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referring to fig1 an apparatus and method for cryo - surgical ablation of barrett &# 39 ; s esophagus has an endoscope 10 inserted into the esophagus e , of a patient p , adjacent to the stomach s . barrett &# 39 ; s tissue b lines the esophagus e above the lower esophageal sphincter . a conventional therapeutic endoscope 10 is illustrated in the drawings , although a smaller diagnostic endoscope is preferably used from the standpoint of patient comfort , particularly when a balloon shield is not being used . a specially designed endoscope can also be used . the distal end 12 of such an endoscope 10 is shown in fig2 showing an imaging camera lens 14 , illuminating light 16 , biopsy channel ( bore or lumen ) 18 with the catheter 20 therein , and an additional lumen 22 . the image picked up at the lens 14 is transferred via fiber optics to a monitoring camera 25 ( fig1 ) which sends tv signals via a cable 26 to a conventional monitor 28 , where the procedure can be visualized . by virtue of this visualization , the surgeon is able to perform the cryosurgery in the esophagus . through the lumen 18 is disposed a catheter 20 , preferably a conventional teflon catheter size 7 fr of 2 - 3 mm outside diameter . the catheter 20 protrudes from the distal end 12 ( i . e ., the end first inserted into the esophagus ) of the endoscope 10 and extends to the proximal end 30 ( closest to the operator , outside the patient ) where a physician &# 39 ; s hand h 1 guides the catheter 20 . as seen in the monitor image 28 of fig1 the distal end 12 of the catheter 20 may be bent at an angle . the catheter 20 is coupled to a tube extending near the bottom of a dewar flask 32 filled with liquid nitrogen or other liquified gas lg . as used in the present specification , “ gas ” in the phrase “ liquified gas ” means any fluid which is physiologically acceptable and which has a sufficiently low boiling point to allow the cryotherapy of the present invention . for example , such boiling point is preferably below about − 150 ° c . the gas is preferably nitrogen , as it is readily available , or alternatively argon . the dewar flask 32 may be adapted from an ordinary commercial container such as a thermos bottle holding as little as a quart of liquid , which can readily be refilled from a larger container . liquid nitrogen is also easily and safely handled in foam - insulated containers ( e . g ., styrofoam cups ). however , the container 32 is preferably a medium - capacity stainless - steel dewar flask of several liters capacity . a larger container , able to provide liquid for numerous operations over several weeks time , may be used . for expediency the large container may be mounted on a cart . the dewar flask 32 is closed and the interior space is pressurized with a small air pump 34 , which may alternatively be mounted in the container lid or elsewhere . fig1 shows schematically that the proximal end of the catheter 20 is coupled to a tube 35 , preferably by a standard luer lock 37 , and the lower end of the tube 35 is immersed in liquid nitrogen lg while the interior is pressurized by a free - running pressure pump 34 through a tube 38 . a pressure gauge 40 is preferably provided , or alternatively a safety valve with a preset opening pressure ( not shown ). the pressure is selected so as to permit adequate spray from the distal end of the catheter 20 . the interior of the dewar flask 32 is vented through a vent tube 42 which is preferably opened and closed by a valve operated by the physician &# 39 ; s hand h 2 . fig1 shows the thumb obstructing the end of the vent tube 42 . when the vent is closed , pressure builds up in the dewar flask 32 and nitrogen is pumped through the tube 35 to catheter 20 . while the valve is shown as a simple thumb - valve in fig1 it will be understood that such a valve could be a mechanical valve or an electromechanical valve , preferably controlled by a trigger mechanism , or the like , as could be readily envisioned and constructed by those of ordinary skill in the art . in a preferred embodiment of this invention , an electrically operated solenoid valve is employed in delivering the liquified gas to the catheter . of course , the solenoid is specifically adapted to function properly at cryogenic temperatures . the vent tube 42 is left open until the physician has positioned the catheter near the barrett &# 39 ; s tissue , as guided by the hand h 1 and confirmed by viewing the monitor 28 . the physician then closes the vent 42 and liquid nitrogen is pushed into the proximal end of the catheter 20 at the luer lock 37 . as the liquid nitrogen moves through the catheter 20 , it starts to boil and cool gas rushes ahead to emerge from the distal end or catheter tip 46 . the amount of boiling in the catheter 20 depends on the mass and thermal capacity of the catheter . since the catheter is of small diameter and mass , the amount of boiling is not great . ( the catheter would preferably be “ french seven ”.) after the catheter is cooled to a low temperature , and becomes filled with liquid nitrogen , the liquid nitrogen reaches the distal end of the catheter 20 near the distal end of endoscope 12 and begins to spray out of the catheter onto the barrett &# 39 ; s tissue . it is to be noted that the present invention may be able to freeze the barrett &# 39 ; s tissue sufficiently without actual liquid nitrogen being sprayed from the catheter , and that a spray of liquid may not be needed if the very cold gas can accomplish the task of freezing the epithelium . freezing is apparent to the physician by the frozen tissue b acquiring a white color ( cryoburn ), due to surface frost ( visible on the monitor 28 in fig1 ); the white color indicates gastrointestinal mucosal freezing sufficient to destroy the diseased tissue . the physician manipulates the endoscope 10 , vent 42 , and / or catheter 20 to freeze all of the barrett &# 39 ; s tissue . once the operation is complete , the endoscope 10 with catheter are withdrawn . the invention also contemplates valving the nitrogen at the distal end of the catheter , immediately adjacent the barrett &# 39 ; s tissue . apparatus for such valving 53 , shown in fig3 and discussed below , allows for control of the liquid nitrogen flow . since there is no gross damage to the esophagus ( for example , there is no laceration ), there is no need to treat the frozen area . the columnar cells of the barrett &# 39 ; s tissue soon die , and the lining is sloughed off to be replaced by healthy squamous tissue . because the invention uses liquid spray via a catheter 20 rather than contact with a cold solid probe , there no risk of a cold apparatus sticking to the esophagus and tearing the tissue . the plastic material of the catheter , such as teflon , is in little danger of sticking to the tissue because of its low thermal conductivity and specific heat . furthermore , it is not designed to touch the tissue . using a catheter the cooling rate ( rate of heat removal ) is much higher than with a solid probe since the sprayed liquid evaporates directly on the tissue to be frozen , which absorbs the entire heat of vaporization . the rate of rewarming is also high , since the applied liquid boils away almost instantly . no cold liquid or solid remains in contact with the tissue , and the depth of freezing is minimal . since freezing is accomplished by boiling liquid nitrogen , large volumes of this gas are generated . this gas must be allowed to escape . the local pressure will be higher than atmospheric since the gas cannot easily flow out of the gastrointestinal tract ; nitrogen gas will tend to enter the stomach s , whose junction with the esophagus ( the esophageal sphincter ) is immediately adjacent to the barrett &# 39 ; s tissue freezing zone . the present invention provides for the gas to escape by several alternate methods . first , the stomach may be suctioned with a separate tube 41 . for example , a nasogastric tube 41 as seen in fig1 a , 1 b and 1 c , which preferably runs outside of and adjacent to the endoscope 10 . suction may be provided by a suction pump 45 or other conventional means for suction . second , an escape path may be provided by an additional lumen in the endoscope . additional lumens are provided on so - called “ therapeutic ” endoscopes . “ diagnostic ” endoscopes typically have only one lumen , which would be occupied by the liquid nitrogen - delivery catheter 10 when such an endoscope is used in the present invention . the use of a two - lumen “ therapeutic ” scope in the present invention provides an extra lumen for use as an escape path for gas venting . the application of suction to such a vent lumen is also preferably provided . the lower esophageal sphincter may be blocked with an inflatable balloon 43 ( fig1 a and 1 b ), or some other shield , to prevent nitrogen gas from inflating the stomach . the balloon 43 may be of the “ tts ” ( through the scope ) type , passing through an additional lumen on the endoscope as is shown in fig1 . alternatively , a balloon may be placed alongside the endoscope 10 , such as an achalasia balloon . a bulb 44 or some other means for inflating and deflating the balloon 43 , such as a hand pump , can be provided . this may optionally be used in conjunction with stomach suction . fig2 shows a catheter tip 46 fastened on the end of the catheter 20 and adapted to spray liquid nitrogen in a radial pattern through plural holes 47 between the surface and an interior space fed by the catheter 20 . the length of the tip 46 is preferably chosen so that the entire area of the barrett &# 39 ; s tissue is frozen at once without the need for manipulating the endoscope or catheter to freeze the barrett &# 39 ; s area in sequential increments . the tip 46 may be of rigid material such as metal or stiff plastic , preferably the latter . alternatively , the entire endoscope and / or catheter may be moved up or down the esophagus to ensure that the entire barrett &# 39 ; s area is sprayed . fig2 also shows the distal end 12 of the endoscope 10 including a camera lens 14 , illuminating light 16 , biopsy channel or lumen 18 with the catheter 20 therein , and an additional lumen 22 . the endoscope shown in fig2 is a conventional therapeutic endoscope . a diagnostic endoscope would lack extra lumen 22 . alternatively to fig2 the catheter 20 itself may include a plurality of radial holes 49 and an end plug 50 ( fig5 ) to force the nitrogen to flow out of the radial holes . the end plug 50 is controlled by a wire ( not shown ). the catheter tubing , even though of plastic , becomes much more rigid at very low temperatures and approximates the stiffness of the separate tip 46 . fig3 depicts a wire - controlled end valve embodiment in which a tip 52 interacts with a disc 53 proximally controlled by the physician via a wire 54 running through the inside of the catheter 10 . the liquid nitrogen hits disc 53 and becomes atomized into a radial spray . fig4 shows an end 56 of the catheter 20 cut at an angle to deflect the spray to one side . with reference to fig6 - 9 , a particularly elegant and preferred gas supply system 70 is described . in this system , a pressurized gas tank 72 is employed . a convenient size for the tank has been found to be a 5 . 5 liter tank , and of course larger ( e . g . 35 liter ) or smaller size tank or even a canister would be operative . the inventors have found a double walled insulated tank ( not shown ) to be convenient because with adequate insulation the very low temperature of the liquid nitrogen gas can be maintained over a long period of time . the inventors have found the optimum pressure for the liquified gas in the tank to be 22 psi . the inventors have found 22 psi to be operative but higher or lower pressures are also operative . tank 72 is equipped with a pressure building coil or tube 74 for maintaining pressure . this coil 74 consists of metal tubing running from inside the tank to outside the tank and returning back to inside the tank . the tube 74 in operation contains circulating liquid nitrogen . if the pressure in the tank 72 drops below acceptable levels , valve 75 to the tube 74 can be opened to circulate gas outside of tank 72 through the tube 74 . the nitrogen liquid in the tube outside the tank will be warmed and returned to the tank . this warmed nitrogen liquid will boost the head pressure in the tank 72 and allow for more rapid delivery of nitrogen liquid to the catheter . in the tube arrangement shown , the valve 75 is hand operated , however , the valve could be automatic and would start circulating liquid through the tube or a coil once the pressure drops to unacceptable levels in the tank and to stop circulating once the pressure returns to normal . with normal pressure maintained in the tank , liquified gas will be more rapidly expelled from the tank to the catheter . the force of gas expelled from the tank is a function of the temperature and pressure of the liquid nitrogen in the tank . because of the large temperature differential between the ambient temperature and the temperature of liquid nitrogen , only a short length of tubing 74 is required . the gas supply system 70 illustrated in fig6 - 8 has a tank 72 equipped with valves and gauges . the tank 72 is equipped with a head gas valve 77 for relieving head pressure and a liquid nitrogen valve 78 which is opened to allow liquid nitrogen to flow to the solenoid valve 80 and then to catheter 20 . there are safety relief valves 81 , 82 on the tank 72 which relieve at pressures greater than 22 and 35 psi , respectively . in addition , the tank is equipped with a head pressure gauge 83 and a liquid level gauge 84 . the improved cryosurgical gas delivery system 70 has improvements which allow the physician to more accurately and comfortably deliver the cryogenic gas to the patient . the improved system 70 has a foot - pedal operated solenoid valve switch 86 ( fig6 and 9 ). this foot - pedal operated solenoid valve switch 86 actuates solenoid 80 between the tank 72 and catheter 20 . the foot pedal 86 has the advantage of allowing the physician &# 39 ; s hand to be free during cryosurgery . note , for example , that the system with the dewar flask ( fig1 ) requires the physician &# 39 ; s thumb to close vent 42 to produce pressure in the dewar flask causing nitrogen gas to flow . the improved tank 72 heating coil or tube 74 and foot - pedal operated solenoid switch 86 allows for quick delivery of adequate amounts for cryogenic spray to treat barrett &# 39 ; s esophagus or other tissue requiring cryoablation . referring to fig6 - 8 and 10 , an elegant design feature of the improved system 70 is the ability of the system to force super - cooled nitrogen gas through the catheter 20 at low pressure . this feat is possible because the improved system has an auxiliary bleeder vent or bleeder 88 positioned between the liquid nitrogen gas supply tank 72 and the catheter 20 . the bleeder is positioned at a point in - line where the internal diameter of the system ( i . e ., catheter ) is significantly reduced . this bleeder vent is designed to eliminate the elevated pressure produced at the catheter caused by the reduced internal diameter of the catheter relative to the larger internal diameter of the tube supplying gas to the catheter ; and by the volatilization of the liquid nitrogen to gas phase nitrogen . this bleeder 88 reduces pressure in the catheter 20 and at catheter tip 46 by venting gas phase nitrogen out the bleeder vent 88 . with this venting of gas phase nitrogen , liquid phase nitrogen exits the catheter tip 46 as a mist or spray at a pressure of approximately 3 - 5 psi compared with the tank pressure of approximately 22 psi . improved embodiments of this invention do not require a bleeder vent . as an exemplary embodiment the vent may simply be a piece of tubing attached to the liquid nitrogen supply by a “ t ” connection . as the liquid nitrogen makes its way from the tank 72 to the proximal end of catheter 20 , the liquid is warmed and goes to gas phase . this phase change creates additional pressure throughout the length of the catheter , but is especially important at the solenoid / catheter junction , where the diameter of the supply tube relative to the catheter lumen decreases from approximately 0 . 5 inches to approximately 0 . 062 inches , respectively . note that , in order to force low pressure liquid / gas nitrogen through this narrow opening , either the pressure of the supplied nitrogen must decrease or the diameter of the catheter must increase . the inventors did not wish to employ a highly pressurized system , nor did they wish to enlarge the catheter diameter . accordingly , the auxiliary bleeder 88 allows the liquid phase nitrogen to pass through this reduced diameter catheter without requiring modification of tank pressure or catheter diameter . without a pressure bleeder vent , the pressure of gas leaving the catheter would be too high and have the potential for injuring the tissue of the gastrointestinal tract . the pressurized tank can be provided with a bleeder or bleed - off to assure that the pressure of the cryogenic spray discharged from the tip of the catheter does not inadvertently injure the patient . while a dewar flask ( fig1 ) is illustrated and was used in the experiments reported below , it should be understood that the liquified gas source can be of any type . for example , a pressurized tank or a reservoir , such that the liquified gas is piped into a connecting site on the procedure room wall . the main requirement being that the liquified gas supply be controllable by the physician . it is an important preferred feature of the present invention that the spray be conducted in such a manner as to allow constant visualization by the physician of the tissue treatment as it occurs . if the temperature of the lens at the proximal end of the endoscope drops precipitously at the start of the liquid nitrogen spray , the moist air of the esophageal environment or of the air of the catheter which has been blown out ahead of the nitrogen flow will condense on the lens , thereby obscuring the physician &# 39 ; s view of the operative site . this can be substantially avoided by means of the suction pump 45 which will immediately suck out the moist air which is present prior to the arrival of the liquid nitrogen spray or cold nitrogen gas . because of this pumping out of the moist air as the spray commences and the replacement with extremely dry nitrogen gas , substantial amounts of moisture will not form on the lens 14 during the procedure , allowing an excellent view of the operative site by the physician during the procedure . this condensation effect is augmented by the fact that the catheter itself is preferably not wrapped in additional insulation . this causes the temperature of the nitrogen gas exiting the catheter at the distal end to be relatively high at the beginning of the spraying operation and gradually cooling as the catheter cools . indeed , in the tests conducted in the esophagus of pigs discussed below in the examples , often 10 - 20 seconds were necessary before significant freezing was seen through the endoscope . if the catheter is substantially insulated , the interior of the catheter will cool much more quickly as it will not be picking up heat from the outside . with this insulated catheter , it is to be expected that the liquid nitrogen would be sprayed onto the tissue almost immediately , causing much faster freezing and , thus , allowing less control on the part of the physician . another reason that the lens does not fog or frost in the present invention is that the esophagus is flushed out with nitrogen gas , which is extremely dry . the nitrogen gas is moisture free because the liquid nitrogen is condensed out of atmospheric gases at a temperature − 197 ° c . colder than the temperature at which moisture is condensed out . the combination of relatively warm , and completely dry nitrogen gas , together with suction flushes all moist air from the esophagus . as the temperature of the gas entering the esophagus falls , so does the surface temperature of the camera lens 14 . ordinarily at that time the lens 14 would be cold enough to condense moisture and fog , however , since the esophagus is dried out ( in contrast to its usual highly moist state ) there is no moisture to condense . thus , the lens 14 stays un - fogged and un - frosted and continues to provide a clear view of the operation . on the other hand , if the esophagus is not vented with suction and / or the esophagus is not preliminarily flushed with dry nitrogen gas ( perhaps because the catheter is insulated , lowering its heat capacity , and / or the nitrogen delivery pressure is too high ), then the lens is likely to fog or frost and the physician cannot operate effectively . in order to deal with the moist air problem , there is supplied in the preferred embodiment of this invention a nasogastric tube 41 ( fig1 and 1 a - 1 c ). during the cryosurgical procedure the nasogastric tube is inserted prior to inserting the endoscope 10 and catheter 20 . the nasogastric tube 41 , when connected to a pump 45 , can serve to evacuate moist air from the esophagus prior to cryosurgery . with moist air removed , the t . v . camera lens 14 is not obscured by fog and the physician can perform cryosurgery with an unobstructed view . alternatively , if fogging occurs during cryosurgery , the nasogastric tube and pump can be used to evacuate the esophagus . in the most preferred embodiment , the composition of the catheter or the degree of insulating capacity thereof will be selected so as to allow the freezing of the mucosal tissue to be slow enough to allow the physician to observe the degree of freezing and to stop the spray as soon as the surface achieves the desired whiteness of color ( cryoburn ). the clear observation results from the removal of the moist air and sprayed nitrogen by the vacuum pump ; in combination with the period of flushing with relatively warm nitrogen prior to application of the spray of liquid nitrogen which is caused by the relative lack of insulation of the catheter . preferably , the catheter has a degree of insulation which permits at least five seconds to pass from the time said means for controlling is opened to the time that liquified gas is sprayed onto the mucosa . with reference to fig6 and 12 , an electronic monitoring and recording system 90 is illustrated . the electronic components of the system 90 comprise a temperature sensor or probe 92 and timer 96 . also connected to the monitoring and recording system 90 are the foot - pedal 86 for actuating the solenoid 80 and recording console 95 . in fig6 an electric power cord 93 runs from solenoid 80 to control box 90 . the temperature sensor 92 is thin and can be inserted into the esophagus beside the catheter 20 . in a preferred embodiment , the temperature sensor 92 and catheter 20 can be inserted separately or as an integral unit of sensor and catheter combined , or alternatively the sensor can be inserted through an extra lumen of the endoscope to come in contact with the tissue of the esophagus . the temperature sensor 92 sends temperature readings to the electronic monitoring and recording system 90 for processing and recordation . the liquid gas flow is started by actuating solenoid foot - pedal 86 and ends with release of the solenoid foot pedal 86 . the electronic monitoring and recording system 90 records the times at which cryoburn starts and ends . temperature in the context of time will be recorded for the cryosurgery . this recordation allows for better data acquisition and documentation . there is an automatic cut - off if a time or temperature limitation is exceeded . in the event of a cut - off , the electronic monitoring and recording system can be reactivated by pushing the reset button 98 ( fig9 ). current time and temperature readings are presented in the windows 99 as led numbers . the windows in fig9 will indicate total time 100 ; shut - down time 101 ; cryotime 102 ; cryotime set 103 ; and temperature 104 . within the main console of the electronic monitoring and recording system 90 of fig9 is a printing unit 95 which prints and records 95 the time and temperature during the cryoburn . every event is recorded , e . g . time , on and off , temperature , etc . fig6 and 9 show alternative models of the electronic monitoring and recording system . the printed record 97 is shown in fig9 . the operating sequence of components used in carrying out applicant &# 39 ; s process are described in fig1 a and 12b . fig1 a describes the nitrogen source 72 , foot - actuated 86 solenoid valve 80 , electronic control box and printer 90 , endoscope 10 with catheter 20 and t . v . monitor 28 for treating a patient with barrett &# 39 ; s syndrome . in fig1 b is shown a completely automated system with sensors and a microprocessor for performing cryosurgery . the completely automated system of 12 b is similar to the system of 12 a except that various sensors for temperature , time , etc . 92 send an output signal ( s ) to a microprocessor controller 90 to control the shut - down of the system if pre - set limits are exceeded or if pre - set conditions are not met . the steps for performing the esophageal cryosurgical procedure are described in flow chart fig1 . the electronic circuitry for the electronic monitoring and recording system 90 is described in fig1 a and 14b . the components or paraphernalia required to practice the method of the present invention may be packaged and sold or otherwise provided to health - care providers in the form of a kit . the kit is preferably sealed in a sterile manner for opening at the site of the procedure . the kit will include the catheter , having the spray means at one end , as well as a means for connecting the catheter to the source of liquified gas . this means for connecting may be a simple luer connection on the opposite end of the catheter from the spray means . however , the term “ means for connecting said catheter to a source of liquified gas ” is intended to include any other device or apparatus which allows the catheter to be connected to the gas source . many of the components of the cryosurgical system are conventional medical appliances . for example , the endoscope is a conventional medical appliance and would not necessarily have to be supplied as part of a kit . one of the components to be supplied in a kit or sterilized package is a combined catheter - bleeder vent . with reference to fig1 a - 10f and 11 , this invention envisions the catheter 106 at its proximal end being integrally provided with a pressure reducing bleeder vent 107 as a single unit . the unit can be attached to the gas supply tube through a luer lock 37 connection and can be supplied to the user in a sterile package or kit 108 ( fig1 ). with reference to fig1 a - 10f , there is schematically represented tube connector 109 for connecting a tube running from the liquid nitrogen supply tank 72 , to solenoid 80 . the solenoid has a connector fitting to which can be attached a vented catheter . the vented catheter comprises as an integral unit a connector fitting 37 attached to the solenoid 80 along with a vent 107 between the connector 37 and the catheter 106 . the catheter and bleeder unit can be supplied with various modifications in the placement of the bleeder vent relative to the catheter . in addition , envisioned are a variety of reductions between the solenoid valve and the catheter . for example , fig1 a - 10c show that the actual position of the bleeder relative too the catheter is open to design options . fig1 a - 10f show a blunt reduction ( i . e ., reduction occurs just before the catheter ). fig1 d - 10f depict a tapered reduction ( i . e . the diameter is reduced gradually over the entire length ). another option would include stepping reductions . in addition , the inventors contemplate that the vent can have a piece of tubing attached to lead away gas and the placing of a strainer ( similar to a colander ) inside of the tubing from the solenoid to the catheter . this strainer would serve as a mechanical means for separating the liquid phase from the gas phase . note particularly that the solenoid valve is specially designed to accept cryogenic gases and is commercially available . referring to fig1 , the inventors envision supplying the catheter and vent unit 105 as a separate item . in this way , the unit can be supplied in a sterile packet or kit 108 to be used with existing equipment found in hospital operating rooms . the kit may contain a nasogastric tube 41 . the means for controlling the flow of liquified gas to the catheter is also preferably present in the kit and may be connected to or may be part of the means for connecting the catheter to the source of liquified gas . for example , the connector may contain a valve therein or the valve may be a separate element connected between the connector and the catheter or between the connector and the nitrogen source . the endoscope may either be part of the kit or an available conventional endoscope may be used in conjunction with the remaining components of the kit . the kit will also optionally contain the means for withdrawing gas , such as a tube and a means connectable to the tube for withdrawing gas from the tube . such means connectable to the tube for withdrawing gas may be a vacuum pump or any other device or apparatus which will accomplish the function of withdrawing gas from the tube . the vacuum pump is optionally omitted from the kit as a source of vacuum is often found in hospital rooms in which such a procedure is to take place . the means for blocking the lumen is also optionally present within the kit . thus , for example , the kit may contain a balloon catheter or any other device or apparatus which can accomplish the function of blocking the lumen when in use . the term “ container ” or “ package ” when used with respect to the kit is intended to include a container in which the components of the kit are intended to be transported together in commerce . it is not intended to comprehend an entire procedure room in which the individual components may happen to be present , an entire vehicle , a laboratory cabinet , etc . the claimed “ means for causing fluid flowing therethrough to be sprayed in a radial direction ” is intended to comprehend the illustrated embodiments of catheter tips shown in fig2 - 5 , as well as any functional equivalents thereof . any device which can be connected to the end of a catheter which will direct fluid in the catheter to be sprayed substantially radially may be used . the terminology “ a radial direction substantially perpendicular to the axis of the catheter ” is intended to include a unidirectional spray over a small arc in the radial plane or an omnidirectional spray through 360 ° of the radial plane , or any arc therebetween . the term “ substantially perpendicular ” is not intended to limit direction of the spray to a plane at an angle of 90 ° to the axis of the catheter but to include any type of spray which will allow the mucosa of the lumen , such as the esophagus which is coaxial to the catheter to be sprayed , near the locus of the tip of the catheter and to exclude a spray which is only substantially axial . the claimed “ means for controlling the flow of liquified gas ” is intended to encompass the simple thumb - valve illustrated in fig1 as well as any other mechanical , mechano - electrical , etc ., device that will accomplish the function of controlling the flow of liquified gas from the source to the catheter . this includes any type of valve , including , for example , a trigger valve , a rotary valve , a stopcock , etc . the valve may be manually controlled , electrically driven , remotely controlled , etc . other means for controlling the flow of liquified gas are not excluded . the claimed “ means for withdrawing gas ” is intended to include the illustrated tube 41 and vacuum pump 45 , as well as any functional equivalent thereof . it does not matter whether the tube withdrawing the gas passes through the endoscope , around the endoscope , or even is placed into the area from which gas is to be withdrawn by incision . the only important function is the withdrawal of the gas from the area in question . while a vacuum pump is preferred , any other type of pump or device which will cause the withdrawal of the gas is intended to be encompassed by this terminology . other means for withdrawing gas are not excluded . the claimed “ means for blocking the lumen ” is intended to encompass not only the balloon catheter 43 and the shield of fig3 but also any other device or technique which will accomplish the function of blocking the lumen , e . g ., the esophagus when the condition being treated is barrett &# 39 ; s esophagus . any manner of substantially preventing the gas being sprayed through the catheter from passing beyond the point of blockage is intended to be included by this terminology , including , for example , physically squeezing the lumen from the outside or chemically causing the lower esophageal sphincter to close , etc . the claimed “ means for forcing said liquified gas ” is intended to include not only the illustrated pressure pump 34 but any other device or apparatus which will force the liquified gas from its source to the catheter . this includes use of a pre - pressurized container of liquified gas or apparatus which causes gas to liquify and then be directly directed to the catheter , etc . no manner of driving the liquified gas from the source to the catheter is intended to be excluded . each of the steps set forth in the method claims herein are likewise intended to comprehend not only the specific acts described in the specification but any other acts which will accomplish the function set forth in the method step . thus , for example , the step of adjusting the catheter may be accomplished by hand , as illustrated in fig1 or by any other technique up to and including use of a complicated remote controlled robotic adjusting apparatus . the same is true for all of the other method steps for performing specified functions . the inventors have concluded from preliminary test results that a 30 second “ cryoburn ” time was adequate to ensure the appropriate tissue destruction , and thus appropriate cellular healing of damaged tissue ( this conclusion was based on a 30 day follow up period ). “ cryoburn ” is a term defined by the instance that the normally “ pinkish ” esophageal tissue turns white ( much like freezer burn ). a range for the “ cryoburn ” time could be 5 - 10 seconds to 2 minutes or more depending on the substrate to be treated . due to the nature of the system , “ cryoburn ” does not immediately occur , but rather requires that the entire fitting and catheter system become cool . typically this required approximately 20 - 30 seconds from the time that the solenoid foot pedal is depressed , and liquid nitrogen is allowed to flow from the tank . during animal testing the approximate temperature that cryoburn was first observed was at approximately − 10 degrees c . the temperature range for cryoburn would be approximately − 10 to − 90 degrees c . in carrying out the procedure , a nasogastric tube is first inserted into the esophagus , after which an endoscope is inserted . the endoscope is supplied with light and fiber optic t . v . camera . optionally , attached to the endoscope will be a temperature probe to sense the temperature and report the temperature to the recording console . once the nasogastric tube , endoscope and temperature probe are in place , the catheter attached to the gas supply will be inserted into a lumen of the endoscope . before liquid gas is supplied , the esophagus is ventilated using the nasogastric tube to remove moist air from the esophagus ( if required ). with the moisture evacuated and the endoscope is properly positioned , gas can be supplied to the catheter by actuating the solenoid with foot pedal . once the solenoid is actuated gaseous nitrogen and then a spray of liquid nitrogen will come from the tip of the catheter . the cryoburn will generally last for 30 seconds to 2 minutes . the cryospray device of fig1 was used in experiments to assess the efficacy and safety of this device in mucosal ablation in me distal esophagus of swine . the catheter 20 was a long 7 fr ercp - like catheter placed through the biopsy channel of an olympus gif - 100 endoscope . the swine were sedated using telazol and xylazine given intravenously . general anesthesia was not necessary . liquid nitrogen was sprayed on the distal 2 cm of the esophagus in 16 swine under direct endoscopic observation until a white “ cryo - bum ” appeared , usually within 10 - 20 seconds . duration and location of the spray were varied to assess histologic response and dept of “ cryo - bur ”. the swine were then re - endoscoped on days 2 , 7 , 14 , 21 and 30 to obtain biopsies from the injury site , assess mucosal ablation and re - epithelialization . all swine were then euthanized and underwent necropsy . freezing of the esophageal mucosa was recognizable by a white “ cryo - burn ” with sharply demarcated margins . this was followed by slow thawing within minutes and then mucosal erythema . sixteen swine underwent hemi - circumferential to circumferential cryotherapy of their distal esophagus varying the duration of “ cryo - burn ” from 10 - 60 seconds . blistering and sloughing of the superficial mucosa occurred within 2 to 7 days of the cryospray . mucosal damage occurred only at the cryo site . biopsies 48 hours after cryospray consistently demonstrated coagulative necrosis involving the mucosal layer and biopsies 30 days after cryospray consistently demonstrated complete re - epithelialization of the injured area . complications included one esophageal stricture and one esophageal perforation in experiments with prolonged cryo - burn . these experiments on living swine , which are a valid model of the human esophagus , establish that cryotherapy spray of liquid nitrogen via upper endoscopy is a simple technique capable of inducing controlled superficial mucosal damage with complete healing in the esophagus . the foregoing description of the specific embodiments will so fully reveal the general nature of the invention that others can , by applying current knowledge , readily modify and / or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without undue experimentation and without departing from the generic concept , and , therefore , such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments . it is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation . the means and materials for carrying out various disclosed functions may take a variety of alternative forms without departing from the invention . thus the expressions “ means to . . . ” and “ means for . . . ” as may be found in the specification above and / or in the claims below , followed by a functional statement , are intended to define and cover whatever structural , physical , chemical or electrical element or structure may now or in the future exist for carrying out the recited function , whether or not precisely equivalent to the embodiment or embodiments disclosed in the specification above ; and it is intended that such expressions be given their broadest interpretation . the inventors have continued to make improvements to their invention regarding use of low pressure , heated catheter , etc . lee in u . s . pat . no . 3 , 298 , 371 teaches a freezing probe to be used in neurosurgery . attached to this freezing probe is a heater . this heater is provided in the event the insulation on the exterior of the probe is inadequate to thermally isolate non - target tissue surrounding the probe . in this way , non - target areas will not be affected by the cold , and only the cold probe tip will be presented to the target area . thomas u . s . pat . no . 3 , 507 , 283 shows a cryosurgical probe which employs heating wires along the external surface of the instrument . also shown by thomas is a cover of heat shrinkable polytetrafluoroethylene to protect the user &# 39 ; s hand from the cold . chang in u . s . pat . no . 5 , 400 , 602 teaches various types of plastic materials used for cryotubing which remain flexible during use . griswold u . s . pat . no . 5 , 658 , 276 teaches a cryoprobe with a heated exterior so that areas of the body not being treated by the probe are not damaged by the cold instrument . the heat is produced by a battery - energized resistive wire wrapped around the external surface of the probe . u . s . pat . no . 5 , 800 , 488 to crockett teaches a cryoprobe wherein different methods are used to heat the external surface . the inventors have continued to make improvements to their invention . they have produced a heated catheter . the heated catheter in a preferred embodiment is a composite constructed of three different materials ; in three different layers . the catheter itself ( as the first layer ) is made of extruded polyimide . surrounding the first layer ( the catheter ) is a layer of magnetic wire wrapped around the outer diameter of the polyimide catheter . as a top or final layer , there is supplied a thin polyester heat shrink . more specifically , the heated catheter ( cryocatheter ) can be defined as an extruded polyimide tube ( o . d . 0 . 092 ″). over the catheter is wrapped a layer of magnetic copper wire ( 0 . 007 ″ diameter ). a number of different diameter wires are available . the inventors put together prototypes with 0 . 003 ″ diameter wire , 0 . 002 ″ diameter wire , 0 . 005 ″ diameter wire , etc . a 0 . 007 ″ diameter wire was the best for the desired voltage , but the invention does not exclude the use of wires of other diameters . the wrappings of wire that functioned the best were 8 wraps per inch ( a single strand was run the length of the catheter , and the wrapping was applied back over this single strand to complete the electrical loop . double strand wrapping with the wrap spacing ( up to 25 wraps per inch ) would be operative . a selected preferred voltage for application is 12 volts and 1 amp . voltages of 5 , 12 , 17 and 24 volts have been tested . the important thing to keep in mind is that different diameter wires work well if wrapped to the correct density and heated with the appropriate amount of voltages . the final layer employed is a thin ( 0 . 00025 ″) polyester heat shrink . this heat shrink serves to hold the wire in place and to seal the wire from patient contact . the hub , or connection of the catheter to the cryo - system , has been designed to incorporate the electrical contacts required by the heating system . the heated catheter provides a number of advantages over a traditional catheter : polyimide , the cryo - catheter material base , acts as a strong insulator and transports the liquid nitrogen with minimal thermal temperature loss resulting in a shorter time to achieve the clinically required cryoburn . the heating mechanism allows the catheter to be removed from the endoscope lumen immediately following the cryo - therapy . using a traditional catheter , the catheter is frozen into the endoscope lumen for 30 - 40 seconds following the therapy . this freezing to the endoscope lumen may result in damage to the endoscope . in an embodiment of the invention , the bleeder valve has been found to be unnecessary so long as low pressure can be maintained by other means . in the improved embodiment , a cryoburn is carried out without the need for a bleeder valve . in this new embodiment with the tank pressure at 45 psi and the catheter being a 9 french , the cryo - procedure took 4 minutes and 50 seconds . with a 10 french catheter using 45 psi , the cryo - procedure took 2 minutes and 50 seconds to achieve a cryoburn temperature . with the bleeder valve , it takes 10 - 20 seconds to achieve cryoburn . the ideal low pressures operative for this invention should be in the range of 3 - 45 psi . the most ideal pressure is determinable by those skilled in the art . it is clear from experiments performed that a bleeder valve is not absolutely essential to this invention since low pressure cryoablation can be carried out through low head pressure in the storage tank or through selection of the proper inner diameter of the catheter . based on experiments carried out with the bleeder valve embodiment a shorter time period is required for cryoburn . the new fittings on the device will be vacuum insulated . this will keep the fittings from frosting or feeling super cool to the human touch . in addition , the hub or connective fittings which couple the catheter to the cryosystem have been redesigned and improved to accommodate electrical contacts required for the heating system . the inventors have continued to make improvements to their cryogenic heated catheter . among the improvements contemplated by the inventors is the heating coil on the heated catheter being energized in “ series ” or that the catheter is heated with a continuous length energized from two ends . also contemplated is a catheter with the heating element in parallel . this will result in heating short segments ( 5 - 10 segments per catheter ) quickly and with more energy . the inventors may adjust the wrappings of the heating coil so that the loops touch one another . a parallel electrical transfer may be necessary . it may be feasible to employ flat wire ( square wire ) as opposed to round wire . whether to use series or parallel spacing will be determined based on individual use . the inventors contemplate coating the gap between the wires with a heat sink which will act to absorb radiated heat from the heating coil to dispense the heat to the outside of the catheter . also contemplated by the inventors is a spray coat or liquid paint of a nichrome conductor . in this embodiment the entire catheter could be energized quite quickly . the inventors envision alternate means for diverting freezing temperatures from non - target areas . examples of such diverting means is a polystyrene tape to function as an insulator . alternatively , the catheter may be made of polystyrene or some other insulating material . during the cryoburn the heat of the catheter remains active . this prevents the accidental injury to non - target tissue . obviously , many modifications may be made without departing from the basic spirit of the present invention . accordingly , it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that within the scope of the appended claims , the invention may be practiced other than has been specifically described herein .	0
the following detailed description is provided to assist the reader in gaining a comprehensive understanding of the methods , apparatuses , and / or systems described herein . however , various changes , modifications , and equivalents of the methods , apparatuses , and / or systems described herein will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art . the sequences of operations described herein are merely examples , and are not limited to those set forth herein , but may be changed as will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art , with the exception of operations necessarily occurring in a certain order . also , descriptions of functions and constructions that are well known to one of ordinary skill in the art may be omitted for increased clarity and conciseness . the features described herein may be embodied in different forms , and are not to be construed as being limited to the examples described herein . rather , the examples described herein have been provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete , and will convey the full scope of the disclosure to one of ordinary skill in the art . in the drawings , the thicknesses , sizes , and shapes of lenses may be exaggerated for convenience of explanation . the shapes of spherical surfaces or aspherical surfaces illustrated in the drawings are illustrated by way of example , i . e ., the shapes of the spherical surfaces or the aspherical surfaces are not limited to those illustrated in the drawings . a first lens refers to a lens closest to an object , while a sixth lens refers to a lens closest to an image sensor . a first surface of each lens refers to a surface of the lens closest to an object side ( or an object - side surface ) and a second surface of each lens refers to a surface of the lens closest to an image side ( or an image - side surface ). all numerical values of radii of curvature , thicknesses , and the like , of lenses are indicated by millimeters ( mm ) unless otherwise indicated . further , a paraxial region refers to a narrow region in the vicinity of an optical axis . according to an example , an optical device may include six lenses , i . e ., the optical device may include a first lens , a second lens , a third lens , a fourth lens , a fifth lens , and a sixth lens . however , the optical device is not limited to only six lenses , but may further include other components and lenses , if desired . for example , the optical device may include a stop controlling an amount of light . in addition , the optical device may further include an infrared cut - off filter filtering infrared light . further , the optical device may further include an image sensor converting an image of a subject incident on the image sensor into an electrical signal . further , the optical device may further include a gap maintaining member to adjust a gap between lenses . in the optical device , the first to sixth lenses may be formed of plastic . in addition , at least one of the first to sixth lenses may have an aspherical surface . each of the first to sixth lenses may have at least one aspherical surface . at least one of first and second surfaces of the first to sixth lenses may be aspherical . the aspherical surfaces of the first to sixth lenses may be represented by the following equation 1 : here , c is a curvature ( an inverse of a radius of curvature ) at an apex of the lens , k is a conic constant , and y is a distance from a certain point on the aspherical surface of the lens to an optical axis in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis . in addition , constants a to f are aspherical coefficients , z is a distance between the certain point on the aspherical surface at the distance y and a tangential plane meeting the apex of the aspherical surface of the lens . in an example , the optical device including the first to sixth lenses may have the first lens having positive refractive power , the second lens having positive refractive power , the third lens having negative refractive power , the fourth lens having positive refractive power , the fifth lens having negative refractive power , and the sixth lens having negative refractive power sequentially from the object side . the optical device configured as described above may improve optical performance through aberration improvement . ttl is a distance from an object - side surface of the first lens to an imaging plane of the image sensor , and f is an overall focal length of the optical device . imgh is half of a diagonal length of the imaging plane of the image sensor . here , fov is a field of view of the optical device . the field of view of the optical device is indicated by degrees . here , r 1 is a radius of curvature of the object - side surface of the first lens , and f is the overall focal length of the optical device . here , v 4 is an abbe number of the fourth lens . here , v 1 is an abbe number of the first lens , and v 3 is an abbe number of the third lens . here , sd is a diameter of the stop , and f is the overall focal length of the optical device . the first to sixth lenses configuring the optical device will be described below . the first lens may have positive refractive power . in addition , the first lens may have a meniscus shape of which an object - side surface is convex . a first surface of the first lens may be convex in the paraxial region , and a second surface of the first lens may be concave in the paraxial region . at least one of the first and second surfaces of the first lens may be aspherical . in an example , both surfaces of the first lens may be aspherical . the second lens may have positive refractive power . in addition , both surfaces of the second lens may be convex . first and second surfaces of the second lens may be convex in the paraxial region . at least one of the first and second surfaces of the second lens may be aspherical . in an example , both surfaces of the second lens may be aspherical . the third lens may have negative refractive power . in addition , the third lens may have a meniscus shape of which an object - side surface is convex . a first surface of the third lens may be convex in the paraxial region , and a second surface of the third lens may be concave in the paraxial region . at least one of the first and second surfaces of the third lens may be aspherical . in an example , both surfaces of the third lens may be aspherical . the fourth lens may have positive refractive power . in addition , the fourth lens may have a meniscus shape of which an image - side surface is convex . a first surface of the fourth lens may be concave in the paraxial region , and a second surface of the fourth lens may be convex in the paraxial region . at least one of the first and second surfaces of the fourth lens may be aspherical . for example , both surfaces of the fourth lens may be aspherical . the fifth lens may have negative refractive power . in addition , the fifth lens may have a meniscus shape of which an image - side surface is convex . a first surface of the fifth lens may be concave in the paraxial region , and a second surface of the fifth lens may be convex in the paraxial region . at least one of the first and second surfaces of the fifth lens may be aspherical . for example , both surfaces of the fifth lens may be aspherical . the sixth lens may have negative refractive power . in addition , the sixth lens may have a meniscus shape of which an object - side surface is convex . a first surface of the sixth lens may be convex in the paraxial region , and a second surface of the sixth lens may be concave in the paraxial region . at least one of the first and second surfaces of the sixth lens may be aspherical . for example , both surfaces of the sixth lens may be aspherical . in addition , the sixth lens may have at least one inflection point formed on at least one of the first and second surfaces of the sixth lens . for example , the first surface of the sixth lens may be convex in the paraxial region and become concave at an edge of the sixth lens . in addition , the second surface of the sixth lens may be concave in the paraxial region and become convex at an edge of the sixth lens . in the optical device configured as described above , a plurality of lenses perform an aberration correction function , whereby aberration improvement performance may be increased . an example of an optical device will be described with reference to fig1 through 4 . the optical device according to the first example may include a first lens 110 , a second lens 120 , a third lens 130 , a fourth lens 140 , a fifth lens 150 , and a sixth lens 160 . the optical device may further include a stop st , an infrared cut - off filter 170 , and an image sensor 180 . as illustrated in table 1 , a focal length ( f1 ) of the first lens 110 may be 6 . 79 mm , a focal length ( f2 ) of the second lens 120 may be 4 . 81 mm , a focal length ( f3 ) of the third lens 130 may be - 3 . 83 mm , a focal length ( f4 ) of the fourth lens 140 may be 19 mm , a focal length ( f5 ) of the fifth lens 150 may be − 51 . 93 mm , a focal length ( f6 ) of the sixth lens 160 may be − 7 . 93 mm , and an overall focal length ( f ) of the optical device may be 7 . 2 mm . in the first example , the first lens 110 may have positive refractive power , and may have a meniscus shape of which an object - side surface is convex . for example , a first surface of the first lens 110 may be convex in the paraxial region , and a second surface of the first lens 110 may be concave in the paraxial region . the second lens 120 may have positive refractive power , and both surfaces of the second lens 120 may be convex . for example , first and second surfaces of the second lens 120 may be convex in the paraxial region . the third lens 130 may have negative refractive power , and may have a meniscus shape of which an object - side surface is convex . for example , a first surface of the third lens 130 may be convex in the paraxial region , and a second surface of the third lens 130 may be concave in the paraxial region . the fourth lens 140 may have positive refractive power , and may have a meniscus shape of which an image - side surface is convex . for example , a first surface of the fourth lens 140 may be concave in the paraxial region , and a second surface of the fourth lens 140 may be convex in the paraxial region . the fifth lens 150 may have negative refractive power , and may have a meniscus shape of which an image - side surface is convex . for example , a first surface of the fifth lens 150 may be concave in the paraxial region , and a second surface of the fifth lens 150 may be convex in the paraxial region . the sixth lens 160 may have negative refractive power , and may have a meniscus shape of which an object - side surface is convex . for example , a first surface of the sixth lens 160 may be convex in the paraxial region , and a second surface of the sixth lens 160 may be concave in the paraxial region . in addition , the sixth lens 160 may have at least one inflection point formed on at least one of the first and second surfaces of the sixth lens 160 . the respective surfaces of the first to sixth lenses 110 to 160 may have aspherical coefficients as illustrated in fig4 . the stop st may be disposed between the second lens 120 and the third lens 130 . the optical device configured as described above may have aberration characteristics illustrated in fig2 . an optical device according to another example will be described with reference to fig5 through 8 . as shown in fig2 , the optical device according to the second example may include a first lens 210 , a second lens 220 , a third lens 230 , a fourth lens 240 , a fifth lens 250 , and a sixth lens 260 . the optical device may further include a stop st , an infrared cut - off filter 270 , and an image sensor 280 . as illustrated in table 2 below , a focal length ( f1 ) of the first lens 210 may be 6 . 7 mm , a focal length ( f2 ) of the second lens 220 may be 4 . 85 mm , a focal length ( f3 ) of the third lens 230 may be − 3 . 79 mm , a focal length ( f4 ) of the fourth lens 240 may be 22 . 36 mm , a focal length ( f5 ) of the fifth lens 250 may be − 83 . 08 mm , a focal length ( f6 ) of the sixth lens 260 may be − 7 . 38 mm , and an overall focal length ( f ) of the optical device may be 7 . 5 mm . in the second example , the first lens 210 may have positive refractive power , and may have a meniscus shape of which an object - side surface is convex . for example , a first surface of the first lens 210 may be convex in the paraxial region , and a second surface of the first lens 210 may be concave in the paraxial region . the second lens 220 may have positive refractive power , and both surfaces of the second lens 220 may be convex . for example , first and second surfaces of the second lens 220 may be convex in the paraxial region . the third lens 230 may have negative refractive power , and may have a meniscus shape of which an object - side surface is convex . for example , a first surface of the third lens 230 may be convex in the paraxial region , and a second surface of the third lens 230 may be concave in the paraxial region . the fourth lens 240 may have positive refractive power , and may have a meniscus shape of which an image - side surface is convex . for example , a first surface of the fourth lens 240 may be concave in the paraxial region , and a second surface of the fourth lens 240 may be convex in the paraxial region . the fifth lens 250 may have negative refractive power , and may have a meniscus shape of which an image - side surface is convex . for example , a first surface of the fifth lens 250 may be concave in the paraxial region , and a second surface of the fifth lens 250 may be convex in the paraxial region . the sixth lens 260 may have negative refractive power , and may have a meniscus shape of which an object - side surface is convex . for example , a first surface of the sixth lens 260 may be convex in the paraxial region , and a second surface of the sixth lens 260 may be concave in the paraxial region . in addition , the sixth lens 260 may have at least one inflection point formed on at least one of the first and second surfaces of the sixth lens 260 . the respective surfaces of the first to sixth lenses 210 to 260 may have aspherical coefficients as illustrated in fig8 . the stop st may be disposed between the second lens 220 and the third lens 230 . the optical device configured as described above may have aberration characteristics illustrated in fig6 . an optical device according to a third example will be described with reference to fig9 through 12 . the optical device according to the third example may include a first lens 310 , a second lens 320 , a third lens 330 , a fourth lens 340 , a fifth lens 350 , and a sixth lens 360 . the optical device according to the third example may further include a stop st , an infrared cut - off filter 370 , and an image sensor 380 . as illustrated in table 3 , a focal length ( f1 ) of the first lens 310 may be 7 . 34 mm , a focal length ( f2 ) of the second lens 320 may be 4 . 65 mm , a focal length ( f3 ) of the third lens 330 may be − 4 . 08 mm , a focal length ( f4 ) of the fourth lens 340 may be 18 . 35 mm , a focal length ( f5 ) of the fifth lens 350 may be − 245 mm , a focal length ( f6 ) of the sixth lens 360 may be − 7 . 11 mm , and an overall focal length ( f ) of the optical device may be 7 . 5 mm . in the third example , the first lens 310 may have positive refractive power , and may have a meniscus shape of which an object - side surface is convex . for example , a first surface of the first lens 310 may be convex in the paraxial region , and a second surface of the first lens 310 may be concave in the paraxial region . the second lens 320 may have positive refractive power , and both surfaces thereof may be convex . for example , first and second surfaces of the second lens 320 may be convex in the paraxial region . the third lens 330 may have negative refractive power , and may have a meniscus shape of which an object - side surface is convex . for example , a first surface of the third lens 330 may be convex in the paraxial region , and a second surface of the third lens 330 may be concave in the paraxial region . the fourth lens 340 may have positive refractive power , and may have a meniscus shape of which an image - side surface is convex . for example , a first surface of the fourth lens 340 may be concave in the paraxial region , and a second surface of the fourth lens 340 may be convex in the paraxial region . the fifth lens 350 may have negative refractive power , and may have a meniscus shape of which an image - side surface is convex . for example , a first surface of the fifth lens 350 may be concave in the paraxial region , and a second surface of the fifth lens 350 may be convex in the paraxial region . the sixth lens 360 may have negative refractive power , and may have a meniscus shape of which an object - side surface is convex . for example , a first surface of the sixth lens 360 may be convex in the paraxial region , and a second surface of the sixth lens 360 may be concave in the paraxial region . in addition , the sixth lens 360 may have at least one inflection point formed on at least one of the first and second surfaces thereof . the surfaces of the first to sixth lenses 310 to 360 may have aspherical coefficients as illustrated in fig1 . the stop st may be disposed between the second lens 320 and the third lens 330 . the optical device configured as described above may have aberration characteristics illustrated in fig1 . fig1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a mobile device according to an example . referring to fig1 , the mobile device 600 according to the example may include a plurality of optical devices having different fields of view . for example , the mobile device 600 according to the example may include a first optical device 400 having a relatively narrow field of view and a second optical device 500 having a relatively wide field of view . the first optical device 400 may be the optical device according to the first to third example described above . therefore , a field of view ( fov 1 ) of the first optical device 400 may be greater than 15 degrees and less than 35 degrees . a difference between the field of view ( fov 1 ) of the first optical device 400 and a field of view ( fov 2 ) of the second optical device 500 may be 20 degrees or more . in an example , the difference between the field of view ( fov 1 ) of the first optical device 400 and the field of view ( fov 2 ) of the second optical device 500 may be 20 degrees or more and 60 degrees or less . as described above , where the first optical device 400 and the second optical device 500 are included together , a subject positioned at a distance comparatively far from the mobile device 600 may be clearly photographed ( that is , a telephoto function ) using the first optical device 400 , and a wide background may be photographed ( that is , a wide angle function ) using the second optical device 500 , if desired . in addition , when a subject is photographed , the first optical device 400 and the second optical device 500 may be driven together with each other to simultaneously photograph two images , and thus images having different characteristics may be simultaneously photographed , and an operation of synthesizing these images , may be performed , if desired . as set forth above , in the optical device according to examples , an aberration improvement effect may be increased , and brightness and high levels of resolution may be realized . in the mobile device according to an example , the plurality of optical devices having different fields of view are mounted , whereby the wide angle function and the telephoto function may be realized at the same time . while this disclosure includes specific examples , it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that various changes in form and details may be made in these examples without departing from the spirit and scope of the claims and their equivalents . the examples described herein are to be considered in a descriptive sense only , and not for purposes of limitation . descriptions of features or aspects in each example are to be considered as being applicable to similar features or aspects in other examples . suitable results may be achieved if the described techniques are performed in a different order , and / or if components in a described system , architecture , device , or circuit are combined in a different manner , and / or replaced or supplemented by other components or their equivalents . therefore , the scope of the disclosure is defined not by the detailed description , but by the claims and their equivalents , and all variations within the scope of the claims and their equivalents are to be construed as being included in the disclosure .	6
to establish the utility of neuronal cell implant in patients with established stroke deficits , a study was undertaken with a randomized , open - label trial with observer - blind neurologic evaluation of patients with a cerebral infarction involving the basal ganglia region of the brain who receive stereotactic injections of hnt neuronal cells . substantial fixed motor deficit following stroke is a significant medical problem that needs to be better addressed . currently , rehabilitation is the only widely practice therapy . although fetal tissue is being utilized for the treatment of some neurologic diseases , logistical and ethical problems may hinder its widespread use for neural transplantation . the use of alternative graft sources such as lbs - neurons and other cells ( see below ) is therefore appealing . hnt neuronal cells , licensed from the university of pennsylvania , are human neuronal cells derived from a single cell line . through eight years of in vitro and in vivo preclinical testing , the cells have been demonstrated to be human , fully post - mitotic , non tumorigenic neuronal cells which demonstrate efficacy in animal models . after safety studies were performed in mice , rats and primates , implantation of human neurons into rats with basal ganglia stroke showed both motor and behavioral recovery in comparison to sham controls . a second experiment shows that the number of cells implanted correlated with the degree of recovery . the first clinical study evaluated the product as a somatic cell therapy that produced a novel way to restore lost cognitive and motor function . further , early research is being planned in the use of hnt neuronal cells as a platform for the introduction and expression of specific human neuronal genes into the brain for the treatment of neurologic disorders . hnt neuronal cells were derived by treating the neuronal precursor cell line nt2 / d1 derived from an embryonic carcinoma with retinoic acid and mitotic inhibitors . following treatment with retinoic acid , the nt2 / d1 cells differentiate into non - proliferating , terminally , differentiated neurons and proliferating non - neuronal accessory cells ( andrews , p . w . dev . biol . 103 : 285 - 293 , 1984 ). after subsequent treatment with mitotic inhibitors ( cytosine arabinoside and fluorodeoxyuridine ), pure cultures of post - mitotic human neuronal cells result ( pleasure and lee , 1993 ). these cells were then suspended in freezing medium ( has , dmso and pbs ) and frozen in ampoules . the resultant product , when produced in compliance with current good manufacturing practice ( cgmp ) guidelines , is called lbs - neurons human neuronal cells . the nt2 / d1 cell line was established in culture as a cell line by dr . peter andrews at the wistar institute in philadelphia during the early 1980s . dr . andrews received the original cells ( known as tera - 2 ) from dr . jurgen fogh of the sloan kettering institute in new york city . the tera - 2 cells had been isolated from a pulmonary embryonic carcinoma of a 22 year old caucasian male with a metastasized primary testicular germ cell tumor . the post - mitotic human neuronal cells available as hnt neuronal cells resulted from the differentiation of nt2 / d1 cells in response to retinoic acid . these human neuronal cells actively demonstrate neurite outgrowth , sending out numerous processes that assemble into neuronal networks . they also form polarized processes that have been identified functionally as axons and dendrites , and demonstrate the ability to form synapses upon maturation . these cells have retained their human characteristics as demonstrated by isoenzyme typing , expression of a variety of human antigens , and by karyotyping ( andrews et al ., ibid , miyazono et al ., 1996 , layton bioscience , inc ., 1996 ). furthermore , hnt cells have been successfully implanted in various animal models where they histologically integrated with the neurons and sent processes into adjacent tissue . a recent report describes the results of transplanting hnt cells in rats with sustained ischemic damage . transplants of 0 , 5 , 10 , 20 , 40 , 80 or 160 × 10 3 neurons produced dose - dependent improvement in function and hnt survival . animals receiving 40 , 80 or 160 × 10 3 neurons produced a dose - dependent improvement in both passive avoidance and elevated body swing tests . transplants of 80 or 160 × 10 3 hnt neurons demonstrated a 12 - 15 % survival of hnt neurons in the graft , while transplants of 40 × 10 3 hnt neurons resulted in a 5 % survival . moreover , similar improvement was seen in rats with cerebral ischemia induced by occlusion of the middle cerebral artery . the viability and survival of hnt neurons were evaluated before transplantation and at three month after transplantation in ischemic rats . monthly behavioral tests ( 1 , 2 and 3 months after implant ) showed that ischemic animals receiving intrastriatal implants ( about 4 × 10 cells ) displayed normalization of asymmetrical motor behavior compared with ischemic animals that received medium alone . within - subject comparisons of cell viability and subsequent behavioral changes revealed that a high cell viability just prior to transplantation surgery correlated highly with a robust and sustained functional improvement in the transplant recipient . there also was a positive correlation between the number of surviving hnt neurons and the degree of functional recovery . ( borlongan c v et al . neuroreport 9 ( 12 ): 2837 - 42 , 1998 ). other cells may be used in the transplant procedures disclosed herein , provided they meet the following criteria : non - immunogenic , non - tumorigenic , reproducible , adapting to the transplant location and synapsing with the local neurons . the following are only a few examples of cells that could be readily tested according to the procedures given in this patent application . the hcn - 1 cell line is derived from parental cell lines from the cortical tissue of a patient with unilateral megalencephaly growth ( ronnett g . v . et al . science 248 : 603 - 5 , 1990 ). hcn - 1a cells have been induced to differentiate to a neuronal - like morphology and stain positively for neurofilament , neuron - specific enolase and p75ngfr , but not for myelin basic protein , s - 100 or glial fibrillary acidic protein ( gfap ). because these cells also stain positively for gamma - amino butyric acid and glutamate , they appear to become neuro - transmitting bodies . earlier poltorak m . et al ( cell transplant 1 ( 1 ): 3 - 15 , 1992 ) observed that hcn - 1 cells survived in the brain parenchyma and proposed that these cells may be suitable for intracerebral transplantation in humans . ronnet g . v . et al . ( neuroscience 63 ( 4 ): 1081 - 99 , 1994 ) reported that hcn - 1 cells grew processes resembling neurons when exposed to nerve growth factor , dibutyryl cyclic amp and isobutylmethylxanthine . the nerve cells also can be administered with macrophages that have been activated by exposure to peripheral nerve cells . such activated macrophages have been shown to clean up the site of cns trauma , for example , a severed optic nerve , after which new nerve extensions started to grow across the lesion . implanting macrophages exposed to cns tissue ( which secretes a chemical to inhibit macrophages ) or nothing at all resulted in little or no regeneration ( lazarov - spiegler et al . faseb j . 10 : 1 , 1996 ). sertoli cells have been disclosed in u . s . pat . no . 5 , 830 , 460 to university of south florida as producing a sustained localized brain immunosuppressive effect on transplantation into the brain tissue . hybrid sertoli - secretory cells disclosed in u . s . pat . no . 5 , 827 , 736 also can be useful in the present invention , where the stroke destroys secretory cells . u . s . pat . no . 5 , 753 , 505 to emory university discloses a cellular composition which is greater than about 90 % mammalian , non - tumor - derived , neuronal progenitor cells which express a neuron - specific marker and which can give rise to progeny which can differentiate into neuronal cells . the cells are proposed for treatment of neuronal disorders . u . s . pat . no . 5 , 753 , 491 discloses human fetal neuro - derived cells lines as well as a method of implanting the immortalized cells into a host . the cells are provided with a heterologous nucleic acid for a biologically active peptide , such as tyrosine hydroxylase . the cells may be delivered with other cells , such as hnt cells or pc12 cells . gage et al . ( u . s . pat . no . 5 , 766 , 948 and others ) has disclosed methods for producing a neuroblast and a cellular composition which is an enriched population of neuroblast cells . these cells can be used to treat neuronal disorders . u . s . pat . no . 5 , 411 , 883 also discloses procedures for isolation and proliferation of neuron progenitor cells , their growth , storage , production and implantation of proliferated neuron progenitor cells . the cells are obtained from a donor ventral mesencephalon at the appropriate stage of embryonic development . the cells differentiate to produce dopamine . fetal pig cells have been implanted into patients with neurodegenerative diseases , such as parkinson &# 39 ; s disease and huntington &# 39 ; s chorea , and intractable seizures , in whom surgical removal of the excited area would otherwise have been performed . such cells , if properly screened for retroviruses , could also be used in the inventive method . neural crest cells were isolated and cultured according to stemple and anderson ( u . s . pat . no . 5 , 654 , 183 ), which is incorporated herein by reference , with the modification that basic fibroblast growth factor ( bfgf ) is added to the medium at concentrations , ranging from 5 to 100 ng / ml in 5 ng / ml increments . neural crest cells so cultured were found to be stimulated by the presence of fgf in increasing concentrations about 1 or 5 ng / ml . such cells differentiate into peripheral nerve cells , which can be used in the instant invention . neural cells with stem cell properties have been isolated by snyder eta !., from the human fetal brain and propagated in vitro by a variety of equally effective and safe means both epigenetic ( e . g ., with mitogens such as epidermal growth factor ( egf ) or basic fibroblast growth factor ( bfgf ) or with membrane substrates ) and genetic ( e . g ., with propagating genes such as vmyc or large t - antigen ) ( flax , j d et al ., nature biotechnology 16 : 1033 - 39 , 1998 ). murine neural stem cells ( nscs ) were recently administered to adult rats whose middle cerebral artery ( mca ) was obstructed to produce experimental and dramatic cerebral tissue loss ( see fig1 a ). fig1 a shows an infarcted rat brain , into which vehicle alone had been injected intracerebrally . the large infarct cavity ( white arrowhead ) represents significant tissue loss . fig1 b is a photo of a rat brain subjected to a similar infarct but treated three days later with a cisternal ( region indicated by black arrow ) infusion of a cellular suspension of murine nscs plus basic fibroblast growth factor ( bfgf ), which is a significant distance from the region of infarction . nevertheless , the nscs appear to have migrated to the region of damage and significantly ameliorated the cerebral volume loss ( white arrowhead ), appearing to have helped “ fill in ” the infarction cavity and reverse the tissue loss . in preliminary studies , animals treated in this manner showed a significant improvement in cortically mediated behavioral tasks . therefore , these results indicate that nsc were drawn to stroke injuries in adult cns . it may be beneficial to administer certain cytokines , growth factors and drugs in the transplant area . such moieties are optionally used or may be administered concomitantly with the transplant or later . known cytokines include interleukins ( il ) il - 1 , il - 2 , il - 3 , il - 4 , il - 5 , il - 6 , il - 7 , il - 8 , il - 10 , and il - 11 ; tissue necrosis factors ( tnf ), tnfα and tnfβ , also lymphotoxin ( lt ); interferons ( ifn ) ifnα , ifnβ and ifnγ ; tissue growth factor ( tgf ); and basic fibroblast growth factor ( bfgf ). the colony - stimulating factors ( csfs ) are specific glycoproteins that are thought to be involved in the production , differentiation and function of stem cells . nerve growth factor ( ngf ) has been shown to increase the rate of recovery in spatial alternation tasks after entorhinal lesions , possibly by acting on cholinergic pathways ( stein and will , brain res . 261 : 127 - 31 , 1983 ). in addition , cyclosporine was used for at least part of the pre - and post - implant period and other similarly active compounds could be substituted . cyclosporine was withdrawn in on patient because of seizures , and no marked diminution in function occurred thereafter . therefore , immunosuppressive therapy may not be necessary , or perhaps could be confined only to the perioperative period . because earlier studies have shown that hnt human neuronal cells and some of the above mentioned cells adapt to their surroundings , other uses are highly likely . these include but are not limited to parkinson &# 39 ; s disease , huntington &# 39 ; s disease , brain injury ( traumatic or other causes ) and others . stereotactic implant procedures for some of these disorders , using fetal cells , are well established . observer - blinded determination of neurologic status was performed , including evaluation of the functional deficit , contrast - enhanced magnetic resonance image ( mri ) scanning to measure the volume of blood - brain barrier alteration at the target site ( as an indirect measure of inflammatory response ), and positron emission tomography ( pet ) with fluorodeoxyglucose ( fdg ) scan for assessment of regional brain metabolism . this procedure was modified from that of brott t , adams h p , olinger c p , et al . ( 1989 ) measurements of acute cerebral infarction : a clinical examination scale . stroke 20 : 864 - 870 . stroke scale items were administered in the order listed below . performance was recorded in each category after each subscale exam . personnel were forbidden from going back and changing scores . specific directions were provided for each exam technique . this procedure was adapted from that reported in hantson l , de weerdt - w , de keyser j , et al . ( 1994 ) the european stroke scale . stroke 25 : 2215 - 2219 . a score of 10 is assigned alert , keenly responsive patients ; a score of 8 to drowsy patients who can be aroused by minor stimulation to obey , answer or respond ; a score of 6 to patients who require repeated stimulation to attend , or are lethargic or obtunded and require strong or painful stimulation to move ; a score of 4 to patients who cannot be aroused by any stimulation but react purposefully to painful stimuli ; a score of 2 to patients who cannot be aroused by any stimulation and react decerebrately to painful stimuli ; and a score of 0 to patients who cannot be aroused by any stimulation and do not react to painful stimuli . the examiner , without demonstrating , verbally gives the patient the following commands : 1 . stick out your tongue . 2 . put your finger ( of the unaffected side ) on your nose . 3 . close your eyes . the examiner has a conversation with the patient ( how is the patient feeling , did he / she sleep well , how long has the patient been in the hospital .) and scores the patient as follows : normal speech ( 8 ), slight word - finding difficult but possible conversation ( 6 ), severe word - finding difficulties with difficult conversation ( 4 ), only yes or no ( 2 ), and mute ( 0 ). the examiner stands at arm &# 39 ; s length and compares the patient &# 39 ; s field of vision by advancing a moving finger from the periphery inward . the patient fixates on the examiner &# 39 ; s pupil , first with one and then with the other eye closed . normal is 8 and deficit is 0 . the examiner steadies the patient &# 39 ; s head and asks him / her to follow the examiner &# 39 ; s moving finger . the examiner observes the resting eye position and subsequently the full range of movements by moving the index finger from the left to the right and back . normal is 8 , median eye position with impossible deviation to one side ( 4 ), lateral eye position with possible return to midline ( 2 ), and lateral eye position without return to midline ( 0 ). the examiner observes the patient as he / she talks and smiles , noting any asymmetrical elevation of one corner of the mouth or flattening of the nasolabial fold . only the muscles of the lower half of the face are assessed . normal is 8 , paresis 4 , and paralysis 0 . the examiner asks the patient to close his / her eyes and actively lifts the patient &# 39 ; s arms into position so that they are outstretched at 45 ° in relation to the horizontal plane with both hands in mid - position so that the palms face each other . the patient is asked to maintain this position for 5 seconds after the examiner releases the arms . only the affected side is evaluated . score is 4 for maintaining arm position for 5 sec ; 3 is maintaining position for 5 sec with hand pronation ; score is 2 if arm drifts before 5 sec and maintains a lower position ; score is 1 if arm cannot maintain position but attempts to oppose gravity ; and 0 if arm falls . the patient &# 39 ; s arm is rested next to the leg with the hand in mid - position . the examiner asks the patient to raise the arm outstretched to 90 ° ( 4 ), if the arm is straight but movement is not full ( 3 ), flexed arm ( 2 ), trace movements ( 1 ), or no movement ( 0 ). the patient is tested with the forearm supported and the hand unsupported , relaxed in pronation . the patient is asked to extend the hand . normal , fully isolated movement with no decrease in - strength is 8 , full isolated movement with reduced strength is 6 , movement not isolated and / or full is 4 , trace movement is 2 , and no movement is 0 . the examiner asks the patient to form with both hands , as strongly as possible , a pinch grip with the thumb and forefinger on the same hand and to try to resist a weak pull . the examiner checks the strength of this grip by pulling the pinch with one finger . equal strength is 8 , reduced strength on the affected side is 4 , and pinch grip impossible on affected side is 0 . the examiner actively lifts the patient &# 39 ; s affected leg into position so that the thigh forms an angle of 90 ° with the bed . the examiner asks the patient to close his / her eyes and to maintain this position for 5 seconds without support . leg maintains position for 5 sec ( 4 ), leg drifts to intermediate position by 5 sec ( 2 ), leg drifts to bed within 5 sec but not immediately ( 1 ), and leg falls to bed immediately ( 0 ). the patient is supine with the legs outstretched . the examiner asks the patient to flex the hip and knee . normal movement is 4 , movement against resistance with reduced strength is 3 , movement against gravity is 2 , trace movement is 1 , and no movement is 0 . the patient is tested with the leg outstretched . the examiner asks the patient to dorsiflex the foot . normal ( e . g ., outstretched , full movement , normal strength ) is 8 , leg outstretched with full movement but reduced strength is 6 , leg outstretched with less than full movement or flexed knee or supinated foot is 4 , trace movement is 2 , and no movement is 0 . a normal gait scores 10 , gait with abnormal aspect and / or limited distance or speed . is 8 , walking with aid is 6 , requiring the assistance of one or more persons is 4 , no walking but standing supported is 2 , and no walking or standing is o . this test has been modified from that described in mahoney f i , barthel d w . ( 1965 functional evaluation : the barthel index . md state med j 14 : 61 - 65 ). it includes a number of life activities , including feeding getting out of and returning to bed , toilet activities , walking , handling stairs , dressing , controlling bowel and bladder . this survey has been modified from ware j . e ., sherbourne c d . ( 1992 ) the mos 36 - item short - form health survey ( sf - 36 ). 1 . conceptual framework and item selection . med care 30 : 473 - 483 . it includes general health , comparison to a year earlier , competence at daily activities , ability to work , and emotional status , patients with stable strokes and fixed deficits were recruited for a phase i safety trial inclusion criteria included major motor deficit from completed basal ganglia stroke defined on imaging . the permissible duration of stroke was six months to six years , with a required fixed deficit without substantial change for at least two months . patient age could range from 40 to 75 years inclusive . the patient also had to be able to provide informed consent . patients must have had a motor deficit such as hemiparesis following a completed basal ganglia infarction ( 4 - 15 mm ) involving gray matter as defined on ct or mr imaging scan and by clinical syndromes of lacunar infarction ( e .& amp ;., hemiparesis with ataxia in the same limb , pure motor hemiplegia ). a substantial deficit was defined by a total score of 70 or less on the european stroke scale ( see infra ) preoperative investigations included serial stroke scales ( three ) over two months prior to surgery . imaging studies included mri scan , fdg - pet studies as well as functional mri . quality of life scales with the barthel index and the sf36 as well as serologic tests and videotaping were performed . postoperative investigations included clinical assessments and stroke scales at regular intervals over the first year with serologic tests , mri scans and research mri scans as well as pet scans at six and 12 months . for immunosuppression patients received 6 mg / kg of cyclosporine - a per day , administered orally once daily . however , the dose was adjusted according to the results of serum levels . the drug was administered beginning one week prior to surgery and continued for eight weeks after surgery . methylprednisolone ( 40 mg iv ) also was administered during surgery . prohibited medications ( for at least 1 week prior to surgery ) were all products with anticoagulant or anti - platelet activity , including warfarin , aspirin , nonsteroidal anti - inflammatory drugs ( nsaids ), and ticlopidine . these medications were allowed to be restarted 24 hours after surgery . on the morning of surgery , cells were prepared for implantation . one ml frozen lbs - neurons cryoampules had been filled with a suspension containing 6 × 10 human neuronal cells per ml . it is important to thaw the neurons no more than one hour prior to use , because their viability begins to decrease after 2 hours on ice in phosphate buffer solution . it takes approximately 30 - 45 minutes to prepare the cells for injection . the cryopreserved suspension stored frozen at − 170 ° c ., thawed rapidly in a 37 ° c . water bath with gentle agitation until the contents were just liquefied . the suspension was gently mixed to re - suspend the cells . to maintain sterile conditions , gowned and gloved personnel performed the ensuing steps under a hood . the thawed cell suspension was transfected from the cryovials to sterile 15 ml centrifuge tubes containing isolyte ® s , ph 7 . 4 ( multi - electrolyte injection , mcgaw inc ., irvine , calif . ), centrifuged at 200 × g for 7 minutes at room temperature and the cell pellet gently resuspended in isolyte s . this wash of the cells was repeated twice . for the final wash , all cells from different tubes were pooled together into one tube . next a sample of the lbs - neuron suspension was diluted in 0 . 4 % trypan blue , and viable and dead cells counted using phase contrast microscopy . the cell concentration was calculated based on the total viable cell count . the pellet volume was measured , and the cells resuspended to a final concentration of 3 . 3 × 10 7 cells / ml in isolyte s and aliquoted at 120 μl per sterile 1 . 0 ml vial . depending on the dose to be administered , one or more vials were prepared . vial ( s ) were loaded into a closed holder and carried by hand in an upright position to the operating room for immediate use . the cells were administered ( in up to three tracts ) by direct stereotactic injection . the first four patients received two million cells in three implants on one track and the next eight patients were randomized to receive two or six million cells in three or nine implants , respectively . aliquots of cells that were placed in culture and not implanted showed robust development of neuronal processes with 24 hours . patients stopped all anticoagulant medications and started cyclosporine one week prior to surgery . surgery began with stereotactic frame application under local anesthesia and mild sedation . stereotactic instrumentation consisted of the following : leksell model g stereotactic coordinate frame ( elekta instruments , atlanta , ga .) and a 0 . 9 mm outer diameter stereotactic aspiration injection cannula . contrast - enhanced computed tomography ( ct ) stereotactic targeting of the stroke area was performed with 5 - millimeter slices through the brain . coronal and sagittal views were used to define a safe trajectory that entered a cortical gyrus and spared a sulcus . stereotactic coordinates were obtained for each instrument placement . three points in the basal ganglia were a ) inferior to the stroke , b ) within the midportion of the stroke , and c ) in the superior aspect of the basal ganglia either within or beyond the stroke . for patients receiving nine implants ( 6 × 10 6 cells ), three trajectories were chosen in the same paramedian plane , spaced by 5 - 6 mm at the target . a twist drill or burr hole skull opening was made . the dura was opened and a 1 . 8 - mm , 15 - cm length stabilizing probe inserted to a point 4 cm proximal to the final target . a cannula with a 0 . 9 - mm outer diameter was then inserted down to the deepest target point for the first implantation . the first inner cannula used had an internal volume of 100 μl ; a second cannula designed later had a volume of 20 μl ( synergetics , st . louis , mo .). in the operating room , the cells were aspirated into a 250 μl syringe . the internal volume of the cannula was filled with the cell suspension , and then a 20 μl volume of cells was injected slowly at the first target site . the instrument was then withdrawn to the second and third sites for subsequent implants . after the three implants were / made , the cannula was withdrawn from the brain . the wound was either closed or the next vial of cells prepared to inject implants 4 - 9 in those patients who received 6 × 10 6 cells . following surgery , a post - operative ct scan confirmed the absence of hemorrhage . a postoperative ct scan confirmed the safety of the procedure . all patients were then observed overnight and discharged home the next morning . no new neurological deficits were identified acutely . all 12 patients were discharged within 24 hours . follow - up assessments for safety and efficacy were made at 1 week , 1 month , 2 months , 3 months , 6 months , and then yearly ( beginning with the 12 month visit ) including an observer - blind neurologic examination for evaluation of the functional deficit and safety ( including adverse events and follow - up laboratory tests ). contrast - enhanced mr imaging was used to measure the volume of blood brain barrier alteration at the target site and pet scanning was used for assessment of regional brain metabolism . by the end of the study , nine male patients and three female patients had been admitted - and received implants . their age range was 44 to 75 years . the age of the stroke varied from seven months to 55 months . all strokes were confirmed to be in the basal ganglia location , and cells were placed only in that location . four patients had involvement of adjacent cerebral cortex . measures of efficacy were scores on the european stroke scale ( ess ), national institutes of health stroke scale ( nihss ), barthel index ( bi ) and short form 36 health survey ( sf - 36 ) collected pre - operatively , on the day of surgery ( baseline ) and at predetermined intervals through 12 months following implantation of lbs - neurons . higher scores on the ess , bi and sf - 36 indicate better performance , and lower scores on the nihss indicate better performance . for this report , 6 - months post - implantation was the primary time point analyzed . at 6 months following implantation , 6 of the 12 patients treated ( 50 %) had scores on the ess that were higher than baseline ( range : 3 to 10 points ), 3 patients were unchanged and 3 patients deteriorated ( range : − 1 . to − 3 points ) compared to their baseline scores . five patients ( 42 %) had an improvement of at least 5 points on the ess . the mean change in ess score from baseline to week 24 for all implanted patients was 2 . 2 points , a difference that was statistically significant ( p ≧ 0 . 05 ). in the group of patients who received 2 million cells , 3 of 8 patients improved from baseline to week 24 ( range : 3 to 8 points ), 3 patients were unchanged , and 2 patients deteriorated ( range : − 1 to − 3 points ). in the 6 - million dose group , 3 of 4 patients improved ( range , 5 to 10 points ) and one patient worsened (− 2 points ). the mean change from baseline to week 24 was 1 . 8 points in the 2 - million group and 5 . 3 points in the 6 million group . the change within each treatment group was not statistically significant ( p ≧ 0 . 139 ). nihss scores reflected similar changes in functional performance as seen on the ess . at the 6 month follow - up evaluation , 8 patients had improved scores on the nihss ( range : − 1 to − 4 points ), 1 patient was unchanged and 3 patients deteriorated ( range : 1 to 2 points ) compared to their baseline scores . in the 2 million group , 5 of 8 patients improved from baseline to week 24 ( range : − 1 to − 4 points ) and in the 6 million dose group , 3 of 4 patients improved (− 1 point each ). the mean change in nihss score from week 0 to week 24 was − 0 . 5 points for the 2 million group and − 0 . 3 for the 6 million group . changes from baseline on the nihss were not statistically significant . the bi and sf - 36 did not detect substantial change in patient function . motor elements of the ess ( ess - motor ) accounted for the majority of the change noted in patients treated with hnt neurons . the mean change in ess - motor score for all patients treated with hnt neurons was 2 . 5 ( p = 0 . 026 ). four patients ( 33 %) had a change of at least 6 points on the ess - motor . by dose group , the mean change in ess - motor score was 1 . 9 for the 2 million group ( p = 0 . 186 ) and 3 . 8 for the 6 million group ( p = 0 . 080 ). pet scans performed at baseline and at week 24 showed that 6 of 11 patients had and improvement in cerebral glucose metabolism as indicated by fluorodeoxyglucose ( fdg ) uptake . one patient (# 012 ) had not had a week - 24 pet scan at the time of this report . the pet scan findings appeared to con - elate with the clinical findings of neurologic improvement . of the 6 patients with an increase in fdg uptake of at least 15 %, 4 ( 67 %) patients improved 3 points or more on the ess from baseline to week 24 , and 2 patients ( 33 %) were essentially unchanged ( 0 and − 1 point change ). of those patients with less than 15 % increase in fdg uptake , 4 of 5 ( 80 %) did not improve on the ess and 1 patient improved by 5 points . there were no deaths , treatment - related serious adverse events , or early withdrawals due to adverse events . the majority of adverse events were considered mild ; and the most common adverse events were fatigue , headache , nausea , and urinary tract infection . events that were considered severe included constipation , exacerbation of chronic renal failure , increased creatinine , vomiting and dehydration , urinary tract infection , and kidney stones . there were several adverse events that were considered probably related to treatment ; and all were common surgical adverse events such as headache , nausea , vomiting , blood loss with removal of the stereotactic frame and pain at the surgical site . four patients had serious adverse events , none of which was considered by the investigator to be related to implantation of hnt neurons . one patient with diabetes had an exacerbation of his chronic renal failure while on cyclosporine , one patient had a single seizure 5 months after implantation , and one patient at 6 months after implantation had a new right pontine infarction that was contralateral to the implantation site . no clinically significant laboratory , radiographic , or electrocardiographic abnormalities were identified that could be attributed to the hnt neurons . cyclosporine immunosuppression was well tolerated except by one patient whose baseline serum creatinine should have excluded him from the study . serum measures of immunologic reaction showed only minor changes that may have been indicative of a mild inflammatory reaction related to the surgical procedure itself . serial mri scans did not show evidence of substantial edema , inflammation , or breakdown of the blood brain barrier within or adjacent to the site of implantation . systolic blood pressure was moderately reduced post - implantation in the 2 million cell group , but not in the 6 million cell group , and diastolic blood pressure and heart rate were not appreciably affected . none of the vital sign changes was statistically significant . the results of this study demonstrate that it is possible to safely implant hnt neurons into the basal ganglia of patients with strokes , and that these cells do not elicit an immunologic or toxic reaction within the cns or systemically . although the small number of patients treated precludes definitive conclusions , the stroke scale results suggest that these cells may be efficacious and that the higher dose administered may be more efficacious than the lower dose . the feasibility and preliminary safety data from this study provide the basis for the design and conduct of additional clinical trials with lbs neurons .	0
fig1 illustrates a conventional flip chip led die 10 mounted on a portion of a submount wafer 12 . in a flip - chip , both the n and p contacts are formed on the same side of the led die . the led die 10 is formed of semiconductor epitaxial layers , including an n - layer 14 , an active layer 15 , and a p - layer 16 , grown on a growth substrate , such as a sapphire substrate . the growth substrate has been removed in fig1 by laser lift - off , etching , grinding , or by other techniques . in one example , the epitaxial layers are gan based , and the active layer 15 emits blue light . led dies that emit uv light are also applicable to the present invention . a metal electrode 18 electrically contacts the p - layer 16 , and a metal electrode 20 electrically contacts the n - layer 14 . in one example , the electrodes 18 and 20 are gold pads that are ultrasonically welded to anode and cathode metal pads 22 and 23 on a ceramic submount wafer 12 . the submount wafer 12 has conductive vias 24 leading to bottom metal pads 26 and 28 for bonding to a printed circuit board . many leds are mounted on the submount wafer 12 and will be later singulated to form individual leds / submounts . further details of leds can be found in the assignee &# 39 ; s u . s . pat . nos . 6 , 649 , 440 and 6 , 274 , 399 , and u . s . patent publications us 2006 / 0281203 a1 and 2005 / 0269582 a1 , all incorporated herein by reference . in accordance with one embodiment of the invention , a reflective layer 29 ( e . g ., r & gt ; 90 %) is formed over the surface of the submount wafer 12 to reflect light generated by a remote phosphor layer . submounts are typically ceramic , silicon , or other light absorbing material . the reflective layer 29 may be a sputtered metal mirror ( e . g ., al or ag ), a dielectric mirror , a metal / dielectric combination , or a non - absorbing diffuser . the reflective layer 29 , in one embodiment , extends to all regions of the wafer 12 except over the led die 10 . in another embodiment , the reflective layer 29 is a specular ring around each led die that extends at least under where the phosphor layer contacts the submount . when depositing the reflective layer 26 , a mask ( not shown ) may be temporarily formed over the led die areas , prior to attachment of the led dies , to prevent the reflective layer 29 from covering the metal pads 22 and 23 , or a printing process may be used to form the reflective layer 29 . the reflective layer 29 will increase the efficiency of the lamp . fig2 is a simplified illustration of a submount wafer 12 on which is mounted an array of led dies 10 . there may be 500 - 4000 leds on a single submount wafer 12 . all leds on the wafer 12 will be processed simultaneously using the method described below . a first silicone layer is molded over the led dies 10 to encapsulate the dies 10 as follows . fig3 illustrates a portion of the submount wafer 12 and led dies 10 being positioned over a mold 30 having cavities 32 filled with liquid silicone 34 , or softened silicone 34 , or powered silicone 34 , or silicone in tablets . if the silicone 34 is not dispensed in liquid or softened form , the mold 30 is heated to soften the silicone 34 . the submount wafer 12 is brought against the mold 30 so that the led dies 10 are immersed in the silicone 34 in each cavity 32 . the wafer 12 and mold 30 are pressed together to force the silicone 34 to fill all voids . a perimeter seal allows the pressure to be high while allowing all air to escape as the silicone 34 fills the voids . a vacuum may also be pulled between the wafer 12 and the mold 30 using a vacuum source around the seal . the mold 30 is then heated to cure the silicone 34 , depending on the type of silicone 34 used . if the original silicone 34 was a solid ( e . g ., a powder or tablets ) at room temperature , the mold 30 is cooled to harden the silicone 34 . alternatively , a transparent mold may be used and the silicone 34 may be cured with uv light . the mold 30 is then removed from the wafer 12 , resulting in the structure of fig4 , where the resulting silicone layer 36 encapsulates each led die 10 . in the embodiment shown , the silicone layer 36 is formed to have a substantially hemispherical shape . the thickness of the silicone layer 36 is not critical since the led light expands in a lambertian pattern through the transparent silicone layer 36 . the wafer 12 may then be subjected to a post - cure temperature of about 250 ° c . to additionally harden the silicone layer 36 , depending on the type of silicone 34 used . materials other than silicone may be used such as an epoxy molding compound in powder form or another suitable polymer . the silicone layer 36 may also be formed using injection molding , where the wafer 12 and mold are brought together , a liquid silicone is pressure - injected into the mold through inlets , and a vacuum is created . small channels between the mold cavities allow the silicone to fill all the cavities . the silicone is then cured by heating , and the mold is separated from the wafer 12 . the silicone layer 36 ( a polymer ) may instead be formed of a high index glass , epoxy , or other material . one technique for forming additional layers over the led die 10 and silicone layer 36 is described with respect to fig5 - 8 . an all - molding process is described later . in fig5 , a solid hemispherical dome 38 is formed by molding or another technique . the dome 38 may have a diameter on the order of 5 mm . the dome may be silicone , epoxy , sapphire , or other suitable transparent material . in fig6 , the dome 38 is machined or processed to form a cavity 40 , having a diameter on the order of 3 mm . in one embodiment , the molding process for dome 38 may create a thin connector between domes in an array of domes that match the locations of the led dies 10 on the submount wafer 12 to simplify handling . in fig7 , a thin phosphor layer 42 , on the order of a few hundred microns , is formed in the cavity to a substantially uniform thickness . this may be done using a lamination of a preformed flexible sheet of phosphor infused in a silicone binder . the phosphor may also be deposited by spraying phosphor in a silicone binder , electrophoresis , deposition followed by machining , or by other techniques . as in all embodiments , the phosphor layer 42 may comprise a plurality of different phosphor layers or a mixture of phosphors , such as yag , red , and / or green phosphors to produce white light . if a uv led were used , a blue phosphor would also be used to create white light . the completed cap 44 is then aligned with each led die 10 , as shown in fig8 , and the cap 44 is affixed to the surface of the submount wafer 12 surrounding each led die 10 . silicone may be used as an adhesive . as shown in fig9 , there is an air gap 46 between the phosphor layer 42 and the silicone layer 36 . the led die 10 has sides about 1 mm , the silicone layer 36 has a diameter of about 2 mm , the phosphor layer 42 is a few hundreds of microns , and the cavity 40 has a diameter of about 3 mm , leaving an air gap 46 of about 0 . 2 - 0 . 5 mm around the silicone layer 36 . since the index of refraction ( n ) of the air gap 46 is about 1 , and the n of the phosphor layer 42 is on the order of 1 . 7 - 2 , any phosphor light generated towards the air gap 46 at greater than the critical angle will be totally reflected back and not be absorbed by the led die 10 , electrodes , or other elements . by making the silicone layer 36 substantially hemispherical around the led die 10 , there will be very little tir of the led light at the interface of the air gap 46 and the silicone layer 46 . the silicone layer 36 improves the extraction of light from the led die 10 since its index of refraction ( e . g ., & gt ; 1 . 5 ) is closer to the index of refraction of the led die 10 ( e . g ., & gt ; 2 . 2 ). fig1 shows how various light rays generated will be reflected in the lamp 48 of fig9 . ray 50 is a blue ray from the led die 10 , and leaks through the phosphor layer 42 . ray 52 is an emission ( e . g ., yellow , red , green , etc .) from a phosphor particle that is in a direction away from the air gap 46 . ray 54 is an emission from the phosphor particle that reflects off the air gap 46 interface at greater than the critical angle and exits the lamp 48 without impinging on the led 10 or submount wafer 12 . ray 56 is an emission from a phosphor particle that reflects off the reflective layer 29 ( fig1 ) on the submount wafer 12 . also , ray 54 may be a backscattered blue ray from the led die . although the blue ray generally enters the phosphor layer near normal incidence , the backscatter from the phosphor is generally isotropic , so the backscattered light is at a wide range of angles . any backscattered blue light greater than the critical angle is reflected out by the air gap 46 interface ( or other reflective layer described herein ) rather than going back into the led . the combination of the low index layer ( air gap 46 ), silicone layer 36 , and reflective layer 29 greatly increase the light extraction from the lamp 48 . fig1 illustrates that , instead of forming the cap of fig7 , a thicker cap of a low density of phosphor particles in a silicone lens 58 may be used . the air gap 46 serves as a reflector as in fig1 . ray 50 is a blue ray from the led die 10 leaking through the lens 58 . rays 60 and 62 are rays from a phosphor particle ( or backscattered blue light ) that have reflected off the air gap 46 interface . ray 64 is a ray from a phosphor particle that reflected off the reflective layer 29 ( fig1 ) on the submount wafer 12 . since the silicone lens 58 is much wider than the phosphor layer 42 in fig1 , the brightness of the lamp 66 per unit area will be less than that of fig1 , which may be advantageous or disadvantageous depending on the application . the technique of fig5 - 11 may be difficult due to the handling and various alignments . successive molding processes , represented by fig3 , may be used to form the structure shown in fig1 , where , instead of an air gap , a low index material is molded directly over the silicone layer 36 . in one embodiment , the silicone layer 36 is molded as previously described . next , a mold having larger cavities 32 ( fig3 ) is filled with sol - gel . sol - gel is well known and comprises nano - particles in a solvent to form a gel . such a substance can be molded . the solvent is then dried by heat , resulting in some shrinkage and crystals formed by the nano - particles . the resulting layer will be extremely porous and effectively acts like an air gap . the index of refraction is very low since the structure is mostly space . the sol - gel layer is shown as layer 68 in fig1 . instead of sol - gel , another low index material can be used , as long as the index is lower than the phosphor layer . next , another mold with slightly larger dome shaped cavities is filled with phosphor particles infused in silicone . the submount wafer 12 with molded sol - gel domes is then brought against the mold as discussed with respect to fig3 . the phosphor layer 70 is then cured by heat . a final silicone lens 72 is then molded over the phosphor layer , or the phosphor layer may be the final layer . the operation of the resulting lamp 74 is similar to that shown in fig1 or fig1 , depending if the phosphor layer were the final layer . fig1 illustrates that the low index layer ( 46 or 68 ) can instead be a deposited bragg reflector ( dbr ) 76 . a dbr 76 can be made very thin using conformal sputtering and may consists of 10 pairs of sio 2 / ta 2 o 5 ( indicies n = 1 . 5 and 2 , respectively ) with thicknesses 98 nm and 64 nm ( provides reflectively at 450 nm ( blue ) around 40 degrees ), followed by 6 pairs of sio 2 / ta 2 o 5 with thicknesses 129 nm and 81 nm ( provides reflectivity at 550 nm ( green ) around 45 degrees ). the dbr 76 is substantially transparent at 450 nm around normal incidence of the led light ( r & lt ; 10 %) until an angle of 15 degrees . the dbr 76 is reflective at greater than 15 degrees . the phosphor layer 78 and outer silicone lens 80 are then molded as previously described . fig1 illustrates various light rays passing through the dbr 76 , and being reflected off the dbr 76 , and being reflected off the submount surface . for all these designs to be efficient , the extraction efficiency from the inner silicone dome must be high . this requires that led light impinge at this interface with an angle less than the critical angle and , therefore , the radius of the inner dome must be large enough . therefore , in general , a trade - off exists between the requirement of small incidence angles and small source size . if the die is 1 × 1 mm and the radius of the inner dome is 2 mm , a large fraction of the light impinges on the dome at small angles ( less than 15 degrees ), and only a few rays impinge at angles as high as 20 degrees . this is smaller than the angle of total internal refraction for an epoxy ( or silicone )/ air interface ( about 41 degrees ) and smaller than the maximum angle of high transmission for the dbr . therefore , such dimensions are suitable for the implementations described in this application . fig1 is a graph illustrating the approximate improvement in lumen output vs . reflectivity of the reflective layer 29 ( fig1 ) on the submount when used with the remote phosphor embodiments of the present invention . various combinations of all the embodiments may be used to create a remote phosphor lamp with high efficiency . in addition to the improved efficiency , the remote hemispherical phosphor layer , having a substantially uniform thickness , enables uniform color vs . viewing angle , and the phosphor is not degraded by heat . the submount wafer 12 is then singulated to form individual leds / submounts , where the various figures can represent the individual leds / submounts . in this disclosure , the term “ submount ” is intended to mean a support for at least one led die , where electrical contacts on the submount are bonded to electrodes on the led dies , and where the submount has electrodes that are to be connected to a power supply . while particular embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described , it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from this invention in its broader aspects and , therefore , the appended claims are to encompass within their scope all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of this invention .	7
the term “ mixed metal compound ” as used herein refers to single - phase materials comprising cations of two or more metallic elements . the term “ binary metal oxide ” as used herein refers to single - phase materials comprising oxygen anions and cations of two metallic elements . analogously , the terms “ ternary metal oxide ” and “ quaternary metal oxide ” refer to single - phase materials comprising oxygen anions and cations of three or four metallic elements , respectively . the term “ metal ” as used herein , alone or in combined form , e . g ., metallic or metallo -, refers to elements that can form cations in aqueous solution . in a first embodiment of the present invention , a method of synthesizing mixed metal oxide ceramics is provided . in general , the method requires contacting a metal - oxide powder with a metal hydroxide or oxide to form a mixed metal powder . in a preferred embodiment , the metal oxide powder is at least partially coated with a metal hydroxide or metal oxide layer during the contacting step . in the preferred embodiment it is a metal hydroxide , however it is possible to coat with another metal compound , such as a metal oxide . the product of the contacting step is then mixed with one or more metal compounds or metal compound precursors to produce a mixed metal oxide powder . this powder may then be pressed and sintered to form a ceramic containing a mixed metal oxide . while not wishing to be bound by any particular theory , it is thought that the present approach provides at least a partial coating of the metal oxide powder precursor with the metal hydroxide or metal oxide . this reduces or prevents contact between the first metal compound and the second metal compound or second metal compound precursor to thereby reduce or substantially prevent the formation of undesirable products during the sintering step . also , the provision of at least a partial coating on the metal compound starting material is found to enhance mixing between the reacted pyrochlore phase and the metal oxide by increasing the surface contact between them , thereby causing the perovskite transformation temperature to overlap with the sintering temperature during the sintering step used to produce a green body or ceramic . in addition , the partial coating appears to result in smaller particles during the reaction , which promotes sintering at lower temperatures . the method can be applied , for example , to the production of lead magnesium niobate pb ( mg 1 / 3 nb 2 / 3 ) o 3 ( hereinafter “ pmn ”). in this method , low temperature processing of pmn can be achieved by virtue of the at least partial coating of nb 2 o 5 powder with mg ( oh ) 2 . the present method is based on the principle of the overlap of the perovskite formation temperature due to the intimate mixing of reaction ingredients and the lowered sintering temperature due to the smaller particle size of reacted phase . however , unlike the columbite method , only one final sintering step is needed in the present method . the at least partial coating of mg ( oh ) 2 on nb 2 o 5 is believed to increase the intimate mixing of the reacted pyrochlore phase with mgo , and , thus , this causes the perovskite formation temperature to overlap with the sintering temperature significantly . furthermore , the mixing of the at least partial coating of mg ( oh ) 2 on nb 2 o 5 and pbo reduces the required reaction temperature and results in smaller pyrochlore particles , which promotes sintering at lower temperatures . in a preferred embodiment mg ( oh ) 2 is used as the coating material , however it is possible that another metal hydroxide , or metal oxide could be used in its place , such as , alooh , sio 2 , tio 2 , ti ( oh ) 4 , zno , zn ( oh ) 2 , zro 2 and zr ( oh ) 4 . also , the starting reactant for the method need not be limited to pbo , but may also include other metal compounds such as 3pb ( no 3 ) 2 . 7pbo , pb ( no 3 ) 2 , pbco 3 , ( pbco 3 ) 2 pb ( oh ) 2 and pb ( oh ) 2 . a method for the at least partial coating of nb 2 o 5 with mg ( oh ) 2 is described in the article , “ single - calcination synthesis of pyrochlore - free 0 . 9 pb ( mg 1 , 3 nb 2 , 3 ) o 3 - 0 . 1pbtio 3 and pb ( mg 1 , 3 nb 2 , 3 ) o 3 ceramics using a coating method ,” huiming gu , wan y . shih and wei - heng shih , j . am . ceram . soc ., 86 [ 2 ] 217 - 221 ( 2003 ), the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference . more specifically , to provide at least a partial coating , mg ( no 3 ) 2 . 6h 2 o may be dissolved in water followed by the addition of nb 2 o 5 powder to the solution . the mixture may then be treated to break up the nb 2 o 5 agglomerates and a hydroxide can be added to the mixture until the ph exceeds about 8 . 9 , and more preferably , until the ph is in the range of 9 - 11 , and most preferably , the ph is in the range of 9 . 5 - 10 . 5 . the mixture may then be stirred for a sufficient time to form mg ( oh ) 2 in situ and precipitate mg ( oh ) 2 on the surface of the nb 2 o 5 to thereby provide an at least partially coated nb 2 o 5 powder product . the mg ( oh ) 2 does not have to be formed in situ , but rather , can be directly introduced to the reaction , as long as it can be coated on the surface of nb 2 o 5 . typically , reaction times of 10 minutes to 2 hours are required for the precipitation reaction , and more preferably , the precipitation reaction takes about 15 minutes to 1 hour . the reaction may be allowed to proceed to provide substantially complete coating of the nb 2 o 5 powder product . preferably , the mg - containing precursor and the nb containing precursor are used in amounts that provide approximately equimolar amounts of mg and nb . for example , the molar ratio of mg to nb in the reaction mixture is preferably from about 0 . 8 - 1 . 2 , and more preferably from about 0 . 9 - 1 . 1 . the suspension of at least partially coated nb 2 o 5 powder may then be mixed with , for example , a suspension of pbo , or a suspension of a mixture of pbo and pbtio 3 , which is prepared by mixing distilled water , pbo and pbtio 3 in the amounts required to give the desired ratio of pbo to pbtio 3 . the mixture of the two suspensions may then be stirred to provide a substantially homogenous mixture and dried to provide a powder . the dried powder may then be compacted and sintered to produce a ceramic containing pmn in a substantially pure perovskite phase . the method of the present invention results in a substantially pure perovskite phase with only one sintering step , as schematically illustrated in fig1 . as shown in fig2 , by compacting a mixture of nb 2 o 5 at least partially coated with mg ( oh ) 2 and pbo , or a mixture of pbo and pbtio 3 powders into a green body , and performing a single heat treatment at 1000 ° c . for 2 hours , 0 . 9pmn - 0 . 1pt ceramics of 94 % theoretical density , with good dielectric properties are produced . this method provides dense perovskite phase pmn - pt ceramics by sintering the compacts in a single heat treatment step . the powder mixture is preferably ball milled for mixing and compacting . compacting is preferably carried out as a dry compacting step , although it may optionally be carried out in the presence of a conventional granulating fluid , such as polyvinyl alcohol . the dried compact is heated at 3 ° c ./ min to 500 ° c . and held for 1 - 3 hours . the compact is then heated to a temperature of from about 800 ° c . to about 1100 ° c . at 5 ° c ./ min and held there for about 1 - 3 hours . more preferably , the compact is heated to a temperature of from about 900 ° c . to about 1050 ° c . and held there for about 1 . 5 - 2 . 5 hours . most preferably , the compact is heated to a temperature of about 1000 ° c . for a period of about 2 hours . the above steps can be performed with all ( 1 - x ) pmn - xpt solid solutions , with x varying from 0 to 1 . the exact times and temperatures for the heating step may vary depending on the composition the compact . as shown in fig3 , at t & lt ; 500 ° c . there is no reaction and no major density or particle size change . at temperatures of 500 ° c .- 800 ° c . a pyrochlore phase is formed , this results in volume expansion and the particle size decreases . at temperatures of 800 ° c .- 1000 ° c ., the pyrochlore phase transforms to a perovskite phase and significant density and grain size increases are observed . equal or larger than stoichiometric pbo content in the reaction mixture is required to obtain the grain size and density increases . stoichiometric amounts of pbo will result in the best dielectric properties in the products . the grain size increases with increasing pbo content and saturates at 102 % of pbo . density peaks at 102 % of pbo . excess pbo beyond 102 % is not harmful but may be undesirable from an economic standpoint . the method produces a smaller pyrochlore phase and smaller mgo particles than the conventional columbite method . the powders are more homogeneously mixed by the reaction of the at least partially coated particles with the pbo particles . the clear advantages of the present method are that it requires only one ball milling step and one sintering step at 1000 ° c ., 200 ° c . lower than the traditional columbite method , and there are no special requirements for the raw materials and equipment . the lower sintering temperature even allows the use of less expensive metals for the electrodes than would be required for the conventional columbite process , and the simple streamlined process will provide dramatically lower costs , making this superior material economically competitive for many dielectric and piezoelectric applications including multi - layer capacitors and multi - layer actuators . the preferred embodiment is disclosed above , but this method can be used for other combinations of materials , and is broadly applicable to the synthesis of mixed metal compounds in general . for example , at least partially coating metal compound particles with a metal hydroxide or oxide layer , and then sintering the particles , optionally together with other precursors , can produce other mixed metal compounds in an economically attractive process . the method is particularly effective for the synthesis of perovskites in systems that suffer from the problem of pyrochlore formation during sintering , similar to the of lead magnesium niobate ( pmn ) system described above . other perovskite systems that can be benefited by the method of the present invention , for example , are , lead magnesium tantalite , lead nickel niobate , lead scandium tantalite , barium titanate and lead indium niobate . the times and temperatures of the heating step may vary for these systems depending on the composition of the compact treated in the heating step . the method can also be beneficial to the production of perovskites using sintering processes which do not suffer from the problem of pyrochlore formation since this direct sintering approach can potentially lower the sintering temperature of the system due to the more reactive nature of the at least partially coated metal oxide powders employed as a reactant in the process . for example , direct sintering of lead zirconate titanate ( pzt ) has been achieved by this method . the following examples are provided to describe the invention in further detail . these examples , which set forth a preferred mode presently contemplated for carrying out the invention , are intended to illustrate and not to limit the invention . this example demonstrates one step in the preferred embodiment of the instant invention that involves the creation of a coating of mg ( oh ) 2 on nb 2 o 5 . starting materials used in this preferred embodiment are nb 2 o 5 ( 99 . 9 %), pbtio3 ( 99 +%), pbo ( 99 . 9 +%), mg ( no 3 ) 2 . 6h 2 o ( 99 %), and nh 4 oh ( 5 . 08 n ). the 0 . 9pmn - 0 . 1pt and pmn precursors are prepared in the following manner . mg ( no 3 ) 2 . 6h 2 o ( 0 . 105 mol ) is dissolved in 500 ml of distilled water , followed by the addition of 0 . 1 mol of nb 2 o 5 powder to the solution . this mixture is denoted as suspension i . suspension i , is then stirred and ultrasonicated ( 50 mhz , 50 w ) for 10 min . to break up the nb 2 o 5 agglomerates . at this point , the suspension ph will be between 5 and 6 . for mg ( oh ) 2 to precipitate on the nb 2 o 5 surface , nh 4 oh ( 5 . 08n ) is added dropwise into the mixture until the ph reaches 10 . the mixture is then stirred for 30 minutes . the surface of nb 2 o 5 is negatively charged at ph & gt ; 6 , and is attracted to the mg 2 + ions . this promotes the precipitation of mg ( oh ) 2 on the nb 2 o 5 , making the coating of mg ( oh ) 2 on nb 2 o 5 possible . this procedure performed in the preferred embodiment will produce a coating of mg ( oh ) 2 on nb 2 o 5 . this coating is advantageous in making the powders more reactive and transforming the pyrochlore phase into perovskites . the formation of the coating can also be advantageous in preventing other reagents from reacting with one another in different metal compound systems . first , the product of example 1 is mixed with a suspension of pbo and pbtio 3 , which is denoted as suspension ii . suspension ii is prepared by mixing 200 ml of distilled water with 0 . 303 mol of pbo and an appropriate amount of pbtio 3 , depending on the desired composition of the pmn - pt solid solution . suspension ii is ultrasonicated for 10 minutes before it is added to the product of example 1 . the mixture then is stirred for 60 minutes and dried by rotary evaporation . the dried powders are ball - milled in isopropyl alcohol for 20 hours and rotary evaporated . it is to be understood that although ball - milling is used in the example provided , alternative methods are available which can be used in the present invention , such as , high - energy ball - milling , jet pulverizers , and pulverizing mills . the mixture of mg ( oh ) 2 - coated nb 2 o 5 , pbo and pbtio 3 powders is then used to create a green body . this green body is created by pressing the powders at 200 mpa into pellets 1 mm thick and 25 mm in diameter . the green body is then used in the sintering process . the dried compact is heated at 3 ° c ./ min to 500 ° c . and held for 2 hr . the sample is then heated to 1000 ° c . at 5 ° c ./ min and held there for 2 hr . this process produces a dielectric ceramic containing 0 . 9pmn - 0 . 1pt and having a 93 . 6 % theoretical density , with good dielectric properties . the process disclosed in the example is more efficient than previous methods . furthermore , the process set forth in this example can be made applicable to other mixtures . an optical micrograph of the coated nb 2 o 5 particles is shown in fig3 a with the light colored nb 2 o 5 particles surrounded by dark - colored coating layers . for comparison , an optical micrograph of uncoated nb 2 o 5 particles is shown in fig3 b to confirm that uncoated nb 2 o 5 particles appear as light - colored particles . the dark - colored coating layer was shown to be mg ( oh ) 2 by precipitating a powder of mg ( oh ) 2 under the same precipitation conditions used to provide the coating , except in the absence of nb 2 o 5 particles . the method of the present invention , as set forth in examples 1 - 2 above was performed to produce a ceramic dielectric material comprising 0 . 9 pb ( mg 1 , 3 nb 2 / 3 ) o 3 - 0 . 1pbtio 3 , with sintering using the “ regular route ” shown in fig4 . in comparative example a , the conventional columbite route described above , was employed using the separated reaction and sintering route shown below to produce a ceramic dielectric material comprising 0 . 9 pb ( mg 1 / 3 nb 2 , 3 ) o 3 - 0 . 1pbtio 3 . in comparative example b , the conventional columbite route was employed except that instead of separate reaction ( calcining ) and sintering steps , the materials were directly sintered in a single step using the regular route shown below to produce a ceramic dielectric material comprising 0 . 9 pb ( mg 1 , 3 nb 2 , 3 ) o 3 - 0 . 1pbtio 3 . in comparative example c , the reactive columbite method of y . c . liou , l . wu , and s . s . liou , jpn . j . appl . phys ., vol . 33 , pt . 2 , no . 9b ( 1994 ) was employed to produce a ceramic dielectric material comprising 0 . 9 pb ( mg 1 , 3 nb 2 , 3 ) o 3 - 0 . 1pbtio 3 . in comparative example d , a modified version of the reactive columbite method as described in s . kwon , e . m . sabolsky , g . l . messing , j . am . ceram . soc ., 84 [ 3 ] 648 - 650 ( 2001 ) was employed to produce a ceramic dielectric material comprising 0 . 9 pb ( mg 1 / 3 nb 2 , 3 ) o 3 - 0 . 1pbtio 3 . in comparative example e , the coating method of the present invention was employed together with the separated reaction and sintering route shown in fig5 to produce a ceramic dielectric material comprising 0 . 9 pb ( mg 1 , 3 nb 2 , 3 ) o 3 - 0 . 1pbtio 3 . the results are shown in table 1 . the relative density was measured by the archimedes method in kerosene . this example demonstrates one step in an embodiment of the instant invention that involves the creation of a coating of zirconium hydroxide on tio 2 ( 53 % zirconia and 47 % titania ) and the direct sintering of pzt in the present invention . two grams of titania were dissolved in distilled water . once the titania was dissolved , an appropriate amount of zirconyl nitrate solution ( zro ( no 3 ) 2 was added to the solution and dissolved . raising the ph to approximately 10 by adding ammonium hydroxide precipitated the zirconia . the mixture was then stirred for two hours , centrifuged , and washed several times with distilled water . the powders were then dried overnight . the resulting zirconia - titania powders were mixed with a suspension of pbo with 10 % wt . excess . the additional pbo was added to compensate for lead loss during sintering . the mixed powders were ball - milled in a plastic jar having alcohol as the solvent and containing zirconia balls . after ball - milling , the resulting slurry was dried to evaporate as much alcohol as possible . the resulting materials of the evaporated slurry were then ground into powder and mixed with a three percent aqueous polyvinyl alcohol ( pva ) solution , which was used as a binder . large lumps were sieved and ground again until they passed through the sieve . removing large chunks of powder ensured better powder packing during compaction . the powder was then dry - pressed using a one - inch diameter circular die . four grams of the powder was pressed to form green - bodies . the pressure of the press was increased steadily until it reached approximately 5000 kg force and was held there for about one to two minutes before being slowly unloaded . the green bodies were heat treated at 600 ° c . for two hours to burn off the pva binder . then the samples were heat treated to 1000 ° c . at a rate of 5 ° c ./ min and held there for one hour . the process employed in the above example is more efficient than processes using simple mixtures of zirconia , titania , and lead oxide . not only is the density of the samples higher , but also the dielectric constant of the samples is superior to that achieved when using simple mixtures . it is to be understood that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description , together with details of the method , the disclosure is illustrative only , and changes may be made within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed .	2
fig1 a - 1c depict an occluding device 10 embodying features of the invention which includes an expandable , stent - like occluding component 11 and an inflatable detachable balloon - like barrier component 12 contained within the inner lumen 13 of the stent - like occluding component . the detachable balloon - like barrier element 12 is releasably secured to the distal shaft portion 14 of delivery catheter 15 . the inflatable balloon - like barrier 12 is located distal to a one - way valve 16 ( e . g . a duck - billed valve as shown ) which allows inflation fluid to be injected into the interior or the balloon like barrier , but prevents inflation fluid from flowing out of the balloon interior . a threaded connection 17 is provided between the balloon assembly and the distal shaft portion 14 of the delivery catheter 15 to detach the balloon - like barrier component 12 at the desired location . a second optional one - way valve 18 may be located proximal of the threaded connection 17 to act as a back flow valve within the inflation lumen 19 of the delivery catheter 15 to prevent body fluid from entering the inflation lumen after the balloon - like barrier element 12 has been detached . the balloon - like barrier component 12 is formed of impermeable , biocompatible polymeric material . suitable polymeric materials include polyethylene terephthalate ( pet ), nylon and polyesters such as hytrel ®. other moderately - compliant to essentially non - compliant biocompatible polymeric materials are suitable . biocompatible and bioresorbable materials such as polylactic acid , polyglycolic acid , polycaprolactone and blends and copolymers thereof are also suitable in some instances . a plurality of fibrous permeable components 20 and 21 are provided within the stent - like occluding component 11 at each end thereof to facilitate tissue ingrowth therein . the permeable components may be a mass of fibrous material as shown , or a plug or mass of porous polymeric material . the occluding member 10 is advanced to the desired location within the body lumen 22 , such as a female patient &# 39 ; s fallopian tube , with the stent - like occluding component 11 mounted on the balloon - like barrier element 12 in a non - inflated condition . inflation fluid ( indicated by the arrows 23 in fig1 b ) is introduced through the catheter &# 39 ; s inflation lumen 19 into the interior of the balloon - like barrier component 11 to inflate the barrier component within the stent - like occluding component 11 to expand the occluding component until it is in contact with the wall 24 of the body lumen 22 . the inflation fluid may be saline , a biocompatible gas , or some other similar fluid or fluid like substance . the inflation fluid may be a liquid or foam that solidifies after inflation , so that the balloon is a relatively solid structure after inflation . the balloon of the occluding component 11 will be inflated with sufficient pressure to press the stent like component 11 against the wall of the body lumen 22 and form a secure seal between the balloon and the body lumen wall , but not with sufficient force to rupture or otherwise damage the lumen or the balloon . the detachable distal shaft section 14 of the delivery catheter 15 is detached from the balloon assembly by rotating the shaft to unscrew the shaft section from the balloon section . after detaching the shaft 15 from the balloon , the back - flow valve 18 prevents fluid in the body lumen from traveling back up the inner lumen 19 of the delivery catheter 15 . the one - way valve 16 adjacent the balloon prevents loss of inflation fluid and ensures that the balloon remains in the inflated condition . the balloon of the impermeable barrier component 12 is made of a material which is impermeable to preselected biological elements in order to seal the body lumen and prevent the passage of such biological elements . as used herein , “ impermeable ” means impermeable to the extent and appropriate for the purpose . for example , a barrier for contraceptive purposes in a reproductive lumen such as a fallopian tube or vas deferens is impermeable if , when placed across the reproductive lumen , it will block the passage of sperm cells or an egg through the reproductive lumen . the barrier need not be air tight , fluid tight ( indeed the ability to pass some fluid might be desirable ) and may even allow the passage and ingrowth of smaller cells . it need only be sufficiently impermeable in this use to seal the reproductive lumen sufficiently to effect contraception . the stent - like occluding component 11 will usually have an open walled structure and will be permeable enough to allow tissue growth into the interior thereof . the stent - like occluding component 11 has at least one end portion that extends beyond the ends of the balloon - like barrier component 12 . the proximal end portion 25 or the distal end portion 26 or both of the stent - like occluding component 11 which extend beyond the barrier component 12 have fibrous members 20 and 21 within them to facilitate and support tissue ingrowth for long term or permanent occlusion of the body lumen . hooks or barbs 27 are provided on the stent - like occluding component 11 to secure the occluding device within the body lumen 22 when in the expanded configuration as shown in fig1 b . fig2 a and 2b illustrate an alternative occluding device 30 which has a self - expanding stent - like occluding component 31 , an impermeable barrier component 32 and one or more fibrous permeable components 33 and 34 disposed within the inner lumen 35 of the occluding component . the impermeable barrier component 32 is an impermeable membrane sack 36 loosely contained within the inner lumen 35 of the stent - like occluding component 31 . the occluding device 30 is delivered to a desired location within a patient &# 39 ; s body lumen 37 and released as previously described . the stent - like occluding component 31 self expands as depicted in fig2 b , for example if it is formed of a heat memory metal that expands to the larger diameter configuration when it reaches body temperature or it self expands due to a phase change from stress induced or stress maintained martensite to austenite upon release of the stress resulting in expansion . the occluding component expands so that it is in contact with the luminal walls of the body lumen 37 and simultaneously expands the membrane sack 36 within it which forms the barrier component 32 . the membrane sack 36 may be secured to the wall of the occluding component 31 and expand when the occluding component expands . alternatively , the membrane sack 36 may be biased to expand , for example , by the presence of compressed gas within the interior 40 of the membrane sack , so that when the stent like structure expands when released from the delivery catheter , the barrier component expands to its larger diameter configuration to provide an impermeable barrier across the inner lumen 35 of the occluding component 31 . one or more fibrous bodies 33 and 34 are provided in the ends of the occluding component 31 to facilitate and enhance tissue ingrowth therein . tissue ingrowth 38 and 39 occurs over time around and through the perimeter of the occluding component 31 including the ends , forming a permanent barrier to the passage of biological components . if the membrane sack is formed of a material that causes irritation or otherwise stimulates a tissue ingrowth response , e . g . pet , the tissue ingrowth may be enhanced or accelerated . fig3 a and 3b illustrate an alternative occluding member 50 embodying features of the invention which has an occluding component 51 comprising inflatable impermeable segments 52 and 53 and one intermediate permeable component 54 disposed between the impermeable segments . the inflatable impermeable end segments 52 and 53 of the occluding component may be formed of impermeable material such as polyethylene terephthalate ( pet ), silicone rubber and other impermeable biocompatible polymeric materials . the permeable intermediate section 54 may be made of compressible open celled foam . the balloon segments 52 and 53 may be separated from the foamed intermediate section 54 by impermeable sectioning walls 55 and 56 . an inflation tube 57 passes through the intermediate section 54 and connects the two inflatable segments 52 and 53 so that when an inflation fluid , such as saline , contrast fluid or a biocompatible gas , is introduced down the catheter lumen 58 , it will inflate both segments 52 and 53 . forming the inflatable segments 52 and 53 of a relatively non - compliant polymeric material such as pet allows the size and form of the inflatable portions 52 and 53 to be predetermined , for example as a dumb bell shape with the intermediate foam segment 54 between the two large segments . bio - absorbable material materials may be used for the inflatable segments , but the rate of bio - absorption should be sufficiently slow so that the these segments which form an impermeable barrier component will not be absorbed prior to effective sealing of the body lumen by tissue ingrowth . the occluding device 50 is releasably attached to the distal shaft section of delivery catheter ( not shown ) in a similar manner to that shown in fig1 a - 1b . a one - way duck - billed inflation valve 55 is provided , as in the previous example , to maintain the inflated segments of the occluding component 51 inflated when the component 51 is detached from the delivery catheter . the permeable intermediate foam segment 54 may be formed of suitable biocompatible polymeric material that will form a support matrix for and enhance tissue ingrowth . for example , the intermediate foam segment 54 may be formed of open celled foam into and through which tissue ingrowth can occur . in use , the compressible occluding device 50 will be compressed to fit within the inner lumen of a delivery sheath ( not shown ). the occluding device 50 may be constrained within a stent - like tubular structure ( not illustrated ) or may be a free - standing device . when the occluding device 50 has been advanced to the desired place in the patient &# 39 ; s body lumen , e . g . a fallopian tube and discharged the intermediate foam segment 54 usually expands because there is no further constraints and the segment is biased to expand . inflation fluid is injected into the interior of the inflatable segments 52 and 53 of the occluding component 51 through the inner lumen of tubular member 57 . likewise , the inflatable end segments 53 and 54 of the occluding component 51 will generally be inflated to essentially the same diameter or a slightly larger diameter of the body lumen so that the exterior surface of the occluding component segments 52 and 53 are snugly pressed against the lumen wall defining the body lumen . the expansion of the intermediate , foam segment 54 may be assisted by the inflation of the end segments 52 and 53 , if these inflatable end segments are attached to the ends of the intermediate foam segment 54 . once the inflatable end segments are inflated within a body lumen ( not shown ), the distal shaft section 55 of the delivery catheter 56 is detached from the occluding device 50 by rotating the distal shaft section 55 counter clockwise to undo the threaded connection 59 therebetween and then withdrawn the delivery catheter 56 . the one way valve 55 prevents inflation fluid within the end segments 52 and 53 from escaping and helps maintain the inflated end segments in their inflated configuration . because the impermeable end segments 52 and 53 are pressed snugly against the body lumen wall , an effective occlusion of the body lumen occurs that is immediately effective and continues to be an effective barrier until tissue growth into and onto the occluding component 51 effectively occludes and seals the body lumen . by the time the tissue of the body lumen is capable of regrowing and reorganizing to form a bypass around the obstruction ( i . e . recannalize ), tissue ingrowth into the foam section has formed a permanent occlusion and the body lumen has been effectively and permanently sealed . for example , if this device were placed in a fallopian tube , the balloon segments would form an immediate occlusion to prevent the passage of egg cells down the fallopian tube or sperm cells up the fallopian tube , effectively providing immediate contraception by the impermeable balloon in the fallopian tube . by the time the fallopian tube could form a new channel around the balloon structures , a process that might take several weeks to several months , tissue ingrowth into the open celled foam of the permeable component 54 between the impermeable segments 52 and 53 would permanently seal the fallopian tube , thus providing permanent contraception . fig4 illustrates in another occluding device 70 embodying features of the invention in which the occluding component 71 is in the form of an elongated plug 72 . the occluding component 71 has a plurality of segments 72 and 73 , at least one of which is permeable and one of which is impermeable . permeable segment 72 is formed of permeable open celled polymeric foam which facilitates tissue ingrowth . impermeable segment 73 is formed of impermeable closed cell polymeric foam . preferably , an impermeable membrane 74 is provided between the permeable and impermeable segments 72 and 73 . essentially the entire occluding component 71 is compressible to facilitate delivery within a delivery sheath ( not shown , but see fig7 a and 9a ) and is biased to expand when released for deployment within desired location of the body lumen . the expanded deployed configuration is preferably of sufficient size to press against the wall of the lumen to secure the plug 72 in the body lumen . the segments 72 and 73 may be separated by an impermeable membrane 74 , or may be merely formed in alternating sections . at least one segment will generally be permeable to support cell ingrowth , and at least one segment will generally be impermeable to form an immediately effective barrier to cellular migration through the body lumen , although only the membrane may be impermeable and may form the impermeable barrier . fig5 illustrates another alternative embodiment of an occluding device 80 having features of the invention which include an occluding component 81 , a plurality of impermeable barrier components 82 , 83 and 84 and a plurality of permeable components 85 and 86 for facilitating tissue ingrowth . preferably , impermeable membranes 87 , 88 , 89 and 90 are provided between adjacent permeable and impermeable components . impermeable membranes 91 and 92 are preferably provided on the ends of the occluding component . short stent like attachment rings 93 and 94 may be provided at the ends of the occluding component to help anchor the component within the body lumen it is deployed and resist expulsion , e . g . by the sweeping of the cilia of a fallopian tube . the attachment rings 93 and 94 may have hooks or barbs ( not shown ) to more firmly secure the device 80 within a body lumen . the attachment rings 93 and 94 may also support tissue ingrowth to further seal the occluding device 80 within the body lumen . the occluding device 80 may be deployed in a manner similar to that described above for the embodiment shown in fig4 . a further alternative embodiment is depicted in fig6 a and 6b . in this embodiment the occluding device 100 comprises a stent - like occluding component 101 with foam plugs 102 and 103 disposed within the inner lumen 104 of the occluding component 101 at each end . the foam plugs 102 and 103 are formed of suitable foamed polymeric material that is sufficiently porous to facilitate tissue ingrowth but is of sufficient length to act as an impermeable barrier to preclude passage of undesirable biological components when deployed within the patient &# 39 ; s body lumen . alternatively , one foam plug may be formed of permeable open cell foam and one foam plug may be formed of impermeable closed cell foam . the individual plugs 102 and 103 may also have one section formed of permeable open cell foam and one section formed of impermeable closed cell foam as shown in fig4 fig6 a illustrates the occluding device 100 in the unexpanded configuration and fig6 b illustrates the device in the expanded configuration . the foam plugs 102 and 103 are sufficiently flexible so as to expand with the stent like occluding component 101 or be biased to expand with the occluding component . the stent - like occluding component 101 may have barbs 105 to secure the occluding component within the body lumen . an additional alternative occluding device 110 having features of the invention is depicted in fig7 a and 7b , wherein the device 110 has an occluding component 111 , an impermeable barrier component 112 for an immediate occluding of the body lumen and permeable components 113 and 114 to facilitate tissue ingrowth as described above for a permanent occlusion . the impermeable barrier component 112 is in the form of a disk and is secured to a central shaft 115 . they may be formed of impermeable closed cell polymeric material . the permeable components 113 and 114 are secured to the shaft 115 and are in the form of a disk formed of an open celled polymeric material . the occluding device 110 may be inserted into the body lumen 116 with the disks in a compressed configuration ( fig7 a ) within the lumen of a delivery sheath 117 . when the disks are located at the desired place in the body lumen , the shaft 115 is held in place and the delivery sheath 117 is withdrawn . upon discharge , the disks 112 - 114 expand into secure contact with the wall defining the body lumen 116 as shown in fig7 b . while not shown in fig7 a and 7b , the proximal portion of the support shaft 115 may have a threaded releasable attachment such as the threaded connection shown in fig1 a - 1b to allow for release of the occluding device 110 by rotating the proximal portion of the support shaft 115 . this configuration has the added advantage of allowing the shaft 115 to be used initially to load the occluding device by pulling it into the lumen of a delivery sheath , e . g . through a funnel , and subsequently deploying the occluding device by holding the device in place while the delivery sheath 117 is withdrawn . impermeable disk 112 effects an immediate barrier to the passage of undesirable biological components such as eggs and sperm cells and permeable disks 113 and 114 facilitate tissue ingrowth for permanent occlusion . the disks forming the occluding device 110 should have sufficient length to diameter aspect ratios to create a slightly cylindrical shape to enhance the placement and ensure that the disks do not rotate into a flat position that would not effectively seal the body lumen . fig8 illustrates yet another embodiment which has features of the invention . specifically , the occluding device 120 has a stent - like occluding component 121 similar to that shown in fig1 a - 1c , impermeable barrier components 122 and 123 in the form of impermeable membranes on each end of the occluding component . permeable components 124 , 125 and 126 in the form of fibrous masses are disposed within the inner lumen 127 of the occluding component 121 . the permeable components encourage tissue ingrowth as in the previous embodiments . the impermeable barrier component 122 and 123 may be stretched over the ends the expandable stent - like structure 121 to provide for an immediate effective seal of a body lumen when the occluding component 121 is expanded within the body lumen . the permeable components 124 - 126 are preferably secured within the inner lumen 127 and configured to expand with the wall of the occluding component 121 when it is expanded during deployment at the desired site . fig1 a and 11b illustrate an alternative occluding device 130 which is similar to the occluding device described in co - pending application ser . no . 10 / 746 , 131 , filed on dec . 24 , 2004 . the device 130 comprises an occluding component 131 which has spider - like expandable elements 132 and 133 secured to a central shaft 134 . the spider - like elements 132 and 133 each have a plurality of legs which extend out from the shaft 134 and which have first leg sections 135 and second leg sections 136 . an impermeable membrane 137 is secured to one side of the spider - like element 132 which is secured to the legs of spider - like element 132 in the nature of the fabric of an umbrella secured to the ribs thereof . spider - like expandable element 133 is provided with a fibrous mass 138 similar to the fibrous masses shown in fig8 . the occluding device 130 is shown in a retracted configuration in fig9 a within a delivery sheath 140 to facilitate advancement and deployment within the patient &# 39 ; s body lumen 141 . at the deployment site within the body lumen 141 , the plunger 142 is held in place while the delivery sheath 140 is withdrawn to discharge the occluding device 130 from the sheath 140 . when deployed within the patient &# 39 ; s body lumen 141 , as shown in fig9 b , the spider - like elements 132 and 133 of the occluding component 131 expand to engage the inner surface of the body lumen 141 . upon expansion of the spider - like element 132 , the expanded legs thereof stretch the impermeable membrane 137 across the body lumen 141 to provide immediate effective sealing of the body lumen . the fibrous mass 138 within the spider - like element 133 acts to enhance tissue growth within the occluding component 131 and the permanent occlusion of the body lumen 141 . instead of the permeable fibrous mass 138 within the spider - like element 133 , a porous permeable membrane may be secured to the legs of the spider - like element 133 to enhance tissue growth within the occluding component 131 . there may be an impermeable membrane on one side of the legs of a spider - like element and a permeable membrane on the other side of the legs . another embodiment of an effective occluding device 150 having features of the present invention is shown in fig1 and 11 . the occluding device 150 . has an occluding component 151 which includes a stent - like structure 152 , a bulbous , bullet - shaped impermeable component 153 secured to the distal end 154 of the stent like structure 152 which is generally slightly larger than the body lumen to be occluded . permeable components 155 a and 155 b in the form of porous polymeric masses or bundles are provided within the distal end 154 and the proximal end 156 of the stent - like structure 152 . as shown in fig1 , the occluding device 150 is partially disposed within a delivery sheath 157 with the enlarged impermeable component 153 extending out of the catheter . a plunger 158 is slidably disposed within the inner lumen 159 of the delivery sheath , proximal to the occluding device 150 and is configured to hold the occluding device 150 while the delivery sheath 157 is withdrawn to deploy the occluding device into the body lumen . fig1 illustrates the occluding device 150 shown in fig1 disposed within a female patient &# 39 ; s fallopian tube 160 after discharge of the occluding device from the delivery sheath 157 . the bulbous structure of the enlarged impermeable barrier component 153 stretches the diameter of the body lumen 160 and immediately seals off the lumen to prevent passage of eggs or sperm cells . other elements such as barbs or hooks ( not shown ) may be provided on the occluding component to further secure the occluding device 150 within the fallopian tube 161 . the stent - like structure of the occluding component 151 may be self - expanding , and the permeable components 152 and 153 which may be secured within the ends of the occluding component 151 and may expand with the occluding component to extend across the luminal passageway and act to enhance and support tissue ingrowth and thereby provide a permanent occlusion of the lumen 160 . the permeable components are shown as porous polymeric masses but they may be fibrous mesh or bundled fibers . while the occluding device 150 is shown deployed within a female patient &# 39 ; s fallopian tube , it should be apparent that the occluding device may be employed to occlude the reproductive lumen such as a vas deferens of a male patient . fig1 illustrates a portion of the wall 170 of a stent - like occluding component 171 which is suitable for use with the present invention . the occluding component 171 has a plurality of interconnected ring sections 172 . the ring sections 172 are interconnected by one or more connecting members 173 extending between the peak 174 of an undulation in one ring section to the valley 175 of an adjacent ring section . the adjacent ring sections are off - set or out of phase so that the peaks of one ring section are aligned with the valleys of an adjacent ring section . the stent - like members described herein can be formed of conventional stent materials including stainless steel , niti alloy ( shape memory and superelastic ), mp35n , elgiloly and the like . the impermeable materials may be formed of somewhat compliant to essentially non - compliant biocompatible polymeric materials such as pet , nylon hytrel ® and the like . the permeable materials can be fibrous materials such as polyester , nylon , and the like or porous polymeric foam materials impermeable closed cell foam and permeable open cell foam may be formed of expanded polytetraflouroethyene ( eptfe ). various modifications and improvements may be made to the present invention without departing from the scope thereof . for example , while the invention has been discussed primarily in terms of occluding a reproductive body lumen , the occluding device may be used to occlude a variety of body lumens or passageways . moreover , although individual features of the invention may be described with respect to one or more of the embodiments but not in other embodiments , those skilled in the art will recognize that individual features of one embodiment of the invention can be combined with any or all the features of one or more of other embodiments . terms such as “ element ”, “ member ”, “ device ”, “ section ”, “ portion ”, “ component ”, “ means ”, “ step ” and words of similar import , when used in the following claims , shall not be construed as invoking the provisions of 35 u . s . c . § 112 ( 6 ) unless the claims expressly use the term “ means ” followed by a particular function without specific structure or the term “ step ” or “ steps ” followed by a particular function without specific action . the full disclosures of all patents and patent applications referred to are incorporated herein by reference .	0
a discussion of certain products , systems , methods and principles is now undertaken for the purpose of disclosing and enabling one of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the inventions . the discussion of particular of these is merely for convenience , and it is to be understood that certain substitutions and modifications may be made to the products and systems described herein without departing from the disclosed and claimed inventions . for example , in today &# 39 ; s signal processing equipment an audio signal may be represented as a stream of audio data , and these are synonymous herein to their respective analog and digital domains . likewise , where an implementation is described as hardware , it can usually be made with software components , and vice versa . similarly , where an application is referenced , that can be a stand - alone application or a plug - in to an existing one . where an invention is described with reference to any particular implementation , it is to be understood that this is merely for convenience of description and the inventions so described are not limited to the implementations contained herein . the systems and methods disclosed herein relate to the categorization of images with respect to their content . other systems have attempted to categorize material publicly available over the internet , mainly by categorizing websites or ip addresses as containing material that is potentially offensive , unsuitable for children , containing viruses , etc . these systems maintain a list of urls and / or ip addresses considered to be offensive . these systems may also look at the textual material available on a website , and flag that website as problematic if it contains certain words or phrases in sufficient frequency . as will become apparent from the discussion below , the systems and methods disclosed herein do not necessarily utilize urls , ip addresses or other locational identifiers but rather use a fingerprint calculated from the informational content of an image . law enforcement agencies are tasked with analyzing large quantities of electronic data in an attempt to prosecute electronic crimes , such as the distribution of child pornography . at the present time , agencies may perform image analysis through a brute - force visual inspection of images located on media , for example a hard drive seized from a potential wrong - doer . using systems as described herein , law enforcement agencies may collaborate , sharing content categorization information thus providing an automatic detection mechanism that can be used as new media devices are seized , recognizing that illicit images are often passed unmodified between criminals and are likely to be recurringly found . contemplated in the invention is a master law enforcement database that is accessible to several law enforcement agencies using a common image fingerprinting scheme , optionally using a common scanning and / or viewing program or a common protocol . also contemplated herein is a public content categorizations database that may be used by the general public . the content categorizations in the database might come from trusted sources , for example a law enforcement database or one from a trusted public service organization . in other instances content categorizations may originate from untrusted sources , and a method of evaluating a confidence of trust may be provided . an application , such as a scanner or viewer , may be provided to the public capable of accessing a public database over a network , or alternatively by a corresponding content categorization database on a fixed media such as dvd media or on a portable hard drive . such an application may be useful to a parent to ensure that her children are not exposed to inappropriate material . such a product may also be useful to business organizations that wish to ensure that their networks and computer equipment remain free of offensive or illegal visual material . such an application might also be useful for libraries or educational use to detect and / or prevent those who use public terminals from accessing improper material . as used herein , a fingerprint means the output of any function that can be applied to an image , where the output is consistent for the same image data and where the output is much smaller than the image itself . conceptually , this kind of fingerprint is related to a human fingerprint that is small and can be used to substantially uniquely identify a person . for example , it is known to save a fingerprint as digital data which may be an image of the fingerprint itself or a set of data representing the position of various fingerprint features . a suitable fingerprint function for images will produce a set of fingerprints , each of which is substantially unique for each of the images expected to be encountered . for example , it may be that for the next 50 years a number of images available on the internet might be expected to be 100 trillion . if the fingerprint - producing function was a hash function , then a function that produces a word of 64 bits would produce a set of fingerprints that is less than 0 . 000001 % likely to be duplicated , provided that the fingerprint function has a good statistical distribution . a suitable fingerprint function will meet two goals . first , images are condensed into an identifier based on their content , which identifier is comparatively small and suitable for storage and communication between processes . second , the identifier or fingerprint is a non - visual representation , i . e . looking at the fingerprint does not expose the viewer to the undesirable visual effects of the offensive image . thus , a hash value of image data would be typical of a fingerprint as disclosed herein , although other extractions may be used ; however thumbnail images and other degraded visual depictions are not fingerprints . advantageously a fingerprint function may be selected having immunity to modifications of an image . noise may be introduced by lossy compression of images , for example through the use of the jpeg image format . noise might also be deliberately introduced by parties wishing to encode additional data in an image ( sometimes called stenography ) or to circumvent a fingerprint function for the purpose of avoiding an adverse categorization of an image . in one example , a fingerprint function ignores the least significant bits of image data that are most likely to be changed by a compression algorithm , or alternatively the function may consider the most significant perceptual bits of image data where changing the data would likely be noticed by a viewer . in another example , a fingerprint function may apply a median function to avoid an intentional introduction of random white or black pixels in an attempt of circumvention . an image might also be cropped or put in a frame to cause an image to have a different fingerprint . a fingerprint generator may be configured to use only a portion of the image , such as the center portion or that portion representing a dispersal pattern , or alternatively a fingerprint generator may be configured to generate several fingerprints on different portions of the input image . other anti - circumvention techniques may be used . the definition of what sort of material constitutes that which should be categorized in a particular category may vary between categorical schemes , applications of use and persons . for example , there may be a particular and precise legal definition for child pornography for which one may become criminally liable for the creation or distribution of such . however , in other cases categories may be created for the protection of certain individuals against harmful or offensive material . for example , it may be desired to protect children from the exposure of certain material that is sexually explicit or violent in nature . a category may be created for sexually explicit material , and another category may be created for that which is violent in nature . the reader will recognize that such categories cannot be precisely defined , because one person &# 39 ; s concept of material that is unsuitable for children will differ from that of another . furthermore , the application of use may dictate a more lenient or a more strict standard . thus , a picture used in a medical setting may be appropriate even though it depicts nudity , while another picture depicting the same bodily location may be offensive if cast in a sexually suggestive way . alternatively , a category may be defined that encompasses several subcategories , such as a category that defines material that is unsuitable for children under a particular age regardless of whether it is sexual or violent in nature . a category may also be created for material that a user does not wish to be exposed to , even if he would suffer no ill effect from it . one categorical scheme provides categories for indecent , violent , obscene and illegal images . another categorical scheme , suitable for law enforcement , uses the categories of illegal and legal . a category may also be created for images that are safe , which may mean images that do not fall under another category . to be most effective , a collection of image fingerprints may be made accessible in a database , each fingerprint being stored with a content categorization . the disclosure below will provide several examples of creating and using such a database , but a few remarks are in order . first , a database may be simply an unstructured list of fingerprint / categorization combinations . however , it is preferable to organize a database in a way that makes it indexable , for example by ordering the fingerprints in ascending or descending order , or alternately in a tree or other organized structure . this would be a good format for fixed database , i . e . one that is permanent and read - only such as a non - network distributed copy . alternatively , where a database is to be created or changed , it may be preferable for the database to exist in an autonomously indexable format such as in a relational database or hash table . however , these are not required and any database format may be used that meets the desired criteria of use . the number of viewing applications for which a content categorization database can be used are many ; virtually any software application capable of displaying images not preselected by the developer can benefit . some of these applications are , but are not limited to , web browsers , e - mail programs , instant messengers , image display and printing applications , image preview applications , video players , word processors , greeting card programs and many others . although herein is contemplated that most application functionality will be constructed in software , it should be recognized that a graphics card or other hardware device might be constructed implementing the fingerprint generator , image blocking or other functionality described below . for the purposes of presenting an example , an html browser application is presented in fig1 . there , a collection of source material 100 is made available over a network 130 to an html browser program 106 . the source material 100 may contain html , images , scripts , plug - ins and other material . the program 106 includes ordinary functional modules including program logic 110 containing software running overall or generic programming functions , a rendering engine 120 for displaying images received through network 130 and , in this example , an image cache 112 that provides a temporary cache of images to avoid repeated downloading of them . program 106 may access an image characterization database 104 through database server 102 , made available over network 130 by a network port 132 . database 104 , in this example , is a community resource made available to a number of programs , platforms and locations . server 102 has a program store 134 containing server software . database 104 stores a set of categorization tuples 122 , which tuples include a fingerprint 124 and a categorization 126 . trust information 128 may also be included in the tuple 122 , as will be described below . in the course of rendering an html page , program logic 110 at some time may interpret html code that will link to an image located within source material 100 or other location . program logic 110 typically downloads such images and places them in cache 112 . optional subpart precategorizer 114 may filter out those images that are not likely to fall within the category . for example , many images available on the web are logos , separators , simple backgrounds , etc . precategorizer 114 may operate to analyze the complexity within images to identify those images that do not need to be fingerprinted and checked for categorization , for example through the use of frequency analysis , color histograms , flesh tone analysis and shape recognition . for those images needing to be evaluated , fingerprint generator 108 produces a fingerprint . that fingerprint is passed by program logic 110 in a request to database server 102 for its categorization . database server 102 consults database 104 , and reports back information including at least one categorization 126 . other information may be included as well , for example where more than one categorization is needed or where trust information is to be evaluated by the application 106 . upon receipt of a categorization 126 program logic 110 stores it in categorization cache 116 . program logic 110 may then evaluate the returned categorization for an image and may cause the image to be rendered by engine 120 on display 136 if the returned categorization indicates that the image is suitable to render . this suitability may be determined by the absence of a negative categorization , or by the indication of a positive categorization such as “ safe ”. however , it may be that there is no categorization within database 104 for a particular image fingerprint . in that event , server 102 may report no entry , and program logic may apply a default action . in one example , the default action is to render the image . this action may be preferable under ordinary conditions , as no image characterization database is likely to be complete or current and an occasional image that would be categorized negatively will not impact the user unduly . in another example , the default action is to not render the image . this action may be preferable where the program is to be used in a sensitive environment such as an elementary school or library . other examples may segregate areas of the web for either action , for example by allowing images to be rendered from websites that end in . gov but not rendering images with no characterization from websites that end in . net . now referring to fig2 , a context characterization tuple is displayed having a number of exemplary informational items . while the tuple of fig1 contained only one fingerprint , this tuple includes more than one fingerprint , for example where more than one fingerprint generator algorithm is used or where a set of fingerprints are generated from different image locations . this tuple provides for more than one characterization , for example where more than one characterization topic ( i . e . sexual content , violence , nudity , child pornography , etc .) or more than one characterization scheme ( i . e . scheme for a young child , scheme for an older child , scheme for a public computer , scheme for law enforcement , etc .) is used . for the context characterization tuples disclosed herein , a relationship must exist between a fingerprint and a categorization . this exemplary tuple also includes a part for other information that may be helpful to the context characterization . this other information may contain further information about the location or the locations an image fingerprint has been found , such as the url or domain name of the location . the location information may have been submitted at the time the image indexed by the fingerprint was submitted for categorization into a database . in one example where location information is used , upon a request for categorization to a server of a characterization database , the server not only returns the categorization of the submitted image fingerprint but also the categorization of other related fingerprints at or near the same network location . program logic may cache these fingerprints for further reference , and should a fingerprint be present in the cache a request to server need not be performed . optionally , an application may submit a location of the image for which a characterization is requested to a server . because the network traffic cost of sending a packet containing only a single image categorization is comparatively small , it may be that the actual packet that is transmitted across the network is padded to meet a minimum packet size . by packing more information that is likely to be needed into a first packet subsequent requests may be avoided , improving the response of the system , and furthermore network traffic load may be improved . the amount of related categorizations to return may be selected to fit a minimum packet size , from a pattern of earlier categorization requests , from an analysis of the links at the location , or other method . in an alternative method , location information is not stored in a characterization database but in a separate database wherein is maintained related links and fingerprints indexed by a location or a fingerprint . now turning to fig3 , the method is shown for an application that may display images using preformed content categorizations . beginning with step 140 , the method is initiated when a request is made to render a screen that contains one or more images . the images are fetched 142 and the method iterates through the images obtained between steps 144 and 160 . the next image is selected 146 and a fingerprint is calculated for it 148 . the categorization database is consulted 150 , and the method questions 152 whether the image is safe to display . if yes , the method renders the image 154 . otherwise the image is non - rendered 156 . the non - rendering of an image may include replacing the image with another image , a solid background , a message warning of disallowed content , an obfuscated image made through blurring or other distortion , or some other replacement object . in this method account is maintained to indicate the ‘ badness ’ of a particular screen or page by counting the number of disallowed images , by which a counter is incremented 150 . in this method the counter is compared against a threshold 162 and should the counter be too high , indicating that there is too much disallowed material , a warning action may be taken 164 . such a warning action may be a simple warning to the user to indicate why many of the images were not rendered . another action might be to block the entire contents of a webpage , including the text , on an assumption that explicit text often accompanies explicit images . a stronger action can be taken , such as scolding the user for accessing an illicit location . in an alternative method , as the loop iterates the counter is compared against a threshold and should it exceed the threshold the loop exits and an action may optionally be taken . as discussed above , an application can be constructed the references a database of content characterization information . that kind of application relies on those characterizations being available at runtime , provided to the database at an earlier time . there are two basic ways of populating a characterization database , which are referred to herein as scanning and interaction . the interaction method is built into an image - rendering application that uses the database , providing a way for the user to submit image characterization information to the database . for example , the system of fig1 includes a categorization submission system 118 allowing program logic 110 to provide a fingerprint / categorization relationship to database server 102 , and thereby to database 104 , upon user request . for example , an application may permit the user to right click on an image and bring up a menu that includes an item to submit a categorization of that image to the database 104 . selecting that item presents the user with a form or questionnaire to indicate which categories are appropriate , i . e . sexual , nudity , violence , safe etc . other applications may include an option to submit an image categorization in accordance with the design of the application and the appropriate database . in a viewing application or a scanning application obfuscation may be used to avoid exposure to user of material that is potentially offensive or has been categorized as such . for a viewing application the decision of whether or not to obfuscate may be determined by whether an image has a negative characterization , or alternatively whether the image has been previously categorized as safe . for a scanning application it may be desirable to obfuscate all images initially , or to use a pre - categorization filter to select images that are potentially offensive . for example , a pre - categorization filter may flag images that are monochrome or have insufficient complexity to display without obfuscation . in examples presented herein , the method of obfuscation is to blur the image sufficiently such that only the higher - level details can be seen , i . e . to the degree that a person can identify roughly people or bodies in an image while not being able to discern specific features . note , however , that the level of obfuscation or blur that is comfortable may vary from user to user , and a user control for such a default level may be included . other methods of obfuscation include scattering , applying a lensing effect , degrading the resolution of the image , and many others . now turning to fig4 , an image scanning system is presented . again the primary purpose of a scanning system is to assign to or review categorizations of images , although it may also have the ability to present and display images to the user in a rendered format like a viewing application . a scanner needs a repository of source material 170 , which may be a directory on the local drive , a directory on a network drive , an http address or other repository whereby images may be found . a scanner 172 examines repository 170 identifying the locations of images , which are provided to categorizer 176 , for example in a list of locations . for image locations , categorizer 176 retrieves the image from repository 170 and supplies it to a fingerprint generator 174 producing a fingerprint . optionally , categorizer 176 may consult with database 178 to see if an entry for an image at a location already exists , and if so the system may skip presentation of this image for categorization or may fill in the prior categorization for user review . categorizer 176 supplies the image location to user interface 180 , which fetches the image and renders it for viewing by engine 182 and display 184 , optionally with obfuscation . a category specification is made for images through user interface 180 , which categorizer 176 relates to fingerprints and creates a corresponding entry in database 178 . now presented in fig5 is a representation of a method of scanning and categorizing images . first , it is determined 200 that an image scan will be performed . a location for the scan is received 202 , which may be a hard drive , local directory , network directory or internet location . having a location , the method proceeds to get the images 204 at that location and presents them 206 for review . repeated user action 208 is received , the first action being a selection of an image . if an image is selected , a fingerprint is generated for the image data 210 if it does not exist in a cache . having a fingerprint , the method proceeds to look up the fingerprint in a database of categorizations 212 . if an entry exists 214 display is made of the already existing categorization 216 . the user may then proceed to take another action 208 . in an alternate method , a fingerprint is generated for each image retrieved in step 204 and the display is made of every existing categorization for each retrieved image . this is useful where the primary purpose of the method is to provide an initial categorization of images that location or summary thereof , and the categorization of images of unknown content is a secondary matter . if through a user action 208 and indication is received the user wants to categorize the selected image , that content categorization is received 218 . next , a fingerprint is generated for the selected image 220 is the fingerprint is presently unavailable . then a categorization tuple is created 222 using the fingerprint scan the content categorization provided by the user . having a categorization tuple , a database entry is created 224 with that tuple and the next user action may be taken . a scanning application may process still images , but may also process video as well . this may be done through sampling of frames in the video at appropriate times , for example through a selection algorithm . a selection algorithm may simply consider individual frames in a defined interval , for example extracting one frame per every five seconds . other selection algorithms may be more intelligent , examples of which may extract a frame within a fixed time after a scene change , and extract scenes that exceed a threshold of flesh tone detection . a scanning application is appropriate where corpus of images are available for categorization . in one example , a law enforcement agency may have confiscated the hard drive of a suspected pedophile . a scanning application is appropriate to use first for identifying images on the hard drive that may be ones of a sexual nature and for which a fingerprint is available in a categorization database , and second to apply categorizations to images found on the hard drive to supplement the database . over time , a law enforcement agency may be able to quickly scan data storage devices and websites , particularly where a characterization database is shared with many other agencies . some of the systems and methods described so far have included a database of image context characterizations that have included a fingerprint in a context characterization . in many situations the submission of a characterization to a database may be authoritative , i . e . it may be presumed to be accurate . this may be true in situations where there is a single submitter , or where there are several submitters operating from a fixed and well - defined specification . however , there may be other situations where submitters are not known or do not operate from the same standard . a characterization database may be configured to store a plurality of characterizations for the same contextual item in combination with some other information for selecting between the characterizations . for example , it may be that an image characterization database is available to the general public for the submission of characterizations for the subjects of sexually explicit content , violent content and child - inappropriate content . there may be many images that could fall in or out of those categorizations depending on the subjective opinion of the submitter . in a first exemplary scheme , each categorization in the database is accompanied by an identity for the submitter . the identity may specify or indicate a level of trust or categorizations submitted by the person of that identity . for example , the operator of the database may know that a particular individual produces categorizations that are widely agreed to be correct ; such an individual could receive a high degree of trust . alternatively , it may be that incorrect categorizations are regularly submitted through another identity . that identity may receive a low degree of trust . the trust levels may be stored with categorizations , but it may be more effective to store the identity of a submitter with the categorization and then perform a separate lookup to determine the trust level for that identity . by doing so changing the trust level for an identity is a simple operation , should that become necessary . in another exemplary scheme , a temporary entry may be made in the database for user submissions from users that are not completely trusted . when a second or subsequent categorization is made against a fingerprint with a sufficient cumulative level of trust and with the same or a similar categorization , the entry may be made permanent . the server of the database might return to a requester all categorizations of a fingerprint , or a selected number of categorizations based on a criteria such as categorizations with the highest levels of trust . alternatively , the server of a database and effectively pick which categorization to use by returning only one categorization , for example the categorization with the highest level of trust or the one most popular . in another exemplary scheme , identities are not tracked but rather a system serving the database operates from an algorithm that selects one categorization from several that may be available . an algorithm might select the most common categorization , selecting the most negative between two or more that are the same in popularity . an algorithm might also select the most negative categorization where a minimum number of submitters agree to a negative characterization . for some categorizations , i . e . those where it is better to err on the side of caution such as sexual or violent content could be viewed by a child , the most protective categorization may be returned , optionally considering a minimum level of trust . other schemes and algorithms may be applied and desired . many of the concepts presented herein are more easily understood with reference to fig6 a through 6k representing a series of screens in an exemplary scanner program . beginning with fig6 a , the exemplary scanner first begins with a login page wherein a user may identify or authenticate himself to the program . upon logging in , the user may see a screen as in fig6 b containing the main areas of program , which are a source specification area 400 , an image view area 402 , an image information area 404 and a thumbnail view area 406 . the source specification area 400 contains three “ quick search ” buttons for selecting a source for scanning , being the common specifications of a browser cache , a user home directory and all storage on the computer ( respectively “ browsers ”, “ home directory ” and “ all drives ”). a custom search specification is also provided , wherein a user may specify a particular directory on the computer to scan . for the purposes of this discussion , a user selects the “ browsers ” button , indicating that the user wishes to scan the browser cache . continuing to fig6 c , the program state enters a scanning state , here in the browser cache , which state is indicated in the source specification area 400 . as images are found thumbnail view area 406 is populated with thumbnails of the images found ; thumbnail view area 406 including navigation controls such as scrollbars or page navigation buttons . a summary 408 is provided to show the state of the scanning operation , displaying the number of files found , images found , images analyzed , image content categorizations query to a database , elapsed time , and an image currently being analyzed . turning to fig6 d , one of the images found may be selected in thumbnail view area 406 , causing image view area to display the image and also causing image information area 404 to display information related to the image , here that information being the file name of the image and the location from where it was downloaded . further describing image view area 402 , this area is designed to permit a user of the scanning software to view the images in several levels of detail without unnecessarily exposing himself to undesirable content . within view area 402 are controls 410 for zooming , repositioning the view of the currently selected image and for exposing apetured portions of the image , described presently . obfuscation selection controls 412 select the level of obfuscation applied to the currently selected image . in the view area 402 of the exemplary software , the obfuscation method is a blurring of the image . by default the exemplary software blurs the image display thus avoiding exposure to the potentially damaging details within the image . in the course of categorizing an image , it may be that a user needs to see more detail , upon which the user may select less obfuscation or here blurring . obfuscation controls are also provided for thumbnail view area 406 , by which the collection of display thumbnails may be obfuscated and again here blurred . now continuing to fig6 e , a user may expand one of areas 400 , 402 , 404 or 406 . here , the user has expanded the image view window for ease of viewing . also in this figure , the user has used an aperture tool to expose portions of the image while leaving the remainder obfuscated . the aperture tool , or keyhole , works much like a paint brush , the size of the brush being controlled by slider 414 . the user may move the cursor over an area of the image and click to apply the aperture tool . the program exposes the image under the aperture tool , thus allowing the user to clearly see portions of the image without having to view the image in its totality . note that an aperture need not be circular , but can be square , ovoid , etc . aperture tools may be used in other applications and contents , particularly where the user is to be protected from the full exposure of potentially harmful image . this may be particularly important where a person is to examine many images that contain potentially disturbing content . if the user applies the aperture tool in an undesirable way , the list of key holes can be wiped clean and the user may start again . as seen in fig6 f , thumbnail view area includes a categorization summary 418 listing the number of images found in the scan according to category . in this example , the categories are safe , sexual , child porn and personal . if , during the scan , and images found that has not been categorized it is considered to be “ unknown ”. a submissions area 416 may be opened by the user showing a summary of categorization submissions by the user for the session . the exemplary program produces fingerprints from two different hash values according to the md5 and sha - 1 hash algorithms . the combination of these algorithms produces a fingerprint by which categorizations are indexed in the database . in fig6 f , image view 404 displays these hash values along with other information of the currently selected image . the exemplary scanner provides additional functionality for prosecutors and / or law enforcement personnel , allowing for annotation . now referring to fig6 g , a user may display a list of key holes in case notes for annotation . now turning to fig6 h , the user has selected an image and has selected to enter case information for that image . this case information entry form 420 is suitable mainly for child pornography , and has an entry for a case number , the number of persons represented in the image and their genders , ages and race , and a further entry for miscellaneous notes . key holes may also be annotated with a description , as seen in fig6 i . the exemplary scanner also allows for the generation of reports . as seen in fig6 j , a report may be initiated through a form whereby the report name , date , suspect &# 39 ; s name and address , computer location and other miscellaneous notes can be entered . upon selection of the create button , a report is generated in the scanner programs internal format . now turning to fig6 k , a manager reports view is provided listing the reports that have been created by the program . options are provided for viewing report , deleting a report and creating a pdf copy of the report for printing and distribution . shown in fig7 a and 7b is an exemplary report of the exemplary scanner program , summarizing the product of a scanning and annotation operation . in the report the following information is provided : the date of the scanning operation , the suspect &# 39 ; s information , the investigator &# 39 ; s information , computer information on which the scanning operation was performed , the network address of the scanning computer , the computer environment of the scanning program . furthermore , a scan summary is provided listing by category the number of images scanned and the number of images submitted to the categorization database . in this example , 125 images were considered safe , 70 of those images being newly categorized and submitted to the categorization database . five images were considered of a sexual nature , and 12 were of an unknown nature , meaning that the user did not take the time to categorize these images . the exemplary report continues with a listing of image summaries for images that were placed in a suspect category , each summary including a thumbnail picture , a file name , and create , access and modify dates . now it is to be remembered that the above scanning program and its report are merely exemplary , and no particular information , view , content , functionality or other feature are necessary . it is also to be recognized that the features described above in relation to systems that create or use databases of image content characterization may be incorporated singly , or any number of these features may be incorporated into a single product , consistent with the principles and purposes disclosed herein . it is therefore to be recognized that the specific products and particular methods described herein are merely exemplary and may be modified as taught herein and as will be understood by one of ordinary skill , and the inventions are not limited to the particular products , techniques and implementations described herein .	6
a typical prior art laser apparatus for intra - cavity second harmonic generation ( shg ) is shown in fig1 . the laser resonator consist of a first resonator mirror 10 and a second resonator mirror 12 . inside the resonator is a laser rod 14 such as a nd : yag laser rod that is pumped by an optical pump source 16 such as a kr arc lamp . inside the resonator is also nonlinear crystal 18 for shg and a folding mirror 22 . a laser beam inside the optical resonator 24 bounces back and forth between first and second resonator mirrors 10 and 12 , reflecting off folding mirror 22 and propagates through the laser rod 14 and nonlinear crystal 18 . the laser rod 14 has optical gain at a certain wavelength and this determines the wavelength of the laser beam inside the resonator 24 . this wavelength is also referred to as the fundamental wavelength . when this laserbeam inside the resonator 24 propagates through the nonlinear crystal 18 in a direction away from the folding mirror 22 and toward the second resonator mirror 12 , a beam of electromagnetic radiation at the second harmonic wavelength 26 is generated . the second resonator mirror 12 is highly reflecting at both the fundamental and second harmonic wavelengths and both beams propagate back through the nonlinear crystal 18 . on this second pass , more shg is produced . the folding mirror 22 is highly reflecting at the fundamental wavelength and is highly transmitting at the second harmonic wavelength and hence the shg beam passes through the folding mirror 22 and produces a shg beam outside the optical resonator 28 . this folding mirror 22 , provides a means of output coupling for the shg . the laser beam inside the resonator 24 at the fundamental wavelength continues through the laser rod 14 and reflects off the first resonator mirror 10 which is highly reflecting at the fundamental wavelength . it is possible to add a q - switch 20 to the laser apparatus in fig1 . this q - switch changes the laser beam inside the resonator 24 to a train of short pulses with high peak power . these short pulses in turn increase the efficiency of the shg and increase the average power in the shg beam outside the resonator 28 . the laser beam inside the resonator 24 has a beam diameter d 2 in the laser rod 14 and a beam diameter d 1 in the nonlinear crystal 18 . for a given laser rod , such as nd : yag and a nonlinear crystal such as ktp , the efficiency of the shg depends on the ratio of the diameter of the beams d 2 / d 1 . when the laser is q - switched , the ratio d 2 / d 1 to optimize the shg is larger than from the cw case . in the resonator shown in fig1 this ratio d 2 / d 1 depends on the radii of curvature r 1 and r 2 of the first and second resonator mirrors 10 and 12 respectively , as well as the total distance between these mirrors and the placement of the laser rod 14 and nonlinear crystal 18 within the resonator . it can be shown that in this resonator , it is difficult to make this ratio d 2 / d 1 substantially larger that one , i . e ., it is difficult to make the beam diameter in the nonlinear crystal much smaller than the beam diameter in the laser rod . what makes it more difficult to control the ratio of the beam diameters , is that the laser rod can act like a lens inside the resonator . the laser rod 14 is pumped nearly uniformly by the pump source 16 and is consequently heated nearly uniformly through the volume of the laser rod . the laser rod is cooled with water along the outside diameter of the rod and this causes a thermal gradient from the center of the rod towards the edge , with the maximum temperature in the rod at the center . in index of refraction of the laser rod is typically temperature dependent , causing a higher index of refraction at the rod center than at the edge . consequently , the laser rod becomes a lens , and the focal length of this lens , referred to as &# 34 ; a thermal lens ,&# 34 ; becomes dependent on the optical pump power to the laser rod , and hence , also the output power from the laser . it is under these circumstances that it is very difficult to control the ratio of beam diameters in the laser rod and nonlinear crystal in a resonator shown in fig1 particularly if this ratio has to be much larger than one , to obtain a small spotsize in the nonlinear crystal . for a typical laser rod such as nd : yag and nonlinear crystal such as ktp , the spotsize in the ktp has to be smaller than in the nd : yag to optimize the shg output power even when the laser is q - switched . an apparatus to do this is shown in fig2 . here an intra - cavity lens 30 is added . generally , the lens is positioned such that the distance between the nonlinear crystal 18 is approximately equal to the focal length of the lens . in this arrangement , the laser beam , coming out of the laser rod 14 is focused into the nonlinear crystal and produces a small beam diameter in the nonlinear crystal 18 . this intra - cavity lens 30 also helps to control the problems associated with the thermal focusing of the laser rod 14 . as long as the focusing of the intra - cavity lens 30 is much stronger than the thermal focusing of the laser rod 14 , the beam diameters in the resonator do not strongly depend on the thermal focal length . however , in practical lasers , the focal lengths of the intra - cavity lens and the thermal lens can become comparable , and the control of the beam diameters in the nonlinear crystal 18 now becomes very difficult . fig3 shows a laser apparatus similar to that in fig2 where the intra - cavity lens 30 is replaced by a curved mirror 32 . this focusing mirror now also acts as a means of output coupling for the shg and replaces the folding mirror 22 in fig2 . the radius of curvature rj of the focusing mirror 32 is equal to twice the focal length of the intra - cavity lens 30 . to minimize astigmatism in the resonator , the angle of incidence 33 of the beam on the focusing mirror 32 is kept small . in practice , if the angle of incidence 33 is less than 10 degrees , astigmatism is negligible . in the laser apparatus described above in fig2 and 3 , it is difficult to control the diameter of the laser beam in the nonlinear crystal as the thermal focal length of the laser rod 14 changes . to solve this problem , we will use an optical relay shown in fig4 . an optical relay consists of two lenses , the first relay lens 34 ( a ) with focal length f 2 and the second relay lens 36 ( a ) with a focal length f 1 . these two relay lenses are separated by the sum of their focal lengths . the magnification of this optical relay is defined as m , where it can be shown that this optical relay has two relay planes . the first relay plane 38 is a distance d 1 from the first relay lens 34 ( a ) and the second relay plane 40 is distance d 2 from the second relay lens 36 ( a ), as shown in fig4 . these positions of the relay planes are related by if all the above conditions are satisfied , then it can be shown that any light distribution at the first relay plane 38 is exactly reproduced at the second relay plane 40 magnified by the m , the magnification . note particularly that an image at the first relay plane 38 is reproduced at the second relay plane 40 both in amplitude and in phase , magnified by m . this means that a laser beam with diameter d 1 and radius of curvature s 1 at the first relay plane is reproduced with diameter d 2 = md 1 and radius of curvature s 1 = m 2 s 1 at the second relay plane . this type of optical relay has commonly been used in long linear laser amplifiers , where optical relays are used to image the laser beam between successive amplifiers and to maintain the spatial profile of the laser beam at the input of the amplifier throughout the entire amplifier chain . an important feature of this invention is the use of the optical relay inside a laser resonator to control the ratio of the beam diameters in two components inside the resonator . in particular , for a laser with internal shg , the nonlinear crystal is placed at one relay plane , and the laser rod is placed at the other relay plane . the diameter of the laser rod determines the aperture in the laser and hence the multi - mode diameter of the beam in the laser rod . the optical relay now images the beam from the laser rod to the nonlinear crystal to produce a beam demagnified by m , the optical relay magnification , in the nonlinear crystal . the ratio of the beam diameters in the laser rod and nonlinear crystal are fixed by the focal lengths of the lenses in the optical relay and does not depend on any other components in the laser resonator . fig5 shows the implementation of the optical relay inside a laser resonator in accordance with my invention . the laser rod 14 is positioned such that the face of the rod pointing towards the nonlinear crystal 18 is on the second relay plane 40 and the nonlinear crystal 18 is centered on the first relay plane 38 . with the first relay lens 34 ( a ) and second relay lens 36 ( a ) positioned as shown , the ratio of the beam diameters in the laser rod d 2 and nonlinear crystal d 1 is d 2 / d 1 = f 2 / f 1 = m . given the rod diameter , the relay lenses can now be chosen to give the desired beam diameter in the nonlinear crystal 18 . the folding mirror 22 provides a means of output coupling for the second harmonic wavelength by making this mirror highly reflecting for the fundamental wavelength and highly transmitting for the second harmonic wavelength . the radii of curvature of the first mirror 10 and second mirror 12 , as well as the positions of these mirrors , are chosen to determine the range of stability of the resonator as the thermal focal length of the laser rod changes , but they do not affect the ratio of the multimode beam diameters in the laser rod and the nonlinear crystal . the preferred embodiment of my invention is shown in fig6 . here the relay lenses have been replaced by curved mirrors 34b and 36b . the first relay mirror 34b has a radius of curvature rr 1 such that rr 1 = 2f 1 and the second relay mirror 36b has a radius of curvature rr 1 such that rr 2 = 2f 2 . the spacing of the relay mirrors is rr 1 / 2 + rr 2 / 2 . the advantage of using mirrors as relay elements is that the mirrors usually have lower insertion loss than lenses . also , the mirrors cause no ghost reflections and ghost focusing in the laser , and either of the relay mirrors can be used as a means of output coupling to produce an external second harmonic beam 46 through the first relay mirror 34b or an external second harmonic beam 48 through the second relay mirror 36b . in the first case , the first relay mirror 34b is highly reflecting at the fundamental wavelength and highly transmitting at the second harmonic wavelength to produce the second harmonic output beam 46 . the second relay mirror 36b is highly reflecting at both wavelengths . in the second case , the first relay mirror 34b is highly reflecting at both wavelengths and the second relay mirror 36b is highly reflecting at the fundamental wavelength and highly transmitting at the second harmonic wavelength to produce the second harmonic output beam 48 . in one particular embodiment of this invention , the radius of curvature of the first relay mirror is 20 cm and the radius of curvature of the second relay mirror is 50 cm . the mirrors are separated by 35 cm , and the relay magnification is 2 . 5 . for an nd : yag with diameter 4 mm , the spotsize in the ktp nonlinear crystal is 1 . 6 mm . the resonator is completed with a flat first mirror 10 positioned 17 cm from the nd : yag rod and a second mirror 12 with radius of curvature 10 cm positioned 10 cm from the ktp nonlinear crystal . this laser is repetitively q - switched at 25 kh and reliably produces more than 24 watts of output power at the second harmonic . to further illuminate the differences between the single lens resonators in fig2 and 3 and the resonators with an optical relay in fig5 and 6 , the results of the stability analysis of each type of resonator will be presented . generally , in this analyses it is assumed that a lowest order or tem 00 mode exist for the laser resonator . the spotsize of this mode is determined by propagating this mode once back and forth through the resonator and requiring the tem 00 mode after one roundtrip to be identical in amplitude and phase of the tem 00 mode at the start . if such a mode does not exist , the resonator is considered unstable . if such a mode does exist , the spotsizes in the laser rod and the nonlinear crystal can be determined . also , if a tem 00 mode exists , then higher order modes exist , and these modes have larger diameters than the tem 00 mode . in general , enough high order modes will oscillate in the laser resonator until the total multi - mode beamsize approximately fills the aperture in the laser . this aperture is usually determined by the diameter of the laser rod . in the resonator analysis we can determine how many modes are required to fill the aperture , and in the analysis of this resonator we define a mode multiplier m , where ## equ1 ## once this mode multiplier m has been determined , the multi - mode spotsize can be determined anywhere in the resonator by determining the tem 00 mode radius at that position , and multiplying it by m . this is how the multi - mode diameter is determined in the nonlinear crystal . in the analysis of the resonators in fig2 , 5 and 6 , it is useful to determine the mode multiplier and multi - mode beam diameter in the nonlinear crystal , particularly as a function of the thermal focusing of the laser rod . here the back focal length ( bfl ) is a convenient measure of the thermal focusing of the laser rod . typical values of the bfl of the nd : yag rod when it is pumped by a cw krypton arc lamp , can be shorter than 15 cm at full power of the arc lamp . over the typical operating range of lamp currents , the bfl varies from & lt ; 15 cm at full current to & gt ; 40 cm at lower currents and stable operation of the laser resonator is required over this range . the results of this type of analysis for a typical laser with a single internal lens is shown in fig7 . the curve of multi - mode beam diameter in the nonlinear crystal 40 shows that the beam diameter gets very small at short bfl and long bfl . the small beam diameters at the long bfl is no real problem because the laser power is also low and no damage is done in the laser . however , the beam diameter collapse at short bfl and high power is a major problem . in these lasers great care has to be taken that the lamp current is not turned up too high , because the resulting high power density at the fundamental wavelength in the nonlinear crystal can damage the crystal . with typical variations in nd : yag rod focusing characteristics and variations in other laser components , this becomes a severe problem . fig7 also shows the plot of the mode multiplier m as a function of the laser rod bfl 52 . this shows that as the beam diameter in the nonlinear crystal gets smaller , the mode multiplier m gets smaller at the same time , or from the previous equation for m , the tem 00 spotsize in the laser rod gets larger . the real limit of stability as the tem 00 spotsize in the laser rods gets larger is when the tem 00 beam radius approaches the rod radius or m approaches the value of 2 . this criteria sets the practical limits of stability for the resonator . fig8 shows the results of the same analysis for the resonator with the optical relay . the plot of beam diameter in the nonlinear crystal 54 is a straight line as expected . this shows the real advantage of this invention . as the lamp current is increased , the multi - mode beam diameter in the nonlinear crystal cannot collapse . hence in practice in this laser , the lamp current can be increased with no fear of damage in the nonlinear crystal due to a small beam diameter . this in particular helps to make this type of resonator and laser a real and practical instrument . the range of stability of this resonator is now indicated by the plot of the mode multiplier m as a function of bfl 56 . this still shows that the mode multiplier goes to small values at the limits of stability , but the multi - mode beam diameter in the nonlinear crystal does not collapse . even when the lamp current is increased and the laser rod bfl goes beyond the limit of stability of the resonator , the beam diameter for the unstable resonator modes in the nonlinear crystal will still be the same value . through the optical relay , the beam diameter in the nonlinear crystal is locked to the laser rod aperture and cannot collapse , and the beam diameter in the nonlinear crystal is determined by a simple choice of two focal lengths ( or ratio of curvature ) for the optical relay elements . the exact range of stability of the laser in fig6 with an optical relay is determined by the curvature and position of the first mirror 10 and second mirror 12 . analysis further shows that the stability curve for this resonator remains a single , continuous curve . in contrast , for the single lens resonator in fig3 for certain choices of radii of curvature and positions of the first mirror 10 and the second mirror 12 , the stability curve can split up into two separate lobes , with a region of unstable operation within the range of the normal operation for the bfl of the laser . this makes the design of the single lens resonator even more difficult . there is one more difference between these resonators that we have to consider . the optical relay in the resonators ensures that the beam profiles in the laser rod and nonlinear crystal are the same . as the beam propagates back and forth through the laser rod , the aperture formed by the rod will cut off the edges of the beam and tend to produce a more rectangular spatial profile of the beam in the rod . the optical relay will exactly then reproduce this beam profile in the nonlinear crystal . if there are any local high amplitude areas or hot spots on the beam , the second harmonic generation process will tend to reduce these hot spots , because at these hotspots the second harmonic generation efficiency is higher and this will tend to smooth out the beam profile . this beam profile is then relayed to the laser rod and there gain saturation will further tend to reduce the hot spots . this means that for the resonator with the optical relay , diffraction from the hard aperture will not produce high amplitude peaks in the nonlinear crystal , and shg and gain saturation will cooperate to smooth out the spatial profile of the beam . this all reduces the risk of hot spots on the beam in the nonlinear crystal and this reduces the risk of optical damage to the nonlinear crystal . in the single - lens resonator , the situation is quite different . the nonlinear crystal is close to the focal plane of the lens , and now the spatial profile in the nonlinear crystal is close to being the fourier transform of the spatial profile in the laser rod . under these circumstances , any clipping of the beam due to the hard aperture of the laser rod will cause spatial modulation on the beam in the nonlinear crystal . also , any smoothing out of the beam due to shg will not be reproduced in the laser rod . smoothing of the beam due to gain saturation also will not be reproduced in the nonlinear crystal , and in general these two processes will not cooperate to smooth out the spatial profile of the beam in the nonlinear crystal . hence , the risk of damage of the nonlinear crystal is higher . thus , in addition to controlling the beam diameter in the nonlinear crystal , the optical relay will also produce a smoother spatial profile of the beam in the nonlinear crystal than a single lens resonator . the question that now arises is whether the two - lens relay is the only way to accomplish the control of the beam diameter in the nonlinear crystal . is it possible to use a single lens and place the laser crystal and nonlinear crystal in the conjugate planes of the lens ? fig9 shows a single lens 58 and the first conjugate plane 60 and second conjugate plane 62 . these planes are also known as the object and image planes . they are related by : the magnification is m = s 2 / s 1 and the ratio of the beam diameter d 2 / d 1 = m . the laser rod is placed at the second conjugate plane , and the nonlinear crystal is placed at the first conjugate plane . analysis shows that this structure does not behave the same as the two - lens relay . generally , the amplitude of any light distribution at the first conjugate plane is reproduced exactly at the second conjugate plane , but the phase distribution is not reproduced . this can be understood better if the ray matrices for the optical relay and the single lens are considered . these ray matrices are explained in a book by a . e . siegman , an introduction to lasers and masers , mcgraw - hill , 1971 , pp . 294 - 328 . the ray matrix for the two - lens relay from the first relay plane to the second relay plan is given by ## equ2 ## ratio of the radii of curvature is r 2 / r 1 = m 2 , as stated before . the ray matrix for a single lens from the first to the second conjugate is given by ## equ3 ## the off - diagonal term - 1 / f suggests that a transformation by the single lens does not preserve phase . it can be shown that the ratio of the beam diameters at the conjugate planes is given by d 2 / d 1 = m , but if rl 2 is the radius of curvature of the second conjugate plane , and rl 1 is the radius of curvature at the first conjugate plane , they are related as follows : and this clearly shows the change in beam radius of curvature at the second conjugate plane . when the complete stability analysis of a single lens resonator with the elements at the conjugate planes is done , results as shown in fig1 are obtained . curve 64 shows the beam diameter as a function of bfl of the laser rod , and indeed is independent of bfl as expected . curve 66 shows the mode multiplier as a function of bfl and this shows the stability limit of the single - lens resonator . this clearly shows that the stability curve is now very narrow and is centered on a very short bfl . this type of resonator would only be stable for a very narrow range of lamp currents very close to the maximum lamp current for a typical laser . this would not be very practical , but it does show that a special case of the single lens resonator does indeed behave like a two - lens relay . finally , the placement of the second mirror has to be considered . fig1 shows the case where the second resonator mirror 12 with radius of curvature r 2 is positioned distance r 2 away from the nonlinear crystal 18 . the fundamental beam 26 passes back and forth through the nonlinear crystal , and if the ar coatings of the nonlinear crystal are not perfect , a stray beam 68 is reflected off the nonlinear crystal . usually the face of the nonlinear crystal 18 is not quite normal to the beam in the resonator and the reflected beam 68 goes out of the resonator beam path . it can happen that this stray beam reflects off the second resonator mirror 12 and hits the mount surrounding the nonlinear crystal . the power in this stray beam can be sufficient to heat up the holder around the nonlinear crystal and change the temperature of the crystal and cause the nonlinear crystal not to be phase matched for shg . this reduces shg output of the laser . however , in the special case where the nonlinear crystal 18 is placed at the radius of curvature of the second resonator mirror 12 , the stray beam goes back through the nonlinear crystal and produces no problem for the nonlinear crystal . it is clear from the previous description that the optical relay inside a laser resonator has several advantages . it determines the ratio of the beam diameters in the laser rod and nonlinear crystal in a way that is easy to design and implement . it also makes the beam diameter in the rod independent of the thermal focusing in the laser rod and other resonator parameters . the optical relay further helps to reduce hot spots on the beam in the nonlinear crystal . all this helps to prevent optical damage to the nonlinear crystal . finally , the second resonator mirror can also be placed to prevent stray beams from hitting the nonlinear crystal mount and changing the temperature of the nonlinear crystal . however , in general the advantages of the optical relay inside a laser resonator are not limited to the above . in the most general case , the optical relay can be used to control the ratio of the beam diameters between any two elements in a laser resonator . the relay can also be useful where the beam profile in one part of the resonator has to be reproduced exactly in another part of the resonator . the use of the optical relay inside the resonator is also not limited to second harmonic generation , but can generally be applied to any nonlinear process such as n th harmonic generation . accordingly , the scope of the invention should be determined not by the previous discussions and illustrations , but by the following claims .	7
