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Radio receiver

A radio receiver (30) comprises an ADC (13) including a clip counter. The power of digitised signals provided by the ADC (13) is estimated by a power estimator (31), and an ideal gain value is computed from the power so estimated by a gain computation device (32). Gain computation signals are fed to a gain control input of an amplifier (11) via an LPF (33). A saturation detector (34) is connected to a clip counter output of the ADC (13), and to a control input of the LPF (33). The saturation detector (34) is arranged when saturation of the ADC is detected to reduce the gain setting value by at least two steps, by which the gain of the amplifier is immediately reduced. A detector detects the Doppler frequency of signals received and accordingly determines the size of the drop in amplification which is effected when saturation of the ADC (13) is detected. The gain reduction may be 3 dB under very low Doppler shift conditions and 12 dB under very high Doppler shift conditions.

1. A radio receiver comprising: a downconverter; a controllable gain amplifier connected to receive signals from the downconverter, the gain of the amplifier being controllable to adopt any of a plurality of discrete values in a series of steps; an analogue-to-digital converter, arranged to sample signals provided by the amplifier; and a monitor arranged to monitor signals provided by the analogue-to-digital converter and to reduce the gain of the amplifier by at least two steps in response to a predetermined level of saturation of the analogue-to-digital converter being detected. 2. A receiver as claimed in claim 1, in which the monitor is arranged to reduce the gain of the amplifier by an amount in the range 3 dB to 12 dB when the predetermined level of saturation is detected. 3. A receiver as claimed in claim 1, in which the monitor is arranged to reduce the gain of the amplifier by an amount dependent on the fading characteristics of the channel over which a received signal is transmitted. 4. A receiver as claimed in claim 3, in which the fading characteristics are estimated by a detector arranged to detect the Doppler frequency of the received signal. 5. A radio receiver comprising, in sequence: a downconverter; a controllable gain amplifier; an analogue-to-digital converter (ADC); a gain computation device arranged to provide a gain setting signal on the basis of the output signal of the ADC; and a filter having a gain setting memory device, the filter being arranged to filter the gain setting signal and to provide the filtered signal to a gain setting input of the controllable gain amplifier; and a monitor arranged to monitor signals provided by the ADC and to detect a predetermined level of saturation of the ADC thereform; wherein the output of the gain setting memory device is connected to its input and the gain setting memory device is in a first operating condition when the monitor detects said predetermined level of saturation, whereby the gain setting memory device reduces the gain of the amplifier by a predetermined amount. 6. A radio receiver as claimed in claim 5, wherein the gain of the amplifier is controllable to adopt any of a plurality of discrete values in a series of steps, and the gain setting memory device replaces the gain of the amplifier by at least two steps when the gain setting memory device is in the first operation condition. 7. A radio receiver as claimed in claim 5, wherein the gain setting memory device is in a second operating condition when the monitor does not detect said predetermined level of saturation. 8. A radio receiver according to claim 5, in which the reduction of the gain setting signal effects an amplifier gain reduction of between 3 dB and 12 dB. 9. A radio receiver according to claim 5, in which the extent of reduction of the gain setting signal is dependent on the fading characteristics of the channel over which a signal is received. 10. A radio receiver according to claim 9, in which the fading characteristics are estimated by a detector arranged to detect the Doppler frequency of the received signal. 11. A receiver as claimed in claim 2, in which the monitor is arranged to reduce the gain of the amplifier by an amount dependent on the fading characteristics of the channel over which a received signal is transmitted. 12. A radio receiver as claimed in claim 6, wherein the gain setting memory device is in a second operating condition when the monitor does not detect said predetermined level of saturation. 13. A radio receiver according to claim 6, in which the reduction of the gain setting signal effects an amplifier gain reduction of between 3 dB and 12 dB. 14. A radio receiver according to claim 7, in which the reduction of the gain setting signal effects an amplifier gain reduction of between 3 dB and 12 dB. 15. A radio receiver according to claim 6, in which the extent of reduction of the gain setting signal is dependent on the fading characteristics of the channel over which a signal is received. 16. A radio receiver according to claim 7, in which the extent of reduction of the gain setting signal is dependent on the fading characteristics of the channel over which a signal is received. Page 5 17. A radio receiver according to claim 8, in which the extent of reduction of the gain setting signal is dependent on the fading characteristics of the channel over which a signal is received.

Fabrication of integrated circuit

A method of fabricating an integrated device on a chip comprising first and second features (A, B), the second feature, B, having greater dimension and/or being of coarser design than the first feature A. The method involves the steps of: depositing a resist onto the chip, the resist being of a type that forms a thinner deposit on larger or coarser features than on smaller or finer features; treating the resist in dependence upon the thickness thereof to render it susceptible to a subsequent etching step, the thicker areas of resist being treated for a longer period of time or by a more intense treatment than the thinner areas of resist; and etching the treated areas of the resist to form a mask for use in the fabrication of said first and second features (A, B), on the chip.

1. A method of fabricating an integrated device on a chip comprising first and second features the second feature having greater dimensions and/or being of coarser design than the first feature, the method involving the steps of: depositing a resist onto the chip, the resist being of a type that forms a thinner deposit on larger or coarser features than on smaller or finer features; treating the resist in dependence upon the thickness thereof to render it susceptible to a subsequent etching step, the thicker areas of resist being treated for a longer period of time or by a more intense treatment than the thinner areas of resist; and etching the treated areas of the resist to form a mask for use in fabrication of said first and second features on the chip. 2-20. (Cancelled). 21. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein a first etch step is used to at least partially define a first mask, and a second etch step is subsequently used to define further the first and second features through the mask formed from said treated areas of resist. 22. The method as claimed in claim 21 wherein the first mask comprises at least one relatively narrow etch window for fabrication of the first feature and at least one relatively wide etch window for fabrication of the second feature. 23. The method as claimed in claim 21 wherein the first etch step comprises a dry etch process. 24. The method as claimed in claim 21 wherein the first etch step comprises etching through a mask formed in an oxide layer. 25. The method as claimed in claim 24 wherein said treatment comprises exposing selected areas of resist to ultra-violet light. 26. The method as claimed in claim 25 wherein said selected areas of resist are etched away following exposure to ultra-violet light. 27. The method as claimed in claim 25 wherein said resist comprises a resin which is applied in liquid form. 28. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein two areas of the resist are defined, a first area which includes said first feature and a second area which includes said second feature, the first area being subjected to said treatment for a longer period of time and/or by a more intense treatment than said second area, the integrated circuit to be formed comprising a component which extends from the first area to the second area wherein at least one substantially non-functional feature is formed on the component at a position where the first and second areas meet. 29. The method as claimed in claim 28 wherein said component is a rib waveguide and the substantially non-functional feature comprises a projection formed on each side of the waveguide at the position where the first and second areas meet. 30. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the integrated device comprises an optical device formed in silicon. 31. The method as claimed in claim 30 wherein the device is formed on a silicon-on-insulator chip. 32. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said second feature has greater dimensions in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the chip than said first feature. 33. The method as claimed in claim 32 wherein the first feature has a dimension, from a top surface thereof to the base thereof, in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the chip, of at least 2 microns. 34. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first feature comprises a tapered rib waveguide. 35. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the second feature comprises a rib waveguide having substantially parallel sides. 36. An integrated optical device fabricated by a method as claimed in claim 1, the device comprising, two areas, a first area which includes said first feature and second area which includes said second feature, and comprising a component which extends from the first area to the second area wherein at least one substantially non-functional feature is formed on the component at a position where the first and second areas meet. 37. An integrated optical device as claimed in claim 36 wherein said component comprises a rib waveguide and said non-functional feature comprises a projection formed on each side of the waveguide.

<SOH> BACKGROUND ART <EOH>The fabrication of integrated circuits, e.g. comprising optical waveguides in silicon, is well established using conventional semi-conductor technologies such as wet and dry etching. However, some devices require a mixture of relatively coarse and relatively fine features to be formed on the same chip. This can pose problems in the fabrication of the device because of the physical properties inherent in the masking materials commonly used. This problem is exemplified by the masking procedure associated with making a fine taper of the type used to provide a low loss optical coupling between an optical fibre and a silicon waveguide, e.g. of the type described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,108,478.

<SOH> BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS <EOH>The invention will now be further described merely by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an integrated optical device according to one embodiment of the invention; FIG. 2 is a plan view of the device shown in FIG. 1 ; FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate a series of steps in the fabrication of a first and second areas, respectively, of a device such as that shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 . detailed-description description="Detailed Description" end="lead"?

Differential gear for vehicle

There is disclosed an automotive differential device for transferring a rotational drive force from an automotive engine to a drive axle. This differential device includes: a differential gear mechanism equipped with a pair of side gears, three pinions meshing with the side gears, three pinion shafts pivotably supporting the three pinions, and a shaft supporting member supporting inner ends of the three pinion shafts; and a case member with an integral structure housing the differential gear mechanism. This case member includes a flange section receiving the rotational drive force by way of a ring gear, and a plurality of openings for mounting the side gears and pinions. The three pinions are oriented so that their axes form 120 degree phase angles, and the three openings are formed at three equidistant positions along the perimeter wall section of the case member.

1. In an automotive differential device transferring a rotational drive force from an automotive engine to a drive axle, an automotive differential device comprising: a differential gear mechanism equipped with a pair of side gears, three pinions meshing with said side gears, three pinion shafts pivotably supporting said three pinions, respectively, and a shaft supporting member supporting inner ends of said three pinion shafts; and a case member with an integral structure housing said differential gear mechanism, said case member including a flange section receiving said rotational drive force by way of a ring gear, and a plurality of openings for introducing said side gears and pinions. 2. An automotive differential device as described in claim 1 wherein: said three pinions are disposed-so that axes thereof form 120 degree phase angles; and said plurality of openings is three openings formed at three equidistant positions along a perimeter wall section of said case member. 3. An automotive differential device as described in claim 2 wherein: said three openings are two first openings for introducing said three pinions and one second opening for consecutively introducing said two side gears. 4. An automotive differential device as described in claim 3 wherein: said first opening is a roughly D-shaped opening with a straight section on a side toward said flange; and said second opening is an opening with a shape different from that of said first opening, said shape being a special shape allowing said side gear to be introduced while in an inclined state when said side gear is mounted. 5. An automotive differential device as described in claim 4 wherein said flange section is secured to a separate ring gear using a plurality of bolts. 6. An automotive differential device as described in claim 4 wherein a ring gear is formed integral with said flange section.

<SOH> BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION <EOH>The present invention relates to a differential device for automobiles. More specifically, in the present invention, three pinions are disposed on a differential gear mechanism, a case member is formed as an integral structure, improved performance is provided in the differential gear mechanism, and production costs are reduced. A differential device for automobiles generally includes: a differential gear mechanism including left and right side gears and multiple pinions; and a case member housing the differential gear mechanism. Two types of differential devices are often 2-pinion type and 4-pinion type. In a 2-pinion differential gear mechanism, the structure is simple but the load on the pinions is high, leading to high wear on the pinion that shortens the lifetime. In a 4-pinion differential gear mechanism, the structure is somewhat more complicated but the load on the pinions is low and the pinions have a longer lifetime. The case member includes a main case section for housing the differential gear mechanism and a flange section. A ring gear is secured to this flange section using multiple bolts, and rotational drive force from the engine is transferred to the flange section by way of the ring gear. In some cases, this ring gear is formed integrally with the flange section. In a differential device equipped with a 2-pinion differential gear mechanism described in Japanese utility model registration number 3071694, a case member is formed integrally, and openings are formed facing each other on both sides of the case member to allow assembly of the side gears and pinions. The pinions are disposed inside the perimeter walls on which the openings are not formed, and one shared pinion shaft is supported on the perimeter wall. In a case structure for a differential device as described in Japanese laid-open patent publication number Hei 11-72158, a case member for housing a 2-pinion differential gear mechanism is formed from a ring-shaped main case body integral with a ring gear, and a pair of cover members, each one being secured to one axial end of the main case body. In the case of a differential device equipped with a 4-pinion differential gear mechanism, the pinion shafts must be supported at four uniformly spaced positions along the perimeter of the wall of the case member. This makes forming the openings described above more difficult. Thus, the case member is generally formed as a two-part structure (divided structure). Forming the case member as a two-part structure increases the number of parts for the case member as well as requiring expensive machining operations, thus increasing production costs. While production costs for the case member can be reduced by using a 2-pinion differential gear mechanism and an integrally formed case member, the use of larger side gears and pinions will require larger openings, leading to disadvantages relating to the rigidity and strength of the case member. Also, the pinions experience a high load, resulting in pinion wear and short lifetime. The above, and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals designate the same elements.

<SOH> OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION <EOH>The object of the present invention is to provide an automotive differential device that reduces pinion load to improve durability and reduce production costs for the case member. In an automotive differential device transferring a rotational drive force from an automotive engine to a drive axle, the present invention provides an automotive differential device including: a differential gear mechanism equipped with a pair of side gears, three pinions meshing with the side gears, three pinion shafts pivotably supporting the three pinions, respectively, and a shaft supporting member supporting inner ends of the three pinion shafts; and a case member with an integral structure housing the differential gear mechanism. The case member includes a flange section receiving the rotational drive force by way of a ring gear, and a plurality of openings for introducing the side gears and pinions. By providing three pinions in the differential gear mechanism, the load on the pinions can be reduced, durability can be improved, and the adoption of a high power engine can be possible. By providing a shaft support member for supporting the inner ends of the three pinion shafts, the inner ends of the three pinion shafts can be reliably supported. Since the case member is formed as an integral structure, the production costs for the case member can be reduced. Since multiple openings are formed in the case member to introduce and mount the side gears and pinions, the side gears and pinions can be introduced and mounted in a reliable manner from these openings. Preferred alternative examples will be described. The three pinions are disposed so that axes thereof form 120 degree phase angles, and the plurality of openings is three openings formed at three equidistant positions along a perimeter wall section of the case member. Thus, shaft openings for supporting the pinion shafts can be formed on wall sections other than the three openings formed on the perimeter wall of the case member. The three openings are two first openings for introducing the three pinions and one second opening for consecutively introducing the two side gears. The first opening is a roughly D-shaped opening with a straight section on a side toward the flange. The second opening is an opening with a shape different from that of the first opening, the shape being a special shape allowing the side gear to be introduced while in an inclined state when the side gear is mounted. The flange section is secured to a separate ring gear using a plurality of bolts. A ring gear is formed integral with the flange section.

Electrochemical double-layer energy storage cells with high energy density and high power density

The invention concerns a method for preparing activated carbons based on wood, preferably softwood and in particular pine wood, for making electrodes for energy storage cells, particularly for super-capacitors. Said activated carbons have a volume of mesopores less than 75% of the total pore volume and a volume of micropores less than 57% of the total pore volume. The invention also concerns a method for making an electrode for energy storage cell, comprising the application of such an activated carbon on a support, preferably by coating derived from a slurry. The energy storage cells using said activated carbons advantageously provide a better compromise between energy density and power density.

1. A process for the preparation of a porous carbonaceous material comprising the following stages: a) carbonization of wood, preferably of softwood, and advantageously of pine wood, at a temperature of between 500 and 800° C.; b) thermal activation of the wood carbon obtained in a thin layer at a temperature of between 800 and 1 100° C. in the presence of steam and/or of carbon dioxide; the activated carbon obtained after stage b) exhibiting a volume of mesopores of less than 75% of the total pore volume and a volume of micropores of less than 75% of the total pore volume. 2. The process as claimed in claim 1, in which the activated carbon 15 obtained in stage b) exhibits a content of mesopores of between 40 and 60% of the total pore volume. 3. The process as claimed in claim 1, in which the activated carbon obtained in stage b) exhibits a content of micropores of between 20% and 20 40% of the total pore volume. 4. The process as claimed in claim 1, in which the activated carbon obtained in stage b) exhibits a pore volume of greater than 0.8 cm3/g, preferably of greater than 1 cm3/g. 5. The process as claimed in claim 1, in which the activated carbon obtained in stage b) exhibits a volume of micropores of between 0.2 and 0.6 cm3/g. 6. The process as claimed in claim 1, in which the activated carbon obtained in stage b) exhibits volume of mesopores is of between 0.4 and 0.8 cm3/g. 7. The process as claimed in claim 1, in which the activated carbon obtained after stage b) exhibits a specific surface of greater than 800 m2/g. 8. An electrode based on activated carbon comprising activated carbon capable of being obtained by the process as in claim 1. 9. An electrode based on activated carbon comprising activated carbon based on wood exhibiting a volume of mesopores of less than 75% of the total pore volume and a volume of micropores of less than 75% of the total pore volume. 10. The electrode as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that the electrode comprises activated carbon binder in a ratio by weight of 10/90 to 90/10, 10 preferably of 30/70 to 70/30. 11. The electrode as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that the binder is a polymer, preferably a thermoplastic and advantageously a polyether and/or polyalcohol. 12. A process for the manufacture of an electrode for an electrochemical double-layer energy storage cell comprising the stage of preparation of an activated carbon as claimed in claim 1; application of this activated carbon to a support. 13. The manufacturing process as claimed in claim 12, in which a slip is formed beforehand from the activated carbon derived from pine wood with a binder in a suitable solvent and that the solvent is evaporated after the application to a support. 14. The process as claimed in claim 12, in which the binder is a polymer, preferably a thermoplastic polymer and advantageously a polyether and/or a polyalcohol. 15. The process as claimed in claim 12, in which the activated carbon is mixed with the binder in a ratio by weight of 90/10 to 10/90, preferably of 30/70 to 70/30. 16. The process as claimed in claim 12, in which the application 35 is carried out by coating. 17. An electrochemical double-layer energy storage cell comprising at least one electrode as claimed in claim 8. 18. The cell as claimed in claim 16, exhibiting an energy density of greater than 3 Wh/kg, preferably of greater than 4 Wh/kg, and an energy power of greater than 4 kW/kg, preferably of greater than 5 kW/kg.

Process for preparing siloxane-filler compositions using an extruder mixer

Methods describing a process for the production of polysiloxane containing masses, containing surface treated filler material, by continuously feeding materials to a screw extruder (12) in which they are mixed and conveyed to an outlet (14) with removal of gaseous materials therefrom. The screw extruder (12) has at least two screws (22) located in communicating chambers distributed radially about a common axis (26) and extending with the axis of each screw parallel to the common axis (26). The materials being mixed in the extruder typically comprise (a) a polysiloxane, (b a reinforcing filler and (c) a hydrophobing agent. Each material is fed into the extruder (12) as the material itself or in admixture with any one or more of the others of (a), (b) and (c).

1. A process for production of polysiloxane containing masses that contain surface treated filler material the process comprising (I) continuously feeding materials to a screw extruder in which they are mixed and (II) thereafter conveying the masses to an outlet while removing gaseous materials therefrom, wherein the screw extruder comprises more than two screws located in communicating chambers that are distributed radially about a common axis and that extend with the axis of each screw parallel to the common axis, said materials being mixed in the extruder comprising; a) a polysiloxane having more than 40 siloxane units selected from the group consisting of (i) trialkylsilyl end blocked polysiloxanes and (ii) polysiloxanes having at least one silicon bonded group selected from the group consisting of alkenyl groups, hydroxyl groups and hydrolysable groups; b) a reinforcing filler material selected from the group consisting of finely divided silica, surface treated finely divided silica, finely divided calcium carbonate, surface treated finely divided calcium carbonate, quartz powder, aluminium hydroxide, zirconium silicate, diatomaceous earth and titanium dioxide, and c) a hydrophobing agent selected from the group consisting of disilazanes and water and polydiorganosiloxanes of up to 40 siloxane units having silicon bonded groups selected from the group consisting of hydroxyl groups and amino groups, each of the materials having been fed into the extruder individually, or in admixture with any one or more of (a), (b) and (c). 2. A process according to claim 1 further characterized in that the finely divided filler is selected from the group consisting of fumed and precipitated silica. 3. A process according to claim 2 further characterized in that a mixture (d) comprising polysiloxane (a) and silica (b) in a ratio from 0.7 to 1.8 parts a) to 1 part silica, is fed to the extruder. 4. A process according to claim 3 further characterized in that mixture (d) is selected from the group consisting of a paste and a powder. 5. A process according to claim 3 further characterized in that the mixture (d) is stored in a reservoir after having been mixed and before introduction to the extruder. 6. A process according to claim 5 further characterized in that mixture (d) has been aged for a period of not less than ten minutes after mixing and before delivery to the extruder. 7. A process according to claim 3 further characterized in that mixture (d) is fed to the extruder from a separate continuous mixing unit where the component materials have a residence time between thirty seconds and five minutes. 8. A process according to claim 1 further characterized in that the extruder has twelve screws arranged to co-operate in mixing and conveying materials through the extruder to its outlet. 9. A process according to claim 8 further characterized in that the length of each extruder screw is from 25 to 60 times the diameter of the screw. 10. A process according to claim 8 further characterized in that the diameter of each extruder screw is from 20 to 160 mm. 11. A process according to claim 8, further characterized in that the screws are rotated in the same sense and at a speed from 50 to 1200 rpm. 12. A process according to claim 1 further characterized in that the interior of the extruder provides zones which in a first zone, a first portion of each screw meshes with a first portion of each of those screws adjacent to it so that the regime in this first zone is predominantly feeding of mixture towards a subsequent zone, and in a which there is a second zone in which portions of the screws are arranged to promote intensive kneading and dispersing of the mixture as well as feeding it to subsequent zones, and a third zone in which portions of the screws are arranged to promote kneading and dispersing of the mixture as well as feeding it towards the outlet. 13. A process according to claim 12 further characterized in that the first zone has a length of 5 to 30 times the diameter of a screw. 14. A process according to claim 12 further characterized in that the second zone has a length of 5 to 15 times the diameter of a screw. 15. A process according to claim 12, further characterized in that the third zone has a length of 5 to 30 times the length of a screw. 16. A process according to claim 12 further characterized in that the material in the first three zones of the extruder comprises between 70 and 180 parts of (a) per 100 parts of (b). 17. A process according to claim 12 further characterized in that material in the third zone is subject to reduced pressure. 18. A process according to claim 12 further characterized in that it comprises a fourth zone in which portions of the screws are arranged to promote kneading and dispersing of the mixture as well as feeding it, this zone having a length of 5 to 15 times the diameter of a screw. 19. A process according to claim 2 further characterized in that the materials fed to the screw extruder comprise a polysiloxane (a) which is a polysiloxane having more than 40 siloxane units which has at least one silicon bonded alkenyl group and a product (e) formed by mixing finely divided silica, a polysiloxane having more than 40 siloxane units which has at least one silicon bonded alkenyl group, water and an hydrophobing agent comprising a disilazane or polydiorganosiloxanes of up to 40 siloxane units having silicon bonded hydroxyl groups. 20. A process for production of polysiloxane containing masses containing surface treated filler material that comprises (I) continuously feeding materials to a screw extruder in which the materials are mixed and thereafter (II) conveying the mixed materials to an outlet, with removal of gaseous materials therefrom, characterized, in that, the screw extruder comprises more than two screws located in communicating chambers distributed radially about a common axis and extending with the axis of each screw parallel to the common axis and, in that, the materials fed to the screw extruder consist essentially of A. a polysiloxane having more than 40 siloxane units selected from the group consisting of trialkylsilyl end blocked polysiloxanes, polysiloxanes having at least one silicon bonded group selected from the group consisting of alkenyl groups, hydroxyl groups, and hydrolysable group; B. a reinforcing filler material selected from the group consisting of finely divided silica, calcium carbonate, quartz powder, aluminium hydroxide, zirconium silicate, diatomaceous earth and titanium dioxide, C. an hydrophobing agent selected from the group consisting of (i) disilazanes and water (ii) polydiorganosiloxanes of up to 40 siloxane units having silicon bonded groups selected from the groups consisting of a. hydroxyl groups, and b. amino groups and, (iii) the product formed by mixing any of A, B, C(i), C(ii) and C(iii). 21. (canceled) 22. A process according to claim 20 further characterized in that, the materials delivered from the outlet of the extruder are further compounded with at least one material, selected from curatives, catalysts, inhibitors, plasticizers, extenders and non-reinforcing fillers, to provide a curable product. 23. A process according to claim 12 further characterized in that the first zone has a a temperature of the material controlled at less than 100° C. 24. A process according to claim 12 further characterized in that the first zone has a length of 5 to 30 times the diameter of a screw and the temperature of material in the first zone is controlled at less than 100° C. 25. A process according to claim 12 further characterized in that the temperature of the materials in the second zone is controlled at less than 150° C. 26. A process according to claim 12 further characterized in that the second zone has a length of 5 to 15 times the diameter of a screw and the temperature of material in the second zone is controlled at less than 150° C. 27. A process according to claim 12 further characterized in that the temperature of material in the third zone is controlled at 100° C. to 350° C. 28. A process according to claim 12 further characterized in that it comprises a fourth zone in which portions of the screws are arranged to promote kneading and dispersing of the mixture as well as feeding it, the temperature of material in the fourth zone being controlled at less than 250° C. 29. A process according to claim 12 further characterized in that it comprises a fourth zone in which portions of the screws are arranged to promote kneading and dispersing of the mixture as well as feeding it, the fourth zone having a length of 5 to 15 times the diameter of a screw and the temperature of the material in the fourth zone being controlled at less than 250° C. 30. A process according to claim 1 further characterized in that, the materials delivered from the outlet of the extruder are further compounded with other materials, including materials selected from the group consisting of curatives, catalysts, inhibitors, plasticizers, extenders and non-reinforcing fillers, to provide a curable product.

<SOH> BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION <EOH>Silicone compositions that can be applied or shaped in fluid condition and then cured are well known. Among such compositions are those that are intended to have a low viscosity during storage and application and yet provide products of high mechanical strength. Such compositions may be used for a variety of purposes and are especially favoured for use in coating or moulding operations in which they become cured, with or without a separate heating operation. Typically such compositions contain reinforcing filler, the most commonly used one being silica, to enhance mechanical properties of the cured product. Whilst assisting in reinforcing the final product, silica also tends to associate progressively with the polysiloxanes present in the fluid composition with corresponding increase in viscosity of the composition. It has become a practice to render the silica hydrophobic by suitable treatment of its surface. Surface treatment of silica can be done with the silica in dry powder form and before introduction to the silicone composition, but is commonly done in-situ in the composition. Surface treating materials, for example hexamethyldisilazane or divinyltetramethyldisilazane, are therefore usually incorporated with water into the composition of polysiloxane and silica. Commonly, this mixing is done batchwise, but this is a slow process and the product may suffer from significant variations in quality between batches. Continuous processes for in-situ treatment of silica have been proposed which employ twin screw extruders. The twin screw extruders may be extended in length to achieve mixing of materials but those employed are generally limited to a maximum length of 60 times the diameter of the screw, for engineering reasons. The proposed processes can be inefficient or uneconomical due to lack of residence time of the mixture in the extruder and low throughput of mixture through the extruder. Also, low density fillers contain a high proportion of air which leads to problems when continuously incorporating them into silicone polymers in a twin screw extruder. The rate of incorporation of filler into a composition has been one of the main throughput limitations in a continuous process.

