disclosed in this patent includes a plurality of feed belts.", "The belts are brought into contact with the sheet and then actuated to bring the sheet to the feed rolls of the processing equipment.", "The belts are then moved out of contact with the paperboard sheet before their motion is stopped.", "The intermittent driving of the belts must be synchronized with the operation of lift bars which move the belts into and out of contact with the paperboard sheet.", "A still further example of a paperboard sheet feeder includes a feed table which supports a plurality of feed wheels.", "The wheels are covered with a polyurethane material.", "A drive arrangement rotates the wheels to feed sheets.", "A low friction sliding grid is raised as the sheet is fed to the nip of the feed rolls.", "The grid keeps the sheet out of contact with the feed wheels as the sheet is drawn into the processing equipment by the feed rolls.", "A need exists for a reliable sheet feeder of reduced complexity and increased reliability and which may be readily added at the feed ends of existing paperboard processing equipment.", "SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the present invention, the aforementioned needs are substantially fulfilled.", "Essentially, the paperboard sheet feeder in accordance with the present invention includes a support for retaining a stack of paperboard sheets.", "A roller assembly is mounted on the support.", "The roller assembly includes a feed roll which is in contact with the lowermost board of the stack.", "A drive means is provided for rotating the roll in a positive fashion to feed the paperboard sheet into the processing equipment and then for permitting the roll to freewheel as the sheet is engaged by the feed rolls of the processing equipment.", "In narrower aspects of the invention, the paperboard sheet feeder includes a magazine for supporting a stack of paperboard sheets and an adjustable gate which defines a slot through which the sheets are fed.", "A low friction plate is supported on the table between the feed roller assembly and the slot.", "The drive means includes a driven gear connected to the roller assembly through a one-way clutch.", "A drive belt in engagement with the gear has ends fixed to a slide block.", "Reciprocation of the slide block alternately rotates the drive gear which rotates the roller assembly through the one-way clutch.", "The slide block may be connected to the kicker arm of a paperboard printer or the like.", "The paperboard sheet feeder in accordance with the present invention eliminates the fairly complex transmissions, gear drives and cam arrangements heretofore employed.", "Also, wear is eliminated or substantially reduced since the feed rolls are permitted to freewheel.", "This substantially eliminates any relative motion between the surface of the rolls and the paperboard sheet.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a fragmentary, perspective view of a paperboard sheet feeder in accordance with the present invention positioned at the feed end of a paperboard printer;", "FIG. 2 is a fragmentary, perspective view of a portion of the sheet feeder showing the drive and a portion of feed roller assemblies;", "FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the drive mechanism;", "and FIG. 4 is a schematic, side elevational view showing the operation of the feeder.", "DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A preferred embodiment of a paperboard sheet feeder in accordance with the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 1 and generally designated by the numeral 10.", "Sheet feeder 10 is shown attached to the feed end of a conventional paperboard sheet printer generally designated 12.", "Printer 12 includes feed rolls 14.", "Feeder 10 includes a frame 16.", "Frame 16 supports a magazine 18.", "Magazine 18 includes a lower cross member 20, an upper cross member 22 and side plates 24, 26.", "Side plates 24, 26 are adjustable towards and away from each other on the upper cross member.", "Also supported on the upper cross member are a pair of adjustable gates 30.", "Each gate includes a support bracket 32.", "Brackets 32 define apertures 34 through which the upper cross member extends.", "Supported on the brackets are vertically adjustable gate blocks 38.", "The gate blocks 38 are adjustable by threaded members 40.", "Mounted on frame 16 is a support or horizontal surface 50.", "The lower ends 52 of gates 30 define a feed slot 54 in conjunction with horizontal support surface 50 of feeder 10.", "In the preferred embodiment, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, feeder 10 includes a pair of feed roller assemblies 60.", "Each roller assembly 60 extends transversely of the frame 16 in spaced, parallel relationship and between the side plates of the magazine subassembly.", "Each roller assembly 60 includes an elongated shaft 64.", "Shaft 64 is supported on frame 16 by bearing assemblies 66.", "Non-rotatably mounted on each shaft 64 are a pair of spaced hubs 68.", "An elongated roller cylinder or roll 70 is supported on the hubs 68 on the shaft 64.", "Each roller cylinder 70 is fabricated from a high friction material, such as polyurethane.", "Supported on feeder 10 are a plurality of low friction support plates 74, 76 and 78.", "The plates are fabricated from aluminum or a self-lubricating material, such as nylon.", "Plate 74 extends transversely of feeder 10 and into slot 54 defined by gates 30.", "Plate 76 extends between and overlies roller cylinders 70 of assemblies 60.", "Plate 78 is positioned downstream of the rearmost roller assembly 60.", "As shown in FIG. 1, a pair of arms 80 are cantilevered outwardly from the rear edge of frame 16.", "Low friction material plates 82 are secured to the upper surfaces of the arms 80.", "In use, a stack of paperboard sheets is positioned within the magazine.", "The sheets rest on the low friction plates 74, 76, 78 and 82.", "The feed roller assemblies 60 contact the undersurface of the lowermost sheet in the stack.", "In order to feed a paperboard sheet through the feed slot and into the processing equipment, roller cylinders 70 are driven.", "A drive means for rotating the roller cylinders is supported on frame 16 and generally designated by the numeral 100.", "As seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, conventional one-way rotary clutches 102 are secured to ends 104 of roller shafts 64.", "Ends 104 are received by bearings 107 secured to a side plate 109.", "When viewed in FIG. 3, rotation of the shafts 64 in a counterclockwise direction drives the rollers 70 through the clutches.", "Secured to one-way clutches 102 are drive gears 108.", "A plurality of idler rollers 110 are supported on frame 16 by axles 111.", "Supported below drive gears 108 is a carriage and guide subassembly 114.", "Assembly 114 includes end plates 116.", "A pair of guide rods 118 extend between the plates 116.", "A slide block 120 is slidably mounted on guide rods 118.", "An elongated, flexible drive transmission means in the form of a gear belt 122 converts reciprocating motion of block 120 to alternating rotary motion of the drive gears 108.", "Belt 122 includes ends 124, 126 which are secured to block 120.", "Belt 122 extends over the idler rollers 110 and is held in contact with the drive gears 108.", "In the preferred form, slide block 120 is connected to a kicker arm 130 of equipment 12, as schematically shown in FIG. 3. Kicker arm 130 is reciprocated by the processing equipment 12 in a conventional fashion.", "As slide block 120 is moved in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 3, gear belt 122 rotates the drive gears 108 in a counterclockwise direction.", "The drive gears through the one-way clutches rotate the roller cylinders 70 in a positive manner to feed a paperboard sheet through the slot defined by the gate subassemblies and into the nip defined by the feed rollers of the processing equipment 12.", "When slide block 120 is moved in the direction of arrow B in FIG. 3, gears 108 are rotated in a clockwise direction.", "No force is transmitted to the roller cylinders 70.", "The roller assemblies are permitted to freewheel and continue to rotate in a counterclockwise direction.", "As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 4, sheet feeder 10 includes a plenum 140 mounted on frame 16 beneath roller assemblies 60.", "Plenum 140 is connected to a blower 142 through duct work 144.", "Blower 142 evacuates air from plenum 140.", "The blower, therefore, creates a suction within the plenum which draws the lowermost sheet of a stack of sheets into contact with the high friction outer surface of rollers 70.", "OPERATION In operation, a stack 150 of paperboard sheets 152 is positioned within the magazine subassembly (FIG.", "4).", "Gate blocks 38 are adjusted vertically to define the appropriate slot 54 which is dependent upon the thickness of the individual sheets.", "Blower 142 is activated and the lowermost sheet of the stack is drawn into contact with roller assemblies 60.", "Slide block 120 is moved in the direction of arrow A, as shown in FIG. 3. Roller cylinders 70 are rotated and the lead edge of the lowermost sheet of the stack is passed through the feed slot and into the nip defined by feed rollers 14 of processing equipment 12.", "At the completion of the stroke, block 120 is then moved in the opposite direction as the lowermost sheet is being drawn into the processing equipment.", "While block 120 is shifted in the direction of arrow B, roller cylinders 70 are permitted to freewheel.", "This eliminates relative movement between the roller assemblies and the paperboard sheet.", "As a result, wear of the feed roller cylinders is minimized or eliminated.", "Also, scuffing or other possible damage to the sheet is minimized or eliminated.", "Plates 74, 76 and 78 provide a low friction support surface.", "This permits the sheet to be drawn easily into the processing equipment.", "After the first sheet is fed, block 120 is then again shifted in the direction of arrow A to start another feed cycle.", "The feed table including the drive arrangement in accordance with the present invention is of substantially reduced complexity from that heretofore available.", "The slide block and gear belt arrangement reliably drive rollers 70.", "Complicated gear drive, cam and indexing transmissions are eliminated.", "Wear is reduced.", "Downtime for maintenance is also reduced.", "In view of the foregoing description, those of ordinary skill in the art will undoubtedly envision various modifications which would not depart from the inventive concepts disclosed.", "For example, a belt pulley arrangement could be substituted for the gear belt structure included in the preferred embodiment.", "The gear belt arrangement is preferred, however, due to the elimination of slippage and the positive drive provided.", "Therefore, the above description should be considered as only that of the preferred embodiment.", "The true scope and spirit of the present invention may be determined from the appended claims." ]

[ "CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS Reference is made to commonly-assigned, copending U.S. patent application Ser.", "No. 11/682,352 filed Mar. 6, 2007 entitled “PRINTING SYSTEM PARTICLE REMOVAL DEVICE AND METHOD.”", "FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates, generally, to the removal of particles from liquid and, in particular, to the removal of particles from liquids used in printing systems.", "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Ink jet printing has become recognized as a prominent contender in the digitally controlled, electronic printing arena because of, e.g., its non-impact, low noise characteristics and system simplicity.", "For these reasons, ink jet printers have achieved commercial success for home and office use and other areas.", "Traditionally, digitally controlled inkjet printing capability is accomplished by one of two technologies.", "Both technologies feed ink through channels formed in a printhead.", "Each channel includes a nozzle from which droplets of ink are selectively extruded and deposited upon a medium.", "The first technology, commonly referred to as “drop-on-demand”", "ink jet printing, provides ink droplets for impact upon a recording surface using a pressurization actuator (thermal, piezoelectric, etc.).", "Selective activation of the actuator causes the formation and ejection of a flying ink droplet that crosses the space between the printhead and the print media and strikes the print media.", "The formation of printed images is achieved by controlling the individual formation of ink droplets, as is required to create the desired image.", "Typically, a slight negative pressure within each channel keeps the ink from inadvertently escaping through the nozzle, and also forms a slightly concave meniscus at the nozzle, thus helping to keep the nozzle clean.", "Conventional “drop-on-demand”", "ink jet printers utilize a pressurization actuator to produce the ink jet droplet at orifices of a print head.", "Typically, one of two types of actuators is used including heat actuators and piezoelectric actuators.", "With heat actuators, a heater, placed at a convenient location, heats the ink causing a quantity of ink to phase change into a gaseous steam bubble that raises the internal ink pressure sufficiently for an ink droplet to be expelled.", "With piezoelectric actuators, an electric field is applied to a piezoelectric material possessing properties that create a mechanical stress in the material causing an ink droplet to be expelled.", "The most commonly produced piezoelectric materials are ceramics, such as lead zirconate titanate, barium titanate, lead titanate, and lead metaniobate.", "The second technology, commonly referred to as “continuous stream”", "or “continuous”", "ink jet printing, uses a pressurized ink source which produces a continuous stream of ink droplets.", "Conventional continuous ink jet printers utilize electrostatic charging devices that are placed close to the point where a filament of working fluid breaks into individual ink droplets.", "The ink droplets are electrically charged and then directed to an appropriate location by deflection electrodes having a large potential difference.", "When no print is desired, the ink droplets are deflected into an ink capturing mechanism (catcher, interceptor, gutter, etc.) and either recycled or disposed of.", "When a print is desired, the ink droplets are not deflected and allowed to strike a print media.", "Alternatively, deflected ink droplets may be allowed to strike the print media, while non-deflected ink droplets are collected in the ink capturing mechanism.", "Regardless of the type of inkjet printer technology, it is desirable to keep the ink free of particles that may clog or partially clog the printhead nozzles.", "In inkjet printing, some micro-sized solid particles present in printing ink.", "These solid particles may come from dry ink in the system, or conglomeration of sub-micron ink pigments.", "There are also evidences of growth of bacteria that form particles in the ink.", "In other cases the origins of these solid particles are unknown.", "Particles having sizes (in microns) that are comparable to the nozzle size may not pass through nozzles smoothly, causing droplet deflection that adversely affects droplet placement.", "The particles even can block the nozzles that result in early printhead replacement.", "This problem is known as a nozzle contamination in inkjet printing.", "To reduce or even eliminate the contamination issue, a method to decontaminate ink would be useful.", "Another problem related to particle contamination is that once a printhead is contaminated by the particles, it has to be dismounted and sent back to the manufacturer for refurbishing.", "This can be expensive from cost and lost production time standpoints.", "Even though filters are commonly used in inkjet printhead to remove particles, they are not effective at removing in-situ particles that are formed near the printhead nozzles as dried ink or conglomerations of small particles.", "These in-situ particles tend to form within the printhead near the nozzles when the printhead is not in service.", "Furthermore, efforts of removing these particles by recycling the ink through the ink tank with filters are not fully successful since some particles are trapped in the areas where the flow field is dominated by local circulation near the nozzles.", "In the printing mode, however, these particles may randomly stray away from the local circulation and reach the nozzle, causing nozzle contamination.", "This issue is particularly severe for continuous inkjet printing where a large amount of ink is normally consumed during a printing operation.", "U.S. Pat. No. 7,150,512 discloses a device using a solvent based cleaning fluid to flush the nozzle, drop generator and catcher while the continuous ink jet printing device is not in print mode.", "The reclaimed ink from the catcher has less debris therefore the recycling rate to deliver the ink is increased due to a lower concentration of debris being present in the reclaimed ink thereby minimizing clogging of the components.", "U.S. Pat. No. 6,964,470 discloses a method to prevent adhesion of colorant particles to the tip of an ink guide (or nozzle).", "When in cleaning mode a piezoelectric device vibrates the ink guide, thereby giving the colorant particles kinetic energy to eject from the surface.", "U.S. Pat. No. 5,543,827 discloses an ink jet printhead nozzle when in cleaning mode a piezoelectric device vibrates the nozzle plate to facilitate cleaning solvent to flow in the same direction as gravity.", "A controller operates not only the valve to allow cleaning fluid to flow but also controls the nozzle plate vibration.", "These techniques are not always effective especially when trying to remove particles that are trapped in areas where the fluid flow field is dominated by local circulation, for example, near the nozzle of a printhead.", "Therefore, it would be useful to have an apparatus and method capable of removing these particles.", "SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to one aspect of the invention, a method of operating a printing system includes providing a liquid source of liquid including a liquid, the liquid including particles;", "providing an acoustic transducer associated with the liquid source;", "and actuating the acoustic transducer using a controller to generate a standing sound wave including a nodal point in the liquid such that the particles are caused to move toward the nodal point of the standing sound wave.", "According to another aspect of the invention, a method of operating a printing system includes providing a liquid source of liquid including a liquid, the liquid including particles;", "providing a pressure generating mechanism associated with the liquid source;", "and actuating the pressure generating mechanism using a controller to generate a region of high pressure and a region of low pressure in the liquid that are transparent to the liquid and that cause particles in the liquid to move from the region of high pressure toward the region of low pressure.", "According to another aspect of the invention, a printing system includes a liquid source including a liquid with the liquid including particles.", "An acoustic transducer is associated with the liquid source.", "A controller is operably associated with the acoustic transducer and is configured to actuate the acoustic transducer to generate a standing sound wave including a nodal point in the liquid such that the particles are caused to move toward the nodal point of the standing sound wave.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention presented below, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a standing wave and a liquid flow containing particles;", "FIG. 2A is a schematic view of a printing system incorporating an example embodiment of a particle removal device;", "FIG. 2B is a schematic view of a printing system incorporating another example embodiment of a particle removal device;", "FIG. 2C is a schematic view of a printing system incorporating yet another example embodiment of a particle removal device;", "FIG. 3A is a schematic view of an embodiment of a stand-alone particle removal device;", "FIG. 3B is a schematic view of another embodiment of a stand-alone particle removal device, and FIG. 4 is a schematic view of yet another embodiment of a stand-alone particle removal device.", "DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present description will be directed in particular to elements forming part of, or cooperating more directly with, apparatus in accordance with the present invention.", "It is to be understood that elements not specifically shown or described may take various forms well known to those skilled in the art.", "The present invention utilizes the standing waves for which the terminologies are explained briefly below.", "Two waves with the same frequency, wavelength, and amplitude traveling in opposite directions will interfere and produce standing waves 7 shown in FIG. 1 .", "Let the harmonic waves be represented by the equations below in the x-y coordinate system 8 y 1 = A ⁢ ⁢ Sin ⁡ ( 2 ⁢ π ⁢ ⁢ t T - 2 ⁢ π ⁢ ⁢ x λ ) ⁢ ⁢ and ( 1 ) y 2 = A ⁢ ⁢ Sin ⁡ ( 2 ⁢ π ⁢ ⁢ t T + 2 ⁢ π ⁢ ⁢ x λ ) ( 2 ) where y 1 and y 2 describes the displacement to a certain position x at time t. A is the amplitude of the wave, λ is the wavelength, and T is the period.", "Adding the waves and using a trig identity we find y = y 1 + y 2 = A ⁢ ⁢ Sin ⁡ ( 2 ⁢ π ⁢ ⁢ t T ) ⁢ Cos ⁡ ( 2 ⁢ π ⁢ ⁢ x λ ) ( 3 ) This is a standing wave—a stationary vibration pattern.", "It has nodes 9 —points where the medium doesn't move, and antinodes 10 —points where the motion is a maximum.", "The above equation can also be written in terms of pressure, i.e., p = p 0 ⁢ Cos ⁡ ( 2 ⁢ π ⁢ ⁢ t T ) ⁢ Sin ⁡ ( 2 ⁢ π ⁢ ⁢ x λ ) ( 4 ) where p 0 is the pressure amplitude.", "When a liquid flow 4 containing particles 5 passes the standing wave 7 in the flow direction 6 , the standing pressure wave creates a force on the particles 5 in the x direction, F x , given by Yosioka and Kawasima (Acoustic radiation pressure on a compressible sphere, Acoustica, 5, 167-173 (1955)) F x = - ( π ⁢ ⁢ p 0 2 ⁢ V 1 ⁢ β 2 2 ⁢ λ ) ⁢ ( 5 ⁢ ρ 1 - 2 ⁢ ρ 2 2 ⁢ ρ 1 + ρ 2 - β 1 β 2 ) ⁢ Sin ⁡ ( 2 ⁢ π ⁢ ⁢ x λ ) ( 5 ) where ρ and β are density and compressibility, V 1 is the volume fraction of particle.", "The subscripts 1 and 2 denote quantities associated with the particles 5 and the liquid flow 4 , respectively.", "It is easy to see that the force exerted on a particle by the standing wave depends on the strength and frequency of the acoustic wave, as well as the volume fraction of the particles.", "Furthermore, the magnitude and direction of the force depends on the relative elastic properties of the particle and the liquid flow 4 that carries the particles 5 .", "For example, the sign of ϕ = 5 ⁢ ρ 1 - 2 ⁢ ρ 2 2 ⁢ ρ 1 + ρ 2 - β 1 β 2 determines the direction of the force.", "When φ is positive, the force F x is negative.", "The particles will be dragged to pressure node (minimum pressure).", "When φ is negative, the force F x is positive.", "The particles will then be forced to pressure antinode (maximum pressure).", "For particles with φ=0, the force F x is zero.", "Therefore, these particles will not have x-direction movement.", "Referring to FIG. 2A , an inkjet printhead 11 is shown, ejecting liquid droplets 12 through a nozzle plate 14 , onto a selected location on a receiver (not shown).", "The liquid droplets 12 generally comprise a recording agent, such as a dye or pigment, and a large amount of solvent.", "The solvent, or carrier liquid, typically is made up of water, an organic material such as a monohydric alcohol, a polyhydric alcohol or mixtures thereof.", "The nozzle plate 14 is representative of nozzle plates made by any of several common commercially used methods and may be composed of any of several materials, for example, electroplated nickel or gold.", "In the present invention, the printhead is attached to an acoustic resonator 16 , operable for generating a standing wave 34 along the direction transverse to the liquid flow direction 40 .", "The acoustic resonator 16 may be, for example, a well-known commercially available resonator such as a magnetic resonator and a piezoelectric resonator.", "The acoustic resonator 16 is connected in electrical communication with and is electrically controlled by a controller 18 over a conductive path 20 .", "The standing wave 34 has a pressure profile, which appears to “stand”", "still in time.", "The pressure profile in a standing wave varies from areas of high pressure to areas of low pressure.", "As the ink flow passes through the pressure wave before reaching the ink nozzle plate, the pressure gradients due to the standing wave 34 are expected to give rise to particle motion transverse to main ink flow toward the pressure nodes of the standing wave, which corresponds to minimum pressure points.", "Therefore, the particles migrate away from the nozzle with the cycled ink toward the ink recycling mechanism 32 .", "These particles are then filtered out from the printhead.", "The ink recycling mechanism 32 may be a flow pass that leads the ink back to the ink tank with filtering systems.", "It may contain a particle collection mechanism that consists of porous material that traps the particles.", "The embodiment shown in FIG. 2A is suitable for ink system with a positive φ value.", "The x-direction force on the particle, F x in this case is negative.", "The particles are forced to move along the pressure nodes 36 so that they are away from the printing nozzles.", "The pressure wave profile can be adjusted to change the pressure node and antinode locations.", "In the example embodiment shown in FIG. 2B , the pressure node 37 is located in the center of the printhead, while the pressure antinodes 35 (maximum pressure location) are located near the wall of the printhead, aligned with the ink recycling mechanism 32 .", "This embodiment is suitable for ink system with a negative φ value.", "The x-direction force on the particle, F x in this case is positive.", "The particles are forced to move along the pressure antinodes 35 so that they are away from the printing nozzles.", "FIG. 2C is another embodiment where the standing wave is designed with the pressure nodes 38 aligned with the nozzle openings 30 .", "This embodiment is suitable for ink system with a positive φ value.", "The particles are forced to pass through the nozzle openings 30 during the maintenance mode.", "The embodiments shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B typically are applied to the nozzle plate, guiding the undesired particles away from the printing area of the nozzle plate.", "On the other hand, the embodiment in FIG. 2C is focused on control of an individual nozzle.", "The frequency, wavelength and node location of the standing wave are critical design parameters for this invention to achieve its desired purpose.", "For the embodiment in FIGS. 2A and 2B , the half wavelength needs to be about the same as the printing width of the nozzle plate (in the order of inches).", "For the embodiment in FIG. 2C , the half wavelength is much smaller and should be about the same as the distance between the two adjacent nozzles (in the order of micro-meters).", "FIG. 3A is an embodiment of a stand-alone particle removal apparatus.", "A liquid source 150 containing particles 155 is provided through an inlet 160 to outlets 165 , 166 and 167 .", "An acoustic resonator 170 is controlled by a controller 175 to form a standing wave 185 with nodes 180 along the direction transverse to the liquid flow direction.", "The standing wave causes the particles 155 with positive φ value to move toward the nodes 180 .", "Therefore, the particles 155 follow the liquid flow into outlet 166 and 167 , and are removed from the liquid flow in outlet 165 .", "FIG. 3B is an embodiment of a stand-alone particle cleaning apparatus.", "A liquid source 250 containing particles 255 is provided through an inlet 260 to outlets 265 , 266 and 267 .", "An acoustic resonator 270 is controlled by a controller 275 to form a standing wave 285 with antinodes 280 along the direction transverse to the liquid flow direction.", "The standing wave causes the particles 255 with negative φ value to move toward the antinodes 280 .", "Therefore, the particles 255 follow the liquid flow into outlet 266 and 267 , and are removed from the liquid flow in outlet 265 .", "It is also possible to remove two or more different types of solid particles based on differences in their compressibility and densities.", "FIG. 4 is an embodiment of a stand-alone particle cleaning apparatus.", "A liquid source 350 containing two types of particles, particles 355 and particles 356 , is provided through an inlet 360 to first stage outlets 365 , 366 and 367 , and then second stage outlets 465 , 466 and 467 .", "A first stage acoustic resonator 370 is controlled by a first stage controller 375 to form a standing wave 385 with nodes 380 along the direction transverse to the liquid flow direction.", "The standing wave causes the particles 355 with positive φ value to move toward the nodes 380 , and the particles 356 with negative φ value to move toward the antinodes 387 .", "Therefore, the particles 355 follow the liquid flow into outlet 366 and 367 , and are removed from the liquid flow in the first stage outlet 365 .", "The particles 356 follow the liquid flow into first stage outlet 365 .", "Along the first stage outlet 365 , a second acoustic resonator 470 is controlled by a controller 475 to form a standing wave 495 with antinodes 490 along the direction transverse to the liquid flow direction.", "The standing wave 495 causes the particles 356 with negative φ value to move toward the antinodes 490 .", "Therefore, the particles 356 follow the liquid flow into outlet 466 and 467 , and are removed from the liquid flow in the second outlet 465 .", "Therefore, the flow in outlet 465 contains no particles 355 or particles 356 .", "The acoustic resonator in the present invention may be various acoustic resonators available commercially.", "The acoustic resonator may be a piezoelectric resonator that is an electrically excitable and mechanically oscillating element.", "This enables the application of sound to the dispersion medium without any difficulties.", "Particularly suitable are piezoceramics with a highly effective piezocoefficient, such as lead zirconate-titanate.", "A piezoelectric resonator works on the principle of piezoelectricity.", "Piezoelectricity is the ability of crystals and certain ceramic materials to generate a voltage in response to applied mechanical stress.", "The piezoelectric effect is reversible in that piezoelectric crystals, when subjected to an externally applied voltage, can change shape by a small amount.", "For example, the deformation is about 0.1% of the original dimension in PZT.", "The effect finds useful applications such as the production and detection of sound, generation of high voltages, electronic frequency generation, microbalance, and ultra fine focusing of optical assemblies.", "A break through was made in the 1940's when scientists discovered that barium titanate could be bestowed with piezoelectric properties by exposing it to an electric field.", "Piezoelectric materials are used to convert electrical energy to mechanical energy and vice-versa.", "The precise motion that results when an electric potential is applied to a piezoelectric material is of primordial importance for nanopositioning.", "Resonators using the piezo effect are commercially available.", "Piezo resonators can perform sub-nanometer moves at high frequencies because they derive their motion from solid-state crystalline effects.", "They have no rotating or sliding parts to cause friction.", "Piezo resonators can move high loads, up to several tons.", "Piezo resonators present capacitive loads and dissipate virtually no power in static operation.", "Piezo resonators require no maintenance and are not subject to wear because they have no moving parts in the classical sense of the term.", "The above embodiments are limited to printheads.", "They find applications with any liquid source in which particle removal is necessary.", "For inkjet printing, the liquid source can be a printhead and ink outlet can be a nozzle.", "If the ink outlet is a nozzle, the particles typically have a size that is substantially comparable to the size of the nozzle.", "The invention has been described in detail with particular reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, but it will be understood that variations and modifications can be effected within the scope of the invention.", "PARTS LIST 1 subscripts 2 subscripts 4 liquid flow 5 particles 6 flow direction 7 standing wave 8 x-y coordinate system 9 nodes 10 antinodes 11 inkjet printhead 12 liquid droplets 14 nozzle plate 16 acoustic resonator 18 controller 20 conductive path 30 nozzle openings 32 ink recycling mechanism 34 standing wave 35 pressure antinodes 36 pressure nodes 37 pressure node 38 pressure nodes 40 liquid flow direction 150 liquid source 155 particles 160 inlet 165 outlets 166 outlet 167 outlets 170 acoustic resonator 175 controller 180 nodes 185 standing wave 250 liquid source 255 particles 260 inlet 265 outlets 266 outlets 267 outlets 270 acoustic resonator 275 controller 280 antinodes 285 standing wave 350 liquid source 355 particles 356 particles 360 inlet 365 first stage outlets 366 first stage outlets 367 first stage outlets 370 first stage acoustic resonator 375 first stage controller 380 nodes 385 standing wave 387 antinodes 465 second stage outlets 466 second stage outlets 467 second stage outlets 470 second acoustic resonator 475 controller 490 antinodes 495 standing wave" ]

[ "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1.", "Field of the Invention This invention relates to an ozonizer of the type having two electrodes facing each other with one of the electrodes being provided with an insulating layer.", "Description of the Prior Art Ozone producing devices are being used in industrial plants in ever increasing numbers, ozone being a strong means of oxidation utilized in sewage treatment, air cleaning, the treatment of drinking water, food storage, as well as in the field of medicine and chemistry.", "U.S. Pat. No. 4,051,043 describes a device for the production of ozone by means of silent discharge in gas, the device consisting of a discharge cell connected to a voltage source for its energy supply, by means of a circuit arrangement.", "The cell consists of two parallel, electrically conductive plate shaped electrodes, separated by a parallel non-conductive layer of even thickness, as well as by an air gap.", "The non-conductive layer is arranged on one of the electrodes, so that the air gap extends between this layer and the other electrode.", "The non-conductive layer is intended for the limitation of the discharge voltage and prevents any intensive spark and arc discharge, causing unacceptable temperature increases within the discharge gap and thus a destruction of the ozone produced.", "In ozonizers of this type, a multitude of surface discharges is created, statistically distributed over a certain space and time.", "In addition, the size of the discharging surface element depends on the surface conductivity of the non-conductive layer and on the humidity of the air flowing through the discharge gap.", "In an ozonizer of this type, the size of the statistically distributed uncontrolled individual discharges cannot be adjusted to the value which is most advantageous for the production of ozone.", "SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, the object of this invention is to provide a novel ozonizer which produces high ozone yield with low energy consumption.", "These and other objects are achieved according to the invention by providing a new and improved ozonizer formed of two plate-shaped carriers, two electrodes lying opposite to each other and arranged on respective surfaces of the carriers, a non-conducting layer covering one of the electrodes, as well as an electrically conductive layer forming separate conductive islands arranged at the surface of the non-conductive layer.", "The conductive layer is located opposite the other electrode, thereby forming a discharge gap extending in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the ozonizer between the second electrode and the conductive layer forming the separate islands, wherein is contained a stream of an oxygenic gas or of pure oxygen.", "In a second embodiment, the ozonizer is designed in tubular form as a tubular ozonizer.", "It is the effect of the design of the non-conductor as proposed by the invention that the amount of the discharge transferred to the oxygenized gas mixture within the discharge gap during the discharge process can be adjusted to an exact value adapted to the prevailing requirements, thus markedly increasing the ozone yield.", "Advantageously, prominences can be provided between the electrically conductive islands to increase the electrical insulation and prevent possibly occurring electrical flashovers between conductive islands, in the event that adjacent conductive islands do not discharge simultaneously and thus come to rest on different electrical potentials for a brief time.", "Otherwise, in another embodiment involving particularly simple means for providing an effective insulation of the electrically conductive islands, the non-conductive layer is provided with indentions in parts thereof not covered by the conductive layer.", "With an arrangement of the electrodes on relatively displaceable plate-shaped carriers, the width of the air gap between the electrodes can be adapted to the respective requirement by a displacement of the carrier plates at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the ozonizer.", "Also, the tubular ozonizer embodiment noted above permits particularly effective cooling of the electrodes.", "An additional embodiment of the invention, wherein the conductive islands are designed as polygons, preferably hexagons, permits the placement of a large number of electrically conductive islands onto the non-conductive layer, while at the same time preventing electrical flashovers therebetween.", "According to yet another embodiment of the invention, the conductive islands may be designed in the shape of circular lamina, resulting in a less efficient utilization of space, combined with the advantage of an even potential distribution.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A more complete appreciation of the invention and many of the attendant advantages thereof will be readily obtained as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein: FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view along the longitudinal axis of a plate-ozonizer;", "FIG. 2 is an axial sectional view through a tubular ozonizer;", "FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view along line I--I in FIG. 1;", "FIG. 4 sections along lines II--II and III--III, respectively, in FIG. 2;", "FIG. 5 is a top view of a section of the non-conductive layer.", "DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate identical or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and more particularly to FIGS. 1 and 3 thereof, in the plate ozonizer there shown, electrodes 2, in the form of thin, electrically conductive layers consisting of, for instance, conductive silver, are applied by metallizing techniques to plate-shaped carriers 1 made of insulating material, and are distanced from each other at right angles to their longitudinal axis.", "One of the electrodes 2 is covered on its surface facing the second electrode by a non-conductive layer 3, which may be, for instance, made of glass.", "The non-conductive layer 3, on its side facing the second electrode is provided with electrically conductive islands 4 which are separated from each other and are located, for instance, at distances of 0.1 to 1.0 mm from each other and are made of silver or of aluminum, having a thickness of about 1 μm.", "A discharge gap 5 runs between the non-conductive layer 3, and the second electrode.", "The electrically conductive islands can be produced by very simple metallizing and etching techniques commonly used in semiconductor technology.", "The electrically conductive islands 4, as shown in FIG. 5, are designed as squares or as regular hexagons;", "it is possible, however, to make them in the shape of round plates.", "The electrodes 2, by way of connecting terminals 12, are connected with a voltage source for the energy supply of the ozonizer (not shown).", "A suitable voltage source has been described in the aformentioned U.S. Pat. No. 4,051,043.", "The invention operates in the following manner: An oxygenic gas mixture, or pure oxygen, flows through the discharge gap 5 in which a silent discharge in gas takes place.", "This effects a separation of part of the oxygen present.", "The atomic oxygen thus created combines with the remaining molecular oxygen to form ozone.", "The non-conductive layer limits the discharge voltage and prevents the occurrence of intensive spark and/or arc discharges which would lead to a rise of temperature within the gas, and thus to a destruction of the created ozone.", "The silent discharge thereby is effected by the discharge of the charge existing on the conductive islands 4 through the gas.", "The recharging of the islands 4 takes place with a defined charge which essentially depends upon the surface size of the island and the voltage applied, and it is accomplished by way of the electrode having the non-conductive layer and the non-conductive layer 3 itself.", "In the tubular ozonizer as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, two tubes 9,9'", "arranged concentrically to each other and at a distance from each other at right angles to their longitudinal axis are provided with electrodes.", "The outer tube 9 at its surface facing the inner tube 9'", "is provided with an outer electrode 2"", "designed as a metal tube.", "The inner tube 9'", "is made of non-conductive material.", "The inner wall of the inner tube 9'", "bears an inner electrode 2'", "applied as thin metallized aluminum or silver coating.", "The inner tube 9'", "at its surface which faces the metal tube 2"", "is provided with an electrically conductive layer of conductive silver or aluminum in the form of separate islands 4.", "Between these islands 4, indentations 6 about 0.1 to 1 mm deep, or, as shown in the right-hand portion of FIG. 2 or 4, respectively, prominences 7 made of non-conductive material, for instance of glass, are provided.", "A discharge gap 5 is formed parallel to the longitudinal axis of the ozonizer by the inner wall of the outer electrode 2"", "and the surface of the inner tube 9'.", "The outer wall of the outer tube 9 is surrounded by cooling water 11.", "The interior space of the inner tube 9'", "serves as a cooling channel 10 for a cooling medium, for instance air, water or oil.", "By means of connecting terminals 12, the electrodes 2', 2"", "are connected with a voltage source (not shown).", "A suitable arrangement for the energy supply for the ozonizer is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,051,043, to give an example.", "Dimensions of a tubular ozonizer of this type are as follows: 44 mm for the outer diameter of the inner tube 9', 2 mm for the width of the air gap, 46 mm for the inside diameter of the outer electrode 2"", "formed by a metal tube, and 8 kV for the conducting voltage.", "The size of the island surface may be from 10 mm 2 to 1000 mm 2 .", "The mode of operation of the tubular ozonizer is as follows: An oxygenic gas mixture or pure oxygen flows through the discharge gap 5 in which a silent discharge in gas takes place in an electric field created between the electrodes 2', 2".", "This causes a separation of part of the oxygen present.", "The atomic oxygen created in this manner combines with the remaining molecular oxygen to form ozone.", "The silent discharge in gas within the discharge gap 5 takes place in exactly defined individual impulse discharges between the conductive islands 4 and the outer electrode 2"", "located opposite therefrom.", "The non-conductive layer 3 limits the discharge voltage and prevents the occurrence of intensive spark and/or arc discharges which would cause a temperature rise within the gas and thus a destruction of the ozone created.", "Recharging of the conductive islands 4 takes place in the identical manner as previously described in connection with reference to the embodiments shown in FIG. 1 or 3, respectively.", "The prominences or indentations between the islands 4 increase the insulation and prevent flashovers, if the islands should not discharge simultaneously, when the islands then briefly have a relative electrical potential.", "Cooling of the outer electrode 2"", "is done by means of the cooling water 11 running along the outer surface of the outer tube 9.", "The inner electrode 2'", "is cooled by a coolant such as, for instance, air, oil or water, flowing through the interior space of the inner tube 9'.", "Obviously, numerous additional modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings.", "It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein." ]

[ "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a throttle opening control device for a marine propulsion arrangement, and more particularly to a device which may be utilized in connection with the propulsion arrangement of an outboard motor, wherein the angle of throttle opening may be regulated, and automatically controlled, by an interconnection to the transmission shifting system.", "The induction systems for many internal combustion engines frequently employ throttle valves.", "Throttle valves control the air flow through the induction passages of respective charge forming devices.", "The position of the throttle valves, and thus the amount of air inducted, may be controlled by an operator by way of a remote shift-type lever or a remote rotatable hand grip, for example, as upon the tiller of an outboard motor.", "It has been known to interrelate the operation of such a throttle control arrangement with the operation of a transmission system, having forward, neutral, and reverse operating stages, in order to avoid certain problems.", "Problems might be incurred, for example, when attempting to start, or restart, an engine when the throttle is set for a high engine speed, or during an attempt to urgently shift the transmission into another operating stage during engine running conditions.", "The consequences of such problems might include quick and jerking water vehicle motions, tending to throw passengers off balance, or breakage of the shift control mechanism.", "In certain prior types of marine propulsion devices, the transmission may be shifted from forward to neutral, or from reverse to neutral, only when the throttle opening angle is within prescribed safety limits.", "Also, the engine may be started only when the transmission is in the neutral stage.", "By employing such arrangements, the above-mentioned potential problems can be avoided.", "The above-discussed prior art devices have, however, been recognized as lacking in operational efficiency in certain respects.", "For example, when operating an engine above idle speeds, before it is fully warmed up, stalling may occur.", "In accordance with the prior art devices, a two-step procedure must be carried out in order to restart the engine.", "First, the throttle must oftentimes be adjusted so that its opening angle falls within the prescribed safety limit, as it will likely have been moved outside such limit during operation.", "Next, the transmission must be shifted from the forward or reverse operating stage to the neutral operating stage.", "It is only at this point, then, that restarting may be initiated.", "Similarly, during usual running conditions in order to shift between the various transmission operating stages it is usually necessary, first, to decrease the throttle opening and, then, to make the desired shift.", "Thus, it is apparent that restarting, as well as shifting operations, can be a cumbersome procedure.", "It is, therefore, a principle object of the present invention to provide an improved throttle opening control device for a marine propulsion arrangement.", "It is a further object of this invention to provide a device which allows an operator of a marine propulsion unit to shift from a forward or reverse operating state into neutral, in order to start or restart an engine, or to effect an urgent transmission shift change during operation, without having to execute an independent step of separately reducing the throttle opening angle beforehand.", "It is still a further object of this invention to provide a throttle opening control arrangement wherein the angle of throttle opening is automatically controlled by an interconnection to the transmission shifting system.", "SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a throttle opening control arrangement adapted to be embodied in a marine propulsion unit.", "The invention comprises a transmission system having an operative driving stage and a neutral stage.", "A transmission system shift arrangement communicates with, and is operable to control, the transmission system.", "The invention further comprises an engine and an induction system.", "The induction system supplies a charge to the engine.", "A throttling arrangement is associated with the induction system for controlling the constitution of the charge.", "A throttle control arrangement is provided which communicates with the throttling arrangement and is operable to adjust a set throttle opening angle of the throttling arrangement.", "The invention additionally comprises a throttle position regulating system which interlinks the transmission system shift arrangement with the throttle control arrangement.", "The throttle position regulating system is operable to automatically determine a permissible range of throttle opening and, further, is operable to automatically decrease the angle of throttle opening upon shifting the transmission system from its operative driving stage to its neutral stage, solely in response to movement of the transmission system shift arrangement.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a throttle opening control device constructed in accordance with the present invention and as embodied in an outboard-type marine propulsion unit.", "FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the arrangement illustrated in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is an enlarged side elevational view of the throttle opening control device of the invention when the transmission of the marine propulsion unit is in its neutral operating stage.", "FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the arrangement illustrated in FIG. 3. FIG. 5 is an enlarged side elevational view of the throttle opening control device of the invention when the transmission of the marine propulsion unit is in its forward operating stage.", "FIG. 6 is an enlarged side elevational view of the throttle opening control device of the invention when the transmission of the marine propulsion unit is in its reverse operating stage.", "DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring initially to FIGS. 1 and 2, a side elevational view and a top plan view are shown, respectively, of a throttle opening control device constructed in accordance with the present invention, and as embodied in an outboard motor type marine propulsion unit.", "Such an embodiment is typical of the environments in which the invention can be utilized.", "It is to be understood, however, that the invention can be employed in conjunction with other propulsion arrangements, such as an inboard-outboard watercraft propulsion system, and with other uses for internal combustion engines and their throttle valve mechanisms.", "In the illustrations, the outboard motor is identified generally by the reference numeral 2.", "The outboard motor 2 includes a power head consisting of an internal combustion engine 4 and a surrounding protective cowling 6.", "The engine may be of any known type;", "for example, an engine operating on the twostroke crankcase compression principle would be suitable.", "As is conventional with outboard motor practice, the engine 4 is disposed so that its output shaft (not shown) rotates about a vertically extending axis and is coupled to a drive shaft (not shown) that is journalled within a drive shaft housing 8.", "A lower unit (not shown), which is located beneath the drive shaft housing 8, contains a forward, neutral, reverse transmission (not shown) so that the drive shaft may drive a propeller (not shown) in selected forward and reverse directions, as is well known in this art.", "It is to be understood that the invention may also be practiced with a transmission provided with other than solely a forward, neutral and reverse gear system.", "The engine 4 is supplied with charge forming devices 10 which are depicted as being of the carburetor type and include respective butterfly-type throttle valves 12 which are affixed to throttle valve shafts for movement thereabout.", "A manually controlled throttle linkage system cooperates with the carburetors 10 for controlling their throttle valves 12.", "The throttle linkage system includes a throttle rod 14 which is connected to a lever 15 which drives one of the throttle valves 12, which is a directly driven throttle valve.", "Movement of the throttle rod 14, thus, controls the rotational movement of the driven throttle valve.", "The further throttle valve 12 is a slave valve and its rotational movement is controlled by a further linkage arrangement 16 emanating off of the driven valve.", "The throttle rod 14 is connected to one end of a generally L-shaped throttle control lever 18 and is, in turn, driven by the movement of the L-shaped throttle control lever 18 which is pivotal about a shaft 20.", "The other end of the L-shaped throttle control lever 18 is connected to a throttle control cable 22.", "Movement of the control cable 22 may be manually determined by a remote, operator controlled throttle device, such as a rotatable tiller handgrip 24.", "The degree of throttle opening is adjusted in proportion to the degree of rotation of the throttle control lever 18.", "It should be noted that the throttle control lever could be of a directly driven type instead of remotely operated.", "Next, the throttle opening control arrangement 26, wherein the angle of throttle opening is automatically controlled by an interconnection to the transmission shifting system, as contemplated by the present invention, will be discussed.", "As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a remote transmission shift lever 30 is provided along a forwardly located area of the marine propulsion unit 2, with respect to an associated watercraft (not shown).", "The transmission shift lever 30 is positioned in such a manner that it is readily accessible to an operator for running the watercraft.", "A shift control cable 32 mechanically interlinks the shift lever 30 with a slider member 34 which is disposed for linear reciprocal movement along a guide 36.", "A shifting apparatus 38 is disposed beneath the slider member 34 and associated guide 36.", "The shifting apparatus 38 operates to shift the transmission of the propulsion unit 2 between its various operating stages (e.g., forward, neutral and reverse) by way of a rotating movement of the shifting apparatus 38.", "A shift rod lever 40 extends outwardly and upwardly of a generally vertically extending shaft of the rotatable transmission assembly 38.", "An elongate shift plate 42 mechanically interlinks the slider member 34 and the shift rod lever 40 so that linear movement of the slider member 34 imparts a rotational movement to the shift rod lever 40 via the shift plate 42.", "As just described, such rotational movement of the shift rod lever 40 ultimately effects gear changes within the transmission of the propulsion unit 2 by rotating the shift device 38.", "With additional reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, which show the throttle opening control device of the invention when the transmission of the marine propulsion unit is in its neutral operating state, it can be seen that the throttle control lever 18 is located beneath the slider member 34 for rotation about an axis defined by shaft 20.", "A throttle stopper member 46 is also disposed beneath the slider member 34 and is rotatable about the axis defined by the shaft 20.", "A projection 48 is located to one end of the throttle stopper member 46.", "The projection 48 is provided with a threaded hole therethrough for receiving a bolt member 50.", "The bolt member 50 is a set bolt which is adjustable via its rotation within the threaded hole so that the throttle opening angle may be regulated, as will be described below.", "A connecting rod 52 mechanically interlinks the slider member 34 and the throttle stopper member 46 so that the position of the throttle stopper member 46 about its axis of rotation, and thus the disposition of the associated projection 48 and set bolt 50, can be determined according to the position of the slider member 34.", "The throttle control member 18 is provided with a stepped portion 56, having a working face region 58, along its lower end.", "The working face 58 is disposed so that it will contact an abutting end of the set bolt 50, under certain operating conditions to be discussed, which will impede further rotational movement of the throttle control member 18 in a direction tending to increase the angle of throttle opening.", "In this way, a limited angle of rotation for the throttle control lever 18 can be set.", "By adjusting the position of the set bolt 50, via its rotation within its threaded holder, this angle can be fine tuned within a range determined by the adjusting length of the set bolt 50.", "Next, the operation of the throttle opening control device 26 under dynamic operating conditions, wherein the transmission is operated initially in forward, then to neutral, and finally to reverse, will be set forth.", "FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the throttle opening control 26 device when the transmission is in its forward operating state.", "The slider 34, which is reciprocally movable in a linear fashion backwards and forwards along the guide 36, is located towards the right hand side of the guide 36 in the forward operating state, when viewed in the direction of FIG. 5. The connecting rod 52 acts upon the throttle stopper 46 tending to pull the throttle stopper 46, and its associated set bolt 50, in a direction upwardly and away from the working face 58 of the step 56.", "Thus, the angle available for throttle opening, defined by the angular distance between the abutting face of the set bolt 50 and the working face 58 of the step 56 about the central axis of the shaft 20, is set as shown by the reference letter f. Accordingly, the throttle control lever 18 can be rotationally adjusted, via the remote, operator throttle control 24, through the angle f during forward operation of the marine propulsion unit 2.", "With reference, once again, to FIGS. 3 and 4, the slider 34 becomes positioned centrally along the guide 36 when the transmission is shifted from forward into the neutral operating state.", "Such movement of the slider 34 causes the throttle control lever 18 to move downwardly by way of the resultant simultaneous movement imparted to the connecting rod 52 located therebetween.", "If the throttle's position during forward operation, just prior to the shifting of the transmission into neutral, was outside the permitted angular position for neutral operation, the abutting end of the set bolt 50 will contact the working face 58 of the step 56.", "It is by such contact that the throttle positioning is automatically controlled by shifting of the transmission.", "In such a case, the throttle control lever 18 will be automatically rotated around towards its closed position, without any independent manual operation of the throttle arrangement.", "Once in neutral, the angle of permitted throttle movement is that depicted by the reference letter n in FIG. 3, which is, likewise, defined by the angular distance between the abutting face of the set bolt 50 and the working face 58 of the step 56 about the central axis of the shaft 20.", "FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of the throttle opening control device 26 when the transmission is in its reverse operating state.", "The slider 34 is located towards the left hand side of the guide 36 in the reverse operating state, when viewed in the direction of FIG. 6. The connecting rod 52 acts upon the throttle stopper 46 tending to pull the throttle stopper 46, and its associated set bolt 50, in a direction upwardly and away from the working face 58 of the step 56 when the transmission is shifted from neutral into reverse.", "Thus, the angle available for throttle opening, defined by the angular distance between the abutting face of the set bolt 50 and the working face 58 of the step 56 about the central axis of the shaft 20, is set as shown by the reference letter r. Accordingly, the throttle control lever 18 can be rotationally adjusted, via the remote, operator throttle control 24, through the angle r during reverse operation of the marine propulsion unit 2.", "In addition to the advantages detailed above, the present invention avoids certain transmission shifting errors wherein forces acting in concert with the normal forces involved in effecting a shift result in the inadvertent achievement of an undesired shifting posture.", "For example, when the throttle is opened, an external force may be imposed, via the connecting rod 52, upon the slider 34.", "An external force acting upon the slider 34 could conceivably result in a mistaken shift.", "According to the present arrangement, however, the external force imposed by the connecting rod 52 extends in a direction which is generally perpendicular to the direction of the operational reciprocal movement of the slider 10.", "Thus, the force transmitted by way of the connecting rod 52 does not have a directional component sufficient to cause a mistaken shift.", "Additionally, when the propulsion unit 2 is run in its reverse mode of operation other potential problems are existent.", "For example, if the throttle is opened to a rather high degree, the propeller might impose a strong thrust force in a direction which opposes a tilt or trim device force tending to angle the propulsion unit somewhat upward.", "If the propeller thrust force overcomes the tilt or trim device force, the desired tilt or trim angle might become inadvertently decreased.", "According to the present arrangement, the regulated angle available for opening the throttle during reverse operation, denoted by the reference letter r in FIG. 6, is set so that the propeller thrust force during reverse operation will not be able to overcome the holding force supplied by a tilt or trim device.", "It is to be understood that the foregoing description is primarily intended to be exemplary, in particular to provide the preferred embodiment of the invention as contemplated by the inventor, and is not meant to be limiting.", "Accordingly, various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined by the appended claims." ]

[ "TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] This invention relates generally to means for accessing subterranean conduits, which may include plumbing controls.", "More particularly, it relates to a cover, which is useful for covering conduits.", "BACKGROUND [0002] Access conduits are frequently employed, where it is desired to have access to a control device, such as a valve associated with, for example, a sprinkler system in a residential or commercial lawn setting.", "In such applications, there exist a network of pipes through which water may flow during the normal course of providing irrigating water to such lawns, and often it is convenient for the field technician to have the ability to relieve water pressure from a particular segment of such a sprinkler system.", "Hence, there are often cases where it is desirous to have a shutoff valve disposed along a distribution line in such a system, in a subterranean location.", "Accordingly, to protect control equipment such as valves from corrosion or other attack by the elements over time, subterranean conduits have been developed, which are generally enclosures which may be buried in the ground, and within the confines of which a control device such as a valve may be housed to be protected from environmental factors.", "It is desirable for a field technician to have ready access to such valves, and typically the opening at the terminal end of a tubular access conduit has a flat lid which is placed over it, which may be removed as desired.", "SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0003] Provided herein are covers useful for covering an open terminal end of an access conduit.", "Such covers include a substantially-circular, disc-shaped base portion having a top surface, a bottom surface, and a circumferential edge.", "There is also a circular rib disposed on the bottom surface of the base portion.", "The circular rib itself has a top surface which is in a raised disposition with respect to the bottom surface.", "The circular rib forms a ring of raised elevation on said bottom surface.", "There are a plurality of risers attached to and extending upwardly from the circular rib.", "There are also a plurality of contact shoes, each of which contact shoes are attached to one and only one of the risers.", "The contact shoes have a convex outer surface, and a curvature which is different from the curvature of the circular rib, when the cover is viewed from the bottom perspective.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0004] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the bottom of a cover according to one embodiment of the invention;", "[0005] FIG. 2 shows a bottom view of a cover according to one embodiment of the invention;", "[0006] FIG. 3 shows a side perspective view of a cover according to one embodiment of the invention;", "[0007] FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the top of a cover according to one embodiment of the invention;", "[0008] FIG. 5 shows bottom perspective view of a cover according to one embodiment of the invention;", "and [0009] FIG. 6 shows a side perspective view of a cover according to one embodiment of the invention and its relation to an access conduit which it is intended to be capable of covering.", "DETAILED DESCRIPTION [0010] Referring to the drawings, and initially to FIG. 1 there is shown a perspective view of the bottom of a cover 10 according to one embodiment of the invention.", "In this FIG. 1 there is shown the base potion 3 , which exists substantially in the form of a circular disc, having a bottom surface B, which in one preferred form of the invention is flat.", "Attached to the bottom surface B of the base portion 3 is a circular rib 5 , which is disposed to protrude or project upwardly from the bottom surface B. In one embodiment, the circular rib 5 has a rectangular cross section and has a top surface T. In one embodiment, the top surface T is planar and is substantially parallel to the bottom surface B of the base portion 3 .", "In one preferred embodiment, the circular rib 5 is disposed annularly, so as to form a ring, which ring may be located at any point between the center of the base potion 3 and the outer edge of the base portion 3 .", "In a preferred embodiment, the circular rib 5 is disposed to be present on the bottom surface B of the base portion 3 at any location that is distanced between about one-twelfth of the radius of the base portion 3 and three-fourths of the radius of the base portion 3 , from the outer circumferential edge of the base portion 3 .", "For example, in one embodiment, when the base portion 3 has a radius of 10 centimeters, the circular rib 5 may be disposed at any location that is between about ten-twelfths ( 10/12) centimeters from the outer circumferential edge of the base portion 3 , and 7.5 centimeters from the outer circumferential edge of the base portion 3 .", "In one preferred embodiment, the base portion 3 has a radius of 10 centimeters, and the circular rib 5 is disposed at a location that is about 3 centimeters from the outer edge of the base portion.", "The location of the circular rib 5 from the circumferential edge of the base portion may be measured from any point on the top surface T of the circular rib, including the inner edge, outer edge, or any point therebetween.", "In one embodiment, the circular rib 5 has a width dimension of between two millimeters and four centimeters, as viewed from its cross-section.", "This width dimension is also the width of the top surface T of the circular rib 5 , when its cross section is rectangular, as in one embodiment.", "In one embodiment, the width of the circular rib is between about two millimeters and ten millimeters wide.", "In a preferred embodiment, the circular rib 5 has a width dimension of about four millimeters, as viewed from its cross-section, corresponding to the width of its top surface T and the cross section is rectangular, the circular rib being disposed so that the midpoint of the width dimension of the circular rib 5 is distanced at a point about three centimeters from the outer circumferential edge of the base portion 3 .", "[0011] Disposed at the top surface T of the circular rib 5 , and equally spaced thereabout, with regards to one another along the circular rib 5 , are a plurality of risers 9 .", "In one embodiment, the risers 9 extend upwardly, and in a direction that is away from the bottom surface B of the base portion 3 , and can also be viewed as protruding upwardly from the circular rib 5 , as shown in FIG. 1 .", "The risers 9 are contoured to have a curvature, which substantially matches, and in one embodiment has congruent curvature with the circular rib 5 , which embodiment having such congruent curvature can be seen readily from the bottom view in FIG. 2 .", "In one embodiment, the risers 9 are each substantially triangular as viewed from a side perspective, with one of the legs of these triangles so defined being attached to and co-extensive with a segment of the circular rib 5 , with the remaining leg of these triangles comprising intersections 13 , each of which intersections 13 having disposed thereabout a contact shoe 11 .", "The intersections 13 in one embodiment permit some movement of each of the contact shoes 13 independently from the relatively stationary position of the risers 9 .", "FIG. 1 also shows a plurality of rib segments 7 , extending from separate points on the inner wall of the circular rib 9 to a common center hub 17 which the rib segments intersect, the center hub 17 being shaped in the form of a cylinder and also being disposed on the bottom surface B of the base portion 3 .", "These rib segments 7 may in one embodiment be analogous and identical to the circular rib in construction and cross-section, differing therefrom only in that they are linear, and are not annularly disposed on the bottom surface B of the base portion 3 , but rather are disposed in the interior space defined by the circular rib 9 , as shown.", "The rib segments 7 and center hub 17 provide added strength to the cover 10 .", "There is also a hole 15 , disposed through the base portion 3 , which enables a user to lift the cover from an installed position by inserting their finger through the hole and pulling the cover upwards.", "The dotted lines in FIG. 1 show alternate embodiments of shapes of the risers 9 according to alternate embodiments, when the risers 9 are viewed from the side perspective, including risers having rectangular and smooth curved surfaces, in addition to embodiments in which the risers 9 appear substantially-triangular as viewed from the side, as described below.", "[0012] A cover 10 according to the invention is preferably comprised of a material 20 having a reasonable strength, and suitable materials include stainless steel, steel, aluminum, any metallic alloys, polymers, polyethylene, polypropylene, alpha olefin copolymers, thermoset resins, thermoplastic vulcanizates, fiberglass, wood, composites, pressed wood fiber composites, etc.", "It is especially preferred that a device according to the invention be fabricated from an injection-grade polypropylene, based on its strength and durability.", "However, any material having strength sufficient to support about 150 pounds without undergoing fracture when installed at the terminal end of a conduit at ground level is suitable for use in providing a cover 10 according to the invention.", "When polyolefins are employed as the material of construction, it is possible to provide a cover 10 according to one or more embodiments, in which a cover 10 as shown in FIG. 1 is made of unitary construction, that is—wherein all elements described above are present on a single injection molded piece.", "Thus, the cover 10 shown in FIG. 1 , in one preferred embodiment, is a single molded article.", "[0013] In FIG. 2 is shown a bottom view of a cover 10 according to one embodiment of the invention.", "The respective locations of the base portion 3 , circular rib 5 , risers 9 , and contact shoes 11 are shown, as well as the rib segments 7 and center hub 17 .", "Also shown are the intersections 13 , which are the locations at which the contact shoes 11 are attached to the risers 9 .", "The risers 9 are contoured to have a curvature which substantially matches that of the circular rib 5 .", "In one embodiment, the contact shoes 11 comprise an outer convex surface, and an inner concave surface, and the contact shoes 11 overall contour collectively departs from coinciding with the circular rib 5 as viewed from the bottom view of FIG. 2 , as shown therein.", "Having the contact shoes 11 contoured in such fashion, coupled with their being attached to the risers 9 at the intersections 13 permit some movement of each of the contact shoes 13 independently from the relatively stationary position of the risers 9 in a direction shown by the double headed arrow depicted in FIG. 5 , which movement is generally describable as being towards and away from the center of the base portion 3 .", "By such configuration, the contact shoes 11 can each be pushed slightly towards the center point of the base portion 3 , and when this is done, they will resist such pushing slightly and have a slight mechanical bias back towards their original position.", "This effect is of utility, when the inside diameter of the terminal portion of a conduit which is desired to be covered is slightly less than the diameter of an imaginary circle drawn to be tangential to each of the contact shoes 11 , for in such case, one may push or compress the contact shoes inwardly towards the center point of the base portion 3 , and insert the assembly having the contact shoes 11 so compressed into the conduit, so that the bottom surface B of the base portion 3 is facing the interior of the conduit.", "Upon release, and after being positioned within the confines of such a conduit, the contact shoes, by their inherent mechanical bias, from the energy stored by their compression, will exert a force that is oriented in a direction that is pointed outwardly from the centerpoint of the base portion 3 , towards the inner wall W ( FIG. 6 ) of such a conduit, until the contact shoes 11 contact the inner wall of the conduit, thus providing a securing force for the cover 10 in its installed position at the terminal end of the conduit.", "[0014] In FIG. 3 is shown a side perspective view of a cover 10 according to one embodiment of the invention, showing the respective locations of the base portion 3 and its top surface S, the circular rib 5 , risers 9 , contact shoes 11 , and intersection 13 .", "In one embodiment, the convex surfaces of the contact shoes 11 may have a texture on them, which texture may include knurling or ribs 19 , cast or machined onto the convex surface of the contact shoes 11 .", "Although described as being shaped substantially triangular as viewed from a side perspective such as that in FIG. 3 , the risers 9 may have other shapes as well, including rectangular, or any irregular shape, with a main proviso, in one embodiment, being that the risers 9 should be connected to the circular rib along one of their edges, and should also have a contact shoe 11 disposed at another of its edges, so that the longest length dimension of the contact shoe is disposed to be substantially parallel to the bottom surface B of the base portion 3 .", "[0015] FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the top of a cover 10 according to one embodiment of the invention, showing the respective locations of the base portion 3 and its top surface S, riser 9 , contact shoes 11 having texture ribs 19 , and intersection 13 .", "Hole 15 is shown, as well as optional surface texture 21 .", "The optional surface texture 21 may be any irregularity on the top surface S, including depressions, or protrusions, in any shape, including cross-hatchings, knurling, or depressions or protrusions of any geometric shape disposed in any pattern on the top surface S. [0016] In FIG. 5 is shown a bottom view of a cover 10 according to one embodiment of the invention.", "In this embodiment, the respective locations of the base portion 3 , circular rib 5 , risers 9 , and contact shoes 11 are shown, as well as the rib segments 7 and center hub 17 .", "Also shown are the intersections 13 , which are the locations at which the contact shoes 11 are attached to the risers 9 .", "From this view, the risers 9 are seen to be contoured to have a curvature which substantially matches that of the circular rib 5 .", "In one embodiment, the contact shoes 11 comprise an outer convex surface, and an inner concave surface, and the overall contour of the contact shoes 11 collectively departs from coinciding with the circular rib 5 , as compared with the risers 9 .", "Having the contact shoes 11 contoured in such fashion, coupled with their being attached to the risers 9 at the intersections 13 permit movement of each of the contact shoes 13 in a direction shown by the double headed arrow, which potential movement is generally describable as being either towards or away from the center of the base portion 3 .", "By such configuration, the contact shoes 11 can each be pushed slightly towards the center point of the base portion 3 , and when this is done, they will resist further such pushing slightly and acting analogously to springs, each will have a slight mechanical bias back towards their original position following application of an unbalanced force, such as pushing.", "This effect is of utility, when the inside diameter of the terminal portion of a conduit which is desired to be covered, such as that defined by dashed circle C 1 , is slightly less than the diameter of an imaginary circle drawn to be tangential to each of the contact shoes 11 when in their equilibrium position (with no force applied), such as dashed circle C 2 , for in such case, one may push or compress the contact shoes inwardly towards the center point of the base portion 3 , and insert the assembly having the contact shoes 11 so compressed into the conduit ( FIG. 6 ), so that the bottom surface B of the base portion 3 is facing the interior of the conduit.", "Upon release, and after being positioned within the confines of such a conduit, the contact shoes, by their inherent mechanical bias, from the energy stored by their compression, will exert a force that is oriented in a direction that is pointed outwardly from the centerpoint of the base portion 3 , towards the inner wall W ( FIG. 6 ) of such a conduit, until the contact shoes 11 contact the inner wall of the conduit, thus providing a securing force for the cover 10 in its installed position at the terminal end of the conduit.", "Shown in FIG. 5 also are the locations of the rib segments 7 , center hub 17 , and hole 15 .", "[0017] According to an alternate form of a cover provided herein, the segments of the circular rib 5 containing hash marks in FIG. 5 may be omitted, in which embodiments the circular rib 5 will then instead be replaced with a structure comprising a plurality of rib segments, each of which rib segments have a riser and contact shoe attached thereto as hereinbefore described.", "The location of such rib segments so resulting may be disposed in any location earlier specified for the circular rib itself, with respect to the outer circumferential edge of the base portion 3 .", "[0018] FIG. 6 shows a side perspective view of a cover 10 according to one embodiment of the invention and its relation to an access conduit 12 which it is intended to be capable of covering.", "The access conduit 12 is typically disposed in a subterranean location, with its terminal end or lip portion 23 being at ground level.", "The conduit 12 has an opening 25 , at its terminal end, as is known in the art.", "In typical installations, there is disposed within the conduit a control device, which may be a switch, valve or the like.", "In FIG. 6 , the control device is a valve 31 having a handle 27 , which controls the flow of water through pipe 29 , which may be a water pipe.", "In one embodiment, the lip 23 of the conduit 12 is contoured to be capable of receiving the circumferential edge of the cover 10 so as to render the cover/conduit assembly to have a flat top surface, with the top surface S ( FIG. 4 ) of the base portion comprising that flat top surface.", "The opening 25 of the conduit 12 has a diameter dimension that is exemplified by the points O 1 and O 2 at opposite points along the terminal portion of the conduit.", "In one embodiment, the distance between points O 1 and O 2 of the conduit 12 corresponds to the diameter of dashed circle C 1 in FIG. 5 .", "However, dashed circle C 1 shall not be construed as being a boundary of the movement of the contact shoes 11 , and the scope of their motion includes extension inwardly all the way to the circular rib 5 .", "Thus, to install cover 10 onto the opening of the conduit 12 , one may manually press the contact shoes 11 inward towards the center hub 17 of the cover 10 , and place the portion of the cover 10 which comprises the contact shoes 11 into the opening of the conduit.", "The pressing on the shoes is released, thus causing the contact shoes 11 to press outwardly against the wall W, securing the cover 10 fixed in position by the outward mechanical bias of the contact shoes 11 .", "The cover 10 is then pressed downward so that the circumferential edge of the base portion 3 rests within the lip portion 23 of the conduit 12 .", "To remove the cover 10 from a conduit once installed, one merely places a finger through the hole 15 ( FIG. 4 ) and pulls the cover 10 away from the conduit 12 .", "[0019] Although shown and described as having three risers 9 and contact shoes 11 , alternate embodiments of a cover 10 includes embodiments having two, four, five, six, and more of such combinations disposed along a circular rib 5 as described herein for the embodiments having three of such combinations.", "Preferably, such pluralities of risers and contact shoes are spaced equidistantly from one another along the circular rib 9 .", "[0020] Consideration must be given to the fact that although this invention has been described and disclosed in relation to certain preferred embodiments, obvious equivalent modifications and alterations thereof will become apparent to one of ordinary skill in this art upon reading and understanding this specification and the claims appended hereto.", "This includes subject matter defined by any combination of any one of the various claims appended hereto with any one or more of the remaining claims, including the incorporation of the features and/or limitations of any dependent claim, singly or in combination with features and/or limitations of any one or more of the other dependent claims, with features and/or limitations of any one or more of the independent claims, with the remaining dependent claims in their original text being read and applied to any independent claims so modified.", "This also includes combination of the features and/or limitations of one or more of the independent claims with features and/or limitations of another independent claims to arrive at a modified independent claim, with the remaining dependent claims in their original text being read and applied to any independent claim so modified.", "Accordingly, the presently disclosed invention is intended to cover all such modifications and alterations, and is limited only by the scope of the claims which follow." ]

[ "The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for converting organic material into a burnable substance, typically a hydrocarbon fuel, such as ethanol.", "BACKGROUND The world's energy demand is increasing, and the fossil fuel sources are depleted, leading to increasing competition for the available energy sources, and thereby hampering economic growth by high energy prices.", "To overcome this situation, renewable energy sources must be brought into exploitation.", "With the present-day technology, the only renewable energy source which has sufficient capacity to cover significant parts of the energy demand is biomass conversion.", "Biomass is efficiently converted into heating and electricity by existing technologies, but transportation fuels, which accounts for one third of the total energy consumption, must be available as high energy density fluids, preferably compatible with fossil fuels like diesel oil and gasoline.", "Therefore technologies for transforming and intensifying the energy content of biomass are required.", "Methods for producing bio-ethanol are known.", "It typically involves a number of unit operations such as feedstock preparation, fermentation and by-product purification.", "Each of these unit operations may comprise several unit operations.", "Such prior art method have a number of draw backs.", "Firstly, bio-ethanol is mainly produced from starch and sugar rich biomass such as corn and wheat grain.", "Already in the feedstock harvesting step ½ to ⅔ of the plant material is often rejected, and mainly the seeds are used in the fermentation.", "Various methods are being developed to increase the amount of plant material which can be converted in the conversion step.", "Such methods include enzymatic hydrolysis of the starch to produce glucose which can be converted in the fermentation.", "Typically the entire feed stock is processed i.e. the feed pulp also includes the cellulostic parts and other materials, which are not converted in the fermentation.", "Hence, prior art methods include up-grading the residual material from the fermentation to a dry material after separation from the ethanol produced.", "This upgraded material may be used as cattle feed.", "The market for the upgraded by-product is not expected to match the production, if a large number of bio-ethanol plants are put into operation.", "It is therefore desirable to find an alternative use of the by-product.", "Secondly many of the unit operations involved in prior art method have a relative high energy consumption thereby increasing the production cost of the bio-ethanol.", "Thirdly a large amount of the plant installation cost is related to up-grading of the residual material e.g. decanting and drying, and especially the drying is very energy consuming.", "Furthermore, existing methods for producing bio-ethanol is limited to specific feed stock.", "It is highly desirable to enable conversion of other materials such as waste materials eventually in to other types of products, such as oils.", "SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An objective of the present invention is to provide an improved method and an improved apparatus for converting organic material, such as waste, sludge, biomass etc.", ", into hydrocarbon products, such as hydrocarbon fuel.", "Another objective of the present invention is to provide a method and an apparatus for more effective production of fermentation products such as bio-ethanol.", "Efficiency in this context should be interpreted in broad terms such as cost efficiency, energy efficiency, yield, new uses of residual products etc.", "It is still another objective to provide a method and apparatus expanding the amount and types of organic materials that can be converted by the process.", "A further objective of the present invention is to provide an improved recyclable product from the conversion of organic material, which improved product is reusable as some kind of energy.", "These objectives and several others objectives, which will become evident below, are obtained by a first aspect of the present invention by providing a method for converting organic material into hydrocarbon fuel, such as ethanol, the method comprising a fermentation process fermenting the organic material thereby providing a fermentation broth, a separation process separating the fermented material into a hydrocarbon fuel and a residual product, a conversion process at least partly converting the residual product into energy, energy distribution process distributing at least some of the energy provided by the conversion process to the fermentation process.", "The separation process may also be termed a purification process.", "The conversion into energy typically, but not exclusively, includes a conversion into thermal energy such as heat.", "The term “hydrocarbon fuel”", "is to be understood in broad sense, typically as a burnable substance containing hydrocarbons, such as hydrocarbon based fuel, which may or may not comprise other elements than carbon and hydrogen, e.g. some of said hydrocarbons may comprise oxygen and other elements e.g. in the form of groups of alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, carboxylic acids, esters, ethers and reaction products thereof.", "In particular hydrocarbons according to the present invention include oils, such as bio-crude, bio-oil, bio-diesel, and alcohols such as methanol, ethanol, propanol, iso-propanol, In a preferred embodiment according to the present invention involves the hydrocarbon fuel comprises ethanol.", "Further said ethanol production may have an overall positive energy economy, and the yield of ethanol may be substantially unchanged by said conversion process.", "Ethanol production according to the present invention often comprise further comprising one or more pre-treatment process producing a mash from the organic material for the fermentation process.", "Such pre-treatment process may comprise a milling of the organic material such a milling by a wet and/or dry milling.", "In this milling process the feedstock material is divided into smaller parts.", "Water may be added either before the milling step (wet milling) or after the milling (dry milling) to produce a feed pulp.", "Normally the entire feedstock is processed, i.e. the feed pulp includes also the cellulostic and protein part of the seeds.", "The pre-treatment may further include a liquefaction step.", "Enzymes may be added to the pulp in the liquefaction step to break down the plant material structure by hydrolysis and liberate starch from the seeds.", "The starch is further hydrolysed to smaller sugars—dextrins.", "Still further the pre-treatment may include a subsequent saccharification step.", "In this step dextrins may be broken down to low molecular weight sugars suitable for fermentation.", "The saccharification may be performed by enzymatic hydrolysis using a mixture of enzymes.", "A preferred embodiment according to the present invention is where at least 50% of the energy required for said pre-treatment process being supplied by said energy distribution process, such as at least 70% of the energy required for said pre-treatment process being supplied by said energy distribution process, and preferably at least 80% of the energy required for said pre-treatment process being supplied by said energy distribution process, such as at least 90% of the energy required for said pre-treatment process being supplied by said energy distribution process, and even more preferably at least 95% of the energy required for said pre-treatment process being supplied by said energy distribution process, such as substantially all of the heat required for said pre-treatment process being supplied by said energy distribution process.", "In most embodiments according to the present invention the fermentation process takes place in a fluid, preferably being water.", "The fermentation process often comprises converting sugar(s) by use and/or addition of micro organism(s), such as yeast, and/or bacterias such as thermolabile bacterias directly and/or indirectly into the fermentation broth comprising hydrocarbon fuel(s).", "Often the fermentation process takes place at a temperature between 24-36° C. for 24-96 hours in an environment with a pH around 4-5.", "The separation process preferably comprises distilling the fermentation broth whereby at least a part of the hydrocarbon fuel is separated from the fermentation broth.", "Additionally, substantial all of the hydrocarbon fuel and residual products present in the fermentation broth is separated subsequent to the fermentation process, and wherein substantially all of the hydrocarbon fuel present in the fermentation broth is distilled off.", "Furthermore, the hydrocarbon fuel may preferably be ethanol, and the ethanol after said distillation process is preferably substantially in the form azeotropic mixture of ethanol and water.", "The method according to the present invention may preferably further comprise a hydrocarbon fuel separation process, wherein water is removed from the hydrocarbon fuel.", "Additionally, said further hydrocarbon separation process may include a membrane process such as a pervaporation.", "Alternatively or in combination thereto, water may be removed from said hydrocarbon fuel by a molecular sieving process.", "The molecular sieving process may preferably include a zeolite.", "The separation process for separating said hydrocarbon fuel from the fermentation broth is an energy demanding process.", "Hence, in a preferred embodiment according to the present invention at least 50% of the energy required for said separation process is being supplied by said energy distribution process, such as at least 70% of the energy required for said separation process being supplied by said energy distribution process, and preferably at least 80% of the energy required for said separation process being supplied by said energy distribution process, such as at least 90% of the energy required for said separation process being supplied by said energy distribution process, and even more preferably at least 95% of the energy required for said separation process being supplied by said energy distribution process, such as substantially all of the heat required for said separation process being supplied by said energy distribution process.", "The remaining fermentation broth subsequent to said separation process for separation and separation of said hydrocarbon fuel, hereinafter called the fermentation rest or residual product typically may include unconverted starch, other organics from the feed stock like cellulostic material, proteins and other feed stock cell material as well as dead yeast cells, microorganisms, enzymes etc.", "Known techniques typically process this fermentation rest or residual product to animal fodder which can be used to feed e.g cattles.", "Such processing typically include numerous steps including decanting and/or drying operatins so as to obtain a substantially dry material called “Dried distilled Grains with solubles (DDGS), which is sold as animal fodder. The processing steps involved have a high energy consumption and the value of the animal fodder product is relatively low. Hence, such upgrading of the residual product adds to the processing costs and makes it less competitive. Further the market for such upgraded by-product is not expected to match the production of the hydrocarbon fuel, if a larger number of such plants are put into operation. Hence, it is desirable to find alternative uses of this fermentation rest or residual product. The present invention provides a method for converting such residual product by to some kind of energy and at least partly distributing this energy back to the pre-treatment process and/or the fermentation process and/or the separation process. In preferred embodiments of the method according to the present invention at least 50% of the energy required for said pre-treatment process, fermentation process, and separation process is being supplied by said energy distribution process, such as at least 70% of the energy required for said pre-treatment process, fermentation process, and separation process being supplied by said energy distribution process, and preferably at least 80% of the energy required for said pre-treatment process, fermentation process, and separation process being supplied by said energy distribution process, such as at least 90% of the energy required for said pre-treatment process, fermentation process, and separation process being supplied by said energy distribution process, and even more preferably at least 95% of the energy required for said pre-treatment process, fermentation process, and separation process being supplied by said energy distribution process, such as substantially all of the heat required for said pre-treatment process, fermentation process, and separation process being supplied by said energy distribution process. One embodiment said conversion process for converting said residual product comprises a combustion process and/or a gasification process and/or a pyrolysis process. Said combustion and/or gasification and/or a pyrolysis process for converting said residual product to energy may be a thermal process. In such embodiments the conversion process may further comprise a drying process using some kind of waste heat source. Said waste heat source may be a hot gas and/or low pressure steam and/or a hot water, e.g. an excess energy stream from e.g. power and/heat production by prior art processes. However, the fermentation rest or residual product typically contains more than 80% water by weight, such as more than 90% by weight and may contain as much as 95% by weight, and the energy consumption for evaporating such large amounts of water, makes it difficult to obtain a positive energy. Hence, in an aspect of the present invention said conversion process occurs in a media such as a fluid such as water and the conversion process occurs without the need to supply the heat of evaporation for the water contained in said fermentation rest or residual product. In one embodiment this is provided by conversion process comprising a bio-gasification, wherein said fermentation rest or residual product is converted into a bio-gas, which may or may not be combusted or burned in a subsequent step so as to provide heat and/or steam and/or a hot water stream for said energy distribution process. The feedstock to said conversion process according to the present invention may comprise other feedstock materials than said fermentation rest or residual product from the fermentation and/or separation process. Prior art methods typically only use between ⅓ and ½ of the plant material harvested is used as feedstock to the pre-treatment and fermentation processes, and residues such as leaves and straw is typically not used in the fermentation process for production of hydrocarbon fuels. Such residues from the harvesting may be mixed with said fermentation rest or said residual product prior to said fermentation process, and thereby increase or improve the overall efficiency. In some embodiments other materials such as waste materials may be mixed with said fermentation rest and/or residual product prior to said conversion process. An attractive embodiment of the present invention is to conduct said conversion in a high pressure fluid such as in a fluid at a pressure of at least 50 bar, such as at pressure of least 100 bar and preferably at a pressure of at least 150 bar such at a pressure of at least 200 bar such as at a pressure of at least 250 bar. Said fluid may be selected among water and/or alcohols and mixtures thereof. Often said conversion in said high pressure fluid involves a hydrothermal and/or solvothermal conversion process i.e. said conversion at least partly include a thermal degradation of said substances contained in said fluid. The conversion process may be a combustion process in such high pressure fluid such as a supercritical water oxidation or a partial oxidation process, wherein an oxidant such as oxygen is added to the fluid or fluid mixture so as to at least partially oxidize or convert said organic materials by the action of said oxidant using said fluid as reaction media. In another embodiment said conversion process in said high pressure fluid comprises conversion by a “wet gasification”", "and/or “liquefaction”", "process within said high pressure fluid.", "Furthermore said gas or liquid may be combusted or converted into a another energy source such as hot gas and/or steam and/or hot water before being distributed to said energy distribution process.", "An attractive embodiment of the present invention is provided by the use of homogeneous and/or heterogeneous catalysts present within said high pressure fluid, thereby enhancing the reaction rate and promoting conversion into a desired product.", "In many embodiments according to the present invention said homogeneous and/or heterogeneous catalysts comprises at least one compound from the group 1 of the periodic table of elements.", "In a even more preferable embodiment a heterogeneous catalyst is also present and/or contacted with said high pressure fluid.", "Said heterogeneous catalysts may comprise at least one of the elements Zr, Ti, Al, Si, Fe, Ni, Co, Cr, W, Mo, V, Sn, Zn, Ru, and preferably said heterogeneous catalyst are present in the form of an oxide and/or oxyhydroxide.", "The temperature of said conversion process may according to the present invention may be up to 700 C, such as up to 600 C and preferably up to 500 C such as up 400 C, and even more preferably up to 350 C such as up to 250 C. The at least one homogeneous and/or heterogeneous catalysts may preferably comprise at least one compound of at least one element from group I of the periodic table and/or at least one compound of at least one element from group IV of the periodic table.", "Preferably, at least one homogeneous and/or heterogeneous catalyst may be contained in the ash fraction of said substances being fed to said conversion step.", "Another aspect of the present invention provides a method for converting a residual product into hydrocarbon fuels.", "The residual product is preferably provided by a method according to first aspect of the present invention and the method preferably comprises the steps of: pressurising said residual product in a fluid to a pressure above 225 bar, and heating said residual product in said fluid to a temperature above 200 C in the presence of a homogeneous catalyst comprising a compound of at least one element of group I of the periodic table of elements, wherein the method further comprises the steps of: contacting said residual product in said fluid with a heterogeneous catalyst comprising a compound of at least one element of group IVB of the periodic table and/or alpha-alumina.", "Preferably, the method may further comprise a step of assuring that said fluid has initially a pH value of above 7, preferably by adjusting said fluid to have a pH value above 7.", "An improved method for converting a residual product into recyclable products is hereby obtained.", "By contacting the residual product with a heterogeneous catalyst comprising a compound of at least one element of group IVB of the periodic table and/or alpha-alumina, the catalyst may be reused and a continuously converting of residual product is possible.", "Thereby the amount of catalyst spent for converting one amount of residual product is decreased whereby the cost for converting the material is considerable decreased.", "Additionally, the process time has been decreased considerably due to the fact that dividing the catalyst process into two separate processes increases the velocity of conversion.", "Furthermore, by adjusting the fluid to above 7 the corrosion of the materials used for the involved components in the apparatus is considerably decreased.", "The corrosion of these materials has decreased to such an amount that cheap standard materials may be used for the construction of the apparatus.", "According to another aspect of the present invention the method may comprise the step of maintaining the pH value of said fluid containing said residual product in the range 7-14, such as 7-12 and preferably in the range 7-10 such as in the range 7-9.5, and preferably in the range of 8-10.", "It is hereby obtained that when converting the residual product into hydrocarbon fuel the corrosion of the materials used for the involved components of the apparatus is substantial decreased to at least an insignificant amount of corrosion.", "Furthermore, according to an aspect of the present invention the method may comprise the step of pre-treating the residual product at a pressure of 4-15 bar at the temperature of 100-170 C for a period of 0.5-2 hours.", "In another aspect of the present invention the method may comprise the step of pre-treating the residual product by an enzymatic treatment at a temperature of 20-100 C. By such a pre-treatment the residual product, the residual product is pre-converted whereby the subsequent conversion may be performed more quickly than without the pre-treatment.", "Subsequently, the pre-treating step may according to another aspect of the invention comprise a step of size reducing of the material such as a cutting, grinding, milling, or sieving step or a combination thereof.", "By such a size reduction the conversion process of the residual product is performed even more quickly than without the size reduction.", "Additionally, the pre-treating step may comprise the step of adding additives to the fluid according to the present invention, whereby the conversion process is improved even further in regards to speed of the conversion time and in regards to the resulting product from the conversion of the residual product into hydrocarbon fuels.", "The product resulting from the conversion of the residual product may by adding these additives be regulated, so that the resulting product may have variable composition of oil, methanol, water, water soluble organics, water soluble salts, etc.", "It is then possible to adjust the recyclable product in regards to the wishes of the subsequent use of the products.", "In one aspect of the present invention the step of pre-treating may comprise the step of adjusting the pH of said fluid comprising said residual product to above 7.", "It hereby obtained to adjustment of the pH value in the fluid comprising the residual product at an early stage of the conversion process, whereby the process time for the conversion is reduced.", "By the step of pre-treating the fluid comprising the residual product it is possible to increase the amount of solid-state material in the fluid, which again leads to a higher rate of conversion and thereby a higher production capacity.", "This results in a more efficient and cost saving converting of organic material.", "In another aspect of the present invention the method may further comprise a step of separating particles from the fluid comprising the organic material.", "By separating particles before contacting the fluid comprising the residual product with the heterogeneous catalyst the product resulting from the conversion process, such as oil, is then substantially free of being bound to these particles and therefore much more reusable straight after this conversion process.", "A second process, such as an refinery is thereby dispensable.", "In yet another aspect of the present invention the method may further comprise a second step of heating the fluid.", "The temperature of fluid comprising the residual product is hereby adjustable just before contacting the heterogeneous catalyst, whereby the process is optimised, which leads to a reduced process time.", "Furthermore, by separating the particles away from the fluid at such an early stage a substantially amount of energy for transporting the separated particles is saved, which again decreases the amount of energy spend in the conversion process as a total.", "Additionally, the method may according to the invention comprise a second separating of particles, which step is merely for safety reason in regards to the first step of separating particles.", "This step reduces for the same reasons as the first step of separating particles the total amount of energy spend for the conversion process.", "Furthermore, the method may according to the invention comprise a step of cooling the fluid.", "By cooling the fluid the resulting product from converting of the residual product may be optimized in relations to the composition of product.", "Advantageously, the step of cooling may according to the present invention be performed by heat exchanging with the first step of heating and/or a step of pre-heating the fluid in the pre-treating step.", "It is hereby obtained to reuse the heat from the fluid, which needs to cool down before the second part of conversion into the recyclable products, in the fluid in the first part of conversion process before contacting the fluid with the heterogeneous catalyst.", "The total amount of energy for the converting of residual product is thereby kept to a minimum.", "Said method may according to one aspect the present invention further comprise a step of separating gas from the fluid, such as fuel gas.", "By separating this gas one kind of recyclable product is obtained, which was an objective of the invention.", "The method may according to one aspect the present invention further comprise the step that the fuel gas is used for heating the fluid in the second heating step.", "By using the separated gas it is reused in converting the residual product and therefore reusable.", "Furthermore, the method may according to the invention further comprise a step of separating the fluid into water and water soluble organics from oil and water soluble salts in a first separating unit such as a membrane-filter.", "By this separating a recyclable products is obtained and a further converting into recyclable products is possible.", "In an aspect of the present invention the water and water soluble organics are transformed into electricity in a direct methanol fuel cell.", "This is one way of using one of the recyclable products of the present invention.", "It may also be regarded as a subsequent step of converting the recycle products into a usable product in form of electricity.", "The method may also according to another aspect of the present invention comprise a second step of separating, such as filtering water soluble organics from the water, such as an separation of methanol in a second separating unit such as a membrane-filter.", "By this conversion step one recycle product is obtained.", "Subsequently, said one or more separation units may be selected from the group of phase separators, centrifuges, membrane processes comprising ultra-filtration, nano-filtration, reverse osmosis or pervaporation or a combination thereof.", "By this selection different kinds of recycle products are obtainable.", "According to one aspect of the present invention, the water and water soluble organics after the second separation step may be transformed into drinkable water in a process of reverse osmosis.", "By the method comprising the process of reverse osmosis one very usable recyclable product is obtained.", "According to one aspect of the present invention, the water soluble organic may comprising up-concentrated methanol may be re-circulated to the pre-treating step.", "A further optimization of the converting method is hereby obtained, and the converted product of up-concentrated methanol is reused.", "Additionally, the method may according to one aspect of the invention comprise a phase separator, whereby separation of oil as product is obtained.", "According to one aspect of the present invention, the step of contacting the residual product in the fluid with a heterogeneous catalyst may be performed while the temperature is kept substantially constant.", "By keeping the temperature constant in the contacting step the contacting of the fluid with the heterogeneous catalyst is kept in the same condition and the conversion is therefore constant throughout the contacting step.", "A further advantage is that the equilibriums and reaction rates of the chemical reactions involved in the conversion are kept constant throughout the contacting step, thereby ensuring uniformity in the products formed by the conversion.", "In another aspect of the present invention, the temperature in the step of contacting may be in the range 200-650° C., such as in the range 200-450° C., and preferably in the range 200-374° C., and even more preferably in the range 250-374° C., such as in the range 275-350° C. By keeping these low temperatures the conversion process is using less energy in converting the same amount of residual product than at higher temperatures.", "A low temperature together with a pH value above 7 decreases the corrosion of the materials used for the apparatus in which the present method is performed.", "A low temperature in the contacting step increases the fraction of the residual product being converted into hydrocarbon fuels, and thereby the oil production capacity of the contacting step.", "At such low temperatures the solubility of salts is high compared to higher temperature whereby the conversion process is further advantageous due to almost no salts depositing occurs inside the apparatus.", "Furthermore, at such low temperatures the residual product is less converted into soot and tar, which products are not very recyclable.", "Finally such low temperature allows construction of the apparatus from less corrosion resistant materials, further improving the competitive.", "According to another aspect of the present invention, the pressure for said conversion may be in the range 225-600 bars, such as in the range 225-400 bars and preferably in the range 225-350 bars, such as in the range 240-300 bars.", "By using pressures inside these ranges it is obtained that standard components and equipment may be used for the present method whereby the cost of the conversion process and apparatus is substantially decreased compared to the same at higher pressures.", "Furthermore, the method may according to the invention further comprise the step of contacting is done in less than 30 minutes, such as less than 20 minutes, preferably less 10 minutes, such as less than 7.5 minutes, and even more preferably in the range 0.5-6 minutes, such as in the range 1-5 minutes.", "By contacting the fluid at in a short period the conversion process time is decreased without decreasing the conversion processing of residual product substantially.", "Additionally, the compound of at least one element of group IVB of the periodic table may comprise zirconium and/or titanium according to another aspect of the present invention.", "By using zirconium and/or titanium as a heterogeneous catalyst the conversion process time is decreased without decreasing the conversion processing of organic material.", "In another aspect of the present invention the compound of at least one element of group IVB of the periodic table may be on an oxide and/or hydroxide form or a combination of the two.", "By using the heterogeneous catalyst on an oxide and/or hydroxide form the conversion process time is decreased without decreasing the conversion processing of organic material.", "Advantageously, the compound of at least one element of group IVB of the periodic table is at least partly on a sulphate or sulphide form according to another aspect of the present invention.", "By using the heterogeneous catalyst on a sulphate or sulphide form the conversion process time is decreased without decreasing the conversion processing of organic material.", "According to one aspect of the present invention, the heterogeneous catalyst may further comprise at least one element selected from the group consisting of Fe, Ni, Co, Cu, Cr, W, Mn, Mo, V, Sn, Zn, Si in an amount up to 20% by weight, such as an amount up to 10% by weight, preferably in an amount up to 5% by weight, such as up to 2.5% by weight.", "By using the aforementioned heterogeneous catalyst together with one or more elements of this group the conversion process time is substantially decreased without decreasing the conversion processing of organic material.", "Furthermore, these elements may be on an oxide and/or hydroxide form according to another aspect of the present invention, whereby the conversion process time is further decreased without decreasing the conversion processing of organic material.", "In yet another aspect of the present invention said heterogeneous catalyst may be in the form of suspended particles, tablets, pellets, rings, cylinders, a honey comb structure, a fibrous structure and/or a combination of these.", "The advantage of said heterogeneous catalyst structures is to control the flow distribution of the residual product stream being contacted with the catalyst, while ensuring reasonable pressure drop and contact to all of the catalyst surface.", "Additionally, said heterogeneous catalyst is at least partly contained in a reactor according to another aspect of the present invention.", "It is hereby possible to reuse that part of the catalyst, which is inside the reactor.", "Advantageously, said reactor is a fixed bed reactor according to another aspect of the present invention.", "By using a fixed bed reactor, it is hereby possible to even more easily reuse that part of the catalyst, which is inside the reactor.", "According to one aspect of the present invention, said heterogeneous catalyst may have a BET surface area of at least 10 m2/g, such as 25 m2/g, and preferably at least 50 m2/g, such as 100 m2/g, and even more preferably at least 150 m2/g, such as at least 200 m2/g.", "By having this BET surface area, the conversion process time is further decreased without decreasing the quality of the conversion process, as sufficient catalytic active surface area is ensured.", "According to another aspect of the present invention, said heterogeneous catalyst may comprise at least one surface area stabilizer selected from the group consisting of Si, La, Y or Ce or a combination thereof.", "By having this surface stabilizer, the catalyst service lifetime time is further expanded without decreasing the quality of the conversion process.", "Advantageously, said heterogeneous catalyst may according to one aspect of the present invention comprise said at least one surface area stabilizer in an effective amount up to 20% by weight, such as an effective amount up to 10% by weight, preferably said surface area stabilizers in an effective amount up to 7.5% by weight, such as surface stabilizers in an effective amount up to 5% by weight, and more preferably said surface stabilizers are present in an effective amount from 0.5-5% by weight, such as 1-3% by weight.", "By having this surface stabilizer in up to 20% by weight, the catalyst service lifetime is further expanded without decreasing the quality of the conversion process.", "In yet another aspect of the present invention said heterogeneous catalyst may have a BET surface area of at least 10 m2/g after 1000 hours of use, such as BET surface area of at least 25 m2/g after 1000 hours of use, and preferably a BET surface area of at least 50 m2/g after 1000 hours of use, such as a BET surface area of at 100 m2/g after 1000 hours of use, and even more preferably a BET surface area of at least 150 m2/g after 1000 hours in use, such as at a BET surface area of least 200 m2/g after 1000 hours in use.", "By having this BET surface area of at least 10 m2/g after 1000 hours of use, the conversion process time is further decreased without decreasing the quality of the conversion process, as sufficient catalytic active surface area is ensured.", "Furthermore, said heterogeneous catalyst is produced from red mud according to another aspect of the present invention.", "It is hereby obtained to use waste product in the converting of the organic material, which also is a waste product.", "Additionally, the method may according to the invention further comprise the step of re-circulating carbonates and/or hydrogen carbonates.", "By re-circulating carbonates and/or hydrogen carbonates the method is reusing products resulting from the conversion method and an optimizing of the method is hereby obtained.", "The concentration of said carbonates and/or hydrogen carbonates may according to an aspect of the invention be at least 0.5% by weight, such as at least 1% by weight, and preferably at least 2% by weight, such as at least 3% by weight, and more preferably at least 4% by weight, such as at least 5% by weight.", "The carbonates and bicarbonates are important activators in the catalytic conversion performed by the homogenous catalyst.", "Furthermore, the method may according to the invention further comprise the step of re-circulating at least one alcohol.", "By re-circulating at least one alcohol the method is reusing products resulting from the conversion method and an optimizing of the method is hereby obtained.", "According to one aspect of the present invention, said at least one alcohol may comprise methanol, whereby a very usable recyclable product is reused in optimizing the method.", "According to another aspect of the present invention, the methanol content in said fluid may be at least 0.05% by weight, such as at least 0.1% by weight, and preferably at least 0.2% by weight, such as at least 0.3% by weight, and even more preferably at least 0.5% methanol by weight, such as at least 1% by weight.", "Methanol is involved in the chemical reactions responsible for producing the oil product, and in the chemical reactions destroying the radicals otherwise responsible for formation of soot and tar during the decomposition of the organic material.", "Advantageously, the method may according to another aspect of the present invention comprise the step of re-circulating a fluid containing hydrogen.", "By re-circulating a fluid containing hydrogen the method is reusing products resulting from the conversion method and an optimizing of the method is hereby obtained.", "In yet another aspect of the present invention the hydrogen content of said fluid corresponds to at least 0.001% by weight of the amount of said residual product to be treated, such as at least 0.01% by weight of the amount of said residual product to be treated, and preferably 0.1% by weight of the amount of said residual product to be treated, such as 0.2% by weight of the amount of said residual product to be treated, and even more preferably the hydrogen content of the fluid is at least 0.5% by weight of the amount of said residual product to be treated, such as at least 1% by weight of the amount of said residual product to be treated.", "Hydrogen is involved in the chemical reactions producing saturated oil compounds, and in the reactions destroying free radicals, otherwise leading to formation of soot and tar during the thermal decomposition of the residual product during the conversion.", "Furthermore, the method may according to the invention further comprise the step of re-circulating at least one carboxylic acid.", "By re-circulating at least one carboxylic acid the method is reusing products resulting from the conversion method and an optimizing of the method is hereby obtained.", "Additionally, said at least one carboxylic acid may comprise at least one carboxylic acid having a chain length corresponding to 1-4 carbon atoms according to another aspect of the present invention.", "The said at least one carboxylic acid corresponding to 1-4 carbon atoms is involved in the chemical chain formation reactions producing the oil product.", "Furthermore, said at least one carboxylic acid may comprise formic acid and/or acetic acid according to another aspect of the present invention.", "The said at least one carboxylic acid corresponding to 1-4 carbon atoms is involved in the chemical chain formation reactions producing the oil product.", "Advantageously, the concentration of said carboxylic acid(s) in said fluid may according to the present invention be at least 100 part per million by weight, such as at least 250 part per million by weight, and preferably at least 400 parts per million by weight, such as at least 500 parts per million by weight.", "At this concentration level the oil product producing chemical reactions rates are sufficient to ensure conversion of the residual product to said oil product.", "In one aspect of the present invention the method may comprise the step of re-circulating at least one aldehyde and/or at least one ketone.", "By re-circulating at least one aldehyde and/or at least one ketone the method is reusing products resulting from the conversion method and an optimizing of the method is hereby obtained.", "In another aspect of the present invention said at least one aldehyde and/or at least one ketone comprises at least one aldehyde and/or at least one ketone having a chain length corresponding to 1-4 carbon atoms.", "The said at least one aldehyde or ketone corresponding to 1-4 carbon atoms is involved in the chemical chain formation reactions producing the oil product.", "In yet another aspect of the present invention said at least one aldehyde and/or at least one ketone comprises formaldehyde and/or acetaldehyde.", "The said at least one aldehyde or ketone corresponding to 1-4 carbon atoms is involved in the chemical chain formation reactions producing the oil product.", "According to the present invention, the concentration of said at least one aldehyde and/or at least one ketone in said fluid may be at least 100 part per million by weight, such as at least 250 part per million by weight, and preferably at least 400 parts per million by weight, such as at least 500 parts per million by weight.", "At this concentration level the oil product producing chemical reactions rates are sufficient to ensure conversion of the residual product to said oil product.", "Advantageously, the homogeneous catalyst comprises potassium and/or sodium according to one aspect of the present invention.", "By using potassium and/or sodium as a homogeneous catalyst the conversion process time is decreased without decreasing the conversion processing of organic material, and the rates chemical reactions involved in the oil product formation are enhanced to facilitate production of said oil product.", "Furthermore, according to another aspect of the present invention the homogeneous catalyst may comprise one or more water soluble salts selected from the group consisting of KOH, K 2 CO 3 , KHCO 3 , NaOH, Na 2 CO 3 or NaHCO 3 or a combination thereof.", "In combination with the carbon dioxide formed as part of the conversion of the residual product said salts are converted into the carbonate involved in the chemical reactions as activator.", "In another aspect of the present invention the concentration of the homogeneous catalyst may be at least 0.5% by weight, such as at least 1% by weight, and preferably at least 1.5% by weight, such as at least 2.0% by weight, and even more preferably above 2.5% by weight, such as at least 4% by weight.", "At this concentration level the oil product producing chemical reactions rates are sufficient to ensure conversion of the residual product to said oil product.", "Additionally, said fluid comprises water according to another aspect of the present invention.", "Water is a cheap an very frequent fluid and therefore by using water the cost to method of converting residual product is kept to a minimum and the method may be used in all areas of the world.", "According to one aspect of the present invention, said water may have a concentration of at least 5% by weight, such as at least 10% by weight, and preferably at least 20% by weight, such as at least 30% by weight, and even more preferably at least 40% by weight.", "The residual product to be converted must be pumpeable.", "The concentration of said water in said fluid may according to another aspect of the present invention be up to 99.5% by weight, such as up to 98% by weight, and preferably up to 95% by weight, such as up to 90% by weight, and even more preferably up to 85% by weight, such as up to 80% by weight.", "By decreasing the water content the heat value of the feedstock is increased, leading to increased oil production capacity at constant processing cost, without sacrificing the pumpability of the residual product to be converted.", "In one aspect of the present invention said at least one carbonate and/or at least one hydrogen carbonate and/or at least one alcohol and/or at least one carboxylic acid and/or at least one aldehyde and/or at least one ketone may at least partly be produced by the conversion of said residual product.", "By reusing a product resulting from the conversion process, the conversion process time is decreased without decreasing the conversion processing of organic material.", "Furthermore expenses for treating an effluent stream are saved.", "In another aspect of the present invention said at least one carbonate and/or at least one hydrogen carbonate and/or at least one alcohol and/or at least one carboxylic acid and/or at least one aldehyde and/or at least one ketone may be re-circulated after the step of contacting.", "It is hereby obtained that some of the resulting products from the conversion process is reused and that the conversion process time is decreased without decreasing the conversion processing of organic material.", "Furthermore, at least part of a stream of said recirculation may according to another aspect of the present invention be mixed in a ratio with a feed stream of said fluid comprising said homogeneous catalyst and residual product to be converted before entering the catalytic reactor.", "It is hereby obtained that some of the resulting products from the conversion process is reused and that the conversion process time is decreased without decreasing the conversion processing of organic material.", "Additionally, the ratio of the re-circulating stream to the feed stream of said fluid may according to another aspect of the present invention be in the range 1-20, such as 1-10, and preferably within the range 1.5-7.5, such as in the range 2-6, and more preferably in the range 2.5-5 by mass/volume.", "It is hereby obtained that some of the resulting products from the conversion process is reused and that the conversion process time is decreased without decreasing the conversion processing of organic material.", "Advantageously, the conversion of said residual product may according to another aspect of the present invention be at least 90%, such as at least 95%, and preferably above 97.5%, such as above 99%, and even more preferably above 99.5%, such as above 99.9%.", "The high conversion leads to maximization of the oil production capacity, and minimizes or eliminates the content of unconverted residual product in oil product and mineral product, thereby eliminating the need for a separation step.", "According to one aspect of the present invention said reactor with heterogeneous catalyst may be subjected to a treatment with hot pressurised water at pre-selected intervals.", "According to another aspect of the present invention, said treatment with hot pressurised water may have a duration of less than 12 hours, such as a duration of less than 6 hours, preferably a duration of less than 3 hours, such as a duration of less than 1 hour.", "In another aspect of the present invention the interval between such treatment with hot pressurised water may be at least 6 hours, such as at least 12 hours, preferably said interval between such treatment with hot pressurised water is at least 24 hours, such as at least one week.", "By treating or flushing the reactor with hot pressurised water, the life time of the reactor is increased and the cost of the method is thereby substantially decreased.", "In yet another aspect of the present invention said residual product may be selected from the group consisting of sludge, such as sewage sludge, liquid manure, corn silage, clarifier sludge, black liquor, residues from fermentation, residues from juice production, residues from edible oil production, residues from fruit and vegetable processing, residues from food and drink production, leachate or seepage water or a combination thereof.", "According to one aspect of the present invention, said residual product may comprise a lignocelulotic materials, selected from the group consisting of biomass, straw, grasses, stems, wood, bagasse, wine trash, sawdust, wood chips or energy crops or a combination thereof.", "According to another aspect of the present invention, said residual product may comprise a waste, such as house hold waste, municipal solid waste, paper waste, auto shredder waste, plastics, polymers, rubbers, scrap tires, cable wastes, CCA treated wood, halogenated organic compounds, PCB bearing transformer oils, electrolytic capacitors, halones, medical waste, risk material from meat processing, meat and bone meal, liquid streams, such as process or waste water streams containing dissolved and/or suspended organic material.", "Advantageously, said sludge may according to another aspect of the present invention be sludge from a biological treatment process.", "According to one aspect of the present invention said residual product may be sludge from a waste water treatment process.", "In another aspect of the present invention said biological treatment process may be part of a waste water treatment process.", "Furthermore, said biological water treatment process may according to another aspect of the present invention be an aerobic process.", "Additionally, said biological water treatment process may be an anaerobic process according to another aspect of the present invention.", "The method is capable of converting many kinds of residual product as mentioned above.", "Even though the method is performed at a relatively low temperature and a relatively low pressure the temperature and pressure is still sufficient to disinfect the resulting product.", "Which means regardless what residual product the resulting products is usable without infecting risk, e.g. residues from residues from food production, such as meat from a cow or a veal will not result in the spreading of the disease BSE.", "Likewise will virus, bacteria etc.", "from the residual product not be spread in a subsequent use of the resulting products.", "Advantageously, said residual product may have been subjected to a mechanical dewatering according to another aspect of the present invention.", "By dewatering the residual product the heat value of the feedstock is increased, leading to increased oil production capacity at constant processing cost, without sacrificing the pumpability of the residual product to be converted.", "Furthermore, said mechanically dewatered residual product may according to another aspect of the present invention have a dry solid content of at least 10% by weight, preferably at least 15% by weight, more preferably at least 20% by weight, most preferred 25% by weight.", "By the pre-treatment step of the method it is obtained to increase the dry solid content, which again decreases the conversion process time.", "Additionally, said residual product may according to another aspect of the present invention comprise a mixture of sludge, lignocelulotic materials or waste.", "In another aspect of the present invention the concentration of said residual product in said fluid may be at least 5% by weight, such as at least 10% by weight, preferably the concentration of said residual product is at least 15% by weight, such as at least 200% by weight, and more preferably the concentration of said residual product is at least 30% by weight, such as at least 50% by weight.", "Advantageously, the elements of group IA of the periodic table may be ash obtained from combustion of biomass or ash from coal firing according to another aspect of the present invention.", "In preferred embodiments of the method according to the present invention the heating may advantageously be performed at least partly by microwave heating.", "By mixing the different organic materials it is obtained that less catalyst has to used in the further processing and/or that the rate of the processing time is increased.", "In a further aspect of the present invention, a method for a converting residual product, preferably being residual product according to the other aspect of the invention, into hydrocarbon fuels.", "The method preferably comprises the steps of: pressurizing said residual product being in a fluid to a pressure of above 150 bar heating said material to a temperature of above 110° C. at least partly microwave heating.", "The microwave heating of said residual product in said fluid to a temperature above 110° C. may preferably be performed in the presence of a homogeneous catalyst comprising a compound of at least one element of group IA of the periodic table of elements, Alternatively or in combination therewith, the method may further comprise contacting said residual product in said fluid with a heterogeneous catalyst comprising a compound of at least one element of group IVB of the periodic table and/or alpha-alumina and/or a zeolite.", "The temperature of the microwave heating may preferably be substantially the same as in the pretreatment step, such as in the range 110-150° C. In preferred embodiments, the maximum temperature may preferably be below 300° C. such as below 275° C., and preferably below 250° C. such as below 225° C., and even more preferably below 200° C., such as below 175° C. The present invention further relates to the product obtained by the aforementioned method.", "Said product may according to the present invention comprise hydrocarbon in the form of oil.", "A resulting product which is very usable is hereby obtained in that oil is presently a very demanded product all over the world.", "A product such as oil is possible to obtain in that the method is performed at very low temperatures.", "In another aspect of the present invention said fluid may have a feed carbon content and a feed hydrocarbon content, where the hydrocarbon oil product comprises at least 20% of the feed carbon content, such as at least 35% of the feed hydrocarbon content, preferably comprises said hydrocarbon oil product at least 50% of the feed carbon content, such as at least 65% of the feed carbon content and more preferably said hydrocarbon oil product comprises at least 80% of the feed carbon content.", "In another aspect of the present invention at least 20% of a energy content in the feed stream may be recovered in said hydrocarbon oil product, such as at least 35% of the energy content, preferably is at least 50% of the energy content in the feed recovered in said hydrocarbon oil product, such as at least 65% of the feed energy content and even more preferable at least 80% of said feed energy content is recovered in said hydrocarbon oil product.", "Furthermore, said hydrocarbon oil product comprises hydrocarbons with 12 to 16 carbon atoms according to another aspect of the present invention.", "Advantageously, said hydrocarbon oil product may be substantially free of sulphur according to another aspect of the present invention.", "Additionally, said hydrocarbon oil product may be substantially free of halogens according to another aspect of the present invention.", "By the method according to the present invention a hydrocarbon oil product free of sulphur and/or halogens is hereby obtained.", "Such oils free of sulphur and/or halogens are very recyclable into new forms of energy without polluting the surroundings with reactions caused by sulphur and/or halogens.", "Said hydrocarbon oil product may according to one aspect of the present invention comprise fatty acid esters and/or fatty acid methyl esters.", "The oxygen content of the fatty acid esters and methyl esters is known to improve the properties of the hydrocarbon oil as transportation fuel, due to the reduced particle emission from the combustion of the fuel.", "The hydrocarbon oil product may have diesel-like properties according to another aspect of the present invention.", "The diesel-like hydrocarbon fuel might be mixed directly into conventional diesel oil, thereby saving the cost of refining the oil product.", "Furthermore, the hydrocarbon oil product may have a oxygen content in the range 0.1-30% according to another aspect of the present invention.", "The oxygen content of the hydrocarbon fuel is known to improve the properties as transportation fuel, due to the reduced particle emission from the combustion of the fuel.", "Additionally, the hydrocarbon oil product may be adsorbed on the surface of a mineral product according to another aspect of the present invention.", "This oil containing mineral product is an improved starting material for molten mineral processing processes.", "The hydrocarbon product may also comprise methanol according to another aspect of the present invention.", "By further separation a purified methanol product might be obtained, which is preferred fuel for fuel cells or additive to gasoline for production of sustainable transportation fuels.", "In another aspect of the present invention said hydrocarbon product comprising methanol may comprise at least 20% of the feed carbon content, such as at least 35% of the feed carbon content, preferably comprises said methanol product at least 50% of the feed carbon content, such as at least 65% of the feed carbon content and more preferably comprises said methanol product at least 80% of the feed carbon content.", "By further separation a purified methanol product might be obtained, which is preferred fuel for fuel cells or additive to gasoline for production of sustainable transportation fuels.", "In yet another aspect of the present invention at least 20% of the energy content in the feed may be recovered in said hydrocarbon product comprising methanol, such as at least 35% of the energy content in the feed is recovered in said hydrocarbon product comprising methanol, preferably is at least 50% of the energy content in the feed recovered in said hydrocarbon product comprising methanol, such as at least 65% of the feed energy content is recovered in said hydrocarbon product comprising methanol and more preferably is at least 80% of said feed energy content recovered in said hydrocarbon product comprising methanol.", "By further separation a purified methanol product might be obtained, which is preferred fuel for fuel cells or additive to gasoline for production of sustainable transportation fuels.", "The present invention further relates to the use of the aforementioned product for driving a engine or generator, for power production in an oil fired power plant, for process heating or domestic heating.", "These are all means of producing energy from a sustainable source, yet without having to replace or renew the hardware installations or infrastructure established for energy production from fossil fuels.", "Furthermore, the present invention relates to the use of the aforementioned product as a blending component in petrodiesel or gasoline or in a suspension fired system or in a process for molten mineral processing.", "These are all means of producing energy from a sustainable source, yet without having to replace or renew the hardware installations or infrastructure established for energy production from fossil fuels.", "Additionally, the present invention relates to the use of the aforementioned for producing a fertilizer product or for producing clean water stream.", "Said clean water stream may furthermore have drinking water quality.", "The present invention additionally relates to an apparatus for converting a residual product into hydrocarbons, comprising: a conversion system and a product recovery system, said conversion system comprises a first heating unit for heating a feed of fluid comprising organic material, preferably being a residual product according to the present invention, a catalyst reactor for contacting the feed of fluid comprising organic material, preferably being a residual product according to the present invention, with a heterogeneous catalyst, and an adjusting unit for adjusting the fluid to have a pH value of above 7, and said product recovery system comprises a separation unit, such as a—filter, preferably being a membrane-filter for separating out a first stream of oils and a second stream of water and water soluble organics, preferably water soluble salts being separated out to the first and/or the second stream.", "The conversion system may also be termed a pre-conversion system as further conversion process may be applied.", "According to one aspect of the present invention, the conversion system may further comprise a storage for feeding residual product to the fluid in a feeding direction.", "Furthermore, the conversion system may further comprise a pre-treating unit situated after the feedstock and before the first heating unit in the feeding direction, according to another aspect of the present invention.", "By pre-treating the fluid comprising the residual product it is possible to increase the amount of solid-state material in the fluid, which again leads to a higher rate of conversion and thereby a higher production capacity.", "This results in a more efficient and cost saving converting of organic material.", "Additionally, the conversion system may according to the present invention further comprise a first particle separating unit situated after the first heating unit in the feeding direction.", "By separating particles before contacting the fluid comprising the residual product with the heterogeneous catalyst the product resulting from the conversion process, such as oil, is then substantially free of being bound to these particles and therefore much more reusable straight after this conversion process.", "A second process, such as an refinery is thereby dispensable.", "Said conversion system may according to the invention further comprise a second heating unit situated after the first particle separating unit and before the catalyst reactor in the feeding direction.", "It is hereby possible to optimize the temperature before entering the fluid into the reactor and thereby an optimization of the conversion process.", "In another aspect of the present invention the conversion system may further comprise a second particle separation unit after the catalyst reactor in the feeding direction.", "This particle separating unit is for the same reason as above advantageous.", "In yet another aspect of the present invention the conversion system may further comprise means for re-circulating part of the feed of fluid after the catalyst reactor into the feed of fluid before the second heating unit in the feeding direction.", "It is hereby obtained that some of the resulting products from the conversion process is reused and that the conversion process time is decreased without decreasing the conversion processing of organic material.", "Furthermore, the first heating unit may according to the present invention comprise a first heat exchanger, which besides heating cools the fluid from conversion system before entering the product recovery system.", "It is hereby obtained to reuse energy inside the apparatus and thereby same energy in the total amount of energy used in converting the organic material.", "Additionally, the pre-treating unit may according to the invention further comprise a heat exchanger, which besides heating the fluid in the pre-treating system cools the fluid from conversion system before entering the product recovery system.", "This heat exchanger is for the same reason as above advantageous The pre-treating unit may further comprise a first expansion unit, which is situated between the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger, according to an aspect of the present invention.", "It is hereby obtained to produce gas, such as fuel gas.", "In one aspect of the present invention the product recovery system may further comprise a gas separating unit for separation of gas, such as fuel gas, the gas separating unit is situated after the second heat exchanger and before the first separation unit, preferably being a membrane-filter in the feeding direction.", "It is hereby obtained to separate the aforementioned gas, such as fuel gas from the rest of the fluid.", "In another aspect of the present invention the product recovery system may further comprise means for re-circulating said gas, such as fuel gas for heating the fluid in the second heating unit.", "It is hereby obtained that some of the resulting products from the conversion process is reused and that the conversion process time is decreased without decreasing the conversion processing of organic material.", "In yet another aspect of the present invention the product recovery system may further comprise a second expansion unit situated after the first separation unit, preferably being a membrane-filter in the feeding direction.", "It is hereby obtained to produce oil out from the fluid, and thereby a very Furthermore, the product recovery system may according to one aspect of the present invention further comprise a phase separator unit for separation of oil from the first stream, said phase separator unit is situated after the separation unit, preferably being membrane-filter in the feeding direction.", "It is hereby obtained to separate oil from the fluid.", "Additionally, the product recovery system may according to another aspect of the present invention further comprises means for re-circulating part of the first stream into the pre-treating unit of the conversion system.", "It is hereby obtained that some of the resulting products from the conversion process is reused and that the conversion process time is decreased without decreasing the conversion processing of organic material.", "Advantageously, the product recovery system may according to another aspect of the present invention further comprise direct methanol fuel cell for generating electricity from the second stream.", "According to yet another aspect of the present invention the product recovery system further comprises one or more separation units may be selected from the group of phase separators, centrifuges, membrane processes comprising ultra-filtration, nano-filtration, reverse osmosis or pervaporation or a combination thereof.", "Furthermore, the product recovery system may according to an aspect of the invention further comprise a second separation unit, such as a second membrane-filter for separating a purified methanol compound from the second stream.", "In another aspect of the present invention the product recovery system may further comprise means for re-circulating the purified methanol compound from the second stream to the pre-treating unit of the conversion system.", "It is hereby obtained that some of the resulting products from the conversion process is reused and that the conversion process time is decreased without decreasing the conversion processing of organic material.", "The present invention further relates to a plant comprising the aforementioned apparatus, for producing the aforementioned product by using the aforementioned method.", "In one aspect of the present invention the plant may comprise means for supplying residual product to the apparatus and means for removal of the products from the apparatus.", "In another aspect of the present invention the plant may further comprise a refinery The present invention further relates to a heterogeneous catalyst for use in a method for converting an residual product into hydrocarbons, comprising a compound of at least one element of group IVB of the periodic table and/or alpha-alumina.", "Additionally, the compound of at least one element of group IVB of the periodic table may comprise zirconium and/or titanium according to an aspect of the present invention.", "Furthermore, the compound of at least one element of group IVB of the periodic table may be on an oxide and/or hydroxide form or a combination of the two according to an aspect of the present invention.", "Advantageously, the compound of at least one element of group IVB of the periodic table may be at least partly on a sulphate or sulphide form according to an aspect of the present invention.", "In another aspect of the present invention the heterogeneous catalyst may further comprise at least one of element selected from group of Fe, Ni, Co, Cu, Cr, W, Mn, Mo, V, Sn, Zn, Si in an amount up to 20% by weight, such as an amount up to 10% by weight, preferably in an amount up to 5% by weight, such as up to 2.5% by weight.", "Furthermore, these elements are on an oxide and/or hydroxide form according to another aspect of the present invention.", "Additionally, the heterogeneous catalyst is in the form of suspended particles, tablets, pellets, rings, cylinders, a honeycomb structure and/or a combination of these according to yet another aspect of the present invention.", "In yet another aspect of the present invention the heterogeneous catalyst may have a BET surface area of at least 10 m2/g, such as 25 m2/g, and preferably at least 50 m2/g, such as 100 m2/g, and even more preferably at least 150 m2/g, such as at least 200 m2/g.", "Advantageously, the heterogeneous catalyst further comprises at least one surface area stabilizer selected from the group of Si, La, Y and/or Ce according to an aspect of the present invention.", "Subsequently, the heterogeneous catalyst may according to an aspect of the present invention comprise said at least one surface area stabilizer in an effective amount up to 20% by weight, such as an effective amount up to 10% by weight, preferably said surface area stabilizers in an effective amount up to 7.5% by weight, such as surface stabilizers in an effective amount up to 5% by weight, and more preferably said surface stabilizers are present in an effective amount from 0.5-5% by weight, such as 1-3% by weight.", "In another aspect of the present invention the heterogeneous catalyst may have a BET surface area of at least 10 m2/g after 1000 hours of use, such as BET surface area of at least 25 m2/g after 1000 hours of use, and preferably a BET surface area of at least 50 m2/g after 1000 hours of use, such as a BET surface area of at 100 m2/g after 1000 hours of use, and even more preferably a BET surface area of at least 150 m2/g after 1000 hours in use, such as at a BET surface area of least 200 m2/g after 1000 hours in use.", "Finally, the heterogeneous catalyst may be produced from red mud according to an aspect of the present invention.", "DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention will in the following be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. 1 shows a generalized flow sheet of a conventional bio-ethanol production.", "FIG. 2 shows a generalized flow sheet of an embodiment of a bio-ethanol production according to the present invention.", "FIG. 3 shows a flow sheet of a preferred embodiment of a bio-ethanol production according to the present invention.", "FIG. 4 shows a schematic drawing of laboratory scale set-up used for establishing the result described in the examples.", "FIG. 5 shows a general process flow sheet of a preferred embodiment of the energy conversion step according to the present invention.", "FIG. 6 shows one aspect of product recovery according to the present invention, FIG. 7 shows another aspect of product recovery according to the present invention, FIG. 8 shows yet another aspect of product recovery according to the present invention, and FIG. 9 shows yet another aspect of product recovery according to the present invention.", "The drawings are schematically and shown for the purpose of illustration.", "FIG. 1 is an example of a conventional bio-ethanol production process.", "Bio-ethanol is conventionally produced by fermentation of grain, corn or other plant seeds, which are rich in starch.", "Only the seeds enter the bio-ethanol process, while the rest of plant is separated from the seeds and used for other purposes.", "The bio-ethanol production process involves a quite complex chemical plant, as energy integration is the key to successful process design.", "The process comprises a number of unit operations, which may be organized into four main process steps: 1.", "Feedstock preparation 2.", "Fermentation 3.", "Bio-ethanol separation 4.", "Residual product upgrading The feedstock pre-treatment may include milling, in which the feedstock material is mechanically divided into smaller parts.", "Water may be added either before the milling (wet milling) or after the milling (dry milling) to produce a feed pulp.", "Normally the entire feedstock is processed, i.e. the feed pulp includes also the cellulostic and protein part of the seeds.", "Enzymes may be added to the pulp in the liquefaction step to break down the plant material structure by hydrolysis and liberate starch from the seeds.", "The starch is further hydrolysed to smaller sugars—dextrins.", "In a subsequent saccharification step dextrins may be broken down to low molecular weight sugars suitable for fermentation.", "The sacchairification may be performed by enzymatic hydrolysis using a mixture of enzymes.", "One of the major energy consumptions in prior art methods are in the pre-treatment process, and hence in a preferred embodiment according to the present invention at least 50% of the energy required for said pre-treatment process being supplied by said energy distribution process, such as at least 70% of the energy required for said pre-treatment process being supplied by said energy distribution process, and preferably at least 80% of the energy required for said pre-treatment process being supplied by said energy distribution process, such as at least 90% of the energy required for said pre-treatment process being supplied by said energy distribution process, and even more preferably at least 95% of the energy required for said pre-treatment process being supplied by said energy distribution process, such as substantially of the energy required for said pre-treatment process being supplied by said energy distribution process.", "The feed pulp is fermented ethanol by addition of yeast or by thermolabile microorganism such as thermolabile bacterias.", "Glucose and other low molecular weight sugars may be converted during the fermentation process, while all other organic parts of the feedstock are remaining unconverted in the fermentation broth.", "During fermentation carbon dioxide is liberated from the fermentation process.", "The ethanol separation step includes distillation of the fermentation broth to separate an azeotropic ethanol/water mixture.", "Water may be removed from the mixture by zeolite molecular sieving or similar processes, producing almost water free bio-ethanol (99.9% pure).", "The remaining fermentation broth, i.e. the distillation rest including unconverted starch, other organics from the feedstock like cellulostic material, proteins and other feedstock cell material as well as dead yeast cells, is processed to produce animal fodder.", "The processing includes numerous steps, including decanting and drying, to end with a dry material—Dried Distilled Grains with Solubles (DDGS), which is sold as animal fodder.", "The main energy consumptions in the process are heating during liquefaction and saccharification, as these conversions are performed at elevated temperatures (65-110° C.), heat for the distillation performed at 80° C. and heat for regeneration of the molecular sieves used in the ethanol separation.", "FIG. 2 is generalized flow sheet of an embodiment of a bio-ethanol production according to the present invention.", "Bio-ethanol is produced by the conventional process by fermentation of grains.", "But the wet residual product is used for energy production in an energy conversion step, as illustrated in FIG. 3 .", "The produced energy may be used in the bio-ethanol production.", "The energy conversion process may be, but is not limited to, conventional drying and combustion technologies, or biogas production.", "Further a number of new energy production technologies for conversion of the dried product are available, like hydrolysis and gasification.", "But particularly well suited methods for the energy conversion include high-pressure water based technologies such as supercritical water oxidation, supercritical wet gasification, hydrothermal upgrading or catalytic conversion in high pressure water.", "FIG. 3 shows the energy distribution of a preferred embodiment of a bio-ethanol production according to the present invention.", "A feed stream of 1 t/h of plant material is harvested and fed into the process.", "The plant material is composed of 60% grains and 40% leaves and straw.", "The grain fraction contains 70% sugar, 10% of inorganics and 20% residual material that contains 80% carbon.", "The straw and leave ash/inorganics.", "Water in an amount of 4 times the amount of grain is added to grains.", "The grain fraction of the plant is introduced in the bio-ethanol process, where it is submitted to a pre-treatment step described in FIG. 1 .", "This pre-treatment step comprises a milling unit operation and a liquefaction step.", "The liquefied starch-containing material is commonly called “mash.”", "Milling is used as pre-treatment to open up the material structure before the liquefaction.", "Two main processes are commonly used: wet and dry milling.", "Wet milling gives a good separation of germ and starch granules and is mostly used when a parallel production of syrup is found in the process.", "It allows to separate the grain into its different fractions (starch, germ, fibers oil and protein) and to produce a variety of diverse co-products such as starch, corn oil.", "In dry milling, the whole kernel is milled and used in the process.", "The ground meal is thereafter liquefied, saccharified and fermented to make ethanol.", "In this case, only ethanol and distilled grains are recovered.", "In the following liquefaction step, the long chained starch-containing material is degraded (hydrolyzed) into maltodextrins (dextrins).", "Knowing that the starch containing material is heated to a temperature above the gelatinization temperature (above 85° C.), the liquefaction helps the handling by thinning the starch containing slurry, adding bacterial alpha-amylase (and also on a limited basis acid treatment).", "Liquefaction is usually carried out at temperatures around 105 to 110° C. for about 5-10 min, followed by a lower temperature holding period of about 1-2 hours at 95° C. The pH is maintained around 4.5-6.5 to avoid any bacterial growth.", "Different possible heating steps may be applied.", "A preliminary liquefaction step is usually carried out (80-85° C. and pH of 4 during 15 to 40 min with alpha amylases enzymes added to initiate the liquefaction) followed by jet cooking (temperature between 105-125° C. during 1-5 min) and a third liquefaction stage at 70-85° C. for 15-80 min (with addition of thermostable acid alpha-amylase that allows decreasing the fermentation time and increasing efficiency by reducing the residual starch left over during the fermentation).", "In the following saccharification step, the maltodextrin contained in the mash is converted to low molecular sugars that can be metabolized by fermenting micro organisms in the fermentation stage.", "The saccharification is generally carried out enzymatically (using enzymes like glucoamylase, alpha-glucosidase, acid alpha-amylase), with temperatures around 30-65° C. (typically 60° C.), during 24 to 72 hours and pH around 4-6.", "It may be advantageous to add some nutrients (yeast extracts), salts (NaCl and ammonium sulfate) and other enzymes (cellulases, hemicellulase, xylanase .", ") to the liquefied mash during saccharification.", "In the following fermentation step, suitable fermenting micro organisms (yeast) convert sugars in the mash directly or indirectly into the fermentation products, preferably ethanol.", "Generally, the fermentation is ongoing for 24-96 hours and between 24-36° C., with pH around 4-5.", "The temperature and pH during fermentation are set to be suitable for the microorganisms used.", "It may be advantageous to add some nutrients, salts (NaCl and ammonium sulfate) and enzymes (cellulases, hemicellulase) to the hydrolyzed starch and sugars during fermentation.", "Saccharification may also be done simultaneously with fermentation.", "In this case, the enzymes and micro-organisms are added together.", "This simultaneous saccharification and fermentation process (SSF) is a widely used process in the ethanol production.", "The SSF process is usually conducted at temperatures above 34° C. in the presence of glucoamylase and thermo tolerant yeast.", "The advantage to carry out this step at elevated temperature is that less cooling is required after the initial liquefaction step (occurring at much higher temperature).", "Simultaneous liquefaction, saccharification and fermentation (LSF) are also found in industry.", "In a continuous fermentation process, the mash is flowing through several fermentation processes until the mash is fully fermented while in the batch case, the mash stays in one fermentor for an effective amount of time.", "In the SSF process, a pre-saccharification step (1 to 4 hours) is usually done (before or simultaneously with the saccharification and fermentation steps), with temperature between 30 to 65° C. and pH around 4.5.", "Distillation is thereafter performed on the fermentation broth from the fermentation step to recover the fermentation products (ethanol preferably).", "The fermentation and distillation steps may be carried out simultaneously or separately/sequentially.", "After distillation, two products are recovered: Ethanol and a fermentation rest or residual product (whole stillage).", "The ethanol typically being an azeotropic mixture with water is further purified in the separation step by molecular sieving.", "The fermentation rest or residual product is mixed with the straw and leaves from the plant, and introduced into a conversion process in high pressure water according to the present invention.", "The conversion process comprises a further pre-treatment process, a first heating process, a second heating process (trim heating), a reaction process (not shown), a first cooling process, a second cooling process, and a separation process.", "The conversion process is shown and described in more details in the FIGS. 5-9 below and in the illustrative examples.", "The conversion process converts the organics into hydrocarbons such as a bio-oil.", "Part of the hydrocarbons are combusted in an energy production and energy is distributed to supply the energy consumptions in pre-treatment process (0.18 MW) and separation processes (0.63 MW) of the bio-ethanol production process.", "As the conventional dewatering process is eliminated and this typically consumes approximately the same amount of energy as the pre-treatment and separation processes, the energy consumption for bio-ethanol production has been significantly reduced.", "Using all parts of the plant including straws and leaves, a process self-supplying with energy and having an overall positive energy balance is provided.", "The bio-ethanol production may typically be substantially the same as in prior art methods (0.224 t/h), and addition here to a co-production of valuable hydrocarbons such as bio-oil (0.145 t/h) is enabled by the current invention.", "Hence, the overall result is a more efficient process for production of bio-ethanol In the following a preferred embodiment of converting the residual product into energy and in particular in to a hydrocarbon fuel will be disclosed.", "The residual product contains among other species organic material.", "FIG. 4 is a schematic drawing of the laboratory set-up used for the tests given in the examples.", "The pre-treated fluid containing the homogeneous catalysts and organic material to be converted is supplied to the system at the position A. The fluid is pressurized by means of the pump 1 and is heated to approximately 230 C in the heater 2 , comprising a heat exchanger and a temperature controller (TIC).", "A second fluid is supplied to the system at position B. This stream is pressurized by means of the pump 3 and heated in the heater 4 , comprising a heat exchanger and a temperature controller (TIC), to the temperature necessary to obtain the desired conversion temperature of the mixed fluid streams at position 4 .", "The heterogeneous catalyst is located in the tubular catalytic reactor 5 .", "After contact with the heterogeneous catalyst, the fluid containing the converted organic material is cooled to ambient temperature in the cooler 6 , and filtered in the filter 7 for separation and collection of suspended particles.", "Subsequently the fluid is expanded to ambient pressure over the valve 8 .", "The system pressure is maintained by controlling the flow through 8 , utilizing the pressure controller (PIC).", "The expanded fluid temperature is measured with the thermocouple 9 .", "The liquid fraction of the stream is collected in a liquid trap 10 , and the gas is vented off from the trap at position G. The flow rate and composition of the produced gas is continuously measured by a gas meter placed in H (not shown).", "The composition of the gas is analysed by gas chromatography (not shown) of a small sample taken through I, at controlled pressure established by the flow control valve and pressure controller (PIC) 11 .", "FIG. 5 shows a schematic drawing of a preferred aspect of a method according to the present invention.", "Organic material for conversion is received in a feed storage (not shown on the figure).", "Said organic material may comprise a wide range of biomass and wastes, and may also comprise fossil fuels such coal, shale, orimulsion, heavy fractions of crude oil etc.", "Many aspects according to the present invention involve treatment of organic material from a mixture of different sources of material as just mentioned.", "The feed storage will typically have a capacity corresponding to three days of plant operation.", "The feed storage is preferably a concealed and agitated silo, such as an agitated concrete silo.", "A fluid containing the organic material is pumped to the pre-treatment step 1 at position A. The first part of the pre-treatment comprises in this aspect a size reduction of the feed e.g. by cutting, grinding, milling and/or sieving the material.", "This size reduction may be an integral part of feeding pump (not shown).", "During the feeding operation to the pre-treatment the pressure of the fluid containing the organic material to be treated is increased to a pressure in the range 4-15 bars.", "In the second part of the pre-treatment the fluid containing said organic material is typically maintained in a pre-treatment vessel for a period of 0.5-2 hours.", "The pre-treatment vessel is preferably an agitated vessel, which is maintained at a temperature of 100-170 C, and preferably in the range 110 to 140 C. The energy for this pre-heating of said fluid comprising said organic material to be converted is preferably supplied, by recovering heat from one of the process streams to be cooled.", "In the figure this is illustrated by integrating the heat exchanger 2 in a vessel for recovery of heat from the process stream D. The pH in the vessel is adjusted to a value above 7, and preferable in the range 8-10.", "This pH adjustment is in many aspects according to the present invention performed by adding additives to the vessel, e.g. by adding a base, which may also comprise an element of group IA of the periodic table.", "Non-limiting examples of such additives are KOH, NaOH, K 2 CO 3 , Na 2 CO 3 , ash from biomass or coal combustion.", "Such additives may be added to the vessel through the stream S. During the residence in the pre-treatment vessel larger molecules such as cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin are hydrolyzed, and cells from biomass addition are opened facilitating the release of cell contents, such as salts.", "For a number of potential feedstock this cell opening involve release of catalysts such as potassium from the feedstock itself, thereby allowing for a very efficient process.", "A number of other additives may also enhance the pre-conversion of the organic material and are further advantageous for the subsequent processing.", "Such other additives include alcohols, such as methanol, carboxylic acids, aldehydes, and/or ketones.", "In a preferred aspect of the invention a number of such additives being utilized in the pre-treatment, are produced in-situ in the process and re-circulated to the pre-treatment step as shown by the streams E and F. Typical compositions of these recirculation streams is further described in relation to the FIGS. 6-8 .", "A fluid stream containing pre-converted organic material is withdrawn from pre-treatment vessel by the feed pump 3 , and pressurized to the operating pressure e.g. 250 bars.", "The feed pump may comprise a plunger pump.", "After pressurization the fluid containing the pre-converted organic material, the homogeneous catalyst and other additives is heated in the first heating step 4 by heat exchange with the hot converted product stream from the catalytic reactor.", "The temperature of the fluid containing the pre-converted organic material will in many applications according to the present invention be in the order of 20-30° C. below the operating temperature of the catalytic reactor.", "During this first heating step the organic material in the feed is further thermally decomposed.", "A number of undesirable side reactions may proceed during this thermal decomposition, such soot and char formation.", "Besides reducing the overall efficiency of the process, the may lead to operational problems such as plugging or reduced efficiency of heat exchanger, and deposition on downstream equipment.", "The aforementioned additives reduce these undesirable side reactions and enhance further the conversion of the organic material into desirable products.", "From the heat exchanger 4 , the fluid containing said pre-converted organic material may pass a first particle separation device 5 for collection of suspended particles, which may be formed during said pre-conversion during heat-up.", "This particles separation device 5 may comprise any conventional means for particle separation, e.g. a cyclone, a filter, a gravimetric settling chamber etc.", "Particles collected are withdrawn from the process shown by the stream B. After the first particle separation device 5 the fluid containing said pre-converted organic material is mixed with a re-circulating stream from the catalytic reactor.", "This mixing will typically increase the temperature of the mixed fluid with 10-20 C, and the recirculation will further introduce desirable compounds for the further conversion into the feed.", "After mixing with the re-circulation stream the mixed fluid passes to a trim-heater (second heating unit) 6 , wherein the temperature is raised to the operating temperature of the catalytic reactor 7 .", "The trim-heater 6 may in many aspects according to the present invention be a gas or oil fired heater, and is preferably at least partly fuelled by re-circulating gas and/or other fuel products produced in the process.", "In a preferred aspect, this trimheater is fuelled by re-circulating the produced gas denoted I in FIG. 3 .", "The re-circulation of said produced gas I may include a separation step.", "In the catalytic reactor 7 , the fluid containing homogeneous catalyst, additives, and pre-converted organic material is contacted with the heterogeneous catalyst.", "The heterogeneous catalyst will typically be contained in a tubular fixed bed, and the catalytic reactor may comprise multiple tubular fixed beds.", "During the conversion a dissolved fuel gas, a water soluble organics and an oil is generally produced.", "The product distribution is adjustable within a wide range of concentration of resulting products as shown in the examples below, and may be controlled by selecting a suitable combination of residence time, re-circulation flow rate, reaction temperature, and concentration of homogeneous catalyst and additives.", "Part of the product stream from the catalytic reactor is re-circulated by the pump 8 , and mixed with the fluid containing the pre-converted organic material as described above.", "The remaining part corresponding to the mass flow of the fluid containing the pre-converted organic material before mixing with the re-circulating stream is withdrawn to the second particle separation device 9 .", "As for the first particle separation device this second particles separation device may comprise any conventional means for particle separation e.g. a cyclone, a filter, a gravimetric settling chamber etc.", "The main feature is to provide a hot separation of potential suspended particles produced oil prior to cooling and expansion to avoid adsorption of the oil to the suspended particles.", "However, in a number of applications of the present invention e.g. for feedstock with a low ash content this particle separation device may be optional.", "Particles collected in the second particle separation device are withdrawn from the process shown by the stream C. Subsequent to the passage of the second particle separation device the fluid stream is cooled in by heat exchange with the feed stream in the heat exchanger 4 , and in the heat exchanger 2 and expanded to a pressure in the range 75-225 bars over the expansion valve 10 , and separated in the product recovery system 11 .", "Some of the separated fluid stream from the product recovery system 11 , such as the streams F and/or E may be re-circulated to the pre-treatment step as described above.", "The product recovery system 11 is further illustrated and described below in the FIGS. 6-9 .", "The separation system, illustrated in FIG. 6 , comprises a gas-liquid separator 12 , separating the gas products in stream I and the liquid products in stream J. In an aspect the gas product is used internally for fuelling the trimheater 6 .", "The liquid products are further separated in a first membrane filter 13 .", "The membrane filtration separation is pressure driven, and in many applications applying a nano- or ultrafiltration membrane.", "The filtration retentate in stream L includes parts of the feed water, the oil product and the dissolved inorganic compounds, e.g. salts from the feedstock and the homogenous catalyst.", "The oil product is separated from stream L in an oil separator (phase separator unit) 14 operating at atmospheric conditions, and forming the oil product stream H. The remaining water and dissolved inorganic compounds forms stream O. The main part of stream O is recycled to the pre-conversion 1 , 2 in stream E, thereby recycling the homogenous catalyst, while a purge stream P is discharged to balance the inorganic compound input from the feedstock.", "The further processing of the membrane filtration permeate, denoted stream K, is illustrated in FIG. 7-9 .", "Stream K contains smaller water soluble organics like C 1-4 alcohols and carboxylic acids.", "In one aspect illustrated in FIG. 7 stream K is fed to a separation unit (membrane filter) 15 , producing pure water of drinking water quality in stream G and a stream of water soluble organics in stream F. The separation unit 15 is in an aspect of the invention a reverse osmosis membrane unit, comprising a multitude of membrane modules.", "The retained water soluble organics in stream F are recycled to the pre-conversion step 1, 2.", "In a further aspect, illustrated in FIG. 8 , stream K is split into a concentrated water soluble organics stream F and an organics depleted water stream Q. The separation unit 16 involved is in many applications a membrane separation driven by temperature or concentration gradients, like membrane distillation or pervaporation.", "The water stream Q is further purified in a polishing step 17 , producing the pure water stream G. The polishing step 17 is preferably an activated carbon filter or like means for absorption of very low concentrations of impurities from a water stream.", "In an aspect illustrated in FIG. 9 the water soluble organic stream K is fed to a direct methanol fuel cell 18 , producing electricity and a process water stream R. The direct methanol fuel cell 18 might include feed stream and effluent conditioning steps.", "EXAMPLES Illustrative Example 1 Conversion of Sewage Sludge Anaerobic digested sewage sludge below was converted according to the method of the present invention in the laboratory scale plant shown in FIG. 1 .", "The dry matter content of the sewage sludge was 5%.", "The main components of the dry matter in weight % were: C=28.3% H=4.33% N=3.55% O=28.4% P=4.49% Al=7.77% Si=7.44% Ca=6.95% Fe=3.17% K=1.62% An elemental analysis of sewage sludge dry matter was further analyzed by induced coupled plasma (ICP) revealing the following composition: C [%] O [%] Al [%] H [%] Ca [%] Si [%] N [%] P [%] K [%] 30.9 30.5 6.15 5.2 5.03 4.98 4.66 4.62 2.36 Cl [%] S [%] Fe [%] Na [%] Mg [%] Zn [%] Ti [%] Ba [%] Mn [%] 1.13 1.09 1.04 0.938 0.875 0.226 0.195 0.0652 0.0375 The combustible fraction amounts to 58% of the dry matter content, with a heat value of 22.2 MJ/kg, which translates into a calorific value of 476 KJ/kg in the sewage sludge as received.", "Prior to the test the sewage sludge was pre-treated by sizing to less than 1 mm by cutting longer particles by a Seepex macerator (type 25/15-I-I-F12-2) and milling by a colloid mill (Probst und Class, type N100/E), and filtered by a screen basket filter (mesh width 1 mm).", "Subsequently 1.5% by weight of potassium in the form of potassium carbonate was added to the resulting slurry.", "The pH value of the slurry was 9.0.", "125 ml of ZrO 2 heterogeneous catalyst stabilized with 2.2 atomic mole % of Si.", "The catalyst in the form of cylindrical pellets of 3 mm length and a diameter of 3 mm was added to the tubular reactor.", "63 g/h of the pre-treated sewage sludge was pressurized to 250 bars and heated to 230 C in the pre-heating step.", "This stream was mixed with 393 g/h of pressurized water heated to a temperature so as to obtain a substantially constant temperature of 360±5 C after mixing.", "The mixed flow was subsequently contacted with the heterogeneous catalyst in the reactor.", "The feed to water ratio translates into a water to feed ratio of 6:1, and the total flow of 456 g/h translates into a contact time of approximately 4 minutes.", "After to the contact with the heterogeneous catalyst, the fluid containing the converted organic material is cooled to ambient temperature, filtered through a particle filter for collection of suspended particles, and expanded to ambient pressure.", "The liquid fraction on the stream was collected in a liquid trap, and the gas is vented off.", "The experiment resulted in three product streams, a gas, an aqueous product and a solid precipitate.", "Samples for analysis were collected for a period of 15.5 hours.", "Gas Analysis The flow rate and composition of the produced gas was measured continuously by a gas meter with sampling.", "The composition was measured by gas chromatography.", "The analysis of the gas phase revealed the following results: Gas analysis Hydrogen [vol.", "%] 55.13 Carbon dioxide [vol.", "%] 31.92 Carbon monoxide [vol.", "%] 0.00 Methane [vol.", "%] 12.87 Ethene [vol.", "%] 0.00 Ethane [vol.", "%] 0.00 Propene [vol.", "%] 0.00 Propane [vol.", "%] 0.00 C4-compounds [vol.", "%] 0.00 Total [vol.", "%]: 99.92 Total amount of carbon, g 0.91 Liquid Analysis The liquid product was contained suspended particles.", "The filtered liquid was analyzed by ion chromatography, Induced Plasma Emission (ICP) and high temperature total carbon analyzers and mass spectrometry.", "The analysis of the liquid phase revealed the following results: Liquid analysis pH 8.32 Total Organic Carbon (TOC), [ppm by weight] 726.8 Total Inorganic Carbon (TIC), [ppm by weight] 361.5 Total Carbon, [ppm by weight] 1088.3 Methanol [ppm by weight] 600 Ethanol [ppm by weight] 300 Acetic acid [ppm by weight] 332.7 Formic acid [ppm by weight] 10.3 Acetaldehyde [ppm by weight] 104.9 Total amount of carbon in liquid 9.30 g The inorganic carbon content in the liquid was found primarily to be due to the presence of carbonate.", "Solid Analysis The solid fractions were analyzed by means of a total carbon analyzer and by elemental analysis by an induced coupled plasma analyzer (ICP).", "An organic phase was found to be adsorbed to the inorganic particles under the experimental conditions used.", "This organic phase was extracted prior to the solid analysis using CH 2 Cl 2 .", "The extractable fraction of the organic carbon was found to be an oil phase, primarily consisting of saturated hydrocarbons with a chain length of 12 to 16 carbon atoms, and there for comparable to fuel or diesel oil.", "The oil contained 2-hexadecanone, heptadecane, 6,10-dimethyl-2-undecanone, hexadecane, 3-methyl-indole, 2-tridecanone and other compounds.", "A sulphur and halogen analysis performed at the extracted oil, showed that the oil was essentially free of sulphur and halogen compounds.", "The total amount of oil extracted from the solids was 3.86 g and the total amount of carbon found in the oil phase was equivalent to 3.28 g. No carbon was detected in the solid product after extraction of adsorbed oil, indicating 100% conversion of the organic material in the feed.", "The same result can be concluded from the carbon balance below: Carbon balance Input C: Output C: Sewage sludge: 13.81 g 0.91 g gas C 4.97% K 2 CO 3 : 4.51 g 4.34 g TIC liquid 23.68% 9.3 g TOC liquid 50.74% 0.0 TOC solid 0.00% 3.28 g C in oil 17.9% Σ 18.33 g Σ 17.83 g conversion 97.3% Energy balance: Heat Value Amount Energy Fraction Component [kJ/kg] [g] [% of energy input with feed] Feed sludge 476 976.5 Methane 50,400 0.25 2.71 Hydrogen 240,103 0.21 10.8 Methanol 19,918 13.67 58.6 Oil 41,900 3.86 34.8 Sum 107.0 Illustrative Example 2 Conversion of Sewage Sludge Anaerobic digested sewage sludge with characteristics as given above in example was preheated and converted using the same catalyst and experimental set-up.", "140 g/h of the pretreated sewage sludge was pressurized to 250 bar and heated to 230 C in the pre-heating step.", "This stream was mixed with 414 g/h of pressurized water heated to a temperature so as to obtain a substantially constant temperature of 300±5 C after mixing.", "The mixed flow was subsequently contacted with the heterogeneous catalyst in the reactor.", "The feed to water ratio translates into a water to feed ratio of 3:1, and the total flow of 545 g/h translates into a contact time of 3.3 minutes.", "After to the contact with the heterogeneous catalyst, the fluid containing the converted organic material is cooled to ambient temperature, filtered through a particle filter for collection of suspended particles, and expanded to ambient pressure.", "The liquid fraction on the stream is collected in a liquid trap, and the gas is vented off.", "The experiment resulted in three product streams, a gas, an aqueous product and a solid precipitate.", "Samples for analysis were collected for a period of 10.5 hours.", "Gas Analysis The analysis of the gas phase revealed the following results: Gas analysis Hydrogen [vol.", "%] 31.36 Carbon dioxide [vol.", "%] 41.17 Carbon monoxide [vol.", "%] 2.25 Methane [vol.", "%] 24.22 Ethene [vol.", "%] 0.00 Ethane [vol.", "%] 0.00 Propene [vol.", "%] 0.00 Propane [vol.", "%] 0.00 C4-compounds [vol.", "%] 0.00 Total [vol.", "%]: 99.00 Total amount of carbon, g 0.54 Liquid Analysis The analysis of the liquid phase revealed the following results: Liquid analysis pH 7.42 Total Organic Carbon (TOC), [ppm by weight] 985.1 Total Inorganic Carbon (TIC), [ppm by weight] 439.3 Total Carbon, [ppm by weight] 1424.4 Methanol [ppm by weight] 800 Ethanol [ppm by weight] 0 Acetic acid [ppm by weight] 347.2 Formic acid [ppm by weight] 43.2 Acetaldehyde [ppm by weight] 156.5 Total amount of carbon in liquid 13.33 g The inorganic carbon content in the liquid was found primarily to be due to the presence of carbonate.", "Solid Analysis The solid fractions were analyzed by means of a total carbon analyzer.", "An organic phase was found to be adsorbed to the inorganic particles under the experimental conditions used.", "This organic phase was extracted prior to the solid analysis using CH 2 Cl 2, .", "The extractable fraction of the organic carbon was found to be an oil phase, primarily consisting of saturated hydrocarbons with a chain length of 12 to 16 carbon atoms, and there for comparable to fuel or diesel oil.", "The oil contained 2-hexadecanone, heptadecane, 6,10-dimethyl-2-undecanone, hexadecane, 3-methyl-indole, 2-tridecanone and other compounds.", "The total amount of oil extracted from the solids was 12.73 g and the total amount of carbon found in the oil phase was equivalent to 10.83 g. No carbon was detected in the solid product after extraction of adsorbed oil, indicating 100% conversion of the organic material in the feed.", "Carbon balance: Input C: Output C: Sewage sludge: 20.58 g 0.54 g gas C 1.97% K 2 CO 3 : 6.78 g 6.43 g TIC liquid 23.5% 6.3 g TOC liquid 23.02% 0.0 TOC solid 0.00% 10.83 g C in oil 39.58% Σ 27.36 g Σ 24.1 g conversion 88.1% Energy balance: Energy Fraction Heat Value Amount [% of energy Component [kJ/kg] [g] input with feed] Feed sludge 476 1470 Methane 50,400 0.28 2.01 Hydrogen 240,103 0.07 2.40 Methanol equivalents 19,918 9.30 26.37 Oil 41,900 12.73 76.2 Sum 107.0 Illustrative Example 3 Conversion of Corn Silage Corn silage was pretreated and converted using the same catalyst and experimental set-up as described above in example 1 and 2.", "Prior to the test the sewage sludge was pretreated by sizing to less than 1 mm by cutting longer particles by a Seepex macerator (type 25/15-I-I-F12-2) and milling by a colloid mill (Probst und Class, type N100/E), and filtered by a screen basket filter (mesh width 1 mm).", "Subsequently 1.5% by weight of potassium in the form of potassium carbonate was added to the resulting slurry.", "The pH value of the slurry was 9.6.", "The characteristics of the corn silage after the pretreatment were the following: Corn silage feedstock Dry matter content [% weight] 11.29 Inorganic fraction of dry matter [% 29.4 Weight] Density [kg/m 3 ] 1.0099 pH 9.6 Heat of combustion 1 [kJ/kg] 1435 1 Based on 18 MJ/kg heat of combustion for the organic fraction of the dry matter.", "The inorganic content of the dry matter was mainly the added potassium carbonate, accounting for approximately ¾ of the dry matter inorganic compounds.", "GC-MS analysis of the corn silage feedstock revealed numerous compounds, but all were present in concentrations too low for identification.", "Particularly aromatics like phenols were not found in any significant amount.", "The dry matter content of the corn silage feedstock was analyzed, revealing the following composition: Corn silage dry matter TC [mg/kg] 325000 Mo [mg/kg] 7.82 TOC [mg/kg] 315000 N [mg/kg] 6960 Al [mg/kg] 233 Na [mg/kg] 825 Ca [mg/kg] 2023 Ni [mg/kg] 11.1 Cl [mg/kg] 1682 S [mg/kg] <0.1 Cr [mg/kg] 28 Si [mg/kg] 2090 Fe [mg/kg] 4571 Zr [mg/kg] 2.24 K [mg/kg] 112350 140 g/h of the pretreated sewage sludge was pressurized to 250 bar and heated to 230 C in the pre-heating step.", "This stream was mixed with 377 g/h of pressurized water heated to a temperature so as to obtain a substantially constant temperature of 350±5 C after mixing.", "The mixed flow was subsequently contacted with the heterogeneous catalyst in the reactor.", "The feed to water ratio translates into a water to feed ratio of 3.75:1, and the total flow of 517 g/h translates into a contact time of 3.3 minutes.", "After the contact with the heterogeneous catalyst, the fluid containing the converted organic material was cooled to ambient temperature, filtered through a particle filter for collection of suspended particles, and expanded to ambient pressure.", "The liquid fraction on the stream is collected in a liquid trap, and the gas is vented off.", "The experiment resulted in four product streams, a gas, an aqueous product, a free oil phase and a solid precipitate.", "Samples for analysis were collected for a period of 16 hours.", "Gas Analysis The analysis of the gas phase revealed the following results: Gas analysis Hydrogen [vol.", "%] 7.5 Carbon dioxide [vol.", "%] 88.74 Carbon monoxide [vol.", "%] 0.00 Methane [vol.", "%] 0.33 Ethene [vol.", "%] 0.06 Ethane [vol.", "%] 0.06 Propene [vol.", "%] 0.25 Propane [vol.", "%] 0.05 C4-compounds [vol.", "%] 0.00 Total [vol.", "%]: Total amount of carbon, g 15.2 Liquid Analysis The analysis of the liquid phase revealed the following results: Liquid analysis pH 8.30 Total Organic Carbon (TOC), [ppm by weight] 2105 Total Inorganic Carbon (TIC), [ppm by weight] 201 Total Carbon, [ppm by weight] 2305 Methanol [vol %] 1.64 Ethanol [vol %] 0.27 Acetic acid [ppm by weight] 5185 Formic acid [ppm by weight] 2206 Glycol acid 10470 Acetaldehyde [ppm by weight] 115.0 Total amount of carbon in liquid 40.1 g The inorganic carbon content in the liquid was found primarily to be due to the presence of carbonate.", "Solid Analysis The solid fractions were analyzed by means of a total carbon analyzer.", "An organic phase was found to be adsorbed to the inorganic particles under the experimental conditions used.", "This organic phase was extracted prior to the solid analysis using CH 2 Cl 2 .", "The extractable fraction of the organic carbon was found to be an oil phase, primarily consisting of saturated hydrocarbons with a chain length of 12 to 16 carbon atoms, and there for comparable to fuel or diesel oil.", "The oil contained phenol, toluene, 4-ethyl-phenol, 4-ethyl-3-methylphenol, cyclopent-2-ene-1-one 2,3,4 trimethyl, 2-methyl-1-penten-3-yne and other compounds.", "A sulphur analysis of the oil showed that the oil phase was essentially free of sulphur.", "A similar analysis for halogen compounds showed that the oil phase was essentially free of halogen.", "The total amount of oil extracted from the solids was 14.76 g and the total amount of carbon found in the oil phase was equivalent to 12.55 g. No carbon was detected in the solid product after extraction of adsorbed oil, indicating 100% conversion of the organic material in the feed.", "The same result can be concluded from the carbon balance below: Carbon balance: Input C: Output C: Corn silage feed: 82.19 g 15.2 g gas C 18.5% 40.1 g TOC liquid 48.8% 0.0 TOC solid 0.0% 28.35 g C in oil 34.5% Σ 82.19 g Σ 83.62 g conversion 101.8% Energy balance: Heat Value Amount Energy Fraction Component [kJ/kg] [g] [% of feed energy content] Feed sludge 476 2240 Hydrogen 240,103 0.07 1.6 Methanol 19,918 28.9 17.9 Ethanol 28,200 4.20 4.2 Glycol acid 14,400 0.41 10.4 Acetic acid 18,200 1.23 6.5 Oil 41,900 14.76 45.1 Sum 85.7 Illustrative Example 4 Use of Microwave Heating in a Catalytic Liquid Conversion Process In a preferred embodiment according to the present invention for conversion of organic material in high pressure water is given in the FIGS. 1-6 .", "An alternative embodiment, which may be advantageous in many applications according to the present invention, is the use of microwave heating for at least part of the heating process.", "Such heating by combining existing microwave generators (known from kitchen microwave owens) combined with high pressure cells comprises a transparent window and may have one or more of the following advantages compared to conventional heaters based on electrical heat and/or superheated steam and/or other heat transfer fluids: a. Improved heat transfer efficiency b. Extremely short response time c. Very accurate process control d. Hot spots are avoided e. High temperature heat transfer surfaces is avoided f. Less thermal cracking of the organic content g. Higher conversion rates h. High temperature uniformity i. Increased conversion capacity j. Increased energy efficiency of the overall process k. Reduction of temperature needed for conversion l. Reduction the size of heat exchangers and cost of heat recovery in general m. Reduced chemical consumption and/or allow other catalysts to be used n. Simplification of the overall process and/or the related capital and/or operating costs o. Smaller foot print Such microwave heating generally involve heating by magnetron systems operating within the frequency domain of microwaves and/or hyper-frequencies such as frequencies in the range from 300 MHz to 300 GHz such as in the range 500 MHz to 5 GHz.", "A microwave heating system may comprise multiple magnetrons, which may increase the overall microwave efficiency by reducing the thermal losses.", "Different frequencies may initiate different energy transfer mechanisms within the materials being treated, which may be used to impact on reaction thermodynamics or product quality.", "A further attractive effect of the microwave heating may be the opportunity to significantly reduce the temperature needed for a given conversion of organics according to the present invention.", "Hence, in a preferred embodiment of the present invention the maximum temperature in the process is below 300° C. such as below 275° C., and preferably below 250° C. such as below 225° C., and even more preferably below 175° C. Depending on the specific materials being converted the temperature may be as low as 150° C. such as in the range 110-150° C. In a particularly preferred embodiment the maximum temperature is substantially the same as in said pretreatment step according o the present invention.", "Additionally the following are definitions used in the description of the present invention.", "The term hydrocarbon fuel is in the present invention intended to define all hydrocarbon based fuels, which may or may not comprise other elements than carbon and hydrogen, e.g. some of said hydrocarbons may comprise oxygen and other elements e.g. in the form of groups of alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, carboxylic acid, ester, esthers etc.", "and reaction products thereof.", "The membrane processes of the present invention is well known in the prior art (e.g. W. S. HO et al, “Membrane Handbook”, Van Nordstrand Reinhold, p. 103-132, p. 263-446, 1992, ISBN 0-442-23747-2, K. Scott, “Handbook of Industrial Membranes”", "Elsevier Science Publishers, 1995, p. 3-163, p. 331-355, p. 575-630, ISBN 1 85617 233 3) The surface areas referred to throughout this specification and claims are, preferably, the nitrogen BET surface areas determined by the method described in the article by Brunauer, P. Emmett and E. Teller, J. Am.", "Chem.", "Soc.", ", Vol. 60, p. 309 (1938).", "This method depends on the condensation of nitrogen into the pores, and is effective for measuring pores with pore diameters in the range of 10 Å to 600 Å.", "The volume of nitrogen adsorbed is related to the surface area per unit weight of the support.", "It is well known in the prior art that the activity of a catalyst is proportional to the surface area (BET), and that catalysts may show a significant activity drop over time, when subjected to e.g. hydrothermal conditions as used in relation to the present invention.", "In order to minimize such potential activity loss a surface area stabilizer is incorporated into the heterogeneous catalyst.", "Red Mud is a waste product of bauxite processing via the Bayer process.", "It comprises oxides and hydroxides of mainly aluminium, iron, titanium, silicon, and sodium." ]

[ "[0001] The present patent application is a Divisional application claiming priority from Application Ser.", "No. 13/945,044, filed Jul. 18, 2013 which is currently pending.", "FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The invention relates to the field of printing systems, and in particular, to the readability of scaled images generated at a printing system.", "BACKGROUND [0003] The binary encoding scheme is commonly used in modern bar code symbology design.", "Binary codes (such as Code 39) define the set of bar/space patterns making up its “language”", "or bar code character set using only two choices (“wide”", "or “narrow”) for each bar and space of each pattern.", "The wide:narrow ratio can be selected when printing each bar code.", "Selecting a 2:1 ratio creates a more compact bar code;", "a 2.5:1 or 3:1 ratio makes the bar code wider, but also makes it easier for the scanner to distinguish wide elements from narrow ones, which is helpful when printing on rough cardboard, for example.", "[0004] Printed barcodes that have been converted to a different dots per inch (DPI) density typically have issues with readability due to dot gain and the scaling method.", "For instance, printer dot gain increases bar widths by producing bars that are too wide while making spaces too small, thus decreasing the readability of bar codes.", "[0005] Compensation for dot gain is typically performed at the device DPI by removing one or more pels from the binary bar code data.", "However, removal of pels to compensate for dot gain is very coarse.", "Further, conversion of the modified binary barcode data to a different DPI is typically done using nearest neighbor scaling.", "This conversion method creates distortion of the bars and poor readability.", "If the scaling ratio is non integer this results in distorted bar and space sizes.", "Combined, these issues create poor barcode readability.", "Additionally, the variability in bar sizes due to the scaling further reduces barcode readability.", "[0006] Accordingly, a mechanism for scaling barcode data to improve readability is desired.", "SUMMARY [0007] In one embodiment, a method is disclosed.", "The method includes receiving an image, upsampling the image, eroding the upsampled image to compensate for dot gain and scaling the eroded image to scale the image to a desired size.", "[0008] In another embodiment, a printing system comprising an image scaling system to receive an image, upsample the image, erode the upsampled image to compensate for dot gain and scale the eroded image to scale the image to a desired size.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0009] A better understanding of the present invention can be obtained from the following detailed description in conjunction with the following drawings, in which: [0010] FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of a printing system;", "[0011] FIG. 2 is a flow diagram illustrating one embodiment of a scaling process;", "[0012] FIGS. 3A-3D illustrate embodiments of a barcode during scaling conversion stages;", "and [0013] FIG. 4 illustrates one embodiment of a computer system.", "DETAILED DESCRIPTION [0014] A mechanism for scaling image data to improve readability is described.", "In the following description, for the purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention.", "It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without some of these specific details.", "In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form to avoid obscuring the underlying principles of the present invention.", "[0015] Reference in the specification to “one embodiment”", "or “an embodiment”", "means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the invention.", "The appearances of the phrase “in one embodiment”", "in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment.", "[0016] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating one embodiment of a printing system 100 .", "Printing system 130 is a system used to provide marks on a media, such as a continuous forms printer or a cut sheet page printer.", "Printing system 130 may include any digital hardcopy output device, such as printers, copiers, multifunction printers (MFP's) and facsimiles.", "[0017] A host system 110 is in communication with the printing system 130 to print a sheet image 120 onto a print medium 180 via a printer 160 .", "The resulting print medium 180 may be printed in color and/or in any of a number of gray shades.", "The host system 110 may include any computing device, such as a personal computer or a server.", "The sheet image 120 may be any file or data that describes how an image on a sheet of print medium should be printed.", "For example, sheet image 120 may include PostScript data, Printer Command Language (“PCL”) data, the Intelligent Printer Data Stream (“IPDS”) data, and/or any other printer language data.", "[0018] Printing system 130 may be a high-speed printer operable to print relatively high volumes (e.g., greater than 100 pages per minute).", "The print medium 180 may be continuous form paper, cut sheet paper, and/or any other medium suitable for printing.", "The printing system 130 , in one generalized form, includes printer 160 that presents a bitmap 150 onto print medium 180 (e.g., via toner, ink, etc.) based on sheet image 120 .", "[0019] The image scaling system 140 may be any system, device, software, circuitry and/or other suitable component configured within printing system 130 that is operable to transform sheet image 120 and generate a scaled bitmap 150 for printing onto print medium 180 in accordance with the non integer scaling described above.", "The image scaling system 140 may be configured as part of a print controller of printing system 130 and/or any other portion of printing system 130 .", "In another embodiment, image scaling system 140 may be configured with host system 110 .", "[0020] FIG. 2 is a flow diagram illustrating one embodiment of a scaling process implemented at image scaling system 140 .", "According to one embodiment, sheet image 120 includes a font used to generate a barcode and accompanying data.", "In a further embodiment, the font and characters in the font are laid out as an image at an original font resolution.", "FIG. 3A illustrates one embodiment of barcode and corresponding text indicating the contents of the barcode.", "The toned pels are black and the untoned pels are white.", "[0021] At processing block 220 , the image data is received at image scaling system 140 as binary data.", "At processing block 230 , the binary data is upsampled using nearest neighbor scaling by a factor number (N) times.", "Since N is an integer, nearest neighbor scaling replicates sample values of the received image.", "Nearest neighbor scaling does not distort the image in this instance because integer scaling will create N pels for each pel in the original.", "In such an embodiment, the final image is binary at N times the DPI of the original data.", "FIG. 3B illustrates one embodiment of a section of the barcode magnified to show individual bars.", "FIG. 3B shows that the section has been converted from 300 DPI to 600 DPI using nearest neighbor scaling.", "[0022] At processing block 240 , the binary image is eroded to compensate for dot gain.", "In one embodiment, the erosion can be single sided to remove one pel.", "In such an embodiment, removal of one toned pel subtracts 1/N pel from the original width, due to the previous scaling.", "FIG. 3C illustrates one embodiment of the magnified section of the barcode in which one toned pel has been eroded from the right edge of each bar to compensate for dot gain.", "As can be seen in FIG. 3C , the bar widths have been narrowed.", "In another embodiment, two sided erosion, with an even number of total pels, may be implemented to preserve the centroid of the bar location.", "In this embodiment, half of the total pels are taken from each side.", "[0023] At processing block 250 , area scaling is performed on the eroded image to scale the image to the final desired size.", "This scaling produces contone data having minimal distortion using gray pels which faithfully represent the data at the new device resolution.", "FIG. 3D illustrates one embodiment of the magnified section of the barcode scaled down from 600 DPI to 360 DPI using area scaling.", "After area scaling, the edges of the barcode have gray pels.", "Thus in one embodiment, printer 160 performs a halftone on the data (e.g., using a stochastic algorithm), to convert the gray to binary or multibit pels which preserves the gray bar information.", "[0024] Although described above with reference to barcodes, the scaling process may also be implemented to scale a group of rendered characters.", "For instance, the text shown in FIG. 3A may also be scaled according to the above-described process.", "[0025] Embodiments of the invention can take the form of an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment, or an embodiment containing both hardware and software elements.", "In one embodiment, the invention is implemented in software, which includes but is not limited to firmware, resident software, microcode, etc.", "FIG. 4 is a block diagram depicting a computer system 400 operable to provide features and aspects hereof by executing programmed instructions and accessing data stored on a computer readable storage medium 412 .", "[0026] Furthermore, embodiments of the invention can take the form of a computer program accessible via a computer-readable medium 412 providing program code for use by a computer or any other instruction execution system.", "For the purposes of this description, a computer readable medium 412 can be anything that can contain, store, communicate, or transport the program for use by the computer other instruction execution system.", "[0027] The computer readable medium 412 can be an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor device.", "Examples of the computer readable medium 412 include a solid state memory, a magnetic tape, a removable computer diskette, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), a rigid magnetic disk, and an optical disk.", "Current examples of optical disks include compact disk—read only memory (CD-ROM), compact disk—read/write (CD-R/W), and DVD.", "[0028] The computer system 400 , being suitable for storing and/or executing the program code, includes at least one processor 402 coupled to memory elements 404 through a system bus 450 .", "The memory elements 404 can include local memory employed during actual execution of the program code, bulk storage, and cache memories that provide temporary storage of at least some program code and/or data in order to reduce the number of times the code and/or data are retrieved from bulk storage during execution.", "[0029] Input/output or I/O devices 406 (including but not limited to keyboards, displays, pointing devices, etc) can be coupled to the system either directly or through intervening I/O controllers.", "Network adapter interfaces 408 may also be coupled to the system to enable the computer system 400 to become coupled to other data processing systems or storage devices through intervening private or public networks.", "Modems, cable modems, IBM Channel attachments, SCSI, Fibre Channel, and Ethernet cards are just a few of the currently available types of network or host interface adapters.", "Presentation device interface 410 may be coupled to the system to interface to one or more presentation devices, such as printing systems and displays for presentation of presentation data generated by processor 402 .", "[0030] Whereas many alterations and modifications of the present invention will no doubt become apparent to a person of ordinary skill in the art after having read the foregoing description, it is to be understood that any particular embodiment shown and described by way of illustration is in no way intended to be considered limiting.", "Therefore, references to details of various embodiments are not intended to limit the scope of the claims, which in themselves recite only those features regarded as essential to the invention." ]

[ "FIELD OF THE INVENTION The invention relates generally to electrical computers and digital data processing, and specifically to selecting a path via which the computers will transfer data.", "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The advent of logical partitions (“LPARs”) in UNIX servers enabled mid-range servers to provide a class of service previously provided only by mainframe systems.", "Mainframe computers traditionally used physical partitioning to construct multiple “system images”", "using separate discrete building blocks.", "UNIX servers, using logical partitions, permitted finer granularity and interchangeability of components across system images.", "In addition, the virtualization of input/output (“I/O”) devices across multiple partitions further enhanced logical partitioning functionality.", "Virtualization of I/O devices allows multiple logical partitions to share physical resources such as Ethernet adapters, disk adapters and so forth.", "Therefore, rather than dedicating these virtual I/O adapters to each logical partition, the adaptors are shared between partitions, where each LPAR uses only the I/O adaptors as needed.", "Management of virtual I/O adapters requires a dedicated component acting on behalf of all resources.", "For example, a Virtual I/O server, or “VIO”", "server, may be created by forming a specialized LPAR dedicated to the task of possessing all shared I/O devices.", "The VIO server acts as a “virtual device”", "that fields input-output requests from all other LPARs.", "All of the shared I/O devices are physically attached to the VIO server.", "The IBM BladeCenter approaches virtual I/O management differently using a BladeCenter chassis that allows a virtual I/O to include fibre channel and Ethernet networking interface cards.", "While the BladeCenter does not rely on a dedicated LPAR to perform the virtualization, a dedicated processor is housed in the management blade of the chassis, that uses a dedicated VIO server to perform the virtualization.", "Virtual I/O servers use software to seamlessly redirect input/output to an alternate device if a first device fails.", "By having access to multiple Ethernet adapters, for instance, the failure of any single physical adapter no longer deprives any given LPAR of Ethernet functionality.", "Instead, the VIO server provides the desired functionality to its client LPAR from another physical adapter.", "The use of a central dedicated VIO server, however, puts all LPARs into a state of extreme dependence upon that single dedicated VIO server.", "For instance, if any failure mechanism, such as a processor problem or an operating system malfunction, manifests itself on the VIO server, all applications running on LPARs dependent upon that VIO server lose their ability to communicate through the I/O adaptors.", "In other words, the dedicated VIO server now becomes a single point of failure for all applications and LPARs using I/O adaptors.", "One known solution to eliminate the single point-of-failure for a VIO server is to create redundant dedicated VIO LPARs.", "However, creation of redundant dedicated VIO LPARs unnecessarily consumes resources.", "For instance, each dedicated VIO LPAR requires processor and memory allocation, as well as disk space and other such resources, which would better be used running applications and performing direct value-added computations for users.", "Therefore, a need exists for a distributed VIO server that can operate across some or all of the application LPARs so that it is not subject to a single point of failure and that also does not duplicate computer resources.", "SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention meeting the need identified above is the Distributed Virtual I/O Tool.", "The Distributed Virtual I/O Tool replaces dedicated VIO server LPARs by distributing the virtual I/O functions across several application LPARs connected by a high-speed communication channel.", "The Distributed Virtual I/O Tool receives an I/O request for an application running on a logical partition of a shared resource with a plurality of logical partitions, wherein I/O devices are physically distributed across the plurality of logical partitions.", "The Distributed Virtual I/O Tool assigns the I/O request to one of the I/O devices, wherein the I/O request can be assigned to any I/O device of the proper type attached to any logical partition, regardless of which logical partition runs the application receiving the I/O request, and sends the I/O request to the assigned I/O device.", "Generally, each application or LPAR maps to a specific I/O device, binding the application or LPAR to the mapped device.", "If there is not a prior assignment, the Distributed Virtual I/O Tool assigns an I/O device when the I/O request is made.", "The Distributed Virtual I/O Tool monitors each I/O request and reassigns I/O devices when performance drops on a specific device or the LPAR connected to the device is no longer available.", "Assignment and reassignment of an I/O device may be based on the recommendation of an autonomic manager tasked with monitoring and managing the performance of the entire computer system.", "An alternate embodiment of the Distributed Virtual I/O Tool queries each I/O device manager for availability and performance data, and assigns or reassigns I/O devices based on the responses of the I/O device managers.", "Alternatively, the physical I/O devices may be distributed randomly across available LPARs such that LPARs with specific I/O needs may be given priority for a physical I/O device.", "In a further embodiment, a LPAR may have a dedicated I/O device, and will not share the Virtual I/O Tool.", "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 be understood best by reference to the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: FIG. 1 is an exemplary computer network;", "FIG. 2 is a diagram of an exemplary shared resource with a dedicated VIO LPAR;", "FIG. 3 is a diagram of a shared resource with a distributed VIO tool;", "FIG. 4 describes programs and files in a memory on a computer;", "FIG. 5 is a flowchart of an I/O Management Component;", "FIG. 6 is a flowchart of an I/O Device Assignment Component;", "and FIG. 7 is a flowchart of an I/O Failover Component.", "DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The principles of the present invention are applicable to a variety of computer hardware and software configurations.", "The term “computer hardware”", "or “hardware,” as used herein, refers to any machine or apparatus that is capable of accepting, performing logic operations on, storing, or displaying data, and includes without limitation processors and memory;", "the term “computer software”", "or “software,” refers to any set of instructions operable to cause computer hardware to perform an operation.", "A “computer,” as that term is used herein, includes without limitation any useful combination of hardware and software, and a “computer program”", "or “program”", "includes without limitation any software operable to cause computer hardware to accept, perform logic operations on, store, or display data.", "A computer program may, and often is, comprised of a plurality of smaller programming units, including without limitation subroutines, modules, functions, methods, and procedures.", "Thus, the functions of the present invention may be distributed among a plurality of computers and computer programs.", "The invention is described best, though, as a single computer program that configures and enables one or more general-purpose computers to implement the novel aspects of the invention.", "For illustrative purposes, the inventive computer program will be referred to as the “Distributed Virtual I/O Tool”", "Additionally, the Distributed Virtual I/O Tool is described below with reference to an exemplary network of hardware devices, as depicted in FIG. 1 .", "A “network”", "comprises any number of hardware devices coupled to and in communication with each other through a communications medium, such as the Internet.", "A “communications medium”", "includes without limitation any physical, optical, electromagnetic, or other medium through which hardware or software can transmit data.", "For descriptive purposes, exemplary network 100 has only a limited number of nodes, including workstation computer 105 , workstation computer 110 , server computer 115 , and persistent storage 120 .", "Network connection 125 comprises all hardware, software, and communications media necessary to enable communication between network nodes 105 - 120 .", "Unless otherwise indicated in context below, all network nodes use publicly available protocols or messaging services to communicate with each other through network connection 125 .", "A computer with multiple logical partitions, known as a shared resource, is shown in FIG. 2 .", "Shared Resource 200 is an example of the prior art method of providing a VIO server on a dedicated logical partition, or LPAR.", "Shared Resource 200 has several LPARs connected by Inter-Partition Communication 220 , a high-speed communication system linking all the LPARs, such as the POWER HYPERVISOR product from IBM.", "LPAR_ 1 211 runs applications on an AIX operating system.", "LPAR_ 2 212 runs applications on a LINUX operating system.", "LPAR_ 3 213 runs applications on an i5 operating system.", "LPAR_ 4 214 has unassigned resources available for increases in demands for computing resources.", "LPAR_ 5 215 is the VIO LPAR and physically connects to all the available I/O devices such as Ethernet adaptors, fibre channels and persistent storage media.", "Each application LPAR ( 211 - 214 ) accesses I/O devices 250 via Inter-Partition Communication 220 and VIO server LPAR 215 .", "FIG. 3 depicts Improved Shared Resource 300 using a VIO server distributed across several LPARs.", "The LPARs on Improved Shared Resource 300 are connected by Inter-Partition Communication 320 , just as the prior art in FIG. 2 .", "LPAR_ 1 311 and LPAR_ 5 315 run applications on an AIX operating system.", "LPAR_ 2 312 runs applications on a LINUX operating system.", "LPAR_ 3 313 runs applications on an i5 operating system.", "LPAR_ 4 314 has unassigned resources available for increases in demands for computing resources.", "Distributed VIO Tool 400 runs on any of the LPARs, as part of the overall server management software.", "LPARs 311 , 312 and 315 are physically connected to I/O devices 351 , 352 and 353 respectively.", "Each LPAR ( 311 - 315 ) can access any of I/O devices 350 via Inter-Partition Communication 320 and the direct I/O connections through LPARs 311 , 312 and 315 .", "In an embodiment of the invention, LPAR 311 , 312 or 315 may have a dedicated I/O device that is not shared by the other LPARs.", "Distributed VIO Tool 400 typically is stored in a memory, represented schematically as memory 420 in FIG. 4 .", "The term “memory,” as used herein, includes without limitation any volatile or persistent medium, such as an electrical circuit, magnetic disk, or optical disk, in which a computer can store data or software for any duration.", "A single memory may encompass and be distributed across a plurality of media.", "Thus, FIG. 4 is included merely as a descriptive expedient and does not necessarily reflect any particular physical embodiment of memory 420 .", "As depicted in FIG. 2 , though, memory 420 may include additional data and programs.", "Of particular import to Distributed VIO Tool 400 , memory 420 may include Autonomic Manager 430 , Applications 450 , I/O Device Mapping List 460 , and I/O Device Managers 470 with which Distribute VIO Tool 400 interacts.", "Additionally, Distributed VIO Tool 400 has three components: I/O Management Component 500 , I/O Device Assignment Component 600 and I/O Failover Component 700 .", "Autonomic Manager 430 continuously monitors and analyzes the computer system to ensure the system operates smoothly.", "One major function known in the art for Autonomic Manager 430 is load balancing so that system resources are efficiently used by applications on the server.", "Applications 450 are the functional programs performing tasks for users on the server.", "Examples of Applications 450 include such things as databases, Internet sites, accounting software and e-mail service.", "I/O Device Mapping List 460 is a file that maps various applications and LPARs to specific I/O devices using bindings.", "I/O Device Mapping List 460 may also include other configuration preferences such as a performance threshold for I/O devices or a preferred priority for assigning certain applications to an I/O device.", "I/O Device Managers 470 are programs that configure and operate the physical I/O devices.", "As shown in FIG. 5 , I/O Management Component 500 starts whenever an I/O request is made for one of Applications 450 on shared resource 300 ( 510 ).", "I/O Management Component 500 receives the I/O request ( 512 ) and accesses I/O Device Mapping List 460 ( 514 ).", "I/O Management Component 500 determines if an I/O device has been assigned to the application or LPAR that made or received the I/O request ( 516 ).", "If an I/O device is not assigned, I/O Management Component 500 starts I/O Device Assignment Component 600 ( 518 ).", "If an I/O device is already assigned, or after assigning an I/O device, I/O Management Component 500 determines if the assigned I/O device is available ( 520 ).", "If the assigned I/O device is not available, I/O Management Component 500 starts I/O Failover Component 700 ( 522 ).", "After insuring that the I/O request is assigned to an available I/O device, I/O Management Component 500 determines whether the assigned I/O device is performing at an acceptable level ( 524 ).", "Performance thresholds may be set in I/O device mapping list 460 , or may come from another source, such as Autonomic Manger 430 .", "If the I/O device performance is not acceptable, I/O Management Component 500 starts I/O Device Assignment Component 600 ( 526 ).", "Once an I/O request is assigned to an available, acceptable I/O device, the I/O Management Component 500 sends the I/O request to the assigned I/O device manager 470 ( 528 ) and I/O Management Component 500 stops ( 530 ).", "FIG. 6 shows that I/O Device Assignment Component 600 starts when initiated by I/O management Component 500 ( 610 ).", "I/O Device Assignment Component 600 reads the I/O request ( 612 ) and opens I/O Device Mapping List 460 ( 614 ).", "I/O Device Assignment Component 600 consults Autonomic Manager 430 to identify performance metrics of available I/O devices ( 616 ).", "I/O Device Assignment Component 600 assigns the I/O request to the best performing I/O device of the type needed by the I/O request ( 618 ).", "The assignment of the I/O device may also be influenced by priority preferences stored in I/O Device Mapping List 460 .", "I/O Device Assignment Component 600 saves the assignment to I/O Device Mapping List 460 ( 620 ) so that subsequent requests in the session will already be assigned.", "Using bindings to link a request to a specific I/O device allows the client to encapsulate the assignment in subsequent requests in the session.", "I/O Device Assignment Component 600 closes I/O Device Mapping List 460 ( 622 ), sends the I/O request and assignment back to I/O Management Component 500 ( 624 ) and stops ( 628 ).", "An alternate embodiment of I/O Device Assignment Component 600 (not shown) does not consult Autonomic Manager 430 or another centralized tracking and tuning program to make I/O device assignments.", "Instead, the alternate embodiment queries each I/O device manager 470 individually, then makes the assignment based on the responses of each I/O device manager 470 .", "I/O Failover Component 700 , shown in FIG. 7 , starts when initiated by I/O management Component 500 ( 710 ).", "I/O Failover Component 700 is initiated whenever an I/O request is assigned to a failed or unavailable I/O device.", "An I/O device may become unavailable because the I/O device itself failed or the LPAR connected to the I/O device has failed.", "I/O Failover Component 700 receives the I/O request ( 712 ) and opens I/O Device Mapping List 460 ( 714 ).", "I/O Failover Component 700 consults Autonomic Manager 430 to identify performance metrics of available I/O devices ( 716 ).", "I/O Failover Component 700 assigns the I/O request to the best performing I/O device of the type needed by the I/O request ( 718 ).", "The assignment of the I/O device may also be influenced by priority preferences stored in I/O Device Mapping List 460 .", "I/O Failover Component 700 saves the assignment to I/O Device Mapping List 460 ( 720 ) so that subsequent requests in the session will already be assigned.", "Using bindings to link a request to a specific I/O device allows the client to encapsulate the assignment in subsequent requests in the session.", "I/O Failover Component 700 determines if any other applications, LPARs or sessions are assigned to the failed device ( 722 ) by reviewing bindings stored in I/O Device Mapping List 460 .", "If other assignments to the failed device are identified, I/O Failover Component 700 assigns future I/O requests for the application or LPAR to the best performing I/O device ( 724 ) and saves the assignment to I/O Device Mapping List 460 ( 726 ).", "After reassigning I/O requests, I/O Failover Component 700 closes I/O Device Mapping List 460 ( 728 ), sends the I/O request and assignment back to I/O Management Component 500 ( 730 ) and stops ( 732 ).", "As with I/O Device Assignment Component 600 , an alternate embodiment of I/O Failover Component 700 (not shown) does not consult Autonomic Manager 430 or another centralized tracking and tuning program to determine I/O device assignments.", "Instead, the alternate embodiment queries each I/O device manger 470 individually and then makes the assignment based on the responses of each I/O device manger 470 .", "A preferred form of the invention has been shown in the drawings and described above, but variations in the preferred form will be apparent to those skilled in the art.", "The preceding description is for illustration purposes only, and the invention should not be construed as limited to the specific form shown and described.", "The scope of the invention should be limited only by the language of the following claims." ]

[ "CROSS-REFERENCE TO PROVISIONAL APPLICATION [0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/196,971 entitled “Mobile Device Software for Improving a Workday Commute”", "to Edward C. Fontana, filed on Jul. 25, 2015, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.", "BACKGROUND [0002] The field of the disclosure relates generally to automobiles that can be used to convey people to and from work on workday commutes, and also contain hardware and software elements.", "The automobile is considered a mobile device for conveying people and presenting information.", "A primary goal is to attract multiple people to a single vehicle and create a high occupancy vehicle workday commute.", "[0003] Individuals in the United States consume twice as much energy as those in any other region.", "Solitary workday commutes in light vehicles are the leading reason for this difference.", "An electric vehicle design to help catalyze more social, higher occupancy, commuting habits can help make workday commutes less solitary.", "[0004] Performance criteria for such a vehicle are: 1) attract passengers to the suburban front yard at 6:30 AM, 2) match market leading crash test performance, cargo capability, and sense of freedom, and 3) deliver easier parking, better acoustics and better passenger mile efficiency.", "[0005] A vehicle as a rolling event venue determines a large windscreen, side-by-side upright seating arrangements, and acoustic excellence—an experience where there are only good seats.", "These requirements force a decision to close the wake along a vertical line to form a narrow wake.", "The chassis is platform batteries with dual motor electric rear drive and undetermined front drive.", "[0006] A study into the characteristics which would support high occupancy workday commutes delivered these findings: [0007] Narrow wake synergies include: a) cargo loading on a tailgate ramp to a low 0.3 m (12 inch) high load floor through a 0.8 m (32 inch) wide opening—as a controlled event using an onboard powered trolley, b) passengers more safely located, and c) thick rear doors that pivot concentric with the rear axle, with no chance of damaging adjacent objects.", "[0008] A consistent driver's eye location, as datum, provides better forward visibility past the A-Pillar and more consistent relationships between driver, passengers and vehicle safety and content delivery systems, when compared to location off fixed pedals at the firewall.", "[0009] Collateral benefits of the eye datum include large section B-Pillars, dual diagonal cooling circuits that apply full cooling power as the sun clocks, and a smooth transition to self-driving operation.", "[0010] Additional characteristics of a high occupancy vehicle include the ability to complete errands when commuting as a passenger.", "[0011] When people leave the house in the morning, they are often expected to come home having done more than just a day's work.", "Errand completion may be expected on the remote end of the day's trip.", "Recall that shopping consumes half as much energy as the workday commute.", "Energy will be saved if the long leg of shopping and commuting trips is combined.", "[0012] The high occupancy vehicle discussed helps combine work trips and shopping trips in two ways since it has externally accessible lockers for each commuting passenger: 1) A delivery person treating the parked vehicle as a drop off destination can open these lockers, and 2) The lockers can also be used when the car is fully autonomous.", "The car can run errands while the commuting passengers work.", "An automotive sensor scan of a bar code from an Internet order lets the car know which locker door to open at GPS confirmed pick up points.", "Note: Using event windows, GPS and digital signatures to control vehicle access makes the vehicle more useful for everyone.", "[0013] Having the car pick up objects during off peak traffic, while passengers are working, is consistent with our goal of reducing energy consumption.", "The doors to external lockers open on sensor scan.", "[0014] Clearly what is needed in the art is a vehicle with low aerodynamic drag, peer seating where all occupants have equal status, good visibility and a smooth transition to the benefits of self-driving operation.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION [0015] A vehicle with rear doors that coordinate with a narrow wake shape and rotate visually concentric with the rear axle and move largely in envelope with sensors warning of interference with obstructions during travel.", "[0016] A vehicle that uses an eye datum to locate all drivers with a command view of both pedestrians and the road in front of the vehicle.", "By setting all driver's eyes at an identical location the need for other adjustments is eliminated: rear view mirrors can be fixed in position, as can head up display settings, air bag locations and window controls.", "Additionally the fixed eye location allows the use of split A-Pillars for additional forward view, as view direction is known, and bulky B-Pillars that contain air-conditioning and air bags, as the front seat never has to slide back past the B-Pillar.", "The seat cushion and pedals slide forward and backward to accommodate different driver heights and leg lengths.", "[0017] A vehicle with two air-conditioning circuits, each of 4 passengers assigned a dedicated evaporator coil arranged in diagonal such that whether the sun is shining from the left, the front or the right each of the two circuits will only have one major load.", "[0018] A vehicle with a set of externally accessible compartments, or lockers, one or more corresponding to an individual rider.", "These lockers can be opened with a geospatial coordinates, bar code scans, radio signatures, software encoded data streams alone or in combination.", "Compartments may additionally be accessible from inside the vehicle for privacy or weather protection purposes.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0019] FIG. 1 is a drawing showing the variation in blind spots based on two different seating positions that occur when the driver's feet are anchored to the firewall.", "[0020] FIG. 2 a is a drawing showing how pedals and seat cushion move to accommodate a standard position for the driver's eyes.", "FIG. 2 b also shows how the eye datum, by limited the rearward travel of the front seat protects the space of the rear passengers, protects space to accommodate air conditioning in the B-Pillars, buts all the people on the front seat on equal fore and aft position—one is not in front of the other.", "The dual diagonal nature of the air conditioning is also illustrated in FIG. 2 b. [0021] FIG. 3 is a logic flow diagram showing one logical sequence to fix the position of the driver's eyes independent of physical stature.", "[0022] FIG. 4 is a drawing showing one possible location of externally accessible locker doors.", "[0023] FIG. 5 is a drawing showing the rotating rear door fully opened and partially opened.", "DETAILED DESCRIPTION [0024] The embodiments described herein provide aspects of a high occupancy vehicle for workday commutes.", "The vehicle has a mechanism for locating the eyes of all drivers at an identical position thus assuring good a uniform view of the environment inside and outside the vehicle.", "[0025] FIG. 1 is atop view of the visual environment 100 in front of a vehicle.", "There are two driver positions: 101 for a shorter driver and 102 for a taller driver.", "Each is located by leg length off the pedals at the firewall 103 .", "The hood of the vehicle 104 occupies a fraction of the distance 105 between the firewall and the pedestrians 106 , 107 , 108 , 109 .", "The A-Pillar 110 obscures the driver's view of pedestrians.", "The blind spot for a tall person 111 obscures one pedestrian 109 .", "The blind spot for a shorter person 112 is much larger, obscuring three pedestrians 106 , 107 , and 108 .", "This figure illustrates one set of problems with locating driver's eyes based on leg length off pedals at the firewall.", "Other include airbag force and timing as well as the need to provide adjustment to head up displays and rear view mirrors to accommodate different driver head positions.", "[0026] FIG. 2 a is a top view of a vehicle 200 that uses an eye datum 201 enabled by a moving pedal assembly 202 to maintain the driver seat 203 positioned always the same distance away from the vehicle structure including the A-Pillar 204 , referenced as 110 in FIG. 100 .", "Front passenger seats 205 and optionally 206 are in a peer arrangement, one not in front of or behind the other, with the driver's seat 203 without regard to how tall or short the driver is.", "Rear seats 207 and 208 have protected leg room as the fixed eye position of the front seats 203 , 205 and 206 limits rearward travel of those seats.", "[0027] Adjustments are made in the driver's seat 203 by first setting the cushion 209 height so that drivers of all sizes can see over the hood 210 , and adjusting the pedal assembly 202 to obtain a safe pressure on the pedals 211 .", "The seat cushion 209 can then be adjusted forward and upwards along an arc centered at the driver's eyes to obtain a desired degree of recline without lowering the driver's eyes.", "Pedal assembly 202 can move automatically using force feedback or an estimate of lower leg length, or manually, to maintain the capability for safe pedal pressure.", "In automatic driving mode the pedals can move out of the way for more driver comfort.", "[0028] FIG. 2 b shows the elements of two independent air-conditioning circuits.", "The condenser 250 , compressor 251 , driver evaporator 252 and diagonal rear passenger evaporator 253 are connected as one system using loops 254 and 255 in a manner similar to modern refrigerators that use a single compressor to control two separate cooling loops, one for the refrigerator and one for the freezer.", "The condenser 260 , compressor 261 , front passenger evaporator 262 and diagonal rear passenger evaporator 263 are connected as one system using loops 264 and 265 in a similar manner.", "[0029] The arrangement loads each compressor condenser combination with a single evaporator cooling load as the solar load, shown as the suns 270 , 271 and 272 , clocks from the passenger side to the front or to the left.", "This arrangement assures that each passenger has direct and effective control of their environment.", "[0030] The eye datum 201 allows for large section B-Pillars 280 and 281 that enhance safety while accommodating large effective cooling elements 253 and 263 .", "[0031] FIG. 3 shows the sensor and software logic required to automatically position drivers of any stature with their eyes in an identical position.", "This order is one of many possible orders.", "Steps can be manual or automatic.", "[0032] FIG. 4 is a top view of the high occupancy vehicle.", "Representative externally accessible lockers 401 and 402 assigned to passengers.", "These and similar doors allow the vehicle to become a drop off destination while parked at work, and an autonomous item pick up vehicle that can run errands during the day.", "Doors can be unlocked by a variety of methods including location, bar code scan using on vehicle camera, radio frequency encoding, much like a garage door opener or any combination of know locking mechanisms—biometric, the list is too ling for inclusion here.", "[0033] Head up display projectors for each of four seating positions are shown as 403 , 404 , 405 and 406 .", "[0034] Aerodynamic features that help define the scale of the turbulence at the trailing edge of the doors are shown as 407 and 408 .", "These set the scale of turbulence in the wake by use of variable cavity depth or variable shear layer support length, or a combination of the two.", "Benefits are that the wake closing features can be formed from the trailing edge of a sheet of glass 409 410 for a smooth low maintenance aerodynamic device.", "[0035] FIG. 5 is a drawing showing the rotating rear door fully opened and partially opened.", "501 is the door slightly open with no interference with any body parts.", "502 is the door fully open in a side view.", "The top view shows the door fully open with 503 showing how the door coordinates with the narrow wake of the vehicle.", "A weather protected footstep 504 is exposed when the door is opened.", "The closing door motion which is orthogonal to the pressure forces allows for tooling post positioning of the door at 505 , 506 and 507 .", "This should reduce wind noise as aerodynamic pressure forces will not appreciably change the compression of the door seals.", "508 shows the tip of the door in the position to be checked with a camera before the door is allowed to fully open.", "509 is one possible position for that camera." ]

[ "This is a divisional of co-pending application Ser.", "No. 711,789 filed on Mar. 14, 1985, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,626,184.", "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to absorbent structures including an impervious backing sheet, a liquid-permeable facing sheet and a batt disposed therebetween.", "More specifically, the invention relates to a contoured batt, and a method and apparatus for contouring the batt.", "Batts for absorbent structures are often manufactured by air-forming a fibrous web on a continuous moving foraminous wire or screen.", "A fluff forming chamber deposits fibers onto a first surface of the screen or onto a pervious web, such as tissue, carried on this surface of the screen.", "A vacuum box beneath an opposing surface of the screen creates a pressure drop between the forming chamber and the screen, thereby facilitating the accumulation of fibers on the screen.", "A scarfing roll can be positioned downstream from the forming chamber to rake or scarf the fibrous web such that a substantially uniform surface is obtained by removing excess or unwanted fibers.", "In some applications, it is desirable that batts formed in this manner be contoured such that they are thicker in some portions than in others.", "For example, it might be desirable to form the batts such that they are thicker in their central portions than in their marginal portions.", "One method of forming contoured batts is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,975,222 to Mesek.", "According to this method, a transverse contour is provided by superimposing a narrower strip of compacted fibers upon a wider strip, and a longitudinal contour is provided by varying the rate of feed of the strips.", "However, this method is not without drawbacks, for example because the use of two sources of fibers and the variation of the feed rate can diminish the efficiency of the process.", "SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention is directed to an improved scarfing method, apparatus and product made therefrom.", "According to a first aspect of the invention, an improvement is provided to the batt portion of an absorbent structure.", "The absorbent structure includes an impervious backing sheet, a liquid-permeable facing sheet and a batt disposed between the backing and facing sheets.", "The improvement to the batt comprises an integrally formed, longitudinally and transversely contoured scarfed surface.", "According to a second aspect of the invention, a method is provided for making a batt from a moving fibrous web having opposing surfaces.", "According to this method, a scarfing roll is provided for scarfing the web.", "The scarfing roll is positioned adjacent to a first surface of the web and rotated to form a transverse contour in the web by scarfing the first surface of the web.", "A contouring roll is provided, having a nonuniform circumferential surface disposed about a longitudinal axis.", "The contouring roll is positioned in communication with an opposing surface of the web, such that at least one portion of the circumferential surface of the scarfing roll will move the opposing surface of the web with respect to the axis of the scarfing roll if the scarfing roll is fully rotated about that axis.", "The contouring roll is rotated, such that each batt formed is contoured in the direction of movement of the web.", "According to a third aspect of the invention, an improved apparatus is provided for making a batt from a moving fibrous web.", "The apparatus comprising a fibrous web carried on a moving belt, and a scarfing roll positioned above the web.", "The improvement comprises a contouring roll, having a nonuniform surface disposed aobut a longitudinal axis, positioned in communication with the belt.", "An important object of this invention is to provide a method for longitudinally and transversely contouring a batt without the necessity of varying the speed of the belt carrying the fibrous web.", "Another object of the invention is to provide a method for longitudinally and transversely contouring the batt without the requirement of varying the fiber feed rate into the forming chamber.", "Still a further object of the invention is to provide a scarfing system that offers more precise bulk control than a system wherein the fiber feed rate is varied.", "Further objects and attendant advantages of the invention will be best understood upon reading the following detailed description in connection with the drawings.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the formation of a batt for a preferred embodiment of the present invention.", "FIG. 2 is a partial longitudinal cross-sectional view taken along line 2--2 of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a transverse cross-sectional view taken along line 3--3 of FIG. 2. FIG. 4 is a transverse cross-sectional view similar to that of FIG. 3, but with the contouring roll rotated about its axis.", "DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Turning now to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows a moving fibrous web 10 being scarfed by a scarfing roll 20 and being contoured by a contouring roll 30.", "The fibrous web 10 is disposed upon a foraminous belt 12 which is in turn disposed over a vacuum box 14.", "The web 10 is formed by the dispensation of cellulosic fibers from a fluff forming chamber 40.", "If desired, a tissue liner 16 can be provided under the fibrous web 10 between the web 10 and the belt 12 as shown in FIG. 2. The fibrous web 10 is formed by randomly distributing loose fiber 11, conveyed by air, onto the belt 12 or the tissue liner 16.", "A first or upper side 13 of the belt 12 or tissue liner 16 receives the fiber, while an opposing second or lower side 15 of the belt 12 is abutted in the forming area by the vacuum box 14, which causes a pressure drop in the air across the belt 12 and facilitates accumulation of fiber onto the moving fibrous web 10.", "The scarfing roll 20 rotates against the moving fibrous web 10 at an upper or first surface 17 of the web 10.", "For the purposes of this disclosure, the terms "upper"", "and "lower"", "are used for convenience, but are meant to be taken generically in the sense of a "first"", "and "second"", "side respectively.", "The scarfing roll 20 is provided with a plurality of scarfing teeth 22 for scarfing the upper surface 17 of the web 10.", "In the preferred embodiment, the teeth 22 are arranged to form an arched scarfing surface 26.", "The contouring roll 30 is disposed on the lower side 15 of the belt 12, preferably directly adjacent to the vacuum box 14.", "The contouring roll 30 comprises a nonuniform circumferential surface 32 disposed about a longitudinal axis 34.", "In the preferred embodiment, the nonuniform circumferential surface includes a bowed surface 36 and a flattened surface 38.", "The contouring roll 30 rotates about the longitudinal axis 34 such that during at least a part of the rotation, the circumferential surface 32 abuts the lower side 15 of the belt 12, causing it to move in a direction away from the longitudinal axis 34.", "Thus, a lower surface 18 (opposite the upper surface 17) of the moving fibrous web 10 is brought into closer proximity with the plurality of scarfing teeth 22 of the scarfing roll 20.", "In this manner, a longitudinal contour is provided in the moving fibrous web 10.", "FIGS. 3 and 4 show the contouring roll 30 in different positions of rotation about its longitudinal axis 34.", "In FIG. 3, the bowed surface 36 of the contouring roll 30 is abutting the lower side 15 of the belt 12, thereby causing the moving fibrous web 10 to rise in the region of the scarfing roll such that the longitudinal contour is decreased.", "In contrast, in FIG. 4 the contouring roll 30 is exposing the flattened surface 38 against the lower side 15 of the belt 12.", "Accordingly, the upper surface 17 of the moving fibrous web 10, scarfed by the scarfing roll 20, is disposed at a greater distance from the lower surface 18 of the fibrous web 10, such that a thicker longitudinal contour is formed.", "As can be ascertained from the Figures, it is presently preferred that the resultant batt be contoured such that it is thickest in its central portions relative to its marginal portions.", "Two other aspects of the preferred embodiment are best seen in FIG. 2. Specifically, the scarfing roll 20 sends the excess fluff fibers through a recycling chute 24 which in turn passes the fluff back to the forming chamber 40.", "Additionally, a knife 52 and anvil 54 are placed downstream the scarfing roll 20 and contouring roll 30 respectively, to separate the batts formed by the scarfing/contouring operation.", "It is preferred that the contouring roll 30 be timed to rotate once per batt formed, although in certain applications it will be appropriate to provide a repeating pattern on the nonuniform circumferential surface 32 and form a plurality of batts in a single revolution of the roll 30.", "Accordingly, the rotation of the contouring roll 30 and the knife 52 is preferably synchronized by a conventional timing mechanism 60.", "The following parameters for the apparatus and method of the present invention are given by way of illustration, and not limitation, to show the possibilities contemplated by the inventor for the operation of the present invention.", "The scarfing roll 20 is preferably a contoured roll in which the scarfing teeth 22 define the arched scarfing surface 26.", "At its largest transverse crosssectional area, the scarfing roll has a diameter preferably in the range of from about 5 inches to about 7 inches, and at its smallest transverse cross-sectional area, the scarfing roll has a diameter preferably in the range of from about 31/2 inches to about 51/2 inches.", "It is presently most preferred that the arched scarfing surface 26 will be sized and contoured such that its greatest transverse cross-sectional radius will be about 31/2 inches, and its least transverse cross-sectional radius will be about 21/2 inches.", "The scarfing roll 20 is generally in contact with and forms the upper surface 17 of the web 10, but may be positioned such that during a part of the cycle of the contouring roll there is no contact with the web 10.", "By way of example, the scarfing roll 20 may be positioned at a height of about 1/4 inch from the upper side 13 of the belt 12, as measured from the largest diameter of the scarfing roll 20 to the upper side 13 of the belt 12, to form batts with an average basis weight in the range of from about 0.05 to about 0.08 gm/cm 2 .", "The scarfing roll 20 will generally be a high-speed rotating member, preferably rotating at a peripheral speed, or at a relative velocity between the web 10 and the scarfing surface 26, in the range of about 50 to about 60 fps, and most preferably about 55 fps.", "Under such conditions, it is presently preferred that the belt speed not exceed about 15 fps, and that the scarfing roll be rotated at a rate in the range of from about 5 to about 20 times per rotation of the contouring roll.", "The teeth 22 of the scarfing roll 20 can be formed, for example, from a series of concentric metal discs defining pointed spokes and mounted upon a central shaft.", "It is contemplated that the discs at the center of the roll will generally define a smaller diameter than those at the marginal edges thereof, such that the basis weight of the scarfed batt will be greater at its central portions than at its marginal portions.", "Alternatively, the core of the roll 20 can itself be contoured, as shown in FIG. 1, and the teeth can be bristle-like members adhered thereto in a manner known in the art, such as by pressing into or through the core.", "It is presently preferred that the scarfing teeth 22 be distributed at an average density of at least about eight teeth per square inch, and no more than about 30 teeth per square inch.", "Typically, this tooth denisty would be about 12 teeth per square inch.", "The contouring roll 30 should generally be cylindrically shaped, with one or more areas of smoothly increased radius, and positioned beneath the web 10, such that the web 10 is contoured by the contouring roll 30 in the direction of motion of the web 10.", "The contouring roll 30 may be positioned such that during a part of its rotation there is no contact with the web 10 or the belt 12.", "It is presently preferred that the contouring roll has a diameter in the range of from about 5 to about 10 inches.", "The contouring roll 30 will generally rotate at the rate of one revolution per batt formed.", "Thus, when a knife 52 and anvil 54 arrangement is provided as shown by means of example in FIG. 2, a mechanical linkage 60 (such as gears, shafts and/or sprockets and chains or belts), synchronizes the rotation of the knife 52, the anvil 54 and the contouring roll 30.", "A typical phase adjusting mechanism normally would be included in the mechanical linkage.", "An example of such a mechanism is differential gearing, which can be purchased in packaged units from Fairchild Industrial Products Co. of Winston, Salem, N.C. Alternatively, it might be desired to rotate the contouring roll 30 a greater or lesser number of times per batt formed, depending on the specific application.", "For example, if very small batts are to be formed, it might be desirable to provide the contouring roll 30 with a nonuniform circumferential surface 32 having a repeating pattern of bowed surfaces 36 and flattened surfaces 38.", "Accordingly, a single revolution of the contouring roll 30 could be utilized to contour a plurality of batts 11.", "As yet another alternative, in some applications it might be desirable to form a repeating contour on a single batt, in which case the contouring roll could be operated to rotate at a rate of more than one revolution per batt formed.", "It will be understood that many changes can be made to the details and parameters set forth in the foregoing detailed description of the preferred embodiments, without departing from the intended spirit of the invention.", "Thus, it is the following claims, and all equivalents thereof, that are intended to define the scope of this invention." ]

[ "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a fuel injection device for use with a diesel engine, and more particularly to a fuel supply control device for use with a fuel injection pump of the diesel engine.", "Conventional fuel injection pumps control the amount of fuel injected into the engine as a function of engine load.", "Characteristic of such pumps are;", "relatively high initial fuel injection rates, causing production of NO x -rich exhaust gas at high noise levels.", "SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a fuel supply control device for use with a fuel injection pump to reduce NO x component in exhaust gas as well as noise by using a reduced initial fuel injection rate for a relatively large part of the piston stroke.", "A fuel supply control device, for use with a fuel injection pump of a diesel engine, according to this invention serves to reduce the initial fuel injection rate from the pump when the initial fuel injection rate is relatively large and then recovers the injection rate later in the piston stroke, thereby reducing the NO x component in exhaust gas, and noise.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Other objects, features, and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which the same reference numerals designate corresponding elements or parts throughout the drawings and in which: FIG. 1 is a diagramatic view showing a fuel supply system in which a fuel supply control device according to this invention is incorporated;", "FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the fuel injection pump used in the system of FIG. 1;", "FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the preferred embodiment of the fuel supply control device according to this invention;", "FIG. 4 shows a part of a modification of the device of FIG. 3 in cross-section;", "FIG. 5 is a view, similar to FIG. 4, of a part of a second modification of the device of FIG. 3;", "FIG. 6 is a modification of the invention including integral formation of a fuel supply control device and an injector;", "FIG. 7 is a graph showing the injection rate characteristics of the system of FIG. 1 with the fuel supply control device removed;", "and FIG. 8 is a graph, similar to FIG. 7, of the system of FIG. 1 incorporating the fuel supply control device according to this invention being provided.", "DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In FIG. 1, there is shown a fuel supply system, generally designated by reference numeral 10, in which a fuel supply control device according to this invention is incorporated.", "Fuel is fed at a constant flow rate from a fuel tank 12 by an electromagnetic fuel pump 14 through a pipe 16 to a fuel filter 18 and thence through a pipe 20 to a fuel injection pump 22 of well-known design which acts to control the amount of fuel supplied through a pipe 24 to one of plural fuel supply control devices 26 according to this invention, in such a manner that the amount of fuel fed from pump 22 increases with engine load.", "Injection pump 22 has a relatively large initial injection rate.", "Fuel from control device 26, which will be described hereinafter in more detail, is fed through a pipe 28 to an injector 30 from which fuel is injected into the diesel engine (not shown).", "Combustion occurs when pressure of fuel from control device 26 increases beyond a predetermined value to operate injector 30.", "The remaining fuel not used by injector 30 returns through pipes 32 and 34 to tank 12.", "Remaining fuel not used by fuel injection pump 22 also returns to tank through filter 18, a pipe 36 and pipe 34.", "FIG. 2 is a detailed illustration of fuel injection pump 22.", "A pump housing 201 is provided with a fuel inlet 202 which introduces fuel from pipe 20 to a fuel passageway 203.", "A pre-compressor vane pump 204 is driven by a drive shaft 205 which in turn is driven by the engine crankshaft (not shown).", "A regulating valve 202a regulates pressure of fuel fed from pump 204 to a chamber 216.", "Drive shaft 205 has a gear 206 attached thereto.", "A cam disc 207 is mounted for axially sliding movement relative to shaft 205 and is rotatable together with gear 206.", "Cam disc 207 regulates the phases of the fuel injection timing.", "Toward this end, the flange surface of cam disc 207 has the same number of symmetrically-arranged cams 208 as the engine has cylinders (not shown).", "The cam surfaces can be brought into contact with rollers 209 rotatably supported within a cylindrical member 210.", "The member 210 is supported coaxially with drive shaft 205 and rotates about the shaft axis relative to cam disc 207 by an angle corresponding to the pressure of fuel within the housing by way of a connecting rod 211 of a timing device 212 of well-known design.", "A plunger 213 is secured at one end to cam disc 207 and its free end is axially-movably received in a cylinder 214.", "A fuel inlet passageway 215 conducts fuel from chamber 216 to an intake port 217 provided in cylinder 214.", "The plunger 213 is provided with the same number of grooves 218 as the engine has cylinders and each groove is sequentially communicable with inlet port 217 as the plunger rotates.", "Plunger 213 is also provided with an axially-extending fuel delivery passage 219 formed therewithin which communicates through grooves 218 with a high-pressure chamber 220 formed by cylinder 214 and the plunger.", "A distributor port 221 is formed in the outer surface of plunger 213, and communicates with fuel delivery passageway 219.", "The distributor port 221 can sequentially align with each of the same number of output passages 222 as the engine has cylinders.", "Each output passage 222 communicates through the corresponding cutoff valve 223 and outlet 224 to the corresponding fuel supply control device 26.", "Cut-off valves 223 prevent output of fuel at pressures that are not significantly greater than the pressure within housing 216.", "Thus, when a cut-off port 224 provided in plunger 213 slides out of a control sleeve 226, fuel pressure in the plunger decreases so that no fuel is delivered through the cut-off valve 223.", "This control sleeve 226 is operated by movement of the accelerator (not shown) transmitted through a lever 227, a spring 228, and a link mechanism 229: when the accelerator is depressed, i.e. when the spring 228 is pulled to the left, the link mechanism 229 rotate counterclockwise about a pivot 230, thereby blocking the cut-off port 225 with the control sleeve 226, thereby increasing the fuel pressure at the distributor port 221 and therefore increasing the amount of fuel supplied to any of the control devices 26.", "A centrifugal governor 231 is provided on a governor shaft 232.", "When the pump speed increases, the rotational speed of the drive gear 206 connected to shaft 205 increases, which causes the rotational speed of a gear 233 meshing with the gear 206.", "As the vanes of the governor 231 swing out, a sleeve 234 fitted slidably over the shaft 232 slides to the right in FIG. 2, thereby turning the link mechanism 229 clockwise about pivot 230 which opens cutoff port 225.", "This reduces the supply of fuel to device 26, thereby maintaining the rotational speed of the engine, and therefore feed pump 204, at a substantially constant value.", "In FIG. 2, in order to show the lines of the vane pump 204 shown in solid lines in the side view, the cross-section of the vane pump 204 is shown at 204'", "rotated through 90 degrees.", "Similarly, to simplify matters, the starter timer 212 is shown rotated through 90 degrees.", "Fuel entering the fuel injection pump 22 is precompressed by vane pump 204 and is then fed through chamber 216 and passage 215 to intake port 217.", "Plunger 213 is rotated by shaft 205 and is reciprocated by cam disc 207, and fuel enters high pressure chamber 220 through intake groove 218 when one of the grooves aligns with inlet port 217.", "In high-pressure chamber 220, the fuel is compressed by the action of cam disc 207 and therefore plunger 213, and fed to distributor port 221.", "Fuel is then forced under pressure by way of one of output passages 222 aligning with port 221 and corresponding delivery valve 223, through outlet 224 to control valve 26 (in FIG. 1).", "However, in this injection pump, since cam disc 207 and plunger 213 are designed to have a predetermined profile, it is impossible to alter the profile of the cam disc and the plunger shape according to changes in the engine's operating conditions, in order to satisfy the injection requirements at low engine loads as well as at high loads.", "Thus the injection quantity is normally set on the high side, so that if this type of mechanism were used by being directly connected to injector 30, the fuel injection rate (quantity of fuel injected/period of injection) would be too large at the beginning of the piston stroke.", "The fuel injection rate at the start of the injection would rise abruptly, the quantity of NO x exhaust gases would be large, and noise levels would also be high--all of which, however, can be rectified by provision of the fuel supply control device 26 according to this invention.", "FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the preferred embodiment of the fuel supply conrol device 26.", "Device 26 may take the form of a switching valve having a fuel passageway 261 formed generally transversely to a bore 262.", "Passageway 21 communicates through a fuel inlet 263 by way of pipe 24 with pump 22.", "At either end of bore 262, stops 264 and 264a are formed.", "Stops 264, 264a also serve as oil seals at either end of the bore.", "A piston 265 reciprocates in the bore 262 between oilseals 264, 264a.", "Fuel passageways 266a and 266b of pre-determined cross-sectional area are formed through piston 265, and when either passage is aligned with the fuel passageway 261, fuel is supplied to injector 30 through fuel output 263a and pipe 28.", "Chambers 267a and 267b are formed between each of stops 264 and 264a and piston 265.", "Chamber 267a is supplied with fuel under pressure by an actuation passage 268 communicating with passage 261.", "Chamber 267b is supplied with substantially constant reference pressure such as fuel under pressure from pump chamber 216 through a passage 269.", "In FIG. 3, pressure actuation chamber 267a and chamber 267b contain springs 270a and 270b respectively.", "Spring 270b is stronger than spring 270a to the degree that when fuel pressure in chamber 267a is at its lowest value, passageways 261 and 266a are aligned.", "In operation, the fuel pressure begins to rise due to working of the fuel pump 22 (in FIG. 1), and the pressure within pump chamber 216 rises with the passage of fuel through actuation passageway 268.", "In this manner, a pressure difference is gradually created between fuel pressure actuation chamber 267a and base-pressure chamber 267b, and piston 265 moves downward against the resistance of spring 270b.", "As a result, the area of coincidence of the fuel passageways 261 and 266a is decreased, but shortly after fuel starts being injected from injector 30, the connection between fuel passageways 261 and 266a is broken.", "The fuel passageways 261 and 266a are isolated from one another, but as plunger 213 continues its compression stroke, the fuel pressure in fuel passageway 261 and, hence, the fuel pressure actuation chamber 267a, increases.", "Eventually, the fuel passageway 266a is brought into alignment with fuel passageway 261, and fuel injection from injector 30 is immediately recommenced.", "In the decompression stroke of plunger 213, cut-off port 225 opens to chamber 216, and therefore, at this time the fuel pressure difference between fuel pressure actuation chamber 267a and base pressure chamber 267b equalizes and piston 265 is moved upwards in response to the spring constants and lengths of springs 270a, 270b The function of stops 264a and 264b is to determine the limiting positions of piston 265 and therefore the fuel passageways 266a and 266b.", "FIG. 4 shows a modification of the present invention, showing a cutoff shaft 273 or piston provided within a bore 271 intersecting actuation passageway 268 similar to the one of FIG. 3 in order to suspend the function of control device 26 according to the state of the engine operation.", "The remaining structure of the device is the same as that of the device of FIG. 3. When the engine is lightly loaded at a low speed, an electromagnetic valve (not shown) switches off to lift cutoff shaft 273, and actuation passageway 268 then communicates with the fuel pressure actuation chamber 267a (FIG.", "3) by passageway 272, causing a two-stage fuel injection similar to the injection described in the structure of FIG. 3. During all other engine operating conditions the electromagnetic valve is then switched on, lowering cutoff shaft 273;", "fuel passageway 268 is thus closed so that fuel cannot enter fuel pressure actuation chamber 267a, causing fuel to flow unhindered through control device 26 to injector 30.", "In FIG. 4, a passageway 273a communicates with pump chamber 216 of FIG. 2, and a stop 274 installed on the bottom of bore 271 is provided with a spring 274a biasing cutoff shaft 273 upwards.", "Reference pressure such as fuel pressure on the intake side of pump 26 or atmospheric pressure is admitted to the space below piston 273 through a passageway 269a.", "In FIG. 5, a modification of the piston shown in FIG. 3 is illustrated.", "In this modification, fuel passageways 266a and 266b are formed as annular grooves in the outer surface of piston 265 so that they can each communicate with fuel passageway 261.", "In FIG. 6, a further modification of the present invention includes integral formation of a fuel supply control device 26 and an injector 30.", "Control device 26 includes a bore 280 in which is movably disposed a piston 281 which is normally urged by a biasing means 282 to the right in FIG. 6 against an inlet 283 of the control device.", "The control device includes two branch passageways 284a and 284b in its body, both communicating with the inlet 283 through a passageway 285.", "Branch passageway 284a communicates through an annular groove 286a provided on piston 281 with a passageway 287a provided in device 26, whereas branch 284b is normally blocked by piston land 281b so that it cannot communicate with a passage 287b provided in the device.", "If piston 281 moves to the left passage 284a is at first blocked by piston land 281a and then branches 284a, 284b are simultaneously connected through annular grooves 286b and 286b with passageways 287a, 287b, respectively.", "Injector 30 includes an upper part 301 integral with the device 26 and an intermediate member 302 cooperating to form a cavity 303 which communicates with atmosphere through a passage 304 provided in the body through bore 280.", "Disposed in the cavity 303 is a seat 305 which is normally biased downward by a spring 306 disposed between the upper end of the cavity and the seat member.", "Seat member 305 has a rod 307 screwed thereinto that extends movably through a bore 308 within intermediate member 302.", "A lower;", "member 309 includes a bore 309a in which a needle valve 310 is vertically movably received.", "The needle valve is securely connected to the lower end of the rod 307 and has a tapered portion 311 ending in a needle 312 which protrudes through a nozzle 313 in lower member 309.", "A groove 312a is formed on the needle 312.", "The upper part 301, the intermediate member 302, and the lower member 309 have the passageways 287a, 287b;", "315a, 315b;", "and 316a, 316b.", "respectively, extending therethrough.", "The passageways 287a, 315a, and 316a form a fuel passageway leading to the cavity 314 and the passageways 287b, 315b and 316b forms another fuel passageway leading to the cavity 314.", "The upper part 301, the intermediate member 302, and the lower member 309 are sealingly held together, in the serial order mentioned and arranged so that the fuel passageways mentioned above are aligned as described, by a jacket 317 in the form of a radially-symmetrical shell.", "One end of the jacket 317 is threaded on the inside to match threads provided on the lower portion of the upper part 301.", "The other end has a flange 319 which serves to restrain a shoulder 309b formed on the lower member 309.", "During initial injection, fuel entering inlet 283 from passageway 24 (FIG.", "1) flows through passageway 285, branch passageway 284a, and groove 286a.", "As pressure of fuel increases, piston 281 moves to left against return spring 282.", "Communication between branch passageway 284a and passageway 287a is then blocked by land 281a so that fuel pressure at inlet 283 abruptly increases.", "Thus, at the moment when passages 284a and 284b communicate with passages 287a and 287b, a large amount of fuel is forced through the pair of passageways constituted by the passageways 287a, 315a, 316a and 287b, 315b, 316b, so that needle valve 310 is lifted, thereby causing fuel to be injected through nozzle 313 outward into the engine cylinder.", "FIGS. 7 and 8 show the injection patterns of the system without and with device 26, respectively.", "While this invention has been described and shown with respect to a preferred embodiment and modifications thereof, various changes and modifications thereof could be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention." ]