since brewed beverages have little caloric value , except when used with additives such as cream , milk and sugar , they are consumed primarily for taste or medicinal effects . quality blends of coffee or tea are more costly than cheaper , more abundant blends . without resorting to additives which affect flavor , such as cream and sugar , there are basically two ways to obtain maximum flavor quality . the first is to extract as much quality flavor from a beverage base as is possible and the second is to have a quality water in the brewed beverage . the present invention is drawn to both facets and accomplishes both through a unique brewing process . as already mentioned , the primary cations found in quality spring water are usually calcium , magnesium and iron . the anions associated with these metal cations are usually bicarbonate and sulfate . however , oxides , carbonates , phosphates , chlorides and other anions may also be present . other minerals in trace form such as boron , fluorine , barium , copper , cobalt , zinc , nickel , aluminum , manganese , silver and many others may also be present . some , which are insoluble , are present in extremely finely divided particulate form as colloids . water treatment plants often remove many of the minerals that improve water flavor when removing undesirable bacteria , waste and other foreign materials . ion exchange resins used in water treatment to soften water add excessive amounts of sodium and potassium to water . also , heating water to boiling or near boiling removes many more minerals as well as desirable gases such as air . the key feature of the present invention is a method to replace as many of the desirable minerals as possible to the water of a brewed beverage . it has now been found that many naturally occurring minerals , such as some clays , contain the appropriate minerals and can be utilized to mineralize hot waters if added to such waters under appropriate conditions , and after such hot waters have begun their cooling process . clay is defined as a hydrated aluminum silicate which may also contain other minerals . there are myriad kinds and qualities of clays which vary greatly in chemical composition and particle size . there may also be other mineral combinations of alumina and silica such as finely divided igneous rocks , shale , sandstone and sedimentary deposits which could also be used , provided they have the appropriate chemical makeup . for purposes of the present invention , both chemical makeup of the mineral and particle size are important . besides being primarily composed of an aluminum silicate , it is important that the mineral source contain calcium , magnesium and iron . since the eight most prevalent elements in the earth &# 39 ; s crust are , in order , oxygen , silicon , aluminum , iron , calcium , sodium , potassium and magnesium , it would seen that the chemical makeup requirement could be easily satisfied . the following table taken from pettijohn , sedimentary rocks , harper brothers ( 1948 ), as contained on page 3126 of the handbook of chemistry and physics , 39th edition , verifies that many materials satisfy these criteria . ______________________________________chemical composition of rocks average igneous average average average averageelement rock shale sandstone limestone sediment______________________________________sio . sub . 2 59 . 14 58 . 10 78 . 33 5 . 19 57 . 95tio . sub . 2 1 . 05 0 . 65 0 . 25 0 . 06 0 . 57al . sub . 2 o . sub . 3 15 . 34 15 . 40 4 . 77 0 . 81 13 . 39fe . sub . 2 o . sub . 2 3 . 08 4 . 02 1 . 07 0 . 54 3 . 47feo 3 . 80 2 . 45 0 . 30 2 . 08mgo 3 . 49 2 . 44 1 . 16 7 . 89 2 . 65cao 5 . 08 3 . 11 5 . 50 42 . 57 5 . 89na . sub . 2 o 3 . 84 1 . 30 0 . 45 0 . 05 1 . 13k . sub . 2 o 3 . 13 3 . 24 1 . 31 0 . 33 2 . 86h . sub . 2 o 1 . 15 5 . 00 1 . 63 0 . 77 3 . 23p . sub . 2 o . sub . 5 0 . 30 0 . 17 0 . 08 0 . 04 0 . 13co . sub . 2 0 . 10 2 . 63 5 . 03 41 . 54 5 . 38so . sub . 3 0 . 64 0 . 07 0 . 05 0 . 54bao 0 . 06 0 . 05 0 . 05c 0 . 80 0 . 66 99 . 56 100 . 00 100 . 00 99 . 84 99 . 93______________________________________ from the above , it is seen that only limestone does not meet the stated criteria . however , since limestone contains calcium , magnesium and iron , some or all of the mineral source may consist of finely divided limestone if needed to meet taste requirements of the brewed beverage . therefore , limestone is considered to be within the scope of the invention . that is not to say that any mineral base containing the above stated minerals may be used . the presence of toxic materials and degree of solubility of minerals must also be considered . because of the variety of materials available , it is not possible to categorize an acceptable mineral source by name , i . e ., clay , sandstone , shale , limestone , etc . rather , each source will generally be determined on an empirical basis . most mineral sources utilized , except for limestone , will have , at the minimum , the following composition calculated as oxide : ______________________________________required mineral composition (% by weight ) minimum maximum______________________________________sio . sub . 2 55 80al . sub . 2 o . sub . 3 4 16fe . sub . 2 o . sub . 3 1 . 5 7mgo . 5 3 . 5cao 1 . 5 8______________________________________ as previously stated , other non - toxic minerals may also be present . by non - toxic is meant that the mineral concentration and solubility is not sufficient to be present in toxic amounts in the brewed beverage . many mineral sources contain trace amounts of many minerals in insignificant amounts which are perfectly safe . the mineral particles must be ground to a fine particle size . by fine particle size is meant that at least 90 % of the particle will be less than 1 . 0 mm in diameter and preferably at least 75 % will be less than 0 . 5 mm in size . it is especially preferred that at least 50 % of the particles be 0 . 2 mm or less in size . the mineral source is preferably prepared by dry grinding to the above size at an elevated temperature of between about 200 ° to 300 ° f . to remove as much water as possible from the finely divided mineral . this facilitates the preparation of a homogeneous blend of ground coffee with the mineral source . the appropriate ratio of mineral source to particulate beverage base will vary greatly depending upon many factors such as mineral composition , solubility and particle size . in general , the ratio will vary from about 1 to 25 grams of finely divided mineral source for every pound of beverage base used . preferably , the amount of mineral will vary from about 2 to 10 grams of mineral source per pound of beverage base , or stated differently , the mineral to beverage ratio may vary from 1 : 450 to 1 : 18 , with ratios of 1 : 225 to 1 : 45 being preferred . larger amounts of mineral may be used with increased mineral particle size . the mineral source and beverage base may be preblended , or the finely divided mineral source may be added to the beverage base at the time of brewing . if added just prior to brewing , the mineral should be as thoroughly admixed with the beverage particles as possible . for example , the desired amount of mineral source and one pound of ground coffee could be added to a paper bag . the bag is then closed and vigorously shaken to affect the mixture . commercial blending equipment may also be used . it has been found that , in addition to mineralizing the brew water , the use of finely divided minerals slows the brewing process and , in the case of coffee , one may obtain the same coffee flavor with about one half the amount of ground coffee previously used . since less ground coffee is used , the brewed coffee will contain less caffeine and acids , and also less bitter taste . it will also remain fresh longer . the mineral particles retard the brewing process by settling into the interstices of the coffee filter or tea bags . since some minerals dissolve and some of the finer particles pass through the interstices of the filter , it may also be desirable to utilize other flow retardants . any inert filter retardant type of material may be used . typical materials include particulate cellulosic or starch materials which are insoluble , but swell in water and which will not pass through the filter . inorganic materials such as silica gel , may also be used . however , ion exchange materials , such as zeolites and ion exchange resins , should be avoided since they exchange the desired calcium and magnesium ions with sodium or potassium before passing through the filter matrix . the amount of flow retardant to be used will be strictly a matter of the results desired . too much flow retardant will plug the filter or increase the brewing time beyond that required to extract the desired flavor components . generally , anywhere from 0 to 40 grams of flow retardant per pound of ground coffee or tea base may be used . since more flavor is produced with less beverage base , the color of the brewed beverage may be lighter than is acceptable to consumers . this is due to the fact that many of the flavors extracted from the beverage base by the extending brewing time are colorless . therefore , it may be advantageous to add any non - toxic fda approved coloring material to the mixture of beverage base and mineral source . because caramel powder is commonly used for producing coffee of deep brown colors , it is a preferred coloring agent . the amount to use will be strictly a matter of color to be imparted to the brewed beverage . generally speaking , the amount of caramel powder may vary between about 0 to 100 grams per pound of beverage base . if desired , the finely divided mineral source , flow retardant and coloring agent may be made into a homogeneous mixture and prepackaged for admixture with a beverage base just prior to brewing . such a composition may contain from 1 to 25 parts by weight of a finely divided mineral having a composition and particle size as defined above , 1 to 40 parts by weight of a flow retardant as previously described , and 1 to 100 parts by weight of a colorizing agent . particularly , preferred are admixtures wherein the ratio of flow retardant to mineral source are 0 . 25 : 1 to 1 : 1 , and where the ratio of caramel powder to mineral source are 1 : 1 to 4 : 1 . during mixing of the mineral source , flow retardant and coloring agent , it may also be desirable to add a minor amount of an edible oil , such as coconut oil , to the mixture to inhibit the formation of dust particles . this will normally not amount to more than 0 . 5 percent of the total composition . the brewing is accomplished by placing the mixture of beverage base and finely divided mineral source , with or without flow retardants or coloring agents , on a filter or in a filter bag , and subjecting the mixture to an appropriate amount of hot water . brewing temperatures normally vary between the boiling temperature of water down to about 150 ° f . the boiling temperature will vary according to altitude from about 212 ° to 200 ° f . preferably , however , the water used for brewing will reach its peak temperature before coming in contact with the beverage base - mineral mixture and actually be cooling down . brewing temperatures in the range of 170 ° to 150 ° f . are preferred for optimum flavor extraction and mineralization . in order to demonstrate the operability of the present invention , the following data is presented . two types of clays were ground to a size as to be operable in the present invention . the chemical analysis of the clays and their particle size distribution are reported in the following tables : ______________________________________composition % by total as oxideselement mineral a mineral b______________________________________sio . sub . 2 66 . 92 63 . 65al . sub . 2 o . sub . 3 14 . 05 15 . 65cao 1 . 94 7 . 52mgo 0 . 68 1 . 15na . sub . 2 o 2 . 69 1 . 81k . sub . 2 o 2 . 67 1 . 65fe . sub . 2 o . sub . 3 1 . 67 1 . 59bao 0 . 03 0 . 03so . sub . 3 0 . 05 0 . 04n . sub . 2 o . sub . 5 1 . 69 0 . 72other 7 . 61 6 . 19 100 . 00 100 . 00______________________________________ ______________________________________particle size distribution % in each rangemicrons mineral a mineral b______________________________________3360 + 0 . 0 0 . 01000 - 3360 3 . 7 1 . 2 500 - 1000 22 . 9 4 . 3297 - 500 11 . 3 5 . 0125 - 297 28 . 0 28 . 8105 - 125 8 . 9 7 . 0 74 - 105 10 . 0 18 . 574 - 15 . 2 35 . 2 100 . 00 100 . 00______________________________________ a mineralizer premix was made by dryblending 100 pounds of caramel powder , 32 pounds of mineral b from example i and 8 pounds of a modified corn starch to a uniform blend . about 0 . 5 pounds of coconut oil was added to reduce dust formation during the blending process . this example illustrates the effectiveness of the mineralizer premix in increasing the mineral content of tap water . tap water containing 148 milligrams per liter ( mg / l ) of dissolved mineral solids was heated to about 160 ° f . about 1 . 2 grams of the mineralizer mixture of example i was placed in a coffee filter and seventy - two fluid ounces of the heated tap water was allowed to precolate through the filter . the resulting water was caramel colored and had a solids content of 692 mg / l . since the tap water contained 149 mg / l , it is evident that at least 544 mg / l was provided by the caramel and mineral content of the mineralizer mix . the dissolved caramel solids accounted for 461 mg / l and the dissolved mineral solids added by the mineralizer mix was calculated to be 83 mg / l . to show the efficiency of the present invention in mineralizing a brewed coffee , and also in extracting more dissolved coffee flavor per unit of ground coffee , three different samples of brewed coffee were prepared in accordance with the following table . the same ground coffee was used in each sample , and the same volume of water was used to prepare each sample . ______________________________________coffee sample c d e______________________________________ground coffee ( amount ) 2 / 3 cup 1 / 3 cup 1 / 3 cupmineralizer blend ( example 2 ) 0 1 . 2 grams 0tap water ( 148 mg / l dissolved 53 fl oz 53 fl oz 53 fl ozsolids ) initial brewing temperature 160 ° f . 160 ° f . 160 ° f . dissolved coffee solids ( mg / l ) 5112 4308 2484dissolved mineral solids 148 274 148 ( mg / l ) dissolved caramel solids ( mg / l ) 0 439 0color dark dark light brown brown browntaste strong - full - weak - wa - flat mellow - tery - crisp unpalat - abletaste after standing 4 bitter - slightly weak - hours flat - bitter - watery unpalat - crisp - unpalat - able still able palatable______________________________________ the above results show the effective extraction of coffee solids as a result of the present invention . only one half the amount of coffee was used for sample d as in sample c , but the dissolved coffee solids of sample d were 84 . 27 % of those in sample c . stated differently , the flavor extraction from sample d was 1 . 69 times greater than in sample c . at the same time , the mineralization of sample d was greater than in either samples c or e and the flavor of the coffee was described as &# 34 ; crisp &# 34 ; rather than &# 34 ; flat &# 34 ;. similar results may be obtained with tea or other beverage gases . obviously , the amounts of beverage base used may be adjusted according to one &# 39 ; s taste . therefore , the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiments , but is to be accorded the full scope of the appended claims .	0
fig1 of the drawing shows a regenerative heat exchanger 1 constructed as an air preheater 2 . no x - containing hot waste gas is conducted to the heat exchanger 1 through a duct 3 from a furnace or steam producer , shown on the left hand side of fig1 . accordingly , the hot crude gas g , in the following called gas for short , flows from the top into the air preheater 2 which has in the middle portion thereof a heat accumulator composed of two layers of heating surfaces 4a , 4b arranged one on top of the other . segmented blade hoods 5 , 6 are arranged underneath the lower layer 4b of the heating surfaces and above the upper layer 4a of the heating surfaces respectively . the blade hoods 5 , 6 are offset relative to each other by 90 ° and rotate together about a vertical axis 7 . a reactor 8 is arranged in front of the air preheater 2 or regenerative heat exchanger 1 . the reactor 8 is with its housing 9 placed directly on the air preheater housing 10 . specifically , the reactor is placed with its three layers of catalyst cells 11a , 11b , 11c , which are arranged above each other , concentrically above the air preheater 2 . the resulting compact structural unit composed of reactor 8 and regenerative heat exchanger 1 is supported by a common support frame 12 which , in turn , is placed on a foundation . after entering the duct 3 , the incoming gas g initially reaches the catalyst cells 11a , 11b , 11c of the reactor 8 and a no x reduction is effected by adsorption as the gas g travels through the catalyst cells 11a to 11c . to be able to achieve the no x reduction , nh 3 is introduced as a reduction agent together with preheated carrier air through a supply pipe 13 into the reactor 8 or its catalyst cells 11a through 11c . accordingly , the gas g emerging from the lowermost layer of catalyst cells 11c as seen in the direction of flow is free of nitrogen oxides , which is indicated by arrows provided with hatching in the areas where gas emerges . the gas enters as clean gas into the storage masses of the heating surfaces 4a , 4b of the air preheater . as a result of the fact that the blade hoods 5 , 6 are arranged offset relative to each other by 90 °, the clean gas flows around the upper blade hood 6 , enters the heating surfaces 4a , 4b , heats the heating surfaces 4a , 4b , the gas is cooled as a result and is subsequently conducted in purified form through the duct 14 which is connected at the bottom . a pipe 15 is connected to the lower end of the air preheater 2 . clean , cold combustion air l , in the following called air for short , is conducted in a counterflow to the gas g to the heated heating surfaces 4a , 4b of the air preheater 2 . as a result of the fact that the blade hoods 5 , 6 are offset relative to each other , the air l flows around the lower blade hood 5 before it enters the heating surfaces 4a , 4b and is subsequently conducted as hot air to the furnace through the upper blade hood 6 and a duct 16 connected to the hood 6 . as a result of the rotation of the blade hoods 5 , 6 , continuously changing parts of the heating surfaces 4a , 4b of the air preheater 2 are subjected to the hot clean gas or the supplied air l . fig2 of the drawing shows a modification of the structural unit shown in fig1 . accordingly , the same components are provided with the same reference numerals . contrary to the embodiment of fig1 the lowermost layer of the catalyst cells 11c seen in flow direction of the gas g have been taken out of the reactor 8 and are now an integrated component of the regenerative air preheater 2 . as a result , the reactor 8 concentrically mounted on the housing 10 of the air preheater 2 now only has two layers of catalyst cells 11a , 11b , while the catalyst cells 11c represent an integrated component of the air preheater 2 and are arranged in the air preheater 2 above the heating surfaces 4b . by dividing the air preheater 2 into a reactor portion , i . e ., the catalyst cells 11c , and a heat exchanger portion , i . e ., the heating surfaces 4b , it is possible to optimize various possibilities of supplying nh 3 . thus , the nh 3 can be injected on the gas side through the supply pipe 13 as well as on the air side through the supply pipe 21 , for example , through a closed sector , not shown , which conducts the nh 3 as desired to the catalyst cells 11c . the compact structural unit illustrated in fig3 and 4 and achieved by placing the reactor 8 concentrically on the housing 10 of the heat exchanger , is provided with a regenerative heat exchanger 1 which operates as a gas preheater 17 in as much as it is arranged following a flue gas desulfurization plant within the plant for the reduction of nitrogen oxide ; otherwise , as is the case for the other components of the combined structural unit , the plant is essentially the same as the embodiment of fig1 and 2 , so that the same components are provided with the same reference numerals . from the flue gas desulfurization plant , not shown , the cold gas g flows as crude gas through a duct 18 into the heating surfaces 4a , 4b of the gas preheater 17 and the heating surfaces 4a , 4b are cooled as a result . the gas g emerging from the gas preheater 17 through the upper blade hood 6 is conducted through an additional heating unit 19 , at a temperature necessary for the reaction , in a counterflow through the catalyst cells 11a , 11b , 11c of the reactor 8 and leaves the reactor 8 as purified gas rg , as indicated by white arrows . subsequently , the hot purified gas rg flows around the upper blade hood 6 , is then introduced into the heating surfaces 4a , 4b of the gas preheater 17 , is cooled , and then conducted further through the lower blade hood 5 and the discharge duct 14 to the chimney . in this case , the reduction agent ( nh 3 ) is introduced from the crude gas side at one point through the supply pipe 13 and additionally through another reduction agent injection nozzle 20 . in the compact structural unit shown in fig4 of the reactor 8 concentrically mounted on the regenerative heat exchanger 1 or the gas preheater 17 , the gas preheater 17 has an integrated layer of catalyst cells 11c , as shown in fig3 so that the reactor 8 , instead of three layers of catalyst cells arranged above each other , merely has the two layers of catalyst cells 11a , 11b . similar to the possibilities of injecting the reduction agent described in connection with fig2 the gas preheater 17 also has optimum variations for supplying the nh 3 , wherein the nh 3 can be injected on the gas side through the supply pipes 13 and 20 as well as from the purified gas side through a supply pipe 21 , for example , through a closed sector , not shown , which conducts the nh 3 as desired to the catalyst cells 11c . the operation of the embodiment of fig4 does otherwise not differ from the operation of the embodiment described in connection with fig3 . in particular , all embodiments have in common that the concentric symmetry of regenerative heat exchanger 1 ( air preheater 2 or gas preheater 17 , and reactor 8 ) produces an improved flow through the unit and variable possibilities of injecting the reduction agent . by combining the components in one space , it becomes possible that the catalysts or the reactor 8 can be placed directly on the regenerative heat exchanger . this reduces the weight and the dimensions of the unit . the invention is not limited by the embodiments described above which are presented as examples only but can be modified in various ways within the scope of protection defined by the appended patent claims .	5
the present invention , in its preferred embodiments , overcomes many problems of the prior art . in preferred embodiments , the offset of the outer flange is decreased relative to the tube , thus reducing bending moments on the header due to internal pressure loads on the tank . in the preferred embodiments of the present invention , elimination the offset between the gasket sealing surface or gasket ( lower ) flange and the header plane eliminates a second bending moment , simplifies the header design , reduces material required , and maximizes ambient airflow to the core . elimination of the inner flange and utilization of the tube collar / ferrule ‘ collar ’ as a rib structure significantly stiffens the header . linear fea of preferred embodiments of the present invention indicates up to about a 40 % reduction in stress compared to prior art designs examined . the collar also serves to prevent inward translation of the tank foot during crimping . this can improve durability and the header tab crimping process . in more preferred embodiment of the present invention , the collar around the tube end radius is revolved and a separation maintained between the tube and the planar area of the header . the collar / rib effectively bridges over the tube , thereby reducing or preventing bending loads in the header from being transmitted to the thin - walled tube . in other preferred embodiments , and , particularly , in radiator applications , gasket retention means on the tank foot may be applied to maintain preferred gasket location and / or placement during vacuum filling . referring to the prior art shown in fig1 , 2 and 3 , therein represented is a plastic tank 1 of a heat exchanger , with header 2 . in fig2 , tube 10 is brazed at braze joint 8 to a shaved tube ferrule 7 which continues to an inner flange 9 and leads to lower or gasket flange 12 wherein the gasket 6 ( not shown ) sits . an outer flange 5 extends upwards toward a crimp tab 3 which maintains a tank foot 4 in the tank and header manifold assembly 20 . fig3 a - c show the header 2 continuing onto an inner flange 9 and into a lower flange 12 , prior to turning upward into outer flange 5 before leading to the tab 3 , which , in this depiction , is crimped around the tank foot 4 . referring to prior art fig3 a , b and c , the depression ( trough or header well ) formed in the periphery of the header tends to increase the overall thickness 29 of the tank and header manifold assembly 20 as shown in prior art fig1 . this representation demonstrates the resultant packaging problems for some vehicle applications . the outer header flange 5 offset creates a bending moment arm ( l 1 ) 14 . a second bending moment arm ( l 2 ) 15 exists due to the offset of the gasket ( lower ) flange 12 from the header plane . when internal pressure is applied , resultant forces ( f 1 , f 2 ) act through these moment arms to generate bending loads . these loads contribute to stress concentrations in the header when internal pressure is applied . testing , such as that based linear finite element analysis ( fea ), shows stress results for preferred embodiments of the present invention that show stress level reductions up to or equal to about 40 % lower compared to prior art designs such as described above . referring to fig4 , 5 and 6 , the outer flange 5 , gasket 6 , and gasket - sealing header surface 22 are moved inward toward the tube 10 . this tends to reduce the overall thickness of the heat exchanger for improved packaging . the offset between the outer flange 5 and the tube 10 is also decreased , which reduces bending moments in the header caused by internal pressure loading . the planar connection means that the inner flange found in the prior art is eliminated . referring to fig5 and 6 , braze joint 8 is shown and deeply drawn upturned collars 13 form a u - shaped cross - section or rib 15 between tube slots , significantly increases the bending moment of inertia of the header section . the collar profile , which includes a large radius , is revolved around the end radius of the tube , effectively bridging over and shielding the critical tube - to - header interface . this minimizes the transmission of bending loads to the thin wall of the tube . the height of the formed collar is adjusted , as appropriate , to provide optimized height to performance ratios . in preferred embodiments of the present invention applying reverse or brazed flange concepts , the elimination of the inner flange for plastic tank applications shows further advantage . referring to fig4 and 7 , the gasket ( lower ) flange 12 ′ is made coplanar with the header surface 22 between the tube slots , eliminating the offset of the gasket ( lower ) flange relative to the header plane . referring to fig8 a and 8 b , stresses in the tube - to - header region are significantly reduced for the proposed design compared to the prior art . the collar / rib 13 , 15 is relied upon for gasket 6 and tank foot 4 location and retention as well as stiffening the header 2 and providing a clad surface for brazing to the tube 10 . resistance to inward translation of the tank foot by the collar is expected during crimping , which should improve the process . tank foot 4 and gasket 6 are retained by this collar / rib design . in one aspect of the present invention the upturned collar of tube ferrule is cladded with braze material on the inside of the collar . by providing inside cladding , an aspect in accordance with the present invention , minimizes the possibility of magnesium diffusion from the sheared surface of the collar from contaminating the braze joint , thereby improving braze quality . in preferred embodiments of the present invention , synthetic resin , plastic or plastic like tanks are used . more preferred are embodiments wherein the synthetic resin , plastic or plastic like materials used in the tanks are used for higher pressure environment applications , such as charge - air - cooler applications and the like . the invention can be applied to any heat exchanger with separate , mechanically assembled ( rather than soldered , brazed , welded , or otherwise bonded ) tank , gasket , and header components . in preferred methods of the present invention , no inner header flange is produced , or , eventually , the inner header flange is eliminated or removed to maintain the flatness of the header during the production processes . particularly preferred are methods employing a stamping step in the process . more particularly preferred methods also involving a brazing step . in the preferred methods of the present invention , the stamping process will employ a stamping tool designed to maintain flatness of the plane of the header , so that the plane does not become distorted due to residual stamping stress relief . in particularly preferred methods , residual stamping stress relief does not distort the plane of the header during brazing . in particularly preferred methods , a crimping step where the tabs are crimped as described above . particularly preferred methods wherein the process uses coined or scored ‘ tabs ’ to aid in bending or provide an initiation point for bending during the crimping step .	8
with reference to fig1 , the computer system 2 comprises a user access component 4 connected to a user interface 6 . the user access component comprises a processor 8 , a display 10 and a memory 12 . the computer system also comprises a geographical location device which in the described embodiment comprises a geographical positioning system ( gps ). in a particularly preferred embodiment , the computer system is a single user terminal , for example , a unitary mobile device where the components are housed in a single housing . therefore , the gps 14 operates to provide a location of the mobile device . as is known , a gps navigation system operates to provide location data of its location using a satellite network which is indicated diagrammatically by reference numeral 16 . the operation of a gps is assumed to be known and so is not described further herein . fig1 shows the computer system 2 connected to a communication network such as the internet 18 . a host server 20 accessible by the user terminal 2 allows the user at the user terminal 2 to access services through the internet . to access a service , a user at the user terminal 2 enters user data using the user interface 6 into a page launched on the display 10 by a web browser executed on the processor 8 . the user data is communicated to the host server 20 via the internet 18 and in this way , a service at the host server 20 can be accessed . one particular , type of service which occurs frequently is an on - line billing service . in order to effect an on - line purchase , a user may be presented with a series of pages for the website from which it wishes to purchase goods or services , and by means of which a user can select a series of goods or services to be purchased . when a user has reached a point that he has decided to purchase one or more goods or service , he may be presented with a screen such as shown in fig2 which illustrates a series of items which have been selected for purchase and a button 24 which the user can actuate for example , by clicking ( or touching on a touch screen ) to commence purchase . at this stage , a data receiving application executed by the processor 8 can recognize that on - line billing is about to commence and can issue a notification to the gps 14 to initialize its look - up procedure . at this stage , a billing page is launched for a user on the display 10 as shown in fig3 . the billing page 26 comprises a series of fields , including for example , a field for a user name 28 , a field for credit card or debit card details , expiry date , etc ., 30 and an address field 32 for receiving a billing address . in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention , the address field 32 is automatically populated by address data based on location data received from the gps 14 after it has conducted its look - up and provided location data identifying a geographical location of the device using information from the satellite network 16 . it will be appreciated that localizing data from a gps takes the form of map coordinates , e . g . 28 ° n 3 ° e , rather than a postal address . a conversion needs to be made , which can be done by the gps 14 , the processor 8 or by an address service 15 . many existing mobile devices which operate as user terminals already have on board a quick but inexact location system which operates in addition to the gps . in such a case , the address field should be populated with data from the “ rough and ready ” location system , while the gps searches for a response signal from its satellite network in order to provide location data from which an address can be identified and used to populate the address field more accurately . to this end , an address service ( identified in fig1 by reference numeral 15 ) can be connected to the gps 14 via a data connection and used to supply an accurate address for the location coordinates acquired by the gps 14 . the gps 14 on the device can supply coordinate data , to be turned into a “ real ” address by the address service 15 . service 15 has the mappings between an address and some location , similarly to a service like google ™ maps which translates an address into a geographical location , but used in reverse to supply an address from location coordinates . the address data is supplied to the memory 12 which acts as a data store from where the data receiving application can retrieve it . in any event , the resulting address is suggested to the user as the billing address and / or delivery address by presenting it to the user in the address field on the display 10 . the user can confirm the address is accurate via the user interface , for example by clicking on it to select it . alternatively , the user can correct the captured address in case the details are not precise enough or are inaccurate . the billing address can be used for the purchase after the user has confirmed it . in the case that the purchase service provider does not provide reusability of billing data ( which is often the case for security reasons ), the user terminal may cache it by linking it to the location coordinates acquired by the gps device . that is , the address can be stored at the device in a cache with the location coordinates so next time the location coordinates are acquired the same address is provided . fig4 is a schematic diagram of a simplified user flow to implement an embodiment of the invention . according to step 101 , a purchase flow is commenced by a user . according to step 102 , a billing address acquirement need arises and this is notified to the gps device 14 . in step 103 , the gps device gets a location fix and provides location data to an address service 15 as indicated in step 103 b . an exact address is returned to the user terminal and is displayed to a user in the address field 32 , whereby at step 104 a user reviews and confirms the data . at step 105 , a user can finalize the purchase . the invention can be implemented by any suitable combination of hardware and software . the data receiving application is embodied as a computer program executable on the processor and can be responsible for implementing a purchase flow or can be a component associated with a purchase flow or other on - line service acquisition flow . the data receiving application can be stored in the memory 12 . it should be understood that the block , flow , and network diagrams may include more or fewer elements , be arranged differently , or be represented differently . it should be understood that implementation may dictate the block , flow , and network diagrams and the number of block , flow , and network diagrams illustrating the execution of embodiments of the invention . it should be understood that elements of the block , flow , and network diagrams described above may be implemented in software , hardware , or firmware . in addition , the elements of the block , flow , and network diagrams described above may be combined or divided in any manner in software , hardware , or firmware . if implemented in software , the software may be written in any language that can support the embodiments disclosed herein . the software may be stored on any form of non - transitory computer readable medium , such as random access memory ( ram ), read only memory ( rom ), compact disk read only memory ( cd - rom ), flash memory , hard drive , and so forth . in operation , a general purpose or application specific processor loads and executes the software in a manner well understood in the art . while this invention has been particularly shown and described with references to example 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 scope of the invention encompassed by the appended claims .	7
in fig1 one sees firstly an ordinary carrier arm 1 of a shopping trolley . such a carrier arm runs on both sides of the trolley rising obliquely to the rear and there carries a handle tube 2 which is secured at each of its two ends in the u - shaped bend at the end of each carrier arm . this fastening is effected by means of a handle cap of synthetic plastics material which is pushed with a socket on to the u - shaped bend and comprises a horizontally inwardly extending bush 3 into which the handle tube 2 is pushed axially , see fig3 . the fixing of the handle cap on the carrier arm 1 takes place by means of a pin 8 which is inserted from the exterior into an opening of the handle cap and engaged therein . it traverses through the u - shaped bend and thus holds the handle cap in a shape - locking ( dovetail ) manner fast on the carrier arm . of course another fastening is also possible . on the opposite carrier arm , which is not visible in the drawing , the handle tube 2 can be connected with the carrier arm by a handle cap of conventional form . now it is essential that the one handle cap is formed as a reception device 4 for the adjustable fitting of a coin - operated lock 5 . for this purpose the upper region of the reception device 4 is of a somewhat c - shaped form and is open to the rear , that is oppositely to the direction of travel . the jaw - shaped opening 4a thus produced can be seen especially in fig3 . the coin - operated lock 5 can be pressed approximately horizontally into this opening , under a resilient opening out of the c - shaped upper part of the reception device 4 , and clamped therein , see fig1 and 2 . in order to assure , on the one hand , secure retention of the coin - operated lock 5 in the reception device 4 and on the other hand the desired adjustability of the coin - operated lock relative to an axis of rotation parallel to the handle 2 , the cavity behind the opening 4a has a right cylindrical contour 4b with an axis parallel to the handle 2 , and is further provided with a plurality of adjacently disposed , longitudinal ribs 4c . to this corresponds the external contour of the coin - operated lock 5 . thus it has substantially the form of a cylinder with a horizontal axis . its outside is provided with ribs 5a which co - operate with the longitudinal ribs 4c of the reception device . the coin - operated lock 5 is of such a configuration that on both sides of a deposit coin , or two deposit coins standing on edge , can be inserted forwardly by way of appropriate , somewhat horizontally extending slots 5b . the coin - operated lock has a slot 5c ( see fig1 ) on the opposite side facing in the direction of travel into which the key 6 secured to a chain 5 &# 39 ; of the preceding shopping trolley can be inserted . reference is made to pct / ep 91 / 00 261 , in respect of the design details of the coin - operated lock in which the coin - operated lock as represented here is described in greater detail . of course , it is instead possible to use any other lock design . the opening width of the jaw - shaped opening 4a for the insertion of the coin lock 5 and also the height of the opposite slot 4d for the key 6 , which is preferably to be inserted front edge first are so dimensioned that the accessibility of the coin - operated lock 5 is preserved under all practically occurring angle differences between the plane of insertion of the key 6 into the lock 5 for the one part and the carrier arm 1 for the other part . for the same purpose the vertical side walls 4e of the reception device are also cut out and furthermore are kept so narrow that the deposit coins pushed into the coin lock always remain visible . furthermore , the dimensions of the jaw - shaped reception opening 4a , on the one hand , and of the coin - operated lock 5 on the other , are so selected that the coin - operated lock , under resilient widening out of the reception device 4 , can be snapped into engagement in the latter . finally , it will be clear from fig1 that with traction loading of the key 6 locked in the coin - operated lock , the coin - operated lock 5 is pressed into the jaw - shaped opening 4a of the reception device and that likewise the lower region of the reception device , which grasps as an end cap over the carrier arm 1 , is pressed against this carrier arm . thus in both connections the traction loading is transmitted by complementary shape engagement . this is also true in the case of oppositely directed forces , that is , when for example a pull is exerted on the key 7 pertaining to the carrier arm 1 , for in this case it is the pin 8 which transmits the traction force in a positively coupled manner to the carrier arm 1 , while the coin - operated lock 5 is again pressed as before into the jaw - shaped opening of the reception device 4 . thus one obtains a very stable and compact attachment of the coin - operated lock to the shopping trolley with the special advantage that the coin - operated lock can be oriented , independently of the angle of inclination of the carrier arm 1 , as regards its insertion plane for the key , and thus can be used for different cart types .	8
now with reference to fig1 , there is representatively illustrated a conventional two story wall frame construction 100 including a tall wall frame section or panel 102 spanning the first and second floors 104 and 106 . for illustrative purposes , the tall wall frame panel 102 is shown between standard wall frame panels 108 , 110 on the first floor 104 and standard height wall frame panels 112 and 114 on the second floor 106 . tall wall frame panel 102 representatively illustrates one existing tall wall frame construction that is a unitary frame construction including a sole plate 116 located at the base of the first floor 104 , a double top plate 118 vertically spaced from the sole plate and located at the roof level of the building , and a plurality of horizontally spaced studs 120 vertically extending between the sole plate and the double top plate . the construction of tall wall frame panel 102 is not desirable because of the construction requires expensive and specialized over - length studs 120 that are capable of spanning the distance between the first floor and rough level of the second floor and meeting support and load requirements . additionally , studs 120 are required to be more closely spaced than a single story wall , and thus requiring more studs to build the tall wall . in essences the non - standard wall height of tall wall 102 increases the costs of its construction in both material and labor costs . now turning to fig2 , there is representatively illustrated a conventional two story wall frame construction 200 similar to wall frame construction 100 of fig1 , and also including a tall wall frame section or panel 202 spanning the first and second floors 204 and 206 . again , for illustrative purposes , the tall wall frame panel 202 is shown between standard wall frame panels 208 , 210 on the first floor 204 and standard height wall frame panels 212 and 214 on the second floor 206 . tall wall frame panel 202 representatively illustrates another existing tall wall frame construction that is a stacked wall construction including a bottom or first floor wall frame panel 216 and a top or second floor wall pane frame 218 connected to the bottom wall frame panel such that the wall frame panels are vertical aligned . the bottom wall frame panel 216 includes a sole plate 220 located at the base of the first floor 204 , a triple top plate 222 ( including three - horizontal plate members ) vertically spaced from the sole plate and located at the base of the second floor ( above the ceiling of the standard wall panels 208 and 210 ), and a plurality of horizontally spaced studs 224 vertically extending between the sole plate and the top plate . the top wall frame panel 218 also includes a sole plate 226 located at the base of the second floor 206 , a double top plate 228 located at the roof level , and a plurality of plurality of horizontally spaced studs 230 vertically extending between the sole plate and the top plate . the sole plate 226 of the top wall frame panel 218 is connected directly to the top plate 222 of the bottom wall frame panel 216 such that such that the wall frame panels are vertical aligned and loading forces are distributed between the wall frame panels . it can be seen the bottom wall frame panel 216 is not of a standard wall height construction and spans a height from the first floor to the second floor which includes the height of the floor system 232 of the second floor . this construction requires specialized over - length studs 224 that are more closely spaced to meet support and load requirements . further it can be seen , the top wall frame panel 218 is of a standard wall height construction that can take advantage of using standard length studs . although studs 230 are standard length studs , to meet support and loading requirements the spacing of studs must be the same as the spacing of studs 224 , and thus more studs are required than a standard wall construction . although the stacked tall wall construction 202 has advantages over the full length tall wall construction 102 such as lower material costs from not requiring the more expensive over - length studs that span the full two floor levels , its construction has drawbacks . one drawback is the non - standard wall construction of both the bottom wall frame panel 208 and the top wall frame panel 210 which requires over - length studs in the bottom wall frame panel and additional studs having a closer spacing in both the bottom and top wall frame panels . now with reference to fig3 and 4 , there is representatively illustrated a two story wall frame construction 300 including a new tall wall frame or section 302 constructed in accordance with the principals of an embodiment of the present invention . tall wall 302 spans the first and second floors 304 and 306 , and includes a bottom wall frame panel 308 , a top wall frame panel 310 and a structural truss 312 disposed between and connected to the top and bottom wall frame panels . bottom wall frame panel 308 includes a horizontally extending sole plate 314 , a horizontally extending double top plate 316 vertically spaced from the sole plate , and a plurality of horizontally spaced studs 318 extending between the sole plate and the top plate . as it can be seen with comparison to standard wall frame panel 320 , wall frame panel 308 has a standard wall panel construction including studs 318 of standard length ( not over - length studs ) and conventional spacing , a standard single sole plate and a standard double top plate . similarly , top wall frame panel 310 is of a standard wall construction and includes a horizontally extending sole plate 322 , a horizontally extending double top plate 324 vertically spaced from the sole plate , and a plurality of horizontally spaced studs 326 extending between the sole plate and the top plate . as it can be seen with comparison to standard wall frame panel 328 , wall frame panel 310 has a standard wall panel construction including studs 326 of standard length ( not over - length studs ) and conventional spacing , a standard single sole plate and a standard double top plate . the structural truss panel 312 includes a horizontally extending single bottom chord 330 , a horizontally extending double top chord 332 vertically spaced from said bottom chord , and a plurality of webs 334 vertically extending between the bottom cord and the top chord . structural truss panel 312 is constructed to have a height equal in height to the second floor 306 floor system 336 . tall wall 302 is includes the bottom wall frame panel 308 and the top wall frame panel 310 connected to the structural truss panel 312 with the double top plate 316 of the bottom wall frame panel connected directly to the bottom chord 330 of the structural truss panel , and with the sole plate 322 connected directly to the top chord 322 of the structural truss panel . structural screws 336 , positioned at each truss panel , are used to connect the top plate 316 to the bottom chord 330 and to connect the sole plate 332 to the top chord 322 . an advantage of tall wall construction 302 the bottom and top wall frame panels 308 and 310 to having the same construction as a standard wall panel which serves to standardize construction of the building and reduce material and labor costs that is not available with existing tall wall constructions . a further advantage of tall wall construction 302 is the construction is not constrained to only two floor levels as are the existing tall wall constructions , thereby now allowing tall wall constructions to span several floor levels and providing new building construction techniques heretofore not available . in embodiments bottom wall frame panel 308 is constructed to a standard wall height of 8 - feet , 9 - feet or 10 feet , and studs 318 are of a standard length of 92⅝ inches , 104⅝ inches , and 116⅝ inches , respectively . in embodiments top wall frame panel 310 is constructed to a standard wall height of 8 - feet , 9 - feet or 10 feet , and studs 318 are of a standard length of 92⅝ inches , 104⅝ inches , and 116⅝ inches , respectively . further , and although tall wall 302 is illustrated as including bottom wall frame panel 308 and top wall frame panel 310 having the same standard wall height construction , either or may be of a different standard wall height construction that corresponds to the wall height of standard walls on the same floor level . for example , a first floor of a building may have a standard wall height of 10 feet and a second floor of the building may have a standard wall height of 8 feet . in this example , the bottom wall frame panel of the tall wall would be constructed of a standard wall height of 10 feet to correspond with the other walls on the floor level , while the top wall frame panel of the tall wall would be constructed of a standard wall height of 8 feet to correspond with the other walls on the second floor level . additionally , while only a two floor wall construction is illustrated in fig3 , tall wall 302 may be constructed to span several floor levels by successive stacking in the manner illustrated . a number of embodiments of the present invention have been described . nevertheless , it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention . accordingly , other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims .	4
the embodiment of the present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings . this invention may , however , be embodied in different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein . rather , these embodiments are provided to explain the principle and actual application of the present invention , so that those skilled in the art will appreciate various embodiments of the present invention and various modifications adapted to certain expected applications . fig1 is a flowchart illustrating a white balance adjustment method for a display device according to an embodiment of the present invention . referring to fig1 , in step 101 , rx q , ry q , rz q which are spectrum stimulus values of q gray scale of red ( r ) of the display panel of the tested display device , gx q , gy q , gz q which are spectrum stimulus values of q gray scale of green ( g ) of the display panel of the tested display device , bx q , by q , bz q which are spectrum stimulus values of q gray scale of blue ( b ) of the display panel of the tested display device , and wx q , wy q , wz q which are spectrum stimulus values of q gray scale of white ( w ) of the display panel of the tested display device may be acquired , wherein q is gray level and is an integer , x , y , z are spectrum stimulus values of the display panel of the tested display device . in step 102 , wy q which is spectrum stimulus value of q gray scale of white ( w ) of the display panel of the tested display device may be determined as brightness of q gray scale of white ( w ); gy q which is spectrum stimulus value of q gray scale of green ( g ) of the display panel of the tested display device may be determined as brightness of q gray scale of green ( g ). in step 103 , wy q which is brightness of q gray scale of white ( w ) of the display panel of the tested display device , may be divided into i segments between q gray scale and q − 1 gray scale by using an interpolation method , that is , dividing wy q which is brightness of q gray scale of white ( w ) of the display panel of the tested display device between q gray scale and q − 1 gray scale as : wy q - 1 , ( wy q - wy q - 1 i + wy q - 1 ) q - 1 + ( 1 / i ) , ⁢ ( 2 ⁢ wy q - wy q - 1 i + wy q - 1 ) q - 1 + ( 2 / i ) , ⁢ ( 3 ⁢ wy q - wy q - 1 i + wy q - 1 ) q - 1 + ( 3 / i ) , … ⁢ , wy q ; gy q which is brightness of q gray scale of green ( g ) of the display panel of the tested display device , may be divided into i segments between q gray scale and q − 1 gray scale by using the interpolation method , that is , dividing gy q which is brightness of q gray scale of green ( g ) of the display panel of the tested display device between q gray scale and q − 1 gray scale as : in step 104 , on the basis of wy max which is brightness of max ( q = max ) gray scale ( that is , the maximum gray scale ) of white ( w ) of the display panel of the tested display device and wy 0 which is brightness of 0 ( q = 0 ) gray scale ( that is , the minimum gray scale ), the values from wy 0 , brightness of 0 gray scale to wy max , brightness of max gray scale , which have been divided , may be normalized as wn 0 to wn max ( that is , both of the number of gray scales which have been divided and that of brightness which correspond to its gray scales are i × max ); on the basis of gy max which is brightness of max gray scale ( that is , the maximum gray scale ) of green ( g ) of the display panel of the tested display device and gy 0 which is brightness of 0 gray scale , the values from gy 0 , brightness of 0 gray scale to gy max , brightness of max gray scale , which have been divided , may be normalized as gn 0 to gn max ( that is , both of the number of gray scales which have been divided and that of brightness which correspond to its gray scales are i × max ). in step 105 , wm q which is the ideal brightness normalized value of q gray scale of white ( w ) of the display panel of the tested display device may be acquired ; gm q which is the ideal brightness normalized value of q gray scale of green ( g ) of the display panel of the tested display device may be acquired . in step 106 , wm q , the ideal brightness normalized value and each of wn 0 to wn max may be compared , and the optimal gray scale of white ( w ) of the display panel of the tested display device , which corresponds to q gray scale , may be determined , based on the closest principle ; gm q and each of gn 0 to gn max may be compared , and the optimal gray scale of green ( g ) of the display panel of the tested display device , which corresponds to q gray scale , may be determined , based on the closest principle . in step 107 , the target chromaticity is determined , the gray scales of red ( r ) and blue ( b ) of the display panel of the tested display device are changed and different rgbw combinations are acquired so as to determine a rgbw combination which is closest to the target chromaticity . the following is a detailed description for the above each steps assumes that the number of gray scales is 256 ( namely , max = 255 ). in step 101 , by using , for example , a color analyzer or a charge coupled device ( ccd ) and so on , rx q , ry q , rz q which are spectrum stimulus values of red ( r ) q gray scale of the display panel of the tested display device , gx q , gy q , gz q which are spectrum stimulus values of green ( g ) q gray scale of the display panel of the tested display device , bx q , by q , bz q which are spectrum stimulus values of blue ( b ) q gray scale of the display panel of the tested display device , and wx q , wy q , wz q which are spectrum stimulus values of white ( w ) q gray scale of the display panel of the tested display device , may be acquired , wherein q is gray level and is an integer an range of which is 0 to 255 , x , y , z are spectrum stimulus values of the display panel of the tested display device . in step 102 , wy q which is spectrum stimulus value of q gray scale of white ( w ) of the display panel of the tested display device , may be determined as brightness of q gray scale of white ( w ); gy q which is spectrum stimulus value of q gray scale of green ( g ) of the display panel of the tested display device , may be determined as brightness of q gray scale of green ( g ). in step 103 , wy q which is brightness of q gray scale of white ( w ) of the display panel of the tested display device , may be divided into i segments between q gray scale and q − 1 gray scale by using the interpolation method ; gy q which is brightness of q gray scale of green ( g ) of the display panel of the tested display device , may be divided into i segments between q gray scale and q − 1 gray scale by using the interpolation method . in this embodiment , i may be taken as 8 . it should be understood that i may be taken as a random integer that is not less than 2 . as such , wy q which is brightness of q gray scale of white ( w ) of the display panel of the tested display device between q gray scale and q − 1 gray scale , may be divided as : wy q - 1 , ( wy q - wy q - 1 8 + wy q - 1 ) q - 1 + ( 1 / 8 ) , ⁢ ( 2 ⁢ wy q - wy q - 1 8 + wy q - 1 ) q - 1 + ( 2 / 8 ) , ⁢ ( 3 ⁢ wy q - wy q - 1 8 + wy q - 1 ) q - 1 + ( 3 / 8 ) , … ⁢ , wy q . gy q which is brightness of q gray scale of green ( g ) of the display panel of the tested display device between q gray scale and q − 1 gray scale , may be divided as : in step 104 , in accordance with the following formula ( 1 ), on the basis of wy 255 which is brightness of 255 ( q = 255 ) gray scale ( that is , the maximum gray scale ) of white ( w ) of the display panel of the tested display device and wy 0 which is brightness of 0 ( q = 0 ) gray scale ( that is , the minimum gray scale ), the values from wy 0 , brightness of 0 gray scale to wy 255 , brightness of 255 gray scale , which have been divided , may be normalized as wn 0 to wn 255 ( that is , both of the number of gray scales which have been divided and that of brightness which correspond to its gray scales are 2041 ), here , the range of the value t is 0 ˜ 255 and t =( m − 1 )/ 8 , where m is a positive integer . in accordance with the following formula ( 2 ), on the basis of gy 255 which is brightness of 255 ( q = 255 ) gray scale ( that is , the maximum gray scale ) of green ( g ) of the display panel of the tested display device and gy 0 which is brightness of 0 ( q = 0 ) gray scale , the values from gy 0 , brightness of 0 gray scale to gy 255 , brightness of 255 gray scale , which have been divided , may be normalized as gn 0 to gn 255 ( that is , both of the numbers of gray scales which have been divided and that of brightness which correspond to its gray scales are 2041 ), here , the range of the value t is 0 ˜ 255 and t =( m − 1 )/ 8 , where m is a positive integer . in step 105 , in accordance with the following formula ( 3 ), wm q which is the ideal brightness normalized value of q gray scale of white ( w ) of the display panel of the tested display device , may be acquired , here , q is an integer and the range of the value q is 0 ˜ 255 . e is a gamma value , generally ranging between 2 . 0 to 2 . 4 , and it is preferably 2 . 2 . in accordance with the following formula ( 4 ), gm q which is the ideal brightness normalized value of q gray scale of green ( g ) of the display panel of the tested display device , may be acquired , here , q is integer and the range of the value q is 0 ˜ 255 . e is a gamma value , generally ranging between 2 . 0 to 2 . 4 , and it has preferably 2 . 2 . in step 106 , the ideal brightness normalized value wm 0 to the ideal brightness normalized value wm 255 and each of the values from wy 0 , brightness of 0 gray scale to wy 255 , brightness of 255 gray scale , which have been divided , may be compared , and the optimal gray scale of white ( w ) of the display panel of the tested display device , may be determined , based on the closest principle . for example , the differences between each value of wn 0 to wn 255 and wm q may be acquired and the t gray scale corresponding to the minimum absolute value of the difference wn t may be determined as the optimal gray scale of white ( w ) of the display panel of the tested display device , which corresponds to q gray scale . for instance , the difference between wn 111 . 625 and wm 112 is minimum , namely , 111 . 625 gray scale is determined as the optimal gray scale of white ( w ) of the display panel of the tested display device , which corresponds to 112 gray scale . the ideal brightness normalized value gm 0 to the ideal brightness normalized value gm 255 and each of the values from gy 0 , brightness of 0 gray scale to gy 255 , brightness of 255 gray scale , which have been divided , may be compared , and the optimal gray scale of green ( g ) of the display panel of the tested display device , may be determined , based on the closest principle . for example , the differences between each value of gn 0 to gn 255 and gm q may be acquired and the t gray scale corresponding to the minimum absolute value of the difference gn t may be determined as the optimal gray scale of green ( g ) of the display panel of the tested display device , which corresponds to q gray scale . for instance , the difference between gn 211 . 625 and wm 212 is minimum , namely , 211 . 625 gray scale is determined as the optimal gray scale of green ( g ) of the display panel of the tested display device , which corresponds to 212 gray scale . in step 107 , the target chromaticity ( for instance : x = 0 . 28 , y = 0 . 29 ) may be determined , the gray scales of red ( r ) and blue ( b ) of the display panel of the tested display device may be changed , different rgbw combinations may be acquired , and the chromaticities of the different rgbw combinations may be obtained by a measurement . then the rgbw combination which is closest to the target chromaticity can be determined according to the measured chromaticities of the different rgbw combinations . while the present invention has been shown and described with reference to the specific embodiment , those skilled in the art will appreciate that various changes in form and details can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents .	6
as set forth above , many customer - oriented organizations , including retail operations , service organizations , health care organizations , etc . rely on interactions with their customers in order to obtain valuable information that will enable the organizations to optimize their operations and to provide better service to the customers . telephonic speech recognition applications , in which specific prompts about the organization &# 39 ; s products or services , enable the organizations to obtain information from customers &# 39 ; in a manner which consumes very little time and which does not require repeat visits to the organization &# 39 ; s location . for many organizations , these types of interactions are much less troublesome for customers who might have difficulties in traveling . while speech recognition applications can be an extremely efficient way to gather information from respondents , if the respondent is not able to respond to the prompts of the survey or does not understand the survey process or how to respond to certain types of queries , the process can be frustrating for respondent , thus inhibiting future interactions with the respondent , and the process can be costly and time consuming for the organization providing the service . the present invention includes a method and system for determining whether a respondent is capable of responding to the prompts in a telephonic speech recognition application and what extra explanations or instructions , with modified application functionality , might be required to assist the respondent in completing the application . the method is incorporated into the application , and responses to introductory prompts of the application direct the application to present prompts to the respondent that will enable the respondent to learn how to correctly complete the application . referring now to fig1 - 3 , a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described . system 12 , fig1 includes an automated telephone calling system 14 and a speech recognition system 16 . preferably , the automated telephone calling system 14 is a personal computer such as an ibm pc or ibm pc compatible system or an apple macintosh system or a more advanced computer system such as an alpha - based computer system available from compaq computer corporation or sparc station computer system available from sun microsystems corporation , although a main frame computer system can also be used . in such a system , all of the components of the system will reside on the computer system , thus enabling the system to independently process data received from a respondent in the manner described below . alternatively , the components may be included in different systems that have access to each other via a lan or similar network . for example , the automated telephone calling device 14 may reside on a server system which receives the audio response from a telephone 18 and transmits the response to the speech recognition device 16 . the automated telephone calling system 14 may also include a network interface that facilitates receipt of audio information by any of a variety of a networks , such as telephone networks , cellular telephone networks , the web , internet , local area networks ( lans ), wide area networks ( wans ), private networks , virtual private networks ( vpns ), intranets , extranets , wireless networks , and the like , or some combination thereof . the system 10 may be accessible by any one or more of a variety of input devices capable of communicating audio information . such devices may include , but are not limited to , a standard telephone or cellular telephone 18 . automated telephone calling system 14 includes a database of persons to whom the system 12 is capable of initiating or receiving telephone calls , referred to hereinafter as the “ target person ”, a telephone number associated with each person and a recorded data file that includes the target person &# 39 ; s name . such automated telephone calling devices are known in the art . as is described below , the automated telephone calling system 14 is capable of initiating or receiving a telephone call to or from a target person and playing a prerecorded greeting prompt asking for the target person . the system 14 then interacts with speech recognition system 16 to analyze responses received from the person on telephone 18 . speech recognition system 16 is an automated system on which a speech recognition application , including a series of acoustic outputs called prompts , which comprise queries about a particular topic , are programmed so that they can be presented to a respondent , preferably by means of a telephonic interaction between the querying party and the respondent . however , a speech recognition application may be any interactive application that collects , provides , and / or shares information . as examples , in the present invention , a speech application may be any of a group of interactive applications , including consumer service or survey applications ; web access applications ; customer service applications ; educational applications , including computer - based learning and lesson applications and testing applications ; screening applications ; consumer preference monitoring applications ; compliance applications , including applications that generate notifications of compliance related activities , including notifications regarding product maintenance ; test result applications , including applications that provide at least one of standardized tests results , consumer product test results , and maintenance results ; and linking applications , including applications that link two or more of the above applications . in the preferred embodiment , each speech recognition application includes an application file programmed into the speech recognition system 16 . preferably , the series of queries that make up the application is designed to obtain specific information from the respondents to aid in customer or consumer service , education and research and development of particular products or services or other functions . for example , a particular speech application could be designed to ask respondents specific queries about a particular product or service . the entity that issues the application may then use this information to further develop the particular product or service . an application may also be used to provide specific information to a particular person or department . [ 0032 ] fig2 is a flow diagram which shows the method of adapting a speech recognition application and training a speech recognition application respondent in order to enable the respondent to effectively complete the application . first , either the automatic calling system 14 initiates a call to the target person at telephone 18 , or the target person initiates a telephone call to the system 12 based on information provided to the respondent by the organization providing the application . the system 12 initiates the application by providing an introduction to the respondent , stage 22 . the introduction generally identifies the host organization and informs the respondent of the purpose of the application . in stage 24 , the system 12 provides a brief explanation of the application , including the fact that the respondent is speaking to a computer that is only capable of posing queries , recognizing certain of the respondent &# 39 ; s responses the system then prompts the respondent to affirm that he or she understands how to interact with the system 12 . this prompt enables the system 12 to determine if the respondent is capable of interacting with an automated speech recognition system . based on the response given , the system determines which step will be executed next . if the respondent replies quickly with a “ yes ” or some similar affirmation , the system may move on to the identification check , stage 26 , in which the respondent is asked to provide identification , typically in the form of a personal identification number ( pin ), voice verification , or other method . while the use of a pin is desirable in application surveys that address private matters concerning the respondent , the use of a pin is not required in the present invention . if the respondent answers “ no ” or does not respond to affirmation request in stage 24 , the system 12 explains in greater detail how the system operates . the system prompts the respondent to answer “ hello ” to a similar greeting offered by the system , as a training exercise for the respondent . if the respondent replies correctly , the system can repeat the explanation of the system and proceed to the identification stage 26 . if the respondent is does not reply to the greeting request or replies with a reply that is not understood by the system 12 , the system can initiate several more attempts at , and approaches to trying to explain the process to the respondent , including attempting to determine whether the respondent is having difficulty hearing the application , in which the system 12 would be instructed to increase the volume of the prompts and / or to slow the speed at which the prompts are played by the system 12 . if the system is unable to teach the respondent how to respond to the application , the system enters an end call stage 25 , in which the respondent is thanked and optionally informed that they will be contacted by a human being , and the call is terminated . in optional identification stage 26 , the respondent is asked for identification , which in one example may include a pin . if the pin is correctly input either by speaking the numbers or by pressing the number on the telephone keypad , the application moves to the instruction step 28 . if the respondent enters an incorrect pin or does not know his or her pin , the system enters an end call stage 25 , in which the respondent is thanked and optionally informed how they can obtain a proper pin , and the call is terminated . after the identity of the respondent has been confirmed in step 26 , the system enters instruction stage 28 . in instruction stage 28 , the system 12 explains the purpose of the application and the benefits provided by the application . the system 12 explains the structure of the application and informs the respondent of what types of answers are necessary for the application to be successful . the system 12 can then provide a sample prompt to the respondent in order to prepare the respondent for what to expect during the actual application . if the survey includes a rating system , it is explained in this stage and the sample question can require an answer that uses the rating system . an example of this process in shown in fig3 a - 3 c , which include an example question and the options available , depending on the responses given . if , in this stage , the respondent is unable to answer the sample prompt satisfactorily , the system enters an end call stage 25 , in which the respondent is thanked and optionally informed that they will be contacted by a human being , and the call is terminated . after stage 28 has been completed satisfactorily , the system enters stage 30 , in which the prompts of the application are presented to the respondent . at any point during stage 30 , if the respondent does not understand the process or becomes confused by the application , prompts or rating system , the system 12 can re - enter either or both of explanation stage 24 and instruction stage 28 to provide help for the respondent , as necessary . the system 12 , when appropriate , can then return to survey stage 30 to complete the application . during the application , the system records each of the responses provided by the respondent for review at a later time . at the completion of the application , the system enters a “ wrap up ” stage 32 in which the respondent is informed that the survey is over and is thanked by the host organization for participating in the application . application feedback stage 34 provides an opportunity for the respondent to have his or her comments regarding the application itself or regarding the speech recognition application system recorded for review by the host organization . accordingly , the present invention enables the system 12 both to train the respondent in properly responding to the prompts of the associated application and to alter the course of the application based on responses to introductory and explanatory prompts . for example , if the respondent , from the beginning of the call , understands the application process and is capable of responding to the prompts , the explanation stage 24 and instruction stage 28 can be quickly navigated through , saving time and money for the host organization , since more respondents can be processed in a given period of time . on the other hand , if the respondent is having difficulty understanding or hearing the system 12 , the system is able to offer further explanations , training and sample prompts and , if the person is still not able to complete the survey , the system 12 is able to terminate the application . the invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof . the present embodiments are therefore to be considered in respects as illustrative and not restrictive , the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description , and all changes which come within the meaning and range of the equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein .	7
preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings . fig2 a to 2 d are cross - sectional views illustrating a method of forming solder bumps according to an embodiment of the present invention . with reference to fig2 a , a chip pad 32 is formed on an active surface of a semiconductor chip 30 , and then a passivation layer 34 and a buffer layer 36 are formed on the semiconductor chip 30 . the passivation layer 34 and the buffer layer 36 include openings ( not shown ) for exposing the chip pad 32 , respectively . a plurality of the solder bumps are collectively formed at wafer level . the chip pad 32 may comprise , for example , a metal such as aluminum , and the passivation layer 34 may comprise , for example , an oxide layer or a nitride layer . the buffer layer 36 preferably comprises a polymer such as polyimide , benzocyclobutene ( bcb ), polybenzoxazole ( pbo ), or epoxy , and serves as a buffer for mechanical stresses and as an electrical insulation layer . the buffer layer 36 can be formed by the well known spin - coating method and has a thickness , for example of approximately 5 μm . under bump metallurgy 38 is formed on the chip pad 32 , the passivation layer 34 , and the buffer layer 36 by , for example , the sputtering or the evaporation methods . herein , the under bump metallurgy 38 is multi - layered , comprising , for example , a chromium layer 38 a and a copper layer 38 b . other metals , for example , nickel ( ni ), titanium ( ti ), tungsten ( w ), vanadium ( v ), palladium ( pd ), aluminum ( al ), gold ( au ) or their alloy may also be used for the under bump metallurgy 38 . herein , the chromium layer 38 a serves as an adhesion layer and a diffusion barrier , and preferably has a thickness on the order of 0 . 1 μm . the copper layer 38 b serves as a solder - wettable layer and has a thickness of approximately 0 . 4 ˜ 0 . 5 μm . a phased chromium / copper layer ( not shown ) having an about 0 . 1 ˜ 0 . 2 μm thickness may optionally be formed between the chromium layer 38 a and the copper layer 38 b . the under bump metallurgy 38 further functions as a plating electrode when plating solder to form the solder bump . prior to forming the solder bump 40 , photoresist patterns 42 are formed . the photoresist patterns 42 can be formed by depositing a photoresist layer and photolithographically patterning the photoresist layer to expose the under bump metallurgy 38 over the chip pads 32 . the preferred thickness of the photoresist patterns 42 is approximately 60 μm , and the preferred width of the under bump metallurgy 38 exposed by the photoresist patterns 42 is approximately 120 ˜ 130 μm . the height of the solder bump 40 plated on the exposed under bump metallurgy 38 through the photoresist patterns 42 is , for example , approximately 70 ˜ 100 μm . with reference to fig2 b , after removing the photoresist patterns 42 , a heating step is performed . the heating step is carried out at a temperature slightly less than the melting point of the solder bump 40 . at this slightly lower temperature , the bump 40 is not melted and retains its shape . therefore , it is not necessary to additionally form the solder dams or the oxide layer in order to prevent flow of the molten solder of the bumps into the under bump metallurgy , and thereby the technique of the present invention does not require any additional step for forming and removing the solder dams or the oxide layer , as in the conventional approaches described above . with reference to fig3 the melting point of the solder bump 40 depends on the composition ratio of the solder , i . e ., pb and sn , and therefore , the proper temperature of the heating step is dependent on the composition ratio of the solder . for example , assuming a solder comprising pb and sn in a ratio of 95 : 5 by weight , since the melting point of the solder is about 320 ° c ., the heating temperature is properly about 300 ° c . in case of solder comprising pb and sn in a ratio of 37 : 63 by weight , since the melting point of the solder is about 183 ° c ., the heating temperature is properly about 170 ° c . the heating step is applied for a duration of preferably about 30 minutes to 1 hour . the heating step is preferably performed under h 2 condition , which prevents the oxidation of the under bump metallurgy 38 and the solder bump 40 . returning to fig2 b , during the above - described heating step , a cu — sn intermetallic compound layer 44 is formed between the solder bump 40 and the copper layer 38 b of the under bump metallurgy 38 . the intermetallic compound layer 44 is formed by diffusion of sn of the solder bump 40 into the copper layer 38 b of the under bump metallurgy 38 . the intermetallic compound layer 44 is not easily removed by a chemical etchant used in etching the under bump metallurgy 38 , and formed more broadly than the diameter of the solder bump 40 . therefore , the under bump metallurgy 38 is etched by using the intermetallic compound layer 44 as an etching mask . as a result , undercutting of the under bump metallurgy 38 under the solder bump 40 is minimized . fig2 c shows the under bump metallurgy 38 etched using the intermetallic compound layer 44 as the mask . with reference to fig2 c , undercutting of the under bump metallurgy 38 occurs , but does not intrude into the perimeter of the solder bump 40 . the lateral depth of the undercutting of the under bump metallurgy 38 can be controlled by changing the size of the intermetallic compound layer 44 . in this embodiment , the intermetallic compound layer 44 protrudes approximately 1 μm beyond the perimeter of the solder bump 40 , and , as a result , the undercutting of the chromium layer 38 a of the under bump metallurgy 38 does not intrude within the perimeter of the solder bump 40 . that is , minimal undercutting of the under bump metallurgy is provided . the under bump metallurgy 38 can be etched using a conventional wet etching process . as an etchant , the copper layer 38 b uses a mixture of h 2 so 4 and h 2 o 2 , the chromium layer 38 a uses hcl , and the phased chromium / copper layer uses a mixture of hcl and h 2 o 2 . as described above , the intermetallic compound layer 44 does easily react with these etchants , and is therefore effective as a mask for etching the under bump metallurgy 38 . following this , the reflow process for the solder bump 40 is carried out , according to conventional techniques . fig2 d shows the solder bump 40 following the reflow process . as described above , the intermetallic compound layer 44 between the under bump metallurgy 38 and the solder bump 40 is formed by the heating process , and the under bump metallurgy 38 is etched by using the intermetallic compound layer 44 as the mask . therefore , it is possible to obtain a sufficient joint area between the under bump metallurgy 38 and the solder bump 40 as well as a sufficient joint area between the under bump metallurgy 38 and the buffer layer 36 , and to improve the mechanical and the electrical reliability of the solder bump 40 by reducing the undercutting of the under bump metallurgy 38 . with reference to fig4 a - 4d , according to another embodiment of the present invention , the heating process prior to etching the under bump metallurgy is accomplished at a higher temperature than the melting point of the solder . with reference to fig4 a , a chip pad 52 and an insulating layer 54 are formed on an active surface of a semiconductor chip 50 . herein , the insulating layer 54 refers to the passivation layer and the buffer layer , which are described in the first embodiment . a multi - layered under bump metallurgy 56 is formed on the chip pad 52 and the insulating layer 54 . photoresist patterns 58 are formed on the under bump metallurgy 56 , a solder bump 60 is formed on the under bump metallurgy 56 exposed from the photoresist patterns 58 . the photoresist patterns 58 are then removed and the heating step is performed . unlike the embodiment described above , the heating step of this embodiment is designated to be carried out at a temperature slightly higher than the melting point of the solder bump 60 . as a result , as shown in fig4 b , the solder bump 60 is melted and shaped as a hemisphere . in order to prevent flow of the molten solder of the bump 60 and to maintain its hemispheric shape , the insulating layer 54 has a considerably high thickness such as several tens of μm . thereby , the under bump metallurgy 56 formed on the chip pads 52 and the insulating layer 54 , is shaped as a relatively deep hole in profile between the neck of the resulting recess on the up - set portion of the insulation layer 54 and the base of the recess at the down - set portion on the chip pad 52 . since the heating step is carried out following removal of the photoresist patterns 58 , an oxide layer 62 is formed on the under bump metallurgy 56 . for example , in the case where a copper layer is used as an uppermost layer of the under bump metallurgy 56 , the oxide layer 62 of the copper layer is naturally formed . this oxide layer prevents the electrical shorts between the solder bumps and assists the solder bump to form the hemisphere shape . as described above , the under bump metallurgy 56 forms a relatively deep profile between the down - set and the up - set portions , and the oxide layer 62 is formed on a portion of the under bump metallurgy 56 , the portion on which the solder bump 60 is not formed . therefore , by heating the solder bump 60 at a temperature slightly higher than its melting point , it is possible to obtain a sufficient joint area between the under bump metallurgy 56 and the solder bump 60 . when the solder bump 60 is melted and becomes shaped as a hemisphere , the joint area between the solder bump 60 and the under bump metallurgy 56 increases , compared with the earlier joint area . therefore , in etching the under bump metallurgy 56 by using the solder bump 60 as a mask , the depth of the undercutting of the under bump metallurgy can be offset by the increased joint area the solder bump and the under bump metallurgy . fig4 c shows of the undercutting of the under bump metallurgy according to the current embodiment , and fig4 d shows the solder bump 60 following the reflow process . the preferred embodiments of the present invention offer advantages in that the joint area between the solder bump and the under bump metallurgy , as well as between the under bump metallurgy and the buffer layer are sufficiently obtained , thereby reducing undercutting of the under bump metallurgy , and resulting in an improvement in the mechanical and the electrical reliability of the solder bump . further , since the first embodiment of the present invention accomplishes the heating step at lower temperature than the melting point of the solder bump , there is no need for solder dams or an oxide layer for preventing flow of the molten solder of the bump into the under bump metallurgy ; nor is there a need for an additional step for forming and removing the solder dams or the oxide layer , as in the conventional embodiments . although the preferred embodiments employ solder bump materials comprising pb and sn in a ratio of 95 : 5 or 37 : 63 by weight , the present invention is not limited thereto and can vary in a composition ratio of solder . the solder bump can be formed by other method such as the ball placement or the stencil printing , rather than the electroplating . further , the present invention is applicable to formation of a solder bump at a different position with respect to the chip pad through the redistribution or the rerouting metal layer , and not directly on the chip pad . this technique using the redistributed metal layer is described in korean patent appln nos . 1998 - 35175 and 1998 - 41724 , filed by , and commonly owned by the same assignee as the present invention . although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail hereinabove , it should be understood that many variations and / or modifications of the basic inventive concepts herein taught which may appear to those skilled in the art will still fall within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims .	7
referring now to the drawings , there is illustrated in fig1 a block diagram of an electronic control circuit , indicated generally at 10 , for a vehicle cathodic protection system in accordance with the present invention . the control circuit 10 is adapted to be connected to one or more conventional anodes 11 ( only one is shown ) to retard corrosion of the vehicle ( not shown ) in the manner described above . a battery 12 of the vehicle or other source is connected to supply electrical energy to the control circuit 10 . the battery 12 is connected to a first voltage comparator 13 and to one side of a transistor switch 14 . the first voltage comparator 13 compares the voltage level generated by the battery 12 with a predetermined reference level provided by a reference voltage generator 15 . if the battery voltage is greater than the reference level , the first voltage comparator 13 generates an enabling output signal to energize the rest of the control circuit 10 , as will be described in detail below . if the battery voltage is less than the reference level , the first voltage comparator 13 generates a disabling output signal to the rest of the control circuit 10 . the reference level is selected to be a minimum voltage level from the battery 12 below which it would be undesirable to operate the control circuit 10 . thus , the control circuit 10 is automatically prevented from draining a low charged battery 12 below a level which would prevent it from starting the vehicle engine . the output signal from the first voltage comparator 13 is fed to an oscillator 16 . when the enabling output signal is generated , the oscillator 16 generates a pulsating output signal which varies between either a positive or negative voltage level . the pulsating output signal is fed to both a pilot light 17 and a second voltage comparator 18 . when the pulsating output signal is positive , the pilot light 17 is energized , and the second voltage comparator 18 generates a closing signal to the transistor switch 14 . when the pulsating output signal is negative , the pilot light 17 is de - energized , and the second voltage comparator 18 generates an opening signal to the transistor switch 14 . the transistor switch 14 is responsive to the closing signal from the second voltage comparator 18 for effectively connecting the battery 12 to the anodes 11 . conversely , the transistor switch 14 is responsive to the opening signal for effectively disconnecting same . a temperature regulator 19 is connected to the output of the oscillator 16 , for a purpose to be described below . referring now to fig2 the structure and operation of the control circuit 10 will be explained in detail . the positive terminal of the battery 12 is connected to the anode of a diode 20 . the diode 20 is provided to protect the control circuit 10 from reverse voltage which could be imposed thereon if the negative terminal of the battery 12 ( which is illustrated as ground potential in fig2 ) was mistakenly connected to the anode of the diode 20 . the cathode of the diode 20 is connected through a resistor 21 to the cathode of a zener diode 22 . the zener diode 22 forms a part of the reference voltage generator 15 . the anode of the zener diode 22 is connected to ground potential . the zener diode 22 provides a constant reference voltage differential above ground potential at its cathode . the cathode of the zener diode is connected to the inverting input of a first operational amplifier 23 , which forms a part of the first voltage comparator 13 . the non - inverting input of the first operational amplifier 23 is connected to the junction between a pair of resistors 25 and 26 . the resistors 25 and 26 are connected between the cathode of the diode 20 and ground potential and , therefore , form a voltage divider . thus , the voltage level supplied to the non - inverting input of the first operational amplifier 23 is equal to a predetermined fraction of the voltage level at the cathode of the diode 20 and , consequently , of the voltage level of the battery 12 . the first operational amplifier 23 compares the voltage levels at its inverting and non - inverting inputs and generates an output signal in response to whichever voltage level is greater in magnitude . if the voltage level presented at the non - inverting input is greater than the voltage level presented at the inverting input ( indicating that the predetermined fraction of the battery voltage is greater than the predetermined reference level set by the zener diode 22 ), the first operational amplifier 23 will generate a positive voltage output signal . if the voltage level presented at the inverting input is greater than the voltage level presented at the non - inverting input ( indicating that the battery voltage is less than such predetermined reference level ), the output signal from the first operational amplifier 23 will be a negative voltage . thus , the first operational amplifier 23 functions as the first voltage comparator 13 to generate a positive output signal when the voltage level of the battery 12 is greater than the predetermined reference level . as will be explained in detail below , the positive output signal from the first operational amplifier 23 is utilized to enable the rest of the control circuit 10 to operate . if the first operational amplifier 23 generates the negative output signal , then it is undesirable to operate the control circuit 10 , inasmuch as such operation might overly drain the battery 12 and prevent it from starting the vehicle engine at a desired time . the output of the first operational amplifier 23 is connected through a resistor 27 to the non - inverting input of a second operational amplifier 30 . the second operational amplifier 30 is connected to function as the astable oscillator 16 . when the output signal from the first operational amplifier 23 is positive , the output signal from the second operational amplifier 30 oscillates between positive and negative voltage levels . the period of such oscillations is determined by the values of a feedback resistor 31 and a capacitor 32 . it has been found to be desirable to select the values of the resistor 31 and the capacitor 32 such that the period of the output signal from the second operational amplifier 30 is approximately two seconds . in other words , such output signal is positive for approximately one second and negative for approximately one second . when the output signal from the first operational amplifier 23 is negative , however , the output signal from the second operational amplifier 30 will always be negative . the output signal from the second operational amplifier 30 is fed through a resistor 35 to the base of an npn transistor 36 . the collector of the transistor 36 is connected through a resistor 37 to the pilot light 17 , which may be a conventional light emitting diode . the emitter of the transistor 36 is connected to ground potential . assuming that the output signal from the first operational amplifier 23 is positive , the output signal from the second operational amplifier 30 will oscillate as described above . when such output signal is positive , the transistor 36 will be placed in a saturated condition , thereby effectively connecting the resistor 37 to ground potential . consequently , the light emitting diode 17 will be illuminated because of the effective closed circuit between the battery 12 and ground potential . when the output signal from the second operational amplifier 30 is negative , however , the transistor 36 will be placed in a cut off condition . therefore , the resistor 37 will not be effectively connected to ground potential . because of this effective opened circuit , the light emitting diode 17 will not be illuminated . thus , it can be seen that the light emitting diode 17 will be illuminated only when the output signal from the second operational amplifier 30 is positive . the output signal from the second operational amplifier 30 is also fed to the cathode of a diode 40 . the anode of the diode 40 is connected to the inverting input of a third operational amplifier 41 . the non - inverting input of the third operational amplifier 41 is connected to the cathode of the zener diode 22 . thus , the reference voltage level supplied to the inverting input of the first operational amplifier 23 is also supplied to the non - inverting input of the third operational amplifier 41 . the third operational amplifier 41 is arranged to function as the second voltage comparator 18 . as with the first voltage comparator 13 , the output from the second voltage comparator 18 will either be positive or negative , depending upon whether the voltage level supplied to the non - inverting input or the inverting input , respectively , is greater than the other . the output of the third operational amplifier 41 is connected through a resistor 45 to the base of a pnp darlington pair 46 . the darlington pair 46 forms the transistor switch 14 . the emitter of the darlington pair 46 is connected to the cathode of the diode 20 , while the collector thereof is connected through a resistor 47 to the sacrificial anode 11 illustrated in fig1 . when the output signal from the third operational amplifier 41 is a positive voltage , the darlington pair 46 is placed in a cut off condition , thereby effectively disconnecting the cathode of the diode 20 from the resistor 47 . when the output signal from the third operational amplifier 41 is negative , however , the darlington pair 46 is placed in a saturated condition , thereby effectively connecting the cathode of the diode 20 to the resistor 47 . ignoring the operation of the temperature regulator 19 of the control circuit 10 for the moment , it can be seen that the darlington pair 46 of the transistor switch 14 will be turned on so as to effectively connect the cathode of the diode 20 to the resistor 47 when the output signal from the second operational amplifier 30 is positive . it can also be seen that the darlington pair 46 of the transistor switch 14 will be turned off so as to effectively disconnect the cathode of the diode 20 from the resistor 47 when the output signal from the second operational amplifier 30 of the oscillator 16 is negative . thus , the transistor switch 14 is effectively closed and opened intermittently as the output signal from the second operational amplifier 30 moves from positive to negative , respectively . therefore , the sacrificial anode 11 is intermittently connected to the battery 12 to retard corrosion to the vehicle in the manner described above . as mentioned above , the voltage level supplied to the non - inverting input of the third operational amplifier 41 will remain constant , by virtue of the zener diode 22 . the voltage level supplied to the inverting input of the third operational amplifier 41 will oscillate between positive and negative levels , depending upon the output signal from the second operational amplifier 30 . however , the junction between the anode of the diode 40 and the inverting input of the third operational amplifier 41 is connected to the temperature regulator 19 . the temperature regulator 19 includes an npn transistor 50 and a fourth operational amplifier 51 . the output of the fourth operational amplifier 51 is connected to the junction between the anode of the diode 40 and the inverting input of the third operational amplifier 41 . the inverting input of the fourth operational amplifier 51 is connected to the junction of a pair of resistors 52 and 53 , which form a voltage divider between the voltage level of the zener diode 22 and ground potential . the non - inverting input of the fourth operational amplifier 51 is connected through a resistor 55 to the zener diode 22 . however , the base of the transistor 50 is connected to the junction between the resistor 55 and the non - inverting input of the operational amplifier 51 . the collector of the transistor 50 is an open circuit , while the emitter thereof is connected to ground potential . thus , the resistor 55 and the transistor 50 also form a voltage divider . the voltage level supplied to the inverting input of the fourth operational amplifier 51 is constant , depending only upon the voltage level determined by the zener diode 22 and the values of the resistors 52 and 53 . however , the voltage level supplied to the non - inverting input is variable , depending upon the voltage level determined by the zener diode 22 , the value of the resistor 55 , and the internal variable voltage differential between the base and the emitter of the transistor 50 . this variable voltage differential is determined by the ambient temperature . as the ambient temperature increases , the voltage differential between the base and the emitter of the transistor 50 decreases . therefore , the voltage level supplied to the non - inverting input of the fourth operational amplifier 51 also decreases . accordingly , when the ambient temperature is greater than a predetermined temperature level ( as determined by the values of the resistors 52 and 53 ), the output signal from the fourth operational amplifier 51 will be a negative voltage . when the ambient temperature is below such predetermined temperature , the output signal from the fourth operational amplifier 51 will be a positive voltage . so long as the ambient temperature of the control circuit 10 is less than the predetermined level , the control circuit 10 will operate in the manner described above . this is because the positive output voltage from the fourth operational amplifier 51 does not prevent the oscillating output signal from the second operational amplifier 30 from passing through to the inverting input of the third operational amplifier 41 . if the ambient temperature of the control circuit 10 should increase above the predetermined level , however , the negative output voltage from the fourth operational amplifier 51 will clamp the inverting input of the third operational amplifier 41 at such negative voltage and , therefore , prevent the oscillating output signal from the second operational amplifier 30 from passing thereto . consequently , the output signal from the third operational amplifier 41 will always be a positive voltage , thereby opening the transistor switch 14 to prevent the anode 11 from being effectively connected to the battery 12 . as mentioned above , such a situation would only occur when the ambient temperature of the control circuit 10 is so high as to possibly cause damage thereto . consequently , it would be undesirable to permit the control circuit 10 to continue to energize the anode 11 under such circumstances . when the ambient temperature later falls below the predetermined level , the control circuit 10 will automatically re - start to intermittently energize the anode . in accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes , the principal and mode of operation of the present invention have been explained and illustrated in its preferred embodiment . however , it must be understood that the present invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically explained and illustrated without departing from its spirit or scope .	2
the detailed embodiments of the invention will now be described making reference to the following drawings in which like reference numbers denote like structure or steps . in accordance with an embodiment of the invention , an ink jet , laser marking system , or other printing or etching system may be employed in order to print a plurality of medication pills with a predetermined fractal image . other acceptable printing systems may also be employed , and may include , by way of example only , and without limitation , laser printing , laser etching , photographic imaging , photolithography techniques , solid ink printing , or the like . one or more known edible ink products may also be employed in the printing process . invisible , uv sensitive , heat sensitive , and other appropriate inks may be employed . each medication pill may further be coated with a laser or other light sensitive or otherwise sensitive coatings that , when caused to react , may be employed to mark the medication pills , while remaining edible by humans . furthermore , single or multiple color printing may be employed . referring first to fig1 depicting a first embodiment of the invention , a fractal image 110 is shown printed to a medication pill 100 . as is shown , the fractal image covers a substantial portion of the pill surface while possible still allowing for viewing of the pill surface based upon printing techniques , pill positioning , fractal selection , etc . fractal image 110 may cover substantially less than all of the surface of medication pill 100 . as is further shown in fig2 , a fractal image 110 is once again printed to medication pill 100 . also shown is a magnified portion 210 of fractal image 110 . because of the self - similarity nature of fractal images , as can be seen , magnified portion 210 of fractal image 110 looks substantially similar to the whole of fractal 110 , and is theoretically identical . this self similarity continues , theoretically , to an infinitely small printed image . of course in practice , the levels ( or dimensions ) of self similarity available are limited by printing resolution , and the ability to “ see ” these multiple dimensions may be dependent upon an imaging resolution of an imaging device . the present invention exploits these features of reality in order to provide a varied solution applicable in different security situations . the printing of fractal patterns is not limited to pill - shaped medication . as is shown in fig3 , such a fractal image 310 may be printed to a capsule medication 300 comprising first and second capsule portions 301 and 302 . when printed to such a capsule , the fractal image may take the shape of the capsule , and may be distorted thereon in a predictable manner . furthermore , if printed after the capsule has been sealed , any discrepancy between positioning of fractal images on the capsule portions 301 and 302 may be employed to determine the possibility of the capsule having been opened or otherwise tampered with . of course , solid capsule shaped pills may also be printed , but will not include capsule portions . in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present invention , the use of high resolution printing and imaging techniques may be employed when more robust security measures are required , increasing the difficulty of copying such an image , and leading to greater accuracy in identification of each item . determinations of the maximum resolution of such printed fractals may be identified by building such fractals from a smallest possible printed pattern , thus bounding the lowest fractal resolution . alternatively , such fractal images may be generated in a traditional form , by starting with a largest fractal image , and then dividing these larger images into smaller and smaller objects , until a predetermined limit or printing resolution is reached . such increased resolution may also allow for more precise measurements of the details of the fractal image , such as one or more distances between various portions thereof , ratios of one or more various measured lengths or angles of various portions thereof , etc ., texture of the medication pill surface , color of the medication pill surface , etc . which may then be compared to expected values to confirm authenticity and identification . furthermore , various types of fractals may be employed based upon a desired level of security . thus , more complex versions of fractal images may be employed where a more secure identification system is desired . variations in such fractal images may include changes in angles , length , number of pixels employed , distribution of one or more characteristics or pixel density , purposeful omission of particular pixels , use of particular color combinations on a planned or randomized basis . not only may generally more complex images be used , but a higher resolution printing process may also be employed , thus allowing for more precise printing of multiple fractal dimensions , and eventual recall and analysis of the fractal images by higher resolution imaging devices at deeper acquisition resolution . furthermore , as noted above , combination fractals may be employed to provide additional robustness against counterfeiting , and for determining identity . these combined fractals may be particularly chosen to allow for determination of different types of information . thus , a first or more fractals may be employed to measure for detection of distortion that may be a result of the shape of the pill , while a second or more fractals may be employed for encoding information and for prevention of replication of the fractal images . additionally , various color gradient application may allow for the calibration of the fractal image , the pill , or other object . referring next to fig8 , in accordance with an embodiment of the invention , a desired level of security may first be defined at step 810 . then , at step 820 , a corresponding necessary printing resolution may be determined , and at step 830 , one or more appropriate printing technologies may be identified that will provide sufficient printing resolution to allow for the desired level of security . finally , at step 804 , a predefined fractal image is printed to the medication pill using the determined printing technology . of course , if any of steps 810 , 820 or 830 are predetermined , they can be skipped , or at a minimum , responses to these steps can be predefined . after printing such a medication , in order to properly identify the pill , imaging steps may be employed . as is further shown in fig8 , a desired level of identification security may be defined at step 850 , and thereafter , at step 860 , a corresponding imaging apparatus may be selected . thus , if simple visual identification by an end user or patient is desired , a webcam associated with a mobile device or the like may be employed to image a high level and one or more additional dimensions of the fractal image , even if substantially more fractal dimensions have been printed . if , however , full authoritative anti - counterfeiting identification is desired , an imaging device able to image to a much higher resolution , thus allowing for the confirmation of existence of any desired number of fractal dimensions , may be employed . next , at step 870 , the selected imaging apparatus may be used to acquire an image of the printed fractal and pill . at step 880 the identity of the medication pill may be confirmed to the desired level of security . as with printing , if predetermined , any of steps 840 and 850 may be skipped or predetermined ( as if the user only has a single imaging device ). thus , as is further shown in fig9 , user may present a medication pill with a fractal identification image printed thereon to a webcam or other more sophisticated imaging device at step 910 . this device may provide local identification and confirmation of the medication , or may forward such information to a remote location for further processing , and a processing step 915 to make this determination may be employed , or such a determination may be made in advance . if local processing is not to be employed , then at step 920 , an acquired image or video sequence of images may be transmitted to a remote location for processing . at step 9125 , such remote processing may be performed , and at step 930 , results of such processing may be returned to the imaging device . if at step 915 it is determined that local processing is to take place , then processing passes to step 940 and the pill is analyzed locally . after such analysis , the user is notified of the authenticity of the pill at step 950 . the remote server or local device may analyze the imaged pill , identify the pill , and may indicate a determination of authentication or counterfeit . if counterfeit ( as determined locally or remotely ), the user may be instructed to not take the pill , or alternatively that the pill is authentic in conjunction with step 950 . as is next shown in fig4 , a fractal image 410 may be printed to a medication pill 400 , and where a portion 411 of fractal image 410 may be printed on a vertical or other portion 401 of pill 400 other than a front face thereof . in this situation , portion 411 of fractal image 410 is printed over a pill feature 412 , the edge . printing over edge 412 , and along vertical portion 401 will once again cause the fractal image to be distorted in a predictable manner . this predictable distortion may be used to further confirm that the pill is authentic , placing yet another barrier to a counterfeit medication . thus , recognition of predictable distortion of the fractal image and additional measures to avoid such copying may also be employed in accordance with various embodiments of the invention . in particular , a fractal pattern may be calibrated to include one or more of object pattern , shape , texture , markings , line thickness ( such as through the use of thicker inkjet lines , or by altering a wavelength of a marking laser , for example ), or the like . as noted above , by including one or more aspects of the object in the coding scheme and training an imaging system to recognize these expected fractal distortions , in order to counterfeit the object , not only must the counterfeiter precisely copy the fractal image , but must also produce an object nearly identical to the genuine object with respect to any number of attributes , any of which may pose difficulty . as is further noted above , various calibration lines or the use of symmetrical fractal patterns may be employed for distortion detection . thus , for example , incorrect object color may change an overall color of the fractal image applied thereto , thus indicating a non - authentic object . if printing resolution is reduced based upon curvature of a pill or other object ( and therefore a change in distance from the print head ), ink may be distributed in a known manner , creating a unique signature and allowing for any recognition system to better determine the shape of the object more accurately . in an additional attempt to provide a difficult to copy image , as noted above , a plurality of fractal images may be overlaid on an object , thus making copying even more difficult as various interactions between the various images may be more difficult to determine . in addition to including various features of the object in the fractal definition , these attributes may influence perception of the fractal image by an imaging system . thus , by being printed on a curved surface , for example , a fractal image may be deformed or otherwise influenced in predictable ways , thus allowing for the user of such shape to be employed to further differentiate authentic objects . because orientation of objects is not necessary in accordance with embodiments of this invention , deformation of such a fractal pattern may be determined in a number of likely orientations of an object , and then may be so classified and found on printed objects . further , if orientation of the object can be controlled for printing , then precise fractal deformation may be determined . as such imaging systems may learn such expected fractal deformation , the deformation may be employed as part of the object identification system . in accordance with one or more embodiments of the invention , information may be coded into the fractal , by placing such coding information into one or more parameters that may be stored in a parameter file used to generate the fractal . thus , a batch number or the like may be used in the place of particular parameters to be chosen by the user . recognition of the fractal , and reverse engineering thereof to recreate the parameter file may then provide access to the batch number or the like by the user , for example . it is anticipated that only a predetermined number of parameters may be employed for particular coding , others of the parameters being adopted to vary in a pseudo - random or other predetermined manner in order to make it more difficult to predict future likely parameter combinations . other information that may be encoded in such a fractal may comprise one or more of medication name , dose , manufacturer , date of manufacture , expiration date , location or the like . more personalized information may also be encoded into the fractal , including patient name , prescription regimen , physician name and the like . furthermore , fractal images may be printed at manufacture , at distribution , or in combination . thus , a manufacturer printed fractal may be provided for counterfeit prevention , while a second fractal , printed on top of the manufacturer fractal , or alongside thereof , may be provided and printed by , for example , a pharmacist or the like . these fractal images may include particular prescription , patient , prescribing doctor , date , and other patient and administration specific information . thus , by allowing for such a combination fractal application , general and specific identification information may be provided , resulting in a robust , personalized pill marking . additionally , it may be possible that one or the other of the manufacturer or local information may be provided by other than a fractal image . thus , by way of example , the manufacturer information may be provided in accordance with a fractal information , while the particular patient information may be provided by a one or two dimensional barcode , or other information providing process . of course , just the local or manufacturer fractal images may be used . alternatively , randomly generated fractals may be employed and recognized from a look - up table to be associated with a particular batch processing unit . other methods may provide a library of fractal images , and indications of which fractals are to be applied to different type , shaped , or colored objects . thus , it may be determined that a particular type of fractal image is best applied to a particularly shaped object . next , from this subset , a further subset may be determined as best for the particular color of the object . a fractal image from this subset may then be used or encoded further , and then applied . as will be further described below , such a hierarchical selection process may also speed the eventual fractal acquisition and recognition process . colors may be omitted from the fractal printing process deliberately in order to increase the number of variations of the code . for example , omission of specific areas may indicate batch number or date . furthermore , a range of colors may be included with absolute colors such as black , white , etc . acting as reference points . use of such a range of colors allows for more patterns to be created and utilized , thus increasing a range of possible unique fractal images . selection and / or omission of particular pixels in such a fractal image may be further used for variation to allow for randomization of predetermined fractal images . in accordance with an embodiment of the invention , one may embed codes into the fractal image that are distributed that can be properly resolved and interpreted up in reasonable lighting conditions by a low resolution camera . if higher resolution is available in the fractal images , but cannot be precisely determined by the low resolution camera , that low resolution camera may further be employed to determine likely distributions of color or shape across such a fractal that , while perhaps not being precisely distinctive , do provide an additional level of security above the simply lower resolution components of the fractal image . since these patterns are replicated , the system may decision fuse multiple instances of the same uncertain distribution to come up with a much higher probability of confirmation . referring next to fig5 , in accordance with an embodiment of the invention , a conveyer mechanism 510 is shown forwarding one or more batch processing units 520 . conveyer mechanism 510 is shown as a gravity - fed mechanism including a plurality of rollers , but any such conveyer system may be employed , including gravity - fed , belt driven or otherwise powered conveyer systems , and may further be provided with or without a belt system for conveying the batch processing units 520 . of course , any method for forwarding the batch processing elements , including hand delivery of the units , may be employed . further , conveyer mechanism 520 may comprise any desired method , apparatus or system for placing one or more objects in a location to be imaged in a manner as will be described below . it is contemplated in accordance with one or more embodiments of the invention that each batch processing unit 520 contain a plurality of individual objects , and in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention , a plurality of medication pills or the like . such a plurality of medication pills 610 are shown in fig6 . as shown , medication pills 610 are preferably arranged in batch processing unit 520 in an unstructured manner , but generally in a single layer . while slight overlap may be tolerable in accordance with the invention , a single layer presentation of the medication pills will allow for maximum exposure of the pills to an imaging apparatus , shown at 530 in fig1 . such a batch processing unit may comprise from one to any number of properly physically locatable pills , and may further comprise a physical structure for holding the pills , or may simply comprise a conveyer or other forwarding or holding mechanism for presenting the one or more pills to a printing mechanism . thus , as batch processing unit 520 is properly positioned below imaging apparatus 530 , imaging apparatus is employed to administer a predetermined fractal image to the plurality of medication pills 610 at one time . such printing may comprise a raster printing system , or may print or otherwise transfer a complete image to the plurality of medication pills substantially simultaneously . as will be apparent , each medication pill 610 will be printed with a portion of the predetermined fractal image . as noted above , because of the self replicating property of fractal images , these portions will include sufficient information to allow for proper identification of various fractal dimensions at various desired imaging resolutions , thus providing unique flexibility in imaging based upon desired security levels . thus , as is shown in fig7 , each medication pill 610 is preferably forwarded for processing to have a fractal pattern imparted thereon . such a fractal pattern may comprise a repetitive pattern 710 , a continuous pattern 720 , or other desired fractal image . each may be used in either a batch processing or continuous processing situation . such fractal patterns may further comprise one or more combination fractal patterns , in which two or more fractal patterns are combined to provide a resulting complex fractal pattern . these complex patterns may be combined before printing , thus imparting the complex fractal pattern in a single printing pass , or alternatively , each pattern may be printed in a separate pass , thus layering the two or more individual fractals to provide a resulting complex fractal image . it may further be desirable to determine where the one or more pills or other objects are located in a single dimension ( when printing is in accordance with a raster type mechanism ) or in a two dimensional arrangement ( such as a screen printing system or the like ). in such a manner , ink may only be applied where such objects are present , thus saving ink and improving longevity of the system . furthermore , by determining location of objects , and thus potentially batch size , particular fractal images may be employed that are properly suited to such batch size or arrangement of objects . in addition to employing the batch processing method of fig5 and 6 , a continuous processing system may also be employed . in such a system , a similar conveyer belt may be employed , in which medication pills or other objects are continuously passed beneath imaging apparatus 530 , and may preferably be employed in conjunction with a continuous manufacturing process of such objects . a fractal pattern may preferably be chosen that may be continuously replicated in a direction of travel of the medication pills , while being bounded in the direction across travel , or may be easily repeated in the direction of travel so all medication pills or other objects are printed with at least a portion of the fractal pattern . it has been determined by the inventors of the present invention that a particular image processing apparatus 530 may affect how the printing ink is distributed on the surface of the medication pill or other object , thus , in combination with the printed fractal pattern , producing a printer signature , i . e . a printer specific rendering of the particular fractal pattern . the particular characteristics of the printer , including nozzle tolerance , humidity and a host of other factors may influence an output fractal image . such a printer signature may be further used as an identifying feature of the printed fractal image . such a signature may be similarly determined when other imaging techniques , such as those described above , are employed . this idea of printer signature may also be extended to product signature and camera ( or more broadly , imaging apparatus ) signature . for example , a product signature may be based at least in part on how the product absorbs the ink , how the pattern at higher resolution distributes the ink , texture and reflectivity of the object , shape of the object , etc . unique texture , shape , color specific to the object ( pill ) will “ code ” or distort the fractal into a unique id . a camera or other imaging apparatus used to eventually image the printed fractal image may also have a unique signature in distorting the fractal image that may also act as an increase in security as it may be difficult to anticipate a camera that is to be used for imaging , if not an authentic system . these signatures , as opposed to being deficiencies of the system , may be embraced to strengthen the robustness of the system . such image influences resulting from unrelated characteristics of systems used to implement the system will be difficult / impossible to replicate . through a decision fusion process combining the results of analysis of any one or more of these attributes , an overall picture and confidence of authenticity or counterfeit may be determined . thus , the different hardware and pill interaction signatures , including shape , texture , color of the object , or the like will all help to further “ code ” or distort the fractal in a unique way . hence , the unique attributes of the product / item will help to create a unique fingerprint for the fractal . the inventive system is therefore able to learn the unique characteristics of the product through computer vision training or the like , and not simply apply an out - of - context code to the item . at higher resolutions of inkjet printing or other printing , marking or etching processes , codes may be embedded that higher resolution cameras are able to read as well . in the event that inkjet printers can no longer print at a high enough resolution , then feathering or expected feathering distribution may also be picked up based on a distribution that may be unique to the printer ( printer &# 39 ; s signature ). alternatively , other higher resolution printing or etching techniques may be employed . in the event that a particular camera , such as a webcam or the like , does not have sufficiently high resolution for acquisition of a particular fractal image , then expected blurring patterns may be read . this blurring pattern may therefore be provided as a signature in itself , and may be learned through computer vision and machine learning or the like by teaching with the lower resolution camera . multiple instances of the feathering signature may suggest likelihood of identification . any such recognition system may rely on confidence levels of detection and confirmation . thus , even if identification is confirmed , a threshold may determine confidence over suspicion of counterfeit ( i . e . how confident the system is that the item is authentic ). many instances of low confidence levels ( even if above threshold levels ), as received and accumulated over time from any number of different users at a centralized location , may indicate a potential counterfeit issue and raise a flag remotely to anti - counterfeit authorities to double check a medication source , or alert a user to report the possibility of a counterfeit medication source . when printing , and thereafter requesting image acquisition , at higher levels of resolution , the actual printing method may be employed to code information when continuous lines or images may not be able to be printed at these higher resolutions . for example , in the case of inkjet dots at very high resolution , the relative positioning of the ink jet dots may be changed , in order to be arranged , for instance , in a form of a proximity to a center of some printed object or other marker or attribute . thus , similar to notes on a scale , these same dots may be use to allow for the encoding information even in cases when only low printing resolution is available , but high magnification image acquisition may be available when the pill or object is to be identified . as noted above , in all cases , because of the inherent replicability of fractal images , the solution is effective even if only part of the fractal is printed on the pill . by the nature of fractals , any encoded id is repeated within the shape . similarly , when reading , if part of the fractal is obscured or otherwise unreadable , the id may still be determined . many varieties of data can be encoded in the fractal ( date , time , batch number , location , manufacturer , dose , item etc ). furthermore , writing or reading of the fractal image does not require alignment of the object perfectly as only part of the fractal may be good enough ( may need a percentage of the fractal to be printed on a surface for a specific webcam resolution and inkjet resolution ). upon reading of a printed fractal identification image through the user of a standard barcode laser scanning device , image acquisition , or other method for reading information from the surface of the medication pill , various reference points may be used to aid in determining authenticity . upon the determination of one or more of such reference points preferably defined by one or more of a pattern , color , combination thereof or the like in a fractal image , distances and ratios to other reference points may be determined and used to confirm authenticity , or a level of confidence in that authenticity , in a manner as described above . thus , an object may be scanned , and existence of at least a portion of such a fractal may be determined . if there is enough information in the portion of the fractal image to confirm identity , then identity is confirmed . if however , not enough information is available , various pieces of fractal images may be pieced together to determine enough information . alternatively , an occlusion or the like may be effectively disregarded through such piecing together of the fractal image . such information to be pieced together may be taken from one or multiple fractal dimensions . further , a user may be instructed to bring such an object closer to an imaging apparatus ( or otherwise zoom in on the object ), or be asked to switch to another medication pill for re - identification , in order to improve capture resolution . this may be particularly important in difficult imaging environments , such as in the existence of bad lighting conditions or the like , which may reduce a confidence of precision of imaging . such improved resolution may be employed alone , or in conjunction with anticipated effects from one or more object attributes , as noted above , in order to identify an authentic printed fractal image . any applicable imaging system , such as a high resolution system , or a webcam system , will benefit greatly over the use of barcoding . as orientation of the medication pill is not important , imaging of the fractal image can be performed at any angle of the pill . furthermore , in accordance with various embodiments of the invention , various augmented reality solutions may be employed in order to properly image the medication pill and fractal image , thus truly freeing up the user to image the fractal image without any real issues regarding orientation or placement of the pill . such augmented reality solutions may also provide additional information regarding the medication pill , including patient name , medication administration schedule information , prescribing doctor &# 39 ; s name , contact information , or any other information that may be useful for the user to view . once an authentication , or counterfeit is determined , such information may be provided to a remote location to accumulate such information . each pill identification instance will result in an authenticity confidence score . with the user &# 39 ; s consent , instances of low authenticity confidence may be reported to a centralized location , along with a medication image , gps data , as well as time and date stamps . higher - level authentication tests may be carried out at local pharmacies using higher resolution imaging devices . when sufficient notifications of potential counterfeit medications have accumulated ( confidence flags ), a geographic nexus of particular counterfeits will be determined alongside likely illegal distribution channels , thereby aiding anti - counterfeit officials . thus , if a high concentration of counterfeit items is found in a location , investigations may be employed in that area . further , proper identifications can be confirmed . variation in batch coded information may be employed in order to further allow for confirmation of particular medication generation time and location stamps . such information may be forwarded over the internet or other transmission system , such as transmission over a cellular telephone connection or the like , to a centralized location for analysis and accumulation , for example . selection of the actual patterns to be employed may be performed in accordance with consideration of one or more parameters to be encoded into the fractal image , and further based upon a surface or medication pill upon which the fractal image is to be printed . as different information may be encoded into each fractal pattern , the selection and encoding of this information will make changes to the fractal pattern in subtle manners . based upon a printing surface , expected distortion , amount and type of information to be encoded , printing technology to be employed , or level of resolution in printing and imaging desired , different fractal patterns may be preferred and employed . in fact , each such printed fractal provides a multi - dimensional pattern that comprises the above noted fractal signature . these dimensions may include one or more of fractal image , texture of the surface , color of the medication pill and shape and contours of the medication pill . these features may be employed to aid in object recognition . furthermore , selection of particular types of base patterns ( to be modified by coding ) may be performed in accordance with one or more particular tasks , pills or desired results . thus , for example , one or more simple fractal patterns , such as a cantor fractal patterns may be employed or lower security situations where identification is most important . more complex types of fractal base images may be employed for other , security intense applications . one or more possible applications are outlined below . this list should be considered exemplary , and should not be construed as limiting the application of the inventive technology to other applications . such a fractal image may be applied as a security labeling system to any item that is created in batches and may be varied in shape , such as medication pills in the manner as describe above . when combined with a facial recognition system , matching of patient and medication can be performed . the fractal image may be applied as a game on candy as a replacement to a “ scratch and win ” system , thus creating a show and win application , requiring the showing of the candy with the fractal image thereon being shown to an imaging device such as a web cam on a computer , mobile device or the like . such a fractal image may be applied to handbags or other fabric / clothing on the inside of a garment or label ( as difficult to replicate directly onto a 3d texture / surface ). such a fractal image system may also be employed with an identification systems employing facial recognition , or other biometric identification system . thus , identification of a patient or other user may be made employing one or more known identification systems , such as those noted above or others . pill identification may them be performed , and a confirmation that the particular identified user is to take the identified pill . if customized fractal images are to be used , the system may be able to determine whether the particular pill being imaged is being taken at the right time by the correct person . thus , through the ability to personalize such medication pills by batch number , patient , or particular pill dosage , a link between the pill and user may be established and confirmed . release of such personalized information may therefore be predicated on proper biometric or other identification . the following features may also be provided in accordance with the inventive system , as related to reporting of various results of identification determinations . use of the inventive fractal identification systems may be employed to provide an audit trail for a pill or object manufacturer . thus , upon use of the inventive fractal recognition system by a consumer , seller , or other individual , it may be possible to log results and alert the manufacturer if imaged fractal identifiers show low confidence ( based on fractal integration with object — shape , color , texture , curvature ), thus perhaps indicating an intent to replicate or otherwise provide a counterfeit product . such information , along with location data , may be provided to authorities or other systems for tracking such counterfeiting , and in order to determine or identify counterfeit drug distribution points , or other areas with such high counterfeit drugs . consumers may be provided with an incentive to check the identity of such fractal images , thus increasing availability of such widely spread identification information . similarly , to the extent that imaging of the fractal images determines that exact matches are present , similar information indicating positive results , and a likely absence of such counterfeiting may be provided to the manufacturer . such information may also include coded information , such as batch , time / date , location and other information that may be available . consumers may also be provided this positive match information so that they can be sure that their pill or other item is genuine , and that their security is being safeguarded . benefits of employing the inventive fractal imaging system are myriad . the use of an ink jet printing process is easily available , and relatively inexpensive while remaining flexible . other printing or etching processes , such as one or more of those noted above , may be employed when other combinations of cost and security are to be considered , or when mass printing is to be employed . mass batch and continuous processing avoids costs associated with properly printing images on individual pills or other objects . thus , the fractal images may be quickly modified , by including changes to the parameters for generating the fractal images , thus being indicative of various coding included in the fractal image . a fractal library database that changes over time may be employed , in the manner noted above , so that changes over time may be documented and later confirmed . such a fractal database may also be tailored to webcam resolutions commonly used in smartphones , thus providing fractal images with resolution acceptable and able to be imaged by standard webcams in smartphones . since the id can be confirmed via a consumer with a mobile device and smart phone , it means that no special scanning hardware is needed . thus , manufacturers or others may educate consumers to image and verify authenticity of an image , such as through imaging using a webcam on a mobile device or the like . confidence levels will allow for different security options . thus different levels of resolution may be employed based upon a level of desired security . higher resolution images , requiring higher resolution imaging devices may be employed for higher security applications , while lower resolution imaging and printing may be employed for lower security options . if the inkjet is a low quality printer , then distribution at higher resolutions ( as measured by the camera ) may suggest that fraud was committed if the ink distribution ( or one or more other printing attributes ) is different to what is expected . as noted above , since inkjet or other etching or printing technologies may allow for rapid changing of patterns , one can quickly update a fractal pattern to be printed , and link the pattern to specific dates of production and / or batch numbers . this may be especially useful for perishables or medications that go out of date . also may be useful for fashion items where dates of production are important . use of older fractal patterns on newer objects may suggest counterfeiting , for example . inks that fade over time may be employed , thus indicating passage of substantial time , or the like . alternatively , inks that may be wiped off or otherwise removed may be employed to allow for maintenance in the integrity of the item , while still providing desired levels of security . as described above , it is easy to print whole or part of the fractal image onto the medication as alignment is not critical . the inventive technology allows pills and objects of different shapes , curvature , and sizes to be labeled uniquely . in fact the unique shape , color and texture of the item allows for a unique id to be printed and can help to differentiate close but not identical items . the shape of the pill or item may have an influence on the way the fractal is printed allowing for expected distortions in the pattern to be recognized . this robust system may be particularly useful in identifying counterfeit items that may have slightly different shapes . as further described above , one or more fractal patterns may have a number of different colors built in that act as a calibration code . when pills or other objects appear to be slightly different in color when compared to the fractal — pill combination ( a known color gradient and range of the fractal and ratio with the pill ), then a warning sign can be issued . thus , comparison of the color of the pill or other object to the fractal , or consideration of an effect the color of the pill or other object may have on the color of the fractal may aid in the determination of status of the pill or other object . furthermore , as each object surface will have a unique texture , the fractal may be distorted in a predictable , measurable manner in accordance with this known object surface texture . this allows for texture to be identified as well of a specific surface and differences flagged . fractal identification labeling is far superior to existing imaging labels because it does not require the whole fractal necessarily to be printed on the medication or other object . use of the inventive printed fractal image will allow for occlusion by the user ( due to fingers blocking image or poor environmental conditions ) as only a portion of the image may be required to reach desired confidence levels . such a fractal identification label does not suffer from occlusion problems ( e . g . traditionally , one number hidden or obscured may inhibit use of the id system ). computer vision may therefore be used to learn and to identify replicating blurred images in the fractal and / or expected ratios of patterns , colors or shapes . in the event that occlusion occurs due to the environment and / or finger occlusion , then the system may be able to “ piece together ” different parts of available fractal images / sections , to create a complete code within a certainty range . furthermore , fractal identification may operate better than a number , or more traditional barcode , as it is more difficult to replicate . this is the first universal pill labeling system developed through geometry . the problem with present day technology is that it does not label the pill , or if it does label the pill the information is inaccessible to the public or can be easily copied or destroyed . the present invention is novel because it concentrates solely on the printing of the pill and the organic nature of the fractal patterns themselves , and the complexity embedded within them , to make the system extremely difficult to replicate . the fractal patterns may blanket the entire surface of the pill . any random segment of the pill , no matter how small or how large , will be able to be used to identify it . this is a tremendous improvement over barcodes , which are static fixed - form labels that do not lend themselves to different resolutions , and are also easily copied , damaged , and do not adapt to the physical configuration of a pill . progressively higher levels of fractal resolution will also allow for progressively higher levels of security authentication . it is the first solution that addresses high security pill identification needs with public accessibility . it will thus be seen that the objects set forth above , among those made apparent from the preceding description , are efficiently attained and , because certain changes may be made in carrying out the above method and in the construction ( s ) set forth without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention , it is intended that all matter contained in the above description and shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense . it is also to be understood that this description is 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 there between .	6
the present invention hereby provides a differential signal modulating apparatus and method thereof , wherein , after the reception of digital imaging data , through modulating the transmission sequence of differential signal , the transmission sequence of differential signal of the interface pin at the receiver can be coordinated for receiving the digital imaging data , offering hence the advantage of being able to be flexibly applied to various interface development . if the transmitter transfers differential signals to the receiver , then the transmission sequence of the differential signal that the receiver receives must be consistent with the transmission sequence of the differential signal that the transmitter sends , so as to acquire correct data . however , since the interface specifications developed by each companies and manufacturer vary , if the receiver and the transmitter do not match , it is doomed to receive wrong information . therefore , the present invention proposes that , after the reception of differential signal , the apparatus according to the present invention can be used to modulate the transmission sequence of differential signal , which coordinates the transmission sequence of differential signal at the receiver , so as to receive the correct information . at the beginning , referring to fig2 , a system architecture diagram of a differential signal modulating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown . as illustrated in fig2 , the transmitter 21 transmits a differential data pair and a differential clock pair , wherein the differential data pair includes data positive signal d + and data complementary negative signal d −, the differential clock pair includes clock positive signal s + and clock complementary negative clock signal s −. the differential signal can be sent respectively via interface pins a , b , c , d in 8 combination sequences , i . e . { d +, d −, s +, s −}, { d −, d +, s +, s −}, { d +, d −, s −, s +} { d −, d +, s −, s +}, { s +, s −, d +, d −}, { s −, s +, d +, d −}& gt ;{ s +, s −, d −, d +}, { s −, s +, d −, d +}, and the receiver must use the same sequence to receive differential signal . the receiver has a differential signal modulating apparatus 23 , which is used for receiving the differential data pair and the differential clock pair , further generating multimedia stream md . the described differential signal modulating apparatus 23 includes a transmitting unit 231 , a modulating module 233 and an operational module 235 . the transmitting unit 231 includes two differential amplifiers 2311 , 2313 , which are used for receiving the differential data pair and the differential clock pair . the modulating module 233 is coupled with the transmitting unit 231 , for adjusting the transmission sequences of the differential data pair and the differential clock pair , further outputting a data flow d and a clock signal s . the operational module 235 is coupled with the modulating module 233 for receiving the data flow d according to the status of the clock signal s , performing operations on the data flow d and further generating the multimedia stream md . the above - mentioned modulating module 233 includes a first multiplexer 2331 , a second multiplexer 2333 , a third multiplexer 2335 and a fourth multiplexer 2337 , wherein the outputs of the first multiplexer 2331 and second multiplexer 2333 are controlled by selection signals sel_ 0 , sel_ 1 , and the outputs of the third multiplexer 2335 and fourth multiplexer 2337 are controlled by selection signal sel_ 2 . the described selection signals sel_ 0 , sel_ 1 and sel_ 2 may be user &# 39 ; s input values or system &# 39 ; s setup values . the receiver can coordinate the transmission sequence of differential signal of the transmitter through the switching of selection signals sel_ 0 , sel_ 1 and sel_ 2 , so as to correctly receive the differential signal . the modulation sequences of differential signal are shown in the following table 1 : if the differential signal of the transmitter 21 is transferred respectively via interface pins a , b , c , d in a transmission sequence of { d +, d −, s +, s −}, then the modulating module 233 will switch the selection signals { sel_ 2 , sel_ 1 , sel_ 0 } to { 100 }, and after that the transmitting unit 231 receives the differential signal in the sequence { d +, d −, s +, s −}, the data flow d and the status of clock signal s will be adjusted through the internal circuit of the modulating module 233 , so as to match the reception sequence of differential signal internally defined by the differential signal modulating apparatus 23 . other transmission sequence combinations may also be used to switch the corresponding selection signals based on table 1 , so as to match the transmission sequence of differential signal of the transmitter 21 . for further understanding the operations of the differential signal modulating apparatus 23 in details , refer now to fig3 , in which a step - wise flowchart of the modulation method of the differential signal modulating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown , wherein the related system architecture thereof may be referred to fig2 and table 1 . the differential signal of the transmitter 21 is sent in the transmission sequence { d +, d −, s +, s −}, as shown in fig3 , and the described modulation method of the differential signal includes the following steps : first , the transmitting unit 231 receives differential signal ( step s 301 ), and , after the reception of the data positive signal d + and data complementary negative data d −, the differential amplifier 2311 performs operations on them and outputs an intermediate data flow , and after the reception of the clock positive signal s + and clock complementary negative data s −, the differential amplifier 2313 performs operations on them and outputs an intermediate clock signal ( step s 303 ); thereafter , the modulating module 233 sets the selection signals { sel_ 2 , sel_ 1 , sel_ 0 } according to the transmission sequence { d +, d −, s +, s −} for adjusting the intermediate data flow and the status of intermediate clock signal and then outputs ( step s 305 ); finally , the operational module processes the operationally - adjusted intermediate data flow according to the adjusted intermediate clock signal , and then further outputs the multimedia stream md ( step s 307 ). referring now to fig4 , therein a system architecture diagram of a differential signal modulating apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention is shown . fig4 illustrates a system architecture partly modified from the architecture in fig2 , hence reference is made in conjunction with fig2 . as depicted in fig4 , the differential signal modulating apparatus 4 includes a modulating module 41 and a multiplexer 43 . the described modulating module 41 includes eight ( 8 ) transmitting units 411 ˜ 418 , each transmitting units 411 ˜ 418 employs differential amplifier to receive different combination sequence of differential signal , and performs operations then outputs a data flow and a clock signal ; 8 operational modules 421 ˜ 428 are respectively coupled with the transmitting unit 411 in one - by - one fashion , each operational modules 421 ˜ 428 is used to receive the data flow according to the status of the clock signal , and performs operations on the said data flow , then further outputs an intermediate multimedia stream . the multiplexer 43 is coupled with all the operational modules 421 ˜ 428 , and , according to a selection signal sel , outputs one of these intermediate multimedia stream as the multimedia stream md . here , the selection signal sel may be a user &# 39 ; s input value or a system &# 39 ; s setup value , and , through the switching of the selection signal sel , the receiver may coordinate the transmission sequence of the differential signal of the transmitter . for further understanding the operations of the differential signal modulating apparatus 4 , refer now to fig5 , in which a step - wise flowchart of the modulation method of the differential signal modulating apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention is shown . herein refer to fig4 for the relevant system architecture . it is assumed that the transmitter still transmits in the transmission sequence { d +, d −, s +, s −}, as shown in fig5 , and the described modulation method of the differential signal includes the following steps : initially , transmitting units 411 ˜ 418 with different reception sequences are all defined to receive differential signal in the transmission sequence { d +, d −, s +, s −} ( step s 501 ), and the differential amplifiers performs operations on each combination sequence of differential signal then outputs eight ( 8 ) intermediate data flows and eight ( 8 ) intermediate clock signals ( step s 503 ); thereafter , the operational modules 421 ˜ 428 perform operations on the said intermediate data flow according to the received intermediate clock signal , then outputs ( step s 505 ); finally , since the sequence of differential signal received by the transmitting unit 411 , { d +, d −, s +, s −}, is identical to the transmission sequence defined by the transmitter , the multiplexer 43 selects the differential signal received from the transmitting unit 411 , and performs operations on the intermediate data flow , thus obtaining the desired multimedia stream md ( step s 507 ). in an embodiment , the above - mentioned transmitting unit is a low voltage differential signal ( lvds ) transmitter . and the described process operations on data include compression , decompression , combination , collection etc . the described differential signal modulating apparatus of the present invention is suitable for circuits which require conversion of differential signal to general data flow , e . g . mobile phone cam module , camera module and so on . by the description of the above examples , it should appreciate that the differential signal modulating apparatus of the present invention and method thereof is that , before the reception of digital imaging data , the transmission sequence of differential signal at the receiver is first modulated to match the transmission sequence of differential signal transferred from the transmitter ; or set up all combination sequences of differential signal at the receiver , so as to coordinate to receive different transmission sequences of differential signal . it is thus not limited by the interface of the transmitter , and the interfaces freely developed can be conveniently integrated into system chips , so as to be further flexibly applied to various products . the above - mentioned illustrations present simply the detailed descriptions and drawings of the embodiments of the present invention , without any intention to restrict the scope of the present invention thereto . the entire range of the present invention should be based on the subsequent claims , and all changes , substitutions or modifications that persons skilled in the art can easily consider and fabricate fall within the scope of the present invention delineated by the claims .	7
reference is first made to fig1 and 2 , illustrating , from different viewing points , one form of antenna assembly constructed in accordance with the present invention . as shown in fig1 and 2 , the antenna assembly , therein generally designated 2 , comprises a block 4 of dielectric material for supporting a first loop in one plane , and a second loop in a second plane orthogonal to the first plane . in the example illustrated in fig1 and 2 , the first loop is constituted of two half - loops l 1a , l 1b supported in the yz plane ; whereas the second loop is constituted of a single full loop l 2 and is supported in the xy plane . both loops are connected in series with a common feed point connection defined by feed points fp 1 , fp 2 ( fig2 ). more particularly , in the example illustrated in fig1 and 2 , the dielectric material 4 is in the form of a hexahedron ( cube ). thus , each of the half - loops l 1a , l 1b of the first loop is of a semi - rectangle configuration ; whereas the full second loop l 2 is of a rectangle configuration . as will also be seen , particularly from fig2 the two loops are located and electrically connected such that half - loop l 1a is in the yz plane and is connected at one end to feed - point connection fp 1 ; the second loop l 2 is fully in the xy plane and is electrically connected at one end to the opposite end of half - loop l 1a ; and half - loop l 1b is in the yz plane and is electrically connected between the opposite end of loop l 2 and the second feed - point connection fp 2 . preferably , each of the loops , namely the two half - loops l 1a , l 1b taken together and the full loop l 2 , is equal to one - half the wavelength of the predetermined frequency within the operative frequency band of the antenna assembly , such that the antenna assembly is a full wavelength antenna . however , each of the loops may be of a length equal to one - quarter the wavelength of the predetermined frequency such that the antenna assembly would be a one - half wavelength antenna . as shown in fig1 and 2 , the electrical conductor of the two loops is of a flat cross - section and is applied over the outer surface of the cubical dielectric body 4 . [ 0034 ] fig3 illustrates a further embodiment , wherein the two loops , ( l 1a , l 1b and l 2 , respectively ) are made of electrically - conductive strips of flat cross - section , and are embedded , or otherwise covered , by the body of dielectric material ( not shown ). this antenna layout includes room for a balancing capacitor to reduce the influence of user objects on the antenna characteristics . [ 0035 ] fig4 illustrates one example of an equivalent circuit that may be used for connecting the illustrated antenna assembly as described above to wireless communication equipment having a characteristic impedance of 50 ohm . the balancing capacitor c b keeps the antenna characteristics from being influenced by user objects , such as the human hand or the head . for example , c b may be in the range of about 3 · 5 pf . the value of the tuning capacitor c t , may also be in the range of 3 · 5 pf , and the value the matching capacitor c m may be in the range of 3 - 10 pf . the value of the impedance z in the illustrated antenna assembly of fig4 may be computed as follows , in terms of the skin effect resistance together with the radiation resistance ( r s ): i z = j   ω   c m + i r s + j  ( ω   l - i ω   c t )  ( eq .  1 )  = r s r s 2 + [ ω   l - i ω   c t ) 2 + j  [ ω   c m - ω   l - i ω   c t r s 2 + ( ω   l - i ω   c t ) 2 ] ( eq .  2 ) c m =  ( 1 ω ) · ( ω   l - i ω   c t r s 2 + ( ω   l - i ω   c t ) 2 ) =  r s  ( 50 - r s ) ( r s 2 + 50  r s - r s 2 )  ω =  r s  ( 50 ) - r s 50 · r s · ω ( eq .  3 ) i 50 =  rs r s 2 + ( ω   l - i ω   c t ) 2 =  & gt ; ω   l - i ω   c t =  rs  ( 50 - r s ) ( eq .  4 ) q = ω   l r s =  & gt ; i ω   c t = ω   l - r s  ( 50 - r s ) =  q · r s - r s  ( 50 - r s ) ( eq .  5 ) c t = 1 ω ( q   rs - r s  ( 50 - r s ) ( eq .  6 ) in the existing standard telephone , helix monopole and double helix dipole operating frequency : [ 0054 ] fig5 illustrates another form of two - terminal balanced antenna assembly constructed in accordance with the present invention for a transceiver of a wireless communication device . it includes a dielectric core 12 of cylindrical configuration ; an electrically - conductive wire 14 extending axially through the core ; and an electrically - conductive helix 16 extending around the outer surface of the core . one end of wire 14 , and one end of helix 16 , are electrically connected together , as shown at 18 . the opposite ends of the wire 14 and the helix 16 constitute common feed terminals or feed points , as shown at fp 1 and at fp 2 respectively . [ 0055 ] fig6 illustrates an equivalent circuit that may be used for connecting the illustrated antenna assembly as described above to wireless communication equipment having a characteristic impedance of 50 ohm . the value of the tuning capacitor c t , may be in the range of 3 · 5 pf , and the value the matching capacitor c m may be in the range of 3 - 10 pf . the value of the impedance z in the antenna assembly illustrated in fig5 and 6 may also be computed as described above with respect to fig1 - 4 in terms of the skin effect resistance together with the radiation resistance ( r s ): the antenna assembly described herein with respect to fig5 and 6 also alleviates loop pattern directivity and provides the other advantages discussed above . moreover the architecture of the antenna is designed in a way that assures minimal coupling and balanced rf behavior . the following discussion will be helpful in understanding the operation and advantages of the antenna assemblies described above . both the near - field and the far - field components of the electro - magnetic ( em ) field of a dipole antenna much smaller than a wavelength are set forth in the following equations , as appearing on page 498 of the book “ fields and waves in modern radio ” by simon ramo and john r . whinnery , second edition , ( page 498 ): h φ = i o  h 4  π   j   kr  [ j   k r + 1 r 2 ]  sin   φ er = i o  h 4  π   - j   kr  [ 2  η r 2 + 2 j   ω   ɛ   r 3 ]  cos   φ e   φ = i o  h 4  π   - j   kr  [ j   ω   μ r + ]  1 j   ω      r 3 + η r 2  sin   φ eq .  11 these equations comply with both the standard dipole antenna of the cellular handset and the antenna assemblies described above , as the dimensions of both kinds of antennas ( order of 1 cm ) are much smaller than the rf ( radio frequency ) wavelength of 30 cm in air at 900 mhz of the cellular frequency band . thus , the em fields of both dipole and loop antennas can well be approximated by vectorial summation of very small dipole elements . the near - field magnetic component , hφ in the above equations is predominantly responsible for the rf power deposition in a form of thermal heating within the human brain . the physical phenomenon responsible for this brain heating is the induced eddy currents within the human brain tissue as a result of the time varying magnetic field hφ . the time varying electric components in the near field , eθand er , in the above equations , cause thermal heating only for the face skin as these em components are shortened and blocked from penetrating the face skin due to the electrical conductance of the human tissues . in regard to the far - field em radiation pattern in both the transmit mode and the receive mode , the standard dipole antenna is of an omni - directional radiation pattern around the antenna long axis , while the loop antenna is of a more directive pattern . thus the loop antennas will show an inferior communication performance when not directed optimally either toward the transmitting cellular base station or toward the direction where the received radiation is reflected toward the loop antenna because of the directivity behavior in the loop antenna pattern , the antenna assemblies described herein with two orthogonal loops ( fig1 - 4 ), and with a helical conductor joined to an axial conductor ( fig5 and 6 ) alleviate loop pattern directivity . moreover the architecture of the described antenna assemblies is designed in a way that assures minimal coupling and balanced rf behavior . the dielectric material in the core of the described antenna assembly enables the antenna size to be reduced , as the minimum needed antenna conductor length for high enough antenna radiation resistance is inversely proportional to the square root of the material dielectric constant . the average rf transmitted power is reduced significantly in these antenna patterns and thus the transmitted rf power to the human brain is also reduced indirectly on the average . a standard cellphone helix or whip antenna essentially functions as a dipole arrangement , in which the antenna acts as one half of the dipole , and the body of the phone as the other half . in contrast the antennas described above with reference to fig1 - 4 and 5 - 6 , respectively , reduces substantially the radio frequency radiation from the phone body by virtue of the balanced antenna circuit being thus isolated from the cellphone body . the described antennas are electrically small and therefore experience a reduced radial electric field component . in comparison to a dipole or monopole type element , such as a helical whip antenna commonly used in mobile phone handsets , the described antennas produce lower radial e - fields , and consequently , lower total e - fields in the proximity of the element . the described antennas exploit the possibility of drastically reduced sar ( specific absorption rate ) and a longer battery lifetime for the cellular handset , in comparison to the standard monopole or dipole type antennas . to achieve this performance , the electrical specifications for the final radio frequency stage of the cellular handset phones should match the balanced antenna design . this balanced antenna design will imply , in theory , that loading effects due to human handling are minimal . in a realistic situation , in which the user is holding the mobile handset , lower rf transmitted power is required for maintaining the cellular communication quality at the same quality of service , resulting in a longer battery lifetime for the cellular handset . in all the tested cases for various cellphone manufacturers , all using the standard antenna , it was found that the peak sar from mobile phone handsets occurs adjacent to the body of the mobile phone . in all of these instances , the antennas described above offer the potential to reduce such radiation and therefore to lower the peak sar . the described antenna designs could be optimized for reduction of the sar to the human brain from the cellphone body ( w body ) by a factor of 10 relative to the performance of existing cellular handsets , as follows : in the case of an unbalanced standard antenna design , where the antenna acts as one - half of the dipole and the body of the phone as the other half , the running current in the antenna ( i std ant ) is equal to the running current in the cellphone body ( i body ). in the case of the above - described balanced antennas , where the cellphone body is isolated from the antenna circuit , the running current in the antenna ( i new ant ) is higher by the square - root of the quality factor ( q ) of the antenna circuit than the running current in the cellphone body ( i body ). since that the sar from the cellphone antenna ( a antenna ) and from the cellphone body ( w body ) is proportional to the square of the current , the reduction in the sar with the new antenna is obtained from the maximum possible q factor for cellular antenna circuit needed to support up to 10 % bandwidth ( δω ) around the mid - band frequency ( ω 0 ), as derived from the following equations : ( w antenna / w body ) new ant /( w antenna / w body ) std ant = q = 10 an additional benefit , when radiation occurs predominantly from the antenna circuit as with the new antennas , rather than the mobile handset body , is that loading effects due to handling are minimal . this gives the potential for improved antenna gain , in a realistic situation in which the user is holding the mobile handset . thus lower rf transmitted power is required for maintaining the cellular communication quality at the same grade of service , resulting in a longer battery lifetime for the cellular handset . the dielectric material in the core enables the antenna size to be reduced , as the minimum needed antenna conductor length for high enough antenna radiation resistance is inversely proportional to the square root of the material dielectric constant . the average rf transmitted power is also reduced significantly in this antenna pattern and thus the transmitted rf power to the human brain is also reduced indirectly on the average . while the present invention has been described with respect to several preferred embodiments , it will be appreciated that these are set forth merely for purposes of example , and that many other variations and applications of the invention may be made .	7
referring now to the drawings , fig1 is a perspective view of a typical assembled hollow component in the form of a turbine rotor blade 10 fabricated according to the invention . fig2 is an exploded view of rotor blade 10 showing its component segments . rotor blade 10 may comprise a cast or machined assembly including dovetail 11 having tangs , fir tree or other keyed configuration for mounting to a matching slot on the rotor ( not shown ) of the turbine . platform 12 supports hollow cambered airfoil blade portion 13 typically comprising a thin wall shell having cambered sides 14 , 15 defining a hollow interior . blade 10 may include at least two segments 16 , 17 ( fig2 ) comprising titanium or any of the titanium alloys hereinafter named . segments 16 , 17 may be diffusion bonded , brazed , electron beam welded or otherwise assembled along an interface defined by respective contacting surfaces 18 , 19 . in accordance with a governing principle of the invention , a hollow structure , exemplified by blade 10 , may be substantially stiffened by application of composite layer 20 suitably structured and bonded to the inner surface of at least one of the segments 16 , 17 constituting blade 10 . fig3 is a view in section along line c -- c of fig2 showing representative layer 20 applied to segments 16 , 17 according to the invention . layer 20 may typically comprise a metal matrix composite of fibers 21 and metallic crossweave wires 22 in a matrix 23 . in preferred embodiments of the invention , fibers 21 comprise ceramics of silicon carbide ( sic ), carbon coated sic ( scs - 6 ), silicon coated sic , sic coated boron , boron carbide coated boron , alumina ( al 2 o 3 ) or metallic glass fibers ; crossweave wires 22 comprise a material substantially similar to the matrix 23 material ; and matrix 23 is an alpha - beta or near - alpha titanium alloy including , but not limited to , ti - 3al - 2 . 5v , ti - 5al - 2 . 5sn , ti - 5al - 2sn - 2zr - 4mo - 4cr , ti - 6al - 4v , ti - 6al - 6v - 2sn , ti - 6al - 2sn - 4zr - 2mo - 2cr , ti - 6al - 2sn - 4zr - 6mo , ti - 6al - 2sn - 4zr - 2mo - 0 . 1si , ti - 6al - 2nb - 1ta - 0 . 8mo , ti - 7al - 4mo , ti - 8mn , ti - 4 . 5al - 5mo - 1 . 5cr , ti - 8al - 1mo - 1v , and ti - 2 . 25al - 11sn - 5zr - 1mo ( a selected alloy may further contain up to about 6 weight percent of a dispersoid such as boron , thorium or a rare earth ). other constituent materials may be selected within the scope of the appended claims by the skilled artisan practicing the invention . layer 20 may be applied by any suitable method , such as vacuum hot pressing , hot isostatic pressing of alloy foils , or plasma spray deposition of molten alloy powder over fiber mats . fibers 21 may be short with substantially random orientation , or long and substantially continuous and aligned along the long axis of the component to be stiffened to provide maximum stiffness in the desired direction . the fibers may be unidirectionally applied to provide stiffness in one direction or cross plied to provide stiffness in more than one direction . the invention may have wide application not only to the fabrication of internally stiffened hollow titanium alloy components used in gas turbine aircraft engine structures , but also to the fabrication of hollow steel based blades used in power generation units , hollow aluminum based components used in land based gas turbine engines , and hollow nickel - cobalt alloy based structures used in most turbine sections of gas turbine engines . the invention therefore provides an improved internally stiffened hollow structure and method of fabrication . it is understood that modifications to the invention may be made as might occur to one with skill in the field of the invention within the scope of the appended claims . all embodiments contemplated hereunder which achieve the objects of the invention have therefore not been shown in complete detail . other embodiments may be developed without departing from the spirit of the invention or from the scope of the appended claims .	5
the example hereinafter described is one in which the present invention is applied to a color electrophotographic apparatus , whereas the present invention is not restricted thereto but the technical idea of the present invention is applicable generally to image forming apparatus . an original ( not shown ) on an original carriage glass 23 is irradiated by illuminating means 26 ( an iodine lamp and a reflector ) formed integrally with a first scanning mirror 24 and is scanned by the first scanning mirror 24 and a second scanning mirror 25 . the first and second scanning mirrors are moved at a speed ratio of 1 : 1 / 2 to thereby scan the original while always keeping a first half of the optical path length of a lens 27 constant . the reflected light image passes through the lens 27 to a color resolving filter 28 and the light image is color resolved by one of color filters 28a , 28b and 28c corresponding to three colors -- red , green and blue , and the color - resolved light image is formed on a photosensitive drum 32 via a fixed third mirror 29 , a forth mirror 30 and a dust - proof sealing glass 31 . the photosensitive drum 32 is rotatably supported on a shaft 33 , is rotated in the direction of the arrow in response to the operation of a copy button , is charged ( for example , to the positive polarity ) by a primary charger 34 , and then is electrically discharged by an ac discharger 35 while the color - resolved light image is applied to the photosensitive drum , and the whole surface of the drum is uniformly irradiated by a whole surface exposure lamp 36 to obtain an electrostatic latent image of high contrast . the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 32 is then developed into a visible image by a developing device 37 . the developing device 37 is comprised of four developing means 37a , 37b , 37c and 37d for cyan , magenta , yellow and black , respectively , and the latent image is developed into a visible image by the developing means 37c corresponding to the color resolving filter ( for example , the yellow developing means for the blue filter ). each developing means has a sleeve of non - magnetic material , a magnet and a developer agitating screw disposed in the sleeve . thereafter , the dust powder image on the photosensitive drum after development is charged to a desired polarity by post - charger 22 , whereafter it comes to an image transfer station . recording materials p are contained in a cassette 40 removably mounted to the apparatus body . in the present apparatus , two such cassettes are provided and contain recording materials of different sizes therein . when one of the upper and lower cassettes is selected by a selecting button 17a in the operating portion provided on the upper part of the apparatus body , the size and type of the recording materials in the selected cassette is detected ( automatically or manually ) and the result of the detection is displayed . a display portion 17 represents the size of the recording materials by 7 - segment digital display for displaying jis a or b , and a display portion 16 represents the type of recording materials , i . e ., the paper type or the resin type ( ohp 19 ), or thick paper 18 or paper 20 of a thickness of the degree normally used . these signals are supplied to control means 21 and on the basis of such information , the control means 21 controls the peripheral speed of the roller of fixing means t to obtain appropriate fixing . such control may be accomplished by varying the number of revolutions ( r . p . m .) of a motor m or varying the gear ratio of the trasmission system from the motor m to the roller . now , the selected recording material p has its predetermined timing measured by a pair of register rollers and is fed in synchronism with the dust image on the photosensitive drum 32 . at this time , the recording material p comes into contact with an image transfer roll 38 via a guide and subsequently is subjected to corona discharge of the same polarity as the polarity of a post - charger 39 from the back of the recording material p by an electrostatic attracting charge 40 and thus , the recording material p electrostatically adheres to the image transfer roll 38 . the image transfer roll 38 comprises an elastic roll disposed on the outer periphery of a metal roll , and electrically conductive rubber wound on the outermost layer of the elastic roll , and is grounded . the recording material p electrostatically attracted to the image transfer roll 38 is urged against the photosensitive drum in synchronism with the dust powder image thereon and that image is transferred to the recording material p , and a yellow dust image is formed on the recording material . a similar process is carried out by the use of the red and green filters , and exposure to light , development and image transfer are repeated in succession . the recording material p on the image transfer roll repeats image transfer three times while being electrostatically attracted to the image transfer roll . in the case of the present apparatus , the ratio of the diameter of the photosensitive drum to the diameter of the image transfer drum is 2 : 1 and moreover , the two drums are directly connected together by a gear and therefore , the synchronization between the two drums never gets out of order . also , the color resolving filter 7 is changed to the next filter during the reversing process of the optical system , and the filter and the developing means corresponding thereto are endowed with a ratio of 1 : 1 by a program device . color resolution by the red , green and blue filters exposed to light , development by cyan , magenta and yellow toners and three superposition image transfers are effected as described above , whereafter a separating pawl 41 is operated by the program device to separate the electrostatically attracted recording material p from the image transfer roll 38 , and the recording material p comes to the fixing means t via a conveyor belt 15 . in the present example , the sequence control of the parting agent application relation is varied during the change of the fixing speed as shown in fig4 to 7 so that the surface of the roller to which the parting agent is not applied may not contact the toner image bearing surface of the recording material during the change of the fixing speed , and the parting agent is used effectively . in the figure , reference numerals 1 and 3 designate rollers having their surfaces coated with teflon to provide a good parting property with respect to the toners , and a roller 2 disposed between these rollers 1 and 3 and rotated in contact therewith is designed to have a soft surface layer of silicon rubber . the rollers 1 and 3 are hollow and have heaters 4 and 5 inserted therein so as to be suitably heated thereby and accordingly , the silicon rubber 2 which is in contact with the two rollers is also indirectly heated and after all , the rollers 1 , 2 and 3 plasticize by heat the thermoplastic toner 9 of the unfixed toner image on the recording material 8 inserted into and passed through the nip 6 between the rollers 1 and 2 and fuses the toner 9 to the recording material 8 . also , during the operation of the present apparatus , a load is imparted to the roller 3 in the direction toward the rollers 1 and 2 and the nips 6 and 7 between the rollers 1 and 2 and between the rollers 2 and 3 assume a surface - contact state with the silicon rubber layer of the roller 2 deformed by pressure . application felt 10 is adapted to suitably contact the surface of the roller 3 to apply a parting agent thereto . that is , the application felt 10 is lined and supported by a support plate 11 which is fixed to a rotatable shaft 12 rotatively driven by drive means 22 . in the present embodiment design is made such that a parting agent is supplied to the roller 2 through the roller 3 , and this is preferable , but alternatively design may be made such that the parting agent is supplied from the roller 1 to the roller 2 or that the application member acts on both of the rollers 1 and 2 to supply the parting agent thereto . the lower end of the application felt 10 is immersed in the silicon oil 14 in an oil pan 13 so that the silicon oil 14 permeates to the upper portion of the application felt 10 due to the capillary phenomenon . the rotatable shaft 12 is reciprocally rotatable in the directions of the arrows by being suitably given a rotational force by the drive means 22 operated by the electrical signal from the aforementioned control means 21 , and the support plate 11 is pivoted with the rotatable shaft 12 to urge the application felt 10 against the surface of the roller 3 or space the application felt 10 apart from the surface of the roller 3 . during this urging , the silicon oil 14 with which the application felt 10 is impregnated is applied to the surface of the roller 3 ( at this time , the roller 2 acts as an application roller ) and this silicon oil adheres to the rollers 2 and 1 in succession to prevent the offset of the toner . the control means 21 controls the revolution of the motor m in accordance with the signal from recording material detecting means 44 ( which discriminates the recording material by the utilization , for example , of a cassette signal , a light transmission signal or the like ) for detecting the size , type and thickness of the recording material and variably controls the peripheral speeds of the rollers 1 , 2 and 3 to a first fixing speed or a second fixing speed lower than the first fixing speed to obtain appropriate fixing . consequently , the rollers , 1 , 2 and 3 are maintained at speeds suitable for the recording material . thereafter , when the thus detected recording material is detected by recording material passage detecting means provided at a predetermined position on this side of the fixing means t , the signal resulting from the detection is supplied to the control means 21 . in correspondence with the generation period of this detection signal , the application period during which the application felt 10 bears against the roller 3 rotating at a fixing speed suitable for the recording material to apply a parting agent to the roller 3 is variably controlled by the control means 21 . if the point of contact between the application felt 10 and the roller 3 is a point c and the starting point of the urged portion 6 of the rollers 1 and 2 is a point d , the silicon oil which is the parting agent moves at a given fixing speed over a distance l of arcs ce + ed by the peripheral surfaces of the rollers 3 and 2 being rotated . point e is the point at which the curvatures of the rollers 2 and 3 are varied . by varying the fixing speed , the time during which the silicon oil moves over the distance l is also varied and therefore , the application period is controlled to a different period for each fixing speed . this timing will later be described in detail by reference to fig4 to 6 . the conveyor belt 15 located on this side of the fixing means t in this embodiment is rotatively driven in counter - clockwise direction as viewed in fig2 by conveyor rollers 15a and 15b rotated by drive means , not shown , and conveys to the nip 6 the recording material 8 to which an image has been transferred in the image transfer station of the image forming apparatus . this conveyance speed is constant independently of the fixing speed . as previously described , these rollers 1 , 2 and 3 have their rotational speed variably controlled in response to the signal from the control means 21 , but in the example described below , for the sake of simplicity , it is to be understood that the rotational speed is may be changed over to two set speeds , i . e ., ( a ) a first fixing speed v 1 in the case of usually used paper and ( b ) a second fixing speed v 2 ( smaller than the first fixing speed ) in the case of thick paper or ohp ( recording sheets of resin ). it is for the following reason that the rotational speed is so set . in the image fixing device as described above wherein the recording material is passed between a pair of rollers , if the type of the recording material varies , the amount of heat supplied to the toner on the recording material is varied by the degree of heat conduction and thickness of the recording material and thus , the fixed state is varied . that is , the image is not well fixed due to the difference in type of the recording material but may peel off . in addition , where a color copy image is to be obtained by a color copying apparatus , it is necessary to impart an appropriate amount of heat to toners of three primary colors in order to smoothly mix such toners to generate predetermined colors during fixation , but if the recording material varies as described above , a variation will occur to the colors of the color copy image . further , where a color copy image is to be obtained on a trapen film for ohp ( overhead projection ), the trapen film is lower in heat conductivity than paper and therefore , it is necessary to impart a sufficient amount of heat to the trapen film to cause toner to flow better to thereby flatten the toner layer so as to minimize the refraction and scattering of the projected light of ohp due to the ruggedness of the toner layer , but this cannot be realized by supplying the same amount of heat as in the case of paper . accordingly , it is devised to change the fixing speed in order to cope with the variation in the amount of supplied heat by the variation in the recording material . this method intends to slow down the fixing speed for a recording material which is poor in heat conductivity or which requires a greater amount of heat , thereby increasing the of supplied heat per unit time . reference is now had to fig3 to describe the problem occurring in a case where the present invention is not used . it is to be understood that the size of the recording material remains unchanged in both ( a ) and ( b ) below . in fig3 time t 1 is the time when a rotational force is imparted to the rotatable shaft 12 and the application felt 10 comes into contact with the roller 3 and application of the silicon oil 14 is started , time t 2 is the time when the rotational force of the rotatable shaft 12 is cut off and the application felt 10 comes out of contact with the roller 3 and application of the silicon oil 14 is terminated , time t 3 is the time when the silicon oil 14 applied at the start of application comes to the nip 7 with the roller 3 rotating at the first fixing speed v 1 and transfers to the roller 2 and further enters the nip 6 with the rotation of the roller 2 , time t 4 is the time when the recording material 8 enters the nip 6 , time t 5 is the time when the trailing end edge of the recording material 8 passes through the nip 6 , time t 6 is the time when the silicon oil 14 applied immediately before the application termination time t 2 passes through the nip 6 through the intermediary of the rotation of the roller 3 and the roller 2 , time t 7 is the time when the silicon oil applied at time t 1 enters the nip 6 through the intermediary of the rotation of the rollers 3 and 2 rotating at the second fixing speed v 2 , time t 8 is the time when the trailing end edge of the recording material 8 passes through the nip 6 at the second fixing speed v 2 , time t 9 is the time when the silicon oil 14 applied immediately before the termination of application at time t 2 passes through the nip 6 through the intermediary of the rotation of the rollers 2 and 3 at the second fixing speed v 2 , and time t 10 is the time when the rotational speed of the rollers 1 , 2 and 3 is changed over to the second fixing speed v 2 . at time t 1 , a rotational force is imparted to the rotatable shaft 12 and the application felt 10 comes into contact with the roller 3 , whereby the silicon oil 14 is applied till time t 2 . in the meantime , the silicon oil 14 is applied in such a planar state that the part of the surface of the roller 3 to which the silicon oil has been applied at time t 1 is the fore end and the part of the surface of the roller 3 to which application of the silicon oil has been terminated at time t 2 is the rear end . the fore end of the surface to which the silicon oil has been applied moves to the nip 6 with the rotation of the roller 3 at the first fixing speed v 1 . the silicon oil 14 in this portion transfers to the roller 2 at this nip 6 and further moves into the nip 6 at time t 3 with the rotation of the roller 2 . the silicon oil rearward of the fore end of the surface to which the silicon oil has been applied also moves into the nip 6 and finally , the rear end of the surface to which the silicon oil has been applied enters the nip 6 at time t 6 . in this case , the leading end edge of the recording material 8 begins to enter the nip 6 at time t 4 and the trailing end edge of the recording material 8 passes through the nip 6 at time t 5 . since t 3 & lt ; t 4 and t 5 & lt ; t 6 , during the time that the recording material 8 is passing through the nip 6 , the surface of the roller 2 which is opposed to the recording material 8 is the surface to which the silicon oil 14 has been applied and therefore , a parting action is exerted on the roller 2 and the toner 1 on the recording material 8 does not offset to the roller 2 . however , ( b ) if it is also assumed that also at the second fixing speed v 2 , the same sequence control as the process condition at the first fixing speed v 1 is effected from the start of the copying operation till time t 0 and at time t 0 , the rollers 1 , 2 and 3 are changed to a rotational speed corresponding to the second fixing speed and are driven , the silicon oil 14 is applied from time t 1 till time t 2 as in the case of the first fixing speed v 1 . as previously described , the surface of the roller 3 to which the silicon oil has been applied transfers to the roller 2 due to the rotation of the roller and further moves toward the nip 6 . however , the rollers are being rotated at a rotational speed corresponding to the second fixing speed v 2 which is lower than the first fixing speed v 1 and therefore , the time when the fore end of the surface to which the silicon oil has been applied enters the nip 6 is later than time t 3 and is time t 7 . also , the rear end of the surface to which the silicon oil has been applied passes through the nip 6 at time t 9 . on the other hand , the recording material 8 is conveyed by the conveying portion 20 at the same conveyance speed as that during the operation at the first fixing speed and therefore , it enters the nip 6 at time t 4 . however , the roller is rotating more slowly than the first speed and therefore , it is at time t 8 later than time t 5 that the trailing end edge of the recording material 8 passes through the nip 6 . accordingly , unlike the operation at the first fixing speed v 1 , in the case of the second fixing speed v 2 , t 4 & lt ; t 7 and the surface of the roller 2 which is opposed to the recording material 8 passing through the nip 6 is not always the surface to which the silicon oil 14 has been applied . particularly , the roller surface to which the silicon oil is not applied bears against the leading end portion of the recording material 8 and therefore , offset or twining of the recording material around the roller will occur . as described above , in the apparatus wherein the fixing speed is varied by the type of the recording material , it is the principal aim to change the rotational speed of the rollers of the fixing device and the other conditions , particularly , the sequence control , is not varied . accordingly , when the roller is rotated at the second fixing speed , as shown at time t 4 and t 7 , the surface of the roller to which the parting agent has been applied is not opposed to the recording material during its passage through the nip so as to correspond to the recording material at the ratio of 1 : 1 . as a result , the applied parting agent is not effectively used and a part of it is wasted . particularly , in an image relatively easy to offset as compared with monochromatic copying as in the color image formation , the danger of offset is great . accordingly , in spite of the fact that the parting agent is applied and consumed , the parting action of the parting agent cannot be given full play and this is very uneconomical . if the fixing speed is slowed down , the amount of rotation of the roller decreases and therefore , the distance between the fore end and the rear end of the surface of the roller to which the parting agent has been applied is shortened and the area of the surface to which the parting agent is applied becomes smaller . therefore , the above - mentioned problem will occur depending on the size of the recording material . fig4 is a time chart showing the sequence control of the present invention , fig3 ( a ) is a time chart showing the sequence control at the first fixing speed and fig3 ( b ) is a time chart showing the sequence control at the second fixing speed . the mechanical construction of the fixing device is the same as that shown in fig1 . the first fixing speed is the same as that shown in fig3 . time t 1 is the time till the time t 3 when the parting agent applied at time t 1 moves with the rollers 3 and 2 and arrives at the nip 6 . that is , in fig1 t 1 = l / v 1 . time t 11 in the case of the second fixing speed v 2 is an application starting time corresponding to time t 1 and is earlier than time t 1 . in the present embodiment , the time t 3 when the fore end of the surface of the roller 2 to which the silicon oil has been applied arrives at the nip is common for the speeds v 1 and v 2 . time t 12 represents the time when the application of the silicon oil at the second fixing speed is terminated , and gives the relations that time ( t 12 - t 11 )= time ( t 16 - t 3 ), time ( t 15 - t 4 )& lt ; time ( t 16 - t 3 ) and t 3 & lt ; t 4 , where time t 15 corresponds to time t 5 and is the time when the trailing end edge of the recording material at the second fixing speed passes through the nip 6 , and time t 16 corresponds to time t 6 and is the time when the rear end of the surface to which the silicon oil has been applied during the second fixing speed passes through the nip 6 . accordingly , in the present embodiment , t 16 & gt ; t 15 . when by the use of a constant α , there is the relation that v 2 = v 1 / α ( v 2 & lt ; v 1 , α & gt ; 1 ) between the first fixing speed v 1 and the second fixing speed v 2 , if it takes time t 1 at the first fixing speed for the silicon oil 14 applied to the roller 3 by the application felt 10 to arrive at the nip 6 , time αt 1 will be required at the second fixing speed . in the present embodiment , the application starting time t 11 is set time αt 1 before time t 3 so that the fore end of the surface to which the silicon oil has been applied arrives at the nip 6 even at the second fixing speed at the same time as the time t 3 at the first fixing speed . also , the time when the recording material 8 passes through the nip 6 is αt 2 for the second fixing speed if it is t 2 for the first fixing speed . accordingly , to maintain the surface of the roller 2 to which the silicon oil has been applied so as to contact the whole surface of the recording material 8 at the second fixing speed , the time ( t 15 - t 4 )- αt 2 during which the surface to which the oil has been applied passes through the nip 6 must be made correspondingly longer and for this purpose , the application time ( t 12 - t 11 ) is set to ( t 12 - t 11 )≧ αt 2 . if the oil application sequence is set as described above , the surface of the roller 2 to which the oil has been applied contacts the entire recording material 8 during both of the first and second fixing speeds even if the fixing speed of the roller varies and thus , there is no problem of offset . describing the second fixing speed in detail , the silicon oil 14 applied at time t 11 enters the nip 6 at the same time t 3 as in the case of the first fixing sped via the time αt 1 . accordingly , the leading end edge of the recording material 8 which begins to pass through the nip 6 at time t 4 comes into contact with the surface of the roller 2 to which the oil has been applied . on the other hand , the silicon oil 14 applied immediately before time t 12 when the application of the oil is terminated arrives at the nip 6 at time t 16 via the time αt 1 . the trailing end edge of the recording material 8 passes through the nip 6 at time t 15 earlier than time t 16 . thus , the whole surface of the recording material 8 comes into contact with the surface of the roller 2 to which the oil has been applied . in this manner , the other surface than the surface of the roller 2 to which the oil has been applied is prevented from coming into contact with the toner image on the recording material with the changeover of the fixing speed of the fixing device , whereby offset can be prevented . fig5 shows another embodiment of the sequence control in which the timing chart of ( a ) normal speed v 1 of the embodiment of fig4 is changed . a feature of this embodiment is that the application starting time t 11 remains unchanged during the first and second fixing speeds . in this case , in the sequence control , the control parameter is only the application termination time t 22 or t 12 and thus , when the program sequence control is to be effected , the program construction becomes simple and the memory capacity used may be small . fig5 has many portions common to fig4 and can be simply understood by being compared with fig4 . as described in connection with fig4 time t 11 ensures the leading end portion of the recording material at the second fixing speed to contact the surface of the roller to which the silicon oil has been applied . in fig5 the time t 1 at the first fixing speed is changed to this time t 1 to quicken the start of the application of the silicon oil and only the application termination time t 22 is variably controlled in accordance with the length of the recording material . the time t 22 is set so that the time t 61 when the terminal end of the surface to which the oil has been applied passes through the nip is t 5 & lt ; t 61 . accordingly , time t 31 when the fore end of the surface to which the oil has been applied passes through the nip is earlier than time t 3 and satisfies t 31 = ( t 11 + t 1 ), and time t 22 is substantially equal to time t 2 . as compared with the embodiment of fig4 the period during which the oil is applied at the first fixing speed is increased by a time ( α - 1 ) t 1 , but since this fixing speed is higher than the second fixing speed , the amount of oil consumed is not so great and rather , the oil can be supplied to the surface of the roller 1 and thus , this is a preferable embodiment . fig6 shows an example in which each time of the above - described timing chart is not determined on the basis of the direct detection of the recording material but is substituted for by the lapse time in the image formation process and is determined by indirectly grasping the movement of the recording material . it is to be understood that the construction is such that the application control by control means 21 is effected in accordance with the count value of the counter 45 shown in fig2 . as regards the counter 45 , the angle of rotation of the photosensitive drum 32 or the image transfer roller 38 of fig1 may be detected , or the pulse generated during the image formation such as clock pulse may be detected , or the detection such as the detection by the ordinary timer may be adopted . description will now be made on the basis of the flow chart . when recording is started , counting is started , and the fixing speed based on the recording material or other element is discriminated at judgment 46 . at judgment 46 , whether the fixing speed is the aforementioned first fixing speed is discriminated , and judgments 47 and 48 are effected in the mode of the first fixing speed and judgments 49 and 50 are effected in the mode of the second fixing speed . in any of the judgments , whether the count value has reached a predetermined value is judged . predetermined values n 0 , n 1 , n 2 and n 3 are in the relations that n 0 ≦ n 1 & lt ; n 2 and n 0 & lt ; n 3 . the predetermined value n 0 corresponds to a time corresponding to the aforementioned time t 11 and causes the application of the oil in the second fixing speed mode to be started and ensures a relation such that a sufficient amount of silicon oil is applied to the surface of the roller when the leading end edge of the recording material enters the nip . likewise , the predetermined value n 1 corresponds to a time corresponding to the aforementioned time t 1 or t 11 and causes the application of the oil in the first fixing speed mode to be started and ensures the above - described relation . the predetermined value n 3 corresponds to a time corresponding to time t 16 and causes the application of the oil at the second fixing speed to be terminated and imparts a sufficient amount of silicon oil to the surface of the roller which bears against the trailing end edge of the recording material as it passes through the nip , and prevents any wasteful loss thereafter . likewise , the predetermined value n 2 corresponds to a time corresponding to time t 6 or t 61 and effects an operation similar to that of the predetermined value n 3 in the first fixing speed mode . thereafter , when the image formation process is terminated , the count is reset and the preparation for the next process is made . also , during the continuous copy mode , the application period may be determined so as to satisfy the above - described technical idea with the predetermined value n 0 , n 1 , n 2 and n 3 , the image formation speed and the distance between the recording materials being taken into account . these predetermined values are of course determined so as to be changed depending on different sizes of the recording materials . the embodiment shown in fig7 is one for improving the fixing of a color image ( of plural colors ) by the utilization of the fixing means t shown in fig1 and 2 and presenting a more effective method of utilizing the parting agent . as previously described , when application of the silicon oil is effected at the lower second fixing speed , the amount of oil applied generally increases , but when the speed becomes considerably lower , a considerable amount of oil applied is obtained particularly at the start of the application of the oil . however , where the amount of toner forming a color image ( of plural colors ) or an unfixed image is great , a flow of image is liable to occur due to the great amount of parting agent . the present embodiment solves this problem and provides an application sequence in which no disturbance of the image or no offset occurs during the fixation of the recording material from its leading end edge to its trailing end edge even at a considerably low fixing speed . briefly showing a feature of the present embodiment , it is that the application period of the application member at a low fixing speed is not caused to act on the full length of the recording material as shown in fig4 and 6 and is made into an application period shorter than the full length with the leading end edge of the recording material as the reference . the parting agent remaining on the surface of the roller is supplied to the surface of the roller which bears against the remainder of the recording material . accordingly , the application period is determined with the amount of remaining parting agent taken into account , but it is important that a time shorter than the time during which the full length of the recording material is fixed is used as the period of the supply of the parting agent to the roller by the application member . the chart of fig7 is one in which the feature of the present embodiment is added with the chart of the fig4 embodiment as the basis . the application area by the application felt in the charts ( a ) and ( b ) shows the time during which the application felt actually bears against the surface of the roller and the silicon oil in the application range in which the silicon oil is supplied passes through the nip . in the chart ( a ), if the application period ( t 2 - t 1 ) is δt · v 1 and this is identical to the passage period ( t 6 - t 3 ) of the surface of the roller to which the oil has been applied . in the chart ( b ), if the application period ( t 21 - t 11 ) is δt &# 39 ;, it is shorter than ( t 12 - t 11 ) in the fig4 embodiment and satisfies t 3 & lt ; t 4 , and the application area is δt &# 39 ;· v 2 and becomes a period ( t 162 - t 3 ) shorter than the passage period ( t 161 - t 3 ) of the surface to which the oil has been applied . during the period ( t 161 - t 162 ) thereafter , in the embodiment of fig2 a sufficient amount of silicon oil is supplied by an oil pool 43 accumulated forwardly of the nip between the application roller 3 and the fixing roller 2 . by doing so , the disturbance of the image by too much oil is prevented and efficient utilization of the parting agent and reliable prevention of offset can be achieved . as described above , the parting agent application sequence is changed with the change of the fixing speed , whereby the surface of the toner image on the recording material is fixed by the surface of the fixing roller always wet with the parting agent and offset of the image can be prevented . also , at any fixing speed , appropriate values are set as the sequence parameters at the start of the application and the termination of the application , whereby it is possible to apply the parting agent only to the area which is contacted by the recording material , by the surface of the fixing roller , and a maximum effect can be achieved in preventing offset by a minimum necessary amount of applied parting agent . accordingly , this is not only economical as compared with the prior art , but also can prevent the apparatus from being stained by unnecessary application of the parting agent . the present invention is particularly effective for color recording apparatuses , and is also applicable to apparatuses which use a variety of recording materials . the first fixing speed and the second fixing speed are changed in conformity with the recording material , but these speeds may be appropriately changed for the improvement of fixing . for example , in the mode for forming the multi - color toner image , the same key as the designation key for ohp 19 may be used to effect the second fixing speed and , in the case of a monochromatic image , the same key as the designation key for plain paper 20 may be used to effect the first fixing speed . the application acting period of the present invention is the generic expression of the time during which the application is effected , the point at which the application is started , or the length of the area over which the application is effected , and it is important as the control thereof that the parting agent is reliably applied to the surface of the fixing rotatable member which contacts an unfixed image . to judge that the recording material has arrived at the position whereat the application is started or stopped , use may be made of a timer , a sensor and a timer , or a plurality of sensors .	6
referring to the accompanying drawings , the principal portion of a disk player embodying the present invention will be described . as shown in fig2 an annular boss 34 is formed over the whole outer periphery of a turntable 21 and the turntable 21 abuts a recording disk 35 with its annular boss 34 . on the other hand , two bosses 36 and 37 are formed on a presser member 30 concentrically with the central axis of rotation of the presser member 30 as the center point . these bosses 36 and 37 are used to abut on the principal surface of the disk 35 . the diameter of the annular boss 34 formed on the turntable 21 is made larger than that of the inner annular boss 36 and smaller than that of the outer annular boss 37 formed on the presser member 30 . as is evident from fig2 the turntable is not circularly symmetric . instead a number of arms 21 connect the central part of the turntable 21 and a wall 39 of the recess 40 with its annular boss 34 . a guiding surface 21a of each of the arms 21 plus other means center the disk 35 on the turntable 21 . fig3 through 6 show another embodiment of the present invention . as shown in fig3 a disk - shaped turntable 21 is directly driven and rotated by a spindle motor 23 fixed onto a chassis 22 . a carriage 24 containing an optical pickup means ( not shown ) is arranged on the chassis 22 and moves parallel to a plane including the disk supporting surface of the turntable 21 . a bracket 26 projects from the under surface of the chassis 22 and a support member 28 is swingably attached to the bracket 26 through a pin 27 . the pin 27 extends in parallel to the disk supporting surface of the turn table 21 and accordingly the support member 28 is caused to swing perpendicularly to the disk supporting surface of the turntable 21 . as is obvious from fig3 a disk - shaped presser member 30 , which is used for clamping a disk 35 in cooperation with the turntable 21 , is rotatably fixed to the free end of the support member 28 through a spherical bearing 31 . as shown in fig3 a coil spring 32 is installed between the chassis 22 and a point adjacent the free end of the support member 28 . the support member 28 is energized by the coil spring 32 in the direction in which the presser member 30 moves closer to the turntable 21 . the bearing 31 is movable in the direction of the center of rotation of the presser member 30 within a fixed range along the center axis of rotation of the presser member 30 , the bearing member 31 smoothly abutting on the support member 28 . as shown in fig4 a guide 39 is fitted into the center hole of the disk 35 and accurately positions the disk 35 on the turntable 21 . this guide 39 projects from the center of the turntable 21 . a recess 40 perpendicular to the center axis of rotation of the turntable and circular in cross section is formed in the center of the guide 39 . on the other hand , a columnar projection 41 is formed at the center of rotation of the presser member 30 and fits into the recess 40 . as shown more specifically in fig5 showing a view taken on line iii -- iii of fig2 three spherical moving pieces 43 are installed in the projection 41 at equal spacing along a predetermined virtual circle centered about the center axis of rotation of the presser member 30 . the three moving pieces 43 are movable in the radial direction of the presser member 30 . the three moving pieces 43 are also made to abut on the inner peripheral face of the recess 40 and on the upper side of the spherical bearing 31 . the three moving pieces are pressed against the inner peripheral face of the recess 40 as the bearing 31 moves close to the turntable 21 . the above three moving pieces 43 are referred to as second moving pieces , whereas the spherical bearing 31 is referred to as a first moving piece . the second moving pieces , the recess 40 and the projection 41 constitute a centering means for centering the presser member 30 with respect to the turntable 21 . fig6 shows the state in which the disk 35 has been clamped and , as shown therein , the three moving pieces 43 are pressed against the inner peripheral face of the recess 40 by the component forces transmitted from the bearing 31 as the first moving piece . the centering of the presser member 30 about the turntable 21 is accurately conducted . when the disk swings as shown in fig1 the annular boss 34 of the turntable 21 works to hold down the maximum of the swing between the two annular bosses 36 and 37 of the presser member 30 , so to speak , and the swing is thus attenuated . moreover , the projection of the presser member 30 is provided with a control surface 45 for controlling the bearing 31 ( the first moving piece ) so as to make it move no closer to the turntable 21 than in a predetemined position . the force applied to the second moving piece 43 toward the inner peripheral face of the recess 10 becomes always constant . since spherical members are used for the first and second moving pieces , spherical bearing members sold on the market become utilizable as those moving pieces and cost reduction is thus realized . the annular bosses 34 , 36 and 37 formed on the faces of the turntable 21 and the presser member 30 respectively abutting the disk 35 may be continuously annular ones or have a configuration wherein parts of the annualar ring are cut out at equal pitches . as set forth above , because the centering of the presser member about the turntable is accurately carried out in the disk player according to the present invention , it is possible to obtain smooth data reading by means of the pickup . in consequence of the invention , the centering of the presser member relative to the turntable is accurately effected and the life of the bearing of the presser member is prolonged . as the centrifugal force resulting from the rotation of the presser member is made uniform , moreover , the turntable is prevented from swinging in the radial direction and data reading by means of a pickup can be conducted readily and smoothly .	6
referring to fig1 there is shown an oxygen generating system 10 , which has at its heart , a ceramic membrane module 11 being an oxygen generating device operated by a method in accordance with the invention . a gas mixture such as for example ambient air from an un - compressed compartment of an aircraft , enters the system through an inlet 12 , where any debris entrained in the inlet 12 may be filtered from the ambient air by a filter 13 . the air is drawn into the inlet 12 and is fed through the remainder of the system via a fan 14 , the speed of which is controlled by an electrical control unit 15 as hereinafter described . the ambient air , which may be at a very cool temperature indeed , possibly below 273k , then passes through a heater module 16 which will be described in more detail hereinafter , where , at least after the system 10 has warmed up , the ambient air will be pre - heated before the air passes into the ceramic membrane module 11 . the ceramic membrane module 11 generates oxygen rich gas component as hereinafter described , which passes from the module 11 via an outlet 17 . the oxygen rich gas component passes through the heater module 16 via line 17a where at least some of its heat is dissipated to the ambient air , so that a cooled oxygen rich gas supply is obtained , which is fed via line 18a to a plenum 18 , where the oxygen gas component may pass to , for example , an aircrew via a filter 19 where the oxygen rich air component can be breathed , particularly at ambient atmospheric pressure at elevated altitudes . the volume of the plenum 18 may be as required , but generally is of a small volume being the equivalent to perhaps , the volume of line 18a from the heater module 16 to the filter 19 . the ceramic membrane module 11 also produces a supply of hot oxygen depleted gas component which passes from the module via an outlet 20 . the hot oxygen depleted air component is also fed to the heater module 16 , along a line 20a , where at least some of its heat is dissipated to the ambient air passing through the heater module 16 . the cooled oxygen depleted gas component then passes from the heater module 16 via line 16b and is disposed of , for example through an external port 16c of the aircraft . it will be appreciated that the ceramic membrane module 11 can only operate to separate the ambient air into its oxygen rich and oxygen depleted air components , when at a temperature above a minimum operating temperature ; typical operating temperatures are in the range 800 - 1200k . thus the heater module 16 may also comprise an electrical resistance or some other kind of auxiliary heater so that at least during an initial warm up period , the ambient air entering the heater module 16 can be warmed so that warmed air is fed to the ceramic membrane module 11 rather than cold air . thus heating may be effected in the heater module 16 in addition to the heating effect of the hot oxygen rich and oxygen depleted gas components which are passed therethrough . in another arrangement , the ceramic membrane module 11 may include an integral heating means such as is described in our co - pending european application published under number 0726226 . the temperature of the ambient air within the heater module 16 , and / or the temperature of the oxygen rich and / or oxygen depleted gas component fed to the heater module 16 , is monitored , so as to provide a suitable input via line 23 to the electronic control unit 15 . also , the temperature within the ceramic membrane module 11 may be monitored , so as to provide an input 24 to the electronic control unit 15 to protect the ceramic membrane module 11 from overheating . the pressure of the oxygen rich gas component supply in plenum 18 is also monitored , e . g . by a pressure transducer which provides an input 25 to the electronic control unit 15 . the speed of the fan 14 , and hence the volume of air being delivered to the heater module 16 and subsequently to the ceramic membrane module 11 , is also monitored and an input 26 is provided to the electronic control unit 15 . in response to demand for oxygen rich gas component , as indicated by the input 25 , the electronic control unit 15 controls the speed of the fan 14 via a line 27 , and the power fed to the ceramic membrane module 11 via a line 28 to control the level of oxygen generation in the ceramic membrane module 11 . there is also a built in test which results in an output indicated at 29 for example , to alert an aircrew to the fact that the system 10 is not operating correctly . the ceramic membrane module 11 may comprise a membrane of , ceramic material through which electrical current is passed , the material being active when at an elevated temperature above a minimum operating temperature to cause separation of air or other gas into oxygen rich and oxygen depleted gas components . in a practical arrangement , a stack of such membranes would be provided . one suitable active ceramic material consists of an electrolyte such as cerium gadolinium oxide ( cgo ) coated on both sides with an electrode made for example of lanthanum strontium cobalt ferrite ( lscf ). the amount of oxygen rich gas component generated can be adjusted by regulating the electrical current which passes through the ceramic membrane module 11 . one method of achieving this would be to change the voltage across and hence the current passing through the module 11 . this is so called &# 34 ; proportional control &# 34 ;. an example of a typical proportional control which could be applied to the system 10 is indicated in fig4 . it can be seen that the magnitude of the electrical current is varied in dependence upon the input 25 from the pressure transducer sensing the pressure of oxygen in the plenum 18 . this may be achieved by means of a comparator which compares the input 25 with a reference indicative of the amount of oxygen required in the plenum 18 . the difference between these two signals is thus used by the controller proportionally to regulate the flow of electrical current through the ceramic membrane module 11 . in this example , a continuous d . c . current is supplied to the module 11 via an inductance l , a capacitor c and a diode d which , together with a switch s , form a conventional switched mode power supply . when switch s is moved to a closed position , energy is stored in the inductor l and current is supplied directly to the module 11 . when switch s is moved to an open position , energy stored within the inductor l is recovered to power the load of the module 11 . capacitor c serves to provide short term energy storage to power the load of the module 11 during switch transitions , and in conjunction with the conductor l smooths the voltage applied across the module 11 . the actual load voltage is proportional to the duty cycle of the switch s which is controlled by the controller . in this manner current is supplied continuously to the module 11 . it will be appreciated that such switched mode power supply technology consumes high power . also , it will be appreciated that the power required by the ceramic membrane module 11 is substantial , and thus the inductor / capacitor / diode and other components of the proportional control circuit would also need to be substantial , resulting in significant weight penalty . an arrangement in accordance with the invention is shown in fig2 which regulates the electrical current supplied to the ceramic membrane module 11 by switching the current on and off . by varying the proportion of current - on time in a given time interval , in dependence upon a feedback signal i . e ., input 25 from the pressure transducer in the plenum 18 , the production of oxygen in the ceramic membrane module 11 is thus controlled . referring also to fig3 it will be appreciated that in any given time interval , the current may be switched on any desired number of times , for example twice in the arrangement shown in fig4 in that given time interval t , and that the proportion of current - on time indicated may be varied , by varying the so called mark - space ratio of the current signal . the ceramic membrane module 11 will respond as indicated in fig3 by generating oxygen in response to current - on times . thus by changing the current - on time in a given time interval t , the amount of oxygen generated will too , be varied . fig3 also indicates how the plenum pressure would be expected to change , for a steady demand for oxygen rich gas component , utilising the current characteristic indicated in the figure . if demand increases , the input 25 to the electronic control unit 15 will indicate that greater oxygen production is required as pressure in the plenum 18 will fall . the electronic control unit 15 is arranged to increase the proportion of current - on time in a given time interval , in response , either / or by increasing the frequency of switching , and / or by adjusting the mark - space ratio and to achieve this , may compare in a comparatocomparator means the input 25 with a reference which is indicative of a desired oxygen storage level in plenum 18 , to produce a control signal which is operative to vary the proportion of current on time in a given time interval . preferably , the fan 14 , which is electrically powered , is also controlled by means of varying speed of the fan in dependence upon the signal input 25 from the plenum 18 . preferably the electronic control unit 15 switches the electrical current to the fan 14 on and off and / or varies the proportion of current on time in a given time interval in dependence upon the input 25 , in a similar manner to that in which the electronic control unit 15 regulates the electrical current passing through the membranes of the ceramic membrane module 11 . the temperature within the ceramic membrane module 11 is controlled by means of monitoring the temperature and adjusting the amount of ambient air fed to the ceramic membrane module 11 . in order to reduce the temperature the speed of the fan 14 is increased , thus increasing the amount of cooling airflow . in order to increase the temperature the fan speed is reduced . the speed of the fan 14 may be controlled by varying the proportion of current on time in a given time interval . various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention . for example , the arrangement of the oxygen generating system shown in fig1 is only an example of a typical system which may utilise the invention . the particular arrangement shown in fig2 is only diagrammatic and it will be appreciated that in practice , the circuit may be more complex than indicated . in any event , the circuit would require less bulky and heavy components than that required by a conventional proportional control circuit such as described in fig4 and as the electrical characteristics of the power supply and the module 11 can be closely matched , the invention permits more efficient use of the power available from the power supply . although in the arrangement described , the speed of fan 14 is determined with reference to the input 25 from the plenum 18 , it will be appreciated that the speed of fan 14 may be regulated in dependence upon a feedback signal only derived from the temperature of the ceramic membrane module 11 and / or the temperature of oxygen rich gas components generated therein or the oxygen depleted air .	0
referring to fig1 to 3 , a preferred embodiment of the present invention is described as follows . it should be noted that this embodiment will find its applications in apparatus including game playing apparatus which use an optical disk player and optical disks . fig1 is a block diagram of the optical disk player , mainly showing its servo control system . reference numeral 1 indicates an optical disk , reference numeral 2 indicates a spindle motor for rotating the optical disk 1 at a constant linear velocity ( clv ) for example , and reference numeral 3 indicates an optical head for radiating a laser beam onto the optical disk 1 and sensing the reflected beam from the optical disk 1 to obtain reproduced data . the optical head 3 has an optical system consisting of a semiconductor laser 3a , a polarized - beam splitter 3b , a quarter - wave plate 3c , an objective 3d , and a detector 3e . the optical head 3 also has a biaxial mechanism ( fine actuator ) 4 for driving the objective 3d serving as a laser output end in the direction of approaching or departing from the optical disk 1 and in its radial direction . the optical head 3 is driven in the radial direction of the optical disk 1 by a thread mechanism ( rough actuator ) 5 . the optical head 3 contains , in the path of the laser beam emitted from the semiconductor laser 3a , a diffraction grating for separating the laser beam into three beams to obtain a tracking error signal . ( refer to u . s . pat . no . 3 , 876 , 842 , for example ,) the optical head 3 also contains , between the polarized - beam splitter 3b and the detector 3e in the path of the reflected laser beam from the optical disk 1 , an optical device such as a cylindrical lens for producing an astigmatism to obtain a focus error signal . for the generation of the focus error signal , refer to u . s . pat . no . 4 , 023 , 033 , for example . reference numeral 6 indicates an rf amplifier for amplifying the reproduced rf signal coming from the optical head 3 and reference numeral 7 indicates a circuit for demodulating the reproduced rf signal to extract data . the demodulator / data extractor 7 provides the data reproduced from the optical disk 1 and the subcode data including time code and index information . reference numeral 8 indicates a mechanical controller ( hereinafter referred to simply as the controller ) for controlling a recording and / or reproducing operation of the optical disk 1 , based on control by a system controller , not shown . to be more specific , the controller 8 controls a laser beam on / off operation by the optical head 3 , a spindle motor operation , and focus servo , spindle servo , and rough and fine tracking servo operations . reference numeral 9 indicates an error signal generator for performing a specified operational processing on the reproduced rf signal from the optical head 3 to generate a tracking error signal et and a focus error signal ef . the generated tracking error signal et is supplied through a servo gain amplifier section 10 and a phase compensator 11 to a thread driver 12 for driving the thread mechanism 5 and to a tracking driver 13 for driving the biaxial mechanism 4 in the direction parallel to the optical disk 1 . the tracking driver 13 applies a tracking drive voltage to a biaxial mechanism 4 based on the tracking error signal et to make the laser beam from the optical head 3 correctly follow tracks for a reproducing or recording operation . a thread driver 12 applies a drive voltage to the thread mechanism 5 to make it perform an access operation when recording / reproducing data or instructing a seek operation based on a control signal from the controller 8 . the thread driver 24 also generates a drive signal based on the tracking error signal et to feed the optical head 3 in the radial direction of the optical disk 1 at a recording / reproducing operation . the focus error signal ef generated by the error signal generator 9 is supplied through a servo gain amplifier 14 and a phase compensator 15 to a focus driver 16 which drives the biaxial mechanism 4 in the direction vertical to the optical disk 1 . the focus driver 16 applies a focus drive voltage to the biaxial mechanism 4 to perform focus control . reference numeral 17 indicates a spindle servo system for controlling the rotational speed of a spindle motor 2 . the spindle servo system 17 compares the clock component obtained by applying a reproduced rf signal to a pll circuit in the demodulating / data extracting circuit 7 with the system clock from the controller 8 to generate a drive signal and supply it to the spindle motor 2 to provide a rotational driving operation at a constant linear velocity ( clv ) for example . with an embodiment of the present invention , there is provided in the servo gain amplifier section 10 of the tracking servo system a first amplifier g 1 for adding a servo gain suitable for a normal recording / reproducing operation and a second amplifier g 2 for adding a servo gain greater than the normal level , these amplifiers being switched between by , for example , operating a selector s . the gain - frequency characteristics of amplifiers g 1 and g 2 are shown in fig2 in a solid line and a dashed line respectively . referring to fig3 the operation of the controller 8 at a tracking servo positioning operation on the optical disk player as an embodiment of the present invention is described as follows . to start a reproducing operation on the optical disk 1 loaded by loading means , not shown , and in the stopped state , the focus servo system is first turned on to drive the biaxial mechanism 4 so that a laser beam is radiated onto the recording surface of the optical disk 1 at the focus position ( f101 ). next , an actuating signal is applied to the spindle motor 2 to drive it ( f102 ) and close the spindle servo system . the clock component obtained from the reproduced rf signal generated as a result of the above operation is compared with the system clock to perform a rough spindle control operation . then , the tracking servo system is turned on to drive the biaxial mechanism 4 and / or the thread mechanism 5 to perform a tracking servo positioning operation , in which a switching control signal is first applied to the servo gain amplifier 10 to make connection with a contact t 2 . that is , a tracking error signal et provided with a servo gain given by the amplifier g 2 having the characteristic represented in the dashed line in fig2 is applied to the tracking driver 13 and the thread driver 12 ( f104 ). the tracking servo system is then turned on to perform a tracking servo positioning operation ( f105 ). the completion of the tracking servo positioning operation is confirmed when the subcode has been read from the reproduced rf signal from the optical disk 1 upon completion of a spindle servo latching operation at the time a match has been found between the phase of the clock component obtained from the reproduced rf signal and the phase of the reference clock . when the completion of the tracking servo positioning operation has been thus confirmed ( f106 ), a switching control signal is applied again to the servo gain amplifier section 10 to switch the selector s to a contact t 1 . that is , the tracking error signal with a servo gain given by the amplifier g 1 having the characteristic represented in the solid line in fig2 is applied to the tracking driver 13 and the thread driver 12 ( f107 ), thereafter controlling the track - following operation by the biaxial mechanism 4 based on this tracking error signal et and the track - following operation and seek operation ( track long jump operation ) by the thread mechanism 5 as usual . accordingly , with an embodiment of the present invention , raising a tracking servo gain only during a tracking servo positioning operation stabilizes the tracking servo positioning operation , thereby shortening the tracking servo positioning time and preventing servo noises from generating at turning on the tracking servo system . it should be understood that the constitution of the optical disk player , the optical disk to be operated on it , and the way in which the controller performs its processing are not limited to a preferred embodiment of the present invention and that various changes and modifications may be made in the invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof . as described and according to the invention , there is provided an optical disk player which increases a tracking servo gain only during a tracking servo positioning operation to stabilize the operation , thereby shortening the tracking servo positioning time and preventing servo noises from being generated .	6