<SOH> BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS <EOH>FIG. 1 is a plan of a multiple screw extruder used in the illustrative process, FIG. 2 is a side elevation of a portion of the extruder shown in FIG. 1 , FIG. 3 is sectional view taken substantially on the line A-A of FIG. 2 , FIG. 4 is a diagram of a screw located in the extruder. detailed-description description="Detailed Description" end="lead"? The illustrative process is for production of polysiloxane containing masses incorporating surface treated filler material, which comprises continuously feeding materials to an inlet ( 10 ) of a screw extruder ( 12 ) in which they are mixed and conveyed to an outlet ( 14 ) with removal of gaseous materials therefrom via vents ( 16 , 18 , 20 ). The vent ( 16 ) may be arranged to vent air from the extruder as mixing is carried out or to feed material into the extruder for mixing with other ingredients. Means are provided for heating and/or cooling various sectors of the extruder as required during operation of the extruder. The screw extruder ( 12 ) comprises twelve screws ( 22 ) located in communicating chambers ( 24 ) distributed radially about a common axis ( 26 ) and extending with the axis of each screw parallel to the common axis ( 26 ). The extruder comprises a housing having a generally cylindrical outer casing ( 28 ) disposed with its axis substantially horizontal and providing the common axis ( 26 ). A cavity ( 30 ) extends through it about the substantially horizontal common axis ( 26 ). The interior of the outer casing ( 28 ) is profiled to define a plurality of part cylindrical surfaces ( 32 ) equidistant from the common axis and spaced around equal angular sectors around the perimeter of the cavity ( 30 ). An inner casing portion ( 34 ) of the housing is secured to the outer casing within the cavity ( 30 ). Its outer surface is profiled to define part cylindrical surfaces ( 36 ) complementary to the surfaces ( 32 ) of the outer casing ( 28 ). The surfaces ( 32 ) and ( 36 ) together define the chambers ( 24 ) which communicate with adjacent chambers and each receive a screw ( 22 ) arranged for rotation about an axis parallel to that of the housing. The diameter of each extruder screw is 30 mm. The length of each extruder screw was 32 times the diameter of the screw. In processes according to the invention, the screws are rotated in the same sense and at a speed from 50 to 1200 rpm. Each screw 22 has portions profiled to promote desired kneading or feeding of mixture within the extruder. These portions of the screws are positioned on the screws and within the extruder so as to provide a first ( 40 ), second ( 42 ), third ( 44 ) and fourth ( 46 ) mixing zones disposed axially in the extruder. In the first zone ( 40 ) a first portion ( 41 ) of each screw meshes with a first portion ( 41 ) of each of those screws adjacent to it so that the regime in this first zone is predominantly feeding of mixture towards subsequent zones. In the second zone ( 42 ), portions ( 43 ) of the screws are arranged to promote intensive kneading and dispersing of the mixture as well as feeding it to subsequent zones. In the third zone ( 44 ), portions ( 45 ) of the screws are arranged to promote kneading and dispersing of the mixture as well as feeding it towards the outlet. In the fourth zone ( 46 ) portions ( 47 ) of the screws are arranged to promote further kneading and dispersing of the mixture as well as feeding it, In a preferred process the first zone has a length of 5 to 30 times the diameter of a screw and the temperature of material in the first zone is controlled at less than 100° C. The second zone has a length of 5 to 15 times the diameter of a screw and the temperature of material in the second zone is controlled at less than 150° C. The third zone has a length of 5 to 30 times the length of a screw and the temperature of material in the third zone is controlled at 100° C. to 350° C. The fourth zone has a length of 5 to 15 times the diameter of a screw and the temperature of material in the fourth zone is controlled at less than 250° C. Preferably, material in the third zone is subject to reduced pressure of between −100 and −1000 mbar (i.e. between −10 4 and −10 5 Pa), pulled via the vents ( 18 , 20 ).

Thinners for invert emulsions

A method of reducing the viscosity of oil-based drilling fluids and well service fluids at low temperatures and a thinner compound for use in such drilling fluids and well service fluids is disclosed. The method comprises adding to said drilling fluids or well service fluids a thinner having the formula: R—(C2H4O)n(C3H6O)m(C4H8O)k-H where R is a saturated or unsaturated, linear or branched alkyl radical having about 8 to about 24 carbon atoms, n is a number ranging from about 1 to about 10, m is a number ranging form about 0 to about 10, and k is a number ranging from about 0 to about 10.

1. A method of influencing the rheology of a drilling fluid or well service fluid comprising an invert emulsion, said method comprising adding to said drilling fluid or well service fluid a compound having the formula: R—(C2H4O)n(C3H6O)m(C4H8O)k-H where R is a saturated or unsaturated, linear or branched alkyl radical having about 8 to about 24 carbon atoms, n is a number ranging from about 1 to about 10, m is a number ranging from about 0 to about 10, and k is a number ranging from about 0 to about 10. 2. The method of claim 1 wherein, in said formula, k is zero and m is a number ranging from about 1 to about 10, or m is zero and k is a number ranging from about 1 to about 10. 3. The method of claim 1 wherein in said formula, n is a number ranging from about 1 to about 6, m is a number ranging from about 1 to about 6, and k is zero. 4. The method of claim 1 wherein said invert emulsion comprises a continuous oil phase comprising compounds or compositions flowable and pumpable at temperatures at least as low as about 40 degrees Fahrenheit. 5. The method of claim 1 wherein said invert emulsion comprises a continuous oil phase comprising compounds or compositions flowable and pumpable at temperatures above about 32 degrees Fahrenheit. 6. The method of claim 5 wherein said oil phase comprises compounds or compositions selected from the group comprising: (f) carboxylic esters of the formula: R′—COO—R″ where R′ is a saturated or unsaturated, linear or branched, alkyl radical having about 1 to about 23 carbon atoms and R″ is an alkyl radical, branched or unbranched, saturated or unsaturated, having about 1 to about 23 carbon atoms; (g) linear or branched olefins having about 8 to about 30 carbon atoms; (h) water-insoluble symmetric or asymmetric ethers of monohydric alcohols of natural or synthetic origin, said alcohols containing about 1 to about 24 carbon atoms; (i) water-insoluble alcohols of the formula: R′″—OH where R′″ is a saturated, unsaturated, linear or branched alkyl radical having about 8 to about 24 carbon atoms; and (j) carbonic diesters. 7. The method of claim 1 wherein said compound is added to said drilling fluid or well service fluid in an amount sufficient to effect a reduction in the viscosity of said drilling fluid or well service fluid. 8. The method of claim 1 wherein said compound is added to said drilling fluid or well service fluid in an amount sufficient to maintain the flowability and pumpability of said drilling fluid or well service fluid at temperatures less than about 50 degrees Fahrenheit. 9. The method of claim 1 wherein said compound is added to said drilling fluid or well service fluid in quantities ranging from about 0.5 pounds to about 15.0 pounds of said compound per barrel of said drilling fluid or well service fluid. 10. The method of claim 1 wherein said compound reduces the viscosity of said drilling fluid or well service fluid at low temperatures. 11. The method of claim 10 wherein said compound does not significantly affect the viscosity of said fluid at high temperatures. 12. The method of claim 1 wherein said compound is added to said fluid when said fluid is prepared. 13. The method of claim 1 wherein said compound is added to said fluid while said fluid is circulating in a wellbore. 14. A drilling fluid or well service fluid comprising a continuous oil phase, water dispersed in said oil phase, solids insoluble in said oil phase, and a compound having the formula: R—(C2H4O)n(C3H6O)m(C4H7O)k-H where R is a saturated or unsaturated, linear or branched alkyl radical having about 8 to about 24 carbon atoms, n is a number ranging from about 1 to about 10, m is a number ranging from about 0 to about 10, and k is a number ranging from about 0 to about 10. 15. The drilling fluid or well service fluid of claim 14 wherein said compound is added in sufficient amounts to reduce the viscosity of said fluid at low temperatures. 16. The drilling fluid or well service fluid of claim 14 having a density of from about 8 to about 18 lbs/gal. 17. The drilling fluid or well service fluid of claim 14 having a yield point of not more than about 75 lbs/100 ft2 at about 40° F. 18. A method of reducing the viscosity of an invert emulsion drilling fluid or well service fluid at low temperatures comprising adding to said fluid an effective amount of compound having the formula: R—(C2H4O)n(C3H6O)m(C4H8O)k-H where R is a saturated or unsaturated, linear or branched alkyl radical having about 8 to about 24 carbon atoms, n is a number ranging from about 1 to about 10, m is a number ranging from about 0 to about 10, and k is a number ranging from about 0 to about 10. 19. The method of claim 18 wherein said compound does not significantly affect the viscosity of the drilling fluid at high temperatures. 20. The method of claim 18 further comprising circulating said fluid in a wellbore and adding said compound to said fluid during said circulation. 21. The method of claim 18 further comprising preparing said fluid and adding said compound to said fluid during said preparation.

<SOH> BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION <EOH>1. Field of the Invention This invention is generally related to methods and compositions for drilling and servicing wellbores in hydrocarbon bearing subterranean formations. Particularly, this invention is related to oil-based drilling fluid systems comprising water-in-oil invert emulsions, and to thinners that enhance or enable use of such fluids, at temperatures at or below about 50 degrees Fahrenheit (about 10 degrees Centigrade). 2. Description of Relevant Art A drilling fluid, or “mud” which a drilling fluid is also often called, is a specially designed fluid that is circulated in a wellbore as the wellbore is being drilled to facilitate the drilling operation. The various functions of a drilling fluid include removing drill cuttings from the wellbore, cooling and lubricating the drill bit, aiding in support of the drill pipe and drill bit, and providing a hydrostatic head to maintain the integrity of the wellbore walls and prevent well blowouts. Specific drilling fluid systems are selected to optimize a drilling operation in accordance with the characteristics of a particular geological formation. A drilling fluid typically comprises water and/or oil or synthetic oil or other synthetic material or synthetic fluid (“synthetic”) as a base fluid, with solids in suspension. A non-aqueous based drilling fluid typically contains oil or synthetic as a continuous phase and may also contain water dispersed in the continuous phase by emulsification so that there is no distinct layer of water in the fluid. Such dispersed water in oil is generally referred to as an invert emulsion or water-in-oil emulsion. A number of additives may be included in such oil based drilling fluids and invert emulsions to enhance certain properties of the fluid. Such additives may include, for example, emulsifiers, weighting agents, fluid-loss additives or fluid-loss control agents, viscosifiers or viscosity control agents, and alkali. Further general discussion and description of oil-based drilling fluids is provided in P. A. Boyd, et al., New Base Oil Used In Low Toxicity Oil Muds, Journal of Petroleum Technology, pages 137-142 (1985), which is incorporated herein by reference. An essential criterion for assessing the utility of a fluid as a drilling fluid or as a well service fluid is the fluid's rheological parameters, particularly under drilling and wellbore conditions. For use as a drilling fluid, or as a fluid for servicing a well, the fluid must be capable of maintaining certain viscosities suitable for drilling and circulation in the wellbore. Preferably, a drilling fluid will be sufficiently viscous to be capable of supporting and carrying to the surface of the well drill cuttings without being so viscous as to interfere with the drilling operation. Moreover, a drilling fluid must be sufficiently viscous to be able to suspend barite and other weighting agents. However, increased viscosity can result in problematic sticking of the drill string, and increased circulating pressures can contribute to lost circulation problems. Thinners may be added to the drilling fluid or drilling mud systems before and in the course of drilling. Anionic surfactants particularly from the group of the fatty alcohol sulfates, the fatty, alcohol ether sulfates and the alkylbenzenesulfonates are examples of such thinners known in the prior art. Although such compounds have been shown to effect thinning of drilling fluids, problems with such prior art thinners may occur when using the drilling muds at low temperatures (temperatures at or below about 50° F. (10° C.)). At such low temperatures, despite the use of known prior art thinners, oil based drilling fluids typically have high or increased viscosity, which may render the fluids unusable for drilling. After pumping into the wellbore, drilling fluids may undergo heating from the formation, depending on the depth of the wellbore and the temperature of the formation. For example, heating in the range of about 150° to about 250° F. (about 66° to about 121° C.) is not uncommon and subterranean temperatures as high as about 350° F. (about 178° C.), particularly in very deep wellbores, are known. The Arctic region, for example, is known to have very low surface temperatures but very high subterranean temperatures. Even more problematic are deepwater wells (i.e., typically wells below at least about 1500 feet), which subject drilling fluids to chilling from cold waters surrounding the riser as the fluid returns to the surface from the high temperature subterranean formation. Such chilling of oil based drilling fluids typically increases their viscosity while such subterranean heating of oil based drilling fluids typically reduces their viscosity. Preferably, thinners which reduce the viscosity of drilling fluids at low temperatures will not affect the viscosity of the fluids at high temperatures. That is, in many cases, a thinner is desired that is capable of “selectively” influencing the rheology or particularly reducing the viscosity of oil-based drilling fluids only at lower temperatures, such as may be encountered at the ground surface of the wellbore, or in the riser surrounded by waters above a deepwater offshore well, for example. Thinners and other additives to drilling fluids, as well as drilling fluids employed in onshore and offshore wells, must commonly meet stringent environmental regulations related to biodegradability and toxicity. Further, drilling fluids and additives to drilling fluids must be able to withstand subterranean conditions that the fluids will typically encounter in a wellbore, such as high temperatures, high pressures, and pH changes. A need exists for improved rheology-modifying or viscosity reducing additives to oil-based drilling fluids, and particularly to drilling fluids comprising invert (water-in-oil) emulsions, which are expected to be used in or to encounter low temperatures in drilling operations. As used herein, unless indicated otherwise, “low temperatures” shall be understood to mean temperatures at or below about 50° F. (about 10° C.).

<SOH> SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION <EOH>According to the method of the present invention, a compound is added to a water-in-oil or invert emulsion drilling fluid or well service fluid which reduces the viscosity of the drilling fluid or well service fluid at low temperatures or which enables or enhances the ability of the drilling fluid or well service fluid to maintain its viscosity at low temperatures. The compound, which may be generally called a “thinner,” continues to have this effect on a drilling fluid or well service fluid in drilling or servicing wellbores in subterranean formations, particularly hydrocarbon bearing subterranean formations. Further, this compound does not significantly affect the viscosity of the emulsion at high temperatures. The compound has the following formula: in-line-formulae description="In-line Formulae" end="lead"? R—(C 2 H 4 O) n (C 3 H 6 O) m (C 4 H 8 O) k -H in-line-formulae description="In-line Formulae" end="tail"? where R is a saturated or unsaturated, linear or branched alkyl radical having about 8 to about 24 carbon atoms, n is a number ranging from about 1 to about 10, m is a number ranging from about 0 to about 10, and k is a number ranging from about 0 to about 10. The invention also comprises the composition of a water-in-oil or invert emulsion drilling fluid or well service fluid containing this thinner compound.

Latex products

The present invention finds that a detackified natural rubber latex product can be provided by a combination of treatment with a hydrophilic group sealant, coating with a detackifying polymer, halogenation and the like. The present invention also finds that a detackified natural rubber latex product which causes no discoloration of a metallic product surface can be provided by coating it with a detackifying, carboxylated latex vulcanized without using sulfur. The present invention also finds that a detackified natural rubber latex product of controlled protein elution can be provided by chemically modifying protein present in the natural rubber latex with an anionic group, cationic group or the like.

1. A detackified natural rubber latex product, characterized in that both surfaces are provided with a detackified, diene-based carboxylated synthetic rubber latex coating layer. 2. A detackified natural rubber latex product with one or both surfaces detackified, characterized in that a natural rubber latex is incorporated with a detackifying hydrophilic polymer and/or hydrophilic group sealant. 3. A detackified natural rubber latex product with one or both surfaces detackified, characterized in that the surfaces of a natural rubber latex product are treated with a hydrophilic group sealant. 4. A detackified natural rubber latex product with one or both surfaces detackified, characterized in that a natural rubber latex is incorporated with at least one selected from the group consisting of nonionic polymer and anionic polymer, and cationic polymer and ampholytic polymer which cause no gelation of the natural rubber latex, and further with at least one selected from a hydrophilic group sealant and a carboxyl group sealant. 5. The detackified natural rubber latex product with one or both surfaces detackified according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that an external surface of a natural rubber latex product or a natural rubber latex product incorporated with a hydrophilic group sealant and/or hydrophilic polymer is detackified by providing at least one layer selected from the group consisting of a detackified polymer layer, a halogenation treated layer, a layer treated with a detackifying crosslinking agent of tri- or tetra-valent metallic element, and a layer treated with at least one of a peroxotitania solution, peroxotitania sol, zirconia sol or alumina sol, a layer treated with a hydrophilic group sealant and a layer treated with a carboxyl group sealant. 6. A detackified natural rubber latex product with one or both surfaces detackified, characterized in that the detackified polymer coating layer, as set forth in claim 5, on an external surface is a detackifying, diene-based carboxylated synthetic rubber latex coating layer or a detackifying, releasing agent coating layer. 7. A detackified natural rubber latex product with one or both surfaces detackified, characterized in that the detackifying polymer coating layer or the detackifying diene-based carboxylated synthetic rubber latex coating layer, as set forth in any one of claims 1, 5 and 6, on an external surface is detackified by incorporating the polymer or a diene-based carboxylated synthetic rubber latex with a hydrophilic group sealant or a carboxyl group sealant. 8. A detackified natural rubber latex product with one or both surfaces detackified, characterized in that the detackifying polymer coating layer or the detackifying diene-based carboxylated synthetic rubber latex coating layer, as set forth in claims 1, 5 and 6, on an external surface is detackified by at least one selected from a hydrophilic group sealant and a carboxyl group sealant incorporated in the natural rubber latex. 9. A detackified natural rubber latex product with one or both surfaces detackified, characterized in that the detackifying polymer coating layer or the detackifying, diene-based carboxylated synthetic rubber coating latex layer, as set forth in any one of claims 1, 5 and 6, on an external surface is detackified by treating a surface of the polymer coating layer or diene-based carboxylated synthetic rubber latex coating layer with at least one selected from a hydrophilic group sealant and a carboxyl group sealant. 10. A detackified, lubricating, diene-based carboxylated synthetic rubber latex coat or product with one or both surfaces detackified, characterized in that a lubricating, diene-based carboxylated synthetic rubber latex coat or product, which is incorporated with a reactive, cationic compound or the lubricating, diene-based carboxylated synthetic rubber latex coat or product treated with one or more carboxyl group sealants. 11. The detackified natural rubber latex product with one or both surfaces detackified according to claim 7, characterized in that an external surface is coated with a detackified, lubricating, diene-based carboxylated synthetic rubber latex incorporated with a reactive, cationic compound. 12. A detackified natural rubber latex product with one or both surfaces detackified, characterized in that an internal surface of the natural rubber latex product as set forth in any one of claims 1 to 11 is detackified with at least one selected from a hydrophilic group sealant and a carboxyl group sealant incorporated in the natural rubber latex. 13. A detackified natural rubber latex product with one or both surfaces detackified, characterized in that an internal surface of the natural rubber latex product as set forth in any one of claims 1 to 11 is detackified with at least one selected from a hydrophilic group sealant and a carboxyl group sealant incorporated in the detackified polymer coating layer or detackifying, diene-based carboxylated synthetic rubber latex coating layer on an external surface. 14. A detackified natural rubber latex product with one or both surfaces detackified, characterized in that an internal surface of the product as set forth in any one of claims 1 to 11 is detackified by providing a detackifying polymer layer, layer treated with detackifying crosslinking agent of tri- or tetra-valent metallic element, or a layer treated with a hydrophilic group sealant or a carboxyl group sealant. 15. A detackified natural rubber latex product with one or both surfaces detackified, characterized in that the detackifying polymer coating layer on an internal surface, as set forth in claim 14, is a detackifying, diene-based carboxylated synthetic rubber latex coating layer. 16. A detackified natural rubber latex product with one or both surfaces detackified, characterized in that the detackifying polymer coating layer or the detackifying, diene-based carboxylated synthetic rubber latex coating layer, as set forth in claim 14 or 15, on an internal surface is detackified by incorporating the polymer or the carboxylated synthetic rubber latex with at least one selected from a hydrophilic group sealant and a carboxyl group sealant. 17. A detackified natural rubber latex product with one or both surfaces detackified, characterized in that the detackifying polymer coating layer or the detackifying, diene-based carboxylated synthetic rubber latex coating layer, as set forth in claims 14 or 15, on an internal surface is detackified by coating the internal surface of the polymer coating layer or the carboxylated synthetic rubber latex coating layer with at least one selected from a hydrophilic group sealant and a carboxyl group sealant. 18. A detackified natural rubber latex product with one or both surfaces detackified, wherein the detackifying polymer coating layer or the detackifying, diene-based carboxylated synthetic rubber latex coating layer on an internal surface, as set forth in claims 14 or 15, is detackified with a hydrophilic group sealant or a carboxyl group sealant incorporated in the detackifying polymer coating layer or detackifying, diene-based carboxylated synthetic rubber latex coating layer, as set forth in any one of claims 1 and 5 to 7, on an external surface, or with a hydrophilic group sealant or a carboxyl group sealant incorporated in the natural rubber latex. 19. A detackified natural rubber latex product with one or both surfaces detackified, characterized in that the hydrophilic, nonionic polymer, as set forth in claim 4 or 5, has at least one hydrophilic group selected from the group consisting of hydroxyl (—OH), ether (—O—) and amide (—CONH2—) groups. 20. A detackified natural rubber latex product with one or both surfaces detackified, characterized in that the hydrophilic, anionic polymer, as set forth in claim 4 or 5, has at least one hydrophilic group selected from the group consisting of carboxyl (—COOM), sulfate ester (—OSO3M), sulfonate (—SO2OM), phosphate (—PO3HM or —PO3M2), phosphate ester, —SO2NH2, and —SO2NHCOR groups, where M is hydrogen atom, and alkali metal, ammonia or organoammonium; and R is an alkyl, phenyl which may be substituted or not, or naphthyl group which may be substituted or not. 21. A detackified natural rubber latex product with one or both surfaces detackified, characterized in that the hydrophilic, cationic polymer which causes no gelation of the natural rubber latex, as set forth in claim 4 or 5, has at least one compound selected from the group consisting of amine salt (primary, secondary or tertiary), quaternary ammonium or pyridinium salt, phosphonium salt and sulfonium salt. 22. A detackified natural rubber latex product with one or both surfaces detackified, characterized in that the hydrophilic, ampholytic polymer which causes no gelation of the natural rubber latex, as set forth in claim 4 or 5, has the hydrophilic group as set forth in claims 20 and 21. 23. A detackified natural rubber latex product with one or both surfaces detackified, characterized in that the hydrophilic polymer, as set forth in any one of claims 4, 5 and 19 to 22, is a water-soluble polysaccharide or derivative thereof. 24. A detackified natural rubber latex product with one or both surfaces detackified, characterized in that the water-soluble polysaccharide, as set forth in claim 23, is selected from the group consisting of carboxymethyl cellulose, methyl cellulose, ureaphosphate-esterified starch, cationized starch, ampholytic starch, guar gum, phosphate-esterified guar gum, ampholytic guar gum, sodium alginate, carrageenan, locust bean gum, and xanthan gum. 25. A detackified natural rubber latex product with one or both surfaces detackified, characterized in that the hydrophilic polymer, as set forth in any one of claims 4, 5 and 19 to 22, is water-soluble, water-sensitive or water-dispersible synthetic polymer. 26. A detackified natural rubber latex product with one or both surfaces detackified, characterized in that the hydrophilic polymer, as set forth in claim 25, is selected from the group consisting of ammonium polyacrylate, ampholytic polyacrylamide, polyethylene oxide, polyvinyl alcohol, cationic polyamide resin, carboxylate-based acrylic copolymer, cationic acrylic copolymer, N-methoxymethylated polyamide modification (water-soluble nylon), acrylate ester copolymer, polyvinyl butyral, and cationic styrene/acrylic acid copolymer. 27. A detackified natural rubber latex product with one or both surfaces detackified, characterized in that the water-dispersible synthetic polymer, as set forth in claim 25 is selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl acetate, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, styrene/acrylate ester copolymer, styrene/methacrylate ester copolymer, acrylate ester copolymer, alkali-thickened acrylic-based emulsion, methacrylate ester copolymer, vinyl acetate/acrylic acid copolymer, vinyl acetate/acrylate ester copolymer, vinyl acetate/methacrylic acid copolymer, vinyl acetate/methacrylate ester copolymer, polyacrylamide, polymethacrylamide, copolymerized polyamide emulsion, acrylamide-based copolymer, methacrylamide-based copolymer, anionic, cationic and ampholytic modifications of these polymers, polyvinyl butyral emulsion, and polyolefin containing carboxyl group. 28. A detackified natural rubber latex product with one or both surfaces detackified, characterized in that the detackifying, hydrophilic polymer, as set forth in claim 2, is at least one selected from the group consisting of methyl cellulose, locust bean gum, xanthan gum, carboxymethyl cellulose, alginate, carrageenan, and polyamide derivative. 29. A detackified natural rubber latex product with one or both surfaces detackified, characterized in that the hydrophilic group sealant or carboxy group sealant, as set forth in any one of claims 2 to 18, is a detackifying crosslinking agent of tri- or tetra-valent metallic element. 30. The detackified natural rubber latex product with one or both surfaces detackified according to claim 29, characterized in that the detackifying crosslinking agent of tri- or tetra-valent metallic element contains at least selected from the group consisting of aluminum, titanium and zirconium compounds. 31. A detackified natural rubber latex product with one or both surfaces detackified, characterized in that the hydrophilic group sealant or carboxy group sealant, as set forth in any one of claims 2 to 18 is at least one selected from the group consisting of peroxotitania solution, peroxotitania sol, zirconia sol and alumina sol. 32. A detackified natural rubber latex product with one or both surfaces detackified, characterized in that the hydrophilic group sealant or carboxy group sealant, as set forth in any one of claims 2 to 18, is a detackifying, hydrophobic, organic crosslinking agent for the hydrophilic polymer as set forth in claim 4 or 5 and/or an auxiliary component of natural rubber latex. 33. A detackified natural rubber latex product with one or both surfaces detackified, characterized in that the detackifying, hydrophobic, organic crosslinking agent, as set forth in claim 32, contains at least one selected from the group consisting of blocked isocyanate, oxazoline and carbodiimide. 34. The detackified natural rubber latex product with one or both surfaces detackified according to any one of claims 2 to 18, characterized in that the hydrophilic group sealant or carboxy group sealant contains at least one type of detackifying, hydrogen bond adjustors. 35. A detackified natural rubber latex product with one or both surfaces detackified, characterized in that the detackifying, hydrogen bond adjustor, as set forth in claim 34, is selected from the group consisting of a polyamide compound, polyamide epoxy resin, polyaminepolyurea-based resin and polyamidepolyurea-based resin. 36. A detackified natural rubber latex product with one or both surfaces detackified, characterized in that the hydrophilic group sealant or the carboxy group sealant as set forth in any one of claims 2 to 18, and the compound reactive with the carboxyl group in the carboxylated synthetic rubber latex as set forth in claim 10 or 11 are polyamide amine/epihalohydrin condensate, polyamine/epihalohydrin condensate, polyamidepolyurea/epihalohydrin condensate, polyaminepolyurea/epihalohydrin condensate, polyamideaminepolyurea/epihalohydrin condensate, polyamidepolyamine epichlorohydrin resin modified with a quaternary amino group, styrene-based polyamidepolyamine epichlorohydrin resin modified with a quaternary amino group, cation-modified urea resin, and cation-modified, epoxy-based polyamide resin. 37. A detackified natural rubber latex product with one or both surfaces detackified, characterized in that the hydrophilic group sealant or carboxy group sealant, as set forth in any one of claims 2 to 18, contains at least one compound selected from the group consisting of monofunctional amine, monofunctional epoxy compound, monofunctional isocyanate, monofunctional blocked isocyanate, alkyl ketene dimer (AKD), alkenyl ketene dimer, alkenyl succinic anhydride (ASA), aliphatic acid anhydride, and isocyanate aziridine derivative. 38. A detackified natural rubber latex product with one or both surfaces detackified, characterized in that the hydrophilic group sealant or the carboxy group sealant, as set forth in any one of claims 2 to 18, is a detackifying sizing agent. 39. A detackified natural rubber latex product with one or both surfaces detackified, characterized in that the hydrophilic group sealant or carboxy group sealant, as set forth in any one of claims 2 to 18 is a detackifying anionic, nonionic, or cationic surfactant. 40. A detackified natural rubber latex product with one or both surfaces detackified, characterized in that the detackifying waterproofing agent, as set forth in any one of claims 2 to 18, acts on a tacky auxiliary component of the natural rubber latex, incorporated hydrophilic nonionic, anionic, cationic or ampholytic polymer, or a polymer coating layer or a carboxylated synthetic rubber latex coating layer. 41. A detackified natural rubber latex product with one or both surfaces detackified, characterized in that the detackifying waterproofing agent, as set forth in claim 40, is a compound having a methylol group or lower alkylated compound thereof, aldehyde-based compound, a compound having an epoxy or chlorohydrin group, a compound having an ethyleneimine group, a polyvinyl butyral-based compound, or a tri- or tetra-valent multi-valent metallic compound. 42. A detackified natural rubber latex product with one or both surfaces detackified, characterized in that the detackifying waterproofing agent, as set forth in claims 40 and 41, is polyamide epoxy resin, branched polyethylene imine, modified polyamine-based resin, polyamide-based resin, ketone resin, alkyl ketene dimer, ammonium zirconium carbonate, or blocked glyoxal resin. 43. A detackified natural rubber latex product with one or both surfaces detackified, characterized in that the hydrophilic group sealant or carboxy group sealant, as set forth in any one of claims 2 to 18, is a detackifying water repellant. 44. A detackified natural rubber latex product with one or both surfaces detackified, characterized in that the hydrophilic group sealant or carboxy group sealant, as set forth in any one of claims 2 to 18, is a detackifying releasing agent. 45. A natural rubber latex product of controlled protein elution, characterized by being treated with a compound which can introduce an anionic and/or cationic group in protein in the natural rubber latex. 46. The natural rubber latex product of controlled protein elution according to claim 45, characterized in that the compound which can introduce an anionic and/or cationic group in the natural rubber latex is a compound reactive with protein in the natural rubber latex. 47. The natural rubber latex product of controlled protein elution according to claim 45, characterized in that the compound which can introduce an anionic and/or cationic group in the natural rubber latex is a fixing compound or compound which can be fixed. 48. The natural rubber latex product of controlled protein elution according to claim 46, characterized in that the compound which can introduce an anionic and/or cationic group in the natural rubber latex is reactive dye and derivative of carboxylic anhydride as anionic compounds; polyamideamine/epihalohydrin condensate, polyamine/epihalohydrin condensate, polyamidepolyurea/epihalohydrin condensate, polyaminepolyurea/epihalohydrin condensate, polyamideaminepolyurea/epihalohydrin condensate, polyamidepolyamine epichlorohydrin resin modified with a quaternary amino group, styrene-based, polyamidepolyamine epichlorohydrin resin modified with a quaternary amino group, cation-modified urea resin, cation-modified epoxy-based polyamide resin, crosslinking agent of multi-valent (trivalent or higher), and peroxotitania solution, peroxotitania sol, zirconia sol and alumina sol as cationic compounds. 49. The natural rubber latex product of controlled protein elution according to claim 47, characterized in that the fixing compound which can introduce an anionic and/or cationic group in the natural rubber latex is anionic, ampholytic and/or cationic starch. 50. The natural rubber latex product of controlled protein elution according to any one of claims 45 to 48, characterized in that the functional group reactive with protein of the compound which can introduce an anionic group in protein in the natural rubber latex is at least one selected from the group consisting of dichlorotriazine, difluorochlorotriazine, dichloroquinoxaline, monofluorotriazine, β-sulfatoethylsulfone, monochlorotriazine, trichloropyrimidine, carboxypyridino-S-triazine, α-bromoacrylamide, acrylamide, ω-chloroacetyl, epoxy and carboxyl anhydride. 51. A natural rubber latex product of controlled protein elution, characterized by being treated with a waterproofing agent (ketone resin) reactive with protein in natural rubber latex under an alkaline condition and capable of fixing the protein. 52. A detackified natural rubber latex product of controlled protein elution, characterized by being treated in a manner as set forth in any one of claims 45 to 51, and also in a manner as set forth in any one of claims 1 to 42. 53. A producing method of the detackified natural rubber latex product with one or both surfaces detackified, and/or the natural rubber latex product of controlled protein elution, as set forth in any one of claims 1 to 52, characterized by being leaching-treated subsequent to drying at high temperature. 54. The detackified natural rubber latex product with one or both surfaces detackified, and/or the natural rubber latex product of controlled protein elution, according to any one of claims 1 to 52, characterized by being a fingerstall, glove, balloon or condom. 55. A finger stall of a detackified natural rubber latex with one or both surfaces detackified, and/or a natural rubber latex of controlled protein elution, characterized in that the finger stall of the detackified natural rubber latex and/or natural rubber latex of controlled protein elution as set forth in claim 54 has a shape of being mechanically wound up from a mouth before being released out of a mold.