[ "BACKGROUND AND PRIOR ART Ceiling fans primarily have blades that are attached to the motor housing brackets by multiple screws and the like.", "Screwing the blades onto a ceiling mounted motor is not only difficult to accomplish, but results in most ceiling fans in the market place having visible screws that are unsightly.", "Furthermore, the underside location of the fastener screws detract from the appearance of the ceiling fan itself.", "Another problem is from the ceiling fans having to run under continuous vibration conditions where the screws can loosen causing the blades to be accidentally released and result in damages to surrounding property and people in the vicinity.", "Furthermore, ceiling fan blades need to be cleaned to remove dirt and dust buildup.", "Current techniques have relied on manually holding brushes to the blades themselves which inherently tires the muscles in the cleaner's neck, shoulders, arms and hands.", "This messy cleaning with brushes causes the dirt to fall on both the cleaner and furniture and flooring below the fan.", "Attempts have been made at changing the attachment methods for the blades but still fail to overcome all the problems presented above.", "U.S. Pat. No. 4,884,947 to Rezek describes a cover for covering the blade to motor connections but still uses screw fasteners that have the problems described above.", "U.S. Pat. No. 5,180,284 to Monrose III et al.", "is entitled a "Detachable Blades for Ceiling Fans"", "and U.S. Pat. No. 5,433,585 to Yan has a removable pin connection for ceiling fan blades, but each of these patents still requires screw on brackets for both the motor housing and the blades.", "Similarly U.S. Pat. No. 4,396,352 to Pearce and U.S. Pat. No. 5,520,515 to Bailey et al.", "describe pitch adjustment attachments for ceiling fans but also still require screw on brackets between both the motor housing and the attached blades.", "A still further problem of many of these detachable ceiling fan type blades is that natural centrifugal forces of the spinning fans increase the chances of dislodging the blades.", "Thus, the need exists for a solution to the above presented problems with the prior art.", "SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The first objective of the present invention is to provide detachable blades for ceiling fans that are easy and quick to install.", "The second object of this invention is to provide detachable blades for ceiling fans that allow each blade to be locked in place to the motor housing.", "The third object of this invention is to provide detachable blades for ceiling fans that are adaptable to standard ceiling fan blades.", "The fourth object of this invention is to provide detachable blades for ceiling fans wherein the centrifugal force of the fans actually locks the blades in place.", "A first embodiment of the detachable blade and mounting arm assembly for a ceiling fan includes a blade having a three triangularly arranged keyhole slots at one end, and a ceiling fan motor connected mounting arm having an opposite end with three flat top shaped fasteners so that the keyholes are positioned over the the flat top shaped fasteners and locked by the longitudinal slot portions of the keyhole slots, after which a spring clip holds the position of the blade to the mounting arm.", "Optionally, a gasket can be inserted between the blade and the mounting arm.", "A second embodiment is similar to the first but includes a decorative cap cover with an upward projecting fastener having expandable tips for being inserted within the keyhole slots of the blade and snappably attach into mating through-holes on the mounting arm.", "A third embodiment has a slot in the end of the ceiling fan mounting arm for receiving a protruding end of the blade, the protruding end having angled corner edges.", "Spring loaded pistons rods in the mounting arm which face one another can fit into mateable grooves in the protruding end of the blade.", "The rods can be manually moved back to release the blades by handles.", "A fourth embodiment has a single planar blade with an end having a slot.", "The mounting arm has an end with two parallel plates separated from one another by a central housing having back to back spring loaded piston rods.", "Passing the slotted end of the blade around the central housing so that the piston rods expand into grooves within the interior walls of the slot opening of the blade.", "Overhanging portions of the parallel plates further support the sides of the blade about the slot.", "Latch handles attached to the piston rods allow a user to manually move the piston rods against their respective springs to release the blade from the mounting arm.", "A fifth embodiment has a single planar blade with an end having a slot with grooved interior walls.", "The mounting arm has an end with a top plate having uneven sides separated from a substantially rectangular bottom plate by a central housing having a spring loaded piston rod.", "The slotted end of the blade is positioned over the top plate so that the sides of the slot can abut against the bottom plate.", "Pulling the blade away from the mounting arm causes the piston rod to expand into a groove within the interior wall of the slot opening of the blade.", "The grooves and overhanging portions of the top plate and bottom plate prevents centrifugal forces caused from spinning the blade to dislodge the blade.", "Overhanging portions of the top and bottom plates further support the sides of the blade about the slot.", "A latch handle attached to the piston rod allows a user to manually move the piston rod its spring to release the blade from the mounting arm.", "Further objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of a presently preferred embodiment which is illustrated schematically in the accompanying drawings.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES FIG. 1A is an exploded view of a first preferred embodiment of the novel attachable and detachable blade and arm.", "FIG. 1B is a side view of the embodiment of FIG. 1A with the blade and arm attached to one another.", "FIG. 1C is a bottom view of FIG. 1B along arrow A. FIG. 1D is an enlarged view of the spring lock attachment for the embodiment of FIG. 1A.", "FIG. 1E is an enlarged view of a flat head screw fastener for use with embodiment of FIG. 1A.", "FIG. 1F is a side cross-sectional view of FIG. 1B with an optional gasket.", "FIG. 1G is an exploded view of the optional gasket and mounting arm of FIG. 1F.", "FIG. 2A is an exploded view of a second preferred embodiment of the detachable blade and arm.", "FIG. 2B is a bottom view of the second preferred embodiment of FIG. 2A.", "FIG. 2C is a perspective view of the upper surface of the cover cap used in FIGS. 2A-2B.", "FIG. 2D is a cross-sectional view of an assembled FIG. 2A along the direction of arrow C3.", "FIG. 3A is a top exploded view of a third preferred embodiment of the detachable blade and arm.", "FIG. 3B is a side view of the mounting arm of FIG. 3A along arrow D2.", "FIG. 3C is a front view of the mounting arm of FIG. 3B along arrow D3.", "FIG. 3D is a top view of the mounting arm of FIG. 3A without a cover plate.", "FIG. 3E is a side view of the latching piston for use with the embodiment of FIGS. 3A-3D.", "FIG. 4A is an exploded view of a fourth preferred embodiment of the detachable blade and arm.", "FIG. 4B is a side view of the mounting arm of FIG. 4A along arrow E1.", "FIG. 4C is a front view of the mounting arm of FIG. 4B along arrow E2.", "FIG. 4D is a top view of the mounting arm assembly of FIGS. 4B-4C without a top plate cover.", "FIG. 4E is a side view of the latching piston for use with the embodiment of FIGS. 4A-4D FIG. 5A is an exploded view of a fifth preferred embodiment of the detachable blade and arm.", "FIG. 5B is a side view of the mounting arm of FIG. 5A along G1 and the blade positioned above.", "FIG. 5C is a front view of the mounting arm of FIG. 5B along arrow G2.", "FIG. 5D is a top view of the blade first positioned over the mounting arm.", "FIG. 5E is a top view of the blade and mounting arm of FIG. 5D after blade is pulled in the direction of arrow H2.", "DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Before explaining the disclosed embodiment of the present invention in detail it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of the particular arrangement shown since the invention is capable of other embodiments.", "Also, the terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.", "FIG. 1A is an exploded view of a first preferred embodiment 1 of the novel attachable and detachable blade 10 and mounting arm 40.", "FIG. 1B is a side view of the embodiment 1 of FIG. 1A with the blade 10 and arm 40 attached to one another.", "FIG. 1C is a bottom view of FIG. 1B along arrow A. FIG. 1D is an enlarged view of the spring lock attachment 50 for the embodiment of FIG. 1A.", "FIG. 1E is an enlarged view of a flat head screw fastener 22 for use with embodiment 1 of FIG. 1A.", "Referring to FIGS. 1A-1E, planar shaped ceiling fan blade 10 includes three keyhole slots arranged in a triangular pattern through the wide planar portion 11 of the blade 10.", "Each keyhole slot includes a wide diameter bases 12, 14, 16, and a narrow longitudinal portion 13, 15, 17, respectively.", "Mounting arm 40 includes a flat generally heart shaped blade mounting portion 41 having decorative ridged edge 44 across one end and a narrower region 45 connecting to a curved narrow connecting arm portion 46.", "Flat headed fasteners such as Philips head or regular head screws 22, 24, 26 have threads(only thread 23 is shown in FIG. 1E) which screwably attach to mateably threads within hollow stems 33, 35, 37, respectively.", "A spring clip 50 has an elongated metal steel strip base with one end 51 wrapped about stem 37 above raised step 57 and the other end 52 abuting against raised step 59.", "Spring bent tab 54 has a flat strip base 50 can be further attached to an upper portion of curved narrow connecting arm portion 46 by and adhesive.", "The other end of mounting arm 40 includes a curved ceiling fan motor mount 48 having through-holes 49 that enable fasteners such as screws(not shown) for mounting to a centrally located conventional ceiling fan motor 90(represented in FIG. 1C).", "Optionally, rubber washers/grommets can be used with stems 33, 35, 37 to provide vibration isolation and a closer fit between the wood and metal components.", "To be used, the wide diameter areas 12, 14, and 16 are positioned to fit down in the direction of arrow B1, over and about the flat headed fasteners 22, 24, and 26.", "Simultaneously, the bent tab 54 of the spring clip 50 protrudes through longitudinal key slot opening 17.", "Sliding and pulling the blade 10 outward in the direction of arrow B2, causes the bent tab 54 to depress in the direction of arrow B4.", "As tip 11 clears over, bent tab 54 pops up so that the bottom face of blade 10 abuts flush against upper surface 42 of blade mounting portion 41.", "The natural expansion of bent tab 54 of spring clip 50 keeps blade tip 11 pushed in the direction of arrow B2 allowing keyhole narrow longitudinal portions 13, 15, and 17, to surround stems 33, 35, and 37, respectively.", "By depressing bent tab 54 in the direction of arrow B4, blade 11 can be pushed in the direction of arrow B5 to allow the keyhole wide diameter areas 12, 14 and 16 to be able to pass about flat headed fasteners 22, 24, 26, thereby allowing the blade to be detached from the mounting arm 40.", "FIG. 1F is a side cross-sectional view of FIG. 1B with an optional gasket 60.", "FIG. 1G is an exploded view of the optional gasket 60 and mounting arm 40 of FIG. 1F.", "Referring to FIGS. 1F and 1G, a flat gasket formed of material such as but not limited to rubber and plastic can be shaped to conform to the perimeter shape of hear shaped blade mounting portion 41 allowing the blade 10 to be more tightly attached to mounting arm 40.", "FIG. 2A is an exploded view 100 of a second preferred embodiment of the detachable blade 110, mounting arm 140 and cover cap 160.", "FIG. 2B is a bottom view of the second preferred embodiment 100 of FIG. 2A.", "FIG. 2C is a perspective view of the upper surface 161 of the cover cap 160 used in FIGS. 2A-2B.", "FIG. 2D is a cross-sectional view of an assembled embodiment 100 of FIG. 2A along the direction of arrow C3.", "Referring to FIGS. 2A-2D, embodiment 100 includes planar shaped ceiling fan blade 110 having three keyhole slots arranged in a triangular pattern through the wide planar portion 111 of the blade 110.", "Each keyhole slot includes a wide diameter bases 113, 115, 117 and a narrow longitudinal portions 112, 114, 116, respectively.", "Mounting arm 140 includes a flat generally paddle shaped blade mounting portion 141 having an outer wider end 144 and a narrower region 145 connecting to a curved narrow connecting arm portion 146.", "Flat headed fasteners with stems(such as those described in the previous embodiment) 122, 124, 126 are arranged in a triangular pattern on the underside 142 of blade mounting portion 141.", "The other end of mounting arm 140 includes a curved ceiling fan motor mount 148 having through-holes 149 that enable fasteners such as screws(not shown) for mounting to a centrally located conventional ceiling fan(not shown).", "A cover cap 160 has a molded plastic base 161 with a decorated ridged end 168 and an opposite narrower tip end.", "Stud projections 162, 164 and 166 each being expandable and depressible with flattened tips, each having tapered bases 163, 165, 167 can be molded as part of the plastic base 161.", "In operation, each wide diameter bases wide diameter bases 113, 115, 117 of the keyhole slots in the blade 110 are moved in the direction of arrow C1 to overly respective flat head fasteners 122, 124 and 126 until blade 110 is flush to abut against surface 142.", "Then blade 110 is moved in the direction of arrow C3 until the stem portions of the respective flat head fasteners 122, 124 and 126 surround respective keyhole narrow longitudinal portions 112, 114, 116.", "Next cover cap 160 is moved in the direction of arrow C2 so that expandable stud projections 162, 164 and 166 pass through wide diameter openings 113, 115 and 117 and through narrower matching through-holes 132, 134 and 136 after which the angled heads of the stud projections expand to snappably lock the cover cap 160 and blade 110 to mounting arm 140.", "Individually squeezing each of the angled stud projection tips and reversing the assembling steps allows the blade 110 to be removed.", "FIG. 3A is a top exploded view 200 of a third preferred embodiment of the detachable blade 210 and mounting arm 240, 250.", "Components 246 and 248 conform to similar components of the preceding embodiments.", "FIG. 3B is a side view of the mounting arm 240, 250 of FIG. 3A along arrow D2.", "FIG. 3C is a front view of the mounting arm 240, 250 of FIG. 3B along arrow D3.", "FIG. 3D is a top view of the mounting arm 240, 250 of FIG. 3A without a cover plate 250.", "FIG. 3E is a side view of the latching piston 264 for use with the embodiment 200 of FIG. 3A.", "Referring to FIGS. 3A-3E, embodiment 200 includes a mounting arm 240 with blade mounting section wherein a semi-circular top flat plate 250 is attached to a like bottom plate 270 by screw fasteners 251 with a rectangular slot opening 260 therebetween.", "Two latching pistons 262, 264 each having latching handles 263, 267 pass through openings 252 in top plate 250.", "inner springs 265 and 269 allow the pistons 262, 264 to move in the direction of arrows D4 and D5, respectively within cylindrical housings 272, 274.", "Inner end 212 of ceiling fan blade 210 has a narrow width portion with angled outer edges 213, 215 and interior facing grooved indentations 217, 219.", "Moving blade 210 in the direction of arrow D1 inserts narrow planar end 212 into slot 260 so that sides 214, 216 slide along interior sides 261, 269 of slot 260.", "The outer angled edges 213, 215 cause pistons 262, 264 to compress their respective springs 269 and 265, respectively, until the pistons 262, 264 expand and snap into the grooved indentations 217, 219 of the blade 210.", "To remove the blade 210, latching handles 263, 267 are manually moved in the direction of arrows D4 and D5, respectively, allowing blade 210 to be separated from slot 260 of mounting arm 240.", "FIG. 4A is an exploded view of a fourth preferred embodiment 300 of the detachable blade 310 and mounting arm 340.", "FIG. 4B is a side view of the mounting arm 340 of FIG. 4A along arrow E1.", "FIG. 4C is a front view of the mounting arm 340 of FIG. 4B along arrow E2.", "FIG. 4D is a top view of the mounting arm 340 of FIGS. 4B-4C without a top plate cover 350.", "FIG. 4E is a side view of the latching piston 364 and latching handle 367 for use with the embodiment 300 of FIGS. 4A-4D.", "Referring to FIGS. 4A-4E, mounting arm 340 includes curved narrow connecting arm portion 346 and curved ceiling fan motor mount 348 similar to those described in the previous embodiments.", "Arm mount 340 further includes two parallel plates 350 and 370 which are connected to one another through a central housing 382 and 384 by screw fasteners 351.", "The width of central housing 382, 384, is smaller that the width of the plates 350, 370 so that edges of the plates 350, 370 form overhanging lips 381, 383 to the sides of central housing 382, 384(shown more clearly in FIG. 4C.", "Between central housings 382, 384 are dual chambers 387, 385 for supporting two opposing piston rods 362, 364 each having angled outer tips.", "Piston rods 362, 364 are supported at their respective rear portions by opposing springs 365 and 369, respectively, so that the piston rods 362 and 364 can compress within their respective chambers 387 and 385.", "Referring again to FIGS. 4A-4E, a partial view of a single planar blade 310 is shown having a generally rectangular shaped slot opening 311, 313, 315 through the blade 310 at one end and opposing interior grooves 317, 319.", "When blade 310 is moved in the direction of arrow E3, the inner side walls 313, 315 of the slot pass through the overhanging lip areas 381, 383 between the parallel plates 350 and 370 of the mounting arm 340.", "Outer angled tips of piston rods 362, 364 cause the piston rods to compress against their respective springs 365, 369 until side grooves 317 and 319 within the blade 310 allow the piston rods 362, 364 to expand into the side grooves 317, 319 locking the blade 310 to the mounting arm 340.", "Latch handles 363 and 367 can be manually moved towards each other to allow the blade 310 to be separated from mounting arm 340.", "FIG. 5A is an exploded view of a fifth preferred embodiment 400 of the detachable blade 410 and mounting arm 440.", "FIG. 5B is a side view of the mounting arm 440 of FIG. 5A along G1 and the blade 410 positioned above.", "FIG. 5C is a front view of the mounting arm 440 of FIG. 5B along arrow G2.", "FIG. 5D is a top view of the blade 410 first positioned over the mounting arm 440.", "FIG. 5E is a top view of the blade 410 and mounting arm 440 of FIG. 5D after blade 410 is pulled in the direction of arrow H2.", "Referring to FIGS. 5A-5C, mounting arm 440 includes curved narrow connecting arm portion 446 and curved ceiling fan motor mount 448 similar to those described in the previous embodiments.", "Arm mount 440 further includes top plate 450 with uneven sides and bottom substantially rectangular planar plate 470 which are connected to one another through a central housing 482 and 484 by screw fasteners 451.", "Central housing 484 has side extension portions 489 on both sides(only one is shown) and central housing 482 has front side extension portions 487 on both sides(only one is shown).", "Top plate 450 has opposing side wings 452(only one is shown) and front edge wings 454(only one is shown).", "Side wings 452 and 454 are larger in size than side extension portions 487, 489.", "The width of central housing 482, 484 with side extensions 487, 489, is smaller than the width of the plates 450, 470 so that side wings 452, 454 of the plates 450, and sides 471, 473 of bottom plate 470 form overhanging lips to the sides of central housing 482, 484(shown more clearly in FIG. 5C).", "Referring to FIG. 5A, planar blade 410 has a generally rectangular shaped slot formed between opening tip portions 413, 415, first cut-out rectangular grooves 414, 416, opposing angular grooves 417, 419, and extending rear tip portions 412, 418 with rear cut-out rectangular grooves 421, 422 and end wall 411.", "Assembling the blade 410 to the mounting arm 440 is first shown by FIG. 5B, where front and rear tip portions 413, 415 and 412, 418 of blade 410 are positioned parallel to and over and in front of top plate wings 452 and 454.", "FIG. 5D is a top portion of blade 410 after being laid over mounting arm 440 so that interior extending portions 413, 415, 412, 418 of the blade slot 410 fit about wings 452, 454 of top plate 450 and central housing side extensions 487, 489 to abut against bottom plate 470.", "Next blade 410 is pulled away from mounting arm 440 in the direction of H2 as finally shown in FIG. 5E so that piston rod 464 compresses into chamber 485 and then extends outward into blade slot cut-out groove 414 and central housing side extensions 489 abut against portions of blade slot tip portions 413, 415.", "Blade slot tip portions 413, 415 also become sandwiched between top plate wings 452, 454 and bottom plate lips 471, 473 of bottom plate 470.", "Furthermore, central housing side extensions 487 abut against blade slot rear tip portions 412, 418.", "Blade slot rear tip portions 412 and 418 also become sandwiched between top plate wings 454 and bottom plate lips 471, 473.", "The final assembled arrangement of FIG. 5E keeps blade 410 locked into mounting arm 410 when centrifugal forces occur when the blade 410 is spinning.", "To remove the blade 410 from the mounting arm 440, latch handle 467 is moved back against spring 469, and the above steps are then reversed.", "While the invention has been described, disclosed, illustrated and shown in various terms of certain embodiments or modifications which it has presumed in practice, the scope of the invention is not intended to be, nor should it be deemed to be, limited thereby and such other modifications or embodiments as may be suggested by the teachings herein are particularly reserved especially as they fall within the breadth and scope of the claims here appended." ]

[ "CROSS REFERENCE TO PRIOR APPLICATION [0001] This utility patent application is based on an earlier filed provisional application, for a “Sure-Hold Napkin Holder,” which was filed on September 24 , 2003 , and received the Ser.", "No. 60/505,531.", "This application takes priority from that provisional application.", "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1.", "Field of the Invention [0003] This invention generally relates to article holders and, more specifically, to a holder for flaccid flat articles such as napkins, files, correspondence, and other such articles.", "[0004] 2.", "Description of the Prior Art [0005] While numerous napkin holder designs have been proposed, the prior art has failed to create a simple design that generally has the appearance of a typical or traditional napkin holder while it maintains the generally soft and flaccid napkins from drooping as the napkin holder is depleted, and fewer and fewer napkins remain between two fixed spaced lateral upright walls.", "[0006] For example, one prior art approach to avoid the drooping or sagging of napkins is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,505,745, in which the retained stacked articles are stacked one upon the other so that the napkins are all in horizontal planes.", "While such design avoids the drooping or sagging problem, such napkin holders necessarily have a larger footprint than conventional or traditional napkin holders.", "Another such design in which napkins are stacked one on top of another in general horizontal planes is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,622,888.", "[0007] A well-known or common design used to maintain the vertically arranged napkins in a generally erect state is a napkin holder that is provided with an inner coil compression spring that urges two plates on either side of the spring to force the napkins in opposite directions of openings through which the end napkins can be accessed and pulled out.", "Such napkin holders are significantly more complicated and costly.", "[0008] Traditional napkin holders, which have two vertical sidewalls, in fixed positions, are very familiar and are intended to maintain napkins in generally vertical orientations between the two spaced walls that are fixed to the base.", "The traditional napkin holder works well as long as it is completely filled with napkins.", "However, as napkins are removed from the holder, the remaining napkins are no longer held firm between the vertical walls, and thus they hang loose, and become limp and fold over each other, which makes it more difficult to grasp the edge of the napkins and remove them from the holder.", "The more napkins that are removed from the holder, the more difficult it becomes to remove a single napkin without having the others fall over each other.", "They can also fall out of the napkin holder if one moves the holder.", "In addition, if the napkin holder is used outside, such as on a patio table, a deck table or a picnic table, the slightest breeze can blow the napkins away.", "SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0009] Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a holder for maintaining flaccid flat articles, such as table napkin, that overcomes the disadvantages inherent in the prior art holders.", "[0010] It is another object of the invention to provide a holder for maintaining soft or flaccid flat articles, ones that are subject to drooping, that is simple in construction and economical to manufacture.", "[0011] It is still another object of the invention to provide a holder as in the previous objects that continues to maintain a substantially constant force on vertically oriented, flaccid articles to prevent such articles from drooping or collapsing, particularly when the holder becomes depleted of such articles.", "[0012] It is yet a further object of the invention to provide a holder as in the previous objects that does not require springs or other active biasing members, but, instead, relies upon the force of gravity to provide a substantially continuous and substantially constant force acting on the vertically oriented, flat articles.", "[0013] It is a further object of the information to provide a holder of the type under discussion that maintains a stack of vertically arranged flaccid flat articles in an organized, neat array, so that the upper edges of such articles continue to be available for easy access, gripping and removal from the holder.", "[0014] It is still a further object of the invention to provide a holder as in a previous object that prevents flaccid flat articles, vertically arranged, from inadvertently falling out or being blown out by wind or the like when the napkin holder is not full.", "[0015] In order to achieve the above objects, as well as others that will become evident hereinafter, a holder for maintaining flaccid flat articles in substantially vertical orientations independently of the number of articles received or removed from the holder, in accordance with the present invention, comprises a base defining a general horizontal plane when the holder is placed on a support surface during normal use.", "A pair of lateral walls are attached to said base and arranged in vertical plane general normal to said horizontal plane.", "Said walls have a predetermined height and are spaced from each other a predetermined spaced distance to form a region for receiving and holding a plurality of stacked flaccid, flat articles such as napkins, with orientations generally parallel to said spaced walls and vertical planes.", "An important feature of the invention is the provision of gravity-actuated force-generating means for applying a generally horizontal force on a stack of flaccid articles to cause said articles to be urged towards one of said lateral walls and away from the other of said lateral walls to substantially reduce the drooping and/or collapse of said articles and maintain said articles erect independently of the number of articles within or removed from the holder.", "[0016] In accordance with one presently preferred embodiment, said force-generating means comprises a pivoted, generally planar member mounted for movement in generally parallel planes between and parallel to said lateral walls to remain upright in all positions and create a compressive force on said stack of articles between said one of said lateral walls and said planar member.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0017] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a holder for flaccid flat articles, such as napkins, in accordance with the present invention;", "[0018] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the gravity-actuated force-generating member or inclined wall in accordance with the present invention, used to continuously apply a force to the napkins or other flaccid flat articles as it generates a biasing force on the napkins due to the force of gravity;", "[0019] FIG. 3A is a side elevational view of the holder shown in FIG. 1 , when the holder has received and holds a stack of vertically oriented napkins that are maintained in general vertical orientations;", "[0020] FIG. 3B is similar to FIG. 3A , but showing the changed position of the gravity-actuated biasing members when a plurality of napkins have been removed;", "[0021] FIG. 3C is similar to FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B , but showing the arrangement of the gravity-actuated members when all of the napkins have been removed or depleted from the holder;", "and [0022] FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the holder corresponding to the arrangement of the gravity-actuated members shown in FIG. 3C .", "DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [0023] Referring now to the Figures, in which each reference numeral or letter represents the same or similar part of the invention throughout, and referring initially to FIG. 1 , the holder in accordance with the present invention is generally designated by the reference numeral 10 .", "The holder 10 is used to maintain flaccid flat articles 12 in substantially vertical orientations, independently of the number of articles received or removed from the holder.", "While the presently preferred embodiment is disclosed to be in the form of a napkin holder, it will be evident that similar elements and structures can be used to receive and hold other flaccid flat articles, such as letters, bills, files, postal cards, and the like.", "[0024] The holder 10 includes a base 14 that defines a generally horizontal plane when the holder is placed on a support surface 16 ( FIGS. 3A-3C ) during normal use.", "A pair of lateral walls 18 , 20 are attached to the base 14 in any conventional mannerand arranged in vertical planes, as shown, generally normal to the horizontal plane of the base.", "The pairs of walls 18 , 20 have a predetermined height H ( FIG. 3C ) and are spaced from each other a predetermined spaced distance S ( FIG. 3C ), to form a region 22 ( FIG. 3B ) for receiving and holding a plurality of stacked flaccid articles 12 , such as napkins, with vertical orientations generally parallel to the spaced walls and vertical planes.", "An important feature of the present invention is the provision of gravity-actuated force-generating means 24 for applying a generally horizontal force to the stack of flat, flaccid articles 12 to cause the articles to be urged towards the lateral wall 18 and away from the other lateral wall 20 to substantially reduce the drooping or collapse of the articles, and to maintain the articles substantially erect.", "As will become evident, the articles will remain erect, under all conditions, independently of the number of articles placed within or removed from the holder.", "[0025] As with most typical or traditional napkin holders, the lateral walls 18 , 20 have a predetermined height H that is generally equal to the vertical height of the articles stacked within the holder.", "However, it should be clear that this is not a critical feature of the invention and the lateral walls are preferably somewhat shorter than the articles 12 , so that such articles protrude or project above the upper edges 18 a, 20 a of the lateral walls, as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B , to render the upper ends of the articles 12 accessible and grippable for convenient and easy removal.", "The extent to which the walls 18 , 20 can extend below the upper edges of the articles 12 will, of course, depend on the softness of the articles, how flaccid they are, and how much they are inclined to droop or collapse.", "In many instances, the napkins can project 10-25% of their overall height above the upper edges 18 a, 20 a without bending or drooping.", "[0026] In the Figures the lateral walls 18 , 20 are, as with traditional, more conventional napkin holders, fixedly mounted and supported on the base 10 at the lower edges 18 b, 20 b, as shown in FIG. 3A .", "Thus, the lateral walls 18 , 20 are always fixed in the designated positions and are not adjustable.", "Notwithstanding the fact that the lateral walls 18 , 20 are spaced from each other a fixed distance S, a force-generating member 24 generates a generally horizontal force F ( FIG. 3B ) in the direction of the lateral wall 18 .", "Preferably, the force applied, towards the left as viewed in 3 B, is applied to the articles 12 at a distance above the base 14 no greater than the predetermined height H. In FIG. 3A , the applied force is represented by distributed representative forces F 1 , F 2 and F 3 , which are force components distributed over the height and area of a planar member 26 that forms part of the gravity-actuated force-generating mechanism 24 .", "With the construction illustrated, the force is generally uniformly distributed over the area of the planar member 26 to bias or urge the articles 12 against the wall 18 to compress the articles between the fixed lateral wall 18 and the movable planar member 26 .", "[0027] As will be evident, the planar member 26 is mounted for movement in generally parallel planes between and parallel to the lateral walls 18 , 20 to remain upright in all lateral positions to create a compressive force on the stack of articles 12 between the fixed lateral wall 18 and the planar member 26 .", "In accordance with the construction of the presently preferred embodiment, the planar member 26 is pivotally mounted on a movable member 28 between the lateral walls 18 , 20 to enable the planar member 26 to remain upright regardless of the position of the movable member 28 .", "This is achieved by pivotally attaching the movable member 28 to the planar member 26 by means of a pivot, joint or hinge 30 , at the upper edge of the movable member 28 , and by means of a pivot or hinge 32 to a fixed portion of the holder 10 , at the lower edge of the movable member 28 .", "It will be evident that the movable member 28 may take on many forms and may be in the form of one or more linkages.", "However, in the presently preferred embodiment, it is in the form of a generally inclined wall or rectangular flat panel having opposing horizontal edges, best shown in FIG. 2 , and pivots at each edge for pivoting the inclined wall about a lower horizontal edge and for pivoting the planar member along a upper horizontal edge.", "This can be achieved by providing longitudinal, circular channels along each edge and inserting elongate pivot pins 36 , 38 , which are longer than the channels, to provide pin projections or ends 36 a, 36 b and 38 a, 38 b, respectively, that can be received within associated sleeves or bosses 40 , 42 ( FIG. 4 ) that are formed on a fixed portion of the holder and on the movable member 28 .", "Other means of attachment of the inclined wall 34 , forming part of the movable member 28 will be evident.", "However, by way of example, the inclined wall 34 may be pivotably or hingedly attached by means of open hinges, snaps, clips or the like.", "When the inclined wall 34 is formed out of plastic, the pin extensions 36 a, 36 b, 38 a, 38 b can be molded into the material so that no extra or separate pins need to be used.", "[0028] As indicated, the linkage 28 is connected to the planar member 26 , at one end, and to either the base 14 or to lateral wall 20 , at the other end.", "The precise locations where the movable member 28 is pivotably or hingedly attached is not critical.", "However, it has been found that a practical design is to have the lower pivot 32 connected to a region of the holder proximate to the corner location where the base 14 is connected to the upright lateral wall 20 , as shown in the Figures.", "The upper pivot 30 , connected to the planar member 26 , is preferably joined at a point somewhat below the vertical midpoint between the upper and lower edges 26 a, 26 b of the planar member 26 .", "However, attachment of the pivot 30 to the midpoint, or even somewhat above the midpoint, of the planar member 26 still provides useful results, with differing degrees of advantage.", "[0029] In the disclosed embodiment the planar member 26 has a vertical height P that is less than the predetermined height H of the lateral walls 18 , 20 .", "The vertical height P of the planar member and the connection point, at 30 , to the movable member or linkage 28 are selected to position the lower edge 26 b of the planar member 26 out of contact with the base 14 when all articles 12 have been removed from the holder.", "Thus, it will be evident that as long as the lower edge 18 b remains positioned above the upper surface of the base 14 , the gravity-actuated elements will continue to apply a force F towards the left, as viewed in FIGS. 3B and 3C .", "This ensures that such force is applied even when a small number of articles in the form of napkins, for example, remain in the holder.", "In FIG. 3C , the gravitational force G is shown directed downwardly from a point of the center of gravity representing the combined weight of the movable member 28 as well as the planar member 26 , which is connected thereto at pivot 30 .", "[0030] The planar member 26 also advantageously has a vertical height and connection point to the movable member or linkage point 28 , selected to position the upper edge 26 a within the region of the upper edge 20 a of the lateral wall 20 when the holder has been fully filled with articles, and the planar member 26 and the lateral wall 20 are substantially juxtaposed against each other.", "[0031] The force-generating members or elements, including the planar member 26 , as well as the movable member or linkage 28 , are preferably formed of a material sufficiently heavy to create a suitable gravitational force G ( FIG. 3C ) to produce a desired force acting on the articles 12 .", "The greater force G, the greater the lateral force applied to the articles.", "The holder, and any of the component parts thereof, may be made of any suitable or desirable materials, including plastic, wood, aluminum, or the like.", "The presently preferred embodiment contemplates that the surfaces of the planar member 26 as well the inner surface of the lateral wall 18 facing the stacked articles 12 be general smooth to facilitate the removal of an article by pulling same upwardly, notwithstanding the horizontal forces acting on the articles, by minimizing friction between the flat articles and the facing contacting surfaces.", "[0032] It will be evident from the above the holder in accordance with the present invention has a weighted, self-collapsing inner wall or planar member 26 that presses against the napkins 12 and holds them firmly in place all the time no matter how many or how few napkins are in the holder.", "[0033] The design is extremely simple, inexpensive and very effective.", "The use of gravity to apply constant pressure to the articles or napkins by way of an inner self-biasing and adjusting inner wall or planar member designed and hinged for free movements towards an opposing fixed lateral wall 18 renders the design extremely efficient and highly resistant to mechanical failure.", "As suggested, the holder, or any selected components thereof, can be made from stainless steel, plastic, or other materials, or a combination of different materials.", "[0034] Having described at least one of the preferred embodiments of the present 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, modifications, and adaptations 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." ]

[ "CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a continuation application of International Application No. PCT/JP2009/054297, filed Mar. 6, 2009, the entire contents of which is incorporated herein by reference.", "PCT/JP2009/054297 claims priority to JP 2008-057244, filed Mar. 7, 2008.", "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1.", "Field of the Invention [0003] The present invention relates to a polarization element, and particularly, to a polarization element using a difference in light absorption efficiency due to the shape anisotropy of metal fine particles.", "[0004] 2.", "Description of the Related Art [0005] A polarization element means an optical element having a function of transmitting a linearly polarized wave having an electric field vibration plane in a specific direction and preventing the transmission of a linearly polarized wave having an electric field vibration plane in a direction perpendicular to the specific direction (hereinafter, in the polarization element, the electric field vibration direction of transmission light is referred to as a “transmission axis”", "and a direction perpendicular to the transmission axis is referred to as an “extinction axis”).", "[0006] The characteristics of the polarization element are evaluated using loss (hereinafter, the loss is referred to as an “insertion loss”) when a linearly polarized wave having an electric field vibration plane in a direction parallel to the transmission axis of the element passes through the polarization element and a value (hereinafter, the value is referred to as an “extinction ratio”) obtained by dividing the intensity of the electric field when a linearly polarized wave having an electric field vibration plane parallel to the extinction axis passes through the polarization element by the intensity of the electric field when a linearly polarized wave having an electric field vibration plane parallel to the transmission axis passes through the polarization element.", "The polarization element with good characteristics means an element with a small insertion loss and a high extinction ratio.", "[0007] As the polarization element using metal fine particles, a polarizing glass has been known in which acicular metal fine particles made of silver or copper are dispersed in a glass substrate such that the longitudinal direction thereof is aligned with a specific direction (hereinafter, the polarization element is referred to as a “metal fine particle dispersed polarizing glass”).", "A method of manufacturing the metal fine particle dispersed polarizing glass is described in detail in, for example, JP-A-5-208844 and the main points thereof are as follows.", "[0008] <1>", "A glass material including cuprous chloride is prepared to have a desired composition, is melted at a temperature of about 1450° C., and is then annealed to the room temperature.", "<2>", "Then, a thermal treatment is performed to precipitate cuprous chloride fine particles in the glass.", "<3>", "After the cuprous chloride fine particles are precipitated, a preform with an appropriate shape is produced by a machining process.", "<4>", "The preform is heated and elongated under predetermined conditions, thereby obtaining acicular particles of cuprous chloride.", "<5>", "The elongated cuprous chloride is reduced in a hydrogen atmosphere to obtain acicular metallic copper fine particles.", "[0009] A metal fine particle dispersed polarizing glass in which acicular metallic copper fine particles with a minor axis of 20 to 75 nm, a major axis of 120 to 350 nm, and an aspect ratio (value obtained by dividing the major axis of the acicular particle by the minor axis thereof) of 2.5 to 10 are dispersed in a base glass is manufactured by the manufacturing method, which is disclosed in JP-A-5-208844.", "[0010] Patent Citation 1: JP-A-5-208844 SUMMARY [0011] The metal fine particle dispersed polarizing glass according to the related art has an insertion loss of 0.1 dB or less and an extinction ratio of 30 dB or more.", "Therefore, there are few practical problems with the function of the metal fine particle dispersed polarizing glass.", "However, as described above, since the metal fine particle dispersed polarizing glass is manufactured by complicated processes, such as precipitation, elongation, and reduction, the reproducibility of the shape of the particles is not necessarily good.", "As a result, in some cases, it is difficult to obtain a desired extinction ratio and there is a problem regarding the stable production of the metal fine particle dispersed polarizing glass.", "[0012] The invention has been made in order to solve the above-mentioned problems and an object of the invention is to provide a polarization element with high shape controllability and high productivity.", "TECHNICAL SOLUTION [0013] In order to achieve the object, according to a first aspect of the invention, a polarization element includes: a substrate that transmits light with a predetermined wavelength;", "and an aggregate of metal pieces each of which is arranged in an island shape on the substrate.", "Desired polarization characteristics are obtained by a variation in the plasmon resonance wavelength of the metal piece that depends on the polarization direction of light irradiated to the metal piece.", "The plasmon resonance wavelength of the metal piece in a predetermined direction is substantially equal to the wavelength of the light irradiated to the polarization element.", "The total sum of the geometric cross sections of the metal pieces in a plane which is substantially perpendicular to the propagation direction of the light irradiated to the polarization element in a light radiation region is smaller than the area of the light radiation region.", "The total sum of the absorption cross sections of the metal pieces at the plasmon resonance wavelength is equal to or more than 5 times the geometric area of the light radiation region.", "[0014] According to a second aspect of the invention, in the polarization element according to the first aspect, the aggregate of the metal pieces may be covered with a dielectric that transmits light with a predetermined wavelength.", "[0015] According to a third aspect of the invention, in the polarization element according to the first or second aspect, the metal piece may have a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, and the longest side of the substantially rectangular parallelepiped in the aggregate of the metal pieces may be aligned substantially in a constant direction.", "[0016] According to a fourth aspect of the invention, in the polarization element according to the first or second aspect, the metal piece may have a substantially elliptical cylinder shape, and the major axis of the ellipse may be aligned substantially in a constant direction.", "[0017] According to a fifth aspect of the invention, in the polarization element according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the length of the metal piece in a direction parallel to the propagation direction of the irradiated light may be equal to or less than one-tenth of the wavelength of the irradiated light, and the dimensions of the metal piece in a plane perpendicular to the propagation direction of the irradiated light may be equal to or less than 1 μm.", "[0018] According to a sixth aspect of the invention, in the polarization element according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, the metal piece may be made of Al or an Al alloy including Al as a main component.", "ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECTS [0019] The polarization element according to the invention can be manufactured by a process including a general nanoimprint lithography method as the main method.", "The polarization element has high productivity and high controllability and reproducibility of the shape and size of the metal fine particles, as compared to the metal fine particle dispersed polarizing glass according to the related art.", "As a result, according to the polarization element, it is possible to achieve stable production.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0020] FIG. 1 shows a variation in attenuation with respect to the ratio between the total sum of the absorption cross sections, Cabs, of various kinds of metal pieces in a region irradiated with light and the area of the radiation region.", "[0021] FIG. 2 is a relationship between area occupancy and attenuation in various kinds of metal pieces.", "[0022] FIG. 3 is a depolarization factor dependence of the absorption spectrum.", "[0023] FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating an example of the structure of a rectangular fine particle arranged polarization element according to the invention.", "[0024] FIG. 5 is a relationship between the area occupancy and the attenuation of transmitted light when a metal piece is Ti.", "[0025] FIG. 6 is a relationship between the area occupancy and the attenuation of transmitted light when a metal piece is Cr.", "[0026] FIG. 7 is a relationship between the area occupancy and the attenuation of transmitted light when a metal piece is Al.", "[0027] FIG. 8 is a diagram schematically illustrating the meaning of a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape.", "DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS [0028] In metal fine particles with a diameter sufficiently smaller than the wavelength of light, for example, a diameter of about several tens of nanometers, the movement of free electrons is limited by the boundary determined by the shape of the fine particles.", "Therefore, it is possible to treat the metal fine particles as a dielectric material that is uniformly polarized.", "In this case, a depolarization field is formed in the fine particles depending on the shape of the fine particles and affects a response to the electric field applied from the outside (hereinafter, referred to as an “external electric field”).", "In particular, when a response to the external electric field is delayed, energy loss occurs and light is resonantly absorbed at a specific frequency.", "The response to the external electric field is referred to as a so-called dielectric response function, ∈(ω), and is represented by the following Expression (1): [0000] ɛ  ( ω ) = 1 + ɛ * ( ω ) / ɛ a - 1 1 + [ ɛ * ( ω ) / ɛ a - 1 ]  L .", "[ Expression   1 ] [0029] In Expression (1), ω indicates the angular frequency of irradiated light, ∈(ω) indicates the dielectric response function of metal forming fine particles at ω.", "(complex permittivity at ω), ∈ a indicates the permittivity of a medium in the vicinity of the metal fine particles, and L indicates a depolarization factor determined by the shape of the fine particles.", "[0030] The depolarization factor does not depend on the material forming the fine particles, but is determined by only the shape of the fine particles.", "The depolarization factor is only analytically calculated when the fine particle has a spheroidal shape including a sphere.", "For example, when the fine particle has a spherical shape, the depolarization factor is ⅓.", "When the fine particle has a cigar-shaped spheroidal shape (prolate spheroid shape) with an aspect ratio of about 3, the value of the depolarization factor in the major axis direction is 0.108.", "[0031] A light absorption coefficient, α, according to the single fine particle is represented by the following Expression (2).", "[0000] α = 2  π · n a 3 L 2 · λ · ɛ ″ [ ɛ ′ + ɛ a · ( 1 L - 1 ) ] 2 + ɛ ″2 .", "[ Expression   2 ] [0032] In Expression (2), n a indicates the refractive index of a medium in the vicinity of the metal fine particles, λ indicates the vacuum wavelength of irradiated light, and ∈′ and ∈″ indicate a real part and an imaginary part of complex permittivity (∈*.", "(ω)) at the angular frequency ω (wavelength: λ).", "[0033] FIG. 3 shows the influence of the depolarization factor on the spectrum of the absorption coefficient calculated by Expression (2) in the case of a metallic silver fine particle.", "In FIG. 3 , reference numeral 31 indicates a spectrum when the depolarization factor of the metallic silver fine particle in the major axis direction is 0.065, reference numeral 32 indicates a spectrum when the depolarization factor is 0.108, and reference numeral 33 indicates a spectrum when the depolarization factor is 0.1867.", "During calculation, the refractive index of a medium in the vicinity of the silver fine particle was 1.45 (permittivity: 2.1025) and irradiated light was a linearly polarized wave having an electric field vibration plane in a direction parallel to the major axis direction of a spheroid.", "As shown in FIG. 3 , in all of the depolarization factors, the absorption coefficient has the maximum value at a specific wavelength.", "The maximum value is obtained since the vibration of a free electron in the metallic silver fine particle resonates with the vibration of the applied electric field (corresponding to the vibration of an electric field component of the irradiated light), which is generally known as a plasmon resonance phenomenon (hereinafter, the wavelength of light where plasmon resonance occurs is referred to as a “plasmon resonance wavelength”).", "The plasmon resonance wavelength varies depending on the depolarization factor of the irradiated metal fine particle, more accurately, the depolarization factor in a direction parallel to the electric field vibration direction of irradiated light.", "When the depolarization factor is reduced, the plasmon resonance wavelength is shifted to a long wavelength side.", "[0034] In the case of acicular particles, similar to the particles with the cigar-shaped spheroidal shape (prolate spheroid shape), the depolarization factor in the major axis direction is smaller than that in the minor axis direction and the plasmon resonance wavelengths are different in the two directions.", "In the metal fine particle dispersed polarizing glass according to the related art, the depolarization factor, that is, the aspect ratio of the acicular fine particle is determined such that the plasmon resonance wavelength of the acicular metal fine particle in the longitudinal direction is substantially equal to the desired wavelength of light.", "In this case, when a linearly polarized wave with a desired wavelength is irradiated to the acicular metal fine particle and the electric field vibration plane of the wave is aligned with the major axis direction of the acicular metal fine particle, the intensity of transmission light is greatly attenuated due to resonance absorption by the metal fine particle.", "In contrast, when the electric field vibration plane is aligned with the minor axis direction of the acicular metal fine particle, the resonance absorption by the metal fine particles does not occur.", "As a result, light passes through the acicular metal fine particle as the intensity thereof is hardly attenuated.", "[0035] A mechanism for obtaining the polarization effect in the metal fine particle dispersed polarizing glass has been described above.", "For this reason, the polarizing glass is called an “absorption-type polarization element.”", "[0036] As described above, the depolarization factor is determined by the shape of the fine particle.", "Generally, a depolarization factor can be defined corresponding to a shape and a direction in the same way as a spheroid.", "However, the depolarization factor can be represented by an analytic expression only when the fine particle has a well-defined spheroidal shape including a sphere.", "That is, it is possible to calculate the depolarization factor of a metal fine particle with a general shape numerically.", "In other words, even though a fine particle has a rectangular parallelepiped shape, it is possible to obtain a depolarization factor of 0.065 by appropriately selecting the dimensional ratio of the length, width, and height of the fine particle.", "[0037] As described above, the magnitude of the absorption coefficient, α, shown in FIG. 3 is proportional to the extinction ratio of an “absorption-type polarizer.”", "For example, when a fine particle having a rectangular parallelepiped shape with a thickness of 20 nm is assumed (here, the “thickness”", "means the length of the fine particle in a direction in which an irradiated linearly polarized plane wave is propagated) and the absorption coefficient, α, is about 3 (dimension of 1/length), the intensity of light passing through the rectangular parallelepiped fine particle is exp(−60) and an extinction ratio of about −260 dB is obtained.", "The extinction ratio is significantly more than a required specification value, regardless of the field of application of the polarization element.", "[0038] The inventors focused attention on the above points and thoroughly examined the polarization characteristics of a polarization element in which a plurality of metal fine particles with a rectangular parallelepiped shape was arranged in an island shape on an optically transparent substrate on the basis of the above-mentioned idea.", "The invention was achieved on the basis of the examination result (hereinafter, the polarizer having the above-mentioned structure is referred to as a “rectangular fine particle arranged polarization element”).", "[0039] Hereinafter, the rectangular fine particle arranged polarization element according to the invention will be described in detail.", "[0040] FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating an example of the structure of the rectangular fine particle arranged polarization element according to the invention.", "In FIG. 4 , reference numeral 41 indicates an optically transparent substrate, reference numeral 42 indicates a surface of the substrate 41 , reference numeral 43 indicates a metal piece with a rectangular parallelepiped shape, and 44 indicates an optically transparent dielectric film.", "As shown in FIG. 4 , in the rectangular fine particle arranged polarization element according to the invention, a plurality of metal pieces 43 with a rectangular parallelepiped shape having a size of several tens of nanometers to several hundreds of nanometers is arranged in an island shape on the surface 42 of the substrate 41 , which is a glass substrate transmitting light with a desired wavelength, such as a quartz glass substrate, or a substrate made of a single crystal, such as sapphire, and the metal pieces are covered with a dielectric film that is made of, for example, SiO 2 and transmits light with a desired wavelength.", "[0041] Next, the polarization effect of the rectangular fine particle arranged polarization element will be described.", "[0042] As described above, the plasmon resonance wavelength of the metal piece 43 is determined by the permittivity and the depolarization factor of the material forming the metal piece.", "For example, it is assumed that the depolarization factor of the metal piece 43 in the long side direction is set such that the plasmon resonance occurs with respect to the wavelength of irradiated light and the depolarization factor of the metal piece 43 in the short side direction is set so as to deviate from the depolarization factor of the metal piece 43 in the long side direction.", "This will be described in detail in examples.", "This relationship between the depolarization factors is established by appropriately setting the dimensional ratio of the sides of the rectangular parallelepiped.", "[0043] In the above-mentioned structure, when a linearly polarized wave is irradiated in a direction that is substantially parallel to the normal direction of the surface 42 of the substrate and the electric field vibration plane of the linearly polarized wave is parallel to the long side direction of the rectangular-parallelepiped-shaped metal piece 43 , the energy of the irradiated light is absorbed by the plasmon resonance occurring in the rectangular-parallelepiped-shaped metal piece 43 and the intensity of transmission light is greatly attenuated.", "In contrast, when the electric field vibration plane of the irradiated linearly polarized wave is parallel to the short side direction of the rectangular-parallelepiped-shaped metal piece 43 , there is no energy loss due to the plasmon resonance.", "[0044] The operating principle of the rectangular fine particle arranged polarization element has been described above.", "[0045] The inventors examined the influence of a metal species and the area occupancy of the metal piece 43 in the surface 42 of the substrate on the extinction ratio on the basis of the above-mentioned idea.", "As a result of the examination, the following peculiar phenomenon was found and the invention was achieved.", "[0046] FIG. 5 shows the relationship between the area occupancy and attenuation when the metal species is Ti.", "The Ti piece has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape and the dimensions of the long side, the short side, and the height (a thickness from the substrate surface, which is the same with the following description) are 95 nm, 25 nm, and 20 nm, respectively.", "The substrate is made of quartz glass and the dielectric film is made of SiO 2 .", "[0047] Next, the term “substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape”", "in the specification will be described.", "FIG. 8 is a diagram schematically illustrating the planar shape of a metal piece (the shape of the metal piece in the plane substantially perpendicular to the propagation direction of irradiated light).", "That is, the term “substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape”", "means a rectangular parallelepiped shape with round corners.", "The long side and the short side mean 1 and w in FIG. 8 .", "[0048] In this structure, the plasmon resonance wavelength of the Ti piece in the long side direction is in the range of 630 nm to 650 nm.", "The area occupancy was changed by varying the spacing between the adjacent Ti pieces with the same shape.", "The term “attenuation”", "means the ratio (unit: dB) between the intensity of transmission light and the intensity of irradiated light when a linearly polarized wave having an electric field vibration plane in a direction parallel to the long side direction of the Ti piece is irradiated.", "[0049] In FIG. 5 , a symbol  indicates attenuation that is actually obtained, a dashed line indicates the relationship between the attenuation and the area occupancy, and the attenuation, Igeo, is calculated by the following expression (3).", "It is assumed that the attenuation is simply proportional to the area occupancy.", "[0000] I geo = 10 · log  [ I t · s + I 0 · ( 1 - s ) I 0 ] [ Expression   3 ] [0050] In Expression (3), I 0 indicates the intensity of irradiated light, I t indicates the intensity of light passing through the Ti piece, and s indicates the area occupancy of the piece.", "[0051] As shown in FIG. 5 , in the case of the Ti piece, as the area occupancy increases, the attenuation increases.", "The value of the attenuation is substantially equal to the attenuation, Igeo, which is simply calculated from the area occupancy.", "When the electric field vibration plane of the irradiated light is parallel to the short side direction of the Ti piece, the attenuation thereof does not depend on the area occupancy, but is about 1 dB.", "[0052] FIG. 6 shows the relationship between the area occupancy and the attenuation, which is the same as that shown in FIG. 5 , when the metal species is Cr.", "The Cr piece has a rectangular parallelepiped shape and the dimensions of the long side, the short side, and the height of the piece are 250 nm, 26 nm, and 20 nm, respectively.", "Similar to the Ti piece, the substrate and the dielectric film are made of quartz glass and SiO 2 , respectively.", "In this structure, the plasmon resonance wavelength of the Cr piece in the long side direction is in the range of 630 nm to 650 nm.", "The area occupancy was changed by varying the spacing between the adjacent Cr pieces with the same shape.", "[0053] In FIG. 6 , a symbol ▪ indicates the actually obtained attenuation and a dashed line indicates the relationship between the attenuation and the area occupancy.", "It is assumed that the attenuation is simply proportional to the area occupancy and is calculated in the same way as that in FIG. 5 .", "In the case of the Cr piece, as a result of calculation, the attenuation in the same area occupancy is more than that in the Ti piece and there is a large difference between the attenuation and the attenuation represented by the dashed line.", "When the electric field vibration plane of the irradiated light is parallel to the short side direction of the Cr piece, the attenuation thereof does not depend on the area occupancy, but is about 1 dB.", "[0054] FIG. 7 shows the relationship between the area occupancy and the attenuation, which is the same as those shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 , when the metal species is Al.", "The Al piece has a rectangular parallelepiped shape and the dimensions of the long side, the short side, and the height of the piece are 180 nm, 25 nm, and 20 nm, respectively.", "Similar to the Ti and Cr pieces, the substrate and the dielectric film are made of quartz glass and SiO 2 , respectively.", "In this structure, the plasmon resonance wavelength of the Al piece in the long side direction is in the range of 630 nm to 650 nm.", "The area occupancy was changed by varying the spacing between the adjacent Al pieces with the same shape.", "[0055] In FIG. 7 , a symbol ♦ indicates the actually obtained attenuation and a dashed line indicates the relationship between the attenuation and the area occupancy.", "It is assumed that the attenuation is simply proportional to the area occupancy and is calculated in the same way as that in FIGS. 5 and 6 .", "In the case of the Al piece, the attenuation in the same area occupancy is more than that in the Ti and Cr pieces and there is a large difference between the attenuation and the attenuation represented by the dashed line.", "When the electric field vibration plane of the irradiated light is parallel to the short side direction of the Al piece, the attenuation thereof does not depend on the area occupancy, but is in the range of about 0.5 dB to 0.7 dB.", "[0056] In the result shown in FIGS. 5 to 7 , there is a peculiar phenomenon in that, in all of the metal species, the attenuation that is actually obtained is more than that simply calculated from the area occupancy on one level or another.", "The result shows that, although the rationale is unclear, a portion of the light irradiated to a region in which there is no metal piece as well as the light irradiated to the metal piece 43 is “absorbed”", "by the metal piece 43 and the intensity of the light is attenuated in FIG. 4 .", "FIG. 2 shows the relationship between the area occupancy and the attenuation for each of the metal pieces shown in FIGS. 5 to 7 .", "In the same area occupancy, the attenuation in Al is the largest, followed by Cr and Ti and the difference between the attenuation that is actually obtained and the attenuation simply calculated from the area ratio increases in this order.", "[0057] That is, the inventors'", "examination proved that the attenuation (corresponding to the extinction ratio) in the rectangular fine particle arranged polarization element largely depended on the “absorption efficiency”", "as well as the absorption characteristics of the metal piece.", "[0058] The inventors focused their attention on the concept of the “absorption cross section”", "in the plasmon resonance and found that, by introducing this concept, the relationship between the area occupancy and the attenuation considering the “absorption efficiency”", "of the metal piece could be obtained.", "The absorption cross section, Cabs, in the plasmon resonance is represented by the following Expression (4).", "[0000] Cabs = 2  π · n a 3 · V L 2 · λ · ɛ ″ [ ɛ ′ + ɛ a · ( 1 L - 1 ) ] 2 + ɛ ″2 .", "[ Expression   4 ] [0059] In Expression (4), V indicates the volume of the metal piece and the other parameters are the same as those in Expression (3).", "As can be seen from the comparison between Expression (4) and Expression (3), the absorption cross section is the product of the absorption coefficient, α, and the volume, V, of the metal piece.", "[0060] FIG. 1 shows a variation in the attenuation with respect to the ratio of the total sum of the absorption cross section, Cabs, obtained from Expression (4) to the area of a light radiation region, in each light radiation region for each metal piece.", "The meaning of the ratio of the total sum of the absorption cross section, Cabs, to the area of the radiation region is not necessarily limited to the light radiation region.", "For example, when the metal piece is arranged as a radiation portion in a region that is sufficiently wider than the light radiation region, the ratio means the ratio of the total sum of the absorption cross section to the area of the region.", "[0061] As can be seen from FIG. 1 , the actually obtained attenuation is distributed substantially on a single curve.", "As described above, if it is considered that the attenuation when the electric field vibration plane of the irradiated linearly polarized wave is parallel to the short side of the metal piece does not depend on the area occupancy of the metal piece, but is almost 1 dB, the attenuation shown in FIG. 1 substantially corresponds to the extinction ratio.", "[0062] The extinction ratio required for the polarization element varies depending on the purpose.", "For example, the minimum value of the extinction ratio is about 10 dB.", "As can be seen from FIG. 1 , the extinction ratio is achieved when the ratio between the total sum of the absorption cross section and the area of the radiation region is equal to or more than 5.", "[0063] However, in the rectangular fine particle arranged polarization element, it is necessary to effectively generate the plasmon resonance in each metal piece in order to obtain polarization characteristics.", "In order to generate the plasmon resonance, it is necessary to apply a uniform electric field to each metal piece using irradiated light.", "In order to meet the requirements, it is preferable that the height of the metal piece be equal to or less than one-tenth of the wavelength of the irradiated light.", "When the surface of the substrate having the metal pieces arranged thereon is completely perpendicular to the propagation direction of the irradiated light, a uniform electric field is applied to the surface.", "Therefore, the dimensions of the metal piece are not restricted as long as the ratio between the long side and the short side of the metal piece is determined such that the wavelength of the irradiated light is equal to the plasmon resonance wavelength of the metal piece.", "However, it is difficult to make the surface completely perpendicular to the propagation direction of the irradiated light in practice.", "Therefore, it is preferable that the long and short sides of the metal piece be equal to or less than 1 μm.", "[0064] The invention will be described in detail using examples.", "Example 1 [0065] An Al film was formed with a thickness of 20 nm on a quartz glass substrate with a size of 1 inch by 1 inch by a vapor deposition method.", "Then, each metal piece made of an Al film having a long side of 180 nm and a short side of 25 nm was formed in a region with a size of about 5 mm×5 mm by nanoimprint lithography and an ion etching method.", "Then, a SiO 2 film with a thickness of about 400 nm was formed so as to cover the metal pieces.", "[0066] In Example 1, the spacing between the metal pieces was changed to manufacture rectangular fine particle arranged polarization elements having different geometric area occupancies as shown in Table 1.", "[0067] The transmission characteristics of the polarization element manufactured by the above-mentioned method were measured with a spectrometer.", "As a result of the measurement, the plasmon resonance wavelength of the metal piece in the long side direction was in the range of 630 nm to 650 nm, without depending on the geometric area occupancy.", "The insertion loss and the extinction ratio of each polarization element were measured using a semiconductor laser with a wavelength of 630 nm and a beam diameter of about 1 mm.", "The insertion loss was in the range of 0.5 dB to 0.7 dB, without depending on the geometric area occupancy.", "Table 1 shows the measured extinction ratio and the ratio of the total sum of the absorption cross section of the metal pieces in the region (5 mm×5 mm) in which the metal piece group is formed to the area of the region, that is, (the total sum of the absorption cross section)/(the area of the radiation region).", "The absorption cross section of the metal piece was calculated using Expression 4.", "[0000] TABLE 1 (Total sum of absorption Geometric area Extinction cross section)/(area of occupancy (%) ratio (dB) radiation region) 25 −11 6.4 31 −12.5 7.7 38 −14 9.6 49 −16 12.4 67 −18.5 17.0 73 −19.5 18.5 80 −20.5 20.4 Example 2 [0068] A method of manufacturing a rectangular fine particle arranged polarization element according to this example was basically the same as that in Example 1 except that an Al film was formed with a thickness of 15 nm by the vapor deposition method and a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape had a long side of 140 nm and a short side of 26 nm.", "[0069] The transmission characteristics of the polarization element manufactured by the above-mentioned method were measured with a spectrometer.", "As a result of the measurement, the plasmon resonance wavelength of the metal piece in the long side direction was in the range of 620 nm to 650 nm, without depending on the geometric area occupancy.", "The insertion loss and the extinction ratio of each polarization element were measured by the same method as that in Example 1.", "The insertion loss was in the range of 0.5 dB to 0.7 dB, without depending on the geometric area occupancy.", "[0070] Table 2 shows the measured extinction ratio and the ratio of the total sum of the absorption cross section of the metal pieces in the region (5 mm×5 mm) in which the metal piece group is formed to the area of the region, that is, (the total sum of the absorption cross section)/(the area of the radiation region), similar to Example 1.", "The absorption cross section of the metal piece was calculated using Expression 4.", "[0000] TABLE 2 (Total sum of absorption Geometric area Extinction cross section)/(area of occupancy (%) ratio (dB) radiation region) 31 −11.5 5.8 38 −12.5 7.2 49 −14 12.4 67 −17 9.3 73 −18 13.9 80 −19 15.3 [0071] The structure in which the metal piece is made of Al and has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape has been described in detail above using the examples.", "As described above, the effects of the invention may be obtained from the shapes of other metal pieces, for example, an elliptical cylinder shape or an oval shape as long as the requirements that the plasmon resonance wavelength of the metal piece in a specific direction is substantially equal to the wavelength of the irradiated light are satisfied.", "INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY [0072] The polarization element according to the invention can be widely applied to optical apparatuses including liquid crystal projectors.", "DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS AND SIGNS [0000] 31 : SPECTRUM OF ABSORPTION COEFFICIENT WHEN DEPOLARIZATION FACTOR IS 0.065 32 : SPECTRUM OF ABSORPTION COEFFICIENT WHEN DEPOLARIZATION FACTOR IS 0.108 33 : SPECTRUM OF ABSORPTION COEFFICIENT WHEN DEPOLARIZATION FACTOR IS 0.1867 41 : OPTICALLY TRANSPARENT SUBSTRATE 42 : SURFACE OF SUBSTRATE 41 43 : METAL PIECE WITH RECTANGULAR PARALLELEPIPED SHAPE 44 : OPTICALLY TRANSPARENT DIELECTRIC FILM" ]

[ "FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to multiport random access memory devices that read and write data to and from several addresses within a given instruction cycle.", "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In a computer for high-performance computation, the memory has to provide for reading and writing data to the memory at a bandwidth which matches the bandwidth of processing.", "One approach for matching the processing bandwidth in the prior art has been the use of the cache concept, that is using a fast memory to contain a working set of data so that the processor has quick access to currently active data.", "In large scale scientific computations, especially those using pipeline techniques (see for example the review by T. C. Chen in Chapter 9 of Introduction to Computer Architecture, second edition, H. Stone, Editor, Science Research Associates, Chicago, 1980), even the fast cache is taxed to the limit.", "Take the case, for instance, of handling a three-address floating point code: A op B=C, where A and B are addresses for operands and C is the result of the operation op on the operands A and B. If the operation is done in a pipeline fashion, using n stages, then as the computation reaches a steady state, at every machine cycle, two operands enter the computation pipe while a third operand carrying the result of the operation started n cycles earlier is stored.", "The total demand is three memory operations per cycle.", "As the performance of the processor increases to shorter and shorter cycle times, the time required for the three memory operations becomes a bottleneck for creating faster and faster processors.", "Traditional pipeline "vector"", "designs use very high-speed memories and/or require strong constraints on memory size and freedom of addressing.", "The CRAY 1, for example, uses 8 vector registers, each of 64 words, for a total of 512 floating point words, and every vector is used from the beginning and runs consecutively.", "Thus the CRAY 1 is constrained to a relatively small memory and a rigid addressing scheme.", "One prior art approach to reducing the amount of time required for three memory operations per cycle uses the replicated memory approach.", "If a single conventional memory bank is used for the three address computation, the memory bank would have to perform two fetches and one store for a total of three units gainful work per cycle.", "The replicated memory approach supplies two identical memory banks, and stores everything in duplicate, one copy in each bank, to alleviate the fetch bandwidth.", "By storing everything in duplicate, the fetch bandwidth is alleviated by fetching one operand from each bank in parallel and storing the result back to both banks in parallel.", "Each bank in such a system performs two units of work, one fetch and one store in each cycle, rather than three.", "Thus the replicated memory approach of the prior art appears to be 1.5 times as fast as the single bank memory.", "So the replicated memory approach of the prior art requires that an instruction cycle squeeze two memory access cycles in, rather than three of the single bank memory.", "Both the single bank memory and the replicated memory approach of the prior art are limited in performance because of the possibility of conflict of accesses to the memory between a read operation and a write operation.", "Thus the read operation must be done at a time apart from the write operation.", "SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a multiple port memory device that overcomes the possibility of conflicts between read and write accesses to the memory and thereby enhances the performance of the memory device.", "The present invention is a multiple port memory apparatus responsive to r+w addresses within an instruction cycle for supplying data read from the r read addresses and for writing data received to the w write addresses.", "The memory apparatus comprises r groups of w+1 memory banks, each group responsive to one of the r read addresses and all of the w write addresses, for supplying for each of the r read addresses data read from one of the w+1 banks in one of the r groups and for writing data received to each of the w write addresses in the other of the w+1 banks in the r groups.", "A pointer means for controlling the r groups of w+1 memory banks directs the read and write accesses to the memory banks so that one of the w+1 banks obtaining valid data is read in response to a read address and so that data is written to the other banks in each cycle.", "The pointer means directs memory accessing to prevent conflicts.", "Conflicts are always avoided because one bank in each of the r groups is directed to supply data in response to a read address and the w remaining banks are available for writing data in response to the w write addresses redundantly so that each of the groups of memory banks will have valid data in at least one of its w+1 memory banks for a given address.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 1C are charts used to illustrate the principle of operation of the present invention.", "FIGS. 2A, 2B, 2C and 2D together make up a diagram of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.", "FIG. 3 is a timing chart illustrating the operation of the apparatus of FIGS. 2A, 2B, 2C and 2D while performing the example described with reference to FIGS. 1A through 1C.", "DETAILED DESCRIPTION With reference to the figures, a detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the present invention is provided.", "I. Generalized Description In this invention there is shown a way to build a pipelined multiport RAM (random access memory), which has M locations for storage of data items of width d, and which is capable of performing within one cycle r read operations and w write operations, and which has a cycle time t. Data items are stored in r groups of banks of conventional RAM, which have a cycle time t. Each group has w+1 banks, called bank 0, .", ", bank w of that group.", "Each bank has M locations for storage of data items of width d. Each group also has a pointer RAM having a cycle time equal to or less than t/(w+1).", "The pointer RAM has M locations for storage of data items of width of at least (log 2 (w+1)), so that in one location of the pointer RAM of a group of banks one can store a pointer to a particular bank of that group.", "The following property is established initially and is maintained during operation of the multiport RAM: If data item I is stored in location 1 of the multiport RAM, then in each group g there is a bank b(g,1) such that a valid copy of data item I is stored at location 1 of bank b(g,1).", "The pointer to bank b(g,1) is stored at location 1 of the pointer RAM of group g. An operation of the multiport RAM with read addresses a(0), ...", ",a(r-1) and write addresses c(0), .", ",c(w-1) is executed in the following way.", "For each group g the value b(g,a(g)) is fetched from location a(g) of the bank b indicated by the pointer in the pointer RAM of group g. This takes time t/(w+1).", "Concurrently write conflicts (equality of two of the write addresses) can be discovered.", "For each group g the content of location a(g) of bank b(g,a(g)) of group g is fetched.", "This takes time equal to or less than t and keeps one bank of each group busy reading.", "For each group g each of the w banks b in g which is not busy reading performs one of the w write operations.", "One way to do this is to perform in bank b the write operation to location c(b) if b is less than b(g, a(g)) and to perform in bank b the write operation to location c(b-1) if b is greater than b(g, a(g)).", "In this case within each group each write address c(i) has to be routed only to two memory banks, namely to banks i and i+1.", "For each group g the index b of the bank in group g which performs the write operation to location c(b) is stored in location c(b) of the pointer RAM of group g. This is done sequentially for each write address and takes no more than time wt/(w+1).", "If after this the next addresses a(1), .", ",a(r-1), c(1), .", ",c(w-1) are already available, then the lookup of the next indices b(g,a(g)) can already be started and overlapped with the last 1/(w+1)'th of the cycle time of the banks while the banks finish the previous operation.", "II.", "Method of Operation FIGS. 1A through 1C illustrate an example of the operation of the multiport RAM of the present invention, where r=2 and w=1.", "Thus there are 2 groups of banks, say group 0 and group 1.", "Each group has 2 banks, called bank 0 and bank 1.", "The pointer RAM for group 0 is called P0 and the pointer RAM for group 1 is called P1.", "Assume, as shown in FIG. 1A, that the initial contents of locations 5, 6, 7 and 8 of the multiport RAM are the values 50, 60, 70 and 80.", "Further assume that initially locations 5, 6, 7, 8 of bank 0 of each group have valid data, and that this is reflected by value 0 at locations 5, 6, 7, 8 of the two pointer RAMs P0, P1.", "Now assume a first operation is performed with addresses a(0)=5, a(1)=6 and c(0)=7.", "Further assume that in this operation value 100 is written to location 7.", "Then the index b(0,5) of the bank in group 0 which has valid data in location 5 is fetched by a read from location 5 in pointer RAM PO.", "Similarly, the index b(1,6) of the bank in group 1 which has valid data in location 6 is fetched by a read from location 6 in pointer RAM P1.", "Because b(0,5)=0 the read data from address a(0)=5 are fetched from bank 0 of group 0.", "Because bank 0 of group 0 is busy reading, the value 100 is written to address 7 of bank 1 of group 0.", "Bank 1 of group 0 now has valid data at location 7.", "This is reflected by writing value 1 to location 7 of pointer RAM P0 (See, FIG. 1B).", "Similarly, because b(1,6)=0 the read data from address a(1)=6 are fetched from bank 0 of group 1.", "Because bank 0 of group 1 is busy reading, the value 100 is also written to address 7 of bank 1 of group 1.", "Bank 1 of group 1 now has valid data at location 7.", "This is reflected by writing value 1 to location 7 of pointer RAM P1.", "The resulting situation is shown in FIG. 1B.", "Now suppose another operation is performed with read addresses a(0)=7, a(2)=8 and write address c(0)=5.", "Further assume that in this operation value 200 is written to location 5.", "Then the index b(0,7) of the bank in group 0 which has valid data in location 7 is fetched by a read from location 7 in pointer RAM P0.", "Similarly, the index b(1,8) of the bank in group 1 which has valid data in location 8 is fetched by a read from location 8 in pointer RAM P1.", "Because b(0,7)=1 the read data from address a(0)=7 are fetched from bank 1 of group 0.", "Because bank 1 of group 0 is busy reading, value 200 is written to address 5 of bank 0 of group 0.", "Bank 0 of group 0 now has valid data at location 5.", "This is reflected by writing value 0 to location 5 of pointer RAM P0 (See, FIG. 1C).", "Because b(1,8)=0 the read data from address a(1)=8 are fetched from bank 0 of group 1.", "Because bank 0 of group 1 is busy reading, value 200 is also written to address 5 of bank 1 of group 1.", "Bank 1 of group 1 now has valid data at location 5.", "This is reflected by writing value 1 to location 5 of pointer RAM P1.", "The new situation is shown in FIG. 1C.", "III.", "Implementation In FIGS. 2A, 2B, 2C and 2D there is shown a multiport RAM memory device 10 capable of concurrently performing r=2 read operations and w=1 write operations.", "The memory device 10 shown in FIGS. 2A, 2B, 2C and 2D is responsive to a first address a(0), a second address a(1) and a third address c(0) within an instruction cycle to supply data read from the first and second addresses and for writing data received to the third address.", "The first, second and third addresses are supplied to address registers 101, 102 and 103 respectively.", "The data read from the first and second addresses is supplied at output registers 129 and 149 respectively.", "The data received for writing to the third address is received in register 133.", "The apparatus 10 includes a first group 11, labelled group 0 of two memory banks 126,132, labelled bank 0 and bank 1, respectively.", "The first group 11 is responsive to the first address a(0) from register 101 which is moved through register 121 and multiplexers 124 and 130 to one of the two banks 126, 132.", "Also the first group 11 is responsive to the third address c(0) which is moved through register 123 and through the multiplexers 124 and 130 to the other of the two banks, 126, 132.", "Data from the first address a(0) is supplied from one bank of the two banks 126, 132 at the respective data output ports 127, 135.", "Through multiplexer 128 the data is then supplied to the output register 129.", "The data received at the input register 133, is supplied through the drivers 136 or 134 to the data ports 127, 135 of the two banks 126,132, only one of which is enabled for a write.", "The third address c(0) is supplied to that one bank which is enabled for a write and the data is written.", "Thus data is read from one of the two banks while data is written to the other of the two banks during a given memory access cycle.", "The apparatus further comprises a second group 12, labelled group 1, of two memory banks 146, 152 designated bank 0 and bank 1 respectively.", "The second group 12 of two memory banks 146, 152 is configured in the same manner as the first group 11, group 0.", "However, the second address a(1) which is moved through register 122 is supplied to multiplexers 144, 150 in conjunction with the third address c(0) from the register 123.", "The second group supplies data read from one of the two banks through the data port 147, 155 and the multiplexer 148 to the output register 149.", "The other bank writes data received from register 133 through the drivers 156 or 154 at the third address c(0).", "Associated with the apparatus 10 is a pointer means for controlling the first group 11 and the second group 12 so that the one of the two banks containing valid data is read in response to the read address a(0) or a(1) and that data received through register 133 is written to the other bank.", "The pointer means includes means 13, 14 for storing pointers to the banks containing valid data at the first and second addresses in the first and second groups, respectively.", "The means 13 is responsive to the first address a(0) from register 101 through multiplexer 104 to provide a pointer at a data output register 108.", "The pointer is stored in the RAM 107 and accessed through address port 106.", "Also the means 13 is responsive to the third address c(0) in register 103 through multiplexer 104 for writing data received at the data input port 112 to the RAM 107 at the address in the port 106.", "The means 14 associated with the second group 12 includes a similar apparatus except that it is responsive to the second address a(1) from register 102 rather than the first address.", "Further included in the pointer means for the first group 11 is a first means 15 for supplying the first address a(0) to the one bank in the first group containing valid data and for supplying the third address to the other bank.", "The first means 15 includes flipflop 109 which latches the pointer supplied at the data output port 108 of the pointer RAMs 107 corresponding to the first address a(0).", "The pointer is maintained in the flipflop 109 which provides a true output 110 and a complement output 111.", "The true output 110 and complement output 111 are provided to the first group so that the multiplexers 124 and 130 supply the first address to the one bank having valid data while the other bank is enabled for a write operation.", "Also, the complement output 111 is supplied at the data input port 112 of the pointer RAM 107 so that a pointer indicating that valid data at the third address c(0) is stored in the other bank is written to the pointer RAM 107.", "The second group also includes a second means 16 for supplying the second address a(1) to the one bank in the second group 12 containing valid data and the third address to the other bank in the second group 12.", "It is configured in the same manner as described above for the first group.", "The operation of the apparatus 10 shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B is described in detail below.", "Read addresses a(0) and a(1) are loaded into registers 101 and 102.", "The write address c(0) is loaded into register 103.", "The pointer value b(0,a(0)) is fetched by routing address a(0) from register 101 via multiplexer 104 to address port 106 of the pointer RAM 107 of bank 0.", "RAM 107 performs a read and the result is loaded from data output port 108 of pointer RAM 107 into flipflop 109.", "The noninverting output 110 of flipflop 109 gives the index of the bank of group 0 that will perform the read operation.", "The inverting output 111 of flipflop 109 gives the index of the bank of group 0 that will perform the write operation and the new value of b(0,c(0)) which is routed to the data input port 112 of RAM 107.", "After pointer b(0, a(0)) has been fetched, the new pointer value b(0,c(0)) is stored into RAM 107 by routing address c(0) from register 103 via mux 104 to address port 106 of the pointer RAM 107 of bank 0 and having pointer RAM 107 perform a read operation.", "Similarly, the pointer value b(1,a(1)) is fetched by routing address a(1) from register 102 via multiplexer 113 to address port 114 of the pointer RAM 115 of bank 1.", "RAM 115 performs a read and the result is loaded from data output port 116 of pointer RAM 115 into flipflop 117.", "The noninverting output 118 of flipflop 117 gives the index of the bank of group 1, which will perform the read operation.", "The inverting output 119 of flipflop 117 gives the index of the bank of group 1 that will perform the write operation and the new value of b(1,c(0)) which is routed to the data input port 120 of RAM 115.", "After pointer b(1, a(1)) has been fetched, the new pointer value b(1,c(0)) is stored into RAM 115 by routing address c(0) from register 103 via mux 113 to address port 114 of the pointer RAM 115 of bank 1 and having pointer RAM 115 perform a read operation.", "At the time when the pointer values b(0,a(0)) and b(1,a(1)) are loaded in into flipflops 109 and 117, the value of address a(0) is pipelined from register 101 into register 121, and the value of address a(1) is pipelined from register 102 into register 122, and the value of address c(0) is pipelined from register 103 into register 123.", "In case b(0,a(0))=0 the pipelined read address a'", "(0) in register 121 is routed via mux 124 to address port 125 of memory bank 126 which is bank 0 of group 0.", "Memory bank 126 performs a read operation.", "The result is routed from the data port 127 of memory bank 126 via mux 128 to the data output register 129 of group 0.", "Also in case b(0,a(0))=0 the pipelined write address c'(0) in register 123 is routed via mux 130 to address port 131 of memory bank 132, which is bank 1 of group 0.", "The data to be written into the multiport RAM is routed from data input register 133 via driver 134 to the data port 135 of memory bank 132.", "Memory bank 132 performs a write operation.", "In case b(0,a(0))=1 the pipelined read address a'(0) in register 121 is routed via mux 130 to address port 131 of memory bank 132.", "Memory bank 132 performs a read operation.", "The result is routed from the data port 135 of memory bank 132 via mux 128 to the data output register 129 of group 0.", "Also in case b(0,a(0))=1 the pipelined write address c'(0) in register 123 is routed via mux 124 to address port 125 of memory bank 126.", "The data to be written into the multiport RAM is routed from data input register 133 via driver 136 to the data port 127 of memory bank 126.", "Memory bank 126 performs a write operation.", "The select lines of multiplexers 124, 130 and 128, the (active low) write signals of memory banks 126 and 132 as well as the (active low) output enable signals of drivers 134 and 136 are directly controlled by the noninverted output 110 and the inverted output 111 of flipflop 109.", "Similarly, in case b(1,a(1))=0 the pipelined read address a'(1) in register 122 is routed via mux 144 to address port 145 of memory bank 146 which is bank 0 of group 1.", "Memory bank 146 performs a read operation.", "The result is routed from the data port 147 of memory bank 146 via mux 148 to the data output register 149 of group 1.", "Also in case b(1,a(1))=0 the pipelined write address c'(0) in register 123 is routed via mux 150 to address port 151 of memory bank 152, which is bank 1 of group 1.", "The data to be written into the multiport RAM is routed from data input register 133 via driver 154 to the data port 155 of memory bank 152.", "Memory bank 152 performs a write operation.", "In case b(1,a(1))=1 the pipelined read address a'(1) in register 122 is routed via mux 150 to address port 151 of memory bank 152.", "Memory bank 152 performs a read operation.", "The result is routed from the data port 155 of memory bank 152 via mux 148 to the data output register 149 of group 0.", "Also in case b(1,a(1))=1 the pipelined write address c'(0) in register 123 is routed via mux 144 to address port 145 of memory bank 146.", "The data to be written into the multiport RAM is routed from data input register 133 via driver 156 to the data port 147 of memory bank 146.", "Memory bank 146 performs a write operation.", "The select lines of multiplexers 144, 150 and 148, the (active low) write signals of memory banks 146 and 152 as well as the (active low) output enable signals of drivers 154 and 156 are directly controlled by the noninverted output 118 and the inverted output 119 of flipflop 117.", "FIG. 3 shows a self explanatory timing diagram for the apparatus of FIGS. 2A, 2B, 2C and 2D when the operations illustrated in FIGS. 1A, 1B and 1C are executed.", "Table 1 gives a list of widely available components which can be used to build the apparatus of FIG. 2. Using these components a 3-port RAM with 2K memory locations, a cycle time of about 100 ns and capable of performing 2 reads and 1 write in 1 cycle can be built.", "This matches the 100 ns cycle time of the fastest floating point ALU and multiplier chips presently available.", "TABLE 1______________________________________REGISTERS 101, 102, 103, F374 121, 122, 123, 129, 149, 133MULTIPLEXERS 104, 113, 124, F157 130, 144, 150, 128, 148DRIVERS 136, 134, 156, F244 154POINTER RAM 107, 115 Am93425ABANK RAM 126, 132, 146, Am9128-10 152FLIP-FLOP 109,117 F74.", "______________________________________ IV.", "Conclusion According to the present invention, it is clear that there is no conflict of accesses for performing multiple reads and writes in a given memory access cycle.", "The pointer RAMs can be made to operate very fast, and the action of the pointer RAMs can be made to overlap in time with the operation of the memory banks.", "Thereby, the apparatus performs the work of the multiple reads and writes in essentially the cycle time of the memory banks providing a significant performance advantage over the prior art.", "The embodiments described were chosen for the purpose of illustration of the preferred implementation of the invention.", "Those skilled in the art will recognize that modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention.", "It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the claims attached hereto." ]

[ "FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates to devices for administering drugs to patients, and in particular to autoinjectors.", "BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION [0002] An autoinjector is a drug delivery device that contains a medical, therapeutic, diagnostic, pharmaceutical or cosmetic compound (drug) before it is administered, and which is used to administer the compound through the skin of the patient via a hollow needle.", "Autoinjectors may be used by the patient themselves or by a different user, and may be used to administer drugs to animals.", "[0003] Autoinjectors are typically used because they reduce the amount of training and effort needed by a user compared with that needed for a syringe, by automating either or both processes of inserting the needle into the patient and expelling the drug through the needle.", "They can also reduce the fear of injection by hiding the needle from the patient and protect the patient from needle stick injuries.", "[0004] Autoinjectors typically include a housing containing a drug and a plunger that is driven by an automatic mechanism to move the plunger within the housing to eject the drug.", "The automatic mechanism may also move the needle relative to the housing to insert the needle into a subject.", "Motive power for the mechanisms may come from one or more springs or other power sources such as compressed gas.", "[0005] Autoinjectors are used to deliver so-called crisis drugs such as epinephrine, where a patient may need to self-inject the drug while under the severe stress of anaphylactic shock.", "They are also used to deliver drugs for long-term conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, where the patient may have limited dexterity.", "[0006] In both cases it is beneficial for the autoinjector to have a simple and easy user interface in order to maximise the likelihood that the patient is able to operate the autoinjector correctly and receive the drug.", "It would also be desirable to provide an audible indication to the patient that drug delivery has been successfully completed.", "[0007] It is also desirable for the autoinjector to be small, reliable and robust, simple to manufacture, secure during transport and before intended use, and suitable for drugs having high viscosity.", "SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0008] The invention is defined in the appended independent claims, to which reference should be made.", "Advantageous features are set out in the dependent claims.", "[0009] In a first aspect, there is provided a drug delivery device comprising: a drug container containing a drug;", "a plunger within the drug container, movement of the plunger within the drug container being operative to deliver the drug from the drug container;", "and a drive mechanism, the drive mechanism comprising: a stored energy source, the stored energy source configured to release energy by expanding from a compressed state, a first drive element coupled to the stored energy source, and a second drive element coupled to the first drive element and positioned between the first drive element and the plunger, wherein in a first position of the drive mechanism the first drive element is constrained from moving in an axial direction relative to the second drive element but in a second position of the drive mechanism the first drive element is free to move in the axial direction relative to the second drive element such that a first surface of the first drive element is driven against a first surface of the second drive element by the stored energy source to produce an audible signal indicative of the completion of drug delivery from the drug container.", "[0013] Previous mechanisms used to provide an audible indication of completion of drug delivery in drug delivery devices have suffered from the problem that the audible indication has not been loud enough.", "They have typically relied on a portion of the drive element used to drive the drug out of the device striking a stationary part of the device housing as it moves past that stationary part.", "The solution of the present invention is to use a stored energy source to drive two parts of a multi-part drive mechanism against each other when the drive mechanism reaches a predetermined position within the device.", "This allows a much greater noise to be generated as the parts can be made rigid and may be driven against each other at high speed.", "[0014] Advantageously the expansion of the stored energy source moves the drive mechanism from the first position to the second position.", "[0015] In order to constrain the first drive element from moving in the axial direction relative to the second drive element in the first position, a further component within the drive mechanism, which interacts with an external component of the device, may be used.", "Alternatively, an external component of the housing through which the drive mechanism moves may be used to interact with the first or second drive element to constrain relative axial movement between the first and second drive element.", "[0016] In some embodiments, the drive mechanism may comprise a third drive element, the third drive element constraining relative movement between the first drive element and the second drive element when the drive mechanism is in the first position, wherein the third drive element is configured to engage the drug container or a portion of a housing of the drug delivery device as the drive mechanism moves to the second position.", "[0017] The third drive element may be configured to engage the drug container or a portion of the housing of the drug delivery device at a release position between the first position and the second position of the drive mechanism, and, as the drive mechanism moves from the release position to the second position, the third drive element may be held stationary relative to the drug container or housing to release the first or second drive member from the third drive member.", "The third drive element may be positioned between the first and second drive elements.", "[0018] It is important that the first surface of the first drive element is driven against the first surface of the second drive element reliably and at the correct time, which is when the drug has been fully (or almost fully) expelled from the drug container by the drive mechanism.", "There are inevitably some small variations in the dimensions of the component parts of the device from one device to the next, no matter what manufacturing process is used.", "An advantage of configuring the third element to engage the drug container directly is that it means that relatively few separate components are involved in determining when the first drive element is driven against the first surface of the second drive element, so the requirement for very fine dimensional tolerances for each component is reduced, and the timing of the audible indication can more closely match the end of drug delivery.", "[0019] In the first position of the drive mechanism, the first drive element and the second drive element may be constrained from relative rotation.", "In the second position of the drive mechanism the first drive element and the second drive element may be free to rotate relative to one another and, following or during relative rotation, may move in an axial direction relative to one another.", "[0020] The first drive element may comprise a first bearing surface, and the second drive element may comprise a second bearing surface engaging the first bearing surface in the first position of the drive mechanism, wherein rotation of the first drive element relative to the second drive element moves the first bearing surface off the second bearing surface, allowing the first surface of the first drive element to strike the first surface of the second drive element, wherein in the first position of the drive mechanism, the third drive element constrains relative rotation between the first drive element and the second drive element, and in the second position, the third drive element is moved axially relative to the first and second drive elements to a position in which the third drive element does not constrain relative rotation between the first drive element and the second drive element.", "[0021] The second drive element may comprise a first axially extending protrusion or slot that in the first position engages the third drive element to prevent relative rotation between the second drive element and the third drive element, and the first drive element may comprise an axially extending slot or protrusion that in the first position engages with the third drive element to prevent relative rotation between the third drive element and the first drive element.", "[0022] The third drive element may extend around at least a portion of the second drive element and the first drive element may extend around at least a portion of the third drive element.", "The first and third drive elements may be generally tubular.", "[0023] Alternatively, or in addition, the drug delivery device may comprise a housing component coupled to or integral with the drug container, the housing component constraining the first drive element from moving relative to the second drive element in the first position of the drive mechanism.", "The drug delivery device may further comprise an external housing, wherein the drug container is configured to move through the external housing during operation of the device, and wherein the housing component moves through the external housing with the drug container.", "The drug delivery device may comprise a hypodermic needle and the housing component may be part of a needle insertion mechanism that moves the drug container through the housing to insert the needle into an injection site.", "[0024] The drug delivery device may be an autoinjector.", "[0025] In a second aspect, there is provided a drug delivery device comprising: a housing;", "a drug container, and an powerpack assembly coupled to the drug container, the powerpack assembly comprising: a stored energy source, the stored energy source configured to release energy by expanding from a compressed state;", "an insertion member engaging the stored energy source and positioned between the stored energy source and the drug container;", "and a retaining means, in a first position the retaining means engaging the stored energy source and the insertion member to retain the stored energy source in a first compressed state;", "wherein the retaining means and housing are configured such that the retaining means is moved by the housing to a second position on engagement of the powerpack assembly with the housing, the retaining means being disengaged from the stored energy source or the insertion member in the second position;", "the drug container and housing being configured such that the stored energy source is retained in a second compressed state by the drug container when the retaining means is moved to the second position, and a triggering mechanism configured to release the stored energy source from the second compressed state when the autoinjector is to be used.", "[0035] The housing may comprise a first cam surface configured to engage a second cam surface on the retaining means.", "The retaining means and housing may be configured such that the retaining means is rotated by the housing to the second position on engagement of the powerpack assembly with the housing.", "[0036] The stored energy source may be a compression spring or a gas spring, for example.", "[0037] The drug delivery device may further comprise a drive mechanism configured to drive a plunger through the drug container, the drive mechanism comprising a second stored energy source, and a release mechanism configured to control a sequence of release of the first stored energy source and the second stored energy source, wherein the retaining means forms a part of the release mechanism.", "[0038] The drive mechanism may be configured to drive the drug container through the housing in a longitudinal direction, and wherein the retaining means comprises a longitudinally extending retaining limb that retains a drive element of the drive mechanism to the insertion member to prevent a release of the second stored energy source.", "The retaining limb may be configured to release the drive element from the insertion member substantially at an end of travel of the drug container through the housing.", "The retaining means and housing may be configured such that the retaining means is rotated about a longitudinal axis by the housing to the second position.", "[0039] The retaining means may be held within the housing and is inaccessible to a user during use.", "As used herein, the axial direction, the longitudinal direction and the insertion direction are used to mean the same direction.", "[0040] Prior to use of the device, the first stored energy source may be positioned at least partially within the second stored energy source.", "The insertion element may comprise a first portion comprising a bearing surface engaging the first stored energy source, and a second portion extending from the first portion, the second portion defining a recess in which the second stored energy source is received.", "[0041] The insertion element may be assembled from two components to simplify manufacture and assembly of the device.", "[0042] The drive member may comprise a mechanism for providing an audible indication in accordance with the first aspect of the invention.", "[0043] The drug container may be retained by one or more latches on the housing or on an internal component coupled to the housing, to retain the stored energy source in the second compressed state.", "[0044] The triggering mechanism may comprise a movable skin sensor element, configured such that when the skin sensor element is pressed onto an injection site, the skin sensor element moves to release the drive means from the second deformed condition.", "[0045] The drug delivery device may be an autoinjector.", "[0046] In a third aspect of the invention there is provided a method for assembling a drug delivery device according to the second aspect of the invention, comprising the steps of: placing or forming a stored energy source in a powerpack assembly having a powerpack housing;", "retaining the stored energy source in the powerpack assembly in a first compressed condition using a retaining means coupled to the drive member and the powerpack housing in a first position;", "coupling the powerpack assembly to a drug container assembly, the drug container assembly containing a drug to be dispensed by the autoinjector;", "coupling the powerpack assembly and drug container assembly to an outer housing;", "and moving the retaining means to a second position to release the stored energy source to second compressed condition, wherein the drug container assembly and outer housing retain the stored energy source in the second compressed condition and wherein in the second compressed condition the stored energy source stores sufficient potential energy for needle insertion and/or drug ejection when the autoinjector is to be used.", "[0052] The step of moving the retaining means may be performed as a consequence of the step of coupling to the outer housing.", "[0053] The step of moving the retaining means may comprise rotation of the retaining means relative to the powerpack housing.", "[0054] In a fourth aspect, there is provided a drug delivery device comprising: a device housing;", "a drug container within the housing and containing a drug, and a plunger positioned within the drug container, the drug container having an outlet for dispensing the drug;", "and a powerpack assembly, the powerpack assembly comprising an insertion member fixed to or abutting the drug container, a first stored energy source positioned between the insertion member and the device housing, and a second stored energy source positioned between the insertion member and a drive member, wherein, in use, the drive member is configured to engage the plunger, wherein, in an initial position, the first stored energy source is located at least partially within the second stored energy source.", "[0058] The insertion member may be driven by the first stored energy source to move the drug container through the housing and the drive member may be driven by the second stored energy source to move the plunger through the drug container.", "[0059] The second stored energy source may be held within the insertion member before operation of the device.", "[0060] The insertion member may comprise a first portion comprising a first bearing surface engaging the first stored energy source, and a second portion extending from the first portion, the second portion defining a recess in which the second stored energy source is received.", "The first or second portion of the insertion member may comprise a second bearing surface engaging the drive member.", "[0061] The drug delivery device may further comprise a retaining means, the retaining means coupled to the device housing, and extending within the first stored energy source and engaging the drive member or the insertion member to prevent the drive member from disengaging from the second bearing surface.", "The device may be configured such that movement of the insertion member through the housing to an insertion position releases the drive member from the retaining means.", "[0062] The first stored energy source may be configured to expand to release energy to drive the insertion member within the device housing and the first stored energy source may be initially prevented from expanding by the engagement of a portion of the device housing with the drug container.", "[0063] The drug delivery device may be an autoinjector.", "[0064] In a fifth aspect of the invention, there is provided a drug delivery device, comprising: a drug container;", "an internal housing;", "an insertion mechanism coupled to the drug container and configured to move the drug container through the internal housing in an insertion direction;", "a skin sensor element, configured to contact an injection site in use;", "and a skin sensor biasing element biasing the skin sensor in the insertion direction;", "wherein the skin sensor element is movable in a direction opposite to the insertion direction from an initial position to a retracted position to trigger the insertion mechanism;", "wherein the internal housing includes a first latching element to restrain the skin sensor element from moving from the initial position in the insertion direction, wherein the first latching element comprises a latching surface configured to engage the skin sensor element and a first camming surface;", "and wherein either the drug container or the insertion mechanism includes a second camming surface, wherein the second camming surface is configured to engage the first camming surface to move the first latching element as the drug container is moved through the internal housing in the axial direction, thereby allowing the skin sensor element to move in the insertion direction past the initial position to an extended position.", "In the extended position the skin sensor element covers the needle.", "[0073] The first latching element may comprise a resilient cantilever arm, wherein the latching surface and the first camming surface are formed at a free end of the cantilever arm.", "The cantilever arm may be held in tension by the skin sensor element and skin sensor biasing element when the skin sensor is in the initial position.", "[0074] The internal housing may define a central bore through which the drug container moves, and the first and second camming surfaces may be configured to move the latching element in a direction parallel to a perimeter of the bore.", "The first camming surface may be positioned inwardly of the latching surface.", "The first camming surface advantageously extends non-parallel with the latching surface.", "Inwardly in this context means further from an exterior surface of the device.", "[0075] The skin sensor element may comprise at least a first aperture that aligns with a drug container latch on the internal housing when the skin sensor element is in the retracted position.", "[0076] The skin sensor may be configured so as not to occlude a window in the internal housing for viewing the drug container when in the initial or retracted position.", "[0077] The drug delivery device may further comprise a second latching element formed on the internal housing, the second latching element being configured to prevent the skin sensor moving to the retracted position after it has been released from the first latching element.", "The second latching element may engage a second aperture or a protrusion on the skin sensor element.", "[0078] In the retracted position the skin sensor element may abut the internal housing to prevent further movement of the skin sensor element relative to the internal housing in a direction opposite to the insertion direction.", "[0079] The drug delivery device may be an autoinjector.", "[0080] In a sixth aspect of the invention there is provided a needle assembly comprising: a hypodermic needle;", "a needle hub to which the needle is fixed at a first end;", "a needle shield coupled to the needle hub and covering a second end of the needle;", "wherein the needle shield comprises a rigid body, the rigid body providing a sterile barrier around at least a portion of the needle;", "and a compliant element within the rigid body, the compliant member providing a liquid tight seal around a second end of the needle, wherein the rigid body is configured to provide an interference fit with the needle hub and thereby provides a seal around the needle hub.", "[0086] The rigid body may be formed from a moulded plastics material, such as high-density polyethylene or polypropylene.", "[0087] The needle assembly may comprise at least one circumferential rib on an interior surface of the rigid body or on an external surface of the needle hub.", "Preferably, the needle assembly comprises at least two circumferential ribs on the interior surface of the rigid body.", "The radius of curvature of each rib at the contact point, prior to fitting of the rigid body to the needle hub is preferably less than 0.6 mm.", "The contact point of each rib is the point on the surface of the rib that is configured to first contact the needle hub when the rigid body is fitted to the needle hub.", "[0088] The needle hub may be formed from a moulded plastics material, such as cyclic olefin polymer.", "The needle hub may have a surface finish having a maximum distance between peak and trough of 2 μm or less.", "Preferably, a surface finish of the needle hub is 0.2 Ra or less.", "The needle hub may have a circular cylindrical outer surface to which the rigid body is coupled.", "An interior surface of the rigid body preferably has a surface finish of 0.2 Ra or less.", "An interior surface of the rigid body may have a surface finish having a maximum distance between peak and trough of 2 μm or less.", "[0089] The rigid body may comprise an external surface having at least one protrusion or recess.", "At least a portion of the rigid body may be transparent.", "[0090] The compliant element may be fully enclosed, or may be only partially enclosed, by the rigid body and needle hub.", "The compliant element may be retained in the rigid body by at least one protrusion on the rigid body.", "[0091] The needle assembly may further comprise at least one vent in the compliant element or the rigid body for allowing air to escape from the rigid body during insertion of the compliant element into the rigid body.", "Alternatively, the rigid body may be moulded over the compliant element, or the compliant element may be moulded inside the rigid body.", "[0092] In a seventh aspect of the invention, there is provided an autoinjector or syringe comprising a needle assembly in accordance with the sixth aspect.", "[0093] In an eighth aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of manufacturing a needle assembly comprising: fixing a first end of a needle to a needle hub;", "and coupling a needle shield to the needle hub, the needle shield covering a second end of the needle;", "wherein the needle shield comprises a rigid body and a complaint element, wherein the rigid body is configured to provide an interference fit with the needle hub and thereby provide a seal around the needle hub, the rigid body providing a sterile barrier around at least a portion of the needle, the step of coupling including inserting a second end of the needle into the compliant element such that the compliant element provides a liquid tight seal around the second end of the needle.", "[0096] In a ninth aspect of the invention, there is provided a drug delivery device comprising: a drug container assembly comprising a drug container containing a drug, a hypodermic needle coupled to the drug container and through which the drug can be dispensed and a plunger within the drug container;", "an internal housing, the drug container positioned within the internal housing and movable through the internal housing;", "a powerpack assembly comprising at least one stored energy source, the powerpack assembly coupled to the drug container;", "a lower housing fixed to the internal housing;", "an upper housing fixed to the lower housing and enclosing the powerpack assembly;", "a skin sensor element extending between the lower housing and the internal housing and movable relative to the internal housing and the lower housing;", "and a cap covering the skin sensor element and coupled to the lower housing.", "[0104] The upper housing may be fixed to the lower housing using one or more mechanical fixings.", "[0105] The device may be configured such that movement of the skin sensor element relative to the internal housing from an initial position to a retracted position releases the stored energy source within the powerpack assembly.", "[0106] The internal housing may comprise retaining latches, which, when the skin sensor element is in the initial position, are engaged with the drug container to retain the drug container in an initial position of the drug container to retain the stored energy source, and wherein movement of the skin sensor element to the retracted position allows the retaining latches to disengage from the drug container, thereby releasing the stored energy source.", "[0107] The internal housing may comprise first latching elements that restrain the skin sensor element from movement out of the initial position.", "The first latching elements may be resilient arms that engage the skin sensor element at a free end.", "[0108] The lower housing or internal housing may comprise second latching elements that lock the skin sensor element in an extended position after the skin sensor has moved to the extended position.", "[0109] The powerpack assembly may comprise first and second stored energy sources, wherein the first stored energy source provides energy to move the drug container from an initial position of the drug container to an insertion position of the drug container, and wherein the second stored energy source provides energy to move the plunger within the drug container to dispense the drug.", "The powerpack assembly may be fixed to the drug container.", "The stored energy sources may be compression springs.", "[0110] The powerpack assembly may comprise a retaining means in accordance with the second aspect of the invention.", "The powerpack may comprise a drive mechanism in accordance with the first aspect of the invention.", "[0111] The internal housing may comprise a stopping surface configured to engage the drug container as the drug container moves to an insertion position.", "The stopping surface may comprise one or more resilient cantilever beams that are deformed by the drug container as the drug container moves to an insertion position.", "[0112] The cap may directly or indirectly engage the skin sensor element, to prevent the skin sensor element from moving to a retracted position from an initial position.", "[0113] The upper housing or lower housing may comprise an aperture to allow for viewing of the drug.", "The internal housing or the lower housing may be transparent and may be configured to engage the aperture in upper housing.", "[0114] The upper housing may comprise two major surfaces each including an aperture to allow for viewing of the drug, and two minor surfaces.", "The first and second latching elements may be positioned adjacent a minor surface of the upper housing.", "[0115] The drug delivery device may be an autoinjector.", "[0116] In a tenth aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of assembling a drug delivery device according to the ninth aspect, comprising the steps of: providing the powerpack assembly;", "providing the drug container assembly;", "providing a front end assembly comprising the internal housing, the lower housing and the skin sensor and the cap;", "providing the upper housing;", "coupling the powerpack assembly to the drug container assembly;", "coupling the drug container assembly to the front end assembly;", "and coupling the powerpack assembly, drug container assembly and front end assembly to the upper housing.", "[0124] The step of coupling the powerpack assembly to the drug container assembly may be performed before or after the step of coupling the drug container assembly to the front end assembly.", "Similarly, the cap may be coupled to the other elements of the front end assembly at any point in the method.", "[0125] In an eleventh aspect of the invention, there is provided a drug delivery device comprising;", "a housing;", "a drug container within the housing, a powerpack assembly configured to move the drug container through the housing in an axial direction from an initial position to an insertion position, wherein the housing includes a stopping surface configured to engage the drug container when the drug container reaches the insertion position, wherein the stopping surface is provided on a least one resilient beam on the housing, the resilient beam being deflectable in the axial direction.", "[0130] The stopping surface may be provided on a pair of cantilever beams.", "The device may comprise an outer housing and an internal housing, and the stopping surface is provided on the internal housing.", "[0131] The drug container may comprise a hypodermic needle.", "[0132] The drug delivery device may be an autoinjector.", "[0133] In a twelfth aspect of the invention, there is provided a drug delivery device comprising;", "a housing;", "a drug container within the housing and containing a drug to be dispensed, the drug container having a first end defining a first opening;", "a plunger, positioned within the drug container, in contact with the drug;", "a first sealing element providing a first closure seal across the first opening of the drug container;", "a pusher initially located on an opposite side of the first closure seal to the plunger, wherein the pusher is operable to break the first closure seal and move the plunger within the drug container to dispense the drug;", "and an insertion mechanism configured to move the drug container through the housing, wherein, prior to use, the pusher and the insertion mechanism are held out of contact with the first sealing element.", "[0141] The sealing element may be laminated foil and may be welded or glued to the drug container.", "The term “closure seal”", "as used herein in the claims and description means a seal that prevents deterioration or contamination of a drug in a container against foreseeable external factors in storage.", "A closure seal maintains the safety, identity, strength, quality, sterility and/or purity of a drug in a container in compliance with official, regulatory or established requirements.", "[0142] The drug container may comprise a second opening through which the drug is dispensed and at least one side wall extending between the first opening and the second opening, wherein the drive mechanism is engaged to the at least one sidewall.", "[0143] The drug delivery device may be an autoinjector.", "[0144] In a thirteenth aspect there is provided a drug delivery device comprising;", "a housing;", "a drug container within the housing and containing a drug to be dispensed, the drug container having a first end defining a first opening;", "a plunger, positioned within the drug container, in contact with the drug;", "a first sealing element providing a first closure seal across the first opening of the drug container;", "a pusher initially located on an opposite side of the first closure seal to the plunger, wherein the pusher is operable to break the first closure seal and move the plunger within the drug container to dispense the drug;", "and an insertion mechanism configured to move the drug container through the housing prior to operation of the pusher to break the first closure seal, wherein, no elements of the insertion mechanism and housing contact the first sealing element as the drug container is moved through the housing.", "[0152] The drug delivery device may be an autoinjector.", "[0153] Features described in relation to one aspect of the invention may equally be applied to any other aspect of the invention.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0154] Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: [0155] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an autoinjector in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention, prior to use;", "[0156] FIG. 2 is a first cross-section through the autoinjector of FIG. 1 ;", "[0157] FIG. 3 is a second cross-section through the autoinjector of FIG. 1 ;", "[0158] FIG. 4 a is a perspective view of the drug container assembly;", "[0159] FIG. 4 b is a cross-section view of the drug container assembly;", "[0160] FIG. 5 is a cross-section showing the needle shield and the needle hub of the drug container;", "[0161] FIG. 6 a is a first partial cross-section of the powerpack housing;", "[0162] FIG. 6 b is a second partial cross-section of the powerpack housing;", "[0163] FIG. 7 is a top perspective view of the powerpack assembly;", "[0164] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the drive member in an initial configuration;", "[0165] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the drive member in a final configuration, after drug delivery;", "[0166] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the skin sensor element;", "[0167] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the internal housing;", "[0168] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of lower housing;", "[0169] FIG. 13 a is a side view of the device with the upper housing and cap removed, showing the skin sensor element in an initial position;", "[0170] FIG. 13 b is a side view of the device with the upper housing and cap removed, showing the skin sensor element in a retracted position;", "[0171] FIG. 13 e is a side view of the device with the upper housing and cap removed, showing the skin sensor element in a retracted position and with the skin sensor latching element deflected by the powerpack assembly;", "[0172] FIG. 13 d is a side view of the device with the upper housing and cap removed, showing the skin sensor element and powerpack assembly in a final position;", "[0173] FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the cap;", "[0174] FIG. 15 is a cross-section view of the front end of the device prior to removal of the cap;", "[0175] FIG. 16 a -16 g are cross-section views of the first embodiment, illustrating the sequence of operation;", "[0176] FIG. 17 is a schematic diagram illustrating the assembly process of an autoinjector in accordance with the first embodiment of the invention;", "[0177] FIG. 18 is a perspective view of an autoinjector in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention, prior to use;", "[0178] FIG. 19 is a first cross-section through the autoinjector of FIG. 18 ;", "[0179] FIG. 20 is a second cross-section through the autoinjector of FIG. 18 ;", "[0180] FIG. 21 is a perspective view of the drug container assembly of the second embodiment;", "[0181] FIG. 22 is a perspective view of the powerpack housing of the second embodiment;", "[0182] FIG. 23 is a perspective view of a skin sensor element of the second embodiment;", "[0183] FIG. 24 is a perspective view of a chassis of the second embodiment;", "[0184] FIGS. 25 a to 25 c are side views of the skin sensor element, chassis and powerpack housing showing the sequence of movement of the skin sensor element during use;", "[0185] FIG. 26 is a perspective view of the lower housing of the second embodiment;", "[0186] FIG. 27 is a perspective of the cap of the second embodiment;", "[0187] FIGS. 28 a to 28 e are cross-section views of the second embodiment, illustrating the sequence of operation;", "[0188] FIG. 29 is a schematic diagram illustrating the assembly process of an autoinjector in accordance with the second embodiment of the invention;", "and [0189] FIG. 30 illustrates the mechanism by which the powerpack is disengaged from the outer housing as it engages the chassis.", "DETAILED DESCRIPTION [0190] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an autoinjector 1 in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention, before use.", "The autoinjector comprises an outer housing 20 , having a viewing window 22 through which a drug within the autoinjector can be inspected.", "A cap 30 is provided to cover the end of the device through which the needle passes during operation and to prevent inadvertent activation of the device.", "The autoinjector is compact, being approximately 10 cm long and fits easily in a user's hand.", "[0191] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view through the autoinjector 1 of FIG. 1 .", "FIG. 3 is a second cross-sectional view through the autoinjector of FIG. 1 , at 90 degrees to the cross-section of FIG. 2 .", "[0192] The autoinjector 1 shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 comprises a drug container assembly (shown in FIGS. 4 a and 4 b ), a powerpack assembly (shown partially in FIGS. 6 a , 6 b and 7 ) including an end of delivery noise generating mechanism (shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 ), an internal housing (shown in FIG. 11 ), herein referred to as the chassis, a skin sensor assembly comprising a skin sensor element (shown in FIG. 10 ) and a skin sensor spring, a lower housing (shown in FIG. 12 ), an outer housing and a cap (shown in FIG. 14 ).", "[0193] The drug container assembly 10 is held within the chassis 120 and in operation moves through the chassis.", "The drug container assembly 10 is retained in an initial position by latches 122 on the chassis, which engage protrusions 13 on the drug container and which are prevented from releasing the drug container by the skin sensor assembly.", "The skin sensor assembly comprises a skin sensor element 112 and a skin sensor spring 114 .", "The skin sensor element is held by latching elements 124 on the chassis 120 and urged away from the drug container assembly 10 by the skin sensor spring 114 , which is held between the chassis 120 and the skin sensor element 112 .", "The lower housing 140 engages the chassis 120 by clipping to a window portion 130 of the chassis.", "Lugs 148 on the lower housing engage recesses 24 formed in the outer housing.", "The cap 30 engages recesses 142 on the lower housing and covers the skin sensor element 112 .", "[0194] The drug container assembly is shown alone in FIG. 4 a .", "FIG. 4 b is a cross-section view of FIG. 4 a .", "The drug container assembly comprises a drug container 10 containing a drug to be delivered to a patient by injection, with a hypodermic needle 12 fixed to a front end.", "The drug container is formed from cyclic olefin, which has excellent drug contact properties.", "The use of a plastic drug container has several advantages over glass.", "A plastic container can be moulded with features that form part of the automatic injection and drug delivery mechanism, as described in relation to this embodiment below, and can be formed with much higher accuracy than glass, A plastic container can also withstand higher impact forces and pressures allowing for the use of more powerful springs in the autoinjector mechanism and for a shorter, fatter drug container.", "[0195] A plunger 14 is provided within the drug container.", "Movement of the plunger 14 within the drug container 10 urges the drug out through the needle 12 .", "The plunger is designed to provide low friction with the walls of the drug container and to minimise any station between the plunger and the drug container.", "The plunger is a cup seal type plunger, configured such that a component of the fluid pressure exerted by the drug on the plunger as the plunger is moved through the drug containers is directed towards a sealing interface between the plunger and an internal surface of the drug container.", "A plunger of this type is described in GB2467904.", "A peripheral portion of the plunger 14 in contact with a wall of the drug container comprises a substantially non-elastomeric material.", "The internal surface of the front end of the drug container 10 is shaped to match the shape of the front end of the plunger 14 to maximise the amount of drug that is pushed out of the drug container during use.", "[0196] A sealing foil 16 is provided at a back end of the drug container 10 to ensure the drug is retained and maintained in a sterile and pristine condition.", "The sealing foil 16 may be laminated foil including a layer of aluminium and may be welded or glued to a back end of the drug container 10 .", "[0197] In this embodiment, the hypodermic needle 12 is glued into a needle hub portion 11 of the drug container 10 .", "However, the drug container may be moulded around the needle.", "The needle is covered by a needle shield 50 that keeps the needle 12 sterile.", "As shown in FIG. 4 b , the needle shield 50 comprises a rigid outer housing 52 that forms a seal with the needle hub portion 11 .", "A compliant element in the form of an elastomeric plug 54 is provided within the needle shield into which the front end of the needle 12 is inserted.", "The elastomeric plug seals the needle and ensures that no drug can escape from the needle prior to removal of the needle shield.", "The rigid outer housing 52 of the needle shield may be transparent to allow for inspection of the needle during assembly of the autoinjector.", "The front end of the rigid outer housing 52 comprises a bulb 56 configured to engage hooks 32 in the cap 30 , as shown in FIG. 2 a .", "This ensures that when the cap 30 is removed the needle shield is removed with it.", "[0198] The sealing of the needle shield to the needle hub 11 is shown in detail in FIG. 5 , which is close-up view of a portion of FIG. 4 b .", "The needle hub 11 is cylindrical where it surrounded by the needle shield.", "The rigid body 52 of the needle shield has a pair of ribs 57 , 58 that extend around the inner surface of the needle shield.", "The ribs have an interference fit with the needle hub 11 to provide a seal that maintains the needle sterile.", "In this example, the hub has a diameter of 2.4 mm and a surface finish quality where the maximum distance between peak and trough is no more than 2 μm.", "The needle hub may be formed from a moulded plastics material, such as cyclic olefin polymer.", "The surface finish of the needle hub is specified to 0.2 Ra.", "The needle hub may have a circular cylindrical outer surface to which the rigid body is coupled.", "An interior surface of the rigid body is specified to have a surface finish of 0.2 Ra or less.", "An interior surface of the rigid body may have a surface finish having a maximum distance between peak and trough of 2 μm or less.", "The ribs have a nominal sealing diameter of 2.2 mm.", "There is therefore a nominal diametrical interference between the needle hub 11 and the needle shield 50 of 0.2 mm.", "[0199] The rigid body of the needle shield is formed from polyethylene and has the same surface finish as the needle hub.", "The ribs 57 , 58 are spaced from one another by 3 mm.", "In order to provide the greatest contact pressure between the ribs and the needle hub, combined with the lowest force, and so the tightest seal with the lowest removal force, the contact area between the ribs and the needle hub should be a small as possible.", "However, the contact area is limited by the manufacturing process for the needle shield and the materials used.", "In this example, the radius of curvature of each rib at the contact point, prior to fitting of the rigid body to the needle hub is preferably less than 0.6 mm.", "The contact point of each rib is the point on the surface of the rib that is configured to first contact the needle hub when the rigid body is fitted to the needle hub.", "However, the final contact radius may be larger than this, particularly if the plastic is deformed by the interference.", "[0200] The autoinjector shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 also comprises an automatic mechanism for inserting the needle into an injection site and for ejecting the drug through the needle into the injection site.", "The automatic mechanism is referred to herein as the powerpack assembly.", "The powerpack assembly comprises stored energy sources, in the form of compressed springs 61 , 62 .", "When the first spring 61 , referred to as the insertion spring, is released it moves the drug container 10 through the housing of the autoinjector to insert the needle 12 into an injection site.", "The second spring 62 , referred to as the delivery spring, is then released to move the plunger 14 through the drug container 10 to inject the drug.", "The springs 61 , 62 and the mechanism for controlling a sequence of release of the springs within the powerpack assembly are positioned rearward of the drug container.", "[0201] The powerpack comprises a powerpack housing 64 that is coupled to the drug container 10 .", "The powerpack housing of this embodiment comprises two parts, a lower powerpack housing 65 and an upper powerpack housing 66 .", "The powerpack housing is in two parts to simplify the assembly of the autoinjector, but, in use, the two parts are fixed to each other and act as a single component.", "The lower powerpack housing 65 is clipped to the drug container 10 .", "The lower powerpack housing 65 engages recesses 17 on the drug container.", "The insertion spring 61 , shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 in a compressed condition prior to use of the autoinjector, is positioned between the upper powerpack housing 66 and a retaining means 100 .", "The retaining means 100 is coupled to the upper powerpack housing 66 to retain the insertion spring 61 in a first compressed condition, as is explained with reference to FIG. 7 .", "[0202] The delivery spring 62 is positioned between the upper powerpack housing 66 and a multiple component drive member 70 .", "When released, the delivery spring 62 drives the drive member 70 forward relative to the powerpack housing 64 and so drives the plunger 14 through the drug container 10 to eject the drug, as is described in detail below.", "[0203] Before use of the autoinjector, the delivery spring 62 is positioned around the insertion spring 61 .", "A two-spring mechanism, nested in this way has advantages.", "Firstly, by nesting one spring within the other, the length of the autoinjector is minimised.", "Secondly, the delivery spring can be made larger than the insertion spring.", "The force required to eject the drug through the needle is typically much greater than the force required to insert the needle into an injection site.", "The use of a smaller spring for needle insertion is therefore beneficial.", "[0204] The rear end of the powerpack assembly is shown in detail in FIGS. 6 a and 6 b ).", "FIG. 6 a is a first cross-section through the powerpack assembly and shows the insertion spring seated on a first ledge 67 formed on the upper powerpack housing 66 .", "FIG. 6 b is a second cross-section through the powerpack assembly, at ninety degrees to the cross-section of FIG. 6 a , and shows the drive member 70 retained by a second ledge 69 formed on the upper powerpack housing.", "[0205] The powerpack assembly is assembled as a separate component before it is coupled to the drug container and the rest of the autoinjector.", "In order to retain the insertion spring and delivery spring in a compressed condition, the powerpack housing engages the retaining means 100 .", "The retaining means comprises a head portion 106 and a shaft portion 108 that extends from the head portion within the powerpack housing 64 and the drive member 70 .", "The shaft portion 108 ensures that the drive member 70 , and in particular lobes 86 on the second drive element 80 , cannot disengage from the ledge 69 on the powerpack housing until the drive member is moved clear of the shaft portion 108 .", "[0206] FIG. 7 is a partial, perspective top view of the powerpack assembly, showing the retaining means 100 engaging the upper powerpack housing 66 .", "The insertion spring 61 urges the powerpack housing away from the retaining means 100 but it is retained by the engagement of surfaces 102 on the retaining means under shelves 68 formed on the upper powerpack housing.", "The powerpack housing is released from the retaining means 100 by relative rotation between the powerpack housing and the retaining means.", "In particular, cam surfaces 104 are formed on the retaining means so that when the powerpack assembly is inserted into the outer housing, cam surfaces or protrusions 25 within the outer housing engage the cam surfaces on the retaining means and force the retaining means to rotate.", "The powerpack housing is prevented from rotating relative to the outer housing by engagement of the powerpack housing with the chassis and engagement of the chassis with the outer housing.", "The rotation of the retaining means 100 moves surfaces 102 out of engagement with shelves 68 so that the powerpack housing is disengaged from the retaining means.", "[0207] Once the powerpack housing has been released from the retaining means 100 it is prevented from fully expanding by the engagement of the outer housing 20 with the lower housing 140 , the engagement of the lower housing 140 with the chassis 120 , the engagement of the chassis 120 with the drug container 10 and the engagement of the drug container 10 to the powerpack housing 64 .", "The outer housing 20 is configured to engage the lower housing 140 as it drives the retaining means 100 out of engagement with the powerpack housing by rotating the retaining means.", "[0208] As described, the insertion spring 61 engages the ledge 67 on the upper powerpack housing 66 to drive the powerpack housing and drug container assembly forward through the chassis as it expands.", "The drive spring 62 engages the powerpack housing 64 and the drive member 70 to drive the drive member and plunger through the drug container.", "The drive member 70 comprises three components.", "Specifically, the drive spring engages a spring bearing surface 72 on a first drive element 71 .", "The first drive element 71 is coupled to a second drive element 80 and a third drive element 90 .", "The multiple element drive member 70 is shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 .", "[0209] The drive member 70 is shown in an initial configuration in FIG. 8 , prior to delivery of the drug from the drug container.", "The first drive element 71 is essentially a circular cylindrical tube, within which a second drive element 80 is located.", "A first striking surface 75 on the first drive element is held apart from a first striking surface 85 on the second drive element by the engagement of the first drive element with a tooth 84 that extends from the first striking surface on the second drive element towards the first drive element.", "The second drive element comprises a foil contact surface 82 configured to contact and pierce the sealing foil 16 on the drug container 10 .", "The foil contact surface 82 comprises a plurality of serrations to assist in piercing the foil seal.", "The second drive element 80 extends from the first striking surface 85 , through the first drive element.", "[0210] The second drive element is formed from a moulded plastics material and is divided at its rear end into a pair of flexible legs 87 , at the rear end of each of which a lobe 86 is formed for engagement with the powerpack housing.", "A bore 88 is defined between the legs, into which the shaft portion 108 of the retaining means is received.", "The shaft portion of the retaining means prevents the legs 87 from deflecting inwardly to disengage from the ledge 69 on the upper powerpack housing.", "[0211] The first drive element 71 comprises a cut-out 73 that is dimensioned to receive tooth 84 of the second drive element so that the first striking surface 75 on the first drive element and contact the first striking surface 85 on the second drive element.", "In order for tooth 84 to be received in the cut-out 73 the first drive element must be rotated relative to the second drive element.", "However, in an initial position, this is prevented by the third drive element 90 .", "The third drive element 90 engages both the first drive element and the second drive element in the initial position.", "The third drive element in this embodiment is generally tubular and is positioned between the first drive element and the second drive element.", "A protrusion 92 on the third drive element engages a slot 74 formed in the first drive element to prevent relative rotation of the first drive element and the third drive element.", "The slot is dimensioned to allow axial movement i.e. movement in the direction of travel of the drive member on expansion of the drive spring, between the first drive element and the third drive element.", "A cut-out 94 in the third drive element engages the tooth 84 on the second drive element to prevent relative rotation between the second drive element and the third drive element.", "However, the third drive element is free to move axially relative to the second drive element.", "[0212] As the drive member reaches the end of its forward travel through the drug container, the protrusion 92 on the third drive element engages a rear surface of the drug container 10 .", "The third drive element is thus held by the drug container as the first and second drive elements continue to move forwards under the influence of the drive spring 62 .", "When the cut-out 94 in the third drive element is disengaged from the tooth 84 as a result of the this relative axial movement between the third drive element and the second drive element, the first drive element 71 is free to rotate relative to the second drive element 80 .", "Tooth 84 engages the first drive element on an angled surface 76 so that the action of the drive spring on the first drive element 71 forces it to rotate relative to the second drive element.", "When the tooth 84 is free to enter cut-out 73 , the first drive element moves forward rapidly relative the second drive element as there is no significant resistance to that forward movement.", "The first striking surface on the first drive element then strikes the first striking surface on the second drive element at high speed, creating an audible single indicative of the drive member reaching the end of its travel.", "The final position is shown in FIG. 9 .", "[0213] A principle of operation of this “end-of-delivery”", "indication is to use a two-part drive member in which the two parts move together until at or near to the end of travel of the drive member, whereupon the two parts are free to move relative to one another under the action of a stored energy source to create an audible signal.", "It is advantageous to use the same energy source as is used to drive the drive member through the drug container.", "However, it should be clear that there are several options for the mechanism for locking and releasing the two parts of the drive member, which in the embodiment of FIGS. 8 and 9 is realised using the third drive member.", "For example, features within the powerpack housing might be provided to force the first drive element to rotate relative to the second drive element when the first drive element reaches a particular position within the powerpack housing.", "[0214] A skin sensor assembly is provided forward of the drug container, which covers the needle both before and after use and which allows the autoinjector to be activated simply by removing a cap and pressing the autoinjector against an injection site.", "[0215] The skin sensor assembly comprises a skin sensor element 112 , shown in FIG. 10 , and skin sensor spring 114 that is held between the skin sensor element and the chassis.", "This can be seen clearly in FIG. 3 .", "In operation, the skin sensor element interacts with the chassis 120 shown in FIG. 11 and the lower housing 140 shown in FIG. 12 .", "[0216] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the chassis 120 .", "The chassis is formed from a transparent plastic material and includes two window portions 120 , which align with the windows 22 formed in the outer housing 20 .", "The lower housing 140 clips to the chassis around the window portion 130 , as shown in FIG. 13 a .", "Latches 122 are formed so that they can be flexed outward, out of engagement with the drug container 10 .", "The chassis has a front end 132 of reduced diameter, which prevents the drug container from travelling beyond an insertion position.", "A bearing surface 133 is provided against which the skin sensor spring 114 sits.", "[0217] The chassis 120 also includes flexible arms 121 formed below the window portions 130 .", "The flexible arms 121 each comprise a bulb 123 at their free end that abuts a rear end of the skin sensor element 112 .", "The bulb 123 (in combination with the cap and/or upper housing) prevents the skin sensor element being moved rearward to a position in which the latches 122 can release the drug container 10 , as described with reference to FIG. 15 .", "[0218] The chassis also includes latching elements 124 .", "Each latching elements 124 comprises a flexible arm 125 extending from the body of the chassis towards a front end of the device, and a hook 126 and cam head 128 on the end of the flexible arm.", "The hook 126 is configured to engage the skin sensor element 112 .", "The cam head 128 is positioned inward of the hook and is configured to engage the powerpack housing 64 .", "Inward in this context is relative to the outer housing.", "The latching elements 124 on the chassis do not extend inwardly of the surrounding portion of the chassis in order to engage the powerpack or skin sensor element.", "This is advantageous from a moulding perspective.", "[0219] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the lower housing 140 .", "The lower housing is secured to the chassis by the clipping of portion 146 around window portion 130 of the chassis.", "The lower housing 140 includes a pair of second latching elements 144 that, in the initial position are received in openings 115 of the skin sensor element 112 .", "The lower housing includes recesses 142 for engagement with the cap 30 .", "Surface 145 acts to limit movement of the skin sensor beyond a fully extended position, as will be described.", "The lower housing also includes slots 141 , into which flexible arms 121 of the chassis are received.", "Lugs 148 on the lower housing engage recesses 24 formed in the outer housing.", "[0220] In an initial position, prior to use, and as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 , the skin sensor element 112 is urged away from the chassis by the skin sensor spring 114 .", "It is retained to the chassis by engagement of surfaces 116 with latching elements 124 .", "The second latching elements 144 on the lower housing, in the initial position, are received in openings 115 of the skin sensor element 112 .", "[0221] FIGS. 13 a -13 d show the sequence of operation of the skin sensor assembly, and are side views of the device with the outer housing and cap removed.", "FIG. 13 a shows the device with the cap removed but prior to use.", "The skin sensor element 112 is retained against the action of the skin sensor spring by the latching element 124 .", "Specifically hook 126 on the latching element 124 engages surface 114 on the skin sensor element.", "[0222] FIG. 13 b shows the skin sensor element 112 pushed back, as it would be if the skin sensor element were pressed against an injection site.", "In this position, the hook 126 is clear of the surface 116 .", "The second latching elements 144 are still received in opening 115 of the skin sensor element.", "However, the wider portions of opening 115 are now aligned with the position of latches 122 on the chassis.", "In the position shown in FIG. 13 b , the latches 122 no longer retain the drug container 10 , as they can be pushed outwards into the opening 115 in the skin sensor element.", "Accordingly, the drug container is free to move forward and the insertion spring 61 expands to move the powerpack assembly and drug container to an insertion position, as shown in FIG. 13 c. [0223] In FIG. 13 c the drug container is in an insertion position, and needle 12 is clearly extending beyond the skin sensor element 112 .", "In this position, the powerpack assembly has moved forward so that protrusions 63 on the powerpack housing 64 , only an upper end of which can be seen in FIG. 2 , have pushed against cam head 128 and so have deformed arm 124 .", "The deformation of arm 124 moves the hook 126 out of the path of surface 116 when it moves forward.", "[0224] When the device is removed from the injection site, the skin sensor spring urges the skin sensor element forward.", "As the arm is deformed, the surface 116 can move past hook 126 .", "The skin sensor element can then move to a fully extended position as shown in FIG. 13 d .", "In this position the skin sensor element covers the needle again.", "The skin sensor element is retained to the chassis and prevented from further forward movement by the surface 117 on the skin sensor element abutting the surface 145 on the lower housing.", "The second latching elements 144 engage with aperture 118 in the skin sensor element 112 to prevent the skin sensor element from being moved back against the skin sensor spring.", "The second latching elements can ride over sloped surface 119 on the skin sensor element as it moves to its fully extended position to snap into the aperture 118 , whereupon the skin sensor element is locked in a fully extended position.", "[0225] The latching mechanism for the skin sensor and for retaining and releasing the drug container is all positioned on two opposite sides of the device.", "This allows the window 22 to remain unobscured throughout operation of the device.", "This allows the drug to be easily inspected before use and for the progress of the drug delivery to be observed through the window 22 .", "[0226] The device shown in FIGS. 1 to 13 includes a mechanism to prevent activation prior to removal of the cap.", "FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the cap 30 .", "The cap is formed from a moulded plastics material and comprises protrusions 34 that are configured to engage recesses 142 on the lower body, as shown in FIG. 2 .", "The upstanding central tube comprises the hooks 32 shown in FIG. 2 , for retaining the needle shield.", "The cap also includes tongues 36 that extend within a space between the outer housing and the chassis when the cap is fitted to the device, as shown in FIG. 3 .", "[0227] FIG. 15 is a detail view of the front end of the device as shown in FIG. 3 .", "It can be seen that the tongues 36 on the cap are adjacent flexible arms 121 formed on the chassis, and shown more clearly in FIG. 11 .", "The flexible arms 121 comprise a bulb 123 that abuts a rear end of the skin sensor element 112 .", "The bulb 123 prevents the skin sensor element being moved rearward to a position in which the latches 122 can release the drug container 10 .", "So, when the cap is engaged to the lower housing 140 , the device cannot be activated.", "[0228] When the cap is removed, the arms 121 can be pushed outwardly by the skin sensor element into the space vacated by the tongues 36 , as it the skin sensor is moved rearward.", "The skin sensor element and bulbs 123 are shaped to allow this to happen smoothly.", "The lower housing includes apertures 141 into which the arms 123 can deflect.", "[0229] FIGS. 16 a to 16 g illustrate the sequence of operation of the device of the first embodiment.", "FIGS. 16 a to 16 g are cross-section views, similar to FIG. 2 , but with the cap removed.", "FIG. 16 a shows the device immediately after cap removal, but prior to the pressing of the skin sensor element against an injection site.", "It can be seen that the needle shield assembly has been removed together with the cap.", "[0230] FIG. 16 b shows the device with the skin sensor element pushed back.", "Second latching elements 144 on the lower housing prevent the skin sensor from moving further back.", "In this position, the latches 122 on the chassis are free to bend out into the windows 115 , but have not yet done so.", "[0231] FIG. 16 c shows the drug container 10 and powerpack housing 64 moved to an insertion position by the expansion of insertion spring 61 .", "In this position, the needle 12 is inserted into the injection site.", "The second drive element 80 is just clear of the shaft portion 108 of the retaining means 100 .", "This means that legs 87 can be squeezed together to disengage from the lugs 86 from surface 69 on the powerpack housing 64 .", "The protrusions 63 on the powerpack housing has deflected the latching arms 124 so that the skin sensor element 112 is free to move forward to a fully extended position once it is removed from the injection site.", "[0232] FIG. 16 d shows the drive member disengaged from the powerpack housing and at the point of first contact of the drive member with the sealing foil.", "The drive spring is expanding to urge the drive member forward.", "[0233] FIG. 16 e shows the drive spring further expanded and the drive member further forward.", "The foil has been ruptured and the plunger has been moved through the drug container and almost all the drug has been ejected.", "At this point, the third drive element has engaged the rear end of the drug container and so moved back relative to the second drive element.", "In this position, the drive element is no longer engaged to the second drive element, and the second drive element is able to rotate relative to the first drive element, as described with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9 .", "[0234] FIG. 16 f shows the first drive element driven forward onto the second drive element, with the second drive element rotated, to provide an audible indication of the end of drug delivery.", "The plunger is in a fully forward position, with the intended volume of drug ejected.", "At this point, the user can remove the device from the injection site.", "[0235] FIG. 16 g shows the device after it has been removed from the injection site, with the skin sensor element in a fully extended position, locked and covering the needle.", "As described with reference to FIG. 13 d , the skin sensor element is retained to the chassis and prevented from further forward movement by surface 117 on the skin sensor element abutting the surface 145 on the lower housing.", "The second latching elements 144 engage with aperture 118 in the skin sensor element 112 to prevent the skin sensor element from being moved back against the skin sensor spring.", "[0236] It can be seen from FIG. 2 and FIGS. 16 a - c , that the drive member 70 and all of the other components of the device are held apart from the sealing foil 16 until the time at which the sealing foil is ruptured.", "Prior to use, the drive member 70 is held a predetermined distance from the sealing foil 16 .", "The powerpack housing 64 is fixed to the sides of the drug container and does not contact the sealing foil.", "During the needle insertion stage of operation, the sealing foil 16 remains untouched.", "This arrangement ensures that the sealing foil can be tested before the drug container is assembled to the rest of the autoinjector, and the sealing foil then remains untouched until the point of drug delivery.", "This reduces the possibility of contamination or loss of drug before delivery.", "[0237] FIG. 17 is a schematic diagram illustrating the sequence of assembly of an autoinjector of the first embodiment.", "In step 150 , the drug container assembly 10 , including the needle 12 and needle shield 50 is filled with dose of drug and a plunger 14 , and then sealed by a sealing foil 16 .", "This is carried out in a sterile environment.", "Independently, in step 152 , the powerpack assembly is assembled, with the retaining means holding the drive and insertion springs in a compressed state.", "In step 154 the filled drug container assembly in then fitted to the powerpack assembly, the lower powerpack housing clipping to the drug container 10 .", "In step 156 , the front end of the device, including the chassis, skin sensor element, skin sensor spring, and lower housing are assembled.", "The cap is typically coupled to the front end assembly at this stage, but this is shown as a separate step 157 .", "In step 158 the front end assembly is coupled to the drug container assembly and powerpack assembly.", "The drug container assembly is retained by latching arms on the chassis.", "In step 160 , the outer housing is placed over the powerpack assembly and engages with the lower housing 140 .", "The cam surfaces 25 on the outer housing 20 engage the retaining means 100 and force the retaining means to rotate out of engagement with the powerpack housing 64 just before the lugs 148 on the lower housing engage recesses 24 formed in the outer housing.", "The insertion spring 61 is allowed to expand a small amount as the powerpack housing disengages from the retaining means, but it is held in a second compressed state by the action of latches 122 on the chassis engaging the drug container 10 .", "In the second compressed state, the insertion spring still stores enough energy to insert the needle 12 into an injection site by pushing the drug container to the insertion position.", "[0238] The cap 30 is typically assembled to the lower housing 140 during assembly of the front end assembly, but may be added after the powerpack and front assembly are joined or after the outer housing has been fitted to the lower housing.", "These options are illustrated in FIG. 17 as step 157 .", "[0239] The autoinjector is fully assembled and ready for use at step 162 .", "This production sequence has the advantage that the powerpack assembly can be produced independently of the other components and transported and stored separately.", "Steps 156 , 157 , 158 and 160 are very simple and easily automated.", "[0240] The first described embodiment also has the advantage that different length and shaped outer housing can be used for different drugs with the same powerpack assembly.", "The features 25 used to rotate the retaining means out of engagement with the powerpack housing 64 do not need to be manufactured with the same tight tolerances on dimensions that the shaft portion 108 of the retaining means requires.", "It is therefore a simple matter to provide different outer housings to provide a distinctive appearance for devices for particular drugs or for devices associated with particular brands.", "Users can then quickly recognise if they have the appropriate device.", "Different outer housing may also be provided to suit different user groups that may have different specific requirements e.g. they may have limited manual dexterity.", "[0241] FIG. 18 is a perspective view of an autoinjector 201 in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention, before use.", "The autoinjector 201 comprises an outer housing 220 , having a viewing window 222 through which a drug within the autoinjector can be inspected.", "A cap 230 is provided to cover the needle insertion end of the device and to prevent inadvertent activation of the device.", "The autoinjector is compact, being approximately 10 cm long and fits easily in a user's hand.", "[0242] FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional view through the autoinjector 201 of FIG. 19 .", "FIG. 20 is a second cross-sectional view through the autoinjector of FIG. 19 , at 90 degrees to the cross-section of FIG. 19 .", "[0243] The autoinjector 201 shown in FIGS. 18, 19 and 20 comprises a drug container assembly (shown in FIG. 21 ), a powerpack assembly including a powerpack housing 264 (as shown in FIG. 27 ), a drive member 270 and insertion and drive springs 260 , 262 , an internal housing (shown in FIG. 23 ), herein referred to as the chassis, a skin sensor assembly comprising a skin sensor element (shown in FIG. 22 ) and a skin sensor spring, a lower housing (shown in FIG. 26 ), an outer housing and a cap (shown in FIG. 25 ).", "[0244] The drug container assembly 210 is held within the chassis 320 and in operation moves through the chassis.", "The drug container assembly 210 is retained in an initial position by latches 322 on the chassis, which engage protrusions 213 on the cradle 215 that surrounds the drug container 211 .", "The latches 322 are prevented from releasing the cradle by the skin sensor assembly.", "The skin sensor assembly comprises a skin sensor element 312 and a skin sensor spring 314 .", "The skin sensor element is held by latching elements 324 on the chassis 320 and urged away from the drug container assembly 210 by the skin sensor spring 314 , which is held between the chassis 320 and the skin sensor element 312 .", "The lower housing 340 engages the chassis 320 by clipping to a T-shaped protrusion 328 on the chassis.", "Window portions 348 on the lower housing engage window 222 formed in the outer housing.", "The cap 230 engages the channel 342 on the lower housing and covers the skin sensor element 312 .", "[0245] FIG. 21 is a perspective view of the drug container assembly shown in FIGS. 19 and 20 .", "The drug container assembly comprises a drug container 211 and cradle element in which the drug container 211 is held.", "The cradle and drug container may be formed as separate components or may be co-moulded together.", "The drug container 211 contains a drug to be delivered to a patient by injection, with a hypodermic needle 212 fixed to a front end.", "As in the first embodiment, the drug container is formed from cyclic olefin, which has excellent drug contact properties.", "The cradle may be formed of a different material and advantageously is formed from a mouldable plastic.", "Clipping features 213 and 219 are formed on the cradle 215 .", "[0246] A plunger 214 is provided within the drug container.", "Movement of the plunger 214 within the drug container 211 urges the drug out through the needle 212 .", "The plunger is of the same type as described with reference to the first embodiment and is designed to provide low friction with the walls of the drug container and to minimise any stiction between the plunger and the drug container.", "The internal surface of the front end of the drug container 211 is again shaped to match the shape of the front end of the plunger 214 to maximise the amount of drug that is pushed out of the drug container during use.", "[0247] A sealing foil 216 is provided at a back end of the drug container 211 to ensure the drug is retained and maintained in a sterile and pristine condition.", "The sealing foil 216 may be laminated foil including a layer of aluminium and may be welded to a back end of the drug container 211 .", "[0248] As in the first embodiment, the hypodermic needle 212 is glued into a needle hub portion 217 of the drug container 211 .", "However, the drug container may be moulded around the needle.", "The needle is covered by a needle shield 250 that keeps the needle 212 sterile.", "As described in the first embodiment, the needle shield 250 comprises a rigid outer housing 252 that forms a seal with the needle hub portion 217 .", "An elastomeric plug 254 is provided within the needle shield into which the front end of the needle 212 is inserted.", "The elastomeric plug seals the needle and ensures that no drug can escape from the needle prior to removal of the needle shield.", "The rigid outer housing 252 of the needle shield may be transparent to allow for inspection of the needle during assembly of the autoinjector.", "The front end of the needle shield outer housing 252 comprises a bulb 256 to engage hooks 232 in the cap 230 , as shown in FIG. 19 .", "This ensures that when the cap 230 is removed the needle shield is removed with it.", "[0249] The sealing of the needle shield to the needle hub is achieved using an interference fit in the same manner as described for the first embodiment and shown in FIG. 5 .", "[0250] As in the first embodiment, the autoinjector shown in FIGS. 18 to 20 comprises an automatic mechanism for inserting the needle into an injection site and for ejecting the drug through the needle into the injection site.", "The automatic mechanism is referred to herein as the powerpack assembly.", "The powerpack assembly comprises stored energy sources, in the form of compressed springs 260 , 262 .", "When the first spring 260 , referred to as the insertion spring, is released it moves the drug container assembly 210 through the housing of the autoinjector to insert the needle 212 into an injection site.", "The second spring 262 , referred to as the delivery spring, is then released to move the plunger 214 through the drug container 211 to inject the drug.", "The springs 260 , 262 and the mechanism for controlling a sequence of release of the springs within the powerpack assembly are positioned rearward of the drug container assembly.", "[0251] The powerpack comprises a powerpack housing 264 , shown in FIG. 22 , that is coupled to the drug container assembly 210 .", "The powerpack housing 264 has arms 265 that clip to the features 219 on the cradle 215 .", "The insertion spring 260 , shown in FIGS. 19 and 20 in a compressed condition prior to use of the autoinjector, is positioned between the powerpack housing 264 and the outer housing 220 .", "When the drug container assembly is released from the latches 322 on the chassis, the drug container assembly is free to move forward through the chassis to an insertion position, pushed by the expansion of the insertion spring 260 , as will be described.", "[0252] The drive spring 262 is positioned between the powerpack housing 264 and a drive member 270 .", "In an initial position, the drive spring is prevented from expanding by the engagement of protrusions 272 on the drive member 270 with surface 267 on the powerpack housing.", "[0253] The drive member 270 comprises a front end surface 276 that has a serrations to aid rupture of the sealing foil 216 and which in use engages with the plunger, as will be described.", "The drive member 270 also has resilient legs 274 that are pressed outwardly by a locking surface 226 that is part of (or rigidly fixed to) the main housing 20 so that protrusions 272 engage with the powerpack housing and are prevented from disengagement with the locking surface 226 .", "In this way the drive spring 262 is locked in a compressed state, and moves with the powerpack housing 264 , until the protrusions 272 can be released from the surface 267 .", "[0254] When the powerpack housing has travelled to an insertion position, the drive member has travelled beyond the locking surface 226 .", "At this point, because the locking surface is no longer between the legs 274 , the legs 274 can be squeezed together allowing the drive member to disengage from the surface 267 on the powerpack housing.", "The drive member can then be moved forward by the drive spring 262 to rupture the sealing foil 216 and push the plunger 214 through the drug container 211 to dispense the drug through the needle 212 .", "[0255] As in the first embodiment, in the second embodiment a skin sensor assembly is provided forward of the drug container, which covers the needle both before and after use and which allows the autoinjector to be activated simply by removing a cap and pressing the autoinjector against an injection site.", "[0256] The skin sensor assembly comprises a skin sensor element 312 and a skin sensor spring 314 .", "The skin sensor spring 314 is held between the skin sensor element and the chassis.", "This can be seen clearly in FIG. 19 .", "In operation, the skin sensor element interacts with the chassis 320 .", "[0257] FIG. 23 is a perspective view of the skin sensor element of the second embodiment.", "The skin sensor element comprises a front surface 313 which contacts the injection site in use, and which has an aperture through which the needle passes during insertion of the needle.", "Apertures 315 are provided so that when the skin senor element is in a retracted position they align with the latches 322 on the chassis, allowing the latches to deflect outwardly out of engagement with features 213 , releasing the drug container.", "Hooks 316 are provided to engage the chassis in an initial position, retaining the skin sensor element against the force applied by the skin sensor spring.", "Surfaces 317 are provided to abut the chassis and prevent retraction of the chassis when the skin sensor element is in a fully extended position.", "Bracing arms 318 provide mechanical rigidity.", "[0258] FIG. 24 is a perspective view of a chassis of the second embodiment.", "The chassis is formed from a plastics material.", "The chassis is again essential tubular with a central bore through which the drug container assembly can move axially.", "The chassis has a front end 332 of reduced diameter beyond which the drug container assembly cannot travel.", "At the front end, the chassis includes a pair of cantilever arms 334 extending radially inward.", "The drug container assembly contacts and deflects the cantilever arms in the insertion direction, also referred to as the axial direction herein, as it moves to an insertion position.", "The deflection of the cantilever arms decelerates the drug container assembly as it reaches the insertion position, reducing force applied to the injection site through the skin sensor spring and skin sensor from the chassis.", "The cantilever arms 334 are constructed to extend rearward from their fixed end to their free end so that they can deflect before being level with the rest of the front end of the chassis.", "[0259] The chassis comprises latching elements 324 that engage hooks 316 on the skin sensor element.", "The latching elements 324 are resilient arms that extend rearward from their fixed and but at an angle offset from the axial direction.", "The latching elements can be deflected by camming features 269 on the powerpack assembly to allow the hooks 316 to pass as the skin sensor moves to an extended position.", "The chassis comprises locking arms 326 , which are resilient arms that extend forward from their fixed end.", "The locking arms can flex to allow the skin sensor element to pass when the skin sensor moves from a retracted position to an extended position, but are configured to prevent the surfaces 317 from passing back over the locking arms 326 once the skin senor has reached the fully extended position.", "[0260] FIGS. 25 a -25 c show the sequence of operation of the skin sensor assembly, and are side views of the device with the outer housing and cap removed.", "FIG. 25 a shows the device prior to use.", "The skin sensor element 312 is retained against the action of the skin sensor spring by the latching element 324 .", "Specifically hook 316 on the skin sensor element engages the latching element 324 .", "[0261] FIG. 25 b shows the skin sensor element 312 pushed back, as it would be if the skin sensor element were pressed against an injection site, and the powerpack moved forward.", "In this position, the hook 316 is clear of the surface latching element 324 .", "The apertures 315 are now aligned with the position of latches 322 on the chassis.", "In the position shown in FIG. 25 b , the latches 322 no longer retain the drug container assembly 210 , as they can be pushed outwards into the apertures 315 in the skin sensor element.", "Accordingly, the drug container 311 has moved forward and the insertion spring 261 expanded to move the powerpack assembly and drug container to an insertion position.", "[0262] As the powerpack assembly moves forward to the insertion position, camming ridge 269 engages the latching elements 324 to deflect the latching elements so that they extend in an axial direction, as shown.", "[0263] When the device is removed from the injection site, the skin sensor spring 314 urges the skin sensor element 312 forward.", "As the latching arms 324 are deflected, the hooks 316 can pass the latching elements 324 as the skin sensor element moves forward.", "The skin sensor element 312 can then move to a fully extended position as shown in FIG. 25 c .", "In this position, the skin sensor element covers the needle again.", "The skin sensor element is retained to the chassis and prevented from further forward movement by the engagement of bracing arms 318 with a portion of the lower housing 340 (not shown in FIG. 25 c ).", "The locking arms 326 flex to allow the skin sensor element to pass when the skin sensor moves from a retracted position to an extended position, but surfaces 317 then engage the locking arms 326 if the skin sensor element is pushed back towards a retracted position, locking the skin sensor element in the extended position.", "[0264] FIG. 26 is a perspective view of the lower housing of the second embodiment.", "The lower housing 340 is formed from a transparent plastics material and includes window portions 348 .", "The lower housing fits over the skin sensor and chassis but partially within the outer housing.", "Window portions 348 have raised outer rims that and engage windows 222 formed in the outer housing.", "The lower housing 340 engages the chassis 320 by apertures 344 receiving T-shaped protrusions 328 on the chassis.", "Channel 342 on the lower housing is provided to engage the cap 330 .", "[0265] FIG. 27 is a perspective of the cap of the second embodiment.", "The cap 230 comprises a central cylindrical tube portion comprising three angularly spaced, inwardly projecting hooks 232 , shown in FIG. 19 , that can be pushed over and engage the bulb 256 on the needle shield 250 .", "This ensures that the needle shield is removed with the cap when the device is to be used.", "The cap also comprises three inwardly projecting lugs 234 , equally spaced around the circumference on the cap, that are configured to engage the lower housing 340 .", "To remove the cap, a user simply grips and squeezes the cap between two fingers and pulls the cap away from the lower housing.", "The use of three, equally spaced lugs ensures that when the cap is radially squeezed by a user, at least two of the lugs will move outwardly to disengage from the lower housing, whatever direction the cap is squeezed in.", "This ensures that the cap can be easily removed.", "[0266] FIGS. 28 a to 28 e are cross-section views of the second embodiment, illustrating the sequence of operation.", "FIG. 28 a shows the device immediately after cap removal, but prior to the pressing of the skin sensor element against an injection site.", "It can be seen that the needle shield assembly has been removed together with the cap.", "[0267] FIG. 28 b shows the device with the skin sensor 312 element pushed back, compressing the skin sensor spring 314 .", "The bracing arms 318 on the skin sensor element abut the chassis to prevent the skin senor element from moving further back.", "In this position, the latches 322 on the chassis are free to bend out into the windows 315 .", "[0268] FIG. 28 c shows the drug container 211 and powerpack housing 264 moved to an insertion position by the expansion of insertion spring 261 .", "In this position, the needle 212 is inserted into the injection site.", "The drive member 270 is just clear of the locking surface 226 on the outer housing.", "This means that legs 274 can be squeezed together to disengage the lugs 272 from surface 267 on the powerpack housing 264 .", "The drive spring 262 is free to expand.", "The camming protrusions 269 on the powerpack housing have deflected the latching elements 324 so that the skin sensor element 312 is free to move forward to a fully extended position once it is removed from the injection site.", "[0269] FIG. 28 d shows the drive spring 262 expanded.", "The sealing foil 216 has been ruptured and the plunger 214 has been moved through the drug container and the drug has been ejected.", "[0270] FIG. 28 e shows the device after it has been removed from the injection site, with the skin sensor element in a fully extended position, locked and covering the needle.", "The skin sensor element is retained to the chassis and prevented from further forward movement by the engagement of bracing arms 318 with a portion of the lower housing 340 .", "The locking arms 316 have flexed to allow the skin sensor element to pass as the skin sensor to the extended position, but surfaces 317 lock the skin sensor element in the extended position, preventing any retraction of the skin sensor element.", "[0271] FIG. 29 is a schematic diagram illustrating the assembly process of an autoinjector in accordance with the second embodiment of the invention.", "In step 350 , the drug container assembly 210 , including the needle 212 and needle shield 250 is filled with dose of drug and a plunger 214 , and then sealed by a sealing foil 216 .", "This is carried out in a sterile environment.", "Independently, in step 352 the powerpack assembly is assembled to the outer housing.", "In step 354 the filled drug container assembly is then fitted to the powerpack assembly.", "The front end of the device, including the chassis, skin sensor element, skin sensor spring, and lower housing is assembled in step 356 .", "The powerpack housing includes locking arms 266 , which are received in openings 224 in the outer housing to retain the insertion spring in a first compressed state.", "The locking surface 226 engages the drive member 270 to hold the drive spring in a compressed state.", "[0272] In step 358 , the front end assembly is coupled to the drug container assembly and the powerpack assembly and outer housing.", "The drug container assembly is retained by latching arms on the chassis.", "The window portions 348 of the lower housing clip into to the windows 222 of the outer housing.", "As the lower housing is moving towards an engaged position in which the window portions are fully engaged with the windows on the outer housing, the chassis 320 engages the arms 266 on the powerpack housing to move them out of the openings 224 .", "This mechanism is illustrated in FIG. 30 .", "[0273] The chassis includes cam surfaces 336 at its rear end that engage corresponding cam surfaces 267 on the locking arms 266 .", "As the chassis and powerpack move toward one other, the cam surfaces 267 on the chassis deflect locking arms inwardly and out of engagement with the outer housing 220 .", "At this point, the insertion spring 260 is allowed to expand a small amount, but it is subsequently held in a second compressed state as soon as the lower housing 340 engages the outer housing.", "The latches 322 on the chassis engage the drug container assembly 210 , the chassis 320 is fixed to the lower housing and the lower housing is fixed to the outer housing.", "Accordingly, the insertion spring cannot expand until the latches 322 are released from the drug container.", "In the second compressed state, the insertion spring still stores enough energy to insert the needle 12 into an injection site by pushing the drug container to the insertion position when the latches 322 are released.", "The components are configured so that the disengagement of the locking arms 266 from the outer housing happens only momentarily before the window portions 348 lock to the window 222 [0274] The cap 30 is typically assembled to the lower housing 340 during assembly of the front end assembly, but may be added after the powerpack and front assembly are joined or after the outer housing has been fitted to the lower housing.", "These options are illustrated in FIG. 29 as step 357 .", "Also, as an alternative to the process illustrated in FIG. 29 , the drug container assembly could be assembled to the front end assembly before being coupled to the powerpack and outer housing.", "The assembly process is complete at step 360 ." ]

[ "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to means for handling the transfer of and metering of critical liquids, such as molten metals, which are difficult to handle and deliver because of their corrosive, abrasive or other deleterious characteristics which adversely effect the operation of the conventional flow regulating elements employed to regulate the liquid flow.", "It is well known to persons skilled in the art of handling critical liquids such as melting and handling of molten metals as well as those involved with handling other high temperature or chemically active liquids that such critical liquids cannot be stored in a container where they come in contact with mechanical type flow regulators such as those contained in a valved gravity outlet.", "Under such circumstances, the liquids either dissolve the regulator or valve or cause build-up on them until such regulators malfunction or leak with a resulting loss of function, hazard to personnel, loss of the fluid, or damage to surrounding equipment.", "The present art solution is to lift and tip the container to pour liquid out of it, dip the liquid, pump the liquid, or pour the liquid, using an electromagnetic elevator.", "Each of these methods have disadvantages which may or may not apply to any particular fluid.", "Pouring can be very slow if the container is large such as a melting furnace in a foundry.", "Both pouring and dipping must break through any dross or other covering, either natural or added, and both methods can result in unwanted splashing of the liquid.", "Pumping is usually costly since the mechanical parts suffer from the same problems as valves.", "Pneumatic pumping with both pressure and vacuum has been achieved by sealing the complete container, but such systems are susceptible to leaks in the seals of the refill parts.", "SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to a solution of the above mentioned deficiences of the prior art, and in so doing provides for the long term continous transfer and delivery of critical liquids, particularly molten metal or liquid slag or short term metering of precise amounts thereof from a storage vessel on demand.", "The ability of the device to meter precise amounts on demand allows for the integration of the liquids primary holding container with an automatic machine such as a die casting machine or a molding line without serious deterioration of total system reliability.", "In accordance with the present invention, an arrangement is provided for the delivery of predetermined amounts of critical liquid from a primary storage vessel wherein delivery is controlled therefrom by a siphon-like apparatus.", "The arrangement comprises a storage vessel or container for containing a supply of critical liquid.", "A short siphon passage leg is inserted in the liquid and extended upwardly to a high point or high level passage above the primary container.", "A long siphon passage leg is connected to the high level passage and extended outside the vessel downwardly below the level of liquid in the storage vessel where it interconnects with a chambered fluid air-trap located substantially below the height of the primary vessel.", "A liquid outlet is provided in the lower chamber for transferring liquid from the lower chamber to the liquid receiving means.", "Vacuum or negative pressure means is employed to apply a low grade vacuum or negative pressure to the siphon-like apparatus adjacent the high level passage to start the siphon flow of liquid from the storage container to the receiving means.", "According to the invention a higher intermediate upper storage chamber of less capacity than the initial melting furnace may be provided which is connected to a short siphon leg at one end and connected to the liquid in the melting furnace at its other end for transferring liquid in smaller measured amounts from the upper chamber to the lower chamber.", "Further to the invention, a dual vacuum control means may be employed, the first vacuum control element thereof being connected to said higher upper chamber and the second vacuum control element thereof being connected to the high level passage of the siphon, the first vacuum element is adaptable to pre-fill the higher chamber with liquid, and the second vacuum element is adaptable to pre-fill the inner air-trap chamber with liquid and start and stop the siphon liquid flow.", "Further in accordance with the invention, automatic switching means may be employed to control the dual vacuum elements in filling the chamber and regulating the flow of liquid.", "Also in accordance with the invention, the siphon long lower leg may be provided with an elongated enlarged portion to facilitate release of air and gas bubbles from the device while the liquid is flowing through the passages.", "Further, in accordance with the invention, a means is provided to selectively start and interrupt the siphon flow of liquid which does not employ mechanical or electrical moving part which contact the liquid.", "Further to the invention, means is provided for sealing the liquid flow outlet passage of the device during the priming thereof to allow vacuum to fill the chamber or chambers in the device with liquid prior to operation thereof.", "According to the invention an apparatus for transferring liquids is provided which requires substantially light vacuum or power to effect the flow of liquid.", "Another object of the invention is the provision for a fail safe arrangement whereby the device will automatically cease to operate and require re-priming if the siphon flow interrupt means fails to operate.", "A further object of the invention is to provide for automatic operation of the "pour cycle"", "by activation from the die casting machine or liquid receiving means.", "A principal object of the invention is to provide a liquid controlled air-trap means for maintaining a vacuum in the liquid transfer passages of the siphon apparatus during and after transfer of the critical liquid.", "For a better understanding of the present invention together with other purposes and objects thereof, reference is made to the following detailed description and accompanying drawings while the scope of the invention is pointed out in the appended claims.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the Drawings: FIG. 1 is a side elevational view, partly in section, of the device having an intermediate storage chamber, taken on the line 1--1 of FIG. 3. FIG. 2 is a side elevational view showing the control means for the device of FIG. 1, taken on the lines 2--2 of FIG. 3. FIG. 3 is a sectional plan view taken on line 3--3 of FIG. 1. FIG. 4 is a plan view of the embodiment of FIG. 1, taken on line 4--4 of FIG. 1. FIG. 5 is a transverse sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 1, taken on line 5--5 of FIG. 1. FIG. 6 is a side elevational view, partly in section, of a device similar to the device of FIG. 1 without the intermediate storage chamber, taken on line 6--6 of FIG. 7. FIG. 7 is a plan view, partly sectional, of the device of FIG. 6, taken on line 7--7 of FIG. 6. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring initially to FIGS. 6 and 7, a primary embodiment of the invention includes a core, block or body 10 of generally rectangular plan view outline and generally shoe-like elevational outline.", "The body 10 may be constructed of any material suitable for containing the liquid or melt 11 at a suitable consistancy for metering, such as castable alumina-silica refractory material for ladling molten aluminum.", "The core may be cast in one-piece, molded in halves 12 and 13 and cemented together with a refractory mortar or alternatively manufactured from suitably adapted pipes and containers.", "The conventional heating elements 14 (shown in FIG. 1) are preferrably electrical resistance heaters that maintain the temperature of the body at about the same temperature as such melt 11.", "The body is provided exteriorly with a cover 51, (shown in FIG. 1) and suitable insulation (not shown) is installed between the body exterior and the cover.", "The body is supported above the floor 15 in the position shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 6 by stand means 16 having a base 17 resting on the floor and upright vertical channels 18 mounted on said base fixedly fastened to the sides 19 and 20 of the body.", "The stand means supports the body adjacent and over the open supply reservoir 23 with the elevated rearward heel-like inlet portion 22 of the body partially submerged in the melt adjacent the inside wall 24 of the reservoir 23.", "The reservoir rim top 37 is fixedly disposed adjacent inlet portion inside vertical wall 25, above inlet portion bottom wall 28 and adjacent the inner horizontal wall 31 of the body.", "The wall 31 intersects the inner vertical wall 25.", "The inner horizontal wall portion 31 extends forwardly to intersection 48 where wall 32 is directed downwardly at an angle of approximately 45 degrees from horizontal to a lower forward horizontal wall portion 27 of the toe disposed substantially below the level of the melt 21.", "Face 39 is obliquely turned upwardly and forwardly from said horizontal wall portion 27 to intersect an upper rearwardly sloped wall 45 which generally parallels downward wall 32 to a horizontal upper wall 74, extending rearwardly to outer vertical inlet portion wall 68.", "The wall 68 extends downwardly vertically to intersect the bottom inlet wall 28, and inside vertical wall 25 also extends vertically downward to intersect bottom wall 28, completing the general outline of the body in the elevational view.", "In the plan view, the device is seen to be of generally rectangular outline with the bulbed holding chamber 34 disposed in the forward end thereof adjacent face 39, and the inlet portion 22, located adjacent the rearward end thereof.", "The fluid passage means 29 associated with said body is located generally centrally along the joint line 69 thereof and includes an elevated intermediate siphon conduit normal sized portion 43 disposed above said inner horizontal wall 31 and above a horizontal plane defining the pre-established top surface 21 of the melt 11 in the supply reservoir and connected by conduit means including a comparatively short upstream siphon conduit leg 35 disposed vertically in the inlet portion 22 to the intake port 30 located in the horizontal bottom face 28 of the inlet portion 22, which intake port is submerged in the melt in the supply reservoir 23.", "The generally horizontal elevated leg or branch portion 43 is further connected in conduit relationship to downwardly depending comparatively longer downstream siphon leg 44 which parallels wall 45 and whose lower end 53 communicates with a bottom inlet 33 in the bulbed holding chamber 34.", "The long leg passage 44 is increased substantially cross-section-wise from its normal size at the forward intersection 52 of said long leg portion with the elevated passage portion 43 and extended a substantial distance forwardly down the long leg to a corner 63 to form an enlarged air and/or gas bubble release passage section or portion 64.", "The larger section is necked down or blended from the corner 63 to the normal sized passage portion 65 at corner 66.", "The bulbed holding chamber 34 is disposed adjacent the the lower forward wall portion 27 and oblique face 39 of the body and has interior walls defining an interior space 36 which is effective to maintain a substantial volume or quantity of molten metal therein.", "The inlet 33 is located adjacent the bottommost spaced wall 54 which is disposed adjacent lower body wall 27.", "Conduit means including a discharge port 38, located in oblique face 39 is connected by passage 40 to chamber outlet 41, located in the uppermost wall portion 42 of said chamber 34, which wall 42 is located substantially below corner 66.", "It is deemed important that the uppermost wall 42 of the bulbed chamber and the chamber bottom 33 be located a predetermined distance below the level 21 of the melt 11, that is intended to be drawn from reservoir 23 to facilitate the delivering by siphon action of melt from the reservoir out the discharge port.", "The intake port 30 is disposed a substantial distance below the initial or starting level 21 of the melt 11, and the volume of melt that can be siphoned from the reservoir is determined by the head or difference between the initial level of the melt 21 and a secondary level 55 defined by the melt disposed above a horizontal plane through the bulbed chamber outlet 41, or the melt disposed above intake 30 when intake 30 is disposed above secondary level 55.", "The reservoir 23 is of well known construction and the invention may be used in connection with any conventional type of furnace or reservoir.", "The capacity of the reservoir is understood to be many times greater than the bulbed chamber 34 capacity.", "The extension of the body inlet portion 22, below the melt also prevents dross or other undesirable substances entering the fluid passages.", "Although the device will now function as a siphon to ladle melt from the reservoir 21 out the discharge port 38 when a vacuum is applied to the discharge port, until a siphoning effect is obtained, the flow would be continuous until the entire head of melt was dispensed, and not suitable for molding practice.", "Therefore, means for selectively interrupting the flow of melt on demand is provided, which means utilizes the principle of the siphon and does not employ mechanical parts, such as valves, or the like, in the body of the device.", "The means for selectively interrupting and starting the flow of melt from the reservoir is accomplished by disposing air aperture means 67 above the passage 43 which includes a fluid passage 46 communicating with the elevated branch 43 at one end 47 and at the other outlet end 49 thereof with a means for introducing atmospheric or negative pressure into the passage means 29.", "The fluid passage 46 may comprise a pipe means 50 inserted and sealed into body 10 so that the pipe may be more conveniently connected to the air inert gas or vacuum source.", "(Shown on FIG. 2).", "The device is now ready to be activated, and the discharge port 38 is located in liquid dispensing relationship over the sprue (not shown) of a mold or (as is shown in FIG. 2) over the shot sleeve 52A of a conventional die casting machine (not shown) and the molten metal in the reservoir will have filled with melt to a level equal to the level 21 in the reservoir.", "Assuming at this point, that atmospheric pressure is introduced into pipe means 50, the liquid will rise in the short leg passage 35 to the same height as the level 21 of the melt, and when the negative pressure or vacuum is applied to the outlet end 49 the melt in the leg will stay at the same level, because air will enter the chamber and passage means through the discharge port and negative pressure cannot be established in the system.", "Therefore, before the device can deliver melt as intended, it is necessary to prime the device by filling the chamber 34 by plugging or stopping the discharge port 38 of the body, preferrably with a fibre or thin steel plate 56, and then apply vacuum to the pipe outlet 49 of the air aperture means.", "When negative pressure is applied thereto, liquid will rise in the vertical stem or short leg passage 35 upwardly to the high level or elevated intermediate conduit or passage 43 pass therethrough and down the long leg passage into the chamber 34.", "When chamber 34 overflows, the liquid flows out the discharge port 38 forcing the fibre or metal plate 56 away from the discharge port.", "The pipe outlet end 49 is then disconnected from the source of negative pressure and atmospheric pressure introduced which interrupts the siphon action causing the liquid to stop flowing.", "At that point, some of the liquid flows down passage 44 into the chamber 34, the excess flowing out the discharge port and some of the liquid remains in the long leg passage at the same level 57 as the melt in the chamber 34, sealing the discharge port to atmosphere.", "The apparatus is now primed and ready for intermittent operation.", "From here on it is not necessary to plug the discharge end of the body in order to start the siphon flow of liquid from the furnace reservoir to the shot sleeve, when negative pressure or vacuum is applied to pipe outlet 49, liquid rises by atmospheric pressure up the short leg into the elevated passage and simultaneously rises up the long leg which drains some of the liquid out of the chamber 34 further upwardly into the long leg 44, however, the chamber configuration is large enough so that a substantial quantity of liquid remains in the long leg passage and chamber to maintain a seal against air flow through the chamber and long leg passage.", "With negative pressure maintained pipe aperture 49 liquid will begin to flow from siphon effect over the elevated portion 43 and down the long leg passage 44 and into the chamber 34 and out the discharge port 38 for as long as the negative pressure is held.", "The melt flow time may be determined by manual application means or predetermined by timing means (not shown) connected to a primary valve means 58 as shown in FIG. 2. The valve means includes a valve 59 which is connected manually or automatically alternatively to a vacuum source 60, to atmospheric pressure, or to an inert gas source 61, maintained substantially at atmospheric pressure.", "The degree of vacuum or negative pressure required to operate the device is very light since the flow is accomplished by the siphon effect and the advantageous arrangement of the chamber and passages in relation to the head of melt as previously described.", "The larger long leg air release passage portion 64, disclosed in both versions, allows any air or gas bubbles which may have been carried into the passages with the melt to escape simultaneously upwardly beside the downwardly flowing melt and out the air aperture means 67, and also facilitate flow of melt freely down the long leg passage.", "FIGS. 1,2,3,4 and 5 illustrate another version of the system or device which has advantages which may be used under certain conditions requiring metering of precise amounts on demand.", "The structure for this version is much the same as described supra forwardly of the short upstream siphon leg 35 except that a vent aperture means 70 having a vertically disposed vent pipe 71 communicating with chamber upper outlet 72 in the lower chamber upper horizontal wall 42 is provided in this version.", "The melt inlet portion 73 comprises a rearward continuation of surface wall 74 to rear vertical inlet portion wall 75, which wall 75 extends downwardly into the melt to a bottom horizontal bottom wall 76.", "Bottom wall 76 extends forwardly to intersect vertical inner wall 25, completing the outline of the core body 77.", "Additional conduit means 78 is contained in the inlet portion 73, including an inlet passage 79 disposed adjacent rear vertical wall 75 which has an inlet port 80 submerged in the melt.", "The passage 79 extends vertically to communicate with a forwardly directed bend portion 81.", "The short bend portion 81 communicates with an inlet 82 above the melt level 21 in the rearward wall 83 of the upper reservoir intermediate chamber 84.", "The upper chamber 84 is disposed adjacent the passage 79 and has interior walls defining an interior reservoir space 85 which is effective to maintain a quantity of melt therein that will fill casting molds of predetermined size.", "The intermediate chamber space 85 is much larger than that for lower chamber 34 and much smaller than the reservoir 23.", "The upper chamber upper horizontal wall 86 is disposed a short distance above the level 21 of melt 11, and the bottom horizontal wall 87 is disposed substantially below the level 21 of melt 11.", "A lower conduit passage portion 89 communicates with an outlet port 88 in the bottom wall 87 and is reversely bent downwardly and then upwardly to communicate with vertical siphon leg portion 90.", "The vertical siphon leg portion 90 corresponds with siphon leg 35 of the prior disclosure herein.", "The forward vertical upper chamber wall 91 is disposed adjacent the siphon leg portion 90.", "In addition to the air aperture means 67 a second air aperture means 93 is provided in the system having a vertical fluid passage 92 communicating with the upper wall 86 of the upper chamber at its lower end and at its other end 94 with the valve means 96 as shown in FIG. 2 for introducing atmospheric 61 or negative pressure 60 into the upper chamber 84.", "The melt flow time periods can be accomplished by valve means 96 operating in synchronization with first valve means 58.", "Valve means 96 is likewise connected manually or automatically to vacuum source 60 or to atmosphere or to inert gas source 61 at very near atmospheric pressure by line 97.", "Line 98 connects gas source 61 to pipe 71.", "The valve means 96 and 58 are of prior art construction and preferrably electrically operated, having valves that will direct atmospheric or negative pressure to the device through conduit lines 99 and 100.", "When the latter version of the device is first installed in the position shown in FIG. 1 relative to the molten metal reservoir 23 and shot sleeve 52A of a die casting machine 101, molten metal or melt will rise into passage 79 to the level 21 of the melt 11, but will not flow into upper chamber or reservoir 84.", "The chambers and passages in the device will be empty.", "Therefore this version must likewise be primed, or set, and the first step in the cycle is to temporarily block entry of atmospheric pressure from entering outlet or discharge port 38, valve 58 and vent 71.", "That can be accomplished with plugs, plates or valves, as previously disclosed herein for version 1.", "Valve 96 is then shifted to apply vacuum or negative pressure to passage 92 and chamber 84.", "Atmospheric pressure on melt 11 will push the melt up passage 79 and it will spill into chamber 84.", "As chamber 84 fills, the melt will rise in passage 92 to a predetermined level 103 by the negative pressure of the vacuum.", "Valve means 96 is then moved to disconnect the vacuum from line 100 and thereby re-introduce atmospheric pressure 61 into passage 92.", "Melt will then drain from the chamber 84 back into the reservoir 23 through passage 79 until the melt in chamber 84 is at the level 102 of inlet 82.", "The melt will also have filled passage 89 and 90 up to the same level 102 as in chamber 84.", "The next step in the "priming"", "sequence is to shift valve 58 to apply vacuum through conduit line 99 to lower chamber 34.", "The air flow into discharge port is stopped, as indicated previously, by a plug or plate over the discharge port 38 and atmospheric pressure will hold the plate in place and negative pressure will then be established throughout passages 89, 90, 43, 47, 64, 65, 33, 40 and chamber 34.", "Atmospheric pressure entering through valve 96, line 100 and passage 92 will push melt from chamber 84 through passage 89 and up 90 across passage 43 to passage 64.", "The molten metal will run down passage 64, fill chamber 34 and then flow down passage 40 and out discharge port 38.", "The weight of the melt will push away the block or metal plate blocking the discharge port and a continuous flow of melt will be established from chamber 84 and out the discharge port due to siphon-like action.", "The flow is stopped by shifting valve 58 to allow atmospheric pressure into passage 46, which stops the siphon-like action.", "As a fail safe feature, if atmospheric pressure is not introduced into passage 46 before chamber 84 empties, the priming procedure must be repeated from the beginning.", "When atmospheric pressure is introduced into passage 46 to the siphon action, the melt left in passage 64 and 65, will flow of its own weight into chamber 34 and out port 38 until the excess metal in chamber 34 runs out, leaving sufficient metal in chamber 34 to form an air lock in passage 65 and 64.", "The blockage to vent 71 is then removed so atmospheric pressure (or inert gas at near atmospheric pressure) will be applied to chamber 34.", "Melt is now at atmospheric pressure in chamber 84 and passage 89 and 90 below maximum level 102, at atmosphere in chamber 34 and passage 65 above level 104, and at atmospheric pressure in passage 89 and 90.", "All the other chambers and passages within the device or body 77 are at atmospheric pressure filled with air or inert gas such as nitrogen or a gas flux as introduced through the valves and the vent 71, when chamber 34 is full.", "To complete the priming operation, the valve 96 is shifted to introduce vacuum to passages 92 and chamber 84 for a length of time adequate to fill chamber 84 with melt from reservoir 23 through passage 79.", "While the vacuum is applied, the level in passage 89 and 90 will fall below level 102, and the melt will eventually achieve predetermined level 103 in passage 92.", "At the end of the timed period, atmospheric pressure is reintroduced to chamber 84 by shifting valve 96 and molten metal will drain out of chamber 84 through passage 79 until the molten metal in chamber 84 and passage 90 is at level 102.", "The device is now primed and can be recycled on demand.", "THe "pour"", "cycle can be initiated by an electrical signal from the die casting machine 101 or from a mold indexing system (not shown).", "Such signal indicates that the die casting machine or mold is ready to receive melt.", "Such signal shifts valve 58 to apply vacuum to passages 89, 90, 43, 46, 64 and 65, and simultaneously starts a timer (not shown).", "Atmospheric pressure entering vent 71 and passage 40 pushes the molten metal in chamber 34 down from level 104 in the chamber and up from level 104 in passage 65 and 64 and the resulting head pressure therein will equal the negative pressure.", "The melt in chamber 34 will not allow air to enter passage 65 through port 38.", "Atmospheric pressure is entering chamber 84 through passage 92, valve 96 and will push the melt up passage 90, so it will run across the high point or elevated portion 43 and down passage 64, 65, and 33, into chamber 34.", "As the melt accumulates in chamber 34, the level of melt in chamber 34 will rise and overflow out port 38 into the die cast machine's shot sleeve 52A or into a mold (not shown).", "The pouring will continue due to the siphon action until the timer that was started when valve 58 was shifted times out and causes valve to shut off vacuum thereto and allow atmospheric pressure to enter passage 46.", "The pour stops with the melt in chamber 34 and passage 65 at gravity level 104, and the melt in chamber 84 and passage 90 at a level below inlet 82.", "The melt in passage 79 will be at level 21 of melt 11.", "The device shall then automatically sequence through the priming cycle or set cycle as described above to refill chamber 84 and await the next signal to "pour".", "The modified device is "fail safe"", "in the sense that only the volume of melt in chamber 84 can be dispensed in the event of a malfunction, which would otherwise cause continuous flow through the device.", "It will thus be seen that the objects hereinbefore set forth may be readily and efficiently obtained, and since certain changes may be made in the above device and different embodiments of the invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings, shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.", "It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween." ]

[ "CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is based on the following Japanese Patent Applications, the content of which is hereby incorporated by reference.", "[0002] [1] No. 2010-185826 (the filing date: Aug. 23, 2010) [0003] [2] No. 2010-191117 (the filing date: Aug. 27, 2010) BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0004] 1.", "Field of the Invention [0005] The present invention relates to a lighting apparatus.", "[0006] 2.", "Description of Related Art [0007] Conventionally, various lighting apparatuses are proposed for various purposes.", "As a light source that is used in a lighting apparatus, a fluorescent lamp is general;", "however, in recent years, the use of LEDs also is ongoing.", "Besides, various propositions for control of lighting apparatuses are performed.", "[0008] For example, a kitchen apparatus is proposed, which on a front surface of a lighting apparatus that serves as a light source when cooking is performed on a top plate, has a switch apparatus composed of a non-contact type sensor such as an infrared-rays sensor and the like that detect a human body and control turning on-off operation of the light source.", "And, a proposition is performed, in which a vertical-direction detection area of this sensor is formed between a plane that spreads in front of a sensor front surface and is substantially horizontal with respect to the top plate and a plane that virtually spreads from the sensor front surface to a front edge of the top plate (JP-A-1991-233804).", "[0009] Besides, a proposition is performed, in which in a similar kitchen apparatus, the sensor detection area is an area that is enclosed by: a virtual vertical plane that spreads from a front surface of a hung door type cabinet which is above the top plate;", "a plane that spreads in front of the sensor front surface and is substantially horizontal with respect to the top plate;", "and a virtual plane that spreads from the sensor front surface to the front edge of the top plate (JP-A-1991-277313).", "[0010] On the other hand, a bathroom, which includes a lighting unit that is able to change a brightness and a color, is proposed, in which a switch in a lighting control box that controls the lighting unit is composed of a non-contact reflection type sensor (JP-A-1993-166586).", "[0011] However, in connection with the function and control of the lighting apparatus, there are many challenges to be further examined.", "SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0012] Of various technological features disclosed in the present specification, an object of one technological feature, in light of the above description, is to provide a lighting apparatus that has a useful feature and is easy to control.", "[0013] Of the various technological features disclosed in the present specification, an embodiment according to the one technological feature provides a lighting apparatus changeable between an illuminating state and a non-illuminating state comprising: a non-contact motion sensor arranged to sense a movement of a hand near the lighting apparatus;", "and a controller arranged to control the lighting apparatus in the non-illuminating state to change from the non-illuminating state to the illuminating state in response to the movement of hand sensed by the non-contact motion sensor, and to control the lighting apparatus in the illuminating state to cause a change in illumination with the illuminating state kept in response to the same movement of hand sensed by the non-contact motion sensor.", "[0014] Here, other features, elements, steps, advantages and characteristics disclosed in the present specification will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the best embodiments and from the related attached drawings.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0015] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a lighting apparatus according to an first embodiment of the present invention (Embodiment 1).", "[0016] FIG. 2 is a circuit block diagram in the Embodiment 1.", "[0017] FIG. 3 is a schematic view of planar disposition in the Embodiment 1.", "[0018] FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing a detailed structure of a proximity sensor in the Embodiment 1.", "[0019] FIG. 5 is a timing chart that shows pulse emission timing and reflection light sampling timing of the proximity sensor in the Embodiment 1.", "[0020] FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a lighting apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention (Embodiment 2).", "[0021] FIG. 7 is a development view of a white light LED mount flexible board in the Embodiment 2.", "[0022] FIG. 8 is a block diagram of a lighting apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention (Embodiment 3).", "[0023] FIG. 9 is a block diagram of a lighting apparatus according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention (Embodiment 4).", "[0024] FIG. 10 is a flow chart showing a basic function of a control portion in Embodiment 3 or Embodiment 4.", "[0025] FIG. 11 is a flow chart showing details of a step S 38 in FIG. 10 .", "[0026] FIG. 12 is a flow chart that shows details of a step S 62 and a step S 66 in FIG. 11 and is used for control in Embodiment 1 and Embodiment 2.", "[0027] FIG. 13 is a flow chart that shows details of a step S 26 in FIG. 10 and is used for control in Embodiment 3 and Embodiment 4.", "[0028] FIG. 14 is a flow chart that shows details of a step S 30 in FIG. 10 and is used for the control in Embodiment 3 and Embodiment 4.", "DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiment 1 [0029] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a lighting apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.", "Embodiment 1 is formed as a kitchen cooking area lighting apparatus 4 that is fixed at a suitable upper position of a kitchen by a hold portion 2 .", "Here, the block diagram in FIG. 1 is schematically illustrated for convenience of the understanding;", "however, if description of an actual structure is necessary, the description is suitably supplemented hereinafter.", "The lighting apparatus 4 has a plurality of white light emitting diodes (LED) 6 , 8 , 10 , 12 , 14 , 16 , 18 and 20 ;", "collects white light, emitted into a relatively wide angle from the diodes, by means of small lens groups of a light collection lens array 22 that is disposed on a front surface;", "and radiates the light downward.", "Besides, each white light LED is in thermal contact with a heat radiation plate 23 that is formed of a metal;", "and prevents deterioration of the light emission efficiency by means of cooling by the heat radiation plate 23 .", "Here, in FIG. 1 , only eight white light LEDs are shown for simplification;", "however, in practical application, many white light LEDs (e.g., hundreds of LEDs) are so disposed as to be a circular shape as a whole.", "Below the lighting apparatus 4 , kitchen utensils such as a griddle 24 like a gas cooking apparatus, a cooking surface 26 , a sink 28 and the like that need to be lighted are situated.", "[0030] A LED driver 30 receives electricity supply from a power supply portion 32 and supplies an electric current from a constant-current source 38 to the white light LEDs 6 , 8 , 10 , 12 , 14 , 16 , 18 and 20 via a switch group 36 that is turned on and off by a PWM control portion 34 , thereby performing the light emission control.", "The light emission control is performed by the control portion 40 controlling the PWM control portion 34 .", "First, to turn on the lighting apparatus 4 , a hand is moved below and near a down-under proximity sensor 42 .", "If it is determined by the control portion 40 that some change is present in an output from the down-under proximity sensor 42 , a turning-on signal is sent to the PWM control portion 34 ;", "whereby the white light LEDs 6 , 8 , 10 , 12 , 14 , 16 , 18 and 20 are turned on irrespective of directions of the hand movement.", "Here, as the turning-on state, the state at the previous turning-off time is restored.", "[0031] Next, to change a brightness of the lighting apparatus 4 , the hand is moved in a right-left direction below and near the down-under proximity sensor 42 .", "If the control portion 40 detects a from-left-to-right movement of the hand in accordance with an output change from the down-under proximity sensor 42 , as long as a duty cycle is not at an upper limit, a signal for increasing the duty cycle by a predetermined amount is sent to the PWM control portion 34 , so that the brightness of the white light LEDs 6 , 8 , 10 , 12 , 14 , 16 , 18 and 20 increases.", "On the other hand, if the control portion 40 detects a from-right-to-left movement of the hand in accordance with the output change from the down-under proximity sensor 42 , as long as the duty cycle is not at a lower limit, a signal for decreasing the duty cycle by a predetermined amount is sent to the PWM control portion 34 , so that the brightness of the white light LEDs 6 , 8 , 10 , 12 , 14 , 16 , 18 and 20 decreases.", "Further, if the control portion 40 detects a quickly moved-away movement of the hand from the vicinity of the down-under proximity sensor 42 in accordance with the output change from the down-under proximity sensor 42 , a turning-off signal is sent to the PWM control portion 34 , so that the white light LEDs 6 , 8 , 10 , 12 , 14 , 16 , 18 and 20 are turned off.", "[0032] Here, in the above description, when the hand that performs the light increase or the light decrease moves away from the down-under proximity sensor 42 , to prevent unintentional light increase or light decrease due to the moving-away movement from being performed, an invalidation time zone is set, in which if the hand is stopped for a predetermined time after a desired light increase or decrease operation is completed, the output change is invalidated for a predetermined time from that time.", "Accordingly, if the hand is slowly moved away in this invalidation time zone, unintentional light increase or light decrease due to this movement does not occur.", "Besides, to prevent the hand movement that approaches the down-under sensor 42 before the quick moving-away for the turning-off from being mistaken as the operation for the light increase or light decrease, only the turning-off based on the determination of the quick moving-away is performed during a predetermined time after the down-under proximity sensor 42 detects the output change for the first time.", "And, only when it is not determined that the quick moving-away is performed during this predetermined time, the light increase or light decrease is performed in accordance with the hand movement.", "Accordingly, the turning-off is performed immediately after detection of the quick hand moving-away, while the light increase or light decrease is performed with a slight lag after detection of the right-left hand movement.", "[0033] As described above, the determination by the control portion 40 is different when the lighting apparatus 4 is in the turned-off state versus when the lighting apparatus 4 is in the turned-on state.", "In other words, in the case where the lighting apparatus 4 is in the tuned-off state, the turning-on control is performed irrespective of the hand movement, while in the case where the lighting apparatus 4 is in the tuned-on state, the different control, that is, the light increase, the light decrease or the turning off is performed by determining difference in the hand movement.", "[0034] Here, in the above description, instead of the turned-off state, the white light LEDs 6 , 8 , 10 , 12 , 14 , 16 , 18 and 20 may be turned on at a small duty cycle to function as a night light.", "In this case, the “turning off”", "in the above description is replaced with the “night light turning on”", "for the understanding.", "Besides, it is also possible to predetermine whether to perform the “turning off”", "or to perform the “night light turning on”", "when the lighting is not performed.", "Besides, in the “night light turning on,” all the white light LEDs 6 , 8 , 10 , 12 , 14 , 16 , 18 and 20 are turned on at the small duty cycle such that difference in the lives does not occur.", "However, a special emphasis is not laid on difference of the lives, only the white light LEDs (e.g., the white light LEDs 16 , 18 and 20 over the sink 28 ) that are predetermined for the “night light turning on”", "may be selectively turned on at the small duty cycle.", "[0035] Next, when the lit area is changed, the hand is moved near either or both of a left proximity sensor 44 and a right proximity sensor 46 .", "Here, the left proximity sensor 44 and the right proximity sensor 46 are disposed on upper side portions of the lighting apparatus 4 such that the hand does not obstruct the setting of the lit area.", "Here, in FIG. 1 , for simplification, as the proximity sensors for changing the lit area, the pair of the left proximity sensor 44 and the right proximity sensor 46 are used;", "however, in practical application, a plurality of sensors are disposed along the upper circumferential side surface of the lighting apparatus 4 , so that it is possible to detect the hand movement from any direction around a vertical axis of the lighting apparatus 4 .", "Because of this, it becomes possible to move the lit area in any direction around the vertical axis of the lighting apparatus 4 .", "Hereinafter, the lit area change is specifically described based on only the pair of the left proximity sensor 44 and the right proximity sensor 46 for simplification.", "[0036] First, a case where a spread of the lit area is changed is described.", "To reduce the lit area, the left hand and the right hand are made to slowly approach the left proximity sensor 44 and the right proximity sensor 46 , respectively.", "If the approaches of both hands are detected by the control portion 40 based on output changes from the left proximity sensor 44 and the right proximity sensor 46 , as long as the lit area is not at a lower limit, a predetermined number of white light LEDs arranged in a ring-belt shape are turned off from outside around the vertical axis of the lighting apparatus 4 .", "Here, in a case where all the white light LEDs 6 , 8 , 10 , 12 , 14 , 16 , 18 and 20 are in the turned-on state, an upper limit is set on the duty cycle considering the limit of heat radiation capability of the heat radiation plate 23 ;", "however, when part of the LEDs are in the turned off state as described above, part of the heat radiation capability is reserved, so that it is possible to raise the upper limit of the duty cycle.", "Making use of this fact, when the white light LEDs arranged in a ring-belt shape on an outward side are turned off to reduce the lit area;", "at the same time, the duty cycle of the remaining white light LED groups on an inward side is automatically increased.", "According to this, it is possible to reduce the lit area and achieve a spot lit state with the brightness of the area increased.", "[0037] On the other hand, to enlarge the lit area, the left hand and the right hand are made to quickly approach the left proximity sensor 44 and the right proximity sensor 46 , respectively;", "thereafter, made to slowly move away.", "Here, to prevent the approach movements of both hands from being mistaken as the above lit area reduction operation, a structure is employed such that a quick approach at more than a predetermined speed is not recognized as the lit area reduction operation.", "When the moving-away movements of both hands are detected by the control portion 40 based on the output changes from the left proximity sensor 44 and the right proximity sensor 46 , as long as the lit area is not at the upper limit (in other words, all the white light LEDs are in the turned-on state), of the white light LEDs in the turned-off state, LEDs arranged in a predetermined number of ring-belt shapes are turned on beginning with the inward side around the vertical axis of the lighting apparatus 4 .", "Here, as the number of white light LED groups that are turned on increases, the duty cycle of the turned-on white light LED groups is automatically lowered considering the limit of the heat radiation capability of the heat radiation plate 23 .", "Here, the light emission from each white light LED is curbed;", "however, the total light amount in the lit area is kept.", "[0038] Next, a case where the lit area is moved is described.", "As an example, a state is examined, in which thanks to the above lit area reduction operation, for example, the white light LEDs 10 , 12 , 14 , and 16 are turned on and the white light LEDs 6 , 8 , 18 , and 20 are turned off, whereby the cooking surface 26 is lit with spot-like light.", "Here, to move the lit area to the sink 28 that is situated on the right side, the left hand is made to approach the left proximity sensor 44 .", "If this movement is detected by the control portion 40 , for example, the white light LED 10 is turned off and the white light LED 16 is turned on, so that the lit area moves toward the sink 28 .", "And, to further move the lit area toward the sink 28 , the left hand is temporarily moved away from the left proximity sensor 44 ;", "thereafter, is made to approach again.", "When only the output from the left proximity sensor 44 changes, the control portion 40 neglects the moving-away movement, so that the re-approach only is detected;", "in accordance with this, for example, the white light LED 12 is turned off and the white light LED 20 is turned on, so that the lit area comes over the sink 28 .", "Linear movements are described above;", "however, in practical application, a lighting spot moves rightward.", "Besides, there are many steps for the spot, so that the spot moves more smoothly.", "[0039] On the other hand, to move the lit area leftward, by repeating the right-hand approach to the right proximity sensor 46 , like the case of the above left proximity sensor 44 , the lit area moves leftward.", "For example, starting from a state in which the white light LEDs 14 , 16 , 18 , and 20 are turned on and the white light LEDs 6 , 8 , 10 , and 12 are turned off, whereby the sink 28 is lit with spot-like light, the right hand is made to approach the right proximity sensor 46 .", "If this movement is detected by the control portion 40 , for example, the white light LED 20 is turned off and the white light LED 12 is turned on, so that the lit area moves toward the cooking surface 26 .", "And, to further move the lit area toward the cooking surface 26 , the right hand is temporarily moved away from the right proximity sensor 46 ;", "thereafter, is made to approach again.", "In a similar way to the case of the left proximity sensor 44 , when only the output from the right proximity sensor 46 changes, the control portion 40 neglects the moving-away movement, so that the re-approach only is detected;", "in accordance with this, for example, the white light LED 18 is turned off and the white light LED 10 is turned on, so that the lit area comes over the cooking surface 26 .", "By repeating this movement, it is possible to move the lit area over the griddle 24 .", "[0040] FIG. 2 is a circuit block diagram in Embodiment 1 in FIG. 1 ;", "portions corresponding to FIG. 1 are indicated by the same reference numbers and description is skipped unless necessary.", "The power supply portion 32 lowers an alternating voltage from a power line 48 by means of a transformer 50 ;", "rectifies the alternating voltage by means of a full-wave rectifier 52 ;", "smoothes the voltage by means of an electrolytic capacitor 54 ;", "and supplies the voltage to a direct current power supply circuit 56 .", "Here, a structure may be employed, in which the transformer 50 is omitted;", "and the voltage is directly supplied to the full-wave rectifier 52 from the power line 48 .", "Between the d.c. power supply circuit 56 and ground, a group of white light LEDs 6 , 58 , and 60 , a switch device 62 and a constant-current source 64 are connected in series.", "In parallel with this, between the d.c. power supply circuit 56 and ground, a group of white light LEDs 8 , 66 , and 68 , a switch device 70 and a constant-current source 72 are connected in series.", "Further, between the d.c. power supply circuit 56 and the ground, in parallel with these, a group of white light LEDs 10 , 74 , and 76 , a switch device 78 and a constant-current source 80 are connected in series.", "And, on-off of the switch devices 62 , 70 and 78 is controlled by the PWM control portion 34 , whereby the turning on-off of the white light LED groups and the brightness adjustment during a turned-on time are performed.", "The duty cycle for the PWM control by the PWM control portion 34 is controlled by the control portion 40 .", "[0041] Here, in FIG. 2 , only the three series connections of the white light LED groups are shown;", "however, in practical application, a structure is employed such that the duty cycle is controllable separately for each series connection of many white light LED groups.", "Besides, a structure may be employed such that the duty cycle is not controlled for each series connection but controlled for each of groups in one of which several series connections are clustered to be parallel with each other.", "Here, a duty cycle 0 means the turning off.", "[0042] FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the planar disposition in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 ;", "portions corresponding to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 are indicated by the same reference numbers and description is skipped unless necessary.", "As is clear from FIG. 3 , the white light LEDs are so arranged to be in a circular-surface shape as a whole.", "Besides, the white light LEDs 6 , 58 , and 60 and the like, which are connected in series and undergo the same control, are disposed near to each other as control units.", "And, corresponding to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 , the white light LEDs 8 , 66 , and 68 of a control unit are disposed in an inward portion of the circle as a whole;", "besides, the white light LEDs 10 , 74 , and 76 of a control unit are disposed in a more inward portion of the circle as a whole.", "Here, the planar disposition of the white light LED groups is not limited to the circle shape in FIG. 3 : suitable shapes such as an ellipse shape, a rectangle shape and the like are possible.", "[0043] Besides, as already described above, not only the pair of the left proximity sensor 44 and the right proximity sensor 46 but also a plurality of pairs of sensors such as a third side proximity sensor 82 and a fourth side proximity sensor 84 opposite to the third side proximity sensor 82 and the like are disposed around the vertical axis of the lighting apparatus 4 , so that it is possible to detect the hand approach from any direction.", "Because of this, it also becomes possible to move the lit area in any direction around the vertical axis of the lighting apparatus 4 .", "Here, the left proximity sensor 44 , the right proximity sensor 46 , the third side proximity sensor 82 and the fourth side proximity sensor 84 each have a first infrared-rays emitting portion 86 , a second infrared-rays emitting portion 88 and a common infrared-rays receiving portion 90 .", "Details of them are described later.", "[0044] FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing a detailed structure of the down-under proximity sensor 42 , the left proximity sensor 44 , the right proximity sensor 46 , the third side proximity sensor 82 and the fourth side proximity sensor 84 and the like in Embodiment 1 in FIG. 1 to FIG. 3 ;", "portions corresponding to FIG. 1 to FIG. 3 are indicated by the same reference numbers and description is skipped unless necessary.", "The first infrared-rays emitting portion 86 radiates infrared-rays pulses to a radiation area 92 at predetermined timing.", "Besides, the second infrared-rays emitting portion 88 radiates infrared-rays pulses to a radiation area 94 at timing that does not overlap with the pulses from the first infrared-rays emitting portion 86 .", "The common infrared-rays receiving portion 90 applies sampling to infrared-rays reflection light in a light receiving area 96 at the infrared-rays pulse radiation timing of the first infrared-rays emitting portion 86 , at the infrared-rays pulse radiation timing of the second infrared-rays emitting portion 88 , and at timing where the infrared-rays pulses from both are not present;", "and from a comparison of these samplings, detects movements of a finger and the like in a sensing region 98 .", "[0045] For example, as for a left-right movement in FIG. 4 , for example, when a finger and the like move from a position 91 to a position 93 in the sensing region 98 , a state transition occurs from a state in which pulses from the second infrared-rays emitting portion 88 are reflected by the finger and only the reflection light is received, via a state in which pulses from both of the first infrared-rays emitting portion 86 and the second infrared-rays emitting portion 88 are reflected by the finger and the reflection light of both pulses is received, and to a state in which pulses from the first infrared-rays emitting portion 86 are reflected by the finger and only the reflection light is received.", "According to this, a from-right-to-left finger movement in FIG. 4 is detected.", "On the other hand, when the finger and the like move from the position 93 to the position 91 in the sensing region 98 , the state transition of the light receiving states of the reflection light becomes reverse, so that a from-left-to-right finger movement in FIG. 4 is detected.", "[0046] On the other hand, as for a vertical movement in FIG. 4 , for example, when the finger and the like move from a position 95 to a position 97 in the sensing region 98 , a state transition occurs from a state in which pulses from the first infrared-rays emitting portion 86 are reflected by the finger and only the reflection light is received to a state in which pulses from both of the first infrared-rays emitting portion 86 and the second infrared-rays emitting portion 88 are reflected by the finger and the reflection light of both pulses is received.", "According to this, a from-top-to-bottom finger movement in FIG. 4 is detected.", "On the other hand, when the finger and the like move from the position 97 to the position 95 in the sensing region 98 , the state transition of the light receiving states of the reflection light becomes reverse, so that a from-bottom-to-top finger movement in FIG. 4 is detected.", "[0047] As described above, a case where a relatively small object such as the finger and the like moves in the sensing region 98 is described;", "however, in a case of a relatively large object such as a palm and the like, the received light output is a combination of reflection light from portions of the palm.", "In this case, as for the left-right movement in FIG. 4 , it is possible to detect the movement relatively easily from an end-portion movement of the palm.", "On the other hand, in the case of the vertical movement in FIG. 4 , the state continues, in which pulses from both of the first infrared-rays emitting portion 86 and the second infrared-rays emitting portion 88 are reflected by the entire palm and the reflection light of both pulses is received.", "In such a case, increase or decrease in the reflection light amount is detected;", "and it is determined as an approach in a case where the reflection light amount increases and it is determined as a moving-away in a case where the reflection light amount decreases.", "Here, in the vertical movement as well, if the palm is moved in parallel with the movement direction, the reflection area becomes small, so that it is possible to detect the reflection state transition as in FIG. 4 .", "Here, in FIG. 4 , the case where there are the two infrared-rays emitting portions is described;", "however, to increase the sensitivity, it is possible to increase the number of infrared-rays emitting portions;", "besides, in this case, it is possible to dispose the infrared-rays emitting portions two-dimensionally or three-dimensionally;", "or it is possible to increase the number of infrared-rays receiving portions 90 .", "[0048] FIG. 5 is a timing chart that shows: the pulse radiation timing of the first infrared-rays emitting portion 86 and the second infrared-rays emitting portion 88 of each of the down-under proximity sensor 42 , the left proximity sensor 44 , the right proximity sensor 46 , the third side proximity sensor 82 and the fourth side proximity sensor 84 : and the reflection light sampling timing of the common infrared-rays receiving portion 90 .", "FIG. 5 (A) shows the pulse radiation timing of the first infrared-rays emitting portion 86 ;", "FIG. 5 (B) shows the pulse radiation timing of the second infrared-rays emitting portion 88 ;", "and FIG. 5 (C) shows the reflection light sampling timing of the common infrared-rays receiving portion 90 .", "The pulse radiations in FIG. 5 (A) and FIG. 5(B) are repeated at about 100 Hz, for example.", "As is clear from FIG. 5 , the received light output sampling is performed likewise in order from: timing t 1 when only the pulses from the first infrared-rays emitting portion 86 are radiated;", "timing t 2 when neither of both pulse radiations is present;", "timing t 3 when only the pulses from the second infrared-rays emitting portion 88 are radiated;", "and to timing t 4 when neither of both pulse radiations is present.", "As described above, before and after both of the reflection light samplings during the pulse radiation only from the first infrared-rays emitting portion 86 and the pulse radiation only from the second infrared-rays emitting portion 88 , the received light sampling in the state having no pulse radiation is performed, so that it is possible to effectively remove reflected light output other than the reflection light.", "Embodiment 2 [0049] FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a lighting apparatus according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.", "Embodiment 2 also is formed as a kitchen cooking area lighting apparatus 104 that is fixed at a suitable upper position of a kitchen by a hold portion 102 .", "Besides, because most of the structure is common to Embodiment 1, the common portions are indicated by reference numbers on the order of 100 with the common second and first digits and description is skipped unless necessary.", "Besides, the detailed structures shown in FIG. 2 to FIG. 5 are also applicable to Embodiment 2 and other embodiments that are described hereinafter.", "What Embodiment 2 in FIG. 6 is different from Embodiment 1 in FIG. 1 is a point that white light LEDs 106 to 120 are disposed on an inward bent surface and the light collection lens array 22 disposed in Embodiment 1 is omitted.", "Because of this, a heat radiation plate 123 also has an inward bent shape.", "[0050] As a result of the above structure, even without the light collection lens array 22 , it is possible to efficiently shine the illumination light onto the kitchen utensils such as the griddle 24 , the cooking surface 26 , the sink 28 and the like that are below the lighting apparatus 104 and need the lighting.", "On substantially a center portion 101 of the bent shape of the white light LEDs 106 to 120 and the heat radiation plate 123 , the light from all the white light LED groups concentrates, so that if there is an ingredient or a dish that the user wants to look in a bright state, it is sufficient to lift them to the center portion 101 .", "Here, in Embodiment 2, the surface on which the white light LEDs 106 to 120 are disposed is part of a spherical surface;", "as a result of this, the light emission center axes of the white light LED groups concentrate on the center portion 101 ;", "however, to perform the disposition such that the light emission center axes of the white light LED groups are not parallel to each other, it is possible not only to perform the disposition on the simple spherical surface but also to minutely design considering the illuminance on a lit target surface.", "[0051] Here, in the case of moving the lit area, to move the lit area toward the sink 28 , the left hand is made to approach the left proximity sensor 144 ;", "if this movement is detected by a control portion 140 , for example, a state is obtained, in which the white light LED group on the white light LED 120 side is turned off while the white light LED group on the white light LED 106 side is turned on.", "On the other hand, to move the lit area toward the griddle 24 , the right hand is made to approach the right proximity sensor 146 ;", "if this movement is detected by the control portion 140 , for example, a state is obtained, in which the white light LED group on the white light LED 106 side is turned off while the white light LED group on the white light LED 120 side is turned on.", "[0052] FIG. 7 is a development view of a flexible board for mounting the white light LED group in Embodiment 2 in FIG. 6 .", "A flexible board 151 incorporates a group of white light LEDs 106 , 158 and 160 and a group of white light LEDs 108 , 166 and 168 and the like;", "has cutout pieces 153 and the like;", "and by attaching the cutout pieces 153 on the inner side of the heat radiation plate 123 such that the cutout pieces are in contact with each other at their tip end portions, it is possible to dispose the white light LED groups on the inward bent surface in section shown in FIG. 6 as a whole.", "Here, control related circuit elements 155 , 157 such as an LED driver and the like are disposed at a center of the flexible board 151 such that a wiring is not cut by the cutout piece 153 ;", "from here, the wiring extends radially as a whole to control the white light LED groups.", "Embodiment 3 [0053] FIG. 8 is a block diagram of a lighting apparatus according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.", "Embodiment 3 also is formed as a kitchen cooking area lighting apparatus 204 that is fixed at a suitable upper position of a kitchen by a hold portion 202 .", "Besides, because most of the structure is common to Embodiment 1 and Embodiment 2, the common portions are indicated by reference numbers on the order of 200 with the common second and first digits and description is skipped unless necessary.", "A first point in which Embodiment 3 in FIG. 8 is different from Embodiment 1 in FIG. 1 or e Embodiment 2 in FIG. 6 is that white light LEDs 208 , 212 , 216 , 220 and the like are evenly mingled with yellow light LEDs 207 , 209 , 211 , 213 and the like.", "[0054] And, the white light LEDs 208 , 212 , 216 , 220 and the like are controlled by a white light LED driver 230 that is supplied with electricity by a white light power supply portion 232 ;", "independent of this, the yellow light LEDs 207 , 209 , 211 , 213 and the like are controlled by a yellow light LED driver 231 that is supplied with electricity by a yellow light power supply portion 233 .", "According to this, by means of changes of the duty cycle of the whit light LED group and the duty cycle of the yellow light LED group, it is possible to freely change the mixing ratio of the white and the yellow and change the lighting color between the white and the yellow.", "Such change of the lighting color in a kitchen is useful in a case and the like where for example, the color of a dish or an ingredient is evaluated under the same conditions as day time color temperatures and color temperatures during a light lighting time in a dining room at a time of setting a table.", "[0055] A second point in which Embodiment 3 in FIG. 8 is different from Embodiment 1 in FIG. 1 or Embodiment 2 in FIG. 6 is that a structure is employed, in which movable reflection shades 215 , 217 are disposed and driven in cooperation with each other by a drive portion 219 , whereby it is possible to change the radiation direction of the illumination light.", "FIG. 8 shows, as an example, a state in which it is adjusted such that the lighting direction points to the griddle 24 .", "Here, in Embodiment 3 in FIG. 8 , like in Embodiment 2 in FIG. 6 , the light collection lens array 22 disposed in Embodiment 1 in FIG. 1 is omitted.", "The drive portion 219 is controlled by the control portion 240 ;", "the movable reflection shades 215 and 217 are driven such that the left hand is made to approach a left proximity sensor 244 , whereby the lit area moves toward the sink 28 ;", "while the right hand is made to approach a right proximity sensor 246 , whereby the lit area moves toward the griddle 24 .", "[0056] Further, when changing the lit area between a spot and a wide angle by making the left hand and the right hand approach and move away from the left proximity sensor 244 and the right proximity sensor 246 , respectively, the drive control is performed such that the movable reflection shades 215 and 217 move in a closed direction or an opened direction as a whole in cooperation with each other.", "Here, in Embodiment 3 in FIG. 8 , unlike Embodiment 1 and Embodiment 2, the change of the turning-on and turning-off of the white light LED group and the yellow light LED group due to the spreading of the lit area or the movement of the center of the lit area is not performed.", "Only one pair of the left and right movable reflection shades 215 and 217 are shown in FIG. 8 for simplification;", "however, like the pairs of proximity sensors in FIG. 3 , a plurality of pairs of reflection shades are disposed around the vertical axis of the lighting apparatus 204 , so that it is also possible to change the lit area in any direction around the vertical axis.", "[0057] Here, in the case of Embodiment 3, in a case of night light turning-on, all the white light LED groups are turned off, while the yellow light LED groups are turned on at a small duty cycle.", "Besides, in the case of changing the lighting brightness, to darken the lighting as a whole, automatic control is performed, in which the duty cycle of the white light LED group is made smaller than the duty cycle of the yellow light LED group such that a yellowish color prevails as a whole;", "on the other hand, to brighten the lighting as a whole, automatic control is performed, in which the duty cycle of the white light LED group is made larger than the duty cycle of the yellow light LED group such that a whitish color prevails as a whole.", "According to this, by sensuously approximating a color temperature change due to a brightness change of an incandescent lamp and a color temperature change during day time and dusk, a natural brightness change is performed.", "[0058] FIG. 9 is a block diagram of a lighting apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.", "Embodiment 4 also is formed as a kitchen cooking area lighting apparatus that is fixed at a suitable upper position of a kitchen by a hold portion 302 .", "Besides, because most of the structure is common to Embodiment 3 in FIG. 8 , the common portions are indicated by reference numbers on the order of 300 with the common second and first digits and description is skipped unless necessary.", "A point in which Embodiment 4 in FIG. 9 is different from Embodiment 3 in FIG. 8 is that the kitchen cooking area lighting apparatus is separated into a control fix unit 305 and a movable lighting unit 304 ;", "the angle of the control fix unit 305 to the movable lighting unit 304 is variable by a swing mechanism 341 ;", "because of this, it is possible to change the lighting direction.", "Here, like Embodiment 1, to increase the lighting directivity, a light collection lens array 322 is employed.", "Because of these, the movable reflection shades 215 , 217 in Embodiment 3 are not employed in Embodiment 4.", "[0059] First, a change of the lighting direction in Embodiment 4 is described.", "A drive portion 319 for controlling the swing mechanism 341 is controlled by a control portion 340 ;", "the left hand is made to approach a left proximity sensor 344 , whereby the movable lighting unit 304 is tilted in a counterclockwise direction as a whole to light centering on the sink 28 side.", "On the other hand, the right hand is made to approach a right proximity sensor 346 , whereby the movable lighting unit 304 is tilted in a clockwise direction as a whole to light centering on the griddle 24 side.", "[0060] When changing the lit area between a spot and a wide angle by making the left hand and the right hand approach and move away from the left proximity sensor 344 and the right proximity sensor 346 , respectively, like Embodiment 1 and Embodiment 2, the lit area is increased and decreased by means of the turning on and tuning off of the LED group (in this case, the white light LED group and the yellow light LED group).", "Besides, here, as the number of turned-off LED groups increases, it is the same as Embodiment 1 and Embodiment 2 that the duty cycle of the turned-on LED groups is increased.", "[0061] The above Embodiment 1 to Embodiment 4 are described with mainly the respective features simplified;", "it is arbitrary to combine and employ the features described in the respective Embodiments and to change the combination of the features.", "For example, it is arbitrary to compose Embodiment 1 and Embodiment 2 into the swing type like Embodiment 4;", "or to compose Embodiment 1 and Embodiment 2 into the mingled type of the white light LED group and the yellow light LED group like Embodiment 3 and Embodiment 4.", "Besides, in Embodiment 2 and Embodiment 3, it is arbitrary to employ together the light collection lens array used in Embodiment 1 and Embodiment 4.", "Further, the proximity sensor is not limited to the sensors shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 : it is arbitrary to employ other types of proximity sensors that are able to fulfill the same function.", "[0062] FIG. 10 is a flow chart showing a basic function of the control portion 240 in Embodiment 3 in FIG. 8 and the control portion 340 in Embodiment 4 in FIG. 9 .", "However, by performing replacement described later, it is possible to employ the flow chart in the control portion 40 in Embodiment 1 in FIG. 1 and the control portion 140 as well in Embodiment 2 in FIG. 6 .", "By disposing the lighting apparatus and supplying electricity, the flow starts to perform an initial stage process in a step S 2 .", "This process basically performs a function check of the entire lighting apparatus;", "however, it is also possible to perform various settings for a limited predetermined time: it is possible to perform custom settings whether or not to perform night light turning-on instead of turning-off;", "whether or not to perform a color temperature automatic change due to a brightness change;", "whether or not to perform an automatic brightness change due to a light area change and the like.", "Here, when nothing is set within the predetermined time, a default setting (the above settings are all “Yes”) is performed and the initial setting process is ended.", "Hereinafter, the flow is described under the default setting.", "[0063] If the initial setting process ends, the flow goes to a step S 4 to issue an instruction for night light yellow turning-on.", "Next, in a step S 6 , it is checked whether or not there is a sensor output from the down-under proximity sensor.", "And, if there is a sensor output, the flow goes to a step S 8 to check whether or not light is now being emitted.", "And, if light is not being emitted, the flow goes to a step S 10 to read a recorded turned-on state and goes to a step S 12 .", "If there is not a record, the flow goes to the step S 12 as default turning-on.", "In the step S 12 , an instruction is issued for light turning-on based on the recorded turning-on state read in the step S 10 .", "In this way, if it is determined in the step S 8 that light is not being emitted, the flow goes to the step S 12 whatever the output from the down-under proximity sensor in the step S 6 is and an instruction for light turning-on is issued.", "Here, the recorded turning-on state in the step S 10 is a record of brightness, a color temperature, a lit area immediately before the previous turning-off;", "by passing through the step S 10 , the lighting state immediately before the previous turning-off is restored.", "[0064] If an instruction for light turning-on is issued in the step S 12 , the flow goes to a step S 14 and thereafter inactivates the proximity sensor for a predetermined time.", "This is, for example, to prevent the proximity sensor from detecting a moving-away movement of the hand that is made to approach the proximity sensor for a light turning-on operation and causing an unintentional erroneous operation.", "If the predetermined time in the step S 14 elapses, the flow goes to a step S 16 to check whether or not the electricity supply is interrupted;", "if the supply is kept, the flow returns to the step S 6 .", "[0065] On the other hand, if it is detected in the step S 8 that light is being emitted, the flow goes to a step S 18 to perform an output record comparison process for determination of a hand movement based on a time-dependent change history of the proximity sensor output.", "And, passing through the output record comparison process in the step S 18 , the flow goes to a step S 20 to check whether or not the hand movement detected by the down-under proximity sensor is a quick moving-away.", "If it is not a quick moving-away, the flow goes to a step S 22 to check whether or not a predetermined time elapses from the time the down-under proximity sensor output is detected for the first time.", "If the predetermined time does not elapse, the flow returns to the step S 18 , passes through the output record comparison process based on a new sensor output, and goes to the step S 20 .", "In this way, as long as a quick moving-away is not detected and the predetermined time does not elapse, the step S 18 to the step S 22 are repeated;", "even if there is a down-under proximity sensor output, noting is performed for a while.", "In this way, during the time the step S 18 to the step S 22 are repeated, the flow responds only to detection of a quick moving-away, so that an unintentional erroneous operation is prevented from being caused by the hand that is made to approach the down-under proximity sensor for a quick moving-away.", "[0066] If the predetermined time elapses in the step S 22 , the flow goes to a step S 24 to check whether or not the hand movement detected in the step S 18 is a left-right movement.", "And, if it is a left-right movement, the flow goes to a step S 26 to perform a predetermined light amount change process and goes to a step S 28 .", "The predetermined light amount change process in the step S 26 is a process to increase or decrease the light amount by a predetermined amount in accordance with whether the movement detected in the step S 24 is a rightward movement or a leftward movement;", "however, details of it are described later.", "If a left-right movement is not detected in the step S 24 , the flow directly goes to the step S 28 .", "[0067] In the step S 28 , it is checked whether or not the hand movement detected in the step S 18 is a vertical movement.", "And, if it is a vertical movement, the flow goes to a step S 30 to perform a predetermined color change process and goes to a step S 32 .", "The predetermined color change process in the step S 30 is a process to change the lighting color in a yellow-color direction or a white-color direction in accordance with whether the movement detected in the step S 28 is an upward movement or a downward movement;", "however, details of it are described later.", "If a vertical movement is not detected in the step S 28 , the flow directly goes to the step S 32 .", "As described above, the operation execution based on a left-right movement or a vertical movement is lagged until a time it is confirmed by the repetition of the step S 18 to the step S 22 that the hand movement is not a quick moving-away.", "[0068] In the step S 32 , it is checked whether or not an output change occurs within a predetermined time based on the down-under proximity sensor output.", "If the hand that causes an output change from the down-under proximity sensor still moves thereafter, an output change occurs within the predetermined time;", "however, thereafter, if the hand is stopped, an output change within the predetermined time does not occur.", "And, if it is detected that there is not an output change within the predetermined time, the flow goes to a step S 34 ;", "thereafter, during a predetermined time, inactivates the proximity sensor.", "This is to prevent the proximity sensor from: detecting a moving-away movement of the hand after the hand, which performs the light amount change operation or the color change operation, achieves a predetermined light amount or a predetermined color;", "and causing an erroneous operation that further generates an unintentional light amount change or color change.", "If the predetermined time elapses in the step S 34 , the flow goes to the step S 16 .", "On the other hand, if there is an output change within the predetermined time in the step S 32 , the flow considers that the brightness change or color change operation continues and directly goes to the step S 16 .", "[0069] On the other hand, if an output change from the down-under proximity sensor is not detected in the step S 6 , the flow goes to a step S 36 to check whether or not there is an output change from either or both of the left proximity sensor and the right proximity sensor.", "And, if a sensor output change is detected, the flow goes to a step S 38 to perform a lit area change process and goes to the step S 16 .", "Details of the lit area change process are described later.", "On the other hand, if no output change from the left proximity sensor and the right proximity sensor is detected in the step S 36 , the flow directly goes to the step S 16 .", "[0070] On the other hand, if a quick moving-away is detected in the step S 20 , the flow goes to the step S 40 to record the current turning-on state, issues an instruction for night light yellow turning-on in the step S 42 and goes to the step S 16 .", "As described above, the step S 6 to the step S 42 are repeated to deal with the operations of keeping the night light yellow turning-on or the light emission, or performing a change between them, and changing the brightness, the color and the lit area.", "[0071] FIG. 11 is a flow chart showing details of the lit area change process in the step S 38 in FIG. 10 .", "If the flow starts, in a step S 52 , it is checked whether or not light emission is ongoing.", "And, if light emission is not ongoing, the flow is immediately ended.", "In this way, if light emission is not ongoing, the outputs from the left proximity sensor and the right proximity sensor become invalid and nothing is performed.", "This is because the lit area change is meaningless if the lit area change is performed without confirming the kitchen utensils and the like that are actually illuminated with light emission.", "[0072] If it is detected in the step S 52 that light emission is ongoing, the flow goes to a step S 54 to perform the same output record comparison process as in the step S 18 in FIG. 10 and goes to a step S 56 .", "In the step S 56 , it is checked whether or not there are sensor outputs from both of the left proximity sensor and the right proximity sensor.", "And, if there are both sensor outputs, the flow goes to a step S 58 to check whether or not it is an approach detection.", "And, if it is an approach detection, the flow goes to a step S 60 to check whether or not it is a quick approach.", "If it is not a quick approach, a the flow executes predetermined lit area reduction process in a step S 62 and goes to a step S 64 .", "On the other hand, if a quick approach is detected in the step S 60 , the flow directly goes to the step S 64 , Besides, in a case as well where an approach detection is not performed in the step S 58 , the flow directly goes to the step S 64 .", "In this way, the lit area reduction operation in the step S 62 is executed only when both hands are made to slowly approach the left proximity sensor and the right proximity sensor.", "[0073] In the step S 64 , it is checked whether or a moving-away is detected based on the sensor outputs from both of the left proximity sensor and the right proximity sensor.", "And, if it is a moving-away detection, the flow executes a predetermined lit area enlargement process in a step S 66 and goes to a step S 68 .", "On the other hand, if a moving-away detection is not performed in the step S 64 , the flow directly goes to the step S 68 .", "In this way, the lit area enlargement process in the step S 66 is executed irrespective of the speed of both hands moving away from the left proximity sensor and the right proximity sensor.", "Here, in a case as well where it is not detected that there are sensor outputs from both of the left proximity sensor and the right proximity sensor, the flow directly goes to the step S 68 .", "[0074] In the step S 68 , it is checked whether or not an approach detection is performed based on the sensor output from the left proximity sensor.", "And, if there is an approach detection, the flow executes a predetermined lit area rightward change process in a step S 70 and goes to a step S 72 .", "On the other hand, when in the step S 68 , there is not an approach detection based on the sensor output from the left proximity sensor, the flow directly goes to the step S 72 .", "[0075] In the step S 72 , it is checked whether or not an approach detection is performed based on the sensor output from the right proximity sensor.", "And, if there is an approach detection, the flow executes a predetermined lit area leftward change process in a step S 74 and goes to a step S 76 .", "On the other hand, when in the step S 72 , there is not an approach detection based on the sensor output from the right proximity sensor, the flow directly goes to the step S 76 .", "As described above, when there is the sensor output only from either one of the left proximity sensor and the right proximity sensor, an approach detection is performed at all times;", "and even if there is a moving-away detection, nothing is performed.", "The reason for this is that because the left proximity sensor and the right proximity sensor are in charge of one and the other of the left-right movements, respectively, it is not necessary to perform both-direction detections.", "Besides, by employing such detection method, there is no risk that an erroneous operation occurs because of a moving-away.", "Here, such detection method approximates, in a non-contact fashion, a hand movement that for example pushes a swing type of lighting apparatus rightward with the left hand or leftward with the right hand;", "and allows operation with the same operation sense as if directly touching the lighting apparatus even when not touching directly the lighting apparatus.", "[0076] In the step S 76 , it is checked whether or not an output change occurs within a predetermined time in either one of the left proximity sensor and the right proximity sensor.", "This is a step that has the same meaning as the step S 32 in FIG. 10 .", "In other words, if both hands that cause output changes from both of the left proximity sensor and the right proximity sensor still move thereafter, an output change occurs within the predetermined time;", "however, thereafter, it both hands are stopped, an output change does not occur.", "And, if it is detected that both hands continue to be stopped and there is not an output change within the predetermined time, the flow goes to a step S 78 ;", "thereafter, during a predetermined time, inactivates the proximity sensors.", "This is to prevent the proximity sensor from: detecting a moving-away movement of the hand after the hand, which performs the lit area change, achieves a predetermined lit area change;", "and causing an erroneous operation that generates an unintentional lit area enlargement.", "If the predetermined time elapses in the step S 78 , the flow ends.", "On the other hand, if there is an output change within the predetermined time in the step S 76 , it is considered that the lit area change operation continues and the flow is ended.", "[0077] As described hereinafter, with a slight replacement, it is also possible to apply the flow charts in FIGS. 10 and 11 to Embodiments 1 and 2.", "First, when the color change function is not employed like Embodiments 1, 2, the “night light yellow turning-on”", "in the step S 4 and the step S 42 in FIG. 10 is replaced with the “night light turning-on.”", "Besides, the step S 28 and the step S 30 are omitted.", "On the other hand, although not replacement, the “lit area change process”", "in the step S 38 in FIG. 10 and the “lit area reduction and enlargement”", "or the “lit area left-right change”", "in the steps S 62 , S 66 , S 70 and S 74 in FIG. 11 are not limited to the lighting apparatuses that perform the processes by means of the mechanical drive portion in Embodiment 3 and Embodiment 4;", "and are applicable to the lighting apparatuses that perform the processes by means of the turning-on target LED group change and the brightness change of the turning-on target LED group as in Embodiment 1 and Embodiment 2.", "[0078] The practical application of the various features of the present invention which are exemplified in the above respective Embodiments is not limited to the Embodiments as they are.", "For example, in a case where the pair of the left proximity sensor and the right proximity sensor that are in charge of detecting the hand movements which are in directions opposite to each other are disposed and the control of the light source portion is performed based on the respective left-hand and right-hand movements of which the pair of left proximity sensor and right proximity sensor are in charge, in the step S 68 and the step S 72 of the flow chart in FIG. 11 , the proximity sensors each perform only the hand-approach detection;", "and are inactivated for the moving-away, so that an operation-sensuous confusion does not occur between the hand movement and the lit area change obtained as a result of the hand movement.", "However, the application, in which the pair of the sensors in charge of detecting the hand movements in directions opposite to each other, is not limited to this.", "As an example, a structure may be employed, in which the left proximity sensor and the right proximity sensor detect some hand movement;", "irrespective of a detailed condition of the hand movement, if the hand movement is a left-hand movement, the step S 70 is performed, while if the hand movement is a right-hand movement, the step S 74 is performed.", "According to this structure, for example, a reciprocating movement of the left hand generates a rightward change of the lit area while a reciprocating movement of the right hand generates a leftward change of the lit area.", "In this case as well, by learning the operation and the result of the operation, it becomes possible for the operator to perform the rightward change or the leftward change of the lit area having a sense as if the operator is repeating the left-hand or right-hand approach movement.", "[0079] FIG. 12 is a flow chart that shows details of the predetermined lit area reduction process in the step S 62 in FIG. 11 and of the predetermined lit area enlargement process in the step S 66 in FIG. 11 .", "The flow chart in FIG. 12 is used for an example of the type in which the lit area is changed in accordance with the increase and decrease of the number of turned-on LED groups as in Embodiment 1 in FIG. 1 and Embodiment 2 in FIG. 6 ;", "and is so structured as to be applicable to both of the step S 62 and the step S 66 .", "If the flow starts, the flow goes to a step S 82 to check whether or not the detected movement is a quick approach.", "If it is a quick approach, the flow goes to a step S 84 to check whether or not only the LED group corresponding to the minimum lit area is now in the turned-on state.", "If it is not true, the flow goes to a step S 86 to issue an instruction for turning off an LED group corresponding to a ring belt adjacent to a turning-on continuation target and reduces the lit area.", "[0080] Next, it is checked in a step S 88 whether or not it is a mode for automatically increasing the brightness of an LED group which continues to be turned on when the lit area is narrowed.", "If it is confirmed in the step S 88 that it is such a narrow area automatic light increase mode, the flow goes to a step S 90 to read, from a storage portion in the control portion, data of a duty cycle that is allowed after the lit area reduction.", "And, in a step S 92 , the flow issues an instruction for increasing the duty cycle of the LED group of the turning-on continuation target within the allowed range that is read in the step S 90 ;", "and goes to a step S 94 .", "On the other hand, if a quick approach detection is not confirmed in the step S 82 , or if the LED group only corresponding to the minimum lit area is in the turned-on state in the step S 84 and it is impossible to reduce the lit area any more, or if the narrow area automatic light increase mode is not confirmed in the step S 88 , the flow directly goes to the step S 94 .", "[0081] In the step S 94 , it is checked whether or not the detected movement is a moving-away.", "If it is a moving-away detection, the flow goes to a step S 96 to check whether or not all the LED groups are now in the turned-on state.", "If it is not true, the flow goes to a step S 98 to read, from the storage portion in the control portion, data of a duty cycle that is allowed after the lit area enlargement.", "And, in a step S 100 , it is check whether or not the duty cycle of an LED group that is in the turned-on state falls outside the allowed range that is read in the step S 98 .", "And, if it is true, the flow goes to a step S 102 to issue an instruction for decreasing the duty cycle of the LED group that is in the turned-on state;", "and goes to a step S 104 .", "Besides, if it is confirmed that the duty cycle of the LED group which is already in the turned-on state does not fall outside the allowed range even if turned-on LEDs are increased, the flow directly goes to the step S 104 .", "[0082] In the step S 104 , an instruction is issued for turning on the LED group corresponding to the ring belt adjacent to the turning-on continuation target to enlarge the lit area and the flow is ended.", "On the other hand, if a moving-away is not confirmed in the step S 94 , or if all the LED groups are in the turned-on state in the step S 96 and it is impossible to enlarge the lit area any more, the flow is immediately ended.", "[0083] FIG. 13 is a flow chart that shows details of the predetermined light amount change process in the step S 26 in FIG. 10 .", "The flow chart in FIG. 13 is used for an example of the type in which the white light LEDs and the yellow light LEDs are mingled as in Embodiment 3 in FIG. 8 and Embodiment 4 in FIG. 9 whereby it is possible to adjust the lighting color;", "and is used to automatically lower the color temperature to obtain a lighting color in which a yellowish color prevails if the light amount becomes small.", "If the flow starts, in a step S 112 , it is checked whether or not the detected movement is a left-ward movement.", "If it is a leftward movement detection, the flow goes to a step S 114 to read, from the storage portion in the control portion, data of the allowed duty cycle in the current turned-on state.", "And, in the next step S 116 , it is checked whether or not the turning-on is performed within the allowed duty cycle;", "if it is within the allowed duty cycle, there is room for further raising the duty cycle to increase the light amount, accordingly the flow goes to a step S 118 .", "[0084] In the step S 118 , it is checked whether or not the light amount is at a low level, only the yellow light LED group is in the turned-on state, and the duty cycle of the white light LED group is in a zero region.", "If it is not such a region, the flow goes to a step S 120 to check whether or not the duty cycle of the white light LED group is equal to or under a lower limit of a predetermined range.", "If it is not in such a range, the flow goes to a step S 122 to check whether or not the duty cycle of the white light LED group is in the predetermined range.", "And, if it is in this range, in a step S 124 , the flow issues an instruction for enlarging the duty cycles of the white light LED group and the yellow light LED group to increase the illumination light amount by a predetermined amount;", "and goes to a step S 126 .", "Here, the duty cycle increase rate of the white light LED group is made larger than that of the yellow light LED group such that the total brightness increases, the tint shifts toward the white and the color temperature rises.", "[0085] On the other hand, if it is not confirmed that the movement detected in the step S 112 is a leftward movement, the flow goes to the step S 126 .", "Besides, in the step S 116 , if it is confirmed that the current duty cycle already reaches the allowed limit and there is no room for increasing the light amount any more, the flow directly goes to the step S 116 .", "Further, in the step S 118 , if it is confirmed that the duty cycle of the white light LED group is in the zero region, the flow goes to the step S 127 to increase the duty cycle of the yellow light LED group by a predetermined amount;", "and goes to the step S 126 .", "In other words, in this region, the white light LED group is not turned on yet and the brightness of the yellow light LED group is increased.", "[0086] Besides, in the step S 120 , if it is confirmed that the white light LED group is in a region to be turned on;", "however, its duty cycle is equal to or under than the lower limit of the predetermined range, the flow goes to a step S 128 to fix the duty cycle of the yellow light LED group at a small duty cycle at a time the white light LED group reaches the turned-on region and to increase the duty cycle of the white light LED group only by a predetermined amount.", "According to this, the total brightness increases, the tint shifts toward the white and the color temperature rises.", "Further, in the step S 122 , if it is not confirmed that the duty cycle of the white light LED group is in the predetermined range, this means that the duty cycle is equal to or over the upper limit of the predetermined range;", "accordingly, the flow goes to a step S 130 to increase the duty cycles of both of the white light LED group and the yellow light LED group by a predetermined amount at the same increase rate;", "and goes to the step S 126 .", "In the region where the step S 130 is executed, the color temperature is already at the upper limit and only the brightness is increased with the same color temperature kept.", "Here, this step S 130 is so structured as to preferentially increase the brightness to the limit of the allowed duty cycle.", "However, in a case where the color temperature is further preferentially raised in accordance with the brightness increase, in the step S 130 , a structure may be employed, in which the duty cycle of the yellow light LED group is fixed at a relatively large duty cycle at a time the white light LED group reaches the turned-on predetermined range upper limit and only the duty cycle of the white light LED group only is increased by a predetermined amount.", "[0087] In the step S 126 , it is checked whether or not the movement detected in the step S 24 in FIG. 10 is a rightward movement.", "If it is a rightward movement detection, the flow goes to a step S 132 to check whether or not the current lighting is performed at the night light lighting duty cycle for the minimum brightness;", "if it is not true, there is room for further making the duty cycle smaller to decrease the light amount;", "accordingly the flow goes to a step S 134 .", "[0088] In the step S 134 , it is checked whether or not the light amount is at a low level, only the yellow light LED group is in the turned-on state, and the duty cycle of the white light LED group is in the zero region.", "If it is not such a region, the flow goes to a step S 136 to check whether or not the duty cycle of the white light LED group is equal to or under the lower limit of a predetermined range.", "If it is not in such a range, the flow goes to a step S 138 to check whether or not the duty cycle of the white light LED group is in the predetermined range.", "And, if it is in this range, in a step S 140 , the flow issues an instruction for making the duty cycles of the white light LED group and the yellow light LED group small and decreasing the illumination light amount by a predetermined amount;", "and the flow is ended.", "Here, the duty cycle decrease rate of the white light LED group is made larger than that of the yellow light LED group such that the total brightness decreases, the tint shifts toward the yellow and the color temperature becomes low.", "[0089] On the other hand, if it is not confirmed that the movement detected in the step S 126 is a rightward movement, the flow is immediately ended.", "Besides, in the step S 132 , if it is confirmed that the current duty cycle is already in the night light turned-on state and there is no room for decreasing the light amount to lower the light amount any further, the flow is immediately ended.", "Further, in the step S 134 , if it is confirmed that the duty cycle of the white light LED group is in the zero region, the flow goes to a step S 142 to decrease the duty cycle of the yellow light LED group by a predetermined amount;", "and the flow is ended.", "In other words, in this region, the white light LED group is not in the turned-on state and the brightness of the yellow light LED group is decreased.", "[0090] Besides, in the step S 136 , if it is confirmed that the white light LED group is in a region to be turned on;", "however, its duty cycle is equal to or under than the lower limit of a predetermined range, the flow goes to a step S 144 to fix the duty cycle of the yellow light LED group at a small duty cycle at the lower limit of the white light LED group turned-on region and to decrease the duty cycle of the white light LED group only by a predetermined amount.", "According to this, the total brightness decreases, the tint shifts toward the yellow and the color temperature becomes low.", "Further, in the step S 138 , if it is not confirmed that the duty cycle of the white light LED group is in the predetermined range, this means that the duty cycle is equal to or over the upper limit of the predetermined range;", "accordingly, the flow goes to a step S 146 to decrease the duty cycles of both of the white light LED group and the yellow light LED group by a predetermined amount at the same decrease rate.", "The color temperature in this region is already at the upper limit and only the brightness is decreased with the same color temperature kept.", "Here, the structure of this step S 146 is a structure in which the brightness is preferentially increased to the limit of the allowed duty cycle like in the step S 130 .", "However, in a case where the color temperature is further preferentially lowered in accordance with the brightness decrease in the same way as described in the step S 130 , in the step S 146 , a structure may be employed, in which the duty cycle of the yellow light LED group is fixed at a relatively large duty cycle at a time the white light LED reaches the turned-on predetermined range upper limit and only the duty cycle of the white light LED group only is decreased by a predetermined amount.", "Here, a relationship between the brightness and the color temperature, which is used for the above control, is recorded as a table in the storage portion of the control portion 40 .", "[0091] FIG. 14 is a flow chart that shows details of the predetermined color change process in the step S 30 in FIG. 10 .", "The flow chart in FIG. 14 is also used for an example of the type in which the white light LEDs and the yellow light LEDs are mingled as in Embodiment 3 in FIG. 8 and Embodiment 4 in FIG. 9 whereby it is possible to adjust the lighting color.", "If the flow starts, in a step S 152 , data of the allowed duty cycle in the current turned-on state are read from the storage portion of the control portion.", "Next, the flow goes to a step S 154 , where it is it is checked whether or not the movement detected in the step S 28 in FIG. 10 is an upward movement.", "If it is an upward movement detection, the flow goes to a step S 156 to check whether or not a preset mode for a predetermined color is set.", "It is possible to perform this mode setting in advance in the step S 2 in FIG. 10 .", "[0092] If it is not a preset mode, the flow goes to a step S 158 to check whether or not the white light LED group is turned on at the duty cycle upper limit of the allowed range;", "if it is not the allowed duty cycle upper limit, there is room for further increasing the duty cycle of the white light LED group to raise the color temperature;", "accordingly, the flow goes to a step S 160 .", "In the step S 160 , it is checked whether or not the yellow light LED group is turned on at the duty cycle lower limit of the allowed range;", "if it is not the allowed duty cycle lower limit, there is room for further decreasing the duty cycle of the yellow light LED group to raise the color temperature;", "accordingly, the flow goes to a step S 162 .", "In the step S 162 , the duty cycle of the white light LED group is increased by a predetermined amount and the duty cycle of the yellow light LED group is decreased by a predetermined amount, whereby the color temperature is raised and the flow goes to a step S 164 .", "[0093] On the other hand, if an upward movement is not confirmed in the step S 154 , the flow directly goes to the step S 164 .", "Besides, if a preset mode setting is confirmed in the step S 156 , the flow goes to a step S 166 to shift the color temperature by one step to a preset color on the white side by changing the duty cycles of the white light LED group and the yellow light LED group to a value set in advance;", "thereafter, goes to the step S 164 .", "Here, in a case where only two colors are set as the preset colors, the color temperature is set at the preset color on the white side.", "[0094] Besides, in the step S 158 , if it is detected that the white light LED group is turned on at the duty cycle upper limit of the allowed range, the flow goes to a step S 168 to further check whether or not the yellow light LED group is turned on at the duty cycle lower limit of the allowed range.", "If it is not true, the flow goes to a step S 170 to raise the color temperature by decreasing the duty cycle of the yellow light LED group by a predetermined amount while keeping the duty cycle of the white light LED group at the upper limit;", "and goes to the step S 164 .", "On the other hand, in the step S 168 , in a case where it is detected that the yellow light LED group is turned on at the duty cycle lower limit of the allowed range, the color temperature is already at the maximum value of the adjustable range and there is no room for further raising;", "accordingly, the flow directly goes to the step S 164 .", "[0095] Besides, in the step S 160 , in a case where it is detected that the yellow light LED group is turned on at the duty cycle lower limit of the allowed range, the flow goes to a step S 172 to raise the color temperature by increasing the duty cycle of the white light LED group by a predetermined amount while keeping the duty cycle of the yellow light LED group at the lower limit;", "and goes to the step S 164 .", "[0096] In the step S 164 , it is checked whether or not the movement detected in the step S 28 in FIG. 10 is a downward movement.", "If it is a downward movement detection, the flow goes to a step S 174 to check whether or not a preset mode for a predetermined color is set.", "If it is not a preset mode, the flow goes to a step S 176 to check whether or not the yellow light LED group is turned on at the duty cycle upper limit of the allowed range;", "if it is not the allowed duty cycle upper limit, there is room for further increasing the duty cycle of the yellow light LED group to decrease the color temperature;", "accordingly, the flow goes to a step S 178 .", "In the step S 178 , it is checked whether or not the white light LED group is turned on at the duty cycle lower limit of the allowed range;", "if it is not the allowed duty cycle lower limit, there is room for decreasing the color temperature by decreasing the duty cycle of the white light LED group;", "accordingly, the flow goes to a step S 180 .", "And, in the step S 180 , the duty cycle of the yellow light LED group is increased by a predetermined amount and the duty cycle of the white light LD group is decreased by a predetermined amount, whereby the color temperature is lowered and the flow is ended.", "[0097] On the other hand, if a downward movement is not confirmed in the step S 164 , the flow is ended.", "Besides, if a preset mode setting is detected in the step S 174 , the flow goes to a step S 182 to shift the color temperature by one step to a yellow-side preset color by changing the duty cycles of the white light LED group and the yellow light LED group to a value set in advance;", "thereafter, the flow is ended.", "Here, in a case where only two colors are set as the preset colors, the color temperature is set at the yellow side preset color.", "[0098] Besides, in the step S 176 , if it is detected that the yellow light LED group is turned on at the duty cycle upper limit of the allowed range, the flow goes to a step S 184 to further check whether or not the white light LED group is turned on at the duty cycle lower limit of the allowed range.", "And, if it is not true, the flow goes to a step S 186 to lower the color temperature by decreasing the duty cycle of the white light LED group by a predetermined amount while keeping the duty cycle of the yellow light LED group at the upper limit;", "and the flow is ended.", "On the other hand, in the step S 184 , in a case where it is detected that the white light LED group is turned on at the duty cycle lower limit of the allowed range, the color temperature is already at the minimum value of the adjustable range and there is no room for further lowering;", "accordingly, the flow is immediately ended.", "[0099] Besides, in the step S 178 , in a case where it is detected that the white light LED group is turned on at the duty cycle lower limit of the allowed range, the flow goes to a step S 188 to lower the color temperature by increasing the duty cycle of the yellow light LED group by a predetermined amount while keeping the duty cycle of the white light LED group at the lower limit;", "and the flow is ended.", "[0100] The use of the above various advantages of the present invention is not limited to the above Embodiments: the use is able to find its way into other various practical applications.", "For example, in Embodiments in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 , to dispose the light emitting diode groups not on a planar surface but three-dimensionally, the inward bent surface which is part of the sphere is used.", "However, as already described, to dispose the LED groups such that the light emission center axes are not parallel to each other, the disposition on a simple spherical surface is not limiting: it is possible to minutely perform the design considering the illuminance of a lit target surface.", "Besides, as for the base for the disposition, it is possible to use not only an inward bent surface but also an outward bent surface.", "Further, it is possible to use a three-dimensional disposition deviated in a stepwise fashion instead of a continuous surface.", "[0101] <Sum Up>", "[0102] Hereinafter, the various technological features disclosed in the present specification are summed up.", "[0103] <First Technological Feature>", "[0104] Of the various technological features disclosed in the present specification, an object of a first technological feature is to provide a lighting apparatus that has a useful function and is easy to control.", "[0105] To achieve the object, the first technological feature disclosed in the present specification provides a lighting apparatus that includes: a light source portion for lighting;", "a non-contact proximity sensor that is disposed at a position for detecting a hand movement outside a lit area provided by the light source portion;", "and a control portion that during lighting by the light source portion, controls the light source portion based on an output from the non-contact proximity sensor.", "According to this, it becomes possible to control the light source portion during the lighting without allowing a hand, which operates the non-contact proximity sensor, to cast a shadow onto a lit target.", "Here, the control of the light source portion by the control portion includes lit area changes such as a lit spread change, a lit position movement and the like.", "[0106] According to a specific feature, the light source portion includes a plurality of light emitting diodes;", "the control portion selectively controls the plurality of light emitting diodes.", "According to this, it becomes possible to selectively control the plurality of light emitting diodes without allowing the hand, which operates the non-contact proximity sensor, to cast a shadow onto the lit target.", "According to the selective control of the plurality of light emitting diodes, it becomes possible to change the lit area, for example.", "[0107] According to another specific feature, the control portion changes the lit area provided by the light source portion in a direction in accordance with the hand movement that is detected by the non-contact proximity sensor.", "According to this, despite the non-contact operation, it is possible to take over a familiar operation way as if changing the lit area by pushing the lighting apparatus by hand.", "[0108] Another feature provides a lighting apparatus that includes: a light source portion for lighting;", "a non-contact proximity sensor that detects a hand movement;", "and a control portion that controls the light source portion based on an output from the non-contact proximity sensor in accordance with determination criteria that are different when the light source portion is lighting versus when the light source portion is not lighting.", "According to this, it is possible to execute the lighting operation that requires relatively many control items by minutely determining the output from the non-contact proximity sensor and to perform, based on a detection result irrespective of the output from the non-contact proximity sensor, the control during a time of not-lighting that requires relatively less control items.", "[0109] According to a specific feature, the control portion controls the light source portion in a first way based on a first output change from the non-contact proximity sensor when the light source portion is lighting;", "and controls the light source portion in a second way based on a second output change from the non-contact proximity sensor;", "on the other hand, when the light source portion is not lighting, the control portion puts the light source portion into the lighting state even if the output change from the non-contact proximity sensor is the first output change or the second output change.", "According to this, it is possible to surely perform directional control for increasing or decreasing the brightness during the lighting by changing the hand movement;", "and easily achieve a simple purpose of turning on the light source portion by means of any hand movement when the light source portion is not lighting.", "Here, in the above description, both of a turned-off state and a night light turned-on state are the non-lighting states.", "[0110] Another feature provides a lighting apparatus that includes: a light source portion for lighting;", "a non-contact proximity sensor that detects a hand movement;", "and a control portion that controls the light source portion based on an output from the non-contact proximity sensor;", "and in a time zone adjacent to this control, does not perform control based on the output from the non-contact proximity sensor.", "According to this, it is possible to prevent an unintentional erroneous operation based on a hand movement in the time zone that is adjacent to the control of the light source portion.", "[0111] According to a specific feature, the adjacent time zone is a time zone before the light source portion is controlled based on the output from the non-contact proximity sensor.", "According to this, for example, in a case where desired control of the light source portion is performed based a moving-away movement from the non-contact proximity sensor, it is possible to prevent an unintentional erroneous operation when the hand is made to approach the non-contact proximity sensor before performing the control.", "Besides, according to another specific feature, the adjacent time zone is a time zone after the light source portion is controlled based on the output from the non-contact proximity sensor.", "According to this, for example, when the desired control of the light source portion is completed and the hand is made to move away, it is possible to prevent an unintentional erroneous operation from occurring.", "[0112] Another feature provides a lighting apparatus that includes: a light source portion for lighting;", "a non-contact proximity sensor that detects a hand movement;", "and a control portion that controls the light source portion based on an output from the non-contact proximity sensor;", "and does not perform control based on a predetermined output change from the non-contact proximity sensor.", "According to this, it is possible to prevent an unintentional erroneous operation based on a hand movement that is not for a target operation.", "[0113] According to a specific feature, the predetermined output change is an output change faster than predetermined.", "According to this, when minute adjustment control is performed based on a slow hand movement, it is possible to prevent an unintentional erroneous operation caused by a hand movement that first quickly approaches the non-contact proximity sensor for this operation.", "[0114] Another feature provides a lighting apparatus that includes: a light source portion for lighting;", "a non-contact proximity sensor that includes a pair of sensor portions that are in charge of detecting hand movements which are in directions opposite to each other;", "and a control portion that controls the light source portion based on respective hand movements of which the pair of sensor portions are in charge.", "According to this, despite an operation that is able to perform bidirectional control, it is sufficient for each sensor to detect only one-directional movement, so that it is possible to prevent an erroneous operation caused by an unintentional opposite-directional movement.", "[0115] According to a specific feature, the pair of sensor portions are disposed in directions opposite to each other;", "and the control portion controls the light source portion based on the respective hand approach detections by the pair of sensor portions.", "According to this, despite the non-contact operation, it is possible to take over a familiar operation way as if adjusting the lit area and the like by pushing the lighting apparatus in opposite directions by the right hand or the left hand.", "[0116] Another feature provides a lighting apparatus that includes: a light source portion for lighting;", "a non-contact proximity sensor that detects a hand movement;", "and a control portion that controls the light source portion based on an output from the non-contact proximity sensor, and performs specific control based on a specific output change from the non-contact proximity sensor during a specific time from an output change start of the non-contact proximity sensor.", "According to this, a specific hand movement at an operation start time is not mistaken as another movement.", "[0117] According to a specific feature, the specific output change is an output change faster than predetermined.", "According to this, it is possible to perform a simple operation, which is not aimed at minute adjustment such, for example, as ending the lighting state and the like, without allowing a fast hand movement to be mistaken as another operation.", "[0118] As described above, according to the first technological feature disclosed in the present specification, it is possible to provide a lighting apparatus that has useful functions and is easy to control.", "[0119] <Second Technological Feature>", "[0120] Of the various technological features disclosed in the present specification, an object of a second technological feature is to provide a lighting apparatus that has a useful function.", "[0121] To achieve the object, the second technological feature disclosed in the present specification provides a lighting apparatus that includes: a light source portion that includes a plurality of light emitting diodes;", "a power-supply portion that supplies electricity to the light source portion;", "and a control portion that controls the number of actually turned-on diodes of the plurality of light emitting diodes, and increases allowed electricity suppliable to each light emitting diode that is in an actual turned-on state when limiting the number of light emitting diodes that are in the actual turned-on state.", "[0122] According the above feature, it is possible to achieve a preferred relationship between the number of light emitting diodes in the actual turned-on state and the electricity supplied to each light emitting diode.", "Here, adjustment of the electricity supply is possible by means of changes of an electric-current amount supplied to the light emitting diode and of the duty cycle.", "[0123] According to a specific feature, the light source portion has a heat radiation portion for the light emitting diode;", "and the allowed electricity is decided in accordance with a heat radiation capability of the heat radiation portion.", "According to this, for example, when the number of light emitting diodes in the actual turned-on state is limited, part of the heat radiation capability of the heat radiation portion is reserved, so that by making use of this, it is possible to increase the electricity supply to each light emitting diode and achieve efficient light emission.", "[0124] According to another specific feature, the light source portion changes the number of light emitting diodes that are in the actual turned-on state, thereby changing the spread of the lit area.", "For example, the light source portion limits the number of light emitting diodes that are in the actual turned-on state, thereby narrowing the lit area.", "In this case, when the lit area is narrowed, the allowed electricity suppliable to each light emitting diode is increased, so that it becomes possible to light the spot-like narrow lit area more brightly.", "[0125] Another feature provides a lighting apparatus that includes: a light source portion that includes a plurality of light emitting diodes;", "a power-supply portion that supplies electricity to the light source portion;", "and a control portion that controls the number of actually turned-on diodes of the plurality of light emitting diodes to change a spread of a lit area.", "According to this, it becomes possible to change the spread of the lit area even without a movable portion.", "However, a movable portion is not discouraged from being used together.", "[0126] According to a specific feature, the control portion limits the number of light emitting diodes that are in the actual turned-on state, thereby increasing the electricity supplied to each light emitting diode that is in the actual turned-on state when the lit area is narrowed.", "According to this, it becomes possible to light the spot-like narrow lit area more brightly.", "According to this, for example, as in a case where the lit area is lightened more brightly when the lit area is made small by an optical system, even in a lit area change by a movable portion, it is possible to provide a familiar lighting condition in a pseudo-fashion.", "[0127] According to a specific feature, by disposing three-dimensionally the plurality of light emitting diodes, the lit area by each light emitting diode is decided.", "More specifically, the plurality of light emitting diodes are disposed on a planar-shape flexible board to bend the diodes as a whole, whereby the plurality of light emitting diodes are three-dimensionally disposed.", "According to this, by using individual light emitting diodes that have a relatively lighting area, it becomes possible to decide a preferred lighting area even without a light collection means and a movable portion.", "However, a light collection means and a movable portion are not discouraged from being used together.", "[0128] Another feature provides a lighting apparatus that includes: a light source portion that includes a plurality of light emitting diodes;", "a power-supply portion that supplies electricity to the light source portion;", "and a control portion that controls an actual lighting state of the plurality of light emitting diodes, changes a light emitting diode that is in the actual lighting state and thereby shifts a lit area.", "According to this, it becomes possible to shift the lit area even without a movable portion.", "However, a movable portion is not discouraged from being used together.", "[0129] Another feature provides a lighting apparatus that includes: a light source portion that includes a light emitting diode;", "a power-supply portion that supplies electricity to the light source portion;", "and a control portion that changes a brightness of the light source portion, and automatically makes a color temperature of the light source portion change in accordance with the brightness change.", "[0130] According to the above feature, for example, it is possible to provide in a pseudo-fashion: for example, a relationship between electricity supply to a filament of an incandescent lamp and a familiar lighting condition such as a color temperature change of the sun during day time and at dusk and the like.", "According to a more specific feature example, it is possible to turn on the light source portion as a night light by means of the minimum brightness and the lowest color temperature;", "according to this, it is possible to suppress an uncomfortable feeling of darkening the lighting while keeping the color temperature high.", "[0131] Another feature provides a lighting apparatus that includes: a light source portion that includes a light emitting diode;", "a power-supply portion that supplies electricity to the light source portion;", "and a control portion that changes a color temperature of the light source portion;", "and a storage portion that stores the color temperature controlled by the control portion.", "According to this, in various situations, it becomes easy to restore a once set preferred color temperature and to control a preferred color temperature in accordance with the brightness.", "[0132] Another feature provides a lighting apparatus that includes: a light source portion that includes a plurality of kinds of light emitting diodes that have different color temperatures;", "a power-supply portion that supplies electricity to the light source portion;", "and a control portion that changes a lighting color temperature as a whole by selecting a light emitting diode, and based on a relationship between a brightness and a color temperature, applies different control to the plurality of kinds of light emitting diodes.", "According to this, it is possible to flexibly achieve a color temperature change in various situations.", "[0133] According to the above specific feature, for example, the control portion changes the electricity supply to, of the plurality of kinds of light emitting diodes, a light emitting diode that has a high color temperature, thereby changing the lighting color temperature as a whole.", "Besides, according to another specific example, the control portion changes the electricity supply to, of the plurality of kinds of light emitting diodes, a light emitting diode that has a low color temperature, thereby changing the lighting color temperature as a whole.", "Further, according to another specific example, the control portion changes the respective electricity supply to the plurality of kinds of light emitting diodes, thereby changing the lighting color temperature as a whole.", "[0134] As described above, according to the second technological feature disclosed in the present specification, it is possible to provide a lighting apparatus that has useful functions.", "INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY [0135] The various technological features disclosed in the present specification are applicable to lighting apparatuses in various living environments such as a kitchen, a bathroom and the like.", "OTHER MODIFICATIONS [0136] Here, in the above description, the best embodiments are described;", "however, the disclosed technological features are modifiable in various ways;", "besides, it is possible to employ various embodiments different from the structures that are specifically employed in the above description, which is apparent to those skilled in the art.", "Accordingly, the following claims are intended to cover any modifications of the present invention in the technological scope without departing from the spirit and technological concept of the present invention.", "LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS [0000] 6 , 106 , 207 , 208 , 307 , 308 light source portions 32 , 132 , 232 , 233 , 332 , 333 power-supply portions 40 , 140 , 240 , 340 control portions 42 to 46 , 142 to 146 , 242 to 246 non-contact proximity sensors 44 , 46 , 144 , 146 , 244 , 246 , 344 , 346 pairs of sensor portions" ]