referring to fig1 there is shown an isometric view showing the components of the liquid level measurement device 10 shown from the exterior of a tank 20 . the tank contains fluid that can be any type of fluid . the fluid can vary from water to gasoline to liquid nitrogen or other medium that is in a liquid state and the amount of fluid within the tank is measurable from a rising or sinking normal level as material is added and removed from within the tank 20 . while fluids are the preferred material that the system will measure , other materials that provide some buoyancy that can be measured by the sensor rods can also be located within the tank 20 . the tank 20 includes the sensors enclosed in a housing 100 that keeps the sensors in a controlled environment that reduces damage and or contamination to the sensor components as shown in fig2 . in the preferred embodiment , the sensors are located on the top or on the lid 50 of the tank or vessel , but it is also contemplated that the sensors can be located on the bottom of the tank and the sensor rods extend up into the tank . a connection consisting of wires , conduit 40 or other connection connects the sensor elements to a computation and or display unit 200 . in the preferred embodiment a wired connection is made from the sensors to the amplifiers and or display unit . the amplifiers and or display unit can be connected directly to the sensor enclosure 100 or can be sent via a wireless connection such as infrared , fm or other wireless connection to the amplifiers and or the display unit . legs 30 are shown supporting the tank , but the legs can be eliminated such that the tank is placed directly onto the ground or suspended from a ceiling attachment . fig2 is a cross sectional view of a tank with the liquid measurement device shown within the tank . from this figure , the tank 20 is shown with a non - uniform shaped tank . the tank includes a linear upper section and a curved , rounded , or spherical section 25 in the lower section . when calibrating the amount of fluid within the tank , the measurement calculations can be established based upon the geometric configuration of the tank . the display 200 can then show the level of fluid within the tank and or the quantity of fluid within the tank . while a tank 20 with an irregular lower section is provided it is contemplated that the fluid measurement system can work in cylindrical tanks , pyramid shaped tanks , rectangular tanks , or any other shape where the volume of the tank can be mathematically , empirically or process determined and calibrated into the fluid measurement system . this view shows a lid 50 installed on top of the tank . while the lid 50 is shown as a solid unit , the lid 50 can be as simple as a bridge member that spans across the sides of the tank or cantilevers from just one side of the tank 20 . the lid 50 can also be as complicated as a sealed lid that keeps the fluid within the tank pressurized and or free from contaminants . the sensor enclosure 100 is shown attached to the lid , and located in the center of the tank 20 . in the preferred embodiment the sensor sub assembly is located in the center of the tank 20 , but it is contemplated that the sensor sub - assembly can be located off center . the off center configuration is particularly beneficial when the bottom of the tank 20 is sloped , and the sensor sub - assembly extends down into the deepest portion of the tank 20 . the buoyancy rods 120 and 122 are shown extending from the sensor enclosure 100 to nearly the bottom of the tank . the buoyancy rods are further shown inside a turbulence - reducing sleeve 110 . this sleeve is essentially a round , square , rectangular or other hollow shaped member with a series of openings that allow fluid from the outside of the sleeve to fill the inside of the sleeve and reduce fluid movement from affecting the readings of the buoyancy rods . fluid movement may be caused by filling , emptying or mixing of the fluid within the tank . the level of fluid 60 in the tank is measured with the buoyancy rods . the fluid within the tank reduces or floats the weight of the buoyancy rods . the greater the amount of fluid and or density of liquid within the tank the less the apparent weight of the buoyancy rod . two or more rods can be used to cancel out accumulation of debris that may occur on one rod . it is contemplated that one rod may be configured as a tube with a thin wall , while a second rod be configured as a solid member thereby creating different bouncy coefficients . both rods would have the same outside diameter , but the buoyancy factors for each rod would be different because of the different cross sectional areas . accumulation of debris on each rod would be the same since the outside surface are of the two rods are identical . fig3 is a detailed view of the liquid measurement device showing the components . this view provides additional information regarding one possible embodiment of the sensors and buoyancy rods . the sensors are enclosed within a housing 100 that protected then from contamination and or physical damage that may change the calibration factors for each buoyancy member . in the preferred embodiment , the strain gauge assembly is configured in a “ c ” type arrangement 108 where the buoyancy rods 120 and 122 extend the tip of each “ c ” member . the buoyancy members 120 and 122 attach to the end of the “ c ” at connection point 102 . this connection point can by threaded , bonded or otherwise secured into the free end of the “ c ” member . a half or full wave sensor 103 is bonded on the “ c ” member above below or within a cut out 104 . the cut out 104 provides a stress concentration point that allows the sensor the measure stress or strain that is present in the “ c ” member . the connection from the sensor to connections outside of the sensor enclosure is provided with junction pads 106 that reduce stress that can occur on the sensitive wires attached to the strain gauges 103 . in the preferred embodiment a full wave strain gauge is used for the measurement , a half wave strain gauge , resistance , force sensing resistor , capacitive or other measurement device can be used to provide similar measurement capability . the wire connections from the strain gauge 103 exit the housing 100 through fitting 40 . this fitting is shown with the threaded coupling 44 that allow the wiring 42 from the sensors to connect to an amplifier or other signal processing . using two rods where both rods have the same cross section , but the specific gravity where a first rod 120 is half of the specific gravity of the second rod 122 , if the fluid being displaced was water with a specific gravity of 1 then the loads measure from the strain gauges would be equally proportioned based upon the specific gravities . as the specific gravity of the fluid changes then the resulting measurements on the strain gauges change in a non - consistent manner . in the embodiment shown , the amplification and display components are located external from the sensor sub - assembly , but the amplification , signal processing and display may be attached , integrated or a part of the sensor assembly . the bottom of the sensor housing 101 allows the sensor - sub assembly to be mounted directly on top of the tank . in the preferred embodiment , the top of the sensor sub - assembly is flat , but the base 101 may be any configuration that allows mounting of top of the tank . buoyancy members 120 and 122 are shows extending down into the turbulent reducing tube 110 . the turbulent reducing tube may have a threaded connection 150 that allows the turbulent reducing tube to be threaded into the top of lid of the tank or the sensor enclosure 101 bottom . while only two buoyancy members are shown it is contemplated that more than two elements can be used to provide improved accuracy and fluid density information . the outer turbulent reducing tube 110 is configured with opening ( s ) 112 that allows fluid to enter and exit the turbulent reducing tube 110 . while fluid can enter and exit the tube , the turbulent reducing tube 110 reduces abrupt changes or rapid fluid movement within the tank to provide more consistent or stable readings for the fluid level within the tank . the buoyancy members 120 and 122 can be configured in a single rod or tube or could be configured in pieces and joined 130 as shown . the purpose of the sections allow a long rod to be configured in a tank without requiring the ceiling of the building where the tank is installed to be high enough to allow insertion of a full length buoyancy element . the sectional buoyancy element is also ideal if the fluid tank is tall . in order to eliminate voltage potential that may be generated between the buoyancy elements 120 and 122 , a shunting wire 140 is installed between the two buoyancy elements 120 and 122 . fig4 shows the connection from the sensors to the display unit . the sensor enclosure 100 is shown with the cable conduit 40 exiting the display enclosure housing . the wired connection 42 is shown exiting the conduit and connecting into the display housing 200 . a secondary wired connection 46 is showing exiting the display housing . this secondary connection allows amplified and or processed data to be sent for other data processing . the secondary signal can be amplified , voltage , current , analog , serial , parallel or digital output . this signal may be used by other systems within a company to control the entire process or to signal alarms when the level of fluid within the tank reached some pre - determined threshold . the turbulent reducing tube 110 , the threaded turbulent reducing connection 150 and the buoyancy elements 120 and 122 are shown in this figure in one contemplated embodiment . fig5 shows one contemplated embodiment of the display unit 200 . the display module in this embodiment is shown in its own housing 200 . the housing has a display module 210 . the module is shown here , as a lcd display , but the display can be plasma , led or other similar display system . the display is shown with buttons 220 . while discrete buttons are shown , a touch screen may be used to allow selection of information and or information regarding minimum , maximum and or average information in addition to real time information regarding a particular parameter . a graphical display 230 showing a visual indicator regarding the amount of fluid within the tank . the amount of fluid 230 and the amount of air 232 is show visually giving an operator the ability to determine the amount of fluid within the tank without reading the numbers . the display may also show what is in the tank 240 . the identity of the fluid may be useful when a number of tanks are used in a factory where each tank contains a different fluid . an additional text and or numerical display area 260 can provide additional information regarding the contents of the tank . in this figure , the gallons 262 , temperature , date and time 264 are shown . while the parameters listed are shown in the figure other parameters including but not limited to density , gallons , liters and specific gravity . a graphical display 250 can be shown for each item where a minimum 256 and maximum 254 markers can show the preferred range for each item . a bold marker 252 can also be used to provide higher visibility of the current position of each parameter , or the bold marker can be used to identify a minimum or maximum condition that may have occurred over a pre - determined period . thus , specific embodiments and applications for a fluid level sensing apparatus using multiple buoyancy sensors have been disclosed . it should be apparent , however , to those skilled in the art that many more modifications besides those described are possible without departing from the inventive concepts herein . the inventive subject matter , therefore , is not to be restricted except in the spirit of the appended claims .	6
firmware updates for information handling system hard disk drives are executed without loss of synchronization or undue degradation of normal operations . for purposes of this disclosure , an information handling system may include any instrumentality or aggregate of instrumentalities operable to compute , classify , process , transmit , receive , retrieve , originate , switch , store , display , manifest , detect , record , reproduce , handle , or utilize any form of information , intelligence , or data for business , scientific , control , or other purposes . for example , an information handling system may be a personal computer , a network storage device , or any other suitable device and may vary in size , shape , performance , functionality , and price . the information handling system may include random access memory ( ram ), one or more processing resources such as a central processing unit ( cpu ) or hardware or software control logic , rom , and / or other types of nonvolatile memory . additional components of the information handling system may include one or more disk drives , one or more network ports for communicating with external devices as well as various input and output ( i / o ) devices , such as a keyboard , a mouse , and a video display . the information handling system may also include one or more buses operable to transmit communications between the various hardware components . referring now to fig1 , a block diagram depicts an information handling system 10 having a hard disk drive 12 firmware update module 14 . information handling system 10 is built from a variety of processing components , such as a cpu 16 , ram 18 and chipset 20 that interact with hard disk drive 12 through a bus 22 . hard disk drive 12 has a magnetic storage disk 24 that spins relative to a disk head 26 to allow writes and reads of information communicated with the processing components through bus 22 and a bus interface 28 . writes and reads of information are managed by a controller 30 running firmware retrieved from a flash 32 and loaded in executable form into a buffer 34 , such as dram . the firmware is periodically updated through a network 36 with firmware updates provided by a firmware update source 38 . firmware update module 14 retrieves a firmware update sent to information handling system 10 from bus interface 28 , stores the firmware update in buffer 34 in executable form , executes the firmware update on controller 30 to manage reads and writes of information , and then copies the firmware update to flash memory 32 in parallel while executing the firmware update on the controller 30 . firmware update module 14 executes the firmware update on controller 30 without aborting tasks queued for the controller to manage , such as reads and writes of information . firmware update module 14 is , for instance , an application running on controller 30 , a hardware solution or other solution capable of managing hard disk drive operations . referring now to fig2 , a block diagram depicts a firmware update module 14 . a firmware update receiver 40 receives the firmware update from bus interface 28 and stores the firmware update in executable form in buffer 34 . in one embodiment , firmware update receiver 40 leverages storage disk 24 to store the firmware update for subsequent transfer to buffer 34 . firmware update receiver 40 checks the firmware image upon completion of the download to ensure an accurate image or otherwise attempt another download . once the firmware update is in executable form in buffer 34 , firmware update executor 42 executes the firmware update without a loss of synchronization or loss of queued tasks , typically in a time period of two seconds or less . firmware update executor 42 manages queued tasks of controller 30 by either flushing the queue to accomplish the tasks before executing the firmware update or storing the queued tasks during the executing of the firmware update and restoring the stored tasks for subsequent management by the executing firmware update . in addition , firmware update executor 42 manages new tasks sent to controller 30 before executing the firmware update by responding with a busy status to the new tasks or by storing the new tasks for management after execution of the firmware update . once the firmware update is executing on controller 30 to manage operations of hard disk drive 12 , a firmware update writer 44 performs a background write of the firmware update image to flash memory 32 . the background write occurs in parallel with normal operations of controller 30 by taking a limited number of processor cycles so that any degradation of performance of controller 30 in managing operations of hard disk drive 12 are insubstantial , such as no more than approximately ten percent degradation . referring now to fig3 , a flow diagram depicts a process for executing a firmware update at a hard disk drive controller without loss of synchronization . the process begins at step 46 with receipt of a first write buffer associated with a firmware update . at step 48 , a determination is made of whether to reject or not reject new i / o tasks . if not rejected , the write buffers continue in parallel with new i / o tasks until the last write buffer is received at step 50 . if new i / o tasks are rejected , the process continues to step 52 to assert a check condition for new requests so that new i / o task requests are not sent until the firmware update is complete . after receiving the last write buffer at steps 50 and 54 , the process continues to step 56 to check if the firmware update image is a good image . if a fault has occurred in the download of the firmware update , the process ends at step 58 with a check condition so that another update attempt may take place . once the firmware image is stored in the buffer in executable form , the process continues to step 60 or step 70 based upon whether new i / o tasks were rejected at step 48 . if new tasks were not rejected , the process continues to step 60 to determine whether to flush the queue of pending tasks by executing those queued tasks before executing the firmware update . if the determination at step 60 is to not flush the queue , the queued tasks are stored at step 62 and the process continues to step 64 to determine whether to busy new i / o tasks . if a determination is made to busy new i / o tasks , a busy status is issued at step 66 and the firmware update is executed . if a determination is made at step 64 not to busy new tasks , the new tasks are placed in storage at step 68 and the firmware update is executed . if a determination is made at step 60 to flush the queue by executing queued tasks or new tasks are rejected at step 48 , the process continues to step 70 to reject new task requests with a busy status and to step 72 to complete outstanding queued tasks so that the firmware update can be executed . busy and check condition statuses are selectively used as illustrated in fig3 so that a firmware update is executed without a loss of synchronization and in a time period of two seconds or less . the determination of whether to enforce busy and check condition statuses may be based upon the number of queued tasks , the time expected to execute the firmware update or other factors . referring now to fig4 , a flow diagram depicts a process for storing the firmware update to flash memory as a background operation to normal tasks . the process begins at step 74 with a unit attention status while the firmware update is initiated and a good status at step 76 when the firmware update has taken over management of the hard disk drive . at step 78 , a determination is made of whether tasks were in queue before execution of the firmware update . if queued tasks were stored , the process continues to step 80 to restore the queue . if no queued tasks were stored or all queued tasks are restored , the process continues to step 82 to determine if a background write to flash memory or the firmware update is needed . if so , the process continues to step 84 for the controller to write the firmware update to flash memory in parallel with execution of i / o tasks . the controller processing cycles dedicated to writing the firmware update are limited so that degradation of i / o tasks is limited by a predetermined amount , such as approximately ten percent . once the firmware update is written to the flash memory , the process continues to step 86 to support normal i / o tasks and at step 88 the firmware update download is completed . although the present invention has been described in detail , it should be understood that various changes , substitutions and alterations can be made hereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims .	6
fig1 shows a lid removal tool 10 in accordance with the present invention . as can be seen , this includes three principal components : an elongate handle member 12 , a pivot head 14 , and a hook member 16 . the operation of the tool is illustrated in fig2 a , 2 b , which show the foot of an operator 01 who is removing an exemplary manhole lid 02 . as can be seen , the operator inserts the hook member 16 through a lift hole 03 in the lid and then pulls the handle member 12 rearwardly and downwardly through an arc , as indicated by the arrow , so that the hook member engages the lid and lifts it from its seat 04 . simultaneously , the operator places his foot on plate 18 at the back of the head assembly and presses downwardly and forwardly using his body weight . in combination , these forces cause the head assembly to pivot on the fulcrum which is formed by wheels 20 a , 20 b , raising the hook at the front of the assembly and the lid which is supported therefrom . the leverage provided by the long , generally vertical handle member , combined with the effective employment of body weight , thus enables the operator to raise the lid with a minimum of physical exertion . as the lid is raised , the edge nearest the tool swings upwardly and rearwardly until it strikes and comes to rest against stabilizer plates 22 a 22 b at the front of the pivot head . the stabilizer plates are spaced apart and are generally level with one another in the horizontal plane , and consequently stabilize the lid and prevent any unsafe tilting or wobbling movement as it is being lifted and / or transported . in addition to providing the fulcrum for the pivot head , wheels 20 a , 20 b also enable the operator to easily and quickly transport the lid away from the opening after it has been removed . to do this , the operator simply maintains the downward pressure on the handle after the lid has been lifted out of the opening , and rolls the entire unit away while steering with the handle . as can be seen in fig1 the upper portion 24 of the handle is preferably bent somewhat to the rear , away from the hook member , for an improved , less awkward angle when lifting the lid , and also to provide additional ground clearance at the back of the footplate when transporting the lid . the handle member of the tool may suitably be formed of tubular metal material , although it will be understood that other types of material may be used in various embodiments of the invention . the handle member 12 is preferably provided with a resilient sheath or handgrip 26 at its upper end for ease of handling and enhanced operator comfort . as is shown in fig2 a - 2b , the pivot head is mounted to the lower end of the elongate handle member , and includes the footplate 18 , the pivot / transport wheels 22 a , 22 b , and a hook frame 28 . the footplate is mounted to the hook frame generally behind the handle member and above the wheels 22 a , 22 b . the footplate extends in a generally horizontal direction ( when the tool is upright ), and preferably widens towards its rearward edge and is provided with surface texturing so as to provide a secure , stable area for applying foot pressure . as is also shown in fig2 a - 2b , the rotational axis of the pivot / transport wheels is located beneath the footplate 18 , behind the long axis 30 of the handle , and extends generally perpendicular to the hook frame 28 . in the embodiment which is illustrated , the wheel axle 32 extends through an axle support tube 34 which is mounted across the bottom of hook frame 28 . as is shown in fig3 the hook frame itself is formed of two generally parallel plates 36 a , 36 b which are mounted on opposite sides of the shaft of the handle member . as was noted above , the footplate is mounted across the rearward end of the plates and the axle tube is mounted across the bottom . at the forward end , in turn , the plates extend to form a lifting arm 38 which supports the pivoting hook member 16 . notches are formed in the upper edges of the lifting arm so as to form fixed upper hooks 40 a , 40 b , which can be used to remove lids having “ d ” style lifting rings or similar fittings , as will be described in greater detail below ; tabs 42 a , 42 b at the ends of the arms help to prevent the rings or other fittings from slipping off of the hook area as they are being lifted . the upper end of the hook member 16 is pivotally mounted to the frame 28 , by means of a pivot pin 44 which extends through one of a plurality of corresponding bores 46 a , 46 b , 46 c in the two plate members 36 a , 36 b . as a result , the lower end of the hook member can pivot as the lid is being raised , and can also be pivoted to accommodate various sizes and positions of lids and lift holes . the series of pivot bores 46 a , 46 b , 46 c are set at parallel , spaced apart locations , so as to permit adjustment of the depth / distance of the hook member relative to the stabilizer plates 22 a , 22 b , not only to allow the location of the hook member to be adjusted to match the configuration of the lid , but also to allow for attachment of additional lifting fittings , as will be described in greater detail below . the embodiment which is shown in fig3 b has a single - pronged hook member , the upper end of which has a collar portion 44 which accommodates the pivot pin and which fits closely in the gap between the two plate members so as to limit side - to - motion . a relief area 40 and end tab 42 at the lower tip of the hook member help to prevent lids from slipping off during lifting . as can be seen in fig4 the stabilizer plates 22 a , 22 b are formed by outwardly flared or spread portions of the two side plates 36 a , 36 b , in the area generally below and behind the lifting arm 30 . the stabilizers serve to arrest upward and rearward movement of the lid : as the lid is lifted and removed , generally horizontal shoulders 54 at the back of the lifting arm abut the top of the lid so as to arrest vertical movement , and generally vertical faces of the stabilizer plates abut the outer edge 56 of the lid to limit rearward and lateral movement . in conjunction with the hook member 16 , the stabilizers form a “ three point ” connection to the lid which effectively prevents any rocking or wobbling motion while the lid is being raised / lowered or transported . furthermore , the bottoms of the stabilizing plates are preferably provided with downwardly extending , rounded tabs 57 a , 58 b at their leading edges which engage the ground adjacent to the manhole during the initial phase of the lifting movement , until the weight is transferred onto the wheels 24 which provide the main pivot axis . fig5 - 6 show the lifting tool 10 fitted with another form of hook member 58 , this having first and second prongs 60 a , 60 b which are joined by an upper hoop 62 . each of the prongs is generally similar to the single prong described above , and the hook member 58 can be mounted to the frame 58 interchangeably with the single - pronged hook 16 , with the two vertical legs of the hook 58 fitting fairly close against the outside of the plates 36 a , 36 b for stability . the two - pronged hook member 58 is particularly adapted for removal / replacement of heavy gratings , such as the grate 64 which is shown in fig5 with the spacing between the prongs being selected so that these will enter separate , laterally - spaced openings in the grate ( see fig6 ). it will be understood that other , specially configured hook members can also be provided for use with a variety of other types / styles of lids and lift fittings . fig7 in turn , illustrates the use of the fixed hooks 40 a , 40 b which are formed at the forward end of the lifting arm 30 . as was noted above , the fixed hooks are configured principally for removing manhole covers and other lids which are fitted with “ d ” type lifting rings , rather than having holes or other openings as shown above , for ease of use , the pivoting hook member 16 , can be removed when the fixed hook portions are to be used . accordingly , fig7 shows the d - ring handle 70 of such a lid 72 having been raised and placed over fixed hooks 40 a , 40 b , with the pivot head being tilted in the forward direction . as can be seen in fig8 a the fixed hooks 40 a , 40 b engage the upper leg 74 of the d - ring at separate , laterally spaced locations . this stabilizes the lid against rocking or slipping back and forth during the initial phases of the lifting motion , until the stabilizer plates and shoulders come into contact with the edge of the lid . with the d - ring thus engaged by the fixed hooks , the operator pulls back on the handle of the tool and applies downward pressure on the footplate 18 , raising and removing the lid in the same manner as described above . when the lid is returned to its opening , the hooks are removed from the d - ring , which then falls back to its retracted position , as shown in fig8 b . fig9 a - 9b show the lifting tool 10 , fitted with a hook - and - chain attachment for removal of comparatively large lids , such as large utility covers . such covers are commonly on the order of 36 inches in diameter , and can weigh in the hundreds of pounds . the tool of the present invention , using the hook and chain attachment which is shown in fig9 a - 9b , has been demonstrated to generate a lifting ratio , of approximately 4 : 1 making it possible for a single operator to remove such covers , which has heretofore been extremely difficult when using conventional tools . as can be seen in fig9 a , the hook - and - chain attachment 80 includes a j - hook 82 which is mounted to the rearmost attachment point 36 a of the lifting arm 30 , using a first pin 84 . the j - hook includes a comparatively long shank 86 which is sized to pass through a pick hole 88 at the edge of the lid 89 , and a sharply curved lower end 90 which is configured to pass under and engage a downwardly extending ring 92 which is located a spaced distance inwardly from the edge of the lid . the pick hole and ring are conventional features of utility covers and similar lids , being provided for use with an ordinary pry - bar . a pivoting link 94 , in turn , is mounted to the forward attachment point 46 c on lifting arm 30 , using a second pin 97 . the lower end of the length includes a keyhole opening 96 through which a link of chain 98 is passed ; the keyhole opening allows for adjustment of the length of the chain which spans the top of the lid , and a ring or fitting ( not shown ) is preferably attached to the other end of the chain to prevent it from falling out of the link during transportation or storage . an edge hook 100 is attached to the outer end of the chain , and is configured to pass through a corresponding pickhole 102 on the opposite side of the lid from j - hook 90 . as can be seen , the shank 104 of edge hook , lies generally flat on the top of the lid 89 while its end 106 extends downwardly through the pick opening to engage a rim portion 108 of the lid . to use the tool , the operator inserts the j - hook into the first pickhole and rotates it so that the lower end of the hook engages the inner ring . the chain hook 100 is then set in the second pickhole opposite the first , and the chain length is adjusted so that the handle is approximately 45 ° to 60 ° to the ground when the chain is tensioned and the link 94 pivots outwardly as shown in fig9 b . then , using both hands , the operator grasps the handle of the tool and draws it towards the center of his chest , in the direction indicated by arrow 110 in fig9 b , using his body weight to pull downwardly and outwardly to raise and slide the cover from the access hole . to replace the cover , the chain hook is released , and while holding , the chain the pivot head 14 of the tool is used to lift one edge of the lid and push it back into the access hole . the j - hook is then disengaged from the inner ring and withdrawn . the tool of the present invention may be formed of any sufficiently strong and durable material , with welded steel being eminently suitable for this purpose . it is to be recognized that various alterations , modifications , and / or additions may be introduced into the constructions and arrangements of parts described above without departing from the spirit or ambit of the present invention .	1
reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiments of the invention , examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings . the exemplary embodiment of this invention is shown in some detail , although it will be apparent to those skilled in the relevant art that some features which are not relevant to the invention may not be shown for the sake of clarity . referring first to fig1 there is illustrated , in a side - elevation sectional view , an exemplary embodiment of the present invention and is represented generally by reference numeral 10 . a casing 12 is shown extending from the ground surface 14 downwardly within a subterranean well through a hydrocarbon and water producing zone 16 and then to a water injection zone 18 . it should be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that injection zone 18 may alternatively be referred to as a disposal zone . it is preferable to have a long distance or an isolation zone 17 between the producing zone 16 and the injection zone 18 . as shown in fig1 casing 12 has a producing interval , shown generally at 20 , separated from an injection interval , shown generally at 22 . producing interval 20 is located adjacent to and in fluid flow communication with the producing zone 16 . in a similar manner , injection interval 22 is located adjacent to and in fluid flow communication with the disposal , or injection zone 18 . the producing interval 20 may preferably be for example , but is not limited to , sets of perforations 20a in the casing 12 as shown in fig1 . likewise , the injection interval 22 may preferably be , but is not limited to , sets of perforations 22a in the casing 12 as shown in fig1 . as an alternative , injection interval 22 may be a slotted liner . as a further alternative , instead of using injection interval 22 , the excess water may be injected directly into an open hole ( not shown ) within the subterranean strata . preferably , however , the injection interval 22 will be sets of perforations 22a . it should be readily apparent to one skilled in the art that casing 12 may be provided with multiple producing intervals 20 and injection intervals 22 in communication with the producing zone 16 and the injection zone 18 , respectively . the injection zone 18 can be the same formation as the producing zone 16 provided that the producing interval 20 and the injection interval 22 are not communicating actively ( i . e ., fluid flow is isolated between producing interval 20 and injection interval 22 ). casing 12 surrounds a tubing 24 which extends from the ground surface 14 downwardly within the casing 12 . a downhole pump assembly , shown generally as 28 , is disposed in casing 12 . in the embodiment shown in the figures , pump assembly 28 is disposed within tubing 24 . however , it should be understood that the present invention is not limited to having the pump assembly 28 disposed within tubing 24 . it should be apparent to one skilled in the art that pump assembly 28 could consist of any combination of modified rod pumps ( including , for example , but not limited to , insert / tubing / insert , insert / insert / insert , and various api pump types ) to provide needed flexibility for varying conditions such as sand , gas , and corrosive conditions . the pump assembly 28 preferably consists of an upper plunger 30 , a middle plunger 31 , and a lower plunger 32 . upper plunger 30 , lower plunger 32 , and middle plunger 31 are shown in fig1 as substantially cylindrical in shape , however , it should also be apparent to one skilled in the art that the plungers are not limited to a cylindrical shape . upper plunger 30 preferably has a larger effective surface area 30a as compared to the surface area 32a of lower plunger 32 . a valve 33 is disposed in the upper plunger 30 . valve 33 is responsive to the upstroke of the pump assembly 28 . additionally , ports 36 are disposed within upper plunger 30 . in the exemplary embodiment shown in the figures , four ports 36 are shown , however , it should be understood by one skilled in the art , that additional ports , or fewer ports may be used . valve 33 and ports 36 will be discussed in more detail below . middle plunger 31 preferably has a larger surface area 31a as compared to the surface area 30a of upper plunger 30 or surface area 32a of lower plunger 32 . surface area 31a is preferably larger than surface area 30a which is preferably larger than surface area 32a . as noted with respect to the shape of the plungers , the surface areas 30a , 31a , and 32a are not limited to a specific shape , although they are preferably circular as shown in fig1 . moreover , the present invention is not limited to having an arrangement wherein surface area 31a is larger than surface area 30a which is larger than surface area 32a . for example , surface area 32a may be the same as or larger than surface area 31a . as further shown in fig1 surface area 30a is in contact with a column of produced fluid 52 above upper plunger 30 in tubing 24 . likewise , surface area 32a is in contact with a column of produced water 54 below lower plunger 32 in tubing 24 . the column of produced fluid 52 and the column of produced water 54 will be discussed in more detail below . the upper plunger 30 and the middle plunger 31 are coupled together by connecting rod 34 . likewise , the middle plunger 31 and the lower plunger 32 are coupled together by connecting rod 35 . connecting rods 34 and 35 are preferably made from steel . alternatively , connecting rods 34 and 35 may be made of any known high compressive strength material . connecting rods 34 and 35 may be connected to upper plunger 30 and middle plunger 31 , and middle plunger 31 and lower plunger 32 , respectively , by any known securing method , for example , but not limited to , threaded connections or welding . the present invention is not limited to the use of connecting rods for coupling upper plunger 30 and middle plunger 31 or middle plunger 31 and lower plunger 32 . accordingly , other suitable mechanisms may be used to couple upper plunger 30 , middle plunger 31 , and lower plunger 32 . in effect , connecting rods 34 and 35 serve to directly connect surface area 30a to surface area 32a so that the effective pressure ( hydraulic head ) is transmitted directly . it should be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that although other forces are present , they have relatively minimal effect on pressure transmission . in the exemplary embodiment shown in fig1 upper plunger 30 , middle plunger 31 , and lower plunger 32 are depicted as tubing pumps and , accordingly , are shown sealingly disposed directly within tubing 24 . as further shown in fig1 tubing 24 may consist of three varying sized sections , 15 , 19 , and 21 , to accommodate each plunger . alternatively , barrels ( not shown ) corresponding to each plunger may be disposed in tubing 24 . in such an alternate embodiment , upper plunger 30 , middle plunger 31 , and lower plunger 32 are sealingly disposed in each respective barrel within tubing 24 . as noted , this provides flexibility in terms of pump sizing and injection pressure magnification options . preferably , however , upper plunger 30 , middle plunger 31 , and lower plunger 32 are sealingly disposed within tubing 24 . it is to be understood that very little , if any , fluid can pass between the outer sealing edges of upper plunger 30 , middle plunger 31 , and lower plunger 32 and tubing 24 . any well - known sealing mechanisms may be employed to provide the seal between plungers , 30 , 31 , and 32 , and tubing 24 including , but not limited to o - rings or slip rings . a sucker rod string 26 is also disposed within tubing 24 . rod string 26 extends to the ground surface 14 where it is reciprocated through an upstroke and a downstroke by a pump drive 27 located at the ground surface 14 . rod string 26 is coupled to upper plunger 30 . as discussed above with respect to connecting rod 34 , rod string 26 may be coupled to upper plunger 30 by any known securing method , for example , but not limited to , threaded connections or welding . as rod string 26 is reciprocated through an upstroke and a downstroke by the pump drive 27 , upper plunger 30 , middle plunger 31 , and lower plunger 32 , likewise reciprocate through an upstroke and downstroke , preferably resulting in a uniform up and down motion within the tubing 24 . a packer 40 is disposed within casing 12 , preferably between producing interval 20 and injection interval 22 . casing 12 and packer 40 are configured to permit produced hydrocarbons and produced water to collect above packer 40 . by produced hydrocarbons , is meant crude oil , gas , gas condensate , and various combinations thereof . particularly , tubing 24 , casing 12 , and packer 40 , together define a casing - tubing annulus 42 that extends upward to the ground surface 14 . hydrocarbons , such as oil or gas , and water flow or are &# 34 ; produced ,&# 34 ; into casing 12 through producing interval 20 . the hydrocarbons and water segregate by gravity within casing - tubing annulus 42 forming a hydrocarbon / water interface 44 . gravity segregation , as used herein , is intended to describe the preservation of the isolation between produced hydrocarbons and water , as opposed to separation which indicates that a mixture is mechanically divided into separate fluids . thus , the produced hydrocarbons and water are allowed to collect in annulus 42 above packer 40 and to segregate by gravity to form segregated produced water below hydrocarbon / water interface 44 and hydrocarbons and a portion of produced water above hydrocarbon / water interface 44 . if during production , pump capacity exceeds water production capacity of producing zone 16 , then the operator may decrease the pump speed , change the sheaves , put the pump on a timer , or add surface water into the casing - tubing annulus 42 in order to maintain production . an upper inlet 45 is preferably disposed on tubing 24 between the upper plunger 30 and middle plunger 31 . as shown in the exemplary embodiment in fig1 upper inlet 45 may be a ball valve . it should be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that conventional oil field ball and seat valves are preferred but other suitable valves can be used . likewise , it should be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that use of the term &# 34 ; ball valve &# 34 ; herein shall refer to any suitable oil field ball and seat valves or other suitable valves . upper inlet 45 is responsive to the downstroke of the pump assembly 28 to permit unidirectional flow of the produced oil and a portion of the produced water that has collected above the packer 40 in annulus 42 into the pump assembly 28 between the upper plunger 30 and the middle plunger 31 . the operation of upper inlet 45 will be described in more detail below . a lower inlet 46 is preferably disposed at a lower end of tubing 24 between lower plunger 32 and packer 40 . as shown in the exemplary embodiment in fig1 lower inlet 46 may be a ball valve which is assembled as an upper valve of a lower valve assembly , shown generally as 48 , having an upper and lower portion . it should be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that conventional oil field ball and seat valves are preferred but other suitable valves can be used . lower valve assembly 48 is shown as being preferably connected to the lower end of tubing 24 and to packer 40 . it is to be understood , however , that lower valve assembly 48 may be disposed anywhere below the pump assembly 28 provided that it is placed lower than the producing interval 20 but above the packer 40 . this placement could range from just a few feet to thousands of feet deeper in the well than the pump assembly 28 itself . it may also be preferred to dispose a check valve ( not shown ) at the lower end of tubing 24 below lower valve assembly 48 in order to prevent backflow of fluid from the high pressure injection zone when pump assembly 28 and / or lower valve assembly 48 are removed for maintenance or other similar procedures . in the embodiment shown in the figures , an outlet 50 is disposed at a lower end of tubing 24 below lower inlet 46 and is in fluid flow communication with pump assembly 28 and with lower inlet 46 . as would be readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the relevant art , lower inlet 46 and outlet 50 can be configured in other arrangements and relative positions . it should be understood that the present invention is not limited to the configuration of lower inlet 46 and outlet 50 shown in the figures . for example , lower inlet 46 and outlet 50 may be configured in a side - by - side arrangement . as shown in the exemplary embodiment , fluid flows between lower inlet 46 and outlet 50 in a serpentine path , however , other fluid flow paths may alternatively be used . outlet 50 is shown in the exemplary embodiment of fig1 as a ball valve assembled as a lower valve of lower valve assembly 48 . it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that conventional oil field ball and seat valves are preferred but other types of flow control devices could be used as upper inlet 45 , lower inlet 46 or outlet 50 . preferably , however , upper inlet 45 , lower inlet 46 and outlet 50 are ball valves and will be referred to below as upper inlet ball valve 45 , lower inlet ball valve 46 , and outlet ball valve 50 , respectively . operation of upper inlet ball valve 45 , lower inlet ball valve 46 , and outlet ball valve 50 will be shown in more detail below . referring now to fig1 , and 3 simultaneously , the upstroke , or lifting cycle , of the exemplary embodiment is shown . at the beginning of the upstroke of pump assembly 28 , outlet ball valve 50 closes because the pressure being exerted by the disposal or injection zone 18 below packer 40 in casing 12 is greater than the total pressure within tubing 24 below lower plunger 32 . this in effect seals off the injection / disposal zone below packer 40 . during the upstroke , lower inlet ball valve 46 opens to permit the segregated produced water to preferably enter below pump assembly 28 within tubing 24 . the segregated produced water accumulates below lower plunger 32 within tubing 24 forming a column of produced water 54 . at the same time , upper inlet ball valve 45 closes and middle plunger 31 displaces produced fluid ( i . e ., produced hydrocarbons and a portion of the produced water ) between the upper plunger 30 and middle plunger 31 opening valve 33 in upper plunger 30 . the produced fluid flows through ports 36 in upper plunger 30 and open valve 33 forming a column of produced fluid 52 above upper plunger 30 . as the upstroke of pump assembly 28 continues , a portion of the column of produced fluid 52 is lifted to the ground surface 14 and collected in a well - known manner . additionally , a portion of the produced fluid accumulated in annulus 42 enters an open port 56 disposed in tubing 24 between middle plunger 31 and lower plunger 32 . this action continues , as shown in fig2 and 3 , as rod string 26 lifts the pump assembly 28 within tubing 24 . referring now to fig4 , and 6 simultaneously , the downstroke , or injection cycle , of the exemplary embodiment is shown . at the top of the downstroke ( fig4 ), lower inlet ball valve 46 closes and outlet ball valve 50 opens due to the high pressure generated by bottom plunger 32 acting on the column of produced water 54 . at the same time , valve 33 in upper plunger 30 closes . during the downstroke , the hydrostatic head of the column of produced fluid 52 above upper plunger 30 acts across its surface area 30a and this pressure is converted into a downward force in a well known manner ( i . e . pounds / square inch * square inches = pounds ). this downward force is added to the force imparted by rod string 26 and is transferred through connecting rod 34 and middle plunger 31 , to connecting rod 35 . the force is then transferred through connecting rod 35 to bottom plunger 32 . the force is converted back to a higher pressure , or magnified injection pressure , when the smaller surface area 32a of the bottom plunger 32 acts on the column of produced water 54 below . as mentioned above , outlet ball valve 50 is open during the downstroke thereby permitting the column of produced water 54 to exit at the magnified injection pressure via outlet ball valve 50 into casing 12 below packer 40 and thereafter into the injection zone 18 . also during the downstroke , produced fluid accumulated in the annulus 42 ( i . e ., produced hydrocarbons and a portion of the produced water ) enter the tubing 24 through the upper inlet ball valve 45 between the upper plunger 30 and the middle plunger 31 . this produced fluid provides the hydrostatic head which is multiplied by the pump arrangement for magnifying the injection pressure and the produced fluid is lifted to the ground surface 14 as described above . also during the downstroke , a portion of the produced fluid that entered open port 56 between middle plunger 31 and lower plunger 32 during the upstroke is expelled through open port 56 on the downstroke . this minimizes the counter - productive pressure effects of the larger middle plunger 31 by allowing fluid trapped between middle plunger 31 and lower plunger 32 to be expelled on the downstroke , or injection cycle . this action continues , as shown in fig5 and 6 , until the bottom of the downstroke is reached . referring now to fig7 there is illustrated , in a side - elevation sectional view , a second embodiment of the present invention and is represented generally by reference numeral 10 . like reference numerals will be used where appropriate to describe similar elements to those of the embodiment shown in fig1 - 6 . likewise , in as much as similar elements have been described above , for the sake of brevity , such descriptions are herein incorporated by reference . as shown in fig7 pump assembly 28 preferably consists of an upper plunger 30 , a middle plunger 31 , and a lower plunger 32 . upper plunger 30 , lower plunger 32 , and middle plunger 31 are shown in fig7 as substantially cylindrical in shape , however , it should also be apparent to one skilled in the art that the plungers are not limited to a cylindrical shape . upper plunger 30 preferably has a larger surface area 30a as compared to the surface area 32a of lower plunger 32 . depending upon the desired injection pressure , or the volume of fluid to be produced to the ground surface , upper plunger 30 may also have a smaller surface area 30a as compared to the surface area 32a of lower plunger 32 , or alternatively , the surface areas may be the same . in addition , a first valve 33 is preferably disposed on upper plunger 30 . first valve 33 is responsive to the upstroke and downstroke of pump assembly 28 . additionally , ports 36 are disposed within upper plunger 30 . in the exemplary embodiment shown in the figures , four ports 36 are shown , however , it should be understood by one skilled in the art , that additional ports , or fewer ports may be used . first valve 33 and ports 36 will be discussed in more detail below . middle plunger 31 preferably has a larger surface area 31a as compared to the surface area 30a of upper plunger 30 or surface area 32a of lower plunger 32 . surface area 31a is preferably larger than surface area 30a which is preferably larger than surface area 32a . depending upon the desired injection pressure , or the volume of fluid to be produced to the ground surface , middle plunger 31 may also have a smaller surface area 31a as compared to the surface area 32a of lower plunger 32 or the surface area 30a of upper plunger 30 , or alternatively , the surface areas may be the same . a second valve 39 is preferably disposed on middle plunger 31 . second valve 39 is responsive to the upstroke and the downstroke of pump assembly 28 . additionally , ports 37 are disposed within middle plunger 31 . in the exemplary embodiment shown in the figures , four ports 37 are shown , however , it should be understood by one skilled in the art , that additional ports , or fewer ports may be used . second valve 39 and ports 37 will be discussed in more detail below . as noted with respect to the shape of the plungers , the surface areas 30a , 31a , and 32a are not limited to a specific shape , although they are preferably circular as shown in fig7 . as further shown in fig7 surface area 30a is in contact with a column of produced fluid 52 above upper plunger 30 in tubing 24 . likewise , surface area 32a is in contact with a column of produced water 54 below lower plunger 32 in tubing 24 . the column of produced fluid 52 and the column of produced water 54 will be discussed in more detail below . the upper plunger 30 and the middle plunger 31 are coupled together by connecting rod 34 . likewise , the middle plunger 31 and the lower plunger 32 are coupled together by connecting rod 35 . connecting rods 34 and 35 are preferably made from steel . alternatively , connecting rods 34 and 35 may be made of any known high compressive strength material . connecting rods 34 and 35 may be connected to upper plunger 30 and middle plunger 31 , and middle plunger 31 and lower plunger 32 , respectively , by any known securing method , for example , but not limited to , threaded connections or welding . the present invention is not limited to the use of connecting rods for coupling upper plunger 30 and middle plunger 31 or middle plunger 31 and lower plunger 32 . accordingly , other suitable mechanisms may be used to couple upper plunger 30 , middle plunger 31 , and lower plunger 32 . in effect , connecting rods 34 and 35 serve to directly connect surface area 30a to surface area 32a so that the effective pressure ( hydraulic head ) is transmitted directly . it should be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that although other forces are present , they have relatively minimal effect on pressure transmission . an inlet 46 is preferably disposed at a lower end of tubing 24 between lower plunger 32 and packer 40 . as shown in the exemplary embodiment in fig7 inlet 46 may be a ball valve which is assembled as an upper valve of a lower valve assembly , shown generally as 48 , having an upper and lower portion . lower valve assembly 48 is shown as being preferably connected to the lower end of tubing 24 and to packer 40 . it is to be understood , however , that lower valve assembly 48 may be disposed anywhere below the pump assembly 28 provided that it is placed lower than the producing interval 20 but above the packer 40 . this placement could range from just a few feet to thousands of feet deeper in the well than the pump assembly 28 itself . it may also be preferred to dispose a check valve ( not shown ) at the lower end of tubing 24 below lower valve assembly 48 in order to prevent backflow of fluid from the high pressure injection zone when pump assembly 28 and / or lower valve assembly 48 are removed for maintenance or other similar procedures . in the embodiment shown in the figures , an outlet 50 is disposed at a lower end of tubing 24 below inlet 46 and is in fluid flow communication with pump assembly 28 and with inlet 46 . as would be readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the relevant art , inlet 46 and outlet 50 can be configured in other arrangements and relative positions . it should be understood that the present invention is not limited to the configuration of inlet 46 and outlet 50 shown in the figures . for example , inlet 46 and outlet 50 may be configured in a side - by - side arrangement . as shown in the exemplary embodiment , fluid flows between inlet 46 and outlet 50 in a serpentine path , however , other fluid flow paths may alternatively be used . outlet 50 is shown in the exemplary embodiment of fig7 as a ball valve assembled as a lower valve of lower valve assembly 48 . it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that conventional oil field ball and seat valves are preferred but other types of flow control devices could be used as inlet 46 , outlet 50 , or any of the valves mentioned herein . preferably , however , inlet 46 and outlet 50 are ball valves and will be referred to below as inlet ball valve 46 and outlet ball valve 50 , respectively . operation of inlet ball valve 46 and outlet ball valve 50 will be described in more detail below . an open port 56 is preferably disposed in tubing 24 between middle plunger 31 and lower plunger 32 . open port 56 allows produced fluid accumulated in the annulus 42 ( i . e ., produced hydrocarbons and a portion of the produced water ) to enter the tubing 24 between middle plunger 31 and lower plunger 32 . operation of open port 56 will be described in more detail below . referring now to fig7 , and 9 simultaneously , the upstroke , or lifting cycle , of the second exemplary embodiment is shown . at the beginning of the upstroke of pump assembly 28 , outlet ball valve 50 closes because the pressure being exerted by the disposal or injection zone 18 below packer 40 in casing 12 is greater than the total pressure within tubing 24 below lower plunger 32 . this in effect seals off the injection / disposal zone below packer 40 . during the upstroke , inlet ball valve 46 opens to permit the segregated produced water to enter pump assembly 28 within tubing 24 . the segregated produced water accumulates below lower plunger 32 within tubing 24 forming a column of produced water 54 . at the same time , second valve 39 disposed on middle plunger 31 closes and middle plunger 31 displaces produced fluid ( i . e ., produced hydrocarbons and a portion of the produced water ) between the upper plunger 30 and middle plunger 31 opening first valve 33 in upper plunger 30 . the produced fluid flows through ports 36 in upper plunger 30 and open first valve 33 forming a column of produced fluid 52 above upper plunger 30 . as the upstroke of pump assembly 28 continues , a portion of the column of produced fluid 52 is lifted to the ground surface 14 and collected in a well - known manner . additionally , a portion of the produced fluid accumulated in annulus 42 enters open port 56 between middle plunger 31 and lower plunger 32 . this action continues , as shown in fig8 and 9 , as rod string 26 lifts the pump assembly 28 within tubing 24 . it should be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that a proportion of fluid may be expelled through open port 56 during the upstroke depending upon the pressure differential between the pump chamber and annulus 42 . referring now to fig1 , 11 , and 12 simultaneously , the downstroke , or injection cycle , of the second exemplary embodiment is shown . at the top of the downstroke ( fig1 ), inlet ball valve 46 closes and outlet ball valve 50 opens due to the high pressure generated by bottom plunger 32 acting on the column of produced water 54 . at the same time , first valve 33 in upper plunger 30 closes and second valve 39 in middle plunger 31 opens . during the downstroke , the hydrostatic head of the column of produced fluid 52 above upper plunger 30 acts across its surface area 30a and this pressure is converted into a downward force in a well known manner ( i . e . pounds / square inch * square inches = pounds ). this downward force is added to the force imparted by rod string 26 and is transferred through connecting rod 34 and middle plunger 31 , to connecting rod 35 . the force is then transferred through connecting rod 35 to bottom plunger 32 . the force is converted back to a higher pressure , or magnified injection pressure , when the smaller surface area 32a of the bottom plunger 32 acts on the column of produced water 54 below . as mentioned above , outlet ball valve 50 is open during the downstroke thereby permitting the column of produced water 54 to exit at the magnified injection pressure via outlet ball valve 50 into casing 12 below packer 40 and thereafter into the injection zone 18 . also during the downstroke , a portion of the produced fluid that entered open port 56 between middle plunger 31 and lower plunger 32 during the upstroke flows through ports 37 in middle plunger 31 and open second valve 39 . the produced fluid accumulates above middle plunger 31 . the produced fluid is then lifted during the upstroke to the ground surface 14 as described above . also during the downstroke , a portion of the produced fluid that entered open port 56 between middle plunger 31 and lower plunger 32 during the upstroke may be expelled through open port 56 . this action continues , as shown in fig1 and 12 , until the bottom of the downstroke is reached . it should be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that a proportion of fluid may enter open port 56 during the upstroke depending upon the pressure differential between the pump chamber and annulus 42 . to more clearly describe the injection pressure magnification process , the following example is given . it is to be understood that the prophetic calculations shown below are simplified to describe the primary factors ( e . g ., fluid level in casing - tubing annulus 42 ) involved in calculating the magnified injection pressure . as would be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art , other secondary factors , such as buoyancy , casing pressure , and the dynamic effects of the connecting rod ( s ) may affect the magnified injection pressure . likewise , imperfect valves , seals , etc . may affect the overall pressure magnification . during the upstroke of pump assembly 28 , the produced fluid between middle plunger 31 and lower plunger 32 , which enters through open port 56 , provides a slight , net upwards pressure effect due to the pressure in the casing - tubing annulus 42 . this example should not represent any limitation on the present invention . corresponding reference numerals will be used where appropriate . consider an oil - producing well located in a particular field wherein the producing zone 16 is located approximately 2 , 000 feet from the surface . assuming the hydrostatic pressure gradient of the column of produced fluid ( i . e ., hydrocarbons and a portion of the produced water ) above the upper plunger 30 is approximately 0 . 4 psi / foot , the resultant pressure exerted by the column of produced fluid 52 at the upper plunger 30 is 800 psi ( 2 , 000 feet * 0 . 4 psi / foot = 800 psi ). assume upper plunger 30 has an effective diameter of 1 . 50 inches , middle plunger 31 has an effective diameter of 2 . 00 inches , and lower plunger 32 has an effective diameter of 1 . 25 inches . the corresponding effective surface area 30a of the upper plunger 30 is therefore 1 . 77 in 2 ( π ( 1 . 50 in / 2 ) 2 = 1 . 77 in 2 ). similarly , the corresponding effective surface area 32a of the lower plunger 32 is 1 . 23 in 2 ( π ( 1 . 25 in / 2 ) 2 = 1 . 23 in 2 ). as described above , during the downstroke of the pump assembly 28 , the hydrostatic head ( 800 psi ) acts across surface area 30a of upper plunger 30 and is converted into a force ( force = head * surface area 30a = 800 psi * 1 . 77 in 2 : force = 1 , 416 pounds ). this force is then transferred through connecting rods 34 and 35 to lower plunger 32 where it is converted back into a magnified injection pressure when the smaller surface area 32a of bottom plunger 32 acts on the column of produced water 54 below bottom plunger 32 ( magnified injection pressure = force / surface area 32a = 1 , 416 pounds / 1 . 23 in ) ( 2 : magnified injection pressure = 1 . 151 psi ). thus , the hydrostatic head of 800 psi has been converted to a magnified injection pressure of 1 , 151 psi , a differential of 351 psi . although the larger middle plunger 31 may affect the pressure of the injection cycle , as described above , the ratio of the surface areas of upper plunger 30 to the lower plunger 32 has the most significant effect on the magnified injection pressure . the ratio of the surface areas of middle plunger 31 to the upper plunger 30 does , however , significantly affects the volume of produced fluid lifted to the ground surface 14 . indeed , as the ratio of the surface areas of middle plunger 31 to upper plunger 30 increases , the volume of produced fluid lifted to the ground surface 14 increases accordingly . therefore , it should be understood by the person of ordinary skill in the relevant art , that a tradeoff exists between the volumetric efficiency of produced fluids to the ground surface 14 and the magnified injection pressure . such a tradeoff is based upon selection of the particular sized combinations of the upper , middle , and lower plungers , 30 , 31 , and 32 , respectively . it should be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that while there is a tradeoff of efficiency , the present invention , nevertheless , may have a higher overall efficiency as compared to conventional pumping systems because it works during both the upstroke and the downstroke whereas conventional systems typically work only during the upstroke . as noted , if it is desired to alter the injection pressure or the volume of produced fluids to the ground surface , different sized plungers or connecting rods may be used . in addition , although not required , any number of conventional sinker bars may be used to alter the design pressure magnification . in some hydrocarbon fields where a conventional pump cannot provide sufficiently high injection pressures , the present invention , as evidenced by the example above , can provide such injection pressures in the range of one to two thousand , or more , pounds per square inch increases over the initial pressure exerted by the column of produced fluid 52 . this is especially useful in those fields where the injection or disposal zones exhibit moderate to high hydrostatic pressure gradients which are in excess of 0 . 5 psi / ft of depth . indeed , the present invention &# 39 ; s benefits increase as injection pressure approaches fracture gradient ( 0 . 7 to 1 . 5 psi / ft or more ). alternatively , the present invention may be used in fields where the injection pressure gradient of the injection zone is less than 0 . 5 psi / ft with the expectation that injection pressure will increase as the well scales up , builds up pore pressure , etc . this is not unlikely in low permeability injection zones for which this device is advantageously suited . as described above , and as shown in the above example , the present invention provides a simple system for providing sufficiently high injection pressures while simultaneously lifting produced hydrocarbons and only a portion of the produced water to the ground surface . it should be apparent that the present invention may be used to increase efficiency and production , to lower production , injection , and equipment costs , and to extend the overall commercial life of hydrocarbon producing fields that are currently uneconomic for production , either because of unsuitable water injection zones subsurface or due to practical limitations of existing equipment . while various embodiments of the present invention have been described above , it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example only , and not limitation . thus , the breadth and scope of the present invention should not be limited by any of the abovedescribed exemplary embodiments , but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims and their equivalents .	4
the invention will now be further explained in more detail and concrete with reference to examples and reference examples . to a solution of bis ( 1 - methylcyclopropyl ) methanimine hydrochloride ( 0 . 044 g , 0 . 25 mmol ) in 0 . 50 ml of dimethyl sulfoxide was added 0 . 061 g ( 0 . 50 mmol ) of ammonium perchlorate . the mixture was heated with stirring at 100 ° c . for 16 hours . the solvent was distilled out in vacuo and ether was added to the residue . precipitated crystals was obtained and recrystallized from ethanol to afford 0 . 27 g ( yield : 45 %) of the desired compound . 138 ( m - clo 4 - ) + , 136 ( base peak ). to a solution of dicyclopropylmethanimine hydrochloride ( 1 . 00 g , 6 . 87 mmol ) in 6 . 0 ml of dimethyl sulfoxide was added 1 . 68 g ( 1 . 37 mmol ) of ammonium perchlorate . the mixture was heated with stirring at 100 ° c . for 6 hours . the solvent was distilled out in vacuo and isobutyl alcohol ( 6 ml ) was added to the residue . precipitated crystals was obtained and recrystallized from ethanol to afford 1 . 15 g ( yield : 80 %) of the desired compound . 110 ( m - clo 4 - ) + , 108 ( base peak ). 111 [( m - clo 4 - )+ 1 ] + , 110 ( base peak ). to a solution of dicyclopropylmethanimine hydrobromide ( 1 . 00 g , 5 . 26 mmol ) in 6 . 0 ml of dimethyl sulfoxide was added 1 . 29 g ( 10 . 5 mmol ) of ammonium perchlorate . the mixture was heated with stirring at 100 ° c . for 1 hour . the solvent was distilled out in vacuo and isobutyl alcohol was added to the residue . precipitated crystals was obtained and recrystallized from ethanol to afford 0 . 90 g ( yield : 82 %) of the desired compound . the spectrum of the compound were identified to those of the product of example 2 . a solution of dicyclopropylmethanimine hydrochloride ( 1 . 00 g , 6 . 87 mmol ) in 6 . 0 ml of dimethyl sulfoxide was heated with stirring at 100 ° c . for 4 hours . the solvent was distilled out in vacuo and isobutyl alcohol ( 6 ml ) was added to the residue . precipitated crystals was obtained and dried in vacuo to afford 0 . 55 g ( yield : 55 %) of the desired compound . 110 ( m - clo 4 - ) + , 108 ( base peak ). 111 [( m - clo 4 - ) + 1 ] + , 110 ( base peak ). a solution of dicyclopropylmethanimine hydrobromide ( 1 . 00 g , 5 . 26 mmol ) in 6 . 0 ml of dimethyl sulfoxide was heated with stirring at 100 ° c . for 1 hour . the solvent was distilled out in vacuo and of isobutyl alcohol ( 8 ml ) was added to the residue . precipitated crystals was obtained and dried in vacuo to afford 0 . 56 g ( yield : 56 %) of the desired compound . 110 ( m - clo 4 - ) + , 108 ( base peak ). 111 [( m - clo 4 - ) + 1 ] + , 110 ( base peak ). to a solution of dicyclopropylmethanimine hydrobromide ( 0 . 200 g , 1 . 05 mmol ) in 2 . 0 ml of dimethyl sulfoxide was added 0 . 232 g ( 2 . 10 mmol ) of ammonium tetrafluroborate . the mixture was heated with stirring at 100 ° c . for 2 hours . the solvent was distilled out in vacuo and isobutyl alcohol was added to the residue . precipitated crystals was obtained and recrystallized from ethanol to afford 0 . 17 g ( yield : 82 %) of the desired compound . 110 ( m - clo 4 - ) + , 108 ( base peak ). to a solution of dicyclopropylmethanimine hydrobromide ( 0 . 200 g , 1 . 05 mmol ) in 5 . 0 ml of dimethyl sulfoxide was added 0 . 139 g ( 1 . 05 mmol ) of ammonium sulfate . the mixture was heated with stirring at 100 ° c . for 2 hours . the solvent was distilled out in vacuo and isobutyl alcohol was added to the residue . precipitated crystals was obtained and recrystallized from ethanol to afford 0 . 10 g ( yield : 62 %) of the desired compound . 110 ( m - clo 4 - ) + , 108 ( base peak ). to a solution of dicyclopropylmethanimine perchlorate ( 0 . 200 g , 0 . 954 mmol ) in 1 . 0 ml of dimethyl sulfoxide was added 0 . 0510 g ( 0 . 0954 mmol ) of ammonium chloride . the mixture was heated with stirring at 100 ° c . for 3 hours . the solvent was distilled out in vacuo and isobutyl alcohol was added to the residue . precipitated crystals was obtained and recrystallized from ethanol to afford 0 . 16 g ( yield : 82 %) of the desired compound . the spectrum of the compound were identical to those of the product of example 2 . to a solution of 1 - cyclopropyl - 1 -( 1 - methylcyclopropyl ) methanimine hydrochloride ( 0 . 060 g , 0 . 38 mmol ) in 0 . 60 ml of dimethyl sulfoxide was added 0 . 088 g ( 0 . 75 mmol ) of ammonium perchlorate . the mixture was heated with stirring at 100 ° c . for 20 hours . the solvent was distilled out in vacuo and ether was added to the residue . precipitated crystals was obtained and recrystallized from ethanol to afford 0 . 36 g ( yield : 43 %) of the desired compound . 2 . 5 - 2 . 8 ( 4h , m ## str23 ## 2 . 9 - 3 . 1 ( 2h , m , ## str24 ## 3 . 2 - 3 . 4 ( 1h , m , ## str25 ## 3 . 8 - 4 . 1 ( 4h , m , ## str26 ## to a solution of dicyclopropylketone ( 1 . 00 g , 9 . 09 mmol ) in 30 ml of benzene was added in dropwise 0 . 55 ml ( 5 . 0 mmol ) of titanium tetrachloride with stirring at 5 ° c . under ammonia atmosphere . after stirred the mixture for 5 hours under ammonia atmosphere , the solution was allowed warm up to 20 ° c ., while bubbling hydrogen chloride gas into the mixture . then the reaction mixture was concentrated in vacuo and crystal residue was suspended in 50 ml of chloroform . the solid was separated and the filtrate was concentrated . ether ( 50 ml ) was added to the concentrate and then the precipitated crystals were collected and dried to afford 0 . 73 g ( yield : 55 %) of the desired compound . to a solution of potassium cyanide ( 0 . 191 g , 2 . 86 mmol ) in 1 . 0 ml of water was added over 20 minutes 0 . 284 g ( 1 . 35 mmol ) of 1 - azoniabicyclo [ 3 . 3 . 0 ] oct - 1 ( 5 )- ene ( example 3 ). the mixture was stirred at 20 ° c . for 1 hour . to the reaction mixture was added 2 ml of water and extracted with methylene chloride ( 3 × 10 ml ). the combined organic layers were dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate and the solvent was distilled out in vacuo to afford 171 mg ( yield : 93 . 3 %) of the desired compound .	2
fig3 is an illustration of the double - spiral element 300 of the instant invention having end contact portions 301 , 302 which are divergent from the next adjacent spiral . by increasing the radius of the outer windings of the double - spiral , the inner windings are allowed to decoil while not contacting the outer windings or tabs so that the short path is less likely for a particular operating voltage . the net result is to allow more stable light output for a longer lifetime at a higher operating point for the filament . end contact portions 301 , 302 of the double - spiral filament contact ledge 405 of leadless chip carrier package 400 and are in electrical communication therewith . see , fig4 and 4a , which generally represent a commercially available leadless chip carrier package such as the one illustrated and made by kyocera corporation of kyoto , japan , kyocera drawing number pb - c88231 - jmi . it will be noted that the leadless chip carrier package includes a plurality of gold contacts which are embedded in or deposited on the surface of the ledge . any oppositely oriented pair of contacts may be used as they will position the double - spiral filament centrally within the chip carrier package . the double - spiral filament 300 is centrally mounted as this will maximize the light output through a correspondingly oriented window 602 in a lid 600 as illustrated in fig6 and 7 . a braze preform available from morgan ceramics / wesgo metals incusil - aba having 59 % ag , 27 . 25 % cu , 12 . 5 % in and 1 . 25 % ti having a liquidus temp = 715 ° c . covers the contacts of the leadless chip carrier . the leadless chip carrier with the filament engaging the braze preform and the contacts are then heated under a desired vacuum at approximately 800 ° c . until the filament is secured in place . a transitional portion 303 of the filament interconnects end contact portion 301 and outer spiral portion 306 of the first spiral and a transitional portion 304 interconnects the end contact portion 302 and outer spiral portion 305 of the second spiral . it will be noticed that the end contact portions 301 and 302 are significantly larger in cross - sectional area than the transitional portions 303 , 304 . the filament is 0 . 025 mm ( 25 μm ) thick everywhere and the end contacts are approximately 0 . 50 mm ( 500 μm ) wide as represented by reference numeral 354 in fig3 a . also see , fig3 c , reference numeral 388 , illustrating the thickness 388 of the filament . shoulders 330 , 331 reduce the width of the end contact portions to the width of the transition portions 303 , 304 . fig3 a is an illustration 300 a of the double - spiral filament 300 of the instant invention similar to fig3 with additional reference numerals employed to indicate dimensions and radii of the filament . referring still to fig3 , the beginning 305 a of the outer - most winding 307 of the second spiral 305 is illustrated . reference numeral 307 represents the outer - most winding of the second spiral . reference numeral 305 a represents the beginning of the outer - most winding 307 of the second spiral 305 . reference numeral 306 a represents the beginning of the outer - most winding 308 of the first spiral 306 . reference numeral 308 represents the outer - most winding of the first spiral 308 . arrow 340 is indicated in fig3 as pointing to the gap 316 ( sometimes referred herein as “ the second gap ”) between second spiral 305 and first spiral 306 and arrow 341 is pointing toward the beginning of the gap 314 ( sometimes referred herein as “ the first gap ”) between first spiral 306 and second spiral 305 . these arrows signify the relatively large gaps at the entrances to the interleaved first 306 and second spiral 305 . fig3 d illustrates the gaps 314 , 316 of the filament after energization ( i . e ., after the application of appropriate voltage across the end contacts 301 , 302 ) of the tungsten or tungsten alloy filament . the inner windings as discussed hereinbelow are expanded radially outward and lengthened slightly . the filament , as illustrated in fig3 , accommodates the joule heating of the filament such that the unwanted contact in the region , defined generally by reference numerals 260 , 261 , 262 and 263 in fig2 a , is avoided and does not occur . referring to fig3 d , the fill factor may change with joule heating , but the filament should unspool evenly so the fill factor should remain mostly the same even though the output disk should grow or shrink as the filament heats or cools . referring to fig3 - 3d , fill factors for the filament disclosed herein will vary depending on desired temperature of the particular filament used ; however , the filament illustrated in fig3 is 25 μm thick ( reference numeral 388 , fig3 c ) everywhere , has a 50 % fill factor using a 50 μm spacing between spirals 305 , 306 , and has a 50 μm winding width . the filament of fig3 operates at approximately 2200 ° k . for 1000 hours . the importance of the fill factor or aspect ratio has to do with the fact that the closer the windings are together the more light you can output per unit area . the spacing is determined by the amount that the filament expands due to thermal effects during operation . still referring to fig3 - 3d , the inner windings are approximately about the same cross - section , and are the smallest in cross - sectional area of the filament components . this makes the hot spot of the filament generally in the middle ( central portion 313 ) of the filament away from the walls of the package . since the light comes from the middle of the package it can be easily coupled to the optical fiber attached to the window of the light source . still referring to fig3 - 3d , the outer windings are tapered like a sickle as a transition from the strong end contacts 301 / 303 and 302 / 304 to the inner windings of the interleaved spirals 305 , 306 . the outer windings 305 , 306 are shaped like a sickle with the arc being fairly wide and sturdy to provide a strong gradual transition to the inner windings instead of going right from the end contacts directly to a narrow winding as does the structure of fig2 and 2a . the arc supports the inner windings encouraging them to uncoil as they heat instead of just twisting off in a torquing motion at the end contact connection point . the arc distributes the stress during temperature changes and thus increases the service life . the arc also provides for the inner windings of the coil to grow outwardly . the end contacts have the greatest cross - section of the filament . in this way the end contacts create a stable base for damping filament vibration and have a lot of adhesion surface area to bind the filament to the leadless chip carrier package . the large end contact portions also provide a relatively large place to handle the filament during the assembly process . still referring to fig3 - 3d , the narrower inner windings ( intermediate windings 309 , 310 , 311 , 312 ) have the same current as the end contact portions because the current is the same throughout all portions of the filament . the narrower inner windings have the same thickness as the end contact portions 301 , 302 and as the inner windings &# 39 ; cross - sectional area is smaller ( than the arc , transition portions and end contacts ) their relative resistance per incremental unit length is relatively higher and they joule heat more since the same current is squeezed through essentially a smaller volume which means the same number of electrons per second interact with fewer atoms generating more photons and different energy photons than are generated at the end contact portions . still referring to fig3 - 3d , having the arc and designing the filament such that the outer windings are spaced apart from the inner windings ( intermediate windings 309 , 310 , 311 , 312 ) may decrease the fill factor somewhat but most of the light is from the inner windings so the optical fiber will couple effectively to the filament . in this arrangement the fill factor is about 50 %. filaments having fill factors greater than 50 % may be used . the inner windings are approximately 50 μm wide and are spaced apart approximately 50 μm from winding to winding . the second spiral 305 includes intermediate winding portions 309 , 311 which terminate in a central portion 313 which joins second and first spirals 305 , 306 together . the first spiral includes intermediate winding portions 310 , 312 which also terminate in the central portion 313 . generally the windings of the spirals 305 , 306 are widest at the arc which comprises outer - most winding and gradually tapers to the width of the inner winding which is approximately 50 μm . referring to fig3 a , the overall length 350 of the filament is approximately 8 mm ( 8000 μm ). the radii 355 of the outer - most windings 307 , 308 of the second and first spirals 305 , 306 , respectively , are approximately 0 . 89 mm ( 890 μm ). the radii 356 of the outer - most windings 307 , 308 of both spirals 306 , 305 are reduced gradually to approximately 0 . 68 mm ( 680 μm ) through an arc of about 90 ° and the radii 357 are further reduced to 0 . 58 mm ( 580 μm ) through an arc of 180 °. thereafter , the radii are further reduced . the approximate length 351 between transition portions 303 , 304 is 4 . 84 mm ( 4840 μm ) for the example illustrated in fig3 a . the outer diameter 352 of the filament is approximately 1 . 50 mm ( 1 , 500 μm ) and is also illustrated in fig3 a . the diameter 353 of the tungsten or tungsten alloy filament is approximately 1 . 15 mm ( 1 , 150 μm ) at the point where the outer - most windings have swept an arc of approximately 180 ° from the entrance . the filament employs end contact portions 301 , 302 which are then reduced in cross - section in transition portions 303 , 304 . the distance 358 between the contact portions ( i . e ., where they are reduced by shoulders 330 , 331 to become transition portions 303 , 304 ) is approximately 4 . 84 mm ( 4 , 840 μm ). the contact end portions are 1 . 43 mm ( 1 , 430 μm ) in length as indicated by reference numeral 359 . the invention is disclosed herein by way of example only and those skilled in the art will readily recognize after reading the specification that many of the dimensions stated herein may be changed without departing from the spirit and scope of the claimed invention . fig3 b is an enlargement 300 b of a portion of the double - spiral filament illustrated in fig3 a . reference numeral 314 represents the first gap between the first spiral 306 and the second spiral 305 at the beginning of the outer - most winding 308 . reference numeral 315 represents the first gap between the first spiral 306 and the second spiral 305 after an arc of about 90 ° of the outer - most winding 308 . reference numeral 317 represents the first gap between intermediate portions of the first spiral 306 and the second spiral 305 . reference numeral 323 represents the termination of the first gap between the intermediate portions of the first and second spirals . the gap terminates where the spirals are joined as indicated by reference numeral 313 . still referring to fig3 b , second gap 320 between intermediate portions of the second 305 and first 306 spirals is illustrated and that second gap which began as 316 , 316 a terminates as indicated by reference numeral 324 . fig3 c is a perspective view 300 c of the double - spiral filament illustrated in fig3 and which illustrates the thickness 388 of 0 . 025 mm ( 25 μm ) and the generally planar form of the filament which is generally represented by the reference numeral 300 in fig3 . in the future it is contemplated that a thickness of 0 . 050 ( 50 μm ) may be used . fig4 is an illustration of the ceramic housing or base 400 illustrating a bottom 400 , a ledge 405 having contact pairs 405 a , 406 which engage the end contact portions 301 , 302 of the spiral filament 300 , and an upper perimeter or lip 402 which is metal coated 402 b , 402 a . the ceramic housing has a metallized upper lip 402 a consisting of a base coating of nickel plating 402 b with a top coating of 0 . 0015 mm ( 1 . 5 μm ) of gold plating 402 a . the bottom 404 of the housing may be polished . alternatively , a reflective refractory metal , refractory ceramic carbide , boride , or nitride 404 a may be deposited on the bottom 404 . the bottom reflector layer provides a reflective surface 404 a to improve transmission through the transmission window 602 above , see fig7 . alternatively , the bottom reflector layer may include a reflective metal layer 404 a which may be a ti 200 å / pt 1000 å reflective film . silver may also be used as a reflective material . still referring to fig4 , grooves 401 , 412 , 409 , 410 , are cut vertically into the sides of the leadless chip carrier 400 to allow for interconnections directly to metal contacts 411 , 414 within the grooves from outside the leadless chip carrier . metal contact 405 a is in electrical communication ( not shown ) with contact 411 within the leadless chip carrier 400 . similarly metal contact 408 is in electrical communication ( not shown ) with contact 414 within the leadless chip carrier 400 . contact pairs 407 , 408 and 406 , 405 a are the preferred contacts over which braze preform is placed prior to placing end contact portions 301 , 302 therein for heating to secure the filament within . any of the contact pairs may be used as they all result in the centering of the filament within the housing and for its alignment with the window in the lid . fig4 a is a quarter - sectional view 400 a of the ceramic base or housing 400 illustrating the reflective bottom portion 404 a , the ledge 405 and the upper perimeter or lip 402 . fig4 a provides a good illustration of outer surface contacts 411 , 414 for interconnection to outside devices . fig4 b is an enlarged portion 400 b of the quarter - sectional view 400 a of the ceramic base or housing illustrating the reflective layer 404 a covering the bottom of the leadless chip carrier , the nickel plating 402 b on the perimeter and the gold plating 402 a on the nickel plating 402 b . reference numeral 405 b indicates a braze preform on top of contact 405 a in which end contact 301 , 302 may be placed . the end contacts of the tungsten filament may be bonded to contacts of the chip carrier package by a suitable process such as brazing , electron beam welding , spot welding or laser welding . fig5 is a view 500 similar to fig4 with the double - spiral filament 300 placed in the ceramic base or housing 400 straddling the ledge 405 with the end contact portions 301 , 302 mating with a respective pair 405 a , 406 of the contact pairs of the ledge 405 . fig5 a is a quarter sectional view 500 a of fig5 illustrating the braze preform securing the end contact portion 301 to contact 405 a on ledge 405 of housing 400 . end contact portion 301 is fused to the contact 405 a upon sufficient heating and subsequent cooling . fig6 is a view 600 of the bottom side of the lid 601 illustrating the transparent window 602 and the lip 603 a which mates with and is secured to the upper surface 402 a of the ceramic base . the lid is commercially available from spectrum semiconductor materials of san jose , calif . part no . c - 731 - 21 - 50mk100mnd - gkl . the material of the lid is kovar and includes the gold plating on top of nickel with a 80 % au / 20 % sn solder preform . fig6 a is a side view 600 a of the lid 601 illustrating the lip 603 a with solder preform 603 applied over the lip . at least one notch , nick or groove 608 is cut into the solder preform 603 such that when it is secured or held into sealing engagement with gold plated surface 402 a and placed in a furnace under vacuum conditions the contents of the ceramic housing 400 and the lid 601 are evacuated . alternatively , the ceramic housing and lid may be placed in an environment of halogen gas . fig6 b is an enlarged portion of fig6 a illustrating nick 608 in more detail . the heat of the furnace remelts and reflows the solder preform eliminating the nick and securing the lid and the chip carrier package together . fig7 is a top view 700 of the ultraminiature light source assembled . fig8 is a schematic 800 of the steps to manufacture the ultraminiature light source . the steps include fabricating a double - spiral ultraminiature tungsten filament from tungsten foil - 801 ; placing braze preform over two metal contacts of a suitable chip carrier package - 802 ; positioning end contacts of the tungsten filament into engagement with the braze preform covering the contacts of the chip carrier package - 803 ; placing the chip carrier package with the filament positioned therein into a vacuum furnace , the chip carrier package having a base plated with a material selected from the group of reflective refractory metal , refractory ceramic carbide , boride , and nitride - 804 ; heating , under desired vacuum , the chip carrier package , the tungsten filament , and the braze preform 805 at approximately 800 ° c . to melt the braze preform and bond the filament to the chip package ; cooling the chip carrier package , the tungsten filament , and the brazing while increasing pressure to atmospheric pressure - 806 ; applying solder preform to the perimeter of a lid having a transparent portion - 807 ; nicking the solder preform to create a discontinuity therein - 808 ; applying the lid having a transparent portion and having a solder preform tack welded over the perimeter of the lid to the chip carrier package , the chip carrier includes an upper lip having a gold plating which resides over a nickel plating ; holding the lid with the solder affixed thereto into engagement with the chip carrier package - 810 ; placing the chip carrier package with the lid held in place into the furnace under desired vacuum - 811 ; heating , under desired vacuum , the chip package to the eutectic temperature of solder to remelt and reflow the solder to seal the chip carrier package under the desired vacuum to create an air tight seal between the package and the lid - 812 ; and , cooling to room temperature and restoring atmospheric pressure within the furnace - 813 . alternatively , the step of placing braze preform on the contacts may be substituted with any suitable process of bonding the contacts to the chip carrier by brazing , electron beam welding , spot welding or laser welding . the eutectic point referred to in the step denoted by reference numeral 812 is the point at which the liquid phase borders directly on the solid phase . the temperature that corresponds to this point is known as the eutectic temperature . the step of applying solder preform to the perimeter of a lid having a transparent portion - 807 — includes the solder preform being tack welded to the window lid . the attachment of the solder preform to the lid prior to the sealing process avoids potential handling damage to the delicate 0 . 510 mm ( 510 μm ) thick gold preform and reduces alignment offsets of the gold preform to the sealing surfaces . the ceramic housing has a metallized upper lip consisting of a base coating of nickel plating with a top coating of 0 . 0015 mm ( 1 . 5 μm ) of gold plating . the light source disclosed herein was successfully tested at 3 . 125 vdc at 0 . 40 a yielding approximately 1 . 250 w at 2200 ° k . for approximately 1000 hours . different filament materials operating at different voltages will produces different values . fig9 is a top view 900 of the ultraminiature light source with a fiber optic guide 901 secured to the transparent window 602 with optical adhesive 902 . fig9 a is an enlarged cross - sectional view 900 a taken along the lines 9 a - 9 a of fig9 . a gap 903 of approximately 0 . 58 mm ( 580 μm ) is illustrated in fig9 a between the filament and the window 602 . the advantage of the tungsten light source disclosed herein includes the fact that it provides a broad optical spectrum . this broad spectrum is accompanied by a short coherence length . it is key , therefore , to couple the light source into an optical fiber in an efficient manner . this becomes increasingly problematic when the core size of the optical fiber is small . fibers used in optical fiber sensors may be 50 microns or smaller . such fibers usually have a small numerical aperture number ( na ) such as 0 . 22 . this means that either the light entering the fiber must be fairly collimated or that the fiber must be close to the source if the light is not highly collimated . the tungsten light source disclosed herein radiates light in all directions although the dual spiral coils tend to concentrate the light source . in order to maximize coupling a small filament light source with dimensions approaching that of the fiber , close spacing of the fiber to the filament is required to achieve any sort of efficiency in getting the tungsten light spectrum into the fiber . fig1 is an enlarged cross - sectional view 1000 similar to fig9 a illustrating another fiber optic guide coupling arrangement . connector housing 1001 fits over the packaged tungsten filament light source and the connector female receptacle 1002 is in engagement with the package . male connector 1003 is insertable within the female connector 1002 . male connector 1003 includes a housing portion 1004 and a resilient portion 1005 for receiving the fiber 901 . the fiber 901 is positioned in proximity to the window for good coupling to the tungsten filament . resilient material 1005 is used to grip the fiber optic guide 901 and enables the replacement of the optic fiber 901 if necessary . fig1 is an enlarged cross - sectional view 1100 of another connector arrangement wherein the fiber is held in a male connector 1110 , which in turn is coupled to a female connector receptacle 1112 affixed to a lamp package mount 1113 . optionally a lens 1120 may be used . fig1 a is an enlarged cross - sectional view 1100 a of another connector similar to fig1 with a lens integrally affixed 1121 with the lamp package window . fig1 b is an enlarged cross - sectional view 100 b of a connector similar to fig1 a with the connector directly engaging and attached to the lens by adhesive , solder , braze , or glass frit 1130 . alternatively the lens 1120 may be welded to the package lid . 1100 - cross - sectional view of a coupling arrangement with an optional lens 1100 a - cross - sectional view of a coupling arrangement with a lens integral with the transparent window 100 — schematic of related art device in u . s . pat . no . 6 , 796 , 866 . 214 — top nitride layer of middle filament mounting substrate 106 301 — end contact portion which sits on ledge of leadless chip carrier package 302 — end contact portion which sits on ledge of leadless chip carrier package 303 — transitional portion interconnecting end contact portion 301 and outer spiral portion 306 of the first spiral 304 — transitional portion interconnecting end contact portion 302 and outer spiral portion 305 of the second spiral 315 — gap between beginning portion of first spiral and second spiral where they begin to converge 316 a — gap between beginning portion of second spiral and first spiral where they begin to converge 323 — termination of gap between intermediate portions of first and second spirals 324 — termination of gap between intermediate portions of second and first spirals 340 — arrow to beginning of gap between second spiral 305 and first spiral 306 341 — arrow to beginning of gap between first spiral 306 and second spiral 305 350 — overall length of approximately 8 . 00 mm of the filament of the example illustrated 351 — approximate length of 4 . 84 mm between transition portions 303 , 340 of the example illustrated 352 — outer diameter of approximately 1 . 50 mm of the filament of the example illustrated 353 — diameter of filament after approximately 180 ° arc of the example illustrated 354 — approximate width of 0 . 500 mm of the contact portions 302 , 301 of the example illustrated 355 — approximate radii of 0 . 89 mm of the first and second spirals at the beginning of the spirals of the example of the example illustrated 356 — approximate radii of 0 . 68 mm of the first and second spirals after an approximate 90 ° arc of the example illustrated 357 — approximate radii of 0 . 58 mm of the first and second spirals after an approximate 180 ° arc of the example illustrated 358 — approximate distance of 4 . 84 mm between the contact portion of the example illustrated 400 a — quarter - sectional view of the leadless chip carrier illustrated in fig4 taken along the lines 4 a - 4 a 400 b — quarter - sectional view of the leadless chip carrier illustrated in fig4 further illustrating the braze preform and the reflective bottom 500 — top plan view of a leadless chip carrier similar to view of fig4 with the filament placed therein 500 a — quarter - sectional view taken along the lines 5 a - 5 a of fig5 — placing braze preform over two metal contacts of a suitable chip carrier package or electron welding , spot welding or laser welding 803 — positioning end contacts of the tungsten filament into engagement with the braze preform covering the contacts of the chip carrier package 804 — placing the chip carrier package with the filament positioned therein into a vacuum furnace , the chip carrier package having a base plated with a material selected from the group of reflective refractory metal , refractory ceramic carbide , boride , and nitride 805 — heating , under desired vacuum , the chip carrier package , the tungsten filament , and the braze preform at approximately 800 ° c . 806 — cooling the chip carrier package , the tungsten filament , and the brazing while increasing pressure to atmospheric pressure 807 — applying solder preform to the perimeter of a lid having a transparent portion 809 — applying the lid having a transparent portion and having a solder preform tack welded over the perimeter of the lid to the chip carrier package , the chip carrier includes an upper lip having a gold plating which resides over a nickel plating 810 — holding the lid with the solder affixed thereto into engagement with the chip carrier package 811 — placing the chip carrier package with the lid held in place into the furnace under desired vacuum 812 — heating , under desired vacuum , the chip package to the eutectic temperature of solder to remelt and reflow the solder to seal the chip carrier package under the desired vacuum 813 — cooling to room temperature and restoring atmospheric pressure within the furnace 900 — top view of filament within the assembled package coupled to a fiber optic guide 900 a — cross - sectional view taken along the lines 9 a - 9 a 1000 — cross - sectional view of a connector for coupling a fiber optic guide to the assembled package 1100 — cross - sectional view of a coupling arrangement with an optional lens 1100 a — cross - sectional view of a coupling arrangement with a lens integral with the transparent window those skilled in the art will readily recognize that the invention has been set forth by way of examples only and that many changes may be made to the structure of the examples and to the process set forth by way of examples without departing from the spirit and scope of the claims attached hereto .	7
the present invention is further directed to pharmaceutical compositions comprising a pharmaceutically effective amount of one or more of the above - described compounds and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or excipient , wherein said compositions are effective for treating the above diseases and conditions ; especially ophthalmic diseases and conditions . such a composition is believed to modulate signal transduction by a tyrosine kinase , either by inhibition of catalytic activity , affinity to atp or ability to interact with a substrate . more particularly , the compositions of the present invention may be included in methods for treating diseases comprising proliferation , fibrotic or metabolic disorders , for example cancer , fibrosis , psoriasis , rosacea , atherosclerosis , arthritis , and other disorders related to abnormal vasculogenesis and / or angiogenesis , such as exudative age related macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy . the compositions of the present invention are also useful in treating pterygia , blepharoconjunctivitis , chronic allergic conjunctivitis , recurrent episcleritis , keratoconjunctivitis sicca . in addition the following dermatological indications may be treated : sun burn , eczema , psoriasis contact dermatitis most preferably , the compounds of the present invention are useful an ophthalmic disease , wherein said ophthalmic disease is selected from the group consisting of pterygia , hyperemia related to an actively inflamed pterygia , recurrent pterygia following excisional surgery , prophylactic therapy to prevent recurrent pterygia post - excision , progressive pterygia approaching the visual axis , chronic low grade hyperemia associated with pterygia , corneal neovascularization , neovascular glaucoma , iris neovascularization , chronic allergic conjunctivitis , ocular rosacea , blepharoconjunctivitis , recurrent episcleritis , keratoconjunctivitis sicca , ocular graft vs host disease , diabetic retinopathy , diabetic macular edema , proliferative diabetic retinopathy , exudative or neovascular age - related macular degeneration , high - risk eyes ( i . e . fellow eyes have neovascular age - related macular degeneratuon ) with dry age - related macular degeneration , neovascular disease associated with retinal vein occlusion , neovascular disease ( including choroidal neovascularization ) associated with the following : pathologic myopia , pseudoxanthoma elasticum , optic nerve drusen , traumatic choroidal rupture , idiopathic etiologies , presumed ocular histoplasmosis syndrome , and retinopathy of prematurity . “ hydrocarbyl ” refers to a hydrocarbon radical having only carbon and hydrogen atoms . preferably , the hydrocarbyl radical has from 1 to 20 carbon atoms , more preferably from 1 to 12 carbon atoms and most preferably from 1 to 7 carbon atoms . “ substituted hydrocarbyl ” refers to a hydrocarbyl radical wherein one or more , but not all , of the hydrogen and / or the carbon atoms are replaced by a halogen , nitrogen , oxygen , sulfur or phosphorus atom or a radical including a halo , nitrogen , oxygen , sulfur or phosphorus atom , e . g . fluoro , chloro , cyano , nitro , dialkylamino , hydroxyl , phosphate , thiol , etc . the compounds of formulae i and ii can form salts which are also within the scope of this invention . reference to a compound of formula i or ii herein is understood to include reference to salts thereof , unless otherwise indicated . the term “ salt ( s )”, as employed herein , denotes acidic salts formed with inorganic and / or organic acids , as well as basic salts formed with inorganic and / or organic bases . in addition , when a compound of formula i or ii contains both a basic moiety , such as , but not limited to a pyridine or imidazole , and an acidic moiety , such as , but not limited to a carboxylic acid , zwitterions (“ inner salts ”) may be formed and are included within the term “ salt ( s )” as used herein . pharmaceutically acceptable ( i . e ., non - toxic , physiologically acceptable ) salts are preferred , although other salts are also useful . salts of the compounds of the formulae i and ii may be formed , for example , by reacting a compound of formula i or ii with an amount of acid or base , such as an equivalent amount , in a medium such as one in which the salt precipitates or in an aqueous medium followed by lyophilization . exemplary acid addition salts include acetates , ascorbates , benzoates , benzenesulfonates , bisulfates , borates , butyrates , citrates , camphorates , camphorsulfonates , fumarates , hydrochlorides , hydrobromides , hydroiodides , lactates , maleates , methanesulfonates , naphthalenesulfonates , nitrates , oxalates , phosphates , propionates , salicylates , succinates , sulfates , tartarates , thiocyanates , toluenesulfonates ( also known as tosylates ,) and the like . additionally , acids which are generally considered suitable for the formation of pharmaceutically useful salts from basic pharmaceutical compounds are discussed , for example , by p . stahl et al , camille g . ( eds .) handbook of pharmaceutical salts . properties , selection and use . ( 2002 ) zurich : wiley - vch ; s . berge et al , journal of pharmaceutical sciences ( 1977 ) 66 ( 1 ) 1 - 19 ; p . gould , international j . of pharmaceutics ( 1986 ) 33 201 - 217 ; anderson et al , the practice of medicinal chemistry ( 1996 ), academic press , new york ; and in the orange book ( food & amp ; drug administration , washington , d . c . on their website ). these disclosures are incorporated herein by reference thereto . exemplary basic salts include ammonium salts , alkali metal salts such as sodium , lithium , and potassium salts , alkaline earth metal salts such as calcium and magnesium salts , salts with organic bases ( for example , organic amines ) such as dicyclohexylamines , t - butyl amines , and salts with amino acids such as arginine , lysine and the like . basic nitrogen - containing groups may be quarternized with agents such as lower alkyl halides ( e . g . methyl , ethyl , and butyl chlorides , bromides and iodides ), dialkyl sulfates ( e . g . dimethyl , diethyl , and dibutyl sulfates ), long chain halides ( e . g . decyl , lauryl , and stearyl chlorides , bromides and iodides ), aralkyl halides ( e . g . benzyl and phenethyl bromides ), and others . all such acid salts and base salts are intended to be pharmaceutically acceptable salts within the scope of the invention and all acid and base salts are considered equivalent to the free forms of the corresponding compounds for purposes of the invention . prodrugs and solvates of the compounds of the invention are also contemplated herein . a discussion of prodrugs is provided in t . higuchi and v . stella , pro - drugs as novel delivery systems ( 1987 ) 14 of the a . c . s . symposium series , and in bioreversible carriers in drug design , ( 1987 ) edward b . roche , ed ., american pharmaceutical association and pergamon press . the term “ prodrug ” means a compound ( e . g , a drug precursor ) that is transformed in vivo to yield a compound of formula ( i ) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt , hydrate or solvate of the compound . the transformation may occur by various mechanisms ( e . g ., by metabolic or chemical processes ), such as , for example , through hydrolysis in blood . a discussion of the use of prodrugs is provided by t . higuchi and w . 25 stella , “ pro - drugs as novel delivery systems ,” vol . 14 of the a . c . s . symposium series , and in bioreversible carriers in drug design , ed . edward b . roche , american pharmaceutical association and pergamon press , 1987 . “ alkyl ” refers to a straight - chain , branched or cyclic saturated aliphatic hydrocarbon . preferably , the alkyl group has 1 to 12 carbons . more preferably , it is a lower alkyl of from 1 to 7 carbons , most preferably 1 to 4 carbons . typical alkyl groups include methyl , ethyl , propyl , isopropyl , butyl , isobutyl , tertiary butyl , pentyl , hexyl and the like . the alkyl group may be optionally substituted with one or more substituents are selected from the group consisting of hydroxyl , cyano , alkoxy , ═ o , ═ s , no 2 , halogen , dimethyl amino , and sh . “ aryl ” refers to an aromatic group which has at least one ring having a conjugated pi electron system and includes carbocyclic aryl , heterocyclic aryl and biaryl groups . the aryl group may be optionally substituted with one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of halogen , trihalomethyl ( e . g ., trifluoromethyl ), hydroxyl , sh , oh , no 2 , amine , thioether , cyano , alkoxy , alkyl , and amino . “ carbocyclic aryl ” refers to an aryl group wherein the ring atoms are carbon “ heteroaryl ” or “ heterocyclic aryl ” refers to an aryl group having from 1 to 3 heteroatoms as ring atoms , the remainder of the ring atoms being carbon . heteroatoms include oxygen , sulfur , and nitrogen . thus , heteroaryl groups include furanyl , thienyl , pyridyl , pyrrolyl , n - lower alkyl pyrrolo , pyrimidyl , pyrazinyl , imidazolyl and the like . “ heterocyclic ” refers to cyclic group having at least one enchained heteroatom and includes aromatic and non - aromatic cyclic groups . specific examples of the compounds of the invention and the structures of said compounds are given in the table , below . however , the invention is not limited to the following compounds and structures . ex - ample structure compound name 1 tert - butyl 1 -({[ 5 -({ 3 -[( 3 - methyl - 2 - furoyl ) amino ] phenyl } ethynyl ) pyridin - 3 - yl ] carbonyl } imino )- 1 λ 4 , 4 - thiazinane - 4 - carboxylate 1 - oxide 2 1 -({[ 5 -({ 3 -[( 3 - methyl - 2 - furoyl ) amino ] phenyl } ethynyl ) pyridin - 3 - yl ] carbonyl } imino )- 1 λ 4 , 4 - thiazinane - 4 - carboxamide 1 - oxide 3 1 -({[ 5 -{ 3 -[( 3 - methyl - 2 - furoyl ) amino ] phenyl } ethynyl ) pyridin - 3 - yl ] carbonyl } imino )- 1 λ 4 , 4 - thiazinane - 4 - carboxamide 1 - oxide 4 ethyl 3 -({[ 1 -({[ 5 -({ 3 -[( 3 - methyl - 2 - furoyl ) amino ] phenyl } ethynyl ) pyridin - 3 - yl ] carbonyl } imino )- 1 - oxido - 1 λ 4 , 4 - thiazinan - 4 - yl ] carbonyl } amino ) propanoate 5 ethyl 4 -({[ 1 -({[ 5 -({ 3 -[( 3 - methyl - 2 - furoyl ) amino ] phenyl } ethynyl ) pyridin - 3 - yl ] carbonyl } imino )- 1 - oxido - 1 λ 4 , 4 - thiazinan - 4 - yl ] carbonyl } amino ) butanoate 6 3 -({[ 1 -({[ 5 -({ 3 -[( 3 - methyl - 2 - furoyl ) amino ] phenyl } ethynyl ) pyridin - 3 - yl ] carbonyl } imino )- 1 - oxido - 1 λ 4 , 4 - thiazinan - 4 - yl ] carbonyl } amino ) propanoic acid 7 4 -({[ 1 -({[ 5 -({ 3 -[( 3 - methyl - 2 - furoyl ) amino ] phenyl } ethynyl ) pyridin - 3 - yl ] carbonyl } imino )- 1 - oxido - 1 λ 4 , 4 - thiazinan - 4 - yl ] carbonyl } amino ) butanoic acid 8 n -[ 3 -( 3 - hydroxypyrrolidin - 1 - yl )- 3 - oxopropyl ]- 1 -({[ 5 -({ 3 -[( 3 - methyl - 2 - furoyl ) amino ] phenyl } ethynyl ) pyridin - 3 - yl ] carbonyl } imino )- 1 λ 4 , 4 - thiazinane - 4 - carboxamide 1 - oxide 9 n -[ 4 -( 3 - hydroxypyrrolidin - 1 - yl )- 4 - oxobutyl ]- 1 -({[ 5 -({ 3 -[( 3 - methyl - 2 - furoyl ) amino ] phenyl } ethynyl ) pyridin - 3 - yl ] carbonyl } imino )- 1 λ 4 , 4 - thiazinane - 4 - carboxamide 1 - oxide 10 n -{ 4 -[( 2 , 3 - dihydroxypropyl ) amino ]- 4 - oxobutyl }- 1 -({[ 5 -({ 3 - [( 3 - methyl - 2 - furoyl ) amino ] phenyl } ethynyl ) pyridin - 3 - yl ] carbonyl } imino )- 1 λ 4 , 4 - thiazinane - 4 - carboxamide 1 - oxide 11 ethyl ({[ 1 -({[ 5 -({ 3 -[( 3 - methyl - 2 - furoyl ) amino ] phenyl } ethynyl ) pyridin - 3 - yl ] carbonyl } imino )- 1 - oxido - 1 λ 4 , 4 - thiazinan - 4 - yl ] carbonyl } amino ) acetate 12 ({[ 1 -({[ 5 -({ 3 -[( 3 - methyl - 2 - furoyl ) amino ] phenyl } ethynyl ) pyridin - 3 - yl ] carbonyl } imino )- 1 - oxido - 1 λ 4 , 4 - thiazinan - 4 - yl ] carbonyl } amino ) acetic acid 13 tert - butyl 1 -({[ 6 - amino - 5 -({ 3 - [( 3 - methyl - 2 - furoyl ) amino ] phenyl } ethynyl ) pyridin - 3 - yl ] carbonyl } imino )- 1 λ 4 , 4 - thiazinane - 4 - carboxylate 1 - oxide 14 6 - amino - 5 -({ 3 -[( 3 - methyl - 2 - furoyl ) amino ] phenyl } ethynyl )- n -( 1 - oxido - 1 λ 4 , 4 - thiazinan - 1 - ylidene ) nicotinamide 15 1 -({[ 6 - amino - 5 -({ 3 -[( 3 - methyl - 2 - furoyl ) amino ] phenyl } ethynyl ) pyridin - 3 - yl ] carbonyl } imino )- 1 λ 4 , 4 - thiazinane - 4 - carboxamide 1 - oxide 16 tert - butyl 1 -({[ 6 - amino - 5 -({ 3 - [( 2 - fluoro - 5 - methylbenzoyl ) amino ] phenyl } ethynyl ) pyridin - 3 - yl ] carbonyl } imino )- 1 λ 4 , 4 - thiazinane - 4 - carboxylate 1 - oxide 17 6 - amino - 5 -({ 3 -[( 2 - fluoro - 5 - methylbenzoyl ) amino ] phenyl } ethynyl )- n -( 1 - oxido - 1 λ 4 , 4 - thiazinan - 1 - ylidene ) nicotinamide 18 1 -({[ 6 - amino - 5 -({ 3 -[( 2 - fluoro - 5 - methylbenzoyl ) amino ] phenyl } ethynyl ) pyridin - 3 - yl ] carbonyl } imino )- 1 λ 4 , 4 - thiazinane - 4 - carboxamide 1 - oxide 19 5 -({ 3 -[( 3 - methyl - 2 - furoyl ) amino ] phenyl } ethynyl )- n -( 4 - oxido - 1 , 4λ 4 - oxathian - 4 - ylidene ) nicotinamide 20 6 - amino - 5 -({ 3 -[( 3 - methyl - 2 - furoyl ) amino ] phenyl } ethynyl )- n -( 4 - oxido - 1 , 4λ 4 - oxathian - 4 - ylidene ) nicotinamide 21 6 - amino - 5 -({ 3 -[( 2 - fluoro - 5 - methylbenzoyl ) amino ] phenyl } ethynyl )- n -( 4 - oxido - 1 , 4λ 4 - oxathian - 4 - ylidene ) nicotinamide 22 6 - amino - 5 -[( 3 -{[( 2 - fluoro - 5 - methylphenyl ) amino ] carbonyl } phenyl ) ethynyl ]- n -( 4 - oxido - 1 , 4λ 4 - oxathian - 4 - ylidene ) nicotinamide 23 6 - amino - 5 -{[ 3 -({[ 4 - chloro - 3 - ( trifluoromethyl ) phenyl ] amino } carbonyl ) phenyl ] ethynyl }- n -( 4 - oxido - 1 , 4λ 4 - oxathian - 4 - ylidene ) nicotinamide 24 6 - amino - 5 -[( 3 -{[( 5 - tert - butylisoxazol - 3 - yl ) amino ] carbonyl } phenyl ) ethynyl ]- n - ( 4 - oxido - 1 , 4λ 4 - oxathian - 4 - ylidene ) nicotinamide 25 6 - amino - 5 -[( 3 -{[( 3 - methoxyphenyl ) amino ] carbonyl } phenyl ) ethynyl ]- n - ( 4 - oxido - 1 , 4λ 4 - oxathian - 4 - ylidene ) nicotinamide routes to compounds of formula i are illustrated by but not limited to the schemes provided below : routes to compounds of formula ii are illustrated by but not limited to the schemes provided below : to a solution of thiomorpholine ( 4 . 84 ml , 50 mmol , 1 eq ) in dcm ( 200 ml ) was added et 3 n ( 14 . 6 ml , 2 . 1 eq ) and di - tert - butyldicarbonate ( 12 . 0 g , 1 . 1 eq ) with stirring under nitrogen atmosphere . the resulting clear solution was stirred at rt for an overnight . the reaction solution was washed with h 2 o ( 1 ×), aqueous nh 4 cl ( 1 ×), brine ( 1 ×) and dried over anhydrous mgso 4 . the organic solution was filtered through a pad of celite and the filtrate concentrated . the white solid residue was treated with etoac - hexane ( 1 : 25 ) with stirring and then cooled in fridge for 30 min . the white solid which formed was collected to give the title compound as a white crystalline solid ( 10 . 1 g , quantitative ). 1 h nmr ( dmso - d 6 ) δ : 3 . 54 - 3 . 59 ( m , 4h ), 2 . 48 - 2 . 54 ( m , 4h ), 1 . 40 ( s , 9h ) in a 250 ml round - bottom flask equipped with a magnetic stirrer were placed powdered sodium metaperiodate ( 5 . 68 g , 1 . 05 eq ) and water ( 50 ml ). the mixture was stirred at rt first and then cooled to 0 ° c ., followed by the addition of tert - butyl thiomorpholine - 4 - carboxylate ( 5 . 08 g , 25 mmol , 1 eq ). then to this mixture was added dixane ( 30 ml ) and meoh ( 40 ml ). the reaction mixture was stirred at 0 ° c . for 5 . 5 hours . it was then filtered through a buchner funnel , the white solid was washed with chcl 3 ( 3λ50 ml ), and the resulting water - chloroform filtrate was transferred into a separation funnel . the lower chloroform was removed and the aqueous layer was extracted with chcl 3 ( 3 × 150 ml ). the organic phases were combined and dried over anhydrous na 2 so 4 overnight . the upper clear layer was then decanted and concentrated to give the title compound as white solid ( 5 . 41 g , 99 %). 1 h nmr ( dmso - d 6 ) δ : 3 . 81 ( d , j = 13 . 4 hz , 2h ), 3 . 60 ( br . s ., 2h ), 2 . 76 - 2 . 84 ( m , 2h ), 2 . 65 - 2 . 71 ( m , 2h ), 1 . 41 ( s , 9h ) trifluoroacetamide ( 5 . 82 g , 2 eq ), magnesium oxide ( 4 . 05 g , 4 eq ), and rhodium ( ii ) acetate dimer ( 330 mg , 0 . 03 eq ) were placed in a 250 ml round bottom flask . dichloromethane ( 70 ml ) under a nitrogen atmosphere was then added with stirring , followed by the addition of tert - butyl thiomorpholine - 4 - carboxylate 1 - oxide ( 5 . 41 g , 1 eq ) and diacetoxyiodobenzene ( 12 . 1 g , 1 . 5 eq ). the reaction mixture was stirred at rt overnight . then it was filtered through a pad of celite and silica gel , washed with dcm first then with etoac . the filtrate was concentrated and the resulting oily residue was taken up in meoh ( 250 ml ), to which was added potassium carbonate ( 17 . 3 g , 5 eq ). the reaction mixture was stirred at rt for 2 hours and filtered through a pad of celite and silica gel and washed with meoh . the filtrate was concentrated under reduced pressure and the resulting lightly brown oily residue was treated with etoac with stirring at rt . the mixture was filtered again and the filtrate was concentrated yielding the title compound as a crude light brown soft solid which was used directly without further purification . 1 h nmr ( dmso - d 6 ) δ : 3 . 84 ( ddd , j = 14 . 4 , 4 . 5 , 4 . 4 hz , 2h ), 3 . 79 ( s , 1h ), 3 . 49 - 3 . 58 ( m , 2h ), 2 . 96 ( t , j = 4 . 3 hz , 4h ), 1 . 41 ( s , 9h ) a stirring solution of tert - butyl 1 - imino - 1λ 4 , 4 - thiazinane - 4 - carboxylate 1 - oxide , ( 468 mg , 2 mmol , 1 eq ) and 5 -{ 3 -[( 3 - methyl - furan - 2 - carbonyl )- amino ]- phenylethynyl }- nicotinic acid , ( 730 mg , 1 . 05 eq ) in dmf ( 7 ml ) under nitrogen atmosphere was treated with dipea ( 0 . 70 ml , 2 eq ) and bop ( 1 . 0 g , 1 . 1 eq ). the resulting reaction mixture was stirred at rt for 15 minutes and then diluted with etoac . the mixture was washed sequentially with saturated aq nahco 3 ( 2 ×), aq nh 4 cl ( 1 ×), and brine ( 1 ×), and then dried with anhydrous na 2 so 4 and concentrated . the residue was purified by gradient chromatography ( etoac - hex from 1 : 3 to 1 : 1 ) to give the title compound as white foam ( 820 mg , 73 %). 1 h nmr ( dmso - d 6 ) δ : 10 . 21 ( s , 1h ), 9 . 11 ( d , j = 2 . 0 hz , 1h ), 8 . 93 ( d , j = 2 . 0 hz , 1h ), 8 . 44 ( t , j = 2 . 1 hz , 1h ), 8 . 14 ( t , j = 1 . 7 hz , 1h ), 7 . 77 - 7 . 83 ( m , 2h ), 7 . 39 - 7 . 44 ( m , 1h ), 7 . 34 ( dt , j = 7 . 8 , 1 . 0 hz , 1h ), 6 . 61 ( d , j = 1 . 2 hz , 1h ), 3 . 99 - 4 . 10 ( m , 2h ), 3 . 80 - 3 . 86 ( m , 2h ), 3 . 55 - 3 . 67 ( m , 4h ), 2 . 35 ( s , 3h ), 1 . 43 ( s , 9h ) a 0 ° c . solution of tert - butyl 1 -({[ 5 -({ 3 -[( 3 - methyl - 2 - furoyl ) amino ] phenyl } ethynyl ) pyridin - 3 - yl ] carbonyl } imino )- 1λ 4 , 4 - thiazinane - 4 - carboxylate 1 - oxide ( 260 mg , 0 . 46 mmol , 1 eq ) in dcm ( 2 . 0 ml ) was treated dropwise with trifluoroacetic acid ( 0 . 72 ml ) and the reaction was stirred at rt for 3 hours . the reaction mixture was diluted with chloroform , washed with saturated aq nahco 3 ( 1 ×), brine ( 1 ×), and dried with anhydrous na 2 so 4 overnight . the upper clear layer was decanted , concentrated , and the oily residue was purified by column chromatography ( meoh — chcl 3 1 : 100 to 1 : 25 ) to give the title compound as white solid ( 172 mg , 81 %). 1 h nmr ( dmso - d 6 ) δ : 10 . 21 ( s , 1h ), 9 . 11 ( d , j = 2 . 0 hz , 1h ), 8 . 93 ( d , j = 2 . 1 hz , 1h ), 8 . 42 ( t , j = 2 . 0 hz , 1h ), 8 . 13 ( t , j = 1 . 7 hz , 1h ), 7 . 78 - 7 . 82 ( m , 2h ), 7 . 39 - 7 . 43 ( m , 1h ), 7 . 34 ( dt , j = 7 . 6 , 1 . 2 hz , 1h ), 6 . 61 ( d , j = 1 . 5 hz , 1h ), 3 . 75 ( dt , j = 13 . 9 , 2 . 6 hz , 2h ), 3 . 33 - 3 . 40 ( m , 2h ), 3 . 24 - 3 . 30 ( m , 2h ), 3 . 00 - 3 . 09 ( m , 2h ), 2 . 35 ( s , 3h ). in a manner similar to that described in example 5 , 5 -({ 3 -[( 3 - methyl - 2 - furoyl ) amino ] phenyl } ethynyl )- n -( 1 - oxido - 1λ 4 , 4 - thiazinan - 1 - ylidene ) nicotinamide and isocyanatotrimethylsilane were converted to the title compound . 1 h nmr ( dmso - d 6 ) δ : 10 . 21 ( s , 1h ), 9 . 12 ( d , j = 2 . 0 hz , 1h ), 8 . 93 ( d , j = 2 . 1 hz , 1h ), 8 . 44 ( t , j = 2 . 1 hz , 1h ), 8 . 13 ( t , j = 1 . 6 hz , 1h ), 7 . 82 ( d , j = 1 . 5 hz , 1h ), 7 . 78 - 7 . 81 ( m , 1h ), 7 . 39 - 7 . 43 ( m , 1h ), 7 . 34 ( dt , j = 7 . 7 , 1 . 1 hz , 1h ), 6 . 61 ( d , j = 1 . 5 hz , 1h ), 6 . 35 ( s , 2h ), 4 . 05 - 4 . 12 ( m , 2h ), 3 . 77 - 3 . 83 ( m , 2h ), 3 . 56 - 3 . 64 ( m , 2h ), 3 . 46 - 3 . 53 ( m , 2h ), 2 . 35 ( s , 3h ) in a manner similar to that described in example 5 , 5 -({ 3 -[( 3 - methyl - 2 - furoyl ) amino ] phenyl } ethynyl )- n -( 1 - oxido - 1λ 4 , 4 - thiazinan - 1 - ylidene ) nicotinamide and ethyl 3 - isocyanatopropanoate were converted to the title compound . 1 h nmr ( dmso - d 6 ) δ : 10 . 21 ( s , 1h ), 9 . 12 ( d , j = 2 . 0 hz , 1h ), 8 . 93 ( d , j = 2 . 1 hz , 1h ), 8 . 44 ( t , j = 2 . 0 hz , 1h ), 8 . 13 ( t , j = 1 . 7 hz , 1h ), 7 . 82 ( d , j = 1 . 6 hz , 1h ), 7 . 78 - 7 . 81 ( m , 1h ), 7 . 39 - 7 . 43 ( m , 1h ), 7 . 34 ( dt , j = 7 . 6 , 1 . 1 hz , 1h ), 7 . 02 ( t , j = 5 . 3 hz , 1h ), 6 . 61 ( d , j = 1 . 5 hz , 1h ), 4 . 02 - 4 . 10 ( m , 4h ), 3 . 77 - 3 . 83 ( m , 2h ), 3 . 56 - 3 . 64 ( m , 2h ), 3 . 44 - 3 . 51 ( m , 2h ), 3 . 26 - 3 . 30 ( m , 2h ), 2 . 45 - 2 . 49 ( m , 2h ), 2 . 35 ( s , 3h ), 1 . 18 ( t , j = 7 . 1 hz , 3h ) to a solution of 5 -({ 3 -[( 3 - methyl - 2 - furoyl ) amino ] phenyl } ethynyl )- n -( 1 - oxido - 1λ 4 , 4 - thiazinan - 1 - ylidene ) nicotinamide ( example 2 ) ( 170 mg , 0 . 368 mmol , 1 eq ) in dmf ( 2 ml ) was added dropwise ethyl 4 - isocyanatobutyrate ( 179 mg , 3 eq ) and the reaction was stirred at rt for 3 hours . the reaction was then poured into saturated aq nahco 3 and extracted with etoac . the organic layer isolated was then washed with aq nh 4 cl ( 1 ×), brine ( 1 ×), and dried with anhydrous na 2 so 4 and concentrated . the residue was purified by gradient column chromatography ( etoac - hex 3 : 1 to 6 : 1 ) to give the title compound as white solid ( 196 mg , 86 %). 1 h nmr ( dmso - d 6 ) δ : 10 . 21 ( s , 1h ), 9 . 12 ( d , j = 2 . 1 hz , 1h ), 8 . 93 ( d , j = 2 . 1 hz , 1h ), 8 . 44 ( t , j = 2 . 0 hz , 1h ), 8 . 13 ( t , j = 1 . 7 hz , 1h ), 7 . 82 ( d , j = 1 . 6 hz , 1h ), 7 . 78 - 7 . 81 ( m , 1h ), 7 . 39 - 7 . 43 ( m , 1h ), 7 . 34 ( dt , j = 7 . 7 , 1 . 2 hz , 1h ), 6 . 90 ( t , j = 5 . 4 hz , 1h ), 6 . 61 ( d , j = 1 . 6 hz , 1h ), 4 . 01 - 4 . 12 ( m , 4h ), 3 . 76 - 3 . 83 ( m , 2h ), 3 . 62 ( dd , j = 13 . 1 , 9 . 4 hz , 2h ), 3 . 46 - 3 . 53 ( m , 2h ), 3 . 04 - 3 . 09 ( m , 2h ), 2 . 35 ( s , 3h ), 2 . 31 ( t , j = 7 . 5 hz , 2h ), 1 . 68 ( quin , j = 7 . 2 hz , 2h ), 1 . 17 ( t , j = 7 . 1 hz , 3h ) in a manner similar to that described in example 7 , ethyl 3 -({[ 1 -({[ 5 -({ 3 -[( 3 - methyl - 2 - furoyl ) amino ] phenyl } ethynyl ) pyridin - 3 - yl ] carbonyl } imino )- 1 - oxido - 1λ 4 , 4 - thiazinan - 4 - yl ] carbonyl } amino ) propanoate was converted to the title compound . 1 h nmr ( dmso - d 6 ) δ : 12 . 09 ( br . s ., 1h ), 10 . 21 ( s , 1h ), 9 . 12 ( d , j = 2 . 0 hz , 1h ), 8 . 93 ( d , j = 2 . 1 hz , 1h ), 8 . 44 ( t , j = 2 . 0 hz , 1h ), 8 . 13 ( t , j = 1 . 6 hz , 1h ), 7 . 77 - 7 . 83 ( m , 2h ), 7 . 39 - 7 . 43 ( m , 1h ), 7 . 34 ( d , j = 7 . 7 hz , 1h ), 7 . 00 ( t , j = 5 . 0 hz , 1h ), 6 . 61 ( d , j = 1 . 6 hz , 1h ), 4 . 04 - 4 . 11 ( m , 2h ), 3 . 76 - 3 . 83 ( m , 2h ), 3 . 56 - 3 . 64 ( m , 2h ), 3 . 44 - 3 . 52 ( m , 2h ), 3 . 23 - 3 . 29 ( m , 2h ), 2 . 40 ( t , j = 7 . 0 hz , 2h ), 2 . 35 ( s , 3h ) a solution of ethyl 4 -({[ 1 -({[ 5 -({ 3 -[( 3 - methyl - 2 - furoyl ) amino ] phenyl } ethynyl ) pyridin - 3 - yl ] carbonyl } imino )- 1 - oxido - 1λ 4 , 4 - thiazinan - 4 - yl ] carbonyl } amino ) butanoate ( example 5 ) ( 182 mg , 0 . 294 mmol , 1 eq ) in thf ( 4 ml ) was treated with 1 n koh ( 1 . 5 ml ) dropwise and the reaction was stirred at rt for 3 hours . the reaction was cooled to 0 ° c . and 2n aq hcl ( 0 . 6 ml ) was added dropwise . the resulting mixture was partitioned between aq nh 4 cl and etoac . the organic layer was isolated , washed with brine ( 1 ×), and dried over anhydrous na 2 so 4 . the clear upper solution was decanted , concentrated . the residue was purified by column chromatography ( meoh - dcm 1 : 20 to 1 : 10 ) to give the title compound as white solid ( 148 mg , 77 %). 1 h nmr ( dmso - d 6 ) δ : 12 . 00 ( br . s ., 1h ), 10 . 21 ( s , 1h ), 9 . 12 ( d , j = 2 . 1 hz , 1h ), 8 . 93 ( d , j = 2 . 1 hz , 1h ), 8 . 44 ( t , j = 2 . 0 hz , 1h ), 8 . 13 ( dt , j = 6 . 8 , 1 . 6 hz , 1h ), 7 . 78 - 7 . 83 ( m , 2h ), 7 . 39 - 7 . 44 ( m , 1h ), 7 . 34 ( dd , j = 7 . 6 , 1 . 2 hz , 1h ), 6 . 90 ( t , j = 5 . 3 hz , 1h ), 6 . 61 ( d , j = 1 . 1 hz , 1h ), 4 . 05 - 4 . 13 ( m , 2h ), 3 . 77 - 3 . 84 ( m , 2h ), 3 . 57 - 3 . 65 ( m , 2h ), 3 . 45 - 3 . 52 ( m , 2h ), 3 . 03 - 3 . 09 ( m , 2h ), 2 . 35 ( s , 3h ), 2 . 23 ( t , j = 7 . 3 hz , 2h ), 1 . 66 ( quin , j = 7 . 2 hz , 2h ). in a manner similar to that described in example 9 , 3 -({[ 1 -({[ 5 -({ 3 -[( 3 - methyl - 2 - furoyl ) amino ] phenyl } ethynyl ) pyridin - 3 - yl ] carbonyl } imino )- 1 - oxido - 1λ 4 , 4 - thiazinan - 4 - yl ] carbonyl } amino ) propanoic acid and dl - pyrrolidin - 3 - ol were converted to the title compound . 1 h nmr ( dmso - d 6 ) δ : 10 . 21 ( s , 1h ), 9 . 12 ( d , j = 2 . 0 hz , 1h ), 8 . 93 ( d , j = 2 . 1 hz , 1h ), 8 . 44 ( t , j = 2 . 1 hz , 1h ), 8 . 13 ( t , j = 1 . 6 hz , 1h ), 7 . 82 ( d , j = 1 . 5 hz , 1h ), 7 . 78 - 7 . 81 ( m , 1h ), 7 . 39 - 7 . 43 ( m , 1h ), 7 . 34 ( dt , j = 7 . 6 , 1 . 1 hz , 1h ), 6 . 96 ( t , j = 5 . 3 hz , 1h ), 6 . 61 ( d , j = 1 . 3 hz , 1h ), 4 . 88 - 4 . 99 ( m , 1h ), 4 . 20 - 4 . 31 ( m , 1h ), 4 . 07 ( dd , j = 16 . 0 , 2 . 8 hz , 2h ), 3 . 77 - 3 . 83 ( m , 2h ), 3 . 60 ( dd , j = 13 . 9 , 9 . 0 hz , 2h ), 3 . 36 - 3 . 52 ( m , 4h ), 3 . 21 - 3 . 29 ( m , 4h ), 2 . 37 - 2 . 46 ( m , 2h ), 2 . 35 ( s , 3h ), 1 . 72 - 1 . 96 ( m , 2h ) a solution of 4 -({[ 1 -({[ 5 -({ 3 -[( 3 - methyl - 2 - furoyl ) amino ] phenyl } ethynyl ) pyridin - 3 - yl ] carbonyl } imino )- 1 - oxido - 1λ 4 , 4 - thiazinan - 4 - yl ] carbonyl } amino ) butanoic acid ( example 7 ) ( 65 mg , 0 . 11 mmol , 1 eq ) and dl - 3 - pyrrolidinol ( 43 . 6 mg , 5 eq ) in dmf ( 1 ml ) at 0 ° c . was treated with 1 - hydroxy - benzotriazole hydrate ( 25 . 2 mg , 1 . 5 eq ), dipea ( 0 . 14 ml , 7 eq ), and bop ( 73 mg , 1 . 5 eq ). the reaction mixture was stirred at 0 ° c . for 30 minutes , and it was then poured into aq nh 4 cl . the reaction mixture was extracted with etoac . the organic layer was washed with a combination of saturated aq nahco 3 and brine ( 1 ×), brine ( 1 ×), and lastly dried with anhydrous na 2 so 4 . the residue was purified by gradient column chromatography ( from neat etoac to meoh - etoac 1 : 5 ) to give the title compound as white solid ( 39 mg , 53 %). 1 h nmr ( dmso - d 6 ) δ : 10 . 21 ( s , 1h ), 9 . 12 ( d , j = 2 . 0 hz , 1h ), 8 . 93 ( d , j = 2 . 2 hz , 1h ), 8 . 44 ( t , j = 2 . 1 hz , 1h ), 8 . 13 ( t , j = 1 . 6 hz , 1h ), 7 . 78 - 7 . 83 ( m , 2h ), 7 . 39 - 7 . 43 ( m , 1h ), 7 . 34 ( dt , j = 7 . 6 , 1 . 1 hz , 1h ), 6 . 91 ( t , j = 4 . 9 hz , 1h ), 6 . 61 ( d , j = 1 . 5 hz , 1h ), 4 . 87 - 4 . 98 ( m , 1h ), 4 . 20 - 4 . 31 ( m , 1h ), 4 . 09 ( d , j = 16 . 1 hz , 2h ), 3 . 77 - 3 . 82 ( m , 2h ), 3 . 62 ( dd , j = 13 . 6 , 9 . 4 hz , 2h ), 3 . 35 - 3 . 52 ( m , 4h ), 3 . 20 - 3 . 30 ( m , 2h ), 3 . 07 ( q , j = 5 . 9 hz , 2h ), 2 . 35 ( s , 3h ), 2 . 18 - 2 . 28 ( m , 2h ), 1 . 63 - 1 . 93 ( m , 4h ). in a manner similar to that described in example 9 , a solution of 4 -({[ 1 -({[ 5 -({ 3 -[( 3 - methyl - 2 - furoyl ) amino ] phenyl } ethynyl ) pyridin - 3 - yl ] carbonyl } imino )- 1 - oxido - 1λ 4 , 4 - thiazinan - 4 - yl ] carbonyl } amino ) butanoic acid and 3 - aminopropane - 1 , 2 - diol were converted to the title compound . 1 h nmr ( dmso - d 6 ) δ : 10 . 21 ( s , 1h ), 9 . 12 ( d , j = 2 . 0 hz , 1h ), 8 . 93 ( d , j = 2 . 2 hz , 1h ), 8 . 44 ( t , j = 2 . 1 hz , 1h ), 8 . 13 ( t , j = 1 . 6 hz , 1h ), 7 . 76 - 7 . 83 ( m , 3h ), 7 . 39 - 7 . 43 ( m , 1h ), 7 . 34 ( d , j = 7 . 8 hz , 1h ), 6 . 90 ( t , j = 5 . 1 hz , 1h ), 6 . 61 ( d , j = 1 . 5 hz , 1h ), 4 . 72 ( d , j = 4 . 9 hz , 1h ), 4 . 50 ( t , j = 5 . 9 hz , 1h ), 4 . 06 - 4 . 12 ( m , 2h ), 3 . 77 - 3 . 83 ( m , 2h ), 3 . 61 ( dd , j = 13 . 4 , 9 . 8 hz , 2h ), 3 . 44 - 3 . 52 ( m , 3h ), 3 . 26 ( dtd , j = 10 . 5 , 5 . 5 , 5 . 3 hz , 2h ), 3 . 18 ( ddd , j = 13 . 3 , 5 . 6 , 5 . 5 hz , 1h ), 3 . 01 - 3 . 07 ( m , 2h ), 2 . 93 - 2 . 99 ( m , 1h ), 2 . 35 ( s , 3h ), 2 . 11 ( t , j = 7 . 5 hz , 2h ), 1 . 65 ( dt , j = 14 . 5 , 7 . 3 hz , 2h ) in a manner similar to that described in example 5 , 5 -({ 3 -[( 3 - methyl - 2 - furoyl ) amino ] phenyl } ethynyl )- n -( 1 - oxido - 1λ 4 , 4 - thiazinan - 1 - ylidene ) nicotinamide and ethyl 2 - isocyanatoacetate were converted to the title compound . 1 h nmr ( dmso - d 6 ) δ : 10 . 21 ( s , 1h ), 9 . 12 ( d , j = 2 . 0 hz , 1h ), 8 . 93 ( d , j = 2 . 1 hz , 1h ), 8 . 45 ( t , j = 2 . 0 hz , 1h ), 8 . 13 ( s , 1h ), 7 . 78 - 7 . 83 ( m , 2h ), 7 . 39 - 7 . 47 ( m , 2h ), 7 . 34 ( d , j = 7 . 7 hz , 1h ), 6 . 61 ( d , j = 1 . 6 hz , 1h ), 4 . 05 - 4 . 14 ( m , 4h ), 3 . 81 - 3 . 87 ( m , 2h ), 3 . 78 ( d , j = 5 . 7 hz , 2h ), 3 . 65 ( dd , j = 13 . 3 , 9 . 7 hz , 2h ), 3 . 44 - 3 . 51 ( m , 2h ), 2 . 35 ( s , 3h ), 1 . 17 - 1 . 21 ( m , 3h ) in a manner similar to that described in example 7 , ethyl ({[ 1 -({[ 5 -({ 3 -[( 3 - methyl - 2 - furoyl ) amino ] phenyl } ethynyl ) pyridin - 3 - yl ] carbonyl } imino )- 1 - oxido - 1λ 4 , 4 - thiazinan - 4 - yl ] carbonyl } amino ) acetate is converted to the title compound . 1 h nmr ( dmso - d 6 ) δ : 10 . 21 ( s , 1h ), 9 . 12 ( d , j = 2 . 1 hz , 1h ), 8 . 93 ( d , j = 2 . 1 hz , 1h ), 8 . 45 ( t , j = 2 . 0 hz , 1h ), 8 . 13 ( t , j = 1 . 6 hz , 1h ), 7 . 82 ( d , j = 1 . 5 hz , 1h ), 7 . 78 - 7 . 81 ( m , 1h ), 7 . 39 - 7 . 43 ( m , 1h ), 7 . 34 ( dt , j = 7 . 6 , 1 . 1 hz , 1h ), 6 . 99 ( br . s ., 1h ), 6 . 61 ( d , j = 1 . 5 hz , 1h ), 4 . 07 - 4 . 14 ( m , 2h ), 3 . 84 ( dd , j = 11 . 6 , 2 . 8 hz , 2h ), 3 . 62 ( dd , j = 13 . 6 , 9 . 9 hz , 2h ), 3 . 48 - 3 . 56 ( m , 4h ), 2 . 35 ( s , 3h ) in a manner similar to that describe in example 1 , tert - butyl 1 - imino - 1λ 4 , 4 - thiazinane - 4 - carboxylate 1 - oxide and 6 - amino - 5 -(( 3 -( 3 - methylfuran - 2 - carboxamido ) phenyl ) ethynyl ) nicotinic acid are converted to the title compound . 1 h nmr ( dmso - d 6 ) δ : 10 . 13 ( s , 1h ), 8 . 60 ( d , j = 1 . 5 hz , 1h ), 8 . 09 ( s , 2h ), 7 . 81 ( s , 1h ), 7 . 74 ( d , j = 7 . 6 hz , 1h ), 7 . 32 - 7 . 45 ( m , 2h ), 7 . 04 ( br . s ., 2h ), 6 . 61 ( s , 1h ), 3 . 95 - 4 . 06 ( m , 2h ), 3 . 70 - 3 . 82 ( m , 2h ), 3 . 46 - 3 . 67 ( m , 4h ), 2 . 35 ( s , 3h ), 1 . 43 ( s , 9h in a manner similar to that described in example 2 , tert - butyl 1 -({[ 6 - amino - 5 -({ 3 -[( 3 - methyl - 2 - furoyl ) amino ] phenyl } ethynyl ) pyridin - 3 - yl ] carbonyl } imino )- 1λ 4 , 4 - thiazinane - 4 - carboxylate 1 - oxide was converted to the title compound . 1 h nmr ( dmso - d 6 ) δ : 10 . 13 ( s , 1h ), 8 . 59 ( d , j = 2 . 3 hz , 1h ), 8 . 08 ( t , j = 1 . 8 hz , 2h ), 7 . 81 ( d , j = 1 . 6 hz , 1h ), 7 . 74 ( ddd , j = 8 . 4 , 1 . 5 , 1 . 2 hz , 1h ), 7 . 40 - 7 . 44 ( m , 1h ), 7 . 34 - 7 . 39 ( m , 1h ), 7 . 01 ( br . s ., 2h ), 6 . 61 ( d , j = 1 . 6 hz , 1h ), 3 . 68 ( dt , j = 13 . 6 , 2 . 4 hz , 2h ), 3 . 19 - 3 . 30 ( m , 4h ), 2 . 96 - 3 . 04 ( m , 2h ), 2 . 42 - 2 . 47 ( m , 1h ), 2 . 35 ( s , 3h ) in a manner similar to that described in example 5 , 6 - amino - 5 -({ 3 -[( 3 - methyl - 2 - furoyl ) amino ] phenyl } ethynyl )- n -( 1 - oxido - 1λ 4 , 4 - thiazinan - 1 - ylidene ) nicotinamide and isocyanatotrimethylsilane were converted to the title compound . 1 h nmr ( dmso - d 6 ) δ : 10 . 13 ( s , 1h ), 8 . 60 ( d , j = 2 . 2 hz , 1h ), 8 . 08 - 8 . 11 ( m , 2h ), 7 . 81 ( d , j = 1 . 2 hz , 1h ), 7 . 74 ( d , j = 7 . 8 hz , 1h ), 7 . 40 - 7 . 44 ( m , 1h ), 7 . 34 - 7 . 39 ( m , 1h ), 7 . 03 ( br . s ., 2h ), 6 . 61 ( d , j = 1 . 5 hz , 1h ), 6 . 33 ( s , 2h ), 4 . 00 - 4 . 07 ( m , 2h ), 3 . 70 - 3 . 77 ( m , 2h ), 3 . 52 - 3 . 60 ( m , 2h ), 3 . 37 - 3 . 45 ( m , 2h ), 2 . 35 ( s , 3h ) in a manner similar to that describe in example 1 , tert - butyl 1 - imino - 1λ 4 , 4 - thiazinane - 4 - carboxylate 1 - oxide and 6 - amino - 5 -(( 3 -( 2 - fluoro - 5 - methylbenzamido ) phenyl ) ethynyl ) nicotinic acid are converted to the title compound . 1 h nmr ( dmso - d 6 ) δ : 10 . 46 ( s , 1h ), 8 . 60 ( d , j = 2 . 2 hz , 1h ), 8 . 09 ( d , j = 2 . 2 hz , 1h ), 8 . 02 ( s , 1h ), 7 . 68 ( d , j = 7 . 9 hz , 1h ), 7 . 43 - 7 . 50 ( m , 2h ), 7 . 36 - 7 . 42 ( m , 2h ), 7 . 22 - 7 . 26 ( m , 1h ), 7 . 05 ( br . s ., 2h ), 3 . 97 - 4 . 01 ( m , 2h ), 3 . 73 - 3 . 79 ( m , 2h ), 3 . 61 ( br . s ., 2h ), 3 . 48 - 3 . 55 ( m , 2h ), 2 . 35 ( s , 3h ), 1 . 42 ( s , 9h ) in a manner similar to that described in example 2 , tert - butyl 1 -({[ 6 - amino - 5 -({ 3 -[( 2 - fluoro - 5 - methylbenzoyl ) amino ] phenyl } ethynyl ) pyridin - 3 - yl ] carbonyl } imino )- 1λ 4 , 4 - thiazinane - 4 - carboxylate 1 - oxide is converted to the title compound . 1 h nmr ( dmso - d 6 ) δ : 10 . 46 ( s , 1h ), 8 . 59 ( d , j = 2 . 2 hz , 1h ), 8 . 08 ( d , j = 2 . 2 hz , 1h ), 8 . 02 ( s , 1h ), 7 . 68 ( d , j = 7 . 9 hz , 1h ), 7 . 48 ( dd , j = 6 . 6 , 1 . 6 hz , 1h ), 7 . 44 - 7 . 46 ( m , 1h ), 7 . 36 - 7 . 42 ( m , 2h ), 7 . 22 - 7 . 26 ( m , 1h ), 7 . 03 ( br . s ., 2h ), 3 . 68 ( ddd , j = 13 . 7 , 2 . 5 , 2 . 3 hz , 2h ), 3 . 21 - 3 . 31 ( m , 4h ), 3 . 01 ( ddd , j = 13 . 6 , 9 . 0 , 1 . 8 hz , 2h ), 2 . 57 ( br . s ., 1h ), 2 . 35 ( s , 3h ) in a manner similar to that described in example 5 , 6 - amino - 5 -({ 3 -[( 2 - fluoro - 5 - methylbenzoyl ) amino ] phenyl } ethynyl )- n -( 1 - oxido - 1λ 4 , 4 - thiazinan - 1 - ylidene ) nicotinamide and isocyanatotrimethylsilane are converted to the title compound . 1 h nmr ( dmso - d 6 ) δ : 10 . 46 ( s , 1h ), 8 . 60 ( d , j = 2 . 2 hz , 1h ), 8 . 10 ( d , j = 2 . 2 hz , 1h ), 8 . 02 ( s , 1h ), 7 . 68 ( d , j = 7 . 9 hz , 1h ), 7 . 48 ( dd , j = 6 . 7 , 1 . 8 hz , 1h ), 7 . 44 - 7 . 47 ( m , 1h ), 7 . 36 - 7 . 42 ( m , 2h ), 7 . 24 ( dd , j = 9 . 9 , 8 . 7 hz , 1h ), 7 . 04 ( br . s ., 2h ), 6 . 32 ( s , 2h ), 4 . 00 - 4 . 06 ( m , 2h ), 3 . 71 - 3 . 76 ( m , 2h ), 3 . 57 ( dd , j = 13 . 1 , 9 . 2 hz , 2h ), 3 . 38 - 3 . 44 ( m , 2h ), 2 . 35 ( s , 3h ) in a manner similar to that described herein , 5 - iodo - n -( 4 - oxido - 1 , 4λ 4 - oxathian - 4 - ylidene ) nicotinamide and 3 - methyl - furan - 2 - carboxylic acid ( 3 - ethynyl - phenyl )- amide were converted to the title compound . 1 h nmr ( dmso - d 6 ) δ : 10 . 21 ( s , 1h ), 9 . 13 ( d , j = 2 . 1 hz , 1h ), 8 . 94 ( d , j = 2 . 1 hz , 1h ), 8 . 44 ( t , j = 2 . 1 hz , 1h ), 8 . 13 ( t , j = 1 . 8 hz , 1h ), 7 . 82 ( d , j = 1 . 5 hz , 1h ), 7 . 78 - 7 . 81 ( m , 1h ), 7 . 40 - 7 . 43 ( m , 1h ), 7 . 34 ( dt , j = 7 . 6 , 1 . 2 hz , 1h ), 6 . 61 ( d , j = 1 . 5 hz , 1h ), 4 . 16 - 4 . 20 ( m , 2h ), 3 . 96 - 4 . 00 ( m , 2h ), 3 . 91 ( dt , j = 14 . 2 , 2 . 6 hz , 2h ), 3 . 65 - 3 . 70 ( m , 2h ), 2 . 35 ( s , 3h ) a mixture of methyl 6 - amino - 5 - iodonicotinate , ( 2 . 78 g , 10 mmol , 1 eq ) and potassium hydroxide ( 2 . 8 g , 5 eq ) in thf / h 2 o ( 120 ml , 3 : 1 ) was heated at 50 ° c . for 48 hours . the reaction was then cooled to room temperature and concentrated hcl was drop wise added until a ph around 3 - 4 was achieved . the solution was concentrated and the resulting precipitate was collected by filtration to give the title compound as a slightly brown solid ( 1 . 77 g .) 1 h nmr ( dmso - d 6 ) δ : 12 . 64 ( br . s ., 1h ), 8 . 47 ( d , j = 2 . 1 hz , 1h ), 8 . 25 ( d , j = 1 . 8 hz , 1h ), 6 . 88 ( br . s ., 2h ) to a solution of 1 , 4 - oxathiane ( 510 mg , 3 . 21 mmol , 1 . 05 eq ) in anhydrous dmf ( 8 ml ) was added 6 - amino - 5 - iodonicotinic acid ( 806 mg , 1 . 0 eq ), diisopropylethylamine ( 1 . 1 ml , 2 eq ), and bop ( 1 . 484 g , 1 . 1 eq ). the reaction mixture was heated at 60 ° c . for 20 hours and then partitioned between etoac and aq nh 4 cl . the organic layer was separated , washed further with saturated aq nahco 3 ( 1 ×), brine ( 1 ×), and dried with anhydrous na 2 so 4 overnight . the upper solution layer was decanted , concentrated , and the brown oily reside was subject to column chromatography ( etoac - hex 1 : 5 to 3 : 1 ). concentration of the product eluting fractions gave the title compound as white solid ( 889 mg , 77 %). 1 h nmr ( dmso - d 6 ) δ : 8 . 57 ( d , j = 2 . 1 hz , 1h ), 8 . 35 ( d , j = 2 . 1 hz , 1h ), 6 . 78 ( br . s ., 2h ), 4 . 10 - 4 . 15 ( m , 2h ), 3 . 91 ( ddd , j = 12 . 6 , 8 . 5 , 2 . 1 hz , 2h ), 3 . 79 - 3 . 84 ( m , 2h ), 3 . 55 - 3 . 60 ( m , 2h ) to a solution of 6 - amino - 5 - iodo - n -( 4 - oxido - 1 , 4λ 4 - oxathian - 4 - ylidene ) nicotinamide ( 57 . 2 mg , 0 . 15 mmol , 1 . 0 eq ) and 3 - methyl - furan - 2 - carboxylic acid ( 3 - ethynyl - phenyl )- amide ( 43 . 9 mg , 1 . 3 eq ) in anhydrous dmf ( 1 ml ) under nitrogen atmosphere was added bis ( triphenylphosphine ) palladium ( ii ) dichloride ( 10 . 5 mg , 0 . 1 eq ), triethylamine ( 0 . 11 ml , 5 . 0 eq ), and copper ( i ) iodide ( 5 . 7 mg , 0 . 2 eq ). the reaction mixture was stirred at rt for 15 minutes and then partitioned between saturated aq nahco 3 and etoac . the organic layer was isolated , washed further with aqueous nh 4 cl , brine , and dried with anhydrous na 2 so 4 . the organic phase was decanted , dried and concentrated . the residue was subject to a gradient chromatography ( etoac - hexanes from 1 : 9 to neat etoac ). concentration of the product eluting fractions gave the title compound as white solid ( 56 mg ). 1 h nmr ( dmso - d 6 ) δ : 10 . 13 ( s , 1h ), 8 . 61 ( d , j = 2 . 1 hz , 1h ), 8 . 08 - 8 . 10 ( m , 2h ), 7 . 81 ( d , j = 1 . 8 hz , 1h ), 7 . 72 - 7 . 75 ( m , 1h ), 7 . 41 - 7 . 43 ( m , 1h ), 7 . 35 - 7 . 39 ( m , 1h ), 7 . 04 ( br . s ., 2h ), 6 . 60 ( d , j = 1 . 5 hz , 1h ), 4 . 12 - 4 . 17 ( m , 2h ), 3 . 93 ( ddd , j = 12 . 5 , 8 . 7 , 2 . 1 hz , 2h ), 3 . 82 - 3 . 86 ( m , 2h ), 3 . 56 - 3 . 61 ( m , 2h ), 2 . 35 ( s , 3h ) in a manner similar to that described in the examples above , 6 - amino - 5 - iodo - n -( 4 - oxido - 1 , 4λ 4 - oxathian - 4 - ylidene ) nicotinamide and n -( 3 - ethynylphenyl )- 2 - fluoro - 5 - methylbenzamide were converted to the title compound . 1 h nmr ( dmso - d 6 ) δ : 10 . 46 ( s , 1h ), 8 . 61 ( d , j = 2 . 1 hz , 1h ), 8 . 10 ( d , j = 2 . 1 hz , 1h ), 8 . 03 ( s , 1h ), 7 . 68 ( d , j = 8 . 2 hz , 1h ), 7 . 44 - 7 . 49 ( m , 2h ), 7 . 36 - 7 . 42 ( m , 2h ), 7 . 24 ( dd , j = 9 . 8 , 8 . 7 hz , 1h ), 7 . 06 ( br . s ., 2h ), 4 . 12 - 4 . 16 ( m , 2h ), 3 . 93 ( ddd , j = 12 . 5 , 8 . 7 , 1 . 9 hz , 2h ), 3 . 81 - 3 . 86 ( m , 2h ), 3 . 56 - 3 . 61 ( m , 2h ), 2 . 35 ( s , 3h ) in a manner similar to that described in the examples above , 6 - amino - 5 - iodo - n -( 4 - oxido - 1 , 4λ 4 - oxathian - 4 - ylidene ) nicotinamide and 3 - ethynyl - n -( 2 - fluoro - 5 - methylphenyl ) benzamide were converted to the title compound . 1 h nmr ( dmso - d 6 ) δ : 10 . 15 ( s , 1h ), 8 . 62 ( d , j = 2 . 3 hz , 1h ), 8 . 27 ( s , 1h ), 8 . 12 ( d , j = 2 . 3 hz , 1h ), 7 . 96 ( d , j = 7 . 6 hz , 1h ), 7 . 91 ( d , j = 7 . 9 hz , 1h ), 7 . 58 ( t , j = 7 . 8 hz , 1h ), 7 . 41 ( dd , j = 7 . 3 , 1 . 5 hz , 1h ), 7 . 18 ( dd , j = 10 . 1 , 8 . 7 hz , 1h ), 7 . 14 ( br . s ., 2h ), 7 . 06 - 7 . 09 ( m , 1h ), 4 . 12 - 4 . 17 ( m , 2h ), 3 . 91 - 3 . 96 ( m , 2h ), 3 . 83 ( ddd , j = 14 . 2 , 2 . 6 , 2 . 3 hz , 2h ), 3 . 57 - 3 . 62 ( m , 2h ), 2 . 31 ( s , 3h ) to the mixture of 3 - iodobenzoic acid ( 1 . 28 g , 5 . 04 mmol , 1 eq ) and 4 - chloro - 3 -( trifluoromethyl )- aniline ( 1 . 48 g , 1 . 5 eq ) in anhydrous dmf ( 15 ml ) was added catalytic amount of dmap ( 123 . 1 mg , 0 . 2 eq ) and edci ( 1 . 16 g , 1 . 2 eq ). the reaction was stirred at 70 ° c . for 20 hours . it was then partitioned between etoac and saturated aq nahco 3 . the organic layer was further washed with aqueous nh4cl , brine and dried with anhydrous sodium sulfate . the organic layer was decanted , dried and concentrated . the residue was subject to a gradient column chromatography ( from neat hex to etoac - hex 1 : 25 ). the product fractions were collected , concentrated , and the solid residue was triturated with etoac - hex ( 1 : 25 ) and the solid which formed was collected and dried to give that title compound as a white solid ( 1 . 996 g , 93 %). 1 h nmr ( dmso - d 6 ) δ : 10 . 68 ( s , 1h ), 8 . 31 - 8 . 34 ( m , 2h ), 8 . 10 ( dd , j = 8 . 8 , 2 . 3 hz , 1h ), 7 . 96 - 8 . 00 ( m , 2h ), 7 . 73 ( d , j = 8 . 8 hz , 1h ), 7 . 37 ( t , j = 7 . 8 hz , 1h ) to a reaction vessel containing 6 - amino - 5 - iodo - n -( 4 - oxido - 1 , 4λ 4 - oxathian - 4 - ylidene ) nicotinamide , ( 570 mg , 1 . 50 mmol , 1 eq ) and trimethylsilylacetylene ( 1 . 24 ml , 6 eq ) in anhydrous dmf ( 4 ml ) under anhydrous nitrogen atmosphere was added triethylamine ( 1 . 67 ml , 8 eq ), bis ( triphenylphosphine ) palladium ( ii ) dichloride ( 105 mg , 0 . 1 eq ), and copper ( i ) iodide ( 57 . 1 mg , 0 . 2 eq ). the reaction mixture was stirred at room temperature for 15 minutes and then partitioned between saturated aq nahco 3 and etoac . the organic layer was separated , washed with aq nh 4 cl ( 1 ×) and brine ( 1 ×), followed by drying with anhydrous na 2 so 4 . the organic phase was decanted , concentrated , and the brown oily residue was subject to a gradient column chromatography ( etoac - hex 1 : 10 to 5 : 1 ). concentration of the product eluting fractions gave the title compound as white foam ( 525 mg ). to 6 - amino - n -( 4 - oxido - 1 , 4λ 4 - oxathian - 4 - ylidene )- 5 -[( trimethylsilyl ) ethynyl ] nicotinamide , ( 71 mg , 0 . 2 mmol , 1 eq ) and n -[ 4 - chloro - 3 -( trifluoromethyl ) phenyl ]- 3 - iodobenzamide ( 112 mg , 1 . 3 eq ) in anhydrous dmf ( 2 ml ) under nitrogen atmosphere were added copper ( i ) iodide ( 8 . 0 mg , 0 . 2 eq ), triethylamine ( 0 . 14 ml , 5 eq ), and bis ( triphenylphosphine ) palladium ( ii ) dichloride ( 14 mg , 0 . 1 eq ), followed by the final addition of tetrabutylammonium fluoride ( 1 . 0 m in thf ; 0 . 22 ml , 1 . 1 eq ). the reaction was stirred at ambient temperature for 15 minutes . then it was partitioned between etoac and aq nh 4 cl . the organic layer was isolated , washed with saturated aq nahco 3 , and brine , and dried with anhydrous na 2 so 4 . the organic layer was decanted , dried and concentrated . the residue was subject to a gradient column chromatography ( etoac - hex 1 : 5 to 1 : 2 ) which was followed by another gradient column chromatography ( from neat chcl 3 to meoh — chcl 3 1 : 50 ). the product fractions were collected , concentrated . the solid which formed while concentrating was collected by filtration and dried to give the title compound as a yellow solid ( 58 mg ). 1 h nmr ( dmso - d 6 ) δ : 10 . 73 ( s , 1h ), 8 . 63 ( d , j = 2 . 3 hz , 1h ), 8 . 37 ( d , j = 2 . 6 hz , 1h ), 8 . 29 ( t , j = 1 . 5 hz , 1h ), 8 . 11 - 8 . 15 ( m , 2h ), 7 . 95 ( dd , j = 16 . 9 , 7 . 8 hz , 2h ), 7 . 74 ( d , j = 8 . 8 hz , 1h ), 7 . 61 ( t , j = 7 . 8 hz , 1h ), 7 . 15 ( br . s ., 2h ), 4 . 12 - 4 . 17 ( m , 2h ), 3 . 91 - 3 . 96 ( m , 2h ), 3 . 83 ( dt , j = 14 . 3 , 2 . 7 hz , 2h ), 3 . 57 - 3 . 62 ( m , 2h ) in a manner similar to that described in example 23 , 6 - amino - n -( 4 - oxido - 1 , 4λ 4 - oxathian - 4 - ylidene )- 5 -[( trimethylsilyl ) ethynyl ] nicotinamide and n -( 5 -( tert - butyl ) isoxazol - 3 - yl )- 3 - iodobenzamide were converted to the title compound . 1 h nmr ( dmso - d 6 ) δ : 11 . 41 ( s , 1h ), 8 . 63 ( d , j = 2 . 3 hz , 1h ), 8 . 31 ( t , j = 1 . 6 hz , 1h ), 8 . 12 ( d , j = 2 . 1 hz , 1h ), 7 . 99 ( dt , j = 7 . 9 , 1 . 4 hz , 1h ), 7 . 91 ( dt , j = 7 . 6 , 1 . 2 hz , 1h ), 7 . 58 ( t , j = 7 . 8 hz , 1h ), 7 . 13 ( br . s ., 2h ), 6 . 73 ( s , 1h ), 4 . 12 - 4 . 17 ( m , 2h ), 3 . 94 ( ddd , j = 12 . 5 , 8 . 7 , 2 . 1 hz , 2h ), 3 . 81 - 3 . 85 ( m , 2h ), 3 . 57 - 3 . 62 ( m , 2h ), 1 . 33 ( s , 9h ) in a manner similar to that described in example 23 , 6 - amino - n -( 4 - oxido - 1 , 4λ 4 - oxathian - 4 - ylidene )- 5 -[( trimethylsilyl ) ethynyl ] nicotinamide and 3 - iodo - n -( 3 - methoxyphenyl ) benzamide were converted to the title compound . 1 h nmr ( dmso - d 6 ) δ : 10 . 30 ( s , 1h ), 8 . 62 ( d , j = 2 . 3 hz , 1h ), 8 . 26 ( t , j = 1 . 5 hz , 1h ), 8 . 12 ( d , j = 2 . 1 hz , 1h ), 7 . 94 ( ddd , j = 7 . 8 , 1 . 3 , 1 . 2 hz , 1h ), 7 . 90 ( dt , j = 7 . 6 , 1 . 2 hz , 1h ), 7 . 58 ( t , j = 7 . 8 hz , 1h ), 7 . 47 ( t , j = 2 . 2 hz , 1h ), 7 . 39 ( dd , j = 8 . 1 , 1 . 0 hz , 1h ), 7 . 26 ( t , j = 8 . 1 hz , 1h ), 7 . 14 ( br . s ., 2h ), 6 . 70 ( dd , j = 8 . 2 , 2 . 1 hz , 1h ), 4 . 12 - 4 . 17 ( m , 2h ), 3 . 93 ( ddd , j = 12 . 5 , 8 . 5 , 1 . 9 hz , 2h ), 3 . 83 ( dt , j = 14 . 3 , 2 . 7 hz , 2h ), 3 . 76 ( s , 3h ), 3 . 57 - 3 . 62 ( m , 2h ). biological data for the compounds of the present invention was generated by use of the following assays . biochemical kdr kinase assays were performed in 96 well microtiter plates that were coated overnight with 75 μg / well of poly - glu - tyr ( 4 : 1 ) in 10 mm phosphate buffered saline ( pbs ), ph 7 . 4 . the coated plates were washed with 2 mls per well pbs + 0 . 05 % tween - 20 ( pbs - t ), blocked by incubation with pbs containing 1 % bsa , then washed with 2 mls per well pbs - t prior to starting the reaction . reactions were carried out in 100 μl reaction volumes containing 2 . 7 μm atp in kinase buffer ( 50 mm hepes buffer ph 7 . 4 , 20 mm mgcl 2 , 0 . 1 mm mncl 2 and 0 . 2 mm na 3 vo 4 ). test compounds were reconstituted in 100 % dmso and added to the reaction to give a final dmso concentration of 5 %. reactions were initiated by the addition 20 ul per well of kinase buffer containing 200 - 300 ng purified cytoplasmic domain kdr protein ( bps bioscience , san diego , calif .). following a 15 minute incubation at 30 ° c ., the reactions were washed 2 mls per well pbs - t . 100 μl of a monoclonal anti - phosphotyrosine antibody - peroxidase conjugate diluted 1 : 10 , 000 in pbs - t was added to the wells for 30 minutes . following a 2 mls per well wash with pbs - tween - 20 , 100 μl of 0 - phenylenediamine dihydrochloride in phosphate - citrate buffer , containing urea hydrogen peroxide , was added to the wells for 7 - 10 minutes as a colorimetric substrate for the peroxidase . the reaction was terminated by the addition of 100 μl of 2 . 5n h 2 so 4 to each well and read using a microplate elisa reader set at 492 nm . ic 50 values for compound inhibition were calculated directly from graphs of optical density ( arbitrary units ) versus compound concentration following subtraction of blank values . automated flipr ( fluorometric imaging plate reader ) technology was used to screen for inhibitors of vegf induced increases in intracellular calcium levels in fluorescent dye loaded endothelial cells . huvec ( human umbilical vein endothelial cells ) ( clonetics ) were seeded in 384 - well fibronectin coated black - walled plates overnight @ 37 ° c ./ 5 % co2 . cells were loaded with calcium indicator fluo - 4 for 45 minutes at 37 ° c . cells were washed 2 times ( elx405 , biotek instruments ) to remove extracellular dye . for screening , cells were pre - incubated with test agents for 30 minutes , at a single concentration ( 10 um ) or at concentrations ranging from 0 . 0001 to 10 . 0 um followed by vegf 165 stimulation ( 10 ng / ml ). changes in fluorescence at 516 nm were measured simultaneously in all 384 wells using a cooled ccd camera . data were generated by determining max - min fluorescence levels for unstimulated , stimulated , and drug treated samples . ic 50 values for test compounds were calculated from % inhibition of vegf stimulated responses in the absence of inhibitor . biochemical pdgfrβ kinase assays were performed in 96 well microtiter plates that were coated overnight with 75 μg of poly - glu - tyr ( 4 : 1 ) in 10 mm phosphate buffered saline ( pbs ), ph 7 . 4 . the coated plates were washed with 2 mls per well pbs + 0 . 05 % tween - 20 ( pbs - t ), blocked by incubation with pbs containing 1 % bsa , then washed with 2 mls per well pbs - t prior to starting the reaction . reactions were carried out in 100 μl reaction volumes containing 36 μm atp in kinase buffer ( 50 mm hepes buffer ph 7 . 4 , 20 mm mgcl 2 , 0 . 1 mm mncl 2 and 0 . 2 mm na 3 vo 4 ). test compounds were reconstituted in 100 % dmso and added to the reaction to give a final dmso concentration of 5 %. reactions were initiated by the addition 20 ul per well of kinase buffer containing 200 - 300 ng purified cytoplasmic domain pdgfr - b protein ( millipore ). following a 60 minute incubation at 30 ° c ., the reactions were washed 2 mls per well pbs - t . 100 μl of a monoclonal anti - phosphotyrosine antibody - peroxidase conjugate diluted 1 : 10 , 000 in pbs - t was added to the wells for 30 minutes . following a 2 mls per well wash with pbs - tween - 20 , 100 μl of o - phenylenediamine dihydrochloride in phosphate - citrate buffer , containing urea hydrogen peroxide , was added to the wells for 7 - 10 minutes as a colorimetric substrate for the peroxidase . the reaction was terminated by the addition of 100 μl of 2 . 5n h 2 so 4 to each well and read using a microplate elisa reader set at 492 nm . ic 50 values for compound inhibition were calculated directly from graphs of optical density ( arbitrary units ) versus compound concentration following subtraction of blank values . automated flipr ( fluorometric imaging plate reader ) technology was used to screen for inhibitors of pdgf - induced increases in intracellular calcium levels in fluorescent dye loaded endothelial cells . nhdf - ad ( normal human dermal fibroblasts , adult ; lonza ) were seeded in 384 - well fibronectin coated black - walled plates overnight @ 37 ° c ./ 5 % co2 . cells were loaded with calcium indicator fluo - 4 for 45 minutes at 37 ° c . cells were washed 2 times ( elx405 , biotek instruments ) to remove extracellular dye . for screening , cells were pre - incubated with test agents for 30 minutes , at a single concentration ( 10 um ) or at concentrations ranging from 0 . 0001 to 10 . 0 um followed by pdgf - bb stimulation ( 30 ng / ml ). changes in fluorescence at 516 nm were measured simultaneously in all 384 wells using a cooled ccd camera . data were generated by determining max - min fluorescence levels for unstimulated , stimulated , and drug treated samples . ic 50 values for test compounds were calculated from % inhibition of pdgf - bb stimulated responses in the absence of inhibitor . the biological results for the compounds of formula i are shown in table 2 below . the present invention is not to be limited in scope by the exemplified embodiments which are intended as illustrations of single aspects of the invention only . 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 . all references cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety . also , the compounds of the present invention may be tested by the various in - vitro and in - vivo assays disclosed in such references to demonstrate the claimed utilities .	2
fig4 a - 4m illustrate an example method for forming an array of resistive memory cells , e . g ., an array of conductive bridging memory ( cbram ) and resistive ram ( reram ) cells , according to one embodiment . as shown in fig4 a , a dielectric substrate 100 ( e . g ., si02 ) is formed , using any suitable technique . next , as shown in fig4 b , a bottom electrode layer 102 and a hard mask layer 104 are deposited or formed over the dielectric substrate 100 . bottom electrode layer 102 may comprise any suitable conductive material or materials , e . g ., polysilicon , doped polysilicon , amorphous silicon , doped amorphous silicon , or any other suitable material , and may be deposited or formed in any suitable manner . hard mask layer 104 may be formed from any suitable materials ( e . g ., silicon nitride ) and may be deposited or formed in any suitable manner as known in the art . next , as shown in fig4 c , the hard mask layer 104 is patterned , e . g ., by forming and patterning a photoresist layer 106 over the hard mask layer 104 , using any suitable photolithography techniques . as shown , certain areas of the hard mask layer 104 are exposed through the patterned photoresist layer 106 . next , as shown in fig4 d , an etching process is performed to remove the photoresist layer 106 and portions of the hard mask layer 104 corresponding to the exposed areas shown in fig4 c , thereby forming a patterned hard mask 104 a having an array of openings 105 . the patterning and etching processes of fig4 c and 4d may be selected such that openings 105 have any desired size and shape . for example , openings 105 may have a circular or oval shaped cross - section ( in a plane parallel to the bottom electrode layer 102 ), thus providing cylindrical or elongated cylindrical openings 105 . as another example , openings 105 may have a rectangular or otherwise elongated cross - section ( in a plane parallel to the bottom electrode layer 102 ), thus providing elongated trench - style openings 105 . openings 105 may have any other suitable shapes and sizes . next , as shown in fig4 e , an oxidation process is performed to oxidize areas of the bottom electrode layer 102 that are exposed through the openings 105 in patterned hard mask 104 a , thereby forming a number of spaced - apart oxide regions 110 . in some embodiments , each oxide region 110 may have a generally oval , rounded , curved , or otherwise non - orthogonal shape in a cross - section extending perpendicular to the bottom electrode layer 102 ( i . e ., the cross - section shown in fig4 e ). next , as shown in fig4 f , the hard mask 104 a is removed and the remaining bottom electrode layer 102 and oxide regions 110 are etched to form an array of spaced - apart bottom electrodes 102 a and corresponding oxide regions 110 . alternatively , the hard mask 104 a may be removed during the etching of the bottom electrodes 102 a . the bottom electrode layer 102 and oxide regions 110 may be etched in any suitable manner , e . g ., by applying and utilizing a patterned mask or photoresist above the stack , or by using the oxide regions 110 themselves as a mask ( e . g ., using an etch selective to the non - oxidized bottom electrode material ). the etch may or may not be patterned to follow the pattern defined by openings 105 ( and thus the pattern of oxide regions 110 ). thus , bottom electrodes 102 a may have any shape and size , which may or may not correspond with the shapes and sizes of the openings 105 and oxide regions 110 prior to the etch process . for example , bottom electrodes 102 a may have a cylindrical or elongated cylindrical shape having a circular or oval shaped perimeter , or a rectangular prism shape have an elongated rectangular perimeter . in addition , the lateral edges of the etch may be selected with respect to the lateral or outer perimeter edge or extent of each oxide region 110 . for example , with reference to fig4 e , the lateral edges of the etch may align with the outer perimeter edge of each oxide region 110 , as indicated by dashed lines e 1 . alternatively , the lateral edges of the etch may be aligned outside the outer perimeter edge of each oxide region 110 , as indicated by dashed lines e 2 , such that the post - etch bottom electrode 102 a has a region laterally outside the outer perimeter edge of the oxide region 110 . alternatively , the lateral edges of the etch may be aligned inside the outer perimeter edge of each oxide region 110 , as indicated by dashed lines e 3 , such that the etch extends removes an outer portion of the oxide region 110 . returning to fig4 f , each bottom electrode 102 a has a pointed tip region 114 adjacent the respective oxide region . the shape of the pointed tip region 114 may be at least partially defined by the oxide region 110 . for example , where the vertical cross - section of the oxide region 110 is oval shaped or otherwise curves downwardly toward the substrate 100 , the curved area toward the lateral perimeter of the oxide region 110 helps define the shape of the pointed tip region 114 of the bottom electrode 102 a . thus , in the vertical plane , the pointed tip region 114 may define an angle of less than 90 degrees , as shown in fig4 f . the pointed tip region 114 may extend partially or fully around the lateral perimeter of the bottom electrode 102 a ( e . g ., a circular , oval , or rectangular perimeter ). in some embodiments , the lateral perimeter of the bottom electrode 102 a defines a plurality of sides ( e . g ., a rectangular perimeter defining four sides ), and the pointed tip region 114 extends along one , two , three , or more of the perimeter sides . next , as shown in fig4 g , a spacer layer 116 is deposited over the array of bottom electrodes 102 a / oxide layers 110 . spacer layer 116 may comprise any electrically insulating material , e . g ., a dielectric such as sio x ( e . g ., sio 2 ), ges , cus , tao x , tio 2 , ge 2 sb 2 te 5 , gdo , hfo , cuo , al 2 o 3 , or any other suitable dielectric material . spacer layer 116 may be formed or deposited in any suitable manner known to one of ordinary skill in the art . as shown in fig4 h , spacer layer 116 may be partially etched , using any suitable etch process known to one of ordinary skill in the art , to define at least one remaining spacer region 118 adjacent each bottom electrode 102 a . the etch process may be selected or controlled such that the spacer region ( s ) 118 adjacent each bottom electrode 102 a extends fully or partially around the perimeter of the bottom electrode 102 a . further , spacer layer 116 may be etched to define multiple spacer regions 118 at different locations around the perimeter of each bottom electrode 102 a . the example shown in fig4 h includes a pair of spacer regions 118 a and 118 b adjacent each bottom electrode 102 a . further , the etch process may be selected or controlled such that each spacer region 118 extends only partially up the height of the adjacent edge of the bottom electrode 102 a , as shown in fig4 h and more clearly shown in example fig4 m ( discussed below ). next , as shown in fig4 i , an electrolyte layer 120 and a top electrode layer 122 are formed over the array of bottom electrode 102 a and corresponding oxide regions 110 . electrolyte layer 120 may comprise any suitable dielectric or memristive type material or materials , for example , sio x ( e . g ., sio 2 ), ges , cus , tao x , tio 2 , ge 2 sb 2 te 5 , gdo , hfo , cuo , al 2 o 3 , or any other suitable material . top electrode layer 122 may comprise any suitable conductive material or materials , e . g ., ag , al , cu , ta , tan , ti , tin , al , w or any other suitable material , and may be deposited or formed in any suitable manner . next , as shown in fig4 j , the stack is patterned , e . g ., by forming and patterning a photomask 130 over the top electrode layer 122 , using any suitable photolithography techniques . as shown , certain areas of the top electrode layer 122 are exposed through the patterned photomask 130 . in the illustrated embodiment , the patterned photoresist layer 130 covers only a portion of each underlying bottom electrode 102 a / oxide region 110 . next , as shown in fig4 k , an etching process is performed to remove exposed portions of the top electrode layer 122 and electrolyte layer 120 . in some embodiments , the etch may be selective with respect to the oxide region 110 such that the oxide region 110 and underlying bottom electrode 102 a are not removed , while exposing surfaces of the oxide region 110 and bottom electrode 102 a . as shown , the remaining portions of the top electrode layer 122 and electrolyte layer 120 define a respective top electrode 122 a and electrolyte region 120 a for each bottom electrode 102 a / oxide region 110 structure . spacer regions 118 not covered by mask 130 may or may not be etched away , or may be partially etched away , depending on the particular type and extent of etching performed . in the illustrated example , each spacer region 118 a is partially etched away . next , as shown in fig4 l , any remaining portions of the photomask 130 may be removed , leaving an array 138 of resistive memory cells 140 . each cell 140 includes a bottom electrode 102 a having an oxide region 110 at an upper surface , a top electrode 122 a , and an electrolyte region 120 a arranged between the bottom electrode 102 a and top electrode 122 a . a close - up of one cell 140 is shown in fig4 m . as shown , the electrolyte region 120 a is arranged between the pointed tip region 114 of the bottom electrode 102 a and the top electrode 122 a , which provides a conductive path for the formation of conductive filament ( s ) or vacancy chain ( s ) from the pointed tip region 114 of the bottom electrode 102 a to the top electrode 122 a through the electrolyte region 120 a , said conductive path indicated by the illustrated dashed arrow cp . fig4 m also shows the dielectric spacer regions 118 b formed by the techniques discussed herein , arranged laterally between a sidewall of each bottom electrode 102 a and a respective laterally - outward portion of the electrolyte region 120 a . thus , each spacer region 118 b may decrease the available or possible area for filament formation between the sidewall of the bottom electrode 102 a and the top electrode via the electrolyte ( memory film ), which may further restrict filament formation to the bottom electrode tip 114 . as shown , in some embodiment , each spacer region 118 b extends only partially up the height of the bottom electrode sidewall , such that a path from the bottom electrode tip 114 to the top electrode 122 a via the electrolyte 120 a is defined that is free of the spacer region 118 b . in some embodiments , the height of each spacer region 118 b is greater than 50 % but less than 100 % of the height of the adjacent edge of the bottom electrode 102 a . in particular embodiments , the height of each spacer region 118 b is greater than 75 % but less than 100 % of the height of the adjacent edge of the respective bottom electrode 102 a . thus , the top of the remaining spacer region 118 b may be located below the pointed tip 114 of the bottom electrode 102 a . thus , the structure of cells 140 , including the pointed tip region 114 and dielectric spacer region 118 b , may define a relatively small , or confined , effective filament formation area a ff , or confinement zone . for example , the effective filament formation area a ff , measured in a plane generally perpendicular to the direction of filament propagation , may be less than 1 , 000 nm 2 . in some embodiments , the effective filament formation area a ff is less than 100 nm 2 . in particular embodiments , the effective filament formation area a ff is less than 10 nm 2 , or even less than 1 nm 2 . this reduced confinement zone may provide resistive memory cells ( e . g ., cbram or reram cells ) with more predictable and reliable filament formation , as compared with cells having a larger confinement zone . this may provide one or more of the following benefits : lower erase current , narrower distribution of low - resistance state ( lrs ), higher on / off ratio ( hrs / lrs ), and improved failure rates . top electrodes 122 a may be connected in or to any suitable circuitry using any suitable contact scheme . for example , fig5 a and 5b illustrate two example schemes for contacting top electrodes 122 a . first , as shown in fig5 a , top contacts 150 may be formed such that they contact an upper portion of each top electrode 122 a , above the respective bottom electrode 102 a / oxide region 110 . second , as shown in fig5 b , top contacts 150 may be formed such that they contact a lower portion of each top electrode 122 a at a location lateral to the respective bottom electrode 102 a / oxide region 110 . top contacts 150 may be arranged in any other suitable manner with respect to top electrodes 122 a and other cell components . in addition , it should be understood that each bottom electrode 102 a may be contacted ( e . g ., for connection to a wordline or bitline ) in any suitable or conventional manner . for example , each bottom electrode 102 a may be contacted from above by dropping down a contact that is recessed or offset from the memory films . as another example , each bottom electrode 102 a may be contacted from below by depositing the bottom electrode layer 102 directly on a salicided active silicon region and then making contact to the active region at the end of a line of bits . fig6 a - 6o illustrate another example method for forming an array of resistive memory cells , e . g ., an array of conductive bridging memory ( cbram ) and resistive ram ( reram ) cells , according to another embodiment . the method of fig6 a - 6o may be generally similar to the method of fig4 a - 4m , but may include forming a pair of bottom electrode pointed tip region 114 in each cell , with a corresponding pair of mini - spacer regions 118 a and 118 b in each cell . the steps shown in fig6 a - 6g may be similar or identical to the steps shown in fig4 a - 4g discussed above , to form a structure including a spacer layer 116 formed over an array of bottom electrodes 102 a / oxide regions 110 . after this point , the method may differ from that of fig4 a - 4g , as discussed below . as shown in fig6 h , the spacer layer 116 may be partially etched , using any suitable etch process known to one of ordinary skill in the art , to define a pair of spaced - apart spacer regions 118 a and 118 b adjacent each bottom electrode 102 a . for example , the pair of spacer regions 118 a and 118 b may be located on opposite sides of each bottom electrode 102 a . the etch process may be selected or controlled such that each spacer region 118 extends only partially up the height of the adjacent edge of the bottom electrode 102 a , as shown in fig6 h and more clearly shown in example fig6 m ( discussed below ). next , as shown in fig6 i , an electrolyte layer 120 and a top electrode layer 122 are formed over the array of bottom electrode 102 a and corresponding oxide regions 110 . electrolyte layer 120 may comprise any suitable dielectric or memristive type material or materials , for example , sio x ( e . g ., sio 2 ), ges , cus , tao x , tio 2 , ge 2 sb 2 te 5 , gdo , hfo , cuo , al 2 o 3 , or any other suitable material . top electrode layer 122 may comprise any suitable conductive material or materials , e . g ., ag , al , cu , ta , tan , ti , tin , al , w or any other suitable material , and may be deposited or formed in any suitable manner . next , as shown in fig6 j , the stack is patterned , e . g ., by forming and patterning a photomask 130 over the top electrode layer 122 , using any suitable photolithography techniques . as shown , photomask 130 may be patterned in a manner that defines a pair of photomask regions 130 a and 130 b separated by a gap 132 over each cell structure , with a central area of each cell structure being exposed through each gap 132 . further , the pair of photomask regions 130 a and 130 b over each cell structure is separated from the adjacent pair of photomask regions 130 a and 130 b by a gap 133 . next , as shown in fig6 k , an etching process is performed through gaps 132 and 133 to remove exposed portions of the top electrode layer 122 and underlying portions of electrolyte layer 120 . in some embodiments , the etch may be selective with respect to the oxide region 110 such that the oxide region 110 and underlying bottom electrode 102 a are not removed , while exposing surfaces of the oxide region 110 and bottom electrode 102 a . as shown , etching through gaps 133 removes portions of top electrode layer 122 and electrolyte layer 120 between adjacent bottom electrodes 102 a to separate adjacent cell structures from each other . in addition , etching through gaps 132 removes portions of top electrode layer 122 and electrolyte layer 120 over a central area of each oxide region 110 / bottom electrode 102 a , thereby defining , over each oxide region 110 / bottom electrode 102 a , a first top electrode 122 a and first electrolyte region 120 a physically separated from a second top electrode 122 b and second electrolyte region 120 b . as discussed below in more detail with respect to fig6 m , the first top electrode 122 a is arranged to interact with a first region of the bottom electrode 102 a ( via the first electrolyte region 120 a ) to define a first memory element 140 a ( indicated in fig6 l and 6m ), while the second top electrode 122 b is arranged to interact with a second region of the bottom electrode 102 a ( via the second electrolyte region 120 b ) to define a second memory element 140 b ( indicated in fig6 l and 6m ). thus , the etch process forms two distinct memory elements 140 a and 140 b for each bottom electrode 102 a . this may therefore double the density of memory cells as compared to a design in which a single memory element is formed per bottom electrode . next , as shown in fig6 l , any remaining portions of the photomask 130 may be removed , leaving an array 138 of resistive memory cell structures 140 , in which each memory cell structure 140 defines a pair of memory elements 140 a and 140 b , as discussed above . a close - up of one memory cell structure 140 is shown in fig6 m . as shown , the memory cell structure 140 defines a pair of memory elements 140 a and 140 b . the first memory element 140 a is defined by a first top electrode 122 a , a first portion 114 a of the pointed tip region 114 of bottom electrode 102 a , and a first electrolyte region 120 a arranged therebetween . similarly , the second memory element 140 b is defined by a second top electrode 122 b , a second portion 114 b of the pointed tip region 114 of bottom electrode 102 a , and a second electrolyte region 120 b arranged therebetween . in this embodiment , memory element 140 a is a mirror image of corresponding memory element 140 b . in other embodiments , memory element 140 a may have a different shape or structure than its corresponding memory element 140 b , e . g ., by shifting the etch opening 132 ( see fig6 k for reference ) from the center of the respective underlying bottom electrode 102 a , or by forming an irregular - shaped etch opening 132 , for example . the first memory element 140 a provides a first conductive path cp 1 for the formation of conductive filament ( s ) or vacancy chain ( s ) from the first pointed tip region 114 a of the bottom electrode 102 a to the top electrode 122 a through the electrolyte region 120 a . similarly , the second memory element 140 b provides a second conductive path cp 2 for the formation of conductive filament ( s ) or vacancy chain ( s ) from the second pointed tip region 114 b of the bottom electrode 102 a to the top electrode 122 b through the electrolyte region 120 b . fig6 m also shows the dielectric spacer regions 118 a and 118 b formed by the techniques discussed herein , with dielectric spacer regions 118 a arranged laterally between a sidewall of bottom electrode 102 a and the laterally - outward first electrolyte region 120 a , and dielectric spacer regions 118 a arranged laterally between a sidewall of bottom electrode 102 a and the laterally - outward second electrolyte region 120 b . thus , each spacer region 118 may decrease the available or possible area for filament formation between the bottom electrode 102 a and the respective top electrode 122 a , 122 b via the respective electrolyte ( memory film ) 120 a , 120 b , which may further restrict filament formation to the respective bottom electrode tip 114 . as shown , in some embodiment , each spacer region 118 a , 118 b extends only partially up the height of the adjacent bottom electrode sidewall , such that a path from the respective bottom electrode tip 114 a , 114 b to the respective top electrode 122 a , 122 b via the respective electrolyte 120 a , 120 b is defined that is free of the respective spacer region 118 a , 118 b . in some embodiments , the height of each spacer region 118 a , 118 b is greater than 50 % but less than 100 % of the height of the adjacent edge of the bottom electrode 102 a . in particular embodiments , the height of each spacer region 118 a , 118 b is greater than 75 % but less than 100 % of the height of the adjacent edge of the bottom electrode 102 a . thus , the top of each spacer region 118 a , 118 b may be located below the respective pointed tip 114 a , 114 b of the bottom electrode 102 a . thus , the structure of each memory element 140 a and 140 b , including the respective pointed tip region 114 a or 114 b and corresponding mini - spacer region 118 a or 118 b , may define a relatively small , or confined , effective filament formation area a ff , or confinement zone . for example , the effective filament formation area a ff for each memory element 140 a / 140 b , measured in a plane generally perpendicular to the direction of filament propagation , may be less than 1 , 000 nm 2 . in some embodiments , each effective filament formation area a ff is less than 100 nm 2 . in particular embodiments , each effective filament formation area a ff is less than 10 nm 2 , or even less than 1 nm 2 . these reduced confinement zones may provide resistive memory cells ( e . g ., cbram or reram cells ) with more predictable and reliable filament formation , as compared with cells having a larger confinement zone . this may provide one or more of the following benefits : lower erase current , narrower distribution of low - resistance state ( lrs ), higher on / off ratio ( hrs / lrs ), and improved failure rates . top electrodes 122 a and 122 b may be connected in or to any suitable circuitry using any suitable contact scheme . for example , top contacts may be formed in contact with top electrodes 122 a and 122 b as shown in fig6 n and 6o . first , as shown in fig6 n , a dielectric layer 144 may be deposited over the array of memory elements 140 a and 140 b . then , as shown in fig6 o , top contacts 150 a and 150 b may be formed in dielectric layer 144 , using any suitable techniques . as shown , each top contact 150 a contacts an upper portion of a top electrode 122 a , while each top contact 150 b contacts an upper portion of a top electrode 122 b . top contacts 150 may be arranged in any other suitable manner with respect to top electrodes 122 a and 122 b and other cell components . in addition , it should be understood that each bottom electrode 102 a may be contacted ( e . g ., for connection to a wordline or bitline ) in any suitable or conventional manner . for example , each bottom electrode 102 a may be contacted from above by dropping down a contact that is recessed or offset from the memory films . as another example , each bottom electrode 102 a may be contacted from below by depositing the bottom electrode layer 102 directly on a salicided active silicon region and then making contact to the active region at the end of a line of bits . although the disclosed embodiments are described in detail in the present disclosure , it should be understood that various changes , substitutions and alterations can be made to the embodiments without departing from their spirit and scope .	7
in the following description , the term “ powered ” refers to an electric powering means such as a combination of an electric motor and a power source for electric current whether ac or dc . the term “ enclosed ” is used interchangeably with the term “ sealed ” and generally refers to sealing or encasing in order to protect vulnerable parts from dust , debris and the elements . the term “ axle track ” refers to the distance between the center line of two wheels on the same axle . the term “ high traction ” refers generally to the resistance to slippage provided by the particular parts of the instant invention working together for that effect ; in particular a relatively greater footprint for the wheels , the particular transmission employed , and the arrangement of the transmission and the wheels . unless otherwise explained , any technical terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure belongs . the singular terms “ a ,” “ an ,” and “ the ” include plural referents unless the context clearly indicates otherwise . similarly , the word “ or ” is intended to include “ and ” unless the context clearly indicates otherwise . although methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of this disclosure , suitable methods and materials are described below . the term “ comprises ” means “ includes .” publications , patent applications , patents , and other references mentioned herein , if any , are incorporated by reference in their entirety for all purposes . in case of conflict , the instant specification , including explanations of terms , will control . in addition , the materials , methods , and examples are illustrative only and not intended to be limiting . referring generally to fig1 - 7 a powered , steerable trailer jack assembly 100 includes an ( 1 ) upper sub - assembly 101 comprising a support tube 102 which is mountable to the tongue 200 portion of a trailer frame via frame attachment bracket 108 b , and ( 2 ) a lower sub - assembly which includes a transmission 124 , wheels 128 and mounting plate 120 between the lower end of the support tube and the transmission housing 125 . a drive shaft 118 ( not shown ) resides within the support tube between the motor and the transmission and is coupled to the motor shaft by any suitable means which can include mating flanges at the shaft ends , a split bushing over both ; and bridging shaft ends , or other coupling means appreciated by those having skill in the art . preferably , the motive means for the disclosed embodiments is a dc driven motor , with current supplied by a battery 134 mounted on the trailer frame , or by a power cord 132 plugged into a 12v power jack of the towing vehicle , such as a trailer light jack . conceivably however , the invention can use ac power with the use of an appropriate ac to dc adapter . it is also conceivable that a rechargeable battery pack can be used with the jack as in the case of cordless power tools . various other configurations for powering the instant invention will suggest themselves to those having skill in the art and benefit of this disclosure . turning to fig1 and 2 , front perspective views of a preferred embodiment according to the instant invention show a steerable jack assembly 100 which includes a top mounted motor 112 with gear reduction box 113 , housing 114 , motion controls 116 including forward , reverse and stop , a support tube 102 extending downwardly from the motor housing , a rack 104 down the side of the support tube , a crank assembly 106 with a hand operated crank 108 a , and a frame attachment bracket 108 b . the crank assembly includes a worm or pinion meshed with the rack for raising and lowering the trailer tongue via crank handle . mounting plate 120 resides between a sealed transmission housing 125 and the bottom of the support tube . the mounting plate possesses a tubular extension that seats with bearing 122 enabling the lower sub - assembly to swivel relative to the fixed support tube . other swiveling means will suggest themselves to those having skill in the art . steering handle 110 extends from the mounting plate and swivels the wheels . a lower sub - assembly 119 includes a pair of wheel hubs 128 affixed to axle 126 which extends transversely from the transmission case . bearing 122 permits the mounting plate , and transmission to swivel when steering handle 110 is moved . depending on the connection between the support tube and the mounting plate , the entire support tube including the motor housing can swivel . in this case , rack 104 is connected at the bottom to bearing 122 , but otherwise not joined to the support tube 102 . because the crank assembly is attached to the trailer frame in a fixed position by brackets 108 b , the rack 104 meshed with the crank assembly 106 does not rotate when the powered jack assembly 100 is steered by handle 110 , while the support tube 102 , motor housing 114 and lower sub - assembly 119 turn . fig3 is a enlarged view of motor housing 114 . the housing is made of any suitable weather resistant material covers and protects electrical connections . the motor is responsive to motion controls 116 which are shown preferably located on a lower portion of the motor housing , but which may be located anywhere on the entire assembly . conceivably , the motion controls can be via a wired or wireless hand held controller or fob ( not shown ). while preferably , the motion controls are equipped with forward and reverse momentary rocker switches which switch motor polarity , other types of switches can be used . light 117 resides between the momentary switches and is activated by pressing the lamp cover . fig4 is a perspective view of the lower jack sub - assembly including bearing 122 , mounting plate 120 , transmission housing 125 and a pair of wheels affixed to axle 126 transverse to the transmission case . preferably , the axle is coupled to worm gear transmission ( fig5 ) having a main gear and engaged worm that is coupled to the drive shaft which is driven by electric motor 112 via drive shaft 118 which allows the jack to push or pull heavily laden trailers without slipping or bogging , even when pushing or pulling a trailer up an incline . preferably , wheel hubs 128 are paired to knobby tread tires which may be pneumatic type , solid type or foam - filled flat - free tires . fig5 is an isometric view showing one - half of a clam - shell transmission housing 125 , bearings , axle 126 , worm drive ( wd ), and clutch 124 a . dashed lines illustrate the relative positions of the components when seated . the sealed case shields the enclosed gears from dust , debris and the elements , and the enclosed transmission typically requires no servicing . while a worm drive is preferred as it is self locking when not driven and capable of high - torque , other transmission configurations will suggest themselves to those having skill in the art without departing from the present invention . fig6 is an enlarged perspective view of crank assembly 106 with crank handle 108 a that actuates a worm or pinion ( not shown ) that is engaged with rack teeth 104 . although the particular embodiment disclosed shows a manual crank providing height adjustment , it is conceivable that the invention can be used with powered height adjustments means if an electric motor is employed to turn the worm / pinion rather than the crank handle shown . fig7 is a perspective view of the jack assembly of the present invention mounted to a trailer frame by attachment bracket 108 b . persons skilled in the art will appreciate that various attachment means for attaching the crank assembly to a trailer frame . it is conceivable that a pivot ( not shown ) can be attached to brackets 108 b in order to pivot the assembly to a position where it is either substantially parallel to the trailer frame or crossways the frame . accordingly , the instant invention is considered to encompass such alternate configurations . it should be noted that the instant invention is generally applicable to the alignment of trailer tongue and parking of trailers , and should not be construed as being limited to boat trailers . in view of the many possible embodiments to which the principles of the disclosed invention may be applied , it should be recognized that the illustrated embodiments are only preferred examples of the invention and should not be taken as limiting the scope of the invention . therefore , this disclosure is intended to cover such alternatives , modifications , and equivalents as may be included in the spirit and scope of the description in view of the appended drawings and claims .	1
the basis of the invention is a method — called digital development method ( ddm )— utilizing a digital phenomenon conjectured by the inventor relating to a particular evolution or development of those mini digital distributions on sub - intervals along the entire range of data . the method calls for the data to be downloaded initially from the main memory storage device such as internet network , wide area networking , or internal network system , and into program - able computer device employing database processing software such as ms - access or sql , as well as spreadsheet format software such as ms - excel ( including other comparable generic software systems ), and then to be ordered low to high and for the focus of digital pattern ( of first leading digits primarily ) to be severely narrowed down to much smaller pieces of overall data . such digital examination then shifts focus from one small sub - interval to another adjacent one to the right , and patterns are recorded . instead of performing digital analysis on the entire data set as is the standard in the literature , the suggested algorithm here is for performing multiple smaller ones . the conjecture points to a certain pattern that appears extremely stable , consistent and robust . the pattern in question is the tendency of those localized mini digit distributions to either favor slightly high digits or start with digital equality on the left for low values , and to gradually switch behavior and grant low digits increasing portions , culminating in severe digital inequality on the extreme right in favor of digits 1 and 2 , an inequality that is by far more skewed than the benford distribution . this more detailed digital signature of data within the digital signature of overall data is derived from some very general theoretical , symmetrical , and intuitive considerations as will be explained in the next paragraph . confirmations of this digital phenomenon via actual testing of numerous pieces of real - life data — including all types of accounting and financial data — came out decisively in favor of the conjecture . moreover , such forensic confirmation in real - life data occurred also in numerous other decisively - non - benford data , confirming a corollary of the conjecture that this pattern is much more prevalent and general than even benford &# 39 ; s law itself . motivations for this newly discovered developmental pattern is derived from one well - known alternative vista in benford &# 39 ; s law which focuses on the mantissa of data . this relates to the fact that a more general statement of benford &# 39 ; s law is that density of mantissa is uniformly distributed on [ 0 , 1 ). this statement not only directly implies that for first digits distribution probability [ 1st digit is d ]= log 10 ( 1 + 1 / d ), but it also implies the formulae for the 2nd and all higher orders digit distributions , formulae and expressions which will not be mentioned here for brevity sake . the definition of the mantissa of any number x is the unique solution to \| x \|=[ 10 w ][ 10 mantissa ]. here w — called the ‘ characteristic ’— is the result of rounding down log (\| x \|) to the nearest integer , namely the largest integer less than or equal to log (\| x \|), or equivalently the first integer to the left on the real number line (−∞, +∞) of the log - axis regardless whether log (\| x \|) is positive or negative . examples are : having this general result well - established throughout the literature , namely expressing benford &# 39 ; s law in terms of mantissa , focus is naturally shifting from examining densities of data itself to examining related densities of log of data in the context of benford &# 39 ; s law and leading digits in general . intuitively , there are only two distinct natural scenarios for log density of data to achieve uniformity of mantissa . the first , very obvious scenario , is simply whenever density of related log itself is uniformly distributed on the log - axis along a range having exactly an integral length . surely if density of related log itself is linear , horizontal and flat , namely uniformly distributed from say 1 to 8 ( having exactly an integral 7 - unit length on its axis ), then its fractional part ( mantissa ) is also uniformly distributed , and thus data itself is benford . in this case , density of mantissa is calculated by simply aggregating log density on those 7 different sections ( having unity length ) between 1 and 8 . yet , this scenario of uniformity of log density itself is conjectured and shown to be connected exclusively with deterministic multiplication processes , not random ones . this is done by exploring related log of exponential growth series , since these series are the most generic representatives of multiplication processes . for such exponential series { b , bf , bf 2 , bf 3 , . . . , bf n } where b is the base value , p is the % growth , and f the constant multiplying factor f =( 1 + p / 100 ), related log series is simply : { log 10 ( b ), log 10 ( b )+ log 10 ( f ), log 10 ( b )+ 2 log 10 ( f ), . . . , log 10 ( b )+ n * log 10 ( f )}. we note that log 10 ( f ) typically is thought of as being less than 1 , namely a fraction , unless growth is exceedingly high . for example , for 15 % growth , p = 15 , and f = log 10 ( 1 . 15 ), namely the fraction 0 . 06069784 , while for high growth such as 100 %, p = 100 , and f = log ( 2 ) is still only 0 . 301029996 , namely a fraction . now , since this related log series is nothing but the steady additions of the same fractional constant , namely log 10 ( f ), from a fixed point , namely log 10 ( b ), tramping steadily on the log - axis with even steps , filling it up equally everywhere , we conclude that related log here is uniformly distributed ( albeit discretely , not continuously ). it is noted that the approximate or the most appropriate continuous log density function here is p . d . f . ( x )= k / x , which also has its related log density uniformly ( and continuously ) distributed . one very important result here is that having flat uniformly distributed related log density throughout the entire data implies that cutting off smaller pieces from the ordered data between any two points having an integral exponent difference , such as 10 & amp ; 100 , 1 & amp ; 1000 , 39 & amp ; 390 , and so forth , still yields flat uniform log density locally , and thus implying uniformity of mantissa and benford &# 39 ; s behavior as well for the extracted sub - interval . hence it might be said that the benford property for deterministic multiplication processes and k / x distribution is consistent , steady , and that it manifests itself everywhere along the entire range equally . it is noted that if two data points have an integral exponent difference , then there is an integral distance between their corresponding points on the log - axis itself . hence 10 & amp ; 100 , written as 10 1 & amp ; 10 2 correspond to points 1 & amp ; 2 on the log axis . while for 71 . 6143 & amp ; 7161 . 43 , written as 10 1 . 855 & amp ; 10 3 . 855 , exponent difference is 2 , and the two points correspond to 1 . 855 & amp ; 3 . 855 on the log axis . little reflection is needed to realize that uniformity of log of data over an integral interval is not the only circumstance yielding uniformity of mantissa . the other natural scenario yielding uniformity of mantissa is for density curve of log to be roughly normal or to resemble a semi - circle form . more generally , log of data should be : ( b ) having wide enough range on the log - axis ( roughly over 3 or 4 units of distance ), ( c ) rising from the log - axis itself until reaching a certain plateau or zenith , followed by a fall all the way back to the log - axis , ( d ) both the rise and the fall are not too steep but rather gradual . this second log scenario is the one corresponding to all random statistical processes , including financial and accounting data , distinctly differentiating it from deterministic multiplication processes . this last statement is supported by theoretical understanding of what drives random statistical processes towards logarithmic behavior , as well as numerous confirmations from forensic testing of log densities of actual real - life data , including financial and accounting ones . in general , for any small segments of data having its related log density portion locally / momentarily uniform , appearing horizontal and flat , the benford &# 39 ; s property is thought to hold . for log density to ascend and to have a positive slope implies that digits of related data itself are more equally distributed as compared with benford . this is so because ascending log always gives more area under the curve to the right where high digits are and less so to the left where low digits are . for log density to descend having a negative slope , it means that severe digital inequality exists , even more extreme than the benford condition . therefore , for this second scenario , where log density is normal - like or resembling a semi - circle form and traverses plenty of log - axis distance , the curve which ascends on the left of the central region ( meaning that high digits are benefiting as compared with the logarithmic situation ) and then steadily falls off and descends from there ( meaning that now low digits get an advantage over and above the logarithmic situation ), all which implies that overall mantissa could in principle end up uniformly distributed in the aggregate , as each section , the right and the left one , counteracts each other &# 39 ; s effect . it is plausible to argue that whatever low digits lose ( in relation to the logarithmic ) on the left of the highest point ( rising ) is exactly what they gain to the right of it ( falling ), and regardless of location of the center ! on the other hand , for symmetrical distributions representing log of data that are too narrowly focused on the log axis having too small a range , there is no such meaningful trade - off for example , related log strictly bordered by 7 . 904 and 8 . 000 ( hence generating mantissa on [ 0 . 904 , 1 . 000 ) exclusively ) resultant ld distribution of the data itself necessarily consists of only 8 and 9 first digits , and regardless of the shape of its related log curve . the curve in fig4 is a chart showing hypothetical density of log of some random / statistical data or distribution . on the extreme left high digits in a rare show of force are winning slightly , then digital equality in achieved exactly only at a single point if curve is truly smooth , and it is approximated here to be as such on a slightly wider interval for visual clarity . further on , low digits win slightly , followed by logarithmic behavior , and then low digits win even more than that , and so forth . gradually we end up on the extreme right side where low digits almost completely dominate all other digits , much more than their normal logarithmic advantage . intuitively all this suggests some grand trade - off between the left region and the right region , leaving the logarithmic center as a good representative of the aggregate digital behavior of the entire range . the above argument could be stated more succinctly by claiming ( conjecturing ) that random / statistical data and distributions obeying benford &# 39 ; s law are roughly lognormal - like distributed . this last conjecture pertains mostly to ted hill &# 39 ; s distribution of distributions model presented in his celebrated rigorous proof of the random / statistical manifestation of the phenomena . this last statement is supported by symmetrical and intuitive consideration , as well as by numerous confirmations gotten from actual examinations of log densities of real - life data , including accounting and financial ones , where density of related log consistently appeared normal - like or semi - circular - like . a more detailed analysis is given in alex e . kossovsky , “ towards a better understanding of the leading digits phenomena ( benford &# 39 ; s law )”, cornell university library publishing site arxiv . org , http :// arxiv . org / abs / math / 0612627 . the detailed techniques and algorithms within the entire method of the invention for the purpose of detection , download of data from memory devises , computer calculations , evaluation , memory storage of intermediate numerical results , comparison , and inference of any such possible digital evolution along the entire range of data will now be described in the next few paragraphs . the first task of ddm is to decide upon the exact nature of the computerized partitioning of the entire range of data into much smaller and adjacent sub - intervals for system processing . clearly , sub - intervals need to be compatible and equal regarding their digital possibilities in order for the tester to perform fair comparisons . sub - intervals do not have to be of the same size in the usual distance / length / range sense , but rather in a digital sense . we seek an equality of digital opportunity between the various sub - intervals , not equality of length between them . it is only in order to obtain equal digital opportunity between the digits themselves within any single sub - interval that we require that each of the 9 digits should occupy the same distance / range in the usual sense within that given sub - interval . thus , the requirement for the proper comparisons of digital conditions between sub - intervals necessitates constructing them in one very particular fashion by letting them stand between two adjacent integral powers of ten such as ( 0 . 1 , 1 ], ( 1 , 10 ], ( 10 , 100 ], ( 10 2 , 10 3 ], and so forth . in general ld - proper interval is written as ( 10 n , 10 n + 1 ] where n is an integer , and the difference in the exponent is exactly unity . sub - intervals constructed in any other way wouldn &# 39 ; t do . proper digital pulse can not be taken correctly unless evaluated between adjacent integral powers of ten points . the improper shorter sub - interval ( 10 , 90 ] does not yield any numbers with first digit 9 ( except for 90 itself ) no matter what density function curve is hanging above , hence it &# 39 ; s too short in the context of leading digits . same difficulty exists with the improper sub - interval ( 20 , 100 ] where digit 1 doesn &# 39 ; t have a chance to occur except just once . in contrast , the sub - interval ( 10 , 200 ] is too long in our context because here digit 1 gets some undeserved advantage , dominating the portions ( 10 , 20 ) as well as ( 100 , 200 ], leaving by far less ground for digits 2 through 9 ( although the specifics of the density curve above could potentially mitigate this digital bias ). on the other hand , the ld - proper sub - interval ( 10 , 100 ] has that leading - digits - wholeness property that the forensic data analyst should seek in order to make valid comparisons . here each digit is given an opportunity to express its leadership equally , and each dominates an equal portion of the length of the sub - interval . for example , digit 1 dominates ( 10 , 20 ), digit 2 dominates [ 20 , 30 ), digit 3 dominates [ 30 , 40 ), and so forth . different considerations also preclude choosing a longer sub - interval in this context . choosing sub - intervals between two non - adjacent integral powers of ten such as ( 10 , 1000 ]— which can be expressed as ( 10 1 , 10 3 ]— obscures pure comparisons . such a choice could potentially confuse leading digits travail occurring on ( 10 , 100 ] with a totally different one occurring on ( 100 , 1000 ], thus these two sections should not be mixed . aggregating leading digits here , instead of summarizing , would simply mask and obscure the more detailed forensic occurrences happening on each of the two separate sections . in summarizing such a partition of the entire range it is noted that there is no equality of length between sub - intervals , but rather equality of length for all 9 digits within any given sub - interval . on the face of it , it might first appear that a more flexible requirement for an interval to be sufficiently proper for the purpose of comparisons of digital conditions would be merely to have an exact unity exponent difference at the edges . for example , ( 10 3 . 778 , 10 4 . 778 ], ( 10 83 , 10 93 ], ( 2 . 5 , 25 ], ( 5 . 97 , 59 . 7 ], ( 20 , 200 ], and so forth . a decimal shift once to the right increases original number ( the left edge ) by a factor of 10 and increases its exponent by unity ( yielding the right edge ). supposedly , in leading digits context , all 9 digits are given a chance to lead in such cases . for example on ( 20 , 200 ], digit 1 dominates [ 100 , 200 ), digit 2 dominates ( 20 , 30 ), digit 3 dominates [ 30 , 40 ), and so forth . yet , for an interval such as ( 20 , 200 ], digit 1 dominates ten times more range than any other digit , and this implies some bias . although this bias potentially could be mitigated via some very particular density curve above , it should be strictly avoided . in contrast the more natural proper interval , the one between adjacent integral powers of ten such as ( 10 , 100 ], fairly allocates equal length for all 9 digits within it . in conclusion , sub - intervals standing between adjacent integral powers of ten , constitute a very natural choice in leading digits , as it is just wide enough to manifest and express the digital arrangement of any given subset of data , be it benford or otherwise . indeed , it is only through this digital lens suggested in this method that digital development can be seen . when other misguided partitions ( even those having an integral exponent difference ) are actually performed and experimented with on data sets that in themselves show clear digital development patterns under the correct magnifying glass of adjacent integral powers of ten partitions , the results typically do not show any discernable pattern , and at times yield some incoherent or even inverse ld developmental patterns . fortunately for the forensic data analyst tester it should be noted , there are almost always plenty of such sub - intervals . it is extremely rare for typical everyday data , including financial and accounting data , to be confined entirely within a single interval standing between two adjacent integral powers of ten . this fact makes the ddm quite feasible in all situations , except in some very rare cases . it is noted that insufficient and uneven data ( in a digital sense ) falls on the two extreme sub - intervals to the left and to the right . generally , whenever insufficient and uneven data falls on any sub - interval , leading digits can not fully express their true configuration even though sub - interval is properly standing between two points made of adjacent integral powers of ten , as their perceived ld - sufficient width simply masks the deficiency and unevenness of actual data within . interestingly in our context , typically most of the data in the left - most sub - interval is within the right side of it where high digits lead , and most of the data in the right - most sub - interval is within the left side of it where low digits lead , in other words , data is concentrating or gravitating more towards the overall center of the entire data set , as if being pulled by it . in reality , this perceived bias is actually in complete harmony with the entire phenomenon of digital development outlined above , as it reinforces the overall trend of stronger presence of high digits on the left , and stronger presence of low digits on the right . for example , on the edge , for the left - most sub - interval ( 1 , 10 ] having the lowest values in the entire data set , a typical set of values falling there would be say { 6 , 7 , 9 , 5 , 8 , 9 , 9 } an exact opposite of the benford situation . and for the right - most sub - interval ( 1000 , 10000 ], a typical set of values falling there would be say { 1187 , 1434 , 2083 }, namely an extreme digital inequality far more extreme than the benford condition . it follows then that this extra push toward differentiation of digital proportion along the entire range enhances and reinforces robustness of the algorithm . it is noted that often ddm draws its cues from the very left and right edges on the margin of data which hints at the correct digital development form . ( 1 ) construct the following partition of data and store in memory device : divide the entire range of data into the relevant sub - intervals bordered by adjacent integral powers of ten , such as ( 0 . 1 , 1 ], ( 1 , 10 ], ( 10 , 100 ], ( 100 , 1000 ], ( 10 3 , 10 4 ], and so forth . this is implemented by computing in the relevant computer software device the following border - values for the left - most sub - interval which stands between : where max and min being the extremes values within the entire data set , and intg is a function yielding an integral value and discarding the fractional part of any number , while leaving integers unaltered . the function intg in ms - excel is called int , while different functional names are applied in other generic system languages . as an example , suppose min equals 3 , then the left - most sub - interval in the partition is between namely the sub - interval on ( 1 , 10 ], which contains the minimum value of 3 of course . it is noted here that now the portion within the sub - interval ( 1 , 10 ] to the left of the value 3 is empty , and digits 1 & amp ; 2 do not lead any numbers , further reinforcing the overall gradual digital development , as mentioned earlier . similarly , a max value of 7468 points to the right - most sub - interval of ( 1000 , 10000 ] in the partition . ( 2 ) once the partition is made , first digit distribution is calculated separately for each sub - interval treating them as completely distinct data sets , and output is stored in relevant computer memory storage device for later use as input . ( 3 ) a summary numeric table is constructed within the computerized device from the various output above showing digital results from all sub - intervals , as well as weights of sub - intervals within the entire dataset in terms of amount of data falling within it . ( 4 ) as a rule of thumb , any sub - interval with less than 0 . 1 % of overall data ( one tenth of one percent ) should be selected as an outlier and excluded from subsequent computer calculations to avoid distortions in overall result . this is so since subsequent techniques purposely do not weigh individual sub - intervals to account for their proportion of overall data , as there is a need here to obtain the ( un - weighted ) leading digits configurations of all sub - intervals and to have them contribute equally to the overall measure of development . ( 5 ) a computer algorithm is now performed to enable the data analyst to determine subjectively whether or not these mini leading digits distributions truly follow the developmental pattern mention above . a single quantity called digital skewness ( ds ) is calculated for each sub - interval . ds expresses the degree digit distribution is skewed in favor of low digits over and above the logarithmic distribution . ( 6 ) the method defines digital skewness as the sum of ( ai - bi )/ bi for digits 1 and 2 , and ( bi - ai )/ bi for digits 6 , 7 , 8 , and 9 . digits 3 , 4 , and 5 , are ignored . ai denotes the actual proportion of numbers with first digit i within the specific sub - interval in question . bi denotes the proportion of digit i according to benford &# 39 ; s law . that is : ds = digital skewness ≡( a 1 − 0 . 301 )/ 0 . 301 +( a 2 − 0 . 176 )/ 0 . 176 ++( 0 . 067 − a 6 )/ 0 . 067 +( 0 . 058 − a 7 )/ 0 . 058 +( 0 . 051 − a 8 )/ 0 . 051 +( 0 . 046 − a 9 )/ 0 . 046 it is noted that for perfectly benford data ds is zero . a positive ds values indicates that data is even skewer in favor of low digits than the benford condition . a negative ds value implies in general one of the following 3 scenarios : ( a ) digits are a bit less skewed than benford . ( b ) there is a near digital equality . ( c ) high digits win slightly / strongly . for example , for the distribution severely skewed ( in favor of low digits ) such as note that ds of the entire data set itself always equals the sum of ds over all sub - intervals weighted by the proportion of overall data within each one . in other words , ds of data set itself is the weighted average of the various ds . no matter how we partition the range , as long as we do not omit nor overlap any segment , the weighted sum of all ds is a constant , partition - invariant , and equals to ds of the entire data set . ( 7 ) for the sake of conducting regression analysis with the appropriate software device , ds values from the above computer storage devices are to be selected as a dependent variable and are associated with an arbitrarily defined independent variable ni — the natural numbers — serving as an index , so that the first sub - interval , the left - most one , is given the independent value 1 , the next one to the right of it is given the value 2 , and so forth , until we reach the last value called l — the total number of relevant sub - intervals in the method for the particular data set in question , outliers excluded . conveniently , ds can be thought of as a time series in order to utilize standard statistical and software procedures . plotting ds versus ni in a scatter graph always shows clearly that there are solely two scenarios that are quite distinct from each other : ( a ) an approximately ascending line , starting with negative values which typically are around − 7 units , rising steadily ( having positive slope ), and ending with positive values typically around + 5 units , a scenario observed exclusively in random statistical processes , or ( b ) an approximate horizontal line ( zero slope ) with all ds values being close to zero , for deterministic multiplication processes , or for fake data invented in such a way as to make it appear to be in conformity with benford &# 39 ; s law everywhere throughout the entire range . ( 8 ) four computerized tests serving as software output are to be performed to identify reported financial and accounting data as either supposedly honest and in conformity with its supposed random and statistical nature , or as fraud . failure to pass any one of the four tests should identify it automatically as suspicious and for computer output to select it as due for further investigation . programming system performs simple linear regression of ds on ni , ds being the dependent variable , and scheme to be modeled on y = m * x + b namely we regress ds = m * ni + b where m is the slope and b is the ds intercept . using the computer output of the solved values of m & amp ; b , extreme ds values on the regression line are calculated by letting ni take the values 1 & amp ; l . reported data passes test i if the output of the following 2 conditions are true : motivation : it is necessary to confirm that overall ds curve is sufficiently and significantly negative on the left and positive on the right . empirically , those two cutoff points of − 5 and + 3 are well within what is always observed in honest statistical data , and were chosen in a liberal sense so as to minimize the chances of false positive ( type i error ). instead of checking actual ds values of the right - most and of the left - most sub - intervals without doing any regression , and ignoring the central region , it is suggested to use regression so as to smooth out any abrupt deviation on the right or on the left , and to take the overall developmental pulse coming out from all sub - intervals together , including central ones . reported data passes test ii if the following output is true : motivation : it is necessary to confirm that ds curve lies mostly well above and well below zero throughout , and not only at the edges , but also around the central region , as is the case with almost all honest statistical data . in other words : we insist on this sum to be large in order to exclude false negative cases where central region is roughly zero ( contrary to theory ) and where only the two extreme sub - intervals exceed and exaggerate theoretical development thus managing to manipulate regression line to appear as if complying with the supposed pattern . by summing up absolute values throughout we could overcome the occasional errors and traps set up by the regression method itself . ( 9 ) the same computer analysis can also be performed on 2nd leading digits . but here typically the random element often overwhelms the systematic one , obscuring results . this is so because of the more delicate differences between the digits here , being that 2nd order digit distribution is not nearly as skewed in favor of low digits as in the case of the 1st leading digits . ddm can be performed with satisfactory results for 2nd order ld whenever data set is quite large for sufficient clarity in the pattern of digital development to be observed . the suggested cutoff number for a meaningful and significant 2nd order ddm test in any software system is having a minimum of 10 , 000 values in the data set , otherwise in order to avoid type i error ( false positive , namely an honest accounting data identified for suspicion due to failure of ddm test done on 2nd order digits ) it is advisable not to select it as part of the forensic digital analysis . the method herein suggests sticking to a software partition along adjacent integral powers of ten for the 2nd order leading digits test as well . this is so in spite of the fact that the full cycle of 2nd leading digits is much shorter , being merely 1 - unit long equally and consistently everywhere . for example , from 7 . 0 to 8 . 0 all 2nd order digits possibilities get a chance to manifest themselves , with digit zero 2nd leading on [ 7 . 0 , 7 . 1 ), digit one 2nd leading on [ 7 . 1 , 7 . 2 ), digit two 2nd leading on [ 7 . 2 , 7 . 3 ), and so forth . the reason ddm suggests testing 2nd order along 1st order lines of 1 , 10 , 100 , and so forth , is due to the interdependency of orders . for example , 2nd order probabilities depend on 1st order probabilities , and it is more skewed in favor of 2nd - order low digits when 1st - order digits are also low . by selecting sub - intervals in which all 1st order digits are equally represented such as 1 , 10 , 100 , etc ., ddm by extension also allows all 2nd order digits equal opportunity to express themselves . for 2nd leading digits test we define 2nd - order - digital skew - ness ( ds2 ) as the sum of : ( i ) the positive percentages of the deviations over and above the 2nd order benford condition for the lowest 3 digits , and ( ii ) the negative percentages of the deviation below the 2nd order benford condition for the highest 3 digits ; namely : ai being the actual proportion of numbers within the sub - interval having second digit i . reported data passes test iii if the output of the following 2 conditions are true : reported data passes test iv if the following output is true : all of the various real - life amounts forensically examined by the developer of this method regarding verified ( honest ) financial and accounting data passed the four liberal tests above with flying colors . typically ds_left hovers around − 7 , ds_right around + 5 , and sum of absolute ( ds ) around 22 . also , typically , for large data sets , ds2_left hovers around − 2 . 0 , ds2_right around + 1 . 5 , and sum of absolute ( ds2 ) around 6 . on the other hand , computer simulations of deterministic data derived from multiplication processes such as exponential growth and decay , demonstrate a totally different digital development , having constant and steady digital distributions throughout at the same benford level , and with all ds and ds2 values around zero . an example of such series is given in the example section . the method could possibly be refined into more exact theoretical developmental stages for some very particular sub - types of data such as inventory expense accounting data , salary expense data , dividend payments , populations count , some particular length measurements , accidents per year of a particular type , and so forth , and then implemented in any generic computer software , potentially showing different average expectation of development style for each different sub - type , thus enhancing tests . for example , sum of absolute values of ds for payroll may be typically at a minimum 23 , but only 17 for typical inventory expenses . although this can only be done by paying in reduced robustness of tests . also of note is that the left portion of digital equality and the right portion of extreme digital inequality typically represent a smaller portion of overall data , while the roughly logarithmic center contains the bulk of the data . if a corporation files its income tax by providing data that not only is nicely logarithmic , but also on the face of it comes with the basic correct developmental style outlined here , but where most of the data lies on the 2 regions of digital equality and severe digital inequality , then suspicion could and should arise . in summing up digital development method &# 39 ; s functionality , it can be said that it facilitates fraud detection by scrutinizing that digital signature within a signature , utilizing the fact that not all logarithmic data are created equal , but rather being created always along two unique flavors , the consistent and steady deterministic type , and the gradual random one . census data on areas of all 3143 counties in the usa was examined from the us government census website where “ land area ” is selected with a choice of lnd01 . xls for data downloads . the data on column x called lnd110210d was selected for testing . it was necessary to eliminate from the data the sums of 51 states and district of columbia total amounts , usa total , as well as 3 entries having 0 as area , resulting finally in areas for 3143 counties . it is certainly proper to assume that this data set is genuine of course and that the census agency has no reason or motivation whatsoever to invent fictitious area values . digital distribution is not even monotonically decreasing . it does not have the attributes of the more typical type of data sets in everyday life . the spread of the data is small , focused too narrowly on certain magnitudes . yet , the digital developmental pattern in this method is clearly seen here even for this more general type of data . partition along adjacent integral powers of ten resulted in the right - most sub - interval containing only 0 . 03 % of overall data , having only a single value , hence according to method &# 39 ; s rule outlined earlier , it was selected as an outlier and excluded from further calculations . fig5 shows a computer output table of digital development of census area data for the correct partition along adjacent integral powers of ten . fig6 shows a computer output of the chart of the rising curve of ds as well as its related regression line . data easily passes both ( 1st order ) tests suggested herein , confirming its statistical nature as oppose to the deterministic . 2nd order tests were avoided with data having less then the 10 , 000 threshold number of entries . this potentially could give the un for example a digital forensic ability to check on any government trying to invent data of area reported ( assuming for example that perhaps some financial benefits and aide given to a country are tied to area amounts ). although such data types do not conform to benford &# 39 ; s law and thus couldn &# 39 ; t have been previously forensically verified , the method presented herein provides a venue for such a test nonetheless . other partition styles wouldn &# 39 ; t do , only adjacent integral powers of ten . see fig7 for a computer output of an example of another partition along 2 , 20 , 200 , 2000 , and so forth . for this incorrect partition , there is no clear trend in ds series . applying this incorrect partition , data now fails both tests , and a different ( misguided ) conclusion is drawn . nonetheless , calculating weighted sum of ds over all sub - intervals , we get the output : w . s . ( ds )=− 3 . 8 ( 0 . 009 )+ 3 . 0 ( 0 . 038 )- 3 . 4 ( 0 . 862 )+ 2 . 3 ( 0 . 088 )+ 3 . 2 *( 0 . 003 )=− 2 . 6 which is the same value we get for ds of the entire data set ( not partitioned ), as well as the value gotten for the weighted sum of ds in the partition using integral powers of ten . the result of another example applying an incorrect partition method is given in the computer output of fig8 . the choice of partition here was curiously motivated by the value of the median which is 615 . 63 , and this is just another illustration of the need to partition data only along integral powers of ten in order to observe true developmental pattern . the ( erroneous ) pattern observed here is nearly a reversal of the true rising trend . note again that sum of weighted ds values is − 2 . 6 here as well . fig9 shows computer output of yet another example of a wrong partition method , along 0 . 8 , 8 , 80 , 800 , and so forth . in this case , all ds values come out negative . clearly , only a partition along adjacent integral powers of ten can serve as the sort of digital lens through which those intrinsic digital development patterns can be seen . payroll numbers generally do not follow benford &# 39 ; s law . this is because there isn &# 39 ; t enough of a spread when it comes to employee salaries . the reason being is that most professionals earn about the same salary level . when most teachers earn from $ 3 , 000 to $ 6 , 500 per month then most of the first digits are 3 , 4 , 5 , or 6 . this example analyzes a data set that was sent to me recently by mark nigrini regarding payroll amounts for a certain us motel chain catering to thrifty travelers . this data set is now available on his website dedicated to his newly published book ( february 2012 ) on benford &# 39 ; s law : http :// www . nigrini . com / benfordslaw . htm referring to chapter 13 and the fig1 . 2 for a ms - excel file with payroll data named figure13 - 02_feb25th . xlsx the data set is the gross pay of all the employees . this example works under the assumption that this particular data set is honest because of some other known exogenous reasons . there are 9878 payroll numbers in the data set , and it is decisively not benford , in fact leading digits distribution is : there is still some vague resemblance to benford &# 39 ; s law as the trend calls for higher proportion of low digits overall . in any case , benford &# 39 ; s law can not be utilized forensically in this accounting data type . yet , ddm suggested here offers a convincing and clear test of authenticity by examining digital development . fig1 shows computer output of the table of digital development of payroll data under the correct partition along adjacent integral powers of ten , as well as resultant ds series . fig1 shows computer output of the chart of ds series along with the associated regression line . data passes both ( 1st order ) tests suggested herein with flying colors , confirming its statistical nature as oppose to the deterministic . 2nd order tests were not carried out . the method potentially gives a new robust tool for auditors and forensic data analysts to test payroll data for authenticity . a catalog ( a list of products and their prices ) of a us firm called the event line is analyzed . the firm specializes in providing thousands of all kinds of equipments for events such as weddings , proms , casino parties , general meetings , and so forth . an honest accounting data is generated ( for any firm / company / entity ) by simply picking up combinations of numbers from a catalog . a bill or receipt could be ( i ) a single value from the catalog , ( ii ) multiples of a single price when purchasing a quantity of a one item , ( iii ) linear combination from the catalog when purchasing several quantities of different items . since the benford property is unaffected under multiplications via the scale invariance principle , on the contrary , multiplication even strengthens logarithmic behavior , and aggregation of benford sets also yields benford , any conclusion from the analysis of the catalog itself can also be apply to the accounting data of the said firm . while accounting data may be fraudulent , catalog data is obviously always perfectly honest and such terms as ‘ incentive to cheat ’ etc . does not apply here . the website of the firm is : on the home page the yellow bottom “ catalog ” is selected on the left side , and the ms - excel file is downloaded . the right - most column is the price to be digitally analyzed ( almost , as last column is empty ). it is advisable to change the special formatting to a simple or default one , perhaps by applying the format brush icon on the data borrowing style from any other normal cell . after the eliminations of about 30 entries having the value 0 , we end up with 1828 prices for items . these prices are not exactly benford but quite close to it , first digit distribution is : in examining computer output of digital development here for a partition along adjacent integral powers of ten , ds series computer output came out as : − 12 . 9 − 9 . 8 − 3 . 6 − 2 . 4 2 . 3 4 . 0 5 . 3 which is extremely consistent with the method &# 39 ; s outline as its series are consistently and monotonically increasing . however , due to insufficient data falling on the left - most and the right - most sub - intervals having only 1 value each , both were automatically eliminated as outliers from further analysis by the program code . results are still very much consistent with the method &# 39 ; s outline , and finally we get the computer output : fig1 shows computer output of the table of digital development of event - line catalog data under the correct partition along adjacent integral powers of ten , as well as resultant ds series . fig1 shows computer output of the chart of ds series along with the associated regression line . data easily passes both ( 1st order ) tests suggested herein , as should be given its statistical nature and the obvious honesty and authenticity of the price amounts in its catalog . illustrating why ddm using 2nd leading digits should not generally be applied in the context of forensic data analysis for relatively small data sets , one such method was actually applied for this catalog data . see fig1 — computer output of the table of mini 2nd order leading digits distributions of event - line catalog data , as well as fig1 for the chart of ds2 and its associated regression line . a positive trend does appear here according the general principle of digital graduation outlines above , yet it is not as decisive and steady as in the 1st order case and fluctuations are no more than roughly 1 unit , all of which implies that test is not robust . in contrast , 1st order ddm is sufficiently robust . fig1 depicts the computer output of the histogram ( crude density ) of related log of event - line catalog data which resembles the normal distribution , confirming ( at least in this case ) the general conjecture made earlier that random statistical processes follow a lognormal - like or semi - circular - like density curve , rising on the left and falling to the right . in order to demonstrate the very different nature of ld - development of deterministic multiplication processes , computer simulations of 3 % exponential growth , starting at the initial value of 10 ( and with the selection of the first 468 elements ) were performed . see fig1 — computer output of the table of mini - ld distributions — demonstrating a totally different digital development here , having consistent and steady digital distributions throughout the entire range at the constant benford level . all ds values came out very nearly zero . fig1 depicts computer output of the histogram ( crude density ) of related log of this exponential 3 % growth series , confirming the general conjecture made earlier that deterministic multiplicative processes follow a flat horizontal line , namely being uniformly distributed everywhere throughout the entire range .	6
the production of the substances according to the formulas is carried out by the cultivation of the endosymbiotic bacteria strain burkholderia rhizoxina , the subsequent extraction of the culture and the isolation of the compounds by means of chromatographic methods . for this purpose , burkholderia rhizoxina dsm 17360 is cultivated as a shaking culture on a liquid medium and then the grown culture is extracted with organic solvents . afterwards , the extract is fractioned via size exclusion chromatography on dextrangels ( sephadex lh - 20 ). the final purification of the substances is performed by means of preparative hplc by using an rp - 18 phase and acetonitril / water - mixtures in the gradient mode . the structure of the compounds 1 - 4 is made clear by ir spectroscopy , high - resolution mass spectrometry , and 1d and 2d nmr spectroscopy . the inventive substances 1 - 4 show very strong antiproliferative and cytotoxic effects ( e . g . for l - 929 mouse fibroblast , k - 562 human leukemia cells and hela human cervix carcinoma line ) and an antifungal activity ( e . g . against glomerella cingulata , penicillium notatum , fusarium culmorum , hamigera avellanea , aspergillus fumigatus ). ( see table 1 .) due to their antiproliferative and cytotoxic properties , the substances 1 - 4 are very well suited as chemotherapeutic drugs for the treatment of cancer diseases . furthermore , the good antifungal effect of the substances 1 - 4 allows to use them in the therapy of mycoses . the compounds ( 1 - 4 ) as such can be used in substance or as a pharmaceutical preparation in combination with common additives . burkholderia rhizoxina dsm 17360 is cultivated as a shaking culture by means of fermentation on a liquid medium ( composition : cornstarch 1 %, glycerin 0 . 5 %, yeast extract 1 %, corn steep water 1 %, caco 3 1 %) at 30 ° c . ( 4 d ). the complete grown culture is extracted with ethyl acetate via stirring and afterwards filtered . this procedure is repeated twice . the combined extracts are dried over sodium sulphate and concentrated . the extract obtained is dissolved in methanol and fractioned via size exclusion chromatography on sephadex lh - 20 . the substances 1 through 4 are isolated via preparative hplc by using an rp - 18 phase and acetonitril / water - mixtures ( method : mecn / h 2 o 25 : 75 5 min , then to mecn / h 2 o 80 : 20 during 35 min , then to mecn 100 % during 5 min , detection at 311 nm ). white powder . ir ( atr , solid film ) v max / cm − 1 2980 , 2926 , 2886 , 1704 , 1654 , 1577 , 1483 , 1380 , 1275 , 1202 , 1153 , 1105 , 1046 , 963 , 865 , 827 , 780 , 746 , 701 . 1 h nmr ( 300 mhz ) and 13 c nmr ( 75 mhz ) in d - methanol [ see table 2 ]. (+)- esi - ms m / z 614 [ m + h ] + , m / z 636 [ m + na ] + . hresi - ms : m / z [ m + na ] + = 636 . 3143 ( calculated for c 34 h 47 no 9 na 636 . 3143 ) white powder . ir ( atr , solid substance ) v max / cm − 1 2977 , 2935 , 2924 , 1705 , 1652 , 1577 , 1437 , 1377 , 1260 , 1202 , 1152 , 1105 , 1048 , 1007 , 966 , 863 , 827 , 780 , 748 , 702 . 1 h nmr ( 300 mhz ) and 13 c nmr ( 75 mhz ) in d - chloroform [ see table 2 ]. (+)- esi - ms m / z 628 [ m + h ] + , m / z 650 [ m + na ] + . hresi - ms : m / z [ m + h ] + = 628 . 3478 ( calculated for c 35 h 50 no 9 628 . 3486 ) white powder . ir ( atr , solid substance ) v max / cm − 1 2960 , 2938 , 2928 , 1710 , 1654 , 1577 , 1437 , 1367 , 1275 , 1199 , 1151 , 1108 , 1084 , 1048 , 1008 , 971 , 862 , 827 , 753 , 706 . 1 h nmr ( 300 mhz ) and 13 c nmr ( 75 mhz ) in d - chloroform [ see table 2 ]. (+)- esi - ms m / z 642 [ m + h ] + , m / z 664 [ m + na ] + . hresi - ms : m / z [ m + h ] + = 642 . 3612 ( calculated for c 36 h 52 no 9 642 . 3637 ) white powder . ir ( atr , solid substance ) v max / cm − 1 1 h nmr ( 300 mhz ) and 13 c nmr ( 75 mhz ) in d - methanol [ see table 2 ]. (+)- esi - ms m / z 642 [ m + h ] + , m / z 664 [ m + na ] + . hresi - ms : m / z [ m + na ] + = 664 . 3434 ( calculated for c 36 h 51 no 9 na 664 . 3456 ) the examination of the antiproliferative and cytotoxic properties of the substances 1 - 4 has been performed via the method described in the literature ( h . m . dahse , b . schlegel , u . gräfe , pharmazie 2001 , 56 , 489 - 491 ). the antifungal activity has been determined via the agar diffusion test . ( see table 2 .)	2