<SOH> BACKGROUND ART <EOH>Latex products of natural rubber, e.g., immersion-processed products (e.g., balloon, glove, fingerstall and condom); extruded products (e.g., rubber yarn and tube); formed products (e.g., balloon and toys); totally rubber products (e.g., rubber sheet, hose and cloth), and rubber-lined products, frequently have tacky surfaces, which may cause deteriorated processability of the products or defective products. In addition, they have disadvantages such as incapability of manufacturing products of a desired product shape. A detackifier has been used to solve these problems. It is generally powdery and referred to as powder. The common powder is of mica, talc, calcium carbonate, white carbon or corn starch. The powder may be transferred to an object which comes into contact with the latex product to possibly cause various problems, when the product is used in the precision area. It may also deteriorate the outer appearances of the latex product. The FDA has issued the regulations on the rubber glove for medical purposes in July 1999, limiting protein elution to 1,200 μg or less and powder quantity to 120 mg or less for each glove. The regulations will be more stringent to limit the powder quantity to 20 mg in and after 2001. The powder quantity is regarded as an important measure against latex-caused allergy, because it plays an important role in allergy sensibilization. Protein in latex of natural rubber will cause no allergy sensibilization, when orally taken, because it is easily decomposed by a digestive juice. However, the powder adsorbs the protein derived from latex of natural rubber at a high concentration during the production process, and is released into the atmosphere while the product is being used. When the powder is inhaled or comes into contact with the skin, the latex protein will be absorbed in a living body, to cause the allergy sensibilization. Therefore, the powder is an important mediator for the latex allergy, and new sensibilization of the latex allergy will be greatly diminished, if a latex product of natural rubber can be free of powder (Ken Yagami, Proceedings for 5 th Latex Allergy Meeting). Thus, making latex products of natural rubber powder-free is an important technical theme. The common tackiness prevention measures other than use of powder include halogenation by the post-chlorination treatment. For examples, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,411,982 and 3,740,262 disclose that a rubber glove has slippery surfaces, when treated for halogenation. U.S. Pat. No. 4,304,008 discloses that halogenation facilitates use of the rubber products free of powder. U.S. Pat. No. 3,740,262 discloses halogenation of globes to provide powder-free external surface and powder-coated internal surface. Halogenation is a fairly common method of preventing tackiness and blooming by coating the product surface with a thin, halogenated rubber layer, and provides the rubber products with clean, powder-free surface. U.S. Pat. No. 4,304,008 discloses a surgical glove comprising natural rubber for the internal layer and halogenated, durable silicone for the external layer, where the internal layer is halogenated to be detackified. U.S. Pat. No. 5,284,607, admitting defects involved in halogenation, discloses a method of forming a medical glove using an acid-soluble powder, which is subsequently treated with an acid, e.g., nitric acid, to dissolve the acid-soluble powder and then chlorinated with a bleaching agent. Various improvements are noted in methods of producing rubber products which use powder or substance of particular structure. U.S. Pat. No. 4,070,713 discloses a medical glove of two-layered structure with external and internal layers of an elastic material, where particles of zinc oxide, titanium oxide or the like are fast embedded in the internal layer and partly exposed to the inner surface coming into contact with the skin. U.S. Pat. No. 4,143,109 discloses the method of producing the above described patent. U.S. Pat. No. 5,138,719 discloses a method of producing a powder-free glove, fingerstall and similar products using latex and microcapsules, where the microcapsules are dispersed and disposed in the latex in such a way to increase in concentration towards the inner surface of the product from the outer surface. The microcapsules are present at a sufficiently high concentration on the inner surface to make the surface slippery, facilitating use of the product even in the absence of the powder. U.S. Pat. No. 5,881,386 discloses a glove of two-layered structure of polyvinyl chloride and polyester/polyurethane, the inner layer of polyester/polyurethane containing particles of 1 to 75 μm in size. Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-12823 discloses a technique for producing a glove which produces less dust for works in clean rooms, where the glove of polyvinylidine chloride paste sol is immersed in an inner surface treatment agent containing particles of 0.1 to 1.5 μm in size. Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-61527 discloses a rubber glove easily worn or taken off, provided with a slippery resin layer by immersing the glove in an aqueous dispersing solution containing synthetic rubber latex and an organic filler which are not coagulated in the absence of a coagulating agent contained in the glove body. National Publication of International Patent Application No. 9-501983 discloses a silicone-modified powder composition dispersible in water and method of producing the same, describing that the composition can be used as a blocking inhibitor. Recently, latex products coated with various materials have been developed. U.S. Pat. No. 4,310,928 provides a powder-free surgical glove coated on the natural rubber surface with oil, fat or lipophilic material dispersed in a coagulated liquid, where the coagulated liquid is incorporated with a surfactant to prevent separation of the oil, fat or lipophilic material. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,780,112 and 5,974,589 disclose a method of adhering a high-density, straight-chain hydrocarbon polymer, in particular polyethylene, to the natural rubber surface with the aid of chlorine generated from acidified hypochlorite, giving the treated latex product which is not tacky although free of powder. National Publication of International Patent Application No. 11-507085 discloses a flexible copolymer coating which can be fast adhesive to the rubber product surface and extended without being separated from the rubber surface to which it is bonded, and also discloses an emulsion-based copolymer of a reactive monomer of low surface energy (preferably silicone oligomer), alkyl acrylate and reactive, hard monomer, in consideration of releasability from an immersion mold and easiness of wearing under both dry and wet conditions. A number of methods have been proposed for producing a powder-free glove, which coat the rubber surface with a polymer capable of forming a hydrophilic hydrogel and then cure the polymer layer, e.g., by U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,326,742, 3,585,103, 3,607,473, 3,745,042, 3,901,755, 3,925,138, 3,930,076, 3,940,533, 3,966,530, 4,024,317, 4,110,495, and 4,125,477. U.S. Pat. No. 4,499,154 discloses a method of producing a talc-free product, where an immersion-processed product is immersed in a natural rubber latex, leached in hot water, impregnated with a diluted acid, treated with water or an aqueous alkali solution to neutralize the surface, immersed in a polymer capable of forming hydrophilic hydrogel (e.g., copolymer of 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate and methacrylic acid or 2-ethylhexyl acrylate) and a crosslinking agent solution therefor, heated to fix the coating layer to the rubber, treated to vulcanize the rubber, released out of the mold, spread with surfactant-containing silicone, and heated. The patent also discloses that the method improves slipping characteristics of the product for a wet hand, when the coating layer of the hydrogel polymer is crosslinked, and then treated with a cationic surfactant, e.g., long-chain aliphatic amine. This method, although giving a powder-free rubber product, needs many steps to unreasonably push up the production cost, and is impractical for production of a product sensitive to contamination with silicone. U.S. Pat. No. 4,575,476 discloses that the product coated with a specific 2-oxyethylmethacrylate-based hydrogel polymer has good slipping characteristics for a dry hand. It also describes that the product surface to come into contact with the skin has improved slipping characteristics for a wet hand, when the hydrogel coating layer is treated with a surfactant (in particular cationic one) and long-chain aliphatic amine, and that tackiness of the surface not coated with the hydrogel is greatly improved when it is treated with a silicone-containing surfactant. U.S. Pat. No. 5,688,855 describes that hydrophilicity of the solid surface gives surface lubricity in the presence of water, providing a method of automatically producing a hydrophilicity concentration gradient in the coating layer by coating the rubber product surface with a solution of polymer component capable of forming hydrogel and water-soluble polymer component low in compatibility with the above-described component in a solvent, and evaporating the solvent to separate these components from each other. Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-269708 discloses a glove comprising a base layer of rubber or resin laminated on the inner surface with a lubricating layer of collagen-containing rubber or resin. One of the disadvantages of the product produced by the method of coating the rubber surface is the interlayer exfoliation when the rubber is extended. U.S. Pat. No. 4,499,154 reinforces adhesion of the coating layer by undercoating the rubber surface with an acid. WO 93/06996-A1 proposes use of a polymer having a repeating structure of a specific ether and ester group as the coating layer. U.S. Pat. No. 4,548,844 discloses a method of improving adhesion between the rubber and hydrogel layers by acid treatment, describing that adhesion between these layers is improved when aluminum cations or trivalent or higher cations are applied before the hydrogel polymer, or incorporated in the polymer, conceivably because the hydroxyl or carboxyl group in the hydrogel polymer is bonded to the protein in the rubber latex. Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-70942 discloses a multi-layered product composed of the first layer of natural rubber, second layer of natural rubber, poly(acrylamide/acrylic acid) and polyethylene oxide, and third layer of acrylic copolymer and fluorocarbon telomere, claiming that the product can be worn under both dry and wet conditions in the absence of powder. Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-95867 discloses a method of producing a powder-free medical glove or the like which is coated with a lubricating composition composed of the first and second components in this order from the wearer's side of the elastomer product. The first composition is composed of at least one compound selected from the group consisting of acetylenediol, organically modified silicone, amino-modified silicone and cationic surfactant, and the second composition of at least one compound selected from the group consisting of cationic surfactant, organically modified silicone, amino-modified silicone and acetylenediol. Japanese Patent Publication No. 7-4405 discloses a technique for surface treatment with modified polysiloxane. One of the methods of producing powder-free rubber products coats the rubber product on one side by immersing in latex the mold lined with a coagulating agent, wherein a divalent metallic salt as the coagulating agent (e.g., calcium nitrate) and water-soluble surfactant (preferably nonionic) stable to the metallic salt are incorporated in the coagulating solution to stabilize the latex or resin polymer. This method by itself is not intended to detackify the rubber product, but can detackify it when a releasing agent or detackifier is incorporated as the third component in the coagulating agent composition. U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,286,011 and 3,411,982 by Kavalir et al disclose the above techniques. These patents, however, cannot make the product powder-free, because power is used as the releasing agent. It is described that salts of multi-valent metals (e.g., calcium, magnesium and aluminum) can be used as the latex coagulating agent for these patents. The above-described U.S. Pat. No. 4,310,928 discloses a technique for producing a surgical glove releasable from an immersion mold using a coagulating agent comprising a coagulating agent solution, e.g., that of calcium nitrate, dispersed with a lipophilic substance. National Publication of International Patent Application No. 10-508899 discloses a method of producing a powder-free rubber product by incorporating a coating composition of acrylic-based emulsion copolymer and silicone emulsion in a coagulating agent. The coating composition is produced by copolymerization of a reactive silicone acrylate, alkyl acrylate and hard monomer. It is described that such a composition is known, facilitates releasing when incorporated with a silicone emulsion, and gives the glove showing good wearing characteristics under both dry and wet conditions. EP 640,623 discloses a coagulating agent for natural rubber, composed of a salt-stable polychloroprene or polyurethane and divalent metal salt, and describes that a powder-free rubber glove can be produced by incorporating the coagulating agent with a releasing agent composed of polyethylene wax emulsion and cationic surfactant. Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-236466 uses a surfactant, polypropylene wax emulsion or the like as the tacky quenching or releasing agent in place of the above-described polyethylene wax emulsion, describing that it works as the agent to release polychloroprene from the immersion mold, because the cationic surfactant functions to stabilize polychloroprene to be incorporated in the coagulating solution and is more compatible with the immersion mold than with the polymer. Japanese Patent Publication No. 2-42082 discloses a coagulating agent composition composed of water incorporated with latex, surfactant and divalent or trivalent metallic salt. National Publication of International Patent Application No. 9-511708 employs the Teague process for producing a polyurethane-coated glove, wherein the glove is immersed in an aqueous dispersion or emulsion of polyurethane polymer or copolymer to form the first layer, which is then immersed in a coagulating agent and further in a latex compound to form the second layer. It also discloses a technique for forming a lubricating polymer layer on the second layer. The techniques for powder-free rubber products from novel starting materials are also disclosed. U.S. Pat. No. 5,851,683 proposes a special, consecutively copolymerized polymer for a powder-free glove of thermoplastic elastomer for use in clean rooms. These methods of preventing tackiness of latex products are important techniques both from production and purposes of the products, and various ones are proposed. However, they generally need complex steps, and few processes developed so far are simple, effective and economical. It is planned to regulate quantity of protein eluted out of natural rubber latex products in consideration of allergy possibly caused by them, and reduction of the quantity has been demanded. Halogenation is a known process for decomposition of the protein. Moreover, natural rubber latex products have been recently produced by new processes, wherein protein in natural rubber latex is enzymatically decomposed by the aid of protease (disclosed by, e.g., Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-56902). These natural rubber latex products involve various disadvantages, e.g., insufficient vulcanization characteristics and strength-related properties. They are tacky as is the case with common natural rubber latex products. The techniques for reducing allergen activity of natural rubber latex products are proposed by, e.g., WO97/08228, wherein protein in natural rubber latex is leached out in the process of producing the product, and protein eluted out in the vicinity of the latex film surface or in the treatment solution is reacted with an epoxy compound, glyoxal or the like. WO97/08228, however, is completely silent on reducing eluted quantity of the proteins planned to be regulated. Moreover, the epoxy compound, glyoxal or the like has mutagenicity, and may cause dermatitis. In addition, it is difficult to detackify a natural rubber latex product, when the tacky substance in leached out to the surface. It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel natural rubber latex product and method of producing the same, in consideration of the problems involved in the current techniques to detackify the product. It is another object to provide a natural rubber latex product which causes no discoloration of the metallic product surface by sulfur used for vulcanization. It is still another object to provide a natural rubber latex product which controls elution of protein and method of producing the same. It is still another object to provide a natural rubber latex product which is free of powder and detackified, and controls elution of protein.

<SOH> BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS <EOH>FIG. 1 is an oblique view of the immersion type carrier for the present invention. FIG. 2 describes a prototype production unit for the fingerstall of the present invention. FIG. 3 describes functions of the major parts of the winding-up unit. FIG. 4 shows the cross-section of the wound-up finger stall put on a finger. FIG. 5 describes the cross-section of the fingerstall wound on the finger. detailed-description description="Detailed Description" end="lead"? The symbols are 1 : chain, 2 : guide rail, 3 : immersion mold, 4 : rod, 5 : guide, 6 : immersion tank, 7 : drying furnace, 8 : winding-up machine, 10 : roll type brush, 11 : film, 12 : fingerstall, 13 : fingertip, 14 : finger, and 15 : wound-up mouth.

Display memory, driver circuit, display, and cellular information apparatus

A display memory able to reduce power consumption, able to generate graphics at a high speed, and not needing memory mapping, a driver circuit, a display using the driver circuit, and a portable information apparatus, wherein a CPU read circuit is connected to one bit line of a display memory 7, a display read circuit is connected to the other bit line, a write circuit is connected to both bit lines, the CPU read circuit and write circuit are assigned to the access from the CPU, the display read circuit is assigned to the display screen display, and further the access from the CPU and the reading to the display screen are assigned to different two level periods of a clock signal of the memory and independently controlled. Further, a drive power supply of the display memory is divided and a drive power supply voltage is supplied to the display memory for every memory cell or for every plurality of memory cells.