[ "CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application relates to and claims priority from German App.", "Ser.", "No. 20 2012 003 185.6 filed Mar. 29, 2012 and US Ser.", "No. 61/647,319 filed May 15, 2012, the entire contents of each of which are incorporated herein fully by reference.", "FIGURE SELECTED FOR PUBLICATION [0002] FIG. 2 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] 1.", "Field of the Invention [0004] The present invention relates to an oscillating device for a fill-level measurement system and a method for assembling the same.", "More particularly, the present invention concerns an oscillating device for a fill-level measurement unit wherein a drive housing includes two or more operatively interfitting housing parts bounding a drive element and securing a connector thereto with increased reliability.", "[0005] 2.", "Description of the Related Art [0006] Conventionally, in the known fill-level measurement techniques, so-called vibration resonators with piezoelectric drive systems are used to detect fluids, which as a rule exhibit a piezo-element for inducing mechanical oscillation, for example, an oscillating cradle diaphragm.", "It is known, for example, from the patent DE 10 260 088 A1, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference, that such a piezo-element is glued onto the oscillating unit, thus, for example, to an oscillating cradle diaphragm as a drive element.", "Assembly time is reduced by means of such a gluing technique, and it eliminates expensive mechanical connection elements.", "[0007] A typical oscillating device is, for example, known from DE 10 2007 038 022 A1, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference, in which an oscillating mechanical unit which is attached as a oscillating cradle to a diaphragm, is displaced in mechanical oscillations by means of a piezoelement as a drive unit.", "This drive unit, together with an electronic unit, is combined in a housing to control and evaluate its sensor signals.", "[0008] In order to avoid the penetration of fluid or humidity into the housing, this conventionally is partially cast with a grout but not the contact areas proper, in order to avoid the penetration of grouting material on the contact.", "A conductor, which is executed as a flexible conductor or flexible circuit board, produces the connection between the drive unit and a contact unit belonging to the electronic unit.", "In the grout-free space of the housing, temperature-conditioned effects of forces can act on the conductor, in which the motions of the conductor caused thereby are so affected by a guide element that damage is prevented to the conductor at the contact connections of the conductor.", "[0009] The disadvantage of these conventional oscillating devices lies in the expensive and very numerous structural parts that prevent forces acting on an electrical conductor connecting the drive unit to the electronic unit from being transferred to its contact connections.", "ASPECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0010] According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an oscillating device for a fill-level measurement system includes a drive element in operative connection with a diaphragm.", "The drive housing receives the drive element at an open-ended front side and includes a first housing part and a second housing part in an operative axially interfitting arrangement proximate the drive element.", "A flexible conductor in operative connection joins the drive element and extends in a sung-fit arrangement between the first housing part and the second housing part providing improved operative performance.", "[0011] According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for assembling an oscillating device and for operatively securing a flexible conductor relative to the oscillating device.", "[0012] It is a proposed task of the present invention to offer an oscillating device of the type cited at the beginning, with a simple construction resulting in low assembly complexity, in particular with a small number of structural parts, so that tensile forces that act on electrical conductors connected to a drive element of the oscillating device are not transferred to the contact connections of the conduct- or to the drive element.", "[0013] Furthermore, it is a proposed second task of the present invention to offer a method for the assembly of the oscillating device according to the invention.", "[0014] Regarding the first task, such a oscillating device for a fill-level measurement unit with a diaphragm which is displaceable in oscillation, a drive element of the diaphragm that is in operative connection with to the diaphragm, a hollow cylindrical drive housing for receiving the drive element at an open-ended front side of the drive housing, and a flexible electrical conductor connected to the drive element, is distinguished according to the invention in that the drive housing exhibits a first hollow cylindrical housing part, which encloses a second hollow cylindrical housing part concentrically and in an essentially flush-fit manner, in which the second housing part is construct-ed to be axially displaced, insertable into the first housing part, and the electrical conductor emerging from the drive element is disposed essentially clamped in the axial direction between the first and the second housing parts.", "[0015] With this oscillating device according to the invention, a simple and function-consonant housing construction is set up for the drive housing receiving the drive element, preferably a piezo disk, which at the same time with the simple geometry of the housing parts concentric to one another achieves a clamping of the electrical conductor between the inner casing surface of the first housing part and the outer casing surface of the second housing part.", "By means of this clamping, the tensile forces acting on the electrical conductor are not transferred to the contact connections of the conductor with the drive element, preferably the piezo disk, but are absorbed by the drive housing.", "[0016] In a preferred embodiment, it is provided that the conductor is connected to the drive element by developing a conductor end overhanging the drive element and the conductor end emerging from the drive element is disposed clamped essentially in an axial direction between the first and the second housing parts which also serves as a clamping means.", "[0017] Thus, not only is the conductor held clamped between the two housing parts, but the conductor end overhanging the drive element, preferably the piezo disk, is also held clamped in the same way between the inner casing surface of the first housing part and the outer casing surface of the second housing part.", "Thus the drive element, prefer-ably the piezo disk, can be fixed flat at the open-ended front side of the housing at three essentially opposing points in the position provided, in particular when the conductor is guided diametrally through a circular drive element.", "Further features for connecting the drive element to the drive housing are thus not required.", "[0018] For the secure clamping of the conductor or the conductor end, according to a preferred development of the invention, guide surfaces matching one another are provided at the inner casing surface of the first housing part and the outer casing surface of the second housing part for the clamped guidance of the conductor or of the conductor and conductor end.", "In order to achieve as high a force fit or friction fit as possible between the conductor or the conductor end and the two housing parts, it is preferably provided that the guide surfaces form a guide channel, whose cross-section essentially matches the cross-section of the conductor.", "With a flexible ribbon cable as an electrical conductor, these guide surfaces represent flat surfaces, between which a ribbon cable is clamped flush with the surface also as a means for securing or clamping.", "[0019] In a further preferred development of the invention, the conductor or the conductor and conductor end are constructed with a detent in the area of the housing, which detent interacts and operatively interengages with a complementary detent of the drive housing, so that even high tensile forces at the conductor are also absorbed by the drive housing and thus do not stress the contact connections of the conductor with the drive element which thus provides a means for reducing contact connection stress and improving reliability.", "[0020] Preferably, such detents are achieved in that an extension of the conductor or conductor end running in the area of the guide surfaces is provided as a detent such that it abuts a front edge of the second housing part facing away from the drive and overhanging the outer casing surface as a complementary detent.", "Such extensions can be achieved in a simple manner on a flexible conductor or a flexible circuit board as an electrical conductor.", "The overhanging edge at the second housing part, which edge serves as a complementary detent, simultaneously serves as a detent abutting the front side of the first housing part.", "[0021] In order to ensure error-free assembly of the two housing parts, the first and the second housing parts are constructed according to a preferred embodiment of the invention with matching positioning elements, which, upon inserting the first housing part into the second housing part, orient the guide surfaces to one another.", "[0022] To achieve a vibration resonator, it is offered that the drive element be constructed as a piezo disk, for example as a circular disk of a piezoelectric drive system.", "Preferably, at the same time, the diaphragm, displaceable in oscillation, is constructed as a cradle oscillator and is connected to the piezo disk by means of a shim, which for example can be constructed as a ceramic disk.", "The connection between the shim and the piezo disk on the one hand and a diaphragm on the other hand can be made by means of a glued connection.", "[0023] The second task mentioned is resolved by means of a method for the assembly of an oscillating device for a fill-level measurement unit with the features of the proposed invention.", "[0024] This method for the assembly of a oscillating device for a fill-level measurement unit with a diaphragm displaceable in oscillation, a drive element of the diaphragm which is in operative connection with the diaphragm, a hollow cylindrical drive housing for receiving the drive element at a open-ended front side of the drive housing, and a flexible electrical conductor connected to the drive element, in particular for the assembly of a oscillating device according to one of the preceding claims, is distinguished according to the invention in that the drive element with the conductor projecting radially at the front side of a first hollow cylindrical housing part of the drive housing is placed such that the conductor lies in an edge-wise groove of the housing wall of the first housing part and a second hollow cylindrical housing part of the drive housing is inserted into the first housing part by moving the drive element as far as the opposing front side of the first housing part and the simultaneous axial guidance of the conductor between the first and second housing parts, in which the second housing part is enclosed concentrically and essentially in a flush-fit manner by the first housing part.", "[0025] With this method according to the invention, simple and rapid assembly of the drive housing is achieved, in which, at the same time as the assembly, tensile-stress relief of the electrical conductor connected to the drive element is achieved.", "The drive element preferably represents a piezo disk.", "[0026] It is especially preferred according to one development of the invention if the conductor is connected to the drive element by developing a conductor end overhanging the drive element, in which the conductor end lies in a further edgewise groove of the housing wall of the first housing part and the conductor end, upon inserting the second housing parts into the first housing part, is guided emerging from the drive element in essentially an axial direction between the first and second housing parts.", "[0027] In this embodiment of the invention, the assembly takes place in that the drive element is inserted, with the conductor overhanging on opposite sides of the drive element, into the two grooves provided for this for part of the proposed means and the drive element is, with the insertion of the second housing part into the first housing part, pressed into the inside of the first housing part as far as its opposite front side, whereby the conductor and the conductor end are shaped by adjusting to the two housing parts and are clamped between the two housing parts, but the drive element, preferably the piezo disk is also fixed thereby in a flush-fit manner to the front side of the second housing part in the position provided.", "Further connection means for connecting the drive element to the drive housing are thus not required.", "[0028] It is adaptively preferred, according to a further embodiment of the invention, if the first and second housing parts with the groove or with the further groove are constructed in a complementary manner as aligned guide surfaces at the outer and inner casing surfaces, in which the conductor or the conductor and conductor end is or are guided by inserting the second housing part into the first housing part.", "The danger of incorrect assembly is thus reliably prevented.", "[0029] The above and other aspects, 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 [0030] FIG. 1 is a perspective representation of an oscillating device as an embodiment example of the invention.", "[0031] FIG. 2 is a partial section representation of the oscillating device according to FIG. 1 .", "[0032] FIG. 3 is a perspective representation of a partially assembled drive housing.", "[0033] FIG. 4 is a further perspective representation of a partially assembled drive housing.", "[0034] FIG. 5 is a perspective representation of a drive housing of the oscillating device according to FIG. 1 .", "[0035] FIG. 6 is a further perspective representation of a drive housing according to FIG. 1 .", "DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [0036] Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the invention.", "Wherever possible, same or similar reference numerals are used in the drawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts or steps.", "The drawings are in simplified form and are not to precise scale.", "The word ‘couple’ and similar terms do not necessarily denote direct and immediate connections, but also include connections through intermediate elements or devices.", "For purposes of convenience and clarity only, directional (up/down, etc.) or motional (forward/back, etc.) terms may be used with respect to the drawings.", "These and similar directional terms should not be construed to limit the scope in any manner.", "It will also be understood that other embodiments may be utilized without departing from the scope of the present invention, and that the detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, and that elements may be differently positioned, or otherwise noted as in the appended claims without requirements of the written description being required thereto.", "[0037] The oscillating device 1 according to FIG. 1 for a fill-level measurement unit includes a drive housing 4 with a cradle oscillator 2 , as well as a flexible circuit board or a flexible conductor as a conductor 5 with conductor channels 5 b , which serve as a connection cable for connecting the oscillating device 1 to a data sensor (not depicted).", "This flexible conductor 5 is folded multiple times and can be unfolded by splitting webs in order thereby to increase its length.", "Such flexible conductors 5 are constructed on a base film, for example a polyamide film, on which the conductor channels 5 b are disposed.", "A housing receiving this oscillating device 1 to form a data sensor is not depicted in this FIG. 1 .", "[0038] The construction of the oscillating device 1 and of its drive housing 4 may be seen in the detail in the partial-section representation of FIG. 2 .", "[0039] Accordingly, the drive housing 4 is constructed as a hollow circular cylinder and consists of a first and second hollow cylindrical housing part 4 a and 4 b, in which the second hollow cylindrical housing part 4 b is enclosed concentrically and in a flush-fit manner by the first housing part.", "As a result, these two housing parts 4 a and 4 b are adjusted to one another such that, for the assembly of the drive housing 4 , the second housing part 4 b can be inserted into the first housing part 4 a, as can be seen from FIG. 4 , that is, the second housing part 4 b is constructed as axially displaceable, insertable into the first housing part 4 a. [0040] At an open front side of the drive housing 4 , a piezo disk 3 is, according to FIG. 2 , disposed as a drive element, which is connected by means of a shim 16 constructed as a ceramic disk to a diaphragm 2 a of the cradle oscillator 2 by means of glued connections.", "The cradle oscillator 2 is made as a single piece from the diaphragm 2 a and a cradle-shaped oscillating body 2 b, in which the diaphragm 2 a is bordered by an edge 2 c running around it, which makes the connection with the housing (not depicted) of the fill-level measurement unit.", "[0041] The circular piezo disk 3 is depicted in FIG. 3 in plan view in an assembly layout as being inserted in the first housing element 4 a. Accordingly, the flexible conductor 5 is guided with several conductor channels 5 b diametrally through the piezo disk 3 and as a result is preferably connected electrically over four contact sites 3 a to the piezo disk 3 , in which these contacts can be constructed as solder points, weld spots, or conductor glued connections.", "The conductor end 5 a which has passed out through the piezo disk 3 exhibits no conductor channels 5 b;", "thus it consists only of the base film of the flexible conductor 5 .", "[0042] For the assembly of the drive housing 4 , the piezo disk 3 together with the flexible conductor 5 is, as may be seen from FIG. 3 , laid out at a front side of the first housing part 4 a such that the flexible conductor 5 , projecting radially from the piezo disk, as well as its conductor end 5 a likewise projecting radially from the piezo disk 3 , lie at one time in a groove 18 a and a further groove 18 b of the housing wall 17 a of the first housing part 4 a. [0043] Then, according to FIG. 4 , the second housing part 4 b is set on the piezo disk 3 and inserted into the first housing 4 a, so that the piezo disk 3 is thereby moved through the first housing part 4 a as far as its opposite front side and as a result, at the same time the flexible conductor 5 and its conductor end 5 a are guided and shaped such that they adjust to the contour of the two housing parts 4 a and 4 b and so run in between the first and second housing parts 4 a and 4 b, that is, the flexible conductor 5 and its conductor end 5 a are clamped between the inner casing surface 6 of the first housing part 4 a and the outer casing surface 7 of the second housing part 4 b, whereby when joining the two housing parts 4 a and 4 b as well as when operating, for example, during temperature cycling, tensile forces existing at the flexible conductor 5 and/or its conductor end 5 a do not act on the piezo disk 3 , but are taken up by the housing parts 4 a and 4 b. Due to these clamps, no lateral tensile forces affect the contact connection between the contact sites 3 a and the flexible conductor 5 or its conductor end 5 a either.", "[0044] To guide the flexible conductor 5 and its conductor end 5 a, guide surfaces 8 a and 8 b are formed at the inner casing surface 6 of the first housing part 4 a and matching guide surfaces 9 a and 9 b at the outer casing surfaces 7 of the second housing part 4 b, so that the flexible conductor 5 is guided in a guide channel 10 formed by the guide surfaces 8 a and 9 a and the guide surfaces 8 b and 9 b form a guide channel 11 for the conductor end 5 a. [0045] The second housing part 4 b exhibits at the front side a stopping means constructed as an overhanging edge 14 , which ends the insertion movement of the second housing part 4 b, so that the piezo disk 3 abuts, in a flush-fit manner, that is, exactly flat, the front side of the first housing part 4 a and at the same time is fixed by the flexible conductor 5 clamped between the two housing parts 4 a and 4 b and its conductor end 5 a at the site provided in the drive housing 4 .", "Hence a further stop of the piezo disk 3 , which embraces the piezo disk 3 , for example, is not required.", "[0046] This edge 14 of the second housing part 4 b exhibits a notch 14 a in the area of the guide surfaces 9 a and 9 b, so that upon inserting the second housing part 4 b , the flexible conductor 5 and its conductor end 5 a are first guided out of the plane of the piezo disk 3 in the axial direction of the drive housing 4 or the guide channels 10 and 11 and can then also emerge from the drive housing 4 in this direction at the front side in the area of this notch 14 a. [0047] For the error-free and secure assembly of the drive housing 4 , the two housing parts 4 a and 4 b exhibit at one time positioning means 15 a and 15 b that match one another, which make possible the insertion of the first housing part 4 a into the second housing part 4 b only at that location at which the guide surfaces 8 a and 9 a or 8 b and 9 b can form a guide channel 10 or 11 .", "For this, the second housing part 4 b exhibits a hump 15 b as a positioning means, which runs axially on the outer casing surface 7 , which abuts the groove 15 a, shaped to match the inner casing surface of the first housing part 4 a. Two diametrally disposed pairs of such positioning aids 15 a and 15 b are executed on the two housing parts 4 a and 4 b. [0048] The flexible conductor 5 and its conductor end 5 a at one time exhibit detents 12 a and 12 b or 13 a and 13 b in the area that supports the guide surfaces 8 a and 8 b or 9 a and 9 b, which are formed as extensions on both sides of the striped flexible conductor 5 or its conductor end 5 a. These extensions 12 a and 12 b or 13 a and 13 b overhanging the edges of the flexible conductor 5 or its conductor end 5 a with an equilateral and conical shape tapered toward the outside.", "[0049] These detents 12 a and 12 b or 13 a and 13 b, what is more, serve, in the assembled state of the drive housing 4 , when the flexible conductor 5 and its conductor end 5 a are thus clamped in the guide channel 10 or 11 between the two housing parts 4 a and 4 b, to mate with the detent of the second housing part 4 b constructed as an edge 14 so that, with tensile forces exerted on the flexible conductor 5 and/or its conductor end, these are not only transferred by means of their clamping between the two housing parts 4 a and 4 b at the drive housing 4 , but also by mating of the extensions 12 a and 12 b or 13 a and 13 b at the edge 14 of the second housing part 4 b. [0050] By means of this clamping, no forces are transferred to the contact connections executed with the contact sites 3 a between the piezo disk 3 and the flexible conductor 5 .", "Tensile forces are allowed on the flexible conductor 5 , but these do not act on the contact connections but only on the drive housing 4 .", "Such tensile forces could be produced during vibrations, temperature cycling, assembly, or even by the use of electronic grouting in the area of the piezo disk 3 due to expansion and contraction of such a grout and be transferred to the flexible conductor 5 .", "[0051] In general, an oscillating device 1 is achieved with an assembly exhibiting a drive housing 4 with few structural parts and low assembly complexity, in which a flush and space-saving construction is ensured at the same time.", "[0052] As discussed earlier in one aspect of the proposed invention a method of assembly takes place in that the drive element is inserted, with the conductor overhanging on opposite sides of the drive element, into the two grooves provided for this for part of the proposed means and the drive element is next, with the insertion of the second housing part into the first housing part, pressed into the inside of the first housing part as far as its opposite front side, thereby using this method the conductor and the conductor end are formed or shaped by adjusting to the two interoperative housing parts in the pressing process and the conductor and conductor end are clamped between the two housing parts, but the drive element, preferably the piezo disk is also fixedly positioned thereby in a flush-fit manner to the front side of the second housing part in the position provided.", "Further connection means for connecting the drive element to the drive housing are thus not required.", "[0053] Further, it is adaptively and optionally preferred, according to a further embodiment of the invention, if the first and second housing parts with the groove or with the further optional groove are constructed in a complementary manner as aligned guide surfaces at the outer and inner casing surfaces, in which the conductor or the conductor and conductor end is or are guided by inserting the second housing part into the first housing part.", "As a further optional process detents on the conductor and conductor end are respectively positioned into respective dent regions or features to further secure the housing and prevent outward tension on either the conductor or conductor from reaching to the drive element connection.", "The danger of incorrect assembly is thus reliably prevented and the assembly is thus improved in reliability.", "There are thus recognized multiple methods from the proposed invention including the steps of poisoning a first housing part of a drive housing, positioning a drive element and conductor and a conductor end on the first housing part, positioning a second housing part of a drive housing thereon above the first housing part, pressing the housing parts together and receiving the conductor and conductor end in associated regions between the first and second housing and upon complete pressing together securing the drive element on a far side of the first and the second housing parts in the manner shown in FIGS. 1-6 .", "[0054] As will be understood by those of skill in the art the phrase hollow or bounding will be understood to represent a housing member having a bounded internal region thereof, and may be in any form, cylindrical, rectangular, square, ovoidal, or any other regular or irregular geometry that is effective to receive and operatively secure in a mating manner the conductor and conductor end and the drive element as noted herein.", "Nothing herein shall require that the first and second housing parts be circular in shape about a common center.", "Reference Numbers [0000] 1 Oscillating device 2 Cradle oscillator 2 a Diaphragm of the cradle oscillator 2 2 b Cradle-shaped oscillating body of the cradle oscillator 22 2 c Surrounding edge of the diaphragm 2 a 3 Drive element, piezo disk 3 a Contact sites of drive element 3 with the conductor 5 4 Drive housing 4 a First housing part of drive housing 4 4 b Second housing part of drive housing 4 5 Conductor, flexible conductor, flexible circuit board 5 a Conductor end of the conductor 5 5 b Conductor channels of the conductor 5 6 Inner casing surfaces of the first housing part 4 a 7 Outer casing surfaces of the second housing part 4 b 8 a Guide surfaces of the first housing part 4 a 8 b Guide surfaces of the first housing part 4 a 9 a Guide surfaces of the second housing part 4 b 9 b Guide surfaces of the second housing part 4 b 10 Guide channel of the conductor 5 11 Guide channel of the conductor 5 a 12 a Detent of the conductor 5 12 b Detent of the conductor 5 13 a Detent of the conductor end 5 a 13 b Detent of the conductor end 5 a 14 Detent of the drive housing 4 , edge of the second housing part 4 b 14 a Notch of the edge 14 15 a Positioning elements of the first housing part 4 a 15 b Positioning elements of the second housing part 4 b 16 Shim/ceramic disk 17 a Housing wall of the first housing part 4 a 17 b Housing wall of the second housing part 4 b 18 a Groove of the housing wall 17 a 18 b Groove of the housing wall 17 a [0089] Having described at least one of the preferred embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, it will be apparent to those skills that the invention is not limited to those precise embodiments, and that various modifications and variations can be made in the presently disclosed system without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention.", "Thus, it is intended that the present disclosure cover modifications and variations of this disclosure provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents." ]

[ "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] 1.", "Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a synthetic resin liquid container for containing drinking water, juice, milk and other liquids.", "[0003] 2.", "Description of the Related Art [0004] Today, it is said that an ordinary family produces garbage at an average of 800 g per day.", "And the total amount of garbage produced by not only families but also plants and offices all over the world may reach astronomical figures.", "Therefore, waste disposal is one of the biggest social issues of today.", "Recently, synthetic resin containers called “mini bottles”", "have come into wide use and demand for such bottles has dramatically increased.", "In fact, the amount of waste mini bottles occupies not less than 15% of the above-described total amount of garbage, as the Director General of the Environment Agency reported.", "[0005] Therefore, recycling these synthetic resin containers, which are difficult to incinerate, has been suggested.", "And now, separate collection of garbage is generally carried out by separating garbage into several categories such as “food garbage”, “synthetic resin container”", "and others.", "[0006] The problem is to collect empty synthetic resin containers since such containers are bulky and thus occupy a lot of space so that transporting these empty containers is like carrying air.", "Further, the fact that recycling service companies are generally paid based on the weight of garbage they recovered may contribute to their unwillingness for collecting such containers.", "SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0007] Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a synthetic resin container that can be sufficiently resistant to intense oscillation during transport while containing liquid therein and can substantially reduce its volume when it is empty and collected as garbage, thereby enabling transporting much larger number of containers at one time.", "[0008] A synthetic resin liquid container is provided which has a body that can substantially reduce its volume when a vertical and/or twisting stress is applied to the body, and a form-retaining means to be used after compression of the container body for keeping it compressed.", "[0009] In one aspect of the present invention, the container body comprises a relatively hard and thin side wall with accordion-shaped contour formed on its surface, and sequentially reduced radiuses from both the upper and bottom ends toward the middle of the body, for facilitating operation of substantially reducing the volume of container as described above.", "[0010] In another aspect of the present invention, the container body comprises a plurality of longitudinal grooves on the surface of its side wall, and a star-shaped cross section, for facilitating operation of substantially reducing the volume of container as described above.", "[0011] In still another aspect of the present invention, the container body comprises a relatively hard and thin side wall, and a number of continuous or non-continuous oblique grooves on the side wall, for facilitating operation of substantially reducing the volume of container as described above.", "[0012] In still another aspect of the present invention, the container body comprises a relatively thin side wall and a number of recesses formed thereon, for facilitating operation of substantially reducing the volume of container as described above.", "[0013] In still another aspect of the present invention, the container body further comprises a belt attached to the opening of the container body, and the belt is in turn connected to a cap, for an aid in keeping the container compressed.", "[0014] In still another aspect of the present invention, the opening of the container body can be embedded into the container body by pressing the opening for keeping the container compressed.", "[0015] In still another aspect of the present invention, the container body also comprises a retainer means which is shorter than the height of the body and has a plurality of legs suspended from the neck portion of the body, with each leg having a claw portion at the tip which engages with the rim of the bottom of the container body for retaining the substantially reduced volume of the container body.", "[0016] Alternatively, in still another aspect of the present invention, the container body also has a retainer member provided on the lower portion of the body, the retainer member having a sidewall which is shorter than that of the body, extends in upward direction and has, at the circumferential rim of the side wall thereof, a claw that can be engaged with the top of side wall of the container body.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0017] [0017 ]FIG. 1 shows a front view of the container body of the present invention according to Example 1.", "[0018] [0018 ]FIG. 2 shows a front view of the container body of the present invention according to Example 2.", "[0019] [0019 ]FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of the container body cut from FIG. 2, line a-a.", "[0020] [0020 ]FIG. 4 shows a front view of the container body of the present invention according to Example 2.", "[0021] [0021 ]FIG. 5 shows an expanded view of a portion in the dashed line circle shown in FIG. 2. [0022] [0022 ]FIG. 6 shows a front view of the containers with substantially reduced volume which are arranged for space saving according to Example 2.", "[0023] [0023 ]FIG. 7 shows a front view of the container body of the present invention according to Example 3.", "[0024] [0024 ]FIG. 8 shows a front view of the container body of the present invention according to Example 4.", "[0025] [0025 ]FIG. 9 shows a front view of the container in a compressed state which is provided with a means for retaining its substantially reduced volume according to Example 1.", "[0026] [0026 ]FIG. 10 shows a belt which permanently connects the cap and the container body.", "[0027] [0027 ]FIG. 11 shows a front view of the container body in a compressed state which is provided with a means for retaining its substantially reduced volume according to Example 5.", "[0028] [0028 ]FIG. 12 shows a front view of the container body according to Example 5 in its normal state, which is provided with a means for retaining its substantially reduced volume once the container is compressed.", "[0029] [0029 ]FIG. 13 shows a front view of the container body according to Example 5 in its compressed state, which is provided with a means for retaining its substantially reduced volume once the container is compressed.", "[0030] [0030 ]FIG. 14 shows a front view of the container body according to Example 6 in its normal state, which is provided with a means for retaining its substantially reduced volume once the container is compressed.", "[0031] [0031 ]FIG. 15 shows a front view of the container body according to Example 2 in its compressed state, which is provided with a means for retaining its substantially reduced volume once the container is compressed.", "[0032] [0032 ]FIG. 16 shows a front view of the container body according to Example 7 in its compressed state, which is provided with a means for retaining its substantially reduced volume once the container is compressed.", "[0033] [0033 ]FIG. 17 shows a front view of retaining means for retaining a container body compressed according to Example 8.", "[0034] [0034 ]FIG. 18 shows a front view of the container which has such a configuration that it may have substantially reduced volume when compressed according to Example 8.", "DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT EXAMPLE 1 [0035] [0035 ]FIG. 1 shows a liquid container body ( 1 ) made of flexible plastic synthetic resin, and a relatively hard opening ( 2 ) with reduced radius provided at the top of the body ( 1 ).", "FIG. 1 also shows a cap member ( 3 ) covering the opening ( 2 ).", "[0036] The container body ( 1 ) has a surrounding side wall ( 4 ) which is provided with an accordion-shaped contour ( 5 ) on its surface between the opening ( 2 ) and the bottom of the body ( 1 ) across the height of the container body ( 1 ).", "[0037] For use, the container body ( 1 ) may be filled with liquid such as mineral water using any conventional means, and then sealed with a cap member ( 3 ) before it is put on a market.", "Such a filled container body ( 1 ) may be transported almost safely even under oscillation since the accordion like contour ( 5 ) of the side wall ( 4 ) may provide a buffering function.", "[0038] Now, the container body ( 1 ) is emptied and compressed into a direction toward the middle of the body ( 1 ).", "The container may be easily compressed due to flexibility and plasticity of the container body ( 1 ) as well as the accordion-shaped contour ( 5 ) of the side wall ( 4 ).", "[0039] Alternatively, the container body ( 1 ) may be placed on the ground and then crushed by foot if the container body cannot be squashed easily by hand.", "[0040] The squashed container body ( 1 ) may have thus sufficiently reduced volume.", "[0041] The present inventors put conventional green tea bottles (500 ml;", "height 21 cm×radius 7 cmφ) which are commercially available to the test, by compressing the bottles after making their side walls ( 4 ) an accordion-shaped contour ( 5 ) as that of the present invention.", "The results showed that all the container bodies ( 1 ) tested were compressed to one-fourth of its original height, which was equal to 5 cm or less.", "These heights were equal to about two-fold (2L) of those of the relatively hard taper portions ( 11 ) of respective container bodies ( 1 ), the taper portions ( 11 ) being provided just below the opening ( 2 ) of the container body ( 1 ).", "[0042] It should be easily understood that such compressed bottles may be easily transported for, for example, recycling since their size are now one-fourth or smaller than their original size.", "The problem is whether the container bodies ( 1 ) can be kept in a compression form prior and during transportation.", "Various containers made of different materials were tested for this point though results showed that some were kept compressed for a long period of time, others for several hours, and even others had only very short period of time such as a few minutes and soon to tend to recover their original shapes.", "[0043] Accordingly, the container body ( 1 ) is capped again with a cap member ( 3 ) at the opening ( 2 ) to prevent air introduction into the container body ( 1 ) after compression, as shown in FIG. 9, so that the container body ( 1 ) can keep its compressed form.", "[0044] However, a capping member ( 3 ) may often be discarded or lost after detached from the container body ( 1 ) and thus cannot be capped with a cap member ( 3 ) after compression of the container body ( 1 ).", "[0045] Accordingly, improvement in the present invention is to attach the capping member ( 3 ) permanently to the container body ( 1 ).", "For example, FIG. 10 shows a belt ( 6 ) which is made of thin, flexible, plastic resin plate, the plate with openings ( 7 ) and ( 8 ) close to both ends.", "The cap ( 3 ) has a circumferential side wall and a dovetail groove ( 9 ) on the periphery of the sidewall.", "One of the above-described openings ( 7 ) provided in the belt ( 6 ) is fitted into the dovetail groove ( 9 ) while the other ( 8 ) is fitted into the proximal end of screw portion ( 10 ) provided on the outer surface of the opening ( 2 ) of the container body ( 1 ).", "[0046] As a result, the cap ( 3 ) is permanently fixed to the container body ( 1 ) so that it may not be lost after once detached.", "Thus, the container body ( 1 ) can be kept compressed by recapping with the cap ( 3 ) on the opening of the container body ( 1 ) after compression.", "[0047] As already described above, the compressed body ( 1 ) has a height equal to about two-fold (2L) of that of the taper portion ( 5 ) (L).", "In another embodiment, the container body ( 1 ) may be further compressed into smaller size.", "[0048] In this example, as shown in FIG. 11, the taper portion ( 11 ) and opening ( 2 ) of the container body ( 1 ), and optionally a loosely fitted cap ( 3 ) are flipped into the container body ( 1 ) when the container body ( 1 ) is compressed such that these parts may be accommodated in the container body.", "As a result, neither the taper ( 11 ) nor the cap may not contribute to the height of the compressed container body ( 1 ) so that the body height may be reduced to the same height as those of taper portion ( 11 ) and/or cap (L 1 ), thus greatly reducing the bulk of the container.", "EXAMPLE 2 [0049] In alternative embodiment, the container body ( 1 ) may be compressed by applying a horizontal force (not a vertical force) in order to substantially reduce the volume of the container body ( 1 ).", "[0050] Particularly, as shown in FIG. 2, the container body ( 1 ) may have a plurality of grooves ( 12 ) provided on the outer surface thereof with each groove running into the longitudinal direction and being evenly spaced each other.", "The container body ( 1 ) has a star-shaped cross-section ( 13 ) as shown in FIG. 3. [0051] Alternatively, a number of oblique grooves ( 14 ) may be formed on the side wall of the container body for horizontal compression as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.", "[0052] In summary, the emptied container bodies ( 1 ) shown in FIGS. 2 to 5 could be reduced to a size equal to one-third of their original sizes by compressing of the container body ( 1 ) them in such a similar manner as laundry is squeezed to remove moisture.", "[0053] The container body ( 1 ) may be capped with a cap ( 3 ) after compressed to keep it compressed as described above.", "A lot of compressed containers ( 1 ) can be transported by arranging them in a line with each containers ( 1 ) being placed upside down shown in FIG. 6. EXAMPLE 3 [0054] In another embodiment, the container body ( 1 ) may be compressed by applying both vertical and horizontal forces.", "[0055] Particularly, the container body ( 1 ) has a number of recesses such as oblique grooves ( 15 ) formed on the surrounding wall ( 4 ) thereof as shown in FIG. 7, or a continuous spiral groove ( 16 ) on the side wall thereof arranged with each parallel line spaced each other in a oblique but relatively horizontal direction as shown in FIG. 8. Of course, in the case of the container body ( 1 ) in FIG. 8 the groove ( 16 ) can be discontinuous.", "[0056] Thus, an empty container body ( 1 ) may be easily compressed merely by applying a vertical pressure since, due to such configuration, not only vertical force but also another force in turning direction are generated and transmitted to the container body ( 1 ) such that synthetic force of the two may easily press the container body down.", "EXAMPLE 4 [0057] Various other examples of means for keeping the container body ( 1 ) in a compressed form may be contemplated.", "For example, cover members ( 17 ) are shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, which are fitted on the lower portion of container body ( 1 ).", "[0058] These cover members ( 17 ) are generally manufactured from the same material as the container body ( 1 ), and may be sold along with the container body ( 1 ) containing liquid therein.", "The cover member ( 17 ) is shaped like a bowl with a claw ( 18 ) extruding inwardly at the upper open rim.", "[0059] Thus, once compressed in vertical direction the empty container body ( 1 ) is accommodated in the cover member ( 17 ) so that the empty container body ( 1 ) can keep its compression form.", "[0060] One example is shown in FIG. 13 in which the container body ( 1 ) has an accordion-shaped contour ( 5 ) on the side wall ( 4 ) thereof.", "In this example, the top protrusion of the accordion contour ( 5 )—i.e., the protrusion ( 19 ) of the accordion contour ( 5 ) just below the taper portion ( 11 )—will engage with the claw ( 18 ) of the cover ( 17 ).", "Accordingly, it is important to make the height or depth of the cover member ( 17 ) equal to that of the container body ( 1 ) in a maximally compressed state.", "[0061] Preferably, the top protrusion ( 19 ) of the container body ( 1 ) may have a larger radius than other protrusions in the same accordion contour as shown in FIG. 12.", "[0062] In this case, the container body ( 1 ) may have an accordion contour with each protrusion therein having successively reduced radiuses toward the middle portion ( 20 ) across the container length such that the side wall of the container body ( 1 ) may be almost evenly and horizontally folded to be accommodated in the next cover member ( 17 ) when the container body ( 1 ) is pressed into the cover member ( 17 ) as shown in FIG. 14, thus enabling easy compressing operation of the container.", "The cover member ( 17 ) may be formed as a tube or another form such that it has a discontinuous side wall with a hole or holes ( 23 ) from that of the as shown in FIG. 16.", "EXAMPLE 5 [0063] The cover member ( 15 ) may be one which is fit into the lower portion of the container body ( 1 ) as described above, or a retainer ( 24 ) generally manufactured from the same material as the container body ( 1 ) in any form such as those shown in FIGS. 16 to 18 .", "[0064] For example, the retainer ( 24 ) may comprise a disk having a hole ( 25 ) at its center in which the opening ( 2 ) of the container body ( 1 ) can fit, and a plurality of leg members ( 26 ) under the disk.", "The leg members ( 26 ) can be bumped into engagement with the side wall of the container body ( 1 ), and has a claw member ( 27 ) at their ends which is adjusted to fit on the container body ( 1 ).", "[0065] Typically the retainer ( 24 ) may be put on the market together with the container body ( 1 ).", "When emptied container body ( 1 ) is compressed, the claw members ( 27 ) of the retainer ( 24 ) are engaged with the bottom surface of the container body ( 1 ) thereby enabling the container to keep its compression form.", "[0066] In summary, the present invention could provide substantially reduced volume of an after-used container body, resulting in saving garbage storage space, thereby enabling a large amount of after-used containers to be transported at one time.", "This space-saving contributes to expansion of recycling such containers.", "[0067] Further, the container body of the present invention is provided with a retainer means for keeping its compression form so that once compressed the container may not return to its normal shape.", "[0068] The above examples are provided to illustrate the invention but not limit its scope.", "Other variations of the invention will be readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art and are encompassed by the appended claims." ]

[ "This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/960,763, filed Oct. 12, 2007, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference.", "TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to methods of identifying individuals at increased risk of mortality following coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery and to compositions and kits suitable for use in such methods.", "BACKGROUND Several models have been developed to estimate the risk of mortality following cardiac surgery, including the European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation (EuroSCORE) (Roques, Eur.", "J. Cardiothorac.", "Surg.", "15:816 (1999)).", "These models are limited, however, in their ability to predict death for specific individuals.", "It has been hypothesized that individual gene polymorphisms can improve the discriminatory ability of EuroSCORE with respect to long-term mortality following coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery (Nilsson, Eur.", "Heart J. 27:768 (2006)).", "The present invention results, at least in part, from studies designed to identify genetic polymorphisms associated with altered five-year mortality risk following CABG surgery.", "SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to methods of identifying individuals at risk of perioperative mortality and to compositions and kits suitable for use in such methods.", "Objects and advantages of the present invention will be clear from the description that follows.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 : Cox Proportional Hazard Model of EuroSCORE-adjusted Survival by Genotype.", "FIG. 2 : ROC Analysis of EuroSCORE and Clinico-genetic Models.", "FIG. 3 : Baseline Kaplan-Meier Survival by EuroSCORE Category.", "FIG. 4 : Kaplan-Meier Survival for RS405509 Dominant Genotype Model.", "FIG. 5 : Kaplan-Meier Survival for RS1042579 Recessive Genotype Model.", "FIG. 6 : Receiver Operator Characteristic (ROC) Curves of Logistic EuroSCORE and Combined Clinico-genomic Models.", "FIG. 7 : Receiver Operator Characteristic (ROC) curves for the Clinicogenomic and Clinical Covariate Models.", "FIG. 8 : Long-term survival by APOE genotype (adjusted for baseline EuroSCORE, Aprotinin use, and CPU duration).", "FIG. 9 : Long-term survival by THBD genotype (adjusted for baseline EuroSCORE, Aprotinin use, and CPB duration).", "DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention results from studies designed to examine the association between specific genetic polymorphisms and mortality risk after surgery (e.g., cardiac surgery).", "These studies demonstrate that specific genetic variants are associated with an increased risk of postoperative mortality.", "It will be appreciated from a reading of this disclosure that polymorphisms in apolipoprotein E (APOE) and thrombomodulin (THBD) are independently associated with altered five year mortality risk following, for example, CABG surgery.", "Biological effects for the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) referenced above, and described in greater detail in the Examples that follows, have been demonstrated.", "APOE −219T reduces transcriptional activity of the gene through differential binding of nuclear proteins (Artiga, FEBS Lett 421:105-8 (1998)), reduces plasma APOE concentrations in a dose-dependent manner and was associated with increased risk of MI independent of the presence of other SNPs including APOE ε2/ε3/ε4 (Lambert, Hum Mol Gen 9(1):57-61 (2000)).", "THBD 455Val SNP, located in the sixth EGF-like domain responsible for thrombin binding and activation of protein C, was previously associated with increased risk of CAD and MI (Wu, Circulation 103:1386 (2001)).", "The present invention provides definitive association between these genetic variants and postoperative mortality risk.", "The invention is exemplified by reference to cardiac surgery patients but includes all perioperative, periprocedure (endoscopy, bronchoscopy, cardiac catheterization, angioplasty, etc.), and intensive care unit settings.", "The presence of one or more of the above-referenced polymorphisms present in a sample (e.g., a biological sample such as blood) can be determined using any accurate detection method, including a variety of genotyping techniques known in the art (e.g., using a preoperative “CHIP”", "or SNP panel).", "Examples of such techniques include the use of polymerase chain reaction and extension primers (see too the Example below).", "Suitable techniques also include the use of RFLP analysis and mass spectrometry (see also Ye et al, Hum.", "Mutat.", "17(4):305 (2001), Chen et al, Genome Res.", "10:549 (2000)).", "The genetic variants (SNPs) described above and in the Examples can be used, for example, to predict postoperative and ICU mortality risk.", "As indicated above, screening for genetic variants of the invention is also relevant for other invasive procedures including but not limited to endoscopy, bronchoscopy, cardiac catheterization, and angioplasty.", "Preoperative screening for genetic variants enables clinicians to better stratify a given patient for therapeutic intervention, either with drug therapy or with other modalities.", "Additionally, knowledge of genetic variants allows patients to choose, in a more informed way in consultation with their physician, medical versus procedural therapy.", "Identifying these genetic variants in patients who decide to undergo surgery or other invasive procedure enables health care providers to design altered therapeutic strategies aimed at minimizing the incidence of mortality in the subset of patients with enhanced risk.", "As indicated above, preoperative genotype testing can refine risk stratification and improve patient outcome.", "Based on the genetic risk factors identified, treatment regimens, including drug treatment regimens, used to minimize the risk of mortality can be useful in acute settings, for example, cardiac surgery.", "Identification of the genetic markers described herein can facilitate individually tailored medical therapy (personalized medicine) designed to reduce mortality risk.", "The invention also relates to kits suitable for use in testing for the presence of the polymorphisms identified herein.", "Such kits can include, for example, reagents (e.g., probes or primers) necessary to identify the presence of one or more of the above-referenced polymorphisms.", "In a further embodiment, the present invention relates to methods of identifying compounds suitable for use in minimizing the risk of mortality.", "Certain aspects of the invention are described in greater detail in the non-limiting Example below, which example can be summarized as follows.", "In a prospective cohort of 2071 patients undergoing CABG with cardiopulmonary bypass at a single institution between 1994-2002, a panel of 96 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 52 candidate genes was genotyped by mass spectrometry.", "All-cause mortality was ascertained through the National Death Index.", "Long-term mortality was defined as death occurring more than 30 days and less than 5 years after CABG.", "Chi-squared tests performed on each SNP using three different inheritance models (dominant, recessive, additive) were adjusted for multiple comparisons by permutation analysis.", "SNPs with permutation-adjusted p-values <0.05 were entered into logistic regression models to adjust for traditional clinical and procedural risk factors (logistic EuroSCORE).", "Significant covariate-adjusted SNPs (p<0.05) were included in a final clinico-genetic multivariate logistic regression model, Cox proportional hazard ratios were also calculated to determine the effect of each SNP on survival times after adjusting for EuroSCORE.", "The areas under the receiver operator characteristic curves (C-statistic) were calculated for the clinico-genetic and the EuroSCORE models.", "Mortality data were available for 2018 patients (97%) and genotypic information for 1822 patients (88%).", "Of the 96 candidate SNPs examined, 3 had permutation-adjusted p-values <0.05.", "The dominant effect of apolipoprotein E (APOE −219G/T) and the recessive effect of thrombomodulin (THBD 1418C/T) SNPs remained significant after covariate adjustment in multivariate modeling (Table 1, FIG. 1 ).", "The associated hazard ratios (95% CIs) were 0.459 (0.265, 0.796) and 2.64 (1.213, 5.745), for APO E and THBD, respectively.", "Addition of genetic information improved model discrimination based on EuroSCORE only (C-statistic 0.68 versus 0.63, respectively) ( FIG. 2 ).", "(See also FIGS. 3-6 .) TABLE 1 SNPs Associated with Altered Long-Term Mortality Clinico- Permutation- Covariate- genetic adjusted adjusted model Hazard Ratio SNP p-value p-value p-value (95% CI) APOE-219G/T 0.016 0.005 0.010 0.46 (0.27, 0.79) (rs405509) THBD 1418C/T 0.028 0.0006 0.016 2.64 (1.21, 5.75) (Ala455Val) (rs1042579) In conclusion, common functional polymorphisms in APOE and THBD are independently associated with altered 5-year mortality following CABG surgery and improve predictive models based on traditional risk factors alone.", "EXAMPLE Experimental Details Patient Population DNA from a prospective cohort of 2071 patients undergoing CABG with CPB between 1994 and 2002 was examined.", "All patients were enrolled in the Perioperative Genetics and Safety Outcomes Study (PEGASUS), an Institutional Review Board-approved, prospective, longitudinal study at Duke University Medical Center.", "Exclusion criteria for the study included history of renal failure, active liver disease, bleeding disorders, autoimmune diseases, or immunosuppressive therapy.", "A standardized isoflurane/fentanyl anesthetic was administered to all patients.", "Cold blood cardioplegia and nonpulsatile CPB (30° C. to 32° C.) with a crystalloid prime and pump flow rates >2.4 L/min per m 2 was used.", "α-stat blood gas management, serial hematocrits >=0.18 while on CPB, and activated clotting times >450 seconds were standardized as well.", "Patient Mortality Follow-up was conducted six months after hospital discharge, and annually thereafter by the Duke Clinical Research Institute.", "All-cause mortality was verified through the National Death Index.", "For the purposes of this analysis, long-term mortality was defined as all-cause death occurring more than 30 days and less than 5 years following CABG surgery.", "Candidates Gene and Polymorphism Selection Fifty-two candidate genes involved in coronary artery disease, inflammation, and myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury were selected a priori based on previous publications (Podgoreanu et al, J. Thorac.", "Cardiovasc.", "Surg.", "130(2):330-339 (2005), Ruel et al, J. Thorac.", "Cardiovase.", "Surg.", "126(5):1521-1530 (2003), Ng et al, Nucleic Acids Res.", "31(5):3812-3814 (2003), Tomic et al, Circulation 112(19):2912-2920 (2005)) and expert opinion.", "Ninety-six single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were selected in these candidate genes with an emphasis on functionally important variants.", "Genotype Analysis Genotyping was performed by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry on a Sequenom system (Sequenom, San Diego, Calif.) at a core facility (Agencourt Bioscience Corporation, Beverly Mass.).", "Primers used and polymorphism details can be found at anesthesia.", "duhs.", "duke.edu/pegasus/.", "Genotyping accuracy was validated at >99% by scoring a panel of 6 SNPs in 100 randomly selected patients using an ABI 3700 capillary sequencer (Applied Biosystems, Foster City, Calif.).", "Statistical Analysis Prior to the inclusion of genetic polymorphisms in the analysis, a multivariate logistic regression model was constructed to estimate perioperative mortality risk using traditional clinical and intraoperative risk factors (clinical covariate model).", "The logistic EuroSCORE (Nashef et al, Eur.", "J. Cardiothorac.", "Surg.", "16(1):9-13 (1999), Michel et al, Eur.", "J. Cardiothorac.", "Surg.", "23(5):684-687 (2003), Nashef et al, Eur.", "J. Cardiothorac.", "Surg.", "22(1):101-105 (2002)) was calculated for each patient to summarize preoperative and procedural factors that increase perioperative mortality.", "Additional demographic and intraoperative variables were added to the logistic regression equation using forward selection.", "A two-stage analysis strategy was used for polymorphism selection (Hoh et al, Ann.", "Hum.", "Genet.", "64(Pt 5):413-417 (2000)).", "Allelic associations with long-term mortality were first assessed using χ 2 tests for each polymorphism.", "The association tests were performed using additive (homozygote major allele versus heterozygote versus homozygote minor allele), dominant (homozygote major allele versus heterozygote plus homozygote minor allele), and recessive (homozygote minor allele versus heterozygote plus homozygote major allele) models for each polymorphism to avoid assumptions regarding inheritance modes.", "Because of the number of comparisons performed, permutation testing was used to adjust p-values at this step (Good, Permutation tests: a practical guide to resampling methods for testing hypotheses, 2 nd edn.", "New York: Sprinter;", "(2000)).", "Polymorphisms with permutation-adjusted p-values <0.05 were retained for further analysis.", "Next, multivariable logistic regression was used to test the association between mortality and individual SNPs while adjusting for baseline perioperative risk factors, which were determined in constructing the clinical covariate model.", "SNPs were added to the logisitic regressing model using forward selection to produce a clinicogenomic model.", "Both main effects and interactions between SNPs were allowed.", "Age and sex are included in the logistic EuroSCORE and, as a result, were not included in the stepwise variable selection.", "Self-reported ethnicity was also tested as a covariate in the logisitic regression model.", "To assess the discriminative ability of the two completed models, the area under the receiver operator characteristic curves (C-static) was computed for the both the clincical covariate and the clinicogenomic models.", "In addition to analyzing mortality with logistic regression, Cox proportional hazard models were constructed to take advantage of time-to-event information within the dataset.", "Variables from the completed clinicogenomic model were included in the Cox proportional hazard regression model to compute covariate-adjusted hazard ratios for the SNPs of interest.", "Results Mortality data were available for 2018 patients (97%) and genotypic information for 1822 patients (88%).", "Baseline demographics of the study population can be seen in Table 2.", "Of the traditional clinical and procedural variables, forward variable selection resulted in two statistically significant independent predictors of long-term mortality (Table 3).", "Intraoperative aprotinin use, which was statistically significant in univariate analyses, lost statistical significance in full clinical covariate model.", "Self-reported ethnicity was not a statistically significant predictor of mortality in either univariate or multivariate models.", "TABLE 2 Baseline Demographic, Clinical and Procedural Characteristics Survived Died Characteristic N N = 1725 N = 96 P-value LOGEUROSC 1821 1.78 3.10 6.31 (5.68 ± 7.33) 2.52 5.12 13.57 (10.00 ± 12.5) <0.001 1 AGE 1821 55.80 64.00 71.50 (63.19 ± 10.74) 61.08 69.40 76.00 (68.10 ± 9.83) <0.001 1 PUMPTIME 1816 89.0 111.0 134.0 (112.9 ± 45.8) 98.0 120.0 153.5 (130.4 ± 52.2) 0.002 1 SEX: 2 1818 71 ⁢ % ⁢ 1215 1722 67 ⁢ % ⁢ 64 96 0.417 2 APROT 1619 9 ⁢ % ⁢ 132 1544 17 ⁢ % ⁢ 13 75 0.009 2 RACETXT: Asian 1361 0 ⁢ % ⁢ 4 1280 0 ⁢ % ⁢ 0 81 0.741 2 African American 8 ⁢ % ⁢ 103 1280 7 ⁢ % ⁢ 6 81 Native American 2 ⁢ % ⁢ 30 1280 1 ⁢ % ⁢ 1 81 Other 1 ⁢ % ⁢ 7 1280 0 ⁢ % ⁢ 0 81 Unknown 20 ⁢ % ⁢ 253 1280 15 ⁢ % ⁢ 12 81 Caucasian 69 ⁢ % ⁢ 883 1280 77 ⁢ % ⁢ 62 81 RS405509: G 1562 34 ⁢ % ⁢ 506 1475 20 ⁢ % ⁢ 17 87 0.017 2 GT 43 ⁢ % ⁢ 637 1475 52 ⁢ % ⁢ 45 87 T 23 ⁢ % ⁢ 332 1475 29 ⁢ % ⁢ 25 87 RS1042579: C 1665 69 ⁢ % ⁢ 1095 1576 63 ⁢ % ⁢ 56 89 0.005 2 CT 27 ⁢ % ⁢ 427 1576 27 ⁢ % ⁢ 24 89 T 3 ⁢ % ⁢ 54 1576 10 ⁢ % ⁢ 9 89 a b c represent the lower quartile a, the median b, and the upper quartile c for continuous variables.", "x ± s represents X ± 1 SD.", "N is the number of non-missing values.", "Tests used: 1 Wilcoxon test;", "2 Pearson test TABLE 3 Statistically Significant Preoperative and Intraoperative Variables Estimate Std.", "Error z value Pr(>|z|) (Intercept) −4.30192 0.34521 −12.46168 0.00000 I(log(LOGEUROSC)) 0.47240 0.12329 3.83167 0.00013 APROT1 0.30996 0.34080 0.90950 0.36309 PUMPTIME 0.00420 0.00214 2.00774 0.04467 Ef- Lower Upper Low High Δ fect S.E. 0.95 0.95 LOGEUROSC 1.78 6.39 4.6 0.60 0.16 0.29 0.91 Odds Ratio 1.78 6.39 4.6 1.83 1.34 2.49 PUMPTIME 89.00 135.00 46.0 0.20 0.10 0.00 0.39 Odds Ratio 89.00 135.00 46.0 1.22 1.00 1.48 APROT - 1:0 1.00 2.00 0.31 0.34 −0.36 0.98 Odds Ratio 1.00 2.00 1.36 0.70 2.66 Of the 96 candidate SNPs examined, three had permutation-adjusted p-values <0.05.", "After forward variable selection and adjustment for baseline logistic EuroSCORE and duration of cardiopulmonary bypass, the dominant model main effects of the −219G>T polymorphism in apolipoprotein E (RS405509) and the recessive model main effect of the Ala455Val polymorphism in thrombomodulin (RS1042579) remained statistically significant independent predictors of long-term mortality in the logistic regression analysis.", "The resulting odds ratio and 95% confidence interval for APOE −219G>T and THBD Ala455Val were 1.89 (1.01, 3.57) and 2.79 (1.04, 7.52), respectively.", "The C-statistic for the final clinicogenomic model was 0.707, compared with 0.657 for the clinical covariate model, suggesting improved discriminatory accuracy ( FIG. 7 ).", "Survival analyses by APOE and THBD genotype are displayed in FIGS. 8 and 9 .", "The resulting independent hazard ratios (95% confidence intervals) for long-term survival, adjusted for baseline logistic EuroSCORE and cardiopulmonary bypass duration, are 1.96 (1.06, 3.70) and 2.63 (1.04, 6.62) for the polymorphisms within APOE and THBD, respectively.", "(See also Table 4.) TABLE 4 Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNP) Associated with Altered Long-Term Mortality Permutation- Covariate- Clinicogenomic adjusted adjusted Model SNP p-value p-value p-value R5405509 (APOE) 0.016 0.020 0.048 RS1042579 (THBD) 0.028 0.006 0.042 While several models have been developed to estimate mortality risk following cardiac surgery, they are limited in their ability to predict death for specific individuals.", "From a prospective cohort of patients undergoing CABG with CPB, two genetic polymorphisms were found to be associated with altered long-term mortality.", "These genes may represent new targets for therapies aimed at reducing long-term mortality after CABG surgery.", "Furthermore addition of genetic information resulted in improved discriminatory ability of the predictive model, providing better information for patients and providers evaluating the risks and benefits of CABG surgery.", "Apolipoprotein E plays a critical role in lipid metabolism and in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis.", "The −219G>T polymorphisms lies within the regulatory region of the APOE gene and affects circulating plasma apolipoprotein E levels through differential binding of nuclear proteins (Artiga et al, FEBS Lett.", "421(2):105-108 (1998)).", "A previous multicenter study demonstrated an increased risk of myocardial infarction in patients with the −219G>T polymorphism and reported a dose-dependent decrease in apolipoprotein E plasma concentrations according to −219G>T genotype, independent of apolipoprotein isoform (ε2/ε3/ε4) (Lambert et al, Hum.", "Mol.", "Genet.", "9(1):57-61 (2000)).", "The results from the present study reinforce the importance of the functional role of apolipoprotein E in cardiovascular pathophysiology.", "Thrombomodulin is a an endothelial-specific type I membrane receptor that binds thrombin and alters it so that it changes from a prothrombotic to an antithrombotic enzyme.", "Thrombomodulin also activates protein C, resulting in inactivation of factor Va and factor VIII.", "RS1042579 is a nonsynonymous polymorphism that results in an alanine (A) to valine (V) substitution at amino acid positions 455.", "A recent study demonstrated an association between the Ala455Val substitution and the development of coronary artery disease (Wu et al, Circulation 103(10):1386-1389 (2001)).", "The findings of the present study provide further support for the participation of thrombomodulin in the development of cardiovascular events.", "All documents and other information sources cited above are hereby incorporated in their entirety by reference." ]

[ "CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims the benefit of German patent application DE P 101 62 777.7, filed Dec. 20, 2001, herein incorporated by reference.", "FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a cylindrical cheese and a method for forming the wound package of a cylindrical cheese with a yarn guide device.", "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Yarn produced on rotor spinning frames differs in its bobbin building and unwinding behavior from ring-spun yarn.", "The rotor yarn is less napped than the ring-spun yarn and, therefore, is easier to unwind (greater ease of release).", "However, the rotor yarn has a greater curling tendency than the ring-spun yarn, causing the wound-up yarn in the edge areas of the cheese to be pushed outward by the yarn layers located on top.", "Because of this, a cheese can be formed which exceeds the normal bobbin traverse of, for example, 150 mm and can grow up to a width of 170 to 180 mm.", "Consequently, the desired bobbin buildup with level end faces is no longer possible.", "Such appearances occur with yarns made of natural fibers, such as cotton and, in particular, with coarse yarns.", "Coarser yarns produce a more marked distortion of the bobbin end faces.", "Problems at the end faces of wound packages can already appear in the pre-stage of yarn production with wound-up fiber slubbing or roving yarn.", "U.S. Pat. No. 954,344 discloses that bulges will occur in the build-up of the end faces of wound packages if slubbings or rovings are not twisted or are only slightly twisted.", "This problem occurs if the winding angle is greater than 32°, which is customary in the prior art.", "In addition, the soft and loose structure of the fiber strands will contribute to the problem.", "Bulges can considerably impair the further processing of the wound packages.", "As disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 954,344, the bulging can be prevented by increasing the winding angle in the end edge areas of the wound package, while keeping the winding angle the same in the rest of the areas of the wound package.", "If cheese winding is performed at high yarn speeds, it is possible with medium and coarse yarns, because of the mass inertia of the yarn, for the yarn to move past the bobbin edge at the reversing points of the traverse and to create a so-called skipped yarn error.", "This fault leads to yarn breaks and hampers the further processing of the yarn.", "The possibility of the occurrence of such errors is considerably affected by the crossing angle α.", "Therefore the selection of the appropriate crossing angle is of great importance when producing cheeses.", "When a cheese is produced with “random cross winding,” the yarn crossing angle remains constant over the entire bobbin travel.", "On the other hand, when a cheese is produced using “precision winding,” the yarn crossing angle is reduced as the cheese diameter increases.", "One advantage of precision winding over random cross winding is that precision winding produces a cheese with more running length, given the same bobbin volume.", "However, the crossing angle, which is reduced with increasing cheese diameter, limits the permissible maximum diameter when producing precision bobbins made of staple fiber yarns, since it is not possible to perform winding at arbitrarily narrow crossing angles with staple fiber yarns in order to avoid the defects occurring at the edges.", "For this reason, and as described, for example, in generic German Patent Publication DE 100 15 933 A1, crossing angles of less than 28° should be avoided in rotor spinning.", "Therefore, precision winding can only be used to a limited extent, particularly when winding staple fiber yarns.", "In a third type of winding referred to as “step precision winding,” the goal is a crossing angle that remains approximately the same.", "In actual use, the above described density problems, or problems with the stability of the bobbin end edges, are somewhat reduced by means of step precision winding, but are not solved.", "With conical cheeses which are driven by circumferential friction by a roller, it is necessary to let the drive be effective only within a predetermined area of a narrow friction zone, or of the friction zone of the cheese.", "Since the length of the bobbin circumference viewed along the bobbin axis differs, the number of revolutions of the cheese begins to fluctuate and becomes uncontrollable if the conical cheese to be wound comes into contact with the portions of the roller-shaped drive mechanism located to the left and right of the predetermined friction zone as the bobbin diameter grows.", "To prevent this occurrence, the yarn crossing angle in an area limited to the friction zone of a conical cheese is reduced in comparison with the yarn crossing angle outside of the friction zone as represented in German Patent Publication DE-AS 26 32 014, or in the parallel U.S. Pat. No. 4,266,734.", "By means of this reduction in the crossing angle, the compressive strength of the wound package is slightly increased in the winding zone.", "However, the only reason for forming a drive zone with increased specific pressure of the bobbin resting on the drive roller by changing the yarn crossing angle is to compensate for the different circumferential bobbin length in the case of conical cheeses.", "New machine technology, in particular in weaving, such as air nozzle power looms, for example, make greater demands on the unwinding properties of the yarn.", "These requirements cannot be met, or are only insufficiently met, by means of the known bobbin embodiments.", "SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a cylindrical cheese that is improved in comparison with known cylindrical cheeses, and to provide a method for producing the cheese on rotor spinning frames, in particular when producing coarse yarns.", "This object is addressed by a method of winding a yarn onto a bobbin core into the form of a cylindrical yarn cheese, the method comprising the steps of traversing a yarn guide along the bobbin core for winding the yarn onto the bobbin core at a yarn crossing angle α which changes as the formation of the cheese progresses, the traversing of a yarn guide executing a lesser crossing angle α M in a central zone centrally along the bobbin core between about 15° and about 28°, and a greater crossing angle α R in end zones outwardly of the central zone adjacent opposite ends of the bobbin core.", "The present invention is based upon the knowledge that it is possible by having crossing angles in the edge area of the cheese that are larger than the crossing angles in the central part to clearly reduce the crossing angle in the remaining wider central portion in comparison with customary crossing angles without having to accept the known disadvantages that occur when the crossing angle is reduced over the entire winding width.", "In this case the crossing angle can be substantially reduced without resulting in an impermissible compaction of the cheese.", "The present invention provides enhanced unwinding of the yarn from the cylindrical cheese.", "In accordance with the present invention, the yarn unwinding process is quieter with fewer loops and yarn entanglements, thereby permitting the use of higher yarn unwinding speeds.", "The bobbin buildup, in particular, at the end faces of the cylindrical cheese, is improved.", "Finally, with the same bobbin diameter, the traveling length of the yarn is shown to be clearly increased in comparison with a conventional cylindrical cheese.", "In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the crossing angle α enables an increase of the wound yarn length, while maintaining excellent stability and high density of the cylindrical wound package.", "The crossing angle α of the central zone advantageously and continuously increases from the crossing angle α M of the central zone to the crossing angle α R of the end zones.", "Each end zone can be of such size that it occupies no more than about 15% of the entire winding width B WG of the cheese.", "In accordance with another feature of the present invention, the undesired high yarn tension in connection with crossing angles α that are less than 28° can be suppressed by reducing the bobbin contact pressure and yarn tension as the bobbin diameter increases.", "The bobbin contact pressure is known to be composed of the weight of the bobbin and the weight of the bobbin frame, as well as the force resulting from a torque provided, for example, by a torque sensor.", "The bobbin contact pressure can be reduced in such a way that not only is the bobbin weight compensated, but a relief beyond that occurs.", "If a yarn guide, for example, a belt yarn guide, already exists at a winding head for generating the traversing movement, and the yarn guide's speed can be controlled separately from the number of bobbin revolutions, the method of the present invention for producing a cylindrical cheese can be executed in a simple manner without any additional structural outlay, and without exchanging yarn guide elements or programming of the machine controls.", "The present invention permits the winding-up of even coarse yarns with relatively narrow crossing angles.", "For example, processing of cotton yarn of a metric count of 20 at a crossing angle α of 25° is still possible, along with good unwinding properties and large running lengths.", "Improved unwinding properties lead to the reduction of down times because of the fewer number of yarn breaks in the course of the further processing of the yarn bobbins.", "Since the running length of the wound package increases along with the reduction of the crossing angle, it is possible to wind approximately 15% to 25% more yarn on a cylindrical cheese in accordance with the present invention as compared with a conventional cylindrical cheese of the same bobbin diameter.", "This leads to a clear reduction in the number of cheeses of a batch.", "Not only are the down times for bobbin changes reduced at the spinning head as a result, but also the conveying outlay and the conveying volume for conveying the bobbins are reduced.", "It is possible to reduce the layout for handling the cheeses in the course of the subsequent yarn treatment processes.", "The present invention improves productivity, lowers costs, and increases efficiency of yarn production and yarn processing.", "Further details, features and advantages of the present invention will be explained in the following description of a preferred embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a simplified schematic side elevational view of a spinning head for executing the method in accordance with the present invention;", "FIG. 2 is a basic elevational representation of a cylindrical cheese in accordance with the present invention;", "and FIG. 3 is a graph representing the course of the crossing angle α over a traverse in the form of a curve.", "DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A winding device 1 at a spinning head of a rotor spinning frame producing cylindrical cheeses is represented in FIG. 1 .", "The winding device 1 has a roller 2 , which drives the cylindrical cheese 3 by means of friction.", "The roller 2 rotates in the direction of the arrow 4 .", "The cheese 3 is held in a pivotable creel 5 and rests on the roller 2 , which is charged with a contact pressure from the resting cheese 3 .", "The yarn 6 is pulled at a constant yarn speed from the spinning box 10 of the spinning head in the direction of the arrow 7 by means of a cooperating pair of unwinding rollers 8 , 9 , and is wound up as the wound package 12 of the cheese 3 by means of a back-and-forth traversing yarn guide 11 .", "The yarn guide 11 is a part of the traversing device 13 , which is connected by means of an operative connection 14 with the motor 15 and is driven by the latter.", "The roller 2 is driven via the shaft 16 by a motor 17 .", "The motor 15 , as well as the motor 17 , are controlled by a microprocessor 18 , wherein the crossing angle α of the yarn on the cylindrical cheese 3 can be controlled during the respective bobbin traverse as a function of the position of the yarn guide 11 .", "The cylindrical cheese 3 represented in FIG. 2 shows a yarn package 12 wound in accordance with the present invention on the bobbin core 19 .", "In the respective end zones 20 , 21 , the wound package 12 has a cross winding with a yarn crossing angle α R , and in the central zone 22 a cross winding with a yarn crossing angle α M .", "In the preferred embodiment of FIG. 2 , the crossing angle α R is 35°, and the crossing angle α M is 25°.", "The width of the zone 22 (i.e., lengthwise along the yarn package), as well as that of the end zones 20 , 21 , are each marked by a dashed line.", "The cylindrical wound package 12 is shown in a simplified basic representation, wherein the respective course of the wound yarn 6 is only partially indicated, but reflects the crossing angles α of different sizes.", "In the preferred embodiment, the width B WG of the cheese 3 from the left bobbin end edge 23 to the right bobbin end edge 24 is 150 mm.", "The width B WG corresponds to one traverse of the yarn guide 11 .", "Because of the inertial forces, which can become effective at the high speeds of the traversing movement even with the relatively low mass of the yarn 6 , in particular with coarse yarn, and which occur because of the back-and-forth movement of the yarn guide 11 , the change of a value of the crossing angle α to a different value takes place gradually rather than abruptly, as shown in the representation in FIG. 2 .", "Thus, the representation in FIG. 3 comes closer to the actual embodiment of the crossing angles α of the cheese 3 , or the course of the yarn on the surfaces, than the representation in FIG. 2 .", "FIG. 3 shows the course of the size of the crossing angle α, represented in the form of a curve 31 , over the winding width B WG of the cheese 3 , wherein the values represent the traverse of the yarn guide 11 in FIG. 2 from left to right (traverse of the yarn guide 11 during the forward portion of the back-and-forth movement).", "At the left reversing point of the yarn guide 11 , or at the left bobbin end edge 23 , the crossing angle α passes through the zero point, and in the left end zone 20 it reaches the value of α R =35°.", "From the crossing angle α R =35°, the value decreases after a transition area down to a crossing angle α M =25°.", "The value of crossing angle α M =25° is maintained constant in the central zone 22 .", "At the right side of the cheese 3 , the value of crossing angle α M =25° rises again to α R =35° in the right end zone 21 , and thereafter again passes through the zero point at the right reversing point of the yarn guide 11 , or at the right bobbin end edge 24 .", "The width of the central zone 22 , in which the crossing angle α has the value α M =25°, takes up the preponderant portion of the winding width B WG .", "The course of the crossing angle α in the course of the traverse of the yarn guide 11 in the return movement toward the left is indicated by dashed lines in FIG. 3 .", "The crossing angle α is set in a manner known per se, and therefore is not explained in detail herein.", "The crossing angle α is set by controlling the rotational speed of the cheese 3 and the speed of the traversing movement of the yarn guide 11 in the course of the traverse.", "The cylindrical cheese 3 , which has been produced with a crossing angle α of α R =35° in the end zones 20 , 21 , has stable bobbin edges 23 , 24 without an impermissibly high contact pressure being exerted.", "Consequently, bulges at the front face of the cheese 3 are prevented.", "The advantageously low crossing angle α of α M =25° in the central zone 22 located between the end zones 20 , 21 makes possible an increased running length with a stable wound package and with the same production diameter of the cheese 3 , for example 300 mm, which therefore contains 15% to 25% more yarn than conventional bobbins of the same diameter.", "The unwinding behavior of the cylindrical cheese 3 has been improved by reducing the yarn running noise and suppressing the formation of loops and yarn entanglements.", "The present invention is not limited to the embodiments represented.", "For example, the yarn guide can be alternatively embodied as a belt yarn guide or as a grooved roller.", "The crossing angle α of the cylindrical cheese of the present invention can advantageously assume alternative values in the range of 30° to 40° in the end zones 20 , 21 , and in the central zone 22 in the range of 15° to 28°.", "It will therefore be readily understood by those persons skilled in the art that the present invention is susceptible of broad utility and application.", "Many embodiments and adaptations of the present invention other than those herein described, as well as many variations, modifications and equivalent arrangements, will be apparent from or reasonably suggested by the present invention and the foregoing description thereof, without departing from the substance or scope of the present invention.", "Accordingly, while the present invention has been described herein in detail in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that this disclosure is only illustrative and exemplary of the present invention and is made merely for purposes of providing a full and enabling disclosure of the invention.", "The foregoing disclosure is not intended or to be construed to limit the present invention or otherwise to exclude any such other embodiments, adaptations, variations, modifications and equivalent arrangements, the present invention being limited only by the claims appended hereto and the equivalents thereof." ]

[ "TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] The disclosed inventive concept relates generally to vehicle seats and safety systems.", "More particularly, the disclosed inventive concept relates to a method and system for selectively and strategically moving seat foam or seat trim to expose anchors for child safety seat.", "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] Child Restraint Systems (CRS) are becoming increasingly used in a variety of markets including some where safety qualifications include anchor accessibility for such systems.", "Use of the CRS is becoming increasingly popular in automotive vehicles.", "Today, various state and federal rules and guidelines specify that children of certain ages should be seated in Child Restraint Systems (CRS) or in a booster seat.", "For example, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recommends that children from birth to three years old be positioned in a rear-facing car seat, while children between the ages of one year to seven years be seated in a forward-facing car seat.", "Booster seats are recommended for children between the ages of four and 12 years.", "Age variations for these recommendations are due to such factors as height and weight for the individual child.", "[0003] However, CRS anchors for vehicles are often not readily visible and/or accessible in some vehicles.", "While a child anchor identification symbol (such as a tag or button) is often included on the vehicle seatback to aid vehicle users in identifying the approximate anchor locations, accessibility is nonetheless often limited as the anchor may be located behind or under seat foam and trim that must be displaced to see and access the anchors for CRS installation or removal.", "[0004] Anchor conditions such as these increase difficulty of installation and removal based on limited visibility and hand clearance to an anchor sandwiched snugly between seat foam/trim and seat frame or vehicle structures.", "Disconnecting a CRS can be especially challenging when attempting to release a spring clip engagement from a child seat webbing strap hook without being able to see, or having finger access clearance to, the anchor for a child seat cinched tightly to the vehicle seat.", "[0005] Accordingly, a practical and cost-effective solution to the use of CRS anchors in today's motor vehicle remains wanting.", "SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0006] The disclosed inventive concept provides a solution to the need for concealing CRS anchors while simultaneously making them readily accessible to the consumer.", "The inventive concept disclosed herein provides the use of a seat back foam displacing assembly that includes a user-operable actuator, an interface attachment member, and an extension connecting the actuator and the interface attachment member.", "By moving the user-operable actuator, a portion of either or both of the seat base and the seat back may be displaced allowing visualization of and access to the CRS anchor.", "Such a system fully satisfies the need to provide easy access to the CRS anchor while fully and aesthetically concealing the anchor when not in use.", "[0007] Thus the disclosed inventive concept enhances the ease of installing a CRS into a vehicle, particularly in the rear row seats of the vehicle.", "The system of the disclosed inventive concept provides improved accessibility to lower child restraint anchors for parents without affecting seating comfort or anchor performance.", "This results in improved customer satisfaction and provides an improved, real-world usage condition beyond the details commonly provided in vehicle and CRS OEM instruction manuals.", "The disclosed inventive concept provides an alternative to systems that provide for manual operation or electronic signal-based, solenoid/axle/gear/shaft driven linear or rotationally operating mechanisms that move CRS anchors at the bight line of a vehicle seat.", "Such systems are meant to “present”", "the otherwise hidden anchors to provide enhanced customer accessibility and to simplify installation/removal of child seats and enhance “correctness”", "of installation.", "[0008] The concepts presented herein avoid complexity associated with multi-position anchors and bypass the need for multi-position anchor misuse design prevention for non-road use or out-of-zone anchor positions.", "The overall goal of the disclosed inventive concept is to change the current approach of “presenting”", "CRS anchors by moving them to an accessible position to displacing either or both of a portion of the seat back and the seat base to reveal the CRS anchor.", "[0009] This approach avoids changing vehicle seat structure and anchor design or load paths.", "By avoiding the need to move the CRS anchor to a position of accessibility, the need for complex mechanisms such as sensors, interlocks, positional control features, gears, axles, motors, drive shafts, solenoids and the like are rendered unnecessary.", "In addition, there is no need to consider package specific zone limitations for multi-position anchors.", "[0010] According to the disclosed inventive concept, no seat or body structural changes are required.", "There is no need for motors, solenoids, or added structure and there is no need to revisit the anchor load carrying capability or the vehicle specific content/package limitations.", "Furthermore, there is no need to incorporate sensors, to maintain tight functional tolerances, or to ensure the same level of robustness relative to production build variation.", "The package space required for the disclosed inventive is minimal, the cost is low and the approach is relatively simple.", "The result is enhanced accessibility and customer satisfaction while improving accuracy of consumer installations.", "[0011] The above advantages and other advantages and features will be readily apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0012] For a more complete understanding of this invention, reference should now be made to the embodiments illustrated in greater detail in the accompanying drawings and described below by way of examples of the invention wherein: [0013] FIG. 1 is a top view of a portion of a vehicle seat having CRS anchors that are hidden by the vehicle seat back according to current technology;", "[0014] FIG. 2 is the view of FIG. 1 but showing the hand of an operator physically manipulating the vehicle seat back to access the CRS anchor according to current technology;", "[0015] FIG. 3 is a sectional side view of a vehicle seat illustrating the arrangement for drawing in portions of the seat back and the seat base to reveal the CRS anchor, the arrangement including two levers according to a first embodiment of the disclosed inventive concept, the levers shown in their resting positions;", "[0016] FIG. 4 is a view similar to that of FIG. 3 but illustrating the two levers moved to their operating positions whereby portions of the seat back and the seat base are drawn in to reveal the CRS anchor;", "[0017] FIG. 5 is a sectional side view of a vehicle seat illustrating the arrangement for drawing in a portion of the seat back to reveal the CRS anchor, the arrangement including a single levers according to a second embodiment of the disclosed inventive concept, the lever shown in its resting position;", "[0018] FIG. 6 is a view similar to that of FIG. 5 but illustrating the lever moved to its operating position whereby a portion of the seat back is drawn in to reveal the CRS anchor;", "[0019] FIG. 7 is a sectional side view of a vehicle seat illustrating the arrangement for drawing a portion of the vehicle seat back illustrating a tether strap an associated tether strap locking mechanism in its resting position according to a third embodiment of the disclosed inventive concept;", "[0020] FIG. 8 is a view similar to that of FIG. 7 but illustrating the tether strap moved to and locked in its operating position whereby a portion of the seat back is drawn in to reveal the CRS anchor;", "[0021] FIG. 9 is a rear view of the seat back of the seat of FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrating the tether strap for drawing in a portion of the seat back to allow access to the CRS anchor;", "[0022] FIG. 10 is a view of a portion of the rear of the vehicle seat back illustrating the tether strap of FIGS. 7 and 8 having an alternative locking mechanism;", "[0023] FIG. 11 is a view similar to that of FIG. 10 but illustrating the pull strap actuator moved to its operating position whereby a portion of the seat back is drawn in to reveal the CRS anchor;", "[0024] FIG. 12 is a sectional side view of a vehicle seat illustrating the arrangement for drawing in a portion of the seat back to reveal the CRS anchor, the arrangement including a lever linked to a pivotable member attached to the lower portion of the front of the seat back shown in its resting position according to a fourth embodiment of the disclosed inventive concept;", "and [0025] FIG. 13 is a view similar to that of FIG. 12 but illustrating the lever moved to its operating position whereby a portion of the seat back is drawn in to reveal the CRS anchor.", "DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT [0026] In the following figures, the same reference numerals will be used to refer to the same components.", "In the following description, various operating parameters and components are described for different constructed embodiments.", "These specific parameters and components are included as examples and are not meant to be limiting.", "[0027] FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate an example of known vehicle seat technology having CRS anchors that are hidden by the seat back.", "The illustrated seat anchor or package, generally illustrated as 10 , is typical of known arrangements.", "The seat anchor or package 10 includes a seat back 12 and a seat base 14 .", "The seat back 12 and the seat base 14 may be joined by a hinge 16 or may be anchored to the vehicle by known methods.", "[0028] Typical of the known seat anchor or package 10 , a CRS anchor 18 is purposefully hidden from view as shown in FIG. 1 .", "Access to the CRS anchor 18 is accomplished by physical movement of a portion of the seat back 12 so that it is out of the way of the CRS anchor 18 as illustrated in FIG. 2 .", "This figure illustrates the inconvenience involved with the need for the user to physically displace a portion of the seat back 12 in order to gain access to the CRS anchor 18 .", "Known designs present a challenge in attaching the CRS clip (not shown) to the CRS anchor 18 and an even greater challenge in removing the CRS clip because displacement of the portion of the seat back 12 needed to allow access to the CRS anchor 18 is made even more difficult by the presence of the CRS on the vehicle seat.", "[0029] The disclosed inventive concept provides a general solution to the problem encountered by the user of today's vehicle seat when trying to attach a CRS to the CRS anchor.", "The general solution is presented herein in four embodiments of the disclosed inventive concept.", "Particularly, FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate a first embodiment, FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate a second embodiment, FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 illustrate a third embodiment, FIGS. 10 and 11 relate to the embodiment of FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 by illustrating a locking mechanism for locking a tether strap, and FIGS. 12 and 13 illustrate a fourth embodiment.", "It is to be understood that these embodiments of the disclosed inventive concept are not intended as being limiting as it is to be understood that variations of these embodiments are envisioned.", "[0030] A common characteristic of the four embodiments of the disclosed inventive concept is the interfacing attachment member that is provided to mechanically displace a portion of the seat back (or the seat base) to allow easy access to the CRS anchor.", "The interfacing attachment member may consist of something as simple as a stitching sewn into the trim cover, or a plastic, cloth or alternative material sewn or otherwise inserted, embedded or attached to one of the trim cover (presumably a B-surface so not to be cosmetically visible to the user), the seat cushion or seat back foam beneath the trim cover, or both of a trim cover and the foam covered thereby, in combination.", "[0031] Additional common characteristics of the four embodiments of the disclosed inventive concept include the tension extension member, the actuator, and the optional tension member guide.", "The tension extension member may be, for example, one or more of a strap, a cable, a string, a wire, or a tether.", "The actuator may be, for example, any one or more of a lever, a handle, or a strap.", "The optional tension member guide may be, for example, any one or more of a guide sleeve, a pulley, a channel, or a slot.", "The optional tension member guide may include a smooth surface or may have a friction- and wear-reducing surface.", "The optional tension member guide may be either an existing surface on the seat frame or seat structure or may be a purpose-specific attachment.", "[0032] Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4 , a sectional view of a seat according to the first embodiment of the disclosed inventive concept, generally illustrated as 20 , is shown.", "The seat 20 includes a seat back 22 and a seat base 24 .", "The seat 20 may be of any of a variety of seats and may include an external skeleton upon which the molded foam rests in or against, an external surface such as the sheet metal second row seat in a sedan (below the package tray, for example), and an internal wireframe skeleton over which the foam is molded.", "[0033] According to the illustrated seat 20 , the non-limiting arrangement for the seat back 22 is an internal seat back frame 26 and an external seat back frame 28 .", "The seat back 22 further includes a seat back foam 30 and seat back trim 32 .", "The non-limiting arrangement for the seat base 24 is an internal seat base frame 34 and an external seat base frame 36 .", "The seat base 24 further includes a seat base foam 38 and a seat base trim 40 .", "[0034] The seat 20 of the first embodiment of the disclosed inventive concept illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 includes a seat back foam displacing assembly 42 and a seat base foam displacing assembly 44 .", "A CRS anchor 46 is fitted approximately between the seat back 22 and the seat base 24 .", "[0035] The seat back foam displacing assembly 42 includes an actuator 48 in the form of a lever that is pivotably attached to the seat back 22 by an actuator pivot 50 .", "The actuator lever 48 is attached to a seat back interfacing attachment member 56 by a seat back extension member 58 .", "[0036] The seat base foam displacing assembly 44 includes an actuator 60 in the form of a lever that is pivotably attached to the seat base 24 by an actuator pivot 62 .", "The actuator lever 60 is attached to a seat base interfacing attachment member 64 by a seat base extension member 66 .", "The seat base attachment member 66 is guided by a pair of spaced apart tension member guides 68 and 68 ′.", "[0037] When in its non-displaced state as illustrated in FIG. 3 , the CRS anchor 46 is hidden from view by portions of both the seat back 22 and the seat base 24 .", "To gain access to the CRS anchor 46 , portions of both the seat back 22 and the seat base 24 are displaced so that the CRS anchor 46 becomes visible as illustrated in FIG. 4 .", "[0038] To displace portions of the seat back 22 and the seat base 24 , the operator manipulates one or the other or both of the actuator lever 48 or the actuator lever 60 from their resting, non-displacing positions shown in FIG. 3 to their active, displacing positions shown in FIG. 4 .", "If the user chooses to operate the seat back foam displacing assembly 42 , the actuator lever 48 is rotated from the position illustrated in FIG. 3 to the position illustrated in FIG. 4 .", "Movement of the actuator lever 48 causes the seat back extension member 58 to act on the seat back interfacing attachment member 56 , thus displacing a portion of the seat back 22 so that it is moved out of the line of sight of the user.", "[0039] If the user chooses to operate the seat base foam displacing assembly 44 , the actuator lever 60 is rotated from the position illustrated in FIG. 3 to the position illustrated in FIG. 4 .", "Movement of the actuator lever 60 causes the seat base extension member 66 to act on the seat base interfacing attachment member 64 , thus displacing a portion of the seat base 24 so that it is moved out of the line of sight of the user.", "[0040] It should be noted that, with respect to the first embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 , it is not necessary that both of the seat back foam displacing assembly 42 and the seat base foam displacing assembly 44 be provided in the same vehicle or even in all of the seats within a single vehicle.", "It should also be noted that, while actuator lever 48 and actuator lever 60 are shown as pivotable handles, other hand-operable devices may be used instead.", "[0041] Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6 , a sectional view of a seat according to the second embodiment of the disclosed inventive concept , generally illustrated as 70 , is shown.", "The seat 70 includes a seat back 72 and a seat base 74 .", "The seat 70 may be of any of a variety of seats and may include an external skeleton upon which the molded foam rests in or against, an external surface such as the sheet metal second row seat in a sedan (below the package tray, for example), and an internal wireframe skeleton over which the foam is molded.", "[0042] According to the illustrated seat 70 , the non-limiting arrangement for the seat back 72 is an internal seat back frame 76 and an external seat back frame 78 .", "The seat back 72 further includes a seat back foam 80 and seat back trim 82 .", "The non-limiting arrangement for the seat base 74 is an internal seat base frame 84 and an external seat base frame 86 .", "The seat base 74 further includes a seat base foam 88 and a seat base trim 90 .", "[0043] The seat 70 of the second embodiment of the disclosed inventive concept illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6 includes a seat back foam displacing assembly 92 .", "A CRS anchor 94 is fitted approximately between the seat back 72 and the seat base 74 .", "[0044] The seat back foam displacing assembly 92 includes an actuator 95 in the form of a lever that is pivotably attached to the seat back 72 by an actuator pivot 96 .", "The actuator lever 95 is attached to a seat back interfacing attachment member 98 by a seat back extension member 100 .", "A tension member guide 102 is preferably though not absolutely provided against which the seat back extension member 100 travels.", "[0045] When in its non-displaced state as illustrated in FIG. 5 , the CRS anchor 94 is hidden from view by portions of both the seat back 72 and the seat base 74 .", "To gain access to the CRS anchor 94 , a portion of the seat back 72 is displaced so that the CRS anchor 94 becomes visible as illustrated in FIG. 6 .", "[0046] To displace the portion of the seat back 72 , the operator manipulates the actuator lever 95 from its resting, non-displacing position shown in FIG. 5 to its active, displacing position shown in FIG. 6 .", "Particularly, to allow access to the CRS anchor 94 , the user rotates the actuator lever 95 from the position illustrated in FIG. 5 to the position illustrated in FIG. 6 .", "Movement of the actuator lever 95 causes the seat back extension member 100 to act on the seat back interfacing attachment member 98 , thus displacing a portion of the seat back 72 so that it is moved out of the line of sight of the user.", "[0047] Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8 , a sectional view of a seat according to the third embodiment of the disclosed inventive concept , generally illustrated as 110 , is shown.", "FIG. 9 is a view of the back of the seat 110 of FIGS. 7 and 8 .", "The seat 110 includes a seat back 112 and a seat base 114 .", "As noted above with respect to the first two embodiments of the disclosed inventive concept, the seat 110 may be of any of a variety of seats and may include an external skeleton upon which the molded foam rests in or against, an external surface such as the sheet metal second row seat in a sedan (below the package tray, for example), and an internal wireframe skeleton over which the foam is molded.", "[0048] According to the illustrated seat 110 , the non-limiting arrangement for the seat back 112 is an internal seat back frame 116 and an external seat back frame 118 .", "The seat back 112 further includes a seat back foam 120 and seat back trim 122 .", "The non-limiting arrangement for the seat base 114 is an internal seat base frame 124 and an external seat base frame 126 .", "The seat base 114 further includes a seat base foam 128 and a seat base trim 130 .", "[0049] The seat 110 of the second embodiment of the disclosed inventive concept illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8 includes a seat back foam displacing assembly 132 .", "A CRS anchor 134 is fitted approximately between the seat back 112 and the seat base 114 .", "[0050] The seat back foam displacing assembly 132 includes a tether strap adjuster 136 as opposed to the actuator levers of the previous two embodiments.", "The tether strap adjuster 136 includes a spring-loaded, pivoting v-shaped catch 137 and a tether locking plate 138 .", "The tether strap adjuster 136 selectively locks and holds a tether strap 139 by providing to the tether strap 139 by capturing a portion of the tether strap 139 between the pivoting v-shaped catch 137 and the tether locking plate 138 .", "The tether strap adjuster 136 is preferably mounted to the external seat base frame 126 , although attachment locations are possible.", "[0051] A seat back displacing assembly 140 is provided in the lower forward portion of the seat back 120 .", "The tether strap 139 is connected to the seat back displacing assembly 140 .", "A tether strap guide 142 is provided that is preferably a pre-existing member of seat back 120 .", "[0052] When in its non-displaced state as illustrated in FIG. 7 , the CRS anchor 134 is hidden from view by portions of both the seat back 112 and the seat base 114 .", "To gain access to the CRS anchor 134 , a portion of the seat back 112 is displaced so that the CRS anchor 134 becomes visible as illustrated in FIG. 8 .", "[0053] To displace the portion of the seat back 112 , the operator manipulates the tether strap adjuster 136 from its resting, non-displacing position shown in FIG. 7 to its active, displacing position shown in FIG. 8 .", "Particularly, to allow access to the CRS anchor 134 , the user pulls up on the tether strap 139 thus moving the seat back displacing assembly 140 from the position illustrated in FIG. 7 to the position illustrated in FIG. 8 , thus displacing a portion of the seat back 112 so that it is moved out of the line of sight of the user and the CRS anchor 134 is revealed.", "To release the tension of the tether strap adjuster 136 , the user pushes pivoting v-shaped catch 137 moving it away from the tether locking plate 138 and releasing tension on the tether strap 139 .", "[0054] While FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 illustrate the tether strap adjuster 136 as the mechanism for selectively locking and tether strap 139 , other approaches to locking and holding the tether strap 139 are possible, as illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11 .", "[0055] Referring to FIGS. 10 and 11 , a portion of a seat, generally illustrated as 170 , is shown.", "The seat 170 includes a seat back 172 .", "A tether strap 184 is shown passing through the seat back 172 .", "The tether strap 184 is connected at one end to a seat back drawing in assembly as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 and as described in conjunction therewith.", "It is to be understood that while the tether strap 184 is illustrated as being associated with the seat back 172 it can alternatively or additionally be associated with the seat base (not shown).", "[0056] A tether strap moving and locking assembly 176 is associated with the seat back 172 (or seat base as the case may be) to move and selectively hold or release the tether strap 184 .", "It is to be understood that the tether strap moving and locking assembly 176 as shown is for illustrative purposes only and that the lock may be smaller than that illustrated relative to the seat 170 .", "[0057] The tether strap moving and locking assembly 176 includes a movable handle 178 that is pivotably attached to an assembly base 180 .", "The assembly base 180 is fixed to the seat back 172 .", "An assembly clamp 182 is attached to the tether strap 184 and is operatively associated with the movable handle 178 and the assembly base 180 .", "[0058] In FIG. 10 , the resting position of the tether strap moving and locking assembly 176 is illustrated.", "In this position, the tether strap 184 remains drawn into the seat back 172 and the seat back displacing assembly (not shown) is in its non-displaced position.", "In the event that access to the CRS anchor is desired, the operator moves the movable handle 178 to withdraw a portion of the tether strap 184 from the seat back 172 as illustrated in FIG. 11 .", "Thus withdrawn, the seat back displacing assembly is displaced, exposing the CRS anchor as discussed above.", "Movement of the movable handle 178 to the displaced position shown in FIG. 11 also results in the locking of the tether strap moving and locking assembly 176 in its displaced position.", "Release of the tether strap 174 to allow the seat back displacing assembly to return to its non-displaced position is accomplished by moving the movable handle 178 back toward the seat back 172 .", "[0059] Referring to FIGS. 12 and 13 , a sectional view of a seat according to the fourth embodiment of the disclosed inventive concept , generally illustrated as 190 , is shown.", "The seat 190 includes a seat back 192 and a seat base 194 .", "The seat 190 may be of any of a variety of seats and may include an external skeleton upon which the molded foam rests in or against, an external surface such as the sheet metal second row seat in a sedan, and an internal wireframe skeleton over which the foam is molded.", "[0060] According to the illustrated seat 190 , the non-limiting arrangement for the seat back 192 is an internal seat back frame 196 and an external seat back frame 198 .", "The seat back 192 further includes a seat back foam 200 and seat back trim 202 .", "The non-limiting arrangement for the seat base 194 is an internal seat base frame 204 and an external seat base frame 206 .", "The seat base 194 further includes a seat base foam 208 and a seat base trim 210 .", "[0061] The seat 190 of the fourth embodiment of the disclosed inventive concept illustrated in FIGS. 12 and 13 includes a seat back foam displacing assembly 212 .", "A CRS anchor 214 is fitted approximately between the seat back 192 and the seat base 194 .", "[0062] The seat back foam displacing assembly 212 includes an actuator 216 that may be composed of a variety of materials that include, for example, a bonded or molded covering on pressboard, plastic or other lightweight semi-rigid material.", "The actuator 216 is pivotably attached to the seat back 192 by a pivot 218 .", "A seat back interfacing attachment member 220 is provided in operative association with the actuator 216 .", "The seat back interfacing attachment member 220 is pivotably attached to the seat back 192 by a pivot 222 .", "A rigid tension extension member or linkage 224 connects the actuator 216 and the seat back interfacing attachment member 220 .", "[0063] When in its non-displaced state as illustrated in FIG. 12 , the CRS anchor 214 is hidden from view by portions of both the seat back 192 and the seat base 194 .", "To gain access to the CRS anchor 214 , a portion of the seat back 192 is displaced so that the CRS anchor 214 becomes visible as illustrated in FIG. 13 .", "[0064] To displace the portion of the seat back 192 to thereby render the CRS anchor 214 visible to the user, the operator manipulates the actuator 216 from its resting, non-displacing position shown in FIG. 12 to its active, displacing position shown in FIG. 13 .", "Particularly, to allow access to the CRS anchor 214 , the user rotates the actuator 216 from the position illustrated in FIG. 12 to the position illustrated in FIG. 13 .", "Movement of the actuator 216 causes the linkage 224 to act on the seat back interfacing attachment member 220 , thus displacing a portion of the seat back 192 so that it is moved out of the line of sight of the user and allows attachment of the CRS clip to the CRS anchor 214 .", "[0065] The system for revealing a CRS anchor according to various embodiments of the disclosed inventive concept may be employed in any vehicle seat conventionally fitted with a CRS anchor.", "While specific locations of the CRS anchor have been illustrated in the figures and described in relation thereto, it is to be understood that the CRS anchors may be provided in locations other than those shown and described.", "The illustrated and described system of revealing a CRS anchor according to the disclosed inventive concept would find application regardless of the location of the CRS anchors.", "Additional And Alternative Concepts [0066] The lower portion of the seatback, foam or rear portion of seat cushion foam could pivot slightly about an axis to reveal the anchors compared with compressing foam as set forth above whereby trim is drawn in without moving the seat structure at all.", "These concepts need not be limited to lower CRS anchors but might be adapted to upper CRS tether anchors if desirable for certain package configurations.", "In addition, the disclosed inventive concept could be applied to a either seat cushion or lower seatback at the bight-line, or both.", "A single user action (presumably through cable-like attachment) could simultaneously reveal the anchors by compressing both lower seatback foam and cushion foam through one actuator.", "It is initially assumed the largest benefit would be achieved through minimally exposing anchors from a top viewpoint.", "Also it is possible to provide for clearance openings, recesses or pockets and the like for placement of the actuator and customer hand clearance to access to the actuator in the seatback, on the package tray or the like.", "Graphics may also be added to enhance ease of customer operation.", "Decorative covers as well as customer interfacing features for cosmetic and ergonomic purposes may also be added.", "[0067] One skilled in the art will readily recognize from such discussion, and from the accompanying drawings and claims that various changes, modifications and variations can be made therein without departing from the true spirit and fair scope of the invention as defined by the following claims." ]

[ "CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is the National Stage of PCT/DE2011/001576 filed on Aug. 11, 2011, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference.", "The international application under PCT article 21(2) was not published in English.", "The invention relates to a measured value transmitting device for serial data transmission between a slave and a master in accordance with the SSI method (Synchronous Serial Interface), in which a measured value detected by a sensor is conditioned by a slave associated with the sensor and is converted into a serial data stream and is transmitted to a master which processes the detected measured values.", "Such a measured value transmitting device, which is known as a result of its operating method as a “Synchronous Serial Interface (SSI)”, has been described in the published application EP 171 579 A1.", "The measured value transmitting device contains a master and at least one slave.", "The slaves are associated with the sensors, wherein several sensors may optionally be associated with a slave.", "The measured values detected by a sensor are provided by the sensor already in digital form as data bits.", "The data bits are continuously loaded in the slave into a shifting register within the scope of parallel operation.", "The shifting register can store the data bits of the measured value in parallel operation and subsequently provide said data bits in serial operation for serial data transmission.", "During parallel operation, numerous measured values can be saved by the sensor to the shifting register depending on the delivery rate of the measured values or data bits, and can be replaced again by updated, newly detected measured value without a measured value being stored and serially transmitted to the master.", "The master, in which the processing and the evaluation of the data bits representative of the measured values occurs, requests the data bits of a measured value within the scope of a clock burst from a selected slave.", "The clock burst comprises a fixed number of clock cycles.", "The number of the clock cycles is known both to the slave and also to the master.", "The first predetermined clock edge recognized by the slave, e.g. the first falling clock edge, triggers a monostable flip-flop, whose output signal will switch the shifting register from parallel operation to serial operation.", "The parallel applied data bits of a measured value, which are representative of the detected measured value at this point in time, are stored in the shifting register simultaneously with the first clock edge and provided for serial data transmission.", "A data bit of the measured value is transmitted from the slave to the master with each further predetermined clock edge, e.g. each falling clock edge.", "Furthermore, each failing clock edge (re-)triggers the monostable flip-flop.", "The number of the clock cycles is precisely adjusted to the number of the data bits to be transmitted.", "For a number n of data bits to be transmitted, n+1 clock cycles are output by the master within a clock burst.", "After the transmission of the last data bit of the measured value, the output signal of the monostable flip-flop ensures up until the expiration of the time predetermined by the re-triggerable monostable flip-flop that the data line is held at a predetermined data signal level, such that the shifting register still remains in serial operation for the monoflop time.", "A waiting period is thus defined.", "The master recognizes the data signal level held by the slave during the waiting period and makes the respective slave transmit the data bits of a new measured value only after the expiration of the waiting period.", "The published application DE 101 13 716 A1 describes serial communication with a start/stop interface, which connects a position or velocity sensor associated with a slave to a master.", "The published application EP 1 294 119 A1 describes an interface for serial transmission of measured values, in which check bits are appended to the data bits, which check bits are obtained from a cyclic redundancy check.", "The known method is also known as a “Cyclic Redundancy Check”", "(CRC method).", "The CRC method concerns a procedure in which the serial data bits provided by a data source are regarded as a polynomial and are divided by a predetermined generator polynomial in order to transmit the obtained remainder of the division to the data receiver as check bits appended to the data bits.", "The same division is performed in the receiver by the generator polynomial with all received bits, i.e. the data bits and the check bits.", "The value zero without remainder must be obtained in the division by including the transmitted check bits in the division.", "The bits were transmitted correctly only in this case.", "The CRC method is described in detail for example under the internet address http://en.", "wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyclic redundancy check.", "The invention is based on the object of providing measured value transmitting devices with serial data transmission between a slave and a master according to the SSI method which offer high data security.", "This object is respectively achieved by the features stated in the ancillary independent claims.", "DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION The measured value data transmitting device according to a first embodiment relates to serial data transmission according to the SSI method, in which at least one slave is provided which provides the data bits of a measured value detected by at least one sensor for the purpose of serial bit-by-bit transmission to a master on at least one data line, and in which the master requests a measured value from the slave by means of a clock burst which is provided on at least one clock line and which comprises several clock cycles, the number of which matches the number of the data bits to be transmitted.", "The measured value transmitting device in accordance with the invention is characterized in that the clock cycles of the clock burst have a specified duty cycle which corresponds to the ratio of pulse duration to the period duration of one clock cycle, and the master contains a comparator, and said master reads back the clock bursts outputted on the at least one clock line and checks the duty cycle in the comparator to determine whether said cycle exceeds an upper threshold and/or falls below a lower threshold.", "The measured value data transmitting device according to the invention increases security of data transmission by recognizing errors of the clock signal issued by the master.", "Interference pulses which are superimposed on the clock signal can lead to consequence in the slave that a clock cycle or even several clock cycles too many are detected.", "Interference pulses, which must be expected especially in industrial production, can be caused for example by electromagnetic influences on the clock lines, which originate from high currents and changes in the current.", "A wrong number of clock cycles within a clock burst would lead to an erroneous transmission of measured values.", "Such errors in the transmission of measured values are prevented by the measures in accordance with the invention.", "The master, which determines the clock signal itself, also checks the clock signal that it has just provided for adhering to the predetermined duty cycle, which is defined as the ratio of pulse duration to the period duration of one clock cycle.", "In this case, either a low level or a high level can be designated as the pulse duration.", "A low-level will be regarded below as the active signal level, so that the pulse duration shall correspond to the duration of the low-level.", "Another measured value transmitting device in accordance with the invention is also based on serial data transmission according to the SSI method, in which at least one slave is provided which provides the data bits of at least one measured value detected by a sensor for bit-by-bit serial transmission on at least one data line to a master, and in which the master requests a measured value from the slave by means of a clock burst which is provided on at least one clock line and which comprises several clock cycles, the number of which is adjusted to the number of the data bits to be transmitted.", "This measured value transmitting device is again characterized in that the clock cycles of the clock burst have a predetermined duty cycle, which corresponds to the ratio of pulse duration to period duration of one clock cycle, wherein the slave contains a comparator however in which the slave checks the duty cycle to determine whether said cycle exceeds an upper threshold and/or falls below a lower threshold.", "The checking of the duty cycle for the adherence to at least one predetermined threshold also increases the security of measured value transmission by recognizing errors in clock cycles of a clock burst of the at least one clock signal.", "Preferably, both measures in accordance with the invention are combined, so that both the comparator in the master and also the comparator in the slave are provided for checking the duty cycle.", "This increases the security especially in the case of measured value transmitting devices in which the master and the slaves are separated far from each other spatially and relatively long clock lines are required accordingly.", "One relevant advantage of the measured value transmitting device in accordance with the invention is that the initially described established SSI method can be maintained, so that only few changes are necessary in the known hardware.", "A magnetostrictive position or velocity sensor is provided as a sensor of the measured value transmitting device in accordance with the invention, which sensor is described for example in closer detail in the specification DE 10 2004 025 388 B4 that originates from the applicant.", "Advantageous embodiments and further developments of the measured value transmitting device in accordance with the invention are the subject matter of the dependent claims.", "Embodiments of the invention are shown in the drawing and will be explained below in closer detail by reference to the description.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of a measured value transmitting device in accordance with the invention with a master and a slave;", "FIG. 2 shows the principal signal transmission between a master and a slave;", "FIG. 3 shows the signal exchange shown in FIG. 2 in greater detail;", "FIGS. 4 a to 4 c show a signal exchange between a master and a slave, in which a duty cycle of a clock cycle of a clock burst is disturbed;", "FIG. 5 shows a block diagram of another measured value transmitting device in accordance with the invention with a master and a slave, and FIGS. 6 a to 6 d show a signal exchange between a master and a slave according to FIG. 5 , in which a duty cycle of a clock cycle of a clock burst is disturbed on one of two clock lines.", "DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 shows a measured value transmitting device 10 , which contains a master MA and at least one slave SL.", "A measured value 14 which is detected by a sensor 12 is provided by the sensor 12 either in analog form or already digitized.", "In the event of a provision of the measured value 14 as an analog signal, an analog-to-digital converter 16 is provided, which is either arranged in the sensor 12 or in the slave SL.", "The measured value 14 is stored in a data provision arrangement 18 and is made available for later data transmission.", "The measured value transmission is controlled by the master MA by means of a clock signal CLK.", "At first, the master MA requests the data bits DB of a measured value 14 provided by the slave SL by means of the clock signal CLK.", "The clock signal CLK is shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 in greater detail.", "For the purpose of a data request, the master MA sends the respective slave SL a clock burst 20 within the scope of the clock signal CLK, which comprises a predetermined number of clock cycles ZCLK with a specific clock period duration TCLK.", "The number of the clock cycles ZCLK is known to the slave SL.", "The duty cycle TLow/TCLK within a clock period duration TCLK, which indicates for example the duration TLow of the L level relating to the clock period duration TCLK, is fixedly predetermined and fixed at 50% for example.", "FIG. 2 shows an interval of the clock signal CLK, which contains two clock bursts 20 , whereas FIG. 3 shows the signals in detail which occur during a clock burst 20 .", "In FIG. 2 , the predetermined number of clock cycles ZCLK of a clock burst 20 can only be shown in a tightly packed way due to the large number of clock cycles ZCLK during a clock burst 20 .", "A magnetorestrictive position sensor or velocity sensor is provided as the sensor 12 , which has already been described for example in the aforementioned patent specification DE 10 2004 025 388 B4, to which reference is made here.", "Such a sensor 12 can provide a high-resolution measured value 14 with a data bit width of 16 bits to 48 bits for example.", "The measured value 14 can be representative of a position or also a velocity which can be determined from the position.", "The number of the data bits DB is designated below with n. In the underlying synchronous serial data transmission, n+1 clock cycles ZCLK are assumed for the transmission of n data bits DB.", "The clock signal CLK is at the high-level H for example in the idle state.", "The transmission of the data signal DAT occurs during the clock bursts 20 , wherein the data bits DB are transmitted serially bit-by-bit from the slave SL to the master MA within the scope of the data signal DAT.", "In this case too, the high-level H of the data signal DAT in the idle state is also assumed for example.", "The first dropping edge of the clock signal CLK at the beginning of a clock burst 20 ensures that the data provision arrangement 18 stores the measured value 14 which is currently provided by the sensor 12 and is optionally digitized in the analog-to-digital converter 16 , and said data provision arrangement keeps the measured value ready for the subsequent measured value transmission.", "A timer 22 is provided for controlling the data provision arrangement 18 , which timer is triggered with the first dropping edge of the dock signal CLK.", "The occurrence of the switching signal 24 of the timer 22 triggers the data provision arrangement 18 for accepting in parallel the digitally provided measured value 14 and for storing the data bits DB of the measured value 14 .", "The provision rate of the individual measured values 14 by the sensor 12 can deviate substantially from the signal processing in the slave SL.", "The rate can either be slower or faster than the clock period duration TCLK.", "It is only relevant that the currently available measured value 14 is stored with a clock edge, e.g. the first dropping clock edge, in the data provision arrangement 18 .", "The data provision arrangement 18 provides the first data bit DB with the first rising clock edge of the clock signal CLK.", "This preferably concerns the most significant bit (Most Significant Bit—MSB).", "The next data bit DB is provided with each further rising clock edge.", "The least significant bit (Least Significant Bit—LSB) is provided with the last but one rising clock edge of the clock cycle n+1 and transmitted to the master.", "A waiting signal Tm_W is provided with the last clock edge of the clock burst 20 , during which the data signal DAT assumes a predetermined level.", "This is the low-level in the illustrated embodiment.", "The master MA recognizes a blocked state of the slave SL on the basis of the waiting time Tm_W and waits accordingly before sending out the next clock burst 20 .", "The waiting time Tm_W can therefore also be referred to as blocking time.", "The waiting time Tm_W signalizes the master MA that the slave SL is not yet ready for a further transmission of the data bit DB of a new measured value 14 .", "The brief blocking of the measured value transmission ensures that the data bits DB of a defined measured value 14 can be stored in the slave SL at the beginning of a clock burst 20 .", "The master MA requests the data bits DB of a new measured value 14 by means of a new clock burst 20 at the earliest after the expiration of the waiting time Tm_W.", "The time from clock burst to clock burst 20 is entered in FIG. 2 as the query time TA.", "If a periodic or quasi-periodic data transmission is triggered by the master MA, the query time TA can also be designated as clock burst period duration.", "The master MA requests the transmission of the data bits DB of a new measured value 14 from the slave SL by outputting the next clock burst 20 .", "Based on the operating mode, the data transmission in the measured value transmitting device 10 is known as synchronous serial data transmission or as “Synchronous Serial Interface (SSI)”, which is established, so that all masters MA and slaves SL which use the SSI method can be connected.", "The clock signal CLK, which is transmitted on a clock line 26 from the master MA to the slave SL, is highly important for proper data transmission on the basis of the functional principle.", "If the number n of the clock cycles ZCLK expected in the slave does not occur or if more than expected clock cycles ZCLK are recognized, the data signal DAT transmitted on a data line 28 will not be interpreted correctly in the master MA and there is an erroneous measured value transmission.", "It is provided according to a first embodiment of the invention that the clock signal CLK generated by a clock generator 30 in the master MA is read back and evaluated by the master MA itself.", "The readback means that the master MA reads in the clock signal CLK again, which was generated by its clock generator 30 and provided on the clock line 26 , via a return feed line 31 from the clock line 26 and evaluates said signal itself.", "The clock signal CLK is supplied via a return feed line 31 to a first comparator 32 arranged in the master MA.", "The first comparator 32 evaluates the duty cycle TLow/TCLK by comparison with an upper and/or lower threshold value 34 , 36 .", "The at least one threshold value 34 , 36 is determined for example in such a way that any exceeding of the duty cycle TLow/TCLK of 10% for example and a respective falling below said value lead to a first error signal F 1 , which is provided for example to a clock repetition arrangement 38 and a data signal release 40 .", "FIG. 4 a assumes a correct duty cycle TLow/TCLK.", "FIG. 4 b shows an erroneous duty cycle TLowf1/TCLK, in which the pulse duration TLowf1 is erroneously too short and therefore falls beneath the lower threshold value 36 , whereas FIG. 4 c shows the case of a pulse duration TLowf2 which is too Long and which exceeds the upper threshold value 34 .", "The first error signal F 1 triggers the clock repetition arrangement 38 for example for renewed output of the clock burst 20 which is affected by the error.", "The first error signal F 1 preferably simultaneously acts as a blocking signal, which blocks the data signal release 40 in the respect that the data signal DAT received within the clock burst 20 and recognized as erroneous will be rejected or the output of the received data bits DB is blocked.", "The readback of the own clock signal CLK and the comparison of the duty cycle TLow/TCLK of the clock cycles ZCLK of the readback clock burst 20 in the comparator 32 with the upper and/or lower threshold value 34 , 36 leads to high security in the measured value transmission.", "It is provided according to a second embodiment of the invention that a second comparator 42 is provided in the slave SL, which comparator also compares the duty cycle TLow/TCLK of the clock cycles ZCLK of the clock burst 20 of the clock signal CLK with an upper and/or lower threshold value 44 , 46 .", "The at least one threshold value 44 , 46 can be identical to the threshold value 34 , 36 provided in the master MA.", "The at least one threshold value 44 , 46 in the slave SL can also deviate from the at least one threshold value 34 , 36 of the master MA.", "The at least one threshold value 34 , 36 provided in the master MA can be designated as master-related threshold value 34 , 36 and the at least one threshold value 44 , 46 provided in the slave SL can be designated as slave-related threshold value 44 , 46 .", "The second comparator issues a second error signal F 2 if the duty cycle TLow/TCLK exceeds or falls below a threshold value 44 , 46 .", "The second error signal F 2 is made available for example to a data signal conditioning system 48 and optionally an error signal generator 50 .", "The different errors and their recognition correspond to those that have already been explained with respect to FIGS. 4 b and 4 c. The second error signal F 2 triggers the data signal conditioning system 48 to suppress the output of the remaining data bits DB in a clock burst 21 once an error has been recognized.", "The evaluation of the duty cycle TLow/TCLK in the second comparator 42 of the slave SL by comparison with the upper and/or lower threshold value 44 , 46 also ensures high security in the transmission of the measured values.", "The combination of the two embodiments in accordance with the invention is especially appropriate, in which the first comparator 32 is provided in the master MA and the second comparator 42 in the slave SL, thus achieving a further increase in the security in the transmission of the measured values.", "One embodiment provides the use of the known CRC method, which was already described initially.", "A CRC generator 52 is provided for this purpose in the slave SL, which generator regards the serially available data bits DB as a polynomial which is divided by a predetermined CRC generator polynomial 54 .", "The obtained remainder of the division is appended to the data bits DB as CRC check bits, wherein a number m of CRC check bits mCRC are provided.", "FIG. 3 shows that the CRC check bits mCRC are appended to the LSB of the data bits DB.", "The master MA contains a CRC checking arrangement 56 , which is provided with the same CRC generator polynomial 54 as the CRC generator 52 in the slave SL.", "The same division through the CRC generator polynomial 54 is performed in the CRC checking arrangement 56 with all received bits, i.e. the data bits DB and the CRC check bits mCRC.", "The value zero without remainder must be obtained in a correct transmission of the value as a result of the inclusion of the transmitted CRC check bits mCRC in the division.", "The entire bit sequence was only correctly transmitted in this case.", "This especially leads to the consequence that the data bits DB were transmitted correctly to the master MA.", "Only in this case will the CRC checking arrangement 56 provide a release signal 58 , which signalizes to the data signal release 40 that the data bits DB are valid and can be released for further processing.", "The polynomials 0xA412 or 0x86C or 0xADC9 are preferably provided as CRC generator polynomials 54 , corresponding to x 16 +x 14 +x 11 +x 5 +x 2 +1 or x 16 +x 15 +x 12 +x 7 +x 6 +x 4 +x 3 +1 or x 16 +x 14 +x 12 +x 11 +x 9 +x 8 +x 7 +x 4 +x+1.", "Preferably, 16 CRC check bits mCRC are appended to the data bits DB.", "A further increase in the security is achieved in such a way that the clock line 26 as shown in FIG. 1 is divided into two clock lines 60 , 62 , on which a differential clock signal CLK+, CLK− is transmitted.", "An embodiment is shown in FIG. 5 .", "The master MA contains a bus driver 64 , which comprises a non-inverted output 66 and an inverted output 68 , wherein the first clock signal CLK+ is to be output on the non-inverted output 66 with the first clock bursts 20 + and the second clock signal 62 with the second clock bursts 20 − on the inverted output 68 .", "At least one of the two differential clock signals CLK+, CLK−, or preferably both signals CLK+, CLK−, is also read back in this embodiment by the master MA and the duty cycle TLow+/TCLK+, TLow−/TCLK− of the clock cycles ZCLK+, ZCLK− of the clock bursts 20 +, 20 − of at least one differential clock signal CLK+, CLK− is compared in a third comparator 70 with the at least one threshold value 34 , 36 .", "The readback also means in this case that at least one of the clock signals CLK+, CLK− provided on the clock lines 60 , 62 by the master MA is immediately read again via at least one return feed line 31 +, 31 − and is supplied to the third comparator 70 .", "The upper and the lower threshold value 34 , 36 are preferably also provided in this case, with which the duty cycle TLow+/TCLK+, TLow−/TCLK− of at least one differential clock signal CLK+, CLK−, preferably both differential clock signals CLK+, CLK−, is compared.", "If the threshold is exceeded or the value falls beneath the threshold, a third error signal F 3 is provided which is again made available to the clock repetition arrangement 38 , which triggers the clock generator 34 for a renewed output of a clock burst 20 +, 20 −.", "Further signal processing in the master MA can be realized according to the embodiment of the measured value transmitting device 10 in accordance with the invention which is shown in FIG. 1 .", "Accordingly, the duty cycle TLow+/TCLK+, TLow−/TCLK− of the clock cycles ZCLK+, ZCLK− of the clock burst 20 +, 20 − of at least one differential clock signal CLK+, CLK− can again be compared in the slave SL in a fourth comparator 72 with at least one threshold value 44 , 46 according to the second embodiment of the measured value transmitting device 10 in accordance with the invention, which will provide a fourth error signal F 4 in the case of an error.", "The further signal processing in the slave SL can occur according to the embodiment of the measured value transmitting device 10 in accordance with the invention as illustrated in FIG. 1 .", "Parts of the clock bursts 20 +, 20 − of the two differential clock signals CLK+, CLK− are shown in FIGS. 6 a and 6 b .", "The low-levels for the formation of the duty cycle TLow+/TCLK+, TLow−/TCLK− are used again in this case by way of example.", "Furthermore, reference is made to the low-level TLow− despite the inverted idle level of the second differential clock signal CLK−.", "In the illustrated embodiment according to FIG. 6 c , at least one erroneous duty cycle TLow+f/TCLK+ has occurred in a first clock burst 20 + only in the first differential clock signal CLK+, which has fallen beneath the lower threshold value 36 , 46 in the master MA and/or in the slave SL for example.", "It is assumed by way of example according to FIG. 6 d that the pulse durations TLow− of the clock cycles ZCLK− of the second clock bust 20 − of the second differential clock single CLK− and therefore the duty cycles TLow−/TCLK− have remained free of errors during the second clock burst 20 −.", "Although no threshold value 34 , 36 , 44 , 46 was exceeded in this case or no value has fallen below said threshold, the third and/or fourth error signal F 3 , F 4 is still provided in this case by the third or fourth comparator 70 , 72 because a duty cycle TLow+f/CLK of at least one clock cycles ZCLK+ of a first clock burst 20 + of the first differential clock signal CLK+ was recognized as erroneous." ]

[ "CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/814,648, entitled THERMOELECTRIC POWER SUPPLY and filed on Jun. 16, 2006, the entire contents of which is herein incorporated by reference.", "The present application is also related to commonly-owned U.S. patent application Ser.", "No. 11/352,113 filed on Feb. 10, 2006 and entitled IMPROVED LOW POWER THERMOELECTRIC GENERATOR, which is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. application Ser.", "No. 11/185,312, filed on Nov. 17, 2005 and entitled LOW POWER THERMOELECTRIC GENERATOR, which is a continuation application of U.S. application Ser.", "No. 10/440,992 filed on May 19, 2003 and entitled LOW POWER THERMOELECTRIC GENERATOR, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,958,443, the entire contents of each being expressly incorporated by reference herein.", "STATEMENT RE: FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH/DEVELOPMENT (Not Applicable) BACKGROUND The present invention pertains generally to thermoelectric devices and, more particularly, to a self-sufficient thermoelectric power supply that is specifically adapted to produce a relatively high-voltage power output such as for powering microelectronic devices.", "The increasing trend toward miniaturization of microelectronic devices necessitates the development of miniaturized power supplies.", "Batteries and solar cells are traditional power sources for such microelectronic devices.", "However, the power that is supplied by batteries dissipates over time requiring that the batteries be periodically replaced.", "Solar cells, although having an effectively unlimited useful life, may only provide a transient source of power as the sun or other light sources may not always be available.", "Furthermore, solar cells require periodic cleaning of their surfaces in order to maintain efficiency of energy conversion.", "Thermoelectric generators are self-sufficient energy sources that convert thermal energy into electrical energy according to the Seebeck effect—a phenomenon whereby heat differences may be converted into electricity due in large part to charge carrier diffusion in a conductor.", "Electrical power may be generated under the Seebeck effect by utilizing thermocouples which are each comprised of a pair of dissimilar metals (n-type and p-type) joined at one end.", "N-type and p-type refers to the respective negative and positive types of charge carriers within the material.", "The temperature gradient that exists between the ends of the thermocouple may be artificially applied or it may be naturally-occurring as waste heat or as dissipated heat that is constantly rejected by the human body.", "In a wristwatch, one side is typically exposed to air at ambient temperature while the opposite side is exposed to the higher temperature of the wearer's skin.", "Thus, a small temperature gradient is present across the thickness of the wristwatch.", "A thermoelectric generator may be incorporated into the wristwatch to take advantage of the dissipated or waste heat and generate a supply of power sufficient to operate the wristwatch as a self-contained unit.", "Advantageously, many microelectronic devices that are similar in size to a typical wristwatch require only a small amount of power and therefore may also be compatible for powering by a thermoelectric generator.", "The continuous development that is occurring in the microelectronics industry has led to the increasing miniaturization of certain electronic applications with a concomitant reduction in power consumption of many modern electronic devices.", "This reduction in power requirements for such electronic devices has enabled the employment of alternative energy sources such as thermoelectric generators.", "When used as thermal energy harvesting devices for recovering thermal energy as dissipated heat which is typically lost to the environment, such thermoelectric generators may be utilized to power microelectronics or sensor systems.", "As the functional density of such modern electronic devices increases due in part to the integration of the many subcomponents that make up such electronic devices, power consumption of the devices has shrunk to the micro-watt and nano-watt level.", "Often however, a higher power is required for many microelectronic devices.", "This higher power requirement is often in the milli-watt range.", "In view of the above-described developments in microelectronic miniaturization, there exists a need in the art for a power supply for such microelectronic devices that is capable of providing an essentially continuous supply of power thereto.", "Furthermore, there exists a need in the art for a power supply for microelectronic devices that does not require periodic replacement of the power source.", "In addition, there exists a need in the art for a power supply for microelectronic devices that can provide a stable and efficient source of power thereto and which has an effectively unlimited useful life.", "Finally, there exists a need in the art for a power supply such as may be used for microelectronic devices that is capable of converting essentially constant energy sources into electrical energy using only small temperature gradients.", "BRIEF SUMMARY The present invention specifically address and alleviates the above-mentioned needs associated with power supplies for microelectronic devices by providing a thermoelectric power supply that is specifically adapted to convert thermal energy into electrical energy from only small temperature gradients such as those occurring due to body or waste heat.", "More particularly, the present invention provides thermoelectric power supply that is capable of converting thermal energy into a relatively high power output with voltages in the Volt-range and which provides such power in a stable and reliable manner in order to power microelectronic devices such as sensor systems.", "In its broadest sense, the invention comprises an in-plane thermoelectric generator, a cross-plane thermoelectric generator, an initial energy management assembly, a voltage converter and a final energy management assembly.", "The in-plane thermoelectric generator may be constructed similar to that shown and described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,958,443 issued to Stark et al.", ", the entire contents of which is expressly incorporated by reference herein.", "The in-plane thermoelectric generator is generally constructed having a high number of thermocouples arranged in series and deposited on a substrate in order to produce a relatively high thermoelectric voltage but with low power output.", "The initial energy management system receives the relatively high voltage and low power output from the in-plane thermoelectric generator and is specifically configured to rectify the thermoelectric voltage, protect against excess voltage via a diode, and store or accumulate a sufficient amount of energy in an energy storage element in order to activate the voltage converter.", "The initial energy management assembly may further include a voltage detector which is adapted to release power to the voltage converter upon obtaining a certain voltage threshold.", "The voltage converter is specifically adapted to be activated or powered by voltage from the in-plane thermoelectric generator after processing by the initial energy management assembly.", "The voltage converter then is capable of converting the low voltage output from the cross-plane thermoelectric generator into a relatively high voltage using the principle of voltage multiplication such as by using a charge pump.", "More specifically, the voltage converter is adapted to multiply the relatively low thermoelectric voltage output of the cross-plane thermoelectric generator.", "Advantageously, the cross-plane thermoelectric generator is adapted to generate a relatively high power output but at low voltage.", "Unfortunately, due to the geometric arrangement of the thermocouples that make up the cross-plane thermoelectric generator, the high power output is provided at a relatively low voltage at small temperature gradients such that the voltage is too low to drive most modern electronic circuitry.", "However, by combining the in-plane thermoelectric generator with the cross-plane thermoelectric generator, the combined advantages of each may be utilized to overcome the individual disadvantages in order to provide a thermoelectric power supply having an electric power output that is compatible for use in electronic devices requiring a high power consumption.", "In the thermoelectric power supply of the present invention, after multiplying the relatively low voltage provided by the cross-plane thermoelectric generator, the voltage converter supplies electrical energy directly to the final energy management assembly which, like the initial energy management assembly, also rectifies and limits the voltage, charges an integrated energy storage element, detects the charging state of the stored energy via a voltage detector for release to an external power receiver such as a microelectronic device.", "Optionally, a portion of the power released by the final energy management assembly may be re-circulated back to the voltage converter to drive the voltage converter which may provide the capability for reducing the power requirement, size and cost of the in-plane thermoelectric generator.", "Therefore, the initial energy management assembly is used to initially activate the voltage converter after which the initial energy management assembly may be used to provide energy to the final device.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS These and other features and advantages of the various embodiments disclosed herein will be better understood with respect to the following description and drawings, in which like numbers refer to like parts throughout, and in which: FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a thermoelectric power supply in one embodiment and which is comprised of an in-plane thermoelectric generator, a cross-plane thermoelectric generator, an initial energy management assembly, a voltage converter and a final energy management assembly;", "FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the in-plane thermoelectric generator illustrating the basic configuration of p-type and n-type thermoelectric legs deposited onto a substrate using thin film technologies;", "FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the cross-plane thermoelectric generator wherein a spaced pair of heat couple plates is configured in a checkerboard arrangement of p-type and n-type thermoelectric legs;", "FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of the thermoelectric power supply in an alternative embodiment wherein the in-plane and cross-plane thermoelectric generators are constructed as separate elements and wherein the initial energy management assembly, voltage converter and final energy management assembly are integrated, for example, into a unitary electronic assembly;", "and FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of the thermoelectric power supply in a further alternative embodiment wherein the in-plane and cross-plane thermoelectric generators share the same heat couple plates similar to that illustrated in FIG. 1 but wherein the initial and final energy management assemblies are integrated with the voltage converter into a unitary electronic assembly.", "DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring now to the drawings wherein the showings are for purposes of illustrating preferred embodiments of the present invention and not for purposes of limiting the same, shown in FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a thermoelectric power supply 10 that is specifically adapted to convert thermal energy into electrical energy from only small temperature gradients such as emitted by the body or waste heat.", "Advantageously, the power supply 10 of the present invention is adapted to produce electrical energy from such small temperature gradients with a high power output and with a stable and relatively high level voltage sufficient to power modern microelectronic devices and sensor systems.", "In its broadest sense, the thermoelectric power supply 10 comprises an in-plane thermoelectric generator 12 , a cross-plane thermoelectric generator 14 , an initial energy management assembly 40 , a voltage converter 58 and a final energy management assembly 64 .", "The in-plane thermoelectric generator 12 provides the advantage of generating a relatively high voltage at even small temperature gradients.", "Arranged with a relatively high number of thermocouples 38 connected in series, the in-plane thermoelectric generator 12 has a relatively high thermal resistance due to the arrangement of relatively long and thin n-type and p-type thermoelectric legs 34 , 36 which are disposed in generally parallel and spaced relation to one another.", "More specifically, the length of such thermoelectric legs is in the millimeter range wherein the thickness of such legs is in the order of magnitude of microns up to tens of microns.", "In this regard, the ratio of length of the thermoelectric legs to the thickness thereof is such that the amount of heat flowing through the in-plane thermoelectric generator 12 is relatively small.", "Unfortunately, the arrangement of the in-plane thermoelectric generator 12 results in the creation of a relatively high electrical resistance due as well as to the relatively large number of thermocouples 38 that are electrically connected in series.", "In addition, high electrical resistance is a result of the relatively large ratio of length of the thermoelectric legs to cross-section thereof.", "This high electrical resistance results in a relatively low power output.", "Furthermore, the in-plane thermoelectric generator 12 arrangement results in a relatively low level of efficiency as a result of parasitic heat flow through the substrate 26 onto which the n-type and p-type thermoelectric legs 34 , 36 are deposited.", "As was earlier mentioned, a common arrangement for in-plane thermoelectric generator 12 configurations is to construct such devices as a foil segment 24 or series of foil segments 24 having a relatively large number of thermocouples 38 which are themselves electrically connected in series.", "The p-type and n-type thermoelectric legs 36 , 34 which make up the thermocouples 38 are connected using metal bridges 30 and metal contacts 32 as is shown in FIG. 2 .", "Such metal bridges 30 and metal contacts 32 may be deposited onto the substrate 26 after deposition of the p-type and n-type thermoelectric legs 36 , 34 in order to form the thin film thermoelectric structure that makes up the in-plane thermoelectric generator 12 configuration.", "The in-plane thermoelectric generator may be fabricated by a number of alternative technologies.", "For example, the in-plane thermoelectric generator may be fabricated using MEMS silicon-based technology such as that described in the document entitled “A Thermoelectric Converter for Energy Supply”", "by H. Glosch et al.", "and reprinted in the publication entitled Sensors and Actuators, No. 74 (1999) Pages 246-250.", "Additionally, the in-plane thermoelectric generator may be fabricated using silicon technology such as that described in the document entitled “Miniaturized Thermoelectric Generators Based on Poly-Si and Poly-SiGe Surface Micromachining”", "by M. Strasser et al.", "of Infineon Technologies A.G., Wireless Products, Microsystems and Munich University of Technology, Institute for Physics of Electrotechnology.", "A further description of silicon-based technology for fabricating the in-plane thermoelectric generator is provided in the document entitled “Analysis of a CMOS Low Power Thermoelectric Generator”", "by M. Strasser et al.", "of Infineon Technologies and Munich University of Technology.", "The in-plane thermoelectric generator may further fabricated using electroplating technology similar to that disclosed in the document entitled “Microfabrication of Thermoelectric Generators on Flexible Foil Substrates as Power Source for Autonomous Microsystems”", "by Wenmin Qu et al.", "and published in The Journal of Micromechanics and Microengineering, 11 (2001), pages 146-152.", "In an alternative arrangement, the relatively high density of thermocouples 38 can be achieved utilizing stacking of the substrates 26 .", "Furthermore, the foil segment 24 or substrate 26 may be rolled into a spiral shape in order to produce a round-shaped thermoelectric generator similar to that disclosed in U.S. Patent Publication Serial No. 20060151021 and entitled LOW POWER THERMOELECTRIC GENERATOR.", "A spaced pair of heat couple plates 22 (i.e., top and bottom plates) may be attached such as by bonding to the stack or roll of thin films (i.e., thermocouples 38 deposited on substrate 26 ) in order to provide thermal connection thereacross and also to allow for connection of the thermoelectric generator to an external heat source 18 and a heat sink 20 .", "Electrical connection of the in-plane thermoelectric generator 12 to the initial energy management assembly 40 can be facilitated using at least one of the heat couple plates 22 (i.e., one of the top and bottom plates) or by directly connecting opposing ends of the thermocouple chain to the initial energy management assembly 40 .", "In using the heat couple plates 22 to make the connection, the top plate and bottom plate are preferably fabricated of electrically conductive material such as metallic material.", "An inner surface of the heat couple plates 22 is preferably coated with a non-electrically conductive coating except at the extreme ends of the series of alternating n-type and p-type thermoelectric legs 34 , 36 wherein the non-electrically conductive coating is locally omitted.", "The heat couple plates 22 (i.e., top or bottom plate) are, in turn, electrically connected to respective ones of opposing ends of the series of alternating n-type and p-type thermoelectric legs 34 , 36 .", "The heat couple plates 22 are then electrically connectable to the initial energy management assembly 40 similar to the electrical connection of a watch battery to a watch.", "Alternatively, the in-plane thermoelectric generator 12 may be connected to the initial energy management assembly 40 by direct connection to the ends of the thermocouple chain of the in-plane thermoelectric generator 12 .", "More specifically, in such an arrangement, the heat couple plates 22 (i.e., top and bottom plated) may be fabricated of electrically non-conductive material such as relatively-highly-thermally-conductive ceramic material or other suitable material with a relatively high thermal conductivity.", "Alternatively, at least one of the inside surfaces of the heat couple plates 22 may be coated with a non-electrically conductive coating.", "In another embodiment, the thermally conductive glue or adhesive which bonds the top and bottom plates to the foil segments as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,958,443 is preferably electrically non-conductive and therefore eliminates the need for a separate non-electrically conductive coating.", "Furthermore, it is contemplated that the heat couple plates 22 (i.e., top and bottom plates) may be fabricated of electrically conductive material (e.g., metallic) which is electrically insulated from the foil segments 24 by the non-electrically conductive coating and/or by the non-electrically conductive glue which bonds the foil segments 24 to the top and bottom plates.", "The thermoelectric power supply 10 may include electrically conductive wiring for connecting the respective ones of opposing ends of the series of alternating n-type and p-type thermoelectric legs 34 , 36 to the initial energy management assembly 40 .", "Regarding the construction of the cross-plane thermoelectric generator 14 , its configuration as shown in FIG. 3 may be fabricated using bulk polycrystalline material such as is utilized in standard Peltier coolers known in the art.", "In this typical configuration, the length of the p-type and n-type thermoelectric legs 36 , 34 is in the millimeter range for configurations utilizing bulk polycrystalline material.", "Alternatively, for construction methodologies using thin film technology in order to produce the cross-plane thermoelectric generator 14 , the length of the thermoelectric legs may be in a range of several tens of microns.", "In this configuration, heat couple plates 22 that are arranged on upper and lower ends of the spaced pair of thermoelectric legs act as the substrate 26 for the thin film deposition.", "Advantageously, the arrangement as shown in FIG. 3 for the cross-plane thermoelectric generator 14 provides a relatively low electrical resistance due to the relatively small quantity of thermocouples 38 that are arranged in series.", "In addition, low electric resistance of the cross-plane thermoelectric generator 14 configuration is a result of the relatively small ratio of length of n-type and p-type thermoelectric legs 34 , 36 to cross-sections thereof.", "In contrast to the arrangement for the in-plane thermoelectric generator 12 , the relatively small aspect ratio of the thermoelectric legs in the cross-plane thermoelectric generator 14 results in a relatively high power output.", "In addition, due to the lack of a substrate 26 interconnecting the heat couple plates 22 as is present in the in-plane thermoelectric generator 12 , the cross-plane thermoelectric generator 14 provides a relatively high efficiency capability for converting thermal energy into electrical energy.", "This is a result of the lack of parasitic heat flow through the substrate 26 as is present in the in-plane thermoelectric generator 12 configuration.", "Advantageously, this arrangement results in heat flowing only through the thermoelectric legs.", "Unfortunately, the advantages provided by the small aspect ratio (i.e., low electrical resistance and high power output) also means that the cross-plane thermoelectric generator 14 exhibits relatively low thermal resistance due to the same low aspect ratio.", "More specifically, the relatively low ratio of length of the thermoelectric legs to cross-section thereof leads to low thermal resistance resulting in a relatively large amounts of heat flow through the device.", "An unfavorable characteristic of the cross-plane thermoelectric generator 14 are associated with the relatively limited quantity of thermocouples 38 that may be electrically connected in series while still minimizing the overall size of the device.", "This limited number of thermocouples 38 results in a relatively low voltage output at small temperature gradients despite the high power capabilities.", "The cross-plane thermoelectric generator 14 may be fabricated by a variety of thin film technologies described in the documents mentioned below.", "For example, the cross-plane thermoelectric generator 14 may be fabricated by using thin film technologies described in the document entitled “Micropelt Miniaturized Thermoelectric Devices: Small Size, High Cooling Power Densities, Short Response Time”", "by H. Boettner of the Fraunhofer Institute Physikalische Messtechnik (IPM), Freiburg, Germany, or in the article entitled “Micropelt: State of the Art, Roadmap and Applications”", "also by H. Boettner as well as that described in the document entitled “New Thermoelectric Components Using Microsystem Technologies”", "also by H. Boettner et al.", "Various electroplating technology techniques (e.g., galvanic processing) for the cross-plane thermoelectric generator 14 can be used such as is described in the disclosure entitled “Thermoelectric Microdevice Fabricated by a MEMS-Like Electrochemical Process”", "by G. Jeffrey Snyder et al.", "of Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology and published on-line on 27 Jul. 2003, incorporated by reference in its entirety.", "In addition, the cross-plane thermoelectric generator 14 may be fabricated using bulk polycrystalline thermoelectric material and mechanical cutting technology of bulk polycrystalline thermoelectric material.", "The bulk polycrystalline thermoelectric material may be prepared from melts (i.e., liquids) and/or by powder technology techniques and/or by mechanical alloying.", "Advantageously, the thermoelectric power supply 10 of the present invention combines in-plane and cross-plane thermoelectric generators 12 , 14 in a unique arrangement that takes advantage of the benefits of each device in order to provide electrical power output that is compatible for many microelectronic devices that consume relatively high power.", "More specifically, the in-plane thermoelectric generator 12 configuration is capable of providing the necessary voltage for operating many modern microelectronic devices in the 1.5 to 3 volt range but are incapable of producing the required amount of power due to the relatively low current at which such electrical energy is provided.", "Such low electrical current is a result of the high electric internal resistance of the in-plane thermoelectric generator 12 design.", "Conversely, the cross-plane thermoelectric generator 14 configuration is capable of producing the amount of power compatible for many electronic devices 62 due to its low internal resistance which results in a relatively high electrical current.", "However, the power output of the cross-plane thermoelectric generator 14 at the relatively small temperature gradients results in a thermoelectric voltage that is generally too low for operating many electronic circuitry.", "However, by including the voltage converter 58 in the thermoelectric power supply 10 of the present invention, the relatively high power output at low voltage of the cross-plane thermoelectric generator 14 may be exploited by the voltage converter 58 by increasing the voltage of the cross-plane thermoelectric generator 14 .", "The voltage converter 58 does this using the principle of a charge pump 60 .", "The voltage converter 58 then supplies electrical energy directly to the final energy management assembly 64 .", "As illustrated in FIG. 1 , the final energy management assembly 64 is connected to the voltage converter 58 and receives power therefrom.", "The voltage converter 58 is activated or powered by electrical energy produced initially by the in-plane thermoelectric generator 12 after processing thereof by the initial energy management assembly 40 .", "More specifically, the final energy management assembly 64 is adapted to rectify and limit voltage received from the cross-plane thermoelectric generator 14 , charge an energy storage element 50 such as a capacitor 52 or a rechargeable thin film battery 54 contained within the final energy management assembly 64 , and detect the charging state of the energy storage element 50 utilizing a voltage detector 56 .", "More specifically, the detection capability of the voltage detector 56 allows the final energy management assembly 64 to release power to the electronic device 62 upon detection of a sufficient level of electrical energy in the energy storage element 50 .", "As shown in FIG. 1 , the final energy management assembly 64 releases power to a device such as a microelectronic device in order to power the device which may be any number of applications including, but not limited to, microelectronics, and sensor systems.", "Optionally, a portion of the energy released by the final energy management assembly 64 may be re-circulated back to the voltage converter 58 in order to provide power for its voltage multiplication purposes.", "In such a configuration, the power requirements as well as size and, ultimately, cost, of the in-plane thermoelectric generator 12 may be reduced.", "In addition, the power requirements, size and cost of the initial energy management assembly 40 may also be reduced as the initial energy management assembly 40 would then only be required to operate to initiate or start the voltage converter 58 after which operation of the initial energy management assembly 40 would no longer be required.", "Optionally, if power produced by the initial energy management assembly 40 is not required to drive the voltage converter 58 , such power may be delivered to the final energy management assembly 64 where it may be stored in the energy storage element 50 .", "In addition, the thermoelectric power supply 10 of the present invention may be configured to include a relatively large energy storage element 50 such as a rechargeable thin film battery 54 or a capacitor 52 in electrical communication with the final energy management assembly 64 .", "Such relatively large energy storage element 50 may be configured to store excess energy not required by the final electronic device 62 and/or voltage converter 58 .", "Regarding the specific architecture of the initial energy management assembly 40 , it is contemplated that the initial energy management assembly 40 functions to rectify and limit the thermoelectric voltage produced by the in-plane thermoelectric generator 12 , protect against the generation of excess voltage, initially provide energy storage capability in the form of an energy storage element 50 , as well as provide the capability of voltage regulation in order to regulate the point at which power is released to the voltage converter 58 .", "Rectifying of the thermoelectric voltage may be facilitated through the use of a diode 44 in order to provide voltage with only one polarity regardless of the direction of temperature flow or temperature gradient.", "Alternatively, the rectifier 42 may be adapted to enable exploitation of temperature gradient regardless of the direction of heat flow by utilizing a diode bridge 46 .", "Further embodiments may include at least one diode to block the discharge of energy storage by the in-plane and/or cross-plane thermoelectric generators 12 , 14 .", "The initial energy management assembly 40 may also provide excess voltage protection such as by utilizing a Zener diode, a single diode 44 or a plurality of diodes 44 arranged in series in a manner well known in the art.", "Initial energy storage elements 50 may include small capacitors 52 or a rechargeable thin film battery configured to accumulate sufficient energy in order to activate the voltage converter 58 .", "Voltage detection may be facilitated through the use of a switch or switches at defined voltage thresholds which correspond to the amount of energy stored.", "Over a pre-determined threshold, charges in the storage element may be released as power to the voltage converter 58 .", "Under that pre-determined threshold, electrical current flow may be interrupted or prevented.", "As was earlier mentioned, the voltage converter 58 is specifically adapted to convert the relatively low voltage but high power output of the cross-plane thermoelectric generator 14 into a usable high voltage using the principle of voltage multiplication in the manner of a charge pump 60 .", "In this manner, the thermoelectric power supply 10 is capable of powering or driving electronics such as energy management systems, a final electronic application and/or the voltage converter 58 itself.", "The final energy management assembly 64 may be adapted to provide similar capabilities as was described above for the initial energy management assembly 40 .", "In this regard, the final energy management assembly 64 is preferably adapted to rectify thermoelectric voltage in order to provide voltage at one polarity for heat flow in opposite directions utilizing a diode 44 or diode bridge 46 .", "The final energy management assembly 64 is also preferably adapted to provide for excess voltage protection to prevent damage to the final electronic application as well as including an energy storage element 50 such as a small capacitor 52 or rechargeable thin film battery 54 in order to power the application to which the thermoelectric power supply 10 is connected.", "Optionally, an additional energy storage element 50 such as a relatively large rechargeable thin film battery 54 or capacitor 52 may be integrated into the final energy management assembly 64 in order to allow for accumulation of excess energy that is not required to power the electrical device.", "Like the initial energy management assembly 40 , the final energy management assembly 64 may further include a voltage detector 56 to determine and regulate the release of energy to the microelectronic device or application to which the thermoelectric power supply 10 is connected.", "In each of the above arrangements, the features of the initial energy management assembly 40 and final energy management assembly 64 are optimized according to the specific application and thermal environment in which the thermoelectric power supply 10 operates.", "More specifically, the above described features of the initial and final energy management assemblies may be reduced according to the requirements of the device to be powered by the thermoelectric generator as well as in accordance with the characteristics of the thermal environment within which the thermoelectric power supply 10 operates.", "Alternative embodiments or arrangements for the components of the thermoelectric power supply 10 are shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 .", "In FIG. 4 , shown is an arrangement wherein the in-plane thermoelectric generator 12 is constructed as a separate entity from the cross-plane thermoelectric generator 14 .", "As shown in FIG. 1 , the in-plane and cross-plane thermoelectric generators 12 , 14 may be configured to share a common heat source 18 and heat sink 20 .", "Conversely, as shown in FIG. 4 , it is contemplated that the thermoelectric power supply 10 may be arranged such that the in-plane and cross-plane thermoelectric generators 12 , 14 have separate heat couple plates 22 for heat source 18 and heat sink 20 purposes.", "In addition, FIG. 1 illustrates the other components of the initial and final energy management assemblies 40 , 64 and voltage converter 58 being provided as separate components which are electrically connected together.", "In yet another alternative arrangement shown in FIG. 5 , the thermoelectric power supply 10 may be arranged such that the in-plane and cross-plane thermoelectric generators 12 , 14 share a common heat source 18 and heat sink 20 (i.e., common heat couple plates 22 ) as opposed to the separate heat couple plates 22 of FIG. 4 .", "However, as shown in FIG. 5 , the in-plane and cross-plane thermoelectric generators 12 , 14 may be integrated into a unitary structure which may, in turn, be electrically connected to an assembly comprising the initial and final energy management assemblies 40 , 64 and the voltage converter 58 .", "As was earlier mentioned, the in-plane thermoelectric generator 12 may be provided in several arrangements including, but not limited to, a stack of thermopiles each comprising a substrate 26 having the thermoelectric legs disposed thereon and which are interconnected using metal bridges 30 and metal contacts 32 .", "Alternatively, the in-plane thermoelectric generator 12 may be arranged as a spiral of a continuous substrate 26 wherein a relatively large number of thermoelectric legs are connected in series wherein substrate 26 portions may be connected end to end using metal contacts 32 between the substrates 26 to electrically connect the thermoelectric legs in series.", "The spiral or stack of the thermopile structure may have the heat couple plates 22 disposed on upper and lower ends in order to thermally connect to a heat source 18 and heat sink 20 .", "In a final embodiment, it is contemplated that each of the components that make-up the thermoelectric power supply 10 may be integrated into a unitary structure and encapsulated to form a convenient assembly which may be adapted for use in many common microelectronic devices.", "The description of the various embodiments of the present invention is presented to illustrate preferred embodiments thereof and other inventive concepts may be otherwise variously embodied and employed.", "The appended claims are intended to be construed to include such variations except insofar as limited by the prior art." ]

[ "This is the application is a Divisional of U.S. patent application Ser.", "No. 12/348,941, filed Jan. 6, 2009, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,743,635, which is a Divisional of U.S. patent application Ser.", "No. 11/173,561, filed Jul. 1, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,506,779, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated by reference herein.", "FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for utilizing a spin forming tool to form a distinct geometric shape in a container end closure which is adapted for interconnection to a container neck and which has improved strength and buckle resistance.", "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Containers, and more specifically metallic beverage containers, are typically manufactured by interconnecting a beverage can end closure on a beverage container body.", "In some applications, an end closure may be interconnected on both a top side and a bottom side of a can body.", "More frequently, however, a beverage can end closure is interconnected on a top end of a beverage can body which is drawn and ironed from a flat sheet of blank material such as aluminum.", "Due to the potentially high internal pressures generated by carbonated beverages, both the beverage can body and the beverage can end closure are typically required to sustain internal pressures exceeding 90 psi without catastrophic and permanent deformation.", "Further, depending on various environmental conditions such as heat, over fill, high CO2 content, and vibration, the internal pressure in a typical beverage can may at times exceed 100 psi.", "Thus, beverage can bodies and end closures must be durable to withstand high internal pressures, yet manufactured with extremely thin and durable materials such as aluminum to decrease the overall cost of the manufacturing process and the weight of the finished product.", "Accordingly, there exists a significant need for a durable beverage container end closure which can withstand the high internal pressures created by carbonated beverages, and the external forces applied during shipping, yet which is made from a durable, lightweight and extremely thin metallic material with a geometric configuration which reduces material requirements.", "Previous attempts have been made to provide beverage container end closures with unique geometric configurations to provide material savings and improve strength.", "One example of such an end closure is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,065,634 To Crown Cork and Seal Technology Corporation, entitled “Can End and Method for Fixing the Same to a Can Body.”", "Other inventions known in the art have attempted to improve the strength of container end closures and save material costs by improving the geometry of the countersink region.", "Examples of these patents are U.S. Pat. No. 5,685,189 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,460,723 to Nguyen et al, which are incorporated herein in their entirety by reference.", "Another pending application which discloses other improved end closure geometry is disclosed in pending U.S. patent application Ser.", "No. 10/340,535, which was filed on Jan. 10, 2003 and is further incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.", "Finally, the assignee of the present application owns another pending application related to reforming and reprofiling a container bottom, which is disclosed in pending U.S. patent Ser.", "No. 11/020,944 and which is further incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.", "The following disclosure describes an improved container end closure which is adapted for interconnection to a container body and which has an improved countersink, chuck wall geometry, and unit depth which significantly saves material costs, yet can withstand significant internal pressures.", "Previous methods and apparatus used to increase the strength of a container end closure have generally been attempted using traditional forming presses, which utilize a sequence of tooling operations in a reciprocating press to create a specific geometry.", "Unfortunately with the use of small gauge aluminum and other thin metallic materials, it has become increasingly difficult to form a preferred geometry without quality control issues as a result of the physical properties of the end closure and the difficulty of retaining a desired shape.", "Furthermore, when a thin metallic material is worked in a traditional forming press, certain portions of the end closure may be thinned, either from stretching, bending operations, commonly known as “coining.”", "When excessive thinning occurs, the overall strength and integrity of the end closure may be compromised.", "Further, it is practically impossible to form certain geometries with a typical die press.", "Thus, there is a significant need in the industry for a new method and apparatus for forming a preferred shape in an end closure, and which uses rollers and other mechanical devices which can form a preferred shape in the end closure without requiring traditional forming presses and the inherent problems related thereto.", "Furthermore, new end closure geometries are needed which have distinct shapes and provide superior strength and buckle resistance when interconnected to pressurized containers.", "As previously mentioned these geometries are typically not feasible using traditional end closure manufacturing techniques.", "Thus, there is a significant need for new end closure geometries which have improved strength characteristics and which are capable of being formed with thin walled metallic materials.", "SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is thus one aspect of the present invention to provide an improved method and apparatus for forming one or more reinforcing beads or other geometric shapes in a container end closure.", "Thus, in one aspect of the present invention, one or more shaping rollers are utilized to spin-form a portion of an interior or exterior wall portion of a chuck wall or an end closure countersink to provide improved strength characteristics and potential material savings.", "As used herein, the term “spin-form”", "may also be referred to as “reform”", "or “reprofile”", "and may generally be defined as a process to alter the geometric profile of a container end closure.", "In one embodiment, a method for changing the geometry of a metal end closure is provided, comprising: A method for creating a preferred geometry of a metallic end closure which is adapted for interconnection to a neck of a container, comprising: a) providing a metallic end closure comprising a peripheral cover hook, a chuck-wall extending downwardly therefrom, a countersink having an outer panel wall interconnected to a lower end of the chuck wall, and an inner panel wall interconnected to a central panel;", "b) providing a shaping tool which rotates around a central axis, said shaping tool in having an outer surface with a predetermined shape;", "c) positioning said outer surface of said shaping tool in contact with at least one of the inner panel wall, the outer panel wall and the chuck wall, wherein a predetermined shape is created in said end closure when said shaping tool engages said metallic end closure.", "In another aspect of the present invention the shaping rollers are interconnected to an apparatus which rotates about a given axis which allows the shaping rollers to be positioned against the end closure to create a preferred shape.", "Alternatively, the end closure is rotated about one or more shaping rollers, which are substantially stationary.", "Thus, it is another aspect of the present invention to provide an apparatus for forming a preferred geometry in a metallic end closure by utilizing a tool which rotates around a substantially stationary end closure, comprising: a means for retaining said end closure in a substantially stationary position;", "a container spin-forming assembly comprising a roller block aligned in opposing relationship to the end closure, said roller block having an outer annular edge and a leading surface;", "a rotating means for rotating said spin-forming assembly;", "a pair of reform rollers which project outwardly from said roller block leading surface and which are operably sized to engage an inner panel wall of the end closure of the container;", "and a biasing means operably interconnected to said pair of reform rollers, wherein when a force is applied to an annular flange on said pair of reform rollers by the end closure, said reform rollers extend outwardly toward said outer annular edge of said roller block, wherein a preferred geometric profile is created on the inner panel wall of the end closure.", "It is another aspect of the present invention to provide improved end closure geometries which can be obtained utilizing the aforementioned apparatus and method and which are generally not obtainable using commonly known die presses.", "In one embodiment, one or more inwardly or outwardly extending reinforcing beads are formed in the chuck wall or inner or outer panel walls of the countersink to create a desired shape in a container end closure.", "More specifically, a metallic end closure adapted for interconnection to a sidewall of a container body is provided, comprising: a peripheral cover hook;", "a chuck wall extending downwardly from said peripheral cover hook;", "a countersink comprising an outer panel wall interconnected to a lower end of said chuck wall and an inner panel interconnected to a central panel;", "and a channel with a predetermined geometric profile positioned in at least one of said inner panel or said outer panel of said countersink, wherein the distance between said inner panel wall and outer panel wall at said channel is less than the distance between the outer panel wall and the lower panel wall in a lower portion of the countersink.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a front cross-sectional elevation view of one embodiment of the invention shown before reforming or spin-forming;", "FIG. 2 is a front cross-sectional elevation view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 and showing inside reforming wherein a channel is positioned on an inner panel wall;", "FIG. 2A is a front cross-sectional elevation view showing a variation of the reforming shown in FIG. 2 ;", "FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional front elevation view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention, wherein an outer panel wall is reformed;", "FIG. 3A is a cross-sectional front elevation view depicting a variation of the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 ;", "FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional front elevation view showing a shell end closure which has been reformed on both an inside panel wall and outside panel wall;", "FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention showing the inner panel wall reformed;", "FIG. 6 is a front perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention showing an outer panel wall reformed;", "FIG. 7 is a front perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention wherein both the inner panel wall and outer panel wall have been reformed;", "FIG. 8 is a front cross-sectional elevation view showing a container end closure after both the inner panel wall and outer panel wall have been reformed and further depicting a reforming assembly;", "FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional front elevation view further showing the components of one embodiment of a reforming tool prior to positioning a channel in an inner panel wall of an end closure;", "FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional front elevation view showing a container end closure positioned opposite a reforming tool and just prior to reforming;", "FIG. 10A is a front cross-sectional view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 10A and after a reforming channel has been positioned in an inner panel wall;", "FIG. 11 is a top front perspective view of a container end closure positioned on top of a spin-forming assembly and depicting the reprofile rollers in operable contact with an outer panel wall of a container end closure;", "and FIG. 12 is an alternative embodiment of the spin-forming assembly of FIG. 11 , and depicting two interior reform rollers and four reprofile rollers.", "For clarity, the following is a list of components generally shown in the drawings: No. Components 2 End closure 4 Central panel 6 Peripheral cover hook 8 Chuck wall 10 Countersink 12 Countersink inner panel wall 14 Countersink outer panel wall 16 Channel 18 Container 20 Container neck 22 Double seam 24 Panel radius 26 Inside reform radius 28 Outside reform radius 30 Reform gap 32 Spin forming assembly 34 Roller block 36 Reform Rollers 38 Roller block leading surface 40 Roller block central aperture 42 Mounting shaft 44 Reprofile rollers DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring now to FIGS. 1 through 11 , various embodiments of the present invention are provided herein.", "More specifically, FIG. 1 depicts a typical beverage container end closure shell shown before a reforming or “spin-forming”", "procedure has been performed.", "More specifically, the end closure 2 is generally comprised of a peripheral cover hook 6 , a chuck wall 8 which extends from the peripheral cover hook 6 and which is interconnected to a countersink 10 on a lower end.", "The countersink 10 is generally comprised of an inner panel wall 12 and an outer panel wall 14 , and wherein the inner panel wall 12 is interconnected to the central panel 4 .", "Referring now to FIG. 2 , the end closure of FIG. 1 is shown after an inner panel wall reforming or spin-forming procedure has been performed.", "More specifically, after the positioning of the inside reforming tool, a channel 16 is formed in the inner panel wall of the countersink, thus changing the geometric profile and in this particular embodiment providing a channel radius of approximately 0.035 inches.", "As appreciated by one skilled in the art, the actual geometric configuration and/or size of the channel 16 is not critical to the present invention, but rather the novelty in one embodiment relates to the method of forming the channel 16 in the various geometries which can be obtained using this method which are impractical or impossible to perform in a typical die press.", "Based on these novel methods and the apparatus used for forming these geometries, unique and novel end closure geometries can be formed which are not possible with typical die presses.", "In one embodiment, it is anticipated that the channel on either the inner panel wall 12 or outer panel wall 14 may have a radius of between about 0.005-0.035 inches.", "In another embodiment, it is anticipated that the channel on either the inner panel wall 12 or outer panel wall 14 may have a radius of curvature of between about 0.010 inches and 0.060 inches.", "Referring now to FIG. 2A , a slight variation of the geometry shown in FIG. 2 is provided herein, and wherein the inner panel wall has a distinct shape positioned near a lowermost portion of the countersink, and which is entirely different than the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 .", "Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 3A , an alternative embodiment of the present invention is provided herein, wherein the channel 16 is positioned on an outer panel wall of the countersink 10 .", "FIG. 3A represents a variation of the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 , wherein the geometry is distinct and the channel 16 is not as pronounced as the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 , and is positioned on a lower portion of the outer panel wall 16 .", "As further shown in FIG. 3 , depending on the depth of the channel 16 , a reform gap 30 is created and which may have a dimension of between about 0.070-0.005 inches.", "Alternatively, the reform gap 30 may be eliminated altogether by creating a deep channel 16 .", "Referring now to FIG. 4 , an alternative embodiment of the present invention is provided herein, wherein both the inner panel wall 12 and outer panel wall 14 of the end closure 2 have been reformed to create a channel 16 which substantially oppose each other.", "Although in this embodiment a reform gap 30 is provided, as mentioned above, the channel on the inner panel wall and/or an outer panel wall may be deep enough to completely eliminate the gap 30 , and wherein the inner panel wall and outer panel are in contact with each other.", "In either embodiment, the diameter between the channels 16 is less than the diameter between the lowermost portion of the inner panel wall 12 and outer panel wall 14 .", "Referring now to FIGS. 5-7 , front perspective views of alternative embodiments of the present invention are provided herein.", "More specifically, FIG. 5 is an embodiment showing an end closure 2 having a channel 16 positioned on the inner panel wall, while FIG. 6 is a front cut-away perspective view showing the channel 16 positioned on the outer panel wall of the countersink 10 .", "Alternatively, FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional front perspective view showing a channel 16 positioned on both the inner panel wall and the outer panel wall of the countersink 10 .", "Referring now to FIG. 8 , a cross-sectional front elevation view is provided which further depicts one embodiment of a dual reforming or spin-forming assembly 32 used to shape the end closure 2 to a desired geometric profile.", "As provided herein, the term “reform”", "or “spin-forming”", "may describe changing the geometric profile of the inner panel wall and/or outer panel wall or both, or the term “reprofiling”", "may additionally be used to describe the same process.", "In the drawing shown in FIG. 8 , reform rollers 36 are shown after engagement with the inner panel wall of the countersink, while reprofile rollers 44 are shown just after engagement with the outer panel wall of the end closure 2 to create a preferred geometric shape 42 .", "In one embodiment, the reform rollers and reprofile rollers 44 are interconnected to a mounting shaft 42 and roller block assembly 32 which is used to support and spin the roller block end or reprofile rollers 44 .", "Referring now to FIG. 9 , an alternative embodiment of the present invention is shown wherein a roller block reforming and reprofiling assembly 32 is shown in an opposing position to an end closure 2 , and just prior to preparing a channel 16 in the inner panel wall of the countersink.", "As previously mentioned, depending on the geometric profile of the reform rollers 36 , the geometry and depth of the channel 16 can be any size and dimension depending on the performance criteria of the end closure 2 .", "Referring now to FIGS. 10 and 10A , cross-sectional front elevation views are provided which show additional detail of the reform rollers 36 just prior to reforming in FIG. 10 and after reforming in FIG. 10A .", "As shown, after the reform roller 36 is placed in contact with the inner panel wall of the end closure 2 , a channel 16 is created between the central panel 4 and the countersink 10 .", "The end closure 2 is generally held stationary while the reform rollers 36 spin, although alternatively the reform rollers 36 can be held stationary while the end closure 2 is spun around an axis which is substantially parallel to the drive shaft of the reform assembly or perpendicular to the drive shaft assembly.", "Referring now to FIG. 11 , a front perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention is provided herein and which more clearly shows a roller block 34 , a roller block leading surface 38 , and the reprofile rollers 44 positioned in opposing relationship to the end closure 2 .", "Although FIG. 11 depicts two reprofile rollers 44 interconnected to the roller block 34 , as appreciated by one skilled in the art, as few as one and as many as four or five reform rollers and/or reprofile or spin-form rollers can be used to provide a preferred geometry in a container end closure.", "FIG. 12 depicts an alternative embodiment of a spin-rolling apparatus 32 , and which is shown without an end closure engaged thereto.", "As generally shown, the spin-forming apparatus in this embodiment includes two reform rollers 36 which are designed to move outwardly, and four reprofile rollers 44 which are generally designed to engage an outer panel wall of an end closure during a spin-forming operation.", "While an effort has been made to describe various alternatives to the preferred embodiment, other alternatives will readily come to mind to those skilled in the art.", "Therefore, it should be understood that the invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or central characteristics thereof.", "Present examples and embodiments, therefore, are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and the invention is not intended to be limited to the details given herein." ]

[ "CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/005,681 filed Oct. 17, 1995.", "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1.", "Field of the Invention The present invention pertains to a method and apparatus for processing a video signal, and more particularly to removing (defeating) effects of copy protection signals from a video signal.", "Description of the Prior Art U.S. Pat. No. 4,631,603 ('603) by Ryan, issued on Dec. 23, 1986 entitled METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING A VIDEO SIGNAL SO AS TO PROHIBIT THE MAKING OF ACCEPTABLE VIDEO TAPE RECORDINGS THEREOF describes a video signal that is modified so that a television receiver will still provide a normal color picture from the modified video signal while a videotape recording of the modified video signal produces generally unacceptable pictures (incorporated by reference).", "The '603 invention relies on the fact that typical videocassette recorder's automatic gain control systems cannot distinguish between the normal sync pulses (including equalizing or broad pulses) of a conventional video signal and added pseudo-sync pulses.", "Pseudo-sync pulses are defined here as pulses which extend down to a normal sync tip level and which have a duration of a least 0.5 microseconds.", "A plurality of such pseudo-sync pulses is added to the conventional video during the vertical blanking interval, and each of such pseudo-sync pulses is followed by a positive pulse of suitable amplitude and duration.", "As a result, the automatic gain control system in a video-tape recorder will make a fake measurement of video level which causes an improper recording of the video signal.", "The result is unacceptable picture quality during playback.", "U.S. Pat. No. 4,819,098 ('098) by Ryan, issued on Apr. 4, 1989 entitled METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CLUSTERING MODIFICATIONS MADE TO A VIDEO SIGNAL TO INHIBIT THE MAKING OF ACCEPTABLE VIDEOTAPE RECORDING describes a signal modification so that a television monitor receiver still produces a normal picture from the modified signal, whereas a videotape recording of this signal produces generally unacceptable pictures and is incorporated by reference.", "Videotape recorders have an automatic gain control circuit which measures the sync level in a video signal and develops a gain correction for keeping the video level applied to an FM modulator in the videotape recording system at a fixed, predetermined value.", "A plurality of positive pulses are added to a video signal with each immediately following a respective trailing edge of a normally occurring sync pulse.", "These added pulses are clustered at the vertical blanking interval of each field to minimize the affect of the same on the viewability of the picture defined by the signal while still causing the automatic level control circuit in a recorder to assess the video level at many times its actual value.", "The sync pulses themselves can also be at a reduced level, in order to enhance the effectiveness of the process.", "U.S. Pat. No. 4,695,901 ('901) by Ryan, issued on Oct. 2, 1990 entitled METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR REMOVING PSEUDO-SYNC AND/OR AN AGC PULSES FROM A VIDEO SIGNAL describes removing pseudo-sync pulses and AGC pulses that have been added to a video signal to enable acceptable video recording thereof and is hereby incorporated by reference.", "The added signals previously interfered with acceptable video recording of the video signal because the automatic gain control of videotape recorders sensed false recording levels, while conventional television receivers were unaffected by those modifications to the video signal.", "Removal of the added pulses permits acceptable video recording of the previously modified video signal.", "A selectively-operable clipping circuit is used to remove selected negative-value components (i.e. pseudo-sync pulses)from the video signal, while added AGC pulses are effectively blanked from the video signal with an electrically-operated switch.", "Both the blanking and clipping functions are selectively achieved by sensing both the normal sync pulses of the video signal and the added pseudo-sync pulses.", "Method and apparatus are disclosed for "cleaning up"", "video signals modified by either the pseudo-sync pulses alone, the AGC pulses alone, or combinations thereof.", "U.S. Pat. No. 4,336,554 ('554) by Okada et al.", ", issued on Jan. 21, 1992 entitled CODE SIGNAL BLANKING APPARATUS (incorporated by reference) describes a code signal blanking apparatus comprising a switching means operative during a given period of a vertical blanking period of a television signal and a reference level setting means for producing an output of the reference level during said given period when the switching circuit is operative.", "U.S. Pat. No. 5,194,965 ('965) by Quan et al.", ", issued on Mar. 16, 1993 entitled METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DISABLING ANTI-COPY PROTECTION SYSTEM IN VIDEO SIGNALS describes a method and apparatus for disabling the effect of copy-protection signals placed in a recording video signals which is based on differences in the characteristics of television and VCR circuitry and is hereby incorporated by reference.", "Copy-protect signals include pseudo-sync pulses and/or added AGC pulses in the blanking interval of a video signal.", "The specific method described includes altering the level of the video signal during the vertical blanking interval, e.g. level-shifting, so as to render the copy-protect signals ineffective to prevent unauthorized copying by a VCR.", "A circuit for achieving the method includes a sync separator for detecting the vertical blanking interval, pulse generating circuits for producing pulses of predetermined widths during the interval, and a summing circuit for summing the predetermined pulses with copy-protect signals thereby to shift their level.", "An alternative method includes increasing the effective frequency and / or narrowing of the copy-protect signals during the vertical blanking interval so as to achieve attenuation and/or low-pass filtering in the VCR circuitry to thereby render the signals ineffective in preventing copying.", "A circuit for achieving this method includes pulse narrowing and/or pulse multiplication circuitry which effectively increases the high-frequency content of the pseudo-sync and/or AGC pulses.", "U.S. Pat. No. 5,157,510 ('510) by Quan et al.", ", issued on Oct. 20, 1992 entitled METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DISABLING ANTI-COPY PROTECTION SYSTEM IN VIDEO SIGNALS USING PULSE NARROWING describes method and apparatus for disabling the effects of copy-protect signals added to a video signal using differences in the characteristics of television and VCR circuitry (incorporated by reference).", "Copy-protect signals as described include pseudo-sync pulses and/or added AGC pulses in the vertical blanking intervals of a video signal.", "The specific method described includes increasing the effective frequency of the copy-protect signals during the vertical blanking intervals so as to achieve attenuation and/or low pass filtering in the VCR circuitry to thereby render the signals ineffective in preventing copying.", "A circuit for achieving this method comprises pulse narrowing and/or pulse multiplication circuitry which effectively increases the high-frequency content of the pseudo-sync and/or AGC pulses.", "U.S. patent application 5,625,691 ('691) entitled "VIDEO COPY PROTECTION PROCESS ENHANCEMENT AND VERTICAL PICTURE DISTORTIONS,"", "by Quan issued on Apr. 29, 1997 which is incorporated by reference, discloses defeating the affects of the signal generated by the '603 patent by modifying the relative amplitudes of the pseudo sync pulses to the normal sync pulse so that synchronizing pulse detection system within a recorder will only detect the normal synchronizing pulses, thus permitting normal recording of said copy protection signal.", "U.S. patent application 5,633,927 ('927) entitled "VIDEO COPY PROTECTION PROCESS ENHANCEMENT AND VERTICAL PICTURE DISTORTIONS,"", "by Quan issued on May 27, 1997 which is incorporated by reference, discloses various defeat mechanisms the affects of the signal generated by the '603 patent to permit normal recording of said copy protection signal.", "U.S. Pat. No. 4,907,093 ('093) entitled "Method and Apparatus for Preventing The Copying of a Video Program,"", "which is incorporated by reference, discloses a method and apparatus for detecting the ordered pairs of pseudo-sync pulses and AGC pulses described in the '603 patent and disabling the recording function of a video cassette recorder.", "The '093 patent discloses several detection methods.", "Additionally, U.S. Pat. No. 4,571,615 ('615) entitled "TIMING GENERATOR FOR SYNC SUPPRESSED TELEVISION SIGNALS,"", "by Robbins et al.", "issued on Feb. 18, 1986 which is incorporated by reference, discloses a timing signal generator for recovering timing signals in scrambled video signals in which the synchronizing signals are suppressed including a detector responsive to the color burst or chroma in the horizontal blanking interval signal contained on the back porch of a suppressed horizontal blanking interval.", "The vertical interval is detected as the absence of color burst or chroma in the horizontal blanking interval for a specified time interval, and horizontal sync information is obtained by the detection of the first color burst or chroma in the horizontal blanking interval after an absence of color burst or chroma in the horizontal blanking interval.", "All of the defeat methods described in the referenced defeat patents use the vertical and horizontal synchronizing pulses to determine the location of the copy protection signals within a copy protected video signal.", "There is a need for copy protection defeat mechanisms that do not rely on the horizontal and vertical synchronizing pulses to determine the location of the copy protection signals within a copy protected video signal.", "SUMMARY The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus that use the color burst or chroma in the horizontal blanking interval signal to determine the location of the copy protection signals within a copy protected video signal.", "The invention contains two basic elements: a method and apparatus for locating the copy protection signals using a color burst or chroma in the horizontal blanking interval signal;", "and a generic method and apparatus for modifying the copy protection signals in at least some of those lines and / or copy protection pulses whereby an acceptable video recording of the video signal can be made.", "The "generic"", "way of defeating or effectively eliminating the effects of the copy protection pulses is called "Circuit ACP".", ""Circuit ACP"", "is controlled by the pseudo sync AGC pulse pixel location circuit that uses the color burst or chroma on the horizontal blanking interval signal as a trigger element as described above.", "This "Circuit ACP"", "eliminates or reduces the effectiveness of the copy protection signals while in the digital domain by: a) Level shifting and/or pulse narrowing and/or pulse attenuation as described in 4,695,901 ('901) Ryan, 5,194,965 ('965) and 5,157,510 ('510) Quan et al.", "(all referenced above and incorporated by reference);", "Normal composite sync replacement;", "c) Increased normal composite sync size that is larger in amplitude than the pseudo sync such that sync separators will not detect pseudo syncs (as disclosed in the '965 patent and the '283 application discussed above and both incorporated by reference);", "d) Replacement of at least part of pseudo AGC locations with a signal (i.e. flat field) such that a recordable copy is possible.", "Several different circuits that can be used within "Circuit ACP"", "are described.", "The methods and apparatusses for removing or defeating effects of copy protection signals include modifying less than all of the lines in which the copy protection signals are present, but sufficient of the lines so that the acceptable video recording can be made.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS With reference to the accompanying drawings: FIG. 1 shows the vertical interval of standard NTSC video signal;", "FIG. 2 shows a copy protected signal including pseudo sync pulses and AGC pulses as described in the '603 patent;", "FIG. 3 shows a copy protection signal as described in the '098 patent;", "FIG. 4 shows a general block diagram of a first embodiment of the invention;", "FIG. 5 shows a voltage controlled amplifier or modulator embodiment of "Circuit ACP"", "depicted in FIG. 4;", "FIG. 6 shows a switch to modify copy protection pulses as another embodiment of "Circuit ACP"", "depicted in FIG. 4;", "FIG. 7 shows a summing amplifier embodiment of "Circuit ACP"", "depicted in FIG. 4;", "FIG. 8 shows a combination of circuits as shown in FIGS. 5, 6, and 7;", "and FIG. 9 shows a block diagram of a second embodiment of the invention.", "DETAILED DESCRIPTION The principal object of the invention is to locate and defeat or reduce the effectiveness of copy protection signals.", "FIG. 1 shows the vertical interval of standard NTSC video signal.", "Note that the color burst or chroma in the horizontal blanking interval signal is not present during the first nine lines of each field.", "As discussed above there are two basic type of copy protection signals that are commonly present in video signals.", "The first includes signals in the Vertical Blanking portion of the video signal.", "The second which will be discussed below includes copy protection signals in the Back Porch portion of the video signal.", "FIG. 2 shows a one horizontal line within a vertical blanking interval of the copy protection signal including pseudo sync pulses and AGC pulses as described in the '603 patent.", "The key element of this signal as described in the '603 patent is the relationship of the pseudo sync pulse with the AGC Pulse.", "This relationship is the cause of the AGC disturbance in a recorder recording the copy protected signal.", "The elements of these copy protection signals are the combination of either a pseudo sync or a regular sync pulse with an AGC pulse.", "These pairs sync and AGC pulses are designed to cause the AGC circuitry in a recorder to miscalculate the proper gain setting and thus make an inferior recording.", "The primary object of the embodiments discussed below is to locate the copy protection signal using the Color Burst Signal and to modify a copy protected signal to reduce or eliminate the effects of the copy protection signals.", "FIG. 3 shows a commercial embodiment of the copy protection signal as described in the '098 patent.", "This signal is placed on several horizontal lines prior to the pre-equalizing pulses of the vertical interval in each field.", "The combination of these pulses with the pulses in FIG. 2 increases the effectiveness of the copy protection without reducing the playability of the signal on a display device.", "FIG. 4 is an over all block diagram of an embodiment of the invention.", "This embodiment comprises two primary elements.", "The first of these is a novel pseudo sync AGC pulse location circuit that unlike that of the '901, '965, '510 patents.", "The second is a "generic"", "Circuit ACP"", "that modifies the copy protection signal under the control of a control pulses generated by the location circuitry.", "As discussed above, the referenced patents use the vertical and horizontal synchronizing signals within the video signal to detect the location of the copy protection pulses.", "The present invention senses color burst or chroma in the horizontal blanking interval to detect the copy protection pulses.", "As noted above, the color burst or chroma in the horizontal blanking interval signal is not present in the first nine lines of each field.", "The copy protection pulses are in known locations relative to the period containing no color burst or chroma in the horizontal blanking interval signals.", "Each of the embodiments in the '901, 510 and '965 patents use sync separators, one shot timing circuits, logic, counters and digital line location.", "An embodiment as described in FIG. 4 shows a novel pseudo sync AGC pulse location circuit that unlike '901, '965, and '501 patents, does not sense sync pulses to locate the copy protection pulses.", "Instead the embodiment of FIG. 4 relies on color burst or chroma in the horizontal blanking interval.", "Device 10 has an Copy Protected Input Video Signal 12 which is inputted to a "Circuit ACP"", "14 and to a Chroma Band Pass Amplifier 16.", "Chroma Band Pass Amplifier 16 separates the chroma signal from the luminance signal.", "The Band Passed Chroma Signal 18 is coupled to Envelope Detector Amplifier 20.", "As shown in FIG. 1, the color burst or chroma in the horizontal blanking interval signal is missing for about 9 lines in the vertical blanking interval.", "The circuitry of FIG. 4 takes advantage of this.", "The output of Chroma Envelope Detector Amplifier 20 is coupled to Non-retriggerable One Shot 22 (timing circuit) of about 52 microseconds to 54 microseconds (less than one TV line).", "This insures that the output of this circuit triggers off only burst and not chroma in the active TV line and field.", "The output of the Chroma Envelope Detector Amplifier 20 goes also to a Re-triggerable One Shot 24 (timing circuit) of about 70 microseconds (greater than one line), an interval that must be greater than 1 TV line but preferably less than 2 TV lines (less than 126 microseconds).", "The output of this 70 microsecond one shot is a pulse high from about line 10 to the end of the TV field (and possible high for 1 line into the next TV field).", "Since the AGC pulses and Pseudo sync pulses are known to be for lines 10 through 16 or 20, a 6-10 TV Line One Shot 26 triggers of the low to high transition of the 70 microsecond one shot into Logical `AND` Circuit 28 with the 52-54 microsecond one shot output (active pixel location) that produces Pseudo sync AGC Pulse pixel and line location pulses suitable to control `Circuit ACP` as to attenuate, clip, blank, level shift, enlarge normal sync pulses relative pseudo sync pulses, narrow and modify the copy protection pulses sufficiently as to allow a recordable copy into a video tape recorder.", "Note the concepts of FIG. 4, while in the analog domain, also apply in the digital domain.", "The second portion of FIG. 4 is the use of Control Pulse 30 to control the modification of the copy protection signals within Circuit ACP 14.", "In each of the embodiments below, the Copy Protected Video 12 is inputted to a first input of Circuit ACP as signal to be modified by Circuit ACP 14.", "A second input of Circuit ACP is the above mention Control Signal 30.", "A first embodiment of Circuit ACP 14 uses a voltage controlled amplifier or modulator to for instance, increase the gain during the normal composite sync pulses and video outside the VBI but excluding the pseudo syncs.", "During the pseudo sync and/or AGC pulses the gain can be turned down.", "This is done via Control Signal 30.", "FIG. 5 shows Circuit ACP 14 with such a voltage controlled amplifier.", "Copy Protection Video 12 is inputted to an input of Voltage Controlled Amplifier 34.", "Control Signal 30 is inputted to the control element of Voltage Controlled Amplifier 34.", "This produces a voltage controlled output 32 that will perform the various function described above.", "The use of the voltage controlled amplifier is used to change the relative position of the pseudo sync pulses to the normal sync pulses (for example) as shown in FIG. 3(e) of the '965 patent (incorporated by reference).", "The changing of the relative position of the normal sync pulses to the pseudo sync pulses will cause a recorder to not respond to the pseudo sync pulses.", "This is discussed further at Column 4, lines 22-29 of the '965 patent.", "Another embodiment (FIG.", "6) of Circuit ACP 14 uses a switch and a signal generator to modify the copy protected added pulses.", "For instance if, the signal generator produces a signal representing a blanking level, the control signal can be used to replace the added pulses with a signal that allows a recordable copy.", "The signal generator may be used to generate any signal including random noise or a test signal, or some variations of the input signal may include a modified version (i.e. narrowed pseudo sync pulses or AGC pulses, level shifted copy protected pulses, enlarged sync pulses and / or a filtered version of the copy protection pulses may be used (i.e. bandpass, low pass, high pass) so as to produce distorted copy protection pulses.", "This signal would replace or modify the copy protection signals so as to allow a recordable copy.", "FIG. 6 shows Circuit ACP 14 with such a switch generator combination.", "Video Copy Signal 12 containing copy protection pulses is inputted to an input of Switch 38.", "Control Signal 30 is inputted to the control element of Switch 38.", "The second signal input to Switch 38 is a Video Signal 40 which is generated by Generator 42.", "The use of the Switch 38 and Generator 42 replaces the Copy Protection pulses within Video Input 12 with a blanking level signal or some other signal i.e. modified part or all of copy protection signals or test signal, thus permitting a normal recording of the Video Input Signal 12 by a recorder.", "A fourth embodiment of Circuit ACP 14 uses a summing circuit to level shift the pseudo syncs such that the VCR's circuitry does not sense the level shifted pseudo syncs.", "Thus, a recordable copy can be made.", "Preferably there is no or little effect during the normal composite sync pulses and video outside the VBI but excluding the pseudo syncs.", "During the pseudo sync and/or AGC pulses the level can be turned varied.", "This is done via Control Signal 30.", "FIG. 7 shows Circuit ACP 14 with such a summing circuit.", "Copy Protection Video 12 is inputted to an input of a summing circuit 44.", "Control Signal 30 is inputted to the control element of Summing Circuit 44.", "This produces a level shifted output that will perform the various function described above.", "The use of the level shifting signal is used to change the relative position of the pseudo sync pulses to the normal sync pulses as shown in FIG. 3(e) of the '965 patent (incorporated by reference).", "The changing of the relative position of the normal sync pulses to the pseudo sync pulses will cause the AGC system within a recorder to not respond sufficiently to the pseudo sync pulses.", "This is discussed further at Column 4, lines 22-29 of the '965 patent.", "FIG. 8 shows a combination of the various Circuit ACP embodiments described above in one package.", "These include Summing Circuit 44, Voltage Controlled Amplifier 34 and a combination of Switch 38 and Voltage Generator 42 and narrowing via the Control Alt signal into SW99 and nulling (attenuation via SW9 and Sum 9.", "The control signal is a logic high representing at least a portion of the time when AGC and or portion of the time when AGC and / or pseudo sync pulses are on.", "Other "circuit ACP"", "variations can be circuits that turn logic high by sensing the copy protected video's AGC and pseudo sync pulses.", "Then using timing generators to output pulses shorter in duration of the AGC and pseudo syncs, which in turn is used to narrow the video's AGC pulses and pseudo sync pulses.", "Of course the copy protection pulses may also be a combination of narrowing, attenuation, level shifting and or modification(i.e. replacement).", "The embodiments discussed above have been to locate copy protection signals within the vertical blanking interval and to modify the copy protection signals as to eliminate them or make them less effective in copy protection.", "The '098 and '603 patents also disclose copy protection techniques located on one or more lines within the back porch of a video signal.", "The general concepts of the instant invention can be used to eliminate or reduce the effectiveness of these signals.", "FIG. 9 shows an embodiment to detect the position of the copy protection pulses as depicted in the '098 patent.", "A very simple example would be to couple the chroma envelope pulse from the Chroma Pulse Detector directly to Circuit ACP.", "However, a more reliable method is shown in FIG. 9 in Device 50.", "As above, the present embodiment senses color burst or chroma in the horizontal blanking interval to detect the copy protection pulses.", "As noted above, the color burst or chroma in the horizontal blanking interval signal is not present in the first nine lines of each field.", "The copy protection pulses are in known locations relative to the period containing no color burst or chroma in the horizontal blanking interval signals.", "Device 50 has an Copy Protected Input Video Signal 12 which is inputted to a "Circuit ACP"", "14 and to a Chroma Band Pass Amplifier 16.", "Chroma Band Pass Amplifier 16 separates the chroma signal from the luminance signal.", "The Band Passed Chroma Signal 18 is coupled to Envelope Detector Amplifier 20 to generate a Chroma Envelope Pulse.", "As shown in FIG. 1, the color burst or chroma in the horizontal blanking interval signal is missing for about 9 lines in the vertical blanking interval.", "The circuitry of FIG. 9 takes advantage of this.", "The output of Chroma Envelope Detector Amplifier 20 is coupled to One Shot 54 (timing circuit) of about 200 to 250 TV lines.", "A One Shot 64 triggers off One Shot 54's output to generate a pulse coincident with the pulses described in the '098 patent.", "These lines are, for example, the last three lines of the field.", "This insures that the output of this circuit triggers off the area of the picture known to have copy protection signals within the Back Porch of the video signal.", "The width of these pulses can be made adjustable to accommodate variations of copy protection systems that may incorporate copy protection pulses over greater portions of the picture than presently used.", "The outputs of Retriggerable One Shot 64 and the Chroma Envelope Detector Amplifier 20 are coupled into Logical `AND` Circuit 28 that produces Back Porch AGC Pulse pixel to control `Circuit ACP` as to attenuate, clip, blank, replace or level shift the copy protection pulses as to allow a recordable copy into a video tape recorder.", "Circuit ACP can be used in this embodiment to level shift the copy protection pulse, limit the bandwidth to pass only chroma or replace the copy protection pulse with a normal color burst and blanking level.", "It should be noted that in each modification embodiment, only a sufficient part of the copy protection signal is needed to be modified to produce a defeat of the copy protection signals.", "This means a portion of the pseudo sync and or AGC pulses as described in Ryan '603 and '098, combined with a sufficient number of added pulse pairs and lines of occurrence.", "This disclosure is illustrative and not limiting.", "All discussion in this specification have referenced the NTSC format.", "However, the concepts are equally applicable to the PAL and SECAM formats.", "Further modifications will be apparent to one skilled in the art and are intended to fall within the scope of the appended claims." ]

[ "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The invention relates generally to a positive collector electrode for batteries with alkaline electrolytes and a process for producing it.", "DE-OS No. 35 02 108 has disclosed a positive collector electrode, whose active material comprises a double hydroxide of the general formula [M.", "sup[.", "].2+.", "sub.", "( 1-x)Fe.", "sup[.", "].3+ x(OH).", "sub[.", "].2 ].", "sup.", "x+ [(x/n)X.", "sup.", "n-, yH.", "sub[.", "].2 O].", "sup.", "x- in which the transient parameter x can assume values between 0.05 and 0.4, M 2+ is an oxidizable and reducible cation, and X n- is at least any desirable anion species serving for charge compensation of the complex double hydroxide-type cation.", "M 2+ is perferably Ni 2+ or Co 2+ , while X n- may be the anions NO 3- , SO 4 2- or CO 3 2- .", "The effort to stem the harmful effect of iron contamination on the function of the nickel electrode lead to the discovery of this double hydroxide and the idea that it should be used as the active material for positive electrodes in alkaline Ni-Fe batteries.", "In the case of the Edison battery, the principal source of iron contamination is, of course, its negative iron/iron hydroxide electrode.", "Additionally the various electrode reinforcements in Ni/Cd batteries, whether they are supports made of nickel-plated steel strip or nickel-plated steel fiber mats, will also give rise to the release of iron, as soon as the nickel plating has became defective or porous.", "The harmful effect of iron is manifested by a reduction of the charging efficiency of the nickel electrode in a state of electrode oxidation that does not correspond to full charging.", "This effect is assumed to be caused by the electrophoretic deposition of colloidal iron aquoxide particles containing trivalent iron or iron of lower valency on the nickel hydroxide surface during the charging process, since these particles impart a lower oxygen overvoltage to the electrode.", "As a result, the electrode takes up less charge.", "DE-OS No. 35 20 108 discusses some of the reference sources which prove this hypothesis and also explains the formation of the iron aquoxide particles.", "The close crystal chemical similarity to the mineral pyroaurite is very significant for this known double hydroxide;", "they have the same double layer structure and analogous composition, and the position of M 2+ in the complex cation is occupied by Mg 2+ and 1/nX n-1 by 1/2CO 3 2- .", "This double layer structure (cf.", "Allmann, R.: Chimia 24, 99-108 (1970)) derives from the fracture lattice of Beta-Ni(OH) 2 and thereby the nickel layers in the M(OH) 2 layers (M=Ni) can also be occupied in a statistical distribution by other cations M 2+ and M 3+ so long as they are approximately of equal size.", "The charge excess introduced by the highly charged trivalent metal cations into the principal layers is now equalized by the X - anions.", "This charge equalization is facilitated by the hydroxyl ions of a principal layer which carry a charge -1 due to a reduction of their bond strength corresponding to a charge <1, because of the altered environment of M 2+ and M 3+ ions.", "This enables these hydroxyl ions to compensate charges >1, and for the H atom of an M--OH bond, to be partially bound by another strong negative atom X. The result of this is the formation of hydrogen bridges O--H .", "X. Together with H 2 O molecules, X - ions are pushed between the original brucite layers, so that an ionic structure with a succession of principal layers consisting of [M 2+ 1-x M 3+ x(OH) 2 ] x+ -layer cations and [x/nX n- , yH 2 O] x- intermediate layer anions (hence "double layer structure") is formed.", "It was demonstrated by experiments carried out with electrochemical test cells of the Ni/Fe or Ni/Cd system that electrodes were immune to iron contamination when produced from such a double hydroxide, that is with the empirical composition of Ni 4 Fe(OH) 10 NO 3 (which is obtained according to the general formula presented earlier) if x=0.2, when used in place of ordinary nickel hydroxide electrodes.", "This insensitivity was shown by the fact that the current efficiencies in the cycling experiment were higher from the beginning in the case of double hydroxide electrodes and decreased much less with increasing cycling duration than in the case of the corresponding reference electrodes comprising of 100% iron-free Ni(OH) 2 .", "A similar behavior was also shown by double hydroxide electrodes which contained SO 4 or CO 3 , instead of NO 3 , which had been prepared by simultaneous precipitation of Ni 2+ and Fe 3+ ions from solutions of the corresponding metal salts by potassium hydroxide, and in which nickel sulfate or nickel carbonate was used as the starting material, in addition to the corresponding iron compounds.", "It was also found that the percentage of Ni calculated as pure Ni(OH) 2 in the double hydroxide ensures, at least at the beginning of the cycling test, a current efficiency that is very close to the theoretical Faraday efficiency of 289 mAh/g Ni(OH) 2 .", "This suggest that the nickel is charged to a state beyond the trivalent state in the presence of iron, which does not itself participate in the redox processes.", "The behavior of the positive double hydroxide electrode, which is evidently unaffected by the harmful effects of iron, was taken into account in naming the "siderophile electrode"", "(siderophile =iron-friendly).", "Nevertheless, better capacity utilization during longer cycle lives, which is of great practical interest, has continued to be desirable.", "SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is a principal object of the present invention to provide a positive collector electrode which has improved current efficiency or capacity utilization after increased and prolonged charge/discharge operation.", "It is also an object of the invention to provide a positive collector electrode which is unaffected by the harmful effects of iron such as iron contamination (i.e., siderophile electrode).", "It is also an object of the invention to provide processes for producing the positive collector electrode.", "In accordance with the present invention, these and other objects are achieved in positive collector electrodes with alkaline electrolytes by providing an active paste in the non-charged state which comprises a double hydroxide of the general formula [M.", "sup[.", "].2+.", "sub.", "(1-x) Fe.", "sup[.", "].3+ x(OH).", "sub[.", "].2 ].", "sup.", "x+ [(x/n)X.", "sup.", "n-, yH.", "sub[.", "].2 O].", "sup.", "x- in which the transient parameter x can assume values between 0.05 and 0.4, M 2+ is an oxidizable and reducible cation, and X n- is an anion serving for charge compensation of the complex double hydroxide-type cation, wherein X n- is formed at least partly by PO 4 3- or HPO 4 2- .", "The double hydroxide is formed by precipitating the M and Fe double hydroxide in the presence of PO 4 -3 from a salt solution with alkali.", "The improvement in the constancy of the discharge capacity at a high level over many cycles of the electrode disclosed in this invention over Cd/Cd(OH) 2 electrodes is evident.", "Further detail regarding a preferred positive collector electrode and processes for producing it in accordance with the present invention may be had with reference to the detailed description provided below.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The single FIGURE provided illustrates the contents of Table 2 in graphic form, showing a comparison of the discharge capacities of various double hydroxide positive electrodes as a function of cycle number.", "DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS This invention calls for a positive collector electrode where active material consists of a double hydroxide of the general formula [M.", "sup[.", "].2+.", "sub.", "(1-x) Fe.", "sup[.", "].3+ x(OH).", "sub[.", "].2 ].", "sup.", "x+ [(x/n)X.", "sup.", "n-, yH.", "sub[.", "].2 O].", "sup.", "x- in which the transient parameter x can assume values between 0.05 and 0.4, M 2+ is an oxidizable and reducible cation, and X n- is an anion formed at least partly by PO 4 3- or HPO 4 2- .", "When X n- is formed by PO 4 3- in a molar percentage of 30%-100% surprisingly favorable results are obtained.", "A particularly advantageous effect is achieved with PO 4 -3 accounting for between 40% and 60% of X n- .", "In a preferred embodiment of the invention the active material of the collector electrode is a double hydroxide according to the formula presented above where PO 4 3- accounts for about half the anion X n- , with the other half accounted for by another anion species, e.g., SO 4 2- .", "Thus, it should be noted that the objects of the invention are accomplished when X -n is formed at least partly by PO 4 -3 and HPO 4 -2 .", "In another preferred embodiment of the invention the above presented double hydroxide formula is obtained if the transient parameter x is 0.2 and M 2+ is Ni 2+ or Co 2+ .", "Further according to the present invention, a M, Fe double hydroxide such as a Ni,Fe double hydroxide, is prepared by simultaneous precipitation of Ni 2+ and Fe 3+ ions in the presence of PO 4 3- ions from a salt solution with alkali.", "For example, a phosphoric acid solution of nickel sulfate and iron sulfate is used whose molar ratio is selected such that a Ni/Fe atom ratio between 95/5 and 60/40, preferably about 80/20, is obtained in the double hydroxide, depending on the desired composition of the precipitate (0.05≦x≦0.4).", "The molar ratio of the Ni 2+ and Fe 3+ ions in the precipitating solution is consequently between 19:1 and 1.5:1.", "For example, in a laboratory experiment, a solution of nickel sulfate (0.763 mole/L) and iron (III) sulfate (0.191 mole/L) acidified with phosphoric acid H 3 PO 4 (0.191 mole/L) was precipitated with potassium hydroxide (5.52 moles/L) in a collector that contained potassium sulfate (0.76 mole/L).", "A multiple-neck glass flask containing an aqueous KOH solution with the pH value selected for precipitation was used to carry out the precipitation under the conditions of pH=12.5 and temperature =304-306 K. The solution was stabilized at 305 K by a thermostat.", "A carbonate-free 1-3 M KOH solution was injected by means of diaphragm pumps into the flask together with the PO 4 solution containing the metal salt while stirring.", "Deviations of the pH value from the nominal value of 12.5 were automatically corrected with dilute potassium hydroxide or 1 M phosphoric acid to a permissible variation of ±0.1 pH units.", "The suspension was stirred for another eight to ten hours after the end of the precipitation.", "The reaction product was subsequently transferred through a flexible tube directly into a glove box swept with nitrogen.", "The reaction product was then filled into closeable centrifuge beakers made of polypropylene and centrifuged in a laboratory centrifuge outside the glove box for ten minutes at 3,000 rpm.", "After the specimens had been washed approximately four times with either a KOH solution having the pH value of the precipitation reaction or with twice-distilled water, the purified product was introduced into a desiccator inside the glove box and dried at room temperature for three days under a pressure of 10 mbars.", "The precipitation of the double hydroxide can also be carried out under conditions where the precipitation is carried out at the pH value of the isoelectric point of the hydroxide of the M 2+ ion actually used.", "The preferred reaction temperature of 304-306 K is stabilized against temperature fluctuations exceeding ±1 K by a thermostat in this case as well.", "Porous sintered bodies as electrode supports can also be impregnated with the double hydroxide as the active positive material.", "Analagous to the prior-art technology of the manufacture of self-baking foil electrodes, collector electrodes are obtained by single-time or repeated impregnation of the sintered skeleton with the H 3 PO 4 -acidified metal salt solution containing Ni 2+ or Co 2+ and Fe 3+ and subsequent immersion into an alkali solution.", "Carrying out the impregnation with a melt of the two metal salts in phosphoric acid and precipitating the double hydroxide by alkalization after solidification of the melt also falls within the scope of the present invention.", "Finally, impregnation with aqueous metal salt solutions also makes it possible to carry out precipitation in self-baking electrodes according to an electrochemical method.", "The porous sintered body is connected as the cathode during the electrolysis process.", "Hydrogen ions are thus consumed and the cations present in the pores are precipitated in the form of the double hydroxide.", "The double hydroxide produced according to the procedure described above can be described by the empirical formula [Ni.", "sub[.", "].4 Fe(OH).", "sub[.", "].10 ][1/2 SO.", "sub[.", "].4.", "sup[.", "].2- ;1/3 PO.", "sub[.", "].4.", "sup[.", "].3- ;1/2 HPO.", "sub[.", "].4.", "sup[.", "].2-.", "aq].", "The results of the chemical analysis of the preparation are shown in Table 1.", "The reference substance is Beta-Ni(OH) 2 .", "The chemical analysis reveals a composition of the electrodes close to the ideal composition of the pyroaurite type.", "It was possible to characterize the double hydroxide according to the invention by its X-ray diffractogram (CuKalpha radiation), in addition to the chemical analysis.", "The X-ray diffractogram shows pyroaurite-type broadened peaks.", "The lattice constants are on the order of magnitude characteristic of this structural type: a=308 pm, c=2,418 pm.", "Thus the diffractogram indicates the structural type of pyroaurite in which the lattice constants are in the characteristic dimensional range for this structural type.", "TABLE 1__________________________________________________________________________ ChemicalTheoretically calculated % Wt.", "% found of compositionSpecimen of Ni.", "sup[.", "].2+ Fe.", "sup[.", "].3+ SO.", "sub[.", "].4.", "sup[.", "].2- PO.", "sub[.", "].4.", "sup[.", "].3- Ni.", "sup[.", "].2+ Fe.", "sup[.", "].3+ SO.", "sub[.", "].4.", "sup[.", "].2- PO.", "sub[.", "].4.", "sup[.", "].3- molar ratio__________________________________________________________________________Ni/Fe/PO.", "sub[.", "].4 43.5 10.3 8.9 5.9 38.0 8.7 6.5 5.8 4.1:1:0.4:0.", "Ni(OH).", "sub[.", "].2 68.7__________________________________________________________________________ To investigate the electrochemical behavior and especially the iron resistance of the double hydroxide of the present invention, the specific discharge capacities (mAh/g) were measured during cyclic charging and discharging and compared to those of other double hydroxides in which X n- is not PO 4 -3 (desginated below by the short formulas Ni/Fe-SO 4 or Ni/Fe-NO 3 ).", "The reference substances were fully analoguous to the test substance, but they were prepared using metal salt solutions in sulfuric acid or nitric acid instead of phosphoric acid.", "The Ni/Fe atomic ratio of 80/20 was the same in all substances.", "Test tubes with a length of about 10 cm and a diameter of 1 cm, which contained a mixture of 2.9 g test substance and 7 g nickel powder as the conducting material, with a nickel rod acting as the drain wire, were used as experimental electrodes.", "These experimental electrodes were placed in the center of a Plexiglas cylinder whose inside was lined with oversized negative counterelectrodes.", "The counterelectrode was either a heavily corroded Fe/Fe(OH) 2 electrode to forcibly produce iron poisoning or a Cd/Cd(OH) 2 electrode of the sintered foil type.", "The electrolyte used was a 30% KOH solution.", "The current conditions were kept the same: charging with 100 mA for 600 or 700 minutes and discharging with mA currents until reaching a cell voltage of 1 V or a potential of 0.1 V against Hg/HgO.", "While the Ni/Fe-PO 4 electrode of this invention showed the same behavior with respect to the negative Fe/Fe(OH) 2 electrode as the Ni/Fe-SO 4 electrode and the Ni/Fe-NO 3 electrode, its specific discharge capacities with the Cd/Cd(OH) 2 counterelectrode were much higher than that of the electrodes not corresponding to the present invention.", "These measurements are reviewed in Table 2.", "TABLE 2______________________________________Comparison of the discharge capacity (mAh/g)of the Ni/Fe--PO.", "sub[.", "].4 electrode with the Ni/Fe--SO.", "sub[.", "].4and Ni/Fe--NO.", "sub[.", "].3 electrodes.", "Ni/Fe--PO.", "sub[.", "].4 (according to the invention) Ni/Fe--SO.", "sub[.", "].4 Ni/Fe--NO.", "sub[.", "].4Cycle No. mAh/g mAh/g mAh/g______________________________________10 196 234 20930 209 214 17250 239 199 16470 234 185 155100 222 168 --150 219 -- --______________________________________ The figure shows the contents of Table 2 as a graph.", "In the figure: n=cycle No. c(mAh/g)=specific discharge capacity 1=[Ni 4 Fe(OH) 10 ][NO 3 -.", "aq] as the positive electrode 2=[Ni 4 Fe(OH) 10 ][1/2 SO 4 2- .", "aq] as the positive electrode 3=[Ni 4 Fe(OH) 10 ][≃ SO 4 2- ;", "1/3 PO 4 3- ;", "1/2 HPO 4 2- .", "aq] as the positive electrode (according to the invention).", "The substantially higher cycling stability of the phosphate-containing electrode is seen to be remarkable.", "Consequently, this electrode offers a decisive advantage over the other electrodes with SO 4 2- or NO 3 - in the double hydroxide intermediate layer.", "Another advantage is the fact that the double hydroxide paste of the invention can be manufactured with a greater tolerance, and concentrated solutions can be used.", "What is more, the siderophile nature or immunity of this phosphate containing electrode remains unchanged.", "As in the case of the other double hydroxides, up to 40 wt.", "% nickel hydroxide is saved.", "A final examination of the lattice energy may explain the pronounced "phosphate"", "effect or the "acid phosphate"", "effect of the siderophile mixed hydroxide electrode of the present invention.", "The electrochemical redox process in nickel hydroxide electrodes takes place as a proton/electron exchange mechanism.", "The proton exchange according to the chemical reaction Ni(OH) 2 NiOOH+e 31 +H + is only possible via the electrolytes.", "This mechanism is facilitate by the doping of the nickel hydroxide with M 3+ ions, since protonic states are only formed which are energetically distinguishable and which facilitate the proton exchange mechanism.", "As explained earlier in connection with the pyroaurite structure, the positive charge excess introduced into the principal layers causes a reduction of the bond strength of the hydroxyl ions of one principal layer, which leads, on the other hand, to stronger binding of the hydroxide H atom to one of the oxygen-containing anions located in the unordered intermediate layer, e.g., OH - , NO 3 - , SO 4 2- , PO 4 3- , as well as H 2 O. The formation of hydrogen bridges means an increase in the proton availability in the intermediate layers.", "In addition, the electron conductivity is increased by the presence of M 2+ and M 3+ in the same crystallographic sites.", "Because of the lower formal charging of the P atom of the PO 4 3- group compared to the higher formal charging of the S atom of the SO 4 2- group, the former form somewhat stronger hydrogen bridges than the latter.", "Since both SO 4 2- and PO 4 3- groups are incorporated in the anionic intermediate layer of the nickel hydroxide electrode described here, this intermediate layer will be characterized by a broader spectrum of proton energy states, which has a favorable effect on proton exchange.", "This is confirmed by the experiment.", "Consequently, protonic states which lower the working potential of the electrode are additionally introduced by PO 4 3- and HPO 4 2- , while the 0 2 separating potential remains unchanged;", "the phosphate acts as a "physical captor".", "This is another reason why the higher oxidation number of nickel in the phosphate-containing Ni/Fe hydroxide, represented by higher discharge capacities, is maintained over a much greater number of cycles than in the case of the NO 3- or SO 4 2- containing double hydroxides." ]