one embodiment of the present invention will now be described below in detail with reference to the drawings . fig1 is a perspective view of a liquid crystal projector as one embodiment of a projection type image display apparatus according to the present invention seen obliquely from above from the front side , fig2 is similarly a perspective view seen obliquely from above from the back side , fig3 is a perspective view in which the upper case in fig1 is removed , fig4 is a perspective view in which a main control substrate is further removed , fig5 is a perspective view in which an optical system is further removed , and fig6 is a top plan view of fig5 . as shown in fig1 and 2 , a housing 2 forming an outer hull of this liquid crystal projector 1 is compact , has a horizontally long thin rectangular shape , and consists of an upper case 2 a and a lower case 2 b . when the upper case 2 a and a main control substrate 3 are removed , the interior thereof is displayed as shown in fig4 . the left side seen from the front side of the front wall of the upper case 2 a is formed with a projection window 5 , from which a projection lens 4 is exposed . the left side front portion of the upper surface of the upper case 2 a is formed with an operation window 6 , from which an adjustable dial 4 a that adjusts zooming and focusing of the projection lens 4 corresponding to the projection window 5 is exposed . the left side back portion of the upper surface of the upper case 2 a is provided with an operation display portion 7 . on the other hand , the right side wall of the lower case 2 b seen from the front side is formed with a plurality of slit - like exhaust holes 8 . both side corner portions of the bottom front portion of the lower case 2 b are provided with leg portions 9 adjustable in height . on the backside wall of the lower case 2 b , a power source inlet 10 connected to a power source plug and an inlet and outlet terminal group 11 to connect various types of input and output cables are exposed . inside the housing 2 , as shown in fig3 and 4 , looking from the front side , the right side inner portion is disposed with a light source unit 12 , and at the same time , an optical system 13 reaching the projection lens 4 from the light source unit 12 is disposed approximately in l - shape . in front of the light source unit 12 , a power source main body 14 stored with a power source circuit substrate mounted with the circuit parts to feed a power source to each portion of the apparatus and a ballast circuit substrate mounted with circuit parts to feed the power supply exclusively to the light source lamp is disposed , and in the back of the light source unit 12 , a noise removal filter portion 15 to remove the noise infiltrating through the power source inlet 10 is disposed . in the present embodiment , the noise removal filter portion 15 is separated from the power source unit main body 14 , and at the same time , the separated noise removal filter portion 15 is disposed to be positioned as closely as possible to the housing back side wall provided with the power source inlet 10 and the power source unit main body 14 . specifically , along the front side wall of the horizontally long house 2 , the power source unit main body 14 is disposed , and at the position opposite to the power source unit main body 14 in the back side wall , the noise removal filter portion 15 mounted with a core ( coil ) 15 a and the like on the substrate is disposed along the back side wall . on the other hand , at the back side in an irradiating direction of the light source unit 12 , a suction fan 16 composed of a sirocco fan as a first fan including the light source lamp cooling mechanism is disposed , and at the lateral side , an exhaust fan 17 composed of an axial fan as a second fan constituting the light source lamp cooling mechanism is disposed . at the lateral side of the power source unit main body 14 , an exhaust mechanism is provided . this exhaust mechanism is configured such that an exhaust fan 18 composed of the axial fan as a second exhaust fan is horizontally disposed side by side with the exhaust fan 17 . incidentally , the exhaust fan 17 as the second fan constituting the light source lamp cooling mechanism serves as the first exhaust fan constituting the exhaust mechanism . fig7 is a view showing a configuration example of the optical system 13 . incidentally , the optical system 13 is not limited to the one shown in fig7 and the present invention can be applied to the apparatuss provided with various types of optical systems . in fig7 , a white light from the light source lamp 19 passes through a condenser lens 20 , a first integrator lens 21 , a second integrator lens 22 , a polarizing beam splitter ( pbs ) 23 , and a condenser lens 24 or the like , and is irradiated at a first dichroic mirror 25 . the first integrator lens 21 and the second integrator lens 22 are configured by the fly - eye lenses composed of a plurality of lens cells disposed in a matrix array , and have functions to equalize the illumination distribution of the white light emitted from the light source lamp 19 . the polarizing beam splitter ( pbs ) 23 includes a polarizing separation membrane and a phase retardation plate ( ½ wave plate ). the polarizing separation membrane allows , from among the light from the second integrator lens 22 , for example , a p polarization to transmit , and an s polarization slightly to change the light path and emit . the p polarization light having transmitted the polarization separation membrane is converted into the s polarization by the phase retardation plate provided in the front side ( light emitting side ) thereof , and is emitted . that is , almost all the lights are aligned by the s polarization . the light having passed through the polarizing beam splitter 23 passes through a condenser lens 24 , and reaches the first dichroic mirror 25 . the first dichroic mirror 25 reflects a blue component only of the light , and at the same time , has a function to allow red and green components to pass through , and the passing light of the red and green components reaches a second dichroic mirror 26 . the second dichroic mirror 26 reflects a green component of the light , and at the same time , has a function to allow the red component to pass through . consequently , the white light emitted from the light source lamp 19 is divided into the blue light , the green light , and the red light by the first and second dichroic mirrors 25 and 26 . the blue light reflected by the first dichroic mirror 25 is reflected by a total reflection mirror 27 , and the green light reflected by the second dichroic mirror 26 is as it is , and the red light having passed the second dichroic mirror 26 is reflected by total reflection mirrors 29 and 31 via relay lens 28 and 30 , and these are guided to an image generating optical system 32 , respectively . the image generation optical system 32 is detachably disposed with a prism assembly part 35 ( see fig4 ) fitted with a liquid crystal panel 34 r for the red color , a liquid crystal panel 34 g for the green color , a liquid crystal panel 34 b for the blue color , and the like , respectively , at the three lateral sides of a cube - shaped color synthesis prism 33 . between the color synthesis prism 33 and the liquid crystal panel 34 r for the red color , an outgoing side polarizing plate 36 r is disposed , and between the color synthesis prism 33 and the liquid crystal panel 34 g for the green color , an outgoing side polarizing plate 36 g and a fronting polarizing plate 37 g are disposed , and between the color synthesis prism 33 and the liquid crystal panel 34 b for the blue color , an outgoing side polarizing plate 36 b and a fronting polarizing plate 37 b are disposed . at the incident sides of three pieces of the liquid crystal panels 34 r , 34 g , and 34 b , incident side polarizing plates 38 r , 38 g , and 38 b , and condenser lenses 39 r , 39 g , and 39 b are disposed , respectively . consequently , the blue light reflected by the first dichroic mirror 25 and the total reflection mirror 27 is guided to the condenser lens 39 b for the blue color , and reaches the color synthesis prism 33 by passing through the incident side polarizing plate 38 b , the liquid crystal panel 34 b for the blue color and the fronting polarizing plate 37 b , and the outgoing side polarizing plate 36 b . the green light reflected by the second dichroic mirror 26 is guided to the condenser lens 39 g for green color , and reaches the color synthesis prism 33 by passing through the incident side polarizing plate 38 g , the liquid crystal panel 34 g for the green color and the fronting polarizing plate 37 g , and the outgoing side polarizing plate 36 g . likewise , the red color light transmitting the first dichroic mirror 25 and the second dichroic mirror 26 , and reflected by two pieces of the total reflection mirrors 29 and 31 , is guided to the condenser lens 39 r for the red color , and reaches the color synthesis prism 33 by passing through the incident side polarizing plate 38 r , the liquid crystal panel 34 r for the red color and the outgoing side polarizing plate 36 r . three colors of image light guided by the color synthesis prism 33 is synthesized by this color synthesis prism 33 , and the color image light obtained by this synthesis passes through the projection lens 4 , thereby to be enlargedly projected onto a frontward screen . fig8 to 11 are enlarged views of principal parts showing the light source lamp cooling mechanism in the present embodiment . fig8 is a perspective view of the front side seen obliquely from above , and fig9 is a perspective view of the back side seen obliquely from above in which an upper half of a duct is removed . fig1 is a perspective view in which a holder of the light source lamp in fig9 is removed , and fig1 is a cross - sectional view of the principal parts seen from the back side . the light source lamp 19 of the present embodiment has an arc tube 191 composed of a high - pressure mercury lamp , the metal - halide lamp , and the like , and a reflector 192 disposed so as to cover this arc tube 19 and formed in the inner surface with a paraboloidal reflecting surface and opened in the front surface . this reflector 192 , as shown in fig1 , is formed with a suction port 193 and an exhaust port 194 opposed to each other on the front surface opening edge . the light source lamp 19 thus configured is loaded on a lamp holder 195 made of aluminum as shown in fig8 and 9 . this aluminum lamp holder 195 is configured to be provided with a heat - resisting glass plate 196 blocking a front surface opening of the reflector 192 , and at the same time , formed with a ventilation wire netting 197 composed of a large number of small holes corresponding to the suction port 193 and the exhaust port 194 of the reflector 192 , so that the fragment does not fly in all directions when the arc tube 191 is burst . the conventional light source lamp cooling mechanism is disposed with the fan and the discharge portion in consideration of the cooling only of the light source lamp , and therefore , even when the cooling of the light source lamp is performed , by that much , the exhaust temperature increases . the projection type image display apparatus such as the liquid crystal projector has come to require a raised output of the light source lamp and the miniaturization of the apparatus all together , and in the conventional art as explained above , even if the cooling of the light source lamp of a high output can be performed , the exhaust temperature exceeds a permissible zone of the user and increases too much , thereby making it difficult to achieve both the cooling of the light source lamp and a reduction in the exhaust temperature . as its countermeasure , when the output ( the number of rotations ) of the fan is increased , the noise of the fan is increased . hence , the present embodiment includes , as a fan to cool the light source lamp 19 , the suction fan ( first fan ) 16 having the inner discharge port 161 sending the air through the suction port 193 formed in the reflector 192 inside the light source lamp 19 and the outer discharge ports 162 and 163 sending the air to the outer surfaces of the reflector 192 , and the exhaust fan ( second fan ) 17 exhausting an exhaust air around the light source lamp 19 to the outside through an exhaust hole 8 formed in the side wall of the housing 2 . the suction fan 16 is composed of the sirocco fan , and the exhaust fan 17 is composed of the axial fan . the outer discharge ports 162 and 163 of the suction fan 16 are formed by deviating from the outer surface center portion of the reflector 192 of the light source lamp 19 , and at the same time , the exhaust fan 17 is disposed inclined such that its suction direction is directed toward the outer discharge ports 162 and 163 of the suction fan 16 . each of the discharge ports 161 , 162 , and 163 circularly bends the distal end of the duct 164 to the light source lamp 19 side and is formed on its distal end , the duct 164 extending to the lateral side of the light source lamp 19 from the suction fan 16 disposed at the lateral side in the irradiation direction of the light source lamp 19 . an inner discharge port 161 is formed by corresponding to a suction port 193 formed in the reflector 192 of the light source lam 19 , while the outer discharge ports 162 and 163 are formed above and below two pieces by deviating vertically from the outside surface center portion of the reflector 192 of the light source lamp 19 . as explained above , the degree of deviating the outer discharge ports 162 and 163 of the suction fan 16 from the outside surface center portion and the degree of inclining the exhaust fan 17 such that its suction direction is directed to the outer discharge ports 162 and 163 of the suction fan 19 are set in consideration of the cooling of the light source lamp 19 and the exhaust temperature . by being thus configured , the interior of the light source lamp 19 having the arc tube 191 reaching the highest temperature can be effectively cooled by using the inner discharge port 161 of the suction fan 16 . the outer surface ( including a neck portion 198 projected from its back end ) of the reflector 192 of the light source lamp 19 , which does not reach the temperature high enough as the interior of the light source lamp 19 , can be suitably cooled by using the outer discharge ports 162 and 163 of the suction fan 16 formed by deviating from the outer surface center portion . since the exhaust fan 17 is disposed inclined such that its suction direction is directed to the outer discharge ports 162 and 163 of the suction fan 16 , the air from the outer discharge ports 162 and 163 of the suction fan 16 formed by deviating from the outer surface center portion of the light source lamp 19 cools the outer surface of the light source lamp 19 , and at the same time , a part of the air is directly sucked into the exhaust fan 17 , and is mixed with the exhaust air increased in temperature by having cooled the interior of the light source lamp 19 , and is exhausted to the outside , thereby reducing the exhaust temperature . consequently , without increasing the outputs of the suction fan 16 and the exhaust fan 17 so much , the cooling of the light source lamp 19 and the reduction in the exhaust temperature can be both achieved , so that the noise can be also suppressed low . further , by forming the outer discharge ports 162 and 163 of the suction fan 16 above and below two pieces by deviating from the outer surface center portion of the light source lamp 19 , the outer surface of the light source lamp 19 can be approximately equally cooled . the degree of deviating each of the discharge ports 161 and 162 of the suction fan 16 from the outer surface center portion of the light source lamp 19 and the degree of inclining the exhaust fan 17 such that its suction direction is directed toward the outer discharge ports 162 and 163 of the suction fan 16 are set in consideration of the cooling of the light source lamp 19 and the exhaust temperature , and therefore , the cooling of the light source lamp 19 and the reduction in exhaust temperature can be both flexibly achieved in conformity with the raised output of the light source lamp 19 , the miniaturization of the apparatus , and the like . further , each of the discharge ports 161 , 162 , and 163 of the suction fan 16 is formed in the duct 164 extended from the suction fan 16 to the light source lamp 19 , so that a degree of freedom of the positioning of the suction fan 16 is improved . thus , according to the present embodiment , since the light source lamp cooling mechanism as explained above is provided , so that , without increasing the outputs of the fans 16 and 17 so much , the liquid crystal projector 1 capable of achieving the cooling of the light source lamp 19 and the reduction of the exhaust temperature as well as reducing the noise can be realized . fig1 to 15 are enlarged views of the principal parts showing an optical part cooling mechanism in the present embodiment . fig1 is a perspective view seen obliquely from above from the front side , fig1 is a top plan view , fig1 is a top plan view in which optical parts such as the liquid crystal panels and the like are removed , and fig1 is a back view in which the lower half of the duct is removed . as explained earlier , heretofore , there has been known a device cooling three pieces of liquid crystal panels corresponding to a red light , a green light , and a blue light and polarizing plates disposed at the incident side and the outgoing side of each liquid crystal panel by one set of the fan every color , that is , by a total of three sets of the fans . meantime , three pieces of the liquid crystal panels corresponding to the red light , the green light , and the blue light , and the polarizing plates and the like disposed at the incident side and the outgoing side of each liquid crystal panel are different in temperature rise and degree of ultraviolet deterioration every color , and therefore , the required cooling amount is also different . particularly , since the blue light is close to the ultraviolet region , to avoid the ultraviolet deterioration , the required amount of cooling becomes large . the projection type image display apparatus such as a liquid crystal projector and the like has come to require the enhancement of luminance by the raised output of the light source lamp , the miniaturization of the apparatus , and a reduced cost ( miniaturization of the liquid crystal panel and the like ) all together , and the amount of light per unit area of high luminance has come to be increased . however , the conventional art that performs cooling by one set of the fan for each color has been unable to cope with the model whose amount of light per unit of high luminance has come to be increased . as a countermeasure , when the output of the fan ( the number of rotations ) is increased , the noise of the fan is increased . further , the cooling of the pbs needs to be also performed . hence , in the present embodiment , the incident side and the outgoing side of each of the liquid crystal panels 34 r , 34 g , and 34 b are formed with discharge ports r 1 and r 2 , g 1 and g 2 , and b 1 and b 2 to discharge the air from three sets of suction fans 41 , 42 , and 43 through ducts 411 , 421 , and 431 . at the same time , the pbs 23 is formed with a discharge port p 1 to discharge the air from the suction fan 43 through the duct 432 . an incident side discharge port b 1 and an outgoing side discharge port p 2 of the liquid crystal panel 34 b corresponding to the blue color are formed with a duct so as to discharge the air from the suction fans 43 and 41 which are different from each other . incidentally , each of the suction fans 41 to 43 is composed of the sirocco fan . that is , the duct is configured such that , by one set of the suction fan 43 , the air is sent to the incident side discharge port b 1 of the liquid crystal panel 34 b corresponding to the blue light and the discharge port p 1 of the pbs 23 , and by the other two sets of the suction fans 41 and 42 , the air is sent to the incident side discharge ports r 1 and g 1 of each of the liquid crystal panels 34 r and 34 g , to the outgoing side discharge port r 2 and g 2 corresponding to the red light and the green light , and to the outgoing side discharge port b 2 of the liquid crystal panel 34 b corresponding to the blue light . to explain more specifically , the duct is configured such that , by one set of the suction fan 42 from among two sets of the suction fans 41 and 42 , the air is sent to the incident side discharge port g 1 and to the outgoing side discharge port g 2 of the liquid crystal panel 34 g corresponding to the green light through the duct 421 , and by the other set of the suction fan 41 , the air is sent to the incident side discharge port r 1 and to the outgoing side discharge port r 2 of the liquid crystal panel 34 r corresponding to the red light and the outgoing side discharge port b 2 of the liquid crystal panel 34 b corresponding to the blue light by extending the duct 411 . by being thus configured , by three sets of the suction fans 41 to 43 , the incident side and the outgoing side of each of the liquid crystal panels 34 r , 34 g , and 34 b in addition to the pbs 23 can be cooled . the incident side and the outgoing side of the blue light which is large in required cooling amount can be sufficiently cooled by using the suction fans 43 and 41 which are different from each other . consequently , even when the amount of light per unit area of high luminance is increased , without increasing the output ( the number of rotations ) of the suction fans 41 to 43 so much , the liquid crystal panels 34 r , 34 g , and 34 b , and the polarizing plates 36 r , 36 g , 36 b , 37 g , 37 b , 38 r , 38 g , and 38 b , and the pbs 23 can be cooled by three sets of the suction fans 41 to 43 , thereby reducing the noise also . further , the duct is configured such that , by one set of the suction fan 43 , the air is sent to the incident side discharge portion b 1 of the liquid crystal panel 34 b corresponding to the blue light and to the discharge port p 1 of the pbs 23 , and by the other two sets of the suction fans 41 and 42 , the air is sent to the incident side discharge ports r 1 and g 1 , to the outgoing side discharge ports r 2 and g 2 of each of the liquid crystal panels 34 r and 34 g corresponding to the red light and green light , and to the outgoing side discharge port b 2 of the liquid crystal panel 34 b corresponding to the blue light , so that , in the system disposed with the liquid crystal panel 34 b of the blue light at the pbs 23 side similarly to the optical system 13 of the present embodiment , by the shortest duct configuration , the above explained effect can be realized . further , by the suction fan 41 for red light that increases least in temperature , the air can be sent to the outgoing side discharge port b 2 of the liquid crystal panel 34 b corresponding to the blue light . incidentally , if the suction fan for the green light that increases most in temperature is not enough with one set of the suction fan 42 , the air may be sent from the suction fan 41 for red light . similarly to the present embodiment , the duct is configured such that , by one set of the suction fan 42 from among the two sets of suction fans 41 and 42 , the air is sent to the incident side discharge port g 1 and to the outgoing side discharge port g 2 of the liquid crystal panel 34 g corresponding to the green light , and by another one set of the suction fan 41 , the air is sent to the incident side discharge port r 1 , to the outgoing side discharge port r 2 of the liquid crystal panel 34 r corresponding to the red light , and to the outgoing side discharge port b 2 of the liquid crystal panel 34 b corresponding to the blue light , so that the above explained effect can be realized without the duct configuration becoming complicated . thus , according to the present embodiment , since the apparatus is provided with the optical part cooling mechanism as explained above , even when the amount of light per unit area of high luminance is increased , without increasing the output ( the number of rotations ) of the fan so much , the liquid crystal panel and the polarizing plate as well as the pbs can be cooled by three sets of the fans , so that the liquid crystal projector 1 capable of reducing the noise can be realized . next , the power source unit of the present embodiment will be explained . heretofore , it has been common to mount a noise removal filter portion on the circuit substrate of the power source unit . as explained above , the projection type image display apparatus such as a liquid crystal projector and the like has come to require the enhancement of luminance by the raised output of the light source lamp , the miniaturization of the apparatus , and a reduced cost all together , and because of the raised output of the light source lamp , the power source unit has also come to require a large output . however , in the case of the model having a small output , even when the noise removal filter is mounted on the circuit substrate of the power source unit similarly to the conventional art , this does not cause a problem . however , when the output becomes large , a noise removal filter portion having a core ( coil ) incapable of being miniaturized becomes large , thereby upsizing the power source unit . when the power source unit becomes large , the fan that cools this power source unit also becomes large , and the output ( the number of rotations ) is required to be increased . this results in lowering of the cooling performance and making the noise large . as its countermeasure , though it is conceivable to separate the noise removal filter portion and make it into a separate type , a noise is liable to enter the connecting line , and because of the increased use of the core , the emc ( electromagnetic compatibility ) measure becomes formidable thereby inviting a high cost . hence , in the present embodiment , as explained above , the noise removal filter portion 15 is separated from the power source unit main body 14 , and at the same time , the separated noise removal filter portion 15 is disposed to be positioned as closely as possible to the housing back side wall provided with the power source inlet 10 and the power unit main body 14 , respectively . specifically , along the front side wall of the horizontally long house 2 , the power source unit main body 14 is disposed , and at the position opposed to the power source unit main body 14 in the back side wall , the noise removal filter portion 15 is disposed along the back side wall . by being thus configured , even when the output of the light source lamp 19 becomes large , the power source unit main body 14 can be miniaturized , so that a reduction in the noise can be made possible by the improvement of the cooling performance . in addition , the connecting line is minimized , so that a reduction in the cost is made possible by making the emc measure ( reduction in the use of the core and the like ) more effective . further , by disposing the noise removal filter portion 15 close to the housing back side wall provided with the power source inlet 10 , a power source cord is not brought to the lateral side of the housing 2 , so that the above explained effect can be obtained with the usability of the lateral side of the housing 2 not harmed . further , the power source unit main body 14 is disposed along the front side wall of the horizontally long house 2 , and by disposing the noise removal filter portion 15 at the position opposed to the power source unit main body 14 in the back side wall , even when the noise removal filter portion 15 is disposed along the back side wall , the connecting line can be made shortest , so that the above explained effect can be obtained without making the disposal configuration of each part inside the housing 2 complicated . thus , according to the present embodiment , the power source unit as explained above is provided , so that even when the output of the light source lamp 19 becomes large , the liquid crystal projector 1 capable of reducing the cost by a reduction of the noise by improving the cooling performance and making the emc measure more effective can be realized . incidentally , in the present embodiment , since the housing 2 is horizontally long , even when the power source unit main body 14 and the noise removal filter portion 15 are arranged in parallel along the front side wall and the back side wall , respectively , the connecting line can be made shortest , while in the case of the housing vertically long front to back , the disposition as explained above is unable to make the connecting line shortest , and therefore , in this case , for example , if the noise removal filter is disposed front and back , then , it is possible to dispose the noise removal filter portion close to the housing back side wall and the power source unit main body , respectively . heretofore , there has been known the exhaust mechanism placed with two sets of exhaust fans side by side close to the light source lamp , the exhaust fans exhausting the exhaust air to the outside from the light source lamp , the power source unit , and the like . as explained above , while the projection type image display apparatus such as the liquid crystal projector has come to require the raised output of the light source lamp and the miniaturization of the apparatus all together . the exhaust air of high temperature from the high output light source lamp is exhausted , but a reduction in the exhaust temperature and a reduction in the noise of the exhaust fan have become a key issue . however , to achieve a reduction in noise of the side by side exhaust fans installed by the conventional art as explained above , a space needs to be left between the fan and the housing side wall , and this hinders the miniaturization . to reduce the temperature of the exhaust air , it is conceivable to dispose each of the exhaust fans installed side by side so as to be inclined in a v shape in the mutual exhausting direction so that the exhaust air of high temperature from the light source lamp and the exhaust air of the relatively low temperature from the power source unit and the like are mixed , but even in this case also , a space therefore is required , and the miniaturization is thus hindered . hence , in the present embodiment , as shown in fig3 , 4 , and the like , the first exhaust fan 17 which mainly exhausts the exhaust air from the light source lamp 19 ( light source lamp unit 12 ) to the outside and the second exhaust fan 18 which mainly exhausts the exhaust air from the power source unit main body 14 to the outside are horizontally installed side by side , and at the same time , the second exhaust fan 18 side end portion in the first exhaust fan 17 is moved inward , and the first exhaust fan 17 is disposed inclined such that its exhaust direction is directed to the exhaust side of the second exhaust fan 18 . the first exhaust fan 17 is disposed inclined to a large number of slit - like exhaust holes 8 formed in the housing side wall , and moreover , is disposed inclined such that the exhaust air from the exhaust holes 8 are exhausted inclined obliquely forward . the first exhaust fan 17 and the second exhaust fan 18 , as shown in fig1 and 17 , are fixed to a frame body 50 in advance and unitized so as to take on the above explained disposal configuration , and when this exhaust fan unit 51 is fitted to the predetermined position of the lower case 2 b of the housing 2 , the above explained disposal configuration can be easily realized . incidentally , since the first exhaust fan 17 sucks down the exhaust air of high temperature from the light source lamp 19 , as shown in fig1 , the back side is configured to be covered by a cover 52 with the center motor portion blocked and protect the motor portion from the exhaust air of high temperature from the light source lamp 19 . by being thus configured , the first exhaust fan 17 is inclined inward , so that the miniaturization is not hindered , and further , a space can be formed between the housing side wall and the first exhaust fan 17 , thereby reducing the noise to a lower level . further , the exhaust air of high temperature from the light source lamp 19 and the exhaust air of the relative low temperature from the power source unit main body 14 are mixed , thereby reducing the temperature of the exhaust air . since the light source lamp is brought to a high temperature , and is disposed spaced further apart from the exhaust fan than before , the above explained configuration and effect can be easily realized . further , since the second exhaust fan 18 exhausts the exhaust air mainly from the power source unit main body 14 to the outside , it can also simultaneously exhaust the exhaust air of the important power source unit main body 14 , though not higher in temperature than the light source lamp 19 . further , the first exhaust fan 17 which exhausts the exhaust air from the light source lamp 19 to the outside is disposed inclined to a large number of slit - like exhaust holes 8 formed in the housing side wall , so that the air in high temperature from the light source lamp 19 is exhausted obliquely from a large number of slit - like exhaust holes 8 , and by that much , the exhaust air becomes hard to be exhausted , thereby to be easily mixed with the exhaust air of the relatively low temperature from the second exhaust fan 18 with a result that the exhaust air temperature can be reduced much more than before . further , the first exhaust fan 17 which exhausts the exhaust air from the light source lamp 19 is disposed inclined so as to exhaust obliquely frontward the exhaust air from the exhaust holes 8 formed in the housing side wall , so that the exhaust air of high temperature can be prevented from being laterally blown out to an operator and the like . thus , according to the present embodiment , since the exhaust mechanism as explained above is provided , the liquid crystal projector 1 capable of reducing the noises of the exhaust fans 17 and 18 and lowing the exhaust temperature , while achieving down - sizing can be realized . incidentally , in the present embodiment , though the first exhaust fan 17 has been inclined , if an extra room available inside space - wise , even when the second exhaust fan 18 is conversely inclined similarly to the first exhaust fan , a fixed effect can be expected .	6
as shown in fig3 endoscope 1 according to the first embodiment is provided with focussing lens 3 at the leading tip of insert member 2 and solid state imaging device ( sid ) 4 , such as ccd ( charge - coupled device ) or the like so that the imaging plane coincides with the focussing plane of said objective lens 3 . a great number of receiver elements having photoelectric conversion ability are arranged regularly on the imaging plane of said state imaging device 4 . each receiver element receives each split picture element to issue a photoelectrically converted electrical signal correspondent to each picture element , which is read successively by a clock signal ( not shown ). the read signal is amplified through preamplifier 5 with a low noise factor and put into video process member 7 through signal cable 6 . said video process member a / d converts the input signal and each monochromatic image provided by the sequential illumination by monochromatic light as will be referred to later , is changed over through a multiplexer to be recorded into each exclusive frame memory . during the reading mode , the recorded signals ( data ) are read , converted through d / a converter into color signals r , b and b in analog amounts , amplified , added with horizontal and vertical synchronous signals ( not shown ) and sent to a color television monitor 8 to be displayed as a color image . with insert member 2 , light - distributor lens 9 is incorporated in proximal relationship with objective lens 3 and light guide 10 is inserted so that the output end thereof is positioned within said distributor lens 9 . the trailing end of the handle member , i . e ., the incident , or input , end of said light guide 10 is attached detachably to light source means 11 according to the first embodiment . within said light source means 11 , the illuminating light emitted from light source lamp 12 is reflected by reflector 13 having a concave or parabolic surface to reflect substantially parallel light therefrom . the substantially parallel light is converged by a first convex lens system 14 and passes through concave lens system 15 having a smaller aperture and becomes substantially parallel light once again . said substantially parallel light is then passed through rotary filter 16 , converged again through second converging convex lens system 17 and then projected through light guide 10 having an input end face thereof near the focal plane of said lens system 17 . in addition , said rotary filter 16 positioned in the optical path between said concave lens sytem 15 and said convex lens system 17 . the illuminating light which is transmitted to the input end of light guide 10 at the predetermined maximum incident angle is transmitted through the core member of optical fibers by total internal reflection by the boundary surface between said core and peripheral claded layer and projected on the subject directly or after the divergence through distributor lens 9 . such divergently emitted light can uniformly illuminate the focal range of objective lens 3 . as shown in fig4 the rotary filter is composed of red transmitting filter 16r , green transmitting filter 16g and blue transmitting filter 16b . each filter exclusively transmits light having wave length of red , green or blue . each color filter forms a sector having an angle of 120 ° and the rotary filter 16 is driven by motor 18 for rotation thereof . motor 18 is driven by the power supplied through motor driving circuit 19 . it is , for example , a pulse motor rotating by a predetermined angle by the input pulse and designed so that the driving pulse is not applied to ( pulse ) motor 17 for a predetermined short time when each color filter 16r , 16g or 16b is positioned in the optical path between concave lens 15 and convex lens 17 and then is applied to the motor after the expiration of such a predetermined time to shift quickly the filter to the subsequent color filter . thus the color illuminating means can sequentially illuminate the subject with 3 colors through the three color filters 16r , 16g and 16b . the driving pulse for said motor driving circuit 19 is issued by the controlling signal supplied from video process member 7 . color filters 16r , 16g and 16b for said rotary filter 16 are composed of interference filters ( vacuum deposited film filters ), each prepared by laminating a number of transparent dielectric films , depending on its purposes , on a glass substrate by vacuum deposition or the like . thus , the filters exclusively pass light having special wave lengths utilizing the interference of light through the films . since such an interference filter has high heat resistance , and it can be employed in zones having a high energy density of light , such as the converged parallel light as in the first embodiment . in addition , the first embodiment is provided with automatic light controlling means for preventing a shortcoming when a subject positioned at a close distance receives exccessive dosage of illuminating light or when high - light portions having high reflection are present on a subject . the excessive dosage in such a situation may form blooming or whitish tones such that sufficient contrast is not present as well as other shortcomings are prevented by the automatic light controlling means . color signals r , g , b issued from video process member 7 are added through adder 21 to form brightness signal components . the brightness signal components are integrated through integrating circuit 22 having a time constant of about one frame period to be applied to the controlling terminal of light source driver 23 . light source driver 23 then provides a light controlling signal to control the luminous intensity of light source lamp 12 ( i . e . illuminating intensity ) and in turn emitted from the leading tip of light guide 10 . said light source driver 23 can employ a power amplifier circuit or the like which variably controls the output current or output voltage so that the output is reduced with the increased bias level applied to the controlling terminal of driver 23 . the operation of the first embodiment having the above - mentioned mechanism will now be set forth . when the leading tip of insert member 2 in endoscope 1 is brough near a subject such as diseased organ or kept away from the subject for ascertaining an overall view , the light intensity incident to the subject is varied in accordance with the distance to the subject so that the optimum illuminating intensity is varied . the signals corresponding to each picture element issued from solid state imaging device 4 under such a condition , are input video process member 7 and recorded in each frame memory , with one frame for each color . when the subject is illuminated and the image recorded subsequently with each of the three colors , the data in each frame memory are read out concurrently , converted from digital to analog signals to represent color signals r , g , b to be displayed on color television monitor 8 as a color image , and are also put into adder 21 to enable the automatic light controlling means . the signals are then converted into a brightness signal through adder 21 , and into a light intensity controlling signal from integrating circuit 22 for controlling the output from light source driver 23 depending on the level of said controlling signal . in short , if the illuminating light intensity is excessively high to increase the level of the controlling signal , then the output from light source driver 23 is reduced and if the illuminating light intensity is excessively low to decrease the level of controlling signal , so that the illuminating intensity from light source lamp 12 is controlled to an appropriate value during the period of one frame , from one color frame to a subsequent color frame ( i . e . the period of 3 frames for each color ). accordingly , the operator can save time of adjusting the illuminating light strength and devotes his attention entirely to the diagnosis or medical treatment . furthermore , in the first embodiment , the sequential color illuminating means comprises converging the illuminating light through first convex lens system 14 , forming parallel light having a smaller sectional area through concave lens system 15 and passing the parallel light through rotary filter 16 comprising heat resistant interference filters so that the light source means can prevent incomplete spectrum of illuminating light as in the prior art . a rotary filter having a smaller size can then be employed . thus , the torque requirement for rotating the rotary filter 16 may be reduced so that it may be driven by motor 17 with less torque . accordingly , the light source means 11 can be miniaturized and their costs can thus be reduced . furthermore , since the sequential color illuminating means are of a sequential type , images of a subject can be clearly displayed down to minute details without losing resolving power , thereby contributing markedly to a more accurate diagnosis . fig5 illustrates endoscope 31 incorrporated with a second embodiment according to the instant invention . light source means 32 according to the second embodiment in endoscope 31 employ convex lens system 33 in lieu of concave lens system 15 in the first embodiment . in the second embodiment , parallel light reflected by reflector 13 is converged through first convex lens system 14 and focussed at the focal distance and then diverged and passed through convex lens system 33 arranged midway of the diverged optical path to provide substantially parallel light exiting therefrom . in short , the convex lens system 33 is arranged across the optical axis at its focal distance from the focus . rotary filter 16 is interposed between said convex lens system 33 and second convex lens system 17 for converging the parallel light in a similar manner to the first embodiment . on the other hand , the automatic light intensity controlling means are provided with color - complementary means . the output terminal of integrating circuit 22 is connected to each input terminal of color - complementary semi - fixed amplifiers 34r , 34g , 34b and each output terminal is connected to the controlling terminal of light source driver 23 through multiplexer 35 . multiplexer 35 is controlled in synchronization with rotary filter 16 and connects sequentially each semi - fixed amplifier 34r , 34g or 34b with light source driver 23 in synchronization with the illumination through each color - transmitting filter 16r , 16g or 16b . the semi - fixed amplifiers 34r , 34g , 34b act to correct the intensity distribution of the spectrum of illuminating light issued from light source lamp 12 , transmitting characteristics for wave lengths of light guide 10 , and photosensitive characteristics of solid state imaging device . otherwise , the second embodiment functions in a similar manner to the first embodiment . the effects achieved by said second embodiment are substantially equal to those achieved by said first embodiments . the additional provision of color - complementary means can control automatically the illuminating light by correcting colors independently so that the subject can be picked up and displayed multichromatically with a higher fidelity color tone . in this modification , iris 36 is provided at the focus of the first converging convex lens system 11 to block harmful light which cannot be deflected to parallel light through convex lens system 33 . in short , first convex lens system 14 having a relatively large aperture , allows for aberration of the light . moreover , it is expensive to deflect the light to completely parallel light and the size of light source lamp 12 is also restricted . for such reasons , the light passed through convex lens system 14 cannot always focus precisely at the focus . thus , iris 36 removes light biased comparatively largely from said focal point and the substantially focussed light is incident on convex lens system 33 for providing substantially parallel light . as said convex lens system 33 has a smaller aperture , the system with relatively low aberration can be realized inexpensively and the light passed through said convex lens system 33 is turned to substantially parallel light . consequently , when interference filters are employed as rotary filter 16 , the incident angle is substantially 0 ° so as to prevent any shift of the transmitted light from the normal wave length and to provide illuminating means with high color reproducibility . fig7 illustrates an optical system in the light source means according to the third embodiment of this invention . in this optical system in the light source means , a convex lens system having long focal distance is employed as first converging convex lens system 14 . iris 36 removes harmful light midway , and rotary filter 16 is installed at the vicinity of focus of said convex lens system 14 . thanks to such convex lens system 14 having longer focal distance , the maximum angle of incidence of light to the rotary filter is predetermined within a range minimizing the shift of wave length , for example , within a value of lower than 15 ° and by predetermining the maximum incident angle of lower than 15 °, the median wave length is not substantially shifted . ( for example , if the median wave length of light incident at an angle of 0 ° and filtered through the filter is assumed to be 1 , then the median wave length of light incident at an angle of 15 ° is shifted from 1 to 0 . 99 .) after passing through said rotary filter 16 , the light is diverged through concave lens system 17 to project onto the end surface of the light guide at a larger incident angle and to be emitted from the trailing end of light guide 10 as diverged illuminating light . the third embodiment has substantially equal effects as the first embodiment and the like . in addition , the curvature of the convex lens system can be reduced by employing a lens system having a long focal distance so that the aberration can be reduced . moreover , interference filters having a very small area can be employed by positioning rotary filter at the focus or at the vicinity of focus of the convex lens system 14 . this embodiment is designed to modify the optical system as shown in fig7 by reducing the focal distance of converging convex lens system 14 to converge light within a wider range and to provide a concave lens system 42 to diverge the converged light flux through the concave lens system 42 to some extent thereby reducing sufficiently the maximum incident angle to rotary filter 16 as in said third embodiment . the length of optical system can be reduced or the outer shape of optical system can be minimized by interposing concave lens system 42 in lieu of the direct incidence of light converged through the concaves lens system 14 and through iris 36 . on the other hand , in this embodiment , the signal passed through integrating circuit 22 is applied to non - inversed input terminal of comparator 43 and the other inlet terminal is applied with reference voltage vs . accordingly , the controlling signal passed through integrating circuit 22 exceeds a predetermined reference voltage vs to issue the output from comparator 43 at a reversed or high level to nullify the driving current or voltage for light source driver 23 and to extinguish light source lamp 22 . in short , this embodiment provides illuminating light having a constant indensity but optimizes the dosage by controlling the illuminating time . this embodiment is suitable when the intensity of emission spectrum is easily fluctuated by the change in the supplied current or the like as in light source lamp 12 . in addition , a luminous diode or the like may be employed in lieu of light source lamp 12 . it should be noticed that partial combinations of the embodiments according to this invention fall within the scope of this invention . additionally , many embodiments can be devised from this invention without departing from the spirit and range of this invention . accordingly , the scope of the instant invention should be determined with respect to the following claims .	0
in one embodiment , an equine wrap comprises a wrap having a clue - mark and an improved fastening means . the clue - mark can be placed on one or both sides of the initiating end of a wrap in order to assist the wrapper in applying the wrap in the correct direction . the improved fastening means can be utilized regardless of which side of the wrap the wrapper chooses to face outwards . the bandage / wrap material can be any suitable material currently known , or yet to be known , in the art . examples of suitable materials include neoprene , elastic bandages known as “ ace bandages ,” etc . a clue - mark to assist the wrapper in applying the wrap in the correct direction can be represented in various ways . in one embodiment , the clue - mark comprises a letter “ r ”, an arrow , and a letter “ l ”. the letter “ r ” is placed near the initiating end of the wrap such that the letter can be read ( i . e ., it is right - side up ) and the initiating end of the wrap comes to an end just to the right of the “ r ” ( after the “ r ” when it is read from left to right ). the arrow is placed under the “ r ” and points away from the initiating end of the wrap . the “ l ” is placed under the arrow and is upside - down relative to the “ r ”. a second clue - mark can be placed on the other side of the wrap , oriented in a manner similar to the first clue - mark relative to the initiating and terminating ends of the wrap . in one embodiment , the improved fastening means comprises a tab and an attachment point . the tab extends out from the terminating end of the wrap and the attachment point is located on the wrap , a short distance from the terminating end ( the attachment point can also extend out from the wrap ). the tab is covered with either hook or loop material and the attachment point is covered with the corresponding loop or hook material , respectively . it is important to realize that both sides of the tab are covered in the same material . likewise , both sides of the attachment point are covered in the same material in order to be able to attach to the tab . fig1 illustrates a side view of an exemplary embodiment of an improved wrap 100 in an unrolled state . the primary components shown in fig1 include : the wrap body 110 , the tab 130 , and the attachment point 142 . the front side or first side of the wrap body 110 is shown in fig1 . the back side or second side of the wrap body 110 is not shown . the wrap body 110 has two ends , an initiating end 114 and a terminating end 112 . as shown in fig1 , a clue - mark 150 is positioned near the initiating end 114 . the initiating end 114 is that end of the wrap body 110 that a wrapper applies to begin the process of wrapping a leg , tail , etc . the attachment point 142 is shown on the front side of the wrap body 110 . another attachment point 144 is placed on the back side of the wrap body 110 ( not shown in fig1 ). in other embodiments , the attachment points 142 and 144 are located slightly differently ( see fig4 ). the attachment points 142 and 144 are placed so that the tab 130 can be secured against the attachment points 142 and 144 at the completion of the wrapping process . thus , regardless of their exact positions , the attachment points 142 and 144 should be located near the terminating end 112 of the wrap body 110 . as shown in fig1 , the tab 130 extends out past the terminating end 112 of the wrap body 110 and has two sides : a front side 132 and a back side 134 . both sides 132 and 134 of the tab 130 have hook and loop material attached . in one embodiment , the front side 132 of the tab 130 has hook material facing outwards and the back side 134 of the tab 130 has hook material facing outwards . in this embodiment , the attachment points 142 and 144 would have loop material in order to mate up with the tab 130 . in another embodiment , the front side 132 of the tab 130 has loop material facing outwards and the back side 134 of the tab 130 has loop material facing outwards . in this embodiment , the attachment points 142 and 144 would have hook material in order to mate up with the tab 130 . in yet another embodiment , one side 132 or 134 of the tab 130 has hook material and the other side 134 or 132 has loop material . in this embodiment , the corresponding attachment points 142 and 144 have opposing loop material and hook material , respectively , in order to mate up with the corresponding sides 132 and 134 of the tab 130 . it is conceivable that both hook material and loop material can be located on both sides 132 and 134 of the tab 130 as well as on both attachment points 142 and 144 . in the embodiment in fig1 , only one clue - mark 150 is displayed . however , a corresponding clue - mark 152 is located on the back side of the wrap body 110 . clue - marks 150 and 152 are used by the wrapper to assist in applying the improved wrap 100 in the correct direction . in one embodiment , the clue - marks 150 and 152 comprise a letter “ r ”, an arrow , and a letter “ l ”. the first clue - mark 150 can be seen on the front side of the wrap body 110 in fig1 . the letter “ r ” is placed near the initiating end 114 of the wrap body 110 such that the letter can be easily read by the wrapper ( i . e ., it is right - side up ) and the initiating end 114 of the wrap body 110 comes to an end just to the right of the “ r ” ( after the “ r ” when it is read from left to right ). the arrow is placed under the “ r ” and points away from the initiating end 114 of the wrap body 110 towards the terminating end 112 . in other embodiments , the arrow can be placed above or otherwise near the “ r ”. regardless of its exact position , it is important that the arrow point in the same direction relative to the “ r ”. the “ l ” is placed under the arrow and is upside - down relative to the “ r ”. in other embodiments , the “ l ” is placed elsewhere . regardless of its exact position , it is important that the “ l ” be oriented upside - down relative to the “ r ”. on the back side of the wrap body 110 , a second clue - mark 152 can be placed ( not shown in fig1 ). the clue - mark 152 on the back side of the wrap 110 is oriented in a manner similar to the first clue - mark 150 relative to the initiating end 114 and the terminating end 112 of the wrap body 110 . the orientation of the clue - marks 150 and 152 is important so as to inform a wrapper of the correct direction to apply the improved wrap 100 . for example , a wrapper would begin application of an improved wrap 100 by unrolling the initiating end 114 from a rolled - up improved wrap 100 . the wrapper then determines which side of the horse is to be wrapped . if the leg to be wrapped is on the horse &# 39 ; s left side , then the wrapper places the initiating end 114 of the wrap 100 on the horse &# 39 ; s leg such that the letter “ l ” on the clue - mark 150 or 152 is right - side up ( i . e ., the wrapper can read the letter ). once placed , the wrapper then wraps the leg by unwinding the roll and winding the wrap 100 around the horse &# 39 ; s leg in the direction indicated by the arrow portion of the clue - mark 150 or 152 . similarly , if the leg to be wrapped is on the horse &# 39 ; s right side , then the wrapper places the initiating end 114 of the wrap 100 on the horse &# 39 ; s leg such that the letter “ r ” on the clue - mark 150 or 152 is right - side up ( i . e ., the wrapper can read the letter ). once placed , the wrapper then wraps the leg by unwinding the roll and winding the wrap 100 around the horse &# 39 ; s leg in the direction indicated by the arrow portion of the clue - mark 150 or 152 . thus , the clue - marks 150 and 152 ensure that the improved wrap 100 is always wound clockwise on a horse &# 39 ; s right legs and counter - clockwise on a horse &# 39 ; s left legs . fig2 illustrates a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of an improved wrap 200 in a partially rolled - up state . the components shown in fig2 include : the wrap body 210 , the initiating end 214 , and the clue - mark 250 . wraps 200 are commonly stored in a rolled - up state to keep them orderly and to assist in their application ( as applying ten - plus feet of loose wrap 200 can be difficult ). fig3 illustrates a side view of an exemplary embodiment of an equine wrap 300 applied to a horse &# 39 ; s leg 390 . it is preferred that the wrapper place the initiating end 114 ( not shown in fig3 , see fig1 ) of the wrap 300 at some point above the lowest point that needs to be wrapped and then wrap downwards , overlapping one - half to two - thirds of the width of the wrap 300 as he or she progresses . appropriate tension on the wrap 300 should be kept at all times . once the wrapper reaches the lowest point on the leg that needs to be wrapped , he or she begins wrapping back upwards towards the knee or hock wrapping over the initiating end and continuing upwards . as the terminating end 112 ( not shown in fig3 , see fig1 ) of the wrap 300 is reached , the wrapper simply attaches one side 132 or 134 of the tab 130 to the attachment point 142 or 144 . the terminating end 112 , front side 132 , back side 134 , tab 130 and attachment points 142 and 144 are not shown in fig3 , see fig1 . fig4 illustrates a side view of another exemplary embodiment of an improved wrap 400 in an unrolled state . the primary components shown in fig4 include : the wrap body 410 , the tab 430 , and the attachment points 442 and 444 . the front side or first side of the wrap body 410 is shown in fig4 . the back side or second side of the wrap body 410 is not shown . the wrap body 410 has two ends , an initiating end 414 and a terminating end 412 . as shown in fig4 , a clue - mark 450 is positioned near the initiating end 414 . the initiating end 414 is that end of the wrap body 410 that a wrapper applies to begin the process of wrapping a leg , tail , etc . the attachment point 442 is shown extending out from the front side of the wrap body 410 . a second attachment point 444 is placed on the back side of the first attachment point 442 . in other embodiments , the attachment points 442 and 444 are located slightly differently ( see fig1 ). the attachment points 442 and 444 are placed so that the tab 430 can be secured against the attachment points 442 and 444 at the completion of the wrapping process . as shown in fig4 , the tab 430 extends out past the attachment points 442 and 444 and has two sides : a front side 432 and a back side 434 . both sides of the tab 430 have hook and loop material attached . in one embodiment , the front side 432 of the tab 430 has hook material and the back side 434 of the tab 430 has hook material . in this embodiment , the attachment points 442 and 444 would have loop material in order to mate up with the tab 430 . in another embodiment , the front side 432 of the tab 430 has loop material and the back side 434 of the tab 430 has loop material . in this embodiment , the attachment points 442 and 444 would have hook material in order to mate up with the tab 430 . in yet another embodiment , one side of the tab 430 has hook material and the other side has loop material ; in this embodiment , the corresponding attachment points 442 and 444 have opposing loop material and hook material , respectively , in order to mate up with the corresponding sides 434 and 432 of the tab 430 . for example , if the front side 432 of the tab 430 has hook material , then the back side 434 of the tab 430 has loop material ; and the front attachment point 442 would have hook material so that the loop material on the back side 434 of the tab would secure with the hook material on the front attachment point 442 . similarly , if the wrap 400 was flipped over before application , then the back attachment point 444 would need to have loop material in order to secure with the hook material on the front side 432 of the tab 430 . the above specification , examples and data provide a description of the structure and use of exemplary embodiments of the described articles of manufacture and methods . many embodiments can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention .	0
this invention will be described in the context of an fcc process for the catalytic cracking of hydrocarbons by contact with a fluidized catalyst . the invention may be used in any process that requires a dispersion of a fluid into a fluidized particle stream as it passes through a conduit . in a typical fcc process flow arrangement , finely divided regenerated catalyst leaves a regeneration zone and contacts a feedstock in a lower portion of a reactor riser zone . fig1 shows a reactor 10 with a vertical riser 20 having an upper section 12 and a lower riser portion 14 into which a regenerator standpipe 16 transfers catalyst from a regenerator ( not shown ) at a rate regulated by a slide valve 11 . a fluidization medium enters the riser through a nozzle 17 and a suitable distribution device ( not shown ). the fluidizing medium may be a diluent material , typically steam , or a hydrocarbon stream that undergoes some conversion or passivates the catalyst . the fluidized catalyst flows upwardly through lower riser portion 14 at a relatively high density until it reaches a plurality of feed injection nozzles 15 ( only one is shown ) that inject a hydrocarbon feed across the flowing stream of catalyst particles . upper riser section 12 has a larger internal diameter than lower section 14 to accommodate the volumetric expansion of the feed as it expands through contact with the hot catalyst . while the resulting mixture , which has a temperature of from about 200 ° c . to about 700 ° c ., passes up through the remainder of the riser , conversion of the feed to lighter products occurs and coke is deposited on the catalyst . the effluent from the riser is discharged from the top 19 of riser 20 through a disengaging arm 21 that tangentially discharge the mixture of catalyst and gases into a disengaging chamber 23 to effect a separation of the gases from the catalyst . a transport conduit 22 carries the hydrocarbon vapors and entrained catalyst to one or more cyclone separators 24 that separate any spent catalyst from the hydrocarbon vapor stream . a collection chamber 25 gathers the separated hydrocarbon vapor streams from the cyclone for passage from an outlet nozzle 28 into a fractionation zone ( not shown ) known in the art as the main column . the main column separates the hydrocarbon vapors into such typical fractions as light gases and gasoline , light cycle oil , heavy cycle oil and slurry oil . various fractions from the main column can be recycled along with the feedstock to the reactor riser . typically , fractions such as light gases and gasoline are further separated and processed in a gas concentration process located downstream of the main column . some of the fractions from the main column , as well as those recovered from the gas concentration process may be recovered as final product streams . the separated spent catalyst from cyclones 24 passes through dip legs 30 into the lower portion of collection space 31 and eventually passes into a stripping zone 32 across ports ( not shown ) defined by the bottom of disengaging chamber 23 . catalyst separated in disengaging chamber 23 passes directly into stripping zone 32 . a stripping gas , usually steam , enters a lower portion of stripping zone 32 through an inlet 33 and may be distributed by one or more distributors ( not shown ). the stripping gas contacts the spent catalyst to purge adsorbed and interstitial hydrocarbons from the catalyst . a series of baffles 35 in the stripping zone improves contact between the catalyst and stripping gas . additional gas for fluidization or stripping may be added through one or more inlets 38 . the spent catalyst containing coke leaves the stripping zone through a reactor conduit 36 and passes into the regeneration zone where , in the presence of fresh regeneration gas and at a temperature of from about 620 ° c . to about 760 ° c ., combustion of coke produces regenerated catalyst and flue gas containing carbon monoxide , carbon dioxide , water , nitrogen and perhaps a small quantity of oxygen . usually , the fresh regeneration gas is air , but it could be air enriched or deficient in oxygen . flue gas is separated from entrained regenerated catalyst by cyclone separation means located within the regeneration zone and separated flue gas is passed from the regeneration zone , typically , to a carbon monoxide boiler where the chemical heat of carbon monoxide is recovered by combustion as a fuel for the production of steam , or , if carbon monoxide combustion in the regeneration zone is complete , the flue gas passes directly to sensible heat recovery means and from there to a refinery stack . regenerated catalyst which was separated from the flue gas is returned to the lower portion of the regeneration zone which typically is maintained at a higher catalyst density . a stream of regenerated catalyst leaves the regeneration zone , and in repetition of the previously mentioned cycle , contacts the feedstock in the reaction zone . catalysts that can be used in this process include those known to the art as fluidized catalytic cracking catalysts . specifically , the high activity crystalline aluminosilicate or zeolite - containing catalysts can be used and are preferred because of their higher resistance to the deactivating effects of high temperatures , exposure to steam , and exposure to metals contained in the feedstock . zeolites are the most commonly used crystalline aluminosilicates in fcc . catalyst entering the lower section 14 of the riser conduit preferably forms a dense catalyst bed . the term dense bed refers to a region of catalyst having a density of at least 20 pounds per cubic foot . the dense bed zone is also termed a bubbling bed which provides good mixing of the catalyst and a uniform suspension of catalyst as it passes into contact with feed from injection nozzles 15 . the quantity of fluidizing gas entering the bottom of the riser is usually added in an amount that creates a low upward velocity of catalyst having a velocity of less than 6 feet per second and usually in a range of from 3 to 5 feet per second . this invention does not require a specific gas composition for the fluidizing medium . steam can serve as a suitable fluidizing medium . the fluidizing medium can also comprise a typical lift gas and can be used by itself or in combination with steam . lift gas typically includes not more than 10 mol % of c 3 and heavier hydrocarbons . in addition to hydrocarbons , other reaction species may be present in or comprise the fluidizing mediums such as h 2 , h 2 s , n 2 , co and / or co 2 . in accordance with typical fcc practice the feed exits injection nozzles 15 as a spray in a fan pattern . the nozzles are usually angled to tip the fan pattern in a downstream direction . the angle of the nozzles will typically be in a range of from of at least 20 ° and less than 70 ° with respect to a transverse plane passing through the nozzles . droplet size within the spray and the velocity of the spray determines momentum of the feed as travels across the open riser section . it is difficult to increase the momentum of the feed above a given level since the velocity of the feed injection is inversely proportional to the size of the droplets in the emanating spray . higher velocities for the spray tend to directly increase the momentum of the spray but indirectly decrease the momentum by reducing the size of the exiting droplets . conversely the reduced momentum that results directly from lower spray velocities is offset by the typical production of larger droplets . an expanding gas or gaseous component such as steam may be used in conjunction with another source of energy in order to break up the liquid . this other source of energy can consist of a high pressure drop for the gas and liquid mixture . supplying additional energy makes up for inadequate mixing so that a fine and uniform distribution of droplets will still be obtained once the feed is injected into the catalyst . it is also known that the pressure drop across an orifice or port can be reduced while still obtaining a good dispersion of fine liquid droplets by blending and homogenizing the liquid and any added gas sequentially in stages of increased mixing severity . the feed entering the feed injectors will usually have a temperature below its initial boiling point but a temperature above the boiling point of any steam or gaseous hydrocarbons that enter the distribution device along with the liquid . a minimum quantity of gaseous material equal to about 0 . 2 wt .% of the combined liquid and gaseous - mixture , is often commingled with the liquid entering the injectors . the gaseous material may be introduced into the injectors in any manner . following mixing and ejection , contact of the feed with the hot catalyst creates a volumetric expansion from both the vaporization of liquid hydrocarbons and heating of the vapor as well as cracking of the hydrocarbons into lower molecular weight species . fig2 more clearly shows the configuration of the feed injection nozzles 15 and the inner configuration of the riser wall that defines the shelf 40 of this invention . feed enters the back of injection nozzle 15 via a nozzle 37 . diluents , as previously described , can be injected through a nozzle 38 and mixed with the feed . a tip 39 of the injector disperses the feed in an extended horizontal fan pattern through an appropriately designed outlet nozzle . the inside of the riser undergoes various changes in diameter to accommodate the shelf and any requirements for changes in the flowing cross - sectional area to provide the desired velocity and flow regime . catalyst flowing upwardly from lower portion 14 travels through an internal section 41 of the riser that has a uniform diameter d 1 . as the catalyst passes upwardly into an injection zone defined by the ring of feed injectors 15 an abruptly enlarged section defines the feed injection zone that contains the circumferentially extended band of feed injectors 15 . the abrupt enlargement is shown as shelf 40 which has a frusto - conical geometry . however , it is not necessary to this invention that the shelf 40 have a flat surface . contoured surfaces that transition to the upper riser section 12 may also provide an effective geometry for shielding the injector tips 39 . where a frusto - conical section defines the injector zone as in fig2 its included angle will usually be in a range of from 40 to 140 °. the outlets of the injectors will usually occupy at least half of the length along the wall of the injection zone . thus , the length l 1 along the injector wall will usually not exceed twice the nozzle dimension . in this arrangement total length l 1 of the shelf 40 along the internal riser wall is taken up by the feed injector at the points of feed injection . this narrowly defined injection zone results in an increase in the conduit diameter over the injection zone that is less than the width of the nozzles defining the injection outlets . the overall axial length l 2 of the injector zone will typically not exceed 8 inches . the portion of the riser immediately upstream of the injector zone need not have a uniform diameter , but may be diverging of converging as necessitated by process requirements . an essential requirement of the invention is that the lower section of the riser define a trajectory as shown along line t for the particles flowing upwardly past injector tip 39 . this trajectory line t may be defined as the upstream axial projection of that portion of the riser located below the injector zone . thus the trajectory line t will represent either a cylindrical surface or a diverging frustro - conical section . it is essential to this invention that tips 39 of the nozzles not extend past this projected trajectory of the particles from the lower riser portion . the end of the injection zone is defined by a portion of the conduit that has a more constant diameter over its length than the injection zone . the upper part of the hydrodynamic injection section that defines the injector zone 40 ends with another change in the relative slope of the riser wall , shown by line 45 , such that the downstream portion of the riser has at least a less diverging diameter than the diameter increase across the injector zone 40 . any variation in the diameter outside of the injector zone will typically not exceed a 1 in 4 slope . therefore , the length l 3 of a diverging section 42 as shown downstream of injector zone 40 in fig2 will have sufficient length l 3 to provide a mild diameter divergence until it expands to the diameter d 2 . as shown by fig3 the diameter of the riser downstream of the injection zone may be reduced where desired by a converging diameter section 43 . referring again to fig2 the internal configuration of the contacting conduit may be fully defined by adjusting the thickness of a refractory lining material 44 contained within the conduit . for example , lower section 44 would typically have a lining thickness a of 4 to 0 . 5 inches . the lining thickness may be varied as necessary inside the riser without corresponding changes in the outer diameter of the conduit at the same locations . a swedge section 48 increases the external diameter of the riser to a uniform upper diameter for upper section 12 . the internal diameter d 1 of the riser remains constant over the increase of diameter from riser portion 14 to riser section 12 . the shelf as well as the more mildly diverging downstream section 42 are defined completely by variations in the thickness of the refractory lining until the lining thickness is again reduced to a thickness a that matches the thickness of the lining below swedge section 48 . the injectors and the shelf defined by the refractory lining are shown in plan by fig4 . fig4 shows the preferred arrangement wherein the injection zone includes at least 4 injector outlets . shelf 40 extends horizontally between the inner diameter of lower portion 41 and the change in slope that marks the downstream end of the injector zone about line 45 . fig4 also shows the extension of tips 39 outwardly over the shelf section 40 . the horizontal extent of the fan spray pattern for the feed injected by each nozzle 39 is represented by dashed lines 46 . except for the area of the spray tips 39 the overlapping spray pattern has a polygonal shape . the outer projection of the polygon from the overlapping spray pattern leaves an area that does not receive a directed flow feed from the nozzle arrangement . fig5 shows the concavity of the riser cross section at the location of the feed injection nozzles may be filled in the cross - hashed area 47 to block this region from catalyst flow . in this arrangement , the area to the outside of a cord line drawn between the nozzles and to the inside of the circular diameter of the riser at the location of the spray tips is blocked so that the polygonal shape of the spray pattern receives an upwardly directed flow of catalyst that matches the geometry of the spray pattern . the concavity of the riser between the nozzle tips need not be fully filled and any decrease in the concavity between the nozzle tips will reduce the area of catalyst that receives the reduced concentration of the feed . reducing the concavity of the conduit between the injection nozzles result in walls that have a greater degree of discontinuity at the nozzle locations relative to the locations between the nozzles . the blocked portion 47 may be gradually reduced in the downstream direction of catalyst flow until the riser again has an overall circular cross - section . this arrangement thereby decreases the concavity of the conduit wall in a direction normal to the conduit access between the adjacent nozzle locations .	1
the invention that is useful as a thickener in publication gravure inks is prepared by reacting a metal resinate with an aminopolyester resin in solution . suitable metal resinates must include zinc , and may include other compounds of group ii of the periodic system , either alone or in combination with rosin , phenolated rosin , polymerized rosin , maleated rosin , fumarated rosin , and the like , and their mixtures . the rosin may be derived from tall oil rosin , wood rosin , or gum rosin . solvents suitable for use in the reaction include aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons . it is known to skilled artisans that primary or secondary amines will add across the double bond of acrylic acid ( or its esters ) as represented in equation 1 below . this is commonly called a michael addition ( and for the purposes of this application will be referred to as such , although this term , strictly speaking , applies only to a similar addition by a carbanion ). it has been found that a wide range of aminopolyesters could be prepared from the addition reaction of polyamines and acrylic esters . a series of representative examples are given in table i ( see p . 11 - 12 ). both linear and branched molecules can be prepared , and both types are effective as dilution extenders . polyamines which are suitable for use in the addition reaction include , but are not limited to , the following : acrylic esters which are suitable for use in the addition reaction include , but are not limited to , the following : hexanediol diacrylate ( a preferred diacrylate ) was used in many of the examples because it has the shortest chain length of the commercially available diacrylates . a low molecular - weight diacrylate allows the preparation of polymers with correspondingly low equivalent weights per nitrogen atom . maximization of nitrogen content is desirable since the thickening mechanism of these resins involves the complexation of the amine groups with the zinc in the resinate . with the linear condensation aminopolyesters taught in the commonly assigned u . s . pat . no . 5 , 085 , 699 , it was found that resins with amine equivalent weights lower than about 250 were either insoluble in toluene or incompatible with jonrez ® mr - 560 . ( jonrez ® mr - 560 is a toluene - soluble calcium / zinc resinate solution used for gravure inks , sold by westvaco corporation .) by contrast , almost all of the michael addition aminopolyesters shown in table i have equivalent weights below this number and are both soluble and compatible . in the michael addition process , the ratio of the reactants is such that the equivalent weight of primary and / or secondary amine per the equivalent weight of acrylic unsaturation is in the range of 0 . 8 - 1 . 4 ; with the preferred range being from 1 . 0 - 1 . 1 . the addition polymers give , in general , the higher dilution values that would be expected on the basis of their higher amine contents ( resins numbers 3 and 5 being exceptions due to their marginal compatibility ). the reason for the poorer solubility of the condensation polymers is probably the presence of carboxyl groups . to keep reaction times reasonable , the condensation ( esterification ) reactions were discontinued when the acid number of the resin reached about 10 - 20 . the presence of this acid functionality would allow the formation of inner salts with the amine groups , which would in turn decrease the solubility in nonpolar solvents , such as toluene . this problem does not arise with an addition polymer , whose acid number is essentially zero . exceptions to the high toluene solubility of michael addition polymers are those made with highly symmetrical primary diamines . reaction of hexanediol diacrylate with 1 , 8 - diaminooctane , 1 , 12 - diaminododecane , 1 , 4 - diaminocyclohexane , or 1 , 4 - phenylenediamine resulted in toluene - insoluble resins . bis ( 4 - aminocyclohexyl ) methane , a symmetrical , but rather bulky diamine , gave a soluble product ( resin number 7 ), but its compatibility with the resinate was limited . this behavior is probably due to a high degree of crystallinity in the polymer as a result of a combination of linearity and hydrogen bonding due to n - h groups . resins made with secondary amines , such as piperazine ( resin number 1 ), are readily soluble in toluene , as are those from asymmetrical primary amines , such as isophoronediamine ( resin number 8 ), and mixed primary - secondary amines , such as aminoethylpiperazine ( resin number 4 ). even the pendant methyl group of dytek a provides sufficient asymmetry to produce a resin with at least partial toluene solubility . ( dytek a ® is a commercial grade 2 - methyl - 1 , 5 - pentanediamine manufactured by dupont , inc .) the michael addition aminopolyesters were prepared in toluene solutions . since the reaction is highly exothermic in most cases , solvent is needed as a heat sink . in the case of toluene insoluble intermediates ( such as piperazine ) the material dissolves slowly as the reaction proceeds . limiting the temperature to that of refluxing toluene ( 110 °- 115 ° c .) gives the added advantage of improved color . the condensation products , which are processed at 200 ° c ., are considerably darker than the michael addition products . in the case of polymers from primary amines , which contain secondary amine groups in their backbones , one might expect further reaction with acrylate groups to produce chain branching . indeed , one might even postulate the formation of a linear polymer from a monofunctional primary amine and a diacrylate as shown in equation 2 below . equation 2 ## str3 ## however , these reactions do not take place at the reflux temperature of toluene , probably due to steric effects . no gelation is observed with primary diamines and diacrylates . gelation would be expected if there were substantial chain branching . furthermore , reaction of n - butylamine and hexanediol diacrylate in refluxing toluene for eight hours produced no polymer . higher temperatures ( possibly under pressure ) would probably introduce side reactions such as ester aminolysis that would produce unacceptable products . if desired , a controlled amount of chain branching can be introduced by the use of polyfunctional ( f & gt ; 2 ) amines or acrylates ( as shown in resins number 10 and 11 , which contain a triacrylate ). in a similar way , molecular weight can be controlled with a monofunctional reactant , such as the morpholine in resin 10 . those skilled in the art can use the above options to tailor the aminopolyester to meet specific ink formulation needs . as appreciated in the art , the exact components and properties of components desired for any given ink application can vary , and , therefore , routine experimentation may be required to determine the optional components and proportions of components for a given application and desired properties . the following examples are provided to further illustrate the present invention and are not to be construed as limiting the invention in any manner . to a stirred slurry of 21 . 5 g of piperazine in 138 . 7 g of toluene in a 500 ml flask was added 56 . 5 g of hexanediol diacrylate drop - wise over 15 minutes , during which time the reaction exothermed to 42 ° c . the piperazine dissolved as it reacted with the acrylate . the solution was then refluxed for four hours to give a clear 36 % solids solution with a gardner - holt viscosity of a . a dilution comparison was made between this aminopolyester resin ( hereafter referred to as resin number 1 ) and ehec utilizing the resinate solution jonrez ® mr - 560 . ( jonrez mr - 560 is a toluene - soluble calcium / zinc resinate solution used for gravure inks , sold by westvaco corporation .) dilutions were run by taking 100 g of the resinate or resinate / polyester blend and measuring the number of milliliters of toluene required to obtain a viscosity of 18 seconds with a # 2 shell cup . here , the mr - 560 control dilution was 100 ; and the percentages represent dry : dry ratios of aminopolyester resin to resinate . as stated earlier , the usual dilutability values of commercial resinates are between 70 and 120 . at 0 . 9 %, ehec measured 130 to the invention aminopolyester resin &# 39 ; s 120 . at 1 . 8 %, both ehec and the resin measured 170 . at 3 . 6 %, ehec measured 245 to the resin &# 39 ; s 265 . thus , the ability of the invention to enhance dilutability compared favorably with ehec -- especially when one takes into account that ehec is more expensive than the aminopolyester resin . a series of aminopolyester resins of differing compositions were produced via the michael addition method taught in example 1 . subsequent dilution comparisons were made between the resulting resins and ehec in the same manner outlined in example 1 . table i______________________________________michael addition aminopolyestersresin wgt .. sup . a dilution (%). sup . bno . composition per nitrogen 0 . 9 1 . 8 3 . 6______________________________________1 72 . 4 hdoda 156 120 170 265 27 . 6 pip2 72 . 0 hdoda 157 100 135 200 28 . 0 dmeda3 63 . 9 hdoda 161 120 120 . sup . 155 . sup . c 36 . 1 dytek a4 62 . 5 hdoda 115 160 225 -- 37 . 5 aep5 82 . 0 tpgda 166 105 155 . sup . 125 . sup . d 18 . 0 eda6 65 . 4 hdoda 165 140 200 330 34 . 6 1 , 2 - dach7 50 . 6 hdoda 231 160 180 . sup . e 49 . 4 pacm - 208 55 . 9 hdoda 193 120 150 240 44 . 1 ipda9 50 . 6 hdoda 223 125 155 250 49 . 4 apmpa10 45 . 4 hdoda 165 110 130 170 19 . 8 tmpta 17 . 3 pip 17 . 5 mor11 44 . 1 hdoda 128 130 170 275 19 . 2 tmpta 16 . 8 pip 19 . 9 dmapa12 77 . 3 s2000 255 125 175 235 22 . 7 dytek a13 42 . 7 hdoda 132 120 170 285 22 . 4 tmpta 19 . 5 pip 15 . 4 dmapa14 48 . 4 hdoda 223 130 165 290 51 . 6 jd23015 27 . 2 hdoda 416 140 210 -- 72 . 8 k3695control -- ehec -- 130 170 245______________________________________ notes : . sup . a equivalent weight per nitrogen atom . . sup . b weight of additive based on mr560 resinate ( solids basis ); value for control is 100 . . sup . c solutions hazy ( partially incompatible ). . sup . d precipitate forms on standing for several days . . sup . e incompatible . aep : aminoethylpiperazine . apmpa : a mixed polycyclic aliphatic and aromatic polyamine product made b air products with an amine equivalent weight of 109 . 1 , 2dach : 1 , 2diaminocyclohexane . dmapa : 3dimethylaminopropylamine . dmeda : n , ndimethylethylenediamine . dytek a : commercial grade 2methyl - 1 , 5 - pentanediamine from dupont . eda : ethylenediamine . hdoda : hexanediol diacrylate . ipda : isophoronediamine . jd230 : jeffamine d230 ( a primary amine terminated polyether from texaco ). k3695 : kemamine 3695 ( a dimer diamine from witco ). mor : morpholine . pacm20 : a commercial grade of bis ( 4aminocyclohexyl ) methane from air products . pip : piperazine . s2000 : a diacrylate of a c . sub . 14 - 15 diol from sartomer . tmpta : trimethylolpropane triacrylate . tpgda : tripropylene glycol diacrylate . while the compositions shown in table i by no means exhaust all of the possibilities of this chemistry , they are of a sufficient variety to draw correlations between structure and dilution enhancement . the results in table i illustrate that a wide variety of branched aminopolyesters ( resins 10 , 11 , and 13 ) and linear aminopolyesters may be produced which compare favorably with ehec in both dilution enhancement and cost . many modifications and variations of the present invention will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art in light of the above teachings . it is therefore understood that the scope of the invention is not to be limited by the foregoing description , but rather is to be defined by the claims appended hereto .	2
an embodiment of the invention allows for the secure storage of any persistent data onto [ fig1 : removable usb flash memory device ] related to pc access control and security . an embodiment of the invention allows for the creation of authorized users and passwords for the specific pcs . access to applications , approved web sites and data and would therefore require the invention [ fig1 : removable usb flash memory device ] to be connected to the pc [ fig1 : usb enabled pc ] prior to use and during use . because this embodiment will also serves to control the functionality of the pc [ fig1 : usb enabled pc ] for specific users it therefore functions as a ‘ smart key ’ to this pc . for example , in connection with this embodiment , a specific child may be permitted to access a limited set of approved programs , files , directories , and web sites while another child may be permitted access to a broader range of programs , data , and web sites . each child would possess a unique security device that contains their specific privileges . an embodiment of the invention allows rules to be established for each authorized user which limit access to programs , data , web sites , and servers based on the time of day and or day of the week and by pc id . an embodiment of the invention facilitates the protection of files and data stored on the pc [ fig1 : usb enabled pc ] as well as the removable storage device [ fig1 : removable usb flash memory device ] through the use of an encryption method which is compliant with current industry security standards ( i . e . 128 bit ). in connection with this embodiment , encrypted data ( specified files and folders stored on the pc ) would only be viewable to the authorized user , when the “ key ” is inserted into the pc and not viewable when the key [ fig1 : removable usb flash memory device ] is removed . an embodiment of the invention allows for the configuration of a virtual private network ( vpn ) or similar secure network over the [ fig1 : dial - up of high - speed internet connection ] to facilitate authentication to the network &# 39 ; s processor [ fig1 : host processor ] or [ fig1 : file server ]. in connection with this embodiment , a secure token , digital certificate , encryption key or other unique identifier is permanently stored on the usb device [ fig1 : removable usb flash memory device ] and released to the network to authenticate each session and , or message . as a result , the network connection is only possible when the “ key ”, [ fig1 : removable usb flash memory device is inserted into the pc . having thus described the invention in detail , it should be apparent that various modifications and changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention . consequently , these and other modifications are contemplated to be within the spirit and scope of the following claims .	6
in one embodiment of the invention , micro - scale ft and oxygenate synthesis plants are contemplated for monetizing small gas fields . in some embodiments , such plant capacities may range from about of 200 to about 1000 thousand scfd ( mscfd ) ng feed rates , which are equivalent to from about 20 to about 100 bbl / d hydrocarbon liquids production capacity . in other embodiments , such plant capacities may range from about 1 to about 10 mmscfd ng feed rates , which are equivalent to from about 70 to about 1 , 000 bbl / d hydrocarbon liquids production capacity . without being bound by any theory , there is no reason that technically viable units could not be smaller still , in the range of about 100 to about 200 mscfd ng feed rates ( about 10 - 20 bbl / d hydrocarbon liquid product ); minimum size is strictly a function of economic viability . in some embodiments , one or more micro - scale gtl trains may be used . in some embodiments , the one or more micro - scale gtl trains may be identical or may combine various “ standard ” designs . in some embodiments , there are between 3 to 5 standard designs . the trains may be in the size range of what has previously been considered to be process development / demonstration unit ( pdu )- scale , nominally in the range of about 20 - 200 bbl / d liquid hydrocarbon ( i . e ., fischer - tropsch (“ ft ”)) products . there are a number of constraints on the economic viability of plants at the micro - scale level . a recently constructed commercial conventional ft based gtl plant ( sasol “ oryx ”, in qatar ) cost in the range of about $ 950 million for approximately 34 , 000 bbl / d ft liquid products , or about $ 28 , 000 per bbl / d hydrocarbon liquid product capacity . more recently , engineering , procurement , and construction (“ epc ”) costs have increased such that currently forecasted gtl capital costs for plants to be constructed in the near future are in the range of $ 50 , 000 per bbl / d hydrocarbon liquid product for similarly sized conventional plants . as plant size is increased from s 1 to s 2 , the ratio of costs increases nonlinearly , i . e ., by some power other than 1 . for example , consider two conventional facilities having different capacities , s 1 and s 2 . the cost of the second facility ( c 2 ) may be determined using a “ scale factor ” and the cost of the first facility ( c 1 ), according to the formula , c 2 = c 1 *( s 2 / s 1 ) n , where “ n ” is the scale factor . for n & lt ; 1 , costs rise at less than the ratio of plant size / capacity , so unit cost decreases yielding what is referred to as “ economies of scale ”. at a conventional plant scale factor of 0 . 6 these cost projections suggest that a 50 - 100 bbl / d hydrocarbon liquid product train would cost in the range of $ 19 - 29 million ( at $ 28 , 000 per bbl / d hydrocarbon liquid product for the larger , conventional unit ) to $ 34 - 51 million ( at $ 50 , 000 per bbl / d hydrocarbon liquid product ). using the more recent specific capital cost prediction of $ 50 , 000 per bbl / d hydrocarbon liquid product capacity , and assuming a $ 50 / bbl product price , the ratio of plant capital cost to total plant yearly revenue would vary from about 3 . 0 for a 34 , 000 bbl / d hydrocarbon liquid product plant to 31 for a 100 bbl / d hydrocarbon liquid product plant and 40 for a 50 bbl / d hydrocarbon liquid product plant . even with zero costs for operating and maintenance ( i . e ., all revenue is profit ) the time to pay back initial investment on such micro - scale plants is longer than the typical plant lifespan of 20 - 30 years . with the same $ 50 / bbl product value assumption , actual total yearly revenues for these micro - scale 50 - 100 bbl / d hydrocarbon liquid product plants would range from about $ 850 , 000 to $ 1 , 600 , 000 . the large ( 14 , 000 to 45 , 000 bbl / d ) methanol based gtl plants that have recently been constructed ( e . g . completed in 2005 - 2006 ) have ranged in specific cost from about $ 90 , 000 to $ 180 , 000 per metric ton per day methanol capacity . these plants were largely completed before the recent large escalation in engineering , procurement and construction ( epc ) costs occurred . taking $ 100 , 000 per metric ton / day at 20 , 000 bbl / d methanol capacity , a normal scale factor of 0 . 6 would predict a specific cost of $ 10 - 15 million for a micro - scale methanol gtl plant producing 100 - 200 bbl / d methanol . the most recent small methanol plant that has been constructed ( a metaprocess plant for novatec in russia , 2007 ) reportedly cost about $ 10 million for approximately 250 bbl / d methanol capacity , consistent with a scale factor of about 0 . 7 . assuming a methanol product value of $ 1 . 00 per gallon ($ 42 / bbl ) actual total yearly revenues for these micro - scale 100 - 200 bbl / d methanol plants would range from about $ 1 , 500 , 000 to $ 3 , 000 , 000 , while that from a $ 280 million capital 22 , 000 bbl / d conventional plant would be about $ 320 million . the ratio of plant capital cost divided by yearly revenue would therefore range from 0 . 875 for a large plant to 5 - 6 for a micro - scale plant , or by about a factor of 5 . 5 to 7 . 0 . this is somewhat better than the factor of 10 calculated for ft based plants above , although it does not include more recent epc cost increases , but still suggests it would be difficult to achieve any return on investment ( pay back the initial plant capital costs ), even with very low or zero operating costs . thus , to achieve economic feasibility , plant capital investment costs for such micro - scale gtl plants must be significantly lower than the values predicted from large plant configurations , approaching a factor of 5 - 10 ( or more ) times lower , and annual total operating and maintenance costs should be much lower than the relatively small total annual revenue stream . to achieve these economic targets , certain changes to conventional plants may be necessary . capital costs may be minimized by minimizing the number of unit operations . the number of vessels , instruments , and rotating equipment may also be minimized . such micro - scale gtl plants are preferably not individually designed and engineered , but rather are engineered as a small number of standard designs that may be mass produced . the trains may be shop fabricated , modular , and fit within normal truck bed shipping size constraints , e . g ., 8 ft .× 10 ft .× 40 ft . and less than about 20 tons total weight each . alternatively , a single processing unit may be shop fabricated in more than one module , depending on targeted capacity and / or specific technology requirements . for the very exothermic syngas generation and ft / oxygenate synthesis processes , heat exchanger size may be minimized , utilizing , for example , advanced finned tube designs . in some instances , required utilities , typically electrical power and boiler feed water / steam systems , may be applied as widely as possible , minimizing the number of different utilities included in the plant package . in some embodiments of the invention , the syngas production includes use of a hydrogenative pre - reformer . pre - reformers for use in syngas generation are described in detail in u . s . application ser . no . 12 / 061 , 355 , filed on apr . 2 , 2008 , entitled “ hydrogenating pre - reformer in synthesis gas production processes ,” the disclosure of which is incorporated in its entirety herein by reference . operating costs may also be minimized . in some instances , the micro - scale gtl plants may be highly , if not completely , automated . in other instances , the automated control systems may be capable of remote monitoring and control . in some instances , feed costs may be minimized , by use , for example , of stranded and / or non - pipeline standard ( sub - quality ) natural gas , most types of coal , and / or waste - stream biomass ( including but not limited to , poultry litter , sawmill wastes , agricultural residues , ( kraft paper process ) black liquor , municipal solid waste ). these latter , non - ng feedstock sources , will typically require alternative synthesis gas manufacturing processes , such as gasification , a large number of which are known in the art . maintenance frequency and costs may also be minimized by judicious equipment selection and process design and layout . in some instances , connections are welded ( to avoid leaks associated with gaskets and fittings ) except where maintenance constraints dictate flanges or other non - welded connections . small - scale materials of construction considerations may result in “ alloying up ” to fecr ( or higher ) alloys , compared to the more common large plant carbon steels . it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that the foregoing embodiments of the invention may be practiced in connection with processes that produce : ( 1 ) only fischer - tropsch products ; ( 2 ) only oxygenate products , including not only methanol and / or dimethyl ether ( dme ) but also c 2 + alcohols , including for example , ethanol ( etoh ), propanol , butanol , pentanol , etc ., as well as tert - amyl alcohol ( taa ), and tert - butyl alcohol ( tba ); ( 3 ) a combination of fischer - tropsch and oxygenate products , ( 4 ) particularly fischer - tropsch products and methanol , ( 5 ) any type of oxidative or non - oxidative ( direct ) methane coupling — typically to methanol , mixtures of ethylene ( and / or higher olefins )— which can be polymerized to gasoline or diesel range products — and ethane ( and / or higher paraffins )— which can be dehydrogenated to olefins and then polymerized — and / or aromatics ; ( 6 ) methane pyrolysis to acetylene followed by hydrogenation to ethylene and polymerization of the ethylene product ( see , e . g ., u . s . pat . nos . 6 , 130 , 260 ; 6 , 323 , 24 ; 6 , 433 , 235 ; 6 , 602 , 920 ; 7 , 045 , 670 ; 7 , 119 , 240 ; 7 , 183 , 451 ; and 7 , 208 , 647 , the disclosures of which are incorporated herein in their entirety ), and ( 7 ) processes based on bromine —( see , e . g ., u . s . pat . nos . 7 , 348 , 464 ; 7 , 244 , 867 ; 7 , 161 , 050 ; 7 , 148 , 390 ; 7 , 019 , 182 ; 6 , 713 , 655 ; 6 , 525 , 230 ; 6 , 486 , 368 ; 6 , 472 , 572 ; 6 , 465 , 699 ; 6 , 465 , 696 ; 6 , 462 , 243 ; and 6 , 403 , 840 , the disclosures of which are incorporated herein in their entirety ), chlorine —( see , e . g ., u . s . pat . nos . 4 , 199 , 533 ; 4 , 467 , 127 ; and 4 , 513 , 092 , the disclosures of which are incorporated herein in their entirety ), and / or sulfur —( see , e . g ., u . s . pat . nos . 7 , 282 , 603 and 6 , 380 , 444 , the disclosures of which are incorporated herein in their entirety ) containing intermediates . methods of direct methane coupling are disclosed in u . s . pat . nos . 7 , 291 , 321 ; 7 , 250 , 543 ; 7 , 176 , 342 ; 7 , 033 , 551 ; 7 , 022 , 888 ; 6 , 924 , 401 ; 6 , 821 , 500 ; 6 , 596 , 912 ; 6 , 576 , 803 ; 6 , 552 , 243 ; 6 , 518 , 476 ; 6 , 500 , 313 ; re37 , 853 ; 6 , 414 , 195 ; 6 , 403 , 523 ; 6 , 380 , 444 ; 6 , 375 , 832 ; 6 , 326 , 407 ; 6 , 294 , 701 ; 6 , 159 , 432 ; 6 , 087 , 545 ; 6 , 028 , 228 ; 5 , 959 , 170 ; 5 , 936 , 135 ; 5 , 935 , 293 ; 5 , 877 , 387 ; 5 , 849 , 973 ; 5 , 817 , 904 ; 5 , 763 , 722 ; 5 , 750 , 821 ; 5 , 749 , 937 ; 5 , 736 , 107 ; 5 , 712 , 217 ; re35 , 633 ; re35 , 632 ; 5 , 670 , 442 ; 5 , 625 , 107 ; 5 , 599 , 510 ; 5 , 585 , 515 ; 5 , 527 , 978 ; 5 , 430 , 219 ; 5 , 414 , 157 ; 5 , 406 , 017 ; 5 , 345 , 011 ; 5 , 345 , 010 ; 5 , 336 , 825 ; 5 , 328 , 575 ; 5 , 321 , 188 ; 5 , 321 , 187 ; 5 , 321 , 185 ; 5 , 316 , 995 ; 5 , 312 , 795 ; 5 , 306 , 683 ; 5 , 276 , 237 ; 5 , 260 , 497 ; 5 , 254 , 778 ; 5 , 246 , 550 ; 5 , 245 , 124 ; 5 , 245 , 109 ; 5 , 238 , 898 ; 5 , 223 , 471 ; 5 , 220 , 080 ; 5 , 214 , 226 ; 5 , 212 , 139 ; 5 , 204 , 308 ; 5 , 198 , 596 ; 5 , 196 , 634 ; 5 , 177 , 294 ; 5 , 157 , 189 ; 5 , 157 , 188 ; 5 , 146 , 027 ; 5 , 132 , 482 ; 5 , 132 , 481 ; 5 , 130 , 286 ; 5 , 118 , 898 ; 5 , 118 , 654 ; 5 , 113 , 032 ; 5 , 105 , 053 ; 5 , 105 , 046 ; 5 , 105 , 044 ; 5 , 095 , 161 ; 5 , 093 , 542 ; 5 , 082 , 816 ; 5 , 081 , 324 ; 5 , 077 , 446 ; 5 , 073 , 657 ; 5 , 073 , 656 ; 5 , 071 , 815 ; 5 , 068 , 486 ; 5 , 068 , 215 ; 5 , 066 , 629 ; 5 , 061 , 670 ; 5 , 053 , 578 ; 5 , 051 , 390 ; 5 , 041 , 405 ; 5 , 028 , 577 ; 5 , 026 , 947 ; 5 , 026 , 945 ; 5 , 024 , 984 ; 5 , 015 , 799 ; 5 , 015 , 461 ; 5 , 012 , 028 ; 5 , 004 , 856 ; 4 , 997 , 802 ; 4 , 996 , 382 ; 4 , 992 , 409 ; 4 , 988 , 660 ; 4 , 982 , 041 ; 4 , 968 , 655 ; 4 , 962 , 261 ; 4 , 952 , 547 ; 4 , 939 , 312 ; 4 , 939 , 311 ; 4 , 939 , 310 ; 4 , 929 , 797 ; 4 , 929 , 787 ; 4 , 921 , 685 ; 4 , 918 , 257 ; 4 , 918 , 249 ; 4 , 914 , 252 ; 4 , 886 , 931 ; 4 , 849 , 571 ; 4 , 827 , 071 ; 4 , 822 , 944 ; 4 , 814 , 539 ; 4 , 808 , 563 ; 4 , 801 , 762 ; 4 , 795 , 849 ; 4 , 795 , 848 ; 4 , 795 , 842 ; 4 , 794 , 100 ; 4 , 791 , 079 ; 4 , 788 , 372 ; 4 , 783 , 572 ; 4 , 769 , 507 ; 4 , 754 , 095 ; 4 , 754 , 094 ; 4 , 754 , 093 ; 4 , 754 , 091 ; 4 , 751 , 336 ; 4 , 751 , 055 ; 4 , 743 , 575 ; 4 , 734 , 537 ; 4 , 728 , 636 ; 4 , 727 , 212 ; 4 , 727 , 211 ; 4 , 727 , 207 ; 4 , 727 , 205 ; 4 , 721 , 828 ; 4 , 704 , 496 ; 4 , 704 , 493 ; 4 , 704 , 488 ; 4 , 704 , 487 ; 4 , 695 , 668 ; 4 , 678 , 862 ; 4 , 672 , 144 ; 4 , 670 , 619 ; 4 , 665 , 261 ; 4 , 665 , 260 ; 4 , 665 , 259 ; 4 , 658 , 077 ; 4 , 658 , 076 ; 4 , 654 , 460 ; 4 , 634 , 800 ; 4 , 620 , 057 ; 4 , 613 , 718 ; 4 , 593 , 139 ; 4 , 568 , 785 ; 4 , 560 , 821 ; 4 , 554 , 395 ; 4 , 547 , 611 ; 4 , 547 , 608 ; 4 , 544 , 787 ; 4 , 544 , 786 ; 4 , 544 , 785 ; 4 , 544 , 784 ; 4 , 523 , 050 ; 4 , 523 , 049 ; 4 , 517 , 398 ; 4 , 499 , 324 ; 4 , 499 , 323 ; 4 , 499 , 322 ; 4 , 495 , 374 ; 4 , 489 , 215 ; 4 , 465 , 893 ; 4 , 450 , 310 ; 4 , 444 , 984 ; 4 , 443 , 649 ; 4 , 443 , 648 ; 4 , 443 , 647 ; 4 , 443 , 646 ; 4 , 443 , 645 ; 4 , 443 , 644 , the disclosures of which are incorporated herein in their entirety . as described above , a small number of different unit designs may be contemplated before engineering and design costs become uneconomical . in general , different designs may be based on different technology and / or product platforms ( e . g ., methanol , dimethyl ether , and / or fischer - tropsch liquids ), although a small number of otherwise identical units of different size / capacity could also be effective . in either case , it is unlikely that either a single or a small number of different sized ( i . e . different capacity ) units could be optimally applied to a large fraction of the small , stranded and / or remote ng fields available for monetization with these technologies . as shown above , for a larger chosen capacity there are a smaller number of available , appropriately sized fields , and the larger fields are less likely to be stranded , as the larger reserves and higher production rates more easily justify construction of an ng gathering and transportation ( e . g ., pipeline ) system . there are some constraints on potential unit size . at some minimum size , in the range of about 10 to about 20 bbl / d hydrocarbon liquid product , or 50 - 200 , 000 scfd ng feed rates , micro - scale gtl units will be “ too small ” to be economical . at some maximum size , they will be too large to be readily transportable . as described above , the maximum size is highly dependent on the specific technologies used and their packaging . in the case of a complete unit contained in a single standard shipping container sized module ( i . e . 8 ft .× 10 ft .× 40 ft . and less than about 20 tons total weight ), the maximum size is likely less than between about 150 and about 200 bbl / d hydrocarbon liquid product , and is probably less than about 100 to about 150 bbl / d ( e . g . 200 to about 300 bbl / d methanol ). while the single standard shipping container size is an important consideration for ease in transportation , technology specific requirements may require modifications . synthesis reactor size and / or geometry requirements may , for example , require a second , taller structure , in order to accommodate a reactor height larger than 8 - 10 feet , that would be shipped as a separate module and connected to the primary module at the ng production site . choosing a relatively small and fully transportable , but large enough to be economical , standard plant size , in the range of between about 200 and about 1 , 000 mscfd ng feed rate , and more preferably about 500 mscfd , yields the best overall solution to the problems of monetizing small , stranded gas sources described above . such micro - scale gtl units are small enough to be readily transportable , such that a typically short resource life ( e . g . & lt ;& lt ; 20 - 30 years ) does not irreparably debit the project economics ; once an ng field / resource is depleted the unit can be relocated to another ng source . if the ng production is significantly greater than the capacity of a single micro - scale gtl unit (˜ 500 mscfd or greater ), additional micro - scale gtl units may be employed in parallel . in theory , there is no limit to the number of micro - scale gtl units that could be employed at the same ng source , although something in the range of between about 15 and about 20 units is probably a practical limit due to the fact that larger ng sources are increasingly less likely to be stranded . as ng production decreases , units can be removed and relocated to other ng sources so that equipment underutilization is minimized or eliminated . however , if ng production later increases significantly , for example after a well stimulation , or other , treatment , additional micro - scale gtl units may be supplied and connected to effectively and efficiently monetize the additional ng feedstock . the liquid production rate for such a unit can vary , depending strongly on feed gas rate — which may be decreased by up to 50 % ( or more ) depending on well or field production — as well as gas composition , especially the concentrations of inert gases such as helium or nitrogen ( which decrease production ), co 2 ( which can increase production somewhat ), and higher hydrocarbons such as ethane , propane , butane , etc . ( which can increase production markedly ). it is common for low ng production wells , especially those at very low pressures , on artificial lift , and / or relatively late in production life , to produce only intermittently . the resulting highly variable flow rate ( s ) can be problematic for downstream production and / or conversion equipment , such as compressors and reactors . under such conditions , it is common to employ intermediate gas storage and / or tankage to provide a buffer to smooth out the flow rate . alternatively in - fill ng wells may be drilled and added over time and / or multiple ng wells in the area may be tied in to a gathering system to average out the individually varying flows . most conventional on shore processing plants are relatively large and expected to operate for at least 20 to 30 years , although in practice many operations continue at a single site for significantly longer periods of time . site remediation , clean - up , and restoration is therefore not commonly considered prior to construction and operation of the plant . more commonly , site remediation , clean - up , and restoration would only be considered in light of a possible decision to permanently shut the facility down . for micro - scale gtl plants , the ng resource is not expected to produce indefinitely but rather to produce ng about 1 to about 10 years . therefore , site remediation , clean - up , and restoration should be considered from the onset of production planning , much like the current situation in traditional oil and / or gas production , or , for example , in surface coal mining . thus traditional permanent infrastructures , especially foundations and / or slabs , would typically be only minimally employed , and large changes and / or modifications to the site avoided . in general , all equipment modules will be self - supporting , not requiring extensive foundations , with drain pans to collect any leakages of liquids , and for safe movement to a drain system for disposal . storage tanks will be packaged in a manner that will not require foundations at the site , except for compacted ground and liners to contain any spills . any concrete that was required to be installed during the site preparation and / or construction could be removed when operations are terminated . startup procedures and other embodiments of the invention are described in detail in u . s . application ser . no . 12 / 104 , 161 filed on apr . 16 , 2008 entitled “ micro scale fischer - tropsch and oxygenate synthesis process startup unit ,” the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety .	2
referring to fig1 the memory connected state detecting circuit according to the present invention comprises a timing circuit 1 responsive to a read mode signal readm , which is provided by outside means such as microprocessor not shown and a clock signal ck for producing different signals such as different timing signals φd , φl , φx , read / write control signal r / w , a chip select signal ce , and address information ao - ax , a switching circuit 3 for supplying write data to a data bus b so as to store it in a ram , and a data latch circuit 5 for latching the data read out of the ram to the data bus b and for producing it therefrom . although not shown in the figure , but controlled by the r / w signal and a chip select signal ce produced from timing circuit 1 , information or data is either written into or read from each of memory locations of addresses designated by the address information ao - ax . the write data wd to be written into the ram is applied to the data bus b from an and circuit 19 provided at the switching circuit 3 . on the other hand , the data which has been read from the ram is produced , through a d - type flip flop 23 of the data latch 5 , from the data bus b . the switching circuit 3 comprises a first switch 9 for raising the data bus b to + v voltage through resistor 7 , an inverter 11 for supplying an inverted signal of the read mode signal readm so as to control the switch 9 , a second switch 13 connected directly to the data bus b and controlled by the signal r / w through the inverter 15 , and circuits 21 and 19 connected respectively to an or circuit 17 , the output of which is connected to one terminal of the switch 13 , and an inverter 22 connected to one input of the and circuit 19 . the other input of the and circuit 19 is applied with a write data wd , while one input of the and circuit 21 is connected to the ground and the other input of and and circut 21 is supplied with the signal φd . the data latch circuit 5 comprises a first d - type flip flop 23 for latching the read data rd , a second d - type flip - flop 25 for latching a predetermined data for checking whether or not the ram is connected , that is , a low level data in this embodiment , an and circut 27 , the output of which is connected to the clock input c of the first d - type flip flop 23 , and a second and circuit 29 connected to the output q of the second d - type flip flop 25 , and an inverter 31 connected to the input of the and circuit 29 . to the input of the and circuit 29 , there is also applied a timing signal φl and a read mode signal readm through the inverter 31 as well as the output signal from the output q of the flip flop 25 . a no - connection signal over is produced from the and circut 29 , which is indicates that the address area which was not included in the memory area of a ram mounted to the system has been accessed . t0 the clock input c of the second d - type flip flop 25 , there is supplied with the timing signal φx and to each of the data inputs d of the first and second d - type flip flop 23 and 25 , there is connected the data bus b . the read data rd is produced from the output q of the first d - type flip flop 23 . with the memory connected state detecting circuit thus constructed , before writing into each of designated addresses the information supplied by the microprocessor not shown , predetermined data for checking , i . e ., low level data in this case , is written into the designated address and just after this operation , the data thus written is read out of the address , so as to carry out a memory verification operation . after this operation , the information supplied from the microprocessor is written into the address designated . in the memory verification operation , when the written data is equal to the read - out data , the ram or rams thus mounted to the system is available up to a certain address area in question . on the other hand , however , when the actual address area of the ram memory thus connected does not reach the address in question , the written data will differ from the read - out data , thereby producing an non - available signal or no - connection signal over . the operation of the memory connected state detecting circuit will now be described with reference to the timing charts of fig2 and 3 . first of all , the operation of the read mode is decribed . the read mode is same as that of the normal read operation and the read mode signal readm is in high level condition . as a result , the switch 9 is in the off condition and only the and circuit 27 passes the read mode signal readm with the timing signal φl , unless an output signal is not produced by the blocking of the and circuit 29 . also , in this case , the read / write control signal r / w is in a high level condition and information is applied to the ram by designating the read mode . the switch 13 is in the off condition in this case . the address information ao - ax is applied to the ram by designating an address of the ram to be read . when the chip select signal ce is produced in this condition , the information is read from the designated address in the ram into the data bus b . the data thus read into the data bus b is applied to the data input d of the first d - type flip flop 23 . accordingly , when the timing signal φl is produced at this time , the data is latched on the d - type flip flop 23 through the and circuit 27 and it is read out of the output terminal q of the flip flop 23 . in the write mode , the read mode signal readm and read / write control signal r / w are both low level , so that the switches 9 and 13 are rendered on condition respectively . as a result , the and circuit 29 is gated by the inverted signal of the read mode signal readm through the inverter 31 . in this write mode , one cycle of the address information a is divided into four subcycles having equal time periods of t0 , t1 , t2 , and t3 . in the first time period of t0 , the predetermined data for checking , i . e ., the data having low level is written into the designated address into which information should be written and in the next time period t1 , the predetermined data for checking which has just been written is read therefrom . if the result of the data thus read is not correct , the no - connection signal over is produced from the and circuit 29 . in the time period t3 , the information to be written in the ram , which is being supplied from the microprocessor not shown is written . in this case the timing signal φd is made high level in the first time period t0 in order to write the predetermined data for checking while the timing signal φx is also made high level in the time period t1 so as to latch the predetermined data for checking , which has been read in the next time period t1 , on the second d - type flip flip 25 . when the data thus latched on the second d - type flip flop 25 is not correct , the output signal from the second d - type flip flop 25 is gated by the timing signal ol in the and circuit 29 in order to produce the no - connection signal over since the timing signal φl is made high level in the third time period of t2 . on the other hand , the read / write control signal r / w is made low level in the time periods t0 and t2 in order to designate the write mode while in the time period of t1 it is made high level in order to designate the read mode . the chip select signal ce is repeated in high and low level conditions alternatively so as to designate the ram in each of the time periods . the address information ao - ax is maintained at same value in one cycle consisting of the time periods of t0 to t4 . after the write mode , the designated address is produced from the timing circuit 1 as address information a0 - ax so as to write desired information from the microprocessor , while the write data wd is applied to the and circuit 19 . in this condition , the timing signal φd becomes high level in the first time period t0 and the output signal from the or circuit 17 becomes low level due to the inverted signal of the timing signal φd through the inverter 22 . the low level signal thus produced in applied to the data bus b through the switch 13 , as a low level write signal . this low level write signal indicates the predetermined data for checking . in the time period t0 , the read / write control signal r / w is made low level . consequently , when the chip select signal ce becomes low level at this time , a particular memory location of the ram is designated and the predetermined data for checking , i . e ., the data having a low level is written in the designated address . in the next time period t1 , the timing signal φd becomes low level while the read / write control signal r / w becomes high level , thereby designating the read mode . the high level r / w signal is inverted by the inverter 15 and it turns off the switch 13 . in this case , the write data wd is blocked so as not to supply to the data bus b through the and circuit 19 and the or circuit 17 . in the time period t1 , when the read / write control signal r / w becomes high level while the chip select signal ce becomes low level , the low level signal as the predetermined data for checking , which has been written in the time period t0 from the designated address of the ram is read in the data bus b . the data thus read is applied to the data input d of the second d - type flip flop 25 from the data bus b . when the timing signal φx is supplied to the clock terminal c of the second d - type flip flop 25 , it is latched in the d - type flip flop 25 . the signal thus latched is applied to the and circuit 29 from the output q of the flip flop 25 . when the timing signal φl is produced in the next time period t2 , it is produced from the and circuit 29 . since the predetermined data for checking is same as the low level signal which has been written in the time period t0 , the signal read in the time period t1 will be a low level signal , just as the signal produced from the and circuit 29 through the second d - type flip flop 25 will also be the low level signal . this means that the ram is connected to the designated address in question . on the other hand , when the read signal is of high level , its level differs from that of the written data , the no - connection signal having high level is produced from the and circuit 29 , thereby detecting that the ram is not mounted to the designated address in question . moreover , when the read / write control signal r / w becomes low level in the time period t2 , the switch 13 is turned on and the write data wd is applied to the data bus b . accordingly , when in this case the chip select signal ce becomes low level , the write data wd is written in the designated address in the ram . in the foregoing embodiment , the predetermined data to be written for checking has been described as a low level signal , it is apparent that it is not limited to the low level signal but it may be a high level signal . in the memory connected state detecting circuit according to the present invention , since predetermined information is read just after the information has been written in a designated address in question in a write mode operation , and the memory connected state can be detected by the comparison of the read - out information with the predetermined information , a hardware structure can be simplified and economical as specific switches , terminals , wiring used in the prior art are not needed . in addition , additional spaces are not required because of the miniturization of the circuit and a malfunction , such as erroneous setting up of the switches can also be prevented from occuring , unlike the one according to the prior art . while the invention has been described in its preferred embodiment , it is to be understood that the words which have been used are words of description rather than limitation and that various changes and modification may be made within the purview of the appended claims without departing from the true scope and spirit of the invention in its broader aspects .	6
before the present invention is described in detail in terms of its preferred embodiments , it is to be understood that this invention is not limited to the particular arrangement of parts shown , as such devices may , of course , vary . it is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only , and is not intended to be limiting . in the following discussion , the embodiments involving a rotating brush or a brush - type device will be addressed first ; following that , the embodiments involving a centrifugal clutch will be considered , and then the air propelled top will be discussed . fig1 shows one embodiment of the present invention incorporating a top generally represented by the numeral 1 and a propelling means generally designated by the numeral 2 . the top 1 has an upper surface 3 that has a depressed region 4 therein . the bottom 5 of the depressed region 4 may have a roughened surface or may have radially disposed projections or recessions 6 therein , as illustrated in fig2 or is otherwise adapted to engage frictionally with the rotating brush . the top 1 may have an outer wall 7 and a tip 8 which rests on a surface 9 . the propelling means 2 consists of a brush 10 having a stock 11 to which are attached the bristles 12 . the brush 10 is connected to a shaft 13 of a motor 14 that is mounted in a housing 15 . the housing 15 is connected by means of a ball - and - socket joint 16 or by some other means to a tubular rod 17 . the joint 16 allows the angle which the brush subtends to the ground to be adjusted by the user . tubular rod 17 is telescopically mounted inside another tubular rod 18 . the telescoping feature of the handle is beneficial in allowing the user to adjust the length of the device to accommodate his / her height ; however , some embodiments of the invention may not include this adjustable feature . at the end of the hollow rod 18 opposite its connection to rod 17 is a battery holder 19 containing one or more batteries 20 . mounted on the outside of battery holder 19 is a three - way switch 21 for turning the power on and off , with the option of reversing the polarity of the voltage in the on - mode . the power is transmitted from the battery 20 via the switch 21 and the wires 22 and 23 to the motor 14 . a handle 24 may be used for holding the propelling means 2 . fig3 shows an alternative embodiment of the spinning top 25 wherein the depressed region 26 in the upper surface of the top is essentially conical in shape . the inner wall 27 of top 26 may be roughened or may have projections or recessions 28 therein , or is otherwise adapted to frictionally engage with the rotating brush . fig4 shows an embodiment of a brush 29 that may be particularly useful for propelling the top 25 of fig3 . the bristles 30 in brush 29 are arranged in an essentially conical form to engage with the conical cavity of the top 25 in a self - centering manner . such self - centering of the propelling means was found to be an advantageous and desirable feature of the present invention . alternatively , instead of the top as shown in fig3 with a conical cavity , the upper part of the top may be in the form of a cone with its point oriented upwards ; correspondingly , the brush would then be in the from of a hollow cone that would fit like a cap over the upper part of the top . fig5 shows an embodiment of the propelling means 31 consisting of a brush 32 connected by means of a shaft 33 to a motor 34 powered by battery 35 mounted in a housing 36 . the power to the motor 34 is controlled by the switch 37 . in this case the propelling means 31 is held by the user holding the housing 36 in his / her hand . the propelling means 31 illustrated in fig5 is especially suitable for driving a top on a table or other such surface whereas the propelling means 2 of fig1 is particularly suitable for driving a top on the floor or ground . fig6 shows another embodiment of the propelling means 38 wherein a cylinder 39 surrounds , in part , the body of the top 1 . the rotatable brush 40 is centrally mounted inside the nonrotatable cylinder 39 . in other embodiments of this device , the cylinder that surrounds the top may be rotatable with the brush . the cylinder serves to maintain the stationary , or slowly rotating , top in an upright position . the cylinder 39 is preferably transparent so that the top can be seen by the user when encircled by this cylinder . fig7 and 9 show embodiments of devices for holding the top in an upright manner during the initiation of its spinning and while it is spinning slowly . the holding means , 41 , in fig7 consists of a support 42 having a depression 43 into which the tip 8 of the top 1 can be fit for the purpose of holding the top 1 in an upright position . fig8 shows an embodiment of the holding device 44 consisting of a flat portion 45 having a hollow cylinder 46 located thereon . the tip 8 of top 1 is inserted into the hole 47 of cylinder 46 for the purpose of holding the top 1 upright . fig9 shows another embodiment of the holding means 48 consisting of a cylinder 49 and a handle 50 which is held by the user in the hand opposite to that used for holding the propelling means . the tip 8 of the top 1 is mounted in the cavity 51 to maintain the stationary or slowly rotating top in an essentially upright position . the propelling means discussed above ( fig1 and 6 ) are all driven by an electric motor . alternatively , the brush may be spun by means of a hand powered device . for example , fig1 shows a gun - shaped device 52 having a brush 53 attached to the end of its &# 34 ; barrel &# 34 ; 54 . the handle 55 is held in one &# 39 ; s hand and , by pulling the trigger 56 the brush 53 can be rotated . the device 52 has an internal mechanism comprising gears , or pulleys , or shafts for converting the compression energy from one &# 39 ; s hand into rotational energy of the brush 53 . the device 52 may also have a flywheel to facilitate its operation . the top - cum - propelling means of the present invention is operated as follows : the brush 10 of propelling means 2 ( fig1 ) is positioned inside the hollow depression 4 of the top 1 and the top 1 is held with its central axis substantially vertical and with its tip 8 on a surface 9 . the motor 14 is started by putting switch 21 into the on position and this causes the brush 10 to spin rapidly . the bristles 12 of brush 10 engage frictionally with the projections or recessions 6 of the surface 5 , or with the roughened surface of face 5 ; this causes the top 1 to rotate in the same direction as the brush ( all rotations in this specification being viewed by looking down on the device from above ). when the top 1 is spinning sufficiently rapidly , the brush 10 can be removed from the hollow region 4 of top 1 , and the top 1 continues to spin . by successively reinserting the rotating brush into the hollow region 4 of top 1 and contacting the bristles 12 with surface 5 , the top is repetitively re - energized and can maintain spinning in this manner indefinitely . by moving the spinning brush 10 horizontally while it is engaged with the top 1 the top 1 can be readily maneuvered to different locations on surface 9 . the direction of rotation of top 1 can be controlled by the position of switch 21 . a feature of the present invention is that the axis of rotation of the propelling means ( i . e . shaft 13 ) is essentially coaxial with the axis of rotation of the top during energy transfer from the propelling means to the top ; consequently , the top is forced to rotate in the same direction as the revolving brush . the embodiment of the top 25 shown in fig3 and the embodiment of the brush 29 shown in fig4 facilitate the centering of the brush 29 in the hollow region 26 of top 25 because the conically shaped cavity 26 in top 2 symmetrically accommodates the conically distributed bristles 30 on brush 29 . the inventor has found that the conical - shaped cavity 26 a shown in fig3 is also quite effective in centering a brush of the general shape shown by 10 in fig1 . the propelling means 2 of fig1 may be held by the user at handle 24 and the length of the device may be adjusted to accommodate users of different heights by means of the telescoping section in which section 17 slides into or out of section 18 . the telescoping section may be locked in the desired position by conventional means such as , for example , by friction or by a tightening screw . until the user has gained a little practice in using the propelling means 2 of fig1 it is desirable to use both hands to hold the propelling means . the embodiment of the propelling means 31 shown in fig5 where the housing 36 is held directly in the user &# 39 ; s hand is particularly convenient when the top is to be spun on a table or other such surface ; this propelling means is easier to use than that shown in fig1 . in the embodiment of the propelling means 38 shown in fig6 the cylindrical shell 39 surrounds part of top 1 and thereby serves to maintain the top 1 in an upright position during initiation of its spinning . the devices depicted in fig7 and 9 show means for holding the top in an upright position when the top is being started . the top is set into the cavity while it is stationary and is then rotated by the revolving brush . the platform 45 in fig8 adds extra stability to the top - supporting cylinder 46 . the handle 50 in fig9 is held in the user &# 39 ; s hand and prevents the cylinder 49 from being tossed aside by reaction from the spinning top . the brush in the present invention may be driven by an electric motor . alternatively , as illustrated in fig1 , the brush may be hand - propelled by pulling trigger 56 on gunlike device 52 . the internal mechanism on device 52 can be conventional . another embodiment of the propelling brush is shown in fig1 , where the bristles 57 are mounted on the inner wall of a cap - shaped device 58 that loosely encircles the upper part of a top . as shown in fig1 , the bristles may not all be parallel to each other . fig1 shows an embodiment of a top 59 which has bristles 60 attached to its upper surface ; in this case the top 59 is propelled by contact between the bristles 60 and the bristles or other surface on the rotating brush of the propelling means . in this case , the &# 34 ; brush &# 34 ; of the propelling means may be devoid of bristles and may simply have a surface that engages frictionally with the bristles 60 on top 59 fig1 shows a design of top 61 that is very readily started by contact with the propelling means of the present invention . top 61 is more flat and discus - like in shape and is readily started spinning on its tip 62 when contacted with the revolving brush without any additional help from the user and without the need for any of the auxiliary devices illustrated in fig7 and 9 . the meaning of the word &# 34 ; brush &# 34 ; in the context of the present specification is broad and is intended to embrace not only a bristle - containing object , but any such device capable of engaging frictionally or otherwise with the top such as a rubber pad , felt pad , plastic pad , wood pad , cloth pad or any other resilient or nonresilient means . for example , the brush may consist of the section 11 ( fig1 ) without having any bristles attached ; in this case , the top is driven by frictional contact between the element 11 and the top 1 . or , instead of bristles , the brush may have small rubber spikes or teeth for frictionally engaging with the top . in fig1 an impeller 63 consists of an elongated rod , or bar 64 mounted on shaft 65 . fig1 shows a top view of top 66 for use association with impeller 63 ; top 66 has a hollow region 67 with two or more projections 68 which engage with the spinning bar 64 of impeller 63 and which can also be readily disengaged therefrom . in this case , the interaction between the brush and the top is more of a &# 34 ; pushing &# 34 ; reaction than a frictional engagement , and such interactions are considered to be within the domain of this patent . it has also been found that a plurality of projections 68 as shown in fig1 can be beneficial in association with a bristle - containing brush such as that shown in fig1 and 5 . when the brush 10 is rotated at a very rapid rate , the bristles 12 bend outwards radially due to centrifugal force ; in this case the bristles can engage with the side - walls of cavity 4 in top 1 . based on this concept , another modification of the brush of the present invention is illustrated o fig1 . the brush 69 in fig1 is essentially a centrifugal clutch consisting of two or more legs 70 attached to a base 71 which , in turn , is attached to the shaft 72 of the propelling motor . attached to the lower ends of legs 70 are pads 73 . the pads 73 are positioned within the cavity 4 of top 1 ; when the motor is turned on , the rotating pads 73 move outwards from each other by centrifugal force and engage with the inner walls of cavity 4 in top 1 , thereby causing the top 1 to rotate in the same direction as the motor . when the power to the motor is turned off the legs 70 and attached pads 73 stop rotating and the pads retract to their former position due to the spring action of legs 70 , and thereby disengage from the top 1 . the centrifugal clutch 69 can be readily engaged with and disengaged from the top by starting and stopping the motor . the centrifugal clutch of this invention may take many other forms such as that shown in fig1 , consisting of a shaft 74 attached to axle 75 of the motor ; a tubular section 76 contains a spring 77 that is anchored at point 78 to the tubular section 76 ; pads 79 are attached to opposite ends of spring 77 . when the device of fig1 is rotated , the pads 79 move outwards due to centrifugal force and can engage with the inner walls of the cavity 4 of a top 1 and thus cause it to spin . the pads 73 of fig1 and pads 79 of fig1 can be made from any suitable resilient or nonresilient material , such as rubber , felt , wood , plastic , metal , cloth , etc . when used in association with the centrifugal clutch of fig1 or 17 , the inner walls of cavity 4 in top 1 are fabricated to engage efficiently with the pads 73 or 79 of the centrifugal clutch . fig1 shows an embodiment of the propelling means 80 consisting of a motor 81 with its shaft 82 connected to a propeller 83 , all of these units being contained within a tubular housing 84 . the propeller 83 is rotated in a direction that draws air into the tubular housing 84 at its wide end 85 and expels the compressed air at its narrow end 86 . the motor is powered by a battery ( not shown ) or from the mains . fig1 shows a side view of a top 87 that is to be air - propelled . compressed air is injected into the cavity 88 and exits from tangentially disposed exit ports , two of which , 89 and 90 , are shown in fig1 . fig2 shows a top view of the compressed air - driven top of fig1 , showing the tangentially disposed exit ports 89 , 90 , 91 and 92 . when the compressed air that enters through the cavity 88 exits through the ports 89 , 90 , 91 and 92 , the top as illustrated in fig2 , is forced to rotate in a clockwise manner . other embodiments of the air compression means may also be used . a &# 34 ; central &# 34 ; air compressor with multiple manifolds to which a set of flexible tubes is attached may also be used ; in this case , each player uses one of these tubes as a source of compressed air to drive his / her top . in other embodiments , the top of fig1 and 20 may have the section 88 in the shape of a funnel with the wider end facing upwards to facilitate its engagement with the compressed air source . another way for centering the brush on the spinning top is illustrated in fig2 wherein the pin 93 is centrally located on brush 94 . the pin 93 fits comfortably into the channel 95 in top 96 . the channel 95 has a wider conical section 97 close to the upper surface 98 of this top ; this wider section 97 facilitates the entry of pin 93 into channel 95 . use of the pin 93 helps to stabilize the top when starting its spinning motion and it also serves to center the rotating brush on the top both during the initiation of its motion and while sustaining the spinning motion of the top . the top of the present invention may be played on the floor or on a table or on some other such surface indoors , or may be played on the ground outdoors . in either location , the top may be played on its own or in association with the tops of other players where the tops are forced to collide with each other in a battle game . the ability to drive the tops by repetitive contact with the revolving brush or centrifugal clutch or compressed air and the ability to translate the tops along the playing surface is a favorable feature of the present invention in the context of such top battles . the device of the present invention may also be equipped with a special arena within which the game is played for either the table - top or floor / ground versions of the game . fig2 shows a side view of an arena 99 for playing with tops 100 and 101 . in this case the propelling means 102 and 103 are both powered from a single , central power unit 104 by means of cables 105 and 106 . in other modifications the propelling means 107 may be powered by power - pack 108 that is held in one &# 39 ; s pocket or clipped to one &# 39 ; s belt or other clothing by means of a clip 109 , as shown in fig2 . the propelling means is connected to the power - pack by an electrical cable 110 . the top of the present invention may be made from wood , metal , plastic , rubber or other suitable material , or from a combination or composite of such materials . the body of the propelling means may be made from similar materials . many other embodiments of the device can be made which are within the scope of the present invention , for example , instead of the motor being battery - driven , it may be powered from a mains outlet . in addition , the walls of the propelling means may be constructed in part of electrically conducting material and this may serve to conduct the current from the power source to the motor . in addition , the cylinder 39 ( fig6 ) may be movable or removable relative to the brush 40 so that it can be retracted out of the area of the brush or removed completely once the top is spinning so as to facilitate subsequent contact between the brush 40 and the top 1 . the propelling means of the present invention may be used for initiating the spinning of , and for maintaining the spinning of , other objects besides tops . instead of , or in addition to , the three - way switch 21 shown in fig1 the handle 24 may contain a press button switch normally maintained in the off position by means of a spring ; the user presses the switch to drive the motor and releases the switch in the intervals between the propelling action . this helps to conserve power and also ensures that the motor is automatically turned off when the device is left down , thereby prolonging the battery life . other types of switches may also be used in the present invention . the brush on the propelling means may be replaceable in order to substitute a new brush for an old one or to use variously shaped brushes corresponding to variously shaped an variously sized tops . for a top of a given weight , it is best to have the mass concentrated near the outer edge of the top this increases the rotational energy for a given angular velocity of the top and thereby increases the stability of the spinning top and causes it to spin for a longer period . other features of the top could include a sound - making means and an internal centrifugal switch that lights a bulb from an internal battery when a sufficient angular velocity is attained . the bristles of the brush may be mounted at various angles with respect to the axis of the motor instead of being exactly parallel thereto . furthermore , the top does not necessarily have to have a depression 4 even in the absence of encircling cylinder 39 ; in such a case the rotating brush engages frictionally with the upper surface of the top . in addition to the circular tops illustrated in this specification , the outer walls of the top may be noncircular in cross - section or may have projecting segments thereon to facilitate their impact with other spinning tops in battles . the tops should be constructed from shatter - proof material , particularly if they are to be used for battling , they should be devoid of sharp edges and they should also be able to withstand the considerable centrifugal forces that are produced at the large angular velocities that can be achieved with this device . the cross - section of the rotating brush is preferably circular to minimize any abrupt contact with the user &# 39 ; s fingers , to facilitate uniform contact with the top and to minimize atmospheric friction . however , rectangular and other cross - sectional shapes for the brush also work very well . the torque generated by the motor should be sufficiently small that the rotation of the brush is readily stopped by contact with the user &# 39 ; s fingers for safety reasons . instead of using a motor to generate compressed air , other sources of compressed air may be used in association with the top of the present invention ; for example , compressed air may be produced by squeezing a rubber bulb , or an auxiliary tank of compressed air may be used . the instant invention is shown and described in what are considered the most practical and preferred embodiments . it is recognized , however , that departures may be made therefrom which are within the scope of this invention and that obvious modifications will occur to one skilled in the art upon reading this disclosure .	0
the inventors have conceived of novel technology for task tracking and allocation . for the purpose of illustration , this disclosure is organized around certain exemplary embodiments and uses of task tracking and allocation technology . however , it should be understood that those of ordinary skill in the art will be able to implement technology for task tracking and allocation which diverges from the explicit disclosure in this application without undue experimentation in light of the teachings set forth herein . therefore , the discussion herein should be understood as being illustrative only , and not limiting on the scope of claims which are set forth in this application , or which are included in future applications which claim the benefit of this application . turning now to the drawings , fig3 a depicts potential relationships between different types of entities which could be used in implementing certain aspects of this disclosure . while fig3 a is set forth in the form of a uml ( unified modeling language ) class diagram , it should be understood that the teachings of this disclosure could be implemented without reliance on classes . for example , entities having relationships such as depicted in fig3 a could be represented by data in a relational database , and accessed using front end software which may or may not be implemented using classes . similarly , it should be understood that the labels given for the entities shown in fig3 a are provided for ease of reference only , and should not be understood as implying that certain types of entities or relationships are required to be included in all implementations of this disclosure . accordingly , fig3 a , and the accompanying discussion should be understood as being exemplary of how relationships between certain types of entities can be maintained in some implementations , and should not be treated as implying limits on the scope of claims in this or any related application . as shown in fig3 a , one type of information which can be maintained and used in task tracking and allocation is information regarding users ( user records ) [ 301 ]. those user records [ 301 ] could be implemented to contain information related to specific individuals who might use , modify or review information stored for task tracking and allocation . for example , a user record [ 301 ] could include a contact identification ( e . g ., an email address ) which could be used to send notifications to the user corresponding to the user record . the user record [ 301 ] might also include other information , such as passwords , access control information , hourly rate , user skills , or availability , could also be included . of course , the information disclosed is intended to be illustrative only , and should not be treated as implying information which is required to be in a user record [ 301 ], or as implying that other information could not be included in a user record [ 301 ]. it should be understood that the particular information stored in user records [ 301 ] may vary from implementation to implementation , depending on the specifics of particular situations . also , as shown in fig3 a , in some implementations there might be maintained information regarding notes [ 302 ]. notes [ 302 ] could be units of information created by users describing actions , requirements or suggestions for tasks . in some implementations , when a note [ 302 ] is created , the program creating the note [ 302 ] would store information such as the user who created the note , the time the note was created , and what permissions a user would require in order to view the note . also , in some implementations , individual notes [ 302 ] might be associated with other entities , such as issues . in such a case , when a note [ 302 ] is created , the program which creates the note could create an indication of the association with the other entity , such as by adding a pointer to a note in the associated entity , by storing a pointer to the associated entity in the note , or some other manner . of course , it should be understood that other information regarding notes ( e . g ., category for information stored in the note , users who should be notified when the note is created , etc ) could also be stored when a note is created , and that the information described is intended to be illustrative only . as referred to in the discussion of notes [ 302 ], some implementations of task tracking and allocation technology based on this disclosure might also maintain information about issues [ 303 ] ( that is , a unit of work product which needs to be created , or a defined unit of work which needs to be performed ). in some implementations , the information maintained about an issue might include information such as : a client on whose behalf work on the issue is performed ; notes relevant to the issue ; and a subject ( i . e ., descriptive text reflective of the general nature of an issue ). also , as depicted in fig3 a , in some implementations , issues [ 303 ] may not be unique in some of the information which they are related to . for example , in implementations following fig3 a , articles [ 304 ] would also have some information ( e . g ., association with one or more notes ) stored for them in common with issues [ 302 ] based on their descending from the same ultimate base class [ 305 ]. of course , it should be understood that , as mentioned previously , while fig3 a and the associated disclosure used terminology related to classes , not all implementations of task tracking and allocation based on this disclosure will utilize classes ( or , necessarily , any form of object oriented technology ). the inventors contemplate that the teachings set forth herein can be implemented using non - object oriented technology ( e . g ., the ruby on rails web application framework ). additionally , it should be understood that the relationships shown in fig3 a are intended to be illustrative only , and that other types of data or relationships could be maintained in some implementations . for example , as shown in fig3 b , some implementations might include information about projects [ 306 ], a type of entity not explicitly depicted in fig3 a . such projects [ 306 ] could be used as a mechanism to help organize information such as articles [ 304 ] and issues [ 303 ], by grouping related information by subject matter into a specific container ( i . e ., the project [ 306 ]). of course , as the inclusion of projects [ 306 ] in fig3 b is also intended to be illustrative only , and information on entities other than those shown in fig3 a and 3 b could be included as well . an example of such an entity , referred to as a record , is discussed below . in some implementations , in addition to ( or as an alternative to ) the entities depicted in fig3 a and 3 b , there might be records ( which might have some of the same features as issues and articles , such as relationships with other objects , associations with notes , etc ) stored containing attributes represented as key value pairs ( e . g ., “ user id ” might be defined in a record as a small text field ). these key value pairs might be predefined ( i . e ., a user creating a new record would only be able to decide on specific types of key value pairs to include in it ). in an implementation with predefined key value pairs , the advance of knowledge of what key value pairs exist could be used to optimize the system ( e . g ., a database storing the records could include a separate recordid : key : value table for each type of attribute data , which could be used for fast searching of the database ). alternatively , it is possible in some implementations that records might include custom key / value pairs , where the user creating the record would specify information such as the key name , and the type of data . these custom key / value pairs could allow users to specify particular information which might be relevant to a particular record , but which might not be applicable generally . of course , combinations of the described approaches are also possible ( i . e ., a user could choose between predefined key / value pairs and customized key / value pairs when creating a record ). accordingly , the discussion of records , like the discussion of fig3 a and 3 b above , should be understood as being illustrative only , and not limiting . in practice , it is possible to implement the teachings of this document to create a system which can be used to perform tasks such as shown in fig1 . as shown in fig1 , a user [ 101 ] could use various interfaces [ 102 ] to interact with a server [ 103 ]. this could result in the server [ 103 ] updating information it maintains for task tracking and allocation , as well as performing tasks which do not directly affect the maintained data , such as validating that the user &# 39 ; s permissions are compatible with the performance of specific acts . in some implementations , the server [ 103 ] could be implemented so that the interfaces [ 102 ] would be internet interfaces , accessible through any device capable of hosting a standard web browser . alternatively , there might be interfaces [ 102 ] which would require special purpose software to be accessed by the user [ 101 ], or interfaces [ 102 ] which would allow the user to interact with the server [ 103 ] through standard software other than a web browser ( e . g ., sms interfaces ). similarly , the server itself could be implemented using a variety of physical architectures , such as an individual computer , multiple devices linked together for redundancy ( e . g ., a raid ), or multiple devices which interact for performance ( e . g ., a beowulf cluster ). accordingly , fig1 should be understood as depicting possible uses for the technology disclosed herein , but should not be treated as implying any type of limitation on what types of tools or devices could potentially be used to implement that technology . initially , in the activities set forth in fig1 , a user [ 101 ] could login to the server [ 103 ], such as by using a login interface of the type depicted in fig2 a . in fig2 a , a user [ 101 ] is prompted to enter a username and password into ( respectively ) a username field [ 201 ] and password field [ 202 ]. in the sequence of events shown in fig1 , the information entered into the login interface would then be authenticated [ 105 ] by the server [ 103 ]. once the user [ 101 ] had been authenticated ( e . g ., by finding a screen name and password combination in user records maintained by the system which matches the entered username and password ), in the sequence of fig1 , a main screen [ 106 ] would be presented to the user [ 101 ]. such a main screen [ 106 ] is an interface which could be used to navigate through the functionalities of the system . for the purpose of illustration , and exemplary main screen [ 106 ] which could be used in some implementations is presented in fig2 b . from a main screen [ 106 ] such as shown in fig2 b , the user [ 101 ] could use the project tab [ 203 ], issues tab [ 204 ], knowledge base tab [ 205 ], time tracking tab [ 206 ], and billing tab [ 207 ] to access various aspects of the system . one of the functionalities the user [ 101 ] could access from the main screen [ 106 ] is to search [ 107 ] for issues having certain characteristics . as discussed previously , the teachings of this disclosure could be implemented in a system which would maintain certain information regarding issues , such as a client on whose behalf work on an issue is performed , and notes created for the issue . the disclosure herein could allow a user [ 101 ] to search through the information related to issues , for example , using a dedicated search interface such as shown in fig2 c ( separated into views on fig2 c - 1 through 2 c - 4 ). as shown in fig2 c , a variety of tools could be provided for a user [ 101 ] to specify what he or she was searching for , such as a quick search tool [ 208 ] ( such a tool could be designed to let the user [ 101 ] enter text then automatically perform a common search , such as a full text search of all notes ), a simple search tool [ 209 ] ( e . g ., a searching tool which allows the user [ 101 ] to search for the id of an issue , or to search if text is located in various fields related to an issue ), and an advanced search tool [ 210 ] ( e . g ., a tool which allows the user [ 101 ] to consider metadata related to an issue , such as who an issue is assigned to , the status of the issue , etc ). additionally , as shown in fig2 c , a system could be implemented so that the user [ 101 ] could save the search performed , for example by defining the information requested in the saving tool [ 211 ]. of course , it should be understood that searching [ 107 ] is not limited to searching for issues as depicted in the exemplary interface of fig2 c . depending on the implementation , other types of information ( e . g ., articles containing useful knowledge which could be applied in completing tasks ) could also be searched . an exemplary interface for searching articles is depicted in fig2 d ( split into views 2 d - 1 through 2 d - 3 ), though it should be understood that the interfaces of fig2 c and 2 d are intended to be illustrative only , and are not intended to indicate that searching interfaces would include all , or only , elements shown in those interfaces . similarly , it should be understood that the inventors contemplate that searches could be implemented for other types of information beyond issues and articles , and that the interfaces shown for issues and articles are intended to be illustrative only of types of searches which could be created . accordingly , the discussion of searching above , as well as of fig2 c and 2 d should not be treated as implying limitations on the scope of claims included in this document or any document claiming the benefit of this document . after the search has been performed [ 107 ] the user [ 101 ] could be presented with the results of the search , for example , in the form of a list . the user [ 101 ] could then search the result list [ 109 ] to determine which issue is the most pressing , and then select [ 110 ] and begin work on that issue . additionally , in some implementations , it is possible that the interface presented to the user [ 101 ] for the search of the results list [ 109 ] could include tools which could be used to facilitate or guide the search . to illustrate this , an example search result interface is shown in fig2 e ( split into views 2 e - 1 through 2 e - 3 ). in the interface of fig2 e , a user is presented with a list [ 212 ] of issues which meet the search criteria , along with a filtering tool [ 213 ], and a toggle [ 214 ] which could hide or make the filtering tool [ 213 ] available as needed . the filtering tool [ 213 ] in turn could be used to specify attributes of the search results in the list [ 212 ] which could be used to hide some portion of the search results so as to facilitate the user [ 101 ] selecting an issue [ 110 ] to work on ( e . g ., limit displayed issues to only those having a certain status ). also , as shown in . fig2 e , the search results in the list [ 212 ] could be ordered based on an assigned priority for each issue . this could allow the user [ 101 ] to more easily identify what issue to work on . such a priority could be implemented in a variety of ways , such as a numeric value or a priority category ( e . g ., high , low , medium ). the specific priority for an issue could be determined using a variety of techniques . for example , when an issue is created ( e . g ., using an interface such as shown in fig2 g ), the entity creating the issue could affirmatively assign a priority . this priority value might be assigned in a final form ( e . g ., where the priority is represented by the system in terms of a numeric value , the priority could be assigned by entering that numeric value ) or could be assigned using some other method then transformed into a final form by a program on the server [ 103 ]. as an example of this latter approach , a priority selector [ 215 ] could allow a user to assign a priority of “ low ”, “ normal ”, “ high ” or “ urgent ”, and that assignment could then be translated into a final value , such as 100 for low , 200 for normal , 300 for high , and 500 for urgent . as another approach to assigning a priority for an issue , a priority could be automatically determined by a program as opposed to being assigned by the entity creating the issue . for example , the server [ 103 ] could be configured to consider data related to the issue such as its due date , the client ( if any ) the issue is associated with , whether the issue is billable , and other information in order to determine a priority . as an example of this approach , some systems could be implemented such with certain attributes having specific positive or negative effects on the priority ( e . g ., issues with closer due dates would be given higher priority ; issues associated with high value / volume clients would be given higher priority ; etc . . . ). other variations are also possible . for example , the teachings of this disclosure could be implemented in a system where a priority would be assigned based on a combination of software calculation and user selection . for instance , a user selection of a priority category could result in the issue being assigned an initial value ( e . g ., 200 for normal ) and that initial value could then be automatically modified based on other information about the issue ( e . g ., + 50 for a deadline within less than five business days , − 50 for nonbillable internal projects , etc . . . ). accordingly , it should be understood that the explicitly disclosed techniques for assigning a priority are intended to be illustrative only , and should not be treated as limiting on claims included in this document or any related document . in some implementations it might also be possible to modify the priority of an issue after it has initially been assigned . as with the initial definition of priorities , such modification could be programmatic , user driven , or both . as an example of programmatic modification of priorities , in some implementations , there could be software which would cause issues to increase in priority as their deadline approached . as another example , in some implementations , there could be information stored regarding the clients associated with issues , and the issue priorities could be updated as the client information is updated ( e . g ., if a client upgrades a service level agreement , then the priority for all issues associated with that client could be increased ). as an example of human modification , in some implementations , this might take place simply by using an interface such as discussed above with respect to fig2 g ( split into views 2 g - 1 through 2 g - 2 ) when the priority of the issue was first defined . alternatively , a different interface could also be used . an example of an interface which a human could use to modify the priority of issues is depicted in fig2 f ( split into views 2 f - 1 through 2 f - 2 ), discussed below . fig2 f depicts an interface which could be used to modify the relative priorities of issues from a list [ 212 ] of results returned by a search . in some implementations , the reprioritization interface of fig2 f could be accessed directly from a search interface such as shown in fig2 e by activation of a prioritize issues selector [ 220 ]. once the interface of fig2 f is presented , the user [ 101 ] can utilize the minimize priority tool [ 216 ], the decrease priority tool [ 217 ], the increase priority tool [ 218 ] and the maximize priority tool [ 219 ] to change the relative priorities of issues from the list [ 212 ] of fig2 e . for example , the minimize priority tool [ 216 ] could be used to change the priority of an issue so that that issue would move to the bottom of the list [ 212 ]. of course , other types of priority changes , such as priority changes which are made relative to all issues , rather than the issues represented in the list [ 212 ] returned by a search are also possible . additionally , it should be understood that the prioritization of issues is not necessarily tied to any particular search , and that some implementations might allow users to modify a priority value for individual issues , or for all issues , and that such a prioritization might be either relative ( e . g ., modify the priority of an issue so that it is higher than the ten issues currently ahead of it ) or absolute ( e . g ., add one to a numeric value representing the priority of an issue ). accordingly , the specific list , as well as the discussion of relative modification of priorities set forth with respect to fig2 f should be understood as illustrative only , and not limiting . continuing with the discussion of the activities shown in fig1 , once a user [ 101 ] has selected an issue [ 110 ], the software stored on the server [ 103 ] could display [ 111 ] that issue to the user [ 101 ]. in different implementations , the interface presented to the user [ 101 ] to display [ 111 ] the issue might vary based on the information stored by the system . to illustrate on such interface , fig2 h ( split into views 2 h - 1 through 2 h - 7 ) depicts an interface which includes , among other things , notes and priority information about the issue displayed . additionally , the interface of fig2 h also includes tools that the user [ 101 ] can use to facilitate the tracking of work done on the issue . for example , fig2 h includes a clock in tool [ 221 ] which could be used by the user [ 101 ] to indicate starting work on the issue . in some implementations , activation of the clock in tool [ 221 ] could result in a signal being sent to the server [ 103 ] which would cause the server record when the user [ 101 ] begins work , and the issue the user [ 101 ] was viewing when the clock in tool [ 221 ] was selected . as a complement to the clock in tool [ 221 ], some implementations might also include a clock out tool ( not shown ). the clock out tool could be used to generate a signal which would cause the server [ 103 ] to modify the data stored in its memory to indicate that the work period initiated by selection of the clock in tool [ 221 ] was complete . in addition to ( or as an alternative to , depending on the implementation ) tools used to facilitate tracking of work done on an issue such as described , an interface such as shown in fig2 h could include tools which could be used to facilitate communication among different users . as an example of such tools , consider the flag tool [ 222 ] depicted in fig2 h . the flag tool [ 222 ] can be used to identify specific users of the system who should be informed (“ flagged ”) about an action or change made to an issue ( e . g ., the addition of a note ). in an implementation in which the server [ 103 ] maintains contact identifications for individual users , those contact identifications can be used to send notifications to each of the users who had been identified using the flag tool [ 222 ]. the notifications can also include certain information about the action taken when the flag tool [ 222 ] was used . for example , if the flag tool [ 222 ] was used in conjunction with the creation of a note having a textual body , then the notification sent to the identified users could comprise the textual body of the note . additionally , in some implementations , using a flag tool [ 222 ] might also result in the storage of data by the server [ 103 ] indicating that a “ flag ” had been created . this type of information could be used to create , for each user who had been indicated to receive a notification by a flag tool [ 222 ], a list of issues which had been “ flagged ” to that user . such a list could be used as an alternative to the searching tools described previously when determining what issues should be worked on . of course , it should be understood that the discussion of flagging in the context of fig2 h and the flag tool [ 222 ] is illustrative only , and that variations could be implemented in light of this disclosure . for example , in some implementations there might be an entity level flag tool [ 224 ] which would allow a user to specify that a note ( or other appropriate entity ) should be flagged to one or more other users . in some implementations , this would proceed by the user selecting the entity level flag tool [ 224 ], and then being presented with a dedicated flagging interface such as shown in fig2 i . the user could use the flagging interface to identify who should receive notifications , then activate the send flag tool [ 223 ] to have the identified users notified . of course , other variations are also possible , and could be implemented by one of ordinary skill in the art in light of this disclosure . accordingly , the discussion of flagging set forth above should be understood to be illustrative only , and not limiting . as shown in fig1 , in addition to the issue search , selection and modification functionalities described , a user [ 101 ] could also use the disclosed task tracking and allocation technology to select a report [ 113 ] which should be displayed . as an example of how this report selection might be performed , consider the interface of fig2 j . in the interface of fig2 j , a user [ 101 ] could use the client selector [ 225 ] to identify a specific client account which the user [ 101 ] would like to see all billable items for . in addition , using an interface such as shown in fig2 j , the user [ 101 ] could specify start and end dates for the billable items which should be displayed , as well as specify one or more users who should be associated with the information displayed . the resulting report shown could then be used for purposes such as accounting , generating invoices , auditing , or evaluating client profitability . additionally , in implementations in which users would clock into and out of issues as they were working on them , the report displayed to the user [ 101 ] might include real time information about work being done as the report was being generated . of course , it should be understood that the interface depicted in fig2 j , as well as the functionality associated therewith are only indicative of types of reports which might be created using technology implemented according to this disclosure . the creation of other types of reports is also possible . for example , as shown in the interface of fig2 k , there could be interface which would present the user with a more specialized employee level report tool [ 226 ] which could allow the user [ 101 ] to quickly examine work done by a particular individual in a specified time period . accordingly , discussion of creation of reports , as well as the interfaces connected therewith , should be understood as being illustrative only , and not limiting on the claims included in this application or any other application claiming the benefit of this application . while the discussion of fig1 , and the interfaces of fig2 a - 2 k focused largely on functions related to issues and reporting , the technology disclosed herein is not limited to those aspects of the system . as an example of an additional use of technology set forth herein , consider the use of records for tracking physical equipment in an information technology setting . such use could be facilitated by the creation of records having key / value pairs indicating the physical attributes of specific pieces of equipment ( e . g ., a mac address for an ethernet card ), the relationship to other pieces of equipment ( e . g ., a part of / contains relationship for peripherals and base systems , what the equipment is connected to ), and the location of the equipment ( e . g ., office of client x , cubicle y ). with such records , an interface could be created which would allow a user to call up information for a particular piece of equipment , and then trace the relationships for that piece of equipment ( e . g ., what network jack is an ethernet card plugged in to , what router manages signals from this device ) to accomplish tasks such as verifying that the equipment is properly deployed , or identifying the source of a problem reported for the equipment . additionally , in implementations in which records can be related to other entities ( e . g ., articles , issues , etc . . . ) a user might examine the relationship of the record for a piece of equipment to past issues to determine if the piece of equipment itself might be faulty and require replacement . it should be understood that the example of using records to track physical equipment set forth above is intended to be illustrative only , and not limiting . records , as well as the other types of information which could be maintained in a system implemented according to this disclosure could be used in a variety of settings . for example , in the sales context , the technology disclosed herein could be used to track and ensure follow up on sales leads ( e . g ., an issue might be to research and contact a particular prospect , a record might store social relationships of specific individuals , etc ). indeed , while special purpose implementations of the technology set forth herein could be created , the disclosure of this application is broadly applicable , and should not be limited to any particular subject matter or field of use . further , even in the context of issues and reporting , it should be understood that fig1 , the interfaces of fig2 a - k , and the related text are intended to be illustrative only , and that certain implementations might support other workflows and / or methods of operation . as an example of such an alternative , consider the case where a server [ 103 ] is implemented so that users can contact it through non - browser tools , such as sms messages . in such an implementation , a user could call the server [ 103 ], and then send an sms message with a command to be executed , along with zero or more arguments to go with the command . for example , a system could be implemented so that a user could send a message “ clock in issue 1234 ” where 1234 is a number uniquely identifying a particular issue in the system , and the server could then match the number the message was sent from against a recorded number for a particular user stored in a user record , and record the time the message was sent as the time the user associated with the number begins work on the issue . clock out ( and other commands ) could be implemented in a similar manner . variations other than allowing non - browser interactions are supported as well . for instance , some individuals ( e . g ., contract employees who are hired for a specific project or task only ) may not need to search for issues and decide what to work on . in such a case , software on a server [ 103 ] could be set up so that , if a user has permission to work on a single issue only , as soon as that user logged into the system , that user would automatically be clocked into that issue , and would be automatically clocked out again upon logging out . alternatively , the user could be presented with a simplified interface which would allow the user to clock into / out of the particular assigned issue without having to log in / out of the system to do so . as another example of additional functionality which could be included , in some cases there could be interfaces for users who would only create issues ( e . g ., a tech support interface where users could submit requests for assistance ) and would not need / want to search for other information in the system . another additional feature which could be used in a system for task tracking and allocation , consider the feature of permissions and access restrictions , which could be used to limit information which could be viewed , and acts which could be taken , by users . such permissions and access restrictions could be specified in an implementation by organizing information stored for task tracking and allocation into folders , and giving users permissions relative to the specific folders . such permissions might include permissions such as depicted in table 1 . following that structure , in some implementations there might also be groups of permissions implemented and given descriptive names so that a user could have their permissions defined by simply assigning a predefined group of permissions , rather than requiring individual permissions to be set separately . a set of exemplary permission groups is set forth below in table 2 . alternatively , or in addition to the folder based permissions described above , certain implementations could also include access controls and security measures which would be applied to individual entities ( e . g ., notes , issues , articles ) or even data maintained for those entities ( e . g ., there might be different levels of permissions necessary to view text stored in a note than would be necessary to view the note itself ). additionally , in some implementations , different entities might have relationships which reach across folders and types of permissions . for example , in a case where records are used to allow users to track connections between physical pieces of networking equipment , it is possible that the physical connections between pieces of equipment might extent across folders . in such a case , it is possible that an exception could be written so that a user could follow the relationships of pieces of physical equipment even into folders which the user would not normally be able to access . alternatively , the system might be configured such that the relationships with pieces of equipment located in folders the user could not access would be hidden from the user . additional alternatives are also possible and could be implemented by those of ordinary skill in the art without undue experimentation in light of this disclosure . additionally , in some implementations , information stored for task tracking and allocation might be encrypted ( or otherwise protected ) so that it could not be accessed even if the database it was stored in was breached . as an example of an approach to this type of protection , in an implementation where information is organized into folders , if an individual folder is set as encrypted , then a passphrase could be used to encrypt ( e . g ., a hash on the passphrase as an encryption key , where the hash could be created using a one way hash algorithm such as md5 or salted sha256 ) the data for that folder before it is stored . such a system might also include data which could be used to validate the passphrase ( e . g ., a version of the passphrase encrypted using salted sha256 with a different salt than the encryption hash for the folder ) before it was used to access the folder data . in operation , a two way encryption / decryption algorithm , such as aes or 3des or blowfish could be used to actually encrypt and decrypt the data . also , in some implementations there might be multiple levels of encryption necessary to unlock to reach a certain item of information . for example , in a case where there might be folders within folders , a user might be required to first unlock the parent folder , then unlock any subfolders before being able to access the information he or she was seeking . this could be achieved by repeatedly encrypting data , starting with encryption based on the passphrase for the highest level folder , then re - encrypting it with the passphrases applicable at each sub - folder level . alternatively , it is also possible that data in a subfolder could be encrypted only a single time with a single passphrase formed by concatenating the passphrases for each folder level . of course , the discussion above of multi - level encryption could easily be applied to forms of organization other than folders , such as projects , records , fields within issues or notes , etc . accordingly , the discussion of encryption set forth above should be understood as being illustrative only , and not limiting . part of the disclosure , incorporated herein by reference in its entirety , is a computer program listing appendix containing code which can be used to implement certain features of the technology described herein . in particular , when used to configure a server , the code contained in the computer program listing appendix will allow users to ( among other things ) log in , search issues and create reports as described with reference to fig1 . as mentioned , the disclosure herein is intended only to illustrate the inventors &# 39 ; technology , and is not intended to disclose every possible implementation of that technology contemplated by the inventors . numerous variations on , and departures from , the explicit disclosure of this application are contemplated by the inventors , and will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art in light of this application . accordingly , the protection provided to the inventors by this document should not be limited to the material explicitly disclosed . instead , such protection should be understood to be defined by the following claims , which are drafted to reflect the scope of protection sought by the inventors in this document when the terms in those claims which are listed below under the label “ explicit definitions ” are given the explicit definitions set forth therein , and the remaining terms are given their broadest reasonable interpretation , which should encompass the usage of terms presented herein , and be at least as broad as the broadest definitions given in a general purpose dictionary . when used in the claims , “ account ” should be understood to refer to an entity on behalf of which actions can be taken and to which any costs associated with those actions can be attributed for purposes such as recordkeeping and billing . examples of accounts include specific clients for a business , as well as internal cost centers a business might desire to define for cost tracking purposes . when used in the claims , “ based on ” should be understood to mean that something is determined at least in part by the thing that it is indicated as being “ based on .” when something is completely determined by a thing , it will be described as being “ based exclusively on ” the thing . when used in the claims , “ computer ” should be understood to mean a device or group of devices which is capable of performing one or more logical and / or physical operations on data to produce a result . when used in the claims , “ computer executable instructions ” should be understood to mean data which can be used to specify physical or logical operations which can be performed by a computer . when used in the claims , a statement that a first thing “ corresponds to ” a second thing should be understood to mean that there is a one to one relationship between the first and second things . that is , only the first thing satisfies the relationship for the second thing , and only the second thing satisfies the relationship for the first thing . when used in the claims , “ data ” means information which is represented in a form which is capable of being processed , stored and / or transmitted . when used in the claims , “ database ” should be understood to refer to a discrete and identifiable set of information organized to facilitate the information &# 39 ; s use and / or retrieval . for the purpose of clarity , it should be understood that a “ database ” can be a dedicated system ( e . g ., a server which serves purely as a repository of information ), or could be integrated with other systems ( e . g ., a “ database ” could be stored on a server which is used for other tasks , potentially including the storage of other “ databases ”). when used in the claims , “ due date ” should be understood to refer to a particular date on or before which a task should be completed . it should be understood that “ due date ” is not limited to calendar dates ( e . g ., apr . 1 , 2012 ), and also includes other types of dates , such as relative dates ( e . g ., in two weeks ), or null dates ( e . g ., no due date ). when used in the claims , “ indicate ” ( and various forms thereof ) should be understood to refer to the act of showing the thing “ indicated .” when used in the claims , an “ issue ” should be understood to refer to data representing a unit of work product which needs to be created , or a defined unit of work which needs to be performed . when used in the claims , “ plurality ” should be understood to refer to two or more . accordingly , a statement that each x in a plurality of x &# 39 ; s has some characteristic should be understood to mean that there are at least two x &# 39 ; s having the characteristics listed , and should not be understood to mean that there are no x &# 39 ; s which do not have characteristics listed . when used in the claims , “ priority ” should be understood to refer to the precedence or importance of a thing . when used in the claims , the verb “ select ” should be understood to refer to the act of picking out or otherwise specifically identifying the thing selected . when used in the claims , a “ set ” should be understood to refer to a number , group , or combination of zero or more things of similar nature , design , or function . when used in the claims , a statement that x is “ specifically associated ” with y should be understood mean that either x is uniquely related to y , y is uniquely related to x , or both . when used in the claims , “ subject ” should be understood to refer to a brief textual identification reflecting the general nature or a particular feature of an associated data entity . when used in the claims , a statement that x is “ uniquely related ” to y should be understood to mean that there is a particular set of operations which directly maps y ( and only y ) onto x . as an example of this relationship , a data object is uniquely related to its member variables , because there is a set of operations ( e . g ., a request for the member variable ) which maps the member variables onto the data object .	6
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 . before the devices , systems , methods and processes for aerating and mixing a candy body are disclosed and described , it is to be understood that this disclosure is not limited to the particular embodiments , configurations , or process steps disclosed herein as such embodiments , configurations , or process steps may vary somewhat . it is also to be understood that the terminology employed herein is used for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting since the scope of the disclosure will be limited only by the appended claims and equivalents thereof . in describing and claiming the subject matter of the disclosure , the following terminology will be used in accordance with the definitions set out below . it must be noted that , 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 ,” and grammatical equivalents thereof are inclusive or open - ended terms that do not exclude additional , unrecited elements or method steps . as used herein , the phrase “ consisting of ” and grammatical equivalents thereof exclude any element , step , or ingredient not specified in the claim . as used herein , the phrase “ consisting essentially of ” and grammatical equivalents thereof limit the scope of a claim to the specified materials or steps and those that do not materially affect the basic and novel characteristic or characteristics of the claimed disclosure . with reference primarily to fig1 , an embodiment of the features of the disclosure will be discussed generally . fig1 illustrates a candy mixing apparatus 100 for use in making candy . the candy mixing apparatus 100 may comprise a blade portion 105 and a handle portion 110 . the blade portion 105 may be made of substantially rigid material such as a metal , plastic , or wood . the blade portion 105 may be attached to the handle portion 110 with fasteners 115 . the blade portion 105 may comprise additional structures that will be discussed in detail below . as can be further seen in fig1 , the candy mixing apparatus 100 is interacting with a work surface 210 in order to manipulate and mix a body of candy mixture 150 . the work surface 210 may be made of marble , granite , stone , metal , wood , plastic or a combination thereof . as can be seen in the figure , as the candy mixing apparatus 100 is moved into the body of candy mixture 150 , the body of candy mixture 150 is manipulated from its resting state . manipulating the candy mixture 150 may aid in the introduction of cooling air , coloring , flavorings or any manner of ingredients . an embodiment of the apparatus 100 may comprise a total length of said apparatus 100 that may be about 24 . 5 inches and may have a handle width of about 1 inch by about 1 . 5 inches . the embodiment may further comprise a paddle or blade portion 105 that may be about 4 . 5 inches in height by about 3 . 5 inches in width and may be made from metal or other sufficiently rigid material . the embodiment may range in total length from about 12 inches to about 24 . 5 inches . the embodiment may have a blade portion 105 that ranges from about 2 inches to about 4 inches in width and have a height that ranges from about 2 inches to about 5 inches . embodiments of the handle portion 110 may range from about 1 inch by 1 inch to about 1 inch by 1 . 5 inches . referring now to fig2 , the blade portion 105 of the candy mixing apparatus 100 will be discussed in greater detail . as is illustrated in fig2 , the blade portion 105 may consist of three working or scraping edges 107 , 108 , 109 , positioned at the edges of the blade portion 105 . during use , a user may employ all of the edges in the candy making process . for example , when maximum leverage is needed , scraping edge 108 may be employed to take advantage of the maximum leverage of the handle portion 110 . in other operations , side scraping edges 107 and 109 may be employed . as further can be seen in fig2 , the blade portion 105 may be shorter than the handle portion 110 . in some embodiments , the ratio of handle length to blade length could exceed 3 : 1 , and may have a range of values of about 2 : 1 to 6 : 1 . additionally , a user may choose to “ choke ” down on the handle portion 110 for quicker movement , much like a baseball player chokes down on a baseball bat . it may be further noted that the location of fasteners 115 , and type of fasteners 115 should be chosen with sufficient dimensions to handle the load placed thereon , such that the blade portion 105 does not move relative to the handle portion 110 . the blade portion 105 may further have a protrusion or attachment structure 116 for attaching the blade portion 105 to the handle portion 110 . it will be appreciated that the attachment structure 116 will mechanically interact with the handle portion 110 and fasteners 115 . additionally , fig2 illustrates two working planes , namely plane a and plane b , on the blade portion 105 . the working planes a and b structurally separate the scraping edges 107 , 108 , 109 , and operate in a manner to manipulate the candy mixture . referring now to fig3 , the handle portion 110 of the candy mixing apparatus 100 will be discussed . illustrated in fig3 is a side view of the candy mixing apparatus 100 . it should be noted that the drawings are not intended to be to scale , but are rather intended to best illustrate the features of the disclosure . the handle portion 110 may be constructed of wood or other suitable material . the choice of wood that may be chosen as the handle portion may include a rustic or other finish or qualities to provide an heirloom for an aesthetically pleasing device . wood may also be chosen for its properties , such as rigidity , gripability , and workability . other materials may be used as well such as metal or plastics . as can be seen in the figure , fasteners 115 may span the complete width of the candy mixing apparatus 100 . additional fastening means are contemplated and are intended to fall within the scope of this disclosure . for example , bands around the handle 110 and blade 105 portions may hold the two together . additionally , a quality glue may be used the hold the components together , and the fasteners may be of any known in the art today , or those yet to be develops . and finally , the fasteners may be recessed in the material of the associated handle portion 110 . illustrated in fig4 is an embodiment of use for the candy mixing apparatus 100 . as can be seen in the figure , a user may grasp the handle portion 110 comfortably and move the blade portion 105 into the body of candy mixture 150 on the work surface 210 . as stated above , a user may choose to “ choke ” down on the handle portion 110 for quicker movement , much like a baseball player chokes down on a baseball bat . referring now to fig5 , additional functionality of the apparatus 100 is shown from that of fig4 . one of the advantages of providing a handle 110 as described herein , may be that it is of such a size that the user may grip the handle in varying hand holds or positions as additional leverage is needed or as fatigue sets in . as can be seen in fig5 , the user has reversed the grip previously illustrated in fig4 . the user has done this while doing a similar scraping action , but with the result of using a different set of muscles , which may aid in reducing fatigue . in fig4 , the majority of the effort is being used to pull the tool or apparatus 100 toward the user . in contrast , the action of fig5 is to push the tool or apparatus 100 away from the user . such repeated motions with the disclosed candy mixing apparatus 100 can be used to manipulate the making of candy . referring now to fig6 , an embodiment of a candy mixing apparatus 300 is shown as having a blade portion 305 configuration wherein angles a and b are not ninety ( 90 ) degree angles . by changing the angles between the scraping edges , e . g ., between the first scraping edge and the second and third scraping edge , of the blade portion 305 different user positions can be enabled . for example , where angle a is greater than ninety degrees , a user will be able to keep his / her hands further away from the material being worked . a flared blade portion 305 configuration provides differing scraping and leverage angles for various uses . it is within the scope of this disclosure to contemplate embodiments having angles greater than 90 degrees and less than 90 degrees . illustrated in fig7 is a side view of an embodiment of a candy mixing apparatus 400 . it should be noted that the drawings are not intended to be to scale , but are rather intended to best illustrate the features of the disclosure . the handle portion 410 may be constructed of wood or other suitable material . a choice of wood may be made for its rustic or heirloom qualities for an aesthetically pleasing device . wood may also be chosen for its properties , such as rigidity , gripability , and workability . other materials maybe used as well such as metal or plastics . as can be seen in the figure , fasteners 415 may span the complete width of the candy mixing apparatus 400 . additional fastening means are contemplated and are intended to fall within the scope of this disclosure . for example , bands around the handle 410 and blade 405 portions may hold the two together . additionally , a quality glue may be used the hold the components together , and the fasteners may be of any known in the art today , or those yet to be developed . and finally , the fasteners may be recessed in the material of the associated handle 410 . as is illustrated in fig7 , the blade portion 405 may consist of three working or scraping edges positioned at the edges of the blade portion 405 . during use a user may employ all of the edges in the candy making process . for example , when maximum leverage is needed , the front scraping edge may be employed to take advantage of all of the leverage of the handle portion 410 . in other operations the side scraping edges may be employed . as further can be seen in fig7 the blade portion 405 may be shorter than the handle portion 410 . in some embodiments the ratio of handle to blade length could exceed 3 : 1 , and may have a range of values of about 2 : 1 to about 6 : 1 . additionally , a user may choose to “ choke ” down on the handle portion 410 for quicker movement , much like a baseball player chokes down on a baseball bat . it may be further noted that the location of fasteners 415 , and type of fasteners 415 should be chosen with sufficient dimensions to handle the load placed thereon , such that the blade portion 405 does not move relative to the handle portion 410 . the blade portion 405 may further have a protrusion or attachment structure 416 for attaching the blade portion 405 to the handle portion 410 . it will be appreciated that the attachment structure 416 will mechanically interact with the handle portion 410 and fasteners 415 . additionally illustrated in the fig7 are beveled or tapered profiles 419 for the edges of the blade 405 . the profile of the scraping edges may comprise a simple bevel , or may comprise a rounder profile . such shaping of the blade edge may increase the scraping ability of the blade portion 405 as to various work surfaces . for example , a bevel profile may work well with a work surface such as stone , while another profile shape would work better with metal surfaces , while yet another would work better with wood or plastic surfaces . illustrated in fig8 is a front view of an embodiment of a candy mixing apparatus 500 . the candy mixing apparatus 500 may comprise a blade portion 505 and a handle portion 510 . the blade portion 505 may be made of substantially rigid material such as a metal , plastic , or wood . the blade portion 505 may be attached to the handle portion 510 with fasteners 515 . the blade portion 505 may comprise additional structures that will be discussed in detail below . as can be further seen in fig8 , the candy mixing apparatus 500 is interacting with a work surface 580 in order to manipulate and mix a body of candy mixture 588 . the work surface 580 may be made of marble , granite , stone , metal , wood , and plastic . as can be seen in the figure , as the candy mixing apparatus 500 is moved into the body of candy mixture 588 , the body of candy mixture 588 is manipulated from its resting state . manipulating the candy mixture 588 may aid in the introduction of cooling air , coloring , flavorings or any manner of ingredients . as stated above , various materials can be used for a work surface . depending upon the work surface chosen , and to aid in the versatility of the candy mixing apparatus 500 , a cover 550 may be placed over an edge on the blade portion 505 for protecting the work surfaces and / or the blade edges . such a cover may be attached to the blade portion 505 via a friction fit or may be attached with other attachment structures . the cover 550 may be made of plastic , nylon , rubber , wood , or any other material suitable for use with various working surfaces made from various materials . the cover 550 may provide a squeegee effect to aid in the mixing process . a plurality of covers 550 may be provided and used to increase the versatility of the candy mixing apparatus 500 . a kit may comprise a candy mixing apparatus 500 and may comprise a cover 550 . a kit may further comprise a plurality of covers 550 and another kit may comprise a plurality of candy mixing apparatuses 500 . illustrated in fig9 a - 9 f is a method of using an apparatus for mixing candy consistent with the disclosure herein . as can be seen in fig9 a , by a user placing one hand at the top of the handle , and placing the other hand at the bottom of the handle near the blade , a user can control the candy mixing apparatus with ease . as shown in fig9 a a user can pull the blade portion toward themself , or in a reverse motion push material away from themself . as shown in fig9 b , a user can use the palm of his / her upper hand to drive the blade portion to thereby scrape along a work surface . fig9 c illustrates a use of the candy mixing apparatus wherein a user can pull the blade portion toward themself , or in a reverse motion push material away from themself . fig9 d illustrates that a user can use the candy mixing apparatus laterally off to the side of the body . fig9 e - 9 f illustrate that the candy mixing apparatus can be used to scrape latterly across a work surface as a user progresses from the position of 9 e to the position of 9 f . during any of the above uses coloring or flavoring may be added to the body of candy along with other ingredients . by doing the steps illustrated and described above , a body of candy can be worked into the desired finished product . in the foregoing detailed description , various features of the 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 disclosure . it is to be understood that the above - described arrangements are only illustrative of the application of the principles of the disclosure . numerous modifications and alternative arrangements may be devised by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure and the appended claims are intended to cover such modifications and arrangements . thus , while the 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 .	0
fig1 shows two possible configurations : 2 and 4 are schematic diagrams of a measuring system for absorption spectroscopy . in the first configuration : 2 there is a laser source 6 , a container 8 , that is the object of the measurement and a detector 10 . in the second configuration 4 identical objects are indicated by same numbers ed in addition there is a retro - reflecting optic 12 . such retro - reflecting optic 12 can be as way of example a mirror , a corner cube or simply a diffusive screen . differently from the first configuration 2 , the source 6 and the detector 10 are located from the same size with respect to container 8 . for both configurations 2 and 4 there is the possibility of including two lenses , not indicated in fig1 , in the optical path represented by the arrow 14 ; the first lens is a collimating lens and the second one a collecting lens . these lenses can be standard plano - convex lenses as well as grin lenses . the latter ones have a greater width than the former and have the purpose of both collimating the beam and of reducing the optical path in free space , thereby minimizing the passage of the beam towards gas molecules present in the path external to the region of interest . also cylindrical lenses could be used with the purpose of correcting the optical aberrations introduced by the surface of the container 8 ; this is important in the case in which container 8 is e . g . a champagne bottle with thickness of the walls as large as 5 - 8 mm and mainly of cylindrical shape . in respect to the type of container 8 means of regulating the respective position of the lenses as well as other optoelectronic devices could be included . they are not shown in the figure . the measuring system is based on the physical principle that different elements in the gas phase present absorption at different frequencies , or lines in the electromagnetic spectrum . such frequencies being characteristics of the particular gas . these absorption lines have approximately a lorentzian shape with a width as a known function of the pressure . the contribution due to the doppler effect is in general quite small ( for pressures above atmospheric pressure ) and can be neglected . in particular the gas object of the measure present in container 8 produces an absorption of the beam coming from laser source 6 according to the lambert - beer law : i ( v , x )= i 0 ( v ) e − τ ( v , x ) ( 1 ) where i is the intensity as measured by detector 10 , i 0 the intensity impinging on the container 8 and τ is the optical depth given by : in which c is the concentration of the gas present in container 8 , x is the length of the absorbing material and σ ( v ) is the molecular absorption cross - section , function of the wavenumber v ( expressed in cm − 1 ). both x and σ ( v ) are known quantities , therefore the optical depth can be determined with a simple measure on the object under test . furthermore it is known that the absorption cross - section presents a constant shape ( lorentzian ) whose characteristics parameters ( amplitude , width as function of the pressure and center point ) can be derived form several spectroscopy data base and are constant even while other parameters of the measure vary . this behaviour allows the determination of the quantity c , by a comparison between the quantities i and i 0 for several molecules of interest depending on the availability of a suitable laser source 6 . the main molecules interesting this invention are carbon dioxide and oxygen as they are of interest in the case when the container 8 is a bottle of wine . in any case it is possible to realize the measure also with reference to water vapour . it is possible to increase the sensitivity using laser sources 6 emitting in the spectral regions where the molecule of interest has the greatest absorption . in particular laser source 6 emitting at wavelengths exciding 2 μm is preferable as in this spectral region there are some strong absorption lines as shown in figs from 2 a to 2 d . in fig2 a the absorption spectrum of carbon dioxide at atmospheric pressure and in the interval 0 - 10 μm is shown ; fig2 b shows an enlargement of said spectrum in the region around 2 μm . in fig2 c and 2 d are shown the absorption spectra in a possible region of measurement i . e . in the interval 2002 - 2009 nm respectively for the atmospheric pressure and at a pressure of 7 bar . scanning the chosen line is realized by modulating the wavelength emitted by the laser . consequently for this type of analysis can be used any laser source 6 whose wavelength can be tuned and of spectral width smaller than the absorption line . among the laser sources 6 available it is preferable to use a diode laser because it presents very narrow spectral width ( width of the emitted line smaller than 30 mhz ) together with a wide tuning interval ( about 6 nm for the laser used for carbon dioxide determination ). among the more apt laser it is preferred a diode laser with vertical cavity ( vcsel ). other possible lasers can be : dfb laser , fabry - perot laser , sepb laser and quantum cascade laser . in a vcsel laser the wavelength can be tuned by varying the temperature or the current of the laser . providing one or both of these quantities varying in time allows to have a tuning along the absorption line of the gas under examination . for obtaining the absorption spectrum the current flowing on the laser is modulated with a sawtooth or triangular wave at the frequency of some hundredth hz , as shown in fig3 . these wave shapes are optimal for extracting the parameters of interest in the easiest way but it is possible to use also other shapes of waves as e . g . sinusoidal , provided that they provide the laser with a current continuously variable between two fixed values . in fig3 it is shown the laser source 6 , the container 8 , the detector 10 , two lenses 16 one collimating and one collecting , a current modulator 18 , a temperature controller 20 and a computer 22 . the current modulator 18 is connected to a rump generator 24 and it is able to modulate the laser current as required . the computer 22 is used for manipulating the data measured by detector 10 for an easier handling . computer 22 can be substituted by a microprocessor or dsp for data analysis that allows the a / d conversion and numerical computation . the method adopted in this invention is the direct absorption known as tdlas : tunable diode laser absorption spectroscopy . in some cases , due to the very low value of the molecular cross - section σ ( v ) it is necessary to use derivative spectroscopy know as : wms ( wavelength modulation spectroscopy ) or fms ( frequency modulation spectroscopy ) ( frequency - modulation spectroscopy for trace species detection : theory and comparison among experimental methods . applied optics , vol . 31 , issue 6 , pp . 707 - february 1992 joel a . silver ) in which at the described modulation it is added a sinusoidal modulation at frequency of some mhz . this method is particularly useful for the detection of oxygen inside wine bottles , particularly of red wine where it is required a constant control of the oxygen concentration in the head space that is the space of container 8 near the closing cork . an increase of the oxygen concentration could be due to transfer from the dissolved oxygen and could be a sign of a deterioration of the product . since both the concentration of the oxygen to be detected as well the absorption cross section are small it is necessary to increase the sensitivity of the measure using derivative spectroscopy . in the case of oxygen the preferred laser is a vcsel at 760 nm . even in the case of oxygen a known method is used but new procedures of data analysis and determination of pressure and concentration are defined in such way as to allow precise measurements even for high pressures and without the need to have reference paths or the need to know a priori the optical characteristics of the container . in order to realize a portable device microsystems and miniaturized sub - systems have been used with the purpose of obtaining a whole package of reduced dimensions and easily applicable to several types of containers 8 . the central element of the measuring system is as already said the vcsel laser or any other laser that presents the same characteristics in terms of wavelength of emission and possibility of modulation . said laser is mounted in a suitable mounting with fine temperature control using a thermistor associated to a peltier cell capable of keeping constant the temperature with an accuracy of 0 . 01 ° c . the mount of laser 6 is provided with necessary connections for connecting the vcsel with the current modulator 18 and with the temperature controller 20 . the latter are electronic devices that allow the operator to set and maintaining the temperature and current values provided to the laser 6 . a laser of this type presents a line width smaller than the traditional laser diodes : the vcsel utilized for the water vapour measurement has a line width with a typical value of fwhm ( full width at half maximum ) of 30 mhz and the one used for carbon dioxide has a width slightly more . this characteristic is very important in spectroscopy ; using this property it is possible to obtain a precise scan and a reliable measure of the absorption line whose width is several order of magnitude larger ( the estimated width for standard temperature and pressure values is about 7 ghz for both water vapour and carbon dioxide ). furthermore a vcsel is a nearly monomode laser : in effect its smsr ( side mode suppression ratio ) presents values that varies from 30 to 60 db ; this means that the side modes give a negligible contribution to the laser emission and therefore can be neglected . detector 10 used in this measuring system is preferably a preamplified photodiode . detector 10 varies according to the laser used : for water vapour photodiodes of germanium or indium gallium arsenide ( ingaas ) can be used while in the case of carbon dioxide extended ingaas , or lead selenide ( pbse ) or pbs photoresistors can be used ( peter werle , franz slemr , karl maurer , robert kormann , robert mücke , bernd jänker , near - and mid - infrared laser - optical sensors for gas analysis , optics and lasers in engineering 37 ( 2 - 3 ), 2002 , pp . 101 - 114 ). the electronic following detector 10 not shown in the figures provides an output proportional to the absorbance at the given wavelength . the absorbance provided by a numerical computation realized by computer 22 can be translated in gas concentration as explained in the following . now we enter in detailed description of the measure of the pressure and concentration of the gas in the container . these quantities are strictly related to the measure of amplitude and width of the absorption line . in fact if one neglects ( or deconvolve ) the contribution to the line width of doppler effect , it is known that the line profile given by a lorentzian shape has a width directly proportional to the pressure of the gas . this means that , by measuring the width at half maximum one can derive a measure of the pressure inside the container . in similar way the gas concentration ( being it carbon dioxide , oxygen water vapour or other ) is related to the amplitude of the absorption line ; if one compares the height of the experimentally measured line with the height of the same line at known concentration and pressure one derives the concentration . when measurements of absorption lines are made with a system like the one shown in fig1 there are typically three factors that affect such measure : the nature and shape of the walls of container 8 , the pressure inside said container 8 and the contribution due to the gas present in the path external to the container 8 . the nature and shape of the walls of the container produce an attenuation of the absorption spectrum not known a priori ; the pressure inside the container produces a broadening and eventually a merging of the lines and the external absorption introduces an error in the measure . in addition , particularly when using lasers with narrow width of the line i . e . with high temporal coherence , there could be etalon effects due to reflection on the various optical surfaces . etalon effect produces noise . in the following we describe example of analysis of the absorption spectra for water vapour and carbon dioxide . for the case of water vapour is particularly important the contribution due to the path external to container 8 . the same case applies also to the analysis of oxygen . for the case of carbon dioxide we consider instead the contribution due to the internal pressure and the one due to the nature and shape of the container 8 and neglect the contribution due to the path external to container 8 since the concentration of carbon dioxide in air can be neglected with respect to the one present e . g . in a bottle of sparkling wine or beer . off course it is possible to consider simultaneously all three effects independently of the gas analyzed . in fig4 a and 4 b two examples of the signals acquired by detector 10 are shown : from these it is apparent that it is necessary to perform a numerical computation of the said signal in order to derive the required values of amplitude and width of the lines . in the first , fig4 a it is shown a signal of water vapour and in the second : fig4 b the absorption lines ( shown upside down since in this case the detector 10 is with a preamplifier in inverting mode ) are due to carbon dioxide in a sparkling wine bottle . in both cases the wavelengths at the centre of the lines are indicated . in these figures and in particular in the case of the carbon dioxide , it is clear that both the presence of the rump modulating the intensity of laser 6 as well the interaction among nearby lines do not allow the precise determination of either the amplitude and the width of the lines . one of the purposes of the present invention is the development of a specific computational method for eliminating the modulating signal and to obtain the required parameters of the absorption lines even in the presence of high pressures and consequently of merged lines as well to discriminate between the background introduced by the glass of the container and the “ atomic ” background due to the merging of the lines . the first step of the analysis is the elimination of the modulating rump ; for doing this operation the procedure illustrated in fig5 is performed . the scheme of fig5 , based on the lambert - beer law is composed of a block 26 that acquires the trace provided by detector 10 and provides measured intensity i . said intensity i is input to block 28 , a computer unit that provides an evaluation of the intensity i 0 incident on the analyzed sample . the way to accomplish this depends on the gas to be analyzed and on the measure that is required ; in any case it is required to obtain the behaviour of the rump in absence of the absorption . once obtained an approximation of the signal without absorption , the two traces ( i that is the trace with absorption and i 0 that is the trace without absorption ) are compared and using lambert - beer law one derives the effective absorption line ( or lines ) profile . the latter comparison is performed by block 30 , another computing block that outputs the absorption profile that is function of the wavelength and of the optical depth τ according to the expression : τ ( x , v )= log e [ i 0 ( v )/ i ( x , v )] ( 3 ) taking x as the length of the optical path inside the container , it is clear that by comparing the intensities of the beam before and after the optical path one derives the quantity τ . block 28 and 30 can be integrated in the computer 22 . however as previously indicated there are situations in which it is necessary to modify somehow the model for the analysis . in the case of water vapour one needs to account also of the contribution to absorption due to the path external to container 8 . this correction can be obtained analytically using a suitable spectroscopy data base or can be obtained experimentally if one acquires a signal in free space : in this case in effect the absorption refers to know conditions ( atmospheric pressure and relative humidity measurable with precision ). the evaluation of the trace without absorption is derived from the experimental signal neglecting the regions where there are absorption lines and fitting the rest with a third order polynomial interpolation . this can be explained with reference to fig6 . in this figure 26 indicates the block that acquires trace i and sends the signal to block 32 which eliminates the regions containing the lines . block 34 executes a polynomial interpolation of the signal . block 36 now compares the initial trace i and the signal output from block 34 and output the absorption lines . finally block 38 compares the lorentzian profile corresponding to the absorption lines as given by block 36 with a reference lorentzian profile at atmospheric pressure and provides the parameter of the unknown lorentzian i . e . amplitude a and line width γ . all blocks 32 , 34 , 36 and 38 representing computing units can be incorporated in computer 22 . taking in account the absorption external to container 8 one obtains the graphs shown in fig7 and 8 respectively at pressures of 1 and 5 bar . form these graphs one obtains the absorption lines of the water vapour present in the bottle as indicated in fig9 and 10 in which with dotted lines are shown the single lines and with solid lines the total absorption by the water vapour present inside the bottle . having now obtained the absorption lines it is possible to determine the fwhm and consequently with the help of computer 22 values of gas pressure and concentration inside the container as previously explained . in the case of carbon dioxide distortion in the absorption spectra due to the nature and shape of the wall of the container ( including wall defects such as blisters and cracks ) as well as the gas pressure have to be considered . these issues produce a spectrum with very merged absorption lines and this makes very difficult the determination of the modulating rump with the previously described method , particularly when the pressure of the gas is high . the carbon dioxide absorption spectrum , used for this described analysis , is made up of two regions as shown in fig2 consisting in several lines . some of these lines are quite near each other ; so if the gas pressure increases , so does the fwhm of the lines . this line broadening could eventually be very strong and the lines become so merged that not only their profiles but also the total absorption contribution , and its parameters cannot be determined . fig1 and 12 show the same lines spectrum at the pressures of 1 and 7 bar ; the merging of the lines in the latter case is evident as well as an apparent background over which the lines appear . this “ atomic ” background is the main problem for obtaining a precise fit reconstruction . in effect this “ atomic ” background couples with the background due to the absorption and scattering by the glass walls of container 8 . the latter effects being not known a priori because e . g . the wine bottles to be measured could be of any type and quality and there is not the possibility to determine their background in a separate measure . in order to solve these problems , the processing device ( 22 ) operates the measurement of the amplitude of the signal and selects a proper optimal background shape from a database of background analytic functions which better fits with the selected glass container . this customizable database can be realized selecting different kinds of glass containers according to the application . the algorithm in turn interpolates this selected background function with a third grade polynomial fit . the output of this step are four coefficients representative of the background . furthermore , based on the lambert - beer law , the processing device ( 22 ) performs an operation of polynomial - exponential fit using the following expression : a , b , c , d are the coefficients of the third grade polynomial background and the coefficient starting values were those obtained in the previous step ; the absorption lines ( whose shapes are expressed inside the sum ) whose parameters ( hwhm : γ , amplitude : a and line center position : t i ) are unknown and are determined by a best fit procedure as described later . the number of lines included in the model is variable and depends on the power and duration of the computation ; for getting good results it is important to include all the lines in the absorption region of interest that , increasing the pressure , contribute to the chosen measuring interval . in the case of carbon dioxide there are approximately 20 “ side ” lines that at the maximum pressure considered ( 8 - 10 bar ) interact with the chosen measuring spectral region . in fig1 is shown the block scheme for the computation performed in the case of carbon dioxide scheme that is valid for any gas with absorption lines very near each other . block 26 acquires signal i and outputs to block 40 that performs the polynomial - exponential fit according to equation ( 4 ). the purpose is to determine the coefficients of the third degree polynomial and the unknown parameters present in the exponential . the coefficients of the polynomial are calculated by best fitting a polynomial on trace i and choosing arbitrary coefficients for the polynomial . the unknown parameters of the exponential are determined according to interpolation parameters 48 derived from a spectroscopic data base as e . g . hitran ( the hitran 2004 molecular spectroscopic database , l . s . rothman , d . jacquemart , a . barbe , d . chris benner , m . birk , l . r . brown , m . r . carleer , c . chackerian , jr , k . chance , l . h . coudert , v . dana , v . m . devi , j .- m . flaud , r . r . gamache , a . goldman , j .- m . hartmann , k . w . jucks , a . g . maki , j .- y . mandin , s . t . massie , j . orphal , a . perrin , c . p . rinsland , m . a . h . smith , j . tennyson , r . n . tolchenov , r . a . toth , j . vander auwera , p . varanasi , and g . wagner , j . quant . spectrosc . radiat . transfer 96 , 139 - 204 , 2005 ) that provides distance between lines , relative intensity of the lines , relative widths of the lines etc . at this point block 42 outputs the parameters a i and γ i of the lorentzian corresponding to the absorption lines from which block 44 derives the values for the pressure and concentration . an alternative to the model is to impose in the determination of the coefficients of the polynomial a correction of the rump 46 . the third degree polynomial is compared with a rump acquired in free space ( obtainable by acquiring the signal in absence of container 8 ) multiplied by a coefficient k that takes into account the attenuation introduced by the container . the formula that can be applied is the following : the justification for applying expression ( 5 ) stays in the fact that a beam that traverses a partially transmitting window is only attenuated maintaining constant its shape ; possible small perturbation of the shape can be corrected during the computation . block 46 that performs the comparison receives as input the trace acquired in free space 50 and block 52 performs the polynomial interpolation according to relation ( 5 ). another alternative way of determining the background due to the container 8 is to use an additional laser ( not shown in the figures ) collinear to laser source 6 whose wavelength is outside the absorbing band of the gas to be measured . the beam of the latter laser is therefore attenuated only by the container 8 and not by the gas . by measuring the intensity of the latter laser one derives the background due to the container and this information can be inserted in the process of calculation e . g . as input to block 40 . all blocks form 40 to 52 previously mentioned represent computational units and can be integrated in computer 22 . once available the values for the parameters describing the lines ( hwhm , centre of the line and peak value ) it is possible to derive from these the values for the pressure inside the container as well the concentration of the gas as a partial pressure of the said gas . the total pressure is derived from the relation : once determined the total internal pressure , the partial pressure of the gas can be determined with the following procedure ; this quantity is related to the concentration of the said gas in the container . if we indicate with : τ the value of the peak of the absorption line as measured p the total internal pressure γ the theoretical width of the line related to collisions with the gas molecules s the theoretical total area of the line profile l the length of the optical path in the container n l the loschmidt number in this way the amplitude , the widths and the values for the centre line of the various lines ( that are related by constant and known ratios among themselves ) as well as the attenuation due to the container are determined . now we have applied the procedures previously described for the measure of pressure of water vapour and carbon dioxide in several containers , using a laser at 1390 nm or one at 2004 nm according to the gas present . a measure that is particularly relevant is the one performed on wine bottles as a knowledge of the pressure is related to the characteristics of the same wine and in particular its position on the marked discriminating between sparkling and champagne ; furthermore knowing the pressure with small uncertainty allows to certify the product and some of its proprieties . the measuring system has been calibrated using tests containers with known internal pressure and concentration ( e . g . pressure between 1 and 7 bar with steps of 50 mbar ). the calibration curve is shown in fig1 while in fig1 are reported measured values of pressure in the case of bottles of mineral water . pressure measurements present good reproducibility and sensitivity with a sigma value with respect to the polynomial interpolation of 28 mbar . the measured values appear slightly overestimated but the apparatus can be better calibrated using a look - up table . as can be appreciated , even if the invention is described with particular relevance for the sector of bottling in the beverages field ( water , wine , beer ), it can be applied to any field provided the container is even partially transmissive to the wavelength of the laser . of course without loss of validity the ways of realizing the device and the details could be amply varied with respect to what described that is realized as a mere example not limitative without for this to escape from the field of the invention as better described in the annexed claims .	6