1. A display memory for storing pixel data to be supplied to pixels of a display, comprising: at least one pair of bit lines; at least one column of memory cells each having a first storage node and a second storage node able to hold states of a complementary first level and second level; a first read circuit for reading the stored data of said first storage node output to one bit line of said pair of bit lines; and a second read circuit for reading the stored data of said second storage node output to the other bit line of said pair of bit lines. 2. A display memory as set forth in claim 1, wherein said second read circuit inverts and outputs the level of the stored data of said second storage node output to said other bit line. 3. A display memory as set forth in claim 2, further comprising a write circuit for outputting the data of said first level and second level to said first and second storage nodes of said memory cells to each the pair of bit lines and writing the data into said memory cells. 4. A display memory as set forth in claim 3, wherein said memory comprises: a controlling means for controlling the operation of said display memory, a write port including at least one said write circuit, a first read port including at least one said first read circuit, and a second read port including at least one said second read circuit; said first read port supplies the data stored in said memory cell to said display; said second read port reads the data from said memory cell and outputs the same to said controlling means; and said write port writes the data from said controlling means into said memory cell. 5. A display memory as set forth in claim 4, wherein, in a first level period of a clock signal of said display memory, said first read port performs a first access for outputting the data read via said first read circuit to said display, and in a second level period of the clock signal of said display memory, said second read port and said write port perform a second access for outputting the data read via said second read circuit to said controlling means and inputting the write data to be written into said memory cell from said controlling means. 6. A display memory as set forth in claim 3, wherein: said memory comprises a bit selecting means for selecting the memory cell into which the data is to be written, and said write circuit outputs the data of said first level and second level at said first and second storage nodes of the memory cell selected by said bit selecting means to each of the pair of bit lines of the memory cell to be written. 7. A display memory as set forth in claim 3, wherein said memory comprises: a drive use power supply voltage source for said display memory and a switching device for selectively connecting a power supply voltage supply end of at least one memory cell and said drive use power supply voltage source. 8. A display memory as set forth in claim 5, wherein: signal terminals for said first access are arrayed at one side part of said display memory, signal terminals for said second access are arrayed in the other side part different from that one side part, and a first interface for said first access and a second interface for said second access are connected to said first access use signal terminals and said second access use signal terminals of said display memory while sandwiching said display memory therebetween. 9. A display memory as set forth in claim 8, wherein: said first interface has a first line latch for storing one line's worth of image data in a horizontal direction of pixels arrayed in said matrix, said write port outputs said one line's worth of data to the selected bit line via the first line latch, and said second read port outputs said one line's worth of data from said display memory to said controlling means. 10. A display memory as set forth in claim 8, wherein: said second interface has a second line latch for storing one line's worth of image data in the horizontal direction of pixels arrayed in a matrix, and said first read port outputs said one line's worth of data from said display memory to said display via the second line latch. 11. A display memory as set forth in claim 8, wherein, in said display, a plurality of pixel cells are arrayed in a matrix, in said display memory, a plurality of memory cells are arrayed in a matrix corresponding to the matrix array of said plurality of pixel cells, in each memory cell, the pixel data for driving the corresponding pixel cell of the matrix of said display is stored by said write port, and said first read port latches the image data in units of lines and supplies the same to the pixels of the corresponding line of said display. 12. A driver circuit for driving pixels arrayed in a matrix of a display by signals corresponding to image data stored in a display memory, wherein said display memory comprises: at least one pair of bit lines; at least one column of memory cells each having a first storage node and a second storage node able to hold states of a complementary first level and second level; a first read circuit for reading the stored data of said first storage node output to one bit line of said pair of bit lines; and a second read circuit for reading the stored data of said second storage node output to the other bit line of said pair of bit lines. 13. A driver circuit as set forth in claim 12, wherein, said second read circuit inverts and outputs the level of the stored data of said second storage node output to said other bit line. 14. A driver circuit as set forth in claim 13, wherein said display memory further comprises a write circuit for outputting the data of said first level and second level to said first and second storage nodes of said memory cells to each the pair of bit lines and writing the data into said memory cells. 15. A driver circuit as set forth in claim 14, wherein said display memory comprises: a controlling means for controlling the operation of said display memory, a write port including at least one said write circuit, a first read port including at least one said first read circuit, and a second read port including at least one said second read circuit; said first read port supplies the data stored in said memory cell to said display; said second read port reads the data from said memory cell and outputs the same to said controlling means; and said write port writes the data from said controlling means into said memory cell. 16. A driver circuit as set forth in claim 15, wherein, in a first level period of a clock signal of said display memory, said first read port performs a first access for outputting the data read via said first read circuit to said display, and in a second level period of the clock signal of said display memory, said second read port and said write port perform a second access for outputting the data read via said second read circuit to said controlling means and inputting the write data to be written into said memory cell from said controlling means. 17. A driver circuit set forth in claim 14, wherein: said display memory comprises a bit selecting means for receiving a write control signal and selecting the memory cell into which the data is to be written, and said write circuit outputs the data of said first level and second level at said first and second storage nodes of the memory cell selected by said bit selecting means to each of the pair of bit lines of the memory cell to be written. 18. A driver circuit as set forth in claim 14, wherein said display memory comprises: a drive use power supply voltage source for said display memory and a switching device for selectively connecting a power supply voltage supply end of at least one memory cell and said drive use power supply voltage source. 19. A driver circuit as set forth in claim 16, wherein: signal terminals for said first access are arrayed at one side part of said display memory, signal terminals for said second access are arrayed in the other side part different from that one side part, and a first interface for said first access and a second interface for said second access are connected to said first access use signal terminals and said second access use signal terminals of said display memory while sandwiching said display memory therebetween. 20. A driver circuit as set forth in claim 19, wherein: said first interface has a first line latch for storing one line's worth of image data in a horizontal direction of pixels arrayed in said matrix, said write port outputs said one line's worth of data to the selected bit line via the first line latch, and said second read port outputs said one line's worth of data from said display memory to said controlling means. 21. A driver circuit as set forth in claim 19, wherein: said first line latch stores for every pixel write control data for designating the pixel data to be written into said display memory in the pixel data latched in said first line latch, and said write port writes the pixel data latched at said first line latch designated by the write control data into said display memory. 22. A driver circuit as set forth in claim 19, wherein, in said display, a plurality of pixel cells are arrayed in a matrix, in said display memory, a plurality of memory cells are arrayed in a matrix corresponding to the matrix array of said plurality of pixel cells, in each memory cell of said display memory, the pixel data for driving the corresponding pixel cell of the matrix of said display is stored by said write port, and said first read port latches the image data in units of lines and supplies the same to the pixels of the corresponding line of said display. 23. A driver circuit as set forth in claim 22, wherein each image data in the one line of said display's worth of image data latched by said first line latch is stored in said display memory as image data for driving a corresponding pixel in the pixels of the corresponding line of said display. 24. A driver circuit as set forth in claim 19, wherein: said second interface has a second line latch for storing one line's worth of image data in the horizontal direction of pixels arrayed in a matrix, and said first read port outputs said one line's worth of data from said display memory to said display via the second line latch. 25. A driver circuit as set forth in claim 24, wherein a bit width of said second line latch is the same as a bit width of one line's worth of image data in the horizontal direction of said pixels arrayed in a matrix. 26. A driver circuit as set forth in claim 24, wherein said second interface further comprises: a selection circuit for sequentially selecting R, G, B data included in the image data held in said second line latch and converting said image data to time divided signals and digital/analog converting means for converting digital signals to analog signals, said selection circuit outputs the time divided signals obtained by time division of the R, G, B data included in said image data to said digital/analog converting means, and said digital/analog converting means convert the time divided signals to the analog signals and supply the same to said display. 27. A driver circuit as set forth in claim 26, wherein said selection circuit selects the R, G, B data included in the pixel data held in said line latch asynchronously to the clock signal of said display memory and converts them to time divided signals. 28. A driver circuit for driving pixels arrayed in a matrix of a display by signals corresponding to pixel data supplied from a controlling means and stored in the display memory, comprising: a line latch for storing one line's worth of pixel data in a horizontal direction of said pixels arrayed in a matrix and a driving means for writing the data supplied from said controlling means into said display memory via said line latch in units of said one line's worth of the image data, reading the image data from said display memory, and outputting the same to said controlling means. 29. A driver circuit as set forth in claim 28, wherein said driving means stores the image data in said line latch up to the amount of one line, then writes the same into said display memory at one time. 30. A driver circuit as set forth in claim 28, wherein said driving means outputs one line's worth of the image data in the horizontal direction of said pixels arrayed in a matrix at one time from said display memory to said line latch. 31. A driver circuit as set forth in claim 28, wherein said driving means stores each pixel data in one line's worth of pixel data of said pixels arrayed in a matrix held in said line latch in said display memory as pixel data for driving a corresponding pixel in pixels of a corresponding line among said pixels arrayed in a matrix. 32. A driver circuit as set forth in claim 28, wherein, said line latch stores for every pixel write control data for designating the pixel data to be written into said display memory in the pixel data held in said line latch, and said driving means writes the pixel data held in said line latch designated by the write control data into said display memory. 33. A driver circuit for driving pixels arrayed in a matrix of a display by signals corresponding to pixel data supplied from a controlling means and stored in the display memory, comprising: a line latch for storing one line's worth of pixel data in a horizontal direction of said pixels arrayed in a matrix and an outputting means for reading said image data from said display memory via said line latch in units of said one line's worth of the image data and outputting the same to the corresponding pixels of said display. 34. A driver circuit as set forth in claim 33, wherein a bit width of said line latch is the same as a bit width of one line's worth of image data in the horizontal direction of said pixels arrayed in a matrix. 35. A driver circuit as set forth in claim 32, wherein said outputting means performs a first access for outputting the image data stored in said display memory to said pixels in a first level period of a clock signal of said display memory, and said controlling means performs a second access for reading the image data stored in said display memory and writing the data to be written into said display memory in a second level period of the clock signal of said display memory. 36. A driver circuit as set forth in claim 32, wherein said circuit further comprises: a selection circuit for sequentially selecting R, G, B data included in the image data held in said line latch and converting said image data to time divided signals and digital/analog converting means for converting digital signals to analog signals, said selection circuit outputs the time divided signals obtained by time division of the R, G, B data included in said image data to said digital/analog converting means, and said digital/analog converting means convert the time divided signals to the analog signals and supply the same to said display. 37. A driver circuit as set forth in claim 36, wherein said selection circuit selects the R, G, B data included in the pixel data held in said line latch asynchronously to the clock signal of said display memory and converts them to time divided signals. 38. A display comprising: a display screen wherein pixels are arrayed in a matrix; a scanning circuit for scanning said pixel matrix by each row and supplying voltage to a selected row; a driver circuit for outputting signals corresponding to image data to said pixels; and a display memory for storing said image data, wherein said display memory has at least one pair of bit lines, at least one column of memory cells each having a first storage node and a second storage node able to hold states of a complementary first level and second level, a first read circuit for reading the stored data of said first storage node output to one bit line of said pair of bit lines, and a second read circuit for reading the stored data of said second storage node output to the other bit line of said pair of bit lines. 39. A display as set forth in claim 38, wherein said second read circuit inverts and outputs the level of the stored data of said second storage node output to said other bit line. 40. A display as set forth in claim 39, wherein said display memory further comprises a write circuit for outputting the data of said first level and second level to said first and second storage nodes of said memory cells to each the pair of bit lines and writing the data into said memory cells. 41. A display as set forth in claim 39, wherein said display memory comprises: a controlling means for controlling the operation of said display memory, a write port including at least one said write circuit, a first read port including at least one said first read circuit, and a second read port including at least one said second read circuit; said first read port supplies the data stored in said memory cell to said display; said second read port reads the data from said memory cell and outputs the same to said controlling means; and said write port writes the data from said controlling means into said memory cell. 42. A display as set forth in claim 41, wherein, in a first level period of a clock signal of said display memory, said first read port performs a first access for outputting the data read via said first read circuit to said display, and in a second level period of the clock signal of said display memory, said second read port and said write port perform a second access for outputting the data read via said second read circuit to said controlling means and inputting the write data to be written into said memory cell from said controlling means. 43. A display as set forth in claim 40, wherein: said display memory comprises a bit selecting means for receiving a write control signal and selecting the memory cell into which the data is to be written, and said write circuit outputs the data of said first level and second level at said first and second storage nodes of the memory cell selected by said bit selecting means to each of the pair of bit lines of the memory cell to be written. 44. A display as set forth in claim 40, wherein said display memory comprises: a drive use power supply voltage source for said display memory and a switching device for selectively connecting a power supply voltage supply end of at least one memory cell and said drive use power supply voltage source. 45. A display as set forth in claim 42, wherein: signal terminals for said first access are arrayed at one side part of said display memory, signal terminals for said second access are arrayed in the other side part different from that one side part, and a first interface for said first access and a second interface for said second access are connected to said first access use signal terminals and said second access use signal terminals of said display memory while sandwiching said display memory therebetween. 46. A display as set forth in claim 45, wherein: said first interface has a first line latch for storing one line's worth of image data in the horizontal direction of pixels arrayed in a matrix, and via said first line latch, said write port outputs said one line's worth of data to a selected bit line and said second read port outputs said one line's worth of data from said display memory to said controlling means. 47. A display as set forth in claim 45, wherein: said first line latch stores for every pixel write control data for designating the pixel data to be written into said display memory in the pixel data latched by said first line latch, and said write port writes the pixel data designated by the write control data into said display memory. 48. A display as set forth in claim 45, wherein, in said display, a plurality of pixel cells are arrayed in a matrix, in said display memory, a plurality of memory cells are arrayed in a matrix corresponding to the matrix array of said plurality of pixel cells, in each memory cell of said display memory, the pixel data for driving the corresponding pixel cell of the matrix of said display is stored by said write port, and said first read port latches the image data in units of lines and supplies the same to the pixels of the corresponding line of said display. 49. A display as set forth in claim 48, wherein each image data in the one line of said display's worth of image data latched by said first line latch is stored in said display memory as image data for driving a corresponding pixel in the pixels of the corresponding line of said display by said write port. 50. A display as set forth in claim 45, wherein: said second interface has a second line latch for storing one line's worth of image data in the horizontal direction of pixels arrayed in a matrix, and said first read port outputs said one line's worth of data from said display memory to said display via the second line latch. 51. A display as set forth in claim 50, wherein a bit width of said second line latch is the same as a bit width of one line's worth of image data in the horizontal direction of said pixels arrayed in a matrix. 52. A display as set forth in claim 51, wherein: said second interface further has: a selection circuit for sequentially selecting R, G, B data included in the image data held in said second line latch and converting said image data to time divided signals and digital/analog converting means for converting digital signals to analog signals; said selection circuit outputs the time divided signals obtained by time division of the R, G, B data included in said image data to said digital/analog converting means; and said digital/analog converting means convert the time divided signals to the analog signals and supply the same to said display. 53. A display as set forth in claim 52, wherein said selection circuit selects the R, G, B data included in the pixel data held in said second line latch asynchronously to the clock signal of said display memory and converts them to time divided signals. 54. A display comprising: a display screen wherein pixels are arrayed in a matrix; a scanning circuit for scanning said pixel matrix by each one row and supplying a voltage to a selected row; a driver circuit for outputting signals corresponding to image data to said pixels; and a display memory for storing said image data, wherein said driver circuit has: a line latch for storing one line's worth of image data in a horizontal direction of said pixels arrayed in a matrix and a driving means for writing the data supplied from said controlling means into said display memory or reading the image data from said display memory via said line latch in units of said one line's worth of the image data and outputting the same to said controlling means. 55. A display as set forth in claim 54, wherein said driving means stores the image data in said line latch up to the amount of one line, then writes the same into said display memory at one time. 56. A display as set forth in claim 54, wherein said driving means outputs one line's worth of the image data in the horizontal direction of said pixels arrayed in a matrix at one time from said display memory to said line latch. 57. A display as set forth in claim 54, wherein said driving means stores each pixel data in one line's worth of pixel data of said pixels arrayed in a matrix held in said line latch in said display memory as pixel data for driving a corresponding pixel in pixels of a corresponding line among said pixels arrayed in a matrix. 58. A display as set forth in claim 54, wherein: said line latch stores for every pixel write control data for designating the pixel data to be written into said display memory in the pixel data latched in said line latch, and said driving means writes the pixel data held in said line latch designated by the write control data into said display memory. 59. A display comprising: a display screen wherein pixels are arrayed in a matrix; a scanning circuit for scanning said pixel matrix by each row and supplying a voltage to a selected row; a driver circuit for outputting signals corresponding to the image data supplied from the controlling means to said pixels; and a display memory for storing said image data, wherein said driver circuit has: a line latch for storing one line's worth of image data in a horizontal direction of pixels arrayed in said matrix state and an outputting means for reading said image data from said display memory via said line latch in units of said one line's worth of image data and supplying the same to corresponding pixels of said display. 60. A display as set forth in claim 59, wherein a bit width of said line latch is the same as a bit width of one line's worth of image data in the horizontal direction of said pixels arrayed in a matrix. 61. A display as set forth in claim 59, wherein: said outputting means performs a first access for outputting the image data stored in said display memory to said pixels in a first level period of a clock signal of said display memory, and said controlling means performs a second access for reading the image data stored in said display memory and writing the data to be written into said display memory in a second level period of the clock signal of said display memory. 62. A display as set forth in claim 59, wherein: said driver circuit further comprises: a selection circuit for sequentially selecting R, G, B data included in the image data held in said line latch and converting said image data to time divided signals and digital/analog converting means for converting digital signals to analog signals; said selection circuit outputs the time divided signals obtained by time division of the R, G, B data included in said image data to said digital/analog converting means; and said digital/analog converting means convert the time divided signals to the analog signals and supply the same to said display. 63. A display as set forth in claim 62, wherein said selection circuit selects the R, G, B data included in the pixel data held in said line latch asynchronously to the clock signal of said display memory and converts them to time divided signals. 64. A portable information comprising: a display wherein a plurality of pixel cells are arrayed in a matrix and a display memory for storing pixel data to be supplied to pixel cells of said display, wherein said display memory has: a controlling means for controlling the operation of said display memory, a plurality of memory cells, each having a first storage node and a second storage node able to hold states of a complementary first level and second level, arrayed in a matrix corresponding to the matrix array of said plurality of pixel cells, a first read port for reading the stored data of said first storage node of each memory cell, a second read port for reading the stored data of said second storage node of each memory cell, a write port for writing pixel data for driving corresponding pixel cells of the matrix of said display into said memory cells, a first line latch for storing one line's worth of pixel data in the horizontal direction of said pixel cells arrayed in a matrix, and a second line latch for storing one line's worth of image data in the horizontal direction of said pixel cells arrayed in a matrix; said write port outputs said one line's worth of data to a plurality of said memory cells via said first line latch; said first read port latches the image data in said second line latch in units of lines and outputs the same to corresponding pixel cells of said display; and said second read port outputs said one line's worth of data to said controlling means via said first line latch.

<SOH> BACKGROUND ART <EOH>Liquid crystal displays are being widely used as display systems of mobile phones and PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants) and other portable information devices by making use of their light weight, thinness, low power consumption, and other features. Further, due to the spread of mobile phones and the Internet, the displays of portable information devices are being required to be further enlarged in size, offer color, and otherwise be improved in quality and are being strongly required to be ultra-low in power consumption for realizing long hours of usage. In liquid crystal drivers, therefore, it has become important to realize lower power consumption while handling larger screens and color. In conventional liquid crystal drivers, the power consumption of the logic circuits inside the LSI has been lowered by a variety of methods, but if dealing with the enlargement of size of screens or colorization and other improvements in image quality, the number of drive devices increases, so the power consumption rises accordingly. In order to realize lower power consumption, the method of building a display memory (also referred to as a “frame memory”) into a liquid crystal driver has been employed. This eliminates the need for a controller memory for transfer of display data, slashes the number of parts, and realizes a reduction of the power consumption. Further, a new drive system may be employed to reduce the power consumption. Concerning this subject, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 7-64514 discloses a liquid crystal driver having a built-in general purpose memory realizing high speed and lower power and a liquid crystal display using that driver. Further, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 2000-293144 discloses a liquid crystal display device using a liquid crystal driver with a built-in memory generating graphics with a low power consumption and at a high speed and able to reduce the load of the CPU. Further, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 7-281634 discloses a liquid crystal display using a liquid crystal driver with a built-in memory achieving lower power consumption and realizing high speed graphic drawing access. Further, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 7-230265 realizes a liquid crystal drive device improving the means of supply of power and having a built-in memory with a low power consumption and a large capacity. Further, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 7-175445 discloses a technique achieving lower power consumption and higher speed graphic drawing without lowering the operating efficiency of the system by building into the liquid crystal driver a display memory accessible by a general purpose memory interface. In the layout of an LSI of a liquid crystal driver having a built-in conventional display memory, however, the interface has terminals at one side of the general purpose memory cells, so general purpose interface signal interconnects must be detoured around them. Power is taken for the amount of those interconnects. Further, a conventional display memory uses data buses, address buses, and control signal buses for display and graphics drawing and requires bus arbitration. Due to this, if the number of accesses for display is large, the time for the drawing is reduced. Further, in the conventional system, the memory is accessed from the CPU for every group of pixels. Therefore, for example, when desiring to store one screen's worth of data from the CPU into the memory, (one screens's worth of number of pixels)/(number of pixels in group of pixels) of write operations to the memory are required, so the number of times of operation of the memory was large. The operating power consumption of the memory is proportional to the number of times of read/write operations, therefore consequently an increase of the power consumption is induced. Further, when transferring display data from the memory to the liquid crystal panel, one horizontal line on the display screen's worth of the display data was simultaneously output, but the data was read from the memory for this purpose not in amounts of one horizontal line at one time, but in amounts of an output data line of the liquid crystal driver. For example, when desiring to display one screen's worth of data stored in a memory on an LCD display screen, (one screen's worth of number of pixels)/(group of pixels) of read operations of the memory become necessary, so there is the disadvantage that power of the amount of the number of times of access is consumed. Further, in the conventional system, the operation has to be performed at the high frequency of the memory. No margin can be given to the access time of the CPU. Therefore, there is a disadvantage that this is not suited display of a moving picture requiring quick switching of the screen. Further, when using a conventional memory, the images of the memory array and the pixel array of the liquid crystal are not the same, so it is necessary to calculate where a pixel is in the memory at the time of drawing. Further, a conventional display memory rewrites all data to be written at one time when writing data. Accordingly, when there is a data which is not desired to be changed in the data to be written at one time, a so-called read-modify-write system which reads out the data in advance before rewriting the data, modifies the bits to be rewritten while masking the data not desired to be rewritten, and then writes the data into the memory is employed. For this reason, there were the disadvantages that the number of operation was large and power was consumed. Further, conventionally, when outputting image data stored in a display memory to a digital/analog converter (DAC), since RGB data corresponding to the three primary colors of the color cannot be output in a time division manner, the outputs of the display memory were directly connected to DACs in one-to-one correspondence. In this way, conventionally, since a DAC was necessary for every RGB data, the number of DACs was large and an increase of the power consumption was induced. In order to reduce the power consumption of the DACs, the settling time must be adjusted. Since the operating speeds of the DACs and the display memory are different, they must be separately controlled. Depending on the characteristics of the DACs, the phases of the input signals must be adjusted. Conventionally, however, when outputting the data of the display memory to the DACs, the timing for outputting the RGB data is fixed. The phase of the data cannot be freely changed to match with the characteristics of the DACs, so this necessity could not be coped with. Further, in order to lower the power consumption of a liquid crystal display, there is the method of lowering the power supply voltage. When the operating power supply voltage becomes smaller than 3.0V, however, malfunctions occur. Further, for a method of supplying power considering power conservation, there is a partial display mode used in a standby screen of mobile phones, but in this partial display mode, although nothing is displayed on the screen, leakage current of the memory cells still flows, so there is the disadvantage of consumption of power.

<SOH> BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS <EOH>FIG. 1 is a view of the overall configuration of a display according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram of a concrete example of the configuration of a memory cell of a display memory according to a first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a view of the configuration of principal parts of a driver circuit according to the first embodiment. FIGS. 4A to 4 F are timing charts of the operation of the display memory according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a view of the configuration of a display memory dividing a power supply according to a second embodiment. FIG. 6 is a schematic view of an address array of the display memory and the array of pixels on a display screen according to a third embodiment. FIG. 7 is a view of the configuration for accessing a display memory in units of lines according to the third embodiment. FIG. 8 is a view of the configuration of principal parts of a display memory able to write data for every bit according to a fourth embodiment. FIG. 9 is a view of the schematic circuit configuration on a CPU side of a driver circuit according to a fifth embodiment. FIGS. 10A to 10 F are timing charts of an operation for writing data in units of lines of the driver circuit according to the fifth embodiment. FIGS. 11A to 11 F are timing charts of an operation for reading data in units of lines of the driver circuit according to the fifth embodiment. FIG. 12 is a view of the schematic circuit configuration at the time of the writing for every pixel of the driver circuit according to a sixth embodiment. FIG. 13 is a view of the configuration enabling writing of data into the display memory for every pixel in the driver circuit according to the sixth embodiment. FIGS. 14A to 14 F are timing charts of an operation for writing data into the display memory for every pixel using a write flag signal according to the sixth embodiment. FIG. 15 is a view of the schematic circuit configuration on a display screen side of the driver circuit according to a seventh embodiment. FIG. 16 is a view of the configuration of principal parts of a display according to an eighth embodiment. FIGS. 17A to 17 F are timing charts of RGB time division of image data in a display according to the eighth embodiment. detailed-description description="Detailed Description" end="lead"?

Phase transfer of nanoparticles

The invention relates to phase transfers of nanoparticles and to a catalysis using said nanoparticles. The aim of the invention is to facilitate a transfer of nanoparticles from an organic solution to an inorganic, especially, aqueous solution. To this end, a generically describable substance class, for example the commercially available 4-dimethylaminopyridine (DMAP), which is for example dissolved in water, is added to the organic solution in sufficient amounts. This measure has the effect that the nanoparticles are readily transferred in a one-step process from the organic phase (in each case in the top section) to the inorganic phase (in each case in the lower section) in the sample container.

1-86. (canceled) 87. A method of transferring inorganic colloid particles from an organic phase into an aqueous or alcoholic phase, immiscible with the organic phase, said method using a phase transfer catalyst which comprises a hydrophobic component Y, a hydrophillic component X and an organic component Z, and concatenating the component X and Y, wherein the hydrophobic component Y comprises a weakly basic group, the hydrophillic component X comprises a strong basic, tertiary amino group and the groups are in conjugation via the organic component Z. 88. A method of transferring inorganic colloid particles from an organic phase into an aqueous or alcoholic phase, immiscible with the organic phase, said method using a phase transfer catalyst which comprises a hydrophobic component Y, a hydrophillic component X and an organic component Z, and concatenating the components X and Y, the hydrophobic component Y comprising a thiol group and the hydrophillic component X comprising a carboxylic group. 89. A method of transferring inorganic colloid particles from an organic phase into an aqueous or alcoholic phase, immiscible with the organic phase, said method using a phase transfer catalyst which comprises a hydrophobic component Y, a hydrophillic component X and an organic component Z, and concatenating the component X and Y, said transfer phase catalyst being mercaptopropyletrimethoxysilane. 90. The method of claim 87, wherein said phase transfer catalyst is 4-dimethylaminopyridine (DMAP). 91. The method according to claim 88, wherein said phase transfer catalyst is mercaptoundecanoic acid (MUA). 92. The method according to claim 87, wherein the ratio of the number of surface atoms of a colloid particle to the number of phase transfer catalyst molecules bound thereto is in a range from 0.1 to 10. 93. The method according to claim 88, wherein the ratio of the number of surface atoms of a colloid particle to the number of phase transfer catalyst molecules bound thereto is in a range from 0.1 to 10. 94. The method according to claim 89, wherein the ratio of the number of surface atoms of a colloid particle to the number of phase transfer catalyst molecules bound thereto is in a range from 0.1 to 10. 95. The method according to claim 92, wherein said ratio is about 1. 96. The method according to claim 93, wherein said ratio is about 1. 97. The method according to claim 94, wherein said ratio is about 1. 98. The method according to claim 87, wherein said colloid particles are at least one member of the group consisting of metal colloids, metal oxide colloids, and metal alloy colloids. 99. The method according to claim 88, wherein said colloid particles are at least one member of the group consisting of metal colloids, metal oxide colloids, and metal alloy colloids. 100. The method according to claim 89, wherein said colloid particles are at least one member of the group consisting of metal colloids, metal oxide colloids, and metal alloy colloids. 101. The method according to claim 98, wherein said metal is at least one member of the group consisting of gold, silver, iridium, platinum, palladium, nickel, iron, rhodium and ruthenium. 102. The method according to claim 99, wherein said metal is at least one member of the group consisting of gold, silver, iridium, platinum, palladium, nickel, iron, rhodium and ruthenium. 103. The method according to claim 100, wherein said metal is at least one member of the group consisting of gold, silver, iridium, platinum, palladium, nickel, iron, rhodium and ruthenium. 104. The method according to claim 98, wherein said metal oxide is at least one member of the group consisting of iron oxide, zinc oxide, titanium dioxide and tin oxide. 105. The method according to claim 99, wherein said metal oxide is at least one member of the group consisting of iron oxide, zinc oxide, titanium dioxide and tin oxide. 106. The method according to claim 100, wherein said metal oxide is at least one member of the group consisting of iron oxide, zinc oxide, titanium dioxide and tin oxide. 107. The method according to claim 87, wherein said colloid particles are semiconductor nanoparticles. 108. The method according to claim 88, wherein said colloid particles are semiconductor nanoparticles. 109. The method according to claim 89, wherein said colloid particles are semiconductor nanoparticles. 110. The method according to claim 87, wherein said colloid particles are inorganic nanoparticles which comprise rare earth elements. 111. The method according to claim 88, wherein said colloid particles are inorganic nanoparticles which comprise rare earth elements. 112. The method according to claim 89, wherein said colloid particles are inorganic nanoparticles which comprise rare earth elements. 113. The method according to claim 87, wherein said aqueous phase comprises water soluble components. 114. The method according to claim 88, wherein said aqueous phase comprises water soluble components. 115. The method according to claim 89, wherein said aqueous phase comprises water soluble components. 116. The method according to claim 1 13, wherein said aqueous phase comprises alcohols. 117. The method according to claim 1 14, wherein said aqueous phase comprises alcohols. 118. The method according to claim 115, wherein said aqueous phase comprises alcohols. 119. The method according to claim 87, wherein after said phase transfer has completed, said aqueous or alcoholic phase is separated from said organic phase. 120. The method according to claim 88, wherein after said phase transfer has completed, said aqueous or alcoholic phase is separated from said organic phase. 121. The method according to claim 89, wherein after said phase transfer has completed, said aqueous or alcoholic phase is separated from said organic phase. 122. An aqueous or alcoholic phase obtainable by the method according to claim 87. 123. An aqueous or alcoholic phase obtainable by the method according to claim 88. 124. An aqueous or alcoholic phase obtainable by the method according to claim 89. 125. A method for selectively coating surfaces of macroscopic bodies, comprising the step of using an aqueous or alcoholic phase obtainable by transferring inorganic colloid particles from an organic phase into an aqueous or alcoholic phase, immiscible with said organic phase, by using a phase transfer catalyst which comprises a hydrophobic component Y, a hydrophillic component X and an organic molecule Z, and concatenating said components X and Y, one condition being present from the group consisting of: (1) said hydrophobic component Y comprising a weakly basic group, said hydrophillic component X comprising a strongly basic, tertiary amino group, and said groups being in conjugation via said organic component Z, (2) said hydrophobic component Y comprising a thiol group and said hydrophillic component X comprising a carboxylic group, and (3) said phase transfer catalyst being mercaptopropyletrimethoxysilane. 126. A method for selectively coating carrier particles, comprising the step of using an aqueous or alcoholic phase obtainable by transferring inorganic colloid particles from an organic phase into an aqueous or alcoholic phase, immiscible with said organic phase, by using a phase transfer catalyst which comprises a hydrophobic component Y, a hydrophillic component X and an organic molecule Z, and concatenating said components X and Y one condition being present from the group consisting of: (1) said hydrophobic component Y comprising a weakly basic group, said hydrophillic component X comprising a strongly basic, tertiary amino group, and said groups being in conjugation via said organic component Z, (2) said hydrophobic component Y comprising a thiol group and said hydrophillic component X comprising a carboxylic group, and (3) said phase transfer catalyst being mercaptopropyletrimethoxysilane. 127. A method for marking biologically derived molecules, comprising the step of using an aqueous or alcoholic phase obtainable by transferring inorganic colloid particles, from an organic phase into an aqueous or alcoholic phase, immiscible with said organic phase, by using a phase transfer catalyst which comprises a hydrophobic component Y, a hydrophillic component X and an organic molecule Z, and concatenating said components X and Y one condition being present from the group consisting of: (1) said hydrophobic component Y comprising a weakly basic group, said hydrophillic component X comprising a strongly basic, tertiary amino group, and said groups being in conjugation via said organic component Z, (2) said hydrophobic component Y comprising a thiol group and said hydrophillic component X comprising a carboxylic group, and (3) said phase transfer catalyst being mercaptopropyletrimethoxysilane. 128. A paint, comprising a dye solution having an aqueous or alcoholic phase produced by transferring inorganic colloid particles from an organic phase into an aqueous or alcoholic phase, immiscible with said organic phase, by using a phase transfer catalyst which comprises a hydrophobic component Y, a hydrophillic component X and an organic molecule Z, and concatenating said components X and Y one condition being present from the group consisting of: (1) said hydrophobic component Y comprising a weakly basic group, said hydrophillic component X comprising a strongly basic, tertiary amino group, and said groups being in conjugation via said organic component Z, (2) said hydrophobic component Y comprising a thiol group and said hydrophillic component X comprising a carboxylic group, and (3) said phase transfer catalyst being mercaptopropyletrimethoxysilane. 129. A printing ink, comprising a dye solution having an aqueous or alcoholic phase produced by transferring inorganic colloid particles from an organic phase into an aqueous or alcoholic phase, immiscible with said organic phase, by using a phase transfer catalyst which comprises a hydrophobic component Y, a hydrophillic component X and an organic molecule Z, and concatenating said components X and Y one condition being present from the group consisting of: (1) said hydrophobic component y comprising a weakly basic group, said hydrophillic component X comprising a strongly basic, tertiary amino group, and said groups being in conjugation via said organic component Z, (2) said hydrophobic component Y comprising a thiol group and said hydrophillic component X comprising a carboxylic group, and (3) said phase transfer catalyst being mercaptopropyletrimethoxysilane. 130. A varnish, comprising a dye solution having an aqueous or alcoholic phase produced by transferring inorganic colloid particles from an organic phase into an aqueous or alcoholic phase, immiscible with said organic phase, by using a phase transfer catalyst which comprises a hydrophobic component Y, a hydrophillic component X and an organic molecule Z, and concatenating said components x and y one condition being present from the group consisting of: (1) said hydrophobic component Y comprising a weakly basic group, said hydrophillic component X comprising a strongly basic, tertiary amino group, and said groups being in conjugation via said organic component Z, (2) said hydrophobic component Y comprising a thiol group and said hydrophillic component X comprising a carboxylic group, and (3) said phase transfer catalyst being mercaptopropyletrimethoxysilane. 131. An article, having a coating formed of one of a varnish, a paint and an ink produced by using an aqueous or alcoholic phase obtainable by transferring inorganic colloid particles from an organic phase into an aqueous or alcoholic phase, immiscible with said organic phase, by using a phase transfer catalyst which comprises a hydrophobic component Y, a hydrophillic component X and an organic molecule Z, and concatenating said components X and Y one condition being present from the group consisting of: (1) said hydrophobic component Y comprising a weakly basic group, said hydrophillic component X comprising a strongly basic, tertiary amino group, and said groups being in conjugation via said organic component Z, (2) said hydrophobic component Y comprising a thiol group and said hydrophillic component X comprising a carboxylic group, and (3) said phase transfer catalyst being mercaptopropyletrimethoxysilane. 132. A method of homogeneous, heterogeneous, or mixed-phase catalysis, comprising the step of utilizing an aqueous or alcoholic phase obtainable by transferring inorganic colloid particles from an organic phase into an aqueous or alcoholic phase, immiscible with said organic phase, by using a phase transfer catalyst which comprises a hydrophobic component Y, a hydrophillic component X and an organic molecule Z, and concatenating said components X and Y one condition being present from the group consisting of: (1) said hydrophobic component Y comprising a weakly basic group, said hydrophillic component X comprising a strongly basic, tertiary amino group, and said groups being in conjugation via said organic component Z, (2) said hydrophobic component Y comprising a thiol group and said hydrophillic component X comprising a carboxylic group, and (3) said phase transfer catalyst being mercaptopropyletrimethoxysilane. 133. The method of claim 125, further comprising the step of removing the solvent from said aqueous or alcoholic phase so as to obtain one of a powder and a slurry comprising a powder. 134. The method of claim 126, further comprising the step of removing the solvent from said aqueous or alcoholic phase so as to obtain one of a powder and a slurry comprising a powder. 135. The method of claim 127, further comprising the step of removing the solvent from said aqueous or alcoholic phase so as to obtain one of a powder and a slurry comprising a powder. 136. The method according to claim 133, further including washing the powder or slurry with a solvent for removing said phase transfer catalyst. 137. The method according to claim 134, further including washing the powder or slurry with a solvent for removing said phase transfer catalyst. 138. The method according to claim 135, further including washing the powder or slurry with a solvent for removing said phase transfer catalyst. 139. The paint according to claim 128, wherein the aqueous or alcoholic phase has a solvent removed so that one of a powder and a slurry comprising a powder is obtainable. 140. A printing ink according to claim 129, wherein the aqueous or alcoholic phase has a solvent removed so that one of a powder and a slurry comprising a powder is obtainable. 141. A varnish according to claim 130, wherein the aqueous or alcoholic phase has a solvent removed so that one of a powder and a slurry comprising a powder is obtainable. 142. The method according to claim 87, wherein said colloid particles are comprised of gold colloids. 143. The method of claim 87, wherein said phase transfer catalyst is DMAP. 144. Aqueous phase obtainable by the method according to claim 142. 145. Aqueous phase obtained by the method according to claim 143.