[ "PRIORITY [0001] This application claims priority of European application EP13196165 which was filed on Dec. 9, 2013, and the contents of which are fully incorporated herein by reference.", "FIELD OF INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates to the field of self-service parcel terminals, more specifically to the field of delivery, sending and receiving parcels, packages, mail and other postal objects.", "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] It is well-known, that there is a variety of different automated machines and terminals for postal objects, such as widely known automated machines for postal objects that have a separate locker for each parcel.", "Courier or parcel delivery person inserts the postal object to the locker of suitable size and enters the receiver.", "If the same locker has been addressed as the point of delivery for the recipient, the recipient is sent a message as an SMS or the like, and in order to pick up the parcel the recipient keys in the relevant code at the user interface upon which the door of the locker opens for the receiver to pick up their parcel.", "If a parcel terminal located elsewhere has been assigned as the pick-up place of the parcel, another courier comes to pick up the parcels, enters access code at the user interface or identifies their right to access in some other way, picks up parcels from each locker and takes them to the next automated machine where they insert each parcel into a separate locker after having gained access there.", "[0004] That kind of generally known solution has several drawbacks.", "Inserting the parcels by the courier and picking the parcels up by another courier or parcel recipient is slow because each locker must be opened and closed separately.", "When the parcels have been transferred from one courier to another and parcels for different recipients have been inserted together into one bigger locker there is a danger that a user may have access to unrelated parcels and upon picking parcels up or inserting them the user may mix the parcels up and one or more parcels may end up being delivered to the wrong person.", "In the case of different parcel senders and recipients, and also for security reasons separate lockers are preferred for each parcel which means that parcel terminals are too large in order to have enough capacity for a sufficient number of lockers.", "For example, using the service of parcel terminals is expensive at shopping and entertainment centers, sports facilities, airports, etc.", "because of expensive rented areas available there.", "However, it is not possible to build parcel terminals higher either because in such a case people of smaller height, or disabled people in wheelchairs would not be able to get their parcel from higher lockers, or some of the parcels are too heavy to be fitted into higher lockers, or to be picked up from these lockers.", "Another problem is, that since parcel terminals make maximum use of space, some of the lockers are, again, too low and that is what makes it complicated or even impossible for some users to pick up their parcels.", "Although well-known parcel terminals have lockers of different sizes, the number of lockers of less common sizes is smaller and so it may happen that upon arrival of a parcel there is no locker of that size available at the parcel terminal.", "That can easily happen due to the fact that during different seasons or at different locations parcels of varying sizes are posted.", "The identification of the user and granting access is uncomfortable in the case of several widely known solutions, or even insecure because the user must have a special access code, magnetic card or some other solution to be carried along with them in order to identify themselves and gain access.", "In the case when this identification tool is lost or stolen, the courier or the recipient gains no access to the parcel terminal or parcels and inserting as well as picking up parcels has been hampered.", "Similarly, in the case of the ID or access solution reaching into the hands of unrelated persons the recipient may not receive their parcel at all.", "[0005] Therefore, widely known parcel terminals are insecure, with unbalance or little capacity, take up too much space, uncomfortable for users and inserting, storing and delivering parcels is too slow.", "[0006] The closest solution to the present invention would be U.S. Pat. No. 6,694,217 “Automated system for efficient article storage and self-service retrieval”, which describes a vertical storage locker and is also suitable for sending and receiving parcels.", "The described solution contains rectangular boxes that have been fixed between two vertical pulling belts creating a vertical carousel-like mechanism.", "Each box has been divided into drawers.", "In order to insert the package, the carousel spins until the box with empty drawers has been guided in front of the slot of the storage compartment doors, whereas each drawer has been assigned their own door.", "Upon retrieving the parcel, the carousel spins in the similar fashion until the drawer with the desired parcel has been guided to its relevant door.", "The drawback of this solution is their complicated and clumsy structure, and the long waiting time, until the suitable drawer has reached the suitable door, while both inserting and retrieving parcels.", "As the sending and picking up parcels takes place at different times, then the distribution of parcels in the boxes is uneven, and upon inserting several parcels—when they have to be placed into different boxes—the user must wait until the next box with an empty drawer has reached its door, and again open the suitable door whereas this must be done after inserting each parcel and closing the door.", "Another issue with this solution is that due to the carousel mechanism and each drawer having their assigned doors, it only enables inserting parcels or postal objects of very limited sizes.", "[0007] From prior art there are different other known vertical carousel and lift-type solutions that are used to store or warehouse building materials, manufactured and other goods.", "Carousel solutions work there similarly to the one described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,694,217.", "In the case of the so-called lift-type solutions there is a drawer with a board, for placing goods on it or taking them from it, facing the hatch for inserting and retrieving goods.", "Above the drawer there is a shelf facing another shelf parallel to it, and a lift moves up and down between these two shelves, taking the board or tray with goods placed on it from the hatch, and delivering it up to the suitable shelf.", "To order the goods to the hatch, the lift is moved to the relevant shelf from which the board with the desired goods is pulled to the platform of the lift.", "Such solutions have been described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 6,694,217 according to which the platform of the lift moves thanks to the lifting mechanism of chains fastened to its ends.", "Or like it is described in the European patent documents EP1473254B1 and EP1462392A2, where, similarly to the moving platform between two shelves, the lifting mechanism of the platform comprises guide rails located at both ends of the platform between which the platform moves.", "The drawback of such solutions is that in order to warehouse different goods, the platform needs to be moved up and down several times because the platform only allows transporting one board at a time.", "As the hatch or door to the keeping area of the goods opens to its full capacity in such solutions, that only allows placing goods of the same type or meant for one and the same customer together on it.", "Such solutions are thus unsuitable for applying to self-service parcel terminals because they do not guarantee sufficient security that the right parcels reach their right recipients;", "transporting the goods to and from their shelves is complicated and time-consuming.", "SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0008] The aim of the present invention is to offer a secure, simple, fast, reliable and high capacity self-service postal parcel terminal that would take up little floor space and would come without the drawbacks mentioned above.", "More precisely, the purpose of present invention is to fasten the loading, storing and delivering parcels, and to make the storage of parcels easier, increase the capacity of the terminal, guarantee the security of parcels and that each person receives their specific parcel, as well as to increase the user-friendliness of the terminal.", "[0009] Differently from the well-known solutions, the present self-service postal parcel terminal enables fitting more parcels to the same floor space than the presently known solutions.", "Loading and retrieving parcels is several times faster, and due to the height of the terminal, it uses significantly less floor space.", "[0010] The parcel terminal according to the present invention comprises the module for loading and delivering parcels, the module for loading parcels of different sizes to the door, module for measuring and weighing parcels, the module for loading, storing and delivering parcels.", "[0011] The self-service parcel terminal according to the present invention has such a structure that differently from earlier solutions, the parcels are stored in parcel containers located on the shelves inside the terminal, and only one door is used in order to insert/load and retrieve parcels.", "Upon loading or retrieving several parcels it is thus not necessary to move back and forth between different doors.", "Automated parcel transportation mechanism guides the parcel container with one or several compartments to the loading and delivery slot.", "The loading and delivery slot door system opens to load or deliver parcels either fully, so that all the compartments of the parcel container are open and accessible, or only so much that the desired compartment for inserting or delivering the parcel is open.", "[0012] The door system is fully open to the full extent of the parcel container in order to retrieve or insert several parcels, and for further speeding up loading, storing and parcel delivery time the courier or other users are given, for example, light signals as to which parcel must be placed into which compartment, and which compartment the parcel must be retrieved from.", "Using light signals makes the courier's work faster, customers receive their parcel quicker, or can insert their parcel faster into the machine, and parcel delivery time becomes quicker.", "[0013] Door opening system comprises two door panels moving horizontally towards each other, or away from each other;", "and one vertically moving door panel.", "[0014] In order to measure the parcels, the parcel is placed between open door panels and the relevant command is selected from the user menu;", "automated system moves the door panels slowly towards the parcel.", "Sensors then measure the distance between the door panels and the width and height measures of the parcel are calculated.", "After having calculated the measures, a suitable parcel container is sent and parcels are placed to the compartments that best fit the parcel measures.", "Parcels are preferably placed into those size-wise fitting compartments of the containers that are closest to the door slot in order to keep the time for placing parcels into parcel containers to the optimum.", "[0015] Upon delivering the parcel, the door panels are guided automatically and simultaneously with the lift, and door panels are opened at the right place while bringing the parcel container to the door according to this which compartment of the parcel container contains the parcel.", "[0016] In the case when a parcel container contains parcels addressed to different recipients, the retrieval of the right parcel by the right person is guaranteed so that door panels are moved by the controller both horizontally and vertically in the way that the door panels open only in front of this compartment of the parcel container where the particular parcel for that recipient is located.", "Delivering parcels this way also guarantees that upon retrieving or loading a parcel the recipient or courier has no access to unrelated parcels.", "[0017] It is known about the solutions in use thus far that some people, e.g. the disabled in wheelchairs, shorter or older people cannot retrieve their parcels easily at the terminal because some parcels are too high up, others too low which creates possibilities for stealing parcels, or that a parcel may end up in wrong hands.", "In the present terminal the loading and delivery slot has been added to a suitable set height in order to ensure security.", "Lift system always brings the parcel to be delivered to the same fixed level which enables the user—also while in wheelchair—easily retrieve or send the parcel at the machine without asking a stranger for help.", "[0018] In order to identify the courier or maintenance person for the terminal, a facial recognition camera has been added to the terminal in an alternative embodiment of the invention which, differently from the already known solutions enable card—as well as code-free identification, thus again making using the terminal more secure, simpler and faster.", "[0019] Upon loading parcels bearing no marking specifying the recipient or other data, and for the terminal to accept such parcels, the user identifies the unmarked parcel before inserting it to the loading and delivery slot.", "When the courier retrieves the parcel, a bar code, for example is issued first—a sticker with for example an RFID, NFC or other marking.", "Courier sticks it to the parcel being retrieved.", "Unmarked parcels are provided, upon their retrieval from the terminal, with a marking that is necessary for further transportation of the parcel.", "[0020] Parcels vary in size depending on the season or their location in the terminal.", "In order to increase the maximum capacity of the terminal, the shelving system has been constructed adaptable so that depending on the need (e.g. season, location, target user group, etc.) it would accommodate maximum number of replaceable parcel containers of suitable measures, which in turn would accommodate maximum number of parcels in the terminal.", "[0021] Lifting mechanism comprises a motor and a counter weight.", "Applying a motor and a counter weight together allows using a more compact motor of smaller power capacity while at the same time transporting heavier parcels and parcel containers higher.", "[0022] Instead of the parcel or parcel container moving systems in the already known solutions, a gripping mechanism has been used in the present invention.", "[0023] The gripping mechanism of parcel containers comprises a loader and a magnetic mechanism.", "In an alternative embodiment the gripping mechanism comprises the chain system mechanism.", "[0024] The lifting and gripping mechanisms allow maximum use of the terminal inside area for parcel containers meant for storing parcels.", "That kind of gripping mechanism also enables transportation of parcel containers of varying sizes to the door slot.", "[0025] Automatic weighing of parcels is done, for example, by the lifting mechanism and relevant sensors, the parcel weight information obtained by automated weighing is added to the parcel information.", "[0026] Different alternative embodiments of the invention comprising a variety of payment systems (e.g. payment by card, in cash, via mobile phone;", "NFC/QR etc.", "payments based on contactless technology, biometric payment);", "various means to identify the parcel, recipient, parcel arrival;", "means to monitor the parcel rout, send the parcel, etc.", "devices to measure, weigh, evaluate, calculate the cost of, mark, stamp the parcel or other analogous solutions that are based on added sensors, devices, and updating the computer with the relevant software module.", "[0027] In addition to the main purpose of the invention, the present self-service parcel terminal can also be used as, for example, a vending machine, mail box, storage locker, for delivering goods from e-shops, or similar solutions.", "[0028] The self-service terminal according to the present invention comprises a multi-load system for couriers.", "When choosing the multi-load program, the self-service terminal opens up all slots at the same time.", "Couriers insert similar parcels into separate slots in a matter of seconds without having to move around.", "The solution is easy to use.", "The courier only has to scan the barcode of each parcel and the light in front of the right slot shows where to put the parcel.", "The multi-load system is fool proof and saves time and energy.", "[0029] The customer receives an SMS notification with a pin-code to pick-up the parcel from the self-service terminal.", "After inserting the pin-code, the terminal brings the parcel to the sliding door, which is located at a convenient height for all customers.", "The door slides down and only the right slot with the right parcel is opened up.", "The self-service terminal allows faster retrieval of the parcel than the known parcel terminals.", "The customer collects the parcel quickly and without any effort.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0030] The present invention is explained more precisely with references to figures added, where the drawing [0031] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the preferable embodiment of the self-service parcel terminal according to the present invention;", "[0032] FIG. 2 shows the front view of the shelving system of the terminal in FIG. 1 ;", "[0033] FIG. 3 shows the view from above, without the roof, of the shelving system in drawing FIG. 2 ;", "[0034] FIG. 4 shows the front view of the shelving system in FIG. 2 together with the lift module, electrical board and electricity module, and with parcel containers;", "[0035] FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of the lift module;", "[0036] FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of the positioning device of the lift module and the loader;", "[0037] FIG. 7 shows the front view of the positioning device of the lift module and the loader;", "[0038] FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of the section of the loader magnetic mechanism in FIG. 7 ;", "[0039] FIG. 9 a shows the position of the magnetic mechanism upon pushing the parcel container into the shelf/drawing from the shelf in the side-most position of the magnetic mechanism on the loader;", "[0040] FIG. 9 b shows the front view of the shelving system with the position of a parcel container upon pushing it into the shelf/drawing from the shelf;", "[0041] FIG. 9 c shows the position of the magnetic mechanism upon pushing the parcel container into the shelf/drawing from the shelf in an alternative embodiment to the invention where parcel containers with locking mechanism have been used;", "[0042] FIG. 10 a shows a perspective view of the door system with door hatches in their open positions in the preferable embodiment of the invention;", "[0043] FIG. 10 b shows a perspective view of the door system with door hatches in their open positions in an alternative embodiment of the invention;", "[0044] FIG. 11 shows the front view of door system with one compartment slot open;", "[0045] FIG. 12 shows the front view of the loader in an alternative embodiment of the invention;", "[0046] FIG. 13 shows a perspective view of the connection between the lever and a link and the chain;", "[0047] FIG. 14 shows the front view of the loader in an alternative embodiment of the invention, depicting the connection between the transmission chain and the motor;", "[0048] FIG. 15 and FIG. 16 show a perspective view of an alternative loader embodiment with a parcel container where taking the parcel container from the shelf and placing it onto the shelf have been shown by the help of levers;", "[0049] FIG. 17 shows an alternative embodiment of the loader with a parcel container, viewed from below;", "[0050] FIG. 18 shows the preferable embodiment of the block diagram of the connections between the electronics components and automated systems of the self-service parcel terminal;", "[0051] FIG. 19 shows the block diagram of the processes carried out in the self-service parcel terminal in its preferable embodiment;", "[0052] FIG. 20 shows the initializing processes of the self-service parcel terminal in its preferable embodiment;", "[0053] FIG. 21-FIG .", "25 show different examples of using the self-service parcel terminal.", "DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [0054] The self-service parcel terminal according to the present invention comprises a body 0100 , frame 0200 , lift module 0300 , door system 0400 , payment module 0500 , computer 0600 , motors 0700 (preferably, for example, AC servomotors, in an alternative embodiment asynchronous motor, step-by-step motor, DC motor, DC carbon brush motor), drive module 0800 , electricity module 0900 , parcel containers 1000 , sensor, controllers, converters, connection details for electronic components (e.g. cables, details for wireless connection).", "[0055] The following provides a more detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the invention.", "The body 0100 shown in the drawing FIG. 1 comprises at least one removable first upper covering panel 0101 , on middle 0102 and lower covering panel 0103 , two upper side covering panels 0104 and two lower side covering panels 0105 and a rear covering panel 0109 .", "The covering panels of the front of the body are placed so that slots have been created for the door module 0400 , payment module 0500 , computer module 0600 , screen 0601 and which have been added a belt 0106 , if necessary sheltering roof 0107 , device box 0108 .", "The belt 0106 has been fastened to the shelves.", "Covering plates and the device box or payment module 0500 are attached to the belt 0106 .", "One of the embodiments of the invention has a receipt printer 0504 , a scanner 0502 and sticker a tag printer 0503 added, for example, inside the belt 0106 .", "[0056] The frame 0200 shown in the drawing FIG. 2 comprises the base frame 0201 , at least eight support poles 0202 vertically fastened to the frame, at least two brackets 0203 fastened to the rear middle support poles 0202 , support pole 0202 connecting buses 0204 fastened to the upper ends of the support poles and a roof 0205 attached to the connecting buses 0204 , support rods 0206 and 0207 in order to connect the support poles 0202 with each other and cross poles 0208 .", "[0057] The support poles 0202 have been fastened to the base frame 0201 in the way that one support pole 0202 has been attached to each corner of the upper side of the base frame 0201 and two support poles 0202 have been attached to both longer sides of the upper side of the base frame 0201 .", "Additional support poles 0201 have been added between the support poles 0201 located either in the corners of the longer or shorter edge of the upper side of the base frame 0201 if necessary.", "[0058] The support poles 0202 , connecting buses 0204 , support rods 0206 and 0207 and cross poles 0208 as well as rollers 0209 fastened to the support rods 0206 comprise a shelving system.", "[0059] The sides of the base frame 0201 comprising slots 0210 and the upper side comprises absorbers 0211 .", "The slots 0210 are for transporting the self-service parcel terminal according to the present invention.", "The slots 0210 are covered with covering panels 0103 and 0105 in the working position of the fully assembled terminal.", "The slots 0210 have been created to the front, behind and sides as well.", "In the case when there occurs a need to, for example, transport, move or lift the terminal, it is not necessary to fully unload it and disassemble, it is enough to remove the covering panel 0103 or 0105 , and that makes the terminal easily moveable, liftable or transportable by a fork-lift truck from the front, behind or sides.", "Absorbers 0211 have been added to ensure security while guiding the positioner 0307 of the lift module 0300 to its lower position, or when the positioner 0307 , should a malfunctioning occur, falls down.", "[0060] Cross poles 0208 are meant for both strengthening the frame 0200 and ensuring security so that the parcel containers 1000 would not move out of the shelves.", "Roller frame comprises a bent support at the end of the path in order to limit the movement of parcel containers.", "Different embodiments of the terminal include parcel containers 1000 with locking 1001 and without, wider and narrower.", "Parcel container 1000 has been added a locking mechanism to prevent accidental movement of the parcel container on the shelf.", "Wider parcel containers 1000 comprises double pair of sliders.", "Side sliders of those are used while placing the parcel container onto the shelf and while pulling it out, and middle sliders are used for pulling onto the loader 0308 or for pushing from the loader 0308 to the shelf.", "[0061] Drawing FIG. 3 shows the view of the shelving system and frame 0200 without the roof 0205 from above, with showing also the view from above of the main boom 0302 , carriage 0305 , positioner 0307 , loader 0308 and the magnetic mechanism 0306 .", "[0062] Drawing FIG. 4 shows the front view of the shelving system with the lift module 0300 , main boom motor 0704 , drive module 0800 and electricity module 0900 and parcel container 1000 .", "[0063] Drawing FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of the lift module 0300 .", "Lift module 0300 comprises an energy chain 0301 , a main boom 0302 , a carriage 0305 , a positioner 0307 , a loader 0308 , a belt pulley module 0323 fastened to the upper part of the main boom 0302 and a pulling module 0324 of the main boom fastened to the lower end, and a belt 0303 fitted on the belt pulleys over the belt pulley module 0323 and pulling module 0324 , a counterweight 0304 fastened to the belt 0303 , a carriage 0305 fastened to the main boom 0302 that moves with rollers 0347 along the main boom which has been connected to the one end of the energy chain 0301 by tension adjuster 0309 , a positioner 0307 fastened to the carriage 0305 and a loader 0308 .", "The pulling module 0324 of the main boom 0302 is connected to the motor 0704 .", "[0064] Energy chain 0301 has been fastened to the bracket 0203 .", "One end of the energy chain 0301 has been fastened to the carriage 0305 and another end has been connected to the drive module 0800 .", "[0065] The belt 0303 , in the preferable embodiment of the self-service parcel terminal, comprises two parts, the upper ends of both of which have been fastened to the counterweight 0304 and lower ends to the carriage 0305 and tension adjuster 0309 .", "[0066] Carriage 0305 comprises two connecting plates 0311 , two L-shaped side supports 0312 for the connecting plate 0311 , supplementary plate 0313 of the side support, supplementary support 0314 and rollers 0315 , whereas the side support 0312 and supplementary support 0314 have been fastened to the connecting plate 0311 of the carriage and supplementary plate 0313 so that a gap has been created to attach the positioner 0307 .", "The carriage 0305 comprises a tension adjuster 0309 added to the belt 0303 .", "[0067] Drawing FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of the positioner 0307 of the lift module 0300 and of the loader 0308 attached to it.", "The positioner 0307 comprises two at least double-layer shoulders 0316 , both of which have been connected between the side plate 0312 of the carriage 0305 and supplementary support 0314 , of positioner side supports 0317 , positioner bracket for position rollers 0318 and positioner position rollers 0319 fastened to its ends, positioner motor fastening plate 0320 , loader motor 0706 together with positioner motor 0705 for moving the loader 0308 .", "[0068] The loader 0308 shown in drawings FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 comprises a frame 0325 , rollers 0326 located on both longer edges of the frame, positioner rails 0327 , pulling belt 0328 , the edge 0329 restricting uplifting parcel containers 1000 , the fastening plate 0330 of the loader pulling motor, drive wheels 0331 and magnetic mechanism 0306 .", "[0069] Drawing FIG. 7 shows a belt fastening that enables magnets to grab hold of the parcel containers that are farther away from the belt pulleys.", "Magnets can be taken onto the side-most belt pulley.", "[0070] The magnetic mechanism 0306 in drawings FIG. 6 , FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 comprises the belt fastening plate 0332 of the magnetic mechanism, an electromagnet 0333 , end cover 0334 for the stay bolt in the upper part of the magnetic mechanism, tight-fitting bolt of the electromagnet 0335 and sensor stay bolt 0336 , together with the sensor, provide feedback on the distance between the box and magnet.", "When the magnetic head moves to the box and is close enough, contact occurs with the cover of stay bolt 0334 and with the magnetic plate of the box.", "As a result, the stay bolt 0336 will move away from its central position thus cutting the signal in the sensor.", "When in the uploading process the stay bolt moves to the central position it allows to assume that the box has moved away from the magnet, and the uploading process is cancelled.", "The tight-fitting bolt of the magnet on the hinge joint compensates the possible up-down and sideways movements of the parcel container caused by possible lack of smoothness upon moving the parcel container.", "[0071] Fastening of the magnet is located in the central part of the magnetic mechanism.", "The magnet has been fastened to the webs 0335 of the magnetic mechanism with the help of a joint (hinge joint) in order to exclude the force arms between the box and magnet.", "The fastening of the belt of the magnetic head is located in the lower part of the magnetic mechanism.", "The belt fastening carried out by belt fastening plate 0332 allows the magnets to take hold of parcel containers that are farther away from the belt pulleys, and magnets can be taken onto the side-most belt pulley, if necessary.", "[0072] The movement of the lift module 0300 components is guided, in order to place parcel containers 1000 onto the shelves and taking them from the shelves, in a way that the carriage 0305 with the positioner 0307 is guided up and down along the length of the main boom 0302 , and the loader 0308 fastened onto the positioner 0307 connected to the carriage 0305 is guided up-down and left-write on the positioner 0307 .", "Parcel containers 1000 are guided onto the shelves and out of shelves on the rollers 0209 by the magnetic mechanism 0306 of the loader 0308 .", "Parcel containers 1000 are located at different levels/heights, behind each other, and one box at a time is moved.", "Whereas the shoulders 0316 of the positioner 0307 have been made with such a length that the positioner position rollers 0319 fastened to the ends of the bracket 0318 of the position rollers fastened to the shoulders are supported by the inside of the first front support poles 0202 .", "[0073] Drawing FIG. 9 a shows the position of the magnetic mechanism 0306 upon pushing the parcel container 1000 into the shelf/drawing from the shelf in the side-most position of the magnetic mechanism 0306 on the loader 0308 .", "[0074] Drawing FIG. 9 b shows the front view of the shelving system with the position of a parcel container 1000 upon pushing it into the shelf/drawing from the shelf.", "[0075] Drawing FIG. 9 c shows the position of the magnetic mechanism 0306 upon pushing the parcel container 1000 into the shelf/drawing from the shelf in an alternative embodiment to the invention where parcel containers 1000 with locking mechanism 1001 have been used.", "Drawing FIG. 9 c also shows the cross section of the magnetic mechanism 0306 and the stay bolt 0334 and the centering spring 0337 for the sensor stay bolt.", "[0076] Drawings FIG. 10 a and FIG. 10 b show a perspective view of the door system 0400 with horizontal door hatches in their open and the vertical door hatch in its closed positions in the preferable embodiment, and with door hatches in their open positions in an alternative embodiment of the invention.", "The door system 0400 comprises the frame 0401 , two horizontal door panels 0405 attached to the frame 0401 and set on at least one upper slider 0402 and rail 0403 and moving on at least one lower slider 0404 , a vertical door panel 0406 inside the frame 0401 , and a trapezoid 0407 attached to the frame 0401 for moving the vertical door panel 0406 , door system panel 0408 and safety curtain 0901 .", "In the preferable embodiment of the invention the door system panel 0408 has been added a camera 0501 , design stripe 0409 , a sheltering roof 0107 , computer screen 0601 and a belt 0106 , device box 0108 , receipt printer 0504 , scanner 0502 , a sticker tag printer 0503 , payment module 0500 have been attached to the lower edge of the frame 0401 .", "[0077] Payment module 0500 comprises, for example payment by card, in cash, via mobile phone, NFC/QR etc.", "payments based on contactless technology, biometric or other similar types of payment, applications to identify the person (e.g. chip card reader, camera, fingerprint reader or iris recognition scanner), a printer, keyboard/pinpad, scanner (barcode, QR), computer, camera.", "[0078] Drawing FIG. 11 shows the front view of door system 0400 with one compartment slot 1002 of the parcel container 1000 open.", "[0079] Drawing FIG. 12 shows the front view of the loader 0308 in an alternative embodiment of the invention.", "In the alternative embodiment of the invention, the loader 0308 comprises a support frame 0338 attached to the connecting plate 0311 , two guides 0339 , chain 0340 fastened around the guides 0339 , a lever 0341 attached to either chain 0340 to move parcel containers 1000 , frames 0325 and rollers 0326 attached to the outer walls of the guides 0339 , gear wheels 0342 attached to the lower sides 0339 and the connecting plate 0311 of the guides 0339 , transmission chain 0343 attached around the gear wheels 0342 , two support plates 0346 for the guide, loader motor 0706 .", "In an alternative embodiment of the invention, one guide 0339 with one level 0341 has been used between rollers 0326 .", "[0080] The motor of the positioner 0705 sets the transmission chain 0343 moving, which, in its turn, sets moving the chain 0340 that has levers 0341 attached to it.", "The levers 0341 work as one link 0344 of the chain 0340 .", "Rollers 0345 have been attached to the ends of the levers 0341 .", "The connection of the lever 0341 and link 0344 to the chain 0340 is shown in the drawing FIG. 13 .", "[0081] Drawing FIG. 14 shows the front view of the loader 0308 in an alternative embodiment of the invention, depicting the connection between the transmission chain 0343 and the positioner motor 0705 .", "[0082] Drawings FIG. 15 and FIG. 16 show a perspective view of an alternative loader 0308 embodiment with a parcel container 1000 , where taking the parcel container 1000 from the shelf and placing it onto the shelf has been shown by the help of levers 0341 .", "In the case of such an alternative embodiment, parcel containers 1000 with a groove 1003 added to their lower edge for the rollers 0345 of the levers 0341 have been used in the system.", "In order to place the parcel container 1000 onto the shelf or taking it from the shelf, the levers are guided into the groove 1003 of the parcel container 1000 by the positioner motor 0705 , transmission chain 0343 , and chains 0340 .", "In order to take the parcel container 1000 from the shelf, the levers 0341 are guided, with the help of rollers 0345 , into the groove 1003 , levers 0341 are guided with the help of chains 0340 so that they are perpendicular to guides 0339 , that are used to pull the parcel container 1000 from the shelf onto the loader 0308 over the rollers 0326 .", "[0083] Drawing FIG. 17 shows an alternative embodiment of the loader 0308 with a parcel container 1000 , viewed from below, and showing the positioning of the transmission belt 0343 and connection with the guides 0339 and the positioner motor 0705 , and guiding the levers 0341 into the groove 1003 .", "Chain transmission has been built so that the levers would move at maximum distance from each other while pulling the parcel container, and the pulling capacity of the lever is achieved to the in the moving direction of resting of the support rollers of the lever from the front to the support plate of the guide, and from behind to the chain, which, in its turn, rests on the guide of the chain.", "[0084] Drawing FIG. 18 shows the preferable embodiment of the block diagram of the connections between the electronics components and automated systems of the self-service parcel terminal, comprises payment module 0500 , computer 0600 and user interface 0601 , drive module 0800 , electrical board with safety solutions 0900 .", "Computer 0600 and user interface 0601 contain software for adjusting the settings, running and usage of the terminal.", "[0085] Payment module 0500 together with a computer 0600 contain, for example, payment solution with pinpad, sticker tag printer, receipt printer, scanner, VPN router, Switch, computer, camera, uninterrupted power supply (ups), 3-dimensional measuring device, or other such components or devices to identify a person, receive or send parcels, make payments or other transactions related to the transactions mentioned above.", "Payment module 0500 comprises an external Internet connection (WAN) and the computer 0600 is connected to CPU 1100 .", "In the sample embodiment of the present invention, the payment module 0500 comprises a camera 0501 , scanner 0502 , label printer 0503 , receipt printer 0504 , payment solution device 0505 , switch 0506 , router 0507 , UPS 0508 , 3D measuring device 0509 and broadband port 05010 (WAN).", "The computer 0600 is connected to the camera 0501 , scanner 0502 , label printer 0503 , UPS 0508 , 3D measuring device 0509 and switch 0506 and connected to CPU.", "The switch 0506 is connected to the router 0507 and payment terminal 0505 comprising a receipt printer 0504 .", "[0086] Electrical board 0900 comprises a controller, safety curtain 0901 connected to the door system, stop circuit 0902 , electromagnetic guide 0903 , parcel container distance sensor 0904 , door lighting 0905 attached to the door system, temperature adjuster 0906 and electromagnetic lock of the payment solution 0907 .", "[0087] The module 0800 for controlling motors comprises one or several converters, zero point sensors, limit switch, braking resistor (main boom motor).", "The module 0800 is connected to 0900 electrical board motor that transmits commands for controlling motors.", "[0088] The drive module 0800 in the preferred embodiment of the solution comprises a vertical door converter 0801 , left horizontal door converter 0802 , right horizontal door converter 0803 , main boom converter 0804 , positioner converter 0805 and loader converter 0806 which are all connected to each other, whereas each converter is connected to the relevant sensor and motor.", "[0089] More precisely, vertical door converter (drive) 0801 is connected to the vertical door sensor (home sensor) 0811 and vertical door motor 0701 , left horizontal door converter 0802 to the left horizontal door sensor 0812 and left horizontal door motor 0702 , right horizontal door converter 0803 to the right horizontal door sensor 0813 and right horizontal door motor 0703 , main boom converter 0804 to the main boom sensor 0814 and main boom motor 0704 , positioner converter 0805 to positioner sensor 0815 and positioner motor 0705 and loader converter 0806 to loader sensor 0816 and loader motor 0706 , main boom converter 0804 has additionally been connected to brake resistor 0821 and limit switches 0831 .", "[0090] Drawing FIG. 19 shows the block diagram of the processes carried out in the self-service parcel terminal in its preferable embodiment.", "The work processes of the self-service parcel terminal involve commands to be entered by the user, and relevant transactions to be carried out at the terminal, bringing the parcel container 1000 and taking it away;", "guiding the main boom 0302 and positioner 0307 to the loading (incl.", "loading goods into the terminal and retrieving from the terminal, bringing parcel containers forth from the shelf and taking to the shelf) coordinates;", "loader 0308 movement to the stand-by position;", "moving horizontal doors 0405 to the coordinates of the ordered slot;", "loading parcel containers;", "loading check;", "main boom movement to the height of the desired slot counter;", "positioner movement to the free movement position;", "horizontal doors movement completion check;", "positioner movement to the door level;", "opening the vertical door;", "parcel delivery and/or loading check;", "closing the vertical door;", "main boom and positioner movement to the box downloading coordinates;", "horizontal doors movement to stand-by position;", "box downloading;", "main boom, positioner, loader movement to the stand-by position;", "terminal stand-by position.", "[0091] In order to bring the parcel container 1000 forth and take it away, and for opening door panels at the right place, user interface is used to send a command to the controller containing coordinates of the parcel container and the location of the slot in that parcel container.", "After having received the command, the door panels, main boom 0302 , positioner 0307 are guided to the relevant position.", "The loader 0308 is guided to the standby position for pulling the parcel container 1000 .", "Pulling the parcel container 1000 continues when the main boom 0302 and positioner 0307 have forwarded the signal of their arrival.", "Immediately before loading it is checked that the main boom 0302 and positioner 0307 have received the coordinates of the same parcel container.", "In the case when the main boom 0302 and positioner 0307 have been transmitted different coordinates for the parcel container 1000 , no loading is allowed.", "Then starts the loading of parcel container.", "The loader 0308 drives the magnetic head of the magnetic mechanism 0306 up to the catch plate of the parcel container.", "Upon the signal of arrival, the electromagnet is switched on.", "The motor starts working in reverse direction and the parcel container is pulled onto the loader 0308 .", "In the next stage the parcel container is brought behind the door system 0400 by moving the main boom 0302 and positioner 0307 .", "Horizontal door panels 0405 are guided to their proper positions, parcel container is pressed against the door seals and the vertical door panel 0406 is then opened.", "In order to take the parcel container 1000 to the shelf, the given process is carried out in its reverse order—the vertical door plate 0406 will close, then the parcel container is moved away from the seals of horizontal door panels 0405 , and the main boom 0302 as well as the positioner 0307 are guided to the coordinates of the parcel container.", "Downloading the parcel container begins upon the permitting signal of.", "In the end position the electromagnet is released and the loader 0308 is guided to the central position, or uploading a new parcel container begins.", "[0092] Drawing FIG. 20 shows the initializing processes of the self-service parcel terminal in its preferable embodiment which comprises initializing the machine;", "uploading the controller and creating data connection with converters;", "switching on motor power supplies and forwarding the switching on command to the converters;", "check-up of applying the holding current of motors;", "switching off main boom and loader brakes, vertical door initialization;", "check-up of vertical door initialization and closing and checking loader status.", "Loader status check checks if the loader is empty;", "if loading/downloading has been interrupted;", "if the parcel container is on the loader.", "[0093] If the loader is empty stage includes the initialization of the loader and horizontal door;", "moving the loader and horizontal doors into central position;", "initialization of the main boom and positioner;", "guiding the main boom and positioner into central position;", "finishing initialization.", "[0094] If the loading/downloading stage includes initialization of horizontal doors;", "guiding horizontal doors into central position, initialization of the loader;", "downloading complex command;", "checking that downloading has finished;", "initialization of the main boom, positioner and horizontal doors;", "guiding the main boom, positioner and horizontal doors into central position;", "finishing initialization.", "[0095] If the parcel container is on the loader stage includes the initialization of horizontal doors, main boom and positioner;", "guiding horizontal doors into central position;", "guiding the main boom and positioner to the coordinates of the last loading;", "initialization of the loader;", "downloading complex command;", "checking that downloading has finished;", "finishing initialization.", "[0096] Self-service parcel terminal is operated by a computer 0600 (for example a touch screen computer), that forwards complex commands to the controller (for example an industrial controller CPU).", "The controller has been preprogrammed for all possible movements.", "The movements have been defined one at a time.", "A complex command is forwarded to the controller which shows the movements that need to be made.", "[0097] Controller operates the AC servo motors to move the door panels 0405 and 0406 of the door system 0401 .", "Each axle has 1 sensor that marks the 0-point of that axle.", "Light sensors are used for the purpose (for example Fork light barrier, LED, infrared).", "Upon starting up the self-service parcel terminal the axles are reset.", "The zero point sensors of other movements are not used during machine work.", "Except for the zero point sensor of the vertical door panel 0406 the other output of which is used to check the status of the door system 0401 and for doubled check-up operation which excludes movements by other motors when the vertical door panel 0406 is open.", "[0098] The energy created by the braking of the main boom 0302 motor 0704 is directed to the braking resistor which is there converted into warmth.", "[0099] Magnetic mechanism, comprising electromagnets 0333 that are switched at controller output, is used to move parcel containers 1000 .", "Magnetic mechanism 0306 is kept switched on until the parcel container 1000 is fully back on the shelf.", "[0100] One sensor is used while moving parcel containers 1000 in order to check the distance between the parcel container 1000 and magnetic mechanism 0306 , whereas the sensor checks this way both sides of the loadable parcel containers 1000 .", "In the case where the distance is bigger than the defined distance, the signal from the sensor switches the controller into reloading mode.", "[0101] Communication between the controller and converters is carried out via data connection line, in the preferable embodiment, for example CANopen or some other communication protocol in an alternative embodiment.", "CANopen extension module and divider are applied on the controller for that purpose.", "Converters have an integrated CANopen data connection readiness.", "Controllers are constantly forwarded information about all axles and the controller forwards new commands via one channel.", "In an alternative embodiment of the invention, for example, the motors are guided by inputs and outputs.", "[0102] Safety curtains 1101 that have been chosen with fingerprint recognition are used as a safety sensor.", "The output of safety curtain 1101 guides security relay.", "If an object (for example, the hand of a customer/courier or some item that has fallen into the door system slot) happens to get into the safety curtain 1101 , the power supply circuits of the vertical door motor are cut off, the motor brake of the vertical door is applied, signal is sent to the converter of the motor of the door panels and the controller.", "The safety curtain is released in order to resume functioning and the functioning resumes automatically.", "[0103] In order to guarantee safety, the smart features of converters are taken further advantage of.", "The turning moment of the motor is checked upon closing the door panels.", "When the turning moment is higher than the defined value, the door panels open into their previous position.", "For example, in the case where something is between the door and the counter, and is, at the same time, inside the curtains, or the security circuit fails to operate.", "In order to give the command to reset the safety curtains, both inside relays of the security relay are applied, for example, in a situation when some security device does not function properly.", "[0104] The opening and closing of the door panels 0405 and 0406 of the door system 0400 has been programmed according to the measures of the different types of compartments 1002 of the parcel container 1000 , whereas the parcel container 1000 comprises one or more compartments 1002 that can vary in size according to the usage purpose of the postal parcel terminal.", "[0105] In an alternative embodiment of the self-service parcel terminal the door panels 0405 and 0406 are moved by DC carbon-brush motor, limit switches, cammed rails, where the sensor/limit switch identifies gaps and a step-by-step locking mechanism.", "[0106] While adjusting the settings of the self-service terminal, the zero points are determined where the positions of the motor are matched with converters and converter settings are adjusted so that the motors would move in right the right directions.", "Converters are used to guide the motors to coordinates in relation to the zero point.", "Each axle has one zero point.", "Each time controller is started up, it begins with initialization process where axles in their fixed order do a reset.", "Three different initialization programs are chosen from, depending on the position the machine came to a standstill in.", "All axles are guided to the central position when the terminal initialization process is finished.", "[0107] In order to guarantee security, for example, in the case of a power outage when UPS cannot supply enough energy, the information about whether the parcel container 1000 is on the loader 0308 or not is kept in memory of the terminal to finish the processes.", "In the case when the parcel container 1000 is on the loader, resetting is carried out so that the parcel container 1000 is placed back onto the shelf.", "Initializing the loader 0308 is in such a case the last one to be carried out.", "[0108] When resetting of the main boom 0302 and positioner 0307 has been completed, they are guided to the coordinates where the parcel container is missing.", "The given information is saved in the terminal memory.", "Loader 0308 resetting is then safely started since the parcel container is moved onto the relevant shelf upon moving the loader.", "[0109] Upon losing the box, when electromagnet breaks loose from the parcel container due to, for example, overloaded parcel container or technical malfunctioning, the distance between the magnetic head and parcel container or the contact, is checked with the sensor attached to the magnetic head.", "In case when the status of the sensor changes in the pulling stage, electromagnet is released.", "Loading process is then restarted.", "The loader 0308 is once again guided to the final coordinates of the loading.", "Parcel container 1000 is pushed to the shelf with the loader 0308 while moving.", "In the end position electromagnet is applied and pulling the box begins.", "[0110] The terminal has been set to multi-load function to allow loading several compartments 1002 of one parcel container 1000 of the self-service parcel terminal.", "Parcel container 1000 is not automatically transported to the shelf after inserting the parcel into the compartment 1002 , the next vacant compartment 1002 is opened in the parcel container 1000 instead.", "In order to do that, the vertical door panel 0406 is closed and the parcel container is then moved away from the seals of the horizontal doors 0405 .", "Horizontal doors 0405 are guided into a new position and the parcel container is again guided against the door seal upon the readiness signal.", "Vertical door panel 0406 opens.", "Exchange of parcel container 1000 is carried out when the parcel container has been filled or when the next parcel has been meant for another type of parcel container.", "[0111] Opening and closing the door panels 0405 and 0406 of the self-service parcel terminal has been divided into three stages.", "The first and last stages involve opening and closing door panels.", "Door panels do not move in the second stage.", "LED lights inside the door system are flashing during the movement of door panels.", "If the safety curtain was to be interrupted in these stages then the movement of door panels is stopped, and movement resumes when the safety curtain has been released.", "[0112] Safety curtain is in automatic reset mode in the second stage of opening door panels, after cancelling the motor movement command from the display, or after a longer interruption to the safety curtain according to the time counted by the controller how long the object is in contact with the safety curtain.", "When this contact time with the object exceeds the determined time x, it is presumed that procedures with the parcel have been finished and the door system may close.", "[0113] In the case when the parcel is retrieved in the first stage of opening the door system and the person retrieving it leaves, then the vertical door panel 0406 closes automatically and an error message is created for checking the status of the parcel container before using the terminal again.", "When the retrieval of the parcel fails, the door will be opened again with the same access code or the retrieval time is extended at the user interface.", "[0114] Upon closing the door system the turning moment of the motor is checked by converter, and compared to the target figure.", "When the turning moment is higher, the vertical door panel 0406 is moved again to its previous position.", "[0115] In order to weigh the parcel (for example, to avoid overload in the terminal;", "calculate the cost of the parcel, or for similar purposes) the turning moment that is influenced by the weight of the parcel container and of the parcels placed inside it, is checked in real time.", "[0116] Drawings FIG. 21 to FIG. 25 show different examples of using the self-service parcel terminal according to the processes shown in the drawing FIG. 19 .", "FIG. 21 Describes A COURIER TAKING PARCELS OUT [0117] On the main page at the display the courier chooses page TAKING PARCELS OUT and the system shows the list of parcels.", "Courier chooses TAKE ALL to take out all the parcels or TAKE ONE to choose it from the list and the system shows the number of parcels in slot with BUSINESS CLIENT parcel.", "Courier confirms and system prints labels with barcode.", "Courier scans the printed barcodes of the parcels.", "[0118] At the same time the sensors check if the door area is free from interfering items.", "If the door area is free, the system shows a pre-opening image and/or animation while in progress.", "If the door area is not free, the system shows a warning message and/or instructions how to fix the problem.", "If necessary the courier clears the door area.", "[0119] The system moves the container with parcels to the doors and opens the doors.", "[0120] The courier takes parcels out and the system prints the next label with a barcode in TAKE ALL mode.", "Courier scans the barcode for the next parcel.", "[0121] At the same time the sensors check if the door area is free from interfering items.", "If the door area is free, the system shows a pre-closing image and/or animation while in progress.", "If the door area is not free, the system shows a warning message and/or instructions how to fix the problem.", "If necessary the courier clears the door area.", "The system closes the door and moves the container back in TAKE ONE mode.", "System moves the container back and brings the next one to the doors the same way as the first one in TAKE ALL mode and repositions doors to the front of another slot in the same container and opens the doors.", "[0122] Courier takes parcels out and chooses END TAKING.", "Taking out parcels continues as long as all the parcels are out in TAKE ALL mode.", "FIG. 22 Describes A COURIER INSRTING PARCELS [0123] On the main page at the display the courier chooses the page INSERTING PARCELS.", "The system turns the scanner on, the courier scans the barcode of parcels and system checks the barcode.", "If the barcode is not correct the system displays an error message.", "[0124] If the barcode is correct the code comprises slot size information and the system checks for pre-selected slot availability.", "If the selected size is not available, a larger slot will be given.", "[0125] At the same time sensors check if the door area is free from interfering items.", "If the door area is free the system displays a pre-opening image/animation while in progress.", "If the door area is not free the system displays a warning message and/or instructions how to fix the problem and the courier fixes the problem.", "The system moves the container with the parcel to the doors and opens the doors.", "[0126] Courier inserts the parcels and if the parcels did not fit in, asks for a larger slot.", "If the courier has asked for a larger slot, the larger slot will be given by the system.", "[0127] Courier scans the barcode of the next parcel.", "At the same time sensors are checking if the door area is free from interfering items.", "If the door area is free the system displays a pre-closing image and/or animation while progress.", "If the door area is not free the system displays a warning message and/or instructions to fix the problem and the courier fixes the problem.", "[0128] System closes the doors, moves the first container back and brings the next one to the doors the same way as the first one and repositions doors to the front of another slot in the same container and opens the doors.", "[0129] Courier inserts the parcels and chooses END INSERTING on display screen.", "Inserting continues with next parcels.", "FIG. 23 Describes SENDING A PARCEL—CUSTOMER TO CUSTOMER [0130] On the main page at the display customer selects service SEND PARCEL.", "The system shows options and destinations.", "Customer selects type BUSINESS and parcel destination.", "System asks for customer's door code.", "If the customer has inserted a wrong code, the system displays an error message.", "If the door code is correct, the system displays possible slot sizes.", "[0131] The customer selects the parcel slot size or asks for a larger slot.", "If the chosen size is not available, a larger slot will be given.", "The system asks for the number of parcels and the customer inserts the number of parcels.", "At the same time sensors check if the door area is free from interfering items.", "If the door area is free the system displays pre-open image/animation while progress.", "If the door area is not free the system displays a warning message and/or instructions how to fix the problem and the customer fixes the problem.", "The system moves the container with the slot of selected size to the door, opens the door and shows the inserting instructions and finishing options.", "[0132] If the slot is in the right size, customer inserts the parcel and confirms sending.", "If the size of the slot is not correct, customer asks for a larger slot.", "At the same time sensors are checking if the door area is free from interfering items.", "If the door area is free the system displays a pre-finishing image/animation while in progress.", "If the door area is not free the system displays a warning message and/or instructions how to fix the problem and the customer fixes the problem.", "The system closes the doors, moves the container back and offers a receipt or MAIN PAGE.", "Customer chooses PRINT RECEIPT and the system prints the receipt.", "FIG. 24 Describes SENDING PARCEL—CUSTOMER [0133] On the display the customer selects SEND PARCEL.", "The system shows options and destinations.", "Customer selects type CONSUMER and parcel destination.", "[0134] System shows possible slot sizes.", "Client chooses the parcel slot size or asks for a larger slot.", "If the chosen size is not available, a larger slot will be given.", "Customer then inserts contacts of the recipient contacts and the system displays the payment menu.", "Customer makes the payment.", "If the payment fails, system cancels the payment and displays the main page.", "If the payment is successful, system confirms the payment.", "[0135] At the same time sensors check if the door area is free of interfering items.", "If the door area is free the system displays pre-open image/animation while progress.", "If the door area is not free the system displays warning message and/or instructions to fix the problem and client fixes the problem.", "The system moves the container with the slot of selected size to the doors, opens the doors and shows the inserting instructions and finishing options.", "[0136] If the slot is in the right size, customer inserts the parcel and confirms sending.", "If the size of the slot is not correct, customer asks for a larger slot.", "At the same time sensors are checking if the door area is free from interfering items.", "If the door area is free the system displays a pre-finishing image/animation while in progress.", "If the door area is not free the system displays a warning message and/or instructions how to fix the problem and the customer fixes the problem.", "System closes the doors, moves the container back and offers a receipt or MAIN PAGE.", "Client chooses PRINT RECEIPT and the system prints the receipt.", "FIG. 25 Describes RECEIVING PARCEL [0137] On the main page at the display the customer selects RECEIVING PARCEL.", "System asks for the customer door code, customer inserts the door code.", "System checks the door code, if the customer has inserted a wrong code, system displays an error message.", "If the inserted door code is correct, system checks for other waiting (unpaid) parcels for the same customer, or parcels with limitations (for example parcels with age restrictions, etc.).", "If necessary, the customer inserts their ID for identification.", "System checks whether the payment is needed or not.", "If the payment is needed, customer makes the payment.", "If the payment fails, the system cancels the payment and displays the main page.", "If the payment is successful, system confirms the payment.", "[0138] At the same time sensors check if the door area is free from interfering items.", "If the door area is free the system displays a pre-open image/animation while in progress.", "If the door area is not free the system displays a warning message and/or instructions how to fix the problem and the customer fixes the problem.", "The system moves the container with the parcel to the doors and opens the doors.", "Customer takes the parcel out.", "[0139] System offers a receipt or MAIN PAGE.", "Client chooses PRINT RECEIPT and the system prints the receipt.", "[0140] At the same time sensors are checking if the door area is free from interfering items.", "If the door area is free the system closes the doors and moves the container back.", "If the door area is not free the system displays a warning message and/or instructions how to fix the problem and the customer fixes the problem, system closes the doors and moves the container back.", "LIST OF COMPONENTS [0000] 0100 body 0101 removable first upper covering panels 0102 middle covering panel 0103 lower covering panel 0104 two upper side covering panels 0105 two lower side covering panels 0106 belt 0107 sheltering roof 0108 device box 0109 rear covering panel (rear wall) 0200 frame 0201 base frame 0202 support poles 0203 bracket 0204 connecting buses for support poles 0202 0205 roof 0206 support rods for connecting support poles 0207 support rods for connecting support poles 0208 cross poles 0209 rollers 0210 slots of the base frame 0201 0211 absorbers 0300 lift module 0301 energy chain 0302 main boom 0303 belt 0304 counterweight 0305 carriage 0306 magnetic mechanism 0307 positioner 0308 loader 0309 tension adjuster of the belt 0303 0310 connecting plate of the main boom 0311 connecting plate of the carriage 0312 side support 0313 supplementary plate of the side support 0314 supplementary support to the side support 0315 carriage rollers 0316 positioner shoulder 0317 positioner side support 0318 positioner bracket for position rollers 0319 positioner position rollers 0320 positioner motor fastening plate 0323 belt pulley module 0324 pulling module of the main boom 0325 loader frame 0326 loader rollers 0327 positioner rails 0328 pulling belt 0329 the edge restricting uplifting parcel containers 0330 fastening plate of the loader pulling motor 0331 drive wheels 0332 belt fastening plate of the magnetic mechanism 0333 electromagnet 0334 end cover for the stay bolt 0335 tight-fitting bolt of the electromagnet 0336 sensor stay bolt 0337 centering spring for the sensor stay bolt 0338 support frame 0339 guides 0340 chain 0341 levers 0342 gear wheels 0343 transmission chain 0344 link 0345 roller 0346 support plate for the guide 0347 rollers 0400 door system 0401 door system frame 0402 upper slider 0403 rail 0404 lower slider 0405 horizontal door panels 0406 vertical door panel 0407 trapezoid 0408 door system panel 0409 design stripe 0500 payment module 0501 camera 0502 scanner 0503 label printer 0504 receipt printer 0505 payment terminal 0506 switch 0507 router 0508 UPS 0509 3D measuring device 0510 WAN 0600 computer 0601 display/user interface 0701 vertical door motor 0702 left horizontal door motor 0703 right horizontal door motor 0704 main boom motor 0705 positioner motor 0706 loader motor 0800 drive module 0801 vertical door converter (drive) 0802 left horizontal door converter 0803 right horizontal door motor 0804 main boom converter 0805 positioner converter 0806 loader converter 0811 vertical door sensor (home sensor) 0812 left horizontal door sensor 0813 right horizontal door sensor 0814 main boom sensor 0815 positioner sensor 0816 loader sensor 0821 brake resistor 0831 limit switches 0900 electricity module/power supply, input/output devices and safety module 0901 safety curtain (emergency stop) 0903 electromagnetic guide 0904 parcel container distance sensor 0905 door lighting 0906 temperature adjuster 0907 electromagnetic lock of the payment solution 1000 parcel container 1001 locking mechanism 1002 compartment 1003 groove 1100 CPU" ]

[ "CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser.", "No. 09/467,744, filed Dec. 20, 1999 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,545,849.", "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to electronic trip units for circuit breakers and more particularly to electronic trip units providing instantaneous fault detection for circuit breakers.", "Electronic trip units are well known.", "Electronic trip units typically comprise voltage and current sensors that provide analog signals indicative of the power line signals.", "The analog signals are converted by an A/D (analog/digital) converter to digital signals which are processed by a microcontroller.", "The trip unit further includes RAM (random access memory), ROM (read only memory) and EEPROM (electronic erasable programmable read only memory) all of which interface with the microcontroller.", "The ROM includes trip unit application code, e.g., main functionality firmware, including initializing parameters, and boot code.", "The EEPROM includes operational parameters for the application code.", "These trip units are required to meet certain standards, e.g., UL/ANSI/IEC, which define trip time curves specifying under what conditions a trip must occur, i.e., short time, long time, instantaneous, or ground fault, all of which are well known.", "These standards also specify a short time delay from the instant power is applied to when a trip unit must be ready to trip.", "The present invention is being directed to the instantaneous trip condition.", "Various electronic circuits (analog electronics) and customized integrated circuits (application specific integrated circuit (ASIC)) have been employed to perform instantaneous protection.", "Conventional low voltage electronic trip units have used a simple comparison to detect instantaneous trip conditions.", "This type of circuit compares the instantaneous current with a fixed threshold, and upon attainment of that threshold the electronic trip unit will trigger the breaker to open.", "Due to well-known load transients such as motor inrush, this approach almost always overprotects and results in nuisance tripping.", "Further, because of a transient phenomenon known as asymmetry, the first half-cycle can theoretically appear to reach two times the motor inrush current, or sixteen times the normal operational current.", "Nonetheless, various industry standards and code requirements determine instantaneous set points at which level the breaker is required to trip.", "Under conditions of asymmetry, the actual peak current that occurs is a function of the closing angle and impedance (X/R) of the line/load combination.", "Asymmetry also may occur in fault transients.", "For example a fault of ten times the rated current for a circuit breaker can theoretically appear to be twenty times the rated current for a particular half cycle.", "Light impedance (X/R) again limits this theoretical maximum to 1.7 to 1.9 times the steady state current.", "As such, using the conventional electronic comparison approach, in a feeder breaker system, both breakers will trip rather than only the breaker closest to the load.", "This problem may be alleviated by employing a peak-to-peak current comparison.", "Peak-to-peak current comparisons are known in the field of protective relays for protection of high voltage loads.", "For example, protection relays sold by General Electric Company as model numbers DFP-100, DFP-200 and F30 employ algorithms using peak-to-peak current values.", "However, such protective relays are generally standalone or rack mounted devices installed physically separate from the circuit breaker.", "Furthermore, by virtue of being installed separately, they are generally not self-powered and are energized prior to the breaker or load being energized.", "Consequently, the protective relay begins sampling prior to breaker closing and properly records zero current as the level prior to current flow.", "With electronic trip units, this generally does not occur, because when the breaker is closed, current generally flows simultaneously to the load and to the electronic trip unit.", "SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The above discussed and other drawbacks and deficiencies of the prior art are overcome or alleviated by a method and apparatus for instantaneous fault detection.", "In one aspect, a method of protection in an electronic trip unit comprises: sensing an electrical signal of a current flow to provide a present current value of the current flow;", "comparing the absolute value of the present current value and a first current threshold, the first current threshold indicating a fixed value independent of an instantaneous fault current set point;", "and comparing a multiple peak sum and a second current threshold, the second current threshold indicating a product of a second predetermined value and the instantaneous fault current set point.", "In one embodiment, the first predetermined value is a function of a maximum short time rating In another aspect, an electronic trip unit includes a current sensor for providing a current value indicative of a present current and a microcontroller.", "The microcontroller is configured to compare an absolute value of the present current value and a first current threshold and to compare a multiple peak sum and a second current threshold.", "The first current threshold indicates a fixed value independent of an instantaneous fault current set point, and the second current threshold indicates a product of a second predetermined value and an instantaneous fault current set point.", "In one embodiment, the first predetermined value is a function of a maximum short time rating.", "The above-discussed and other features and advantages of the present invention will be appreciated and understood by those skilled in the art from the detailed description and drawings that follow.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Referring now to the drawings, wherein like elements are numbered alike in the several FIGURES.", "FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a selective circuit trip system;", "FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of an electronic trip unit;", "and FIG. 3 is a flow diagram of the algorithmic procedure of the present invention.", "DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIG. 1 , a selective system is generally shown at 10 .", "Selective system 10 comprises a source 12 , an upstream device (circuit breaker and trip unit) 14 , a downstream device (circuit breaker and trip unit) 16 , and at least one corresponding load 18 .", "Any number of additional downstream devices (circuit breakers and trip units) 20 , with corresponding loads 22 may be included.", "The downstream devices 16 , 20 are rated to meet the demands of the corresponding loads 18 , 22 and are set to trip as described hereinafter.", "The upstream device 14 is rated to meet the demands of the system and is also set to trip as described hereinafter.", "Each device 14 , 16 , and 20 has a maximum short time rating associated therewith.", "The maximum short time rating may be assigned by the manufacturer of the device 14 , 16 , and 20 .", "The maximum short time rating typically identifies an RMS (Root Mean Square) current value that the circuit breaker can withstand for a short period (e.g., 0.5 seconds).", "Referring now to FIG. 2 , a general schematic of a trip unit is shown at 30 .", "The dual algorithm approach described hereinafter is preferably applied independently upon each phase current protected by the circuit breaker.", "Trip unit 30 comprises a polarity sensor 32 , which provides analog signals indicative of polarity status of power line signals on a signal line 34 , and a current sensor 36 , which provides analog signals indicative of a current measurement of power line signals on a signal line 38 .", "The analog signals on lines 34 and 38 are manipulated by an analog/digital (A/D) converter 40 , which converts these analog signals to digital signals.", "The digital signals are presented over a bus 42 to a signal processor or microcontroller 44 , such as one commercially available from Hitachi (i.e., HA/300 family of microcontrollers).", "Microcontroller 44 communicates with a random access memory (RAM) 46 , a read only memory (ROM) 48 and an electronic erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM) 50 over a control bus 52 .", "The analog/digital converter 40 , ROM 48 , RAM 46 and EEPROM 50 , or any combination thereof, may be internal to microcontroller 44 , as is well known in the art.", "EEPROM 50 is preferably non-volatile so that system information and programming will not be lost during a power interruption or outage.", "An output control device 54 receives control signals from microcontroller 44 over control bus 52 .", "Control device 54 controls a trip module 56 via a line 58 .", "A power supply 62 , which is powered by the service electricity, provides appropriate operational power over a line 64 to the components of trip unit 30 .", "Alternatively, polarity sensor 32 and current sensor 36 are powered directly by the power lines.", "ROM 48 includes trip unit application code or algorithms, which are mainly functionality firmware including initializing parameters and boot code.", "The application code includes code for the algorithmic approach of the present invention.", "EEPROM 50 includes operational parameter code, such as code for setting the number of peaks for a trip or the sensitivity of the trip unit.", "These parameters will typically be stored in the trip unit at the factory and are selected to meet customers'", "requirements, but may be configured based on the customer needs as is well known in the art.", "The algorithmic approach of the present invention will now be described in more detail with reference to FIG. 3 .", "FIG. 3 depicts algorithmic procedure 70 , which is repeated for each current sample.", "The frequency of the current samples is a function of the speed of the current sensors, the speed of the A/D converter, the processing capabilities of the microcontroller and other operational variations.", "A current sample I (obtained from current sensors 36 and preferably processed by A/D converter) is presented in step 72 to the microcontroller 44 and related software encompassed by ROM 48 , RAM 46 and EEPROM 50 .", "In the first algorithm, generally denoted by reference numeral 74 , bolted faults are detected quickly.", "At block 76 , the first algorithm effectuates a comparison between the absolute value of the current (|I|) and a threshold value A. Threshold value A may be determined as a function of the maximum short time rating of the device 14 , 16 , or 20 .", "For example, the threshold value A may be determined as: A= 2 1/2 *I Thresh (1), where I Thresh is the maximum short time rating of the device 14 , 16 , or 20 , typically expressed as an RMS current.", "Thus, if |I|>A, (2) then the fault current generally will exceed the maximum short time rating of the device 14 , 16 , or 20 in the steady state.", "Preferably, to prevent nuisance trips caused by momentary faults or other transient current glitches, the unit will not trip after a single current value exceeding A. Rather, to distinguish between a true fault current and a transient glitch occurs, multiple consecutive current samples are compared to A. The number of samples required to trip, n, is predetermined such that n is a function of the sampling rate for the trip unit and should be selected to span approximately 1–2 milliseconds.", "If |I| is greater than A, the algorithmic flow proceeds from block 76 to block 80 , where the value of the total consecutive trip counts [n(tc)] is increased by one.", "The next block 82 compares n(tc) with n. If n is exceeded, then microcontroller 44 will direct a trip signal via output 54 to trip module 56 to open the circuit breaker, indicated at block 200 of flow chart 70 .", "When n is not exceeded by n(tc), the process continues as shown toward the second algorithm generally denoted in the flow chart as algorithm 90 , discussed further herein.", "If |I| is not greater than A, the algorithm proceeds to block 78 of the flow chart, where n(tc) is reset to zero.", "Generally, if |I| is greater than A less than n times, and the second algorithm has not caused a trip, the spike is due to a momentary fault.", "Comparison of consecutive samples rather that a single sample aids in the prevention of nuisance tripping due to transient glitches.", "Proceeding to the second algorithm, depicted by reference numeral 90 , the peak-to-peak current (referenced as pk—pk in FIG. 3 ) ii compared to the RMS instantaneous fault current set point, I sp .", "The instantaneous set point I sp may be determined by the industry's standards employed and the particular load to be protected.", "The detection of two peaks accurately takes into effect the potential reduction of a fault current in a subsequent half cycle due to, for example, opening of a downstream circuit breaker or the passing of the asymmetry phenomenon.", "Generally, the second algorithm determines the sum of the most recent peak and the average value of, an earlier stored or preceding peak and the absolute value of the current of the present sample (|I|).", "That sum is compared to a value equal to twice the RMS value of the instantaneous set point (2 I sp 2 1/2 ), and if the sum is greater, a fault condition will accurately be detected and the breaker will trip.", "Certain variables for the second algorithm are required to determine the two peaks required.", "The sample processed at a given point in time is represented by I. The previous sample processed is represented by I(−1).", "At a startup condition, either upon initial operation of the system, after a trip caused by the first or second algorithm or after a manual resetting of the system, the values for the most recent peak current value peak(−1) and the preceding peak current value peak(−2) have yet to be determined and/or stored in memory.", "Thus, flags are correlated with the existence of a stored value for the peak.", "These flags are represented herein in the negative, where a flag is set if a certain peak value is non-existent, as no_peak(−1) and no_peak(−2).", "If no_peak(−1) has been set, then a peak(−1) must be determined and stored.", "Similarly, if no_peak(−2) has been set, then a peak(−2) must be determined and stored.", "Additionally, as described in more detail herein, a polarity flag is used to determine whether the half-cycle has changed, i.e., the polarity of the present sample I differs from the polarity of the previous sample I(−1).", "The polarity flag remains unset (cleared) until a peak(−1) has been determined.", "Furthermore, I(−1) is yet to be determined at an initial startup condition.", "Therefore, for a first sample at a startup condition, the following variable values exist: I=present current value;", "I(−1)=(to be determined);", "no_peak(−1)=set;", "no_peak(−2)=set;", "peak(−1)=(to be determined);", "peak(−2)=(to be determined);", "and polarity flag=cleared.", "Block 92 determines whether no_(−2) has been set.", "At a startup condition continuing from a negative response in block 82 (i.e., no trip because the absolute value of the current has exceeded twice the RMS instantaneous fault set point a single time rather than n times) or block 78 (i.e., no trip because the absolute value of the current has not exceeded twice the RMS instantaneous fault set point, block 76 , and the trip count n(tc) remains zero at block 78 ), no_peak(−2) is set.", "The query of block 92 is answered affirmatively, whereby the algorithm proceeds to block 100 where the process for storing peak(−1) and peak(−2) with the subsequent samples is commenced.", "Block 100 determines whether the polarity flag has been set.", "For an initial sample, the polarity flag will not be set, as there has not been a peak(−1) determination, and the algorithm will flow to block 102 .", "The polarity flag will set when a peak(−1) is ascertained and stored, as described further herein, and it will return to the unset state when a polarity change is detected by polarity sensor 32 .", "If it is determined by block 100 that a polarity flag has been set, the algorithm will proceed to block 120 .", "For the algorithmic processing of an initial sample, block 102 determines whether the absolute value of the current of the present sample |I| is greater than the absolute value of the current of the previous sample |I(−1)|: | I|>|I (−1)| (3) For a first sample where I(−1) does not exist, |I| will be presumably greater than |I(−1)| and the algorithm will continue from block 102 to block 120 .", "At block 120 , a determination is made as to whether the polarity of I is different from the polarity of I(−1).", "However with an initial sample I, I(−1) does not exist thus the negative response to the query of block 120 occurs.", "Continuing from a negative response in block 120 , the algorithm proceeds to block 124 where the previous sample I(−1) is set to equal the current value of the present sample I. At block 126 , the flow returns to step 72 whereupon processing of a new sample I commences.", "In processing the immediately subsequent sample, the no_peak(−1) and no_peak(−2) flags are set, the polarity flag is clear, and I(−1) has been set (the value of I for the previous sample).", "As with all samples, the flow chart proceeds through the first algorithm 74 as described previously.", "If the trip count does not exceed n, or if |I| is less than A, the flow returns to the second algorithm.", "With the second sample, the query of block 92 is again answered affirmatively and the query of block 100 is again answered negatively.", "Proceeding to block 102 , the algorithmic scheme differs from the initial sample, as there is a value for I(−1).", "If the absolute value of the current of the present sample |I| exceeds the absolute value of the current of the previous sample, |I(−1)|, the flow proceeds to block 120 .", "At block 120 , the polarities of the present sample and previous sample are compared.", "If the polarity of I is different from the polarity of the previous sample I(−1), the polarity flag will be cleared at block 122 (however, under startup conditions this step is redundant as the polarity flag has not been set) and the flow will proceed to block 124 .", "At block 124 , the value of I(−1) is set to the present sample and the previous I(−1) is cleared.", "If, at block 120 , the polarity of I and I(−1) are the same, the flow will proceed directly to block 124 and the new I(−1) will be set to the present I. If at block 102 the absolute value of the current for the sample is less than or equal to the absolute value of the current for the previous sample, the flow will proceed to determine peak(−1), beginning at block 104 .", "At block 104 , it is determined whether a peak(−1) has been set.", "In the algorithmic flow depicted, this is accomplished by the no_(−1) flag, which indicates the existence of a value for peak(−1).", "At initialization, no_peak(−1) flag is set, indicating a lack of a value for peak(−1).", "Thus, the first time a subsequent sample has a lower current than the previous sample, the flow will proceed to block 106 , where no_peak(−1) flag is cleared (as the determination of a value for peak(−1) will occur in the next step).", "Proceeding from block 106 to block 114 , a peak(−1) is set, whereby peak(−1)=|I(−1)|.", "Further, the polarity flag is set for the polarity of the current at the present half-cycle.", "For subsequent samples, no peak measurements take place until the polarity changes and the polarity flag is cleared (blocks 120 and 122 ).", "The next step, block 120 (which flows from block 100 , block 102 , and block 114 ) determines whether the polarity of the present sample |I| is different from the polarity of the previous sample I(−1).", "If so, the algorithmic flow proceeds to block 122 , where the polarity flag is cleared and then the present current value I replaces the previous I(−1) (block 124 ).", "When the polarity of I is the same as the polarity of I(−1), the algorithmic flow proceeds directly to block 124 where the present I substitutes the previous I(−1).", "Thus, at this point, in the algorithmic flow peak(−1) has been determined, no_peak(−1) flag is cleared, the polarity flag is set (as peak(−1) is set), peak(−2) has not been determined, and the no_peak(−2) flag remains set.", "The next sample proceeds from block 72 through the first algorithm, where upon the breaker will trip if n(TC) exceeds n. If not, the flow proceeds to block 92 .", "As previously mentioned, the no_peak(−2) flag is still set as peak(−2) has yet to be determined thus the flow proceeds to block 100 where it is determined that the polarity flag has been set.", "Block 102 (containing equation 3) is bypassed, and the flow proceeds to block 120 where it is determined whether the polarity has changed from the previous sample I(−1) to the present sample I. Another [peak(−1)] cannot be determined until the phase current polarity changes.", "When this occurs, the polarity flag is cleared (block 122 ), I(−1) is set to the value of the present I (block 124 ) and the flow awaits the next sample (block 126 ).", "Thus, when the polarity changes and a peak(−2) has yet to be set, the conditions are as follows: I=present current value I(−1)=(determined);", "no_peak(−1)=cleared no_peak(−2)=set;", "peak(−1)=(determined);", "peak(−2)=(to be determined);", "and polarity flag=cleared.", "Proceeding from block 126 to block 72 , a new sample I is processed through the first algorithm.", "If the breaker has not tripped (i.e. |I| is not greater than the threshold value A, or the trip count is not greater than n), the flow proceeds to block 92 of the second algorithm.", "Again if the query of block 92 is answered affirmatively (as is the case when a peak(−2) has yet to be set), then the flow proceeds to block 100 .", "At block 100 , the polarity flag has been cleared, thus the flow proceeds to block 102 where the comparison of equation 3 is effectuated.", "If |I| is greater than |I(−1)|, the algorithmic flow proceeds from block 102 to block 120 and the phase current polarity of the present sample I is compared with the polarity of the previous sample I(−1) (block 120 ), as previously described.", "If |I| is less than or equal to |I(−1)|, the algorithmic flow proceeds to set peak(−2) and reset peak(−1).", "Thus, proceeding from block 102 to block 104 , a determination is made as to whether the no_peak(−1) flag is set.", "At this point, the no_peak(−1) flag is cleared (as peak(−1) is set) thus block 104 is answered negatively, and the flow proceeds to block 108 .", "At block 108 , a determination is made as to whether the no_peak(−2) flag is set.", "At this point, the no_peak(−2) flag is set (as peak(−2) has not been set) thus block 108 is answered affirmatively and the flow proceeds to block 110 whereupon the no_peak(−2) flag is cleared (since peak(−2) will be set).", "Proceeding from block 110 to block 112 , peak(−2) is set to equal the present peak(−1).", "A new peak(−1) is set to equal the absolute value of the current of the previous sample and the polarity flag is set at block 114 .", "Proceeding from block 114 to block 120 , the present phase current polarity is compared to that of the previous sample as described above.", "No peak measurement will occur until the phase current polarity changes and the polarity flag is cleared at block 122 .", "Proceeding from block 122 (if the phase current polarity changed from the previous sample) or block 120 (if the phase current polarity did not change), the previous current sample I(−1) is reset to the present current sample I (block 124 ) and the algorithm is set to await the next sample (block 126 ).", "Thus, when the polarity changes and a peak(−2) has been set, the conditions are as follows: I=present current value;", "I(−1)=determined;", "no_peak(−1) flag=cleared;", "no_peak(−2) flag=cleared;", "peak(−1)=(determined);", "peak(−2)=(determined);", "and polarity flag=cleared.", "At this stage, both peaks have been set and the second algorithm is ready to calculate the peak-to-peak current based upon peak(−1), peak(−2) and |I|.", "The peak-to-peak current may then be compared with the instantaneous set point or a factor thereof.", "Proceeding again from block 126 to block 72 , a new current sample |I| is processed.", "If the breaker is not tripped due to the exceeded trip count limits at block 82 of the first algorithm, sample I is processed in the second algorithm starting at block 92 .", "A negative response to the query in block 92 (i.e. no_peak(−2) flag is cleared) directs the flow to block 94 , where the peak-to-peak current may be determined by the following equation: pk–pk=[|I |+peak(−2)]/2+peak(−1).", "(4) This calculation is repeated for every current sample where peak(−1) and a peak(−2) both exist, or block 92 is answered negatively.", "The value obtained, pk–pk, is compared at block 96 to two times the RMS instantaneous set point of the protected device or breaker as follows: pk–pk >2×2 1/2 I SP , (5) where 2 1/2 I SP represents the RMS instantaneous fault current set point.", "If pk–pk exceeds two times the RMS instantaneous set point, the breaker will trip as indicated at block 200 .", "This is appropriate, as it would indicate that the present current I is high enough that, when averaged with the previous peak ([|I|+peak(−2)]/2) and that average summed with the most recent peak [peak(−1)], two times the RMS instantaneous set point is exceeded.", "When pk–pk is less than or equal to two times the RMS instantaneous set point, there will be no trip and the second algorithm will proceed to block 100 .", "If a new peak(−1) has been determined in the present half-cycle, the polarity flag will be set and an affirmative response to the query in block 100 will direct the algorithmic flow to block 120 .", "No new peaks will be stored until a polarity change is detected (or, upon the occurrence of a new half-cycle) at block 120 and the polarity is cleared at block 122 .", "For subsequent samples within a new half-cycle, i.e., the polarity flag is cleared, a negative response to the query of block 100 will result, directing the algorithmic flow to check for new prospective peak values to store, as described above.", "It is understood by one skilled in the art that the algorithmic flow relayed herein may be modified by known techniques.", "For example, algorithms and or subroutines may be appended to compensate for any errors that occur in this detection method due to the sampling error.", "Similarly, an analog circuit approach may substitute the algorithm for the digitally sampled system described herein.", "Such an analog circuit, for example, may use multiple or linked peak detecting circuits that would implement the same algorithms.", "The electronic trip unit of the present invention is particularly well suited for use in a selective breaker system.", "The selective system may comprise, for example, a current source, an upstream circuit breaker and trip unit, a plurality of downstream circuit breakers and trip units and corresponding loads.", "The downstream circuit breakers and trip units are rated to meet the demands of the corresponding loads and are said to trip at lower peaks as compared to the upstream circuit breakers and trip units.", "The circuit breaker trip unit includes a current transformer providing an input current to a rectifying means, whereupon said input currents are detected for a certain polarity and converted to a low level voltage signal for processing.", "The low-level voltage signals are then processed via a signal processor where the signals are acted upon by a series of algorithms.", "In one embodiment, the processing means comprises an analog-to-digital converter and a microprocessor.", "If certain conditions of the algorithms are met, communications with an actuator by, for example, an output signal will energize a trip solenoid, which will cause the contacts of the breaker device to open.", "To illustrate the operation of the algorithmic approach described herein, examples will be described and the processing steps delineated.", "Consider the case of a 250 ampere breaker with a maximum short time rating of 25,000 amperes fed from a 1,000 ampere breaker with a maximum short time rating of 42,000 amperes.", "For this example, each breaker has an adjustable instantaneous current rating of 15 times the breaker rating (3,750 amperes and 15,000 amperes respectively).", "If this system is operating with no fault for a period of time equivalent to at least two half-cycles, peak(−1) and peak(−2) values will be set and equations 4 and 5 of blocks 94 and 96 respectively will be calculated.", "If, for example, during the first half-cycle, a 16,700 ampere fault occurs with a 1.5 asymmetry, then the system will “see”", "a fault in excess of 25,000 amperes.", "If such fault continues for n samples spanning, for example, 1 millisecond (i.e. not a mere “transient glitch”), the downstream breaker rated at 250 ampere will trip during the first half-cycle as the absolute value of the current (greater than 25,000 ampere RMS) exceeds the maximum short time rating set point (i.e., 25,000 ampere).", "This is accomplished by the first algorithm depicted generally at 74 .", "However note that the upstream breaker rated 1,000 ampere will not trip, as the absolute value of the current does not exceed its maximum short time rating set point (i.e., 42,000 ampere), despite the fact that the fault current is significantly greater that the customer setting of 15,000 amperes.", "Note that the past electronic instantaneous circuit protection approaches would have caused both breakers to open immediately, which would create a nuisance trip for other breakers or loads fed from the 1,000 ampere breaker.", "The instantaneous tripping action of the downstream 250 ampere breaker will limit the current “seen”", "by the upstream breaker and avoid tripping it as well in subsequent cycles.", "If the 16,700 ampere fault is not limited, during the next half-cycle another peak will be stored as peak(−1) and the old peak(−1) will be stored as peak(−2).", "In the processing of the immediately subsequent sample I, if the fault is still present (or a value of I is high enough to inflate the pk–pk value above two times the RMS setting, or 15,000 ampere for the upstream breakers), the pk–pk value in equation 4 (block 94 ) will exceed two times the RMS instantaneous fault set point for the upstream 1,000 ampere breaker.", "After the first half-cycle, the asymmetry phenomenon will dissipate quickly.", "Thus, peak(−2) (the first peak seen) will be equal 25,000 ampere and peak(−1) and absolute value of |I| will be less than 16,700 amperes due to the fact that the positive DC offset will subtract from the negative half cycle (only 30% effect rather than the 50% of the first half cycle) or approximately 11,690 amperes.", "Performing the calculation, pk–pk =[(25000+11690)/2+16700]=35045 ampere, which will trip the 1,000 ampere breaker (35045>2×1000×15).", "If instead a 16,700 ampere fault occurs without asymmetry (or, a 1.0 asymmetry value) on the first half-cycle, neither the downstream 250 ampere breaker nor the upstream 1,000 ampere breaker will trip after the first algorithm.", "However, after two half-cycles, if the fault is still present, [peak(−1)], [peak(−2)] and |I| will equal approximately 16,700 ampere, and pk–pk will equal 33,400 ampere thus even without asymmetry, both breakers will correctly trip a 16,700 ampere fault.", "While preferred embodiments have been shown and described, various modifications and substitutions may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.", "Accordingly, it is to be understood that the present invention has been described by way of illustrations and not limitation." ]

[ "[0001] The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application 62/234,398, filed Sep. 29, 2015;", "the disclosure of the provisional application incorporated by reference.", "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates generally to medical information systems, including but not limited to, centralized medical information systems for managing, storing, and providing patient medical information to health care providers at remote locations.", "[0003] Every year, many people become either seriously ill or die because their healthcare provider is not able to access the important information needed from the patient, especially in an emergency situation, such as a car accident or a serious illness.", "Doctors have to obtain the much-needed information from the patient, such as his blood type, allergies to medication, or important health information.", "A computer-based patient information network could be a lifesaver for a seriously ill or injured patient who needs emergency care.", "[0004] Mr. Wing May is a foreign-born, naturalized citizen from Asia.", "All of his senior relatives are illiterate in English.", "When they received care from a healthcare provider, they could not fill out a patient history form.", "Although Mr. May is fluent in English, the medical care giving process is not.", "For example, some prescription drugs have names that are very long and complicated.", "The name can be very difficult to remember, let alone to spell and write correctly.", "[0005] One day, one of Mr. May's relatives called him late at night.", "No one in the whole family of that patient could speak English.", "When the ambulance came, Mr. May was the only one they knew who is fully bilingual and also picked up the phone late at night.", "[0006] One time, Mr. May took one of his sons to an emergency room late at night.", "The staff at the hospital gave him a large pile of paperwork to fill out.", "It took him an hour to complete despite the fact his minor son needed emergency assistance.", "[0007] In a separate incident, his daughter had to undergo an emergency surgery.", "A team of surgeons had asked him all sorts of questions.", "He did not have all of her records with him, including her CAT scans.", "All he could provide them with was the information he had available.", "[0008] Every time a patient visits a doctor, they are always faced with a multitude of paper forms and questions.", "Wouldn't it be easier if there could be a computer-based network with which one could access the information needed by a healthcare provider?", "[0009] When dealing with an unconscious patient after an accident, a patient who is seriously ill, a patient suffering from Alzheimer's disease, or a patient suffering from a mental disorder, the patient may be unable to provide the information needed.", "A lot of foreign-born immigrants cannot read or write in the English language.", "Even some American-born people are on medications and have diagnoses with names that are difficult to spell correctly.", "We should have a computer-based network that can provide the healthcare providers with the information they need, especially in an emergency.", "SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0010] It is an objective of the present disclosure to provide a centralized computer system for managing and storing patients'", "medical information that is accessible from remote locations that allows the medical professionals and the patients themselves to access the patients'", "medical information through remote electronic devices, such as smart phones and computers.", "[0011] It is an objective of the present disclosure to provide faster access to patient information in order to increase patient survival rates, especially if the patient is unconscious or cannot speak English.", "[0012] It is an objective of the present disclosure to provide each enrolled patient with a life-saving tag.", "The tag is a small tag that can be hung from the patient's neck or wrist, or attached to their phone or mobile device.", "On the front side of the lifesaving tag, there is a toll-free number, a website address, and an account number.", "A healthcare professional, without any directions, would understand the meaning of the tag.", "It is a further objective of the present disclosure to provide the lifesaving tag with a rear side.", "The first line on the rear side indicates if the patient is suffering from any serious illness.", "If there is an exclamation point, the condition is serious.", "The second line indicates if the patient has any transmittable diseases.", "The third line indicates if the patient is allergic to anything.", "The fourth line has his blood type, and the issue date of that tag.", "Everyone can easily understand this product without much training Both sides of the tag are marked with the colorful logo and with luciferin to make it easier to see in the dark.", "[0013] It is a further objective of the present disclosure to provide a centralized computer system for managing and storing patients'", "medical information that is connected to a telephone network for receiving telephone calls from patients or health care providers.", "The centralized computer system can identify an enrolled patient through caller ID.", "There is an automated answering system.", "If the caller presses “1”", "if he is the patient himself or “2”", "if he is calling on behalf of someone else.", "If the caller is calling on behalf of someone else, the answering system will ask for the patient's account number.", "For fast and easy access, the security code should be all numbers and no letters because not all phones come with keyboards.", "[0014] It is further an objective of the present disclosure to provide for family members covered by the same insurance policy.", "Every individual in the family should have his own account number, but the same security code.", "As a result, the parents could have access to their minor children's information without having to remember each individual's security code.", "[0015] It is further an objective of the present disclosure to allow EMTs, doctors, and other healthcare professionals administrative rights to access a patient's health care records.", "For example, when they call the centralized computer system, they only have to enter the patient's account number so they can read the patient's medical information without the security code.", "In an emergency situation, time is life.", "[0016] It is further an objective of the present disclosure to provide a technique for downloading a patient's CAT scans, x-rays, and other results into the centralized medical record system from a cell phone or other electronic device.", "If the internet service for the PC is down, a person can connect to the PC via BlueTooth with a cellphone.", "It is further an objective of the present invention to allow a healthcare professional administrative rights to review, add, and change the patient's stored medical information.", "But for security reasons, whoever adds or changes the information needs to enter a security code.", "The security code is only given to primary medical provider.", "If a patient wants to review his information, he does not need a security code as the updated medical information is available on the patient's smart phone or mobile device.", "[0017] It is further an objective of the present invention to allow a patient to fill out the patient information form online.", "There will be a patient information background form on the Internet site.", "When a patient needs to visit a new medical provider, the provider would have him fill out such a form—a new patient intake form.", "With the patient's information already captured in the online system, the provider need only ask questions regarding specialized treatment.", "The advantage of such an invention is if the patient is unable to read or write English.", "A bilingual person could help him fill out such a form online, even if he is not present.", "[0018] One of the major advantages of accessing the patient's information through a cellphone pursuant to the present disclosure is it can be done hands free.", "The medical professionals with a cellphone can just call in the network.", "The networking system with the caller ID will immediately identify the caller having the administrative rights to access the patient's information.", "He can just read the patient's account number, located on the life-saving tag and the information can be accessed immediately.", "As part of the system implementation, there is a live operator responding to calls.", "If the phone call is from a patient who needs immediate help, such as needing an ambulance, he could just say “I need help now”, the networking system will immediately transfer the call from the automated program to an operator who will answer the phone immediately.", "[0019] It is further an objective of the present disclosure to avoid a large complex account number to access a centralized computer system because it is too hard to remember and complicated.", "The present disclosure provides a centralized computer system that utilizes voice recognition of a user's name and four digit pin number.", "For example: The computer will recognize all the David C. Andersen's with a pin number of 5555 via a cell phone or a regular phone.", "This reduces the number of matches down to a handful instead of hundreds of thousands then the computer can search the recorded voiceprint using voiceprint technology and can immediately and accurately identify the caller.", "Everyone can remember a four-digit personal identification number (PIN) and it would make the computer processing effort much simpler.", "[0020] It is a further objective of the present invention, the system uses caller ID to identify the caller's identity, including his national origin and primary language.", "Each patient account has pertinent information about the patient including a contact phone number that is attached to the caller ID function and their primary language.", "As an example, the inventor “Wing May”", "is of Chinese origin.", "When he calls the network operator, the caller ID recognizes him and his identity, and connects him to a Chinese-speaking operator.", "This is an important implementation issue because there are over forty million foreign born immigrants, many of whom don't speak English.", "In an emergency situation, some non-English speaking people can't call 911 because of language barriers.", "All of the Medifax system operators are bilingual.", "If the caller does not communicate in English, the bilingual operator can make a phone call for him.", "[0021] In yet another objective of the present invention, mini-cell phone is provided for its senior customers.", "Currently, some companies issues panic buttons, which hang on someone's neck like a necklace.", "Such a system cannot call anyone but the operator.", "The “mini phone”", "works like a small cell phone.", "The difference is there is a panic button on the phone.", "If the patient is suddenly feeling sick, he or she can just press the button and the phone will immediately connect the call to an operator who speaks his language.", "[0022] In one embodiment, the mini phone, or the patient's mobile phone attached to the account, is able to remind them to take their medicine, in their own language, on the schedule as prescribed by the doctor.", "The patient or their caregiver should contact the operator.", "The operator has his voice recorded in the automatic calling machine.", "This uses the same technique as a telemarketer making phone calls to the customers.", "When it is time to take a prescription drug, the automatic calling machine will call the patient to remind them to take which kind of medication (even reminding them what it looks like).", "If there is no answer, the machine will call again.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0023] The features and advantages of the disclosure will become apparent from a consideration of the subsequent detailed description presented in connection with the accompanying drawings in which: [0024] FIG. 1 is a centralized medical information system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;", "[0025] FIGS. 2A and 2B depict a front and back view of a patient tag according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;", "[0026] FIGS. 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D and 3E depict the interactions of the components of the centralized medical information system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;", "[0027] FIG. 4 depicts the patient information background form.", "Such form could be filled out online and printed out easily, and;", "[0028] FIG. 5 is one embodiment of the miniphone of the present disclosure.", "DETAILED DESCRIPTION [0029] For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles in accordance with the disclosure, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same.", "It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the disclosure is thereby intended.", "Any alterations and further modifications of the inventive features illustrated herein, and any additional applications of the principles of the disclosure as illustrated herein, which would normally occur to one skilled in the relevant art and having possession of this disclosure, are to be considered within the scope of the disclosure claimed.", "[0030] In describing and claiming the present disclosure, the following terminology will be used in accordance with the definitions set out below.", "As used in this specification and the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the”", "include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.", "As used herein, the terms “comprising,” “including,” “containing,” “characterized by,” “having,” and grammatical equivalents thereof are inclusive or open-ended terms that do not exclude additional, unrecited elements or method steps.", "[0031] The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate embodiments of the invention.", "This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the illustrated embodiments set forth herein.", "Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art.", "[0032] With reference now to the figures, and in particular with reference to FIG. 1 , there is illustrated an exemplary environment in accordance with the present invention.", "Embodiments of the present invention advantageously provide a system and methods for facilitating the exchange of medical information between health care providers and patients.", "Embodiments of the present invention also include a computer readable medium containing a set of instructions or program causing the computer system to facilitate according to the present invention, and a database of personal networks and business networks formed by users of the computer system.", "[0033] A system 100 includes a computer system positioned at a site to define a patient medical information server 102 .", "The server 102 may include a processor 104 and a memory 106 as known to those having ordinary skill.", "A patient information management program 108 , is stored in the memory 106 .", "The program 108 may define a set of computer-readable instructions that, when executed by the processor 104 , cause the processor 104 to perform the functions as described herein.", "[0034] It will be understood that the preferred specific server 102 identified above is given by way of example and that other types of servers or computers may be used.", "In an embodiment, the server 102 represents a server or server cluster or server farm in the architecture and is not limited to any individual physical server.", "The server site may be deployed as a server farm or server cluster managed by a serving hosting provider.", "The number of servers and their architecture and configuration may be increased based on usage, demand and capacity requirements for the system 100 .", "[0035] The system 100 further includes in database 110 .", "In an embodiment, the database 110 comprises a set or grouping of databases stored in the memory of the server 102 or in other suitable electronic data storage media, such as a hard drive, accessible to the server 102 .", "The database 110 may also be provided in the form of a database server or server cluster.", "The particular database configuration is replicated based on capacity requirements for the system 100 .", "The database 110 or databases further include at least a plurality of records 120 having medical data relating to a plurality of users.", "[0036] The patient information management program 108 according to the present invention may be stored in a machine-readable storage medium, such as, but not limited to, any type of computer data storage disk including floppy disks, CD-ROMs, optical disks, magneto-optical disks, read-only memories (or ROMs), EPROMs, EEPROMs, random access memories (RAMs), magnetic or optical cards, or other types of media suitable for storage of a set of instructions that, when executed by the processor 104 , causes the server 102 to perform the operations of the present invention.", "[0037] The program set of instructions described in the present invention are not inherently related to or required by a particular computer or other server hardware.", "Various conventional computers or servers may be used according to the present invention.", "In addition, the present invention is not described with reference to any particular programming language.", "It will be understood that a variety of programming languages may be used to implement the system and method of the present invention as described herein.", "[0038] In an embodiment, the server 102 provides an online user registration process.", "The registration process allows users to establish accounts with the server 102 .", "As part of the registration process, the server 102 may prompt the user to provide health care information, including name, address, insurance information, health care provider information, and health information.", "The user may complete the registration process using a remote electronic device (not shown) that is connected to the server 102 over a network, such as the Internet.", "It will be appreciated that the user may also provide information for groups of individuals, including families.", "This feature may be particularly useful when the user has minor children who are unable to complete the registration process themselves.", "[0039] As part of the enrollment process provided by the server 102 , the server 102 may prompt the user to provide a voice sample.", "It will be appreciated that the voice sample will be utilized by the server 102 to identify the user in the future using voice recognition technology.", "For example, the server 102 may compare the voice sample obtained from the user in the future to the voice print obtained during the registration process to positively confirm the identification of the user.", "In this regard, the server 102 may be connected to a telephone network.", "[0040] As part of the registration process, the user may authorize the server 102 to obtain electronic medical records from third parties, such as past and current health care providers.", "In regard to the type and content of the health care records, it will be appreciated that the server 102 may obtain any and all types of health care records.", "Healthcare providers, such as physicians, create large volumes of patient information during the course of their business at healthcare facilities, such as hospitals, clinics, laboratories and medical offices.", "For example, when a patient visits a physician for the first time, the physician generally creates a patient file including the patient's medical history, current treatments, medications, insurance and other pertinent information.", "This file generally includes the results of patient visits, including laboratory test results, the physician's diagnosis, medications prescribed and treatments administered.", "During the course of the patient relationship, the physician supplements the file to update the patient's medical history.", "When the physician refers a patient for treatment, tests or consultation, the referred physician, hospital, clinic or laboratory typically creates and updates similar files for the patient.", "These files may also include the patient's billing, payment and scheduling records.", "[0041] Healthcare providers can use electronic data processing to automate the creation, use and maintenance of their patient records.", "As part of the registration process, the user may further authorize the server 102 to obtain electronic insurance information from third parties, such as a health insurance company.", "All of the user's information is stored in the database 110 in a manner known to those of ordinary skill.", "The patients medical records in electronic form are generally known as Electronic Health Record (EHR) or Electronic Medical Record (EMR) and may be referred to using these abbreviations.", "[0042] Once a user has enrolled with the server 102 , the server 102 may assign the user an account number and a pin.", "In an embodiment, the account number is a numerical account number or an alphanumeric account number.", "The server 102 may also assign the user a key or a pin number that is utilized for security purposes.", "The server 102 may also assign the user a barcode or other identifier.", "Referring now to FIGS. 2A and 2B , the operator of the server 102 may issue a physical account identifier 200 to the user.", "The identifier 200 may include a front side 201 , as shown in FIG. 2A , having sufficient information 202 for accessing the user's information stored in the database 110 in a manner that will be further described below.", "In an embodiment, the identifier 200 may take one of many forms, including a tag, having a hole 205 / 215 , a bracelet, a necklace or a card.", "In an embodiment, each patient is issued a life-saving tag.", "The tag is a small tag that can be hung from the patient's neck or wrist.", "On the front side of the lifesaving tag, there is, company identifier 204 , a toll-free number, a website address, and account number.", "A healthcare professional without any directions would understand the meaning of the tag.", "[0043] On the rear side of the tag 211 as shown in FIG. 2B , displays the immediate patient information 212 , including the first line which indicates if the patient is suffering from any serious illness.", "If there is an exclamation point, the condition should be noted by medical personnel or an emergency responder.", "The second line indicates if the patient has any transmittable diseases.", "The third line indicates if the patient is allergic to anything.", "The fourth line has his blood type, and the issue date of that tag.", "This idea is simple.", "Everyone can easily understand this product without much training Both sides of the tag are marked with the colorful logo 203 / 213 and with luciferin to make it easier to see in the dark.", "[0044] In an embodiment, a user's medical information is accessed on the server 102 utilizing a voice print of the user's name and four-digit pin number.", "For example, the server 102 will recognize all of the users having a name associated with a pin number of 5555 transmitted via a cell phone or a regular phone to the server 102 .", "This reduces the number of matches down to a handful, instead of hundreds or thousands;", "the computer can search the recorded voiceprint using voiceprint technology and immediately and accurately identify the user.", "This will allow a user to remember a four digit personal identification number (PIN) and it would make the computer processing effort much simpler.", "In an embodiment, the pin number is the last four digits of the patient's social security number.", "[0045] The following is a list of features provided by the system 100 : Dog tag style ID cards (as per illustration) Recognition of user using caller ID's A smart phone application Pin number Personal information, such as name, birth date, gender, address, phone number, E-mail Social Security number encrypted for security Emergency contact person phone number Power of attorney or legal guardian Known allergies for medicine, food, or latex Transmissible diseases Medical insurance company, group and account number, including secondary insurance Employer information Primary care doctor and other medical professionals familiar with the patient Pharmacy of the patient CAT scans, X-rays, MRI's scan, etc.", "Immunization record Current prescription drugs Medical history of the patient Blood type, DNA, R.H. factor, etc.", "Dental records Organ donor status POLST form DNR &", "History [0069] It is an object of the present disclosure to provide a centralized patient information system that provides the following features: IVR (Interactive Voice Response) telephony interface Electronic Health Record (EHR) data repository Document Management System (DMS) Web Application for Providers, Patients and Administration Persistent Storage—relational or NoSQL Call center support Mobile device apps iOS, Android, Windows Phone, etc ETL for non-digital medical &", "health records Each of foregoing features is described below.", "IVR (Interactive Voice Response) Telephony Interface [0078] Telephony interface that allows voice calls to be processed by automated systems.", "In the case of a request for information, the IVR would send a link to the phone (presuming that phone has data capability) and that would allow access via a mobile device app to display the patient information.", "If the requirement is that verbal information be given, then a text-to-speech application will be required to provide the critical information to the caller.", "Electronic Health Record (EHR) Data Repository [0079] There are several EHR cloud-based systems (HIPAA certified) to store the patient information including diagnostic image links (the actual documents are stored in the DMS).", "Document Management System (DMS) [0080] Using a DMS such as Alfresco® or other, the document images are stored and administered here, again accessed through the web application using the EHR interface.", "Web Application for Providers, Patients and Administration [0081] Primary application to integrate all of the services together as a coherent product.", "All patient, provider and administration functions are provided by a web interface and service API's to the users.", "The mobile applications invoke the API's for data retrieval and storage.", "Persistent Storage—Relational or NoSQL [0082] Relational database system such as MySQL® or PostgreSQL®, non-relational document-based persistent stores such as Elasticsearch®.", "This is the primary store for the account, provider and other information required to service the system.", "Call Center Support [0083] Call center support includes the IVR interface, when the IVR detects a request for a live person, the call is transferred to a call center.", "All the operators are bilingual.", "When the patient makes a phone call, the system will recognize the nationality of the caller based on the caller ID.", "When the patient registers his information in the system profile, it requires the patient to choose the language of preference.", "When the call center receives the phone call, it will automatically transfer the phone call to the operator who speaks the patient's language of preference.", "This does not include medical emergencies in which a foreign-born, non-bilingual person needs to call 911 because of language barriers and cannot communicate with the 911 operator.", "The Medifax system operator can record, or store, the message and make an emergency phone call for the patient or user.", "[0084] The patient can contact the calling center by their own cell phone or the companies issued miniphone with a panic button.", "If the user calls from a smart phone, they can use installed application software, or an APP, where they can press a virtual button to connect with a network operator.", "[0085] The dog tag style user ID includes the reminder “I Need Help!”", "printed in a large font, when the automated network operator hears the key words, it will automatically transfer the call to the live operator who is bilingual and speaks the same language as the user.", "[0086] If the caller is issued a company miniphone, he just has to press a panic button to connect with a bilingual operator.", "[0087] There is the prescription drug reminder system.", "If the patient needs to take a prescription drug routinely, the caregiver can call the Medifax system operator to record their voice in the automated calling system.", "The automated system will call and remind the patient to take their medication;", "the reminded can include the type of medication and what the medication looks like.", "If there is no answer, the machine will call again.", "[0000] Mobile Device Apps for iOS®, Android®, Windows® Phone, Etc.", "[0088] These applications will be critical to providing the user interface for viewing patient information, and for uploading addition information if not done at a PC.", "ETL for Non-Digital Medical &", "Health Records [0089] If initial patient information is not already in a digital format e.g. EHR or HL7 exchange format then ETL (Extract, Transform, Load) are the processes that are required to scan paper patient medical records, convert them to a digital format, and possibly interpret them using OCR.", "Documents are stored in the DMS, and other information in the EHR.", "[0090] The computer-based patient information sever/network 100 is a new kind of computer network that allows the medical professionals and the patients themselves to access their medical information through the cellphones and computers.", "In an emergency situation, time is life.", "The faster patient information is available to medical providers, the more likely the patient will be saved, especially if the patient is unconscious or cannot speak English.", "[0091] Each patient is issued a life-saving tag 200 , as shown in FIG. 2A .", "The tag is small and can be hung from the patient's neck or wrist.", "On the front side 201 of the lifesaving tag 200 , there is a toll-free number, a website address, and account number 202 .", "A healthcare professional without any directions would understand the meaning of the tag.", "[0092] In FIG. 2B , the rear side 211 of the tag 200 includes patient information 212 including, the first line which indicates if the patient is suffering from any serious illness.", "If there is an exclamation point, the condition is serious.", "The second line indicates if the patient has any transmittable diseases.", "The third line indicates if the patient is allergic to anything.", "The fourth line has his blood type, and the issue date of that tag.", "This idea is simple.", "Everyone can easily understand this product without much training Both sides of the tag are marked with the colorful logo 203 / 213 and with luciferin to make it easier to see in the dark.", "[0093] FIGS. 3A through 3E depict the interactions of the components of the centralized medical information system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.", "In the foregoing Detailed Description, various features of the present disclosure are grouped together in a single embodiment for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure.", "This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed disclosure 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 of the Disclosure by this reference, with each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment of the present disclosure.", "It is to be understood that the above-described arrangements are only illustrative of the application of the principles of the present disclosure.", "Numerous modifications and alternative arrangements may be devised by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure and the appended claims are intended to cover such modifications and arrangements.", "Thus, while the present disclosure has been shown in the drawings and described above with particularity and detail, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that numerous modifications, including, but not limited to, variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use may be made without departing from the principles and concepts set forth herein.", "[0094] FIG. 3A represents the initial process of registering a patient and creating a comprehensive database record in the medical information system 100 .", "Following an initial registration, the patient will be required to contact their doctor, or doctors, to request access so their personal medical records can be uploaded into the database 110 .", "In cases where hard copy or paper records are provided, it is contemplated that the records will be digitized prior to being uploaded into the database 110 forming a new Electronic Heath Record (EHR).", "The EHR requires steps of requesting the EHR, forming a new EHR, and creating or using data server space.", "All EHR records and data will be subject to secondary review by a patient representative.", "[0095] FIG. 3B represents the process steps allowing a registered service provider such as a physician or emergency responder access to a patient's EHR.", "Initial registration of the phone number of the emergency responder is required before they will be granted access to the patients EHR information.", "Once the emergency responder is registered, the request for information will be tied to the patients account number, the requestor information will again be verified and they will be queried to determine if they would like the information returned as speech or as an image.", "If speech is requested the EHR text data will be converted to speech and sent to the phone as audio data.", "If an image is requested it will be provided to the device using either mobile application software or web application software as required by the device.", "[0096] A mobile application of the medical information system service subscription and activation is described in FIG. 3C .", "When a patient becomes a subscriber to the information system 100 , a system operator will be available by telephone or internet communication e.g. chat, to collect any necessary authorization information and answer the patient's questions.", "Following the initial consultation with the operator the remainder of the process is accomplished electronically unless the patient requires additional assistance.", "The patient will first download and install a mobile application 108 , where upon completion, the patient's account will be activated.", "The patient may then download any available personal EHR data which will be stored on the patient, or user's, mobile device and also forwarded to patient medical information server 102 where it is saved to the server database 110 .", "[0097] FIG. 3D describes the interaction between a medical service provider and the medical information system 100 .", "Initially the patient or subscriber is required to authorize viewing of their EHR data and the authorization is save to the secure remote server 102 .", "The request may be initiated by the patient or subscriber or via an authorized agent of the patient.", "Once authorized the EHR data is sent to the designated provider, such as an emergency responder or an emergency room physician, the data can then be reviewed via mobile device application software 108 or a computer workstation as available.", "Each authorization transaction and record viewing event is logged into the remote server database.", "[0098] A mobile application “I need Help”", "scenario within the present medical information system is detailed in FIG. 3E .", "In the event a patient or subscriber determines a need to use the “Help”", "system 100 they will first open the system mobile application 108 on their personal device where they can press a readily apparent button which indicates “I Need Help Now”, this message will be relayed by the mobile application 108 to a system operator.", "The call event will be logged into the database 110 and include any actions by the operator.", "The system operator will speak with the caller to assess the patient or subscribers medical condition;", "if the caller is unable to communicate the operator will immediately contact emergency services via a 911call, the caller will then be notified of the contact with 911 via the mobile application 108 and by direct communication with the operator.", "If the caller can communicate, the system operator will render the necessary assistance.", "All event information will be stored on the secure remote server 102 .", "[0099] An initial patient or subscriber intake form is shown in FIG. 4 .", "The intake form includes all patient's personal information, emergency contact, insurance information, primary care doctor information, pharmacy and record any previous medical conditions or allergies.", "The intake form shown is by example only and the disclosure should not be limited to the information displayed.", "[0100] FIG. 5 is one embodiment of the miniphone 500 of the present invention.", "It is contemplated that the miniphone 500 includes a typical phone key pad 520 having a plurality of keys used to input a phone number, or possibly, text into the miniphone device and a display 510 showing both phone numbers from incoming calls and key press events on the miniphone.", "In one embodiment the display will also be capable of displaying text information both from user input or messages sent to the device by a system operator.", "Miniphone 500 may also have a retention device such as a neck loop or strap 530 , as shown, or may be secured using a wrist strap or clip configured to be attached to a user's belt, waistband or pocket.", "In yet another embodiment, it is contemplated that the neck loop 530 is also an antenna configured to improve the reception and transmission performance of the device.", "The miniphone may also include a discrete panic or HELP button 550 that when depressed will immediately connect the subscriber with a system operator, who may communicate with subscriber to render help or initiate a 911 call as necessary." ]

[ "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a process for simultaneously pregelatinizing and drying granular starches and to the pregelatinized starches produced thereby.", "More particularly it relates to the use of the hot exhaust gases and sonic energy from pulse jet combustion engines to carry out the simultaneous pregelatinizing and drying.", "Cold-water-dispersible starches, often referred to as pregelatinized starches, are typically prepared by thermal, chemical, or mechanical gelatinization.", "The term "gelatinized"", "or "cooked"", "starch refers to swollen starch granules which have lost their polarization crosses and which may or may not have lost their granular structure.", "The thermal processes generally used to prepare such starches include drum-drying, extrusion, and spray-drying.", "Each of these processes suffer from one or more disadvantages.", "Drum-drying involves simultaneously cooking and drying a very high viscosity, semi-solid starch paste on heated drums.", "The dried sheets are scraped off the drum with a metal knife and then ground.", "This process can be conveniently carried out at a high starch solids content (typically maximum of about 43%).", "Despite the fact that it suffers from several product disadvantages and frequent maintenance problems, it is still the most widely used commercial process.", "Drum-dried products are subjected to severe mechanical shear on the drum and, as a result, show an initially high viscosity (because of the extensive granular destruction) but then "breakdown"", "to much lower viscosities with continued shear and/or heating.", "It is also difficult to maintain high levels of product cleanliness.", "Some metal contamination during removal of the sheet can occur.", "Further, the drum system is "open"", "so that the paste adhering to any part of the equipment (e.g., rolls, dams, scrapers, and/or knife holders) can dry out, darken, and flake into the final product.", "Operating costs are very high because of the high torque required to rotate multiple rolls containing the semi-solid starch paste for application to the heated drums.", "End dams, which are used to prevent leakage of the starch paste from the end of the cylinder, are also high maintenance devices, as are the knives which must be maintained sharp and true (with respect to the mechanical alignment to the drum) to facilitate sheet removal at each drum rotation.", "Knife failures lead to "double coating"", "which reduces heat transfer in those areas.", "Extrusion may also be used to simultaneously cook and dry starches (see U.S. Pat. No. 3,137,592 issued June 16, 1964 to T. F. Protzman et al.).", "This method involves the physical working of a starch-water mixture at elevated temperatures and pressures, causing the gelatinization of the starch, followed by expansion after exiting the die for flashing off the water.", "The temperature and pressure are generated by mechanical shear between the rotating screw (auger) and cylindrical housing (barrel) of the extruder.", "The extrudate is then ground.", "It suffers from the disadvantage that one cannot conveniently prepare a high viscosity starch product.", "When the moisture of the starch feed is low (i.e., about 20%), a low moisture, expanded, easily ground product is obtained which does not require further drying.", "However, disruption of the starch granules is so extensive that the product cannot provide the high viscosities needed for most food applications.", "With high moisture feeds (i.e., 40-50%), the shear forces are significantly reduced and starches with much higher viscosities are produced.", "However, the extrudate is then moist, soft textured, and must subsequently be dried in a separate drying process.", "Pregelatinized starches can also be prepared by spray-drying.", "In the typical process, an aqueous slurry of the starch is precooked prior to atomization into a large chamber carrying a stream of hot air.", "The atomization (i.e., breaking the feed into very fine particles) is accomplished with high pressure single-fluid nozzles, with two-fluid nozzles in which compressed air or steam is the atomizing medium, or with a rapidly rotating centrifugal disc.", "The use of conventional atomizers presents no problem when an uncooked starch slurry is used.", "However, when the starch is in a gelatinized (cooked) state, spray-drying the resultant paste becomes more difficult and complex due to the increased viscosity.", "For example, a dispersion with 7% solids of gelatinized corn starch has a viscosity of about 500 centipoises (cps.), whereas a dispersion with similar amounts of ungelatinized corn starch has a viscosity similar to that of water, i.e., about 1 cps.", "Not only are gelatinized starch pastes difficult to pump and atomize due to their high viscosities, but the swollen starch granules are subjected to substantial shearing action which destroys the granule's integrity.", "Hence, native unconverted starches, with or without derivatization, must be processed at low solids.", "These so-called "thick-cooking starches"", "must be precooked at about 5-8% solids so that the paste is low enough in viscosity to permit atomization.", "The use of such a low solids paste is rarely justifiable on an economic basis.", "Due to these problems spray-drying is usually limited to "thin-cooking starches", i.e., converted starches where the polymeric structure has been severely degraded by acid hydrolysis, oxidation, and/or dextrinization.", "Converted starches can be used at higher solids because their pastes are lower in viscosity and can be atomized.", "However, their viscosity is low only relative to the native unconverted starches.", "Even a granular acid-converted starch, which shows an extensive viscosity reduction due to degradation, must be processed at less than 30% solids.", "Further, a spray-dryer is not an efficient heat transfer device with respect to providing the energy needed for evaporation of water.", "The equipment tends to be massive in size, e.g., 4.6-7.3 m. (15-24 ft.) in diameter by 6.1-12.2 m. (20-40 ft.) in height.", "Convective and radiant heat losses and leakage of ambient air are exaggerated by the large surface areas.", "Also, large volumes of discharged air (e.g., 566-1133 m. 3 or 20,000-40,000 ft.", "3 per min.) at exit temperatures of 82°-107° C. (180°-225° F.) carry a large portion of input energy.", "The heat efficiency is probably only about 50-55%.", "The improved spray-drying method disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,280,851 (issued July 28, 1982 to E. Pitchon et al.) overcomes the solids/viscosity limitation of the precooked starch feed by introducing an aqueous slurry of a granular starch to a set of atomizing orifices.", "The atomized slurry then contacts high pressure steam in an outer chamber of the same nozzle which has dual atomizing chambers.", "The steam serves to cook the starch, apparently while the starch is in an atomized state, and provides energy for atomizing the water/starch/ steam mixture through the orifice of the outer chamber.", "Notwithstanding the advantages of using an uncooked starch slurry, this process suffers from many of the disadvantages of conventional spray-drying.", "The proportion of heating medium (e.g., steam) to liquified material (an aqueous slurry at about 40% starch solids) is about 0.5-3.0:1.", "Test experience indicates a ratio of at least 1.25-1.50:1 is needed for good gelatinization to a high viscosity product.", "At a ratio of 1.5, a 40% solids feed is diluted to about 16% solids which approaches the feed solids of a precooked starch paste.", "Steam consumption would probably be high (perhaps 100 hp/1000 lb.", "starch/hr.), and the dryer hot air stream would have to be at a relatively high rate to maintain an acceptable humidity.", "Thus, the inherent low efficiency of spray-drying, described above, is still working to negate many of the advantages of this process.", "Hence, there is still a need for an efficient and versatile process for preparing cold water dispersible (i.e., pregelatinized) starches.", "SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a process for simultaneously atomizing, cooking, and drying a mixture of starch and water to produce a pregelatinized starch powder, which comprises the steps of: (a) preparing a mixture of a granular starch with water;", "(b) feeding the mixture into an exhaust pipe containing a hot exhaust gas stream from a sonic pulse jet combustion engine to atomize the starch mixture;", "(c) maintaining the resulting mixture of atomized starch, water, and hot gas in the exhaust pipe for a time sufficient to pregelatinize and substantially dry the atomized starch;", "and (d) recovering the pregelatinized starch powder by exhausting the mixture containing the atomized, pregelatinized, and substantially dry starch powder into a collection chamber supplied with a flow of air.", "Drying is completed in the chamber with the energy supplied by the sonic pulse jet engine.", "The air flow is typically supplied by a fan and the starch powder is separated in bag collectors in a spray-dryer.", "The feed stream may be a moist granular starch cake formed by spraying the starch with sufficient water to moisten the granules or an aqueous slurry formed by slurrying the granular starch in water.", "The size and shape of the pipe containing the exhaust gas stream, rate of addition and point of entry into the pipe of the starch feed stream, and heat of the exhaust gas stream from the sonic pulse jet combustion engine are used to adjust the cooking time and temperature, moisture content of the starch, and starch residence time to insure that the starch is pregelatinized and dried.", "Additionally, a stream of cooling water can be injected into the pipe carrying the hot gases before the addition of the starch mixture.", "The temperature control provided by this water is indicated by thermocouples mounted in the chamber before and after the addition of the starch.", "The present invention thus provides an efficient process for simultaneously dispersing, pregelatinizing, and drying a granular starch feed which utilizes both the high temperature of the exhaust gas stream (>1371° C.->2500° F.) and the sonic energy produced by the pulse jet engine.", "The cyclical nature of the combustion (low pressure fuel is cut-off at each "explosion"", "and started again as the pressure is dissipated) develops a sonic wave front which disperses the starch, maximizes the surface area, and improves the efficiency of heat transfer.", "The process is thus energy efficient and, in addition, the production rate is high.", "In contrast with drum-dried and extruded starches, the resultant cooked starches are still substantially granular in nature.", "The absence of polarization crosses indicates that the granular crystallinity accounting for water insolubility has been removed.", "The starches are readily dispersed without lumping because the granule has not been destroyed, and the resulting smooth pastes have acceptable viscosity characteristics.", "A further advantage of this process is its versatility, namely the fact that it can be used not only with conventional starch slurries (30-40% solids), as in drum drying, but also with moistened starch granules (cakes at 55-70% solids) as in extruders.", "It thus has the advantages of the prior art simultaneous processes without the disadvantages, i.e., relatively low process solids, high mechanical shearing forces, high maintenance, and poor thermal efficiency.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The device used to provide the thermal drive, feed turbulence and particle atomization for starch gelatinization and drying is a valveless, pulse jet engine.", "It is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,462,955 (issued Aug. 26, 1969) to R. M. Lockwood and E. L. Bennett.", "The pulse jet engine is essentially an elongated hollow tube open at its ends and turned up on itself into a "U"", "shaped configuration.", "The sketch in FIG. 1 is a simple representation of the major components of the engine.", "A combustion chamber 10 is located along one "leg"", "of the "U"", "and is equipped with a sparking device 15 and at least one fuel nozzle 16.", "Air is admitted to the combustion chamber 10 through an inlet nozzle 17 which is separated by a few inches from an air augmenter 19.", "Either liquid or gaseous fuel is delivered to the combustion chamber 10 through the fuel nozzle 16.", "An elbow 11, an exhaust pipe 12, a feed injection nozzle 13, and a diffuser 14 comprise the remaining sections of the "U", with the open ends of the tube facing in the same direction and exhausting into a collection chamber 18.", "The air and fuel are drawn into the combustion chamber 10 through the air and fuel inlet nozzles 17 and 16, respectively, and ignited by the sparking device 15.", "Hot exhaust gases from the detonation move to the right past the air inlet nozzle 17 and the air augumenter 19, and left through the elbow 11, the exhaust pipe 12, past the feed injection nozzle 13, and through the diffuser 14.", "About 70% of the stream passes the feed inlet nozzle 13.", "Both streams exhaust into the collection chamber 18.", "Once the operation of the engine is initiated, the sparking device 15 can be de-energized because the engine will continue to operate as a result of the high temperatures attained in the combustion chamber 10.", "Rapid expansion of gases in the combustion chamber 10 after ignition cause the pressure to rise, momentarily shutting off the fuel supply at fuel nozzle 16 which is maintained at low pressure.", "After the outward discharge of gases through the diffuser 14 and the air augmenter 19, chamber pressure falls and fuel is again admitted through fuel nozzle 16.", "Discharge of gases and dissipation of chamber pressure also causes a reverse or inward flow of ambient air through air inlet nozzle 17 into the combustion chamber 10.", "The admixture of fuel and air is again detonated by the hot walls of the combustion chamber 10, which can reach 1371° C. (2500° F.).", "Thus, the operation is repeated, providing cyclically repetitive ignition of the fuel/air charges intermittenly introduced into the combustion chamber 10.", "The rate of detonations or pulsation depends on the size and geometry of the engine and is usually designed for about 250 cycles per second.", "This frequency results in a sonic wave front which provides the mixing, turbulence, and atomization of feed particles introduced into the hot gases through feed injection nozzle 13.", "The acoustic energy assists in good dispersion of feed particles, vibrates the particles to rapidly strip boundary layers of water, and provides the system with excellent heat transfer.", "The combination of high thermal drive and sonic activity results in rapid gelatinization and simultaneous drying of the starch and water mixture introduced through injection nozzle 13.", "FIG. 2 illustrates the over-all processing system.", "The pulse jet engine described above is at the left side of the drawing and shows the combustion chamber 10, the elbow 11, the exhaust pipe 12, the diffuser 14, the air augmenter 19, and the feed injection nozzle 13.", "If desired, a method for spraying water into the hot exhaust gases may be provided by a nozzle 20.", "Both ends, 14 and 19, of the "U"", "shaped engine discharge into the collection chamber 18.", "A complete air evacuation system, much as a conventional spray dryer, is provided by an exhaust fan 24, a bag collector 22, a rotating air-lock valve 23, and a chamber discharge pipe 25.", "The engine exhaust gases, together with air entering openings around the diffuser 14 and the augmenter 19 (not sealed), are drawn through the collection chamber 18 and out the chamber discharge pipe 25 with energy from the exhaust fan 24.", "A bag collector 22 separates moist air from product particulates by a fabric which permits only vapors passing through the fabric to be exhausted through a stack 27 to the atmosphere.", "Particles blocked by the fabric are "shaken"", "or "pulsed"", "down the bag collector 22 through the rotating air-lock 23 to a conveyor 21.", "The conveyor 21 extends the length of the collection chamber 18 so that particles too large or too dense to be carried by the air stream can be mechanically withdrawn.", "The conveyor 21 combines, on a continuous basis, particles settling in the chamber with fines separated by the bag collector 22, through the rotating air-lock 23, and delivers this product stream to a packer 26.", "DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The starch bases useful herein are granular native and modified starches which may be derived from any plant source including corn, potato, sweet potato, wheat, rice, sago, tapioca, waxy corn (also referred to as waxy maize), sorghum, high amylose corn, or the like.", "The modified starches may include conversion products derived from any of the bases including, for example, dextrins prepared by the hydrolytic action of acid and/or heat;", "oxidized starches prepared by treatment with oxidants such as sodium hypochlorite;", "fluidity or thin boiling starches prepared by enzyme conversion or mild acid conversion;", "derivatized starches such as starch ethers and esters;", "and crosslinked starches.", "The starches may be modified in several ways, e.g., by conversion and derivatization, by crosslinking and derivatization and the like.", "The operation of the pulse combustion engine is described in the Brief Description of the Drawings.", "The cyclical pattern of detonations, which occur at about 250 times per second, provide a high energy, broad-band, accoustic wave front.", "This sonic energy causes rapid, efficient dispersion of the feed particles.", "The sonic waves are thought to "vibrate"", "each feed particle, facilitating heat and mass transfer.", "Although the hot jet gases can reach 1371° C. (2500° F.) in in temperature, residence time in this turbulent zone is very short, only several milliseconds, so that the actual system temperature of the feed particles is much lower--about (149° C.-300° F.) maximum.", "It is the combination of high thermal and sonic energy which disrupts the feed particles, maximizes surface area, encourages efficient heat transfer, and, thus, provides the physical environment for simultaneously pregelatinizing and drying the starch in the feed.", "The pulse combustion apparatus which is used herein is conventional and described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,226,668 issued Oct. 7, 1980 to F. A. Ferguson, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.", "Commercial pulse combustion apparatuses are also described in "Pulse Combustion Lowers Drying Costs"", "(Chemical Engineering, Dec. 10, 1984 pp. 44-45).", "The above apparatus and like apparatuses utilizing hot air gases from pulse jet engines have been used to dehydrate and/or concentrate various food and agricultural products, including artichokes, brewer's grain, coffee grounds, instant dairy whey, lactose, potato waste, rice, shrimp meal, single-cell protein, soy protein, and starch.", "See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 3,485,487 (issued Dec. 23, 1969 to E. L. Bennett et al.) which describes the concentration of low-grade, iron-bearing ores by supplying a fluidized ore periodically into the exhaust pipe of a pulse jet engine;", "U.S. Pat. No. 3,586,515 (issued June 22, 1971 to E. E. Anderson) where whole fish is converted to fish meal and oil by grinding the fish to form a slurry, flash heating the ground fish to a temperature under its boiling point, holding the slurry for a time, centrifugally separating the slurry into a solid phase and a liquid phase, centrifugally separating the liquid phase into oil and a liquid residue, removing the oil, combining the liquid residue with the solid phase, and drying the combined material with a pulse jet engine to form fish meal particles;", "and U.S. Pat. No. 4,334,366 (issued June 15, 1982 to R. M. Lockwood) which supplies the sonic energy and hot pulsating gas from a pulse jet engine to a perforated drum which serves as a drying chamber into which moist particles such as food are loaded.", "None of the above patents suggests simultaneously cooking (i.e., gelatinizing) and drying a starch product in situ in the hot pulsating gas, with such cooking resulting in changes in the physical and colloidal properties.", "The following examples, which describe the preparation of pregelatinized dispersible starches, more fully illustrate the embodiments of this invention.", "In the examples, all parts and percentages are given by weight, and all temperatures are in degrees Celsius unless otherwise noted.", "The Brabender viscosity of the various starches was determined while mixing a water suspension of the starch and gradually heating it from 30° C. to 52° C. at 1.5° C. per min.", "there is an "initial"", "hold at 30° C. for 10 min.", "This determination illustrates the swelling properties of the precooked starches since 52° C. is at least 20° C. below the gelatinization temperature of the waxy maize starch used in the following examples.", "EXAMPLE 1 This example describes the preparation of three cold-water swelling (CWS) waxy maize starch samples (A, B, and C) using a high solids feed.", "The feed was prepared by mixing 227 kg.", "(500 lbs.) of waxy maize starch and 85 1.", "(22.5 gal.) of water in a cylindrical rotating mixer and putting the resulting mixture through a Hammer Mill running at about 2000 RPM which is equipped with a coarse-screen.", "The moistened starch granules analyzed at 65% solids.", "A 10 cm.", "(4 in.) screw conveyor with a small hopper feed opening was used to transfer the moistened starch granules to the inlet nozzle on the pulse jet.", "The feed inlet nozzle was located on top of and about 46 cm.", "(18 in.) from the end of the "U"", "shaped pipe section before it enters the collection chamber carrying the hot exhaust gases.", "The gases were introduced to the collection system through a conical diffuser section at the end of the engine and projecting into the primary collector.", "With Sample A, a water spray nozzle (rated at 0.6 gallons/min.), which was located on the same circumference as the feed nozzle and at a 45° angle to it (not as shown in FIG. 2), was used for cooling.", "The pulse jet was started;", "after about 30 sec.", "the water spray was turned on;", "and then the moist starch was conveyed into the inlet nozzle at a rate estimated to be about 626 kg.", "/hr.", "(1380 lbs.", "/hr.).", "The air temperature measured at the discharge end of the collector was about 163° C. (325° F.).", "The run progressed smoothly and after about 15 min.", "the system was shut down.", "The collector walls were relatively clean with very little cooked starch paste on the walls.", "The diffuser cone projecting from the engines showed a small amount of some dark scorched starch.", "Evaluation of the resultant starch powder showed it had a moisture content of 1.9%, pH of about 5, and bulk density of about 341.2 kg.", "/m.", "3 (21.3 lb.", "/ft.", "3 ).", "Only 10 % of the birefringent polarization crosses remained, indicating the starch was about 90% gelatinized.", "It is difficult to prepare CWS waxy maize starches which do not lump or "clot"", "when dispersed in water.", "Typically, the cooked starch hydrates rapidly, a gelatinous film forms on the surface, and further water cannot penetrate the film.", "The powder from Sample A was easily dispersed in cold water and the paste was smooth with a short texture.", "With Sample B, the starch-water mixture (65% solids) was fed to the engine at a somewhat higher rate, estimated to be about 680 kg.", "/hr.", "(1500 lb.", "/hr.).", "The flow to the water spray nozzle was decreased to 0.3 GPM, providing higher solids at the entry point to the engine exhaust pipe.", "The run was shortened to about 2 min.", "because of mechanical problems and the air temperature at the discharge end of the collection chamber had risen to only about 135° C. (275° F.).", "The product had a moisture content of 4%, pH of 6.3, and bulk density of about 424.5 kg.", "/m.", "3 (26.5 lbs.", "/ft.", "3 ).", "Only about 6% of the polarization crosses remained, indicating about 94% gelatinization.", "The viscosity pattern of the sample (see Table I) showed slightly lower viscosities, especially at 52° C., than Sample A. With Sample C, the starch-water mixture, (35% moisture) was fed to the engine at a somewhat lower rate, estimated to be at about 567 kg.", "/ hr.", "(1250 lbs.", "/hr.).", "Water was delivered at the spray nozzle at 0.3 GPM.", "The run progressed smoothly for 6 minutes when the feed mixture was exhausted.", "The air temperature at the discharge of the collection chamber leveled off at 160° C. (320° F.).", "The chamber was relatively clean and essentially free of any deposits of pasted or dried starch.", "There was some charring on the diffuser as it entered the collector, and this probably accounted for the light tan off-color of the product.", "The product had a moisture content of 2.4%, pH of 5.2, and bulk density of about 368.5 kg.", "/m.", "3 (23 lbs.", "/ft.", "3 ).", "Only about 6% of the polarization crosses remained, indicating about 94% gelatinization.", "The viscosity pattern of this sample (see Table I) was the same as that of Sample A but the viscosity was slightly lower.", "The intrinsic viscosity could be considered slightly low.", "This may have resulted from the lower feed rate which provided more energy per unit processed.", "The Brabender viscosity patterns of the above pulse jet-cooked starches were compared with those of precooked waxy maize starches prepared by other pregelatinization methods.", "The results are shown below.", "TABLE I______________________________________ Brabender Viscosity (B.U.) 8% Solids, pH 5.5 IntrinsicPregelatinized 10 min.", "at ViscosityStarch Sample 30° C. 45° C. 52° C. (dl.", "/g.)______________________________________Pulse JetA 650 640 660 0.92B 510 450 430 1.00C 580 550 550 0.86(all processed at65% solids/35% moisture)Drum Dried 1140 590 400 1.15(at 40% solids/60% moisture)Extruded 90 60 55 0.88(at 80% solids/20% moisture)Jet cooked at 120 110 110 1.13138° C. (280° F.) andspray dried(at 5% solids/95% moisture)______________________________________ The pulse jet cooked products were stable in viscosity during the entire heating time, with the samples'", "viscosities ranging from about 500-600 B.U. (1 Brabender unit is approximately 1 cps) at 8% solids.", "These viscosities were substantially higher than the viscosities of the extruded and jet-cooked/spray-dried starch samples.", "The drum-dried starch was higher in initial viscosity, but it then broke down so that the final viscosity was lower than that of the pulse jet engine cooked products.", "Thus, the jet engine products were superior in viscometric properties to precooked starches prepared by the other pregelatinization methods.", "The products showed a high final viscosity with no significant breakdown from the initial viscosity to the final viscosity, a viscosity profile that provides significant textural advantage.", "The only apparent disadvantage, for some applications, was the light tannish off-color that the engine products had.", "The intrinsic viscosity (I.V.) of the samples is an indication of the molecular weight of starch.", "The jet engine products were slightly lower in I.V. than the drum-dried or jet cooked/spray-dried samples (0.86-1.00 vs.", "1.15-1.13, respectively);", "they were the same as, or higher than, the extruded product (0.88).", "The similarity of the I.V.'s indicates that there are no significant differences in the molecular scission or degradation brought about by the various methods of pregelatinizing the starch.", "Rather, it is the granular organization, i.e., crystallinity, which is markedly affected by the pregelatinization method selected.", "The jet engine products show a distinct advantage as indicated by their viscosity profiles.", "EXAMPLE 2 The feed was changed from the moist, cake-like feed of Example 1 (65% solids) to a fluid, free flowing slurry of granular waxy maize starch suspended in water (36% solids).", "The feed injection nozzle to the engine exhaust was located in the same position as when used for the moist "cake"", "feeds of Example 1.", "However, there were no water sprays into the engine gases and the diffuser section was jacketed and water cooled.", "A run was made at a feed rate of about 1361 kg.", "/ hr.", "(3000 lbs.", "/hr.) of slurry.", "The air temperature at the discharge end of the collector stabilized at 129° C. (265° F.) over 6 minutes.", "The granules retained about 70% of their polarization crosses indicating about 30% gelatinization, which was considerably lower than with the high solids cakes.", "The product had a moisture content of 4.6%, pH of 5.9, and 688.9 kg.", "/m.", "3 bulk density of (43 lbs.", "/ft.", "3 ).", "The color was much lighter than products of Example 1.", "Although gelatinization was demonstrated, it is clear that better control of the operating parameters (i.e., better atomization, longer residence time, and/or better temperature control) is needed to achieve higher levels of gelatinization.", "EXAMPLE 3 Two of the jet engine starch products of Example 1 (Samples A and C) were tested as fluid loss control agents for an oil well drilling mud - an important application for pregelatinized starches.", "It was compared to an extruded waxy maize starch, a product known to be an effective fluid loss control agent and a commercial control.", "The standard API procedure was used (4% sodium chloride or calcium chloride, 3 lbs.", "per bbl.", "at room temperature).", "The results are shown in Table II.", "TABLE II______________________________________ Fluid Loss (cc.)Sample 4% NaCl 4% CaCl.", "sub[.", "].2______________________________________Pulse Jet Waxy Starch Sample A 14 15Pulse Jet Waxy Starch Sample C 15 17Extruded Waxy Starch 24 43Commercial Control* 11 17______________________________________ *Mil-Starch a pregelatinized starch available from Milchem Co., Houston, Texas.", "The pulse jet engine product showed excellent fluid loss control;", "it was superior to the same base starch pregelatinized by extrusion.", "These starches should be excellent in a wide range of such applications, even the more demanding applications involving calcium chloride.", "EXAMPLE 4 One of the jet engine starch products of Example 1 (Sample C) was evaluated in an instant chocolate pudding and compared to a drum dried waxy starch sample and a commercial starch product (a derivatized starch used extensively for instant puddings).", "The jet engine starch gave a pudding with better surface smoothness and gloss than either of the other starches.", "It had a softer texture and did not show as good a "cut"", "as the commercial pudding.", "However, the surface properties, texture, and "cut"", "were better than the drum dried sample, thus suggesting that modification of the base starch is as important in preparing instant starches for puddings as the method of pregelatinization.", "Summarizing, this invention provides an efficient and convenient process for the preparation of dispersible starches.", "Now that the preferred embodiments of the present invention are described in detail, various modifications and improvements thereon, will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art.", "Accordingly, the spirit and scope of the invention are to be limited by the appended claims, and not by the foregoing specification." ]

[ "RELATED APPLICATIONS This present application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser.", "No. 10/801,470, filed Mar. 16, 2004 now U.S. Pat. No. 7,308,250, entitled “Integration of Secure Identification Logic Into Cell Phone,” which is incorporated by reference herein.", "FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT [Not Applicable] MICROFICHE/COPYRIGHT REFERENCE [Not Applicable] BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Passwords are a commonly practiced security measure that prevents unauthorized users from accessing computer systems as well as identifying authorized users during an access.", "However, unauthorized users have used a variety of measures to ascertain the passwords of authorized users.", "Once an unauthorized user has obtained an authorized user's password, the unauthorized user can access the computer system in the same manner as the authorized user.", "Often times, the unauthorized user accesses the computer system for malicious purposes.", "The activity of the unauthorized user is generally not detected until significant damage or disruptions have occurred.", "Requiring authorized users to change their passwords at regular intervals can curtail, at least to some extent, the activities of unauthorized users.", "However, the regular interval time period is usually several weeks or months.", "During this time period, an unauthorized user can cause significant damage and disruption.", "Even if the user changes password daily, it could still not be effective to inhibit unauthorized user to do significant damage and disruption for that duration.", "As a result, some computer systems use a time varying randomly generated password for each authorized user.", "The administrator of the computer system provides each authorized user with a device.", "The device includes a pseudo-random number generator that generates a code at relatively short time intervals, such as every minute.", "The computer system is also equipped to determine the pseudo-random number at a given time.", "When the authorized user seeks to access the computer system, the authorized user uses the code generated and displayed by the device as the password.", "The foregoing provides for quickly changing passwords that are valid for short times.", "Accordingly, even if an unauthorized user does obtain a password, the password is valid for a very short time period.", "This significantly curtails the damage that an unauthorized user can do.", "One of the well known disadvantages is associated with providing such device to an authorized user.", "Given the global reach of the internet, in many cases the device has to be delivered to the user via courier or mail.", "This can delay initial access by authorized users by several days.", "Additionally, when sending the device by mail, it is possible for an unauthorized user to intercept the device.", "Further limitations and disadvantages of convention and traditional approaches will become apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art through comparison of such systems with the present invention as set forth in the remainder of the present application with reference to the drawings.", "BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Presented herein are systems and methods for integrating secure identification logic into mobile communication devices.", "In one embodiment, there is presented a method for providing a password.", "The method comprises receiving a registration, wherein said registration includes a phone number associated with a mobile terminal;", "and transmitting information to the mobile terminal, the password being a function of the information.", "In another embodiment, there is presented a mobile terminal comprising a transceiver, a pseudo-random number generator, a controller, and an output.", "The transceiver receives a seed from the remote communication device.", "The pseudo-random number generator generates pseudo-random numbers at regular time intervals based on the seed.", "The controller provides the seed to the pseudo-random number generator.", "The output provides passwords based on the pseudo-random numbers at regular time intervals.", "In another embodiment, there is presented a communication system comprising a first node and a second node.", "The first node receives a seed.", "The second node transmits the seed, that is into a pseudo-random number generator at a predetermined mobile terminal over a paging channel.", "These and other advantages and novel features of the present invention, as well as details of an illustrated embodiment thereof, will be more fully understood from the following description and drawings.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a communication system for configuring a mobile terminal to provide a time varying random password in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;", "FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an exemplary Global System for Mobile Communication Public Land Mobile Network that can be used in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;", "FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an exemplary mobile terminal in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;", "FIG. 4 is a signal flow diagram for configuring a mobile terminal to provide a time varying random password in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;", "and FIG. 5 is a signal flow diagram for configuring a mobile terminal to provide a time varying random password in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring now to FIG. 1 , there is illustrated a block diagram of an exemplary communication system for configuring a mobile terminal to provide a time varying random password in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.", "The system includes a computer network 100 and a wireless phone network 150 .", "The communication system includes a server 105 that is accessible over a network 100 by a client terminal 115 .", "The network 110 can comprise any combination of a variety of communication media, such as, but not limited to, the internet, the public switched telephone network, a local area network (LAN), and a wide area network (WAN).", "The server 105 may provide access to a database storing sensitive information or the like, or allow individuals to perform various transactions.", "Accordingly, it is important to control access to the server 105 .", "As a result, the server 105 requires a password from the client terminal 115 that validates the identity of the user at the client terminal 115 .", "However, unauthorized users have been known to use a variety of measures to obtain the password of an authorized user.", "With the password, the unauthorized user often proceeds to access the server 105 for malicious purposes.", "To curtail this, the server 105 uses a time-varying pseudo-random password.", "A pseudo-random number generation algorithm generates the time-varying pseudo-random password at relatively short intervals, such as every minute or even less depending on the granularity required for the desired password security.", "Accordingly, even if an unauthorized user succeeds in obtaining an authorized user's password, the password is only valid for the remainder of the short interval.", "The pseudo-random number generation algorithm can be implemented at the server 105 in one of a number of ways.", "For example, an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) can also be incorporated into the server 105 that continuously runs the pseudo-random number generation algorithm.", "Alternatively, the pseudo-random number generation algorithm can be incorporated as software at the server 105 .", "The authorized user receives the time varying pseudo-random password from a mobile terminal 120 .", "The logic that implements the pseudo-random number generation algorithm is integrated into the mobile terminal 120 .", "This logic could either be an ASIC or a part of an ASIC present in the mobile terminal 120 or part of a software program running at the mobile terminal 120 .", "The mobile terminal 120 displays the current time-varying pseudo-random password on its display screen.", "Therefore, when an authorized user seeks access to the server 105 , via client 115 , the authorized user provides the time-varying pseudo-random password displayed by the mobile terminal 120 .", "The server 105 then compares the time-varying pseudo-random password provided by the authorized user to the pseudo-random number generated by the pseudo-random number generation algorithm at the server 105 .", "The server 105 allows access, if there is a exact match.", "In order for the pseudo-random number generation algorithm at the server 105 to provide the same pseudo-random numbers as the mobile terminal 120 at the same times, the pseudo-random number generation algorithms are the same and synchronized.", "The pseudo-random number generation algorithm requires an input called ‘seed’ to generate the pseudo-random numbers.", "The seed can be provided by an external source to the pseudo-random number generation algorithm.", "The pseudo-random number generation algorithm generates the first pseudo-random number from that seed, then generates the second pseudo-random number from the first pseudo-random number thereafter, etc.", "As can be seen, the sequence of pseudo-random numbers generated by the pseudo-random number generation algorithm is dependent on the seed.", "Additionally, different seeds to the same pseudo-random number generation algorithms result in different sequences of pseudo-random numbers.", "In fact, the same pseudo-random number generation algorithm can provide different time-varying pseudo-random passwords to any number of users, by assigning each user with a different seed.", "In order to ensure uniqueness of the sequence of pseudo-random numbers to each user, the size of the pseudo-random number generated also plays a significant role.", "When a user at the client terminal 115 initially registers to access the server 105 , the registration can include either a phone number or any other identification number associated with the user's mobile terminal 120 .", "The server 105 can select a seed for the user.", "As an added security measure, the server 105 can select the seed based on the time of registration.", "The server 105 can then use a terminal 125 with access to a cellular phone network 130 .", "The terminal 125 transmits the seed to the mobile terminal 120 using the cellular phone network 130 .", "The terminal 125 can access the cellular phone network 130 , either directly, or via a public switched telephone network.", "For example, in one embodiment, the terminal 125 establishes a phone call to the mobile terminal 120 .", "When the phone call is established, the terminal 125 can transmit audible signals over the cellular phone network 130 representing the seed.", "The mobile terminal 120 can accordingly, load the seed into the pseudo-random number generator at a predetermined time in synchronization with the server 105 .", "The predetermined time is preferably proximate to the time of transmission, such as at the next minute interval, taking into consideration the path delay time of communication from server 105 to mobile terminal 120 .", "In another embodiment, the terminal 125 can cause the cellular phone network 130 to transmit control signals indicating the seed to the mobile terminal 120 .", "The mobile terminal 120 can accordingly load the seed into the pseudo-random number generator at a predetermined time in synchronization with the server 105 .", "The cellular phone network 130 can comprise a variety of wireless telecommunications networks, such as, but not limited to, the Global System for Mobile (GSM) Communications, or the Personal Communication Services (PCS) network, Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) network, IEEE 802.11 Wireless LAN network, Bluetooth network etc.", "Referring now to FIG. 2 there is illustrated a block diagram of a Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM) Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) 210 .", "The PMLN 210 is composed of a plurality of areas 212 , each with a node known as a Mobile Switching Center (MSC) 214 and an integrated Visitor Location Register (VLR) 216 therein.", "The MSC/VLR areas 212 , in turn, include a plurality of Location Areas (LA) 218 , which are defined as that part of a given MSC/VLR area 212 in which a mobile terminal 120 may move freely without having to send update location information to the MSC/VLR area 212 that controls the LA 218 .", "Each Location Area 212 is divided into a number of cells 222 .", "The mobile terminal 120 is the physical equipment, e.g., a car phone or other portable phone, used by mobile subscribers to communicate with the cellular network 210 , each other, and users outside the subscribed network, both wireline and wireless.", "The MSC 214 is in communication with at least one Base Station Controller (BSC) 223 , which, in turn, is in contact with at least one Base Transceiver Station (BTS) 224 .", "The BTS is a node comprising the physical equipment, illustrated for simplicity as a radio tower, that provides radio coverage to the geographical part of the cell 222 for which it is responsible.", "It should be understood that the BSC 223 may be connected to several base transceiver stations 224 , and may be implemented as a stand-alone node or integrated with the MSC 214 .", "In either event, the BSC 223 and BTS 224 components, as a whole, are generally referred to as a Base Station System (BSS) 225 .", "At least one of the MSCs 214 are connected to the public switched telephone network (PSTN).", "The PLMN Service Area or wireless network 210 includes a Home Location Register (HLR) 226 , which is a database maintaining all subscriber information, e.g., user profiles, current location information, International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) numbers, and other administrative information.", "The HLR 226 may be co-located with a given MSC 214 , integrated with the MSC 214 , or alternatively can service multiple MSCs 214 , the latter of which is illustrated in FIG. 2 .", "The VLR 216 is a database containing information about all of the mobile terminals 120 currently located within the MSC/VLR area 212 .", "If a mobile terminal 120 roams into a new MSC/VLR area 212 , the VLR 216 connected to that MSC 214 will request data about that mobile terminal 120 from the HLR database 226 (simultaneously informing the HLR 226 about the current location of the mobile terminal 120 ).", "Accordingly, if the user of the mobile terminal 120 then wants to make a call, the local VLR 216 will have the requisite identification information without having to re-interrogate the HLR 226 .", "In the afore-described manner, the VLR and HLR databases 216 and 226 , respectively, contain various subscriber information associated with a given mobile terminal 120 .", "In one embodiment, the terminal 125 can establish a phone call with the mobile terminal 120 over the GSM PLMN 210 , either directly or via the PSTN.", "Upon establishing the phone call, the terminal 125 transmits audio signals to the mobile terminal 120 causing the mobile terminal 120 to load a particular seed to the pseudo-random number generator.", "Alternatively, the terminal 125 can cause one of the MSCs 214 to transmit a control signal, via a base station 224 to the mobile terminal 120 , causing the mobile terminal 120 to load a particular seed to the pseudo-random number generator.", "These are few of the many possible techniques of loading the seed to the pseudo-random number generation logic in the mobile terminal 120 .", "Transmitting the seed during an established call can be facilitated by the establishment of a predetermined communication protocol for secured communication between the terminal 125 and the mobile terminal 120 .", "Such predetermined protocol can include transmission of an arbitrary control signal indicating to the mobile terminal 120 that the seed will be transmitted subsequently.", "Upon receipt of the foregoing arbitrary control signal, the mobile terminal 120 prepares to receive the seed and loads the seed into the pseudo-random number generator.", "The communication between terminal 125 and mobile terminal 120 can be made secured by employing secured communication protocols such as but not limited to, the protocols using digital certificates like Transport Layer Security (TLS) protocol, Secure Socket Layer (SSL) protocol etc.", "Transmitting a control signal from a particular one of the MSCs 214 to the mobile terminal 120 may be facilitated by adapting the preexisting protocol to define commands that cause the mobile terminal 120 to load a particular seed to a pseudo-random number generator incorporated therein.", "For example, the MSC, 214 can transmit a command to load a seed at a particular predetermined time, along with the seed, to the mobile terminal 120 over a paging channel.", "For added security, a secure paging channel can be used.", "Upon receiving the foregoing signal, the mobile terminal 120 loads the seed into the pseudo-random number generator at the predetermined time.", "After receiving the seed, the mobile terminal 120 can transmit an acknowledgement to the MSC 214 using a random access channel.", "Referring now to FIG. 3 , there is illustrated a block diagram describing an exemplary mobile terminal 120 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.", "For purposes of clarity, the block diagram is not intended as an exhaustive illustration, and certain components may be omitted.", "The mobile terminal 120 comprises a controller 305 , non-volatile memory 307 , a keypad 310 , a transceiver 315 , a speaker 317 , a microphone 318 , an output such as a visual screen 320 or interface port 321 , and a pseudo-random number generator 325 .", "The pseudo-random number generator 325 generates a pseudo-random number at regular intervals that are controlled by a system clock 330 .", "The controller 305 causes the current time varying pseudo-random password to be displayed on the screen 320 .", "The time varying pseudo-random password can be the pseudo-random number generated by the pseudo-random number generator 325 .", "Alternatively, the time varying pseudo-random password 305 can be derived from the pseudo-random number generated from the pseudo-random number generator 325 .", "For example, in cases where the pseudo-random number is lengthy, the controller 305 may truncate a portion of the pseudo-random number or perform other types of mathematical operations for reducing its length.", "The time-varying pseudo-random password as well as a user identification can be provided in a variety of ways.", "In one embodiment, the time varying pseudo-random password can be output to the interface port 321 .", "The interface port 321 can be connected to a computer such as the client terminal 115 .", "Connecting the interface port 321 to the client terminal 115 ca cause the time varying pseudo-random password to be displayed on a screen associated with the client terminal 115 .", "In another embodiment, the time-varying pseudo-random password can continuously be displayed on the screen 320 .", "In another embodiment, the user may request the current time-varying pseudo-random password using the keypad 310 with the assistance of a graphical user interface provided on the screen 320 .", "The pseudo-random number generator 325 can comprise, for example, a circuit, such as a linear feedback shift register (LFSR), that generates pseudo-random numbers.", "Alternatively, the pseudo-random number generator can be implemented by a processor executing a set of instructions, wherein execution of the sets of instructions causes implementation of the pseudo-random number generation algorithm.", "Additionally, there can be varying levels of integration between the pseudo-random number generator 325 and the controller 305 .", "For example, the controller 305 and the pseudo-random number generator 325 can be separate integrated circuits that are fused together at board level.", "Alternatively, the controller 305 and the pseudo-random number generator 325 can be integrated together in an integrated circuit.", "As noted above, the seed for the pseudo-random number generator 325 is provided by the cellular phone network 130 .", "The mobile terminal 120 receives radio signal from the cellular phone network 130 via the transceiver 315 .", "Various demodulation, signal processing and deciphering can be performed to recover the seed.", "The mobile terminal 120 generally operates in one of two modes—a paging mode and an active mode.", "Generally, the paging mode is associated with the times that the mobile terminal 120 is not engaged in a phone call, while the active mode is associated with the times that the mobile terminal 120 is engaged in a phone call.", "During the paging mode, the mobile terminal 120 scans a paging channel at regular time intervals for any communications from the cellular phone network 130 .", "The communications can include for example, a request for a phone connection, a time indicator, quality of service signaling, and roaming notifications, just to name a few.", "The paging channel is made secured by employing security protocols based on Public Key Cryptography technique.", "The example of such protocols are TLS, SSL etc.", "These protocols exchange digital certificates for authentication, and at the end of the authentication process a unique session key is derived which is used to encrypt the seed at the transmitter end and decrypt the seed at the mobile terminal 120 .", "In one embodiment of the present invention, a command is defined and an MSC 214 transmits the command, a seed, and a time over the paging channel to the mobile terminal 120 .", "Receipt of the command by the mobile terminal 120 causes the mobile terminal 120 to load the seed into the pseudo-random number generator 325 at the provided time.", "Additionally, the mobile terminal 120 transmits an acknowledgment via the transceiver 315 .", "Accordingly, the non-volatile memory 307 can include instructions for detecting and performing the foregoing actions responsive to receiving the command.", "The foregoing instructions can be incorporated as part of a paging mode program.", "In another mode, receipt of the command by the mobile terminal 120 can cause an interrupt in the paging mode program.", "The interrupt handler for the interrupt can cause the seed to be loaded into the pseudo-random number generator 325 at the provided time.", "In another embodiment, the mobile terminal 120 can receive the seed during establishment of a phone call from the cellular phone network 130 .", "As noted above, a predetermined communication protocol for communication between the terminal 125 and the mobile terminal 120 can include transmission of an arbitrary control signal indicating to the mobile terminal 120 that the seed will be transmitted subsequently.", "The non-volatile memory 307 can include instructions for detecting the arbitrary control signal and acting on the arbitrary control signal.", "Upon detecting the arbitrary control signal, the mobile terminal 120 prepares to receive the seed and a time.", "Upon receiving the seed and the time, the mobile terminal 120 loads the seed into the pseudo-random number generator 325 at the given time.", "Referring now to FIG. 4 , there is illustrated a signal flow diagram for providing a seed and time to a pseudo-random number generator in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.", "During the initial registration (signal 405 ), the user provides the phone number associated with their mobile terminal.", "Responsive thereto, the server 105 allocates a seed for the user and determines a synchronization time.", "The server 105 , via the terminal 125 transmits the phone number, a seed, and a synchronization time (signal 410 ) over the cellular phone network 130 .", "The infrastructure of the cellular phone network 130 identifies and locates the mobile terminal 120 associated with the phone number, and routes the phone number, seed and synchronization time to an MSC 214 in proximity to the mobile terminal 214 .", "The MSC 214 causes a base station to transmit the seed and the synchronization time and a command to load the seed at the synchronization time (signal 415 ) to the mobile terminal 120 using a paging channel.", "Upon receipt of the seed and the synchronization time, the mobile terminal 120 sends an acknowledgement (signal 420 ) to the MSC 214 using a random access channel, that is relayed back to the server 105 .", "The mobile terminal 120 waits for the synchronization time ( 425 ).", "At the synchronization time, the mobile terminal 120 and the server 105 load the seed into their respective pseudo-random number generators ( 430 ).", "After the seed is loaded into the pseudo-random number generator, the mobile terminal 120 screen can display a time varying pseudo-random password.", "An authorized user at client terminal 115 establishes a client server connection by providing the time varying pseudo-random password (signal 435 ) displayed on the mobile terminal 120 screen.", "The server 105 compares ( 440 ) the password received from the client terminal 115 to a pseudo-random number generator at the server 105 .", "If the foregoing match, the server grants access (signal 445 ) to the client terminal 115 .", "Referring now to FIG. 5 , there is illustrated a signal flow diagram for providing a seed and time to a pseudo-random number generator in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.", "During the initial registration (signal 505 ), the user provides the phone number associated with their mobile terminal.", "Responsive thereto, the server 105 allocates a seed for the user and determines a synchronization time.", "The server 105 via terminal 125 requests an outgoing phone call (signal 510 ) to the phone number provided during the registration.", "The infrastructure of the cellular phone network 130 identifies and locates the mobile terminal 120 associated with the phone number.", "An MSC 214 in proximity to the mobile terminal 214 pages (signal 515 ) the mobile terminal 120 using a paging channel.", "Upon receiving the page, the mobile terminal 120 alerts the user to answer the call.", "Upon the user's answer, a phone call is established between the server 105 /terminal 125 and the mobile terminal 120 .", "The server 105 /terminal 125 transmits audio signals indicating a command (signal 525 ) to load the subsequent seed at the indicated time (signal 530 ).", "The mobile terminal 120 waits ( 535 ) until the provided synchronization time 535 and loads ( 540 ) the seed into the pseudo-random number generator.", "Likewise the server 105 loads ( 540 ) the seed into a pseudo-random number generator, thereat.", "After the seed is loaded into the pseudo-random number generator, the mobile terminal 120 screen can display a time varying pseudo-random password.", "An authorized user at client terminal 115 establishes a client server connection by providing the time varying pseudo-random password (signal 545 ) displayed on the mobile terminal 120 screen.", "The server 105 compares ( 550 ) the password received from the client terminal 115 to a pseudo-random number generator at the server 105 .", "If the foregoing match, the server grants access (signal 555 ) to the client terminal 115 .", "While the present invention has been described with reference to certain embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted without departing from the scope of the present invention.", "In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the present invention without departing from its scope.", "Therefore, it is intended that the present invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed, but that the present invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims." ]

[ "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1.", "Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a centrifugal fan driven by a direct-current motor of the electronic commutation type.", "Description of the Prior Art Fans of this type usually have a volute or spiral housing which forms an air diffuser.", "Within said housing is mounted a blade-wheel or impeller which is coupled for rotation with the shaft of an electronic-commutation d.c. motor.", "The fan housing is provided on one side with a central air inlet and on the other side with a disk for closing the housing, said disk being provided with an opening through which the shaft passes on the side remote from the air inlet.", "The fan motor is placed within a protective casing which has a generally cylindrical shape and is adjacent to the outer face of the housing closure disk.", "Since the motor is of the electronic commutation type, the electronic circuit for controlling the motor has to be included in the above-mentioned protective casing.", "This electronic control circuit makes it possible in particular to produce commutation or switching of the current direction within the stator windings or permits alternate supply of these windings as a function of the angular position of the rotor which is in turn controlled and supplied by a stationary position sensor.", "In the majority of instances, this sensor is a magnetic transducer such as a Hall-effect generator and is controlled by the permanent magnet constituting the rotor of the motor.", "The presence of these electronic components mounted on a printed-circuit board makes it necessary to increase the dimensions of the protective casing to an appreciable extent or to associate with this latter an auxiliary casing which contains at least part of the electronic components just mentioned.", "It is also necessary in this case to provide two printed-circuit boards since the aforementioned position sensor must be mounted in the immediate vicinity of the rotor, which complicates the electrical connections and increases the construction cost.", "In all cases, the result thereby achieved is an increase in overall size of the centrifugal fan.", "This may prove highly objectionable in applications in which the space available for installation of said fan is limited.", "Furthermore, the installation of the electronic components within the casing or in the vicinity of this latter and therefore in proximity to the motor increases the temperature elevation of these components, with the result that it is found necessary to overdimension the space required for this installation in order to ensure suitable ventilation of the control circuit.", "British Pat. No. GB-A-1,345,585 describes an electric machine having an electronically-controlled circuit which is placed in the airstream of a tangential fan.", "The circuit components which are in direct contact with the air flow are liable to be damaged by any foreign bodies carried by this air flow.", "U.S. Pat. No. 4,315,343 describes a suction motor having a volute with an axial air intake.", "This motor is of a conventional brush design and does not present any problem of cooling of electronic components.", "One aim of the present invention is thus to propose a centrifugal fan of the aforementioned type which is distinctly more compact than any fans of known types and which also offers highly efficient ventilation of the electronic control circuit of the motor, thereby achieving enhanced reliability and longer service life of the motor.", "A further aim of the present invention is to achieve an appreciable improvement in commutation control of the fan motor by placing the magnetic sensor at a greater distance from the motor and providing a sensor control track which is separate and distinct from the rotor magnet of said motor.", "SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Thus the centrifugal fan contemplated by the invention and driven by an electronic-commutation direct-current motor includes a housing which defines a volute having an axial air intake and in which is mounted a blade-wheel coupled for rotation with the motor shaft.", "Said motor is placed within a protective casing which also contains at least one printed-circuit board which carries the electronic components of the motor control circuit.", "Said motor casing is adjacent to the outer face of a fan-housing closure disk which is traversed by the motor shaft on the side remote from the air intake.", "A distinctive feature of the fan in accordance with the invention lies in the fact that the fan motor casing has an annular extension corresponding to the fan housing and that the printed-circuit board is housed within said extension and placed in substantially parallel relation to the fan-housing closure disk and in sufficiently close proximity to this latter to be subjected primarily by thermal conduction to the cooling action produced by the fan impeller.", "Thus the annular extension can be of relatively small thickness and is capable of accommodating a single printed-circuit board containing all the components of the electronic control circuit.", "In consequence, the overall size of the fan is not increased to any appreciable extent.", "At the same time, the electrical connections are simplified and there is no appreciable increase in the cost of construction of a fan of this type.", "In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the printed-circuit board is circular and extends in parallel and contiguous relation to the fan-housing closure disk.", "By means of the fan-housing closure disk, the printed-circuit board is continuously cooled by thermal conduction under the action of circulation of air within the volute.", "In another advantageous embodiment of the invention, the motor casing is fixed against the fan housing on the side corresponding to the annular extension and the motor shaft extends axially within a tubular portion which projects from said extension on the side remote from the fan housing and which contains the rotor and the stator of the motor.", "Preferably, the motor shaft is adapted to carry a member of non-magnetic material having an enlarged portion located substantially in the line of extension of the tubular portion of the fan housing and within the interior of the annular extension, said enlarged portion being adapted to carry an annular magnetic track in oppositely-facing relation to the printed-circuit board.", "Thus the magnetic sensor for controlling commutation of the motor is in turn controlled by a magnetic track which is separate and distinct from the permanent magnet of the rotor.", "In consequence, said sensor does not need to be located near said rotor and can be placed on the same printed-circuit board as the other components of the control circuit of the motor.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an exploded view in perspective showing a centrifugal fan in accordance with the invention.", "FIG. 2 is an axial sectional view of said fan.", "DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The centrifugal fan illustrated in the accompanying drawings is provided with a substantially cylindrical housing 1 which delimits a volute 2 having an axial air inlet 3.", "Within the volute 2 is mounted a blade-wheel or impeller 4, the blades 5 of which extend in planes parallel to the axis of the impeller 4.", "Said impeller is coupled for rotation with the shaft 7 of the fan-driving motor 10 which will be described in detail hereinafter.", "Air is discharged from the volute 2 in the radial direction through the outlet 15 formed in one of the lateral walls 8 of the fan housing 1.", "On the side opposite to the air inlet 3, the fan housing 1 is closed by a disk 9 having a central opening which forms a passageway for the shaft 7.", "To this end, the disk 9 is provided with a central collar 11 occupied by a bearing 12 in which is rotatably mounted the end 6 of the shaft 7.", "In accordance with the invention, the fan-driving motor 10 is placed within a protective casing 13 provided with an annular extension 14 having a radial cross-sectional area which is preferably equal to that of the fan housing 1.", "Said annular extension 14 is provided with a tubular portion 16 which projects from said extension on the side remote from the fan housing 1 and is coaxial with the shaft 7 of the motor.", "Said tubular portion 16 contains the stator 17 and the rotor 18 of the motor 10.", "The motor casing 13 is fixed against the fan housing 1 on the same side as the annular extension 14 by means of screws (not shown in the drawings) engaged within peripheral bores 21 of the extension 14 and in oppositely-facing internally-threaded peripheral bores 22 of the fan housing 1.", "Within the annular extension 14 is housed a printed-wiring board 23 for the printed circuit which is associated with the motor 10.", "The printed-wiring board 23 is so arranged as to be subjected to the cooling action produced by the fan impeller 4.", "To this end, the circuit board 23 extends in a direction parallel to the disk 9 and at a sufficiently short distance to permit thermal exchanges with said disk.", "The contour of the circuit board 23 is circular and its diameter is substantially equal to that of the disk 9.", "The printed-circuit board 23 carries all the electronic components 26 of the motor control circuit and in particular those which permit current commutation within the stator windings of this latter.", "Since this commutation technique is well known to those versed in the art, these components 26 will not be described in detail.", "The printed-circuit board 23 has a central circular opening 55 which is traversed by the central collar 11 of the closure disk 9 of the fan housing 1.", "In addition, the above-mentioned circuit board is fixed within the annular extension 14 by means of screws 27 engaged in holes 28 formed in this latter and in columns 29 molded in one piece with the internal face 31 of the extension 14.", "Additional columns 32 formed in one piece with the internal face 31 of the extension 14 permit attachment of the closure disk 9 by means of screws 33 engaged in bores 34 of this latter.", "The columns 32 extend through openings 35 formed in the printed-wiring board 23.", "The circuit assembly is so arranged that the face 36 of the disk 9 which is remote from the volute 2 is in contact with the heads of the fixing screws 27 of the printed-wiring board 23.", "The magnetic stator laminations 37 around which are wound the stator windings 38 of the motor 10 are fixed (as shown in FIG. 2) on the internal face 39 of the lateral wall 41 of the tubular portion 16 by means of screws 42, for example.", "The rotor 18 which is internal with respect to the stator 17 comprises a cylindrical permanent magnet 43 surrounding the motor shaft 7 to which it is rigidly fixed by means of two clamping rings 44, 45.", "The end-wall 46 of the tubular portion 16 is provided with a projecting central cup 47 in which is housed a second bearing 48 for the motor shaft 7.", "Within the extension of the tubular portion 16 and within the annular extension 14, the shaft 7 is adapted to carry a cylindrical member 49 of non-magnetic material.", "Said cylindrical member is fixed on said shaft and has an enlarged portion 52 which is housed within the extension 14 and is adapted to carry an annular magnetic track 20 located in oppositely-facing relation to the printed-wiring board 23.", "Said annular magnetic track has a succession of alternate north-south polarities (not visible in the figures) corresponding to those of the permanent magnet 43 of the rotor 18.", "The magnetic track 20 is adapted to cooperate in known manner with a magnetic sensor 54 such as, for example, a Hall-effect generator which is soldered on the printed-circuit board 23 and detects any transition from a north polarity to a south polarity in order to initiate current commutation within the stator windings 38.", "The fact that the sensor 54 is controlled by a magnetic track 20 which is separate from the rotor magnet gives rise to a number of essential advantages.", "It is thus possible in the first place to position the sensor 54 on the same printed-circuit board 23 as the other components of the control circuit of the motor 10, with the result that another circuit board is not necessary for supporting this component, thus reducing the bulk of the fan and simplifying the electrical connections.", "Furthermore, the track 20 has a larger diameter than that of the magnet 43 of the rotor 18, thereby enhancing the accuracy of detection of polarities and increasing the distance from the sensor 54 to the stator windings 38, thus protecting the sensor against the influence of parasites generated by these windings.", "Thus, while increasing the compactness of the fan, the operating characteristics of its drive motor are improved.", "Electric power is supplied to the motor by means of conductors 56 which pass through an opening 57 formed in the wall 58 of the annular extension 14 and are soldered to the printed-circuit board 23 from which connections are made with the stator windings 38 by means of the conductors 59.", "Thus the presence of the annular extension 14 makes it possible to give the printed-circuit board 23 a diameter equal to that of the closure disk 9 of the fan housing 1.", "This diameter is sufficient to house all the components 26 of the circuit without entailing any need to provide an additional casing irrespective of the power and therefore the dimensions of the fan.", "In consequence, the bulk of the casing is substantially limited to that of the motor which is protected by said casing, with the result that the fan thus obtained is as compact as possible.", "During operation, heating of the electronic control circuit of the motor 10 which is mounted on the printed-circuit board 23 arises both from the operation of its power components (commutation components) and heating of the motor.", "The circulation of air produced within the volute 2 by rotation of the impeller 4 has the effect of cooling the disk 9.", "The printed-circuit board 23 which is contiguous to the disk 9 is thus continuously cooled by radiation effect.", "The fixing screws 27 of the circuit board 23 which are in contact with the disk 9 and the columns 32 which serve to secure the disk 9 and extend through said circuit board 23 also promote cooling of this latter by thermal conduction.", "As will be readily apparent, the invention is not limited to the example hereinabove described and many alternative forms of construction may accordingly be contemplated without thereby departing either from the scope or the spirit of this invention.", "Thus it follows that the disk 9 could be pierced by louvers in order to achieve an even greater improvement in cooling of the printed-circuit board by a forced convection effect.", "Similarly, it would be possible to provide fins on the enlarged portion 52 of the cylindrical member in order to permit forced convection on the other face of the circuit board.", "With the same objective, cooling fins 60 could be provided on the outer lateral wall 60 of the extension 14.", "It would also be possible to employ the magnet 43 of the rotor 18 for controlling the sensor 54." ]

[ "BACKGROUND U.S. Pat. Nos. to Kegel 2,507,858 and 2,541,520 disclose a device for visually indicating contraction of sphincter muscles.", "The device includes a flexible compressible bulb element insertable into the sphincter muscle and a hand-held, dial-and-pointer type of pressure gauge connected to the bulb by a flexible tube.", "Upon contraction of the muscle around the compressible bulb, the air pressure in the bulb and the tube rises and is indicated by the pointer on the dial.", "The device is intended primarily to aid the user in learning to exercise and thereby strengthen or regenerate a weak muscle which may have been injured or otherwise rendered incapable of properly performing its normal physiological function.", "By observing the degree of movement of the pointer, the user is better able to gain control of the muscle and to progressively increase its strength and endurance over a period of time by regular exercise against resistance, thereby improving its tone and function.", "The Kegel monitor has also been employed to measure the strength of contraction of the vaginal muscles, particularly the pubococcygeus whose function is both supportive and sphincteric in action.", "Ciba Clinical Symposia, Vol. 4, No. 2, February-March 1952, pages 35-51, describes the use of the monitor to assist women in learning to strengthen their vaginal muscles to overcome various lower pelvic musculature problems including some types of urinary stress incontinence and genital relaxation during child bearing and early menopausal years.", "The publication also reports studies showing that dysfunction of the pubococcygeus exists in many women who suffer a lack of vaginal feeling during intercourse and that in many of these cases sexual appreciation can be restored or increased by restoring the function of the pubococcygeus.", "The age of the woman in physiological therapy has little or no significance so long as she is mentally alert and capable of intelligent cooperation.", "Another important application for the monitor is prophylatic.", "Exercise in the pre-partum and post-partum periods and also before and after plastic operations involving the sphincteric and supportive structure of the pelvic outlet are specific indications for its use.", "SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to an improved muscle monitor of the general type, summarized above, which converts air pressure changes resulting from compression and relaxation of a flexible bulb element to visual indications of muscle movement.", "The monitor operation has a dual purpose.", "First, it is intended primarily for monitoring vaginal muscles and is therefore highly sensitive to muscle contractions.", "Second, it has a variable resistance type of capability that is effective to develop muscle strength and endurance during exercise.", "The gauge portion of the device converts the slight changes in the internal air pressure of the desire during muscle contraction or relaxation to vertical movement of an indicator assembly, without assistance of the mechanical parts, by means of a mechanically simple, essentially maintenance-free, low-cost mechanism which does not include any complex, easily-broken components.", "Further the gauge portion of the device is in the form of a stand which can be supported on a table-top or the like within view of the user.", "Moreover, the indicator assembly is highly visible and due to its special construction is easier to interpret than a dial-and-pointer instrument.", "The movable portion of the gauge or indicator assembly includes a finger-shaped balloon or diaphragm constructed of thin elastomeric material such as latex.", "The balloon element has an open end connected to one end of a rigid barrel which is in communication with the flexible tube leading from the compressible bulb.", "The barrel is attached to, or integral with, a base which rests on a table top or the like so as to maintain the barrel in a desired position, preferably vertical.", "The closed end of the balloon is secured to one end of a spiral tension spring disposed within the barrel.", "When the air pressure in the barrel is equal to atmospheric pressure, the balloon is in a relaxed state and spring retracts the balloon into the barrel.", "Upon an increase in air pressure in the barrel, the balloon begins to reverse itself against the action of the spring, with the result that a circumferential portion on the balloon protrudes slightly from the end of the barrel.", "As the internal air pressure continues to increase, the degree of protrusion increases so that the length of the balloon residing outside the barrel is directly proportional to the internal air pressure which in turn is directly proportioned to the amount of compression of the bulb.", "A removable transparent cap extending from the end of the barrel receives the protruding balloon to guide the latter and to protect it from damage.", "Circumferential scale marks on the cap allow the user to note and record the extent of balloon protrusion during a progressive series of exercises.", "In a preferred embodiment, the barrel is transparent so that the spring is visible to the user.", "The spring can be made from a rather long spiral of brightly colored plastics material so that even a slight extension of the spring produces a noticeable movement of the coils away from one another.", "DETAILED DESCRIPTION In the drawings: FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a muscle monitor embodying the principles of the present invention;", "FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view, on an enlarged scape relative to FIG. 1, of the bulb portion of the monitor;", "FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view, on an enlarged scale relative to FIG. 1, of the gauge portion of the monitor;", "and FIGS. 4 and 5 are fragmentary sectional views illustrating the operation of the gauge portion of the monitor.", "With reference to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, it will be seen that the muscle monitor comprises a compressible bulb assembly 10 insertable into the vagina, a gauge assembly 12 for visually indicating air pressure changes generated by the bulb assembly 10 in use and a flexible tube 14 connecting the two assemblies 10 and 12.", "The bulb assembly 10 comprises a soft flexible elastomeric sheath 16 fitted over a central rigid post 18 of plastics material or metal.", "The post 18 has a hemispherical outer end 20 of enlarged cross section relative to the body of the post and at its inner end are two radial shoulders of flanges 22 and 24.", "The sheath 16, which has a closed outer end, is lightly stretched over the outer end 20 of the post 18 and is sealed to the inner end of the post 18 by an elastic O-ring 26.", "An integral reinforcing bead 28 on the mouth of the sheath 16 prevents the sheath 18 from tearing as it is stretched over the flange 22.", "A soft rubber circular flange 30 having a central hole therein is releasably attached to the inner end of the post 18 by pressing the flange 30 into the space between the flanges 22 and 24.", "An air passage 32 extends from the space between the post 18 and the sheath 16 through the core of the post 18 to a connection 34 over which the flexible air tube 14 is forced.", "The gauge assembly 12 includes a vertical barrel 36 which is fitted at its lower end with a base 38 to enable the barrel to be supported in an upright position on a table top or other flat surface.", "Preferably, the barrel and base are formed integrally from plastics material and preferably the material is transparent.", "A lateral fitting 40 at the lower end of the barrel 36 is frictionally engaged with the flexible air tube 14 so that the interior of the barrel 36 is in communication with the interior of the bulb assembly 10.", "The open upper end of the barrel 36 connects with the interior of an elongated finger-shaped inflatable balloon 42 or diaphram constructed of thin flexible elastomeric material.", "As seen in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, the balloon 42 is attached to the barrel 36 by forcing its mouth end over a circumferential lip 44 on the barrel 36 and securing it with an elastic O-ring 46.", "A bead 47 on the balloon mouth prevents tearing of the balloon 42.", "The opposite end of the balloon 42 which is closed, is attached to one end of a spiral tension spring 48, the other end of which is fixed in position by being frictionally engaged within the bore of the lateral fitting 40.", "Thus, in its relaxed, uninflated condition, the balloon 42 is wholly recessed into the barrel 36 by the action of the spring 48, as seen in FIGS. 1 and 3.", "An increase in the air pressure in the barrel resulting from compression of the bulb assembly 10 progressively forces the balloon 42 out of the barrel 36 as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 and in dotted lines in FIG. 1. More specifically, as seen in FIGS. 4 and 5, as the air pressure in the barrel 36 increases, the balloon 42 tends to reverse itself, with the result that an annular portion 50 of the balloon 42 begins to project above the end of the barrel 36.", "As the air pressure continues to increase, the annular balloon portion 50 continues to rise until the balloon 42 is fully inflated, at which point the annular portion has disappeared.", "Any further increase in air pressure would first tend to expand the balloon 42 radially and then longitudinally in the channel.", "The spring 48 is, of course, stretched by inflation of the balloon 42 with the result that the individual coils become progressively further spaced apart, as seen in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5.", "Thus pressure changes in the barrel 42 are visually indicated by projection and retraction of the balloon 42 and by movement of the coils of the spring 48.", "It has been found that slight movement of the upper coils is visible to an observer before any projection of the balloon 42 is noticed, and this feature renders the gauge highly sensitive to very slight compression or relaxation of the bulb assembly 10.", "In addition, even when the balloon 42 is in a protruded position, very slight pressure changes which are insufficient to produce any significant movement of the balloon 42 will produce noticeable movement of the spring coils.", "An elongated cap 52, made of transparent plastics material or provided with a window, is detachably connected over the upper end of the barrel 36.", "The cap 52 surrounds the balloon 42 when the latter is in an inflated, protruding position and is provided with scale marks 54 which indicate to an observer the degree of balloon protrusion.", "The lower end portion of the cap surrounds the upper end portion of the barrel 36 and is made opaque as by knurl marks 56 so as to obscure the bead 47 on the balloon 42.", "A small vent hole 58 is provided in the outer end of the cap 52.", "The detachable connection between the cap 52 and the barrel 36 may be of any conventional form.", "As shown, the connection is a snap-on connection formed by an annular rib 60 on the barrel 36 and by a cooperating annular groove (not shown) inside the cap 52.", "The spring 48 and balloon 42 are made of brilliantly colored material to improve the visibility thereof.", "The spring 48 can be made of plastics material.", "Preferably, the diameter of the coils is relatively large so that movement of the coils toward and away from each other is readily apparent to an observer.", "To use the monitor, the bulb assembly 10 is inserted into the vagina to the extent permitted by the soft rubber flange 30.", "Upon contraction of the vaginal muscles, the flexible sheath 16 of the bulb assembly 10 is compressed slightly radially inwardly, thereby increasing the air pressure in the space between the sheath and the post 18.", "Air flows through the passage 32 and the tube 14 into the barrel 36 of the gauge assembly 12.", "As described above, this pressurizing of the interior of the barrel 36 forces the balloon 42 to move from its relaxed recessed position (FIGS.", "1 and 3) to a protruded position above the upper end of the barrel 32 and within the cap 52, the extent of protrusion being proportional to the radial compression of the bulb assembly 10.", "Upon relaxation of the vaginal muscles, the sheath and balloon being elastomeric return to their FIG. 3 contours.", "Very weak vaginal contraction may effect essentially no noticeable movement of the balloon 42 but the spring 48, especially the uppermost coils, will begin to move before motion of the balloon 42 is observable.", "As the spring 48 is brilliantly colored, even slight movement of its coils toward or away from each other is easily detectable.", "Thus the gauge is highly sensitive to very slight muscular contraction.", "Stronger contractions result in more positive protrusion of the balloon and these can be read by the user in terms of the scale marks 54 on the cap 52." ]

[ "This application is the national phase under 35 U.S.C. §371 of PCT International Application No. PCT/DE00/02443 which has an International filing date of Jul. 20, 2000, which designated the United States of America, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.", "FIELD OF THE INVENTION The invention generally relates to the field of electric components, and is preferably to be applied in designing the configuration of vacuum interrupters.", "More preferably, it relates to vacuum interrupters in which at least one of the two contacts has an inner contact region which projects axially over an outer contact region serving the purpose of arc quenching.", "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Vacuum interrupters with contact arrangements of the type are known.", "In this case, the two contacts, of which, generally speaking, only one can be moved axially relative to the other, are fitted with circular or slightly conical contact surfaces which face one another.", "Contacts which are constructed as what are termed “vane/blade electrodes”", "or “spiral contacts”", "have an inner contact region provided for switching operating currents, and an outer contact region, which surrounds the inner contact region concentrically, is provided for interrupting short-circuit currents and serves as running surface for a rotating arc.", "In this case, the inner contact region projects over the outer contact region by a certain, not very large amount (U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,158,719 A, 3,809,836 A).", "Vacuum interrupters are also known in which the contact region provided for switching operating currents is identical with the contact region provided for interrupting the short-circuit currents.", "These contacts are of cup-shaped construction, the wall of the cup and, if appropriate, also the contact ring mounted on the top edge being provided with a plurality of slits which run obliquely relative to the longitudinal axis of the contact arrangement.", "The contact surface can be subdivided into a plurality of contact subsurfaces by means of these slits (DE 23 21 753 A1, DE 29 12 823 A1).", "In order to be able to separate welded contact regions more easily from one another in the case of vacuum interrupters, it is known to give each contact a relatively large number of contact surfaces and to hold these elastically on a main contact body.", "A tubular main contact body can be provided for this purpose with radially inwardly projecting support arms for the contact surfaces (U.S. Pat. No. 3,869,589 A).", "Furthermore, for air-switching circuit breakers in the low-voltage field it is known per se to split up the movable contact into a plurality of contact fingers arranged parallel to one another, for the purpose of reducing the contact pressure force (U.S. Pat. No. 5,210,385 A).", "In vacuum interrupters for circuit breakers, in particular for circuit breakers in the low-voltage field (for example U.S. Pat. No. 5,661,281), the high currents give rise to high forces on the contacts which tend to raise the contacts off one another.", "These current forces must be compensated by means of suitable measures so that the contacts do not lift off with the risk of them becoming welded to one another.", "In the case of switches fitted with vacuum interrupters, this problem has been solved so far by making use, in addition to a permanently applied static contact pressure force, of an additional current loop with the aid of which high dynamic magnetic field forces which act to strengthen the contact force are produced in the short term, that is to say particularly during the occurrence of short circuit currents.", "There is no need thereby for mechanical application of the entire contact pressure force, which is required only in the short term.", "Because of the relatively high costs of such current loops, the contact force to be mechanically applied in a permanent fashion continues, however, to be relatively large and can be several kN per switching pole, particularly in the case of high currents of more than 50 kA.", "This requires a correspondingly high mechanical outlay in the switching device.", "SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Starting from a contact arrangement having the features of the preamble of patent claim 1, it is an object of the invention to construct the contact arrangement such that the mechanical contact point is distributed over a plurality of separate individual contacts with a defined spring constant, and that an arc can nevertheless rotate.", "In order to achieve this object, for example, it is provided according to the invention that the inner contact region including a plurality of contact subregions arranged next to one another on a divided circle, each contact subregion being formed by the free end of a resilient contact tongue inclined relative to the axis of the contact arrangement.", "Such a configuration of the contact arrangement permits the contact region provided for switching operating currents to be broken down into a larger number of, for example, three to ten subregions and for these subregions to be constructed as resilient contact tongues opposite which there is a mating contact piece in each case, and to decouple the contact tongues so far from one another mechanically by appropriate dimensioning of the spring constant that in the closed state of the contact arrangement all the subregions are subjected to a contact pressure force of the same magnitude.", "The resilient contact tongues can be arranged in this case such that upon opening and closing of the contact system a frictional movement is avoided, and thus so is abrasion in the form of metallic chips.", "In order to have sufficient space to configure the dimensioning of the spring constants of the contact tongues, the contact tongues can be produced from a flat, conical shell by multiply slitting the shell wall in an axial fashion.", "In this case, the spring constant can be varied, in particular, by the thickness of the shell wall and the number of the slits and/or the width of the contact tongues.", "Similar relationships are obtained when the contact tongues are produced from a flat, hollow conical frustum by multiply slitting the conical lateral surface in an axial fashion.", "In a way resembling the configuration of the slit contact carrier of what are termed cup-shaped contacts, the contact tongues can also be produced from a tube length by providing the wall thereof with a plurality of obliquely running slits.", "The design configuration described for the contact tongues can be applied both in the case of spiral contacts and in the case of cup-shaped contacts.", "The body used for the contact tongues can include, in this case of dispersion-hardened copper, a specific copper alloy or a copper/chromium material with a small proportion of chromium.", "It is fabricated separately and arranged in the middle of the respective contact in an appropriate cutout and soldered to the remaining contact body.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A plurality of exemplary embodiments of contact arrangements constructed in accordance with the invention are illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 7 .", "In the drawings: FIG. 1 shows a first exemplary embodiment of a contact arrangement in which the inner contact region is formed by a shell-shaped contact body, FIG. 2 shows a top view of a contact arrangement in accordance with FIG. 1, FIG. 3 shows a second exemplary embodiment of a contact arrangement, with an inner contact region constructed as a hollow conical frustum, FIG. 4 shows a third exemplary embodiment, with an inner contact region constructed as a slit tube length, FIG. 5 shows a schematic illustration of the inner contact region in accordance with FIG. 4, in a side view, and FIGS. 6 and 7 show a fourth exemplary embodiment, with an inner contact region likewise constructed as a slit tube length.", "DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The contact arrangement in accordance with FIG. 1 includes an upper contact 1 and a lower contact 2 , which are arranged axially relative to one another along an axis A with mutually facing contact surfaces.", "In this arrangement, one contact can be moved axially—in a way not shown in more detail, but known.", "Each of the two contacts 1 and 2 is provided with a current supply lead 3 and 4 , respectively.", "In accordance with FIG. 2, each contact is constructed as what is termed a “spiral contact”", "in accordance with European patent 0 332 513 B1, each slit 5 including two sections, of which the first section runs parallel to a tangent, applied to the circumference of a circular cutout 6 , and of which the second section includes a bore which, in the region of the inner end of the first section, penetrates the contact surface between the first section and the circular cutout 6 .", "The region of the contact which is situated outside the cutout 6 forms an outer contact region 7 which is provided for interrupting short-circuit currents and serves as running surface for a rotating arc.", "The cutout 6 is designed so deeply that it can accommodate an additional contact body 8 , which forms an inner contact region 9 .", "This inner contact region 9 , which is provided for switching operating currents, projects axially over the outer contact region 7 , arranged concentrically with the inner contact region, by a certain length a, which is 2 mm, for example.", "In accordance with FIGS. 1 and 2, the contact body 8 has the shape of a flat, conical shell whose shell wall is multiply slit in the axial direction.", "A plurality of contact subregions 10 are formed by this slit arrangement 12 .", "The bottom of the shell-shaped contact body 8 , which is soldered to the contact piece 1 or 2 , is not slit, and so the slit arrangement forms a plurality of resilient contact tongues 11 which are inclined relative to the axis A of the contact arrangement and whose free end forms a contact subregion 10 in each case.", "In the case of a contact arrangement in accordance with FIG. 3, the contact body 13 forming the inner contact region is constructed as a flat, hollow conical frustum whose lateral surface is multiply slit in an axial fashion.", "This slit arrangement does not go as far as the base of the conical frustum, so as to be able to solder the contact body as a whole to the respective contact piece.", "In the exemplary embodiment in accordance with FIG. 4, use is made in the cutout 6 of the contacts 1 and 2 as contact body for the inner contact region of a hollow cylinder in the form of a tube length 14 which is provided, in accordance with FIG. 5, with slits 15 running obliquely to the axis of the contact arrangement, as a result of which resilient contact tongues 16 are formed.", "Additionally arranged on the upper contact 1 inside the tube length 14 is a contact piece 17 which forms a mechanical support in the closed state of the contacts 1 and 2 .", "In the case of operating currents, this contact piece also conducts the current, it being possible to achieve the lowest contact resistances as a result.", "In the case of short-circuit currents, as the additional contact piece 17 starts to lift off, that is to say when there is a slight rise in the contact resistance, the resilient contact regions of the contact body resembling a tube length take over the conducting of current and thus prevent complete lifting off and welding of the contact system.", "The exemplary embodiment in accordance with FIGS. 6 and 7 shows a cup-shaped contact 18 whose slit wall is covered at the cup edge with an annular contact disk 19 , this contact disk forming the outer contact region of the contact.", "Arranged inside the cup-shaped contact is a contact body 20 which is of similar construction to the contact body 14 in accordance with FIGS. 4 and 5, and includes a tube length whose wall is provided with a plurality of obliquely running slits 21 .", "The contact body 20 , which forms the inner contact region of the cup-shaped contact 18 , projects through the contact disk 19 axially by the length b, which is 2 mm, for example.", "The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways.", "Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims." ]

[ "CROSS REFERENCE TO OTHER APPLICATIONS This application is filed as a continuation-in-part of co-pending application Ser.", "No. 09/728,602, filed Dec. 1, 2000, entitled “Lifting Platform”", "which is a continuation-in-part of copending application Ser.", "No. 09/316,318, filed May 21, 1999, entitled “Vortex Attractor.”", "TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates initially, and thus generally, to lifting platforms and techniques for improving the performance thereof.", "An example of a lifting platform is disclosed in applicant's co-pending application Ser.", "No. 09/728,602 entitled “Lifting Platform,” the subject matter of which is herein incorporated by reference.", "Furthermore, the present invention relates to vortex flow and reference should be made to applicant's application Ser.", "No. 09/316, 318 entitled “Vortex Attractor,” the specification of which is herein incorporated by reference.", "Particularly, the present invention discloses a new lifting platform arrangement which uses a toroidal vortex flow to provide positive rotational stability and overcome prior art limitations in the field of lifting platform stability.", "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION It is contemplated that the present invention could relate to many possible fields.", "Initially, it is thought that the invention could apply to fields including, but in no way limited to, hovercraft and other ground effect vehicles.", "Furthermore, the present invention may apply to fields such as vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) vehicles and turbine engines.", "Additionally, the present invention relies upon background information pertaining to the inventor's teachings in the field of vortex attractors and generally, to vortex flow.", "Ground Effect Vehicles In the most conventional sense, the means for any type of levitation has been dominated by a single lift mechanism: the wing.", "The wing yielded a mode of travel that was a substantial improvement in many ways over other ground-based modes of travel.", "However, in some applications, wings have some important shortcomings.", "Some important shortcomings will be enumerated below: a) The velocity asymmetries around the surfaces of wings are the basis for the lift they generate.", "When wings move through the air, they produce substantial drops in pressure at their upper and lower surfaces.", "The forces generated on the upper and the lower surfaces of the wing, however, point in opposite directions so that they almost completely cancel out.", "b) Because wings have low lift factors they have to be large in order to generate a practical amount of lift.", "The large size of the wings causes them to create a lot of drag when they move through the air.", "c) Winged aircraft have a fairly narrow range of speed that they work well in.", "In order to get off the ground they must have a much larger wing than they need after they have gained speed.", "The large wing needed to take off creates a lot of drag at high velocity.", "That makes if very hard to fly at supersonic or hypersonic speeds.", "Importantly, in regard to the present invention, it makes them very difficult to generate lift at low speeds.", "d) Wings have to be moved at fairly high velocity in order to produce practical amounts of lift.", "That means that they have a lot of room to operate and that winged aircraft are dangerous to bystanders.", "That is true even for rotary winged craft (helicopters).", "e) Wings waste a lot of energy because they shed powerful vortices into the passing air as they generate lift.", "The energy that goes into those vortices contributes nothing to the generation of lift by the wing.", "f) Wings can suddenly stop producing lift.", "If a winged aircraft flies too slowly the wings stall and can cause a crash.", "g) Wings can't produce lift when they are standing still.", "To make a craft that can hover while it is standing still, means that the wings must be incorporated into a mechanism that swings them through the air.", "That mechanism and the wing together is called a rotary wing mechanism.", "It is very complicated and requires a lot of maintenance to operate reliably.", "h) Rotary wing mechanism is inefficient.", "i) Rotary wing craft are complicated and thus require a lot of maintenance.", "j) The rotary wing mechanisms operate asymmetrically when a helicopter moves forward through the air.", "Without a corrective mechanism the helicopter produces greater lift on one side than the other side.", "The forward sweeping wings would experience a much higher air velocity than an aft sweeping wing.", "An elaborate hinge system is able to correct some of those air flow asymmetries at low speed.", "However, there is no corrective mechanism that allows a helicopter to operate at speeds faster than 250 m.p.h. Thus, to address certain of these concerns, e.g., the ability to efficiently and cost-effectively hover and traverse at speeds safe to surrounding persons, various types or designs of ground effect or air cushion devices have been developed over the years.", "Ground effect crafts, or “hovercraft”, are any of the machines characterized by movement in which a significant portion of the weight is supported by forces arising from air pressures developed around the craft, as a result of which they hover in close proximity to the Earth's surface.", "It is this proximity to the surface that chiefly distinguishes such craft from aircraft, which derive their lift from aerodynamic forces created by movement through the air.", "Two main classes of air-cushion vehicles exist: those that generate their own pressure differential irrespective of forward speed;", "and those, more closely related to true aircraft, that require forward speed before the pressure differential can be generated.", "The former are classed as aerostatic craft (ACVs);", "the latter are called aerodynamic ground-effect machines (GEMs).", "Perhaps the first man to research the air-cushion vehicle concept was Sir John Thornycroft, a British engineer who, in the 1870s, began to build test models to check his theory that drag on a ship's hull could be reduced if the vessel were given a concave bottom in which air could be contained between hull and water.", "His patent of 1877 emphasized that “provided the air cushion could be carried along under the vehicle”", "the only power that the cushion would require would be that necessary to replace lost air.", "Neither Thornycroft nor other inventors in following decades succeeded in solving the cushion-containment problem.", "In the meantime, aviation developed and pilots early discovered that when they were flying very close to land or water surface their aircraft developed greater lift than in free air.", "Through research, it was soon determined that the greater lift was available because wing and ground together created a “funnel”", "effect, increasing the air pressure.", "The amount of additional pressure was found to be dependent on the design of the wing and its height above ground.", "The effect was strongest when the height was between one-half and one-third of the average wing chord.", "Practical use was made of the ground effect in 1929 by the German Dornier Do X flying boat, which achieved a considerable gain in performance during an Atlantic crossing wherein it flew close to the sea surface.", "World War II maritime reconnaissance aircraft also made use of the phenomenon to extend their range.", "In the 1960s, American aerodynamicists developed an experimental craft, making use of a wing in connection with ground effect.", "Several other proposals of this type were proffered, and a further variation combined the airfoil characteristics of a ground-effect machine with an air-cushion lift system that allowed the craft to develop its own hovering power while stationary, then build up forward speed, gradually transferring the lift component to its airfoil.", "Although none of these craft got beyond the experimental stage, they were important portents of the future because they suggested means of using the hovering advantage of the air-cushion vehicle and overcoming its theoretical speed limitation of around 200 miles per hour (320 kilometers per hour), above which it was difficult to hold the air cushion in place.", "These vehicles are known as ram-wing craft.", "In the early 1950s, engineers in the United Kingdom, the United States, and Switzerland were seeking solutions to Sir John Thornycroft's 80-year-old problem.", "Christopher Cockerell of the United Kingdom is now acknowledged to have been the father of the Hovercraft, as the air-cushion vehicle is popularly known.", "During World War II he had been closely connected with the development of radar and other radio aids and had retired into peacetime life as a boatbuilder.", "Soon he began to concern himself with Thornycroft's problem of reducing the hydrodynamic drag on the hull of a boat with some kind of air lubrication.", "Cockerell (later knighted) bypassed Thornycroft's plenum chamber (in effect, an empty box with an open bottom) principle, in which air is pumped directly into a cavity beneath the vessel, because of the difficulty in containing the cushion.", "He theorized that, if air were instead pumped under the vessel through a narrow slot running entirely around the circumference, the air would flow toward the center of the vessel, forming an external curtain that would effectively contain the cushion.", "This system is known as a peripheral jet.", "Once air has built up below the craft to a pressure equaling the craft weight, incoming air has nowhere to go but outward and experiences a sharp change of velocity on striking the surface.", "The momentum of the peripheral jet air keeps the cushion pressure and the ground clearance higher than it would be if air were pumped directly into a plenum chamber.", "To test his theory, Cockerell set up an apparatus consisting of a blower that fed air into an inverted coffee tin through a hole in the base.", "The tin was suspended over the weighing pan of a pair of kitchen scales, and air blown into the tin forced the pan down against the mass of a number of weights.", "Hence, the forces involved were roughly measured.", "By securing a second tin within the first and directing air down through the space between, Cockerell was able to demonstrate that more than three times the number of weights could be raised by this means, compared with the plenum chamber effect of the single can.", "Cockerell's first patent was filed on Dec. 12, 1955 (Great Britain Patent Application Ser.", "No. 35,656/55, and issued in the United States on Jan. 16, 1968 as U.S. Pat. No. 3,363,716 from Ser.", "No. 627,925, filed Dec. 12, 1956), and in the following year he formed a company known as Hovercraft Ltd. His early memoranda and reports show a prescient grasp of the problems involved in translating the theory into practice.", "Such problems still concerned designers of Hovercraft years later, and some of Cockerell's ideas have yet to be fully explored.", "He forecast, for example, that some kind of secondary suspension would be required in addition to the air cushion itself.", "Another of his ideas still to be developed deals with the recirculation of air in the peripheral jet so that part of it is used over and over, improving efficiency and reducing the power required.", "Realizing that his discovery would not only make boats go faster but also would allow the development of amphibious craft, Cockerell approached the Ministry of Supply, the British government's defense-equipment procurement authority.", "The air-cushion vehicle was classified “secret”", "in November 1956, and a development contract was placed with a British aircraft and seaplane manufacturer.", "In 1959 the world's first practical ACV was launched.", "It was called the SR.", "N1.", "originally the SR.", "N1 had a total weight of four tons and could carry three men at a maximum speed of 25 knots (1 knot=1.15 miles or 1.85 kilometers per hour) over very calm water.", "Instead of having a completely solid structure to contain the cushion and peripheral jet, it incorporated a 6-inch- (15-centimeter-) deep skirt of rubberized fabric.", "This development provided a means whereby the air cushion could easily be contained despite unevenness of the ground or water.", "It was soon found that the skirt made it possible to revert once again to the plenum chamber as a cushion producer.", "Use of the skirt brought the problem of making skirts durable enough to withstand the friction wear produced at high speeds through water.", "It was thus necessary to develop the design and manufacturing skills that would allow skirts to be made in the optimum shape for aerodynamic efficiency.", "Skirts of rubber and plastic mixtures, 4 feet deep, had been developed by early 1963, and the performance of the SR.", "N 1 was increased by their use and further incorporating gas-turbine power to a payload of seven tons and a maximum speed of 50 knots.", "The first crossing of the English Channel by the SR.", "N 1 was in 1959, symbolically on the 50th anniversary of Louis Bleriot's first flight across the same water.", "Manufacturers and operators in many parts of the world became interested.", "Manufacture began in the United States, Japan, Sweden, and France;", "and in Britain additional British companies were building crafts in the early 1960s.", "In 1963 the first major variation of the basic air-cushion vehicle theme was produced in the form of sidewall craft.", "This was a nonamphibious vessel that had a solid hull down each side, with a plenum chamber beneath the hull sealed by flexible skirts at the bow and stern.", "In the displacement mode, the central hull section floated in the water with the sidewalls well submerged, but when air was pumped into the plenum chamber, the hull was raised above the water and the sidewalls themselves were submerged for only some 12 inches (30 centimeters), considerably reducing the hydrodynamic drag.", "The sidewall ACV has several advantages over the amphibious craft, although its use is confined to water: first, water propellers can be used, allowing a much greater freedom of control, especially at low speeds;", "second, the sidewalls themselves give the craft better stability and reduce the problems that are inherent in all-round flexible skirts.", "In the early 1970s, sidewalls were once again in favor, especially among American manufacturers who saw a market for a high-speed marine freight carrier that would not need an amphibious capability.", "The years 1962-64 were a peak period for worldwide interest in Hovercraft, but by the early 1970s only the British had produced what could truly be called a range of craft, and this against considerable odds.", "There were signs, however, that U.S., Soviet, and French manufacturers were seriously contemplating reentry into the field and that Australia and Japan also were becoming ACV-minded.", "The stagnation of the intervening seven years can be explained by the failure of air-cushion vehicles to live up to what many people thought was their original promise.", "Cockerell and others had foreseen many of the difficulties, but some second-generation designers, builders, and, particularly, operators thought that the simple Hovercraft would be the answer to a variety of problems that at that stage of development were considerably beyond the scope of the craft available.", "In the first place, amphibious craft generally needed to be air-propelled.", "Directional control was imprecise, precluding their use on highways.", "As already mentioned, the design of and materials used in flexible skirts had to be developed from the first, and not until 1965 was an efficient and economic flexible-skirt arrangement evolved, and even then the materials were still being developed.", "Another major problem arose when aircraft gas-turbine engines were used in a marine environment.", "Although such engines, suitably modified, had been installed in ships with some success, their transition into Hovercraft brought out their extreme vulnerability to saltwater corrosion.", "By its very nature the air-cushion vehicle generates a great deal of spray when it is hovering over water, and the spray is drawn into the intakes of gas turbines in amounts not envisaged by the engine designer.", "Even after considerable filtering, the moisture and salt content is high enough to corrode large modern gas-turbine engines to such an extent that they need a daily wash with pure water and even then have a considerably reduced life span between overhauls.", "The costs of engine overhauls and skirt maintenance and repairs have probably been the main factors retarding the advancement of air-cushion vehicles.", "Skirt development proceeded extremely rapidly in the first decade after SR.", "N 1 .", "Jet-engine corrosion may be solved by new materials or possibly by intake design to limit spray ingestion.", "In the meantime, some manufacturers are bypassing the gas-turbine difficulty by using high-speed marine diesel engines in multiple units.", "These are cheaper, more economical to run, and relatively free from corrosion problems but for a given power output are considerably heavier than their gas-turbine counterparts.", "The history of the air-cushion vehicle principle also includes the use of air-cushion support in other applications, both for transportation and for support as such.", "These include air-cushion transporters, trains, and even beds.", "The basic elements of an air-cushion vehicle are a hull, beneath which a skirt system is attached and on which accommodation for passengers, crew, and freight is built;", "a propulsion system;", "and a lift system that feeds air into the plenum chamber below the craft in order to provide a cushion.", "The propulsion and lift systems can be driven by the same power plant or by separate units.", "If a common power plant is used, the system is known as an integrated lift-propulsion system.", "Some early craft had only one airflow generating system, which was used for both lift and propulsion, but optimum efficiency for both requirements was difficult to achieve simultaneously, and separate systems are generally used.", "The power-to-weight ratio is as critical at the design stage of an ACV as it is in an aircraft.", "In the ACV it determines not only the payload and performance of the craft but also the ground clearance between the surface and the skirt.", "The greater the ground clearance, the more efficiently the propulsion forces available can be used.", "Theoretical design operating weights are essential for comparison and evaluation purposes, but in practice it has been found that air-cushion vehicles can be overloaded by as much as 100 percent of the design payload and still operate.", "To obtain the best power-to-weight-to-strength relationships, structural fabrication of air-cushion vehicles has been based more on aviation than on marine practices.", "Hull structures are of marine aluminum skin, welded or riveted onto aluminum webs or frames.", "The enclosed spaces are usually sealed so that the airtight compartments thus formed provide natural buoyancy.", "More recent craft have aluminum honeycomb paneling separated by frames to provide the basic buoyancy raft, and considerable areas of glass-fiber structure also have been incorporated.", "Early crafts had a hole located near the center of the buoyancy raft through which air was fed to the plenum chamber beneath, but the development of the skirt and other techniques led to the ducting of fan air to the edge of the raft, where it was fed downward into the plenum chamber in the manner of a peripheral jet.", "Skirts themselves have developed from a simple curtain designed to enclose the cushion into complicated geometric shapes that contain the cushion, duct the air, and, in some cases, provide a degree of secondary suspension.", "The simple curtain was quickly replaced by what is now known as a bag skirt.", "In the shape of a semicircle, this is fastened around the perimeter of the craft;", "the lower edge is taken inward and upward and is fastened inboard, below the hull.", "The inflated skirt forms a semicircular cross section.", "If air is fed through ducts in the top hull so that it inflates the skirt and then is allowed to escape through holes on the inside edge of the bag into the plenum area, the skirt acts as natural ducting, and by varying the size of the holes it is possible to vary the pressure ratio of bag inflation to plenum pressure.", "The problem with bag skirts is that the lowest part of the bag quickly wears away, and the bag itself tears, allowing air to escape and releasing the cushion pressure.", "In 1965 it was decided to lengthen the bag skirt by suspending a curtain-type skirt from it.", "Instead of a straightforward curtain arrangement, the skirt was split into small segments, each of which acted independently from the others.", "This segmented, or finger-type, addition to the basic bag skirt became the version most commonly used because worn segments could be replaced quickly and economically and because the independent action of each finger allowed the whole skirt to conform much more closely to the operating surface beneath, reducing drag and air-cushion losses.", "Materials used in the skirts have varied from the original rubberized fabric, through pure rubber and nylon, to a lamination of nylon and a proprietary plastic known as neoprene.", "Bondings between the different layers have to be especially strong;", "otherwise the fabric delaminates under the severe conditions of wear and loses its tear resistance.", "Power plants used for air-cushion vehicles are generally gas-turbine engines;", "the output shaft is driven by a turbine that is not mechanically connected to the main compressor-turbine assembly.", "In this way the engine can be independent of the fan or propeller that it drives, and the free turbine will not begin to rotate until gas from the engine is allowed to pass over its vanes.", "This allows the craft to remain stationary and on the ground until the driver decides to move, even though the engines are delivering power.", "The fans used to provide air pressure for lift are usually of the centrifugal type, in which air is fed in through the center and driven out at considerably higher pressure around the circumference.", "Propellers are generally similar to those used for aircraft, although, because the air-cushion vehicles travel in the 0-60-knot speed range and can move in reverse, a standard aircraft propeller designed to operate best at higher speeds is inefficient.", "Hovercraft propellers can be fixed or mounted on swiveling pylons, which allow the craft to be maneuvered quite accurately, independently of the rudders on which fixed propellers rely.", "Rudder effectiveness depends to some extent on the forward speed of the craft, and at very low speeds rudders are not efficient as a means of turning.", "Other propulsion methods that have been tried in the past include ducted fans, which are quieter than normal propellers but tend to be large and cumbersome.", "Sidewall craft can be propelled by water screws or by water jets.", "Operations on which air-cushion vehicles have been used have been largely confined to commercial passenger-carrying ferry services across stretches of water, varying between 3 and 25 miles (5 to 40 kilometers) wide, and to certain military operations.", "Although scheduled services have been run for experimental periods in the United States, Canada, Sweden, and Italy, it is only in Britain and France that such services have survived longer than a season.", "By the early 1970s, a 170-ton car-carrying craft was so well established on routes across the English Channel that a considerable amount of traffic was being taken from sea ferries, and air services were virtually closed down.", "Nonpassenger civil applications also have been found.", "Craft have been successfully used for seismic survey parties, either over shallow-water areas or in the desert, and in search-and-rescue operations from international airfields at Vancouver, B.C., Can.", ", at Auckland, N.Z., and at San Francisco.", "Military uses have been more diverse.", "The main British use has been as a troop carrier during amphibious assaults and as a logistics follow-up craft during the post-assault period.", "The United States Army used the Hovercraft successfully in actual operations in Vietnam, both as a patrol craft and as a means of covering the vast area of marsh and paddy field that surrounds the Mekong delta.", "Later military uses included mine-countermeasure work, antisubmarine work, aircraft carrying, and missile launching.", "The mainstream of Hovercraft development as such has remained in Britain.", "Although U.S. firms built experimental craft in the mid-1960s, American interest declined as the pressure of the Vietnam War tended to encourage technologists to improve their established disciplines rather than develop new ones.", "Other countries also dropped out when the technical difficulties of skirts and the lift-propulsion system became too great for the financial or technical resources available.", "The three British companies that pioneered ACV manufacturing merged their ACV interests in the 1960s into one company known as the British Hovercraft Corporation.", "Cockerell's patent and other patents were taken up by a subsidiary of the National Research Development Corporation, a peculiarly British body set up to encourage the funding and backing of inventions.", "The subsidiary was known as Hovercraft Development Ltd., and, because of the patents that it held, it could control the manufacture of skirted air-cushion vehicles not only in Britain but in many other countries of the world.", "The lineage along which ACVs developed was: SR.", "N1 (1959) 3½ to 7 tons, single engine, ducted fan propulsion;", "speeds between 25 and 50 knots.", "SR.", "N2 (1962) 19 tons, four engines driving two pylon-mounted air propellers;", "speed about 73 knots.", "SR.", "N3 (1963) 37½ tons, four engines driving two pylon-mounted air propellers;", "speed about 75 knots.", "SR.", "N5 (1964) 3½ tons, one engine driving a fixed, variable-pitch propeller;", "speed about 50 knots.", "Capacity, 18 passengers.", "SR.", "N6 (1965) 4½ tons, one engine driving a fixed, variable-pitch propeller;", "speed about 60 knots.", "Capacity, 38 passengers.", "SR.", "N4 (1968) 177 tons, four engines driving four pylon-mounted air propellers;", "speed 65 knots.", "Capacity, 30 cars and 254 passengers.", "BH[.", "].7 (1969) 48 tons, one engine driving a pylon-mounted air propeller;", "speed about 65 knots.", "Capacity, 72 passengers and six cars (although the first three craft delivered were purely military versions).", "These somewhat bare statistics suggest the burst of creative energy in the Hovercraft field in the early 1960s and the subsequent slowing down and rationalization of craft into practical machines.", "In the period between 1960 and 1964, some six other companies in the world also were building their own prototypes or large-scale models, but because of technology problems many of these were never followed up by production models.", "The exceptions were in the Soviet Union and France.", "Little, however, is known about Soviet ACV development, except that after some five years of trials large passenger craft were operated on the Volga River in 1969 and that military craft were tested in the Black Sea in 1970.", "A French company, formed in 1965, built two amphibious craft that, carrying up to 90 passengers, operated a commercial service based at Nice in 1969.", "The French designs are basically the same as any other amphibious craft with the major exception of the skirts, which are grouped together in a series of “mini-skirts”", "side-by-side along the length of the craft.", "Compartmentalizing the cushion in this way is said to improve stability and directional control.", "In the early 1970s it was announced that a larger craft, based on similar principles and carrying 32 cars and 260 passengers, would be put into production.", "The development of nonamphibious Hovercraft along the sidewall principle began in 1962.", "For various reasons the manufacturer halted production, but the idea of a fast, essentially marine-oriented craft continued to appeal to designers, and a company known as Hovermarine was formed in 1965 to build a smaller sidewall craft, some 12 of which were sold.", "This is the HM[.", "].2, which carries about 65 passengers and is designed for short and medium ferry routes.", "Mechanical and skirt-design problems caused difficulties that led to liquidation of the British parent company, but in 1970 an American company took over the HM[.", "].2, and it appeared that its future would be assured.", "The basic advantage of sidewall craft is that, since they are purely marine, it is possible to equip them with marine propellers and operate them in the same way as high-speed boats.", "Nevertheless, because a great part of their weight when under way is supported by an air cushion, they can be classified as air-cushion machines.", "It is along these lines (sidewall craft propelled by marine methods) that two American manufacturers have designed much larger craft under government contracts.", "The first versions are 100-ton test craft, which will be used to evaluate the potential of multithousand-ton surface effect ships.", "The two models are somewhat similar in appearance;", "both are powered by six gas to turbines.", "One craft uses propellers, the other water-jet propulsion.", "Another U.S. military application, an amphibious assault landing craft for the navy, offers potential uses in commercial operations.", "Once air-cushion suspension was proved practical in Hovercraft, the system was quickly applied to other forms of transport, and it soon became clear that a tracked vehicle, similar to a train or monorail, would benefit considerably from the lack of friction inherent in an air-cushion system.", "A French company was the first in the world to produce a practical device, and a later version of its machine was considered for a high-speed link between Orleans and Paris by the mid-1970s.", "The system used air-cushion pads above and at the side of a single concrete track to support the “aerotrain,” while propulsion was via a large ducted fan mounted at the rear.", "In Britain, tracked air-cushion vehicle development is also under way, with construction of a “Hovertrain,” propelled by a relatively silent linear induction motor that has no moving parts and picks up current as it moves along the track.", "Research also is proceeding in other countries.", "Air-cushion trains have speed potentials of up to 300 miles (480 kilometers) per hour;", "track costs are relatively low because of the simple concrete structure involved, which can be elevated on pylons, laid on the surface, or sunk in tunnels.", "Engineers in Britain, the United States, France, and Germany see this kind of high-speed surface transport as a means of connecting large urban centers with each other and with international airports.", "The other major area in which air-cushion technology has proved itself useful is in moving loads over surfaces that would be impossible for wheeled or tracked vehicles.", "One of the first of these applications was an air-cushion amphibious military vehicle.", "Another example was an air-cushion truck built in France.", "Air-cushion load lifters for specialized applications were already in regular use in the early 1970s.", "One of the first was a British heavy-load carrier, designed specifically for the transport of large electrical transformers over bridges that were not stressed for the weights involved when normal wheeled transport was used.", "The transformers, weighing up to 300 tons, must be transported by road from the factory to the often remote power-station site.", "The costs of strengthening bridges sufficiently to take the load are far higher than those of fitting a special skirt and air-blower system to a conventional truck.", "Similar systems on smaller scales have been developed for transport of many types of unusual loads over awkward ground.", "Particularly, they find application in the Arctic regions, where roads are often lacking and where oil-drill rigs are being constructed or where surveying is being carried out.", "Air-cushion vehicles have shown a large economic advantage over helicopters.", "On an even smaller scale, air-cushion pallets are used in many industries in the United States and Britain to carry heavy loads across factory floors or along production lines.", "Again the main benefit is the reducing of strain on floors and the ease of propulsion with reduced friction.", "One unique form of air suspension may be employed in hospitals.", "The Hover-bed is a device on which a patient is supported with the minimum of body contact and surface pressure.", "The bed is being tested by the British Medical Research Council and is expected to be of particular use in cases in which the patient is burned over a large area of the body.", "Air support in such cases not only relieves pressure and pain but also provides a film of sterile air that actually helps to heal the wound.", "Yet another application promises to be that of recreation.", "In the mid-1960s enthusiasts in many parts of the world began to build their own Hovercraft, powered by automotive engines and using homemade propellers, fans, and skirts.", "By the 1970s Hover clubs existed in more than seven countries.", "The movement is probably most active in Britain, followed by the United States and Australia.", "Of the several hundred amateur-built craft, a few were capable of operating successfully over both land and water with more than one person aboard.", "Although power plants and other equipment are readily adaptable, the problem of providing sufficient lift was considerable.", "A craft capable of lifting 200 pounds (90 kilograms) needs a cushion area of 8×4 feet (2.4×1.2 meters).", "When weights of 1,000 pounds are involved, the area must be much greater.", "Another inhibiting factor in the sport's growth is the restrictions in most countries on operating air-cushion craft in public areas.", "Air-cushion vehicles have not yet fulfilled their original promise.", "Conventional skirted craft have not yet been shown to be completely economical in commercial use, although in certain military applications they are almost ideal.", "The ram-wing craft described earlier shows promise for over-water routes.", "One area of research in which manufacturers began concentrating in the 1970s is that of secondary suspension systems to iron out skirt undulations and possibly reduce spray ingestion.", "Despite ongoing gradual improvements in the field of hovercraft design, primary focus has historically been on increasing lift efficiency and skirt durability.", "While advancements have been made involving such features (most notably of which is the applicant's previously mentioned “Lifting Platform”", "application which drastically increases hovercraft lift efficiency and completely eliminates the requirement for a skirt), very little attention has been given to hovercraft stability.", "However, stability remains an important issue to successful hovercraft design since prior art designs are plagued by negative stability that leads to a rolling action, making not only the transport uncomfortable but the hovercraft prone to frequent damage.", "Nevertheless, those of skill in the art would likely agree that until efficiency and durability requirements regarding hovercraft design are met, the widespread use of hovercraft will remain limited.", "Prior to the inventor's contributions to the art, the desired efficiency and durability in hovercraft design had not been achieved.", "Thus, previously considered an ancillary feature, hovercraft stability has not yet sufficiently been considered.", "Thus, there is a need for an improved hovercraft.", "In particular, there exists a need for a durable hovercraft with such an airflow system that provides improved stability without undesired frequent rolling.", "SURVEY OF THE PRIOR DISCLOSURES The prior art is devoid of simple, effective ways of stabilizing a lifting platform.", "Particularly, nowhere does the prior art disclose the use of a toroidal vortex to those ends.", "Nonetheless, the following represent references considered by the inventor to be the most relevant.", "One skilled in the art can plainly see that even these do not approach the scope of the present invention.", "Crewe U.S. Pat. No. 3,968,852 (the '852 patent) discloses stabilizing means for air cushion vehicles.", "Crewe teaches stabilizing means which improve the pitch and roll characteristics of an air cushion vehicle, wherein at least one stabilizing device comprising first and second members attaches to the bottom of the vehicle and pressurized air from a source on the vehicle passes downwardly between the members.", "Such a process results in the formation of an air curtain which builds up and maintains a localized cushion of pressurized air within the stabilizing device.", "The '852 patent, however, essentially discloses an alternate form of a flexible skirt design and therefore, the stabilizing means of the '852 patent are prone to the same high maintenance and expense characteristics of the skirt designs.", "Stiegler et al.", "U.S. Pat. No. 5,520,261 (the '261 patent) discloses a static trimmer designed for a hovercraft.", "This invention allows the shifting of the center of buoyancy of an air cushion of a hovercraft in relation to the center of gravity using an elastic skirt design.", "The '261 patent includes a peripheral elastic skirt having a plurality of segements, each with a back skirt and a finger skirt.", "Furthermore, the peripheral elastic skirt also includes four independent lateral sections which can independently be moved inward or outward.", "Additionally, tension cables are included in each independent lateral section, further comprising first and second partial tension cables, for moving each finger skirt of each skirt segment.", "As with other skirt designs, however, the '261 patent is prone to high maintenance and expenses due to the nature of the skirt being placed against the surface.", "Vickers et al.", "U.S. Pat. No. 5,931,248 (the '248 patent) discloses a durable roll-stabilizing keel system which is to be attached to a hovercraft's hull.", "This system comprises dual trough-shaped bladders, wherein the second trough-shaped bladder is attached to the underside of the forward portion of the first.", "A plurality of additional shaped bladders are attached in succession to the first trough-shaped bladder immediately after the second trough-shaped bladder.", "The plurality of shaped bladders further comprise a rectangular base portion attached to the underside of the first trough-shaped bladder, with an inflation hole in between, and tapers to an apex.", "Each shaped bladder section is referred to as a cone section, and these cone sections are placed parallel to the direction of the hovercraft motion in order to resist buckling forces caused by craft motion.", "The novelty of the '248 patent purportedly lies in the use of a plurality of cone sections for increased roll-stability of a hovercraft whereupon the damaging of one cone section does not propagate along the length of the keel and the craft can still remain effective.", "While the '248 patent may achieve roll-stability and effective operation with isolated point of failure, reducing the cost of replacing an entire keel or a bladder upon each occurrence of any damage, the '248 patent is still based upon a design which is susceptible to frequent damage due to its low proximity to the surface and thus, individual sections must be frequently replaced.", "The present invention discloses means for hovering without the requirement of a keel and/or bladder and thus, does not result in frequent replacement of any components, reducing operation costs and time of inactivity during which time replacement of components occurs.", "Gastesi U.S. Pat. No. 5,941,331 (the '331 patent) discloses an air cushion vehicle control system.", "Control of an air cushion vehicle is obtained by controlling the translation of the vehicle independently from control of the rotation.", "However, the '331 patent does not provide for balancing means whereupon an air cushion vehicle may maintain its stability when it travels over uneven surfaces, such as a large bump.", "Furthermore, the '331 patent relies on a skirt to maintain hover which is highly undesirable due to the expensive characteristic of frequent replacement of the skirt upon contact with rough surfaces.", "Thus, the prior art suggests a strong need for a versatile, efficient, stable lifting platform.", "Further, there exists a need for hovercraft stability means which do not require a skirt or related components which are prone to frequent and costly repair due to damage incurred resulting from direct exposure to the ground.", "SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Lifting platforms are generally associated with hovercraft in which a high pressure area beneath the vehicle maintained either by a skirt or by dynamic air flow, lift the vehicle a small distance above the operating surface.", "The lifting system of the present invention employs a unique method of lift generation and control wherein automatic balance correction is maintained throughout operation and the requirement for a skirt is eliminated.", "The lifting system described herein may be extended to flight at altitude and in an extreme case allows the vehicle to fly upward and then change its operation to that of a vortex attractor.", "Furthermore, the device may comprise lateral movement capabilities in both lift mode and vortex attractor mode.", "What follows is a brief survey of the present invention's applicability to several possible fields.", "In the field of hovercraft, the present invention finds use in embodiments that require positive stability upon experiencing rolling forces during operation.", "In an embodiment of the present invention, a hollow skirt is proposed such that airflow is directed through airguides located around the perimeter of the craft's body with a static pressure region maintained underneath the body providing a toroidal vortex.", "The present invention employs air guides on the perimeter of a body wherein the airflow source is located above the body.", "The body's center of gravity is, under normal conditions, aligned with the center of pressure below.", "During operation, the device is frequently subject to rotational forces from sources such as uneven ground surfaces or obstructions, air turbulence, or forces resulting from the device's own momentum.", "Upon exposure to such a rotational force, the device lifts to one side.", "In prior art devices, upon experiencing such a rotational force a rolling motion begins as the device lifts from one side to the other and becomes unstable (as will be explained infra).", "The new lifting platform arrangement of the present invention, however, moves the center of pressure during a roll towards the side opposite the lifting side and in such a manner, provides automatic roll correction.", "Furthermore, the present invention may find particular use in the field of vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) vehicles and specifically turbine engines.", "For example, a turbine engine utilizing a double shroud system as described previously by the inventor would be very useful when combined with the teachings of the present invention.", "An engine such as this, coupled with the stability means of the present invention, would yield a turbine engine which not only operates efficiently but remains stable and easily controllable particularly when close to the ground.", "Likewise, a VTOL craft such as a helicopter would greatly benefit from the teachings of the present invention.", "An inclusion of the present invention onto a helicopter or related device would provide excellent means for stable take-offs and landings.", "Also, hovering at close distances to the ground could be made more safe thereby preventing crashes due to operator inaccuracies.", "The difference between the new lifting platform and prior art lies in the increased area for downward moving air and the inclusion of air guides to maximize both the amount of direct dynamic lift from the airflow and also the static pressure achieved beneath the craft.", "The new platform design disclosed comprises positive horizontal stability which leads to a highly desired automatic correction of balance when an outside force acts upon it to cause a tilting motion.", "Prior designs comprise negative horizontal stability which leads to a rolling action which may damage air pressure containing skirts.", "Thus, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved lifting platform.", "Further, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved lifting platform that utilizes a variety of drives.", "It is another object of the invention to provide an improved hollow skirt for a hovercraft.", "It is a further object of the present invention to provide a hovering platform with automatic balance correction when the platform is tilted in any direction.", "It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a hovering platform which maintains automatic balance correction when the platform is tilted in any direction and does not require a skirt.", "SUMMARY OF THE DRAWINGS A further understanding of the present invention can be obtained by reference to a preferred embodiment set forth in the illustrations of the accompanying drawings.", "Although the illustrated embodiment is merely exemplary of systems for carrying out the present invention, both the organization and method of operation of the invention, in general, together with further objectives and advantages thereof, may be more easily understood by reference to the drawings and the following description.", "The drawings are not intended to limit the scope of this invention, which is set forth with particularity in the claims as appended or as subsequently amended, but merely to clarify and exemplify the invention.", "For a more complete understanding of the present invention, reference is now made to the following drawings in which: FIG. 1 (PRIOR ART) shows a cross section of a plenum chamber hovercraft with static skirt;", "FIG. 2 (PRIOR ART) shows a cross section of a plenum chamber hovercraft with static skirt, with left side lifting;", "FIG. 3 (PRIOR ART) shows a cross section of a hovercraft with flexible skirt;", "FIG. 4 (PRIOR ART) shows a cross section of a hovercraft with flexible skirt, with left side lifting;", "FIG. 5 shows a cross section of a hovercraft of the present invention;", "FIG. 5A shows the distribution of pressure under the body of a hovercraft of FIG. 5;", "FIG. 6 shows a cross section of a hovercraft of the present invention, with left side lifting;", "and FIG. 6A shows the distribution of pressure under the body of a hovercraft of FIG. 6 .", "DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS As required, a detailed illustrative embodiment of the present invention is disclosed herein.", "However, techniques, systems and operating structures in accordance with the present invention may be embodied in a wide variety of forms and modes, some of which may be quite different from those in the disclosed embodiment.", "Consequently, the specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are merely representative, yet in that regard, they are deemed to afford the best embodiment for purposes of disclosure and to provide a basis for the claims herein which define the scope of the present invention.", "The following presents a detailed description of a preferred embodiment (as well as some alternative embodiments) of the present invention.", "Certain terminology will be used in the following description for convenience in reference only and will not be limiting.", "The words “in”", "and “out”", "will refer to directions toward and away from, respectively, the geometric center of the device and designated and/or reference parts thereof.", "The words “up”", "and “down”", "will indicate directions relative to the horizontal and as depicted in the various figures.", "The words “clockwise”", "and “counterclockwise”", "will indicate rotation relative to a standard “right-handed”", "coordinate system.", "Such terminology will include the words above specifically mentioned, derivatives thereof and words of similar import.", "Referring first to FIG. 1, depicted is a cross section of a prior art common plenum chamber hovercraft 100 .", "During operation, airflow 101 , which may be produced by one or more variety of sources, travels through body 102 and enters a central static pressure region 107 where it is maintained at high pressure by wraparound skirt 105 .", "Airflow 101 escapes sideways through the area between skirt 105 and surface 106 and is continually replaced by air pumped from the source of airflow 101 .", "As a result of this procedure, airflow 101 replaces the air lost underneath the skirt edges and maintains the high pressure under the body to maintain positioning of hovercraft 100 slightly above surface 106 , achieving a desired hovering status.", "During the course of operation, center of gravity 103 remains in the center of body 102 above center of pressure 104 , indicated in this case by pressure vector 108 , while body 102 remains parallel to surface 106 .", "In an ideal setting, wherein surface 106 remains flat and hovercraft 100 does not receive any significant forces which may cause tilting, the embodiment of FIG. 1 may achieve a suitable hovering status.", "However, in practice, tilting of hovercraft 100 often occurs during the course of operation.", "Referring next to FIG. 2, shown is a cross section of common plenum chamber hovercraft of FIG. 1, wherein hovercraft 100 tilts to the side.", "As shown, the left side of hovercraft 100 is lifted with the rightmost point of contact between skirt 105 and surface 106 serving as the point of the pivot.", "Airflow 201 travels through body 102 and due to the lifting of the left side of hovercraft 100 , a larger portion 211 of airflow 201 is quickly directed to the left side as a result of the larger gap created between the left side of skirt 105 and surface 106 .", "A smaller portion 212 of airflow 201 may also be directed to the right side through any remaining gap between the right side of skirt 105 and surface 106 .", "As central pressure region 207 leaves the left side of hovercraft 100 , pressure vector 208 collapses back to pressure vector 108 of FIG. 1 .", "Hovercraft then 100 rotates counter-clockwise around the bottom of the right side of skirt 105 until the left side of said skirt 105 hits surface 106 and a seal is restored around central pressure region 207 , leaving hovercraft 100 in its original position of FIG. 1 .", "In many cases, after moving from its position of FIG. 2 back to its original position of FIG. 1, the rotating inertia of the counter-clockwise motion of hovercraft 100 will carry the right side of skirt 105 off surface 106 .", "The reverse motion of the description for FIG. 2 then occurs.", "For example, when the left side of skirt 105 is off surface 106 , and before central pressure region 207 within skirt 105 has had time to flow away to the left, resultant vector 210 (the summation of pressure vector 208 and weight vector 209 ) points generally to the right.", "Resultant vector 210 then produces a turning moment around the bottom of the right side of skirt 105 , which tends to raise the left side of said skirt 105 even further.", "Once a rolling motion begins, it is exacerbated by the resulting turning moment.", "Hovercraft 100 may then become unstable in such a way that once a roll has started, it may continue from side to side without end.", "In addition to the undesirability of this rolling motion, a hovercraft of this design results in heavy wear and damage to skirt 105 .", "Referring next to FIGS. 3 and 4, shown is an alternative to the hovercraft of FIGS. 1 and 2 wherein hovercraft 300 comprises flexible skirt 305 .", "Hovercraft 300 functions in a manner similar to FIGS. 1 and 2 with airflow 301 passing downward through body 302 and outward to the sides between skirt 305 and surface 306 to provide a downward force to result in body 302 maintaining hover above surface 306 .", "However, with flexible skirt 305 hovercraft 300 more successfully seals static pressure region 307 and reduces the amount of air required to maintain hovering of body 302 .", "The center of pressure is noted as 304 , and the pressure vector as 308 .", "FIG. 4 shows the effect of a lift of the left side of hovercraft 300 wherein the right side of skirt 305 flattens out.", "As a result of the characteristics of flexible skirt 305 , the center 404 of static pressure region 407 moves to the right upon a lift shown in FIG. 4 to generate a restoring counter-clockwise turning moment.", "This moment is due to the resultant vector 410 encompassing weight vector 409 and pressure vector 408 .", "The main drawback to this design lies in the maintenance and frequent replacement cost of the flexible skirts.", "Referring now to FIGS. 5, 5 A, 6 and 6 A, shown are embodiments of the present invention which overcome shortcomings of the prior systems thus enhancing stability, with corresponding pressure distribution characteristics.", "As FIG. 5 indicates, airflow 501 travels downward through air guides 510 and 511 with velocity V and exits to the left or right of bottoms of said air guides 510 and 511 , respectively, with radius of curvature Ro.", "Air guides 510 and 511 have vertically oriented flow straightening vanes (not shown) in order to eliminate the possibility of a rotational component of airflow beneath the platform that would result in a reduced air pressure.", "This process yields high static pressure region 507 below body 502 which provides a lift such that hovercraft 500 maintains hover above surface 506 .", "Center of gravity 503 is located at the center of body 502 .", "Pressure vector 508 is directed upwards from surface 506 , pointing towards center of pressure 504 which is located at the bottom of body 502 directly below center of gravity 503 .", "Airflow 501 may be produced by a variety of sources such as a propeller, centrifugal pump or jet engine.", "Furthermore, airflow 501 passing through air guides 510 and 511 may be produced by the same source or by two separate sources, wherein separate sources may correspond to each of said air guides 510 and 511 .", "The pressure difference from the outside hovercraft 500 to static pressure region 507 is given by the formula P=ρV 2 /R, where P is the pressure difference, ρ is the air density and R is the radius of curvature.", "FIG. 5A shows the pressure distribution under body 500 , which is constant across the entire area and including the area below air guides 510 and 511 , indicated by pressure vectors 512 .", "Immediately outside air guides 510 and 511 the pressure drops down to atmospheric as shown by average pressure curve 513 .", "FIG. 6 depicts hovercraft 500 when body 502 is tilted to the right.", "Airflow 501 travels downward through air guides 510 and 511 at approximately constant velocity V. As before, static pressure region 615 is formed between the bottom of body 502 and surface 506 and center of gravity 603 remains at the center of body 502 .", "Weight vector 609 is directed straight downwards from center of gravity 603 , perpendicular to surface 506 .", "Pressure vector 617 points upwards from center of pressure 616 , perpendicular to the bottom surface of body 502 .", "Weight vector 609 may be resolved into two components, one, not shown, acts perpendicular to the bottom of body 502 , and the other, 614 parallel to body 502 .", "Vector 614 is shown exaggerated in length for clarity.", "When body 502 remains parallel to surface 506 resultant vector 617 acts vertically, opposed by weight vector 609 and vector 614 has zero magnitude.", "However, when body 502 is tilted, vector 614 increases in value and produces a clockwise turning moment around the bottom right hand corner.", "The raised left side of hovercraft 500 results in the radius of curvature on the left side of hovercraft 500 increasing from Ro of FIG. 5A to R 1 and the radius of curvature on the right side of hovercraft 500 decreasing from Ro of FIG. 5A to R 2 .", "Thus, ρV 2 /R 1 is less than P=ρV 2 /Ro and the pressure beneath air guide 510 and beneath body 502 is reduced from that of FIG. 5 as shown by pressure vectors 618 in FIG. 6 A. On the right side of hovercraft 500 , radius of curvature R 2 is less than Ro, and therefore ρV 2 /R 2 is greater than ρV 2 /Ro.", "Thus, the pressure beneath air guide 510 increases, as indicated by pressure vector 617 and average pressure curve 619 in FIG. 6 A. Therefore, tilting hovercraft 500 clockwise (or lifting left side of hovercraft 500 ) results in the movement of center of pressure 504 of FIG. 5 to the right as indicated by center of pressure 616 of FIG. 6, and thus, the shifting of pressure vector 508 of FIG. 5 rightward as indicated by pressure vector 617 of FIG. 6 in parallel with hovercraft 500 .", "The opposite is also true.", "That is, tilting hovercraft 500 counter-clockwise results in the movement of center of pressure 504 and pressure vector 508 of FIG. 5 to the left.", "The sideways displacement of center of pressure 504 of FIG. 5, from center of gravity 503 , to center of pressure 616 of FIG. 6 leads to a counter-clockwise turning moment due to the sideways displacement of pressure vector 617 .", "The sideways displacement of pressure vector 617 from weight vector 609 produces a counter clockwise turning moment that is greater than the clockwise turning moment produced by vector 614 .", "This acts to correct the roll or tilt.", "This effect is similar to the case of a rolling ship for which the center of buoyancy moves towards the lower side.", "Thus, stability criteria for ships may be adapted to apply to lifting platforms such as that of the present invention.", "The downward air speed in the air guides should be maintained around the periphery of the craft.", "In practice, however, the downward airspeed in the air guides will not remain constant but will vary somewhat with the back pressure, P=ρV 2 /R, and the differences must be taken into account when calculating stability.", "Reducing the area of airflow within air guides 510 and 511 reduces the amount of roll correction, and positive stability may not be achieved as appears to be the case for hovercraft with double skirts which are known to lack stability.", "The novelty of the present invention lies in the increased area for downward moving air and the inclusion of air guides 510 and 511 to maximize both the amount of direct dynamic lift from airflow 501 and also static pressure 507 achieved beneath hovercraft 500 .", "While the present invention has been described with reference to one or more preferred embodiments, which embodiments have been set forth in considerable detail for the purposes of making a complete disclosure of the invention, such embodiments are merely exemplary and are not intended to be limiting or represent an exhaustive enumeration of all aspects of the invention.", "The scope of the invention, therefore, shall be defined solely by the following claims.", "Further, it will be apparent to those of skill in the art that numerous changes may be made in such details without departing from the spirit and the principles of the invention." ]