in the following , a resistor unit of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings . it is to be noted that the entire construction of the resistor unit of the invention is similar to that of the above - mentioned conventional resistor unit shown in fig8 . that is , the resistor unit of the invention comprises generally a resistor block which is substantially the same as the resistor block 4 of fig8 and a terminal - mounted plastic holder block 60 ( see fig1 ) which is different from the terminal - mounted plastic holder block 6 of fig8 . as can readily be seen from fig8 the resistor block 4 of the present invention comprises a flat resistor 1 , two flat insulating plates 2 a and 2 b which intimately put therebetween the flat resistor 1 and two heat radiation plates 3 a and 3 b which intimately put therebetween the insulating plates 2 a and 2 b . the flat resistor 1 is a stamped resistance plate having a given pattern . the insulating plates 2 a and 2 b are made of mica or the like , and the heat radiation plates 3 a and 3 b are made of aluminum or the like . one of the heat radiation plates 3 a and 3 b is formed with a fuse receiving portion 11 in which an after - mentioned fuse 12 ( see fig1 ) is installed . as is seen from fig1 the terminal - mounted plastic holder block 60 of the present invention comprises a rectangular coupler portion 70 and an elongate flange portion 80 on which a plurality of terminals 50 a , 50 b , 50 c , 50 d and 50 e of metal are aligned . each terminal 50 a , 50 b , 50 c , 50 d or 50 e has a lower part embedded in the holder block 60 , as shown . it is to be noted that , in the present invention , connecting lugs 90 a and 90 b corresponding to the connecting lugs 9 a and 9 b of fig8 are constructed of metal . each connecting lug 90 a or 90 b has a lower part embedded in the flange portion 80 , as shown . insert molding technique is used for producing the terminal - mounted plastic holder block 60 . as will be described in detail hereinafter , the connecting lugs 90 a and 90 b and the terminals 50 a , 50 b , 50 c , 50 d and 50 e have been integrally connected before their separation . that is , they are portions which have constitute a comb - like single metal sheet 13 such as that shown in fig2 . similar to case of the conventional resistor unit of fig8 the resistor proper part 4 is mounted to the plastic holder block 60 . for this mounting , the connecting lugs 90 a and 90 b of metal respectively receive the rivets 10 which extend between the heat radiation plates 3 a and 3 b . particular portions of the flat resistor 1 are spot - welded to selected ones , for example , the terminals 50 a , 50 d and 50 e of the terminals 50 a to 50 e . as is seen from fig1 a fuse 12 is arranged to connect the terminals 50 b and 50 c . when subjected to an excessive current flows , the fuse 12 is melted down to protect an electric circuit of the speed controller . the fuse 12 is received in the fuse receiving portion 11 of the heat radiation plate 3 a ( see fig8 ). in the following , a method of producing the resistor unit according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings . since the method of producing the resistor proper part 4 is known , only the method of producing the holder block 60 will be described in detail in the following . by stamping or punching a metal sheet , a comb - like metal sheet 13 as shown in fig2 is produced . the metal sheet may be of steel , brass or the like . as is seen from the drawing , the shaped metal sheet 13 thus produced has various corresponding portions of the terminals 50 a to 50 e and the connecting lugs 90 a and 90 b , which are integrally connected through thin strip portions 15 . the shaped metal sheet 13 is formed with a plurality of openings 14 at lower parts of the various corresponding portions . the portions corresponding to the connecting lugs 90 a and 90 b are formed with circular openings 17 a and 17 b , respectively . the shaped metal sheet 13 is then subjected to an insert molding to produce a semi - finish product of the holder block 60 . that is , the semi - finish product has such a construction as is illustrated by the solid line and the phantom line in fig1 . with this molding , the apertured lower parts of the corresponding portions 50 a to 50 e and 90 a and 90 b of the shaped metal sheet 13 are embedded in the molded plastic holder block 60 , as is seen from fig1 . then , the thin strip portions 15 are removed from the metal sheet 13 to isolate and produce the terminals 50 a to 50 e and the connecting lugs 90 a and 90 b . then , a fuse 12 is connected to the terminals 50 b and 50 c by using a thin solder . with this , a finished product of the holder block 60 is provided , which is illustrated by only the solid line in fig1 . as shown in this drawing , the terminals 50 b and 50 c for the fuse 12 have upper portions longer than those of the remaining terminals 50 a , 50 d and 50 e . for assembling the resistor unit according to the present invention , the resistor block 4 is mounted to the holder block 60 by using the rivets 10 . that is , the circular openings 17 a and 17 b of the connecting lugs 90 a and 90 b tightly receive the rivets 10 which extend between the heat radiation plates 3 a and 3 b . in the following , advantages possessed by the above - mentioned resistor unit of the invention will be described . since the connecting lugs 90 a and 90 b are constructed of metal , the drawbacks possessed by the conventional plastic connecting lugs 9 a and 9 b are eliminated . that is , due to usage of metal , durability of the connecting lugs 90 a and 90 b and thus that of the resistor unit is greatly increased . in addition , the dimensional stability of the lugs 90 a and 90 b is greatly improved , which induces a precise and tight assembly of the resistor unit . since the connecting lugs 90 a and 90 b and the terminals 50 a to 50 e are supplied by the same metal sheet 13 , the method of producing the resistor unit is quite simplified as compared with the production method of the conventional resistor unit of fig8 . in the following , two modifications of the present invention will be described with reference to fig3 to 7 of the accompanying drawings . referring to fig3 and 5 , there is shown a first modification of the resistor unit of the present invention . that is , as is well shown in fig3 in this modification , a unique fuse holding structure 100 is provided by the terminals 50 b and 50 c of the terminal - mounted plastic holder block 60 . as is seen from fig4 the terminals 50 b and 50 c are formed at portions below the fuse 12 with respective rectangular recesses 50 b ′ and 50 c ′ which face each other . in the illustrated modification , the recesses 50 b ′ and 50 c ′ are symmetric with respect to an imaginary plane vertically extending between the two terminals 50 b and 50 c . with the rectangular recesses 50 b ′ and 50 c ′, a so - called safety fuse holding space “ s ” is defined . the space “ s ” is sufficiently larger than the fuse 12 . more specifically , the size and shape of the space “ s ” are so determined as not to establish an electric connection or short - circuit between the two terminals 50 b and 50 c by the fuse 12 once the fuse 12 is operated or burnt out , as is understood from fig5 . that is , the distance “ a ” between the portion of the terminal 50 b or 50 c to which the fuse 12 is connected and a lower wall of the safety fuse holding space “ s ” is greater than the length “ l ” of the fuse 12 . that is , “ a & gt ; l ” is established . in the illustrated modification , the distance between opposed walls of the recesses 50 b ′ and 50 c ′ is substantially equal to the length “ l ” of the fuse 12 . of course , the length “ l ” of the fuse 12 is greater than the distance “ d ” between opposed portions of the two terminals 50 b and 50 c where the fuse 12 is arranged . due to the provision of the above - mentioned fuse holding structure 100 , it never occurs that the fuse 12 accidentally establishes a connection or short - circuit between the two terminals 50 b and 50 c when the fuse is operated or burnt out . that is , as is illustrated by a phantom line in fig5 if the size of the fuse holding space “ s ” is not sufficiently large , the possibility of establishing such undesired connection or short - circuit increases . referring to fig6 and 7 , there is shown a second modification of the resistor unit of the present invention . that is , in this modification , a unique fuse holding structure 200 is installed in the resistor proper part 40 . as is seen from fig6 the flat resistor 1 is formed at separated resistor pattern parts 1 a and 1 b thereof with respective projections 1 a ′ and 1 b ′. a fuse 12 is welded to these two projections 1 a ′ and 1 b ′ by using a thin solder . thus , the fuse 12 and the projections 1 a ′ and 1 b ′ constitute a raised structure ( 12 , 1 a ′ and 1 b ′) provided on the flat resistor 1 . thus , in this modification , the terminals 50 b and 50 c of the terminal - mounted plastic holder block 60 has no fuse 12 welded thereto , as is understood from fig6 . the insulating plate 2 a has , at a portion thereof facing the raised structure ( 12 , 1 a ′ and 1 b ), a hinged tongue portion 2 a ′ pressed out therefrom . in this modification , the insulating plate 2 a is constructed of a resilient member , such as a glass fiber cloth , flexible mica sheet , silicon sheet , polyimide resin sheet or the like . the heat radiation plate 3 a is formed at a portion facing the tongue portion 2 a ′ with the fuse receiving portion 11 . the fuse receiving portion 11 is formed with ventilation openings 11 a ( only one is shown ). as is seen from fig7 when the resistor proper part 40 is properly assembled , the raised structure ( 12 , 1 a ′ and 1 b ′) of the flat resistor 1 is projected into the fuse receiving portion 11 while pressing the tongue portion 2 a ′ of the insulating plate 2 a against an inner wall 11 ′ of the fuse receiving portion 11 . that is , the insulating tongue portion 2 a ′ is intimately sandwiched between the fuse 12 and the heat radiation plate 3 a . due to the provision of having the insulating tongue portion 2 a ′, electric insulation between the fuse 12 and the heat radiation plate 3 a of metal is assured . since the raised structure ( 12 , 1 a ′ and 1 b ′) of the flat resistor 1 is pressed against the inner wall 11 ′ of the fuse receiving portion 11 , the same can be tightly and stably held in the fuse receiving portion 11 without play . due to the nature of the resilient member of which the insulating plate 2 a is constructed , the opened tongue portion 2 a ′ is biased toward a closed position . this biasing force of the tongue portion 2 a ′ promotes proper operation of the fuse 12 . furthermore , because of the same reason , when the fuse 12 is operated or burnt out , the tongue portion 2 a ′ is forced to take the closed position . this means that the resistor pattern parts 1 a and 1 b of the flat resistor 1 are protected from being contaminated by air pollutants . in addition to the above , the following modifications are possible in the second modification . if desired , the fuse 12 may be arranged to the terminals 50 b and 50 c in a manner as is shown in fig1 . in this case , a raised structure like the above - mentioned raised structure ( 12 , 1 a ′ and 1 b ′) should be provided by the fuse 12 and the terminals 50 b and 50 c . furthermore , if desired , the other insulating plate 2 a may be constructed with the above - mentioned resilient member . in this case , the tight and stable installation of the raised structure ( 12 , 1 a ′ and 1 b ′) in the fuse receiving portion 11 is greatly assured . in addition to the above , many modifications are available in the present invention without departing from the novel teachings and advantages of the invention . all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention as defined in the following claims .	8
as used herein , unless otherwise noted , the term “ anti - solvent ” shall refer to a solvent which does not dissolve a specific substance and is added to a solution of said substance to cause precipitation of said substance . as used herein , the term “ alkyl ” whether used alone or as part of a substituent group , includes straight and branched carbon chains . for example , alkyl radicals include methyl , ethyl , propyl , isopropyl , butyl , isobutyl , sec - butyl , t - butyl , pentyl and the like . unless otherwise noted , “ lower ” when used with alkyl means a carbon chain composition of 1 - 4 carbon atoms . as used herein , unless otherwise noted , “ alkoxy ” shall denote an oxygen ether radical of the above described straight or branched chain alkyl groups . for example , methoxy , ethoxy , n - propoxy , sec - butoxy , t - butoxy , n - hexyloxy and the like . unless otherwise noted , “ lower ” when used with alkoxy means an oxygen ether radical of a carbon chain composition of 1 - 4 carbon atoms . the novel crystalline salts forms of the compound of formula ( ia ) of the present invention were characterized by their respective x - ray powder diffraction ( xrd ) patterns utilizing a phillips pw3710 based x - ray powder diffractometer , using a long fine - focus cu k α radiation source and the following system conditions : a ) cukα radiation , 1 . 5406 å , 40 kv , 30 ma b ) optics : 1 / 12 ° divergence slit 0 . 2 mm receiving slit c ) xenon gas - filled proportional detector d ) scan 2 to 35 ° 02θ at a scan speed of 0 . 0163 ° 2θ / sec ( step side 0 . 020 ° 2θ ) e ) conventional philips sample holder the present invention is directed to novel salts of a compound of formula ( i ), preferably , novel salt forms of a compound of formula ( ia ); novel crystalline forms of the sodium and potassium salts of the compound of formula ( ia ); and processes for the preparation of salts of a compound of formula ( i ). particularly , the novel salts of a compound of formula ( i ) are alkali metals or magnesium salts , wherein an alkali metal or magnesium cation displaces at least one hydrogen atom , preferably one hydrogen atom , on the sulfamate portion of the compound of formula ( i ). more particularly , the salts are sodium , potassium , lithium and magnesium salts of a compound of formula ( i ), wherein a sodium , potassium , lithium or magnesium cation displaces at least one hydrogen atom , preferably one hydrogen atom , on the sulfamate portion of the compound of formula ( i ). in a preferred embodiment of the present invention , the compound of formula ( i ) is the compound of formula ( ia ). in an embodiment of the present invention , is a process for preparing the alkali metal salts of a compound of formula ( i ), comprising a .) reacting the compound of formula ( i ) with an alkali metal hydride , an alkali metal hydroxide , an alkali metal lower alkoxide , an alkali metal amide , or if the alkali metal is lithium alternatively with an alkyl lithium ; and more particularly , the compound of formula ( i ) is reacted with an alkali metal hydride , under anhydrous conditions ; or with an alkali metal hydroxide ; or with an alkali metal lower alkoxide , preferably under anhydrous conditions ; or with an alkali metal amide , under anhydrous conditions ; in an organic solvent ; or when the alkali metal is lithium alternatively with an alkyl lithium , under anhydrous conditions ; and the product is precipitated to yield the corresponding alkali metal salt . in an embodiment of the present invention , is a process for preparing the magnesium salts of a compound of formula ( i ), comprising a .) reacting the compound of formula ( i ) with a magnesium lower alkoxide ; under anhydrous conditions ; and more particularly , the compound of formula ( i ) is reacted with a magnesium lower alkoxide , under anhydrous conditions ; in an organic solvent ; and the product is precipitated to yield the corresponding magnesium salt . in one embodiment of the invention is a sodium salt of a compound of formula ( i ). preferably , the sodium salt of the compound of formula ( i ) is a salt wherein a sodium cation displaces one of the hydrogen atoms of the sulfamate of the compound of formula ( i ). preferably , the sodium salt of the compound of formula ( i ) is a sodium salt of topiramate , the compound of formula ( ia ). preferably , the sodium salt of topiramate is a compound of formula ( ii ) wherein a sodium cation displaces one of the hydrogen atoms of the sulfamate of the compound of formula ( ia ). in a further embodiment of the present invention is a process for preparing the sodium salt of a compound of formula ( i ), preferably topiramate , a compound of formula ( ia ), comprising a .) reacting the compound of formula ( i ) with sodium hydride , sodium hydroxide , sodium lower alkoxide or sodium amide ; in an organic solvent ; or alternatively when the compound of formula ( i ) is reacted with sodium hydroxide or sodium lower alkoxide in an alcohol ; and b .) precipitating the product . more particularly , the compound of formula ( i ) is reacted with sodium hydride , under anhydrous conditions , in an inert organic solvent such as thf , et 2 o , toluene , t - butyl methyl ether ( mtbe ), and the like , preferably thf ; and the product is precipitated . alternatively , the compound of formula ( i ) is reacted with sodium hydroxide , in an organic solvent such as thf , et 2 o , mtbe , ethyl acetate , isopropyl acetate , methanol , ethanol , and the like ; or in a mixture of organic solvents such as methanol / ethyl acetate , methanol / isopropyl acetate , ethanol / ethyl acetate , ethanol / isopropyl acetate , and the like ; and the product is precipitated . alternatively still , the compound of formula ( i ) is reacted with a sodium lower alkoxide such as sodium methoxide , sodium ethoxide ; sodium propoxide , sodium t - butoxide , and the like ; preferably sodium methoxide , preferably under anhydrous conditions , in an organic solvent such as thf , et 2 o , mtbe , ethyl acetate , isopropyl acetate , methanol , ethanol , and the like , or in a mixture organic solvents such as methanol / ethyl acetate , methanol / isopropyl acetate , ethanol / ethyl acetate , ethanol / isopropyl acetate , and the like , preferably in a mixture of methanol / isopropyl acetate ; and the product is precipitated . alternatively still , the compound of formula ( i ) is reacted with sodium amide , under anhydrous conditions , in an organic solvent such as thf , et 2 o , and the like ; and the product is precipitated . the sodium salt product may be precipitated with an anti - solvent such as hexane , pentane , heptane , cyclohexane , and the like , preferably hexane , preferably at a reduced temperature in the range of about 25 to about − 20 ° c . alternatively , the sodium salt product may be precipitated by evaporation of the solvent . the sodium salt product may be crystallized or recrystallized from an organic solvent such as ethyl acetate , methyl acetate , isopropyl acetate , and the like , or from a mixture of an alcohol and an organic solvent such as methanol / ethyl acetate , methanol / isopropyl actetate , ethanol / isopropyl acetate , ethanol / ethyl actetate , and the like , preferably from ethyl acetate or isopropyl acetate ; optionally heating to fully dissolve the solid ; adding water , preferably in an amount equal to or greater than about 2 equivalents , more preferably in an amount equal to about 3 - 5 equivalents , most preferably in an amount equal to about 3 equivalents ; and cooling . alternatively , the sodium salt product may be crystallized or recrystallized from an organic solvent such as ethyl acetate , methyl acetate , isopropyl acetate , and the like , or from a mixture of an alcohol and an organic solvent such as methanol / ethyl acetate , methanol / isopropyl acetate , ethanol / isopropyl acetate , ethanol / ethyl acetate , and the like , preferably from ethyl acetate ; by heating to fully dissolve the solid and then cooling . in another embodiment of the invention is a potassium salt of a compound of formula ( i ). preferably , the potassium salt of the compound of formula ( i ) is a salt wherein a potassium cation displaces one hydrogen atom of the sulfamate of the compound of formula ( i ) preferably , the potassium salt of the compound of formula ( i ) is a potassium salt of topiramate , the compound of formula ( ia ). preferably , the potassium salt of topiramate , the compound of formula ( ia ), is a compound of formula ( iii ) wherein a potassium cation displaces one hydrogen atom of the sulfamate of the compound of formula ( ia ). in a further embodiment of the present invention is a process for preparing the potassium salt of a compound of formula ( i ), preferably topiramate , a compound of formula ( ia ), comprising a .) reacting the compound of formula ( i ) with potassium hydride , potassium hydroxide , potassium lower alkoxide or potassium amide , in an organic solvent or alternatively when the compound of formula ( i ) is reacted with potassium hydroxide or potassium lower alkoxide , in an alcohol ; and b .) precipitating the product . more particularly , the compound of formula ( i ) is reacted with potassium hydride , under anhydrous conditions , in an inert organic solvent such as thf , et 2 o , mtbe , toluene , and the like , preferably thf ; and the product is precipitated . alternatively , the compound of formula ( i ) is reacted with potassium hydroxide , in an organic solvent such as thf , et 2 o , mtbe , ethyl acetate , isopropyl acetate , methanol , ethanol , and the like , or in a mixture of organic solvents such as methanol / ethyl acetate , methanol / isopropyl acetate , ethanol / ethyl acetate , ethanol / isopropyl acetate , and the like , preferably in an alcohol such as ethanol ; and the product is precipitated . alternatively still , the compound of formula ( i ) is reacted with a potassium lower alkoxide such as potassium methoxide , potassium ethoxide , potassium propoxide , potassium t - butoxide , and the like , preferably potassium ethoxide ; preferably under anhydrous conditions , in an organic solvent such as thf , et 2 o , mtbe , methanol , ethanol , and the like , or in a mixture of organic solvents such as methanol / ethyl acetate , methanol / isopropyl acetate , ethanol / ethyl acetate , ethanol / isopropyl acetate , and the like , preferably in ethanol ; and the product is precipitated . alternatively still , the compound of formula ( i ) is reacted with potassium amide , under anhydrous conditions , in an inert organic solvent such as thf , et 2 o , and the like ; and the product is precipitated . the potassium salt product may be precipitated with an anti - solvent such as hexane , pentane , heptane , cyclohexane , and the like , preferably hexane , preferably at a reduced temperature in the range of about 25 to about − 20 ° c . alternatively , the potassium salt product may be precipitated by evaporation of the solvent . the potassium salt product may be crystallized or recrystallized from an organic solvent such as ethyl acetate , methyl acetate , isopropyl acetate , methanol , ethanol , isopropyl alcohol , and the like , or from a mixture of organic solvents such as methanol / ethyl acetate , methanol / isopropyl actetate , ethanol / isopropyl acetate , ethanol / ethyl actetate , and the like , preferably from a mixture of ethyl acetate / methanol or ethanol , by heating to fully dissolve the solid , and cooling . in another embodiment of the invention is a lithium salt of a compound of formula ( i ). preferably , the lithium salt of the compound of formula ( i ) is a salt wherein a lithium cation displaces one hydrogen atom of the sulfamate of the compound of formula ( i ). preferably , the lithium salt of the compound of formula ( i ) is a lithium salt of topiramate , the compound of formula ( ia ). preferably , the lithium salt of topiramate is a compound of formula ( iv ) wherein a lithium cation displaces one hydrogen atom of the sulfamate of the compound of formula ( ia ). in a further embodiment of the present invention is a process for preparing the lithium salt of a compound of formula ( i ), preferably topiramate , a compound of formula ( ia ), comprising a .) reacting the compound of formula ( i ) with lithium hydride , lithium hydroxide , lithium lower alkoxide , alkyl lithium or lithium amide , in an organic solvent or alternatively when the compound of formula ( i ) is reacted with lithium hydroxide or lithium lower alkoxide , in an alcohol ; and b .) precipitating the product . more particularly , the compound of formula ( i ) is reacted with lithium hydride , under anhydrous conditions , in an inert organic solvent such as thf , et 2 o , mtbe , and the like , preferably thf ; and the product is precipitated . alternatively , the compound of formula ( i ) is reacted with lithium hydroxide , in an organic solvent such as thf , et 2 o , mtbe , ethyl acetate , isopropyl acetate , methanol , ethanol , and the like , or in a mixture of organic solvents such as methanol / ethyl acetate , methanol / isopropyl acetate , ethanol / ethyl acetate , ethanol / isopropyl acetate , and the like ; preferably under anhydrous conditions , and the product is precipitated . alternatively still , the compound of formula ( i ) is reacted with a lithium lower alkoxide such as lithium methoxide , lithium ethoxide , lithium propoxide , lithium t - butoxide , and the like ; preferably under anhydrous conditions , in an organic solvent such as thf , et 2 o , mtbe , methanol , ethanol , and the like , or in a mixture of organic solvents such as methanol / ethyl acetate , methanol / isopropyl acetate , ethanol / ethyl acetate , ethanol / isopropyl acetate , and the like ; and the product is precipitated . alternatively still , the compound of formula ( i ) is reacted with an alkyl lithium such as methyl lithium , ethyl lithium , n - butyl lithium , and the like , preferably n - butyl lithium ; under anhydrous conditions , in an inert organic solvent such as thf , et 2 o , mtbe , and the like ; and the product is precipitated . alternatively still , the compound of formula ( i ) is reacted with lithium amide , under anhydrous conditions , in an inert organic solvent such as thf , et 2 o , and the like ; and the product is precipitated . the lithium salt product may be precipitated by evaporation of the solvent . in another embodiment of the invention is a magnesium salt of a compound of formula ( i ). preferably , the magnesium salt of the compound of formula ( i ) is a salt wherein a magnesium cation displaces one hydrogen atom of the sulfamate of the compound of formula ( i ). preferably , the magnesium salt of the compound of formula ( i ) is a magnesium salt of topiramate , the compound of formula ( ia ). preferably , the magnesium salt of topiramate is a compound of formula ( v ): wherein a magnesium cation displaces one hydrogen atom of the sulfamate of two molecules of the compound of formula ( ia ). in a further embodiment of the present invention is a process for preparing a magnesium salt of a compound of formula ( i ), preferably topiramate , a compound of formula ( ia ), comprising a .) reacting the compound of formula ( i ) with magnesium lower alkoxide ; under anhydrous conditions ; in an organic solvent ; and b .) precipitating the product . more particularly , the compound of formula ( i ) is reacted with a magnesium lower alkoxide , such as magnesium methoxide , magnesium ethoxide , magnesium - t - butoxide , and the like , preferably magnesium methoxide , under anhydrous conditions , in an organic solvent such as ethyl acetate , isopropyl acetate , thf , et 2 o , mtbe , methanol , ethanol , and the like , or in a mixture of organic solvents such as methanol / ethyl acetate , methanol / isopropyl acetate , ethanol / ethyl acetate , ethanol / isopropyl acetate , and the like , preferably in methanol ; and precipitating the product . the magnesium salt product may be precipitated with an anti - solvent such as hexane , pentane , heptane , cyclohexane , and the like , preferably hexane , preferably at a reduced temperature in the range of about 25 to about − 20 ° c . alternatively , the magnesium salt product may be precipitated by cooling the solution to a temperature in the range of about 0 to about − 20 ° c . alternatively still , the magnesium salt product may be precipitated by evaporation of the solvent . the present invention further relates to novel crystalline forms of the compound of formula ( ii ) and the compound of formula ( iii ) and amorphous forms of the compound of formula ( ii ), the compound of formula ( iii ), the compound of formula ( iv ) and the compound of formula ( v ). in an embodiment of the present invention are novel crystalline forms of the compound of formula ( ii ), more particularly form na1 and form na2 ; and amorphous form na4 . amorphous form na4 of the compound of formula ( ii ) may be characterized by its physical appearance ( foamy solid ) and the absence of narrow peaks in the xrd ( no xrd pattern ). amorphous form na4 may be prepared by reacting the compound of formula ( ii ) with sodium hydroxide , in an organic solvent , and precipitating the product by treating the solution with an anti - solvent or by evaporating the solvent under reduced pressure . crystalline form na1 of the compound of formula ( ii ) may be characterized by its x - ray diffraction pattern , comprising the peaks : crystalline form na1 may be prepared according to the process outlined above , reacting the compound of formula ( ia ) with sodium hydride , sodium hydroxide or sodium lower alkoxide , in an organic solvent or mixture thereof ; optionally evaporating the solvent to precipitate the product ; and crystallizing or recrystallizing in an organic solvent such as ethyl acetate , isopropyl acetate , and the like or a mixture of organic solvents such as methanol / ethyl acetate , ethanol / ethyl acetate , methanol / isopropyl acetate , ethanol / isopropyl acetate , preferably methanol / isopropyl acetate , optionally heating to fully dissolve the solid , and then adding water , preferably in the amount equal to or greater than about 2 equivalents , more preferably in an amount equal to about 3 - 5 equivalents , most preferably in an amount equal to about 3 equivalents , and cooling . alternatively , crystalline form na1 may be prepared by subjecting amorphous form na4 to elevated humidity conditions . crystalline form na2 of the compound of formula ( ii ) may be characterized by its x - ray diffraction pattern , comprising the peaks : crystalline form na2 may be prepared by recrystallizing the crystalline form na1 from an anhydrous organic solvent , such as ethyl acetate , methyl acetate , isopropyl acetate , and the like , preferably ethyl acetate , without addition of water , by heating and cooling . the crystalline form of the compound of formula ( ii ), specifically form na1 is a tri - hydrate , whereas the crystalline form of the compound of formula ( ii ), specifically form na2 is a non - hydrate , as determined by karl - fischer measurements of weight % water , as listed in table 5 . in another embodiment of the present invention are novel crystalline forms of the compound of formula ( iii ), more particularly form k1 and form k2 ; and amorphous form k3 . amorphous form k3 of the compound of formula ( iii ) may be characterized by its physical appearance ( foamy solid ) and the absence of narrow peaks in the xrd ( no xrd pattern ). amorphous form k3 may be prepared by reacting the compound of formula ( ia ) with potassium hydroxide , in an organic solvent , and precipitating the product by evaporating the solvent . crystalline form k1 of the compound of formula ( iii ) may be characterized by its x - ray diffraction pattern , comprising the peaks : crystalline form k1 and form k2 may be prepared by recrystallizing the amorphous form k3 . more particularly , crystalline form k1 may be prepared by recrystallizing amorphous form k3 from an organic solvent or mixture thereof , preferably an ethyl acetate / methanol mixture wherein the percent methanol is greater than or equal to about 5 %, by heating and cooling . alternatively , crystalline form k1 may be prepared by recrystallizing amorphous form k3 , crystalline form k2 or a mixture thereof , from an organic solvent such as ethyl acetate , isopropyl acetate , ethanol , methanol , and the like , or from a mixture thereof , such as ethanol / isopropyl acetate , ethanol / ethyl acetate , and the like , preferably from ethanol , by heating and cooling . crystalline form k2 may be prepared by recrystallizing amorphous form k3 from an organic solvent or mixture thereof , preferably an ethyl acetate / methanol mixture wherein the percent methanol is less than about 5 %, by heating and cooling . alternatively , crystalline form k2 may be prepared by recrystallizing amorphous form k3 from an organic solvent or mixture thereof , preferably an ethyl acetate / methanol mixture wherein the percent methanol is greater than about 5 %, by heating the mixture to evaporate excess methanol , as measured by an increase in boiling temperature to greater than about 70 ° c . and cooling . crystalline form k1 and form k2 of the compound of formula ( iii ) are non - hydrates , as determined by karl - fischer measurements of weight % water , as listed in table 10 . amorphous form li1 of the compound of formula ( iv ) may be characterized by its physical appearance ( foamy solid ) and the absence of narrow peaks in the xrd ( no xrd pattern ). amorphous form li1 may be prepared by reacting the compound of formula ( ia ) with lithium hydroxide in an organic solvent or with an alkyl lithium in an inert organic solvent under anhydrous conditions ; and precipitating the product by evaporation of solvent . in yet another embodiment of the present invention is an amorphous form of the compound of formula ( v ), more particularly form mg1 . amorphous form mg1 of the compound of formula ( v ) may be characterized by its physical properties ( foamy solid ) and by the absence of narrow peaks in the xrd ( no xrd pattern ). amorphous form mg1 may be prepared by reacting the compound of formula ( ia ) with a magnesium lower alkoxide , in an organic solvent , and precipitating the product with an anti - solvent or by evaporating the solvent under reduced pressure . as used herein , the term “ subject ” shall refer to an animal , preferably a mammal , more preferably a human , who is the object of treatment , observation of experiment . as used herein , the term “ therapeutically effective amount ”, means that amount of active compound or pharmaceutical agent that elicits the biological or medicinal response in a tissue system , animal or human that is being sought by a researcher , veterinarian , medical doctor or other clinician , which includes alleviation of the symptoms of the disease or disorder being treated . the salts of the instant invention may be administered to a subject in need thereof at any dosage level such that the amount is therapeutically effective . optimal dosages to be administered may be readily determined by those skilled in the art , and will vary with the particular salt used , the mode of administration , the strength of the preparation , and the advancement of the disease condition . in addition , factors associated with the particular patient being treated , including patient age , weight , diet and time of administration , will result in the need to adjust dosages . the present invention further provides a method of treating epilepsy in a subject in need thereof which comprises administering any of the salts as defined herein in a therapeutically effective amount . preferably , for treating epilepsy , the salts are administered in a dosage range of about 10 to 650 mg / daily , more preferably in the range of about 16 to 325 mg / once or twice daily . the salts of the instant invention may be administered by any suitable method , as would be apparent to one skilled in the art . more particularly , the salts of the compound of formula ( i ) may be administered by any parenteral method including , but not limited to , via oral , pulmonary , intraperitoneal ( ip ), intramuscular ( im ), intravenous ( iv ), subcutaneous ( sc ), transdermal , buccal , nasal , sublingual , ocular , rectal and vaginal routes of administration . the salts of the compound of formula ( i ) may also be administered directly to the nervous system via intracerebral , intraventricular , intracerebroventricular , intrathecal , intracisternal , intraspinal and / or peri - spinal routes of administration , with or without pump devices . it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that any dose or frequency of administration that provides the desired therapeutic effect is suitable for use in the instant invention . to prepare the pharmaceutical compositions of the present invention , one or more of the salts described herein are intimately admixed with a pharmaceutical carrier according to conventional techniques , which carrier may take a wide variety of forms depending on the form of preparation desired for administration , e . g ., oral , by suppository or parenteral . in preparing the compositions in oral dosage form , any of the usual pharmaceutical media may be employed . thus , for liquid oral preparations , such as , for example , suspensions , elixers and solutions , suitable carriers and additives include water , glycols , oils , alcohols , flavoring agents , preservative , coloring agents and the like ; for solid oral preparations such as , for example , powders , capsules and tablets , suitable carriers and additives include starches , sugars , diluents , granulating agents , lubricants , binders , disintegrating agents and the like . because of their ease of administration , tablets and capsules represent the most advantageous oral dosage unit form , in which case solid pharmaceutical carriers are obviously employed . if desired , tablets may be sugar coated or enteric coated by standard techniques . suppositories may be prepared , in which cocoa butter could be used as a carrier . for parenterals , the carrier will usually comprise sterile water , though other ingredients , for example , for purposes such as aiding solubility or for preservation , may be included . injectable suspensions may also be prepared in which case , appropriate liquid carriers , suspending agents and the like may be employed . the pharmaceutical compositions herein will contain , per dosage unit , e . g ., tablet , capsule , powder , injection , teaspoonful , suppository and the like , from about 10 to about 500 mg of active ingredient . the following examples describe the invention in greater detail and are intended to illustrate the invention , but not to limit it . topiramate ( 853 . 6 mg ) was dissolved in thf ( 2 . 5 ml ). the solution was chilled in an ice bath . to the solution was then added 1m potassium butoxide in thf ( 2 . 5 ml ) dropwise . the solution was stirred for 30 min . a precipitate was formed . the precipitate was filtered and placed in a vacuum oven at 34 ° c ., to yield the potassium salt as form k2 , as a solid . topiramate ( 1 . 0007 g , 2 . 95 mmol ) was dissolved in diethyl ether ( 20 ml ). the solution was chilled in an ice water bath under n 2 . 1m potassium tert - butoxide in thf ( 2 . 95 ml , 2 . 95 mmol ) was the added dropwise to the solution . the solution was stirred for 30 min and a precipitate was formed . the precipitate was filtered under n2 , washed with additional diethyl ether and dried in a vacuum oven at ambient temperature to yield the potassium salt product as form k2 , as a white solid . topiramate ( 0 . 7512 g ) was dissolved in toluene ( 15 ml ). potassium hydroxide ( 0 . 1440 g ) was added and the solution was stirred at 360 rpm . a dean stark trap was attached and the hot plate temperature increased until the toluene was a rapid reflux ( at about 185 ° c .). the solution was maintained at reflux for 24 hours . the solution was allowed to cool slowly , then filtered . the remaining solvent was removed by roto - evaporation in a water bath set at 30 ° c . solids remaining in the flask were dissolved in ethyl acetate ( 2 ml ). to the solution was then added hexanes ( 15 ml ), resulting in the formation of a precipitate . the precipitate was collected by vacuum filtration and washed with diethyl ether ( 30 ml ), to yield the potassium salt as form k3 , as a solid . the solid was stored over p 2 o 5 . sodium hydride ( 71 . 1 mg ) ( 60 % dispersion in mineral oil ) was rinsed 3 times with pentane and dried under n 2 for 30 min . a solution of topiramate ( 500 mg ) dissolved in thf ( 3 ml ) was added dropwise . an additional solution of topiramate ( 103 mg ) in thf ( 2 ml ) was then added . the solution was stirred in an ice water bath under n 2 overnight . to the solution was added hexane ( 4 ml ) and the solution was again stirred overnight , resulting in the formation of a cloudy precipitate . the solution was placed in a refrigerator and then into a freezer overnight . the solution was removed from the freezer and then stirred at ambient temperature for about 3 hours . the resulting precipitate was collected by vacuum s filtration and air dried to yield the sodium salt as form na1 , as a solid . sodium hydride ( 0 . 1076 g ) ( 60 % dispersion in mineral oil ) was rinsed with hexanes ( 30 ml ) under n 2 . the upper layer of the solution was removed with a dry pipette . the remaining hexanes were evaporated by fast evaporation under n 2 for about 1 hour . thf ( 2 ml ) was then added to the sodium hydride slurry and the resulting slurry was cooled in an ice water bath . a solution of topiramate ( 853 . 8 mg ) in thf ( 2 . 5 ml ) was added dropwise to the cold sodium hydride slurry . hexanes ( 25 ml ) were then added to the mixture , resulting in the formation of a precipitate . the precipitate was vacuum filtered , washed with additional hexanes and then placed in a vacuum oven at 34 ° c . for about 1 hr . the resulting solid was mixed with diethyl ether ( 40 ml ) and sonicated . the solution was vacuum filtered and the precipitate dried in a vacuum oven at 34 ° c ., to yield the sodium salt as form na3 , as a solid . sodium hydride ( 507 mg ) was rinsed 4 times with pentane ( 10 ml ) and then allowed to dry under a n 2 stream . a solution of topiramate ( 3 . 5 g ) in thf ( 10 ml ) was then added to the sodium hydride and stirred at room temperature . the solution was cooled in a dry ice / isopropyl alcohol bath and then allowed to warm to room temperature . the solution was filtered through an 0 . 2 m nylon filter . the solution was then allowed to stand under n 2 stream overnight , to slowly evaporate the solvent . to the residue were added hexanes ( 15 ml ). the resulting mixture was sonicated and the vessel sides scratched to induce precipitation of product . thf ( 1 . 5 ml ) was added and the slurry stirred at ambient temperature , and let stand under n 2 for 2 days . the resulting precipitate was collected by vacuum filtration , rinsed 3 times with hexanes ( 5 ml ) and placed for 6 hours in a vacuum oven at ambient temperature , to yield the sodium salt as form na4 , as a solid . the sold was lightly ground with agate mortal and pestle prior to testing . topiramate ( 3 . 4 g , 10 mmol ) was dissolved in thf ( 40 ml ) at room temperature , then treated with 50 % aq naoh ( 0 . 8 g , 10 mmol ). at the end of addition , a clear solution was formed . the thf was evaporated under reduced pressure and the oily residue placed under vacuum to remove any remaining solvent or water . the product formed as a white foam , an amorphous solid . xrd - analysis confirmed that the product was amorphous . topiramate ( 3 . 39 g , 10 mmol ) in thf ( 50 ml ) was treated with sodium ethoxide ( 21wt %, 3 . 24 g , 10 mmol ) and the mixture was stirred at room temp . the ethanol was evaporated , the residue dissolved in t - butyl methyl ether ( 100 ml ) and treated with h 2 o (˜ 0 . 4 g ), resulting in the formation of a crystalline solid . the solid was collected by filtration and air - dried ( 3 . 9 g in two crops ). the solid was suspended in ethyl acetate ( 30 ml ) and heated , just enough to dissolve the solid without loosing any water . the solution was filtered quickly through a small cotton plug and allowed to stand at room temperature . the product crystallized out over about 20 min . the solid was collected by filtration , washed with a small amount of ethyl acetate and air - dried . sodium hydride ( 95 %, 0 . 51 g , 20 mmol ) was suspended in thf ( 100 ml ) at room temperature . topiramate ( 6 . 78 g , 20 mmol ) was added portion - wise to the suspension . at the end of addition , a nearly clear solution was formed . the solution was filtered quickly through a small cotton plug and the thf was evaporated under reduced pressure . the residue was dissolved in ethyl acetate ( 50 ml ) and water ( 1 g ). the solution was allowed to stand at room temperature where the product started to crystallize out , then cooled in an ice - bath . the solid was collected by filtration , washed with a small amount of ethyl acetate and air - dried . topiramate ( 13 . 56 g , 40 mmol ) was dissolved in thf ( 120 ml ) at room temperature then treated with 50 % aq naoh ( 3 . 2 g , 40 mmol ). at the end of addition , a clear solution was formed . the thf was evaporated under reduced pressure and the residue was dissolved in ethyl acetate ( 150 ml ). water ( about 2 g ) was added to the solution with stirring . the product started to crystallize out soon after . the mixture was allowed to stand at room temperature for 15 min , then cooled in an ice - bath to about 5 ° c . the product , as form na1 , was collected by filtration , washed with ethyl acetate and air - dried . a sample of the product ( 3 g , 7 . 2 mmol ) was mixed with ethyl acetate ( 50 ml ) and heated on a steam bath until the solid dissolved . the hazy solution was hot - filtered and then allowed to stand at room temperature . the product crystallized out as a white solid ; the mixture was further cooled in an ice bath . the solid was collected by filtration and rinsed with cold ethyl acetate ( 10 ml ) then air - dried to yield the product as form na2 . potassium hydroxide ( 85 %, 0 . 66 g , 10 mmol ) was stirred in ethanol ( 50 ml ) at room temperature together with topiramate ( 3 . 39 g , 10 mmol ). all solids dissolved in a few minutes . the solvent was evaporated under reduced pressure . the residue was dissolved in ethyl acetate ( 50 ml ) and water ( 0 . 4 g ) and allowed to stand . the solution was then cooled in an ice - bath , a white solid crystallized out . the solid was collected by filtration , washed with a small amount of ethyl acetate and air - dried . potassium hydroxide ( 85 %, 0 . 1 . 32 g , 20 mmol ) was dissolved in h 2 o ( 2 ml ) at room temperature . topiramate ( 6 . 78 g , 20 mmol ) in ethyl acetate ( 75 ml ) was added to the koh and the mixture stirred at room temperature to yield a clear solution . the solvent was evaporated under reduced pressure , the residue was re - dissolved in ethyl acetate ( 150 ml ) and allowed to stand . the solution was then cooled in an ice - bath , a white solid crystallized out . the solid was collected by filtration , washed with ethyl acetate and air - dried . a sample of the product ( 2 g , 5 . 3 mmol ) was suspended in ethyl acetate ( 50 ml ) and methanol ( 5 ml ) and the mixture heated on a steam bath until the solid dissolved . heating was continued to evaporate some of the methanol and the resulting solution was allowed to stand at room temperature . the product crystallized out as a white solid , which was collected by filtration and air - dried . potassium tert - butoxide ( 1m in thf , 30 mmol ) was s added to a solution of topiramate ( 10 . 2 g , 30 mmol ) in thf ( 75 ml ) and the mixture stirred at room temperature to yield a clear solution . the solvent was evaporated under reduced pressure and the residue dissolved in ethyl acetate ( 150 ml ) and methanol ( 20 ml ). the solution was heated to evaporate some of the methanol ( the boiling point was observed to rise from 64 to 70 ° c .). the solution was allowed to stand , a part of the product crystallized out . the solid was collected by filtration , washed with ethyl acetate and air - dried . the filtrate was concentrated and allowed to stand at room temperature to yield a second crop . potassium hydroxide ( 85 %, 7 . 26 g , 110 mmol ) was added at room temperature to a solution of topiramate ( 39 g , 115 mmol ) in thf ( 250 ml ) and methanol ( 50 ml ). the reaction mixture was stirred at room temperature for 30 min , until all of the koh had dissolved to yield a clear solution . the solvent was evaporated under reduced pressure and the oily residue ( 51 . 2 g ) was mixed with ethyl acetate ( 300 ml ) and methanol ( 15 ml ) and then heated on a steam bath . the residue became a white solid , then completely dissolved to yield a clear solution . the solution was allowed to cool to room temperature , seeded with a few crystals of k - salt and left to stand at room temperature overnight . the solid was collected by filtration , washed with ethyl acetate and air - dried , to yield form k1 , as a solid . the filtrate was heated to remove most of the methanol ( bp rose from 64 ° c . to 75 ° c . and the total volume was reduced to 300 ml ). the solution was allowed to stand at room temperature for about 1 h , a hard white solid - precipitated and was broken down before filtration . the solid was rinsed with ethyl acetate and air - dried , to yield k2 as a solid . the solid initially behaved as a hygroscopic material ( became sticky ) before it was air - dried ; after drying there were no hygroscopic properties . potassium hydroxide ( 85 %, 13 . 2 g , 200 mmol ) was dissolved in water ( 25 ml ) and added at room temperature to a solution of topiramate ( 68 . 6 g , 202 mmol ) in thf ( 500 ml ), then stirred at room temperature for 10 min . the solvent was evaporated under reduced pressure to yield a foamy solid ( 80 . 9 g ). xrd analysis confirmed the solid was amorphous . n - butyl lithium ( 10 ml of 2m solution in cyclohexane , 20 mmol ) was added slowly to a solution of topiramate ( 7 . 0 g , 20 . 6 mmol ) in thf ( 50 ml ) at about 25 - 35 ° c . the solvent was evaporated under reduced pressure to yield a foamy , light yellow , amorphous solid . xrd analysis confirmed the solid was amorphous . magnesium turnings ( 0 . 24 g 10 matm ) in methanol ( 100 ml ) were heated on a steam bath until the mg dissolved . topiramate ( 6 . 78 g , 20 mmol ) was added to the mg - methoxide solution and heated on a steam bath for about 5 min , then cooled to room temperature . any contact with water was avoided . the solvent was evaporated under reduced pressure and the residue further dried under vacuum at room temperature to a constant weight , to yield the product as a white foamy amorphous solid . xrd analysis confirmed the solid was amorphous . topiramate ( 50 g , 0 . 147 mol ) was dissolved in isopropyl acetate ( 600 ml ) and treated with 30 % naoch 3 in methanol ( 28 . 5 ml ). the light yellow solution was heated at reflux to distill some of the solvent ( an azeotrope of methanol / isopropyl acetate , 70 . 2 / 29 . 8 , bp . 64 ° c .) till the temperature in the flask was observed to reach 85 ° c . the reaction mixture was then cooled to about 20 - 25 ° c . the reaction mixture was filtered through celite ( to remove any insoluble residue ) and rinsed with isopropyl acetate ( 60 ml ). the solution was then heated to 50 ° c . to the solution was added water ( 7 . 9 ml ) over 1 min . the product was allowed to crystallize at about 20 - 25 ° c . overnight . the solid was collected by filtration , washed with isopropyl acetate ( 50 ml ) and dried in a vacuum oven containing a bowl of water at 30 ° c . for 24 h . topiramate ( 50g , 0 . 147 mol ) was dissolved in isopropyl acetate ( 367 ml ) ( 2 . 5 l / mol ). sodium methoxide 30 % in methanol ( 27 . 2 ml , 1 eq .) was added at room temperature . the mixture was stirred over 10 min and then filtered at about 22 - 25 ° c . the filtrate was then heated to 35 ° c . water ( 8 ml , 3 eq .) was then added and the crystallization began after seeding . the mixture was cooled down to about 22 - 25 ° c . over 30 min , then further cooled down with ice - water to about 0 - 5 ° c . the precipitate was filtered off , washed with isopropyl acetate ( 50 ml ) ( 0 . 35 l / mol ) and dried at 35 ° c . under vacuum during 18 h . solid potassium salt of topiramate ( 66 g ; a mixture of two polymorphic forms k2 and k3 ) was suspended in ethanol ( 250 ml ) and the mixture was heated to boiling until all of the solid dissolved . the hot solution was filtered through celite and the mixture was diluted to a final volume of 360 ml with additional ethanol . the clear solution was seeded , while hot , with a few crystals of form k1 solid and allowed to stand at room temperature without external cooling . as the solution started to cool , the solid product crystallized out slowly . the crystallization flask was kept in a refrigerator overnight and the cold mixture was filtered to isolate the solid product . the crystalline solid was rinsed with cold ethanol , then with diethyl ether and then air - dried . the filtrate was concentrated to about 150 ml and allowed to stand at room temperature for 2 days . the resulting solid was collected by filtration , rinsed with cold ethanol and then air - dried . xrd - pattern showed form k1 . topiramate ( 163 . 8 g , 483 mmol ) was suspended in ethanol ( 500 ml ). to the mixture was then added potassium ethoxide in ethanol ( 24 %, 168 g , 479 mmol ). nearly all the topiramate dissolved by the end of addition ( total volume ˜ 750 ml ). the initial crystallization resulted in a paste - like solid . the mixture was heated gently on a steam bath until it became fluid . heating was then continued on a hot plate with stirring until all of the solid had dissolved . the hot solution was filtered through celite and rinsed with hot ethanol ( 50 ml ). the solution was again heated to boiling to form a clear solution . the solution was seeded with form k1 crystals while hot , then allowed to stand at room temperature overnight . the flask was cooled in an ice bath for 2 h and the solid was collected by filtration . the solid was rinsed with cold ethanol ( 100 ml ), then with diethyl ether , and then air - dried . the solid was further dried in a vacuum oven at about 40 - 50 ° c . overnight . the xrd pattern showed form k1 . the filtrate was concentrated to about 200 ml . the solution was allowed to stand at room temperature to yield a second crop of form k1 . anticonvulsant activity was determined using the mes test as described by swinyard e a , woodhead j h , white h s , franklin m r . experimental selection , quantification , and evaluation of anticonvulsants . in levy r h , et al ., eds . antiepileptic drugs . 3 rd ed . new york : raven press , 1989 : 85 - 102 . in this procedure , a 60 - hz alternating current ( mice 50 ma , rats 150 ma ) was delivered for 0 . 2 sec through corneal electrodes by an apparatus that is capable of precisely regulating current intensity and - duration . the concave side of the electrode ( 2 mm diameter for mice ; 4 . 0 mm diameter for rats ) was placed on each cornea . the current reliably produces , in all rodents , a single convulsive episode that includes , as a component , hind limb tonic extension . immediately before placement of corneal electrodes , a drop of saline ( an electrolyte that promotes the dispersion of the current and that reduces lethalities ) was placed on each electrode . rodents were restrained by hand during this procedure and released immediately after stimulation to permit observation of the convulsion throughout its entire course . the test compound or corresponding vehicle was administered to overnight fasted rodents by the oral ( gavage ) route of administration . ( test compound or vehicle may alternatively be administered via intraperitoneal , intravenous , subcutaneous or intramuscular route of administration .) subsequently , electrical stimulation was administered to the rodents at a time corresponding to the suspected time of peak activity of the test compound . the test was complete when the entire course of the convulsion had been observed ( typically , less than 1 minute after electrical stimulation ), and rodents were then immediately euthanized by carbon dioxide inhalation . abolition of the hind - limb tonic extensor component of the seizure was taken as the endpoint for this test . absence of this component indicated that the test compound has the ability to prevent the spread of seizure discharge through neural tissue . the ed 50 value of the test compound was the calculated dose required to block the hind limb tonic - extensor component of the mes - induced seizure in 50 % of the rodents tested . form k1 of the potassium salt of topiramate ( the compound of formula ( ia )) was tested in rats according to the above procedure , dosing orally . calculated ed 50 value was determined in two separate measurements as 3 . 1 mg / kg and 8 . 1 mg / kg at 2 hours post dosing . form k1 of the potassium salt of topiramate ( the compound of formula ( ia )) was tested in mice according to the above procedure , dosing orally and ip with calculated ed 50 results as follows : dosing orally ed 50 @ 2 hrs = 40 . 6 mg / kg dosing ip ed 50 @ 2 hrs = 26 . 8 mg / kg dosing iv ed 50 @ 5 mins = 41 . 51 mg / kg form na1 of the sodium salt of topiramate ( the compound of formula ( ia )) was tested in rats according to the above procedure , dosing orally . calculated ed 50 value was determined in as 4 . 8 mg / kg at 2 hours post dosing . form na1 of the sodium salt of topiramate ( the compound of formula ( ia )) was tested in mice according to the above procedure , dosing ip with calculated ed 50 results as follows : dosing ip ed 50 @ 30 mins = 45 . 44 mg / kg dosing iv ed 50 @ 5 mins = 46 . 18 mg / kg while the foregoing specification teaches the principles of the present invention , with examples provided for the purpose of illustration , it will be understood that the practice of the invention encompasses all of the usual variations , adaptations and / or modifications as come within the scope of the following claims and their equivalents .	2
in the following detailed description , reference is made to various specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced . these embodiments are described with sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention , and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be employed , and that structural , logical , and electrical changes may be made . the terms “ wafer ” or “ substrate ” used in the following description may include any semiconductor - based structure that has an exposed silicon surface . wafer and structure must be understood to include silicon - on insulator ( soi ), silicon - on sapphire ( sos ), doped and undoped semiconductors , epitaxial layers of silicon supported by a base semiconductor foundation , and other semiconductor structures . the semiconductor need not be silicon - based . the semiconductor could be silicon - germanium , germanium , or gallium arsenide . when reference is made to a wafer or substrate in the following description , previous process steps may have been utilized to form regions or junctions in the base semiconductor or foundation . the term “ silicon dielectric ” is used to indicate a silicon - based dielectric material such as silicon nitride or other silicon - based dielectrics with similar chemical characteristics , such as silicon oxide , silicon oxynitride , silicon oxime , and ono ( oxide - nitride - oxide ) materials . the following detailed description is , therefore , not to be taken in a limiting sense , and the scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims . the present invention provides a method for forming an improved al 2 o 3 metal oxide film with low leakage for use in flash and other charge storage technologies . a small amount of silicon dopant is added to the al 2 o 3 film for a better interface and leakage characteristics . chemical vapor deposition ( cvd ) is employed in this process because cvd is more conformal and allows a tighter control of the thickness of the dielectric than the control afforded by pvd . referring now to the drawings , where like elements are designated by like reference numerals , fig2 shows a partial cross sectional view of a conventional flash memory cell construction at an intermediate stage of the processing . a pair of memory cells having respective access transistors will be formed later within a semiconductor substrate 10 . substrate 10 of fig2 includes a p - well 12 , which is typically doped to a predetermined conductivity , e . g . p - type or n - type depending on whether nmos or pmos transistors will be formed therein . source region 72 and drain region 74 are laterally displaced between a pair of isolation structures or field oxide regions 14 . field oxide regions 14 are formed by isolation techniques such as sti or locos processes , and they provide electrical and physical separation , as well as isolation between neighboring active regions . the source and drain region form an active region that represents the area of substrate 10 into which active devices such as transistors will be formed subsequently . n - type doped active regions are provided in the doped p - type well 12 of substrate 10 ( for nmos transistors ). reference is now made to fig3 . a gate dielectric layer 20 is formed on the upper surface of substrate 10 . the thickness of gate dielectric layer 20 is in the range of approximately 50 to 1 , 000 å , preferably of about 100 å , value that allows gate dielectric layer 20 to function as a tunnel oxide in the subsequent flash memory device . the value of the dielectric constant of the gate dielectric layer 20 is in the range of approximately 3 . 8 to 4 . 2 . in a preferred embodiment , the gate dielectric layer 20 may be formed by a thermal oxidation , in which the semiconductor substrate 10 is disposed in a furnace chamber maintained at a temperature at approximately 800 to 1000 ° c . under an oxygen ambient . a high k material , such as beryllium , magnesium , zirconium , calcium , tantalum or titanium , is also introduced . alternatively , gate dielectric 20 may be formed by thermally growing oxynitride using a nitrogen and oxygen gas . next , as shown in fig4 a floating gate layer 22 formed of heavily doped polysilicon is deposited over gate dielectric layer 20 . the preferred process for the formation of floating gate 22 includes the thermal decomposition of silane , in a cvd reactor chamber maintained at a temperature in the range of approximately 550 to 650 ° c . and at a pressure of less than approximately 2 torrs . the thickness of the floating gate 22 is of approximately 200 to 2 , 000 å . subsequent to the polysilicon deposition , the polysilicon layer is typically implanted with phosphorous , boron , or arsenic to lower the resistivity of the conductive polysilicon gate layer 22 . nitrogen atoms may also be implanted into the floating gate 22 . this way , nitrogen barrier atoms are incorporated within floating gate 22 and they fill up any vacancies and interstitial positions within the polysilicon , providing a barrier to any foreign atoms or molecules that could otherwise occupy the sites of those vacancies . subsequent to the formation of floating gate layer 22 on dielectric layer 20 , floating gate layer 22 and dielectric layer 20 are patterned by masking the gate structures with photoresist and etching exposed portions of floating gate layer 22 and dielectric layer 20 to obtain a gate dielectric 24 and a floating gate 26 as illustrated in fig5 . at this point in the fabrication process , an insulating layer 28 formed of al 2 o 3 is deposited over the floating gate 26 , as shown in fig6 . the deposition of layer 28 is achieved by chemical vapor deposition ( cvd ), that results in uniform coverage of approximately 0 . 2 to 1 . 0μ , preferably of approximately 0 . 5μ . to reduce the electrical defects or traps at the dielectric / silicon interface , that is the interface defined by the floating polysilicon gate 26 and the al 2 o 3 insulating layer 28 in fig6 insulating layer 28 is electrically stabilized by adding dopants . by adding a small amount of silicon the high gate leakage current produced as a result of the large electrical defects in the bulk of the al 2 o 3 layer 28 and at the al 2 o 3 / polysilicon interface is reduced . silicon ion implantation of the al 2 o 3 layer 28 may be achieved with an ion source . as it is known in the art , the amount of the implant , the concentration , and its distribution profile can be controlled by varying the beam current , voltage and exposure time . for example , silicon ions can be implanted into 0 . 2 to 1 . 0μ areas , at an energy of approximately 10 kev and a dose of about 1 × 10 14 / cm 2 to 1 × 10 15 / cm 2 , using a focussed ion beam implanter such as the one manufactured by ion beam systems of beverly , mass ., to form a silicon - doped al 2 o 3 insulating layer 30 , as shown in fig7 . subsequent to the ion implantation step , the silicon - doped al 2 o 3 layer 30 may be annealed at a temperature of approximately 600 to 950 ° c . referring now to fig8 a control gate layer 32 is formed over the silicon - doped al 2 o 3 insulating layer 30 using cvd of polysilicon . the control gate polysilicon layer 32 is preferably deposited in a cvd reactor chamber maintained at a temperature of approximately 550 to 650 ° c . and at a pressure of less than 2 torrs . the thickness of the control gate layer 32 is of approximately 1 , 000 to 2 , 000 å . dopants such as phosphorous , boron , or nitrogen may be implanted subsequently into the control gate layer 32 to increase its conductivity . subsequent to the formation of control gate layer 32 , conventional photolithography steps are performed so that control gate layer 32 and doped al 2 o 3 interpoly oxide layer 30 are patterned by masking the gate structures with photoresist and etching exposed portions of control gate layer 32 and doped oxide layer 30 to obtain control gate 36 on top of patterned al 2 o 3 interpoly oxide layer 34 , as illustrated in fig9 . resulting non - volatile memory cell 110 of fig9 includes gate dielectric 24 , floating gate 26 , silicon - doped al 2 o 3 insulating layer 34 and control gate 36 . bit line conductors may be subsequently coupled to the drain region 74 and the control gate 36 may be coupled to word lines of the integrated circuit . supply voltage conductors may be subsequently coupled to source region 72 . charging of floating gate 26 to program the cell is achieved by grounding source and drain regions 72 and 74 and applying a relatively high voltage to control gate 36 . in the programming state , electrons pass through gate dielectric 20 to floating gate 26 by a tunneling mechanisms known in the art as fowler - nordheim tunneling . as electrons accumulate in floating gate 26 , the electric filed is reduced so that charge becomes stored in the floating gate 26 . discharge of the floating gate 26 to erase the flash memory cell is achieved by grounding control gate 36 , floating gate 26 , and source region 72 and applying a relatively high voltage to drain region 74 . finally , as illustrated in fig1 , refractory metals such as titanium or cobalt may be formed across control gate 36 , by sputter deposition or metal organic cvd from a source comprising a volatile metal organic compound , to form refractory metal layer 50 . next , refractory metal layer 50 may be heated to a temperature of approximately 700 ° c . by exposing it to a form of radiation , such as thermal radiation provided by a heated furnace , to initiate the reaction between metal atoms and silicon atoms from the polysilicon control gate 36 to form metal suicide layer 60 of fig1 . the resulting non - volatile memory cell 110 of the present invention may further be part of a processor - based system . fig1 is a block diagram of a processor - based system 200 utilizing flash memory 112 , which contains at least one integrated circuit having a non - volatile memory cell constructed in accordance with the present invention . that is , the flash memory 112 employs the memory cell 110 of the present invention . the processor - based system 200 may be a computer system , a process control system , or any other system employing a processor and associated memory . the system 200 includes a central processing unit ( cpu ) 202 , for example , a microprocessor , that communicates with the flash memory 112 , an i / o device 208 , and a ram 212 memory over a bus 220 . it must be noted that the bus 220 may be a series of buses and bridges commonly used in a processor - based system , but for convenience purposes only , the bus 220 has been illustrated as a single bus . the processor - based system 200 also includes read - only memory ( rom ) 214 and may include peripheral devices such as a floppy disk drive 204 and a compact disk ( cd ) rom drive 206 , which also communicate with the cpu 202 over the bus 220 , as is well known in the art . by employing cvd as the preferred method of forming all various layers of the memory cell , including the formation of implanted al 2 o 3 layer , the fabrication process is simplified and the fabrication time is reduced accordingly . the addition of small amounts of silicon ions into the al 2 o 3 layer quenches the electrical defects in the metal oxide film . thus , the doping of the cvd al 2 o 3 layer significantly reduces the leakage current and the gap interface trap density at the al 2 o 3 / silicon interface without inserting sio 2 between silicon and al 2 o 3 . the above description illustrates preferred embodiments which achieve the features and advantages of the present invention . it is not intended that the present invention be limited to the illustrated embodiments . modifications and substitutions to specific process conditions and structures can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention . accordingly , the invention is not to be considered as being limited by the foregoing description and drawings , but is only limited by the scope of the appended claims .	7
referring to fig1 shows the full integrated waveguide ( iw ) chip 10 . the input to the device is an evenly spaced sequence of photons with period t . such photons can be created from the source of mower and englund ( wo2013009946 a1 ) or other sources . the photons enter the chip 10 via the input port 20 . the preferred integrated waveguide chip 10 is a single large monolithic chip of lithium niobate ( linbo 3 ). the input port 20 is a polarization maintaining optical waveguide fabricated in the chip 10 . polarization maintaining waveguides are required as we chose to encode our qubits in the polarization modes of each photon . thus the resource of periodic photons must also be in a known polarization state . it is then trivial to rotate the input state polarization state to any desired state via a polarization controller 30 . the preferred implementation uses integrated waveguide based polarization controllers 30 which function via the electro - optical effect . such rotations could take place prior to the photons entering the chip but for generality and controllability we rotate the polarizations on chip . the preferred embodiment rotates the incoming photons at 30 to the plus state ( equal superposition of horizontal and vertical polarization , h + v up to normalizations ). the photons then enter through one of two ports in a polarization maintaining multimode interferometer ( mmi ) 40 . all such interferometers are integrated on chip 10 and consist of a multimode slab of the waveguide material similar to that described by soldano and pennings ( j . of lightwave tech . vol . 13 no . 4 , 1995 ). the switching and coupling effect of such mmi &# 39 ; s 40 is depended on their geometry and the index change induced via the electro - optic effect . the fabrication and operation of mmis is well known in the state of the art . the preferred embodiment has different species of mmis ( such as 1 by 2 , 2 by 2 and 2 by 1 mmis ) however note that the device could be trivially redesigned with identical mmis in which unused ports were simply bulk terminated . the mmi 40 is electro optically controlled and can deterministically route photons to either of its output modes 50 and 60 . initially the mmi 40 will pass photons into mode 50 . the mmi 40 is controlled via logical control line 70 by off chip electronics 80 . the off chip electronics 80 receives a clock signal 90 in order to synchronize all of its operations with the periodic input . mmi 40 sends the first and only the first photon into its “ upper ” output mode 50 and all subsequent photons into its “ lower ” mode 60 . by “ upper ” and “ lower ” we refer to the schematic layout of fig1 and not to a design feature . “ upper ” mode 50 enters a waveguide meander delay 100 . the length of the waveguide meander delay 100 is fabricated such that it is exactly one period of the sequence of the input photons . thus in this implementation the period t must be a predetermined constant known before fabrication regardless of the number of photons used in any given instance . a variable storage length device could be used in place of 100 and if all such delays are replaced with variable delays then there would be some flexibility in the period of the input photons . the photon in 100 is then incident on mmi 110 which is set by logical control line 120 . the second photon which enters the device is sent to the “ lower ” mode 60 by mmi 40 . the length of the delay line 110 and modes 50 and 60 are fabricated such that the two photons are simultaneously incident on the paired mmis 110 . the mmis 110 are considered paired because they act in tandem to either direct the photons into the entangling operation 130 or into the bypass lines 140 . the entangling operation 130 in the preferred embodiment is the cz gate of crespi et . al ( wo2012150568a1 ). this gate is implemented in waveguides as several static evanescent couplers . the gate is probabilistic with a success rate of 1 / 9 and requires four modes two of which enter as vacuum . after passing through either the entangling operation 130 or the bypass lines 140 , which must be fabricated to be the exact same length ( i . e . to maintain synchronization ), the photons are incident on another set of mmis . mmi 150 is in the “ upper ” path . mmi 160 is in the “ lower ” path . these mmis are controlled by the set of logical control lines 170 . mmi 160 always acts to channel its incident photons from the cz gate 130 or the by - pass 140 line to mmi 180 . mmi 150 is more important as it takes input photons and channels them into the “ loop back ” feature 190 or to the mmi 180 . a successful application of the cz gate will produce one photon in each output , and thus one photon in both mmis 150 and 160 ( equivalently use of the bypass lines 140 will do the same ). mmi 150 then feeds one photon into the loopback line 190 . the other photon is channeled by mmi 160 into mmi 180 . the loop back 190 is in essence a delay line and may require an additional meander 200 . the photon in this mode then enters mmi 110 in the “ upper ” mode . the length of 190 and 200 are determined prior to fabrication such that a photon which enters 190 will be incident on the paired mmis 110 in the “ upper ” mode at the same time that the next photon in the sequence reaches the paired mmis 110 in the “ lower ” mode . in other words the “ looped back ” photon is held for one period until it is synchronized with the next photon in the sequence . thus the cz gate 130 which acts on simultaneously incident qubits is made to act on sequential qubits in a “ single ” mode . this process then repeats to create a chain of arbitrary length , assuming the cz gate succeeds each time . in the event that the cz gate 130 fails , the desired cluster state will not be created . other mechanisms such as photon loss will also cause a failure . such a failure can be trivially detected via post selection by the absence of a photon from the sequence . simultaneously the photons from the “ lower ” mode which exits mmi 160 is incident on mmi 2800 . this mmi 280 controls access to the larger “ loop back ” path 250 or the output mode 260 and is controlled via logical control line 270 and electronics 80 . this larger “ loop back ” allows for photons from one part of the chain to be delayed so that they may be entangled with another part of the chain . this can be considered a multi - dimensional cluster state output or a not - nearest neighbor one dimensional cluster state . as an example the creation of a ring shaped cluster state is described next . to create a ring shaped cluster state mmi 180 channels the first photon it receives into a larger delay line 220 . the length of the delay line is fabricated such that it is a specific multiple of the period of the input sequence of photons t . this delay length sets the size of the ring . mmi 180 then sends all subsequent photons to mmi 230 which is controlled via 240 . mmi 230 controls access to an entangling operation 250 or a by - pass line 260 similar to mmis 110 . initially all photons incident on mmi 230 enter the by - pass line 260 avoiding the entangling operation and are channeled out of the device by mmis 270 and 280 . the last photon in the chain is sent to the entangling operation 250 by mmi 230 . the last photon in the chain enters one port of the cz gate 250 at exactly the same time as the first photon exits delay 220 and enters the other port of the cz gate 250 . thus the first and last qubits may be entangled completing the ring cluster state . one photon then enters a delay 300 of one period t . this allows the other photon time to exit the chip 10 and maintains the periodicity between the photons . the other photon exits the chip 10 similar to the previous photons by first entering mmi 270 which behaves similar to mmi 160 and is set by logical control line 290 such that incident photons from either the cz 250 gate or the by - pass line 260 are diverted to its only output . that output enters mmi 280 which behaves similarly to 180 and is controlled by logical control line 310 such that all incident photons are sent to the chips 10 output mode 320 .	7
the term “ star ” configuration refers to novel battery configurations having 2 or more battery arms , which will be understood from the description below and the drawing figures . the “ h ” configuration refers to a “ star ” configuration with only 4 arms and is a subset of star configurations . star configurations are not limited in the number of arms they can have . dependent on the system configuration , common modules can be configured into multiple arms with positive or negative high voltage output with high voltage steering diode or hv steering diode switch matrixes and with one or multiple inner starring and disconnect switch matrixes surrounding common hub parallel connection . for simplicity sake , fig7 - 8 show a star configuration with 4 arms or chains of strings of modules depicted in fig1 - 6 . however , the number of arms in these exemplary star configurations could have been 8 , 9 or 10 arms or higher . in fact , it is contemplated that the present invention could be implemented with 1000 or more arms . as shown in fig1 , a hybrid vehicle platform power distribution system 100 includes a prime mover 101 ( e . g ., diesel engine , gas turbine , fuel cell , etc .) coupled to the vehicle transmission ( gears ) 102 , and an n - phase electric motor 103 coupled directly to the drive wheels of the vehicle 109 . the gears also are coupled to a generator 104 for recharging the electrical energy storage ( erb energy store ) 105 , for example , during regenerative vehicle braking and during low power prime mover operation . the erb energy store 105 functions to power the n - phase motor 103 for vehicle load leveling and / or silent mobility operation , and also is used to provide power to various short - term and pulsed load devices 106 . power electronic circuitry 107 controls the reconfiguration of the erb , the interfacing between the generator 104 , motor 103 , erb store 105 , and short - term and pulsed loads 106 , as well as providing appropriate bus voltage to a voltage bus ( hotel bus ) 108 . as shown in fig2 , an electronically reconfigurable battery 200 according to the first embodiment of the invention includes a number of battery modules 201 . an example of such a battery module is an ultralife ® lithium polymer rechargeable battery module ( e . g ., ubc44 or ubc38 ). other candidate modules include , but are not limited to , saft hp cells ( such as hp 12 , hp 6 , and hp 18650 ). the battery 210 includes a number of modules that are permanently configured in parallel with each other ( static store ) 207 and connected to the vehicle load bus 211 , which powers the electric motor . other modules ( dynamic store ) 208 can be switched between parallel configuration to support the vehicle load bus 211 , and a series configuration to charge the ema capacitor bank 209 ( or other short - term or pulsed load not shown ). the electronic reconfiguration of the dynamic store modules 208 requires three switches per module . an erectable battery module 201 is associated with battery isolation switches 202 and 203 , and a series switch 204 . all switches ( with the exception of the output switch 205 ) need only block the voltage of a single battery module and open at near zero current ( for capacitor charging ) in normal operation . transient conditions during erection and de - erection are controlled by passive snubbing . reconfiguration can be accomplished in less than 1 ms using standard off - the - shelf solid state switches such as integrated gate bipolar transistors ( igbt ) or metal oxide field effect transistors ( mosfet ). switches 202 , 203 , and 204 can be rated for the module voltage ( such as 1 kv ) only . switch 205 is an output switch that is rated for the full output of the erb ( e . g ., 10 kv and 100 amps ), and can be implemented as a series stack of the same switches used for switches 202 , 203 , and 204 . a vacuum contactor 212 and fuse 213 are placed in series with the output switch 205 to provide fault protection and charge interrupt . all switches are preferably opto - isolated , with gate power drawn from their associated adjacent battery modules . switch 206 is high - voltage high - current closing switch , and can be either a vacuum switch or a solid state switch . switch 206 discharges the ema capacitor bank into the ema load . with some 8 , 000 cells necessary to make up a 30 kw - hr vehicle battery pack , voltages would be available in multiples of the distribution bus voltage up to 30 kv . furthermore , each of these voltage levels is available with the full power capability of the battery pack . construction techniques used in the hp18650 are scaleable to larger or smaller individual cells so that optimization for the particular application is possible . assuming a 20 - ton class vehicle and extrapolating from chps requirements , a conceptual design of an erb for a hybrid electric vehicle with an ema system has the following requirements : 1 ) deliver up to 400 kw to the vehicle bus at 1 kv in parallel operation ; 2 ) recharge a 150 - kj capacitive store to 10 kv in 300 milliseconds ; and 3 ) support 30 - 45 minute silent operation at 80 kw . these requirements mandate the use of very high energy and power density batteries . two candidate batteries are the hp series of lithium ion batteries being developed by saft and the lithium polymer batteries produced by ultralife batteries , inc . for use in cell phones . the saft batteries have a slight advantage in usable power density and packaging for military use , whereas the ultralife batteries have an advantage in cost ( 0 . 15 - 0 . 2 cents / j , 5 - 8 cents / wpk , owing to volume production ) and a potential for more compact packaging ( prismatic ) in erb service . the erb system in this case constitutes only ⅓ of the total battery for erected ( dynamic ) operation . the remaining ⅔ of the store ( static ) is dedicated to load leveling and silent mobility . the total capacity of ˜ 290 mj ( 80 kw - hr ) accommodates silent mobility requirements . with only ⅓ ( 90 mj , 25 kw - hr ) of the total capacity configured for on - command electronic erection and de - erection , the vehicle energy storage system maintains its load leveling and silent operation capability even when the ema is active . 54 series × 7 parallel ultralife model ubc44106102 polymer batteries are assembled into 200 - volt stacks ( 378 cells per pack ), in the static store . five of these packs are placed in series to obtain an output voltage equal to that of the vehicle bus and constitute a module . two such modules in parallel make up the static store ( 3780 cells total ). in the dynamic portion of the store , the ubc383562 cell is used because of its heavier tabbing and proven current capability . the 200 - volt packs in this case consist of 54 series × 4 parallel cells ( 216 total ). five such packs make up an erectable module and there are 10 modules , thus providing 10 kv on command for ema store charging ( approximately 90 mj ; 10 , 800 total cells ). a dynamic module will incorporate all necessary switches , isolation and thermal management hardware . the total battery volume in the static store is approximately 0 . 18 m3 and the accessories are expected to add another 0 . 135 m3 for a total volume of approximately 0 . 315 m3 and a mass of 620 kg . the dynamic store is less efficient volumetrically , because for the need to insulate for the 10 kv momentary operation and thermal stress associated with mw - class power for even a few seconds . we expect a battery volume of 0 . 089 m3 with a total of volume of 0 . 314 m3 and a mass of 500 kg , when accessories are included , for the dynamic store . these total to a volume of 0 . 629 m3 and mass of 1120 kg for the entire vehicle battery pack (˜ 300 mj ). fig3 shows a generic application of the erb system 300 according to an embodiment of the invention , wherein the erb charges an energy store represented by a capacitor 330 , which is discharged via a switch 332 into a load represented by a resistor 334 . fig4 shows another embodiment 400 , which has the same configuration as fig2 , with the pfn 440 represented by a block , and further including a current limiting device 441 inserted between the static 442 and dynamic 443 portions of the battery . fig5 shows another embodiment 500 , which has the same configuration as fig4 except with a ssc 550 replacing the current limiting device , and diodes 551 , 552 and 553 added as steering diodes . the charge sequence is different from the first and second embodiments , in that a sequential step charge mode of operation can be used with the circuit of fig5 , also the list of applicable loads is expanded and can be applied to all embodiments . fig6 is an alternate example of another embodiment of the present invention . the erb 600 is configured for a sequential step charge mode using a buck / boost pwm single stage converter ( ssc ) type . the high - speed semiconductor switches u 1 , u 2 can be bipolar transistors , mosfets , igbts , scr and other power semiconductor switches . other converter types such as buck , boost and other electronic converter topologies are similar in operation and also can be used for the switching regulator . the sequential step charging operation mode using a single stage converter ( ssc ) as shown in fig5 and 6 is described below . the best location for the single stage converter 650 is between the static 660 and dynamic 670 portion of the battery as this limits the voltage stresses seen by the internal components , but the ssc 650 can be located anywhere within the series - connected loop that starts with the static store 660 portion of the battery and ends with the pfn capacitor bank 680 . a single inductor 651 , non - isolated buck / boost or interleaved buck / boost configuration is the preferred topology . a by - pass switch s 29 will normally be employed in this location to connect the dynamic portion 670 of the battery to the static portion 660 in a low loss manner , bypassing the ssc 650 in the parallel mode of operation . in the series sequential charge operation , the pfn capacitor bank 680 is charged in ten ( 10 ) sequential steps . first , the switches of the dynamic store portion 670 of the battery are all opened except for the positive isolation set of switches ; the ssc 650 is now directly connected between the static portion 660 of the battery and the pfn capacitor 680 . next the ssc 650 is turned “ on ” and charges the pfn capacitor bank 680 at a controlled current ( 100 a ) to approximately slightly more ( 1010 - 1200v ) than the single battery module voltage ( 1000v ) at which point it shuts down momentarily and a battery module is erected in series with the ssc 650 by selectively opening and closing the appropriate switches . the ssc 650 is turned back “ on ” and pfn capacitor bank 680 charges at the controlled current until the ssc 650 reaches its controlled output voltage set point at which time it will shut off again . the stored voltage in the pfn capacitor bank 680 is now v ( ssc )+ battery v 1 ( 2010 - 2200v ). the cycle is repeated until all the batteries with the ssc 650 are erected in series , or the desired stored pfn voltage set point is reached ( v pfn =( v ( ssc )+ batteries v 1 + v 2 + v 3 + v 4 + v 5 + v 6 + v 7 + v 8 + v 9 =( 900 - 10200v )). by using this method the power processing capability required of the ssc 650 is reduced from the system level power delivered ( 10 kv @ 100 a ) by the number of battery stages erected plus one ( in this case 10 ) for a ( ssc ) nominal power rating of 1000 v @ 100 a or 100 kw . this reduces the converter size by a factor of more than ten because the converter has 1 / 10 of the voltage stresses and no longer needs an isolation or step - up transformer . pfn voltage regulation is finer and smoother than the first embodiment ; however the first embodiment is the smallest physically , the most robust and is the cheapest to build . as shown in fig5 and 6 , the dynamic part of the battery store is connected as nine parallel 1000 volt batteries ( v 1 - v 9 ) connected in parallel with the main or static portion ( v 10 - v 11 ) of the battery system . in normal operation , negative isolation switches s 3 , s 6 , s 9 , s 12 , s 15 , s 18 , s 21 , s 24 , s 27 and positive isolation switches s 2 , s 5 , s 8 , s 11 , s 14 , s 17 , s 20 , s 23 and s 26 are closed , and bypass switch s 29 in the ssc is closed . battery series switches s 4 , s 7 , s 10 , s 13 , s 16 , s 19 , s 22 , s 25 and s 28 as well as hv contactor s 1 are open . the battery now has 11 parallel sections to power a vehicle . the erb dynamic section 670 is erected in 10 steps , which are now explained with reference to fig6 . step one — converting from static to dynamic mode and single stage converter ( ssc ) charging of the pulse forming network ( pfn ) from 0 to 1200 volts the shift from static to dynamic operation begins with the ssc 650 bypass switch s 29 and all negative isolation and series connected switches being opened . all positive isolation switches are kept closed and hv contactor s 1 switches from being opened to closed . the ssc 650 then switches to a charge mode and begins charging the pfn storage capacitor bank 680 at an average current of 100 amperes . the current flow path is through positive switches s 2 , s 5 , s 8 , s 11 , s 14 , s 17 , s 20 , s 23 and s 26 , which then forward bias diode d 1 , allowing the current to flow through hv contactor s 1 into the pfn capacitor bank 680 . at a pfn charge voltage of 1200 volts , the ssc 650 stops charging and goes into an idle mode for the step 2 erb configuration change . current flowing into pfn stops and goes to zero . in the charge mode of operation , for ssc 650 voltage output ( vout ) range from zero to approximately 1000 volts , the ssc is in a step - down buck regulator mode with solid state high speed semiconductor switch u 2 open and solid state high speed semiconductor switch u 1 operating in a variable duty cycle pulse width modulation ( pwm ) scheme to maintain an average output current of 100 a ( i out ). for the vout range from 1000 - 1200 volts , the ssc 650 shifts to a step - up boost mode and u 1 is now on at a 100 % duty cycle , and u 2 is pwm modulated to control the output current . when vout reaches 1200 volts , the ssc 650 is put in idle mode and u 2 is then turned on at 100 % pwm and the ssc voltage output and current drop to zero . the loss of the ssc vout of 1200 volts results in reverse biasing diode d 1 as the voltage difference between the pfn voltage and the dynamic store section is − 1200 volts . the current flow through the dynamic store battery section 670 falls to zero due to the reverse biasing of diode d 1 . average current in the ssc &# 39 ; s inductor is maintained by pwm modulating u 1 while u 2 is 100 % on . at this point the process proceeds to step two . ssc starts the step 2 cycle in idle mode , vout and lout are at zero , negative switches s 3 , s 6 , s 9 , s 12 , s 15 , s 18 , s 21 , s 24 , and s 27 are open . switch s 2 now opens and switch s 4 now closes , connecting battery v 1 in series with the ssc output . the ssc 650 now switches back to charge mode and charges the pfn from 1200 volts to 2200 volts by the series voltage addition of ssc vout and v 1 ( 1000v ). again vout only varies over a range from 0 - 1200 volts . at pfn charge voltage of 2200 volts , the ssc 650 goes back into idle mode for the step 3 erb configuration change . the amount of time needed for the ssc 650 to be in the idle mode is determined by the time required for the diode d 1 current to fall to zero and the time required to set the erb switches to the new configuration . total idle time per step change is estimated to be in the 10 - 100 microsecond range . ssc starts step 3 cycle in idle mode , vout and lout are at zero , negative switches s 3 , s 6 , s 9 , s 12 , s 15 , s 18 , s 21 , s 24 , and s 27 are open . switch s 2 is open and switch s 4 is closed . switch s 5 is now opened and switch s 7 is now closed , connecting batteries v 1 and v 2 in series with the ssc output . the ssc 650 now switches back to charge mode and charges the pfn from 2200 to 3200 volts by the series voltage addition of ssc vout and v 1 , v 2 ( 2 kv ). again , vout only varies over a range from 0 - 1200 volts . at pfn charge voltage of 3200 volts , the ssc goes back into idle mode for the step 4 erb configuration change . the ssc starts step 4 cycle in the idle mode , vout and lout are at zero , negative switches s 3 , s 6 , s 9 , s 12 , s 15 , s 18 , s 21 , s 24 , s 27 are open . switches s 2 , s 5 are open and switches s 4 , s 7 are closed . switch s 8 is now opened and switch s 10 is now closed , connecting batteries v 1 , v 2 , and v 3 in series with the ssc output . the ssc 650 now switches back to charge mode and charges the pfn from 3200 to 4200 volts by the series voltage addition of ssc vout and v 1 , v 2 , v 3 ( 3 kv ). vout varies over a range from 0 - 1200 volts . at pfn charge voltage of 4 . 2 kv , the ssc goes back into idle mode for the step 5 erb configuration change . ssc starts step 5 cycle in idle mode , vout and lout are at zero , negative switches s 3 , s 6 , s 9 , s 12 , s 15 , s 18 , s 21 , s 24 , s 27 are open . switches s 2 , s 5 , s 8 are open and switches s 4 , s 7 , s 10 are closed . switch 14 is now opened and switch 16 is now closed , connecting batteries v 1 , v 2 , v 3 , and v 4 in series with the ssc output . the ssc 650 now switches back to charge mode and charges the pfn from 4200 to 5200 volts by the series voltage addition of ssc vout and v 1 , v 2 , v 3 , v 4 ( 4 kv ). vout varies over a range from 0 - 1200 volts . at pfn charge voltage of 5200 volts , the ssc goes back into idle mode for the step 6 erb configuration change . ssc 650 starts step 6 cycle in idle mode , vout and lout are at zero , negative switches s 3 , s 6 , s 9 , s 12 , s 15 , s 18 , s 21 , s 24 , s 27 are open . switches s 2 , s 5 , s 8 , and s 11 are open and switches s 4 , s 7 , s 10 , and s 13 are closed . switch 14 is now opened and switch 16 is now closed , connecting batteries v 1 , v 2 , v 3 , v 4 , and v 5 in series with the ssc output . the ssc 650 now switches back to charge mode and charges the pfn from 5200 to 6200 volts by the series voltage addition of ssc vout and v 1 , v 2 , v 3 , v 4 , v 5 ( 5 kv ). vout varies over a range from 0 - 1200 volts . at pfn charge voltage of 6200 volts , the ssc goes back into idle mode for the step 7 erb configuration change . ssc 650 starts step 7 cycle in idle mode , vout and lout are at zero , negative switches s 3 , s 6 , s 9 , s 12 , s 15 , s 18 , s 21 , s 24 , s 27 are open . switches s 2 , s 5 , s 8 , s 11 and s 14 are open and switches s 4 , s 7 , s 10 , s 13 and s 16 are closed . switch 17 is now opened and switch 19 is now closed , connecting batteries v 1 , v 2 , v 3 , v 4 , v 5 and v 6 in series with the ssc output . the ssc 650 now switches back to charge mode and charges the pfn from 6200 to 7200 volts by the series voltage addition of ssc vout and v 1 , v 2 , v 3 , v 4 , v 5 , v 6 ( 6 kv ). vout varies over a range from 0 - 1200 volts . at pfn charge voltage of 7200 volts , the ssc goes back into idle mode for the step 8 erb configuration change . ssc 650 starts step 8 cycle in idle mode , vout and lout are at zero , negative switches s 3 , s 6 , s 9 , s 12 , s 15 , s 18 , s 21 , s 24 , s 27 are open . switches s 2 , s 5 , s 8 , s 11 , s 14 and s 17 are open and switches s 4 , s 7 , s 10 , s 13 , s 16 and s 19 are closed . switch 20 is now opened and switch 22 is now closed , connecting batteries v 1 , v 2 , v 3 , v 4 , v 5 , v 6 and v 7 in series with the ssc output . the ssc 650 now switches back to charge mode and charges the pfn from 7200 to 8200 volts by the series voltage addition of ssc vout and v 1 , v 2 , v 3 , v 4 , v 5 , v 6 , v 7 ( 7 kv ). vout varies over a range from 0 - 1200 volts . at pfn charge voltage of 8200 volts , the ssc goes back into idle mode for the step 9 erb configuration change . ssc 650 starts step 9 cycle in idle mode , vout and lout are at zero , negative switches s 3 , s 6 , s 9 , s 12 , s 15 , s 18 , s 21 , s 24 , s 27 are open . switches s 2 , s 5 , s 8 , s 11 , s 14 , s 17 and s 20 are open and switches s 4 , s 7 , s 10 , s 13 , s 16 , s 19 and s 22 are closed . switch 23 is now opened and switch 24 is now closed , connecting batteries v 1 , v 2 , v 3 , v 4 , v 5 , v 6 , v 7 and v 8 in series with the ssc output . the ssc 650 now switches back to charge mode and charges the pfn from 8200 to 9200 volts by the series voltage addition of ssc vout and v 1 , v 2 , v 3 , v 4 , v 5 , v 6 , v 7 , v 8 ( 8 kv ). vout varies over a range from 0 - 1200 volts . at pfn charge voltage of 9200 volts , the ssc goes back into idle mode for the step 10 erb configuration change . ssc 650 starts step 10 cycle in idle mode , vout and lout are at zero , negative switches s 3 , s 6 , s 9 , s 12 , s 15 , s 18 , s 21 , s 24 , s 27 are open . switches s 2 , s 5 , s 8 , s 11 , s 14 , s 17 , s 20 and s 23 are open and switches s 4 , s 7 , s 10 , s 13 , s 16 , s 19 , s 22 and s 25 are closed . switch 26 is now opened and switch 28 is now closed , connecting batteries v 1 , v 2 , v 3 , v 4 , v 5 , v 6 , v 7 , v 8 and v 9 in series with the ssc output . the ssc 650 now switches back to charge mode and charges the pfn from 9200 to 10200 volts by the series voltage addition of ssc vout and v 1 , v 2 , v 3 , v 4 , v 5 , v 6 , v 7 , v 8 , v 9 ( 9 kv ). vout varies over a range from 0 - 1200 volts . at pfn full charge voltage of 10200 volts , the ssc current drops to zero and then acts as a voltage regulator maintaining the charge in the pfn at the proper voltage . just prior to firing the pfn capacitor bank 680 , the ssc 650 is shut off and all the switches are opened . in the event of a short , the hv contactor 51 is opened and the ssc 650 is shut off and all of the switches are opened . fig7 depicts an alternative embodiment of the invention 700 . in this embodiment , the system consists of several erb arms 701 , 702 , 703 , and 704 , configured in a “ star ” configuration 712 . the redundancy of this configuration has several advantages including fault tolerance . switch steering matrices are connected to both the inner 713 and outer portions of the star configurations . the erb arms are connected at one end to the parallel low voltage or baseline voltage 705 and at the other end to the variable high voltage load 706 . each of the two ends of an erb arm ( e . g . 701 ) has a bi - directional power output connection . the energy from the base side connection 713 of each arm ( e . g . 701 ) is fed in parallel to the center switch matrix to provide traction power for the main system load . the outer switch matrix consists of positive diode switch matrix 710 , negative diode matrix 711 and switch 708 and switch 714 located below the capacitor below storage capacitor 707 . diode switches 710 and 711 are voltage controlled switches that are turned on when the differential voltage between the arm output and the capacitor terminal forward bias the voltage across the diodes . the diode disconnect when the voltage differential between the capacitor and the individual arm output results in reverse biasing if one arm or both arms output voltage are below the capacitor voltage the one or both arms are disconnected by the diodes . normal operation is when the modules are de - erected and disconnected causing diode switch matrices 710 , 711 to be back biased resulting in turning off the switches , then switch 708 and the other switch by base are then turned on to connect the energy stored in capacitor 707 to be transferred to the load . the energy stored in each arm can also be directed out the opposite end 710 to be directed through the vhv connection into the outer switch matrix 708 . additionally the energy flow is in discrete energy packets that are time multiplexed on the vhv connection side while maintaining a continuous connection and energy flow through the base or parallel connection side 713 . additionally , energy from one erb arm ( e . g . 701 ) can be transferred to another erb arm ( e . g . 702 ). a simple switching algorithm and a three - switch one diode configuration can be used to guarantee no catastrophic battery or file failure due to mistiming of the high - speed switching . this is accomplished by switching off or opening all of the positive or negative rail switches and then using just one series switch connection and one required steering diode per module to erect and de - erect the batteries or capacitors that are in series . alternatively , the base switch matrix can be set to “ on ” ( i . e . the switch closed ) at all times by replacing it with hard wired parallel connections of the base voltage terminals . the invention allows simple scaling by the simple addition of more modules without any rewiring . sophisticated erb systems with complete redundancy of the erb star and multiple star configurations are easily configured by switched in and cross connected at the base and or at the vhv level matrix levels . in an alternative embodiment , for the purposes of redundancy and reliability , the vhv outputs are steered in parallel operation through a simple vhv diode steering array . this allows complete or partial failure of one or more erb arms 701 , 702 , 703 , or 704 while maintaining function of the entire system . for instance the system 700 depicted in fig7 can suffer a complete failure of one plus ( e . g . 701 ) and one minus output erb arm ( e . g . 702 ) and still meet most of the requirements of the vhv load . when used for powering an electric or gas - electric hybrid , the system can suffer the loss of three erb arms before loosing traction or moving capability . as can be seen from fig8 , each of the erb arms 801 is comprised of several erb modules 802 . each erb module 802 contains an energy storage device 803 , such as a battery or capacitor , and piece of the distributed modular bus structure and steering array . it would be understood by one skilled in the art that any of the modular diagrams disclosed in fig1 - 6 could be used to construct an erb arm . fig9 illustrates another embodiment of the invention . each erb arm 910 consists of a scalable number of erb modules 920 . in such an embodiment each module 920 contains an energy source , part of the modular distributed series and parallel switch matrix and bus bar system , and the fusing and protection as well as the control systems . while the preferred embodiment has two input power ports 960 and two output power ports 950 , any number of power ports could be used . the erb arms are scaled by connecting an output port 950 of a first module 920 to an input port 960 of a second module 930 to create a module string . this can be done for a plurality of erb modules with the final module 970 in the string connecting to the vhv steering array 940 . very high voltages can be achieved in this fashion . because this application of the erb modules is scalable , the number of modules per erb arm is application driven and , in a multiple arm erm “ star ” configuration system , each arm may have a different number of modules and have a different polarization of output voltage to satisfy a wide variety of load requirements . in examples shown in fig7 and 8 and described above , 2 identical sets of one positive and one negative stackable module arms were chosen with the positive 5000 volt arms and hv outputs shown on the left and the negative 5000 volt arms and hv outputs shown on the right . one half of high voltage steer able diode switch matrix was added to each side so any number of arms can be added in parallel . the purpose of splitting the module chain or arms in half was to reduce the number of modules per arm connected to a common center parallel base core buss thus reducing the battery system esr ( equivalent series resistance ) by a factor of 4 in the parallel mode and increase reliability by having 4 parallel arms vs . 2 arms . also by splitting into positive and negative arms the differential voltage is double the voltage to reference to ground simplifying insulation systems not shown are that multiple high voltage switch matrixes and loads can be shared among multiple stars . the low voltage parallel arm end ( base in fig7 ) are connected to a common star low voltage buss or battery system and outer end or hv end of each arm can be connected to a single , or multiple outer switch high voltage switch matrixes , an 8 arm star ( star - 1 ) can be implemented by adding four more arms to the h configuration with 8 arms of stackable modules with 4 arms connected to hv matrix — one connected to pulsed laser system , arms 5 - 6 connected to hv switch matrix — 2 and pulsed microwave system , arms 7 - 8 connected hv traction system . thus , additional stars can add their arms outputs and be cross - connected at both the inner outer hubs or arm ends to the star - 1 for redundancy or more power . thus , a number of preferred embodiments have been fully described above with reference to the drawing figs . although the invention has been described based upon these preferred embodiments , it would be apparent to those of skill in the art that certain modifications , variations , and alternative constructions could be made to the described embodiments within the spirit and scope of the invention . further , as should be apparent to one skilled in the art after reviewing this patent document , the modular battery system of the present invention could be useful in innumerable other applications not listed here .	8
in accordance with the present invention , the aryl hydrazine of formula ( a ) above ( e . g ., phenylhydrazine ) is reacted with a tri - lower alkyl orthoacetate , ch 3 c ( or ) 3 , wherein each alkyl in the trialkyl moiety is the same and is preferably about one to three carbon atoms in length . trimethyl orthoacetate ( tmoa ) is the preferred reactant . a useful ratio of moles of trialkyl orthoacetate to moles of aryl hydrazine ( a ) is about one to five moles of orthoacetate to one mole of aryl hydrazine ; preferably about 1 - 1 . 4 to one mole . the reaction is conducted in a lower alkanol solvent medium wherein the alkanol solvent is preferably about one to three carbon atoms in length , and most preferably is methanol ; with the proviso that the trialkyl moiety of the trialkylorthoacetate and the alkanol solvent must be of the same carbon chain length . for example , to prevent trans - esterification , the reaction must be conducted in methanol if the aryl hydrazine ( a ) is reacted with trimethyl orthoacetate . a useful ratio of alkanol solvent to aryl hydrazine ( liters / mole ) is about 0 . 5 - 2 liters of solvent to one mole of aryl hydrazine ( a ); preferably about 1 - 1 . 3 liters to one mole . the reaction generally proceeds rapidly at a relatively low temperature . thus , for example , the formation of intermediate ( b ) is usually complete in from about one to 18 hours at a temperature of from 40 ° to 100 ° c ., and usually in one to two hours at 40 ° to 65 ° c . for example , in 1 . 5 hours in refluxing methanol , at the latter temperature , there is provided the corresponding intermediate n - aryl - n &# 39 ;-( 1 - alkoxyethylidene ) hydrazine of formula ( b ) in quantitative yield . in an alternative method , the reaction can be carried out at a much faster rate and at a lower temperature , for example , in about ten minutes at ambient temperature , if a catalytic amount of a weak protic acid such as formic acid , acetic acid , propanoic acid , p - toluenesulfonic acid or the like , preferably acetic acid , is initially added to the reaction mixture . this alternative procedure , however , requires that the reaction be carefully monitored to prevent an acid - catalyzed polymerization of the n - aryl - n &# 39 ;-( 1 - alkoxyethylidene ) hydrazine ( b ). while the thus - prepared intermediate n - aryl - n &# 39 ;-( 1 - alkoxyethylidene ) hydrazine ( b ) may optionally be isolated from the reaction mixture , it is preferably cyclized in situ using a cyanate salt such as the cyanate salts of silver , sodium or potassium , of which potassium or sodium cyanate is preferred . a useful ratio of moles of cyanate salt to moles of aryl hydrazine ( a ) is about one to two moles of cyanate salt to one mole of aryl hydrazine ; preferably 1 . 2 - 1 . 4 to one . to effect cyclization to the aryl triazolinone of formula ( i ), the reaction must be conducted under mildly acidic conditions , i . e ., at ph &# 39 ; s of about 3 - 6 , preferably about 4 - 5 , in the presence of a lower alkanol solvent . otherwise , the use of a strong acid would 1 ) hydrolyze the n - aryl - n &# 39 ;-( 1 - alkoxyethylidene ) hydrazine ( b ), affording the aryl hydrazine ( a ) and methyl acetate , and 2 ) polymerize the cyanate . any number of weak protic acids disclosed above , such as , but not limited to , formic acid , acetic acid , propanoic acid or p - toluenesulfonic acid , are useful for cyclization . acetic acid is the preferred weak protic acid . a useful ratio of moles of weak protic acid to moles of aryl hydrazine ( a ) is one to two moles of acid to one mole of aryl hydrazine ; preferably 1 . 2 - 1 . 4 to one . optionally , it has been found that the addition of water to the reaction mixture significantly reduces the time required for completion of cyclization from about 24 hours to about two to ten hours . a useful ratio of volume of cyclization - aiding water to volume of lower alkanol solvent , for example , methanol , is about one volume of water to five to 12 volumes of solvent ; preferably about one volume to 7 - 10 volumes . thus , for example , the formation of the aryl triazolinone ( i ), i . e ., 4 , 5 - dihydro - 3 - methyl - 1 - phenyl - 1 , 2 , 4 - triazol - 5 ( 1h )- one , in 40 to 90 % yield , is completed in from about two to 10 hours at a temperature of from 20 ° to 50 ° c ., preferably at ambient temperature , when the cyclization to the aryl triazolinone ( i ) is aided by the addition of about one volume of water for each five to 12 volumes of reaction mixture solvent other solvents which may be employed include n , n - dimethylformamide , dioxane , and tetrahydrofuran . the aryl triazolinone product ( i ) may be routinely isolated from the reaction mixture , e . g ., by stripping off the solvent , and washed with , for example , hexane , or recrystallized from , for example , toluene , prior to its use as an intermediate in subsequent process steps , as described in the art . as aforestated , the process of the present invention may advantageously be conducted in one reaction vessel , even though it is a two - step process , in which case the reaction conditions for the second step must be adjusted in a timely fashion . the resultant homogeneous reaction mixture provides a product free from problem - causing by - products . however , one of the by - products formed in the present process is a lower alkanol , e . g ., methanol , which can readily be removed from the reaction mixture and reused in other runs of this process . the following examples are provided by way of illustration of the aforedescribed invention , but not by way of limitation . these examples , and other runs illustrating this process , are summarized in table 1 which follows the examples . a stirred solution of 2 . 0 grams ( 0 . 019 mole ) of phenylhydrazine and 11 . 1 grams ( 0 . 092 mole - 5 eq .) of trimethyl orthoacetate ( tmoa ) in 20 ml of methanol was heated at reflux for about six hours . the reaction mixture was then allowed to cool to ambient temperature where it stirred for about 18 hours . the reaction mixture was again warmed to reflux where it stirred for another six hours , until the reaction to the intermediate n - phenyl - n &# 39 ;-( 1 - methoxyethylidene ) hydrazine was complete . the progress of the reaction was monitored by gas chromatograph ( gc ). after this time , the reaction mixture was cooled in an ice - water bath ( 0 ° c . ), and 1 . 5 grams ( 0 . 023 mole - 1 . 2 eq .) of sodium cyanate was added . upon completion of addition , 1 . 6 grams ( 0 . 026 mole - 1 . 4 eq .) of acetic acid was added dropwise . the reaction mixture was then stirred at the ice - water bath temperature for about 10 minutes and then was allowed to warm to ambient temperature . after this time , two ml of water was added to the reaction mixture . analysis of the reaction mixture by gc showed formation of the targeted compound . one ml of acetic acid was then added to the reaction mixture , followed by the addition of two ml of water . upon completion of addition , the reaction mixture was stirred at ambient temperature for about 18 hours . the reaction mixture was concentrated under reduced pressure , yielding 2 . 5 grams ( 75 . 9 % yield ) of 4 , 5 - dihydro - 3 - methyl - 1 - phenyl - 1 , 2 , 4 - triazol - 5 ( 1h )- one . one gram ( 0 . 008 mole ) of 2 - fluorophenylhydrazine hydrochloride was dissolved in a dilute aqueous solution of potassium carbonate , and the solution was extracted with two 50 ml portions of methylene chloride . the combined extracts containing the free hydrazine and 1 . 1 grams ( 0 . 010 mole - 1 . 3 eq .) of tmoa were dissolved in 10 ml of methanol , and the stirred solution was heated at reflux for one hour to obtain the intermediate n - phenyl - n &# 39 ;-( 1 - methoxyethylidene ) hydrazine . the progress of the reaction was monitored by gc . the reaction mixture was then cooled to ambient temperature , and 0 . 8 gram ( 0 . 010 mole - 1 . 3 eq .) of potassium cyanate was added . the reaction mixture was cooled in an ice - water bath ( 0 ° c . ), and 0 . 6 gram ( 0 . 010 mole - 1 . 3 eq .) of acetic acid was added dropwise . the reaction mixture was then allowed to warm to ambient temperature , and one ml of water was added . upon completion of addition , the reaction mixture was stirred at ambient temperature for about 18 hours . the reaction mixture was concentrated under reduced pressure to a residue . the residue was washed with three 15 ml portions of hexane , yielding about 0 . 9 gram ( 57 % yield ) of 4 , 5 - dihydro - 1 -( 2 - fluorophenyl )- 3 - methyl - 1 , 2 - 4 - triazol - 5 ( 1h )- one . a stirred solution of 2 . 0 grams ( 0 . 019 mole ) of phenylhydrazine and 2 . 7 grams ( 0 . 022 mole - 1 . 2 eq .) of tmoa in 20 ml of methanol is heated at reflux for about 1 . 5 hours , until the reaction to the intermediate n - phenyl - n &# 39 ;-( 1 - methoxyethylidene ) hydrazine is complete . the progress of the reaction is monitored by gas chromatography ( gc ). after this time , the reaction mixture is cooled in an ice - water bath ( 0 ° c .) and 1 . 5 grams ( 0 . 022 mole - 1 . 2 eq .) of sodium cyanate is added . upon completion of addition , 1 . 3 grams ( 0 . 022 mole - 1 . 2 eq .) of acetic acid is added dropwise . the reaction mixture is then stirred at the ice - water bath temperature for about 10 minutes , then it is allowed to warm to ambient temperature . after this time , two ml of water is added to the reaction mixture . upon completion of addition , the reaction mixture is stirred at ambient temperature for about ten hours . the reaction mixture is concentrated under reduced pressure , yielding 4 , 5 - dihydro - 3 - methyl - 1 - phenyl - 1 , 2 , 4 - triazol - 5 ( 1 h )- one . in the following runs of table 1 , the reactants and conditions employed were as follows , unless otherwise indicated : in these runs , run 2 corresponds to example 1 , while run 4 corresponds to example 2 . the remaining runs are either comparative , or show varying reactants or conditions for one or both steps . table 1__________________________________________________________________________synthesis of triazolinones using trialkyl orthoacetate ( taoa ) ## str6 ## wherein x , r , and n are as defined above . step 1 step 2 hydrazine taoa step 1 rxn . cyanate acid step 2 rxn . ( gm ./ ( gm ./ solvent catalyst time / ( gm ./ ( gm ./ cycl . aid time / percentrun n x mole ) mole ) ( ml ) ( gm .) temp mole ) mole ) ( ml .) temp yield__________________________________________________________________________1 1 h 1 . 0 1 . 3 ch . sub . 3 oh hoac ten min . ; naocn hoac -- time -- t 0 . 009 0 . 011 10 5 drops room 0 . 7 0 . 7 specified ; 1 . 2 eq . temp ( rt ) 0 . 011 0 . 011 rtnote : hoac , 5 drops , initially added with hydrazine and tmoa in ch . sub . 3oh affording the step 1 intermediate n - aryl - n &# 39 ;-( 1 - alkoxyethyl - idene ) hydrazine in ˜ 10 min , ( step 1 ); 0 . 7 gram ( 0 . 011 mole - 1 . 2 eq . ) of hoac added at ˜ 10 min . into rxn . time . water as a cyclization aid was not used in this experiment . 2 1 h 2 . 0 11 . 1 ch . sub . 3 oh -- 12 hr at naocn hoac water ten min 75 . 9 0 . 019 0 . 092 20 reflux and 1 . 5 1 . 6 4 0 ° c . and ˜ 5 eq . 18 hr . at 0 . 023 0 . 026 ˜ 18hr . at rt 1 . 2 eq . 1 . 4 eq . rt + * hoac ( 1 ml ) note : hydrazine and tmoa in ch . sub . 3 oh combined and monitored by gaschromatography ( gc ) to the formationof the step 1 intermediate n - aryl - n &# 39 ;-( 1 - alkoxyethylidene ) hydrazine ; naocnand hoac were added , followedby * additional amnts . of hoac , and water . 3 1 h 0 . 5 0 . 8 dmf -- time not * -- -- time -- t 0 . 005 0 . 007 5 specified ; specified ; 1 . 4 eq . reflux refluxnote : * cyanate salt was replaced with 0 . 5 gram ( 0 . 007 mole - 1 . 5 eq .) ofmethyl carbamate for . the step 2 rxn . dmf solvent was used . 4 1 2 - f 1 . 0 1 . 1 ch . sub . 3 oh -- one hr . at kocn hoac water ten min 57 0 . 008 0 . 010 10 rerflux 0 . 8 0 . 6 1 0 ° c . and 1 . 3 eq . 0 . 010 0 . 010 ˜ 18 hr . at rtnote : 2 - fluorophenylhydrazine hydrochloride was used in this rxn . the rxnwas conducted in a manner analogous to thatof run . 2 above . 5 1 h 1 . 0 1 . 3 dmf -- same as kocn hoac water same trace 0 . 009 0 . 011 10 run 4 0 . 9 4 . 2 1 . 5 run 4 1 . 2 eq . 0 . 011 0 . 070 7 . 8 eq . note : a large amount of hoac was used . dmf solvent was used . the rxn wasconducted in a manneranalogous to that of runs 2 and 4 . 6 1 h 1 . 0 1 . 3 dioxane -- four hrs . at kocn hoac water ten min trace 0 . 009 0 . 011 10 reflux 0 . 9 amnt . 1 0 ° c . and 1 . 2 eq . 0 . 011 not ˜ 18 hr . at specified rtnote : dioxane solvent used . dioxane solvent was used . the rxn wasconducted in a manneranalogous to that of runs 2 and 4 . 7 1 2 - f 1 . 0 1 . 1 ch . sub . 3 oh -- two hrs at kocn * -- ten min ˜ 30 0 . 008 0 . 10 10 reflux 0 . 8 0 ° c . and 1 . 3 eq . 0 . 010 ˜ 18 hr . at rtnote : 2 - fluorophenylhydrazine hydrochloride was used in this rxn . * aceticacid was replaced with 0 . 8 gram ( 0 . 008 mole - 1 . 0 eq .) of boron trifluoride - methanol complex . the rxn wasconducted in a manner analogousto that of runs . 2 and 4 . __________________________________________________________________________	2
the device described hereafter allows dividing of a multiphase fluid such as a petroleum effluent , consisting of a gas phase and of a liquid phase , into several multiphase flows or subeffluents , referred to as secondary flows hereafter , whose glr value is controlled , and orientation of these secondary flows towards at least one of the multiphase pumps of a pumping assembly . this result is obtained by using a tank or regulating drum equipped with several tubes pierced with ports , the distribution of these ports being selected according to the pumping characteristics of the pump associated with this tube . the multiphase fluid is conveyed from a source of effluents s into a device including a tank 2 equipped with several sample tubes , by means of a pipe 1 or supply pipe . the device is provided , for example in fig1 with three sample tubes tc1 , tc2 , tc3 . these sample tubes tc1 , tc2 , tc3 are respectively provided with sample ports o1 , o2 , o3 which are distributed by zones over at least part of the length of each of the tubes . the distribution of these ports , i . e . their dispatching and their geometric characteristics , is selected so as to obtain a predetermined glr value at the tube outlet . each sample tube tc1 , tc2 , tc3 is connected to an escape pipe , respectively c1 , c2 , c3 for discharging the effluent towards at least one pump p1 , p2 , p3 of a pumping assembly . it is advantageous to have , at the inlet of the tank , a system such as baffles 13 , 14 preventing too high a disturbance at the level of the liquid - gas interface i upon too sudden an inflow of fluid in tank 2 . the use of these baffles is also advantageous in that a substantially constant interface level i may be obtained in the whole of the tank . the sample ports may be distributed in various ways . they may for example be distributed as described in french patent 2 , 642 , 539 . when adequacy is desired between the glr value of part of the effluent at the outlet of a sample tube and the value corresponding to the best working characteristics of a pump located downstream from this tube , it is possible to use , for example to determine the distribution of the ports , the method described in french patent application 91 / 16 , 231 . the distribution of the ports along a tube , for example tc1 , is such that the glr value obtained at the outlet of this tube corresponds to the working characteristics of the pump connected thereto , for example p1 in the figure . one main characteristic of the pump to be respected is the glr value tolerated by the pump at its inlet or intake and which enables the pump to communicate to the effluent a sufficient pressure value to ensure the transfer thereof . in this case , adequacy is obtained by adapting the glr value of the effluent reaching the level of a pump to the glr value tolerated by the pump at the inlet thereof . the invention thus allows distribution of an effluent divided into several subeffluents with glr values adapted to several pumps working in parallel and having each its own pumping characteristics , by associating a sample tube with a pump according to the glr values of the effluent at the outlet of the tube and to the pump working glr value . one possible application of the device according to the invention consists in selecting the number of pumps necessary to the transfer of the fluid entering the tank , according to the real flow rate of the effluent source . in fact , the production of effluent during the life of a well being variable , it is advantageous to adapt the number of pumps used for transferring the effluent to the real rate of the well , at any time . to that effect , it is essential to know at any time the value of the flow rate of the effluent source , which may be obtained in various ways , some of them being described hereafter . fig2 shows an embodiment of the device according to the invention equipped with a device for calculating the flow rate of the effluent source s . the tank 2 comprises two sample tubes tc4 , tc5 provided respectively with ports o4 , o5 ; it is equipped with measuring means such as a pressure sensor 3 and a level detector 4 . these tubes run across the gas - liquid interface i under normal working conditions ; they may be vertical and run right through tank 2 . they are connected to a manifold 5 by pipes c4 , c5 , the manifold being connected to a pumping assembly , comprising in this example two pumps p4 , p5 , by transfer pipes l4 , l5 . means for measuring the pressure of the effluent , such as pressure sensors 6 , 7 , are positioned at the inlet of each pump p4 , p5 delivering the pressure value of the effluent measured at the pump intake . the various measuring means 3 , 4 , 6 and 7 are connected through electric links to a processing and control device 8 such as a programmable processor . the data coming from these various measuring means are sent to processor 8 which calculates the glr value associated with a sample tube and , permanently , the value of the flow rate of the effluent passing through each sample tube tc1 , tc2 . according to the values calculated , processor 8 sends a control signal regulating the opening and / or the closing of the manifold valves so as to distribute the effluent towards one or several pumps . the processor is thus connected to manifold 5 through an electric link allowing for example the signals necessary for controlling the valves to be transmitted . operation of such a device may for example be achieved as follows : the value of the flow rate of the effluent source is known at any time through measurements known by specialists . with this value , the value of the glr relative to a sample tube determined , for example , by using the method described in patent application fr - 91 / 16 , 231 , with the pressure values measured at the inlet of a pump , processor 8 calculates the respective amounts of gas and liquid flowing through each sample tube and deduces therefrom the value of the flow rate qi of the effluent passing through a sample tube . the value of the overall effluent flow rate flowing through the various sample tubes is obtained by summing the various amounts determined previously . processor 8 compares this new value to a threshold value . if the new value is less than the threshold value , the processor acts in various ways , two preferred ways being described hereunder , these embodiments being not restrictive . 1 ) if the glr values determined previously are close to each other , the microprocessor sends : a control signal controlling the opening or the closing of the manifold valves so that the effluents coming from the various sample tubes and passing through pipes c4 , c5 are distributed towards one of pipes l4 , l5 ending at the pumping assembly , and a control signal starting only the pump in which end all the effluents coming from the various sample tubes . the number of pumps working is thereby adapted to the amount of effluents coming from the source or real flow rate of the effluent source . 2 ) if the glr values are different from one another , the microprocessor calculates the average glr value associated with the various sample tubes . it compares this value to the glr values associated with the pumps included in the pumping assembly and directs the whole of the effluents towards the pump with the closest glr value . to that effect , the microprocessor sends a control signal towards the manifold valve which communicates the pump whose glr value is the closest to the determined average glr value . in the embodiment of fig3 each transfer pipe c4 , c5 for transferring the effluent is provided with means 10 , 12 for measuring the flow rate of the effluent and with means 9 , 11 for determining the value of the glr parameter of the effluent at the inlet of a pump . the running of such a device differs from that described in connection with fig2 in the way the flow rate of the effluent for each sample tube and its glr value are obtained . in this embodiment , the glr value and the value of the flow rate of each of the subeffluents are measured by means of the appropriate devices 9 , 11 and 10 , 12 . control of the distribution of the subeffluents and of the starting of the pumps necessary to the transfer of the assembly is identical to that described in fig2 . a device such as that described in french patent fr - 2 , 647 , 549 cited above is for example used to measure the glr value . the data coming from the various measuring means are sent to processor 8 which processes them as described above . the device of fig2 may be adapted to detect and to react when a pump breaks down . it comprises in this case , in addition to the elements described in fig2 a device d for detecting the failure of a pump . this device d is connected to the processor by a conventional electric link . it shows processor 8 the working condition of the pump to which it is connected and sends an alarm signal to the processor in case of a failure of the pump . processor 8 then identifies the laid - up pump , its number and the glr value associated therewith . it compares this glr value to the various values associated with the pumps constituting the pumping assembly . after comparing the glr value corresponding to the laid - up pump with the other values , processor 8 sends a control signal to the manifold valves so as to redirect the amount of effluent flowing towards the laid - up pump towards another or other pumps of the pumping assembly , according to the effluent amount , whose glr characteristics are the closest to those of the laid - up pump . the number of pumps concerned or required to absorb the amount of effluent coming from the laid - up pump depends on this amount and on the amount of effluent which can be absorbed by the pumps prompted by the processor . knowing at any time the amount of effluent flowing through a tube pierced with ports and the amount of effluent to be distributed at the level of the various pumps , processor 8 , by means of a difference calculation , directs the amount of effluent coming from the laid - up pump towards the other pumps , by sending an opening signal to the valve corresponding to the pump whose glr value is the closest to that of the defective pump . as soon as the maximum amount of effluent which the pump concerned may accept in addition has been diverted by the processor , the latter urges the pump with the next glr value closest to the laid - up pump and controls the valve allowing part of the rest of the effluent coming from the laid - up pump to be diverted towards the second urged pump . the processor proceeds this way until all of the subeffluent to be redistributed or at least until the largest possible part has been dispatched towards the various pumps . more generally , the present invention allows a good adaptation between the real flow rate of effluent coming from the source and the pumping means , through the use of several perforated sample tubes placed in a tank or regulating drum . fig4 is another example of the application of a device according to the invention , comprising several sources of fluid , such as oil wells s1 , s2 , . . . sn connected through lines 16 to tank 2 by means of pipe 1 . the effective passage of the effluent coming from a source s1 , s2 , . . . sn towards the tank or regulating drum 2 is for example controlled by a valve , respectively v1 , v2 , . . . vn . this valve is of a conventional valve type commonly used in the petroleum field and may be remote controlled by means of control lines well - known by specialists . the regulating drum 2 ( fig4 ) comprises several sample tubes tc1 , tc2 , . . . tcn connected to a distribution assembly 15 controlling the supply or distribution of the effluent towards hydraulic pumps p1 , p2 , . . . pt . this system allows pumps p1 to pt to be supplied according to various modes some examples of which will be described hereafter . thus , fig5 diagrammatically shows an example of a system for distributing the effluent in which each tube tc1 , tc2 , tc3 , tc4 is connected to a line c1 , c2 , c3 , c4 , and the inlet or intake of a pump p1 , p2 , p3 , p4 , not shown in the figure for reasons of simplification , is connected to a line ca1 , ca2 , ca3 . the number of lines ci may be different from the number of lines cai . each line ci , i = 1 , 4 is connected to a line caj , j = 1 , 3 by a valve vij . such a device may work as follows : valves vii being open and the other valves closed , the effluent from a source si flows through line ci , then into tube tci and is thereafter distributed to pump pi by means of pipe cai . in this example , a sample tube tci allows passage of the effluent only towards a pump pi . by opening valves v41 , v42 and v43 , the effluent from sample tube tc4 is allowed to pass towards pumps p1 , p2 , p3 which are then respectively supplied by tubes tc1 , tc4 ; tc2 , tc4 ; and tc3 , tc4 . valves vij are for example remote controlled and piloted by means of processor 8 , in order to optimize the operation of the assembly consisting of the various sources of effluents and of the pumps located downstream from the tank . this optimization may for example consist in selecting the number of pumps according to the real flow rate of the sources of effluents , as described previously . optimization may also consist in obtaining a nearly total adequacy between the value of the effluent flowing out of a sample tube and a pump located downstream from the tube . without departing from the scope of the present invention , a pump may be supplied by two sample tubes . in fact , such a device may be beneficial when the physical characteristics of the well , such as pressure and rate of flow , vary in time . if the surge drum has three vertical sample tubes , they may be aligned or placed at the vertices of a triangle . of course , the process and the device which have been described by way of non limitative examples may be provided with various modifications and / or additions by the man skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention .	5
applicant has found , unexpectedly , that certain arbutin esters have the property of inhibiting the synthesis of melanin and are thus capable of acting on skin pigmentation and marks without toxicity . this is all the more surprising given that the free aromatic hydroxyl function of arbutin , which is important in the enzymatic recognition , is , in these compounds , masked by an ester residue , and given that the depigmenting activity is nevertheless conserved , whereas this same aromatic hydroxyl blocked by a sugar residue such as glucose no longer allows the molecule to retain its depigmenting activity . thus , for example , di - o - β - glucopyranose - 1 , 4 - hydroquinone has no depigmenting activity . it is noted that ep 0 597 776 describes the compounds of the invention and their applications in the cosmetics , pharmaceutical , buccodental or food sectors . however , it does not attribute a depigmenting activity to these compounds . the present invention is directed to the use of the present arbutin esters in and / for the manufacture of a cosmetic and / or dermatological composition as a tyrosinase inhibitor and / or the synthesis of melanin . another embodiment of the invention is a cosmetic and / or dermatological process for depigmenting and / or bleaching human skin , hair or head hair , which consists in applying an ester of formula ( i ) in a physiologically acceptable medium to the skin , hair or head hair . the linear or branched alkyl ( r ) group preferably contains from 6 - 18 carbon atoms . preferably , the rco group , in which r is an alkyl group is selected from hexanoyl , decanoyl , dodecanoyl and hexadecanoyl groups . the term alkenyl ( or alcoylene ) group is understood to refer to an unsaturated group containing ethylenic unsaturation . the alkenyl group preferably contains from 6 - 18 carbon atoms . preferably , the rco group , in which r is an alkenyl group is the oleoyl group . the term alcapolyenyl group is understood to refer to an unsaturated radical containing several ethylenically unsaturated groups , in particular having two or three ethylenically unsaturated groups . the alcapolyenyl group is , in particular , an alcadienyl or alcatrienyl radical and preferably contains from 12 - 20 carbon atoms . the rco group in which r is an alcapolyenyl group is , more particularly , the linoleoyl group . the arbutin monoesters of formula ( i ) include 4 - hexanoyloxyphenyl - β - d - glucose , 4 - decanoyloxyphenyl - β - d - glucose , 4 - dodecanoyloxyphenyl - β - d - glucose , 4 - hexadecanoyloxyphenyl - β - d - glucose , 4 - oleoyloxyphenyl - β - d - glucose and 4 - linoleoyloxyphenyl - β - d - glucose . a mixture of these compounds can also be used . in the depigmenting compositions of the invention , the monoesters of formula ( i ) must be employed in an amount which is effective to ensure the intended result . this amount can range , for example , from 0 . 001 - 10 % and preferably from 0 . 005 - 5 % of the total weight of the composition . the composition containing the compounds of the invention contains a physiologically acceptable medium which is suitable for topical application , i . e . one which is compatible with the skin , the scalp and the hair , and constitutes a bleaching and / or depigmenting , cosmetic and / or dermatological composition for topical application . the composition of the invention may be in any pharmaceutical form normally used for topical application , in particular in the form of an aqueous , aqueous - alcoholic or oily solution , an oil - in - water or water - in - oil or multiple emulsion , an aqueous or oily gel , a liquid , pasty or solid anhydrous product , a two - phase product , a dispersion of oil in an aqueous phase with the aid of spherules , these spherules possibly being polymeric nanoparticles such as nanospheres and nanocapsules or better still lipid vesicles of ionic and / or non - ionic type . the composition may be relatively fluid and have the appearance of a white or colored cream , an ointment , a milk , a lotion , a serum , a paste or a foam . it may optionally be applied to the skin in aerosol form . it may also be in solid form and , for example , in the form of a stick . the composition of the invention may comprise any ingredient conventionally used in the cosmetic or dermatological field , in the usual concentrations . these ingredients are selected , in particular , from fatty substances , preserving agents , gelling agents , fragrances , emulsifiers , water , antioxidants , fillers , active agents ( hydrophilic or lipophilic ), screening agents and mixtures thereof . suitable fatty substances , which may be used in the invention , include mineral oils ( liquid petroleum jelly ), oils of plant origin , oils of animal origin , synthetic oils ( isopropyl myristate ), cetylstearyl 2 - ethylhexanoate , silicone oils and fluorinated oils . fatty alcohols ( 2 - hexyl - 1 - decyl alcohol , cetyl alcohol ), fatty acids ( stearic acid ) and waxes , and mixtures thereof , may also be used . suitable emulsifiers which can be used in the invention , include , for example , fatty acid esters of polyethylene glycol , such as polyethylene glycol stearates , and fatty acid esters of glycerol , such as glyceryl stearate , and mixtures thereof . mention may be made , for example , of a mixture of peg - 100 stearate and glyceryl stearate , sold under the name arlacel 165 by the company ici . suitable hydrophilic gelling agents include , in particular , carboxyvinyl polymers ( carbomer ), acrylic copolymers such as acrylate / alkylacrylate copolymers , polyacrylamides , polysaccharides , natural gums and clays . suitable lipophilic gelling agents include modified clays such as bentones , metal salts of fatty acids , hydrophobic silica and polyethylenes . suitable moisturizers include polyols ( glycerol , propylene glycol ), vitamins , keratolytic agents and / or desquamating agents ( salicylic acid and its derivatives , α - hydroxy acids , ascorbic acid and its derivatives ), anti - inflammatory agents , calmants and mixtures thereof . in the event of incompatibility , these active agents can be incorporated into spherules , in particular ionic or non - ionic vesicles and / or nanoparticles ( nanocapsules and / or nanospheres ), so as to isolate them from each other in the composition . one test demonstrates the activity of compounds of the invention as depigmenting agents , compared with the activity of kojic acid . the test is conducted on a co - culture of keratinocytes and melanocytes by the procedure described in patent application fr 2 , 734 , 825 filed by the applicant , and in the article by r . schmidt , p . krim and m . requin , analyses biochimiques 235 ( 2 ), 113 - 18 , ( 1996 ). for each test compound , the ic 50 value , i . e . the micromolar concentration ( μm ) for which 50 % inhibition of melanogenesis is observed , is determined . the arbutin presents in this test , an ic50 equivalent to kojic acid . this table shows that the compounds of formula ( i ) of the invention are more effective than kojic acid . in addition , they have the advantage of having no cytotoxicity with regard to keratinocytes and melanocytes , which is the major fault of the existing depigmenting agents . having generally described this invention , a further understanding can be obtained by reference to certain specific examples which are provided herein for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to be limiting unless otherwise specified . the concentrations are given as a percentage by weight . when applied daily , the cream obtained allows the skin to be bleached . the disclosure of priority french application no . 9708674 filed jul . 8 , 1997 is hereby incorporated by reference into the present application . obviously , numerous 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 .	0
the following embodiments are exemplary . although the specification may refer to “ an ”, “ one ”, or “ some ” embodiment ( s ) in several locations , this does not necessarily mean that each such reference is to the same embodiment ( s ), or that the feature only applies to a single embodiment . single features of different embodiments may also be combined to provide other embodiments . in the following the invention is described employing the context and terminology of an e - utran ( evolved universal terrestrial radio access network ) as defined in 3gpp ts 36 . 300 v8 . 2 . 0 ( 2007 - 09 ) and tr r3 . 020 v . 0 . 0 . 2 ( 2007 - 04 ), although the invention can be applied to other networks and technologies . fig1 illustrates an lte network 100 , comprising a core network part epc ( evolved packet core ) and radio access part ( e - utran ), where an embodiment of the present invention is implemented . the connections shown in fig1 are logical connections ; the actual physical connections may be different . it is apparent to a person skilled in the art that the systems also comprise other functions and structures . the mme and s - gw of epc can reside in a single node in the network or be separated . thus , in fig1 an implementation is shown where the mme and s - gw are in a single network node mme / sgw 102 , 104 . the network of fig1 provides radio signal coverage through enbs 106 , 108 , 110 . as is defined in 3gpp specifications , 3gpp ts 36 . 300 for example , the mme / s - gw connect to enbs using s1 logical interface and enbs connect to each other using x2 logical interface . a logical interface such as s1 and x2 in fig1 , can be defined as a set of operations . the set of operations can comprise protocols and functions provided between nodes in the network . when nodes are connected using a logical interface , they implement means to decode and receive communications through the interface , thus the nodes can decode and receive the protocols used for communications on that interface . in addition to just decoding the protocols , a logical interface defines messages transmitted between the nodes . the messages enable services and functions between the nodes . accordingly a logical interface defines a set of operations . for example in lte network , such as network in fig1 , s1 interface operations comprise setting up , modifying and release of sae ( system architecture evolution ) bearers , mobility support , paging , transport of nas ( non - access stratum ). signaling , s1 interface management , network sharing , roaming and area restriction , nas node selection and initial context setup . x2 interface operations comprise intra lte mobility support such as handover control , load management and error handling . the current work being done in 3gpp targets at introducing the lte e - utran network home nodebs ( hnbs ). hnb can be seen as a base station to provide radio signal coverage on a relatively small area such as at people &# 39 ; s homes and areas where it would not be cost efficient to deploy a fully - fledged enb . also , the responsibility of deployment and start - up of hnbs can be delegated from the operators of the network to subscribers of the network . thus , subscribers subscribed to a network such as shown in fig1 can deploy hnbs to extend their subscription network coverage . the hnbs may be preconfigured by the network operator , to operate in the network . alternatively the subscriber may perform all or part of the configuration according to instructions from the network operator . in fig1 network 100 , home nodebs ( hnbs ) 112 , 114 , 116 and 118 , are deployed to extend the radio signal coverage of the enbs . while providing radio signal coverage like enbs , hnbs do not necessarily contain all the same functionalities as enbs . in fig1 , hnbs are connected to the network via enb providing a relayed s1 interface and x2 interface for hnb . accordingly , each hnb only communicates directly with single enb operating on higher network layer than hnb . enb operating on a higher network layer is connected to a centralized node in the network or has a shorter connection than hnb to such a node . in the following such enb is called a macro - layer enb . macro - layer enbs 106 , 108 , 100 in fig1 are configured to provide s1 and x2 connectivity for hnbs . consequently , s1 and x2 connections of hnbs are handled by the macro - layer enb . for example , macro - layer enb such as enb 106 provides x2 interface between hnbs 112 and 114 and a relayed s1 interface between hnbs and the mme / s - gw 102 . thus , communications between hnbs and between hnb and core network is enabled . when hnb is connected to the network , default macro - layer enb is selected and defined for hnb . hnb connecting to the network connects to the network through the default macro - layer enb and sets up connectivity with mme / s - gw . the default macro - layer enb may be defined for example in hnb as ip ( internet protocol ) address the hnb connects to for connecting to the network . during the operational time of hnb the macro - layer connection of the hnb can be re - directed to another enb due to load balancing between the enbs . re - direction may also be done due to failures in the enb for example if the enb or individual cells of enb are out of use . the default macro - layer enb is defined in hnb when hnb is initially connected to the operator &# 39 ; s network ( e . g . first time ) so that hnb can connect to the default macro - layer enb also after disconnection . this may be the case for example when switching on the hnb after switching it off . macro - layer enb connecting one or more hnbs to network provides at least part of the operations of s1 and x2 interface to hnbs by relaying the s1 and x2 connections to hnbs . fig2 shows a block diagram of an apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention . the apparatus comprises communication means such as means for transmitting and means for receiving . the apparatus also comprises means for establishing connections to other devices , for example devices in the network 100 of fig1 . these may be implemented in separate units or in a single functional transceiver unit tx / rx 202 . tx / rx unit may comprise of one or more physical wired or wireless interfaces or logical interfaces for different networking technologies and thus tx / rx unit may be configured to operate according to at least one of these technologies . an example of a communication technology used in the apparatus 200 is lte defined by 3gpp . although the apparatus has been depicted as one entity , different modules and memory may be implemented in one or more physical or logical entities . the functionality of the tx / rx 202 and control unit 204 is described in more detail below . it should be appreciated that the apparatus may comprise other units used in or for communications or controlling the communications . however , they are irrelevant to the actual invention and , therefore , they need not to be discussed in more detail here . in the embodiment of the invention in lte network , the tx / rx unit of the apparatus is configured to implement functionality pertaining to logical interfaces defined in lte . for example the apparatus may be mme , s - gw , enb or hnb in lte e - utran network and be configured to implement logical interfaces for communication with other apparatuses in lte network . consequently , the tx / rx unit may be configured to provide radio signal coverage and access to the lte network to ues ( user equipment ) such as mobile terminal , phones or other apparatuses connecting wirelessly to the communication network . providing radio signal coverage enables the ues to connect to the network 100 and the subscribers of the ues gain access to the services available through the network . the services may be for example the internet . the apparatus comprises also a control unit 204 for controlling transmission of the tx / rx unit 202 . in an embodiment of the invention the apparatus 200 is mme / s - gw of lte network , such as network 100 in fig1 . in the embodiment the tx / rx 202 in configured to provide s1 interface towards e - utran , to connect the enbs to the network and provide s1 interface operations to enbs . in the embodiment the control unit 204 is configured to route traffic to enbs , hnbs and to the user equipment ( ues ), connecting to the network . as can be seen in fig1 , hnbs are connected to the network via maro - layer enbs . therefore , hnbs do not have direct connection to the core network and mme / s - gw . traffic destined to hnbs or ue &# 39 ; s connected to the network has to be routed via enbs to hnbs . in order to do this , mme / s - gw implements means for determining the macro - layer enb which is used to route traffic to certain hnb . the means may be for example routing tables . therefore , the routing table in mme / s - gw store information about hnbs and associated macro - layer enbs . the information may be for example associated hnb and enb addresses . according to an embodiment of the invention , the messages related to lte s1 communication of certain hnb , are routed to the hnb via macro - layer enb . if mme / s - gw does not have direct address of the destination hnb , mme / s - gw uses the routing table to determine enb to route hnb s1 messages to . also , it may be that the hnb address in mme / s - gw routing table is the same as or refers to enb address . in both cases the messages to hnb are addressed to macro - layer enb connecting hnb to the network . however , also direct addressing of hnb may be used in mme / s - gw if such is available . the control unit 204 in mme / s - gw may be further configured to determine the routing of messages based on ip ( internet protocol ) addresses , or ethernet addresses . consequently the mme / s - gw may be configured to send s1 messages to hnb via macro - layer enb by sending the messages using ip addressing to macro - layer enb connecting hnb to the network . in an embodiment of the invention the apparatus 200 is enb in lte e - utran operating as macro - layer enb for connecting one or more hnb to lte network and providing radio access for ues to access the lte network . according to the lte specifications , enb may have a logical interface s1 to communicate with epc ( evolved packet core ) and a logical interface x2 to communicate with other enbs . the tx / rx unit 202 is , therefore , configured to communicate with core network using s1 interface and with other enbs using x2 interface , as defined in lte e - utran . the connections between enb and hnb and enb and core network may be wireless or wired . hnbs communicate with the macro - layer enb using a logical interface providing hnbs x2 and s1 connectivity , such as interface between enb 106 and hnb 112 in fig1 . consequently hnbs are enabled at least part of s1 interface operations and at least part of x2 interface operations in lte network . for example , the logical interface between hnb and macro - layer enb enables hnb connectivity to epc and communications between hnbs , via the macro - layer enb . the controt unit 204 in enb is configured to control communications between the macro - layer enb and the one or more hnb it interfaces with . for example control unit 204 in macro - layer enb may be configured to control handovers between hnbs using the x2 interface provided to the hnbs . the macro - layer hnb may also control a handover between itself and hnb connected to it . thus , ues connected to hnbs may perform handover to another hnb or the macro - layer enb itself , as instructed by the macro - layer enb . when macro - layer enb controls handover between itself and hnb or between hnbs , the hnb interfaces to the network through the macro - layer enb . consequently , s1 interface provided by macro - layer enb is maintained the hnb . therefore , the macro - layer enb provides s1 interface to hnb before and after the handover . in this way , the tunnelling provided by the macro - layer enb for messages to hnb is maintained and hnb s1 connection does not have to be established through another macro - layer enb . in macro - layer enb , the control unit 204 is configured to enable s1 interface relaying between epc and hnb . thus the control unit enables hnb connecting to macro - layer enb s1 communications to the core network . the controlling may include identifying messages received from epc or hnb in a macro - layer enb and related to s1 logical interface . the control unit may be further configured to enable x2 interface relaying between hnb connected to the enb . accordingly , the controlling may further include identifying messages in a macro - layer enb received from another enb or hnb and related to x2 communications of hnb connected to the network via the macro - layer enb . for example the , control unit 204 may be configured to tunnel s1 interface traffic received from hnb to epc , and derive from traffic received from epc tunnelled s1 interface traffic destined to hnb connected to the network via the macro - layer enb . in yet another example the control unit in macro - layer enb may be configured to relay s1 communications between hnb and epc and relay x2 communications between hnb and another hnb connecting to the network through the same or another macro - layer enb . the logical interface between macro - layer enb and hnbs can be implemented to route traffic destined to hnbs connected to the macro - layer enb . for example , in routing s1 traffic received from the core network , macro - layer enb may intercept the messages such as packets and forward only a part of the received message to the destination hnb . for example , considering s1 message received from the core network that is a message requesting a bearer setup for communications , including access and radio bearer parameters . macro - layer enb performs setting up and control of access network bearer and hnb performs setting up and control of radio bearer . consequently , the macro - layer enb forwards only the radio bearer parameters from the message to hnb , thus sends hnb only the information needed in hnb . accordingly , while providing the core network interface to hnb , the provided interface may be a core network interface with reduced set of operations . therefore , the macro - layer enb may operate as implementing all the operations defined for the s1 core network interface as conventional , whereas hnb may only implement a part thereof . accordingly , the complexity of hnb is reduced compared to hnb implementing a complete s1 core network interface . alternatively , the macro - layer enb , may receive s1 message from the core network and forward the message destined to hnb , therefore , providing transparent s1 interface relaying . in such case , hnb will receive all the communication and operations provided by core network . the implementation of such hnb is more complex there being all the s1 interface operations implemented . in an embodiment of the invention the control unit in enb may be configured to identify messages destined to hnbs connecting to the network through the macro - layer enb . the identifying may comprise identifying the recipient of the message from the ip addresses used in the received messages from the core network or other enbs . also other addresses may be used to route traffic , such as ethernet addresses . identification may also be based on port numbers used . also the identification may involve identifying the destination hnb based on hnb identifier or cell identifier , identifying the cell of enb connecting hnb to network . in an embodiment of the invention , in the control unit 204 of the apparatus 200 in macro - layer enb , messages may be identified using bearer identifiers or identifiers in the messages . the bearer identifiers may be for example radio access bearer identifier and access network bearer identifier as in lte and identifying resources and the properties of the resources on a communication path . for example , enb may be configured to identify and map messages received from hnb connected to it , to the bearer between enb and the core network , thus mme / s - gw . therefore , the messages received from hnb in enb on a bearer identified between enb and hnb are mapped in enb to the bearer between enb and mme / s - gw . accordingly the control unit in enb is configured to store a mapping between bearer identifiers and map messages to be sent on the bearers based on the stored mapping . in an embodiment of the invention , the control unit 204 in macro - layer enb connecting one or more hnbs is configured to perform address translation to the traffic destined to hnbs , as hnbs according to the invention do not have direct connection to the core network . traffic comprising messages and received from the core network by the tx / rx unit 202 is decoded in the macro - layer enb . from the decoded messages , the macro - layer enb determines the recipient of the message . if the recipient is not the macro - layer enb itself , the recipient may be one of the hnbs the macro - layer enb is connecting . when address translation is used , the messages destined to hnbs and received from the core network are identified by the control unit in the macro - layer enb . an example of address translation protocol used in the macro - layer enb is based upon mlsp ( multi - label switching protocol ) defined as ietf ( internet engineering task force ) draft specification . another example is ip ( internet protocol ) address translation , thus translation ip addresses between ip address domains . accordingly , the control unit in macro - layer enb may be configured to perform address translation to messages received from the core network and destined to hnb and to messages destined to the core network from hnb . in order to do this , the control unit in macro - layer enb identifies from the received messages , the destination , thus either hnb or core network and re - addresses the messages according to the address translation scheme applied in the control unit . in an embodiment of the invention , the control unit 204 in macro - layer enb connecting hnb to the network may be configured to decode the received messages from hnb or core network in order to identify the message destination or type . consequently , the macro - layer enb may be configured to identify that the received messages relate to s1 or x2 interface communication . further , the control unit may be configured to identify whether the received messages relate to operations , functions , services or bearers available through s1 or x2 interface . consequently , the control unit may identify that the message received from the core network is a message requesting bearer setup . in such case the macro - layer enb may be configured to send to hnb only the radio access bearer parameters . in another example the control unit may identify that the received message is a handover measurement report message from hnb . then , macro - layer enb decodes the messages to identify , whether the message should be forwarded to mme in the core network or if the macro - layer enb can take care of the handover procedure . accordingly , the macro - layer enb may be configured to identify whether the handover is between hnbs connected via the macro - layer enb or between macro - layer enb and hnb it connects , thus , within macro - layer enb . in case the handover in question in the message is any other type of handover , the macro - layer enb forwards the message to mme and performs address translation if needed . mme will then control the handover . however , if the handover is within the macro - layer enb , the macro - layer enb is configured to control the handover process . controlling the handover comprises for example sending handover command to hnb defining the target of the handover , such as hnb or macro - layer enb . in an embodiment of the invention the apparatus 200 is hnb , operating in lte e - utran network . hnb communicates with the network via a logical interface , such as interface between enb 102 and hnb 106 in fig1 , to a macro - layer enb . thus , tx / rx unit in hnb is configured to communicate with the core network via the macro - layer enb , where the macro - layer enb relays the core network s1 interface to hnb . tx / rx unit is further configured to communicate with other hnbs and enbs using x2 interface implemented between hnb and macro - layer enb . the control unit 204 is configured to control communications between hnb and enb and to enable s1 interface communications with core network . the control unit 204 is in addition configured to control communications between hnb and enb to enable x2 interface between hnb and other base stations such as hnb and enb . conventionally in lte network such as in eps ( evolved packet system ) comprising epc and e - utran , the user plane pdus are carried between the enb and s - gw using gtp - u ( gprs tunnelling protocol for user plane ) as defined in 3gpp ts 36 . 300 v8 . 2 . 0 ( 2007 - 09 ). gtp - u is an ip - based protocol . gtp - u is also used on the x2 interface communications between enbs . a bearer , for example access bearer from the core network node such as s - gw to enb over s1 interface or a bearer between enbs , is identified in gtp - u by teid ( tunnel end point identifier ), which is used to multiplex different connections in the same tunnel . for example , in enb the access bearer between enb and the core network identified with teid is mapped to the radio bearer on the air interface . in an embodiment of the invention , teid can be established between hnb and mme / s - gw as conventionally in lte network . in the embodiment of the invention , teid can be used in tunnelling the traffic to the destination hnb via the macro - layer enb . in tunnelling , macro - layer enb is configured to intercept gtp - u messages received from core network or connected hnbs and decode the gtp - u header of the received messages in order to determine the teid in the gtp - u header . macro - layer enb stores information about teids associated with hnbs . more specifically , the stored information comprises teids associated with radio bearer identifiers of ues connecting through hnbs . consequently , ip based gtp - u messages received in macro - layer enb are decoded to derive teid in the message . using the stored teid and radio bearer identifier information macro - layer enb identifies based on the teid whether the message is destined to hnb connecting to the core lte network through the macro - layer enb . if yes , the macro - layer enb relays the received message to destination hnb . thus , in the macro - layer enb connecting hnb to network a mapping is stored between teid , associated radio bearer identifier and hnb address . the received messages can be routed to the hnb using hnb ip address , ethernet address or address translation as necessary . based on teid and hnb ip address , enb determines the destination hnb for the intercepted message and forwards the message to hnb . therefore , messages tunnelled between enb and the core network are relayed to the hnb and tunnelling of connections is enabled also for hnbs connecting to the network through macro - layer enb . the embodiment of the invention can be thus utilized for providing s1 and x2 interfacing to the hnb , as macro - layer enb is configured to identify teid in the received messages . consequently , also messages received from hnb in enb are identified based on the radio bearer identifier to be mapped to the correct access bearer identified by teid between enb and core network , or alternatively to the correct access bearer identified by teid on the x2 interface between the macro - layer enbs . mapping to correct bearer using teid on the x2 interface facilitates communications between hnbs and hnb to enb , which may be used in handover scenarios in lte . accordingly , the core network node such as mme / s - gw or s - gw stores routing information , for example for routing ip traffic . the information may be ip addresses for example . as tunnelling through gtp - u is set up in the conventional way in lte , the core network node is also aware of teids associated with certain enb . the core network node may route traffic to enbs , thus by sending gtp - u messages with certain teid to enbs associated with the certain teid . the core network node may , thus stored association between teid and enb , for example association between teid and enb ip address . consequently , the core network node identifies teid in gtp - u message and routes the ip packets comprising the gtp - u message to the enb providing tunnelling the associated teid . hnbs connecting to the network through a macro - layer enb can in such a way be reached by the core network s1 logical interface communication , as the s1 communication using gtp - u , is directed to the macro - layer enb connecting hnb to network . fig3 illustrates protocol stacks according to an embodiment of the invention operating in lte e - utran . specifically , the protocol stacks consider the control plane where application layer messages are delivered between enb and mme or mme / s - gw using application layer signalling protocol , s1 application protocol ( s1_ap ). in the embodiment hnb is provided s1 connection through s1 relay application protocol ( s1_r - ap ) 302 implemented in hnb 112 and 106 enb as in fig1 . s1_r - ap is a peer - to - peer protocol between enb and hnb . s1_r - ap in enb may have multiple peer entities each set up and assigned for a hnb connected to it . with s1_r - ap , it is possible to connect several hnbs to enb by implementing s1_r - ap 302 in hnbs 116 and 118 and connecting them with peer - to - peer connections to enb 110 implementing s1_r - ap peer entities for both hnb connections , for example . according to the embodiment of fig3 , the s1 traffic of hnb 112 is received with s1_ap at enb 106 from mme 102 . as s1 ap is only between enb and mme , hnb 112 s1 interface is , therefore , tunnelled via s1 - ap between mme and enb . the enb identifies the tunnelled s1 connection traffic destined to hnb connected to enb and relays the s1 traffic to hnb . when s1_r - ap traffic is received from hnb in enb , the enb tunnels the hnb s1 application layer messages through the s1_ap to mme . the task of s1_r - ap is to provide the s1 interface to hnbs connected to enb . therefore , messages destined to hnb and received in enb , are identified and forwarded to hnb using s1_r - ap . s1_r - ap may provide only a subset of operations s1 - ap provides to enb . hnb , enb and mme in fig3 implement tnl ( transport network layer ) protocols 310 for routing the traffic between each other . in lte , these protocols include ip protocol for example . therefore , hnb enb and mme , thus the lte network , can use ip addressing in routing messages such as s1 and x2 interface messages between each other . accordingly , the nodes are configured to decode messages sent using tnl protocols and determine based on the ip address of the message , the recipient of the message . tnl protocol stack used in fig3 , may also implement addressing used in ethernet standard defined in ieee 802 . 3 . thus , the network nodes implementing the protocol stacks in fig3 may be configured to decode the received messages and determine the recipient of the message based on ethernet addresses . fig4 and 5 present flow charts describing the operational steps performed by an apparatus according to the invention . according to an embodiment , the apparatus is lte e - utran enb connecting hnb to network and providing core network connectivity to hnb . in lte , enb has s1 and x2 interfaces and it connects with hnb using s1_r - ap add x2 interface . referring to fig3 , enb may implement a protocol stack comprising s1 - ap protocol 306 for communication with the core network node such as mme and s1_r - ap for connecting hnb to network and enabling s1 layer communication with core network node such as mme . in fig4 , the operation starts in 400 . enb receives communication , such as messages , from core network through s1 interface and using s1 - ap protocol in 402 . in 404 enb derives from the received communication messages destined to hnb . the deriving may comprise identifying hnb messages from the communication using identifiers in the messages . in 406 enb prepares the derived messages to be transmitted to hnb . the prepared message may comprise all or part of the identified messages . in 408 enb transmits the derived and prepared messages to hnb . the operation ends in 410 . in fig5 the operation starts at 500 . in 502 enb receives communication from hnb . the communication may be s1_r - ap or x2 messages . in 504 , enb determines the message type , based on whether the message received from hnb is received on s1 or x2 interface . this may involve identifying the messages based on identifiers in the message . thus enb may store mapping between the identifiers and for example bearers on the s1 and x2 interface . in case the message is received on s1 , the message is a message using s1_r - ap as in fig3 , protocol 302 . then in 506 , enb prepares a message according to s1 - ap protocol 306 as in fig3 , and transmits in 508 the received s1 communication from hnb to the core network node such as mme or s - gw . the preparing may comprise mapping the identified message to be sent on the correct bearer to the core network node , according to the stored mapping . the mapping may also store the addresses to be used with the bearers , such as ip addresses . in case the message is received from hnb in 502 on x2 interface , enb identifies the destination of the message in 510 for example using the stored mapping and transmits the messages towards it destination in 512 . the operation ends in 514 after transmitting the received message in 508 or 512 . fig6 shows exemplary messaging according to an embodiment of the invention . the messaging takes place in lte network and considers exemplary usage scenarios of s1 and x2 logical interfaces in lte when hnbs are introduced in lte network . considering messages 602 to 608 represent the sae ( system architecture evolution ) bearer setup procedure in lte . then in 602 , mme / s - gw transmits sae bearer setup request to hnb , to set up resources on s1 interface and air interface . the message 602 defines the requested resources on the transmission path to user equipment connected to the network on the air interface . in 604 , enb relays the received s1 message to hnb on the relay interface using s1_r - ap protocol . accordingly , enb determines that the message 602 is destined to hnb , for example based on an identifier in the message . after receiving the message 604 hnb establishes bearers and reserves resources for access bearers and responds with message 606 to inform mme / s - gw whether the resource reservation and bearer establishment was successful . in 608 , enb transmits s1 application layer message relaying the message received from hnb to mmeis - gw . in fig6 also , another signalling procedure is illustrated according to an embodiment of the invention . considering messages 610 to 620 to represent a handover preparation procedure in lte in an embodiment of the invention . then , in 610 , hnb 112 transmits a message “ handover request ” on x2 interface to initiate handover to another hnb 116 . the message is received by enb 108 on x2 interface . enb determines that the message is a message on the x2 interface by an identifier in the message . using the mapping information such as addresses or bearer identifiers stored in enb , enb determines the recipient of the message to be hnb 116 and routes in 612 the message forward to enb 110 connecting hnb 116 to network . it may be that enb 108 determines only the bearer the message 610 should be forwarded on , that is that the messages should be forwarded on the bearer between enbs 108 and 110 . in such case , message 612 is sent to enb 110 based on the mapping in enb between the identifier in the message information stored in the enb , such as bearer identifiers or addresses associated with enb 110 . when enb 110 receives the message it identifies that the recipient is hnb connected to it and routes the message to hnb 116 in 614 . enb 110 may perform the identification based on an identifier received in the message and map the received identifier to the information stored in the enb , such as bearer identifiers or addresses . when hnb 116 has performed the handover preparation procedure it transmits an “ handover request acknowledge ” to hnb 114 , and the message is routed on x2 interface in the similar way as “ handover request ” request between hnbs 114 and 116 . the apparatus 200 in fig2 may be implemented as an electronic digital computer , which may comprise a working memory ( ram ), a central processing unit ( cpu ), and a system clock . the cpu may comprise a set of registers , an arithmetic logic unit , and a control unit . the control unit is controlled by a sequence of program instructions transferred to the cpu from the ram . the control unit may contain a number of microinstructions for basic operations . the implementation of microinstructions may vary , depending on the cpu design . the program instructions may be coded by a programming language , which may be a high - level programming language , such as c , java , etc ., or a low - level programming language , such as a machine language , or an assembler . the electronic digital computer may also have an operating system , which may provide system services to a computer program written with the program instructions . the steps / points , signaling messages and related functions described above in fig3 , 4 , 5 and 6 are in no absolute chronological order , and some of the steps / points may be performed simultaneously or in an order differing from the given one . other functions can also be executed between the steps / points or within the steps / points and other signaling messages sent between the illustrated messages . some of the steps / points or part of the steps / points can also be left out or replaced by a corresponding step / point or part of the step / point . the operations illustrate a procedure that may be implemented in one or more physical or logical entities . the signaling messages are only exemplary and may even comprise several separate messages for transmitting the same information . in addition , the messages may also contain other information . apparatuses , such as servers , or corresponding server components , base stations and / or other corresponding devices or apparatuses implementing the functionality of a corresponding apparatus described with an embodiment comprise not only prior art means . more precisely , they comprise means for implementing functionality of a corresponding apparatus described with an embodiment and they may comprise separate means for each separate function , or means may be configured to perform two or more functions . present apparatuses comprise processors and memory that can be utilized in an embodiment . for example , the tx / rx unit 202 or control unit 204 may be a software application , or a module , or a unit configured as arithmetic operation , or as a program ( including an added or updated software routine ), executed by an operation processor . programs , also called program products , including software routines , applets and macros , can be stored in any apparatus - readable data storage medium and they include program instructions to perform particular tasks . all modifications and configurations required for implementing functionality of an embodiment may be performed as routines , which may be implemented as added or updated software routines , application circuits ( asic ) and / or programmable circuits . further , software routines may be downloaded into an apparatus . the apparatus , such as a server , or a corresponding server component , or a base station may be configured as a computer or a microprocessor , such as single - chip computer element , including at least a memory for providing storage area used for arithmetic operation and an operation processor for executing the arithmetic operation . an example of the operation processor includes a central processing unit . the memory may be removable memory detachably connected to the apparatus . it will be obvious to a person skilled in the art that , as technology advances , the inventive concept can be implemented in various ways . the invention and its embodiments are not limited to the examples described above but may vary within the scope of the claims .	7
utilizing the preferred prepolymer route for preparing the polyurethane membranes of the invention , the prepolymers are produced in accordance with conventional methodology whereby the polyols and reactive polydimethylsiloxane are reacted with a stoichiometric excess of the polyisocyanate and the resulting isocyanate terminated prepolymer is then reacted with a relatively low molecular weight difunctional chain extender . polyalkylene ether glyols generally suitable for preparation of the prepolymers of the invention are those known in the polyurethane preparative art . the polyalkylene ether glycols of interest are generally those prepared from ethylene oxide ( polyoxyethylene glycol ), propylene oxide ( polyoxypropylene glycol ), butylene oxide ( polyoxybutylene glycol ), copolymers and mixtures thereof and preferably have average molecular weights of between about 450 and 2000 since such glycols are either liquids at room temperature or may be readily liquified by mild heating thereof . i generally prefer that the starting material polyalkylene ether glycols employed by difunctional , that is to say having a functionality of 2 . where a prepolymer of the invention is prepared from polyalkylene ether glycols have functionalities of substantially greater than 2 , for instance 2 . 2 or greater , the resulting polyurethane prepolymers tend to be excessively branched , thereby to exhibit viscosities which are excessive for further polymer preparation and handling . it is known that non - porous hydrophilic breathable polyurethane coatings and membranes can be produced utilizing polyoxyethylene glycols as the primary polyol . however , hydrophilic polyurethanes whose backbones are composed entirely or nearly entirely of ethylene oxide units tend to swell greatly upon contact with water and the wet physical properties of such polyurethanes are generally wholly inadequate for practical use as membranous breathable waterproofing materials . in the present invention , the polyalkylene ether glycol ( s ) used in combination with the poly ( oxyethylene ) glycol , that is to say , those polyalkylene ether glycols wherein the number of carbon atoms of the alkylene radical is at least 3 , serve to confer sufficient that strength properties to the cured polyurethane composition as to permit the practical use thereof in the form of a breathable waterproofing membrane . in order to assure this result , the molar ratio of the poly ( oxyethylene ) glycol to the other polyalkylene ether glycols in the compositions of the present invention should be within the range of 1 . 5 : 0 . 5 to 0 . 5 : 1 . 5 and is preferably about 1 : 1 . in general , it can be said that , all other factors being equal , the higher the molar ratio of the poly ( oxyethylene ) glycol component to the other polyalkylene ether glycol ( s ) in the composition , the greater the water vapor transmission properties and the lower the wet physical properties in a cured membrane prepared therewith . conversely , the lower the molar ratio of the poly ( oxyethylene ) glycol component to the other polyalkylene ether glycols in the composition , the lesser the water vapor transmission properties and the higher the wet physical properties in a cured membrane prepared therewith . indeed , based on the relatively high concentration of the polyalkylene ether glycol component whose alkylene groups comprise at least 3 carbon atoms in the compositions of the invention , it would be predicted that the water vapor transmission rates attainable in cured membranes prepared therewith would be too low for practical utility , particularly in such textile applications as rainwear fabrics where a moisture ( or water ) vapor transmission rate as determined by the upright cup test method of astm - e96 - b 66b , hereinafter referred to as &# 34 ; mvtr &# 34 ;, of at least 500 gms / m 2 / 24 hours is considered necessary for maintaining the comfort of a wearer of a garment manufactured from the fabric . in the membrane compositions of the invention the attainment of mvtr values of at least 500 gms / m 2 / 24 hours and substantially higher in the cured membrane is markedly facilitated , despite the relatively high concentrations of the c 3 and higher polyalkylene ether glycol component , by the additional presence of a relatively minor proportion of a reactive polydimethylsiloxane component which apparently forms a hydrophobic , water vapor transmissive block in the polymer backbone of the cured composition . the reactive polydimethylsiloxane starting materials of interest are those which comprise a linear or lightly branched polydimethylsiloxane backbone and which further comprise at least two reactive , usually terminal , hydroxyl groups per molecule , that is to say , a functionality of at least 2 . such reactive polydimethylsiloxanes are commercially available in various average molecular weight fractions from such sources as dow chemical company , midland , mich . and general electric company , silicones division , schenectady , n . y . in general , i prefer that the average molecular weight of the reactive polydimethylsiloxane utilized as a starting material in the preparation of the polyurethane compositions of the invention reside within the range of from 800 to 3500 . as previously mentioned , the mole ratio of the reactive polydimethylsiloxane to the total polyalkylene ether glycol content of the final composition should be within the range of 0 . 1 : 1 to 0 . 3 : 1 . generally speaking , all other factors being equal , the higher the mole ratio of the reactive polydimethylsiloxane within the foregoing range the greater will be the mvtr values attainable in the cured polyurethane membranes prepared therewith . polyisocyanates useful in the preparation of the polyurethane compositions of the invention generally include any of the diisocyanates conventionally employed in the preparation of polyurethanes . exemplary of these are : toluene diisocyanate , diphenylmethane diisocyanate , naphthalene diisocyanate , isophorone diisocyanate , dicyclohexylmethane diisocyanate , dimethoxydiphenyl diisocyanate , p - xylene diisocyanate , hexamethylene diisocyanate , tetramethylxylene diisocyanate and the like . where the preferred prepolymer route is employed , and as is known practice in the preparation of polyurethane prepolymers , the quantity of the polyisocyanate employed in preparing the prepolymer is in stoichiometric excess relative to the reactive hydroxyl group population of the polyalkylene ether glycol and reactive polydimethylsiloxane components , thereby to ensure that the resulting prepolymer macromolecular product will be terminated with reactive -- nco groups . thus , the quantity of the polyisocyanate employed in the preparation of the prepolymers of the invention will be sufficient to provide at least 100 % of the -- nco groups necessary to react with the hydroxyl groups of the polyalkylene ether glycols and reactive polydimethylsiloxane components of the prepolymer reaction mixture . as a matter of convenience , the amount of polyisocyanate introduced to the polyalkylene ether glycol and polydimethylsiloxane components can be sufficiently in excess to handle the needs of the subsequent chain extension of the prepolymer wherein a relatively low molecular weight bifunctional chain extender is incorporated in and reacted with the nco - terminated prepolymer . suitable chain extenders are well known in the polyurethane preparative art and generally comprise organic molecules having a molecular weights of between 200 and 600 having two terminal groups containing labile hydrogen atoms , such as hydroxyl or amino groups . glycols , diamines , alkanolamines and hydroxy acylamines are typical classes of such chain extenders . specific examples are : 1 , 4 - butanediol , phenylene diamine , ethanolamine , ethylene diamine , butane diamine , 1 , 4 - cyclohexane dimethanol , bis ( hydroxyethyl ) bisphenol a , bis ( 2 - hydroxyethyl ) carbamate and the like . in addition to the foregoing components , the polyurethane compositions of the invention may also have incorporated therein various additives and modifiers conventional in the polyurethane formulation art . such additives and modifiers may take the form of curatives , pigments , colorants , antiblocking agents , antioxidants , catalysts , flatting agents , anticurling agents and the like . where the prepolymer route is employed such additives and modifiers other than catalysts are usually incorporated into the polymer system only after chain extension of the prepolymer has been achieved . the viscosity of the prepolymers of the invention and of the chain extended products thereof can range from that of a water thin liquid to the consistency of a thick , slow pouring grease or semi - solid . generally speaking , in those instances wherein the prepolymer or chain extended polymer viscosity is likely to become excessive for subsequent operations , such as for chain extension of the prepolymer or for utilization of the chain extended polymer product in conventional textile coating techniques , such as by spraying , doctor blading , roll coating and the like , the viscosity of the prepolymer or the chain extended polymer can be readily reduced to an acceptable level by dissolution of the prepolymer or polymer in one or more suitable solvents . indeed , as is demonstrated in certain of the working examples hereof , the viscosities of the prepolymer and chain extended polymer systems can be controlled by addition of suitable inert organic solvents to the prepolymer subsequent to its formation and by carrying out the prepolymer chain extension polymerization step in the presence of suitable inert organic solvents . where the membranes of the invention are to be applied to a fabric surface utilizing a solvent coating technique without lamination of the coated fabric to another fabric , it can be desirable to afford physical protection of the exposed surface of the solvent coated waterproof and water vapor transmissible polyurethane membrane by overcoating the exposed surface thereof with a protective water vapor transmissible polyurethane topcoat composition . said topcoat composition may also be applied by a solvent coating technique to the dried , but uncured , membrane , the solvent driven off from the topcoat and the resulting composite coating cured . where a first fabric layer is to be laminated to a second fabric layer with the cured waterproof and water vapor transmissible membrane of the invention interposed therebetween , the first of the fabric layers can be first directly coated with a precursor membrane solution comprising a chain extended polyurethane prepolymer prepared from the poly ( oxyethylene ) glycol and reactive polydimethylsiloxane components and the solvent driven off from this as yet compositionally incomplete coating . then , a coating solution containing a water vapor transmissible chain extended polyurethane adhesive solute which also contains the polyalkylene ether glycol component required to complete the membrane coating is overcoated onto the precursor membrane coating and the solvent driven off therefrom . next , the second fabric layer is brought into contact with the coated adhesive of the first fabric layer under sufficient pressure as to establish the fabric laminate structure and to cause sufficient intermingling the adhesive coating into the precursor membrane coating so as to establish in the membrane coating the compositional requirements of the invention . ______________________________________ingredient weight percent______________________________________isophorone diisocyanate ( ipdi ) 15 . 786carbowax 1450 , a poly ( oxyethylene ) glycol 46 . 690having an average molecular weight of 1450and a functionality of 2 ( union carbidecorp ., danbury , ct ) silicone q4 - 3667 , a polydimethylsiloxane 7 . 762having functional hydroxyl groups , and afunctionality of about 2 ( dow chemicalcompany , midland , mi ) coscat 83 , a catalyst ( cosan chemical 0 . 024company , carlstadt , nj ) toluol 29 . 738______________________________________ the apparatus employed to prepare the prepolymer is an assiduously predried reaction kettle equipped with heating and stirring means . at about room temperature the ipdi is first charged into the kettle and , with constant stirring , there are then slowly added at proportionate rates the poly ( oxyethylene ) glycol and polydimethylsiloxane . since the poly ( oxyethylene ) glycol employed is a solid at room temperature it is heated to melting and charged into the kettle in the liquid state . the relative quantities of these ingredients provides a reaction mixture having a stoichiometric excess of ipdi , the nco : oh ratio thereof being about 2 : 1 . upon completion of the addition of the poly ( oxyethylene ) glycol and polydimethylsiloxane , the kettle is heated to and maintained at a temperature of 160 °- 180 ° f . upon attainment of this goal temperature the catalyst is added and the resulting reaction mixture stirred for a period of between about 4 and 6 hours . next , the toluol is added and stirred into the prepolymer product of reaction and the kettle cooled to below about 100 ° f . the reaction product is sampled and tested for free nco and is found to have a free nco content of about 3 %, by weight . upon analysis of the polymeric reaction product it is found that it comprises an isocyanate capped copolymer polyurethane having random polyethylene oxide and polymethyldisiloxane blocks . the prepolymer is then chain extended as follows . ______________________________________ingredient weight percent______________________________________prepolymer solution 52 . 025toluol 11 . 653methyl ethyl ketone 12 . 741isopropyl alcohol 11 . 653chain extender ( 20 wt . % solution 11 . 928of isophorone diamine in toluol )( ipd solution ) ______________________________________ the prepolymer mixture is charged into an assiduously predried , moisture - free stirred reaction kettle maintained at about room temperature . next , the toluol , methyl ethyl ketone and isopropyl alcohol solvents are stirred into the prepolymer mixture in order to provide a reaction mixture having a water thin viscosity and a 35 - 40 wt . % prepolymer solids content . next , the chain extender solution is trickled into the water thin reaction mixture with agitation . over the period of the chain extender addition the viscosity of the mixture increases to between about 100 , 000 and 110 , 000 cps at 25 ° c . as measured with a brookfield viscometer using a # 6 spindle at 20 revolutions per minute . in a stirred reaction kettle of the type utilized and in the general manner disclosed in example 1 , a prepolymer is prepared utilizing the following ingredients , in the stated weight percentages . ______________________________________ingredient weight percent______________________________________carbowax 1450 23 . 335terathane 2000 , a polytetramethylene ether 32 . 659glycol having an average molecular weight of2000 and a functionality of 2 ( e . i . du pontde nemours , inc ., wilmington , de ) isophorone diisocyanate ( ipdi ) 12 . 096coscat 83 0 . 024toluol 31 . 886______________________________________ the prepolymer reaction mixture is heated and stirred at a temperature within the range of from about 165 ° f . to about 180 ° f . for a period of about 4 hours , followed by addition of the toluol solvent and cooling of the resulting prepolymer solution to below about 100 ° f . said prepolymer solution has a free nco content of 1 . 42 wt . %. the prepolymer of this example is chain extended in a manner similar to that of example 1 utilizing the following ingredients , in the stated weight percentages . ______________________________________ingredient weight percent______________________________________prepolymer solution 56 . 457methyl ethyl ketone 12 . 340toluol 13 . 266isopropyl alcohol 12 . 168chain extender ( ipd solution ) 5 . 767______________________________________ upon completion of the trickled addition of the chain extender the resulting chain extended polymer solution has a brookfield viscosity of between 100 , 000 and 110 , 000 cps at 25 ° c . preparation of thermosettable breathable basecoat coating formulation suitable for direct coating of fabrics into a stirred kettle are mixed the following ingredients , in the stated weight percentages . ______________________________________ingredient weight percent______________________________________chain extended polyurethane solution 65 . 020of example 2chain extended polyurethane solution 27 . 821of example 1santolite mhp , an anti - curl additive 2 . 128 ( monsanto co ., st . louis , mo ) cymel 380 , a melamine anti - blocking 3 . 179agent ( american cyanamid , inc ., bridgeport , cn ) 20 wt . % solution of a triethylamine 1 . 852blocked ethyl acid phosphate catalystdissolved in toluol______________________________________ this formulation , once it has been completed by incorporation of the acid catalyst therein , is in the nature of a promoted resin system which , upon long standing , ultimately thickens and gels . accordingly , at least four direct coating applications , once the acid catalyst has been added the completed formulation should normally be utilized within about 24 hours of its preparation . the mole ratio of poly ( oxyethylene ) glycol ( derived from the chain extended prepolymer of example 1 ) to polytetramethylene ether glycol ( derived from the chain extended prepolymer of example 2 ) contained in this formulation is 1 : 1 . the mole ratio of the polydimethylsiloxane constituent ( derived from the prepolymer of example 1 ) to the total glycols ( derived from the prepolymers of examples 1 and 2 ) contained in the formulation is 0 . 1 : 1 . preparation of thermosettable breathable basecoat coating formulation suitable for the preparation of laminated fabrics the following ingredients , in the stated weight percentages . are stirred in a kettle at room temperature until uniformly mixed . ______________________________________ weightingredient percent______________________________________chain extended prepolymer solution of 95 . 00example 1cymel 380 melamine anti - blocking agent 4 . 00catalyst solution consisting of 40 wt . % 1 . 00ethyl acid phosphate dissolved in toluol______________________________________ the resulting basecoat formulation has a brookfield viscosity of between 30 , 000 and 35 , 000 cps at 25 ° f . preparation of thermosettable breathable topcoat formulation suitable for topcoating of dried basecoat of example 3 this formulation comprises a blend of polyester and polyether chain extended urethane prepolymer solutions each of which is prepared in a manner similar to that described in previous examples . the first chain extended urethane prepolymer solution is prepared utilizing the following ingredients , in the stated weight percentages . ______________________________________9337 preparation of first urethane prepolymer solutionprepolymer ( 1 ) ingredient weight percent______________________________________millester vii - 110 , 1 , 4 butandiol 50 . 099adipate ( polyurethane specialtiesco ., inc ., lyndhurst , nj ) isophorone diisocyanate 20 . 291coscat 83 . 001173butylated hydroxy toluene . 002346toluol 29 . 573______________________________________ the reaction mixture , minus the toluol , is heated and stirred overnight at about 160 ° f . the mixture is cooled to below about 100 ° f . and the toluol then mixed thereinto to form a prepolymer solution . the above prepolymer solution is chain extended by addition thereto of the following ingredients , in the stated weight percentages . ______________________________________chain extended prepolymer ( i ) ingredient weight percent______________________________________prepolymer solution ( 1 ) 39 . 858toluol 21 . 166isopropyl alcohol 28 . 239ipd chain extender solution 10 . 737______________________________________ as previously , the chain extender solution is trickled into the system only after the addition and admixture of the toluol and isopropyl alcohol solvents therein . the resulting chain extended polymer solution has a brookfield viscosity within the range of 45 , 000 - 60 , 000 cps at 25 ° f . the chain extension reaction is then shortstopped or terminated with morpholine . the second urethane prepolymer solution is prepared utilizing the following ingredients , in the stated weight percentages . ______________________________________preparation of second urethane prepolymer solutionprepolymer ( 2 ) ingredient weight percent______________________________________carbowax 1000 , a poly ( oxyethylene ) 48 . 467glycol having an average molecularweight of about 1000isophorone diisocyanate 21 . 483coscat 83 . 001189toluol 30 . 038______________________________________ the reaction mixture , minus the toluol solvent , is heated and stirred for 3 to 4 hours at a temperature of about 180 ° f . thereafter , the mixture is cooled to below about 100 ° f . and the toluol mixed thereinto . chain extension of the second prepolymer is achieved using the following ingredients , in the stated weight percentages . ______________________________________chain extended prepolymer ( 2 ) ingredient weight percent______________________________________prepolymer solution ( 2 ) 45 . 700toluol 20 . 259isopropyl alcohol 19 . 41520 wt . % ipd chain extender solution 14 . 626______________________________________ as previously , the ipd chain extender solution was trickled into the stirred formulation only after addition and admixing of the toluol and isopropyl alcohol solvents thereinto . the resulting chain extended prepolymer solution was then shortstopped with morpholine . the final topcoat formulation is prepared by admixing the foregoing prepolymer solutions along with additional ingredients . the ingredients of the topcoat formulation are given below in their order of mixing , along with the weight percentages thereof . ______________________________________topcoat formulation weightingredient percent______________________________________chain extended prepolymer solution ( 1 ) 36 . 819isopropyl alcohol 12 . 269toluol 5 . 724cab 381 - 0 . 5 , a cellulose acetate butyrate 2 . 935film hardener ( eastman chemicals , kingsport , tn ) chain extended prepolymer solution ( 2 ) 37 . 731aerosil ts100 , a hydrophobic pyrogenic 2 . 525silica flatting agent ( degussa , inc ., ridgefield park , nj ) 50 wt . % solution of petrolatum in toluol . 396cymel 303 melamine anti - blocking agent 1 . 071catalyst solution consisting of 45 parts . 529by weight of catalyst 4040 , a p - toluenesulfonic acid solution ( american cyanamid , inc .) reduced in 55 parts by weightisopropyl alcohol______________________________________ this topcoating formulation has a brookfield viscosity at 25 ° f . of between 10 , 000 and 15 , 000 cps . preparation of breathable thermosettable polyurethane adhesive suitable for bonding of membrane composed of dried basecoat of example 4 to a fabric into a dry reaction kettle equipped with stirring , heating and cooling means there are charged the following ingredients , in the stated weights : ______________________________________ weightingredient ( lbs ) ______________________________________terathane 2000 , polytetramethylene ether 23 . 037glycolmondur m , methylene diisocyanate 5 . 799 ( miles , inc ., pittsburgh , pa )) stabilized 1 , 1 , 1 - trichloroethane 14 . 022______________________________________ these ingredients are heated to about 110 ° f ., with constant mixing , for about 1 / 2 hour at which time the heating means of the kettle is deactivated . then , 15 . 024 lbs of m - pyrol solvent ( gaf chemicals corp ., wayne , n . j .) and 0 . 010 lb of fomrez c - 2 tin based catalyst ( witco chemical corp ., chicago , ill .) are changed into the kettle and the cooling means activated to maintain the temperature of the contents at between 115 ° and 120 ° f . for about one hour . then , there are added to the reaction mixture 16 . 026 lbs of stabilized 1 , 1 , 1 - trichloroethane and 1 . 042 lbs of 1 , 4 - butanediol chain extender with constant mixing and maintenance of the resulting reaction mixture at a temperature of between 115 ° and 125 ° f . the brookfield viscosity of the mixture is monitored and , upon attainment of a viscosity ( at the reaction temperature ) of about 80 , 000 cps , there is charged thereinto an additional 25 . 040 lbs of stabilized 1 , 1 , 1 - trichloroethane and , upon completion of its admixture , the chain extension reaction is then terminated or shortstopped with methanol . the viscosity of this polyurethane solution at 25 ° f . is between about 100 , 000 and about 120 , 000 cps . the viscosity is reduced to about 40 , 000 cps by mixing the polymer solution with additional 1 , 1 , 1 - trichloroethane in an 85 : 15 weight ratio , thereby to provide an unpromoted polyurethane adhesive formulation which , prior to use , must be admixed with a sufficiency of a polyisocyanate having a functionality of at least three in order to promote cross linking thereof . coating is achieved by a multiple serial doctor blading station apparatus comprising an elongate flat trough bed to support a textile passed therethrough and having feed and take - off ends . preceding the feed end of the trough is a feed reel to reed a textile to be coated into the feed end of the trough . positioned above the trough at spaced apart locations along the length thereof are three doctor blade stations , each comprising a liquid coating delivery system by which to deliver liquid coating material to the upper surface of a textile running through the trough followed by an adjustable doctor blade running across the width of the trough . following each doctor blade station is a solvent flashing and vapor recovery station . immediately following the take - off end of the doctor blading apparatus is a thermostatically controlled curing oven having feed and take - off ends , said oven being adapted to receive into the feed end thereof a coated textile from the take - off end of the doctor blading apparatus and to discharge the cured coated textile to a take - up reel located downstream therefrom . a bolt of tightly woven 3 ounce / yd . 2 nylon cloth having a thickness of about 8 mils is treated utilizing the above - described apparatus . the basecoat formulation of example 3 is fed to the first and second doctor blading stations , the doctor blades thereof each being set at a spacing of 2 - 3 mils above the cloth surface . the delivery rate of the basecoat coating formulation to each of the doctor blading stations is metered to provide a coating weight of between 1 and 1 . 5 ounces basecoat / yd 2 of cloth . the topcoat formulation of example 5 is fed to the third doctor blading station , the doctor blading of this station being set to a spacing ob 2 - 3 mils above the basecoat coated cloth surface and the rate of delivery of the topcoat formulation being metered to provide a coating weight of between 1 and 1 . 5 ounces of the topcoat formulation / yd 2 of cloth . after passing through the last of the solvent flashing and recovery stations the thusly multiply coated cloth is passed through the curing oven maintained at a temperature of about 325 ° f ., the residence time of the cloth therein being controlled by the take - up reel to between 1 and 2 minutes . after passing from the curing oven and , prior to being taken up on the take - up reel , the bottom or uncoated side of the cloth is treated with a water repelling fluorocarbon composition such as that marketed under the brand name zepel ( e . i . du pont de nemours & amp ; company , wilmington , del .). upon visual inspection , the cured polyurethane coating is noted to be smooth , uniform and devoid of structural defects . attempts to strip the coating from the cloth reveal that the coating is strongly adherent to the nylon fabric substrate , the mode of failure , when achieved at all , tending to be in the nature of failure in cohesion rather than adhesion . specimens of the coated cloth are subjected to waterproofness and moisture vapor transmission tests . waterproofness is assessed by use of the mullin &# 39 ; s burst test ( fed . std . 191 , method 5512 ) and failure of the coated textile occurs at an average hydrostatic pressure of about 120 p . s . i . moisture vapor transmission rate is determined by the upright cup test method of astm - e96 - 66band is found to be within the range of 500 - 600 gms / m 2 / 24 hours . however , the upright cup method of astm - e96 - 66b is considered by those of skill in the art to be deficient in determining high range moisture vapor transmission rates due , in large part , to the fact that the test inherently places an interfering air gap between the bulk water contained in the upright cup and the test material sealed to the mouth of the cup . moreover , where the specimen is a fabric believed to have utility in applications wherein direct contact thereof with bulk water is anticipated , the upright cup method does not simulate such a direct wetting condition . accordingly , it is conventional practice to test specimens believed to possess high water vapor transmission rate capabilities by means of a modified test wherein the specimen is sealed to the mouth of the upright cup containing the charge of water and the cup then inverted in order to avoid altogether the air gap between specimen and water charge and to thereby place the bulk water in direct contact with the specimen material . the coated textile of this example is also tested by this inverted cup modification of the astm - e96 - 66b method and the moisture vapor transmission rate thereof is found to be within the range of 6000 to 7000 gms / m 2 / 24 hours . in handling of the coated textile it is noted that the hand and stiffness thereof is little changed , if at all , from that of the uncoated cloth . from the foregoing results , it is apparent that the coated textile of the present example would make an excellent shell material for waterproof garments or other waterproof textile applications wherein water vapor transmissibility , as well as waterproofness , are essential or desirable traits . preparation of fabric laminate comprising breathable waterproof basecoat sandwiched between fabric layers a doctor blading line similar to that employed in the previous example it utilized . however , interposed between the take - off end of the doctor blade trough and the curing oven are a nip roll and , in opposition thereto , a calendering roll equipped with pressure adjustment means by which to adjust the pressure of the one roll against the other . in addition , a second feed reel is stationed upstream of the calender and nip rolls , thereby to provide means by which a second cloth may be applied to the coated cloth entering the calender and nip rolls . the textiles employed in this example are each a tightly woven 3 oz / yd 2 nylon cloth . the cloth fed by the first feed reel through the coating line is coated at the first station and recoated at the second station with the basecoat polyurethane formulation of example 4 , the coating delivery rates at each station being metered at 0 . 4 to 0 . 5 oz / yd 2 . at the third coating station the basecoat coated cloth is overcoated with the adhesive formulation of example 6 which has been freshly promoted by admixture thereof with 3 parts by weight / 100 parts of the adhesive solution of a crosslinker polyisocyanate such as mondur cb - 75 ( miles , inc ., pittsburgh , pa .) or its equivalent . the promoted adhesive formulation is delivered to the basecoated cloth at a rate of about 0 . 3 oz / yd 2 and is doctor bladed at the third coating station to a thickness of about 2 wet mils . after passing the third solvent flashing station , the second cloth from the second feed roll is applied to the adhesively coated upper surface of the first textile and both are passed through the nip of the opposed nip and calender rolls under a roll pressure of several tons , thereby to effect continuous laminating contact of the second cloth to the adhesively coated surface of the first cloth and , further , to cause sufficient intermingling of the polytetramethylene ether glycol based adhesive formulation with the poly ( oxyethylene ) glycol and reactive polydimethylsiloxane based basecoat formulation such that an intermediate composition falling within the compositional parameters of the invention is formed therebetween . the resulting cloth laminate is then passed through the curing oven held at a temperature of about 350 ° f . and at a resistance time of between about 1 and 2 minutes . specimens of the cloth laminate are tested for waterproofness and moisture vapor transmission rate ( mvtr ) in accordance with the mullin &# 39 ; s burst test procedure of federal standard 191 , method 5512 and astm - e96 - 66b , respectively . the average burst strength is determined to be 150 p . s . i . and the average mvtr is determined to be 500 gms / m 2 / 24 hours . on the bases of these waterproofness and mvtr values , the laminated cloth product of this example is assessed as suitable for use as a material of construction of rain protective garments and in other textile applications wherein the qualities of waterproofness and water vapor transmissibility are necessary or desirable . the foregoing description and examples are illustrative in character and demonstrate certain embodiments and techniques for implementation and use of the present invention . it should be recognized and understood , however , that said description and examples are not to be construed as limiting of the invention because many changes , modifications and variations may be made therein without department from the scope , spirit or intention of the invention , as will be obvious to those skilled in the art .	2
the present invention relates to cache memory and memory subsystem including a cache memory , in which background write - back operations are scheduled according to a “ clean distance ” value that specifies a minimum number of prospective cache victims ( cast - out candidates ) that are non - dirty ( have not been modified ). the cache attempts to maintain the clean distance by keeping track of the reference count of the first dirty line and counting the number of clean lines having lower reference counts , and thus will be victimized according to a least - recently used ( lru ) replacement algorithm before the dirty line . since dirty lines must be read ( for the write - back operation ) and then written over , the performance penalty to victimize a dirty line is higher than that for a clean line , and thus the present invention improves cache performance if the clean distance is violated for a particular congruence class , background write operations are scheduled for that congruence class to restore the clean distance . referring now to fig1 , a processing system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention is shown . the depicted processing system includes a number of processors 10 a - 10 d , each coupled to a memory controller / bridge 15 a , 15 b in conformity with an embodiment of the present invention . the depicted multi - processing system is illustrative , and processing systems in accordance with other embodiments of the present invention include uni - processor systems having symmetric multi - threading ( smt ) cores . processors 10 a - 10 d are identical in structure and include cores 20 a - 20 b and a cache / local storage 12 , which may be a cache level , or a level of internal system memory . processors 10 a - 10 b are coupled to a main system memory 14 by memory controller / bridge 15 a , a storage subsystem 16 , which includes non - removable drives and optical drives , for reading media such as a cd - rom 17 forming a computer program product and containing program instructions implementing operating systems and other software for execution by processors 10 a - 10 d , the illustrated processing system also includes input / output ( i / o ) interfaces and devices 18 such as mice and keyboards for receiving user input and graphical displays for displaying information . processors 10 c - 10 d are similarly coupled to main system memory 14 b , storage subsystem 16 , which includes non - removable drives and optical drives , for reading media such as cd - rom 17 , by memory controller / bridge 15 b . while the system of fig1 is used to provide an illustration of a system in which the processor architecture of the present invention is implemented , it is understood that the depicted architecture is not limiting and is intended to provide an example of a suitable computer system in which the techniques of the present invention are applied . referring now to fig2 , a memory hierarchy in accordance with an embodiment of the invention is shown . a lower - order cache 12 is coupled to an even lower - order cache ( or a processor core in the case of an l1 cache ). lower - order cache 12 is also coupled to a higher - order cache 16 to which victims ( cast - out members ) from lower - order cache 12 are written when removed from lower - order cache 12 . higher - order cache 16 includes a control logic 18 that manages accesses to data values stored in a value storage 22 of higher - order cache 16 . the locations of the data values are tracked in a directory 20 of higher - order cache 16 , which also contains status flags for the various values , which are generally cache lines and reference counts indicating the number of times the data values have been accessed since being loaded into value storage 22 . higher - order cache 16 is coupled to a memory controller , such as a memory controller and bridge 15 that can be used to implement memory controller and bridge units 15 a , 15 b in the system of fig1 . memory controller and bridge 15 manages accesses to system memory 14 which provides values to and receives values from the lower - order levels of the memory hierarchy as needed . in general , the exemplary embodiment shown in fig2 is an inclusive hierarchy , with higher - order cache 16 being an inclusive or pseudo - inclusive cache that also serves as a victim cache for lower - order cache 12 . however , techniques of the present invention apply to other types of caches and cache hierarchies and the illustrated cache hierarchy is only one example of a cache memory subsystem to which the techniques disclosed herein may apply . further , any of the caches shown in fig2 may be included in an integrated circuit that contains one or more processor cores to which lower - order cache 12 is coupled , or may be external to the processor core integrated circuit . system memory 14 , at least the portion that maps to lines in the remainder of the cache hierarchy , may also be included within an integrated circuit that includes the processor cores , for example in embedded systems , so that the entire mechanism illustrated herein might be implemented within a single integrated circuit , or across multiple integrated circuits . in other terms , the boundary between the processor core can be at the cache level , or the system memory level , and memory controller and bridge 15 that handles the write - backs to system memory 14 from higher - order cache may be located in a processor integrated circuit , or a separate integrated circuit . referring now to fig3 , details of higher - order cache 16 are shown , in accordance with an embodiment of the invention . value storage 22 contains values that are separated into congruence classes , corresponding to the columns of value storage 22 , which are selected according to the least significant bits of the address of the values stored in value storage 22 . directory 20 contains entries describing entries in value storage 22 , and include a tag field , which is formed from the most - significant bits of the value address , a reference count ref , and flag bits including a modified bit m that indicates whether the particular line is dirty . in the example , only a portion of director 20 is shown that corresponds to a small portion of the actual entries that would be present in a single congruence class of higher - order cache 16 . in the example , the dirty lines are those having the modified bit m set equal to a logical “ 1 ” state , and the dirty line with the lowest reference count , which is taken as the lru member , has a reference count of 4 . the clean lines , which are those having modified bit m set to zero , can be observed to determine which lines will be victimized before any dirty line , which in the example are the lines with reference counts of 1 , 2 and 4 . the method of the present invention , as described below , will total those lines , in the example totaling 4 , and will compare that total to a clean distance , e . g ., five , which , in the example , will cause an indication that at least one of the lines should be written - back to system memory 14 , in order to preserve the clean distance in higher - order cache 16 . referring now to fig4 , a method according to an embodiment of the present invention is depicted a flow chart . when the cache directory is accessed , which occurs when a data value access request is received ( step 40 ), a check is performed , for the congruence class ( step 41 ), to determine whether the clean distance is currently maintained . the exemplary check determines the reference count of the least - recently - used ( lru ) dirty member of the class ( step 42 ). the total number of clean members having a reference count less than or equal to the reference count of the lru dirty member is computed for the congruence class ( step 43 ) and that total is subtracted from the specified clean distance to determine a cleanup count ( step 44 ), if any , that is required to restore the clean distance . the method then sets a work vector to include a cleanup count number of entries , which may be a mechanism that specifies just a number of lru entries to clean , specifies indices for the specific entries to clean , or provides some other form of vector that can specify a number of entries to clean for each congruence class ( step 45 ). until the last congruence class has been processed ( decision 46 ), steps 41 - 45 are repeated for each congruence class . u . s . patent application no . us20110276762 “ coordinated write - back of dirty cachelines ” discloses a write - back scheduling technique that can be used in conjunction with the present invention , and is incorporated herein by reference . while the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to the preferred embodiments thereof , it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing and other changes in form , and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention .	6