Ultrasonic reflux system for one-step purification of carbon nanostructures

Reflux systems and methods for purifying carbon nanostructures using same are provided. The reflux system includes a solvent flask, an extraction tube connected to the solvent flask by a siphon tube and a vapor tube each extending between the extraction tube and the solvent flask, and an energy application disposed around the bottom portion of the extraction tube. The reflux systems can be used in a one-step method of purifying carbon nanostructures that includes placing a soot sample that contains the carbon nanostructures and amorphous carbon in a filter and disposing the filter in the extraction tube.

1-31. (canceled) 32. A reflux system comprising: a solvent supply device; an extraction tube connected to the solvent supply device, wherein the extraction tube has a top portion and a bottom portion; a siphon tube extending from the bottom portion of the extraction tube, and connected to the solvent source; and an energy applicator disposed around the bottom portion of the extraction tube. 33. The reflux system according to claim 32, wherein the solvent supply device is a solvent flask, and the reflux system further comprises a vapor tube connected between the solvent flask and the extraction tube. 34. The reflux system according to claim 33, further comprising a condenser connected to the top portion of the extraction tube. 35. The reflux system according to claim 33, further comprising a supply tube connected to the extraction tube through which material can be introduced into the extraction tube. 36. The reflux system according to claim 32, wherein the energy applicator is an ultrasonic vibrator. 37. A reflux system comprising: a solvent source including a solvent flask and a vapor tube connected to the solvent flask; an extraction tube having a top portion and a bottom portion, wherein the extraction tube is connected to the vapor tube allowing the extraction tube to be in communication with the solvent flask; a condenser connected to the top portion of the extraction tube, wherein the condenser is in communication with the vapor tube; a siphon tube extending from the bottom portion of the extraction tube, and connected to the solvent flask; and a supply tube connected to the extraction tube through which material can be introduced into the extraction tube. 38. The reflux system according to claim 37, further comprising an energy applicator disposed around the bottom portion of the extraction tube. 39. The reflux system according to claim 38, wherein the energy applicator is an ultrasonic vibrator. 40. A one-step method of purifying carbon nanotubes, comprising: placing a soot sample that contains the carbon nanotubes together with amorphous carbon in a filter and disposing the filter in a lower portion of an extraction tube; introducing an oxidizing agent into the extraction tube to oxidize the amorphous carbon; introducing a solvent into the extraction tube so as to contact the filter, collect in the lower portion of the extraction tube, and dissolve the oxidized amorphous carbon from the soot sample; and removing the solvent from the extraction tube allowing the carbon nanotubes to remain in the filter, wherein the method of purifying carbon nanotubes is carried out at ambient temperature. 41. The method according to claim 40, wherein the soot sample includes metal catalyst particles, and the method further comprises introducing acid into the extraction tube allowing the acid to remove the metal catalyst particles from the soot sample. 42. The method according to claim 41, wherein the step of introducing an oxidizing agent includes introducing oxidizing gas, the step of introducing acid into the extraction tube includes introducing acid vapor, and further wherein the acid vapor is simultaneously introduced with the oxidizing gas. 43. The method according to claim 41, wherein the step of introducing solvent includes introducing solvent vapor to the extraction tube and condensing the solvent vapor, and wherein the step of introducing acid into the extraction tube includes introducing acid vapor along with the solvent vapor. 44. The method according to claim 40, further comprising applying energy to the soot sample so as to disperse agglomerations. 45. The method according to claim 44, wherein the energy is ultrasonic vibration. 46. The method according to claim 45, wherein the step of applying energy is performed simultaneously with the step of introducing an oxidizing agent and simultaneously with the step of introducing solvent. 47. The method according to claim 40, wherein the solvent has a dipole greater than or equal to about 1. 48. A one-step method of purifying carbon nanostructures, comprising: placing a soot sample that contains the carbon nanostructures in combination with amorphous carbon in a filter and disposing the filter in a lower portion of an extraction tube; introducing solvent into the extraction tube so as to contact the filter, collect in the lower portion of the extraction tube, and dissolve one of the amorphous carbon and the carbon nanostructures from the soot sample; applying energy to the soot sample in the extraction tube so as to disperse agglomerations; and removing the solvent, and the one of the amorphous carbon and carbon nanostructures dissolved therein, from the extraction tube so that the other one of the amorphous carbon and the carbon nanostructures remains in the filter. 49. The method according to claim 48, wherein the step of applying energy includes applying ultrasonic vibration. 50. The method according to claim 48, further comprising carrying out the method of purifying carbon nanostructures at ambient temperature. 51. The method according to claim 48, further comprising introducing an oxidizing agent into the extraction tube to oxidize the amorphous carbon. 52. The method according to claim 51, wherein the step of introducing solvent includes introducing a solvent having a dipole greater than or equal to about 1 so that the carbon nanostructures remain in the filter, whereas the oxidized amorphous carbon is dissolved in the solvent. 53. The method according to claim 51, further comprising introducing acid into the extraction tube to remove metallic particles from the soot sample. 54. The method according to claim 53, wherein the step of introducing an oxidizing agent includes introducing an oxidizing gas, wherein the step of introducing acid into the extraction tube includes introducing acid vapor, and wherein the acid vapor is introduced simultaneously with the oxidizing gas. 55. The method according to claim 53, wherein the step of introducing solvent to the extraction tube includes introducing solvent vapor into the extraction tube and condensing the solvent vapor, and wherein the step of introducing acid into the extraction tube includes introducing acid vapor along with the solvent vapor. 56. The method according to claim 48, wherein the step of introducing solvent includes introducing a solvent having a dipole less than about 1, so that the carbon nanostructures are dispersed in the solvent, whereas the amorphous carbon remains in the filter. 57. The method according to claim 56, wherein the step of introducing solvent includes introducing solvent vapor with an inert gas, and then condensing the solvent vapor. 58. A one-step method of purifying carbon fullerenes, comprising: placing a soot sample that contains the carbon fullerenes together with amorphous carbon in a filter and disposing the filter in a lower portion of an extraction tube; introducing a solvent into the extraction tube so as to contact the filter, collect in the lower portion of the extraction tube, and form a solution with the fullerenes from the soot sample, wherein the solvent has a dipole moment less than about 1; and removing the solvent containing the fullerenes from the extraction tube so that the amorphous carbon remains in the filter, wherein the above steps are carried out at ambient temperature. 59. The method according to claim 58, further comprising applying ultrasonic energy to the soot sample so as to disperse agglomerations. 60. The method according to claim 59, wherein the step of applying energy is performed simultaneously with the step of introducing solvent. 61. The method according to claim 58, wherein the step of introducing solvent includes evaporating the solvent from a flask, causing the solvent to travel along an evaporation tube to a condenser, and condensing the evaporated solvent in the condenser so that the solvent is introduced to the extraction tube, and wherein the step of removing the solvent includes returning the solvent to the flask. 62. The method according to claim 61, wherein the step of introducing solvent includes using an inert gas to assist in causing the evaporated solvent to travel along an evaporation tube, and further comprising maintaining an atmosphere, in the extraction tube, without oxidizing agents.

<SOH> BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION <EOH>The present invention relates to a reflux systems, and methods, for purifying carbon nanostructures. More particularly, the present invention relates to improved apparatusses and systems and methods of using same to purify carbon nanostructures, including single wall nanotubes (SWNTs), multi-wall nanotubes (MWNTs), fullerenes, endohedral metallofullerenes, carbon nanofibers, and other carbon-containing nano-materials. The reflux systems and methods are particularly useful for purifying SWNTs. One known method of purifying carbon nanostructures includes baking a soot sample at 750° C. in air for about thirty minutes. See “Purification of nanotubes” by Ebbesen et al, Nature, vol. 367, 10 February 1994, p. 519. However, Ebbesen's method is directed to the purification of MWNTs; such high heat in this process tends to damage, or even destroy, SWNTs. Other known methods of purifying carbon nanostructures involve multiple steps carried out in multiple apparatuses. See “Purification Procedure for Single-Walled Nanotubes” by K. Tohji et al., J. Phys. Chem. B, vol. 101, 1997, p. 1974-1978, for example. That is, soot produced by arc-discharge includes many byproducts such as metal particles, fullerenes, buckyonions, and a large amount of amorphous carbon together with the desired SWNTs. Thus, heretofore, many steps carried out in multiple apparatuses have been necessary for purifying SWNTs. The steps typically include, for example, hydrothermally initiated dynamic extraction (HIDE), sonication, filtration, drying, washing, heat treatment, and acid treatment. But many of the processes are performed in different apparatuses, thereby necessitating removal of the soot sample from one apparatus and placing it in another apparatus. Still other known methods include microfiltration, and some even use ultrasound to assist in the filtration. See “Purification of single-wall carbon nanotubes by ultrasonically assisted filtration” by Konstantin B. Shelimov et al., Chem. Phys. Lett., vol. 282, 1998, p. 429-434, for example. In such methods, however, multiple steps are still necessary, and the yield remains low. That is, the soot is first suspended in toluene and filtered to extract soluble fullerenes. Then, the toluene-insoluble fraction is re-suspended in methanol and filtered with assistance of an ultrasonic horn inserted into the filtration funnel. Finally, a separate acid wash is performed to remove metal particles. Therefore, because of the many steps and apparatuses necessary, these methods have been implemented mainly for diluted and relatively pure raw materials such as those synthesized by laser ablation; they are inefficient for large quantities of low-purity raw materials. Lastly, a dilute nitric acid reflux technique has been performed to purify SWNTs. See “A Simple and Complete Purification of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotube Materials”, by Anne C. Dillon et al., Advanced Materials 1999, vol. 11, no. 16, p. 1354-1358. But this process still requires three steps—including an oxidation step in which the carbon is heated to 550° C.—carried out in different apparatuses. Therefore, this process suffers the same drawbacks as like processes discussed above. Namely, the different steps require transference of the soot, the heating step damages or destroys SWNTs, and the method is effective only for high-purity soot. Because the related art purification methods include multiple steps, performed in multiple apparatuses, these methods are time consuming and labor intensive. Additionally, there is risk that some of the sample is lost, contaminated, or destroyed in transit from one apparatus to another. Further, because of the large amount of amorphous carbon in the soot samples, and the heating steps, these methods have only been able to achieve a low yield (about 5 wt %) of 95% pure SWNTs.

<SOH> SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION <EOH>The present invention relates to improved reflux systems and methods for purifying carbon nanostructures. For example, the present invention can avoid using heat, especially high heat, to purify carbon nanostructures because such high heat tends to damage the carbon nanostructures. In fact, high heat tends to destroy SWNTs altogether, whereas it merely tends to burn off the outer layers of MWNTs. The present invention can provide methods and apparatuses that are useful for purifying large quantities of low-purity raw materials, such as those synthesized by arc-discharge. The present invention can also purify such materials in a highly efficient manner which yields a high percentage of the desired carbon nanostructures. Still further, the present invention can provide apparatuses and methods that are simple and less complex in design and construction by which various forms of carbon nanostructures can be purified. That is, the present apparatus and method can be used to purify carbon nanotubes, extract fullerenes, or both, from a given soot sample. In order to avoid using heat to purify carbon nanostructures, the present invention is carried out at ambient, or room temperature according to an embodiment. When purifying carbon nanotubes, an oxidizing gas is introduced into the soot sample in order to oxidize the amorphous carbon therein, and a solvent is used to remove the oxidized amorphous carbon. When purifying fullerenes, the amorphous carbon is not oxidized but, instead, a solvent is used to remove the fullerenes from the soot sample. In any case, because the carbon nanostructures are purified at ambient temperature, they are not damaged by high heat. Further, the use of little, or no, heat leads to an increased yield of carbon nanostructures, especially SWNTs, because the carbon nanostructures are not destroyed in the purification process. In order to avoid transferring the soot sample between apparatuses, thereby reducing the time required for purification as well as reducing the risk of contaminating or damaging a sample, the methods of the present invention can be performed in a single apparatus. That is, the soot sample and products separated therefrom can remain in one apparatus until the desired structures are purified. Further, because the present invention does not require soot transference, it is less labor intensive and, therefore, less costly. In order to increase the yield of the desired carbon nanostructure specially SWNTs—from low-purity raw materials, the present method and apparatus use a one-step process in an embodiment. In the one-step process, amorphous carbon is oxidized, oxidized amorphous carbon is removed, and metallic particles are removed, in a short period of time because these processes are carried out by the same apparatus. Additionally, the processes can be performed simultaneously thereby further increasing the speed of the process. Moreover, energy—such as ultrasonic vibrations, or microwaves, for exampl—can be used to assist in dispersing agglomerations thereby making more of the soot sample available to the other processes and, hence, make the process more efficiently attain a higher yield. The ultrasonic energy is applied with the soot remaining in the same apparatus, and may be applied at the same time as the other processes, thereby reducing the time necessary to purify the sample. Because the time for purification is reduced, a relatively large, low-purity, sample efficiently can be purified. A reflux system including a solvent flask, an extraction tube connected to the solvent flask by a siphon tube and a vapor tube each extending between the extraction tube and the solvent flask, and an energy applicator disposed around the bottom portion of the extraction tube is provided pursuant to an embodiment of the present invention. Further, a condenser is connected to the top portion of the extraction tube. A supply tube is connected to the extraction tube, whereby material can be introduced into the extraction tube. The reflux system is used in a one-step method, of purifying carbon nanostructures, including placing a soot sample—containing the carbon nanostructures and amorphous carbon—in a filter and disposing the filter in the extraction tube. Solvent is then introduced into the extraction tube so as to collect in the lower portion thereof, and remove one of the amorphous carbon and the carbon nanostructures from the soot. Further, the energy applicator is used to apply ultrasonic vibrations to the soot so as to disperse agglomerations therein. The solvent, and the one of the amorphous carbon and carbon nanostructures dissolved therein, is then removed from the extraction tube so that the other one of the amorphous carbon and the carbon nanostructures remains in the filter. Further, the method is performed at ambient temperature, an oxidizing gas is introduced into the extraction tube to oxidize the amorphous carbon, and acid is introduced into the extraction tube to remove metallic particles from the soot. Additional features and advantages of the present invention are described in, and will be apparent from, the following Detailed Description of the Invention and the figures.

Devices and methods for controlled delivery from a drug delivery device

The invention features a plug for use with a drug delivery device, wherein the plug defines an expansion control channel, which accommodates thermal expansion of a formulation in a reservoir of a drug delivery device, and an exit channel. In one embodiment, the plug comprises an inner plug member and an outer plug member, which members define an expansion control channel to facilitate release of entrapped air and to accommodate thermal expansion of formulation from the sealed drug reservoir. The plug further defines an exit channel, and may optionally further comprise a frit positioned within the flow pathway just prior to the delivery outlet, or both.

1. A plug defining an inlet, an expansion control channel, and an outlet, wherein during use the inlet, expansion control channel and outlet define a flow path from a reservoir of a drug delivery device, through the plug, and out of the drug delivery device. 2. The plug of claim 1, wherein the plug comprises: an inner plug member; and an outer plug member. 3. The plug of claim 2, wherein the outer plug member is adapted to receive the inner plug member. 4. The plug of claim 2, wherein the inner plug member is slidable within the expansion control channel. 5. The plug of claim 2, wherein the expansion control channel is defined by the outer plug member. 6. The plug of claim 2, wherein the expansion control channel is defined by an inner wall of the drug delivery device. 7. The plug of claim 4, wherein during use the inner plug member is slidable to a first position to accommodate thermal expansion of a formulation in the drug delivery device reservoir. 8. The plug of claim 4, wherein the inner plug member is slidable to a second position to provide for fluid communication between the expansion control channel and the outlet. 9. The plug of claim 8, wherein the plug further defines an exit channel positioned between the expansion control channel and the outlet. 10. The plug of claim 2, wherein at least a portion of the expansion control channel is defined by an outer wall of the inner plug member and an inner wall of the outer plug member. 11. The plug of claim 2, wherein the plug further comprises a frit positioned in the flow path prior to the outlet. 12. The plug of claim 1, wherein the plug further defines an exit channel positioned in the flow path between the expansion control channel and the outlet. 13. The plug of claim 12, wherein the exit channel is at least partially filled with an drug formulation-immiscible fluid. 14. The plug of claim 12, wherein the exit channel is defined by a groove in an outer wall of the outer plug member and an inner wall of a reservoir following insertion of the plug into a reservoir of a drug delivery device. 15. The plug of claim 12, wherein the plug further comprises a frit positioned in the flow path between the exit channel and the outlet. 16. The plug of claim 2, wherein the expansion control channel comprises a first channel extending longitudinally through the inner plug member, a second channel extending laterally through the inner plug member, and a third helical channel extending in a spiral fashion along or through the inner plug member. 17. The plug of claim 16, wherein the third helical channel is defined by mating surfaces of an outer wall of the inner plug member and an inner wall of the outer plug member. 18. A plug comprising, an inner plug member comprising a first end and a second end and an inner plug member body; and an outer plug member adapted to receive the inner plug member; wherein the plug defines an expansion control channel, the expansion control channel extending from a plug inlet, through the inner plug member body, and to an outlet defined by the outer plug member, and wherein the inlet, expansion control channel, and outlet define a flow path through the plug. 19. The plug of claim 18, wherein the expansion control channel is defined by the outer plug member, and the inner plug member is slidable within the expansion control channel. 20. The plug of claim 19, wherein the inner plug member is slidable to a first position to accommodate thermal expansion of a formulation in the drug delivery device reservoir. 21. The plug of claim 19, wherein the inner plug member is slidable to a second position to provide for fluid communication between the expansion control channel and the outlet. 22. The plug of claim 18, wherein the plug further comprises a frit positioned in the flow path prior to the outlet. 23. The plug of claim 18, wherein the plug further defines an exit channel positioned in the flow path between the expansion control channel and the outlet. 24. The plug of claim 23, wherein the exit channel is defined by a groove in an outer wall of the outer plug member and an inner wall of a reservoir following insertion of the plug into a reservoir of a drug delivery device, and wherein a passage in a wall of the outer plug member provides for fluid communication between the expansion control channel and the exit channel. 25. The plug of claim 23, wherein the exit channel comprises a flowable material immiscible with the formulation to be delivered through the flow path. 26. The plug of claim 23, wherein the plug further comprises a frit positioned in the flow path between the exit channel and the outlet. 27. The plug of claim 18, wherein the expansion control channel comprises a first channel extending longitudinally through the inner plug member, a second channel extending laterally through the inner plug member, and a third helical channel extending in a spiral fashion along or through the inner plug member. 28. The plug of claim 27, wherein the third helical channel is defined by mating surfaces of an outer wall of the inner plug member and an inner wall of the outer plug member. 29. A drug delivery device comprising: a reservoir body defining a reservoir for retaining a formulation comprising a drug; and a plug according to claim 1; wherein the plug is seated within the reservoir to provide for a flow pathway from the reservoir and out the outlet of the plug. 30. The drug delivery device of claim 29, wherein the drug delivery device is implantable. 31. The drug delivery device of claim 29, wherein the drug is selected from the group consisting of peptides, polypeptides, nucleic acids, and hormones. 32. The drug delivery device of claim 29, wherein the drug delivery device is operably attached to a catheter for delivery of the formulation from the reservoir to a delivery site. 33. A method of delivering a drug to a delivery site, the method comprising: implanting at least a portion of drug delivery device in a subject, the drug delivery device comprising a plug according to claim 1 and a reservoir body defining a reservoir for retaining a formulation comprising a drug, wherein the plug is seated within the reservoir to provide for a flow pathway from the reservoir and out the outlet of the plug; delivering the formulation from the reservoir and to a delivery site in a subject. 34. The method of claim 33, wherein the drug delivery device further comprises a catheter operably attached for delivery of the formulation from the reservoir and to the delivery site, wherein at least a distal end of the catheter comprising a drug delivery outlet is implanted in the subject. 35. The method of claim 33, wherein the drug is selected from the group consisting of peptides, polypeptides, nucleic acids, and hormones.

<SOH> BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION <EOH>Implantable drug delivery devices provide an attractive therapeutic tool for treatment of a variety of conditions and diseases, especially where therapy requires a prolonged period of therapy. Implantable drug delivery devices avoid the inconvenience and discomfort that can be associated with administration of multiple doses of an agent, and further provides for enhanced therapeutic benefits due to, for example, avoidance of bolus doses (e.g., in contrast to parenteral injection) and improved patient compliance. Devices that provide for precisely controlled drug delivery are of particular interest, as such devices can provide for delivery of drug at doses and rates that are both predictable and reliable (e.g., not affected by the environment in which the device is implanted). Various implantable drug delivery devices have been developed, and are based upon various different mechanisms to accomplish movement of drug from a reservoir of the device to a treatment site in the subject. In general, these delivery technologies can be based upon, for example, diffusive, erodible, or convective mechanisms. Implantable drug delivery devices based upon convective systems are of particular interest in the field, generally due to advantageous features such as the ability to refill the device, and the compatibility of the device for use with a catheter to effect local delivery of drug to a treatment site. Exemplary convective systems include, but are not limited to, electromechanical pumps, osmotic pumps, electroosmotic pumps, electrochemical pumps, hydrolytic systems, piezoelectric pumps, elastomeric pumps, vapor pressure pumps, and electrolytic pumps. The development of implantable devices, particularly for controlled delivery of drug, has posed several challenges in the drug delivery field. One such challenge is the ability to provide for precisely controlled delivery of drug even from the moment of start-up, e.g. the period just after implanting the drug delivery device. For example, variations in environmental temperature during storage and following implantation can cause expansion and contraction of the formulation, which in turn can affect the amount of formulation delivered following implantation. Expansion of the formulation following implantation can result in “extra dosing,” an uncontrolled release of a small amount of formulation, which can be particularly problematic where highly concentrated drug formulations are used. Environmental temperature shifts can also cause expansion and contraction of any air that may be trapped in the reservoir or between the reservoir and the outlet, which can also adversely affect the ability to provide for controlled delivery of drug formulation at start-up. In addition, the formulation flow can “split” during start-up, a phenomenon in which the formulation is not a substantially continuous stream of fluid, but rather is composed of one or more discrete leading volumes separated by air or gas voids (e.g., “burst(s)”) which precede the main formulation stream. As a result, at start-up the formulation may be delivered in a manner that is not precisely controlled. One approach to solving these problems involves making the channel through which the formulation flows out of the reservoir small enough to regulate flow even when the formulation is in an expanded state. However, a channel small enough to regulate flow is generally unacceptably long (and, for example, unacceptably delaying delivery at start-up) or provides a volume insufficient to accommodate thermal expansion, which can result in leakage of formulation from the reservoir. Accurately filling a reservoir of a drug delivery device during manufacture in a manner that allows for capacity for the formulation to expand (e.g., due to variations in environment temperature during storage and following implantation) without loss of contents from the reservoir has proven extremely difficult. As is evident from the above, there is a need for a device that can be used with drug delivery devices, particularly with convective drug delivery devices, that avoids the problems associated with drug delivery at start-up. The present invention addresses this problem.