[ "CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser.", "No. 12/083,875, filed Apr. 21, 2008, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,036,234 which is based on and hereby claims priority to German Application No. 10 2005 050 587.2 filed on Oct. 21, 2005, the contents of all of which are hereby incorporated by reference.", "BACKGROUND The invention relates, inter alia, to a method for forwarding signaling data in an interworking unit, with the operation: Receiving data in an interworking unit or a gateway from a first data transmission network (CS) over a data transmission connection or over a bearer connection, in which, for a data transmission service between two mobile stations (MS 1 , MS 2 ) or a group of stations, signaling data and payload data are transmitted, with the interworking unit transmitting payload data between the first data transmission network (CS) in which signaling is in accordance with a first signaling method and a second data transmission network (IMS) in which signaling is in accordance with a second signaling method, with the first signaling method differing from the second signaling method.", "In addition to the so-called “Circuit Switched (CS) domain”", "of a mobile radio network based on the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), the so-called “IP Multimedia Subsystem”", "(IMS) is used for voice and video telephony and a so-called “interworking”", "of the relevant services, i.e. a connection of the services by a suitable conversion of the signaling used and of the bearer format of the data used is necessary between IMS and CS domain.", "As well as being used for the 3GPP “Global System for Mobile Communications”", "(GSM) and “Universal Mobile Telecommunications System”", "(UMTS) access networks, the IMS is also used for other access networks, for example “Wireless Local Area Network”", "(WLAN) and “Digital Subscriber Line”", "(DSL).", "It is precisely in these scenarios that it is initially to be expected that voice and video telephony will be undertaken via the IMS.", "Video telephony can also be used in a public telephone network, i.e. a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), with the same in-band video-telephony-specific protocols being used as a rule for transport and signaling as in the 3GPP CS domain.", "Interworking from the PSTN to the IMS is also necessary.", "Previously the standard has merely described interworking between IMS and CS domain or PSTN for voice telephony only.", "The present invention relates to the appropriate interworking for other services, especially for multimedia services, for example for video telephony.", "A demand for this is to be foreseen, since video telephony is increasing in significance both in the 3GPP CS domain and also in IMS, here in particular for access networks such as WLAN or DSL, or newly-arising network access options (e.g. Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX).", "The interworking between IMS and a CS network, i.e. a PSTN or a 3GPP CS domain, is specified in 3GPP TS 29.163 from 3GPP Release 6 onwards only for pure voice telephony.", "In accordance with TS 29.163, the interworking of what is known as the call-control signaling takes place in the Media Gateway Control Function (MGCF).", "The interworking of the payload connection, i.e. the onward transfer and repackaging as well as if necessary the transcoding of the payload data, is undertaken in the so-called Internet Multimedia-Media Gateway (IM-MGW).", "The MGCF controls the IM-MGW by the H[.", "].248 protocol standardized by the ITU-T via the Mn interface, as further described in 3GPP TS 29.332.", "In the CS network Bearer Independent Call Control (BICC), see ITU-T (International Telecommunication Union-Telecommunication Standardization Sector) Q[.", "].1902.", "x, or ISDN User Part (ISUP), see ITU-T Q[.", "].761 ff, is used for out-of-band call control signaling.", "In the case in which the call control signaling is routed separately from the bearer connections, this method is also referred as out-of-band signaling.", "Subsequently there also the option within the bearer connection of exchanging signaling messages, which is referred to as in-band signaling.", "In the case of ISUP, Time Division Multiplex (TDM) is used as bearer in the CS network, and in the case of BICC packet transport by Internet Protocol (IP) or Asynchronous Transfer mode (ATM).", "The negotiation about whether pure voice telephony or video telephony are used can be undertaken for ISUP during the call control signaling for setting up the call by the so-called ISUP UDI Fallback procedure.", "For BICC this negotiation can occur by means the Service Change and UDI Fallback (SCUDIF) standardized in 3GPP TS 23.172, which also allows a change between voice telephony and video telephony during a call.", "Both UDI Fallback and SCUDIF use out-of-band signaling.", "In addition it is possible both for ISUP and BICC to not use the procedure and only attempt a call setup for video telephony, and, in the event of video telephony not being supported, abort the call setup.", "By contrast with optional negotiation between voice and video the negotiation of the voice and video codecs used for video telephony is undertaken “in-band”, after video telephony has already been selected beforehand and a corresponding bearer connection has been established.", "A so-called BS30 data connection with a bandwidth of 64 kbyte/s is used for video telephony in the network.", "Within this data connection the H[.", "].324 protocol suite standardized by the ITU-T is used, with the variant H[.", "].324M adapted for mobile telephony being selected in the 3GPP CS domain.", "After the data connection is set up in this case the configuration of the multimedia connection is negotiated in-band via the ITU-T standardized H[.", "].245 protocol, in particular the video codec and speech codec used and the details of the respective codec configuration Voice and video as well as the signaling data are multiplexed by the H[.", "].223 protocol in the same bearer connection.", "For the 3GPP CS domain TS 26.110 further describes the use of the H[.", "].324 protocol suite or protocol series, with especially the so-called H[.", "].324M configuration being selected.", "The most important execution sequences in setting up a 3G-324M session are as follows: 1.", "After the start of the ISUP or BICC call setup signaling, necessary resources are reserved that are needed for the desired “bearer”", "and subsequently the bearer is set up.", "Start of the “in-band”", "negotiation.", "Initially negotiation of the H[.", "].223 multiplexer level which is to be used for this bearer.", "Recognition of the master station which is opening the multistream connection by H[.", "].245 negotiation if necessary.", "This function is only needed if a conflict arises within the context of opening a bidirectional logical channel.", "This function is referred to as Master or Slave Determination (MSD).", "The capabilities of the station sending the message are transmitted by so-called “Terminal Capability Set”", "H[.", "].245 messages.", "Such messages are sent independently of the two stations.", "These described capabilities contain the following information: Audio and video codec and their specific characteristics or their variants.", "Functional scope of the multiplexer, in detail which adaptation layer is supported (e.g. simple or nested multiplexing) and its mobile-specific extensions.", "Setting up of “logical”", "channels for each media stream by H[.", "].245 signaling.", "From this point in time onwards, either with MSD or without, the station or the IM-MGW are ready to open logical channels to allow the exchange of voice, and/or video payload data.", "In the creation of a bidirectional logical channel, the channel number and the final media capabilities to be used are defined.", "Definition of the multiplex characteristics by H[.", "].245.", "Start of the transmission of video, audio/voice or data Negotiation for video telephony is undertaken “out-of-band”", "in the IMS with the aid of the Session Description Protocol”", "(SDP), IETF (Internet Engineering Task Force) RFC (Request for Comment) 2327, which is transported by the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP), IETF RFC 3261.", "In this case the negotiation as to whether voice telephony or video telephony is used in linked to the negotiation of the codec used and is undertaken before or during of the setting up of the bearer.", "The SDP offer-answer mechanism in accordance with RFC 3264 is used.", "In this case the offering party sends a list of supported codecs in the SDP Offer message.", "After receiving this message the answering party sends an SDP Answer message containing the codec from the list that it also supports and wishes to use.", "The answering party may not specify any codecs that were not contained in the list of the SDP offer.", "By contrast with the CS domain, two separate bearers are used for voice and video, which each use the Real Time Transport Protocol (RTP), IETF RFC 3550.", "For the 3GPP IMS over the General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) access network 3GPP TS 26.235 describes the codecs to be used for video telephony.", "Summarized below once again are the protocols and codecs used on the CS domain side and on the IMS side for video telephony.", "CS network (especially 3GPP CS domain): Call Control: BICC or ISUP.", "Negotiation between pure voice telephony networks and video telephony can be undertaken for ISUP by UDI Fallback and for BICC by SCUDIF.", "Multimedia Protocol suite: ITU-T H[.", "].324M (ITU-T H[.", "].324 Annex C) Codec negotiation: ITU-T H[.", "].245 in-band negotiation about the CS bearer set up with 64 kbit/s (kilobits per second) Video codec: Support of H[.", "].263 prescribed ITU-T H[.", "].261 optional MP4V-ES (simple video profile level 0) optional Speech codec: Support of NB-AMR (Narrow Band Adaptive MultiRate) prescribed WB-AMR (Wide Band AMR) optional ITU-T G[.", "].723.1 recommended Transport Multiplexing of voice and video in a bearer in accordance with ITU-T H[.", "].223 Annex A+B IMS (codecs for GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) access network) Call Control: SIP Includes both negotiation between pure voice telephony networks and video telephony, and also codec negotiation.", "Codec negotiation: Before setup of the bearer, out-of-band by SDP, which is transported in SIP.", "Video codec: Support of H[.", "].263 prescribed ITU-T H[.", "].264 optional, MP4V-ES (simple video profile level 0) optional Speech codec: Support of NB-AMR and WB-AMR prescribed.", "Transport Two separate RTP bearers for voice and video using different so-called RTP Payload”", "formats: Voice NB-AMR+WB-AMR: IETF RFC 3267 Video: H[.", "].263: IETF RFC 2429 H[.", "].264 (AVC): IETF RFC 3984 MPEG-4: IETF RFC 3016 parallel RTP media streams are synchronized by RTP timestamps which are negotiated by the Real Time Control Protocol (RTCP, see IETF RFC 3550).", "As well as or in place of the codec specified here, other codecs can also be supported by the stations, especially if the CS stations are located in the PSTN or the IMS stations do not use GPRS as the access network.", "With interworking for exclusively voice telephony out-of-band signaling is used in both networks.", "A conversion of the signaling protocol can thus be comparatively easily performed at the borders of the two data transmission networks because all signaling messages can be merged in a simple manner at one unit.", "On the other hand in-band signaling is used in the CS network with video telephony for example which is received by the IM-MWG, whereas in the IMS out-of-band signaling is used which is received by the MGCF.", "However the problem of merging the signaling between the two data transmission networks also occurs with other multimedia services or with other services.", "SUMMARY An aspect of the embodiments is to specify a simple method for signaling between two different data transmission networks.", "In particular an aspect is to specify simple methods for interworking of the signaling between two different data transmission networks, with signaling in the first data transmission network being sent or received in-band in a bearer which is assigned to a transmission service between two stations or a group of stations assigned from a network interface unit (e.g. IM-MGW) whereas the signaling in the second data transmission network is sent or received out-of-band in a control unit (e.g. MGCF) which exchanges messages with the first network unit.", "Associated units are also to be specified.", "In addition to the operations listed above, the method in accordance with the invention contains the following operations: In the interworking unit preferably with the aid of the values of the received data, separation of signaling data and payload data, Forwarding of the received signaling data in unchanged form from the network interface unit to a control unit, optionally in the control unit (MGCF) based on a signaling message defined by the signaling data, creation in accordance with the first signaling method of at least one signaling message in accordance with second signaling method, and In the network interface unit, forwarding of the payload data from the first data transmission network into the second data transmission network In particular automatic separation based on the values of the signaling enables a simple decision about forwarding to be made.", "This is the prerequisite for a plurality of options for influencing the signaling at the boundaries between the two data transmission networks.", "The unchanged forwarding of the signaling messages makes a plurality of new applications possible, with which an external control unit can especially be used.", "In one development the data transmission connection is a connection at a protocol level which is located above the protocol layer for physical data transmission.", "In a further development the data transmission connection is set up and also cleared down with the aid of signaling messages.", "In such cases the data transmission connection is assigned its own identifier.", "For example the data transmission connection is a logical channel, i.e. a connection at a higher protocol level.", "In one development the data transmission connection is used for transmission of at least two different types of payload data, especially voice data and video data.", "The term multimedia is also used in this context.", "The separation is undertaken in one development with the aid of the values of the received data, especially by reading this data and subsequently comparing it with comparison data.", "In a further development of the embodied method the first signaling method is a signaling method in which signaling data and payload data are transmitted over the same transmission link, i.e. a so-called in-band method.", "The second signaling method by contrast is a signaling method in which signaling data is transmitted over a different transmission link from the payload data, i.e. an out-of-band method.", "The developments still allow the signaling data to be forwarded between the two data transmission networks.", "In another development of the embodied method the first data transmission network is a circuit-switched data transmission network, a data transmission network with data transmission in accordance with IP (Internet Protocol) or an ATM (Asynchronous Transfer) data transmission network.", "The circuit-switched data transmission network is for example a PSTN (Public Switching Telephone Network), an ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network), a PLMN (GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) Public Land Mobile Network) or a 3GPP CS domain.", "The second data transmission network by contrast is a data transmission network operating in accordance with the Internet Protocol, i.e. in which the payload data is transmitted in accordance with Internet protocol of the IETF (Internet Engineering Task Force) and in which signaling is especially in accordance with SIP, for example an IMS.", "In a further development of the embodied method the signaling data is transmitted in signaling data packets and the payload data in payload data packets.", "The separation is undertaken on the basis of an H[.", "].223 multiplex code which specifies a part data stream which is transmitted over the data transmission connection or over the bearer connection.", "The multiplex code with the value 0 is used for signaling in accordance with H[.", "].223.", "In a next development of the embodied method the following operations are executed: Forwarding of the signaling data to the control unit via an external transmission link, and Creation of the signaling message in accordance with the second signaling method in the control unit.", "This enables interworking unit and control unit to be manufactured separately from each other.", "In the choice of sites too there is a greater degree of freedom by comparison with an embodiment in which the interworking unit and control unit are accommodated in the same housing and are supplied with power by the same AC adapter.", "In a further development the control unit also processes signaling data with signaling messages in accordance with BICC or ISUP.", "This means that the control unit can be used for the processing of a number of signaling protocols and is more universally applicable.", "In another development signaling messages are transmitted in accordance with Standard ITU-T H[.", "].248 or MEGACO or in accordance with MGCP (Media Gateway Control Protocol) of the IETF between the control unit and the interworking unit.", "However other protocols which allow interworking of units from different manufacturers are also suitable.", "In a further development of the embodied method the following operation is executed: Causing the control unit to forward or to separate the data.", "This enables a separation to be initiated automatically and optionally, with different configurations also able to be set.", "In one development the control unit causes the data to be forwarded by transmitting an H[.", "].248 message containing a code (e.g. H245Signalling) which specifies what is to be forwarded.", "The code is especially an H[.", "].248 event code, e.g. an event name such as “H245Signalling.”", "In another development the interworking unit forwards a signaling message with an H[.", "].248-Notify-Request message containing as a parameter the signaling message to be forwarded.", "The parameter in one development is a parameter of an H[.", "].248 event, of which the code (e.g. H245Signalling) specifies that a message will be forwarded.", "Thus the same code as the H[.", "].248 message first mentioned in this paragraph can be used.", "The use of these messages means that the H[.", "].248 standard only has to be extended slightly and only a few signaling messages are necessary.", "In the embodiments the signaling data is forwarded unchanged by the interworking unit to the control unit, this process also being referred to as tunneling.", "In particular the interworking unit does not evaluate the signaling data, apart from the read processes required for separation.", "The interworking unit only tests whether signaling data is involved or not.", "However the interworking unit does not determine which signaling message is involved.", "In one development the control function (MGCF) first terminates signaling in accordance with the first signaling method, i.e. it concludes the signaling, with a signaling message in accordance with second signaling method also being sent in one embodiment, or it begins signaling in accordance with the first signaling method for example on the basis of a signaling message received in accordance with the second signaling method.", "The control function transfers to the interworking unit in another development a signaling message in accordance with first signaling method as parameter in a message, e.g. an H[.", "].248 message, especially in an H[.", "].248-Modify-Request message, with the H[.", "].248 message containing a code (e.g. H245Message) which specifies that a message in accordance with the first signaling method will be forwarded as a parameter.", "In another development the forwarded message is transmitted unchanged from the interworking unit to a station side in the first data transmission network.", "This procedure means that messages already standardized barely have to be changed.", "In a next development the signaling data and the payload data are transmitted to the interworking unit in accordance with a multiplex method, especially in accordance with the method defined in the ITU-T H[.", "].223 standard.", "Such multiplex methods are especially suitable for multimedia data transmission and allow a transmission which is adapted to the respective data volume in the individual multimedia channels.", "Thus signaling data can be transmitted not only before but also during payload data transmission in order to change the multiplexing.", "Payload data is especially voice data, picture data, video data, text data, program data etc.", "In one development the control unit causes the interworking unit to begin the negotiation of an H[.", "].223 multiplex level, preferably by transmitting an H[.", "].248 message which specifies an H[.", "].248 signal code (e.g. H223MultiplexingLevelNegotiation) which specifies that the multiplexing level negotiation is to be started.", "In a next development the control function causes the interworking unit to transmit a message to the control function in which the value of a negotiated multiplexing level is specified, especially by transmission of an H[.", "].248 message which contains a code (e.g. H223Establishment) which specifies that the value of the multiplexing level is to be transmitted to the control function, especially an H[.", "].248 event code.", "The value of the multiplexing level is a measure for the complexity of a multiplexing method.", "In a further development, after negotiation of a H[.", "].223 multiplexing level, the interworking unit of the control unit transfers the value of the multiplexing level in an H[.", "].248 message, especially in a H[.", "].248-Notify-Request message In one embodiment the control unit detects on the basis of the receipt of a message with the value of the negotiated multiplexing level, or on the basis of the absence of such a message, whether a multimedia connection has been established, especially a video telephony connection.", "As an alternative or in addition the first signaling method is a method in accordance with the ITU-T H[.", "].245 protocol which is used particularly widely.", "However other suitable methods are also used.", "In one development the second signaling method is the SIP signaling method or an equivalent signaling method.", "In one development the control function takes into consideration when creating a signaling message in accordance with the first signaling protocol the characteristics of the interworking unit, preferably in the creation of a TerminalCapabilitySet message in accordance with H[.", "].245.", "The result achieved by this is that the payload data transmission can be set optimally at the network boundaries.", "In a next development the following operations are executed: Receipt in the interworking unit of signaling data coming via a first transmission link from a control function at the boundary between the first data transmission network and the second data transmission network, Receipt in the interworking unit of payload data from the second data transmission network via a second transmission link, with the payload data being affected by the signaling data, Transmission in the interworking unit of the received signaling data and the received payload data via the same transmission link, especially in the same data transmission connection.", "Thus the interworking unit is effectively also used for forwarding signaling data in the other direction of transmission.", "The embodiments also relates, in a second aspect, to a method for forwarding signaling data in a control unit with the following operations: In a control unit, which is used for transmission of signaling data between a first data transmission network (CS) with a first signaling method and a second data transmission network with a second signaling method, receipt of signaling data in accordance with the first signaling method with the first signaling method being a signaling method in which a bearer connection is used in which, for a data transmission service between two stations (MS 1 , MS 2 ) or a group of stations, the signaling data in accordance with the first signaling method and payload data are transmitted, and with the second signaling method being a signaling method in which signaling data and payload data are transmitted over different transmission links from one another.", "Preferably on the basis of a signaling message defined in accordance with the first signaling method, creation of a signaling message in accordance with the second signaling method or a number of signaling messages in accordance with second signaling method in the control unit.", "The method in accordance with the second aspect is closely related to the method in accordance with first aspect, so that the advantages stated above apply.", "In a development of the method in accordance with the second aspect the following operations are executed: Causing the signaling data to be sent from an interworking unit by the control unit, with the interworking unit forwarding payload data affected by the signaling data between the first data transmission network and the second data transmission network.", "Here too the reader is referred to the advantages given above, especially to a flexible control of the interworking unit by the control unit.", "In another development of the method in accordance with the second aspect the following operations are executed: Receipt in the control unit of signaling data in accordance with the second signaling method, Creation, on the basis of a signaling message defined by the received signaling data in accordance with the second signaling method, of a signaling message in accordance with the first signaling method.", "Thus the control unit operates in both directions of transmission and modules in the control unit can be used multiple times.", "The invention further relates to an interworking unit which is especially suited to executing the method in accordance with the first aspect or one of its developments.", "Thus the technical effect described above also applies to the embodied interworking unit.", "The invention further relates to a control unit which is especially suited to executing the method in accordance with the first, but especially in accordance with the second aspect, so that the technical effects described above likewise apply.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS These and other aspects and advantages will become more apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the exemplary embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which: FIG. 1 is a typical network configuration, FIG. 2 is a block diagram for a control unit and for an interworking unit, FIG. 3 shows method operations and signaling messages for a control unit and an interworking unit, and FIG. 4 shows the context for a video telephony call.", "DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout.", "It is desirable for example to use the same video codec and if possible also the same speech codec on the CS side and in the IMS in order to avoid any transcoding.", "Transcoding especially of the video codec, but to a small extent of the speech codec too, would demand significant computing power and resources in the IM-MGW.", "In addition the transmission would be delayed and the quality of the picture or of the speech would be worsened.", "If the required bandwidth for the codec on the CS domain side and the IMS is different, additional bandwidth would be used on one side, without this improving the picture or speech quality.", "To this end it is necessary for example for the MGCF and the IM-MGW to exchange suitable information: For example in relation to the negotiation of the voice and video codec by H[.", "].245 and SIP/SDP and in relation to the establishment of the bearer connection by H[.", "].223.", "A method for exchanging suitable information relating to the negotiation of the voice and video codec, e.g. by H[.", "].245 and the establishment of the bearer connection, e.g. by H[.", "].223 between MGCF and IM-MGW, is the subject matter of the present exemplary embodiment.", "This largely avoids transcoding, for video telephony for example.", "The MGCF and the IM-MGW connect a CS network, that is a PSTN or a 3GPP CS domain for example, as well as an IP network which uses SIP and SDP for negotiation of the codec, i.e. the IMS for example.", "In other exemplary embodiments however transcoding is executed.", "The H[.", "].245 Client, i.e. the functional unit which terminates the H[.", "].245 protocol, is located in the MGCF.", "This is advantageous since it enables the H[.", "].245 client to simply exchange information via internal interfaces relating to the selection of the codec and of the execution sequence of the call setup with the functional components responsible for the call control, preferably with the functional component(s), which are responsible on the IMS side for the treatment of the SIP and of the SDP.", "A central idea of the exemplary embodiment is that H[.", "].245 messages received from the CS network can be unpacked by the IM-MGW from the H[.", "].223 protocol and then forwarded transparently in the IM-MGW, i.e. unchanged and without any Interpretation of the content being needed, packed in the H[.", "].248 protocol via the Mn interface to the MGCF.", "Likewise H[.", "].245 messages are created in the MGCF and transmitted packed in the H[.", "].248 protocol to the IM-MGW.", "The IM-MGW takes these messages from the H[.", "].248 protocol and then packs them transparently within the H[.", "].223 protocol.", "On call setup the MGCF configures the IM-MGW so that it receives H[.", "].245 messages and forwards or tunnels received H[.", "].245 messages unprocessed.", "Preferably the IM-MGW uses for this purpose a new so-called H[.", "].248 event still to be standardized, which the MGCF specifies when it sets up a termination responsible for handling the multiplexed H[.", "].223 protocol.", "In the description below, if the IM-MGW receives one or more H[.", "].245 message(s), it inventively uses an H[.", "].248 Notify message, in which it specifies the newly-defined event and specifies the H[.", "].245 message(s) as parameter of the event.", "In order to send one or more H[.", "].245 message(s) to the IM-MGW, the MGCF preferably uses an H[.", "].248 Modify message, into which it preferably inserts a new H[.", "].248 signal yet to be standardized and specifies the H[.", "].245 message(s) as parameter of the signal.", "If the MGCF detects or assumes from the call control signaling that video telephony in accordance with H[.", "].324 is desired on the CS side, the MGCF first configures at the IM-MGW a termination for handling the H[.", "].223 protocol.", "The reader is referred to the literature about H[.", "].248 for a more precise meaning of a termination.", "The MGCF instructs the IM-MGW to execute the H[.", "].223 negotiation of the multiplex level autonomously and to notify it after finishing the negotiation about the level negotiated.", "The MGCF uses the received information on the one hand to subsequently make correct settings in the H[.", "].245 Terminal Capability Set message which it creates.", "On the other hand the MGCF can establish from the absence of the notification that the network-side bearer connection will not or will not yet be used for video telephony and to react to this in the call control signaling, for example by reconfiguring the call to another service such as for voice telephony or to end the connection.", "Preferably the MGCF uses a new H[.", "].248 signal yet to be standardized within an H[.", "].248 Add or Modify message in order to request the IM-MGW to begin the H[.", "].223 negotiation of the multiplex level.", "Preferably the IM-MGW uses a new H[.", "].248 event yet to be standardized within the same message to request the MGCF to notify it about the multiplex level.", "If, in the description below, the IM-MGW has negotiated the level, it uses an H[.", "].248 Notify message in which it specifies the newly-defined event and specifies the level as a parameter of the event.", "After successful negotiation of the multiplexer level H[.", "].223 protocol data can be sent.", "H[.", "].245 command messages and control messages can be transmitted at this early point in time in special data packets.", "To this end the H[.", "].245 messages are packed for example in the Numbered Simple Retransmission Protocol”", "(NSRP).", "In accordance with the NSRP Specification as defined in H[.", "].324, no new H[.", "].245 message may be sent unless an acknowledgement for the last NSRP message sent has been received.", "It is advantageous for the H[.", "].245 protocol to be transported packed in the NSRP via the Mn interface and for the H[.", "].245 client in the MGCF also to be responsible for the termination of the MSRP.", "In the case of a call set up from the CS network side in the direction of the IMS it can occur that the connection setup is forwarded by the IMS to another MGCF.", "In this case it is advantageous for the MGCF to configure the IM-MGW so that it forwards the BS30 packet data service transparently, for example using what is known as the clearmode codec, IETF RFC 4040.", "The MGCF negotiates the transparent transport of the data service by the SIP/SDP signaling exchanged with the other MGCF.", "In one embodiment the MGCF configures the IM-MGW initially only for the BS30 service, and does not yet switch the data connections through.", "As soon as the MGCF receives from the IMS side signaling relating to the selected codec, the MGCF can detect whether video telephony is involved, and in this case configures the IM-MGW so that it starts the in-band H[.", "].223 negotiation.", "If on the other hand a transparent transport is selected, no reconfiguration of the IM-MGW is necessary.", "In accordance with the H[.", "].245 standard the MGCF must, as H[.", "].245 client, create what is referred to as an H[.", "].245 Terminal Capability Set message.", "This message describes the functions of the H[.", "].324 protocol which will be supported at the H[.", "].324 end point in the IM-MGW and MGCF.", "This includes at least one item of the following information: Audio and video codec and their specific characteristics or their variants Functional scope of the multiplexer, in detail which adaptation layer will be supported (e.g. the nesting depth of the multiplexing, i.e. simple or nested multiplexing) and its mobile-specific extensions.", "To provide this information the MGCF must take account of the capabilities of the IM-MGW, i.e. for example which H[.", "].223 protocol options (e.g. the nesting depth for multiplexing) and which codecs the IM-MGW supports.", "The MGCF possesses either configured knowledge about this capability, or it queries this capability by an H[.", "].248 AuditCapabilities message from the IM-MGW.", "The MGCF preferably also takes into account information from the SIP/SDP signaling in selecting the capability specifies in the Terminal Capability Set, especially as regards the specified codec.", "Preferably the MGCF selects codecs that are supported both on the MGCF side and on the IMS side, in order to avoid transcoding.", "It is advantageous for the MGCF to forward information regarding the codec in the SIP/SDP signaling contained in a received H[.", "].245 Terminal Capability Set message.", "As soon as a codec and a logical H[.", "].245 channel have been defined for a media data stream, for example an audio or video media stream, by H[.", "].245 Open logical Channel messages which the MGCF sends or receives, the MGCF inventively configures the IM-MGW so that it transfers the media stream between the CS network side and the IMS side.", "The MGCF specifies for the two sides the codec which has been selected.", "If the same codec in the same configuration was selected on both sides, the IM-MGW does not need to use a transcoder.", "FIG. 1 shows a typical network configuration of a data transmission network 40 , which makes it possible for a mobile station MS 1 connected to the 3GPP CS domain to communicate with a mobile station MS 2 connected to the IMS.", "The CS domain is connected to the IMS with the aid of a Media Gateway Control Function (MGCF) and an IMS Media Gateway (IM-MGW).", "The MGCF controls the IM-MGW by the H[.", "].248 protocol standardized by the ITU-T via the Mn interface.", "On the CS domain side Mobile Switching Center (MSC) servers, which communicate with one another via BICC signaling, see interface Nc, and with the MGCF see interface Mc, are located in the core network.", "They each control CS MGWs.", "The CS MGWs are connected to each other and to the IM-MGW via the Nb interface.", "The BS30 bearer service is used for video telephony.", "MS 1 is connected by a radio access network, for example a UTRAN (UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network), to an MSC server of a CS MGW.", "On the IMS side the MGCF communicates via an interface Mg with the aid of the SIP Call Control protocol with call session control functions (CSCF) which forward the signaling via an interface Gm and the Gateway GPRS support node (GGSN) and a radio access network, for example a UTRAN, to the mobile station MS 2 .", "Data is transported from the IMS Media Gateway via the Mb interface to the GGSN, which likewise passes it on via the radio access network to the MS.", "FIG. 2 shows a block diagram or key functional components in the MGCF and IM-MGW.", "An H[.", "].245 Client 50 , i.e. the functional unit which terminates the H[.", "].245 protocol, is located in the MGCF and exchanges via internal interfaces information regarding the selection of the codec and the execution sequence of call setup with the functional components responsible for call control or with a call signaling unit 52 , preferably the functional component or components that are responsible on the IMS side for handling the SIP and the SDP.", "From the CS side, H[.", "].245 messages received are forwarded within the H[.", "].223 protocol from an H[.", "].223 multiplexer/demultiplexer 60 in the IM-MGW via an H[.", "].245 encapsulation/decapsulation unit in the IM-MGW which packs the messages for transport with the aid of the H[.", "].248 protocol and passes on the Mn interface to the H[.", "].245 client 50 .", "The H[.", "].245 Client 50 thus exchanges information regarding the H[.", "].223 protocol with the H[.", "].223 multiplexer/demultiplexer 60 .", "Media streams for audio and video are handled separately in the IM-MGW.", "Depending on the video codec selected on the IMS side and CS side and the details of its transport format in these networks, a transparent forwarding of the data, a so-called re-framing, i.e. a simple change of the transport format but also a complete conversion of the data between different codecs by a transcoder can be necessary.", "The method explained here allows a transcoding, especially for video codecs, to be largely avoided.", "The MGCF also contains: A call controller 70 , which signals in accordance with ISUP/BICC into the CS network and which exchanges signaling messages with the call controller 52 in accordance with a proprietary protocol for example.", "For example the call controller 52 then performs a protocol conversion i.e. a transmission of individual signaling messages of the one signaling protocol into signaling messages of the other signaling protocol.", "A transceiver unit 72 , which sends or receives signaling messages in accordance with TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) or UDP (User Datagram Protocol) to and from the IMS.", "The IM-MGW also contains: A transceiver unit 80 , which sends or receives payload data in accordance with TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) or UDP (User Datagram Protocol) to and from the IMS.", "FIG. 3 shows method operations and signaling messages of the Media Gateway Control Function MGCF and the IMS media gateway IM-MWG.", "The signaling operations for setting up a video telephony connection between the mobile station MS 1 and the mobile station MS 2 are individually as follows: 1.", "The MGCF decides to set up an H[.", "].324 connection for video telephony on the CS side.", "Initially the MGCF configures the physical termination on the CS network side.", "To this end the MGCF generates a new termination for packet transport in a new H[.", "].248 context with the aid of an H[.", "].248 Add command.", "For TDM (Time Division Multiplexing) transport the MGCF can instead move into a new context an existing termination which represents a fixed time slot in a physical line.", "The termination is allocated an H[.", "].248 stream, here for example the stream with the value 1.", "The IM-MGW creates the termination accordingly and returns the code T 1 for the termination and C 1 for the context.", "The CS-side bearer connection is established.", "The MGCF creates in accordance with the existing H[.", "].248.1 and H[.", "].248.20 (Gateway control protocol: The use of local and remote descriptors with H[.", "].221 and H[.", "].223 multiplexing) standard a specific logical H[.", "].248 termination for describing the multiplexing in the same context C 1 and expresses using the Mux parameter that the multiplexing is described in termination T 1 and occurs in accordance with the H[.", "].223 standard.", "It describes the logical channel of the H[.", "].223 protocol that is to be used for H[.", "].245 signaling by a separate stream which is assigned the so called “logical channel number”", "(LCN) with value 0.", "The MGCF instructs the IM-MGW to begin the H[.", "].223 negotiation of the multiplexing level, preferably by a new H[.", "].248 signal which is called H223MultiplexingLevelNegotiation here.", "The MGCF also instructs the IM-MGW to send the MGCF a message with the agreed multiplexing level as soon as the H[.", "].223 negotiation of the multiplexing level is concluded, preferably by a new H[.", "].248 event which is called H223Establishment here.", "The MGCF also instructs the IM-MGW to send the MGCF a message with received H[.", "].245 signaling If the IM-MGW receives H[.", "].245 messages.", "Preferably the MGCF uses a new H[.", "].248 event to do this, which is called H245Signalling here.", "The IM-MGW creates the new termination accordingly and returns the identifier T 2 .", "The IM-MGW creates the H[.", "].223 connection and in doing so negotiates the multiplexing level with the CS-side mobile station, i.e. with MS 1 , in the example with the value 2.", "The IM-MGW notifies the MGCF that the negotiation of the H[.", "].223 multiplexing level is concluded and which level was selected.", "The MGCF needs this information subsequently in order to specify the corresponding capability in the H[.", "].245 Terminal Capability Set message 16.", "Preferably the IM-MGW uses an H[.", "].248 Notify message with the new event H223Establishment which contains a suitable parameter, called MultiplexingLevel here, to specify the agreed multiplexing level.", "The MGCF confirms the receipt of the Notify message.", "The IM-MGW receives from the CS-side mobile station MS 1 a Terminal Capability Set H[.", "].245 which can be combined with a Master-Slave Determination H[.", "].245 message.", "10.", "The IM-MGW forwards the received H[.", "].245 message or messages transparently, i.e. unchanged.", "To do so the IM-MGW preferably uses an H[.", "].248 Notify message with the new event H245Signalling which contains a suitable parameter for specifying the H[.", "].245 signaling.", "11.", "The MGCF confirms the receipt of the Notify message in accordance with H[.", "].248.", "12.", "In accordance with H[.", "].245 the Terminal Capability Set H[.", "].245 message and the Master-Slave Determination H[.", "].245 messages require an acknowledgement.", "Since the MGCF terminates the H[.", "].245 signaling, the MGCF decides to send the required H[.", "].245 messages Terminal Capability Set Ack and Master-Slave Determination Ack via the IM-MGW in the H[.", "].245 connection.", "The MGCF creates the H[.", "].245 messages, forwards the messages to the IM-MGW and instructs the IM-MGW to forward the messages within the H[.", "].223 connection.", "To do this, the IM-MGW preferably uses an H[.", "].248 Modify message with the new signal, which is called H245Message here, and which contains a suitable parameter, called “information”", "here, to specify the H[.", "].245 signaling and is related to the stream parameter, i.e. the “stream”", "allocated in message 4 to the logical H[.", "].223 channel for the H[.", "].245 signaling 13.", "The IM-MGW forwards the received H[.", "].245 messages transparently in the H[.", "].223 connection through to the CS network side.", "14.", "The IM-MGW acknowledges the Modify message 12.", "15.", "The MGCF decides to send an H[.", "].245 message via the IM-MGW in the H[.", "].245 connection, in the example a Terminal Capability Set H[.", "].245 message which can be combined with a Master-Slave Determination H[.", "].245 message.", "In the H[.", "].245 Terminal Capability Set message the MGCF must take account of the negotiated multiplexing level as well as capabilities of the IM-MGW, for example which H[.", "].223 protocol options (e.g. the nesting depth for multiplexing) and which codecs the IM-MGW supports.", "The MGCF possesses either configured knowledge about this capability, or it queries this capability by an H[.", "].248 AuditCapabilities message from the IM-MGW.", "The MGCF preferably also takes into account information from the SIP/SDP signaling in the selection of the capability specified in the Terminal Capability Set, especially as regards the specified codec.", "The MGCF preferably selects codecs supported on both the IMS and on the CS network side in order to avoid transcoding.", "The MGCF creates the H[.", "].245 messages, forwards the messages to the IM-MGW and instructs the IM-MGW to forward the messages within the H[.", "].245 connection as already described in message 12.", "16.", "and 17.", "Similar to messages 13 and 14, i.e. forwarding the H[.", "].245 messages to the CS side and confirmation to the MGCF by the IM-MGW.", "18.", "The IM-MGW receives from MS 1 a Terminal Capability Set Ack H[.", "].245 message, which is combined with a Master-Slave Determination Ack H[.", "].245 message.", "19.", "and 20.", "Similar to messages 10 and 11.", "21.", "The MGCF selects codecs for the video telephony, in which case it takes account of information from the SIP/SDP signaling on the IMS side as well as that contained in the Terminal Capability Set H[.", "].245 message 9.", "The MGCF preferably selects codecs supported on both the IMS and on the CS network side, in order to avoid transcoding.", "In particular the MGCF also extracts from the Terminal Capability Set H[.", "].245 messages 9 or 16 the H[.", "].223 logical channel number (LCN) corresponding to a selected voice or video codec.", "The MGCF creates an open logical channel H[.", "].245 message and then specifies the LCN of the selected codec.", "The MGCF creates the H[.", "].245 messages, forwards the messages to the IM-MGW and instructs the IM-MGW to forward the messages within the H[.", "].245 connection as already described in message 12.", "In a case not shown here it can also occur that the MGCF receives via the IM-MGW from the CS network an Open Logical Channel H[.", "].245 message.", "In this case the capability has been selected in the CS network from capabilities offered in the Terminal Capability Set message 16.", "22.", "and 23.", "Similar to messages 13 and 14, i.e. forwarding and confirmation by the IM-MGW.", "24.", "The IM-MGW receives an Open Logical Channel Ack H[.", "].245 message from the CS side.", "25.", "and 26.", "Similar to messages 10 and 11, i.e. forwarding of the H[.", "].245 message from the IM-MGW to the MGCF and confirmation of the receipt of this message by the MGCF to the IM-MGW.", "27.", "The MGCF instructs the IM-MGW to create the logical H[.", "].223 channel which was already agreed with the aid of messages 21 to 26 via H[.", "].245 signaling.", "To this end the IM-MGW sends an H[.", "].248 Modify message regarding the multiplexing termination T 2 in which it describes a new stream 3 , in which case it specifies the LCN and the codec as in message 21.", "28.", "The IM-MGW acknowledges the Modify message.", "29.", "The MGCF instructs the IM-MGW to create a termination on the IMS side with which stream 3 is to be connected, so that the IM-MGW forwards the data assigned to the stream 3 on the IMS side or the CS network side to the other side in each case.", "To this end the IM-MGW sends an H[.", "].248 Add message relating to context C 1 , and specifies in the message that stream 3 is to be transported and the codec which is to be used for this purpose.", "If the same codec is specified in message 27 and 29, the IM-MGW recognizes that no transcoding is required.", "30.", "The IM-MGW acknowledges the Modify message.", "31.", "Operations similar to operations 21 through 30 are executed to configure a stream 4 for the bearer for transport of voice and to configure the corresponding speech codec for a termination T 4 .", "Similar method operations will also be used for clearing down the video telephony connection between the mobile station MS 1 and the mobile station MS 2 .", "FIG. 4 shows the context for a video call, with the following then applying: Termination: T 1 : CS domains (CS bearer (BS30) for H[.", "].245 control, voice and video), T 2 : Multiplexing (H[.", "].245 control, voice, video), T 3 : Video with own RTP bearer, and T 4 : Voice with own RTP bearer.", "Stream: Stream 1 : between T 1 and T 2 with data (H[.", "].245 control, voice and video), Stream 2 : Terminated at T 2 with H[.", "].245 control information, Stream 3 : between T 2 and T 3 with video data, and Stream 4 , between T 2 and T 4 with voice data.", "In other exemplary embodiments services other than video telephony are involved, for example voice telephony and text messages.", "Protocols other than the stated protocols are also employed in other exemplary embodiments.", "In further exemplary embodiments the functions of IM-MGW and MGCF are provided by one unit, especially by a data processing unit, so that there is no external transmission link between IM-MGW and MGCF.", "In another exemplary embodiment a network configuration different from that shown in FIG. 1 is used.", "For example for an IP station in the IMS, which is connected via another access network, e.g. via DSL or WLAN or WiMAX.", "In general another network which employs SIP can also instead of the IMS.", "Likewise another station, for example a fixed network telephone, can also be used in the CS network.", "Alternatively stations other than those depicted in FIG. 1 are used in both networks.", "The system also includes permanent or removable storage, such as magnetic and optical discs, RAM, ROM, etc.", "on which the process and data structures of the present invention can be stored and distributed.", "The processes can also be distributed via, for example, downloading over a network such as the Internet.", "The system can output the results to a display device, printer, readily accessible memory or another computer on a network.", "A description has been provided with particular reference to preferred embodiments thereof and examples, but it will be understood that variations and modifications can be effected within the spirit and scope of the claims which may include the phrase “at least one of A, B and C”", "as an alternative expression that means one or more of A, B and C may be used, contrary to the holding in Superguide v. DIRECTV, 358 F3d 870, 69 USPQ2d 1865 (Fed.", "Cir.", "2004)." ]

[ "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] 1.", "Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a cleaning device used in an electrophotographic copier, facsimile machine, printer, or the like, particularly to a cleaning device which reduces noise occurring between a cleaning blade and a photoconductor and improves the cleaning performance, and a process cartridge and an image forming apparatus each including the cleaning device.", "[0003] 2.", "Description of the Related Art [0004] Most of measures for preventing noise occurring in an image forming apparatus such as a copier and a printer have been passive measures using a sound absorbing material or a sound insulating material.", "Meanwhile, the concept of active noise control of intentionally emitting sound of the reverse phase to the phase of noise to interfere with and cancel the noise has existed for a long time.", "However, the practical application of the active noise control had not been attained due to the need for an advanced technology.", "[0005] It is only in recent years that the active noise control has been practically applied along with developments such as the advancement in the signal processing technology.", "Well-known techniques of the active noise control have been applied to a refrigerator, a vehicle, and so forth.", "The techniques are for emitting sound of the reserve phase to the phase of noise through a speaker or the like to interfere with and cancel the noise.", "[0006] In an example according to a background technique, the active noise control method is applied to a vehicle and so forth.", "Further, in an example according to another background technique, the active noise control method is applied to a copier.", "According to the background techniques, sound of the reserve phase to the phase of noise is emitted through a speaker or the like to interfere with and cancel the noise.", "As in such background techniques, sound deadening devices according to the passive noise control method and sound deadening devices according to the active noise control method have been effectively used to prevent noise generated by office automation equipment and so forth from leaking outside the equipment.", "Further, to reduce noise caused by a charging process, according to another background technique, a dynamic damper is provided to a photoconductor drum, which is a member applied with vibration, to reduce the vibration of the drum and thereby reduce resultant noise.", "[0007] Meanwhile, in a photoconductor unit and so forth of an image forming apparatus, stick-slip occurs due to the friction generated between a cleaning blade and a photoconductor.", "Further, vibration resulting from the stick-slip acts as a vibration source to generate high-pitched noise from the photoconductor, or is propagated from the cleaning blade to a unit housing to generate noise.", "A cleaning device is indispensable to remove residual toner.", "Thus, the reduction of the noise is desired.", "The vibration source causing the noise is the stick-slip.", "The vibration mode of the stick-slip is the self-excited vibration.", "The occurrence or non-occurrence of the self-excited vibration mode is highly unstable, i.e., the self-excited vibration mode is an unstable mode in fixed value analysis.", "The unstable mode varies depending on the contact sliding state between the cleaning blade and the photoconductor.", "The unstable mode may occur or may not occur depending on the combination of a variety of conditions, such as the change in the physical property value of the cleaning blade caused by the change in the internal temperature or humidity of the image forming apparatus, the deterioration of the cleaning blade over time, and the adhesion of toner on the photoconductor.", "Even in the same configuration, therefore, such a phenomenon occurs in which the vibration noise attributed to the stick-slip suddenly occurs one day or the vibration noise occurs or does not occur depending on the environment of the installation location of the cleaning blade.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0008] FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention;", "[0009] FIG. 2 is a graph illustrating changes in the rubber hardness with respect to the temperature;", "[0010] FIG. 3 is a graph illustrating an example of vibration state of a holder measured in a noise-occurring state;", "[0011] FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a configuration example of a cleaning member according to an embodiment of the present invention;", "[0012] FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining a control device for controlling a heating device of FIG. 4 ;", "[0013] FIG. 6 is a graph illustrating a vibration state obtained when a blade member is cooled in the noise-occurring state of FIG. 3 ;", "[0014] FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating the configuration of FIG. 5 added with a temperature measuring device capable of monitoring the temperature of the blade member;", "[0015] FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a configuration including a heating device or a cooling device provided over the entire length of the blade member in the longitudinal direction;", "[0016] FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of a schematic configuration of a process cartridge including a cleaning device according to an embodiment of the present invention;", "and [0017] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a type of color image forming apparatus including a plurality of juxtaposed process cartridges according to an embodiment of the present invention.", "DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [0018] Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.", "FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus A according to an embodiment of the present invention.", "The image forming apparatus A includes an image carrying member 1 which rotates in the direction indicated by an arrow.", "The image carrying member 1 is surrounded by a charging device 2 , an exposure device 3 , a development device 4 , a transfer device 5 , a cleaning device 6 , and an electricity removal device 7 .", "[0019] The charging device 2 is disposed apart from a surface of the image carrying member 1 by a predetermined distance to be or not to be in contact with the image carrying member 1 .", "As the charging device 2 is applied with a bias voltage, the image carrying member 1 is charged to a predetermined polarity and a predetermined potential.", "[0020] Further, the exposure device 3 applies light to the image carrying member 1 on the basis of image data by using an LD (Laser Diode) or LED (Light Emission Diode) as a light-emitting device, to thereby form an electrostatic latent image.", "[0021] The development device 4 includes a magnet roller fixed therein and a rotatable developer carrying member.", "The developer carrying member carries a developer thereon.", "The present embodiment employs two-component magnetic brush development using, as the developer, a two-component developer including toner and carrier.", "As an alternative development method, a one-component development method not using the carrier may be used.", "The developer carrying member is applied with a voltage from a development bias voltage power supply.", "Due to the difference in potential between the development bias voltage and the potential of the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the image carrying member 1 , the charged toner is adhered to the electrostatic latent image in an development area.", "Thereby, a development process is performed.", "[0022] In a transfer process, the transfer device 5 is brought into contact with the surface of the image carrying member 1 by predetermined pressing force, and is applied with a voltage.", "Thereby, the toner image formed on the surface of the image carrying member 1 is transferred onto a transfer medium 8 at a transfer nip portion formed between the image carrying member 1 and the transfer device 5 .", "In the present embodiment, a transfer roller is used to perform the transfer process.", "Alternatively, a transfer device such as a corotron and a transfer belt may be used.", "[0023] The electricity removal device 7 removes residual charge from the image carrying member 1 , from which residual toner has been removed by the cleaning device 6 , and employs an optical electricity removing method using an LED or the like.", "[0024] Further, the cleaning device 6 is constituted by a blade member (a cleaning blade) 10 , a holder 9 for holding the blade member 10 , a case 14 attached with the holder 9 , and so forth.", "As a contact end 10 a of the blade member 10 is pressed against the image carrying member 1 , the residual toner is scraped off and removed from the image carrying member 1 .", "[0025] The toner scraped off from the image carrying member 1 by the blade member 10 is accumulated in the case 14 and stored as waste toner in a not-illustrated waste toner bottle by a toner conveying member 11 provided in the case 14 .", "The stored toner is collected by a serviceman or the like, or is conveyed to the development device 4 and so forth as recycled toner to be used in the development process.", "[0026] In a cleaning device having the above-described configuration, it is known that the stick-slip occurs between the blade member 10 and the image carrying member (a photoconductor) 1 , as described above.", "The stick-slip causes the blade member 10 and the image carrying member 1 to vibrate and generate acoustic radiation.", "As a result, noise is generated.", "Particularly, if the image carrying member 1 sympathetically vibrates, or if the exciting force on the image carrying member 1 is increased due to the sympathetic vibration of the blade member 10 , the noise is increased.", "The vibration mode of the stick-slip is the self-excited vibration.", "The occurrence or non-occurrence of the self-excited vibration mode is highly unstable, i.e., the self-excited vibration mode is an unstable mode in fixed value analysis.", "The unstable mode varies depending on the contact sliding state between the blade member 10 and the image carrying member 1 .", "As one of factors for varying the contact sliding state, there is the change in the physical property value of the blade member 10 caused by the change in the internal temperature of the image forming apparatus A. A blade member is formed of a rubber-based material in many cases.", "This is because the rubber-based material has a characteristic of having a physical property value which tends to significantly change according to the temperature.", "[0027] FIG. 2 is a graph illustrating changes in the rubber hardness with respect to the temperature.", "As illustrated in FIG. 2 , in the physical property value of rubber-based materials used in a blade member, the hardness is changed according to the temperature.", "Thus, in accordance with the change in the hardness, the contact state between the blade member 10 and the image carrying member 1 is also changed.", "Therefore, contrary to the normal operation of the image forming apparatus A, in which the stick-slip does not occur, if the internal temperature of the apparatus is increased due to a long-time continuous operation, the physical property of the blade member 10 is changed to cause a change in the contact sliding state.", "As a result, the stick-slip occurs to generate a squeak in some cases.", "Normally, when the blade member 10 is emitting the squeaky noise, the holder 9 and the blade member 10 are significantly vibrating.", "[0028] FIG. 3 is a graph illustrating an example of vibration state of the holder 9 measured in a noise-occurring state.", "As illustrated in FIG. 3 , in the noise-occurring state, the vibration attributed to the stick-slip occurs.", "It is observed that the vibration level reaches the peak thereof particularly when the vibration frequency of the blade member 10 is 715 hertz.", "[0029] Description will be made below of a configuration according to an embodiment of the present invention for reducing the vibration noise caused by the stick-slip as described above.", "[0030] FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a configuration example of a cleaning member according to an embodiment of the present invention.", "In FIG. 4 , the holder 9 is provided with a vibration detection device 12 capable of detecting the vibration state of the holder 9 and a heating device 13 for heating the holder 9 .", "[0031] Further, FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining a control device for controlling the heating device 13 of FIG. 4 .", "In FIG. 5 , a control device 20 is constituted by a vibration detection unit 21 , an A/D (Analog-to-Digital) conversion unit 22 , an arithmetic processing unit 23 , a vibration level determination unit 24 , and a heating control unit 25 .", "In the control device 20 , vibrations detected by the vibration detection device 12 provided to the holder 9 are transmitted to the vibration detection unit 21 .", "The vibration detection unit 21 chronologically outputs the intensities (the accelerations) of the vibrations as analog signals.", "The output intensities of the vibrations are converted into digital signals by the A/D conversion unit 22 .", "The digital signals are subjected to arithmetic processing by the arithmetic processing unit 23 and transmitted to the vibration level determination unit 24 as the frequencies and the intensities of the vibrations.", "The vibration level determination unit 24 determines whether or not the vibration level detected by the vibration detection device 12 has exceeded a set threshold value.", "If the detected vibration level has exceeded the threshold value, the heating control unit 25 causes the heating device 13 to heat the holder 9 by controlling the heating device 13 in accordance with the degree by which the detected vibration level has exceeded the threshold value.", "[0032] As the holder 9 is heated upon exceeding of the set threshold value by the vibration level detected by the vibration detection device 12 , the rigidity of the blade member 10 is changed to cause a slight change in the contact sliding state.", "Accordingly, the self-excited vibration is prevented, and the noise caused by the vibration can be reduced.", "[0033] In the configuration of the present example, the vibration detection device 12 and the heating device 13 are provided to the holder 9 for holding the blade member 10 .", "Alternatively, the vibration detection device 12 and the heating device 13 may be directly provided to the blade member 10 to detect the vibration of the blade member 10 and directly heat the blade member 10 .", "[0034] Further, the heating device 13 described above may be replaced by a cooling device capable of cooling the blade member 10 or the holder 9 so that the blade member 10 or the holder 9 is cooled according to the control by a control device when the vibration level detected by the vibration detection device 12 exceeds a set threshold value.", "As the blade member 10 or the holder 9 is cooled, the rigidity of the blade member 10 is changed to cause a slight change in the contact sliding state.", "Accordingly, the self-excited vibration is prevented, and the noise caused by the vibration can be reduced.", "[0035] As the heating device 13 or the cooling device, a Pettier element can be used.", "The Peltier element is a plate-like semiconductor device using the Peltier effect, i.e., the phenomenon in which, when current is applied to the junction of two types of metals, the heat is transferred from one of the metals to the other metal.", "If direct current is applied to the Peltier element, the Peltier element absorbs the heat from a surface thereof and emits the heat from the other surface thereof.", "With this characteristic, the blade member 10 or the holder 9 can be easily heated or cooled.", "[0036] Further, the Peltier element can switch between heating and cooling in accordance with a change in current polarity, and thus can flexibly change the temperature of the blade member 10 to a temperature for reducing the vibration noise.", "[0037] Further, the Peltier element is small-sized and low power, and can be provided on the blade member 10 or the holder 9 by pasting or the like.", "With this characteristic, the Peltier element can directly heat or cool the blade member 10 or the holder 9 .", "Thus, the rigidity of the blade member 10 can be immediately changed to cause a change in the contact sliding state between the blade member 10 and the image carrying member 1 .", "Accordingly, the occurring self-excited vibration is reduced, and the vibration noise can be reduced.", "[0038] In FIG. 4 , the vibration detection device 12 capable of detecting the vibration state can be formed by a piezoelectric element.", "The piezoelectric element has a characteristic of generating a voltage when applied with pressure and conversely changing the shape thereof when applied with a voltage.", "Upon generation of vibration, therefore, the piezoelectric element is applied with pressure and generates a voltage according to the pressure.", "Thus, the vibration state can be detected by the measurement of the generated voltage.", "Further, the piezoelectric element can be formed into an arbitrary thickness and size, and is not significantly limited in the installation location thereof on the blade member 10 .", "As the method of installing the vibration detection device 12 , any method can be employed as long as the method allows the application of vibration such as bending to the holder 9 or the blade member 10 .", "The vibration detection device 12 can be installed with the use of an adhesive agent formed of an epoxy resin and so forth.", "Further, the installation position of the vibration detection device 12 is not limited as long as the vibration detection device 12 can detect the occurrence of the stick-slip at the position.", "[0039] If the vibration detection device 12 is formed by the piezoelectric element, therefore, the vibration detection device 12 can be set on a member such as the blade member 10 with no need for a large space.", "Further, the occurring vibration can be quantitatively measured.", "[0040] FIG. 6 is a graph illustrating a vibration state obtained when the blade member 10 is cooled in the noise-occurring state of FIG. 3 .", "As illustrated in FIG. 6 , it is observed that the large vibration generated at the frequency of 715 hertz in FIG. 3 and causing the noise has been reduced, and that the noise has disappeared.", "[0041] FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating the configuration of FIG. 5 added with a temperature measuring device 26 capable of monitoring the temperature of the blade member 10 .", "In the control performed by the control device 20 , which is substantially similar to the control illustrated in FIG. 5 , the temperature of the blade member 10 is measured by the temperature measuring device 26 provided to the blade member 10 , and the result of the measurement is used in the control performed by the heating control unit 25 .", "With this configuration, the deterioration of the blade member 10 due to overheating can be prevented.", "Further, the contact sliding state between the blade member 10 and the image carrying member 1 is changed while the rigidity of the blade member 10 , which is changed according to the environmental change such as the increase in the internal temperature of the apparatus, is normalized.", "Accordingly, the cleaning failure can be prevented.", "Further, the occurring self-excited vibration is reduced, and the vibration noise can be reduced.", "[0042] Further, as described above, the Peltier element has the characteristic of reversing the relationship between the heat absorption and the heat emission upon reversal of the current polarity.", "Therefore, if the Peltier element is used as the heating device 13 or the cooling device, it is possible to control the temperature of the blade member 10 by controlling the current to switch between heating and cooling.", "With this control, the contact sliding state can be changed.", "Accordingly, it is possible to reduce the vibration and thus reduce the squeaky noise.", "[0043] FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a configuration including the heating device 13 or the cooling device provided over the entire length of the blade member 10 in the longitudinal direction.", "As illustrated in FIG. 8 , with the heating device 13 or the cooling device provided over the entire length of the blade member 10 in the longitudinal direction, the blade member 10 and the contact end 10 a can be uniformly heated or cooled.", "It is therefore possible to obtain an effect of preventing the cleaning failure occurring when the contact state becomes unstable due to the change in the physical property value caused by partial heating or cooling.", "[0044] Subsequently, description will be made of a process cartridge configured to integrate the cleaning device 6 according to the embodiment of the present invention with the image carrying member 1 , the charging device 2 , and the development device 4 , and to be attachable to and detachable from the body of an image forming apparatus such as a copier and a printer.", "[0045] FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of a schematic configuration of a process cartridge 30 including the cleaning device 6 according to the embodiment of the present invention.", "With the cleaning device 6 according to the embodiment of the present invention provided in the attachable and detachable process cartridge 30 , the noise occurring in the cleaning process is reduced.", "Further, the maintenance performance is improved, and the replacement of the cleaning device 6 integrally with the other devices can be easily performed.", "[0046] Subsequently, description will be made of the application of the present invention to an embodiment in which the process cartridge 30 including the cleaning device 6 according to the embodiment of the present invention is used in a color image forming apparatus.", "[0047] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a color image forming apparatus 40 including a plurality of the juxtaposed process cartridges 30 according to the embodiment of the present invention.", "In FIG. 10 , four process cartridges 30 according to the embodiment of the present invention, i.e., process cartridges 30 Y, 30 M, 30 C, and 30 B corresponding to colors of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and block (B), respectively, are arranged along a transfer belt 16 stretched over rollers 17 , 18 , and 19 and conveyed in the direction indicated by an arrow.", "[0048] In the process cartridges 30 Y, 30 M, 30 C, and 30 B, a light flux L is applied to image carrying members 1 Y, 1 M, 1 C, and 1 B, respectively, to form electrostatic latent images.", "The electrostatic latent images are supplied with toner by development devices 4 Y, 4 M, 4 C, and 4 B, respectively, to form developed toner images.", "The developed toner images are sequentially transferred onto the transfer belt 16 , which horizontally extends and is applied with a transfer voltage, by transfer devices 5 Y, 5 M, 5 C, and 5 B, respectively.", "[0049] In the above-described manner, the images of the yellow, magenta, cyan, and black colors are formed.", "The developed toner images multiply transferred on the transfer belt 16 are transferred together onto the transfer medium 8 by a second transfer device 31 .", "Then, the multiple toner images formed on the transfer medium 8 are fixed thereon by a not-illustrated fixing device.", "In the above description, the process cartridges 30 are arranged in the order of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black.", "However, the arrangement is not limited to the above order.", "Thus, the process cartridges 30 may be juxtaposed in any order.", "[0050] Normally, a color image forming apparatus includes a plurality of image forming units, and thus is increased in size.", "Further, if a failure individually occurs in each of units such as a cleaning unit and a charging unit, or if the unit has reached the replacement time due to the expiration of the life thereof, the replacement of the unit takes substantial time and effort due to the complexity of the apparatus.", "In view of this, the respective components of an image carrying member, a charging device, and a development device are integrated together as a process cartridge, as in the present embodiment.", "With this configuration, it is possible to provide a small-sized and highly durable color image forming apparatus enabling the replacement of the units by a user.", "It is also possible to provide a color image forming apparatus which reduces the noise caused by the cleaning process and improves the maintenance performance in the replacement of the process cartridge." ]

[ "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] Recent conflicts around the world highlight the combat effectiveness of RPGs.", "The RPG is often the key “force multiplier”", "for terrorist or extremist hostile forces.", "Helicopter downings by RPGs have become an increasingly deadly factor in recent major conflicts.", "Multiple incidents in Somalia, Afghanistan, and Iraq have involved significant loss of life.", "Such incidents provide encouragement and disproportionate stature to hostile forces.", "Additionally, missiles and RPGs pose an emerging threat to passenger and cargo aviation as well as to ground transports.", "SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention describes an expendable Rocket-Towed Barrier (RTB) system designed to prevent RPGs from reaching their targets.", "The system is comprised of: Vehicular-mounted launch pod(s) Multiple RTB expendable countermeasures [0005] The system utilizes existing technologies for the identification and targeting of threats.", "The system takes advantage of the fact that RPGs and personnel-fired missiles are, in terms of combat projectiles, relatively slow-moving and there is a short time available to identify threats and launch countermeasures.", "Each RTB launch pod provides a zone of coverage.", "The actual RTB projectile does not need to precisely intercept the incoming munition.", "Furthermore, the launch of several RTB projectiles in a pattern toward the path of the incoming threat will provide a very high likelihood of interception.", "Unlike other proposals, such as explosive ball bearing grenades, this system presents an effective counter to lethal munitions while maintaining a low probability of collateral damage to non-combatants in the launch vicinity.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0006] The present invention is described with reference to the following figures, in which: [0007] FIG. 1 shows the area of coverage provided by several rocket-towed barriers, superimposed upon the outline of a helicopter;", "[0008] FIG. 2 shows the Launch sequence of a single rocket-towed barrier;", "[0009] FIG. 3 shows a rocket-towed barrier on an intercepting course between a helicopter and a threat missile.", "DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [0010] In one embodiment, the launch pod is a simple weatherproof cluster of thermoplastic tubes.", "Launch pods are attached to the host vehicle in such a way that the launch tubes are directed toward the zone from which RPG protection is desired.", "The system interfaces with a threat identification system, such as the BAE Systems ALQ-156 pulse-Doppler radar system, or the ALQ-2I2 IR warning system, both of which are now in widespread use.", "Threat direction and time-to-go data are used to determine the optimum firing time for the RTB countermeasures.", "In this respect, the system is almost identical to current chaff or IR decoy countermeasure systems, with the distinction that the present system is designed to physically intercept the threat munition, thereby providing a significantly greater degree of security.", "Additionally, IR and chaff decoy systems provide no defense against RPGs, which are essentially ballistic projectiles having no in-flight seek or guidance capabilities.", "In another embodiment, the countermeasure-firing pod is actively aimed using rapid-acting electromechanical or fluid powered actuators similar to systems in current use such as the Raytheon Phalanx Close In Weapon System (CIWS).", "Data from the radar system is used to point the countermeasure launch tube(s) on an approximate intercepting trajectory, taking account of velocities of the threat, the countermeasure, and the host vehicle.", "The present system would be smaller and simpler than current CIWS systems primarily because the rate of fire is much lower and the projectiles are self-propelled, requiring only a launch tube.", "An additional simplifying factor is that precise threat intercept (hitting a bullet with a bullet) is not a requirement of the present system.", "In yet a more complex embodiment, the RTB countermeasure may employ active guidance.", "This system would offer tracking and in-flight course correction.", "Assuming active guidance combined with accurate data on the flight path of the threat, it may be possible to deliver the threat munition back to its point of origin.", "[0000] Expendable Countermeasure [0011] The expendable RTB utilizes a quick firing, single-stage solid-fueled rocket.", "The RTB rocket is similar in most respects to a hobby rocket, with necessary enhancements for sizing, flight stability, and mission reliability.", "The RTB rocket tows a mesh barrier that, after launch, is inflated by aerodynamic forces.", "The inflated barrier provides a wide radius of coverage for intercept of incoming threats along the RTB flight path.", "[0000] Towed Barrier [0012] In one embodiment, the towed barrier is in the shape of a small, flat drogue parachute.", "The drogue-shaped barrier is aerodynamically symmetric, resembling an aircraft-braking parachute, but is constructed of a mesh material that presents a physical barrier to oncoming munitions, while allowing most oncoming air to pass through.", "The mesh material may be Kevlar fiber, stainless steel braided cable, or a combination of materials.", "The mesh is optimized for strength and aerodynamic drag characteristics.", "The drogue tethers are fixed to the tow rocket fuselage in such a way as to provide uniform pull force when the drogue is inflated.", "The tethers are constructed to withstand the initial shock of encountering an RPG.", "The tether system may employ an elastic element to partially dissipate the kinetic energy of a captured or diverted RPG.", "The drogue exploits aerodynamic forces to maintain maximum frontal area with respect to the RTB flight path.", "The drogue/rocket package is optimized for threat interdiction.", "The drogue is intentionally designed to slow the RTB rocket to the optimum velocity for maximum time-in-the-path of incoming threats.", "Mesh barriers of other shapes are operable with this system.", "In a further embodiment, a mesh barrier of rectangular frontal aspect is deployed.", "Larger barriers may employ multiple tow rockets in order to maintain the desired cross-section during threat interdiction.", "[0000] Stowage [0013] In one embodiment the towed barrier is packed with the RTB rocket as a unit.", "The barrier is folded and wrapped into a compact package that is formed around the rocket.", "At launch, the rocket first leaves the launch tube pulling the barrier tethers along behind it.", "The tethers in turn pull the drogue out of its folded state and out of the launch tube.", "As the drogue clears the launch tube and proceeds along the flight path, aerodynamic forces cause it to inflate to its maximum diameter.", "Certain areas of the towed barrier may be subject to high heat from the tow rocket.", "In particular, the area directly behind the tow rocket.", "Since the countermeasure is expendable, and the flight duration is on the order of a few seconds, this would not seriously degrade the effectiveness of the system.", "In RTB systems with more demanding mission requirements, the towed barrier may be fitted with a heat protective coating in the area of the rocket exhaust.", "The drogue/rocket package may be stored as a unit, in its own expendable launch tube.", "Such a system would facilitate quick and easy replacement of discharged countermeasures, much as current chaff dispensing system.", "In another embodiment, the complete launch tube units may be incorporated into a magazine, or an ammunition belt configuration.", "[0000] Guidance [0014] Rocket stabilization and guidance may take one of several forms depending on the system complexity as described above.", "In one embodiment fixed aspect aerodynamic fins are used to stabilize the RTB rocket on its flight path.", "The fins may extend via spring pressure after ejection from the launch tube.", "Another embodiment provides inertial stabilization through the use of a spinning mass.", "A tubular section of the rocket fuselage spins around the axis of flight.", "The spin motion may be imparted via an ablative multi-vane impeller that is coupled to the rotating section and situated along the rocket axis.", "A portion of the rocket exhaust drives the impeller.", "Active guidance via moveable control surfaces may also be employed.", "Active guidance methods are established in the art, and are not an object of the present invention.", "[0000] Additional Defensive Capabilities [0015] The RTB rocket may carry flare or other IR countermeasures, thus doubling as a decoy for heat-seeking threats and attracting those threats into the effective radius of the RTB countermeasure.", "[0000] Explosive Interdiction [0016] The RTB may additionally be equipped with an explosive destruct charge that destroys or disables threat munitions that are in the vicinity of the RTB.", "The destruct charge triggers when force on drogue tethers exceeds a predetermined value.", "The destruct charge combines with the physical barrier to provide enhanced capabilities to the RTB system.", "Explosive RTBs may be effective against threats that could defeat the drogue netting alone (such as SAMs and personnel fired missiles).", "In-flight arming of the destruct charge safeguards the host vehicle from accidental detonation and from detonation during the initial shock of the inflation of the towed barrier.", "In one embodiment, a MEMS G sensor integrates flight time away from host to provide a safe arming distance.", "Hall-effect sensors and spring-mounted magnet provide non-contacting force trigger.", "The towed barrier tethers are connected to the spring-mounted magnet.", "After arming, the appropriate force on the tethers brings the magnet sufficiently close to the hall-effect sensors to trigger an electrical impulse to the destruct charge.", "Additional destruct charge fusing methods could be employed including heat sensing, proximity, or time-delay methods." ]

[ "CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims priority to International Patent Application No. PCT/US03/17997.", "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1.", "Technical Field The present invention relates to a filling process and more particularly to a filling process for automatically filling dual fluid cartridge assemblies.", "Description of the Prior Art Fluid cartridge assemblies are generally known in the art.", "Both single and multiple fluid cartridge assemblies are known.", "An example of a single fluid cartridge assembly is disclosed in commonly owned international patent application number PCT/US02/39041, filed on Dec. 6, 2002.", "Such a fluid cartridge assembly is used to dispense a single fluid.", "Dual fluid cartridge assemblies are also known.", "Examples of such dual fluid cartridge assemblies are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,220,261;", "4,961,520;", "and 5,310,091.", "Such dual fluid cartridge assemblies are known to be used to dispense fluid materials, such as thermoset adhesives, which typically contain two fluids that need to remain separated and applied to a workpiece quickly after mixing.", "U.S. Pat. No. 5,310,091 discloses a dual fluid cartridge assembly configured with a front and rear chamber formed by an inner cartridge and an outer cartridge, respectively.", "Upper and lower piston seals are used to separate the fluids within the cartridges.", "Movement of the inner cartridge, for example, under the influence of a plunger of a conventional caulking gun, causes the inner cartridge to advance axially within the outer cartridge.", "The inner cartridge is in fluid communication with a hollow delivery tube which extends through a front chamber up to a cartridge outlet nozzle.", "Movement of the inner cartridge within the outer cartridge causes fluids in the inner cartridge and outer cartridge to be dispensed.", "A problem exists with filling such cartridges.", "In particular, it is normally necessary to bleed air from the cartridge to prevent air from being trapped within the cartridge during filling.", "Such trapped air is known to have a negative impact on the ability to control the volumetric ratio of the fluids dispensed.", "If air is trapped in the inner cartridge, for example, the initial movement of the piston seals and accompanying increase in pressure in the cartridge chamber will act will cause that air to be compressed rather than to force fluid out of the outlet of the cartridge.", "Therefore, as the pressure in the cartridge increases during the early phase of the dispensing cycle, a smaller amount of the fluid in the inner cartridge will be dispensed than is desired.", "As the pressure in the cartridge decreases later, the air still trapped in the inner cartridge will expand and cause a larger than desired amount of fluid to be dispensed from the inner cartridge during the later phase of the dispensing cycle.", "If a different amount of air is trapped in the outer cartridge, the air will compress and expand at different rates than that of the air in the inner cartridge chamber.", "The difference in these rates will cause variation in the ratio of the fluids dispensed from the two cartridge chambers.", "This variation may have a negative impact on the performance of the fluids to be mixed.", "To avoid this problem, various methods are known for removing air from the cartridge chambers after filling, during piston insertion.", "For example, shims or wires are known to be automatically inserted adjacent the piston seal prior to piston insertion and used as a method for bleeding air from the cartridge.", "The shims are removed after the pistons are inserted.", "This method is known to be used with relatively high viscosity fluids.", "Unfortunately, there are several problems associated with this method.", "First, the shims can become fouled by way of contact with a fluid, thus eliminating or reducing the effectiveness of the shims.", "Second, the shims and wires are prone to breaking and curling due to their relatively small cross sections.", "Third, such shims and wires must be replaced periodically.", "Fourth, burrs and sharp edges along the length of the shims are known to damage the piston seal and thus affect its performance.", "Lastly, the use of wires or shims requires extra steps and thus increases the cost of filling the cartridge assembly.", "Another known method for removing air from a cartridge before filling is use of a vacuum.", "Unfortunately, since it takes time to draw a vacuum, this approach increases the time required to fill the cartridge.", "Finally, some systems are known to employ bleed plugs which include a vent for allowing air to escape.", "With this type of system, the vent is plugged after all of the air has been expelled between the piston and fluid within the cartridge.", "Unfortunately, such systems require additional steps and components and thus increase the time and cost of filling such cartridges.", "Thus, there is a need for a cartridge filling method which allows the cartridges to be filled quickly and easily while bleeding air from the cartridges without the need for extra steps or the need for a vacuum.", "SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a method for automatically filling a fluid cartridge assembly which automatically bleeds air from the cartridge prior to filling with less steps relative to known filling methods and without the need for a vacuum.", "The process relates to providing a self-bleeding dual fluid cartridge assembly which includes vents that bleed air from the cartridges initially and automatically closes the vents as the piston seal moves away from the vent.", "By utilizing such a self-bleeding cartridge assembly, the cartridge can be filled by an automatic fluid dispenser without the need for shims, a vacuum or bleed plugs.", "DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS These and other advantages of the present invention will be understood with reference to the following specification and attached drawing wherein: FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a conventional cartridge gun shown in partial cutaway illustrating a dual fluid cartridge assembly in accordance with the present invention.", "FIG. 2 is a front view of a dual fluid cartridge assembly in accordance with the present invention.", "FIG. 3 is a sectional view along a line 3 — 3 of FIG. 2 , illustrating the dual fluid cartridge assembly in accordance with the present invention in a filled position.", "FIG. 4 is similar to FIG. 3 but illustrating the dual fluid cartridge assembly in an empty position.", "FIG. 5 is an enlarged detailed view illustrating the connection between an inner cartridge tube and a nose outlet in accordance with the present invention.", "FIG. 6 is a partial simplified view of the air vent path formed in the inner cartridge in accordance with the present invention.", "FIG. 7 is a right side view of an inner cartridge in accordance with the president invention illustrating a number of radial slots formed in a base portion of the inner cartridge.", "FIG. 8 is a sectional view along line 8 — 8 of FIG. 7 illustrating the inner cartridge in accordance with the present invention.", "FIG. 9 is a left side view of the inner cartridge in accordance with the present invention.", "FIG. 10 is a left side view of an outer cartridge in accordance with the present invention.", "FIG. 11 is a section view along line 11 — 11 of FIG. 10 of the outer cartridge in accordance with the present invention.", "FIG. 12 is an enlarged detailed view of the inner nose outlet portion of the inner cartridge in accordance with the present invention.", "FIG. 13 is an enlarged view of the outer nose outlet portion of the outer cartridge in accordance with the present invention.", "FIG. 14 is a sectional view of a piston seal and delivery tube in accordance with the present invention.", "FIG. 15 is an enlarged sectional view of the one end of the delivery tube in accordance with the present invention.", "FIG. 16 is a top view of an upper piston seal for use with the present invention.", "FIG. 17 is a sectional view along lines 17 — 17 of FIG. 16 .", "FIG. 18 is a partial perspective view of the outer cartridge in accordance with the present invention illustrating slots for providing an air vent for the outer cartridge in accordance with another aspect of the present invention.", "FIG. 19 is a plan view of an open end of the outer cartridge illustrated in FIG. 18 .", "FIG. 20 is an enlarged detailed view of a portion of the outer cartridge illustrating the vent slots.", "FIG. 21 is a side view of an automatic filling station for use in accordance with the present invention.", "FIG. 22 is similar to FIG. 21 but represents a front view.", "DETAILED DESCRIPTION The present invention relates to a method for filling a dual fluid cartridge assembly which automatically fills and bleeds the cartridge assembly prior to filling without additional steps and without a vacuum.", "Unlike other known methods for filling dual fluid cartridge assemblies, the method in accordance with the present invention utilizes an automatic filling machine in conjunction with a self-bleeding dual fluid cartridge assembly that is configured with a vent to atmosphere which allows air in the inner cartridge to be automatically evacuated during the fill process in order to prevent any trapped air pockets within the fluid in the inner cartridge.", "A vent may also be optionally provided in order to vent trapped air from the chamber formed by the outer cartridge as well.", "The method in accordance with the present invention is adapted to be utilized with a dual fluid cartridge assembly as illustrated in FIGS. 2-20 and described below.", "An exemplary filling machine for automatically filling the dual fluid cartridge assembly is illustrated in FIGS. 21 and 22 and is also described below.", "Dual Fluid Cartridge Assembly Referring first to FIGS. 2-20 , a dual fluid cartridge assembly for use with the filling process in accordance with the present invention is illustrated.", "In accordance with an important aspect of the invention, the dual fluid cartridge assembly 30 is provided with a vent path to atmosphere which allows air in the inner cartridge and optionally the outer cartridge to be evacuated to atmosphere during filling of the inner and outer cartridges to prevent trapped air pockets therein.", "Such trapped air pockets are known to result in voids in the fluid in the inner and outer cartridges resulting in non-homogeneous mixing of the fluids thereby decreasing the performance of the fluids.", "FIG. 3 illustrates the dual fluid cartridge assembly 30 in a filled position, while FIG. 4 illustrates the dual fluid cartridge assembly 30 in an empty position.", "As shown the dual fluid cartridge assembly 30 includes an outer cartridge 32 , an inner cartridge 34 , an integral piston seal and delivery tube 36 having a lower seal 39 ;", "and an upper piston seal 38 .", "In accordance with an important aspect of the invention, a vent path to atmosphere is provided from the inner cartridge 34 when the inner cartridge 34 is in an empty position, as illustrated in FIG. 4 .", "Filling of the inner cartridge 34 is done by way of a cartridge outlet nozzle 40 .", "The cartridge outlet nozzle 40 is formed as a tubular member with an axial separator wall 41 , which forms two side by side chambers for enabling filling of each of the fluids.", "In order to fill the inner cartridge 34 , fluid is applied through the cartridge outlet nozzle 40 through the piston tube 36 into a chamber forming the inner cartridge 34 , beginning when the inner cartridge 34 is in the position shown in FIG. 4 until the inner cartridge is full.", "Similarly, the outer cartridge 32 is also filled by way of the cartridge outlet nozzle 40 .", "Turning to FIGS. 6-9 , the inner cartridge 34 includes a circular base plate 42 and a cylindrical sidewall 44 .", "A separator rod 46 projects upwardly from the base plate 42 and extends to a mouth 43 of the cylindrical sidewall 44 of the inner cartridge 34 .", "Slots, for example, radial slots, generally identified with the reference numeral 48 , are formed in the base plate 42 of the inner cartridge 34 .", "As best shown in FIG. 6 , the slots 48 formed in the base plate 42 of the inner cartridge 34 extend partially up the sidewall 44 in an axial direction, as indicated by the reference numeral 50 .", "As best shown in FIGS. 4 , 6 and 11 , the slots 48 and 50 allow trapped air in the inner cartridge 34 to escape up along the sidewall 44 of the inner cartridge 34 and bleed to the outside of the inner cartridge 34 by way of one or more notches 52 , formed at the mouth 43 of the inner cartridge 34 .", "Air escapes by way of clearance between the outside diameter of the inner cartridge 34 and the inside diameter of the outer cartridge.", "As the inner cartridge 34 moves away from the (stationary) lower seal 39 the vent path is closed.", "FIGS. 10-13 illustrate the outer cartridge 32 .", "As shown, the outer cartridge 32 is formed as a cylindrical member having a base plate 33 and a cylindrical sidewall 35 with a diameter slightly larger than the diameter of inner cartridge 34 to allow free axial movement of the inner cartridge 34 therewithin.", "The outer cartridge 32 is formed with the cartridge outlet 40 used for filling and dispensing the fluids from the inner cartridge 34 and outer cartridge 32 .", "As shown in FIGS. 3 , 5 and 12 , the outer cartridge 32 includes an offset flange 56 for connection to the piston tube 36 .", "As shown best in FIG. 5 , the connection between the offset flange 56 , the outer cartridge 32 and the piston seal and delivery tube 36 may be a snap connection.", "A delivery tube portion 37 of the piston seal and delivery tube 36 forms a conduit from the inner cartridge 34 to the nose portion 40 .", "Fluid in the outer cartridge 32 is dispensed into an offset opening 60.", "Accordingly, the offset openings 58 and 60 formed along an inner wall 33 of the outer cartridge 32 together with the separator wall 41 ( FIG. 2 ) allow the fluid from the inner cartridge 34 and the outer cartridge 32 to be discharged side by side out of the cartridge outlet nozzle 40 .", "FIGS. 14 and 15 illustrate the piston seal and delivery tube 36 .", "As mentioned above, the piston seal and delivery tube 36 includes an elongated tube 37 and a lower piston seal 39 .", "The lower piston seal 39 of the piston seal and delivery tube 36 may be formed, for example, with a circumferential slot 68 for receiving and an O-ring (not shown).", "The lower seal portion 39 seals the fluid in the inner cartridge 34 from the rest of the assembly 30 .", "As mentioned above, an extending end 70 of the piston tube 36 may be formed with a circumferential slot 72 , adjacent the extending end 70 .", "As mentioned above and as illustrated in FIG. 5 , this circumferential slot 72 cooperates with a mating slot formed in the flange 56 ( FIG. 5 ) to provide a snap connection between the piston tube 36 and the flange 56 .", "FIGS. 16 and 17 illustrate the upper seal 38 .", "The upper seal 38 seals the fluid in the outer cartridge 32 .", "As shown, the upper seal 38 may be provided with a circumferential slot 74 for receiving an O-ring (not shown).", "The seals 38 and 39 may alternatively be formed with equivalent configurations, such as radial extending lips or a combination of o-rings and radial extending lips.", "In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the cartridge assembly 30 is optionally configured with another vent path for venting air from the outer cartridge 32 to atmosphere to avoid trapping air in the outer cartridge 32 .", "In particular with reference to FIGS. 18 through 20 , one or more vent slots 80 may optionally be formed on the interior of the cylindrical sidewall 35 of the outer cartridge 32 .", "These vent slots 80 extend from the base plate 32 ( FIGS. 11 and 18 ) and extend in an axial direction, as shown in FIG. 18 .", "The vent slots 80 may be disposed in a direction, for example, 180 degrees from the direction of the cartridge outlet offset, as generally shown in FIG. 18 .", "Thus, when the upper seal 38 is in a position as shown in FIG. 4 , the axial slots 80 provide a vent path around the upper seal 38 which allows air from the outer cartridge 32 to be vented by way of clearance between the outside diameter of the inner cartridge 34 and the inside diameter of the outer cartridge.", "As soon as the upper seal 38 is out of engagement with the axial slots 80 , the vent path for the outer cartridge 32 is closed.", "The fluids in the cartridge assembly 30 are dispensed by way of a conventional caulking gun 20 , as shown in FIG. 1 , which includes a plunger 22 , a handle 24 , a trigger 26 and a nose piece 28 .", "In operation, as the plunger 22 advances in an axial direction toward the nose piece 28 of the caulking gun 20 (assuming a ratchet arm 32 is in the position shown in FIG. 1 ), the inner cartridge 34 moves in an axial direction toward the nose portion 40 (FIG.", "3 ).", "As the inner cartridge 34 advances in an axial direction, fluid from the inner cartridge 34 is forced into the piston tube 36 and to the nose portion 40 .", "Initially, as shown in FIG. 3 , the upper seal and the piston seal 39 are side by side when the cartridge assembly 30 is full.", "As the inner cartridge 34 advances to the left as shown in FIG. 4 , the inner cartridge 34 pushes the upper seal 38 to the left, which forces fluid in the outer cartridge 32 to be dispensed out the cartridge outlet 40 .", "This axial movement of the inner cartridge within the outer cartridge results in dispensing of the fluids and application of the fluids to a work piece by way of a cartridge outlet and a nozzle, such as a static mixing nozzle, in a similar manner as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,310,091, hereby incorporated by reference.", "Filling Method The inner cartridge 34 is filled with a fluid by way of the cartridge outlet nozzle 40 .", "In particular, a fill nozzle 114 ( FIG. 22 ) is inserted in the cartridge outlet nozzle 40 and into the inlet opening 58 (FIG.", "11 ).", "As discussed above, the inlet opening 58 is in fluid communication with the delivery tube portion 37 ( FIG. 5 ) of the piston seal and delivery tube 36 (FIG.", "4 ), which, in turn, is in fluid communication with the inner cartridge 34 (FIG.", "3 ).", "When the inner cartridge 34 is in the position as shown in FIG. 4 , fluid is filled through the delivery tube portion 37 ( FIG. 5 ) toward the bottom or base portion 42 ( FIG. 6 ) of the inner cartridge 34 .", "In the position shown in FIG. 4 , the inner cartridge vent is open to atmosphere.", "In particular, in this position, as fluid fills the inner cartridge 34 , air is pushed into the slots 48 ( FIG. 6 ) in the base portion 42 of the inner cartridge 34 .", "As the fluid continues to fill the inner cartridge 34 , air is pushed up through the axial slots 50 and bleeds through the notches 52 formed in the mouth 43 of the inner cartridge 34 , to atmosphere.", "After the inner cartridge 34 ( FIG. 3 ) is filled, the outer cartridge 32 may be filled with a second fluid.", "The outer cartridge 32 is also filled by way of the fill nozzle 114 (FIG.", "22 )through the cartridge outlet nozzle 40 but through the opening 60 (FIG.", "11 ).", "After the inner cartridge 34 and outer cartridge 32 are filled, a cap (not shown) may be used to close the cartridge outlet nozzle 40 of the cartridge assembly 30 .", "Filling of the outer cartridge 32 may begin once the delivery tube 37 is filled with fluid and the air has been exhausted from the inner cartridge 34 .", "Filling of the outer cartridge 32 must always lag filling of the inner cartridge 34 by a volume at least as large as the volume of the delivery tube 37 until the inner cartridge 34 has been filled completely, at which time the filling of the outer cartridge 32 can catch up.", "This is important to prevent air from getting sucked into the inner cartridge 34 if the filling of the inner cartridge 34 gets ahead of it.", "Second, the same vent groove method may be used to bleed air from the outer cartridge 32 as the method described for use in the inner cartridge 34 .", "An exemplary automatic filling machine is illustrated in FIGS. 21 and 22 and identified with the reference numeral 100 .", "The filling machine 100 may be, for example, a Model No. BH-DUAL CMP-632×9 by Adhesive Systems Technology Corporation of New Hope, Minn.", ", as described in detail in their CMP Series Instruction Manual AST #60000049, hereby incorporated by reference.", "Other filling machines may also be used.", "FIG. 22 illustrates a side view while FIG. 21 illustrates a front view of the filling station 100 .", "FIG. 21 is shown with a dual fluid cartridge assembly 30 loaded into the filling station 100 .", "The filling machine 100 is adapted to be used with two (2) gravity fed reservoirs (not shown)— one for each fluid—and two (2) independent metering pumps (not shown).", "The metering pumps are coupled to a pair of metering valves 101 and 103 ( FIG. 21 ) on the filling station 100 by way of flexible conduits (not shown).", "As best shown in FIG. 22 , the filling station 100 includes a fixture 106 for carrying the dual fluid cartridge assembly 100 .", "The fixture 106 includes a lower plunger 108 for pushing the inner cartridge 34 to the EMPTY position as shown in FIG. 4 by way of an air cylinder 109 and holding the inner cartridge 34 in that position.", "This action holds the vent grooves ( 50 ) in communication with the lower seal 39 until all the air in the delivery tube 37 and inner cartridge 34 has been replaced by fluid.", "The fixture 106 also includes an upper horizontal member 110 .", "The horizontal member 110 includes an aperture 112 for receiving a fill nozzle 114 , mounted on a movable member 116 .", "Subsequently a button (not shown) is depressed by the operator to begin the cycle.", "Other embodiments contemplate a proximity sensor that senses the presence of the cartridge as a trigger to begin the filling cycle.", "After the cycle is initiated by depressing the button, an air cylinder 118 causes the vertical member 116 and the fill nozzle 114 to move downwardly and fully engage and seal the cartridge outlet nozzle 40 (FIG.", "18 ).", "The fill nozzle 114 enables fluids to be pumped into the offset openings 58 and 60 ( FIG. 11 ) of the dual fluid cartridge assembly 30 .", "In operation, the cartridge outlet nozzle 40 is manually registered and mated with the fill nozzle 114 .", "The air cylinder 118 pushes the movable member 116 and the fill nozzle 114 downwardly.", "The other air cylinder 109 pushes the plunger 108 upwardly which causes the inner cartridge 34 to move to the EMPTY position as shown in FIG. 4 .", "The air cylinder 109 holds the inner cartridge 34 in the EMPTY position while the air is bled out of it, as discussed above.", "In particular, as the metering pump begin to pump fluid from the fluid reservoir, air is bled from the inner cartridge 34 as discussed above.", "Once a predetermined and adjustable volume of fluid has been pumped into the inner cartridge 34 , the air cylinder 109 releases the inner cartridge 34 .", "A continued inflow of fluid causes the inner cartridge 34 to move away from the EMPTY position, as illustrated in FIG. 4 , and close the vent to atmosphere.", "Subsequently, fluids may be pumped individually or simultaneously into the inner cartridge 34 and the outer cartridge 32 .", "The metering pumps dispense a preset amount into each of the inner cartridge 34 and the outer cartridge 32 .", "After the inner cartridge 34 and outer cartridge 32 are filled, the vertical member 116 , under the influence of the air cylinder 118 , returns to the home position, as shown in FIG. 22 , to enable the filled cartridge to be removed.", "Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings.", "Thus, it is to be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described above.", "What is described to be secured by a Letters Patent is covered by the appended claims." ]

[ "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1.", "Field of the Invention The invention relates to a method for determining a trellis describing a plurality of paths starting from an initial state and having a predefined length, said trellis being used for a transmission between a transmitter and a receiver.", "The invention also relates to a modem using such a method, a communication system comprising such a modem, and a computer program comprising code means for executing the steps of said method.", "The invention is useful in all cases where the paths through the trellis are short and the number of states of the trellis is small.", "For example, it may be applied to V90 spectral shaping.", "V90 is a recommendation of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) dealing with a digital modem and an analog modem pair for use on the public switched telephone network.", "Description of the Related Art It is known, from paragraph 5.4[.", "].5.5.", "of the V90 Recommendation, to use a trellis in a digital modem to implement a coding algorithm called “spectral shaping”", "algorithm.", "According to this recommendation, the length of the trellis is an integer lying between 0 and 3, selected by the analog modem during training procedures.", "The problem is that the length of this trellis may change at each connection.", "Thus, at each connection, the new trellis needs be determined, which involves a lot of calculations.", "SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION One of the objects of the invention is to provide a simple method of determining the trellis for a transmission between a transmitter and a receiver.", "According to the invention, all possible paths through the trellis are described branch-by-branch for the maximum length of the trellis.", "Then, all these paths are stored, for example, in a matrix called Reference Matrix.", "Paths to be used for a smaller length of the trellis are deducted from said Reference Matrix, from the length of the current trellis, from the maximum length, and from the initial state of the paths.", "The invention is advantageous because it avoids the storage of all the possible configurations of paths, and thus it saves memory space.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of an example of a communication system according to the invention;", "FIG. 2 is a representation of a trellis having two possible states and four possible paths;", "and FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the steps of a method according to the invention.", "DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The embodiment which will now be described relates to PCM modems in conformity with the V90 Recommendation of the ITU.", "This is not restrictive.", "The invention is applicable to any transmitter/receiver using a variable length trellis for encoding data.", "The only restriction for using the method of the invention is that the memory capacity has to be large enough to store the Reference Matrix.", "In other words, the maximum length of the trellis and the number of states of the trellis have to be small enough to allow the storage of the Reference Matrix in the available memory.", "A PCM modem enables a user U 1 connected to a transmission network by an analog link and a user U 2 connected to the same network by a digital link to be interconnected.", "They may be, for example, a user terminal U 1 communicating with a data server U 2 of a service provider.", "FIG. 1 shows an example of such a transmission system.", "The transmission system of FIG. 1 comprises a digital communication network 1 with two switches SW 1 and SW 2 .", "An APCM modem M 1 is connected to the switch SW 1 via a twisted pair L 1 for transmitting analog signals.", "A DPCM modem M 2 is connected to the switch SW 2 via a digital link L 2 , for example, an ISDN link (ISDN stands for Integrated Services Digital Network).", "This digital link L 2 may be considered an extension of the digital transmission network, the switch SW 2 then playing the role of repeater.", "The APCM modem M 1 and the DPCM modem M 2 both comprise a microprocessor circuit MP 1 and MP 2 , respectively.", "The microprocessor circuits MP 1 and MP 2 comprise, respectively, a read-only memories ROM 1 and ROM 2 , random access memories RAM 1 and RAM 2 , and processors P 1 and P 2 .", "In this example, the method of the invention is used in the DPCM modem M 2 when operating as a transmitter.", "According to the V90 Recommendation, the digital modem uses a trellis to implement a coding algorithm called “spectral shaping”", "algorithm.", "The length of the trellis is an integer lying between 0 and 3 selected by the analog modem during training procedures.", "The “spectral shaping”", "algorithm is stored in the memory ROM 2 of the DPCM modem M 2 .", "FIG. 2 gives a representation of such a trellis.", "This trellis has two possible states, state S 0 and state S 1 , and four possible paths A, B, C and D. The length of the trellis is called Ld.", "States λ(j−1), λ(j), .", ", λ(j+Ld) are the (Ld+2) successive states in the trellis.", "State λ(j−1) is the initial state of the trellis.", "This trellis describes 2 Ld+1 paths starting by initial state λ(j−1) and comprising Ld+1 branches.", "FIG. 2 corresponds to the case where the initial state λ(j−1) of the trellis is state S 0 .", "If Ld=0, the trellis has only two state λ(j−1) and λ(j).", "Starting from initial state λ(j−1) there are only two paths to reach λ(j).", "If the initial state is S 0 , these two paths are branch A and branch B. Branch A is the branch between state S 0 and state S 0 .", "Branch B is the branch between state S 0 and state S 1 .", "If Ld=1, the trellis has three states.", "Four branches exist between the second and the third state: branch A is the branch between state S 0 and state S 0 , branch B is the branch between state S 0 and state S 1 , branch C is the branch between state S 1 and state S 0 , and branch D is the branch between state S 1 and state S 1 .", "When Ld>1, this four branches configuration is repeated until the end of the trellis.", "This trellis diagram gives the coding rules for a frame j according to the current state λ(j−1).", "The current state λ(j−1) relates to the preceding frame j−1.", "In order to select the trellis branch for a frame j, the “spectral shaping”", "coding algorithm computes a specific metric, called “spectral metric”, for all possible paths through the trellis starting from initial state λ(j−1).", "Then, it selects the path that minimizes this spectral metric.", "The first branch of this path is the coding decision for frame j. This means that the coding algorithm has to go through all the trellis each time a frame is to be encoded.", "In the following, all the paths through the trellis are stored in a matrix, so that each path corresponds to one row of the matrix.", "Tables 1 and 2 below give the matrix Pref corresponding to the maximum length Ldmax of the trellis, for Ldmax=3 (which is the case in the V90 Recommendation).", "This matrix is called Reference Matrix.", "Tables 1 and 2 also give the matrix P λ(j−1),Ld to be used to go through a trellis of smaller length (Ld<Ldmax).", "These matrices are called Current Matrices.", "TABLE 1 Pref = A A A A = A A A P 0,0 = A A P 0,1 A A A B A A A A A A A B C A A B P 1,0 A A A A B D A A B A A A B C A A B C A A B P 1,1 A B C B A B C B A B A B D C A B D C A B A B D D A B D D A B B C A A B C A A B C A A B C A B B C A B B C A B B C B C B C B C B C B C B C B D B C B D B C B D B D C A B D C A B D C A B D C B B D C B B D C B B D D C B D D C B D D C B D D D B D D D B D D D C A A A C A A A C A A A C A A B C A A B C A A B C A B C C A B C C A B C C A B D C A B D C A B D C B C A C B C A C B C A C B C B C B C B C B C B C B D C C B D C C B D C C B D D C B D D C B D D D C A A D C A A D C A A D C A B D C A B D C A B D C B C D C B C D C B C D C B D D C B D D C B D D D C A D D C A D D C A D D C B D D C B D D C B D D D C D D D C D D D C D D D D D D D D D D D D TABLE 2 Pref = A P 0,2 = P 0,3 A A A A A A A B P 1,2 B B B B B B B C A A A P 1,3 C A A B C A B C C A B D C B C A C B C B C B D C C B D D D C A A D C A B D C B C D C B D D D C A D D C B D D D C D D D D According to the invention, the Reference Matrix Pref is stored in the memory ROM 2 of the DPCM modem M 2 , and the paths of the current trellis to be used for the “spectral metric”", "calculations are deducted from the Reference Matrix, from the length Ld of the trellis, and from the initial state of the path, in the following way: P λ(j−1),Ld ( u,v )= P ref (2 Ld+1 ·λ( j− 1)+ u,Ld max− Ld+v ) where ( u,v )ε└0,2 Ld+1 ┘×└0 ,Ld┘ This is represented in the block diagram of FIG. 3 .", "The current frame for which a coding decision is to be taken is called j. A “spectral metric”", "calculation block B 1 sends two parameters to a trellis definition block B 2 .", "These two parameters are the length Ld of the current trellis and the initial state λ(j−1).", "The trellis definition block B 2 accesses the memory ROM 2 of the modem.", "From the two parameters Ld and λ(j−1), it computes the paths P i (i=1, .", "2 ld+1 ) to be followed in the current trellis in order to calculate the spectral metrics associated to the current frame j. These paths P i are transmitted to a metric calculation block B 3 .", "The calculated metrics M i are then transmitted to a decision block B 4 .", "This decision block B 4 selects the first branch b i ,1 of the path, which has the minimum metric.", "This first branch gives the code C j which is associated to frame j. Then j is incremented, and the same process is repeated for the next frame.", "The ADPCM is operating as a receiver.", "In the V90 Recommendation, the “de-shaping”", "algorithm is independent of the length of the trellis used by the DPCM transmitter.", "Thus, the only information to be stored in the APCM modem is a fourbranch configuration as represented in FIG. 2 .", "In other transmission systems, it is possible that the receiver also needs to know the complete current trellis in order to decode the received data.", "In this case, the Reference Matrix Pref also needs to be stored in the memory of the receiver, and the above-described method of determining the current trellis is also to be implemented in the receiver.", "In the above description, only the part of the V90 Recommendation that was necessary for the understanding of the invention was described.", "More details on the “spectral shaping”", "can be found in paragraph 5.4[.", "].5 of the V90 Recommendation." ]

[ "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] 1.", "Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention is related to pest control services, and more particularly to services that feature discretion and imperceptibility during inspection and treatment, as well as continued quality assurance for the customer.", "[0003] 2.", "Background of the Invention [0004] Current strategies for pest control services typically begin with the application of measures to control pests only after infestation has occurred, and can include further inspections and services to maintain elimination of the pests.", "In this strategy, a customer first contacts a pest control service provider, often after an infestation has been detected.", "The pest control service provider typically arranges a one-time service agreement, which includes inspection and treatment, if necessary, of the problem.", "The service may involve multiple visits by the provider, but the terms of the agreement are usually for a determined course of treatment, either as a fixed number of visits or length of time, and the treatment may be specified for a particular pest.", "The customer is then charged for the services provided under the agreement, either before or after the services are rendered.", "Many strategies also include a warranty plan upon payment of the service fees by the customer, so that further inspection and treatment may be applied if re-infestation is detected within the warranty period.", "[0005] One strategy, Springer, U.S. Published Application No. 2004/0068414, recognizes the value of preventative measures for pest control, rather than merely curative measures.", "Preventing an infestation before it occurs will spare the customer costs, effort, and intrusiveness over time, in addition to being more likely to succeed.", "Springer, therefore, arranges for the customer to be automatically debited for the regular maintenance fees and services associated with pest prevention and control.", "[0006] A primary objective of the present invention is to provide a method for the inspection of pests, specifically bedbugs.", "[0007] Another objective of the present invention is to provide discrete and imperceptible pest control services to public establishments, especially those with sleeping quarters.", "[0008] Another objective of the present invention is to provide continuous, uninterrupted quality assurance to establishments where inspection confirms there are no pests.", "SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0009] An embodiment of the present invention addresses the issue of patron perception of a pest problem.", "Pests are typically understood to suggest the presence of filth and disease.", "Consequently, public establishments, especially those in the hospitality industry, are negatively affected any time their patrons perceive a problem with pests;", "consumers do not want to eat or sleep in a place with infestation.", "In the present invention, public establishments are protected from the perception of a pest problem, because employees of the pest control service provider conduct themselves with the utmost discretion and imperceptibility.", "When a contract is arranged between the customer and the service provider, pest inspectors come to the location of business dressed as typical service or repair people for the establishment, and carrying any pest control equipment or tools in luggage or toolboxes.", "There are no logos or emblems of any kind that would indicate a pest control operator on the inspector's attire, since these might indicate to patrons there is a need for pest control or extermination.", "Additionally, the inspector's vehicle should be similar to that of a service or repair person, and should also not bear any logos or emblems indicating pest control.", "All employees of the service provider will be required to sign a secrecy agreement related to the business of the service provider and its employees, as well as undergo a background check for security.", "[0010] If no infestation is discovered during the inspection, a quality assurance seal is placed in a visible location on the premises.", "The quality assurance seal will have the effect of guaranteeing the premises are monitored and treated to prevent pest infestation.", "If an infestation is discovered during the inspection, the service provider notifies the customer immediately, and arranges for extermination treatment.", "Inspection and curative treatment of an infestation may be outsourced to an established extermination provider, in which employees of the extermination provider will be trained in the discretionary tactics of the service provider, and will conduct themselves the same as employees of the service provider.", "Once the infestation has been eradicated, and the inspectors are satisfied there is no further infestation of the property, a quality assurance seal is placed in a visible location on the premises.", "[0011] The service provider will offer either a comprehensive pest package to treat for a complete range of pests, or the service provider may opt to specialize in the monitoring and treatment of a particular pest.", "The service provider will guarantee continuous, uninterrupted quality assurance to the customer for the term of the contract, by providing regular follow-up inspections of the property.", "The frequency of follow-up inspections will be determined by the service provider, and may vary depending upon the region in which the property is located, and the type of pests for which the inspectors search.", "Should the customer detect a problem in between inspections, the customer may contact the service provider, who will immediately re-inspect the property without waiting for the next regularly scheduled inspection.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0012] FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing the method in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.", "DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [0013] FIG. 1 is a flowchart that illustrates one embodiment for the method of the present invention.", "In the preferred embodiment, the customer is a public establishment, especially with sleeping quarters, such as a hotel.", "The pest control service provider initiates contact ( 100 ) with the customer by means of a personal visit to the customer's location of business.", "Alternatively, the service provider could contact ( 100 ) the customer via mail or a telephone call, or the customer could initiate contact ( 100 ) with the service provider.", "A contract ( 101 ) is arranged between the customer and service provider for an initial inspection of the premises, and any follow-up inspections of the premises, in exchange for payment from the customer to the service provider.", "[0014] The service provider inspects ( 102 ) the property using the most current and effective techniques available, which may vary depending upon the region in which the property is located and the type of pests for which the inspectors search.", "In the preferred embodiment, the pest is Cimex lectularius , or the “bedbug.”", "The inspection ( 102 ) is performed with the utmost discretion and imperceptibility, so as not to alert patrons of the establishment to any possibility, real or imagined, of a pest problem.", "Because pests are typically understood to indicate the presence of filth and disease, imperceptibility is very advantageous to any public establishment, especially those in the hospitality industry, where patrons are likely not to return to the establishment if they believe there to be a problem with pests.", "To assure that discretion is maintained, secrecy agreements with regards to the business of the pest control service provider and its employees will be signed by all service provider employees.", "Such secrecy agreements may also be required by all or some of the establishment employees.", "[0015] The pest inspectors are to maintain a very clean, well-groomed appearance.", "Inspectors'", "attire is to be cleaned and pressed, although there may or may not be an official uniform, due to the model of discretion that is to be presented.", "In order to achieve discretion and imperceptibility, the preferred embodiment for inspectors'", "attire is similar to that of the establishment's regular service or repair crews, such as HVAC service, electrical or plumbing maintenance, etc.", ", and does not bear any logo, emblem, or other indication of the pest control service provider.", "Inspectors are to blend in with the appearance of the establishment's expected service people, thereby becoming “invisible”", "to patrons, and this may include the use of wheeled luggage or toolboxes for carrying pest control equipment, analytical instrumentation, or other tools.", "Dressed as a regular maintenance crewperson, the inspectors will be able to be seen entering into multiple different rooms within the same day by the same patron, without the patron perceiving the inspector as “pest control.”", "Further, inspectors are to maintain quality customer service at all times, which demands courtesy, friendliness, and respect for the customer and its employees, as well as all of the customer's patrons.", "[0016] The vehicle driven by inspectors is also to be similar to that of the establishment's regular service or repair crews, such as a neutral-colored van, minivan, or sports-utility-vehicle, or any other form of transportation commonly used in connection with utility functions.", "This vehicle shall also not bear any logo, emblem, or other indication of the pest control service provider.", "The intention of this camouflage is not to deceive for any unscrupulous purposes, but only to maintain the emotional comfort and confidence of the guests who may observe the service providers at work.", "[0017] Each employee of the pest control service provider will be required to undergo a background check for security, since the inspectors and other employees may be granted access to many locked, private areas of the establishment.", "The service provider may provide the establishment with a copy of valid employees'", "driver's licenses for verification of employee identity upon arrival for service.", "[0018] Upon initial inspection ( 102 ) of the premises, pests are either detected or they are not detected ( 103 ), at which time the appropriate protocol is followed by the inspectors.", "If an infestation is not detected, a quality assurance seal bearing the service provider's company name, and, for example, initials of the inspector, and date of inspection, is placed ( 104 ) in a visible location on the premises, such as a front-facing window, or over the front door handle.", "If an infestation is detected, a quality assurance seal is not provided to the customer at the time of inspection.", "Instead, the inspector notifies the customer that an infestation has been detected, and then arranges for pest extermination ( 105 ).", "[0019] The pest extermination provider may be a division of the service provider, or may be a separate entity operating under an outsourcing, marketing, or franchise agreement with the service provider.", "In this capacity, the pest extermination provider will be trained to conduct him or herself the same as an employee of the service provider.", "When the pest extermination provider is on the customer's premises, he or she will act the same as an inspector of the service provider, wearing the appropriate attire and carrying equipment in the appropriate bags.", "He or she will also act with courtesy, friendliness, and respect, and will practice discretion and imperceptibility.", "[0020] Because the property is preferably a public establishment, the part of the property determined to be infested should be decommissioned from public utility until curative treatment is applied and the service provider is satisfied that no further infestation exists.", "For example, if the property is a hotel in which each guest room has been contracted ( 101 ) to be inspected by the service provider, then any guest room where infestation is detected should be immediately removed from the course of regular operation until the appropriate measures ( 105 ) for extermination have been taken.", "Once the service provider has re-inspected ( 106 ) the property, and is satisfied it is free from pests, a quality assurance seal bearing the service provider's company name, and, for example, initials of the inspector, and date of the most recent inspection, is placed ( 104 ) in a visible location on the property, such as a front-facing window, or over the front door handle.", "[0021] Because the quality assurance seal will have the effect of guaranteeing to customers and to patrons that the property is being monitored and treated to prevent pest infestation, the service provider will need to provide services for a comprehensive pest package.", "There may be a menu of pest types within the contract ( 101 ) for the customer itself to select from.", "The package offered by the service provider must be able to guarantee the property is fully monitored.", "Alternatively, the service provider may specialize in the eradication of a particular type of pest, so that when the quality assurance seal is placed ( 104 ) on the property, the service provider's company name represents that the property is fully monitored and treated for that pest.", "For example, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 , the service provider has selected to specialize in the monitoring and treatment of bedbugs.", "Therefore, the quality assurance seal has the effect of guaranteeing to customers and to patrons that the property is being monitored and treated for any infestation of bedbugs, and that, while a 100% guarantee against a single bedbug is impossible, there is no active infestation currently present on the property.", "[0022] The contract ( 101 ) between the customer and the service provider (“the contract”) preferably arranges for periodic inspections ( 107 ), and treatments as necessary (“service events”).", "The service provider inspects ( 102 ) the customer's property when the next service event is due, using the same techniques and protocols as with the initial inspection.", "If no infestation is detected, then the quality assurance seal is again initialed ( 104 ) by the inspector, and dated with the most recent date of inspection.", "If re-infestation is detected, then the property is decommissioned from public utility until the pest extermination provider can apply ( 105 ) curative treatment to eradicate the pests.", "Once the pests have been successfully eradicated ( 106 ), the quality assurance seal ( 104 ) is initialed by the inspector, and dated with the most recent date of inspection.", "If the customer detects a problem between scheduled service events, the customer can contact the service provider, who will immediately provide the appropriate service without waiting for the next service event.", "[0023] The terms of the contract ( 101 ) set forth the obligations of the service provider, who will: complete the initial inspection ( 102 ) and arrange ( 105 ) for any necessary extermination services;", "provide proof of quality assurance ( 104 ) in the form of a clearly visible seal and/or warranty;", "provide periodic follow-up inspections ( 107 ) and pest management services for continued quality assurance;", "and conduct itself with the utmost discretion and imperceptibility.", "The service provider will determine the frequency of follow-up visits ( 107 ) that is required for continued quality assurance, which may vary depending upon the region in which the property is located and the type of pests for which the inspectors search.", "For example, bedbug inspections may occur every day, because of the traveling and spreading nature of the bedbug with each guest.", "[0024] The terms of the contract ( 101 ) also include the understanding of the customer.", "The customer understands the frequency ( 107 ) with which service events will occur, the scope of the services (e.g. area and type of pests to be controlled), the method of payment, and the contract term length.", "The customer will determine the length of time for which it wishes to maintain regular pest management services and quality assurance, for example, a two-year, three-year, or five-year contract.", "The service provider will then provide regularly scheduled service events ( 107 ), plus any additional service events required by the customer, for the length of time chosen by the customer.", "The dates and times for these service events may be selected at the time of the contract ( 101 ) or at another time.", "[0025] Upon expiration of the term of the contract ( 101 ), the customer is no longer covered for pest management services unless it renews ( 108 ) its contract with the service provider.", "If the customer chooses to renew ( 108 ) the contract, then service events will continue uninterrupted at the same interval.", "At this time, the customer may choose to alter the terms of the original contract ( 101 ), for example, by selecting coverage for a different area of the property, or by changing the contract term length.", "If the customer does not wish to renew ( 108 ) the contract, then service events will be discontinued, and the quality assurance seal will be removed ( 109 ) from the property by the service provider.", "[0026] Although this invention has been described above with reference to particular means, materials and embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to these disclosed particulars, but extends instead to all equivalents within the scope of the following claims." ]

[ "[0001] This application is a continuation of Ser.", "No. 10/486,844 filed Sep. 9, 2004 which is a National stage of PCT/US02/26027 filed Aug. 16, 2002, which is a non-provisional of provisional U.S. Application Ser.", "No. 60/312,400, filed Aug. 16, 2001.", "FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The invention relates to the field of cancer.", "In particular it relates to the areas of diagnostics and lung cancer.", "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death worldwide and NSCLC accounts for nearly 80% of the disease (1).", "Based on cell morphology, adenocarcinoma and squamous are the most common types of NSCLC (2).", "Although the clinical courses of these tumors are similar, adenocarcinomas are characterized by peripheral location in the lung and often have activating mutations in the K-ras oncogene (3, 4).", "In contrast, squamous cell carcinomas are usually centrally located and more frequently carry p53 gene mutations (5).", "Furthermore, the etiology of squamous cell carcinoma is closely associated with tobacco smoking while the cause of adenocarcinoma remains unclear (6, 7).", "Although many molecular changes associated with NSCLC have been reported (8, 9), the global gene expression pattern associated with these two most common types of lung cancer has not be described.", "Understanding gene expression patterns in these major tumor types will uncover novel markers for disease detection as well as potential targets for rational therapy of lung cancer.", "[0004] Several technologies are currently being utilized for gene expression profiling in human cancer (10).", "SAGE (11) is an open system that rapidly identifies any expressed transcript in a tissue of interest, including transcripts that had not been identified.", "This highly quantitative method can accurately identify the degree of expression for each transcript.", "Comparing SAGE profiles between the tumor and the corresponding normal tissues can readily identify genes differentially expressed in the two populations.", "Using this method, novel transcripts and molecular pathways have been discovered (12-14).", "In contrast, cDNA arrays represent a closed system that analyze relative expression levels of previously known genes or transcripts (15, 16).", "Because many thousands of genes can be placed on a single membrane or slide for rapid screening, studies have recently demonstrated molecular profiles of several human cancers (17-20).", "[0005] Hierarchical clustering is a systematic method widely used in cDNA array data analysis where the difference between the expression patterns of many genes is generally within a few fold (21).", "We reasoned that because SAGE is highly quantitative, hierarchical clustering might be used to organize gene expression data generated by SAGE from just a few tissue libraries.", "To test this, SAGE tags from two of each libraries derived from primary adenocarcinomas, primary squamous cell carcinomas, normal lung small airway epithelial cells (SAEC), or normal bronchial/tracheal epithelial (NHBE) cells, and a lung adenocarcinoma cell line were used.", "SAGE tags showing the highest abundance were subjected to clustering analysis.", "Although each library was derived from a different individual, normal and tumor samples clustered in two separate branches while tissues of different cell types clustered together.", "Furthermore, SAGE tags clustered into biologically meaningful groups revealing the important molecular characteristics of these two most common NSCLC subtypes.", "BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0006] The present invention provides a method of identifying a lung cancer as squamous cell carcinoma.", "According to the method an amount of a gene product of a gene in a lung cancer sample is determined.", "The gene is selected from the group consisting of: glutathione peroxidase (GPX;", "NM — 002083), glutathione S-transferase M3 (GSTM3;", "NM — 000849), aldoketoreductase family 1, member B 10 (NM — 020299), peroxiredoxin 1 (PRDX1;", "NM — 002574), small proline-rich protein 3 (SPRR3;", "NM — 005416), and TNF receptor superfamily member 18 (TNFRSF18;", "NM004195).", "The amount of the gene product in the lung cancer sample is compared to the amount determined in a lung tissue sample which is non-pathological.", "An increased amount of the gene product in the lung cancer sample relative to the lung tissue sample which is non-pathological identifies the lung cancer as a squamous cell carcinoma.", "[0007] The present invention provides a method of identifying a lung cancer as adenocarcinoma.", "According to the method an amount of a gene product of a small proline-rich protein 3 (SPRR3;", "NM — 005416) gene in a lung cancer sample is determined.", "The amount of the gene product in the lung cancer sample is compared to the amount determined in a lung tissue sample which is non-pathological.", "A decreased amount of the gene product in the lung cancer sample relative to the lung tissue sample which is non-pathological identifies the lung cancer as adenocarcinoma.", "[0008] The invention thus provides the art with a molecular diagnostic to supplement or replace histological features and/or clinical behavior.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0009] FIG. 1A-FIG .", "1 C show clustering and multidimensional scaling of the SAGE libraries.", "Only genes with total tag-counts of at least 10 are included.", "( FIG. 1A ) Cluster of all nine SAGE libraries.", "Genes are aligned horizontally, libraries are shown vertically.", "Red, green and black colors indicate genes expressed at high, low, or moderate levels, respectively, in the indicated library.", "( FIG. 1B ) Dendrogram of clustered libraries.", "( FIG. 1 C) Multidimensional scaling indicating the relatedness of the nine libraries.", "[0010] FIG. 2A-FIG .", "2 C show clustering and multidimensional scaling of the 115 genes differentially expressed (p<0.001) in 9 SAGE libraries.", "( FIG. 2A ) Cluster of the 115 genes (left panel) with 3 main clusters (right panels) consisting of genes overexpressed in squamous cell carcinoma (upper), overexpressed in adenocarcinoma (middle) and underexpressed in adenocarcinoma (lower panel), respectively.", "† Indicates that this tag corresponds to more than one gene of the same family.", "* Indicates that this tag corresponds to more than one distinct gene.", "( FIG. 2B ) Dendrogram of 9 clustered libraries, using 115 differentially expressed genes.", "( FIG. 2C ) Multidimensional scaling of the libraries, using 115 differentially expressed genes.", "Tubulin, beta polypeptide tag (SEQ ID NO:1), ribosomal protein L37 tag (SEQ ID NO:2), gastrointestinal glutathione peroxidase 2 tag (SEQ ID NO:3), transferrin receptor tag (p90, CD71) (SEQ ID NO:4), brain glutathione S-transferase M3 tag (SEQ ID NO:5), carboxylesterase 1 tag (SEQ ID NO:6), aldo-keto reductase family 1 member B 10 tag (SEQ ID NO:7), peroxiredoxin 1 tag (SEQ ID NO:8), interferon, alpha-inducible protein 27 tag (SEQ ID NO:9), major histocompatibility complex, class I, B tag (SEQ ID NO:10), surfactant, pulmonary-associated protein A2 tag (SEQ ID NO: 11), major histocompatibility complex, class II tag (SEQ ID NO:12), immunoglobulin heavy constant mu tag (SEQ ID NO:13), pronapsin A tag (SEQ ID NO:14), surfactant, pulmonary-associated protein B tag (SEQ ID NO: 15), CD74 antigen tag (SEQ ID NO: 16), immunoglobulin lambda locus tag (SEQ ID NO: 17), immunoglobulin heavy constant gamma 3 tag (SEQ ID NO: 18), immunoglobulin alpha 2 tag (SEQ ID NO:19), VPS28 protein tag (SEQ ID NO:20), beta-2-microglobulin tag (SEQ ID NO:21), mucin 1 tag (SEQ ID NO:22), WAF1/CIP1/P21 tag (SEQ ID NO:23), no match tag (SEQ ID NO:24), ribosomal protein L13a tag (SEQ ID NO:25), S100-type calcium binding protein A14 tag (SEQ ID NO:26), keratin 19 tag (SEQ ID NO:27), keratin 17 tag (SEQ ID NO:28), keratin 6A tag (SEQ ID NO:29), keratin 5 tag (SEQ ID NO:30), small proline-rich protein 1B tag (cornifin) (SEQ ID NO:31), keratin 14 tag (SEQ ID NO:32), 14-3-3 sigma tag (SEQ ID NO:33), S100 calcium-binding protein A2 tag (SEQ ID NO:34), keratin 16 tag (SEQ ID NO:35).", "[0011] FIG. 3A-FIG .", "3 B show a comparison of genes under-expressed in adenocarcinoma using Affymetrix GeneChips™ and SAGE libraries.", "( FIG. 3 A) Histogram of normalized SAGE data shows the average relative expression levels of 7 genes that were underexpressed in adenocarcinoma (shown in the lower right panel in FIG. 2C ).", "( FIG. 3 B) Histogram of GeneChip™ data shows the normalized average relative expression levels of the same genes as in FIG. 3A .", "When a GeneChip™ expression value was less than 1, it was set to 1 before normalization.", "Normalization was done in the same manner as for clustering analysis.", "DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [0012] It is a discovery of the present inventors that certain molecular markers can be used to distinguish between the two most common forms of lung cancer: adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma.", "By assessing the expression levels of certain genes in a sample tumor tissue relative to normal, non-pathological lung tissue, one can make a determination of which of these types the cancer represents.", "[0013] Expression of any gene which has been found to be up-regulated or down-regulated in one or more cancer types can be measured.", "According to one preferred embodiment, a lung tissue can be diagnosed, prognosed, or treatment determined by ascertaining an expression pattern of one or more cancer markers.", "Such markers include, but are not limited to glutathione peroxidase (GPX;;", "NM — 002083), glutathione S-transferase M3 (GSTM3;", "NM — 000849), aldoketoreductase family 1, member B 10 (NM — 020299), peroxiredoxin 1 (PRDX1;", "NM — 002574), small proline-rich protein 3 (SPRR3;", "NM — 005416), and TNF receptor superfamily member 18 (TNFRSF18;", "NM004195).", "The amount of the gene product determined in a suspected cancer tissue is compared to the amount of the same gene product in a lung tissue sample which is non-pathological.", "An increased or decreased amount of the gene product in the lung cancer sample relative to the lung tissue sample which is non-pathological identifies the lung cancer by type.", "Using such markers, one can distinguish between squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma of the lung, for example.", "[0014] Either mRNA or protein can be measured as a means of determining up- or down-regulation of a gene.", "Any technique known in the art for measuring such gene products can be used.", "Quantitative techniques are preferred, however semi-quantitative or qualitative techniques can also be used.", "Suitable techniques for measuring gene products include, but are not limited to SAGE analysis, DNA microarray analysis, Northern blot, Western blot, immunocytochemical analysis, and ELISA, [0015] Control samples which can be used according to the present invention include any non-pathological sample of lung tissue.", "These can be isolated from the same individual as the suspected lung sample or from a different individual, whether related or not.", "Suitable cell types include lung small airway epithelial cells as well as bronchial/tracheal epithelial cells.", "EXAMPLES Example 1 Tumors and Cell Lines [0016] Primary lung tumor tissues used for SAGE were obtained from Johns Hopkins Hospital following surgery for lung resection due to cancer, and as previously described (9).", "Histologically, the two squamous tumors were moderately differentiated squamous cell carcinomas while the two adenocarcinomas consisted of a well differentiated and a poorly differentiated tumor with a shared common feature of lymphoplasmacytic infiltrations in the adjacent alveolar septa.", "SAEC and NHBE cells were purchased from Clonetics/BioWhittaker, Inc. (Walkersville, Md.) and propagated following the manufacturer's instruction.", "We chose these two primary cell cultures as normal controls because they represented pure populations of lung epithelial cells from the small and large airways, respectively.", "Tumor RNA samples were either purchased from BioChain Inc. (Hayward, Calif.) or obtained in the same manner as samples used for SAGE (9).", "A549 cells were obtained as a gift from Dr. James Herman (Johns Hopkins Oncology Center).", "Example 2 SAGE Libraries and SAGE Analysis [0017] Total RNA samples were isolated by RNazol B (Tel-Test Inc., Friendswood, Tex.) according to the manufacturer's recommendations.", "Poly (A) + RNA was extracted using the Oligotex mRNA Mini Kit (Qiagen Inc., Valencia, Calif.) and the Dynabeads mRNA DIRECT Kit (Dynal A. S., Oslo, Norway).", "SAGE libraries were generated and the tags sequenced as described (11) (22).", "SAGE 300 software (URL address: http file type, www host server, domain name sagenet.org, directory sage_protocol, subdirectory htm, was used to identify tag sequences and to quantify the abundance of each tag.", "The gene identity and UniGene cluster assignment of each SAGE tag was obtained using the tag-to-gene ‘reliable’ map (updated Apr. 23, 2001) from URL address: http file type, www host server, domain name ncbi.", "nlm.", "nih.gov, directory pub, subdirectory SAGE, subsubdirectory map and the table of UniGene clusters (updated May 23, 2001), from URL address: http file type, www host server, domain namencbi.", "nlm.", "nih.gov, directory UniGene.", "Example 3 Normalization and Hierarchical Clustering Analysis [0018] The “Cluster 2.11”", "program (URL address: http file type, domain name rana.", "lbl.gov,) was used for normalization and clustering of the SAGE data.", "Briefly, the normalization included logarithmic transformation of the data, followed by 10 cycles of centering the data on the median by samples, then by genes, each time scaling the sum of the squares in each sample and each gene to 1.", "The non-centered Pearson correlation was used for distance calculations and the weighted-average linkage was used for clustering as described (21).", "Example 4 Multidimensional Scaling of Normal Lung and Tumor Samples [0019] A classical multidimensional scaling method was used to determine the relatedness of each library analyzed by SAGE (23).", "Each sample was used to generate a unique library.", "A table of normalized expression levels for each gene in every library was used as a dissimilarity matrix.", "Normalization was performed using the “Cluster 2.11”", "program, as described above.", "Multidimensional scaling allows for the calculation of coordinates of objects if the distances between objects are known.", "The distances between the samples were calculated as 1−C nm , where C nm was the correlation coefficient between libraries n and m. The distance matrix spans an N-dimensional space, where N is the number of libraries in the study.", "Principal Component Analysis (23) was used to best fit the libraries into a 3-dimensional realm for presentation purposes.", "Example 5 Statistical Analysis [0020] The p-chance analysis [available in the SAGE 300 software and described in (21) was used to select genes most differentially expressed between each tumor and its corresponding normal controls.", "P-chance uses the Monte-Carlo method (24) to calculate the relative probability of detecting an expression difference equal to, or greater than, the observed expression difference between two samples by chance alone.", "For each tumor type, one of the two tumor libraries was first compared with the two corresponding normal libraries to select genes with a p-chance value of <0.001.", "At this p-chance, the false positive rate for all selected genes was <0.015.", "We next selected only those genes with consistent expression patterns in both tumor libraries of the same cell type and combined them with genes selected from the other tumor type using the same method.", "Example 6 Real-Time Quantitative PCR Analysis [0021] Five genes identified by SAGE as highly expressed in either adenocarcinomas or squamous cell carcinoma were analyzed by Real-time reverse transcription (RT)-PCR using 14 RNA samples from lung tumors and controls (25).", "The Real-time RT-PCR probes and primers were designed using Primer Express software (PE Biosystems, Foster City, Calif.).", "Primer sequences and reaction conditions are described in the supplemental material.", "The relative expression of each gene was calculated as the ratio of the average gene expression levels for tumors of the same cell type compared to its corresponding normal.", "Example 7 Gene Expression Analysis Using GeneChip™ [0022] GeneChip™ U95A probe arrays were obtained from Affymetrix Inc.(Santa Clara, Calif.).", "A total of 32 RNA samples were individually prepared, hybridized to the GeneChip™, and scanned by a Hewlett-Packard (HP) GeneArray™ scanner as recommended by the manufacturer.", "Six internal GeneChip™ standards, β-actin, 18S rRNA, 28S rRNA, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, transferrin receptor, and the transcription factor ISGF-3, were used as controls to ensure the quality of all samples tested.", "Example 8 SAGE of NSCLC [0023] A total of nine independent SAGE libraries were generated from five different normal and tumor tissues.", "A total of 18,300 independent clones were sequenced to generate 374,643 tags that represented 66,501 distinct transcripts (Table 1).", "Of the 23,056 distinct tags that appeared more than once in all nine libraries combined, 18,595 tags had at least one match to a UniGene cluster, 4,907 tags had multiple matches, 4,319 tags had no match, and 142 tags matched to mitochondrial DNA or ribosomal RNA sequences.", "Accounting for 7% potential sequencing errors (21) in tags that appeared only once in all nine libraries, the total number of distinct transcript tags identified is about 59,000.", "Although this number exceeds the current estimate of 30,000 to 40,000 genes predicted in the human genome (26, 27), the discrepancy could be accounted for by alternatively spliced transcripts and polyadenylation usage sites, which can result in multiple SAGE tags for the same gene (28, 29).", "Alternatively, since our transcript analysis was done on a limited number of tissues, it is possible that the current gene estimates are low.", "[0000] TABLE 1 SAGE in NSCLC and normal lung bronchial epithelial cells.", "Tissue Source No. Clones No. Tags Normal Human Bronchial Epithelial Cells-1 3759 58,273 (NHBE-1) Normal Human Bronchial Epithelial Cells-2 4046 59,885 (NHBE-2) Normal Small Airway Epithelial Cells-1 838 21,318 (SAEC-1) Normal Small Airway Epithelial Cells-2 1299 26,956 (SAEC-2) Squamous Cell Carcinoma-A 2259 56,817 Squamous Cell Carcinoma-B 2186 51,901 Adenocarcinoma-A 799 21,714 Adenocarcinoma-B 928 24,018 Adenocarcinoma cell line A549 2186 53,752 Total Number 18,300 374,634 Summary: No. unique libraries = 9 No. unique tags = 66,502 No. of unique tags that appear >1 = 23,056 No. matched to unique UniGene cluster = 18,652 Example 9 Hierarchical Clustering of Tumor and Normal Lung Tissues Based on SAGE [0024] To identify genes that are differentially expressed between the tumors and the normal samples, as well as between the different tumor types, we examined the overall similarities of the libraries derived from each tissue using hierarchical clustering (22).", "Since expression differences for more commonly expressed genes are less likely to have been observed by chance, a collection of 3,921 SAGE tags appearing at least 10 times in all nine libraries was subjected to the clustering analysis.", "Although each sample was derived from a different individual and had a unique expression pattern ( FIG. 1A ), the normal tissues were more similar to each other and the tumor tissues were more alike as a group.", "Furthermore, the SAEC and NHBE samples each paired together under the normal branch, while the adenocarcinomas and the squamous cell tumors each clustered together under the tumor branch ( FIG. 1B ).", "The adenocarcinoma-derived A549 cell line branched with the NSCLC tumors and demonstrated its relatedness to the two adenocarcinomas in multi-dimensional scaling (23), which displays the spatial relationship of all nine samples with respect to one another ( FIG. 1C ).", "[0025] Because gene expression levels were represented by a tag-count for each transcript detected in the SAGE libraries, we used the Monte-Carlo simulation (24) to quantify the significance of gene expression differences between the tumor libraries and the two corresponding normal epithelial cell controls.", "At a p<0.001, fifty-eight genes were selected when comparing the two adenocarcinomas to the two SAEC samples, and 71 genes were obtained by comparison of the squamous cell carcinomas to the NHBE cells.", "Because 14 genes were common to both of comparisons, we therefore identified 115 highly differentially expressed transcripts for both tumor types (Table 1, List of genes in Supplemental Material ).", "As expected, when subjected to hierarchical clustering, these 115 genes again separated the nine libraries into the exact same branching patterns (FIG.", "2A) as with the nearly 4,000 genes described above.", "Once again, the A549 cell line branched with the tumor tissues and was located closest to the two adenocarcinomas by multi-dimensional scaling ( FIG. 2B ).", "Example 10 Biologically Distinct Clusters of Genes in Different NSCLC Subtypes [0026] The clustering of the 115 statistically significant genes revealed at least three distinct gene clusters that were highly characteristic of the tumor tissues analyzed ( FIG. 2C ).", "Genes most highly expressed in squamous carcinomas of the lung ( FIG. 2C , upper panel) were characterized by transcripts encoding proteins with detoxification and antioxidant properties.", "These genes include glutathione peroxidase 2 (GPX2), glutathione S-transferase M1 (GSTM1), carboxylesterase, aldo-keto reductase, and peroxiredoxin 1 (PRDX1).", "Their presence in squamous cell lung cancers most likely represented cellular response by the bronchial epithelium to environmental carcinogenic insults (30, 31).", "The clustering of these overexpressed genes highlight the notion that functional variation of these proteins in the population may contribute to lung cancer susceptibility in some patients.", "In addition, GSTM1 is a known susceptibility marker for lung and oral cavity cancer (32).", "It has also been associated with breast (33) and ovarian cancers (34).", "Interferon alpha-inducible protein 27 is also shown to be overexpressed in 50% of breast cancers (35).", "[0027] In contrast, the cluster of genes overexpressed in lung adenocarcinoma ( FIG. 2C , middle panel) mostly encoded small airway-associated proteins and immunologically related proteins.", "The presence of surfactants A2 and B, pronapsin A, and mucin1 in the cluster reflects the origin of tumors derived from small airway epithelial cells, such as type 2 pneumocytes and Clara cells (36, 37).", "However, high expression of these genes also suggested that these proteins may participate in the tumorigenesis of lung adenocarcinomas.", "Indeed, mucin1 is also overexpressed in breast cancers and tyrosine phosphorylation of the CT domain of MUC 1 mucin leads to activation of a mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway through the Ras-MEK-ERK2 pathway (38, 39).", "Furthermore, the overexpression of immunoglobulin genes in adenocarcinomas examined may be explained by the extent of B-cell infiltration and the presence of antigen presenting cells (APC) in the adenocarcinomas used for SAGE analysis.", "However, clustering analyses of the SAGE tags revealed that different tumor types preferentially expressed a different set of cell surface markers.", "Squamous cell cancers appeared to overexpress MHC class I and CD71 proteins ( FIG. 2C upper panel), while adenocarcinomas had a relatively high expression of MHC class II and CD 74 antigens.", "This gene expression differences in tumors indicated that immuno-based cancer therapy might be augmented based on the expression of different tumor surface markers.", "[0028] No unexpected, many of the genes underexpressed in the primary adenocarcinomas and the A549 adenocarcinoma cell line ( FIG. 2C , lower panel) were those that are associated with squamous differentiation.", "These proteins include S100 proteins, keratins, and the small proline-rich protein 1B (Cornifin).", "Interestingly, two p53-inducible genes, 14-3-3% (Stratifin) (40) and p21 waf1/CIP1 (41, 42), clustered with this group of genes, showing significantly reduced expression in adenocarcinomas.", "Both p21 waf1/CIP1 and 14-3-3% are highly induced in cells treated with ionizing radiation and other DNA damaging agents in a p53-dependent manner (43, 44).", "Induction of these genes by p53 leads to cell cycle arrest (45).", "The p53 gene is frequently mutated in squamous carcinomas of the lung, and it is thought that mutations in p53 may contribute to the inability of lung epithelial cells to repair carcinogen-induced damage (46).", "In contrast, p53 mutations are observed much less frequently in lung adenocarcinomas (5).", "The reduced expression of both p21 waf1/CIP1 and 14-3-3α gene transcripts in adenocarcinomas suggests that inactivation of genes in the p53-pathway play an important role in this lung tumor type as well.", "However, reduced expression of an mRNA may not always correlate with a reduction of the gene product.", "Further studies correlating the molecular status of p53 with the expression of the encoded proteins are needed to assess the involvement of p53 and its downstream genes in the development of lung adenocarcinoma.", "Example 11 Other Genes Differentially Expressed in NSCLC [0029] It is important to note that the 115 highly differentially expressed genes we have identified only represented a set of genes whose differential expression could distinguish the molecular characteristics of each cell type as well as the neoplastic condition in the lung.", "Clearly, additional genes with biological significance to NSCLC could also be identified depending on the statistical method and the level of significance chosen.", "For example, when all tags that showed consistent expression within the libraries of the same cell type were compared to identify genes differentially expressed with a 99% confidence level, a larger number of candidate genes were identified.", "Specifically, 827 tags showed statistically significant differential expression between the squamous cell carcinomas and the NHBEs, with 71 tags showing at least 10-fold overexpression.", "A similar comparison of the two adenocarcinoma tumor libraries and the SAECs identified 298 tags showing differential expression, with 20 tags overexpressed at least 10-fold in the tumors.", "Jointly, 45 tags were differentially expressed in both comparisons and these genes were either a part of or further extended the observations revealed by the 115 genes.", "For example, small proline rich protein 3 (SPRR3) was elevated in the squamous tumors but was virtually absent in the adenocarcinomas.", "SPRR3 is a member of the small proline rich family of proteins which includes SPRR1 (Cornifin), a gene previously identified as a marker for squamous cell carcinoma (47) and is within the same cluster for genes underexpressed in adenocarcinomas ( FIG. 2C lower panel).", "SPRR3 is a member of the proteins in the cornified cell envelope that help provide a protective barrier to the epidermal layer of cells (48).", "Reduced expression of this family of proteins in adenocarcinoma may contribute to the invasive properties of this cancer.", "Moreover, several members of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) family of proteins and their receptors have demonstrated increased expression in various cancers including NSCLC (49).", "Our statistical analysis of the SAGE data revealed that expression of the TNF receptor superfamily member 18 gene was increased in squamous cell tumors in addition to the detoxification and antioxidation genes.", "TNF promotes T-cell mediated apoptosis (50) and elevated expression of genes in this pathway may provide a mechanism for anti-proliferation of the tumor cells.", "Example 12 Quantitative PCR and GeneChip™ cDNA Oligoarray Analyses of Additional NSCLC Tumors [0030] Because SAGE libraries were derived from only selected tumor tissues, it was essential to determine whether gene expression patterns derived from SAGE could be reproduced in larger panel lung tissues using independent assays.", "A total of 43 additional tumor and normal samples were examined using either quantitative real-time PCR or cDNA arrays methods.", "Five genes observed by SAGE as highly overexpressed in either squamous or adenocarcinomas of the lung (listed in FIG. 2C ) were examined by Real-time RT-PCR using 10 different NSCLC tumors and four normal controls.", "As shown in Table 2, Real-time RT-PCR indicated that the two squamous-tumor specific genes had consistently high expression ratios in this tumor type compared to its expression in adenocarcinomas.", "Similarly, the three adenocarcinoma-specific genes had consistently higher expression in this tumor type and much less in squamous cell cancers compared to the normal.", "[0000] TABLE 2 Real-time quantitative PCR analysis of SAGE-identified genes.", "No. of SAGE tags in library* Ave.", "RT-PCR † Spec.", "Tag Accession Description N1 N2 S1 S2 Sq A Sq B Ad A Ad B Sq/N Ad/S Sq GGTGGTGTCT X53463 Glutathione peroxidase 2 4 2 0 1 58 41 0 0 11 2 (SEQ ID NO: 3) (GPX2) Sq GCCCCCTTCC AF241229 TNF receptor superfamily 0 1 0 0 11 8 0 0 38 5 (SEQ ID NO: 36) member 18 Ad GAAATAAAGC Y14737 Ig heavy constant gamma 0 0 0 0 5 1 293 23 1 17 (SEQ ID NO: 18) 3 Ad GTTCACATTA AI248864 CD74 antigen 0 1 0 1 9 2 86 21 31 93 (SEQ ID NO: 16) Ad GGGCATCTCT J00196 Major histocompatibility 0 0 0 0 1 1 51 19 275 1800 (SEQ ID NO: 12) complex, class II Expression of the listed genes was examined in 14 samples, including five squamous cell tumors, four adenocarcinomas, one tumor with adenosquamous morphology, two NHBE culturesand two SAEC cultures.", "The actual number of tag occurrences in the indicated SAGE library is provided.", "† The average expression of each gene was calculated for the four distinct cell types, and the ratio of differential expression is indicated.", "Ad - Adenocarcinoma, Sq = squamous cell carcinoma, N = MHBL, S = SAEC, Spec.", "= Tumor specificity based on SAGE.", "[0031] In order to survey the overall reliability of the molecular clustering obtained from lung SAGE libraries, we used GeneChip™ cDNA oligoarray (15, 16) to survey 32 tumor and normal samples (including three samples used in Real-time PCR) for relative gene expression.", "Only 51 of 115 highly differentially expressed transcript tags were present in the 12,000 element GeneChip™ (U95A), and 20 of 35 genes from the three main clusters (shown in FIG. 2C ) were comparable by both SAGE and the cDNA array.", "The gene expression levels for these 20 genes were averaged among all tumors of the same cell type and compared to that of the corresponding normal samples.", "Nineteen of 20 genes displayed an expression pattern similar to those obtained by SAGE.", "The expression patterns for the cluster of genes down-regulated in adenocarcinomas are shown ( FIGS. 3A and 3B ).", "These results indicate that hierarchical clustering of the SAGE libraries can reveal gene clusters with strong biological significance and support the notion that the highly quantitative and reproducible nature of SAGE can result in highly precise tissue classification and reliable gene clustering, using only a few tissue samples.", "Furthermore, because SAGE method is independent of the knowledge of the gene sequence or the probe hybridization condition, it allows for an unbiased identification and quantification of gene expression patterns in the tissues of interest.", "The use of SAGE can offer the opportunity to identify novel genes and molecular markers [0032] In summary, we have used SAGE and hierarchical clustering analysis to identify molecular profiles and clusters of genes specifically associated with two of the most common types of human lung cancer.", "Although biologically significant and highly reproducible, the gene expression profile described here may only represented the basic molecular features from which adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma of the lung can potentially be distinguished.", "Histological features and clinical behavior of the tumor may depend on less pronounced changes in expression levels for a variety of genes and pathways.", "Nevertheless, cumulating evidence suggests that gene expression patterns most likely determine the clinical behavior and therapeutic response of the cancer (19, 51).", "The list of highly differentially expressed genes that we described will likely provide new molecular targets for improved diagnosis, prognosis, and rational therapy.", "The analyses for the expression of these in a larger number of lung tumors with detailed clinical information and outcome will be help to accomplish this goal.", "[0033] While the invention has been described with respect to specific examples including presently preferred modes of carrying out the invention, those skilled in the art will appreciate that there are numerous variations and permutations of the above described techniques that fall within the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.", "REFERENCES [0000] 1.", "AmericanCancerSociety (2001) Cancer Facts and Figures.", "2001, Atlanta Ga.).", "Travis, W. 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[ "CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS The present application is a divisional patent application of U.S. patent application Ser.", "No. 10/195,057 filed on Jul. 12, 2002.", "This application hereby claims priority of United Kingdom Patent Application No. 0116990.3 filed on Jul. 12, 2001, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety and U.S. patent application Ser.", "No. 10/195,057 filed on Jul. 12, 2002, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.", "FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an improved diebond strip.", "More specifically, the present invention relates to a Titanium alloy diebond strip which can be used to both attach and remove a laser die from a substrate.", "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A known diebond strip is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 .", "The strip 5 is typically an elongated rectangular shaped thin piece of graphite with a centrally located hole 20 and two further holes 22 , 24 located at opposite edges of the strip.", "The diebond strip is typically 1 mm thick approximately 15 mm wide and 54 mm long.", "Typically a component to be attached to a substrate is placed over central hole 20 and held in place with vacuum pressure.", "The component is placed on the substrate using various known designs of ceramic tooling attached around the strip.", "The strip is heated by connecting a low voltage, high current supply to holes 22 and 24 .", "These holes also function as a means of retaining the strip in place during the diebond process.", "Currently, semiconductor laser die are mounted to a substrate by heating up an assembly in order to re-flow a preform of solder and allow the semiconductor laser die to be attached to the substrate.", "This process generates heat by passing a low voltage, high current supply along the die bond strip.", "With reference to FIG. 3 , the semiconductor laser die 1 , also know as a chip, in attached to a submount 2 .", "The entire assembly 10 is heated via graphite strip 5 to a point where the solder preform 4 between the submount and the substrate reflows and attaches the chip-on-submount 2 to the substrate 3 .", "However, a technical problem exits with this know process in that the temperature must not be sufficient to compromise the joint between the chip and its submount.", "Thus, accurate and consistent temperature control is required.", "Current methods of attaching the chip-on-submount to the substrate do not use any active control on the graphite diebond strip.", "Instead, the system uses thermocouples 31 , 32 as seen in FIG. 4 , and periodically checks to ensure the temperature remains within set parameters.", "Another technical problem associated with the current system is maintaining the contact between the thermocouple and the diebond strip, as the thermocouple cannot be attached reliably to the diebond strip.", "The position and contact of the thermocouple are maintained by using springs 33 , 34 .", "As a result, the control is based on the perceived temperature at the junction of the strip and thermocouple.", "Any variation in this junction can result in a variation of as much as 50° C., without any apparent change in the system.", "Furthermore, the current system incorporates a parallel thermocouple system.", "Thus, if both thermocouples showed similar results, the system is considered to be “in balance”", "and ready for use.", "Any imbalance between the two thermocouples required the system to be re-balanced.", "Yet another technical problem associated with the current diebond strip is that, due to the nature of graphite, it is difficult to press a thermocouple against the strip without the strip being flexed in some way.", "This reduces the effectiveness of the vacuum for the retention of the substrate on the strip, and compromises the transfer of heat energy from the strip to the substrate.", "Pressing the thermocouple against the strip also reduces efficiency of the thermocouple.", "In addition, from the first time that the graphite strip is used, the strip begins to deteriorate.", "This is partially due to the processing of parts on the strip and causes an increase in the resistance of the strip.", "As the strip's effectiveness is reduced, and the process time gradually increases.", "This can be slightly compensated for by increasing the power to the strip.", "However, the current diebond strip must still be replaced approximately every 3 months.", "SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to overcome or at least mitigate the above mentioned technical problems.", "According to the present invention there is provided a strip for use in diebonding a component to a substrate, the strip comprising a central region having a reduced cross section compared to extremities of the strip.", "The strip may have a stepped cross section.", "Alternatively, the strip may have a tapered cross section.", "The strip is preferably made of an alloy, such as Titanium alloy.", "According to the present invention, there is also provided a method for bonding a component to a substrate using a strip comprising a central region having a reduced cross section compared to the extremities of the strip, the method comprising the steps of disposing the substrate proximate the central region of the strip, disposing the component on the substrate, heating the strip to a predetermined temperature sufficient to cause solder disposed between the component and the substrate to reflow, and cooling the strip thereby causing said solder to bond the component to the substrate.", "According to the present invention, there is also provided a method for removing a component bond to a substrate using a strip comprising a central region having a reduced cross section compared to the extremities of the strip, the method comprising the steps of disposing the substrate having the component bonded thereto proximate the central region of the strip, heating the strip to a predetermined temperature sufficient to cause solder disposed between the component and the substrate to reflow and break the bond, and removing the component from the substrate.", "While the principle advantages and features of the invention have been described above, a greater understanding and appreciation of the invention may be obtained by referring to the drawings and detailed description of a preferred embodiments, presented by way of example only, in which;", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a top planar view of a diebond strip according to the prior art;", "FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional side view of the diebond strip according to FIG. 1 ;", "FIG. 3 is a side view of a semiconductor laser die according to the prior art;", "FIG. 4 is a schematic representation of the mounting of the semiconductor laser die according to FIG. 3 to a substrate via thermocouples;", "FIG. 5 shows a top view of the diebond strip according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 6 shows a side view of the strip shown in FIG. 5 , FIG. 7 shows the chip-on-submount and substrate located on the diebond strip shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 , FIG. 8 shows a more detailed view of FIG. 7 , FIG. 9 shows an alternative embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 10 shows yet another alternative embodiment of the present invention.", "DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In FIG. 5 the diebond strip 50 is shown comprising a centrally located hole 51 to which a vacuum can be applied in order to temporarily hold a substrate in place.", "Electrical connection is made to the strip at electrical connection points 52 , 53 .", "As in the prior art, these points also function as a means for retaining the strip in place during processing.", "The strip is preferably made of an alloy and most preferably made of Titanium alloy.", "The strip is heated by passing electrical current through the strip in much the same manner as with known graphite strips.", "However, as can be clearly seen in FIG. 6 , the diebond strip according to the present invention has a reduced cross section at the central region 70 of the strip then at the edge region 56 .", "This cross sectional reduction leads to an increase in the resistance of the strip, and consequently, and increase in the temperature for a given power supply.", "Located at the center of the strip is a thermocouple 60 .", "The thermocouple is preferably welded to the strip.", "The weld is used, rather then a spring contact, as it allows for more accurate reading of the temperature of the strip due to an improved and more permanent contact being made between the strip and the thermocouple.", "As a result, better control of the system is achieved.", "As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 , this central region of the strip labeled 70 is where the chip-on-submount and substrate are located.", "The chip on submount and substrate are essentially the same as those used in the prior art and shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 above.", "Thus parts appearing in FIGS. 7 and 8 which also appear in FIGS. 3 and 4 bear identical numerical designation.", "Advantageously, heat applied to the diebond strip according to the present invention is now concentrated in the central area 70 and is not distributed throughout the strip, thus increasing the efficiency of the strip.", "The diebond strip according to the present invention does not have a complex setup, as was associated with the known graphite strip.", "Thus better confidence can be placed in the control loop to maintain the required temperatures.", "Furthermore, Titanium is hard wearing material.", "Thus, whereas the graphite strip typically lasts a few months, the Titanium diebond strip will last years.", "The Titanium strip has a faster response than the graphite strip.", "This allows for a reduced process time, as the strip does not take as long to reach temperature and, as a result, will heat the substrate to soldering temperatures in a fraction of the time than was possible with the previously known strip.", "Thus, advantageously, less power is required to run the strip at the required temperatures.", "The stepped design of the present invention allows for a variation in the resistance along the strip.", "This allows the extremities of the strip to remain comparatively cool, and the central “working”", "area 70 to be running at the required temperature.", "The system setup is simplified due to the use of only one thermocouple.", "This means that greater confidence can be placed on the measured temperature, and consequently, greater control, and stability can be expected from the process.", "The thermocouple 60 is spot welded to the strip as opposed to being held in place by spring pressure, meaning greater confidence can be placed in the displayed temperature.", "Also, by welding the thermocouple in place, the thermocouple does not deform the strip.", "Preferably, the strip is wire EDM (Electro-Discharge Machining) machined, and is produced with no curvature.", "This results in good contact being made between the substrate 3 and the strip 50 yielding better thermal conduction, and retention by the vacuum.", "FIG. 9 shows an alternative to the stepped strip design shown in the preferred embodiment.", "Here the diebond strip 90 only has a single step 91 from the thicker edge region 56 to the thinner central region 70 .", "FIG. 10 shows yet a further alternative, in which the diebond strip 100 is tapered from the thicker edge region 56 towards the thinner central region 70 .", "Due to an increase in the control and reliability of the strip, a new process has been developed.", "The diebond strip according to the above described embodiments allows not only a better method of placing the components onto a substrate, but also for a method of removing a component already bonded to a substrate.", "Thus, a laser chip can be removed from the substrate using the diebond strip according to the present invention.", "Currently production yield rate for mounting a chip-on-submount to a substrate is low.", "This low yield is due to a variety of factors including laser chip failure and problems with other components in the final assembly.", "It is desirable to be able to reclaim any functioning components from the failed assembly and reuse them in another assembly.", "Thus, the ability to reclaim laser chips or other components which are still functional from a failed assembly can result in a significant production cost savings.", "It is not intended that the present invention be limited to the above embodiments and other modifications and variations are envisaged within the scope of the claims." ]

[ "FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to centrifugal pumps, and more particularly, to centrifugal pumps intended for use in high performance, turbine powered aircraft.", "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION It has long been desirable to employ high speed centrifugal pumps as fuel pumps in aircraft employing turbine engines.", "Fuels used in aircraft turbine engines are typically of low lubricity and centrifugal pumps are ideally suited for pumping such liquids without excessive wear, particularly if the fuel itself may be used as a lubricant thereby eliminating circuits for lubricating oil.", "As can be imagined, when a lubricating oil circuit is avoided, pump weight, volume, and complexity are all reduced.", "In many cases, for a given pumping capacity at rated engine speed, a centrifugal pump will occupy a considerably lesser volume than a typical positive displacement pump used for the same purpose.", "Usually, this reduction in volume will translate into a weight savings as well.", "As the reduction of the size of the envelope occupied by a given component is reduced, the aircraft designer is provided with greater flexibility in achieving an aerodynamically slippery design.", "Consequently, a smaller envelope made possible by reduced size of a component raises the potential for more efficient operation of aircraft through the reduction in drag.", "At the same time, the accompanying weight reduction enables aircraft range to be increased.", "The weight carrying capability of the aircraft heretofore devoted to transporting a positive displacement fuel pump can, in part, be used to increase fuel carrying capacity and/or other pay loads.", "Notwithstanding the foregoing, centrifugal pumps as fuel pumps in turbine powered aircraft have not yet received an appreciable degree of utilization for the purpose.", "Conventional centrifugal volute pumps do not have the ability to provide fuel flow at high pressure at low engine speeds, particularly during engine starting sequences.", "Moreover, many high performance aircraft today include components, such as nozzles, that are altered during engine operation to achieve a change in performance.", "These alterations are conventionally achieved hydraulically and it is not unusual for pressures of the hydraulic fluid to be at a level of approximately 2500 psig.", "While this can be obtained through the use of hydraulic circuits using conventional hydraulic fluids, to eliminate complexity and for other obvious reasons, modern day aircraft employ fuel at high pressure as the hydraulic fluid since it is continually being consumed by the engine and therefore is not subject to coking as would be the case with conventional hydraulic oils in separate hydraulic circuits.", "As one might well imagine, when changes in engine geometry are required to change aircraft performance, virtually immediate response to a command for geometry alteration is required.", "This cannot be achieved using conventional centrifugal volute pumps operating at engine speed with the consequence that other means must be employed, adding complexity, weight and component volume to the aircraft.", "The present invention is directed to overcoming one or more of the above problems.", "SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is the principal object of the invention to provide a new and improved pump.", "More specifically, it is an object of the invention to provide an all centrifugal pump for use as a fuel pump in turbine powered aircraft and which is capable of responding substantially instantaneously to the requirement for highly pressurized fuel needed to alter engine geometry at high performance, turbine powered aircraft.", "An exemplary embodiment of the invention achieves the foregoing objects in a construction that includes a centrifugal volute pump having a fuel inlet and a fuel outlet along with a regenerative pump having a fuel inlet and a fuel outlet.", "The fuel outlet of the centrifugal volute pump is connected to the fuel inlet of the regenerative pump and a valve is provided for blocking flow from the centrifugal volute pump to the regenerative pump.", "A first pressure regulator is connectable to the regenerative pump outlet for maintaining pressure thereat at a relatively low elevated level and a second pressure regulator is connected to the regenerative pump outlet for maintaining pressure thereat at a relatively high elevated level.", "Means are provided for selectively disabling the first pressure regulator.", "As a consequence of this construction, the regenerative pump is operable to provide fuel pressures of adequate elevation even at low engine speeds as during start up while, at normal operating engine speeds such as engine idle and above, fuel under adequate pressure is provided by the centrifugal volute pump.", "While the regenerative pump is disabled by having flow from the centrifugal volume pump thereto blocked.", "When it is necessary to provide fuel at a relatively high elevated pressure, as, for example, to operate engine geometry changing, fuel operated hydraulic systems, the regenerative pump may be reenabled to provide fuel at highly elevated pressures.", "In one embodiment of the invention, at least one of the regulators is a pressure relief valve.", "In a preferred embodiment, an ejector is provided and means are included for selectively connecting the ejector to the regenerative pump.", "Thus, when the regenerative pump is disabled, the ejector may be utilized to evacuate the same to avoid any build-up of fluid under pressure therein as well as to eliminate the need for any expenditure of pumping energy on fluid contained therein.", "In a highly preferred embodiment, the means for selectively connecting the ejector to the regenerative pump comprises a valve having a pressure responsive surface connected to the centrifugal volute pump outlet to be responsive to the pressure thereat.", "In a highly preferred embodiment, a pump housing is included and the same includes first and second cavities.", "A shaft is journalled in the housing and is located in the cavities.", "First and second impellers are located within respective ones of the cavities and on the shaft.", "The first cavity and first impeller define the centrifugal volume pump and the second cavity and second impeller define the regenerative pump.", "In one embodiment of the invention, the blocking valve is a pressure responsive valve and the system further includes a first means responsive to the pressure at the centrifugal volute pump outlet for closing the blocking valve when a predetermined pressure is achieved and a second means responsive to a signal requiring the generation of high fuel pressures for overriding the first means.", "Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following specification taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.", "DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a schematic of a fuel pressurization and pumping system for use with a turbine engine and made according to the invention;", "and FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a pump used in the invention.", "DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT An exemplary embodiment of a pumping system made according to the invention is illustrated in FIG. 1 and with reference thereto is seen to include a pump, generally designated 10, having a shaft 12, connected to be driven by a turbine engine 14 at speeds typically in the range of 25,000-40,000 RPM.", "To this end, the shaft 10 is journalled within a housing, generally designated 16 (FIG.", "2) by first and second hydrostatic bearings, generally designated 18 and 20, respectively.", "The bearings 18 and 20 may be of the form disclosed in the commonly assigned application of Cygnor, et al.", ", (assignee's internal docket number B05209-AT3-USA) entitled "High Speed Self-Lubricated Fuel Pump With Hydrostatic Bearings", Ser.", "No. 08/970,850, filed Nov. 19, 1997, (attorneys docket number 875.00240), the entire disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference.", "For present purposes it is sufficient to note that the bearings 18 and 20 are connected to receive the outlet pressure of the pump 10 so that as pump speed increases, centering pressure of the fluid at the bearings 18, 20 is likewise increased.", "Furthermore, because pump outlet pressure is utilized, the bearings 18 and 20 are lubricated by the pumped fluid itself, namely fuel, such that the pump 10 does not require a separate hydraulic fluid lubricating system.", "Long life and lightweight are accordingly obtained.", "The pump 10 includes two pumping stages.", "A first includes a conventional, centrifugal volute pump, generally designated 24, provided with an appropriate inducer configuration 26 which may be of conventional configuration and a fuel inlet 28.", "The centrifugal volute pump 24 includes an impeller 30 mounted on the shaft 12 for rotation therewith along with a peripheral volute 32 which serves as the outlet for the centrifugal volute pump 24.", "It is to be noted that the centrifugal volute pump 24 acts as the main stage of the pump 10.", "On the opposite side of the bearing 18, and between the bearings 18 and 20, there is located a conventional regenerative pump, generally designated 34.", "The regenerative pump 34 may be of the configuration disclosed in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 5,096,386, issued Mar. 17, 1992 to Kassel and No. 5,265,996, issued Nov. 30, 1993 to Westhoff, et al.", "The entire disclosures of both such patents are herein incorporated by reference.", "As is well known, a regenerative pump will pump fluid at 21/2-3 times the head of a similar centrifugal volute pump and thus the presence of the regenerative pump 34 provides a means whereby adequate fuel pressures may be obtained even at extremely low engine speeds such as 10% engine speed, as are encountered during starting procedures.", "As will be seen, the regenerative pump 34 is also used to substantially instantaneously provide extremely high fuel pressures that are required for operating engine geometry altering, fuel operated hydraulic systems.", "Schematically illustrated in FIG. 1 at 36 is an inlet to the regenerative pump.", "An outlet is schematically shown at 38.", "The volute 32 of the centrifugal volute pump 24 is connected via a filter 40 to a line 42 which extends to a check valve 44.", "A junction 46 at the downstream side of the check valve 44 may be connected to a point of use of the fuel such as engine combustors, engine augmenters (afterburners), or engine geometry alternating, fuel operated hydraulic systems.", "The line 42 is also connected via a line 48 to a normally opened, pressure responsive inlet shut off valve 50 for the regenerative pump 34.", "That is to say, the valve 50 will normally be maintained in an open condition by an internal spring 52 until such time as a fluid pressure is applied against an internal fluid pressure responsive surface 54.", "When the latter is pressurized, the valve 50 will close interrupting fluid communication between the volute 32 and the inlet 36 of the regenerative pump 34.", "However, when pressure is not applied to the surface 54, the valve 50 will be opened by action of the spring 52 and the volute 32 will be connected to the inlet 36 so that fuel pumped by the centrifugal volute pump 24 will be applied to the inlet 36 of the regenerative pump 34.", "The outlet 38 of the regenerative pump 34 is connected to a pressure regulating valve 56 by a line 58.", "The pressure regulating valve 56 is typically set to open at a value that will maintain a pressure differential across the regenerative pump 34 of about 200 psi.", "When the pressure regulating valve 56 opens, excess fuel is passed on a line 60 back to the inlet of the inducer 26 of the centrifugal volute pump 24.", "The function of the valve 56 is to assure adequate pressure for sequences such as starting sequences.", "The outlet 38 is connected to the upstream side of a check valve 62 whose downstream side is adapted to be connected to those engine geometry alternating, fuel operated hydraulic systems that require extremely high pressures, i.e., 2500 psi.", "It is also connected via a line 64 to a pressure responsive spool valve 66.", "The normal position of the spool valve is that illustrated in FIG. 1 and when such is the case, the outlet 38 of the regenerative pump 34 is connected to the junction 46 to provide fuel under pressure thereto at a value of about 200 psi greater than the pressure at the inlet 36.", "An ejector line 68 is also connected to the valve 66.", "The valve 66 may connect the line 68 to a line 70 which in turn extends to the ejector inlet 72 of a conventional ejector, generally designated 74.", "The ejector 74 includes a pressure fluid inlet 76 and an ejector outlet 78, the latter being connected to the inlet of the inducer stage 26 of the centrifugal volute pump 24.", "The pressure fluid inlet 76 is connected to a source of pressure within the centrifugal volute pump 24 and as is well known, fluid under pressure will flow from the inlet 76 the outlet 78 through a chamber, typically including a venturi-like configuration, which will cause a reduced pressure at the location of the ejector fluid inlet 72.", "As a consequence of this construction, the low pressure at the ejector 74 may be applied to the outlet 38 of the regenerative pump 34 to thereby evacuate any fluid therein.", "The line 42 is also connected via a line 80 to the pressure responsive surface 82 of the valve 66 as well as to a line 84 for purposes to be seen.", "The system includes a further spool valve, generally designated 90, which might be termed a high pressure fuel hydraulic transition valve.", "As seen in FIG. 1, it is shown in it's low pressure condition and the same includes a spool having a pressure responsive surface 92.", "The surface 92 is adapted to receive a pilot signal on a line 94 which may come from any suitable source.", "The pilot signal on the line 94 will be applied when it is desired to cause the system to enter the high pressure mode to generate extremely high fuel pressures to achieve alteration of engine geometry.", "As can be seen from FIG. 1, in the low pressure position illustrated, the valve 90 allows connection of the line 70 to the ejector 72.", "Conversely, when a high pressure signal is received on the line 94, the resulting shifting of the spool of the valve 90 will disable the ejector 72 by cutting it off from it's connection to the outlet 38 of the regenerative pump 34.", "The valve 90 also controls the application of pressure on a line 96 which is connected to the pressure responsive surface 54 of the regenerative pump inlet shut-off valve 50.", "Specifically, the valve 90 controls the connection of the line 96 to a line 98 which in turn may be connected via the valve 66 to the line 42 at a junction 100.", "The junction 100 is also connected to the pressure relief valve 56.", "In addition, the valve 90 may connect the line 96 to a line 102 which can be connected to both the line 98 and the junction 100 via the valve 66 when conditions require.", "FIG. 2 shows in somewhat greater detail, the mechanical construction of the pump 10.", "For example, the impeller 30 is seen to discharge through a diffuser 110 to the volute 32.", "The shaft 12 is seen to be a single shaft mounting both the impeller 30 within a pumping cavity 112 and the impeller 114 of the regenerative pump 34 within a cavity 116.", "The cavity 116 is, in part, defined by a pair of side plates 118 having peripheral channels 120.", "Inlet and outlet paths, separated by a baffle in the channels 120 as is conventional are illustrated at 122 and 124 respectively.", "The system includes a second fuel pressure regulator 130 which is connected to the outlet 38.", "This regulator 130 is set to regulate outlet pressure at an approximately 2500 psi pressure differential and as a consequence, fuel at this high pressure may flow through the check valve 62 to the high pressure fuel operated hydraulic systems of the aircraft.", "When such high pressure fuel is not required, the signal 94 is removed and the valve 90 returns to the position illustrated in FIG. 1, halting the flow of fuel to the inlet 36 of the regenerative pump 34 and again connecting the ejector 72 to the outlet 38.", "Operation is generally as follows.", "In normal operation, the turbine engine 14 will be operating at at least idle speed or greater and the centrifugal volute pump 24 will be providing fuel at an elevated pressure sufficient for normal engine operations on the line 42 from which the fuel may be conveyed to the various engine systems mentioned previously.", "This will result in pressurized fuel being applied against the pressure responsive surface 82 of the valve 66 which will shift from the position illustrated.", "This will, in turn, block the connection of the regenerative pump outlet 38 to the junction 46 via the line 64.", "It will also cause the outlet 38 to be connected via the lines 66 and 70 to the ejector 72 to evacuate the regenerative pump 34 to prevent pressure build-up therein and to avoid the wasting of pump energy.", "The line 80, via the line 84, will also be connected to the line 98.", "With the valve 90 in it's low pressure position as illustrated in FIG. 1, this means pressurized fuel from the volute 32 will be applied to the line 96 and ultimately to the pressure responsive surface 54 to close the regenerative pump inlet valve 50 so that no additional fluid can be admitted thereto while the evacuation is going on.", "In summary, then, normal engine operations will be provided with fuel at the pressure at the outlet 34 with the regenerative pump 34 being effectively cut-out of and isolated from the remainder of the system.", "In the event there becomes a demand for high pressure fuel to operate fuel operated hydraulic systems for altering engine geometry or the like, a signal is applied on the line 94 to shift the valve 90 from the position illustrated in FIG. 1. Communication between the lines 98 and 96 will be immediately halted, relieving the application of pressure to the pressure responsive surface 54 of the regenerative pump inlet shut-off valve 50 allowing the same to open under the influence of the spring 52.", "Fuel under pressure from the volute 32 will now be applied to the inlet 36 of the regenerative pump 34.", "At the same time, fluid communication between the ejector 74 and the lines 70 and 68 will be halted, meaning that the ejector will cease evacuating the regenerative pump 34.", "As a consequence, the regenerative pump 34 will be enabled and inasmuch as all will be occurring at a time when the centrifugal volute pump 24 is producing adequate fuel pressure for normal engine operations, it will be readily appreciated that the regenerative pump 34 will almost instantaneously provide fuel at extremely high pressure sufficient to operate fuel operated hydraulic systems.", "For that to occur, however, the fuel regulator 56 must remain closed and this is accomplished by it's connected to the junction 100 whereat the pressure at the volute 32 is sufficient to maintain the fuel regulating valve 56 in a closed position.", "At the same time, the regulator 130 acts to regulate the fuel pressure differential at the desired level, typically 2500 psi.", "It will be readily recognized that with the pump of the present invention, energy is not expended to generate high fuel pressures except on those occasions when demanded as indicated by the presence of the signal 94.", "In the start mode, both of the valves 66 and 90 are in the position illustrated.", "As the turbine 14 is cranked, as by an appropriate starter, the shaft 20 will begin to rotate.", "At this point, and perhaps up to 10% or 12% of rated speed, the pressure differential across the inlet 28 and the volute 32 of the centrifugal volute pump 24 will only be a couple of psi's.", "Nonetheless, because the regenerative pump inlet valve 50 is normally open, fuel will be provided to the inlet 36 of the regenerative pump 34.", "Because the pump 34 is a regenerative pump, it will be immediately capable of providing a pressure differential of 200 lbs per square inch even at low percentages of rated speed as are encountered during starting.", "As shaft speed 12 increases, the pressure is maintained substantially constant at the desired differential through operation of the pressure regulating valve 56.", "At this point in time, it will be appreciated that the pressure at the junction 100, which mirrors that at the volute 32 will remain relatively low and insufficient to lock the valve 56 in a closed position until substantial speeds are obtained.", "As pressure begins to increase with increasing shaft speed, the valve 66 will transition to the run mode.", "Specifically, increasing pressure on the line 80 will begin to shift the spool of the valve 66 to the left as viewed in FIG. 1 in response to the application of increasing pressure on the pressure responsive surface 82.", "The valve 66 will begin to throttle flow between the line 64 and junction 46 to provide a smooth transition as the check valve 44 opens in response to the increasing pressure on the line 42.", "As the valve 66 continues to shift to the left, it will cause the regenerative pump inlet valve 50 to close as a consequence of outlet pressure of the pump 24 being applied from the junction 100 through the valve 66 to the line 94, through the valve 90 to the line 96 and then to the pressure responsive surface 54 of the regenerative pump inlet valve 50.", "The valve 66 is constructed to achieve the foregoing sequence as well as to thereafter cause complete closing of the connection between the line 64 and the junction 46, thereby shutting off the regenerative pump 34 from the engine.", "At the next stage of the sequence, the valve 66 will begin to connect the line 68 to the line 70 so that the ejector 74 may evacuate the regenerative pump 34.", "That being accomplished, the valve 66 connects the junction 100 to the line 84 which has the effect of raising the pressure applied to the regulator valve 56 sufficiently so that it is locked shut to be maintained closed even when the system shifts into the high pressure mode.", "From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that a system made according to the invention advantageously employs centrifugal pumps for their benefits in terms of long life, reduced weight and reduced volume.", "Moreover, the same operates efficiently, requiring pumping energy for high pressure only when high pressure is demanded by the system." ]

[ "RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser.", "No. 09/772,200 filed Jan. 29, 2001, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/184,365 filed on Feb. 23, 2000.", "The entire teachings of the above applications are incorporated herein by reference.", "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1.", "Field of the Invention [0003] The present invention generally relates to the field of data communications and processing and, more particularly, to a method for encoding/decoding data channels in a CDMA system having data channel interference cancellation.", "[0004] 2.", "Description of the Related Art [0005] Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) modulation is a multi-user access transmission scheme in which different users of the same transmission medium overlap both in frequency and in time.", "This is in contrast to Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA) in which users overlap in time, but are assigned unique frequencies, and Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) in which users overlap in frequency, but are assigned unique timeslots.", "According to CDMA, each user is assigned a unique code sequence that allows the user to spread its information over the entire channel bandwidth, as opposed to particular sub-channel(s) in FDMA.", "Thus, signals from all users are transmitted over the entire channel.", "To separate out the signals for a particular user at a receiver, cross correlation is performed on the received signal using the same unique user code sequence.", "[0006] CDMA transmission is well known to those of skill in the art.", "A comparison between CDMA and FDMA/TDMA may be found in Proakis, “Digital Communications”, Chapter 15, which is incorporated herein by reference.", "Also, an example of a combined approach for minimizing inter-user interference (i.e., combining a Walsh basis within a group and a spreading sequence across groups) is the IS-95 system described in TIA/EIA/IS-95 “Mobile Station Compatibility Standard for Dual Mode Wideband Spread Spectrum Cellular System”, which is incorporated herein by reference.", "[0007] An IS-95 CDMA system is unique in that its forward and reverse links (i.e., the base station to mobile station and mobile station to base station) have different link structures.", "This is necessary to accommodate the requirements of a land-mobile communication system.", "The forward link consists of four types of logical channels, i.e., pilot, sync, paging, and traffic channels, with one pilot channel, one sync channel, up to seven paging channels, and several traffic channels.", "Each of these forward-linked channels is first spread orthogonally by its Walsh function, and then spread by a pair of short PN sequences (so-called pseudonoise) each of which is a sequence of high data rate bits (“Chips”) ranging from −1 to +1 (polar) or 0 to 1 (non-polar).", "Subsequently, all channels in the system are added together to form the composite spread spectrum signal which is transmitted on the forward link.", "[0008] The reverse link in the IS-95 CDMA system consists of two types of logical channels, i.e., access and traffic channels.", "Each of these reverse-link channels is spread orthogonally by a unique long PN sequence;", "hence each channel is recovered or decoded using the distinct long PN code.", "In some instances, a pilot channel is not used on the reverse link based on the impracticality of each mobile station broadcasting its own pilot sequence.", "Additionally, the IS-95 CDMA system uses 64 Walsh functions which are orthogonal to each other (i.e., their cross-product is equal to zero), and each of the logic channels on the forward link is identified by its assigned Walsh function.", "The Walsh function is used to generate a code which is used to separate individual users occupying the same RF band to avoid mutual interference on the forward link.", "The access channel is used by the mobile station to communicate with the base station when a traffic channel is not assigned to the mobile station.", "The mobile station uses the access channel to generate call originations and respond to pages and orders.", "The baseband data rate of the access channel is fixed at 4.8 kilobits per second (Kbps).", "[0009] The pilot channel is identified by the Walsh function 0 (ω 0 ).", "This channel contains no baseband sequence information.", "The baseband sequence is a stream of 0s which are spread by Walsh function 0, which is also a sequence of all zeros.", "The resulting sequence (still all 0s) is then spread or multiplied by a pair of quadrature PN sequences.", "Therefore, the pilot channel is effectively the PN sequence itself.", "The PN sequence with a specified offset uniquely identifies the particular geographical area or sector from which the user is transmitting the pilot signal.", "In an IS-95 CDMA system, both Walsh function 0 and the PN sequence operate at a rate of 1.2288 mega chips per second (Mcps).", "After PN spreading, baseband filters are used to shape the resultant digital pulses.", "These filters effectively lowpass filter the digital pulse stream and control the baseband spectrum of the signal.", "As a result, the signal band possesses a sharper roll-off near the band edge.", "The pilot channel is transmitted continuously by the base station sector.", "The pilot channel provides the mobile station with timing and phase reference.", "The measurement of the signal-to-noise ratio of the pilot channel by the mobile station also provides an indication of the strongest serving sector of that mobile.", "Here, the signal-to noise is the energy per chip per interference density, or E c /I 0 where E c is the energy per chip and I 0 is the interference density.", "[0010] Unlike the pilot channel, the sync channel carries baseband information.", "The baseband information is contained in the sync channel message which notifies the mobile of information concerning system synchronization and parameters.", "Similar to the sync channel, the paging channel also carries baseband information.", "However, unlike the sync channel, the paging channel transmits at a higher rate, i.e., at either 4.8 or 9.6 Kbps.", "[0011] The forward and reverse traffic channels are used to transmit user data and voice;", "signaling messages are also sent over the traffic channel.", "The structure of the forward traffic channel is similar to that of the paging channel, while the structure of the reverse traffic channel is similar to that of the access channel.", "The only difference is that the forward traffic channel contains multiplexed power control bits (PCBs) and the reverse traffic channel contains a data burst randomizer which is used to generate a masking pattern of 0s and 1s to randomly mask redundant data.", "[0012] The techniques for separating signals in time (i.e., TDMA), or in frequency (i.e., FDMA) are relatively simple ways of ensuring that the signals are orthogonal and noninterfereing.", "However, in CDMA, different users occupy the same bandwidth at the same, but are separated from each other via the use of a set of orthogonal waveforms, sequences, or codes.", "Two real-valued waveforms x and y are said to be orthogonal if their cross correlation R xy over time period T is zero, where R xy ⁡ ( 0 ) = ∫ 0 T ⁢ x ⁡ ( t ) ⁢ y ⁡ ( t ) ⁢ ⅆ t ( Eq .", "⁢ 1 ) In discrete time, the two sequences x and y are orthogonal if their cross-product R xy (0) is zero.", "The cross product is defined as R xy ⁡ ( 0 ) = x T ⁢ y T = ∑ i = 1 I ⁢ x i ⁢ y i ⁢ ⁢ where ⁢ ⁢ x T = [ x 1 x 2 ⁢ ⁢ … ⁢ ⁢ x i ] ⁢ ⁢ y T = [ y 1 y 2 ⁢ ⁢ … ⁢ ⁢ y i ] ( Eq .", "⁢ 2 ) In this case, T denotes the vector transpose, i.e., a column represented as a row or vice versa.", "For example, the following two sequences or codes, x and y are orthogonal: x T =[−1−111] y T =[−111−1] because their cross-correlation is zero;", "that is R xy (0)= x T y T =(−1)(−1)+(−1)(1)+(1)(1)+(1)(−1) (Eq.", "3) In order for the set of codes to be used in a multiple access scheme, additional properties are required.", "That is, in addition to the zero cross-correlation property, each code in the set of orthogonal codes must have an equal number of 1s and −1s.", "This property provides each particular code with the required pseudorandom characteristic.", "An additional property is that the dot product of each code scaled by the order of the code must equal to 1.", "The order of the code is effectively the length of the code, and the dot product is defined as a scalar obtained by multiplying the sequence by itself and summing the individual terms.", "This is given by the following relationship: R xx ⁡ ( 0 ) = x T ⁢ x = ∑ i = 1 I ⁢ x i ⁢ x i ( Eq .", "⁢ 4 ) [0013] The increasing use of wireless telephones and personal computers has led to a corresponding demand for such advanced telecommunications techniques as CDMA, FDMA and TDMA, which were once thought to be only meant for use in specialized applications.", "In the 1980's wireless voice communication became widely available through the cellular telephone network.", "Such services were at first typically considered to be the exclusive province of the businessman because of high subscriber costs.", "The same was also true for access to remotely distributed computer networks, whereby until very recently, only business people and large institutions could afford the necessary computers and wireline access equipment.", "As a result of the widespread availability of both technologies, the general population now increasingly wishes to not only have access to networks such as the Internet and private intranets, but also to access such networks in a wireless manner as well.", "This is of particular concern to the users of portable computers, laptop computers, hand-held personal digital assistants and the like who prefer to access such networks without being tethered to a telephone line.", "[0014] However, there is still no widely available satisfactory solution for providing low cost, broad geographical coverage, high speed access to the Internet, private intranets, and other networks using the existing wireless infrastructure.", "This situation is a result of several factors.", "For one, the typical manner of providing high speed data service in the business environment over the wireline network is not readily adaptable to the voice grade service which is available in most homes or offices.", "Additionally, such standard high speed data services do not lend themselves well to efficient transmission over standard cellular wireless handsets.", "Furthermore, the existing cellular network was originally designed only to deliver voice services.", "As a result, the emphasis in present day digital wireless communication schemes lies with voice, although certain schemes such as CDMA do provide some measure of asymmetrical behavior for the accommodation of data transmission.", "For example, the data rate on an IS-95 forward traffic channel can be adjusted in increments from 1.2 Kbps to up to 9.6 Kbps for so-called Rate Set 1, and for increments from 1.8 Kbps up to 14.4 Kbps for Rate Set 2.", "[0015] Existing systems therefore typically provide a radio channel which can accommodate maximum data rates only in the range of 14.4 Kbps at best in the forward direction.", "Such a low rate data channel does not directly lend itself to transmitting data at rates of 28.8 or even 56.6 Kbps which are now commonly available with conventional modem type equipment.", "Data rates at these levels are rapidly becoming the minimum acceptable rates for activities such as Internet access.", "Other types of data networks using higher speed building blocks such as Digital Subscriber Line (xDSL) service are just now coming into use.", "However, the cost of xDSL service has only recently been reduced to the point where it is attractive to the residential customer.", "[0016] Although xDSL and Integrate Services Digital Network (ISDN) networks were known at the time that cellular systems were originally deployed, for the most part, there is no provision for providing higher speed ISDN or xDSL grade data services over cellular networks.", "Unfortunately, in wireless environments, access to channels by multiple subscribers is expensive and there is competition for them.", "Whether the multiple access is provided by the traditional FDMA using analog modulation on a group of radio carriers, or by the newer digital modulation schemes which permit sharing of a radio carrier using TDMA or CDMA, the nature of the radio spectrum is that it is a medium which is expected to be shared.", "This is quite different from the traditional environment for data transmission, in which the wireline medium is relatively inexpensive to obtain, and is therefore not typically intended to be shared.", "Accordingly, it is apparent that there is a need to provide a system which supports higher speed ISDN or xDSL grade data services over cellular network topologies.", "In particular, what is needed is an efficient scheme for supporting wireless data communication such as from portable computers to computer networks such as the Internet and private intranets using widely available infrastructure.", "[0017] Most modern wireless standards in widespread use such as CDMA do not provide an adequate structure with which to support the most common activities, such as web page browsing.", "In the forward and reverse link direction, the maximum available channel bandwidth in an IS-95 type CDMA system is only 14.4 Kbps.", "Due to IS-95 being circuit-switched, there are only a maximum of 64 circuit-switched users that can be active at one time.", "In practicality, this limit is difficult to attain, and 20 or 30 simultaneous users are typically active at one time.", "Furthermore, existing CDMA systems require certain operations before a channel can be used.", "For example, both access and traffic channels are modulated by so-called long code pseudonoise (PN) sequences.", "In addition, in order for the receiver to work properly it must first be synchronized with the transmitter.", "The setting up and tearing down of user channels therefore requires overhead to perform such synchronization.", "This overhead results in a reduction of the system data rate which produces a noticeable delay to a user of a subscriber unit.", "Moreover, in the presence of benign cell conditions, the data rate of a conventional CDMA system may become limited by the number of available orthogonal code channels.", "SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0018] The present invention is directed to a method for encoding/decoding data channels in a system having data channel interference cancellation.", "In accordance with the invention, the data rate of a system for a given user is increased by using a non-orthogonal pilot signal for channelization.", "As a result, one or more orthogonal channels become available for user traffic, rather than for use by the pilot channel.", "This leads to a reduction in the number of occupied orthogonal channels and an increase in system capacity available for each user due to the attainment of higher data rates which permit faster data delivery to system subscribers.", "[0019] The use of a non-orthogonal pilot signal requires interference cancellation to remove the modulation effects of the pilot signal upon the data signal.", "This is accomplished by regenerating interference terms with respect to the non-orthogonal pilot signal and subtracting them from the demodulated data signal.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0020] The present invention may be more readily understood by one skilled in the art with reference being had to the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments thereof, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein like elements are designated by identical reference numerals throughout the several views, and in which: [0021] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a wireless communication system which uses interference cancellation on the pilot channel in accordance with the invention;", "[0022] FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of a CDMA transceiver for implementing the method in accordance with the present invention;", "[0023] FIG. 3 is an illustration of a pilot/data spreader of FIG. 2 ;", "[0024] FIG. 4 is an illustration of a data despreader of FIG. 2 ;", "[0025] FIG. 5 is an illustration of a pilot despreader of FIG. 2 ;", "[0026] FIG. 6 is an illustration of an interference cancellor of FIG. 2 ;", "[0027] FIG. 7 is an illustration of a dot product calculator of FIG. 2 ;", "and [0028] FIGS. 8A and 8B are flow charts illustrating the steps of the method according to the invention.", "DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [0029] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a wireless communication system 100 which uses data channel interference cancellation to remove unwanted non-orthogonal pilot signal components present within the data signal.", "This results in a reduction in the number of occupied orthogonal channels and an increase in system capacity.", "This yields an increase in the system data rate which results in a reduction of the delay experienced by the user of the subscriber unit.", "As a result, high speed data and voice service over a wireless connection is achieved.", "[0030] The system 100 includes two different types of components, such as subscriber units 101 - 1 , 101 - 2 , .", ", 101 - u (collectively, the subscriber unit 101 ) and one or more base stations 170 .", "The subscriber units 101 and base stations 170 cooperate to provide the functions necessary to provide wireless data services to a portable computing device 110 such as a laptop computer, portable computer, personal digital assistance (PDA) or the like associated with a subscriber unit 101 .", "The base station 170 also cooperates with the subscriber units 101 to permit the ultimate transmission of data to and from the subscriber unit 101 and the public switch telephone network (PSTN) 180 .", "More particularly, data and/or voice services are also provided by the subscriber unit 101 to the portable computer 110 as well as one or more devices such as telephones.", "The telephones themselves may in turn be connected to other modems and computers which are not shown in FIG. 1 .", "[0031] The subscriber unit 101 itself may include a modem, such as an ISDN modem 120 , a device referred to herein as a protocol converter 130 which performs various functions including spooling 132 and bandwidth management 134 , CDMA transceiver 140 , and subscriber unit antenna 150 .", "The various components of the subscriber unit 101 may be realized in discrete devices or as an integrated unit.", "For example, an existing conventional ISDN modem 120 such as is readily available from any number of manufacturers may be used together with existing CDMA transceivers 140 .", "In this case, the necessary additional functions may be provided entirely by the protocol converter 130 which may be sold as a separate device.", "Alternatively, the ISDN modem 120 , protocol converter 130 and CDMA transceiver 140 may be integrated as a complete unit and sold as a single subscriber unit device 101 .", "Other types of interface connections such as Ethernet or PCMCIA may be used to connect the computing device to the protocol converter 130 .", "The device may also interface to an Ethernet interface rather than an ISDN “U”", "interface.", "[0032] The ISDN modem 120 converts data and voice signals between the format used by the terminal equipment 110 and the format required by the standard ISDN “U”", "interface.", "The U interface is a reference point in ISDN systems that designates a point of the connection between the network termination (NT) and the telephone company.", "[0033] The protocol converter 130 performs spooling 132 and basic bandwidth management 134 functions.", "In general, spooling 132 consists of insuring that the subscriber unit 101 communicates with the terminal equipment 110 which is connected to the public switched telephone network 180 on the other side of the base station 170 at all times.", "The bandwidth management function 134 is responsible for allocating and deallocating CDMA radio channels 160 as required.", "Bandwidth management 134 also includes the dynamic management of the bandwidth allocated to a given session by dynamically assigning sub-portions of the CDMA radio channels 160 .", "The CDMA transceiver 140 accepts the data from the protocol converter 130 and reformats the data into the appropriate form for transmission through the subscriber unit antenna 150 over CDMA radio link 160 - 1 .", "The CDMA transceiver 140 may operate over only a single 1.25 MHz radio frequency channel, or may be tunable over multiple allocatable radio frequency channels.", "[0034] CDMA signal transmissions from the subscriber units 101 are received and processed by the base station equipment 170 .", "The base station equipment 170 typically includes multichannel antennas 171 , multiple CDMA transceivers 172 and a bandwidth management function 174 .", "Bandwidth management 174 controls the allocation of CDMA radio channels 160 and subchannels, in a manner analogous to the subscriber unit 101 .", "Transceiver 172 demodulates the received CDMA signals, and the base station 170 couples the demodulated radio signals to the PSTN 180 in a manner which is well known in the art.", "For example, the base station 170 may communicate with the PSTN 180 over any number of different efficient communication protocols such as primary rate ISDN, or other LAPD based protocol such as IS-634 or V5.2.", "[0035] It should also be understood that data signals travel bidirectionally across the CDMA radio channels 160 .", "In other words, data signals received from the PSTN 180 are coupled to the portable computer 110 in a forward link direction, and data signals originating at the portable computer 110 are coupled to the PSTN 180 in a reverse link direction.", "[0036] Each of the CDMA transceivers such as transceiver 140 in the subscriber unit 101 , and transceivers 172 in the base station 170 , are capable of being tuned at any given point in time to a given 1.25 Megahertz radio frequency channel.", "It is generally understood that such 1.25 MHz radio frequency carrier provides, at best, a total equivalent of about 500, 600 kbps maximum data rate transmission within acceptable bit error rate limitations.", "[0037] FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of CDMA transceivers 140 , 172 of the wireless communication system 100 for implementing the method according to the present invention.", "Specifically, FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a transmitter portion of a transceiver 140 and a receiver portion of transceiver 172 .", "Initially, pilot spreader 201 is used to modulate a non-orthogonal pilot signal such that the pilot signal is spread over an entire channel bandwidth.", "Concurrently, data spreader 204 is used to spread data over the same channel bandwidth.", "The spread pilot and data signals are then combined to form a composite signal S(t) which is transmitted to base station 170 for despreading by pilot despreader 202 and data despreader 205 , respectively.", "The despreaders 202 , 205 are used to recover the non-orthogonal pilot signal and the data signal, respectively, from the transmitted composite signal S(t).", "The outputs of the pilot despreader 202 and data despreader 205 are fed to an interference canceller 203 which is used to remove interference introduced into the data signal by the non-orthogonal pilot signal.", "Once the interference from the non-orthogonal pilot signal is removed by the interference canceller 203 , the original data is recovered via dot product calculator 206 and output for later processing by a communications system (not shown).", "[0038] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a pilot/data spreader 201 and 204 of FIG. 2 which are used to modulate the non-orthogonal pilot and data signals such that they are spread over an entire channel bandwidth.", "At nodes 201 a and 201 b of the pilot spreader 201 , a non-orthogonal pilot signal P is modulated by a channel code p c , which is used to uniquely identify the transmitted pilot signal P. At nodes 204 a and 204 b of the data spreader 204 , a data signal which is split into sub-band data I and Q is mixed with a signal g i which represents a specific channel code of a user (I and Q represent the in-phase and quadrature portions of the data signal, respectively).", "At node 201 c / 204 c , the output signal from node 201 a is summed with the output signal from node 204 a to produce a resultant signal.", "Simultaneously, at node 201 d / 204 d , the output signal from node 204 b is summed with the output signal from node 201 b to produce a resultant signal.", "[0039] At nodes 201 e / 204 e and 201 f / 204 f , the resultant signals are each modulated by a PN code a. Next, in order to provide baseband or phase discrimination between the I and Q sub-band portions of the data signal, the output signals of nodes 201 e / 204 e and 201 f / 204 f are modulated (i.e., spread) by channel separation signals w I and w Q , respectively, at nodes 201 g / 204 g and 201 h / 204 h , respectively.", "In this case, the channel separation signals w I and w Q belong to a family of orthogonal functions such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,460,992 to Gutleber, which is incorporated herein by reference as if set forth expressly.", "Each respective channel separation signal spreads the in-phase portion and quadrature portion of the data signal to produce composite signals.", "At the nodes 201 i / 204 i and 201 j / 204 j , the respective composite output signals from nodes 201 g / 204 g and 201 h / 204 h are subsequently modulated by respective cosine and sine functions (i.e., cos(wt+θ) and sin(wt+θ)).", "The output signals from nodes 201 i / 204 i and 204 j / 201 j are then summed to form a composite signal S(t) given by the following relationship: S ( t )= Pap c w I cos( wt +θ)+ Pap c w Q sin( wt +θ)+ I n aw I g i cos( wt +θ)+ Q n aw Q g i sin( wt +θ) (Eq.", "5) [0040] The signal given by the relationship in equation 5 is transmitted to base station 170 which contains a data despreader 205 (see FIG. 6 ) for use in the demodulation of the transmitted composite signal S(t) to recover the original data signal.", "[0041] FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram of a data despreader 205 which is used in the recovery of the originally transmitted data signal.", "In the data despreader 205 shown in FIG. 4 , the signal S(t) given in equation 5 is initially decoded by demodulating S(t) by cos(wt) and sin(wt) at nodes 205 a and 205 b , respectively to produce resultant output signals.", "Next, at nodes 205 c and 205 d , the resultant output signals from nodes 205 a and 205 b are demodulated by the PN code a. The output signals of nodes 205 c and 205 d are each demodulated by the channel separation function w Q at nodes 205 f and 205 g , respectively.", "Concurrently, the output signal of node 205 c is demodulated by the channel separation function w, at node 205 e , while at node 205 h the output signal of node 205 d is demodulated by a channel separation function −w I which is a complex conjugate of the channel separation function w I .", "The output signals of nodes 205 e , 205 f , 205 g and 205 h are respectively demodulated at nodes 205 i , 205 j , 205 k and 205 l by the channel code of a user g i .", "[0042] Given two codes A and B of length n, an integration and dump function occurs when the lengths of the codes are matched, multiplied together, integrated and the result output for further processing.", "In this manner, an integration and dump function is then performed at nodes 205 m - 205 p , respectively, upon the output signals of nodes 205 i - 205 l to obtain the following relationships: ∑ N ⁢ ( P I ⁡ ( t ) + S I ⁡ ( t ) ) ⁢ aw Q ⁢ g i = N 2 ⁢ Q n ⁢ sin ⁡ ( θ ) + 1 2 ⁢ ∑ N ⁢ Pg i ⁢ p c ⁢ sin ⁡ ( θ ) + 1 2 ⁢ ∑ N ⁢ pg i ⁢ p c ⁢ w I ⁢ w Q ⁢ cos ⁡ ( θ ) ( Eq .", "⁢ 6 ) ∑ N ⁢ ( P I ⁡ ( t ) + S I ⁡ ( t ) ) ⁢ aw I ⁢ g i = N 2 ⁢ I n ⁢ cos ⁡ ( θ ) + 1 2 ⁢ ∑ N ⁢ Pg i ⁢ p c ⁢ cos ⁡ ( θ ) + 1 2 ⁢ ∑ N ⁢ Pg i ⁢ p c ⁢ w I ⁢ w Q ⁢ sin ⁡ ( θ ) ( Eq .", "⁢ 7 ) ∑ N ⁢ ( P Q ⁡ ( t ) + S Q ⁡ ( t ) ) ⁢ a ⁡ ( - w i ) ⁢ g i = N 2 ⁢ I n ⁢ sin ⁡ ( θ ) + 1 2 ⁢ ∑ N ⁢ Pg i ⁢ p c ⁢ sin ⁡ ( θ ) - 1 2 ⁢ ∑ N ⁢ Pg i ⁢ p c ⁢ w I ⁢ w Q ⁢ cos ⁡ ( θ ) ( Eq .", "⁢ 8 ) ∑ N ⁢ ( P Q ⁡ ( t ) + S Q ⁡ ( t ) ) ⁢ aw Q ⁢ g i = N 2 ⁢ Q n ⁢ cos ⁡ ( θ ) + 1 2 ⁢ ∑ N ⁢ Pg i ⁢ p c ⁢ cos ⁡ ( θ ) - 1 2 ⁢ ∑ N ⁢ Pg i ⁢ p c ⁢ w I ⁢ w Q ⁢ sin ⁡ ( θ ) ( Eq .", "⁢ 9 ) where each summation term in equations 6-9 represents interference due to the pilot signal which must be removed to accurately reconstruct the originally transmitted data signal, and each N in the summation is the processing gain.", "[0043] FIG. 5 is an illustration of the pilot despreader 202 which is used to recover the originally transmitted pilot signal P. To accomplish this, the transmitted composite signal S(t), given by the relationship in equation 14, is demodulated by cosine and sine functions (i.e., cos(ωt) and sin(ωt)) at nodes 202 a and 202 b .", "Next, the output signals from nodes 202 a and 202 b are demodulated by the PN code a at nodes 202 c and 202 d , respectively.", "The output signals from nodes 202 c and 202 d are each demodulated by the channel separation function w Q at nodes 202 f and 202 g , respectively.", "Concurrently, the output signal of node 205 c is demodulated by the channel separation function w I , at node 202 e , while at node 202 h the output signal of node 202 d is demodulated by the channel separation function −w I .", "The output signals of nodes 202 e , 202 f , 202 g and 202 h are respectively demodulated at nodes 202 i , 202 j , 202 k and 202 l by the channel code p c which is used to uniquely identify the transmitted pilot signal P. After demodulating the output signals of nodes 202 i - 202 l , the integration and dump function is performed to obtain the output signals given by the following relationships at nodes 205 m , 205 n , 205 o and 205 p , respectively ∑ N ⁢ ( P I ⁡ ( t ) + S I ⁡ ( t ) ) ⁢ aw I ⁢ p c = N 2 ⁢ P ⁢ ⁢ cos ⁡ ( θ ) + 1 2 ⁢ ∑ N ⁢ I n ⁢ g i ⁢ p c ⁢ cos ⁢ ⁢ θ + 1 2 ⁢ ∑ N ⁢ Q n ⁢ g i ⁢ p c ⁢ w i ⁢ w Q ⁢ sin ⁡ ( θ ) ( Eq .", "⁢ 10 ) ∑ N ⁢ ( P I ⁡ ( t ) + S I ⁡ ( t ) ) ⁢ aw Q ⁢ p c = N 2 ⁢ P ⁢ ⁢ sin ⁡ ( θ ) + 1 2 ⁢ ∑ N ⁢ Q n ⁢ g i ⁢ p c ⁢ sin ⁢ ⁢ θ + 1 2 ⁢ ∑ N ⁢ I n ⁢ g i ⁢ p c ⁢ w i ⁢ w Q ⁢ cos ⁡ ( θ ) ( Eq .", "⁢ 11 ) ∑ N ⁢ ( P Q ⁡ ( t ) + S Q ⁡ ( t ) ) ⁢ a ⁡ ( - w I ) ⁢ p c = N 2 ⁢ P ⁢ ⁢ sin ⁡ ( θ ) + 1 2 ⁢ ∑ N ⁢ I n ⁢ g i ⁢ p c ⁢ sin ⁢ ⁢ θ - 1 2 ⁢ ∑ N ⁢ Q n ⁢ g i ⁢ p c ⁢ w i ⁢ w Q ⁢ cos ⁡ ( θ ) ( Eq .", "⁢ 12 ) ∑ N ⁢ ( P Q ⁡ ( t ) + S Q ⁡ ( t ) ) ⁢ aw Q ⁢ p c = N 2 ⁢ P ⁢ ⁢ cos ⁡ ( θ ) + 1 2 ⁢ ∑ N ⁢ Q n ⁢ g i ⁢ p c ⁢ cos ⁢ ⁢ θ - 1 2 ⁢ ∑ N ⁢ I n ⁢ g i ⁢ p c ⁢ w i ⁢ w Q ⁢ sin ⁡ ( θ ) ( Eq .", "⁢ 13 ) where N is the processing gain.", "[0045] As shown in FIG. 5 , four output signals are generated which each contain interference as a result of the demodulation process.", "Equations 10-13 represent the output signal at nodes 202 m , 202 n , 202 o and 202 p , respectively.", "In this case, the eight summation terms in equations 10-13 represent the interference added to the pilot signal as a result of the demodulation process.", "At node 202 q , the output signals from nodes 202 m and 202 o are subsequently subjected to an additional integration and dump function, while the integration and dump function is performed on the output signals from nodes 202 n and 202 p at node 202 r .", "As a result, the signals are filtered such that the interference is removed and the originally transmitted pilot signal P is recovered.", "[0046] Along with the output of the pilot despreader 202 , the output of the data despreader 205 is provided to an interference canceller 203 shown in FIG. 6 .", "The output of the pilot despreader is fed to the input of the interference canceller 203 , and the output of the interference canceller 203 is subtracted from the output of the data despreader 205 in a manner which is known to yield I and Q sub-band data signals which do not contain interference associated with the pilot signal P. [0047] The interference canceller 203 shown in FIG. 6 is used to remove the interference associated with the pilot signal P which is introduced into the data signal during the demodulation process.", "The interference added to the data signal is represented by the summation terms in the relationships given in equations 6-9.", "To remove the interference from the despread data signals, the Pcos(θ) and Psin(θ) inputs of the interference canceller 203 are each modulated by the channel code p c at nodes 203 a and 203 b , respectively.", "Next, the output signals of nodes 203 a and 203 b are each modulated by the group user channel code g i .", "At this point, an integration of the output signals of nodes 203 c and 203 d is performed to yield respective first and second interference terms given by the following relationships: P ⁢ ⁢ cos ⁡ ( θ ) 2 ⁢ ∑ N ⁢ g i ⁢ p c ⁢ ⁢ and ( Eq .", "⁢ 14 ) P ⁢ ⁢ sin ⁡ ( θ ) 2 ⁢ ∑ N ⁢ g i ⁢ p c ( Eq .", "⁢ 15 ) where N is the processing gain.", "[0049] Next, the output signals from nodes 203 c and 203 d are modulated by the w, channel separation function at nodes 203 g and 203 h , respectively.", "The output signals from nodes 203 g and 203 h are then modulated by the channel separation function w Q at nodes 203 i and 203 j , respectively.", "An integration of the output signals from nodes 203 i and 203 j is performed at nodes 203 k and 203 l to yield respective third and fourth interference terms given by the following relationships: P ⁢ ⁢ cos ⁡ ( θ ) 2 ⁢ ∑ N ⁢ g i ⁢ p c ⁢ w I ⁢ w Q ⁢ ⁢ and ( Eq .", "⁢ 16 ) P ⁢ ⁢ sin ⁡ ( θ ) 2 ⁢ ∑ N ⁢ g i ⁢ p c ⁢ w I ⁢ w Q ( Eq .", "⁢ 17 ) where N is the processing gain.", "The relationships expressed in equations 14-17 are subtracted from the respective expressions found in equations 6-9 to remove the interference from the I and Q sub-band data signals.", "At this point, once the interference is removed from the data signal, complete recovery of the data signal is possible.", "[0051] FIG. 7 is an illustration of an exemplary dot product calculator 206 for performing a dot product calculation to recover the original data signal.", "After removal of the interference terms given in equations 14-17, each respective portion of the I n and Q n sub-band data signals is forwarded to the dot product calculator 206 .", "The respective cosine and sine portions of the pilot signal P which are output from the pilot despreader 202 are also forwarded to the dot product calculator 206 , as shown in FIG. 7 .", "At nodes 206 a and 206 b , the cosine portion of the pilot signal P is modulated by the cosine portions of the I n and Q n sub-band data signals.", "Simultaneously, at nodes 206 c and 206 d , the sine portion of the pilot signal P is modulated by the sine portions of the I n , and Q n sub-band data signals.", "At node 206 e , the output signal of nodes 206 a and 206 c are summed together to yield an output signal given by the following relationship: PI n cos(θ−{circumflex over (θ)})≈ PI n (Eq.", "18) At node 206 f , the output signals of nodes 206 b and 206 d are summed together to yield another output signal given by the following relationship: PQ n cos(θ−{circumflex over (θ)})≈ PQ n (Eq.", "19) where the {circumflex over ( )} term in equations 18 and 19 indicates a coarse estimate of the phase over one symbol (i.e., the number of chips per signal).", "At this point, one skilled in the art will readily appreciate that equations 18 and 19 represent the originally transmitted I and Q sub-band data signals, where each sub-band is multiplied by the pilot signal P. [0052] FIGS. 8A and 8B are flow charts of the method for using a non-orthogonal pilot signal according to the invention.", "In step 10 , a non-orthogonal pilot signal P is modulated by a channel code p c .", "Simultaneously, a data signal which is split into sub-band data I and Q is mixed with a specific channel code of a user g i .", "In step 20 , the non-orthogonal pilot signal is then summed with the I and Q sub-band data signals to produce resultant signals.", "[0053] In step 30 , the resultant signals are then modulated by a PN code a. In step 40 , to provide baseband or phase discrimination between the I and Q sub-band portions of the data signal, the resultant output signals are modulated (i.e., spread) by channel separation signals w I , and w Q .", "In step 50 , the respective composite output signals are modulated by respective cosine and sine functions (i.e., cos(wt+θ) and sin(wt+θ).", "In step 60 , the cosine and sine output signals are then summed to form the composite signal S(t) which is transmitted to the base station 170 .", "[0054] In step 70 , the composite signal S(t) is initially decoded by demodulating it with cos(wt) and sin(wt).", "Next in step 80 , the resultant output signal is demodulated by the PN code a. In step 90 , the resultant signal is demodulated by the channel separation function w Q .", "Concurrently, the resultant signal with respect to cos(wt) is demodulated by the channel separation function w I , while the resultant signal with respect to sin(wt) is demodulated by a channel separation function −w I .", "In step 100 , the signals which were demodulated by the channel separation function w Q are then demodulated by the channel code of a user g i and the channel code p c .", "[0055] In step 110 , an integration and dump function is performed upon the resultant output signal to obtain the demodulated data signal containing the interference.", "Concurrently, an integration and dump function is also performed to obtain the demodulated non-orthogonal pilot signal.", "In step 120 , the demodulated non-orthogonal pilot signal is subjected to an additional integration and dump function to remove interference from the originally transmitted non-orthogonal pilot signal P. [0056] In step 130 , the demodulated non-orthogonal pilot signal is modulated by the channel code p c .", "In step 140 , the modulated pilot signal is modulated by the group user channel code g i .", "In step 150 , an integration of the signal is performed to yield first and second interference terms.", "In step 160 , the signal modulated by the user channel code g i is additionally modulated by the w I channel separation function.", "In step 170 , the resultant signal is then modulated by the channel separation function w Q .", "In step 180 , an integration of the resultant signal is performed to yield third and forth interference terms.", "In step 190 , the interference terms are subtracted from the demodulated data signal to remove the interference from the I and Q sub-band data.", "Finally, in step 200 , a dot product calculation is performed to recover the originally transmitted I and Q sub-band data signals.", "[0057] While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to a preferred embodiment 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." ]

[ "FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates to a method for obtaining garments, and more generally textile products, capable of suppressing the formation of the bad smell caused by sweating.", "It therefore extends, also to textile products obtained with the method.", "DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART [0002] It is well known that human body can emanate bad smell due to sweating.", "This phenomenon is even more perceptible when, especially with hot weather, the conditions are favorable for the birth and the development of bacteria that decompose the body secretions, transform them in bad-smelling substances.", "In fact, it is common experience that the sweat is practically odor-free as soon as it is produced by the body, and that the longer the body remains in contact with the sweat and with the garments impregnated with it, the more unpleasant is the odor developed.", "[0003] For suppressing the development of the bacteria that cause the bad odor, the use of aluminium salts, namely aluminium chloride, as a deodorizing agent.", "Various ways of applying said deodorizing agent directly to a fabric have also been proposed, in order to obtain a garment that is intrinsically provided with odor-suppressing properties (see for instance the published PCT international patent application n. WO02/49591).", "[0004] However, these proposals have not resulted satisfactory, basically due to two kinds of problems: the impregnation of the textile fiber with the deodorizing agent changes the physical characteristics of the fiber itself, with consequent worsening of its quality;", "the association of the deodorizing agent to the textile fiber is not sufficiently stable, thereby the odor-suppressing properties of the garment are lost after only a few washings.", "SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0005] The applicant has now identified a fully effective solution of the problems outlined above thanks to a method capable of binding an aluminium chloride based deodorizing agent to a textile fiber, without in any way impairing the quality of the latter and above all ensuring that the association between the agent and the fiber resists to quite a lot of washings, and thus that a garment can be obtained that maintains its odor-suppressing properties for a long time.", "[0006] The essential features of the method according to the invention are defined in the first of the appended claims.", "The dependent claims specify advantageous embodiments of the method.", "DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [0007] The characteristics and advantages of the method and composition for obtaining odor-suppressing textile products and textile products, namely garments, thus obtained according to the present invention will be brought out more clearly by the following description of its embodiments, which is given purely by way of example and is not to be taken as limitative in any way.", "[0008] According to the invention, a deodorizing composition is prepared, to be used for treating the textile product destined to be worn on a user's body, both a finished product (garment) and in nature of a raw or semifinished material (fabric, yarn etc.).", "[0009] A simple example of a deodorizing composition for applying the deodorizing active principle (agent) to garments made of cotton consists of an aqueous bath prepared as follows: 4% in volume of a 20% aqueous solution of aluminium chloride;", "5÷20 g/l of a polymeric binder, such as acrylic resin;", "10÷20 g/l of a cationic surfactant, e.g. a common quaternary-ammonium-based fixative for dyes;", "2÷5 g/l of a softener, e.g. a perfumed Henkel® softener.", "[0014] The garments to be treated are immersed for a few minutes (no more than 20 minutes) in the bath prepared in this manner, which is brought to a temperature of about 90° C. When a fibrous material containing wool is involved, the polymeric binder will preferably be a silicon based resin, and the temperature of the bath around 50° C. [0015] The treatment is completed with a phase of rinsing and drying with hot air at a temperature suitable for the polymerization of the resin (normally variable between 70° and 180°).", "The treatment time and temperature may however be varied according to the particular machine employed.", "The indications provided above are considered to be optimal in the case of treatment with, for example, a centrifugal washing machine.", "[0016] In a different reduction to practice of the method according to the invention, the active principle can be applied prior to the actual manufacturing of the garments, i.e. to the fabrics from which these garments are to be made.", "This can be done, for example, in a continuous process by carrying out the impregnation in a foulard machine with a bath containing 5÷10 g/l of the active principle in emulsified form with a non-ionic surfactant, 3÷5 g/l of emulsified acrylic resin, in a pH made slightly acid by means of acetic acid (pH=5) in case of wool-based fabrics, or in a neutral pH in case of fabrics with a cellulose base.", "After wringing the fabric, it is dried in a “Rameuse”", "machine at the temperature which is necessary to assure the polymerization of the acrylic resin.", "[0017] In the compositions suggested above the polymeric binder obviously has the fundamental function of fixing the active principle to the textile fiber, holding it and thus making the association resistant to subsequent washings of the textile product.", "The aluminium chloride is released very slowly, thus assuring its deodorizing action in the course of time.", "Neither the silicon resin nor the acrylic resin causes any appreciable alteration of the softness characteristics of the fiber and they are therefore particularly suitable for this purpose.", "Other types of resins may however be used—e.", "g. butadiene, polyurethane, polyamide or acrylonitrile based resins—even combined in appropriate proportions.", "[0018] In case of materials with a woolen base it is preferable to use resins capable of being polymerized at low temperatures, like those with radical-type polymerization mechanisms.", "In any case, the softener may serve to attenuate a possible stiffening effect deriving from the presence of the resin.", "[0019] Application to textile fibers, for example and typically in accordance with the modalities described above, represents a particularly advantageous reduction to practice of the invention, because it assures an optimal effectiveness of the deodorizing action without in any way altering either the appearance or the original softness of the supporting materials, which will also remain wholly free of smell.", "[0020] The combination of the aluminium chloride with the polymeric binder results in a stable adhesion to the textile support, ensuring that the deodorizing agent is released persistently in the course of time, and this even after a number of washings.", "Garments treated in the manner just described, when worn, suppress the development of bad odors from the body, even after an intense and prolonged sweating.", "Experimental tests carried out on people particularly prone to this kind of problem, who for this purpose were made to wear garments treated according to the invention, demonstrated the complete disappearance of the bad smell.", "Moreover, repeated washings of the garments did not bring out any perceptible decay of the deodorizing properties.", "No allergic manifestation of any kind to the detriment of the wearers were revealed by any of the tests.", "It should also be noted that the deodorizing principle in question, apart from being inert, does not interact with the sebaceous secretion and is therefore absolutely tolerable from a hygienic and sanitary point of view.", "[0021] Application to textile fibers, for example and typically in accordance with the modalities described above, assures an optimal effectiveness of the deodorizing action without in any way altering either the appearance or the original softness of the supporting materials, which will also remain wholly free of any particular smell.", "However, this application can be carried out with various modalities, especially in accordance with the variations of the material for which it is intended and therefore also of the machines that are employed.", "For example, the latter could include the so-called “Dutch machines”, where the movement of the bath is more gentle and thus avoids the physical alteration of materials made of wool fibers.", "More generally speaking, the aluminium chloride and the polymeric binder can also be applied via impregnation or spraying systems.", "[0022] Variants and/or modifications can be brought to the method and composition for obtaining odor-suppressing textile products and textile products, namely garments, thus obtained without thereby departing from the scope of the invention itself as defined in the appended claims." ]

[ "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to the design of circuits for large scale integration (LSI) and very large scale integration (VLSI) circuit chips that use complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) technology.", "More particularly, the invention relates to the design of an improved CMOS circuit that combines a latch and shift register so as to remove a timing constraint that has been inherent in previous designs of such circuits.", "The central processing unit (CPU) of a large computer system basically consists of latches, combinatorial logic, and a clocking system.", "The latches are arranged in sets, sometimes called registers, corresponding to the size of the word used within the computer system (a "word"", "is a prescribed number of bits).", "Between the sets of latches are combinatorial logic circuits, i.e., logic circuits that do not store data.", "At the end of a clock cycle, which is also the beginning of the next clock cycle, the data on the output of the combinatorial logic circuitry is stored in a set of latches.", "This data appears on the output of the set of latches and therefore on the input of the combinatorial logic circuitry connected to the outputs of the set of latches.", "This logic circuitry performs the designed logic function on the data and at the end of the clock cycle, the output of the combinatorial logic is stored in the next set of latches.", "This process is repeated over and over as the computer system operates;", "that is, data is processed by combinatorial logic circuitry, stored, passed on to the next set of combinatorial logic circuitry, processed, stored, and so on.", "With the advent of LSI and VLSI technologies, computer systems have become physically smaller.", "However, the availability of large numbers of logic circuits in small packages has allowed computer designers to incorporate features in the computer design that increase the reliability and testability of the system.", "Such features would have been considered too expensive prior to LSI and VLSI availability.", "One of the features that is common in large computer systems today is a "scannable latch".", "A scannable latch includes a latch that can be converted to a stage of a shift register by the use of appropriate clock signals.", "The scannable latch further allows the contents of the resulting shift register to be "scanned"", "by shifting out the contents for examination.", "The shift register, and therefore the latch, can also be loaded with new contents by shifting new data thereinto.", "When the above described latches are incorporated into the design, selected sets may be interconnected to form shift registers.", "At any time, the correct timing signals can stop the operation of the CPU and shift out the contents of the latches to an operator's computer console for examination;", "or a known set of data can be shifted into the latches from the computer console.", "Needless to say, this capability represents a powerful feature for testing a large computer.", "For example, if it is determined that the floating point division instruction is giving the wrong result, the latches involved can be loaded with a known set of numbers by shifting the known numbers thereinto.", "The CPU can then be allowed to carry out the calculation one cycle at a time.", "At the end of each cycle, the contents of the latches can be shifted out and checked.", "If the latches have the correct result, this result can be shifted back into the latches and the CPU is then allowed to execute the next cycle.", "This process is continued until an incorrect result is determined.", "The circuitry responsible for the incorrect result can then be readily found and replaced.", "In contrast, without this testing feature, isolating the faulty circuitry could be very difficult due to the large amount of circuitry and many clock cycles that are involved in the floating point division calculation.", "CMOS VLSI technology allows a general purpose register (GPR) to be fabricated on a single chip: see e.g., copending patent application Ser.", "No. 468,602, filed 02/22/83, "Multiport General Purpose CMOS Register", attorney docket No. CRC-113, assigned to the same assignee as this application.", "A GPR, as its name implies, is a general purpose register which can be used, as needed, throughout a CPU for the temporary storage of data.", "Since the single chip GPR is relatively inexpensive and occupies a small amount of space, it may now be readily used within large computer systems;", "whereas before the advent of LSI and VLSI the GPR feature would have been considered too expensive.", "A GPR may be used, as explained below, to store the history of the contents of the latches.", "This history may in turn be used to isolate circuit errors from random errors and perform other error detecting functions.", "For example, at the end of a clock cycle, when the outputs of the combinatorial logic circuitry are loaded into the latches, some selected set of these outputs may also be loaded into nearby GPR's.", "Thus, while the contents of the latches change every cycle, the GPR's contain a history of the previous contents of the latches.", "Further, error detecting logic may be designed into the combinatorial logic circuits, e.g., parity bits may be added to the word, parity generating and checking circuitry may be added to the combinatorial logic, and the outputs from redundant circuits may be added and their outputs checked to see if they are identical.", "Hence, using the example of the floating point division instruction given above, if the error detecting circuitry detects an error after the fourth cycle of the calculation, the operation of the CPU can be halted and the data words from the GPRs that were stored four cycles previously may be loaded into the appropriate latches, at which time the CPU may be restarted.", "If the error was caused by some random failure mechanism, such as a noise pulse on the power distribution system, the second attempt at performing the calculation will be successful.", "This retry feature adds greatly to the reliability of the system since many of the errors will be random errors, and thus correctable errors.", "If, however, the error was caused by a circuit failure, the error will occur again and the appropriate latches can then be scanned by the operator in an attempt to isolate the failing circuitry.", "Unfortunately, while the above described error detection method greatly improves the reliability and testability of the computer system, only one half of the clock cycle is typically available to detect such errors.", "This is explained more fully below, but is basically caused by the fact that the clock signal must be in a prescribed state when the CPU operation is halted.", "If this time (when the clock is in its prescribed state) is not sufficient to detect the errors, the clock period must be extended, slowing down the operation of the computer system.", "What is needed, therefore, among other things, is a means for the errors to be detected at any time during the clock cycle, thereby preventing the operating speed of the computer system from being slowed down at the cost of reliability.", "SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a computer system that provides error detection and correction capability without sacrificing operating speed.", "A further object of the present invention is to provide a CMOS scannable latch that is not a limiting factor in the operating speed of the computer system in which the latch is used.", "More particularly, it is an object of the present invention to provide such a CMOS scannable latch wherein the latch output may be monitored for errors during the entire clock cycle.", "The above and other objects of the present invention are realized by a unique combination of desired features that are incorporated into a CMOS scannable latch design.", "Advantageously, for example, the invention uses the same clock signal, and its complement, to control the operation of both the master and slave sections of the latch.", "This ensures that both can be driven by the same local clock drivers, thereby eliminating any clock skew.", "Further, a chopped clock signal, instead of a square wave, is used to provide additional time for the error detecting circuitry to perform its assigned task.", "Finally, a separate stage is used for the shift-out section.", "In contrast, prior art designs have used the slave section of the latch as the shift-out section, but doing so slows the operation of the latch because of the presence of the electrical load of the next shift-in section.", "The combination of the above described features provides a scannable latch circuit suitable for use in high speed computer systems.", "Advantageously, when such a scannable latch is used, the cycle time of the computer system is determined by the circuit delays of the combinatorial logic, wiring delays, package delays, etc.", ", and is not limited by the scannable latch.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The above and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent from the following more particular description, presented in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein: FIGS. 1a and 1b are respectively a logic drawing and a timing diagram for a typical CMOS latch circuit;", "FIGS. 2a, 2b, and 2c show respectively a logic drawing of a combination CMOS latch/shift register circuit, a clock decoding circuit required for the latch/shift register circuit, and the applicable timing diagram;", "FIG. 3 is a logic drawing of an improved combination latch/shift register circuit;", "FIG. 4 illustrates the use of combination latch/shift register circuits in the architecture of a modern computer system;", "FIGS. 5a and 5b are respectively the logic drawing and timing diagram for a clock chopping circuit;", "and FIGS. 6a and 6b are respectively the logic drawing and timing diagram of a combination latch/shift register circuit built according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.", "DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The following is a description of the best contemplated mode of carrying out the invention.", "This description is given only for the purpose of describing the general principles of the invention and is not to be taken in a limiting sense.", "The true scope of the invention should be determined with reference to the appended claims.", "In order to appreciate and better understand the present invention, prior art latch circuits and prior art combination latch and shift register circuits will first be discussed in conjunction with FIGS. 1a and 2a.", "FIG. 1a is a logic drawing of a typical latch used in CMOS LSI and VLSI chips.", "The latch consists of two sections, the master section 10 and slave section 11.", "Each stage consists of two transmission gates, labeled with a T and a number, such as T1, T2, .", ", and two inverters, labeled with an I and a number, such as I1, I2, .", "A transmission gate is a circuit that is turned on when the signal on the control input that is shown as a small circle is low, and turned off when the signal on that control input is high.", "When the transmission gate is turned on, the gate functions as a closed switch and a signal may pass therethrough.", "When the transmission gate is turned off, it functions as an open switch and a signal is blocked from passing therethrough.", "In the figures, the signal C is the clock signal, while the signal C* is the complement of the clock signal.", "Thus, C and C* always have opposite logic values;", "when C is high, C* is low, and vice-versa.", "An inverter is a circuit whose output always has the opposite polarity of the input.", "The latch of FIG. 1a functions in the following manner: When the clock signal C is high, C* is low, and transmission gates T1 and T4 are turned on while transmission gates T2 and T3 are turned off.", "The data-in signal, DI, is passed through T1, inverted by I1, re-inverted to its original polarity by I2, but is blocked by T2.", "The output of I1 is also blocked by T3.", "When the clock signal reverses polarity, C is low, C* is high, and transmission gates T1 and T4 are turned off while gates T2 and T3 are turned on.", "The signal on the output of I2 (the same logic signal as DI) is thus applied to the input of I1.", "This "latches"", "the input signal into the master section 10 of the latch since the signal will circulate through the loop formed by I1 and I2.", "At the same time, transmission gate T3 is turned on, and the input signal DI, after a double inversion by I1 and I3, appears on the output as the signal Q. When the clock signal goes high again, C is high, C* is low and the transmission gates of the latch are back to their original condition.", "Since T3 is turned off and T4 is turned on, the input signal is now latched in the slave section 11 of the latch.", "FIG. 1b is a timing diagram for the latch of FIG. 1a, showing the signal DI, the clock signal C, the output M of the master section 10, and the output Q of the slave section 11.", "The input signal is shown for illustrative purposes, with several sharp peaks (which peaks are generally not characteristic of logic signals).", "However, the peaks could represent noise or other undesirable discontinuties appearing on the data signal;", "and, if for no other reason, the peaks effectively illustrate when the output M is connected to the input DI and when it is not.", "Circuit delays are not shown in FIG. 1b in order to make the timing diagram easier to understand.", "Still referring to FIG. 1b, it is seen that during a first clock sub-cycle, that is between times tp0 and tp1, the clock signal C is high, T1 is turned on, and the output M of the master section of the latch 10 follows the input signal DI.", "At time tp1, at the beginning of the next clock sub-cycle, the input signal DI latches in to the master section 10 of the latch and, since T3 is turned on, passes on to the output Q of the slave section 11.", "During the clock sub-cycle defined between tp1 and tp2, the output M of the master section 10 is not affected by changes in DI since T1 is turned off and the output Q of the slave section 11 remains constant.", "At tp2, the contents of the master section 10 are latched in the slave section 11.", "The clock sub-cycle between tp2 and tp3 is similar to that between tp0 and tp1 and the output M of the master section 10 will again follow the input signal DI.", "As shown in FIG. 1b, a clock cycle is defined as the time between the falling edges of the clock signal C, e.g., tp1 to tp3, tp3 to tp5, etc.", "The master-slave latch ensures that the output Q of the latch will be constant during the entire cycle, unaffected by changes on the input, and will have the same logic level the input had just prior to the start of the cycle.", "FIG. 2a shows how the latch of FIG. 1a can be converted to a combination latch and shift register stage by the addition of two transmission gates, T5 and T6.", "Three different clock signals A, B, and C are used to control the operation of the circuit.", "Each of these clock signals could be derived from a master clock signal according to well known techniques by those skilled in the art.", "Additional circuitry, shown in FIG. 2b, is required to gate the clock signal.", "When the circuit of FIG. 2a is used as a latch, the clock signal A is held low and the clock signal B is held high.", "The two input NAND gate 17 (FIG.", "2b) is enabled by the high level signal B and the clock signal C* and generates the signals (BC)* and, through the inverter 19, its complement BC.", "These two signals are in phase with the clock signals C and C*, respectively.", "Since A is low, and therefore A* is high, transmission gate T5 (see FIG. 2a) is turned off and T6 is turned on and the circuit is controlled by the clock signal C as discussed in the description of FIG. 1. When the circuit of FIG. 2a is used as a shift register stage, the clock signal C is held low.", "The two input NAND gate 17 is enabled by the high level signal C*.", "The clock signal B generates the signal (BC)* and, through the inverter 19, its complement BC.", "The signals BC and (BC)* are in phase with the signal B and B*, respectively.", "FIG. 2c shows the timing diagram for the circuit of FIG. 2a when functioning as a shift register stage.", "At time tp6, T5 is turned on and the shift-in signal SI, from the previous stage of the shift register, is inverted by T1.", "At time tp7, the signal SI is latched by the master section.", "At time tp8, T3 is turned on by the signal (BC)* and the signal SI appears at the shift-out output, SO.", "At time tp9, the slave section latches the input signal SI.", "Thus, as described above, the clock signal A controls the operation of the master section and clock signal B controls the operation of the slave section when the circuit is being used as a shift register.", "The two clock signals A and B are shown "chopped", which is explained below.", "The prior art circuit of FIG. 2a has two inherent drawbacks: (1) The circuit of FIG. 2b causes a skew between the clock signal C, which controls the master section when the circuit is used as a latch, and the clock signal BC, which controls the slave section.", "This means that T3 will not turn off at precisely the same time as T1 turns on.", "Therefore, the input signal DI might momentarily appear on the output and might be interpreted as a real signal by the combinatorial logic circuitry connected to the output.", "(2) The shift register output SO, and the latch output Q, are the same point.", "The wiring required to connect SO to the next input SI may be relatively long and load down the circuit connected to Q. Both of the prior art problems described above can be alleviated by slowing down the clock C. However, slowing down the clock C directly impacts the cycle time of the system wherein the scannable latch is used, and therefore disadvantageously slows down the entire operating speed of the system.", "FIG. 3 shows a logic drawing of a combination latch/shift register circuit design which solves both of the defects associated with the circuit of FIG. 2a.", "The circuit of FIG. 3 is controlled directly by the clock signals A, B, and C and the circuitry of FIG. 2b is not required, thus solving the skew problem of FIG. 2. In FIG. 3, when the circuit is used as a latch, the clock signals A and B are held low and transmission gate T5 is turned off and T6 is turned on.", "The master section of the latch, T1, I1, T2 and I2, and the slave section T3, I3, T4 and I4, operate under the control of the clock signal C as discussed in the description of FIG. 1. The timing diagram of FIG. 2c, with the signal B being used instead of BC, also applies to FIG. 3 when the circuit of FIG. 3 is being used as a shift register stage.", "The circuit of FIG. 3 functions as discussed in the shift register description of FIG. 2 except that the circuit of FIG. 3 has a separate slave section, T7, I5, T8 and I6.", "Thus, the output, SO, does not load down the circuit connected to Q. FIG. 4 illustrates how the combination latch/shift register of the present invention may be used in a CPU.", "Three sets of latches 20a .", "20n, 24a .", "24n, and 28a .", "28n are shown.", "The SO output of each latch is connected to the SI input of the next latch such that all the latches shown form a single shift register.", "The various clock inputs of each latch are shown on each latch set 20, 24, and 28 as a single input labeled CLKS.", "Between the sets of latches are blocks 32 and 33, representing the combinatorial logic circuits and error detecting logic circuits.", "Also included in the blocks 32 and 33 are general purpose registers (GPR), indicating that the outputs of some of the latches are also stored in a GPR.", "Thus, as explained previously, data may be latched into the latches 20 at the end of one cycle, appear at the outputs Q, pass through combinatorial logic circuits and error detection logic circuits 32, which may or may not include a GPR, and be latched into other latches 24 at the end of the clock cycle.", "When an error is detected, the CPU clock is stopped and one of two courses may be taken: 1.", "The CPU can be "backed-up"", "and restarted.", "This is done by loading the affected latches with data stored in the GRP's that occurred the appropriate number of cycles ago (the mechanism for doing this is not shown in FIG. 4), and then retrying the sequence that caused the error.", "If the error was caused by an intermittent problem, the retry should be successful.", "On the other hand, if the error was caused by a hardware failure, it will reoccur.", "The latch/shift register circuit can be used as a shift register and the data which caused the error can be shifted out to the console CPU.", "The data can be stored by the console CPU and also shifted back into the latches and the CPU can be allowed to execute one more cycle, repeating the error.", "The data in the latches, which includes the error, can then be shifted out to the console CPU.", "The data before and after the operation which caused the error is now known, as well as the operation that was performed when the error occurred, and attempts can be made to isolate the cause of the error.", "If either the circuits of FIG. 2 or 3 are used for the latches 20, 24, and 28 of FIG. 4, and if the clock signal C (FIG.", "1b) is used to control these latches, a serious time constraint is imposed upon the CPU design.", "To explain, referring to FIG. 1b, the clock sub-cycle time between tp1 and tp2 is the time that the combinatorial logic circuitry is processing the data and the time the error detecting circuitry is checking for errors.", "At time tp1, the data is latched into the master section of the latch and appears on the output Q of the latch.", "At time tp2, the data is latched into the slave section of the latch.", "If the error is detected between clock sub-cycle time tp2 and tp3, transmission gate T1 is turned on and the output M of the master section is following the input DI.", "When the clock C is stopped, the clock will go to a low level, and the slave section will latch whatever logic level is on its input.", "Thus, the contents of the slave section that were present at the start of the cycle may be modified.", "One way to avoid the above-described problem is to make the clock cycle longer so that the error detecting logic will be able to detect an error while the clock C is low, i.e, during the clock sub-cycle time defined between tp1 and tp2.", "However, as explained previously, it is desirable to operate a computer system at the highest speed possible to gain the maximum efficiency.", "Therefore, the cycle time is designed to be the minimum time that will allow the slowest set of combinatorial logic circuitry to function.", "FIGS. 5 and 5b show how the clock signal can be "chopped"", "and illustrate the advantages of chopping.", "FIG. 5a depicts how the signal CLK is applied to one input of a two input NAND gate 40 and to the other input through an even number of inverters 42-45.", "FIG. 5b is a timing diagram for the circuit of FIG. 5a.", "The signal DCLK is delayed by the inverters 42-45 an amount of time equal to the time between tp10 and tp11.", "During the time between tp11 and tp12, both CLK and DCLK are high and the output of the NAND gate 40 will be low.", "This output is inverted by the inverter 41 to produce the clock signal CC.", "(For simplicity, circuit delays of the NAND gate 40 and inverter 41 are not shown in FIG. 5b.) If the chopped clock CC is used instead of the square wave clock C of FIG. 1, the length of time that the clock signal is low is extended.", "That is, while the square wave clock C is low fifty percent of the cycle, the chopped clock, CC, in the example shown, may be low ninety percent of the cycle.", "It is to be noted that the chopped clock signals A and B of FIG. 2c, which signals are used in connection with the operation of the scannable latch circuits described herein, could be generated from the clock signal CLK (or some other master clock signal) in a manner similar to that shown in FIG. 5a.", "Using the chopped clock CC, the cycle begins at tp12 (see FIG. 5b) when the data on the input of the latch is latched into the master section and also appears on the output.", "The error detecting circuitry thus has the time between tp12 and tp13, while the clock CC is low, to detect any errors.", "At time tp13, the input is latched into the slave section of the latch and the next cycle begins at tp14.", "As can be seen, the chopped clock CC greatly extends the time allowed for the error detection circuitry to detect an error.", "A logic drawing of an improved version of the latch of FIG. 3 is shown in FIG. 6a and the corresponding timing diagram is shown in FIG. 6b.", "When the circuit is used as a latch, elements T20, I20, T21 and I21 comprises the master section and elements T22, I22, T23 and I23 comprise the slave section.", "During this mode of operation (when the circuit is being used as a latch), the clock signals A and B are low, transmission gates T24 and T26 are turned off, and transmission gates T25 and T27 are turned on.", "Note that the polarities of the clock signal C on the transmission gate are the opposite from those shown on the previous latch examples of FIGS. 1, 2, and 3.", "In the timing diagram shown in FIG. 6b, it is seen that prior to time tp15, the clock signal C is low and T20 is turned on.", "Thus, the input signal DI, inverted by I20, is at the input to T22, which is turned off.", "At time tp15, the clock signal goes high.", "Hence, T20 turns off and T21 turns on, latching the signal DI into the master section of the latch.", "T22 is also turned on at tp15 and the input signal DI will appear on the output Q. At time tp16, the clock signal C goes low which turns T22 off and T23 on, latching the input signal into the slave section of the latch.", "The clock cycle, as shown, is the time between tp15 and tp17.", "The time between tp15 and tp16 is short compared to the time it takes the error detection circuitry to function.", "Therefore, an error could not be detected during this time in any event.", "Thus, this portion of the clock cycle between tp15 and tp16 is not of any consequence.", "On the other hand, if an error is detected between tp16 and tp17, the clock signal is low and can be stopped without causing the input to be latched into the master section of the latch.", "Thus, the circuit provides the entire useful cycle for the error detection circuitry to function.", "When the circuit of FIG. 6a is to be used as a shift register stage, the clock signal C is held low.", "Transmission gate T22 is turned off and T20 is turned on.", "In the example of FIG. 3, the master section of the latch also served as the master section of the shift register stage since it held the data to be shifted when the clock was stopped.", "By contrast, in the improved circuit of FIG. 6a, when the clock is stopped, the data to be shifted is held in the slave section of the latch.", "Thus, the slave section of the latch becomes the master section of the shift register stage and the elements T24, I24, T25, and I25 are the slave section of the shift register.", "The timing diagram of FIG. 2c, without the signal BC, also applies to the circuit of FIG. 6a when operating in the shift register mode.", "Clock signal A goes high, turning on T24 and transferring the data held in the master section of the shift register stage (which is the slave section of the latch) to the output SO.", "When clock signal A goes low, T24 is turned off, T25 is turned on, and the data is latched into the slave section of the shift register stage.", "Further, clock B goes high, transmission gate T26 is turned on and the input signal SI, from the output of the previous stage of the shift register, is applied to the input of the master section of the shift register stage.", "When clock signal B goes low, transmission gate T26 turns off, T27 turns on, and the input signal SI is latched into the master section of the shift register stage.", "The improved circuit of FIG. 6a solves both of the problems that have existed with prior art latch/shift register circuits: one hundred percent of the clock cycle is effectively available to the error detection circuitry, and the output of the latch is not loaded down by the input of the next shift register stage.", "This improvement allows the clock cycle to be made as short as the overall delays of the system will allow without having to worry about the clock signal going from a high to low level when an error is detected." ]