fig1 and 2 are simplified diagrams showing two ejector mechanisms 1 and 1 &# 39 ; adapted to accurately eject an object a initially attached to a support b by means which are not shown here to make the diagram clearer but which will be explained later . both ejector mechanisms 1 and 1 &# 39 ; include an ejector rod 2 or 2 &# 39 ; sliding in a guide sleeve 3 or 3 &# 39 ; attached to the support b and extending as far as the center of mass g of the object a through an elongate recess 4 or 4 &# 39 ; provided in the object a for this purpose . in the example shown , the center of mass g of the object is shown offset in the axial direction from the center of the rectangle representing the object a : this is because the latter is often of heterogeneous construction . the longitudinal axis of the ejector rod is preferably coincident with a main axis of inertia x -- x of the object a , in this instance a longitudinal axis of symmetry of the latter . the object a is centered at two axially offset locations , one in the immediate vicinity of the center of the mass g , where a central centering area or portion 5 or 5 &# 39 ; of the recess with a small axial dimension surrounds with small clearance the end of the ejector rod , and the other where an end area 6 or 6 &# 39 ; of the recess surrounds with small clearance the guide sleeve 3 or 3 &# 39 ;. there is provided at the bottom of the recess in the immediate vicinity of the center of mass a generally transverse area 5a or 5 &# 39 ; a against which the free end of the ejector rod bears . in fig1 which represents one preferred embodiment of the invention , the axial distance over which the centering area 6 surrounds the guide sleeve 3 with small clearance is very short , in the order of a few percent of the depth l of the recess which is the axial distance between the areas 5 and 6 in fig1 . in fig2 on the other hand , the sleeve 3 &# 39 ; extends further into the recess 4 , to a distance l which is approximately half the depth l . the distance l may represent any fraction less than unity of l . however , it has been found preferable to choose a value for l that is as small as possible ( for example , less than 50 % of the mean transverse dimension of the sleeve 3 , in other words its diameter when it is cylindrical ). if the ejector rod is not perfectly guided in the sleeve 3 &# 39 ; and if during its movement the ejector rod was subject to any transverse movement due , for example , to assembly clearances , the fact that the sleeve 3 &# 39 ; continues to achieve optimum centering of the base of the object during movement imparts a non - negligible tilting speed of the object . on the other hand , if as in fig1 the centering of the base of the object a is eliminated as soon as the ejector rod begins to move , the worst that can happen is transverse displacement of the base without any rotation . it is found in practice that lengthening the sleeve 3 &# 39 ; does not significantly reduce the risk of transverse displacement of the ejector rod and it is then necessary to increase the clearance between the rod and the sleeve to eliminate any risk of binding . in practice , the invention provides for applying to the object not only a thrust f but also a rotational torque c , which is why the recess 4 or 4 &# 39 ; and the outside surface of the guide sleeve , at least where it faces the end centering area 6 or 6 &# 39 ;, are cylindrical . if the rotation movememt is imparted by the rod itself , it may be made cylindrical , possibly ending with a polygonal cross - section end part , the central centering area 5 or 5 &# 39 ; having the same cross - sectional shape . alternatively , this end part and the central centering area may also be cylindrical , the torque being transmitted to the object by any appropriate means , possibly by simple friction between the end part and the central guiding area . fig3 through 5 show one embodiment of a mechanism embodying the general principles of fig1 . the mechanism 10 ( so denoted to distinguish it from the highly schematic versions shown in fig1 ) has a three - fold function : temporary attachment in an accurate position , fast separation and controlled ejection . the mechanism is primarily composed of a receptacle 11 of generally cylindrical shape ( the upper part of which is equivalent to the guide sleeve 3 from fig1 ), an ejector rod 12 ( similar to the rod 2 from fig1 ), and an elongate recess 13 ( similar to the recess 4 in fig1 ) at the bottom of which are forward central centering area 14 ( similar to the centering area 5 in fig1 ) and a transverse bearing surface 14a . near its mouth there is provided a rear end centering area 15 ( similar to the centering area 6 in fig1 ). the receptacle 11 is designed to be mounted to the support b by any appropriate means , for example , by a flange 16 ( see fig3 and 4 ) with apertures 17 through which fixing bolts can be passed . at the base of the receptacle is a passage 18 communicating with a pressure chamber of any appropriate known type provided in practice with a pyrotechnic type igniter ( to fire a pyrotechnic material ). this passage leads to a chamber 19 into which a smaller cross - section rear end 20 of the piston 12 extends . as shown within the circle e , inside the receptacle is an inwardly projecting flange 21 through which the rear end part 20 of the piston passes and against which a spring member 22 , in this instance a coiled spring , bears in the axial direction . the spring also bears in the axial direction against a transverse annular bearing surface 23 at the base of the piston from which the smaller cross - section end 20 projects axially through the spring 22 . the interior flange 21 is part of a liner 24 which is screwed by a screwthread 25 into a tubular exterior end piece 26 which with the liner forms the receptacle 11 . o - ring seals 100 and 101 are provided between the end piece and the liner and between the liner and the base of the ejector rod . a safety pin 27 ( see fig3 ) projects radially into the wall of the liner 24 . when in place and deployed radially into a transverse bore ( not shown ) in the ejector rod 12 , it prevents unwanted movement of the rod . the pin must be retracted radially by any appropriate known means before the object a is ejected . as shown also in fig1 and 12 , a rotation guide peg 28 passes through the wall of the liner 24 into an approximately longitudinal straight or helical groove 29 in the piston with a non - null angle of inclination ( μ ) relative to the longitudinal axis x -- x of the ejector rod ( see fig1 ). the axial dimension of the groove is at least equal to the axial travel d of the ejector rod . the upper part of the liner 24 ends in a smaller cross - section portion 24a terminating at an exterior screwthread 30 designed to cooperate with an interior screwthread 31 at the base of the recess 13 . a fragile area 32 is provided between the screwthreaded portion 30 and the remainder of the liner which with the end piece 26 forms the body of the receptacle . the fragile area will be described in more detail with reference to fig7 and 10 . the ejector rod is composed of a number of sections of reducing diameter , the last of which is a peg 33 fitting with small clearance into the central centering area 14 . fig6 shows an alternative embodiment of the mechanism from fig4 in which parts similar to those of fig3 through 5 have the same reference number &# 34 ; primed &# 34 ;. the mechanism 10 &# 39 ; differs from the mechanism 10 in that the spring member 22 &# 39 ; disposed axially between an annular bearing surface 21 &# 39 ; of the liner 24 &# 39 ; and the base of the rod 12 &# 39 ; is a belleville washer . the travel d &# 39 ; of the rod is delimited by the annular bearing surface 21 &# 39 ; and a shoulder 34 &# 39 ; on the liner , the base of the ejector rod having a larger diameter than the rest of the rod . the latter has a smaller number of sections between the base and the end peg 33 &# 39 ;. the structure of the fragile area 32 &# 39 ;, which will be described in more detail with reference to fig1 and 20 , is a simplified version of that of the area 32 . fig7 through 10 show the fragile area 32 provided below the externally screwthreaded area 30 of the receptacle 11 . the function of this fragile area is entirely to secure the object a longitudinally relative to its support , the stiffness of the ejector rod 12 being sufficient to secure the object against transverse forces . it is advantageous for this fragile coupling to have low resistance to bending in order to avoid the application of transverse reaction forces to the ejector rod and to avoid tension or compression forces on the parts designed to fracture . for this reason this portion of the fragile coupling is advantageously designed to be resilient in bending , being a gimbal type device with two transverse rotation axes v -- v and w -- w at 90 ° to each other and offset axially relative to each other . the coupling is formed by an intermediate ring 40 respectively joined to the screwthreaded area 30 joined to the object a and to the remainder of the receptacle joined to the support b by two axially offset pairs of tangs 41 and 42 , 43 and 44 which are on respective diameters offset angularly at 90 °. these spring tangs are machined from the material of the liner . the tangs are dimensioned according to the maximum predicted transverse movement of the center of mass of the object before or during ejection . their height h , parallel to the x -- x axis , and their thickness e , perpendicular to the diameters on which they are disposed , are chosen according to the mechanical characteristics of the material from which they are made , so that they absorb such movement without fracturing , and preferably without plastic deformation . the tangs of the two pairs advantageously have the same behavior in bending ( equal bending stresses ) for equal transverse displacements of the free end of the rod in two perpendicular radial directions , in practice along the aforementioned diameters . those skilled in the art will know how to achieve this condition . if the longitudinal offset between the two pairs of tangs is small in comparison with their distance from the center of mass of the object ( as is assumed here ), the aforementioned condition is equivalent to stating that the tangs must all have the same bending characteristics , in other words the ratio e / h 2 must have the same value for each of them . in the particularly simple example shown here , the tangs advantageously have the same height h and the same thickness e . however , to ensure that fracture of the fragile coupling does not impart any spurious moment to the object , the tangs of one pair , for example the tangs 41 and 42 nearest the screwthreaded area , preferably have a radial dimension y which is smaller than the radial dimension y &# 39 ; of the tangs of the other pair . despite their identical characteristics in bending , a difference in tensile strength is introduced between the two pairs resulting in fracture of the tangs of one pair only . referring to fig9 for example , note that the moment of inertia of the pair of tangs 41 and 42 is greater about the w -- w axis than the moment of inertia of the same tangs about the v -- v axis on which they are aligned . in this way , because the resisting cross - sections of the tangs are offset between fig4 and 5 , the coupling device has approximately the same flexibility in all directions . the fragile coupling is designed to fracture at a predetermined tension force between the screwthread 30 and the intermediate ring 40 . for the tangs to be operative only in flexion before ejection and to be operative only in traction during ejection and to prevent the screwthreads 30 and 31 from becoming unscrewed , the tangs are prestressed by the spring member 22 which urges the ejector rod against the end of the recess 13 and so loads the tangs . in the fig8 example , the rear end centering of the object is provided by the intermediate ring . fig1 shows a preferred embodiment in which the rear end centering is provided to the rear of the two pairs of tangs by a cylindrical bearing surface 60 on the body of the receptacle and cooperating with an enlarged end of the recess 13 . the rear centering , therefore , does not depend on the state of bending of the fragile coupling 32 . one advantage of this is to prevent any vibration of the device 10 as a whole and , therefore , of the object during storage ( which in practice entails transport ) and especially during ejection . fig1 and 20 show a simplified version of the fragile coupling which can be used in situations where there is no need for flexibility . the simplified version has three identical machined tangs 71 , 72 and 73 designed to fracture and disposed at 120 ° to each other , coupling an end area 70 of the receptacle and the remainder 74 of the receptacle . the tangs preferably have a trapezium - shaped cross - section with sides which are coplanar with the sides of the other tangs , as shown by the three dashed lines . the simplified version , instead of being substituted for the fragile area 32 , may be provided between the latter and the end portion ( this embodiment is not shown ), the tangs 41 through 44 having the same mechanical characteristics in bending and in traction . this provides a bending stage ( area 32 ) and a fragile stage whose functions are effectively decoupled from each other . to circumvent geometrical errors of centering of the object by the peg 33 and of the in practice inevitable eccentricity of the center of the mass g of the object relative to its geometrical axis x -- x , it is advantageous for the distance between the point of application of the thrust and the center of mass of the object to be as small as possible and for this to be achieved automatically . to this end , as shown in fig1 , a washer 50 made from a flexible elastomer type material is advantageously disposed axially between a shoulder 51 on the ejector rod near the peg 33 and the transverse bearing surface or shoulder 14a near the central centering area 14 . the flexible washer distributes the areas of contact and , therefore , distributes the ejection thrust over the bottom of the recess as close as possible to the center of mass and ensures that the point of application of the infinitesimal forces is near the center of mass . this washer may be an independent separate part or obtained by overmolding . fig1 a shows what would happen if no such flexible washer is provided . because of the stiffness of the peg and of the bottom of the recess ( which may be made from steel , aluminum alloy , etc . ), the smallest geometrical defect displaces the point of application of the force by the value of the radius r of the ejector rod at this point ( fig1 a ). on the other hand , the flexible washer distributes the forces so that the resultant force is shifted from the center of mass by only a distance d ( fig1 b ) which is very much less than the distance r in the case of a single - point contact at the periphery of the thrust area . of course , the offsets shown in fig1 a and 14b have been exaggerated to assist with the foregoing explanation . it will be understood that in practice the thrust force is applied not by the peg itself but by the surrounding shoulder 51 ( 14a in fig4 ). fig1 shows an alternative embodiment with an o - ring 50 &# 39 ; between the shoulder 51 and a frustoconical shoulder 52 &# 39 ;. this embodiment has the same advantages as a flexible coupling , but also enables rotation of the object resisted by friction . the increased diameter of the bearing surface provides better transmission of torque and the cone increases the adhesion force due to the components into which the thrust forces are divided ( the resulting wedging effect favors the driving action ). fig1 and 17 show how the behavior of the object during ejection can be modeled . the object is assumed to be rigid and is characterized by its mass m and by its principal moments of inertia ix , iy , and iz relative to a frame of reference rg ( ox , oy , oz ). fig1 represents the time t = 0 and fig1 represents a later time : for the propelled phase , it is assumed that the point f at which the force f is applied is fixed within the solid material and the influence of three parameters on the transverse speed and the aiming of the object are considered : d = distance between the center of mass and the center of thrust f in a direction perpendicular to the oz axis ; z = distance between the center of mass and the center of thrust f along the oz axis ; and α = angle between the vertical oz axis of the galilean frame of reference and the direction of the thrust f . it is further assumed that f and c remain fixed in direction within the galilean frame of reference rg throughout the application of the thrust ; this assumption being more realistic than assuming f and c are fixed in the object frame of reference . finally , it is assumed that the point f is the only point of contact between the rod and the object . the calculation is then totally representative in the case of very short centering contact areas . in the ballistic phase , only gravity resists the movement , which is a euler - poinsot type movement . there are no particular restrictions during this phase . the results of this calculation justify the concept of applying the thrust as close as possible to the center of mass ( by making the parameters d and z as small as possible ) and the provision of two short centering areas far apart ( one at the center of mass and the other at the base ) to minimize the value of the parameter α . for given values of d and α application of the thrust at the center of mass minimizes the transverse speed . applying the thrust as close as possible to the center of mass , positioning the object by its base and centering the object close to the center of mass makes it possible to minimize the effects of geometrical errors in the ejector and in the object and to minimize the value of d and α . as explained above , applying the thrust at the center of mass eliminates the effects of any want of perpendicularity between the ejection axis and the end of travel abutment . for this type of device the thrust interface between the device and the object at the center of mass of the object is crucial with regard to transverse disturbances . technological solutions which minimize the offset d yield satisfactory test results . the &# 34 ; ejector mechanism &# 34 ; subassembly is assembled using a jig . the piston is pushed back until the tension spring turns are in contact with each other . the object is then simply screwed onto the subassembly until it reaches the end of the screwthread , without applying any prestressing . after the position of the object relative to the liner is checked , the piston is released and the spring then prestresses the coupling which also immobilizes it against rotation . this assembly can be performed either by screwing the object to the ejector mechanism or by screwing the ejector mechanism to the object . the use of the mechanism in accordance with the invention will now be described . ejection is commanded , for example , by firing an igniter . pressurizing the combustion chamber causes the piston to be urged against the object at the top abutment near the center of mass . first the top two tangs of the gimbal type fragile coupling are broken and then the object is accelerated . as soon as it begins to move , the object clears the bottom centering device or intermediate ring 40 with the result that the only interface between it and the support are the support and centering contact areas near its center of mass . note that after the fragile coupling fractures the upper part ( the screwthreaded portion ) remains attached to the object ( in practice its mass is small ). during the linear movement of the piston , the rotation guide peg or finger 28 fixed to the liner slides in the helical or straight groove 29 in the latter which causes it to rotate . this rotation of the ejected object is obtained by friction at the piston / object interface . the shoulder or end of travel abutment 34 stops the movement of the ejector piston . the object is released from its interface with the piston and enters its ballistic phase . note that the object / piston combination is such that complete release of the object relative to the piston occurs without contact . it will be understood that there are two separate functional interfaces between the object and the device : as close as possible to the center of mass of the object , at a thrust and positioning interface constituted by a bearing engagement and a centering engagement , and , at the base of the object , at a retaining and positioning interface constituted by a screwthread and a centering engagement , respectively . it is clear from the foregoing description that the mechanism 10 proposed above provides for positioning and retention with an object / ejector device coupling able to withstand mechanical stresses by a screwthreaded coupling and a short centering engagement at the rear of the object , a bearing surface and a short centering engagement in the area of the center of mass of the object and longitudinal tensile prestressing between the screwthread and the bearing engagement at the center of mass . the mechanism 10 also provides for object / ejector separation ( unlatching function ) by a coupling designed to fracture in traction situated under the screwthreaded coupling ( the rupture energy is low ); the flexible coupling being designed to fracture at a predetermined tensile load ; and transmission of the ejection ( pyrotechnic ) energy by a piston whose bearing surface is near the center of mass . during the attachment or storage phase , the object a to be ejected is positioned by two short centering areas and an abutment area . it is latched by a securing member between the ejector rod and the bottom centering area with pretensioning between the securing member and the abutment area . also , the support b may include a gimbal type coupling so that the overall resistance to bending is provided only by the ejector rod and the centering area at the center of mass . in the ejection phase the securing member is eliminated or retracted . the centering area and the abutment area near the center of mass remain operative . the thrust rod which is part of the support b transmits translation and / or rotation movement ( s ) through the intermediary of the centering area and the abutment area . it goes without saying that the above description has been given by way of non - limiting example only and that those skilled in the art can put forward numerous variations thereon without departing from the scope of the invention .	5
according to the present invention , erythropoietin , that has been used so far only for the treatment of anemia , including cancer patients suffering from anemia , was found now to affect tumor regression in mice and to improve the biological and clinical course of some multiple myeloma patients . the first observations according to the invention were derived from multiple myeloma ( mm ) patients being treated for anemia , with epo . mm is characterized by a clonal proliferation of bone marrow ( bm ) transformed plasma cells ( pc ) secreting a paraprotein which can be detected in the serum and / or urine ( kyle , 1975 ; durie & amp ; salmon , 1975 ; bergsagel , 1990 ). the manifestations and complications of mm include anemia , recurrent infections , thrombocytopenia with bleeding episodes , pathological bony fractures , hypercalcemia , renal failure , neuropathy and amyloidosis . most patients die of mm or its complications with a median survival ranging from 15 months ( for patients who do not respond to chemotherapy ) up to 48 months among responders ( bergsagel , 1990 ). about 60 - 90 % of the patients with mm suffer from anemia , which adversely affects their quality of life ( kyle , 1975 ; durie and salmon , 1975 ; bergsagel , 1990 ). the anemia occurring in myeloma patients is associated with inadequate endogenous epo production that can be ameliorated by exogenous epo administration , resulting in a significant increase in their hb level and improved quality of life ( spivak , 1994 ; mittelman et al ., 1997 ; miller et al ., 1990 ). the demonstration that inadequate endogenous epo production is among the major factors responsible for cancer - associated anemia ( miller et al ., 1990 ), was the rationale for our phase ii / iii epo - mm clinical trial described in mittelman et al ., 1997 . in this trial , 17 patients with mm and anemia ( hb & lt ; 11 g / dl ), were treated for anemia with rhuepo , 150 u / kg × 3 / week subcutaneously . if no response was observed after 4 weeks the dose was doubled . the study was designed for 12 weeks , although a few responders continued rhuepo for longer periods . as reported and summarized in mittelman et al ., 1997 , the pretreatment endogenous serum epo levels were relatively low in all patients studied with mm - associated anemia , rhuepo was well tolerated in these patients , rhuepo was highly effective in the treatment of anemia in mm , and the response to rhuepo is characterized by an increase in hb levels , a reduction in blood transfusion requirements ( btr ) and an improvement in the who performance status ( ps ) score : out of the 17 patients , 12 ( 70 . 6 %) responded with a significant increase in their hb level , 6 of the 11 patients that were transfusion dependent enjoyed a complete abolition of btr , and 12 patients enjoyed an improved quality of life , interpreted as a lower who ps score . five patients of the clinical trial reported in mittelman et al ., 1997 , continued to receive rhuepo for their anemia for several years . these patients all displayed increased hb and , in general , were “ doing very well ” relative to the severity of their disease ( high tumor mass ). interestingly , the patients continued to exhibit high serum paraprotein levels . based on these clinical observations and on the assumption that , at least in some of the patients , in addition to increasing hb levels , epo might be responsible for changing the biology and course of the disease ( mm ) itself , experiments according to the present invention were thus pursued with a murine model to study the possible non - erythroid or other biological effects of epo on the course and biology of mm . for this purpose , we used the mineral - oil induced plasmacytoma in balb / c mice , designated mopc - 315 tumor , a well - known murine model for the study of clinical and immunological aspects of human mm ( potter and walters , 1973 ). similarly to the human mm cells , the murine mopc - 315 tumor cells synthesize and secrete a monoclonal iga ( λ2 ) immunoglobulin , thereby providing a measurable tumor marker ( serum myeloma component ) during tumor progression . the in vivo effect of rhuepo treatment on the growth of mopc - 315 tumor cells was studied in balb / c mice . as shown in the examples hereinafter , tumor regression was strikingly observed in 30 - 60 % of mice challenged with tumor cells and further treated for a short period with epo , without tumor recurrence throughout a follow - up period of 3 - 7½ months . the event seems to be associated with the development of an effective antitumor immune response . as used herein in the specification , “ regressor mouse ” or “ regressor ” refers to a mouse injected with tumor cells , followed by initial tumor growth and gross disappearance of the tumor cells after epo treatment . “ progressor mouse ” or “ progressor ” refers to a mouse injected with tumor cells , followed by continuous tumor growth irrespective of epo treatment . “ null ” mouse refers to a mouse in which no tumor take is observed after injection of tumor cells . the observations with the mm patients and the mouse myeloma model constitute one specific embodiment but it is encompassed by the present invention the use of a medicament comprising erytropoietin for the treatment of any kind of neoplastic disease , excepting renal cell cancer . as used herein in the specification and the claims , “ erythropoietin ” includes all types of erythropoietin , both natural and recombinant , as well as erythropoietin analogs showing erythropoietin activity , that are suitable for human administration such as the hyperglycosylated analogs and analogs having 1 - 14 sialic acid groups and changes in the amino acid sequence mentioned above . in one preferred embodiment , the erythropoietin is recombinant human erythropoietin ( rhuepo ). any suitable route of administration of epo such as intravenously ( i . v .) or subcutaneously ( s . c . ), can be used according to the invention , but the s . c . route is preferred because of better distribution in the body and a better bioavailability . the epo dose may be within the range of 5 , 000 - 20 , 000 u , preferably 10 , 000 u per injection ( corresponding roughly to 150 u / kg ). the protocol of administration will be determined by the physician according to the type of cancer , the severity of the disease , age and physical condition of the patient and other relevant parameters for each case . for example , in mm patients , a unit dose of about 10 , 000 u can be injected s . c . 3 times a week for about 4 weeks , followed by further therapy , if necessary . it should be noted that , according to the data accumulated from the anemia studies , patients with high response to epo treatment are those with endogenous epo level of less than 200 mu / ml ( endogenous normal epo level : 10 - 25 mu / ml ; endogenous epo level in anemic patients : higher than 100 mu / ml and in the level of hundreds or thousands mu / ml ). the invention will now be illustrated by the following non - limiting examples . rhuepo ( eprex ) was obtained from cilag , schaffhausen , switzerland . the murine tumors plasmacytomas mopc - 315 and mpc - 11 , chronic lymphocytic leukemia ( cll ) bcl1 , lewis lung carcinoma 3ll , mca - 105 fibrosarcoma , k - 1735 melanoma and the hybridomas gk 1 . 5 ( producing anti - cd4 monoclonal antibody ) and 53 - 6 - 7 ( producing anti - cd8 monoclonal antibody ), were purchased form the american type cell culture ( atcc ), rockville , md ., usa . the c - 26 colon carcinoma and m - 109 lung carcinoma were kindly provided by prof . e . kedar ( hebrew university , jerusalem , israel ), and 107 - 202 breast adenocarcinoma , 38c - 13 pre b cell leukemia , 127c lymphosarcoma , and 17a - 443 acute myeloid leukemia were established in our laboratory . the mouse myeloma mopc - 315 was maintained in vivo by serial i . m inoculation into syngeneic female balb / c mice aged 8 weeks . balb / c mice were injected subcutaneously ( s . c .) with 10 4 cells in the abdominal area . local tumor growth ( 2 - 5 mm diameter ) was observed by day 11 - 13 , gradually growing in size and causing death in 90 - 100 % of mice by day 40 - 50 . subcutaneous rhuepo treatment was started when a tiny palpable tumor appeared at the site of injection . each mouse was numbered and the tumor growth rate of the individual mice ( its diameter in mm ) was measured by a vernier caliper . a follow - up of tumor size in individual mice was carried out every fifth day during epo administration ( lasting usually 4 weeks ). sera from mice were diluted ( 1 : 1 ) in nacl 0 . 9 % and 2 μl of the diluted sera were resolved by 10 % sds - polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis . protein bands were detected by coomassie blue staining ( 0 . 05 % v / v coomassie brilliant blue r - 250 ( bio - rad ) in 10 % acetic acid , 50 % methanol followed by destaining in 10 % acetic acid , 20 % methanol ). western blot analysis was performed as previously described ( neumann et al ., 1993 ). 2 μl of sera diluted 1 : 1 in 0 . 9 % nacl , were resolved on 10 % sds - page . mopc - 315 immunoglobulin ( 20 μg ) was loaded as a positive control . the gel was blotted onto nitrocellulose membrane filter , and probed with rabbit antibodies against mouse immunoglobulin λ light chain . subsequently the blots were incubated with secondary antibody ( donkey anti - rabbit igg ) coupled to horseradish peroxidase ( hrp ), and the bands were visualized using enhanced chemiluminescence ( ecl ) according to the manufacturer &# 39 ; s instructions . in the study described in mittelman et al ., 1997 , seventeen ( 17 ) patients with mm and anemia ( hb & lt ; 11 g / dl ) were enrolled in an open - label non - comparative study to test the serum epo levels in anemic patients with mm , as well as to evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of rhuepo in the treatment of anemia in these patients . the median age of the patients was 70 years ( range 44 - 88 ), six were males and 11 females . all patients had stage ii / iii disease . fifteen patients were on chemotherapy during the study period , 3 on the vincristine - adriamycin - dexamethasone ( vad ) regimen and the remaining on oral melphalan and prednisone ( mp ) regimen . the median pretreatment endogenous serum epo level was 150 mu / ml ( range 11 - 232 ). the serum epo level was assayed as described in mittelman et al ., 1997 . patients received subcutaneous injections of rhuepo , 150 u / kg 3 times a week , on an outpatient basis . if no response was observed after 4 weeks , the dose was doubled . oral iron ( slow - fe , 160 mg exsiccated ferrous sulfate , ciba - geigy , basel , switzerland ) was added . therapy with rhuepo was designed for 12 weeks , although 6 patients proceeded with rhuepo treatment following the study termination . rising of hb levels beyond 14 g / dl during the study required a dose modification . complete response was defined as an increase ( from baseline ) of the hb level ( at week 12 ) by & gt ; 2 g / dl , and / or complete abolishing of blood transfusion requirements ( btr ). partial response was defined as an increase of 1 - 2 g / dl in the hb level and / or 50 % reduction of btr . twelve patients ( 70 . 6 %) achieved complete response and another patient ( 5 . 9 %) showed partial response , which together gave a total response rate of 76 . 5 %, based on intention - to - treat basis . the median hb level rose from 9 . 4 g / dl ( range 7 . 3 - 10 . 7 ) at study commencement to 12 . 5 g / dl ( 9 . 0 - 15 . 2 ) at week 12 ( for those who completed the study ). six patients continued rhuepo treatment beyond the designed 12 - week study period for 14 - 85 weeks and continued to maintain normal or near - normal hb levels and to enjoy a good quality of life at a maintenance dose which is lower ( 15 - 50 %) than the initial dose required to obtain a response . according to the present invention , four of the patients of the above study , ( y . s ., o . g ., l . b . and t . s ) and a new patient ( m . b .) continued to receive rhuepo for several years . these patients all displayed increased hb and in general were “ doing very well ”, relative to the severity of their disease . the characteristics of the 5 patients are summarized in table 1 . these observations seemed to indicate that , at least in some patients , in addition to increasing hb , epo may change the biology and course of the disease . we thus assumed that the improved quality of life was not related only to the correction of the anemia . since the common agent received by all 5 patients was epo , and this in fact was the only therapy during most of the time of the follow - up reported here , we assumed that epo , if administered at a certain dose for the appropriate period of time , may change the biology and course of the disease and lead to a longer survival , more than one would expect based on clinical criteria and considering the poor prognostic features of all these patients . the bone marrow plasma cells and especially the m - proteins , reflecting tumor mass , did not disappear in these patients , yet the course of the disease appeared to be stabilized , “ frozen ” or become latent and asymptomatic .  total vs only : the total duration of rhuepo administration ( including periods when the patients received other treatment modalities for mm ) as opposed to the duration the patient received rhuepo as the only therapy . the + sign indicates that the patient was still on rhuepo while summarizing these data ( april 1999 ). patients og and lb have been on pamidronate too from mid 1998 .  abbreviations : lc — light chain ; l — lambda ; k — kappa ; rf — renal failure ; chf — congestive heart failure ; mp — melphalan + prednisone ; vmcp — vincristine + melphalan + cyclophosphamide + prednisone ; vbap — vinblastine + bcnu + adriamycin + prednisone ; vad — vincristine + adriamycin + dexamethasone ; hdc — high dose cyclophosphamide ; rt — radiation therapy based on these clinical observations , we then pursued with a murine model in an attempt to study possible non - erythroid or other biological effects of epo on the course and biology of mm . rhuepo administration to mice challenged with mopc - 315 tumor cells induces tumor regression mice challenged with a syngeneic progressive growing myeloma ( 10 4 cells s . c .) were treated with rhuepo by systemic administration . tumor growth over the period of 2 - 2 . 5 weeks was similar in all mice and was followed by a decrease in tumor size in some epo - treated mice culminating in a permanent and complete tumor regression in 30 - 60 % of treated mice ( compared to 0 - 10 % in controls ). effects of different epo regimens were tested . the results of four different representative experiments are summarized in table 2 . in experiment i , epo treatment ( 30 u , injected s . c .) started 11 days following tumor cell challenge . mice received daily injections for 5 days and , after 6 days interruption , further injections 3 times a week for 3 weeks . most of the tumor - injected mice which did not receive epo had died . this epo treatment yielded 30 % tumor regression and slightly prolonged the survival of the epo - treated mice . in experiments ii and iii , the initial epo treatment ( its onset 13 or 11 days post s . c . tumor cell injection ) was prolonged to 10 consecutive days followed by 3 weekly injections for another 2 weeks . in experiment ii , the effect of two doses of epo ( 30 u or 100 u per injection ) were tested . the incidence of tumor progression in mice injected with the high dose of epo ( 100 u ) was similar to that observed in the control group ( 14 % and 10 %, respectively ). in contrast , in mice created with the lower dose of epo ( 30 u per injection ), tumor regression was observed in 60 % of mice . in exp . iii tumor regression was observed in 40 % of mice treated with 30 u epo . this tumor regression was fully established at the time epo treatment was terminated . since then , no tumor recurrence in the regressor mice was observed throughout the follow - up period ( 7½ months in exp . ii and 3 - 4 months in exps . iii and iv ) despite of being off epo . it should be pointed out that spontaneous tumor regression in the control groups was usually between 0 - 10 %. in exp . iv various regimens were tested ( 10 , 20 or 30 u per injection and 3 weekly injections for 4 weeks in comparison to 10 daily injections followed by additional 3 times weekly injections for 2 weeks ). significant tumor regression ( 50 %) was observed only when the treatment schedule of exp . ii and iii ( 30 u per injection ) was followed . the same dose administered 3 times a week for 4 weeks was less effective ( only 18 % regression versus 9 % spontaneous regression in the control group ). the administration of lower epo doses ( 10 u , 20 u ) failed to interfere with tumor progression irrespective to time schedules of treatment . epo treatment had no effect on the rate of tumor progression in these mice that did not respond to epo treatment . it can thus be summarized that the optimal rhuepo treatment corresponds to exp . ii which involved daily subcutaneous injections of 30 u for 10 consecutive days followed by 3 times a week injections of the same dose for 2 additional weeks . complete tumor regression was observed upon termination of epo treatment and no myeloma relapse was observed during a follow - up period of 7½ months . tumor progression in mice not responsive to epo treatment ( culminating in their death ) was also observed at the same time or shortly after termination of epo treatment ( no decreased tumor growth rate was observed in these mice ). the dynamics of tumor growth in progressors and regressors in individual mice in the experiments ii , iii and iv is described in fig1 - 3 , respectively . usually up to six days from epo administration ( 17 - 18 days since tumor cell challenge ) no variations in tumor growth rates among progressors or regressors were observed . by 12 - 15 days , tumor size clearly drops in mice responding to epo treatment , leading to final tumor regression , while in non - responders tumor size increases culminating in the death of the mice . fig4 shows the difference in the appearance of regressors ( a ) and progressors ( b ): tumor growth is clearly seen in b . myeloma is characterized by a clonal proliferation of bone marrow plasma cells secreting a paraprotein which can be detected in the serum , thereby serving as a tumor cell marker . the mouse myeloma mopc - 315 cells synthesize and secrete immunoglobulin iga with λ2 light chain and an α heavy chain . serum paraproteins in myeloma regressor and progressor mice and control mice were detected using coomassie brilliant blue staining of serum proteins resolved by sds - polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis . sera from myeloma regressor or progressor mice were collected after termination of epo treatment in comparison to sera from normal balb / c mice or balb / c mice treated with epo without previous tumor cell challenge . in the sera of both progressor and regressor mice a distinctive 27 kd band was observed ( much fainter in sera of control healthy mice ). we then analyzed sera of 40 mice injected with 10 4 mopc - 315 cells s . c . and after 12 days treated with either epo or epo diluting solution only . individual marked mice were bled twice ( from the orbital vein )— 17 days after tumor cell challenge , during the ongoing epo treatment and 2 weeks later , towards termination of epo treatment . at that stage we could clearly define regressor mice responsive to epo treatment versus non - responsive progressor mice and also some “ null ” mice — where tumor takes were not observed from start . sera from myeloma - bearing mice that did not receive further epo treatment ( including also few “ spontaneous ” regressors ) and sera from control mice were also included in this survey ( fig5 ). seventeen days after myeloma challenge we observed in all sera tested a prominent 27 kd band which was barely detected in sera of control mice that were not challenged with tumor cells . the deviation to progressors and regressors following epo treatment did not affect the presence of the 27 kd band in the sera . thus , the 27 kd band correlated only with the initial tumor cell injection into balb / c mice and not with disease severity . even in the serum of “ null ” mice the 27 kd protein band was observed . fig5 represents the profile of serum proteins in epo regressors ( lanes 1 - 2 ), epo progressors ( lanes 3 - 4 ), progressors in controls ( without epo treatment , lanes 5 - 6 ), a “ null ” mouse ( lane 7 ), a non - injected balb / c control mouse ( lane 8 ) and a balb / c mouse injected only with epo ( no myeloma cells , lane 9 ). we also tested sera from epo - treated regressor mice 2 , 4 and 7 months after tumor regression , throughout this period no signs of tumor relapse were observed and the mice looked grossly normal . tests of representative sera samples of these mice are illustrated in fig6 . all sera displayed the 27 kd protein , thereby suggesting the presence of “ dormant ” tumor cells in the myeloma regressor mice that continue to produce and secrete paraproteins . malignant cell arrest in different organs ( including spleen ) of mice bearing subcutaneous transplanted tumors including mopc - 315 was demonstrated years ago in the laboratory of one of the present inventors ( haran - ghera et al ., 1981 ). sequestration of tumor cells derived from the transplanted tumor was indicated already within 3 to 7 days after tumor graft , shortly before or after early palpable outgrowth of the primary tumor was observed . we therefore assumed that spleens from the regressor mice might be carriers of dormant mopc - 315 tumor cells . to test this possibility according to the present invention , we splenectomized regressor mice ( 4½ months after myeloma cell challenge ) and transplanted spleen cell suspension or whole spleens into syngeneic recipients . spleen suspensions from 7 individual regressors were prepared — half spleen cell suspension was injected i . v . into normal syngeneic balb / c mice and the other half into irradiated balb / c mice ( 2 hr following their exposure to 400r whole body irradiation ). fifty and 75 days after spleen - cell transfer , 2 / 7 irradiated spleen cell recipient mice developed tumors and no tumors were observed in the normal recipients . the regressor spleen donors looked grossly normal 7½ months after the initial myeloma cell challenge . sera analysis of spleen cell recipients revealed presence of the 27 kd protein in all spleen cell recipients ( see fig7 ). in another experiment , whole spleens removed from 8 regressor mice were transplanted s . c . into normal recipients . 3 / 8 grafted spleens developed local tumors at the site of transplantation . these spleen recipients were bled 10 days and 3 weeks after spleen grafts and their sera were shown to be positive for the 27 kd protein band ( fig7 ). the 27 kd band which characteristically appears in sera of mice injected with mopc - 315 , probably represents the λ light chain of the iga immunoglobulin secreted by mopc - 315 myeloma cells . to confirm this identification , sera from 2 regressor epo - treated mice ( fig8 lanes 3 , 4 ), from a mouse grafted with a spleen from a regressor mouse and bled 10 days after grafting ( lane 1 ) and 3 weeks after grafting ( lane 2 ) ( both bleedings from the same mouse ), sera from control non - injected healthy mice ( lanes 5 , 6 ) and control iga secreted from mopc - 315 cells ( lane 7 ) were resolved in 10 % sds - page , and the gel was subsequently immunoblotted with anti - λ immunoglobulin light chain antibodies . as can be seen in fig8 shortly ( 10 days ) after grafting a healthy mouse with a spleen from a donor regressor mouse , the 27 kd band reacted with the anti - λ light chain antibodies ( lane 1 ) and the signal was more intense ( approximately 2 fold ) than that observed in the sera of control mice ( lanes 5 and 6 ). a significantly more intense 27 kd band was observed in the serum of this mouse 2 weeks later ( lane 2 ), indicating that the myeloma cells had proliferated and the amount of secreted iga increased ( similar levels to those in sera of epo - treated regressor mice ( lanes 3 - 4 ). the 27 kd band migrated similarly to the corresponding band observed in the lane of the control antibody from mopc - 315 iga ( lane 7 ), unequivocally establishing it as the immunoglobulin λ light chain . thus , according to these results , identification of paraproteins in sera of myeloma - bearing mice was found to be associated with the presence of tumor cells in these mice . a 27 kd protein band was observed in all mice challenged with myeloma cells irrespective to whether these cells ultimately progressed to lethality or regressed permanently . the 27 kd protein band was shown by western blot analysis with anti - λ immunoglobulin light chain antibodies to unequivocally correspond to the immunoglobulin λ light chain . the presence of “ dormant ” tumor cells in spleens of regressor mice was demonstrated by transplantation studies . paraproteinemia in sera of all spleen - cell recipients and the emerging of few tumors developing in spleen recipients clearly indicate that the course of the disease following epo treatment is under proliferation arrest ( in a “ dormant state ”). hb levels were measured in normal control mice as well as in myeloma - bearing mice with or without epo treatment , deviating into regressor and progressor mice ( fig9 ). hb level in normal balb / c mice ranged between 12 . 7 - 15 . 3 g / dl ( mean 13 . 6 ). normal mice treated with epo showed elevated hb levels ( 19 . 8 - 21 . 7 g / dl , mean 20 . 9 ). among regressors treated with epo , 7 / 9 mice tested showed elevated levels ranging from 17 - 21 . 5 g / dl ( mean 18 . 4 ), and 2 / 9 had lower levels , close to normal values ( 13 . 8 and 14 . 5 ). hb levels in 2 spontaneous regressors ( myeloma - bearing mice injected with diluent ) were 16 . 2 and 16 . 4 g / dl . in progressor mice treated with epo , in 9 / 11 tested blood samples ( taken from mice carrying a large tumor mass ) hb levels ranged from 11 . 5 - 13 . 4 g / dl ( mean 12 . 6 ) whereas in 2 / 11 progressors that carried a small tumor load the levels were 16 . 3 and 16 . 7 g / dl . in 2 progressors treated only with diluent the hb levels were 12 . 5 and 13 . 4 g / dl . thus , the response of mice to epo treatment is similar to that observed in humans . epo increases hb levels in normal mice . tumor regression following epo treatment is also associated with elevated hb , whereas in epo - treated myeloma progressors hb levels remain low . regressor mice resist rechallenge with second tumor of the same type the experiments described in examples 2 - 4 above indicate that administration of epo to tumor - bearing mice triggers immune responses that affect tumor regression . anti - tumor immune responses seem to contribute to tumor regression and maintenance of tumor dormancy . regressor mice ( being in this state for several months ) were rechallenged s . c . with 10 4 mopc - 315 cells and resisted this second tumor cell challenge in contrast to normal control mice that developed 100 % tumor takes 10 - 14 days after challenge ( not shown ). the specificity of this immunological triggered resistance was further demonstrated by challenging regressor mice bilaterally : on the left ventral surface with mopc - 315 cells , and on the right ventral surface with tumor cells from an unrelated myeloma ( mpc - 11 , induced in balb / c mice as described in materials and methods for mopc - 315 ). both tumors grew progressively in control balb / c mice . in contrast , the mopc - 315 growth was rejected in 7 / 7 regressor mice whereas mpc - 11 grew progressively in these same hosts . fig1 shows a control mouse bearing both mopc - 315 and mpc - 11 myeloma tumors ( left ) and a regressor mouse carrying only myeloma mpc - 11 tumor on the right ventral surface ( right ). these results indicate that treatment with epo promotes the development of an effective anti - tumor immune response and suggest that tumor regression induced by epo renders these mice resistant to growth of a second myeloma cell challenge of the same type , thereby suggesting the built - up of an anti - tumor immune response responsible for tumor rejection . further experiments were carried out with scid mice that are immunologically impaired ( both cell - mediated and humoral immune responses ) and with nude mice ( cell - mediated impaired immune response ), and both were found to be non - responders to epo treatment following 10 4 mopc - 315 cell challenge . in both the epo and control group , all scid and nude mice died at the same time , within 24 - 26 days post - tumor cell challenge ( fig1 - 12 ). in the control group ( normal balb / c mice ) epo treatment resulted in 30 - 40 % tumor regression . tumor regression in epo - treated tumor - bearing mice is mediated by ; cd8 + t - effector cells to further elucidate the phenotype of tumor - specific effector cells , we tested whether depletion of cd4 + or cd8 + t cells would abrogate the ability of mice to respond to epo treatment following tumor cell challenge . in mice treated with antibodies to cd8 30 cells , thereby eradicating all cd8 + cells , no response to epo treatment was observed and tumor growth was actually enhanced ( not shown ). in mice treated with antibodies to cd4 + cells , thereby eradicating all cd4 + cells , less eradication of epo treatment on tumor regression was observed . in the control group , epo treatment caused tumor regression in 50 % of the treated mice ( fig1 ). these data indicate that epo treatment of tumor - bearing mice promotes the generation of thy - 1 30 cd8 + t - effector cells that play a pivotal role in tumor regression in vivo in mice challenged with mopc - 315 myeloma tumor cells and further treated with epo . the following tumor cells can be injected in mice according to the protocol described in materials and methods for myeloma mopc - 315 : breast tumor using 107 - 202 adenocarcinoma cells , colon tumor using c - 26 colon carcinoma cells , lung tumor using m - 109 or 3ll lung carcinoma cells , chronic lymphocytic leukemia ( cll ) using bcl1 , melanoma k - 1735 , mca - 105 fibrosarcoma , 38c - 13 pre b cell leukemia , 127 - radlv t - lymphosarcoma , 17a - 443 - acute myeloid leukemia and 17e - 200 b - cell lymphoma . the tumor - bearing mice are then treated with epo as described in the previous examples . 1 ) c57bl / 6 mice were challenged with lung adenocarcinoma 3ll cells , and thereafter treated with epo following the myeloma protocol , namely 10 daily injections of 30 u epo s . c . followed optionally by three weekly injections for additional 4 weeks . as shown in fig1 , a delay was observed in the survival of the 3ll tumor - bearing mice : 50 % of the control mice died 54 days after the initial tumor cell challenge while 50 % of the 3ll tumor - bearing mice treated daily for 10 days with 30 u epo survived 75 days . 2 ) balb / c mice were challenged s . c . with c - 26 colon carcinoma tumor cells . epo administration starting one day following tumor cell challenge prolonged markedly the survival of tumor - bearing mice ( 30 % survived for 100 days compared to 90 % death in the control group at 36 days ). epo administration starting on day 6 following tumor cell challenge actually enhanced tumor growth ( 90 % death at 23 days , as shown in fig1 ). our clinical observation suggests that at least in some myeloma patients epo also induces a longer and more stable course of the disease ( see example 1 , table 1 ). the possible effects of exogenous epo administration on the development of the disease was tested on a murine myeloma model , and showed indeed that mice challenged with a progressively growing myeloma and treated with epo for a relatively limited short period , exhibited complete tumor regression in 30 - 60 % of the treated mice using the optimal dose of epo regimen . compared effects of epo doses ( 5 - 100 u ) on tumor growth rate , using similar injection schedules , revealed that there is a dose threshold : in mice responsive to exogenous epo administration , optimal tumor regression was achieved with a certain regimen ( 30 u daily s . c . injections for at least 10 days , starting epo treatment when a small palpable tumor occurs ). the maintenance of tumor regression was independent on further epo administration . in mice shown to be non - responders to epo treatment , no effect on the progressive tumor growth rate was observed ; thus it appears that epo acts as an “ all or none ” factor . anemia associated with human cancer is at least partially due to a relative deficiency of epo and exogenous epo can correct the anemia . there is a correlation between baseline endogenous serum epo level and the response to rhuepo treatment . responders to epo have usually a low epo level ( below 200 u / l ) in comparison to that of non - responders . thus , serum epo level above 200 u / l is a possible predictor for resistance to epo therapy . similarly , the therapeutical response to epo in mice involves rise in blood hb concentration ( fig9 ). in epo - responsive mice , tumor regression is observed along with increase in hb level , in contrast to unchanged levels of hb in mice unresponsive to epo treatment . myeloma is a well - suited study model , because it contains a continuously available measurable tumor marker with which to examine possible interactions between the basic disease and its associated anemia . in our patients responding to epo treatment , improvement from anemia coincided with a longer and stable course of disease in spite of the presence of serum myeloma paraproteins , indicating a dominantly stable tumor load . similarly , in sera of regressor mice we observed the 27 kd protein band that corresponds to the immunoglobulin λ light chain secreted by myeloma cells despite disappearance of the visible tumor . sequestration of myeloma cells to different organs in the regressor mice , including the spleen , has been demonstrated by transplantation studies . transfer of spleen cells into syngeneic normal or irradiated recipients resulted in myeloma development in some mice ; sera from all the spleen cell recipients contained the 27 kd protein band , thereby indicating the presence of “ dormant ” tumor cells in the myeloma regressor mice that continue to secrete paraproteins . thus , the course of the disease following epo treatment is under proliferation arrest ( in a dormant state ). our observations in the experimental model coincide with similar observations concerning the epo - treated patients ( see table 2 ). the bone marrow plasma cells and especially the myeloma proteins ( reflecting tumor mass ) did not disappear in the epo - treated patients , yet the course of the disease appears to be stabilized , “ frozen ” or become latent and asymptomatic . studies on the biological mechanisms involved in epo - triggered tumor regression according to the present invention suggest that anti - myeloma immunological reactivity is involved in tumor regression and maintenance of tumor dormancy . a series of experiments demonstrated that anti - tumor immune reactivity was associated with epo - induced regression of tumors . regressor mice rechallenged with the same tumor cells ( mopc - 315 ) resisted the growth of this second challenge . thus , memory to the tumor antigen was established in these regressors . the specificity of this immunological triggered resistance was also demonstrated ( fig1 ). the involvement of t cells in epo - triggered tumor regression was indicated by comparing the response of normal , scid or nude mice ( immunologically impaired ) to epo treatment following tumor cell challenge . the efficacy of epo treatment was markedly reduced in the immune impaired mice . both in scid and nude mice there was no response to epo treatment ( fig1 , 12 ). all epo - treated mice developed tumor in comparison to 40 % tumor regression in epo - treated normal control mice . these experiments rule out the possibility that epo has a direct cytotoxic or cytostatic effect since no effect was observed in the above described t - cell depleted mice . further studies concerned with the phenotype of the tumor effector cells indicated that the depletion of cd8 + t cells abolished the curative effect of epo . tumor regression in vivo is mediated by cd8 + effector cells and epo treatment of tumor - bearing mice seems to promote the generation of these effector cells thereby augmenting the generation of effective anti - tumor response . in preliminary tests , we observed an increase in the number of hematopoietic progenitor cells among bone marrow cells of epo - treated regressors as well as marked splenomegaly that might also reflect increase in progenitor cells . we assume that epo in vivo is not restricted to the erythroid lineage but induces a broad spectrum of primitive hematopoietic progenitor cells ( mostly primitive lin − , sca + , kit + and more committed lin − , sca − bone marrow progenitor cells ). thus , epo can be considered as an anti - cancer immune therapeutic agent through the generation of specific anti - tumor immune responses , besides its anti - anemia activity . the animal data as well as the confirmation of the preliminary clinical observation suggest that rhuepo may improve the biological and clinical course of at least some cancer patients . 1 . bergsagel de : plasma cell myeloma . in : hematology , fourth edition , eds : w . j . williams et al . ; mcgraw - hill , n . y ., pp . 1114 - 1141 , 1990 . 3 . durie b g m & amp ; salmon s e . cancer 36 : 842 - 52 , 1975 . 4 . eschbach j w et al . n engl j med 321 : 158 - 63 , 1989 . 6 . henry d h et al . ann intern med 117 : 739 - 48 , 1992 . 8 . lin f k et al . proc natl acad sci usa 82 : 7580 , 1985 . 10 . ludwig h et al . ann oncol 4 : 161 - 7 , 1993 a . 11 . ludwig et al . europ j cancer 29a ( suppl 2 ): s8 - 12 , 1993 b . 12 . miller c b et al . n engl j med 322 : 1689 - 92 , 1990 . 17 . neumann , d . et al . j . biol . chem . 268 : 13639 - 13649 , 1993 . 18 . potter , m . and walters , j . l . j . natl . cancer inst . 51 : 875 - 880 , 1973 . 20 . schreiber s et al . n engl j med 334 : 619 - 23 , 1996 .	0
fig1 shows a coupling system 1 comprising a first coupling part 2 and a second coupling part 3 , where said first coupling part 2 is arranged at an end part of rail 5 and said second coupling part 3 is arranged at an end part of rail 4 . mounting holders 24 connected to the casing 20 of said first coupling part is provided for the mounting of the rail 5 in a fixed position . the casing 20 of said first coupling part 2 is fixed to said rail 5 with bolts 204 , which are mounted onto a fitting ( not shown ) positioned in the top recess 51 of rail 5 the casing 20 furthermore comprises an aligning member 203 in the shape of two spaced protruding arm plates . said first coupling part 2 is shown with the gate member 23 in an open position and with the locking bolt member 21 positioned in said top recess 51 of rail 5 , in a protruding position . the key plate member 22 is arranged pivotally on the casing 20 and is spring loaded by means of two springs 221 , 222 and provided with ball bearings 224 , 225 . the pin member 211 of the locking bolt member 21 is shown guided in recesses ( not shown ) in said key plate member 22 , said casing 20 and in the top part ( not shown ) of said gate member 23 . a sensor 25 is provided for detecting the alignment of said coupling parts 2 , 3 arranged at end parts of said rails 4 , 5 . the casing 30 of said second coupling part 3 is fixed to said rail 4 with bolts 304 , which are mounted onto a fitting ( not shown ) positioned in the top recess 41 of rail 4 . the front part of said casing 30 is in the shape of a double wing part 301 , the front edge being adapted for guiding said ball bearing 224 of said first coupling part 2 along the front edge into a front recess ( not shown ) when said rail 4 is positioned in front of said rail 5 . said second coupling part 3 is shown with the gate member 33 in a closed position where the bottom part 333 prevents the sling ( not shown ) from being moved off said rail 4 . the key plate member 31 is pivotally arranged on the casing 30 and is spring loaded by means of one spring 311 and provided with a ball bearing 313 , which is adapted to interconnect with ball bearing 225 of said first coupling part 2 when said rail 4 is positioned in front of said rail 5 . the key plate member 31 is provided with a recess 312 which is arranged for receiving a part of the locking ball ( not shown ) of the locking arrangement . the gate member 33 furthermore comprises an aligning member 335 in the shape of a protruding arm plate , which is adapted to interlock between said two spaced protruding arm plates of said aligning member 203 , thereby preventing said rail 4 , 5 to move apart even if the locking bolt member 21 is damaged or broken . the springs 235 , 336 are arranged on said casings 20 , 30 ensuring that said gate members 23 , 33 is moved back into closed position , preventing a sling ( not shown ) to be moved off either said rail 4 or said rail 5 when said rail is not aligned and the locking bolt member 21 is pushed outwards in connection with the pivotal movement of said gate members 23 , 33 , due to the displacement of said locking bolt member 21 . it should be noted that the situation shown in fig1 is only shown as an illustration of the possible position of said locking bolt member 21 , as said locking bolt member 21 , when said two rails 4 , 5 are not aligned , is in a drawback position with said tapered end part 214 being positioned inside said top recess 51 of said rail 5 and with said back bridge 213 being moved back against said casing 20 in the side recess 202 . fig2 shows said first coupling part 2 in exploded view , and it is possible to see the recess 223 in key plate member 22 , the recess 201 in casing 20 and the recess 231 in the top part 234 of gate member 23 , wherein said pin ( not shown ) of said locking bolt member ( not shown ) is guided when a displacement of said locking bolt member ( not shown ) occurs . as the spring 221 is connecting said key plate member 22 to said casing 20 and said key plate member 22 is pivotally arranged on said casing 20 , said key plate member 22 will be forced to the side , whereby the stop edge 226 will prevent said pin ( not shown ) from sliding though recess 223 . when said ball bearing 224 is guided along said front edge ( not shown ) of said double wing part ( not shown ) of said second coupling part ( not shown ) and positioned into said front recess ( not shown ) of said double wing part ( not shown ) the pressure on said ball bearing 224 will force said key plate member 22 to rotate , whereby said stop edge 226 will be moved away and said pin ( not shown ) can slide though recess 223 and the underlying recesses 201 , 231 when a displacement of said locking pin ( not shown ) occurs . the key plate member 22 is one of the precautionary measures for preventing the gate member 23 to open at random , because it will only allow a displacement of said locking bolt member ( not shown ), hence opening of gate member 23 , when said rails ( 4 , 5 ) are aligned and the ball bearing 224 is positioned in said front recess ( not shown ) of said double wing part ( not shown ). when said gate member 23 is in closed position said recess 234 in said top part 231 of said gate member 23 is arranged in a skew direction in comparison to the recess 201 of said casing 20 . the forward push of said pin ( not shown ) of said locking bolt member ( not shown ) at recess 234 , when a displacement of said locking bolt member ( not shown ) occurs will force said gate member 23 to move pivotally into an open position thereby allowing a passage through said rail ( not shown ). the side recess 202 of said casing 20 is provided for allowing said bridges ( not shown ) of said locking bolt member ( not shown ) to slide back and forth . fig3 shows said second coupling part 3 in exploded view , in a rear view and a front view . the gate member 33 is provided with a pin 334 which is adapted to interlock with the recesses ( not shown ) of said tapered end part ( not shown ) of said locking bolt member ( not shown ) when a displacement of said locking bolt member ( not shown ) occurs . since said pin 334 is rigidly connected to said gate member 33 a displacement of said locking bolt member will ( not shown ) cause said gate member 33 to move into an open position . as the spring 311 is connecting said key plate member 31 to said casing 30 and said key plate member 31 is pivotally arranged on said casing 30 , said key plate member 31 will be forced into a first position . said casing 30 is provided with a recess 303 , wherein a locking ball 32 is positioned , and said recess 303 has a diameter which is larger than the outer diameter of said locking ball 32 , allowing said locking ball 32 to move freely through said recess 303 . when said gate member 33 is in a closed position , said recess 303 will be positioned in alignment and above a recess ( not shown ) in said gate member 33 , and said recess ( not shown ) in said gate member 33 has a diameter which is smaller than the outer diameter of said locking ball 32 , preventing said locking ball 32 from sliding through said recess ( not shown ) in said gate member 33 . a part of said locking ball 32 will protrude into said recess ( not shown ) in said gate member 33 and maintain said gate member 33 in a fixed position . when said first coupling part ( not shown ) and said second coupling part 3 are aligned said ball bearing ( not shown ) on said first coupling part ( not shown ) will be positioned in contact and provide a pressure on said ball bearing 313 , whereby said key plate member 31 is moved pivotally and the recess 312 will be positioned in alignment and above said recess ( not shown ) in gate member 33 and said recess 303 in said casing 30 . said recess 312 has a diameter which is smaller than the outer diameter of said locking ball 32 , preventing said locking ball 32 from sliding through said recess 312 . due to the alignment of said recess 312 , said recess 303 and said recess ( not shown ) in said gate member , it is possible to move said gate member 33 pivotally , because said locking ball is pushed up from the said recess ( not shown ) in said gate member 33 into recess 312 , thereby locking said key plate member 31 in a fixed position and releasing said gate member 33 . the key plate member 31 is one of the precautionary measures for preventing said gate member 33 to open at random , only allowing an opening of said gate member 33 , when the ball bearing 313 is activated by an opposite ball bearing ( not shown ) forcing said key plate member 31 into a pivotal movement , whereby said recess 312 is positioned in alignment and above recess 303 , and the said locking ball 32 is pushed upwards due to the pivotal movement of said gate member 33 . the gate member 33 is provided with an aligning member 335 which is adapted to interlock with the aligning member ( not shown ) on the opposite coupling part ( not shown ). fig4 shows locking bolt 21 with a tapered end part 214 , which is provided with an axially forwardly open recess 215 for receiving the pin projecting ( not shown ) from said gate member ( not shown ) of said second coupling part ( not shown ), and said open recess 215 has a transverse extension 216 for locking said pin ( not shown ) preventing said locking bolt member 21 from being retracted while the gate members ( not shown ) are in an open position . a projecting pin member 211 is adapted to engage to said pivotal gate member ( not shown ) of said first coupling part ( not shown ) is provided at a distance behind said tapered end part 214 . bridge members 212 , 213 are provided at opposite end of said recess 215 , and adapted for engaging said side recess ( not shown ) in said casing ( not shown ) of said first coupling part ( not shown ). the distance between said bridge members 212 , 213 allows for the arranging of means for displacement of said bolt member 21 .	8
illustrative principles of the invention provide techniques for placement of a metal level , referred to herein as tuning metal , above a planar spiral inductor in order to lower the value of the inductance of the planar spiral inductor . it is to be understood that such tuning metal may be integrated as part of the typical wiring common to any integrated circuit . furthermore , while illustrative principles are described for tuning a planar spiral inductor , principles of the invention contemplate tuning electrical components other than inductors . in addition , while illustrative principles are described for placing the tuning metal above the inductor , principles of the invention contemplate placing the tuning metal in other positions or orientations proximate to the inductor . by way of example , the tuning metal can be located below the inductor so long as a mechanism is available to adjust the tuning metal in its position below the inductor . selection of the position or orientation of the tuning metal in the proximity of the inductor is determined by how the eddy currents in the metal act to oppose the magnetic flux of the inductor . thus , the actual pattern of the tuning metal and its proximity to the inductor are selected based on how much adjustment the actual design and / or manufacturing results require . still further , while the tuning layer is referred to herein as being formed from a metal ( e . g ., aluminum , cooper ), it is to be understood that the layer can be formed from other conductive materials that support eddy currents and thus effect the inductor in a similar manner , e . g ., the conductive layer may be formed from polysilicon or metal - silicide . the effect of adding a metal plate above an inductor has been shown in the above - referenced h . sugawara et al ., “ high - q variable inductor using redistributed layers for si rf circuits ,” 2004 topical meeting on silicon monolithic integrated circuits in rf systems ,” pp . 187 - 190 , atlanta , 2004 . recall fig1 , which illustrates the h . sugawara et al . technique , shows how a metal plate is moved above an inductor by micromechanical action such that the inductance is lowered as the plate overlaps a larger portion of the inductor . the eddy currents in the metal plate act to oppose the magnetic flux of the inductor , thus reducing its inductance . also , it is to be noted that if the metal of the plate is of low resistance , the q -, or quality - factor , of the inductor is not affected very much by the presence of the plate . however , as mentioned above , one significant drawback with such . technique is that it relies on a complex feedback adjustment , i . e ., micromechanical actuation . illustrative principles of the invention rely on the use of eddy currents to lower the inductance . however , illustrative principles of the invention advantageously employ one of several methods to reduce the amount of metal ( i . e ., metal deletion ) which support eddy currents , to adjust the inductance to the desired target . fig2 a illustrates a technique for placement of a patterned tuning metal above a planar spiral inductor to reduce the inductance value of the planar spiral inductor , according to an embodiment of the invention . more particularly , fig2 a depicts planar spiral inductor 20 having metal level ( tuning metal ) 22 positioned above it . tuning metal 22 , which forms a conductive layer ( i . e ., a layer that conducts eddy currents ), includes a pattern formed via a plurality of concentric metal loops . in this example , tuning metal 22 includes three concentrically - positioned loops 22 - 1 , 22 - 2 and 22 - 3 . note that in this illustrative embodiment each octagonally - shaped loop is not electrically connected to any other loop , which may be accomplished via the non - conductive material ( e . g ., silicon dioxide ) that the loops are formed in . however , it is to be understood that other metal patterns may be used which utilize the same or similar technique . that is , in an alternative embodiment , portions of the conductive layer could be electrically connected via removable conductive tabs , as will be explained below . accordingly , the conductive layer 22 may take any shape which supports magnetic field induced currents . note also that reference numeral 23 denotes an integrated circuit within which inductor 20 and tuning metal 22 ( along with other electrical components not expressly shown ) are formed . in accordance with illustrative principles of the invention , a change in inductance is achieved in planar spiral inductor 20 by changing the amount of tuning metal in which eddy currents can flow . in the embodiment shown , this is accomplished by selecting the number of loops ( 22 - 1 through 22 - 3 ) that carry such eddy currents . using a tuned oscillator as an example , at the time of test , the oscillator frequency is measured in a conventional manner . if the frequency is above the target value , the number of loops to be removed is computed . the tuning metal is reduced to the indicated number of loops by removing a portion of the metal in part of a loop that is not to be used . this is illustrated in fig2 b . as shown , a metal region is removed from loop 22 - 1 such that an opening 24 is created . an incomplete loop ( caused by the opening 24 ) can not contain eddy currents , and thus the effective inductance of planar spiral inductor 20 is increased by this step . the loops can be can be interrupted at test time , for example by laser ablation , or removed in a batch etching step , following application of photo - resist with customized , chip - by - chip openings . in the case of designing a circuit for use in several frequency bands , the number of tuning metal loops may be selected by an appropriate lithography mask selection during the fabrication process . while it is to be understood that criteria such as the size ( thickness , length , etc .) and shape of the tuning metal , and height above and overlap with respect to the inductor , are dependent on the particular design application , by way of one example only , a typical planar inductor might occupy a space of 50 × 50 microns and the tuning metal might be placed 2 to 4 microns above the planar inductor , covering up to about 50 % of the area of the planar inductor before deleting sections . accordingly , illustrative principles of the invention achieve a change in inductance by changing the amount of tuning metal ( conductive layer ) in which eddy currents can flow . this adjustment can be made during manufacturing test , and becomes permanent , eliminating complex feedback adjustments such as micromechanical actuation or active fet control . also , the presence or absence of tuning metal will not greatly affect the q of the inductor since the resistance of the tuning metal is low , resulting in only small resistive losses . furthermore , illustrative principles of the invention also allow for an adjustment of the value of the inductance of an oscillator to be adjusted , as a final custom processing step , after the initial test , to compensate for offsets of the varactor values , or to tune the oscillator to operate in one of several possible frequency bands . in this manner , a single inductor design can be used , and adjustments of the inductance needed for the particular circuit do not require new physical designs . no resistive elements , such as switchable links , which may degrade electrical characteristics are introduced in the inductor . although illustrative embodiments of the present invention have been described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings , it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to those precise embodiments , and that various other changes and modifications may be made by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention .	7
the following is a description of the preferred embodiments of an overtemperature and mechanical damage sensing wire and apparatus providing a response to an unsafe condition of the wire . [ 0035 ] fig1 is a partial cutaway perspective drawing of a fault sensing wire 100 comprising a conductor 101 surrounded by insulation 103 . conductor 101 may be any electrical conductor used to conduct electrical current , either direct current , alternating current , or pulsed current . in the preferred embodiment , conductor 101 is a metallic conductor , either solid , stranded or braided . in other embodiments , conductor 101 is a conductive polymer . insulation 103 is an insulator material having a high d . c . resistance and good dielectric strength . in the preferred embodiment , insulation 103 may be an elastomer , thermoplastic or thermosetting plastic . in the preferred embodiment , insulation 103 is applied by extrusion in a die when conductor 101 is passed through the die . sensor strips 105 are electrically conductive strips disposed in insulation 103 between conductor 101 and outside surface 107 . in the preferred embodiment , the sensor strip material has a positive temperature coefficient of resistivity ( ptc ) which has a relatively low value at operating temperatures and a relatively high value at temperatures which may result in failure of the insulation of the wire , or temperatures which are likely to cause a fire . certain conductive polymers exhibit such properties and may include both intrinsically conductive polymers and filled polymers . filled polymers may include thermoplastic and thermoset polymers , copolymers , elastomers and natural or synthetic rubbers . electrically conducting fillers may include metal particles or fibers such as stainless steel , aluminum , nickel , copper , and silver . carbon based fillers may also be used . several polymers and fillers may be combined to optimize the conductivity and “ switching effect ” of the sensor . in addition to an increasing ptc with temperature , some of these materials also exhibit mechanical properties which are advantageous to use as distributed temperature sensors in wire . theses properties include good flexibility , high elongation , and good cracking resistance . some of these materials are extrudable and some are co - extrudable with common insulation polymers such as low and high density polyethylene and polyvinyl chloride . some of these materials may be used in injection molding , or in co - molding with common polymers used in wire insulation , receptacles and plugs . still other conductive polymers may be applied as hot melts , coatings , or inks . the temperature - impedance relationship provided by these materials provide additional features as discussed in additional embodiments of the present invention . sensor strips 105 of fig1 are spaced radially about conductor 101 with the longitudinal axis of sensor strips 105 generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of conductor 101 . in the preferred embodiment , a sufficient quantity of sensor strips 105 are spaced radially about conductor 101 so that mechanical damage such as cutting or fraying of a relatively small portion of insulation 103 between outside surface 107 and conductor 101 will result in sufficient damage of a sensor strip 105 to electrically open the strip before external contact is made with conductor 101 . in one embodiment , sensor strips 105 are connected by shunts 109 at end 111 and shunts 201 at end 113 ( fig2 ) to form an extended series - connected sensor strip . terminals 203 a and 203 b form the connection points for the beginning and the end of the series - connected loop of sensor strips 105 . in this manner , an open in any sensor strip 105 results in an open as measured at terminals 203 a and 203 b . an increase in impedance of any sensor strip 105 due to an increase in temperature of the strip will also be indicated by an increase in impedance at terminals 203 a and 203 b . terminal wire 205 a provides a connection to terminal 203 a and terminal wire 205 b provides a connection to terminal 203 b . shunts 109 and 201 may be metallic conductors , conductive polymers , adhesives , or other conductors providing a current path between the ends of selected sensor strips . terminal wires 205 a and 205 b provide connections to sensor circuitry discussed in following figures . sensor strips 105 of fig1 perform the function of a temperature responsive element and mechanical damage sensing element . in an alternative embodiment , one or more sensor strips 105 may be replaced by a conductive strip which acts only as a mechanical damage responsive element . the purpose of such as element would be mechanical damage sensing as described above only . the temperature coefficient of resistivity would be of no importance as long as the magnitude remained small throughout the temperature range as compared with sensor strips 105 which act as both temperature responsive elements and mechanical damage responsive elements . a plurality of strips disposed as strips 105 of fig1 would be required to perform a practical mechanical damage sensing function . for example , a single element or strip would detect mechanical damage from only a single radial portion of the wire insulation . multiple strips would detect mechanical damage of multiple radial portions of the wire cross section . the intent of the strips is to produce an open circuit if the insulation becomes cracked or separated , or alternatively , if an exterior object cuts , frays , or abrades the wire insulation before the external object contacts the conductor . the more mechanical damage responsive elements used , the greater the effectiveness of the mechanical damage sensing function provided by the strips . at least two longitudinal strips are used as mechanical damage responsive elements for the configuration of fig1 and in the preferred embodiments , at least four longitudinal strips are used . in the preferred embodiments , the strip diameter ( or longest cross sectional dimension ) is small compared to the insulation thickness . in the preferred embodiments , the strip diameter is less than 25 % of the insulation thickness between the conductor and the closest outside surface . [ 0044 ] fig3 is an alternative embodiment of a fault sensing wire 300 protected by sensor strip 301 . sensor strip 301 is a conductive polymer strip as described above , disposed in a helical relationship in insulation 303 about conductor 305 of wire 300 . positioned in this manner , mechanical abrasion , cutting or fraying of outside surface 307 of wire 300 will result in opening of sensor strip 301 before conductor 305 is exposed . terminal wires 309 a and 309 b provide connections to sensor circuitry . connector 311 a , connecting sensor strip 301 to terminal wire 309 a may be a conductive polymer , conductive adhesive , or conductive hot melt adhesive . in another embodiment , terminal wire 309 a may simply be an extension of sensor strip 301 . sensor strip 301 may combine the functions of a temperature responsive element and a mechanical damage responsive element as described above , or separate elements may be used . for example , a mechanical damage responsive element of a metallic material may be wrapped in a helical pattern in insulation 303 ( similar to the configuration of sensor strip 301 ). a temperature responsive element made of a conductive polymer material with a temperature coefficient of resistivity which increases with temperature and in the configuration of sensor strip 105 of fig1 may be disposed in insulation 303 , inside the mechanical damage responsive element and parallel to conductor 305 . in the preferred embodiments , sensor strips such as sensor strips 105 of fig1 are co - extruded together with the insulation in a die as the wire is drawn through the die . nozzles in the die deposit strips 105 as the insulation is extruded in the die . sensor strip 301 of wire 300 may be co - extruded in a similar manner by rotating the die , nozzles of the die , or the conductor itself during the extrusion of insulation 303 . in other embodiments , sensor strip 301 may be wrapped around an insulated conductor , and an insulating jacket applied over sensor strip ( not shown ). still other configurations of fault sensing wire are shown in u . s . pat . no . 5 , 541 , 803 and u . s . application ser . no . 08 / 826 , 780 . [ 0047 ] fig4 is a block diagram of a fault sensing wire 401 of the present invention connected to a control unit 402 comprising impedance measuring circuit 403 and at least one output unit 405 . output unit 405 provides a control signal that results in a warning or protection action resulting from an unsafe condition of wire 401 . in the preferred embodiment , wire 401 comprises a sensor strip 407 disposed in insulation 409 between conductor 411 and outside surface 413 so that mechanical damage to insulation 409 results in opening of sensor strip 407 before conductor 411 is exposed to objects or medium external to outside surface 413 . either an open circuit in sensor strip 407 , or a high impedance of sensor strip 407 resulting from high temperature of sensor strip 407 is sensed by impedance measuring circuit 403 . depending upon the level of impedance , output unit 405 may supply a control or output signal to an overtemperature alarm , or a circuit trip relay opening the current path between source 415 and 417 . [ 0048 ] fig5 is an alternative embodiment utilizing multiple comparators 501 and 503 as control unit 502 . resistor 505 and sensor strip 407 form a voltage divider , with the voltage dropped across sensor strip 407 applied to connection 501 a of comparator 501 and connection 503 a of comparator 503 . a second voltage divider formed by resistors 507 and 509 form a reference voltage applied to connection 501 b of comparator 501 . a third voltage divider formed by resistors 511 and 513 form a reference voltage applied to connection 503 b of comparator 503 . the state of comparator 501 changes when the resistance of sensor strip 407 rises to a value where the voltage at connection 501 a is greater than the voltage at connection 501 b . likewise , the state of comparator 503 changes when the resistance of sensor strip 407 rises to a value where the voltage at connection 503 a is greater than the voltage at connection 503 b . output 515 of comparator 501 initiates another device such as an audio or visual alarm representing a predetermined resistance of the sensor strip . output 517 of comparator 503 controls another device such as a circuit breaker or relay representing a second predetermined resistance of sensor strip 407 . additional comparators ( not shown ) may provide outputs for other resistance levels . in still other embodiments , a voltage indicating device such as a voltmeter may be added at connection 501 a or 503 a to indicate the voltage corresponding to the resistance ( and therefore the temperature ) of sensor strip 407 . [ 0050 ] fig6 is a resistance vs . temperature graph for a typical filled polymer material . for the example given , the sensor strip was a carbon particle filled low density polyethylene , 0 . 330 cm × 0 . 152 cm × 15 . 24 cm long . at temperatures below the switching temperature , generally indicated by 601 , the resistance increases slowly and , over smaller regions , nearly linearly with temperature . at temperatures greater than the switching temperature , the resistance increases rapidly with temperature and is highly non - linear . in one embodiment of the invention , the region of the graph below the switching temperature ( indicated generally by 603 ) is used as a measurement range 603 . if the entire sensor strip is subject to the same temperature , the sensor strip will act similar to a discrete temperature sensor , with the temperature indicated by the measured resistance in region 603 . even if the entire sensor strip is not subject to the same temperature , empirical or calculated results may be used to indicate the temperature of the portion of the strip of interest . region 605 of the graph may be used as an alarm or action area , in that resistance values in this region may be indicative of excessive temperatures , whether the affected length is short or over the entire length of the sensor strip . a third measurement range , above region 605 may be used as an indication of an open circuit , therefore indicating an opening of the sensor strip or another fault in the circuitry . the different response regions of a conductive polymer as shown in fig6 allows the device of fig5 to provide multiple outputs based on different real or potential faults . for example , selection of an appropriate setpoint for comparator 501 of fig5 may initiate an alarm for a resistance value near switching temperature 601 or in the lower part of region 605 of fig6 . such a resistance value may represent a high , but not damaging , overcurrent in the wire causing the temperature of the whole wire to increase to a temperature above normal . this same set point may represent a short section of wire overheating to a greater degree , but not necessarily to a damaging level . selection of a higher set point of comparator 503 , would indicate either an overtemperature of the whole length of the sensor strip ( such as that occurring from an excessive overcurrent in conductor 411 ) or significant and possibly damaging overtemperature of a short section of wire 401 insulation . under either of these conditions , comparator 503 would change states , causing its output to produce a circuit trip of current through conductor 411 . in an alternative embodiment , the setpoint of a comparator may be set for a value representing a resistance above region 605 , therefore initiating an response indicative of mechanical damage to insulation 409 of wire 401 ( opening of a sensor strip ). [ 0053 ] fig7 is a combined schematic and block diagram of an alternative embodiment employing multiple fault sensing wires 701 , 702 and 703 . the sensing strip output voltage ( representing the resistance of the sensor strip ) of each protected wire is supplied to multiplexer 705 . a control unit 707 selects the desired input to multiplexer 705 and applies it to comparator 709 and 711 from terminal 713 of the multiplexer . a voltage divider formed by resistors 715 and 717 provide the setpoint for comparator 709 and a voltage divider formed by resistors 721 and 723 provide a setpoint for comparator 711 . output 727 of comparator 709 provides the desired alarm or action response to the change of state of comparator 709 and output 729 provides the desired alarm or action response for the change of state of comparator 711 . in this manner , the device provides multiple alarms or action responses for each of the fault sensing wire sensor strips connected to the inputs of multiplexer 705 . [ 0054 ] fig8 is a block diagram of an alternative embodiment of the device in which the output of multiplexer 705 is fed to analog to digital converter 807 and to the input of microprocessor 809 . microprocessor 809 communicates through connection 811 to multiplexer 705 to select the desired sensor strip output and apply it to a / d converter 807 . the selection of the desired fault sensing wire sensor output is determined either manually by the input unit 813 , or by a program residing in the microprocessor . the microprocessor compares the selected sensor strip output to one or more setpoints stored in the microprocessor and activates output 815 , 816 or 817 as appropriate . input unit 813 is used to provide desired setpoints for each sensor strip , program the microprocessor , and provide manual control of the unit . display unit 819 provides display of selected sensor strip , the value of the sensor strip output , and the present setpoints of the selected sensor strip . display unit 819 is also used for display purposes during programming of the microprocessor . an environmental sensor 821 , connected to microprocessor 809 through a / d converter 823 can also be used optionally in combination with the multiplexer / microprocessor as shown in fig8 . this environmental sensor is used to update the stored parameters in the microprocessor &# 39 ; s memory to allow for an adaptive logic mode for the monitoring of the fault sensing wires ( 701 , 702 , and 703 ) as show in fig8 d . the use of this environmental sensor will be described later . this modification would allow for the adjustment of the stored setpoints in the fault sensing electrical device as its external surrounding were changed . [ 0056 ] fig8 a and 8b demonstrates the operation of the multiplexer / microprocessor circuit shown in fig8 . fig8 a shows the operation of the multiplexer / microprocessor circuit in the fault monitoring mode . the multiplexer shown in fig8 selects each of the sensor strip outputs in a preselected order . for each sensor strip the circuit id and the measured impedance of the circuit is sent to the microprocessor to be compared with set impedances which are used to determine the status of the selected circuit . these impedance setpoints are determined in the setpoint input mode which can be initiated by the operator and is described in fig8 b . in the monitoring mode shown in fig8 a the measured impedance for each sensor strip is compared with setpoint impedance and the proper action is taken as indicated the logic branches of fig8 a . after these tests are completed successfully the multiplexer is allowed to pause for a preselected amount of time before proceeding to the next sensor strip . at the start of this process and at preselected interval , the operator shall initiate the setpoint input mode as shown in fig8 b . this must be done , at the minimum , at the start of the monitoring process for a specific group of sensor strips . in the setpoint input mode , shown in fig8 b , each monitored sensor strip impedance is measured and a predetermined group of constants , f 1 , f 2 , and f 3 are used to compute setpoints r 1 , r 2 , and r 3 for each of the monitored sensor strips . each of these setpoints along with the identification of each of the sensor strips is stored in the microprocessor &# 39 ; s memory for use in the monitoring mode as described in fig8 a . [ 0057 ] fig8 c indicates the identification and usage of the stored setpoint impedances r 1 , r 2 , and r 3 for each of the sensor strips . r 1 is the lower limit of the acceptable range of operation of the considered sensor strip . a measured impedance below this value is considered to represent a short circuit of sensor strip and the appropriate signal is sent to output unit 1 as shown in fig8 a . r 2 represents the upper level of the acceptable range of operation of the sensor strip . any measured impedance above this value and below the impedance value r 3 for the sensor strip is considered to represent a potential fault and output unit 2 is activated as shown in fig8 a . if the measured impedance in the monitoring mode is above the setpoint impedance r 3 a definite fault is considered to have occurred and output unit 3 is activated as shown in fig8 a . additional impedance setpoints may be added as required . logic gate and timer functions performed by the microprocessor may be used to provide alarms or actions based on the magnitude and rate of change of impedance of the monitored sensor strip . [ 0058 ] fig8 d describes the possibility to modify the constants f 1 , f 2 , and f 3 described above and shown in fig8 b to adjust the monitoring mode &# 39 ; s setpoints for changes in the fault sensing wire &# 39 ; s environment which might lead to false fault indications . in the adaptive logic mode , the f 1 , f 2 , and f 3 , values are determined by the environmental sensor , such as an external temperature sensor . setpoints r 1 , r 2 , and r 3 values are adjusted according the setpoint mode of fig8 b and stored in the microprocessor &# 39 ; s memory . the remainder of this adaptive logic monitoring mode proceeds as the monitoring mode described above and shown in fig8 a . [ 0059 ] fig9 is an alternative embodiment of the device with power source 901 supplying load 903 through relay 905 . comparator 907 serves as an impedance measuring circuit by changing states when the voltage at the sensor strip output point 909 exceeds the reference voltage set by the value of resistors 911 and 913 . a high voltage corresponding to an excessive temperature or open circuit of sensor strip 915 of fault sensing wire 917 results in a high output of comparator 907 . the high output results in a low output of nor gate 919 , tripping relay 905 and de - energizing conductor 921 supplying load 903 . the device may also act as an arc sensing device . a fault resulting in current flow through insulation 922 between conductor 921 and sensor strip 915 will result in the potential at sensor strip output 909 rising as long as the arc potential is greater than the nominal local voltage of the sensor strip at the point of fault . a sufficient increase in the potential at output 909 will result in a trip of normally open relay 905 , thus stopping the arc . the relay may require manual resetting before restoring of power to load 903 . a secondary arc sensing mode is performed by resistor 933 , which acts as an arc current detector . an arc resulting in a current path through insulation 922 sufficient to increase the potential of sensor strip 915 will result in increased current flow through resistor 933 . the voltage increase across resistor 933 changes the state of comparator 935 to high . the high output of comparator 935 changes nor gate 919 output to low , tripping normally open relay 905 . an arc through insulation 922 may result from mechanical damage to insulation 922 , or chemical or thermal deterioration of the insulation . excessive conductor 921 voltage may also cause an arcing condition . in ac circuits , a differential transformer winding may be substituted for resistor 933 and comparator 935 . the differential transformer would result in a trip signal upon excessive current through the coil . in another embodiment , the differential coil is wound on the differential transformer of a ground fault device . in this embodiment , the ground fault device would trip in the event of a sufficient arc between the hot conductor and the sensor strip . although the preferred embodiments connect the mechanical damage responsive elements and the temperature responsive elements of a fault sensing wire in series , the separate elements or sensor strips may be monitored individually by a control circuit . for example , sensor strips 105 of fig1 may be monitored individually , as groups , or as a single series - connected loop . in other applications , the fault sensing circuitry may be combined with other fault sensing elements , such as circuit breakers , fuses , ground fault circuit interrupters , and arc sensors . accordingly the reader will see that the fault sensing wire and alarm apparatus provides overtemperature indication and protection for electrical wire not previously available . the device provides the following additional advantages : the sensor wire provides indication of conditions which may lead to electrical faults , leaving time for inspection and repair of wiring before a fault occurs ; the sensor wire provides distributed temperature sensing over the full length of the wire ; the sensor wire is responsive to overtemperature regardless of the cause or source of the overtemperature ; the “ switch ” impedance response allows discriminating between different potential failure modes ; and the sensor wire may be used to sense an arc between the conductor and the sensor strips . although the description above contains many specifications , these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention but as merely providing illustrations of some of the presently preferred embodiments of this invention . for example , an optical conductor may be substituted for an electrical conductor . thus the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents , rather than by the examples given .	7
referring now to fig1 , in the initial setup , an individual 10 has on his person a module or device 12 , which is set up to generate a set of randomly generated number strings , which may be as many as a million such strings . the strings are set up such that the first part of the string is a secret set of numbers in the string corresponding to the first random number segment . the second portion of the string is utilized as the missing link key , which is available on the internet only momentarily and which does not simultaneously exist on the internet with the secret random number segment . module 12 is physically connected to a vault 14 for the uploading of the set of randomly generated number strings , divided out into the x secret number segment and the y missing link key segment . these number strings are stored in the vault for use in the authorization process . referring to fig2 , what has been accomplished by the use of the module that contains its own random number - generating processor is that the module initially generates the aforementioned number strings such that , for a first number string , the secret number may be the digits 1 , 5 , 2 and 7 , whereas the remainder of the string , 6 , 4 , 3 and 1 , corresponds to the missing link key . as can be seen , a number of strings are generated , which are installed verbatim in the vault such that the vault , upon physical access of the module to the input apparatus for the vault , stores identically the strings generated in the module and in the sequential order established by the module . referring to fig3 , in general and during runtime , when user 10 seeks authorization , module 12 generates a user name and password previously installed in the module and passes it to vault 14 , which establishes a number of authorization procedures to make sure that the user device or module is connected or will be connected to a predetermined arp , here shown by reference character 20 . in so doing , after authentication to ascertain that the user is connected to the right vault , which is connected to the right arp , the vault transmits the missing link key y to arp 20 , after which the missing link key dies . after the missing link key has been inputted to arp 20 , the vault authorizes the user device module 12 to output the secret , randomly generated number x , which is then uploaded to arp 20 . at this point in time , both the secret number , in this case 1848 , and the missing link key , 7772 , exist at arp 20 . arp 20 subsequently sends both x and y , which constitutes the originally specified random number string to vault 14 for establishing a match between that number and the number strings previously stored in the vault to establish an authorization signal , here shown at 22 . it will be appreciated that the only time any one of the two segments of the randomly generated number string are available on the internet is the extremely short period of time when the missing link key is created and then deleted . it will also be noticed that the user device or module 12 transmits the secret number portion of the randomly generated number string at a different time than the missing link key is generated . this means that that which is available over the internet is virtually undetectable by a hacker because the hacker must be able to quickly recognize the presence of a missing link key , store it and then wait until the secret number is transmitted . the level of security provided is such that , since the missing link key is virtually undetectable and further , since it must be correlated with a later transmitted secret number , is virtually impossible for somebody viewing the internet to be able to ascertain the two portions of the randomly generated number string for which the vault may be interrogated to provide an authorization indication . referring now to fig4 and more particularly in one embodiment of the subject invention , user 10 transmits from the user device or module 12 a coded message including the user name and password , which is uploaded to vault 14 . in turn , vault 14 , upon a match , generates a user device or module activation signal 24 , which is passed back to the user device or module . upon activation , the user device or module transmits an activation signal over line 26 to activate arp 20 , which functions as a second level of activation to indicate , for instance , that the proper vault has authorized the proper module to activate the proper arp . upon receipt of the activation signal from the authorized module , the arp sends a signal over line 28 to the vault to instruct vault 14 to send the missing link key y over line 30 to the arp . simultaneously , an instruction is sent over line 32 to instruct corridor module 12 to transmit the secret number x to arp 20 . upon instruction , module 12 then transmits x , the secret number , over line 34 to arp 20 . at this point , arp 20 is authorized to send both the secret number x and the missing link key y over line 38 to vault 14 for a matching process . if this number string , including both the secret number x and the missing link key y is matched in vault 14 , then vault 14 sends an authorization signal over line 40 to arp 20 to generate its own authorization signal to be used to authorize a particular transaction required by user 10 . more particularly and referring now to fig5 , the above process is described in detail . the first step , step 1 , requires the user to send his user name and password to the vault , with the user name being previously stored in user device or module 12 as user name 42 and password 44 . these user names and passwords have previously been uploaded to vault 14 as user name 42 ′ and password 44 ′. as step 2 , vault 14 sends activation number 1 , here illustrated by reference character 46 to module or user device 12 , which recognizes activation one in a storage and processing portion of module 12 , as illustrated at 48 . in step 3 , the user corridor module 12 send activation number 2 to arp 20 , which activates the appropriate arp . in so doing , arp 20 then transmits activation 2 to vault 14 , as illustrated at 50 . this completes step 4 . in step 5 , vault 14 sends the particular group number and the missing link key to arp 20 , with the group number and the missing link key having been previously established by module 12 . as step 6 , arp 20 sends the group number to the user device or module 12 to retrieve the corresponding secret random number x from the module , with step 7 referring to the transmission of the secret randomly generated number , here illustrated as x 3 , to arp 20 . as step 8 , since the arp now has in its possession n 3 , the particular group number involved , x 3 , the particular secret number involved , and y 3 , the particular missing link key involved , arp 20 sends , in encrypted form , these numbers to vault 14 , where they are matched . upon match , as step 9 , vault 14 transmits authorization to arp 20 to authorize the particular transaction . also shown in this figure is the grouping of the various strings , with the strings having a group number n , a secret number x n and a missing link key y n , each for a given group . these numbers are stored and programmed in a way that when one of them is accessed , such as y 1 , the other missing link y 2 will not be available on - line for hackers to access . thus , no other missing link keys are available even if they could be viewed . here it is illustrated that there are n groups , thereby multiplying the complexity of the access to vault 14 . note also that the vault is arranged in three sections , namely the user name and password section 52 , the activation section 54 and the main storage for the group , secret word , and missing link key number strings 56 . note that section 56 is where the authorization is finally completed upon matching of the encrypted message from the arp to the vault . note also that , as illustrated at 58 , should anything be amiss , meaning that an outside source is attempting to access the vault and its contents , not necessarily from the internet , which is impossible , but from physical means , then 911 alert messages are transmitted to the appropriate authorities . referring now to fig6 and more particularly for the setup of the vault , in step 60 the vault is set up by first establishing what vault it is . if it is a regional vault as illustrated at 62 , this is noted . the regional vault is further subdivided into the user &# 39 ; s individual vault 64 into which is entered a user name 66 and a password 68 in vault section 1 . thereafter , as illustrated in vault section 2 , an activation number 70 for activation number 1 is implemented as a series of alphanumeric numbers for flexibility . note also at this time activation number 2 is uploaded to vault section 2 , as illustrated at 72 , again with a series of alphanumeric numbers for flexibility . in vault section 3 , as part of the encryption afforded by the subject system and as illustrated at 74 , there is a choice of grouping for the secret numbers , which constitutes a sequential number n , which defines the group number . what is then uploaded is the series of secret number strings and simultaneously missing link key strings , each associated with each other so as to populate the vault for the particular individual with his unique set of 1 million or so number strings , subdivided as mentioned before into secret numbers and missing link keys . also installed at this time are a number of 911 abort messages as illustrated at 76 . it will be noted that the uploading of the randomly generated number strings constitutes a key to the vault , as illustrated at 78 , and another key to the vault as illustrated at 80 . these are the keys that are momentarily available on the internet . it will be appreciated that that which is transmitted over the internet , which accesses the vault , is available on the internet for only a fraction of a moment . thus the vault is opened only for a fraction of a moment to receive the encrypted , randomly generated string . it is only during this particular instant of time that the link is open from the arp to the vault so that the vault may be accessed to ascertain if there is an authorization permitted . thus it can be seen that whatever connection there is between the arp and the vault is only opened and closed for an instant in time and only with a software key , the software key being the missing link key from the arp . referring now to fig7 , in the setup of the user device as it relates to section 1 of the vault , as illustrated at 80 , one installs the activation number 1 code , as illustrated at 82 , the activation 2 code as illustrated at 84 , and the sequential group number n as illustrated at 86 . one also installs the secret randomly generated number x at 88 . all of these codings and number strings are therefore set up in the user device or module and may be generated by a random number generator in sequence . referring now to fig8 , in the setup of the user data as it relates to section 2 of the vault , as illustrated at 90 , the stored user name is available as illustrated at 92 , the password at 94 , the selected arp address at 96 and a particular grouping of secret , randomly generated numbers 98 , with the group selection being alterable at 100 and the time being inputted at 101 such that all of the above is available at a particular time instant . referring now to fig9 , during a runtime operation , the user 102 establishes an on - line connection with arp 104 and in step 1 described above outputs the user &# 39 ; s user name 106 and his password 108 , which is combined through vault section 1 , if it is on - line as illustrated at 110 , to establish a match as illustrated at 112 . upon establishment of a match as illustrated at 114 , and assuming a choice of grouping from module 12 as illustrated at 116 , a particular group is selected as illustrated at 118 at a particular time 120 to access vault section 1 as illustrated at 122 . referring now to fig1 , as illustrated at 124 , the user gives arp 20 the arp &# 39 ; s address to the vault , either by typing as illustrated at 126 or by inserting the module or user device at a merchant , as illustrated at 128 . if by typing , there is an instruction from the vault for the user to insert a device and thereafter the user inserts the device as illustrated at 132 in accordance with the instruction . at this point vault section 2 is accessed and is on - line , as illustrated at 134 . thereafter in accordance with step 2 , the vault sends activation number 2 to module 12 for matching , as illustrated at 136 . upon activation match , as illustrated at 138 , the fact of the match , as illustrated at 140 , causes the module or device to generate an activation number 2 and send it to the arp , as illustrated at 142 . at this point the module or device gives the activation number 2 to the arp in accordance with step 3 , whereas in step 4 , as illustrated at 144 , the arp sends activation number 2 to the vault . as illustrated at 146 , the vault checks the arp address and activation number 2 and if there is a match , as illustrated at 148 , the process proceeds . if there is no match , as illustrated at 150 , there is a fraud alert generated as illustrated at 152 . moreover , if there is not match for activation 1 , as illustrated at 154 , then a routine is invoked as illustrated in fig1 . referring now to fig1 , assuming that vault section 3 is on - line , as illustrated at 156 , the vault selects the missing link key y at 158 , which refers to the fact that the missing link key is born . immediately thereafter , the vault cancels the missing link key , as illustrated at 160 , with the result being the aforementioned fact that the missing link key is deleted , dead or is used only once , as illustrated at 162 . upon generation of the missing link key , the vault sends the group number and the missing link key to the arp , as illustrated at 164 , in step 5 . step 6 , as illustrated at 166 , involves the arp sending the group number to module 12 to receive the corresponding secret , randomly generated number x . thereafter , at step 7 and as illustrated at 168 , the module sends the corresponding secret number x to the arp , whereupon the arp , as illustrated at 170 , now has in its possession the group number , the secret number and the missing link key . as illustrated at 172 , the arp then encrypts this combination , namely n + x + y , and as illustrated at 174 , sends the encrypted n + x + y to the vault as step 8 . this is done only momentarily over the internet such that the vault is only open momentarily to accept the transmission from the arp and then the connection is closed down . the vault decrypts the arp combination of n + x + y , as illustrated at 178 , and matches it with the corresponding number string combination . if there is a match , as illustrated at 180 , the vault , as illustrated at 182 , gives authorization to the arp as step 9 . if there is no match , as illustrated at 184 , a fraud alert is illustrated at 186 . as illustrated in fig1 at 190 , as a further security action , the user closes the module after choosing the grouping desired for the secret number . the result , as illustrated at 192 , is that the information is stored in vault section 3 , at which point the vault is off - line . referring now to fig1 , a process is described in which the initially - entered user name is password is not matched . this is illustrated at 194 . if the user name and password are not matched , then there is a three - time trial for matching , as illustrated at 196 . if there is a match , as illustrated at 198 , then one can proceed . if after three tries there is no match , as illustrated at 200 , the process is terminated . referring now to fig1 , assuming that activation of module 20 is not matched as illustrated at 202 , the vault asks the user to reinstall the module or device , as illustrated at 204 . the user then reinstalls the device or module , as illustrated at 206 , and the vault sends activation number 1 to the module or device for matching , as illustrated at 208 . if there is a match , as illustrated at 210 , then the process proceeds . if there is no match at this particular point in time , as illustrated at 212 , the process terminates . what will be appreciated from the above is that the vault is only momentarily connected to the internet and only for purposes of transmitting activations , quickly - dying missing link keys , secret numbers and then finally establishing an encrypted link from the arp to the vault . at all other times , the vault is completely disconnected from the internet and cannot be accessed by those seeking to access it over the internet . moreover , because certain number strings and coding is only available at different times over the internet , one would have to correlate all of these fleetingly available pieces of information in order to establish an authorization . the result is that internet transactions are made exceedingly more secure than heretofore possible due to the fact that there must be a physical interaction between the user and his module and input apparatus to the vault . moreover , randomly generated numbers are only used once by the system and , more importantly , the missing link key is first created and then uncreated or removed in an instant , where it is no longer accessible by anybody over the internet . even if the missing link key is viewed at the exact fraction of a second that it is generated , then if it is used for another transaction it will fail . finally , the matching that is done in the subject system is done in such a way that each individual has his own secure vault , with its own sequence of randomly generated number strings in which for each transaction are only accessed once . no longer are passwords and user names and other encoding data created for any length of time and visible on the internet . aside from a physical robbery at gunpoint or otherwise to the vault , the vault is as secure as any other bank vault . thus the fear of using the internet for whatever transactions are desired is dramatically reduced and even eliminated , since the transactions require the physical presence of the individual and his module , both to create his own individual vault and also to access his own individual vault . moreover , safeguards are in place to make sure that the individual &# 39 ; s module , the authorized arp and his own vault are in communication at the time of the transaction . note that it is the responsibility of the user to safeguard his device . if , however , the device is lost , the subject system is provided with the ability to erase all of the data on the user &# 39 ; s lock box at the vault . while the present invention has been described in connection with the preferred embodiments of the various figures , it is to be understood that other similar embodiments may be used or modifications or additions may be made to the described embodiment for performing the same function of the present invention without deviating therefrom . therefore , the present invention should not be limited to any single embodiment , but rather construed in breadth and scope in accordance with the recitation of the appended claims .	7
fig1 is a schematic diagram for explaining the configuration of gas turbines according to first to third embodiments of the present invention described below . as shown in fig1 , a gas turbine 1 is provided with a compressor 2 , a combustor 3 , a turbine unit 4 , and a rotational shaft 5 . as shown in fig1 , the compressor 2 sucks in air to compress it and supplies the compressed air to the combustor 3 . a rotational driving force is transmitted from the turbine unit 4 to the compressor 2 via the rotational shaft 5 , and , upon being rotationally driven , the compressor 2 sucks in air and compresses it . note that any known configurations can be employed for the compressor 2 ; it is not particularly limited . as shown in fig1 , the combustor 3 mixes externally supplied fuel and the supplied compressed air , generates high - temperature gas by combusting the mixed air , and supplies the generated high - temperature gas to the turbine unit 4 . note that any known combustors can be employed as the combustor 3 ; it is not particularly limited . as shown in fig1 , the turbine unit 4 extracts rotational driving force from the supplied high - temperature gas to rotationally drive the rotational shaft 5 . note that any known configurations can be employed for the turbine unit 4 ; it is not particularly limited . a gas turbine according to a first embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to fig1 to 7 . note that , in this embodiment , turbine blades of the invention of the present application will be described as applied to stator blades of sixth to ninth stages in the compressor 2 of the gas turbine 1 . fig2 is a schematic diagram for explaining the configuration of a rotor disc and stator blades in a compressor of a gas turbine according to this embodiment . as shown in fig1 and 2 , the compressor 2 is provided with stator blades ( turbine blades ) 10 that are attached to a casing 6 of the gas turbine 1 and rotor blades that are disposed at a circumferential surface of a circular plate - shaped rotor disc ( not shown ) which is rotationally driven by the rotational shaft 5 . the stator blades 10 and the rotor blades are disposed in rows in the circumferential direction of the rotational shaft 5 at regular intervals and are disposed in alternating rows in the axial direction of the rotational shaft 5 . next , the stator blades 10 , which are the feature of this embodiment , will be described . fig3 is a cross - sectional view for explaining the configuration near a seal holder in the stator blade in fig2 . as shown in fig2 and 3 , the stator blades 10 are provided with an outer shroud portion 11 , airfoil portions 12 , inner shroud portions ( shroud portions ) 13 , a seal holder ( holder casing ) 14 , springs ( elastic portions ) 15 , a spacer ( pressing portion ) 16 , and a honeycomb seal 17 . as shown in fig2 , the outer shroud portion 11 is a member that forms part of wall surfaces of a flow channel in which fluid flows in the compressor 2 . furthermore , the outer shroud portion 11 is a curved plate - like member disposed at end portions of the airfoil portions 12 on the radially outer side thereof , and a single outer shroud portion 11 is disposed for a plurality of the airfoil portions 12 . in other words , the outer shroud portion 11 is formed of a cylindrical member that has been divided into a plurality of portions , and the plurality of the airfoil portions 12 are connected to an inner circumferential surface thereof . with regard to the shape of the outer shroud portion 11 and the connection method with the airfoil portions 12 , any known shapes and methods can be employed ; they are not particularly limited . as shown in fig2 , the airfoil portions 12 are members whose cross - sections extending in the radial direction of the rotational shaft 5 are formed in airfoil shapes and that , together with the rotor blades rotationally driven by the rotational shaft 5 , compress a fluid , such as air , and send it toward the combustor 3 . the airfoil portions 12 are provided with leading edges le , which are upstream - end portions relative to a flow of surrounding fluid , trailing edges te , which are downstream - end portions , negative pressure surfaces , which are surfaces curved in convex shapes , and positive pressure surfaces , which are curved in concave shapes . as shown in fig2 and 3 , the inner shroud portions 13 , as well as the outer shroud portion 11 , form part of the flow channel in which the fluid flows inside the compressor 2 . furthermore , the inner shroud portions 13 are curved plate - like members disposed at end portions of the airfoil portions 12 on the radially inner side thereof , and a single inner shroud portion 13 is disposed for a single airfoil portion 12 . in other words , the inner shroud portions 13 are formed of a cylindrical member that has been divided into a plurality of portions , and the airfoil portions 12 are connected to outer circumferential surfaces thereof . fitting grooves 13 a that fit with the seal holder 14 , extending in the circumferential direction ( direction perpendicular to the plane of the drawing in fig3 ), are provided at end portions on the leading edge le side and trailing edge te side of the inner shroud portions 13 . as shown in fig3 , the seal holder 14 is a member that is attached to the inner shroud portions 13 on the inner circumferential side thereof ( bottom side in fig3 ), that , together with the inner shroud portions 13 , forms a space for accommodating the springs 15 and the spacer 16 inside thereof , and that supports the honeycomb seal 17 . as with the outer shroud portion 11 , a single seal holder 14 is disposed for the plurality of the airfoil portions 12 and the inner shroud portions 13 . the seal holder 14 is provided with a pair of side wall portions 14 s that extend in radial directions at the leading edge le side and the trailing edge te side and a bottom plate portion 14 b which connects end portions of the pair of side wall portions 14 s at the radially inner side thereof . in other words , a groove portion is formed in the seal holder 14 , opening outward in the circumferential direction ( top side in fig3 ). the radially outer - side end portions of the side wall portions 14 s are provided with protrusions 14 a which protrude inward in the seal holder 14 , extending in the circumferential direction thereof , and fit with the fitting grooves 13 a of the inner shroud portions 13 . the bottom plate portion 14 b is provided with through - holes 14 h into which compressing bolts ( compressing portions ) 18 that press the spacer 16 together with the springs 15 are inserted . the through - holes 14 h are provided in the bottom plate portion 14 b at an equidistant position from each of the pair of side wall portions 14 s , and a plurality thereof are provided in the circumferential direction ( direction perpendicular to the plane of the drawing in fig3 ) at predetermined intervals . as shown in fig2 and 3 , the springs 15 are elastic members that bias the inner shroud portions 13 in directions that separate them from the spacer 16 and the seal holder 14 . furthermore , by sliding on the inner shroud portions 13 , the springs 15 damp the vibrations in the stator blades 10 , i . e ., the airfoil portions 12 and the inner shroud portions 13 . in this way , by having the springs 15 bias the inner shroud portions 13 in the directions that separate them from the seal holder 14 , the fitting grooves 13 a and the protrusions 14 a are pressed together , coming into close contact with each other , thereby making it possible to ensure the sealing level between the inner shroud portions 13 and the seal holder 14 . the springs 15 are substantially rectangularly formed plate springs that are formed into substantially a wave shape , and the spring force of the springs 15 is adjusted by adjusting the plate thickness of the plate springs . with regard to the material forming the springs 15 , the material is desirably capable of maintaining the required spring properties while the gas turbine 1 is in operation , that is , even if the springs 15 are heated to high temperature . the springs 15 are disposed in a space formed between the inner shroud portions 13 and the seal holder 14 , more specifically , between the inner shroud portions 13 and the spacer 16 . furthermore , a total of two springs 15 , one on the leading edge le side and another on the trailing edge te side , are disposed in a parallel arrangement . in this embodiment , descriptions will be given as applied to an example in which these two springs 15 are disposed at the same phase , in other words , an example in which peak portions of the two springs 15 come in contact with the inner shroud portions 13 or the spacer 16 at the same positions . fig4 is a schematic diagram for explaining another arrangement example of the springs . note that , the two springs 15 may be disposed at the same phase , as described above , or they may be disposed at different phases , as shown in fig4 ; it is not particularly limited . with the arrangement of the springs 15 shown in fig4 , at locations where the peak portions of the first spring 15 are in contact with the inner shroud portions 13 , the peak portions of the other spring 15 are in contact with the spacer 16 . by doing so , it is possible to make the springs 15 contact all of the inner shroud portions 13 , even when arrangement intervals of the peak portions in the first spring 15 are wider than arrangement intervals of the inner shroud portions 13 . that is , the inner shroud portions 13 with which the peak portions of the first spring 15 are not in contact are in contact with the peak portions of the other spring 15 , thereby making it possible to have all of the inner shroud portions 13 in contact with the springs 15 . the shapes of the springs 15 are determined such that the amplitude of the wave shape ( peak - to - peak distance in the radial direction ) is longer than the distance from the inner circumferential surfaces of the inner shroud portions 13 to the outer circumferential surface of the spacer 16 and so that the peak portions of the springs 15 are in contact with the inner circumferential surfaces of individual inner shroud portions 13 . more specifically , the amplitude of the wave shape in the springs 15 is determined on the basis of the frictional force for damping the vibrations of the stator blades 10 , that is , the compression level of the springs 15 required for generating the spring force . the wavelength ( peak - to - peak distance in the circumferential direction ) in the wave shape of the springs 15 is determined on the basis of the arrangement intervals of the inner shroud portions 13 , that is , the pitch thereof . as shown in fig3 , the spacer 16 , together with the compressing bolts 18 , presses the springs 15 toward the inner shroud portions 13 and is disposed between the bottom plate portion 14 b of the seal holder 14 and the springs 15 . as with the seal holder 14 , a single spacer 16 is disposed for the plurality of the airfoil portions 12 and the inner shroud portions 13 . in other words , the spacer 16 is formed of a cylindrical member that has been divided into a plurality of portions , and the springs 15 come in contact with the inner circumferential surface thereof . the spacer 16 is provided with through - holes 16 h into which the compressing bolts 18 are inserted . as shown in fig3 , the honeycomb seal 17 , together with seal fins 22 provided in a rotor 21 , suppresses leakage of the fluid that flows between the stator blades 10 and the rotor 21 . any known honeycomb seal may be used as the honeycomb seal 17 ; it is not particularly limited . next , an assembly method of the stator blades 10 having the above - described configuration will be described . fig5 is a schematic diagram for explaining attaching and detaching of the seal holder in the stator blades in fig3 . first , the springs 15 and the spacer 16 are disposed on the inner circumferential surface side in the inner shroud portions 13 , and the compressing bolts 18 are screwed onto the inner shroud portions 13 via the through - holes 16 h of the spacer 16 . then , by screwing the compressing bolts 18 further into the inner shroud portions 13 , the spacer 16 is brought closer to the inner shroud portions 13 to compress the springs 15 . at this time , the distance from the inner circumferential surfaces of the inner shroud portions 13 to the outer circumferential surface of the spacer 16 is made shorter than the distance from the inner circumferential surfaces of the inner shroud portions 13 to the outer circumferential surface of the bottom plate portion 14 b of the seal holder 14 . subsequently , the seal holder 14 is fitted to the inner shroud portions 13 . more specifically , the protrusions 14 a of the seal holder 14 are fitted to the fitting grooves 13 a in the inner shroud portions 13 . at this time , the seal holder 14 is fitted while sliding it in the circumferential direction relative to the inner shroud portions 13 . fig6 is a schematic diagram for explaining the state after the seal holder is attached to the stator blades in fig3 . then , as shown in fig6 , the compressing bolts 18 are removed from the inner shroud portions 13 via the through - holes 14 h of the seal holder 14 , and thus , attaching of the seal holder 14 is completed . the seal holder 14 is removed by carrying out the above - described steps sequentially in reverse order . note that , the compressing bolts 18 may be completely removed from the stator blades 10 as described above , or they may remain on the stator blades 10 in a state in which a predetermined level of compression is exerted on the springs 15 ; it is not particularly limited . next , a method of damping vibrations in the stator blades 10 having the above - described configuration will be described . when the gas turbine 1 is operated , vibrations are generated in the stator blades 10 due to the influence of the fluid or the like flowing in the compressor 2 . more specifically , vibrations are generated by which the airfoil portions 12 and the inner shroud portions 13 of the stator blades 10 vibrate in the circumferential direction . when the inner shroud portions 13 vibrate as described above , sliding occurs between the peak portions of the springs 15 , which are pressed against the inner shroud portions 13 , and the inner circumferential surfaces of the inner shroud portions 13 . the pressing force of the springs 15 and the frictional force in accordance with the friction coefficient between the inner shroud portions 13 and the springs 15 act between the inner shroud portions 13 and the springs 15 . the above - described sliding converts vibrational energy of the airfoil portions 12 and the inner shroud portions 13 into frictional energy , such as thermal energy and so forth , thereby damping the vibrations in the stator blades 10 . with the above - described configuration , when the airfoil portions 12 and the inner shroud portions 13 vibrate and slide relative to the seal holder 14 , the springs 15 , which have been pressing the inner shroud portions 13 in the direction away from the seal holder 14 , and the inner shroud portions 13 relatively move ; that is , the springs 15 and the inner shroud portions 13 slide . accordingly , energy associated with the vibrations in the airfoil portions 12 and the inner shroud portions 13 is converted into thermal energy ( frictional energy ) due to sliding , thereby making it possible to damp the vibrations in the airfoil portions 12 and the inner shroud portions 13 . furthermore , because the compression level of the springs 15 is adjusted by moving the spacer 16 closer to the inner shroud portions 13 , the force with which the springs 15 press the inner shroud portions 13 is adjusted . in other words , because the frictional force between the springs 15 and the inner shroud portions 13 is adjusted , it is possible to adjust the level of damping of vibrations in the airfoil portions 12 and the inner shroud portions 13 . on the other hand , the springs 15 can be easily replaced by attaching / detaching the springs 15 , together with the seal holder 14 , to / from the inner shroud portions 13 by sliding them . accordingly , even if the springs 15 become deteriorated due to wear from long - term use , the springs 15 can easily be replaced . in addition , the springs 15 are disposed inside the space surrounded by the seal holder 14 and the inner shroud portions 13 ; therefore , even if the springs 15 break , it is possible to prevent them from leaping out of the space to damage the airfoil portions 12 . furthermore , by moving the spacer 16 closer to the inner shroud portions 13 , the biasing force of the springs 15 is received by the inner shroud portions 13 and the spacer 16 . in other words , the biasing force of the springs 15 does not act on the seal holder 14 . accordingly , when moving the seal holder 14 by sliding it relative to the inner shroud portions 13 or when attaching / detaching the seal holder 14 , the frictional force that acts at contact surfaces between the inner shroud portions 13 and the seal holder 14 is reduced , thereby making it possible to facilitate the sliding movement or attaching / detaching . because the inner shroud portions 13 are independently disposed for each of the plurality of the airfoil portions 12 , the individual airfoil portions 12 and the inner shroud portions 13 readily move relative to the springs 15 , as compared with the case in which the plurality of the inner shroud portions 13 are integrally formed . in other words , the sliding distance between the inner shroud portions 13 and the springs 15 is extended . accordingly , a greater amount of energy associated with the vibrations in the airfoil portions 12 and the inner shroud portions 13 is converted into thermal energy ( frictional energy ) due to sliding , and therefore , the vibrations in the airfoil portions 12 and the inner shroud portions 13 are more readily damped . on the other hand , because a single seal holder 14 is provided for the plurality of the airfoil portions 12 and the inner shroud portions 13 , the sealing level between the upstream side and the downstream side of the stator blades 10 can be increased as compared with the case in which the seal holders 14 are disposed for each of the plurality of the airfoil portions 12 and the inner shroud portions 13 . by employing plate - like springs formed into a wave - like shape as the springs 15 , a larger pressing force can be exerted on the inner shroud portions 13 as compared with the case in which other types of springs are employed . on the other hand , by making each of the peak portions of the springs 15 individually contact the inner shroud portions 13 , the plurality of the inner shroud portions 13 can be moved , by sliding them , with respect to a single spring 15 . the spacer 16 can be moved closer to the inner shroud portions 13 using the compressing bolts 18 . accordingly , the compression level of the springs 15 is adjusted , thereby adjusting the force with which the springs 15 press the inner shroud portions 13 . in other words , because the frictional force between the springs 15 and the inner shroud portions 13 is adjusted , it is possible to adjust the level of damping of vibrations in the airfoil portions 12 and the inner shroud portions 13 . on the other hand , by moving the spacer 16 closer to the inner shroud portions 13 , the biasing force of the springs 15 is received by the inner shroud portions 13 and the spacer 16 . accordingly , when moving the seal holder 14 by sliding it relative to the inner shroud portions 13 or when attaching / detaching the seal holder 14 , the frictional force that acts at contact surfaces between the inner shroud portions 13 and the seal holder 14 is reduced , thereby making it possible to facilitate the sliding movement or attaching / detaching . fig7 is a schematic diagram for explaining yet another arrangement example of the springs in fig3 . note that , two springs 15 may be disposed between the inner shroud portions 13 and the spacer 16 , as in the embodiment described above , or , as shown in fig7 , four springs 15 may be disposed between the inner shroud portions 13 and the spacer 16 ; the number of the springs 15 is not particularly limited . furthermore , the spacer 16 may be pressed toward the inner shroud portions 13 by screwing the compressing bolts 18 onto the inner shroud portions 13 as in the above - described embodiment , or the spacer 16 may be pressed toward the inner shroud portions 13 by screwing the pressing springs 15 onto the seal holder 14 to thereby press the tip of the pressing springs 15 against the spacer 16 ; it is not particularly limited . as in the embodiment described above , the gas turbine 1 may be operated in a state in which the spacer 16 remains between the seal holder 14 and the inner shroud portions 13 , or the gas turbine 1 may be operated with the spacer 16 removed from between the seal holder 14 and the inner shroud portions 13 ; it is not particularly limited . as in the embodiment described above , the spring force of the springs 15 may be adjusted by adjusting the compression level of the springs 15 using the compressing bolts 18 or , even in a state in which the compressing bolts 18 are removed , the spring force of the springs 15 may be adjusted by adjusting only the plate thickness of the spacer 16 ; it is not particularly limited . a gas turbine according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to fig8 to 15 . note that , in this embodiment , turbine blades of the invention of the present application will be described as applied to stator blades of first to fourth stages in the compressor 2 of the gas turbine 1 . fig8 is a schematic diagram for explaining the configuration of a rotor disc and stator blades in a compressor of a gas turbine according to this embodiment . as shown in fig1 and 8 , the compressor 2 is provided with stator blades ( turbine blades ) 110 that are attached to a casing 6 of the gas turbine 1 and rotor blades that are disposed at a circumferential surface of a circular plate - shaped rotor disc ( not shown ) which is rotationally driven by the rotational shaft 5 . the stator blades 110 and the rotor blades are disposed in rows in the circumferential direction of the rotational shaft 5 at regular intervals and are disposed in alternating rows in the axial direction of the rotational shaft 5 . next , the stator blades 110 , which are the feature of this embodiment , will be described . fig9 is a cross - sectional view for explaining the configuration near a seal holder in the stator blade in fig8 . as shown in fig8 and 9 , the stator blades 110 are provided with an outer shroud portion 111 , airfoil portions 112 , inner shroud portions ( shroud portions ) 113 , a seal holder ( holder casing ) 114 , springs ( elastic portions ) 115 , damping plates ( friction portions ) 116 , and a honeycomb seal 117 . as shown in fig8 , the outer shroud portion 111 is a member that forms part of wall surfaces of a flow channel in which fluid flows in the compressor 2 . furthermore , the outer shroud portion 111 is a curved plate - like member disposed at end portions of the airfoil portions 112 on the radially outer side thereof , and a single outer shroud portion 111 is disposed for a plurality of the airfoil portions 112 . in other words , the outer shroud portion 111 is formed of a cylindrical member that has been divided into a plurality of portions , and the plurality of the airfoil portions 112 are connected to an inner circumferential surface thereof . with regard to the shape of the outer shroud portion 111 and the connection method with the airfoil portions 112 , any known shapes and methods can be employed ; they are not particularly limited . as shown in fig8 , the airfoil portions 112 are members whose cross - sections extending in the radial direction of the rotational shaft 5 are formed in airfoil shapes and that , together with the rotor blades rotationally driven by the rotational shaft 5 , compress a fluid , such as air , and send it toward the combustor 3 . the airfoil portions 112 are provided with leading edges le , which are upstream - end portions relative to a flow of surrounding fluid , trailing edges te , which are downstream - end portions , negative pressure surfaces , which are surfaces curved in convex shapes , and positive pressure surfaces , which are curved in concave shapes . as shown in fig8 and 9 , the inner shroud portions 113 , as well as the outer shroud portion 111 , form part of the flow channel in which the fluid flows inside the compressor 2 . furthermore , the inner shroud portions 113 are curved plate - like members disposed at end portions of the airfoil portions 112 on radially inner side thereof , and a single inner shroud portion 113 is disposed for a single airfoil portion 112 . in other words , the inner shroud portions 113 are formed of a cylindrical member that has been divided into a plurality of portions , and the airfoil portions 112 are connected to outer circumferential surfaces thereof . fitting grooves 113 a that fit with the seal holder 144 , extending in the circumferential direction ( direction perpendicular to the plane of the drawing in fig9 ), are provided at end portions on the leading edge le side and trailing edge te side of the inner shroud portions 113 . as shown in fig9 , the seal holder 114 is a member that is attached to the inner shroud portions 113 on the inner circumferential side thereof ( bottom side in fig9 ), that , together with the inner shroud portions 113 , forms a space for accommodating the springs 115 and the damping plates 116 inside thereof , and that supports the honeycomb seal 117 . as with the outer shroud portion 114 , a single seal holder 114 is disposed for the plurality of the airfoil portions 112 and the inner shroud portions 113 . the seal holder 114 is provided with a pair of side wall portions 114 s that extend in radial directions at the leading edge le side and the trailing edge te side and a bottom plate portion 114 b which connects end portions of the pair of side wall portions 114 s at the radially inner side thereof . in other words , a groove portion is formed in the seal holder 114 , opening outward in the circumferential direction ( top side in fig9 ). the radially outer - side end portions of the side wall portions 114 s are provided with protrusions 114 a which protrude inward in the seal holder 114 , extending in the circumferential direction thereof , and fit with the fitting grooves 113 a of the inner shroud portions 113 . the bottom plate portion 114 b is provided with through - holes 114 h into which compressing bolts ( compressing portions ) 118 that press the damping plates 116 together with the springs 115 are inserted . the through - holes 114 h are provided in the bottom plate portion 114 b at an equidistant position from each of the pair of side wall portions 114 s and a plurality thereof are provided in the circumferential direction ( direction perpendicular to the plane of the drawing in fig9 ) at predetermined intervals . as shown in fig8 and 9 , the springs 115 are elastic members that bias the inner shroud portions 113 and the damping plates 116 in directions that separate them from the seal holder 114 . furthermore , the springs 115 , together with the damping plates 116 , damp the vibrations in the stator blades 110 , i . e ., the airfoil portions 112 , and the inner shroud portions 113 . in this way , by having the springs 115 bias the inner shroud portions 113 in the directions that separate them from the seal holder 114 , the fitting grooves 113 a and the protrusions 114 a are pressed together , coming into close contact with each other , thereby making it possible to ensure the sealing level between the inner shroud portions 113 and the seal holder 114 . the springs 115 are substantially rectangularly formed plate springs that are formed into substantially a wave shape , and the spring force of the springs 115 is adjusted by adjusting the plate thickness of the plate springs . with regard to the material forming the springs 115 , the material is desirably capable of maintaining the required spring properties while the gas turbine 1 is in operation , that is , even if the springs 115 are heated to high temperature . the springs 115 are disposed in the space formed between the inner shroud portions 113 and the seal holder 114 , more specifically , between the seal holder 114 and the damping plates 116 . furthermore , a total of two springs 115 , one on the leading edge le side and another on the trailing edge te side , are disposed in a parallel arrangement . in this embodiment , descriptions will be given as applied to an example in which these two springs 115 are disposed at the same phase , in other words , an example in which peak portions of the two springs 115 come in contact with the damping plates 116 or the seal holder 114 at the same positions . fig1 is a schematic diagram for explaining another arrangement example of the springs in fig9 . note that , the two springs 115 may be disposed at the same phase , as described above , or they may be disposed at different phases , as shown in fig1 ; it is not particularly limited . with the arrangement of the springs 115 shown in fig1 , at locations where the peak portions of the first spring 115 are in contact with the damping plates 116 , the peak portions of the other spring 115 are in contact with the seal holder 114 . by doing so , it is possible to make the springs 115 contact all of the damping plates 116 , even when arrangement intervals of the peak portions in the first spring 115 are wider than arrangement intervals of the inner shroud portions 113 and the damping plates 116 . that is , the damping plates 116 with which the peak portions of the first spring 115 are not in contact are in contact with the peak portions of the other spring 115 , thereby making it possible to have all of the damping plates 116 in contact with the springs 115 . the shapes of the springs 115 are determined such that the amplitude of the wave shape ( peak - to - peak distance in the radial direction ) is longer than the distance from the outer circumferential surfaces of the damping plates 116 to the inner circumferential surface of the seal holder 114 and so that the peak portions of the springs 115 are in contact with the inner circumferential surfaces of individual damping plates 116 . more specifically , the amplitude of the wave shape in the springs 115 is determined on the basis of the frictional force for damping the vibrations of the stator blades 110 , that is , the compression level of the springs 115 required for generating the spring force . the wavelength ( peak - to - peak distance in the circumferential direction ) in the wave shape of the springs 115 is determined on the basis of the arrangement intervals of the inner shroud portions 113 and damping plates 116 , that is , the pitch thereof . as shown in fig9 , the damping plates 116 are pressed against the inner circumferential surfaces of the inner shroud portions 113 by the springs 115 and are disposed between the inner shroud portions 113 and the springs 115 . as with the inner shroud portions 113 , one damping plate 116 is disposed for each of the plurality of the airfoil portions 112 and the inner shroud portions 113 . fig1 is a schematic diagram for explaining the configuration of the damping plates in fig9 . the damping plates 116 are provided with bolt holes 116 h into which the compressing bolts 118 are screwed and relief grooves 116 g formed on surfaces facing the inner shroud portions 113 . the bolt holes 116 h are female screw holes formed substantially at the center of the damping plates 116 and the compressing bolts 118 are screwed thereinto . first end portions of the compressing bolts 118 are screwed into the bolt holes 116 h of the damping plates 116 . second end portions of the compressing bolts 118 are inserted into the through - holes 114 h of the seal holder 114 . the nuts ( compressing portions ) 119 , which compress the springs 115 together with the compressing bolts 118 , are threaded onto the second end portions of the compressing bolts 118 . as shown in fig9 and 11 , the relief grooves 116 g are grooves formed on the surfaces ( top - side surfaces in fig9 and 11 ) of the damping plates 116 facing the inner shroud portions 113 . in addition , the relief grooves 116 g are grooves extending in the direction parallel to the direction in which the rotational shaft 5 extends ( direction perpendicular to the plane of the drawing in fig9 ), in other words , grooves extending in a direction that intersect with , more preferably a direction perpendicular to , the direction in which the damping plates 116 and the inner shroud portions 113 slide . by providing the relief grooves 116 g in this way , the surfaces of the damping plates 116 that come into contact with the inner shroud portions 113 are divided into two with the relief grooves 116 g therebetween , and each surface comes into contact with the inner shroud portions 113 . accordingly , even if the inner shroud portions 113 and the damping plates 116 slide , the inner shroud portions 113 and the damping plates 116 come into stable contact at the above - described two surfaces , thereby preventing the occurrence of problems such as partial contact or the like . as shown in fig9 , the honeycomb seal 117 , together with seal fins 122 provided in a rotor 21 , suppresses leakage of a fluid that flows between the stator blades 110 and the rotor 21 . any known honeycomb seal may be used as the honeycomb seal 117 ; it is not particularly limited . next , an assembly method of the stator blades 110 having the above - described configuration will be described . fig1 is a schematic diagram for explaining attaching and detaching of the seal holder in the stator blades in fig9 . first , the springs 115 and the damping plates 116 are disposed inside the seal holder 114 , and the second end portions of the compressing bolts 118 are inserted into the through - holes 114 h of the seal holder 114 . then , by threading the nuts 119 on the second end portions of the compressing bolts 118 , the damping plates 116 are brought closer to the bottom plate portion 114 b of the seal holder 114 , thereby compressing the springs 115 . at this time , the distance from the outer circumferential surface of the bottom plate portion 114 b to the outer circumferential surfaces of the damping plates 116 is made shorter than the distance from the outer circumferential surface of the bottom plate portion 114 b to the inner circumferential surfaces of the inner shroud portions 113 . subsequently , the seal holder 114 is fitted to the inner shroud portions 113 . more specifically , the protrusions 114 a of the seal holder 114 are fitted to the fitting grooves 113 a in the inner shroud portions 113 . at this time , the seal holder 114 is fitted while sliding it in the circumferential direction relative to the inner shroud portions 113 . fig1 is a schematic diagram for explaining the state after the seal holder is attached to the stator blade in fig9 . then , as shown in fig1 , the nuts 119 are removed from the compressing bolts 118 , and the damping plates 116 are brought into contact with the inner shroud portions 113 , thereby completing the attaching of the seal holder 114 . the seal holder 114 is removed by carrying out the above - described steps sequentially in reverse order . note that , the compressing bolts 118 may be left attached to the damping plates 116 , as described above , or they may be removed from the damping plates 116 ; it is not particularly limited . next , a method of damping vibrations in the stator blades 110 having the above - described configuration will be described . when the gas turbine 1 is operated , vibrations are generated in the stator blades 110 due to the influence of the fluid or the like flowing in the compressor 2 . more specifically , vibrations are generated by which the airfoil portions 112 and the inner shroud portions 113 of the stator blades 110 vibrate in the circumferential direction . when the inner shroud portions 113 vibrate as described above , sliding occurs between the damping plates 116 , which are pressed against the inner shroud portions 113 , and the inner circumferential surfaces of the inner shroud portions 113 . the pressing force of the springs 115 and the frictional force in accordance with the friction coefficient between the inner shroud portions 113 and the damping plates 116 act between the inner shroud portions 113 and the damping plates 116 . the above - described sliding converts vibrational energy of the airfoil portions 112 and the inner shroud portions 113 into frictional energy , such as thermal energy and so forth , thereby damping the vibrations in the stator blades 110 . with the above - described configuration , when the airfoil portions 112 and the inner shroud portions 113 vibrate and slide relative to the seal holder 114 , the damping plates 116 , which have been pressed against the inner shroud portions 113 , and the inner shroud portions 113 relatively move ; that is , the damping plates 116 and the inner shroud portions 113 slide . accordingly , energy associated with the vibrations in the airfoil portions 112 and the inner shroud portions 113 is converted into thermal energy ( frictional energy ) due to the sliding , thereby making it possible to damp the vibrations in the airfoil portions 112 and the inner shroud portions 113 . on the other hand , by moving the damping plates 116 closer to the seal holder 114 , the biasing force of the springs 115 is received by the damping plates 116 and the seal holder 114 . in other words , the biasing force of the springs 115 does not act on the inner shroud portions 113 . accordingly , when moving the seal holder 114 by sliding it relative to the inner shroud portions 113 or when attaching / detaching the seal holder 114 , the frictional force that acts at contact surfaces between the inner shroud portions 113 and the seal holder 114 is reduced , thereby making it possible to facilitate the sliding movement or attaching / detaching . furthermore , the springs 115 can be easily replaced by attaching / detaching the springs 115 , together with the seal holder 114 , to / from the inner shroud portions 113 by sliding them . accordingly , even if the springs 115 become deteriorated due to wear from long - term use , the springs 115 can easily be replaced . in addition , the springs 115 are disposed inside the space surrounded by the seal holder 114 and the inner shroud portions 113 ; therefore , even if the springs 115 break , it is possible to prevent them from leaping out of the space to damage the airfoil portions 112 . because the inner shroud portions 113 are independently disposed for each of the plurality of the airfoil portions 112 , the individual airfoil portions 112 and the inner shroud portions 113 readily move relative to the damping plates 116 , as compared with the case in which the plurality of the inner shroud portions 113 are integrally formed . in other words , the sliding distance between the inner shroud portions 113 and the damping plates 116 is extended . accordingly , a greater amount of energy associated with the vibrations in the airfoil portions 112 and the inner shroud portions 113 is converted into thermal energy ( frictional energy ) due to sliding , and therefore , the vibrations in the airfoil portions 112 and the inner shroud portions 113 are more readily damped . on the other hand , because a single seal holder 114 is provided for the plurality of the airfoil portions 112 and the inner shroud portions 113 , the sealing level between the upstream side and the downstream side of the stator blades 110 can be increased as compared with the case in which the seal holders 114 are disposed for each of the plurality of the airfoil portions 112 and the inner shroud portions 113 . by employing springs formed into a wave - like shape as the springs 115 , a larger pressing force can be exerted on the inner shroud portions 113 as compared with the case in which other types of springs are employed . on the other hand , by making each of the peak portions of the springs 115 individually contact the damping plates 116 , the plurality of the damping plates 116 are pressed against the inner shroud portions 113 by a single spring . because the compressing bolts 118 protrude from the damping plates 116 penetrating the seal holder 114 , the compressing bolts 118 and the damping plates 116 are movable in directions toward and away from the seal holder 114 , while being restricted in movement in the direction that intersects with the direction of movement toward / away from the seal holder 114 ; that is , movement in the circumferential direction of the rotational shaft 5 is restricted . accordingly , it is ensured that sliding occurs between the inner shroud portions 113 and the damping plates 116 . fig1 is a schematic diagram for explaining yet another arrangement example of the springs in fig3 . note that , two springs 115 may be disposed between the damping plates 116 and the seal holder 114 , as in the embodiment described above , or , as shown in fig1 , four springs 115 may be disposed between the damping plates 116 and the seal holder 114 ; the number of the springs 115 is not particularly limited . fig1 is a schematic diagram for explaining another configuration of the seal holder in fig9 . note that , as in the above - described embodiment , the honeycomb seal 117 may be disposed in the seal holder 114 , and the seal fins 122 may be disposed at the rotor 21 or , as shown in fig1 , seal fins 122 may be disposed in the seal holder 114 , configuring them as a labyrinth seal in which steps are provided at positions that face the seal fins 122 of the rotor 21 ; it is not particularly limited . as in the embodiment described above , the spring force of the springs 115 may be adjusted by adjusting the compression level of the springs 115 using compressing bolts 118 and the nuts 119 or , even in a state in which the nuts 119 are removed , the spring force of the springs 115 may be adjusted by adjusting only the plate thickness of the damping plates 116 ; it is not particularly limited . a gas turbine according to a third embodiment of this invention will now be described with reference to fig1 and fig1 to 19 . note that , in this embodiment , turbine blades of the invention of the present application will be described as applied to stator blades of first to third , fifth to seventeenth , or tenth to fourteenth stages in the compressor 2 of the gas turbine 1 . fig1 is a schematic diagram for explaining the configuration of a rotor disc and stator blades in a compressor of a gas turbine according to this embodiment . as shown in fig1 and 16 , the compressor 2 is provided with stator blades ( turbine blades ) 210 that are attached to a casing 6 of the gas turbine 1 and rotor blades that are disposed at a circumferential surface of a circular plate - like rotor disc ( not shown ) which is rotationally driven by the rotational shaft 5 . the stator blades 210 and the rotor blades are disposed in rows in the circumferential direction of the rotational shaft 5 at regular intervals and are disposed in alternating rows in the axial direction of the rotational shaft 5 . next , the stator blades 210 , which are the feature of this embodiment , will be described . fig1 is a cross - sectional view for explaining the configuration near a seal holder in the stator blades in fig1 . in this embodiment , the stator blades 210 will be described as applied to stator blades with fixed pitch , in other words , stator blades with fixed angles of attack with respect to the flow of the fluid flowing inside the compressor 2 . as shown in fig1 and 17 , the stator blades 210 are provided with an outer shroud portion 211 , airfoil portions 212 , inner shroud portions ( shroud portions ) 213 , a seal holder ( holder casing ) 214 , springs ( elastic portions ) 215 , and a honeycomb seal 217 . as shown in fig1 , the outer shroud portion 211 is a member that forms part of wall surfaces of a flow channel in which fluid flows in the compressor 2 . furthermore , the outer shroud portion 211 is a curved plate - like member disposed at end portions of the airfoil portions 212 on the radially outer side thereof , and a single outer shroud portion 211 is disposed for a plurality of the airfoil portions 212 . in other words , the outer shroud portion 211 is formed of a cylindrical member that has been divided into a plurality of portions , and the plurality of the airfoil portions 212 are connected to an inner circumferential surface thereof . with regard to the shape of the outer shroud portion 211 and the connection method with the airfoil portions 212 , any known shapes and methods can be employed ; they are not particularly limited . as shown in fig1 , the airfoil portions 212 are members whose cross - sections extending in the radial direction of the rotational shaft 5 are formed in airfoil shapes and that , together with the rotor blades rotationally driven by the rotational shaft 5 , compress a fluid such as air and send it toward the combustor 3 . the airfoil portions 212 are provided with leading edges le , which are upstream - end portions relative to a flow of surrounding fluid , trailing edges te , which are downstream - end portions , negative pressure surfaces , which are surfaces curved in convex shapes , and positive pressure surfaces , which are curved in concave shapes . as shown in fig1 and 17 , the inner shroud portions 213 , as well as the outer shroud portion 211 , form part of the flow channel in which the fluid flows inside the compressor 2 . furthermore , the inner shroud portions 213 are curved plate - like members disposed at end portions of the airfoil portions 212 on radially inner side thereof , and a single inner shroud portion 213 is disposed for a single airfoil portion 212 . in other words , the inner shroud portions 213 are formed of a cylindrical member that has been divided into a plurality of portions , and the airfoil portions 212 are connected to outer circumferential surfaces thereof . fitting grooves 213 a that fit with the seal holder 214 , extending in the circumferential direction ( direction perpendicular to the plane of the drawing in fig1 ), are provided at end portions on the leading edge le side and trailing edge te side of the inner shroud portions 213 . as shown in fig1 , the seal holder 214 is a member that is attached to the inner shroud portions 213 on the inner circumferential side thereof ( bottom side in fig1 ), that , together with the inner shroud portions 213 , forms a space for accommodating the springs 215 inside thereof , and that supports the honeycomb seal 217 . as with the outer shroud portion 211 , a single seal holder 214 is disposed for the plurality of the airfoil portions 212 and the inner shroud portions 213 . the seal holder 214 is provided with a pair of side wall portions 214 s that extend in radial directions at the leading edge le side and the trailing edge te side and a bottom plate portion 214 b which connects end portions of the pair of side wall portions 214 s at radially inner side thereof . in other words , a groove portion is formed in the seal holder 214 , opening outward in the circumferential direction ( top side in fig1 ). the radially outer - side end portions of the side wall portions 214 s are provided with protrusions 214 a which protrude inward in the seal holder 214 , extending in the circumferential direction thereof , and fit with the fitting grooves 213 a of the inner shroud portions 213 . as shown in fig1 and 17 , the springs 215 are elastic members that bias the inner shroud portions 213 in directions that separate them from the seal holder 214 . furthermore , by sliding on the inner shroud portions 213 , the springs 215 damp the vibrations in the stator blades 210 , i . e ., the airfoil portions 212 , and the inner should portions 213 . in this way , by having the springs 215 bias the inner shroud portions 213 in the directions that separate them from the seal holder 214 , the fitting grooves 213 a and the protrusions 214 a are pressed together , coming into close contact with each other , thereby making it possible to ensure the sealing level between the inner shroud portions 213 and the seal holder 214 . the springs 215 are substantially rectangularly formed plate springs that are formed into substantially a wave shape , and the spring force of the springs 215 is adjusted by adjusting the plate thickness of the plate springs . with regard to the material forming the springs 215 , the material is desirably capable of maintaining the required spring properties while the gas turbine 1 is in operation , that is , even if the springs 215 are heated to high temperature . the springs 215 are disposed in a space formed between the inner shroud portions 213 and the seal holder 214 , more specifically , between the inner shroud portions 213 and the seal holder 214 . furthermore , a total of two springs 215 , one on the leading edge le side and another on the trailing edge te side , are disposed in a parallel arrangement . in this embodiment , descriptions will be given as applied to an example in which these two springs 215 are disposed at the same phase , in other words , an example in which peak portions of the two springs 215 come in contact with the inner shroud portions 213 or the seal holder 214 at the same positions . fig1 is a schematic diagram for explaining another arrangement example of springs in fig1 . note that , the two springs 215 may be disposed at the same phase , as described above , or they may be disposed at different phases , as shown in fig1 ; it is not particularly limited . with the arrangement of the springs 215 shown in fig1 , at locations where the peak portions of the first spring 215 are in contact with the inner shroud portions 213 , the peak portions of the other spring 215 are in contact with the seal holder 214 . by doing so , it is possible to make the springs 215 contact all of the inner shroud portions 213 , even when arrangement intervals of the peak portions in the first spring 215 are wider than arrangement intervals of the inner shroud portions 213 . that is , the inner shroud portions 213 with which the peak portions of the first spring 215 are not in contact are in contact with the peak portions of the other spring 215 , thereby making it possible to have all of the inner shroud portions 213 in contact with the springs 215 . the shapes of the springs 215 are determined such that the amplitude of the wave shape ( peak - to - peak distance in the radial direction ) is longer than the distance from the inner circumferential surfaces of the inner shroud portions 213 to the outer circumferential surface of the seal holder 214 and so that the peak portions of the springs 215 are in contact with the inner circumferential surfaces of individual inner shroud portions 213 . more specifically , the amplitude of the wave shape in the springs 215 is determined on the basis of the frictional force for damping the vibrations of the stator blades 210 , that is , the compression level of the springs 215 required for generating the spring force . the wavelength ( peak - to - peak distance in the circumferential direction ) in the wave shape of the springs 215 is determined on the basis of the arrangement intervals of the inner shroud portions 213 , that is , the stator blade &# 39 ; s pitch . as shown in fig1 , the honeycomb seal 217 , together with seal fins 222 provided in the rotor 21 , suppresses leakage of a fluid that flows between the stator blades 210 and the rotor 21 . any known honeycomb seal may be used as the honeycomb seal 217 ; it is not particularly limited . next , a method of damping vibrations in the stator blades 210 having the above - described configuration will be described . when the gas turbine 1 is operated , vibrations are generated in the stator blades 210 due to the influence of the fluid or the like flowing in the compressor 2 . more specifically , vibrations are energized by which the airfoil portions 212 and the inner shroud portions 213 of the stator blades 210 vibrate in the circumferential direction . when the inner shroud portions 213 vibrate as described above , sliding occurs between the peak portions of the springs 215 , which are pressed against the inner shroud portions 213 , and the inner circumferential surfaces of the inner shroud portions 213 . the pressing force of the springs 215 and the frictional force in accordance with the friction coefficient between the inner shroud portions 213 and the springs 215 act between the inner shroud portions 213 and the springs 215 . the above - described sliding converts vibrational energy of the airfoil portions 212 and the inner shroud portions 213 into thermal energy , such as frictional energy and so forth , thereby damping the vibrations in the stator blades 210 . with the above - described configuration , when the airfoil portions 212 and the inner shroud portions 213 vibrate and slide relative to the seal holder 214 , the springs 215 and the inner shroud portions 213 relatively move ; that is , the springs 215 and the inner shroud portions 213 slide . accordingly , energy associated with the vibrations in the airfoil portions 212 and the inner shroud portions 213 is converted into thermal energy ( frictional energy ) due to the sliding , thereby making it possible to damp the vibrations in the airfoil portions 212 and the inner shroud portions 213 . on the other hand , the springs 215 can be easily replaced by attaching / detaching the springs 215 , together with the seal holder 214 , to / from the inner shroud portions 213 by sliding them . accordingly , even if the springs 215 become deteriorated due to wear from long - term use , the springs 215 can easily be replaced . in addition , the springs 215 are disposed inside the space surrounded by the seal holder 214 and the inner shroud portions 213 ; therefore , even if the springs 215 break , it is possible to prevent them from leaping out of the space to damage the airfoil portions 212 . because the inner shroud portions 213 are independently disposed for each of the plurality of the airfoil portions 212 , the individual airfoil portions 212 and the inner shroud portions 213 readily move relative to the springs 215 , as compared with the case in which the plurality of the inner shroud portions 213 are integrally formed . in other words , the sliding distance between the inner shroud portions 213 and the springs 215 is extended . accordingly , a greater amount of energy associated with the vibrations in the airfoil portions 212 and the inner shroud portions 213 is converted into thermal energy ( frictional energy ) due to sliding , and therefore , greater damping of the vibrations in the airfoil portions 212 and the inner shroud portions 213 is possible . fig1 is a schematic diagram for explaining yet another arrangement example of the springs in fig1 . note that , two springs 215 may be disposed between the inner shroud portions 213 and the seal holder 214 , as in the embodiment described above , or , as shown in fig1 , four springs 215 may be disposed between the inner shroud portions 213 and the seal holder 214 ; the number of the springs 215 is not particularly limited . note that , the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above , and various alterations are permissible within a range that does not depart from the gist of the present invention . for example , in the above - described embodiments , turbine blades of this invention have been described as applied to stator blades of a gas turbine compressor ; however , application to stator blades of a turbine unit of a gas turbine is also possible .	5
the following examples will demonstrate the effectiveness of oxygen ion vacancies with respect to the movement of sulfur and oxygen anions in and out of cerium oxide . the effectiveness of doped cerium oxide to increase the rate and extent of removal of oxygen from ceo 2 with reducing gases is illustrated as follows : the samples to be used in this investigation were prepared by dissolving ce ( no3 ) 3 . 6h 2 o and the nitrate salts of the dopants in warm distilled water . the material to be utilized in the tests was precipitated by adding ammonia oxalate [( nh 4 ) 2 c 2 o 4 . h 2 o ]. the precipitate was recovered by filtering the oxalate precipitate in a buchner funnel . the oxalate precipitate was dried for 24 hours and calcined in a muffle furnace at 800 ° c . for 24 hours . the agglomerates of material were broken up using a mortar and pestle . the reduction experiments were carried out using a thermogravimetric analyzer ( tga ) which permits a calculation of the weight loss of the ceo 2 . the data is table i can be used to illustrate the effect of doping on rates of reaction and extent of oxygen removal from the doped cerium oxide . table i______________________________________composition of non - stoichiometric doped cerium oxide ( ceo . sub . ( 2 - x )) by reduction with hydrogenreduction temp final value of ( 2 - x ) with extent of dopingdopant ° c . 0 mole % 5 mole % 10 mole % 15 mole % ______________________________________mgo 800 1 . 83 1 . 83 1 . 78bao 800 1 . 85 1 . 84 1 . 88 900 1 . 83 1 . 82 1 . 88 1000 1 . 80 1 . 79 1 . 84 1070 1 . 76 1 . 78 1 . 82la . sub . 2 o . sub . 3 800 1 . 84 1 . 82 1 . 85 900 1 . 80 1 . 79 1 . 84 1000 1 . 76 1 . 75 1 . 83 1100 1 . 72 1 . 69 1 . 80sro 800 1 . 88 1 . 86 1 . 94 900 1 . 85 1 . 85 1 . 92 1000 1 . 84 1 . 81 1 . 90 1100 1 . 76 1 . 68 1 . 87none 800 1 . 99 900 1 . 91 1000 1 . 87 1100 1 . 85______________________________________ these results demonstrate the increased mobility of the oxygen ions remaining in all of the doped ceo 2 as compared to the undoped when exposed to reducing gases . of the dopants investigated , la 2 o 3 appears to be superior . however , no final conclusion can be made until the results of exposure of mgo doped ceo 2 are made at temperatures higher than 800 ° c . ( 1372 ° f .). the data obtained in the runs in the tga at 800 ° c . show that undoped ceo 2 is not reduced by hydrogen , the other dopants are very effective in increasing the extent of the reduction . since the rate of reduction of the undoped ceo 2 is zero because there was no reduction , the rates of reduction of the doped ceo 2 are greater than the rate of reduction of undoped ceo 2 . of equal importance is the fact that there is no reduction of ceo 2 at 800 ° c . while there is significant reduction of ceo 2 at 1000 ° c . this indicates the importance of doping to increase the reactivity of ceo 2 at lower temperatures such as those required for desulfurization of flue gases ( 350 ° c . to 550 ° c .) the data presented in table i shows clearly , except when mgo is the dopant , that the extent of reduction is less at 15 mole % of any of the dopants compared to either 5 or 10 mole %. the number of doped oxygen vacancies created by 10 mole % addition of strontium oxide ( sro ) can be computed to be 3 . 05 × 10 20 per gram . since the strontium has a valence of + 2 and lanthanum has a valence of + 3 the lanthanum will create only half as many doped oxygen vacancies as the strontium . another factor determining the extent of reduction of doped cerium oxide is the difference in ionic radii between the material being doped and the dopant . the ionic radii of lanthanum oxide is closer to the ionic radii of cerium oxide that the ionic radii of strontium oxide . as a result , lanthanum oxide may be a more effective dopant for cerium oxide as indicated in table i . the number of reduction oxygen vacancies created with ceo 2 doped with lanthanum oxide when exposed to hydrogen at 800 ° c . is 7 . 16 × 10 20 oxygen ion vacancies per gram . since there were no reduction oxygen vacancies created when undoped ceo 2 was exposed to the reducing atmosphere , the doped oxygen vacancies made it possible to create 7 . 16 × 10 20 reduction oxygen vacancies . this illustrates the effectiveness of doping on the ability to increase the movement of oxygen in the crystal lattice of ceo 2 . the effect of oxygen ion vacancies on the movement of sulfur into cerium oxide can be illustrated as follows : granules of ceo 2 were prepared for these experiments using the marcilly technique wherein 68 . 8 grams of cerium nitrate ( ce ( no 3 ) 3 . 6h 2 o were mixed with 38 . 4 grams of citric acid ( hoc ( ch 2 co 2 h ) 2 co 2 h ) and 70 milliliters of deionized water . these materials were taken into solution and the solution was placed in a rotating evaporator where moisture was removed until the remaining solution had the consistency of karo syrup . the solution was placed in a porcelain evaporator dish and placed in a vacuum oven which was operated at 75 ° c . and 25 inches of vacuum . the balance of the water in the solution was removed in the vacuum oven resulting in the formation of hollow sphere of material approximately 10 inches in diameter . the hollow sphere was moved to a muffle furnace where the temperature was raised to 400 ° c . at approximately 150 ° c . there was a release of gases from the hollow sphere accompanied by flames which was probably the ignition of some of the nitrates and part of the citric acid . the material was calcined at 400 ° c . for three hours . surface area measurement of material at this stage of processing determined the b . e . t . surface area to be 20 m 2 / gram . at this stage in the process the material is ceo 2 , much of it is amorphous . in order to increase the crush strength of the ceo 2 , the material was sintered in air at 1250 ° c . the sintering process reduced the b . e . t . surface area to 2 m 2 / gram and the resulting pellets had a crush strength similar to that of char resulting from mild gasification . the desulfurization of fuel gases rich in carbon monoxide and hydrogen with cerium oxide was achieved with the ceo 2 prepared in the manner describe above . to achieve this desulfurization it was determined that the ceo 2 would be subjected to reduction with hydrogen to create oxygen ion vacancies prior to exposure of the cerium oxide to the fuel gases containing sulfur as h 2 s . the data contained in table i shows that if ceo 2 is exposed to a reducing atmosphere at 1000 ° c . that oxygen is removed from the ceo 2 crystals with the formation of ceo 1 . 87 resulting in the formation of reduction oxygen ion vacancies . it is also known that if ceo 1 . 87 is exposed to a less reducing atmosphere than hydrogen than the number of oxygen ion vacancies is reduced . the reducing power of the gases being desulfurized is directly related at any temperature to the partial pressure of oxygen ( po 2 ) of the gases . as shown in fig3 po 2 is directly related to the ratio [(% co + % h 2 )/(% co 2 + % h 2 o )] this ratio will hereinafter be called &# 34 ; quality factor &# 34 ; or &# 34 ; qf &# 34 ;. when the h 2 content of the gases being desulfurized is constant , the ratio of co / co 2 is also related to po 2 , but not as closely related as qf which also considers the amount of h 2 o in the gases . the procedure for determining the effect of the number of oxygen vacancies on the amount of sulfur ( h 2 s ) in equilibrium with cerium oxide is as follows : a standard procedure for desulfurization runs to determine the effect of the number of oxygen ion vacancies on the extent of desulfurization that lasted for one hour was to expose a column of ceo 2 one centimeter in diameter and six centimeters long ( the reactor ) to a mixture of 5 % hydrogen with the remainder nitrogen for two hours prior to the beginning of the desulfurization run . the results of a series of these desulfurization runs is shown in fig4 . for each of these runs made with gases containing 1 % h 2 s and some co 2 there is a period as long as 20 minutes where the h2s content of the effluent from the reactor is less than 20 ppm . the amount of co 2 in these gases entering the reactor is indicated by the co / co 2 ratio in the legend on fig4 . it is to be noted that there is one gas which contains no co 2 . when the gas containing h2s enters the reactor , it encounters the ceo 1 . 87 and the reaction that predominates is the removal of the sulfur from the gas by reaction with the cerium oxide . since the removal of h 2 s from the gas is more rapid than the reaction of the oxygen in the gas with the reduction oxygen ion vacancies , the h 2 s content of the gas exiting the reactor is at less than the 20 ppm level as indicated in fig4 . the desulfurization that occurs first to very low levels will be referred to hereinafter as the &# 34 ; primary desulfurization &# 34 ;. however , after the h 2 s content of the gas has been almost completely removed , the gases with various co / co 2 ratios ( and various values of po 2 ) comes in contact with the ceo 1 . 87 upstream from the point of entry of the fuel gases into the reactor . the oxygen content in the gases resulting from their co 2 content reduces the number of oxygen ion vacancies . the number of reduction oxygen ion vacancies remaining has not been determined when ceo 1 . 87 is exposed to gases with various co / co 2 ratios , but not all of the reduction oxygen ion vacancies are eliminated . as a result there is further sulfur removal from the gases to various levels depending on the co / co 2 ratio of the gas being desulfurized . the desulfurization of fuel gases that takes place when the number of reduction oxygen ion vacancies has been reduced has been labeled &# 34 ; secondary desulfurization &# 34 ;. fig4 further shows that as the co / co 2 ratio of the gases increases , resulting in the retention of a greater number of reduction oxygen ion vacancies , secondary desulfurization results in lower h 2 s content fuel gases exiting the reactor . when there is no co 2 in the gases being desulfurized , desulfurization of the gases is to less than 3 ppm of h 2 s for one hour . the data presented above clearly demonstrates that the extent of secondary desulfurization that cerium oxide is capable of attaining is a function of the number of oxygen ion vacancies available in the ceo 2 crystals . the effectiveness of oxygen ion vacancies to increase the utilization of the cerium oxide sorbent may be illustrated as follows : further analysis of the data used as the basis for the construction of fig4 make it is possible to calculate the utilization of the sorbent . the utilization of the cerium oxide sorbent as a function of the co / co 2 ratio is shown in table ii : table ii______________________________________co / co . sub . 2 ratio % utilization of the sorbent______________________________________2 . 0 7 . 944 . 0 14 . 246 . 0 15 . 22no co . sub . 2 16 . 14______________________________________ these results clearly demonstrate that the utilization of the sorbent is related to the number of oxygen ion vacancies in the cerium oxide sorbent . all of the information contained in table ii is based on runs in the reactor described above that were arbitrarily terminated after one hour . if the runs had been terminated when the h 2 s content of the effluent gas from the reactor was equal to the h 2 s content of the gas exiting the reactor , the utilization would have been much higher particularly for the gases with the higher co / co 2 ratios . the effectiveness of oxygen ion vacancies to increase the rate of desulfurization of fuel gases may be illustrated as follows : analysis of the data contained in fig4 can be used to compute the rate of secondary desulfurization of fuel gases , and that rate can be related to the number of oxygen ion vacancies remaining in the gas being desulfurized . it is recognized that the slope of a curve representing the course of a reaction , such as secondary desulfurization of fuel gases , is related to the rate of secondary desulfurization . inspection of the curves in fig4 shows that the slope of the secondary desulfurization curves increases as the co / co 2 ratio of the gases being desulfurized increases . since the curves are essentially straight lines , it is simple to calculate the slopes of the curves . when the slopes of the curves are multiplied by the rate at which the h 2 s is being admitted to the reactor , the result is the rate of secondary desulfurization . the rate of secondary desulfurization for the curves shown in fig4 are shown in table iii . table iii______________________________________co / co . sub . 2 ratio rate of secondary desulf . ______________________________________2 . 0 0 . 4124 . 0 0 . 8376 . 0 0 . 892no co . sub . 2 1 . 00______________________________________ as explained previously , as the co / co 2 ratio or the qf of the gases being desulfurized increases the number of oxygen ion vacancies remaining in the cerium oxide during secondary desulfurization increases . therefore the rate of secondary desulfurization increases as the number of oxygen ion vacancies remaining in the cerium oxide increases . the data presented in examples ii , iii , and iv demonstrates that the extent of desulfurization , utilization of the sorbent and rate of desulfurization are closely related to each other and to the number of oxygen ion vacancies remaining in the ceo 2 . the superiority of doped ceo 2 over undoped ceo 2 for the desulfurization of fuel gases containing h 2 s produced by the partial combustion of sulfur containing hydrocarbons such as coal may be illustrated as follows : the concepts of &# 34 ; secondary desulfurization &# 34 ; and &# 34 ; quality factor &# 34 ; or qf are explained in example ii . pellets of doped and undoped ceo 2 were prepared as described in example ii using the same raw materials . the pellets were exposed to various qf gases in the microreactor described in that same example or one hour , and the superior ability of doped ceo 2 to remove h2s from fuel gases was established . fig5 shows the relationship between qf and the h 2 s concentration during secondary desulfurization after the ceo 2 has reacted with fuel gases which originally contained 1 % h2s . the solid squares show this relationship which was determined previously . the b . e . t . surface area of the undoped ceo 2 used was 1 . 1 m 2 / gram . the stars indicate the relationship between undoped ceo 2 and h 2 s concentration during secondary desulfurization after reaction with fuel gas which originally contained 1 % h 2 s developed during subsequent research . the undoped ceo 2 used in this research had a b . e . t . surface area of 2 . 4 m 2 / gram . this increase in b . e . t . surface area accounts for the improved ability of the undoped ceo 2 to remove h 2 s from fuel gases . all of the doped and undoped ceo 2 prepared for the most recent research had a b . e . t . surface area of 2 . 4 to 2 . 6 m 2 / gram . the lower concentration of h 2 s in the fuel gases during secondary desulfurization after contact with ceo 2 doped with 5 mole % la 2 o 3 is represented by the crosses . a further improvement in secondary desulfurization is obtained when qf 7 . 5 fuel gas containing 1 % h 2 s is exposed to doped ceo 2 containing 10 mole % la 2 o 3 . this one point is represented by the open square . the most recent data from which fig5 is constructed is contained in table iv : table iv______________________________________ secondgas qf bet surf temp dopant desulf______________________________________22 . 5 1 . 1 1000 ° c . none 220 ppm7 . 5 1 . 1 1000 ° c . none 1460 ppm22 . 5 2 . 2 1000 ° c . none 100 ppm7 . 5 2 . 2 1000 ° c . none 557 ppm22 . 5 2 . 4 1000 ° c . 5 m / o la . sub . 2 o . sub . 3 91 ppm7 . 5 2 . 4 1000 ° c . 5 m / o la . sub . 2 o . sub . 3 437 ppm7 . 5 2 . 4 1000 ° c . 10 m / o la . sub . 2 o . sub . 3 300 ppm______________________________________ although there are many sulfur containing hydrocarbons , one of the major objectives of this invention is the removal of sulfur , mainly in the form of so 2 from the gases created by the burning of coal in boilers . one of the more common grades of coal used to fire boilers is illinois # 6 which typically contains 3 % sulfur . when such a coal is burned with 20 % excess air , the typical composition of the resulting gases would be : 3000 ppm so 2 , 12 % co 2 , 4 . 0 % o 2 , 10 . 0 % h 2 o and 73 . 6 % n 2 at standard temperature and pressure . in order to meet present environmental protection agency ( epa ) standards of less than 1 . 2 lbs . so 2 / mmbtu for new power plants , it can be calculated that there will have to be a minimum of 80 % so 2 removal from such gases . an 80 % reduction in so 2 would require that the effluent from a power plant burning such coal would have to contain less than 600 ppm so 2 . the equation for the reaction of ceo 2 and so 2 is : at lower temperatures up to 600 ° c .- 700 ° c . the reaction proceeds with the formation of ce 2 ( so 4 ) 3 . as the temperature increases above that , the rate of dissociation of the sulfate and the rate of formation of the sulfate become nearly equal resulting in little removal of so 2 from flue gases . at temperatures in excess of 925 ° c . at one atmosphere pressure , the only reaction taking place is the dissociation of the sulfate with the release of so 2 and o 2 and the regeneration of the ce 2 ( so 4 ) 3 back to ceo 2 which is again capable of reacting with the so 2 in the products of combustion of sulfur containing hydrocarbons . with flue gases of the composition shown directly above there will be no reduction oxygen ion vacancies formed and only the oxygen ion vacancies created by doping the ceo 2 will be available . the superior ability of doped ceo 2 compared to undoped ceo 2 for the removal of so 2 from flue gases is illustrated in the following example : doped and undoped ceo 2 were prepared for these experiments according to the procedure described in example i except the procedure was stopped after the pyrolysis step when the b . e . t . surface area was estimated to be 20 m 2 / gram because the sorbents with a b . e . t . surface area of 2 . 2 m 2 / gram were found to be unreactive with the techniques used . a thermogravimetric analyzer ( tga ) was used to evaluate the ability of these sorbents to react with so 2 . the sorbents are placed in the tga on a pan in the weighing system of the instrument in such a manner that there is a continuous record made of the change in weight of the sorbent during the time the experiment is in progress as a result of the exposure to the gases which passed through the reaction chamber of the tga . the composition of the gases entering the reaction chamber is controlled by rotometers to produce a gas composition as close to that of the typical analysis of flue gas given above as possible . as reaction ( 4 ) proceeds , the sample gains weight and this weight gain is recorded . the weight gain of a 50 milligrams samples of ceo 2 and ceo 2 containing 10 mole % ( 10 m / o ) of strontium oxide , lanthanum oxide and calcium oxide after exposure for various times to the synthetic flue gas are shown in fig6 . starting at zero time there is a rapid increase in weight with time . in the case of ceo 2 doped with strontium oxide , ( sro ) this rapid rise continues for 100 minutes whereas the rapid increase in weight of undoped ceo 2 ceases at fifty minutes . after this rapid increase in weight , all sorbents gain weight at a lower rate which is essentially equal for all of the doped and undoped ceo 2 . based on the data in the figure , it can be seen that the rate of weight gain ( mg of so 2 absorbed per minute ) which is directly related to the rate of the reaction of equation ( 3 ) is greatest for ceo 2 doped with sro , the rate of weight gain of ceo 2 doped with la 2 o 3 and cao is less than rate of weight gain of ceo 2 doped with sro , but greater than the rate of weight gain of undoped ceo 2 . as can be seen from fig6 increasing the rate of weight gain also increases the utilization of the sorbents . rapid rates of reaction are important in the design of systems for the desulfurization of flue gases because the greater the rate of reaction the smaller vessel can be in which the reaction will be conducted thus reducing the capital cost of the system . also higher utilization of the sorbent will mean that the sorbent will have to be regenerated less frequently which will result in reduction in the operating cost of the system . the effect of lesser amount of dopants on the rate of reaction and utilization of the sorbents when exposed to the synthetic flue gas for one hour has been determined . the results of this part of the investigation are shown in table v below : table v______________________________________calculated rate of weight gainand total weight gain afterexposure of doped and undopedsorbents to flue gas at 550 ° c . % increase rate of total rate of total weight weight weight weightdopant gain * gain gain gain______________________________________none 2 . 5 3 . 0 mg -- -- none 2 . 5 3 . 0 mg -- -- 5 m / o cao 4 . 0 4 . 5 mg 60 . 0 50 . 010 m / o cao 4 . 9 5 . 0 mg 96 . 0 66 . 75 m / o la . sub . 2 o . sub . 3 3 . 0 3 . 0 mg 20 . 0 0 . 010 m / o la . sub . 2 o . sub . 3 4 . 2 5 . 0 mg 68 . 0 66 . 75 m / o sro 4 . 2 4 . 5 mg 68 . 0 50 . 010 m / o sro 5 . 6 7 . 5 mg 124 . 0 150 . 0______________________________________ * mg / min / gm surface area of sorbents predicted to be 30 m . sup . 2 / gm it is to be noted that in all cases the sorbents containing 5 mole % of the dopant have slower rates of reaction and less utilization than those which contain 10 % of the dopant . however , all sorbents with 5 mole % dopant performed better than undoped ceo 2 in one way or another . the ability of doped ceo 2 to achieve greater reduction of so 2 from flue gases than undoped ceo 2 may be illustrated as follows . ceo 2 plus 10 mole % sro and ceo 2 only were deposited onto an alumina substrate with techniques known to those skilled in the art . the results obtained when the undoped ceo 2 on the alumina support was exposed in a quartz tube reactor to flue gases whose composition was 73 . 7 % n 2 , 12 % co 2 , 4 % o 2 , 10 % h 2 o and 0 . 3 % so 2 , are presented graphically in fig7 . in the first cycle there was almost complete removal of the so 2 for six hours . regeneration of the sulfated sorbent was conducted at 950 ° c . which reduced the surface area of the substrate so that the extent of so 2 reduction in the second cycle of sulfidation and regeneration was much lower than in the first . there was less so 2 removed during the third cycle than during the second cycle . the ceo 2 doped with 10 mole % sro on the alumina was exposed to flue gases of the same analysis at the same temperature in the quartz reactor as the undoped ceo 2 and the results thereof are presented graphically in fig8 . the so 2 content of the gases effluent from the reactor during the first cycle of sulfidation was the same as for the doped ceo 2 as the undoped ceo 2 . due to the reduction in surface area of the doped ceo 2 on the alumina because of the high temperature of regeneration , the extent of desulfurization was less than subsequent cycles . after four hours of exposure to the flue gases , the so 2 content of the flue gases exiting the reactor after third cycle was 25 % of that of the inlet gas . in contrast , with the undoped ceo 2 there was 45 % of the inlet so 2 in the gases effluent from the reactor after the third cycle . this data illustrates the superiority of the doped ceo 2 compared to undoped ceo 2 to lower the so 2 content of flue gases . various embodiments and modifications of this invention have been described in the foregoing description and examples , and further modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art . such modifications are included within the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims .	2
the following explores various high level architectures , control strategies and hmi strategies that might be used to implement this functionality . the operator requires the following control inputs in order to effectively control the system : means to initiate train movement means to enter the desired maximum speed means to stop the train ( emergency stop es , full service stop fs , stop ) means to enter a stop location means to move to a specific location means to precisely locate the train ( spotting ) means to configure the system in general the leader ® system is in a better position than the operator to provide optimal train handling and trip control due to its simulation and computational capability coupled with its knowledge of the train make - up , location and track database . the operator assumes ultimate responsibility for the movement , in particular : it is suggested that the operator only enter maximum speed limits ( not necessarily related to track speed limits ) and allow leader ® system to optimally control the train . optimization parameters ( e . g ., in train forces , time - to - destination , etc .) can be predetermined by the railroad . allowing the operator to enter a stop location ( rather than simply commanding a stop ) allows the system to optimally control the trip . the challenge of initiating train movements is in managing the take - up of slack and managing rollback ( if starting on a grade ). another issue is managing the cycle braking restrictions of the train brake if the move is short and does not allow sufficient time for recharge of the brakes . this may require power braking or creep control a new movement is signaled by the entry of a non - zero speed set point and a destination while the train is stopped . the leader ® system may manage the rollback , slack and train acceleration . the rcl system may access the locomotive controls and interfaces . speed control is achieved by using the locomotive traction ( throttle ) system , automatic train brake , dynamic brake and / or independent brake as indicated by the constraints programmed into the system . leader ® system controls the speed of the locomotive according to the constraints programmed into the system at all time respecting the maximum speed indicated by the rco operator . the system can also be programmed to enforce the maximum track speed . the system may display the actual speed , operator indicated maximum speed as well as the maximum track speed allowed . the system may notify the operator if the requested maximum speed is greater than the posted track speed limit . during speed control , the train speed could vary anywhere between a min speed ( programmed in the system ) and the operator indicated maximum speed . generally time - to - destination will be minimized while respecting the rail roads requirements for maximum train dynamics and fuel conservation . these parameters can be adjusted as desired by the railroad . es applies an immediate emergency brake application . es is not recoverable until the train has come to a complete stop . fs applies an immediate full service brake application . fs is not recoverable until the train has come to a complete stop however it can be upgraded to an es . stop will bring the train to a controlled stop , respecting the desired limits of in - train forces . stop is not recoverable until the train has come to a complete stop however it can be upgraded to an fs or es . the controlled stop is a selected brake application less than full service . more than one controlled stop may be entered at one time and the results calculated and displayed . a graphic indicator on the profile display will at all times indicate the projected stop location for es ( red ); fs ( amber ) and stop ( green ) as shown in fig1 - 3 . the system offers the means to assist in optimum train handling from the start to stopping the train at a precise location or destination . the operator enters a destination and a trip plan including speeds and locations ( a minimum trip plan consists of minimum and maximum speed and a destination ). using the moving stop indicators , the operator could issue the stop command at the precise moment that the projected stop indicator passes over the desired stopping location . alternatively , the operator moves the destination cursor to the desired location for a stop . the system will then plan and control the most effective traversal and stopping trajectory to achieve the desired stop . the destination cursor can be moved by using the right / left arrow keys or by entering the destination milepost . ( note that the mp entry can be used for coarse entry and the arrows can be used for finer adjustments .) during the stop sequence adjustments can be made to the destination by adjusting the cursor . at some point , the changes can no longer be entered and the cursor control keys will go blank to indicate this . at this point the operator still has the opportunity to use the es , fs or stop keys to achieve a more prompt stop . the destination clear button can be used to delete the destination location . note that at this point , the brakes may be released and the traction reapplied in order to achieve the desired speed . stopping distances may be affected due to the recharge requirements of the brake system . the operator can adjust or abort navigation at any point during the trip , stop the train or revert to speed control . the operator must acknowledge and approve movement to each successive waypoint . precise movements will at times require placement or locating the train on the track data base . creep function will allow management of short movement with power braking if required . creep will also allow a more precise stopping at the desired location by accelerating the brake application and proceeding at a low speed in the final phase . this may be archived by applying the brake , dynamic braking or reducing the propulsion . the creep function allows the operator to enter the intent to stop in a short distance and allows the system to place the train safely in the condition to allow a quick stop . the modes are tied in to an rcl system and operated by rco ( less trained than engineer ). rco may not use control stand controls . leader ® system controls train speed and stopping destination based on best train handling and fuel conservation practices . leader ® system provides brake and throttle controls to rcl which actuates systems on the locomotive . leader ® system provides the hmi as the display and data entry and editing . some commands may be derived from the rcl , other commands from the hmi . the rcl control panel ( ocu ) provides independent and redundant es , fs , stop controls , direction controls , alerter functions , horn / bell , headlight and other locomotive function &# 39 ; s controls . various architectures are shown in fig4 , 5 and 6 . in cruise control ( autopilot ), the locomotive engineer remains in charge . the leader ® system controls train speed ( and stopping destination ) based on best train handling and fuel conservation practices and provides brake and throttle controls to a locomotive actuation interface ( could be rcl ). in engineer assist , the locomotive engineer is in charge of train and affects all controls via the conventional control stand interface . the leader ® system provides driver assist prompts to assist in optimized train handling . routes are collections of waypoints or control points . a route has an associated direction . a route has a name . standard routes are available from base station and can be loaded into the system . waypoints have an associated milepost ( mp ) location and waypoint type . waypoints have an incremental label ( w1 , w2 . . . ) relative to the particular route . when waypoints are inserted or deleted from a route , the waypoint designation may change in order to retain the sequence . see fig3 , waypoint types . when approaching waypoint w ( x ) do you wish to ( insert action ) and proceed to next waypoint w ( x + 1 )? upon approaching stop , do you wish to creep to stop ? if selected speed is greater than waypoint speed or track speed , do you wish to proceed ? accordingly , it will be understood that the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been disclosed by way of example and that other modifications and alterations may occur to those skilled in the art . although the use of the leader system and displays has been discussed for use on an rcl device , the disclosed processes and displays may be used on any locomotive display .	1
the invention will be described with reference to its implementation in the dcs professional digital camera system manufactured by the eastman kodak company of rochester , n . y . it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the specifically described embodiment or application , but is generally applicable to any type of electronic imaging system in which exposure feedback is desired . referring now to fig1 an electronic imaging system for capturing and transmitting digital representations of an imaged scene is shown including a camera unit 10 , a storage unit 12 , a first computer 14 coupled to a second computer 16 via modems 18 , 20 and a telephone transmission line 22 . the illustrated system is representative of the dcs professional digital camera system manufactured by the eastman kodak company of rochester , n . y . the camera unit 10 is a conventional nikon f - 3 camera body in which the back of the camera is removed and replaced with a dm3 or dc3 kodak camera back ( not shown ). the dm3 camera back includes a 1024 × 1280 - pixel ccd full - frame imager with a 16 × 16 - micrometer pixel size and is used to take monochrome images with an exposure range equivalent to iso 400 , 800 , 1600 , 3200 . the dc3 camera back includes a built - in color filter array and is used for color images with an exposure range equivalent to iso 200 , 400 , 800 , 1600 . a kodak camera winder 11 is also coupled to the nikon f - 3 camera body . the camera unit 10 is coupled to the storage unit 12 which includes a 200 megabyte disk drive unit ( not shown ) that is capable of storing 158 uncompressed images or approximately 400 - 600 compressed images . the storage unit 12 also includes a liquid crystal display ( lcd ) monitor 13 that is capable of displaying monochrome representations of either color or black - and - white images captured by the camera unit 10 and is powered by an internal rechargeable battery ( not shown ). the camera unit 10 and the storage unit 12 constitute a portable electronic imaging system which a photographer can easily carry to remote locations . in operation , the photographer selects desired exposure parameters such as shutter time and aperture as if conventional photographic film were being employed in the camera unit 10 and activates a shutter release button on the camera unit 10 in order to capture an image of a scene . an electronic representation of the scene being imaged is captured by the ccd imager employed by the dc3 or dm3 camera back upon activation of the shutter release button , the electronic representation of the scene is digitized , and the digitized image data is transferred to a framestore provided in the storage unit 12 for temporary storage . the image data is supplied from the framestore to the lcd monitor 13 for display , allowing the user to determine whether the desired scene was properly captured . thus , the user is able to immediately proof the captured image to determine whether the scene was properly framed or if additional exposures are required . if the user is satisfied , the image data is transferred from the framestore to the disc drive for storage . after a desired number of exposures are stored , the user can couple the framestore unit 12 to the first computer 14 in a local mode of operation and download the stored images from the framestore unit 12 to the first computer 14 . the downloaded images may then be displayed on the first computer 14 for editing and proofing as required . selected images can then be transmitted from the first computer 14 to the second computer 16 via the modems 18 , 20 and telephone transmission line 22 . the second computer 16 may be located , for example , at the publishing site of a magazine or newspaper . thus , images captured by the photographer at a remote location can be quickly reviewed , edited and transmitted to the publication site . in order to further reduce the delay associated with transmitting the image to the publication site , the storage unit 12 can be directly linked to the telephone transmission line 22 in a remote mode of operation to directly transmit the stored images to the second computer 16 . the intermediate step of downloading the image data to the first computer 14 can therefore be avoided . it will be understood that other forms of transmission including wireless transmission , for example via a satellite link , or fiber optic cables can also be employed to transmit the selected images in place of the telephone transmission line 22 if desired . a problem previously experienced with the above - described system was the inability of the user to determine whether areas of interest in the scene to be captured had been properly exposed . for example , in an eight bit digital system , the scene exposure level for each image pixel is represented by one of 256 digital values ( 0 - 255 ). areas of the scene which are overexposed and cause saturation of the ccd imager are assigned the maximum value ( 255 ). it is extremely difficult , however , for the user to ascertain the difference between overexposed or &# 34 ; clipped &# 34 ; areas of the scene ( 255 ) from areas that are just below the point of being overexposed ( for example 250 - 254 ) because of the relatively minor visual distinction between these two areas when viewed on the lcd monitor 13 . thus , the user is unable to determine whether the exposure for the particular scene has been optimized , i . e . the exposure parameters have been adjusted so that the area of interest is just below the saturation point of the ccd image pixels , by viewing the captured image on the lcd monitor 13 . in order to overcome this problem , while avoiding the complexity and expense of incorporating an exposure control algorithm in the system , the invention provides visual exposure feedback to the user by preferably causing the lcd monitor 13 to flash or blink in the regions of the captured image that are overexposed . the flashing function is accomplished by incorporating an exposure feedback circuit 32 within the storage unit 12 as illustrated in fig2 . digital image data is supplied from a framestore 30 of the storage unit 12 to a comparator 34 and multiplexer 36 in the feedback circuit 32 . the comparator 34 compares the digital image data supplied from the framestore 30 with a predetermined maximum exposure or clipping level which would generally be the maximum value that could be assigned to the digital image data , although other values could be utilized if desired . for example , as mentioned above , the pixel image data captured by the ccd imager is assigned a digital value from 0 - 255 in an eight bit system . thus , the comparator 34 would compare the digital image data supplied from the framestore 30 with the value 255 and supply a comparison signal , indicative of the result of the comparison , to a first input of an and gate 40 . the and gate 40 also has a second input coupled to a blink signal line which is coupled to a blink timer 38 . the output line from the and gate 40 is coupled to the select control line of the multiplexer 36 . the multiplexer 36 passes the digital image data supplied from the framestore 30 to the display output line if the select control line receives a logic low &# 34 ; 0 &# 34 ; signal , and passes a &# 34 ; 0 &# 34 ; ( provided to a second input of the multiplexer 36 ) to the output line if a logic high &# 34 ; 1 &# 34 ; signal is supplied to the select control line . thus , the output from the multiplexer is &# 34 ; 0 &# 34 ; if value of the digital image data equals or exceeds the predetermined maximum exposure level and the blink signal is &# 34 ; 1 &# 34 ;, otherwise the digital image data is passed to the lcd monitor 13 unaltered for display . by repeatedly passing the image data through the feedback circuit while the blink timer 38 toggles the blink signal between &# 34 ; 1 &# 34 ; and &# 34 ; 0 &# 34 ; those areas of the image displayed on the lcd monitor 13 that are overexposed alternate between the image data supplied from the framestore 30 and the &# 34 ; 0 &# 34 ; resulting in a flashing or blinking . the user , based on the visual feedback provided by the flashing or blinking , can alter the exposure parameters of the system until the area of interest stops blinking . at this point , the exposure level will be just below the predetermined maximum exposure level and the exposure of the area of interest will be optimized . a user controlled switch 42 can be utilized to deactivate the exposure feedback feature . the said basic structure can be utilized to provide visual feedback of underexposed areas . in such a case , the comparator utilized in the feedback circuit would determine whether the value of the image data was below a predetermined minimum exposure level . the underexposed areas of the imaged scene as displayed on the lcd monitor would then flash or blink and the user would adjust the exposure parameters accordingly . it should be understood that while the invention has been described with reference to its application in a still image system , the invention is also applicable in real - time imaging systems . for example , the digital image data may be supplied directly from the camera unit 10 to the exposure feedback circuit before display on the lcd monitor 13 without intermediate storage of the image data . the invention is also not limited to lcd display devices but can be utilized with any device , including a crt , that is used to display electronic image data . finally , the visual indication provided to the user can differ from the flashing or blinking described above . for example , the areas outside the predetermined exposure level ( either over or under exposed ) could simply be blacked out on the displayed image or made a different color if a color monitor is employed . other modifications and variations may be made within the scope of the appended claims .	7
referring to fig4 , an optical cross connect [ oxc ] 500 of the present invention includes a housing 501 is connected to an incoming fiber string 424 and an outgoing fiber string 425 . the optical fibers of the incoming string 424 are inserted in fiber block 420 and terminate at the fiber block &# 39 ; s 420 front face 421 . the optical fibers of the outgoing string 425 are inserted in the fiber block 426 and terminate at the fiber block &# 39 ; s 426 front face 428 . signal beams emit at the first front face 421 , propagate along the main path 484 through the oxc 500 and impinge the second front face 428 . the emitting signal beams impinge a first front side 431 of a first telecentric lens 430 . the telecentric lens 430 is configured in a well known fashion to simultaneously transform the distinct signal beams &# 39 ; propagation characteristic such that the signal beams emit from telecentric lens &# 39 ; 430 first back side 432 with dispersing beam axes 482 a and converging beam widths 486 ( see fig5 ). along the main path 484 and following the telecentric lens 430 in direction of signal beam propagation is placed a first multi - surface optical element 440 that has a number of discrete optical surfaces 441 . in the preferred embodiment , the discrete optical surfaces 441 are planar mirrors . each of the surfaces 441 has a unique position and orientation with respect to preferably one impinging signal beam such that all signal beams are independently redirected towards a number of moveable mirrors arrayed at the front 451 of a first mirror array 450 . hence , after impinging the surfaces 441 , the signal beams propagate away from the first optical element 440 and towards the first mirror array 450 along beam axes 482 b . the first optical element 440 provides for an individual redirecting of each signal beam . in the preferred embodiment , the beam axes 482 a are converted from a dispersing condition into a converging condition of the beam axes 482 b . between first mirror array 450 and second mirror array 460 , the switching of the signal beams takes place by correspondingly actuating the mirrors of both mirror arrays 450 , 460 . the switching of signal beams takes place by spatially redirecting them while they are propagating from mirror array 450 to mirror array 460 . the spatial redirected beams remain within the boundaries 488 and 489 . the signal beams propagating between mirror array 450 and 460 impinge and are reflected by a dichroic flat 470 , which filters control laser beams from the signal beams . the signal beams impinge the moveable mirrors of the mirror array 461 and are redirected again towards a second optical element 445 having discrete optical surfaces 443 . between first and second mirror array 450 , 460 , the signal beams propagate within the boundaries 488 along beam axes that change as a result of the induced switching operation ( s ) performed by moveable mirrors . at the second mirror array 460 the signal beams &# 39 ; axes are again brought into a stable condition with their beam axes dispersing in constant directions 482 c away from the mirror array 460 . the beam axes 482 c are spatially oriented in correspondence to the position of the second optical surfaces 443 where they are redirected towards a second telecentric lens 433 . the signal beams propagate from the second multi - surface optical element 445 again with converging beam axes 482 d towards the second back side 434 of the second lens 433 . the second telecentric lens 433 induces a simultaneous transformation to the signal beams in a fashion such that the signal beams emitting on the second front side 435 impinge at predetermined locations on the second front face 428 . the predetermined locations are within the boundaries of the fiber ends of the second fiber string 425 and the signal beams are injected again into the optical fibers of the second fiber string 425 . the upper portion of the oxc 500 including the first fiber block 420 , the first telecentric lens 430 , the first optical element 440 and the first mirror array 450 is preferably symmetrical to the lower portion of the oxc 500 including the second fiber block 426 , the second telecentric lens 433 , the second optical element 445 and the second mirror array 460 . all signal beams propagate within the oxc 500 within the boundaries 481 , 486 , 487 , 488 and 489 . the terms upper portion and lower portion pertain to the fig4 and are introduced solely for the purpose of ease of understanding . the telecentric lenses 430 , 433 have symmetry axes that preferably coincide with main path 484 . now turning to fig5 , the geometrical configuration of the upper portion of the oxc 500 is described in detail . due to the preferably symmetrical configuration of upper and lower portion , the teachings presented in the following for the upper portion may be applied to the lower portion with inverted propagation directions of the signal beams as can be well appreciated by anyone skilled in the art . the fiber ends are parallel arrayed in the fiber block 420 with a first pitch 423 . consequently , the signal beams emit with substantially parallel first beam axes 480 and a certain , well - known scattering angle that results in conical beam boundaries 481 . since the telecentric lenses 430 , 433 provide a simultaneous beam transformation , the signal beams may overlap when they impinge / emit the front faces 431 , 435 . this is particularly advantageous because the minimization of the first pitch 423 is no longer influenced by dimensional limitations of the involved optical components . in the present invention the first pitch 423 may be provided with 0 . 22 mm compared to about 1 mm in the prior art . this example demonstrates the dramatic increase of signal beam density achieved by utilizing telecentric lenses 430 , 433 . reducing the pitch from 1 mm to 0 . 22 mm increases the signal beam density more than twenty fold . since in the present invention the signal beams may overlap between the fiber block fronts 421 , 428 and the lens fronts 431 , 435 , the distance between then may be freely selected . the lenses 433 , 430 are accordingly configured such that a front focus of the lenses 433 , 430 coincides with the fiber block fronts 421 , 428 . the distance 402 may be defined sufficiently large for additional optical component ( s ) to be placed between the fiber block fronts 421 , 428 and lens fronts 431 , 435 . such additional optical component ( s ) may provide an interaction with the signal beams similar to that of a well - known laser card and will be described further below together with fig6 . for the purpose of ease of understanding , the main path 484 is shown in fig5 as a straight line with the optical elements 440 , 445 , the mirror arrays 450 , 460 and the dichroic flat 470 considered as being translucent . also , the orientation of the optical surfaces 441 , 443 is shown in fig5 without regards to their function and solely for ease of understanding of some general dimensional relations of the oxc 500 . the beam transformation performed by the lens 430 includes a transformation from substantial parallel beam axes 480 towards the front side 431 into dispersing beam axes 482 a away from the back side 432 . the beam transformation performed by the lens 430 also includes a transformation from dispersing beam widths 481 towards the lens front 431 into converging beam widths 486 away from the lens back 432 . the beam transformation performed by the lens 433 includes a transformation from dispersing beam axes 482 towards the back side 434 into substantial parallel beam axes 480 away from the front side 435 . the beam transformation performed by the lens 433 also includes a transformation from converging beam widths 486 towards the lens back 434 into dispersing beam widths 481 away from the lens front 435 . the beam widths 486 approach zero towards a reference plane 483 , which is preferably perpendicular to the lenses &# 39 ; 430 , 433 symmetry axes . it is desirable to have each beam &# 39 ; s widths 486 equal at the moveable mirror arrays 450 , 460 . hence , the distances 413 , 408 between the mirror arrays 450 , 460 and the dichroic flat 470 are preferably substantially equal . for equal beam widths 486 at the moveable mirrors 450 , 460 the reference place 483 ideally coincides with the dichroic flat 470 . the most peripheral beam axes 482 are at a certain distance 410 at the reference plane 483 . a first scaling rate of the beam axes 481 is defined as the proportion between the distance 410 and a distance 415 between the reference plane 483 and a common point 403 where the beam axes 482 intersect . the common point 403 is a theoretical point inside the telecentric lenses 430 , 433 and is defined by a well known combination of individual lenses lined up inside the telecentric lenses 430 , 433 . the scale of the optical elements 440 , 445 is defined in correspondence to the first scaling rate and a distance 405 of the optical elements 440 , 445 to the common point 403 . in the preferred embodiment , the telecentric lenses 430 , 433 are preferably substantially equal with equally positioned common point 403 . as may be well appreciated by anyone skilled in the art , the widths 446 and second pitch 448 of the optical surfaces 443 are a function of the first scaling rate , the distance 405 and the number of signal beams along second pitch direction . each optical surface 441 , 443 has a distinct angular orientation 444 , which is defined for its position relative to the main path 484 in accordance with well - known optical principles for redirecting optical beams and in conjunction with optical properties of the optical surface . a second scaling rate is defined as the proportion between the distance of the most peripheral impinging locations on the optical elements 440 , 445 and the distance 409 plus distance 408 . a third pitch 452 , 463 with which the moveable mirrors are arrayed on the mirror arrays 450 , 460 is a function of the second scaling rate , the distances 413 , 408 and the number of signal beams along third pitch direction . as illustrated in fig5 , the optical surfaces 441 are orientated such that the beam axes 482 b preferably coincide at the mirror array 460 . this condition may be applied for the lower portion in the way that the beam axes 482 c preferably coincide at the mirror array 450 . consequently , a maximum tilt angle 407 of the moveable mirrors may be a trigonometric function of the second scaling rate . the maximum tilt angle 407 is thus reduced by reducing the second scaling rate . turning now to fig6 , an alternate embodiment of the oxc 500 is described . there , the multi - surface optical elements 440 , 443 feature a reference surface 449 along which the optical surfaces 441 , 443 are aligned . the reference surface 449 may have a continuous geometric configuration that corresponds to the directional change between beam axes 482 a and beam axes 482 b in accordance with the physical laws of optical reflection . for more details refer to the cross - referenced application . finally fig7 may be described in more detail . there an embodiment of the oxc 500 is depicted in which a beam splitter 701 is placed between the fiber blocks 420 , 428 and the lenses 430 , 433 . the beam splitter 701 splits signal beam portions 782 off the signal beams and directs them towards monitoring device 740 , which may be a well - known ingaas camera for monitoring signal strength . at the same time , the beam splitter 701 injects laser beams 781 coming from a secondary beam splitter 710 . the secondary beam splitter 710 receives laser pulses 783 from a lasing device 720 , which may be for example a vertical cavity surface emitting laser array . such vcsel are commercially available with standardized pitch 723 . making the first pitch 423 equal to the standardized pitch 723 is a significant factor for directly inserting the laser into the signal beams . the amount of additional optical components may be kept to a minimum . the secondary beam splitter 710 directs a laser light portion 784 towards a laser monitoring device such as a well - known psd3 . an exemplary oxc 500 in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention may have the following characteristics : accordingly , the scope of the invention described in the specification above is set forth by the following claims and their legal equivalent . accordingly , the scope of the invention described in the specification above is set forth by the following claims and their legal equivalent .	6
in fig1 the number 108 denotes a number of parallelly and adjacently arranged , rigid tubes , e . g . six tubes , which are mounted with fixed or adjustable inclination on a rotatable base 112 . the lower end of each tube is connected to a valve 110 adopted for introducing compressed air into the bottom ends of the tubes 108 , from a compressed air tank ( not shown ) in short programmed pulses . in the upper end portion of the tubes 108 near their muzzles a feeding hopper 101 is arranged from which fertilizer g may flow into the tubes 108 through respective openings in the upper portion thereof . the fertilizer feed may be controlled by means of a flap 114 in the bottom of the hopper . in operation the fertilizer g in the hopper continuously flows into the tubes and falls to the bottom thereof . at uniform time intervals a compressed air pulse is admitted into the bottom ends of the tubes , so that the fertilizer quantity which has accumulated during each time interval , is driven or shot out of the tubes owing to the expansion of the compressed air . the firing may occur separately , successively for each tube and the range may be varied by continuously adjusting the air - pressure and / or the duration of the air pulses . this embodiment of the invention provides a particularly simple and rugged construction , making it possible to control the size of each charge , as the rate of fire may be adjusted continuously from a control panel . in fig2 is illustrated an alternative embodiment of the invention . from a hopper 1 the fertilizer , as indicated by an arrow , flows through an opening in a front plate 5a of the spreader into a series of spaced apart tube cells 2a in a feeding device 2 . as best shown in fig3 the latter is similar to the revolving cylinder of a revolver . welded to the cell - feeder 2 are journals 3a and 3b which rotates in bearings having housings 4a and 4b , supported on the front plate 5a and a rear plate 5b of the spreader . these plates are in turn mounted on the body 6 and are also held in position by means of stay bolts with nuts , which are not shown on the figure . the cell - feeder 2 is rotated in steps by means of a ratchet ( not shown ) engaging the square end of the journal 3a . the ratchet is again moved by means of an air cylinder which is not shown in the figure . in the front plate 5a is mounted a sleeve 7 having labyrinth packing against the front end of the cell - feeder . the outlet tube or barrel 8 for the fertilizer is mounted in the sleeve 7 . in the rear plate 5b is mounted another sleeve 9 having labyrinth packing against the rear end of the cell - feeder . on the sleeve 9 is mounted an air valve 10 and a conduit 11 adapted to introduce compressed air into the bottom end of the tube 8 from an air tank , as previously explained in connection with fig1 . the drive means for the cell - feeder 2 ( ratchet / air cylinder ) rotates the feeder in steps with a stance each time a cell filled with fertilizer aligns with the sleeves 7 and 9 in the front and rear plate . each time the cell - feeder stops , i . e . during the return movement of the ratchet , a short air pulse is admitted through the valve 10 , such that the fertilizer charge is driven or shot out through the barrel 8 . in the next step the cell - feeder is rotated or advanced one step , such that a new loaded cell is brought into &# 34 ; firing position &# 34 ; concurrently with an empty cell being loaded with fertilizer flowing from the hopper 1 . the advancing of the cell - feeder 2 and the firing are preferably controlled by means of a program work in which the firing rate and the duration of the air impulses may be continuously adjusted . the rate of firing may also be controlled in this manner , or by controlling the air pressure . in order to secure a good spreading for short ranges the barrel 8 may be provided with a deflector plate 21 which , by means of a string or link arrangement 22 and a lever 23 pivotably mounted to the hopper 1 , may be turned into position in front of the muzzle in order to shorten the shooting range and simultaneously increase the lateral spreading . in fig4 is shown a modified embodiment of the spreader illustrated in fig2 in which the barrel 8 is provided with a flexible outer part 8 &# 39 ; which may be produced from polyethylene and the like . longitudinally above and below the flexible tube part there are arranged an upwardly curved rigid arm 31a and a downwardly curved rigid arm 31b respectively which are spaced apart by stays 32 . the arms 31a and b are fixed to the body 6 at their inner ends through a bracket 33 . supported in the outer ends of arms 31a and b are pulleys 34a and 34b , for supporting a chain 35 the opposite ends of which are attached to the tube part 8 &# 39 ;, near the muzzle thereof . the chain 35 extends via further pulleys 36 over a sprocket 37 which , together with a drive wheel or hand wheel 38 , is keyed to a shaft 39 which is rotatably supported , for instance on the hopper 1 . by turning the drive or hand wheel 38 in opposite directions the tube muzzle is pulled by the chain 35 alternatively upwards or downwards toward the curved arms 31a or 31b respectively . by this arrangement the range and the area of spreading may be adjusted during operation , as the tube may be bended down into an arc , thus making it possible to shoot horizontally or even lower , e . g . when fertilizing dumps , without having to change the elevation of the gun which might disturb the function of the cell - feeder . normally compressed air for operation of the spreader will be provided by a portable compressor driven by an internal combustion engine which , together with the spreading apparatus auxiliary equipment such as a pressure tank , may be mounted on a separate spreader vehicle or mounted on a truck , tractor or the like . tests have shown that a suitable inner diametre or caliber of the barrel is about 50 mm for a barrel length of about 1 , 5 m . further it has proved practical to use individual fertilizer charges of about 1 kg and a firing rate of about 1 shot per second , at an air pressure of 7 - 8 atm . preferably control of the advancing and firing operations is performed by means of a purely pneumatic control circuit , however , this circuit may also be electrical . in order to avoid excessive inertia forces the rate at which a cell - feeder may be advanced is limited , but the capacity of the spreader may be increased by providing several tubes 8 which are fired simultaneously or alternately , and the cell - feeder may be equipped with several rows of tube formed cells mounted in concentric circles . when using several tubes or barrels these may be equipped for different range and spreading . to obtain an improved air economy an arrangement may be employed in which the duration of the air pulses is somewhat longer when the spreader is shooting transversely of the direction of movement , while the air consumption is reduced when shooting more or less rearward , when maximum range is not necessary . common for all the above described and shown embodiments of the device according to the invention is that the initiation and duration of the various operations and movements may be controlled by means of a program work .	0