<SOH> SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION <EOH>The invention features a plug for use with a drug delivery device, wherein the plug defines an expansion control channel, which accommodates thermal expansion of a formulation in a reservoir of a drug delivery device, and an exit channel. In one embodiment, the plug comprises an inner plug member and an outer plug member, which members define an expansion control channel to facilitate release of entrapped air and to accommodate thermal expansion of formulation from the sealed drug reservoir. The plug further defines an exit channel, and may optionally further comprise a frit positioned within the flow pathway just prior to the delivery outlet, or both. In one aspect the invention features a plug comprised of an inner plug member and outer plug member adapted to receive the inner plug member, wherein the plug defines an inlet, an expansion control channel, and an outlet. The inlet, expansion control channel and outlet of the plug define a flow path through and out of the plug. In one embodiment, at least a portion of the expansion control channel defines a passageway through the inner plug member body. In another embodiment, the inner plug member is slidable within the expansion control channel. In related embodiments, the expansion control channel is defined by the outer plug member so that the slidable inner plug member is received within the outer plug member. In a related alternative embodiment, the expansion control channel is defined by adjacent ends of the inner plug member and the outer plug member and an inner wall of the reservoir body of the drug delivery device. In another aspect, the invention features a drug delivery device comprising a plug of the invention. In one embodiment, the drug delivery device is implantable. In still another aspect the invention features methods for delivery of a drug using a drug delivery device comprising a plug of the invention. In one embodiment, the drug delivery device is implantable. A primary object of the invention is to provide for controlled delivery of drug while avoiding problems associated with conventional devices such as formulation leakage (e.g., due to thermal expansion of formulation during storage), delivery of a burst or bolus of formulation at start-up, and the like. One advantage of the invention is that that the invention allows for accurate filling of a reservoir while maintaining an outflow track which serves to dampen the effects of thermal expansion of the fluid in the reservoir. One important advantage of the invention is that the plug helps to prevent “extra dosing” or the initial, uncontrolled release of drug (e.g., “burst”) that can result from thermal expansion due to short-term changes in environmental temperatures. Another advantage is that the invention minimizes or avoids entrapment of air during assembly, thereby minimizing or avoiding the problems such entrapped air can pose (e.g., due to the differences in the expansion rate of air compared to the expansion rate of formulation in the reservoir). Another advantage of the invention is that it provides for precise control of start-up time for the drug delivery device. Another advantage of the invention is that it provides for an extended outflow track while maintaining a more streamlined and volume efficient reservoir and delivery system size. Still another advantage of the invention is that the plug allows for a smaller size reservoir to be filled and to withstand temperature variations, while still allowing for visual or other inspection to ensure a proper fill before completion of reservoir closure. Another advantage of the invention is that it contains the drug formulation within the delivery device until the desired time for delivery, e.g., the plug inhibits leakage of formulation out of the reservoir during storage, shipping, etc. These and other objects, advantages and features of the present invention will become apparent to those persons skilled in the art upon reading the details of the methodology and compositions as more fully set forth below.

Membrane molecule indicator compositions and methods

The invention provides membrane molecule indicators, including polypeptides, encoding nucleic acid molecules and cells containing such polypeptides and nucleic acid molecules. The invention membrane molecule indicators are characterized in that fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) between a donor fluorescent domain and an acceptor fluorescent domain indicates a property of the membrane molecule. Also provided are methods of using the invention membrane molecule indicators to determine a property of a membrane molecule, and to identify compounds that modulates a property of a membrane molecule.

1. A membrane molecule indicator, said indicator comprising: (a) at least one membrane molecule indicator domain; (b) a donor fluorescent domain; and (c) an acceptor fluorescent domain; wherein fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) between said donor domain and said acceptor domain is indicative of a property of said membrane molecule, and wherein said donor fluorescent domain and said acceptor fluorescent domain are not attached to the membrane molecule. 2. The indicator of claim 1, which comprises one polypeptide. 3. The indicator of claim 1, which comprises two polypeptides. 4. The indicator of claim 1, further comprising a membrane anchoring domain. 5. The indicator of claim 1, further comprising a linker between said donor fluorescent domain and said acceptor fluorescent domain. 6. The indicator of claim 1, comprising two membrane molecule indicator domains. 7. The indicator of claim 6, wherein each of said two membrane molecule indicator domains associates with the same type of membrane molecule. 8. The indicator of claim 1, wherein the property indicated by said membrane molecule indicator is selected from the group consisting of localization abundance, conformation and post-translational modification state of said membrane molecule. 9. The indicator of claim 1, wherein said membrane molecule is a lipid. 10. The indicator of claim 9, wherein said lipid is phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2). 11. The indicator of claim 10, wherein said membrane molecule indicator domain is a pleckstrin homology (PH) domain. 12. The indicator of claim 11, wherein said PH domain is a PLCδ1 or PLCβ PH domain. 13. The indicator of claim 1, wherein said donor fluorescent domain is selected from the group consisting of a GFP and a dsRED. 14. The indicator of claim 1, wherein said donor fluorescent domain is a CFP. 15. The indicator of claim 1, wherein said acceptor fluorescent domain is selected from the group consisting of a GFP and a dsRED. 16. The indicator of claim 1, wherein said acceptor fluorescent domain is a YFP. 17. The indicator of claim 4, wherein said membrane anchoring domain comprises a CaaX motif. 18. A cell comprising the indicator of any of claims 1-17. 19. A nucleic acid molecule which encodes a membrane molecule indicator, or a nucleic acid kit, the nucleic acid molecule components of which encode a membrane molecule indicator, said indicator comprising: (a) at least one membrane molecule indicator domain; (b) a donor fluorescent domain; and (c) an acceptor fluorescent domain; wherein fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) between the donor domain and the acceptor domain is indicative of a property of said membrane molecule, and wherein said donor fluorescent domain and said acceptor fluorescent domain are not attached to the membrane molecule. 20. The nucleic acid molecule or kit of claim 19, wherein the encoding nucleotide sequences are operatively linked to one or more promoters of gene expression. 21. The nucleic acid molecule or kit of claim 19, wherein said indicator comprises one polypeptide. 22. The nucleic acid molecule or kit of claim 19, wherein said indicator comprises two polypeptides. 23. The nucleic acid molecule or kit of claim 19, wherein said indicator further comprises a membrane anchoring domain. 24. The nucleic acid molecule or kit of claim 19, wherein said indicator further comprises a linker between said donor fluorescent domain and said acceptor fluorescent domain. 25. The nucleic acid molecule or kit of claim 19, wherein said indicator comprises two membrane molecule indicator domains. 26. The nucleic acid molecule or kit of claim 25, wherein each of said two membrane molecule indicator domains associate with the same type of membrane molecule. 27. The nucleic acid molecule or kit of claim 19, wherein the property indicated by said membrane molecule indicator is selected from the group consisting of localization, abundance, conformation and post-translational modification state of said membrane molecule. 28. The nucleic acid molecule or kit of claim 19, wherein said membrane molecule is a lipid. 29. The nucleic acid molecule or kit of claim 28, wherein said lipid is PIP2. 30. The nucleic acid molecule or kit of claim 29, wherein said membrane molecule indicator domain is a PH domain. 31. The nucleic acid molecule or kit of claim 30, wherein said PH domain is a PLCδ1 or PLCβ PH domain. 32. The nucleic acid molecule or kit of claim 19, wherein said donor fluorescent domain is selected from the group consisting of a GFP and a dsRED. 33. The nucleic acid molecule or kit of claim 19, wherein said donor fluorescent domain is a CFP. 34. The nucleic acid molecule or kit of claim 19, wherein said acceptor fluorescent domain is selected from the group consisting of a GFP and a dsRED. 35. The nucleic acid molecule or kit of claim 19, wherein said acceptor fluorescent domain is a YFP. 36. The nucleic acid molecule or kit of claim 23, wherein said membrane anchoring domain comprises a CaaX motif. 37. A cell expressing the nucleic acid molecule or nucleic acid molecule kit components of any of claims 19-36. 38. A method of determining a proper of a membrane molecule in a cell, comprising: determining FRET between said donor fluorescent domain and said acceptor fluorescent domain in a cell comprising the membrane molecule indicator of any of claims 1-17, wherein FRET between said donor domain and said acceptor domain is indicative of a property of said membrane molecule, and wherein said donor fluorescent domain and said acceptor fluorescent domain are not attached to the membrane molecule. 39. The method of claim 38, wherein said cell recombinantly expresses a known or candidate signaling molecules 40. The method of claim 39, wherein said signaling molecule is a G-protein coupled receptor. 41. A method of identifying a compound that modulates a property of a membrane molecule, comprising: (a) determining in a cell, which comprises the membrane molecule indicator of any of claims 1-17 and further comprises said membrane molecule, FRET between said donor fluorescent domain and said acceptor fluorescent domain; (b) determining in a cell, which is in contact with one or more test compounds, wherein said cell comprises the membrane molecule indicator of any of claims 1-17 and further comprises said membrane molecule, FRET between said donor fluorescent domain and said acceptor fluorescent domain, wherein increased or decreased FRET in step (b) indicates that said test compound is a compound that modulates a property of said membrane molecule. 42. The method of claim 41, wherein said contacting is by administration of said test compound to the exterior of said cell. 43. The method of claim 41, wherein said contacting is by recombinant expression of said test compound in said cell. 44. The method of claim 41, wherein said compound that modulates a property of said membrane molecule is selected from the group consisting of a receptor agonist, antagonist, and inverse agonist. 45. The method of claim 41, wherein said cell recombinantly expresses a known or candidate signaling molecule. 46. The method of claim 45, wherein said known or candidate signaling molecule is a G-protein coupled receptor. 47. A phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) indicator, said indicator comprising: (a) a first polypeptide comprising: (i) a pleckstrin homology (PH) domain; and (ii) a donor fluorescent domain (b) a second polypeptide comprising: (i) a pleckstrin homology (PH) domain; and (ii) an acceptor fluorescent domain; wherein fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) between said donor domain and said acceptor domain indicates PIP2 levels. 48. The indicator of claim 47, wherein said PH domain is a PLCδ1 or PLCβ PH domain. 49. The indicator of claim 47, wherein said donor fluorescent domain is selected from the group consisting of a GFP and a dsRED. 50. The indicator of claim 47, wherein said donor fluorescent domain is a CFP. 51. The indicator of claim 47, wherein said acceptor fluorescent domain is selected from the group consisting of a GFP and a dsRED. 52. The indicator of claim 47, wherein said acceptor fluorescent domain is a YFP. 53. A cell comprising the indicator of claim 47. 54. A nucleic acid kit, the nucleic acid molecule components of which encode a PIP2 indicator, said indicator comprising: (a) a first polypeptide comprising: (i) a PH domain; and (ii) a donor fluorescent domain (b) a second polypeptide comprising: (i) a PH domain; and (ii) an acceptor fluorescent domain; wherein fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) between said donor domain and said acceptor domain indicates PIP2 levels. 55. The kit of claim 54, wherein said PH domain is a PLCδ1 or PLCβ PH domain. 56. The kit of claim 54, wherein said donor fluorescent domain is selected from the group consisting of a GFP and a dsRED. 57. The kit of claim 54, wherein said donor fluorescent domain is a CFP. 58. The kit of claim 54, wherein said acceptor fluorescent domain is selected from the group consisting of a GFP and a dsRED. 59. The kit of claim 54, wherein said acceptor fluorescent domain is a YFP. 60. A cell expressing the nucleic acid molecule components of the kit of claim 54. 61. A method of indicating PIP2 levels in a cell, comprising: (a) providing a cell containing the PIP2 indicator of claim 47; and (b) determining FRET between said donor fluorescent domain and said acceptor fluorescent domain, wherein FRET between said donor domain and said acceptor domain indicates PIP2 levels in the cell. 62. A method of identifying a compound that modulates PIP2 levels in a cell, comprising: (a) contacting a cell containing the PIP2 indicator of claim 47 with one or more test compounds; and (b) determining FRET between said donor fluorescent domain and said acceptor fluorescent domain following said contacting, wherein increased or decreased FRET follow said contacting indicates that said test compound is a compound that modulates PIP2 levels in the cell. 63. The method of claim 61 or 62, wherein said PH domain is a PLCδ1 or PLCβ PH domain. 64. The method of claim 61 or 62, wherein said donor fluorescent domain is selected from the group consisting of a GFP and a dsRED. 65. The method of claim 61 or 62, wherein said donor fluorescent domain is a CFP. 66. The method of claim 61 or 62, wherein said acceptor fluorescent domain is selected from the group consisting of a GFP and a dsRED. 67. The method of claim 61 or 62, wherein said acceptor fluorescent domain is a YFP. 68. The method of claim 62, wherein said contacting is by administration of said test compound to the exterior of said cell. 69. The method of claim 62, wherein said contacting is by recombinant expression of said test compound in said cell. 70. The method of claim 61 or 62, wherein said cell recombinantly expresses a G-protein coupled receptor.

<SOH> BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION <EOH>The invention relates generally to the field of signal transduction and, more specifically, to compositions and methods for indicating properties of membrane molecules using fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET). The transduction of signals from the outside to the inside of a cell underlies most cellular processes, including proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, motility and invasion. Therefore, there is considerable interest in developing improved methods of monitoring signal transduction in response to normal and abnormal stimuli. Methods of monitoring signal transduction have numerous applications, such as in identifying or improving modulators of signal transduction pathways, which are candidate therapeutic drugs or therapeutic targets, and in detecting pathological alterations in cells. Some of the earliest and most sensitive signals transduced in response to stimuli involve changes in properties of membrane molecules, including membrane lipids and polypeptides, such as changes in location, abundance, conformation or post-translational modification state. Accordingly, there exists a need to develop compositions and methods suitable for indicating changes in properties of membrane molecule. An early response to agonist stimulation of many tyrosine kinase and G-protein coupled receptors is the activation of the enzyme phospholipase C, which cleaves the lipid phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) to generate second messengers that increase cytosolic free Ca 2+ concentration. Although Ca 2+ indicators and methods have been described that allow monitoring of Ca 2+ concentration in single living cells with high spatial and temporal resolution, Ca 2+ fluxes, being more distal to receptor activation, may not as faithfully report receptor activation levels as changes in PIP2 levels. In a recently developed method for detecting PIP2 dynamics in living cells, a pleckstrin homology (PH) domain tagged with a green fluorescent protein (GFP) has been used. Detection of PIP2 hydrolysis was by in vivo visualization, such as by confocal imaging and post acquisition image analysis, of translocation of the fluorescence from the membrane to the cytosol. However, this method suffers from several disadvantages. First, it is hard to obtain quantitative data using confocal microscopy, since even minor focal drift and changes in cell morphology that often occur after stimulation render quantitative measurements unreliable. Second, it is difficult to visualize translocation in very flat cells or in cellular subregions. Third, at fast imaging rates, confocal imaging requires high excitation intensities that can cause severe cell damage in minutes. Fourth, the imaging approach is not easily extended to cell populations. Therefore, there exists a need to develop improved methods for detecting PIP2 dynamics in cells, and particulary methods amenable to high-throughput screening. The present invention satisfies these needs and provides related advantages as well.

<SOH> SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION <EOH>The invention provides a membrane molecule indicator, the indicator containing: (a) at least one membrane molecule indicator domain; (b) a donor fluorescent domain; and (c) an acceptor fluorescent domain; wherein fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) between the donor domain and the acceptor domain is indicative of a property of the membrane molecule. Also provided is a nucleic acid molecule which encodes a membrane molecule indicator, or a nucleic acid kit, the nucleic acid molecule components of which encode a membrane molecule indicator, the indicator containing: (a) at least one membrane molecule indicator domain; (b) a donor fluorescent domain; and (c) an acceptor fluorescent domain; wherein FRET between the donor domain and the acceptor domain is indicative of a property of the membrane molecule. The invention also provides a method of determining a property of a membrane molecule in a cell. The method includes the steps of: (a) providing a cell containing a membrane molecule indicator; and (b) determining FRET between the donor fluorescent domain and the acceptor fluorescent domain, wherein FRET between the donor domain and the acceptor domain is indicative of a property of the membrane molecule. Further provided is a method of identifying a compound that modulates a property of a membrane molecule. The method includes the steps of: (a) contacting a cell containing a membrane molecule indicator with one or more test compounds, wherein the cell further comprises the membrane molecule; and (b) determining FRET between the donor fluorescent domain and the acceptor fluorescent domain following the contacting, wherein increased or decreased FRET following the contacting indicates that the test compound is a compound that modulates a property of the membrane molecule.

Growth of human dendritic cells for cancer immunotherapy in closed system using microcarrier beads

A method and apparatus for reproducibly generating dendritic cells are provided. Blood mononuclear cells are loaded into a cell culture container containing microcarrier beads therein. Tissue culture comprising the cells loaded in the container is incubated for a predetermined period. Nonadherent cells and cells adhered to the beads are separated. Dendritic cell culture medium may be prepared and transferred to the container after the cells which adhere to the beads are separated from the nonadherent cells. The tissue culture incubated for the predetermined time period may be washed to remove nonadherent cells. The beads may be allowed to settle and supernatant is expressed off. The container may comprise a gas permeable cell culture bag.

1. A method of reproducibly generating dendritic cells, comprising the steps of: (a) loading blood mononuclear cells into a cell culture container containing microcarrier beads therein; (b) incubating for a predetermined time period tissue culture comprising the cells loaded in the container in step (a); and (c) separating nonadherent cells and cells adhered to the beads. 2. A method of reproducibly generating dendritic cells, comprising the steps of: (a) loading microcarrier beads into a cell culture container; (b) loading blood mononuclear cells into the container; (c) incubating for a predetermined time period tissue culture comprising the mononuclear cells loaded in the container in step (b); and (d) separating nonadherent cells and cells adhered to the beads. 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the container comprises a gas permeable cell culture bag. 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the container is a closed vessel. 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the tissue culture incubated for the predetermined time period in step (b) is washed to remove nonadherent cells. 6. The method of claim 1, wherein after step (b) the beads are allowed to settle and supernatant is expressed off. 7. The method of claim 1 further comprising: (d) preparing dendritic cell culture medium; and (e) transferring the dendritic cell culture medium prepared in step (d) to the container after step (c). 8. The method of claim 7 further comprising: (f) incubating the container for a second predetermined time period after step (e); (g) agitating contents of the container incubated in step (f); and (h) harvesting cell culture suspension by expression into transfer bags using a sterile connecting device after the beads agitated in step (g) are allowed to settle. 9. The method of claim 1, wherein after step (c) samples are removed from the container for quality control. 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the quality control includes at least one of viability staining, microbial analysis, cell enumeration, microscopic examination of dendritic cell morphology, and immunophenotyping to determine a purity of the dendritic cell preparation. 11. The method of claim 1, wherein the blood mononuclear cells are obtained by apheresis. 12. The method of claim 1, wherein a ratio of a combined surface area of the microcarrier beads and the container to a volume of the container volume is a value that allows the container to hold enough media for the predetermined time period of incubation in step (b). 13. The method of claim 1, wherein the microcarrier beads comprise styrene copolymer beads. 14. The method of claim 1, wherein the microcarrier beads comprise polystyrene copolymer beads. 15. An apparatus for reproducibly generating dendritic cells, comprising: a cell culture container; and a plurality of microcarrier beads contained within the cell culture container. 16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the container comprises a gas permeable cell culture bag. 17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the container is a closed vessel. 18. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the microcarrier beads comprise styrene copolymer beads. 19. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the microcarrier beads comprise polystyrene copolymer beads. 20. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein a ratio of a combined surface area of the microcarrier beads and the container to a volume of the container volume is a value that allows the container to hold enough media for a predetermined time period of incubation.

<SOH> BACKGROUND <EOH>The present application relates to a method of growing adherence-dependent hematopoietic cells. In particular, dendritic cells are grown in a closed system using microcarrier beads. Throughout this application, various publications are referenced by author and date. Full citations for these publications may be found listed alphabetically at the end of the specification immediately preceding the claims. The disclosures of these publications in their entireties are hereby incorporated by reference into this application in order to more fully describe the state of the art as known to those skilled therein as of the date of the invention described and claimed herein. Dendritic cells (DCs) constitute potent antigen-presenting cells. They may be derived from bone marrow progenitor cells and circulate in small numbers in the peripheral blood. As antigen-presenting cells, DCs are able to induce activation of T-cells with a high degree of efficiency. They are highly specialized and optimally equipped for their task, since dendritic cells express molecules which are required for presenting antigen in large quantity. Important adhesion molecules, which guarantee intimate contact with the target cell, are present on the surface of the dendritic cells. Due to low frequency of DC in peripheral blood, ex vivo expansion and maturation of DC precursors are required for their clinical application (Bartholeyns et al., 1998). There is a need to refine DC culture methods for clinical use in immunotherapy for cancer patients. Most DC culture systems are initiated from the adherent fraction of peripheral blood mononuclear cells, selected using open polystyrene flasks, followed by washing and then culture in serum-free medium containing GM-CSF and IL-4 or IL-7 (as well as other maturational cytokines) {Schuler et al., 1997; Di Nicola et al., 1998}. The open system is labor intensive and poses an increased risk of microbial contamination to the expanded product, the patient and the technician. An alternative to the open flask is a closed system for culturing populations of monocyte enriched peripheral blood mononuclear cells using flexible gas permeable cell culture bags and sterile connecting devices (Glaser et al., 1999). Growing human DC in plastic bags, even under clinical grade and using good manufacturing practices, have poor yields because the surface of the bags is suboptimal.

<SOH> SUMMARY <EOH>The application provides a method of reproducibly generating dendritic cells, comprising the steps of: (a) loading blood mononuclear cells into a cell culture container containing microcarrier beads therein; (b) incubating for a predetermined time period tissue culture comprising the cells loaded in the container in step (a); and (c) separating nonadherent cells and cells adhered to the beads. The application also provides a method of reproducibly generating dendritic cells, comprising the steps of: (a) loading microcarrier beads into a cell culture container; (b) loading blood mononuclear cells into the container; (c) incubating for a predetermined time period tissue culture comprising the mononuclear cells loaded in the container in step (b); and (d) separating nonadherent cells and cells adhered to the beads. The application also provides an apparatus for reproducibly generating dendritic cells, comprising: a cell culture container; and a plurality of microcarrier beads contained within the cell culture container. The container may comprise a gas permeable cell culture bag. The container is a closed vessel. The microcarrier beads may comprise styrene copolymer beads. The microcarrier beads may comprise polystyrene copolymer beads. A ratio of a combined surface area of the microcarrier beads and the container to a volume of the container volume preferably is a value that allows the container to hold enough media for a predetermined time period of incubation.

Spinal intervertebral implant adjustable in situ

The invention concerns a spinal intervertebral implant (100) comprising at least a first element (101′) having a first end (112′), and a second element (101) having a second end (112), each end having successive ramps (108, 116), the ramps of the two ends being adapted to co-operate mutually to vary one dimension of the implant depending on the relative position of the elements. The invention is characterised in that the ramps of each end are arranged along a circle.

1. A spinal intervertebral implant (100; 200; 300) comprising at least a first element (101′; 201; 301) having a first end (112; 214; 314), and a second element (101; 203; 307) having a second end (112; 230; 370), each end having successive ramps (108, 116; 308, 316), the ramps of the two ends being able to cooperate mutually in order to vary one dimension of the implant depending on the relative position of the elements, characterized in that the ramps of each end are arranged along a circle. 2. The implant as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that some of the successive ramps are offset with respect to one another in the same sense in the direction of the dimension which is able to be varied. 3. The implant as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the successive ramps of one end form groups (110, 118; 310, 318) of adjacent ramps comprising an identical number of ramps. 4. The implant as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the groups are identical to one another. 5. The implant as claimed in claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the groups are uniformly distributed along the circle. 6. The implant as claimed in one of claims 3 through 5, characterized in that the circle comprises at least two groups of ramps. 7. The implant as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the ends complement one another. 8. The implant as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each element comprises lateral orifices (106; 206). 9. The implant as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a central orifice extending along the dimension which is able to be varied. 10. The implant as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises stabilizing means (204) which are able to hold the elements relative to one another with respect to a direction of relative movement. 11. The implant as claimed in claim 10, characterized in that the stabilizing means comprise a member (204) which can be received in the central orifice. 12. The implant as claimed in claim 10, characterized in that the stabilizing means comprise at least one supporting element integral with at least one of the ends. 13. The implant as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, with one of the two elements (101′; 201; 301), preferably the first one; having a third end (114; 212; 312) with ramps (116; 308), the implant comprises at least a third element (101″; 202; 306) having a fourth end (114; 220; 360) with ramps able to cooperate with the ramps of the third end in order to vary the dimension of the implant depending on the relative position of the first and third elements. 14. The implant as claimed in claim 13, characterized in that the orientation of the ramps of the first end is mirror-symmetrical to that of the ramps of the third end, in a plane perpendicular to the direction of the dimension which is able to be varied. 15. The implant as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises terminal ends (224, 234) having teeth (222, 232) profiled and parallel to one another. 16. The implant as claimed in one of claims 1 through 14, characterized in that it comprises terminal ends (322, 324) having a face (322, 324) and points (320) protruding from the face.

Seal for a loading dock bumper

At a loading dock for a truck, a compressible bumper seal extends across the front face of a dock bumper to help seal an air gap that may otherwise exist between the bumper face and the rear of the truck. Without the seal, the gap may be created by the truck stopping just short of reaching the bumper or by the truck “bouncing off” the bumper before stopping. If left unsealed, such a gap can create a draft into a building that has the loading dock.