[ "This invention may have been made with U.S. Government support under Contract No. F29601-99-C-0152 awarded by the Air Force Research Laboratory.", "The Government may have certain rights in this invention.", "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1.", "Field of the Invention The present invention relates to the design and manufacture of and includes monolithically integrated diodes for use in various applications including in planar, thin-film, photovoltaic devices such as solar cells.", "Description of the Prior Art Photovoltaic (PV) cells generate an electric current when exposed to light (a photocurrent).", "PV cells thus have a wide variety of potential uses, including functioning as a power supply in certain terrestrial and space applications, acting as a photosensor to detect either a binary on-off presence of light as is required for certain security systems, and acting as a photosensor to detect varying intensities and/or wavelengths of light as is required for a variety of photographic and videographic applications.", "PV cells may produce photocurrent in response to a wide range or specific narrow band of the electromagnetic spectrum, including that band defined by the visible spectrum.", "In some applications, a PV cell that is transparent or translucent to a first frequency of light but produces a photocurrent in response to a second frequency is placed on top of a PV cell that produces a photocurrent in response to a first frequency.", "Although a PV cell produces current when exposed to light, when shadowed or shaded, it behaves as a diode.", "When a PV cell is described herein as being in a shadowed or shaded state, it means that it is not receiving sufficient light of the relevant wavelength or wavelengths to produce photocurrent.", "A common practice in configuring PV cells, particularly when used in a power supply, is to place multiple cells in series.", "When a portion of the series or string of cells is shadowed, the shadowed cell (or cells) acts as a diode in reverse bias to the remainder of the series or string.", "As a result, the cell (or cells) acting as diodes in reverse bias tends to gain heat, which consequently damages that cell and potentially damages nearby cells.", "This heating is evidence of what is termed “destructive breakdown,” which is detrimental to a cell.", "Moreover, the energy consumed in heating and breaking down the cell is wasted, thus producing a less efficient device.", "One method that has been applied to overcoming the problem of shadowed cells is to incorporate diodes into the design of the series or string.", "These diodes traditionally have been discrete components that have been attached to the PV cell by soldering or similar techniques.", "The addition of these discrete diodes provides an alternate electrical path in the event of a shadowed or shaded cell.", "Unfortunately, the additional diodes add to a module's weight, thickness, complexity, and cost of manufacture, while decreasing its reliability.", "Moreover, many of the connection techniques used to attach discrete diodes impose additional constraints (e.g., rigidity) on the cell, further limiting its usefulness.", "Examples of designs that utilize discrete diodes include U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,255,793, 6,103,970, and 4,577,051.", "Other techniques which have been used include diodes which are integrated into the design of the cell.", "These may rely on “C”", "or “S”", "shaped interconnects to connect adjacent cells.", "An example of such a design is U.S. Pat. No. 5,616,185.", "These designs reduce the active area of the cell, thereby reducing efficiency.", "Other designs involving integrated diodes make use of both sides of the PV cell.", "Some examples of this type of design include U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,580,395 and 4,323,719.", "Because these designs include additional layers on the bottom or reverse of the cell, they make the cell inherently thicker, and consequently heavier.", "Additionally, these designs increase the complexity of the design, and the cost of both materials and manufacture.", "Other techniques for creating integrated diodes do so by means of special doping techniques.", "Examples of this kind of design include U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,990,415, 5,389,158, 5,389,158, 5,248,346, and 4,933,022.", "Another technique for creating integrated diodes includes adding additional partial layers to the surface of the cell and connecting these “integrated diodes”", "to the cell using integrated circuit techniques.", "An example of this type of design is U.S. Pat. No. 4,759,803.", "An ideal design would provide an individual bypass diode for each PV cell, however, cost, size, and weight constraints may limit the designer to include only one bypass diode for every two or more series PV cells.", "In these configurations, the total number of cells which are in parallel to each bypass diode may be bypassed if only one of the PV cells of the group is shadowed, yielding less than optimal efficiency.", "Moreover, the larger bypassed voltage may require more robust diodes to avoid exposing the bypass diode to a voltage greater than or equal to its breakdown voltage.", "SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to the design and manufacture of and includes monolithically integrated diodes for use in various applications including planar, thin-film PV devices such as solar cells.", "The design of the present invention is exemplified by an embodiment based upon a string of PV cells into which diodes have been monolithically integrated.", "The design produces a series or string of PV cells that have reduced weight, thickness, cost, and complexity while achieving increased reliability compared to the prior art.", "Other advantages of the present invention include its ability to be used in flexible thin film devices, its ability to extend the life span of PV cell series or strings, and its ability to increase manufacturing output.", "The integrated diode of the present invention is also capable of acting as a bypass diode, or as a blocking diode, to prevent the reverse flow of current from, for example, the electrical bus or parallel series or string to which the series or string may be connected.", "One embodiment of the present invention, for example, overcomes the problem of discrete components through a monolithic integration technique which permits diodes to be fully integrated without the need for discrete components.", "One embodiment of the present invention is created by providing a photovoltaic cell.", "This cell may comprise a substrate, and deposited on this substrate there may be a conducting layer, upon which a p-type absorber layer may be deposited.", "The cell may further comprise an n-type window layer deposited on this p-type absorber layer.", "The substrate may, for example, comprise an electrically insulating top surface, such as Upilex®, polyimide, polyphenylene benzobis oxazole (PBO), polyamide, polyether ether ketone, or metallic foils coated with one of these electrically insulating materials.", "The conducting layer may, for example, comprise molybdenum, transparent conductive oxides, brass, titanium, nickel, or nickel-vanadium.", "The p-type absorber layer may, for example, comprise a device made of copper-indium-gallium-selenide, copper-indium-selenide, copper-aluminum-selenide, copper-indium-aluminum-selenide, or other compounds like those mentioned that substitute (in whole or part) silver for copper or sulfur for selenide or both.", "The n-type window layer may, for example, comprise cadmium sulfide, cadmium zinc sulfide, zinc sulfide, zinc selenide, cadmium selenide, zinc-indium selenide, or indium selenide.", "Next, one may remove a portion of the cell including the n-type window layer, the p-type absorber layer, and the conducting layer, thereby producing a trench or groove defined by the edges of the remaining portions of the cell.", "A preferred way to remove these layers is by means of laser scribing.", "Other techniques to remove these layers include, for example, chemical etching, electronic etching (such as, for example, e-beam writing or electron scribing), and mechanical scribing.", "Chemical etching may require masking to prevent unwanted removal of other portions of the layers.", "These techniques are sometimes referred to as scribing, and the resulting trench or groove as a scribe.", "Depending on the method of removal used, it may be desirable to clean the groove or trench to remove debris or other by-products of the removal process.", "One may also apply an insulating material to fill this trench.", "This insulating material may, for example, comprise a resistive ink, a dielectric, a pottant, or an encapsulant.", "Several methods for applying insulating material such as resistive ink include bubblejet deposition, inkjet deposition, or other types of liquid media printing techniques including screen printing.", "Additionally, one may remove a portion of the cell parallel to the insulating material by, for example, removing the n-type window layer and p-type absorber layer, thereby defining a second trench.", "This removal of a portion of the cell may be performed by, for example, the above described techniques.", "Following this removal, a layer of translucent conductive oxide, such as, for example, indium tin oxide (ITO), may be applied to the surface of the cell and may include the insulating material and trench.", "One may again remove a portion of the cell that may include the translucent conductive oxide layer, the n-type window layer, and the p-type absorber layer, forming a trench defined by the edges of the remaining cell.", "This removal of a portion of the cell may be performed by, for example, the above described techniques.", "An opaque layer may also be added to a portion of the cell corresponding to the desired diodes.", "The opaque layer may comprise any opaque material, such as, for example, a metal, in particular, aluminum, molybdenum, silver, or titanium may be desirable.", "Other translucent materials that are sufficiently opaque may be used.", "Other materials that are opaque at certain times, such as, for example materials such as are used in liquid crystal displays may be used, and may provide greater flexibility in the design of circuits that integrate embodiments of the present invention.", "Other materials may be used in the opaque layer such as, for example, materials that are polarized in such a manner as to sufficiently shade or shadow the underlying layers.", "Several ways to apply the opaque layer include physical vapor deposition, chemical vapor deposition, sputtering, evaporation, and chemical bath deposition.", "In a further embodiment of the present invention, a module of photovoltaic cells may be manufactured using the method of the present invention.", "One may begin, for example, by providing a substrate.", "Preferably, this substrate may be a flexible polyimide substrate, such as, for example, Upilex®, and may preferably be flat, planar, and rectangular.", "A conductive layer may be deposited on this substrate and may, for example, comprise molybdenum.", "On the conductive layer, a p-type absorber layer may be deposited, and may comprise a copper-indium-gallium-selenide device.", "On the p-type absorber layer, an n-type window layer may be deposited, and may, for example, comprise cadmium sulfide.", "The intermediate products of this process will be referred to as “the sheet.”", "This term is not meant to describe any functionality or dimensions, or to provide any limitation, but merely to provide a shorthand name for the product of the processes up to the point at which reference is to be made.", "Additionally, one may remove a first portion of the sheet, including a portion of the n-type window layer, the p-type absorber layer, and the conductive layer.", "The portions of these layers may be removed so as to form a first trench or groove.", "This pattern of this first trench or groove in the sheet may be adapted to provide for a plurality of PV cells.", "Each PV cell may be considered as a two terminal device.", "For each PV cell desired, a first trench or groove may be included.", "Furthermore, a layer of electrical insulator, such as, for example, resistive ink may be applied to the sheet.", "The electrical insulator may be applied so as to replace the portion of the sheet removed by the first trench or groove.", "An additional step in an embodiment of the present invention may be to remove a second portion of the sheet, including a portion of the n-type window layer and the p-type absorber layer, to form a second trench or groove.", "The second trench or groove may preferably be formed parallel to the first trench or groove.", "Preferably, the second trench or groove is near the first trench or groove, and may, if desired, be partially overlapping the first trench or groove.", "The second trench or groove may be formed prior to or during the application of the electrical insulator layer, if desired.", "A further step in an embodiment of the present invention may be to apply a translucent conductive layer to the sheet including the n-type window layer, the conductive layer, and the second trench or groove.", "One may also remove a portion of the sheet including the translucent conductive layer, the n-type window layer, and the p-type absorber layer, to form a third trench or groove.", "A third trench or groove may preferably be formed parallel to the second trench or groove.", "Preferably, the third trench or groove is near the second trench or groove, and may, if desired, be partially overlapping the second trench or groove.", "The pattern in which the trenches or grooves are arranged will determine the size and location of the PV cells.", "Finally, an opaque layer may be applied to those portions which are intended for use as diodes.", "The opaque layer may comprise any opaque material, such as, for example, a metal.", "Other translucent materials that are sufficiently opaque may be used.", "Other materials that are opaque at certain times, such as, for example materials such as are used in liquid crystal displays may be used, and may provide greater flexibility in the design of circuits that integrate the present invention.", "Other materials may be used in the opaque layer such as, for example, materials that are polarized in such a manner as to sufficiently shade or shadow the underlying layers.", "In an embodiment of the present invention, it may be convenient to locate the diodes along the edges of the module.", "Other locations which are a priori known to be likely to be shadowed or shaded may also provide good locations for diodes.", "The area of a diode of the present invention will be determined by the characteristics of the materials used, particularly the reverse-bias characteristics of the p-type absorber layer.", "Preferably the diodes should exhibit low internal resistances in forward bias and should not be required to face voltages approaching their breakdown voltages.", "Cells or diodes may be isolated one from another as desired, by means of, for example, trenches or grooves.", "Additional electrical and environmental protection may be accomplished by, for example, encapsulating one or more cells or diodes in a dielectric material.", "This material may, for example, also fill the trenches or grooves and provide the benefit of additional isolation.", "An object of the present invention is to provide a method of manufacturing diodes integrated into PV devices such as solar cells.", "It is another object of the present invention to provide a method of manufacturing diodes as bypass diodes integrated into PV devices such as solar cells.", "Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a method of manufacturing diodes as blocking diodes integrated into PV devices such as solar cells.", "Another object of the present invention is to provide a method of manufacturing thin-film PV devices that are flexible, yet which comprise diodes, thereby eliminating the requirements made by discrete diodes, including for example, limitations of rigidity imposed by the diodes themselves and by the associated soldered connections.", "It is a further object of the present invention to provide a low-cost, low-weight protected array of PV cells.", "This array may be of particular use in space applications, but may also be of use in terrestrial power generation.", "Another object of the present invention is to provide a protected array of PV cells which is thin, thereby saving volume, which may be of particular benefit in space applications.", "Another object of the present invention is to provide a method of manufacturing diodes integrated into PV cells that does not significantly increase the complexity of the manufacture of PV cells.", "Thus, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method of manufacturing diodes integrated into PV cells that is less process intensive, and which may be accomplished using a relatively simple stacking sequence.", "It is a further object of the present invention to provide a method of manufacturing a protected array of PV cells, in which the cells may be as small as 0.3 cm by 31 cm, thus allowing the production of 100V in less than 80 cm.", "In such a configuration, discrete diodes would have to be laid practically end to end.", "Given the high voltage of such an array, protection by means of diodes may be important.", "It is an object of the present invention to provide a method of manufacturing a protected array of PV cells which reduces the complexity of manufacture by eliminating the steps of pick-and-place, bonding, and soldering.", "It is understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the invention as claimed.", "The invention is described in terms of a purely electrical device, however, one skilled in the art will recognize other uses for this invention, such as, for example, an electro-chemical or bio-electric device.", "The accompanying drawings illustrating an embodiment of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 a is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of the present invention that illustrates a first stage in its production.", "FIG. 1 b is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of the present invention that illustrates a second stage in its production.", "FIG. 1 c is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of the present invention that illustrates a third stage in its production.", "FIG. 1 d is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of the present invention that illustrates a fourth stage in its production.", "FIG. 1 e is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of the present invention that illustrates a fifth stage in its production.", "FIG. 1 f is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of the present invention that illustrates a sixth stage in its production.", "FIG. 1 g is a schematic diagram of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.", "FIG. 2 is a flow diagram of a preferred embodiment of the method of the present invention.", "FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram of an embodiment of the present invention.", "FIG. 4 depicts a perspective overview and corresponding circuit diagram of an embodiment of the present invention.", "FIG. 5 depicts several PV cells in series, according to the method of the present invention disclosed herein.", "FIG. 6 depicts an embodiment of the present invention, including a pair of PV cells and accompanying diodes.", "FIG. 7 depicts a perspective view, a stylized top view and an enlarged circuit diagram view of an embodiment of the present invention.", "FIG. 8 is a photograph of an embodiment of the present invention.", "FIG. 9 is a close-up photograph of an embodiment of the present invention.", "FIG. 10 is an illustration of the operation of a PV cell.", "FIG. 11 is a depiction of the operation of a module of PV cells according to the resent invention.", "DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS It is to be 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 “a layer”", "is a reference to one or more layers and includes equivalents thereof known to those skilled in the art.", "For example, the p-type absorber layer may comprise a copper-indium-gallium-selenide device, which itself may comprise a plurality of layers, some of which may not, in themselves function as p-type absorbers.", "Additionally, it is important to note that the verb “deposit”", "in several forms is used herein.", "This verb is not intended to limit methods of connecting one layer to another to traditional deposition, but is meant to include other methods including, for example, methods involving ceramic-to-ceramic bonding, “growing,” and metal-to-ceramic bonding.", "Moreover, herein the adjective translucent is used to indicate that a substance permits some (up to and including all) electromagnetic radiation of the relevant wavelength to pass through it, regardless of the effect of the substance on its ability to transmit coherent images.", "Thus, transparent as used herein defines a subset of those materials identified as translucent.", "The invention is described in terms of a diode, however, one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize other applications for this invention including, for example, a monolithically integrated triode or resistor.", "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.", "All references cited herein are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.", "FIGS. 1 a-g depict a preferred embodiment of the present invention.", "One may begin by providing a photovoltaic cell ( 10 ).", "Cell ( 10 ), as depicted for example in FIG. 1 a , may comprise a substrate ( 110 ), and deposited on substrate ( 110 ), a conducting layer ( 120 ), and deposited on conducting layer ( 120 ) a p-type absorber layer ( 130 ), and deposited on p-type absorber ( 130 ) an n-type window layer ( 140 ).", "Substrate ( 110 ) may, for example, comprise Upilex®.", "Conducting layer ( 120 ) may, for example, comprise molybdenum.", "P-type absorber layer ( 130 ) may, for example, comprise a copper-indium-gallium-selenide device.", "N-type window layer ( 140 ) may, for example, comprise cadmium sulfide.", "Further, as for example depicted in FIG. 1 b , one may remove a portion of cell ( 10 ) including n-type window layer ( 140 ), p-type absorber layer ( 130 ), and conducting layer ( 120 ), thereby producing a first trench or groove ( 150 ) defined by the edges of the remaining portions of cell ( 10 ).", "A preferred way to remove these layers is by means of laser scribing.", "Other techniques include, for example, chemical etching and mechanical scribing.", "Using chemical etching may require the use of masking to prevent unwanted removal of other portions of the layers.", "Depending on the method of removal used, it may be desirable to clean first trench ( 150 ) to remove debris or other by-products of the removal process.", "Additionally, as depicted for example in FIG. 1 c , one may apply an electrically insulating material ( 160 ) to fill first trench ( 150 ).", "Electrically insulating material ( 160 ) may, for example, comprise a resistive ink.", "As depicted for example in FIG. 1 d , one may also remove a portion of cell ( 10 ) parallel to electrically insulating material ( 160 ), removing n-type window layer ( 140 ) and p-type absorber layer ( 130 ), thereby defining a second trench ( 170 ).", "This removal of a portion of cell ( 10 ) may be performed by, for example, the above described techniques.", "Following the above described removal, a layer of translucent conductive oxide ( 180 ), such as, for example, indium tin oxide, maybe applied to the surface of cell ( 10 ) including electrically insulating material ( 160 ) and second trench ( 170 ) as depicted for example in FIG. 1 e. As depicted for example in FIG. 1 f , one may further remove a third portion of cell ( 10 ) including translucent conductive oxide layer ( 180 ), n-type window layer ( 140 ), and p-type absorber layer ( 130 ), forming a third trench ( 190 ) defined by the edges of the remaining cell.", "This removal of a portion of cell ( 10 ) may be performed by, for example, the above described techniques.", "As depicted for example in FIG. 1 g , an opaque layer ( 200 ) may be added to a portion of cell ( 10 ) corresponding to the desired diodes.", "Opaque layer ( 200 ) may comprise an opaque material, such as, for example, a metal.", "Other translucent materials that are sufficiently opaque may be used.", "Other materials that are opaque at certain times, such as, for example materials such as are used in liquid crystal displays may be used, and may provide greater flexibility in the design of circuits which integrate the present invention.", "Other materials such as materials that are polarized in such a manner as to sufficiently shade or shadow the underlying layers may be used.", "FIG. 2 is a flow diagram of a preferred embodiment of the method of the present invention.", "One approach of the present invention is to begin by providing a photovoltaic cell.", "This cell may be created by a first step ( 2110 ) of providing a substrate, and then a second step ( 2120 ) of depositing on this substrate, a conducting layer.", "This step may be followed by a third step ( 2130 ) of depositing a p-type absorber layer on this conducting layer, and finally this may be followed by a step ( 2140 ) of depositing on this p-type absorber an n-type window layer.", "The substrate may, for example, comprise Upilex®.", "The conducting layer may, for example, comprise molybdenum.", "The p-type absorber layer may, for example, comprise a copper-indium-gallium-selenide device.", "The n-type window layer may, for example, comprise cadmium sulfide.", "One may also perform the step ( 2150 ) of removing a portion of the cell including, for example, the n-type window layer, the p-type absorber layer, and the conducting layer, thereby producing a trench or groove defined by the edges of the remaining portions of the cell.", "A preferred way to remove these layers is by means of laser scribing.", "Other techniques include, for example, chemical etching and mechanical scribing.", "Using chemical etching may require the use of masking to prevent unwanted removal of other portions of the layers.", "Depending on the method of removal used, it may be desirable to clean the groove or trench to remove debris or other by-products of the removal process.", "Additionally, one may perform the step ( 2160 ) of applying an insulating material to fill this trench.", "This insulating material may, for example, comprise a resistive ink.", "One may also perform a step ( 2170 ) of removing a portion of the cell parallel to the insulating material, removing the n-type window layer and p-type absorber layer, thereby defining a second trench.", "This step of removing a portion of the cell may be performed by, for example, the above described techniques.", "This removal step may, if desired, in the alternative be performed before or during the step of adding the insulating material.", "A step ( 2180 ) of applying a layer of translucent conductive oxide, such as, for example, indium tin oxide (ITO), may be performed on the surface of the cell including the insulating material and trench.", "One may perform another step ( 2190 ) of removing a portion of the cell including the translucent conductive oxide layer, the n-type window layer, and the p-type absorber layer, forming a trench defined by the edges of the remaining cell.", "This step of removing of a portion of the cell may be performed by, for example, the above described techniques.", "A step ( 2200 ) of adding an opaque layer may be performed on a portion of the cell corresponding to the desired diodes.", "The opaque layer may comprise any opaque material, such as, for example, a metal.", "Other translucent materials that are sufficiently opaque may be used.", "Other materials that are opaque at certain times, such as, for example materials such as are used in liquid crystal displays may be used, and may provide greater flexibility in the design of circuits which integrate the present invention.", "Other materials such as materials that are polarized in such a manner as to sufficiently shade or shadow the underlying layers are not precluded.", "FIG. 3 depicts a circuit diagram of an embodiment of the present invention.", "The four conditions depicted are four possible conditions that a circuit of PV cells and diodes as depicted may encounter.", "A first condition ( 3190 ) occurs when both sets of PV cells ( 3170 , 3180 ) are sufficiently illuminated.", "In this condition, current ( 3160 ) flows through PV cells ( 3170 , 3180 ), and through the blocking diode ( 3150 ), but not through the bypass diodes ( 3130 , 3140 ).", "In the second condition ( 3200 ), in which the first set of PV cells ( 3170 ) is not sufficiently illuminated, current ( 3160 ) flows through the second set of PV cells ( 3180 ), as well as through first bypass diode ( 3130 ) and blocking diode ( 3150 ).", "The third condition ( 3210 ) occurs when second set of PV cells ( 3180 ) receives insufficient illumination.", "In this condition, current ( 3160 ) flows through first set of PV cells ( 3170 ), as well as through the second bypass diode ( 3140 ) and blocking diode ( 3150 ).", "Finally, in the fourth condition ( 3220 ), neither set of PV cells ( 3170 , 3180 ) is sufficiently illuminated.", "In this situation, blocking diode ( 3150 ) prevents current ( 3110 ) from the bus ( 3120 ) from entering the string.", "FIG. 4 depicts a perspective overview and corresponding circuit diagram of an embodiment of the present invention.", "In this example, the first blocking diode ( 4110 ) and second blocking diode ( 4120 ) prevent current from flowing through the string or module in a reverse direction from some outside source.", "Moreover, each horizontal string of PV cells ( 4220 , 4230 , 4240 , 4250 , 4260 , 4270 , 4280 ) is protected by a bypass diode ( 4130 , 4160 , 4140 , 4170 , 4150 , 4180 ) that permits current to go past, rather than through, string ( 4220 , 4230 , 4240 , 4250 , 4260 , 4270 , 4280 ).", "As depicted, current will flow from the positive terminal ( 4290 ) to the negative terminal ( 4210 ) In the perspective drawing, one can observe the individual cells ( 4190 ) separated by the grooves ( 4200 ) as described herein.", "Additionally, one can observe an area ( 4240 ) which may be used to provide space for a Kapton® blanket, upon which a circuit may be printed.", "FIG. 5 depicts several PV cells ( 5110 , 5120 , 5130 ) in series, according to the method of the present invention disclosed herein.", "Each PV cell ( 5110 , 5120 , 5130 ) shown comprises, on an Upilex® substrate ( 5140 ), a Molybdenum conductive layer ( 5160 ), a copper-indium-gallium-selenide device p-type absorber layer ( 5170 ), a cadmium sulfide n-type window layer ( 5180 ), and an indium-tin oxide translucent conductive layer ( 5190 ).", "For each PV cell ( 5110 , 5120 , 5130 ) there is a filled groove ( 5200 ) containing a resistive ink insulating layer that provides electrical isolation, and a filled groove ( 5210 ) containing indium tin oxide to provide a via for current flow.", "Each PV cell ( 5110 , 5120 , 5130 ) is separated from the adjacent cell by a third groove ( 5220 ), which, in this example, remains unfilled.", "It is important to note that the diagram does not depict any diodes;", "however, any of PV cells ( 5110 , 5120 , 5130 ) could be converted into a diode by preventing its illumination, in such a way as, for example, depositing a layer of opaque material on top of translucent conductive layer ( 5190 ).", "Also, it is important to note the expected flow of current ( 5230 ) through the series of cells ( 5110 , 5120 , 5130 ) under normal operating conditions.", "FIG. 6 depicts an embodiment of the present invention, including a pair of PV cells ( 6120 , 6130 ) and accompanying diodes ( 6110 , 6140 , 6150 , 6160 ).", "From the top, the first cross-section depicts an unused blocking diode ( 6110 ), a first PV cell ( 6120 ), a second PV cell ( 6130 ), and a blocking diode ( 6240 ).", "The second cross-section depicts a bypass diode ( 6150 ), and an unused bypass diode ( 6160 ).", "The circuit diagram depicts the combination of the above depicted diodes ( 6110 , 6140 , 6150 , 6160 ) and PV cells ( 6120 , 6130 ) into a power generation circuit.", "First PV cell ( 6120 ) and second PV cell ( 6130 ) are connected in series to one another.", "Blocking diode ( 6140 ) connects the negative terminal ( 6170 ) to second PV cell ( 6130 ).", "Bypass diode ( 6150 ) is connected in parallel to first PV cell ( 6120 ) and second PV cell ( 6130 ).", "The unused diodes ( 6110 , 6160 ) are connected to the circuit by a single terminal.", "The output of first PV cell ( 6120 ) is at the positive terminal ( 6180 ).", "Each PV device ( 6110 , 6120 , 6130 , 6140 , 6150 , 6160 ) shown comprises, on an Upilex® substrate ( 6190 ), a molybdenum conductive layer ( 6200 ), a copper-indium-gallium-selenide device p-type absorber layer ( 6210 ), a cadmium sulfide n-type window layer ( 6220 ), and an indium-tin oxide translucent conductive layer ( 6230 ).", "For each of the diodes ( 6110 , 6140 , 6150 , 6160 ) an additional opaque layer comprising either a metallic contact ( 6250 ) or a thermal insulating layer ( 6240 ) is deposited on the translucent conductive layer ( 6230 ).", "For each PV device ( 6110 , 6120 , 6130 , 6140 , 6150 , 6160 ), there is a filled groove containing a resistive ink insulating layer ( 6260 ) that provides electrical isolation, and a filled groove containing indium tin oxide ( 6270 ) to provide a via for current flow.", "Each PV device ( 6110 , 6120 , 6130 , 6140 , 6150 , 6160 ) is separated from an adjacent device by a third groove ( 6280 ), which, in the present example, remains unfilled.", "FIG. 7 depicts a perspective view, a stylized top view and an enlarged circuit diagram view of an embodiment of the present invention.", "In these depictions one can see an example of a 28 volt power supply module ( 7110 ) utilizing an embodiment of the present invention.", "In the depicted configuration, a blocking diode ( 7120 ) prevents the reverse flow of current through the module ( 7110 ).", "Additionally, a pair of bypass diodes ( 7130 ) is placed in parallel to each string of six PV cells ( 7140 ).", "Finally, two sides of the module provide terminals ( 7150 ), and two sides of the module provide electrical isolation ( 7160 ).", "FIG. 8 is a photograph of an embodiment of the present invention.", "This embodiment comprises three isolated cell strings ( 8110 , 8120 , 8130 ) with bypass diodes ( 8140 , 8150 , 8160 , 8170 , 8180 , 8190 ).", "This module has been laminated for protection.", "FIG. 9 is a close-up photograph of an embodiment of the present invention.", "One can observe the scribes or grooves ( 9200 ) arising from an embodiment of the method of the present invention.", "FIG. 10 is a three-panel depiction of the operation of a PV cell.", "The first panel ( 10010 ) indicates distinguishes between the PV cell ( 10020 ) and the equivalent circuit ( 10030 ).", "The second panel ( 10040 ) depicts the equivalent circuit ( 10030 ) when a suitable amount of illumination is present.", "It is important to note that current ( 10050 ) flows in this situation.", "The third panel ( 10060 ) depicts the equivalent circuit ( 10030 ) when an insufficient amount of illumination is present.", "It is important to note that if any current flows in this situation it is through the diode component ( 10080 ) of the equivalent circuit ( 10030 ).", "FIG. 11 is a depiction of the operation of a module of PV cells ( 11010 ) that utilizes an embodiment of the present invention.", "The top depiction shows the path that current from other modules in a string of modules ( 11020 ) takes when the module ( 11010 ) is sufficiently illuminated.", "The bottom depiction shows the path that current from the other modules in a string of modules ( 11020 ) takes when the module ( 11010 ) is insufficiently illuminated.", "Other embodiments of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and the practice of the invention disclosed herein.", "It is intended that the specification and examples be considered as exemplary only, with a true scope and spirit of the invention being indicated by the following claims." ]

[ "RELATED APPLICATION This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser.", "No. 11/772,053 filed Jun. 29, 2007, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.", "BACKGROUND INFORMATION A network may encounter many types of problems during its operation, such as a device failure, network card failure, network congestions, etc.", "To avoid extended downtime or delays in communication, a typical network element may be equipped with a protection system.", "If the network element detects a problem at one of its communication paths, the network element may automatically switch from a failed path to a working path.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 shows a network in which concepts described herein may be implemented;", "FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an exemplary device of FIG. 1 ;", "FIG. 3 is an exemplary functional block diagram of the device of FIG. 1 ;", "FIG. 4 is an exemplary functional block diagram of routing logic of FIG. 3 ;", "FIGS. 5A and 5B are flowcharts of an exemplary process for intelligently restoring a network;", "and FIG. 6 illustrates an example of intelligently restoring a network.", "DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The following detailed description refers to the accompanying drawings.", "The same reference numbers in different drawings may identify the same or similar elements.", "In addition, while some of the following description is provided mainly in the context of routers or other network elements at layer 2 and/or layer 3 of the Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) Model, the principles and teachings may be applied to different types of network devices at different layers of communication (e.g., a Multi-protocol label switching (MPLS) routers, a Synchronous Optical Network (SONET) element (e.g., add-drop multiplexers, terminal multiplexers, regenerators, etc.), a Gigabit Passive Optical network (GPONs) switches, a Synchronous Digital Hierarchy (SDH) network elements, etc.).", "The term “failure,” as used herein, may refer to a malfunction of a device or a network path, as well as a device or a path condition that no longer provides a required quality-of-service (QOS).", "For example, if a network service requires packets that travel through a path to be delayed less than 100 milliseconds and if the path delays the packets for longer than 100 milliseconds, the path may be deemed as having “failed.”", "The term “recovery,” as used herein, may refer to a recovery of original functions of a failed device or a recovery of the ability of a network path to carry data in its original capacity prior to a failure.", "The term “restore”", "or “restoration,” as used herein, may refer to reintegrating a recovered path or interface as part of a network, of which the recovered path or the interface has been part prior to the failure.", "The term “alarm,” as used herein, may refer to notifications or error messages that indicate defects and anomalies within a network.", "In addition, an alarm may signal a restore and/or a recovery.", "Examples of alarms may include a loss of signal (LOS) alarm, a loss of frame (LOF) alarm, a line alarm indication signal (AIS-L), a packet loss alarm, a packet delay alarm, etc.", "The term “report,” as used herein, may refer to information related to a failure, restore, and/or recovery.", "A report may possibly include information in an alarm, as well as other types of information, such as time between consecutive failures, an action taken by a restore mechanism, a device at which a failure, a restore, and/or a recovery occurs (e.g., a port number, a network address, etc.), a summary of switching events for the recovery/restore, etc.", "In the following, a system may intelligently restore a network after one or more failures.", "If a system detects a second failure at a path or an interface in the network after the first restore, the system may switch its network paths to continue to render network services.", "In addition, the system may measure the duration of time between the first failure and the second failure.", "If the system determines that the failed path/interface is capable of resuming its original operation, the system may wait for a period of time equivalent to the measured duration before restoring the path/interface.", "Should the system experience additional failures at the same path/interface, the system may use the longest period between recent consecutive failures as its wait period before restoring the network.", "In the above, the system “intelligently restores”", "the network paths in the sense that the system accounts for the preceding failures in adjusting the wait period before restoring the network.", "During the failures, recoveries, and restores, the system may send out reports to network element management devices.", "FIG. 1 shows an exemplary network in which concepts described herein may be implemented.", "As shown, network 100 may include network element 102 and a network 104 .", "In practice, network 100 may include additional elements than those illustrated in FIG. 1 .", "Network element 102 may include devices for performing network-related functions, such as a router or a switch (e.g., a provider edge (PE) router in a MPLS network).", "Network 104 may include the Internet, an ad hoc network, a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), a metropolitan area network (MAN), a cellular network, a public switched telephone network (PSTN), any other network, or a combination of networks.", "Network element 102 may communicate with other network elements in network 104 through a wired or wireless communication link.", "FIG. 2 shows an exemplary block diagram of network element 102 .", "As shown, network element 102 may include a processor 202 , memory 204 , interfaces 206 , an interconnect 208 , and a bus 210 .", "In other implementations, network element 102 may include fewer, additional, or different components than those illustrated in FIG. 2 .", "Processor 202 may include one or more processors, microprocessors, application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), field programming gate arrays (FPGAs), and/or processing logic optimized for networking and communications.", "Memory 204 may include static memory, such as read only memory (ROM), dynamic memory, such as random access memory (RAM), for storing data and machine-readable instructions.", "Memory 204 may also include storage devices, such as a floppy disk, a CD ROM, a CD read/write (R/W) disc, and/or flash memory, as well as other types of storage devices.", "Interfaces 206 may include devices for receiving incoming data streams from networks and for transmitting data to networks (e.g., Ethernet card, optical carrier (OC) interfaces, asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) interfaces, etc.).", "Interconnect 208 may include one or more switches or switch fabrics for directing incoming network traffic from one or more of interfaces 206 to others of interfaces 206 .", "Bus 210 may include a path that permits communication among processor 202 , memory 204 , interfaces 206 , and/or interconnects 208 .", "Depending on implementation, the components that are shown in FIG. 2 may provide fewer or additional functionalities.", "For example, if network element 102 performs an Internet Protocol (IP) packet routing function as part of a MPLS router, processor 202 may perform tasks associated with obtaining routing information from other routers in a MPLS network.", "In such cases, conveying network traffic from one interface to another may involve label based routing, rather than IP address based routing.", "FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of a network element 102 that includes a router.", "As shown, network element 102 may include support logic 302 , element management system (EMS)/operations system (OS) 304 , agents 306 , routing logic 308 , forwarding logic 310 , and buffer manager 312 .", "In different implementations, network element 102 may include fewer, additional, or different components than those illustrated in FIG. 3 .", "For example, network element 102 may or may not provide network management functions, and in such instances, network element 102 may possibly not include EMS/OS 304 or agents 306 .", "In another example, if network element 102 does not participate in supporting a remote EMS/OS 304 , network element 102 may possibly not include agents 306 .", "Support logic 302 may include hardware and/or software for performing various support functions for management and operation of network element 102 and/or other network elements.", "For example, support logic 302 may provide Transmission Control Protocol (TCP)/IP stack for facilitating communication between network element 102 and a remote EMS/OS.", "In another example, support logic 302 may provide a user interface via which a network administrator or a user can interact with network element 102 .", "In yet another example, support logic 302 may provide software interfaces between components of FIG. 3 (e.g., interfaces 206 ) and components of FIG. 4 (e.g., forwarding logic 310 ).", "EMS/OS 304 may include hardware and/or software for service provisioning, operations support, network tools integration, and service assurance.", "Service provisioning may include supporting inventory management (e.g., keeping records of network elements), configuration management (e.g., control of sub-network resources, topologies, installation of equipment, etc.), assigning specific services to subscribers, and measurement of the usage of network resources.", "Operations support may include facilitating the use of EMS/OS 304 (e.g., a context sensitive help menus, a graphical desktop window, a low-cost operations platform, etc.).", "Network tools integration may include interfacing EMS/OS 304 with other types of resource management systems (e.g., transaction language (TL1) interfaces to send alarms to network management system (NMS), open database connectivity (ODBC), etc.).", "Service assurance may include fault detection and isolation, collecting performance data, collecting data on network resource utilization, and ensuring quality-of-service (QOS).", "Fault detection and isolation may entail gathering alarms, reports, and fault messages that are provided by other network elements.", "In many implementations, EMS/OS 304 may support transaction language (TL1), as defined in GR-831 by Telcordia Technologies.", "In some implementations, EMS/OS 304 may be compliant with a published recommendation by International Telecommunication Union-Telecommunications Standardization Sector (ITU-T), M[.", "].3010 on telecommunications management network (TMN), and may provide for the common management information protocol (CMIP) and/or the simple network management protocol (SNMP).", "Agents 306 may include hardware and/or software for monitoring and/or controlling components on behalf of a specific EMS/OS that is associated with agents 306 and may communicate with the EMS/OS.", "The monitored components may include a physical device (e.g., a plug-in card, a multiplexer, a switch, etc.) or a logical device, such as a virtual connection or a logical interface.", "In monitoring the components, agent 306 may detect a fault or a recovery of an interface, an interconnect, or any other component of network element 102 and may provide a report of the fault or the recovery to the EMS/OS.", "For example, agents 306 may detect a failure of one of interfaces 206 and may send associated alarms or error messages to a remote EMS/OS.", "In another example, agents 306 may receive commands from a remote EMS/OS and may make appropriate configuration changes to interfaces 206 .", "In some implementations, agents 306 may be attached or connected to other subcomponents of network element 102 that can perform tests on alarms, monitor paths, measure jitter, monitor network synchronization, etc.", "Routing logic 308 may include hardware and/or software for communicating with other routers to gather and store routing information in a routing information base (RIB).", "Forwarding logic 310 may include hardware and/or software for directing a packet to a proper output port on one of interfaces 206 based on routing information in the RIB.", "Buffer manager 312 may provide a buffer for queuing incoming packets.", "If packets arrive simultaneously, one or more of the packets may be stored in the buffer until higher priority packets are processed and/or transmitted.", "FIG. 4 shows an exemplary functional block diagram of routing logic 308 .", "As shown, routing logic 308 may include routing information modification (RIM) logic 402 , intelligent wait to restore (IWTR) logic 404 , and other logic 406 .", "In different implementations, routing logic 308 may include fewer, additional, or different components than those illustrated in FIG. 4 .", "RIM logic 402 may include hardware and/or software for updating path information in accordance with available paths and for sharing path information with other network elements that include RIM logic.", "For example, if RIM logic 402 detects a failure of one of the routes in a RIB, RIM logic 402 may modify the RIB to indicate a particular route as being unavailable to network 100 and may send messages to other network elements in network 104 , to notify them of the changes in its path information.", "In another example, RIM logic 402 may receive a notification from a network element in network 104 that a path has been restored and may update the RIB to indicate the change in network 104 .", "In many implementations, RIM logic 402 may comply with routing protocols, such as constraint-based label distribution protocol (CR-LDP), enhanced interior gateway routing protocol (EIGRP), etc.", "IWTR logic 404 may include hardware and/or software to intelligently restore a path/interface to a network after one or more failures in the path/interface.", "If IWTR logic 404 is notified of a second failure by one of agents 306 at a path/interface in the network after the first restore, IWTR logic 404 may modify its network paths via RIM logic 402 (i.e., make changes to its RIB) network element 102 to continue to render network services.", "In addition, IWTR logic 404 may measure the duration of time between the first failure and the second failure.", "If IWTR logic 404 determines that the failed path/interface is capable of resuming its original operation, IWTR logic 404 may wait for a period of time equivalent to the measured duration before restoring the paths via RIM logic 402 .", "Should the network experience additional failures at the same path/interface, IWTR logic 404 may use the longest period between consecutive failures as its wait period before restoring the path/interface to the network.", "If IWTR logic 404 detects failures, modifies network paths, and/or performs a recovery, IWTR logic 404 may generate alarms and/or reports.", "Each alarm or report may include the time of failure/recovery/restore, a type of failure/recovery/restore, switching events, and/or the severity of failure.", "In some implementations, IWTR logic 404 may provide a report after a restore, and the report may include a summary of the failure/recovery/restore and switching events.", "Depending on implementation, IWTR logic 404 may coordinate with agents 306 in generating alarms or reporting failures.", "For example, in one implementation, IWTR logic 404 may detect faults/recovery via agents 306 , and generate alarms and/or reports that are directed to EMS/OS 304 .", "Other logic 406 may include hardware and/or software for performing functions that are not performed by RIM logic 402 and/or IWTR logic 404 .", "For example, other logic 406 may perform traffic engineering related functions (i.e., locating network congestions, etc.).", "The above paragraphs describe system elements that are related to intelligently restoring network configuration, such as network element 102 , support logic 302 , EMS/OS 304 , agents 306 , routing logic 308 , RIM logic 402 , and IWTR logic 404 .", "FIGS. 5A and 5B depict an exemplary process that is capable of being performed on one or more of these system elements.", "As shown in FIG. 5A , process 500 , at 502 , may detect a first failure in a path/interface.", "In one example, the failure may be detected at one of interfaces 206 via one of agents 306 .", "The detection may be triggered by a loss of signal (LOS), signal degradation alarm indication signal (AIS), loss of frame, etc.", "In another example, the failure may be detected at a remote router that sends information about a failed path/interface through one of a routing message, alarms, or reports to EMS/OS 304 .", "If EMS/OS 304 is notified, EMS/OS 304 , in turn, may notify all routers under its management about the failure.", "In some implementations, IWTR logic 404 may withhold sending an alarm or a problem report until a recovery has been made in response to the failure.", "The failed path/interface may be switched with a spare path/interface (i.e., a protection path/interface) (block 504 ).", "If the switching occurs at the physical layer (i.e., layer 1 of the OSI model), the protection path/interface may be pre-determined and the switching may be performed by one of agents 306 or a specialized program that is part of support logic 302 .", "If the switching occurs at layer 2 or 3 of the OSI model, the protection path/interface may be dynamically determined based on various network conditions, such as congestion, weighting factors that are associated with available paths (e.g., cost), a hop count, etc.", "In such instances, the switching may be performed by making changes to the RIB.", "After the RIB update, packets may be routed in accordance with the changes in the RIB.", "Whether switching the failed path/interface occurs at layer 2 or 3 the OSI model, IWTR logic 404 may send out an alarm and/or a problem report.", "The alarm/problem report may provide the time of failure, the amount of time that elapses before a recovery is made, severity of the failure, description of the failure/recovery, a port number of the device where the failure/recovery is detected, etc.", "At block 506 , a recovery of the failed path/interface may be detected within a first predetermined time.", "The detection may occur at different layers of networking.", "For example, one of agents 306 may detect a recovery of one of interfaces 206 (e.g., physical layer) and EMS/OS 304 and/or IWTR logic 404 may be notified.", "In another example, IWTR logic 404 may receive updated path information from a remote device and may determine that the update indicates a recovered route.", "The recovery may involve recuperation from different types of events, such as a power failure or network congestion.", "In some instances, the recovery may not occur, and process 500 may terminate after the first predetermined time, which may be set by a network administrator or by a component in network element 102 .", "As at block 502 , IWTR logic 404 may send an alarm/problem report to EMS/OS 304 .", "Restoring the recovered path/interface may be delayed for a wait-to-restore period (block 508 ).", "As at block 502 , IWTR logic 404 may either send an alarm/problem report to EMS/OS 304 or a restore.", "If sent, the alarm/problem report may include a wait-to-restore period.", "The wait-to-restore period may be set by a network administrator or by IWTR logic 404 during the previous restoration of the path/interface, for example, to a value between 5-12 minutes.", "The wait-to-restore period may be set at other values, depending on network elements that are included in the network and/or the network configuration.", "The path/interface recovery can be temporary, and observing stability in the path/interface for the wait-to-restore period before restoring the path/interface may increase the chance that the path/interface does not fail again immediately.", "Switching back and forth between the recovered path/interface and the protection path/interface may not be desirable, as the switching itself may introduce additional network delays and instability.", "At block 510 , the recovered path/interface may be restored to the network if there is no further failure during the wait-to-restore period.", "If there is another failure during the wait-to-restore period, the recovered path may not be restored to the network, and process 500 may return to block 506 .", "In many instances, if the recovered path/interface is restored, the recovered path/interface may revert to its configuration prior to the failure.", "For example, a failed network interface which has been experiencing momentary power fluctuations may recover and be returned to its configuration prior to the power fluctuations.", "In other instances, if additional changes are made to the network during the recovery of the path/interface, the path/interface may be reconfigured to be part of a different network path.", "For example, if an input interface to a router fails and recovers and if a number of outgoing interfaces on the same router fails during the recovery of the input interface, the original paths that have been available prior to the failure may not be restored.", "In many implementations, if the recovered path/interface is restored, EMS/OS that controls agents 306 in network element 102 may be notified of the restoration, through either IWTR 404 and/or agents 306 .", "A second failure of the same path/interface may be detected within a second predetermined time (block 512 ).", "In response to the failure, IWTR logic 404 may send another alarm/problem report to EMS/OS 304 .", "The alarm/report may include a description of the second predetermined time (e.g., the duration), in addition to other information.", "If the second failure is not detected within the second predetermined time, process 500 may time out and may begin anew at block 502 .", "The second predetermined time may have been set by a network administrator, and may be, for example set to 20-30 minutes, depending on the network configuration and the network elements.", "At block 514 , the duration of time between the first failure and the second failure may be measured and, at block 516 , the wait-to-restore period may be set approximately equal to or longer than the measured duration.", "One reason behind setting the wait-to-restore period at least to the duration of time between the first and the second failures may be that restorative activities may take time and, therefore, may introduce further network delays.", "By choosing to wait at least as long as the expected time of the next failure, it may be possible to ascertain that the recovery is more likely to be stable.", "Another reason behind setting the wait-to-restore period to the duration of time between the first failure and the second failure may be that the first failure followed by a restore and another failure may be part of a recurring pattern.", "By setting the wait-to-restore to span a period of time that is longer than to the time between the failures, it may be possible to break the pattern.", "As further illustrated in FIG. 5B , the failed path or the interface may be switched with a protection interface or a path (block 518 ).", "Switching may be performed in a manner similar to that described for block 504 .", "If the switching occurs at the layer 2 or 3 of the OSI model and the protection path/interface is dynamically determined, the protection interface or the path may be different from the protection interface at block 504 , as network conditions may have changed.", "At block 520 , a recovery of the failed path/interface may be detected.", "In addition, alarm/problem report may be sent.", "At block 522 , restoring the recovered path/interface may be delayed for the wait-to-restore period.", "At block 524 , the recovered path/interface may be restored to the network if there is no further failure within the wait-to-restore period.", "If there is another failure within the wait-to-restore period, the recovered path/interface may not be restored, and process 500 may return to block 520 .", "Detecting the recovery at block 520 , delaying the restore at block 522 , and restoring the recovered path/interface at block 524 may be performed similarly to the corresponding acts at blocks 506 , 508 , and 510 , respectively.", "At blocks 520 - 522 , proper alarms/problem report may be sent to EMS/OS 304 as at blocks 506 - 510 .", "Additional failures of the path/interface may be detected within the second predetermined time (block 526 ) and the time between the latest failure and the previous failure may be measured (block 528 ).", "Any further failures may be indicative of the persisting failure pattern and may be detected to determine the future wait-to-restore periods.", "Detecting the failed path/interface and measuring the time between the latest failure and the previous failure may be performed similarly to the corresponding acts at blocks 512 and 514 , respectively.", "In addition, an alarm/problem report may be sent to EMS/OS 304 .", "At block 530 , if the latest measured duration is greater than the previous wait-to-restore period, the wait-to-restore period may be reset approximately equal to or longer than the latest measured duration.", "After block 530 , process 500 may continue at block 518 .", "Many changes to the components and the process for intelligently restoring network configuration as described above may be implemented.", "In some implementations, IWTR logic 404 may be implemented within a remote or a local EMS/OS 304 that control agents 306 to reconfigure network elements, interfaces, etc.", "In other implementations, IWTR logic 404 may be integrated into or may interoperate with low level switching logic, such as automatic protection switching (APS) for SONETs (e.g., a bidirectional line switched ring (BLSR), a unidirectional path-switched ring (UPSR), linear 1+1 system, etc.).", "The following example, together with FIG. 6 , illustrates processes that may be involved in restoring a recovered path/interface to a network after one or more failures in accordance with implementations described with respect to FIGS. 2-4 .", "The example is consistent with the exemplary processes described above with reference to FIGS. 5A-5B .", "FIG. 6 shows an exemplary network 600 in which a router 602 may intelligently restore a path/interface to a network 600 .", "As shown, network 600 may include routers 602 - 608 and a server 610 , which may provide various services to clients (e.g., browsers).", "Router 602 may include interfaces 612 - 616 .", "In the example, interface 616 may operate as a spare to interface 614 .", "If interface 614 fails, packets that normally travel through interface 614 may be routed through interface 616 .", "Assume that working interface 614 fails due to a temporary loss of power and the failure is detected by one of agents 306 on router 602 , which reports the failure to a managing EMS/OS.", "When RIM logic 402 within router 602 updates routes in its RIB, the route that includes interface 614 and router 604 to reach router 608 is switched with the route that includes interface 616 and router 606 .", "Upon detection of the failure, agents 306 send an alarm/problem report to EMS/OS 304 .", "About 10 minutes after the failure, interface 614 recovers.", "The recovery is detected by the agent, which notifies the recovery to EMS/OS 304 and IWTR logic 404 via an alarm.", "IWTR logic 404 delays restoring interface 614 for a wait-to-restore period, which, in this example, is preset to 7 minutes.", "After 7 minutes, as there is no additional failure, IWTR logic 404 modifies the RIB, via RIM logic 402 , so that the original route that includes interface 614 and router 604 may be restored in the RIB.", "IWTR logic 404 may report the changes to EMS/OS 304 .", "After the restoration, interface 614 fails again.", "IWTR logic 404 is notified of the failure and, in response, measures the duration of time between the first failure and the second failure.", "In addition, IWTR logic 404 sets the wait-to-restore period to the measured duration.", "The failure causes router 602 to replace the route that includes interface 614 and router 604 in the RIB.", "The changes in router 602 are detected by one or more of agents 306 and IWTR logic 404 and reported to the EMS/OS 304 .", "After the switch, interface 614 recovers and its recovery is detected by the agent for interface 614 .", "The agent sends an alarm to IWTR logic 404 and/or the EMS/OS 304 .", "Restoring interface 614 is delayed for the wait-to-restore period.", "However, assume there are no additional failures, and the route that includes interface 614 and router 604 is thus restored to the network via changes in the RIB.", "Interface 614 operates without additional problems.", "If IWTR logic 404 detects no additional problems, IWTR logic 404 may send a report to EMS/OS 304 indicating that the restoration is complete.", "The above example illustrates how a path/interface may be intelligently restored after a recovery.", "By restoring a recovered path/interface to a network based on information about the past failures, unnecessary switching and network service delays associated with the switching may be avoided.", "In addition, by setting the wait-to-restore to a period of time that is equal to or longer than the time between the consecutive failures, it may be possible to break the failure pattern.", "Furthermore, by sending alarms and/or problem reports to other systems at critical junctures during the restore, the system may inform other devices and/or operators of network failures and resolutions of the failures.", "The foregoing description of implementations provides an illustration, but is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the implementations to the precise form disclosed.", "Modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings or may be acquired from practice of the teachings.", "For example, EMS/OS 304 in the above may be replaced with different network management components, such as a craft (e.g., a local network management node), a Network Management System (NMS), or other types of system for monitoring and managing network devices and/or components.", "In another example, IWTR logic 404 may withhold producing a report until a network is fully restored, to avoid generating reports, messages, or notifications that may appear spurious or redundant.", "In the report, a summary of failures, recoveries, and a restore may be provided in place of a full description.", "In addition, while a series of blocks have been described with regard to the process illustrated in FIGS. 5A and 5B , the order of the blocks may be modified in other implementations.", "For example, block 510 may be performed before block 506 .", "Further, non-dependent blocks may represent blocks that can be performed in parallel.", "For example, blocks 502 - 530 that are performed for one path/interface may be independent of blocks 502 - 530 for a second paths/interface and, therefore, may be performed in parallel to blocks 502 - 530 for the second path/interface.", "Further, it may be possible to omit blocks 504 - 516 .", "It will be apparent that aspects described herein may be implemented in many different forms of software, firmware, and hardware in the implementations illustrated in the figures.", "The actual software code or specialized control hardware used to implement aspects does not limit the invention.", "Thus, the operation and behavior of the aspects were described without reference to the specific software code—it being understood that software and control hardware can be designed to implement the aspects based on the description herein.", "Further, certain portions of the implementations have been described as “logic”", "that performs one or more functions.", "This logic may include hardware, such as a processor, an application specific integrated circuit, or a field programmable gate array, software, or a combination of hardware and software.", "No element, block, or instruction used in the present application should be construed as critical or essential to the implementations described herein unless explicitly described as such.", "Also, as used herein, the article “a”", "is intended to include one or more items.", "Where only one item is intended, the term “one”", "or similar language is used.", "Further, the phrase “based on”", "is intended to mean “based, at least in part, on”", "unless explicitly stated otherwise." ]

[ "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] The invention relates generally to improvements in robotic systems performing automated manipulated functions on workpieces such as automotive vehicle bodies.", "More specifically, the invention pertains to robotic paint finishing of such objects in automatic paint finishing lines of high capacity.", "[0002] Conventional robotic automotive paint finishing booths, such as that depicted in FIGS. 1 a and 1 b utilize multiple paint atomizers as well as robots or reciprocator machines in order to distribute paint across all required surfaces of the object passing through the paint application booth.", "[0003] The paint application process can be performed either on a moving or stationary object, such as a car body.", "In either case, the object is indexed down the finishing line after the paint application process is complete.", "FIGS. 1 a and 1 b set forth a top and cross-sectional view, respectively, of a paint application zone 104 in a paint spray booth 100 .", "Six robots 102 a - f , three on each side of the paint application zone 104 , each carry a paint application or distribution device 107 a - f , such as a rotary bell, carried on a single manipulator arm or arm assembly 103 a - f .", "Conventionally, an automotive chassis 106 is conveyed by a conveyor system 108 down the center of the spray booth through application zone 104 and is painted by the sets of three individual robots with single manipulator arms stationed on either side of the conveyor system 108 .", "[0004] Conventional paint robots 102 a - f as shown in FIGS. 1 a , 1 b typically respectively consist of a base segment 105 a - f which can be stationary or movable in the direction of conveyor system 108 and an arm assembly 103 a - f comprising a vertical arm segment, a horizontal arm segment and a wrist segment holding the paint application device 107 a - f. [0005] The term “arm”, as used herein, is intended to encompass either a manipulator arm composed of a single arm element or an assembly comprising a multi-segment arm, where pairs of the segments may be interconnected by joints as shown in FIGS. 1 a , 1 b. [0006] Such a prior art arrangement has the favorable features of repeatability of design, spare parts and maintenance;", "lower programming effort for identical robot units;", "and favorable downgrade arrangements should one of the robots fail.", "However, the prior art arrangement also presents important disadvantages.", "All robots are of the largest size required to paint the highest and the furthest portions of the object from the paint distribution devices, for example, the roof of the car body 106 shown in FIGS. 1 a , 1 b .", "Additionally, the maximum reach envelope of each robot 102 must be capable of covering both the lowest and the highest point of object 106 .", "This, in turn, requires that all robots 102 a - f be equipped with the largest required reach envelope.", "[0007] An additional disadvantage of the prior art arrangement is that the combined effect of large envelope and high paint applicator relocation speed requires a sturdier robot to cope with the static and dynamic loads that it must handle which, in turn, results in higher total system cost.", "Also disadvantageous is the fact that the robots 102 require a relatively wide booth in order to paint vertical surfaces on object 106 , due to the length of the manipulator arms of the robots.", "The robots 102 require space, either in front or at the back, in order to position the paint application device, such as an atomizer 107 , at a suitable spraying distance in front of the surface to be painted.", "[0008] Additionally, robots 102 often must be moved forward or backward along the line in order to paint the lower portions of part 106 , such as a rocker panel, which requires a relatively longer spray booth paint application zone 104 , along with an additional traveling axis (also known as the X-rail) being provided for robot movement longitudinally along application zone 104 .", "[0009] Finally, another disadvantage of the prior art arrangement is that at least two of the robots 102 perform very simple operations of reciprocating in the vertical surface of part 106 .", "A much simpler machine than a full 7-axis robot can perform this operation.", "SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0010] Accordingly, in a first aspect of the invention, in a robot for performing predetermined operations under direction of a controller, the invention provides an improvement whereunder the robot is equipped with a plurality of manipulatable arms with at least two of the plurality of arms performing like operations.", "[0011] In another aspect of the invention, a robotic system for performing predetermined operations under direction of a controller utilizes a cluster comprising a plurality of single manipulator arm robots such that each of the plurality is coupled to a common mounting stand, with at least two of the plurality of arms performing like operations.", "[0012] In yet another aspect of the invention, a paint finishing booth having a paint application zone utilizes an arrangement of paint application robots wherein a robot cluster has a plurality of commonly controlled manipulator arms, each equipped with at least a paint application device and positioned within the paint application zone of the booth for applying paint at a first side of a workpiece being transported through the application zone.", "[0013] In still a further aspect of the invention, a robotic system for performing predetermined operations under direction of a controller utilizes a cluster of single manipulation arm robots such that at least two bases of the robots extend in different directions toward a mounting end of their respective manipulator arms.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING [0014] The objects and features of the invention will become apparent from a reading of a detailed description, taken in conjunction with the drawing, in which: [0015] [0015 ]FIG. 1 a presents a top plan view of a paint application booth arranged in accordance with prior utilization of single arm robots;", "[0016] [0016 ]FIG. 1 b is a cross-sectional view of the booth of FIG. 1 a;", "[0017] [0017 ]FIG. 2 a is a top plan view of a paint application booth arranged in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention;", "[0018] [0018 ]FIG. 2 b is a cross-sectional view of the booth of FIG. 2 a;", "[0019] [0019 ]FIG. 3 a is a top plan view of a booth arranged in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention;", "[0020] [0020 ]FIG. 3 b is a cross-sectional view of the booth of FIG. 3 a;", "[0021] [0021 ]FIG. 3 c presents details of the mounting arrangement of the first robot cluster of FIGS. 3 a and 3 b;", "[0022] [0022 ]FIG. 3 d details of the mounting arrangement for the robot cluster on the opposite side of the booth of FIG. 3 a;", "[0023] [0023 ]FIG. 4 a sets forth a top plan view of a paint application booth arranged in accordance with a third embodiment of the invention;", "[0024] [0024 ]FIG. 4 b is a cross-sectional view of the booth of FIG. 4 a;", "[0025] [0025 ]FIG. 4 c sets forth details of the mounting arrangement of the first robot cluster of FIGS. 4 a and 4 b ;", "and [0026] [0026 ]FIG. 4 d sets forth the mounting details of the second robot cluster of the booth of FIGS. 4 a and 4 d. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [0027] With reference to FIGS. 2 a and 2 b , a first embodiment of a robotic multi-arm arrangement in conformance with the invention is set forth.", "Paint spray booth 200 encloses a paint application zone 204 along which workpieces such as automotive bodies 206 are transported by a conveyor system 208 .", "[0028] Positioned within paint application zone 204 on opposite sides of the conveyor system 208 are first and second clusters of robot arms or arm assemblies 202 a and 202 b .", "In the embodiment of FIGS. 2 a and 2 b each robot 202 a and 202 b is equipped with a plurality, in this specific example 3 , manipulator arms.", "Robot 202 a has arms or arm assemblies 210 a , 210 b and 210 c associated therewith, while on the opposite side of the booth 200 robot 202 b is equipped with manipulator arms 212 a , 212 b and 212 c .", "Each of the arms 210 and 212 carry at their extremities or wrists a paint application device, such as a rotary bell or other conventional paint application element.", "Arm 210 a carries paint application device 214 a , arm 210 b carries device 214 b and arm 210 c carries device 214 c. Similarly, robot 202 b has paint application device 216 a mounted to arm 212 a , device 216 b mounted to arm 212 b and device 216 c mounted to arm 212 c. While arms 210 a - c and 212 a - c are shown as having two hinged segments, it is to be understood that in all embodiments described herein such arms could comprise single segments, or more than two segments.", "[0029] Placing each cluster of commonly controlled manipulator arms in a common substantially vertical plane substantially reduces the length L 1 of paint application zone 204 in comparison to the length L 2 which would be required for the prior art arrangement set forth in FIGS. 1 a and 1 b .", "This is due to the fact that the arrangement in accordance with the invention reduces the length of the required spray zone by assigning the portions of the part 206 to be coated by individual applicators in a vertical plane rather than in a horizontal direction along the spray booth as shown in the conventional arrangement of FIGS. 1 a and 1 b. [0030] Such multiple manipulator arm clusters are referred to herein as “spider”", "or “octupus”", "robots.", "As with the conventional robots 102 of FIG. 1 a , each arm associated with robots 202 of FIG. 2 a may comprise a vertical, a horizontal and a wrist segment.", "However, the arms and segments are in different lengths, with the option of adding arms in still different sizes to each cluster depending on the portion of the object 206 surface to be painted by a specific arm.", "Compared to the conventional arrangement of FIGS. 1 a , 1 b, the arrangement of FIGS. 2 a , 2 b incorporates a different split of work areas of the individual robot arms 210 and 212 .", "The robots 102 in FIGS. 1 a , 1 b are positioned along the longitudinal extent of the spray booth 100 , and these robots split their work areas according to the front, middle and rear portion of the object 106 to be coated.", "In this prior art arrangement, each robot is able to paint top (horizontal) surfaces, as well as middle and low vertical surfaces of the vehicle body 106 .", "Each robot 102 requires space for its working envelope, and this results in a spray booth length requirement (L 2 of FIG. 2 a ), typically 30 feet and longer for an arrangement with six robots, three on each side of the booth.", "This relatively long spray booth requires a high cost of equipment investment, including ventilation air supply and exhaust, as well as environmental pollution control equipment.", "[0031] The arrangement in accordance with the embodiment of FIGS. 2 a , 2 b requires a much shorter spray booth length L 1 , typically one-half of the length L 2 required for the prior art arrangement.", "If even shorter arms of the robot arrangement in FIGS. 2 a , 2 b are used for lower vertical surfaces of vehicle body 206 (which surfaces are the closest ones to the base of the robots 202 ) the width of the booth is also smaller, since the robots 202 do not require space for their elbows rearwardly of the robot base.", "The individual arms 210 and 212 have reach envelopes which do not have to be as large as those envelopes required for the prior art arrangement of FIGS. 1 a , 1 b .", "Each arm has a limited work area, and it should not interfere with the other arms, due to their different sizes, as illustrated in the cross-sectional view of spray booth 200 in FIG. 2 b .", "Adding additional multiple arm robot sets along the spray booth, if the capacity of the line so requires, should not pose additional problems.", "[0032] Hence, the embodiment of FIGS. 2 a , 2 b offers the advantages of reduced booth length, reduced booth width and less longitudinal activity requirements for the robots 202 , since they operate mostly directly in front of their own bases.", "However, if required by a certain application to optimize the paint finishing process, robots 202 could be mounted on a longitudinal rail.", "[0033] Additionally, the embodiment of FIGS. 2 a , 2 b makes possible economical retrofits of the multi-arm clusters in existing shorter paint booths in older automotive assembly plants having stationary or slightly oscillating paint applicators.", "This enables the addition of the highly flexible robotic system without requiring adding length to the finish line.", "The approach will considerably increase the flexibility of the paint finishing line for new style vehicles coming in a variety of sizes.", "The embodiment of FIGS. 2 a , 2 b further contributes to flexibility of the system through use of robot programming.", "[0034] The embodiment of FIGS. 2 a , 2 b illustrates a principal concept of the invention of providing multiple manipulator arms under common control of the robot, where the arms are all coupled to the same robot base.", "This approach may be limited in some applications, both in the working envelopes of the robot arms and in the availability of specifically required arm lengths in practical process arrangements.", "Hence, it is important to consider alternative embodiments which may, in some cases, allow more flexibility in motion of the individual manipulator arms, allow application of different arm lengths without interfering with each other, and use conventional robot modules in order to combine them into a multiple arm robot solution.", "[0035] With reference to FIGS. 3 a , 3 b, 3 c and 3 d , a first alternate embodiment will now be described.", "The embodiment of FIGS. 3 a - 3 d is based on a combination of a plurality (in this specific example 3 ) of single arm or arm assembly robots mounted to a common mounting stand.", "[0036] As used herein, “common mounting stand”", "is intended to encompass not only the single mounting stands set forth in the drawing, but also slightly separated stands grouped in a cluster with a separation distance between attachment points of the root arms of each robot being less than the length of the longest arm segment of all the arm assemblies in the cluster.", "[0037] Likewise, the term “common controller”", "or “controller”", "is intended to encompass not only a single robot controller, but also a plurality of coordinated controllers, each controlling the motion of the individual robots within a cluster.", "[0038] The invention additionally contemplates separate mounting stands within a cluster, wherein each robot base is mounted such that at least two of the bases extend in different directions toward a connection with their respective arms.", "[0039] Booth 300 has a first manipulator arm cluster 302 a and a second manipulator arm cluster 302 b positioned at opposite sides of a conveyor system 308 which transports workpieces such as automotive bodies, 306 along a central portion of booth 300 through a paint application zone 304 .", "[0040] As seen from FIGS. 3 c , 3 d each robot cluster 302 a , 302 b has its individual single arm robot bases mounted to a rectanguloid mounting stand 303 a for cluster 302 a and 303 b for cluster 302 b .", "The individual robots in each cluster are each mounted to mutually perpendicular or noncoplanar surfaces 305 a for robot base 307 - 1 , 305 B for robot base 307 - 2 , and 305 c for robot base 307 - 3 of cluster 302 a. Similarly, as seen from FIG. 3 d , common stand 303 b presents three surfaces— 305 d for mounting the base of robot 308 - 1 , 305 e for mounting the base of robot 308 - 2 and 305 f for mounting the base of robot 308 - 3 .", "[0041] Each robot of the cluster has coupled thereto a manipulator arm— 310 - 1 for robot 307 - 1 , 310 - 2 for robot 307 - 2 , 310 - 3 for robot 307 - 3 , 311 - 1 for robot 308 - 1 , 311 - 2 for robot 308 - 2 and 311 - 3 for robot 308 - 3 .", "[0042] Also associated with each robot cluster is a plurality of paint application devices, with one or more application devices being associated with each robot manipulator arm.", "For cluster 302 a , the paint distribution or application devices are designated 312 - 1 , 312 - 2 and 312 - 3 associated respectively with manipulator arms 310 - 1 , 310 - 2 and 310 - 3 .", "Similarly, paint distribution or application devices 313 - 1 , 313 - 2 and 313 - 3 are respectively associated with manipulator arms 311 - 1 , 311 - 2 and 311 - 3 of cluster 302 b .", "As used herein, the term “paint distribution or application”", "refers to a process wherein a liquid or powder substance is applied to surfaces of an object, such as a car body.", "[0043] With the arrangement of FIGS. 3 a - d , as with the first embodiment, the required length L 3 of the paint application zone 304 is substantially smaller than that required, L 4 , for the prior art type of robot arrangement.", "[0044] At least one middle robot of each cluster, 307 - 1 for cluster 302 a and 308 - 1 for cluster 302 b, is equipped with arms of the longest reach of the plurality of arms in each cluster.", "This longest arm 310 - 1 and 311 - 1 is responsible for coating the highest vertical surface of body 306 and most of its horizontal surfaces, such as the roof of the body.", "The two side robots of each cluster 307 - 2 , 307 - 3 for cluster 302 a and 308 - 2 , 308 - 3 for cluster 302 b are rotated 90° from their normal orientation such that their vertical arms have become horizontal and almost parallel with the length of the booth.", "This orientation makes both side robots in each cluster completely free in their reciprocative motion over the vertical and lower horizontal surfaces of the object 306 .", "The two side robots of each cluster can be equipped with different or with the same arm lengths depending upon a specific coating process and the shape of the workpiece being coated.", "Additionally, the side robots can be mounted at any angle between 0° and 180° with respect to the middle robot.", "[0045] The embodiment of FIGS. 3 a - d presents a compromise in the required line length.", "The common base 303 a and 303 b of the three robot clusters becomes wider and the motion envelopes require more length of spray booth application zone L 3 , as compared to the length L 1 of FIG. 2 a , but the robot manipulator arms as arranged in FIGS. 3 a - d are given more freedom and flexibility in programming of their required paths of travel.", "In any case, the required application zone length L 3 remains considerably shorter than the conventional required length of the prior art L 4 .", "As an additional advantage, this embodiment can be comprised of commercially available single arm robots, thus avoiding the need for a new special design of a single robot base having a plurality of manipulator arms.", "[0046] A second alternative arrangement set forth in FIGS. 4 a , 4 b , 4 c and 4 d represents an attempt to further reduce the number of robot manipulator arms per cluster from three to two where each two robot cluster set has two robots placed on opposing surfaces of a common carrier, preferably on top and underneath in a vertical arrangement as shown.", "[0047] With reference to FIGS. 4 a - d , booth 400 includes two robot clusters 402 a and 402 b mounted on opposite sides of conveyor system 408 in a paint application zone 404 , along which a workpiece, such as an automotive body 406 is transported.", "[0048] In the embodiment of FIGS. 4 A-D, each paint application robot cluster 402 a, b comprises a set of two single armed robots— 407 - 1 and 407 - 2 for cluster 402 a and 408 - 1 and 408 - 2 for cluster 402 b .", "As seen from FIGS. 4 c and 4 d , the individual robots of each cluster are mounted on top of one another and facing in opposite directions utilizing a common mounting stand, 403 a for cluster 402 a having mounting surfaces 405 a and 405 b facing in opposite directions and respectively mounting the bases of robots 407 - 1 and 407 - 2 .", "Similarly, common mounting stand 403 b for cluster 402 b presents oppositely facing mounting surfaces 405 c and 405 d for respectively mounting bases for robots 408 - 1 and 408 - 2 .", "[0049] Cluster 402 a is equipped with two manipulator arms, 410 - 1 and 410 - 2 , while cluster 402 b has manipulator arms 411 - 1 and 411 - 2 likewise extending in opposite directions at their bases.", "Each arm of each cluster is equipped with a paint application or distribution device 412 - 1 for arm 410 - 1 , 412 - 2 for arm 410 - 2 , 413 - 1 for arm 411 - 1 and 413 - 2 for arm 411 - 2 .", "[0050] Again, the required application zone 404 length L 5 is seen to be substantially shorter, on the order of one-half of the required length L 6 which must be provided for prior art arrangements using horizontally-spaced individual arm robots in accordance with the prior art.", "[0051] The longer arm of each cluster— 410 - 1 and 411 - 1 is mounted above the common stand and is responsible for the horizontal surfaces and upper vertical surfaces of body 406 .", "The shorter arms 410 - 2 and 411 - 2 are responsible for the lower portions of the vertical surfaces of the body 406 .", "[0052] Whether or not one can reduce the number of manipulator arms in each cluster depends upon the available application throughput of the paint application devices 412 .", "[0053] The invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments which are presented for the sake of example only.", "Those skilled in the relevant art will readily recognize that one could combine the various embodiments set forth herein.", "For example, the embodiments of FIGS. 3 a - d and FIGS. 4 a - d could be combined by adding the side robot arms 310 - 2 , 310 - 3 and 311 - 2 and 311 - 3 to the common mounting stands 403 a and 403 b of the embodiment of FIGS. 4 a - d .", "This arrangement would comprise four manipulator arms per cluster and would be suitable for very high production capacities.", "[0054] The scope and spirit of the invention is to be determined by appropriate interpretation of the appended claims." ]

[ "TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] This disclosure relates generally to airflow control for motor vehicles.", "In particular, the disclosure relates to an airflow control assembly for controlling deployment of an air deflector.", "BACKGROUND [0002] As the speed at which a motor vehicle travels increases, because of differences in airspeed and pressure generated underneath the vehicle chassis relative to the top of the vehicle, lift is generated and contact of the vehicle wheels with the road surface decreases slightly.", "This can affect handling and stability, particularly for vehicles being operated at higher speeds.", "To address this problem it is known to provide aerodynamic air deflectors or “air dams”", "for motor vehicles, to assist in managing airflow passing beneath the vehicle.", "By use of such air deflectors, motor vehicle fuel efficiency can be improved.", "Likewise, air deflectors assist in limiting motor vehicle lift.", "For example, vehicle front air dams limit motor vehicle front end lift by creating a down-force, forcing the vehicle nose down and so improving vehicle handling and stability.", "Still more, properly designed front air dams may assist in engine cooling and therefore efficiency.", "Other air deflectors such as spoilers can provide a similar effect, for example by creating a down force near a vehicle rear end to improve rear wheel contact with a road surface.", "[0003] Of necessity, air deflectors extending below the motor vehicle chassis reduce ground clearance.", "This may be of little import when the vehicle is traveling on a smooth road.", "However, when the vehicle is travelling on a rough road, excessive reduction in ground clearance may result in vehicle damage and potentially a loss of stability and handling.", "For example, even if the vehicle does not actually strike an obstacle in the road, sudden braking or steering may cause the vehicle nose to dip or roll, in turn causing a portion of a front air dam to strike the road surface and cause damage and potential impairment of vehicle stability and handling.", "Moreover, at lower speeds the air deflector may not be needed to improve fuel efficiency and handling, and retraction of the air deflector may be desirable.", "[0004] To solve this and other problems, the present disclosure relates to a compact and efficient system for deploying and retracting a motor vehicle air deflector.", "SUMMARY [0005] In accordance with the purposes and benefits described herein, in one aspect of the disclosure an airflow control assembly for a vehicle is described, comprising a vertically translatable air deflector and a plurality of linear actuators actuated in series by a driver to vertically translate the air deflector.", "The air deflector comprises one or more rails configured for sliding translation within one or more cooperating vehicle-mounted tracks.", "In embodiments, the one or more rails are configured as T-channel sliders and the cooperating tracks define corresponding female receivers.", "A controller may be operatively connected to the driver.", "In embodiments, the driver may be a fluid driver.", "[0006] In embodiments, the controller comprises logic including executable instructions to cause vertical translation of the air deflector to a predetermined position according to a vehicle rate of travel.", "In embodiments, the driver is a hydraulic pump which may be reversibly operated to selectively cause the plurality of linear actuators to raise or lower the air deflector.", "In embodiments, each of the plurality of linear actuators is a hydraulic piston, the plurality of linear actuators in combination with the hydraulic pump defining a hydraulic circuit.", "[0007] In the following description, there are shown and described embodiments of the disclosed air deflector assembly and of an airflow control system.", "As it should be realized, the devices and systems are capable of other, different embodiments and their several details are capable of modification in various, obvious aspects all without departing from the devices as set forth and described in the following claims.", "Accordingly, the drawings and descriptions should be regarded as illustrative in nature and not as restrictive.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0008] The accompanying drawing figures incorporated herein and forming a part of the specification, illustrate several aspects of the disclosed air deflector assembly, and together with the description serve to explain certain principles thereof.", "In the drawings: [0009] FIG. 1 shows a vehicle including a front air dam;", "[0010] FIG. 2 shows an active air deflector according to the present disclosure;", "[0011] FIG. 3 shows in isolation an air deflector-mounted rail and cooperating vehicle-mounted track for the active air deflector if FIG. 2 ;", "[0012] FIG. 4 shows a linear actuator for actuating the air deflector for vertical translation by the rail and cooperating track of FIG. 3 ;", "[0013] FIG. 5 is a schematic depiction of an airflow control assembly according to the present disclosure;", "[0014] FIG. 6 is a schematic depiction of a control system for the airflow control assembly of FIG. 5 ;", "and [0015] FIG. 7 is a flow chart depicting control logic for controlling the airflow control assembly of FIG. 5 via the control system of FIG. 6 .", "[0016] Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the disclosed air deflector assembly and airflow control system, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawing figures.", "DETAILED DESCRIPTION [0017] Preliminarily, the present disclosure describes a vehicle air deflector primarily in the context of a front-mounted air deflector for altering air flow beneath/around a vehicle chassis, specifically a front air dam.", "However, the skilled artisan will appreciate that the disclosed systems and devices are readily adaptable to other types of vehicle air deflector, including without intending any limitation fender flares, side skirt cribs, top and/or rear spoilers, and others.", "Application of the presently described devices and systems to all such embodiments is contemplated herein.", "[0018] With reference to FIG. 1 , as described above it is known to provide a motor vehicle 100 including a translatable aerodynamic front air deflector 120 disposed substantially adjacent and behind a vehicle bumper 140 and deployable downwardly from the vehicle to control airflow (see arrows) below the vehicle 100 .", "The air dam 120 reduces airflow below the vehicle, thereby reducing the tendency of the nose of the vehicle to lift when traveling at speed.", "Likewise, by use of translatable air dams 120 having a variety of configurations, airflow below the vehicle can be increased or decreased as needed to assist in cooling underbody components.", "[0019] However, such translatable air deflector systems can be unduly complex and costly.", "To solve this and other problems, with reference to FIG. 2 there is shown a vehicle air deflector assembly 200 according to the present disclosure, associated with a vehicle bumper 202 .", "The assembly 200 includes a driver 204 configured to actuate a plurality of linear actuators 206 in series, i.e. as a unit, to vertically translate an air deflector 208 (arrows A).", "[0020] The air deflector is configured for vertical translation by one or more air deflector-mounted rails 210 configured to be slidingly received by one or more cooperating vehicle mounted tracks (not shown in this view).", "In an embodiment (see FIG. 3 ), the air deflector-mounted rails 210 are configured as T-channel sliders, and the vehicle-mounted tracks define cooperating female receivers therefore on a vehicle surface, for example cooperating tracks 300 associated with the vehicle belly pan 302 .", "However, it will be appreciated that other configurations for rails 210 and tracks 300 are possible, and contemplated for use herein.", "[0021] In an embodiment (see FIG. 4 ), each linear actuator 206 includes a piston head 400 coupled to a drive shaft 402 which in turn is operationally coupled to the air deflector 202 .", "The piston head 400 is received in an interior chamber 404 such that an upper chamber 406 and a lower chamber 408 are defined.", "The upper chamber 406 includes an inlet 410 a and the lower chamber 408 includes an inlet 410 b , allowing placing the upper and lower chambers 406 , 408 in fluid operational communication with the driver 204 (not shown in this view).", "As will be appreciated and further described below, supplying a driving fluid to the upper chamber 406 via inlet 410 a will displace the piston head 400 downwardly, causing the air deflector 202 to deploy by likewise translating vertically downwardly.", "Conversely, supplying a driving fluid to the lower chamber 408 via inlet 410 b will displace the piston head 400 upwardly, causing the air deflector 202 to retract by likewise translating vertically upwardly.", "[0022] In embodiments, a distance traveled by the air deflector 208 when deploying is determined by a stroke length of the piston head 400 /drive shaft 402 .", "[0023] The piston head 400 may include a seal 412 for controlling a fluid leakage between upper chamber 406 and lower chamber 408 .", "In embodiments, a seal 412 is selected which allows a limited fluid leakage between upper chamber 406 and lower chamber 408 , which as will be appreciated provides a self-bleeding function to remove air from the high pressure side of the piston head 400 .", "[0024] In the depicted embodiment, driver 204 is a fluid driver such as a reversible hydraulic pump supplied by a reservoir 500 with a suitable hydraulic fluid 502 .", "As shown, the reversible hydraulic pump driver 204 includes two fluid outlets 504 a , 504 b .", "Fluid outlet 504 a is in serial fluid communication with each actuator inlet 410 a , and fluid outlet 504 b is in serial fluid communication with each actuator inlet 410 b , such as by suitable hoses 506 .", "Thus, as will be appreciated the hydraulic pump 204 motor may be actuated in a first direction to supply fluid to hydraulic actuators upper chambers 406 to vertically translate piston head 400 and thereby air deflector 208 downwardly.", "By reversing the polarity of the motor, fluid is supplied to hydraulic actuators lower chambers 408 to vertically translate piston head 400 and thereby air deflector 208 upwardly.", "[0025] A representative control system 600 is shown in FIG. 6 .", "As shown, the system includes a power source 602 such as a vehicle battery, in electrical communication with the driver 204 and a controller 604 .", "The controller may be any suitable existing or supplied controller or microcontroller.", "In the depicted embodiment, the controller 604 is the vehicle Body Control Module (BCM), which is already advantageously adapted and adaptable for controlling a variety of vehicle systems.", "As shown, the power source 602 and controller 604 are in electrical communication with the driver 204 , for operating the driver reversibly as summarized above.", "[0026] In turn, the controller 604 is provided with logic for controlling operation of the driver 204 according to a variety of inputs.", "The logic may include computer-executable instructions for operating the driver 204 in a first direction and in a second direction based on an input from a vehicle system 606 .", "In the depicted embodiment of FIG. 6 , the controller 604 is configured for receiving an input from the vehicle speedometer 606 .", "At a high level, as the vehicle 100 reaches a predetermined speed, the controller 604 on receiving the input from the speedometer 606 that the predetermined speed has been reached or exceeded issues a signal to the driver 204 to perform a predetermined operation of actuating the linear actuators 206 to vertically translate the air deflector 208 (not shown in this view) as needed.", "[0027] A representative control logic 700 flow is shown in FIG. 7 .", "In the depicted example, deployment of the air deflector 208 is controlled by a vehicle 100 speed, and therefore the configuration of the control system 600 is substantially as depicted in FIG. 6 .", "At a Start point (step 700 ), for example when the vehicle 100 motor is started, the system is activated.", "At step 702 a determination is made whether the vehicle 100 is traveling at a first preset speed, such as by input provided from the speedometer 606 to the controller 604 .", "If so, at step 704 a command is issued leading to a delayed deployment of the air deflector 208 , for example by initiating a 10 second timer included in the controller 604 logic.", "In one non-limiting example, the first preset speed could be 40 miles/hour, indicative that the vehicle is accelerating to a speed wherein deployment of an air dam 208 would be beneficial to fuel economy, motor cooling, etc.", "[0028] In addition to or in place of step 704 , logic 700 may include a step 706 of determining whether the vehicle 100 is traveling at a second preset speed, such as by input provided from the speedometer 606 to the controller 604 .", "If not, the timer initiated at step 704 continues to run.", "If so, at step 708 a command is issued causing deployment of the air deflector 208 .", "As will be appreciated, the deployment of air deflector 208 occurs by a command issued by controller 604 actuating driver 204 to supply fluid to first chambers 406 of linear actuators 206 via inlets 410 a , thus causing deployment of air deflector 208 as described above.", "In one non-limiting example, the second preset speed could be 50 miles/hour, being a speed at which it has been determined that deployment of an air dam 208 would be beneficial to fuel economy, motor cooling, etc.", "[0029] Likewise, the system 700 is configured to retract the air deflector 208 at need.", "In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 7 , at step 710 a determination is made whether the vehicle 100 speed has decreased to at or below the second preset speed, again such as by input provided from the speedometer 606 to the controller 604 .", "If not, the air deflector 208 remains deployed.", "If so, at step 712 a command is issued leading to a delayed retraction of the air deflector 208 , for example by initiating a 10 second timer included in the controller 604 logic.", "Vehicle 100 speed decreasing to the second preset speed would serve as an indicator that the vehicle is approaching rough ground necessitating retraction of the air deflector 208 , or that the vehicle is decelerating to a speed where deployment of the air deflector is not beneficial.", "[0030] In addition to or in place of step 712 , logic 700 may include a step 714 of determining whether the vehicle 100 speed has decreased to at or below the first preset speed, again such as by input provided from the speedometer 606 to the controller 604 .", "If not, the timer initiated at step 712 continues to run.", "If so, at step 716 a command is issued causing retraction of the air deflector 208 .", "As will be appreciated, the retraction of air deflector 208 occurs by a command issued by controller 604 actuating driver 204 to supply fluid to second chambers 408 of linear actuators 206 via inlets 410 b , thus causing retraction of air deflector 208 as described above.", "Vehicle 100 speed decreasing to the first preset speed would serve as an indicator that the vehicle has encountered rough ground necessitating retraction of the air deflector 208 .", "Alternatively, at the first preset speed it may have been determined that deployment of the air deflector is not beneficial.", "[0031] Of course, the above parameters are presented as examples only, and are not to be taken as limiting.", "For example, the first and second preset speeds, the timer delays, etc.", "can be adjusted as needed in accordance with the vehicle type, capacity of the driver 204 and air deflector 208 , and in accordance with other parameters.", "[0032] Thus, by the above-described structures and mechanisms, an airflow control assembly and system are provided for raising and lowering of an air deflector in accordance with a vehicle speed and other parameters.", "The system is simple, robust, and efficient, requiring only a single driver 204 for operation and controllable from existing vehicle controllers provided input from existing vehicle systems such as the speedometer.", "Obvious modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings.", "All such modifications and variations are within the scope of the appended claims when interpreted in accordance with the breadth to which they are fairly, legally and equitably entitled." ]

[ "[0001] This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. P2005-0107630, filed on Nov. 10, 2005, which is hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes as if fully set forth herein.", "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1.", "Field of the Invention [0003] The present invention relates to an ink jet device, and more particularly to an ink jet device that prevents the formation of bad ink patterns as well as improving the life span of the ink jet device.", "[0004] 2.", "Description of the Related Art [0005] An ink jet device is a printing device that sprays ink through a plurality of nozzles by pressing the ink using a piezoelectric device or a heater, thereby printing a letter or picture on a printing paper.", "The ink jet device sprays ink, including dye ink, organic pigment, or carbon black through the nozzle in order to print a letter or picture while operating a printing head having a plurality of nozzles, thereby forming a minute dot in a paper.", "And, a set of minute dots records the letter or picture on the paper.", "[0006] Recently, it has been proposed to form wire lines and a spacer for a liquid crystal display panel by use of the ink jet device, especially, an ink jet device that uses a piezoelectric device that sends out ink and does not require a heating process.", "[0007] Further, the ink jet device that forms the wire line, spacer, etc.", "of the flat panel display panel forms the wire line and spacer by spraying material such as minute metal particles for the wire line and ball spacers for the spacers of the flat panel display panel.", "The discharged material includes solvent besides the minute metal particles and ball spacers that are the materials for forming the patterns of the wire line and spacer.", "The material for forming the patterns is mixed into the solvent, thereby being sprayed through the ink jet device.", "[0008] In the case where the material for forming the patterns is the minute metal particle, the discharged matter of the ink jet device is composed of the mixture of the solvent and the minute metal particle of 1-100 nm.", "In the case where the material for forming the patterns is the ball spacer, the discharged material of the ink jet device is composed of the mixture of the solvent and the ball spacer of 10 μm or less.", "To describe more specifically about the discharged material for forming the spacer, the ball spacer is made from a material of polystyrene, etc of 3-15 μm in diameter, and the solvent mixed with the ball spacer may include water, IPA (isopropyl alcohol), glycerol, etc.", "[0009] The discharged material is sprayed through the nozzles, thereby producing a desired pattern.", "The desired pattern is directed by a host computer (not shown) included in the ink jet device.", "[0010] FIG. 1 is a diagram briefly representing ink jet device of the related art, and an area ‘A’ of FIG. 1 is illustrated for explaining an ink jet head more specifically.", "[0011] Referring to FIG. 1 , the ink jet device for spraying the minute metal particles or the ball spacers includes an ink jet head 1 having a plurality of nozzles 9 that discharges a material, and a storing part 11 that stores the discharged material.", "[0012] Further, the ink jet device further includes: a pump 13 and a circulation path 23 that are formed between the storing part 11 and the ink jet head 1 in order to prevent precipitation and cohesion of the ball spacers or the minute metal particles of the discharged material stored at the storing part 11 ;", "first to third supply tubes 21 , 22 , 24 providing a passage through which the discharged material or cleaning water is supplied;", "a cleaning water supplier 15 that supplies the cleaning water for cleaning impurities or the precipitated minute particles of the inner part of the supply tube or the ink jet head part 1 ;", "a discharging part 17 for sending out the cleaning water including the precipitated minute particles;", "and first and second valves 31 , 33 for controlling the flow of the cleaning water or the discharged material between the first to third supply tubes 21 , 22 , 24 .", "[0013] The storing part 11 acts to store the discharged material for the pattern to be formed.", "[0014] The storing part 11 is connected to the first supply tube 21 that provides a passage through which the discharged material may move, and the first supply tube 21 has the second valve 33 that determines whether or not the discharged material is discharged through the head part 1 .", "[0015] The discharged material stored at the storing part 11 moves to the ink jet head 1 along the first supply tube 21 and the third supply tube 24 that connects the first supply tube 21 and the ink jet head 1 when only the second valve 33 is opened.", "[0016] The ink jet head 1 further includes a collecting and delivering part 3 connected to the third supply tube 24 to accumulate the discharged material supplied from the storing part 11 ;", "a plurality of chambers 5 connected to the collecting and delivering part 3 to receive the discharged material accumulated at the collecting and delivering part 3 ;", "and a plurality of nozzles 9 connected to a plurality of chambers 5 to form a pattern by spraying the discharged material.", "[0017] The collecting and delivering part 3 acts to send out the discharged material transmitted from the third supply tube 24 .", "[0018] The chambers 5 act to cause the discharged material supplied from the collecting and delivering part 3 to be sprayed through the nozzle 9 .", "The piezoelectric device is adjacent to each of the chambers 5 in order to spray the discharged material through the nozzle 9 .", "Each of the piezoelectric devices is controlled by a host computer.", "In the ink jet device, when the piezoelectric device operates according to the control signal of the host computer, pressure is applied to the inside of the chamber 5 , and the discharged material inside of the chamber 5 is sprayed through the nozzle 9 by the pressure.", "The ink jet device may form a desired pattern through the sprayed discharged material, and the operation of the piezoelectric device is controlled in accordance with the desired pattern.", "[0019] On the other hand, the discharged material stored at the storing part 11 includes minute particles such as minute metal particles or ball spacers, thus if a long time lapses, the minute particles included in the discharged material might be precipitated or cohered.", "In order to prevent the precipitation and cohesion of the minute particles, the circulation path 23 .", "and the pump 13 are connected between the first supply tube 21 and the storing part 11 .", "[0020] The circulation path 23 is a stirring means which makes it possible for the discharged material stored at the storing part 11 to flow all the time.", "The minute particles included in the discharged material are prevented from precipitating or cohering by the circulation path 23 acting as a stirring means.", "[0021] The pump 13 acts to provide a driving force to the discharge material so that the discharged material stored at the storing part 11 moves through the circulation path 23 .", "[0022] Further, when using the ink jet device for a long time, the inside of the head part 1 may be contaminated with the precipitation, cohesion, adherence, etc.", "of the minute particles included in the discharged material.", "In order to remove the contaminant, an operator first closes the second valve 33 of the ink jet device and impedes the supply of the discharged material.", "Then, the operator opens the first valve 31 connected to the cleaning water supplier 15 so that the cleaning water can flow through the second supply tube 22 connected to the first valve 31 and the third supply valve 24 connected to the second supply valve 22 .", "The cleaning water is discharged to the outside by flowing along the collecting and delivering part 3 connected to the third supply tube 24 , the chamber 5 connected to the collecting and delivering part 3 , and the nozzle 9 connected to the chamber 5 through the third supply tube 24 .", "In this way, the cleaning water discharges the contaminant inside the head part 1 as the cleaning water is discharged to the outside through the head part 1 .", "[0023] In order to make the discharge of the contaminant more effective, the ink jet device might further include a discharging part 17 including a discharging tube 25 connected to the head part 1 and a third valve 35 connected to the discharging tube 25 .", "[0024] As described above, the ink jet device may eliminate the contaminant inside of the head part 1 by the cleaning water.", "The cleaning water flows by hydraulic pressure in the cleaning water supplier 15 to remove the contaminant.", "However, the hydraulic pressure applied to the cleaning water supplier 15 might damage the head part 1 , thus the strength of pressure that may be applied to the cleaning water supplier 15 is limited.", "Further, the pressure applied to the cleaning water supplier 15 can push out the contaminant only in a direction that the discharged material is sprayed.", "Because of the fact that the pressure applied for cleaning the head part 1 is provide only in the one direction that the discharged material is sprayed and that the strength is limited, the contaminant P resides behind at the corner inside of the chamber 5 and the collecting and delivering part 3 .", "There is a problem because the remaining contaminant P, when being left alone for a long time, causes the head part 1 to clog, thus shortening the life span of the ink jet device and then forming a bad pattern.", "SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0025] Accordingly, the present invention is directed to an ink jet device that substantially obviates one or more of the problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art.", "[0026] An advantage of the present invention is to provide an jet device that is adaptive for preventing formation of a bad pattern as well as improving the life span of the ink jet device.", "[0027] Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention.", "The objectives and other advantages of the invention will be realized and attained by the structure particularly pointed out in the written description and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings.", "[0028] In order to achieve these and other objects of the invention, an ink jet device according to an aspect of the present invention includes: a maintaining/repairing stage filled with cleaning water;", "a plurality of nozzles to be submerged into the maintaining/repairing stage filled with the cleaning water;", "a plurality of chambers connected to the nozzles in a one-to-one relationship, wherein a volume of each chamber is variable by a pressing means;", "a supply tube that supplies a discharged material;", "a discharging tube that discharges a contaminant and the cleaning water from at least one of the nozzle and the chamber;", "a collecting and delivering part connected to the supply tube, the discharging tube and the chambers that supplies the discharged material from the supply tube to the chambers and supplying the contaminant and the cleaning water from the chambers to the discharging tube;", "and a pump connected to the discharging tube that pumps the contaminant and the cleaning water to the discharging tube.", "[0029] It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0030] The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention.", "[0031] In the drawings: [0032] FIG. 1 is a diagram briefly representing ink jet device of the related art;", "[0033] FIG. 2 is a diagram briefly representing ink jet device according to the present invention;", "and [0034] FIG. 3 is a diagram representing a part of the ink jet device shown in FIG. 2 .", "DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT [0035] Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.", "[0036] With reference to FIGS. 2 and 3 , embodiments of the present invention will be explained as follows.", "[0037] FIG. 2 is a diagram briefly representing an ink jet device according to the present invention.", "[0038] Referring to FIG. 2 , the ink jet device according to the present invention sends out a discharged material that is a mixture where minute particles are mixed into a liquid by a pressing means that uses a piezoelectric device or heater.", "[0039] The ink jet device might be used for forming wire lines of a flat panel display panel and spacers of a liquid crystal display panel.", "Especially, the ink jet device uses a piezoelectric device that sprays ink without a heating process.", "[0040] Further, in order to form the wire lines, spacers, etc.", "of the flat panel display panel, the ink jet device sprays a discharged material such as minute metal particles to form wire lines, ball spacers being a material for forming spacers, etc.", ", thereby forming a wire line pattern and spacer.", "The discharged material has a solvent mixed thereinto except the minute metal particles and ball spacers that are the material for forming the patterns of the wire line and spacer.", "The materials for forming the patterns are mixed into the solvent so that they can be sprayed through the ink jet device.", "[0041] When the material for forming the patterns is the minute metal particles, the discharged material of the ink jet device is composed of a mixture of the minute metal particles a few nanometers m to several hundreds of nanometers in size and the solvent.", "[0042] When the material for forming the patterns is the ball spacer, the discharged material of the ink jet device is composed of a mixture of the ball spacers of ten micrometers or less and the solvent.", "More specifically, the ball spacer is made from a material such as polystyrene of 3˜15 μm in diameter, etc.", "The solvent mixed with the ball spacer may be composed of water, isopropyl alcohol IPA, glycerol, etc.", "[0043] The discharged material is sprayed through a plurality of nozzles, thus a desired pattern is patterned, wherein the desired pattern is directed by a host computer included in the ink jet device.", "[0044] Referring to FIG. 2 , the ink jet device includes a head part 101 including a plurality of nozzles discharging a discharged material;", "and a storing part 111 for storing the discharged material.", "[0045] On the other hand, the discharged material for forming the pattern of the wire lines of the flat panel display panel or the spacer of the liquid crystal display panel as described above includes minute particles such as the minute metal particle or the ball spacer.", "Because the discharged material includes the minute particles and in order to prevent the minute particles included in the discharged material from being precipitated and cohered, the ink jet device includes a first pump 113 and a circulation path 123 between the storing part 111 and the head part 101 .", "The ink jet device according to the present invention further includes: a first cleaning water supplier 147 to supply cleaning water for cleaning the precipitated and adhered minute particles inside of the head part 101 in a reverse direction to the spraying of the discharged material;", "a maintaining/repairing stage 141 where the head part 101 may be submerged into liquid;", "and a first discharging part 117 for discharging cleaning water including the minute particles that are precipitated and cohered.", "[0046] The ink jet device according to the present invention might further include a second cleaning water supplier 115 for supplying the cleaning water for cleaning the precipitated and cohered minute particles in the same direction as the spraying of the discharged material.", "[0047] Referring to FIG. 2 in conjunction with FIG. 3 , the head part 101 includes: a collecting and delivering part 103 connected to a first supply tube 124 that supplies the discharged material supplied from the storing part 111 for accumulating the discharged material;", "a plurality of chambers 105 connected to the collecting and delivering part 103 to receive the discharged material accumulated at the collecting and delivering part 103 ;", "and a plurality of nozzles 109 connected to the plurality of chambers 105 to form a pattern by spraying the discharged material.", "[0048] The collecting and delivering part 103 sends out the discharged material supplied from the first supply tube 124 to the chambers 105 through a fluid path 107 A. Further, the collecting and delivering part 103 might be a stirring means as it is vibrated by a vibrating means so that the discharged material may maintain its uniformity.", "[0049] The chambers 105 cause the discharged material supplied from the collecting and delivering part 103 to be sent to the nozzle 109 through a fluid path 107 B, thereby spraying the discharged material through the nozzle 109 .", "The piezoelectric device is adjacent to each of the chambers 105 in order to spray the discharged material through the nozzle 109 .", "Each of the piezoelectric devices is controlled by the host computer to operate.", "If the piezoelectric device operates according to the control signal of the host computer, pressure is applied to the inside of the chamber 105 , and the discharged material inside the chamber 105 is sprayed through the nozzle 109 by the pressure.", "A desired pattern may be formed through the sprayed discharged material, and an operator only controls the operation of the piezoelectric device in accordance with the desired pattern.", "[0050] On the other hand, when using the ink jet device for a long time, the inside of the head part 101 might be contaminated as the minute particles included in the discharged material are precipitated, cohered and adhered.", "In order to remove the contaminant, an operator firstly closes the first valve 133 installed at a second supply tube 121 which connects the storing part 111 and the first supply tube 124 of the ink jet device, thereby preventing the discharged material from being supplied to the head part 101 .", "Then, the operator opens the second valve 131 installed at the second cleaning supply tube 122 that connects the second cleaning water supplier 115 and the first supply tube 124 so that the cleaning water supplied from the second cleaning water supplier 115 flows to the first supply tube 124 along the second cleaning water supply tube 122 .", "The cleaning water supplied from the second cleaning water supplier 115 is discharged from the head part 101 by flowing along the collecting and delivering part 103 connected to the first supply tube 124 , the chamber 105 connected to the collecting and delivering part 103 , and the nozzle 109 connected to the chamber 105 through the first supply tube 124 .", "In this way, the cleaning water discharges the contaminant inside of the head part 101 through the head part 101 .", "Further, the direction of discharging the contaminant inside the head part 101 with the cleaning water supplied from the second cleaning water supplier 115 is the same as the direction of discharging the discharged material.", "[0051] As described above, the contaminant discharged through the second cleaning supplier 115 is discharged in the direction of discharging the discharged material, thus the contaminant P residing in the corner of the inside of the collecting and delivering part 103 and the chamber 105 that are included in the head part 101 is hard to get rid of.", "Accordingly, in order to more effectively remove the contaminant of the inside of the head part 101 , especially, the contaminant residing in the corner of the inside of the chamber 105 and the collecting and delivering part 103 , the ink jet device according to the present invention includes: a first discharging part 117 connected to the head part 101 for discharging the contaminant;", "a maintaining/repairing stage 141 provided so that the head part 101 may be submerged into liquid;", "and a first cleaning water supplier 147 for supplying the cleaning water for removing the contaminant in the maintaining/repairing stage 141 .", "[0052] A method of removing the contaminant P residing in the corner inside the chamber 105 and the collecting and delivering part 103 through the first cleaning water supplier 147 will be described.", "[0053] In order to remove the contaminant P residing in the corner inside the chamber 105 and the collecting and delivering part 103 , the operator firstly closes the first and second valves 133 , 131 .", "Because the first and second valves 133 , 131 are closed, the discharged material flows into the head part 101 or the cleaning water is supplied from the second cleaning water supplier 115 .", "Then, the operator puts the head part 101 into the liquid in the maintaining/repairing stage 141 , and the cleaning water 155 may be supplied to the maintaining/repairing stage 141 from the first cleaning water supplier 147 .", "In order to supply the cleaning water 155 to the maintaining/repairing stage 141 , the maintaining/repairing stage 141 is connected to the first cleaning water supplier 147 through the first cleaning water supply tube 143 , and a third valve 151 is installed at the first cleaning water supplier 147 .", "The third valve 151 controls amount of the cleaning water supplied from the first cleaning water supplier 147 to supply the cleaning water to the maintaining/repairing stage 141 .", "The operator opens the third valve 151 so that the cleaning water 155 may be supplied to the maintaining/repairing stage 141 .", "As the third valve 151 is opened, the cleaning water supplied through the cleaning water supplier 147 is supplied to the maintaining/repairing stage 141 through the first cleaning water supply tube 143 to fill the maintaining/repairing stage 141 .", "The cleaning water 155 filled in the maintaining/repairing stage 141 is discharged along with the contaminant P residing in the corner of the inside of the chamber 105 and the collecting and delivering part 103 through the first discharging part 117 connected to the head part 101 .", "[0054] The first discharging part 117 includes: a first discharging tube 125 that is a path for the cleaning water including the contaminant P;", "a first pump 119 for applying pressure so that the cleaning water 155 of the maintaining/repairing stage 141 can be discharged through the first discharging part 117 ;", "and a third valve 135 disposed between the first pump 119 and the head part 101 .", "[0055] As described above, if the third valve 135 is opened and the first pump 119 is activated when the first and second valves 133 , 131 are closed and the head part 101 is submerged into the maintaining/repairing stage 141 filled with the cleaning water 155 , the cleaning water 155 is drawn inside the head part 101 by the pressure applied through the first pump 119 of the maintaining/repairing stage 141 .", "The first pump 119 operates until the cleaning water 155 is discharged out of the head part 101 through the first discharging tube 125 .", "[0056] The contaminant P residing in the corner of the inside of the chamber 105 and the collecting and delivering part 103 is discharged along with the cleaning water 155 through the first discharging part 117 because it can float in the cleaning water 155 as the cleaning water 155 filled in the maintaining/repairing stage 141 is discharged in a direction opposite to spraying the discharged material by the operation of the second pump 119 .", "[0057] As described above, the ink jet device according to the present invention may get rid of the contaminant inside the head part 101 using the cleaning water 155 .", "Especially, the cleaning water 155 supplied to the maintaining/repairing stage 141 from the first cleaning water supplier 147 is pumped in the opposite direction of discharging the discharged material by use of the first discharging part 117 , thereby making it possible to effectively get rid of the contaminant P residing in the corner of the inside of the chamber 105 and the collecting and delivering part 103 .", "[0058] In this way, the ink jet device according to the present invention gets rid of contaminants in the head part 101 both in the direction of and in the reverse direction of discharging the discharged material, thereby enabling the removal of even the contaminant P residing in the corner of the inside of the chamber 105 and the collecting and delivering part 103 .", "Accordingly, the present invention may improve the life span of the ink jet device and prevent bad patterns from being formed because of a clogged head part 101 caused by contaminants P remaining for a long time in the corner inside the chamber 105 and the collecting and delivering part 103 .", "is prevented.", "[0059] Further, the ink jet device according to the present invention further includes a second discharging part 149 connected to the maintaining/repairing stage 141 .", "[0060] The second discharging part 149 includes a second discharging tube 145 providing a path for the cleaning water including the contaminant and a fifth valve 153 controlling the flow of the cleaning water.", "The cleaning water including the contaminant is discharged through the second discharging tube 145 .", "[0061] The ink jet device according to the present invention may be made to open the fifth valve 153 of the second discharging part 149 to discharge the cleaning water including of the contaminant through the second discharging part 149 when getting rid of the contaminant in the direction of discharging the discharged material.", "[0062] Further, the second discharging part 149 discharges the cleaning water 155 supplied to the maintaining/repairing stage 141 by opening the fifth valve 153 , thereby acting to prevent the cleaning water 155 supplied from the maintaining/repairing stage 141 from overflowing the maintaining/repairing stage 141 .", "[0063] On the other hand, the storing part 111 stores the discharged material to supplies the discharged material to the head part 101 when forming the pattern.", "[0064] The storing part 111 is connected to the second supply tube 121 that provides a passage through which the discharged material may travel, and the second supply tube 121 is connected to the first valve 133 that determines whether or not the discharged material is supplied to the head part 101 .", "[0065] The discharged material stored in the storing part 111 includes the minute particles, thus there is possibility that the minute particles included in the discharged material are precipitated or cohered as a long time passes.", "In order to prevent the precipitation and cohesion of the minute particles, a circulation path 123 is connected to the storing part 111 .", "[0066] The circulation path 123 is connected between the second supply tube 121 and the storing part 111 , thereby providing a stirring action that enables the discharged material stored in the storing part 111 to move freely all the time.", "The minute particles included in the discharged material are prevented from precipitating or cohering by the circulation path 123 providing a stirring action.", "[0067] Further, the circulation path 123 might include the first pump 113 providing a driving force so that the discharged material stored at the storing part 111 moves through the circulation path 123 .", "[0068] As described above, the ink jet device according to the present invention includes the first and second cleaning water supplier 147 that supplies the cleaning water 155 , thereby making it possible to get rid of the contaminant in the head part 101 in the direction of and in the reverse direction of discharging the discharged material.", "Thus it is possible to get rid of the contaminant residing in the corner inside the chamber and the collecting and delivering part.", "Accordingly, the ink jet device according to the present invention prevents the clogging of the head part 111 generated when the contaminant remaining in the corner inside the chamber and the collecting and delivering part 103 is left for a long time.", "As a result, it is possible that the life span of the ink jet device is improved and the formation of the bad pattern is prevented.", "[0069] Although the present invention has been explained by the embodiments shown in the drawings described above, it should be understood to the ordinary skilled person in the art that the invention is not limited to the embodiments, but rather that various changes or modifications thereof are possible without departing from the spirit of the invention.", "Accordingly, the scope of the invention shall be determined only by the appended claims and their equivalents.", "[0070] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations may be made in the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.", "Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents." ]

[ "TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] The present invention relates to a frame for receiving and holding a removable board.", "BACKGROUND ART [0002] In the manufacture of certain edible products such as bread and the like, dough is placed onto boards that are transported through the different production stages along automated mechanised conveyors.", "Often the boards, which are sometimes referred to as “peel-boards”, are manufactured from cloth or plastics materials and are pre-sprinkled with a powdery material, such as semolina flour, in order to assist the eventual release of the dough after proving.", "During transportation, excessive wear is often imparted to the peel-boards through direct contact with the mechanised conveyors and through collisions with other boards on the conveyor system.", "Such damage reduces the lifespan of the boards and results in the requirement for frequent repair or replacement.", "[0003] It is therefore an object of the invention to alleviate the disadvantages associated with the prior art.", "SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0004] Accordingly, the present invention provides a dough piece carrier assembly comprising a frame for releasably receiving and holding a dough carrier board, the frame having a plurality of side walls defining an inner space for releasably receiving the board, wherein the side walls encompass peripheral regions of the board so as to protect said regions from wear during use of the board.", "[0005] Preferably, the frame comprises means for protecting the underside of a board in use.", "[0006] Preferably, the frame comprises a reinforcing means.", "[0007] Ideally, the reinforcing means comprises at least one and preferably two cross-members.", "[0008] Ideally, the frame is sized to restrict lateral movements of the board within the frame during use of the board.", "[0009] Conveniently, the frame comprises means for retaining a board within the inner space of the frame.", "[0010] Advantageously, the means for retaining a board includes the at least one, and preferably two cross-members.", "[0011] Optionally, the means for retaining a board includes a plurality of protuberances on inner surfaces of the side walls for engaging the board to further restrict movement of the board within the frame.", "Such protuberances may be formed by depressions made in outer surfaces of the side walls.", "[0012] Preferably, the frame is quadrilateral and ideally is rectangular or square shaped.", "[0013] The present invention further provides a board sized to be releasably received and held in the frame according to the invention.", "[0014] Preferably, the board comprises a peel-board for receiving dough portions thereon and has means for retaining the board within the frame in use.", "Such retaining means may comprise a lip extending along the perimeter of the board for engaging the side walls of the frame upon placement of the board within the frame.", "[0015] Advantageously, the board includes structural reinforcing means such as a plurality of web members.", "The web members may be formed integrally with the board structure and ideally are on the underside of the board.", "[0016] In a preferred embodiment the board has a textured upper surface for receiving the dough portions.", "[0017] Preferably, the textured upper surface comprises a series of indents which serve as air-pockets for resisting a tendency for dough to stick to the upper surface of the board, and the indents further serve for receiving particles of loose material which fall from the dough.", "This facilitates the eventual removal of the dough from the board.", "[0018] Ideally, the board lip projects laterally beyond the side walls of the frame so as to facilitate removal of the board from the frame by gripping the projecting portions of the lip.", "DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT [0019] The invention will now be described more particularly with reference to the accompanying drawings, which show, by way of example only, one embodiment of the peel board carrier frame apparatus of the invention.", "[0020] In the drawings: [0021] FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the peel board carrier frame;", "[0022] FIG. 2 a is a plan view of a peel board carrier frame outer member;", "[0023] FIG. 2 b is an end view of a peel board carrier frame outer member;", "[0024] FIG. 2 c is a side elevation of a peel board carrier frame outer member;", "[0025] FIG. 3 a is a plan view of the peel board carrier frame;", "[0026] FIG. 3 b is an end elevation of the peel board carrier frame;", "[0027] FIG. 4 a is a plan view of a peel board carrier frame cross-member;", "[0028] FIG. 4 b is an end view of the peel board carrier frame cross-member;", "[0029] FIG. 4 c is a side elevation of the peel board carrier frame cross-member;", "[0030] FIG. 5 a is a plan view of a peel board;", "[0031] FIG. 5 b is a side elevation of the peel board;", "[0032] FIG. 5 c is a plan view of the peel board underside.", "[0033] Referring initially to FIG. 1 , a peel board carrier frame 1 comprises side members 100 , 101 , end members 102 , 103 , a cross-member 104 and bracing members 105 , 106 .", "In this example a board received in the frame 1 is a peel board but it will be appreciated that that the frame may equally be employed with other types of board.", "[0034] The frame 1 comprises an outer framework and an inner network of reinforcing cross-members.", "The outer framework comprises the side members 100 , 101 , spaced apart from and parallel to each other and the end members 102 , 103 , spaced apart from and parallel to each other so that when arranged as shown in FIG. 1 , they define a rectangular opening.", "The outer framework members 100 , 101 102 , 103 are formed from elongate stainless steel members having an L-shaped cross section with a vertical in use leg and a horizontal in use leg arranged at right angles to each other.", "The ends of the horizontal legs of said members are bevelled inwardly at 45-degree angles.", "The common overall shape of the members 100 , 101 , 102 and 103 is shown schematically in FIGS. 2 a , 2 b and 2 c .", "For clarity and simplicity the member shown is labelled 100 only.", "When positioned together to define frame 1 as shown in FIG. 3 a , the bevelled ends of the members 100 , 101 , 102 and 103 meet to form 90-degree mitre-joint corners 112 .", "The respective end edges of the vertical legs are also coincident at the corners of the frame 1 .", "The contacting end edges of the respective members 100 , 101 , 102 and 103 are welded together so that the horizontal legs of the members define a continuous inwardly facing ledge.", "A continuous vertical wall is defined by the connected vertical legs of the outer frame 1 .", "Other suitable ways are possible for joining the outer members 100 , 101 , 102 and 103 , and indeed integral constriction of the outer members defining the outer framework is possible.", "[0035] To increase the rigidity of the framework structure an inner network of reinforcing members is provided.", "The inner framework comprises the transverse cross-member 104 , which lies parallel with, and equidistant from, the frame end members 102 , 103 .", "The cross-member 104 extends between and is connected to the side members 100 , 101 .", "To stiffen the frame 1 along the longitudinal axis, the two shorter bracing members 105 , 106 , which are of equal length, are connected perpendicularly in relation to the cross-member 104 between the cross-member 104 and the end members 102 and 103 of the outer framework, respectively.", "[0036] Referring to FIGS. 4 a and 4 b , the reinforcing members 104 , 105 and 106 are each formed from initially flat stainless steel sheet that is shaped to create a channel cross-section.", "The shape of the channel cross-section, which is common to transverse cross-member 104 and the longitudinal bracing members 105 and 106 , is substantially trapezoidal and is shown schematically in FIGS. 4 a , 4 b and 4 c .", "For clarity and simplicity the member shown is labelled 104 only.", "The cross-member 104 comprises a flat top portion 111 and two side portions 109 , 110 which converge towards the top portion 111 .", "Horizontal lip portions 107 and 108 are provided at the free edges of the side portions 109 , 110 , respectively.", "It will be appreciated that the reinforcing members 104 , 105 and 106 can have any other suitable configuration which enables the reinforcing function of the members.", "[0037] Referring to FIG. 3 a , the length of the cross-member 104 is such that, when in position within the outer framework, the opposing ends of the cross-member 104 extend between the inner faces of the vertical legs of the side members 101 and 102 .", "The respective ends of the cross-member 104 overlap the horizontal legs of side members 101 , 102 .", "At the overlapping regions 113 , 114 ( FIG. 3 a ), the undersides of the lips 107 , 108 of the cross-member 104 rest upon the upper surface of the horizontal legs of the side members 101 and 102 , with the ends of the cross-member 104 abutting the inner surfaces of the respective vertical legs.", "Permanent fastening of the cross-member 104 ends to the side members 101 , 102 is effected by seam welding the lips 107 , 108 of the cross-member 104 to the upper surfaces of the horizontal legs at the overlapping regions 113 , 114 .", "Other suitable ways are possible for securing the cross-member 104 in position.", "[0038] The longitudinal bracing members 105 , 106 each extend from the lips 107 , 108 respectively of the cross-member 104 to the inner faces of the vertical legs of the end members 102 and 103 of the outer framework, respectively.", "In this arrangement, as shown in FIG. 3 a , the ends of the brace members 105 , 106 overlap the lips 107 , 108 of the cross-member 104 and the upper surfaces of the horizontal legs of end members 102 , 103 , respectively.", "Permanent fastening of the bracing members 105 , 106 to the cross member 104 and the respective outer frame end members 102 , 103 is effected by seam welding the overlapping portions.", "Other ways are possible for securing the bracing members 105 , 106 in position.", "[0039] FIGS. 5 a and 5 b show a peel board 2 .", "The peel board is a one-piece injection moulded plastics construction that is manufactured having an upper section 21 that provides a substantially rectangular shaped upper surface 21 a which is suitable for receiving dough in the manufacture of baked products, and a substantially rectangular and hollow lower section that is defined by a wall 22 extending along the periphery of the underside of the board.", "The wall 22 in use resides within the rectangular opening defined by the outer framework members 100 , 101 , 102 and 103 of the frame 1 when the board 2 is in place.", "Within the confines of the wall 22 , the interior of the lower section contains a plurality of reinforcing webs 24 integrally moulded with the underside surface of the board 2 .", "The reinforcing webs 24 project from the underside of the board 2 to a position level with the lower edge of the wall 22 .", "An exemplary arrangement of webs 24 is shown in FIG. 5 c .", "They provide reinforcement to the board structure in all its axes.", "A load-bearing lip 23 extends around the entire perimeter of the board 2 and projects outwardly and laterally from the upper section 21 beyond the boundaries of the wall 22 .", "The overall dimensions of the wall 22 are such that when it is placed into position within the frame 1 , a close clearance fit between the wall 22 and the outer members 100 , 101 , 102 and 103 is achievable.", "With the wall 22 of the board 2 placed into the frame 1 , the underside of the lip 23 rests on upper edges of the outer framework members 100 , 101 , 102 and 103 .", "The lip 23 also projects laterally beyond the confines of the outer framework of the frame 2 at a distance that is sufficient to allow easy removal of the board from the frame by gripping the lip 23 .", "[0040] The upper, dough receiving, surface 21 a of the peel-board 2 is provided with a plurality of shallow diamond-shaped indents 25 .", "Semolina flour that is typically sprinkled onto peel-boards is retained in the indents and assists the removal of dough from the board 2 after proving of the dough.", "[0041] The inner faces of the vertical legs of the outer members 100 to 103 of the frame 1 may be provided with a plurality of inwardly projecting protuberances 115 defined by hollow impressions made in their outer surfaces.", "The protuberances 115 abut the wall 22 of the board 2 when it is placed into position within the frame 1 .", "By occupying the clearance gap between the outer members 100 to 103 and the wall 22 , the protuberances 115 hold the board 2 more firmly in position in the frame 2 so as to restrict lateral fluctuations of the board 2 within the frame 1 thus reducing wear of the board 2 during use.", "[0042] The frame according to the invention affords a strong and robust protection to a peel-board carried by it when the frame and board are passing through various stages of an automated process.", "Inevitably, the frame will experience some jarring, collisions and other rough treatment as it passes through the factory, but since it is constructed robustly from a strong material, it will not readily be damaged by such exposure, whereas the more fragile peel board retained within the confines of the frame will be protected by the frame elements.", "This elongates the useful working life of the peel boards.", "For maintenance and cleaning purposes, the peel board and frame can readily be disassembled.", "[0043] It will of course be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific details described herein, which are given by way of example only and that various modifications and alterations are possible within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims." ]

[ "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] 1.", "Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a method of and an apparatus for compressing a digital video signal, and more particularly, to a method of and an apparatus for coding a zerotree wavelet image based on a zero tree wavelet transform.", "[0003] 2.", "Description of Related Art [0004] Image transmission and storage are important for Internet and multimedia services.", "However, since image transmission and storage systems have limited bandwidths and memories, image coding is important to the efficiency, speed, and costs of image transmission and storage systems.", "[0005] Image coding standard H[.", "].263 shows reliable coding efficiency.", "The moving picture experts group (MPEG)-4 and joint photographic experts group (JPEG)-2000 have also introduced various coding techniques for improved coding efficiency.", "[0006] In particular, in the MPEG-4 and the JPEG-2000, to achieve coding efficiency, wavelet transforms have been considered as a replacement for existing discrete cosine transforms (DCT).", "[0007] In MPEG-4, coding employing the wavelet transform (hereinafter, referred to as wavelet coding) has been used in texture coding to achieve scalability.", "Also, in the JPEG-2000, the wavelet coding is used to maximize the coding efficiency by preventing images of various sizes, particularly, very large images, from being blocked.", "Blocking refers to artificial frontiers in images coding by discrete cosine transforms, such as MPEG-4 and H[.", "].263.", "[0008] Embedded Zerotree Wavelet (EZW) coding (J.", "M. Shapiro) and Set Partitioning in Hierarchical Trees (SPIHT) coding (A.", "Said and W. A. Pearlman) are efficient image coding techniques that attempt to eliminate blocking.", "[0009] These coding techniques can organize a plurality of wavelet coefficients into one symbol, i.e., a zerotree, using a spatial location and orientation of a wavelet coefficient shown in FIG. 1 to improve compression efficiency.", "[0010] However, in general, MPEG-4 and JPEG-2000 systems, which are based on a discrete wavelet transform, are limited and the number of wavelet decompositions is fixed.", "Thus, when the size of an image varies, or the number of wavelet decompositions varies depending on the characteristics of the image, the coding efficiencies of the MPEG-4 and JPEG-2000 systems are compromised.", "[0011] Therefore, a need exists for a method and apparatus for coding a grouped zerotree wavelet image having high coding efficiency irrespective of the scale of a wavelet transform.", "SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0012] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below in more detail, with reference to the accompanying drawings: [0013] According to an embodiment of the present invention, a method of coding an input image to a bitstream by using a zerotree wavelet transform, the method comprises merging a plurality of adjacent zerotrees, and coding the merged zerotrees to one symbol and outputting the symbol.", "[0014] The method further comprises transforming the input image to a wavelet domain having a plurality of wavelet coefficients via the zerotree wavelet transform, and generating the plurality of adjacent zerotrees each having the plurality of wavelet coefficients.", "[0015] According to an embodiment of the present invention, a method of coding an input image to a bitstream by using a wavelet transform for generating a plurality of wavelet trees each having a plurality of wavelet coefficients comprises (a) determining whether each of the wavelet trees is a zero tree, (b) determining adjacent zerotrees, (c) merging the adjacent zerotrees, and (d) coding merged zerotrees to one symbol and outputting the symbol.", "[0016] If it is determined in step (a) that each of the wavelet trees is not a zero tree, wavelet coefficients belonging to the each of the wavelet trees are separately coded and output.", "[0017] If it is determined in step (a) that one zero tree exists, the zerotree is coded and output.", "[0018] According to an embodiment of the present invention, a computer-readable recording medium is provided in which a program for executing a method of coding an input image to a bitstream by using a zerotree wavelet transform is recorded.", "The method comprises merging a plurality of adjacent zerotrees, and coding the merged zerotrees to one symbol and outputting the symbol.", "[0019] According to another embodiment of the present invention, a computer-readable recording medium is provided in which a program for executing a method of coding an input image to a bitstream by using a wavelet transform for generating a plurality of wavelet trees each having a plurality of wavelet coefficients is recorded.", "The method comprises (a) determining whether each of the wavelet trees is a zerotree, (b) determining adjacent zerotrees, (c) merging the adjacent zerotress, and (d) coding merged zerotrees to one symbol and outputting the symbol.", "[0020] If it is determined in step (a) that each of the wavelet trees is not a zerotree, wavelet coefficients belonging to each of the wavelet tree are separately coded and output.", "[0021] If it is determined in step (a) that one zerotree exists, the zerotree is coded and output.", "[0022] According to an embodiment of the present invention, an encoder of coding a zerotree wavelet-image, the encoder comprises a discrete wavelet transform circuit which wavelet-transforms an input image to a wavelet domain having a plurality of wavelet coefficients, a zerotree generator which generates a plurality of zerotrees corresponding to spatial locations and orientations of the plurality of wavelet coefficients, and a zerotree coder which merges a plurality of adjacent zerotrees, codes merged zerotrees to one symbol, and outputting the symbol.", "[0023] According to another embodiment of the present invention, an encoder of coding a zerotree wavelet image, the encoder comprises a discrete wavelet transform circuit which wavelet-transforms an input image to a wavelet domain having a plurality of wavelet coefficients, and a zerotree coder which if a wavelet tree corresponding to spatial locations and orientations of the plurality of wavelet coefficients is a zerotree, merges predetermined wavelet zerotrees adjacent to the zerotree, codes merged wavelet zerotrees to one symbol, and outputs the symbol.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0024] The above object and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent by describing in detail preferred embodiments thereof with reference to the attached drawings in which: [0025] [0025 ]FIG. 1 is a view showing a tree of general wavelet coefficients;", "[0026] [0026 ]FIG. 2 is a view showing a tree and symbols of wavelet coefficients according to an embodiment of the present invention;", "[0027] [0027 ]FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an encoder according to an embodiment of the present invention;", "[0028] [0028 ]FIG. 4 is a detailed block diagram of an optimum zerotree generator of FIG. 3;", "[0029] [0029 ]FIGS. 5A through 5C are views showing examples of a zerotree group generated by the optimum zero tree generator of FIG. 3;", "[0030] [0030 ]FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a method of coding an input image to a bit stream using a zerotree wavelet transform according to an embodiment of the present invention;", "[0031] [0031 ]FIG. 7 is a graph showing bit per pixel (BPP) and peak signal to noise ratio (PSNR) for comparing a prior art method and a method according to an embodiment of the present invention when transforming a lena image to three levels;", "[0032] [0032 ]FIG. 8 is a graph showing BPP and PSNR for comparing a prior art method and a method according to an embodiment of the present invention when transforming a lena image to four levels;", "[0033] [0033 ]FIG. 9 is a graph showing coding efficiency when coding a barbara image using the prior art method;", "and [0034] [0034 ]FIG. 10 is a graph showing coding efficiency when coding a barbara image using a method according to an embodiment of the present invention.", "DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [0035] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail by explaining a preferred embodiment of the present invention with reference to the attached drawings.", "Like reference numerals in the drawings denote the same elements.", "[0036] [0036 ]FIG. 2 is a view showing a tree and symbols of wavelet coefficients for explaining a method according to an embodiment of the present invention.", "For the convenient explanation, symbols used in this specification will be now defined with reference to FIG. 2. n 1 and n 2 denotes the size of an image, and D(i, j) denotes a set of coefficients of all descendants of nodes or wavelet coefficients (i, j), {all descendants of c ij }.", "O(i, j) denotes a set of coefficients of offspring of a node (i, j), {the four offspring of c ij }, and L(i, j) denotes a set of coefficients D(i, j) minus O(i, j), D(i, j)-O(i, j).", "Here, (i, j) are coordinates of pixels.", "[0037] A set partitioning rule will now be described.", "Initial partitioning is achieved for sets {(i, j)} and D(i, j) for {(i, j)∈H}.", "If the set D(i, j) is significant, the set D(i, j) is partitioned into four sets which are L(i, j) and {(k, 1)∈0(i, j)}.", "If the set L(i, j) is significant, the set L(i, j) is partitioned into four sets D(k, 1) which are {(k, 1)∈0(i, j)}.", "[0038] H represents a set of coordinates of initial tree roots.", "In other words, H is a set of coordinates of spatial orientation tree roots.", "[0039] A list of insignificant sets (LIS) represents a list of sets of coefficients smaller than a threshold value.", "In other words, the LIS is a list of coordinates of zerotrees.", "[0040] Here, type A denotes a case where coefficients belonging to the set D(i, j) are smaller than the threshold value.", "Also, depth_x and depth_y is a number of zerotrees splitting a subband along each direction.", "[0041] Type B denotes a case where coefficients belonging to the set L(i, j) are smaller than the threshold value.", "[0042] Accordingly, referring to FIG. 2, depth_x=0 and depth_y=0 indicates that one zerotree root exists in each of HL 3 , LH 3 , and HH 3 .", "depth_x=1 or depth_y=1 means that two zerotree roots exist in each of HL 3 , LH 3 , and HH 3 .", "depth_x=1 and depth_y=1 mean that four zerotree roots exist in each of HL 3 , LH 3 , and HH 3 .", "[0043] A list of insignificant pixels (LIP) is a list of coefficients smaller than the threshold value, i.e., a list of coordinates of all wavelet coefficients.", "[0044] A list of significant pixels (LSP) is a list of coefficients larger than the threshold value.", "Levels denote wavelet transform levels.", "Hx = n1 2 level   Hy = n2 2 level   Sx = n1 2 level + depth_x   Sx = n2 2 level + depth_y ( 1 ) [0045] wherein, Hx represents a lengthwise size x of the highest subband, Hy represents a widthwise size y of the highest subband, Sx represents a search range along a lengthwise direction x in a list, and Sy represents a search range along a widthwise direction y in the list.", "Sn  ( x , y ) = 1 , max x + Sxy + Sy i = x , j = y  {  C ( i , j )  } ≥ 2 n  0 , otherwise , ( 2 ) [0046] wherein, Sn(x, y) is a set of separate pixels.", "[0047] Hereinafter, a method according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail.", "A method according to an embodiment of the present invention is based on set partitioning in hierarchical trees (SPIHT).", "[0048] 1.", "Initialization [0049] Equation 3 is output from an initialisation process.", "n=└log 2 ( max (i,j) {|C (i,j) |}┘ (3) [0050] wherein, └ ┘ represents the maximum integer not larger than {|C (i,j) |}.", "[0051] The LSP is set to an empty list, { }, depth_x is set to zero, depth_y is set to zero, and each coordinate {(i, j)∈H} is added to the LIP.", "For depth_x is zero and depth_y is zero, each coordinate in the set {(i, j)∈H} of type A is added to the LSP.", "[0052] 2.", "Sorting Pass [0053] 2.1.", "The following methods are performed for each pixel or entry (i, j) in the LIP.", "[0054] 2.1[.", "].1.", "Sn(i, j) is output;", "[0055] 2.1[.", "].2.", "If Sn(i, j)=1, Sx=1, and Sy=1, coordinates (i, j) move to the LSP and signs of C i,j are output.", "[0056] If Sn(i, j)=1, Sx=1, and Sy≠1, [0057] depth_y is increased by 1;", "[0058] Coordinates (i, j) and ( i , ( j + H   y 2 depth_y ) ) [0059] are added to the end of the LIP;", "[0060] Coordinates (i, j) are removed from the LIP;", "[0061] If Sn(i, j)=1, Sx≠1, and Sy=1, [0062] depth_x is increased by 1;", "[0063] Coordinates (i, j) and ( ( i + H   x 2 depth_x ) , j ) [0064] are added to the end of the LIP;", "[0065] Coordinates (i, j) are removed from the LIP;", "[0066] If Sn(i, j)=1, Sx≠1, and Sy≠1, [0067] depth_x and depth 13 y are each increased by 1;", "[0068] Coordinates (i, j), ( i , ( j + H   y 2 depth_y ) ) , ( ( i + H   x 2 depth_x ) , j ) , and   ( ( i + H   x 2 depth_x ) , ( j + H   y 2 depth_y ) ) [0069] are added to the end of the LIP;", "[0070] Coordinates (i, j) are removed from the LIP;", "[0071] 2.2.", "The following methods are performed for each pixel or entry (i, j) in the LIS.", "[0072] 2.2[.", "].1.", "If the entry (i, j) is type A, [0073] Sn(D(i, j)) is output;", "[0074] If Sn(D(i, j))=1, Sx=1, and Sy=1, [0075] The following methods are performed for each of coordinates (k, 1)∈0(i, j).", "[0076] depth_x=log(n1/2)−level;", "[0077] depth_y=log(n2/2)−level;", "[0078] Sn(k, l) is output;", "[0079] If Sn(k, l)=1, coordinates (k, l) are added to the LSP and signs of C k,j are output;", "[0080] If Sn(k, l)=0, coordinates (k, l) having depth_x and depth_y are added to the LIP;", "[0081] If L(i, j) is not empty, coordinates (i, j) move as an entry of type B to the end of the LIS, and go to 2.2[.", "].2;", "[0082] If not, the entry (i, j) is removed from the LIS.", "[0083] If Sn(D(i, j)=1, Sx=1, and Sy≠1, [0084] depth_y is increased by 1;", "[0085] coordinates (i, j) and ( i , ( j + H   y 2 depth_y ) ) [0086] are added as an entry of type A to the end of the LIS;", "[0087] Coordinates (i, j) are removed from the LIS;", "[0088] If Sn(D(i, j))=1, Sx≠1, and Sy=1, [0089] Depth_x is increased by 1;", "[0090] Coordinates (i, j) and ( i , ( j + H   y 2 depth_y ) ) [0091] are added as the entry of type A to the end of the LIS;", "[0092] Coordinates (i, j) are removed from the LIS;", "[0093] If Sn(D(i, j))=1, Sx≠1, and Sy≠1, [0094] depth_x and depth_y are each increased by 1;", "[0095] Coordinates (i, j) and ( i , ( j + H   y 2 depth_y ) ) , ( ( i + H   x 2 depth_x ) , j ) , and   ( ( i + H   x 2 depth_x ) , ( j + H   y 2 depth_y ) ) [0096] are added as the entry of type A to the end of the LIP;", "[0097] Coordinates (i, j) are removed from the LIS;", "[0098] 2.2[.", "].2.", "If the entry is type B, [0099] Sn(L(i, j)) is output;", "[0100] If Sn(L,(i, j))=1, [0101] depth_x=log(n1/2)−level;", "[0102] depth_y=log(n2/2)−level;", "[0103] Each of coordinates {(k, 1) ∈0(i, j) is added as the entry depth_x and depth_y of type A to the end of the LIS;", "[0104] Coordinates (i, j) are removed from the LIS;", "[0105] 3.", "Refinement Pass [0106] n th bit of |C i,j | is output for each entry (i, j) added to the LSP before a current n. [0107] 4.", "Quantization-step Update [0108] After n is reduced by 1, the sorting pass is performed.", "[0109] [0109 ]FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an encoder according to an embodiment of the present invention.", "Referring to FIG. 3, an encoder 40 includes a wavelet transform circuit 41 , an optimum zerotree generator 43 , a zerotree coder 45 , and an entropy coder 47 .", "[0110] The wavelet transform circuit 41 wavelet-transforms an input image to a wavelet domain having a plurality of wavelet coefficients or nodes.", "FIG. 2 shows a wavelet domain.", "In other words, the wavelet transform circuit 41 wavelet-transforms the input image to a predetermined level or scale.", "[0111] The optimum zerotree generator 43 generates a plurality of zerotrees corresponding to the same spatial locations and orientations of the plurality of wavelet coefficients in response to signals output from the zerotree coder 45 and the wavelet transform circuit 41 .", "In other words, the optimum zerotree generator 43 organizes an optimum zerotree using spatial correlations among the wavelet coefficients.", "[0112] The zerotree coder 45 merges a plurality of adjacent zero trees, and codes the merged zerotrees to one symbol, and outputs the symbol to the entropy coder 47 and the optimum zerotree generator 43 .", "[0113] If a wavelet tree corresponding to the same spatial locations and orientations of a plurality of wavelet coefficients output from the wavelet transform circuit 41 is a zerotree, the optimum zerotree generator 43 or the zerotree coder 45 may merge predetermined wavelet zerotrees adjacent to the zero tree, and code a plurality of merged wavelet zerotrees to one symbol, and output the symbol.", "Thus, the optimum zerotree generator 43 and the zerotree coder 45 may be constructed as a single circuit.", "[0114] Also, the optimum zerotree generator 43 or the zerotree coder 45 may separately code wavelet coefficients that do not constitute zerotrees.", "The entropy coder 47 receives a signal output from the zerotree coder 45 and creates a bitstream.", "Thus, the encoder according to an embodiment of the present invention codes an input image to a bitstream using a zerotree wavelet transform.", "[0115] [0115 ]FIG. 4 is a detailed block diagram of the optimum zerotree generator 43 shown in FIG. 3. FIGS. 5A through 5C show examples of a zerotree group generated by the optimum zerotree generator 43 shown in FIG. 3. [0116] Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5A through 5 C, the optimum zerotree generator 43 includes an initial spatial orientation tree generator 431 , a threshold generator 433 , and a zerotree splitter 435 .", "[0117] The initial spatial orientation tree generator 431 constitutes initial zerotree groups.", "In other words, initialized subbands constitute zerotrees.", "FIG. 5A, in the initial stage, three zerotree groups exist.", "Here, the same numbers denote zerotrees corresponding to the same spatial locations and orientations of wavelet coefficients.", "[0118] The threshold generator 433 is connected to the initial spatial orientation tree generator 431 and sets a threshold value for quantization.", "The threshold generator 433 initially outputs n represented by equation 3, reduces the n by 1 while executing a method according to an embodiment of the present invention, and outputs the reduced result value.", "When the threshold value is determined from the threshold generator 433 , zerotree groups, with respect to the determined threshold value, are split as shown in FIG. 5B.", "[0119] The zerotree splitter 435 receives a quantization threshold value output from the threshold generator 433 , compares wavelet coefficients with the quantization threshold value, and if there are wavelet coefficients larger than the quantization threshold value, split zerotree groups using the wavelet coefficients.", "[0120] Referring to FIG. 5C, the same numbers belong to the same zerotree groups.", "As n decreases, the zerotree splitter 435 splits the zerotree groups to increase depth_x and depth_y.", "[0121] [0121 ]FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a method of coding an input image to a bitstream using a zerotree wavelet transform for generating a plurality of wavelet trees each having a plurality of wavelet coefficients.", "[0122] According to FIGS. 3 through 6, in block 71 , the optimum zerotree generator 43 determines whether current wavelet coefficients constitute at least one or more zerotrees.", "In other words, in block 71 , it is determined whether each wavelet tree is a zerotree.", "[0123] If the current wavelet coefficients do not constitute at least one or more zerotrees, in block 79 , the zerotree coder 45 separately codes the current wavelet coefficients.", "In other words, if each wavelet tree is not a zerotree, the zerotree coder 45 separately codes and outputs each wavelet coefficient belonging to each wavelet tree.", "[0124] If the current wavelet coefficients constitute at least one zerotree, in block 73 , the optimum zerotree generator 43 determines the number of zerotree roots.", "If there is one zerotree root, in block 78 , the zerotree coder 45 codes one zerotree root.", "[0125] However, if there are two or more zerotree roots, in block 75 , the optimum zerotree generator 43 searches the ranges of adjacent zerotree roots.", "The zerotree coder 45 merges a plurality of adjacent zerotrees, i.e., zerotree groups, codes the merged zerotrees to one symbol, and outputs the symbol to the entropy coder 47 .", "[0126] [0126 ]FIG. 7 shows bit per pixel (BPP) and peak signal to noise ratio (PSNR) according to the prior art SPIHT algorithm and a grouped set partitioning in hierarchical trees (GSPIHT) method according to an embodiment of the present invention when a lena image is transformed to three levels.", "FIG. 8 shows BPP and PSNR according to the prior art SPIHT algorithm and a GSPIHT method according to an embodiment of the present invention when a lena image is transformed to four levels.", "[0127] Equations 4 and 5 represent evaluation measures PSNR shown in FIGS. 7 through 10.", "RMSE = 1 NM  ∑ i = 0 N - 1   ∑ j = 0 M - 1  [ Y  ( i , j ) - X  ( i - j ) ] 2 ( 4 ) [0128] wherein, X(i, j) and Y(i, j) represent an original image and a reconstructed image, respectively.", "Here, an objective efficiency evaluation measure is a root mean square error (RMSE).", "PSNR = 20   log 10  ( 255 RMSE ) ( 5 ) [0129] Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, an encoder implementing a method according to an embodiment of the present invention shows more efficient coding than an encoder using the prior art algorithm regardless of a wavelet transform level.", "[0130] [0130 ]FIG. 9 shows an efficiency of coding a barbara image using the prior art SPIHT algorithm.", "FIG. 10 shows an efficiency of coding a barbara image using a GSPIHT method according to an embodiment of the present invention .", "Referring to FIGS. 9 and 10, it can be seen that coding efficiency of an encoder using a GSPIHT method is more improved and stabilized than coding efficiency of an encoder using the prior art SPIHT algorithm.", "[0131] According to an embodiment of the present invention, an encoder using a zerotree wavelet image coding algorithm and the SPIHT algorithm merges a plurality of adjacent zerotrees, and codes the merged zerotrees to one symbol and outputs the symbol.", "[0132] As described above, in method of and an system for coding grouped zerotree wavelet image according to the present invention, coding efficiency can be improved.", "[0133] While this invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to 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 invention relates generally to surface mount electrical raceway systems of the type having a forwardly open metal channel-shaped base formed with longitudinally extending inturned flanges, and a generally flat cover provided with integrally formed flanges adapted to mate with the flanges in the base.", "Although such raceway base and cover components have been used with various fittings such as flat elbow fittings, internal and external corner fittings, as well as tees, the use of such metal raceway components and fittings has not proved suitable for accommodating fiber optic cable.", "Such cable cannot accommodate a bend radius of less than 2 inches when pulled through a corner fitting of the type currently available in the prior art for such metal raceway base and cover configurations.", "Fiber optic cable can be damaged due to the relatively sharp bends required at these corner fittings.", "The chief aim of the present invention is to provide a raceway system with fiber optic cable corner assemblies which are not only adapted for use with conventional raceway base and cover components, but which corner assemblies are capable of accommodating fiber optic cable with no more than a two inch radius bend.", "These corner assemblies are further designed to protect such fiber optic cable from the relatively sharp edges of the raceway base flanges that are provided for engagement with flanges on the cover to secure these conventional components in assembled relation.", "SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the present invention, a raceway system is provided for routing fiber optic cable along walls or ceilings in an environment that requires the cables to undergo bends of 90°.", "In its presently preferred form, the system includes conventional linear raceway base and cover components, with complementary shaped flanges to allow the cover to be mated or assembled with the raceway base.", "Raceway corner assemblies provide flat elbow connections for such flanged raceway components, as well as internal and external corners and tees.", "A typical raceway corner assembly includes a base fitting having angularly related first and second ends that are compatible with the raceway base and cover.", "Each corner assembly further includes a cover fitting that mates with each corner assembly base fitting.", "The raceway corner assembly base fitting includes at least one curved sidewall having a bend radius of at least two inches.", "At least one integrally projecting abutment surface is provided adjacent each end of the curved sidewall for engaging the raceway base when assembled with the corner assembly base fitting.", "This abutment surface also acts as a protective guard for the fiber optic cable, when the cable is pulled through the interior of both the raceway and the 90° corner assembly.", "In further accordance with the present invention, the interior of both the raceway and the corner assembly is divided into separate wireways.", "The raceway cover and base are equipped with conventional divider means.", "The corner assembly is also fitted with a divider wall that is shaped to a radius generally complementary to the curved side wall of the cover assembly.", "This divider wall has ears that are formed at right angle to its generally planar configuration so as to be inserted into slots provided for this purpose in the corner assembly back wall.", "An important feature of the invention is that conventional linear raceway base is received on reduced cross-sectional areas of the corner assembly end portions.", "The corner assembly cover has flanges secured to the corner assembly base, and to the raceway base as well.", "Thus, the corner assembly cover mates with both the raceway base and the corner assembly base fitting providing a very secure assembly for all three components.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A more complete understanding of the invention and many of the attendant advantages thereto will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein: FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a flat elbow corner assembly in the process of assembly with a first raceway base, and a second raceway base which is oriented perpendicular to the first raceway base the latter being shown in exploded relation to another end of said corner assembly.", "FIG. 2 shows the assembled components from FIG. 1, together with a corner assembly being secured to the components depicted in FIG. 3. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the flat elbow corner assembly base of FIG. 1. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the corner assembly cover used in the assembly of FIG. 2. FIG. 5 is an end elevational view of the cover as taken on the line 5,5 of FIG. 4. FIG. 6 is perspective view of the divider element utilized in the assembly of FIGS. 1 and 2.", "FIG. 7 is a view similar to that of FIG. 1, but illustrating an alternative embodiment of the present invention where the corner fitting is of tee shape and serves to provide the two mutually perpendicular raceways oriented on a flat surface and a third raceway provided at a third end portion of the tee-shaped corner fitting.", "FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7, and also illustrates the corner assembly cover fitting being assembled with the base.", "FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the corner assembly base fitting illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8.", "FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the corner assembly cover fitting as used in the assembly of FIGS. 7, 8 and 9.", "FIG. 11 is an elevational view taken generally on the line 11,11 of FIG. 10.", "FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the divider element utilized in the assembly of FIGS. 7 and 8.", "FIG. 13 is a perspective view illustrating an internal corner assembly for use in providing mutually perpendicular raceway base components at an internal corner.", "FIG. 14 is a view similar to FIG. 13, but illustrating a corner assembly cover in exploded relationship to the corner assembly base and mutually perpendicular raceway base components of FIG. 13.", "FIG. 15 is a perspective view showing in greater detail the construction of the corner assembly base of FIGS. 13 and 14.", "FIG. 16 shows in greater detail the construction of the internal corner assembly cover of FIG. 14.", "FIG. 17 shows another embodiment of the present invention suitable for use at an external corner, and this perspective view illustrates a cover assembly base together with a first raceway oriented perpendicular to a second raceway, the latter being shown in exploded relationship to the corner assembly base fitting.", "FIG. 18 is a view similar to FIG. 17, but illustrating a corner assembly cover provided in exploded relationship to the assembled components of FIG. 17.", "FIG. 19 shows in greater detail the configuration for the external corner assembly base of FIGS. 17 and 18.", "FIG. 20 shows in perspective the configuration of the external corner assembly cover, this view illustrating the configuration for the internal flanges of the corner assembly cover that mate with the raceway base to provide a relatively secure assembly for not only the corner assembly components, but also the conventional raceway base and cover components.", "DETAILED DESCRIPTION Turning now to the drawings in greater detail, FIG. 1 shows a flat elbow corner assembly base 14 constructed in accordance with the present invention, and assembled with two mutually perpendicular metal raceway base members, indicated generally at 10,10.", "It will be noted that one raceway base 10 is mounted vertically, and the other horizontally, the latter having a conventional divider strip 12 provided therein conventional clips (not shown) that fit within the channel-shaped raceway base and span the base back wall with end portions received inside the flanges 10c,10c.", "With respect to the vertically oriented raceway 10, the broken lines show that the raceway 10 can be slid onto one end portion of the raceway corner assembly base fitting 14.", "The corner assembly base fitting 14 includes mutually perpendicular side walls 14a and 14b, which side walls are aligned with the side walls of the raceway base members 10, 10.", "These raceway base members 10,10 have inwardly formed flanges 10c,10c for receiving flanged raceway cover members 100,100 as shown in FIG. 2. It is a feature of the present invention that the corner assembly base 14 also includes a curved side wall 14c that is designed to have its end portions oriented tangentially to the opposite side walls of the raceway base members 10,10.", "As best shown in FIG. 3, the corner assembly base fitting 14 has first and second end portions adapted to mate with and slidably receive the raceway base 10.", "The raceway base 10 is illustrated in broken or phantom lines in FIG. 3 to better illustrate the sharp corners created by the raceway base flanges 10c, 10c.", "The location for these sharp corners 10d, is significant in that they overlap the cover assembly base 14.", "This corner assembly base 14 and more particularly the curved side wall 14c has abutment stops 14d defined at its ends that serve to locate the raceway base 10, and also serve to protect the fiber optic cable located in the interior of the raceway and the corner assembly, particularly when the fiber optic cable is pulled through the wireway defined between these components at assembly.", "This curved inside wall 14c has a bend radius of at least two (2) inches in order to protect the fiber optic cable from being bent too sharply, and thereby damaged.", "Still with reference to FIG. 1, it will be apparent that the interior of the corner assembly can be divided into separate wireways as a result of a divider element 16.", "Ears 16a are provided at right angles to the curved or arcuate divider wall element 16 for entry in slots 14e defined by back wall 14f of the corner assembly 14 (see FIG. 6).", "Turning now to FIG. 2, the corner assembly base fitting 14 and associated raceways 10, 10 are fitted with a unique corner assembly cover 18, shown in greater detail in FIG. 4. The cover 18 can be seen from the end view of FIG. 5 to have inwardly formed flanges 18a which are similar to the inwardly turned flanges provided on the conventional raceway cover 100.", "Along one linear edge of the corner assembly cover 18, slots are provided in this flange to receive tangs 14g in the corner assembly base fitting 14.", "One such opening in the corner assembly cover fitting flange is illustrated at 18b in FIG. 5. As so constructed and arranged, the flanged corner assembly cover fitting 18 is adapted to be snapped into place as suggested in FIG. 2. The cover 18 is of such a size that its flanges 18a engage the flanges 10c of the raceways base members 10,10.", "See FIG. 2 where the flanges 18a,18a can be seen to be so arranged as to engage the flanges 10c,10c of the vertically oriented raceway 10.", "As so constructed and arranged, the cover 18 serves to secure the corner assembly base fitting 14 to the raceways 10,10.", "Furthermore, the resulting curved configuration presents a very favorable appearance or design to the observer once installed on a wall or ceiling.", "The raceway covers 100 are of conventional construction as mentioned previously and abut the corner assembly cover 18 as suggested in FIG. 2. FIGS. 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 illustrate a corner assembly in the form of a tee capable of accommodating perpendicular raceway base members 10,10.", "Two horizontal raceway members are arranged at the top of the tee-shaped corner assembly.", "Another member 10 is perpendicular to these two.", "As in the previously described embodiment, the tee-shaped assembly corner includes a base fitting 24 that includes a portion which is identical to the flat corner assembly 14 of the previous embodiment.", "However, instead of mutually perpendicular walls 14a and 14b (See FIG. 1), the tee-shaped base fitting 24 is generally symmetrical so as to provide a third end portion for slidably receiving a third raceway base 10 as shown in FIG. 7. The corner assembly base fitting 24 includes two arcuate or curved side walls 24c,24c, and a single linearly extending side wall 24a that is aligned with the side walls of the horizontally extending raceway base member 10.", "As in the previously described embodiment, the end portions of the corner assembly base fitting 24 are of reduced size so as to be slidably received inside the raceway base 10, and abutment stops 24d defined at the opposed ends of each curved side wall 24c engaged the inwardly turned flanges 10c of the raceway base 10 so as to protect the fiber optic cable (not shown) pulled through the corner assembly once it has been assembled with the raceway base.", "As best shown in FIG. 9, the tee shaped corner assembly base fitting 24 has a rear wall defining three (3) slotted openings 24e,24e, two (2) which are adapted to receive two ears that are provided for this purpose on the insert divider element 26 which serves to isolate the fiber optic cable from other wiring in the raceway.", "As mentioned previously, separate wireways are defined by conventional dividers in raceways, as shown at 12 with reference to the first embodiment.", "Such dividers are also provided in the raceways 10 of FIG. 7, with the result that divider element 26 of FIG. 7 is designed to divide the interior space of the corner assembly into at least two wireways for this purpose.", "FIG. 12 illustrates the divider element 26 in greater detail, and shows that the top portion 26a defines an offset bracket for securing the divider element 26 in the open end of the vertically oriented raceway 10 of FIG. 7. An oppositely offset flange 26b at the lower end of the divider element 26 is provided with two (2) upwardly turned ears 26c.", "These two (2) ears 26c are selectively inserted in two of the three slotted openings 24e in order to provide different internal passageway geometries, or wireways, in the tee shaped corner assembly base 24.", "Still with reference to FIG. 12, the divider element 26 can be seen to have a funnel shaped configuration with opposed side walls 26f that are curved to define a funnel shape, and to provide a space behind the divider element 26 that serves to define a straight through passageway for cabling (not shown) extending horizontally between the horizontally aligned raceways 10,10 of FIG. 7. FIG. 10 shows the corner assembly cover fitting 28 which is adapted to be received on the corner assembly base fitting 24 as suggested in FIG. 8. The tee shaped corner assembly cover fitting 28 is similar to the L-shaped cover 18 described previously with reference to the flat elbow corner assembly of FIGS. 1-6.", "Inwardly directed flanges 28a serve to engage the inwardly turned flanges 10c of the raceway base 10 in order to provide a secure assembly as between the various raceways 10,10, the corner assembly base fitting 24 and this tee shaped cover 28.", "FIG. 8 shows the geometry of these components to best advantage and it will be apparent that the tee-shaped cover flanges 28a actually engage the inturned flanges 10c of the raceway 10.", "It should be noted that this tee-shaped corner assembly cover fitting 28 also includes an opening 28b best shown in FIG. 11 which is adapted to receive a tang 24g in the linearly oriented side wall 24a of the tee shaped base fitting 24.", "Turning now to the embodiment of FIGS. 13 through 16 inclusively, two mutually perpendicular conventional raceway base members are indicated generally at 10, 10 and come together at an internal corner where they mate with an internal corner assembly base fitting indicated generally at 30.", "The corner assembly base fitting 30, like the above-described corner assembly base fitting 14 of FIG. 1, includes opposed end portions that are of reduced cross-section so as to slidably receive the open end of conventional raceway base 10.", "The corner assembly base fitting 30 is best shown in FIG. 15 where the curved side walls 30c can be seen to have abutment surfaces 30d defined at their ends for receiving and covering the sharp edges 10d of the turned in flanges 10c of the raceway base 10.", "The back wall 30f of the channel-shaped interior of the corner assembly base fitting 30 provides an inner boundary for the wireway in the corner fitting and is curved with a radius of at least 2 (two) inches to safely accommodate fiber optic cable without undue bending of the cable.", "Slots 30e are provided in this back wall 30f to receive the ears of an arcuately shaped divider element 36 best shown in FIG. 13 for mounting the divider element so it is aligned with divider means 32 of conventional geometry provided in the raceway base 10 as described previously.", "The ends of the divider element 36 may be notched as shown at 36a to mate with a raised rib 12a such as normally provided in the conventional raceway divider means 12.", "See FIG. 1 for this feature.", "The corner assembly cover fitting 38 (best shown in FIG. 16) is assembled with the base fitting 30 and raceway base 10, 10 as suggested in FIG. 14 so that flanges 38a along the end portions of the cover 38 mate with the flanges 10c of the raceway base in the same manner as described previously with reference to the above-described covers of these embodiments.", "Conventional raceway cover members 100, 100 are assembled as described previously after so installing this cover 38.", "Turning next to the embodiment of the invention depicted in FIGS. 17 through 20 inclusively, a corner assembly suitable for use at an external corner is shown in FIG. 17.", "FIG. 19 shows the external corner assembly base fitting 40 in greater detail and illustrates the curved side walls 40c that include abutment surfaces 40d at their end portions to receive the inturned flanges 10c of the raceway base 10, and to also prevent these flanges, and more particularly their sharp edges 10d from interfering with the fiber optic cable placed in or pulled through the wireway defined between this base 40 and a cover 48, as suggested in FIG. 18.", "Mutually perpendicular raceway base members 10,10 are conveniently assembled with this external corner base fitting 40 by sliding the raceway 10 onto the opposed end portions of the base 40.", "The corner assembly cover 48 is applied to the end portions of the raceway base 10 and to the fitting 40 as best as shown in FIG. 18.", "The cover 48 has flanges 48a projecting rearwardly of the cover as shown in FIG. 20, which flanges 48a engage the flanges 10c of the raceway base 10 as well as those defined on the corner assembly base fitting 40." ]

[ "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to laundry detergent compositions of the type disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,892,681, said patent being incorporated herein by reference.", "The starches disclosed in the U.S. Pat. No. 3,892,681 specification are, in general, very dusty and difficult to handle.", "Furthermore, although the products of the U.S. Pat. No. 3,892,681 patent improve wrinkling as set forth therein, it is always desirable to improve the performance of such compositions.", "By utilizing certain materials as set forth herein, it is possible to minimize the dustiness of the starches and improve their anti-wrinkling performance.", "SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The instant invention provides detergent compositions which are capable of concurrently cleansing and imparting desirable fabric properties to the fabrics laundered therein.", "Such compositions comprise: (a) from about 4% to about 60% by weight of an organic surface-active agent selected from the group consisting of anionic, nonionic, zwitterionic and ampholytic detergents and mixtures thereof;", "and (b) from about 0.1% to about 6% by weight of a granular substantially water-insoluble starch having an average particle diameter of from about 1 to about 45 micrometers and a swelling power of less than about 15 at a temperature of 65° C., said starch also containing from about 0.01% to about 5% by weight of a substantially water-insoluble organic liquid.", "A method aspect of this invention relates to a method for treating fabrics to simultaneously cleanse and impart anti-wrinkling and ease of ironing, comprising treating fabrics in an aqueous liquor comprising: (a) from about 10 ppm (parts per million) to about 5000 ppm of an organic surface-active agent selected from the group consisting of anionic, nonionic, zwitterionic and ampholytic detergent and mixtures thereof;", "and (b) from about 0.1 ppm to about 900 ppm of granular substantially water-insoluble starch having an average particle diameter of from about 1 to about 45 micrometers and a swelling power of less than about 15 at a temperature of 65° C., said starch containing from about 0.01% to about 5% by weight of substantially water-insoluble organic liquid.", "DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The ingredients including the starch, anionic detergent, nonionic synthetic detergents, ampholytic synthetic detergents, zwitterionic synthetic detergents, clays, detergent builder salts, etc.", "which can be present in the compositions of this invention are fully described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,892,681 which is incorporated herein by reference.", "As discussed hereinbefore, the starches of this invention differ from the starches of the U.S. Pat. No. 3,892,681 invention by virtue of containing from about 0.01% to about 5%, preferably from about 0.05% to about 2.0%, most preferably from about 0.1% to about 0.5% of a substantially water-insoluble organic liquid.", "Preferred water-insoluble organic liquids include mineral oils, triglycerides, fatty acids, fatty alcohols, alkyl benzenes, alcohol ethoxylates, fatty amines and ammonium compounds, and mixtures thereof.", "Preferably the liquid will boil above about 140° F., more preferably above about 150° F. The most preferred water-insoluble organic liquid is a mineral oil composed primarily of hydrocarbons in the C 18 to C 36 range having a Saybolt viscosity at 100° F., preferably between about 50 and 300.", "The preferred starch for use herein is corn starch.", "PROCESS ASPECTS OF THE INVENTION Contrary to the teachings found in U.S. Pat. No. 3,892,681, it has now been discovered that it is possible to incorporate the starch disclosed herein into a spray-dried detergent granule by incorporating the starch into the crutcher mix prior to spray drying.", "Preferably the conditions of the crutcher are such that only a minimal amount of the starch is degraded.", "These conditions, of course, will have to take into account the time the starch is exposed to the crutcher mix, the temperature of the crutcher mix, the other ingredients of the detergent mix, etc.", "The combination of all the factors must be adjusted as is well known in the art so as to avoid degradation of the starch and removal of the water-insoluble organic liquid.", "Preferably the temperature of the crutcher mix should be kept as low as possible, preferably below the gelation temperature of the starch which is normally in the range of about 170° F. to about 180° F. As a result of applicants'", "discovery, it is possible to prepare a spray-dried detergent granule containing the aforementioned starch treated with the water-insoluble organic liquid.", "It should be noted, of course, that when the starch is added by way of the crutcher mix, the water-insoluble organic liquid should not be volatile below the crutcher mix temperature.", "In a preferred method of incorporation, the starch can be added to a slurry composed of any silicate that may be present, optical brighteners, colorants, etc.", "This slurry can then be added to the crutcher along with the other ingredients.", "Typically the crutcher mix is heated to a temperature range of from about 150° F. to about 160° F. and then atomized in a spray-drying tower.", "EXAMPLE I A spray-dried detergent composition was prepared containing 12% sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate, 8% sodium C 14-15 alcohol polyethoxylate (1.0) sulfate, 24.4% sodium tripolyphosphate, 33.8% sodium sulfate, 12% of 2.0 ratio sodium silicate, and the balance minor ingredients and moisture.", "The above composition was tested against the same composition with 0.5% of corn starch added and against the same composition with 0.5% of corn starch which had been treated with about 0.15% mineral oil to position the relative anti-wrinkling benefits of the three products.", "The starches were added to the detergent composition in the crutcher which was kept below 170° F. at about 150°-160° F. Shirt-back panels (polyester/cotton fabric) were washed in each of the three compositions and dried for several cycles.", "These panels were then round-robin paired and comparison graded by three judges for the last four cycles of the test.", "Usually there are four replicates of three colors of the shirt panels in each test.", "Visual preferences are recorded after the drying cycle using a 0 to 4 scale where: 0 equals no difference and 4 equals a very large difference.", "The panels were washed in a Kenmore top-loading automatic washer set at about 100° F. using 17 gallons of 7 grains hardness water and 77 grams of product.", "The results were as follows.", "The detergent alone gave panels which had a relative wrinkle appearance with a grade defined as 0;", "the detergent plus 0.5% of normal corn starch gave fabrics with a relative wrinkle appearance grade of 1.3;", "and the detergent containing 0.5% of the mineral oil treated starch gave fabrics with a relative wrinkle appearance grade of 2.1.", "The least significant difference in this test was 0.2 units at the 95% confidence level.", "The same three detergent compositions were also tested to position their relative ease-of-ironing benefits.", "Cotton handkerchiefs were washed for several cycles in each detergent composition, as described in connection with the wrinkling test.", "Pairs of the handkerchiefs were then ironed by a panel of thirty judges, who selected which of the pair they found easier to iron.", "The results showed that the detergent with 0.5% normal starch and the detergent containing 0.5% mineral oil treated starch gave fabrics equally easy to iron, while the detergent without starch gave fabrics judged significantly more difficult to iron.", "Substantially the same wrinkling and ironing results were obtained using detergents prepared by incorporating the two starch materials into the detergent composition by uniformly admixing the spray-dried detergent granules with the starch granules.", "The results were also substantially the same using detergents prepared by spraying an aqueous dispersion of starch granules onto the spray-dried detergent granules followed by removal of excess moisture.", "EXAMPLE II A detergent composition is prepared containing 11% sodium tallow alkyl sulfate, 9% sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate, 47% sodium tripolyphosphate, 11% sodium sulfate, 5% of 1.6 ratio sodium silicate, and the balance minor ingredients and moisture.", "When this composition is tested against the same composition with 1.0% rice starch which has been treated with about 0.3% mineral oil using the wrinkling test and ease-of-ironing tests conducted as outlined in Example I, the fabrics laundered in the detergent containing oil-treated starch will be least wrinkled, those laundered in the detergent containing the normal rice starch will be next, and those laundered in the starch-free detergent will be most wrinkled.", "Ease-of-ironing results will show both starch-containing compositions better than starch-free compositions.", "Results will be substantially the same when the starch materials are added to the detergent via the crutcher, or are admixed with the spray-dried detergent granules.", "EXAMPLE III A detergent composition is prepared containing 14% sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate, 6% sodium C 14-15 alcohol polyethoxylate (3.0) sulfate, 20% sodium carbonate, 31% sodium sulfate, 20% of 2.4 ratio sodium silicate, and the balance minor ingredients and moisture.", "When this composition is tested against the same composition with 0.3% corn starch and against the same composition with 0.3% corn starch which has been treated with about 0.1% soybean oil, wrinkling and ease-of-ironing tests conducted as in Example I will give substantially the same results.", "EXAMPLE IV A detergent composition is prepared containing 12% C 12-14 alcohol polyethoxylate (4.0), 10% sodium carbonate, 25% aluminosilicte zeolite Type A na.", "sub[.", "].12 (AlO.", "sub[.", "].2.", "SiO.", "sub[.", "].2).", "sub[.", "].12.27 H.sub[.", "].2 with average particle diameter of about 3 microns, 24% sodium sulfate, 23% of 2.0 ratio sodium silicate, and the balance minor ingredients and moisture.", "When this composition is tested against the same composition with 1.5% wheat starch and against the same composition with 1.5% wheat starch which has been tested with about 0.05% hexadecanol, wrinkling and ease-of-ironing tests conducted as in Example I will give substantially the same results.", "EXAMPLE V When in the above Examples and in the Examples of U.S. Pat. No. 3,892,681, the starches are treated with coconut oil, tallow fatty acids, C 18-20 fatty alcohols, C 12-18 alkyl benzene, tallow fatty alcohol ethoxylate, C 20 alcohol polyethoxylate (2), tallow alkyl dimethyl amine, coconut trimethylamminium chloride, and 1:1 mixtures thereof, essentially equivalent results are obtained in that the wrinkle appearance of washed clothing is improved." ]

[ "FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates to a method to produce a liquid which is aromatised with aroma compounds derived from cocoa or cocoa-based products, e.g. aroma compounds derived from cocoa powder, cocoa liquor, or reaction products formed during the production of chocolate and chocolate compound.", "The resulting aromatised liquid can for example be used to modify or improve the flavour profile of liquid chocolate, a liquid chocolate compound, or an aqueous liquid to be used e.g. in the production of soluble powders for the preparation of instant chocolate drinks.", "BACKGROUND [0002] Aromas are an important part of cocoa liquor and hence of any product containing cocoa or chocolate.", "The aroma profile depends on variety and origin of the cocoa, but also on the further processing, in particular the conching step, and is very difficult to master.", "In addition to aromas originating from the cocoa powder or the cocoa liquor, aromas coming from milk powder, which is used as an ingredient in liquid chocolate, and aromas coming from various reaction products generated during the manufacturing of liquid chocolate play an important role for the final aroma or flavour profile of cocoa-based products such as chocolate or chocolate compound (e.g. where cocoa butter is partially/totally replaced by known cocoa butter equivalents (CBE) or cocoa butter substitutes (CBS).", "For the consumer perception the aroma profile is obviously extremely important.", "During the usual processing of the chocolate, it can happen that volatiles which would be desirable in the final product are lost.", "[0003] In the production of soluble coffee it is known to recover coffee aromas which are given off during the processing of the soluble coffee powder and to reincorporate these aromas, e.g. into concentrated coffee extract prior to drying into a soluble coffee powder.", "The coffee aromas may be recovered at several points during processing, e.g. by aroma stripping of roast and ground coffee prior to extraction.", "WO 01/13735 discloses a method of recovering coffee aroma from coffee grounds comprising wetting, heating and stripping aroma from coffee grounds exposing the coffee grounds to a decreased pressure.", "The coffee aroma compounds released by this treatment are then recovered.", "EP 1069830 (note: GEAR patent) discloses a method comprising providing a slurry of roast and ground coffee and stripping aroma from this slurry by using a gas to provide an aromatised gas.", "In both methods aroma compounds are released from roast and ground coffee into a gas phase from where it is collected.", "This gas stream is composed of gases previously trapped in the roast coffee (primarily carbon dioxide), and possibly entrained air or steam.", "Recovering aroma from the gas is usually achieved by condensation of the aroma at low temperature, e.g. by cryogenic condensation.", "Cryogenic condensation is expensive and further does not lead to a complete recovery of all highly volatile coffee aroma compounds.", "There is a need to improve the recovery of high volatile aroma compounds and to reduce cost and complexity without subjecting the aroma containing gas to elevated temperatures that would lead to degradation of aroma compounds.", "[0004] So far similar methods have not been discussed for the use in chocolate making SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0005] The inventors have found that a gas comprising aroma derived from cocoa or cocoa-based products, and water can be condensed to produce a gas phase and a liquid aqueous phase.", "The gas phase comprising aroma compounds can be pressurised in the presence of an absorption liquid leading to the transfer of aroma compounds from the gas phase to the absorption liquid to produce an aromatised liquid.", "In this process the temperature increase that would normally happen during a pressurisation is avoided by the cooling effect of the liquid, and the recovery of highly volatile aroma compounds is improved compared to prior art methods.", "[0006] Therefore, the present invention relates to a method of producing an aromatised liquid, the method comprising: a) providing a gas comprising aroma derived from cocoa or cocoa-based products, and water;", "b) condensing the aroma and water comprising gas, to provide a liquid aqueous phase and a gas phase;", "and c) subjecting the gas phase obtained by step b) to pressurisation in the presence of an absorption liquid to produce an aromatised liquid.", "[0007] The cocoa-based product used to obtain the aromas can for example be liquid chocolate or a liquid chocolate compound, and in this case the aroma may come from various ingredients of the liquid chocolate or chocolate compound, and not necessarily from the cocoa itself.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES [0008] FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a liquid ring compressor.", "[0009] FIG. 2 illustrates an example of a process for producing a liquid chocolate or liquid chocolate compound [0010] FIG. 3 shows a GC-MS of an aromatised liquid exiting the liquid ring compressor in Example 1.", "DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [0011] FIG. 2 illustrates an example for a method according to the present invention.", "[0012] In the example illustrated in FIG. 2 , liquid chocolate or a liquid chocolate compound is first subjected to one or more pre-treatment steps which include processing of the ingredients such as roasting, mixing, refining or conching.", "[0013] According to the present invention, in a next step a gas comprising aroma from cocoa or a cocoa based product—for example liquid chocolate or a liquid chocolate compound—and water is provided.", "[0014] In the following it will only be referred to as “liquid chocolate”, but it should be noted that this covers in the present context liquid chocolate as well as any type of liquid chocolate compounds.", "It should also be noted that the aroma can also be derived from cocoa directly, e.g. during or after roasting.", "[0015] In the case where liquid chocolate, a liquid chocolate compound, or other liquid cocoa-based product are used, the aroma may be obtained from the liquid chocolate by any suitable method.", "Several such methods are well known to the skilled person.", "Preferably, the gas comprising aroma is obtained by stripping liquid chocolate or other cocoa based product to obtain an aroma containing gas.", "[0016] This operation can be performed in one or more steps.", "It can be performed by acting on the pressure, preferably using a pressure lying between 0.1-3 bar, and/or by increasing the liquid—gas contact surface in order to improve the volatiles transfer from the liquid phase to the gas phase.", "The gas phase can be composed either of: (a) dry air or (b) steam.", "Dry air can be successfully used to extract water and volatiles from the liquid.", "Steam can also be used to extract volatiles and can then easily be condensed in a downstream unit.", "Moreover, using steam can prevent oxidation of some sensitive compounds.", "As a separation unit any machine which creates a higher gas-liquid contact surface, thus improving the volatiles mass transfer, can be used.", "[0017] The aroma and water comprising gas is condensed to provide a liquid aqueous phase and a gas phase.", "Condensation can be achieved by any suitable means, but will usually be achieved by lowering the temperature of the gas so that a liquid aqueous phase condenses from the aroma and water comprising gas.", "The temperature used will e.g. depend on the pressure in the system and the moisture content of the aroma and water comprising gas.", "Usually, the aroma and water comprising gas will be condensed at a temperature between 0 to 90° C., such as between 0 and 40° C., such as between 5 and 30° C., or between 5 and 20° C. The pressure will usually be between 0.1 and 3 bar absolute pressure, such as between 0.2 and 2 bar absolute pressure, or between 0.3 and 1 bar absolute pressure.", "Any suitable condenser known in the art may be used.", "In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the aroma and water containing gas is not subjected to conditions of temperature and pressure whereat water will be in the solid phase (ice).", "In a further preferred embodiment, the aroma and water comprising gas is subjected to a minimum temperature above 0° C. during the process.", "[0018] The condensate can either simply be stored for further use, or it can optionally be treated to eliminate unwanted aroma compounds (additional process step not shown in FIG. 2 ).", "[0019] The gas phase obtained by the condensation of the aroma and water comprising gas is subjected to pressurisation in the presence of an absorption liquid to produce an aromatised aqueous liquid (step 3 ) in FIG. 2 ).", "By subjection to pressurisation is meant that the pressure is increased compared to the pressure during the condensation step.", "Preferably, the pressure is increased to a value between 1 and 20 bar absolute pressure, such as between 2 and 15 bar absolute pressure, or between 2 and 8 bar absolute pressure, during the pressurisation step.", "The pressurisation is performed in the presence of an absorption liquid.", "By this is meant that the gas phase is in contact with an absorption liquid during the pressurisation.", "The pressurisation in presence of an absorption liquid results in the transfer of aroma compounds from the gas phase into the absorption liquid to produce an aromatised liquid, and at the same time the absorption liquid may absorb heat created during the pressurisation of the gas, thus preventing the temperature from increasing as much as would have been the case if the gas phase was pressurised without an absorption liquid present.", "In a preferred embodiment, the weight ratio of absorption liquid to gas phase during the pressurisation is between 1:1 and 10000:1, such as between 3:1 and 5000:1.", "The absorption liquid can be an aqueous liquid or a liquid fat.", "It will be chosen based on its polarity and pH in order to selectively remove the highly-volatile aroma compounds.", "In the case where a liquid chocolate has been used to obtain the aroma, but also in general when the final liquid is to be mixed into liquid chocolate, the absorption liquid is preferably chosen from the different ingredients of the original liquid chocolate or chocolate compound (e.g. water, cocoa butter).", "Liquid chocolate as such can also be used.", "Other suitable liquids that could be used are fats (e.g. vegetable fats), oils and flavor solvents such as propylene glycol.", "To minimise degradation of aroma compounds, the gas phase is preferably subjected to a maximum temperature below 60° C., such as below 50° C., or below 30° C. [0020] Pressurisation can be performed in one or more stages.", "Having several stages with different temperature/pressure values, and/or using different absorption liquids allows Several aromatized liquids containing different aroma compounds can thereby be obtained from this pressurization stage.", "These can then for example be selectively re-introduced into the initial liquid chocolate or into another food product.", "[0021] The pressurisation may be performed in any suitable container or apparatus.", "The contact surface between the gas phase and the aqueous liquid and the contact time should be sufficient to allow effective transfer of aroma compounds from the gas phase to the liquid aqueous phase and to allow the temperature to be kept within the desired range.", "The temperature during the pressurisation may e.g. be kept at a desired level by circulating the aqueous liquid through a cooling device to remove heat generated by the pressurisation of the gas phase.", "As already mentioned, the absorption liquid present during pressurisation may be any suitable liquid, such as e.g. water or cocoa butter.", "In a preferred embodiment the liquid present during the pressurisation comprises all or a part of the aqueous liquid phase obtained by the condensation of the aroma and water comprising gas.", "In this way the condensed aqueous liquid phase which may already comprise low and medium volatile chocolate aroma components that were condensed together with water during the condensation step, may be further aromatised by transferring highly volatile aroma compounds to it from the gas phase, such that both aroma condensed during the condensation step and aroma transferred from the gas phase during the pressurisation step may be utilised.", "[0022] In a preferred embodiment, the pressurisation in presence of an absorption liquid is performed in a liquid ring compressor.", "A liquid ring compressor compresses gas by rotating a vaned impeller eccentric to a cylindrical casing.", "The absorption liquid is fed into the pump and, by centrifugal acceleration, forms a moving cylindrical ring against the inside of the casing.", "This liquid ring creates a series of seals in the space between the impeller vanes, which form compression chambers.", "The eccentricity between the impeller's axis of rotation and the casing geometric axis results in a cyclic variation of the volume enclosed by the vanes and the ring of aqueous liquid.", "The gas phase is drawn into the pump via an inlet port in one end of the casing where the volume of the compression chambers formed by the impeller vanes and the liquid ring is largest and the gas is trapped in the compression chambers.", "The reduction in volume caused by the impeller rotation compresses the gas, and the compressed gas leaves the compressor at a discharge port in the other end of the casing where the volume of the compression chambers is smallest.", "The function of a liquid ring compressor is illustrated in FIG. 1 .", "To control temperature in the liquid ring compressor, the absorption liquid is preferably circulated through an external heat exchanger.", "A liquid ring compressor system may be operated continuously.", "Two or more liquid ring compressors operated in series may be used.", "When the aqueous liquid phase obtained by the condensation of the aroma and water comprising gas is used as the absorption liquid in a liquid ring compressor, this liquid phase can be further aromatised and at the same time being utilised as the service and cooling liquid of the liquid ring compressor.", "The gas phase leaving the liquid ring compressor may entrain some liquid.", "This liquid may be separated from the gas and fed back to the liquid phase.", "[0023] As schematically shown in FIG. 2 , the aromatised liquid obtained may be further cleaned, i.e. refined to obtain the suitable flavour characteristic (cf.", "Step 4 ) in FIG. 2 ).", "This step is optional, and various technologies van be used to remove unwanted aroma compounds or specifically select desirable aroma compounds.", "For example, separation technologies, such as membrane separation, can be applied to the obtained liquid to further refine its composition, and concentrate desirable aroma compounds, e.g. by selectively collecting or eliminating some aroma compounds or neutralising acidic and unwanted flavours.", "[0024] In the case where the liquid which has been used as an absorption liquid is not or at least partly not desired in the end product, it has to be separated from the aromatised liquid obtained in an additional process step (cf.", "step 5 ) in FIG. 2 ).", "This is for example typically the case when water is sued as the absorption liquid, since the presence of water in chocolate is not desired.", "[0025] The aromatized liquid obtained, or selected aroma components thereof in the case of additional cleaning or separation steps as discussed above, can be used immediately, e.g. by mixing it with the initial liquid chocolate or liquid chocolate compound, as shown in FIG. 2 (cf.", "step 6 ).", "According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, an in-line mixer is used for this mixing step.", "[0026] If not used immediately, the aromatised aqueous liquid may preferably be stored under pressure until used.", "Any suitable pressure may be used, e.g. in the range between 1 and 20 bar absolute pressure.", "Preferably the storage pressure is the same as the pressure in the compressor.", "[0027] The method of the present invention may be utilised in the production of chocolate, chocolate compound or any food products based on or containing chocolate.", "It can also be used in food products containing a cocoa or chocolate aroma such as powdered beverages, ice-cream or other confectionery products.", "[0028] It allows to provide a final product with the desired characteristics of flavour in a controllable and efficient manner.", "[0029] The invention is further illustrated by the following non-limiting examples: Example 1 [0030] A cocoa liquor feedstream, heated to a temperature of about 115±2° C., was stripped with air in a mixing chamber under vacuum, at a pressure of 0.80 bar absolute, to generate a gas stream containing chocolate aroma compounds and moisture.", "The gas stream was drawn off the mixing chamber and fed to a condenser operating at about 10° C. to obtain an aromatised liquid phase and a gas phase.", "The gas phase obtained from the condenser was then fed to a liquid ring compressor.", "The pressure in the liquid ring compressor was increased to about 1.03 bar absolute, at a temperature of about 28° C. Water was used to form the liquid in the liquid ring compressor.", "The gas leaving the liquid ring compressor was discarded.", "The recovery of key aroma compounds in the aromatised liquid exiting the liquid ring compressor was analysed by GC-MS: [0031] Samples of the liquid (4 g) were weighed into 20 ml screw-top headspace vials.", "Each vial was equilibrated for 60 minutes at 55° C. and the headspace volatiles adsorbed onto a PDMS-DVB SPME fibre for 30 minutes also at 55° C. The volatiles were desorbed for 5 minutes at 220° C. in the injector of an Agilent 7890A Gas Chromatograph operating in splitless mode, and separated on a 60 m×0.25 mm internal diameter×0.25 μm film DB-Wax column (Agilent).", "The GC oven was programmed from 40° C. (5 min) to 220° C. at 3° C./min and eluting compounds fragmented by electron impact ionisation in an Agilent 5975C mass spectrometer.", "The components were identified by comparing their fragmentation patterns to those contained in a spectral library (reference spectral library NIST08).", "[0032] The resultant total ion current chromatogram is shown in FIG. 3 .", "Key aroma compounds which occur in cocoa and chocolate were detected including 2-methylbutanal (9.02 min), 3-methylbutanal (9.15 min), 2-heptanone (20.52 min), heptanal (20.67 min), 2-nonanone (30.17 min), nonanal (30.342 min), trimethylpyrazine (30.80 min) and linalool (36.78 min).", "Persons familiar with gas chromatography will be aware that the exact time at which a compound will elute from a polar column such as DB-Wax will be influenced by the age and previous sample history of the column.", "The retention times quoted are for guidance only." ]

[ "FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to burglar alarms for vending machines.", "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION One of the problems facing owners of vending machines is destruction of their coin operated machines by thieves, both professional and amateur.", "When one tries to break into a machine, the destruction of the machine is the only way to reach the coin compartment.", "This wanton destruction of expensive vending machines calls for a specialized burglar alarm.", "This invention is especially appropriate for use with newspaper vending racks.", "Most newspaper vending racks are formed of two parts.", "The top part includes a locked coin compartment which contains a coin receiving mechanism.", "Beneath the coin compartment is a newspaper compartment with a hinged door which is unlatched when the appropriate amount of money is deposited in the coin receiving mechanism.", "The vending racks are often anchored to their position by chains wrapped around sign posts or mail boxes.", "However, thieves often cut the chain anchoring the rack to its location.", "No burglar alarms presently address the specific problems of vending machines.", "Vending machines are usually tampered with by amateurs who attempt to break into the rack and fail, but in the process damage the vending machine.", "More experienced thieves may have the equipment to seize an entire vending machine and remove it to a remote location before breaking into the coin compartment.", "An alarm system designed to deal with both modes of theft must take into consideration the customers who buy goods from the rack.", "Slamming the door must not set off the alarm.", "Getting money out of the coin return should not set the alarm off and some shaking of the rack should not set off the alarm.", "Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide an alarm device appropriate for use in vending machines.", "It is another object of the invention to provide an alarm system especially designed for newspaper vending machines which is easily installed in conventional newspaper vending racks.", "It is another object of the present invention to sound an alarm upon the occurrence of certain movements of a vending machine at the machine's location to help scare any thief and to alert the authorities to criminal activity.", "SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a vending machine that is protected from theft or pilferage through an alarm device contained within the vending machine The vending machine has a housing which has a vending compartment for receiving and storing articles sold inside the vending compartment.", "The vending machine also has an enclosed locking coin compartment carried by the housing.", "The coin compartment has a coin receiving mechanism.", "The alarm device is contained in the coin compartment.", "When the vending machine is moved or tilted a predetermined amount for a predetermined period of time, an audible alarm within the alarm device sounds for so long as the box remains tilted.", "The alarm device is inexpensive, easy to install and difficult to disengage.", "More specifically, the alarm unit may comprise a tilt responsive switch having switch contacts which are activated in response to a predetermined amount of tilting from a level orientation, a delay circuit cooperating with the alarm so as to effect a sounding of the alarm a predetermined amount of time after tilting occurs.", "DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: FIG. 1 shows a newspaper rack vending machine as it is normally positioned.", "FIG. 2 shows a cutaway rear view of the coin box with top and back sides removed and the alarm unit shown in different positions inside the coin box.", "FIG. 3 shows a cross section of the alarm unit box.", "FIG. 4 shows a schematic drawing of the circuitry of the alarm unit.", "Like characters refer to like elements throughout.", "DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT While the invention will be described in connection with a preferred embodiment, it will be understood that Applicant does not intend to limit the invention to that embodiment.", "On the contrary, Applicant intends to cover all alternatives, modifications and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.", "Referring to FIG. 1, a vending machine, in this case a newspaper rack, is shown.", "The vending machine has a housing 10 formed by two parallel side walls 11, a rear wall 12 and a front wall 13.", "In the upper portion of the housing is provided a vending compartment 20 which receives and stores the articles vended by the machine.", "The vending compartment 20 has a hinged door 21 to provide access to the vended articles.", "The hinged door 21 has a latch 22 for maintaining the door in a normally latched condition.", "The housing carries an enclosed lockable coin compartment 23.", "The coin compartment 23 has a coin slot 24 connected to a coin receiving mechanism mounted inside.", "A latch mechanism 25 is also mounted within the coin compartment and is operable for unlatching the latch 22 of the hinged door 21 upon receipt of coins by the coin receiving mechanism.", "Referring now to FIG. 2, the coin compartment 23 is shown.", "A coin receiving mechanism 45 is mounted interiorly of the coin compartment 23.", "An alarm unit 50 in the form of a compact self-contained unit, is also mounted inside the coin compartment 23.", "Three positions for the mounting of the alarm unit 50 are shown.", "Others are also possible The only requirement for the mounting of the alarm unit 50 is that it is mounted level within the coin compartment.", "Thus for example, if the surface upon which the vending machine is positioned is not level, the alarm device will be nonetheless mounted in a level orientation.", "Device 55 is a mounting strip to assist in mounting the alarm unit and leveling it.", "The dimensions of the alarm unit 50 are small so as to fit inside the coin compartment of a conventional newspaper box without requiring modifications.", "Since the alarm unit 50 is within the locked coin compartment 23 and the coin compartment is difficult to break into, it will be quite difficult to disengage the alarm.", "In FIG. 3, a cross section of the alarm unit 50 is shown.", "The alarm unit 50 contains an audible alarm 60, such as a horn, which sounds when the vending machine is tilted or moved for more than a predetermined period of time.", "The alarm device is powered by two batteries 70 (typically, the batteries are nine volt).", "Since many vending machines may be in remote areas, the alarm should be quite loud.", "As specifically illustrated in FIG. 3, the alarm unit contains a control board 80 and, the circuitry of the alarm unit is located on the board 80.", "An on/off switch 100 is located on the outside of the alarm unit 50 and turns power on and off.", "A second switch 110 will indicate whether the battery charge is low and is preferably a push button switch which lights a lamp, such as a light emitting diode (LED), to indicate that both batteries are operational.", "Referring to FIG. 4, in operation when the switch 100 is closed the alarm device is energized by batteries 70.", "When the vending machine is tilted more than a predetermined amount a tilt switch S 2 closes.", "A variety of devices can be suitably employed as the tilt switch.", "In the preferred embodiment, a disk-like normally-open mercury switch is employed which is responsive to titling in any direction from a horizontal or level orientation.", "Preferably, the switch should be actuated (e.g. closed) in response to tilting in excess of 30 degrees, and most desirably the switch should be responsive to a tilting of 20 degrees or more.", "When tilt switch S 2 is closed, voltage is then supplied, to capacitor C1, here 5 volts.", "Capacitor C1 then begins to charge acting as a time delay for a period of time which may for example be 3 seconds.", "As capacitor C1 charges, the voltage at switching diodes D1 and D2 increases until it reaches a certain voltage, e.g. 0.6 volts.", "When switching diodes D1 and D2 reaches this desired voltage, they break down and send forward biasing current to the silicon controlled rectifier SCR, which turns on the circuit, and then to transistor TR1.", "Transistor TR1 then activates the integrated circuit IC1.", "In the embodiment of FIG. 4, IC1 is a 555 timer, used to achieve accurate time delays.", "Pin 1 on integrated circuit 1C1 is connected to ground.", "Pin 2 is the trigger and receives signals from transistor TR1;", "pin 5 is the control voltage pin;", "pin 6 is the threshold pin;", "pin 7 is the discharge pin and pin 8 is connected to the power supply.", "When integrated circuit IC1 is triggered, the signal from pin 3 activates a second transistor TR2.", "Transistor TR2 then energizes the horn driver HD.", "The horn driver sounds the audible alarm and the SCR1 energizes the light emitting device LED1.", "When the tilt switch S2 is open (i.e. vending machine is at less than the preselected angle) the current flow to capacitor C1 and transistor TR1 stops.", "Capacitor C1 continues to keep transistor TR1 energized while capacitor C1 discharges.", "Switching diodes D1 and D2 allow the capacitor C1 discharge current to flow until the voltage drops below a certain level (for example, 3 volts).", "At that point, switching diode D1 no longer conducts and current to transistor TR1 stops.", "The integrated circuit IC1 operates in this time delay mode as follows.", "External capacitor C 2 is initially held discharged by a transistor inside integrated circuit IC1.", "Upon the triggering of pin 2, the flip-flop is set which both releases the short circuit across the capacitor and drives the output on pin 3 high.", "The voltage across capacitor C 2 then increases exponentially for a period of t=1.1R 4 C 3 at the end of which time the voltage across capacitor C 2 equals two thirds of power supply voltage The comparator then resets the flip-flop which in turn discharges the capacitor and drives the output to its low state.", "When current to transistor TR1 stops transistor TR1 no longer triggers pin 2 of integrated circuit IC1.", "A comparator inside integrated circuit IC1 resets the flip-flop, which in turn discharges the capacitor C 2 .", "This discharge operates to delay the changing of the output pin 3 to a low state.", "When the output pin 3 of integrated circuit IC1 turns off, the horn driver HD is de-energized, thereby silencing the horn.", "Light emitting diode LED1 remains lit indicating that an alarm condition did occur.", "In order to test the battery voltage, one pushes push button 110 which sends current to light emitting diode LED 2 which then energizes.", "Resistors R7 and R4 and zener diode ZD1, drops the voltage to light emitting diode LED2 so that light emitting diode LED2 will not light up if the voltage is less than a certain amount (here, 12 volts) at the source, batteries 70.", "This indicates low voltage and the battery should be replaced." ]

[ "This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser.", "No. 07/860,718, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,371,684.", "CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS The following are commonly owned, co-pending applications: "Superscalar RISC Instruction Scheduling", Ser.", "No. 08/219,425 Mar. 29, 1994, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,497,499.", ""High Performance RISC Microprocessor Architecture", Ser.", "No. 07/817,810, filed Jan. 8, 1992 now pending;", ""Extensible RISC Microprocessor Architecture", Ser.", "No. 07/817,809, filed Jan. 8, 1992 now abandoned.", "The disclosures of the above applications are incorporated herein by reference.", "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1.", "Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an arrangement of components fabricated in a semiconductor material with significant design emphasis on the topological arrangement of the components and their interconnections.", "Related Art The arrangement of components (e.g., functional blocks) and their interconnections fabricated in a semiconductor material (e.g., on a microprocessor integrated circuit chip) becomes more complicated as the functionality on the chip grows due to the increasing number of transistors integrated on the chip.", "Take, for example, the complexity of data dependency checking in the execution unit of a RISC (reduced instruction set computer) microprocessor.", "Given instructions with two input operands and one output value, as holds for typical RISC instructions, then there are five possible dependencies between any two instructions: two true dependencies, two anti-dependencies, and one output dependency.", "Furthermore, the number of dependencies between a group of instructions (such as a group of instructions in a window) varies with the square of the number of instructions in the group, because each instruction must be considered against every other instruction.", "Complexity is further multiplied by the number of instructions that the processor attempts to decode, issue, and complete in a single cycle, because these actions introduce dependencies, are controlled by dependencies, and remove dependencies from consideration.", "True dependencies (sometimes called "flow dependencies"", "or "write-read"", "dependencies) are often grouped with anti-dependencies (also called "read-write"", "dependencies) and output dependencies (also called "write-write"", "dependencies) into a single group of instruction dependencies.", "The reason for this grouping is that each of these dependencies manifests itself through the use of registers or other storage locations.", "However, it is important to distinguish true dependencies from the other two.", "True dependencies represent the flow of data and information through a program.", "Anti- and output dependencies arise because, at different points in time, registers or other storage locations hold different values for different computations.", "When instructions are issued in order and complete in order, there is a one-to-one correspondence between registers and values.", "At any given point in execution, a register identifier precisely identifies the value contained in the corresponding register.", "When instructions are issued out of order and complete out of order, the correspondence between registers and values breaks down, and values conflict for registers.", "This problem is severe when the goal of register allocation is to keep as many values in as few registers as possible.", "Keeping a large number of values in a small number of registers creates a large number of conflicts when the execution order is changed from the order assumed by the register allocator.", "Anti- and output dependencies are more properly called "storage conflicts"", "because the reuse of storage locations (including registers) causes instructions to interfere with one another even though the conflicting instructions are otherwise independent.", "Storage conflicts constrain instruction issue and reduce performance.", "In view of the above discussion it becomes clear that implementing data dependency circuits, and register renaming circuits in general, is complex and requires a great deal of semiconductor area.", "Superscalar RISC processors in particular, strive to simultaneously execute multiple instructions.", "As this technology develops, chip developers attempt to simultaneously execute more and more instructions.", "Thus, the required amount of dependency checking increases at an exponential rate.", "What is needed is an integrated structure layout (also called a floorplan) of components and interconnections that can efficiently integrate sections of the register renaming circuit (RRC) to conserve semiconductor chip area.", "A more detailed description of some of the basic concepts discussed in this application is found in a number of references, including Mike Johnson, Superscalar Microprocessor Design (Prentice-Hall, Inc., Englewood Cliffs, N.J., 1991);", "John L. Hennessy et al.", ", Computer Architecture-A Quantitative Approach (Morgan Kaufmann Publishers, Inc., San Mateo, Calif.", ", 1990).", "Johnson's text, particularly Chapters 2, 6 and 7 provide an excellent discussion of the register renaming and data dependency issues addressed by the present invention.", "SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to an arrangement of components fabricated on a microprocessor integrated chip with significant design emphasis on the topological arrangement of a Data Dependency Checker (DDC) circuit and a Tag Assignment Logic (TAL) of a Register Renaming Circuit (RRC) circuit and their interconnections to conserve semiconductor real estate.", "A basic RRC structure comprises rows and columns of DDC blocks interleaved with TAL blocks laid-out to form a right-angled triangle.", "The arrangement of the present invention is achieved by flipping several columns of a basic RRC structure so as to open an center channel in the RRC to permit easy routing of TAL outputs.", "The layout arrangement of present invention for the DDC and TAL reduces the distance signals must travel between the DDC and TAL, as well as the distance the TAL output signals must travel to reach a set of register port multiplexers (RPM).", "The specially arranged rows and columns and associated interconnects permits a considerable amount of chip area to be conserved, thus permitting register renaming for many instructions in parallel.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will be better understood if reference is made to the accompanying drawings in which: FIG. 1 shows a representative high level block diagram of a register renaming circuit (RRC).", "FIG. 2 is a representative floorplan showing a simple layout of an RRC.", "FIG. 3 is a representative floorplan showing an improved layout of an RRC in accordance with the present invention.", "FIG. 4 is a representative floorplan showing a further improved layout of an RRC in accordance with the present invention.", "DETAILED DESCRIPTION FIG. 1 shows a representative high level block diagram of an Instruction Execution Unit (IEU) 100 associated with the present invention.", "The goal of IEU 100 is to execute as many instructions as possible in the shortest amount of time.", "There are two basic ways to accomplish this: optimize IEU 100 so that each instruction takes as little time as possible or optimize IEU 100 so that it can execute several instructions at the same time.", "An IEU for use with the present invention is disclosed in commonly owned, co-pending applications titled, "High Performance RISC Microprocessor Architecture", Ser.", "No. 07/817,810, filed Jan. 8, 1992 (Attorney Docket No. SP015/1397.0280001), and "Extensible RISC Microprocessor Architecture", Ser.", "No. 07/817,809, filed Jan. 8, 1992 (Attorney Docket No. SP021/1397.0300001), the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.", "Instructions are sent to IEU 100 from an Instruction Fetch Unit (IFU, not shown) through an instruction FIFO (first-in-first-out register stack storage device) 101 in groups of four called "buckets.", """, "IEU 100 can decode and schedule up to two buckets of instructions at one time.", "FIFO 101 stores 16 total instructions in four buckets labeled 0-3.", "IEU 100 looks at the an instruction window 102.", "In one embodiment of the present invention, window 102 comprises eight instructions (buckets 0 and 1).", "Every cycle IEU 100 tries to issue a maximum number of instructions from window 102.", "Window 102 functions as a instruction buffer register.", "Once the instructions in a bucket are executed and their results stored in the processor's register file (see block 117), the bucket is flushed out a bottom 104 and a new bucket is dropped in at a top 106.", "In order to execute instructions in parallel or out of order, care must be taken so that the data that each instruction needs is available when the instruction needs it and also so that the result of each instruction is available for any future instructions that might need it.", "A Register Rename Circuit (RRC), which is part of the scheduling logic of the computer's IEU performs this function by locating dependencies between current instructions and then renaming the sources (inputs) of the instruction.", "As noted above, there are three types of dependencies: input dependencies, output dependencies and anti-dependencies.", "Input dependencies occur when an instruction, call it A, that performs an operation on the result of a previous instruction, call it B. Output dependencies occur when the outputs of A and B are to be stored in the same place.", "Anti-dependencies occur when instruction A comes before B in the instruction stream and B's result will be stored in the same place as one of A's inputs.", "Input dependencies are handled by not executing instructions until their inputs are available.", "RRC 112 is used to locate the input dependencies between current instructions and then to signal an Instruction Scheduler or Issuer 118 when all inputs for a particular instruction are ready.", "In order to locate these dependencies, RRC 112 compares the register file addresses of each instruction's inputs with the addresses of each previous instruction's output using a data dependency circuit (DDC) 108.", "If one instruction's input comes from a register where a previous instruction's output will be stored, then the latter instruction must wait for the former to finish.", "This implementation of RRC 112 can check eight instructions at the same time, so a current instruction is defined as any one of those eight from window 102.", "It should become evident to those skilled in the art that the present invention can easily be adapted to check more or less instructions.", "In one embodiment of the present invention, instructions can have from 0 to 3 inputs and 0 or 1 outputs.", "Most instructions'", "inputs and outputs come from, or are stored in, one of several register files.", "Each register file 117 (e.g., separate integer, floating and boolean register files) has 32 real entries plus the group of 8 temporary buffers 116.", "When an instruction completes, (The term "complete"", "means that the operation is complete and the operand is ready to be written to its destination register.) its result is stored in its preassigned location in the temporary buffers 116.", "Its result is later moved to the appropriate place in register file 117 after all previous instructions'", "results have been moved to their places in the register file.", "This movement of results from temporary buffers 116 to register file 117 is called "retirement"", "and is controlled by termination logic, as should become evident to those skilled in the art.", "More than one instruction may be retired at a time.", "Retirement comprises updating the "official state"", "of the machine including the computer's Program Counter, as will become evident to those skilled in the art.", "For example, if instruction I0 happens to complete directly before instruction I1, both results can be stored directly into register file 117.", "But if instruction I3 then completes, its result must be stored in temporary buffer 116 until instruction I2 completes.", "By having IEU 100 store each instruction's result in its preassigned place in the temporary buffers 116, IEU 100 can execute instructions out of program order and still avoid the problems caused by output and anti-dependencies.", "RRC 112 sends a bit map to an Instruction Scheduler 118 via a bus 120 indicating which instructions in window 102 are ready for issuing.", "Instruction decode logic (not shown) indicates to Issuer 118 the resource requirements for each instruction over a bus 123.", "For each resource in IEU 100 (e.g., each functional unit being an adder, multiplier, shifter, or the like), Issuer 118 scans this information and selects the first and subsequent instructions for issuing by sending issue signals over bus 121.", "The issue signals select a group of Register File Port MUXes (RPMs) 124 inside RRC 112 whose inputs are the addresses of each instruction's inputs.", "Because the results may stay in temporary buffer 116 several cycles before going to register file 117, a mechanism is provided to get results from temporary buffer 116 before they go to register file 117, so the information can be used as operands for other instructions.", "This mechanism is called "result forwarding,"", "and without it, Issuer 118 would not be able to issue instructions out of order.", "This result forwarding is done in register file 117 and is controlled by RRC 112.", "The control signals necessary for performing the result forwarding will be come evident to those skilled in the art, as should the random logic used for generating such control signals.", "If an instruction is not dependent on any of the current instructions result forwarding is not necessary since the instruction's inputs are already in register file 117.", "When Issuer 118 decides to execute that instruction, RRC 112 tells register file 117 to output its data.", "RRC 112 contains three subsections: a Data Dependency Checker (DDC) 108, Tag Assign Logic (TAL) 122 and Register File Port MUXes (RPM) 124.", "DDC 108 determines where the input dependencies are between the current instructions.", "TAL 122 monitors the dependencies for Issuer 118 and controls result forwarding.", "RPM 124 is controlled by Issuer 118 and directs the outputs of TAL 122 to the appropriate register file address ports 119.", "Instructions are passed to DDC 108 via bus 110.", "All source registers are compared with all previous destination registers for each instruction in window 102.", "Each instruction has only one destination, which may be a double register in one embodiment.", "An instruction can only depend on a previous instruction and may have up to three source registers.", "There are various register file source and destination addresses that need to be checked against each other for any dependencies.", "As noted above, the eight bottom instructions corresponding to the lower two buckets are checked by DDC 108.", "All source register addresses are compared with all previous destination register addresses for the instructions in window 102.", "For example, let's say a program has the following instruction sequence: add R0, R1, R2(0) add R0, R2, R3(1) add R4, R5, R2(2) add R2, R3, R4(3) The first two registers in each instruction 0-3 are the source registers, and the last listed register in each instruction is the destination register.", "For example, R0 and R1 are the source registers for instruction 0 and R2 is the destination register.", "Instruction 0 adds the contents of registers 0 and 1 and stores the result in R2.", "For instructions 1-3 in this example, the following are the comparisons needed to evaluate all of the dependencies: I1S1, I1S2 vs.", "I0D, I2S1, I2S2 vs.", "I1D, I0D, I3S1, I3S2 vs.", "I2D, I1D, I0D.", "The key to the above is as follows: IXRS1 is the address of source (input) number 1 of instruction X;", "IXRS2 is the address of source (input) number 2 of instruction X;", "and IXD is the address of the destination (output) of instruction X. Note also that RRC 112 can ignore the fact that instruction 2 is output dependent on instruction 0, because the processor has a temporary buffer where instruction 2's result can be stored without interfering with instruction 0's result.", "As discussed before, instruction 2's result will not be moved from temporary buffers 116 to register file 117 until instructions 0 and 1's results are moved to register file 117.", "The number of instructions that can be checked by RRC 112 is easily scalable.", "In order to check eight instructions at a time instead of four, the following additional comparisons would also need to be made: I4S1, I4S2 vs.", "I3D, I2D, I1D, I0D, I5S1, I5S2 vs.", "I4D, I3D, I2D, I1D, I0D, I6S1, I6S2 vs.", "I5D, I4D, I3D, I2D, I1D, I0D, I7S1, I7S2 vs.", "I6D, I5D, I4D, I3D, I2D, I1D, I0D.", "There are several special cases that RRC 112 must handle in order to do the dependency check.", "First, there are some instructions that use the same register as an input and an output.", "Thus, RRC 112 must compare this source/destination register address with the destination register addresses of all previous instructions.", "So for instruction 7, the following comparisons would be necessary: I7S1, I7S2, I7S/D vs.", "I6D, I5D, I4D, I3D, I2D, I1D, I0D.", "Another special case occurs when a program contains instructions that generate 64 bit outputs (called long-word operations).", "These instructions need two registers in which to store their results.", "In this embodiment, these registers must be sequential.", "Thus if RRC 112 is checking instruction 4's dependencies and instruction 1 is a long-word operation, then it must do the following comparisons: I4S1, I4S2 vs.", "I3D, I2D, I1D, I1D+1,I0D.", "Sometimes, instructions do not have destination registers.", "Thus RRC 112 must ignore any dependencies between instructions without destination registers and any future instructions.", "Also, instructions may not have only one valid source register, so RRC 112 must ignore any dependencies between the unused source register (usually S2) and any previous instructions.", "RRC 112 is also capable of dealing with multiple register files.", "When using multiple register files, dependencies only occur when one instruction's source register has the same address and is in the same register file as some other instruction's destination register.", "RRC 112 treats the information regarding which register file a particular address is from as part of the address.", "For example, in an implementation using four 32 bit register files, RRC 112 would do 7 bit compares instead of 5 bit compares (5 for the address and 2 for the register file).", "Signals indicating which instructions are long-word operations or have invalid source or destination registers are sent to RRC 112 from Instruction Decode Logic (IDL;", "not shown).", "A straight forward, representative floorplan for laying out DCL 108, TAL 122 and RPM 124 for RRC 112 is shown in FIG. 2. DDC 108 has two sets of inputs.", "The first set includes source address signals from IFIFO 101 for all eight instructions of window 102;", "these inputs are shown at reference number 202.", "Inputs 202 are also supplied to TAL blocks 220, as shown by reference number 222.", "The second set of inputs includes long-word load operation flags, register file decode signals, invalid destination register flags, destination address signals and addressing mode flags for all eight instructions;", "these inputs are shown at reference number 203.", "DDC 108 comprises 28 data dependency blocks 204.", "Each block 204 receives 3 inputs, IXS1, IXS2 and IXS/D.", "IXS1 is the address of source (input) number 1 of instruction X, IXS2 is the address of source (input) number 2 of instruction X;", "and IXS/D is the address of the source/destination (input) of instruction X. Each block 204 also receives input IYS/D, which is the destination register address for instruction Y. A first column 208, for example, receives I0S/D, which is the destination register address for instruction 0.", "Each block 204 outputs the data dependency results to one of a corresponding bus line 214 to a TAL block 220.", "In this example, the address of I2S/D must be checked with operand addresses S1, S2 and S/D of instructions 7, 6, 5, 4, and 3.", "Each tag assignment logic block 220 receives the corresponding data dependency results via buses 214, as well as further signals that come from the computer's IDL (not shown) via a set of input lines 226.", "A BKT bit forms the least significant bit of the tag.", "A set of DONE[X] flags for instructions 0 through 6 indicate if the instruction is done.", "A set of DBLREG[X] flags indicates which, if any, of the instructions is a double (long) word.", "Each TAL block 220 also receives its own instruction's register addresses as inputs;", "this input is indicated by reference number 222.", "The miscellaneous signals DBLREG and BKT signals are all implementation dependent control signals.", "Each TAL block 220 outputs 0-3 TAGs 126 labeled IXS1, IXS2 and IXS/D, which are 6 bits.", "TALs 220 also outputs the least significant 5 bits of each TAG signal to RPMs 124 via output buses 224 which form a main bus 126, and the most significant TAG bit to ISL 218 via bus 120.", "The floorplan arrangement shown in FIG. 2 has two major limitations: it requires a large area, and some of the outputs 214 of DDC 108 have to travel a long distance to TAL 122, which limits the performance of RRC 112.", "A second floorplan embodiment is shown at FIG. 3. In this arrangement, TAL blocks 220 are placed (e.g., integrated with) between compare blocks 204 of DDC 108, as shown generally at reference number 302.", "This arrangement does, however, have one limitation.", "The most efficient arrangement of DDC 108 and TAL 122 requires that TAL 122 outputs 224 exit near the middle of rows 4, 5, 6 and 7, which is shown at a dashed box 304.", "This creates a wiring problem, because TAL 122 outputs 224 now must travel a long distance to RPM 124, especially in the case if I7.", "To resolve this problem, the TAL outputs of the rows furthest away from RPM 124 must be channeled through the rows closest to RPM 124.", "One method would be to expand rows 4, 5 and 6 enough to get all of the wires through.", "Since compare blocks 204 must be lined up vertically, row 7 would also need to be expanded.", "This would increase the width of RRC 112.", "A preferred floorplan embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 4. In the floorplan layout shown in FIG. 4, the left sides of rows 4, 5, 6, and 7 have been flipped.", "In other words, referring to the vertically aligned comparators 204 and their associated TAL logic as columns, columns 3, 4, 5 and 6 have been flipped.", "This creates gap in rows 4, 5 and 6 without increasing the length of row 7.", "(The gap is also called a center channel and is shown as a dashed box 402.) TAL outputs 224 of rows 4-7 are laid-out in center channel 402 and are fed directly to RPM 124 in essentially a straight path.", "The overall area of RRC 112 therefore remains the same.", "While various embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example, and not limitation.", "Thus the breadth and scope of the present invention should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims and their equivalents." ]

[ "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a mixing head for mixing at least two components which react together, preferably to form a foam, comprising a housing in which is arranged a guide bore for an ejector piston, one section of the bore forming a mixing chamber into which inlet apertures open for the components, one end of the mixing chamber being bounded by the end face of the ejector piston when the piston is withdrawn, the outlet aperture being arranged at the opposite end of the mixing chamber.", "Mixing heads of this kind generally operate on the counterflow injection principle, i.e., the injection apertures, which are in the form of nozzles or perforated plates, are situated opposite one another.", "To achieve thorough mixing, a certain pressure must be maintained within the mixing chamber.", "This pressure is difficult to measure because of the small volume of the mixing chamber.", "It is therefore generally based on the theoretical velocity of the reaction mixture leaving the mixing chamber.", "It has been found, for example, that for the production of foams based on polyurethane, a sufficient intensity of mixing is ensured if the mixture is discharged at the rate of 20 to 40 meters per second.", "In the known mixing heads, pressure in the mixing chamber is produced by means of swirl elements or perforated shields placed in the outlet element behind the mixing chamber.", "Since these mixing heads are generally used for filling molds with reaction mixture, it is necessary to ensure that the mixture leaves the mixing chamber in a quiet, steady flow so that it enters the cavity of the mold in a laminar stream.", "The purpose of this requirement is to obtain a closed flow front and ensure that no air bubbles are beaten into the mixture as these could give rise to faults in the finished molded product.", "This laminar flow is obtained generally by means of deflecting and calming zones arranged in the outlet elements.", "Such mixing heads with fittings installed in the outflow elements must, however, be flushed with solvent or compressed air.", "The residues of reaction mixture thereby removed as waste, pollute the surroundings.", "New, positively controlled mixing heads advantageously operate without the use of rinsing fluids since the residues of reaction mixture left in the mixing chamber are ejected by means of an ejector piston towards the end of the mold-filling operation.", "In this case, it is just as impossible to adapt the pressure in the mixing chamber to the prevailing requirements as it is to ensure a laminar flow from the mixing chamber into the mold cavity.", "Since mixing cannot be achieved with the required intensity, attempts have also been made to provide aftermixers between the mixing chamber and the cavity of the mold.", "These devices do improve mixing and calm the turbulent stream of mixture leaving the mixing chamber.", "Both the aftermixers and the sprue channel are placed in the plane of separation of the mold.", "When the product has hardened, the mixture left in the sprue channel and aftermixer must be removed from the mold as waste.", "The sprue mark left on the molded article is a blemish and must be removed.", "Another design of mixing head has an ejector piston which can be pushed forwards as far as the outlet aperture of the mixing chamber towards the end of the mold filling process, and this outlet aperture is directly adjacent to the mixing chamber.", "It is therefore possible to produce moldings free from sprue marks.", "Due to the inefficient mixing process, however, the products have defects in the form of streaks and bubbles.", "It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a mixing head which ensures sufficiently vigorous mixing by virtue of the fact that the pressure in the mixing head is adjustable, and which can be operated without the use of rinsing fluid and enables the mixture to enter the mold cavity as a laminar stream and ensures production free from waste.", "DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION According to the invention, there is provided a mixing head for mixing at least two components which react with each other, preferably to form a foam, comprising a housing having a guide bore for an ejector piston, a section of the guide bore forming a mixing chamber into which inlet apertures for the components open, one end of the mixing chamber being bounded by the end face of the ejector piston when the piston is withdrawn, an outlet opening being situated at the opposite end of the mixing chamber, a restrictor slide slidable in a guide bore, the guide bore being adjacent the outlet of the mixing chamber and arranged transversely relative thereto, the restrictor slide having a passage therethrough, the cross-section of which is at least equal to the cross-section of the ejector piston, the passage connecting the mixing chamber to an outflow conduit in every position of the restrictor slide, the internal cross-section of the outflow conduit being at least equal to the cross-section of the ejector piston.", "More particularly, the instant invention is directed to a mixing head for mixing at least two reactive components comprising: (A) A housing having (i) an ejector piston guide bore therein, (ii) a mixing chamber within said ejector piston guide bore and into which inlet apertures for said reactive components open, said mixing chamber further defined as having an inlet opening and an outlet opening, (iii) a restrictor piston guide bore arranged transversely of said outlet opening, (iv) an outflow bore arranged transversely of said restrictor piston guide bore, and communicating with said outlet opening via said restrictor piston guide bore;", "(B) An ejector piston slidably located in said ejector piston guide bore, and slidable through said mixing chamber, said restrictor piston guide bore, and said outflow bore;", "(C) A restrictor piston slidably located in said restrictor piston guide bore, and having a passage therethrough, said passage adapted to directly connect said outlet opening to said outflow bore, and said passage being of (C) such a cross-section that said ejector piston can pass therethrough.", "Adjustment of the pressure of the mixing chamber is preferably achieved by adjustment of the stroke of the restrictor slide so that the outlet aperture of the mixing chamber, i.e., the cross-section of flow between the passage of the restrictor slide and the surrounding wall of the guide bore of the slide, is variable.", "This passage at the same time provides for efficient after-mixing because the material is injected at a high flow velocity into this passage which is shifted laterally with respect to the axis of the mixing chamber so that a powerful turbulence is produced, but the flow velocity immediately drops due to the increase in cross-section.", "In the outflow element, the flow velocity is finally so greatly reduced, i.e., to about 1 to 2 meters per second, that the desired laminar flow is obtained.", "Operation without flushing medium and hence without loss of material is made possible by the ejector piston which empties the mixing chamber at the end of the filling process and, when the restrictor slide has been moved to the required position, is pushed through the passage of the slide to reach the outlet aperture of the outflow element.", "The passage of the slide at the same time has a calming effect on the mixture stream, and the outflow element ensures that the mixture will enter the mold cavity as a laminar stream.", "The synchronization of the restrictor slide and ejector piston can be achieved by means of an electric, hydraulic, mechanical and/or pneumatic control device.", "According to a preferred feature of the invention, the restrictor slide has a longitudinal slot on the side facing the outflow element.", "This slot is sealed against the outside by a spring extending as far as the bore of the outflow element.", "The slot extends as far as the passage through the slide.", "This longitudinal slot ensures that the outflow cross-section of the passage is larger than its inflow cross-section in every position of the restrictor slide.", "It therefore helps to calm the flow.", "An embodiment of the mixing head according to the invention is illustrated purely diagrammatically in the drawings and is described below.", "DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 shows a longitudinal section of the mixing head in the mixing position of the ejector piston and restrictor slide;", "FIG. 2 shows a section through the mixing head taken along the line A--A of FIG. 1;", "FIG. 3 shows a section through the mixing head along the line B--B in FIG. 1;", "FIG. 4 shows the mixing head in longitudinal section, with the restrictor slide open to allow the ejector piston to move completely forwards to the outlet aperture of the outflow element.", "FIG. 5 shows the mixing head with control device for the ejector piston and the restrictor slide.", "DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS An ejector piston 2 is slidably supported in a guide bore 3 in a housing 1.", "When the ejector 2 is withdrawn, part of the guide bore 3 forms a mixing chamber 4, one end of which is bounded by the end face 5 of the piston 2.", "An outlet aperture 6 of the mixing chamber is situated at the opposite end.", "Inlet apertures 7, 8 open into the mixing chamber from feed pipes 9, 10 supplying the components of the reaction mixture.", "Spill ducts are indicated at 11, 12.", "The ejector piston 2 is constructed at its other end as a double action hydraulic piston 13 guided in a hydraulic cylinder 14 which has connections 15, 16 for conduits.", "A restrictor slide 18 is slidably guided in a bore 17 which is situated transversely and directly adjacent to the outlet aperture 6 of the mixing chamber 4.", "The slide 18 has a passage 19 whose cross-section is at least equal to that of the ejector piston 2.", "The passage 19 and guide bore 3 of the ejector piston 2 are arranged with their axes parallel.", "The restrictor slide 18 also has a double action hydraulic piston 20 at one end.", "This piston is displaceable inside a hydraulic cylinder 23 which has connections 21, 22 for pipes.", "The stroke of the restrictor slide 18 can be varied by means of a setting screw 24.", "The inlet and outlet cross-sections of the passage 19 increase and decrease according to the setting of the restrictor slide.", "The slide 18, in a preferred embodiment, has a longitudinal slot 25 on the side remote from the mixing chamber 4.", "This slot extends as far as the passage 19, and is sealed off from the outside by a spring 26.", "The outlet end of the passage 19 is adjacent to an outflow element 27 whose bore 28 is coaxial with the guide bore 3 of the ejector piston 2.", "The outflow element 27 opens directly into the cavity 29 of a mold 30.", "The mode of operation of the mixing head will now be explained with reference to the control diagram of FIG. 5: On expiration of the injection time to which a timer 31 has been set, the timer 31 switches multi-way valves 32, 33 to the spill ducts 11, 12 so that the components which are delivered from the reservoirs 36, 37 to the feed pipes 9, 10 by means of the dosing pumps 34, 35 are returned to the reservoirs.", "At the end of a given time interval, the timer 31 energizes another timer 38 which is adjusted to a delay of 3 seconds.", "The timer 38 then switches a multi-way valve 39 of the hydraulic control device 40.", "This actuates the hydraulic piston 20 of the restrictor slide 18 so that the slide 18 moves into the position for cleaning.", "At the same time, the slide 18 switches a limit switch 41 which switches the multi-way valve 42 of the hydraulic control device 40 so that the hydraulic piston 13 of the ejector piston 2 is actuated in the direction of the cleaning movement of the ejector piston 2.", "The limit switch 41 at the same time energizes another timer 43 which is adjusted to a delay of 3 seconds.", "After expiration of this interval, the said timer 43 switches the multi-way valve 42 so that the ejector piston 2 is returned to the mixing position.", "At the same time, the ejector piston 2 releases a limit switch 44 which switches the multi-way valve 39 so that the restrictor slide 18 resumes its position set by the setting screw 24.", "The mixing head is then ready for the next mixing operation.", "This operation is released by actuation of a limit switch 45 which releases the timer 31 which in turn immediately switches the multi-way valves 32, 33 to forward stroke so that the components enter the mixing chamber 4." ]

[ "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a tool and a method used for electrochemical machining.", "More particularly, this invention relates to a tool and method for forming features in predrilled holes using electrochemical machining.", "A specialized adaptation of electrochemical machining, known as shaped-tube electrochemical machining (STEM), is used for drilling small, deep holes in electrically conductive materials.", "STEM is a noncontact electrochemical drilling process that can produce holes with aspect ratios as high as 300:1.", "It is the only known method which is capable of manufacturing the small, deep holes used for cooling blades of efficient gas turbines.", "The efficiency of a gas turbine engine is directly proportional to the temperature of turbine gases channeled from the combustor of the engine and flowing over the turbine blades.", "For example, for gas turbine engines having relatively large blades, turbine gas temperatures approaching 2,700° F. are typical.", "To withstand such high temperatures, these large blades are manufactured from advanced materials and typically include state-of-the-art type cooling features.", "A turbine blade is typically cooled using a coolant such as compressor discharge air.", "The blade typically includes a cooling hole through which the air passes.", "A further design advancement has been the addition of internal ridges in the cooling hole to effect turbulent flow through the hole and increase cooling efficiency.", "Cooling features within the hole such as turbulence promoting ribs, or turbulators, thus increase the efficiency of the turbine.", "The cooling holes commonly have an aspect ratio, or depth to diameter ratio, as large as 300:1, with a diameter as small as a few millimeters.", "The turbulators extend from sidewalls of the hole into the air passage about 0.2 mm.", ", for example.", "The method currently used for drilling the cooling holes in turbine blades is a shaped-tube electrochemical machining (STEM) process.", "In this process, an electrically conductive workpiece is situated in a fixed position relative to a movable manifold.", "The manifold supports a plurality of drilling tubes, each of which are utilized to form an aperture in the workpiece.", "The drilling tubes function as cathodes in the electrochemical machining process, while the workpiece acts as the anode.", "As the workpiece is flooded with an electrolyte solution from the drilling tubes, material is deplated from the workpiece in the vicinity of the leading edge of the drilling tubes to form holes.", "Turbulated ridges are formed in the cooling holes by a modification of the standard shaped-tube electrochemical machining (STEM) process for drilling straight-walled holes.", "One common method is termed cyclic dwelling.", "With this technique, the drilling tube is first fed forward, and then the advance is slowed or stopped in a cyclic manner.", "The dwelling of the tool that occurs when the feed rate is decreased or stopped creates a local enlargement of the hole diameter, or a bulb.", "The cyclic dwelling, for which cyclical voltage changes may be required, causes ridges to be formed between axially spaced bulbs.", "These ridges are the turbulators.", "The cyclic dwelling method is very low in process efficiency compared to shaped-tube electrochemical machining (STEM) drilling of straight-walled holes because of the lengthy required time for drilling each bulb individually by cyclic tool dwelling.", "The dwell time required to form a single bulb can be greater than the time for drilling an entire straight-walled hole.", "U.S. Pat. No. 5,306,401 describes a method for drilling cooling holes in turbine blades that uses a complex tool resetting cycle for each turbulator in the hole.", "This method also has low process efficiency, having even longer operating times for drilling the turbulator ridges than the cyclic dwelling method because of the time required to reset the electrode tool.", "In addition, both the cyclic dwelling method and the method disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,306,401 require that additional equipment be used with a standard STEM machine for control of machine ram accuracy, electrolyte flow and power supply consistency, since these are crucial to hole quality.", "Failure to control the dimensions of the turbulated holes often leads to part rejection, adding significant manufacturing costs for the machining process.", "Accordingly, there is a need in the art for a new and improved method for manufacturing turbulators that has a relatively short machining cycle time.", "There is an additional need for an improved method of manufacturing more complex features such as spiral or helical ridges and the like.", "There is an additional need for a method utilizing relatively simple and easily implemented manufacturing techniques.", "In particular, there is a need for a method that does not require complex lateral or vertical displacement of the electrode.", "SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides an electrode for use in an electrochemical machining process, particularly shaped-tube electrochemical machining (STEM), and a method of machining bulbs and ridges in a predrilled hole using the electrode.", "The electrode and methods of the invention provide for convenient, cost effective machining of features in holes with large aspect ratios.", "This is accomplished by simultaneous machining of the bulbs using a shaped-tube electrochemical machining (STEM) process with a modified electrode.", "The electrode of the present invention has an electrically conductive body with an external surface partially coated with an insulating material in a pattern defining raised areas to be formed on the internal surface of a predrilled hole in a workpiece.", "The electrode may be solid or hollow.", "The electrochemical machining process of the present invention forms a raised area in a surface of a predrilled hole in a workpiece.", "The process includes the steps of positioning, in the holes, an electrode coated with an insulating material in a pattern defining the raised area to be formed in the hole, and machining at least one bulb in the interior surface of the hole by passing an electric current between the electrode situated in the hole and the workpiece while circulating an electrolyte solution through the hole.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a conventional shaped-tube electrochemical machining (STEM) electrode;", "FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of an electrode coated with an insulating dielectric material in a pattern defining raised areas or ridges to be machined in a predrilled straight-walled hole, in accordance with the principles of one embodiment of the present invention;", "FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of the hole shown in FIG. 2 after the raised areas have been formed with an electrode of the present invention;", "FIG. 4 is a schematic representation of an electrode of the present invention that is solid, situated in a hole and includes a locator to position the electrode in the hole;", "FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view through a locator;", "FIG. 6 is a schematic representation of an electrode of the present invention that is hollow, and situated in a blocked hole;", "and FIG. 7 is a schematic representation of another embodiment of an electode in accordance with the instant invention.", "DETAILED DESCRIPTION A better understanding of the invention may be gained by reference to the drawings.", "FIG. 1 is a schematic view illustrating a conventional shaped-tube electrochemical machining (STEM) electrode 10 and the operation of electrode 10 in electrochemically machining a hole 8 having interior walls 9 in an electrically conductive workpiece 20 .", "Electrode 10 of the prior art is a hollow metal tube 11 coated on an exterior surface with an insulating dielectric material 12 except at the end proximate to electrically conductive workpiece 20 , where a band 14 of exposed metal is disposed.", "During the drilling operation, an electrolyte solution is continuously circulated through the body of electrode 10 and hole 8 while an electrical potential is applied between electrode 10 and workpiece 20 .", "The solution is pumped to an inlet 16 at the end of electrode 10 opposite the end composed of band 14 of exposed metal, through the body of electrode 10 , and through an end hole 18 , which end hole 18 is enclosed by band 14 of exposed metal, through hole 8 and out of the upper end of hole 8 , to be collected in a sump (not shown).", "The direction of electrolyte circulation is shown generally by arrows 13 and 15 .", "Electric current passes between band 14 of exposed metal electrode 10 and a portion of wall 9 of hole 8 directly adjacent to band 14 of exposed metal, resulting in removal of metal from that area of wall 9 .", "Electrical insulation by dielectric material 12 blocks the current flow in coated areas 17 on the exterior surface of electrode 10 , so that no deplating occurs in the areas of wall 9 opposite coated areas 17 .", "The electrolyte solution dissolves the deplated metal and carries the dissolved metal out of hole 8 .", "Because of the geometry of the exposed conductive surface of electrode 10 , a current is established primarily in a lateral direction toward wall 9 .", "Current density decreases as the distance between wall 9 and band 14 of exposed metal of electrode 10 increases due to material dissolution, limiting the depth drilled.", "In addition, operating conditions such as total machining time, pulse amplitude, pulse on-time, and pulse off-time determine the total electrical charges passing through the machined areas, which operating conditions in turn determine the amount of metal removal.", "As is known, these parameters, along with the nature and concentration of the electrolyte and the operating voltage determine the diameter of hole 8 .", "The conventional method of forming raised areas such as ribs or ridges in hole 8 is to remove metal from areas of hole 8 adjacent to the desired location of the raised area to form bulbs 32 by a modified shaped-tube electrochemical machining (STEM) process.", "The cyclic dwelling method of the prior art uses a cyclically varying feed rate to form bulbs 32 of diameter greater than that of the straight portion 30 of the hole.", "FIG. 1 shows the cyclic dwelling method schematically.", "The feed rate is relatively fast when drilling straight portion 30 of the hole, and relatively slow when drilling bulbs 32 .", "Similarly, cyclic variation of voltage can cause formation of bulbs, or enhance the bulbing process.", "However, cyclic variation of voltage requires a sophisticated power output.", "The electrode and methods of the present invention provide for convenient, cost effective machining of features in holes with large aspect ratios.", "Examples of the features that may be produced are turbulators in cooling holes in turbine airfoils, rifling in gun barrels, and grooves in air bearing shafts.", "With the improved electrode and machining process of the invention, it is possible to machine as many bulbs as desired, in whatever configuration desired, while achieving a significant reduction in process time.", "Furthermore, no variation of process parameters such as feed rate or voltage are needed;", "therefore, costly sophisticated controls for the instrument are not required.", "FIG. 2 depicts an electrode 100 in accordance with one embodiment of the invention in a predrilled hole 101 having a straight wall 102 , of an electrically conductive workpiece 110 .", "FIG. 3 shows electrode 100 in the same hole 101 after bulbs 120 and intervening raised areas, or ridges 122 , have been created.", "In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, electrode 100 comprises a hollow cylindrical electrically conductive cylinder 105 coated with an electrically insulating coating 103 in a pattern having intervening areas 104 of exposed metal or conductive material on the exterior surface.", "The pattern of insulating coating 103 defines raised areas or ridges to be machined in predrilled hole 101 .", "In this embodiment, the pattern is a series of rings 106 .", "The (+) and (−) designations indicate pulsed voltage through the body of electrode 100 and workpiece 110 .", "As shown in FIG. 3, areas of exposed conductive material 104 on the surface of electrode 100 define areas where bulbs 120 are formed by removal of metal from wall 102 of hole 101 .", "Raised areas or ridges 122 are created in wall 102 of hole 101 where no deplating occurs in the vicinity of insulated portions 106 of the surface of electrode 100 .", "FIGS. 2 and 3 depict an embodiment of the invention where electrode 100 consists of cylinder 105 , having a body composed of an electrically conductive material.", "The diameter of cylinder 105 may be as small or as large as necessary to fit the predrilled hole.", "However, the outside diameter of cylinder 105 , measured over the coated surface, typically ranges between about 1 mm to about 8 mm.", "The thickness of coating 103 is typically in the range between about 0.15 to about 0.2 mm thick.", "Cylinder 105 allows for pumping of an electrolyte solution into hole 101 through an inlet 112 at the end of electrode 100 extending outside hole 101 and out of end hole 114 at the other end of electrode 100 .", "Inlet 112 and end hole 114 facilitate uniform electrolyte flow through the areas being machined.", "Electrode 100 may also have electrolyte outlets 116 along the exposed surface of electrode 100 .", "Outlets 116 in addition to end hole 114 may be desirable where relatively large areas are being machined.", "The size of outlets 116 determines the added amount of electrolyte supplied to machining areas, which in turn determines surface quality of the bulbs 120 as well as metal removal uniformity.", "The operation of a shaped-tube electrochemical machining (STEM) instrument with an electrode of the present invention is similar to that with a conventional electrode.", "Current is provided by coupling electrode 100 to a negative terminal of a STEM power supply (not shown) and workpiece 110 to a positive terminal.", "Electrode 100 is positioned inside smooth-walled hole 101 obtained from a previous drilling step.", "An electrolyte solution, which solution may be the same electrolyte as used in the first drilling step, is pumped into an end of hole 101 under pressure.", "Where electrode 100 is hollow and may contain outlets 116 for the electrolyte, the solution is pumped into inlet 112 of electrode 100 .", "In this embodiment, the electrolyte flows into inlet 112 and out through outlets 116 along the side surface of electrode 100 and end hole 114 .", "All raised areas or ridges as defined by the pattern of the coating of electrode 100 may be formed in hole 101 simultaneously.", "The body of electrode 100 of the invention is composed of a conductive material, preferably titanium because of titanium's resistance to electrolytic action.", "The outer surface of the electrode body is covered with an electrically insulating coating 103 in a pattern that leaves some areas of the surface exposing the conductive material of the body.", "Coating 103 is made of a dielectric material, which dielectric material should preferably be smooth, of even thickness, tightly adhered to the surface of the body and free of pinholes or foreign material.", "Exemplary dielectric materials suitable for electrode 100 of the present invention include polyethylene, polytetrafluoro-ethylene, ceramics, and rubbers.", "A preferred method for fabricating electrode 100 of the present invention is disclosed in a commonly assigned U.S. patent application entitled A PROCESS FOR FABRICATING A TOOL USED IN ELECTROCHEMICAL MACHINING filed concurrently herewith under Ser.", "No. 09/187,664, the entire contents of which is incorporated by reference herein.", "The pattern in coating 103 on the electrode body of the present invention defines raised areas or ridges 122 to be formed in predrilled hole 101 .", "A preferred pattern is at least one ring 106 or band circumferentially disposed on the external surface of electrode 100 .", "A more preferred pattern is a series of rings or bands 106 circumferentially disposed on the external surface of electrode 100 .", "The present invention, however, contemplates employing any pattern configuration desired.", "Examples of other configurations that may be employed are lines, rings or bands longitudinally disposed along the external surface of electrode 100 .", "Additional configurations that may be employed are steps or staircases, and one or more spirals or helices, as shown in FIG. 7 .", "The geometric components of the pattern may also be disposed orthogonally or obliquely, relative to a longitudinal axis 107 of electrode 100 .", "FIG. 4 illustrates another embodiment of the invention where an electrode 140 is solid and may include a locator 144 at one end.", "The function of locator 144 is to position electrode 140 in hole 101 properly, such that electrode 140 is coaxial with the walls of hole 101 .", "Locator 144 is preferably composed of the same material(s) as an insulating coating 141 in other areas on the exterior surface of electrode 140 , differing only in the thickness of coating 141 .", "The outside diameter of electrode 140 measured at locator 144 is less than the inside diameter of hole 101 .", "This outside diameter should be sufficiently small that electrode 140 may be easily inserted in hole 101 , but sufficiently large so that electrode 140 fits snugly within hole 101 .", "Locator 144 preferably comprises a coating of greater thickness compared to coating 141 on other parts of electrode 140 .", "For example, the thickness of the coating 141 is typically in the range between about 50 to about 75 microns, while locator 144 typically comprises a thickness in the range between about 100 to about 150 microns.", "FIG. 5 depicts a cross-section of a locator 150 in a non-circular hole 151 .", "Locator 150 should have at least three points on a surface in contact with wall 154 of hole 151 , and should allow for free flow of electrolyte through hole 151 .", "Exemplary locator 150 has four arms 152 in contact with wall 154 of hole 151 .", "Electrolyte flows through spaces 156 between arms 152 .", "No metal is exposed between arms 152 .", "A locator is preferably disposed near the end of electrode 100 inserted in hole 101 .", "Where the cross section of hole 101 is not circular, it may be desirable to provide additional locator(s) 145 , to aid in centering electrode 100 in hole 101 .", "A preferred position for such an additional locator 145 is at a midsection of electrode 100 as shown in FIG. 6 .", "The electrode and method of the invention may be used with a workpiece having blind (i.e. non-through) holes or through holes.", "As described above, uniform electrolyte flow is important for ensuring surface as well as metal removal uniformity.", "In one embodiment of the invention, uniform electrolyte flow through a blind hole is provided for.", "This is illustrated in FIG. 3 .", "The electrolyte solution is preferably passed through the interior of a hollow electrode 100 , into hole 101 and out of the opening at the upper end of hole 101 and is collected in a suitable sump (not shown).", "For through holes, or holes with more than one opening, some measure is preferably taken to ensure uniform electrolyte flow inside hole 101 .", "Through holes are commonly used in gas turbine blades.", "For example, the cooling holes that are frequently manufactured in such blades using shaped-tube electrochemical machining (STEM) have an inlet and an outlet for the flow of coolant.", "One method to ensure uniform electrolyte flow in a through hole is to block one end of the hole.", "FIG. 6 illustrates this method, with a through hole blocked with a plug 162 of suitable material, for example, rubber.", "Using this method, the electrolyte solution may be passed through a hollow electrode 100 such as that depicted in FIGS. 2 and 3.", "The outlet(s) for the solution may be located either along the side or at the lower end of electrode 100 .", "Where the electrode is solid and the predrilled hole is a through hole, electrolyte solution may be pumped in one end of the hole and out the other end.", "FIG. 4 shows the second method to ensure uniform electrolyte flow in a through hole where the electrode is solid.", "Electrode 140 consists of a solid body 145 coated with a suitable dielectric material 141 in a pattern, leaving areas where electrically conductive material of the body is exposed, and a locator 144 .", "Using this method, electrolyte is pumped, for example, from the lower end of hole 101 , around electrode 140 , and out of the upper end of the hole 101 .", "EXAMPLE A straight-walled hole was drilled in a workpiece made up of two pieces of stainless steel clamped together.", "The hole was drilled at the interface where the two pieces were joined using a standard STEM apparatus and a conventional electrode similar to that shown in FIG. 1 .", "After the straight drilling was completed, an electrode according to the present invention, such as that illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, was connected to the STEM apparatus, and placed within the predrilled hole.", "A set of bulbs was simultaneously electrochemically machined in the hole, leaving raised areas, or ridges, between the bulbs.", "The spacing of the rings of insulating material in the pattern on the electrode correlated with the spacing of the ridges in the hole, and the width of the rings correlated with the width of the ridges.", "While only certain features of the invention have been illustrated and described, many modifications and changes will occur to those skilled in the art.", "It is, therefore, to be understood that the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit of the invention." ]