according to the present invention , the difference between a main torque signal tm and a sub torque signal ts in the initial state of shipment is stored in a nonvolatile memory , and the stored value is compared with the difference between the main torque signal tm and the sub torque signal ts during operation , and the assist is inhibited at a relatively large offset , and the assist function is limited when a trouble is detected at a relatively small offset . therefore , the output can be limited in the event of a sudden increase in the assist torque , so that uncontrollable steering due to excessive assist can be avoided . [ 0033 ] fig5 shows a basic principle of the present invention , in which the stored difference between a main torque signal tm and a sub torque signal ts and the detected difference between the main torque signal tm and the sub torque signal ts are compared with a prescribed value 2 (& gt ; prescribed value 1 ), and when the difference continues for a time shorter than a prescribed time 2 (& lt ; prescribed time 1 ), the assist is inhibited . when the difference is smaller than the prescribed value 2 and larger than the prescribed value 1 , and continues for the prescribed time 1 longer than the prescribed time 2 , the assist is limited . thus , a safer operation is realized by inhibiting or limiting the current command value . in the current limiting method , the maximum current value of the current command value may be limited , or the maximum current value may be limited by multiplying the current command value by a specified gain . further , when limiting the current command value , the limit value may be set slightly higher if the speed is low , or slightly lower if the speed is high . further , in the event of abnormality , by changing over the normal mode characteristic map for assist to the torque sensor offset abnormal mode characteristic map , similar effects are obtained . moreover , by using an intermediate characteristic map having an intermediate value when changing over from the normal mode characteristic map to the torque sensor offset abnormal mode characteristic map , a smooth change without sense of strangeness may be realized . referring now to the drawings , preferred embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below . [ 0036 ] fig6 is a block diagram of a first embodiment of the present invention corresponding to fig2 which comprises a torque sensor offset abnormality detecting means 300 , a current command limit value generating means 310 and a subtractor 320 , and the output of the subtractor 320 is a steering assist command value i . the torque sensor 10 outputs a main torque signal tm and a sub torque signal ts having the characteristics as shown in fig3 and the main torque signal ta is inputted to the phase compensator 31 , and is also inputted to the torque sensor offset abnormality detecting means 300 . the sub torque signal ts is inputted to the torque sensor offset abnormality detecting means 300 , and when an operation signal ab is outputted from the torque sensor offset abnormality detecting means 300 , the current command limit value generating means 310 feeds a limit current lt into the subtractor 320 . [ 0037 ] fig7 is a block diagram showing an example of internal structure of the torque sensor offset abnormality detecting means 300 , which comprises a difference calculator 301 for calculating the difference of the main torque signal tm and the sub torque signal ts , a changeover unit 302 for feeding the difference ds1 output from the difference calculator 301 into a memory ( nonvolatile memory ) 303 or a difference calculator 304 , a comparator 305 for comparing the difference ds2 outputted from the difference calculator 304 for comparing the stored value and present value and calculating the difference , with the prescribed value 1 and the prescribed value 2 (& gt ; prescribed value 1 ) as thresholds , and a time measuring unit 306 for measuring the time of state signal nn outputted from the comparator 305 and issuing a specified operation signal ab before or after lapse of prescribed time 1 and prescribed time 2 (& gt ; prescribed time 1 ). in this configuration , the operation is explained by referring to the flowchart in fig8 . first , before shipping the products , that is , in the initial state , the difference between the main torque signal tm and the sub torque signal ts of the torque sensor 10 is calculated in the difference calculator 301 , and is stored in the nonvolatile memory 303 as offset data . that is , the changeover unit 302 is changed over to the memory 303 side , and the difference ds1 between the main torque signal tm and the sub torque signal ts is calculated in the difference calculator 301 , and the difference ds1 is stored in the memory 303 by way of the changeover unit 302 ( stored value = mds ). later , the changeover unit 302 is changed over to the difference calculator 304 side . during the steering operation , the difference calculator 301 reads the present main torque signal tm ( step s 1 ), and the present sub torque signal ts is read in successively ( step s 2 ), and the difference ds1 between the main torque signal tm and the sub torque signal ts is calculated ( step s 3 ). the difference calculator 304 receives the difference ds1 through the changeover unit 302 , and reads out the stored value mds from the memory 303 ( step s 4 ), and calculates the difference ds2 between the difference ds1 and the stored value mds . consequently , the comparator 305 judges if the difference ds2 from the difference calculator 304 is more than the prescribed value 1 ( threshold ) or not ( step s 5 ). that is , the stored value mds is the offset component , and it is judged if abnormality has occurred or not due to increase of the difference ds1 becoming larger than the prescribed value 1 . it is normal when the difference ds2 is smaller than the prescribed value 1 , and counting of measuring time is cleared ( step s 6 ), and the process returns to the step s 1 . when the difference ds2 is more than the prescribed value 1 , it is further judged if more than the prescribed value 2 or not ( step s 10 ), and when the difference ds2 is smaller than the prescribed value 2 , it is judged if it continues for a prescribed time 1 or not ( step s 11 ). if the difference does not continue for the prescribed time 1 , counting of measured time is increased , and the process returns to the step s 1 ( step s 12 ), and when continued for the prescribed time 1 , an operation signal ab is outputted , and a limit current lt is outputted from the current command limit value generating means 310 , and the assist is limited and the operation is terminated ( step s 13 ). further , at the step s 10 , when the difference ds2 is more than the prescribed value 2 , it is judged if the difference ds2 continues for a prescribed time 2 or not ( step s 14 ), if not continuing for the prescribed time 2 , counting of measured time is increased , and the process returns to the step s 1 ( step s 15 ), and when continued for the prescribed time 2 , an operation signal ab is outputted , and a limit current lt is outputted from the current command limit value generating means 310 , and the assist is stopped and the operation is terminated ( step s 16 ). [ 0043 ] fig9 shows a mode of assist limiting , in which a characteristic a is a normal mode torque - current characteristic , and when an operation signal ab is outputted from the torque sensor offset abnormality detecting means 300 , the current command limit value generating means 310 outputs a limit current lt for limiting the motor current so that the steering assist command value i of the output of the subtractor 320 may be a characteristic b in fig9 . meanwhile , a vehicle speed signal v from the vehicle speed sensor 12 is inputted to the steering assist command value calculator 32 , and the current limit value may be increased as the vehicle speed v becomes lower as shown in fig1 . [ 0044 ] fig1 shows a second embodiment of the present invention corresponding to fig6 and in this embodiment , a normal mode characteristic map 33 a and a torque sensor offset abnormal mode characteristic map 33 b are provided as characteristic map , and a switch 330 is provided for changing over by an operation signal ab from the torque sensor offset abnormality detecting means 300 . the outputs of the normal mode characteristic map 33 a and torque sensor offset abnormal mode characteristic map 33 b are inputted to the steering assist command value calculator 32 by way of contacts “ a ” and “ b ” of the switch 330 . the characteristic of the normal mode characteristic map 33 a is a characteristic a indicated by broken line in fig1 , and the characteristic of the torque sensor offset abnormal mode characteristic map 33 b is a characteristic b indicated by solid line in fig1 , and when normal , the switch 330 is connected to the contact “ a ”, and the assist operation according to the characteristic a of the normal mode characteristic map 33 a is carried out . when an operation signal ab is outputted from the torque sensor offset abnormality detecting means 300 , the contact of the switch 330 is changed over from the contact “ a ” to “ b ”, and the assist operation according to the characteristic b of the torque sensor offset abnormal mode characteristic map 33 b is carried out , and the motor current is limited . in the second embodiment , by changing over the normal mode characteristic map 33 a and the torque sensor offset abnormal mode characteristic map 33 b , the steering assist command value i is calculated , and since the difference is significant when changed over from the characteristic a to the characteristic b , the driver may feel a sense of strangeness in the steering operation . to avoid such problem , an intermediate characteristic map having an intermediate characteristic c as shown in fig1 may be provided . that is , by changing over in gradual steps from a normal mode characteristic a to an intermediate characteristic c and a torque sensor offset abnormal mode characteristic b , sense of strangeness in operation due to change of characteristics may be prevented . when an intermediate characteristic map 33 c ( contact “ c ” of the switch 33 ) is provided , a configuration of a third embodiment is as shown in fig1 , and its operation is explained by referring to a flowchart in fig1 . the operation is same as in the second embodiment shown in fig1 except that the torque sensor offset abnormality detecting means 300 outputs the operation signal ab in three stages . first , before shipping products , the difference between the main torque signal tm and the sub torque signal ts of the torque sensor 10 is calculated and stored in the memory 303 , same as in the first and second embodiments . the contact of the switch 330 is connected to “ a ”, and the data of the normal mode characteristic map 33 a is put in the steering assist command value calculator 32 . during the steering operation , the difference calculator 301 reads the present main torque signal tm ( step s 20 ), and the present sub torque signal ts is read in successively ( step s 21 ), and the difference ds1 between the main torque signal tm and the sub torque signal ts is calculated ( step s 22 ). the difference calculator 304 receives the difference ds1 through the changeover unit 302 , and reads out the stored value mds from the memory 303 ( step s 23 ), and calculates the difference ds2 between the difference ds1 and stored value mds . consequently , the comparator 305 judges if the difference ds2 from the difference calculator 304 is more than the prescribed value 1 ( threshold ) or not ( step s 24 ), and it is normal when the difference ds2 is smaller than the prescribed value 1 , and counting of measuring time is cleared ( step s 25 ), and the process returns to the step s 20 . when the difference ds2 is more than the prescribed value 1 , it is further judged if more than the prescribed value 2 or not ( step s 30 ), and when the difference ds2 is smaller than the prescribed value 2 , it is judged if it continues for a prescribed time 1 or not ( step s 31 ). if the difference does not continue for the prescribed time 1 , it is judged normal , and counting of measured time is increased , and the process returns to the step s 20 ( step s 32 ), and when continued for the prescribed time 1 , an operation signal ab is outputted from the time measuring unit 3067 , and the contact of the switch 330 is changed over from the contact “ a ” to “ c ”, and the data of the intermediate characteristic map 33 c is inputted to the steering assist command value calculator 32 , and the current command value is limited ( step s 33 ). further , judging if the current limiting continues for more than the prescribed value 2 or not ( step s 34 ), if not continued for a prescribed time 2 , counting of measured time is increased , and the process returns to the step s 20 ( step s 35 ), and when continued for the prescribed time 2 , the contact of the switch 330 is changed from “ c ” to “ b ” by an operation signal ab , and the current command value is changed over to fail characteristic , and the operation is terminated ( step s 36 ). that is , the data of the torque sensor offset abnormal mode characteristic map 33 b is inputted to the steering assist command value calculator 32 . on the other hand , when the difference ds2 is more than the prescribed value 2 at the step s 30 , judging if continuing for the prescribed time 2 or not ( step s 40 ), and when not continuing for the prescribed time 2 , counting of measured time is increased , and the process returns to the step s 20 ( step s 41 ), and when continued for the prescribed time 2 , an operation signal ab is outputted , and the assist is inhibited and the operation is terminated ( step s 42 ). in the embodiment in fig1 , the normal mode characteristic map 33 a , the intermediate characteristic map 33 c and the torque sensor offset characteristic map 33 b individually have the assist inhibit region and the assist limit region . in the embodiment , one intermediate characteristic map is used , but more intermediate characteristic maps may be used and changed over in multiple stages . the present invention can be applied not only in the column type and pinion type power steering device , but also in the rack assist type power steering device . according to the present invention , intermediate troubles such as offset or drift are monitored out of signal troubles of torque sensor , and a trouble of torque sensor can be detected correctly , and if a trouble is detected , the current is limited , and the assist function is limited , so that a safe operation is realized . moreover , the steering operation is free from any feel of strange sense because the current limiting is changed over depending on the vehicle speed or changed over in gradual steps .	1
the invention , as exemplified in various embodiments , illustrates a method and apparatus for attaching a cover to an electrical box . in one embodiment of the invention , an external fastening electrical cover is attached to a damaged electrical box . in another embodiment of the invention , when original ( internal ) screws used for securing a cover to an electrical box can no longer be used , external fastening screws and brackets will allow a cover to be safely attached preventing water penetration and / or electrical shock . fig1 a illustrates a clamp mechanism 100 having two rectangular u - shaped sections 102 and 122 . section 102 has legs 104 , 106 , and 108 that form the u - shape . 102 also has tabs 112 and 116 , as well as tabs or ears 110 and 114 . section 122 has legs 124 , 126 , and 128 that form the u - shape . 122 also has tabs 132 and 136 , as well as tabs or ears 130 and 134 . electrical box 139 is shown housing an electrical outlet 137 . clamp 100 sections 102 and 122 may be placed on the outside of electrical box 139 . screw 117 and 119 may then secure sections 102 and 122 via pressure to the outside of the electrical box 139 by the threaded section of screw 117 passing through a hole in tab 112 and being threaded into the tapped hole in tab 132 , and by the threaded section of screw 119 passing through a hole in tab 116 and being threaded into the tapped hole in tab 136 . fig1 b illustrates clamp 140 secured around electrical box 149 housing an electrical outlet 147 . fig1 c illustrates a face plate or cover assembly . cover 152 has four tabs 154 , 156 , 158 , and 160 . in this embodiment , the tabs 154 , 156 , 158 , and 160 have holes that allow the threaded portion of screws 155 , 157 , 159 , and 161 to pass through the respective tabs . in this embodiment , cover 152 also has lids 163 and 165 that may be closed ( as shown ) to keep environmental elements from entering the electrical box ( such as 149 ). to form a seal against environmental elements a gasket , seal , or pad 168 may be situated between the cover 152 and an electrical box ( such as 149 ). fig1 d illustrates clamp 170 secured to electrical box 189 . a gasket 178 is situated between cover 172 and electrical box 189 . cover 172 is drawn tight against electrical box 189 by tightening screws 175 , 177 , 179 , and 181 . fig1 a , fig1 b , fig1 c , and fig1 d illustrate how this embodiment of the invention cover and bracket design allows an exterior power box to be sealed safely in the event of screw or tap damage that prevents securing the cover . this arrangement gives an electrician a quick way to seal a damaged receptacle and continue without having to rewire the receptacle or junction box . fig2 a shows clamp 200 having two u - shaped sections that may be fitted over the outside of an electrical box 239 . fig2 b shows claim 240 tightened around electrical box 249 . fig2 c illustrates a face plate or cover 252 with lids 263 and 265 that may have been originally used on an electrical box ( such as 249 ) but which now no longer may be attached because of , for example , stripped screw inserts in the electrical box ( such as 249 ). frame 253 has four tabs or ears 254 , 256 , 258 , and 260 as shown in this embodiment with holes allowing the threaded portions of screws 255 , 257 , 259 , and 261 to pass thorough the respective tabs . fig2 d illustrates clamp 270 secured to electrical box 289 . original faceplate or cover 272 is situated between frame cover 273 and electrical box 289 . cover 272 is drawn tight against electrical box 289 by tightening the frame 273 against the cover 272 via screws 275 , 277 , 279 , and 281 . fig2 a , fig2 b , fig2 c , and fig2 d illustrate how this embodiment of the invention cover and bracket design allows an exterior power box to be sealed safely in the event of screw or tap damage . this arrangement gives an electrician a quick way to seal a damaged receptacle reusing the original face plate and continue without having to rewire the receptacle or junction box . fig3 a shows an electrical box 339 housing an electrical outlet 337 . fig3 b shows two straps 302 and 322 . shown for strap 302 are tabs 312 , and 316 . strap 322 has two tabs , only one of which is shown ( not labeled ). cover 352 has four tabs 354 , 356 , 358 , and 360 . in this embodiment , the tabs 354 , 356 , 358 , and 360 have holes that allow the threaded portion of screws 355 , 357 , 359 , and 361 to pass through the respective tabs . in this embodiment , cover 352 also has lids 363 and 365 that may be closed ( as shown ) to keep environmental elements from entering the electrical box ( such as 339 ). to form a seal against environmental elements a gasket , seal , or pad 368 may be situated between the cover 352 and an electrical box ( such as 339 ). fig3 c illustrates straps 392 and 393 secured around electrical box 389 . a gasket 378 is situated between cover 372 and electrical box 389 . cover 372 is drawn tight against electrical box 389 by tightening screws 375 , 377 , 379 , and 381 . fig3 a , fig3 b , and fig3 c illustrate how this embodiment of the invention cover and bracket design allows an exterior power box to be sealed safely in the event of screw or tap damage that prevents securing the cover . this arrangement gives an electrician a quick way to seal a damaged receptacle and continue without having to rewire the receptacle or junction box . fig4 a shows an electrical box 409 housing into which an electrical outlet 407 is mounted . fig4 b shows clamps and face plates . shown are strap clamps 432 and 434 . face plate 422 has lids 433 and 435 , and four strap clamp guides 424 , 426 , 428 , and 430 . faceplate 442 has four strap clamp guides 444 , 446 , 448 , and 450 . fig4 c shows electrical box 469 with strap clamps 462 and 464 engaged with faceplate 482 ( via 472 , 478 , and 474 , 476 for straps 462 and 464 respectively ). face plate 482 may be tightened against electrical box 469 by tightening the strap clamps 462 and 464 . fig4 a , fig4 b , and fig4 c illustrate how this embodiment of the invention cover and bracket design allows an exterior power box to be sealed safely in the event of screw or tap damage that prevents securing the cover . this arrangement gives an electrician a quick way to seal a damaged receptacle using a band fastener and specially made slotted face plate . fig5 a illustrates one embodiment of the invention showing brackets 504 and 506 , an optional seal 508 , and a multiple gang faceplate 502 . fig5 b illustrates one embodiment of the invention showing brackets 524 and 526 , an optional sealing gasket 528 , and a cover faceplate 522 having two lids 523 and 525 which may cover , for example , electrical outlets . fig5 c illustrates one embodiment of the invention showing brackets 544 and 546 , an optional seal 548 , and a single gang faceplate 542 . fig6 a shows an electrical box 609 into which an electrical outlet 607 is mounted . fig6 b illustrates various embodiments of the invention . 620 illustrates a 2 lid cover faceplate having 4 legs ( only 2 shown due to perspective view ). 632 illustrates a water tight pad insert . in this illustration pad 632 has cutouts for a two receptacle outlet . cover 640 has no openings for electrical devices and also has 4 legs ( only 2 shown ). cover 622 has two lids 623 and 625 , and 4 legs 624 , 626 as shown and two others located at positions shown by arrows 628 and 630 but not shown because of the perspective view . legs 624 , 626 , and those at positions 628 and 630 , accept screws 625 , 627 , 629 , and 631 respectively . fig6 c illustrates an electrical box 649 with a cover 642 secured to the box 649 by screws 645 ( leg 644 ), 647 ( leg 646 ), and two screws at locations indicated by arrows 648 and 650 . while the invention has been illustrated with respect to electrical or junction boxes , the invention is not so limited . the techniques of the invention may be used to secure a cover to a receptacle . one of skill in the art will appreciate that the present invention has many variations only a small sample of which are illustrated in the figures . for example , referring to fig1 , a variation on clamp 100 may be a rectangular clamp requiring only a single screw for closing , for example , in this variation , legs 104 and 124 may be one contiguous leg and screw 117 and tabs 112 and 132 may be the means of tightening variation on clamp 100 to an electrical box . other variations may include , but are not limited to , a rectangular frame that may be slid over an electrical box and secured with a cam - like screw mechanism . another variation is a push - over frame with one - way gripping prongs which when a face plate is secured to it will “ dig ” into the electrical box . other variations may include crisscrossing straps around the electrical box , raised bumps for gripping on the straps and / or clamps , straps that go over the top and / or bottom of an electrical box , etc . while the figures have illustrated a “ free standing ” electrical box , the invention is not so limited and my be used on other electrical boxes as well , for example , back mounted , side stud mounted , etc . thus a method and apparatus for an electrical box repair cover have been described . for purposes of discussing and understanding the invention , it is to be understood that various terms are used by those knowledgeable in the art to describe techniques and approaches . furthermore , in the description , for purposes of explanation , numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention . it will be evident , however , to one of skill in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details . in some instances , well - known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form , rather than in detail , in order to avoid obscuring the present invention . these embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those of skill in the art to practice the invention , and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that logical , mechanical , electrical , and other changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention . as used in this description , “ one embodiment ” or “ an embodiment ” or similar phrases means that the feature ( s ) being described are included in at least one embodiment of the invention . references to “ one embodiment ” in this description do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment ; however , neither are such embodiments mutually exclusive . nor does “ one embodiment ” imply that there is but a single embodiment of the invention . for example , a feature , structure , act , etc . described in “ one embodiment ” may also be included in other embodiments . thus , the invention may include a variety of combinations and / or integrations of the embodiments described herein . thus a method and apparatus for an electrical box repair cover have been described .	7
fig1 is a flow chart of the overall operation of an auto attendant system in accordance with the present invention . in the preferred embodiment , the auto attendant system of the present invention can be implemented as a pbx controlled by a computer , such as an electronic personal computer , which has been programmed in accordance with conventional programming practices to accomplish the desired result . if desired , dedicated electronic hardware can be developed to produce the same result . the components required to develop such electronic hardware are conventional to the hardware designer of ordinary skill . in operation , the auto attendant system receives the call placed by the caller ( block 10 ). this may be accomplished by either taking the line through which the connection is made off - hook or establishing a digital link through the line between the caller and the pbx or , if the caller is internal to the system , receiving an internal call . also , the system identifies the called party ( block 12 ). this can be accomplished by various means . for example , the called party can be identified 1 ) in response to a voice prompt produced when the caller keys in a dual - tone multifrequency ( dtmf ) input to the auto attendant system , 2 ) by applying voice recognition to the caller &# 39 ; s voice , or 3 ) by using digital identification schemes such as direct inward dial ( did ) or dialed number identification service ( dnis ). also , the auto attendant system identifies the caller ( step 14 ) by various alternative means . caller identification may be accomplished by automated voice recognition of the caller &# 39 ; s voice or by a voice prompt followed by either recording of the caller &# 39 ; s answer or receiving dtmf tones entered by the caller . caller identification may also be accomplished by automatic number identification ( ani ) or other conventional caller identification schemes such as caller id . the call receiving and identification stage includes the first three steps ( represented by blocks 10 , 12 and 14 ). these steps can be performed in any order . for example , with did and dnis , the information about both the caller and the called party can be collected before the call is actually answered . after completing the call receiving and identification stage , the auto attendant system attempts to connect to the called party ( block 16 ). if unsuccessful , the auto attendant system sends the caller to a voice mail system to take a message ( block 18 ). if the auto attendant system successfully connects to the called party &# 39 ; s extension , it announces the call to the called party and presents the called party with options ( block 20 ). these options may include 1 ) for the auto attendant system to ask the caller to hold , 2 ) for the auto attendant system to reroute the call to a substitute called party designated to accept the call , 3 ) for the auto attendant system to take a message from the caller , and 4 ) for the called party to accept the call . the called party may choose one of these options or not ( block 22 ). depending upon the option chosen ( if any ), the auto attendant system exercises holding options and actions ( block 24 ), exercises rerouting options and actions ( block 26 ), takes a message ( block 28 ), or passes the call to the called party ( block 30 ). if the called party does not choose an option , the auto attendant system cancels the connection ( block 32 ) and sends the caller to a voice mail system to take a message ( block 34 ). fig2 is a flow chart of the actions of the auto attendant system of the present invention when it is attempting to connect to the called party . this corresponds to block 16 in fig1 . first , the auto attendant system initiates a connection to the called party ( block 40 ). this can be accomplished by issuing a hookflash with dtmf tones , by a digital switch command or by direct connection to the called party &# 39 ; s extension . in the hardware system of the preferred embodiment , a connection is initiated at the same time to the called party &# 39 ; s computer screen to present the options on the screen . in an alternate embodiment , the connection can be made to the computer only and the computer can alert the called party that a call is waiting . next , after the connection is initiated , the auto attendant system monitors the called party &# 39 ; s line for an answer ( block 42 ). an answer by the called party to the initiated connection can be recognized by any conventional means , such as , in a conventional telephone equipment only embodiment , interval analysis ( for example , by the d / 41 method ), frequency analysis or digital switch information analysis . in an embodiment with a visual interface , such as the network of personal computers of the preferred embodiment , the system monitors the line to the personal computer and the answer is accomplished automatically by software in the personal computer . if there is an answer ( block 44 ), the auto attendant system announces the call to the called party and presents the called party with options ( block 20 , fig1 ). otherwise , the connection to the called party is cancelled ( block 46 ), and the auto attendant system sends the caller to a voice mail system to take a message ( block 18 , fig1 ). fig3 is a flow chart of the holding options and actions of the auto attendant system of the present invention . these options and actions are taken if the called party requests the auto attendant system to offer the caller the opportunity to hold ( block 24 , fig1 ). in this case , the auto attendant system allows the called party to record a greeting or to select a prerecorded greeting from the called party to the caller ( block 60 ). after the connection to the called party is cancelled ( block 62 ), the auto attendant system plays the greeting ( chosen by the called party ) to the caller ( block 64 ). next the auto attendant system begins to periodically inquire whether the caller is willing to hold ( block 66 ). this could be either a hold within the auto attendant system or a pbx system , in case the office telephone system is a pbx system . if the caller is no longer willing to continue to hold , the auto attendant system sends the caller to a voice mail system to take a message ( block 68 ). if , however , the caller is still willing to continue to hold , the auto attendant system plays a holding prompt to the caller ( block 70 ). the auto attendant system then inquires whether the called party has requested to be connected to the call ( block 72 ). in the hardware of the preferred embodiment , this is accomplished by determining whether the called party has indicated at the computer that the called party wishes to take the call . in the alternative embodiment without using a computer , the called party requests the call by calling another port of the auto attendant system and entering a dtmf or other command . if the called party still does not wish to take the call , the auto attendant system informs the caller that the called party is still busy ( block 74 ) and returns to block 66 to inquire whether the caller is still willing to hold . if the called party has requested to be connected to the call , the auto attendant system transfers the caller &# 39 ; s call to the called party and returns to block 16 of fig1 ( block 76 ). fig4 is a flow chart of the reroute options and actions of the auto attendant system of the present invention . these options and actions are taken if the called party requests the auto attendant system to reroute the call ( block 26 , fig1 ). initially in this stage , the auto attendant system asks the called party for the extension number of another extension owner who is designated as the substitute called party ( block 100 ) and inquires whether the called party wishes to record a greeting or use a prerecorded greeting to send to the caller ( block 102 ). in the preferred embodiment , the options are presented visually on the computer screen . alternatively , if no computer hardware is used , this is done with voice prompts and dtmf tones . if the called party wishes to record a new greeting , the called party is prompted for a greeting which is then received and stored in the auto attendant system ( block 104 ). in any case , the called party is then offered an opportunity to record an explanation or use a prerecorded explanation to play to the substitute called party whose extension number was supplied by the original called party ( block 106 ). if the called party wishes to offer an explanation to the substitute called party , the auto attendant system prompts the called party for the explanation and records it ( block 108 ). those skilled in the art will recognize that the set of operations described in connection with blocks 102 and 104 are independent of the set of operations described in connection with blocks 106 and 108 . the one set of operations can be performed with or without performing the other set of operations . accordingly , the blocks 102 and 106 and the blocks 104 and 108 can be exchanged in the flow chart of fig4 without affecting the overall operation of the preferred embodiment of the invention . regardless of whether an explanation is recorded by the called party , the auto attendant system then cancels the connection to the called party ( block 110 ) and plays the greeting ( if recorded ) to the caller ( block 112 ). subsequently , the auto attendant system attempts to connect to the substitute extension number supplied by the called party in block 100 ( block 114 ). this action is the same as the action described in block 16 , fig1 and detailed in fig2 . if the attempt to connect to the substitute extension number is unsuccessful , the auto attendant system sends the caller to a voice mail system to take a message ( block 116 ). if the connection to the substitute extension number is successful , the explanation recorded ( if any ) by the called party at block 106 is played to the substitute called party ( block 118 ). the substitute called party is now substituted for the original called party and the auto attendant system returns to block 20 in fig1 to announce the call and offer options to the substitute called party ( block 120 ). fig5 is a flow chart of the select greeting action of the auto attendant system of the present invention . the select greeting action is taken if the called party instructs the auto attendant system to take a message . at this point , the auto attendant system offers a number of greeting choices to the called party ( block 140 ). these greetings can include a default greeting ( block 142 ), a general system greeting ( block 144 ), a programmable greeting ( block 146 ), a personal greeting ( block 148 ), or a new greeting ( block 150 ). the programmable greeting includes fill - in information , such as the time of day , which the called party can supply ( block 152 ) to complete the programmable message as appropriate . the personal greeting is selected from a list of greetings previously recorded by the called party . the new greeting can be recorded specifically as a greeting to the caller . after the appropriate greeting is selected by the called party ( blocks 142 - 152 ), the connection to the called party is cancelled ( block 154 ) and the greeting which has been selected is played to the caller ( block 156 ). if appropriate , the caller is then sent to voice mail ( block 158 ) to leave a message for the called party . as shown in fig6 the above system may be implemented with conventional prior art telephone call processing equipment , such as a pbx 3 connected to a computerized voice messaging system 4 , using voice prompts and dtmf tones via telephone 7 to communicate between the user and the system . equivalent equipment may be used for a central office implementation . preferably , a connection is established between the voice messaging system 4 , and a local area computer system , such as a local area network 5 . with this equipment , all of the prompts to the called party are displayed on a personal computer 6 at the called party &# 39 ; s desk which is connected to the network . presentation of the visual prompts for the called party and receipt of instructions from the called party are easily coordinated with the voice messages played to the caller and recorded from the called party since all these functions are performed by a single computer . alternatively , the system may be implemented using telephone equipment with a display screen , such as a liquid crystal display ( lcd ) screen , on each telephone . the prompts may be presented in abbreviated form on the lcd if it is small while additional explanation is given with voice prompts . while the foregoing description has explained the method of the preferred embodiment of the invention in detail , those skilled in the art will appreciate that there are a number of alternative embodiments for accomplishing the method and apparatus of the present invention . accordingly , the scope of the invention is to be determined only by the following claims .	7
“ alkyl ” as a group and as a structural element of other groups , for example halo - substituted - alkyl and alkoxy , can be either straight - chained or branched . c 1 - 4 - alkoxy includes , methoxy , ethoxy , and the like . halo - substituted alkyl includes trifluoromethyl , pentafluoroethyl , and the like . “ aryl ” means a monocyclic or fused bicyclic aromatic ring assembly containing six to ten ring carbon atoms . for example , aryl may be phenyl or naphthyl , preferably phenyl . “ arylene ” means a divalent radical derived from an aryl group . “ heteroaryl ” is as defined for aryl above where one or more of the ring members is a heteroatom . for example heteroaryl includes pyridyl , indolyl , indazolyl , quinoxalinyl , quinolinyl , benzofuranyl , benzopyranyl , benzothiopyranyl , benzo [ 1 , 3 ] dioxole , imidazolyl , benzo - imidazolyl , pyrimidinyl , furanyl , oxazolyl , isoxazolyl , triazolyl , tetrazolyl , pyrazolyl , thienyl , etc . “ cycloalkyl ” means a saturated or partially unsaturated , monocyclic , fused bicyclic or bridged polycyclic ring assembly containing the number of ring atoms indicated . for example , c 3 - 10 cycloalkyl includes cyclopropyl , cyclobutyl , cyclopentyl , cyclohexyl , etc . “ heterocycloalkyl ” means cycloalkyl , as defined in this application , provided that one or more of the ring carbons indicated , are replaced by a moiety selected from — o —, — n ═, — nr —, — c ( o )—, — s —, — s ( o )— or — s ( o ) 2 —, wherein r is hydrogen , c 1 - 4 alkyl or a nitrogen protecting group . for example , c 3 - 8 heterocycloalkyl as used in this application to describe compounds of the invention includes morpholino , pyrrolidinyl , pyrrolidinyl - 2 - one , piperazinyl , piperidinyl , piperidinylone , 1 , 4 - dioxa - 8 - aza - spiro [ 4 . 5 ] dec - 8 - yl , etc . “ halogen ” ( or halo ) preferably represents chloro or fluoro , but may also be bromo or iodo . “ thrombopoietin ( tpo )” is also known in the art as c - mpl ligand , mpl ligand , megapoietin , and megakaryocyte growth and development factor . “ treat ”, “ treating ” and “ treatment ” refer to a method of alleviating or abating a disease and / or its attendant symptoms . the present invention provides compounds , compositions and methods for the treatment of thrombocytopenia . thrombocytopenia can be broadly interpreted as any decrease in the number of blood platelets below what is considered normal or desired for a healthy individual . in one embodiment , with reference to compounds of formula i , are compounds of formula ia : m is selected from 0 , 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 and 5 ; z is selected from n and cr 8 ; wherein r 8 is selected from hydrogen , halo , c 1 - 6 alkyl , halo - substituted - c 1 - 6 alkyl ; wherein any alkyl of r 8 can optionally have a methylene replaced by an atom or group selected from — s ( o ) 0 - 2 —, — c ( o )—, — nr 9 — and — o —; wherein r 9 is selected from hydrogen and c 1 - 6 alkyl ; r 1 , r 2 , r 4 and r 5 are independently selected from hydrogen , halo , hydroxy , nitro , — xnr 9 r 10 , c 1 - 6 alkyl , halo - substituted - c 1 - 6 alkyl ; wherein x is selected from a bond and c 1 - 6 alkylene ; and r 9 and r 10 are independently is selected from hydrogen and c 1 - 6 alkyl ; r 3 is selected from — xcoor 9 , — xconr 9 r 10 , — nr 11 s ( o ) 2 r 12 , — s ( o ) 2 nr 11 r 12 , — nr 11 c ( o ) r 12 , — nr 11 c ( o ) nr 11 r 12 , — nr 11 c ( o ) c ( o ) or 12 and — nr 11 c ( o ) or 12 ; wherein x is selected from a bond and c 1 - 6 alkylene ; and r 9 and r 10 are independently is selected from hydrogen and c 1 - 6 alkyl ; r 6 is selected from halo and c 1 - 6 alkyl ; and r 20 is selected from halo and c 1 - 6 alkyl . in another embodiment , r 6 is fluoro and r 20 is selected from fluoro , methyl and butyl . in another embodiment , r 3 is selected from carboxyl , amino - carbonyl , amino - sulfonyl , methyl - sulfonyl - amino and amino ; and r 4 is selected from hydrogen , hydroxyl , nitro and amino . preferred compounds of the invention are selected from 4 -[ 6 -( 4 - butyl - phenyl )- 7 - fluoro - 1h - indol - 2 - yl ]- benzoic acid ; 4 -[ 6 -( 4 - butyl - phenyl )- 7 - fluoro - 1h - indol - 2 - yl ]- benzamide ; 4 -[ 7 - fluoro - 6 -( 4 - fluoro - 3 - methyl - phenyl )- 1h - indol - 2 - yl ]- benzoic acid ; 4 -[ 7 - fluoro - 6 -( 4 - fluoro - 3 - methyl - phenyl )- 1h - indol - 2 - yl ]- benzenesulfonamide ; 4 -[ 6 -( 4 - butyl - phenyl )- 3 - ethyl - 7 - fluoro - 1h - indol - 2 - yl ]- 2 - hydroxy - benzoic acid ; 4 -[ 6 -( 4 - butyl - phenyl )- 7 - fluoro - 3 - isopropyl - 1h - indol - 2 - yl ]- 2 - hydroxy - benzoic acid ; 4 -[ 6 -( 4 - butyl - phenyl )- 7 - fluoro - 1h - indol - 2 - yl ]- 2 - hydroxy - benzoic acid ; 4 -[ 6 -( 4 - butyl - phenyl )- 7 - fluoro - 3 - methyl - 1h - indol - 2 - yl ]- 2 - hydroxy - benzoic acid ; 4 -[ 6 -( 4 - butyl - phenyl )- 1h - benzoimidazol - 2 - yl ]- benzoic acid ; 4 -[ 6 -( 4 - butyl - phenyl )- 1h - benzoimidazol - 2 - yl ]- 2 - hydroxy - benzoic acid ; n -{ 4 -[ 6 -( 4 - butyl - phenyl )- 7 - fluoro - 1h - indol - 2 - yl ]- phenyl }- methanesulfonamide ; n -{ 4 -[ 6 -( 4 - butyl - phenyl )- 7 - fluoro - 1h - indol - 2 - yl ]- phenyl }- acetamide ; n -{ 4 -[ 6 -( 4 - butyl - phenyl )- 7 - fluoro - 1h - indol - 2 - yl ]- 2 - chloro - phenyl }- acetamide ; 4 -[ 6 -( 4 - butyl - phenyl )- 7 - fluoro - 1h - indol - 2 - yl ]- 2 - chloro - phenylamine ; and 2 - amino - 4 -[ 6 -( 4 - butyl - phenyl )- 7 - fluoro - 1h - indol - 2 - yl ]- benzoic acid . further preferred compounds of the invention are detailed in the examples and tables , infra . thrombocytopenia can be broadly interpreted as any decrease in the number of blood platelets below what is considered normal or desired for a healthy individual . thrombocytopenia is known to have many causative factors , including but not limited to , radiation therapy , chemotherapy , immune therapy , immune thrombocytopenic purpura , myelodysplastic syndrome ( mds ), aplastic anemia , aml , cml , viral infections ( including , but not limited to ; hiv , hepatitis c , parvovirus ) liver disease , myeloablation , bone marrow transplant , stem cell transplant , peripheral blood stem cell transplant , progenitor cell defect , polymorphisms in stem cells and progenitor cells , defects in tpo , neutropenia , dendritic cell mobilization , proliferation , activation or differentiation . tpo has significant therapeutic value in the treatment of patients with reduced platelet count . in particular patients with many types of cancer suffer thrombocytopenias because of myelosuppressive chemotherapy or radiation therapy which can cause an increase in the risk of bleeding and often limits the dose of chemotherapeutic agents that may be given to receiving intensive chemotherapy or bone marrow transplantation . the compounds of this invention are useful in treating thrombocytopenia regardless of the factor or factors causing the condition . the compounds of this invention are also useful in treating thrombocytopenia when the causative factor or factors of the condition are unknown or have yet to be identified . the compounds of this invention are useful whenever a decrease in blood or blood platelets is anticipated including , but not limited to , transplant surgery , surgery , anesthesia prior to child birth and gut protection . because platelets ( thrombocytes ) are necessary for blood clotting and when their numbers are very low a patient is at risk of death from catastrophic hemorrhage , tpo mimetics of the invention have a useful application in the treatment of various hematological disorders , for example , diseases primarily due to platelet defects . in accordance with the foregoing , the present invention further provides a method for preventing or treating any of the diseases or disorders described above in a subject in need of such treatment , which method comprises administering to said subject a therapeutically effective amount ( see , “ administration and pharmaceutical compositions ”, infra ) of a compound of formula i or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof . for any of the above uses , the required dosage will vary depending on the mode of administration , the particular condition to be treated and the effect desired . in general , compounds of the invention will be administered in therapeutically effective amounts via any of the usual and acceptable modes known in the art , either singly or in combination with one or more therapeutic agents . a therapeutically effective amount may vary widely depending on the severity of the disease , the age and relative health of the subject , the potency of the compound used and other factors . in general , satisfactory results are indicated to be obtained systemically at daily dosages of from about 0 . 03 to 2 . 5 mg / kg per body weight . an indicated daily dosage in the larger mammal , e . g . humans , is in the range from about 0 . 5 mg to about 100 mg , conveniently administered , e . g . in divided doses up to four times a day or in retard form . suitable unit dosage forms for oral administration comprise from ca . 1 to 50 mg active ingredient . compounds of the invention can be administered as pharmaceutical compositions by any conventional route , in particular enterally , e . g ., orally , e . g ., in the form of tablets or capsules , or parenterally , e . g ., in the form of injectable solutions or suspensions , topically , e . g ., in the form of lotions , gels , ointments or creams , or in a nasal or suppository form . pharmaceutical compositions comprising a compound of the present invention in free form or in a pharmaceutically acceptable salt form in association with at least one pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or diluent can be manufactured in a conventional manner by mixing , granulating or coating methods . for example , oral compositions can be tablets or gelatin capsules comprising the active ingredient together with a ) diluents , e . g ., lactose , dextrose , sucrose , mannitol , sorbitol , cellulose and / or glycine ; b ) lubricants , e . g ., silica , talcum , stearic acid , its magnesium or calcium salt and / or polyethyleneglycol ; for tablets also c ) binders , e . g ., magnesium aluminum silicate , starch paste , gelatin , tragacanth , methylcellulose , sodium carboxymethylcellulose and or polyvinylpyrrolidone ; if desired d ) disintegrants , e . g ., starches , agar , alginic acid or its sodium salt , or effervescent mixtures ; and / or e ) absorbents , colorants , flavors and sweeteners . injectable compositions can be aqueous isotonic solutions or suspensions , and suppositories can be prepared from fatty emulsions or suspensions . the compositions may be sterilized and / or contain adjuvants , such as preserving , stabilizing , wetting or emulsifying agents , solution promoters , salts for regulating the osmotic pressure and / or buffers . in addition , they may also contain other therapeutically valuable substances . suitable formulations for transdermal applications include an effective amount of a compound of the present invention with a carrier . a carrier can include absorbable pharmacologically acceptable solvents to assist passage through the skin of the host . for example , transdermal devices are in the form of a bandage comprising a backing member , a reservoir containing the compound optionally with carriers , optionally a rate controlling barrier to deliver the compound to the skin of the host at a controlled and predetermined rate over a prolonged period of time , and means to secure the device to the skin . matrix transdermal formulations may also be used . suitable formulations for topical application , e . g ., to the skin and eyes , are preferably aqueous solutions , ointments , creams or gels well - known in the art . such may contain solubilizers , stabilizers , tonicity enhancing agents , buffers and preservatives . compounds of the invention can be administered in therapeutically effective amounts in combination with one or more therapeutic agents ( pharmaceutical combinations ). the tpo mimetic compounds of the current invention are also useful in acting on cells for survival or proliferation in conjunction with other agents known to act on cells for survival or proliferation . such other agents include but are not limited to : g - csf , gm - csf , tpo , m - csf , epo , gro - beta , il - 11 , scf , flt3 ligand , lif , il - 3 , il - 6 , il - 1 , progenipoietin , nesp , sd - 01 , or il - 5 or a biologically active derivative of any of the aforementioned agents . human dendritic cells have been shown to express the tpo receptor and tpo is a potent mobilizer of dendritic cells . the tpo mimetic compounds of the current invention are also useful as a vaccine adjuvant in that they increase the activity and mobility of dendritic cells . the pharmaceutically active compounds of this invention are useful as an immunological adjuvant , given in combination with an orally , transdermally or subcutaneously delivered vaccine and / or immunomodulator , by increasing the activity and mobility of dendritic cells . tpo is known to have various effects including anti - apoptotic / survival effects on megakaryocytes , platelets and stem cells , and proliferative effects on stem cells and megakaryocytic cells . therefore tpo and / or tpo mimetics of the invention , effectively increase the number of stem and progenitor cells so that there is synergistic effects when tpo is used in conjunction with other cytokines that induce differentiation . where the compounds of the invention are administered in conjunction with other therapies , dosages of the co - administered compounds will of course vary depending on the type of co - drug employed , on the specific drug employed , on the condition being treated and so forth . the invention also provides for a pharmaceutical combinations , e . g . a kit , comprising a ) a first agent which is a compound of the invention as disclosed herein , in free form or in pharmaceutically acceptable salt form , and b ) at least one co - agent . the kit can comprise instructions for its administration . the terms “ co - administration ” or “ combined administration ” or the like as utilized herein are meant to encompass administration of the selected therapeutic agents to a single patient , and are intended to include treatment regimens in which the agents are not necessarily administered by the same route of administration or at the same time . the term “ pharmaceutical combination ” as used herein means a product that results from the mixing or combining of more than one active ingredient and includes both fixed and non - fixed combinations of the active ingredients . the term “ fixed combination ” means that the active ingredients , e . g . a compound of formula i and a co - agent , are both administered to a patient simultaneously in the form of a single entity or dosage . the term “ non - fixed combination ” means that the active ingredients , e . g . a compound of formula i and a co - agent , are both administered to a patient as separate entities either simultaneously , concurrently or sequentially with no specific time limits , wherein such administration provides therapeutically effective levels of the 2 compounds in the body of the patient . the latter also applies to cocktail therapy , e . g . the administration of 3 or more active ingredients . the present invention also includes processes for the preparation of compounds of the invention . in the reactions described , it can be necessary to protect reactive functional groups , for example hydroxy , amino , imino , thio or carboxy groups , where these are desired in the final product , to avoid their unwanted participation in the reactions . conventional protecting groups can be used in accordance with standard practice , for example , see t . w . greene and p . g . m . wuts in “ protective groups in organic chemistry ”, john wiley and sons , 1991 . compounds of formula i , in which z is n , can be prepared by proceeding as in the following reaction scheme i : in which n and r 1 to r 7 are as defined in the summary of the invention . a compound of formula i can be synthesized by reacting a compound of formula 2 with a compound of formula 3 in the presence of sodium hydrogen sulfite in a suitable solvent ( for example , dma , and the like ). the reaction proceeds in a temperature range of about 100 ° c . to about 180 ° c . and can take up to about 24 hours to complete . compounds of formula i , in which z is cr 8 , can be prepared by proceeding as in the following reaction scheme ii : in which n and r 1 to r 8 are as defined in the summary of the invention . a compound of formula i can be synthesized by reacting a compound of formula 2 with a compound of formula 5 in the presence of a suitable lewis acid ( for example , zinc chloride , and the like ) or protic acid ( for example , hcl , and the like ) in a suitable solvent ( for example , acetic acid , ethanol , and the like ). the reaction proceeds in a temperature range of about 80 ° c . to about 120 ° c . and can take up to about 72 hours to complete . detailed examples of the synthesis of a compound of formula i can be found in the examples , infra . a compound of the invention can be prepared as a pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salt by reacting the free base form of the compound with a pharmaceutically acceptable inorganic or organic acid . alternatively , a pharmaceutically acceptable base addition salt of a compound of the invention can be prepared by reacting the free acid form of the compound with a pharmaceutically acceptable inorganic or organic base . alternatively , the salt forms of the compounds of the invention can be prepared using salts of the starting materials or intermediates . the free acid or free base forms of the compounds of the invention can be prepared from the corresponding base addition salt or acid addition salt from , respectively . for example a compound of the invention in an acid addition salt form can be converted to the corresponding free base by treating with a suitable base ( e . g ., ammonium hydroxide solution , sodium hydroxide , and the like ). a compound of the invention in a base addition salt form can be converted to the corresponding free acid by treating with a suitable acid ( e . g ., hydrochloric acid , etc .). compounds of the invention in unoxidized form can be prepared from n - oxides of compounds of the invention by treating with a reducing agent ( e . g ., sulfur , sulfur dioxide , triphenyl phosphine , lithium borohydride , sodium borohydride , phosphorus trichloride , tribromide , or the like ) in a suitable inert organic solvent ( e . g . acetonitrile , ethanol , aqueous dioxane , or the like ) at 0 to 80 ° c . prodrug derivatives of the compounds of the invention can be prepared by methods known to those of ordinary skill in the art ( e . g ., for further details see saulnier et al ., ( 1994 ), bioorganic and medicinal chemistry letters , vol . 4 , p . 1985 ). for example , appropriate prodrugs can be prepared by reacting a non - derivatized compound of the invention with a suitable carbamylating agent ( e . g ., 1 , 1 - acyloxyalkylcarbanochloridate , para - nitrophenyl carbonate , or the like ). protected derivatives of the compounds of the invention can be made by means known to those of ordinary skill in the art . a detailed description of techniques applicable to the creation of protecting groups and their removal can be found in t . w . greene , “ protecting groups in organic chemistry ”, 3 rd edition , john wiley and sons , inc ., 1999 . compounds of the present invention can be conveniently prepared , or formed during the process of the invention , as solvates ( e . g ., hydrates ). hydrates of compounds of the present invention can be conveniently prepared by recrystallization from an aqueous / organic solvent mixture , using organic solvents such as dioxin , tetrahydrofuran or methanol . compounds of the invention can be prepared as their individual stereoisomers by reacting a racemic mixture of the compound with an optically active resolving agent to form a pair of diastereoisomeric compounds , separating the diastereomers and recovering the optically pure enantiomers . while resolution of enantiomers can be carried out using covalent diastereomeric derivatives of the compounds of the invention , dissociable complexes are preferred ( e . g ., crystalline diastereomeric salts ). diastereomers have distinct physical properties ( e . g ., melting points , boiling points , solubilities , reactivity , etc .) and can be readily separated by taking advantage of these dissimilarities . the diastereomers can be separated by chromatography , or preferably , by separation / resolution techniques based upon differences in solubility . the optically pure enantiomer is then recovered , along with the resolving agent , by any practical means that would not result in racemization . a more detailed description of the techniques applicable to the resolution of stereoisomers of compounds from their racemic mixture can be found in jean jacques , andre collet , samuel h . wilen , “ enantiomers , racemates and resolutions ”, john wiley and sons , inc ., 1981 . in summary , the compounds of formula i can be made by a process , which involves : ( a ) that of reaction schemes i or ii ; and ( b ) optionally converting a compound of the invention into a pharmaceutically acceptable salt ; ( c ) optionally converting a salt form of a compound of the invention to a non - salt form ; ( d ) optionally converting an unoxidized form of a compound of the invention into a pharmaceutically acceptable n - oxide ; ( e ) optionally converting an n - oxide form of a compound of the invention to its unoxidized form ; ( f ) optionally resolving an individual isomer of a compound of the invention from a mixture of isomers ; ( g ) optionally converting a non - derivatized compound of the invention into a pharmaceutically acceptable prodrug derivative ; and ( h ) optionally converting a prodrug derivative of a compound of the invention to its non - derivatized form . insofar as the production of the starting materials is not particularly described , the compounds are known or can be prepared analogously to methods known in the art or as disclosed in the examples hereinafter . one of skill in the art will appreciate that the above transformations are only representative of methods for preparation of the compounds of the present invention , and that other well known methods can similarly be used . the present invention is further exemplified , but not limited , by the following examples that illustrate the preparation of compounds of formula i according to the invention . ( 3 - chloro - 2 - fluoro - phenyl )- hydrazine hydrochloride ( apollo scientific , ltd ., 221 mg , 1 . 12 mmol ) and 4 - acetyl - benzoic acid methyl ester ( 200 mg , 1 . 12 mmol ) are treated with anhydrous zncl 2 ( 382 mg , 2 . 81 mmol ) and acetic acid ( 10 ml ). the reaction is heated to 105 ° c . for 48 hours . after cooling to room temperature , the reaction is diluted with ethyl acetate and sequentially washed with h 2 o ( 5 ×) followed by saturated aqueous nacl . the organics are then dried over na 2 so 4 and filtered . after concentration , the crude product is purified by preparative rp lc - ms to give 4 -( 6 - chloro - 7 - fluoro - 1h - indol - 2 - yl )- benzoic acid methyl ester as an off - white solid : esms m / z 304 . 0 ( m + h + ). steps 2 and 3 : to a mixture of 4 -( 6 - chloro - 7 - fluoro - 1h - indol - 2 - yl )- benzoic acid methyl ester ( 37 mg , 0 . 122 mmol ) from the previous step , 4 - n - butylphenyl - boronic acid ( 43 mg , 0 . 244 mmol ), and cesium carbonate ( 159 mg , 0 . 487 mmol ) in dioxane ( 4 ml ), is added combiphos - pd6 palladium catalyst ( combiphos catalysts inc ., 3 mg ). the mixture is purged with n 2 for 5 minutes and heated at 120 ° c . for 7 hours in a sealed tube . after cooling to room temperature , the reaction is diluted with ethyl acetate and sequentially washed with 1 n hcl , h 2 o , and saturated aqueous nacl . the organics are then dried over na 2 so 4 , filtered , and concentrated . the resulting residue is treated with ethanol / h 2 o ( 2 ml / 1 ml ) followed by lioh ( 26 mg , 0 . 609 mmol ). this mixture is heated at 50 ° c . for 1 hour . after cooling to room temperature , the reaction is diluted with ethyl acetate and washed with 1 n aqueous hcl . the organic layer is dried over na 2 so 4 and filtered . after concentration , the crude product is purified by preparative rp lc - ms to give 4 -[ 6 -( 4 - butyl - phenyl )- 7 - fluoro - 1h - indol - 2 - yl ]- benzoic acid as a white solid : 1 h nmr ( 400 mhz , acetone - d 6 ) δ 11 . 13 ( bs , 1h ), 8 . 10 - 8 . 05 ( m , 4h ), 7 . 59 ( d , 2h ), 7 . 52 ( d , 1h ), 7 . 32 ( d , 2h ), 7 . 18 - 7 . 12 ( m , 2h ), 2 . 71 ( t , 2h ), 1 . 70 - 1 . 63 ( m , 2h ), 1 . 49 - 1 . 40 ( m , 2h ), 0 . 98 ( t , 3h ); esms m / z 388 . 2 ( m + h + ). a mixture of dioxane ( 16 ml ) and n - methylpyrrolidinone ( 8 ml ) is deoxygenated by passing a stream of nitrogen through it for 15 minutes . a sample of 3 - chloro - 2 - fluoroaniline ( 3 g , 20 . 6 mmol ) is charged to a 250 ml round - bottom flask which is equipped with a screw - top adapter capable of sealing the vessel via a 3 way stopcock . the aniline is then treated with 4 - butylphenylboronic acid ( 5 . 5 g , 30 . 9 mmol ), cesium fluoride ( 7 . 82 g , 51 . 5 mmol ) and bis -( tri - tert - butyl phosphiono ) palladium ( 527 mg , 1 . 03 mmol ). the flask is evacuated , back filled with nitrogen , and sealed . the flask is placed into an oil bath which has been preheated to 130 ° c . and stirred for 4 hours . after cooling , the reaction is filtered through a pad of celite which is subsequently rinsed with etoac . the organics are then removed by rotary evaporation . the crude reaction is diluted with water , and extracted with etoac . the phases are separated , and the organics are dried over mgso 4 , filtered , and concentrated . the resulting oil is diluted with diethyl ether and treated with an excess of a 4 m solution of hcl in dioxane . the resulting solid is collected , washed with diethyl ether , and dried to give 4 ′- butyl - 2 - fluoro - biphenyl - 3 - ylamine hydrochloride as a white solid : lc / ms calculated for [ m + h ]+ c16h19fn : 244 . 3 , found : 244 . 2 . a 0 ° c . mixture of 4 ′- butyl - 2 - fluoro - biphenyl - 3 - ylamine hydrochloride ( 5 . 4 g , 0 . 019 mol ) in concentrated aqueous hcl ( 50 ml ) is treated with the drop wise addition of sodium nitrite ( 1 . 3 g , 0 . 019 mol ) in h 2 o ( 20 ml ) over 10 minutes . the resulting solution is stirred at 0 ° c . for 1 hour and then treated with the drop wise addition of a 0 ° c . solution of tin ( ii ) chloride ( 13 . 0 g , 0 . 058 mol ) in concentrated aqueous hcl ( 14 ml ). this mixture is stirred for 15 min and then filtered . the isolated solid is washed with cold saturated aqueous nacl and then suspended in 50 % naoh . the resultant slurry is diluted with h 2 o and extracted with et 2 o . the organic phase is dried over mgso 4 , filtered , and concentrated . the resulting residue is dissolved in 100 ml of et 2 o and cooled to 0 ° c . 4 . 0 m hcl in dioxane ( 15 ml ) is added drop wise to this solution and the resulting precipitate collected to yield 4 . 58 g ( 81 %) of the desired hydrazine hydrochloride . lc / ms calculated for c16h20fn2 : 259 . 3 found : 259 . 2 step 2 : ( 4 ′- butyl - 2 - fluoro - biphenyl - 3 - yl )- hydrazine hydrochloride from the previous step ( 90 mg , 0 . 306 mmol ) and 4 - acetyl - benzamide ( sigman , m . e . et al . j . am . chem . soc . 1988 , 110 , 4297 .) ( 50 mg , 0 . 306 mmol ) are treated with anhydrous zncl 2 ( 418 mg , 3 . 06 mmol ) and acetic acid ( 4 ml ). the reaction is heated to 105 ° c . for 48 hours . after cooling to room temperature , the reaction is diluted with ethyl acetate and sequentially washed with h 2 o ( 5 ×), 1n aqueous hcl , and saturated aqueous nacl . the organics are then dried over na 2 so 4 and filtered . after concentration , the crude product is purified by preparative rp lc - ms to give 4 -[ 6 -( 4 - butyl - phenyl - 7 - fluoro - 1h - indol - 2 - yl ]- benzamide as a tan solid : 1 h nmr ( 400 mhz , acetone - d 6 ) δ 11 . 11 ( bs , 1h ), 8 . 08 - 8 . 01 ( m , 4h ), 7 . 59 - 7 . 43 ( m , 4h ), 7 . 38 - 7 . 29 ( m , 2h ), 7 . 18 - 7 . 12 ( m , 2h ), 6 . 65 ( bs , 1h ), 2 . 74 - 2 . 63 ( m , 2h ), 1 . 76 - 1 . 64 ( m , 2h ), 1 . 50 - 1 . 38 ( m , 2h ), 1 . 04 - 0 . 93 ( m , 3h ); esms m / z 387 . 2 ( m + h + ). by repeating the procedures described in example 2 , using appropriate starting materials , 4 -[ 7 - fluoro - 6 -( 4 - fluoro - 3 - methyl - phenyl )- 1h - indol - 2 - yl ]- benzoic acid is obtained as a white solid : 1 h nmr ( 400 mhz , cd 3 od ) δ 8 . 09 ( d , 2h ), 7 . 98 ( d , 2h ), 7 . 52 - 7 . 42 ( m , 3h ), 7 . 18 - 7 . 05 ( m , 3h ), 2 . 32 ( s , 3h ); esms m / z 364 . 1 ( m + h + ). by repeating the procedures described in example 2 , using appropriate starting materials , 4 -[ 7 - fluoro - 6 -( 4 - fluoro - 3 - methyl - phenyl )- 1h - indol - 2 - yl ]- benzenesulfonamide is obtained as a tan solid : 1 h nmr ( 400 mhz , acetone - d 6 ) δ 11 . 12 ( bs , 1h ), 8 . 18 - 8 . 13 ( m , 2h ), 8 . 06 - 7 . 98 ( m , 2h ), 7 . 59 - 7 . 48 ( m , 3h ), 7 . 22 - 7 . 12 ( m , 3h ), 6 . 68 ( bs , 2h ), 2 . 33 ( s , 3h ); esms m / z 399 . 1 ( m + h + ). a sample of 4 - amino - 2 - hydroxysalicylic acid ( 10 g , 65 . 3 mmol ) is charged to a 2 liter erlenmeyer flask equipped with a large stir bar , cooled in an ice / water bath and treated with concentrated sulfuric acid ( 20 ml ) and enough water to make a free flowing suspension (˜ 50 ml ). after stirring for 20 minutes , the reaction is treated with a solution of sodium nitrite ( 4 . 55 g , 66 . 0 mmol ) in water ( 20 ml ) over the course of 10 minutes . after stirring an additional 3 minutes , the reaction is treated with a solution of potassium iodide ( 16 . 9 g , 101 mmol ) in water ( 30 ml ) over the course of 15 minutes . the cooling bath is removed and the reaction is carefully monitored and stirred as it generates a significant amount of nitrogen gas . after the reaction subsides , it is briefly heated to 70 ° c . after which it is allowed to cool to room temperature and sit overnight . the resulting solid is collected by filtration , washed with water and dried to give crude 2 - hydroxy - 4 - iodo - benzoic acid that is used in the next reaction without further purification : esms m / z 265 . 0 ( m + h + ). a solution of 2 - hydroxy - 4 - iodo - benzoic acid ( 4 . 0 g , 0 . 015 mol ) in thf ( 25 ml ) and meoh ( 25 ml ) is treated by the dropwise addition of ( trimethylsilyl )- diazomethane ( 2 . 0m in et2o , 15 ml ) and stirred at room temperature for 2 . 5 hours . volatiles are removed in vacuo and the crude residue diluted into etoac . the organic phase is sequentially washed with saturated aqueous nahco 3 ( 3 ×), saturated aqueous nacl ( 1 ×), and h 2 o ( 1 ×). the organic phase is dried over mgso 4 , filtered , and concentrated . the crude product is purified with silica gel column chromatography ( 0 - 80 % ethyl acetate in hexanes gradient ) to afford 2 - hydroxy - 4 - iodo - benzoic acid methyl ester : esms m / z 279 . 0 ( m + h + ). a solution of 2 - hydroxy - 4 - iodo - benzoic acid methyl ester ( 8 . 01 g , 0 . 0288 mol ) in thf ( 184 ml ) and h 2 o ( 46 ml ) is treated with vinyl - boronic acid di - butyl ester ( 9 . 53 ml , 0 . 0432 mol , 1 . 5 eq . ), naco 3 ( 21 . 37 g , 0 . 201 mol , 7 eq . ), and dichloro - bis ( triphenyl - phosphine ) palladium ( 1 . 01 g , 1 . 44 mmol , 5 mol %). the solution is purged with n 2 ( g ) for 5 minutes and then heated to reflux for 2 hour . the reaction is concentrated in vacuo , diluted with etoac , and sequentially washed with h 2 o and saturated aqueous nacl . the organic phase is dried over mgso 4 , filtered , and concentrated . the crude product is purified with silica gel column chromatography ( 5 % ethyl acetate in hexanes ) to afford 2 - hydroxy - 4 - vinyl - benzoic acid methyl ester : esms m / z 179 . 1 ( m + h + ). a steady stream of o 2 ( g ) is passed through a cold (− 78 ° c .) solution of 2 - hydroxy - 4 - vinyl - benzoic acid methyl ester ( 3 . 28 g , 0 . 0184 mol ) in ch 2 cl 2 ( 50 ml ). after 5 minutes , o 3 ( g ) is bubbled into the solution until the solution &# 39 ; s color turns blue / gray . the solution is then purged with o 2 ( g ) for 5 minutes , treated with dms ( 4 . 05 ml , 0 . 0552 mol ) and allowed to warm to room temperature overnight . all volatiles are removed in vacuo and the crude product is purified with silica gel column chromatography ( 0 - 100 % ethyl acetate in hexanes gradient ) to afford 4 - formyl - 2 - hydroxy - benzoic acid methyl ester : esms m / z 181 . 0 ( m + h + ). 4 - formyl - 2 - hydroxy - benzoic acid methyl ester ( 360 mg , 2 mmol ) is dissolved in thf ( anhydrous , 10 ml ). the solution is cooled to − 78 ° c . and stirred under nitrogen . to this solution is added n - propyl - magnesium chloride ( 2m in thf , 2 ml , 2 mmol ) dropwise via syringe . the reaction mixture is stirred at − 78 ° c . for 1 hour , then gradually warmed to room temperature over 1 hour after which point , the reaction is quenched by adding saturated aqueous ammonium chloride . the resulting mixture is extracted with etoac ( 3 × 15 ml ). the combined organic phase is washed with saturated aqueous nacl and dried over na 2 so 4 . after concentration , the crude product is purified with silica gel flash column chromatography ( 10 - 20 % ethyl acetate in hexanes gradient ) to afford 2 - hydroxy - 4 -( 1 - hydroxy - butyl )- benzoic acid methyl ester as a colorless oil : 1 h nmr ( 400 mhz , cdcl 3 ) δ 10 . 74 ( s , 1h ), 7 . 79 ( d , 1h , j = 8 . 4 hz ), 6 . 95 ( d , 1h , j = 1 . 2 hz ), 6 . 86 ( dd , 1h , j = 1 . 6 , 8 hz ), 4 . 67 ( t , 1h , j = 6 . 8 hz ), 3 . 94 ( s , 3h ), 1 . 82 ( br , 1h ), 1 . 80 - 1 . 62 ( m , 1h ), 1 . 46 - 1 . 28 ( m , 2h ), 0 . 93 ( t , 3h , j = 7 . 2 hz ). to the solution of 2 - hydroxy - 4 -( 1 - hydroxy - butyl )- benzoic acid methyl ester ( 132 mg , 0 . 59 mmol ) in dcm ( 6 ml ), is added pdc ( 245 mg , 1 . 1 mmol ) in one portion . the reaction is stirred overnight . the reaction mixture is filtered through a silica gel plug using dcm as eluent . the filtrate is concentrated to give 4 - butyryl - 2 - hydroxy - benzoic acid methyl ester as a white solid : 1 h nmr ( 400 mhz , cdcl 3 ) δ 10 . 77 ( s , 1h ), 7 . 92 ( d , 1h , j = 8 . 4 hz ), 7 . 52 ( d , 1h , j = 1 . 6 hz ), 7 . 44 ( dd , 1h , j = 1 . 6 , 8 hz ), 3 . 99 ( s , 3h ), 2 . 93 ( t , 2h , j = 7 . 2 hz ), 1 . 76 ( qt , 2h , j = 7 . 6 hz ), 1 . 00 ( t , 3h , j = 7 . 6 hz ). a mixture of 4 - butyryl - 2 - hydroxy - benzoic acid methyl ester ( 60 mg , 0 . 27 mmol ), ( 3 - chloro - 2 - fluoro - phenyl )- hydrazine ( apollo scientific , ltd ., 54 mg , 0 . 27 mmol ), and zinc chloride ( 110 mg , 0 . 8 mmol ) in acetic acid ( 2 ml ) is purged with nitrogen for 5 minutes and then heated in a sealed tube at 120 ° c . for 2 hours . the mixture is cooled to room temperature and diluted with ethyl acetate . the resulting mixture is sequentially washed with saturated aqueous na 2 co 3 and saturated aqueous nacl , and finally dried over sodium sulfate . after concentration , the crude product is purified via silica gel flash column chromatography ( 10 % ethyl acetate in hexanes ) to afford 4 -( 6 - chloro - 3 - ethyl - 7 - fluoro - 1h - indol - 2 - yl )- 2 - hydroxy - benzoic acid methyl ester as a light yellow solid : esms m / z 348 . 1 ( m + h + ). steps 8 and 9 : to a mixture of 4 -( 6 - chloro - 3 - ethyl - 7 - fluoro - 1h - indol - 2 - yl )- 2 - hydroxy - benzoic acid methyl ester ( 50 mg , 0 . 14 mmol ), 4 - n - butyl - phenylboronic acid ( 50 mg , 0 . 28 mmol ), and cesium fluoride ( 78 mg , 0 . 52 mmol ) in dioxane ( 3 ml , anhydrous ) is added palladium bis ( tri - tert - butyl - phosphine ) ( 6 mg , 10 mol %). this mixture is purged with n 2 for 3 minutes and then heated in a sealed tube at 120 ° c . for 4 hours . the mixture is cooled to room temperature , filtered , and the filtrate is concentrated . the resulting residue is dissolved in ethanol / h 2 o ( 1 ml / 0 . 1 ml ) and transferred to a microwave tube . lioh ( 12 mg , 0 . 54 mmol ) is added and the mixture is heated at 120 ° c . for 6 minutes under microwave irradiation . the crude product mixture is filtered . after concentration of the filtrate , the crude product is purified by preparative rp lc - ms to give 4 -[ 6 -( 4 - butyl - phenyl )- 3 - ethyl - 7 - fluoro - 1h - indol - 2 - yl ]- 2 - hydroxy - benzoic acid as a yellow solid : 1 h nmr ( 400 mhz , cd 3 od ) δ 7 . 96 ( d , 1h , j = 8 . 8 hz ), 7 . 50 ( d , 2h , j = 8 hz ), 7 . 42 ( d , 1h , j = 8 . 4 hz ), 7 . 24 ( d , 2h , j = 8 hz ), 7 . 21 - 7 . 20 ( m , 2h ), 7 . 10 ( dd , 1h , j = 8 , 8 hz ), 2 . 95 ( q , 2h , j = 7 . 6 hz ), 2 . 66 ( t , 2h , j = 8 hz ), 1 . 65 ( m , 2h ), 1 . 40 ( m , 2h ), 1 . 34 ( t , 3h , j = 7 . 6 hz ), 0 . 97 ( t , 3h , j = 7 . 6 hz ); esms m / z 432 . 2 ( m + h + ). by repeating the procedures described in example 5 , using appropriate starting materials , 4 -[ 6 -( 4 - butyl - phenyl )- 7 - fluoro - 3 - isopropyl - 1h - indol - 2 - yl ]- 2 - hydroxy - benzoic acid is obtained as a yellow solid : 1 h nmr ( 400 mhz , acetone - d 6 ) δ 10 . 64 ( s , 1h ), 8 . 01 ( d , 1h , j = 8 . 4 hz ), 7 . 68 ( d , 1h , j = 8 hz ), 7 . 55 ( d , 2h , j = 7 . 6 hz ), 7 . 31 ( d , 2h , j = 8 hz ), 7 . 23 - 7 . 13 ( m , 3h ), 3 . 46 ( m , 1h ), 2 . 68 ( t , 2h , j = 7 . 6 hz ), 1 . 66 ( m , 2h ), 1 . 51 ( d , 6h , j = 7 . 2 hz ), 1 . 40 ( m , 2h ), 0 . 96 ( t , 3h , j = 7 . 6 hz ); esms m / z 446 . 2 ( m + h + ). by repeating the procedures described in example 5 , using appropriate starting materials , 4 -[ 6 -( 4 - butyl - phenyl )- 7 - fluoro - 1h - indol - 2 - yl ]- 2 - hydroxy - benzoic acid is obtained as a yellow solid : 1 h nmr ( 400 mhz , acetone - d 6 ) δ 11 . 12 ( bs , 1h ), 7 . 99 ( d , 1h ), 7 . 60 - 7 . 53 ( m , 4h ), 7 . 48 ( d , 1h ), 7 . 32 ( d , 2h ), 7 . 18 - 7 . 10 ( m , 2h ), 2 . 67 ( t , 2h ), 1 . 72 - 1 . 61 ( m , 2h ), 1 . 49 - 1 . 37 ( m , 2h ), 0 . 98 ( t , 3h ); esms m / z 404 . 2 ( m + h + ). by repeating the procedures described in example 5 , using appropriate starting materials , 4 -[ 6 -( 4 - butyl - phenyl )- 7 - fluoro - 3 - methyl - 1h - indol - 2 - yl ]- 2 - hydroxy - benzoic acid is obtained as a pale yellow solid : 1 h nmr ( 400 mhz , acetone - d 6 ) δ 10 . 75 ( bs , 1h ), 8 . 02 ( d , 1h ), 7 . 57 - 7 . 15 ( m , 8h ), 2 . 74 - 2 . 62 ( m , 2h ), 2 . 58 ( s , 3h ), 1 . 71 - 1 . 61 ( m , 2h ), 1 . 43 - 1 . 35 ( m , 2h ), 0 . 98 ( t , 3h ); esms m / z 418 . 2 ( m + h + ). a smith process vial charged with 4 - bromo - 2 - nitroaniline ( 205 mg , 0 . 945 mmol ), 4 - butyl phenyl boronic acid ( 336 mg , 1 . 89 mmol ), cesium fluoride ( 430 mg , 2 . 83 mmol ), bis ( tri - t - butyl - phosphine )- palladium ( 24 . 1 mg , 0 . 0472 mmol ), and dioxane ( 2 ml ) is purged with argon ( g ) for 5 minutes and then heated in a microwave to 120 ° c . for 15 minutes . the crude reaction is filtered through celite using etoac as eluent . the filtrate is concentrated in vacuo and the crude product is purified with silica gel flash column chromatography ( 0 - 100 % ethyl acetate in hexanes gradient ) to afford 4 ′- butyl - 3 - nitro - biphenyl - 4 - ylamine : esms m / z 271 . 2 ( m + h + ). 4 ′- butyl - 3 - nitro - biphenyl - 4 - ylamine ( 117 mg , 3 . 70 mmol ) and 10 % pd / c ( 10 mg ) in 2 : 1 v / v meoh / etoac ( 4 ml ) is treated to a steady bubbling of h 2 ( g ) for 15 minutes . the reaction is kept under 1 atm of h 2 for 1 hour with stirring . the reaction is filtered through celite and the filtrate concentrated in vacuo to afford 4 ′- butyl - biphenyl - 3 , 4 - diamine : esms m / z 241 . 2 ( m + h + ). step 3 : a hot ( 140 ° c .) mixture of 4 - formyl - benzoic acid methyl ester ( 21 . 0 mg , 0 . 129 mmol ) and nahso 3 ( 20 . 1 mg , 0 . 193 mmol , 1 . 5 eq .) in dma ( 250 μl ) is treated with the dropwise addition of 4 ′- butyl - biphenyl - 3 , 4 - diamine ( 31 mg , 0 . 129 mmol ) in dma ( 100 μl ) over 10 minutes . the resulting mixture is stirred for 1 hour at 140 ° c . and is then treated with h 2 o ( 1 ml ) and stirred an additional hour . the reaction is diluted with etoac and the phases separated . the organic phase is dried over mgso 4 , filtered , and concentrated . the crude benzimidazole product is diluted with 95 % ethanol ( 0 . 5 ml ) and thf ( 1 ml ) and transferred into a smith - process vial containing lioh ( 15 . 4 mg , 0 . 645 mmol , 5 eq .). the reaction vessel is heated to 165 ° c . under microwave irradiation for 5 minutes . after concentration , the crude product is purified by preparative rp lc - ms to give 4 -[ 6 -( 4 - butyl - phenyl )- 1h - benzoimidazol - 2 - yl ]- benzoic acid : 1 h nmr ( 400 mhz , cd 3 od ) δ 9 . 00 ( d , j = 8 . 2 hz , 1h ), 8 . 91 ( d , j = 8 . 1 hz , 1h ), 8 . 63 ( s , 1h ), 8 . 53 ( s , 1h ), 8 . 31 ( d , j = 7 . 6 hz , 2h ), 8 . 23 ( d , j = 8 . 3 hz , 1h ), 8 . 02 ( d , j = 7 . 7 hz , 1h ), 7 . 94 ( s , 1h ), 7 . 84 ( s , 1h ), 7 . 62 ( d , j = 7 . 7 hz , 1h ), 7 . 33 ( d , j = 7 . 6 hz , 1h ), 3 . 38 ( dd , j = 7 . 8 , 7 . 7 hz , 1h ), 2 . 69 ( dd , j = 7 . 8 , 7 . 6 hz , 1h ), 2 . 35 ( m , 1h ), 2 . 09 ( m , 1h ), 1 . 66 ( dd , j = 7 . 4 , 7 . 3 hz , 3h ), 1 . 41 ( m , 1h ), 0 . 97 ( dd , j = 7 . 3 , 6 . 9 hz , 2h ); esms m / z 371 . 2 ( m + h + ). by repeating the procedures described in example 5 and 9 , using appropriate starting materials , 4 -[ 6 -( 4 - butyl - phenyl )- 1h - benzoimidazol - 2 - yl ]- 2 - hydroxy - benzoic acid is obtained : esms m / z 387 . 1 ( m + h + ). by repeating the procedures described in example 2 , using appropriate starting materials , n -{ 4 -[ 6 -( 4 - butyl - phenyl )- 7 - fluoro - 1h - indol - 2 - yl ]- phenyl }- methanesulfonamide is obtained as a tan solid : 1 h nmr ( 400 mhz , acetone - d 6 ) δ 11 . 00 ( bs , 1h ), 8 . 79 ( s , 1h ), 7 . 99 ( d , 2h ), 7 . 55 ( d , 2h ), 7 . 52 - 7 . 44 ( m , 3h ), 7 . 32 ( d , 2h ), 7 . 15 ( dd , 1h ), 7 . 01 ( s , 1h ), 3 . 09 ( s , 3h ), 2 . 72 ( t , 2h ), 1 . 75 - 1 . 64 ( m , 2h ), 1 . 47 - 1 . 36 ( m , 2h ), 0 . 99 ( t , 3h ); esms m / z 437 . 2 ( m + h + ). by repeating the procedures described in example 2 , using appropriate starting materials , n -{ 4 -[ 6 -( 4 - butyl - phenyl )- 7 - fluoro - 1h - indol - 2 - yl ]- phenyl }- acetamide is obtained as a tan solid : 1 h nmr ( 400 mhz , acetone - d 6 ) δ 10 . 95 ( bs , 1h ), 9 . 32 ( bs , 1h ), 7 . 92 ( d , 2h ), 7 . 81 ( d , 2h ), 7 . 57 ( d , 2h ), 7 . 43 ( d , 1h ), 7 . 32 ( d , 2h ), 7 . 16 ( dd , 1h ), 6 . 97 ( s , 1h ), 2 . 70 ( t , 2h ), 1 . 69 - 1 . 62 ( m , 2h ), 1 . 42 - 1 . 33 ( m , 2h ), 0 . 96 ( t , 3h ); esms m / z 401 . 1 ( m + by repeating the procedures described in example 2 , using appropriate starting materials , n -{ 4 -[ 6 -( 4 - butyl - phenyl )- 7 - fluoro - 1h - indol - 2 - yl ]- 2 - chloro - phenyl }- acetamide is obtained as a solid : 1 h nmr ( 400 mhz , dmso - d 6 ) δ 10 . 91 ( s , 1h ), 8 . 62 ( s , 1h ), 8 . 19 ( d , j = 8 . 6 hz , 1h ), 7 . 92 ( d , j = 2 . 1 hz , 1h ), 7 . 77 ( dd , j = 8 . 6 , 2 . 1 hz , 1h ), 7 . 42 ( dd , j = 8 . 1 , 1 . 6 hz , 2h ), 7 . 32 ( d , j = 8 . 2 hz , 1h ), 7 . 19 ( d , j = 8 . 2 hz , 1h ), 7 . 03 ( dd , j = 8 . 1 , 6 . 9 hz , 1h ), 6 . 91 ( dd , j = 3 . 3 , 2 . 3 hz , 1h ), 2 . 56 ( t , j = 7 . 7 hz , 2h ), 2 . 11 ( s , 3h ), 1 . 54 ( m , 2h ), 1 . 28 ( m , 2h ), 0 . 83 ( t , j = 7 . 3 hz , 3h ); esms m / z 435 . 2 ( m + h + ). by repeating the procedures described in example 2 , using appropriate starting materials , 4 -[ 6 -( 4 - butyl - phenyl - 7 - fluoro - 1h - indol - 2 - yl ]- 2 - chloro - phenylamine is obtained as a solid : esms m / z 393 . 3 ( m + h + ). to a mixture of 4 ′- bromo - 3 ′- nitroacetophenone ( 600 mg , 2 . 46 mmol ), vinylboronic acid dibutyl ester ( 680 mg , 3 . 69 mmol ), and sodium carbonate ( 1 . 83 g , 17 . 22 mmol ) in thf / h 2 o ( 12 ml / 4 ml ) is added dichlorobis ( triphenylphospine ) palladium ( ii ) ( 86 mg , 5 % mmol ). the reaction tube is sealed and the mixture is purged with n 2 for 3 min and heated at 70 ° c . for 1 . 5 h . then the mixture is cooled to room temperature and poured into saturated ammonia chloride aqueous solution . the mixture is extracted with ethyl acetate ( 3 × 20 ml ). the organic extracts are combined , washed with brine and concentrated . the crude product is purified with silica gel column chromatography ( 20 % ethyl acetate in hexanes ) to afford 1 -( 3 - nitro - 4 - vinyl - phenyl )- ethanone as a yellow solid , 87 % yield : esms m / z 192 . 0 ( m + h + ). 1 -( 3 - nitro - 4 - vinyl - phenyl )- ethanone obtained from the previous step ( 410 mg , 2 . 14 mmol ) is dissolved in dcm ( 20 ml ) and cooled to − 78 ° c . naoh ( 429 mg , 10 . 7 mmol ) in meoh ( 5 ml ) is added . o 3 ( g ) is bubbled into the solution until the solution &# 39 ; s color turns blue / gray . the solution is then purged with n 2 ( g ) until the blue color disappears . the solution is warmed to room temperature and concentrated to afford 4 - acetyl - 2 - nitro - benzoic acid methyl ester as a colorless oil : 1 h nmr ( 400 mhz , cdcl 3 ) δ 8 . 41 ( d , 1h , j = 1 . 6 hz ), 8 . 19 ( dd , 1h , j = 7 . 6 , 1 . 6 hz ), 7 . 79 ( d , 1h , j = 8 hz ), 3 . 91 ( s , 3h ), 2 . 66 ( s , 3h ). steps 3 - 5 : following the procedure described in example 2 , samples of 4 - acetyl - 2 - nitro - benzoic acid methyl ester ( obtained from the previous step ) and ( 4 ′- butyl - 2 - fluoro - biphenyl - 3 - yl )- hydrazine hydrochloride ( example 2 , step 1 ) are used to form 4 -[ 6 -( 4 - butyl - phenyl )- 7 - fluoro - 1h - indol - 2 - yl ]- 2 - nitro - benzoic acid methyl ester . hydrogenation of the nitro group to the corresponding amine ( 1 atm h 2 , pd / c ) followed by saponification of the methyl ester with naoh ( etoh / h 2 o ) and final purification using preparative rp lc - ms affords 2 - amino - 4 -[ 6 -( 4 - butyl - phenyl )- 7 - fluoro - 1h - indol - 2 - yl ]- benzoic acid as a solid : 1 h nmr ( 400 mhz , acetone - d 6 ) δ 11 . 07 ( s , 1h ), 7 . 92 ( d , 1h ), 7 . 53 ( dd , 2h ), 7 . 45 ( d , 1h ), 7 . 36 ( d , 1h ), 7 . 31 ( d , 2h ), 7 . 19 - 7 . 13 ( m , 2h ), 7 . 02 - 7 . 00 ( m , 1h ), 2 . 67 ( t , 2h ), 1 . 67 - 1 . 62 ( m , 2h ), 1 . 42 - 1 . 37 ( m , 2h ), 0 . 94 ( t , 3h ); esms m / z 403 . 1 ( m + h + ). compounds of the present invention are assayed to measure their potency as mimetics of tpo in an in vitro proliferation assay using the murine baf3 cell line transfected with human tpo receptor ( tpo - r ): ba / f3 - tpor cells are washed and resuspended in rpmi - 1640 supplemented with 1 % or 20 % of fbs , ms , hs or ( human serum albumin + alpha1 acid glycoprotein ), 1 % pen - strep - glu and 1 mm or 25 μm znso 4 at 8 × 104 cells / ml and dispensed to 384 - well plates at 50 ml / well for overnight starvation ( 18 - 20 hr ). the 2 nd day , the starved cells are treated with 0 . 5 ml of dmso , compound or rhtpo ( 30 ng / ml ) at 37 ° c ., 5 % co 2 for 7 hours . perkin elmer britelite ( 25 ml ) diluted to 60 % in water is added to each well and a few minutes later , the plates are read on a clipr to record the luminescence signal . ba / f3 - tpo - r cells are washed and resuspended in rpmi - 1640 supplemented with 1 % fbs , 1 % pen - strep - glu and 1 mm or 25 μm znso 4 at 8 × 104 cells / ml and dispensed to 384 - well plates at 50 ml / well for overnight starvation ( 18 - 20 hours ). the 2 nd day , the starved cells are treated with 0 . 5 ml of dmso , compound or rhtpo ( 30 ng / ml ) at 37 ° c ., 5 % co 2 for 48 hours . alamar blue reagent ( 3 . 5 μl at ˜ 7 % final concentration ) is added to each well , the plates are incubated for 4 hours and read on an analyst gt to record the fluorescence signal . cd34 + cells and megacult - c kit ( stemcell technologies , inc ., vancouver , canada ) are used for the assay . cd34 + cells are mixed with the megacult - c collagen solution according to the manufacturer &# 39 ; s protocol at 104 cells per slide . after addition of tpo or a compound of the invention at different concentrations , the slides are incubated at 37 ° c ., 5 % co 2 for 12 days , fixed , stained for human cfu - meg and colonies are quantitated using an inverted microscope . compounds of formula i , in free form or in pharmaceutically acceptable salt form , exhibit valuable pharmacological properties , for example , as indicated by the in vitro tests described in this application . the compounds of the invention preferably exhibit tpo mimetic activity with an ic50 in the range of 1 × 10 − 9 to 1 × 10 − 5 m , preferably less than 500 nm , more preferably less than 250 nm . compounds of formula i exhibit efficacy in the range of 25 % to 150 % relative to tpo . it is understood that the examples and embodiments described herein are for illustrative purposes only and that various modifications or changes in light thereof will be suggested to persons skilled in the art and are to be included within the spirit and purview of this application and scope of the appended claims . all publications , patents , and patent applications cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes .	2
fig2 is a block diagram of a multi - port multi - bank memory system 200 in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention . memory system 200 includes four memory banks b 00 - b 03 and three access ports p 1 - p 3 . although memory system 200 includes four memory banks and three access ports , it is understood that memory system 200 can include other numbers of memory banks and other numbers of ports , as long as the number of memory banks is greater than or equal to the number of ports . in the embodiment illustrated by fig2 , ports p 1 and p 2 are read ports , and port p 3 is a write port . the first read port p 1 includes a first read address bus ra_ 01 and a first read data bus rd_ 01 . the second read port p 2 includes a second read address bus ra_ 02 and a second read data bus rd_ 02 . the write port p 3 includes a write address bus wa_ 0 and a write data bus wd_ 0 . each of the memory banks b 00 - b 03 is coupled to each of the three ports p 1 - p 3 . more specifically , each memory bank b xx includes a first read port p 1 xx ( which is coupled to port p 1 ), a second read port p 2 xx ( which is coupled to port p 2 ) and a write port p 3 xx ( which is coupled to port p 3 ), wherein xx = 00 , 01 , 02 and 03 . the first read address bus ra_ 01 provides read addresses to the first read ports p 1 00 , p 1 01 , p 1 02 and p 1 03 , through bus connections labeled a 1 . the first read data bus rd_ 01 receives read data values from the first read ports p 1 00 , p 1 01 , p 1 02 and p 1 03 , through bus connections labeled r 1 . the second read address bus ra_ 02 provides read addresses to the second read ports p 2 00 , p 2 01 , p 2 02 and p 2 03 , through bus connections labeled a 2 . the second read data bus rd_ 01 receives read data values from the second read ports p 2 00 , p 2 01 , p 2 02 and p 2 03 , through bus connections labeled r 2 . the write address bus wa_ 0 provides write addresses to the write ports p 3 00 , p 3 01 , p 3 02 and p 3 03 , through bus connections labeled wa . the write data bus wd_ 0 provides write data values to write ports p 3 00 , p 3 01 , p 3 02 and p 3 03 , through bus connections labeled wd . an external device ( or devices ) may initiate accesses to memory system 200 in the following manner . accesses may be simultaneously initiated on ports p 1 , p 2 and / or p 3 , as long as none of these simultaneous accesses specify the same memory bank . for example , a read access on port p 1 may access memory bank b 00 at the same time that a read access on port p 2 accesses memory bank b 02 , and a write access on port p 3 accesses memory bank b 03 . because each of the memory banks b 00 - b 03 is accessed by , at most , one of the ports p 1 - p 3 at any given time , the memory banks b 00 - b 03 can be implemented using single - port memory cells . the internal structure of memory banks b 00 - b 03 is described in more detail below . fig3 is a block diagram illustrating memory bank b 00 in more detail , in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention . memory banks b 01 , b 02 and b 03 are identical to memory bank b 00 in the described embodiments . memory bank b 00 includes multiplexer 201 , de - multiplexer 202 , access control logic 205 , and memory array m 00 . memory array m 00 includes an array of single - port memory cells . these single - port memory cells can be , for example , dynamic random access memory ( dram ) cells , static random access memory ( sram ) cells , embedded dram ( edram ) cells , or flash memory cells . multiplexer 201 and access control logic 205 are coupled to receive the read address on the first read address bus ra_ 01 ( via bus connections a 1 ), the read address on the second read address bus ra_ 02 ( via bus connections a 2 ), and the write address on the write address bus wa_ 0 ( via bus connections wa ). each of these received addresses includes a bank address ( which specifies one of the memory banks b 00 - b 03 ) and a local address ( which specifies a row / column location within the memory array of the memory bank ). access control logic 205 determines whether one of the received read addresses or the received write address includes a bank address that specifies the memory bank b 00 . in one embodiment , memory bank b 00 is assigned a unique address , and access control logic 205 compares the bank addresses received on buses ra_ 01 , ra_ 02 and wa_ 0 with this unique address to determine whether memory bank b 00 is specified for an access . during any given access cycle , only one ( or none ) of the buses ra_ 01 , ra_ 02 and wa_ 0 will carry a bank address that specifies memory bank b 00 . if access control logic 205 determines that one of the buses ra_ 01 , ra_ 02 and wa_ 0 carries a bank address that specifies memory bank b 00 , then access control logic 205 will cause multiplexer 201 to route the associated local ( row / column ) address to memory array m 00 , as the array address signal adr 00 . for example , if access control logic 205 detects that the bank address on read address bus ra_ 01 specifies memory bank b 00 , then access control logic 205 will cause multiplexer 201 to route the local ( row / column ) address from read address bus ra_ 01 to single - port memory array m 00 . access control logic 205 also generates a read / write access control signal ( r / w ) in response to the received addresses . if access control logic 205 determines that a matching bank address is received on one of the read address buses ra_ 01 or ra_ 02 , then access control logic 205 generates a r / w access control signal that specifies a read operation . if access control logic 205 determines that a matching bank address was received on the write address bus wa_ 0 , then access control logic 205 generates a r / w access control signal that specifies a write operation . if access control logic 205 determines that no matching bank address was received on address buses ra_ 01 , ra_ 02 or wa_ 0 , then access control logic 205 generates a r / w access control signal that specifies an idle cycle ( no operation ). if the r / w control signal indicates that a matching bank address was received on one of the read address buses ra_ 01 or ra_ 02 , then memory array m 00 performs a read operation to the address location specified by the array address adr 00 . the resulting read data value dout 00 is provided from memory array m 00 to de - multiplexer 202 . access control logic 205 causes de - multiplexer 202 to route the read data value dout 00 to the read data bus associated with the read access . for example , if the matching bank address was received on the first read address bus ra_ 01 ( i . e ., port p 1 ), then de - multiplexer 202 routes the read data value dout 00 to the first read data bus rd_ 01 ( i . e ., port p 1 ). conversely , if the matching bank address was received on the second read address bus ra_ 02 ( i . e ., port p 2 ), then de - multiplexer 202 routes the read data value dout 00 to the second read data bus rd_ 02 ( i . e ., port p 2 ). if the r / w control signal indicates that a matching bank address was received on the write address bus wa_ 0 , then memory array m 00 performs a write operation , whereby the write data value on write data bus wd_ 0 ( i . e ., din 00 ) is written to the address location specified by the array address adr 00 . assuming that each of the memory banks b 00 - b 03 operates at a frequency f , then memory system 200 may operate at a maximum frequency of 3 × f . that is , two read operations may be simultaneously performed at frequency f on ports p 1 and p 2 , while one write operation is simultaneously performed at frequency f on port p 3 . fig4 is a block diagram of a memory system 400 that includes four memory partitions mp 0 - mp 3 , in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention . in the described embodiment , memory partition mp 0 is identical to memory system 200 ( fig2 - 3 ). thus , memory partition mp 0 includes memory banks b 00 - b 03 and ports p 1 - p 3 , as described above . memory partitions mp 1 - mp 3 are identical to memory partition mp o . memory partitions mp 1 , mp 2 and mp 3 include memory banks b 10 - b 13 , b 20 - b 23 and b 30 - b 33 , respectively , and ports p 4 - p 6 , p 7 - p 9 and p 10 - p 12 , respectively . memory banks b 10 - b 13 , b 20 - b 23 and b 30 - b 33 are identical to memory banks b 00 - b 03 . ports p 4 - p 5 , p 7 - p 8 and p 10 - p 11 are read ports , similar to read ports p 1 - p 2 . ports p 6 , p 9 and p 12 are write ports , similar to write port p 3 . up to eight read operations and four write operations may be performed simultaneously within memory system 400 . more specifically , eight read operations may be initiated by providing read addresses on the read address buses ra_ 01 , ra_ 02 , ra_ 11 , ra_ 12 , ra_ 21 , ra_ 22 , ra_ 31 and ra_ 32 of ports p 1 , p 2 , p 4 , p 5 , p 7 , p 8 , p 10 and p 11 , respectively . each of these read operations must specify different memory banks within the corresponding memory partitions . in response , eight read data values are provided on read data buses rd_ 01 , rd_ 02 , rd_ 11 , rd_ 12 , rd_ 21 , rd_ 22 , rd_ 31 and rd_ 32 of ports p 1 , p 2 , p 4 , p 5 , p 7 , p 8 , p 10 and p 11 , respectively . similarly , four write operations may be initiated by providing write addresses on the write address buses wa_ 0 , wa_ 1 , wa_ 2 and wa_ 3 of ports p 3 , p 6 , p 9 and p 12 , respectively , and providing write data values on the write data buses wd_ 0 , wd_ 1 , wd_ 2 and wd_ 3 of ports p 3 , p 6 , p 9 and p 12 , respectively . the use of memory partitions mp 0 - mp 3 in memory system 400 adds an additional level of hierarchy to the structure of memory system 200 , thereby allowing for multiplication of the number of simultaneously accessible ports , with minimal area overhead . the additional area overhead associated with memory system 400 is less than 5 percent , when compared with a conventional single - ported memory structure having the same capacity . the maximum operating frequency of memory system 400 is equal to the operating frequency of the memory banks times the number of ports per memory partition , times the number of memory partitions . assuming that each of the memory banks of memory system 400 operates at a frequency f , then memory system 400 may operate at a maximum frequency of 3 × 4 × f . that is , eight read operations may be simultaneously performed at frequency f on ports p 1 , p 2 , p 4 , p 5 , p 7 , p 8 , p 10 and p 11 , while four write operations are simultaneously performed at frequency f on ports p 3 , p 6 , p 9 and p 12 . although memory system 400 includes four memory partitions , with three ports per memory partition , it is understood that memory system 400 can include other numbers of memory partitions , having other numbers of ports per memory partition , in other embodiments . although the invention has been described in connection with several embodiments , it is understood that this invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed , but is capable of various modifications , which would be apparent to a person skilled in the art . accordingly , the present invention is limited only by the following claims .	6
embodiments of the present invention include processes and systems for creating and implementing a banner strip print messaging network in a retail establishment . with reference to fig1 , a shelf tag ( or “ banner strip ”) 100 may have an upper portion 102 and a lower portion 104 separated by a perforated line 106 . the upper portion 102 may be designed to fit inside a shelf edge 110 , such as a c - channel shelf edge ( 110 c ) or j - channel shelf edge ( 110 j ), as illustrated in fig2 . the perforated line 106 may aid in folding the lower portion 104 over the shelf edge 110 such that the lower portion 104 extends downward from the shelf edge 110 . the banner strip &# 39 ; s upper portion 102 may include information relating to the price of an item stored at a particular location on the shelf 110 . the lower portion 104 may include marketing or advertising information , promotional offers , product content , and health and wellness information , for example . additionally , as the banner strips 100 may be duplex printed , additional information can be stored on the underside of the lower portion 104 , including upc numbers for the associated items , planogram numbers , aisle location data , chain / banner / store numbers , version , expiration dates , or other product specific data . the information printed on the upper portion 102 , the lower portion 104 , and the underside of the lower portion 104 will hereinafter be generally referred to as message content data 425 . the banner strips 100 may be designed to meet the physical dimensions of the store shelf edge 110 . the width of the upper portion 102 may be adjusted to correspond to the fixture measurements of a given store . a typical configuration includes , for example , 1⅜ ″, although the strip 100 may be any width . additionally , the length of the banner strips 100 may vary to meet store shelving dimensions . typical configurations include , for example , 3 - foot and 4 - foot long sections . as shown in fig3 , the content of each banner strip 100 must align to each product position on the shelves 110 on each aisle . in fig3 , the upper portion 102 a and lower portion 104 a align with product a on the shelf 110 . similarly , upper portions 102 b , 102 c and lower portions 104 b , 104 c align with products b and c on the shelf 110 , respectively . fig4 - 5 illustrate a system and method for creating , delivering , and installing banner strip messaging in print format that corresponds to the correct position of products on the shelves 110 . the system 400 may include a server 401 , at least one input device 430 , and at least one output device 440 . in the embodiment 400 , the server 401 includes a processor 405 , which may be a single processor or multiple processors in communication with one another , in data communication with various elements . as shown in fig4 , the processor 405 is in data communication with computer memory 410 . the memory 410 may support a program 415 , and at least one database 417 for storing relevant product and product placement information , such as pog data 420 and message content data 425 . as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art , the computer memory 410 may consist of any appropriate computer - storage media ( e . g ., rma , rom , eeprom , flash memory , et cetera ) and the database 417 may be any electronic file or combination of files in which data is stored for use by the processor 405 . the database 417 may additionally be split into additional databases . the program 415 is described in further detail below , with specific reference to fig5 . a communication device 410 may be data communication with the processor 405 to communicate with an input device communication device 410 ′ and an output device communication device 410 ″. the communication devices 410 , 410 ′, 410 ″ may utilize any appropriate communication technology whether now known or later developed . the input device 430 ( e . g ., one or more keyboard , microphone , electronic - indicia reader , barcode scanner , et cetera ) may be in data communication with the processor 405 to provide data from a particular store to the server 401 , and the output device 440 ( e . g ., printer ) may be in data communication with the processor 405 for providing a means for displaying product information to the particular store . the input device 430 may be a third party input device , or it may be an input device from a participating retailer . in general terms , the programming 415 causes the processor 405 to undertake various steps for producing banner strips 100 . those skilled in the art will appreciate that the steps discussed herein may be caused by the programming 415 , and that the exact location of the programming 415 and where the electronic data is maintained or processed is not critical . as illustrated in fig5 , the process 500 begins at step 501 , where the programming 415 causes the processor 405 to retrieve message content data 425 and planogram ( or “ pog ”) data 420 from the input device 430 and store the data 420 , 425 in the computer memory 410 . alternately , the message content data 425 and the pog data 420 may be stored directed in the computer memory 410 , such that the processor 405 accesses the message content data 425 and the pog data 420 stored in the database 417 at step 501 . as noted above , the message content data 425 may include price information relating to each product , as well as advertising and / or promotional content relating to each product . the message content on each banner strip 100 must be aligned with the product position on the shelves in each aisle . thus , at step 502 , the program 415 aligns the correct message content data 425 with the pog data 420 using matching techniques for each product , and the process moves to step 503 . at step 503 , the program 415 prepares an output document template ( e . g ., as illustrated at fig6 ) based on the aligned message content data 425 and pog data 420 . each output document template may include several banner strips 100 a - 100 f to be printed on a single page . moving on , at step 504 , the output document template is transmitted to the output device 440 , which may provide the appropriate output 600 , such as a printed sheet having the desired content . as previously noted , the printed sheet 600 may be duplex printed , and therefore message content data 425 and / or pog data 420 may be printed on both sides of the printed sheet 600 as desired . it shall be noted that the output device 440 may be separate from the input device 430 , or the input device 430 and the output device 440 may be combined into a single device . the process then moves to step 505 . at step 505 , the printed sheet 600 may be loaded into a splitter device to complete a splitting process . as the printed sheet passes through the splitter device , the sheet may be separated into individual banner strips 100 a - 100 f , as illustrated in fig6 by broken lines . alternately , the strips , for example strips 100 a - 100 c in fig6 , may remain attached to form a long strip . additionally , during step 505 , the splitter device may create the perforated line 106 . the splitter device may be provided with the necessary die cutter specifications for each printed sheet . the splitter device may be a separate device , or it may be combined with the output device 440 . moving on , at step 506 , the banner strips 100 may be sorted based on location of the product and loaded into store specific boxes . for example , the banner strips 100 may be sorted in walk sequence order for ease of application . during a walk - sequenced installation process , banner strips 100 may be placed on the appropriate shelf location as indicated on the duplex printed information provided on the back side of the lower portion 104 of the strip 100 . additional store material may be loaded into the boxes prior to sealing the box for shipping . these additional materials may include , for example , price tags , advertising , promotion , marketing message tags , planogram information , store signage , and specific store instructions or directions . at step 507 , once the strips are received at a retail store , the banner strips 100 may be placed at the correct shelf location as described above , and as shown in fig3 . procedures . the lower portion 104 of the banner strips 100 may be folded over the shelf edge 110 along the perforated line 106 created during the die casting process ( step 505 ). the lower portion 104 of the banner strips 100 may thus hang straight down from the shelf edge , as illustrated in fig2 . many different arrangements of the various components depicted , as well as components not shown , are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention . embodiments of the present invention have been described with the intent to be illustrative rather than restrictive . alternative embodiments will become apparent to those skilled in the art that do not depart from its scope . a skilled artisan may develop alternative means of implementing the aforementioned improvements without departing from the scope of the present invention . it will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations and are contemplated within the scope of the claims . not all steps listed in the various figures need be carried out in the specific order described .	6
described herein is a novel antibiotic first identified from a strain of streptococcus mutans designated jh1140 . the antibiotic , here termed mutacin 1140 , like other lantibiotics , is a polycyclic peptide which is the product of post translational modification of a precursor protein translated from a single gene transcript in the host organism . the identified molecular structure of mutacin 1140 is illustrated in fig1 ( seq . id no : 3 ). see also , u . s . pat . no . 6 , 964 , 760 , incorporated herein by reference in its entirety . lactate dehydrogenase ( ldh )- deficient mutants of streptococcus mutans have been studied for their potential use in replacement therapy for dental caries . without expression of ldh , fermentation of carbohydrates by this microorganism employs alternate pathways for pyruvate metabolism that yields significant amounts of neutral end products , and thus ldh deficient strains exude less total acids into the environment . as a result , ldh - deficient mutants of this bacterium are less cariogenic . thus , this bacterium is being studied as an effector strain for replacement therapy for dental caries . however , to be useful , an effector strain must demonstrate superior competitive colonization properties in order to compete against other wild - type strains of the species and to prevent subsequent recolonization by wild - type strains . accordingly , effort has been conducted to find strains which have both superior colonization properties as well as an ldh - deficiency phenotype . one of the evolutionary strategies utilized by microorganisms for enhanced competitiveness is the synthesis of antibiotic agents to which competitive strains are sensitive . it was found here that a strain of s . mutans , previously called jh1000 , an ethyl methane sulfonate - induced mutant called jh1005 , and a spontaneous mutant of that strain , known as jh1140 , which have been previously reported to have good colonization properties , produced a potent broad spectrum bacteriocin - like inhibitory substance , referred to as a blis . as described below , the blis was found to inhibit the growth of representative strains of a wide variety of bacterial species . in addition , virtually all known streptococcus mutans strains tested were sensitive to the blis substance . analysis of isogenic mutants producing normal , elevated , or no blis demonstrated good correlation between blis production and colonization potential in both a rodent model and human subjects . utilizing genetic methods , the transcript responsible for the blis activity has been identified and sequenced . presented as seq id no : 1 is the genomic copy of the single transcript encoding the peptide responsible for the blis activity , the gene being named here lana . identified as seq id no : 2 is the deduced amino acid sequence of the transcript produced by an open reading frame present in seq id no : 1 . seq id no : 2 is the preproprotein form which , after proteolytic cleavage and other processing by factors present in the host organism , results in the synthesis of mutacin 1140 as shown in fig1 , seq id : no : 3 . as used herein , the term “ mutacin 1140 ” is intended to apply to the peptide antibiotic produced by streptococcus mutans strain 1140 , as well as related peptides produced by minor insertions , deletions , base changes or other variants which do not detract from the biological efficacy of the lantibiotic . it should be understood that while the chemical structure presented in fig1 ( seq id no : 3 ), is believed correct , that due to limitation in the analytical techniques used to date to elucidate the structure of the molecule , it is possible that there may be some minor differences between the structure of fig1 ( seq id no : 3 ) and the actual structure of the molecule produced by the bacteria , particularly at the carboxyl - end of the peptide . it is intended that the term mutacin 1140 describes the actual molecule in the event there are such minor differences . it is also anticipated that other evolutionarily related strains of streptococcus mutans , or closely related strains of other species , could produce allelic variations of this same lantibiotic and the term mutacin 1140 is intended to cover those as well . it has been found that mutacin 1140 is an antibiotic with an evolutionary relationship to another antibiotic known as epidermin produced by staphylococcus epidermidis . the genetic sequence presented below , derived from a mutant strain jh1005 derived from jh1000 , includes sequences with a high degree of homology to epia , epib and epid , which are genes previously sequenced from staphylococcus epidermidis and found to be involved in the biosynthesis of the antibiotic epidermin . the lana gene presented herein is believed to be roughly analogous to the epia gene identified as the structural gene responsible for expression of the prepropeptide for the antibiotic epidermin . the antibiotic polypeptide mutacin 1140 of the present invention can be isolated from the culture medium in which its native host organism , i . e ., a streptococcal organism , has been grown in culture , followed by isolation of the polypeptide antibiotic from the culture medium . in addition , the presentation of the lana coding sequence below allows for the construction of artificial genes encoding these sequences which can be transformed into other streptococcal species or strains of other bacterial species . two streptococcal strains which produce the mutacin 1140 lantibiotic have been deposited with the american type culture collection , rockville , md ., as accession numbers 55676 ( jh1140 ) and 55677 ( jh1000 ). the mutacin 1140 lantibiotic can be recovered from these strains , or other related strains of streptococcal species into which the genetic capability to synthesize mutacin 1140 is introduced using the information from seq id nos : 1 and 2 . a potential complexity in the introduction of the phenotype of production of mutacin 1140 into a new strain is the fact that the peptide undergoes post - translational modifications by other genetic elements in the host strain . the other post translational modification genes are contained within the genome of strain jh1140 as deposited above . by performing a random - type genetic transfer experiment of dna from mutacin 1140 - producing hosts into various other gram positive bacterial strains , one can readily identify what other genetic components are necessary , in addition to lana presented below , to achieve the fully mature and biologically active form of mutacin 1140 produced by the native producing streptococcal host strains . such procedures are within the ordinary level of skill in the art . once identified , these other genetic components can be transferred together with lana into a new host which would then produce mutacin 1140 . it is also specifically envisioned that mutacin 1140 can be synthesized ex vivo . a number of techniques exist for the synthesis of peptide molecules by relatively conventional organic chemical techniques . for example , solid phase polypeptide synthesis permits the creation of peptides , and that technology has evolved to the point where peptides of the size of mutacin 1140 can readily be synthesized outside of a microbial host . it is envisioned that the mutacin 1140 antibiotic will be useful generally as an antibiotic . since the antibiotic is produced by a common streptococcal strain present in human mouths , it is expected to be relatively non - toxic to human species . this conclusion is further buttressed by its analogous characteristic to existing antibiotics , such as epidermin , which are known to be relatively non - toxic to mammals . in its method of use , the mutacin 1140 is applied to the area in which it is desired to inhibit microbial growth . a carrier may be used to assist delivery of the antibiotic . in such delivery , it is desired to deliver an effective amount of the lantibiotic , such an effective amount being readily determinable by empirical testing to determine what amount of lantibiotic achieves the desired level of microbial inhibition . a lantibiotic was purified from streptococcus mutans jh1140 using the following procedure : four liter batches of todd - hewitt broth ( thb ; difco ) containing 0 . 5 % le agarose ( seakem ) were sterilized and poured into 90 mm petri plates . the plates were dried overnight at 37 ° c . a pure culture of jh1140 on a brain - heart infusion starter plate was used to inoculate 3 ml of thb and the cell suspension was vortexed for 10 sec . about 0 . 3 ml of the cell suspension was spread on the surface of a bhi agar plate and incubated overnight at 37 ° c . in a candle jar . a 10 - pronged inoculator was ethanol - flame sterilized and used to inoculate jh1140 from the spread plate prepared as above into evenly spaced stabs in the plates prepared as above . the plates were incubated in candle jars at 37 ° c . for 72 hours . the agar was scraped from the plates entirely and placed into centrifuge bottles . the bottles were stored overnight at − 20 ° c . the bottles were then centrifuged at room temperature for 60 min . at 4 , 000 rpm in a sorvall rc2b centrifuge and then for an additional 30 min . at 8 , 000 rpm . the supernatant was recovered and passed through whatman # 1 filter paper in a buchner funnel . to the filtered extract ( ca . 3 , 000 ml ) in a 4 l beaker , 100 ml of chloroform was added . the solution was placed on a magnetic stirrer and agitated at high speed for 120 min . the stir bar was removed and the solution was allowed to stand overnight undisturbed . the aqueous ( upper ) phase was aspirated off and discarded . the chloroform layer , containing a milky white flocculent , was divided into 50 ml conical centrifuge tubes and centrifuged at ca . 4 , 000 rpm for 8 min . residual aqueous material was removed by aspiration . the clear chloroform layer was removed using a pasteur pipette , leaving the flocculent which was washed 2 times with 5 ml of chloroform . chloroform was evaporated from the flocculent using a stream of nitrogen gas ; the tube was placed in a 45 - 50 ° c . water bath during this process to promote evaporation . the dried residue was dissolved in 0 . 5 ml of 50 % ethanol ; undissolved material was removed by centrifugation at 13 , 000 . times . g for 2 min . at room temperature . the clarified fraction including the lantibiotic was then stored at − 20 ° c . until further use . antimicrobial activity of the lantibiotic was determined by the following procedure : 5 ml of thb were inoculated with s . rattus strain bht - 2 ( resistant to 1 mg / ml streptomycin ); and grown overnight standing at 37 ° c . 0 . 02 ml of fractions to be tested for lantibiotic activity were serially 2 - fold diluted in distilled water in microtiter wells . top agar was prepared containing bhi broth , 0 . 75 % agar , 1 mg / ml streptomycin , and 1 : 10 , 000 diluted overnight s . rattus bht - 2 culture from above at 42 ° c . ; 0 . 2 ml was pipetted into each microtiter well . after 5 min . at room temperature to allow agar to set , the plate was incubated at 37 ° c . overnight . the minimal inhibitory concentration ( mic ) was determined as the reciprocal of the highest dilution of the test fraction which inhibited growth of s . rattus bht - 2 by visual inspection . single colonies of the strain producing mutacin 1140 were stab inoculated into brain heart infusion medium and incubated overnight in candle jars at 37 ° c . three drops of an overnight todd - hewitt broth culture of the indicator strain were mixed with 3 ml of molten top agar and poured evenly over the surface of the plate . after an additional 24 hours of incubation , clear zones surrounding the test strain were measured . representative strains of various bacteria were tested for their sensitivity to the inhibitory activity of the mutacin 1140 produced by the jh1140 strain by using the overlay technique . in addition to s . mutans , most gram positive organisms were found to be sensitive , including streptococcus mitis , streptococcus pyogenes , staphylococcus aureus , and actinomyces species . the inhibitory factor inhibited 124 of 125 s . mutans strains tested . gram - negative bacteria were generally resistant to inhibition by mutacin 1140 . the following table summarizes the spectrum of activity found for the lantibiotic . the partially purified mutacin 1140 had the same spectrum of activity displayed by jh1140 , as demonstrated by spotting 5 μl samples on lawns of target strains prepared as described above . this is also shown in table i . the inhibitory factor was produced in detectable amounts only during early stationary phase and could be recovered from todd - hewitt broth cultures of jh1140 . the inhibitory factor &# 39 ; s effect on other strains of s . mutans was bacteriocidal , since loopfuls of agar taken from clear zones were found to be sterile . the inhibitory activity in cell - free culture liquors was completely inactivated by treatment with trypsin under the conditions tested . incorporation of trypsin inhibitor into the reaction mixture at a concentration of 100 μg / ml prevented this inactivation . the inhibitory activity was inactivated ca . 50 % by treatment with 100 mg / ml pronase . higher concentrations of pronase ( 250 μg / ml ) or more prolonged treatment ( 1 h ) resulted in complete inactivation of the bacteriocin activity . it appeared to be completely resistant to inactivation by dnase i , rnase a , lipases , thermolysin , and lysozyme . the proteinaceous nature of the inhibitor indicated by this experiment , plus its biological activity , formally qualify it for inclusion in the broad family of bacteriocins . the amino acid sequence of the subject bacteriocin polypeptide was determined . information on the total number of modified amino acids in a lantibiotic can be determined by a combination of a chemical derivatization and electrospray ionization mass spectroscopy . edman degradation of ethane thiol - derivatized mutacin 1140 gave the results shown in the following table . this procedure was performed as described by mezer et al ., ( 1994 ) analyt . biochem . 223 : 185 - 190 . a genetic analysis of a strain producing the lantibiotic was performed . the analysis utilized a plasmid ptv1 - ok which is a repa ( ts ) derivative of the lactococcus lactis cryptic plasmid pwv01 for temperature - dependent replication in both streptococcus mutans and escherichia coli . the plasmid possesses the transposon tn917 which confers erythromycin resistance in streptococci . transposon mutagenesis was performed on lantibiotic - producing strain jh1005 harboring ptv1 - ok . erythromycin resistant clones were selected on bhi agar using 15 μg / ml antibiotic and were then stab inoculated into the same medium without antibiotic . after incubation overnight in candle jars at 37 ° c ., the plates were overlaid with 3 ml of top agar containing about 10 6 colony forming units per ml of bht - 2 . stabbed clones which failed to produce growth inhibition of the bht - 2 lawn were recovered and purified by streaking on a medium with erythromycin . from these mutants , which now had the transposon in the genetic elements responsible for lantibiotic production , chromosomal dna was isolated and dna flanking the tn917 insert was cloned into escherichia coli strain mc1061 . the flanking dna was sequenced by the university of florida icbr using taq dye deoxy terminator and dye primer cycle sequencing protocols as published by applied biosystems , using an applied biosystems model 373a dna sequencer . homology searches were conducted on the recovered sequences using the blast program . the recovered sequence , designated lana , is presented as seq id no : 1 . this sequence was found to have homology to epia . the open reading frame of this dna sequence produces the protein presented in seq id no : 2 . the compounds , polypeptides , and polynucleotides of the invention are useful for various non - therapeutic and therapeutic purposes . it is apparent from the testing that the compounds , polypeptides , and polynucleotides of the invention are effective for biochemical probes or controlling bacterial growth . therapeutic application of the new compounds and compositions comprising them can be contemplated to be accomplished by any suitable therapeutic method and technique presently or prospectively known to those skilled in the art . further , the compounds of the invention have use as starting materials or intermediates for the preparation of other useful compounds and compositions . the dosage administration to a host in the above indications will be dependent upon the identity of the infection , the type of host involved , its age , weight , health , kind of concurrent treatment , if any , frequency of treatment , and therapeutic ratio . the compounds of the subject invention can be formulated according to known methods for preparing pharmaceutically useful compositions . formulations are described in detail in a number of sources which are well known and readily available to those skilled in the art . for example , remington &# 39 ; s pharmaceutical science by e . w . martin describes formulations that can be used in connection with the subject invention . in general , the compositions of the subject invention will be formulated such that an effective amount of the bioactive compound ( s ) is combined with a suitable carrier in order to facilitate effective administration of the composition . it should be understood that the examples and embodiments described herein are for illustrative purposes only and that various modifications or changes in light thereof will be suggested to persons skilled in the art and are to be included within the spirit and purview of this application and the scope of the appended claims .	0
in the preferred embodiment , the subject antidotal food product is provided generally in the form of a cookie sandwich treat commonly consumed by and quite popular with young children . it generally exhibits the appearance , the texture , the friability , and the sweet flavor which typically characterize such cookie sandwich treats . accordingly , one antidotal food product formed in accordance with the overall invention concept as herein described may comprise a pair of biscuit - like wafers and a creamy , preferably white , filling sandwiched therebetween . the wafers may have a coloring resembling popular cookie or wafer like products commercially sold and easily identified by young children to obviously entice them to eat the antidotal food product of the subject invention . each wafer includes activated charcoal , corn syrup solids , compressible sucrose , chocolate cream flavor , vanilla dry flavor , and sweetener in the approximate weight range proportions indicated in table 1 . table 1______________________________________ approximate weight preferred weightcomposition percentage range percentage______________________________________activated 20 . 0 %- 60 . 0 % 40 . 0 % charcoalcorn syrup 0 . 0 %- 78 . 0 % 28 . 8 % solidscompressible 0 . 0 %- 78 . 0 % 28 . 8 % sucrosechocolate 0 . 5 %- 2 . 0 % 1 . 0 % cream flavorvanilla dry 0 . 5 %- 2 . 0 % 1 . 0 % flavoradditive 0 . 1 %- 1 . 0 % 0 . 3 % sweetener______________________________________ preferably , a pair of disk - shaped black wafers are formed in accordance with the proportions indicated in table 1 . the wafers exhibit a compressed granular texture and a degree of friability akin to that of a class of cookie treats quite popular with children . the degree of friability is such that the wafers are easily crumbled by the average biting force generated by even a very young child . the degree of friability is also such that the crumbled wafers may thereafter be effectively disintegrated by the subsequent chewing action generated by the given young child . subject to the allowable ranges of their component composition weight percentages , the wafers exhibit a degree of rich , sweet flavor to accompany their graham cracker - like crumbly texture . it is important that the sweet flavor of the wafers be sufficient to encourage substantial chewing prior to ingestion into the user &# 39 ; s gastro - intestinal tract . to enhance both the sweet flavor of the wafers , and to enhance the emulation of that readily identifiable class of cookie treats , a creamy white filling is sandwiched between a pair of wafers . the precise consistency , color , and taste of the filling is not important to the invention ; however , it is preferable that the filling be of a consistency similar to that found in commonly - consumed cookie sandwich treats , that its color is not one that is non - existent in a commonly consumed cookie sandwich treat , and that its flavor exhibit a sufficient sweet component to supplement or augment the sweet flavor of the wafers . the component compositions and their corresponding proportional weights of one suitable filling composition exhibiting such attributes are indicated in table 2 . table 2______________________________________ approximate weight preferred weightcomposition percentage range percentage______________________________________powdered 70 %- 90 % 76 . 34 % sugarhigh fructose 10 %- 30 % 22 . 90 % corn syrupvanilla 0 %- 2 % 0 . 63 % flavorsalt 0 %- 1 % 0 . 13 % ______________________________________ turning now to each of the component compositions shown in table 1 for each wafer , the preferred sorbent composition is activated charcoal , a black , powdery substance characterized by an extraordinary porosity which gives its particles a high internal surface area . a medicinal grade of this activated charcoal is commercially available from a limited number of manufacturers worldwide in forms respectively exhibiting various levels of internal surface area . one line of medicinal grade activated charcoals is manufactured by american norit company having designations a supra , b supra , and usp xxii , respectively with characteristic surface areas of 2 , 000 , 1 , 400 , and 900 m 2 / g . medicinal grade activated charcoal characterized by even greater internal surface areas have been available in the past in the united states but are currently not available commercially . any medicinal activated charcoal may be used in the subject composition . a supra was chosen in the preferred embodiment since it represents the largest surface area charcoal currently commercially available in the united states . this may translate into a lesser quantity of charcoal product required . lab tests verify that activated charcoal of greater surface area exhibits greater adsorptivity per unit gram thereof . to the extent possible , therefore , it is preferable that activated charcoal of maximum surface area be incorporated into the subject wafer . this would not only tend to decrease the minimum weight percentage necessary in each wafer to enable the incorporation in greater proportional quantities of the other flavor - enhancing compositions , but would also quite simply lessen the dosage that must be ingested for decontamination of a given quantity of ingested toxin . referring to the other compositions accompanying activated charcoal in the subject wafer , several factors are of paramount importance in their selection . first , the accompanying compositions must provide for the otherwise tasteless , gritty activated charcoal , a friable , yet chewable texture and a pleasant degree of sweet flavor reminiscent of , if not identical to , a sweet cookie treat . the accompanying compositions must provide such attributes without substantially abating the adsorptivity of the activated charcoal ; that is , without interfering therewith . as will be discussed in following paragraphs , that is no trivial matter , as a number of component compositions incorporated into early prototypes of the subject wafer were found to unexpectedly diminish in significant manner the overall adsorptivity of the activated charcoal . the component compositions shown in table 1 , when combined in the proportional quantities indicated , were found to reduce the overall adsorptivity of activated charcoal in its pure form by only approximately 6 %. this was determined to be an acceptable tradeoff given the exceptional flavor , texture , and friability level attained in the wafer . the corn syrup solids composition is a solid form of a corn or glucose syrup which is generally a mixture of d - glucose , maltose , and maltodextrins derived by hydrolysis of corn starch from the action of various acids and enzymes . the composition serves both as a sweetener and a binding agent for binding the activated charcoal particles together in a compressed solid . the particular type of corn syrup solids composition is not important to the present invention , and any one of various corn syrups commercially available may be utilized . the compressible sucrose composition also serves both as a sweetener and a binding agent . it is preferably of the type commercially - available and known as di - pac . while it is not necessary to include both a compressible sucrose composition and a corn syrup solids composition , as indicated in table 1 , it was found that wafers incorporating only compressible sucrose as its binding agent exhibited an undesirably great degree of friability tending to crumble much too readily to retain the appearance and feel of a cookie or biscuit . wafers incorporating only corn syrup solids as their binding agent were found to exhibit an undesirably low degree of friability , appearing to be much too hard to be comfortably chewed by young children . a mixture , however , in substantially equal amounts of the two compositions proved to exhibit a desirable level of both friability and taste . the resulting wafers incorporating substantially equal amounts of compressible sucrose and corn syrup solids compositions exhibited the richness in flavor characteristic of the compressible sucrose coupled with enough wafer cohesiveness to prevent premature crumbling at the wafer edges . the remaining compositions in table 1 , namely the chocolate cream flavor , the vanilla dry flavor , and the additive sweetener , are commercially available flavor enhancers included to optimize the taste emulation of popular cookie products . although the chocolate cream flavor , the vanilla dry flavor , and the additive sweetener are not therapeutically active , they do provide an important function of the overall antidotal food product in that their combined presence optimizes the probability that the young child will ingest the antidotal food product in emergency conditions and thereby allow the therapeutically active ingredients to take effect . thus , such ingredients are important in the overall concept since they render the therapeutically active ingredients functional in a particular environment . other suitable flavoring composition may be incorporated to serve this purpose ; however , it is important to maintain the proportional quantities of such flavor enhancers at the low levels indicated in table 1 to prevent the occurrence of unexpected levels of adsorptivity interference with respect to the activated charcoal . accordingly , care must be taken not to introduce into the wafer in any amount a flavoring composition which , by its inherent properties , exhibits an inordinate tendency to interfere with activated charcoal adsorptivity . it was found in an early prototype of the subject wafer , for instance , that the incorporation of melted chocolate as a flavor enhancer caused a noticeable decrease in the activated charcoal &# 39 ; s adsorptivity . this was likely due to the inherent tendency of the melted chocolate to adhere to the charcoal particles and plug their pores to thereby measurably reduce the available adsorption surface area . regarding the component compositions of the filling composition shown in table 2 , such is important in that they combine in the indicated proportions to form a sweet , creamy filling which complements the dry , somewhat diluted sweetness of the wafers , tending thereby to prompt the user to chew the wafers over a longer period of time . this increased chewing time is important , for the more the wafer is chewed , the more the activated charcoal is dispersed . kinetics tests performed with various wafer prototypes , as discussed in following paragraphs , indicate that greater dispersement of the activated charcoal effects measurably faster rates of toxin adsorption . observations from numerous other tests indicate that the component compositions of the filling present no significant threat to adsorptivity of the activated charcoal contained in the wafers . accordingly , the choice of component compositions and their respective weight percentages are important to the present invention to the extent that they affect the consistency , color , and taste of the resulting filling . the particular choice of component compositions and their corresponding weight percentages are determined primarily by these considerations . the component compositions shown in table 2 are each devoid of a fat component , a feature desirable in light of interference tests . interference tests for various component compositions indicate that fat - containing compositions observably interfere with the activated charcoal contained in the wafers . referring now to the tests performed for the subject decontaminant food product , extensive tests were performed on each of the more than forty prototypes developed in the process of realizing a workable decontaminant food product that overcomes the shortcomings of the prior art . comparative kinetics tests to determine the rate at which a given prototype adsorbed a . toxin , equilibrium adsorption tests to determine the adsorption capacity of the given prototype , and , where necessary , interference tests to determine the degree by which isolated component compositions tend to diminish the adsorptivity of the activated charcoal in the given prototype were performed for each prototype under simulated conditions . the tested prototypes varied widely in their component compositions and the corresponding proportional quantities , and the most instructive of the test results obtained are discussed in following paragraphs . all tests were conducted in vitro by mixing a predetermined amount of a test substance into a stock solution . the in vitro stock solution used in each test consisted of 1 g / l of sodium salicylate dissolved in a simulated gastric fluid solution containing 2 . 0 g / l of nacl , 7 . 0 ml / l of 12 n strength concentrated hcl , and distilled water . the simulated gastric fluid was characterized in this form by a ph level of 1 . 2 , the salicylate at this ph level being more than 99 . 99 % in the form of undissociated salicylic acid , which is very similar in its properties to aspirin , or acetylsalicylic acid . equilibrium adsorption tests for determining the total amount of salicylate that a given test substance may potentially adsorb if allowed to attain equilibrium conditions was conducted with the following procedures . first , a predetermined amount of the substance to be tested was placed in a glass vial , and 20 ml of the stock solution was added to that vial . the vial was thereafter continuously shaken by placement on a shaking table for approximately 15 hours . this caused the test substance to fully disintegrate such that the activated charcoal contained therein attained virtually perfect adsorption equilibrium with the salicylate in the stock solution . the kinetics tests were conducted generally by performing the following steps . approximately 500 ml of the stock solution was poured into a one liter glass container . a predetermined quantity of the given test substance was then introduced into the solution in the glass container . the container was then placed on a shaking table and shaken thereby at a 60 cycles per minute oscillation frequency . samples were taken at various times . activated charcoal was filtered from each sample and the solution analyzed colorimetrically to determine the salicylate concentration corresponding to the given sample time . comparative kinetics test results for a cookie product formed by sandwiching a pair of wafers formulated in accordance with the preferred combination indicated in table 1 sandwiched about a filling formulated in accordance with table 2 are shown in fig1 . for this test , a cookie weighing 6 . 80 g ( 5 . 15 g wafers and 1 . 65 g filling ) was chewed vigorously by the individual conducting the test , then introduced into a given volume of the stock solution . at 40 % of the wafer weight , approximately 2 . 06 g of a supra activated charcoal was thereby introduced into the solution . as shown by curve 10 , the concentration of salicylate in the solution decreased from 1 . 0 g / l to under 0 . 2 g / l within 2 . 5 minutes after the cookie &# 39 ; s introduction into the solution . after this dramatic initial decrease , the rate of salicylate concentration decrease gradually declined until equilibrium conditions were reached ( not shown ). the superior adsorption performance of the subject decontaminant food product is apparent when curve 10 is compared with curve 20 plotting the decrease in salicylate concentration upon introduction therein of a commonly available prior art activated charcoal liquid suspension . curve 20 was obtained by introducing 11 g of actidose aqua , a liquid suspension commercially marketed by paddock labs , inc ., minneapolis , mn . that amount of actidose aqua was determined to contain approximately the equivalent amount of activated charcoal as contained in the cookie sample from which curve 10 was derived . comparison of the two curves indicates that the cookie formed in accordance with the present invention not only reduced the salicylate concentration in the simulated gastric fluid solution at a significantly faster rate , but also yielded a significantly greater overall reduction in that concentration than a comparable amount of actidose aqua suspension . at the five minute point , for instance , the salicylate concentration , upon introduction of the subject cookie , was slightly below 0 . 1 g / l , whereas the salicylate concentration upon introduction of actidose aqua into the solution was observed to be slightly below 0 . 5 g / l at that time . after 30 minutes , the salicylate concentration had diminished to approximately 0 . 03 g / l with the subject cookie , whereas it had begun to level off at approximately 0 . 15 g / l with actidose aqua . the degree of interference with the adsorptivity of the activated charcoal in the cookie sample corresponding to curve 10 may be determined by comparison with the adsorption performance of an appropriate quantity of the same activated charcoal alone . that adsorption performance is indicated by curve 30 , derived by introducing into the stock solution approximately 2 . 0 g of pure a supra activated charcoal powder . comparison of curves 10 and 30 does indicate a measure of interference with the charcoal &# 39 ; s adsorptivity ; and , while the resolution of the curves in fig1 is not sufficient to quantifiably represent that measure of interference , separately conducted equilibrium adsorption tests show that the interference is not at a significant level . those equilibrium adsorption tests conducted with pure a supra activated charcoal yielded an approximate 75 % adsorption compared to the 68 . 5 % adsorption obtained with a sample of the subject cookie . that equates to a reduction of approximately 6 . 5 % in the resulting adsorption of salicylate . in light of the vital benefits derived from the enticing flavor and friability of the subject decontaminant food product , the cost in adsorptivity would be found by most toxicological treatment professionals to be quite insignificant . the pleasant flavor introduced into each wafer by the additional component compositions not only encourage thorough and complete chewing which enhances the adsorption kinetics by dispersing the activated charcoal contained in the wafer , it also has a more direct effect on the charcoal dispersion . the pleasant flavor induces the user &# 39 ; s salivary glands to produce more saliva than it would otherwise produce in the absence of such a pleasant flavor . the additional saliva , in turn , serves as a vehicle for more efficient dispersion of the charcoal particles . referring now back to table 1 , it is preferable that a supra activated charcoal be incorporated into each wafer at a 40 % weight percentage . a reduction in the weight percentage of a supra activated charcoal leads to a corresponding reduction in the adsorptivity of the resulting cookie . this was borne out in equilibrium adsorption tests conducted with a 30 weight percent a supra powdered wafer wherein adsorption values in the range of 61 . 1 % to 64 . 9 % were observed . in tests with a 20 weight percent a supra powdered wafer sample , the range of adsorption values observed decreased to 44 . 9 % to 46 . 3 %. an increase in the weight percentage of a supra beyond 40 %, while possible without excessively detrimental effects on the resulting wafer &# 39 ; s flavor and friability , would nevertheless tend to reduce the wafer &# 39 ; s palatability to younger children who are more inclined than older consumers to reject a food product for lack of sweetness . other than the activated charcoal component , the other primary components of each wafer , the corn syrup solids ( css ) and the dipac compositions may be varied in their proportional quantities . those two compositions combine to form the main components of the flavored binding composition , and variations in their relative proportional quantities in that binding composition notably affect the flavor and friability of the resulting wafer . as shown in table 3 , the relative proportions of the css and dipac compositions , however , do not appear to affect the adsorptivity of the activated charcoal . table 3______________________________________relative proportions percent salicylate adsorbed______________________________________100 % css , 0 % dipac 68 . 49 % 75 % css , 25 % dipac 68 . 49 % 50 % css 50 % dipac , 68 . 22 % 0 % css , 100 % dipac 68 . 49 % ______________________________________ comparative evaluation of the wafers resulting from each binding composition formulation shown in table 3 indicates that the corn syrup solids component is a stronger binding agent than the dipac component . accordingly , a wafer incorporating the 100 % css -- 0 % dipac formulation was more resistant to finger - abrasion than was a wafer incorporating the 75 % css -- 25 % dipac formulation , which , in turn , was more resistant to finger abrasion than a wafer incorporating the 50 % css -- 50 % dipac formulation , or one incorporating the 0 % css -- 100 % dipac formulation . the resistance to abrasion of wafers incorporating the 50 % css -- 50 % dipac and the 0 % css -- 100 % dipac formulations were qualitatively , at least , indistinguishable . comparative flavor evaluation of wafers incorporating the formulations shown in table 3 indicates that a wafer incorporating the 100 % css -- 0 % dipac formulation had little , if any , sweet flavor . a wafer incorporating the 75 % css -- 25 % dipac formulation had a mildly sweet , subtle chocolate flavor . a wafer incorporating the 50 % css -- 50 % dipac formulation had a more defined sweet chocolate flavor , and a wafer incorporating 0 % css -- 100 % dipac had an even more distinct sweet chocolate flavor . it is thus preferable for the optimal combination of friability level and flavor to incorporate into each wafer a 50 % corn syrup solids -- 50 % dipac binding composition formulation . the filling composition formulated in accordance with table 2 offers a concentrated sugary flavor which supplements and augments the flavor of the wafers . often , however , consumed cookie sandwich treats are consumed in parts by children who first disassemble the sandwich by separating at least one wafer from the filling , then proceed to consume the separated parts in sequence rather than in toto . it is , therefore , preferable that the wafers in and of themselves exhibit substantial flavor to be desirable to the average young child &# 39 ; s palate separate and apart from any filling composition . the combination of component compositions shown in table 1 for each wafer of the subject decontaminant food product was obtained only after extensive testing of numerous formulations incorporating a wide variety of component compositions and in varying proportional quantities . one flavored binding agent considered in place of the corn syrup solids and dipac compositions was a composition commercially marketed as maltrin 700 , a tabletting agent . adsorbance tests conducted by combining the maltrin 700 with a sample of a supra activated charcoal , however , indicated that the maltrin 700 significantly interferes with the adsorptivity of the activated charcoal . in those tests , 0 . 0203 g of a supra activated charcoal was combined with 0 . 0779 g of maltrin 700 and introduced into a predetermined volume of the stock solution . a separate 0 . 0203 g sample of a supra activated charcoal was introduced into a second separate sample of the same stock solution . in a third separate sample of the stock solution , 0 . 0203 g of a supra activated charcoal and 0 . 0779 g of maltrin 700 combined and compressed into a tableted wafer form was introduced after the wafer had been sufficiently crushed . the comparative adsorption results obtained are shown in table 4 . table 4______________________________________ percent salicylate relativetest substance adsorbed performance______________________________________pure a supra 58 . 24 % 100 . 0 % activated charcoala supra activated 51 . 92 % 89 . 1 % charcoal and maltrin 700a supra activated 40 . 50 % 69 . 5 % charcoal and maltrin700 in tableted waferform______________________________________ as the results in table 4 show , maltrin 700 , when simply blended with a supra powder interfered with the activated charcoal &# 39 ; s adsorptivity by approximately 11 %. more importantly , the maltrin 700 , when thoroughly blended and tightly compressed with the a supra activated charcoal powder as it would be in the tableted wafer form of the subject decontaminant food product , interfered by more than an alarming 30 %. maltrin 700 was eliminated as a preferable component composition on this basis , as were numerous other possible compositions . among the many prototype wafer formulations tested was that for which the component compositions and their proportional quantities are shown in table 5 . equilibrium adsorption tests conducted for this prototype wafer formulation yielded adsorptivity measures that were significantly less than expected . interference tests were conducted for each of the components outside of activated charcoal to isolate the cause of the reduced adsorptivity . those tests indicated that the reduction in adsorptivity was due primarily to the inordinate levels of interference attributable to the melted chocolate and the emulsifier composition used in the formulation commercially marketed as dur - lo . for comparison purposes , prototype wafers were formulated , as shown respectively in tables 6 and 7 , first without the melted chocolate composition , then without either of the melted chocolate and the dur - lo emulsifier compositions . equilibrium adsorption tests were then performed for each prototype formulation . the isotherms for these prototype wafer formulations ( of table 5 , table 6 , and table 7 ) are shown in fig2 as curves 100 , 110 , and 120 , respectively . the melted chocolate component in table 5 was replaced for the table 6 and 7 prototypes with a cocoa powder composition , as a chocolate flavor is a desirable characteristic of the resulting wafer , regardless of the formulation used . table 5______________________________________component composition quantity ( g ) ______________________________________granulated sugar 0 . 550non - fat dry milk 0 . 175salt 0 . 050baking soda 0 . 075monocalcium phosphate 0 . 025vanilla flavor 0 . 100sorbitol liquid 2 . 600glycerine 1 . 300melted chocolate 0 . 700cake flour 1 . 300dur - lo emulsifier 0 . 400a supra activated charcoal 2 . 025______________________________________ table 6______________________________________component composition quantity ( g ) ______________________________________granulated sugar 0 . 550non - fat dry milk 0 . 175salt 0 . 050baking soda 0 . 075monocalcium phosphate 0 . 025vanilla flavor 0 . 100sorbitol liquid 2 . 600glycerine 1 . 300brown cocoa powder 1 . 400cake flour 1 . 300dur - lo emulsifier 0 . 400a supra activated charcoal 2 . 025______________________________________ table 7______________________________________component composition quantity ( g ) ______________________________________granulated sugar 0 . 550non - fat dry milk 0 . 175salt 0 . 050baking soda 0 . 075monocalcium phosphate 0 . 025vanilla flavor 0 . 100sorbitol liquid 2 . 600glycerine 1 . 300brown cocoa powder 1 . 400cake flour 1 . 300a supra activated charcoal 2 . 025______________________________________ referring to fig2 isotherm 110 ( corresponding to table 6 ) clearly shows that the absence of melted chocolate but with the use of dur - lo affords a significant increase in the adsorptivity observed when taken with respect to isotherm 100 ( corresponding to table 5 ). isotherm 120 without dur - lo and melted chocolate shows , further , that the absence of both melted chocolate and the dur - lo emulsifier in the tested wafer affords an even greater increase in the observed adsorptivity over that of isotherm 100 . it is not readily apparent why this marked increase in interference is attributable to the melted chocolate and dur - lo emulsifier compositions in such an inordinate measure relative to the levels of interference attributable to the other component compositions . whatever the specific cause , it is likely that the unique physical properties of the melted chocolate and dur - lo components in some measure cause them to bind with the activated charcoal particles , filling many of the pores that otherwise would give each activated charcoal particle a greater internal surface area . the adsorptivity of the given activated charcoal particle is thus severely curtailed . referring now to fig3 there is shown a preferred method for forming the decontaminant food product of the present invention , in its preferred cookie sandwich form . appropriate quantities of the base wafer ingredients in the approximate weight percentage ranges of table 1 : activated charcoal 210 , corn syrup solids 211 , di - pac 212 , chocolate cream flavor 213 , vanilla dry flavor 214 , and sweetener 215 , are evenly blended at step 220 into a paste . as necessary , a limited quantity of water 216 is mixed into the paste to facilitate the malleability of the paste and thereby enhance the homogeneity obtained in the blend . after sufficient blending , the paste is allowed to dry at step 230 , at room temperature approximating 70 ° f ., for approximately 12 hours resulting in a dry paste composition . the dried paste 240 is then ground at step 250 in a wiley mill , employing preferably a 20 or 40 mesh screen . the ground preparation is then compressed at step 260 in , preferably , a one inch punch and die assembly set to impart at least 15 , 000 psi compression pressure when a 1 . 0 &# 34 ; diameter wafer is compressed and may be set at 40 , 000 psi compression pressure when a larger wafer in the order of 1 . 75 &# 34 ; diameter is used . a plurality of wafers are formed by the aforementioned steps . the wafer may then be sprayed with an anti - dusting spray film in step 262 in order to cover the activated charcoal particulates in order to minimize the smearing of the activated charcoal when being grasped by a user . the spray film is a sugar film formed of sucrose or dextrose or some like composition to form an encapsulation . the filling is then prepared by mixing and evenly blending at step 280 appropriate quantities of powdered sugar 270 , preferably having a 6x granularity , high fructose corn syrup 271 , vanilla flavor 272 , and salt 273 . an appropriate quantity of the resulting creamy mixture is then placed between a pair of wafers to assemble at step 300 a cookie sandwich decontaminant food product . although this invention has been described in connection with specific forms and embodiment thereof , it will be appreciated that various modifications other than those discussed above may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention . for example , functionally equivalent elements may be substituted for those specifically shown and described , proportional quantities of the elements shown and described may be varied , and in the formation method steps described , particular steps may be reversed or interposed , all without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims .	0
hereinafter , preferred embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings . in the specification , the term &# 34 ; power &# 34 ; means a quantity which is defined by the reciprocal of a focal length , and includes not only the deflection in the faces of media having refractive indices of different deflection functions , but also the deflection due to diffraction , the deflection due to the distribution of refractive index in a medium , and the like . furthermore , the term &# 34 ; refractive power &# 34 ; means a quantity which belongs to the above - mentioned &# 34 ; power &# 34 ;, and which is particularly due to a deflection function generated in an interface between media having different refractive indices . fig1 to 4 are cross sectional views respectively showing the lens arrangements of the zoom lens systems of first to fourth embodiments of the present invention , at the shortest focal length condition . each of the first , second , and third embodiments is a zoom lens system which is configured , along the optical axis in the sequence from the object side , by a first lens unit gr1 having positive optical power , a second lens unit gr2 having negative optical power , a third lens unit gr3 having positive optical power , and a fourth lens unit gr4 having negative optical power , and in which all of the lens units , including the fourth lens unit , are moved in a zooming operation . the fourth embodiment is a zoom lens system which is configured , in the sequence from the object side , by a first lens unit gr1 having positive optical power , a second lens unit gr2 having negative optical power , a third lens unit gr3 having positive optical power , a fourth lens unit gr4 having positive optical power , and a fifth lens unit gr5 having negative optical power , and in which all of the lens units , including the fifth lens unit , are moved in a zooming operation . the arrows shown in the figures diagrammatically indicate the loci of movement of the lens units gr1 to gr3 , a diaphragm s , and a low - pass filter lf in a zooming operation from the shortest focal length condition to the longest focal length condition . each of the zoom lens systems of the first , second , and third embodiments is configured , along the optical axis in the sequence from the object side , by : the first lens unit gr1 comprising a doublet lens element dl1 , composed of a positive meniscus lens element l1 having a convex surface on its object side and a bi - convex positive lens element l2 , and a positive meniscus lens element l3 having a convex surface on its object side ; the second lens unit gr2 comprising a negative meniscus lens element l4 having a convex surface on its object side , a bi - concave negative lens element l5 , and a bi - convex positive lens element l6 ( both faces of which are aspherical surfaces ); the diaphragm s ; the third lens unit gr3 comprising a bi - convex positive lens element l7 ( the front side of which is an aspherical surface ), a negative meniscus lens element l8 having a convex surface on its object side , and a bi - convex positive lens element l9 ; and the fourth lens unit gr4 comprising a negative meniscus lens element l10 ( both faces of which are aspherical surfaces ) having a convex surface on its object side , and a positive meniscus lens element l11 having a convex surface on its object side . in a zooming operation from the shortest focal length condition to the longest focal length condition , the first lens unit gr1 , the diaphragm s , the third lens unit gr3 , and the fourth lens unit gr4 are moved toward the object side , and the second lens unit gr2 is moved toward the image side . the zoom lens system of the fourth embodiment is configured along the optical axis in the sequence from the object side , by : the first lens unit gr1 comprising a doublet lens element dl1 composed of a positive meniscus lens element l1 having a convex surface on its object side and a bi - convex positive lens element l2 , and a positive meniscus lens element l3 having a convex surface on its object side ; the second lens unit gr2 comprising a bi - concave negative lens element l4 ( both faces of which are aspherical surfaces ), and a doublet lens element dl2 , composed of a bi - concave negative lens element l5 and a bi - convex positive lens element l6 ; the diaphragm s ; the third lens unit gr3 comprising a bi - convex positive lens element l7 , and a bi - concave negative lens element l8 ; the fourth lens unit gr4 comprising a positive meniscus lens element l9 having a convex surface on its object side , and a bi - convex positive lens element l10 ( both faces of which are aspherical surfaces ); and the fifth lens unit gr5 comprising a negative meniscus lens element l11 having a convex surface on its object side , and a positive meniscus lens element l12 having a convex surface on its object side and being spaced from l11 . in a zooming operation from the shortest focal length condition to the longest focal length condition , the first lens unit gr1 , the diaphragm s , the third lens unit gr3 , and the fourth lens unit gr4 are moved toward the object side , the second lens unit gr2 is moved toward the image side , and the fifth lens unit gr5 is first moved toward the object side and then is moved toward the image side . hereinafter , conditions to be satisfied by the zoom lens systems of the embodiments will be described . it is not required to simultaneously satisfy all of the following conditions . preferably , the zoom lens systems of the embodiments satisfy the condition defined by the range of the following conditional expression ( 1 ): ## equ3 ## where lbw represents the back focus at the shortest focal length condition , and fw represents the focal length of the whole zoom lens system at the shortest focal length condition . the above conditional expression defines a ratio of the back focus at the shortest focal length condition to the focal length of the whole zoom lens system at the shortest focal length condition , and is used for suitably setting the powers of the lens units , for balancing aberrations with the degrees of the powers , and for ensuring a space for disposing components , such as an optical low - pass filter and an infrared blocking filter , which are required for an imaging optical system of a digital camera . when the upper limit of the range of conditional expression ( 1 ) is exceeded , the back focus becomes longer than required so that the size of the whole optical system is increased . furthermore , the power of the negative lens unit , which is closer to the object side than the negative lens unit closest to the image side , becomes too strong , and hence a negative distortion aberration at the shortest focal length condition increases excessively , with the result that the optical performance cannot be maintained . by contrast , when the ratio of lbw / fw is less than the lower limit of the range of conditional expression ( 1 ), the back focus becomes shorter than required so that it is difficult to dispose components , such as an optical low - pass filter and an infrared blocking filter , which are required for an imaging optical system of a digital camera . furthermore , the power of the negative lens unit , which is closer to the object side than the negative lens unit closest to the image side , becomes too weak , thereby requiring the diameter of the front lens unit gr1 to be increased in order to ensure the marginal illumination at the shortest focal length condition . the range of conditional expression ( 1 ) is most effective in the case where the powers in the whole zoom lens system are arranged from the object side in the sequence of positive , negative , positive , and negative . in the case of another power arrangement ( for example , positive , negative , positive , positive , and negative ), it is more preferable that the range of the following conditional expression ( 1a ) or ( 1b ), within the range of conditional expression ( 1 ), be satisfied . when a lens unit which is adjacent to the negative lens unit closest to the image side is not moved in a zooming operation , the range of conditional expression ( 1b ) must be satisfied : ## equ4 ## preferably , the zoom lens system of each of the embodiments satisfies the condition defined by the range of the following conditional expression ( 2 ): ## equ5 ## where fn represents a focal length of the negative lens unit which is closest to the object side , and fw represents the focal length of the whole zoom lens system at the shortest focal length condition . the conditional expression ( 2 ) defines a ratio of the focal length of the negative lens unit , which is closest to the object side , to the focal length at the shortest focal length condition , and is used for balancing the total length of the optical system with the optical performance . when the upper limit of the range of conditional expression ( 2 ) is exceeded , the focal length of the second lens unit increases , or in other words the power of the second lens unit becomes too weak . therefore , the total length at the shortest focal length condition is extended , and the diameter of the front lens unit gr1 must be increased in order to ensure the marginal illumination at the shortest focal length condition . by contrast , when the ratio of fn / fw is less than the lower limit of the range of conditional expression ( 2 ), the focal length of the second lens unit decreases , or in other words the power of the second lens unit becomes too strong . therefore , a negative distortion aberration in the short focal length side increases extremely , with the result that it is difficult to maintain excellent optical performance . the range of conditional expression ( 2 ) is most effective in the case where the optical powers in the whole zoom lens system are arranged from the object side in the sequence of positive , negative , positive , and negative . in the case of another power arrangement ( for example , positive , negative , positive , positive , and negative ), it is more preferable that the range of the following conditional expression ( 2a ) or ( 2b ), within the range of conditional expression ( 2 ), be satisfied . when a lens unit which is adjacent to the negative lens unit closest to the image side is not moved in a zooming operation , the range of conditional expression ( 2b ) must be satisfied : ## equ6 ## where fn and fw are as defined above . preferably , the zoom lens systems of the embodiments satisfy the condition defined by the range of the following conditional expression ( 3 ): ## equ7 ## where βxt represents a lateral magnification of the lens unit closest to the image side , at the longest focal length condition , and βxw represents a lateral magnification of the lens unit closest to the image side , at the shortest focal length condition . the conditional expression ( 3 ) defines the burden of magnification change of the negative lens unit which is closest to the image side , in a change from the shortest focal length condition to the longest focal length condition . when the upper limit of the range of conditional expression ( 3 ) is exceeded , the burden of magnification change becomes too large . therefore , aberration variation due to magnification change increases , so that it is difficult to ensure a high variable magnification . when the ratio βxt / βxw is less than the lower limit of the range of conditional expression ( 3 ), the burden of magnification change on the other lens units of the zoom lens system becomes too large . therefore , the movement amounts of the lens units due to magnification change increase , and the size of the optical system must be made larger . preferably , the zoom lens systems of the embodiments satisfy the condition defined by the range of the following conditional expression ( 4 ): ## equ8 ## where fp represents a focal length of the positive lens unit which is closest to the object side among positive lens units , and fw represents the focal length of the whole zoom lens system at the shortest focal length condition . the conditional expression ( 4 ) defines a ratio of the focal length of the lens unit closest to the object side to the focal length of the whole system at the shortest focal length condition , and is used for balancing the total length and the diameter of the front lens with the optical performance . when the upper limit of the range of conditional expression ( 4 ) is exceeded , the focal length of the first lens unit increases , or in other words the power of the first lens unit becomes too weak . therefore , the movement amount of the first lens unit in magnification change becomes too large . this causes the total length at the longest focal length condition to be increased , and the diameter of the front lens to be increased . when \| fp / fw \| is less than the lower limit of the range of conditional expression ( 4 ), the focal length of the first lens unit decreases , or in other words the power of the first lens unit becomes too strong . therefore , the movement amount of the first lens unit decreases . this is advantageous in miniaturization . however , an aberration in the first lens unit , particularly a spherical aberration in the long focal length side is generated , with the result that it is difficult to maintain excellent optical performance . preferably , the zoom lens systems of the embodiments satisfy the condition defined by the range of the following conditional expression ( 5 ): ## equ9 ## where βnt represents the lateral magnification of the negative lens unit , which is closest to the object side among the negative lens units , at the longest focal length condition , and βnw represents the lateral magnification of the negative lens unit , which is closest to the object side among the negative lens units , at the shortest focal length condition . the conditional expression ( 5 ) defines the burden of magnification change of the negative lens unit which is closest to the object side among the negative lens units , in a change from the shortest focal length condition to the longest focal length condition . when the upper limit of the range of conditional expression ( 5 ) is exceeded , the movement amount of the negative lens unit which is closest to the object side among the negative lens units becomes too large . therefore , the lens diameter ( the diameter of the front lens ) of the first lens unit , particularly the diameter of the front lens at the longest focal length condition increases , and hence this is not preferable . by contrast , when the ratio of βnt / βnw is less than the lower limit of range of conditional expression ( 5 ), magnification change must be conducted by another lens unit of a small capacity for the burden of magnification change . therefore , aberration variation due to magnification change increases , so that it is difficult to ensure a high variable magnification . preferably , the zoom lens systems of the embodiments satisfy the condition defined by the range of the following conditional expression ( 6 ): ## equ10 ## where img represents a diameter of an image circle , and r represents an effective diameter of an optical path of the lens face closest to the image side in the optical system . the conditional expression ( 6 ) is set in order to suitably maintain the size of the optical system , aberrations , and conditions peculiar to an imaging optical system of a digital camera . in a solid state imaging device ( ccd ), a micro - lens is usually disposed in front of each light receiving device so as to enhance the focal property . in order to exhibit the property of a micro - lens , light flux must be incident with an angle which is substantially perpendicular to the optical axis of the micro - lens . therefore , it is desirable that an imaging optical system be approximately telecentric . when the upper limit of the range of conditional expression ( 6 ) is exceeded , in the optical system the approximate telecentric state with respect to the image side becomes stronger than required so that a negative distortion aberration at the shortest focal length condition increases and the image plane is largely curved toward the underside . by contrast , when the value of img * r is less than the lower limit of the range of conditional expression ( 6 ), it is difficult to satisfy the approximate telecentric state . even when the approximate telecentric state is satisfied , the back focus becomes larger than required , thereby causing the size of the optical system itself to be increased . in the zoom lens systems of the embodiments , when an aspherical surface is disposed in the negative lens unit which is closest to the object side among the negative lens units , an aberration can be further satisfactorily corrected . in this case , preferably , the aspherical surface disposed in any lens element of the negative lens unit which is closest to the object side among the negative lens units satisfies the condition defined by the range of the following conditional expression ( 7 ), at a height of the maximum effective diameter of an optical path * 0 . 7 : ## equ11 ## where co represents a reference curvature of the aspherical surface , n represents a refractive index of the medium , which is on the object side with respect to the aspherical surface , to the d line , n &# 39 ; represents a refractive index of the medium , which is on the image side with respect to the aspherical surface , to the d line , h represents a height in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis , x ( h ) represents a displacement amount at the height h of the aspherical surface along the optical axis , x0 ( h ) represents a displacement amount at the height h of the reference spherical surface along the optical axis , and fn imag represents a focal length of the negative lens unit which is closest to the image side among the lens units . the conditional expression ( 7 ) means that the aspherical surface has a shape which weakens the power of the lens unit which is closest to the object side among the negative lens units , and is used for correcting a distortion aberration at the shortest focal length condition and the image plane from the shortest focal length condition to the middle focal length region . when the upper limit of the range of conditional expression ( 7 ) is exceeded , a negative distortion aberration at the shortest focal length condition increases and the image plane from the shortest focal length condition to the middle focal length region is largely curved toward the underside . when the value is less than the lower limit of the range of conditional expression ( 7 ), a positive distortion aberration at the shortest focal length condition increases and the image plane from the shortest focal length condition to the middle focal length region is largely curved toward the overside . in the case where the zoom lens system is configured in the optical power arrangement of the sequence of positive , negative , positive , and negative , the disposition of an aspherical surface in the fourth lens unit , which is the final negative lens unit , enables an aberration to be corrected more satisfactorily . preferably , one of the aspherical surfaces in the final negative lens unit satisfies the following conditional expression ( 7a ), at a height of the maximum effective diameter of an optical path * 0 . 7 : ## equ12 ## where : co represents a reference curvature of the aspherical surface , n represents a refractive index of the medium , which is on the object side with respect to the aspherical surface , to the d line , n &# 39 ; represents a refractive index of the medium , which is on the image side with respect to the aspherical surface , to the d line , h represents a height in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis , x ( h ) represents a displacement amount at the height h of the aspherical surface along the optical axis , x0 ( h ) represents a displacement amount at the height h of the reference spherical surface along the optical axis , and the conditional expression ( 7a ) means that the aspherical surface has a shape which weakens the negative power of the fourth lens unit , and is used for correcting a distortion aberration at the shortest focal length condition and a coma aberration from the middle focal length region to the longest focal length condition . when the upper limit of the range of conditional expression ( 7a ) is exceeded , a negative distortion aberration at the shortest focal length condition increases , and upward coma from the middle focal length region to the longest focal length condition is generated . by contrast , when the value is less than the lower limit of the range of conditional expression ( 7a ), a positive distortion aberration at the shortest focal length condition increases and downward coma from the middle focal length region to the longest focal length condition is generated . in the zoom lens systems of the embodiments , the disposition of an aspherical surface in a positive lens unit enables an aberration to be corrected more satisfactorily . in this case , preferably , an aspherical surface disposed in one of the positive lens units satisfies the condition defined by the range of the following conditional expression ( 8 ), at a height of the maximum effective diameter of an optical path * 0 . 7 : ## equ13 ## where co represents a reference curvature of the aspherical surface , n represents a refractive index of the medium , which is on the object side with respect to the aspherical surface , to the d line , n &# 39 ; represents a refractive index of the medium , which is on the image side with respect to the aspherical surface , to the d line , h represents a height in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis , x ( h ) represents a displacement amount at the height h of the aspherical surface along the optical axis , x0 ( h ) represents a displacement amount at the height h of the reference spherical surface along the optical axis , and fp represents a focal length of the positive lens unit in which the aspherical surface is disposed . the conditional expression ( 8 ) means that the aspherical surface has a shape which weakens the positive power of the positive lens unit , and is used for correcting a spherical aberration from the middle focal length region to the longest focal length condition . when the upper limit of the range of conditional expression ( 8 ) is exceeded , a spherical aberration is largely curved toward the underside . therefore , this is not preferable . by contrast , when the value is less than the lower limit of the range of conditional expression ( 8 ), a spherical aberration is largely curved toward the overside . therefore , this is not preferable . hereinafter , specific examples of the first through the fourth embodiments will be described with reference to construction data , aberration diagrams , etc . examples 1 to 4 correspond to the first through the fourth embodiments respectively . thus , the lens arrangement diagrams of fig1 - 4 indicate the lens configurations of the examples 1 - 4 , respectively . in the examples , ri ( i = 1 , 2 , 3 . . . ) indicates the radius of curvature of an i - th surface , counted from the object side ; di ( i = 1 , 2 , 3 . . . ) indicates an i - th axial surface separation , counted from the object side ; and ni ( i = 1 , 2 , 3 . . . ) and νi ( i = 1 , 2 , 3 . . . ) indicate the refractive index and the abbe number of an i - th lens element , counted from the object side , to the d line . furthermore , f indicates the focal length of the whole system , and fno indicates the f number . in the examples , the focal length f of the whole system , the f number fno , and the air space ( axial surface separation ) between the lens units correspond in the sequence from the left side , to the values at the shortest focal length condition ( w ), the middle focal length ( m ), and the longest focal length condition ( t ), respectively . in the examples , a surface in which the radius of curvature ri is marked with &# 34 ;&# 34 ; indicates a refractive optical surface having an aspherical shape , which is defined by the following expression showing the shape of the aspherical surface . ## equ14 ## where h represents a height in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis , x ( h ) represents a displacement amount at the height h along the optical axis ( with respect to the surface vertex ), table 1______________________________________ [ example 1 ] f = 5 . 1 ˜ 15 . 8 ˜ 49 . 0fno = 3 . 00 ˜ 3 . 95 ˜ 4 . 10______________________________________radius of refractivecurvature axial distance index abbe number______________________________________r1 = 23 . 713 d1 = 0 . 500 n1 = 1 . 84666 ν1 = 23 . 82r2 = 17 . 067 d2 = 2 . 231 n2 = 1 . 48749 ν2 = 70 . 44r3 = - 171 . 370 d3 = 0 . 080r4 = 18 . 337 d4 = 1 . 503 n3 = 1 . 61800 ν3 = 63 . 39r5 = 43 . 528 d5 = 0 . 500 ˜ 9 . 315 ˜ 16 . 973r6 = 10 . 340 d6 = 0 . 450 n4 = 1 . 75450 ν4 = 51 . 57r7 = 3 . 856 d7 = 2 . 578r8 = - 7 . 074 d8 = 0 . 250 n5 = 1 . 75450 ν5 = 51 . 57r9 = 7 . 273 d9 = 0 . 043r10 = 6 . 117 d10 = 1 . 211 n6 = 1 . 75000 ν6 = 25 . 14r11 * = - 56 . 671 d11 = 4 . 405 ˜ 3 . 528 ˜ 0 . 405r12 = ∞ d12 = 3 . 827 ˜ 0 . 270 ˜ 0 . 270r13 * = 13 . 423 d13 = 1 . 921 n7 = 1 . 60311 ν7 = 60 . 74r14 = - 6 . 338 d14 = 0 . 581r16 = 6 . 256 d16 = 0 . 080r17 = 5 . 628 d17 = 1 . 723 n9 = 1 . 48749 ν9 = 70 . 44r18 = - 5 . 998 d18 = 1 . 393 ˜ 1 . 086 ˜ 0 . 250r19 * = 12 . 880 d19 = 0 . 250 n10 = 1 . 75450 ν10 = 51 . 57r20 * = 3 . 594 d20 = 3 . 246r21 = 5 . 362 d21 = 0 . 859 n11 = 1 . 59270 ν11 = 35 . 45r22 = 7 . 434______________________________________ [ aspherical coefficient ] ______________________________________ r10 ε = 1 . 0000 a4 = - 0 . 41558 * 10 . sup .- 3 a6 = - 0 . 76742 * 10 . sup .- 4 a8 = - 0 . 67755 * 10 . sup .- 6 r11 ε = 1 . 0000 a4 = - 0 . 16745 * 10 . sup .- 3 a6 = 0 . 39888 * 10 . sup .- 4 a8 = - 0 . 92595 * 10 . sup .- 5 r13 ε = 1 . 0000 a4 = - 0 . 32439 * 10 . sup .- 2 a6 = - 0 . 14111 * 10 . sup .- 4 a8 = - 0 . 16804 * 10 . sup .- 7 a10 = - 0 . 61391 * 10 . sup .- 7 r19 ε = 1 . 0000 a4 = 0 . 35572 * 10 . sup .- 2 a6 = 0 . 58238 * 10 . sup .- 4 a8 = - 0 . 28805 * 10 . sup .- 4 r20 ε = 1 . 0000 a4 = - 0 . 28980 * 10 . sup .- 2 a6 = - 0 . 21179 * 10 . sup .- 3 a8 = - 0 . 56790 * 10 . sup .- 4______________________________________ table 2______________________________________ [ example 2 ] f = 5 . 1 ˜ 15 . 8 ˜ 49 . 0fno = 3 . 00 ˜ 3 . 95 ˜ 4 . 10______________________________________radius of refractivecurvature axial distance index abbe number______________________________________r1 = 26 . 066 d1 = 0 . 500 n1 = 1 . 84666 ν1 = 23 . 82r2 = 17 . 952 d2 = 2 . 463 n2 = 1 . 48749 ν2 = 70 . 44r3 = - 195 . 422 d3 = 0 . 303r4 = 18 . 774 d4 = 1 . 359 n3 = 1 . 61800 ν3 = 63 . 39r5 = 44 . 271 d5 = 0 . 500 ˜ 9 . 373 ˜ 17 . 673r6 = 10 . 430 d6 = 0 . 450 n4 = 1 . 69680 ν4 = 56 . 47r7 = 3 . 979 d7 = 3 . 032r8 = - 7 . 126 d8 = 0 . 450 n5 = 1 . 69680 ν5 = 56 . 47r9 = 7 . 367 d9 = 0 . 116r10 * = 7 . 145 d10 = 0 . 790 n6 = 1 . 84666 ν6 = 23 . 82r11 * = 58 . 141 d11 = 4 . 405 ˜ 3 . 462 ˜ 0 . 405r12 = ∞ d12 = 4 . 157 ˜ 0 . 270 ˜ 0 . 270r13 * = 7 . 538 d13 = 1 . 794 n7 = 1 . 54681 ν7 = 50 . 52r14 = - 8 . 295 d14 = 0 . 085r15 = 14 . 723 d15 = 0 . 400 n8 = 1 . 84666 ν8 = 23 . 82r16 = 5 . 620 d16 = 0 . 191r17 = 5 . 326 d17 = 1 . 964 n9 = 1 . 48749 ν9 = 70 . 44r18 = - 7 . 077 d18 = 1 . 253 ˜ 1 . 096 ˜ 0 . 250r19 * = 11 . 982 d19 = 0 . 450 n10 = 1 . 77250 ν10 = 49 . 77r20 * = 4 . 112 d20 = 3 . 875r21 = 5 . 667 d21 = 1 . 143 n11 = 1 . 50553 ν11 = 59 . 00r22 = 9 . 421______________________________________ [ aspherical coefficient ] ______________________________________ r10 ε = 1 . 0000 a4 = - 0 . 44100 * 10 . sup .- 3 a6 = - 0 . 14918 * 10 . sup .- 3 a8 = - 0 . 11725 * 10 . sup .- 4 r11 ε = 1 . 0000 a4 = - 0 . 59580 * 10 . sup .- 3 a6 = - 0 . 67687 * 10 . sup .- 4 a8 = - 0 . 18862 * 10 . sup .- 4 r13 ε = 1 . 0000 a4 = - 0 . 26134 * 10 . sup .- 2 a6 = - 0 . 27543 * 10 . sup .- 4 a8 = 0 . 21388 * 10 . sup .- 5 a10 = - 0 . 18519 * 10 . sup .- 7 r19 ε = 1 . 0000 a4 = 0 . 36437 * 10 . sup .- 2 a6 = 0 . 21687 * 10 . sup .- 3 a8 = - 0 . 26846 * 10 . sup .- 4 r20 ε = 1 . 0000 a4 = 0 . 38588 * 10 . sup .- 2 a6 = 0 . 41681 * 10 . sup .- 3 a8 = - 0 . 35432 * 10 . sup .- 4______________________________________ table 3______________________________________ [ example 3 ] f = 5 . 1 ˜ 15 . 8 ˜ 49 . 0fno = 3 . 00 ˜ 3 . 95 ˜ 4 . 10______________________________________radius of refractivecurvature axial distance index abbe number______________________________________r1 = 25 . 782 d1 = 0 . 500 n1 = 1 . 84787 ν1 = 27 . 93r2 = 16 . 353 d2 = 2 . 960 n2 = 1 . 50343 ν2 = 68 . 21r3 = - 72 . 101 d3 = 1 . 323r4 = 14 . 971 d4 = 1 . 422 n3 = 1 . 48749 ν3 = 70 . 44r5 = 35 . 704 d5 = 0 . 500 ˜ 8 . 316 ˜ 14 . 829r6 = 14 . 960 d6 = 0 . 450 n4 = 1 . 75450 ν4 = 51 . 57r7 = 4 . 355 d7 = 2 . 296r8 = - 5 . 941 d8 = 0 . 450 n5 = 1 . 75450 ν5 = 51 . 57r9 = 8 . 616 d9 = 0 . 106r10 * = 8 . 175 d10 = 0 . 840 n6 = 1 . 79850 ν6 = 22 . 60r11 * = - 33 . 928 d11 = 4 . 405 ˜ 3 . 516 ˜ 0 . 405r12 = ∞ d12 = 3 . 825 ˜ 0 . 270 ˜ 0 . 270r13 * = 6 . 977 d13 = 1 . 859 n7 = 1 . 58300 ν7 = 53 . 59r14 = - 8 . 739 d14 = 0 . 080r15 = 12 . 838 d15 = 0 . 400 n8 = 1 . 84764 ν8 = 27 . 04r16 = 4 . 911 d16 = 0 . 080r17 = 4 . 942 d17 = 2 . 046 n9 = 1 . 48749 ν9 = 70 . 44r18 = - 7 . 117 d18 = 1 . 304 ˜ 1 . 101 ˜ 0 . 250r19 * = 13 . 344 d19 = 0 . 450 n10 = 1 . 85000 ν10 = 40 . 04r20 * = 4 . 086 d20 = 2 . 606r21 = 6 . 109 d21 = 2 . 259 n11 = 1 . 56057 ν11 = 41 . 23r22 = 12 . 219______________________________________ [ aspherical coefficient ] ______________________________________ r10 ε = 1 . 0000 a4 = - 0 . 65707 * 10 . sup .- 3 a6 = - 0 . 10951 * 10 . sup .- 3 a8 = - 0 . 24808 * 10 . sup .- 5 r11 ε = 1 . 0000 a4 = - 0 . 62630 * 10 . sup .- 3 a6 = - 0 . 14190 * 10 . sup .- 4 a8 = - 0 . 10333 * 10 . sup .- 4 r13 ε = 1 . 0000 a4 = - 0 . 25164 * 10 . sup .- 2 a6 = - 0 . 77037 * 10 . sup .- 5 a8 = 0 . 13125 * 10 . sup .- 5 a10 = 0 . 28986 * 10 . sup .- 6 r19 ε = 1 . 0000 a4 = 0 . 35408 * 10 . sup .- 2 a6 = 0 . 24692 * 10 . sup .- 3 a8 = - 0 . 14905 * 10 . sup .- 4 r20 ε = 1 . 0000 a4 = 0 . 35055 * 10 . sup .- 2 a6 = 0 . 38707 * 10 . sup .- 3 a8 = - 0 . 14513 * 10 . sup .- 4______________________________________ table 4______________________________________ [ example 4 ] f = 5 . 1 ˜ 16 . 0 ˜ 48 . 7fno = 2 . 90 ˜ 3 . 95 ˜ 4 . 10______________________________________radius of refractivecurvature axial distance index abbe number______________________________________r1 = 65 . 256 d1 = 0 . 60 n1 = 1 . 848976 ν1 = 33 . 14r2 = 24 . 009 d2 = 2 . 50 n2 = 1 . 487490 ν2 = 70 . 44r3 = - 148 . 204 d3 = 0 . 27r4 = 21 . 665 d4 = 2 . 10 n3 = 1 . 611757 ν3 = 58 . 21r5 = 103 . 583 d5 = 0 . 50 ˜ 12 . 20 ˜ 25 . 33r6 * = - 50 . 965 d6 = 2 . 00 n4 = 1 . 487490 ν4 = 70 . 44r7 * = 9 . 858 d7 = 1 . 40r8 = - 7 . 070 d8 = 0 . 60 n5 = 1 . 754500 ν5 = 51 . 57r9 = 11 . 644 d9 = 0 . 87 n6 = 1 . 798500 ν6 = 22 . 60r10 = - 413 . 642 d10 = 11 . 95 ˜ 4 . 45 ˜ 0 . 50r11 = ∞ d11 = 0 . 10r12 = 4 . 401 d12 = 2 . 83 n7 = 1 . 660032 ν7 = 55 . 45r13 = - 12 . 170 d13 = 0 . 10r14 * = - 35 . 405 d14 = 0 . 81 n8 = 1 . 836876 ν8 = 31 . 24r15 * = 5 . 191 d15 = 0 . 10 ˜ 1 . 73 ˜ 2 . 27r16 = 4 . 187 d16 = 3 . 42 n9 = 1 . 502624 ν9 = 60 . 53r17 = 9 . 593 d17 = 0 . 62r18 * = 86 . 461 d18 = 1 . 04 n10 = 1 . 749313 ν10 = 24 . 30r19 * = - 16 . 471 d19 = 0 . 10 ˜ 1 . 50 ˜ 2 . 51r20 = 17 . 938 d20 = 0 . 60 n11 = 1 . 814656 ν11 = 26 . 57r21 = 5 . 209 d21 = 1 . 68r22 = 5 . 845 d22 = 1 . 18 n12 = 1 . 487490 ν12 = 70 . 44r23 = 50 . 689______________________________________ [ aspherical coefficient ] ______________________________________ r6 ε = 1 . 0000 a4 = 0 . 16707 * 10 . sup .- 2 a6 = - 0 . 72678 * 10 . sup .- 4 a8 = 0 . 38164 * 10 . sup .- 5 a10 = - 0 . 97108 * 10 . sup .- 7 a12 = 0 . 13849 * 10 . sup .- 8 r7 ε = 1 . 0000 a4 = 0 . 21363 * 10 . sup .- 2 a6 = - 0 . 72211 * 10 . sup .- 4 a8 = 0 . 13967 * 10 . sup .- 4 a10 = - 0 . 21014 * 10 . sup .- 5 a12 = 0 . 17922 * 10 . sup .- 6 r14 ε = 1 . 0000 a4 = 0 . 21116 * 10 . sup .- 2 a6 = 0 . 33909 * 10 . sup .- 5 a8 = 0 . 15548 * 10 . sup .- 4 a10 = - 0 . 21060 * 10 . sup .- 5 a12 = 0 . 44257 * 10 . sup .- 7 r15 ε = 1 . 0000 a4 = 0 . 86400 * 10 . sup .- 3 a6 = 0 . 12827 * 10 . sup .- 3 a8 = 0 . 31963 * 10 . sup .- 4 a10 = - 0 . 12613 * 10 . sup .- 5 a12 = - 0 . 23114 * 10 . sup .- 7 r18 ε = 1 . 0000 a4 = - 0 . 28615 * 10 . sup .- 2 a6 = - 0 . 34293 * 10 . sup .- 3 a8 = 0 . 25942 * 10 . sup .- 4 a10 = - 0 . 41886 * 10 . sup .- 6 a12 = - 0 . 72680 * 10 . sup .- 8 r19 ε = 1 . 0000 a4 = - 0 . 16348 * 10 . sup .- 2 a6 = - 0 . 19588 * 10 . sup .- 3 a8 = - 0 . 25465 * 10 . sup .- 4 a10 = 0 . 39059 * 10 . sup .- 6 a12 = 0 . 38164 * 10 . sup .- 8______________________________________ fig5 ( a ) to 5 ( i ) are aberration diagrams corresponding to example 1 . fig6 ( a ) to 6 ( i ) are aberration diagrams corresponding to example 2 . fig7 ( a ) to 7 ( i ) are aberration diagrams corresponding to example 3 . fig8 ( a ) to 8 ( i ) are aberration diagrams corresponding to example 4 . each of the figures having a suffix of &# 34 ;( a )&# 34 ;, &# 34 ;( d )&# 34 ;, or &# 34 ;( g )&# 34 ; is a spherical aberration diagram ; each of the figures having a suffix of &# 34 ;( b )&# 34 ;, &# 34 ;( e )&# 34 ;, or &# 34 ;( h )&# 34 ; is an astigmatism diagram ; and each of the figures having a suffix of &# 34 ;( c )&# 34 ;, &# 34 ;( f )&# 34 ;, or &# 34 ;( i )&# 34 ; is a distortion aberration diagram . of the aberration diagrams , those with a suffix of &# 34 ;( a )&# 34 ;, &# 34 ;( b )&# 34 ;, or &# 34 ;( c )&# 34 ; represent aberrations of the optical system corresponding to the shortest focal length condition ; those with a suffix of &# 34 ;( d )&# 34 ;, &# 34 ;( e )&# 34 ;, or &# 34 ;( f )&# 34 ; represent aberrations corresponding to the middle focal length condition ; and those with a suffix of &# 34 ;( g )&# 34 ;, &# 34 ;( h )&# 34 ;, or &# 34 ;( i )&# 34 ; represent aberrations corresponding to the longest focal length condition . in the spherical aberration diagrams , the solid line d indicates an amount of a spherical aberration with respect to the d line and sc indicates an amount of deviation from a sine condition . in the astigmatism diagrams , the solid line ds indicates the sagittal plane and the broken line dm indicates the meridional plane . the ordinates of the spherical aberration diagrams indicate the f number of light beams , and those of the astigmatism diagrams and the distortion aberration diagrams indicate the maximum image height y &# 39 ;. values corresponding to the conditions of the examples are listed in table 5 below . in table 5 , hmax indicates the maximum effective diameter . table 5______________________________________ [ example 1 ] ( 1 ) lbw / fw : 0 . 83 ( 2 ) \| fn / fw \|: 0 . 94 ( 3 ) β × t / β × w : 1 . 35 ( 4 ) \| fp / fw \|: 5 . 5 ( 5 ) βnt / βnw : 6 . 6 ( 6 ) img * r : 8 . 4 ( 7 ) (\| x ( h )\| - \| x0 ( h )\|)/( co ( n &# 39 ; - n )* fn ) r10 0 . 70hmax : 0 . 00802 r11 0 . 70hmax : - 0 . 01339 r19 0 . 70hmax : - 0 . 04332 r20 0 . 70hmax : 0 . 00777 ( 8 ) (\| x ( h )\| - \| x0 ( h )\|)/( co ( n &# 39 ; - n )* fp ) r13 0 . 70hmax : - 0 . 09351 [ example 2 ] ( 1 ) lbw / fw : 0 . 82 ( 2 ) \| fn / fw \|: 0 . 91 ( 3 ) β × t / β × w : 1 . 25 ( 4 ) \| fp / fw \|: 5 . 8 ( 5 ) βnt / βnw : 5 . 9 ( 6 ) img * r : 8 . 8 ( 7 ) (\| x ( h )\| - \| x0 ( h )\|)/( co ( n &# 39 ; - n )* fn ) r10 0 . 70hmax : 0 . 00796 r11 0 . 70hmax : - 0 . 06176 r19 0 . 70hmax : - 0 . 03427 r20 0 . 70hmax : 0 . 00933 ( 8 ) (\| x ( h )\| - \| x0 ( h )\|)/( co ( n &# 39 ; - n )* fp ) r13 0 . 70hmax : - 0 . 05543 [ example 3 ] ( 1 ) lbw / fw : 0 . 80 ( 2 ) \| fn / fw \|: 0 . 86 ( 3 ) β × t / β × w : 1 . 40 ( 4 ) \| fp / fw \|: 5 . 3 ( 5 ) βnt / βnw : 4 . 8 ( 6 ) img * r : 8 . 4 ( 7 ) (\| x ( h )\| - \| x0 ( h )\|)/( co ( n &# 39 ; - n )* fn ) r10 0 . 70hmax : 0 . 01150 r11 0 . 70hmax : - 0 . 04345 r19 0 . 70hmax : - 0 . 04292 r20 0 . 70hmax : 0 . 00927 ( 8 ) (\| x ( h )\| - \| x0 ( h )\|)/( co ( n &# 39 ; - n )* fp ) r13 0 . 70hmax : - 0 . 05213 [ example 4 ] ( 1 ) lbw / fw : 0 . 69 ( 2 ) \| fn / fw \|: 1 . 15 ( 3 ) β × t / β × w : 1 . 04 ( 4 ) \| fp / fw \|: 8 . 2 ( 5 ) βnt / βnw 4 . 5 ( 6 ) img * r : 8 . 9 ( 7 ) (\| x ( h )\| - \| x0 ( h )\|)/( co ( n &# 39 ; - n )* fn ) r6 0 . 70hmax : - 1 . 18842 r7 0 . 70hmax : 0 . 13649 ( 8 ) (\| x ( h )\| - \| x0 ( h )\|)/( co ( n &# 39 ; - n )* fp ) r14 0 . 70hmax : - 0 . 05482 r15 0 . 70hmax : - 0 . 00306 r18 0 . 70hmax : 0 . 04111 r19 0 . 70hmax : 0 . 06089______________________________________ as described above in detail , according to the invention , it is possible to provide a zoom lens system which is compact and which can satisfy the requirements of high variable magnification and high image quality . therefore , when the zoom lens system of the invention is applied to an imaging optical system of a digital camera , the zoom lens system can contribute to a high performance and compactness of the camera . although the present invention has been fully described by way of examples with reference to the accompanying drawings , it is to be noted that various changes and modification will be apparent to those skilled in the art . therefore , unless otherwise such changes and modifications depart from the scope of the present invention , they should be construed as being included therein .	6
embodiments of the invention will be described hereinbelow with reference to fig1 , 3a to 3c , 4 , 5a to 5c , 6 to 9 , 10a to 10d , 11 and 12 . each embodiment of the invention is realized by a construction shown in fig1 . each component element of fig1 will now be described . a cpu 1401 executes processes in an apparatus of the invention in accordance with a control program stored in a mem ( memory ) 1402 or a storage ( or storage medium ) 1403 . the mem 1402 is a rom or ram and stores the control program of processes shown in flowcharts , which will be explained hereinlater , an inputted image or text , and various parameters . the data can be previously stored in the mem 1402 or can also be downloaded from the storage 1403 or from another terminal through a communication interface . a working area to store the data in the middle of the process is also provided in the mem 1402 . the storage 1403 is a storage medium such as cd - rom , cd - r , fd , or the like which is detachable form the apparatus and can be read or written by a computer . the communication interface controls the transmission and reception to / from the other terminal through a communication line such as public line , lan , or the like . a display 1405 is a display such as a liquid crystal display , crt , or the like which can display an image . messages and software keys which are necessary for the operation regarding the invention are also displayed on the display 1405 . a printer 1406 is a printer such as lbp ( laser beam printer ), bj ( bubble jet printer , ink jet printer ), or the like which can print an image . a scanner 1407 optically reads an image of an original . an input device 1408 is a keyboard which can input a text or various instruction commands or a pointing device such as mouse , track pad , or tablet which can input desired coordinate data on a display screen of the display 1405 . a digital camera 1409 picks up image data of an object and inputs depth information of the photographed object by using an attached sensor . the depth information denotes an absolute distance at each pixel of the photographed image data , namely , distance of the pixel from the camera to the photographed object expressed on the pixel or a relative distance in case of setting a certain pixel to a reference . the depth information is not stored with respect to all of the pixels of the image obtained by photographing the object , but is stored with respect to the pixels which were thinned out , for instance , on every second or third pixel or the like . or , no depth information is stored with regard to the adjacent pixels having the same parameter such as same color , same brightness , or the like and only link data to the pixels of the same parameter can also be held . it is also possible to construct in a manner such that the color or brightness of each pixel of the photographed image is analyzed , boundaries of a plurality of objects photographed are obtained in the image , and a dedicated area and depth information are stored for every object . data is transmitted and received among the component elements via a bus 1410 . the first embodiment of the invention will be first described with reference to fig1 , 3a to 3c , 4 , 5a to 5c and 6 . fig1 is a block diagram showing a construction of an image editing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the invention . the image editing apparatus comprises an image data reader 100 , a depth information reader 101 , an insert image reader 102 , an image processor 103 , a display 104 , an insert point designator 105 , and an image inserter 106 . the image reader 100 reads image data obtained by photographing an object by the image input apparatus 1409 such as a digital camera or the like . the depth information reader 101 reads depth information obtained by using a sensor or the like annexed to the image input apparatus 1409 such as a digital camera or the like . the insert image reader 102 reads an image which is inserted into the image data read by the image data reader 100 . the insert image data can be inputted by the scanner 1407 or digital camera 1409 or can be also read from the storage 1403 or from another terminal through a communication interface 1404 . the image processor 103 converts the depth information derived by the depth information reader 101 into image data showing the depth information by changing a density in a manner such that a near portion is set to be white and a far portion is set to be black . the converting process from the depth information to the image data is realized in a manner such that a table or converting equation in which a parameter indicative of the depth and a density parameter are correlated is previously stored into the mem 1402 and the depth information is converted into density information by such data and is allocated to the relevant pixel . the display 104 comprising the display 1405 or the like displays the image data obtained by the image data reader 100 , the depth information converted to the image data by the image processor 103 , and the insert image obtained by the insert image reader 102 . the insert point designator 105 is the pointing device 1408 such as mouse or track pad and designates the insert point on the image of the depth information displayed by the display 104 . the image inserter 106 inserts the image read by the insert image reader 102 to the point , namely , depth position designated on the image of the depth information by the insert point designator 105 . by the inserting process , an image can be derived as if the object photographed in the insert image was photographed in a state where the object existed at the designated depth point of the object photographed in the image on the insert destination side . although various component elements for performing the printing and the character input other than the above component elements are provided for the image editing apparatus , since they are not an essence of the invention , their descriptions are omitted . the reading operation of the image data and depth information in the image editing apparatus constructed as mentioned above will now be described with reference to the flowchart of fig2 . processes in fig2 are started by a start instruction of the operator . in step s201 , the image data reader 100 reads the image data obtained by the image input apparatus 1409 such as a digital camera or the like into the memory . in step s202 , the depth information reader 101 reads the depth information obtained by a sensor or the like annexed to the image input apparatus 1409 such as a digital camera or the like . in step s203 , the insert image reader 102 reads the image to be inserted into the image data read in step s201 into the memory . in step s204 , the image processor 103 converts far / near information of the depth information read in step s202 into a density ( forms image data indicative of the depth ). in step s205 , the image data which was read in step s201 and is as shown in , for example , fig3 a , the image data indicative of the depth which was read in step s202 and converted in step s204 and is as shown in , for instance fig3 c , and the insert image which was read in step s203 and is as shown in , for example , fig3 b are displayed on the display 104 . after that , the processing routine is finished . the operation to designate an insert point on the image of the depth information displayed on the display 104 will now be described with reference to a flowchart of fig4 . a case of inserting an insert image shown in fig5 b to the predetermined insert point of image data shown in fig5 a will now be described . first , processes in fig4 are started by a start instruction of an insert instructing operation of the operator and a dense / light value level bar 501 is displayed . in step s401 , the insert position is designated by the insert point designator 105 on the basis of the image data of the depth information . on the actual screen of the display 104 , an insert point 510 on the dense / light value level bar 501 is designated as shown in fig5 c . in step s402 , highlight portions in front of and behind the point designated in step s401 are emphasized and displayed on the image of the depth information . such an emphasis display is realized by replacing the pixels of densities within a predetermined value from the density value designated in step s401 to , for example , different colors in a manner such that the density before the designated density ( namely , the density denser than the designated density 510 ) and the density after the designated density ( namely , the density thinner than the designated density 510 ) can be discriminated . by designating the insert point on the image of the depth information , the insert point can be designated without performing a troublesome operation such as to trace an outline as in case of directly designating the point from the image data . in step s403 , a check is made to see if there is an instruction input about whether the current insert point is determined . when the instruction to decide the current insert point is not inputted , the processing routine is returned to step s401 . when the deciding instruction is inputted , the insert point is determined in step s404 and , after that . the processing routine is finished . thus , as shown in fig6 the insert image is inserted to the insert point designated by the depth information . in the image data in the mem 1402 , the depth information of the pixels in which the image was inserted is updated to the depth information determined in step s404 . the image formed by the inserting process is outputted from the display 1405 or printer 1406 . as mentioned above , by reading the image data and depth information of the image , converting the depth information into the image , and displaying the image onto the display 104 , the insert point which has conventionally been designated by inputting an outline of the insert image on the image data or the like can be specified by designating one point on the image of the depth information . thus , although the point on the outline had to be carefully traced conventionally , the desired insert point can be designated without performing such a troublesome operation . the invention also effectively functions even in a case where the outline between the object and the background which was difficult to be discriminated by the conventional method of designating the insert point on the image data . the second embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to fig7 to 9 , 10a to 10d and 11 . fig7 is a block diagram showing a construction of an image editing apparatus according to the embodiment . the image editing apparatus comprises an image data reader 700 , a depth information reader 701 , an insert image reader 702 , an insert image depth information reader 703 , an image processor 704 , a display 705 , an insert point designator 706 , and an image inserter 707 . the image data reader 700 reads image data obtained by the image input apparatus such as a scanner 1407 , digital camera 1409 , or the like . the depth information reader 701 reads depth information obtained by using a sensor or the like annexed to the image input apparatus 1409 such as a digital camera 1409 or the like . the insert image reader 702 reads an image which is inserted into the image data read by the image data reader 700 . the insert image depth information reader 703 reads the depth information of the insert image in a manner similar to the depth information reader 701 . the image processor 704 converts the depth information derived by the depth information reader 701 into image data by changing a density in a manner such that a near portion is set to be white and a far portion is set to be black . the display 705 comprising the display 1405 or the like displays the image data obtained by the image data reader 700 and the depth information converted into the image data by the image processor 704 . the insert point designator 706 is the pointing device 1408 such as mouse or track pad and designates the insert point on the image of the depth information displayed by the display 705 . the image inserter 707 inserts the image read by the insert image depth information reader 703 to the insert point designated by the insert point designator 706 . although various component elements for performing the printing and the character input other than the above component elements are provided for the image editing apparatus , since they are not an essence of the invention , their descriptions are omitted . the reading operation of the image data and depth information in the image editing apparatus constructed as mentioned above will now be described with reference to a flowchart of fig8 . processes in fig8 are started by a start instruction of the operator . in step s801 , the image data reader 700 reads the image data derived by the image input apparatus such as a digital camera or the like into the memory . in step s802 , the depth information reader 701 reads the depth information by the sensor or the like annexed to the image input apparatus such as a digital camera or the like . in step s803 , the insert image reader 702 reads an image to be inserted into the image data read in step s801 into the memory . in step s804 , the insert image depth information reader 703 reads the depth information of the insert image into the memory . in step s805 , the image processor 704 converts far / near information of the depth information read in steps s802 and s804 into a density , thereby forming the image data showing the depth . in step s806 , the image data read in step s801 and the image data showing the depth converted in step s805 are displayed on the display 705 . after that , the processing routine is finished . the operation to designate the insert point on the image of the depth information displayed on the display 705 will now be described with reference to a flowchart of fig9 . a case of inserting an insert image shown in fig1 b to a predetermined insert point of image data shown in fig1 a will now be explained . first , processes in fig9 are started by a start instruction of the operator . in step s901 , an insert point is designated on the image of the depth information by the insert point designator 706 . on the actual screen of the display 705 , an image which should be inserted on a dense / light value level bar 1001 as shown in fig1 c and was selected from insert image depth information shown in fig1 d becomes an arrow of &# 34 ; insertpoint &# 34 ;. this arrow is moved on the dense / light value level bar 1001 , thereby deciding . in step s902 , highlight portions in front of and behind the point designated in step s901 are emphasized and displayed on the image of the depth information . in step s903 , a check is made to see if the current insert point is decided . if no , the processing routine is returned to step s901 . if the current insert point is decided , the insert point is determined in step s904 . after that , the processing routine is finished . as shown in fig1 , consequently , the insert image is inserted to the insert point designated by the depth information . the image formed by the inserting process is outputted by the display 1405 or printer 1406 . as mentioned above , by reading the image data of the image , depth information , insert image , and depth information of the insert image , converting the depth information into the image , and displaying , the insert range which has conventionally been designated on the image data can be designated on the image of the depth information . thus , although a point on the outline had to be carefully traced hitherto , a desired range can be designated without performing such a troublesome operation . since the insert point can also be designated on the image of the depth information , there is no need to cut out the insert image in accordance with the insert point . the storage 1403 of the invention will now be described with reference to fig1 . as shown in fig1 , in the storage 1403 to store a program for controlling the image editing apparatus to edit an image , it is sufficient to store program codes having each of program modules of at least &# 34 ; image data read module &# 34 ;, &# 34 ; depth information read module &# 34 ;, &# 34 ; display module &# 34 ;, &# 34 ; insert image read module &# 34 ;, &# 34 ; insert point designation module &# 34 ;, and &# 34 ; image insert module &# 34 ;. the &# 34 ; image data read module &# 34 ; is a program module to read the image data of the image . the &# 34 ; depth information read module &# 34 ; is a program module to read the depth information of the image data read by the image data read module . the &# 34 ; display module &# 34 ; is a program module to display the image data read by the image data read module and the depth information read by the depth information read module as an image . the &# 34 ; insert image read module &# 34 ; is a program module to read the image to be inserted into the image data read by the image data read module . the &# 34 ; insert point designation module &# 34 ; is a program module to designate an insert point of the insert image read by the insert image read module . the &# 34 ; image insert module &# 34 ; is a program module for inserting the insert image to the insert point designated by the insert point designation module .	7