1. A bumper assembly for use at a loading dock for receiving an impact from a vehicle moving in a rearward direction, comprising: a bumper installed at the loading dock and including a front face that faces away from the rearward direction, wherein the bumper is compressible to at least partially absorb the impact; and a bumper seal extending across the front face of the bumper and being adapted to be engaged by the vehicle, wherein the bumper seal is more compressible than the bumper. 2. The bumper assembly of claim 1, wherein the bumper seal includes a foam core. 3. The bumper assembly of claim 2, further comprising a weather resistant cover overlaying the foam core. 4. The bumper assembly of claim 3, further comprising a slipcover overlaying the weather resistant cover. 5. The bumper assembly of claim 4, further comprising a protective insert disposed between the slipcover and the foam core. 6. The bumper assembly of claim 5, wherein the protective insert is sandwiched between the slipcover and the weather resistant cover. 7. The bumper assembly of claim 5, wherein the protective insert is a sheet of material that less pliable than the weather resistant cover. 8. The bumper assembly of claim 4, wherein the weather resistant cover is more pliable than the slipcover. 9. The bumper assembly of claim 1, wherein the bumper seal comprises a collapsible core that includes a flexible sheet of material. 10. The bumper assembly of claim 9, wherein the flexible sheet of material is in the shape of a tube. 11. The bumper assembly of claim 9, further comprising a slipcover overlaying the collapsible core. 12. The bumper assembly of claim 1, wherein the bumper seal includes point of attachment for attaching the bumper seal at the loading dock, wherein the point of attachment is at a position that is further rearward than the front face of the bumper. 13. The bumper assembly of claim 1, wherein the bumper seal is attached to the bumper. 14. A bumper seal for sealing a gap between a front face of a bumper and a rear surface of a vehicle, wherein the bumper is installed at a loading dock and the front face is adapted to receive an impact created by the vehicle, the bumper seal comprising: a rear section extending across the front face of the bumper and being adapted to engage the front face of the bumper; a front section connected to the rear section and adapted to be engaged by the rear surface of the vehicle; and a central section interposed between the front section and the rear section, wherein the central section is more compressible than the bumper. 15. The bumper seal of claim 14, wherein the central section includes a foam core. 16. The bumper seal of claim 14, further comprising a weather resistant cover overlaying at least one of the rear section, the front section, and the central section. 17. The bumper seal of claim 16, further comprising a slipcover overlaying the weather resistant cover. 18. The bumper assembly of claim 17, further comprising a protective insert disposed between the slipcover and the foam core. 19. The bumper assembly of claim 18, wherein the protective insert is sandwiched between the slipcover and the weather resistant cover. 20. The bumper assembly of claim 18, wherein the protective insert is a sheet of material that less pliable than the weather resistant cover. 21. The bumper seal of claim 17, wherein the weather resistant cover is more pliable than the slipcover. 22. The bumper seal of claim 14, wherein the bumper seal comprises a collapsible core that includes a flexible sheet of material. 23. The bumper seal of claim 22, wherein the flexible sheet of material is in the shape of a tube. 24. The bumper seal of claim 22, further comprising a slipcover overlaying the collapsible core. 25. The bumper seal of claim 14, wherein the bumper seal includes point of attachment for attaching the bumper seal at the loading dock, wherein the loading dock has a dock face that is closer to the point of attachment than the front face of the bumper. 26. A method of at least partially sealing a gap between a front face of a compressible bumper and a rear surface of a vehicle, comprising: installing a bumper seal so that the bumper seal overlays the front face of the compressible bumper; and compressing the bumper seal between the front face of the compressible bumper and the rear surface of the vehicle. 27. The method of claim 26, compressing the bumper, but to a lesser extent than that which the bumper seal is compressed. 28. The method of claim 26, further comprising attaching the bumper seal to the compressible bumper. 29. A sealing assembly for use at a doorway of a loading dock for a vehicle, the sealing assembly comprising: a side seal disposed along a lateral edge of the doorway; a bumper having a front face for receiving an impact of the vehicle, wherein the bumper is spaced apart from the side seal to define a gap therebetween; and a side-sealing member bridging the gap by engaging the bumper and the side seal. 30. The sealing assembly of claim 29, wherein the gap is a vertical gap. 31. The sealing assembly of claim 29, wherein the gap is a horizontal gap. 32. The sealing assembly of claim 29, further comprising a face-sealing member extending from the side-sealing member and overlaying the front face of the bumper, wherein the face-sealing member is more compressible than the bumper. 33. The sealing assembly of claim 29, wherein the side seal includes a draft pad near the bottom of the side seal.

<SOH> BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION <EOH>1. Field of the Invention The subject invention generally pertains to loading docks, and more specifically to a device that helps seal an air gap that may exist between a rear surface of a vehicle and the front face of a bumper that is attached to the dock. 2. Description of Related Art A typical loading dock of a building includes an exterior doorway with an elevated platform for loading and unloading vehicles, such as trucks and trailers. To compensate for height differences between the loading dock platform and an adjacent bed of a truck or trailer, many loading docks have a dock leveler. A typical dock leveler includes a deck, also known as a ramp or dockboard, which is pivotally hinged along its back edge to vary the height of its front edge. An extension plate, or lip, extends outward from the deck's front edge to span the gap between the rear of the truck bed and the front edge of the deck. The lip is usually moveable between a stored position to an extended, operative position. In the extended, operative position, the lip extends from the deck's front edge and rests upon the truck bed to form a bridge between the two. This allows personnel and material handling equipment to readily move on and off the vehicle during loading and unloading operations. To protect the building and the dock leveler from direct vehicle impact, loading docks often include bumpers. Bumpers also help establish a predetermined minimum distance between the rear of the vehicle and the dock leveler, so the dock leveler can first raise and then lower its lip upon the rear of the vehicle. Bumpers are usually installed near the bottom of the doorway, adjacent either side of the dock leveler lip and protrude a few inches out from the face of the dock, where they can be abutted by the rear of the vehicle. To help block out rain, snow and outside air from entering the building through air gaps between the back of the vehicle and the exterior face of the building, usually either a dock seal or a dock shelter is installed around the perimeter of the doorway. Dock shelters often have projecting members that protrude outwardly from the face of the building and run generally along the top and lateral sides of the doorway. From a protruding edge of the projecting members, a top extending member and two laterally extending members may extend inward and generally parallel to the building face to help seal against the truck's top and sides, respectively. The laterally extending members are often made of a fabric or flexible foam. Two inner bottom corners of the dock shelter at the lower back sides of the truck are often partially sealed by draft pads attached to the lower ends of the projecting members. The dock leveler lip resting upon the rear of the vehicle is often relied upon to seal most of the doorway's lower edge. Typical dock seals comprise a resiliently compressible foam core protected by a fabric outer cover. They are usually mounted to the face of a building, along the top and both sides of the doorway. With dock seals, sealing is provided by backing the truck directly up against the seal. The seal then compressively conforms to the shape of the truck's rear edges. The foam core provides the necessary compliance and resilience to repeatedly conform to the shape of various trucks, while the outer cover protects the foam core from dirt, water and abrasion. As with dock shelters, dock seals also rely on the dock leveler lip to seal most of the doorway's lower edge. With conventional dock seals and shelters, an air gap may still exist between the rear of the vehicle and the front face of the bumpers. This can occur when a vehicle backing into the dock “bounces off” the bumpers or simply stops just short of reaching the bumpers. Such an air gap can be a few inches across and can allow a significant air draft into the building. A gap can also exist between a bumper and the underside of a dock shelter or the underside of a dock seal. For dock seals, such a gap may be due horizontal or vertical displacement between the bumper and the portion of the dock seal that runs along the vertical edge of the doorway. For dock shelters, the gap can be due to horizontal or vertical displacement between the bumper and dock shelter's draft pad.

<SOH> SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION <EOH>In some embodiments, a relatively soft bumper seal overlays the front face of loading dock bumper. In some embodiments, the bumper seal includes a foam core that is softer or more compressible than the bumper. In some embodiments, the foam core is at least partially covered by a pliable, weather resistant cover. In some embodiments, the weather resistant cover is protected by a tough slipcover that can be replaced when necessary. In some embodiments, the slipcover is stiffer than the weather resistant cover. In some embodiments, a structure of flexible sheets provides a collapsible bumper seal that overlays the front face of a loading dock bumper. In some embodiments, the flexible sheets comprise a plurality of tubes. In some embodiments, the bumper seal is mounted adjacent to the bumper. In some embodiments, the bumper seal is attached to a vertical face of a loading dock. In some embodiments, the bumper seal is attached directly to the bumper. In some embodiments, the bumper seal comprises a face-sealing member and a side-sealing member, wherein the face-sealing member seals a gap between the bumper and the rear of a vehicle, and the side-sealing member seals a gap between the bumper and a lower portion of a dock seal or a dock shelter's draft pad. In some embodiments of bumper seal that include a compressible or collapsible core with a weather resistant cover and a semi-rigid slipcover over that, a protective semi-rigid sheet of material is inserted between the slipcover and the core to help evenly distribute vehicle-imparted forces across the core.

Method, computer program product and use of a computer program for stabilizing a multiphase flow

The present invention relates to a method for stabilizating multiphase flow through a pipeline, riser or well flow line (8a), characterized by implementation of a dynamic feedback controller (9) by controlling a control valve or choke (2) at the outlet (13) of the pipeline or riser (8a).

1. A method for stabilizing a multiphase flow in a flow line, where instability of the multiphase flow is caused by at least one slug, comprising measuring continuously one pressure variable upstream of the point where the main part of the slug is generated, supplying the pressure variable to a dynamic feedback controller, wherein the pressure variable upstream of the slug is an input to the dynamic feedback controller, calculating continuously an output of the dynamic feedback controller, and controlling a control valve at said flow line by means of the output from the dynamic feedback controller, wherein the multiphase flow is stabilized through out the flow line. 2. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the dynamic feedback controller is a multivariable input, single output controller, acting upon periodic variations in measured variables. 3. A method according to claim 2, characterized in that one of the input variables of the dynamic feedback controller is a set-point for desired pressure at the same position in the flow line as the pressure variable. 4. A method according to claim 3, characterized in that the pressure variable is positioned at the flow line inlet. 5. A method according to claim 4, characterized in that the continuous calculation of output of the dynamic feedback controller is aiming at controlling the control valve in such way that the variation around the set point for desired pressure at the flow line inlet is minimized. 6. A method according to claim 5, characterized in that the pressure variable is either measured by a pressure measurement means or calculated from a temperature measurement. 7. A method according to claim 6, characterized in that the control valve is positioned at the outlet of the flow line. 8. A method according to claim 7 characterized in that said pressure variable is calculated based on a first measurement made at the flow line inlet and a second measurement made upstream or downstream of the control valve. 9. A method according to claim 8, characterized in that additional measured variables, used as input variables to the dynamic feedback controller, comprises at least one variable situated at the outlet upstream of the control valve. 10. A method according to claim 9, characterized in that the variable situated at the outlet is a pressure variable. 11. A method according to claim 10, characterized in that stabilization of the multiphase flow is enhanced by including additional measurements of flow, pressure, and temperature, or any combination thereof. 12. A method according to claim 11, characterized in that the dynamic feedback controller comprises a feedback stabilization calculation 14 which is described by an equation as Δu2,k=K(Δef,k+Ts/T1ef,k+T2/TΔΔef,k) where Ts is the sampling time, K1 T1 and T2 are tuning parameters and the operator Δ means Δmk=m−mk−1 and ef,k is a filtered control error. 13. A method according to claim 12, characterized in that the dynamic feedback controller has a built-in anti-windup prevention logic. 14. A method according to claim 13, characterized in that the dynamic feedback controller comprises a slug choking controller which is described by an equation as K ⁡ ( s ) = k ⁢ s ( τ 1 ⁢ s + 1 ) ⁢ ( τ 2 ⁢ s + 1 ) , ⁢ u 3 ⁡ ( s ) = K ⁡ ( s ) ⁢ e 2 ⁡ ( s ) where K(s) is the Laplace transform of the slug chocking controller, U3 is the controller output, e2 is the filtered nominal value for the pressure variable upstream the control valve minus the pressure variable upstream the control valve, the frequencies f1=1/τ1; and f2=1/τ2 are tuning parameters, and k is the controller gain. 15. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that along with the dynamic feedback controller, a calculation for slug detection is applied. 16. A method according to claim 15, characterized in that the slug detection calculation utilizes a pressure measurement downstream of the control valve. 17. A computer program product containing software code means loadable into the internal memory of a computer or a process controller in a computerized control system, characterized in that said computer program product has means to make said computer or process controller carry out the steps of a method according to claim 1. 18. A computer program product containing software code means loadable into the internal memory of a computer or a process controller in a computerized control system, characterized in that said computer program product has means to make said computer or process controller carry out the steps of a method according to claim 2. 19. Use of a computer program product according to claim 17 to stabilize a multiphase flow at a production facility for oil and gas.

<SOH> BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION <EOH>Oil that is produced offshore is transported through pipelines as a complex mixture of oil, gas water and sand. One common flow regime is known as slug flow, in which the mixture flows intermittently along the pipelines and comprises a concentrated mass in the form of a liquid plug. Such a concentrated mass in movement is hereafter called a slug. In multiphase pipelines/risers/well flow lines at reduced flow rates and/or changing gas oil ratio, compared to design specifications, instabilities in terms of terrain-induced and riser-induced slug flow often occur. Such a slug flow is a bulk of liquid moving in the pipeline followed by an amount of gas. Terrain and riser-induced slug flow is often referred to as severe slugging. A publication by Yehuda Taitel, “Stability of Severe Slugging”, Int. Journal of Multiphase Flow, Vol. 12, No. 2, pp. 203-217, 1986, describes the phenomena of slugging. Terrain and riser-induced slug flow is induced periodically as liquid in terms of oil and water is accumulated in lower parts of the pipeline/riser, see FIG. 11 -IV. At a certain time the liquid will restrict the passage for the gas. In this situation a small amount of gas bubbles through the liquid plug, however the main part of the gas accumulates upstream of the liquid plug which causes the pressure to increase (see FIG. 11 -I). In this situation the pressure upstream of the liquid plug is equal to the pressure downstream of the liquid plug plus the hydraulic pressure across the liquid plug (applying a static force balance). But when the pressure increase upstream of the liquid plug becomes larger than the pressure increase downstream the liquid plug, the liquid plug starts moving (see FIG. 11 -II), and then forms a slug, which accelerates. It should be noted that this condition might be fulfilled before the front of the liquid plug reaches the downstream maximum point in the pipeline profile. Depending on operating conditions and pipeline profile, the slug may die out or it may be transported to the outlet of the pipeline/riser. In a situation where the tail of the liquid plug enters the vertical parts of the flow line ( FIG. 11 -III), a rapid increase in the liquid flow rate occurs due to the unstable situation where the pressure head, due to the liquid column, decreases. A slug is formed and the slug get transported to the outlet of the pipeline, and when the gas behind the slug escapes the pipeline/riser, the remaining liquid in the vertical parts returns to the bottom of the riser or dips in the pipeline profile. Then the whole process is repeated, and the result is an unstable multiphase flow pattern/cycle where the liquid flow rate varies from zero to a significant value, as the slug passes a fixed point in the pipeline, in a short period of time. The flow pattern is characteristic of severe slugging (terrain/riser-induced slugging). For terrain-induced slug flow the corresponding liquid plugs are caused by terrain effects reflected in the pipeline profile (offshore and onshore), whereas riser induced slug flow is caused by the pipeline leaving the seabed on its way to the surface (offshore). For long risers, special dynamic effects might occur due to phase transition from liquid to gas due to a considerable pressure decrease in the riser. Different riser shapes may also affect the dynamics in riser-induced slugging. Unstable flow causes considerable problems for production in the upstream wells and operation of the downstream processing plant: Large disturbances to the separator train, causing: Limiting separation capacity due to the need for larger operating margin to achieve the desired separation. Poor separation (water carry over to export pipeline) due to rapidly varying separator feed rates. Poor separation results in varying quality of water outlet from separators, causing large problems in the downstream water treatment system and possible violation of environmental restrictions. Large and rapidly varying compressor loads, causing: Inefficient compressor operation. Limiting compression capacity due to the need for a larger margin to handle gas holdup behind the liquid. Spurious flaring from limited compression capacity. Limited production from the upstream wells. The pressure variations at the pipeline or riser inlet 1 are also visible in the upstream wells, resulting in limited production from wells suffering from reduced lifting capacity. For gas lifted oil wells a problem referred to as casing heading might occur. Applications of gas lifted oil wells are different than slug flow in pipelines, risers and wells in the following sense: The dynamic interactions in the casing heading are between the casing (conducting the gas to the injection point) and the tubing (flowline). For gas lifted wells the gas injection rate (at some point) can be utilized for control, which gives additional degree of freedom. There are four main categories of principles for avoiding or reducing the effects of slug flow: 1. Design changes 2. Operational changes 3. Procedures 4. Control methods: Feed forward control to separation unit Slug choking Active slug control An example of a typical slug handling technique that involves design changes is a technique that requires installation of slug catchers (onshore). Such design changes also have the disadvantage of that substantial capital investment is needed. Another example of such a technique is to increase the size of the first stage separators to provide buffer capacity. For already existing installations where problems with slug flow are present, and for compact separation units, these design changes have limited effects on flow stability. Still, using this technique, compressors may trip due to large rapid variations in the feed rates to the separators caused by unstable multiphase flow. An example of an operational change is to choke the pipeline to such an extent that the operation point is outside the unstable flow regime. But such an operational change may have the disadvantage of decreasing the output flow to a level substantially lower than the capacity of the pipeline. Severe variations of pressure along different positions of the pipeline may also occur. Procedures are rule-based calculations applied by the operator. These are often used during pipeline, riser or well flow line startup. Such rule-based calculations may some extent decrease the magnitude of slugging and reduce the variations in pressure in the flow-line. But a problem is that the approach with rule-based calculations may only decrease the magnitude of slugging at certain operating conditions. And the operating conditions may vary widely. Prior art control methods include: Feed-forward control to a separation unit process control system. In this approach the slug is coped with inside the separation unit. U.S. Pat. No. 5,256,171 shows a method, which utilizes process measurements inside the separation unit. U.S. Pat. No. 5,544,672 shows slug choking, which utilizes measurements downstream of the point of slug generation and chokes the pipeline control valve in the presence of a slug. By conventional control methods one usually refers to feed-forward or slug choking. Conventional control methods may reduce the negative effects of slugging and flow variations in a pipeline. A remaining problem by applying conventional control methods is to stabilize the multiphase flow in a complete flow line and not only reducing the effect of slugging at a single point of the flow line, typically the outlet of the flow line. Another problem with conventional control methods is that they have not proven to be efficient enough when it comes to stabilize multiphase flow and particularly not in flow-lines comprising remote well-head platforms and subsea wells. In the light of the problems mentioned above, the inventor has found that there is a need for a more efficient method for stabilizing multiphase flow caused by slugging.

<SOH> SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION <EOH>An object of the invention is to provide a method, which stabilize a multiphase flow, in a flow line, where flow instability is caused by at least one slug. Measurement of pressure or temperature is taken upstream the point where the main part of the slug is generated. The pressure measurement, or an estimated pressure calculated from the temperature measurement, is supplied to a dynamic feedback controller which dynamic feedback controller calculates an output controlling at least one control valve, wherein the multiphase flow is stabilized throughout the complete flow line. By a flow line is meant a line conducting transport of a multiphase mixture of oil, gas and water such as, a pipeline, riser or a well flow line. Another object of the invention is to provide a computer program product, which performs the steps of the above-mentioned method including applying a control program or control law. By a control valve is meant a valve or a choke equipped with an actuator suitable for automatic control, such as an electric motor as actuator with positioning control, a stepping motor or a pneumatic actuator. Another advantage of the present invention is that it improves the stability of operating conditions in production facilities for oil and/or gas. In particular the invention significantly reduce the disturbances in feed to the separation process by avoiding flow variation at the outlet of the multiphase flowline that connect wells and remote installation of the processing unit. Another advantage of the invention, compared with a conventional control method, is that the invention reduces the pressure fluctuations at the flow line inlet. This stabilizes the multiphase flow line, which makes it possible not only to reduce the effects of slugging, as in the case of conventional methods, but also to entirely avoid slugging. An advantage of the invention, compared with a conventional control method, is that it stabilizes the multiphase flow trough out the complete flow line. This also means that by applying the invention the production rate, for instance at a production platform, may be increased. An advantage of the invention is that, compared with conventional methods, it reduces the number of occurrences and formations of slugs in a flow line. In this way the invention enables energy to be used in a more efficient way in the flow line in order to transport a multiphase mixture of oil, gas and water. This in contrast of letting energy out of the system in the form of blowouts as slugs leaves the outlet of flow line, such as the outlet of a riser. Another advantage of the invention, compared with conventional methods using design changes, is that it does not require new process equipment to be installed. Hence, substantial capital investment is avoided. It is however assumed that there is at least one available pressure or temperature measurement along the flow line upstream the point where the main part of the slug is generated. It is also assumed there is at least one control valve in the flow line. It is an aim of the invention to supply a method, which applies a dynamic feedback controller, which is a multivariable input, single output controller, acting upon periodic variations in measured variables. It is a further aim of the invention to stabilize the multiphase flow at any point of the flow line. The above mentioned objects and aims are met by the invention as defined by the accompanying patent claims 1 - 16 . In particular, a method for stabilizing a multiphase flow through a flow line where instability of the multiphase flow is caused by at least one slug is defined by independent claim 1 , and a computer program product is defined by independent claim 17 , and use of a computer program product according to independent claim 19 . These and other advantages with the present invention and aspects of it will become apparent from the detailed description and from the accompanying drawings.

System and method for the management of genomic data

A system and method is disclosed for managing users' genomic data, including providing and offering access to genomic-based services, routing genomic data to providers of genomic-based services, brokering financial transactions related to the management of genomic data, securing for users best prices for genomic-based services, allowing users to earn money for the use of their genomic and other data, and using genomic data for marketing and developing products in particular geographic regions or for particular populations.