[ "This is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser.", "No. 09/561,170, filed Apr. 27, 2000, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser.", "No. 60/131,857, which was filed Apr. 29, 1999, the disclosures and contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties.", "FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a medical device for relieving pain by simultaneously restricting movement of a body member, applying pain-relieving medicament, and applying pressure to acupressure points.", "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Many people suffer from sprains, arthritis and other ailments at the joints such as the knees, elbows, wrists as well as neck pain.", "Often the treatment consists of wraps to stabilize and provide pressure to the joint, sports ointments and creams as well as prescribed and over-the-counter pain medications.", "Many people suffering from such ailments are reluctant to take pain killing drugs over an extended period of time for fear of obtaining a dependency or simply based upon a general reluctance to take drugs.", "For these people, the remedies are limited to treatment through ice, heat, wraps and externally applied ointments such as sports creams and the like.", "The products such as wraps and ointments must be separately purchased.", "Further, the ointments and creams, if applied underneath a wrap, can stain and soil the wrap making it unsightly for the person to wear in public.", "Still further, it is known that certain pressure joints near joints, if pressure is applied, can help to reduce and alleviate pain.", "The wraps and ointments heretofore used do not provide a means to impose an acupressure effect to help reduce pain.", "Thus there is a clear need in the art to overcome these drawbacks.", "SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a device to be disposed around a body portion of a person for treating pain that body portion, wherein the device comprises a wrap having an interior surface for contacting the body portion, and adapted to be disposed around the body portion, said wrap being sufficiently elastic to enable the wrap to be stretched around the body portion to restrict the mobility of the body portion, at least one pad section secured to an interior section of the wrap, each pad section adapted to be loaded with medicament, at least one nodule extending inwardly from the interior surface of the wrap and adapted to contact and exert pressure at a desired specific location on the body portion, and means for tightening and adjustably securing the wrap about the body portion, whereby tightening of the wrap causes medicament to exert pressure on and dispense medicament to the area of plain, and to cause the nodule to exert pressure upon the body portion.", "The present invention further relates to A method of relieving pain in a body portion comprising extending a flexible wrap around the injured body portion, said wrap having a pad section loaded with medicament and at least one substantially rigid nodule extending inwardly and adapted to contract at least one pre-located acupressure point near the area of the pain, locating the nodule above the acupressure point, and tightening and adjustably securing the wrap such that mobility of the body portion is decreased, pressure is exerted by the nodule on the desired acupressure point, and medicament is dispensed to the are of pain.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a bottom view of a wrap according to one embodiment of the present invention adapted for joints as knees and elbows as well as the back;", "FIG. 2 is a top view of he wrap of FIG. 1 ;", "FIG. 3 is a side view of the wrap of FIG. 1 ;", "FIG. 4 is a view of the wrap of FIG. 1 applied around a knee;", "FIG. 5 is a wrap according to another embodiment of the present invention for treatment of the wrist;", "FIG. 6 is the view of the underside of the wrap of FIG. 5 ;", "FIG. 7 is the view of the underside of a wrap according to yet another embodiment of the present invention directed for use around the neck to treat the cervical area;", "FIG. 8 is a view of the top of the wrap of FIG. 7 ;", "and FIG. 9 is a side view of the wrap.", "DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The invention provides a device for treating pain in an injured body portion which includes a flexible, elastic wrap which can be secured in place around the body portion.", "The wrap has an interior surface which includes an absorbent pad section designed to be loaded with medicament.", "The pad section can come preloaded with medicament, in which case the pad is covered by a removable impervious cover element.", "At least one, and preferably at least two, substantially rigid nodules project inwardly from the wrap and are disposed to contact predetermined areas of the injured member.", "The nodules are located strategically to provide acupressure-like force against specific acupressure points, which are well known in the art, thereby compressing the point and providing additional pain relief.", "See, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,792,176, and 5,224,469, which disclose devices for the application of pressure (“acupressure”) to selected points on the surface of the body which correspond to acupuncture points identified in Eastern medical practice.", "The wrap has adjustable fastening means, such as VELCRO hook and loop fasteners, so that the user can stretch the wrap around the injured part and adjust the pressure so as to dispense medicament to the affected area and to select the desired pressure at the acupressure points.", "Turning to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows a wrap 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention.", "The wrap 10 has an underside 12 adapted to be positioned against the skin when the wrap is used to treat a joint such as a knee or elbow or it can be of a size to wrap about the trunk of the body to treat the back.", "The wrap itself includes a main panel 14 connected to a side panel 16 by an elastic margin 18 .", "At the end of the side panel 16 is one member 20 of a hook and pile fastener for securing the wrap 10 about the joint.", "Disposed on the body 14 is a pad 22 adapted to receive and store medicament for treatment of pain.", "As shown in FIG. 3 , if the pad 22 is loaded with the medicament by the manufacturer, a tearaway cover sheet 26 may be provided by which the user may tear away the protective cover to expose the pad 22 loaded with the medicament.", "The use of a tear-away cover is conventional technology.", "The wrap 10 may also include one or more acupressure nodules 24 located to engage pressure points in the joint, muscle or ligament area to apply pressure thereto for the treatment of pain.", "As shown in FIG. 3 , these nodules 24 may be spherical in shape and may be manufactured from a rigid product such as rubber, plastic or the like.", "With reference to FIG. 2 , at the top side 28 of the wrap 10 there is located the other member 30 for the hook and pile fastener for the wrap 10 .", "Accordingly, and with reference to FIG. 4 , the user would remove the protective strip or cover 26 to expose the pad 22 preloaded with medicament.", "The user would then place the pad 22 over, for example, the patella and position the wrap 10 about the knee joint securing it thereto using the members 20 , 30 of the hook and pile fastener.", "The elastic margin 18 enables the user to exert pressure by constricting or releasing the pressure imposed by the wrap 10 on the knee joint.", "In this position, as suggested in FIG. 4 , the nodules 24 are disposed to the side and below the patella to exert acupressure effect on the ligaments of the knee joint.", "Turning to FIGS. 5 and 6 , a further embodiment of the wrap 10 for use at the wrist is shown.", "The wrap 10 includes the main panel 14 including the pad 22 to receive the medicament.", "A hole 32 is provided to pass the thumb when the wrap 10 is disposed about the wrist.", "Acupressure nodules 24 are provided to exert pressure at desired locations on the wrist.", "Straps 34 a, b include the one member 20 of a hook and pile fastener, the other member 30 (not shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 ) of the hook and pile fastener is disposed on the outside surface of the wrap 10 .", "Turning to FIGS. 7–9 , an embodiment of the wrap 10 for cervical use is disclosed.", "The wrap 10 includes the main panel 14 having the pad 22 to retain the medicament.", "Acupressure nodules 24 are provided to exert pressure at desired locations at the neck.", "The top side 28 includes the other member 30 of the hook and pile fastener.", "Straps 34 a,b include the member 20 for the hook and pile fastener.", "Accordingly the wrap 10 is wrapped about the neck placing the pad 22 at the desired location to apply the medicament.", "At least one nodule is provided on the interior of each wrap, and can be molded, sewn, welded, or otherwise secured to the interior surface of the wrap.", "The nodules are located on specific portions of the wrap in predetermined areas designed to correspond with known acupressure points for that specific body portion.", "These acupressure points as well-known and readily identifiable from medical literature, and may be adjacent areas of pain rather than directly on the pain.", "The nodules should be generally rigid, so that pressure can be applied quite specifically to the desired region of the member in which pain is being suffered.", "The nodules should have a generally curved surface, so as to not be pointed or have other sharp edges or protrusions that could injure the patient.", "The specific size of the nodule is not critical, although the area contacting the body should be sufficiently large so as to not create additional pain (e.g. by puncturing or sharply compressing the skin), but should not be so large as to distribute the pressure over a wider area than is necessary.", "Generally speaking, the area being compressed should be approximately ¼–¾ in diameter, depending on the specific area of the body involved.", "Examples of suitable nodules would be spherical lugs having diameter of ¼–¾ inch, preferably about ½ in though other shapes and dimensions may be usable depending upon the specific body part.", "For example, smaller nodules would be used for a wrist wrap, whereas larger nodules might be used for wraps for the knee or back.", "The nodules can be made from a generally rigid material such as hard rubber, but may have a small amount of resiliency (e.g. less than 10%) which could provide some patient comfort while not compromising the ability of the nodules to exert pressure.", "The method of pain relief afforded by the invention is implemented by a user either loading the absorbent pad with a medicament or removing the plastic impervious cover to expose pre-loaded medicament.", "Next, the user (or someone who assists the user) extends the wrap around the injured body portion, locating the nodules above the desired acupressure points.", "Then the wrap is tightened until the nodules exert pressure at the desired location which is sufficient to substantially compress the desired spot yet not cause additional pain.", "At this point, the adjustable fastening members are attached to retain the desired pressure.", "The tightened wrap restricts the mobility of the injured limb, thereby promoting healing.", "Furthermore, the tightened pressure is sufficient to exert force on the acupressure point and exude medicament from the pad into the area of treatment.", "These three desired affects combined enable the wearer to heal more quickly in a pain-free environment.", "After wearing the wrap for a certain period of time, the user may become accustomed to the pressure of the acupressure nodules and desire to increase the pressure, thereby increasing the effectiveness of the nodules.", "The releasable fastener is then released, the wrap is tightened, and the adjustable fastening members are re-attached.", "The pad may be any sort of absorbent material, such as sponge, cotton or synthetic fiber, or any other known material which can hold a fluid product.", "The wrap may be disposable, or may be reusable in which case the pad can be reloaded by the user with medicament prior to each use.", "The present invention provides a method for pain relief comprising topical administration of therapeutic medicaments using the device disclosed herein.", "Although topical administration of a medicament avoids, inter alia, many of the drawbacks of oral administration of pain medication, a topical administered medicament must overcome the complex set of diffusion barriers provided by the skin.", "In general, the skin is highly resistant to permeation by chemicals, including drugs.", "Although the skin is only a few millimeters thick, the stratum corneum serves as a highly protective barrier against physical, chemical and bacterial penetration.", "This barrier primarily consists of dead skin cells bound together by certain fatty (lipid) materials.", "Generally, only drugs that are effective in the body at very low concentrations or that have particular physical properties have been successfully delivered through the skin in therapeutically effective amounts.", "High molecular weight drugs and drugs which are either charged or highly polar can be difficult to administer transdermally.", "Accordingly, the rate of penetration of such a topically-applied medicament is dependent upon a number of variables including: the bodily area to which the medicament is applied, the concentration of the active ingredient or ingredients of the applied medicament, and the nature of the vehicle, if any, containing the active ingredient or ingredients of the medicament.", "The nature of the vehicle selected is defined by, for example, the solubility of the active ingredient and/or active ingredients in the vehicle, rate of release of the active ingredient or active ingredients from the vehicle, the facility with which the vehicle hydrates the stratum corneum layer of the skin and thereby improves permeability of the skin barrier to the active ingredient and/or active ingredients, and the stability of the active ingredient and/or active ingredients in the vehicle.", "The choice of vehicle for dissolution or suspension of the active ingredient or ingredients is well known in the art (See, for example, Dirk B. Robinson and Howard I. Miabach, Dermatologic Pharmacology in B ASIC AND C LINICAL P HARMACOLOGY , 871–87 (Bertram G. Katzung, Ed.", ", Fifth Edition, 1992), which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety).", "The presence of one or more penetration enhancers, described below, in the medicament also affects the rate of diffusion of the one or more active ingredient of the medicament into and across the skin barrier.", "The pad section may comprise, in various embodiments of the invention, one or more of the following elements: a backing film, a polymer matrix formulated with the active ingredient and/or a compartment filled with a vehicle comprising one or more active ingredients and, in certain embodiments, the vehicle may comprise one or more excipients, one or more membranes that control the rate of release of the active ingredient, pressure-sensitive adhesives that, in certain embodiments, comprise at least one active ingredient and may further comprise at least one excipient, an absorbent material such as, but not limited to, a cotton pad or a sponge, a protective, pressure-sensitive release liner, and a removable impervious cover element.", "The backing film used in the pad section has an inner surface and an outer surface.", "The outer surface of the backing film is attached to the inner surface of the wrap.", "The composition of the backing film is selected according to, inter alia the nature of the active ingredient to be delivered and the length of time the wrap is to remain attached to the body.", "In certain embodiments, the backing film is constricted of a synthetic polyester to facilitate hydration of the outer surface of the skin.", "In other embodiments, the backing film is constructed of, as non-limiting examples, polyurethane or polyolefin polymers, and woven or non-woven fibrous materials such as cotton or polyesters and blends thereof.", "In certain embodiments, the backing film is the inner surface of the wrap.", "The removable impervious cover element has an inner and outer surface.", "The edges of the inner surface of the cover element can be attached to the edges of the inner surface of the backing film, thereby forming a space within which the medicament is disposed.", "The removable impervious cover element is generally constructed of a thin (0.002–0.005 inch) impermeable material, which, in one non-limiting example, is a polyester film.", "The adhesive used for attaching the removable impervious cover element to the backing film is, in one non-limiting example, a silicone-based, pressure-sensitive adhesive release polymer.", "In certain embodiments of the invention, a membrane, which controls release of the medicament and/or the active ingredient thereof, referred to herein as a rate-controlling membrane is disposed between the removable impervious cover and the medicament.", "The rate controlling membrane has an inner and an outer surface, wherein the inner surface is in contact with the medicament and the outer surface is the surface to be placed in contact with the skin of the subject patient.", "The rate-controlling membrane, when present, is generally constructed of, inter alia, a thin (0.001–0.003 inch) film of ethylene vinyl acetate or polyethylene.", "In certain embodiments of the invention, a pressure-sensitive adhesive comprising the one or more active ingredients, is disposed between the backing film and the removable impervious cover, or, when the pad section comprises a rate-controlling membrane, between the backing film and the rate-controlling membrane.", "In certain embodiments of the invention, the pressure-sensitive adhesive is a hydrophilic adhesive hydrogel, which is formed, in one non-limiting example, from high molecular weight polyvinylpyrrolidone and oligomeric polyethylene oxide.", "Accordingly, in one embodiment of the invention the medicament is formulated as a hydrogel.", "Hydrogels are well known in the art as vehicles for the controlled release of drugs.", "For example, N. A. Peppas, Ed, Hydrogels in Medicine and Pharmacy CRC Press, Inc. (1987) Vol. II, discloses the use of water soluble cellulose ethers such as methylcellulose for controlled release drug delivery systems.", "In another embodiment of the present invention, the adhesive hydrogel comprises water soluble polymers such as cellulose.", "Such adhesive hydrogels are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,344,655 and 5,254,338, which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.", "In a further embodiment, the adhesive hydrogel comprises an aqueous mixture of a radiation crosslinkable water-soluble polymer such as a polymer of N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone and ethylene oxide and a humectant such as propylene glycol which may be incorporated within the pad section of the medicated wrap of the present invention.", "The hydrogel may also contain preservatives such as propyl paraben and methyl paraben.", "Such adhesive hydrogels are described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,405,366, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.", "In another embodiment of the present invention, the skin-compatible, pressure-sensitive adhesive hydrogel comprises polyvinyl pyrrolidone and polyvinyl alcohol, a polar plasticizer or humectant such as propylene glycol, water and at least one active ingredient.", "The composition may also contain cellulose derivatives to increase strength and guar gum to increase tackiness.", "Such adhesive hydrogels are described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,593,053, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.", "In another embodiment, the adhesive hydrogel comprises a water-absorbent resin such as a vinyl acetate-acrylic acid ester copolymer that swells to form a hydrogel upon contact with water.", "In this instance, the medicament is formulated as a dry powder comprising a gelling agent and at least one active ingredient, where the gelling agent comprises, in one non-limiting example, methylcellulose, a natural gum, glucose, propylparben, methylparaben, and sodium chloride.", "In other embodiments, the adhesive hydrogels of the present invention further comprise a substituted urea of the formula R—NH—CO—NH 2 , wherein R is hydrogen, hydroxyl, or a lower alkyl having from 1 to 8 carbon atoms selected from the group consisting of methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, isobutyl, tert-butyl, pentyl, hexyl, heptyl and octyl.", "Preferably, the substituted urea is butylurea.", "The hydrogels of the present invention may further comprise coloring, fragrance or other pharmaceutically acceptable additives.", "In certain embodiments, the hydrogels of the present invention comprise 50–80% (by weight) methyl cellulose, 15–25% of a natural gum selected from the xanthan and guar gums, 3–7% glucose, 2–3.5% propylparaben, 1.5–3% methylparaben, 1–3% sodium chloride and 0.75–3.5% pectin.", "Such adhesive hydrogels are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,362,497 and 6,214,374 which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties.", "The medicament comprises an active ingredient selected from the following, non-limiting, examples of classes pain relief medications: local anesthetics, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (“NSAID”), opioids, N-methyl-D-aspartate antagonists (“NMDA”), steroids, corticosteroids, tricyclic antidepressants, and mixtures thereof.", "In certain embodiments, the medicament may comprise analgesics such as lidocaine, trolamine, salicylate, aspirin creams or any suitable prescriptive or non-prescriptive applied analgesic or anesthetic cream.", "As used herein, the term “medicament”", "refers to a composition comprising at least one active ingredient and a pharmaceutically acceptable vehicle suitable for cutaneous application.", "In certain embodiments, the medicament may further comprise one or more excipients including, but not limited to preservatives, antioxidants, moisturizers, emollients, buffering agents, solubilizing agents, penetration enhancers, skin protectants, and mixtures thereof.", "As used herein, the term “local anesthetic”", "means any drug that provides local numbness or analgesia or any drug that provides a regional blockage of nociceptive pathways (afferent and/or efferent).", "Local anesthetics generally act by reversibly interfering with the generation and propagation of impulses along excitable membranes, particularly along nerve axons.", "More specifically, local anesthetics bind to membrane receptor proteins associated with sodium channels, thereby reducing or obviating the flux of sodium ions across cell membranes through those channels.", "The consequent reduction or elimination of the sodium ion current obviates the ability of the cell to generate an action potential, thereby preventing propagation of a nerve impulse (see, for example: Luc M. Hondeghem and Ronald D. Miler Local Anesthetics in B ASIC AND C LINICAL P HARMACOLOGY , 363–70 (Bertram G. Katzung, Ed.", ", Fifth Edition, 1992), and William Catterall and Kenneth Mackie Local Anesthetics in G OODMAN &", "G ILMAN'S T HE P HARMACOLOGICAL B ASIS OF T HERAPEUTICS , 331–47 (Perry B. Molinhoff and Raymond W. Ruddon, Eds.", ", Ninth Edition, 1996), which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties).", "In one embodiment, the medicament comprises at least one local anesthetic as an active ingredient.", "The local anesthetic can be any local anesthetic known or to be developed.", "Examples of local anesthetics suitable for use with the invention include: ambucaine, amolanone, amylcaine, benoxinate, benzocaine, betoxycaine, biphenamine, bupivacaine, butacaine, butamben, butanilicaine, butethamine, butoxycaine, carticaine, chloroprocaine, cocaethylene, cocaine, cyclomethycaine, dibucaine, dimethisoquin, dimethocaine, diperodon, dyclonine, ecogonidine, ecogonine, euprocin, fenalcomine, formocaine, hexylcaine, hydroxyteteracaine, isobutyl p-aminobenzoate, leucinocaine, levoxadrol, lidocaine, mepivacaine, meprylcaine, metabutoxycaine, methyl chloride, myrtecaine, naepaine, octacaine, orthocaine, oxethazaine, parenthoxycaine, phenacaine, phenol, piperocaine, piridocaine, polidocanol, pramoxine, prilocaine, procaine, propanocaine, proparacaine, propipocaine, propoxycaine, pseudococaine, pyrrocaine, ropivacaine, salicyl alcohol, tetracaine, tolycaine, trimecaine, zolamine, pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, and mixtures thereof.", "The amide and ester type local anesthetics are preferred.", "Amide type local anesthetics are characterized by an amide functionality, while ester type local anesthetics contain an ester functionality.", "Preferred amide type local anesthetics, include lidocaine, bupivacaine, prilocaine, mepivacaine, etidocaine, ropivacaine, dibucaine, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof and mixtures thereof.", "Preferred ester type local anesthetics include tetracaine, procaine, benzocaine, chloroprocaine, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof and mixtures thereof.", "The most preferred local anesthetic is lidocaine.", "Furthermore, in order to improve the effectiveness and tolerance of the present topically effective therapy, local anesthetics with different pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics may be combined in a composition of the invention.", "A preferred combination of local anesthetics is lidocaine and prilocaine and another preferred combination is lidocaine and tetracaine.", "In certain embodiments the medicament comprises a local anesthetic at a concentration of from about 0.025% to about 50%, from about 0.05% to about 40%, from about 0.1% to about 35%, from about 0.5% to about 30%, and from about 1% to about 25%, by weight.", "The medicament of the invention may also comprise as an active ingredient analgesics and anesthetics not typically associated with localized anesthesia, although such compounds can provide a local anesthetic effect.", "Non-limiting examples of such compounds include non-narcotic analgesics and non-steroidal antinflammatory drugs (NSAID) such as, acetylsalicylic acid, ketoprofen, piroxicam, diclofenac, indomethacin, ketorolac, VIOXX (rofecoxib), CELEBREX (celecoxib), and mixtures thereof.", "Non-steroidal antinflammatory drugs generally possess antiinflammatory, antipyretic and analgesic activities.", "These properties are believed to be mediated through the inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis.", "More specifically, NSAID compounds have been shown to be inhibitors of either or both of cyclooxygenase I (COX I) or cyclooxygenase II (COX II), which are involved in the synthesis of prostaglandins.", "Induction of the synthesis of COX II is associated with inflammatory processes and inhibition of COX II is believed to result in the antipyretic and antiinflammatory properties of NSAID compounds.", "Inhibition of the constitutively-synthesized COX I is believed to be associated with undesirable side effects such as gastric ulcers.", "Accordingly, selective inhibition of COX II rather than COX I is believed to offer a therapeutic advantage.", "The medicaments of the present invention may comprise one or more NSAID compounds as an active ingredient selected from the following, non-limiting, chemical classes of analgesic, antipyretic, nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs: salicylic acid derivatives, including aspirin, sodium salicylate, choline magnesium trisalicylate, salsalate, diflunisal, salicylsalicylic acid, sulfasalazine, and olsalazin;", "para-aminophennol derivatives including acetaminophen;", "indole and indene acetic acids, including indomethacin, sulindac, and etodolac;", "heteroaryl acetic acids, including tolmetin, diclofenac, and ketorolac;", "arylpropionic acids, including ibuprofen, naproxen, flurbiprofen, ketoprofen, fenoprofen, and oxaprozin;", "anthranilic acids (fenamates), including mefenamic acid, and meclofenamic acid;", "enolic acids, including oxicams (piroxicam, tenoxicam), and pyrazolidinediones (phenylbutazone, oxyphenthartazone);", "and alkanones, including nabumetone.", "For a more detailed description of the NSIDs that may be included within the medicaments employed in the present invention, see Paul A. Insel Analgesic - Antipyretic and Antiinflammatory Agents and Drugs Employed in the treatment of Gout in G OODMAN &", "G ILMAN'S T HE P HARMACOLOGICAL B ASIS OF T HERAPEUTICS , 617–57 (Perry B. Molinhoff and Raymond W. Ruddon, Eds.", ", Ninth Edition, 1996), and Glen R. Hanson Analgesic, Antipyretic and Anit - Inflammatory Drugs in R EMINGTON : T HE S CIENCE AND P RACTICE OF P HARMACY V OL II, 1196–1221 (A.", "R. Gennaro, Ed.", "19 th Ed.", "1995) which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties.", "In another embodiment of the invention, the medicament comprises a mixture of a COX II inhibitor and an inhibitor of 5-lipoxygenase for the treatment of pain and/or inflammation.", "Suitable COX II inhibitors and 5-lipoxygenase inhibitors, as well as combinations thereof are described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,136,839, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.", "In certain embodiments the medicament comprises NSAID at a concentration of from about 0.0001% to about 50%, from about 0.0002% to about 40%, from about 0.0001% to about 30%, from about 0.001% to about 25%, from about 0.01% to about 20%, and from about 0.5% to about 15%, by weight.", "As used herein the term “opioid”", "means all agonists and atagonists of opioid receptors, such as mu (μ), kappa (κ), and delta (δ) opioid receptors and subtypes thereof.", "For a discussion of opioid receptors and subtypes see Goodman and Gilman's The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics 9th ed.", "J. G. Harman and L. E. Limird Eds.", ", McGraw-Hill N.Y.: 1996 pp. 521–555, incorporated herein by reference, in its entirety.", "Opioids are believed to exert their analgesic properties by inhibiting the release of neurotransmitters, including actylcholin, norepinephrine, dopamine, serotonin, and substance P, which are involved in conduction of nerve impulses (for a further description of suitable opioid analgesics for use in the invention, and their pharmacological mode of action, see, Walter L. Way and E. Leong Way, Opioid Analgesics &", "Antagonists in B ASIC AND C LINICAL P HARMACOLOGY , 871–87 (Bertram G. Katzung, Ed.", ", Fifth Edition, 1992), which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety).", "The opioid included within a medicament of the present invention can be any opioid receptor agonist or antagonist known or to be developed.", "Preferred opioids interact with the μ-opioid receptor, the κ-opioid receptor, or both.", "Preferably, the opioid is an opioid receptor agonist.", "Examples of suitable opioids for use with the invention as an active ingredient include, but are not limited to, alfentanil, allylprodine, alphaprodine, anileridine, benzylmorphine, benzitramide, nor-binaltorphimine, bremazocine, buprenorphine, butorphanol, clonitazene, codeine, CTOP, DAMGO, desomorphine, dextromoramide, dezocine, diampromide, dihydrocodeine, dihydrocodeine enol acetate, dihydromorphine, dimenoxadol, dimepheptanol, dimethylthiambutene, dioxaphetyl butyrate, dipipanone, diprenorphine, DPDPE, eptazocine, ethoheptazine, ethylketocyclazocine, ethylmethylthiambutene, etonitazene, etorphine, fentanyl, hydrocodone, hydromorphone, hydroxypethidine, isomethadone, ketobemidone, levorphanol, lofentanil, loperamide, meperidine, meptazinol, metazocaine, methadone, metopon, morphine, myrophine, nalbuphine, naltrindole, benzoylhydrazone, naltrexone, narceine, nicomorphine, norlevorphanol, normethadone, nornorphine, norpipanone, opium, oxycodone, oxymorphone, papaveretum, papaverine, pentazocine, phenadoxone, phenazocine, phenoperidine, piminodine, pirtramide, proheptazine, promedol, propiram, propoxyphene, remifentanil, spiradoline, sufentanil, tilidine, U50,488, and U69,593, amiphenazole, cyciazocine, levallorphan, nalmefene, nalorphine, naloxone, naltrexone, pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, and mixtures thereof.", "Examples of peptide opioids that may be included in the medicament of the invention as an active ingredient include, but are not limited to, Tyr-Gly-Gly-Phe-Leu ([Leu 5 ]lenkephalin), Tyr-Gly-Gly-Phe-Met ([Met 5 ]enkephalin), Tyr-Gly-Gly-Phe-Leu-Arg -Arg-Ile-Arg-Pro-Lys-Leu-Lys-Trp-Asp-Asn-Gln (DynorphinA), Tyr-Gly-Gly-Phe-Leu-Arg -Arg-Gln-Phe-Lys-Val-Val-Thr (Dynorphin B), Tyr-Gly-Gly-Phe-Leu-Arg-Lys-Tyr-Pro-Lys (α-Neoendorphin), Tyr-Gly-Gly-Phe-Leu-Arg-Lys-Tyr-Pro (β-Neoendorphin), Tyr-Gly-Gly -Phe-Met-Thr-Ser-Glu-Lys-Ser-Gln-Thr-Pro-Leu-Val-Thr-Leu-Phe-Lys-Asn-Ala-Ile-Ile-Lys -Asn-Ala-Tyr-Lys-Lys-Gly-Glu (β h -Endorphin),[ D -Ala 2 ,MePhe 4 Gly(ol) 5 ]enkephalin (DAMGO),[ D -Pen 2 , D -Pen 5 ]enkephalin (DPDPE),[ D -Ser 2 ,Leu 5 ]enkephalin-Thr 6 (DSLET),[ D -Ala 2 , D -Leu 5 ]enkephalin (DADL), D -Phe-Cys-Tyr- D -Trp-Orn-Thr-Pen-Thr-NH 2 (CTOP), [ D -Ala 2 , N-MePhe 4 ,Met(O) 5 -ol]enkephalin (FK-33824), Tyr- D -Ala-Phe-Asp-Val-Val-Gly -NH 2 ([ D -Ala 2 ]Deltorphin 1), Tyr- D -Ala-Phe-Glu-Val-Val-Gly-NH 2 ([ D -Ala 2 Glu 4 ]Deltorphin (Deltorphin II)), Tyr-Pro-Phe-Pro-NH 2 (Morphiceptin), Tyr-Pro-MePhe-D-Pro-NH 2 (PL-017), [ D -Ala 2 ,Leu 5 , Cys 6 ]enkephalin (DALCE), pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, and mixtures thereof.", "Preferred opioids include morphine, loperamide and loperamide derivatives such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,763,445;", "5,981,513;", "5,869,521;", "5,744,458;", "5,760,023;", "5,798,093;", "5,849,762;", "5,811,078;", "6,004,964;", "5,962,477;", "5,688,955;", "5,888,494;", "5,646,151;", "and 5,667,773 (all of which patents are incorporated by reference herein, in their entireties), or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, or mixtures thereof.", "The most preferred opioid is morphine or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.", "In certain embodiments the medicament comprises an opioid at a concentration of from about 0.01% to about 20%, from about 0.02% to about 15%, from about 0.05% to about 10%, from about 0.1% to about 5%, and from about 0.5% to about 2.5%, by weight.", "Excitatory neurotransmission is mediated in part by ligand-gated ion channels, and particularly by those cation channels activated by glutamate.", "There are at least three subtypes of such channels, which are named according to the preferred agonist of the associated receptor.", "One of these subtypes, accordingly, includes receptors referred to as the N-methly-D-asparate, or NMDA, receptors.", "A number of antagonists of NMDA receptors have been identified, including dizolcipine (MK-801), remacemide hydrochloride and its metabolites amantadine, budipine, and memantine, dextromethorphan and ketamine.", "Ketamine, dextromethorphan, and amantadine have been shown to alleviate chronic pain (Fisher et al.", "(2000), J Pain Symptom Manage 20 (5): 358–73, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety), and ketamine has been shown to improve morphine analgesia (Mercadante et al.", "J Pain Symptom Manage (2000) 20 (4): 246–52, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety).", "Examples of suitable NMDA-receptor antagonists for use with the invention as an active ingredient include, but are not limited to, dextromethorphan ketamine dizolcipine (MK-801), remacemide hydrochloride and its metabolites amantadine, budipine, memantine, and mixtures thereof.", "In certain embodiments of the present invention, the medicament comprises at least one NMDA-receptor antagonist and at least one opioid compound and/or at least one anti-cholinergic agent such as a tricyclic antidepressants, e.g., amitriptylline (see for example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,197,830, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety).", "In certain embodiments the medicament comprises a NMDA receptor antagonist at a concentration of from about 0.25% to about 25%, from about 0.5% to about 15%, from about 1% to about 10%, and from about 2% to about 5%, by weight.", "In another embodiment of the invention, the medicament further comprises at least one antiinflammatory corticosteroid as an active ingredient.", "Absorption of topically applied corticosteroid is enhanced significantly (up to 10 fold) using a plastic wrap, such as an impermeable backing film as used in certain embodiments of the present invention.", "(See, for example, Dirk B. Robinson and Howard I. Miabach, Dermatologic Pharmacology in B ASIC AND C LINICAL P HARMACOLOGY , 871–87 (Bertram G. Katzung, Ed.", ", Fifth Edition, 1992), which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety).", "Exemplary corticosteroids that are suitable for use as an active ingredient in the medicaments of the present invention include, but are not limited to, the following (a typical, but non-limiting, concentration as weight %, is indicated for each): betamethasone dipropionate (0.05%), diflorasone diacetate (0.05%), halobetasol propionate (0.05%), amcinonide (0.1%), desoximetasone (0.25%), triamcinolone acetonide (0.5%), flucinolone acetonide (0.2%), diflorasone diacetate (0.05%), halcinonide (0.1%), flucinonide (0.05%), and mixtures thereof.", "In certain embodiments the medicament comprises a steroid or a corticosteroid at a concentration of from about 0.0001% to about 20%, from about 0.0005% to about 15%, from about 0.001% to about 10%, and from about 0.01% to about 5%, by weight.", "The major pharmacological activity of tricyclic antidepressants is interference with serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake by neuron terminals.", "However, some tricyclic antidepressants have other pharmacological effects as well;", "that is, some tricyclic antidepressants not only relieve symptoms of depressive disorders, but also provide pain relief and muscle relaxation as well (See Lane J. Wallace Psychopharmaocological Agents in R EMINGTON : T HE S CIENCE AND P RACTICE OF P HARMACY V OL II, 1180–95 (A.", "R. Gennaro, Ed.", "19th Ed.", "1995);", "Barkin et al.", "2000, Am.", "J. Ther.", "7(1): 31–47;", "and Lynch 2001, J. Psychiatry Neurosci.", "26 (1): 30–36).", "In certain embodiments of the present invention, the medicament comprises at least one tricyclic antidepressant, such as, but not limited to imipramine hydrochloride, imipramine pamoate, amitriptyline hydrochloride, amoxapine, desipramine hydrochloride, doxepin, protriptyline hydrochloride, trimipramine, and mixtures thereof,as an active ingredient.", "In another aspect of this embodiment, the serotoin (5-HT)-norepinephrine uptake inhibitor venlafaxine is also included as the, or one of the, active ingredients in the medicament of the present invention.", "In certain embodiments the medicament comprises a tricyclic antidepressant at a concentration of from about 0.01% to about 25%, from about 0.05% to about 15%, from about 0.1% to about 10%, and from about 0.5% to about 5%, by weight.", "In certain embodiments of the present invention, the medicament comprises at least one excipient selected from the group consisting of preservatives, antioxidants, moisturizers, emollients, buffering agents, solubilizing agents, penetration enhancers, and skin protectants (see, for example, (Monica Ramchandani and Rohinton Toddywala Formulation of Topical Drug Delivery Systems , in T RANSDERMAL AND T OPICAL D RUG D ELIVERY S YSTEMS , 539–92 (Tapash K. Ghosh, William R. Pfister and Sull Yum, Eds.", "1997, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety).", "Suitable preservatives for use in the invention and typical concentrations (expressed as weight %) include, but are not limited to: alcohols, including ethanol (>20%), propylene glycol (15%–30%), benzyl alcohol (0.5%–3%) and cholrobutanol (0.5%);", "quaternary amines including Quaternium 15 (0.02%–0.3%), benzalkonium chloride (0.004%–0.02%), cetrimide (0.2%–0.5%), and imidizolidinyl urea (0.2%);", "acids including sorbic acid (0.095%–0.2%) and benzoic acid (0.1%–0.5%);", "parabens such as methyl paraben (0.05%–2%) and propyl paraben (0.002%–0.02%);", "and phenols including triclosan (0.1%–0.3%), chlorhexidine (0.01%–0.05%), thimerosal (0.002%–0.02%), and mixtures thereof.", "Suitable antioxidants for use in the invention and typical concentrations (expressed as w/w %) include, but are not limited to: preferentially oxidized compounds such as ascorbic acid Suitable preservatives and typical concentrations (expressed as w/w %) include, but are not limited to ascorbic acid (0.02%–0.1%), sodium bisulfite (0.1%–0.2%), sodium metabisulfite (0.1%–0.2%) and thiourea (0.005%);", "propagation terminators such as ascorbic acid esters (0.01%–0.2%), butylated hydroxy anisole (0.005%–0.02%), butylated hydroxy tolune (0.005%–0.02%) and tocopherols (0.05–0.8%);", "and chelating agents such as EDTA (0.05%–1%), citric acid (0.3–2%), and mixtures thereof.", "Suitable moisturizers for use in the invention and typical concentrations (expressed as w/w %) include, but are not limited to: glycerin (0.2%–20%), sorbitol (2%–20%), polyethylene glycols (1%–85%), glucose derivatives (2%–20%), urea (5%–10%), lactic acid (0.5%–5%), propylene glycol (0.5%–50%), and mixtures thereof.", "Suitable emollients for use in the invention and typical concentrations (expressed as w/w %) include, but are not limited to: mineral oil(1%–95%), lanolin (1%–10%), isopropyl myristate (1%–10%), isopropyl palmitate (0.5%–6%), vegetable oils (1%–6%), cholesterol (0.3%–5%), stearic acid (1%–20%), stearyl alcohol (1%–10%), cetyl esters wax (1%–15%), and mixtures thereof.", "Suitable buffering agents for use in the invention and typical concentrations (expressed as w/w %) include, but are not limited to: anhydrous citric acid (0.3%–2%), lactic acid (0.15%–7%), and mixtures thereof.", "Suitable solubilizing agents for use in the invention and typical concentrations (expressed as w/w %) include, but are not limited to: benzalkonium chloride (0.01%–0.02%), benzethonium chloride (0.01%–0.02%), benzyl benzoate (0.01%–4%), β-cyclodextrin (1%–45%), glycerol monstearate (0.5%–5%), lecitihin (0.3%–2.5%), poloxamers (1%–5%), propylene glycol (5%–80%), propylene carbonate (5%–80%), polysorabates (2%–10%), sodium lauryl sulfate (0.0025%–0.025%), sorbitan monolaurate (1%–10%), sorbitan monooleate (1%–10%), sorbitan monopalmitate, sorbitan monostearate (1%–10%), and mixtures thereof.", "In certain embodiments, the medicament comprises at least one permeation enhancer to facilitate or enable intradermal and transdermal delivery of one or more active ingredients of the medicament.", "Permeation enhancers generally chemically modify the skin in a manner that decreases the barrier properties thereof.", "Preferred permeation enhancers act rapidly and reversibly, are non-toxic, non-allergenic, non-irritating, and are pharmacologically inert (Tapash K. Ghosh and William R. Pfister Transdermal and Topical Delivery Systems: An Overview and Future Trends , in T RANSDERMAL AND T OPICAL D RUG D ELIVERY S YSTEMS, 1–32 (Tapash K. Ghosh, William R. Pfister and Sull Yum, Eds.", "1997, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety).", "Suitable penetration enhancers for use in the invention and typical concentrations (expressed as w/w %) include, but are not limited to: propylene glycol (5%–80%), alcohols (including ethanol and lauryl alcohol) (0.5%–30%), esters such as glycerol monolaurate (1%–10%), salicylic acid (1%–5%), anionic surfactants such as sodium dodecyl sulfate (1%–10%), cationic surfactants such as cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (1%–10%), nonionic surfactants such as polysorbates (1%–10%), phospholipids (1%–10%), urea (1%–5%), and mixtures thereof.", "Suitable skin protectants for use in the invention and typical concentrations (expressed as w/w %) include, but are not limited to: allantoin (0.5%–2%), dimethicone (1%–30%), glycerin (20%–45%), petrolatum (30%–90%), zinc oxide (1%–25%), and mixtures thereof.", "In other embodiments of the present invention, the medicament comprises more than one active ingredient selected from, but not limited to, the following classes of compounds: opioids, corticosteroids, steroids, NSAID, local anesthetics, tricyclic antidepressants, and NMDA antagonists.", "In certain embodiments, the medicament comprises one of the following combinations of active ingredients: (a) an opioid and a NMDA antagonist;", "(b) an opioid and a local anesthetic;", "(c) a local anesthetic and a NMDA antagonist;", "(d) a tricyclic antidepressant and a NMDA antagonist.", "In a particular embodiment of the present invention, the medicament comprises a combination of amitriptyline and ketamine as the active ingredients.", "The devices and methods of the present invention are used for the alleviation of pain in a body member by restriction of movement of the body member, application of pressure to acupressure points, and the topical application of a suitable medicament.", "Accordingly, the methods and devices disclosed herein are used, in non-limiting examples, for the alleviation of pain in the toe, foot, ankle, calf, knee, thigh, hip, finger, knuckle, wrist, forearm, elbow, upper arm, back, shoulder, and neck.", "Such pain may arise from, but not be limited to, arthritis, muscle strain, tendinitis, and repetitive motion syndromes including carpel tunnel syndrome.", "The present invention is not to be limited in scope by the specific embodiments described herein.", "Indeed, various modifications of the invention, in addition to those described herein will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the foregoing description.", "Such modifications are intended to fall within the scope of the appended claims.", "Various publications and patents are cited herein, the disclosures of which are incorporated by reference in their entireties." ]

[ "The invention disclosed and claimed herein deals with a removable shift slide stabilizer tool used in the repair and maintenance of inboard-outboard engines used on watercraft.", "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The engine, which serves as the power plant for the watercraft, is mounted on the inside, and in the transom of the watercraft and consists of three major assemblies, namely, the engine, the transom assembly, and the drive unit.", "These engines are conventional automotive style four cycle gasoline engines, and are mounted on the inside of the watercraft.", "The transom assembly is bolted to the transom of the watercraft and this allows the hooking together of the engine to the hull of the watercraft.", "It also serves as the connecting link between the engine and the drive unit.", "The back of the engine is mounted to the inner transom assembly and the drive unit is mounted to the outer transom assembly.", "The drive unit is a relatively heavy streamlined gearcase which transfers the power of the engine down below the surface of the water to the propeller.", "This is also where the engine is shifted from forward to reverse.", "The applicant herein is not aware of any prior art devices used for this purpose and a literature search has not shown any such devices.", "THE INVENTION The invention herein deals with a removable shift slide stabilizer tool for use in the repair and maintenance of watercraft engines.", "Thus, the invention is a removable shift slide stabilizer comprising a tool of unitary construction which has a body with an upper end, a lower end, a front surface, and a back surface.", "The lower end of the body is configured in a C-shape having an open side, with the C-shape being vertically aligned with the body and, the open part of the C-shape being forward of the front surface of the body.", "The upper end of the body is surmounted by a 90° angled shoulder having a floor with a back edge, a bottom surface having a top surface, a near right corner, and, has surmounted on the top surface and near the back edge, parallel to the back edge, a wall, which is perpendicular to the top surface of the floor and has essentially the same overall dimensions as the floor.", "The floor is integrally attached to the upper end of the body, at the bottom surface of the floor, at the near right corner.", "The back surface of the body has integrally mounted on it, at essentially a mid-point between the shoulder and the C-shape, a protrusion for handling the tool.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an enlarged full side view of the device of this invention.", "FIG. 2 is an enlarged full back view of the device of this invention.", "FIG. 3 is a full front view of a partial transom assembly of a power plant for watercraft.", "FIG. 4 is an enlarged section of FIG. 3, showing the device of this invention in place on the transom assembly and supporting a shift slide.", "DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION As noted above, power plants are made up of three major assemblies, namely, the engine, the transom assembly, and the drive unit.", "The power of the engine is transmitted to the drive unit via a splined shaft 19 (shown in FIG. 3) that has two automotive style U-joints built into it.", "This is called the U-joint shaft.", "The U-joint shaft extends from the drive unit, through the transom assembly, and into a splined coupler which is bolted to the crankshaft of the engine.", "Because shifting the engine from forward to reverse is accomplished inside the drive unit, a shift cable is required to extend from the shifter control handle in the watercraft, through the transom assembly, and into the drive unit.", "The end of the shift cable which goes into the drive unit is connected to a long lever called a shift slide.", "When the drive unit is being installed, the shift slide lever must be in a straight alignment in a vertical position in order to be insertable into its corresponding slot in the drive unit.", "There is a problem with maintaining this lever in a straight vertical position until the drive unit is sufficiently placed on the transom assembly to hold the lever in such a position.", "The shift slide is not mounted solidly to the shift cable.", "It has a floating connection and is free to rotate around the end of the shift cable.", "When the drive unit is ready to be installed, the mechanic lines up the shift slide and puts it in a vertical position.", "The weight of the drive unit requires the mechanic to hold it with both hands while maneuvering it into place.", "The slightest bump or jar usually caused while starting the U-joint shaft into place, knocks the shift slide out of vertical alignment.", "This forces the mechanic to either try to hold the drive unit with one hand, while re-positioning the shift slide, or completely removing the half-installed drive unit, setting it aside, realigning the shift slide, and essentially starting over.", "The shift slide stabilizer tool of this invention is designed to hold the shift slide in perfect vertical position while the mechanic installs the drive unit.", "Because the mechanic does not have to worry about bumping or jarring the shift slide out of alignment, he can work much more rapidly on installing the drive unit.", "The mechanic installs the device of this invention, moves the drive unit onto the transom assembly until the drive unit is within approximately 1 to 2 inches of being completely in place thus holding the shift slide in alignment, and then the shift slide stabilizer tool is no longer needed and is removed, and the mechanic can then move the drive unit into its required position.", "Now turning to a description of the invention and with regard to FIG. 1, there is shown a full side view of a device 1 of this invention having dimensions which are about triple the size of the actual device.", "As can be noted, the device is of a unitary construction and can be manufactured from any convenient material such as wood, plastic, metal and the like.", "The device 1 has a body 2 which has an upper end 3 which for purposes of illustration is approximately the upper one-half of the device 1.", "The body 2 has a lower end 4 which for purposes of illustration is approximately the lower one-half of the device 1.", "The device 1 has a front surface 5 and a back surface 6, (shown more clearly in FIG. 2).", "The lower end 4 of the body 2 is configured in a C-shape 7 with an open side 8 facing forward of the device 1.", "The C-shape 7 is vertically aligned with the body 2 and the open side 8 of the C-shape 7 is forward of the front surface 5 of the body 2.", "This C-shape configuration is required in order to stabilize the device 1 while it is in use.", "The C-shape configuration allows one to conveniently mount the device 1 on the transom assembly 20 by slipping the C-shape over a stud 18 that is already in place and is used eventually to mount the drive shaft to the transom assembly 20.", "The upper end 3 of the body 2 has integrally surmounted thereon, a ninety degree angled shoulder 9 which has a floor 10 with a back edge 11.", "The floor 10 is the part of the device 1 which actually supports the shift slide in place, while the wall 15, described infra, holds the shift slide in a vertical position.", "The floor 10 has a bottom surface 12 and a near right corner 13 shown in phantom in FIG. 2. The floor 10 also has a top surface 14.", "The floor 10 has a wall 15 which is integrally mounted on the top surface 14 and parallel to and near the back edge 11 of the floor 10.", "The wall 15 is perpendicular to the plane formed by the top surface 14 of the floor 10.", "The wall 15 has essentially the same overall dimensions as the floor 10.", "The wall 15 and the floor 10 thus form the 90° angled shoulder 9.", "The 90° angled shoulder 9 is integrally mounted on the top of the body 2 at the near right corner 13, it being understood that the term "near right corner"", "is being used herein to help illustrate the invention and that there is in actuality, no near right corner owing to the integration of the segments of the device.", "Finally, there is integrally mounted on the back surface 6, at essentially a mid-point between the angled shoulder 9 and the C-shaped 7, a protrusion 16 which is in a sense a handle for the device 1 so that it can readily be placed and removed from the transom assembly 20.", "FIG. 3 is a full front view of a transom assembly 20 that is described supra.", "This Figure shows a device 1 of this invention in place holding a shift slide 17 in position.", "It should be noted that the device 1 is held in place by positioning it on a stud 18, which stud 18 is in place to be used to mount the power drive (not shown) into place on the transom assembly 20.", "It should be further noted that the device 1 is simply slipped over the bolt 18 which means that upon the need to remove the device 1, it is simply slipped off from the stud 18.", "There is no need to hold the device 1 in place using a nut or some other similar fastener.", "FIG. 4 is an enlargement of the area 30 of FIG. 3, showing more detail of the device 1 of this invention in place on the transom assembly 20.", "Thus, there is shown the device 1, the shift slide 17 the opening 21 for the entry of the shift slide 17 into the transom assembly 20, and the stud 18.", "The device of this invention has many and varied benefits.", "Removing the drive unit for service and inspection is the number one service procedure for inboard/outboard power plants in terms of frequency.", "The drive units must be removed whenever the U-joints are being inspected, greased, or replaced, the engine coupler is being inspected, greased, or replaced, gimbal bearings or bellows boot are being inspected or replaced, the shift cable needs servicing, the drive unit needs servicing, for seasonal preventative maintenance, or complete engine removal.", "This device greatly decreases the difficulty of installing the drive unit, especially when it is noted that one such drive unit weighs about 76 pounds.", "The placement of the drive unit on the low watercraft transom results in the mechanic having to bend over to do the work and at the same time support this heavy load, and at the same time being careful not jar or bump the shift slide loose.", "This device relieves this difficulty and provides a means to prevent back injuries to the mechanic." ]

[ "BACKGROUND OF INVENTION This invention relates to a drawing compass, and more specifically to a novel compass apparatus and the method of using the same.", "Drawing compasses are well known as instruments for marking circles or arcs on draft paper or other surfaces.", "A traditional compass usually comprises of a handle and two legs with their upper ends pivotally attached to the handle.", "The free end of the first leg may be a pin or stylus.", "The free end of the second leg may be a marking instrument such as a pencil, pen or chalk.", "The free ends of the legs can be moved open or close so that the distance between the pin and the tip of the marking instrument can be adjusted to a desired radius of a circle or arc.", "The compass is used by placing the pin of the first leg at the center, placing the marking tip at a start point of the circle or arc to be drawn, and twisting the handle to rotate the second leg around the first one with the marking tip scribing on the drawing surface.", "Although traditional compasses have been used for many years, they have intrinsic deficiencies in usage.", "It requires a delicate control and balance of pressure applied on the two legs to keep one leg anchored at the center and the other rotating and scribing on the drawing surface while twisting and rotating the handle.", "It is difficult, as the compass is rotated by hand, to maintain the delicate pressure balance.", "When the pressure on marking tip becomes too light, the scribed line may be indistinct.", "When the pressure becomes too heavy, the friction may hinder the marking tip from scribing and even cause the pivot pin to lose anchor on the drawing surface.", "The manipulation requires practice and is a challenge for student, occasional users or persons with limited dexterity.", "Beam compasses are also known, in which a pivot pin holder and a marking instrument holder are moveably mounted along a rigid intermediate beam.", "The manipulation of beam compasses requires both hands, one to hold the pivot pin in the center and the other to rotate the marking instrument around the pivotal pin.", "This type of compasses is generally designed for certain specific purposes and not for general usage.", "There is a need for a novel type of drawing compass with easy usage and manipulation.", "SUMMARY OF INVENTION The present invention provides a novel drawing compass with features of easy usage and improved manipulation.", "The present invention further provides a method of using the same.", "And the drawing process can be easily accomplished with single hand.", "The drawing compass of the present invention comprises a horizontal arm, an elongated handle rotatably mounted on one end of the arm, a marking instrument attached on the lower end of the handle, and a pivot pin holder slidably mounted on the horizontal arm.", "Since the handle is mounted near its lower end to the horizontal arm, the structure, with the long vertically mounted handle on the left and the horizontal arm on the right, looks like a capital letter L. The unique shape and design of the present invention provide a novel and simple manipulation for drawing a circle or arc by one hand.", "The process of drawing a circle is as follows: hold the handle upright, place the pin point at the center and scribe a circle or arc as the circular motion is guided by the drawing compass with desired radius.", "While the circle or arc is been scribed, the pressure applied on the marking tip is directly controlled by hand.", "Such manipulation needs little practice and can be easily accomplished by students and occasional users.", "In one preferred embodiment according to the present invention, a pen is integrated with the handle.", "In another preferred embodiment according to the present invention, a mechanical pencil is integrated with the handle.", "In another preferred embodiment according to the present invention, a pencil is utilized as a marking instrument and served as the handle.", "The drawing compass of the present invention is easy to use, inexpensive, and simple to manufacture.", "Additional features and advantages of the present invention are described in, and will be apparent from, detailed description of the preferred embodiments and from the illustrative drawings.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS FIG. 1 illustrates the use of one preferred embodiment of a drawing compass made in accordance with the present invention.", "FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the drawing compass of FIG. 1 , illustrating a pen attached on the lower end of the handle.", "FIG. 3A is a cross-sectional view taken along line 2 — 2 of the drawing compass illustrated in FIG. 1 .", "FIG. 3B is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the drawing compass with a structure of ball bearing.", "FIG. 3C is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the drawing compass with a structure of roller bearing.", "FIG. 4 is an exploded view illustrating a modified form of the handle.", "FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view illustrated in FIG. 4 , illustrating a mechanical pencil coaxially integrated with the handle.", "FIG. 6 is an exploded view illustrating another modified form of the handle.", "FIG. 7 is a partially sectioned side elevation view illustrated in FIG. 6 , illustrating a pencil is utilized as the marking instrument and served as the handle.", "DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring to the drawings wherein like numerals refer to like parts, FIG. 1 illustrates the use of a preferred embodiment of the drawing compass according to the present invention.", "The drawing compass comprises an arm 10 , an elongated handle 20 , a marking instrument 60 mounted on the underside of handle 20 , and a pivot pin holder 40 slidably mounted on arm 10 .", "The arm 10 comprises an elongated bar portion 12 and a cylindrical portion 14 .", "Indicia may be placed on elongated bar portion 12 for setting desired radius, as illustrated in FIG. 1 .", "The handle 20 is rotatably mounted on cylindrical portion 14 of arm 10 .", "The vertical handle 20 and horizontal arm 10 form a shape of capital letter L. The pivot pin holder 40 is secured by a securing bolt 48 at a desired position on arm 10 .", "A pointed end 42 of pivot pin holder 40 is placed at the center of a circle 100 .", "The handle 20 is held and positioned substantially perpendicular to the drawing plane and moved along circle 100 to trace out a marking line.", "As illustrated in FIG. 2 , the handle 20 comprises a cylindrical handle base 22 and an extension sleeve 24 .", "The handle base 22 comprises an upper portion, a middle portion, and a lower portion.", "The upper portion of handle base 22 is externally threaded, and receives the internally threaded extension sleeve 24 .", "The middle portion of handle base 22 receives cylindrical portion 14 which has a throughbore formed therein for rotatably coupling to the middle portion of handle base 22 .", "The cylindrical portion 14 is retained between a collar 30 and a nut 36 , which coacts in threaded engagement with a threaded portion 32 of the handle base 22 .", "This forms a bearing structure which allows arm 10 to rotate freely while handle 20 is held during the drawing process.", "FIG. 3A is a cross-sectional view taken along line 2 — 2 of the drawing compass illustrated in FIG. 1 .", "Alternatively, other type of bearing structures may be employed.", "FIG. 3B illustrates the handle rotatable mounted on the arm with a structure of ball bearing.", "An annular recess 31 having an arc-shad section is formed on the middle portion of handle base 22 near collar 30 and another annular recess 33 is formed on the middle portion of handle base 22 near nut 36 .", "A plurality of balls 35 are interposed between the recesses and the opposite inner wall of cylindrical portion 14 such that arm 10 can rotate freely while handle 20 is held.", "FIG. 3C illustrates the handle rotatable mounted on the arm with a structure of roller bearing.", "An annular recess 37 is formed on the middle portion of handle base 22 .", "A plurality of cylindrical rollers 39 are interposed between recess 37 and the opposite inner wall of cylindrical portion 14 such that arm 10 can rotate freely while handle 20 is held.", "The various techniques to rotatably mount the handle to the arm are well known in the art.", "The lower portion of handle base 22 is externally threaded for receiving a marking instrument 60 through an internally threaded marking instrument holder 52 .", "The marking instrument such as a pen is frictionally fixed on marking instrument holder 52 through a central throughhole 54 .", "It will be understood that the marking instrument can be easily removed from the handle base, and the marking instrument can be changed, replaced or refilled.", "The pivot pin holder 40 comprises a base 62 , a pivot pin 74 , and securing bolt 48 .", "The base 62 has a side opening dimensioned for slidably receiving elongated bar portion 12 of arm 10 .", "The base 62 further comprises a threaded bore 66 perpendicular to and communicating with the side opening such that securing bolt 48 may thread through throughbore 66 to engage arm 10 .", "The base 62 further comprises a boss 64 with an internally threaded bore for threadedly receiving pivot pin 74 .", "Indicia on bar portion 12 can be observed from a front opening 84 of pivot base 62 for setting the radius of a circle or arc to be drawn, as illustrated in FIG. 1 .", "The pivot pin 74 comprises a pin base and a pin extending vertically downwardly along the centerline of pivot base 62 .", "The pin base comprises a collar 80 , an upper externally threaded portion 78 , and a lower externally threaded portion 82 .", "In use, the upper threaded portion 78 is threaded on boss 64 .", "As illustrated in FIG. 3A , the cylindrical portion 14 of arm 10 is retained between collar 30 and nut 36 such that arm 10 is able to rotate snugly but can not move upwards or downwards along the longitudinal direction of handle 20 .", "The pivot pin holder 40 is secured by securing bolt 48 on a fixed position of bar portion 12 of arm 10 .", "The perpendicular distance from pointed end 42 to bar portion 12 is substantially equal to the perpendicular distance from the marking point to bar portion 12 .", "When the drawing compass is not in use, the pivot pin 74 can be removed from boss 64 and invertly threaded on the boss 64 such that pointed end 42 is encased in an aperture 68 at the centerline of pivot base 62 .", "It will be therefore understood that the pivot pin can be easily exchanged.", "It should be pointed out that, other technique of safety mechanisms may be employed to reduce the safety hazard of the pin, such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,311,404 to Smith.", "FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 illustrate a modification of the handle.", "The device shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 is different from the device shown in FIG. 2 in that a mechanical pencil 90 is coaxially integrated with the handle base.", "The mechanical pencil 90 comprises an interior space 92 for storing spare leads.", "A plug 94 plugs a bore communicating with interior space 92 .", "The plug 94 may be an eraser or attaches to an eraser.", "A threaded collar 96 secures a lead 98 .", "Any other techniques for securing leads of mechanic pencils may be employed.", "As illustrated in FIG. 5 , the upper portion of the handle base threadedly receives extension sleeve 24 .", "The cylindrical portion 14 is retained in the middle portion of the handle base between collar 30 and nut 36 .", "The mechanical pencil integrated with the handle base may coaxially rotate with the handle.", "When the compass is not in use, the handle sleeve 24 may be removed for easy storage or transportation.", "FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 illustrate another modification of the handle wherein a normal pencil 110 is utilized as the marking instrument.", "The pencil 110 also serves as the extension sleeve.", "A handle base 120 comprises a cylinder 122 having an interior space defined by walls for receiving pencil 110 and securing means for retaining pencil 110 in a fixed position.", "The securing means comprises a securing bolt 124 threading through a female threaded bore on the cylinder for retaining the pencil 110 in a fixed position as illustrated in FIG. 7 .", "The cylindrical portion 14 is retained between a collar 126 and a nut 128 .", "The pencil 110 secured on handle base 120 should rotate snugly along the longitudinal axis of the handle base but should not wobble.", "Any other like securing means may be utilized for the purpose of securing the pencil to the handle base.", "A critical aspect of the modification illustrated in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 is the position of the marking point of the marking instrument.", "The marking point must be pointed at the longitudinal axis of the handle base for accuracy and reliability.", "The diameter of the pencil should be coupled to the interior diameter of cylinder 122 of the handle base 120 .", "The relationship of the coaxial rotation of the pencil and the handle base should not be affected by the securing means.", "As shown, the entire device can be dissembled very easily.", "The pencil can be changed with other marking instruments, such as a pen or a chalk.", "The pin of the pivot pin holder can also be exchanged by disposable pins for ensuring center grasping force.", "In use, the center point holder is adjusted to a desired radius by sliding along the elongated bar portion of the arm at a desired distance and secured to the arm by the securing bolt.", "The pointed end of the pin is placed at the center of the circle and the marking point of the marking instrument is placed at a start point of the circle.", "The handle is positioned substantially perpendicular to the drawing plane and moved along the radius of the circle as illustrated in FIG. 1 .", "As the pressure applied on the marking point is conveniently controlled by hand a circle or arc line is easily accomplished by one hand.", "When the compass is not in use, the handle sleeve may be removed from the handle base for easy storage or transportation.", "The pin can be removed out and reversibly threaded on the base to encase the sharp pointed end for reducing safety hazard.", "It is contemplated that the drawing compass of the present invention can be made of any metals, plastics and the like materials.", "Material of metals is preferred because weight of the compass aids to the pin from sliding away from the center point.", "The size and shape of the drawing compass can be varied widely for both functional use and appearance.", "The length of the arm is usually 3.5-5.5 inches for general use, which may be more than 5.5 inches for use in large working plane, depending on the size of the circle to be drawn.", "It should be understood that various changes and modifications to the presently preferred embodiments described herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art.", "Such changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention and without diminishing its attendant advantages.", "It is therefore intended that such changes and modifications be covered by the appended claims." ]

[ "CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser.", "No. 10/906,392, filed Feb. 17, 2005, issued on Aug. 27, 2013, as U.S. Pat. No. 8,518,511, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/578,760, filed Jun. 9, 2004.", "The entire content is incorporated by reference herein.", "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Garments designed for the outerwear market can be divided into several main categories including hard shell and soft shell garments respectively.", "In general, hard shell garments may be distinguished by the inclusion of a waterproofing barrier such as an applied coat of urethane.", "While soft shell garments can include tightly woven fabrics giving the garment a measure of water repellency, they are generally not completely waterproof.", "Fleeces having soft fabric which is generally of a knit construction are also used in the outerwear market, and these too are normally not waterproof to the degree that hard shell garments are.", "Because hard shell garments are used during athletic and outdoor activities, it is desirable that they be light, rugged, have good waterproof characteristics and feature a moisture transfer membrane or the like for moisture management.", "In addition, from the manufacturer's point of view it is desirable that these garments be relatively simple to manufacture.", "The method of joining panels of fabric to assemble a complete garment can be just as important to that garment's overall characteristics as the type of fabric used in that garment.", "While several prior art methods exist for forming seams in hard shell garments, each has its drawbacks.", "Simple threaded stitching, while commonly used in the garment industry, is problematic in hard shell garments because a completed stitch leaves a bulky seam in the otherwise lightweight fabric of a hard shell garment.", "Furthermore, the passage of the needle through the fabric of the garment compromises the waterproof nature of the fabric, necessitating the application of a seam tape secured with an adhesive over the stitched seam to ensure a waterproof seal.", "However, gluing a length of seam tape over the stitched seam creates a new problem.", "Namely, a sewn and taped seam tends to be rather stiff.", "The differential in stiffness between the taped seam formed by this process and the lightweight fabric joined by the sewn and taped seam leads to a phenomenon known as edge abrasion.", "Because the region of the seam is much bulkier than the fabric panel which it joins, it causes a region of wear to build up just at the point where the fabric panel meets the taped seam.", "The continual flexing of the loose fabric against the stiff edge of the taped seam and any external abrasion causes the fabric to wear through at that point, reducing the life of an otherwise serviceable garment.", "Alternatively, manufacturers have employed adhesives to join panels of fabric in a “stitchless”", "garment.", "Typically, what is known as a lap seam is made when two pieces of fabric are precut and overlapped.", "The pieces are secured with an adhesive applied in the area of overlap, which in some instances may require heating to fully interlock with the fibers of the fabric pieces.", "However, the fabrics used in hard shell garments are usually either very tightly woven and/or have a durable water repellent (“DWR”) finish applied to the fabric surface to provide waterproofing for the fabric.", "A fair amount of adhesive must be applied to find purchase and make a bond of sufficient strength with a fabric having such a weave or finish, making the overall seam that much stiffer once the adhesive has solidified.", "As such, this method of stitchless garment construction can create an even stiffer seam than that of the sewn and taped seam described above, and so garments constructed with this process can suffer from the problem of edge abrasion to an even greater degree.", "Also, some fabrics cannot be reliably bonded in this manner and can fail in use.", "SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In an ideal shell garment the region of the seam, while maintaining the waterproof nature of the panels of fabric joined thereby, is no more stiff than these panels.", "As such, the garment as a whole is able to flow and flex evenly while worn and areas of wear do not concentrate along the seams.", "When a lap glued seam or seam tape secured with a large amount of adhesive is employed, the garment diverges considerably from this ideal.", "The present composite seam system features a lighter, softer seam construction having significantly less bulk which reduces the tape edge abrasion problem considerably.", "The present composite seam system may be used to join various types of hard shell fabrics.", "In alternative embodiments, the present composite seam system may be used to join synthetic woven fabrics, non-woven fabrics, or knit fabrics including fleeces.", "In alternative embodiments, these fabrics may be provided with water resistant or waterproof laminates or coatings, and may include a tricot scrim laminated to the face of the fabric.", "In one embodiment, the layered fabrics to be joined in the composite seam are first secured to each other with a weld bead.", "The weld bead is used to tack the two panels of fabric in place for the later application of a length of seam tape, and/or to protect the edges of the fabric panels from wear once the taped seam is in place.", "Because the edges of the two joined fabric panels are joined by the weld bead and any seam allowance remaining thereafter is located beneath the taped seam, the edges of the fabric are subjected to very little wear and thus maintain their integrity.", "Shell garments seamed with just a glued lap joint are prone to experiencing abrasion and unraveling of the exposed edges of their fabrics.", "In another embodiment, the composite seam system includes a very narrow sonic weld bead joining two panels of fabric, and a seam tape applied thereon.", "The applied seam tape comprises a top layer, a reinforcing layer and an adhesive melted through the reinforcing layer and connecting the top layer to the fabric panels over the sonic weld bead.", "The narrow sonic weld bead and the small seam allowance of the fabric panels it joins allows the seam tape to be secured over the sonic weld bead to the fabric panels while lying in a flat plane.", "This, coupled with the inelasticity of the seam tape across its width provides a completed seam that evenly transfers force through the seam tape from one fabric panel to the next without allowing a substantial portion of that force to be transferred to the sonic weld bead.", "The inelasticity of the seam tape is dependent in part on the materials comprising the reinforcing layer used in between the sonic weld bead and the top layer.", "This reinforcing layer can be a woven polyester, nylon or non-woven ultra-fine fibrous material sufficiently inelastic across its width to prevent the tape from stretching when subjected to a transverse load.", "In an exemplary embodiment of the present composite seam system, the seam tape used has the same modulus of elasticity both across its width and along its length.", "In an alternative embodiment, the seam tape is provided with a lower modulus of elasticity along its length than across its width.", "This will allow the seam tape to stretch along its length.", "The seam tape may need to bend around corners and/or pass through angles when being applied to the garment, and a seam tape that had no give along its length would be difficult to apply under these circumstances.", "The narrow sonic weld bead, small seam allowance, and the materials used in the seam tape provide a relatively thin seam tape that is less stiff, which accordingly reduces the incidence of tape abrasion for the completed seam.", "In another embodiment, a composite seam system used for joining two pieces of fabric includes two pieces of fabric fused together at a seam and a seam tape laid over the seam and covering a portion of each of the two pieces of fabric.", "The seam tape in turn comprises a reinforcing layer, a top layer laid over the reinforcing layer, and an adhesive bonded to the top layer and passing through fibers of the reinforcing layer to attach to the two pieces of fabric.", "In an alternative embodiment, the seam tape is dimensionally stable so as to take up substantially the full load applied across the seam.", "For example, the seam tape comprises a top layer and an adhesive secured to the top layer, wherein the seam tape is dimensionally stable.", "The seam may also be a sonic weld bead, e.g., less than about one millimeter in width.", "In another embodiment, the invention includes a particularly narrow seam tape as described herein, for example between about six to about eleven millimeters wide.", "In yet another embodiment, the invention includes a seam tape as described herein having a reinforcing layer below a top layer.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional longitudinal view of a prior art seam tape;", "FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional end view of a seam tape for use with the present composite seam system;", "FIG. 3 is an isometric view of the seam tape of FIG. 2 ;", "FIG. 4 is an isometric view of the present composite seam system showing a seam tape securing two fabric panels;", "FIG. 5 is an isometric view of an alternative embodiment of a seam tape for use in the present composite seam system.", "FIG. 6 is an isometric view of a further alternative embodiment of a seam tape for use in the present composite seam system.", "Before any embodiment of the invention is explained in detail it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the exemplary details of construction and arrangements of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings.", "The invention is capable of alternative embodiments and of being practiced or being carried out in various ways.", "Also, it is to be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of illustrative description and should not be regarded as limiting.", "DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION With reference to FIG. 1 , a cross-sectional longitudinal view is shown of a prior art seam tape 100 having a polyurethane layer 110 and an adhesive layer 130 secured below it.", "On the opposite side of the polyurethane layer 110 is provided an adhesive 120 .", "This adhesive 120 secures a knit tricot layer 140 to the polyurethane layer 110 .", "While this knit tricot layer 140 provides abrasion resistance for the seam tape 100 , it is rather elastic, having a modulus of elasticity of less than 1,900 psi and so cannot add much strength to a completed seam.", "In contrast, FIG. 2 shows a seam tape 200 for use with the present seam system.", "The seam tape 200 is a multi-layer construction and includes a top layer 210 , an adhesive layer 230 and a reinforcing layer 240 .", "The top layer 210 is in various alternative embodiments a urethane laminate, mylar, polyester or any flexible plastic material.", "The top layer 210 is provided for strength, abrasion resistance, and waterproofing purposes.", "In an exemplary embodiment, the top layer 210 is between twenty and fifty microns thick.", "Below the top layer 210 is an adhesive layer 230 .", "In one embodiment, this adhesive layer 230 is chemically bonded and chemically compatible with the top layer 210 .", "Accordingly, in an exemplary embodiment if the top layer is a urethane laminate, the adhesive layer comprises a thermoplastic urethane layer.", "In an exemplary embodiment, the adhesive layer 230 is between seventy and one hundred forty microns thick.", "Below the adhesive layer 230 is a reinforcing layer 240 .", "In various alternative embodiments, the reinforcing layer 240 comprises woven polyester, nylon, kevlar or another material sufficiently inelastic across its width so that the seam tape 200 as a whole exhibits substantially no strain across its width when subjected to loads caused by normal wear.", "In an exemplary embodiment, the reinforcing layer 240 is between one hundred and one hundred fifty microns thick.", "In a more particular exemplary embodiment, the reinforcing layer 240 may be a 30d×30d polyester weave with a count of 96×96 yarns per inch.", "In an alternative embodiment, the reinforcing layer 240 need not be as wide as the other layers of the seam tape 200 .", "As such, the seam tape 200 can be made even thinner and less stiff at its edges, further reducing the incidence of tape edge abrasion in the present composite seam system.", "Very narrow seam tapes 200 and reinforcing layers 240 can be used in the present composite seam system.", "In one embodiment, the seam tape 200 is six millimeters wide and the reinforcing layer 240 is four and a half up to about six millimeters wide.", "In another embodiment, the seam tape 200 is nine millimeters wide and the reinforcing layer 240 is six up to about nine millimeters wide.", "In yet another embodiment, the seam tape 200 is eleven millimeters wide and the reinforcing layer 240 is six up to about eleven millimeters wide.", "In an alternative embodiment, the seam tape 200 may be provided with a backing paper 250 covering the reinforcing layer 240 to protect it up until the point at which the seam tape 200 is ready to be applied over a sonic weld bead.", "At this point the backing paper 250 can be removed and discarded.", "In an additional alternative embodiment, the seam tape 200 can be provided with a hydrophilic layer 220 on the top layer 210 .", "This hydrophilic layer 220 is preferably a pattern of material printed on the top layer 210 .", "This hydrophilic layer 220 creates an uneven surface which helps moisture move along the surface of the seam tape 200 .", "The seam tape 200 is shown before application to a garment.", "As will be shown in the following figures, the arrangement of the layers of the seam tape 200 changes as the seam tape 200 is bonded with another material.", "Specifically, heat is applied to the seam tape 200 to melt the adhesive layer 230 causing it to flow through the reinforcing layer 240 and interact with the material to which the seam tape 200 is applied.", "With reference to FIG. 3 , an isometric view of the seam tape 200 is shown having a top layer 210 , an adhesive layer 230 , and a reinforcing layer 240 , but without the hydrophilic layer 220 or the backing paper 250 .", "With reference to FIG. 4 , an isometric view of the present composite seam system shows a seam tape 420 securing two fabric panels 400 .", "In an exemplary embodiment, the fabric panels 400 comprise three layers.", "An outer layer comprises a lightweight rip stop nylon or polyester.", "This outer layer provides the panel 400 with strength as well as abrasion resistance and water repellency.", "The outer layer may include a DWR finish to provide water repellency for the fabric panel 400 .", "A middle layer comprises a urethane laminate, a layer of polyester or the like.", "This middle layer is provided to enable the transport of moisture away from the skin of the user, and for additional waterproofing.", "An inside layer is preferably provided by a pattern of a hydrophilic material printed on the middle layer.", "This pattern of hydrophilic material creates an uneven surface which helps moisture move along the inside of the fabric;", "the side that would contact a user's skin.", "Otherwise, this moisture tends to bead up, causing the fabric to feel clammy and stick to a user's skin.", "Alternatively this bottom layer can be a lightweight polyester or nylon mesh fabric, or tricot.", "This layer adds durability while serving the same function of moisture movement.", "The fabric panels 400 as a whole are fairly light.", "In an exemplary embodiment, the fabric panels 400 are comprised of a material weighing between one and ten ounces per square yard.", "In an alternative embodiment, the fabric panels 400 are comprised of a material weighing about 1.9 ounces per square yard.", "In a further alternative embodiment, the fabric panels 400 are comprised of a material weighing about 2.4 ounces per square yard.", "The fabric panels 400 are fused together at their edges by a sonic weld bead 410 .", "In an exemplary embodiment, a commercially available sonic welder may be used to provide the sonic weld bead 410 .", "The sonic welder may be used with a head having integral welding and cutting functions.", "The sonic weld bead 410 is formed as the head of the sonic welder passes high frequency waves through the fabric panels 400 to be joined.", "These waves vibrate the fabric panels 400 , creating heat through the friction of one fabric panel 400 on the other.", "The sonic welding process essentially melts or otherwise fuses the edges of the fabrics together.", "The head of the welder may comprise a wheel having a profile thereon which determines the width of the sonic weld bead 410 made, as well as being made sharper on one side so that extraneous portions of the fabric panels 400 are trimmed off on the waste side of the sonic weld bead 410 at the time the sonic weld bead 410 is made.", "In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the width of the sonic weld bead 410 itself is very small, preferably about one millimeter or less.", "In a further exemplary embodiment, little or no seam allowance remains beside the sonic weld bead 410 after its formation.", "By this process, the edges of the two fabric panels 400 have been sealed together.", "The sonic weld bead 410 is not necessarily waterproof, nor is it strong enough alone to hold the fabric panels 400 together under normal wear.", "Accordingly, a seam tape 420 may be applied over the sonic weld bead 410 to make up for these shortcomings.", "In addition to ensuring that the cut edges of fabric panels 400 that do still remain along the seam allowance above the sonic weld bead 410 will be hidden under this tape, the sonic weld bead 410 also holds the panels of fabric panels 400 in position during manufacture to allow the seam tape 420 to be properly applied.", "The seam tape 420 may be applied over the sonic weld bead 410 using commercially available machines.", "As mentioned above, in an exemplary embodiment, the seam tape 420 comprises multiple layers.", "A top layer 450 is provided of urethane laminate, mylar, polyester or any flexible plastic material for abrasion resistance and to give the seam tape 420 some mechanical stability.", "The top layer 450 may also have printed thereon a hydrophilic material to aid in moisture transport and to improve the surface feel of the seam tape 420 .", "Beneath the top layer 450 an adhesive layer 430 is applied.", "The adhesive layer 430 may be chemically bonded to the top layer 450 of the seam tape 420 .", "In a preferred embodiment, the adhesive layer 430 is chemically compatible with the top layer 450 to aid in this bond.", "For example, if the top layer 450 were a urethane layer, the adhesive layer 430 may be a thermoplastic urethane (“TPU”) layer.", "If the top layer 450 were a polyester layer the adhesive layer 430 may comprise a thermosetting polyester.", "In a further preferred embodiment, the top layer 450 , adhesive layer 430 and the top surface of the fabric panels 400 are all chemically compatible, for example, each may be comprised of urethane based materials.", "A reinforcing layer 440 is provided below the adhesive layer 430 .", "Some prior art seam tapes have been provided for waterproofing purposes only, or to the extent that a reinforcement was used it comprised a knit tricot layer located on the outside of the seam tape.", "Knit tricot is a relatively stretchy material and as such, would not provide the seam tape 420 with the strength necessary to shelter the sonic weld bead 410 from higher transverse tensile forces across the seam tape 420 .", "To this end, the seam tape 420 comprises a reinforcing layer 440 of woven polyester, nylon, kevlar or another material affording the seam tape 420 a high modulus of elasticity.", "In one embodiment, the seam tape 420 has a modulus of elasticity at least 5,000 psi and a breaking strength of at least 15 pounds per linear inch.", "In another embodiment, the seam tape 420 has a modulus of at least 10,000 psi and a breaking strength of at least 20 pounds per linear inch.", "As such, the seam tape 420 as a whole exhibits substantially no strain across its width when subjected to loads caused by normal wear.", "The reinforcing layer 440 allows the seam tape 420 to evenly take up substantially all the load applied across the seam when the two fabric panels 400 are pulled apart, shielding the sonic weld bead 410 from experiencing the majority of this load.", "In other words, substantially the entire load applied across the seam is taken up by the seam tape.", "One skilled in the art would understand that if the load is too great for the seam tape causing the seam tape to stretch or fail, then at least more than a minimal portion of the load would transfer across the seam.", "Thus, at least the seam tape initially takes up substantially all of the load across the seam.", "In other words, at least initially substantially all of the load applied across the seam goes through the seam tape.", "In an alternative embodiment, the reinforcing layer 440 need not be a woven material, rather it may be comprised of a microfiber material, such as any of the microfiber materials disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,048,810 to Baychar (incorporated herein by reference).", "In an alternative embodiment, the adhesive layer 430 may be provided below the reinforcing layer 440 , which in turn is provided below the top layer 450 .", "In another alternative embodiment shown in FIG. 5 , a seam tape 500 includes a reinforcing layer 530 embedded within a top layer 510 .", "An adhesive layer 520 is below the reinforcing layer 530 .", "In yet another alternative embodiment shown in FIG. 6 , the seam tape 600 includes a top layer 610 and an adhesive layer 620 .", "The top layer 610 is comprised of a dimensionally stable oriented polymer of a similar elasticity to the reinforcing layers 440 and 530 of previous embodiments.", "As such, this embodiment dispenses with the need for a separate reinforcing layer entirely.", "Alternatively, a separate reinforcing layer can remain and be comprised of the dimensionally stable oriented polymer mentioned above.", "In one embodiment of the present composite seam system, when the seam tape 420 is applied over the fabric panels 400 and heated, the adhesive layer 430 melts and a portion of the adhesive runs through the reinforcing layer 440 and onto or into the surface of the fabric panels 400 to secure thereto and/or interlock therein.", "In this manner the adhesive layer 430 may provide a contiguous bond between the fabric panels 400 and both the top layer 450 and the reinforcing layer 440 .", "The bond formed creates a waterproof seal and is sufficiently strong to allow the seam tape 420 to take up substantially all of a transverse load applied across the fabric panels 400 .", "In a preferred embodiment, the seam tape 420 sits flat against the fabric panels 400 .", "Were the seam tape 420 to sit high on the fabric panels 400 in a domed position, there would be some amount of give to the seam as seam tape 420 flattened out under the application of a tensile load across the seam.", "This would have the similar effect to providing a highly elastic material for the reinforcing layer 440 such as knit tricot or the like.", "This bit of give to the seam tape 420 could allow a substantial portion of that load to transfer to the sonic weld bead 410 as it took up the slack caused by the high position of the seam tape 420 .", "This load could potentially cause the sonic weld bead 410 to fail, exposing the edges of the fabric panels 400 joined thereby to abrasion and wear.", "This flat profile is made possible both by the lightweight reinforcing layer 440 and the other materials comprising the seam tape 420 , and by the method used to form the sonic weld bead 410 .", "In a preferred embodiment, the sonic weld bead 410 is formed by a sonic welder having a head which provides a sonic weld bead 410 of one millimeter or less, and which concurrently trims off substantially all of the seam allowance.", "In an alternative embodiment for use with heavier fabric panels 400 a two millimeter wide sonic weld bead 410 is provided and a seam allowance of two millimeters is provided to ensure that the sonic weld bead 410 lies flat against the fabric panels 400 ." ]

[ "STATEMENT OF GOVERNMENT INTEREST The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States of America for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.", "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION (1) Field of the Invention This invention generally relates to a signal classification system for classifying an incoming data stream.", "More particularly, the invention relates to an improvement to the M-ary classifier known in the prior art resulting in a higher probability of correct classification.", "(2) Description of the Prior Art In order to determine the nature of an incoming signal, the signal type must be determined.", "A classifier attempts to classify a signal into one of M signal classes based on features in the data.", "M-ary classifiers utilize neural networks for extracting these features from the data.", "In a training stage the neural networks incorporated in the classifier are trained with labeled data allowing the neural networks to learn the patterns associated with each of the M classes.", "In a testing stage, the classifier is tested against unlabeled data based on the learned patterns.", "The performance of the classifier is defined as the probability that a signal is correctly classified, herein referred to as “PCC.”", "A prior art classifier is shown in FIG. 1 .", "The classifier 2 receives data from a data source 4 .", "Data source 4 is joined to a feature transformation module 6 for developing a feature set.", "The feature set is provided to pattern match processors 8 which correspond to each data class.", "Pattern match processors 8 provide an output measuring the developed feature set against trained data.", "The pattern match processor 8 outputs are compared in a comparison 9 and the highest output is selected.", "The basis of most M-ary classifiers is the maximum aposteriori probability (MAP) classifier or Bayesian classifier arg   max j = 1 M   p  ( H j  X ) = arg   max j = 1 M   p  ( X  H j )  p  ( H j ) .", "( 1 ) However, if the likelihood functions p(X|H j ) are not known, it is necessary to estimate them from training data.", "Dimensionality dictates that this is impractical or impossible unless X is reduced to a smaller set of statistics, or features Z=T(X).", "While many methods exist for choosing the features, this invention concentrates on class-specific strategies.", "Class specific architectures are taught in the prior art in patents such as Watanabe et al.", ", U.S. Pat. No. 5,754,681.", "One possible class-specific strategy is to identify a set of statistics z j , corresponding to each class H j , that is sufficient or approximately sufficient to estimate the unknown state of the class.", "Sufficiency in this context will be defined more precisely in the theorem that follows.", "Because some classes may be similar to each other, it is possible that the M feature sets are not all distinct.", "Let Z = ⋃ i = 1 M  z i ( 2 ) where set union notation is used to indicate that there are no redundant or duplicate features in Z. However, removing redundant or duplicate features is not restrictive enough.", "A more restrictive, but necessary requirement is that p(Z|H j ) exists for all j. The classifier based on Z becomes arg   max j = 1 M   p  ( Z  H j )  p  ( H j ) .", "( 3 ) The object of the feature selection process is that (3) is equivalent to (1).", "Thus, they are sufficient for the problem at hand.", "In spite of the fact that the feature sets z j are chosen in a class-specific manner and are possibly each of low dimension, implementation of (3) requires that the features be grouped together into a super-set Z. Dimensionality issues dictate that Z must be of low dimension (less than about 5 or 6) so that a good estimate of p(Z|H j ) may be obtained with a reasonable amount of training data and effort.", "The complexity of the high dimensional space is such that it becomes impossible to estimate the probability density function (PDF) with a reasonable amount of training data and computational burden.", "In complex problems, Z may need to contain as many as a hundred features to retain all necessary information.", "This dimensionality is entirely unmanageable.", "It is recognized by a number of researchers that attempting to estimate PDF's nonparametrically above five dimensions is difficult and above twenty dimensions is futile.", "Dimensionality reduction is the subject of much research currently and over the past decades.", "Various approaches include feature selection, projection pursuit, and independence grouping.", "Several other methods are based on projection of the feature vectors onto lower dimensional subspaces.", "A significant improvement on this is the subspace method in which the assumption is less strict in that each class may occupy a different subspace.", "Improvements on this allow optimization of error performance directly.", "All these methods involve various approximations.", "In feature selection, the approximation is that most of the information concerning all data classes is contained in a few of the features.", "In projection-based methods, the assumption is that information is confined to linear subspaces.", "A simple example that illustrates a situation where this assumption fails is when the classes are distributed in a 3-dimensional volume and arranged in concentric spheres.", "The classes are not separated when projected on any 1 or 2-dimensional linear subspace.", "However, statistics based on the radius of the data samples would constitute a simple 1-dimensional space in which the data is perfectly separated.", "Whatever approach one uses, if Z has a large dimension, and no low-dimensional linear or nonlinear function of the data can be found in which most of the useful information lies, either much of the useful information must be discarded in an attempt to reduce the dimension or a crude PDF estimate in the high-dimensional space must be obtained.", "In either case, poor performance may result.", "SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, it is one purpose of this invention to provide an improvement on the M-ary classifier.", "Another purpose of this invention is to drastically reduce the maximum PDF dimension while at the same time retaining theoretical equivalence to the classifier constructed from the full feature set and to the optimum MAP classifier.", "Yet another purpose is to provide a classifier that gives this performance using a priori information concerning data and classes that is discarded when the combined feature set is created.", "Accordingly there is provided a class specific classifier for classifying data received from a data source.", "The classifier has a feature transformation section associated with each class of data which receives the data and provides a feature set for the associated data class.", "Each feature transformation section is joined to a pattern matching processor which receives the associated data class feature set.", "The pattern matching processors calculate likelihood functions for the associated data class.", "One normalization processor is joined in parallel with each pattern matching processor for calculating an inverse likelihood function from the data, the associated class feature set and a common data class set.", "The common data class set can be either calculated in a common data class calculator or incorporated in the normalization calculation.", "Preferably, the common data class set will be calculated before processing the received data.", "The inverse likelihood function is then multiplied with the likelihood function for each associated data class.", "A comparator provides a signal indicating the appropriate class for the input data based upon the highest multiplied result.", "The invention may be implemented either as a device or a method operating on a computer.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The appended claims particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter of this invention.", "The various objects, advantages and novel features of this invention will be more fully apparent from a reading of the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like reference numerals refer to like parts, and in which: FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a standard classifier well known in the prior art;", "and FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the class specific classifier taught by the current invention.", "DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Formulating this invention requires two fundamental ideas.", "The first idea involves defining some common class H 0 which is a subset of all classes.", "This is possible if all classes have random amplitudes and are embedded in additive noise.", "Then if H 0 is the noise-only class, H 0 εH j , j= 1, 2 , .", ",M.", "(4) The next idea is to connect the selection of z j with the idea of sufficiency.", "This is done by assuming M distinct probability density function (PDF) families p(X|H j ), j=1, 2, .", ", M where H j are the class hypotheses.", "For each class j, p(X|H j ) is parameterized by a random parameter set θ j , thus p  ( X  H j ) = ∫ θ i  p  ( X  θ j )  p  ( θ j )   θ j ( 5 ) for all j. For each class j, there is also a sufficient statistic for θ j , z j =T j (X), and a combined feature set Z=T(X) such that z j εZ, j=1, 2, .", ", M. The PDF, p(Z|H j ), must exist for all j, and the span of θ j must include a point θ j 0 that results in an equivalent distribution for X regardless of j: p ( X|H j ,θ j 0 )= p ( X|H 0 ), j =1 , .", ",M (6) Then, the MAP classifier ( 1 ) may be expressed as arg   max j   p  ( z j  H j ) p  ( z j  H 0 )   p  ( H j ) .", "( 7 ) Accordingly, it is possible to reduce the dimensionality, yet end up with a classifier theoretically equivalent to the MAP classifier based on the full-dimensional feature set.", "It is noted by S. Kay in “Sufficiency, classification, and the class specific feature theorem,” Submitted to IEEE Trans.", "ASSP, June 1998, that under the same assumptions necessary for the above, (7) is equivalent to (1), thus (7) is fully equivalent to the MAP classifier based on the training data.", "While the reduction of the high-dimensional problem to a low-dimensional problem is significant enough, another significant idea emerges revolving around the idea of sufficiency.", "If {Z j } are sufficient (in the Neyman-Fisher sense) for the parameterizations of the corresponding class, and a common class H 0 can be found, then Z is sufficient for the classification problem at hand.", "It is also important to note that while the parameter distributions p(θ j |H j ) are used above, they are not required in practice.", "All that is required are estimates of the low-dimensional PDF's p(z j |H j ) Equation (7) can be implemented in a detector/classifier architecture wherein each term in the maximization corresponds to a distinct and independent processing branch.", "The output of each branch is a detection statistic for distinguishing the corresponding signal class from H 0 .", "The modularity of the processor has obvious advantages.", "As long as the same H 0 is used, each branch can be independently designed, trained, and implemented by separate computational hardware.", "As new signal classes are added to the classifier, it only means adding new branches to the structure.", "Existing branches remain unchanged.", "As a generalization of the idea of the Generalized Likelihood Ratio Test, there may be a variety of subclasses indexed by a parameter θ.", "It is possible to carry out a maximization over θ prior to normalization by p(z j |H 0 ).", "The common class H 0 does not need to be a real class.", "Technically, the only requirement is that the parameter sets of each class must include H 0 as a special case, thus the natural role of the noise-only hypothesis.", "In this implementation it is useful that H 0 represent the condition that X be samples of iid Gaussian noise.", "While the class-specific architecture is not new, this invention is the first to construct a class-specific classifier that is equivalent to the MAP classifier.", "Equation (7) shows clearly how the various branches of the structure are normalized and compared in order to achieve the optimal performance of the MAP classifier.", "It also shows that normalization by the likelihood of the common class H 0 is necessary to allow the outputs to be compared fairly.", "Without any further knowledge about the class likelihood functions, it represents the architecture with the smallest possible feature dimension that is still equivalent to the optimum Bayesian classifier.", "While equation (7) requires very specific conditions to hold, specifically the sufficiency of the feature sets and the existence of a common class, the invention uses approximations when appropriate.", "The sufficiency of the various statistics can be relaxed somewhat, and approximations to the various likelihood functions can be made, but the likelihood functions under H 0 cannot be approximated without careful attention to the tails.", "In practice, X may vary significantly from H 0 , especially at high signal to noise ratio (SNR).", "Thus, it is necessary in many cases to use exact analytic expressions for p(z j |H 0 ).", "This may seem to be an overly restrictive requirement at first.", "But, in most cases solutions can be found, especially if H 0 is chosen as iid Gaussian noise.", "For real-world problems, the sufficiency of features can never be established;", "however, sufficiency is not really required in practice.", "Sufficiency is required to establish the exact relationship of the class-specific classifier to the MAP classifier.", "If sufficiency is approximated, so is this relationship.", "Compare the class-specific approach with the full-dimensional approach.", "With the class-specific approach, if the feature dimensions are low, one can have a good PDF approximation of approximate sufficient statistics.", "However, in the full-dimensional approach, one has the choice of a very poor PDF estimate of the full feature set, or a good PDF estimate of a sorely inadequate feature set.", "The current invention is shown in FIG. 2 .", "This implementation is shown for three data classes A, B, and C;", "however, any number of classes may be accommodated by this system.", "A data source 10 supplies a raw data sample X to the processor 12 at a processor input 14 .", "It is assumed that the data source can be type A, B, or C, but the identity is not known.", "Processor output 16 is a decision concerning the identity of the data source, i.e. A, B, or C. The processor 12 contains one feature transformation section 18 for each possible data class.", "These sections 18 are joined to receive the raw data X at processor input 14 .", "Each feature transformation section 18 produces a feature set for its respective class.", "Thus the feature transformation section 18 for class A produces a feature set identified as Z A , and similar feature sets Z B and Z C are produced by the respective feature transformation sections for classes B and C. The processor 12 further contains pattern match processors 20 with each pattern match processor joined to a transformation section 18 for receiving a feature set associated with one class.", "The pattern match processors 20 approximate the likelihood functions of the feature sets for data sampled from the corresponding data class.", "The likelihood function is also known in the art as the probability density function.", "In mathematical notation, the pattern match processors are approximations of p(Z A |A), p(Z B |B), and p(Z C |C).", "These likelihood functions may be approximated from a training data set by any probability density function estimation technique such as Guassian mixtures.", "The output of the pattern match processors 20 are highest when the input feature set, Z j , is similar to or “matches”", "the typical values of the training set.", "Because the pattern match processors 20 are operating on different feature sets, the outputs cannot be directly compared to arrive at a decision without normalization.", "Normalization processors 22 process the feature set, Z j , and approximate the inverse of the likelihood function for the corresponding feature set when the data is drawn from a special common data class called H 0 to be described later.", "The common data class H 0 can be calculated independently in a common data processor 23 which is joined to each normalization processor 22 .", "Preferably the common data class H 0 can be calculated within each normalization processor 22 before receiving data from the data source 10 .", "In mathematical notation, the normalization processors 22 give 1/p(Z A |H 0 ), 1/p(Z B |H 0 ), and 1/p(Z C |H 0 ).", "In an additional embodiment, a constant may be applied to the numerator of the normalization, such as to approximate prior probabilities p(A), p(B), and p(C).", "The output of the normalization processors 22 are passed to a multiplier 24 which multiplies this output with the output of the pattern match processors 20 .", "The result of the multiplication 24 is processed by a comparison 26 jointed to the processor 12 output 16 .", "The output 16 is the identity of the data class that has the highest output from the multiplier 24 .", "The common data class, H 0 , is a special data class that is a subset of each of the other data classes.", "It usually is identified with the absence of any signal leaving only noise which is termed the “noise-only condition.”", "Because signals such as those of types A, B, C, having zero amplitude are all the same, the common data class can be a member of each data class.", "This assumes that the defined signal types are broad enough to allow the existence of zero-amplitude signals.", "The feature sets (Z A through Z C in the embodiment shown) are approximate or exact sufficient statistics if they are sufficient for statistical test between the corresponding data class and the common data class H 0 .", "For example, feature set Z A contains all the information contained in the raw data relating to the decision between class A and class H 0 .", "The implementation of the normalization processors 22 often requires careful attention to tail behavior.", "Thus, even for examples of feature vectors Z j that are very different from samples that would have been produced if the raw data was under H 0 such that the normalization processor 22 denominators approach zero and the output of the normalization processors 22 approach infinity, the multiplication 24 must produce an accurate answer.", "This is possible by representing all quantities in the logarithm domain and implementing the multiplier 24 by an addition of logarithms.", "It is often necessary to obtain exact mathematical formulas for the denominator functions by deriving them analytically.", "This is made easier if the common class H 0 has a simple structure such as independent Gaussian noise.", "The main advantage of the class specific classifier is that the individual feature sets (Z A through Z C ) can be smaller than would be necessary if a common feature set was used, such as in the standard classifier.", "The smaller size means that the pattern match processors 20 may be accurately trained with fewer training data samples or given the same number of training samples, the class specific classifier has better pattern match accuracy and thus better performance.", "This invention has been disclosed in terms of certain embodiments.", "It will be apparent that many modifications can be made to the disclosed apparatus without departing from the invention.", "Therefore, it is the intent of the appended claims to cover all such variations and modifications as come within the true spirit and scope of this invention." ]

[ "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1.", "Field of the Invention This invention relates to probes for monitoring internal conditions of a patient and particularly to disposable esophageal probes including a reusable connector for electrocardiographic or other electrical signal monitoring.", "Description of the Prior Art In connection with operations or in intensive care units, it is sometimes necessary to employ an esophageal or a tracheal probe to monitor conditions internal of a patient.", "Such probes may include provision, for example, for detecting internal heart or lung sounds by means of a central passage in the probe or, in the case of tracheal probes, the central passage may provide for transmission of air.", "Such probes may include provision for supplying of a variety of other information concerning internal conditions.", "For example, the probe may include conductors or conductive passageways in the walls thereof for transmitting from the distal end of the probe electrical signals indicative of heart condition, that is, electrocardiographic signals.", "In addition, the probe may include provision for temperature sensing, including electrical conductors extending from a thermocouple, thermistor, or other suitable sensor at the distal end of the probe.", "In the case of electrocardiographic signals, for example, it is necessary to provide a connection from the probe to an electrocardiographic recording instrument for conducting the electrical signals from the probe to the instrument.", "Particularly in the case where, as is increasingly the situation, it is desired to make the probe itself disposable, it is desirable that provision be made for a reliable and relatively simple connection to the probe for such electrocardiographic monitoring.", "Various approaches have been employed for providing a detachable connection between the conductors carrying the electrocardiographic signals in the probe and the electrocardiographic monitoring instrument.", "For example, in one such arrangement, shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,176,660-Mylrea et al.", ", a plurality of longitudinally extending conductive pathways are provided in the wall of the tubular probe and a connector having a corresponding plurality of longitudinally extending prongs is provided for insertion into the disposable probe to make the electrical connection between the prongs and the several conductive pathways.", "In structures of this type, however, it requires very careful alignment of the prongs with the conductive pathways in the disposable probe to insure that the proper and effective connections are made between the two.", "Further, in such structures it may be necessary to interrupt the connection between the central passageway of the probe and an external component when the electrical connection is interrupted, and this may not be desirable, particularly when a tracheal probe is involved.", "Resilient clamps of various types have been employed as a convenient means of pinching shut plastic tubing, including that used in medical procedures.", "Such clamps may be formed of a resilient plastic material and may include a recess in one position engageable by a tongue on another portion to hold the clamp releasably in its tub-pinching position.", "Such clamps have not been employed, however, insofar as the applicant is aware, for making electrical connections.", "The applicant has modified clamps of this general type to make them suitable as reusable connectors for establishing electrical contact with conductive elements in a disposable probe and conveying electrical signals therefrom to suitable monitoring instruments.", "Further, the clamps of the applicant's invention can be applied to the probe and removed from the probe without interrupting the continuity between the central passageway or lumen of the probe and any external component to which it is connected.", "Thus, in accordance with the present invention, a disposable probe and a reusable connector suitable for connection to the disposable probe are provided, and the connector is constructed so that it may be easily placed on the probe and removed from the probe.", "Further, the connector as constructed insures reliable and effective electrical connections, can be installed without the need of critically careful alignment of the connector with the probe, and will make effective electrical contact without any risk of significantly pinching or reducing the size of a central passageway or lumen of the probe.", "Finally, the connector may be connected and disconnected electrically without affecting the continuity of connections to the central lumen of the probe.", "Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a probe, for example a disposable esophageal or tracheal probe, and an effective, relatively inexpensive and reliable reusable connector for providing electrical connection between the probe and any suitable monitoring instrument.", "It is another object of this invention to provide the probe of the above types in which the connector can make effective electrical contact, but without any risk, of significantly reducing the size of the central lumen in the probe.", "It is a further object of this invention to provide an arrangement in which the connector may be connected in and disconnected from electrical contact with the probe without affecting continuity between the probe lumen and any device to which it is connected.", "SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In carrying out the invention, in one form thereof, a disposable probe is provided which includes a tube of any suitable material, such as polyvinyl chloride, having a plurality of conductors or conductive pathways extending longitudinally of the tubular probe from the proximal to the distal end within the tubular wall of the probe.", "The probe includes a central open passageway or lumen which may provide for the conducting of sound therethrough to a stethoscope connected to the proximal end thereof or, in the case of a tracheal probe, may provide for the passage of air to and from the lungs.", "In order to provide for transmission of electrical signals from the disposable probe to a monitoring instrument, such as an electrocardiographic monitor, a reusable connector is provided, in accordance with this invention, for connecting the instrument to the conductive pathways in the probe wall.", "The connector is preferably formed of a resilient plastic material and includes two portions which are movable away from each other to permit installation of the connector on the probe at an appropriate point and are movable toward each other in clamping relationship to retain the connector on the probe wall.", "The connector includes, in one form of the invention, a plurality of sharp prongs adapted to penetrate into the wall of the tube and make contact with the conductive pathways.", "The connector further includes projecting engageable elements for limiting the inward movement of the two portions of the connector so as to prevent any significant reduction in the size of the central lumen of the probe when the connector is installed.", "In another form of the invention, transverse grooves or notches are formed in the exterior wall of the tube and extend into the conductive pathways.", "In this case, the connector is formed with conductive surfaces conforming to the notches and receivable in the transverse notches for making connection with the conductive pathways in the disposable probe.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the following description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings in which: FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a disposable probe and connector constructed in accordance with this invention;", "FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the connector shown in FIG. 1;", "FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3--3 in FIG. 2;", "FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a modified form of a connector;", "FIG. 5 is a view, partly in section, of the connector of FIG. 4 in its assembled position on the disposable probe;", "and FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line 6--6 in FIG. 5. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to FIG. 1 there is shown one embodiment of the disposable probe and connector arrangement of this invention.", "As there shown, the device includes a disposable probe 10 having a proximal end 12 and a distal end 14.", "The probe is intended to be inserted into the human body, for example, in connection with surgical procedures or for monitoring in an intensive care unit.", "The particular probe illustrated in FIG. 1 is an esophageal probe, but it will be apparent as the description proceeds that the device is suitable, with appropriate modification, for other internal uses.", "The device of this invention further includes a reusable connector 16 which is adapted to be removably mounted on the disposable probe and which includes an electrical lead 18 which may be connected to any suitable monitoring instrument, for example, an electrocardiographic monitoring instrument (not shown).", "The probe, in the form shown, is a flexible tubular member, preferably formed from a suitable plastic material such as polyvinyl chloride.", "The tubular member includes a major central lumen 20 which extends the full length of the tubular member from the proximal end to the distal end thereof.", "In the form shown, the distal end is closed by a membrane 22 and it is contemplated that this portion of the probe will be employed for monitoring heart or lung sounds, such acoustic information being transmitted through the lumen 20 to a stethoscope or other suitable monitoring instrument (not shown) which may be connected to the proximal end of the probe.", "In the case of a tracheal probe, the member 22 would be omitted and the distal end of the probe would be left open for transmission of fluid to and from the body.", "Formed within the probe and extending substantially the full length of the probe are a plurality of circumferentially spaced electrically conductive pathways 24.", "These pathways may be formed, for example, of a polyvinyl material impregnated with electrically conductive particles of carbon or other suitable conductive materials.", "The pathways may be formed in a conventional manner by extruding such pathways simultaneously with the extrusion of the tubular probe itself.", "Spaced electrodes 26 are formed along the exterior of the probe near the distal end thereof.", "One of the conductive pathways 24 is connected to one of the electrodes 26 and the other pathway 24 is connected to the other of the electrodes 26.", "Signals indicative of heart condition are developed at the electrodes 26 and transmitted through the pathways 24 to the connector 16 and through the lead 18 to an electrocardiographic monitoring instrument.", "In accordance with the present invention, a simple and effective arrangement is provided for establishing connection, when desired, with the conductive pathways 24 and communicating the electrical signals in these conductive pathways to a suitable monitoring instrument.", "Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, in addition to FIG. 1, the connector 16 is formed of a resilient material and preferably of a resilient plastic material, such as terpolymer of acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS), polycarbonate, polyethylene or polypropylene.", "The connector is made in somewhat loop form and includes a first portion 28 and a second portion 30 which are biased toward each other by the resiliency of the material of which the connector is formed.", "In the form shown in FIG. 2, the first portion 28 includes on its inner surface, a plurality of serrations 32 and the second portion 30 is formed with a relatively sharp edge 34 which is positioned to engage any selected one of the serrations 32.", "It will be apparent from reference to FIG. 2 that the edge 34 will be brought into engagement with one or another of the serrations 32 depending on the size of the tubular probe with which the connector is used.", "Once the edge 34 has been brought into engagement with the appropriate serration the two parts are retained in engagement by the resilience of the material of which the connector is formed.", "Conductors 36 extending from the lead 18 are embedded within the plastic material of which the connector 16 is formed and each of these connectors is connected in electrical engagement with a corresponding one of two contacts 38 which are also embedded in the plastic material.", "Each contact 38 includes one or more prongs 40 extending inwardly through the inner wall of the connector and projecting a short distance beyond the inner wall.", "The conductors 36 and the contacts 38 may be fabricated contemporaneously with the connector 16 by an insert molding process well known in the art.", "In that form shown in FIG. 2, each contact 38 includes three prongs 40, but it will be apparent that more or fewer prongs can be employed if desired.", "Each of the prongs 40 has a relatively sharp point at the inner end so as to facilitate penetration of the wall of the probe 10 to establish conducting engagement with corresponding one of the conductive pathways 24.", "It will be apparent from FIG. 2 that the portions 28 and 30 of the connector 16 may be moved away from each other against the bias of the resilience of the connector to provide an opening therebetween sufficiently large to allow the connector to be slipped over the disposable probe 10.", "The two portions 28 and 30 are then moved toward each other so that the prongs 40 penetrate the wall of the probe 10 and move into electrical contact with the conductive pathways 24.", "Whether the probe is used as an esophageal probe or a tracheal probe, it is undesirable that any significant constriction of the lumen 20 be permitted when the connector 16 is placed on the probe and the prongs 40 are caused to penetrate the wall thereof and to contact the conductive pathways 24.", "In order to limit the inward movement of the contacts 38 and prongs 40 as this engagement with the conductive passageways is effected, the connector 16 is formed to include two inwardly extending aligned projections 42.", "These projections are of sufficient size that they engage each other and prevent further inward movement of the two relatively movable portions of the connector after the prongs 40 have penetrated sufficiently into the conductive pathways 24 to establish good electrical contact.", "At that point, the sharp edge 34 will be brought into engagement with the appropriate one of the serrations 32 to hold the clamp in that position, the sharp edge 34 being biased against the engaged serration by the resilience of the connector 16 and the resilience of the slightly compressed wall of the probe 10.", "The connector therefore remains in fixed engagement with the disposable probe 10 until it is removed after the disposable probe has served its purpose.", "Referring to FIG. 3, it can be seen that the wall of the probe is slightly compressed by the connector in its assembled position so that there is a slight constriction in the lumen 20 in the area 44 where the connector is positioned.", "However, the amount of this constriction, because of the limitation imposed by the projections 42, is limited and does not interfere with the function performed by the lumen 20, whether it be employed for conducting sound, as in an esophageal probe, or conducting fluid, as in a tracheal probe.", "While in the form of the invention shown, two aligned projections 42 of the same size are employed, it will be apparent that they could be of different sizes or, if desired, a single larger projection, extending inwardly from one portion and engaging the other portion, could be employed.", "The only requirement is that the combined size of two projections, or the size of a single projection, be such as to limit inward movement of the two portions of the connector so that no significant reduction in the size of the lumen occurs.", "The connector 16 can be effectively assembled on the probe 10 to serve its purpose of conducting even low voltage electrical signals to a monitoring instrument without interfering in any way with other functions performed by the probe through the lumen 20.", "Moreover, the connector can be assembled to the probe 10 and disconnected therefrom without affecting in any way the continuity of the probe extending from the distal to the proximal end.", "Thus, any function performed by the lumen 20 is no way affected by the assembly of the connector on the probe or the disassembly of the connector from the probe.", "Moreover, the connector can be assembled in appropriate electrical engagement with the conductive pathways 24 without any need for very careful alignment of the connector and the probe.", "In the form shown, the conductive pathways 24 are of arcuate form and extend a significant distance circumferentially of the wall of the probe 10.", "As can be readily seen from FIG. 2 there can be a substantial angular variation in the position of the connector 16 while still insuring that all, or at least some, of the prongs establish electrical contact with the conductive pathways 24.", "In some cases the probe is formed of transparent plastic material so that the pathways 24 are clearly visible and the connector may be easily assembled in the appropriate position.", "If the probe is made of an opaque material, or to identify the conductive pathway associated with a particular electrode, an indicating line or other mark can be easily placed on the exterior of the probe opposite each of the pathways 24 to facilitate easy positioning of the connector at the appropriate angular location on the probe.", "It will be apparent that there is a relatively wide range of positions in which the connector may be assembled and still serve its function so that no precise care need be employed in assembling the conductor on the probe.", "While in the particular form shown only two conductive pathways have been employed it will be apparent that a greater number of such pathways, circumferentially spaced about the wall of the probe, could be employed if it were desired to provide additional paths for electrical signals monitoring other conditions at the distal end of the probe.", "This would, of course, involve providing additional spaced prongs on the inner walls of the connector to establish contact with these additional pathways and would reduce the amount of angular variation permitted in proper assembly of the connector on the probe.", "However, even if, for example, two additional conductive pathways were employed the construction provided by this invention would still eliminate the need for any extremely precise positioning of the connector on the probe.", "Further, if desired, minor lumens could be provided in the wall of the probe intermediate the conductive pathways and electrical conductors could be extended through these minor lumens to the distal end and connected, for example to a temperature-sensing thermocouple, thermistor, or other suitable sensor, at the distal end, providing additional information without interfering with the functioning of the connector.", "A modified form of connector usable in this invention is shown in FIGS. 4-6.", "Similarly to the form of connector just described, the connector 26 shown in FIGS. 4-6 is also formed from a resilient material and preferably a resilient plastic material such as terpolymer of acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS), polycarbonate, polyethylene or polypropylene.", "It also includes two relatively movable portions 48 and 50.", "However, the manner of engaging these portions is somewhat different.", "In the form shown in FIGS. 4-6, the portion 48 is formed to include two spaced arms 52 defining a slot 54 therebetween.", "Recesses, one of which is shown at 56, are formed on the inner wall of each of the arms 52.", "The arms 52 are hingedly connected at 58 to the first portion 50 of the connector 46.", "The portion 50 includes a tongue 60 which is adapted to be received in the slot 54, and it further includes an enlarged head 62 which, in the assembled position of the clamp, is receivable in the recesses 56.", "The hinge connection 58 permits the portion 48 to be moved outwardly relative to the portion 50 to provide an opening between the two portions for assembly of the connector on the disposable probe.", "After the connector has been assembled on the probe the hinged portion 48 is moved toward the position shown in FIG. 5 and the tongue 60 of the portion 50 is moved downwardly through the slot 54 until the head 62 is aligned with the recesses 56.", "The resilience of the connector then causes the head 62 to be pulled into engagement with the recesses 56 to hold the clamp in its assembled position.", "As in the form of invention shown in FIGS. 1-3, the connector 46 includes conductors 36 extending from lead 18 and embedded in the plastic of which the connector 46 is formed.", "These conductors 36 extend to contacts 64 which are formed on opposing inner surfaces of the connector 46.", "As shown best in FIG. 6 the contacts 64 are preferably formed in a U-shaped cross section extending longitudinally of the connector, but they may also be formed in other shapes, for example, in a V-shaped cross section.", "The contacts 64 are formed of conductive material and are connected in electrical contact with the conductors 36.", "In this form of the invention, the disposable probe is formed to provide two circumferentially spaced grooves or notches 66 at opposite sides of the probe 10.", "These notches are of sufficient depth to penetrate through the plastic wall of the probe and into the conducting pathways 24.", "These notches are preferably of U-shaped cross section but may be of other shapes, for example, V-shaped cross section.", "It can be seen that when the connector 46 is assembled on the probe and the portions 48 and 50 are brought into engagement as previously described, the contacts 64 are received within the notches 66 and make good electrical contact with the conductive pathways 24.", "As in the case of the form of invention shown in FIGS. 1-3, the connector 46 includes two aligned inwardly extending projections 68.", "Like the projections 42 of the connector 16 these projections 68 extend inwardly a sufficient distance so that they will engage each other to limit relative inward movement of the portions of the connector to an extent that no significant reduction in the size of the lumen 20 can occur.", "While two inwardly extending projections 68, both extending inwardly from the corresponding wall of the connector by the same amount, have been shown, it will be apparent that, if desired, a single projection extending from one wall could be employed, this projection being of sufficient length to engage the opposite wall of the connector and limit the inward movement of the relatively movable portions of the connector so that no significant restriction of the lumen 20 can occur.", "Also, while the two projections 42 have been shown as of equal size, and this is the preferred construction, the projections could be made of different sizes so long as the combined size of the two projections provides the required limitation on inward movement of the two portions of the connector.", "As in the case of the form of invention shown in FIGS. 1-3, the form of invention shown in FIGS. 4-6 may employ a suitable indicating mark or tab placed on the exterior of the wall of the probe to indicate the appropriate location for the connector 46.", "However, the notches 66 are easily visible from the exterior of the probe and themselves provide a completely satisfactory means of locating the connector at the proper angular position on the probe.", "While the specific embodiments of this invention have been shown and described, it will be apparent that modifications could be made without departing from the invention, and it is intended by the appended claims to cover all such modifications as come within the spirit and scope of this invention." ]

[ "FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to an adjustable gauge, and more particularly to an adjustable gauge that has special application in measuring or checking the dimensions of a fillet weld and may also be used for making several other workpiece measurements.", "BACKGROUND OF INVENTION Fillet welds are used when it is desired to join together two metal plates usually located at right angles relative to each other, but of course as one skilled in the art knows, the plates to be joined may be placed at an angle of more or less than 90°.", "Heretofore, many of the gauges used to determine dimensions of these types of welds have not been accurate, and many separate gauges were required to check various sizes of welds.", "Some prior art fillet gauges also require that the fillet scale be disengaged from the main body and flipped over in order to measure alternate dimensional scales.", "In U.S. Pat. No. 2,389,842, presized corner templates are used to gauge fillet welds.", "In U.S. Pat. No. 3,597,848 a separate steel member must be utilized to read the gauge.", "Improvements have been made in the area of weld gauges, and gauges now exist that can perform multiple measurements.", "Examples are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,485,558, and 4,637,142.", "However, the need continues for a more accurate and easier to use weld gauge.", "Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide for a novel, adjustable gauge for measuring the dimensions of a fillet weld.", "It is also an object of the invention to provide a weld gauge that has multiple scales and is easy to read.", "Another object of this invention is to provide a fillet weld gauge which may be used to rapidly measure many different sizes of welds without the need for disengaging the fillet scale and flipping said scale over the measure alternate dimensional scales.", "Another object of the invention is to provide for a fillet weld gauge which is readily adjustable and accurate.", "Other objects of the invention will become apparent upon the reading of the following description.", "SUMMARY OF INVENTION The objects of the invention have been accomplished by providing an adjustable gauge having special application to the measuring of the dimensions of fillet weld.", "The gauge is accurate and easy to use.", "The gauge includes a first plate and a second plate whereas the plates are rotatably mounted about an axis of rotation and juxtaposed to each other, and a linear member rotatably mounted on the same axis of rotation as the first and second plates juxtaposed to the second plate on a first face opposite the first plate, the linear member further member being slidably mounted in relation to the first and second plates in order to extend so as to measure a dimension of a weld.", "Another feature of the invention is that the first plate is substantially rectangular in shape and terminates in an edge which traverses one corner thereof.", "The second plate is substantially circular in shape.", "The face of the first plate, which is adjacent to the second plate, has a recess thereon sized to accommodate the second plate.", "Also, a feature of the invention is that the first plate, the second plate, and the linear member are rotatably mounted with a spring loaded mechanism for varying the rotational resistant there between.", "The second plate has first linear groove in the first face which the linear member slides in to measure the dimensions of a fillet weld.", "A second linear groove is located in the first face of the second plate set at an angle to the first groove for purposes of alternately sliding the linear member therein and measuring the dimensions of the weld using an alternative scale.", "An additional feature of the invention is the weld gauge is provide with third a plate rotatably mounted to the first plate and juxtaposed against a back face of the first plate opposite the face to which the second plate is mounted.", "A further feature of the invention is that the third plate is shaped substantially in the form of a pie section and rotatably mounted to the first plate in an area coinciding with the center of said pie.", "Lastly it is a feature of the invention that the weld gauge has a detent mechanism for providing a rotational stopping points of the second plate in relation to the first plate.", "The detent mechanism comprises rounded protrusions on either the first plate or the second plate and mating apertures in the other juxtaposed plate corresponding to the desired rotational stopping points.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an exploded view of the gauge.", "FIG. 2 is a top view of the gauge.", "FIG. 3 is a rear view of the gauge.", "FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line of 4 — 4 of FIG. 2 .", "FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the gauge shown as measuring the throat of fillet weld using the English or inch scale.", "FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the gauge shown measuring the throat of a fillet weld using the theoretical scale.", "FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the gauge shown measuring the throat of a fillet weld using the metric scale.", "DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The gauge 10 shown in FIGS. 1-7 is normally used to measure the dimension of the throat of a fillet weld 12 , which joins two structural members 14 , 16 , positioned at right angles to one another.", "As shown in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 , weld 12 includes two legs 18 , 20 and a throat 22 .", "Gauge 10 included a plate shaped body member 24 , a circular plate member 26 , a linear member 28 , and a generally pie shaped plate member 30 , as best shown in FIG. 3 .", "As seen in FIG. 1, plate shaped body member 24 is partly defined by edges 32 , 33 , 66 , 67 , and 68 and is generally rectangular in shape, but has one corner section severed therefrom in a miter cut fashion by edge 32 .", "Plate shaped body member 24 has a front face 34 having a generally circular recess 36 formed therein.", "Also located in body member 24 is axis hole 38 and detent apertures 40 .", "In the preferred embodiment, recess 36 extends to corner edge 32 and into a longitudinal edge 33 of body number 24 so that edge 33 severs the circular geometry of recess 36 in a cord like fashion, wherein said cord is defined by points 35 and 37 on the circumference of circular recess 36 .", "Circular plate member 26 has an axial hole 46 centrally located and a first face 42 having two linear grooves 44 and 45 thereon.", "Linear grooves 44 and 45 are aligned along diameters of circular member 26 and intersect one another in a perpendicular manner thereby forming four radial groove portions 47 a , 47 b , 47 c , and 47 d .", "In the preferred embodiment, three separate scales of measurement are placed along radial groove portions 47 a , 47 b , and 47 c .", "Along radial groove portion 47 a a British or inches scale is marked.", "Along radial groove portion 47 b a theoretical scale is provided;", "the theoretical scale being in inches along one side of groove portion 47 b and then metric along the other edge of radial portion 47 b .", "The theoretical scale provides a value of weld throat thickness 22 , which includes an estimated value for weld penetration into structural members 14 and 16 .", "The penetration increases the effective strength and thickness of weld 12 .", "The metric scale is laid out along radial groove portion 47 c .", "In the preferred embodiment no scale is laid out along radial groove portion 47 d , but obviously any desired scale could be used along this radial groove portion.", "A bulbous protrusion 48 is located on face 49 of circular plate 26 opposite face 42 .", "Linear member 28 has a flat end 52 , an opposite pointed end 51 and a linear slot 50 there between.", "The linear slot 50 extends coincident with linear member 28 and extends in close proximity to flat end slot 52 , and is more distal from the opposite pointed end 51 .", "Pie shaped plate number 30 is defined by sector line 74 and partial sector line 73 , and includes a pointed section 77 jutting beyond partial sector line 73 .", "An arcuate slot 53 terminates at sector line 74 such that slot 53 defines arcuate portion 75 of plate 30 , which is located between slot 53 and the circumferential edge 76 , such that said portion 75 is uniform in width along the length of slot 53 .", "A back face 25 of body member 24 has an arcuate scale 31 attached thereto with screws 64 and washers 65 .", "Having described the major parts of gauge 10 , the assembly and parts for assembly will now be detailed.", "In the preferred embodiment, circular plate 26 is positioned within recess 36 such that a second face 49 of circular plate 26 is juxtaposed with body member 24 .", "Linear member 28 is positioned within either linear groove 44 or linear group 45 of circular plate 26 and can slide in and alternate there between.", "Body member 24 , circular plate 26 and linear member 28 are rotatably held together with a knurled knob 54 having a threaded screw 55 attached thereto wherein said threaded screw extends through linear slot 50 of linear member 28 , axial hole 46 in circular plate 26 , and axial hole 38 in body member 24 and is engagingly threaded into circular nut 56 .", "A nylon washer 57 is placed between knurled knob 54 and linear plate member 28 .", "A coiled spring 58 is compressed between an extended head 59 of circular nut 56 and back face 25 of body member 24 .", "Pie shaped plate 30 is rotatably mounted at 60 and juxtaposed adjacent a rear face 25 of body member 24 such that circular nut 56 is positioned within slot 53 of plate 30 and remains in slot 53 as plate 30 is rotated.", "Rotational mount 60 is accomplished in the preferred embodiment using a knurled knob 61 having a threaded screw (not shown) attached thereto that extends through an aperture (not shown) in plate 30 at point 60 and an aperture (not shown) in plate 24 at point 60 which is engagingly threaded to a knurled nut 62 .", "Other suitable rotational mounts such as a rivet may be used to join body member 24 and pie shape 30 .", "Having described parts and assembly of weld gauge 10 , the operation will now be discussed.", "For measuring the throat of 22 fillet weld 12 , circular plate 26 and linear member 28 are utilized.", "Circular plate 26 is rotated within recessed 36 until the desired scale on radial segment 47 a , 47 b or 47 c is aligned perpendicular to severed edge 32 .", "Circular plate 26 is rotated by pushing the head 59 of circular nut 56 which causes coil spring 58 to become further compressed and thereby raising knob 54 slightly above linear member 28 .", "This allows circular member 26 to freely rotate within recess 36 .", "As the desired scale 47 a , 47 b , or 47 c is aligned with edge 32 , bulbous protrusion 48 will encounter the appropriate detent aperture 40 .", "Circular nut 56 is then released and tension from coil spring 58 will firmly hold protrusion 48 within aperture 40 to lock the gauge 10 in the desired position.", "Linear member 28 is rotated to the proper position within linear groove 44 or 45 by also pressing circular nut 56 against the face 25 of body member 24 compressing spring 58 .", "As knob 24 is raised linear member 28 is free to rotate.", "Linear member 28 will be rotated such that point end 51 is aligned within or protruding radially outward from the radial segment 47 a , 47 b or 47 c which is aligned perpendicular to edge 32 .", "To measure the throat 22 of fillet weld 12 , circular nut 56 is pressed against face 25 of body member 24 and/or knob 54 is turned slightly to loosen threaded screw 55 within circular nut 56 thereby allowing linear member 28 to slide freely within the appropriate linear groove 44 or 45 .", "Gauge 10 is then placed such that edge 66 of body member 24 firmly contacts structural member 16 and edge 67 of body member 24 is in firm contact with structural number 14 such that edge 32 faces fillet weld 12 .", "Linear member 28 is then extended toward fillet weld 12 until point 51 touches throat 22 as can be seen in FIGS. 5-7.", "Once point 51 is contacted with throat 22 , knob 54 is tightened and/or nut 56 is released to prevent further movement of linear member 28 .", "The dimension of throat 22 is then read from the appropriate scale on radial segment 47 a , 47 b or 47 c as indicated by the position of measuring line 70 on linear member 28 .", "It should be appreciated that the knurled knob has three separate functions;", "first it allows the circular plate to be movable within its associated opening 36 , between its detented positions.", "Secondly, it allows the linear member 28 to be moved or fixed relative to its associated grooves 44 , 45 ;", "and finally, it allows the linear member 28 to be linearly slidable towards and away from the edge 32 within the associated grooves 44 , 45 .", "Pie shaped plate 30 can be used to measure weld undercut, weld reinforcement, fillet leg length, angle of preparation, and misalignment;", "however, these uses of plate 30 are known and therefore will not be described in great detail.", "The basic operation of plate 30 involves rotation at point 60 whereby point 52 comes in contact with the element to be measured.", "When contact is obtained, the desired dimension can be read by the alignment of line 71 and 72 on plate 30 with the scale 31 .", "Line 71 aligns with a British or inch scale and line 72 aligns with the metric scale.", "It should also be appreciated that this invention may be carried out using only one plate member or base portion having at least one groove located in the plate and a linear member for sliding in the groove the measure the throat of a fillet member.", "For example, the base portion could be shaped substantially in an octagon shape such that two edges of the octagon would be held in firm contact with the structural members joined by the fillet weld and the groove would be located such that it terminates perpendicular to an edge of the octagon between the edges contacting the structural members.", "The linear member would be mounted in the slidable and/or rotational mount with said base portion as described above or other methods which are well known in the art.", "Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may be readily used as a basis for designing other structures, methods, and systems for carrying out several purposes of the present invention.", "Further, the abstract is neither an attempt to define the invention of the application which is measured by the claims, neither is it intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.", "The preferred embodiment herein described is not intended to be an exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms enclosed.", "They are chosen and described to best explain the principals of the invention in its application and practical use to thereby enable other skilled in the art to utilize the invention." ]

[ "BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION [0001] 1.", "Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates generally to sewing, such as, for example, to the process of sewing and the creation of thread for sewing, including manners of feeding thread to a sewing machine.", "Sewing is one conventional manner in which fabrics can be joined together.", "Relatively recently, there have been significant developments in sewing technology.", "With the increasing use of materials in garments having a greater variety of characteristics, the desire for sewing threads having more widely varying characteristics has become apparent.", "For example, interest has been exhibited in gluing fabrics.", "This manner of attachment exhibits a number of potential benefits.", "One such benefit is that, when attaching elastic fabrics, if the right substance is used for the gluing, the seams will exhibit a similar degree of elasticity to that of the fabrics which are being attached.", "[0003] 2.", "Description of Related Art [0004] It is known to provide suitable adhesion of elastic fabrics by sewing a seam using a sewing thread which has adhesive properties.", "A composite sewing thread, which has a low-melting point nylon filament (though other materials, such as polyester, polypropylene, for example) twisted with a conventional polyester filament yarn is commercially available in spools which are pre-wound, ready for use.", "Once the seam is ironed the nylon melts and the two pieces of fabric are adhered by the combination of the conventional textile filament's retention action as a result of it having sewed the two pieces of fabric together and the nylon filament which, after melting, operates in a manner very much akin to a conventional glue.", "SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0005] Embodiments of the present invention provide, variously, methods of sewing, methods of feeding thread to a sewing machine, a thread feed for a sewing machine and a sewing machine.", "[0006] According to one embodiment of the present invention there is provided a method of feeding thread to a sewing machine the method including the steps of: using the locomotive power of the sewing machine, drawing first and second filaments from first and second spools respectively;", "subsequent to drawing the filaments from the spools, inter-winding the first and second filaments to create thread for use by the sewing machine;", "and feeding the composite, inter-wound thread to a stitching tool of the sewing machine.", "[0007] A further embodiment of the present invention provides a sewing machine thread feed for supplying sewing thread to a sewing machine, the sewing thread including at least first and second filaments, the feed comprising: a guide mechanism for guiding sewing thread to a stitching tool of the sewing machine;", "first and second spools carrying first and second filaments respectively;", "first and second retention mechanisms for retaining the first and second spools respectively in position against force applied to them when filament is drawn off;", "the first and second filaments run from the first and second spools respectively to the guide mechanism;", "wherein the thread feed further comprises an inter-winding mechanism which, using motive power of the sewing machine causes inter-winding of the first and second filaments to create composite sewing thread.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS [0008] FIG. 1 is a side view of a first embodiment of thread feeding mechanism for a sewing machine according to a first embodiment of the present invention;", "[0009] FIG. 2 is a side view of a modification of the embodiment of FIG. 1 ;", "[0010] FIG. 3 is a section through a detail of FIG. 2 ;", "[0011] FIG. 4 is a side view of a second embodiment of thread feeding mechanism for a sewing machine according to a further embodiment of the present invention;", "and [0012] FIG. 5 is a side view of a modification of the embodiment of thread feeding mechanism of FIG. 3 DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [0013] Referring now to FIG. 1 , a thread feeding mechanism 10 provides sewing thread 12 to a sewing machine 14 .", "The use of the term ‘thread’ herein is intended functionally.", "That is to say that any strand-like or fibril-like structure—henceforth referred to as a filament—which is used to sew fabric together shall be considered to be ‘thread’.", "The term ‘filament’ used herein is intended to be understood to be used in a generic manner and is therefore sufficiently broad to encompass any fibril-like structure which is made either of a single strand or which may be made of one or more such strands or fibrils as the case requires.", "Thus a thread may comprise one or more filaments.", "[0014] The sewing machine 16 is associated with a thread feed mechanism which may, in an alternative embodiment, be integrated with the machine.", "The thread feed mechanism provides thread to the sewing machine.", "Power to pull the thread through the feed mechanism is provided by the locomotive power of the sewing machine (regardless of the origin of that power, which may therefore be by manual actuation or electric motor, for example) in a manner known per se.", "That is to say that, as in the case of a conventional sewing machine, operation of the machine to perform sewing automatically also has the effect of drawing thread from what can generically be referred to as a thread store (such as a spool or a bobbin), through a suitable guide mechanism and to a needle (or other stitching tool such as, for example, a bobbin, a hook, a looper or a spreader, as the case may be) of the machine.", "The guide mechanism for the thread is therefore an element of the feed mechanism in that the latter additionally includes one or more thread stores.", "[0015] In the present example, the feed mechanism comprises first and second spools 20 , 22 with the first spool 20 carrying low-melting point nylon filament 32 with a relatively high modulus of elasticity and the second spool 22 carrying conventional textile filament 34 .", "In the present example, both the low-melting point filament and textile filament could, if desired, be used for sewing by themselves.", "In the illustrated embodiment, the first and second spools 20 , 22 are mounted coaxially with each other.", "The first spool is mounted on a first spool carrier or retaining mechanism, provided in the illustrated embodiment by a spindle 24 located within a capsule 26 in a manner which preferably resists or, more preferably prevents relative rotation of the spool 20 and spindle 24 .", "The capsule 26 encloses the first spool 20 and carries the second spool 22 externally on its upper face.", "In the present example the second spool 22 is carried on a second spool carrier or retaining mechanism provided by a second spindle 28 , mounted on the outside of the upper face of the capsule 26 and in register with an aperture 30 .", "The second spindle 28 serves to locate the second spool 22 but is not essential and a small locating spigot, for example, may be employed to provide a locating mechanism instead.", "In use, the low-melting point filament 32 , which is drawn off the first spool 20 , passes through the aperture 30 and the centre of the second spool 22 (and therefore, in the illustrated example, the centre of the second spindle 28 which has a bore running through its centre), and is fed to a stitching tool of the machine (such as a needle or other stitching tool such as a hook, a bobbin, a looper and a spreader, for example, as the case may be) of the sewing machine 14 via a thread guide mechanism which, in the present example, includes two guide wheels 40 , 42 (though may involve a considerably more sophisticated guide mechanism, as appropriate).", "[0016] The second spool 22 is mounted on the capsule 26 —here using the second spindle 28 —once again preferably in a manner which resists or more preferably prevents relative rotation of the second spool 22 and retaining mechanism provided by the second spindle 28 .", "The second spool 22 carries a second filament 34 , which, in this example, is provided by a conventional textile filament (typically, though not necessarily polyester) of the kind ordinarily used as sewing thread.", "The textile filament 34 is similarly fed to the sewing machine 14 via the guides 40 and 42 .", "[0017] In operation, the action of the textile filament 34 , as it is drawn off the second spool 22 , will be such that it automatically winds itself around the first filament 32 subsequent to the passage of the low-melting point filament through the centre of the second spool 22 .", "The result is the automatic inter-winding of the two filaments 32 , 34 , to create a composite sewing thread 12 for use on the machine 16 and which, when ironed or otherwise heated to the requisite temperature such that the nylon filament melts, will exhibit adhesive properties.", "The relatively higher elasticity of the low melting point filament 32 means that it will be more stressed (i.e. elastically extended) as a result of the ‘drawing off’ tension which is applied to it than is the case for the textile filament.", "This differential stressing aids the robustness of the inter-winding in subsequent handling operations and processing by the sewing machine.", "It should be appreciated that the enclosure of the spindle 24 providing the first spool carrier within the capsule 26 though advantageous under certain circumstances, is not, however, essential and that the primary function of the capsule 26 is to provide support for the first and second spool carriers in a spatial relationship such that thread from a spool mounted on the first carrier can be drawn through the second carrier and, therefore, a spool mounted on the second carrier.", "Preferably, though not essentially therefore, the first and second spool carriers are axially displaced and, more preferably, mounted coaxially with each other.", "[0018] It will be apparent that, because, as mentioned above, in the present embodiment the textile filament carried on the second spool 22 can be provided by a conventional sewing thread, and may therefore be any colour in which such thread is ordinarily available and any thickness required for a particular sewing operation.", "Consequently, the composite thread supplied to the machine can likewise be any colour or thickness.", "When it is desired to perform a sewing operation with a composite, adhesive thread yet which has either a different colour or thickness to that of the textile filament which is, at that time, being used to form the composite thread then the textile filament 34 carried on the second spool 22 may simply and straightforwardly be replaced by another, suitably coloured filament having the requisite thickness.", "The result, therefore, is the ability to provide a composite thread for use by a sewing machine, effectively in situ and using the motive power (whether that be produced by manual actuation, such as by the use of a pedal, or electrical power, compressed air or any other means) of the sewing machine.", "Consequently, while the present embodiment has been illustrated by reference to a combination of a low-melting point filament and a textile filament, it is not limited to the production of such composite thread and constituent filaments of any suitable kind may be employed in accordance with this embodiment to produce a composite thread, with the nature of the constituent filaments being selected with reference to the desire end use of the composite thread.", "Thus, for example, where a composite thread was required which included a use of two, distinct colours, constituent filaments (for example each provided by commercially-available textile sewing thread capable of use on its own) having the requisite colours may be inter-wound to provide such bi-coloured thread.", "DAVID, CAN YOU THINK OF SOME OTHER EXAMPLES?", "[0019] Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3 , in a modification of the embodiment of FIG. 1 the capsule 26 additionally comprises a plastic tray 31 mounted to the inside of its upper end.", "The tray 31 has an aperture 33 which lies in register with the aperture 30 .", "The tray 31 carries a tensioning device, provided in the present embodiment by a deformable pad 35 located in the aperture 33 .", "The deformable pad 35 is, in the present example, provided by a foam pad.", "[0020] In use the low-melt filament 32 is drawn through an aperture in the foam pad 35 .", "This serves to provide additional, relatively mild tension to the filament 32 as it is drawn through the centre of the second spool 22 .", "This aids handling of the inter-wound, composite thread 12 .", "Additionally, because the low-melt filament can have lively handling characteristics, the presence of the foam pad assist in the ameliorating of the impact of such characteristics upon the handling of the composite, inter-wound thread.", "[0021] An alternative device to the foam pad can be provided by threading the low-melt filament 32 through two (or more) apertures in the upper end of the capsule 26 , before passing the filament though the centre of the spool 22 .", "[0022] The embodiments described above use the feeding one filament through the centre of the spool on which a further filament is wound which thereby enables the orbital trajectory executed by the further filament during its unwinding process to cause inter-winding of the two filaments together.", "This provides a very simple and low-cost way of inter-winding two constituent filaments to create a composite thread.", "The use of this is not limited either to the creation of low-melting point thread, nor to its employment on a sewing machine, nor to the use of any particular source of motive power (whether provided by a sewing machine or otherwise).", "Thus, for example, this mechanism may equally find utility in a retail, or any other environment as an inexpensive and quick way of producing a composite thread (of whatever kind, i.e. whether low-melting point, multi-chromatic or otherwise) from selected constituent filaments (which may themselves be provided by thread usable by itself for sewing or any other suitable filament).", "Further, the use of this method and mechanism is not limited to the inter-winding of only two filaments and further filaments may be drawn sequentially through the centre of a sequence of spools to create composite sewing threads of three, four or more constituent filaments in this manner.", "[0023] Accordingly an embodiment of the present invention provides the creation of a composite sewing thread from two or more constituent filaments whereby one or more filaments are drawn off their respective spools, through the centre of spools carrying other filaments, so that the orbital trajectory of the other filaments during unwinding from their spools causes inter-winding of filaments to create composite thread.", "According to one embodiment there is provided a method of creating a composite thread comprising the steps drawing a first filament from a first spool, through the centre of a second spool which carries a second filament;", "drawing the second filament off the second spool;", "whereby the orbital trajectory executed by the second filament as it is drawn off the second spool causes inter-winding of the two filaments.", "Preferably, the first and second filaments are drawn off their respective spools at the same speed and preferably together with each other.", "Yet a further embodiment provides an apparatus for use in creating composite thread having first and second spool carriers, axially displaced from each other, wherein the second spool carrier comprises an aperture whereby filament drawn off a spool located on the first carrier can be fed through the centre of a spool on the second carrier and the second spool carrier is adapted to prevent rotation a spool mounted thereon.", "Preferably the first spool carrier is located within a frame, preferably provided by a capsule, and upon which is mounted the second spool carrier, with the two spool carriers preferably being axially displaced and, more preferably, coaxially mounted with each other.", "[0024] Referring now to FIG. 4 , in an alternative embodiment, the positions of the low-melt filament spool and the textile spool are reversed, such that the first spool 220 is now carrying textile filament 234 on a first spindle 224 within the capsule 226 ;", "and the second spool, 222 , mounted on the second spindle 228 (which is itself mounted on the upper side of the capsule 226 ) now carries the low melt nylon filament 232 .", "Because of the reversal of the positions of the two spools relative to each other, the tension induced in the nylon, low-melting point filament may be less than in the first embodiment and, accordingly, a tensioning device which here is incorporated into the guide mechanism of the sewing machine is provided.", "In the present embodiment, the tensioning device 250 is provided by two pinch wheels 250 A, is interposed between the first pulley 240 and the point 252 at which the two filaments inter-wind with each other to create the composite inter-wound thread 12 though other suitable tensioning devices may be employed.", "[0025] A modification of the embodiment in FIG. 4 is shown in FIG. 5 , where the tensioning device is interposed between the second spool 222 and the inter-winding point 352 .", "This operates to tension the nylon filament 332 as it winds around the textile filament 334 which is being drawn axially through the second spindle.", "The tensioning device 350 is mounted upon a rotating disc 360 .", "The disc is connected to the drive mechanism (not shown) of the sewing machine such that it rotates about an axis A and at a speed which corresponds to the speed of the machine and, therefore, the speed at which the filaments are drawn off their respective spools and, therefore, also the speed at which the composite inter-wound thread is fed to the machine.", "In this manner, the tensioning device imparts tension to the nylon filament as it is drawn off the second spool 222 , while also providing the inter-winding of the two filaments at a consistent rate per unit length of the thread.", "[0026] It will be appreciated that, although the inter-winding of filaments in situ on a sewing machine using the motive power of the machine has been exemplified using the device illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 5 , whereby one filament is drawn through the centre of a spool containing another filament, this is not essential and alternative mechanisms may be employed to achieve the same result consistent with the embodiment of the present invention.", "For example, an appropriate, simple twisting device can be employed (similar to that shown in FIG. 5 ), powered by the motive power of the sewing machine and preferably (though not essentially) geared to the speed of the machine, to operate to inter-wind constituent filaments without the need to draw one filament through the centre of a spool supporting another filament.", "[0027] It is to be understood that the different features of the various embodiments of the invention as described above are not necessarily limited to their association with the embodiments in connection with which they were first described.", "Thus, aspects of embodiments such as modifications are generally applicable to other embodiments of the invention described herein." ]

[ "CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2012-0103503, filed on Sep. 18, 2012 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.", "BACKGROUND [0002] 1.", "Field [0003] The present disclosure relates to compositions, kits, and methods for detecting and analyzing vesicles.", "[0004] 2.", "Description of the Related Art [0005] Microvesicles are small membrane-bound vesicles that exist in or are secreted from various types of cells.", "Microvesicles include (i) exosomes, membraneous vesicles 30 to 100 nm in diameter that are secreted by a wide range of mammalian cell types, (ii) ectosomes (shedding microvesicles (SMVs)), large membranous vesicles 50 to 1000 nm in diameter that are released directly from plasma membranes, and (iii) apoptotic blebs: vesicles 50 to 5000 nm in diameter that are secreted from dying cells.", "[0006] Using an electron microscope, it has been observed that exosomes are not directly released from plasma membranes, but rather originate from specific intracellular regions called multivesicular bodies (MVBs), which fuse with the plasma membrane and are then released into the extracellular environment as exosomes.", "Exosomes are secreted from various different cell types under both normal and pathologic states.", "Erythrocytes, various types of immunologic cells (including B-lymphocytes, T-lymphocytes, dendritic cells, platelets, and macrophages), and tumor cells produce and secrete exosomes.", "Microvesicles may contain microRNAs (miRNAs), which may be used to diagnose various conditions, including cancer.", "[0007] Existing methods of detecting and characterizing microvesicles are performed by immuno-capturing microvesicles and then detecting a protein in the microvesicles using a labeled antibody.", "However, such methods may cause a bias due to masking of antibody recognition sites by changes in a protein structure, microvesicle heterogeneity, protein interactions, etc.", "In addition, detection results may be inaccurate due to contamination by external proteins, for example, secreted or fragmented proteins.", "Furthermore, many existing methods require a complicated process, a high-cost apparatus, or a large sample volume.", "[0008] Therefore, there is a need for improved methods of detecting and quantifying microvesicles, analyzing microvesicle proteins, glycoproteins, or lipids, and screening ligands that have binding affinity for microvesicles.", "SUMMARY [0009] Provided are compositions for detecting vesicles.", "[0010] Provided are kits for detecting vesicles.", "[0011] Provided are methods for analyzing vesicles within samples.", "[0012] Additional aspects will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the presented embodiments.", "[0013] Provided is a composition for detecting a vesicle comprising a membrane permeable marker that is converted into a detectable marker inside the vesicle.", "[0014] “Vesicle”", "refers to a membranous structure bound by a lipid bilayer.", "For example, the vesicle may be a liposome or a microvesicle.", "A microvesicle is a small membrane-bound structure that originates from cells.", "The term “microvesicle”", "may be used interchangeably with the terms “circulating microvesicle”", "or “microparticle.”", "Microvesicles may exist inside cells or may be secreted from cells.", "Secreted microvesicles may include exosomes, ectosomes (shedding microvesicles (SMVs)), apoptotic blebs, or any combination thereof.", "Exosomes may be membranous vesicles of about 30 to about 100 nm diameter that originate from phagocytes.", "Ectosomes (SMVs) may be large membranous vesicles of about 50 to about 1000 nm in diameter that are directly released from plasma membranes.", "Apoptotic blebs may be vesicles of about 50 to about 5000 nm in diameter that are secreted from dying cells.", "Microvesicles may contain microRNAs (miRNAs) or messenger RNAs (mRNAs).", "Surface proteins of microvesicles may serve as disease-specific markers.", "[0015] The membrane permeable marker may be converted into a fluorescent material within the vesicle.", "“Fluorescent material”", "refers to a material that emits light under a change of physical conditions or chemical treatments.", "The membrane permeable marker may be a non-fluorescent material outside a vesicle, but may be converted into a fluorescent material inside the vesicle.", "The conversion may be performed by enzymes (e.g., esterase) within the vesicle.", "The membrane permeable marker may be a hydrophobic material outside the vesicle, but may be converted into a hydrophilic material inside the vesicle.", "A hydrophobic material will be able to permeate a vesicle membrane, but a hydrophilic material will not be able to permeate a vesicle membrane.", "[0016] The marker may be, for example, calcein-AM (calcein-acetoxymethyl ester), fura-2-AM (Fura-2-acetoxymethyl ester), indo-1-AM (indo-1-acetoxymethyl ester), indo-5F-AM (indo-5F-acetoxymethyl ester), quin-2-AM (quin-2-acetoxymethyl ester), 5-CFDA-AM (5-carboxyfluorescein diacetate-acetoxymethyl ester), BAPTA-AM (bis(2-aminophenoxy)ethane tetraacetic acid-acetoxymethyl ester), 5,5′-difluoro BAPTA-AM, 5,5′-dimethyl BAPTA-AM, 5,5′-dinitro BAPTA-AM, BCECF-AM (2′,7′-bis-(2-carboxyethyl)-5-(and-6)-carboxyfluorescein acetoxymethyl ester), dihydrocalcein-AM (dihydrocalcein-acetoxymethyl ester), EGTA-AM (EGTA-acetoxymethyl ester), fluo-3-AM (Fluo-3-acetoxymethyl ester), fluo-8-AM (Fluo-8-acetoxymethyl ester), rhod-2-AM (rhod-2-acetoxymethyl ester), rhod-4-AM (rhod-2-acetoxymethyl ester), rhod-5F-AM (rhod-5F-acetoxymethyl ester), rhod-5N-AM (rhod-5N-acetoxymethyl ester), X-rhod-1-AM (X-rhod-1-acetoxymethyl ester), or any combination thereof.", "[0017] The composition may further include an organic anion transport inhibitor.", "“Organic anion transport inhibitor”", "refers to a material that inhibits the organic anion transport system.", "For example, the organic anion transport inhibitor may be sulfinpyrazone, probenecid, betamipron, cilastatin, 8-(noradamantan-3-yl)-1,3-dipropylxanthine, or any combination thereof.", "The efficiency vesicle detection may be enhanced by using the organic anion transport inhibitor.", "[0018] Provided is a kit for detecting a vesicle comprising a membrane permeable marker that is converted into a detectable marker inside the vesicle.", "The kit may further comprise an organic anion transport inhibitor.", "[0019] Provided is a method of analyzing a vesicle in a sample comprising contacting a sample with a membrane permeable marker that is converted into a detectable marker inside the vesicle;", "and measuring a signal of the detectable marker.", "[0020] The sample may be a body fluid sample or cell culture sample.", "The body fluid may be, for example, urine, mucus, saliva, tears, blood plasma, blood serum, sputum, spinal fluid, hydrothorax, nipple aspirate, lymph, tracheolar fluid, intestinal fluid, genitourinary tract fluid, breast milk, lymph system fluid, semen, cerebrospinal fluid, tracheal system fluid, ascites, cystic tumor fluid, amniotic fluid, or any combination thereof.", "[0021] The contacting may be performed in vitro.", "For example, the contacting may be performed at room temperature.", "For example, the contacting may be performed while mixing reactants.", "[0022] Various methods according to kinds of a fluorescent material may be used for measuring the signal.", "For example, if the fluorescent material is a fluorescent protein, the fluorescent intensity generated by the fluorescent protein when illuminated by ultraviolet light may be measured by using a fluorophotometer.", "[0023] The method of analyzing a vesicle may include, for example, a method of detecting a vesicle, a method of analyzing vesicle proteins, glycoproteins, lipids, or nucleic acids, or any combination thereof.", "[0024] The method may further comprise incubating the sample with an organic anion transport inhibitor, as previously described, before measuring the signal of the detectable marker.", "The incubating may be performed in vitro.", "For example, the incubating may be performed at room temperature.", "For example, the incubating may be performed while mixing reactants.", "The incubating of the sample with the organic anion transport inhibitor may be performed before, after or at the same time as the contacting of the sample with the membrane permeable marker that is converted into the detectable marker inside the vesicle.", "The vesicle detecting efficiency may be enhanced by incubating the sample with the organic anion transport inhibitor.", "[0025] The method may further include incubating a ligand with the vesicle to analyze a vesicle protein, glycoprotein or lipid (e.g., a phospholipid or cholesterol) before measuring the signal of the detectable marker.", "The ligand may, for example, have binding affinity for a vesicle protein, glycoprotein, or lipid.", "The ligand may be, for example, a material having binding affinity for a protein, a substrate of an enzyme, a coenzyme, a regulatory factor, a material that specifically binds to a receptor, a lectin, an antigen, an antibody, a hormone, a neurotransmitter, a phospholipid-binding protein, a protein that includes pleckstrin homology (PH) domain, or a cholesterol-binding protein.", "The incubating may be performed in vitro.", "For example, the incubating may be performed at room temperature.", "For example, the incubating may be performed while mixing reactants.", "Vesicle proteins, glycoproteins and lipids may be analyzed by measuring the signal the detectable marker.", "The ligand may be fixed on a solid support.", "The solid support may be, for example, a polystyrene plate or a bead.", "The incubating of the ligand with the vesicle may be performed before, after or at the same time as the contacting of the sample with the membrane permeable marker that is converted into the detectable marker inside the vesicle.", "If the ligand is fixed on a solid support, the method may further comprise washing a vesicle that is bound to the ligand fixed on the solid support.", "[0026] The method may further comprise incubating at least two kinds of ligands with the vesicle to screen for ligands having binding affinity to the vesicle.", "The ligand may, for example, have binding affinity for a vesicle protein, glycoprotein, or lipid.", "The ligand may be, for example, a material having binding affinity for a protein, a substrate of an enzyme, a coenzyme, a regulatory factor, a material that specifically binds with receptors, a lectin, an antigen, an antibody, a hormone, a neurotransmitter, a phospholipid-binding protein, a protein that includes pleckstrin homology (PH) domain, or a cholesterol-binding protein.", "[0027] The use of the compositions, kits, and methods described herein reduces or eliminates detection bias due to types of detection targets or external protein contamination, and allows for detection of vesicles in a short amount of time using a simple process, even from low-quantity samples.", "Furthermore, vesicle proteins, glycoproteins, lipids, or nucleic acids may be analyzed, and ligands with binding affinity for vesicles may be screened.", "Detection of vesicles having disease-specific markers may be used to diagnose or monitor a disease.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0028] These and/or other aspects will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: [0029] FIG. 1 is a diagram that illustrates a method of analyzing vesicles using a membrane permeable marker that is converted into a detectable marker inside a vesicle.", "“ 1 ”", "represents a vesicle bound by a lipid layer, “ 2 a ”", "represents a membrane permeable marker, “ 2 b ”", "represents a membrane permeable marker converted into a detectable marker, “ 3 ”", "represents a signal originating from the detectable marker, and “ 4 ”", "represents a reaction that converts the membrane permeable marker into the detectable marker.", "[0030] FIGS. 2A and 2B are a graph and a gel image, respectively, showing the results of detecting and quantifying microvesicles in blood plasma (◯: control group, : experimental group, X axis: an amount of plasma (μl), Y axis: fluorescence intensity, R: correlation coefficient).", "[0031] FIGS. 3A and 3B are a diagram and a gel image, respectively, that illustrate the effects of detection targets on detection of and quantification of microvesicles.", "[0032] FIGS. 4A and 4B are graphs that illustrate the effect of external protein contamination on detection and quantification of microvesicles (X axis: amount of protein (ng/ml), Y axis: fluorescence intensity).", "[0033] FIGS. 5A , 5 B, 5 C, and 5 D are a graph, a graph, a gel image, and a gel image, respectively, that illustrate the results of screening antibodies with binding affinity for microvesicles.", "For FIGS. 5A and 5B , the Y axis represents fluorescence intensity.", "DETAILED DESCRIPTION [0034] Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to the like elements throughout.", "In this regard, the present embodiments may have different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the descriptions set forth herein.", "Accordingly, the embodiments are merely described below, by referring to the figures, to explain aspects of the present description.", "Example 1 Detection and Quantification of Microvesicles [0035] 0 μl, 0.2 μl, 0.5 μl, 1 μl, 2 μl, 5 μl, 10 μl, and 20 μl of plasma were incubated in wells of plates (Pierce) coated with anti-CD9 antibodies (R&D systems) and then were washed, and microvesicles with CD9 proteins were separated from the plasma.", "Afterwards, the microvesicles separated from the plasma were stained by adding calcein AM (Sigma) to each well and performing incubation.", "After washing the reactant, a fluorophotometer (Beckman, DTX800) was used to measure fluorescence intensity.", "As control group, 0 μl, 0.2 μl, 0.5 μl, 1 μl, 2 μl, 5 μl, 10 μl, and 20 μl of plasma were incubated in a plate without an antibody, and then were washed.", "Afterwards, the plate was stained by adding calcein AM (Sigma), the reactant was washed, and then fluorescence intensity was measured.", "A result of detecting microvesicles in plasma is shown in FIG. 2A (◯: control group, : experimental group, X axis: an amount of plasma (μl), Y axis: fluorescence intensity, R: correlation coefficient).", "[0036] As a comparative example, magnetic beads (Invitrogen) were coated with the anti-CD9 antibodies (R&D systems) as mentioned above, and incubated with about 0 ρl to about 300 μl of plasma.", "After incubation, the beads were washed, and microvesicles with CD9 proteins were separated from the plasma.", "Afterwards, LDX sample buffer and reductant (Invitrogen) were incubated with the separated microvesicles to denature and reduce proteins of the microvesicles.", "The lysed microvesicles were subject to electrophoresis to separate proteins, and western blotting was performed using anti-CD9 antibody (Novus Biologicals).", "The result is shown in FIG. 2B .", "[0037] As shown in FIG. 2B , the detection limit to detect microvesicles in plasma was 25 μl for the western blotting method, but as shown in FIG. 2A , was 2 μl for the calcein-AM method.", "Therefore, the detection sensitivity of the calcein-AM method is about 12.5 times higher than the western blotting method.", "Example 2 The Effects of Target Proteins on the Detection and Quantification of Microvesicles [0038] The comparative example of Example 1 detects microvesicles indirectly by detecting microvesicle surface proteins (target proteins) using Western blotting.", "Example 2 shows the effects of target proteins on the detection and quantification of microvesicles using the Western blotting method.", "[0039] After coating an anti-M2 antibody, which binds microvesicle surface protein (M2), on magnetic beads (Invitrogen), the beads were incubated with 300 μl of plasma to separate microvesicles from the blood plasma.", "Anti-M2 antibody, in addition to antibodies that target other microvesicle surface proteins (M1, M3), were then used to detect microvesicles via the western blotting method of Example 1.", "The result is shown in FIG. 3B .", "[0040] The result of the western blotting method is affected by microvesicle heterogeneity, e.g., not all microvesicles may contain the target protein, and secreted or fragmented proteins.", "In FIG. 3A , M1, M2, and M3 are different kinds of surface proteins of a vesicle, wherein M2 is a target for an anti-M2 antibody.", "The star symbol represents calcein activated inside a vesicle, and the lightning symbol represents a fluorescence signal released from the activated calcein.", "Although M1, M2, and M3 are microvesicle surface markers, the amount of microvesicle separated is different according to the chosen detection target used in methods such as Western blotting after immuno-precipitation.", "Detection biases arise when (1) captured microvesicles are micovesicles having only M1 and M2, but not M3, (2) secreted or fragmented target proteins are captured, or (3) secreted or fragmented target proteins are bound to other proteins to form a complex (M2+M1, M2+M3, or M1+M2+M3).", "The (4) calcein-AM detection method of the Example 1 minimized these detection biases, since microvesicles are detected directly, not indirectly via target proteins.", "Example 3 Identification of the Effect of Protein Contamination on the Detection and Quantification of Microvesicles [0041] Example 3 shows the effect of protein contamination on the detection and quantification of microvesicles.", "In particular, Example 3 shows that the calcein-AM detection method of Example 1 minimized detection biases due to contaminating proteins, such as secreted or fragmented proteins.", "Microvesicles were not added to the reaction mixture in Example 3.", "HER2, a microvesicle surface protein, was used as the contaminating protein.", "[0042] About 0.78 ng/ml to about 50 ng/ml of purified Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2 (HER2) protein (R&D systems) was added to plates coated with anti-HER2 antibodies (R&D systems) and incubated.", "Then, calcein-AM was added and reaction mixture was again incubated.", "The result is shown in FIG. 4A (X axis: an amount of protein (ng/ml), Y axis: fluorescence intensity).", "As a comparative example, about 0.78 ng/ml to about 50 ng/ml of purified HER2 protein was added to plates coated with anti-HER2 antibodies and incubated.", "Then, quantification was performed using a general ELISA (anti-HER2 reaction) method.", "The result is shown in FIG. 4B (X axis: an amount of protein (ng/ml), Y axis: fluorescence intensity).", "[0043] As shown in FIG. 4B , detection increased linearly with the quantity of the external proteins for the ELISA detection method even in the absence of microvesicles.", "On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 4A , the detection method using calcein-AM showed almost equal detection and quantification of microvesicles regardless of the quantity of HER2 protein contamination.", "Therefore, the calcein-AM detection method minimizes the effect of protein contamination on microvesicle detection and quantification.", "Example 4 Screening of Antibodies with Binding Affinity for Microvesicles [0044] To screen antibodies with high binding affinity for surface proteins of microvesicles, 5 anti-CD83 antibodies with different recognition sites for CD83 and EpCAM or 6 types of anti-EpCAM antibodies were coated to each well of a plate.", "20 μl of plasma was added to each well and incubated, such that microvesicles containing CD83 or EpCAM surface proteins were captured.", "Afterwards, the microvesicles were stained by incubating the captured microvesicles with calcein-AM.", "Any calcein-AM that had not penetrated into microvesicles was washed off, and the fluorescence intensity was measured.", "The result of screening anti-CD83 antibodies is shown in FIG. 5A , and the result of screening anti-EpCAM antibodies is shown in FIG. 5B (X axis: tested capture antibodies, Y axis: fluorescence intensity).", "[0045] As shown in FIG. 5A , B63 antibody had high binding affinity for CD83.", "Also, as shown in FIG. 5B , A31 and A40 had binding affinities for EpCAM.", "[0046] As a comparative example, antibodies were screened by an immunoprecipitation method using the anti-CD83 and anti-EpCAM antibodies to separate microvesicles from 300 μl of blood plasma.", "The microvesicles separated by immunoprecipitation were western blotted using microvesicle detecting antibodies.", "The result of screening anti-CD83 antibody was shown in FIG. 5C , and the result of screening anti-EpCAM antibody is shown in FIG. 5D .", "[0047] As a result, similarly to the method using calcein-AM, B63 antibody had high binding affinity for CD83, and A31 and A40 antibodies had binding affinity for EpCAM.", "[0048] As shown in FIGS. 5A to 5D , the results of screening for antibodies with high binding affinity for microvesicles were similar using either the calcein-AM detection method or western blotting method after immunoprecipitation.", "“Cont.”", "in FIGS. 5C and 5D refers to a control group.", "[0049] It should be understood that the exemplary embodiments described therein should be considered in a descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.", "Descriptions of features or aspects within each embodiment should typically be considered as available for other similar features or aspects in other embodiments." ]

[ "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1.", "Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a structure and method for storage of an ink cartridge used to supply ink to the recording head of a recording apparatus.", "Description of Related Art A related art inkjet recording apparatus (i.e., “printer”) generally has a recording head mounted on a carriage, and moves widthwise to the paper or other recording medium.", "The related art inkjet also includes a paper transportation mechanism for transporting the paper relative to the recording head in a direction perpendicular to the direction of recording head travel.", "This related art inkjet printer prints to the recording medium by discharging ink droplets from the recording head based on the print data.", "If a recording head capable of discharging various colors of ink, such as black, yellow, cyan, and magenta, is mounted on the carriage, the inkjet printer can print in full color by adjusting the discharge ratio of the different ink colors, and is thus not limited to printing text with black ink.", "An ink cartridge for supplying the ink to the recording head is therefore located inside the printer.", "In a related art inkjet printer, related art ink cartridges containing black, yellow, cyan, and magenta ink are installed to a carriage and move with the carriage.", "The related art ink cartridges (i.e., ink-filled ink cartridges) are normally stored in the package with the side mounted to the recording head, that is, the ink supply port side, down.", "The package is also not vertically inverted for store display purposes and shipping.", "Therefore, the related art ink cartridge is left with the ink supply port positioned on the bottom for long periods of time.", "Accordingly, the related art ink cartridge has various problems and disadvantages.", "For example, but not by way of limitation, when the ink cartridge inside the package is removed from the package and installed to the recording head of the printer, there is no change in the orientation of the ink cartridge between when it is stored and when it is installed to the recording head.", "Thus, the ink inside the cartridge is used without being mixed, that is, with the ink separated into a high density ink layer and a low density ink layer.", "This happens particularly when the ink is, for example, a pigment ink or other type of ink in which such a density gradient forms easily.", "The resulting problem is that only high density ink near the ink supply port is consumed when the ink is first used, and consistent print density and quality cannot be achieved.", "SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to solving at least the foregoing technical problems, and an object of the invention is to provide an ink cartridge storage structure and method whereby ink inside the ink cartridge is mixed as a result of changing the orientation of the ink cartridge by inverting the ink cartridge for installation to the recording apparatus, thereby providing consistent print density and quality when the ink is used.", "To achieve these objects an ink cartridge storage structure according to the present invention has an ink-filled ink cartridge having an ink supply port installable to a recording head of a recording apparatus and an ink storage part for holding only ink, and packaging for storing the ink cartridge.", "The ink cartridge storage structure stores the ink cartridge in the packaging in an orientation different from the orientation in which the ink cartridge is used.", "When the ink cartridge is then removed from the packaging and installed to the print head of the recording apparatus, the ink cartridge is inverted and the orientation thereof is thus changed.", "Thus inverting the ink cartridge mixes the ink in the ink cartridge when the cartridge is installed to the print head, and thus assures consistent print density and quality when the ink is used.", "The ink cartridge is preferably stored in the packaging so that the ink supply port is positioned at the top.", "Further preferably, the packaging is a vacuum pack or an individual box.", "When thus comprised the ink inside the ink cartridge is mixed when the ink cartridge is removed from the vacuum pack or individual box in which it is stored and installed to the print head of the recording apparatus.", "Yet further preferably, the ink storage part has an ink tank chamber and an ink end chamber.", "Yet further preferably, the packaging has a hanging part with a hole therein.", "This enables the ink cartridge to be displayed for display or retail purposes in a desirable orientation by passing the hole in the hanging part over a peg or hangar, for example.", "This assures that the ink cartridges are displayed with the ink supply port positioned at the top so that the ink inside the cartridge is mixed when the ink cartridge is removed from the packaging and installed to the head of the recording apparatus.", "Yet further preferably, the packaging is packaging enabling storage in an external box for shipping.", "This enables the ink cartridge packages to be stored in the external box and shipped with the ink supply ports positioned at the top.", "This assures that when an ink cartridge package is removed from the external box and inverted, the ink cartridge is also inverted and the ink inside the cartridge is mixed.", "Yet further preferably, a label part identifying top and bottom parts of the packaging is formed on the packaging.", "This makes it possible to assure that the ink cartridge is stored in the packaging in an attitude different from that in which the ink cartridge is used.", "The ink in the ink cartridge is preferably a pigment ink.", "Even if the pigment in the ink then settles to the bottom part of the cartridge, the ink will be mixed in the cartridge when the ink cartridge is installed to the head.", "An ink cartridge storage method according to the present invention has an ink-filled ink cartridge with an ink supply port installable to a recording head of a recording apparatus and an ink storage part for holding only ink, and packaging for storing the ink cartridge.", "The ink cartridge storage method stores the ink cartridge in the packaging so that the ink cartridge is held in an orientation different from the position in which the ink cartridge is used.", "This storage method assures that there is a change in the attitude of the ink cartridge between when it is stored in the packaging and when the cartridge is installed for use.", "The ink inside the cartridge is thus mixed when the ink cartridge is removed from the packaging and installed to the print head of the recording apparatus, thus assuring consistent print density and quality when the ink is used.", "The ink cartridge is preferably stored in the packaging so that the ink supply port is positioned at the top.", "Further preferably, the packaging is a vacuum pack or an individual box.", "As with the storage structure described above, this assures that the ink inside the ink cartridge is mixed when the ink cartridge is removed from the vacuum pack or individual box in which it is stored and installed to the print head of the recording apparatus.", "Yet further preferably, the ink inside the ink cartridge is a pigment ink.", "As with the storage structure described above, this assures that even if the ink pigment then settles to the bottom part of the cartridge, the ink will be mixed in the cartridge when the ink cartridge is installed to the head.", "Yet further preferably, the ink cartridge is placed in the packaging with reference to a label part previously formed on the packaging.", "This makes it possible to assure that the ink cartridge is stored in the packaging in an attitude different from that in which the ink cartridge is used.", "Additionally, within the ink cartridge, there is an ink path and an air path, configured to release air and ink, respectively, when the cartridge is installed to the recording head.", "The air path releases air into the ink path based on a negative pressure in the ink path.", "The air path comprises a zigzag airflow channel configured to increase airflow resistance, a wide, recessed channel, and an air permeable film stretched over the air path to form an air permeable chamber in the cartridge.", "Other objects and attainments together with a fuller understanding of the invention will become apparent and appreciated by referring to the following description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of illustrative, non-limiting embodiments of the present invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the drawings.", "FIG. 1 is an oblique exploded view of a complete ink cartridge according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention;", "FIGS. 2 ( a ) and ( b ) are oblique external views of an ink cartridge according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention;", "FIG. 3 is an oblique view from above showing the internal structure of an ink cartridge according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention;", "FIG. 4 is an oblique view from below showing the internal structure of an ink cartridge according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention;", "FIG. 5 is a front view showing the internal structure of an ink cartridge according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention;", "FIG. 6 is a back view showing the internal structure of an ink cartridge according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention;", "FIG. 7 is an enlarged section view showing the third ink storage chamber in an ink cartridge according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention;", "FIG. 8 is an enlarged section showing the valve storage chamber of an ink cartridge according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention;", "FIG. 9 is a front view of the connection of an ink cartridge to the cartridge holder according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention;", "FIG. 10 is an exploded oblique view describing the ink cartridge storage structure and method of an exemplary embodiment of the invention;", "FIG. 11 shows a method of filling packages with an ink cartridge and boxing the packages for shipping according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;", "and FIGS. 12 ( a ) and ( b ) show an alternative package for storing an ink cartridge according to an exemplary of the present invention for shipping and display.", "DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Reference will now be made in detail to the illustrative, non-limiting, exemplary embodiments of an ink cartridge storage structure and method, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.", "In the present invention, the terms are meant to have the definition provided in the specification, and are otherwise not limited by the specification.", "Further advantages of these and the stated objects reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being made to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout.", "The ink cartridge 1 is described first with reference to FIG. 1 to FIG. 10 .", "The ink cartridge 1 shown in FIGS. 2 ( a ) and ( b ) has a main case (i.e., bottom case) 2 with a substantially square flat shape open to one side, and a cover (i.e., top case) 3 for sealing the opening to the main case 2 .", "The inside of the ink cartridge 1 comprises an ink path and an air path, both of which are further described below.", "This ink cartridge 1 has ink sealed therein, and is stored in a vacuum pack 91 with the ink supply port 4 positioned at the top, as shown in FIG. 10 .", "The vacuum pack 91 is, for example (but not by way of limitation), a transparent bag.", "After the cartridge is inserted to the bag, air is removed from the bag so that the cartridge 1 is stored in the vacuum pack 91 .", "By thus sealing the ink cartridge 1 in the vacuum pack 91 , air is prevented from entering the cartridge until the ink cartridge 1 is removed from the ink cartridge 1 so that the ink cartridge 1 can be distributed with assured ink deaeration and cleanliness levels.", "As also illustrated in FIG. 10, after the ink cartridge 1 is enclosed in the vacuum pack 91 , it is then stored in the same orientation in an individual box 92 (i.e., with the ink supply port 4 up).", "This individual box 92 has a square body 92 a that opens at the top, and a box top 92 b for opening and closing the body 92 a , thus forming a substantially square-sided box made of paperboard.", "A label area 92 c on the outside of the individual box 92 is used to display information such as (but not limited to) a company name.", "When the ink cartridge 1 stored in this individual box 92 and vacuum pack 91 is removed and installed to a recording head 112 illustrated in FIG. 9, the ink cartridge 1 is inverted to position the ink supply port 4 on the bottom, which causes the ink inside the cartridge to mix.", "Provided at the bottom part of the main case 2 are the ink supply port 4 , which is connectable to the ink supply needle 72 of the recording head 112 (both shown in FIG. 9 ), and a first opening part (open hole) 85 and second opening part 86 (both shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5) beside the ink supply port 4 .", "The ink supply port 4 communicates with the ink end chamber (differential pressure value chamber) described below, and the first opening part 85 communicates with the first ink storage chamber (ink tank) 11 .", "As shown in FIG. 1, a substantially cylindrical seal member 200 made of rubber, for example, is fit inside the ink supply port 4 .", "A through-hole 200 a open in the axial direction is disposed in the middle of this seal member 200 .", "A spring seat (valve body) 201 that opens and closes through-hole 200 a in conjunction with insertion and removal of the ink supply needle 72 (as illustrated in FIG. 9) is disposed inside this ink supply port 4 , and a compression spring 202 urging the spring seat 201 to the seal member 200 is fit elastically to the spring seat 201 .", "Engaging members 5 and 6 enabling mounting to and removal from the cartridge holder are disposed at the top side part of the main case 2 .", "As shown in FIG. 2 ( a ), a circuit board (IC chip) 7 is disposed at the bottom part of the one engaging member 5 , and a valve chamber 8 is disposed at the bottom part of the other engaging member 6 as shown in FIGS. 2 ( a ) and ( b ).", "The circuit board 7 contains a writable memory device for storing ink-related information such as the color, type of ink (e.g., pigment or dye based ink), remaining ink volume, serial number, expiration date, and compatible models.", "As shown in FIG. 8, the valve chamber 8 has an internal space open to the cartridge insertion side (bottom).", "A valve operating rod 70 and printer-side identification piece 73 (see FIG. 9) matching the ink cartridge 1 move within this internal space.", "The operating arm 66 of an identification block 87 rotated in conjunction with advancement and retraction of the valve operating rod 70 is housed in the top part of this internal space.", "An identification protrusion 68 for determining compatibility with the printer is disposed in the bottom part of this internal space.", "This identification protrusion 68 is located at a position where it can determine from the valve operating rod 70 of the cartridge holder 71 (see FIG. 9) whether the ink cartridge is compatible with the cartridge holder before the printer-side ink supply needle 72 (see FIG. 9) penetrates the ink supply port 4 (i.e., before the air valve described below opens) A through-hole 60 is disposed in chamber wall 8 a of the valve chamber 8 (air chamber 501 ) as an air hole that opens and closes in conjunction with opening and closing of the air valve 601 .", "The operating arm 66 is disposed on one side of the opening to through-hole 60 and the air valve 601 is disposed at the opening on the other side.", "The operating arm 66 has an operating part 66 b for pressing pressurization film (stretch film) 61 , and is fixed to the main case 2 at an intervening pivot point 66 a such that the operating arm 66 proceeds diagonally above into the path of the valve operating rod 70 .", "The pressurization film 61 is fixed to the chamber wall 8 a so as to occlude the through-hole 60 , and is entirely formed from a rubber or other elastic sheet material.", "The internal space formed between this pressurization film 61 and the open edge of the through-hole 60 is open to a through-hole 67 communicating with the first ink storage chamber (ink tank) 11 (both shown in FIG. 5) The air valve 601 has a valve element 65 for opening and closing the through-hole 60 , and an elastic member (leaf spring) 62 constantly urging the valve element 65 toward the opening edge of the through-hole 60 .", "A through-hole 62 b is disposed in the top end part of the elastic member 62 , and a projection 64 inserted to this through-hole 62 b restricts (guides) movement.", "The bottom end part is fixed to the main case 2 by way of protrusion 63 .", "Additionally, FIG. 1 illustrates an identification label 88 applied to the top of the main case 2 corresponding to the identification block 87 , a film 89 sealing the ink supply port 4 (through-hole 200 a ), and a film 90 sealing the first opening part 85 and second opening part 86 .", "The ink path and the air path inside this main case 2 are described below with reference to FIG. 1 to FIG. 10 .", "Ink Path As shown in FIG. 1 an internal space is formed in the ink cartridge 1 by bonding top case 3 to the front of the main case 2 through intervening internal films (impermeable films) 56 , 502 , and by bonding protective label 83 to the back side of the main case 2 through intervening impermeable external film 57 .", "As shown in FIG. 9, a partition wall 10 disposed so that the end at the ink supply port is slightly lower and segments this internal space into top and bottom parts as shown in FIG. 3 to FIG. 5 .", "The bottom part of this internal space is the first ink storage chamber 11 that is open to the air when connected to the recording head 112 .", "As illustrated in FIGS. 3-5, two intermediate walls 300 , 301 are disposed at different elevations inside the first ink storage chamber 11 .", "The one intermediate wall 300 is disposed with a specific gap to one side wall of the first ink storage chamber 11 .", "The other intermediate wall 301 is on the ink supply port side of the intermediate wall 300 opposite the bottom wall of the first ink storage chamber 11 .", "This intermediate wall 301 divides the first ink storage chamber 11 into two parallel spaces 11 a , 11 b in the ink injection direction (vertically).", "A through-hole 301 a is disposed in this intermediate wall 301 coaxially to the first opening part 85 .", "The top part of this internal space is segmented by a frame part 14 , of which the bottom part is partition wall 10 .", "The space inside this frame part 14 forms a part of the ink end chamber connecting to the recording head 112 .", "The front side of this ink end chamber is divided into left and right parts by a vertical wall 15 having a communication opening 15 a formed therein.", "One side of the internal space thus segmented by vertical wall 15 is the second ink storage chamber 16 , and the other side is a third ink storage chamber 17 .", "A communication path 18 communicating with the first ink storage chamber 11 is connected to the second ink storage chamber 16 .", "This communication path 18 has top and bottom openings 18 a , 18 b .", "The communication path 18 is formed by a vertically extending channel 18 c (see FIG. 6) open at the back of the main case 2 and an impermeable film (external film 57 as illustrated in FIG. 1) covering and sealing this channel 18 c .", "A partition wall 19 with two vertically arranged openings 19 a , 19 b communicating with the inside of first ink storage chamber 11 is disposed at the upstream side of the communication path 18 .", "One opening 19 a is located at a position open to the bottom part of the first ink storage chamber 11 , and the other opening 19 b is located at a position open to the top part of the first ink storage chamber 11 .", "A differential pressure valve chamber 33 (see FIG. 6) for holding the differential pressure valve 52 (membrane valve) shown in FIG. 7, and a filter chamber 34 (see FIG. 5) for holding the filter 55 (felt filter) shown in FIG. 7 are formed in the third ink storage chamber 17 by a longitudinal partition wall 22 and an annular partition wall 24 .", "Through-holes 25 a for conducting ink passed by the filter 55 from the filter chamber 34 to the differential pressure valve chamber 33 are disposed in partition wall 25 .", "A partition wall 26 with a communication opening 26 a between the partition wall 26 and partition wall 10 is disposed at the bottom of partition wall 24 , and a partition wall 27 with a communication opening 27 a between it and the frame part 14 is disposed at the side of partition wall 24 .", "A vertically extending communication path 28 open to communication opening 27 a is formed between partition wall 27 and frame part 14 .", "A through-hole 29 communicating with the filter chamber 34 through opening 24 a and area 31 is formed contiguously to this communication path 28 .", "This through-hole 29 is formed by a partition wall (annular wall) 30 contiguous to partition wall 27 .", "Area 31 is formed by partition walls 22 , 24 , 30 , and 30 a (see FIG. 6 ).", "This area 31 is formed so that it is deep at the end toward the side of main case 2 (the part communicating with through-hole 29 ) and shallow at the other end (the part communicating with filter chamber 34 ) As shown in FIG. 7 an elastomer or other type of membrane valve 52 is housed in differential pressure valve chamber 33 as an elastically deformable differential pressure valve.", "This membrane valve 52 has a through-hole 52 c , is urged to the filter chamber side by a coil compression spring 50 , and the perimeter thereof is fixed through a thick annular lip 52 a to the main case 2 by ultrasonic welding.", "One end of the coil compression spring 50 is supported by the spring seat 52 b of membrane valve 52 , and the other end is supported by the spring seat 203 inside the differential pressure valve chamber 33 .", "A frame part 54 is also formed integrally to the thick lip part 52 a of the membrane valve 52 .", "As also shown in FIG. 7 filter 55 is placed in filter chamber 34 to pass the ink and capture any dust or foreign matter in the ink.", "The opening to this filter chamber 34 is sealed by internal film 56 , and the opening to the differential pressure valve chamber 33 is sealed by the external film 57 .", "When the pressure inside ink supply port 4 drops, membrane valve 52 separates from valve seat 25 b in resistance to the urging force of the coil compression spring 50 and through-hole 52 c opens.", "Ink passed by the filter 55 therefore passes through-hole 52 c , and flows to the ink supply port 4 through the path formed by channel 35 .", "When the pressure inside ink supply port 4 rises to a specific level, the membrane valve 52 is seated to the valve seat 25 b by the force of coil compression spring 50 , and ink flow is thereby stopped.", "Ink is supplied to the ink supply port 4 while maintaining a specific negative pressure by repeating this operation.", "Air Path As shown in FIG. 6, a zigzag channel 36 for increasing flow resistance, a wide recessed channel 37 (shaded in the figure) open to the air, and a flat, substantially square cavity 38 (space) leading to the first ink storage chamber 11 (see FIG. 5) are disposed on the back side of the main case 2 .", "A frame part 39 and ribs 40 are disposed inside the cavity 38 , and an air permeable film 84 (see FIG. 1) is stretched over the aforementioned elements to form an air permeable chamber.", "A through-hole 41 formed in the bottom (wall part) of the cavity 38 communicates with a long narrow region 43 formed by a partition wall 42 in second ink storage chamber 16 (see FIG. 5 ).", "Region 43 communicates through a through-hole 44 with communication channel 45 formed by partition wall 603 and with air chamber 501 (see FIG. 8) through a through-hole 46 open to the communication channel 45 .", "The open part of this air chamber 501 is sealed by the impermeable internal film 502 shown in FIG. 1 .", "When an ink cartridge 1 is loaded to the cartridge holder 71 as shown in FIG. 9, the valve operating rod 70 of cartridge holder 71 contacts the operating arm 66 shown in FIG. 8, thus moving the operating part 66 b (pressurization film 61 ) to the valve element side.", "The valve element 65 thus separates from the open edge of through-hole 60 , and the first ink storage chamber 11 shown in FIG. 5 opens to the cavity 38 shown in FIG. 6 (i.e., to the air) by way of through-holes 67 , 60 , and 46 , communication channel 45 , through-hole 44 , region 43 , and through-hole 41 .", "The valve element 201 in ink supply port 4 is also opened by inserting the ink supply needle 72 .", "When valve element 201 in ink supply port 4 opens, ink is consumed by the recording head 112 , and the pressure inside ink supply port 4 drops below a specified level, membrane valve 52 inside differential pressure valve chamber 33 (see FIG. 7) opens (membrane valve 52 closes when the pressure in ink supply port 4 rises to a specified level), and ink inside the differential pressure valve chamber 33 flows through ink supply port 4 to the recording head 112 .", "As the recording head 112 continues to consume ink, ink from the first ink storage chamber 11 flows through the communication path 18 shown in FIG. 4 to the second ink storage chamber 16 .", "As ink is consumed, air also flows in from through-hole 67 in communication with the air (see FIG. 5 ), and the ink level in the first ink storage chamber 11 drops.", "When ink is consumed to the point where the ink level reaches opening 19 a , ink flows together with air from the first ink storage chamber 11 (which is open to the air through through-hole 67 when ink is supplied) through the valve chamber 8 into the second ink storage chamber 16 .", "Because buoyancy causes the air bubble to rise, only the ink flows through communication opening 15 a in the bottom part of vertical wall 15 and into third ink storage chamber 17 , passes from third ink storage chamber 17 through communication opening 26 a in partition wall 26 and rises in communication path 28 , and then flows from communication path 28 through area 31 and opening 24 a into the top part of the filter chamber 34 .", "Ink inside the filter chamber 34 then passes filter 55 shown in FIG. 7 and flows from through-hole 25 a to differential pressure valve chamber 33 , and after passing through-hole 52 c of membrane valve 52 separated from valve seat 25 b , drops through channel 35 shown in FIG. 6, and flows into the ink supply port 4 .", "Ink is thus supplied from the ink cartridge 1 to the recording head 112 .", "If a different type of ink cartridge 1 is loaded to the cartridge holder 71 , identification protrusion 68 (shown in FIG. 8) contacts cartridge holder identification piece 73 (see FIG. 9) before the ink supply port 4 reaches the ink supply needle 72 , and thus prevents entry of the valve operating rod 70 .", "Problems caused by loading a different type of ink cartridge can thus be prevented.", "Furthermore, because the valve operating rod 70 does not reach the operating arm 66 at this time, valve element 65 is held closed and evaporation of the solvent from ink in the first ink storage chamber 11 is prevented.", "When the ink cartridge 1 is removed from the cartridge holder 71 loading position, operating arm 66 loses the support of valve operating rod 70 and thus returns elastically.", "Valve element 65 also returns in conjunction with operating arm 66 , thus closing the through-hole 60 and cutting off communication between cavity 38 and first ink storage chamber 11 .", "A storage method for ink cartridges 1 according to the present invention is described next with reference to FIG. 10 .", "It should be noted that after ink is injected to the ink cartridge 1 , the ink supply port 4 is sealed with film 89 and first opening part 85 and second opening part 86 are sealed (airtight) by film 90 .", "An ink cartridge 1 according to the present invention is stored as shown in FIG. 10 by first storing the ink cartridge 1 inside vacuum pack 91 so that the ink supply port 4 is to the top, and then storing this assembly, that is, the ink cartridge sealed inside the vacuum pack, inside an individual box 92 so that the ink supply port 4 is still positioned at the top.", "The ink cartridge 1 is inserted to the individual box 92 with reference to the label area 92 c .", "It is thus possible to reliably store the ink cartridge 1 inside the individual box 92 50 that the ink supply port 4 remains positioned at the top.", "It should be noted that while the label area 92 c typically contains such text or numbers as the name and address of the manufacturer or a product code, other text or symbols used especially to aid correct positioning of the ink cartridge 1 in the box could also be used.", "When an ink cartridge 1 (thus packaged is removed and loaded to the recording head 112 , the ink cartridge 1 is inverted and the orientation thereof thus changed.", "That is, fitting the ink cartridge 1 to the recording head 112 causes the ink supply port 4 to move from this top storage position to the bottom.", "This also positions the ink end chamber (including third ink storage chamber 17 and second ink storage chamber 16 ) at the top and the first ink storage chamber 11 at the bottom.", "Ink from the high density ink layer formed at the bottom of the ink inside the chambers thus flows to the top, ink from the low density ink layer at the top flows to the bottom, and the ink inside the chambers is thus mixed.", "When ink supply to the recording head 112 then starts, ink inside the ink tank chamber (differential pressure valve chamber 33 ) flows through through-hole 52 c when the differential pressure valve (membrane valve) 52 opens, passes channel 35 , and enters the ink supply port 4 .", "In addition, ink inside the first ink storage chamber 11 flows from opening 19 a through opening 18 a and into communication path 18 , and from opening 19 b through opening 18 a and into the communication path 18 .", "Ink flowing into the communication path 18 thus merges and mixes, rises inside the communication path 18 and flows toward the second ink storage chamber 16 .", "Because openings 19 a and 18 a are at the same height, ink is conducted from the first ink storage chamber 11 by communication path 18 to the second ink storage chamber 16 with no residual ink left in the first ink storage chamber 11 .", "Next, ink flowing from first ink storage chamber 11 through communication path 18 into the second ink storage chamber 16 merges and mixes with ink in the second ink storage chamber 16 .", "This mixed ink then passes communication opening 15 a of vertical wall 15 as it flows into and mixes in the third ink storage chamber 17 , and then passes communication opening 26 a of partition wall 26 .", "The ink passed through communication opening 26 a of partition wall 26 then passes opening 27 a in partition wall 27 , rises through communication path 28 , and flows from opening 24 a through filter chamber 34 into the differential pressure valve chamber 33 .", "Ink inside ink cartridge 1 stored in individual box 92 according to the present invention is thus coincidentally mixed when the ink cartridge 1 is removed and installed to the recording head 112 .", "Consistent print density and quality can thus be assured when the ink is used.", "This is particularly beneficial when the ink is a pigment ink, for example, susceptible to a density gradient.", "When shipping numerous individual boxes 92 each containing an ink cartridge 1 , the individual boxes 92 are placed in a shipping box 93 as shown in FIG. 11 so that the ink supply ports 4 are positioned up.", "This assures that when an individual box 92 is removed from the shipping box 93 and inverted, the ink cartridge 1 inside the individual box 92 is also inverted and the ink inside the ink cartridge 1 is mixed.", "It will also be noted that while the individual box 92 is described above as being square, the present invention shall not be so limited.", "The individual box 96 could, for example, have a tab 95 with a hole 95 a as shown in FIG. 12 .", "In this case the hole 95 a in the tab 95 could be passed over a hanger 98 on a wall 97 or other display stand, for example, for display purposes in a display or retail store.", "In this case the ink cartridge 1 can be reliably displayed with the ink supply port 4 positioned at the top.", "The ink cartridge of the present invention has been described with the inside of the cartridge segmented into top and bottom internal chambers, but the invention shall not be so limited and can be applied to an ink cartridge having only a single internal chamber.", "The above-described exemplary embodiment and its variants as would be understood by one skilled in the art have various advantages.", "For example, but not by way of limitation, the ink cartridge storage structure and method of the present invention thus enables ink inside the cartridge to be mixed coincidentally with inversion of the ink cartridge for installation to the cartridge holder so that consistent print density and quality can be assured when the ink is used.", "Although the present invention has been described in connection with the preferred embodiments thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be noted that various changes and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art.", "Such changes and modifications are to be understood as included within the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims, unless they depart therefrom." ]

[ "CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS Priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser.", "No. 60/823,999, filed Aug. 30, 2006, incorporated herein by reference, is hereby claimed.", "My U.S. patent application Ser.", "No. 11/746,575, filed May 9, 2007, is hereby incorporated herein by reference.", "My International Patent Application Serial No. PCT/US2006/032923, filed Aug. 23, 2006, is hereby incorporated herein by reference.", "My U.S. patent application Ser.", "No. 11/466,272, filed Aug. 22, 2006, is hereby incorporated herein by reference.", "My U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser.", "No. 60/806,415, filed Jun. 30, 2006, is hereby incorporated herein by reference.", "My U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser.", "No. 60/762,346, filed Jan. 26, 2006, is hereby incorporated herein by reference.", "My U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser.", "No. 60/710,562, filed Aug. 23, 2005, is hereby incorporated herein by reference.", "This is not a continuation or continuation-in-part of any patent application.", "STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT Not applicable REFERENCE TO A “MICROFICHE APPENDIX”", "Not applicable BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1.", "Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for cleaning residue from the surface of a pipeline pig device.", "More particularly, the present invention relates to a method and apparatus for cleaning residue from the surface of a pipeline pig device wherein a solvent contained in a vat or vessel dissolves the residue from the surface of the pipeline pig and wherein after multiple of the pipeline pigs have been cycled through the solvent, the solvent can be recycled the combination of solvent and residue being a saleable recycled fuel product.", "General Background of the Invention Pipeline pig devices are used for cleaning pipelines of residue such as scale, rust, debris, deposits (e.g. paraffin) or the like.", "After use, a pipeline pig can be coated with paraffin, for example.", "This product is desirably removed from the pipeline pig before it is used again.", "BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides an improved method of and apparatus for removing paraffin or like chemical residue from the surface of a pipeline pig.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 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: FIG. 1 is a fragmentary, elevation view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention;", "FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along lines 2 - 2 of FIG. 1 ;", "FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention;", "FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention;", "FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention;", "and FIG. 6 is a sectional elevation view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention.", "DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION FIGS. 5 and 6 show generally the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention designated generally by the numeral 10 in FIGS. 5 and 6 .", "Pipeline pig cleaning apparatus 10 employs a frame 11 (which can be, for example, about 3-18 feet long, about 3-6 feet wide, and about 3-5 feet high) that can be comprised of one or more longitudinal beams 12 which can each be about 3-6 inches high by about 3-6 inches wide by 1-18 feet long) and one or more transverse beams 13 (which can each be about 3-6 inches high by about 3-6 inches wide by 1-6 feet long).", "The frame 11 can be, for example, of welded metal construction, such as welded steel or welded aluminum.", "A plurality of posts 14 (which can each be about 3-6 inches wide by about 3-6 inches deep by 24-60 inches high) extend upwardly from the combination of beams 12 , 13 as shown in FIG. 3 .", "Each post 14 supports a clamp 15 (made of, for example, steel, aluminum, or brass).", "Each clamp 15 has a lower section 16 and an upper section 17 .", "These sections can be generally u-shaped or semi-circular so that when they are combined together they conform to and cradle a pipeline pig 30 as shown in FIG. 6 .", "Pipeline pig 30 can be about 12-96 inches long and about 6-48 inches in diameter.", "The upper and lower sections of the clamp 15 can be connected using a hinge 18 .", "A cable 19 (made of, for example, copper, brass, or steel) can be attached to upper section 17 .", "The cable 19 can be a chain, cable or the like.", "The cable 19 functions as a tether to hold swivel 20 , nut 21 and ring 22 .", "The nut 21 forms a connection with bolt 23 .", "Ring 22 can be used to secure swivel 20 to nut 21 .", "Each of the clamp sections 16 , 17 provides a flange.", "The lower section 16 provides flange 24 .", "The upper section 17 provides flange 25 .", "These flanges abut when the clamp 15 is closed.", "Each flange 24 , 25 provides an opening that enables bolt 23 to extend through the openings of the flanges 24 , 25 when a bolted connection is to be formed between bolt 23 and nut 21 .", "Instead of bolts, one could use a ring clip, a clamp, or a cotter pin as fasteners.", "Frame 11 is preferably a liftable frame.", "A plurality of padeyes 26 are provided, each preferably equipped with a shackle 27 as shown in FIG. 3 .", "Rigging such as slings 32 can be attached to frame 11 using padeyes 26 and shackles 27 .", "FIG. 5 illustrates frame 11 being lowered into vessel 49 .", "The vessel 49 is an inner tank 49 .", "An outer tank 50 is also provided as shown in FIG. 6 .", "This dual tank arrangement enables spillage to be controlled so that no pollutants escape apparatus 10 .", "In FIG. 5 , rigging 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 is provided for lifting the combination of frame 11 and pipeline pig 30 .", "Manifold 28 (made of, for example, galvanized pipe, polymeric pipe, such as polypropylene pipe, or copper pipe and about 0.5-6 inches wide and about 3-21 feet long) is attached to and supported by frame 11 as shown in FIG. 5 .", "Arrow 29 in FIG. 5 illustrates a lowering of frame 11 , manifold 28 , and pig 30 , into the inner tank 49 .", "The rigging that supports the frame 11 during the lowering of FIG. 5 can include a plurality of slings 32 , lifting eye 33 , and crane hook 34 .", "Crane hook 34 is supported with a crane line 35 that can be attached to any known commercially available lifting device, crane or the like.", "The pipeline pig 30 has a smaller diameter cylindrical section 31 that is gripped by a pair of the clamps 15 of frame 11 as shown in FIG. 5 .", "Manifold 28 is shown more clearly in FIGS. 1 and 2 wherein it has been removed from frame 11 for purposes of clarity.", "Manifold 28 provides an inlet fitting 36 (preferably made of brass, stainless steel, or carbon steel) that communicates with an influent flow line such as a hose 37 .", "Influent flow line 37 connects to inlet fitting 36 through connection 38 .", "Connection 38 can be a union or any other known connection such as a quick release connection or coupling.", "Inlet fitting 36 communicates with elbow fitting 39 .", "Elbow fitting 39 is joined to non-perforated pipe section 40 .", "The non-perforated pipe section 40 is a generally vertically extended section that attaches to tee fitting 43 .", "Tee fitting 43 connects to a pair of non-perforated pipe sections 41 , 42 as shown in FIG. 2 .", "A pair of perforated pipe sections 46 , 47 are provided.", "These pipe sections 46 , 47 are generally parallel and extend longitudinally generally parallel to longitudinal beam 12 of frame 11 as shown in FIG. 5 .", "The perforated pipe section 46 is joined to non-perforated pipe section 41 using elbow fitting 44 .", "Similarly, perforated pipe section 47 is joined to non-perforated pipe section 42 using elbow fitting 45 .", "Each of the perforated pipe sections 46 , 47 is provided with a plurality of perforations 48 that extend along the length of each of the pipe sections 46 , 47 as shown in FIG. 2 .", "Preferably, the perforations are about 1-4″ apart and about 1/32-1″ in diameter.", "Preferably, there are at least 50-150 perforations.", "Each of the perforated pipe sections 46 , 47 provides a closed end 56 , 57 respectively.", "Such a closed end can be in the form of a blind cap fitting (preferably made of copper, brass, or stainless steel).", "Each of the inner and outer tanks 49 , 50 is provided with valving and outlet fittings (preferably made of steel, aluminum, or polymeric material, such as polypropylene).", "Tank 49 provides an outlet 51 and valve 52 .", "The same or a similar type of outlet 51 and valve 52 outflow arrangement can be provided for tank 50 as shown in FIG. 6 .", "Either or both of the outlet 51 and valve 52 arrangements on tanks 49 , 50 can be provided with a flow line or hose 53 .", "In FIG. 6 , airflow (i.e. bubbles) is indicated generally by the numerals 54 .", "During use, the pipeline pig 30 is lowered into inner tank 49 which is filled to level 58 or to a level almost equal to level 58 with a solvent solution 59 for removing residual matter from pig 30 .", "This residual matter can be for example, paraffin and/or asphaltene and/or basic solids.", "The solvent 59 is preferably a solvent which can dissolve the paraffins or asphaltenes, or other such residual matter (such as Sludge Breaker I commercially available from Chemex, Inc. of Lafayette, La.", "—see also the solvents mentioned in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2006/0011341).", "PLEASE CONFIRM SOLVENT INFO.", "Sludge Breaker I is a terpene blend with an ethoxylated alcohol.", "When the pipeline pig 30 is placed in vessel 49 and subjected to the cleaning action of the solvent 59 contained therein air emitted via perforated pipe sections 46 , 47 and the perforations 48 provides a mechanical action that enhances removal of any residual material contained on pipeline pig 30 .", "As part of the method of the present invention, a number (for example, 1-100) of pipeline pigs 30 are sequentially placed inside vessel 49 and under level 58 .", "Solvent 59 contained in vessel 49 in combination with the scrubbing action of air bubbles 54 emitted from perforations 48 removes the residual matter (paraffin, for example) therefrom.", "After a number of pigs 30 have been placed into vessel 49 and subjected to the cleaning action of solvent 59 and in combination with air bubbles 54 , the residual matter contained on the pig 30 accumulates within the solvent 59 .", "After, for example, between about 80 and 100 pigs 30 have been cleaned in this manner, the solvent 59 becomes a combination of paraffins and/or asphaltenes and terpene which can be mixed with used oil and sold as bunker fuel.", "Thus the present invention provides an improved business method of recycling paraffins and/or asphaltenes.", "Cleaning of the pigs could be done at ambient temperature, such as at room temperature, though the solvent could be heated.", "The solvent evaporates at room temperature, so one can cover the vats with a lid (not shown in the drawings) to keep the volatiles in the vat.", "The lid could be made of aluminum, fiberglass, or steel, for example, and attached to vat 49 with clamps, for example.", "The air can be recaptured and recycled within the container with the lid on it to reduce fumes or prevent them from escaping.", "Also one could recirculate the solvent itself through the tubes via the ports 48 with a pump as an alternative way but using air to circulate through the liquid is more cost effective.", "The following is a list of parts and materials suitable for use in the present invention.", "PARTS LIST Part Number Description and Exemplary Materials 10 pipeline pig cleaning apparatus 11 frame (steel, aluminum, or brass) 12 longitudinal beam 13 transverse beam 14 post 15 clamp (stainless steel or aluminum) 16 lower section 17 upper section 18 hinge 19 cable (stainless steel or galvanized steel) 20 swivel 21 nut 22 ring 23 bolt 24 flange 25 flange 26 padeye (stainless steel or galvanized steel) 27 shackle 28 manifold (copper or brass) 29 arrow 30 pipeline pig 31 smaller diameter cylindrical section 32 rigging or sling (chain, rope, or cable) 33 lifting eye 34 crane hook 35 crane line 36 inlet fitting 37 hose/influent flow line 38 connection (rubber, steel, or brass) 39 elbow fitting 40 non-perforated pipe section (polypropylene, metal, brass) 41 non-perforated pipe section (polypropylene, metal, brass) 42 non-perforated pipe section (polypropylene, metal, brass) 43 tee fitting 44 elbow fitting 45 elbow fitting 46 perforated pipe section (polypropylene, metal, brass) 47 perforated pipe section (polypropylene, metal, brass) 48 perforation 49 vessel, inner tank (painted steel, stainless steel, or aluminum) 50 outer tank (painted steel, stainless steel, or aluminum) 51 outlet 52 valve 53 flow line 54 air flow or bubbles 56 closed end 57 closed end 58 levee 59 solvent solution All measurements disclosed herein are at standard temperature and pressure, at sea level on Earth, unless indicated otherwise.", "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." ]

[ "RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a divisional of, and hereby claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §120 to, pending U.S. patent application Ser.", "No. 13/301,752, entitled “Momentarily Enabled Electronic Device,” by John M. Depew, which was filed on 21 Nov. 2011.", "This application further claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser.", "No. 12/141,715, entitled “Momentarily Enabled Electronic Device,” by John M. Depew, which was filed on 18 Jun. 2008, and which issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,063,625 on 22 Nov. 2011, to which parent application Ser.", "No. 13/301,752 claims priority.", "Both of these applications are incorporated by reference.", "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1.", "Technical Field [0003] This invention relates generally to power control for an electronic device, and more particularly to a control mechanism providing momentary power and constant power states.", "[0004] 2.", "Background Discussion [0005] Modern electronic devices may be activated in any number of ways.", "Some devices may use switches having an on and off position.", "Others may use buttons that may be pressed down to activate an operational state and depressed to exit the operational state (or vice versa).", "Still others may use sliders, microswitches and so forth.", "Typically, such devices require the activating element to travel between an “on”", "and “off”", "position and maintain the position selected.", "Thus, during the entire time the device is active, the activating element maintains its “on”", "position.", "[0006] Should the activating element become stuck or the device inadvertently be left on, the device may remain on until its power source is drained.", "If the device is battery-powered, this may lead to the replacement of removable batteries, shortening of the life of rechargeable lithium-ion batteries as a charge cycle is consumed, and/or the necessity of recharging the device before it may be used again.", "Further, certain electronic devices may pose a safety hazard if they are constantly operated for an excessive time.", "For example, the device may become hot to the touch or may cause deep discharge of a battery, thereby leading to a corrosive acid leak.", "[0007] Further, many electronic devices employ an activation mechanism solely to cycle the device between its powered and depowered states.", "Additional controls may be used to manage device functionality.", "The use of multiple controls not only may affect the aesthetic of a given electronic device but also increase its operational complexity and thereby the chance for user error.", "BRIEF SUMMARY [0008] Generally, one embodiment of the present invention may provide intermittent or interruptible power to an electronic device.", "The embodiment may provide power upon user initiation and interrupt that power in response to a user command, fault state, period of inactivity and so forth.", "As one example, interruptible power may be initially provided to activate or “power up”", "an electronic device and constant power provided after the initial activation.", "[0009] The initial powering up of the device may be facilitated by closing two contacts, for example by pressing a button.", "The embodiment may continue to provide power after the button is released through a monitoring and/or feedback mechanism.", "As one example, a microcontroller may monitor a status of the button (e.g., open or closed) and a status of a power converter's power output.", "Presuming the button is open and the power output is active, the microcontroller may energize a transistor to close a feedback path that, in turn, maintains the power converter in an active state.", "[0010] Certain embodiments may provide additional functionality.", "For example, the switch, button, or other element used to provide interruptible power may initiate different functions when pushed, held closed or otherwise activated for a set period of time.", "Continuing the example, a button may provide interruptible power to start up or activate an electronic device when pressed and released;", "the same button may initiate a shutdown or deactivation sequence if pressed and held for at least a minimum time.", "As yet another example, if pressed multiple times in succession within a sufficiently short time, the button may control some function of the electronic device such as brightness, volume, transmission strength and so on.", "[0011] One embodiment takes the form of an apparatus for transmitting power, including: a power input;", "an activating element connected to the power input;", "a power converter comprising a first input, second input and output, the power converter connected to the power input at the first input;", "a voltage source connected to the second input by a central node;", "and a gate device connected between the output and the central node.", "[0012] Another embodiment takes the form of a method for supplying power, including the operations of: closing a contact;", "in response to closing the contact, activating a power converter;", "in response to activating the power converter, supplying an output voltage;", "raising a voltage of a node above a shutdown voltage;", "and maintaining the output voltage so long as the node voltage exceeds the shutdown voltage.", "[0013] Still another embodiment takes the form of a method for supplying power to a device, including the operations of: detecting a button has been pressed;", "detecting an output voltage from a power converter;", "detecting the button has been released;", "and, in response to detecting the button has been released and detecting the output voltage, supplying a base voltage to a base of a transistor, thereby creating a current path through the transistor and maintaining the output voltage of the power converter.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE FIGURES [0014] FIG. 1 depicts a sample operating environment for an embodiment of the present invention.", "[0015] FIG. 2 depicts a first embodiment of the present invention.", "[0016] FIG. 3 is a state diagram depicting the voltages of various nodes and/or elements of the embodiment of FIG. 2 at varying times.", "DETAILED DESCRIPTION I. Introduction [0017] Generally, one embodiment of the present invention takes the form of a device, such as a circuit, providing interruptible power to an electronic device.", "Further, in addition to providing interruptible power, the device may also provide uninterrupted power under certain circumstances.", "As one example, interruptible power may be initially provided to activate or “power up”", "an electronic device and constant power provided after the initial activation.", "[0018] As used herein, “interruptible power”", "generally refers to power that is momentarily provided rather than constantly provided.", "Thus, after some period, the power supply contact or circuit may be broken or opened to suspend power.", "In other words, “interruptible power”", "is essentially transient power.", "Interruptible power may be supplied by closing contacts via a switch or button, for example.", "[0019] Certain embodiments may provide additional functionality.", "For example, the switch, button, or other element used to provide interruptible power may initiate different functions when pushed, held closed or otherwise activated for a set period of time.", "Continuing the example, a button may provide interruptible power to start up or activate an electronic device when pressed and released;", "the same button may initiate a shutdown or deactivation sequence if pressed and held for at least a minimum time.", "II.", "Sample Operating Environment [0020] FIG. 1 depicts one sample operating environment for an exemplary embodiment.", "The embodiment 100 may be contained in, for example, a wireless keyboard 105 in communication with a computer 110 .", "The keyboard 105 may include a power source, such as a battery 115 .", "The battery may be connected to the embodiment.", "[0021] The keyboard 105 may further include operational circuitry 120 .", "As one example, operational circuitry 120 may include a processor for receiving and interpreting keystrokes or other input, a wireless transmitter to convey data to the computer 110 , a wireless receiver to receive data from the computer and so forth.", "The operational circuitry may be powered by the battery 115 .", "However, maintaining the operational circuitry in a constantly-powered mode may rapidly drain the battery charge, thus leading relatively quickly to inoperability of the keyboard 105 .", "Accordingly, the embodiment 100 may provide power to the operational circuitry 120 only under certain circumstances, such as when a power button is pressed or a power switch closed.", "Pressing the button or flipping the switch a second time may initiate a shutdown sequence that prevents power from flowing from the battery to the operational circuitry.", "[0022] It should be noted that the embodiment 100 , or alternative embodiments, may be used in any number of electronic devices and not just the keyboard 105 depicted in FIG. 1 .", "For example, portable computing devices, portable digital storage devices, media players, mobile telephones, and so on all may incorporate an embodiment.", "Further, the operational circuitry 120 need not provide any particular functionality (such as the wireless communication capabilities discussed with respect to FIG. 1 ) but merely some functionality that draws power from the battery 115 at least under certain circumstances.", "III.", "Sample Embodiment [0023] FIG. 2 depicts one sample embodiment 200 .", "The embodiment 200 may be electrically and/or operationally connected to a battery 205 , much as shown in the exemplary operating environment of FIG. 1 .", "The embodiment may also include a transient connector 210 , such as a switch, button or other element that may selectively close or open an electrical path across the connector.", "In the embodiment 200 shown in FIG. 2 , the transient connector 210 is a push button.", "Accordingly, the remainder of this document will generally discuss the operation of the button 210 as it pertains to the overall operation of the embodiment.", "However, it should be noted that the term “button”", "is intended to encompass any form of transient or temporary connector or activating element, specifically including the aforementioned switch.", "[0024] A first contact of the button 210 is electrically connected to the battery 205 and a second contact of the button 210 is electrically connected to a first common node 215 .", "Likewise, an anode of a diode 220 is electrically and/or operationally connected to the first common node 215 .", "The cathode of the diode 220 , in turn, is electrically connected to a central node 225 .", "(For simplicity's sake, the term “connected”", "as used herein shall be construed to encompass both “operationally connected”", "and “electrically connected,” unless such construction would render the sentence, embodiment or disclosure meaningless, unpatentable or inoperable.) [0025] The central node 215 is additionally connected to a capacitor 230 , resistor 235 and emitter of a NPN-doped bipolar junction transistor (BJT) 240 .", "Although FIG. 2 depicts a BJT 240 , it should be readily understood that any other form of transistor may be used in lieu of the BJT.", "Likewise, any such transistor may be either a NPN or PNP doped transistor with appropriate changes to the orientation and connections of the embodiment 200 .", "The BJT 240 includes three terminals, namely a base, collector and emitter.", "The central node 215 is also connected to a shutdown input of a DC to DC converter 245 .", "The function of the converter 245 is discussed in more detail below.", "[0026] The DC to DC converter 245 likewise has a power input and a power output.", "The converter's power input is connected to the battery 205 via a power input (and thus to the first contact of the button 210 , as shown in FIG. 2 ).", "The converter's output is connected in turn to the collector of the BJT 240 and to a system power input 250 .", "The function of the system power input 250 is discussed in more detail later.", "[0027] The first common node 215 is also connected to a button status input 255 , which is likewise discussed below.", "A power hold control output 260 , also discussed below, is connected to the base of the BJT 240 .", "[0028] In the present embodiment, a microcontroller 265 may accept and/or transmit signals from and to the embodiment 200 , respectively.", "The microcontroller 265 may monitor and/or coordinate operation of both the operational circuitry 275 and the embodiment.", "For example, if the embodiment 200 is installed in a wireless device, the microcontroller 265 may act as an interface between a wireless transmitter (and associated circuitry) and the embodiment.", "The microcontroller may further control the operational circuitry.", "Continuing the prior example, the microcontroller may determine when and how the wireless transmitter transmits data.", "In the system shown in FIG. 2 , the microcontroller 265 includes the aforementioned button status input 255 , system power input 250 and power hold control output 260 .", "[0029] The aforementioned capacitor 230 and resistor 235 are connected between the central node 225 and a ground 270 .", "IV.", "Microcontroller Inputs and Output [0030] Generally, the button status input 255 permits the microcontroller 265 to monitor whether the button 210 is pressed or free.", "The button, when pressed, bridges the first contact and the second contact and creates an electrical path between the battery 205 and first common node.", "Accordingly, if the button is pressed the voltage at the first common node 215 is equal to the battery voltage.", "When the button is free and therefore not bridging the contacts, the voltage of the first common node is roughly or exactly zero.", "Since the button status input 255 is connected to the first common node 215 , its voltage equals that of the first common node.", "[0031] Thus, when the button 210 is pressed, the voltage of the first common node 215 and associated button status input 255 rise above a default or threshold value (e.g., goes “high”).", "This threshold value may be, for example, zero.", "Accordingly, in the status input 255 voltage is high, the microcontroller may presume the button is being pressed.", "[0032] The system power input 250 monitors the output of the DC to DC controller 245 .", "If the output voltage is high (e.g., the converter is operating), then the system power input is high.", "This, in turn, indicates to the microcontroller that the embodiment 200 is operating to supply power to the microcontroller 265 and operational circuitry.", "Indeed, the system power input 250 generally provides operating power for the microcontroller 265 and operational circuitry and thus the monitoring function may be considered secondary.", "In alternative embodiments, the system power input 250 may be used for monitoring only and a separate electrical connection from the output of the controller 245 may provide power to the microcontroller and/or operational circuitry.", "[0033] The power hold control output 260 generally is an output of the microcontroller 265 .", "Voltage may be applied to the base of the BJT 240 , thereby permitting current flow from the collector to the emitter of the BJT.", "In other words, a sufficient voltage outputted at the power hold control output 260 permits current flow between the output of the converter 245 and the central node 225 , and ultimately through the capacitor 230 and to the ground 270 .", "Thus, when the BJT is energized by the power hold control output signal, the voltage of the central node 225 is approximately the voltage of the converter output (less any voltage drop across the BJT itself) and the capacitor may obtain or maintain a charge.", "V. The DC to DC Converter [0034] The DC to DC controller 245 generally converts the input voltage of the battery, as received at the converter's input terminal, to a constant DC output voltage expressed at the converter's output terminal.", "In the present embodiment 200 , the output voltage is regulated to 3.3 volts.", "It should be appreciated that the actual regulated value of the converter's output voltage may vary depending on the electronic device in which the embodiment 200 is housed, the power consumption of the operational circuitry and/or microprocessor and so on.", "[0035] Additionally, it should be noted that the DC to DC controller 245 only operates if the voltage received at its shutdown input exceeds a minimum voltage.", "In the present embodiment, the minimum voltage is 0.4 volts.", "Since the shutdown input is tied directly to the central node 225 , the controller 245 operates only when the central node's voltage exceeds the minimum value.", "It should be noted that alternative embodiments or implementations may employ a different minimum voltage.", "[0036] When the shutdown input voltage is below the minimum voltage, the battery is still electrically connected to the input terminal of the controller 245 .", "However, the controller 245 itself floats the input terminal such that no current path exists between the input terminal and the output terminal.", "Thus, the controller 245 does not draw any battery power if the shutdown input voltage is below the minimum threshold.", "[0037] When the shutdown input voltage exceeds the minimum threshold, the controller 245 activates as accepts an input at its input terminal.", "Accordingly, the battery power is accessed and accepted by the controller 245 in order to provide the aforementioned regulated output voltage (and therefore a regulated DC output current) at its output terminal.", "[0038] Given the foregoing, it can be recognized that the voltage at the central node 225 controls whether or not the controller 245 operates, and thus whether the battery power is drained since the battery power generally is not employed by the embodiment 200 , microcontroller 265 or operational circuitry unless the controller 245 is in an operating mode.", "The next section of this discussion deals generally with operation of the embodiment 200 as well as the manner in which the embodiment sets the voltage at the central node 225 .", "[0039] The exact make and model of the DC to DC controller 245 may vary from embodiment to embodiment, as is the case with all elements of the embodiment.", "Any commercially available converter with the operational characteristics and appropriate inputs/outputs described herein may be employed.", "It should also be noted that power generally does not “leak”", "through the system when the central node voltage is below the shutdown input voltage (e.g., the controller 245 is off).", "Further, the controller 245 generally has a relatively low quiescent power consumption when the embodiment 200 is inactive, although the exact definition of “low quiescent power consumption”", "may vary in different embodiments, with respect to the supply voltage of the battery, and so on.", "VI.", "Operation of the Sample Embodiment [0040] Operation of the embodiment 200 will now be discussed with respect to FIGS. 2 and 3 .", "For purposes of this discussion, presume the battery holds a charge above a threshold value.", "In this example, the threshold value is 0.4 volts, but the threshold may vary in alternative embodiments or implementations.", "[0041] FIG. 4 generally depicts the voltage levels of the first common node 215 , central node 225 and DC to DC converter output/system power input 250 at various times during operation of the embodiment 200 .", "Events occurring at each of the times TO, T 1 , T 2 , T 3 , T 4 , T 5 and T 6 are described below, as are the various voltages and operation of the embodiment at each time.", "[0042] Initially, at time TO the button is not pressed;", "this is analogous to an initial off state for the embodiment 200 .", "The battery 205 may have a voltage V, where V typically exceeds the shutdown input voltage.", "(It should be noted that the battery voltage should generally equal or exceed the shutdown input voltage in order for the circuit to operate.) The voltages of the first common node 215 , central node 225 and system power input are all zero.", "In some embodiments, the voltage of these nodes and the input may be greater than zero, such as a baseline voltage less than V. Accordingly, references herein to a zero voltage should be understood to encompass a baseline voltage as well.", "[0043] At time T 1 a user may press the button 210 to activate the embodiment 200 .", "This closes the gap between the first contact and second contact, thereby providing battery power and voltage to the first common node 215 .", "This also provides power and voltage to the button status input 255 , thereby signaling to the microcontroller 265 that the button 210 has been pressed.", "As shown in FIG. 3 , at time T 1 the voltage of the first common node rises approximately to the battery voltage V, because the first common node is electrically connected to the battery 205 .", "In practice, the first common node's voltage may be somewhat less than V because the button 210 may consume some relatively small amount of voltage.", "For purposes of this discussion, however, such voltage loss will be ignored.", "[0044] Because the voltage of the first common node 215 is non-zero at time T 1 , the button status input to the microcontroller 265 is likewise non-zero.", "Thus, the microcontroller is informed that the button has been pressed and the corresponding contact is closed.", "[0045] Further, given the orientation of the diode 220 , current may flow from the first common node 215 to the central node 225 .", "The voltage at the central node 225 is likewise equal to the voltage of the first common node and battery 205 , less any voltage drop across the diode 220 .", "Given the operating voltage of the embodiment 200 and the battery voltage, such voltage drop is relatively negligible.", "Thus, given a battery 205 with voltage V, the voltage of the central node 225 when the button 210 is pressed is approximately V. [0046] Raising the voltage of the central node 225 to voltage V has two effects.", "First, presuming V exceeds 0.4 volts, the controller 245 activates.", "Second, the voltage differential between the central node and ground 270 begins to charge the capacitor 230 .", "The resistance value of the resistor 235 generally manipulates the time necessary to charge the capacitor 230 or for the capacitor's charge to decay, as known to those skilled in the art.", "Thus, the actual resistance value of the resistor may change as necessary for each embodiment.", "Likewise, the capacitance of the capacitor 230 may vary.", "Further, certain embodiments may omit the resistor 235 entirely.", "[0047] Still at time T 1 , the controller 245 activates and thus outputs a regulated DC voltage at its output terminal.", "In the present embodiment, the output voltage of the controller 245 is approximately 3.3 volts.", "This voltage may vary in alternative embodiments or implementations.", "With the controller 245 outputting a voltage, the system power input receives the outputted non-zero voltage.", "Thus, the microcontroller may be informed that the controller 245 is operational.", "Further, the system power input may now convey power not only to the microcontroller 265 , but also to the operational circuitry 275 .", "[0048] Because the button 215 is still pressed at time T 1 , the microcontroller 265 need not supply a voltage at the power hold control output 260 .", "Accordingly, at time TO the power hold control output typically has no voltage at the base of the transistor 240 .", "Some embodiments, however, may activate the power hold control output (e.g., create a voltage thereon) at time T 1 .", "[0049] Still with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3 , at time T 2 a user may release the button 210 .", "Accordingly, at time T 1 the button contacts open and the voltage of the first common node 215 drops to zero.", "Thus, the button status output voltage likewise drops to zero, informing the microcontroller 265 that the button has been released.", "[0050] Although the first common node's voltage goes to zero at time T 2 , the central node's voltage does not.", "The diode 220 prevents current flow from the central node 225 to the first common node 215 , effectively treating the diode 220 as an open leg of a circuit.", "The capacitor 230 maintains the voltage at the central node 225 above the shutdown input voltage, at least temporarily.", "Given sufficient time without any current flow through the central node, the capacitor would discharge and the central node's voltage would drop below the shutdown voltage.", "[0051] Because the capacitor maintains the charge of the central node 225 above the shutdown input voltage at time T 2 , the controller 245 continues to operate.", "Accordingly, the controller 245 draws power from the battery 205 and outputs a DC signal with a regulated voltage at its output terminal.", "Thus, the system power output remains high (in this sample embodiment, at 3.3 volts) at time T 2 .", "Accordingly, the microcontroller 265 and operational circuitry 275 both continue to be powered by the embodiment 200 .", "[0052] As can be seen, at time T 2 the button status input 255 is a zero voltage and the system power input 250 is a high voltage.", "The microcontroller 265 may be programmed to recognize this input combination and, in turn, may energize the power hold control output 260 .", "By supplying voltage at the power hold control output 260 to the base of the transistor 240 , the transistor may allow current flow from the converter 245 output to the central node 225 as discussed above.", "This, in turn, may maintain the voltage of the central node 225 at that of the converter output, and therefore above the shutdown input voltage and ensure the converter 245 does not deactivate.", "Further, when the transistor 240 is active in this manner the voltage across the capacitor 230 may remain relatively constant or the capacitor may charge if below its maximum voltage.", "[0053] It should be noted that, after time T 2 , the microcontroller 265 need not keep the power hold control output 260 constantly energized (e.g., at a positive non-zero voltage).", "Rather, the microcontroller 265 may enter a “watchdog”", "mode in which it only periodically activates the transistor 240 via the power hold control output 260 .", "The microcontroller 265 may thus reduce overall power consumption and extend the life of the battery 205 .", "The time intervals between outputting voltage at the power hold control output 260 may vary from embodiment to embodiment, but generally are sufficiently short that the voltage of the central node 225 does not fall beneath the shutdown input voltage.", "Thus, the length of such intervals may depend, in part, on the capacitance of the capacitor 230 .", "Of course, alternative embodiments may keep the power hold control output 260 constant and dispense with the aforementioned watchdog mode.", "[0054] It should also be noted that the embodiment 200 may provide additional functionality if the button 210 is pressed while the converter 245 is active.", "Further, because the microcontroller 265 may monitor via the button status input 255 whether or not the button 210 is pressed, certain sequences of button presses may be used to signal to the microcontroller that corresponding functionality should be activated.", "As one example, repeatedly pressing the button 210 when the converter 245 is active may change an operating parameter of the electronic device incorporating the embodiment 200 .", "Providing a more specific example, if the electronic device is a wireless keyboard, it may include backlighting functionality to illuminate the keys.", "The backlighting may be triggered and the illumination adjusted in stages by repeatedly pressing the button.", "[0055] It should be appreciated that any function of the electronic device associated with the embodiment 200 may be controlled by sequences of button presses.", "Further, functionality may be controlled not only by sequences of presses, but also by one or more button presses of varying duration, optionally in combination with such sequences.", "Returning to the above example, pressing the button 210 for at least a minimum time without releasing it may instruct the microcontroller to begin a sequence of illuminating and/or dimming the backlighting.", "When the user releases the button, the illumination level may remain at the level present when the button was released.", "Accordingly, the single input 210 used in the sample embodiment 200 may control more than just a power state of the embodiment.", "The exact functionality controlled may vary not only with the embodiment but also with the electronic device associated with the embodiment.", "[0056] In addition to the above functionality, the embodiment 200 may be deactivated by pressing and holding the button 210 for at least a preset time.", "This may be combined with the “press-and-hold”", "functionality immediately previously described in the following manner.", "If the button is pressed for more than X seconds but less than Y seconds and then released, the microcontroller 265 may interpret this action as a power-down signal.", "If, however, the button is pressed for more than Y seconds, the microcontroller 265 may interpret the button press as an instruction to access the additional functionality previously described.", "[0057] Returning to FIG. 3 , an example of turning off the embodiment 200 by pressing and holding the button 210 may be seen.", "At time T 3 , the user may press the button 210 to initiate a power-down sequence.", "At time T 3 , the converter 245 output remains steady at its regulated high voltage, as does the voltage of the central node 225 .", "Since pressing the button closes the contacts, the voltage of the first common node 215 jumps from zero to V at T 3 .", "[0058] Presume that a length of time X, as shown on FIG. 3 , is the minimum time the button 210 must be pressed to initiate the power-down sequence.", "At some time T 4 after the length of time X elapses, the user may release the button 210 .", "Because the button was pressed for at least the minimum length of time, the microcontroller 265 is instructed to power down the embodiment 200 .", "(Again, the microcontroller may monitor the status of the button 210 through the button status input 255 .) Accordingly, upon relapse of the button at time T 4 , the voltage of the first common node 215 returns to zero.", "[0059] Further, the microcontroller prevents any current from being transmitted along the power hold control output 260 to the base of the BJT 240 .", "This in turn prevents current flow through the BJT from the converter 245 output to the common node 225 .", "Accordingly, the converter output no longer maintains a constant voltage at the common node and the capacitor 230 may begin to discharge as shown on FIG. 4 .", "Because the capacitor's charge takes some time to decay, the voltage of the common node may remain above the shutdown input voltage for a period.", "Accordingly, the converter may continue to operate.", "[0060] At time T 5 , however, the voltage of the central node 225 falls below the shutdown input voltage as the capacitor 230 charge decays.", "(Typically, after time T 4 the voltage of the central node follows the charge decay curve of the capacitor.) Thus, the converter 245 ceases operation and the voltage and current of the converter output, as well as that of the system power input, drops to zero.", "Therefore, at time T 5 the embodiment 200 no longer provides power to the microcontroller 265 or operational circuitry 275 .", "Thus, at time T 5 and thereafter the power draw of the electronic device is minimal and the battery life may be conserved.", "[0061] Accordingly, it can be seen that the embodiment 200 may begin providing power to at least some operational circuitry 275 when a button 210 is pushed once and cease providing power at approximately the time the button is again pushed.", "VII.", "Failsafe and Inactivity Operations [0062] The present embodiment 200 also may power down in the event that the microcontroller or electronic device fails, hangs, or otherwise becomes unresponsive.", "Typically, any event rendering the electronic device housing the embodiment unresponsive likewise renders the microcontroller 265 unresponsive.", "The microcontroller, when unresponsive, may not output a current across the power hold control output 260 .", "This, in turn, de-energizes the transistor 240 and initiates a shutdown sequence automatically with the effects discussed with respect to time T 4 of FIG. 3 .", "[0063] Likewise, the microcontroller may be operationally connected to various inputs of the electronic device.", "If the electronic device is idle for a minimum period of time, the microcontroller may detect this lack of activity and initiate the power-down sequence.", "Further, the electronic device may be deactivated, thus deactivating the embodiment 200 , by a user-initiated command or a command initiated by another electronic apparatus associated with the present electronic device.", "As an example, the embodiment 200 may be contained within a wireless keyboard and a button pressed to power down the keyboard.", "As a further example, a command may be transmitted from a computer associated with the wireless keyboard to power down the keyboard, for example during power-down operations of the computer itself.", "VIII.", "Conclusion [0064] Although the embodiments disclosed herein have been discussed in terms of particular functions, features and elements, it will be readily apparent that certain functions, features and/or elements may be added, omitted or changed without affecting the spirit or scope of the invention.", "As one example, certain embodiments may replace the button 210 with a microswitch.", "As yet another example, the various analog circuit elements disclosed herein may be replaced with digital circuit elements.", "Further, the sample circuit shown in FIG. 2 may be implemented as an integrated circuit, system on chip, application specific integrated circuit and so forth.", "As yet another example, the functionality controlled by pressing and/or releasing the button may include wireless transmission (including scaling the strength of transmission), volume or brightness of an electronic device of device's system, and so on.", "Accordingly, it should be appreciated that the proper scope of this document is set forth in the claims." ]