the invention provides methods for fabricating topographically flat damascene templates for the assembly and transfer of nanoelements . patterned assemblies of nanoelements such as nanoparticles and carbon nanotubes can be produced on the damascene template and transferred to desired locations on a receptor substrate , with resulting high density and good uniformity of the patterned nanoelements . transfer of assembled swnts or other nanoelements onto a flexible substrate can be performed without any intermediate steps and without a need for sacrificial films . the damascene templates of the invention are reusable and can be employed in a high rate assembly and transfer process . in addition , the damascene templates of the invention are compatible with various types of nanoelements . the products and methods of the invention can provide drastic advancements in high rate manufacturing of flexible devices , such as electrical and optical devices , such as display devices and strain guages , as well as biosensors and chemical sensors . a schematic illustration of a process of damascene template fabrication is shown in fig1 ( a ). initially , a metallic layer ( e . g ., au or w ) is deposited on an electrically insulating substrate , and lithography is carried out to create a desired pattern for nanoelement assembly . subsequently , partial etching of the metallic layer is conducted to form raised features having dimensions on the micrometer and / or nanometer scale . the raised features protrude above the plane of the rest of the metallic conductive layer . a thick layer of insulating material ( e . g ., sio 2 or sin 4 ) is blanket deposited on these patterned structures . a chemical mechanical polishing ( cmp ) process is then carried out to remove the insulating material until it is essentially coplanar with the top surfaces of the raised metal features , and until the top surfaces of the raised metal features are coplanar with one another across the substrate , or a portion of the substrate . thus , the resulting damascene template has nano / micro features connected by a conductive film underneath an insulator ( second insulating layer ), which enables all of the micro / nano structures on the whole substrate , or a desired region of the substrate , to have equal potential during electrophoretic assembly . preferred materials are gold for the metallic layer and pecvd - deposited silicon dioxide for the insulating layer . fig1 ( d ) shows a cross - sectional view of a damascene template embodiment of the invention . the substrate ( 10 ) is a base layer of electrically insulating material , such as silicon or a polymer . the substrate is essentially planar on at least one surface , or is entirely planar , and in some embodiments is substantially rigid , while in other embodiments is flexible and can be bend to conform to a desired shape . the substrate can have any size or shape required for the particular application , but generally has a thickness of about 1 μm to about 10 μm , or about 100 μm or less , or about 1000 μm or less and a surface area on a planar surface of about 0 . 005 mm 2 or more , up to several cm 2 . the substrate can be fabricated from electrically insulating materials including silicon , silicon dioxide , organic polymers including epoxies and liquid crystal polymers , or a photoresist material such as su - 8 . the first insulating layer ( 15 ) is a layer of insulating material ( e . g ., sio 2 , sin 4 , or a polymer ) which is deposited or induced to form on the surface of the substrate on which the conductive layer will be deposited and nanoelements will be assembled . the thickness of the first insulating layer is , for example , in the range from about 10 nm to about 10 μm , or about 20 nm to about 1 μm , or about 30 nm to about 500 nm , or about 5 nm to about 500 nm , or about 40 nm to about 250 nm , or about 50 nm to about 100 nm . the first insulating layer is generally planar in structure and extends over the entire substrate layer , or a portion of the substrate layer . the first adhesion layer prevents current leakage from the conductive layer into the substrate during electrophoretic assembly . adhesion layer ( 20 ) is an optional layer deposited onto the first insulating layer . the adhesion layer provides improved adhesion of the conductive layer to the first insulating layer , so that the conductive layer remains in place when voltage is applied to the conductive layer during electrophoretic assembly . suitable materials for the adhesion layer include chromium , titanium , titanium dioxide , titanium nitride , tantalum , tantalum nitride , tungsten , and combinations thereof . the thickness of the adhesion layer can be , for example , from about 3 nm to about 50 nm . conductive layer ( 30 ) is a layer of conductive metal deposited on the adhesion layer ( if present ) or the first insulating layer ( in embodiments with no adhesion layer ). suitable materials for the conductive layer include metals such as gold , silver , tungsten , aluminum , titanium ruthenium , copper , and combinations or alloys thereof . the conductive layer has two portions : ( i ) a planar base layer ( thickness from about 50 nm to about 100 μm ), and ( ii ) a plurality of raised features ( 40 ) which extend above the plane of the base layer ( for example , from about 10 nm to about 10 μm in height ) and which have electrical continuity with one another through the base layer of the conductive layer . second insulating layer ( 50 ) is initially deposited over the entire conductive layer , including the raised features , and then planarized by chemical mechanical polishing so as to render coplanar the upper exposed surfaces of the second insulating layer and the raised features . the thickness of the second insulating layer can be , for example , from about 10 nm to about 10 μm and is generally about the same as the height of the raised metal features . in some embodiments , the thickness of the second insulating layer and the raised features is the same to within +/− 1 μm , 100 nm , 10 nm or even 5 nm or 2 nm . the second insulating layer fills the spaces between the raised features and provides electrical insulation in those regions which inhibits the assembly of nanoelements during electrophoretic assembly . suitable materials for the second insulating layer include sio 2 , sin 4 , al 2 o 3 , organic polymers , and combinations thereof . in order to further inhibit nanoelement assembly in the insulated regions , those regions are preferably coated with a hydrophobic coating ( 60 ). the hydrophobic coating is preferably a self - assembled monolayer ( sam ) of an alkyl silane ( which covalently bonds to sio 2 if that material is used in the second insulating layer ). the silane can be , for example , octadecyltrichlorosilane , or a similar silane having an alkyl chain of about 8 - 24 carbons in length . the preferred thickness of the hydrophobic coating is one molecule , though it can also be more than one molecule . the purpose of the hydrophobic coating is to prevent the assembly of nanoelements on the exposed surface of the second insulating layer ; as such , it only needs to render the exposed surface of the second insulating layer hydrophobic , and to be selectively bound to the second insulating layer and preferably not bound to the exposed surface of the conducting layer , where nanoelements are to be assembled . the hydrophobic coating has a contact angle of from 90 ° to 110 °, preferably about 100 °. in contrast , the exposed metal conductive layer surface has a contact angle of from 15 ° to 21 °, preferably about 18 °. fabrication techniques for making a damascene template of the invention are known to the skilled person . such techniques as micro - and nanopatterning can be carried out by e - beam lithography , photolithography , and nano - imprint lithography . deposition of metals can be performed by sputtering , chemical vapor deposition , or physical vapor deposition . deposition of polymers and resists can be performed by spin coating . sio 2 as the second insulating layer can be deposited by plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition ( pecvd ). etching of the second insulating layer and metal conductive layer can be by ion milling , ion - coupled plasma ( icp ) and reactive ion etching ( rie ). the two - dimensional pattern of the raised features of the metal conductive layer , and correspondingly the pattern of assembled nanoelements , can be any pattern that can be established using lithographic techniques , including linear features that are straight , curved , or intersecting as well as geometric shapes such as circles , triangles , rectangles , or dots . the raised features can have a width in the range from about 10 nm to about 100 μm , and a length from about 10 nm to several cm ( e . g ., the full diameter of a wafer ). the damascene template topography has significant impact on the efficiency and yield of the assembly and transfer processes . ideally a flat topography is used , which provides a uniform electric field from edge to the center of the electrodes , with minimal variation and facilitating uniform assembly ( see fig6 ). fig1 ( c ) shows a plot of the simulated electric field strengths for various level differences between the metal and the insulator ( dishing amount ). it is evident that as the dishing amount increases , the non - uniformity in the electric field from the edge to the center of the electrodes also increases . in addition , a non - flat topography can result in uneven transfer , creating indentations on the transfer substrate surface ( see fig7 ) . to achieve a flat topography , the end point detection in the cmp process needs to be precise [ 20 ]. for example , sufficiently precise control can be achieved by determining the time period required for cmp based on the associated material removal rate . a top view and cross sectional view of a damascene template after cmp resulting in a flat topography are shown in fig1 ( a ). an optical image of a 3 - inch damascene template is shown in fig1 ( b ), with high resolution sem images shown as insets . it is apparent from fig1 ( c ) that the electric field strengths close to the electrode and the insulator are of the same order of magnitude . in addition any organic contamination removal process , such as cleaning with piranha solution ( a solution containing a mixture of h 2 so 4 and h 2 o 2 ), can increase the surface energy of the metal and that of the insulator . during an electrophoretic assembly process , a substantial electric field near the sio 2 surface in conjugation with sio 2 having a high surface energy can result in nanoelement assembly even onto the sio 2 surface that is undesired ( see fig8 ) . to assemble the nanoelements specifically on the gold electrode surface , the electric field strength near the sio 2 surface and its surface energy should be decreased . reducing the electric field strength through application of lower voltage would also reduce the electric strength near the gold surface drastically affecting assembly of nanoelements on the gold electrode . alternatively , if the surface energy of sio 2 is reduced without affecting that of the electrode , assembly can be achieved specifically on the gold electrodes . self - assembled monolayers ( sams ) can be employed to reduce the surface energy of the sio 2 surface significantly . a preferred material for preparing a sam for coating the exposed surfaces of the sio 2 second insulating layer is octadecyltrichlorosilane ( ots ); ots can be used to modify the surface energy of the sio 2 layer without affecting the surface energy of the raised gold features . application of a sam consisting essentially of ots increased the contact angle of sio 2 to 100 ° from an initial value of less than 10 °. a post treatment process was developed to selectively remove the physically attached ots sam layer from the gold without disturbing the ots sam layer on the sio 2 surface ( see fig9 ). fig2 shows an illustration of an assembly and transfer process using a damascene template of the invention . electrophoresis is employed to achieve directed assembly of nanoelements , while a transfer printing method is employed to transfer the assembled nanoelements onto the surface of a flexible substrate . the surface - modified template is immersed into a suspension containing uniformly dispersed nanoelements . the properties of the solution ( e . g ., ph of an aqueous suspension ) are adjusted such that the nanoelements have a charge ( negative or positive ). dc voltage is applied between the damascene template ( having a polarity opposite to the charge on the nanoelements ) and a bare gold template ( having a polarity opposite to that of the damascene template ), which acts as counter electrode . for example , alkaline ph can render the nanoelements negatively charged , the damascene template can be positively charged , and the counter electrode negatively charged . voltage is applied for a brief period , typically less than one minute ( e . g ., for a 20 sec . time period ). the charged nanoelements are selectively assembled on the electrode surface and not on the insulator . with the potential still being applied , after assembly , the template and the counter electrode are withdrawn from the suspension with a constant speed . it is critical to have the potential applied during withdrawal , since the hydrodynamic drag on the assembled nanoparticles is strong enough to remove them if the potential is not applied [ 21 ]. typical assembly results for nanoparticle assembly are shown in fig3 ( b )-( d ). for a given charge on the nanoelements , the applied voltage between the template and the counter electrode considerably dominates the assembly efficiency of nanoelements ( see fig1 ). for low voltages , the electric field strength at the electrode edges is strong enough to attract and assemble the nanoelements , while at the center it is not and hence no assembly occurs . the withdrawal speed also has an impact on the assembly efficiency ( see fig1 ). for an applied potential of 2v , 100 nm silica nanoparticles ( suspended in deionized water with ph 10 . 8 , adjusted by addition of nh 4 oh ) assembled only on the edges of gold wires , as shown in fig3 ( a ). an extremely low withdrawal speed ( 1 mm / min ) can be used under these conditions , so that the dynamic drag force on the particles is insignificant . this is confirmed by the electric field contours simulated by a 3d finite volume modeling software ( flow 3d ), shown in fig1 ( c ). when the applied potential was increased to 2 . 5 v , 100 nm silica particles assembled at all regions across the electrodes in the damascene template , even at a 5 mm / min withdrawal speed , as shown in fig3 ( b ). the efficacy and material compatibility of the assembly process was demonstrated by assembling ( i ) silica nanoparticles onto complex two - dimensional patterns ( fig3 ( d )), ( ii ) 50 nm polystyrene - latex ( psl ) particles ( fig3 ( c )), and ( iii ) highly organized dense assemblies of swnt ( fig3 ( e ), 3 ( f )). for many applications highly aligned swnts are desired instead of random networks , because aligned swnts avoid percolation transport pathways and result in minimal junction resistance between tubes [ 22 - 24 ] due to more surface area overlap . the alignment of assembled swnts depends on the direction and speed of template withdrawal . lower withdrawal speed leads to better alignment , with a trade - off of increased assembly process time . damascene templates for assembling nanoelements may involve both nanoscale and micron scale geometries and employ electrophoresis to drive directed assembly . that is , nanoscale and micron scale electrodes can be patterned on an insulator such that the nanoscale metal electrodes are connected to micron scale counterparts which are then connected to a large metal pad ( as shown in fig5 ( a )). during assembly using previous template designs , when a potential is applied to the large pad , there is a large potential drop across the length of the nanowires due to the increased resistivity of the nanoscale features . this potential drop has a significant impact on the assembly results , and can yield a non - uniform assembly on various portions of the template . a typical result is shown in fig5 ( c ), in which nanoparticle assembly occurs only on the micron scale electrodes and not on the nanoscale electrodes that are connected to them . with the damascene templates of the present invention , however , since all the nanoscale and micron scale electrodes are connected to the metal sheet underneath the insulator ( fig5 ( b )), when a potential is applied to the metal sheet during nanoelement assembly there is negligible variation in the electric potential between the micron scale and nanoscale electrodes . equivalent resistor circuits are shown for both the conventional template as well as the damascene template . flow 3d software ( v . 10 ) from flow science , inc . was used to simulate the electric field contours for various template dimensions . the input parameters were : ( i ) applied voltage 2 . 5 v , ( ii ) conductivity , ( iii ) ph 10 . 8 , ( iv ) insulator thickness 150 nm , ( v ) dielectric constants for the insulator and the solution ( 4 and 80 , respectively ), and ( iv ) mesh size 5 nm and 100 nm for distance less than 1 micron and greater than 1 micron respectively . the effective electric field contours were generated at a distance of 25 nm from the surface . shown in fig6 ( a ) are the electric filed simulation results for various non - flat topographies of the damascene templates . as the topography approaches being flat , the non - uniformity in the electric field strength across the metal electrode decreases . shown in fig6 ( b ) is the simulated result for a conventional template in which the nanoscale electrode is not connected to a metal electrode underneath . due the morphology and topology variation , the non - uniformity of the electric field across the electrode is highly pronounced , which can lead to assembly only at the edges of the electrode . the assembled nanoelements were then transferred onto flexible polymer substrates ( e . g ., pen , pc ) using a nanoimprint tool . the transfer efficiency of the transfer printing process is primarily determined by the differential adhesion force between subject ( nanoelements )/ template ( st ) and nanoelement / recipient ( sr ). if the adhesion force between nanoelement and template , fst , is smaller than the adhesion force between nanoelement and recipient , fsr , the nanoelements will be transferred onto the recipient surface . if the contrary is true , the nanoelements will remain on the template surface after the transfer process [ 18 ]. during transfer , the ots sam hydrophobic coating on the sio 2 layer plays the additional role of being an anti - stiction layer when the damascene template is separated from the flexible substrate during transfer . this transfer process does not significantly affect the ots layer and hence the surface energy of sio 2 , which enables the damascene template to be reused for assembly - transfer cycle without additional surface modification for several hundred cycles ( see fig1 ). also , no additional processes such as stripping , patterning , or sacrificial layer removal / deposition are needed . in general , the contact angle of the polymer films used to coat the second insulating layer is ˜ 70 °, which is very close to being hydrophobic and hence low surface energy . in order to improve the adhesion between assembled nanoelements and the polymer film ( fst ), the polymer film was pretreated using oxygen plasma in an inductively coupled plasmatherm before the transfer printing process was carried out . this procedure results in the creation of hydroxide groups on the polymer surface , thereby increasing the surface energy of the polymer film [ 25 ] [ 26 ]. after surface treatment , the contact angle of the polymer film was found to be less than 5 °. for the transfer printing process of the invention , a process temperature of about 160 ° c . was maintained , while a pressure of 170 psi was used . this temperature is slightly higher than the glass transition temperature of the polymer film ( 155 ° c . for pet and 150 ° c . for pc ) and is required to engulf the assembled nanoelements , such that a complete transfer can be achieved [ 19 ] ( see fig1 ). to measure the electrical properties of these transferred swnts metal electrodes were fabricated by standard microfabrication processes . fig4 ( c ) shows the i - v measurement of the transferred swnts ( 2 . 4 μm channel width ) on a pen film as function of channel length . the measured resistance was 3 . 2 kω and 12 . 2 kω for channel lengths of 2 μm and 17 μm respectively . fig4 ( d ) exhibits the robustness of the assembled swnt structure under bending . the resistance increases linearly as a function of bending radius with a maximum change of 13 % compared to that of the initial value ( see fig1 ) . during transfer of assembled nanoelements using a template with non - flat topography ( i . e ., having raised metal features ) onto a flexible substrate , the transfer might be expected to be partial rather than complete . another possible result is the creation of imprinted structures ( replica of the template ) on the flexible substrate . in many cases this is not a desired result , since subsequent processing ( metal deposition , etching , etc ) can yield devices with non - uniform characteristics . such an observed result using a non - flat topography damascene template is shown in fig7 . when electrophoretic assembly was carried out without an ots sam layer on the exposed surfaces of the second insulating layer , the nanoelements assembled everywhere including the insulator region as well as the conductor region ( electrode ). without the ots sam layer , the surface energies of the insulator and the electrode are approximately the same as shown in fig8 ( a ). when the potential is applied to the metal sheet underneath the insulator , the potential drop across the insulator is insufficient to prevent nanoelement assembly , and hence the nanoelements assembled on the insulator , decreasing the selectivity of the assembly result . a typical result for nanoparticle and swnt assembly without an ots sam layer is shown in fig8 ( b ). the ots sam layer is applied to the damascene template using a wet chemical method . during this process an ots sam layer also can form on the metal electrodes and it can inhibit nanoelements from being assembled on them . in order to remove the ots sam layer selectively from the metal electrode , a chemical treatment with “ piranha solution ” was performed on the damascene template . the piranha treatment removed only the ots sam that was present on the metal electrodes and left the monolayer on the insulator unaffected . this was verified through contact angle measurements as shown in fig9 before and after piranha treatment following ots sam layer deposition on the damascene template . swnts used for assembly have terminal carboxylic acid groups due to their purification process . when suspended in deionized water , these carboxylic acid groups impart a negative charge to the swnts at sufficiently high ph . the electrophoretic force on the nanoelements due to an applied potential is directly proportional to the charge on the nanoelements and the electric field strength . when the applied voltage is increased , the electrophoretic force increases proportionally , resulting in increased amount of nanoelements assembled on the metal electrodes . fig9 clearly shows the significant effect of voltage on swnt assembly . it can be seen from these results that assembly of swnts on the electrodes started between 1 . 5 v and 2 v . beyond a critical value of the applied potential , the barrier introduced by sio 2 fails , and nanoelements can assemble on the insulator surfaces as shown in fig1 . the capillary force acting on assembled nanoelements during their withdrawal from the suspension after assembly plays a crucial role on the adhesion of the nanoelements to the metal electrodes on the damascene template . for higher withdrawal speeds the removal moment acting on the nanoelements due to the capillary force would be larger , resulting in removal of the nanoelements . for a given type of nanoelement and applied potential the withdrawal speed needs to be adjusted , and can be characterized as illustrated in fig1 . the adhesion force can be further improved by keeping the applied potential on . in all of these experimental results shown herein , the potential was kept on during the template withdrawal process . failure of the assembly and transfer process using damascene templates after several assembly and transfer cycles would be expected if the ots sam layer deteriorates on the insulator surfaces . if the ots sam on the insulator deteriorates then nanoelements can assemble on the insulator , resulting in low yield . to test the versatility and robustness of the damascene templates , the contact angle of the insulator surface was measured after each assembly and transfer cycle , and it is plotted in fig1 . extrapolation of these results based on the assumption that the ots sam layer deteriorates at the same rate in subsequent assembly and transfer cycles leads to the estimate that the contact angle would reach a value of 70 ° after 140 cycles while it would reach a value of 50 ° at about 250 cycles . the contact angle of the metal electrode would also increase as a function of the number of cycles , and will eventually saturate . if one assumes the saturated contact angle value of 50 ° then the life cycle for a single coat of ots sam layer would be about 250 cycles . when the ots sam layer has deteriorated , another layer of ots sam layer can be added to the template , and it can be reused again for assembly and transfer . the temperature applied to the substrates during the transfer process has an important effect on the transfer efficiency . the transfer process temperature preferably is close to that of the glass transition temperature of the polymer that makes up the receiving substrate . this is demonstrated in fig1 . from the figure it is clear that when the process temperature is raised beyond the tg for pen ( 155 ° c .) the assembled nanoelements are transferred completely , achieving essentially 100 % transfer yield . the flexible recipient substrate with transferred nanoelements was subjected to a bending test . cylindrical objects such as those shown in the inset of fig1 were used for the bending test . the pen film with transferred swnts and deposited electrodes was taped to the circumference of the cylindrical object and resistance measurements were taken in the bent state . the results are shown in fig1 . as used herein , “ consisting essentially of ” does not exclude materials or steps that do not materially affect the basic and novel characteristics of the claim . any recitation herein of the term “ comprising ”, particularly in a description of components of a composition or in a description of elements of a device , can be exchanged with “ consisting essentially of ” or “ consisting of ”. while the present invention has been described in conjunction with certain preferred embodiments , one of ordinary skill , after reading the foregoing specification , will be able to effect various changes , substitutions of equivalents , and other alterations to the compositions and methods set forth herein . t . kraus , l . malaquin , h . schmid , w . riess , n . d . spencer , h . wolf , nature nanotechnology 2007 , 2 , 570 . c . yilmaz , t . h . kim , s . somu , 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fig1 is a chromatogram showing the results of a mismatch detection assay using a mitochondrial nucleic acid sequence . fig2 is a chromatogram showing the results of a mismatch detection assay using a p53 - derived nucleic acid sequence . there now follows an example of a nucleic acid mismatch detection method utilizing t4 endonuclease vii and a solid support . this example is provided for the purpose of illustrating , not limiting , the invention . amplification and binding of reference pcr products to a solid support as a first step of this detection method , pcr products corresponding to a reference nucleic acid are generated and bound to a solid support . in the following preferred approach , the pcr reference products are biotinylated and bound to a streptavidin - coated comb - type solid support that is compatible with gel electrophoresis equipment . in particular , reference nucleic acid samples are chosen , and pcr reactions are performed according to standard techniques using a 5 &# 39 ;- biotinylated pcr primer ( see , for example , lagerkvist et al ., proc . natl . acad . sci . usa 91 : 2245 ( 1994 )). the biotinylated primer concentration in the pcr reaction is preferably kept to a maximum concentration of 0 . 1 μm to allow efficient binding of the final pcr product to the comb , and approximately 50 fmole ( i . e ., a few μl ) of the pcr product is used for binding . this amount optimizes resolution if the cleavage products are analyzed on an automated laser fluorescence dna sequencer ( i . e ., an alf sequencer , available from pharmacia biotech ab , uppsala , sweden ). the binding reaction is preferably carried out as described in lagerkvist et al ., supra . to bind the pcr products to the solid support , the pcr reaction mixtures are distributed into reaction wells and contacted with the solid support . in the example of a comb - type solid support , the reactions are distributed into reaction wells that correspond to the number of comb teeth . the volume of each reaction mixture is adjusted to approximately 80 μl with 1m nacl and 10 mm tris - hcl , ph 7 . 5 , and the combs are immersed in the mixture and incubated overnight at 42 ° c . if desired , the binding time may be considerably shortened ( down to minutes ) using additional pcr product to compensate for the decrease in binding efficiency ( see , for example , lagerkvist et al ., supra ). the pcr products are then made single - stranded by washing the combs in 0 . 15m naoh for 5 minutes at room temperature and subsequently washing in 50 mm nacl , 10 mm tris - hcl , ph 7 . 5 , at room temperature for one minute . solid support - bound pcr products ( whether denatured or not ) can be stored immersed in binding buffer ( i . e ., the &# 34 ; pcr buffer &# 34 ; of lagerkvist et al ., supra , adjusted to 1m nacl and 10 mm tris - hcl , ph 7 . 5 ) at 4 ° c . for at least two weeks . to prepare sample pcr products for analysis ( for example , to determine whether the sample nucleic acid includes a mutation diagnostic of a human disease ), the sample nucleic acid is used as a template in pcr reactions . this sample nucleic acid may be obtained from any source , including , without limitation , blood specimens , tissue biopsies , or other body fluid or tissue samples . these reactions are performed with a 5 &# 39 ;- fluorescein - labelled primer ( i . e ., a primer positioned opposite to the direction of the biotinylated primer used for amplification of the reference dna ) and a 5 &# 39 ;- phosphorylated primer ( see lagerkvist et al ., supra ). to facilitate labelling of the solid support - bound dna strand , the sequence ttt is incorporated into the 5 &# 39 ; end of the fluorescein primer . this allows 3 &# 39 ; labelling of the reference strand following hybridization to the sample pcr product by incorporation of fluorescein - 15 - datp via a t7 dna polymerase - mediated reaction . to allow efficient hybridization to the immobilized reference dna , the sample pcr product is rendered single - stranded by degradation of the unlabelled strand with λ - exonuclease based on the methods of higuchi , nucl . acids . res . 17 : 5865 ( 1989 ) or nikiforov , pcr meth . & amp ; applic . 3 : 285 ( 1994 ). in this step , the 5 &# 39 ;- phosphate of the sample pcr product promotes degradation , while the 5 &# 39 ;- fluorescein is completely protective . to carry out this reaction , 2 μl of the pcr reaction is diluted 5 - fold in water , and to this solution is added a one - tenth volume of a 10 × λ - exonuclease buffer ( 0 . 67m glycine - koh , ph 9 . 3 , 25 mm mgcl 2 ) and 1u of λ - exonuclease ( pharmacia biotech ab , uppsala , sweden ). reactions are incubated at 37 ° c . for 30 minutes . in preparation for the hybridization reaction , the volume of the λ - exonuclease - treated pcr products ( preferably , about 0 . 1 pmol ) is adjusted to 20 μl and final solution concentrations of 50 mm nacl , 10 mm tris - hcl , ph 7 . 5 . the samples are then transferred to reaction wells for contact with the solid support . if a comb - type solid support is utilized , the reaction wells are designed to correspond to the individual comb teeth . the solid support ( e . g ., the comb ) is immersed in the solution , and hybridization is performed by standard techniques . although hybridization may be carried out between 37 ° c . and 70 ° c ., a preferred hybridization temperature is 70 ° c . this temperature minimizes the effects of so - called primer dimers and shortened amplified molecules that may obscure the signal of interest . at 70 ° c ., the preferred hybridization reaction time is 15 minutes . following hybridization , the solid support is immediately washed in 50 mm nacl , 10 mm tris - hcl , ph 7 . 5 for 2 minutes at room temperature . all of the above hybridization reaction conditions are designed by standard techniques to be sufficiently stringent to prevent hybridization of the primer or formation of primer dimers . to label the immobilized strand , the solid support ( or each of the comb teeth ) is incubated in 80 μl of 1 mm fluorescein - 15 - datp ( boeringer mannheim biochemical ), 40 mm tris - hcl , ph 7 . 5 , 11 mm dtt , 29 mm isocitric acid , and 4u t7 polymerase at 42 ° c . for 10 minutes . following incubation , the solid support ( e . g ., comb ) is washed in 50 mm nacl , 10 mm tris - hcl , ph 7 . 5 for 2 minutes at room temperature . cleavages are preferably performed as follows . 1 . 5 μl of 10 × x endo vii reaction buffer ( 0 . 5m tris - hcl , ph 8 . 0 , 100 mm mgcl 2 ( made from 1m stock solution with autoclaved water )), 50 mm dtt ( to autoclaved stock solutions , add stock dtt to a final concentration of 50 mm ), 1 mg / ml nuclease - free bsa ( add stock nuclease - free bsa to a final concentration of 1 mg / ml , stored at - 20 ° c . ), 1 μl of t4 endonuclease vii ( in a range of between 100 - 3000 units , preferably 100 - 1000 units , and most preferably at least 500 units ), and 12 . 5 μl distilled water are combined and distributed into wells into which the solid support ( or comb tooth ) is immersed . the reactions are then incubated at 37 ° c . for 1 hour . preferably , a zero enzyme control is performed in parallel ; for this reaction , 1 μl of enzyme dilution buffer ( 10 mm tris - hcl , ph 8 . 0 , 50 % glycerol ( made from stock solutions with autoclaved water ), 0 . 1 mm glutathione ( to the autoclaved stock dilutions , add stock glutathione to a final concentration of 0 . 1 mm ), and 100 μg / ml bsa ( nuclease - free , add to autoclaved stock dilutions )) is substituted for endo vii , and the reaction is carried out as described above . alternatively , cleavage reactions may be carried out as described in youil et al ., proc . natl . acad . sci . usa 92 : 87 - 91 ( 1995 ) or mashal et al ., nature genetics 9 : 177 ( 1995 ). t4 endonuclease vii is preferably purified by the method of kosak and kemper , eur . j . biochem . 194 : 779 - 784 ( 1990 ) and stored at - 20 ° c . the products of the cleavage reaction may be analyzed by any convenient method , but are preferably read using an alf sequencer and the instructions of the manufacturer . to carry out the reaction using such a sequencer , a gel is heated to 50 ° c ., wells are prefilled with formamide , and the solid support ( e . g ., the comb ) is inserted and incubated , preferably for 15 minutes , and then removed ( see , lagerkvist et al ., supra ). during this reaction , the products bound to the solid support are released into the wells of the gel . during electrophoresis , the temperature of the gel is lowered , preferably to 45 ° c . dna molecules that have been completely cleaved from the solid support may also be loaded onto the sequencer in this fashion because a rather large proportion of cleaved dna molecules will remain non - specifically bound to the solid support until they are immersed into the wells of the gel . fluorescein labelling of the free ends of the solid support - bound dna strands allows for simultaneous detection of either or both of the heteroduplex strands , or cleavage products thereof . to determine the size of the pcr products subjected to digestion reactions ( and thus the position of a cleavage site ), the gel is run with accompanying dna size standards ( for example , biomarker ™ ext plus , φx 174 haeiii , biomarker ™ high , or biomarker ™ low size standards ). the above reaction has been optimized for pcr products of about 500 base pairs in length , but may be modified by standard techniques to accommodate pcr products of any of a variety of lengths . also , if desired , higher concentrations of t4 endonuclease vii may be added to any reaction mixture to increase the efficiency of the cleavage reaction . using the above techniques , a mismatch was detected in a human mitochondrial sequence . in particular , a segment from the d - loop of the human mitochondrial sequence was amplified by pcr ( as described herein ), and one of the strands was immobilized on a comb - like support using a biotin linkage ( also as described herein ). dna from an individual suspected of having a mitochondrial sequence change was then amplified using a 5 &# 39 ;- phosphorylated primer ( rather than the 5 &# 39 ;- biotinylated primer ) ( as described herein ). the opposite primer in this pcr reaction was labelled with a 5 &# 39 ;- fluorescein group . the amplified patient dna was then treated with λ exonuclease to degrade the phosphorylated strand , and the remaining fluorescein - labelled strand was annealed to the solid support - bound reference strand ( as described herein ). following washing , the heteroduplex was treated with t4 endonuclease vii , and the supports were then transferred to slots in a polyacrylamide gel to load the reaction products ( also as described herein ). the migration of the fluorescein - labelled fragments was recorded and compared to the migration of labelled size standards . results are shown in fig1 with the different chromatograms reflecting reaction mixtures containing varying amounts of t4 endonuclease vii . using the same approach , detection of a mismatch in a p53 - derived gene segment was accomplished . these results are shown in fig2 ; the two lower chromatograms represent negative controls , while the two upper chromatograms illustrate t4 endonuclease vii reactions . other embodiments are within the following claims . for example , any solid support compatible with a gel electrophoresis apparatus may be utilized in the invention . a comb - type solid support is preferred , but any solid support which can be introduced into an electrophoresis well may be utilized ( for example , paramagnetic beads ). moreover , the reference amplification product may be bound to the solid support through any means for tethering a dna molecule to a substrate . such tethering means are well known in the art and include any binding pair involving nucleic acid or protein components that are not denatured under the conditions employed in the assay ; such pairs include antigen / antibody pairs , dna binding protein / dna binding site pairs ( for example , the gcn4 protein and its dna binding site ), enzyme / substrate pairs , lectin / carbohydrate pairs , and base paired or ligated nucleic acids . moreover , if desired , many of the steps described above may be modified or excluded from the procedure . for example , the step of fluorescein labelling of the sample pcr product may be omitted entirely , and cleavage products detected solely by standard dna detection techniques ( for example , using stains or dyes that interact with dna ). alternatively , the fluorescein label may be replaced by any detectable label , for example , any radioactive , fluorescent , chemiluminescent , or chromogenic label which may be directly or indirectly visualized ; also included as useful labels are haptens , such as digoxigenin , that are recognized by antibodies that are themselves detectably labelled . the step of digestion of the sample pcr product by λ exonuclease may also be modified . for example , any 5 &# 39 ; exonuclease may be substituted for the λ enzyme . alternatively , the fluorescein - labelled strand may be released by denaturation of the support - bound pcr product . accordingly , if desired , the exonuclease step may be omitted entirely from the procedure . although the digestion step improves hybridization efficiency , it is not absolutely required for the carrying out of the detection method . other modifications at this step include substitution of any 5 &# 39 ; protective group for the 5 &# 39 ;- fluorescein moiety ; examples of useful blocking molecules include biotin or , less preferably , a 5 &# 39 ; hydroxyl group . the invention may be carried out using any desired resolvase . although t4 endonuclease vii is preferred , other resolvases useful in the invention include , without limitation , bacteriophage t7 endonuclease i and saccharomyces cerevisiae endo x1 , endo x2 , or endo x3 ( jensch et al ., embo j . 8 : 4325 , 1989 ), t7 endonuclease i , e . coli muty ( wu et al ., proc . natl . acad . sci . usa 89 : 8779 - 8783 , 1992 ), mammalian thymine glycosylase ( wiebauer et al ., proc . natl . acad . sci . usa 87 : 5842 - 5845 , 1990 ), topoisomerase i from human thymus ( yeh et al ., j . biol . chem . 266 : 6480 - 6484 , 1991 ; yeh et al ., j . biol . chem . 269 : 15498 - 15504 , 1994 ), and deoxyinosine 3 &# 39 ; endonuclease ( yao and kow , j . biol . chem . 269 : 31390 - 31396 , 1994 ). mismatch detection assays may be carried out using one or a combination of different resolvases . if necessary , the methods and kits of the invention ( for example , the comb techniques ) allow for convenient sequential resolvase reactions using different buffer conditions . the test nucleic acid and / or the reference nucleic acid may be derived from any eukaryotic cell , eubacterial cell , bacteriophage , dna virus , or rna virus . preferred rna viruses include , without limitation , human t - cell leukemia virus and human immunodeficiency virus ( for example , htlv - i , htlv - ii , hiv - 1 , and hiv - 2 ). preferred dna viruses include , without limitation , any one of the family adenoviridae , papovaviridae , or herpetoviridae . preferred eubacterial cells include , without limitation , any member of the order spirochaetales , kinetoplastida , or actinomycetales , of the family treponemataceae , trypoanosomatidae , or mycobacteriaceae , and of the species mycobacterium tuberculosis , treponema pallidum , treponema pertenue , borrelia burgdorferi , or trypanosoma cruzi . the reference nucleic acids may also include an oncogene or a tumor suppressor gene of a eukaryotic ( for example , mammalian ) cell ; preferable mammalian oncogenes include , without limitation , abl , akt , crk , erb - a , erb - b , ets , fes / fps , fgr , fms , fos , jun , kit , mil / raf , mos , myb , myc , h - ras , k - ras , rel , ros , sea , sis , ski , src , and yes ; preferable tumor suppressor genes include p53 , retinoblastoma ( preferably rb1 ), adenomatous polyposis coli , nf - 1 , nf - 2 , mlh - 1 , mts - 1 , msh - 2 , and human non - polyposis genes . alternatively , the reference nucleic acid may be isolated from any one of the β - globin , phenylalanine hydroxylase , α 1 - antitrypsin , 21 - hydroxylase , pyruvate dehydrogenase e1α - subunit , dihydropteridine reductase , rhodopsin , β - amyloid , nerve growth factor , superoxide dismutase , huntington &# 39 ; s disease , cystic fibrosis , adenosine deaminase , β - thalassemia , ornithine transcarbamylase , collagen , bcl - 2 , β - hexosaminidase , topoisomerase ii , hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase , phenylalanine 4 - monooxygenase , factor viii , factor ix , nucleoside phosphorylase , glucose - 6 - phosphate dehydrogenase , phosphoribosyltransferase , duchenne muscular dystrophy , von hippel lindeau , or the mouse modelled menkes genes . reference nucleic acids may also be derived from any cell cycle control gene , preferably p21 , p27 , or p16 . the reference nucleic acid may be any nucleic acid molecule including , without limitation , a restriction enzyme fragment , a sequence produced by amplification via pcr , nasba , sda , or any other preparative amplification method ( see , for example , landegren , trends in genetics 9 : 199 - 204 , 1993 ), or a sequence propagated in any eukaryotic cell , bacteriophage , eubacterial cell , insect virus ( e . g ., using a baculovirus derived vector ), or animal virus ( e . g ., using an sv - 40 or adenovirus derived vector ). any test dna template suspected of harboring at least one dna mismatch and for which at least a partial dna sequence is known can be used as a source of pcr - amplified test dna . a dna template for this purpose must include a region suspected of harboring at least one dna mismatch and must also include sufficient dna flanking the suspected mismatch to serve as a template for dna oligonucleotide primer hybridization and pcr amplification . as outlined above , pcr amplification is performed by first hybridizing two oligonucleotide primers to the template harboring the mismatch , then completing multiple rounds of pcr amplification ; the pcr - amplified dna being used as test dna for heteroduplex formation as described above . the design of the two oligonucleotide primers is guided by the dna sequence flanking the suspected mismatch site and two important parameters : dna oligonucleotide primer size and the size of the intervening region between the 3 &# 39 ; ends of the dna oligonucleotide primers hybridized to the template . preferably , an oligonucleotide primer will be at least 12 nucleotides in length , more preferably , between 15 and 50 nucleotides in length inclusive , and most preferably , between 15 and 25 nucleotides in length inclusive . the size of the intervening region between the 3 &# 39 ; ends of the two oligonucleotides hybridized to the template will be governed by the well known size limitations of templates amplified by pcr and the resolving power of the particular gel used to detect resolvase cleavage sites . in general , the intervening region between the 3 &# 39 ; ends of the two oligonucleotides hybridized to a template will be at least 50 base pairs in length inclusive . recent advances in pcr technology have allowed amplification of up to 40 kb of dna . preferably , the intervening region will be between 100 and 40 , 000 base pairs in length inclusive , and more preferably between 150 and 5000 base pairs in length inclusive . those skilled in the art will appreciate that where the flanking dna sequence is only partially known , a degenerate dna oligonucleotide primer may be used to prepare test dna by pcr amplification . in another example , template dna suspected of harboring at least one dna mismatch can be subcloned into a suitable cloning vector and amplified using known dna oligonucleotide primers which hybridize to the cloning vector and are adjacent to the insertion site of the dna template . in this instance , no template dna sequence information is required because the dna oligonucleotide primers used for pcr amplification hybridize to a vector of known dna sequence and not the inserted template dna . for example , the bluescript ™ vector can be used to sub - clone a dna template into an acceptor site according to the manufacturer &# 39 ; s instructions ( stratagene cloning systems , la jolla , calif ., product catalogue , ( 1992 )). the t7 and t3 dna primers of the bluescript vector can be used to pcr amplify the inserted dna template ( or concomitantly to sequence the inserted dna template ). other commercially available sub - cloning vectors may also be used . these include , without limitation , phage lambda based insertion vectors and other prokaryotic and eukaryotic vectors ( e . g ., bacteriophage , insect virus , or animal virus based vectors described by stratagene , supra and sambrook et al ., supra ). alternatively , one may amplify a molecular clone without specific knowledge of its sequence using the method described in swedish patent application 9403805 - 6 ( 1994 ), hereby incorporated by reference . this approach is particularly useful for detecting errors in molecular clones introduced during the steps of cloning or amplification . in an alternative method , a vector which includes a dna insert bearing at least one dna mismatch may be first amplified by propagation in bacteria , phage , insect , or animal cells prior to pcr amplification ( see sambrook et al ., supra ). if sufficient dna is available ( i . e ., at least 1 nanogram ), the pcr amplification step can be eliminated . in yet another example , rna suspected of bearing at least one mutation may be purified from cells or tissues by techniques well - known in the art . for example , rna may be optionally purified by olido - dt chromatography to prepare mrna ( see , for example , sambrook et al ., supra and ausubel et al ., supra ). in cases where ribosomal rna is the subject of analysis or a particular mrna is in abundance , oligo - dt chromatography will not be necessary . purified rna or mrna will be heat denatured in order to ensure complete single - strandedness and hybridized with control dna ( i . e ., a reference cdna ) in order to form rna : dna heteroduplexes . a method for forming rna : dna duplexes are well known in the art and have been described in detail ( see sambrook et al ., supra , pp . 7 . 62 - 7 . 65 ). after formation of an rna : dna heteroduplex , the method described above can be used to detect mismatches produced by mispairing between the cdna and the rna . individuals skilled in the art will readily recognize that the compositions of the present invention can be assembled into a kit for the detection of mismatches . typically , such kits will include at least one resolvase capable of detecting a mismatch and a solid support on which to carry out the resolvase cleavage reaction . preferably , the kit will include bacteriophage t4 endonuclease vii in a suitable buffer and will optionally include reference dna and may include pre - formed heteroduplexes with which to standardize reaction conditions . mismatch detection using a solid support and the above methods may be used in combination with any resolvase cleavage technique , for example , the resolvase cleavage techniques described in cotton et al ., u . s . ser . no . 08 / 232 , 530 , hereby incorporated by reference .	2
an apparatus for producing methanol in accordance with the present invention has a reactor 100 which facilitates a gas phase oxidation of a hydrocarbon - containing gas are shown in fig1 a and 1b . fig1 b details the inputs and outputs of the reactor . the reactor 100 has a reaction zone 102 which is provided with a device 104 for introducing a heated hydrocarbon - containing gas stream and a device 105 for introducing an oxygen - containing gas . as explained in detail below , the oxygen - containing gas preferably has greater than 80 % oxygen content to reduce the accumulation of inert gases due to the recycling process . the reactor 100 further has a regulation zone 108 provided with an optional device 110 for introducing a cold hydrocarbon - containing gas stream for reducing the temperature of reaction during operation of the apparatus . in addition , the reactor 100 is provided with thermal pockets 112 for control and regulation of temperatures in corresponding zones , provided for example with thermocouples . the apparatus has a device 114 for cooling the reaction mixture before separation . additionally , the partial condenser 122 incorporates a gas - liquid heat exchanger to further reduce the temperature of the products . the condenser 122 separates h 2 o and alcohols from a hydrocarbon - co 2 mixture . the partial condenser 122 is preferably isobaric , as opposed to isothermal , to avoid pressure losses . the product stream enters , and liquid stream and gaseous stream exit the condenser 122 . block 139 represents equipment which is configured to separate contaminants and products from a hydrocarbon - containing recycle gas component . in this regard , the equipment 139 is configured to remove co 2 from the reduced product stream . the equipment 139 can take the form of a purge valve , absorber , membrane separator , or an adsorber . it is envisioned the equipment 139 can be used to regulate the percentage of other non - reactive components such as n 2 with , for example , a purge valve . in the event the system is configured to recover formaldehyde , the gaseous reduced product stream leaves the isobaric condenser 122 and is passed to the scrubber 134 . the scrubber 134 prevents the accumulation of co 2 and allows the physical capture of formaldehyde . the scrubber 134 can utilize a mixture of methanol and water to physically absorb formaldehyde and co 2 from the hydrocarbon gas recycle loop 135 . the efficiency of the scrubber 134 , which can operate adequately without refrigeration , is made possible due to the high operating pressure of the recycle loop 135 . this is opposed to cryogenically low temperatures utilized by traditional absorption processes . other potential methods which can be utilized use materials such as various amines known to remove co 2 and formaldehyde . the gases enter the scrubber 134 as a “ dirty ” gas with some amount of formaldehyde and co 2 present . these components will only be present in relatively dilute amounts , so the duty of the methanol absorbent is also relatively small . to fulfill the minimum absorption requirements , modification of the flow rate of methanol or operating temperature of the scrubber column can be used . if it is desirable to operate at extremely low absorbent flow rates , then a lower temperature can be utilized , for example 0 ° c . if it is desirable to operate at ambient temperatures or temperatures achievable via cooling water , then a high flow rate can be utilized , for example , ten times that of the flow rate for 0 ° c . in either scenario , the pregnant methanol absorbent stream 14 is completely regenerated by the formaldehyde distillation column 138 . optionally , the stream 14 from the scrubber 134 can be passed through the condenser 122 to provide cooling of the product stream and preheating of the methanol recycle to improve the energy efficiency of the formaldehyde distillation column 138 . the reactor 100 is connected with a compressor 124 and heater 126 for supply of compressed and heated oxygen - containing gas . the raw hydrocarbon - containing gas is mixed with cleaned hydrocarbon gas from the scrubber 134 and is heated using a heater 136 . in the event the raw hydrocarbons have a high co 2 content , the raw hydrocarbons can be mixed with the reduced product hydrocarbon stream from the condenser 122 prior to the entry of the scrubber 134 for removal of contaminant gases prior to entering the reactor . the apparatus further has a unit for rectification of methanol which includes a flash drum 132 , rectification column 128 , and a vessel 130 from which methanol is supplied to storage or further processing . this rectification column 128 is used to separate methanol ( light - key component ) from ethanol ( heavy - key component ) and water ( non - key component ). as before , it is desirable for a portion of the heavy key to enter the distillate stream ( as dictated by commercial specification for formalin ). for methanol rectification , 99 % or higher purity is typical and 99 . 999 % is achievable with multiple columns . stream 4 enters the column and the distillate , stream 5 , and bottoms , stream 8 , exit the column in liquid phase . stream 8 has some amount of ethanol ( and perhaps methanol , if ultra pure methanol was produced ) and will be used as the basis of the aqueous makeup of the commercial formalin stream ( stream 11 ). in this manner , some of the ethanol is recovered before the remainder is discarded in the liquid waste stream . disposed between the column 128 and the condenser 122 is a flash drum 132 for removal of co 2 and formaldehyde from the liquid product stream . the purpose of the flash drum 132 is to drop the pressure to an appropriate level before entry into the methanol rectification column 128 and to substantially remove any dissolved gases , typically co 2 and formaldehyde , from the liquid product stream . in operation , the raw hydrocarbon - containing gas stream with a methane content for example up to 98 % and the reduced hydrocarbon product stream are supplied from an installation for preparation of gas or any other source to the heater 136 , in which it is heated to temperature 430 - 470 ° c . the heated hydrocarbon - containing gas is then supplied into the reaction zone 102 of the reactor 100 . compressed air with pressure , for example , of 7 - 8 mpa and with a ratio 80 % to 100 % and , preferably , 90 % to 95 % oxygen is supplied by the compressor 124 also into the reaction zone 102 of the reactor 100 . oxidation reaction takes place in the reaction zone 102 of the reactor 100 . between 2 . 0 and 3 . 0 % o 2 of the total volume of the reactants are reacted with the heated hydrocarbon - containing gas stream as previously described . to limit the amount of n 2 within the system , for example to less than 30 %- 40 %, or reduce the requisite size of the purge stream to achieve the same , the o 2 stream is preferably substantially pure , thus limiting the amount of n 2 entering the system . an optional second stream of cold or in other words a lower temperature coolant than the gases in the reactor is supplied through the introducing device 108 into the regulation zone of the reactor 100 . this stream is regulated by the regulating device 120 , which can be formed as a known gas supply regulating device , regulating valve or the like . this cold stream can be , for example , composed of a raw hydrocarbon stream , a recycled stream , or a portion or combination of the two . the regulator is configured to adjust the volume or pressure of cold hydrocarbon - containing gas based on system parameters such as , but not limited to , pressure , temperature or reaction product percentages down stream in the system . the coolant , which is supplied from a coolant source , functions to reduce the temperature of the partially oxidized methane to reduce the continued oxidation or decomposition of formaldehyde . this coolant can be any material which can easily be separated from the reaction product stream . for example , as better described below , the coolant can be an unheated hydrocarbon or methane containing gas stream . preferably , the coolant can be any non - oxidizing material which can be easily separated from the reaction products . in this regard , the coolant can be gaseous or an aerosoled or misted liquid of , for example , co 2 , formaldehyde , methanol , water or steam . it is additionally envisioned that the coolant can further be a mixture of recycled reaction products , water , steam , and / or raw hydrocarbon gases . depending on the intended mode of operation of the apparatus , in particular the intended production of methanol or methanol and formaldehyde , the reaction mixture is subjected to the reaction in the reactor without the introduction of the cold hydrocarbon - containing gas if it is desired to produce exclusively methanol . the introduction of the cold hydrocarbon containing gas is used when it is desired to produce methanol and formaldehyde . by introduction of the cold hydrocarbon - containing gas , the temperature of the reaction is reduced for example by 30 - 90 ° so as to preserve the content of formaldehyde into the separated mixture by reducing the decomposition of the formaldehyde to co 2 . the reaction mixture is supplied into the heat exchanger 114 for transfer of heat to the reactor input stream from the reaction mixture exiting the reactor , and after further cooling is supplied within partial condenser 122 . separation of the mixture into high and low volatility components , ( dry gas and raw liquid , respectively ) is performed in the partial condenser 122 which may absorb at least some of the formaldehyde into the raw liquid stream as desired . the dry gas is forwarded to a scrubber 134 , while the raw liquids from the condenser 122 are supplied to the flash drum 132 . the scrubber 134 functions to remove the co 2 and formaldehyde from the dry gas stream . in this regard , the scrubber 134 uses both h 2 o and methanol at between 7 - 8 mpa pressure and between about 0 ° c . and about 50 ° c . to absorb co 2 and formaldehyde . once the co 2 and formaldehyde are removed , the reduced stream of hydrocarbon gas is recycled by mixing the reduced stream with the raw hydrocarbon - containing gas stream either before or within the reactor , as desired . the raw hydrocarbon and reduced streams , individually or in combination , are then inputted into the reaction chamber 100 at input 104 or input 110 after being heated by heat exchanger 116 and heater 136 as previously described . the rectification column is used to separate carbon dioxide ( non - key component ) and formaldehyde ( light - key component ) from methanol ( heavy - key component ) and water ( non - key components ). the pregnant methanol steam , stream 14 , enters the rectification column and is separated into a formaldehyde distillate , stream 16 , and a bottoms stream , stream 15 . some amount of methanol in the distillate stream is desirable since methanol is used as a stabilizer for the production of commercial grade formalin ( 6 - 15 % alcohol stabilizer , 37 % formaldehyde , and the balance being water ). by allowing a portion of the heavy key into the distillate stream the separation is more easily achieved ; furthermore , process losses typically experienced during absorbent regeneration are subsequently nullified as methanol within the distillate is used for formalin production . stream 15 is supplemented by stream 31 so as to replace any methanol which was transferred to the distillate stream , stream 16 . combining stream 31 and stream 15 results in stream 17 , which then returns to the scrubber 134 as regenerated methanol absorbent . meanwhile , the formaldehyde distillate , stream 16 , combines with the vapors from flash drum 132 , stream 7 , to form a mixture of formaldehyde , methanol , and carbon dioxide . the formaldehyde , water , methanol and co 2 removed by scrubber 134 are passed to formaldehyde rectification column 138 . column 138 removes formaldehyde and co 2 from the methanol - water stream . small amounts of methanol are combined with produced methanol and are inputted into the scrubber 134 to remove additional amounts of co 2 and formaldehyde from the reduced hydrocarbon stream . free or non - aqueous formaldehyde is allowed to remain in the gas phase by operation of the isobaric condenser 122 . the liquid methanol product stream , or raw liquids , would then comprise methanol , ethanol , and water by allowing formaldehyde to remain in the gaseous stream . in this case , the liquid stream exiting the isobaric condenser 122 can bypass the formaldehyde rectification portion of the process and enter the methanol rectification column after having optionally passed through the flash drum 132 . fig2 and 3 show diagrams of the concentration of oxygen , formaldehyde and methanol in reactions without cooling and with cooling , respectively . as can be seen from fig2 , approximately after 2 sec , oxygen is burnt completely . at this moment the reaction temperature reaches its maximum and methanol and formaldehyde are produced with their proportions in the reaction mixture . methanol is a more stable product at the end of the reaction and its concentration remains substantially stable after reaching its maximum concentration . formaldehyde is less stable , and therefore with a temperature increase ( the temperature increases until oxygen is burnt completely ) its concentration somewhat reduces . in the reaction with the cooling shown in fig3 , via the introduction of cold gas when the formation of methanol and formaldehyde is completed , the temperature of a final period of the reaction is reduced so as to inhibit the decomposition of formaldehyde . fig4 represents a graph depicting the yield of oxygenates for the system as a function of the recycle ratio of the recycling hydrocarbon gasses . shown is a graph depicting the use of michigan antrim gas having 97 % ch 4 and 1 % n 2 . in this regard , the graph shows a significant increase in product yield using the same input stream and with little increase in capital costs . as the system efficiently manages pressure and integrates process energy usage , energy requirements are minimized , thus increasing the overall system economics . it will be understood that each of the elements described above , or two or more together , may also find a useful application in other types , of methods and constructions differing from the types described above . while the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in the method of and apparatus for producing methanol , it is not intended to be limited to the details shown , since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention . without further analysis , the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can , by applying current knowledge , readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that , from the standpoint of prior art , fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention . what is claimed as new and desired to be protected by letters patent is set forth in the appended claims .	2
referring now to the drawings , the boat hoist is intended for erection at dockside , or adjacent a seawall 10 , the water level being indicated at 12 and the bed of the water being seen at 14 . the hoist construction as illustrated in fig1 - 3 comprises a rigid post 16 adapted to be fixed to a seawall 10 and attached to a land anchor 20 by suitable tension connections indicated at 22 . the land anchor may comprise a massive concrete construction buried in the soil and reinforced by metal bars or beams as indicated at 24 . the anchor connection 22 is adjacent the top of the post in position to resist forces tending to move the top of the post outwardly away from the shoreward side . as seen in these figures the lower end of the post may be provided with a pad 26 welded or otherwise fixed to the seawall . in fig4 there is illustrated an alternative construction , in which the lower end of the post is driven as by a pile - driver into the water bed 14 to a depth sufficient to sustain the weight of a boat to be hoisted from the water . in either case , vertically movable on the post 16 is a tubular hoist 30 having a boat cradle 32 of suitable design . if desired , the hoist apparatus may comprise a pair of posts , hoists and cradles in juxtaposition and suitably coordinated for simultaneous operation to engage forward and aft portions of a boat 34 . referring now to fig5 - 8 , details of the hoist construction are shown . the post 16 in this figure is shown as provided at its lower end with pad 26 for attachment to a seawall or the like , but of course as indicated in fig4 it may be pile driven into the bed or bottom below the surface of the water . the bottom end of the post 16 is closed as indicated at 36 . in a practical design of this construction pipe 16 may be of 6 &# 34 ; diameter . telescoped over the post 16 is a tubular hoist which in the above mentioned design is an 8 &# 34 ; diameter pipe having an upper end closure 40 welded to hoist pipe 30 . the weld connection is sufficiently strong to sustain a lifting force required to hoist a boat to a storage position above the water . since the shore connection 22 is located near the upper end of post 16 the hoist 30 must be slotted from its lower end to a height sufficient to receive connection 22 when the hoist is in lowered position . in the practical design referred to , provision is made for 8 &# 39 ; travel of the hoist . the connection 22 is a flat steel plate welded along one edge to the post . the slot in the tubular hoist is seen at 45 . in order to reinforce the slotted portion of the hoist flanges 47 are welded to the outside of the tubular hoist at the sides of the slot and are bolted together as indicated at 48 . bolt 48 are so located that when the tubular hoist is in uppermost position , it is below the anchor connection 22 . within the post 16 is a hydraulic cylinder 41 which preferably rests on bottom closure plate 36 and the cylinder 41 contains a piston rod 42 , the upper end of which engages beneath plate 40 , and serves to lift the hoist when hydraulic fluid is admitted to the cylinder 41 , as by hydraulic line 44 connected to the cylinder below the position occupied by piston 42 when the hoist is in lowered position , by a suitable internal connection , not shown . preferably flanges 47 are also provided with openings so adapted to receive a pin which extends through an opening 52 in the plate 22 forming part of the anchor connection , so that the tubular hoist may be mechanically locked in raised position , and pressure within the cylinder 41 released . it will be apparent that when a heavy boat is hoisted , forces are developed tending to swing the upper end of the tubular hoist outwardly toward the boat cradle side , and at the same time forces are developed tending to swing the lower end of the hoist inwardly away from the boat cradle side . in order to sustain these forces , and at the same time to provide for vertical movement of the tubular hoist with minimum friction , roller bearings are provided . at the top of the post 16 , the plate 37 carries the pairs of brackets 54 , and each pair receives a shaft 56 which supports a roller bearing 58 . the two roller bearings , as best seen in fig6 are spaced circumferentially to engage the inner surface of tubular hoist 30 at opposite sides of and closely adjacent to the slot 45 , when the hoist is raised to a position in which the slot is at the top of post 16 . at the lower end of the tubular hoist , roller bearing means is provided which are engageable with the seaward side of the post 16 . as indicated in fig5 the roller means 60 may be supported by brackets 62 welded to a strut 64 of the cradle structure 32 . preferably , a pair of rollers 60 are provided at opposite sides of bracket 62 , to divide the loading and to ensure stability . alternatively , as seen in fig9 instead of the rollers 58 carried at the top of post 16 and engageable with the interior of the tubular hoist 30 , a roller 70 supported for rotation on brackets 72 may engage directly against the exterior of tubular hoist 30 . the brackets 72 may be fixed to a seawall 10 or suitably rigidly connected to the land - based anchor 20 as for example by being secured to said tension connection . in this case , of course , the connection 22 to the post 16 may be omitted . in fig1 there is illustrated a different mounting means . here bracket plates 80 are welded to the tubular hoist adjacent its bottom end , and the hoist is cut away as indicated at 52 to permit a roller mounted between plates 80 to engage the seaward side of the stationary post . in the event that a single post and tubular hoist is used , the cradle may be elongated in the direction of the length of the boat , and the top of the post may be provided with a pair of shore anchors to provide full stability for the post . from the foregoing , it will be apparent that the boat hoist is characterized particularly by one or more stationary vertical posts , each of which has a tubular hoist which receives the post and which is vertically slidable thereon . the boat cradle which lifts the boat is a cantilever construction extending laterally from the hoist .	1
looking first at fig1 - 3 , there is shown an access system 5 formed in accordance with the present invention . access system 5 generally comprises an erectable proximal isolation barrier 10 and an erectable distal isolation barrier 15 for disposition within the lumen of a vascular structure or other body lumen . erectable proximal isolation barrier 10 and erectable distal isolation barrier 15 are formed so that they can ( i ) initially assume a diametrically - reduced configuration so as to facilitate insertion of access system 5 to a site where a procedure ( e . g ., therapy , diagnosis , exploration , etc .) is to be conducted , and ( ii ) thereafter assume a diametrically - expanded configuration once at the procedure site so as to form a fluid - tight ( occlusive ) seal against the wall of the vascular structure , whereby to isolate a segment of the vascular structure from the remainder of the vascular structure , e . g ., while a procedure is performed . in one preferred form of the invention , proximal isolation barrier 10 and distal isolation barrier 15 have a peripheral surface texture to help ensure that the barriers will maintain their position in the vascular structure once deployed . by way of example but not limitation , such peripheral surface texturing may comprise dimpling , circumferential ribbing , etc . in this respect it will be appreciated that the proximal and distal isolation barriers should remain in place when systolic pressure is present on the outer surfaces of each of the isolation barriers and atmospheric pressure is present within the isolated segment of the vascular structure . furthermore , erectable proximal isolation barrier 10 and erectable distal isolation barrier 15 are formed so that they may be collapsed when desired so as to facilitate removal of access system 5 from the vascular structure , e . g ., at the conclusion of the procedure . by way of example but not limitation , erectable proximal isolation barrier 10 and erectable distal isolation barrier 15 may be formed by inflatable / deflatable balloons , compressible / expandable superelastic shape memory alloy ( e . g ., nitinol ) rings , etc . as a result of this construction , when access system 5 has been deployed at a desired point in a vascular structure or other body lumen , and erectable proximal isolation barrier 10 and erectable distal isolation barrier 15 have been expanded to their sealing condition , access system 5 can isolate a segment of the vascular structure ( i . e ., the portion located between erected proximal isolation barrier 10 and erected distal isolation barrier 15 ) from the remainder of the vascular structure , e . g ., while a procedure is performed . this can be important in a variety of situations , e . g ., where the procedure may dislodge debris which could harm downstream tissue . access system 5 is preferably constructed so that erectable proximal isolation barrier 10 and erectable distal isolation barrier 15 may be diametrically - expanded and diametrically - reduced independently of one another . in other words , access system 5 is preferably constructed so that proximal isolation barrier 10 may be diametrically - expanded or diametrically - reduced regardless of the condition of distal isolation barrier 15 , and vice - versa . where erectable proximal isolation barrier 10 and erectable distal isolation barrier 15 are formed out of an inflatable / deflatable balloon , access system 5 also comprises channels for delivering fluid ( a liquid or a gas ) for inflating / deflating the balloons . by way of example but not limitation , a channel 16 may be provided for inflating the balloon of erectable proximal isolation barrier 10 and a channel 17 may be provided for inflating the balloon of erectable distal isolation barrier 15 . access system 5 further comprises a bypass channel 20 secured to , and extending between and through , proximal isolation barrier 10 and distal isolation barrier 15 . bypass channel 20 comprises a central lumen 25 ( fig3 ) which opens proximal to proximal isolation barrier 10 and distal to distal isolation barrier 15 , whereby to permit flow from one side of access system 5 to the other side of access system 5 . as a result of this construction , when access system 5 is deployed in a vascular structure so as to isolate a segment of the vascular structure from the remainder of the vascular structure , access system 5 can still permit blood to flow uninterrupted through the bypass channel 20 which traverses the isolated segment of the vascular structure . this can be important in a variety of physiologic situations , e . g ., such as where continued blood flow is important for the oxygenation of downstream tissues . in one embodiment , the upstream isolation barrier may be configured so as to channel blood flow into bypass channel 20 . thus , for example , in fig1 , proximal isolation barrier 10 may be configured so as to channel blood flow into bypass channel 20 . by way of example but not limitation , the upstream side of proximal isolation barrier 10 may be formed with a concave ( e . g ., funnel - shaped ) surface surrounding the entrance to bypass channel 20 . thus it will be seen that access system 5 provides both zone isolation ( via proximal isolation barrier 10 and distal isolation barrier 15 ) and distal perfusion ( via bypass channel 20 ). these features can be important in a variety of situations where zone isolation and distal perfusion are both desirable and / or necessary , e . g ., where vascular trauma needs to be temporarily stabilized while the patient is transported to another site for further treatment , where an aneurysm ( e . g ., abdominal or thoracic , iliac or femoral , etc .) is bleeding and / or threatening to rupture , or actually has ruptured , etc . furthermore , it should be appreciated that access system 5 may be used on both the arterial and venous sides of the circulation system . access system 5 further comprises a working catheter 30 which passes through proximal isolation barrier 10 and provides access ( e . g ., for medical instruments including but not limited to cutting instruments , biopsy instruments , closure instruments , material delivery systems , endoscopes , etc ., including for the delivery of adhesives and / or agents for promoting thrombus , gene therapeutic agents , etc .) to the wall of the isolated length of the vascular structure . preferably , working catheter 30 can slide forward and backward through proximal isolation barrier 10 such that working catheter 30 can be positioned anywhere between proximal isolation barrier 10 and distal isolation barrier 15 . additionally , access system 5 is preferably configured so that working catheter 30 can be rotated in order that the distal tip 33 of working catheter 30 can access substantially the entire circumference of the isolated vessel . access system 5 is preferably configured so as to be mountable on a guidewire 35 , so that access system 5 may be delivered to a desired position within the vascular structure . by way of example but not limitation , access system 5 may comprise a guidewire channel 40 mounted to proximal isolation barrier 10 and / or working catheter 30 ( e . g ., proximal to proximal isolation barrier 10 , as shown in fig1 ), such that guidewire 35 may be received within bypass channel 20 and guidewire channel 40 , whereby to permit controlled delivery of access system 5 to a desired location within a vascular structure . in one preferred form of use , and looking now at fig1 - 3 , access system 5 may be used to isolate , bypass and access the wall of a vascular structure . by way of example but not limitation , access system 5 may be used to isolate , bypass and access a lateral aneurysm 45 formed in the wall of a vascular structure 50 . in this case , guidewire 35 is first deployed down vascular structure 50 . then access system 5 , with proximal isolation barrier 10 and distal isolation barrier 15 set in their diametrically - reduced condition , is advanced over the guidewire to a point adjacent to lateral aneurysm 45 . next , proximal isolation barrier 10 and distal isolation barrier 15 are set in their diametrically - expanded condition , so as to conform to , and seal against , the wall of the vascular structure and thereby create an isolation zone 55 which encompasses lateral aneurysm 45 . however , it will be appreciated that blood is still able to flow past the isolation zone ( e . g ., from flow zone 60 to flow zone 65 ) via bypass channel 20 . to the extent that the proximal end of working catheter 30 is open to the atmosphere , blood in the isolation zone may flow out of the isolation zone via the working catheter and be replaced with air . alternatively , the working catheter may be used to introduce another fluid ( e . g ., saline ) into the isolation zone . at this point , instruments may be advanced through working catheter 30 so as to access , and provide therapy to , lateral aneurysm 45 . such instruments may include , but are not limited to , cutting instruments , biopsy instruments , closure instruments , material delivery systems , endoscopes , etc . at the conclusion of the procedure , proximal isolation barrier 10 and distal isolation barrier 15 are set in their diametrically - reduced condition , and then access system 5 is withdrawn along guidewire 35 . finally , guidewire 35 is removed from vascular structure 50 . any debris created in isolation zone 55 during the procedure may be removed by withdrawing blood / debris from isolation zone 55 . in one form of the invention , blood / debris evacuation may be effected by applying suction via working catheter 30 while both proximal isolation barrier 10 and distal isolation barrier 15 remain erected . in another form of the invention , blood / debris evacuation may be effected by first returning proximal isolation barrier 10 to its diametrically - reduced configuration while retaining distal isolation barrier 15 in its diametrically - expanded configuration , then removing blood / debris via suction , and then returning distal isolation barrier 15 to its diametrically - reduced configuration so that access system 5 may be removed from the vascular structure . this latter approach may be particularly applicable to angioplasty in the coronary and / or carotid arteries . fig4 and 5 show an alternative form of access system 5 . the access system shown in fig4 and 5 is substantially the same as the access system shown in fig1 - 3 , except that guidewire channel 40 extends parallel to , but spaced from , bypass channel 20 and bypass channel 20 is positioned diametrically outboard so as to sit proximate to the wall of the vascular structure . if desired , working catheter 30 may be made detachable from the remainder of access system 5 . this feature can be advantageous where longer term isolation of a vascular region is desired , e . g ., for aneurysm embolization , since it allows the relatively large - bore working catheter to be removed , leaving only the zone isolation apparatus and fluid bypass apparatus present in the body lumen . as noted above , proximal isolation barrier 10 and distal isolation barrier 15 are designed so as to be able to assume a diametrically - expanded configuration or a diametrically - reduced configuration . as also noted above , proximal isolation barrier 10 and distal isolation barrier 15 may comprise an inflatable / deflatable balloon or a compressible / expandable ring , etc . in this respect it should be appreciated that where proximal isolation barrier 10 and distal isolation barrier 15 comprise an inflatable / deflatable balloon , the balloon may extend across substantially the entire diameter of the vascular structure . alternatively , the balloon may extend only about the periphery of the diameter of the vascular structure , and a membrane 67 may extend across the interior of the balloon , such as is shown in fig3 . a similar construction may be used where proximal isolation barrier 10 and distal isolation barrier 15 comprise a compressible / expandable ring , e . g ., such as one formed from a superelastic shape memory alloy . again , a membrane may extend across the interior of the ring . fig6 - 9 show an alternative form of access system 5 . the access system shown in fig6 - 9 is substantially the same as the access system shown in fig1 - 3 except that proximal isolation barrier 10 and distal isolation barrier 15 comprise multi - segmented balloons 70 , and working catheter 30 includes an opening 75 connected to the lumen of working catheter 30 . the use of these multi - segmented balloons 70 to form proximal isolation barrier 10 and distal isolation barrier 15 provide a wider , more stable barrier without restricting blood flow through bypass channel 20 . as seen in fig9 , channels 80 may be provided between adjacent balloons so that the interior of the balloons are in communication with one another . fig1 - 12 show an alternative form of access system 5 . the access system shown in fig1 - 12 is substantially the same as the access system shown in fig6 - 9 except that channels 80 may be replaced with holes 85 so that the interior of the balloons are in communication with one another . access system 5 may be deployed in a vascular structure or other body lumen using a delivery catheter . more particularly , and looking next at fig1 , 14 , 14a and 15 - 20 , a delivery catheter 100 comprising a delivery sheath 103 may be provided for advancing access system 5 to a procedure site within a vascular structure ( or other body lumen ), and for erecting access system 5 in the manner previously discussed . furthermore , delivery catheter 100 may be used for advancing instruments down to the procedure site and / or removing debris from the procedure site ( e . g ., a fusiform aortic aneurysm 104 of the type shown in fig1 a ), again in the manner previously discussed . finally , delivery catheter 100 may be used to collapse access system 5 and remove it from the vascular structure ( or other body lumen ). in the case where access system 5 comprises inflatable / deflatable balloons in its proximal isolation barrier and / or distal isolation barrier 15 , delivery catheter 100 may contain one or more fluid supply tubes 105 for inflating / deflating the balloons . it should be appreciated that delivery sheath 103 of delivery catheter 100 may also perform the function of an introducer sheath , in the sense that it can be secured to the exterior tissue of the patient once the delivery catheter is properly positioned . a hemostatic valve 110 , with a side port 115 , is preferably located on the proximal end of the delivery catheter to prevent the loss of blood through the catheter while still allowing the insertion of access system 5 . it should be appreciated that access system 5 can be used to provide a wide range of therapies to vascular structures , e . g ., aneurysm therapy , lesion therapy , infusion therapy , gene therapy , photodynamic therapy , etc . access system 5 may also be used to repair tears , flaps and leaks in a vascular structure . furthermore , it should be also be appreciated that the present invention can be used to access structures other than vascular structures , e . g ., the esophagus , stomach , small or large bowel , ureter , bladder , urethra , bronchus , bile duct , ear , nose , fallopian tube , other tubular or hollow structures within the human body , etc . in essence , the present invention can be advantageously used in substantially any body lumen where isolation , access and / or fluid bypass are desired . additionally , it should be appreciated that the zone which is isolated between the proximal and distal isolation barriers could be of varying lengths , and of various diameters as well . furthermore , many different catheter shapes and sizes may be utilized . without limiting the breadth and scope of the present invention , it is anticipated that the present invention is particularly well suited for treating fusiform aneurysms in the aorta and the larger peripheral blood vessels . furthermore , without limiting the breadth and scope of the present invention , it is anticipated that the present invention is particularly well suited for treating vascular trauma in a variety of situations where zone isolation and distal perfusion are both desirable and / or necessary , e . g ., where vascular trauma needs to be temporarily stabilized while the patient is transported to another site for further treatment . while the present invention has been described in terms of certain exemplary preferred embodiments , it will be readily understood and appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art that it is not so limited , and that many additions , deletions and modifications may be made to the preferred embodiments discussed above while remaining within the scope of the present invention .	0
for purposes of this disclosure , an ihs 100 includes any instrumentality or aggregate of instrumentalities operable to compute , classify , process , transmit , receive , retrieve , originate , switch , store , display , manifest , detect , record , reproduce , handle , or utilize any form of information , intelligence , or data for business , scientific , control , or other purposes . for example , an ihs 100 may be a personal computer , a network storage device , or any other suitable device and may vary in size , shape , performance , functionality , and price . the ihs 100 may include random access memory ( ram ), one or more processing resources such as a central processing unit ( cpu ) or hardware or software control logic , read only memory ( rom ), and / or other types of nonvolatile memory . additional components of the ihs 100 may include one or more disk drives , one or more network ports for communicating with external devices as well as various input and output ( i / o ) devices , such as a keyboard , a mouse , and a video display . the ihs 100 may also include one or more buses operable to transmit communications between the various hardware components . fig1 is a block diagram of one ihs 100 . the ihs 100 includes a processor 102 such as an intel pentium ™ series processor or any other processor available . a memory i / o hub chipset 104 ( comprising one or more integrated circuits ) connects to processor 102 over a front - side bus 106 . memory i / o hub 104 provides the processor 102 with access to a variety of resources . main memory 108 connects to memory i / o hub 104 over a memory or data bus . a graphics processor 110 also connects to memory i / o hub 104 , allowing the graphics processor to communicate , e . g ., with processor 102 and main memory 108 . graphics processor 110 , in turn , provides display signals to a display device 112 via a graphics connectivity 113 . the graphics connectivity 113 may be wired , or wireless and may use vga , high definition , and / or other type of communication to communicate information between the graphics processor 110 of an ihs 100 to the display device 112 . other resources can also be coupled to the system through the memory i / o hub 104 using a data bus , including an optical drive 114 or other removable - media drive , one or more hard disk drives 116 , one or more network interfaces 118 , one or more universal serial bus ( usb ) ports 120 , and a super i / o controller 122 to provide access to user input devices 124 , etc . the ihs 100 may also include a solid state drive ( ssds ) 126 . it is understood that any or all of the drive devices 114 , 116 , and 126 may be located locally with the ihs 100 , located remotely from the ihs 100 , and / or they may be virtual with respect to the ihs 100 . not all ihss 100 include each of the components shown in fig1 , and other components not shown may exist . furthermore , some components shown as separate may exist in an integrated package or be integrated in a common integrated circuit with other components , for example , the processor 102 and the memory i / o hub 104 can be combined together . as can be appreciated , many systems are expandable , and include or can include a variety of components , including redundant or parallel resources . fig2 illustrates an embodiment of a projector image printing system 140 . in an embodiment , the display device ( e . g ., an image projector ) 112 couples with an ihs 100 via a connectivity 113 . as commonly understood in the art , images may be communicated from the ihs 100 to the projector 112 via the connectivity 113 for projecting / displaying . for example , an image may be created , downloaded , or otherwise obtained by the ihs 100 sent to the projector 112 and the projector 112 may then project the image to a screen , wall , or other surface using high intensity lighting . the projector 112 may connect with a network 142 for communicating between components of the network 142 . in an embodiment , the network 142 is a secured network and may only be accessed by authorization . the network 142 may be a wide area network ( wan ), local area network ( lan ), or a personal area network ( pan , e . g ., bluetooth ). the network 142 may connect components of the network 142 by cables or wires or wirelessly . in an example , a presenter may provide the images to be projected using the projector 112 via the presenter &# 39 ; s ihs 100 , but neither the presenter nor the presenter &# 39 ; s ihs 100 may have access to the network 142 . thus , the presenter would not gain access to the network 142 to distribute files of the images or send files of the images to a printer connected to the network 142 . in an embodiment , the projector image printing system 140 includes one or more printers 144 . the projector 112 may communicate with one or more of the printers 144 using a projector / printer communication 146 . in an embodiment , the projector / printer communication 146 may be wan , lan , and / or pan communication . when instructed , the projector 112 may capture the image being projected / displayed by creating an image file relating to the image . in an embodiment , the projector may capture the image similar to using a print screen option on an ihs 100 . however , other methods for capturing the image by the projector 112 may be used . then , the projector 112 may communicate the image file to one or more printers 144 via a communication 146 . after receiving the image file , the printer 144 may then print the image . in an embodiment , the projector 112 may send a single image at a time to the printer 144 and in an embodiment , the projector 112 may send multiple images to the printer 144 . a projector control device 150 controls operations of the projector 112 via a projector control communication 152 . in an embodiment , the projector control communication 152 is wired or otherwise coupled communication and in an embodiment , the projector control communication 152 is wireless communication ( e . g ., infrared ( ir ), ultra high frequency ( uhf ), radio frequency ( rf ), or any other wireless communication ). in an embodiment , the projector control device 150 includes a print button 154 , setup buttons 156 and / or a menu button 158 . the print button 154 instructs the projector 112 to enter a print mode to print the captured image . the setup buttons 156 allow the user to setup printing options ( e . g ., page to print , select printer , printer options , and a variety of other options ). the menu button 158 allows a user to enter setup configurations for the projector 112 . fig3 illustrates a screen shot of an embodiment of a network printer setup screen 170 . thus , if the menu button 158 is pressed , the projector 112 may project / display a setup screen 170 such as , the one shown in fig3 . then , the user may use the setup buttons 156 on the control device 150 to make printer setup selections . for example , the user may select a setup field 172 for the desired printer 144 . in an embodiment , the user may press the up and / or down setup buttons 156 to indicate the desired printer for printing the image from the projector 144 . then , the user may press the enter button in the setup buttons 156 enter the selection into the projector 144 . it is to be understood that other control buttons 154 , 156 , and / or 158 may be used to control operation of printing from the projector 112 to a printer 144 . other setup screens are not shown for simplicity , but should be readily understood by one having ordinary skill in the art . fig4 illustrates an embodiment of a method 180 to add a shared network printer 144 . the method 180 begins at 182 where the projector 112 is coupled with a network 142 . the method then proceeds to block 184 when a user presses a setup button ( e . g ., menu button 158 ) on the control device 150 . the method 180 then proceeds to block 186 when the user selects a printer setup option . then , the method 180 proceeds to block 188 where the method 180 queries whether the projector is connected to a network 142 . the method 180 then proceeds to decision block 190 where the method 180 determines whether the projector 112 is associated with a network 142 . if no , the projector 112 is not associated with a network 142 , the method 180 proceeds to block 192 where the method 180 allows a user to configure the network settings for the projector 112 . after network settings are completed the method 180 returns to block 188 . if yes , the projector 112 is associated with a network 142 in decision block 190 , the method 180 proceeds to decision block 194 where the method 180 determines whether the projector 112 is to auto search for a printer 144 on the network 142 . if no , the projector 112 is not to auto search for a printer 144 , the method 180 proceeds to block 196 where a user may add a printer 144 to a list of available printers 144 for the projector 112 . for example , the user may enter a network address for a printer 144 to the projector 112 . after a printer 144 is added , the method 180 proceeds to decision block 198 where the method 180 determines whether more printers are to be added to a list of available printers 144 for the projector 112 . if no , more printers 144 are not to be added , the method ends at 200 . if yes , the more printers 144 are to be added , the method returns to block 196 . returning now to decision block 194 , if yes , the method 180 is to auto search for a printer 144 , the method 180 proceeds to decision block 202 where the method 180 determines whether a printer 144 is found on the network 142 by the projector 112 . if no , no printer 144 is found on the network 142 , the method 180 proceeds to block 204 . at block 204 , the method 180 informs the user that no printer has been found on the network 142 and then the method 180 ends at 200 . if yes , a printer 144 is found on the network 142 , the method 180 proceeds to block 206 where the user is allowed to select a printer 144 to add to a printer list such as , by using the selection field 172 on the projector print screen 170 . after the user selects a printer 144 , the method 180 ends at 200 . fig5 illustrates an embodiment of a method 212 to print a projected image from a projector 112 . the method 212 starts at 214 where the projector 112 is projecting / displaying an image . the method 212 proceeds to block 216 when a user presses the print button 154 on the control device 150 . the method 212 then proceeds to block 218 where the projected image is converted to an image file capable of being received by a printer 144 and printed . in an embodiment , the image may be converted to an image file similarly to using a print screen button on an ihs , as is commonly understood by one having ordinary skill in the art . the method 212 then proceeds to decision block 220 , where the method 212 determines whether the projector 112 is associated with a network 142 . if no , the projector 112 is not associated with a network 142 , the method 212 proceeds to block 222 where the method 212 informs the user that the projector 112 is not associated with a network 142 and then the method 212 ends at 224 . if yes , the projector 112 is associated with a network 142 , the method 212 proceeds to decision block 226 where the method 212 determines whether there are printers 144 available in a printer list . if no , printers 144 are not available in a printer list , the method 212 proceeds to block 228 where the method 212 informs the user that printers 144 are not available in the printer list and then the method 212 ends at 224 . if yes , printers 144 are available in the printer list , the method 212 proceeds to block 230 where the projector 112 sends the captured image to the preferred or selected printer 144 in the printer list . the method 212 then proceeds to block 232 where the projector 112 projects / displays a dialog box to inform the user that the print image file has been sent to a printer 144 . in summary , an embodiment of the projector image printing system 140 enables direct printing of presentation material projected on a screen using a printer 144 , such as a shared printer 144 . in other words , printing the screen shot using a projector 112 . printing is enabled using a print button 154 on the projector control device 150 without the need of printer driver to be installed on the ihs 100 that is used to make presentation ( e . g ., no interventions are required on the host ihs 100 ( used to make presentation ) to enable the printing ). at the presentation site , the presenter does not have access to the host &# 39 ; s network 142 environment , which may be access controlled . to make presentation , the presenter usually connects his / her ihs 100 to the available projector 112 through a vga or similar connectivity 113 even if the projector 112 is associated with a network 142 . in an embodiment , the projector 112 may communicate with the shared network printer devices 144 via wireless or wired lan ; and connectivity between the projector 112 and remote control 150 may be via ir communication . network settings configuration may be first performed on the projector 112 so that projector 112 is associated with a network 142 and able to communicate with other devices on the same network 132 . depending on the connectivity type such as wireless , wired lan , or others , a predefined network configuration method can be used . to add a printer 144 to the projector &# 39 ; s 112 printer list , a user ( usually a network administrator ) may select the printer setup option , which is provided under a projector setup menu , such as via the menu button 158 . a user may use an auto - search option that will locate shared printers 144 that are available on the same network 142 as projector or input the network address of the printer 144 . after a printer search , available printers 144 are listed as illustrated in fig3 . once a printer 144 is found it is then added to the projector &# 39 ; s printer list . in an embodiment , at any time during the presentation , the user may select the print button 154 on the projector control device 150 to print the projected contents . data projected on the screen may be captured as an image ( e . g ., jpeg or other image format ). the projected captured image may then be sent to a preferred network printer 144 in the projector &# 39 ; s printer list via wired or wireless protocols . the projector image printing system enables easy printing of presentation material . direct printing of presentation material via a projector 112 in an environment different than the presenter &# 39 ; s is possible , even when a presentation in progress although illustrative embodiments have been shown and described , a wide range of modification , change and substitution is contemplated in the foregoing disclosure and in some instances , some features of the embodiments may be employed without a corresponding use of other features . accordingly , it is appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the scope of the embodiments disclosed herein .	6
in all the figures of the drawings , sub -, features and integral parts that correspond to one another bear the same reference symbol . referring now to the drawings in detail and first particularly to fig1 - 12 thereof . fig1 is illustrates the implementation of the infrastructure of the tags / beacons in a mall application according to an embodiment of the present invention , each of the bluetooth / wi - fi tags / beacons ( 102 ) contain the name of the waypoint ( macy &# 39 ; s for example ) and the location of the tags / beacons are known and load in a list with the map of the facility ( 101 ) into the user mobile device ( 100 ), the list allow matching of the tags / beacons signal ( names ) ( 102 ) to the known list loaded with the map ( 101 ) to determine the proximity to the tag / beacon providing accuracy to less than 1 m the tags / beacons ( 102 ) can be install in the area in each location designated as way point store / rest room / special sales special location etc . the user can load the map ( 101 ) at the entrance ( 103 ) or pre load from the internet or other lbs or mapping providers , the beacons can be installed also in the parking area ( 104 ) and with additional sensor to determine existence of the parking car in the parking area can provide the user with parking navigation to empty parking , the user mobile phone ( 100 ) with loaded local map of the facility ( 101 ) that contain the local area list of a known wi - fi or bluetooth beacons / tags ( 102 ) in the area , the mobile phone will use a special indoor navigation application that will allow scanning the exact list of the area rf wi - fi or bluetooth beacons / tags and determine the exact location of the mobile user by proximity to the finding beacons / tag , the tags / beacons ( 102 ) broadcast there id that can be the exact name and the exact location name known location on the map , the mobile device ( 100 ) with the tag / beacon name or id will trigger content delivery from 3rd party over the internet or cellular or a cloud ( 104 ) such providers will now will know the user location and can provide him with the right content additional to the mapping like advertising , sales offer , special deals coupons or other information all trigger by the location determination done by the infrastructure of the tags / beacons , more over it will allow a real time creating of smart shoppers power and real time protected consumer / student / guest / employee environment where a real - time group of real time physically existing people can share like a real “ social networking ” environment for application . like “ face book ” like or create private social environment to include all the exact people in the area / building / cruise ship / mall / store / school close proximity and people that are attached to one of the known list of the local area rf beacons / tags , especially for consumers that can be know now who is in the area and no need for the “ poor man ” navigation method of the “ check - in ” to tell the store / consumers that you are here . now they can know and there is benefit to the user / guest and to the mall / store / hotel / building area owner , the setup of real time physical group can serve as add - on to exiting social network part of ( 106 ). fig2 is a flowchart illustrating of the indoor navigation enable by the infrastructure according to an embodiment of the present invention . referring to fig2 , the user with cell phone ( 200 ) approach a facility / area with a load facility / area map ( 201 ) with a known list of waypoints represented by bluetooth / wi - fi tags installed in the facility / area in a known places . the user mobile phone navigation application will can ( 202 ) the area / facility for the known list of the bluetooth / wi - fi tags / beacons , if tags / beacons was find ( 203 ) and ( 505 ) then the location of the user is determine as proximity to the find and match tag / beacon from the list ( 206 ) scanning is continue if no tags ( 204 ) was found , when found the location is displayed on the loaded map over the mobile phone or bluetooth / wi - fi device ( 207 ) and have the ability to navigate ( 208 ) between way points accuracy is below 1 m and in case of approaching signal from more than one beacon / tags a triangulation method will perform to determine the exact location . the method gives the user the control and the privacy as his cell phone device is the scanner and it scans the area . in reality and the unique method there is no established communication at all as the scan reveille the tags / beacons name ( store or exact location address / name ) or waypoint location like macy &# 39 ; s . without to establish any communication between the tags / beacons and the cellular phones and there is no need for internet , gps , central system or even cellular communication to perform the navigation making it a unique approach compare to other indoor navigation methods . fig3 is a flowchart illustrating of the sales sense marketing option algorithm according to an embodiment of the present invention , referring to fig3 , in the sales sense option method the user input his profile preference in a blue umbrella bluetooth / wi - fi application , the profile can contain gender , age range and sales preference of the user , the information will be encode into the bluetooth naming of the cellular phone as a key ( 301 ), like a car vin #, to provide maximum privacy and secure to the user there is no personal id nor cell number or any information that can reveille the id of the user just information that can set the user preference and sales segments without compromise the user privacy , when the user approach the area / facility with the associated infrastructure of the tags / beacons trigger content delivery / mappings / ad / coupons / specials ( 302 ) that provide the user with the mapping of the facility / area will determine and identify ( 303 ) the user profile based on decoding the bluetooth / wi - fi key naming ( 301 ) and set the sales segment and preference ( 304 ) and accordingly will provide the user with the area / facility mapping and the local content according to the user profile / preference , providing direct and targeted method of delivering local content advertising coupons special sales etc . according to the user location determine by scanning the facility / area ( 202 ) for the known list of tags / beacons and determine the location according to the proximity ( 206 ) to the find tags / beacons , the log of the movements around the facility will provide behavioral sales method to be add to ( 304 ) the sales segment and preference , in a unique part of the disclosed innovation method , not only the disclosed innovation can provide direct content according to user location also can direct and navigate the user ( 208 ) how to reach the place of the special sales , coupons providing a complete and unique approach to indoor navigation where the user own input of profile and preference with the user behavioral , sales habits can be use together for the user and the store / facility benefit to provide the user with direct local content and even navigate him to the places even to the store location isle where the sale special coupons take place and all without compromising the user privacy . fig4 is a flowchart illustrating of sales sense marketing option - user preferences / profile options according to an embodiment of the present invention referring to fig4 , the user can choose preference to be encode as a key into the bluetooth / wi - fi ( 401 ) the options represent ability of the user to become and be benefit of member like of the facility / store / mall by providing additional profile / preference that can assist the area / facility store mall owner to provide the user with more of direct and targeted contents according to the user preference but under user control and all with great attentions to the user privacy , option 1 ( 402 ) is part of the application where the user preference encode as a key into the wi - fi or bluetooth naming in a method that only the sales segment can be reveille and the user may pay fee for the software or receive no incentive ( 403 ), the other option , option 2 ( 404 ) the user provide preference with part of the user bluetooth / wi - fi device id encoding as a key , the user will accepts incentive ( 405 ) for allowing more profile information the incentive can be in a special sales , coupons etc . again , no personal information are exposes and the user is in complete control over the information or the software at all time option 3 ( 406 ) is when the user would like to be register us a member of the store / mall facility to get the full benefit and to be recognize ( again not personal information or any id are exposes ) for example when enter the store / mall / facility with his carryon profile / preference , the user will accepts loyalty incentive for allowing more profile information as a membership ( 407 ), in all the options the user key will be decode at the area / facility and specific relevant content will be deliver to the user cell phone according to the user preference / profile ( 410 ) all under user control and without comprising user privacy . fig5 is a flowchart illustrating of option secure user preferences / profile according to an embodiment of the present invention , the user chose preference / profile to be input and encode into bluetooth / wi - fi naming as a secure key ( 501 ), the user mobile phone with special navigation application scan the proximity area ( 502 ), in the area / facility where the user can trigger receiving the area map or use pre load before access the area , the area / facility map the decoding key will be process ( 503 ) and will set user preference and sales segments , an optional behavioral log ( 504 ) will be add to ( 503 ) to provide profile , preference and behavioral information about the user all under the user control and without reveille the user id or effect his privacy , it is like bringing the web sales into the reality and give the user ability to receive a direct local content according to his preference that will be deliver ( 505 ) to his mobile phone according to his profile / preference , the content / ad or sales / deals offer are deliver by 3rd party using communication method internet or cellular that trigger by the associated infrastructure tags / beacons that determine the location and being pick by the 3rd party for lbs application . fig6 is a flowchart illustrating of the next generation local base services ( lbs ) according to an embodiment of the present invention referring to fig6 , in the proposed business method , the system brings together the user input of profile / preference ( 601 ) plus the user behaviors ( 602 ) in the area / facility / store mall to be integrated into the proposed sales sense marketing method ( 300 ) where a direct and targeted local content ( 603 ), advertising , special sales , coupons etc . can be trigger for pin point deliver to the user according to ( 601 ) user preference and ( 602 ) user behaviors and direct the user and navigate him ( 208 ) to the store area isle where the sales special coupons are , again , the associated infrastructure will provide the trigger mechanism to allow the precise delivery of the right content to the right people at the right time . fig7 is illustrates the user mobile phone with the indoor mapping as part of the mall applications according to an embodiment of the present invention where the user mobile phone ( 100 ) will loaded of the area / facility / building and special indoor navigation application to be ready to explorer the indoor facility . fig8 is illustrates the possible of indoor mall / store application that can be enable by using the associated infrastructure for indoor navigation according to an embodiment of the present invention referring to fig8 , the disclosed innovation provide a complete indoor application to the benefit of the user in a way it is like taking the directory stand and indoor navigation to the user mobile phone ( 100 ), starting with ability to find parking ( 801 ) and the ability to find where the car parked ( return2parking method ) to the mall / store directory isle products ( 802 ) with ability to search and find ( 803 ) and navigate between waypoints indoor ( 804 ) to store and even to sales , specials coupons and special sales events ( 805 ) and important information about the area / facility like rest rooms key area playground kids area and in emergency event provide the user with emergency information alarming and notification directly to the user mobile phone even if other communication method like cellular communication will fail during the emergency the user can be notify and direct to the safety exit via the included nav4emergency method as part of the indoor application ( 807 ) also in case of emergency the user can punch on secure panic button to ask to be located immediately by the authorities . ( 808 ). fig9 is illustrates the mall directory as part of the option of mall applications according to an embodiment of the present invention referring to fig9 , it &# 39 ; s illustrates the indoor application in the user mobile phone as a buttons each represent the indoor programs to be available describe in fig8 , from ( 801 ) parking and return 2 parking , ( 802 ) the directory , ( 803 ) the search and find ( 804 ) represent navigation request between the known way points , ( 805 ) the sales , specials , coupons , ( 806 ) will provide the user with emergency and notification and exit route and emergency procedure that so important to building / area in case of emergency ( 9 / 11 , virginia tech etc .) to a secure panic button ( 807 ) that can trigger locate the user ( like 911 call ) in the area by the security personal and ( 808 ) button provides information and event info . about the area / facility / mall / store . fig1 is illustrates the indoor or lbs application that can be use and be able to provide the users by using the associated indoor infrastructure according to an embodiment of the present invention , referring to fig1 , it &# 39 ; s illustrates the indoor applications that can be use from nay parking to provide parking information in a parking garage or at the mall parking area to provide the user with direct navigation to empty parking ( 1001 ) to provide the user with information where he parked his car in the mall / garage return 2 parking method ( 1001 ), to navrealty ( 1002 ) where the user can received real estate content trigger by their exact location determine by the associated infrastructure bluetooth / wi - fi tags / beacons and navigation method of the local area real estate information directly to the user mobile phone or device , to navmall / store ( 1003 ) that describe in more information in this patent applications to naysale ( 1004 ) where the user can be directed to the special , sales , coupons , and the like , the same method can be use in a museum conference show ( 1005 ) where the tags / beacons installed in a know places in the show conference museum , and the same method can be used in amusements parks such as disneyland , walt disney world , universal studios , six flags , sea world , and the like , where the user can be provided with navigation in an area where gps navigation is inaccurate unable to provide location support and provide with navigation information even tickets and fast pass with accuracy less then 1m directly to the user mobile device and all without requirement of internet bandwidth or even cellular communications or gps , and in emergency event provide the critical information that each user need of emergency procedure , emergency map and how to go to safety ( 1008 ) according to his exact location , the same method can be provided in subway , underground or train bus mass transit where the user can be provided with information directly to his mobile phone trigger by the infrastructure of the beacons / tags installed in the route to give the user complete navigation on the map of the train / subway mass transit directly to the user mobile phone / device without need for bandwidth or internet or cell communication ( 1006 ) all what he need is bluetooth or wi - fi , same infrastructure of wi - fi routers / beacons or blue tooth beacons / tags can be install in a resort / hotel or even cruise ship and enable an lbs indoor applications from navigation to guidance to events information and emergency procedure and information according to the guest location . fig1 is illustrates of the return 2 parking method according to an embodiment of the present invention referring to fig1 , a long range bluetooth or wi - fi with set id with range over 1000 m will be install inside the car ( 1101 ) as a separate device ( 1100 ) or part of the car by manufacture and will broadcast the car id ( vin #) or special id set by the car owner or the car manufacture ( 1102 ) built in the car to provide the signal broadcasting of the car id or the vin number , that car id will be scan by the return2parking application to the user mobile phone ( 100 ) and the scanning result will be display inside a circle represent range ( 1103 ) and ( 1104 ) where each circle represent the range to the car where ( 1105 ) represent the direction to the parked car , the user can find his parking car inside a garage outside an area to the accuracy of less than 1 m directly to his mobile phone ( 100 ) without need for internet bandwidth or even internet or cellular communication . fig1 is illustrates of the nav4emergency according to an embodiment of the present invention , referring to fig1 , show illustrated of part of nav4mergency where the emergency maps and emergency procedure that unique to each facility / building / place / mall / store / company / floor etc . can be display as part of the nav4emergency on the user cell phone ( 100 ) as part of the mapping or emergency map and procedure to show the exit and emergency route in case of emergency ( 1201 ), the same program can provide alarming and notification a very important and critical information for the user anywhere , the information will be provide to the user even if the emergency event the cellular or other communication method will be down or not available as common to any emergency event like 9 / 11 or virginia tech in the disclosed innovation all the critical information from emergency procedure to emergency maps and navigation to the exit to safety are done without need for internet bandwidth or cellular communications at all more over it will provide precise emergency information and procedure according to the exact user location , instead of using the emergency procedure as of today — a paper on a wall , it is suggested moving it to the digital era where and when it can reside on the employee / guest / student / traveler / user mobile phone and being trigger for his right location and the right emergency information / mapping according to his exact location determine by the associated infrastructure . fig1 is illustrates of the scan4life emergency scanning application according to an embodiment of the present invention , referring to fig1 , show illustrated of part of scan4life unique method , that allow the user with mobile device to be track ( only in emergency ) in a location using the unique method where in the drawing example the user ( 1308 ) mobile device with emergency / panic button or in a case of emergency where the user are in an emergency situation inside a building ( 1306 ) and there is no cellular or other communication , the system can use a long range bluetooth or wi - fi yagi antenna ( 1302 ) to scan the area / facility / building / mall / store from long range over 1000 m even from outside of the building and pinpoint ( 1305 ) the exact location of the user .	6
the apparatus for fetal scalp blood sampling schematically illustrated in fig1 through 3 b consists essentially of a tubular - shaped shaft 1 , a blade 2 that can be slid in the axial direction of the shaft 1 and that is mounted in the distal end of the shaft 1 , and a blood collection device 3 positioned on the distal end of the shaft 1 . as can be seen in fig1 b , 3 a , and 3 b , the blade 2 is replaceably mounted in a blade holder 4 , which is mounted in the shaft 1 so that it can slide by means of a positioning mechanism 5 in the axial direction of the shaft 1 . in the illustrated embodiment , the blade holder 4 is configured in jaw - like shape in such a way that the distal end of the blade holder 4 comprises a rigid base body 4 a that contains and stores the blade 2 as well as a cap 4 b that can be rotated with respect to the rigid base body 4 a . in the change - over position shown in fig3 a the blade holder 4 has been pushed by means of the positioning mechanism 5 out of the shaft 1 on the distal side until the cap 4 b of the blade holder 4 can be flapped out from the rigid base body 4 a in order to remove an old blade 2 and to position a new blade 2 in the blade holder 4 . as can be seen in fig1 b , 2 a , 2 b , as well as 3 a and 3 b , the blade 2 is always positioned in the blade holder 4 in such a way that the distal point of the blade 2 extends beyond the distal end of the blade holder 4 . the distance by which the blade 2 extends beyond the distal end of the blade holder 4 corresponds to the depth of incision of the blade 2 during removal of blood . the protrusion of the blade 2 and thus the incision depth of the blade can be adjusted by corresponding positioning of the blade 2 in the blade holder 4 by means of stops in the blade holder 4 . the positioning mechanism 5 , by which the blade holder 4 equipped with the blade 2 can be slid in the axial direction of the shaft 1 inside the shaft 1 , consists in the illustrated embodiment of a push - button 7 that can be slid in a guide track 6 configured in the shaft 1 . as can be seen by juxtaposing the side views and overhead views of fig1 a and 1 c , 2 a and 2 b , and 3 a and 3 b , the guide track 6 is essentially of u - shaped configuration with two limbs running parallel in the axial direction of the shaft 1 , so that the open diameter of the guide track 6 is of enlarged configuration at three points , that is , first at the two free ends , which are distal with respect to the entire instrument , of the parallel limbs of the u - shaped guide track 6 , and then at a bend in the transition from the perpendicular base of the u - shaped guide track 6 to one limb . these three positions with enlarged guide track diameter mark end positions of the blade holder 4 and thus of the blade 2 with respect to its position to the shaft 1 . in the starting position shown in fig1 a through 1 c , the blade holder 4 is inserted by means of the positioning mechanism 5 into the shaft 1 until the blade 2 is completely inside the shaft 1 and no risk of injury can result from the blade 2 protruding on the distal side beyond the blade holder 4 . the corresponding end position of the push - button 7 is the position in the transition from the perpendicular base of the u - shaped guide track 6 to one limb , that is the position of the push - button 7 mounted farthest from the proximal end of the shaft 1 . to be able to conduct the blade holder 4 by axial pushing , on the one hand , into the working position and , on the other hand , into the change - over position , the two parallel limbs of the u - shaped guide track 6 are configured with differing lengths . the blade holder 4 is conducted into the working position by pushing the push - button 7 to the end of the short limb . in this position the blade holder 4 and the point of the blade 2 protrude beyond the distal end of the shaft 1 far enough so that pressing the apparatus against the head skin of the patient leads to insertion of the blade point into the head skin . the change - over position shown in fig3 a and 3 b , in which the push - button 7 of the positioning mechanism 5 is found at the end of the long limb of the u - shaped guide track 6 , differentiates itself from the working position in that the blade holder 4 has clearly been pushed out of the distal end of the shaft 1 by means of the positioning mechanism 5 through the working position until the cap 4 b of the blade holder 4 can be opened to replace the blade 2 . to ensure that the blade holder 4 and thus also the blade 2 are secured in the particular end position and the push - button 7 cannot be pushed accidentally , the contours of the guide track 6 and of the push - button shaft are attuned to one another in such a way that the push - button 7 is positioned in the guide track 6 so that it cannot slide in the various end positions of the blade holder 4 . for this purpose the shaft of the push - button 7 comprises a thickening , which corresponds exactly with the thickening of the guide track diameter in the area of the end positions . in this position , in which the thickened area of the push - button shaft is inserted in the enlarged guide track diameter , mere lateral pushing of the push - button 7 is no longer possible . an additional pushing of the push - button 7 is possible only when the push - button is pressed downward inside the guide track 6 until the thickened area moves out of engagement with the guide track 6 . unintentional actuation of the positioning mechanism 5 is further prevented in that the push - button 7 can be pressed against the force of at least one spring - elastic element 8 into the guide track 6 . this spring force acting on the push - button 6 thus , on the one hand , prevents an unintentional pushing of the push - button 6 by lateral impact and , on the other hand , ensures that the push - button 6 is pre - tensed in the individual slide - proof end positions . as can be seen from fig4 , the spring - elastic element 8 that pre - tenses the push - button 6 is configured in the illustrated embodiment in such a way that the shaft of the push - button 6 is positioned on a base plate 9 , which is supported by two spring elements 10 on a push - pull rod 11 of the positioning mechanism 5 . as can further be seen in particular from the side views in fig1 a , 2 a , and 3 a , the blood collecting apparatus 3 in the illustrated embodiment consists of a capillary tubule 12 that can be exchangeably secured laterally on the distal end of the shaft 1 and that imbibes the blood sample by capillary action . to ensure , even under spatially cramped conditions , that there is sufficient illumination of the operating area at all times , a light conductor 13 is positioned as well in the shaft 1 , said conductor extending as far as the distal end and illuminating the operating area in the immediate vicinity of both the blade 2 and the capillary tubule . the second embodiment of the apparatus for fetal scalp blood sampling , illustrated in fig5 , is distinguished from the previously described embodiment in that the same light conductor 13 or an additional light conductor 13 comprises a light emission aperture 14 , by which the proximal end of the capillary tubule 12 can also be illuminated . this additional illumination of the proximal end of the capillary tubule 12 is advantageous for the user because in this way the operator can determine whether an amount of blood sufficient for the following examinations has been incorporated into the capillary tubule 12 on the strength of the active capillary forces . an apparatus of this configuration for fetal scalp blood sampling is distinguished in that the apparatus is configured as a reusable instrument because of the replaceability of the blade 2 . for this purpose the apparatus should of course be configured with corresponding choice of materials and insulating measures so that the apparatus can be completely dismantled and autoclaved for cleaning purposes . an additional advantage of the present apparatus consists in the fact that the blade 2 can be converted by means of the positioning mechanism 5 into defined and fixable end positions that ensure a high degree of operating safety .	0
bit - serial structure multiplier is usually designed with the lfsr structure . if the lfsr structure is used , it is possible to further reduce the number of gates than an array method , although the delay time increases in proportional to the encryption bits . the present invention improves the lfsr structure and implements a finite field multiplier with a new structure having more efficient circuit area and power consumption than a conventional lfsr structure . the present invention has an advantage on a circuit implementation of elliptic curve cryptography among public - key cryptographies recently widely used for portable type information terminal devices such as smart card , etc . overall circuit size and power consumption can be significantly reduced if the registers of a finite field multiplier are implemented with latches instead of flip - flops . but if shift registers are constructed with latches , data lacing occurs since the latch transfers an input value to an output terminal in accordance with clock levels . therefore , one bit shifting operation cannot be performed at each clock unlike flip - flops . however , the present invention solves the lacing problem of the latch by controlling clock and data shift sequence , and allows a finite field multiplier with the lfsr structure to be implemented with the only latches without using the flip - flops . fig4 is a view illustrating a structure of the serial finite field multiplier with the lfsr structure according to the present invention . in the serial finite field multiplier , the first and second input values a and b of m bits are multiplied , and then a modular operation is performed on the multiplication result by the coefficient p of an irreducible polynomial , thereby generating an m - bit output z . the first shift register 11 transfers the first input value a of m bits to right by one bit in accordance with the first to third clocks clk 1 to clk 3 . the first shift register 11 comprises a plurality of registers a 0 to a m − 1 for storing each bit of the first input value a and shifting the stored value in accordance with the first to third clocks clk 1 to clk 3 , and a plurality of adders 18 connected to each of the registers a 0 to a m − 1 , respectively , for adding the feedback output values of the registers to the output values of the previous registers in accordance with the coefficients p 0 to p m − 1 of an irreducible polynomial . each of the odd numbered registers a 0 , a 2 , a 4 , . . . comprises one latch , and each of the even numbered registers a 1 , a 3 , a 5 , . . . comprises two latches . the second shift register 12 transfers the second input value b of m bits to right by one bit in accordance with the first to third clocks clk 1 to clk 3 . the second shift register 12 comprises a plurality of registers b 0 to b m − 1 for storing each bit of the second input value b and shifting the stored value in accordance with the first to third clocks clk 1 to clk 3 . each of the odd numbered registers b 0 , b 2 , b 4 , . . . comprises one latch , and each of the even numbered registers b 1 , b 3 , b 5 , . . . comprises two latches . the m logic gates g 0 to g m − 1 perform a logic and operation on the first input value a of each bit of the first shift register 11 and the second input value b output from the second shift register 12 , and transfers the result to the output register 12 . the m - bit output register 13 comprises m registers z 0 to z m − 1 . the output value of each logic gate g 0 to g m − 1 is added to the value of each bit of the registers z 0 to z m − 1 in each adder 19 . the generated multiplication result is stored in each of the registers z 0 to z m − 1 . after performing m shift operations on the first input value a and the second input value b , the remaining values of the registers z 0 to z m − 1 become the values of the final multiplication result . in fig4 , the m registers a 0 to a m − 1 and the m registers b 0 to b m − 1 are the registers for storing input values of the multiplier , and the m registers z 0 to z m − 1 are the registers for storing the multiplication results . in addition , the m bits p 0 to p m − 1 indicate the coefficients of the irreducible polynomial . each of the coefficients of the irreducible polynomial implies a feedback . for example , if a coefficient value p 2 is 1 , a feedback occurs and the value of register a 1 is added to the value of a feedback register a m − 1 . the adder 18 is implemented with , for example , xor gates . in a configurable multiplier structure , the coefficient p of the irreducible polynomial is stored in a register and thus it can be used in various polynomial types . however , in the embodiment of the present invention , the coefficient p of the irreducible polynomial is considered to be hard - wired . fig5 is a view illustrating a structure of the first shift register 11 and the second shift register 12 for storing the first input value a and the second input value b , respectively . the registers a 0 to a m − 1 of the first shift register 11 and the registers b 0 to b m − 1 of the second register 12 are constructed in the same way that the odd numbered registers comprise one latch and the even numbered registers comprise two latches . for example , the odd numbered i - th register 14 comprises a latch for receiving data from ( i − 1 )- th register ( not shown ) in accordance with the third clock clk 3 . the even numbered ( i + 1 )- th register 15 comprises the first latch 15 a for receiving data from i - th register 14 in accordance with the second clock clk 2 and the second latch 15 b for receiving data from the first latch 15 a in accordance with the first clock clk 1 . in the same way , the odd numbered , ( i + 2 )- th register 16 comprises a latch for receiving data from the ( i + 1 )- th register 15 in accordance with the third clock clk 3 . the first to third clocks clk 1 to clk 3 , as shown in fig6 , are sequentially generated during the one cycle of the main clock , and the shift register transfers 1 bit of data to right through following steps . the data stored in the first latch 15 a of the even numbered register 15 is transferred to the second latch 15 b in accordance with the first clock clk 1 ( step sft 1 ). the data stored in the latch of the odd numbered register 14 is transferred to the first latch 15 a of the even numbered register 15 in accordance with the second clock clk 2 ( step sft 2 ). the data stored in the second latch 15 b of the even numbered register 15 is transferred to the odd numbered register 16 in accordance with the third clock clk 3 ( step sft 3 ). on the other hand , the m registers z 0 to z m − 1 of the output register 13 comprise one latch 17 as shown in fig7 . each latch 17 receives the input value in accordance with the first clock clk 1 . conventionally , the output register , as shown in fig2 , comprises flip - flops 6 which are constructed with two latches 4 and 5 and stores data at the clock edge . however , in the present invention , as shown in fig7 , the output register is constructed with a single latch 17 utilizing clock levels , and the first clock clk 1 is used . at the third clock clk 3 , the first shift register 11 and the second shift register 12 complete 1 - bit shift operations . therefore , when the first clock clk 1 of the next cycle starts , addition can be performed on the values of the output register 13 and the output of the logic and gate in a stable state at the first clock clk 1 since the output of the logic and gate is in a stable state , as shown in fig4 . with the conventional method utilizing flip - flops , an m - bit finite field multiplier requires a total of 6 × m latches . however , with the present invention utilizing the only latches , a finite field multiplier with a lfsr structure requires 4 × m latches . in conclusion , a finite field multiplier with a lfsr structure according to the present invention can reduce 30 % or more of the area and power consumption in comparison to that according to the conventional method . as described above , the present invention can achieve the following results by constructing the registers with the only latches and controlling clock and data shifting sequence . firstly , in the multiplication circuit necessary for a finite field multiplication with a high order polynomial , power consumption can be minimized and the circuit can be implemented in small area . secondly , in an encryption processor based on an elliptic curve cryptography algorithm , the present invention can be effectively applied to the encryption device a utilizing public - key or an error correction coding device . thirdly , a multiplier which plays the essential role on an encryption processor circuit in an electronic card such as a smart card can be easily implemented . the present invention has been described with reference to a particular embodiment in connection with a particular application . those having ordinary skill in the art and access to the teachings of the present invention will recognize additional modifications and applications within the scope thereof . it is therefore intended by the appended claims to cover any and all such applications , modifications , and embodiments within the scope of the present invention .	6
embodiments of the present invention are explained in detail below . it is of course understood that the present invention is not limited to these embodiments and can be modified within the spirit and scope of the appended claims . copper was deposited by an electrolysis method on a surface of a rolled copper foil having a thickness of 18 μm to prepare a copper foil for a current collector having an uneven surface and having a thickness of 26 μm and a surface roughness ( ra ) of 0 . 6 μm . an amorphous silicon layer was formed by sputtering at a thickness of 5 μm on the current collector . conditions of sputtering were as follows : direct current pulse frequency : 100 khz direct current pulse width : 1856 ns direct current pulse power : 2000 w argon flow rate : 60 sccm gas pressure : 2 ~ 2 . 5 × 10 − 1 pa sputtering time : 146 minutes although a direct current pulse was used for sputtering in this example , direct current or a high frequency can be used for sputtering under similar conditions . lipf 6 was dissolved in a mixture of ethylene carbonate and diethyl carbonate in a ratio of 3 : 7 by volume to a concentration of 1 mol / l to prepare an electrolyte . a beaker cell was prepared as shown in fig2 using the electrode prepared above which was cut to a size of 2 cm × 2 cm as a working electrode . as shown in fig2 , the beaker cell comprises a counter electrode 3 , the working electrode 4 and a reference electrode 5 in an electrolyte 2 in a container 1 . the electrolyte prepared above was used as the electrolyte 2 . a lithium metal was used as the counter electrode 3 and the reference electrode 5 . the beaker cell prepared above was charged at two levels of constant current , i . e ., 2 ma and 1 ma , at 25 ° c . to 0 . 20 v ( vs . li / li + ), then was charged at a constant current of 0 . 4 ma to a potential as shown in table 1 . a state of charge and the potential at the end of charge are shown in table 1 . the state of charge was calculated such that capacity is 100 % when charge is completed to 0 . 00 v ( vs . li / li + ) at the conditions described above . the cell was discharged at three levels of current density , i . e ., 2 ma , 1 ma and 0 . 4 ma , to 2 v ( vs . li / li + ). 18 cycles of such charge and discharge were repeated . a capacity retention rate on the 18 th cycle was calculated as follows and the results are shown in table 1 . capacity retention rate on the 18 th cycle = discharge capacity on the 18 th cycle / discharge capacity on the 1 st cycle reduction of the working electrode is considered charge and oxidation of the working electrode is considered discharge . x - ray diffraction patterns of samples { circle around ( 1 )}˜{ circle around ( 5 )} shown in table 1 were obtained by x - ray diffraction analysis using cu - k α radiation . the chart obtained for each sample is shown in fig1 . the x - ray diffraction analysis was conducted at a charge condition of the first cycle for samples { circle around ( 2 )}˜{ circle around ( 5 )}. in fig1 , ∘ identifies a peak derived from copper which is the current collector . peaks identified by ● in fig1 are similar to an intermetallic compound , li 13 si 4 . therefore , peaks identified by ● are believed to be derived from an intermetallic compound of li — si . a peak identified by ● in a range of 18 ˜ 28 ° is higher as compared to other peaks identified by ●. sample { circle around ( 4 )} had a halo pattern in a range of 18 ˜ 28 °. it is noted from the results shown in table 1 and fig1 that samples { circle around ( 2 )}˜{ circle around ( 4 )} that were charged and discharged at a state of charge at which there are no clear peaks corresponding to a crystalline structure in a range of 18 ˜ 28 ° in the x - ray diffraction pattern have better cycle characteristics as compared to sample { circle around ( 5 )} that was charged and discharged through a state of charge at which peaks corresponding to a crystalline structure were observed in a range of 18 ˜ 28 ° in the x - ray diffraction pattern . samples { circle around ( 2 )} and { circle around ( 3 )} have more improved cycle characteristics than sample { circle around ( 4 )} which was charged and discharged through a state of charge in which a halo pattern was observed in a range of 18 ˜ 28 °. it is believed from the results that a change of structure of the active material can be prevented when the electrode is charged and discharged within a range of state of charge where there are no peaks corresponding to a compound of lithium and silicon observed by x - ray diffraction analysis using cu - k α radiation and that cycle characteristics can be improved . it is believed that when a compound of lithium and silicon is formed , reversibility of occluding and releasing of lithium is partially lost and stress of the active material increases during charge and discharge to cause pulverizing of the active material or falling - off of the active material from the current collector . a single electrode test using the beaker cell was adopted for evaluation in the above example . however , charge and discharge characteristics similar to the above example are obtained in a lithium secondary battery comprising a negative electrode that is the same as the negative electrode used in the above example and using a transition metal oxide , and the like , as a positive active material . therefore , the method of the present invention can improve cycle characteristics of the lithium secondary battery . the present invention improves cycle characteristics of a lithium secondary battery comprising a negative electrode wherein the electrode includes an active material layer containing silicon provided on a current collector .	7
there will be detailed below the preferred embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings . like members are designated by like reference characters . fig2 through fig6 show one example of an electric connection box according to embodiments of the present invention . the electric connection box in the embodiment has a power supply section 7 , a plurality of sub - wire harness connection plates 8 a , 8 b and 8 c , and a connector section 11 . electric wires 4 of sub - wire harnesses 3 a , 3 b and 3 c are put respectively through the sub wire harness connection plates 8 a , 8 b and 8 c correspondingly to the sub - wire harnesses 3 a , 3 b and 3 c so as to be parallel . the sub - wire harness connection plates 8 a , 8 b and 8 c are laminated on the power supply section 7 . a plurality of through connection conductors 9 are passed through the sub - wire harness connection plates 8 a , 8 b and 8 c so as to be electrically connected to the electric wires 4 and connected to terminal sections 10 of the power supply section 7 . as a result , the connector section 11 forms a feed circuit . a plurality of cavities 1 for attaching electric parts such as fuse and relay are provided to one side of the power supply section 7 . a connection plate supporting base section 12 , where the terminal sections 10 for feeding electricity to which the through connection conductors 9 are electrically connected are supported to a supporting face in predetermined arrangement , is provided to the side of the power supply section 7 opposite to the one side . the sub - wire harness connection plates 8 a , 8 b and 8 c are constituted as follows . bare conductors 4 a of the electric wires 4 composing the sub - wire harnesses 3 a , 3 b and 3 c are put respectively through a plurality of electric wire set grooves 14 . the electric wire set grooves 14 are formed on a face of insulating plates 13 so as to be parallel with each other . a plurality of through holes 15 through which the through connection conductors 9 are inserted are formed at bottoms of the electric wire set grooves 14 in their longitudinal direction with predetermined intervals . intermediate connection terminals 16 are set in arbitrary positions in the electric wire set grooves 14 . the intermediate connection terminals 16 have electric wire conductive sections 16 a which are electrically connected to the bare conductors 4 a of the electric wires 4 put through the electric wire set grooves 14 , and through connection conductor connection sections 16 b through and to which the through connection conductors 9 are passed and connected respectively . more specifically , insulating projections 17 are projected between the electric wire set grooves 14 on the faces of the insulating plates 13 . engagement concave sections 14 a , which are connected to the electric wire set grooves 14 so as to compose a part of the electric wire set grooves 14 and are engaged with the through connection conductor connection sections 16 b of the intermediate connection terminals 16 , are formed on side walls of the insulating projections 17 in the longitudinal direction with predetermined intervals . the through holes 15 , through which the through connection conductors 9 are inserted are formed at the bottoms of the engagement concave sections 14 a . in addition , the intermediate connection terminals 16 , which are set in the electric wire set grooves 14 , have electric wire conductive sections 16 a and electric wire holding sections 16 d . the electric wire conductive sections 16 a and the electric wire holding sections 16 d are formed on both sides of one end of bottom plate sections 16 c having breadth corresponding to the width of the electric wire set grooves 14 and predetermined length . these sections 16 d and 16 a rise and are respectively opposed to each other . the electric wires 4 are inserted between the opposed electric wire holding sections 16 d . moreover , through connection conductor connection sections 16 b , through and to which the through connection conductors 9 are passed and connected , are extended from one side on the other side of the bottom plate sections 16 c . conductive projection pieces 16 e , which cut into the inserted electric wires 4 so as to contact with the conductors or press - contact with the bare conductors 4 a so as to be electrically connected , are formed on inner faces of the electric wire conductive sections 16 a . moreover , the electric wire holding sections 16 d hold the electric wires 4 which are bent inward and inserted thereinto . when the bare conductors 4 a of the electric wires 4 are inserted into , the electric wire holding sections 16 d serve also as conductive sections which are conductive with the bare conductors 4 a . the through connection conductor connection sections 16 b , which are extended from one side on the other side of the bottom plate sections 16 c , do not interfere with the through connection conductors 9 which are inserted into the through connection conductor connection sections 16 b and with the electric wires 4 which are inserted between the electric wire conductive sections 16 a and between the electric wire holding sections 16 d . the through connection conductor connection section 16 b are engaged with the engagement concave sections 14 a , which are formed on the side walls of the insulating projections 17 , when the intermediate connection terminals 16 are set in the electric wire set grooves 14 . when the engagement is made , drum holes 16 f of the through connection conductor connection sections 16 b coincide with the through holes 15 which are formed at the bottoms of the engagement concave sections 14 a . moreover elastic pieces 16 g are formed on the through connection conductor connection sections 16 b . when the through connection conductor connection sections 16 b are engaged with the engagement concave sections 14 a , the elastic pieces 16 g elastically contact with the wall faces of the engagement concave section 14 a so as to support the through connection conductor connection sections 16 b . in the intermediate connection terminals 16 of the present embodiment , as shown in fig6 the through connection conductor connection section 16 b is extended from the left side of the bottom plate section 16 c . however , as not shown in the drawings , it can be extended from the right side or both the left and right sides of the bottom plate section 16 c . moreover , the electric wires 4 of the sub - wire harnesses 3 a , 3 b and 3 c , which are set in the electric wire set grooves 14 of the insulating plates 13 composing the sub - wire harness connection plates 8 a , 8 b and 8 c , may be at the terminals or in the middle . the sub - wire harness connection plates 8 a , 8 b and 8 c having such a structure are laminated on the connection plate supporting base section 12 of the power supply section 7 . the connector section 11 is constituted so that the through connection conductors 9 which are composed of long tab terminals are supported to an insulating housing 18 . the through connection conductors 9 are arranged side by side as a group in positions corresponding to the through holes 15 which are formed at the bottoms of the electric wire set grooves 14 of the sub - wire harness connection plates 8 a , 8 b and 8 c . connector housings 19 are provided onto the insulating housing 18 so as to surround the terminals of the through connection conductors 9 forming groups as connection terminals . as shown in fig2 in the electric connection box , the intermediate connection terminals 16 are set in predetermined positions of the electric wire set grooves 14 of the insulating plates 13 , and the bare conductors 4 a of the electric wires 4 composing the sub - wire harnesses 3 a , 3 b and 3 c are put through and held in the sub - wire harness connection plates 8 a , 8 b and 8 c . the sub - wire harness connection plates 8 a , 8 b and 8 c are laminated on the connection plate supporting base section 12 of the power supply section 7 . the through connection conductors 9 of the connector section 11 are inserted respectively through the through holes 15 of the sub - wire harness connection plates 8 a , 8 b and 8 c . the points of the through connection conductors 9 are connected to the terminal sections 10 of the connection plate supporting base section 12 . as a result , the through connection conductors 9 are passed through and press - contact with the through connection conductor connection sections 16 b which exist in the through holes 15 through which the through connection conductors 9 are passed so as to be electrically connected . the through connection conductors 9 are electrically connected with the bare conductors 4 a of the electric wires 4 . further , the through connection conductors 9 are connected to the terminal sections 10 of the power supply section 7 . as a result , a three - dimensional feed circuit is configured on the sub - wire harnesses 3 a , 3 b and 3 c which are put through the sub - wire harness connection plates 8 a , 8 b and 8 c . according to such an electric connection box , when a number of the sub - wire harnesses 3 a , 3 b , 3 c . . . increases , only a number of sub - wire harness connection plates 8 a , 8 b , 8 c . . . to be laminated on the power supply section 7 increases . even if a number of the sub - wire harnesses 3 a , 3 b , 3 c . . . increases , the enlargement of the electric connection box can be suppressed as much as possible . the through connection conductors 9 are electrically connected with the bare conductors 4 a of the plural electric wires 4 put through the laminated sub - wire harness connection plates 8 a , 8 b and 8 c . as a result , even if a number of the sub - wire harnesses 3 a , 3 b and 3 c increases , an increase in a number of the connectors to be used which form the circuit for connecting the sub - wire harnesses 3 a , 3 b and 3 c to the power supply section 7 can be suppressed . further , the circuit is configured on the sub - wire harnesses 3 a , 3 b and 3 c put through the sub - wire harness connection plates 8 a , 8 b and 8 c . for this reason , the productivity of the wire harness is improved , and the cost is lowered . furthermore , as for the circuit , the set position of the intermediate connection terminals 16 in the electric wire set grooves 14 of the insulating plates 13 and the supporting position of the through connection conductors 9 in the insulating housing 18 of the connector section 11 are determined in required positions or are changed . as a result , the change in design such as a modification of the circuit can be executed easily . as shown in fig7 the electric connection box according to a second embodiment has a plurality of sub - wire harness connection plates 8 a , 8 b and 8 c , the connector sections 11 and power supply connection connectors 111 . the electric wires 4 of the sub - wire harnesses 3 a , 3 b and 3 c are put respectively through the sub - wire harness connection plates 8 a , 8 b and 8 c correspondingly so as to be parallel . the sub - wire harness connection plates 8 a , 8 b and 8 c are laminated . a plurality of through connection conductors 9 are passed through the sub - wire harness connection plates 8 a , 8 b and 8 c so as to be electrically connected with the electric wires 4 . as a result , the connector section 11 forms the circuit . the power supply connection connectors 111 are connected to the electric wires 4 of the sub - wire harnesses 3 a , 3 b and 3 c put through the sub - wire harness connection plates 8 a , 8 b and 8 c so as to be connected to the power supply section 7 which is constituted separately . in the present embodiment , the laminated sub - wire harness connection plates 8 a , 8 b and 8 c are sandwiched and held by the connector section 11 and an insulating bottom plate 22 . connection openings 112 to which the power supply connection connectors 111 are connected as well as the cavities 1 for attaching the electric parts such as fuse and relay are provided to the power supply section 7 . the sub - wire harness connection plates 8 a , 8 b and 8 c having such a structure are laminated . the connector section 11 is constituted so that the through connection conductors 9 composed of long tab terminals are supported to the insulating housing 18 . the through connection conductors 9 are arranged as groups side by side in positions corresponding to the through holes 15 formed at the bottoms of the electric wire set grooves 14 of the sub - sire harness connection plates 8 a , 8 b and 8 c . the connector housings 19 are provided to the insulating housing 18 so as to surround the terminal sections of the through connection conductors 9 forming groups as connection terminals . the power supply connection connectors 111 are connected to the electric wires 4 of the sub - wire harnesses 3 a , 3 b and 3 c which are passed through the sub - wire harness connection plates 8 a , 8 b and 8 c so as to be connected with connection electric wires 20 which are extended by an arbitrary length from the sub - sire harness connection plates 8 a , 8 b and 8 c . the connection electric wires 20 are connected to the electric wires 4 of the sub - wire harnesses 3 a , 3 b and 3 c . when the connection electric wires 20 are connected with the electric wires 4 of the sub - wire harnesses 3 a , 3 b and 3 c , as shown in fig8 in the present embodiment , the intermediate connection terminals 16 are used . the terminal sections of the connection electric wires 20 are connected to one end of the bottom plate sections 16 c of the intermediate connection terminals 16 by connection means 21 . the intermediate connection terminals 16 connected with the connection electric wires 20 are set in arbitrary positions of the electric wire set grooves 14 of the insulating plates 13 composing the sub - wire harness connection plates 8 a , 8 b and 8 c . when the electric wires 4 are inserted between the electric wire conductive sections 16 a of the set intermediate connection terminals 16 , or via the through connection conductors 9 which are inserted in to the through connection conductor connection sections 16 b , the connection electric wires 20 are connected to the electric wires 4 of the sub - wire harnesses 3 a , 3 b and 3 c which are passed through the sub - wire harness connection plates 8 a , 8 b and 8 c . in another example of the connection between the connection electric wires 20 and the electric wires 4 of the sub - wire harnesses 3 a , 3 b and 3 c , as not shown in the drawings , 30 the electric wires 4 of the sub - wire harnesses 3 a , 3 b and 3 c set to the sub - wire harness connection plates 8 a , 8 b and 8 c are used and are extended to be drawn out . the drawn - out portions can be used as the connection electric wires 20 . moreover , the electric wires 4 of the sub - wire harnesses 3 a , 3 b and 3 c set in the electric wire set grooves 14 of the insulating plates 13 composing the sub - wire harness connection plates 8 a , 8 b and 8 c may be at the terminal or in the middle . as shown in fig7 in the electric connection box , the intermediate connection terminals 16 are set in predetermined positions of the electric wire set groves 14 of the insulating plates 13 . the bare conductors 4 a of the electric wires 4 composing the sub - wire harnesses 3 a , 3 b and 3 c are put through and held by the sub - wire harness connection plates 8 a , 8 b and 8 c . the sub - wire harnesses connection plates 8 a , 8 b and 8 c are laminated each other . the through connection conductors 9 of the connector section 11 are inserted into the through holes 15 of the sub - wire harness connection plates 8 a , 8 b and 8 c . the through connection conductors 9 are passed through and press - contact with the through connection conductor connections sections 16 b which exist in the through holes 15 so as to be electrically connected . the through connection conductors 9 are electrically connected with the bare conductors 4 a of the electric wires 4 . as a result , a three - dimensional feed circuit is configured on the sub - wire harnesses 3 a , 3 b and 3 c which are put through the sub - wire harness connection plates 8 a , 8 b and 8 c . according to such an electric connection box , when a number of the sub - wire harnesses 3 a , 3 b , 3 c . . . increases , only a number of the laminated sub - wire harness connection plates 8 a , 8 b , 8 c . . . increases . even if a number of the sub - wire harnesses 3 a , 3 b , 3 c . . . increases , the enlargement of the electric connection box can be suppressed as much as possible . the through connection conductors 9 are electrically connected with the bare conductors 4 a of the plural electric wires 4 which are put through the laminated sub - wire harness connection plates 8 a , 8 b and 8 c . as a result , even if a number of the sub - wire harnesses 3 a , 3 b , 3 c . . . increases , an increase in a number of the connectors to be used which are connected to the sub - wire harnesses 3 a , 3 b and 3 c so as to form the circuit can be suppressed . moreover , the circuit is configured on the sub - wire harnesses 3 a , 3 b and 3 c which are put through the sub - wire harness connection plates 8 a , 8 b and 8 c . as a result , the productivity of the wire harnesses is improved , and the cost can be lowered . in addition , as for the circuit , the set position of the intermediate connection terminals 16 in the electric wire set grooves 14 of the insulating plates 13 and the supporting position of the through connection conductors 9 in the insulating housing 18 of the connector section 11 are determined in required positions or are changed . as a result , the change in design such as a modification of the circuit can be executed easily . further , in the electric connection box having such a structure , the power supply section is not provided , and the power supply connection connectors 111 which are connected to the power supply section is provided . as a result of the elimination of the power supply section , the electric connection box can be miniaturized , and the electric connection box and the power supply section can be attached to an automobile separately . as a result of a degree of freedom of the attachment to an automobile increases , and thus the attachment operation becomes easy . the entire contents of japanese patent applications p11 - 212331 ( filed jul . 27 , 1999 ) and japanese patent applications p11 - 212356 ( filed jul . 27 , 1999 ) are incorporated herein by reference . although the invention has been described above by reference to certain embodiments of the invention , the invention is not limited to the embodiments described above . modifications and variations of the embodiments descried above will occur to those skilled in the art , in light of the above teachings . the scope of the invention is defined with reference to the following claims .	1
fig1 shows a block diagram of one embodiment of a camera having an auto - focusing device in accordance with the present invention . numeral 2 denotes an exchangeable lens system mounted on a camera body , and numeral 2d in the lens system denotes an auto - focusing lens system . numeral 2a denotes a connecting system having gears for driving the lens system 2d and coupled to a motor included in a motor circuit 2e , numeral 2b denotes an encoder which functions as a lens position detector for detecting a position of the lens system 2d to produce a position signal representing the lens position , and numeral 2c denotes a microcomputer in the lens which communicates with a microcomputer in the camera through a communication line 3 . sensitivities s 0 , s 1 , s 2 and s 3 are stored in the microcomputer 2c for the respective lens positions and sets of lens positions which are used as addresses and the sensitivities ( s 0 , s 1 , s 2 , s 3 ) are stored in a rom . the address of the rom is designated by the lens position signal from the encoder 2b and the sensitivity at the designated address is communicated to the camera through the line 3 . data which indicates the magnitude of the sensitivity variation ( overlapped operation permission / inhibition inhibition data ) is stored in the rom in the microcomputer 2c as data representing a specific characteristic of the lens . numeral 2e denotes a motor circuit which drives the lens system 2d through the connecting system 2a in response to the lens drive signal from the microcomputer 2c . numeral 1 denotes a camera body which includes a main mirror 1d and a ranging sub - mirror 1e . numeral 1a denotes a sensor device having a pair of ranging sensor arrays for sensing an object image through the mirror systems 1d and 1e and a monitor sensor for controlling an accumulation time , and numeral 1g denotes a microcomputer which receives the image signal from the arrays of the sensor devices and the monitor signal from the monitor sensor through lines 1b and 1c and sends start / end of accumulation signals to the sensor device 1a through a line 1d . the microcomputer 1g contains a program to be described later and performs lens drive amount calculation for a defocus amount and data communication with the microcomputer 2c . fig4 shows a circuit diagram of the lens device and the camera shown in fig1 . numeral 1g denotes a one - chip microcomputer which includes a cpu ( central processing unit ), a rom , a ram an eeprom ( electrically erasable programmable rom ) and an a / d conversion function . it performs camera operations such as automatic exposure control function , automatic focus detection function and film wind - up / rewind function in accordance with a camera sequence program stored in the rom . the eeprom is a kind of non - volatile memory and various control data are written therein during the process . the microcomputer 1g communicates with a peripheral circuit and the lens by communication signals so , si , sclk to control the circuits and the operation of the lens . so denotes a data signal produced by the computer 1g , si denotes a data signal supplied to the computer 1g , and sclk denotes a synchronization signal for the signals so and si . lcm denotes a lens communication buffer circuit which supplies a lens power supply vl to the lens while the camera is in operation , and when a signal clcm from the computer 1g is of high level ( h ), it functions as a communication buffer between the camera and the lens . when the computer 1g sets clcm to &# 34 ; h &# 34 ; and sends predetermined data from so in synchronism with sclk , the buffer circuit lcm outputs buffer signals lck and dcl of sclk and so to the lens through the camera - lens contacts . it also outputs the buffer signal of the signal dlc from the lens as si , and the computer 1g receives the lens data from the si signal in synchronism with sclk . sdr denotes a drive circuit of a focus detection line sensor device sns . it forms 1a of fig1 together with sns . when a signal csdr is &# 34 ; h &# 34 ;, it is selected and controlled by the computer 1g by so , si and sclk . a signal ck is a clock for generating ccd driving clocks φ1 and φ2 , and a signal intend is one for informing the end of accumulation to the computer 1g . an output signal os of the device sns is a time - serial image signal synchronized with the clocks φ1 and φ2 . it is amplified by an amplifier in the sdr and supplied to the computer 1g as an aos signal . the computer 1g receives the aos signal at an analog input terminal , converts it to a digital signal by an internal a / d conversion function in synchronism with ck , and sequentially stores it at predetermined addresses of the ram . sagc which is another output signal of the sns device is an output of an agc control sensor in the sns device . it is supplied to the driver sdr for use in controlling the accumulation of the image signal in the sensors of the sns device . a signal dcl which is supplied to a driver lprs in the lens which functions as the computer 2c in fig1 in synchronism with the signal lck is command data from the camera to the lens 2 . the operation of the lens for the command is predetermined . lprs decodes the command in accordance with a predetermined procedure and controls focusing and discharging and outputs various lens parameters ( open f number , focal distance , sensitivity ( coefficient of defocusing distance vs . drive distance ) etc .) supplied from the output dlc . lmtr is a focusing motor circuit which functions as 2e of fig1 . it is driven by signals lmf and lmr to drive the optical system along the optical axis to focus the lens . the drive amount of the optical system is monitored by pulse signals senc from an encoder circuit enc which comprises a pulse disk which is rotated with the optical system and produces pulses in accordance with the drive distance , and the pulse signals are counted by a counter in lprs . when the predetermined drive is completed , the signals lmf and lmr are rendered &# 34 ; l &# 34 ; to brake the motor lmtr . the encoder 2b comprises a code pattern disk whose surface slides on contacts as the lens system 2d is driven so that it detects the position of the lens system 2d by a range ( d 0 - d 1 , d 1 - d 2 , . . . ) shown in fig5 . fig5 shows a relation between a sensitivity of a lens and a lens position range detected by the encoder 26 , which is stored in the rom in the computer 2c . the sensitivity corresponding to the lens position range detected by the encoder 2b is selected . where the sensitivity of the lens greatly varies with the lens position , characteristic data a which indicates that the sensitivity variation is large is stored in the rom as the lens characteristic . for the lens whose sensitivity does not largely change with the lens position , such lens characteristic data is not stored in the rom . the operation of the embodiment of fig1 ( fig4 ) is now explained with reference to the flow chart of fig2 . by depressing a release button ( not shown ), a switch sw is turned on and a step 1 is started . in a step 2 , communication is made with the microcomputer 2c of the lens system . the characteristic data a for the lens ( overlapped operation permission / inhibition data ) in the rom of the microcomputer 2c is supplied to the microcomputer 1g . based on this data , whether the mounted lens system has a large sensitivity variation or not is determined . if a lens system having a small sensitivity change is mounted , the data a is not read and the process proceeds to step 4 . in the step 4 , the start of accumulation signal for the image signal is sent to the sensor device 1a through the line 1f so that the arrays of the sensor device 1a starts the accumulation of the image signal . in step 5 , the end of accumulation is monitored , and when the accumulation terminates , the process proceeds to step 6 . the end of accumulation is detected by detecting the sagc signal ( fig4 ) and sending the intend signal from sdr to the computer 1g ( fig . 1 ) when the output of sagc reaches a predetermined level . during the accumulation by the sensor device 1a , the microcomputer 1g receives the monitor signal from the monitor sensor through the line 1c , and when the accumulation of the monitor signal reaches the predetermined level , it sends the end of accumulation signal to the sensor device 1a through the line 1d to terminate the accumulation . after the termination of accumulation , the process proceeds to step 6 . when the accumulation is terminated , the image signal is supplied from the sensor arrays to the microcomputer 1g . in step 6 , communication with the microcomputer 2c is made through the line 3 . the microcomputer 2c produces the sensitivity value ( fig5 ) based on the address determined by the position signal from the encoder 2b in accordance with the current lens position , and supplies the sensitivity value to the microcomputer 1g . in step 7 , a defocus amount d is determined based on the image signal stored in the arrays and a lens drive amount v is calculated based on the sensitivity value determined in the step 6 by the following formula . ## equ2 ## where v : lens drive amount in a step 8 , the in - focus state is determined if an absolute value \| d \| of the defocus amount d determined in the step 7 is smaller than a predetermined value c . the process then proceeds to step 10 to terminate the af operation . on the other hand , if the out - of - focus state is determined in the step 8 , the process proceeds to step 9 in which the drive distance v is supplied from the microcomputer 1g to the microcomputer 2c ( lprs in fig4 ) and the lens is driven accordingly by the motor circuit 2e . the lens is driven until the count of the counter in lprs ( fig4 ) which counts the pulse signals senc reaches the drive amount v supplied to lprs . after the drive of the lens has been started in the step 9 , the process returns to the step 2 while the lens is driven , and the above steps are repeated until the in - focus state is detected in the step 8 . in this manner , when the sensitivity variation of the mounted lens is small , the overlapped operation is carried out so that the image signal is accumulated while the lens is being driven . the operation when the sensitivity variation of the mounted lens is large is now explained . in this case , the characteristic data a communicated in the step 2 is read from the rom of the lens and a step 3 is executed . thus , the accumulation of the next image signal is not started until the lens drive by the drive amount v is terminated after the start of the lens drive in the step 9 . the end of lens drive is detected by the end of lens drive signal which is supplied from the lens to the camera when the count in the counter of the lprs circuit reaches the lens drive amount v . the microcomputer 2c monitors the lens drive operation of the motor circuit 2e . when the lens is driven by the drive amount v , it informs the end of the drive to the microcomputer 1g through the line 3 and the process proceeds from the step 3 to the step 4 . in this manner , when the lens system having a large sensitivity variation is mounted , the lens drive during the accumulation of the image signal is inhibited to prevent incorrect calculation of the lens drive distance . in the above embodiment , the decision in the step 2 is made based on the data representing the magnitude of the sensitivity variation which is specific characteristic data stored in the rom of the microcomputer 2c in the lens system . alternatively , since the magnitude of the sensitivity variation is inherent to the individual lens , data representing the type of lens may be supplied to the camera so that whether the step 3 is to be executed or not is determined based on the type of lens . further , instead of informing the magnitude of the sensitivity variation of the lens to the camera by the data communication , a switch may be provided in a lens having a large sensitivity variation so that the large sensitivity variation of the lens is directly informed to the camera by the switch . in the above embodiment , the overlapped operation is permitted or inhibited in accordance with the characteristic of the exchangeable lens . alternatively , where the sensitivity variation increases when an extender is mounted to the lens , the characteristic data a may be stored in a rom in the extender .	6
the invention envisages that the bulk si material is transferred on more than one occasion . it is preferably transferred on at least three occasions . the vessels used are designed for funnel flow . this is understood to mean that , in the course of emptying , the granular polysilicon in the center of the vessel — i . e . the fines — is the first to be drawn off , while predominantly coarse material is discharged toward the end of the emptying . as a result , in contrast to transport containers with mass flow , it is possible to avoid wall abrasion and hence contamination of the granular polysilicon . after a particular number of transfer operations , it is surprising that only slight particle segregation is observed over the production batch . a further reduction in particle segregation is preferably accomplished by means of filling distributor cones which are installed in the inlet of the vessels . such internals are designed to give very low contamination , preferably in silicon . it has been found that , surprisingly , significant segregation is present after the first filling , as described in the prior art . however , if the bulk material is transferred on further occasions , backmixing takes place , so as to result in homogenization of the particle size distribution after a particular number of transfer steps . the result is a granular polysilicon having a homogeneous particle size distribution over the entire production batch , with a deviation in the median particle size of an arbitrary sample from the batch of not more than 30 % from the mean particle size of the entire batch . if required , for a further reduction in particle segregation , filling distributor cones are installed in one or more vessels . these internals are designed to give very low contamination , and are preferably made of silicon . preference is also given to the use of alternative internals such as emptying funnels , emptying tubes and binserts in order to further minimize segregation by backmixing . the internals are manufactured from low - contamination materials such as silicon or are lined or coated with these materials . the number of transfer operations in which maximum homogeneity of backmixing of the batch is established depends on the particle size distribution of the bulk material and the outflow characteristics of the vessel . the optimal number of transfer steps is determined empirically . the best way of empirically determining the transfer steps is by means of a test setup composed of two transport containers arranged one on top of the other . the containers are connected by means of a container emptying and filling station and a pipeline . additionally installed in the pipeline is a sampling station which enables representative sampling . before the first transfer step , the upper container is filled with a test material having a homogeneous particle size . during the transfer operation , samples are taken at regular intervals for the determination of the particle size . with the aid of the results of the particle size measurements , particle segregation is determined . the containers are exchanged before the next experiment : the full container is connected to the emptying station and the empty container to the filling station . particle segregation is restarted . the experiments are repeated until there is maximum homogeneity of particle size over the entire batch . if required , the incorporation of a cone - shaped distributor into the vessels can reduce segregation further . in order that the high - purity si product is not contaminated by these internals , the invention solves this problem with a very low - contamination design , preferably made from silicon . the incorporation of such a distributor reduces the formation of a large cone of bulk material and hence the segregation potential . alternatively , the distributor cone can also be formed from the product itself , in that the formation of a cone of bulk material is enabled on a platform beneath the entry stub . preferably , the silicon particles on which silicon is deposited in order to produce granular polysilicon are also transferred by means of vessels designed for funnel flow on more than one occasion between the production of the silicon particles by grinding and supply of the silicon particles to the reactor . these silicon particles too , i . e . the seed particles in the deposition process , have bulk material properties . for the process for producing granular polysilicon , it is advantageous when the seed particles have a homogeneous particle size distribution . such a process for producing polycrystalline silicon granules in a fluidized bed reactor , comprising fluidization of silicon seed particles by means of a gas flow in a fluidized bed which is heated by means of a heating apparatus , with deposition of elemental silicon at the hot seed particle surfaces by means of pyrolysis through addition of a silicon - containing reaction gas , which gives rise to the polycrystalline silicon granules , can be operated continuously by removing particles that have grown in diameter as a result of deposition from the reactor and metering in fresh seed particles . the temperature of the fluidized bed in the reaction region is preferably from 850 ° c . to 1100 ° c ., more preferably from 900 ° c . to 1050 ° c ., most preferably from 920 ° c . to 970 ° c . for the fluidization of the seed particles , preference is given to using hydrogen . the reaction gas is injected into the fluidized bed by means of one or more nozzles . the local gas velocities at the exit of the nozzles are preferably 0 . 5 to 200 m / s . the concentration of the silicon - containing reaction gas , based on the total gas volume flowing through the fluidized bed , is preferably 10 mol % to 50 mol %, more preferably 15 mol % to 40 mol %. the concentration of the silicon - containing reaction gas in the reaction gas nozzles is , based on the total gas volume flowing through the reaction gas nozzles , preferably 20 mol % to 80 mol %, more preferably 30 mol % to 60 mol %. the silicon - containing reaction gas used is preferably trichlorosilane . the reactor pressure varies within the range from 0 to 7 bar gauge , preferably within the range of 0 . 5 to 4 . 5 bar gauge . in the case of a reactor having a diameter of , for example , 400 mm , the mass flow rate of trichlorosilane is preferably 200 to 400 kg / h . the volume flow rate of hydrogen is preferably 100 to 300 m 3 ( stp )/ h . for larger reactors , higher amounts of tcs and h 2 are preferred . the person skilled in the art will appreciate that some process parameters are ideally selected as a function of the reactor size . the reactor heating output , seed particle metering rate and bed weight are preferably higher than the aforementioned values in the case of larger reactors , for example in the case of a reactor of diameter 800 mm . in order to illustrate this , there follows a summary of the ranges of the operating data normalized to the cross - sectional reactor area in which the process described in the context of this invention is viable . the specific mass flow rate of trichlorosilane is preferably 1600 - 5500 kg /( h * m2 ). the specific volume flow rate of hydrogen is preferably 800 - 4000 m 3 ( stp )/( h * m 2 ). the specific metering rate of seed particles is preferably 8 - 25 kg /( h * m 2 ). the specific reactor heating output is preferably 800 - 3000 kw / m 2 . the mean diameter of the silicon particles ( seed particles ) is preferably at least 400 μm . the granular polysilicon preferably has particle sizes of 150 - 10 , 000 μm , where a mass - based median particle size distribution is 850 - 2000 μm . the residence time of the reaction gas in the fluidized bed is preferably 0 . 1 to 10 s , more preferably 0 . 2 to 5 s . fig1 shows that the granules are withdrawn from the reactor 10 and transferred into a buffer vessel 11 . they are then transferred into a transport container 12 and transported to the screening facility 13 . they are then transferred again into a buffer vessel 14 and finally packed 15 . the transfer from buffer vessel 11 to transport container 12 corresponds to the first transfer 1 . the transfer from transport container to buffer vessel ( via a screening facility ) corresponds to the second transfer 2 . the transfer from buffer vessel to the packing facility corresponds to the third transfer 3 . fig2 - 5 show the particle segregation at the start ( first buffer vessel after withdrawal from the reactor , fig2 ) and after each of the three transfer operations . the segregation is illustrated using the plot of the particle parameters x10 , x50 ( median ) and x90 as a function of the amount of bulk si material drawn off . on the basis of the results found , the layers of coarse material ( shaded with large symbols ) and fine material ( shaded with small symbols ) are shown in fig1 . after the first transfer 1 , significant particle segregation is present ; see fig3 . the plot of the median ( x50 ) begins at 980 μm . up to a discharged amount of 320 kg , the value falls to 670 μm . thereafter , the value rises to 1300 μm up to about 880 kg of the amount drawn off , before declining to about 720 μm at a further 60 kg . after the second transfer 2 , particle segregation is already less marked ; see fig4 . the median falls from initially almost 840 to 650 μm after about 160 kg of the amount has been drawn off . within the 300 kg which then follow , the median rises again very significantly to more than 1100 μm . from 460 kg , the median decreases to about 790 μm . in the remaining 150 kg , the median rises once again to more than 920 μm . after the third transfer 3 , a relatively homogeneous particle distribution over the entire batch is present ; see fig5 . after 100 kg , the median declines only slightly from 820 to 740 μm , after which there is a rise in the 220 kg which follow to about 1000 μm . by 500 kg , the value drops to 900 μm and , by 700 kg , rises to more than 1100 μm . in the remaining volume of si , it decreases again and reaches a value of about 700 μm . through the funnel flow in the vessels , in which the material in the center of the vessel is the first to flow out , the upper coarse layer comes in about the middle of the transfer operation out of the vessel . since the coarse and fine particles mix again , there is apparently partial backmixing of the production batch .	1
with continuing attention to the drawings wherein applied reference numerals indicate parts similarly hereinafter identified , fig1 illustrates a geothermal heat pump system utilizing a vertical in - ground conduit system . heat exchange fluid circulating through heat pump 2 moves through underground pipe 4 , circulates through u - shaped pipe 6 , moves up through underground pipe 8 and returns to heat pump 2 . underground pipes 4 and 8 , along with u - shaped pipe 6 , form in - ground conduit system 3 . typically underground pipes 4 and 8 will be straight , substantially parallel to each other and have a vertical or slanted orientation , preferably a vertical orientation . during the heating cycle , the heat transfer fluid absorbs heat from the earth 28 during its circulation through the in - ground conduit system 3 and returns to the heat pump where the heat pump compresses the warm heat transfer fluid to a higher temperature , extracts the heat from it , and distributes the heat extracted through conventional duct systems in the building 10 . during the cooling cycle , heat transfer fluid circulating through in - ground conduit system 3 ejects heat which is absorbed by the earth 28 . the cooled heat transfer fluid then returns to the heat pump to pick up more heat removed from the building 10 . fig1 illustrates an example of a geothermal heat pump system using a single vertical ground loop for simplicity . however , most systems use more than one vertical loop , usually one loop for each ton of air conditioning capacity is used . the multiple loops are fused in parallel to a header pipe carrying the heat transfer fluid to and from the building . alternately , systems can be arranged to use a slanted in - ground conduit system rather than a vertical in - ground conduit system . with both the vertical and slanted in - ground conduit system difficulties arise installing the pipe because of the tendency of the pipe to move upward . typically , this problem is encountered during installation when the weights , which were used to place the in - ground conduit system into the drilled hole , are taken out of the hole . at that time , the pipe has a tendency to move upward with the weights as they are being removed . the present invention solves this problem by utilizing wing members attached to the in - ground conduit system of slanted or vertical pipes . turning now to fig2 - 5 , an embodiment of the present invention utilizing a pair wing members in accordance with the invention can be seen . in fig2 - 4 , u - bend fitting 12 can be seen . u - bend fitting 12 comprises u - shaped pipe 6 , mounting bracket 14 and wing members 16 and 18 . mounting bracket 14 has a hole 20 ( fig4 ). the bracket 14 is positioned on u - shaped pipe 6 such that the hole is in the area of the vertex of the u - shaped pipe 6 . mounting bracket 14 can be attached to the u - shaped pipe 6 after it has been molded or , preferably , mounting bracket 14 is molded as an integral part of the u - shaped pipe 6 . wing members 16 and 18 are formed from a single length of material such as a suitable relatively small diameter plastic pipe . although wing members 16 and 18 can be formed from any suitable material and can be separate pieces attached at hole 20 , they are illustrated as being formed from a single length of material , shown as a tube . while the material forming wing members 16 and 18 can be any suitable material which is resilient enough to allow the in - ground conduit system to be lowered into a well hole and yet strong enough to prevent upward movement of the conduit system , as described below , it is presently preferred to use polyethylene as the material . the length of material is inserted into hole 20 provided in mounting bracket 14 . after the length of the material is centered within the hole the length of material is bent until it crimps on both sides of the u - bend . this locks the material into mounting bracket 14 . referring now to fig5 u - bend fitting 12 is attached to underground pipe 4 at end 22 of u - shaped pipe 6 . similarly , end 24 of u - shaped pipe 6 is connected to underground pipe 8 . the u - shaped pipe 6 is connected to underground pipes 4 and 8 so as to allow fluid flow communication such that the underground pipes along with the u - shaped pipe 6 accommodate a continuous loop for the fluid flow . wing members 16 and 14 are positioned so that they point outward and upward from in - ground conduit system 3 . thus , when the pipe is being lowered into hole 26 , the wing members will flex upwards to allow in - ground conduit system 3 to enter the hole and be lowered therein . however , when upward pressure is applied , wing members 14 and 16 will catch on the sides of the bore - hole coming into contact with the ground 28 and thus resisting the in - ground conduit system 3 from moving upward . fig6 illustrates a second embodiment of an apparatus according to the invention . in fig6 wing members 14 and 16 are mounted onto underground pipe 4 . wing members 14 and 16 can be mounted onto pipe 4 by any suitable method . wing members 14 and 16 are positioned so that they flex toward the conduit loop when in - ground conduit system 3 is being lowered down into hole 26 and then contact the ground so as to resist upward movement of the pipe . changes may be made in the instruction , combination and arrangement of parts or elements as heretofore set forth in the specification and as shown in the drawings without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention , as defined in the following claims .	4
a method for stretching a damper wire of the present invention will be explained , making reference to the drawings . fig1 ( a ) and fig1 ( b ) show an embodiment of a method for stretching a damper wire of the present invention . fig1 ( a ) is a plan view showing a method for forming a damper assembly . fig1 ( b ) is a sectional view showing a method for welding a damper spring onto a frame of an aperture grill of a cathode ray tube ( sometimes referred to as a b - member ). fig2 ( a ) is a perspective view showing a damper assembly . fig2 ( b ) is a sectional view showing a damper assembly . fig3 is a plan view showing the state slightly before the damper springs of a damper assembly are each welded into place . first , a method for forming a damper assembly will be described with reference to fig1 ( a ). a number of damper springs 2 ( each being previously formed to a predetermined shape ) used for a damper assembly are contained in magazines 1 . two damper springs 2 are each removed from respective magazines 1 and are positioned perpendicular to the magazines 1 . the damper springs 2 are held in position by suitable means well known to those in the art . a damper wire 5 wound around a damper wire reel 4 is provided adjacent the position of the damper springs 2 and shown on the right side of fig1 ( a ). the damper wire 5 is drawn by a wire clamper 6 while being regulated in tension by a tension regulator ( not shown in fig1 but fully described later ). the wire clamper 6 is movable between the two positions shown in fig1 ( a ) ( one position shown by the solid line and the other by the broken line ). the wire clamper 6 draws the damper wire 5 to the position shown in fig1 ( a ), so that the damper wire 5 extends between the two positioned damper springs 2 . the damper wire 5 is pressed against the two damper springs 2 in conventional fashion at two points a of fig1 ( a ). the two points a are located slightly outward from positions where the two damper springs 2 are to be welded . a ribbon suitable for welding 8 , wound around a pair of ribbon reels 7 is drawn by a ribbon clamper 9 . the leading edge of the ribbon 8 covers the portion where the damper spring 2 is to be welded . fig1 ( a ) shows a section of the ribbon 8 already welded to the damper springs 2 . welding takes place while the damper wire 5 is held between the damper spring 2 and the ribbon 8 ; the leading edge of the ribbon 8 being seam - welded to the damper spring 2 at the position where the damper wire 5 is held between the ribbon 8 and the damper spring 2 . as a result , both ends of the damper wire 5 are fixed between a pair of the damper springs 2 . thereafter , each of the ribbons 8 is cut at a predetermined position using a cutter which is also part of the ribbon clamper 9 ( reference numeral 9a designates an upper cutting edge and 9b is a lower cutting edge ). the excess damper wire 5 is also cut . in particular , the wire clamper 6 draws the excess portion of the damper wire 5 projecting from the left damper spring 2 in fig1 ( a ) obliquely and upwardly to cut the excess portion of the damper wire 5 . after the cutting , the wire clamper 6 releases the damper wire 5 . the excess portion of the damper wire 5 is sucked into a refuse containing bag 10 by vacuum suction . the wire clamper 6 is returned to the position to the right damper spring 2 in fig1 ( a ), as shown by the two - dotted lines , and clamps the damper wire 5 . the wire clamper 6 draws the excess portion of the damper wire 5 projecting from the right damper spring 2 obliquely and upwardly to cut it . a damper assembly shown in fig2 is thus completed . the damper assembly is carried from a damper assembly forming apparatus to an aperture grill ( ag ) 11 ( fig1 ( b )) positioned in a damper assembly welding apparatus . fig5 shows a damper assembly carrying mechanism 17 , while fig4 shows a representation of the interaction between the damper assembly forming apparatus 15 , the damper assembly carrying mechanism 17 and the damper assembly welding apparatus 16 . each damper spring 2 is welded onto upstanding portions of a frame ( or a so - called b member ) 12 of an aperture grill as shown in fig1 ( b ). as shown , the damper spring 2 is positioned to be substantially perpendicular to the surface of the aperture grill , and the inside of the damper spring 2 is positioned by a positioning means 13 . the damper spring 2 is welded at two points to the frame 12 by spot - welding . reference numeral 14 shows a welding electrode . after the completion of welding , the positioning of the damper spring 2 by the positioning means 13 is released . the stretching of the damper wire is thus completed . according to the above method of stretching a damper wire , a pair of damper springs 2 are positioned apart a predetermined interval . a damper wire 5 is located by a wire clamper 6 in such a manner as to span the two damper springs 2 . the damper wire 5 is pressed down against the damper springs 2 . consequently , the damper wire 5 is positioned between a pair of the damper springs 2 . then , the damper wire 5 is fixed between the damper spring 2 and a ribbon 8 by seam - welding . next , each of the ribbons 8 is cut at a predetermined length . further , the portion of the wire projecting from each of the damper springs is cut . accordingly , there can be obtained a damper assembly in which each end of the damper wire 5 is held between the damper spring 2 and the ribbon 8 by seam - welding . this is shown in fig2 ( a ) and 2 ( b ). the stretching of the damper wire 5 may be performed for the aperture grill before or after a fluorescent screen is formed on the aperture grill . in the case where the stretching of the damper wire is performed for the aperture grill before a fluorescent screen is formed , the aperture grill on which the damper wire is stretched acts as a mask upon exposure required for formation of a fluorescent screen ( formation of carbon stripe , and fluorescent film stripe ). accordingly , there occurs a problem that a shadow due to the damper wire is created , that is , the damper wire is patterned on the fluorescent screen . however , by proceeding in such fashion , there is an advantage that the damper wire prevents the grill tape of the aperture grill from vibrating upon exposure . this prevents the formation of the fluorescent screen from being obstructed by vibration of the grill tape of the aperture grill . at present , it is common that the stretching of the damper wire be performed after a fluorescent screen is formed ; particularly with respect to forming a fluorescent screen for a large size cathode ray tube and / or a high , precise cathode ray tube used as a display for a business computer . fig4 is a schematic plan view of a damper wire stretching apparatus for automatically performing the above - described method for stretching a damper wire . the damper wire stretching apparatus has a damper assembly forming apparatus 15 for automatically forming a damper assembly , a dan : per assembly welding apparatus 16 for automatically positioning an aperture grill 11 and welding damper springs 2 onto a frame member 12 of the aperture grill , and a damper assembly carrying mechanism 17 for automatically carrying a damper assembly from the damper assembly forming apparatus 15 to the damper assembly welding apparatus 16 . in the damper stretching apparatus , the damper assembly forming apparatus 15 and the damper assembly welding apparatus 16 are disposed so as to be close to each other , and further the damper assembly carrying mechanism 17 for carrying a damper assembly is disposed between the damper assembly forming apparatus 15 and the damper assembly welding apparatus 16 . as a result , the entire process of stretching of a damper wire can be performed automatically . fig5 is a plan view of the damper carrying mechanism . a carrying plate 18 is guided through a pair of linear bushings 20 by a pair of guides 19 between the damper assembly forming apparatus 15 and the damper assembly welding apparatus 16 ( fig4 ). an air cylinder 21 is used for carrying the carrying plate 18 . a lift plate 22 is mounted on the lower side of the carrying plate 18 , which rises and falls . vertical guides 23 guide the lift plate 22 vertically . a lifting cylinder 24 drives the lift plate 22 vertically . a damper spring attracting portion 25 is mounted on the lift plate 22 , and functions to attract the damper springs 2 of the damper assembly by magnets contained therein . moreover , a finger and an air cylinder ( not shown ) are provided for changing the direction of the damper springs 2 by 90 °. specifically , the direction of the damper springs 2 that have completed seam - welding ( fig1 ( a )) is changed so as to make possible spot - welding ( fig1 ( b )) when the damper springs 2 are spot - welded to the frame member 12 . after completing the formation of the damper assembly , the damper assembly carrying mechanism 17 moves the carrying plate 18 over the damper assembly , and lowers the lift plate 22 via lifting cylinder 24 . this allows the damper spring attracting portion 25 to attract the damper springs 2 at each end of the damper assembly by magnets . the lift plate 22 is lifted by the lifting cylinder 24 , and the carrying plate 18 is carried up to the position of the damper welding apparatus 16 where the damper wire is to be stretched on the aperture grill 11 . after that , the lift plate 22 is lowered , and the direction of the damper spring 2 is changed by the cylinder of the damper spring attracting portion 25 so that the damper spring 2 faces the frame member 12 . in such a state , the damper springs 2 are welded onto the frame member 12 . additionally , in the damper stretching apparatus of the present invention , where two damper wires are stretched onto one aperture grill , the stretching action of a damper wire for one aperture grill may be repeated two times ; and where three damper wires are stretched , the above action may be repeated three times . to improve the efficiency in stretching a plurality of damper wires , two of the damper assembly forming apparatus 15 ( fig4 ) may be provided to form damper assemblies at the same time . fig6 is a plan view of a tension regulator used for a damper wire 5 . as described above , the damper wire 5 is drawn from the damper wire reel 4 ( see fig1 ( a )) by the wire clamper 6 . at this time , it is undesirable that the tension of the damper wire be weak or excessively strong . accordingly , the tension of the damper wire 5 is required to be kept substantially a constant value . the regulator in fig6 is intended to keep the tension of the damper wire substantially a constant value . in fig6 the damper wire reel 4 is rotatively provided on a surface of a base 35 . the rotational shaft of the damper wire reel 4 is directly connected ( or connected through a gear ) to the rotational shaft of a normally reversibly rotatable dc motor 26 provided on the rear surface of the base 25 . there are provided a fixed idler gear 27 , an arm 28 fixed at one end to a rotational shaft of a potentiometer 29 , an idler gear 30 provided at the vicinity of the other end of the arm 28 and fixed idler gears 31 and 32 . the damper wire 5 is drawn while being guided by the idler gears 27 , 30 , 31 and 32 . a spring 31 energizes the arm 28 counterclockwise in fig6 . a photosensor 33 detects the breakage of the damper wire 5 . when the damper wire 5 is broken , the arm 28 is energized by the spring 31 and is turned counterclockwise in the direction shown by the two - dotted line . at this time , the leading edge of the arm 28 shields the optical path of the photosensor 33 . the breakage of the damper wire 5 is judged on the basis of the shielding of the optical path of the photosensor 33 , and an alarm is generated . a potentiometer 29 converts a turning angle of the arm 28 into a resistance value . as a result , a motor 26 is controlled on the basis of the signal changed according to the resistance value . in the case where the tension of the damper wire 5 is excessively strong , the arm 28 is turned clockwise over the reference point . at this time , the motor 26 is rotated in the direction of feeding the damper wire or increases the rotational speed in this direction . on the other hand , in the case where the tension of the damper wire 5 is weak , the motor 26 is rotated in the direction of drawing the damper wire . accordingly , the tension of the damper wire 5 is always kept at a constant value . the present invention makes it easy to attach a stretched damper wire on an aperture grill of a cathode ray tube . further , a stretched damper wire is automatically attached to an aperture grill of a cathode ray tube by the present invention . thus it is apparent that in accordance with the present invention , a method and apparatus that fully satisfies the objectives , aims and advantages is set forth above . while the invention has been described in conjunction with specific embodiments , it is evident that many alternatives , modifications , permutations and variations will become apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the foregoing description . accordingly , it is intended that the present invention embrace all such alternatives , modifications and variations as fall within the scope of the appended claims .	7
referring to fig1 therein depicted is a cross - sectional view of an apparatus 10 including an enclosure 12 connected to air blower 14 at feed pipe 16 . a suitable air blower 14 is available as model number vb - 004b - 000 ( ¾ hp ) from spencer turbine company ( hartford , conn .). enclosure 12 houses a green filter 30 having a honeycomb structure body 32 composed of a ceramic material and a plurality of parallel end - plugged cell channels 34 a , 34 b traversing the body 32 from an inlet end 36 to an outlet end 38 thereof . cell channels 34 a , 34 b are preferably plugged in a checkered pattern such that every other cell channel 34 a , 34 b has a plug 40 only at one of the inlet end 36 or outlet end 38 . green filter 30 is preferably made of a material which upon being subjected to firing in a furnace undergoes transformation to substantially a cordierite phase , as known in the art . green filter 30 is removably mounted in enclosure 12 with inlet end 36 downwardly . consequently , outlet end 38 of honeycomb body 32 faces upward and out of enclosure 12 . although suitable for filters of any geometry , the present invention is particularly useful for detection of integrity leakage defects for structures having a cell density of 200 cpsi ( cells per square inch ) and higher . a heat sensitive covering 18 is secured over the outlet end 38 with , for example , an adhesive tape . a preferred heat sensitive covering , in the practice of the present invention , is a temperature sensitive liquid crystal film available from edmund industrial optics ( barrington , n . j .). the heat sensitive covering 18 is heated by a heat source 20 , preferably a 120 w lamp , to a temperature of about 25 - 30 ° c . in this way when the air which is at room temperature ( i . e ., about 22 ° c .) exits the cell channels 34 b which are open at outlet end 38 and strikes the heated covering 18 , an imprint or mark is formed indicating a temperature change thereat . although the heat sensitive covering 18 is shown to be in direct contact with outlet end 38 , it is envisioned that the heat sensitive covering 18 may be positioned in close proximity but not in direct contact with outlet end 38 , and still be suitable to function . heat source 20 is adjacent heat sensitive covering 18 , at a distance of about 10 in . to 15 in . therefrom , preferably at 13 in . air having a pressure of about 1 to 15 psi ( pounds per square inch ) passes from air blower 14 through feed pipe 16 to enclosure 12 and into honeycomb filter body 32 through open cell channels 34 a at inlet end 36 . it has been found that at higher air pressures , smaller leakage defects can be detected . therefore , preferably the air pressure is maintained at about 10 to 15 psi . referring now to fig2 in the case where integrity leakage defects 31 exist in the green filter honeycomb body 32 , the air represented by arrows 35 will move through these defects 31 from the cell channels 34 a which are open at inlet end 36 into neighboring cell channels 34 b which are open at outlet end 38 to exit the honeycomb structure 32 thereat . once exited , the air strikes the heat sensitive covering 18 leaving a figure of imprints thereat . as previously described the imprints are a result of a temperature change , i . e ., the room temperature air impacting the warm heat sensitive covering . the heat sensitive covering 18 is then analyzed to look for these imprints , and determine therefrom the number and location of integrity leakage defects in the structure . typically , the size of the imprints can be correlated to the size of the integrity leakage defect . accordingly , it is envisioned that a size profile may be generated from multiple runs at various air pressures , i . e ., the air pressure is varied incrementally and successive sets of imprints are generated . it is also envisioned that the steps of inspecting the heat sensitive covering and detecting integrity leakage defects will be automated for increased efficiency with an image analyzer as known in the art . specifically , the image analyzer which generally consists of a television camera or another optical device would be first used to scan the outlet end of the honeycomb structure and generate a first set of signals indicating the location of the cell channels . then , the heat sensitive covering would be scanned to generated a second set of signals indicating the location of any imprints . from these two sets of data , a microprocessor ( i . e ., a personal computer ) is then used to associate the location of the imprints with the location of the corresponding cell channels containing the integrity leakage defects . it is still further envisioned , that airflow at the outlet end may also be detected with an acoustic sensor which operates to sense the sound emitted by air exiting open cell channels thereat . a schematic of this embodiment is shown in fig3 . acoustic sensor 50 is secured to jig means 52 for positioning and operation . a suitable acoustic sensor for the purposes of the present invention is accutrak vpe - 1000 , manufactured by superior signal company ( spotswood , n . j .). in the practice of the present invention , acoustic sensor 50 is scanned across the outlet end of the honeycomb structure in the direction of the arrow . a set of signals are recorded and a noise profile is generated on a microprocessor as known in the art . the noise profile is then analyzed to determine the number and location of integrity leakage defects in the structure . while particular embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described and some modifications suggested , it will be appreciated that other modifications of the invention , not specifically mentioned , will occur to those skilled in the art and are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims .	6
the possibility of utilizing eme in a cold non - thermal treatment process was investigated by carrying out a variety of experiments . the objective of the experiments was to determine the effectiveness of eme for killing bacteria while at the same time not subjecting the liquid containing the bacteria to damaging levels of heat . the experiments were carried out in a system , described by way of example , which utilized a double tube heat exchanger 1 fitted inside a continuous microwave dryer 2 ( see fig1 ). the outer tube 3 was transparent to eme , and the inner tube 4 was stainless steel . cooling water flowed through the inner tube 4 , while product sample liquid flowed countercurrent through the annulus 5 . eme was instantly applied to the system , and heat was simultaneously removed by the cooling inner tube 4 . the eme energized the process fluid but was reflected off the inner tube , which removed energy from the liquid sample to prevent a significant temperature rise . the outer tube thus served as an energy trap and the inner tube as a heat sink . a thermocouple was placed at the exit of the microwave 6 , and , in order to determine the temperature distribution within the process tube in the microwave as well , a fiber optic probe was installed in the process tube . at normal steady state operating conditions , the probe was slowly moved within the tube over the length of the energy input section . the microwave energy entered the energy input section through three wave guides 7 . the temperature distribution and the corresponding thermocouple reading at the exit are shown in fig2 . generally , it was found that the thermocouple gave a representative reading . with the cooling tube on and under normal experimental conditions , the process fluid temperature was usually about 35 ° c . with a short spike at about 40 ° c . in two experiments , a temperature indicator label having an irreversible color indicator for 60 ° c . was placed in the microwave heating section . with the cooling tube on and under normal experimental conditions , the indicator did not change color , confirming that the process fluid did not reach 60 ° c . a residence time distribution study was carried out at a flow rate of 1 . 453 kg / min . the process was started on tap water and then switched to brine . as shown in fig3 the process is about 90 % plug flow . experiments were then carried out to test the efficacy of the process on various sample process fluids . the sample fluids were inoculated with pediococcus freudeareichii ( p . freudeareichii ), followed by carrying the fluid stepwise through the procedure ( table 1 summarizes the experimental parameters ). following the process , assays were carried out to evaluate effectiveness based on the reduction of bacteria remaining in the process fluid ( a reduction of 1 log as used herein represents a 90 % reduction , 2 log a 99 % reduction , 3 log a 99 . 9 % reduction , and so forth ). in each experiment , 5 gal of feed was charged to the feed tank 8 and inoculated . this charge was circulated through the microwave 2 and heat exchanger 1 for one to two hours to achieve a uniform distribution . the feed was sampled , and the microwave turned on at 72 - 77 kcal / min ( or 5 - 5 . 4 kw / min ). the exposure time per pass was 87 sec , with one pass equalling the time for 5 gal of fluid to be exposed to the microwaves . temperature was continuously recorded at the exit from the microwave by computer , and effluent from the heat exchanger was sampled periodically for plate counts . initial experiments utilized with water as the sample process fluid ( results are shown in fig4 and table 1 ). the level of bacteria dropped 3 logs in 70 min with a total microwave exposure time of 4 . 2 min . the temperature remained well below normal pasteurization temperatures throughout the run , indicating that microwave energy can kill bacteria with minimum heat treatment in a system where the process fluid was water . fruit juice is approximately 10 % sugar plus small amounts of other substances such as flavor components , pectin , etc . therefore , 10 % sugar solutions ( sucrose and glucose ) were substituted for water , and experiments were performed as above . the bacteria level was monitored before turning on the microwave and was found to be evenly distributed and stable . in an experiment with glucose ( run # 5 ), the microwave was turned on at 2 hr . there was a 1 log bacteria reduction in 20 min with a total microwave exposure time of 1 . 16 min and 50 sec exposure per pass . the exit temperature remained below 35 ° c . the experiment was repeated with sucrose ( run # 7 ). the initial flow rate yielded an exposure time of 20 sec per pass but there was no reduction in bacterial level ( fig5 ). when the flow rate was reduced so that exposure time was increased to 50 sec per pass ( run # 8 ), there was a 3 log reduction with a total microwave exposure time of 3 . 6 min , indicating a requirement for a minimum exposure time . a similar experiment was carried out with brine , conductivity 9 . 5 mhos . there was a 3 log reduction with a total microwave exposure time of 5 min and a 50 sec exposure time per pass ( run # 10 ). it was thus established that microwave energy effectively kills bacteria in water , brine and sugar solutions without significantly heating the bulk liquid . the study was then extended to apple juice ( runs # 11 and # 12 ) with an exposure time of 50 sec per pass ( fig6 ). there were 1 log and 2 log reductions with temperatures at or near 35 ° c ., indicating that microwave energy is useful for the cold treatment of apple juice as well as other juices . table 1__________________________________________________________________________microwave treatment results total total flow rate , μwave exposure exposure , processrun # system log kill kg / min per pass , sec min time , min__________________________________________________________________________1 water 2 1 . 13 20 . 5 7 . 32 1202 water 3 0 . 78 87 4 . 21 703 water 3 0 . 76 90 3 . 9 654 glucose 0 . 2 3 . 44 20 3 . 64 605 glucose 1 1 . 37 49 . 7 1 . 16 206 glucose 2 1 . 41 48 . 5 4 . 49 757 sucrose 0 . 3 3 . 40 20 3 . 57 608 sucrose 3 1 . 36 50 3 . 60 609 brine 0 . 5 3 . 11 22 3 . 61 6010 brine 3 . 4 1 . 37 49 . 5 4 . 95 9011 apple juice 1 1 . 37 49 . 7 1 6012 apple juice 2 1 . 37 49 . 5 7 . 18 12013 skim milk 0 0 . 85 80 3 . 6 60__________________________________________________________________________ to further investigate the ability of microwave energy to kill bacteria without heat , a series of three additional runs were carried out using water as the process fluid ( fig7 ). in one run there was no cooling ; however , a temperature of about 35 ° c . was maintained by using microwave energy setting of 43 kcal / min . there was minimal bacterial reduction under these conditions , i . e . 1 . 5 log after 2 . 5 hr . in a second run , microwave energy was applied at 77 kcal / min with cooling to maintain the bulk fluid temperature at 35 ° c ., resulting in a 3 . 8 log reduction . in a third run , the two experiments were combined . initially , microwave energy was applied at 43 kcal / min with no cooling but at a bulk fluid temperature of 35 ° c . there was no reduction after 1 hr . cooling water was added , and the microwave energy was raised to 77 kcal / min . by adjusting the cooling water rate , the bulk fluid temperature was maintained at about 35 ° c . as shown in fig7 at the same bulk fluid temperature but with higher microwave energy input , the concentration of p . freudeareichii was reduced by 1 . 2 log . it was thus established that a significant reduction in the microbial population of fluid food products can be achieved by a non - thermal energy treatment , essentially a cold &# 34 ; pasteurization &# 34 ; process . the critical element of the process is the simultaneous application of eme to the process fluid and removal of heat generated by the eme in the fluid . effective types of eme include microwave and radio frequency energy . the amount and time of eme application sufficient to effectively reduce the microbial population of the process fluid may vary according to the type of eme utilized , the fluid being processed and the level of microbial reduction required . these parameters may be optimized following the experimental guidelines described hereinabove . for example , where the fluid is fruit juice , microwave energy may effectively be applied at a level of about 5 . 4 kw / min for a period of at least about 5 min . generally , an effective reduction has been achieved with at least a 1 log reduction . fluids for which the process is useful are those which benefit from the pasteurization process and include fruit and vegetable juices , beer and egg and egg products . in particular , fluids which are relatively clear , i . e . contain little , if any particulate matter , have been especially successful . the particular system utilized is not critical to the invention so long as the process fluid remains at a temperature range of no higher than about 50 ° c ., preferably about 40 ° c . the system illustrated in fig1 has been found to be useful . in this system , process fluid circulates through the annulus and cooling medium circulates counter - current to the process fluid . the process fluid may circulate through the energy - producing section of the system for more than one pass in order for the fluid to be subjected to more than one application of eme . water is an effective cooling media , however many cooling media are known in the art and would be considered effective for the stated purpose . the following example is intended only to illustrate the invention and not to limit the scope of the invention which is defined by the claims . a double - tube heat exchanger system inside a microwave dryer was utilized . the outer tube was 33 . 8 mm id polypropylene which is transparent to eme . the inner tube was 25 . 4 mm od stainless steel . cooling water flowed through the inner tube , and process fluid flowed counter - current through the annulus . process fluid was contained in a 190 - liter stainless steel tank inoculated with p . freudeareichii to achieve a nominal bacteria count of log 6 . 5 cfu / ml . p . freudeareichii was originally inoculated by transferring 2 . 5 - 5 . 0 ml of stock solution into 250 - 1000 ml tgy broth ( 5 g tryptone , 1 g glucose , 5 g yeast extract , 1 g k 2 hpo 4 , 11 distilled water ) and incubating at 28 ° c . for 18 - 24 hr . the bacterial solution reached a final count of 8 . 0 - 9 . 0 log . a sanitary lobe pump ( model # pred3 - 1m - uc6 - st - s , triclover rotary pump , kenosha , wis .) controlled the flow rate at 0 . 77 to 3 . 4 kg / min . the process fluid went to a 100 kcal / min continuous microwave dryer ( cober electronics , inc ., stamford , conn .). it passed through the microwave in a double pipe heat exchanger . the outer pipe , which contained the process fluid , was a sanitech - t 11 / 2 &# 34 ; sanitary pipe which was 33 . 8 mm id and made of polypropylene . the inner pipe was stainless steel with a 25 . 4 mm od . tap water was used as the cooling fluid in the inner pipe . leaving the microwave , the process fluid went through a plate and frame heat exchanger ( model p5ver , delaval , sweden ). tap water was used as the cooling fluid in the heat exchanger and then went to the microwave cooling tube . cooling water was at a nominal 11 . 3 kg / min at 20 - 25 ° c . after the heat exchanger , the process fluid returned to the feed tank . samples were taken in the recycle line to the feed tank . the samples were taken in triplicate and plated on ta plates ( tryptose agar ) and incubated at 37 ° c . for 18 - 24 hr . counts were retrieved using a bacterial colony counter ( model 500a , spiral system instruments , inc . a thermocouple was placed at the exit of the microwave and a fiber optic probe ( model 950 , luxtron fluoroptic thermometer , luxtron corp ., santa clara , calif .) into the process tube . at normal steady state operating conditions , the probe was slowly moved within the tube over the length of the heating section under the wave guides . the temperature distribution and the corresponding thermocouple reading at the exit are shown in fig2 .	0
the device of this invention provides a precise controlled positioning of a treatment stylet in a tissue targeted for treatment , ablation or sampling from a catheter positioned in the vicinity of targeted tissues . the term &# 34 ; stylet &# 34 ; as used hereinafter is defined to include both solid and hollow probes which are adapted to be passed from a catheter port through normal tissue to targeted tissues . the stylet is shaped to facilitate easy passage through tissue . it can be a solid wire , thin rod , or other solid shape or it can be a thin hollow tube or other shape having a longitudinal lumen for introducing fluids to or removing materials from a site . the stylet can also be a thin hollow tube or other hollow shape , the hollow lumen thereof containing a reinforcing or functional rod or tube such as a laser fiber optic . the stylet preferably has a sharpened end to reduce resistance and trauma when it is pushed through tissue to a target site . the stylet can be designed to provide a variety of medically desired treatments of a selected tissue . as a radiofrequency electrode or microwave antenna , it can be used to ablate or destroy targeted tissues . as a hollow tube , it can be used to deliver a treatment fluid such as a liquid to targeted tissues . the liquid can be a simple solution or a suspension of solids , for example , colloidal particles , in a liquid . since the stylet is very thin , it can be directed from the catheter through intervening normal tissue with a minimum of trauma to the normal tissue . the device and method of this invention provide a more precise , controlled medical treatment which is suitable for destroying cells of medically targeted tissues throughout the body , both within and external to body organs . the device and method are particularly useful for treating benign prostate hyperplasia ( bph ), and the device and its use are hereinafter described with respect to bph , for purposes of simplifying the description thereof . it will be readily apparent to a person skilled in the art that the device and method can be used to destroy body tissues in any body cavities or tissue locations that are accessible by percutaneous or endoscopic catheters , and is not limited to the prostate . application of the device and method in all of these organs and tissues are intended to be included within the scope of this invention . bph is a condition which arises from the benign replication and growth of cells in the prostate , forming glandular and stromal nodules which expand the prostate and constrict the opening of the prostatic urethra . glandular nodules are primarily concentrated within the transition zone , and stromal nodules within the periurethral region . traditional treatments of this condition have included surgical removal of the entire prostate gland , digital removal of the adenoma , as well as transurethral resection of the urethral canal and prostate to remove tissue and widen the passageway . one significant and serious complication associated with these procedures is iatrogenic sterility . more recently , laser treatment has been employed to remove tissue , limiting bleeding and loss of body fluids . balloons have also been expanded within the urethra to enlarge its diameter , with and without heat , but have been found to have significant limitations . microwave therapy has been utilized with some success by positioning a microwave antenna within the prostatic urethra and generating heat in the tissue surrounding the urethra with a microwave field . coolants are sometimes applied within the catheter shaft to reduce the temperature of the urethral wall . this necessitates complicated mechanisms to provide both cooling of the immediately adjacent tissues while generating heat in the more distant prostatic tissue . this technique is similar to microwave hyperthermia . similarly , radiofrequency tissue ablation with electrodes positioned within the urethra exposes the urethral wall to destructive temperatures . to avoid this , temperature settings required to protect the urethra must be so low that the treatment time required to produce any useful effect is unduly extended , e . g . up to three hours of energy application . one embodiment of the device of this invention uses the urethra to access the prostate and positions rf electrode stylets directly into the tissues or nodules to be destroyed . the portion of the stylet conductor extending from the urethra to targeted tissues is enclosed within a longitudinally adjustable sleeve shield which prevents exposure of the tissue adjacent to the sleeve to the rf current . the sleeve movement is also used to control the amount of energy per unit surface area which is delivered by controlling the amount of electrode exposed . thus the ablation is confined to the tissues targeted for ablation , namely those causing the mechanical constriction . other aspects of the invention will become apparent from the drawings and accompanying descriptions of the device and method of this invention . it will be readily apparent to a person skilled in the art that this procedure can be used in many areas of the body for percutaneous approaches and approaches through body orifices . fig1 is an isometric view of an rf ablation catheter embodiment of this invention with a fiber optic viewing accessory . the flexible catheter 2 , attached to handle 4 , has a terminal stylet guide 6 with two stylets 8 . the handle has stylet electrode tabs 10 and 11 and sleeve tabs 12 and 13 as will be described in greater detail hereinafter . the handle 4 is also connected to an optical viewing assembly 14 and rf power connector 16 , transponder connector 18 and thermocouple connectors 20 . the portions of the catheter 2 leading from the handle 4 to the stylet guide tip 6 can optionally have a graduated stiffness . for example , the catheter can be designed to be more stiff near the handle and more flexible near the tip , or any other stiffness profiles . the catheter can be constructed of an inner slotted stainless steel tube with outer flexible sleeve such as is described in u . s . pat . no . 5 , 322 , 064 , the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference . it can also be made of coiled or braided wire to which an outer sleeve is bonded . the fiber optic viewing assembly in this embodiment includes a lens focusing assembly 22 , a lens viewing assembly support connector 24 assembly attached to a male quick disconnect connector 26 by flexible tubing 28 . fig2 is a cross - sectional view and fig3 is an exploded , isometric view of the optics connecting assembly of the embodiment of fig1 . the lens connector assembly 24 comprises receptor housing 30 having a threaded bore 32 . engagement of the threaded bore 32 with the threaded tubular housing connector 34 secures the optical assembly to the handle 4 ( fig1 ). an interior cavity 36 of the receptor housing 30 receives the distal end of the fiber optic control housing 38 , and the opposed surfaces thereof are sealed by o - ring 40 and flange 42 to prevent escape of flushing fluid . one end of the flexible tubing 28 engages cylindrical receptor 44 of the fiber optic control housing 38 , and the other end engages a cylindrical receptor 46 in the male quick release member 26 . fig4 is an enlarged cross - sectional view of the fiber optic extension system of the embodiment shown in fig1 - 3 . axial or longitudinal adjustment of the fiber optic control housing 38 effects axial or longitudinal movement of the fiber optic in the stylet guide housing as will be described in greater detail hereinafter . this axial or longitudinal adjustment is effected by the relative movement between inner surface 48 of housing 30 and the outer surface 50 of the distal end of the fiber optic control housing 38 . advancing movement of the fiber optic control housing 38 ( leftward movement in this figure ) is limited by the abutment of surface 52 of flange 42 with the opposing end surface of the receptor housing 30 . the flange 42 has an annular distal sleeve terminus 54 which is held between respective cylindrical inner surface 56 of the receptor housing 30 and outer surface 58 of control housing 38 . its advancing movement is limited by abutment of surface 60 of the flange 42 and opposed abutment surface 62 of the control housing 38 . retracting movement of control housing 38 and the fiber optic attached thereto is limited by impingement of annular stop rim 59 against o - ring 40 . flushing liquid to clean the viewing tip of the fiber optic is provided through flushing liquid supply bore 64 from a flushing liquid supply connector ( not shown ) and enters the cavity 66 . escape of the liquid from between the receptor housing 30 and the control housing 38 is prevented by the sealing engagement of the o - ring 40 with the surfaces opposed thereto and a seal ( not shown ) in opening 41 . the liquid flows through channel 72 and opening 74 , and then through a tubing ( not shown ) surrounding the fiber optic . outlet port 70 receives a conventional fiber optic illumination light source connection . the distal tip of the housing connector has an expanded diameter or flange 78 for connection with the handle 4 . the receptor housing has a mounting surface 80 at a sloped angle with the axis thereof for engaging an opposed upper surface of handle 4 ( fig1 ). fig5 is a cross - sectional view of the optics system of the embodiment shown in fig1 . the conventional focusing system 22 comprises an eyepiece 82 connected to the end of cylinder 83 . transparent window 84 is mounted in the proximal end . a quick disconnect junction 86 is positioned at the distal end of the cylinder 83 . the proximal viewing end of the fiber optic ( not shown ) is mounted in the cavity 85 . the lens focusing system comprises a conventional convex lens 88 mounted in a lens support cylinder 90 . a manual adjusting sleeve 96 is mounted for sliding movement about the cylinder 83 . the adjusting sleeve 96 is attached to the lens support 90 by pin 94 which extends through slot 92 . slot 92 has the shape of a short portion of a helix so that rotation of sleeve 96 about the sleeve in the clockwise direction and counter - clockwise moves the lens toward or away from the fiber optic viewing end , respectively , to bring the image into focus for the viewer . fig6 is a cross - sectional view of the fiber optic viewing accessory shown in fig1 with the fiber optic viewer retracted , and fig7 is a cross - sectional view of the fiber optic viewing accessory shown in fig2 with the fiber optic viewer extended . as the fiber optic control housing 38 is advanced by the operator into the receptor housing 30 , the viewing tip 102 of fiber optic 104 is advanced outward through the stylet guide housing 6 toward the tip thereof from the position shown in fig6 to the position shown in fig7 enabling the operator to view the duct surfaces surrounding the housing 6 to determine the condition of these surfaces and locate the position of ducts such as the seminal ducts which are to be avoided in the treatment . the stylet housing tip 6 is moved to position it in the desired location by movement of the handle 4 and catheter 2 ( fig1 ). by retracting the fiber optic control housing 38 from the housing 30 , the fiber optic viewing tip 102 is withdrawn to the surface of the stylet guide housing 6 as shown in fig6 for viewing the surface through which the stylets 8 ( fig1 ) are to be extended . fig8 is a fragmented cross - sectional view of a preferred catheter tip and stylet guide housing of this invention . the solid catheter tip 106 has a lateral depression or saddle 108 therein having a central axis approximately perpendicular to a plane through the central axis of the tip . the depression 108 has a proximal wall 110 . the depression 108 can extend up to approximately half of the thickness of the housing , but at least sufficiently to unblock the viewing surface of the viewing tip 112 of the fiber optic 114 . the fiber optic viewing tip 112 , when positioned at the opening in wall 110 , provides a field of view with lateral margins 116 and a terminal margin 118 . this includes the path of stylets extended outward through ports 120 . fig9 is a distal end view of the catheter tip and style guide housing shown in fig8 . the proximal end of depression 108 is split to form two projections or ears 122 and 124 which define a longitudinal or axial or longitudinal groove or saddle 126 extending from the depression 108 to the terminal tip 128 of the catheter 106 . groove 126 opens the field of view for the viewing tip 112 when in the solid line position shown in fig8 and permits extension of the fiber optic and its tip ( as described with respect to fig4 and 7 ) through the longitudinal groove to the dotted line positions 114 &# 39 ; and 112 &# 39 ;. in the latter position , the field of vision has side margins 130 and a terminal margin 132 . this permits the operator to examine the inner duct surfaces ahead of the catheter tip . in an alternative embodiment , the grove 126 can be replaced with a hole in the end of the tip having a size and position to permit extension of the fiber optic 114 therethrough . the fiber optic 114 is positioned in a passageway 134 which is sufficiently larger than the fiber optic to permit flow of flushing liquid around the fiber optic to the exit in wall 110 . the flushing liquid flow clears debris from the viewing tip . the inner walls of the duct ( not shown ) surrounding the catheter tip 106 during use confine the liquid flow , so the liquid continues to pass over the fiber optic tip even when it has been advanced to the dotted line position . return flushing liquid lumina 136 and 138 extend through wall 110 for constant removal of contaminated flushing liquid . fig1 is a proximal end view of the unassembled catheter tip and stylet guide housing shown in fig8 showing the lumina for the components thereof . the stylets are advanced and retracted through stylet lumina 140 and 142 to the stylet ports 120 . the fiber optic is advanced and retracted through fiber optic lumen 134 . the contaminated flushing fluid is removed through flushing fluid return lumina 136 and 138 . temperature sensor lumen 144 is used to house leads of a temperature sensor ( not shown ). fig1 is a cross - sectional view of a catheter tip and stylet guide housing embodiment with a cylindrical fiber optic viewing window permitting a view of the stylet deployment . in this view , the catheter end 146 includes a short cylindrical , transparent window 148 and tip cap 150 . stylet guide tubing 152 extends through the enclosure defined by the window 148 to ports ( not shown ). the catheter end 146 has a lumen 154 in which a fiber optic 155 can be positioned and a transparent plate 156 for sealing the end of the lumen 154 . the margins 158 of the view through the plate 156 provide a wide 360 ° view of the inside surface of a surrounding duct and the extended stylets . fig1 is a isometric view of an catheter tip and stylet guide housing embodiment with a fiber optic viewing window in the end thereof . this stylized view shows a catheter tip 160 with an optic viewing window 162 in the tip thereof . it has stylets extending through outlet ports therein , each stylet comprising an antenna 164 surrounded by an insulating sleeve 166 . temperature sensors 168 and 170 monitor the temperature in the duct wall surrounding the catheter . in this embodiment , the inside wall of the duct can be examined as the catheter is advanced to the desired position . fig1 is a isometric view of a catheter tip and stylet guide housing embodiment with two fiber optic viewing windows , one at the end of the housing and the other rearward of the stylets . this stylized view shows a catheter tip 172 with two optic viewing windows 174 and 176 therein , and stylets extended through outlet ports therein , each stylet comprising an antenna 178 surrounded by an insulating sleeve 180 . a temperature sensor 182 monitors the temperature in the duct wall surrounding the catheter . in this embodiment , two windows are provided , accommodating two fiber optics or two positions for a single fiber optic . window 174 provides a view of the surrounding as the catheter is advanced to the desired position . window 176 provides a view of the duct wall in the vicinity of the stylets . fig1 is a cross - sectional side view of an alternative 90 ° stylet guide housing shown in fig8 with the stylet omitted . the solid catheter tip 106 has a curved guide channel 119 leading to port 120 through which the stylet is to be guided . terminal portion 121 of the channel 119 has an orientation of 90 ° to the central axis of the housing . fig1 is a cross - sectional side view of an alternative 45 ° stylet guide housing of this invention . in this embodiment , the solid catheter tip 184 with lateral depression 186 has a curved channel 188 , the terminal portion 190 thereof having an axis which forms an angle &# 34 ; a &# 34 ; with the central axis of the catheter tip . this deploys the antenna 192 and insulating sleeve 194 at an angle &# 34 ; a &# 34 ; in a plane through the central axis of the catheter tip . in this embodiment , angle &# 34 ; a &# 34 ; is preferably about 45 °. fig1 is a cross - sectional side view of an alternative 30 ° stylet guide housing of this invention . in this embodiment , the solid catheter tip 196 with lateral depression 198 has a curved channel 200 , the terminal portion 202 thereof having an axis which forms an angle &# 34 ; b &# 34 ; with the central axis of the catheter tip . this deploys the antenna 204 and insulating sleeve 206 at an angle &# 34 ; b &# 34 ; in a plane through the central axis of the catheter tip . in this embodiment , angle &# 34 ; b &# 34 ; is preferably about 30 °. fig1 is a cross - sectional side view of an alternative 10 ° stylet guide housing of this invention . in this embodiment , the solid catheter tip 208 with lateral depression 210 has a curved channel 212 , the terminal portion 214 thereof having an axis which forms an angle &# 34 ; c &# 34 ; with the central axis of the catheter tip . this deploys the antenna 216 and insulating sleeve 218 at an angle &# 34 ; b &# 34 ; in a plane through the central axis of the catheter tip . in this embodiment , angle &# 34 ; c &# 34 ; is preferably about 10 °. fig1 is a schematic view of a stylet of fig1 shown deployed to treat a portion of a prostate protruding into the urinary bladder . the solid catheter tip 196 is positioned at the end of the urethra 220 . cell proliferation in the upper end 222 of the prostate 224 has caused it to protrude into space normally occupied by the urinary bladder , pushing a portion of the bladder wall 226 into the cavity and forming a restriction 225 beyond the end of the urethra . the stylet sleeve 206 and electrode 204 are extended at an angle of about 30 ° through the urethral wall into a portion of the protruded prostate , and rf current is applied to form the lesion 228 . this will reduce the protruded prostate , promoting its retraction from the urethral wall and opening the restriction of the outlet end of the urethra . the catheter having a desired angle can be selected from those having angles &# 34 ; a &# 34 ;, &# 34 ; b &# 34 ; or &# 34 ; c &# 34 ; shown in fig1 - 17 to precisely orient the stylet and effect precise penetration of prostate tissue which extends beyond the end of the urethra , for example . fig1 is a side view of a 45 ° shovel nose stylet guide of this invention . in this embodiment , the catheter tip 230 has the shape of a shovel or scoop , the extended lip 232 of which guides the stylet 234 in a desired angle &# 34 ; d &# 34 ;. this configuration opens the upper viewing field 236 of the fiber optic 238 in the unextended position and permits an unobstructed viewing field 240 in the fully extended position . in this embodiment , the angle &# 34 ; d &# 34 ; is about 45 °. fig2 is a side view of a 30 ° shovel nose stylet guide of this invention . in this embodiment , the catheter tip 242 has the shape of a shovel or scoop , the extended lip 244 of which guides the stylet 246 in a desired angle &# 34 ; e &# 34 ;. this configuration opens the upper viewing field 248 of the fiber optic 250 in the unextended position and permits an unobstructed viewing field 252 in the fully extended position . in this embodiment , the angle &# 34 ; e &# 34 ; is about 30 °. fig2 is a side view of a 10 ° shovel nose stylet guide of this invention . in this embodiment , the catheter tip 254 has the shape of a shovel or scoop , the extended lip 256 of which guides the stylet 258 in a desired angle &# 34 ; f &# 34 ;. this configuration opens the upper viewing field 260 of the fiber optic 262 in the unextended position and permits an unobstructed viewing field 264 in the fully extended position . in this embodiment , the angle &# 34 ; f &# 34 ; is about 10 °. fig2 is an end view of a shovel nose stylet guide of fig1 for a single stylet 234 . fig2 is an end view of an alternative embodiment of a shovel nose stylet guide for two stylets 266 and 268 , the stylet guide tip 270 having a shovel lip 272 and fiber optic 274 . fig2 is an exploded view of the rf ablation catheter assembly shown in fig1 . the upper handle plate 276 has two central slots 278 and 280 through which the electrode control slides 10 and 11 are attached to respective left electrode slide block 282 and right electrode slide block 284 . sleeve control slides 12 and 13 are attached through outer slots 286 and 288 to respective left sleeve slide block 290 and right sleeve slide block 292 . fiber optic receptor housing 30 is mounted on the proximal surface of the upper handle plate 276 . the electrical receptor 294 is received in respective cavities 296 and 298 in the respective upper handle plate 276 and lower handle plate 300 attached thereto . the lower handle plate 300 has a central cavity 302 which accommodates the electrode and sleeve slide blocks and associated elements . microswitch activator blocks 304 ( only left sleeve block shown ) are connected to the sleeve slide blocks 290 and 292 . they are positioned to actuate the microswitches 306 when the respective sleeve block ( and sleeve attached thereto ) have been advanced . the microswitches 306 hold the respective rf power circuits open until the respective sleeves are advanced to a position beyond the urethra wall and into the prostate to prevent direct exposure of the urethra to the energized rf electrodes . extension of the sleeve 5 mm beyond the guide is usually sufficient to protect the urethra . the tension - torque tube assembly 308 is mounted in the distal end of the housing in the receptor 310 . fig2 is an isometric view of the adjuster block and tension tube assembly 308 of the rf ablation catheter shown in fig2 . the torque tube 312 extends from the torque coupler 314 through the twist control knob 316 to the stylet guide 6 . bending flexure of the torque tube 312 during use lengthens the path from the handle to the guide tip 6 . to prevent a resulting retraction of the stylet sleeve and electrode components when the torque tube 312 is flexed , a tension tube 318 having a fixed length and diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the torque tube 312 is provided . the distal end of the tension tube 318 is securely attached to the stylet guide 6 , and the proximal end 320 is secured to the adjuster block 322 , for example by an adhesive . the axial or longitudinal position of the adjuster block 322 can be adjusted to insure the stylets are initially positioned just inside the outlet ports in the stylet guide 6 . torque coupler 314 is mounted on the coupler block 324 . twist control knob stop pin 326 extends into a grove ( not shown ) and limits rotation of the control knob 316 . fig2 is a detailed view &# 34 ; a &# 34 ; of the distal end tension tube connections of the tension tube shown in fig2 . the tension tube 318 is securely connected to the proximal end 328 of the stylet guide 6 , for example by a length of shrink tubing 330 . fig2 is an exploded view of the sleeve and electrode slide block assembly of the embodiment shown in fig2 . the right sleeve slide block 292 has a projection 332 which extends inward under the right electrode slide block 284 . right sleeve connector 334 is mounted to the inner end of the projection 332 , secured to the end of the proximal end of the sleeve 336 . right electrode connector 338 is attached to an inner surface of the electrode slide block 284 and is secured to the proximal end of electrode 340 . the right sleeve and electrode slide blocks 292 and 284 are slidingly attached to the right friction adjustment rail 342 by screws ( not shown ) through slots 344 and 346 , the screws being adjustable to provide sufficient friction between the blocks and the rail 342 to provide secure control over the stylet movement . the left sleeve slide block 290 and left electrode slide block 282 are mirror replicas of the right blocks and are similarly mounted on the left friction rail 398 . the left sleeve and electrodes are not shown . fig2 is a schematic view of a deployment of two stylets in a prostate showing stylet orientation for overlapping ablation zone method of this invention . for purposes of illustration but not by way of limitation , the prostate has been selected for this explanation , and application of this method and assembly to other areas of the body are intended to be included . the tissues to be treated for the treatment of bph are located in the transition zone 428 of the prostate . a catheter of this invention 430 has been inserted up the urethra 432 to a position adjacent the prostate . two stylets 434 and 436 have been passed through the urethra wall 432 through forward movement of tabs 12 and 13 ( fig1 ) and through surrounding tissue into targeted tissues . the non - conducting sleeves 438 and 440 have been retracted by rearward movement of sleeve tabs 12 and 13 to expose a portion of the respective electrical conductors 442 and 444 at the end of each stylet . the angle between the axes of the stylets in this embodiment , &# 34 ; f &# 34 ;, is less than 180 °, preferably less than 110 °. for most overlapping ablations , angles of 15 ° to 90 °, and more usually from 20 ° to 70 ° are most practical . a grounding plate ( not shown ) is placed on the body exterior . when electrodes 442 and 444 are supplied with rf current , the circuit from the electrodes to a grounding plate is closed . the current density flowing through the tissue passes through targeted tissues to be treated , creating lesions having the approximate cross - sectional shape of overlapping zones 446 and 448 . the current density rapidly decreases as a function of distance , limiting the size of the lesions . in this manner , lesions can be caused to overlap to form a larger lesion , increasing the efficiency of the treatment . it will be readily apparent that these processes can be carried out concurrently , as described , or sequentially , and these variations are intended to be included in this invention . although preferred embodiments of the subject invention have been described in some detail , it is understood that obvious variations can be made without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims .	0

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