1. A method for recruiting a new user for a genome management service, comprising: obtaining a cell sample from a person; waiting a period of time; after the period of time has elapsed, seeking from the person final permission to have his or her genomic data managed; analyzing at least a portion of the person's genome; and storing the resultant genomic data electronically. 2. The method of claim 1 wherein said cell sample is obtained via a cheek swab. 3. The method of claim 1 wherein said sample is obtained in a mobile unit. 4. The method of claim 1 wherein said sample is obtained in a kiosk. 5. The method of claim 1 wherein said sample is obtained in a physician's office. 6. The method of claim 1 wherein said period of time is one week. 7. The method of claim 1 wherein the resultant genomic data is stored on a data card. 8. The method of claim 7 wherein said data card is kept by the user. 9. The method of claim 7 wherein said data card is the only location where said genomic data is stored. 10. The method of claim 1 wherein the genomic data is stored on a secure server. 11. A device for maintaining an individual's genomic data, comprising: a data storage unit in which the individual's genomic data is stored; and a self destruct unit, which deletes said data on said device when a trigger event occurs. 12. The device of claim 11, wherein said trigger event is an attempt to copy the data stored on said device. 13. The device of claim 11, wherein said trigger event is an unauthorized attempt to read data from the device. 14. The device of claim 11, wherein said data is stored in an encrypted format. 15. The device of claim 11, wherein said data storage device is kept by the individual. 16. A data card for maintaining an individual's genomic data, comprising a data storage unit in which the individual's genomic data is stored. 17. The data card of claim 16, further comprising a self-destruct unit, which deletes said data on said device when a trigger event occurs. 18. The data card of claim 17, wherein said trigger event is an attempt to copy the data stored on said device. 19. The data card of claim 17, wherein said trigger event is an unauthorized attempt to read data from the card. 20. The data card of claim 16, wherein said data is stored in an encrypted format. 21. The data card of claim 16, wherein said data card is kept by the individual. 22. A method for providing product usage advice for an individual, comprising: receiving the individual's genomic data; using said genomic data to consult a database or table, the database or table correlating genomic data with responses to products; and creating a report containing product usage advice for one or more products. 23. The method of claim 22, wherein said correlations are obtained by using a computer program. 24. The method of claim 22, wherein said receiving further includes receiving any necessary additional information. 25. The method of claim 22, wherein said using step further includes consulting the database or table using additional information. 26. The method of claim 22, wherein said database or table further correlates additional information with responses to products. 27. The method of claim 22, further including the step of updating said report when said product is purchased. 28. The method of claim 22, wherein said receiving is performed in conjunction with a point of sale operation. 29. The method of claim 28, wherein said point of sale operation is a transaction using a data card. 30. The method of claim 28, wherein said point of sale operation is a transaction using a cash register. 31. The method of claim 28, wherein said point of sale operation is an online purchase. 32. The method of claim 22, wherein said product usage advice is a prediction of the individual's response to one or more products. 33. The method of claim 22, wherein said product usage advice is a dosage recommendation for one or more products. 34. The method of claim 22, wherein said product usage advice is a prediction of side effects for one or more products. 35. The method of claim 24, wherein said additional information includes a proposed usage suggestion for one or more products. 36. The method of claim 35, wherein said product usage advice is a prediction of the individual's response to the proposed product or products. 37. The method of claim 35, wherein product usage advice is a recommendation of one or more alternative products. 38. The method of claim 22 wherein said report is provided to the individual. 39. The method of claim 22 wherein said report is provided to a healthcare provided authorized by the individual. 40. The method of claim 22 wherein said report is provided to an expert assisting the individual, but the individual's genomic data is not. 41. The method of claim 22 wherein a fee is charged for each report created. 42. The method of claim 22, wherein said database or table correlates the individual's genomic data with a response to certain drugs. 43. The method of claim 22, additionally including the steps of: receiving feedback concerning said individual's actual response to one or more of said products; and updating said database or table based on said feedback. 44. A method for producing marketing data, comprising: receiving from a group of individuals their genomic data; receiving from said group of individuals data concerning their purchasing or consumption habits; determining correlations between said genomic data and said purchasing or consumption habits; and making a prediction concerning an individual's purchasing or consumption habits based on that individual's genomic data. 45. The method of claim 44, wherein said correlations are stored in a database or table. 46. The method of claim 44, wherein said correlations are obtained by using a computer program. 47. The method of claim 44, wherein said correlations are statistical. 48. The method of claim 44, wherein the said correlations contain no personally-identifying data related to said individuals. 49. The method of claim 44, with the additional step of selling said correlations to interested parties. 50. The method of claim 44, wherein members of said group are paid for their participation. 51. The method of claim 44, wherein said data concerning purchasing habits is received when a data card is used to make a purchase. 52. The method of claim 44, additionally including the steps of: receiving feedback relating to the accuracy of said prediction and/or correlations; and updating said prediction and/or correlations based on said feedback. 53. A method for marketing products to individuals based on their genomic data, comprising: receiving from a group of individuals their genomic data; receiving from said group of individuals data concerning their purchasing or consumption habits; determining correlations between said genomic data and said purchasing or consumption habits; making a prediction concerning an individual's purchasing or consumption habits based on that individual's genomic data; and making a product suggestion. 54. The method of claim 53, wherein said correlations are stored in a database or table. 55. The method of claim 53, wherein said correlations are obtained by using a computer program. 56. The method of claim 53, wherein said correlations are statistical. 57. The method of claim 53, wherein the said correlations contain no personally-identifying data related to said individuals. 58. The method of claim 53, with the additional step of selling said correlations to interested parties. 59. The method of claim 53, with the additional step of selling said product suggestions to interested parties. 60. The method of claim 53, with the additional step of offering said product suggestions to said individuals. 61. The method of claim 53, wherein members of said group are paid for their participation. 62. The method of claim 53, wherein said data concerning purchasing habits is received when a data card is used to make a purchase. 63. The method of claim 53, additionally including the steps of: receiving feedback relating to the appeal of the suggested product; and updating said suggestion and/or correlations based on said feedback. 64. A method of providing a gaming experience to an individual based on his or her genomic data, comprising: receiving the genomic data of said individual; and affecting gameplay using said genomic data; whereby the individual's gaming experience is due at least in part to his or her genomic data. 65. The method of claim 64, wherein said affecting involves assigning the individual to a team. 66. The method of claim 64, wherein said affecting involves the manipulation of visual gameplay aspects. 67. The method of claim 64, wherein said affecting involves the manipulation of aural gameplay aspects. 68. The method of claim 64, wherein said affecting involves giving game characters strengths or weaknesses. 69. The method of claim 64, additionally including the steps of: receiving feedback relating to said gaming experience; and revising said affecting based on said feedback. 70. A method of providing an individual with lifestyle advice related to his or her genomic data, comprising: using an individual's genomic data to consult a database or table which correlates genomic data with lifestyle advice; and receiving, as a result of said consultation, said lifestyle advice. 71. The method of claim 70 wherein said correlations are obtained using a computer program. 72. The method of claim 70 wherein said genomic data is haplotypes or haplotype pairs. 73. The method of claim 70 wherein said lifestyle advice comprises recommendations on taking preventative steps against the onset of an illness. 74. The method of claim 70 wherein said lifestyle advice comprises diet recommendations. 75. The method of claim 70 wherein said lifestyle advice comprises exercise, recommendations. 76. The method of claim 70 wherein said lifestyle advice comprises information about unique genotypical aspects of the individual. 77. The method of claim 70, additionally including the step of providing the services of a genetic counselor to explain said lifestyle information. 78. The method of claim 70, additionally including the steps of: receiving feedback relating to the accuracy of said lifestyle advice; and updating said database or table based on said feedback. 79. A method of providing an individual with lifestyle advice related to his or her genomic data, comprising: using an individual's genomic data to consult a database which correlates genomic data with information related to that genomic data; receiving, as a result of said consultation, information related to said genomic data; and providing lifestyle advice related to said information. 80. The method of claim 79 wherein said correlations are obtained using a computer program. 81. The method of claim 79 wherein said genomic data is haplotypes or haplotype pairs. 82. The method of claim 79 wherein said lifestyle advice comprises recommendations on taking preventative steps against the onset of an illness. 83. The method of claim 79 wherein said lifestyle advice comprises diet recommendations. 84. The method of claim 79 wherein said lifestyle advice comprises exercise recommendations. 85. The method of claim 79 wherein said lifestyle advice comprises information about unique genotypical aspects of the individual. 86. The method of claim 79, additionally including the step of providing the services of a genetic counselor to explain said lifestyle information. 87. The method of claim 79, additionally including the steps of: receiving feedback relating to the accuracy of said lifestyle advice; and updating said advice and/or said database or table based on said feedback. 88. A method of designing products based on an individual's genomic data, comprising: obtaining the individual's genomic data; and creating a design for said product based on said genomic data. 89. The method of claim 88 wherein said creating involves consulting a database or table which correlates certain genomic data with certain designs. 90. The method of claim 89, additionally including the steps of: receiving feedback relating to the appeal of said design; and updating said database or table based on said feedback. 91. The method of claim 88 wherein said creating involves using a computer program which correlates certain genomic data with certain designs. 92. The method of claim 91, additionally including the steps of: receiving feedback relating to the appeal of said design; and updating said computer program based on said feedback. 93. The method of claim 88 wherein said creating involves executing a design algorithm which takes said genomic data as an input. 94. The method of claim 93, additionally including the steps of: receiving feedback relating to the appeal of said design; and updating said algorithm based on said feedback. 95. The method of claim 88 wherein said product is a food. 96. The method of claim 88 wherein said product is artwork. 97. The method of claim 88 wherein said product is wearing apparel. 98. The method of claim 88 wherein said product is a perfume. 99. The method of claim 88 wherein said product is jewelry. 100. The method of claim 88 wherein said product is music. 101. A method for marketing an individual's genomic data, comprising: contacting a party interested in using an individual's genomic data; negotiating with the party to determine the terms of use for said data; seeking the individual's consent to allow said party to use said data under the determined terms of use; and if consent is received, providing, under the determined terms of use, said genomic data to said party. 102. The method of claim 101 wherein said providing is performed in such a manner that the party is not allowed to permanently keep said genomic data. 103. The method of claim 101 wherein said negotiations involves determining a price that said party will pay said individual for use of said genomic data. 104. The method of claim 101 wherein said negotiations involves determining the portions of the individual's genomic data that will be used by the party. 105. A method for providing an individual with low price genomic-based services, comprising: receiving from the individual a request for a genomic-based service; negotiating with a plurality of parties capable of providing said service in order to determine which party of said parties is willing to offer said service at a lower price than the remainder of said parties; and upon receiving the individual's consent, allowing said party which offered said lower price to perform said service. 106. The method of claim 105 wherein said service is performing a medical test based on said individual's genomic data. 107. The method of claim 105 wherein said service is providing information based on said individual's genomic data. 108. The method of claim 105 wherein said service is providing artwork whose design is based on said individual's genomic data. 109. The method of claim 105, including the additional step of charging the individual a fee. 110. The method of claim 105, including the additional step of charging said service provider a fee. 111. The method of claim 105, wherein said negotiating step includes considering the quality of the providers. 112. The method of claim 111, wherein said receiving step further includes receiving from the individual quality requirements. 113. The method of claim 111, wherein the management company sets quality requirements. 114. A billing method for a genomic data managing service, comprising: charging a management fee; and charging a fee for each access of said data. 115. The method of claim 114, wherein said management fee is a periodic fee for maintaining said data. 116. The method of claim 115 wherein said periodic fee is a fee charged each time a predetermined interval elapses. 117. The method of claim 114, wherein said management fee is a fee for setting up a new account. 118. The method of claim 114, wherein said management fee is a fee for adding or deleting genomic data. 119. The method of claim 114, wherein said management fee is a fee for adding or deleting non-genomic data. 120. A method for providing an individual's genomic data to a party, comprising: receiving from a party a request for an individual's genomic data; negotiating with the party to determine the terms of use for said data; seeking the individual's consent to allow said party to use said data under the determined terms of use; and if consent is received, providing, under the determined terms of use, said genomic data to said party. 121. The method of claim 120 wherein said providing is performed in such a manner that the party is not allowed to hold or posses said genomic data. 122. The method of claim 120 wherein said negotiating involves determining a price that said party will pay said individual for use of said genomic data. 123. The method of claim 120 wherein said negotiating involves determining which portions of the individual's genomic data will be used by the party. 124. A method for securely transmitting an individual's genomic data to a party, comprising: storing an individual's genomic data on a data card; and physically transporting said data card to said party. 125. The method of claim 124, wherein said data card deletes the data it carries when a trigger event occurs. 126. The method of claim 125 wherein said trigger event is an attempt to read the data on the card using an incorrect decryption key. 127. The method of claim 125 wherein said trigger event is an attempt to use the data for a purpose other than the one agreed upon. 128. The method of claim 125 wherein said trigger event is the expiration of a count-down timer. 129. The method of claim 125 wherein said trigger event is said party failing to acknowledge receipt of said data. 130. The method of claim 124 wherein said data is stored in an encrypted manner. 131. A method for securely transmitting an individual's genomic data to a party, comprising: creating a data package, said data package containing the individual's genomic data; and allowing said party to download said package over a network. 132. The method of claim 131 wherein said package deletes the data it carries when a trigger event occurs. 133. The method of claim 132 wherein said trigger event is an attempt to read the data in the package using an incorrect decryption key. 134. The method of claim 132 wherein said trigger event is an attempt to use the data for a purpose other than the one agreed upon. 135. The method of claim 132 wherein said trigger event is the expiration of a count-down timer. 136. The method of claim 132 wherein said trigger event is said party failing to acknowledge receipt of said data. 137. The method of claim 131 wherein said package contains said data in an encrypted format. 138. The method of claim 131, wherein the party is selected from the group consisting of the individual, the individual's physician, the individual's genetic counselor, the individual's hospital, the individual's physician's office, the individual's pharmacy and the individual's pharmacist. 139. A system for providing product usage advice for an individual, comprising: a memory having program code stored therein; a database or table correlating genomic data with responses to products; and a processor connected to said memory for carrying out instructions in accordance with said stored program code; wherein said program code, when executed by said processor, causes said processor to perform the steps of: receiving the individual's genomic data; using said genomic data to consult the database or table; and creating a report containing product usage advice for one or more products. 140. The system of claim 139 wherein said correlations are obtained by using a computer program. 141. The system of claim 139, wherein said receiving further includes receiving any necessary additional information. 142. The system of claim 139, wherein said using step further includes consulting the database or table using additional information. 143. The system of claim 139, wherein said database or table further correlates additional information with responses to products. 144. The system of claim 139, further including the step of updating said report when said product is purchased. 145. The system of claim 139, wherein said receiving is performed in conjunction with a point of sale operation. 146. The system of claim 145, wherein said point of sale operation is a transaction using a data card. 147. The system of claim 145, wherein said point of sale operation is a transaction using a cash register. 148. The system of claim 145, wherein said point of sale operation is an online purchase. 149. The system of claim 139, wherein said product usage advice is a prediction of the individual's response to one or more products. 150. The system of claim 139, wherein said product usage advice is a dosage recommendation for one or more products. 151. The system of claim 139, wherein said product usage advice is a prediction of side effects for one or more products. 152. The system of claim 141, wherein said additional information includes a proposed usage suggestion for one or more products. 153. The system of claim 152, wherein said product usage advice is a prediction of the individual's response to the proposed product or products. 154. The system of claim 152, wherein product usage advice is a recommendation of one or more alternative products. 155. The system of claim 139 wherein said report is provided to the individual. 156. The system of claim 139 wherein said report is provided to an expert assisting the individual, but the individual's genomic data is not. 157. The system of claim 139 wherein a fee is charged for each report created. 158. The system of claim 139, wherein said database or table correlates haplotypes or haplotype pairs with a response to certain drugs. 159. The system of claim 139, additionally including the steps of: receiving feedback concerning said individual's actual response to one or more of said products; and updating said database or table based on said feedback. 160. A system for producing marketing data, comprising: a memory having program code stored therein; and a processor connected to said memory for carrying out instructions in accordance with said stored program code; wherein said program code, when executed by said processor, causes said processor to perform the steps of: receiving from a group of individuals their genomic data; receiving from said group of individuals data concerning their purchasing habits; determining correlations between said genomic data and said purchasing habits; and making a prediction concerning an individual's purchasing habits based on that individual's genomic data. 161. The system of claim 160 wherein said correlations are stored in a database or table. 162. The system of claim 160 wherein said correlations are obtained by using a computer program. 163. The system of claim 160, wherein said correlations are statistical. 164. The system of claim 160, wherein the said correlations contain no personally-identifying data related to said individuals. 165. The system of claim 160, with the additional step of selling said correlations to interested parties. 166. The system of claim 160, wherein members of said group are paid for their participation. 167. The system of claim 160, wherein said data concerning purchasing habits is received when a data card is used to make a purchase. 168. The system of claim 160, additionally including the steps of: receiving feedback relating to the accuracy of said prediction and/or correlations; and updating said prediction and/or correlations based on said feedback. 169. A system for marketing products to individuals based on their genomic data, comprising: a memory having program code stored therein; and a processor connected to said memory for carrying out instructions in accordance with said stored program code; wherein said program code, when executed by said processor, causes said processor to perform the steps of: receiving from a group of individuals their genomic data; receiving from said group of individuals data concerning their purchasing habits; determining correlations between said genomic data and said purchasing habits; making a prediction concerning an individual's purchasing habits based on that individual's genomic data; and making a product suggestion. 170. The system of claim 169 wherein said correlations are stored in a database or table. 171. The system of claim 169 wherein said correlations are obtained by using a computer program. 172. The system of claim 169, wherein said correlations are statistical. 173. The system of claim 169, wherein the said correlations contain no personally-identifying data related to said individuals. 174. The system of claim 169, with the additional step of selling said correlations to interested parties. 175. The system of claim 169, with the additional step of selling said product suggestions to interested parties. 176. The system of claim 169, with the additional step of offering said product suggestions to said individuals. 177. The system of claim 169, wherein members of said group are paid for their participation. 178. The system of claim 169, wherein said data concerning purchasing habits is received when a data card is used to make a purchase. 179. The system of claim 169, additionally including the steps of: receiving feedback relating to the appeal of the suggested product; and updating said suggestion and/or correlations based on said feedback. 180. A system for providing a gaming experience to an individual based on his or her genomic data, comprising: a memory having program code stored therein; and a processor connected to said memory for carrying out instructions in accordance with said stored program code; wherein said program code, when executed by said processor, causes said processor to perform the steps of: receiving the genomic data of said individual; and affecting gameplay using said genomic data; whereby the individual's gaming experience is due at least in part to his or her genomic data. 181. The system of claim 180, wherein said affecting involves assigning the individual to a team. 182. The system of claim 180, wherein said affecting involves the manipulation of visual gameplay aspects. 183. The system of claim 180, wherein said affecting involves the manipulation of aural gameplay aspects. 184. The system of claim 180, wherein said affecting involves giving game characters strengths or weaknesses. 185. The system of claim 180, additionally including the steps of: receiving feedback relating to said gaming experience; and revising said affecting based on said feedback. 186. A system for providing an individual with lifestyle advice related to his or her genomic data, comprising: a memory having program code stored therein; a database or table correlating genomic data with lifestyle advice; and a processor connected to said memory for carrying out instructions in accordance with said stored program code; wherein said program code, when executed by said processor, causes said processor to perform the steps of: using the individual's genomic data to consult the database or table; and receiving, as a result of said consultation, said lifestyle advice. 187. The system of claim 186, wherein said correlations are obtained using a computer program. 188. The system of claim 186, wherein said genomic data is haplotypes or haplotype pairs. 189. The system of claim 186, wherein said lifestyle advice comprises recommendations on taking preventative steps against the onset of an illness. 190. The system of claim 186, wherein said lifestyle advice comprises diet recommendations. 191. The system of claim 186, wherein said lifestyle advice comprises exercise recommendations. 192. The system of claim 186, wherein said lifestyle advice comprises information about unique genotypical aspects of the individual. 193. The system of claim 186, additionally including the step of providing the services of a genetic counselor to explain said lifestyle information. 194. The system of claim 186, additionally including the steps of: receiving feedback relating to the accuracy of said lifestyle advice; and updating said database or table based on said feedback. 195. A system for providing an individual with lifestyle advice related to his or her genomic data, comprising: a memory having program code stored therein; a database or table which correlates genomic data with information related to that genomic data; and a processor connected to said memory for carrying out instructions in accordance with said stored program code; wherein said program code, when executed by said processor, causes said processor to perform the steps of: using the individual's genomic data to consult the database or table; receiving, as a result of said consultation, information related to said genomic data; and providing lifestyle advice related to said information. 196. The system of claim 195, wherein said correlations are obtained using a computer program 197. The system of claim 195, wherein said genomic data is haplotypes or haplotype pairs. 198. The system of claim 195, wherein said lifestyle advice comprises recommendations on taking preventative steps against the onset of an illness. 199. The system of claim 195, wherein said lifestyle advice comprises diet recommendations. 200. The system of claim 195, wherein said lifestyle advice comprises exercise recommendations. 201. The system of claim 195, wherein said lifestyle advice comprises information about unique genotypical aspects of the individual. 202. The system of claim 195, additionally including the step of providing the services of a genetic counselor to explain said lifestyle information. 203. The system of claim 195, additionally including the steps of: receiving feedback relating to the accuracy of said lifestyle advice; and updating said advice and/or said database or table based on said feedback. 204. A system for designing products based on an individual's genomic data, comprising: a memory having program code stored therein; and a processor connected to said memory for carrying out instructions in accordance with said stored program code; wherein said program code, when executed by said processor, causes said processor to perform the steps of: obtaining the individual's genomic data; and creating a design for said product based on said genomic data. 205. The system of claim 204, wherein said creating involves consulting a database or table which correlates certain genomic data with certain designs. 206. The system of claim 205, additionally including the steps of: receiving feedback relating to the appeal of said design; and updating said database or table based on said feedback. 207. The system of claim 204, wherein said creating involves using a computer program which correlates certain genomic data with certain designs. 208. The system of claim 207, additionally including the steps of: receiving feedback relating to the appeal of said design; and updating said computer program based on said feedback. 209. The system of claim 204, wherein said creating involves executing a design algorithm which takes said genomic data as an input. 210. The system of claim 209, additionally including the steps of: receiving feedback relating to the appeal of said design; and updating said algorithm based on said feedback. 211. The system of claim 204, wherein said product is a food. 212. The system of claim 204, wherein said product is artwork. 213. The system of claim 204, wherein said product is wearing apparel. 214. The system of claim 204, wherein said product is a perfume. 215. The system of claim 204, wherein said product is jewelry. 216. The system of claim 204, wherein said product is music. 217. A system for marketing an individual's genomic data, comprising: a memory having program code stored therein; and a processor connected to said memory for carrying out instructions in accordance with said stored program code; wherein said program code, when executed by said processor, causes said processor to perform the steps of: contacting a party interested in using an individual's genomic data; negotiating with the party to determine the terms of use for said data; seeking the individual's consent to allow said party to use said data under the determined terms of use; and if consent is received, providing, under the determined terms of use, said genomic data to said party. 218. The system of claim 217 wherein said providing is performed in such a manner that the party is not allowed to permanently keep said genomic data. 219. The system of claim 217 wherein said negotiations involves determining a price that said party will pay said individual for use of said genomic data. 220. The system of claim 217 wherein said negotiations involves determining the portions of the individual's genomic data that will be used by the party. 221. A system for providing an individual with low price genomic-based services, comprising: a memory having program code stored therein; and a processor connected to said memory for carrying out instructions in accordance with said stored program code; wherein said program code, when executed by said processor, causes said processor to perform the steps of: receiving from the individual a request for a genomic-based service; negotiating with a plurality of parties capable of providing said service in order to determine which party of said parties is willing to offer said service at a lower price than the remainder of said parties; and upon receiving the individual's consent, allowing said party which offered said lower price to perform said service. 222. The system of claim 221 wherein said service is performing a medical test based on said individual's genomic data. 223. The system of claim 221 wherein said service is providing information based on said individual's genomic data. 224. The system of claim 221 wherein said service is providing artwork whose design is based on said individual's genomic data. 225. The system of claim 221, including the additional step of charging the individual a fee. 226. The system of claim 221, including the additional step of charging said service provider a fee. 227. The system of claim 221, wherein said negotiating step includes considering the quality of the providers. 228. The system of claim 227, wherein said receiving step further includes receiving from the individual quality requirements. 229. The system of claim 227, wherein the management company sets quality requirements. 230. A billing system for a genomic data managing service, comprising: a memory having program code stored therein; and a processor connected to said memory for carrying out instructions in accordance with said stored program code; wherein said program code, when executed by said processor, causes said processor to perform the steps of: charging a management fee; and charging a fee for each access of said data. 231. The system of claim 230, wherein said management fee is a periodic fee for maintaining said data. 232. The system of claim 231, wherein said periodic fee is a fee charged each time a predetermined interval elapses. 233. The system of claim 230, wherein said management fee is a fee for setting up a new account. 234. The system of claim 230, wherein said management fee is a fee for adding or deleting genomic data. 235. The system of claim 230, wherein said management fee is a fee for adding or deleting non-genomic data. 236. A system for providing an individual's genomic data to a party, comprising: a memory having program code stored therein; and a processor connected to said memory for carrying out instructions in accordance with said stored program code; wherein said program code, when executed by said processor, causes said processor to perform the steps of: receiving from a party a request for an individual's genomic data; negotiating with the party to determine the terms of use for said data; seeking the individual's consent to allow said party to use said data under the determined terms of use; and if consent is received, providing, under the determined terms of use, said genomic data to said party. 237. The system of claim 236, wherein said providing is performed in such a manner that the party is not allowed to hold or posses said genomic data. 238. The system of claim 236, wherein said negotiating involves determining a price that said party will pay said individual for 108 of said genomic data. 239. The system of claim 236, wherein said negotiating involves determining which portions of the individual's genomic data will be used by the party. 240. A system for securely transmitting an individual's genomic data to a party, comprising: a memory having program code stored therein; a data card interface; and a processor connected to said memory for carrying out instructions in accordance with said stored program code; wherein said program code, when executed by said processor, causes said processor to perform the steps of: storing an individual's genomic data on a data card; and arranging for the physical transport of said data card to said party. 241. The system of claim 240, wherein said data card deletes the data it carries when a trigger event occurs. 242. The system of claim 241, wherein said trigger event is an attempt to read the data on the card using an incorrect decryption key. 243. The system of claim 241, wherein said trigger event is an attempt to use the data for a purpose other than the one agreed upon. 244. The system of claim 241, wherein said trigger event is the expiration of a count-down timer. 245. The system of claim 241, wherein said trigger event is said party failing to acknowledge receipt of said data. 246. The system of claim 241, wherein said data is stored in an encrypted manner. 247. A system for securely transmitting an individual's genomic data to a party, comprising: a memory having program code stored therein; and a processor connected to said memory for carrying out instructions in accordance with said stored program code; wherein said program code, when executed by said processor, causes said processor to perform the steps of: creating a data package, said data package containing the individual's genomic data; and allowing said party to download said package over a network. 248. The system of claim 247, wherein said package deletes the data it carries when a trigger event occurs. 249. The system of claim 248, wherein said trigger event is an attempt to read the data in the package using an incorrect decryption key. 250. The system of claim 248, wherein said trigger event is an attempt to use the data for a purpose other than the one agreed upon. 251. The system of claim 248, wherein said trigger event is the expiration of a count-down timer. 252. The system of claim 248, wherein said trigger event is said party failing to acknowledge receipt of said data. 253. The system of claim 247, wherein said package contains said data in an encrypted format. 254. A method for reimbursing a physician for the care of a patient comprising the steps of: determining whether the physician prescribed a drug that the management company recommended for the patient based on the patient's therapeutic needs and the patient's genomic data; and reimbursing the physician if the physician prescribed a recommended drug to the patient. 255. A method of marketing a product in a geographic region of interest, comprising: obtaining information relating to correlations between users' response to the product and a haplotype profile; determining the frequency of the haplotype profile in the population living in the geographic region; and making a marketing decision for the geographic region based on the determined frequency of the haplotype profile. 256. The method of claim 255, wherein the product is a drug or biologic. 257. The method of claim 256, wherein the marketing decision is to proceed with marketing the product if the determined frequency of the haplotype profile is at least 25%. 258. The method of claim 256, wherein the marketing decision is to proceed with marketing the product if the determined frequency of the haplotype profile is at least 50%. 259. The method of claim 256, wherein the geographic region is a state or territory of the United States of America. 260. The method of claim 256, wherein the geographic region is a country. 261. A method for developing a new product to satisfy a particular unmet demand or need of a population, comprising: identifying a haplotype profile that is correlated with the unmet demand or need in the population; determining a functional cause for the correlation between the haplotype profile and the unmet need or demand; and developing a new product designed to avoid the functional cause. 262. The method of claim 261, wherein the unmet demand or need is weight management. 263. The method of claim 261, wherein the unmet demand or need is addiction to smoking. 264. The method of claim 261, wherein the unmet demand or need is addiction to alcohol. 265. The method of claim 261, wherein the unmet demand or need is a treatment for schizophrenia. 266. The method of claim 261, wherein the unmet demand or need is a treatment for dyslipidemia. 267. The method of claim 261, wherein the unmet demand or need is a treatment for diabetes. 268. A method for marketing a drug for inclusion in a formulary, comprising: identifying a haplotype profile that is correlated with a good therapeutic profile for the drug; determining the frequency of the haplotype profile in the population served by the formulary; and making a marketing decision based on the determined frequency of the haplotype profile. 269. The method of claim 168, wherein the marketing decision is to pursue inclusion in the formulary if the determined frequency of the haplotype profile is at least 25%. 270. A method for choosing a drug for inclusion in a formulary, comprising: identifying a group of drugs that are prescribed to treat or alleviate the same medical condition, symptoms or disease; obtaining for each drug a haplotype profile that is correlated with an acceptable therapeutic response profile for that drug; and determining in the population served by the formulary the frequency of each obtained haplotype profile; and chosing a drug for the formulary based on the determined haplotype profile frequencies. 271. The method of claim 271, wherein the chosing step comprises selecting the drug whose correlated haplotype profile has the highest frequency. 272. The method of claim 271, wherein the chosing step comprises selecting each drug whose correlated haplotype profile has a frequency greater than 25%.

<SOH> BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION <EOH>Recent advances in the understanding of the human genome portend great potential benefit to the population at large. It is known, for example, that there are genetic markers that indicate susceptibility to certain diseases. If an individual learns of such a susceptibility through genetic testing, she may be able to alter her lifestyle to prevent or delay the disease's onset, or to ameliorate its effects. Genomic analysis can also be used to allow a couple to make an informed reproductive decision, by determining the likelihood of children of that couple inheriting a genetic disease. Genetic variation among individuals has also been found to be relevant to their responses to pharmaceuticals. Correlations have been found between certain genetic markers, such as haplotypes, and responses to drugs. If such correlations were used to produce genetic-based prescribing information, then prescriptions could be written with an individual's genetic makeup in mind. This could improve individuals' lifestyles by lessening side-effects and increasing efficacy. Non-medical uses of genomic data have also been found. For example, certain manufacturers of candy and cosmetics have become interested in how genetic diversity accounts for people's varying perceptions of taste and smell. This has the potential of allowing a person to purchase candy that is particularly appealing to her genetically-determined sense of taste. However, despite the great potential benefits of doing so, few individuals have taken advantage of genomic-based services. One reason for this is the public's concern for the security and privacy of its genomic data. People fear, for example, that they could be denied employment, denied insurance, and otherwise discriminated against if the details of their genomic makeup became public. Another reason is convenience. With emerging Internet and communications technologies, people are used to being able to get information quickly and with little inconvenience. However, genomic-based services such as genetic testing have been heretofore inconvenient to use. For example, an individual may have to travel to a distant location for a test. If several tests performed at different locations were required, an individual would likely have to give a genetic sample to each location. Similarly, genomic-based prescription information is not available to patients and medical professionals in such a way that it can be unobtrusively incorporated into the average medical office or pharmacy. Further, genomic-based services, such as tests for disease susceptibility, can be expensive. Individuals are used to enjoying low prices for products and services due to competition and the assistance of Internet services. However, such price-lowering has not yet come to genomic-based services. Thus, for at least these reasons, advances in genomic knowledge have fallen short of realizing their potential benefits to the population.