[ "CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of U.S. Provisional Application 61/123,025, filed Apr. 4, 2008, entitled “METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATED BASE-CALLING ON MULTIPLE DNA STRANDS,” which is incorporated herein in its entirety.", "TECHNICAL FIELD The present disclosure relates to automated base calling for sequencing DNA.", "BACKGROUND Sanger sequencing is a widely used chemical process for DNA sequencing.", "In Sanger sequencing, a single strand of DNA is replicated using a chain-termination method, which typically involves a reaction of the single-stranded DNA with a DNA primer and DNA polymerase that together perform DNA replication.", "Fluorescently labeled nucleotides specific to each of the four nucleotide base types, Adenosine, Cytosine, Guanine and Thymine (A, C, G, T), may be included in the reactions.", "The DNA sample may be divided into four separate sequencing reactions, containing the four standard deoxynucleotides (dATP, dGTP, dCTP and dTTP) and the DNA polymerase.", "To each reaction is added one of the four dideoxynucleotides (ddATP, ddGTP, ddCTP, or ddTTP).", "These dideoxynucleotides are chain-terminating nucleotides that cause DNA replication to be terminated by the incorporation of the chain-terminating nucleotides, resulting in strand fragments of different lengths.", "The resulting fragments may be electrophoretically separated through gels or capillaries by length, which is inversely proportional to their traveling speed.", "As a result, the fragments move through the gel or capillary in order from shortest length to longest length.", "A laser or other excitation source may be positioned proximate the capillary to excite the fluorescently labeled nucleotides.", "Optical detection equipment may likewise be positioned to detect the fluorescence from the excited chain-terminating nucleotides to categorize the nucleotides into the four base-types.", "The optical detection equipment may capture the fluorescence emitted by the excited nucleotides as an image, such as a chromatogram.", "Because the fragments are ordered by length and pass the optical equipment in sequence from shortest fragments to longest fragments, the order of the base-types of the DNA sequence is encoded as a function of time.", "Each of the four DNA synthesis reactions is run in one of four individual “lanes”", "corresponding to the four base types A, C, G and T and the pattern of fluorescence of the excited nuclei may he captured as an image and recorded.", "There are many techniques using gel electrophoresis, capillary electrophoresis and other methods that are suitable for obtaining an image corresponding to a DNA sequence.", "For example, some techniques include adding four different dyes associated with respective ones of the four base types into a single reaction or chemical sequencing process.", "It should be appreciated that the base-calling techniques described herein may be used with any suitable method of obtaining one or more DNA sequence images, as the aspects of the invention are not limited to any particular chemical sequencing process or method of image acquisition.", "FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic of an image captured using the above described process.", "In image 100 , the dark bands correspond to fragments of different lengths.", "A dark band in a lane indicates a fragment that is the result of chain termination after incorporation of the respective one of the chain-terminating nucleotides (ddATP, ddGTP, ddCTP, or ddTTP).", "The terminal nucleotide base can be identified according to which dideoxynucleotide was added in the reaction giving that band.", "The relative positions of the different bands among the four lanes are then used to read (from bottom to top) the DNA sequence as indicated.", "It should be appreciated that image 100 is schematic and the dark bands in actual images will vary in intensity.", "The process of extracting the DNA sequence from the image is referred to herein as “base-calling.”", "Manual base calling is tedious and time-consuming and prone to human error.", "To expedite this process, many automatic methods have been developed to process the images and extract the sequence of bases.", "For example, Phred is a widely used algorithm for base calling a single sequence captured on various standard types of image formats.", "Parametric deconvolution, Kalman prediction with dynamic programming, and Markov Monte Carlo methods have all been used for single strand base-calling.", "As discussed above, the intensity of the dark bands varies over the domain of the band.", "In general, the shape of the intensity variation (which corresponds to concentration) ramps up exponentially to a peak value and then decays in a similar fashion.", "Accordingly, processing an x-ray or gel image may include extracting four time varying signals corresponding to each of the four base types, respectively.", "Signal 150 shown in FIG. 1 illustrates the four time-varying signals together, with the different base types (identified by the “lane”", "position of the corresponding band) denoted using different line patterns.", "From the time-varying signals, the DNA sequence may be determined.", "The time-varying signals extracted from an image are individually referred to herein as a “trace.”", "It should be appreciated that time-varying signal 150 is an idealized extraction.", "Actual signals are typically degraded from base-line noise, amplitude variation, increasing pulse widths which deteriorates peak resolutions, jitter in peak spacings which contributes to inter-symbol interference (ISI), etc.", "SUMMARY Some embodiments include a method of automated base-calling using at least one image obtained from a chemical sequencing process performed simultaneously on a plurality of DNA strands, the at least one image including intensity information corresponding to locations of at least one base in the plurality of DNA strands, the method comprising processing the at least image to obtain a function corresponding to the intensity information in the at least one image for the at least one base, the function incorporating intensity information corresponding to each of the plurality of DNA strands, identifying a plurality of peaks in the function, the plurality of peaks indicating possible locations for the at least one base in the plurality of DNA strands, assigning membership to each of the plurality of peaks by determining whether each of the plurality of peaks is believed to have resulted from none, one or multiple of the plurality of DNA strands, and computing a sequence for the at least one base for each of the plurality of DNA strands based, at least in part, on the membership assignment.", "Some embodiments include a computer readable medium having processor-executable instructions stored thereon, the processor-executable instruction, when executed by at least one processor, performing a method of automated base-calling using at least one image obtained from a chemical sequencing process performed simultaneously on a plurality of DNA strands, the at least one image including intensity information corresponding to locations of at least one base in the plurality of DNA strands, the method comprising processing the at least image to obtain a function corresponding to the intensity information in the at least one image for the at least one base, the function incorporating intensity information corresponding to each of the plurality of DNA strands, identifying a plurality of peaks in the function, the plurality of peaks indicating possible locations for the at least one base in the plurality of DNA strands, assigning membership to each of the plurality of peaks by determining whether each of the plurality of peaks is believed to have resulted from none, one or multiple of the plurality of DNA strands, and computing a sequence for the at least one base for each of the plurality of DNA strands based, at least in part, on the membership assignment.", "Some embodiments include an apparatus for performing automated base-calling using at least one image obtained from a chemical sequencing process performed simultaneously on a plurality of DNA strands, the at least one image including intensity information corresponding to locations of at least one base in the plurality of DNA strands, the apparatus comprising an input to receive the at least one image, and at least one controller configured to process the at least image to obtain a function corresponding to the intensity information in the at least one image for the at least one base, the function incorporating intensity information corresponding to each of the plurality of DNA strands, identify a plurality of peaks in the function, the plurality of peaks indicating possible locations for the at least one base in the plurality of DNA strands, assigning membership to each of the plurality of peaks by determining whether each of the plurality of peaks is believed to have resulted from none, one or multiple of the plurality of DNA strands, and compute a sequence for the at least one base for each of the plurality of DNA strands based, at least in part, on the membership assignment.", "Some embodiments include a method for base-calling a plurality of strands of DNA simultaneously, the method comprising obtaining a composite trace of the DNA strands, the composite trace having an individual trace for each of the plurality of strands of DNA, estimating a plurality of sets of peak parameters for the composite trace, and assigning each of the plurality of sets to one or a combination of the individual traces forming the composite trace.", "Some embodiments include estimating the plurality of sets of peak parameters by modeling the composite trace and minimizing the error between the model and the composite trace.", "Some embodiments include assigning each of the plurality of sets by forming a global function describing the composite trace, factoring the global function into a product of local functions, representing the factorization as a factor graph, applying a Sum-Product Algorithm to the factor graph to associate each of the plurality of sets with one or a combination of the individual traces forming the composite trace.", "Some embodiments include a method for base-calling a plurality of strands of DNA simultaneously, the method comprising obtaining a composite trace of the DNA strands, the composite trace having an individual trace for each of the plurality of strands of DNA and being composed of a plurality of peaks, modeling the composite trace as a global function, factoring the function into a product of local functions, representing the factorization as a factor graph, applying a Sum-Product Algorithm to the factor graph to associate each of the plurality of peaks with one or a combination of the individual traces forming the composite trace.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic of an image captured using a chemical sequencing process on which various methods described herein may be applied to perform automated base-calling;", "FIG. 2A illustrates a portion of a trace from an experiment using only a single strand of DNA;", "FIG. 2B illustrates a portion of a trace from an experiment using two DNA strands simultaneously, in accordance with some embodiments;", "FIG. 3 illustrates a method of performing automatic sequencing of multiple strands of DNA simultaneously, in accordance with some embodiments;", "FIG. 4 illustrates various concepts related to factor graphs;", "FIG. 5 illustrates a factor graph representation for a global function y(t);", "FIG. 6 illustrates a method of multiple strand base-calling, in accordance with some embodiments;", "FIG. 7 illustrates an example of the deconvolved spike train for the composite trace portion shown in FIG. 2B ;", "FIG. 8 illustrates a factor graph representation of the dependency of {umlaut over (m)} on the peak parameters;", "and FIG. 9 illustrates a factor graph representation of a second order function.", "DETAILED DESCRIPTION The Sanger method, while considered the most efficient method of DNA sequencing and therefore generally the method of choice, is relatively time consuming.", "A typical run, which requires more than 30 minutes to complete, gives approximately six to eight hundred bases, corresponding to 7,000 to 10,000 sample points.", "Given that genomes may contain millions of bases and repetition may be required to achieve high accuracy in subsequent assembly, significant time is required to sequence a single genome.", "In addition, the cost of the apparatus and the reagents used in the reaction may be substantial.", "Applicant has appreciated that one bottleneck in the process is the requirement that only a single DNA strand be sequenced at a time.", "Current sequencers are unable to perform base-calling on traces of more than a single strand of DNA.", "Applicant has developed methods and apparatus for sequencing multiple DNA strands simultaneously.", "In some embodiments, automatic base-calling is performed on superposed or composite traces from multiple DNA strands.", "By base-calling on multiple strands simultaneously, the time required to sequence a genome or other nucleic acid molecule can be approximately divided by N, where N is the number of strands for which base-calling is performed simultaneously.", "Following below are more detailed descriptions of various concepts related to, and embodiments of, methods and apparatus according to the present invention.", "It should be appreciated that various aspects of the invention described herein may be implemented in any of numerous ways.", "Examples of specific implementations are provided herein for illustrative purposes only.", "While the Sanger method has been described as an exemplary method by which images of fluorescence patterns of nucleotides are obtained, embodiments described herein may be performed on any type of image, obtained using any method, from which traces can be extracted, as the aspects of the invention are not limited in this respect.", "FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate a portion of a trace from an experiment using only a single strand of DNA, and an experiment using two DNA strands simultaneously, respectively.", "FIG. 2A illustrates two portions of the trace.", "The first portion illustrates the trace from samples 1230 to 1340 (e.g., samples relatively near the beginning of the trace).", "The second portion illustrates the trace from samples 8050 to 8170 , showing the deterioration of peak resolution due to increasing pulse widths that occurs towards the end of the trace.", "FIG. 2B illustrates a composite trace comprised of a first trace (referred to as the major trace) and a second trace (referred to as the minor trace), obtained from first and second DNA strands, respectively, that were simultaneously imaged from the same reactions.", "As compared to the single-strand trace, the composite trace is relatively complicated, increasing the complexity of base-calling on the composite trace.", "In particular, the multiple traces are not synchronized in time and the superposition of the traces renders it difficult to ascertain the respective contributions of the major and minor traces.", "Conventional single strand automated sequencers rely on the assumption that there exists a measure of uniformity in the peaks.", "This assumption is not valid for multiple strand sequences because the multiple strands are not aligned in time.", "Therefore, single strand methods cannot be extended to handle cases where multiple DNA strands are simultaneously sequenced.", "As shown in FIG. 2B , the average amplitudes of the major and minor traces are different and can be distinguished.", "Controlling the amplitudes of the traces can be accomplished by controlling the concentrations of the reagents used in the reactions.", "The amplitude differences assist in determining which trace a particular peak belongs to, and facilitates accurate base-calling of multiple DNA strands.", "FIG. 3 illustrates a method of performing automatic sequencing of multiple strands of DNA simultaneously, in accordance with some embodiments.", "In act 310 , a composite trace comprised of traces corresponding to multiple DNA strands is obtained.", "The composite trace may be obtained using any suitable image processing algorithm capable of sampling an image of a DNA sequencing experiment using multiple strands of DNA.", "In act 320 , the composite trace is modeled as a global function having parameters that describe each of the composite traces.", "In act 330 , the global function is decomposed into a product of local functions and represented by a factor graph.", "In act 340 , a Sum-Product algorithm is applied to the factor graph to classify each peak in the composite trace as belonging to one of the multiple component traces.", "Some embodiments of the above method are described in further detail below in connection with an exemplary experiment in which a composite trace extracted from an image comprising the superposition of traces from two respective DNA strands.", "It should be appreciated, however, that the algorithms described herein may be extended to more than two simultaneous DNA strands.", "As discussed above, the amplitude of the peaks in the traces relates to the concentration of fragments at the associated length.", "The amplitude (concentrations) can be approximately controlled by administering the appropriate concentration of reagent in the reaction.", "In particular, the amplitude ratio between a first and a second of the DNA strands can be approximately controlled by the respective concentration of the reagent used in the reaction.", "The major trace refers herein to the higher amplitude trace and the minor trace refers to the lesser amplitude trace.", "One exemplary amplitude ratio is approximately 2 between the major and minor trace, although any other suitable ratio may be used.", "A first step may include modeling the composite trace as a global function.", "A sampling of the time-varying joint trace (e.g., a trace of which a portion is schematically illustrated in FIG. 2A ) extracted from an image of a DNA sequencing experiment may be described as follows: y ⁡ ( t ) = ∑ i = 1 N i ⁢ α 1 ⁢ i ⁢ p ⁡ ( t - τ 1 ⁢ i ) ⁢ x 1 ⁢ i + ∑ j = 1 N 2 ⁢ ⁢ α 2 ⁢ j ⁢ p ⁡ ( t - τ 2 ⁢ j ) ⁢ x 2 ⁢ j + e ⁡ ( t ) , , ( 1 ) where the first summation represents the major trace and the second summation represents the minor trace.", "In equation 1, N 1 and N 2 are the number of peaks in the major and minor traces, respectively, α 1 and α 2 are the amplitudes associated with the respective peaks, τ 1 and τ 2 are the location of the respective peaks, and p(t) is a generic pulse shape.", "In addition, x 1 and x 2 take on one of four codewords corresponding to the four base types (e.g., {0001, 0100, 0010, 0001}), and e is additive noise.", "Applicant has appreciated from experimental data that for each sequence, the peak amplitudes are approximately independent, identically distributed with a Gamma distribution, and the peak timing locations are first order Markov, in the sense that the conditional distribution ƒ(τ l,i+1 |τ l,i ) satisfies, ƒ(τ l,i+1 |τ l,i )=θ Δτ (τ l,i+1 −τ i,i ) lε{ 1,2}, (2), where ƒ Δτ has a mean equal to the slowly varying average peak spacing, and a standard deviation of less than two samples.", "The additive noise e is assumed to be white Gaussian, with zero mean and standard deviation σ e .", "This model allows the dependencies to be represented by a factor graph.", "A factor graph is a graphical model that represents a generic function f. A factor graph is a bipartite graph in the sense that all graph nodes can be divided into two groups;", "the variable node and the function node.", "A connection (e.g., an edge) exists between a variable node and a function node if the variable is an argument of the function.", "Thus, the factor graph allows a relatively complex composite function to be expressed as the product of smaller local functions (i.e., functions with fewer arguments than the global function).", "FIG. 4 illustrates a simple example of a factor graph.", "In FIG. 4 , a function g(x 1 , .", ", x 5 ) has been factored into a product of smaller functions.", "Though g is relatively simple in this example, this can be viewed as decomposing a relatively complex global function into a product of local functions.", "The factor graph 400 represents this factorization.", "In a factor graph, the circles represent the variable nodes (i.e., the arguments of the function) and the square nodes represent the function nodes.", "As shown, each function node is connected to a variable node if the variable is an argument of the function.", "Thus, given a global function and its factorization, a factor graph representation may be generated.", "A factor graph representation may be desirable because an algorithm known as the Sum-Product Algorithm can be applied to a factor graph to compute the marginal function of each of the variables.", "For example, the marginal function for the variable x 1 is shown by the expression for g 1 (x 1 ) shown in FIG. 4 .", "The marginal function for x 1 is the original function g summed over all of the other variables (i.e., summed over x 2 , x 3 , x 4 and x 5 in the example of FIG. 4 ).", "If g, for example, represents a probability distribution, then what results from applying the Sum-Product algorithm for a given variable is the marginal distribution for that variable.", "That is, from a factor graph representing a joint probability distribution of n variables, n marginal distributions (i.e., one for each variable) may be computed using the Sum-Product Algorithm.", "The marginal function g 1 can be rewritten in a form that is related to the sum of products of the factorization function as shown by the second expression of g 1 shown in FIG. 4 .", "The sum of products expression shows the order of computations of summation expressions needed in order to compute the marginal function, and is at the core of the Sum-Product Algorithm.", "The Sum-Product Algorithm for the sum of products expression as applied to the factor graph is illustrated to the right of the factor graph in FIG. 4 .", "Thus, the Sum-Product Algorithm may be used to compute marginal functions for each variable in the global function by describing how to traverse the factor graph (i.e., by describing how computations are passed between nodes in the factor graph).", "The Sum-Product Algorithm as it applies to factor graphs is described in further detail in F. R. Kschischang, B. Frey, and H. A. Loeliger, “Factor graphs and the sum-product algorithm,” IEEE Trans.", "Inform.", "Theory , vol.", "47, no. 2, pp. 498-519, 2001, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.", "The factor graph representation for the global function y(t) is illustrated in FIG. 5 , wherein circles represent random variables and squares represent probability distributions.", "Thus, the circles represent the parameters to be estimated, of which there are three for each peak in the major and minor trace.", "The factor graph can be more easily understood by viewing it in its component parts.", "First, the factor graph can viewed as having a top portion associated with the major trace and a bottom portion associated with the minor trace.", "Thus, the top circles represent the parameters of the major sequence and the bottom circles represent the parameters of the minor sequence.", "A prime (′) therefore, denotes the minor sequence.", "The squares (i.e., the function nodes) down the center dividing the major and minor sequence represent the likelihood of the data y k given the parameters to which the associated function is connected.", "It should be noted that the dependency structure is first order in that only neighbors are considered.", "As discussed above, a factor graph can be used as a basis to apply a Sum-Product algorithm to compute marginal probabilities.", "Thus, the dependency structure, together with conditionals obtained from training data, allows the Sum-Product Algorithm to be applied to the factor graph for estimation of individual bases.", "Applicant has appreciated that, while generally optimal, the pure factor graph solution described above may be overly complex and computationally expensive.", "One reason for this additional complexity and computation time is that the factor graph is composed under the assumption of near uniform alignment between the major and minor traces and hence interference is caused by adjacent peaks in both traces.", "However, the traces may not be aligned and information about the alignment (or misalignment) may not be known a priori.", "Accordingly, Applicant has developed a two-step approach to multiple strand base-calling.", "Some embodiments of the two-step approach include separating the operation of timing recovery and source identification.", "FIG. 6 illustrates a method of multiple strand base-calling, in accordance with some embodiments.", "In act 610 , a composite trace is obtained from an image of DNA sequencing reaction using multiple DNA strands.", "In act 620 , the parameters of the peaks in the composite trace are estimated.", "In act 630 , each estimated set of peak parameters is labeled as corresponding to one of the traces, or some combination of multiple traces to complete the base-calling operation.", "Some embodiments for performing the two-step method described in FIG. 6 are described below in connection with an exemplary experiment using two DNA strands.", "While the embodiments are described below in connection with joint base-calling, the algorithms may be extended to composite traces obtained from more than two DNA strands.", "As discussed above, automated base-calling may be split into two steps.", "In a first step, the timing of the sequences is recovered prior to labeling the identified peaks as belonging to the major or minor traces.", "That is, peak amplitudes and peak locations for the composite trace are estimated before determining which trace the peak parameters belong to.", "The sample time-varying signal y in Equation 1 may be viewed as the convolution product of the generic pulse p(t) and two composite spike trains, expressed as: z ⁡ ( t ) = ∑ i = 1 N 1 ⁢ α 1 ⁢ i ⁢ δ ⁡ ( t - τ 1 ⁢ i ) ⁢ x 1 ⁢ i + ∑ j = 1 N 2 ⁢ α 2 ⁢ j ⁢ δ ⁡ ( t - τ 2 ⁢ j ) ⁢ x 2 ⁢ j ..", "( 3 ) Using an indicator variable in, z can be rewritten as, z ⁡ ( t ) = ∑ k = 1 N ⁢ α k ⁢ x k ⁢ δ ⁡ ( t - τ k ) ⁡ [ δ ⁡ ( m k , 1 ) + δ ⁡ ( m k , 2 ) - δ ⁡ ( m k , 1 , m k , 2 ) ] , ( 4 ) where m k ε{(00), (10), (01), (11)}, representing whether a spike at time τ k has originated from noise, the major sequence, the minor sequence, or from both.", "Note that there is no reference to any indices distinguishing the two components, i.e., no distinction is made between the major trace components and minor trace components.", "Estimation of the values α, x, τ, and in for each base allows the two constituent sequences to be identified.", "The variable m k is referred to herein as the indicator variable, which ultimately is to be determined.", "That is, in the first step, peak amplitudes and peak locations for each base type are identified.", "In the second step, for each identified peak amplitude, peak location and base type, it is determined whether the peak parameter set belongs to the major trace, the minor trace or both (or noise).", "Recovery of peak amplitude, timing and base type (known) information may include deconvolution of the sample data y. To achieve this, the data may be first divided into windows of 500 samples, with adjacent windows overlapping by 250 samples.", "From the earlier part of the trace (i.e., where pulse widths are relatively narrow), a few isolated, well defined pulses are chosen based on curvature, cumulative area, and relative amplitudes.", "The pulses may then be normalized to form generic pulse shape p′(t).", "For the l-th window, similar computations can be performed to find some well resolved pulses.", "However, since the ISI effect becomes more pronounced towards the end of the trace (e.g., as illustrated by the overlapping pulses illustrated in FIG. 2A ), pulse shapes estimated as described above may not be representative of pulse shapes toward the end of the trace.", "Thus, the average full width at half maximum (FWHM) may be computed and p′(t) scaled accordingly to form p 1 ′(t).", "To deconvolve, first assume the additive noise e is white Gaussian.", "The following mean square minimization can be performed for each of the four base types, yielding the most likely underlying sequence: α _ ^ l , τ _ ^ l = arg ⁢ ⁢ min ⁢ ∑ t ⁢ ( y ⁡ ( t ) - ∑ k = 1 N 1 ⁢ α k ⁢ p ~ ⁡ ( t - τ k ) ) 2 .", "( 5 ) That is, the amplitude of the peaks and the peak locations that minimize the squared error between the composite trace and the summation expression are determined.", "It should be appreciated that the minimization problem expressed in equation 5 may be solved using any optimization scheme, such as gradient descent, or any other analytical or iterative methods.", "It should be appreciated that the composite trace is in reality four composite traces, one for each of the four base types.", "The four composite traces are typically processed separately.", "Accordingly, the minimization may be performed on each of the four composite traces, each of which are divided into l windows.", "The resulting data {circumflex over (α)} 1 , {circumflex over (τ)} 1 are therefore the set of peak amplitudes, and locations of each of the peaks for the l-th window, and the output of the minimization step is the data set {circumflex over (α)} i 1 , {circumflex over (τ)} i 1 , where i takes on values of 1-4 corresponding to the four base types.", "FIG. 7 illustrates an example of the deconvolved spike train for the composite trace portion shown in FIG. 2B that results from computing the minimization expressed in equation 5 .", "That is, each spike shows the amplitude ({circumflex over (α)}) as a circle at a particular vertical line location ({circumflex over (τ)}) in the time varying signal.", "It is noteworthy that the “hidden”", "pulses at around positions B and C are captured, while the minor peak to the left of position A has been missed.", "However, this does not necessarily mean that this will result in deletion in the final base call.", "This matter depends on whether the spike is counted as a single major peak, or overlapped major and minor peak in the second step, as described in further detail below.", "It should be appreciated that because there is minimal prior information on the number of peaks in each window (i.e., N l ), the number is overestimated in minimizing equation 5.", "That is, the precise number of peaks N l for each window is not known a priori.", "However, the number can be estimated from observing empirical data, and particularly, the average number of peaks in a given window size may be approximated.", "This approximation may be increased to over-fit the data.", "The spikes identified by overfitting the data are either spikes that overlap the correct results, or noise spikes that are very low in amplitude.", "For the first case, overlapping spikes that are a distance of less than 1 time unit away may be combined.", "For the latter case, thresholding with a running average of peak amplitudes may eliminate some or all of the low amplitude noise spikes.", "Thus, having estimated the peak parameters for the composite trace, the first step is completed.", "In the second step, the source of the identified peaks are determined.", "That is, the peaks identified in the first step are identified as either belonging to the major trace, the minor trace, both traces, or neither (i.e., the peak resulted from noise).", "As discussed above, the DNA sequencing reaction may be performed using reagent concentrations to control the amplitudes of the major and minor traces.", "Accordingly, the ratio between the trace amplitudes may be approximately known.", "For example, in some embodiments, the average trace amplitudes differ by a multiple of between 1.5 and 2.5.", "Let α , τ , x be estimated peak parameters for the overall data set, obtained by taking the union of the windowed parameters from step one.", "In some embodiments, the goal is to find, m _ ^ = arg ⁢ ⁢ max m _ ⁢ log ⁢ ⁢ p ⁡ ( m _ | α _ , τ _ , x _ ) .", "( 6 ) That is, the goal is to find the a posterior probability of the indicator variable m , given the peak amplitudes ( α ) and peak locations ( τ ) computed in the first step, and the known base types x .", "Equation 6 may operate as the global function to be factored and represented by a factor graph.", "To factor the global function, the distribution of peak amplitudes is assumed to be independent of the base type and peak location, and the superposition of the two spike trains is assumed dependent on only the peak locations, i.e., p( α | m , m , τ , x )=p( α | m ), p( m | τ , x )=p( m | τ ).", "Therefore, equation 6 can be divided into two parts.", "The first part is related to the amplitude and the second part is related to the timing.", "Using Bayes rule and the above assumptions, equation 6 can be rewritten as, m _ ^ = arg ⁢ ⁢ max m _ ⁢ { ∑ k ⁢ log ⁢ ⁢ p ⁡ ( α k | m k ) + log ⁢ ⁢ p ⁡ ( m _ | τ _ ) } .", "( 7 ) The dependency of the indicator m on α relates to the fact that the major and minor traces have different average amplitudes due to the reagent concentrations.", "That is, if m k is a major indicator it will be centered around an α k indicative of the average amplitude of the major trace, if m k is a minor indicator it will be centered around an α k indicative of the average amplitude of the minor trace, and if m k indicates both major and minor traces it will be centered around an α k indicative of the sum of the average amplitudes of the major and minor traces.", "Accordingly, the first part of the expression relates the dependence of the indicator variable on amplitude.", "To find the dependence of the indicator variable m on τ , it is observed that although the major and minor sequences are not synchronized, some uniformity of peak spacing is still maintained within each.", "That is, if the two sequences are offset slightly, then a peak identified as belonging to the major trace is more likely to be followed by a peak belonging to the minor trace and so on.", "Thus, in may be modeled as first order Markov, with transition probabilities determined by the timing difference, i.e., given m k , the timing difference Δτ=τ k+1 −τ k is assumed to determine the distribution of m k+1 .", "This assumption captures the dependence of the identity of each peak on the previous peak (i.e., the dependence of the indicator variable on timing).", "Accordingly, the second term in equation 7 can be expressed as, log ⁢ ⁢ p ⁡ ( m _ | τ _ ) = log ⁢ ⁢ p ⁡ ( m 1 ) + ∑ k = 2 N ⁢ log ⁢ ⁢ p ⁡ ( m k ❘ m k - 1 , Δτ k ) , ( 8 ) and equation 6 has thus been decomposed into summation terms, which can be used to generate a factor graph.", "It should be appreciated that a summation in the log probability domain is equal to a product in the probability domain.", "Let, R k = p ⁡ ( α k | m k ) , T k = { p ⁡ ( m k ) k = 1 p ⁡ ( m k | m k - 1 , Δτ k ) k >", "( 9 ) Thus, R k is equal to the first term in equation 7, and T k equals the second term (which is comprised of the two components illustrated in equation 8).", "Thus, the global function in equation 6 can be rewritten as the product of R k and T k .", "The global (objective) function has been factored into a product of local functions and can be represented as a factor graph.", "That is, the dependency of m on the peak parameters can therefore be represented graphically using a factor graph.", "FIG. 8 illustrates the factor graph representation of the dependency of m on the peak parameters The variables in the factor graph are the indicator variables m k for each set of peak parameters.", "As discussed above, the Sum-Product Algorithm can be applied to the factor graph to determine the marginal probabilities of each of the variables.", "That is, applying the Sum-Product algorithm to factor graph 800 results in the marginal distribution of each indicator variable m. From the marginal distribution, the maximum likelihood for each value of m can be determined and the solution to equation 6 can be computed to find the maximum likelihood estimate of m .", "Thus each parameter set is identified as either belonging to the major trace, the minor trace or both based on the maximum likelihood of the associated indicator variable as determined from the marginal distributions.", "As discussed above, there are problems associated with using a full size factor graph (FG) for maximum a posterior (MAP) estimation of individual bases.", "By analyzing the estimator directly, Applicant has recognized that there may be simplifications that are possible.", "Assuming the additive noise is white, Gaussian, with zero mean and variance σ 2 , the MAP estimator of the parameters are: x ^ _ 1 , α ^ _ 1 , τ ^ _ 1 , x ^ _ 2 , α ^ _ 2 , τ ^ _ 2 = ⁢ arg ⁢ ⁢ max x _ 1 , α _ 1 , τ _ 1 , x _ 2 , α _ 2 , τ _ 2 ⁢ f ⁡ ( x _ 1 , α _ 1 , τ _ 1 , x _ 2 , α _ 2 , τ _ 2 | y _ ) = ⁢ arg ⁢ ⁢ max x _ 1 , α _ 1 , τ _ 1 , x _ 2 , α _ 2 , τ _ 2 ⁢ f ⁡ ( y _ | x _ 1 , α _ 1 , τ _ 1 , x _ 2 , α _ 2 , τ _ 2 ) ⁢ f ⁡ ( x _ 1 , α _ 1 , τ _ 1 , x _ 2 , α _ 2 , τ _ 2 ) = ⁢ arg ⁢ ⁢ max x _ 1 , α _ 1 , τ _ 1 , x _ 2 , α _ 2 , τ _ 2 { - log ⁢ 2 ⁢ π ⁢ σ - 1 2 ⁢ σ 2 ⁢ ∑ t ⁢  y _ ⁡ ( t ) - ∑ i = 1 N 1 ⁢ α 1 ⁢ i ⁢ p ⁡ ( t - τ 1 ⁢ i ) ⁢ x _ 1 ⁢ i + ∑ j = 1 N 2 ⁢ α 2 ⁢ j ⁢ p ⁡ ( t - τ 2 ⁢ j ) ⁢ x _ 2 ⁢ j  2 + ∑ i = 1 N 1 ⁢ log ⁢ ⁢ f ⁢ ( α 1 ⁢ i ) + ∑ i = 1 N 1 ⁢ log ⁢ ⁢ f ⁡ ( x _ 1 ⁢ i ) + log ⁢ ⁢ f ⁡ ( τ _ 1 , τ _ 2 ) + ∑ j = 1 N 2 ⁢ log ⁢ ⁢ f ⁡ ( α 2 ⁢ j ) + ∑ j = 1 N 2 ⁢ log ⁢ ⁢ f ⁡ ( x _ 2 ⁢ j ) } The above expression can be rewritten with a new set of variables {circumflex over (x)} , {circumflex over (α)} , {circumflex over (τ)} , {circumflex over (m)} , where {circumflex over (x)} ={ {circumflex over (x)} 1 ∪ {circumflex over (x)} 2 }, {circumflex over (α)} =={ {circumflex over (α)} 1 ∪ {circumflex over (α)} 2 }, {circumflex over (τ)} ={ {circumflex over (τ)} 1 ∪ {circumflex over (α)} 2 }, m k ε{(00),(01),(11)}.", "Here the indicator variable m k is introduced and represents whether a peak at time τ k has originated from noise, the major trace, the minor trace or both.", "If estimate values of α, x, τ, m for each base could be estimated with high accuracy, the two constituent sequences can be identified.", "Assuming the amplitude and types of neighboring bases are independent, the MAP estimator can be rewritten with the new set of variables as: x ^ _ , α ^ _ , τ ^ _ , m ^ _ = ⁢ ⁢ arg ⁢ ⁢ max x _ , α _ , τ _ , m _ ⁢ { - log ⁢ 2 ⁢ π ⁢ σ - 1 2 ⁢ σ 2 ⁢ ∑ t ⁢  y _ ⁡ ( t ) - ∑ k = 1 N ⁢ α k ⁢ p ⁡ ( t - τ k ) ⁢ x k  2 + ∑ k = 1 N ⁢ log ⁢ ⁢ f ⁢ ( α k | m _ ) + ∑ k = 1 N ⁢ log ⁢ ⁢ f ⁡ ( x _ k | m _ ) + log ⁢ ⁢ f ⁡ ( τ _ 1 , τ _ 2 | m _ ) } Each of the four terms in the above expression can be analyzed to see whether simplifications are possible.", "First of all, the mean squared error fitting pulse trains to the data should be independent of the indicator variable associated with each base, since peak amplitude, location, and type already give sufficient information.", "For each individual base, it can be assumed that its amplitude is distributed independently of its neighbors.", "In other words, the only indicator variable affecting α i is m i .", "Similarly, since it is assumed that different types of bases occur uniformly, x i may be assumed independent of m for all i. On the other hand, since peak spacing is approximately first order Markov within a single sequence, once the union of τ 1 and τ 2 has been obtained, the dependency becomes at least second order.", "As a simple illustration, when the current base of interest is labeled as resulting from the major trace, if the previous base is labeled as resulting from both the major trace and the minor trace, then it is highly likely that these two peaks are distanced approximately by the average peak spacing.", "If instead the previous base is labeled as resulting from the minor trace, then the offset between these two peaks can be of any value up to the average peak spacing, while the offset between the current base and the one next to its immediate neighbor should be approximately the average peak spacing.", "This higher order Markov model of the peak spacing may be approximated by a first order model.", "The MAP estimator can therefore be approximated as: x ^ _ , α ^ _ , τ ^ _ , m ^ _ ≃ ⁢ arg ⁢ ⁢ max x _ , α _ ⁢ , τ _ , m _ ⁢ { - log ⁢ 2 ⁢ π ⁢ σ - 1 2 ⁢ ⁢ σ 2 ⁢ ∑ t ⁢  y _ ⁡ ( t ) - ∑ k = 1 N ⁢ α k ⁢ p ( t - τ k ) ⁢ x k  2 ︸ A ⁡ ( x _ , α _ , τ _ ) : does ⁢ ⁢ not ⁢ ⁢ depend ⁢ ⁢ on ⁢ ⁢ m _ + ∑ k = 1 N ⁢ log ⁢ ⁢ f ⁡ ( α k | m k ) + ∑ k = 1 N ⁢ log ⁢ ⁢ f ⁡ ( x k ) ︸ assume ⁢ ⁢ uniform + log ⁢ ⁢ f ⁡ ( τ 1 ) + ∑ k = 2 N ⁢ ⁢ log ⁢ ⁢ f ⁡ ( τ k | τ h - 1 , m k , m k - 1 ) ︸ assume ⁢ ⁢ first ⁢ ⁢ order } = ⁢ arg ⁢ ⁢ max x _ , α _ , τ _ , m _ ⁢ { A ⁡ ( x _ , α _ , τ _ ) + B ⁡ ( x _ , α _ , τ _ , m _ ) } = ⁢ arg ⁢ ⁢ max m _ ⁢ { arg ⁢ ⁢ max x _ , α _ , τ _ ⁡ [ A ⁡ ( x _ , α _ , τ _ ) + B ⁡ ( x _ , α _ , τ _ , m _ ) ] } .", "( 10 ) By expressing the cost function using two components as in Equation 10, a two stage algorithm for joint base-calling has essentially been derived: the first stage is to determine peaks for all possible indicator variables, and the second stage is to find the best indicator sequence to identify the source sequence for each peak.", "As a further simplification to solving the expression in Equation 1, a sub-optimal solution may be used wherein the sub-optimal solution is derived by neglecting the effect of B( x , α , τ , m ) on the estimate of the peak parameters: x ^ _ , α ^ _ , τ ^ _ = arg ⁢ ⁢ max x _ , α _ , τ _ ⁢ A ⁡ ( x _ , α _ , τ _ ) .", "( 11 ) m ^ _ = arg ⁢ ⁢ max m _ ⁢ ⁢ B ⁡ ( x ^ _ , α ^ _ , τ ^ _ , m _ ) .", "( 12 ) It should be noted that A( x , α , τ ) is similar in form to the cost function associated with a minimum mean square error estimator.", "Indeed, Equation 11 describes a deconvolution process, aiming at finding the minimum mean squared error estimate of the peak parameters.", "Equation 12, on the other hand, describes the MAP estimation of the indicator variable m given {circumflex over (x)} , {circumflex over (α)} , {circumflex over (τ)} .", "This estimation may be carried out by using a factor graph.", "To establish the desired FG, let us re-examine the expression for B( x , α , τ , m ): B ⁡ ( x _ , α _ , τ _ , m _ ) = ⁢ ∑ k = 1 N ⁢ log ⁢ ⁢ f ⁡ ( α k | m k ) + ∑ k = 1 N ⁢ log ⁢ ⁢ f ⁡ ( x _ k ) ︸ assume ⁢ ⁢ uniform + ⁢ log ⁢ ⁢ f ⁡ ( τ 1 ) + ∑ k = 2 N ⁢ log ⁢ ⁢ f ⁡ ( τ k | τ k - 1 , m k , m k - 1 ) ︸ assume ⁢ ⁢ first ⁢ ⁢ order = ⁢ ∑ k = 1 N ⁢ log ⁢ ⁢ f ⁢ ( α k | m k ) + ∑ k = 1 N ⁢ log ⁢ ⁢ f ⁡ ( x _ k ) + log ⁢ ⁢ f ⁡ ( τ 1 ) + ⁢ ∑ k = 2 N ⁢ log ⁢ ⁢ f ⁡ ( m k | τ k , τ k - 1 , m k - 1 ) ⁢ f ⁡ ( τ k ❘ τ k - 1 , m k - 1 ) f ⁡ ( m k | τ k - 1 , m k - 1 ) ︸ ≃ l ⁢ ⁢ o ⁢ ⁢ g ⁢ ⁢ f ⁡ ( m k | Δ ⁢ ⁢ τ k , m k - 1 ) .", "( 13 ) ⁢ ⁢ = ⁢ ∑ k = 1 N ⁢ log ⁢ ⁢ f ⁡ ( α k | m k ) + ∑ k = 1 N ⁢ log ⁢ ⁢ f ⁡ ( x _ k ) + log ⁢ ⁢ f ⁡ ( τ 1 ) + ⁢ ∑ k = 2 N ⁢ log ⁢ ⁢ f ⁡ ( m k | Δ ⁢ ⁢ τ k , m k - 1 ) .", "( 14 ) It should be noted that B( x , α , τ , m ) can be further divided into three parts, each associated with a different peak parameter.", "To better differentiate the major and minor traces, it may be more desirable to resolve the peak amplitude distributions for the two traces as much as possible, although a relatively significant average peak amplitude for the minor trace is still desirable to maintain the signal to noise ratio (e.g., to accurately distinguish peaks in the minor trace from noise).", "Also, the number of bases coming from each base type may be assumed to be the same.", "It is known that in some special cases, more prior information on the base type distribution is available, depending on the organism or the gene being sequenced, such that the distribution of x becomes non-uniform.", "Moreover, the inter-dependencies of the peak locations and the indicator variables have been simplified from Equation 13 to Equation 14, such that m becomes first order Markov when the difference in peak locations is given.", "An example of m being first order Markov is the case where a first peak is from the major trace and the next peak is approximately half the average peak distance away, wherein it can be concluded that with relatively high probability that the next sequence is from the minor trace.", "Let, R k = f ⁡ ( α k | m k ) , T k = { f ⁡ ( τ k ) k = 1 f ⁡ ( m k | m k - 1 , Δ ⁢ ⁢ τ k ) k >", "1 The factor graph for the MAP estimation of the indicator variable may thus be constructed as illustrated in FIG. 8 .", "In applying the sum-product algorithm, the messages from variable nodes to function nodes are: μ R k →m k =R k μ m k →T k =μR k →m k ·μT k+1 →m k μ m k →T k+1 =μR k →m k ·μT k →m k Messages from function nodes to variable notes (k>1) are: μ T k ->", "m k - 1 = ∑ ~ m k - 1 ⁢ T k ⁢ μ m k ->", "T k = ∑ m k ⁢ p ⁡ ( m k | m k - 1 , Δ τ k ) ⁢ μ m k ->", "T k μ T k ->", "m k = ∑ ~ m k ⁢ T k ⁢ μ m k - 1 ->", "T k = ∑ m k - 1 ⁢ p ⁡ ( m k | m k - 1 , Δ τ k ) ⁢ μ m k - 1 ->", "T k Recall that it has been tried to simplify the conditional distribution of the peak parameters to be first order, i.e., those for one peak depends on only those for its immediate neighbor.", "Such simplifications facilitate relatively easy computation, but a second order model may be more appropriate in some circumstances.", "A possible second order approximation to the joint distribution of τ 1 and τ 2 is: log ⁢ ⁢ f ⁡ ( τ _ 1 , τ _ 2 ) = ⁢ log ⁢ ⁢ f ⁡ ( τ _ | m _ ) = ⁢ log ⁢ ⁢ f ⁡ ( τ 1 , τ 2 ) + ∑ k = 3 N ⁢ log ⁢ ⁢ f ⁡ ( τ k | τ k - 1 , τ k - 2 , m k , m k - 1 , m k - 2 ) , Where log ⁢ ⁢ f ⁡ ( τ k | τ k - 1 , τ k - 2 , m k , m k - 1 , m k - 2 ) = ⁢ { log ⁢ ⁢ f T ⁡ ( τ k - τ k - 1 ) m k - 1 = 11 log ⁢ ⁢ f T ⁡ ( τ k - τ k - 2 ) ( m k - 2 , m k ) = ( 11 , 11 ) or ⁢ ⁢ m j ≠ 11 , k - 2 ≤ j ≤ k log ⁢ ⁢ f T ⁡ ( τ k - 1 2 ⁢ ( τ k - 1 + τ k - 2 ) ) m k - 2 ≠ 11 , m k - 1 ≠ 11 , m k = 11.", "( 15 ) Again using R k and T k to represent the conditional probabilities, the alternative factor graph is illustrated in FIG. 9 and the Sum-Product algorithm can be applied to determine probabilities.", "The above-described embodiments can be implemented in any of numerous ways.", "For example, the embodiments may be implemented using hardware, software or a combination thereof.", "When implemented in software, the software code can be executed on any suitable processor or collection of processors, whether provided in a single computer or distributed among multiple computers.", "It should be appreciated that any component or collection of components that perform the functions described above can be generically considered as one or more controllers that control the above-discussed function.", "The one or more controller can be implemented in numerous ways, such as with dedicated hardware, or with general purpose hardware (e.g., one or more processor) that is programmed using microcode or software to perform the functions recited above.", "It should be appreciated that the various methods outlined herein may be coded as software that is executable on one or more processors that employ any one of a variety of operating systems or platforms.", "Additionally, such software may be written using any of a number of suitable programming languages and/or conventional programming or scripting tools, and also may be compiled as executable machine language code.", "In this respect, it should be appreciated that some embodiment are directed to a computer readable medium (or multiple computer readable media) (e.g., a computer memory, one or more floppy discs, compact discs, optical discs, magnetic tapes, etc.) encoded with one or more programs that, when executed on one or more computers or other processors, perform methods that implement the various embodiments discussed above.", "The computer readable medium or media can be transportable, such that the program or programs stored thereon can be loaded onto one or more different computers or other processors to implement various aspects as discussed above.", "It should be understood that the term “program”", "is used herein in a generic sense to refer to any type of computer code or set of instructions that can be employed to program a computer or other processor to implement various aspects as discussed above.", "Additionally, it should be appreciated that according to one aspect of this embodiment, one or more computer programs need not reside on a single computer or processor, but may be distributed in a modular fashion amongst a number of different computers or processors to implement various aspects described herein.", "Various embodiments may be used alone, in combination, or in a variety of arrangements not specifically discussed in the embodiments described in the foregoing and is therefore not limited in its application to the details and arrangement of components set forth in the foregoing description or illustrated in the drawings.", "Also, the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.", "The use of “including,” “comprising,” or “having,” “containing”, “involving”, and variations thereof herein, is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items." ]

[ "CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION [0001] This application is the U.S. national phase of International Application No. PCT/CN2014/074938, filed on Apr. 9, 2014, which claims the priority benefit a Chinese Patent which is application No. 2014100039995, filed on Jan. 3, 2014.", "The entire contents of which is hereby incorporated by reference.", "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1.", "Field of the Invention [0003] The invention relates to a low-lead brass alloy, and particularly to a brass alloy which is both free cutting and resistant to dezincification.", "[0004] 2.", "Background of Invention [0005] Generally, the brass for processing is added with metallic zinc by a percentage of 38-42%.", "In order to make it easy to process brass, brass usually contains 2-3% lead to enhance strength and processability.", "Lead-containing brass has excellent moldability (making it easy to fabricate products of various shapes), cutting performance, and abrasion resistance, so that it is widely applied to mechanical part with various shapes, accounts for a large proportion in the copper industry, and is well known as one of the most important basic material in the world.", "However, during the production or use of lead-containing brass, lead tends to dissolve in the solid or gas state.", "Medical studies have shown that lead can bring about substantial damage to the human hematopoietic and nervous systems, especially children's kidneys and other organs.", "Many countries in the world take the pollution and hazard caused by lead very seriously.", "The National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) sets a tolerance of lead element of 0.25% or less.", "Organizations like the Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive (RoHS) of European Union successively stipulate, restrict and prohibit the usage of brass with a high lead content.", "[0006] Furthermore, when the zinc content in brass exceeds 20 wt %, the corrosion phenomenon of dezincification is prone to occur.", "Especially when brass is exposed to the chloride rich environment, e.g. marine environment, the occurrence of corrosion phenomenon of dezincification may be accelerated.", "Dezincification may severely destroy the structure of brass alloy, so that the surface strength of brass products is reduced and the brass tube even perforates.", "This greatly reduces the lifetime of brass products and causes problems in application.", "[0007] Therefore, there is a need to provide an alloy formula for solving the above problems, which can replace the brass with a high lead content, is dezincification corrosion resistant, and further has excellent casting performance, forgeability, cutting performance, corrosion resistance and mechanical properties.", "BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0008] As known in the prior art, silicon may appear in the alloy metallographic structure as γ phase (sometimes as κ phase).", "In this case, silicon may replace the function of lead in the alloy to an extent, and improve cutting performance of the alloy.", "Cutting performance of the alloy increases with the content of silicon.", "However, silicon has a high melting point and a low specific gravity and is prone to be oxidized.", "As a result, after silicon monomer is added into the furnace in the alloy melting process, silicon floats on the surface of alloy.", "When the alloy is melt, silicon will be oxidized into silicon oxides or other oxides, making it difficult to produce silicon-containing copper alloy.", "In case silicon is added in the form of Cu—Si alloy, the economic cost is increased.", "[0009] Bismuth can be added to replace lead for forming cutting breakpoints in the alloy structure to improve cutting performance.", "However, thermal cracking is prone to occur during forging in case of a high bismuth content, which is not conducive for producing.", "[0010] Thus, it is an object of the invention to provide a brass alloy which exhibits excellent performance like tensile strength, elongation rate, dezincification resistance and cutting performance, which is suitable for cutting processed products that require high strength and wear resistance, and which is suitable for constituent materials for forged products and cast products.", "The brass alloy of the invention can securely replace the alloy copper with a high lead content, and can completely meet the demands about restrictions on lead-containing products in the development of human society.", "[0011] To achieve the above object, the inventors have proposed the following low-lead bismuth-free silicon-free brass alloys.", "[0012] A low-lead bismuth-free silicon-free brass alloy with excellent cutting performance (hereinafter referred to as the inventive product 1) comprises, by the total weight of the brass alloy, 60-65 wt % copper, 0.1-0.25 wt % lead, 0.1-0.7 wt % aluminum, 0.05-0.5 wt % tin, and a balance of zinc.", "[0013] In the inventive product 1, the content of lead is reduced to 0.1-0.25 wt %, the content of copper is controlled at 60-65 wt %, and a small quantity of aluminum and tin is added to improve cutting performance of the alloy.", "The metallographic structure of the alloy mainly comprises a phase, β phase, γ phase, and soft and brittle intermetallic compounds which are distributed in grain boundaries or grains.", "Copper and zinc make main constituents of the brass alloy.", "[0014] Adding tin into the alloy can form γ phase, thus increasing cutting performance of the alloy.", "In addition, the addition of tin obviously increases strength, plasticity, and corrosion resistance of the alloy.", "However, since adding tin may increase cost, aluminum is added along with tin.", "As a result, not only cutting performance of the alloy can be improved, but also strength, wear resistance, cast flowability, and high temperature oxidation resistance of the alloy can be increased.", "In order to make a better use of the above effects, the content of tin and aluminum is 0.05-0.5 wt % and 0.1-0.7 wt %, respectively.", "[0015] A low-lead bismuth-free silicon-free brass alloy with excellent cutting performance (hereinafter referred to as the inventive product 2) comprises, by the total weight of the brass alloy, 60-65 wt % copper, 0.1-0.25 wt % lead, 0.1-0.7 wt % aluminum, 0.05-0.5 wt % tin, and further comprises 0.05-0.5 wt % manganese and/or 0.05-0.3 wt % phosphorus, and a balance of zinc.", "[0016] As compared with the inventive product 1, the inventive product 2 is further added with 0.05-0.3 wt % phosphorus and/or 0.05-0.5 wt % manganese.", "Although phosphorus can't form γ phase, phosphorus has a function of facilitating a good distribution of γ phase, thus increasing cutting performance of the alloy.", "Meanwhile, in case phosphorus is added, γ phase will disperse crystal grains of the primary α phase, thus increasing casting performance and corrosion resistance of the alloy.", "When the content of phosphorus is lower than 0.05 wt %, phosphorus can not play its role effectively.", "While when the content of phosphorus is higher than 0.3 wt %, casting performance and corrosion resistance will be affected adversely.", "Adding manganese helps to improve dezincification resistance and cast flowability.", "When the content of manganese is lower than 0.05 wt %, manganese can not play its role effectively.", "While when the content of manganese is 0.5 wt %, manganese can play its role to the saturation value.", "[0017] A low-lead bismuth-free silicon-free brass alloy with excellent cutting performance (hereinafter referred to as the inventive product 3) comprises, by the total weight of the brass alloy, 60-65 wt % copper, 0.1-0.25 wt % lead, 0.1-0.7 wt % aluminum, 0.05-0.5 wt % tin, and further comprises one or more element selected from the group consisting of 0.05-0.3 wt % phosphorus, 0.05-0.5 wt % manganese and 0.001-0.01 wt % boron by the total weight of the brass alloy, and a balance of zinc.", "[0018] As compared with the inventive product 2, the inventive product 3 is further added with trace boron, so as to better suppress alloy dezincification, increase the mechanical strength, and alter defect structure of cuprous oxide film on the surface of copper alloy, thus forming a cuprous oxide film which is more uniform, dense, and stain resistant.", "When the content of boron is lower than 0.001 wt %, boron can't play its role as mentioned above.", "While when the content of boron is higher than 0.01 wt %, the above performance can't be further increased.", "Thus, the optimum content of boron is 0.001-0.01 wt %.", "The content of phosphorus and manganese has the same interval as that of the inventive product 2, and this is based on the same reason as that of the inventive product 2.", "[0019] A low-lead bismuth-free silicon-free brass alloy with excellent cutting performance (hereinafter referred to as the inventive product 4) comprises, by the total weight of the brass alloy, 60-65 wt % copper, 0.1-0.25 wt % lead, 0.1-0.7 wt % aluminum, 0.05-0.5 wt % tin, 0.05-0.3 wt % phosphorus, and further comprises 0.05-0.5 wt % manganese and 0.001-0.01 wt % boron, and a balance of zinc.", "[0020] The effects of lead, aluminum, tin, phosphorus, manganese and boron elements in the brass alloy have been discussed above.", "By adding these elements into the brass alloy simultaneously, it is possible to further increase mechanical performance of alloy so as to meet needs for products with strict requirements.", "[0021] A low-lead bismuth-free silicon-free brass alloy with excellent cutting performance (hereinafter referred to as the inventive product 5) comprises, by the total weight of the brass alloy, 60-65 wt % copper, 0.1-0.25 wt % lead, 0.1-0.7 wt % aluminum, 0.05-0.5 wt % tin, 0.05-0.3 wt % phosphorus, 0.05-0.5 wt % manganese and 0.001-0.01 wt % boron, and a balance of zinc, and further comprises unavoidable impurities which comprise, by the total weight of the brass alloy, 0.25 wt % or less nickel, 0.15 wt % or less chrome and/or 0.25 wt % or less iron.", "[0022] As compared with the inventive product 4, the inventive product 5 further comprises some unavoidable impurities, i.e., mechanical impurities of nickel, chrome and/or iron.", "[0023] A low-lead bismuth-free silicon-free brass alloy with excellent cutting performance (hereinafter referred to as the inventive product 6) comprises, by the total weight of the brass alloy, 60-65 wt % copper, 0.1-0.25 wt % lead, 0.1-0.7 wt % aluminum, 0.05-0.5 wt % tin, 0.05-0.3 wt % phosphorus, 0.05-0.5 wt % manganese and 0.001-0.01 wt % boron, and a balance of zinc, wherein a total content of aluminum, tin, phosphorus, manganese and boron is not larger than 2 wt % of the total weight of the brass alloy.", "[0024] A low-lead bismuth-free silicon-free brass alloy with excellent cutting performance (hereinafter referred to as the inventive product 7) comprises, by the total weight of the brass alloy, 60-65 wt % copper, 0.1-0.25 wt % lead, 0.1-0.7 wt % aluminum, 0.05-0.5 wt % tin, 0.05-0.3 wt % phosphorus, 0.05-0.5 wt % manganese and 0.001-0.01 wt % boron, and a balance of zinc, wherein a total content of aluminum, tin, phosphorus, manganese and boron is 0.2-2 wt % of the total weight of the brass alloy.", "[0025] A low-lead bismuth-free silicon-free brass alloy with excellent cutting performance (hereinafter referred to as the inventive product 8) comprises, by the total weight of the brass alloy, 60-65 wt % copper, 0.1-0.25 wt % lead, and two or more elements selected from the group consisting of, by the total weight of the brass alloy, 0.1-0.7 wt % aluminum, 0.05-0.5 wt % tin, 0.05-0.3 wt % phosphorus, 0.05-0.5 wt % manganese and 0.001-0.01 wt % boron, and a balance of zinc.", "[0026] Whether aluminum, tin, phosphorus, manganese and/or boron should be added depends on the requirement for cutting performance of various products.", "The content to be added has the same interval as that of the inventive product 3, and this is based on the same reason as that of the inventive product 3.", "[0027] A low-lead bismuth-free silicon-free brass alloy with excellent cutting performance (hereinafter referred to as the inventive product 9) comprises, by the total weight of the brass alloy, 60-65 wt % copper, 0.1-0.25 wt % lead, and two or more elements selected from the group consisting of, by the total weight of the brass alloy, 0.1-0.7 wt % aluminum, 0.05-0.5 wt % tin, 0.05-0.3 wt % phosphorus, 0.05-0.5 wt % manganese and 0.001-0.01 wt % boron, and a balance of zinc, and further comprises unavoidable impurities which comprise, by the total weight of the brass alloy, 0.25 wt % or less nickel, 0.15 wt % or less chrome and/or 0.25 wt % or less iron.", "[0028] As compared with the inventive product 8, the inventive product 9 further comprises some unavoidable impurities, i.e., mechanical impurities of nickel, chrome and/or iron.", "[0029] A low-lead bismuth-free silicon-free brass alloy with excellent cutting performance (hereinafter referred to as the inventive product 10) comprises, by the total weight of the brass alloy, 60-65 wt % copper, 0.1-0.25 wt % lead, 0.05-0.5 wt % tin and 0.05-0.3 wt % phosphorus, and a balance of zinc.", "[0030] The content of phosphorus in the inventive product 10 has the same interval and effect as that in the inventive product 2.", "Although phosphorus can't form γ phase, phosphorus has a function of facilitating a good distribution of γ phase.", "Meanwhile, in case phosphorus is added, γ phase will disperse crystal grains of the primary α phase, thus increasing casting performance and corrosion resistance of the alloy.", "Thus, even if there is no aluminum, the needs for cutting performance can still be met in the usual production situation.", "[0031] A low-lead bismuth-free silicon-free brass alloy with excellent cutting performance (hereinafter referred to as the inventive product 11) comprises, by the total weight of the brass alloy, 60-65 wt % copper, 0.1-0.25 wt % lead, 0.05-0.5 wt % tin and 0.05-0.3 wt % phosphorus, and further comprises two or more elements selected from the group consisting of 0.1-0.7 wt % aluminum, 0.05-0.5 wt % manganese and 0.001-0.01 wt % boron by the total weight of the brass alloy, and a balance of zinc.", "[0032] Whether aluminum, manganese and/or boron should be added depends on the requirement for cutting performance of various produc.", "The content to be added has the same interval as that of the inventive product 3, and this is based on the same reason as that of the inventive product 3.", "[0033] A low-lead bismuth-free silicon-free brass alloy with excellent cutting performance (hereinafter referred to as the inventive product 12) comprises, by the total weight of the brass alloy, 60-65 wt % copper, 0.1-0.25 wt % lead, 0.05-0.5 wt % tin and 0.05-0.3 wt % phosphorus, two or more elements selected from the group consisting of 0.1-0.7 wt % aluminum, 0.05-0.5 wt % manganese and 0.001-0.01 wt % boron by the total weight of the brass alloy, and further comprises unavoidable impurities which comprise, by the total weight of the brass alloy, 0.25 wt % or less nickel, 0.15 wt % or less chrome and/or 0.25 wt % or less iron, and a balance of zinc.", "[0034] As compared with the inventive product 11, the inventive product 12 further comprises some unavoidable impurities, i.e., mechanical impurities of nickel, chrome and/or iron.", "[0035] The invention further provides a method for fabricating brass alloy.", "By taking the inventive product 3 as an example, the method comprises the steps of: [0036] 1) providing copper and manganese and heating to 1000-1050° C. to form a copper-manganese alloy melt;", "[0037] 2) decreasing the temperature of the copper-manganese alloy melt to 950-1000° C.;", "[0038] 3) covering the surface of copper-manganese alloy melt with a glass slagging agent;", "[0039] 4) adding zinc to the copper-manganese alloy melt to form a copper-manganese-zinc melt;", "[0040] 5) deslagging the copper-manganese-zinc melt, and adding lead, aluminum, tin to the brass alloy melt to form a metal melt;", "[0041] 6) elevating the temperature of the metal melt to 1000-1050° C., and adding boron copper alloy, phosphorus copper alloy to form a low-lead bismuth-free silicon-free brass alloy melt;", "and [0042] 7) discharging the brass alloy melt for casting to form the brass alloy.", "[0043] Preferably, in the above fabricating method, a copper-manganese alloy is provided as the precursor of copper and manganese elements.", "[0044] Preferably, in the above fabricating method, the melting furnace is a high-frequency melting furnace, and the high-frequency melting furnace is provided with a furnace lining of graphite crucible.", "[0045] The high-frequency melting furnace has the features of a large melting rate, a large temperature elevating rate, cleanness without pollution, and the ability of self-stirring (i.e., under the action of magnetic field lines) during melting.", "[0046] In the invention, the low-lead bismuth-free silicon-free brass alloy is formed by adding various constituents in respective ratio, and then subjecting them to a process in a high-frequency melting furnace.", "The resulting brass alloy has a mechanical processability which is comparable with that of the existing lead-containing brass, has an excellent tensile strength, elongation rate, and dezincification resistance, and has a low content of lead.", "As a result, the brass alloy is suitable for replacing the existing lead-containing brass alloy and for producing parts like faucet and sanitary ware.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0047] FIG. 1 is a flow chart illustrating a method for fabricating the inventive product 3.", "DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS [0048] The technical solutions of the invention will be described expressly by referring to embodiments thereof.", "[0049] It is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to the described exemplary embodiments.", "The modifications and alterations to features of the invention as described herein, as well as other applications of the concept of the invention (which will occur to the skilled in the art, upon reading the present disclosure) still fall within the scope of the invention.", "[0050] In the invention, the wording “or more”, “or less”", "in the expression for describing values indicates that the expression comprises the relevant values.", "[0051] The dezincification corrosion resistant performance measurement, as used herein, is performed according to AS-2345-2006 specification in the cast state, in which 12.8 g copper chloride is added into 1000 C.C deionized water, and the object to be measured is placed in the resulting solution for 24 hr to measure a dezincification depth.", "⊚ indicates a dezincification depth of less than 100 μm;", "∘ indicates a dezincification depth between 100 μm and 200 μm;", "and indicates a dezincification depth larger than 200 μm.", "[0052] The cutting performance measurement, as used herein, is performed in the cast state, in which the same cutting tool is adopted with the same cutting speed and feed amount.", "The cutting speed is 25 m/min (meter per minute), the feed amount is 0.2 mm/r (millimeter per number of cutting edge), the cutting depth is 0.5 mm, the measurement rod has a diameter of 20 mm, and C36000 alloy is taken as a reference.", "The relative cutting rate is derived by measuring the cutting resistance.", "[0053] The relative cutting rate=cutting resistance of C36000 alloy/cutting resistance of the sample.", "[0054] ⊚ indicates a relative cutting rate larger than 85%;", "and ∘ indicates a relative cutting rate larger than 70%.", "[0055] Both the tensile strength measurement and the elongation rate measurement, as used herein, are performed in the cast state at room temperature as an elongation measurement.", "The elongation rate refers to a ratio between the total deformation of gauge section after elongation ΔL and the initial gauge length L of the sample in percentage: δ=ΔL/L×100%.", "The reference sample is a lead-containing brass with the same state and specification, i.e., C36000 alloy.", "[0056] According to measurement, the proportions for constituents of C36000 alloy are listed as follow, in the unit of weight percentage (wt %): [0000] copper zinc bismuth antimony manganese aluminum lead iron Material No. (Cu) (Zn) (Bi) (Sb) (Mn) (Al) tin (Sn) (Pb) (Fe) C36000 alloy 60.53 36.26 0 0 0 0 0.12 2.97 0.12 [0057] FIG. 1 is a flow chart illustrating a method for fabricating the inventive product 3, which comprises the steps of: [0058] Step S 100 : providing copper and manganese.", "In this step, a copper-manganese alloy can be provided as the precursor of copper and manganese elements.", "[0059] Step S 102 : heating the copper-manganese precursor alloy to 1000-1050° C. to form a copper-manganese alloy melt.", "In this step, the copper-manganese alloy can be added into the high-frequency melting furnace, and heated to melt in the melting furnace.", "The temperature can be elevated to 1000-1050° C., and even up to 1100° C., for 5-10 minutes, so that the copper-manganese alloy is melt into a copper-manganese alloy melt.", "With these actions, it is possible to prevent the melt copper manganese from absorbing a lot of external gases (due to a too high temperature), which may otherwise result in cracking in the molded alloy.", "[0060] Step S 104 : decreasing the temperature of the copper-manganese alloy melt to 950-1000° C. In this step, when the temperature in the melting furnace is elevated to 1000-1050° C. for a durationi of 5-10 minutes, the power supply of the high-frequency melting furnace is turned off, so that the temperature in the melting furnace is reduced to 950-1000° C., while the copper-manganese alloy melt is maintained in the melt state.", "[0061] Step S 106 : covering the surface of copper-manganese alloy melt with a glass slagging agent.", "In this step, the surface of copper-manganese alloy melt is covered with the glass slagging agent at 950-1000° C. This step can effectively prevent the melt from contacting the air, and prevent zinc to be added in the next step from boiling and evaporating due to melting at a high temperature of 950-1000° C. [0062] Step S 108 : adding zinc to the copper-manganese alloy melt to form a copper-manganese-zinc melt.", "In this step, zinc is added to the melting furnace, and is immersed into the copper-manganese alloy melt, so that zinc is sufficiently melt in the copper-manganese alloy melt to form a copper-manganese-zinc melt.", "[0063] Step S 110 : deslagging the copper-manganese-zinc melt.", "In this step, the copper-manganese-zinc melt can be stirred and mixed under the action high-frequency induction, and then the slagging agent can be removed.", "Then, the copper-manganese-zinc melt is deslagged with a deslagging agent.", "[0064] Step S 112 : adding lead, aluminum, and tin to the copper-manganese-zinc melt to form a metal melt.", "In this step, copper lead precursor alloy, copper aluminum precursor alloy, and copper tin precursor alloy can be added to the copper-manganese-zinc melt.", "[0065] Step S 114 : elevating the temperature of the metal melt to 1000-1050° C., and adding copper boron alloy and phosphorus copper alloy to form a low-lead bismuth-free silicon-free brass alloy melt.", "[0066] Step S 116 : discharging the brass alloy melt for casting to form the brass alloy.", "In this step, the brass alloy melt is stirred evenly, the discharging temperature is controlled at 1000-1050° C., and finally the brass alloy melt is discharged to casting a low-lead bismuth-free silicon-free brass alloy which exhibits good processability, dezincification resistance, and mechanical performance.", "Embodiment 1 [0067] Table 1-1 lists inventive products 1 with 5 different constituents which are fabricated with the above process, which are respectively numbered as 1001-1005, each constituent being in the unit of weight percentage (wt %).", "[0000] TABLE 1-1 No. copper (Cu) zinc (Zn) lead (Pb) aluminum (Al) tin (Sn) 1001 63.633 35.559 0.235 0.231 0.340 1002 64.365 34.183 0.250 0.700 0.500 1003 62.345 36.943 0.110 0.300 0.300 1004 65.000 34.424 0.100 0.424 0.050 1005 60.000 39.445 0.108 0.100 0.345 [0068] Measurements about cutting performance, dezincification corrosion resistant performance, tensile strength, and elongation rate are performed on alloys with the above constituents in the cast state at room temperature, and the reference sample is a lead-containing brass with the same state and specification, i.e., C36000 alloy.", "[0069] Results of the measurements about tensile strength, elongation rate, cutting performance, and dezincification corrosion resistant performance are listed as follow: [0000] RELA- TENSILE ELONGA- TIVE STRENGTH TION DEZINCIFICATION CUTTING No. (N/mm 2 ) RATE (%) LAYER RATE 1001 366 23 ⊚ ⊚ 1002 387 21 ⊚ ⊚ 1003 325 27 ⊚ ⊚ 1004 387 25 ⊚ ⊚ 1005 295 35 ◯ ⊚ C36000 394 9 X ⊚ alloy Embodiment 2 [0070] Table 2-1 lists inventive products 2 with 5 different constituents which are fabricated with the above process, which are respectively numbered as 2001-2005, each constituent being in the unit of weight percentage (wt %).", "[0000] TABLE 2-1 aluminum manganese phosphorus No. copper (Cu) zinc (Zn) lead (Pb) (Al) tin (Sn) (Mn) (P) 2001 60.000 39.137 0.144 0.312 0.055 0.050 0.300 2002 64.307 34.305 0.214 0.700 0.320 — 0.152 2003 62.221 37.467 0.250 0.521 0.089 0.500 0.050 2004 65.000 32.662 0.213 0.685 0.500 0.432 — 2005 61.331 37.922 0.100 0.100 0.050 0.443 0.252 [0071] Measurements about cutting performance, dezincification corrosion resistant performance, tensile strength, and elongation rate are performed on alloys with the above constituents in the cast state at room temperature, and the reference sample is a lead-containing brass with the same state and specification, i.e., C36000 alloy.", "[0072] Results of the measurements about tensile strength, elongation rate, cutting performance, and dezincification corrosion resistant performance are listed as follow: [0000] RELA- TENSILE ELONGA- TIVE STRENGTH TION DEZINCIFICATION CUTTING No. (N/mm 2 ) RATE (%) LAYER RATE 2001 338 23 ⊚ ⊚ 2002 307 19 ⊚ ⊚ 2003 375 31 ◯ ⊚ 2004 381 29 ⊚ ⊚ 2005 308 17 ◯ ⊚ C36000 394 9 X ⊚ alloy Embodiment 3 [0073] Table 3-1 lists inventive products 3 with 8 different constituents which are fabricated with the above process, which are respectively numbered as 3001-3008, each constituent being in the unit of weight percentage (wt %).", "[0000] TABLE 3-1 aluminum manganese phosphorus No. copper (Cu) zinc (Zn) lead (Pb) (Al) tin (Sn) (Mn) (P) boron (B) 3001 62.400 36.395 0.220 0.542 0.152 — 0.288 0.001 3002 60.000 39.245 0.100 0.163 0.406 0.075 — 0.009 3003 64.221 34.422 0.122 0.344 0.500 0.332 0.050 0.007 3004 63.443 35.250 0.203 0.700 0.351 0.050 — 0.001 3005 63.766 34.967 0.200 0.698 0.081 — 0.286 — 3006 64.250 35.061 0.152 0.100 0.130 — 0.300 0.005 3007 60.355 38.534 0.250 0.311 0.050 0.488 — 0.010 3008 65.000 34.110 0.100 0.211 0.077 0.500 — — [0074] Measurements about cutting performance, dezincification corrosion resistant performance, tensile strength, and elongation rate are performed on alloys with the above constituents in the cast state at room temperature, and the reference sample is a lead-containing brass with the same state and specification, i.e., C36000 alloy.", "[0075] Results of the measurements about tensile strength, elongation rate, cutting performance, and dezincification corrosion resistant performance are listed as follow: [0000] RELA- TENSILE ELONGA- TIVE STRENGTH TION DEZINCIFICATION CUTTING No. (N/mm 2 ) RATE (%) LAYER RATE 3001 348 19 ⊚ ⊚ 3002 359 17 ⊚ ⊚ 3003 385 15 ⊚ ⊚ 3004 379 26 ⊚ ⊚ 3005 389 18 ⊚ ⊚ 3006 392 27 ⊚ ⊚ 3007 311 39 ⊚ ⊚ 3008 303 30 ⊚ ⊚ C36000 394 9 X ⊚ alloy Embodiment 4 [0076] Table 4-1 lists inventive products 4 with 8 different constituents which are fabricated with the above process, which are respectively numbered as 4001-4008, each constituent being in the unit of weight percentage (wt %).", "[0000] TABLE 4-1 aluminum manganese phosphorus No. copper (Cu) zinc (Zn) lead (Pb) (Al) tin (Sn) (Mn) (P) boron (B) 4001 61.306 37.387 0.205 0.650 0.050 0.093 0.300 0.007 4002 61.560 37.539 0.100 0.165 0.413 0.170 0.050 0.001 4003 63.750 35.015 0.193 0.371 0.500 0.057 0.107 0.005 4004 62.105 36.704 0.211 0.502 0.333 0.050 0.083 0.010 4005 65.000 33.232 0.202 0.700 0.085 0.487 0.286 0.006 4006 62.950 35.663 0.188 0.304 0.132 0.498 0.260 0.003 4007 60.000 38.802 0.250 0.387 0.111 0.138 0.300 0.010 4008 61.432 37.539 0.135 0.100 0.050 0.500 0.234 0.008 [0077] Measurements about cutting performance, dezincification corrosion resistant performance, tensile strength, and elongation rate are performed on alloys with the above constituents in the cast state at room temperature, and the reference sample is a lead-containing brass with the same state and specification, i.e., C36000 alloy.", "[0078] Results of the measurements about tensile strength, elongation rate, cutting performance, and dezincification corrosion resistant performance are listed as follow: [0000] RELA- TENSILE ELONGA- TIVE STRENGTH TION DEZINCIFICATION CUTTING No. (N/mm 2 ) RATE (%) LAYER RATE 4001 302 29 ⊚ ⊚ 4002 319 19 ⊚ ⊚ 4003 383 23 ⊚ ⊚ 4004 344 26 ⊚ ⊚ 4005 389 27 ⊚ ⊚ 4006 332 37 ⊚ ⊚ 4007 311 39 ⊚ ⊚ 4008 303 20 ⊚ ⊚ C36000 394 9 X ⊚ alloy Embodiment 5 [0079] Table 5-1 lists inventive products 5 with 8 different constituents which are fabricated with the above process, which are respectively numbered as 5001-5008, each constituent being in the unit of weight percentage (wt %).", "[0000] TABLE 5-1 copper lead manganese aluminum phosphorus boron nickel chrome iron No. (Cu) zinc (Zn) (Pb) (Mn) (Al) tin (Sn) (P) (B) (Ni) (Cr) (Fe) 5001 61.783 37.673 0.100 0.067 0.155 0.050 0.105 0.002 — 0.065 — 5002 62.344 36.864 0.187 0.056 0.267 0.063 0.050 0.001 0.010 0.150 0.008 5003 65.000 33.638 0.250 0.500 0.100 0.172 0.211 0.010 0.007 0.097 0.015 5004 62.271 36.191 0.147 0.324 0.156 0.500 0.300 0.007 0.104 — — 5005 64.033 34.003 0.195 0.211 0.545 0.433 0.240 0.005 — 0.085 0.250 5006 63.078 34.939 0.179 0.085 0.700 0.408 0.177 0.001 0.250 0.073 0.110 5007 63.730 34.926 0.188 0.050 0.398 0.383 0.285 0.006 — 0.034 — 5008 60.000 38.865 0.158 0.075 0.400 0.217 0.102 0.008 0.062 0.008 0.105 [0080] Measurements about cutting performance, dezincification corrosion resistant performance, tensile strength, and elongation rate are performed on alloys with the above constituents in the cast state at room temperature, and the reference sample is a lead-containing brass with the same state and specification, i.e., C36000 alloy.", "[0081] Results of the measurements about tensile strength, elongation rate, cutting performance, and dezincification corrosion resistant performance are listed as follow: [0000] RELA- TENSILE ELONGA- TIVE STRENGTH TION DEZINCIFICATION CUTTING No. (N/mm 2 ) RATE (%) LAYER RATE 5001 312 19 ⊚ ⊚ 5002 319 21 ⊚ ⊚ 5003 390 30 ⊚ ⊚ 5004 334 17 ⊚ ⊚ 5005 389 18 ⊚ ⊚ 5006 337 25 ⊚ ⊚ 5007 321 19 ⊚ ⊚ 5008 301 21 ⊚ ⊚ C36000 394 9 X ⊚ alloy Embodiment 6 [0082] Table 6-1 lists inventive products 6 with 8 different constituents which are fabricated with the above process, which are respectively numbered as 6001-6008, each constituent being in the unit of weight percentage (wt %).", "[0000] TABLE 6-1 copper manganese aluminum phosphorus No. (Cu) zinc (Zn) lead (Pb) (Mn) (Al) tin (Sn) (P) boron (B) 6001 62.311 37.687 0.103 0.105 0.100 0.050 0.211 0.009 6002 60.000 39.824 0.117 0.057 0.322 0.121 0.300 0.010 6003 62.052 37.195 0.201 0.050 0.203 0.234 0.055 0.008 6004 62.261 36.613 0.250 0.213 0.104 0.500 0.050 0.007 6005 64.075 34.316 0.207 0.304 0.556 0.432 0.103 0.005 6006 63.011 35.151 0.184 0.500 0.607 0.331 0.213 0.001 6007 65.000 33.371 0.197 0.443 0.700 0.087 0.198 0.002 6008 60.079 39.028 0.100 0.116 0.433 0.102 0.137 0.003 [0083] Measurements about cutting performance, dezincification corrosion resistant performance, tensile strength, and elongation rate are performed on alloys with the above constituents in the cast state at room temperature, and the reference sample is a lead-containing brass with the same state and specification, i.e., C36000 alloy.", "[0084] Results of the measurements about tensile strength, elongation rate, cutting performance, and dezincification corrosion resistant performance are listed as follow: [0000] RELA- TENSILE ELONGA- TIVE STRENGTH TION DEZINCIFICATION CUTTING No. (N/mm 2 ) RATE (%) LAYER RATE 6001 344 30 ⊚ ⊚ 6002 313 31 ⊚ ⊚ 6003 340 27 ⊚ ⊚ 6004 399 17 ⊚ ⊚ 6005 351 21 ⊚ ⊚ 6006 339 23 ⊚ ⊚ 6007 355 19 ⊚ ⊚ 6008 307 21 ⊚ ⊚ C36000 394 9 X ⊚ alloy Embodiment 7 [0085] Table 7-1 lists inventive products 7 with 8 different constituents which are fabricated with the above process, which are respectively numbered as 7001-7008, each constituent being in the unit of weight percentage (wt %).", "[0000] TABLE 7-1 copper manganese aluminum phosphorus No. (Cu) zinc (Zn) lead (Pb) (Mn) (Al) tin (Sn) (P) boron (B) 7001 60.231 38.981 0.100 0.341 0.112 0.103 0.122 0.008 7002 61.054 38.264 0.196 0.117 0.231 0.076 0.050 0.010 7003 62.013 36.904 0.133 0.500 0.100 0.050 0.292 0.006 7004 62.613 35.805 0.100 0.493 0.540 0.143 0.300 0.004 7005 65.000 33.525 0.211 0.050 0.631 0.500 0.076 0.005 7006 63.011 35.287 0.250 0.210 0.700 0.410 0.123 0.007 7007 60.000 38.747 0.201 0.077 0.487 0.377 0.100 0.009 7008 61.123 37.779 0.197 0.192 0.391 0.218 0.097 0.001 [0086] Measurements about cutting performance, dezincification corrosion resistant performance, tensile strength, and elongation rate are performed on alloys with the above constituents in the cast state at room temperature, and the reference sample is a lead-containing brass with the same state and specification, i.e., C36000 alloy.", "[0087] Results of the measurements about tensile strength, elongation rate, cutting performance, and dezincification corrosion resistant performance are listed as follow: [0000] RELA- TENSILE ELONGA- TIVE STRENGTH TION DEZINCIFICATION CUTTING No. (N/mm 2 ) RATE (%) LAYER RATE 7001 327 23 ⊚ ⊚ 7002 332 17 ⊚ ⊚ 7003 341 18 ⊚ ⊚ 7004 354 31 ⊚ ⊚ 7005 397 37 ⊚ ⊚ 7006 393 39 ⊚ ⊚ 7007 300 28 ⊚ ⊚ 7008 301 27 ⊚ ⊚ C36000 394 9 X ⊚ alloy Embodiment 8 [0088] Table 8-1 lists inventive products 8 with 8 different constituents which are fabricated with the above process, which are respectively numbered as 8001-8008, each constituent being in the unit of weight percentage (wt %).", "[0000] TABLE 8-1 copper manganese aluminum phosphorus No. (Cu) zinc (Zn) lead (Pb) (Mn) (Al) tin (Sn) (P) boron (B) 8001 60.000 39.615 0.105 0.052 0.123 — 0.102 0.001 8002 62.031 37.395 0.197 0.121 0.100 0.102 0.050 — 8003 62.178 36.995 0.250 0.455 — 0.112 — 0.008 8004 65.000 33.839 0.100 0.500 0.341 0.050 0.158 0.010 8005 64.175 35.328 0.211 — — — 0.277 0.007 8006 64.097 34.142 0.233 0.314 0.407 0.500 0.300 0.005 8007 63.050 35.487 0.102 0.218 0.518 0.411 0.212 — 8008 61.071 38.101 0.112 0050 0.700 — — 0.009 [0089] Measurements about cutting performance, dezincification corrosion resistant performance, tensile strength, and elongation rate are performed on alloys with the above constituents in the cast state at room temperature, and the reference sample is a lead-containing brass with the same state and specification, i.e., C36000 alloy.", "[0090] Results of the measurements about tensile strength, elongation rate, cutting performance, and dezincification corrosion resistant performance are listed as follow: [0000] RELA- TENSILE ELONGA- TIVE STRENGTH TION DEZINCIFICATION CUTTING No. (N/mm 2 ) RATE (%) LAYER RATE 8001 302 23 ⊚ ⊚ 8002 311 27 ⊚ ⊚ 8003 345 32 ⊚ ⊚ 8004 342 24 ⊚ ⊚ 8005 367 37 ⊚ ⊚ 8006 366 29 ⊚ ⊚ 8007 339 31 ⊚ ⊚ 8008 307 27 ⊚ ⊚ C36000 394 9 X ⊚ alloy Embodiment 9 [0091] Table 9-1 lists inventive products 9 with 8 different constituents which are fabricated with the above process, which are respectively numbered as 9001-9008, each constituent being in the unit of weight percentage (wt %).", "[0000] TABLE 9-1 copper lead manganese aluminum phosphorus boron nickel chrome iron No. (Cu) zinc (Zn) (Pb) (Mn) (Al) tin (Sn) (P) (B) (Ni) (Cr) (Fe) 9001 61.058 38.409 0.112 — — 0.098 0.073 — — — 0.250 9002 62.025 36.933 0.109 0.102 0.500 0.050 0.050 0.010 0.009 0.113 0.099 9003 60.000 39.554 0.100 0.050 — — — 0.007 0.215 — 0.074 9004 61.256 36.743 0.207 0.321 0.700 0.134 0.231 0.008 0.250 0.150 — 9005 65.000 34.019 0.198 0.076 0.100 — 0.300 — 0.125 0.078 0.104 9006 63.056 34.935 0.222 0.500 0.214 0.500 0.289 0.001 0.123 0.043 0.117 9007 63.340 35.447 0.250 — 0.566 — 0.250 0.004 0.143 — — 9008 60.870 37.906 0.234 — 0.452 0.430 — — — 0.108 — [0092] Measurements about cutting performance, dezincification corrosion resistant performance, tensile strength, and elongation rate are performed on alloys with the above constituents in the cast state at room temperature, and the reference sample is a lead-containing brass with the same state and specification, i.e., C36000 alloy.", "[0093] Results of the measurements about tensile strength, elongation rate, cutting performance, and dezincification corrosion resistant performance are listed as follow: [0000] RELA- TENSILE ELONGA- TIVE STRENGTH TION DEZINCIFICATION CUTTING No. (N/mm 2 ) RATE (%) LAYER RATE 9001 317 27 ⊚ ⊚ 9002 324 19 ⊚ ⊚ 9003 303 17 ⊚ ⊚ 9004 378 36 ⊚ ⊚ 9005 389 17 ⊚ ⊚ 9006 332 37 ⊚ ⊚ 9007 391 39 ⊚ ⊚ 9008 303 21 ⊚ ⊚ C36000 394 9 X ⊚ alloy Embodiment 10 [0094] Table 10-1 lists inventive products 1 with 5 different constituents which are fabricated with the above process0, which are respectively numbered as 10001-10005, each constituent being in the unit of weight percentage (wt %).", "[0000] TABLE 10-1 phosphorus No. copper (Cu) zinc (Zn) lead (Pb) tin (Sn) (P) 10001 60.000 39.740 0.113 0.089 0.056 10002 62.345 37.272 0.100 0.050 0.231 10003 65.000 33.964 0.234 0.500 0.300 10004 61.983 37.366 0.247 0.324 0.078 10005 64.037 35.552 0.250 0.109 0.050 [0095] Measurements about cutting performance, dezincification corrosion resistant performance, tensile strength, and elongation rate are performed on alloys with the above constituents in the cast state at room temperature, and the reference sample is a lead-containing brass with the same state and specification, i.e., C36000 alloy.", "[0096] Results of the measurements about tensile strength, elongation rate, cutting performance, and dezincification corrosion resistant performance are listed as follow: [0000] RELA- TENSILE ELONGA- TIVE STRENGTH TION DEZINCIFICATION CUTTING No. (N/mm 2 ) RATE (%) LAYER RATE 10001 300 29 ⊚ ⊚ 10002 337 19 ⊚ ⊚ 10003 389 33 ⊚ ⊚ 10004 364 26 ⊚ ⊚ 10005 379 27 ⊚ ⊚ C36000 394 9 X ⊚ alloy Embodiment 11 [0097] Table 11-1 lists inventive products 11 with 8 different constituents which are fabricated with the above process, which are respectively numbered as 11001-11008, each constituent being in the unit of weight percentage (wt %).", "[0000] TABLE 11-1 copper manganese aluminum phosphorus No. (Cu) zinc (Zn) lead (Pb) (Mn) (Al) tin (Sn) (P) boron (B) 11001 63.521 36.133 0.119 0.098 — 0.067 0.050 0.010 11002 62.143 37.196 0.234 0.050 0.198 0.054 0.123 — 11003 60.000 39.228 0.235 0.178 0.100 0.103 0.150 0.006 11004 63.015 35.844 0.200 — 0.655 0.050 0.231 0.003 11005 65.000 33.061 0.250 0.500 0.543 0.343 0.300 0.001 11006 61.197 37.214 0.179 0.377 0.433 0.500 0.098 — 11007 61.132 37.588 0.150 0.236 0.231 0.476 0.178 0.007 11008 62.273 36.599 0.100 — 0.700 0.214 0.104 0.008 [0098] Measurements about cutting performance, dezincification corrosion resistant performance, tensile strength, and elongation rate are performed on alloys with the above constituents in the cast state at room temperature, and the reference sample is a lead-containing brass with the same state and specification, i.e., C36000 alloy.", "[0099] Results of the measurements about tensile strength, elongation rate, cutting performance, and dezincification corrosion resistant performance are listed as follow: [0000] RELA- TENSILE ELONGA- TIVE STRENGTH TION DEZINCIFICATION CUTTING No. (N/mm 2 ) RATE (%) LAYER RATE 11001 361 23 ⊚ ⊚ 11002 354 33 ⊚ ⊚ 11003 317 39 ⊚ ⊚ 11004 336 36 ⊚ ⊚ 11005 401 41 ⊚ ⊚ 11006 321 26 ⊚ ⊚ 11007 300 23 ⊚ ⊚ 11008 341 21 ⊚ ⊚ C36000 394 9 X ⊚ alloy Embodiment 12 [0100] Table 12-1 lists inventive products 12 with 8 different constituents which are fabricated with the above process, which are respectively numbered as 12001-12008, each constituent being in the unit of weight percentage (wt %).", "[0000] TABLE 2-1 copper lead manganese aluminum phosphorus boron nickel chrome iron No. (Cu) zinc (Zn) (Pb) (Mn) (Al) tin (Sn) (P) (B) (Ni) (Cr) (Fe) 12001 61.148 38.358 0.250 0.098 — 0.088 0.050 0.005 — — 0.003 12002 62.434 36.989 0.123 0.050 0.102 0.103 0.076 0.001 0.122 — — 12003 60.000 39.131 0.108 — 0.234 0.231 0.136 0.010 — 0.150 — 12004 60.166 38.272 0.197 0.232 — 0.455 0.220 0.007 0.250 0.098 0.103 12005 60.000 37.850 0.100 0.341 0.452 0.500 0.300 — 0.207 — 0.250 12006 62.126 36.129 0.102 0.500 0.100 0.341 0.276 0.006 0.198 0.109 0.113 12007 65.000 33.876 0.113 — 0.673 0.122 0.087 0.009 0.113 0.007 — 12008 61.430 37.130 0.150 0.476 0.700 0.050 0.059 — — 0.004 0.001 [0101] Measurements about cutting performance, dezincification corrosion resistant performance, tensile strength, and elongation rate are performed on alloys with the above constituents in the cast state at room temperature, and the reference sample is a lead-containing brass with the same state and specification, i.e., C36000 alloy.", "[0102] Results of the measurements about tensile strength, elongation rate, cutting performance, and dezincification corrosion resistant performance are listed as follow: [0000] RELA- TENSILE ELONGA- TIVE STRENGTH TION DEZINCIFICATION CUTTING No. (N/mm 2 ) RATE (%) LAYER RATE 12001 312 29 ⊚ ⊚ 12002 317 19 ⊚ ⊚ 12003 303 13 ⊚ ⊚ 12004 314 16 ⊚ ⊚ 12005 309 17 ⊚ ⊚ 12006 332 28 ⊚ ⊚ 12007 391 29 ⊚ ⊚ 12008 311 21 ⊚ ⊚ C36000 394 9 X ⊚ alloy [0103] As can be seen, the lead-free bismuth-free silicon-free brass alloy of the invention can be formed by adding various constituents in respective ratio, and then subjecting them to a process in a high-frequency melting furnace.", "The resulting brass alloy has a mechanical processability which is comparable with that of the existing lead-containing brass, has an excellent tensile strength, elongation rate, and dezincification resistance, and has a low content of lead.", "As a result, the brass alloy is suitable for replacing the existing lead-containing brass alloy and for producing parts like faucet and sanitary ware.", "[0104] Although the invention has been described with respect to embodiments thereof, these embodiments do not intend to limit the invention.", "The ordinary skilled in the art can made modifications and changes to the invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.", "Thus, the protection of the invention is defined by the appended claims." ]

[ "CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/189,838, filed Mar. 16, 2000 by Merril et al.", ", entitled “System and Method for Controlling Force Applied to and Manipulation of Medical Instruments,” which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.", "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Minimally invasive techniques for providing medical examinations and therapies frequently employ endoscopes, such as a bronchoscope, ureteroscope, or flexible sigmoidoscope.", "Endoscopes such as these typically employ fiber optic or CCD imaging devices to enable the practitioner to visually inspect otherwise inaccessible areas of the anatomy such as the lungs, the ureter and kidneys, the colon, etc.", "These endoscopes also typically contain a tube, called the working channel, through which solutions such as anesthetics can be administered and bodily materials such as mucus can be withdrawn, typically via suction.", "In addition to use in administering and removing liquids or other material, the working channel of an endoscope is used to pass slender instruments to perform other functions at the distal end of the scope, under visual guidance through the endoscope.", "Instruments typically used in this manner include forceps for grasping objects or for pinching and removing small tissue samples, biopsy needles for removing deep tissue samples in the lumen of a needle, snares or baskets for capturing and withdrawing objects such as an aspirated peanut from the lungs or a kidney stone from the calyxes of the kidney, and a wide variety of other tools.", "Manipulation of these tools requires simultaneous manipulation or stabilization of the endoscope, along with manipulation of the working channel tool itself.", "The endoscope can typically be maneuvered along three, four or more degrees of freedom, including insertion and withdrawal, rotation, and tip flexion in one or two dimensions (up/down and/or left/right).", "The working channel tool is maneuvered along an additional two or more degrees of freedom, including insertion/withdrawal, rotation, and tool actuation, etc.", "Tool actuation can include, for example, opening and closing the jaws of a biopsy forceps, controlling the plunge of a biopsy needle, actuating a cauterization or ablation tool, pulsing a laser, or opening and closing a snare or basket.", "The tasks of manipulating and stabilizing the three or more degrees of freedom of the endoscope, while simultaneously manipulating the multiple degrees of freedom of the working channel tool are difficult to perform, and frequently the practitioner uses an assistant to manipulate one or more of the degrees of freedom, such as working channel tool actuation.", "SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a device or system that extends the functionality of the working channel of an endoscope by adding devices for sensing motion of the working channel tool and for application of motive force to assist the practitioner in manipulation of the instrument in the working channel.", "In one mode of use, the system uses drive wheels driven by a motor or other device to permit the practitioner to quickly exchange working channel tools, by smoothly moving the current tool out of the working channel, and then quickly moving in the new tool to a point just short of exiting the working channel.", "At this point the practitioner takes over and performs the fine motor skills necessary to move the tool out of the endoscope and into a position to interact with the anatomy.", "In another mode of operation the physician manipulates tools manually and is provided with tactile guidance via a set of driven or braked drive wheels.", "One form of guidance is the provision of notification that the tool is approaching the end of the endoscope and is about to emerge from the endoscope.", "A braking or other tactile force would signal nearing the end of the working channel, enabling the user to move the tool quickly within the working channel without danger of moving the tool too rapidly out of the working channel, thereby reducing the risk of damage or injury to tissue adjacent the distal end of the endoscope.", "In another embodiment, the sensor and drive assembly is coupled to a catheter through which instruments and tools are passed into the vascular system.", "For instance, in the process of implantation of a heart pacing lead, the cardiologist must make a number of fine adjustments in the position of a guide catheter, then attempt to stabilize it while inserting an additional element through the lumen of the stabilized catheter.", "In one mode, the sensor/drive assembly is commanded to maintain a position using passive or active braking force.", "In another mode, the tip of the catheter is instrumented and an active mechanism commands insertion/retraction and roll increments to stabilize the actual position of the distal end.", "In yet another embodiment, the sensor and drive assembly is instrumented with strain gauges or other devices to detect forces encountered at the distal end of the catheter or working channel tool.", "These forces are then amplified and displayed to the user via a motor or other motive mechanism.", "In another embodiment, the sensor and drive assembly detect and modify motions, for example detecting and filtering out high frequency jitter caused by the user.", "This superstabilization mode is useful in situations where fine motor control is required.", "In another embodiment, signals from a device inserted in the working channel are used to command the motive device to maintain a particular quality of electrical contact with the anatomy.", "In this situation, electrical impedance is changed by the force of contact.", "A desired quality of contact is initially attained by the physician, then the device is commanded to control contact force automatically to maintain the particular quality of contact.", "The above and still further features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description of specific embodiments thereof, particularly when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals in the various figures are utilized to designate like components.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 a illustrates an unmodified endoscope with working channel and working channel tool.", "FIG. 1 b illustrates an endoscope modified to provide a sensor and control element in accordance with the present invention.", "FIG. 2 illustrates an endovascular tool inserted into the vascular anatomy, combined with a sensor and control element in accordance with the present invention.", "FIG. 3 illustrates an axial motion sensor control element in accordance with the present invention.", "FIG. 4 illustrates addition of a rotational motion sensor and control element to the device in FIG. 3 .", "DETAILED DESCRIPTION FIG. 1 a illustrates an unmodified endoscope of the prior art, showing the endoscope body 2 attached to the endoscope tube assembly 3 .", "Working channel tool 4 is inserted into working channel orifice 6 in endoscope body 2 .", "Working channel tool 4 slides through working channel tube 1 and exits the distal end of endoscope tube assembly 3 through working channel orifice 5 .", "FIG. 1 b illustrates one embodiment of a motion sensor and control element 10 of the present invention, which is affixed to the working channel orifice 6 of an endoscope.", "Working channel tool 4 passes through motion sensor and control element 10 and through working channel orifice 6 .", "Normal manipulation and operation of the working channel to possible through the body of motion sensor and control element 10 .", "Motion sensor and control element 10 can assist in the control of the working channel tool 4 , as exemplified in the embodiments presented below.", "The working tool 4 may be any of a variety of medical instruments used in endovascular procedures, endoscopy or other medical procedures.", "For example, the working tool can be a guidewire, a catheter, a heart pacing lead, or a stylet.", "The tool end that enters and operates on or interacts with the body can include one or more of any of a variety of tools, such as a blade, a serrated edge, a biopsy tool, a trocar tip, an ultrasonic tool, a needle, a vibrating tip, a suturing tool, a retractor, an electrosurgical cutter, an electrosurgical coagulator, a forceps, a needle holder, scissors, an irrigator, an aspirator, a medicator, a laser tool, a cryogenic tool, a flexible steering or guiding tip, and/or a camera.", "For simplicity, the term “working channel”", "as used herein is intended to refer to any tube that can guide a medical tool, including catheters, tubes, endoscopic working channels, or other channels.", "FIG. 2 illustrates an endovascular application of the motion sensor and control element 10 of the present invention.", "Motion sensor and control element 10 is coupled to introducer sheath 7 (which can be considered a “working channel”", "herein), which pierces skin 8 and the wall of blood vessel 9 .", "Elongated endovascular tool 4 passes through motion sensor and control unit 10 , through introducer sheath 7 , and into the lumen of blood vessel 9 .", "FIG. 3 illustrates one embodiment of sensor and control element 10 which measures the motion of and applies force to the body of the working channel tool 4 in its translational degree of freedom.", "Motion sensor and control element 10 contains a sensor device for measuring translational motion of the body of working channel tool 4 .", "As the elongate portion of working channel tool 4 passes between motion sensing and control wheel 18 and idler wheel 13 , it causes rotation of each wheel.", "Wheel 18 is affixed to shaft 15 of an actuator 12 that is supported by bracket 20 .", "In turn, transparent optical encoder disk 14 is affixed to the opposite end of motor shaft 15 .", "Encoder reader 16 passes light through transparent encoder disk 14 .", "As transparent encoder disk 14 rotates, marks imprinted on the surface pass in front of the light source, occluding alternately light passing through the disk.", "A plurality of light sensors in encoder reader 16 measure the varying light and dark patterns and determine the amount and direction of rotational motion of encoder disk 14 .", "Control unit 24 receives motion signals from encoder reader 16 corresponding to translational motion of working channel tool 4 .", "Actuator 12 is operative to provide forces on the working channel tool 4 in its translational degree of freedom, as transmitted by control wheel 18 to the tool 4 .", "The actuator 12 is controlled by control signals from the control unit 24 .", "In some embodiments, the control unit 24 can determine the amount of force to be output from actuator 12 by examining the current signals from the encoder reader 16 indicating the current position or motion of the tool 4 , and then control the actuator 12 to output that force.", "For example, the current position of the tool 4 may indicate when force is to be output and/or the amount of force to be output, as described below.", "Control unit 24 can include a microprocessor, ASIC, or other type of processor or controller, for example.", "Other types of sensors, besides the optical type of sensor described above, can also be used to sense the position and/or amount of motion of working channel tool 4 to determine insertion distance;", "for example, analog potentiometers, other types of optical sensors, magnetic sensors, etc.", ", can be used.", "Some embodiments may use absolute sensors instead of the relative sensor described above;", "for example, successive markings can be placed on the tool 4 and detected by an optical or other type of detector when the markings are moved past the sensor to determine the position of the tool.", "Actuator 12 is an electronically-controlled device that modifies the force on the tool 4 .", "For example, actuator 12 can be a DC motor, stepper motor, moving magnet actuator, voice coil, hydraulic or pneumatic actuator, or a variety of other types of actuators able to output a force on the working tool 4 .", "Actuator 12 can also be a passive actuator, such as a magnetic particle brake, fluid brake, or other form of brake, which causes a controllable resistance to motion of the tool 4 based on control signals from control unit 24 .", "Multiple actuators 12 may also be used, of same or differing types.", "In one mode of the present invention, the total distance of insertion of the working channel tool is measured and controlled by the motion sensor and control element.", "For example, control unit 24 can be provided with, or can measure (using the sensor) the total insertion distance of working channel tool 4 .", "This distance can be used in assisting control of the tool 4 .", "For example, the user or practitioner can manually move the tool 4 within the working channel.", "However, when a preset limit, point, or distance is approached by the front (distal) end of the tool, such as the exit point of the channel, control signals can be transmitted to actuator 12 to produce torque necessary to slow and then halt further motion of motion sensing and control wheel 18 , thereby slowing and then halting further insertion of working channel tool 4 .", "In other modes of operation, if the practitioner inserts a tool into the working channel, the actuator 12 can be used to move the tool 4 into and through the working channel, to a point just short of exiting the channel, so that the tool is then ready for manual use by the practitioner, i.e. the practitioner then moves the tool out of the endoscope and into a position to interact with the anatomy.", "The control unit 24 can use the signals from sensor of the element 10 to determine the position of the tool.", "In some embodiments, the drive wheel driven by actuator 12 can permit the practitioner to quickly exchange working channel tools, by smoothly moving a current tool out of the working channel, and then quickly moving in the newly-inserted tool to a point just short of exiting the working channel at its other end.", "In yet another mode of operation, the physician can manipulate the tools manually and is provided with tactile guidance via the actuator 12 .", "One form of guidance is the provision of a haptic notification that the tool is approaching or has approached a desired location or has traveled a predetermined distance.", "For example, the haptic notification can indicate that the tool has reached the end of the working channel or catheter and is about to emerge from the channel.", "A braking or resistive force, or other tactile force, can signal that the tool is nearing the end of the working channel, enabling the user to move the tool quickly within the working channel without danger of moving the tool too rapidly out of the working channel, thereby reducing the risk of damage or injury to tissue adjacent the distal end of the endoscope.", "The notification can take a variety of forms, from a single pulse of resistance, a barrier force (continuing resistive force), a vibration, damping force (having a magnitude based on velocity of the tool in one or more directions), spring force, a series of particular jolts or actuated detents, etc.", "In another embodiment, the notification can indicate each increment or predetermined distance that the tool has been moved by the user.", "For example, a detent, vibration, or jolt can be output by actuator 12 for each 10 centimeters that the tool is moved into the working channel, or the notification can occur at half or quarter points along the channel.", "In another embodiment, the sensor and control element 10 can provide forces on a catheter through which instruments and tools are passed into the vascular system.", "For instance, in the process of implantation of a heart pacing lead, the cardiologist must make a number of fine adjustments in the position of a guide catheter, then attempt to stabilize it while inserting an additional element (such as a lead tool) through the lumen of the stabilized catheter.", "In one mode, the sensor and control element 10 can be commanded to output forces on the catheter to maintain it at a desired position using passive or active force from actuator 12 .", "In another embodiment, the tip of the catheter can be instrumented and an active mechanism may command insertion/retraction and roll increments of the catheter to stabilize the actual position of the distal end.", "In another embodiment, the sensor and control element 10 can detect and modify motions of the working tool 4 .", "For example, the sensor of element 10 can detect high frequency jitter caused by the user, based on short, undesired motions or oscillations the user may be conveying to the tool.", "These motions can then be filtered out after being detected by providing a force in the opposite direction by actuator 12 to cancel or reduce the magnitude of the jitter.", "This superstabilization mode can be useful in situations where fine motor control is required.", "In another embodiment, signals from a device or tool inserted in the working channel are used to command the motive device/tool to maintain a particular quality of electrical contact with the anatomy, e.g. in a heart pacing lead application.", "For this type of situation, electrical impedance is typically changed if the magnitude of the force of contact of the tool with the anatomical part is changed.", "The present invention can be used to maintain or achieve a desired quality of contact (or contact force).", "For example, a desired quality of contact can be initially attained by the physician using the tool manually.", "Then, the sensor and control element 10 can be commanded to control the contact force automatically to maintain that particular quality of contact by detecting the electrical impedance resulting from the desired contact;", "if the electrical impedance goes above or below a desired threshold, the force on the tool from actuator 12 is adjusted to provide the desired electrical contact.", "Other embodiments may use a force sensor on the distal end of the tool to detect the current contact force and maintain a desired contact force.", "In another embodiment of the invention, the forces on the working channel tool 4 applied by the user are measured and used in force determination, where motion sensing and control unit 10 can effectively amplify or reduce forces applied by the user to tool 4 .", "In this embodiment, handle 17 can be disposed adjacent force-torque sensor 19 which in turn is disposed adjacent working channel tool 4 such that translational force applied by the user to working channel tool 4 via handle 17 is sensed by force-torque sensor 19 .", "A control algorithm described below and residing in control unit 24 receives signals resulting from applied force measured by force-torque sensor 19 and in response produces control signals which are transmitted to actuator 12 to control the motion of wheel 18 .", "Wheel 18 can be moved either by force applied by actuator 12 or by frictional forces applied via working channel tool 4 .", "When working channel tool 4 is held motionless by the user, force applied to wheel 18 via shaft 15 of actuator 12 is opposed by, and therefore sensed by, torque sensor 22 which is attached to bracket 20 which is in turn fastened to base 11 of sensing and control element 10 .", "Force applied to working channel tool 4 by control wheel 18 is sensed by torque sensor 22 and denoted F W .", "This force is added to force applied by the user (F U ) to produce the effective force at the distal end of the working channel tool F WC , as expressed in the following equation of equilibrium: F WC =F U +F W Equation 1 The control algorithm described below and contained in controller 24 dynamically modifies the force applied by the wheel 18 , F W , to control working channel tool force, F WC in response to force applied by the user F U .", "In particular, if the desired relationship between user applied forces and working tool forces is expressed by function f( ) as: F WC =f ( F U ) Equation 2 Combining these equations and solving for Fw provides the following control algorithm: Fw=f ( Fu )− F U Equation 3 Control unit 24 receives signals corresponding to user applied force F U and control wheel force F W and adjusts control signals transmitted to actuator 12 to implement the control algorithm of equation 3.", "In a different embodiment, the sensor and control element 10 can be instrumented with strain gauges or other devices to detect or measure forces encountered at the distal end of the catheter or working channel tool.", "These forces can then be amplified and displayed to the user via actuator 12 or other motive mechanism to allow the practitioner to more easily control or determine the behavior of the distal end of the moved catheter or tool.", "FIG. 4 illustrates another embodiment of the sensing and control element 10 of the present invention, in which rotation and torque of the tool 4 is sensed and controlled in addition to sensing translation and controlling axial force as described in FIG. 3 .", "In FIG. 4, as the elongated portion of working channel tool 4 rotates between motion sensing and control wheel 28 and idler wheel 26 , it causes rotation of each wheel.", "Wheel 28 is affixed to shaft 29 of actuator 30 .", "In turn, transparent optical encoder disk 34 is affixed to the opposite end of motor shaft 29 of actuator 30 .", "In turn, transparent optical encoder disk 34 is affixed to the opposite end of motor shaft 29 .", "Encoder reader 38 passes light through transparent encoder disk 34 .", "As transparent encoder disk rotates, marks imprinted on the surface pass in front of the light source, occluding alternately light passing through the disk.", "A plurality of light sensors in encoder reader 38 measure the varying light and dark patterns and determine the amount and direction of rotational motion of encoder disk 34 .", "Control unit 24 receives motion signals from encoder reader 38 corresponding to rotational motion of working channel tool 4 .", "Control unit 24 measures the rotation of working channel tool 4 using these signals.", "Actuator 30 can be similar to actuator 12 , where control unit 24 provides control signals to actuator 30 to output a force in the rotational degree of freedom of the tool 4 .", "As described above, both the sensor 34 / 38 and actuator 30 can take a variety of different forms.", "In one embodiment, when a preset limit to rotation is approached by the tool 4 , a control signal is produced by control unit 24 and transmitted to actuator 30 to produce torque necessary to slow and then halt further motion of motion sensing and control wheel 28 , thereby slowing and then halting further rotation of working channel tool 4 .", "Other embodiments can be similar to those described above for the translational sensing and actuation of the tool 4 ;", "for example, a haptic indication can be output to the user when the tool 4 is rotated a predetermined rotational distance (e.g., number of degrees).", "In some embodiments of element 10 of FIG. 4, the torque applied by the user to working channel tool 4 can be measured, and motion sensing and control unit 10 can be used to amplify or reduce the torques applied by the user to tool 4 .", "In FIG. 4, the handle 17 is disposed adjacent a force-torque sensor 19 which in turn is disposed adjacent working channel tool 4 such that rotational force applied by the user to working channel tool 4 via handle 17 is sensed by force-torque sensor 19 .", "A control algorithm described below and residing in control unit 24 receives signals resulting from applied force measured by force-torque sensor 19 and in response produces control signals which are transmitted to actuator 30 to control the motion of wheel 28 .", "Wheel 28 can be moved either by force applied by motor 12 or by frictional forces applied via working channel tool 4 .", "When working channel tool 4 is held motionless by the user, force applied to wheel 28 via shaft 29 of actuator 30 is opposed by, and therefore sensed by torque sensor 32 which is attached to bracket 36 which is in turn fastened to base 11 of sensing and control element 10 .", "Torque applied to working channel tool 4 by control wheel 28 is sensed by torque sensor 32 and denoted T W .", "This torque is added to torque applied by the user (T U ) to produce the effective torque at the distal end of the working channel tool T WC , as expressed in the following equation of equilibrium: T WC =T U +T W Equation 4 The control algorithm described below and contained in controller 24 dynamically modifies the torque applied by the wheel 28 , T W , to control working channel tool torque, T WC , in response to force applied by the user T U .", "In particular, if the desired relationship between user applied torque and working tool torque is expressed by function q( ) as: T WC =q ( T U ) Equation 5 Combining these equations and solving for Tw provides the following control algorithm: Tw=q ( Tu )− T U Equation 6 Control unit 24 receives signals corresponding to user applied torque T U and control wheel torque T W and adjusts control signals transmitted to motor 30 to implement the control algorithm of equation 6.", "The sensor 19 can include two sensors in appropriate embodiments: one sensor to measure the axial force applied by the user to the tool 4 , and another sensor to measure the torque applied to the user to the tool 4 .", "Thus, sensing and control unit 10 as shown in FIG. 4 can provide rotational or translational position control, as well as translational force and rotational torque control to working channel tools.", "As shown in FIG. 2, sensing and control unit 10 can be used to control any elongated medical instrument, such as a catheter used in interventional radiology.", "While this invention has been described in terms of several preferred embodiments, it is contemplated that alterations, permutations, and equivalents thereof will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the specification and study of the drawings.", "For example, many different types of sensors and actuators can be used to sense tool position or motion and to output tactile sensations to the user.", "Furthermore, many of the features described in one embodiment can be used interchangeably with other embodiments.", "Furthermore, certain terminology has been used for the purposes of descriptive clarity, and not to limit the present invention." ]

[ "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The formation of molded products, typically hollow form products by rotational molding is widely practiced.", "Colored products have been formed by incorporating a pigment in the powdered plastic that is charged to the molds and the subsequent tumbling of the molds in a heated oven along two axes thoroughly incorporates the pigment throughout the molded product.", "This procedure, however, can only be used to produce a single colored product and decorative trim and/or printed matter cannot be imparted to the product by this procedure.", "By far, the most prevalent plastic used for rotomolding is polyethylene, usually high density polyethylene.", "This material is extremely resistent to accepting printed matter or decoration, usually requiring some pretreatment such as flame oxidation and the like to render the surface receptive to colored paints, inks and the like.", "Other methods have been to apply decoration and printed matter to the molded surfaces in the form of adhesive decals and the like.", "Although rotomolding is known and has been practiced for many years, no technique has yet been developed for imparting printed matter and decoration to the surface of rotomolded products during the rotational molding procedure.", "The rotational molding procedure briefly comprises charging the powdered plastic to a metal mold which is closed and supported on an arm for rotation about two major axes.", "The mold is placed inside an oven and heated therein to molding temperatures, typically from 500° F. to about 800° F. while it is rotated about two major axes, tumbling the powdered plastic against the heated interior mold surfaces where the powders adhere and collesce into an integral product.", "Methods for imprinting or decorating the surfaces of the molded product have, heretofore, been believed to be inapplicable to rotomolding because of the random mixing and tumbling of the polymer particles and pigment within the mold during the molding step.", "Consequently, no technique has heretofore been developed for achieving a molded pattern of printed characters or decoration in the surfaces of rotomolded products.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION This invention comprises imparting a molded pattern of printed characters, decoration and the like in the surfaces of rotomolded products.", "The method is employed during the rotomolding process and briefly comprises precoating the interior surfaces of the mold cavity with a thin coating of an oil suspension of pigments.", "The coating can be applied to the interior mold surfaces by brushing, spraying, screen printing and the like to deposit a thin coating of the oil suspension of pigment.", "The coating thickness is no greater than about 0.005 inch and the oil has a sufficient viscosity, typically greater than about 80 Saybolt seconds at 100° F. to insure that the layer does not migrate or drain from the surface after its application.", "The oil suspension of pigment is applied to the surface in one or more treatments as required to deposit single or multiple colors desired for the appearance of the finished product.", "After application of the oil-pigment suspension, the mold cavity is charged with powdered plastic, typically with high density polyethylene, the cavity is closed by joining the halves of the mold and conventional rotomolding techniques are employed to obtain the molded product.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will be described with reference to the FIGURES of which: FIG. 1 illustrates the positioning of a stencil or silkscreen in a mold cavity;", "FIG. 2 illustrates the application of the pigment oil suspension;", "FIG. 3 illustrates loading of the mold cavity with the powdered plastic;", "FIG. 4 is a side view of the closed mold used in the rotomolding procedure;", "and FIG. 5 illustrates rotomolding of the product.", "DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The invention is applied to the application of printed matter or decoration on the exterior surfaces of rotomolded products.", "The method can be practiced with a conventional mold used in rotomolding.", "These molds are commonly formed of mold halves such as mold 10 having a mold cavity 12 and a front flange 14.", "The mold itself can have irregular contours and configuration;", "for simplification a simple rectangular-cavity mold is illustrated.", "In the application, the surface of the product which is formed against the sidewall 16 is to be provided with an artistic illustration or printed matter.", "A stencil, screen print and the like 18 is placed against surface 16 as illustrated in FIG. 1. This transfer pattern has decorative or printing portions 18.", "The invention can be applied to molds without any pretreatment and without prior coating with a parting agent.", "Screen printing is the preferred method for application of decorative or printed matter to the mold.", "The screen printing method is used as conveniently practiced using a finely woven bolting cloth, although Nylon, Dacron or wire mesh of phosphor bronze or Monel are also applicable.", "The screen has been prepared in advance in accordance with the conventional practice by indirect or direct photographic methods or by a lacquer film stencil method.", "Referring now to FIG. 2, the screen 18 is in position in the mold cavity 12, secured against surface 16.", "The pigment oil suspension is applied on the surface of the screen and is worked through the open portions of the weave of the screen using a conventional squeezie 20, roller or other tool for transferring the pigment and sus- After the pigment oil suspension has been applied to the desired interior surfaces of the mold 10, the screen is removed and the mold is charged with the powdered polymer as shown in FIG. 3. The powdered polymer can be charged to the mold immediately while the pigment oil suspension is still wet or in liquid film form.", "The powdered polymer 22 is supplied from a hopper or dispenser 24 and the charge 26 of the polymer is loosely received within the cavity of the mold half 10.", "The rotomolding process conventionally uses powdered high density polyethylene, powdered polycarbonates, nylons, low density polyethylenes and acetels have also been employed in some applications.", "The printing or decorating method of this invention can be applied to these polymers or to any other polymers which can be molded in rotomolding process, care being exercised only to insure that the pigments employed are compatible with the particular polymer being molded.", "The polymer powders typically are of a size range passing a 30 mesh, U.S. Standard size screen.", "Conventional size ranges, which are useful herein, are from 30 to 35 mesh and 50 to 60 mesh, for the powdered polymer.", "These two sizes are most commonly available and are preferred for that reason.", "Other sizes can be used, as desired, or necessary for the desired rotomolding.", "After the powdered polymer is charged to the mold, the mold halves 10 and 10'", "are assembled by securing their flanges 14 into butting engagement.", "The mold halves are clamped together by suitable clamps such as 26 and are secured to a supporting plate 28.", "The rotomolding method is practiced by positioning the assembled molds 30 and 32 on a rotating arm assembly.", "The arm assembly comprises a first rotatable shaft 34 which receives a second concentric rotatable shaft 36.", "The shafts are provided with driven gears 38 and 40 carried by shafts 34 and 36, respectively.", "The rotatable arm assembly projects through a wall 42 of a heated enclosure, typically an oven and terminates therein.", "The shaft 36 distally bears a bevel gear 42 which engages a pair of bevel gears 44 and 46 that are rotatably mounted on stub shafts carried by shaft 34.", "The gears 44 and 46 are secured to stub shafts 48 and 50 that are secured to the supporting plates 28 and 28'", "of the mold assemblies.", "In the rotomolding process, the oven enclosure 41 is heated to a temperature from about 500° F. to about 800° F., preferably from 600° F. to about 700° F., and the molds and arm assembly is slowly rotated about the axis of the arms 34 and 36 as shown by the solid arrowhead line 52 while each of the mold cavities are rotated about the axes of the stub shafts 48 and 50 as shown by the solid arrowhead lines 54 and 56.", "Typical rotational speed employed are from 6 to about 10 revolutions per minute, usually about 5 to about 30 revolutions per minute.", "As known in this process, the speed of rotation depends greatly upon the product, its size, and its wall thickness, also the materials to be used.", "The rotational speed of shafts 34 and 36 can be independently controlled to control the tumbling action of the powdered polymer within the mold cavities, and thereby provide variations in wall thicknesses of different portions of the molded product.", "The invention can be applied to the multiple applications of different colors by applying a layer of the powdered polymer over each application of the oil-pigment suspension.", "In this procedure, the stencil for the first color is applied, the oil and pigment suspension is worked through the stencil and onto the mold surface, the stencil is removed, powdered polymer is then sprinkled over the applied area and any excess powder is removed by blowing the area with air or tapping the mold.", "The powdered polymer has been found to adhere to the coated portions of the mold surface which bear the oil and pigment suspension.", "Thereafter, the stencil for the second color is applied over the surface, giving care not to disturb the first layer of color, the oil-pigment suspension for the second color is worked through the stencil, the stencil is removed and the newly covered areas are again covered with the powdered polymer.", "This can be repeated in as many times as desired to provide a multiple color pattern on the product.", "It is preferred in this application that the smallest colored area which is within or overlayed by larger areas be applied with the first stencil and that the successively larger color patterns be applied with successive stencils.", "The oil-pigment suspensions employed in the invention do not exhibit any migration or mixing even with multiple color applications and the intermediate polymer barrier that is applied as a powder over the color effectively masks the areas between the color layers.", "The oil pigment suspension is applied with a film thickness of from about 0.001 to about 0.0075, preferably from about 0.003 to about 0.005 inch.", "The thickness of the film applied should be maintained less than the thickness that would drain from the surface of the mold when the mold is at a heated condition in the rotomolding oven.", "The pigments which are employed for the oil pigment suspension are preferably inorganic pigments which are compatible with the particular polymer used in the rotomolding process.", "Organic pigments and dyes can also be used, however, their use is limited to applications where color bleeding will not cause any problems, e.g., when very sharp resolution is not required.", "The most suitable pigments are inorganic pigments which comprise oxides of metals such as chromium, antimony, nickel, titanium, zinc, iron, nickel, aluminum, cobalt, silicon, copper, etc.", ", as well as the phosphates of metals such as cobalt and the sulfides and selenides of metals such as cadnium, etc.", "The following table summarizes the colors and corresponding metal oxides which can be used as the pigment: TABLE______________________________________Color Metal Compounds*______________________________________Green Cobalt, Nickel, Titanium and ZincGreen Chromium and CobaltBlack Iron, Manganese and CopperBlack Chromium and CopperPurple Cobalt and Lithium PhosphatesPurple Cobalt PhosphateBlue Aluminum, Cobalt and ZincBlue Cobalt, Zinc and SilicaTan Zinc and IronBright Yellow Nickel, Columbia and TitaniumRed Cadnium Sulfide and SelenideBright Yellow Cadnium SulfideBrown Chromium, Iron and ZincLight Yellow Nickel and TitaniumMedium Yellow Nickel, Antimony and TitaniumGold Titanium, Antimony and ChromiumBuff Chromium, Antimony, Nickel and Titanium______________________________________ *Designated as oxides unless otherwise specified.", "The aforementioned colors can be provided in varied shades by the addition of from 0.5 to about 2 parts by weight of titanium dioxide per part by weight of the pigment.", "The aforementioned pigments are preferably employed in a finely ground or subdivided condition.", "The pigments are commercially available with the majority passing a 325 U.S. Standard screen typically with no more than about 1 weight percent retained by the screen.", "While this size range is satisfactory for many applications, it has been observed that in some applications, the colored areas do not present a homogeneous surface to the eye and that the eye can discriminate some unpigmented areas between the pigment particles in the finished product.", "Accordingly, it is desired for fine work that the particle size of the inorganic pigments employed have an average diameter less than about 1 micron.", "There is no limit on the smallest particle average diameter, however, the work required for subdividing the particles increases exponentially with the subdivision and it is, therefore, desirable to maintain the particles as large as possible for obtaining the desired homogeneous appearance.", "Accordingly, particles having diameters from about 0.1 to about 1 microns constitute a most preferred category of pigments.", "Pigments which are available in this degree of subdivision are marketed under a cosmetic grade designation.", "The oil which is employed to suspend the particles can comprise any oil of vegetable, animal or mineral origin.", "The oil should be clear, i.e., of a light color or of water white appearance and should have a viscosity from about 100 to about 500 Saybolt Universal, preferably from about 180 to about 195 Saybolt Universal.", "The oil should be inert at temperatures up to about 500° F. for a period of time of up to about 10 minutes in an air atmosphere to insure against degradation, such as oxidation or polymerization and the like during the rotomolding process.", "Examples of suitable oils falling within the aforementioned description are the following vegetable oils: castor oil, corn oil, soybean oil, cottonseed oil and sunflower seed oil.", "Examples of animal origin oil include: cod liver oil, sperm oil and lard;", "and examples of mineral oils include: mineral oil and motor oils.", "The pigment is employed in the oil suspension at a concentration sufficient to provide the desired pigment opacity for a film of up to about 0.005 inch thickness.", "Typically, this concentration is from 25 weight percent to about 75 weight percent;", "preferably from about 50 weight percent to about 75 weight percent is employed.", "The actual concentration can vary somewhat, depending upon the particular mixture of pigments employed and the presence or absence of a whitening pigment such as titanium dioxide.", "The actual concentration can be evaluated in a simple test procedure wherein the suspension is applied to an aluminum plate which is dusted with the polymer powder, e.g., powder of high density polyethylene and placed in an oven maintained at a temperature of from about 300° to 500° F., for sufficient time to mold the powder into an integral sheet.", "The sheet is removed from aluminum plate and the pattern of the color marking is inspected.", "Other materials which can also be dispersed in the oil suspension include small substantially spherical particles of the molding plastic.", "These are commercially available and are known to the trade as microspheres, typically with a size having average particle diameters from 1 to about 20 microns.", "These can be included at concentrations from 5 to about 35 weight percent of the suspension to enhance the color dispersion and to increase the depth of the color layer.", "Another group of additives are the known ultraviolet light screening and absorbers such as carbon black;", "benzophenones, e.g., 2,2'-dihydroxy-4-methoxy-benzophenone;", "benzotriozoles, e.g., 2,2'-hydroxy-3'", "methylphenyl-benzotriazole;", "resorcinol monobenzoate;", "barium metaborate, etc.", "These are available in finely powdered form passing a 325 mesh screen and can be used at concentrations from 0.5 to about 10 weight percent in the suspension.", "The surface application of these additives by the invention imparts the desired ultra-violet light resistance without any lessening of the polyemr strength which otherwise occurs when these agents are incorporated into the entire polymer matrix.", "The preceding description of the preferred embodiment of the invention is intended solely to illustrate the presently preferred modes of practice.", "It is not intended that the invention be unduly limited by this description of specific examples.", "Instead, it is intended that the invention by defined by the method steps, and the reagents, set forth in the following claims." ]

[ "TECHNICAL FIELD This invention pertains generally to computer security, and more specifically to utilizing an adaptive threshold in spam classification.", "BACKGROUND Separating spam from legitimate email typically involves a statistical analysis of each email message, to assess the likelihood of whether or not it is spam, based upon extracted message features.", "A spam classification program is trained by using both a spam corpus and a non-spam, or “clean,” corpus to determine feature set probabilities.", "Pre-determined features are extracted from corpora email messages and used to train the classification engine, which becomes sensitive to relative feature differences between spam and clean training messages.", "Then, during execution, the spam classifier extracts features from unclassified email messages, and computes relative likelihoods that the extracted features indicate that the message is spam versus clean.", "Typical classification techniques produce some form of numerically continuous likelihood ratio or spam confidence factor which contrasts the likelihood that the extracted feature vector originated from a spam message versus the likelihood that the extracted feature vector originated from a clean message.", "This likelihood ratio is then compared against a decision threshold to produce the final discrete classification of spam or clean.", "More specifically, in current practice, the email message's numerically continuous spam likelihood ratio, let's call it L(msg), is compared to the decision threshold, let's call it th, and a decision is made by a simple rule of the form: if L(msg)>th then “msg is spam”", "else “msg is clean”", "The decision threshold, th, may have been determined during training, or it may have been set by a user or administrator through a user interface.", "Either way, in current practice the threshold value is static.", "This is easily verified for any specific spam filter, since a given email message will always be classified by it as spam or as clean, independent of the relative mix of spam and clean email messages in the email stream being processed.", "This may seem intuitive, since if a human were shown a sample email message and asked if it were spam or clean, she typically would not ask to first study, say, the last thousand email messages that preceded this sample message, and then base her decision not only on the features of the sample email message, but also on the running statistics of its containing message stream.", "However, it can be shown statistically that a static threshold will only produce good classification performance where the relative proportions of spam and clean email messages remain equivalently fixed.", "Given the various deployment environments and the variability of email message streams and spamming activity, it is very unlikely that any fixed assignment of threshold value will produce optimal or near-optimal classifications.", "Further, it is unlikely that a non-expert in statistical decision theory could enter an optimal threshold value, or that even an expert in statistical decision theory would have the available data to make an optimal threshold setting.", "It can be further shown statistically that overall better classification decisions will be made if the decision threshold accounts for the statistical properties of the email message stream being filtered.", "What is needed are methods, systems and computer readable media for dynamically and automatically adjusting a spam classification decision threshold in response to varying ratios of spam and clean email in a stream.", "Providing this functionality would improve spam classifier performance, reduce misclassification costs, lower administrative burden, and ensure more consistent user satisfaction across diverse deployment environments of varying traffic mixes.", "SUMMARY OF INVENTION Computer-implemented methods, computer systems and computer-readable media use a dynamically adaptive decision threshold for detecting spam email messages.", "For each of a plurality of time periods, a spam classification manager calculates an adaptive decision threshold to use to adjudicate whether or not email messages received during that time period comprise spam.", "The adaptive decision threshold is based on ratios between clean and spam emails received in previous time periods, as well as a misclassification cost ratio.", "The spam classification manager determines a likelihood of each incoming email message received during the current time period being spam, and adjudicates whether each message in fact comprises spam by comparing the determined likelihood to the adaptive decision threshold.", "The spam classification manager keeps track of incoming email messages received during the current time period adjudicated to be spam and adjudicated to be clean, and uses that information to calculate a ratio between clean and spam emails received during the current time period.", "That ratio is used in the calculation of adaptive decision thresholds for future time periods.", "In some embodiments, to keep the adaptive decision threshold from swinging too far in either direction, the spam classification manager uses both an adaptive decision threshold and a fixed decision threshold.", "The spam classification manager uses the adaptive decision threshold for purposes of email message classification, but uses the fixed threshold for purposes of maintaining the counts of incoming email messages adjudicated to be spam and adjudicated to be clean.", "The features and advantages described in this disclosure and in the following detailed description are not all-inclusive, and particularly, many additional features and advantages will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the relevant art in view of the drawings, specification, and claims hereof.", "Moreover, it should be noted that the language used in the specification has been principally selected for readability and instructional purposes, and may not have been selected to delineate or circumscribe the inventive subject matter, resort to the claims being necessary to determine such inventive subject matter.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a high level overview of a spam classification manager using a dynamically adaptive decision threshold for detecting spam email messages, according to some embodiments of the present invention.", "FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a spam classification manager maintaining counts of spam and clean email messages received during a given time period, according to some embodiments of the present invention.", "FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a spam classification manager using a variable misclassification cost ratio in the calculation of a variable decision threshold, according to some embodiments of the present invention.", "FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a spam classification manager using a variable decision threshold and a fixed decision threshold to classify incoming email messages, according to some embodiments of the present invention.", "The Figures depict embodiments of the present invention for purposes of illustration only.", "One skilled in the art will readily recognize from the following discussion that alternative embodiments of the structures and methods illustrated herein may be employed without departing from the principles of the invention described herein.", "DETAILED DESCRIPTION FIG. 1 illustrates a spam classification manager 101 extracting features 105 from email messages 107 in conjunction with automatically and dynamically adjusting a spam classification decision threshold 103 based upon real time decision history, as well as some statistical background thereto, according to some embodiments of the present invention.", "It is to be understood that although the spam classification manager 101 is illustrated as a single entity, as the term is used herein a spam classification manager 101 refers to a collection of functionalities which can be implemented as software, hardware, firmware or any combination of these.", "Where a spam classification manager 101 is implemented as software, it can be implemented as a standalone program, but can also be implemented in other ways, for example as part of a larger program, as a plurality of separate programs, as one or more device drivers or as one or more statically or dynamically linked libraries.", "Referring to FIG. 1 , assume the spam classification manager 101 applies a test T, such as L(msg)>th, to each email message 107 , and if the test succeeds (T+), classifies the message 107 as spam 109 , and if the test fails (T−), classifies the message as clean 111 .", "Let S represent spam messages 109 and C represent clean messages 111 .", "The spam classification manager 101 training process on a training S corpus and a training C corpus attempts to maximize the two conditional probabilities p(T+|S) and p(T−|C).", "In spam filter parlance, p(T+|S) is termed the true positive fraction, or tpf, and p(T−|C) is the true negative fraction, tnf.", "Spam filter training generally attempts to minimize the two conditional probabilities p(T+|C), or false positive fraction, fpf, and p(T−|S), or false negative fraction, fnf.", "At the end of training there has been constructed a classification function that takes a sample message feature vector 105 as an argument and produces a likelihood ratio 113 (or some monotonic function of the likelihood ratio).", "In current practice static threshold spam classification, the likelihood ratio 113 would be a probability ratio, formally p(msg|S)/p(msg|C).", "The likelihood ratio 113 is a quantification of the answer to the question, “How likely is this message feature vector 105 if the message 107 were spam 111 , versus how likely is this message feature vector 105 if the message 107 were clean 109 .”", "Typically, the likelihood ratio 113 (or some monotonic function of it) is produced near the final stage of the classification process, the final stage being the comparison against the threshold 103 .", "Statistical decision theory seeks to define a decision rule such that the risk of the chosen decision is minimized.", "In the spam filtering problem, risk is a function of misclassification costs.", "Let c+ be the cost of a false positive decision and c− be the cost of a false negative decision (as explained below, the spam classification manager 101 does not need the actual costs, because it just uses the cost ratio).", "The risk incurred with any given decision, T+ or T−, resulting from the spam test depends on the conditional probabilities that the given message 107 being tested is either S or C. That is, it depends upon the posterior probabilities p(S|msg) and p(C|msg).", "With these costs and probabilities, it is possible to quantify the risks, Ro, for the spam classification manager 101 making either a T+decision or a T− decision: R ( T +|msg)= c+×p ( C |msg) and R ( T −|msg)= c−×p ( S |msg) In other words, the risk of a positive spam test is the product of the false positive cost and the probability the given message 107 is clean 109 , while the risk of a negative spam test is the product of the false negative cost and the probability the given message 107 is spam 111 .", "If we knew these costs and probabilities, then the optimal decision rule, i.e. the rule that minimizes decision risk, could be expressed as: choose T+ if p(S|msg)/p(C|msg)>c+/c− else choose T− As described above, current practice static threshold spam filters compute the likelihood p(msg|S), not the necessary posterior probability p(S|msg), and also compute the likelihood p(msg|C), not the necessary posterior probability p(C|msg).", "But these factors are related by Bayes Rule.", "In various embodiments of the present invention, the spam classification manager 101 substitutes the Bayes Rule in the above decision rule and rearranges terms, obtaining an optimal decision rule taking into account its computed likelihood ratio 113 .", "The optimal decision rule in terms of the spam classification manager 101 computed likelihood ratio 113 is: choose T+ if p(msg|S)/p(msg|C)>(c+/c−)×(p(C)/p(S)) else choose T− The important point to observe here is that now the decision threshold 103 is not fixed, unless the unconditional prior probability ratio p(C)/p(S) is fixed, which is typically not the case.", "It is not the case in general across all given mail streams, and it is not the case in general for an individual mail stream across all given time periods.", "Whereas in current static threshold spam filter practice an empirical threshold value 103 is chosen that in effect assigns a fixed value to the p(C)/p(S) ratio 113 , according to various embodiments of the present invention, the spam classification manager 101 makes significantly improved estimates of the ratio 113 , and exploits those improved estimates to minimize misclassification risk more consistently in the field.", "As the ratio 113 indicates, the net effect of this decision rule is to favor a T+ decision as the spam ratio increases, and to favor a T− decision as the spam ratio declines.", "Therefore a given message 107 might be classified differently depending upon the statistics of the message stream with which it is associated.", "That message 107 classification allows far more robust performance than current practice static threshold spam classification.", "Also note that this variability is produced without any retraining (that would alter the likelihood ratio 113 ), thus it is quite different (and much simpler) than adaptive spam filters (although an adaptive spam filter could and should also utilize the current invention).", "Turning now to FIG. 2 , mail stream statistics in the real world are dynamic, so the decision threshold 103 should be dynamic.", "The decision threshold 103 should not only be dynamic, but should be automatically adjusted, and it should be adjusted in situ;", "not in the development lab or by a central administrator.", "According to various embodiments of the present invention, the spam classification manager 101 provides such functionality, by employing any one of a family of methodologies based upon local, dynamic unsupervised estimation of the unconditional probability ratio 113 p(C)/p(S).", "The other threshold 103 factor, the cost ratio, c+/c−, is a policy decision that can remain fixed, although in some embodiments of the present invention it too can be varied (for example if the importance of mail received during different time periods, e.g., workdays vs.", "non-workdays, is estimated).", "Dynamic cost ratios are discussed in greater detail below.", "The spam categorization manager 101 makes periodic estimates of the prior probability ratio 113 p(C)/p(S).", "Typically, two counters 201 , 203 are maintained, n+ and n−.", "The spam categorization manager 101 uses the counters 201 , 203 to keep track of the number of positive and negative spam test results made in the most current time period 205 .", "At the end of each time period 205 , the spam categorization manager 101 compute a new estimate for p(C)/p(S) that is simply the ratio 113 n−/n+, and re-initializes the counters 201 , 203 for the next time period 205 .", "For example, if we designate the ith time period as t i , and designate the counter ratio 113 for this time period as r i , then we are creating a time series r 0 , r 1 , .", ", r i , .", "of ratio 113 estimates.", "Various methods of time series analysis and prediction are known to those of ordinary skill in the relevant art, and can be used by the spam categorization manager 101 to develop an estimate of the ratio 113 for the current time period 205 , t i+1 , from the prior time series, r 0 , r 1 , .", ", r i .", "For example, the spam categorization manager 101 can designate the prediction of r i+1 as {circumflex over (r)} i+1 , then use {circumflex over (r)} i+1 during the current time period 205 , t i+1 , as the current estimate of p(C)/p(S) for setting of the current decision threshold 113 .", "The prediction {circumflex over (r)} i+1 could be as trivial as {circumflex over (r)} i+1 =r i or it could be a simple moving average {circumflex over (r)} i+1 =(r i−k+1 +r i−k+2 .", "+r i−1 +r i )/k or it could be an exponential moving average {circumflex over (r)} i+1 αr i +(1−α){circumflex over (r)} i (for 0≦α≦1) or it could be an autoregression {circumflex over (r)} i+1 =α i−k+1 r i−k+1 +α i−k+2 .", "+α i−1 r i−1 +α i r i (where the α's are all in the range [0,1] and sum to 1) or indeed any predictor from the vast literature on time series analysis.", "In different embodiments of the present invention, the choices for time intervals 205 include real time intervals (e.g., milliseconds, seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, etc.) or pseudo time intervals 205 (e.g., every n messages).", "Real time intervals 205 can be an advantage when autoregression is used to exploit some actual time periodicity in the observed message statistics (e.g., a predictably lower p(C)/p(S) ratio 113 during weekends and holidays).", "Pseudo time intervals 205 have the advantage of equal sample sizes (thus perhaps more uniform variances) for the time series values.", "Purely as one example of the many techniques discussed above, Table 1 illustrates a source code fragment for implementing a specific embodiment of the present invention.", "This example uses pseudo time intervals 205 of N messages 107 , exponential averaging with parameter ALPHA (α), misclassification cost ratio MCR (c+/c−), likelihood ratio 113 function L(msg), classification result counters nneg 201 and npos 203 , running r i value r, current {circumflex over (r)} i+1 estimate rhat, and decision threshold th 103 .", "Input message streams are named with lexical prefix in and output message streams are named with lexical prefix out.", "Of course, Table 1 only illustrates an example of one way in which a particular embodiment of the present invention can be implemented.", "Many implementation variations are possible, and will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the relevant art in light of this specification.", "TABLE 1 // Initialization float rhat = 1.0;", "//...", "or some better initial estimate int nneg = 1, npos = 1;", "//...", "or some better initial estimates float r, th;", "Message msg;", "// the message being classified ifstream inMsg;", "ofstream outClean, outSpam;", "// Operation for(;;) { // each time period...", "r = (npos>0?", "float(nneg) / npos : MAXR);", "nneg = npos = 0;", "rhat = ALPHA * r + (1.0 − ALPHA) * rhat;", "th = MCR * rhat;", "for (int n = 0;", "n<N;", "++n) { // each message in period...", "inMsg >>", "msg;", "if (L(msg) >", "th) { outSpam <<", "msg;", "++npos;", "} else { outClean <<", "msg;", "++nneg;", "} } } The example in Table 1 uses a fixed cost ratio 301 , MCR, but FIG. 3 illustrates a variable misclassification cost ratio 301 , mcr, which can be employed in other embodiments of the present invention.", "For example if it is known that more important messages 107 (with a higher value of c+) are received during certain hours or on certain days of the work week or on certain key dates (for example near the close of a month or a quarter or a fiscal year), then the misclassification cost ratio 301 can be dynamically adjusted as well using a function or lookup table.", "Thus, inside the outer for-loop there would be a line such as mcr=importance(Time( )), where Time( ) returns the current real time period.", "The inner for-loop might then use real time rather than pseudo time, or it could continue to use pseudo time if the pseudo time periods 205 were short compared to the real time periods 205 over which the misclassification cost ratio 301 is adjusted.", "Turning now to FIG. 4 , another embodiment of the present invention is illustrated, in which the spam classification manager 101 uses two thresholds 103 , 401 , a fixed threshold 401 , thfix, used for estimating the relative sizes of the spam 109 and clean 111 populations in the last group of classifications, and an adaptive threshold 103 , thadapt, used for individual classifications.", "For each message 107 the spam classification manager 101 employees two threshold comparisons: (1) a comparison with the fixed threshold 401 to estimate the relative population sizes of spam 109 and clean messages 111 , and (2) a comparison with the adaptive threshold 103 to classify the individual messages 107 .", "This embodiment sacrifices a little bit of accuracy by using a fixed threshold 401 comparison in order to avoid the hazard of positive feedback driving the adaptive threshold 103 to an extreme value (at which point the population estimate could be even more inaccurate and never change).", "Because the threshold adaptation 103 is so robust, the loss of some precision on the population ratio 113 estimate is acceptable in some embodiments.", "A source code fragment illustrating an example implementation of such an embodiment is provided in Table 2.", "TABLE 2 // Initialization float rhat = 1.0;", "//...", "or some better initial estimate int nneg = 1, npos = 1;", "//...", "or some better initial estimates float r, thfix = MCR, thadapt;", "Message msg;", "// the message being classified ifstream inMsg;", "ofstream outClean, outSpam;", "// Operation for(;;) { // each time period...", "r = (npos>0?", "float(nneg) / npos : MAXR);", "nneg = npos = 0;", "rhat = ALPHA * r + (1.0 − ALPHA) * rhat;", "thadapt = MCR * rhat;", "for (int n = 0;", "n<N;", "++n) { // each message in period inMsg >>msg;", "if (L(msg) >", "thfix) // estimate population ratio ++npos;", "else ++nneg;", "if (L(msg) >", "thadapt) // individual classification outSpam <<", "msg;", "else outClean <<", "msg;", "} } As will be understood by those familiar with the art, the invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof.", "Likewise, the particular naming and division of the modules, agents, managers, functions, layers, features, attributes, methodologies and other aspects are not mandatory or significant, and the mechanisms that implement the invention or its features may have different names, divisions and/or formats.", "Furthermore, as will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the relevant art, the modules, agents, managers, functions, layers, features, attributes, methodologies and other aspects of the invention can be implemented as software, hardware, firmware or any combination of the three.", "Of course, wherever a component of the present invention is implemented as software, the component can be implemented as a script, as a standalone program, as part of a larger program, as a plurality of separate scripts and/or programs, as a statically or dynamically linked library, as a kernel loadable module, as a device driver, and/or in every and any other way known now or in the future to those of skill in the art of computer programming.", "Additionally, the present invention is in no way limited to implementation in any specific programming language, or for any specific operating system or environment.", "Accordingly, the disclosure of the present invention is intended to be illustrative, but not limiting, of the scope of the invention, which is set forth in the following claims." ]

[ "RELATED APPLICATIONS The present application claims the priority of the German Patent Application No. 10 2006 062 129.8 of Dec. 22, 2006, the disclosure of which is herewith incorporated herein by reference.", "This application is also a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser.", "No. 15/376,023 filed Dec. 12, 2016, which was a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser.", "No. 14/341,191 filed Jul. 25, 2014, which was a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser.", "No. 13/557,729 filed Jul. 25, 2012, which was a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser.", "No. 12/003,094 filed Dec. 20, 2007, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.", "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The invention refers to a self-propelled road milling machine, especially a cold milling machine, as well as a methods for measuring the milling depth.", "Description of Related Art With such road milling machines, the machine frame is supported by a track assembly comprising wheels or caterpillar tracks connected to the machine frame through lifting columns, the lifting columns allowing to maintain the machine frame in a horizontal plane or in parallel to the ground or under a predetermined longitudinal and/or transversal inclination.", "A milling roll for working a ground or traffic surface is supported at the machine frame.", "Near the front end sides of the milling roll height-adjustable side plates are provided as edge protectors at an outer wall of the road milling machine, which side plates, in operation, rest on the ground or traffic surface at the lateral non-milled edges of the milling track.", "Behind the milling roll, seen in the travelling direction, a height-adjustable stripping means is provided which, in operation, may be lowered into the milling track formed by the milling roll to strip off milling material remaining in the milling track.", "Further, the road milling machine has a control means for controlling the milling depth of the milling roll.", "It is a problem with known road milling machines that the milling depth can not be controlled accurately enough and that, for this reason, the milling depth has to be measured repeatedly by hand during the milling operation.", "Especially in cases where a hard traffic surface, e.g. concrete, is milled, the tools are worn heavily so that the milling depth set is corrupted by the decreasing diameter of the cutting circle.", "For example, the wear of the tools, when milling concrete, can cause a difference in the milling radius of 15 mm after only a few 100 m, so that the measuring of an adjustment of side plates, for example, with respect to the machine frame is not sufficiently accurate.", "If the milling depth is insufficient, a time-consuming reworking of the milling track has to be carried out.", "Should the milling track be too deep, more building material has to be applied afterwards in order to achieve the desired ground or traffic surface level.", "SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to improve the accuracy of measuring the milling depth during the operation of a road milling machine and to thereby minimize deviations from a predetermined milling depth.", "The invention advantageously provides that at least one measuring means detects the lifting of a first sensor means resting on the ground or traffic surface and/or the lowering of a second sensor means to the bottom of the milling track, the lifting or lowering being effected in correspondence with the present milling depth.", "From the measured values supplied by the at least one measuring means, the control means can determine the milling depth at the level of the measuring means of the milling roll or the second sensor means.", "Here, the measurement is effected preferably at the level of the stripping means arranged closely behind the milling roll, or immediately behind the stripping means, if a separate sensor means is provided.", "Using the stripping means as a sensor means is advantageous in that no measuring errors are caused by some unevenness in the milling track.", "It is another advantage that the stripping means is protected against wear at its bottom edge.", "As an alternative, the control means can use the measurement values of the at least one measuring means to determine the current milling depth of the milling roll at the level of the milling roll axis.", "Preferably, this is done by a calculation that may also take into account an inclined position of the machine frame.", "The measuring means are preferably formed by position sensing means.", "In one embodiment it is provided that the first sensor means is formed by at least one of the side plates arranged on either side at the front sides of the milling roll so as to be height-adjustable and pivotable with respect to the machine frame.", "The side plates rest on the ground or traffic surface or are pressed against these, so that a change of their position relative to the machine frame during operation allows for an exact detection of the milling depth, if a measurement of the change of the position of a second sensor means is performed additionally in the milling track relative to the machine frame.", "Also for side plates, there is an advantage that their bottom edges are protected against wear.", "Here, the measuring means may comprise cable lines coupled with the side plates and/or the stripping means, and associated cable-line sensors as the position sensors which measure the changes of the position of the side plates and the stripping means relative to the machine frame or the relative displacement of at least one of the side plates in relation to the stripping means or the second sensor means.", "Preferably, the cable lines coupled with the side plates and the stripping means are arranged transversely to the milling track in a substantially vertical plane extending approximately at the level of the stripping means.", "Hereby, it can be avoided that a measurement error is caused by using different reference planes for the measurement at the side plates with respect to the measurement at the stripping plate.", "To achieve this, it may be provided that a cable line is coupled on the one hand with the stripping means and, on the other hand, with at least one of the side plates via a guide roller, such that a cable-line sensor immediately measures the milling depth, e.g. at the guide roller.", "In another alternative it may be provided that the side plate has a respective measuring means at the side edges facing the side plates, which measures the relative displacement of the stripping means with respect to the at least one adjacent side plate or the relative displacement of at least one side plate with respect to the stripping means.", "According to another alternative embodiment, the stripping means may include at least one height-adjustable beam as the first sensing means, which is guided vertically and linearly in the stripping means and extends transversely to the travelling direction, said beam resting on the ground or traffic surface beside the milling track, the position of the beam relative to the stripping means, preferably with respect to height and/or inclination, being measurable by the measuring means.", "Due to gravity, the side plates may rest on the edges of the ground or traffic surface beside the milling track milled by the milling machine, or they may alternatively be pressed on the edges by hydraulic means.", "The stripping means may also be pressed on the surface of the milling track using hydraulic means.", "The hydraulic means for pressing the side plates on the ground or traffic surface or for pressing the stripping means on the bottom of the milling track may comprise integrated position sensing systems.", "For lifting or lowering the side plates and/or the stripping means, a plurality of, preferably two respective piston/cylinder units with integrated position sensing systems may be provided, whose position sensing signals are used by the control means to calculate the current milling depth from the relative difference between the positions of the stripping means and the at least one first sensor means.", "The control means that receives the position sensing signals from the measuring means is adapted to automatically control the lifted condition of the rear lifting columns, seen in the travelling direction, to establish parallelism between the machine frame and the ground or traffic surface at a desired milling depth.", "The side plates resting on the traffic surface so as to be pivotable with respect to the machine frame may comprise measuring means spaced apart in the travelling direction, the control means being capable to measure the longitudinal and/or the transversal inclination of the machine frame with respect to the ground or traffic surface from the difference between the measurement signals from the side plates and the stripping means.", "The front and/or rear lifting columns may include a position sensing system to detect the lifted condition.", "The control means that receives the position sensing signals from the measuring means can control the condition of all lifting columns such that the machine frame has a predetermined inclination or a predetermined travel-distance-dependent transverse inclination across the travelling direction.", "Preferably, the current set value for the milling depth of the milling roll is adjusted using the front lifting columns.", "The following is a detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 shows a cold milling machine.", "FIG. 2 illustrates a first sensor means attached to the stripping plate.", "FIG. 3 shows two piston/cylinder units for lifting or lowering the stripping plate of a stripping means.", "FIG. 4 illustrates an optical device for measuring the positional difference between the side plates and the stripping means.", "FIG. 5 shows a cable line measuring means provided between the side plates and the stripping means.", "FIG. 6 illustrates a preferred embodiment.", "FIGS. 7 a, b, c are schematic illustrations of the measurement error occurring at the stripping plate of the stripping means in the absence of parallelism between the machine frame and the ground or traffic surface.", "DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The road milling machine illustrated in FIG. 1 comprises a machine frame 4 supported by a track assembly having two front chain tracks 2 and at least one rear chain track 3 .", "The chain tracks 2 , 3 are connected with the machine frame 4 via lifting columns 12 , 13 .", "It is understood that wheels may be used instead of the chain tracks 2 , 3 .", "Using the lifting columns 12 , 13 , the machine frame 4 can be lifted or lowered or moved to take a predetermined inclined position with respect to the ground or traffic surface 8 .", "The milling roll 6 supported in the machine frame 4 is enclosed by a roll case 9 which is open at the front, seen in the travelling direction, towards a conveyor belt 11 that conveys the milled material in a front part of the machine frame 4 to a second conveyor means 13 .", "The second conveyor means 13 with which the milled material may be delivered onto a truck, for example, is not fully illustrated in FIG. 1 because of its length.", "Behind the milling roll 6 , a height-adjustable stripping means 14 is arranged which, in operation, has a stripping plate 15 engage into the milling track 17 formed by the milling roll 6 and strip the bottom of the milling track 17 so that no milled material is left in the milling track 17 behind the stripping plate.", "Above the milling roll 6 , a driver's stand 5 with a control panel for the vehicle operator is provided for all control functions of the driving and milling operations.", "It also includes a control means 23 for controlling the milling depth of the milling roll 6 .", "The side plates 10 , arranged on either side near the front end of the milling roll 6 , and the stripping means 14 are provided with measuring means 16 that allow the determination of the current milling depth at the level of the stripping means 14 or the calculation of the milling depth at the level of the rotational axis of the milling roll.", "Here, the milling depth is determined in a plane orthogonal to the ground or traffic surface, which plane is parallel to the rotational axis of the milling roll and includes the rotational axis.", "The position of a first sensor means, e.g. the side plates 10 , on the ground or traffic surface 8 and/or the lowering of a second sensor means, e.g. the stripping means, can thus be detected.", "Measuring means 16 , preferably formed by position sensing means, measure the displacements of the sensor means, e.g. the side plates 10 or a beam 20 or the stripping plate 15 , with respect to the machine frame 4 or relative to each other.", "The embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2 shows a beam 20 as the sensor means, resting on the ground or traffic surface 8 and guided at the stripping plate 15 of the stripping means in a slot 24 extending linearly and orthogonally to the bottom edge 19 of the stripping plate 15 .", "It is understood that two mutually parallel slots 24 can be provided in the stripping plate 15 or that the beam 20 , serving as the sensing means, can be guided in a different manner so as to be height-adjustable at the stripping means 14 .", "The measuring means 16 , provided in the form of a position sensing means, detects the displacement of the beam 20 with respect to the stripping means 14 .", "Should two horizontally spaced slots 24 be used, it is possible to separately detect the milling depth on the left side of the milling track 17 and on the right side of the milling track 17 .", "Moreover, this offers the possibility to determine an inclination of the machine frame 4 with respect to the ground or traffic surface 8 .", "FIG. 3 illustrates another embodiment wherein the stripping plate 15 of the stripping means 14 can be lifted or lowered by means of hydraulic means.", "The hydraulic means are formed by piston/cylinder units 26 , 28 with an integrated position sensing system.", "This means that the piston/cylinder units 26 , 28 not only allow for the stroke movement of the stripping means, but moreover generate a position signal.", "As is evident from FIG. 3 , the piston/cylinder units 26 , 28 have one end connected to the machine frame 4 and the other end connected to the stripping plate 15 .", "FIG. 4 illustrates an embodiment, wherein the relative movement between the side plates 10 and the stripping plate 15 is measured directly in order to detect the milling depth of the milling track 17 .", "To achieve this, elements 38 , 40 of the measuring means 16 are provided, e.g., at the side plates 10 and opposite thereto at the stripping plate 15 , which elements allow for the detection of the relative displacement of the stripping plate 15 with respect to the side plates 10 .", "This displacement corresponds to the milling depth s in FIG. 4 .", "For example, such a measuring means, which measures relative displacements, may be formed by an optical system, e.g. by reading a scale with an optical sensor, or by an electromagnetic or inductive system.", "As an alternative and as illustrated in FIG. 5 , the relative position sensing system between the side plates 10 and the stripping plate 15 may also be formed by a cable line 22 in combination with a cable-line sensor 21 , the cable line 22 is coupled with the stripping plate 15 of the stripping means 14 on the one hand and, on the other hand, with at least one of the side plates 10 via a guide roller 35 , so that the signal from the cable-line sensor 21 can immediately indicate the value of the current milling depth.", "The side plates 10 themselves can be used as first sensor means by monitoring their position with respect to the machine frame 4 or the second sensor means by means of a cable line and a cable-line sensor or by means of piston/cylinder units 30 , 32 with integrated position sensing means.", "For example, the measuring means can also measure the displacement of the side plates 10 with respect to the machine frame 4 .", "Should two measuring means be used, one in front of the side plates 10 and one behind the same, seen in the travelling direction, it is also possible to determine the longitudinal inclination of the machine frame 4 with respect to the ground or traffic surface 8 or to also determine the transverse inclination of the machine frame 4 by a comparison of the measured values for both side plates 10 on both sides of the milling roll 6 .", "FIG. 6 illustrates a preferred embodiment, wherein cable lines 22 comprising cable-line sensors 21 mounted to the machine frame 4 are arranged on both sides of the stripping means 15 .", "On either side of the machine, the side plates 10 are also provided with cable lines 22 and cable-line sensors 21 fastened at the machine frame 4 .", "The milling depth s is determined from the difference between the measured values of the cable-line sensors 21 for the side plates 10 and the cable-line sensors 21 of the stripping means 15 .", "Here, the measurement should preferably be made in the same substantially vertical plane in order to avoid measurement errors.", "FIGS. 7 a to 7 c illustrate the cable-line sensors 21 for the side plates 10 and the stripping plates 14 , the drawings only indicating one cable-line sensor 21 , since the cable-line sensors are arranged one behind the other in substantially the same plane.", "FIGS. 7 a, b, c are to illustrate the case where the ground or traffic surface 8 is not parallel to the machine frame 4 , the measured milling depth value indicated by the measuring means having to be corrected because of an angle error, because a longitudinal inclination of the machine frame 4 corrupts the measurement signal at the level of the stripping plate 15 or a second sensor means near the stripping means 14 .", "Due to the fixed geometrical relations, i.e. the distance of the stripping plate 15 from the rotational axis of the milling roll 6 , the measured milling depth value can be corrected, knowing the angular deviation from the horizontal in the travelling direction, and the current milling depth at the level of the milling roll axis can be calculated.", "The angular deviation in the travelling direction may be determined, for example, from the position of the lifting columns 12 , 13 of the caterpillar track assemblies 2 , 3 or the piston/cylinder units 30 , 32 .", "It is further evident from FIGS. 7 a to c , to which extent the side plates 10 are pivotable with respect to the machine frame 4 .", "Since the piston/cylinder units 30 , 32 are also provided with position sensing systems, these measuring signals may be used as an alternative to cable-line sensors 21 to determine the distance of the side plates 10 from the machine frame 4 .", "FIG. 7 c illustrates the position of the at least one side plate 10 for a ground-parallel position of the machine frame 4 .", "The stripping plate 15 illustrated in FIGS. 7 a to 7 c is located at the roll case 9 , so that the distance of the stripping plate 14 from the rotational axis to the milling roll 6 can be determined unambiguously in order to allow for a calculation of the milling depth correction should the machine frame 4 not be parallel to the ground.", "The control means 23 can calculate the current milling depth at the level of the milling roll axis from the position sensing signals received, and it can possibly also generate a control signal for a vertical adjustment of the milling roll 6 .", "Preferably, the control means 23 can automatically control the lifted condition of the at least one rear lifting column 13 , seen in the travelling direction, to establish parallelism between the machine frame 4 and the ground or traffic surface 8 or to the horizontal plane or to a predetermined desired milling plane.", "Although the invention has been described and illustrated with reference to specific embodiments thereof, it is not intended that the invention be limited to those illustrative embodiments.", "Those skilled in that art will recognize that variations and modifications can be made without departing from the true scope of the invention as defined by the claims that follow.", "It is therefore intended to include within the invention all such variations and modifications as fall within the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereof." ]

[ "CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION [0001] This application claims priority of Japanese Patent Application No. 2007-263905 filed Oct. 10, 2007 which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.", "FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates to a display panel having pixels arranged in a matrix shape, and to detecting defects in such a display panel.", "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] At the fabrication stage of an active matrix type display, rapid detection of defects is an effective way of improving yield.", "Cause analysis can be started at an early stage, and as well as being in place at an early stage in process correction, it is also useful in preventing a substrate that has defects progressing to subsequent stages, thus avoiding wasteful fabrication.", "[0004] Japanese Patent Publication 2002-221547A discloses an example of introducing an array test in a manufacturing process for a liquid crystal panel.", "This document shows inspection means for electrically inspecting transistors arranged on a thin film transistor substrate (TFT substrate) used in the liquid crystal panel before the TFT substrate is glued to an opposing substrate.", "In this way, it is easy to detect defects on the TFT substrate.", "[0005] Here, among the defects, there can be some that arise as a result of the gluing together of a TFT substrate with no defects and an opposing substrate with no defects.", "There is an increase in the causes of defects with the increase in number of transistors accompanying increase in size of the TFT substrate and increase in number of pixels.", "The probability of defects arising in a TFT with no defects in subsequent processing is therefore increased.", "For this reason, it is desirable for electrical inspection to be carried out not only for a TFT substrate but also at the final stages of panel fabrication.", "SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0006] The present invention is directed to a method of detecting defects in a display panel having pixels arranged in a matrix form, wherein each pixel includes a static memory and emits light according to data stored in the static memory, data is written to the static memory of each pixel, followed by reading of data stored in the static memory, and whether or not there is a defective pixel is detected by comparing the written data with the read data.", "[0007] It is also suitable to understand the positions of defective pixels as a map.", "[0008] The present invention is also directed to a display panel having pixels arranged in a matrix form, wherein each pixel includes a static memory and emits light according to data stored in the static memory, externally supplied data being written to the static memory of each pixel, followed by reading of data stored in the static memory, and externally outputting the read data.", "[0009] It is also appropriate to perform the writing of data to the static memory by sequentially supplying data on a data bus to data lines provided for each pixel row, and to perform reading of data from the static memory by sequentially reading out data on the data lines provided for each pixel row to the data bus.", "[0010] It is also appropriate for a pixel region where pixels are arranged in a matrix form to be set large compared to a display region for a single screen It is also appropriate to be able to set the display region to an arbitrary position inside the pixel region.", "[0011] It is also appropriate for the display region to be sequentially changed to a plurality of different positions every predetermined frame.", "[0012] It is also appropriate to have a defect information memory for storing information about positions where defects have occurred, and set the position of the display region based on positions where defects have occurred stored in the defect information memory.", "[0013] It is also appropriate for a plurality of the pixels to be collected together to form a unit pixel for dividing and displaying data for a single pixel portion.", "[0014] It is also appropriate for a plurality of pixels forming the unit pixel to have respectively different display brightness.", "[0015] It is also appropriate for a plurality of pixels forming the unit pixel to have respectively different surface areas.", "[0016] It is also appropriate for a plurality of pixels forming the unit pixel to have the same surface area and drive currents of differing magnitudes.", "[0017] It is also appropriate for writing of data to the static memory to be carried out by sequentially supplying data to a data line provided for each pixel row, for reading of the data from the static memory to be carried out by sequentially reading out data on the data line provided for each pixel row, and for a comparator for acquiring and storing data on a data line, then comparing stored data with data on the data line and storing a comparison result, and further outputting the comparison result to the data line, to be provided on each data line.", "[0018] According to the present invention, pixel defects are detected by writing data to a static memory provided in a pixel and then reading the data.", "As a result, it is possible to effectively carry out defect detection at a stage subsequent to fabrication of each pixel of a display panel.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0019] FIG. 1 shows the structure of a pixel circuit used in embodiments;", "[0020] FIG. 2 shows a structural example for detecting defective pixels of a display panel of the embodiments;", "[0021] FIG. 3 is a drawing showing positions of defective pixels;", "[0022] FIG. 4 is a drawing showing a system for inspection;", "[0023] FIG. 5 is a drawing showing a pixel region and a display region;", "[0024] FIG. 6 is a drawing showing a structural example of a unit pixel;", "[0025] FIG. 7 shows a structural example for detecting defective pixels of a display panel of the embodiments;", "[0026] FIG. 8 shows a structural example for detecting defective pixels of a display panel of the embodiments;", "[0027] FIG. 9 shows a structural example for detecting defective pixels of a display panel using a comparator;", "[0028] FIG. 10 is a timing chart for the structure of FIG. 8 ;", "[0029] FIG. 11 is a drawing showing another structure for a pixel circuit;", "and [0030] FIG. 12 is a drawing showing an I-V curve for an organic EL element.", "DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [0031] Embodiments of the present invention will be described in the following based on the drawings.", "FIG. 1 shows one example of a pixel 10 having a one-bit static memory included three transistors and two organic EL elements.", "[0032] Cathodes of a first organic EL element 1 that contributes to light emission and a second organic EL element 3 that is shielded or the like and does not contribute to light emission are connected to a cathode electrode 9 that is common to all pixels and to which power supply voltage VSS is supplied.", "An anode of the first organic EL element 1 is connected to the drain terminal of a first drive transistor 2 , while the anode of the second organic EL element 3 is connected to a drain of a second drive transistor 4 .", "A source terminal of the first drive transistor 2 and a source terminal of the second drive transistor 4 are connected to a power supply line 8 common to all pixels and to which power supply voltage VDD is supplied.", "A gate terminal of the first drive transistor 2 is connected to a source terminal of a gate transistor 5 and to a connection point of the second organic EL element 3 and the second drive transistor 4 , while a gate terminal of the second drive transistor 4 is connected to a connection point of the first organic EL element 1 and the first drive transistor 2 .", "The gate terminal of the gate transistor 5 is connected to a gate line 6 , while the drain terminal of the gate transistor 5 is connected to the data line 7 .", "[0033] If the gate line 6 is write selected (Low voltage supplied so that the on resistance of the gate transistor 5 becomes low compared to the on resistance of the second drive transistor 4 ) a high or low digital signal supplied to the data line 7 is fed to the gate terminal of the first drive transistor 2 .", "If data is Low, the first drive transistor 2 is turned on, and current flows in the first organic EL element 1 , emitting light.", "Since as a result of this the anode potential of the first organic EL element 1 rises to the power supply potential VDD, the second drive transistor 4 is turned off and the anode potential of the second organic EL element 3 , that is the gate potential of the first drive transistor 2 , falls to close to the cathode potential VSS.", "Even if the gate line 6 is unselected and the gate transistor 5 is off, the gate potential of the first drive transistor 2 is held at the cathode potential VSS, and so the first organic EL element 1 can continue to emit light.", "[0034] If data is High, the first drive transistor is turned off, and so current no longer flows in the first organic EL element 1 and it is turned off.", "Because the anode potential of the first organic EL element 1 is lowered to the cathode potential VSS, the second drive transistor 4 is turned on.", "The anode potential of the second organic EL element 3 rises to the power supply potential VDD, and the gate potential of the first drive transistor 2 is held at the power supply potential, which indicates that the gate line 6 is unselected, and even if the gate transistor 5 is off the first organic EL element 1 can be kept off.", "[0035] In this manner, the pixel 10 holds digital data that has been written once, and so it is not necessary to periodically repeat a write operation in order to maintain the same data.", "[0036] Also, if the data line 7 is pre-charged to Low and the gate line 6 is read selected (a Low voltage higher than that causing the on resistance of the gate transistor 5 to be larger than the on resistance of the second drive transistor 4 is applied), digital data written to the pixel 10 can be read out to the data line 7 .", "When the gate terminal of the first drive transistor 2 is being held High, the data line 7 is pre-charged to Low, and if the gate line 6 is read selected current flows from the power supply line 8 through the second drive transistor 4 and the gate transistor 5 to charge the data line 7 to power supply voltage VDD.", "[0037] During this time, the on resistance of the gate transistor 5 is large compared to the on resistance of the second drive transistor 4 , and so the gate potential of the first drive transistor 2 is maintained to the High side by resistance division Data is therefore not corrupted by read out.", "When the gate terminal of the first drive transistor 2 is being held Low, the data line 7 is pre-charged to Low to read select the gate line 6 , but because the data line 7 is also Low current does not flow and there is no change to the Low potential to which the data line 7 has been pre-charged.", "In this way, after a fixed time has elapsed from read select, it is possible read out data being held in the static memory by taking in the data line 7 potential.", "[0038] FIG. 2 shows a defect detection circuit for detection of defects introduced into an active matrix type organic EL display.", "Pixels 10 with the above-described readable and writable static memory are arranged in a matrix form to make a display array (display region) 11 .", "Data lines 7 arranged in the column direction of this display region are connected to a data bus 15 in order from left to right, for example, by a column shift register 13 and bus switches 12 .", "Also, gate lines 6 arranged in the row direction are sequentially selected from top to bottom, for example by a row shift register 14 , and data supplied to the data bus 15 is written to the pixels 10 .", "[0039] In FIG. 2 RGB data buses are shown, and RGB data is input at one time and supplied the corresponding data lines 7 .", "At this time, the row shift register 14 sequentially selects gate lines 6 one at a time, and so while an nth line is write selected bus switches 12 the same in number as the number of pixel for one line are sequentially turned on from left to right by the column shift register 13 to connect the data bus 15 to the data lines 7 .", "As a result, RGB data for the n th line supplied to the data bus 15 is written to each pixel 10 .", "Conversely, if the line is read selected, data for one line that has been read once from a pixel 10 is held on the data line 7 , and data read onto the data line 7 is read out from the data bus 15 by the bus switches 12 sequentially connecting the data lines 7 and the data bus 15 .", "[0040] Signals input from outside to the column shift register 13 , row shift register 14 and data bus 15 , or signals output to the outside, are transferred by way of the IO pads 16 .", "Specifically, control signals generated from external signal generators etc.", "to the column shift register 13 and row shift register 14 , and power supply voltages, are respectively input from the IO pads 16 - 1 and 16 - 3 .", "Access to the data bus 15 for inputting RGB data from outside and output data read from the pixels 10 is performed via the IO pads 16 - 2 .", "[0041] When performing final defect detection after forming the organic EL elements on the TFT substrate, it is necessary to illuminate all pixels to detect whether or not there are defective pixels, but in the case of pixels with no static memory it is normally necessary to illuminate all pixels by writing image data at 60 Hz.", "If the resolution of the panel is high or the size is large, there is a need for low impedance outputs and high speed data transfer.", "For this reason, it is necessary to install a driver IC and perform lighting tests by connecting IO pads of the driver IC to the 10 pads 16 - 4 .", "However, even supposing that defect inspection can be performed with a driver IC installed, in the event that panel defects exist to an unacceptable level, and they will not be corrected the installed driver IC can not be reused, increasing inspection costs.", "[0042] On the other hand, with this embodiment a static memory is incorporated into each pixel 10 .", "This indicates that if data is written all at once, that data is maintained and it is not necessary to periodically write data.", "If this function is used, then since there is no need for refresh at the 60 Hz normally required for performing display, it is possible to lower the data transfer speed from outside.", "Therefore, the use of high performance transistors such as low temperature polysilicon TFTs makes it possible to write data to all pixels through operation of the column shift register 13 , row shift register 14 and bus switches 12 even if the display array 11 is large or high resolution, and perform appropriate display with no flicker.", "Specifically, since it is not necessary to operate the column shift register 13 , row shift register 14 and bus switches 12 at high speed, their circuit structures can be simplified, and incorporation onto a TFT substrate is made easier.", "[0043] For example, if writing for pixels is done with one pixel per RGB respectively, even with a low temperature polysilicon TFT having an operable period of 1 μs, it is possible to write data to all pixels in about two seconds even with the resolution of full high-vision (1920×1080).", "This is sufficiently fast for inspection.", "If it were necessary to refresh this data at 60 Hz, data transfer would need to be carried out, per single RGB pixel, at 60×1920×1080=124 MHz (8 ns), which is extremely difficult with low temperature polysilicon TFTs.", "Even if this is possible, the bus width would be increased, and a greater number of circuits would be used, making it more likely that shorts will arise in the bus wiring adopted to detect these as well as circuit defects, and pixel defect detection is complicated.", "Specifically, using pixels 10 adopting a static memory suppresses defects in peripheral circuits for pixel defect detection, and also does away with the need for provision of a driver IC, making it possible to minimize inspection cost.", "[0044] The static memory of the pixel 10 is also capable of reading data.", "If this function is utilized, then after writing data to all pixels once it is possible to verify written data by reading data one pixel at a time.", "This aspect will be described in more detail in the following using FIG. 1 .", "[0045] If a defect occurs in the first organic EL element 1 and the cathode electrode 9 and the anode of the first organic element 1 are short circuited, the gate terminal of the second drive transistor 4 is always Low, and so read data will always be High.", "At the time of verification, Low (white data) is written, and High (black data) is read out, which indictes that verify errors are obvious.", "If verification is performed by writing white data to all pixels and reading white data from all pixels, and then verifying by writing black data to all pixels and reading out black data, it is possible to determine whether or not the black and white operation of all pixels is appropriate.", "Alternatively, it is also possible to carry out verification using a verification pattern such as a checkered pattern, vertical stripe pattern or horizontal stripe pattern.", "Defects that have been detected using this type of verification are not only those relating to the organic EL elements, but also include open circuit faults in the TFTs and between wiring, but regardless of the type of fault, if the location of all defective pixels is specified in this way it is possible to generate a defect map such as is shown in FIG. 3 .", "[0046] FIG. 3 shows one example of defect maps for horizontal line defect, vertical line defect and pixel defect.", "Using white as a normal pixel and black as a defective pixel, these maps are created corresponding to positions of pixels 10 in a display array 11 so as to make it easy to understand verify errors detected as described previously.", "From this defect map, the case of pixels in a continuous horizontal line can be considered an open circuit gate line 6 , and the case of pixels in a continuous vertical line can be considered an open circuit data line 7 , and if there are pixel defects it can be considered that an individual organic EL element or TFT is defective, and classification of defects by determining data read out by verification becomes possible as well as looking at the display.", "[0047] At the time of verification, the organic EL display is lit up, so it is possible to tell just by looking at the display, but if the defect analysis system as shown in FIG. 4 is constructed it is possible to perform defect detection for a large scale panel automatically and more rapidly.", "[0048] The defect analysis system of FIG. 4 includes a prober for assigning control signals, data and power supply through probe terminals to IO pads 16 of an organic EL panel 17 having a verify function, and a single personal computer (PC).", "Control signals, data and power supply are supplied through probe terminals to the IO pads 16 of the organic EL panel 17 to carry out the previously described verification, and detect pixel defects of all pixels.", "Verify error data is sent from the proper to the PC, a defect map as shown in FIG. 3 is created by PC software, and the number of defective pixels is displayed on a monitor together with defect characteristics.", "In the event that defects are within admissible conditions, the display panel 17 is transferred to the next manufacturing state, but if there is deviation from the admissible conditions confirmation is carried out by an operator checking defect content against actual display and operation transfers to details specification and solution of the problem.", "All of this panel defect information can be made into a database, making it possible to keep track of when what defects arose in what panel process and at what time, and easily understand yield improvement conditions.", "[0049] The automated defect detection results are to classify panels into those that have room for improvement and those that do not, and those with room for improvement are subjected to the improvement strategy shown in FIG. 5 .", "FIG. 5 shows an example of a redundant configuration for a display array 11 .", "Normally, the number of pixels of an effective display region 18 is a number defined by specifications, for example, with full high vision the effective display region is made up of 1920×1080 pixels, but with the example shown in FIG. 5 there are, for example, a further 100 pixels at the left and right and 50 pixels at the top and bottom to give a structure with 2120×1180 pixels.", "The shaded area of the display array 11 is a standard redundancy region, and in the case where it has been ascertained through the previously described verification that there are prominent defective pixels at a lower right end of the standard effective pixel region shown in white (position denoted by x), it is possible to prevent the organic EL panel 17 becoming defective by moving the effective display region 18 to the dotted line region.", "Since it is possible to search for regions with no defects using automatic image defect detection, it is possible to find an appropriate region with permissible defects, and reset the effective display region.", "[0050] In the case where it has been determined that there are also defective pixels that cannot be permitted in the destination effective display region 18 , it is undesirable to reset the effective display region as described previously.", "In this case, it is better to be able to dynamically set the effective display region 18 so that it is shifted slightly after a specified time has elapsed without the effective display region 18 being fixed.", "In the event that an effective display region 18 is set in a standard effective display region of the white section in FIG. 5 in such a time frame, the pixel defects can be seen to the bottom right of the screen, but at the next point in time the effective display region is moved to the dotted line region and so despite the fact that defects in the dotted line region affect display, there is no effect due to the lower right defects.", "Since defects cannot be seen at a fixed position, it is possible to anticipate the effect that they will not stand out.", "Further, since the effective display region is moved, it is possible to expect the effect of avoiding screen burn in.", "[0051] Making it possible to reset a more flexible effective display region has the effect of avoiding defect display and avoiding screen burn in, and it is desirable to secure a larger redundant display region.", "However, since the redundant display region is viewed as a frame at the time of use, and if it is large visual quality is not very good, it would be better to keep the redundant display region to about 10% or less of a general panel size.", "[0052] In the case where the location of defects is mainly in the center of the display array 11 , it will be difficult to avoid defects using only the method shown in FIG. 5 , but it is possible to make the defects less noticeable by adopting the pixel structure shown in FIG. 6 .", "[0053] FIG. 6 shows an example of a plurality of sub pixels, in this case one unit pixel 19 adopting 6 bits (pixels for either of RGB), being formed in a pixel 10 .", "The ratio of emission intensity of each of the sub pixels 10 - 0 to 10 - 5 is respectively set at 1:2:4:8:16:32, and in FIG. 6 this is realized by varying the light emission surface area of the first organic EL element 1 .", "However, even if the light emission surface area is varied, it is not strictly necessary to increase by a power of two each time.", "Specifically, if an application such as a television is assumed, average brightness is about 20%-30% of peak brightness, and pixels are lit up more frequently, which indicates that considering degradation it is advisable to make the light emission surface area of pixels having the above-described emission intensity ratio of 16/63 larger, and considering temperature, to control degradation by making light emission surface area for emission intensity ratio 32/63, that is more prone to be affected, to be even larger.", "In this case, since the light emission strength is large compared to an assumed ratio, desired light emission strength is realized by controlling light emission period.", "[0054] Here, it is possible to realize ratios of emission intensity for the sub-pixels 10 - 0 to 10 - 5 without changing the light emission surface area.", "In FIG. 11 , a fixed current drive transistor 24 is inserted in series between the first drive transistor 2 and the first organic EL element 1 .", "Specifically, the fixed current drive transistor 24 has its gate terminal connected to a current control line 25 , and by controlling a potential supplied to this current control line 25 it is possible to vary the emission intensity of the first organic EL element 1 .", "Thus, by varying the potentials of current control lines 25 respectively connected at each of the sub-pixels, it is possible to vary the emission intensity of each sub-pixel.", "With the pixel 10 of FIG. 11 when the current control line 25 is made Low the fixed current drive transistor 24 is normally on and operates, and if memory data read and write can be carried out similar automatic defect detection can be carried out.", "[0055] In the case of 6 bits, six current control lines 25 are connected to gate terminals of fixed current drive transistors 24 provided in respective sub-pixels, and it is possible to supply six different potentials (V 25 - 0 to V 25 - 5 ) are supplied to give current ratios (10:11:12:13:14:15=1:2:4:8:16:32) such that emission intensity ratios are as described above, as shown in FIG. 12 .", "If the pixel of FIG. 11 is used, then since it is possible to set the emission intensity with the current value of the first drive transistor 2 , it is not necessary to vary emission surface area and current setting can be carried out arbitrarily which shows control is simple.", "[0056] Incidentally, current will be concentrated at the first organic EL element 1 of sub-pixel 10 - 5 , which is the MSB, and that sub-pixel will deteriorate quickly.", "However, it is possible to resolve this type of problem by exchanging the MSB sub-frame pixels in frame units or a specified period with another sub-pixel, and to switch the potential V 25 - 5 of the current control line 25 - 5 with the potential V 25 - i of any of the remaining current control lines 25 - i. In particular, in the case of surface area gradation, construction is difficult because emission surface area of the LSB sub-pixel is extremely small, being 1/32 compared to that of the MSB.", "It is therefore preferable to have the pixel of FIG. 11 only for the LSB sub-pixel, and set the emission intensity low.", "As a result, the number of current control lines required is also reduced.", "[0057] If a plurality of sub-pixels are adopted inside a unit pixel as in FIG. 6 , then even if defects arise in the organic EL element of one of these sub-pixels the defect does not appear in the one unit pixel as long as operation of the other sub-pixels is normal.", "In the case of a unit pixel being made up of only one pixel, then since a single defect constitutes a defect of the unit pixel the risk of defective pixels is high, but if a plurality of sub-pixels are adopted it can be expected that the risk will be dispersed.", "In the case of surface area gradation, in particular, a defect of sub-pixel 10 - 5 , which is the MSB, has a significant effect on the emission intensity of the unit pixel.", "For this reason, handling of whether or not this MSB sub-pixel has a defect is given precedence.", "After inspection of all pixels for defects using the previously described automatic defect detection, if a defect is detected and that defect is toward the center, it is evaluated whether or not the defect is for the MSB sub-pixel.", "If it is not an MSB sub-pixel defect, the permissible amount of defects for the unit pixel is set low, and defect evaluation is kept low.", "This is because if the dynamic effective display region setting as in FIG. 5 is adopted, then the location of the defect is relatively moved, which indicates that if at least the MSN sub-pixel is operating normally it can be determined that a defect is unlikely to be prominent.", "However, if the defect is in the MSB sub-pixel, defect determination is performed according to the defect state of any of the other sub-pixels.", "If other sub-pixels are operating normally and it is possible, using the dynamic effective display region setting of FIG. 5 to determine that the defect will not be prominent, then a good product is determined, and in the case where there are a lot of defects of surrounding MSB sub-pixels, it is likely that the product will be determined to be defective.", "[0058] Using the sub-pixel shown in FIG. 11 , with six sub-pixels having completely the same emission surface area, in the case of controlling gradation by controlling supplied current it is possible to switch the MSB sub-pixel, and it is not fixed, which shows that image defects are unlikely to be prominent.", "In this manner, if a unit pixel is formed using a plurality of sub-pixels, a defect does not always result directly in a defective unit pixel and so it is possible to improve yield.", "[0059] Incidentally, it is better for the number of sub-pixels that that can be adopted to be high, but three bits or four bits is also effective.", "However, if a lot of sub-pixels are adopted in the unit pixel as in FIG. 6 , the number of pixels is increased which required verification time, and so it is preferable to perform defect determination by preferentially performing automatic defect detection from the MSB sub-pixels, to shorten the verify time.", "[0060] Description has been given above for defect detection carried out before shipping, but in the following a description will be given of defect detection after shipping.", "[0061] Since organic EL are semiconductors using organic material, it generally has low reliability compared to semiconductors formed from inorganic material such as low temperature polysilicon TFTs.", "Specifically, it is normally necessary to guarantee the pre-shipping reliability level even after shipping has taken place, but there is concern about lowered reliability dependent upon usage conditions.", "For example, in the case of organic EL, the elements become high resistance with degradation, making it difficult for current to flow, and there is a possibility that it will become difficult for static memory incorporated into the pixels 10 to operate normally.", "Therefore, it is preferable to carry out defect detection after shipping also using the read function of the pixels 10 , and in this way it is possible to guarantee that the pixel will operate normally.", "[0062] As shown in FIG. 7 , at the time of shipping the product is shipped with the organic EL panel 17 having IO pads of a data driver 20 connected to IO pads 16 - 4 .", "However, since there is a possibility of connecting to the data bus 15 to the data lines 7 via other bus switches 12 , at the point in time where the data driver IC 20 is connected, the column shift register 13 is controlled to transmit an off signal to all of the bus switches 12 .", "For example, it is possible in the column shift register 13 to fix the control signal supplied from the IO pad 16 - 1 by pulling up or pulling down with a resistance element.", "[0063] Defect detection before shipping also takes place after connecting the data driver 20 , but even if a defect is detected here it is a defect due to connection of the data driver IC 20 and so improvement is simple.", "There are also situations where a gate driver IC is connected instead of the row shift register 14 , but in FIG. 7 the row shift register 14 is used as a gate driver.", "[0064] An organic EL panel 17 that has been shipped with the data driver IC 20 connected has data driver control signals and image data supplied from a control circuit 21 to the data driver IC 20 , and gate driver control signals are also supplied to a gate driver (row shift register 14 ) to normally operate as a display.", "Defect information detected before shipping is information corresponding to individual organic EL panels 17 shipped with this information prestored in a defect information memory 22 formed from non-volatile memory such as flash memory.", "Here, positions of defective pixels are listed in the defect information, and is, for example, a small amount of data for a few tens of pixels.", "[0065] In this embodiment, in part of a non-usage time of the display, automatic defect detection using the above-described verification is carried out by the data driver IC 20 .", "Differing from automatic defect detection before shipping, this is carried out at high speed because reading and writing of data to and from the pixels 10 by the data driver IC 20 is carried out in line units.", "Also, the control circuit 21 checks that defects have not increased on the basis of defect information of the defect information memory 22 .", "If the defect locations increase, the defect information memory 22 is updated, and as shown in FIG. 5 the effective display region is reset to an appropriate position.", "If the effective display region is updated dynamically, desired regions as set regions are limited on the basis of the defect information.", "By updating the defect information in this manner, it is possible to keep the effect on display to a minimum, even if the defective pixels increase.", "The control circuit 21 and the defect information memory 22 can be built in to the data driver IC 20 .", "[0066] Further, by using the structure of FIG. 8 , it is possible to avoid burn in that arises after shipping, which is of the greatest concern in organic EL displays.", "Burn in can be regarded as some late developing defects of the previously mentioned pixels, and can be reduced by incorporating the comparator 23 as shown in FIG. 8 .", "[0067] FIG. 9 shows an example of detecting degradation of a pixel of an n th row m th column using a comparator 23 and an x th line (reference line 6 - x ) constituting a reference provided outside the display section.", "The same pixels 10 as the display section are provided on the reference line 6 - x. Input output terminals of the data driver IC 20 are connected to each data line 7 , and one comparator 23 is connected.", "The comparator 23 includes a first switch SW 1 , an inverter INV, a retention capacitor CAP, a 1-bit memory MEM and a second switch SW 2 .", "The data line 7 is connected to the input of the inverter INV via the retention capacitor CAP.", "The input and output of the inverter INV are connected using the first switch SW 1 , with the output being connected to the 1-bit memory MEM.", "The second switch SW 2 controls whether or not output of the 1-bit memory MEM is output to the data line 7 .", "[0068] Operation of the comparator 23 will be described using FIG. 9 and FIG. 10 .", "An example of the data line 7 - m of the m th column is shown in FIG. 9 , but the other data lines 7 also operate in the same way, and are controlled in line units.", "The pixel circuit is the circuit shown in FIG. 1 .", "[0069] First of all, the data line 7 is pre-charged with a potential Vp that will turn the first drive transistor 2 on.", "At the same time as the first switch SW 1 is turned on, if the x th line is selected then the first drive transistor 2 of the x th line is turned on and the second drive transistor 4 is turned off, and as a result charge that has been pre-charged to the data line 7 is discharged from the second organic EL element 3 during the period tdc that the x th line is selected.", "The data line 7 is gradually lowered from Vp as discharge progresses, then at the same time as the first switch SW 1 is turned off the x th line is deselected to stop discharge of the data line 7 .", "The potential Vx of this data line 7 is sampled to the retention capacitor CAP when the first switch SW 1 is opened.", "Next, after the data line 7 has been pre-charged once more to Vp, if the n th line is selected and discharged in the same period tdc to deselect the n th line the potential of the data line 7 becomes Vn.", "If the degree of deterioration is different for the second organic EL element 3 of the x th line and the second organic EL element 3 of the n th line, discharge characteristics will also differ due to being made high resistance, and the respective potentials Vx and Vn after discharge will be different.", "This difference is amplified by the inverter INC, and the result is stored in the 1-bit memory MEM.", "[0070] The inverter INV operates as a comparator, as described in the following.", "While the first switch SW 1 is closed, if the data line 7 is at potential Vx and the first switch is off, the potential Vx acts as a threshold value for the inverter INV.", "This is because it is equivalent to setting so that if the first switch SW 1 is on, the input of the inverter INV becomes a point between High and Low (a threshold value or reference value), and so that the input of the inverter INV becomes the threshold value when the data line 7 becomes Vx on the retention capacitor CAP.", "Accordingly, while the first switch SW 1 is off, if the potential of the data line 7 is made Vx or less the inverter INV inverts.", "If this operation is utilized, it is possible to perform a comparison between Vx and Vn.", "Specifically, a reference voltage for the comparator 23 is first set to the potential Vx of the xth line, then the potential Vn is compared with the reference potential Vx and the result stored in the 1-bit memory MEM.", "[0071] Data stored in the 1-bit memory MEM is reflected onto the data line 7 by switching the second switch SW 2 on, and results are read from the input terminal of the data driver IC 20 .", "This series of operations is carried out for all data lines 7 , which indicates processing is performed in line units and it is possible to read out differences in degradation of the x th line and the n th line at high speed.", "[0072] Similarly for the case of the n+1 th line also, first the reference voltage for the x th line is set in the comparator 23 , and the potential Vn+1 of the n+1 th line is compared.", "Comparison data is stored in the 1-bit memory MEM, and read into the data drive IC 20 .", "If this is repeated for all lines, it is possible to read out difference in degradation of the second organic EL element 3 when the x th line of all pixels is made a reference, and it is possible to confirm difference in degradation for each pixel.", "[0073] With FIG. 9 the voltage values Vx and Vn of the data line 7 have been compared using the comparator 23 , but is also possible measure to current values Ix, In when Vp is applied, using a current measurement circuit or the like (not shown), and to compare these current values.", "[0074] The second organic EL element 3 operates in a complementary fashion so as to not emit light while the first organic element 1 is emitting light, and conversely to emit light when the first organic EL element 1 is not emitting light, and so a reverse characteristic for the degradation of the first organic EL element 1 is reflected at the second organic EL element 3 .", "Specifically, the fact that the second organic EL element 3 is degraded shows that the first organic EL element 1 is not degraded, and as long as the second organic EL element 3 is not degraded, degradation of the first organic EL element 1 advances.", "[0075] In the case where the difference in degradation has been confirmed, degradation equalization processing, that will be described next, is carried out in a display non-use period.", "A pixel having less degradation than the reference line is illuminated for part of the non-use period, to forcibly cause degradation.", "At this time, since the degradation equalization processing will not be noticeable if the pixel is not lit up very brightly, it is preferable to perform gentle degradation by lowering the power supply voltage VDD further, etc.", "After a fixed time has elapsed, degradation comparison is again carried out for every pixel with the reference line, and subject to confirmation that the number of pixels that are brighter than the reference line has decreased, it is determined whether or not to carry out degradation equalization again.", "In the event that there are still a lot of pixels with slight degradation, the equalization processing is performed again, followed by degradation comparison.", "Once the pixels having slight degradation satisfy a specified condition, the equalization processing is finished, and a state where burn in has been equalized is maintained.", "[0076] Here, the reference line preferably causes operation so that during a usage period of the display all pixels of one line are lit at the same brightness to give the same degradation, and it is also possible to shorten the discharge period tdc, to perform control so as to cause apparent degradation and carry out degradation comparison.", "It is also possible to form the comparator 23 on the same substrate as the pixels, and it is also possible to adopt the comparator 23 inside the data driver IC 20 .", "[0077] In this way, it is possible to further improve reliability of display after shipping by verifying pixels periodically after shipping, and monitoring degradation states.", "[0078] The invention has been described in detail with particular reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, but it will be understood that variations and modifications can be effected within the spirit and scope of the invention.", "PARTS LIST [0000] 1 organic EL element 2 first drive transistor 3 organic EL element 4 second drive transistor 5 gate transistor 6 gate line 7 data line 8 power supply line 10 pixel 11 display array 12 bus switches 13 shift register 14 row shift register 15 data bus 16 IO pads 17 organic EL panel 18 display region 19 unit pixel 20 data driver IC 21 control circuit 22 defect information memory 23 comparator 24 current drive transistor 25 current control line" ]

[ "This is a continuation of application Ser.", "No. 07/457,860, filed 27, Dec. 1989 abandoned.", "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1.", "Field of the Invention The present invention is related to a synchronization signal sharing circuit of a digital video cassette recorder (VCR) which reduces the memory capacity requirements of the digital VCR and does not need a synchronization signal generator in the video machinery and tools which change a video signal into a digital signal for processing.", "Description of the Prior Art In the traditional digital VCR, either the method in which the whole video signal is stored in the memory and is read, or the more advanced method in which the synchronization signal part or the burst signal part, which is regular, is not stored in memory but only the actual visual part of the video signal is memorized in the memory, is used.", "In the digital VCR's using these methods, there is a demerit of consuming a lot of the memory capacity if the former method is used, and there is a demerit of needing a special synchronization generator because the synchronization signal received from the outside by the memory is not saved if the latter method is used.", "SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION One object of present invention is to provide a digital VCR which does not need a synchronization generator even though the later method is used.", "Another object of the present invention is to provide a digital VCR, which avoids a need for a synchronization generator by sharing the synchronization signal through a method in which only the visual part of a sub video signal is memorized and the synchronization signal is received from a main video signal.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is the circuit diagram of the present invention.", "FIG. 2 is the waveform diagram of the window signal and the edge signal of the present invention.", "DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention is described in reliance upon the accompanying figures, as follows: The dual 4 channel multiplexer IC1 switches over the main video signal and the sub video signal applied through the transistors Q1 and Q2 according to the logic signals (PIP+SCROLL/PIP+SCROLL)(Main/Sub) which select the multi picture (PIP) mode or the screen vertical partition (SCROLL) mode.", "The color decoder and synchronization separating circuit 5 separates the color signal and the synchronization signal to process the sub video signal received from the multiplexer IC1.", "The digital signal processing circuit 15 enables the video signal received from the color decoder and synchronization separating circuit 5 to be stored and receives the main video signal from the multiplexer IC1 through the synchronization separating circuit 10.", "The color encoder 20 receives the video signal which is processed as a digital signal in the digital signal processing circuit 15.", "The multiplexer IC3 is switched by the window signal of the digital signal processing circuit 15 and selects between the main video output and the color encoder 20 output.", "The multiplexer IC2 emphasizes the edge of the viewing window by switching in response to the edge signal of the digital signal processing circuit 15.", "Resistors R8 and R9 which control the brightness of the edge are connected to the multiplexer IC2.", "The last video output of the multiplexer IC2 is delivered through the transistor Q5.", "The instruction signal (data, clock and strobe signal) received from the outside is delivered to the digital signal processing circuit 15 to control its operation.", "In the present invention constructed as described above, the main video signal and the sub video signal are input into the dual 4 channel multiplexer IC1 through the transistors Q1 and Q2 serving as buffers and, in the multiplexer IC1, the main video signal and the sub video signal are selected according to the logic signal supplied from the digital processing circuit 15.", "At this time in the multiplexer IC1, the state of the main output (Main Out) and the sub output (Sub Out) are selected according to the logic signal (PIP+SCROLL/PIP+SCROLL)(Main/Sub) of the digital processing circuit 15 as follows: ______________________________________PIP+SCROLL(PIP+SCROLL) Main/Sub Main/Out Sub Out______________________________________0 0 Main Video Main Video0 1 Main Video Main Video1 0 Sub Video Main Video1 1 Main Video Sub Video______________________________________ Here, the (PIP+SCROLL)signal is "high level"", "during the multi picture (PIP) or the screen vertical partition (SCROLL) modes, and otherwise is at a "low level".", "The logic signal (Main/Sub) which selects the main/sub screen is a meaningful value only during the multi picture or the screen vertical partition modes.", "The (Main/Sub) signal causes the main screen and the supplementary screen to switch with each other.", "When the logic signal (Main/Sub) is applied at a high level, the main video signal is displayed as the main screen of the multi picture (PIP) screen and the sub video signal is displayed as the supplementary screen, and when the logic signal (Main/Sub) is applied at a low level, it is displayed contrary to the above.", "These logic signals (PIP+SCROLL/PIP+SCROLL) and (Main/Sub) are generated by the digital signal processing part 15 in response to the external instruction signal.", "Accordingly, because only one video signal is read after it is entered into the memory and digitally processed when the logic signal (PIP+SCROLL) is low level, or when it is neither multi picture (PIP) nor screen vertical partition (SCROLL) mode, there is the necessity of unifying the main output and the sub output of the multiplexer IC1 to the main video signal in the case when it is neither multi picture nor screen vertical partition.", "Therefore, as in the table, the main video signal is delivered with both the main output and the sub output of the multiplexer IC1 without regard to the logic signal (Main/Sub) when the logic signal (PIP+SCROLL/PIP+SCROLL) is at a low level.", "If the logic signal (Main/Sub) is at a high level, the main video signal is delivered to the main output of the multiplexer IC1 and the sub video signal to the sub output, and if at a low level, it is delivered contrary to the manner mentioned above.", "The output video signal of the dual 4 channel multiplexer IC1 is provided through the switching transistors Q3 and Q4, respectively.", "The video signal delivered to the sub output is applied to the digital signal processing part 15 through the color decoder and synchronization separating circuit 5 and processed as a digital signal.", "The video signal delivered to the main output is applied to the digital signal processing circuit 15 through the synchronization separating circuit 10 and simultaneously applied to the multiplexer IC3 which is the analog signal processing path.", "During either the multi picture (PIP) or the screen vertical partition (SCROLL) mode, either the multi picture or the screen vertical partition functions are executed by performing an operation which has the small screen signal overlap with the main screen signal.", "In these modes, the video signal delivered from the sub output of the multiplexer IC1 is synchronized with the vertical and horizontal synchronization signals of the main video signal by storing the video signal delivered from the sub output of the multiplexer IC1 in the memory of the digital signal processing circuit 15.", "In either the multi picture (PIP) or the screen vertical partition (SCROLL) mode, either the multi picture or the screen vertical partition operation overlaps the supplementary screen signal with the main screen signal.", "The display is executed by having the video signal of the sub output synchronized to the vertical and the horizontal synchronization signals of the main video signal separated in the synchronization separation circuit 10 after the video signal of the sub output is memorized in the memory of the digital signal processing circuit 15 in response to the vertical and horizontal synchronization signals of the sub video signal separated in the color decoder and the synchronization separating circuit 5.", "Accordingly, a special synchronization generator is not necessary in the present invention because the vertical and the horizontal synchronization signals of each of the sub video signal and the main video signal are used during storage of the sub video signal in the memory and reading the memorized sub video signal, respectively.", "And the operation is not in either the multi picture or the screen vertical partition mode but in the digital mode of strobe, art and mosaic functions, operation is as follows: When it is neither the multi picture (PIP) nor the screen vertical partition (SCROLL) mode the main vertical and horizontal synchronization signals and the sub vertical and horizontal synchronization signals become the same because the main video signal is delivered to both the main output and the sub output of the multiplexer IC1.", "Accordingly, if the sub video signal is memorized in the memory on the basis of the sub synchronization signals and the picture is read from the memory on the basis of the main synchronization signals, the synchronization signal is automatically carried on the digitally processed picture to become the complete composite video signal.", "In the digital mode when neither the multi picture nor the screen vertical partition mode is executed, the main synchronization signals and the sub synchronization signals are the same because the same main video signal is output from the multiplexer IC1, and the digitally processed picture becomes the complete composite synchronization signal and is carried on it.", "And when it is either the multi picture or the screen vertical partition like the above, each screen is displayed clearly by outputting the window signal which shows the screen and the edge signal which indicates the edge pan from the digital signal processing circuit 15 and being applied to the multiplexer IC2.", "At this time the window signal and the edge signal can be made with ease in the digital signal processing circuit 15 by giving the time delay in some degree on the basis of the horizontal synchronization signal, and the window signal and the edge signal are shown in FIG. 2. And in the digital signal processing circuit 15, if the window signal and the edge signal are applied at a high level, the multiplexers IC2 and IC3 are connected to the terminal H, and if the window signal and the edge signal are applied at a low level, they are connected to the terminal L. Also, the video signal through the transistor Q4 is applied to the terminal L of the multiplexer IC3 and the output of the color encoder 20 is applied to the terminal H of the multiplexer IC3.", "The resistors R8 and R9 control the brightness of the surrounding line formed by the edge signal.", "The resistors are connected to the terminal H of the multiplexer IC2 which the output of the multiplexer IC3 is applied to the terminal L of multiplexer IC2.", "And the output of the multiplexer IC2 passes through the transistor Q5 to be delivered as the last video signal.", "Accordingly, the multiplexers IC2 and IC3 are switched to the window signal and the edge signal applied as in FIG. 2 in the digital signal processing circuit 15 and constitute each screen.", "At this time, FIG. 2A shows the wave form of the window signal and the edge signal in the multi picture and FIG. 2B shows the wave form in the screen vertical partition, and FIG. 2C shows the waveform in the whole screen digital mode with neither the multi picture mode nor the screen vertical partition mode.", "As is considered above, there is the advantage of the present invention that it is used compatibly in the multi picture (PIP) and the screen vertical partition (SCROLL) modes and in the other digital mode, and the capacity of the memory is also reduced by not memorizing the synchronization signals of the sub video signal, and the special synchronization generator is not necessary because memorizing is done by the sub synchronization signals and reading is done by the main synchronization signals." ]

[ "FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] This invention relates to the preparation of 1,3-propanediol based polyesters such as polytrimethylene terephthalate (hereafter PTT).", "More particularly this invention relates to a process for achieving a degree of crystallization of PTT which will prevent pellet blocking and agglomeration.", "In one aspect, the invention relates to a process that can be carried out in a continuous manner, as well as batch.", "In another aspect, the invention relates to an apparatus for the continuous crystallization of polytrimethylene terephthalate (PTT).", "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] Polytrimethylene terephthalate is a polyester useful in fiber applications in the carpet and textile industries.", "The manufacture of polytrimethylene terephthalate involves the condensation polymerization of 1,3-propanediol and terephthalic acid to a polymer having an intrinsic viscosity (hereafter referred to as IV) of about 0.4 to 1.0 dl/g.", "The polymer melt is discharged from the melt reactor and extruded through an extrusion die into strands.", "The strands are quenched in cold water and cut into pellets for storage or transportation.", "[0003] It has been found that polytrimethylene terephthalate pellets tend to adhere together, or block, during storage or shipping at temperatures above the polymer glass transition temperature Tg (about 45° C.), which temperature can easily be reached during storage in a silo, rail car, or hopper.", "Agglomeration of the pellets can also occur during drying.", "BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0004] In accordance with the foregoing, the present invention is a continuous process and apparatus for crystallizing pellets of polytrimethylene terephthalate in order to prevent blocking which comprises: [0005] a) introducing polytrimethylene terephthalate pellets having an intrinsic viscosity of at least about 0.4 dl/g into a conduit containing a liquid which is moving through the conduit, thereby causing the pellets to move through the conduit with the liquid;", "[0006] b) adjusting the temperature of the pellets and the liquid to a temperature of about 50 to about 95° C. for a time sufficient to induce a degree of crystallinity of at least about 35% in the pellets;", "and [0007] c) separating the pellets from the liquid.", "[0008] The process is preferably carried out in a continuous liquid pellet suspension apparatus comprising, for example, a hot water crystallization (HWC) pipe, at a sufficient flow rate to retard settling of pellets.", "The desired pellet properties are generally reached in a residence time in the conduit within the range of about 3 seconds to about 5 minutes.", "It is preferred that weight ratio of the liquid to the pellets be from about 5:1 to about 200:1, most preferably about 10:1 to about 100:1.", "[0009] In one aspect of the practice of the invention, crystallized pellets are cooled to a temperature below their glass transition temperature during classification to remove fines and oversized pellets.", "The combined classifier-cooler includes a screen for removing pellet fines, dust and undersized pellets, a slice plate section having air flowing through, preferably from underneath, to cool the pellets, and a perforated plate through which pellets of the desired size will pass and which retains oversized pellets.", "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES [0010] [0010 ]FIG. 1 is a schematic process flow diagram of a hot water crystallization (HWC) unit.", "[0011] [0011 ]FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the combined classification and cooling section.", "DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [0012] The invention involves the preparation of polytrimethylene terephthalate pellets characterized by improved stability against blocking at elevated temperatures.", "The invention process overcomes the problem of polytrimethylene terephthalate pellets adhering together during hot weather storage or transportation, and enables drying of the pellets in a hopper-type dryer prior to melt processing or solid-state polymerization.", "The process also assists in reducing fines, which can be generated in the manufacture and processing of polytrimethylene terephthalate.", "The resulting partially crystallized polytrimethylene terephthalate pellets can be spun into fibers or made into film or engineering thermoplastics.", "[0013] In general, polytrimethylene terephthalate is prepared by reacting, at elevated temperature, a molar excess of 1,3-propanediol with terephthalic acid in a multi-stage (esterification/polycondensation) process, with removal of by-product water, for a time effective to produce polytrimethylene terephthalate.", "The polymerization conditions are selected so as to produce molten polyester having a target intrinsic viscosity of at least about 0.4 dl/g, preferably about 0.4 to about 1.0 dl/g.", "Polytrimethylene terephthalate may also be produced by the reaction of 1,3-propanediol with dimethyl terephthalate.", "[0014] For example, the polytrimethylene terephthalate (PTT) is discharged from the melt reactor and passed through an extrusion die to form polymer melt strands which are cooled and partially solidified by contact with cold water on a strand guide.", "The sequence of pelletization/crystallization is not critical.", "Pre-pelletizing crystallization involves immersion of polymer melt strands in hot water prior to cutting of the strands, preferably en route from the extruder to the pelletizer.", "The preferred method, however, for process efficiency and pellet quality, and for practice in conjunction with the present invention, is to conduct crystallization downstream of pelletization.", "[0015] In the present invention we have found a process design for producing PTT pellets exhibiting sufficient crystallinity to prevent agglomeration, which process has several advantages not previously available in any similar process.", "The process is efficient in that a typical drying step prior to crystallization can optionally be omitted, the pellets are crystallized while being transported, and the process can be operated in a continuous manner, as well as the more common batch operation.", "Furthermore, by controlling the temperature of the liquid, the degree of crystallinity of the pellets can be controlled.", "It is desirable that they not be too soft or they will agglomerate but if they are too brittle, an unacceptable amount of fines will be produced.", "In addition, a stirred tank having a physical agitator, such as a blade, is not required, thus greatly reducing damage (abrasion) to the pellets.", "The process is also economical, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the description below of the relatively inexpensive materials employed.", "[0016] The polymer strands are cut to pellets of, for example, ⅛ inch by ⅛ inch (0.3 cm by 0.3 cm).", "Pelletizing may be accomplished with a strand-cut pelletizer or an underwater pelletizer or by other means.", "In the preferred embodiment herein a strand-cut pelletizer was employed.", "Immediately after pelletization, the surfaces of the pellets are solid while the cores are still partially molten and have a low degree of crystallinity.", "[0017] Since the PTT crystallization of the present invention is executed in a hot water medium, at about 50 up to about 95° C., the cold water used in pelletizing is preferably separated from the polymer pellets before the pellets reach the hot water crystallization unit (hereafter referred to as HWC).", "In the following description, the pellets are dry-cut, but the process could be operated to accommodate wet pellets.", "[0018] The pellets are delivered from the pelletizer to the HWC by way of a washdown hopper.", "Referring to FIG. 1, in the present invention the pellets 1 are received in the wash-down hopper 2 of a hydraulically driven (preferably water) eductor 4 .", "The eductor is generally funnel shaped and provides its own induction force to pull the pellets into the top side 3 of the eductor by the creation of a vacuum due to the flow of water through the eductor in the direction of eductor inlet 5 to eductor tip 6 .", "[0019] The pellets are then drawn to the tip 6 of the eductor 4 and carried by hydraulic medium, again preferably water, to the inside of the hot water crystallization pipe 7 .", "The pipe can be made of any material that can meet the temperature requirement, including materials, such as, for example, chlorinated polyvinylchloride (CPVC).", "The temperature of the water in the crystallization pipe 7 is adjusted to about 50° C. to about 95° C. and the crystallization of PTT is achieved via hot water contact with polymer pellets.", "The residence time of hot water crystallization is controlled by the pipe length and water flowrate.", "The water temperature may be controlled by a heater temperature control 18 installed in line 17 .", "[0020] The separation of hot water from the pellets is achieved in a centrifugal dryer 8 which has a vent 9 and is connected to the classifier 10 .", "The pellets may be cooled in the dryer 8 or they may be cooled in the classifier 10 as described below or they may be cooled by other means.", "[0021] The flow of water through the HWC moves the pellets along.", "Water flows from the storage tank 16 through line 19 to water pump 20 and then through optional filter 21 to the inlet 5 of eductor 4 .", "The water is circulated from dryer 8 via line 11 to a water surge tank 12 and recycled for reuse through line 13 back to the hot water storage tank 16 , preferably after filtering at 15 to remove pellet dust and fines from the water stream.", "A water pump 14 in line 13 helps to move the water.", "[0022] Crystallization is achieved in the flowing hot water stream inside the crystallization conduit which can be any elongated conduit and is located between the pelletizer and the pellet dryer.", "The conduit may have a diameter suitable in proportion to the rest of the equipment.", "The diameter may suitably be in the range of about 2 (5.1) inches to about 10 (25.4) inches (centimeters) or more, but is preferably in the range of about 4 (10.2) to about 6 (15.2) inches (centimeters).", "[0023] A very broad range of compositions is suitable for construction of the hot water crystallization conduit.", "It is only necessary that the material meet the temperature and pressure requirements of the desired operation.", "Examples of suitable materials include, but are not limited to CPVC, stainless steel, brass, and copper.", "CPVC may be employed with good results without the use of insulation.", "[0024] A liquid pellet suspension or slurry exemplified by the present invention is preferred because it offers uniform residence time and uniform heating of the pellets in order to produce pellets of uniform crystallization and opacity.", "The hot water suspension or slurry of pellets is moved through the conduit at a rate which results in the desired hot water contact time.", "The water flow rate should be high enough to prevent PTT pellets from settling.", "The conduit should be long enough to offer the required residence time.", "A suitable residence time is in the range of about 3 seconds to about 5 minutes, preferably about 30 seconds to about 3 minutes, more preferably about 1.5 to about 2 minutes.", "It can take longer at temperatures at the lower end of the range.", "An additional advantage of this invention is that the pellets are moving by turbulent flow rather than by agitation, as in stirred tank process designs, and incur less damage due to abrasion.", "[0025] The flow system should have sufficient flexibility to control and adjust the flow rate in the crystallization conduit and also to adjust the water to pellet ratio if desired.", "The water to pellet weight ratio is preferably from about 5:1 to about 200:1, most preferably about 10:1 to about 100:1.", "[0026] The residence time required to heat up PTT pellets from ambient temperature to the target temperature in a turbulent hot water stream can be calculated using the following: θ = cwV hA  Ln  T - T fi T - T i ( Eq .", " 1 ) [0027] where θ is the time required to achieve temp T across the pellet, T i is the initial surface temperature of the PTT pellet, T fi is the ambient fluid temperature, T is the uniform pellet temperature at instant time θ, c is the average heat capacity of PTT pellets (between 20° C. and 80° C., c=0.131 BTU/LB•° F. [0.548 kJ/kg•° K]), w is the volume of one PTT pellet=5.918×10 −7 ft 3 [0.168×10 −7 m 3 ] (for a ⅛ inch [0.3 cm] by ⅛ inch [0.3 cm] pellet), A is the surface area of one PTT pellet=0.001363 ft 2 [0.0001266 m 2 ] (again for a ⅛ inch [0.3 cm] by ⅛ inch [0.3 cm] pellet), h is the uniform value of the surface heat conductance, i.e. the heat transfer coefficient between water and PTT pellets.", "The surface conductance h can be calculated from Equation 2: hd P / h F = ( 0.35 + 0.56  N Re 0.5 )  N Pr 0.31   where   N Re = v R  d P η F   N Pr = h F C P , F  η F ( Eq .", " 2 ) [0028] Where d P is the diameter of PTT pellets=⅛ inch (0.3 cm), h F is the thermal conductivity of fluid (water)=0.3795 BTU/hr•ft•° F. (0.6568 W/m•° K) at 70° C., N Re is Reynolds number, V R is relative velocity between polymer pellets and water in feet/sec, η F is the viscosity of fluid, N Pr is Prantl number, C P,F is the heat capacity of fluid.", "[0029] It was assumed in these calculations that there is negligible internal resistance inside the pellet for heat transfer and that the pellet is of an elongated spherical shape.", "[0030] Estimations regarding the minimum linear velocity (flow rate) of PTT pellets/water slurry to prevent the pellets from settling in the water stream can be derived using the following relationship, for pellet content below about 15 wt % (water:pellet weight ratio of about 6.67:1) in water: U M = 120.4  D P  ( d P D P ) 0.17  ( ρ P - ρ F ρ F ) 0.5 ( Eq .", " 3 ) [0031] where U M is the minimum fluid velocity without pellets settling, D P is the pipe internal diameter, d P is the pellet diameter, ρ P is the pellet density, and ρ F is the fluid density.", "[0032] To ensure that the pellets are sufficiently crystallized to prevent blocking, it is desirable to crystallize the pellets to the extent that the product does not exhibit a conspicuous cold crystallization peak on its DSC thermogram.", "The imparted degree of crystallization is related to the starting polymer density and IV, the temperature of the water, and the length of time the polymer is immersed.", "The following chart provides general guidance on immersion times required to achieve about 35% or greater crystallinity (for non-delustered polytrimethylene terephthalate) over the temperature range of 60 to 100° C. Water Temperature (° C.) Crystallization Time 60 20 minutes 65 3 minutes 70 30 seconds 80 10 seconds 90 5 seconds 100 3 seconds [0033] For commercial operation, the desirability of faster crystallization must be balanced against the cost of maintaining higher water temperatures.", "The upper temperature is also limited by the tendency of polytrimethylene terephthalate to undergo hydrolytic degradation (detected as a decrease in intrinsic viscosity) at temperatures above about 95° C. Preferably, the water temperature is within the range of about 65° C. to about 85° C. and the polymer is immersed for no longer than about 3 minutes, preferably for a time within the range of about 30 seconds to about 3 minutes, with delustered polymer generally requiring longer immersion than non-delustered polymer.", "[0034] Polytrimethylene terephthalate pellets treated by the invention process generally have an opaque appearance and generally exhibit the following physical properties: [0035] Density of at least about 1.33 g/cm 3 [0036] Crystallinity of at least about 35% [0037] Tg of at least about 55° C., preferably at least about 60° C. [0038] Apparent crystallite size of at least about 10 nm [0039] As used herein, crystallinity refers to an increase in the crystalline fraction and a decrease in the amorphous fraction of the polymer.", "In general, crystallinity greater than about 35%, preferably within the range of about 36 to about 45%, is desired.", "The calculation of crystallinity herein is based on the relationship of volume fractional crystallinity (X c ) of a sample to the density (D s ) of the sample: X c =( D s −D a )/( D c −D a ) [0040] where D s is the density of the sample, D a is the density of amorphous polytrimethylene terephthalate (=1.295 g/cm 3 ) and D c is the density of polytrimethylene terephthalate crystal (=1.387 g/cm 3 ).", "The weight fractional crystallinity equals (D c /D s )*X c .", "[0041] After the selected residence time in the hot water crystallization conduit, the pellet/water slurry may be discharged into a pellet dryer.", "The temperature of the PTT pellets after HWC may be about 70 to about 80° C. To reduce the tendency of the PTT pellets to block during storage, the PTT pellets may be cooled below their glass transition temperature.", "The pellets may be cooled to a temperature below about 60° C. either by cold water quench en route to the dryer or, if the dryer environment is sufficiently cool, in the dryer itself.", "The glass transition temperature of PTT pellets with crystallinity of about 36 weight percent is around 50° C. Therefore the PTT pellets should be cooled below about 50° C. or agglomeration can occur again.", "[0042] The pellet dryer can include a mechanism for water removal by centrifugal force.", "The pellets may be cooled in the dryer or elsewhere.", "After the dewatering and drying operation is completed, the pellets are passed to a classifier.", "The object of the classifier is to remove fines and oversized pellets.", "Pellet fines, dust, and undersizes are removed first by passing pellets through a screen.", "Pellets are then passed through a perforated plate where the oversized pellets are retained on the plate and are removed whereas the pellets of the desired size pass through the plate.", "[0043] In preferred embodiment of the present invention the steps of classifying and cooling the crystallized PTT pellets to below about 50° C. are accomplished with one piece of classification equipment.", "A cooling section is inserted between two pellet classification sections.", "A block diagram of an apparatus for cooling the pellets while classifying is shown in FIG. 2. This apparatus is incorporated into the classifier 10 shown in FIG. 1. After the drying operation, the PTT pellets are introduced to a classifier, 10 .", "Pellet fines, dust, and undersizes are removed first by passing the pellets through a screen, 22 .", "The screen 22 is typically, but not limited to, 8-mesh 0.025-inch diameter wire screen made of stainless steel.", "Pellets are then passed through a slice plate section 23 where air is flowing through from underneath to pass through the slice plate to cool the pellets.", "The air can be at any temperature, as long as the air temperature is below the pellet temperature.", "The air can be incorporated in a number of ways.", "One effective method was to use air from a centrifugal blower with an air temperature of, for example, about 25 to about 30° C. Cooling air could also be generated by suction from the classifier.", "The pellets are then moved to a perforated plate 24 , where the oversized pellets are retained on the plate and are removed, wherein the pellets of the desired size pass through the plate.", "This perforated plate 24 used to remove oversizes is typically, but not limited to, 16 gauge stainless steel perforated with {fraction (7/32)} inch round holes.", "Those skilled in the art will see variations that can be made within the scope of the invention.", "[0044] In calculating the residence time required to cool PTT pellets from, for example, about 80° to about 40° C., it is assumed again that there is negligible internal resistance inside the pellet for heat transfer and the pellet is of an elongated spherical shape.", "Assuming a ⅛ inch by ⅛ inch PTT pellet (here regarded as a ⅛ inch sphere) being cooled from some initial uniform temperature state T i in a flowing air stream of temperature T f , the heat conduction equation for the pellet leads to the following: θ = cwV hA  Ln  T - T f T - T i ( Eq .", " 4 ) [0045] where θ is the time required to achieve temperature T across the pellet, T i is the initial surface temperature of the PTT pellet, T f is the ambient fluid (air) temperature, T is the uniform pellet temperature at instant time θ, c is the average heat capacity of PTT pellets (between about 40° C. and about 80° C., c=0.2998 BTU/LB•° F. [1.255 kJ/kg•° K]), w is the specific weight of one PTT pellet, V is the volume of one PTT pellet, A is the surface area of one PTT pellet=0.001363 ft 2 (0.0001266 m 2 ) h is the uniform value of the surface heat conductance, i.e. the heat transfer coefficient between air and PTT pellets.", "The surface conductance h can be calculated from: hd P / h F = ( 0.35 + 0.56  N Re 0.5 )  N Pr 0.31   where   N Re = v R  d P η F   N Pr = h F C P , F  η F ( Eq .", " 5 ) [0046] Where d P is the diameter of PTT pellets=⅛ inch (0.3 cm), h F is the thermal conductivity of fluid (air)=0.015 BTU/hr•ft•° F. (0.026 W/m•° K) at 27° C., N Re is Reynolds number, V R is relative velocity between polymer pellets and air, η F is the viscosity of air, N Pr is Prantl number, C P,F is the heat capacity of air.", "[0047] To calculate the surface area of the cooling slice plate required to contact the pellets and the required flowrate, it was assumed: [0048] 1.", "The surface area in contact with pellets must be large enough to allow one single layer of pellets on the slice plate during cooling process.", "[0049] 2.", "The single pellet can be considered of cylindrical shape (⅛ inch [0.3 cm] in length and ⅛ inch [0.3 cm] in diameter).", "[0050] One single PTT pellet volume is 5.918×10 −7 ft 3 (0.168×10 −7 m 3 ), and PTT pellet density is 80.7 lb/ft 3 (1293 kg/m 3 ).", "With a 2 second residence time and 520 lb/hr (236 kg/hr) throughput, the number of pellets on the cooling slice plate 23 of FIG. 2 at any given moment is 6048 (where each pellet has a surface area of 1.085×10 −4 ft 2 [0.1×10 −4 m 2 ]).", "This leads to a figure for the surface area of the slice plate of 0.656 ft 2 (0.06 m 2 ).", "Considering only a certain percentage of the slice plate area is the open area allowing air to pass through, then a 1.5 ft 2 (0.14 m 2 ) slot screen area may be employed with good results.", "[0051] The air flow rate should be high enough to permit the air to pass through the gaps between pellets and have pellets fluidized with the support of the slice plate.", "The gap between any adjacent slice plate should be large enough to allow airflow through, while the gap should be small enough to not allow pellets to drop through.", "In practice the width of the slice plate may be suitably around 4 millimeters.", "It is preferred to not completely fluidize the pellets.", "[0052] Although the process of the present invention is preferably carried out continuously, it could be operated as a batch process.", "The process is preferably carried out continuously for efficiency.", "Integration of crystallization into a continuous polymerization process may involve coordination with upstream and downstream processing, careful control of pellet residence time in the crystallizer for uniform crystallization of the pellets, recycling of water for reuse, along with additional means for filtration, temperature control, etc.", "In batch mode the pellet delivery to the eductor is carried out as discreet loads while the HWC loop recirculates constantly.", "[0053] In either continuous or batch crystallization, the polytrimethylene terephthalate pellets will be immersed in hot water at temperatures within the range of about 50 to about 95° C., preferably about 65 to about 95° C., most preferably about 65 to about 85° C., for a time sufficient to achieve the desired crystallinity.", "This allows the latent heat to be used for auto crystallization.", "Directly after pelletization, the pellets have a latent energy which is high enough to initiate crystallization at about 50 to about 95° C. As used herein, crystallinity indicates the degree of crystallization.", "In general, crystallinity greater than about 35%, preferably within the range of about 36 to about 45%, measured as described above, is desired.", "[0054] The following examples will serve to further illustrate the invention disclosed herein.", "The examples are intended only as a means of illustration and should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any way.", "Those skilled in the art will recognize many variations that may be made without departing from the spirit of the disclosed invention.", "EXAMPLE 1 [0055] A trial of the hot water crystallization (HWC) process and apparatus was conducted.", "The water temperature, water flow rate, pellet residence time in the water stream, and water pressure at the eductor for four trials are shown in Table 1.", "The pellet content in water was a little less than 2%wt—a water:pellet weight ratio of a little more than 50:1.", "In four separate experiments dry-cut pellets were fed into the HWC eductor with a flow rate of between 35 to 40 gpm (132.5 to 151.4 liters per minute).", "The water temperature, crystallinity before and after HWC, and the cooling effect with classification are shown in Table 2.", "The pellet crystallinities after HWC were all higher than 35% when the HWC water temperature was near or greater than 70° C. The glass transition temperatures of those hot water crystallized pellets were all above 55° C. and thus there were no agglomeration problems under all typical storage conditions and transport processes.", "Use of hot water temperatures below 60° C. would require longer residence time, i.e., longer HWC pipe.", "[0056] In the last three runs, the pellets were cooled in the combined classification-cooling process as described above.", "In these three runs the pellet temperatures were measured by inserting a thermocouple into the pellet pile.", "The cooling section successfully cooled the pellets to a temperature below 50° C. The glass transition temperatures of these hot water crystallized pellets were all above the temperatures of the pellets and thus agglomeration problems did not occur when storing these pellets.", "TABLE 1 Water Water Hot water flowrate Residence time of Pellets Pressure at stream temp (GPM) in Water stream Eductor (° C.) (LPM) (Seconds) (PSIG) (kPag) 66 36.5 (138.1) 100 50 (345) 68 39 (147.6) 93 60 (414) 70 41.5 (157.1) 86 70 (483) 70 44.1 (166.9) 81 80 (552) [0057] [0057] TABLE 2 Hot water Crystallinity Crystallinity Pellet Temperature stream temp before after after Cooling with (° C.) HWC (%) HWC (%) Classification (° C.) 59.5 17.7 33.6 — 67.5 17.7 40.6 34.0-36.0 74.0 17.7 42.1 38.0-41.8 76.0 17.7 42.4 38.0-43.9" ]